We’ve been sick. As these things go the kids were sick for about two days then mostly back to full speed. Dan and felt it linger a little longer. But today feels like the first day where we aren’t dragging exhausted – we’re on the upswing!

While I was couch sitting with sickies I decided to cast on a simple, rewarding knit to keep me company. Another plain vest was the perfect project (notes here). Mira has been wearing the one I knit during the fall but it would seem I chose my wool improperly for that one. The malabrigo worsted was divine to knit with, but as soon as a busy toddler was wearing it the vest began to pill like crazy.This time I knit with Paton’s Classic. (I have this colourway in great abundance after buying a clearance 5-pack at Michael’s for $10 – you have seen this currant colour here before and you most certainly will again.) Nothing as pretty as the malabrigo but a great utilitarian wool which can withstand the rigours of daily wear – and for $2 and about 5 hours I’m very pleased.

After finishing the vest, I moved on to the ring toy I’ve had kicking around unfinished (like this one). Although I love a nice dull stockinette knit, these seem to try to try my patience. I’m sure I spend more time switching the needles back and forth than I do on knitting! That being said, they are great for using up leftover ends of pure wool and make a sweet little baby toy. I’m hoping to get a few ready to go at once and then I’ll get them felted and put away for gifts.

Finding myself with extra resting time I finally got into Kate Morton‘s newest book, The Secret Keeper. I’ve enjoyed her other books and this one promises to fall into that catagory. So far none of the characters have found their way into my affections but the story has my attention. I’ll have to see how it progresses.

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Are you finding crafty distractions this week? Or perhaps you’re lost in a great book? Please share!

joining Ginny for yarn along

This week has definitely snuck by! How is it Wednesday eve already? At first thought I feel I’ve not gotten much done but my needles have been clicking away.

The second red mitten came off my needles shortly after I took this photo. They were proudly paraded around by Liam before being tossed in a corner. I feel he probably took this approach to his new hat as well (that one is still missing-in-action, sadly). Now I’m working on the second blue mitten to complete the pair for Elizabeth. I’d worked up a second to replace a lost blue mitten but now the original mitten is feeling snug so a new pair it must be.

I pulled a buried project from the bottom of my knitting bag to be completed. An in threes cardigan in fuchsia for the wee lass. It may not fit for a year or two but that’s a small detail, n’est pa? Some months ago when I realized the size was way off (no relation to my lack of a knitted swatch, no sir) I put it in a time out. Therefore a quick knit that may have taken a week took closer to six months. Now it’s out and the last rows are nearly finished.

My most rewarding project this week was the dropped stitch cowl I knit for a friend. I knit one for myself over the holidays which I’ve yet to share here and decided it was the perfect knit for a quick gift. The kids all exclaimed over the progress I’d made while they were sleeping. A few hours were all it took – and if you were knitting without as many distractions as I, you could likely have it on and off needles in an hour or two. My only beef is knitting with an acrylic blend. I’ve yet to get my hands on a great super chunky wool (I’m open to gifts of rasta for this purpose) so I knit both cowls with thick & quick.

Now I’ve made a lovely list of knits upcoming in my journal. A few baby gifts for friends are my most optimistic  goals (maybe these and one of these?), a swatch for my cardigan (!!!), and, yes, still those pesky projects kicking around waiting to be completed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict. Just as I wished last week, the big kids are in on it now too! Liam chose it for his bedtime story and his older sisters edged closer and closer as I read. So I need to trick them into enjoying fiction? Although in a rather ridiculous change of circumstance I am now reading ahead of Liam each night with the big girls (as his bedtime comes sooner) and rereading with him again the next day. So I’m reading the book three times over. All at once. Did I hear someone say, “just desserts”? Yes, perhaps.

Now that I’ve put aside Nicholas Benedict as my personal reading I had the fun on choosing my next read. I’ve had My Antonia awaiting my attention from the library. I just got sucked into the beautiful writing tonight only to discover it’s overdue (with holds waiting) at the library. Alas I’m roaming again for another novel…I think I’ll wander over to my sweet friend’s house up the street to borrow this one I’ve been saving for a rainy day.

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And you, are you knitting or crocheting? Or perhaps you are crafting up some Valentine’s goodies? Do you have a book I should add to my list?

:: joining Ginny for yarn along::

I’ve been casting on and off this week with nothing much new to show for it.

The fifth of six striped hats is on my needles and will soon be off. I should have known that beginning a hat for one meant finishing hats for all. And I don’t mind one bit when I receive these knit requests (although I may be ready for the end of the stripes). The little people have even made it easy for me, choosing wool from my stash and all in the same pattern I’ve knit many times. Now that I’ve started knitting for them they’ve all informed that they need new mittens to replace the pairs outgrown or the singles lost (I think I need to knit mittens in trios for the inevitable lost mittens). There was great hilarity when I pulled Sarah’s knit mitten on her hand after months of ski mittens – her fingers have grown so long! So I’ll begin with pink mittens for her with orders for at least three more pairs to follow them.

I do enjoy getting lost in the simple repetition of these familiar patterns. At times it gets dull but there has been much to think about lately and with fingers on repeat my mind is free to wander and mull.

The gorgeous Downton Cowl came off my needles these past week –  I only needed to steal one metre of wool from my second skein of tosh vintage. Now it awaits blocking before I can reveal it in its true glory. I’ve been knitting it along with Shannon‘s Downton Abbey knit along. I’m so excited to start wearing it!

I have far too many plans for the next projects on my needles (last week‘s wool has been wound into cakes!) but I’ve resolved to get down to business completing some unfinishables (those blasted UFOs).

First up is the baby vertebrae missing only the ribbed edging on the body. It’s been sadly waiting in the bottom of my knitting bag while Miss Mira could be wearing it. Maybe I’ll steel myself to the task of picking up those stitches and have it to show next week?

I’ve still been enjoying Gluten-Free Girl. Shauna writes less about living without gluten and more about discovering an abundance of food to enjoy beyond it. Her writing makes me feel both hungry and more adventurous in the kitchen. Just the kind of inspiration I was looking for.

While we had a sweet girl recovering from a kinked neck, we put on a familiar audio book. We’ve enjoyed The Famous Five during some long car rides and it kept the two oldest entranced for a couple of hours this week. We love Enid Blyton’s stories, the adventures are fun and though my gang are a very sensitive bunch they haven’t been too concerned about the suspense.

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Now what about you? Have you been working with needles or hooks this week? Is there a good book in your reading pile?

::joining Ginny‘s yarn along::

P.S. Tomorrow is The Lexicon Project – we’re revealing our photos and announcing next week’s challenge!

**Last day to enter my second anniversary giveaway!**

Knitting has been even more than the usual amount of excitement this week.

Oh yes, I am knitting quite the same things I was knitting last week. The Downton Cowl is very nearly finished – I’m taking out one chart repeat hoping I don’t have to break into my second skein of tosh vintage (knitting along with Shannon‘s KAL!). As for the striped hats I’m on to the third and holding orders for the next two (well, three because older siblings are just as certain baby sis wants a stripey hat to match the rest). While I enjoy these happy knits I’m busy dreaming about the wool I picked up on a special trip out over the weekend.

I was thrilled to meet up with Rebecca, the lovely lady behind nook (blog and shop), while she was in town for a long weekend. We spent a luxurious afternoon browsing for an almost shocking amount of time, deliberating over just the right wool and colour combinations. Then we topped it off with knitting and yarn talk over tea. It was perfect. Under the influence of wool petting and colours extraordinare, with a bit of Rebecca’s remarkable enabling skills, I managed to pick up enough wool for an extra special cardigan. I’ve been browsing Sweet Georgia‘s site for a while now dreaming of knitting projects but I was thrilled to find a well stocked cubby at my local yarn shop. Now with enough, eek, sock yarn for a sweater I’m trying to decide between three cardigans (all Jane Richmond patterns). Will it be Georgia, Grace, or Audrey? (Hint, hint: Jane has a promotion on today and tomorrow only for her facebook fans.)

a few iphone photos of our afternoon out – Rebecca sporting her fresh off the needles twiggy cardigan

and since I’m already overloading this post I’ve got to show my stash additions…a gorgeous skein Raventwist Torc  (formally Rocky Mountain Dyeworks) found its way into my bag with the Sweet Georgia

In between knitting and the associated daydreams, I’ve done a little reading. I finally finished Till We Have Faces and although I didn’t know quite what to say about it when I first wrote about it, I very much enjoyed the second half. It finally pulled the story together for me and painted a more complete picture.

Now I’ve pulled the first book from my library stack, Gluten-Free Girl, by the multitalented Shauna James Ahern. It’s a memoir of sorts of her diagnosis with celiac disease and her journey back to food. I’ve checked out recipes on her blog over the last few months and have had more than a few friends direct me her way. Shauna writes beautifully and her joy of cooking and good food renew my hope in finding food to love and have me drooling over the pages. Not just for those following a gluten-free diet (by choice or preference) but for anyone who loves food.

Are you working with needle or hook this week? Got a great book on the reading pile? Please do share!

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For more stories of yarn work and reading visit Ginny‘s yarn along.

P.S. The Lexicon Project kicks off its first reveal tomorrow!

I finally feel like I’m getting my groove back.

I’ve remembered I love blogging. I’m knitting in the evenings again. I scrubbed the floors.

Perhaps it’s all the water, or the diet, or the vitamins but I’m feeling pretty good.

I think I’m gearing up to finish some of the knitting projects I’ve avoided making eye contact with lately. But not quite yet. I need some happy cast-on, cast-off projects to gain some momentum. I think I’ve found them.

I’m still working on the Downton Cowl I began last week as part of Shannon’s knit along. The lacework is coming together beautifully – simple yet elegant. I’m taking my time with it though – not ready for the pattern or tosh vintage to end.

In the meantime I needed some nice stockinette to pick up while playing boardgames or teaching long division. Using the beautiful swift I received for Christmas (!!!!), I finally wound a couple skeins I bought back in the fall for a little girl’s hat. Poor Sarah has been wearing a poorly sized hat after her own was felted. It wasn’t really suitable – not for this Alberta winter when ears need full coverage. I followed notes I made during last fall’s tornado knitting and a stripey design the kids love, and lickety-split she has a hat. Ravelry notes here.

Now all the siblings have placed their orders and argued over which hat needs to be knit next. Little brother won that one since his head has sizeably outgrown his older hats. Orange and yellow stripes are up next!

I had a whole stack of books come in at the library this past week. I’ve been picking my way through them – giving them a test ride to see what I’m in the mood for. So far I’m undecided. Nonetheless, I have a most exciting book to share with you!

My sister, brilliant gift-giver that she is, found an amazing book for the kids for Christmas: How to be a World Explorer. I’d heard tidbits from it such as how to reinsert your eyeball if it falls out (!?!?) but I hadn’t sat down with it until three-year-old Simon showed me the proper defence in the event of a bear attack. It is incredible! Younger siblings keep reminding me that, as the cover states, it is NOT-FOR-PARENTS. The older kids, though, are just too excited to show me how to remove a leach (use your fingernail to loosen it, then flick it away) or instruct me on desert island survival (be warned: sea urchin meat looks like baby poo). I am going to tuck in with this book and a pile of kids tomorrow to see what other gross, disturbing, and slightly frightening things we can learn from it. So much fun!

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One last thing – I realized yesterday that today is my 2nd blogiversary! I’ve been rather erratic in my posting lately but this space means so much to me because of the wonderful friends I’ve “met” through it. I’ve been incredibly blessed by you – first time visitors and old friends, commenters and wallflowers alike. Since I love you all so much and you’ve been so good to me, I wanted to host a little giveaway to celebrate. I made a few box bags (based on Truly Myrtle’s brilliant tutorial) to send out in the pay-it-forward swap I joined in last year. I ended up with one extra – just the thing to send one of you lovely people. It’s the perfect size for a portable knitting project, toiletries bag, or whatever you can dream up for it.

Leave a comment on this post for your first entry, follow house full of jays on facebook or share this giveaway however you’d like (on your blog, facebook, instagram, tell a friend) for your second! Just be sure to leave a comment for both possible entries!

And don’t forget to tell me what you have on needles and in the reading pile!

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joining Ginny for yarn along