She moved blogs! January 13, 2008

I don’t know how blog moving works, if you lose people, if they follow, how much of a problem it is to not have the nice long archive, but I’m giving it a shot. I have moved from WordPress to Typepad. WordPress has been fine, but Typepad has features that WordPress doesn’t and I thought it might be a good fit.

I have transfered over all the posts from January, so I get to start over on a new year. I will be linking to and bringing over several posts from the past, ecspecially those that contain tutorials and patterns and such.

I’m keeping the wordpress blog for now, so that I can pull and so that folks can reference is they have bookmarked pages and such, but I don’t know how it works with wordpress, as far as keeping blog you aren’t really updating. We’ll see how that all works out…

Welcome to my new blog!! Thanks for checking it out!

She Found a Fun Kids Book January 12, 2008

Husband was looking for a specific winter book at the library, was unable to locate it as it was already out with someone else.  But he does have it on reserve and did find several others to bring home and see if they are good.  We find most kids books are not.  Most of them the illustrator should have first billing as the illustrations are far more inventive, creative and inspiring than the text.  Sad, really, as we’ve watched all my daughter has learned, simply through being read to.  People really underestimate the intelligence of children.  But we do occasionally find a good one, and today was one of those times.  It was actually a recommendation made by the children’s librarian, as Husband was checking out the others.

The Mitten Tree is a lovely story about a lonely old woman who starts knitting mittens for the children in her community.  It’s a beautiful how her annonymous gifts effect the children and the role this woman can now play in the community, instead of holding up in her home feeling invisible and not useful.  I really enjoyed it, and was very sad to see it’s not readily available from typical book sellers.  I hope this book gets a reprint.  It deserves to be on the book shelf far more than many other kids books that are littering the shelves now.

I’m absolutely loving my new project bag.  It holds a toddler sweater comfortably, and it holds the yarn while I’m working, as well, so I don’t have a runaway ball bounding across the floor.

This is the Pattern Card, which I should have shared yesterday:

It’s by Valori Wells, which I found out when I was looking for the cards online, is the designer for the fabric I used for Mini’s quilt.  By the way, for those who were hoping to see the tutorial for my “Quilt by a non-Quilter” I have it almost ready to post.  So you can expect that in the next few day.

She Finished Mom’s Christmas Gift and the Baby Vest January 11, 2008

Mom is finally going to get her Christmas gift!  The Apron looks great, I made a matching potholder, which I decided to try with bias tape and prefer my original way of making potholders, but it coordinates better with the bias tape.  I decided that with the fact she’s been sewing and knitting a bit more, that I would encourage that, too.  So she is also getting a little finger pin cushion and a knitting project back.  The pin cushion is the same one I made my Holiday Traditions Swap partner, and it’s from the book, Pretty Little Pincushions.

I made myself a project bag, as well.

The project bags are from this absolutely adorable “Sewing Card” by Valori Wells.  This has brilliant marketing.  It’s an adorable little card, that has great photography, is priced low, $3.00.  Could I have figured this out myself, after seeing the picture?  Sure I could, but this card was just too cute to pass up.  I tried.  I succeeded twice, as it’s at the counter of my local fabric store, but this last time, the urge took over and I just bought it.  I had been thinking about it since the last time I left it behind.  Kind of silly, I know, but it was a fun little project, and I now have another project bag, which is good with the number of projects I’ve had on the needles at once lately.  Granted, many folks run many more projects at once, but having 5 on the needles at one time, with only 2 small project bags, things are getting a bit too tangled!

One of those knitting projects was completed today, however.  The little baby vest is a winner, and I’ll probably make at least 1 more before the little one arrives.  It took less than 1 skein of yarn, there was a lot of breaking the yarn and reattaching, making for several ends to weave, but that is nothing compared to the last vest.  This is all straight knitting, easy to follow, simple pattern.  I dare say a beginner could handle this one.  The writer is good about keeping you knowing where you are in the process.  I really enjoyed the whole experience, which only took 24 hours really, as I was done today before I started yesterday.

I need to get buttons, which I’ll do, but it’s no hurry since she won’t be wearing it until March.  This is the first knitted project I’ve completed for the new baby girl…though I’m considering embroidering it, so it might not be completely done….  Now maybe I can finish that sweater for Mini.  I continue to make progress…

She Recieved her Swap Package, Took Down the Tree and Started a Baby Vest January 10, 2008

The mail came and the Swap Package has arrived!!  I’m so excited.  My partner and I were both a bit late on the sending, so it worked out well we were paired together.  This is what arrived!

One of her traditions is to make pinecone/peanut butter/birdseed ornaments, with her son, to hang outside for the birds, so she sent some “local” pine cones and some bird seed to get us started.  I have actually been considering doing the same things as a fun project with Mini, so that was fabulous!  She also noticed my affinity for local foods so sent some grits that come from her home town, with ideas on how to cook them…and it appears as long as I cook them up in a savory fashion, and skip using sugar, I’ll be all set. She also sent some stickers for Mini and little mug with polar beads, a couple skeins of thrifted yarn, that is quite cool, and the ornament is a fabulous little needle felted cardinal!  She didn’t know this, but in my last house I had a little cardinal that would wake me up many mornings by bumping into my bedroom window…repeatedly.  It was a funny little guy, and after we moved I sort of missed him.  It was a great Swap and one worth waiting for.

This is what I sent out, some of the pieces you had seen when I made them, and some you hadn’t.

The little pin cushion for your finger, a knitted mini sweater (that was a lot of fun and took very little time.  I think I’ll be making a few up for our tree next year).  The Elephant for her little boy, 3 cornballs, My favorite Christmas book (which my husband read to me while I knit this year on the eve of Christmas Eve), An Angel’s Story by Max Lucado.  A mix CD of Christmas songs, a very Eclectic mix of songs.  And a few recipies, including the Cornballs, Kansas Corn (the Christmas Eve dish for potluck at Gram’s) and Cinnimon Rolls, as that is what we usually eat Christmas Morning.  She liked her goodies, too.  It was a lovely swap experience!

Well, I finally did it, the tree is taken down.  The ornaments are packed away, and I printed my notes for the advent journey so we are all set to start off next year.  I do still need to make all the bags, which is on my list the next few weeks, and I’m already starting a bookmark file on my computer of ideas for next year…but I think most folks are tired of hearing/reading about Christmas, so I’ll save those little tidbits for much later this year.  As far as the tree goes, I’m thinking of propping it up in the woods somewhere and filling it with the birdseed ornaments.  We’ll see how such a project goes with Mini…I don’t know that she’ll understand the concept of Peanut butter as a craft supply, since she loves to eat it so much.

My cousin’s shower was today.  It was a lovely time and she loved the ensemble I knit for her.  She received the Futzy baby vest, the cream Koru hat and the bib.  She is a very appreciative person and values handmade goodies.  She also received from another guest a baby quilt and bumper set, and someone else gave her hand knit mittens and booties.  She made a special point to comment on the fact the people made them.  She was very sweet.

While watching all the gifts being opened, I started another little vest.  This one is a different pattern, but still has the button side, so I’m excited.  I am loving this one.  It’s going very quickly.  I wanted if for a newborn to 3 months and I think it’s going to be sized perfectly, having used the DK weight yarn.  The pattern is well written thus far, and I’m shaping the arm holes at this point.  It is not weighed down with the futziness of the other vest.  I’m thrilled. I’m using Rowan Felted Tweed and it is working up very nicely…which I expect nothing less from Rowan yarns.

I felt very conflicted spending the shower, and a whole movie, knitting the vest instead of the sweater for Mini, but I did.  The sweater got some attention today, and is coming along, but after I found the vest pattern online I was really drawn to knit it, and it just kept getting in my thoughts while I was working the sweater, making me dissatisfied with my sweater knitting experience.  I’m going to get it out of the way, so I can go back to sweater knitting bliss.  Hopefully that works.

The pattern is technically made for a boy in mind, and is called Pebble, Henry’s Manly Cobblestone-Inspired Baby vest, by Nicol Lohr.  It’s a free pattern, if you are interested.  I will put some girly buttons, and maybe some embroidery, if I get brave.  I think it’s really quite unisex, but I also find that most things can be “girlied up” more than they can be made more boyish.

See the sweater is making progress, I had just broken of for the arm divisions yesterday, and I already have a few inches of the body done.

Oh, and fun bit of Chicken news…10 Eggs today!!!  Go Girls.

She received a New Night Gown January 9, 2008

Mom came over today, with matching nightgowns for Mini and I.  Flannel Lilac Gingham.  I’m so excited.  I was going to make one for myself as I’ve been keeping the house on the cool side so my lightweight knit jammies aren’t really enough, some nights.  The night gown even fits over my nearly 7month pregnant belly!

I signed up for some fun things today.

First, if you live nearby, NH Slow Food is putting on a workshop on January 24.

Farmer to Consumer Workshop
Saturday, January 24, 2009
9:30 – 3:00
McIntosh Atlantic Culinary Academy Dover, NH

Cost is $20 including lunch.

Workshops~

Learn how to grow organic seedlings
Understand heritage breed poultry
Learn the advantages of raw milk and make yogurt
How to utilize underutilized pieces of meat

I am very excited.  Husband is joining me, which is fabulous, as he’s just as involved in our Homesteading adventures, but usually just gets told what I learned as we are doing whatever it is.  It will be nice to have another person to hear the information and to brain storm with.  I’m most excited about both the organic seedlings tips and the heritage poultry.  The poultry talk is being given by Joseph from Yellow House Farm, and I love listening to him talk about poultry. He’s knowledgeable and passionate.  But I’m very interested in the others, as well.  The underutilized meat will be great for me, as I only know, confidently, how to cook steak.  I am already sold on Raw milk, it’s the best milk I’ve ever drank.  I used to only drink milk when I ate cookies, but I even enjoy just a mug of milk all by itself now.  Making yogurt seems interesting, and something I’ve considered trying, so that will be fun too.  All in all, it seems like a great way to spend a Saturday.  They still have spots available so if you also think it would be a fun way to spend a Saturday, check out the information and registration on the NH Slow Food Website.

I also signed up for another swap.  The last one didn’t go extremely smoothly.  I still don’t have my box, but I’m sure it’s on it’s way, and I’m not upset, but if you were wondering why I haven’t posted about the swap, that is why.  This swap is different though, instead of mailing directly to each other, we mail to the person running it, and she sends the items out from there.  It’s a bird swap.  Handmade bird ornaments to hang in your home.  I’m not sure what inspired me to join.   I do like birds, as does Mini, so having a few to hang in the window seemed fun.  You make 5 birds and then send them in, and she sends 5 birds to everyone who sent them in.  Now to figure out what I’m going to send. I found out about this on the last day of sign ups, which are ending today.  The person running the swap suggested we all give away a bird on our blog on January 20th.  That only gives me 10 days to make them up, but I’m thinking it would be fun, since I’ve thought about giveaways and wasn’t sure what to giveaway.  So check back on the 20th to see what I came up with.

I’m working on Mini’s newest Malabrigo sweater.  I am working neck down and am past the point of dividing for the sleeves.  I need to finish it so she can wear it.  Today was bitter cold and having a nice cozy sweater for the child that is here, seems like a higher priority than knitting for the one who is always warm and cozy.

I don’t know if it was the Meatloaf and Kansas Corn from the other night, or if it was getting in touch with some girls that I used to take care of at the group home, but I’ve been wanting Donut Muffins, for the past couple days.  Donut Muffins are another family recipe that Great Grammy used to make, as did my mom.  It’s just a flavor of home.  I used to make them on Sundays for the girls at the group home, where we lived and cared for over 30 girls in 3+ years.  That was a great experience and probably one of, if not the most profound and lovely experiences of my life.  I recently found, or was found by, another one of them on Facebook, and she mentioned the English Muffin bread we used to make, and that reminded me of Sunday Morning breakfast.  Whatever prompted it, as the messages or the Kansas Corn which both occured on the same day, I have been thinking of those muffins frequently throughout the past couple days.  Tonight I made a batch.  I love these things.

Here is the recipe.  I don’t know the source, or if there is another name, but this is from Great Grammie’s box of recipes:

Donut Muffins:

1/3 C Oil

1/2 C Sugar

1 Egg

Mix these three ingredients

Add:

1 1/2 C Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Mix everything together, as you add 1/2 C Milk.

Spoon into muffin liners, then sprinkle the tops with cinnamon and sugar, then add a small pat of butter to the top of each muffin.

Bake on 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes

These are best hot, and I rarely have many, if any, left the next day, but if I do, I recommend cutting in half, buttering each side and grilling in your iron fry pan.  Yum!

Update on the children’s products laws January 8, 2008

I commented a few days ago about writing to my Senator and Rep about concerns with a new law going into effect February 10.  Changes have begun to take place and it looks like a good start.  Products made with natural materials such as wood and cotton will not be needing testing. Great.  They are also adding something for the thrift stores, so they can sell second hand items.  Also good.  Hopefully the end result of these changes will provide us with safe alternatives to plastic toys, while still keeping toy makers accountable.  Here is one article about the law changes so far. It also has a link for comments, if you want to add your ideas to the discussion with the CPSC.

She made an Apron, Pj’s and 2 hats January 8, 2008

I told you that I gave up on the shawl for mom, that it just wasn’t working the way I wanted.  Well, I decided to make her an apron instead.  She gets dressed up for work, and owns her own business, so she’s often putting together dinner between appointments (in her good clothes).  She has a half apron, but not a full one, and I thought the Lola from Sew Liberated blogger, Meg, would be a fun way to keep her clothes clean while she runs in to do a quick meal for her and dad.  I started it before Christmas, ran out of my handmade bias tape, couldn’t find the bias tape maker (still haven’t, so I had to buy another), so I never finished.  She was fine with an IOU for Christmas.  She’s pretty laid back about such things, and she often find gifts a few days, even weeks, after the holiday and is giving them when they turn up.  So, she understands.  I finally got a new bias tape maker and made up the orange polka dot bias tape, so I was able to finish the apron today.  I’m very pleased with how it turned out and I think she’s going to love it.  I’m hoping to get a couple matching potholders made up tomorrow and then mom can have her Handmade Christmas gift.

My pictures are pretty poor today, and I’m not sure if it’s me or the camera.  The lighting is not looking right.  I need to fiddle with things tomorrow, but I have a couple more projects to share, so please forgive the lousy images.

I’m made the last pair of Pj’s for mini.  Mom is making a couple more and that will give us 6 pair.  It’s pretty much time to retire the Hanna’s as she’s outgrown them.  I toyed with buying more in the next size, but decided that flannel jammies really can’t be beat, both comfort and price so mom and I have been working on getting her a little night time wardrobe.  I still need to put in the elastics, which I’ll do when she’s around to try them on, tomorrow, but the stitching is done.

I knit up a couple more baby gifts.  The cream will accompany the little vest for my cousin.  The green will accompany the baby blanket for a  friend.

The hats have three little ferns that are topped by little fiddleheads or “Koru”.  In New Zealand they are a sign of New Hope, which is a lovely sentiment for a new Life.  These knit up FAST.  They take very little yarn, and are fun.  There is enough of a pattern to hold your interest, without being complicated.  The designer is Just Jussi, and the pattern is available as a Ravelry Download. I didn’t see an option for the non-Ravelry folks, but if you are on, and knit, you need to go sign up.  The site is very cool…but more about the hat…  They are so cute with the little curls on the top.  I think my little one needs one too…That list is mounting!  I need to stop knitting gifts and start working on the New baby’s clothes if I’m even going to make a small dent in all the things I want to knit for her.  See with Mini I knit mostly 6 months and larger because I was just learning and not doing a lot with the larger items, like sweaters until she was actually born.  Being not sure how long a sweater would take I went larger figuring she’d grow into it.  Also she was born in August so there wasn’t a huge need for cozy knits in that hot, muggy month.  That strategy worked brilliantly, but since the next baby will be tiny during the cold months of March and April, I need to get some warm snuggly newborn things on the needles.

I did make the cream hat last night after blogging, so I really only made 1 today, and I did stock up on meals yesterday, so I didn’t have to stop to make dinner.  Add to that the fact the weather was beautiful today, so Husband and Mini went to the park, after the Library, out having fun most of the day, I really feel like I should have accomplished more.  But that’s what I did today…along with a few more rows on the pink sleep sack.

She Made a Smorgasbord of Comfort Dishes January 7, 2008

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen today.  I am not really much of a cook, not that the food I make doesn’t taste good, it usually does, but to get the timing and organization for a meal to be on the table at supper time, well it rarely works well.  If I make a steak, some potatoes and heat up a veggie, that works, but overall, not so good at figuring out what to make, if I have the ingredients, how long it will take, and all that.  For this reason, blitz cooking works quite well for me.  I go in the kitchen and work on several dishes all at once, to be placed in the fridge and heated in a timely manner for meals.  It also helps for the purpose of lunches beyond Peanut Butter sandwiches, which is our fall back lunch, especially for Mini.  I’m so thankful she doesn’t have peanut allergies.

Today I made a double batch of Sausage Pea Soup.  The last batch went FAR too quickly.  I’m glad to have found a pea soup my husband enjoys, but it does have it’s drawbacks, though the drawback is easily remedied.

I cooked up a chicken the other day, cleaned the meat off the bone and made soup stock, so today I have chicken vegetable soup with onions, leeks, garlic, turnips, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage simmering on the stove.

I’ve been desiring some Blueberry Rice Pudding, so I added that to the mounting list of goodies.

Tonight we greatly enjoyed a very lovely dinner of comfort food.  My Mom and Dad got me a new stoneware bread pan for Christmas.  I don’t know a better way to season those than to make a nice meatloaf.  Yum.  To accompany the meatloaf is the Kansas Corn that I did not get to enjoy at my Grandmother’s on Christmas Eve (due to the weather plan changes).  The scent of that dish wafting though the house has calmed my nerves greatly!

Why did my nerves need calming?  Today was  a snow day and Mini had ENERGY to burn.  She had missed her swimming lesson due to icy roads, and the ice pellets coming from the sky gave her little opportunity to even go out and play in the snow.   She was loud and crazy.  Not naughty, but not ready for a simple, calm day of coloring, puzzle making and reading.  She did all those things, but not quietly.  That’s fine, she’s 2, but I was quite thrilled when the freezing rain let up so that Husband could take her and the dog (who was getting ques from Mini on how to act) outside.  The house was quiet, the world was white, the smells were delightfully blending in the air and I was much calmer.  When she came in from her adventures she proudly told me that she “Ate winter”…that was, she ate snow.  I saw her do it, she lay down on her tummy in the snow and ate some.  I was watching from the window.  I giggled out loud.  She described it as “eating winter” because of the adorable book she was reading earlier.  “A little bit of Winter”. (That is an “I am Legend” hat she’s wearing with her cute little Hannah Andersen snow suit.  We aren’t sure why, but she really likes that hat and often asks to wear it.  I figure it’s the “film geek genes” she gets from Husband).

The book is about a Rabbit and a Hedgehog and their views of winter.  It’s the first kid’s book I’ve read about winter that takes a look at the less lovely side of the season.  Most books are very positive about winter… it’s beautiful, fun, lots to see, play and do, while all true… This book makes no bones about the fact it’s cold, hard and sometimes you just endure it, all the while being a lovely tale about these two best friends.  It’s a great book, one I plan to add to our collection, as this one is on loan from the library.  The illustrations are adorable.

I decided to start focusing on books about the seasons and the holidays in those seasons.  I loved the idea from Amanda Soule’s Creative Family (at least I think that’s where I read it, but it might have just been her blog) to have a basket of seasonal books.  We have a very accessible book shelf for Mini with lots of options, but I think it would be neat to have a special basket that holds special books that only come around in season.  So I’m working on a winter basket, which will be different than a Christmas basket, as those books are being packed with the decorations to come out again next year.

So with the fridge stocked, bellies full, and the relaxing scents of comfort food, I’m turning the lights down, the tree on and will be pulling out some wool and needles for a relaxing end to this snow day.  Thank you for your comments about the Christmas Tree and when you take yours down.  I am thinking it will go down this weekend.  So I’m going to make the most of my next few days with it.  It’s fun to hear what other people do and why.  I’d love to read more comments, so please feel free to add your thoughts!

Kansas Corn (not sure about the name, or the source, but it’s a family favorite witten on many a scrap of paper)

1 can Whole Kernal Corn, drained but reserve 1/4 c of liquid to be added to the mix)

1 can Cream Style Corn

2/3 c  Evaporated Milk

2 cups crushed Saltine Crackers

4 Tbs Melted Butter

1 small onion minced

1/4 tsp ground pepper

Salt to taste

12 ounces Swiss Cheese, cubed ( I use a mix of Cheddar and Swiss as Swiss is quite stringy on it’s own)

Mix all ingredients put in a casserole dish and bake on 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Husband took the pictures for today.  I loved a bunch of them, but this one just cracks me up.  Do you see the dog?

She finished the Baby Vest, Made a Bib and a Blanket January 6, 2008

As promised, I have finished projects to show!  Group photo…

The baby vest is done.  I am pleased with it, and I hope she loves it.  I still don’t think I’ll make another, even thought I really like the idea of the vest. I finished it off with little buttons made from coconut shell, so it has a natural look, but a little different than simple wood.  There are off white flecks in the coconut that look nice with the yarn, as well.  I think I already mentioned, but if I didn’t the yarn I used for this was Rowan Wool Cotton.  It’s one of my favorite yarns to knit with and it’s my favorite baby knitting yarn.

I have several friends and family who are expecting right now, so I’m working on gifts for some of them.  The blanket and bib are among the items to be given as gifts.  The blanket is Alexander Henry Fabric backed with very soft Chenille.  This is a cozy blanket.  It’s reminiscent of a blanket I bought from a fabulous Etsy seller back when I was expecting Mini. I loved that blanket and found it very useful.  So I thought I’d whip one up for a friend.  I am going to have a very hard time giving this one away, as I LOVE it.  I think I may make my way to my local fabric store, who just so happens to be having a sale on fabric right now, so I can pick up more of the print.  I have plenty of the Chenille…I over bought for a project and it has come in very handy ever sense.

Finally, my in-laws came over for a little visit today, during which I took a break from the sewing machine and joined the conversation while casting on this adorable bib.  I saw it while cruising Ravelry one day and thought it was just too darn cute.  Seems perfect for a drool bib, since it’s soft and  made of absorbant cotton.  The new baby will be getting plenty of these, as it works up very quickly.  This one will be given away, and is also sporting a coconut button.  I made it with part of a skein of All Season Cotton I had left over from a bigger project.  I really like that yarn.  It contains acrylic, which I usually avoid like the plague, but mixed with the Cotton, this Rowan yarn is still very lovely, and very practical for a bib, as it’s washer and dryer safe. It comes in some lovely earthy colors, as well.

I stitched up a bunch of special order car catchalls so I can get them mailed off tomorrow.  I also cut out a bunch of new ones to add to the store, some from completely new fabrics that I’ve never used before.  Yesterday, when hanging out with Kim, we stumbled into a sale at the Portsmouth Fabric Company.  I decided instead of being wooed by all the amazing fabric into make a purchase far bigger than I could afford, I would simply purchase small quantities of several of the fabrics that were catching my eye, to make Catch-alls.  It was a great idea, as I got to play with the new prints, but my pocketbook is still flush.  I should be updating some tomorrow and over the next few days.

I’m trying to decide when enough is enough on the tree.  I am just receiving so much enjoyment from it, and it’s holding it’s needles very well, so I don’t want to let it go, but I also feel it’s a bit in the way, and it would be nice to have the space back.

When do you get rid of your tree, if you even have one at all?

I’ll keep you posted on Husband’s progress, as some of you have expressed an interest.  He has a few more rows on his wash cloth, and when he’s at least half done I’ll show it again.  He was pretty pleased to be featured on the blog.  That was fun.  He realized at one point that he had gained a couple stitches.  He commented on it and I was finishing up the row I was on, and I looked over and he was decreasing to get back to the right number.  I was very amused and impressed with his logical idea on how to decrease, as I hadn’t shown him that little manuever, but he was knitting 2tog.  Now that does make for a slightly wonky wash cloth, but that is why he’s making that project, since it totally doesn’t matter what it looks like, it will still be functional.

I must go do the hand work on the catch-all’s.  Thanks for stopping in!

She found an adorable hat pattern and is wishing for knitting time to make all the cool things she has yarn for January 5, 2008

I’ve found some fun new blogs lately, some of which I’ll probably be adding to my left column soon, and have been hopping about.  By doing so I found this very adorable hat, that I want to make for my little girl.  I love the little applique too.  So cute.  I think the pattern lends well to making little slots for her pigtails.  I’ve seen a hat with that as part of the pattern, but didn’t really love the hat.  I think this one will be a good shape for that, and that way she won’t have little bumps in her hat.  I love little girls in pigtails!!

I am almost done the little vest.  I really wish it was more fun to finish, but alas, it’s not.  I got help from my friend Kim, which took the edge off, but blech.  It is super cute and will make a great gift, so that part is encouraging.

I spent time with Kim today, and we didn’t spend much of it knitting so I don’t have any fabulous pictures to share.  I did throw a couple more rows on the sleep sack, and a few more rows on the Malabrigo Sweater I’m making for Mini.

I promise to be more visually productive tomorrow, with finished projects to show!