WIP Wednesday

On my needles is a sweet blue Pebble for my girl.  (Yes, it's called a 'manly' pebble vest - but that's okay!)  This pattern is simple and I love the garter stitch detail that runs up the side.  The pattern only comes in one size (baby) so in order to size it up I swatched (5 sts per inch with worsted on size 8's), measured (20" chest) and cast on 100 rather than 80.  I'm using Manos del Uruguay Maxima and it's lovely.

I've just been knitting the torso region until I think it looks like it will fit well and I'm up to 6 button holes.  I almost skipped the button holes and knit it in the round because I kind of hate purling, but I decided I really like the whimsy of the buttons going up the side.  We'll see if I still like this when it's easier for her to take it off and I want her to keep it on.



I'll be starting the chest portion today (but I need to hold it up to her first and she's still sleeping!) so I'll be posting pics soon!

Oh yeah and about that yarn...



My sweet husband came home from work one night with a surprise idea.  <3  Ziva and I just finished up a 27 month long nursing relationship.  She was down to nursing once a day (right before bed - but if I wasn't home she was fine) and it was a short session at that.  I think she would've kept going with that one short session, but I decided that it would be okay if we were done.  It was easy and painless.  I was able to talk to her about why we were stopping and she only asked to nurse a couple times after that.  Sometimes she still asks, with a joking tone, and giggles.  She's the sweetest.

Anyway - Ben wanted to celebrate my efforts and thank me for sticking it out and providing nourishment for 27 months.  So he took me out Saturday for a yummy lunch, thrift shopping (which ended up being a flop), yarn shopping (where he said, "Don't you want more than that?" <3<3) and new bras. =]  And Ziva wore undies the entire time.  It was a very lovely afternoon, but I did feel quite strange spending all this money on myself.  My sweet hubs does a good job at pampering me.

And the Quince & Co yarn is going to be an immie tee for Ziva.  I'm so excited to knit this for her! 

Today's Post is Brought to You By...

...the color blue.

Maybe I'm craving that crazy blue summer sky, maybe it's coincidental, but nevertheless, there seems to be a theme around here.





Ziva and I got a little set of Piggy Paint.  Such fun for her, and so much peace of mind for me! (Knowing it's non-toxic/eco-friendly!)  She was so sweet showing off her nails to everyone she saw and I sometimes catch her just holding her hands out in front of her looking and smiling. <3 You can see that it's already chipping (we painted yesterday afternoon) but that's okay.  I only did one coat.  Oh yeah and you can now buy Piggy Paint at Walmart in little 2 or 3 packs - that's what we did.





(More about that knitting and yarn tomorrow!)

{this moment}

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by: Soulemama

Happy weekends,  my dears!

Remembering

Ziva started saying sentences right around 20 months. She comes out with plenty of things that make us laugh our heads off and we want to remember them all.

I consider myself a crafty person... But sometimes this is the best I can do. And sometimes it's just easier to keep it simple. I give you - how I remember all the weird and funny things Ziva says...

"Z-isms"

Finished Projects & Weird Maine Weather

Finally Ziva's little stripey socks are off the needles!  I had just been waiting to graft the toe on the 2nd one for days but couldn't find a darn darning needle!  (Tee hee.)  I ran out of gray a few rows short of finishing the last stripe but they're still pretty cute. =]



I finished Ziva's Pilot Hat yesterday.  I had a small ball of noro silk garden leftover from my Shalom, (ravelry link here) then her sweater dress (ravelry link here)and I used up every bit of it in a few small stripes in this hat. =]  I'm happy with the way I used it, it was just sitting in my yarn bowl staring at me and I so wanted to use it, I just didn't know how to stretch it!  The green is cascade 220 I had in my stash. 



I love the shape of this hat, and the way it covers her ears.  It came out a little big, and it seems the pattern runs quite large.  I was using worsted weight on size 4 needles.  (5.5 st per inch.)



It has been abnormally warm for February in Maine.  This afternoon the sun started shining so the wee one and I took a stroll down our dirt road.  Lots of puddles to splash in.  It's not every February 17th we have puddles.  Pretty crazy.

Then we got out sand toys and built snow castles. 

Then the sun went away and I got chilly and made Ziva go inside.

That wasn't pretty.

But we had nutella hot chocolate and white cheddar popcorn and it was all better. =]

Happy weekend, friends!

WIP Wednesday

On my needles currently: a hat for my little lady. =)
I'm coming down with a cold today and have like zero motivation to do anything other than knit.
So basically I took the photo and I'm writing this post on my phone.
I've done a lot of knitting on this little hat today and I can't wait to see it on her! =)




Edited to add: Ravelry notes & pattern page.

Lazy Saturday

We had a lovely, lazy, beautiful family weekend.

Checked off the to do list.

Went out for breakfast.

Built a fort.

And little miss stayed in her jammies all day.

Perfect.

{this moment}

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by: Soulemama

Snacking

Snacking.

Healthy snacking.

It isn't always easy or delicious.

We're really digging this muffin recipe via Joy the Baker.  Here's my take on it!

Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins

Makes 12-15 muffins

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/4 cups oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk  almond milk
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar  evaporated cane juice
• 2 tbsp canola oil (I used the almond oil I had on hand)  1/4 cup ground flax meal
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper cases or spray with nonstick cooking spray. I simple greased and floured a muffin pan, saving the paper.
In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a medium bowl combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil and egg. Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.


I've made this recipe a few times and they're really yummy.  The first couple times I made it my only sub was the almond milk.  I was so surprised at how moist they are with no white flour.  Win!  The last time I made them I added the other two subs, evaporated cane juice (which is new to our household) and flax.  I kind of just wung it but they came out good again so I thought I'd share!  They're not super sweet, but we love them.

I'm new to healthier sugar substitutes, and I know they still need to be used in moderation.  If anyone has anything to share about evaporated cane juice or other natural sweeteners please do!  I'd love to know more. 

WIP Wednesday

Oh, wool.  I just love it.  I love how it feels in my hands as I knit with it, how it feels to wear and even how it smells.  Yeah, like sheep.

On the needles currently are a second striped sock for the little miss.  I have this thing for making her mini versions of my knit clothes with the leftovers.  =]  And also I just adore seeing her in anything handmade.  It gives me this joy and warms my heart to see her in her mama made sweater over a dress with handmade pants and wool socks and felted slippers... =]  I'm really itching to make her one of those cutie pie Pebble vests.  I keep seeing them everywhere!  I can't wait to get my hands on some yummy yarn to knit one up.  Anyway.  Hehe.

I'm in between books right now.  In the picture is a Nancy Drew I picked up from the library.  I haven't started it yet, but I felt like reliving my childhood a little.  =]  Last weekend I read through Heaven is for Real.  I think I started it Friday and finished it Saturday.  I just really enjoyed reading it. 

What's on your needles this week?  Please share a link in the comments!

Special Days

A certain little girl got her first haircut on Saturday. =]  She did remarkably well.  She barely wiggled and didn't even let out a peep.  She didn't really smile either, but that's okay. =]  She did, however, tap her hand on the arm rest for awhile like she was bored. 

Before

Daddy reads to keep Z entertained.

The finished product - a sweet little bob!

 After Ziva's haircut was done, she got to go on a special date with Daddy while I got my hair done.  They went to Panera and got cookies. <3  We'd been telling her for a few days that she was going to get a haircut and she would reply, "No, thanks." and even without any mention of haircuts she said, "I don't have any hair cuts..."   Once we added in the "treat" part she was more compliant. 

Me: You're getting a haircut tomorrow. 
Z: After, I have a treat. 

=]

What a special day for a sweet little 2 year old.

Our Weekends

 We spent Friday afternoon at the library.  I'm kind of embarrassed to say that this was the first time we'd taken Ziva.  At least at this age she appreciates all the books.

And the train table.  Mostly the train table.  She played there pretty much the whole time while I wandered around and picked out some Little House, Curious George, and the like.  I grabbed this book and I just love it.  It very simply teaches children how sheep's wool becomes a sweater.  There's lots of knitting of sweaters around here, so I think she gets it. =]

I think we'll be having plenty of reading time these next few days.  Happy weekend!

{this moment}

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 Inspired by: Soulemama