A Movie, A Poll, A Quilt.

It's been a while, hasn't it? I haven't posted since Thanksgiving! What a slack little blogger I am! To be honest I've been quite busy- I've worked everyday since the holiday, and we're doing a big promotion so I'm exhausted when I get home!


Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I feel like I can talk about Christmas.  I just don't like to rush the holidays along!  I've been thinking about my favorite movies of the season, and The Snowman came to mind instantly!  I loved the book as a small child, and the animated film always gives me a magical, child-like feeling.  I was looking online for clips, when I found the whole thing online!!!  And I've embedded it below!  Yay for google video!  The quality isn't 100%, but it's free and right here!  What are your favorite Christmas movies?

 Oh!  David Bowie introduces the film, and narrators the film briefly in the beginning.  I've had a debate with a friend of mine for a while now.  I say that David Bowie is one very attractive man.  She says that he absolutly is not.  If you wouldn't mind, I'd love you to answer the poll on the sidebar.  Please, only answer once!  I know that his sexiness can drive ladies to drastic measures, but lets be fair about this! ;)  Feel free to elaborate on your opinion in the comments!

I've been working on a few projects for Christmas, and most of the items can't be shown here.  Stealth knitting- I'm sure you know all about that...  But I can show you the quilt that is in progress!

I'm not very good at quilting or sewing, but sometimes I have fun while doing it. I just cut out 4.5 inch squares, and now I'm sewing them together. I'm almost sure that white sashing is what I've decided to go with, but I could change my mind. It's been known to happen!

I'm Thankful for...

An afternoon serenade.

My wonderful family.

Crazy friends who will steal photos of a trip to Rome, just to superimpose an image of my face on an elf's body.  Thanks, buddy!

My comfortable little crafty life!

  I'm thankful for all of you out in Blogland!  You've brightened my life in so many ways!  Happy Thanksgiving, to each and every one of you!

FO: Thorpe Hat

I've been a busy bee the past couple of days!  After I realized how little time I have before Christmas, I was inspired!  I knit two hats in four day, and I am so pleased with them!  The pattern is by Through the Loops, and the pattern is called Thorpe.  I totally disregarded the brim and earflaps, but I fell in love with the colorwork.  When I'm knitting with two colors at once, I just get into a zone- and I have a hard time ripping myself away from the project!  I used Cascade Eco-Wool on a size 9 needle.  Sorry they look so wonky in the picture, the hats haven't been blocked and they were stuffed unevenly.  Oops!  I was just so excited to show you all I couldn't wait! 

I'm having the best morning! I decided that I no longer hate my sewing machine, so it's game time in the house of LazyKateCreates! I've been ironing, cutting and sorting. Now I'm trying to figure out how I want to piece those little suckers together.  I'm thinking about adding some sashing between rows.  Any ideas for the color of the sashing?  I'm pretty bad at color, so any help would be appreciated!  

I hope all of you Americans have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow!  Everybody else- have a great day too!

Christmas Panic

It's here!  I knew that I would get that kick in the butt to get me started on Christmas knitting.  Someone said something to me at work about "five weeks until Christmas".  I thought they were lying.  I thought they were just trying to freak me out.  Nope.  I'm just totally behind.  I think that with some focus and planning, I have enough time to knit everything that is on my list.  Just be warned:  I'm pretty sure that this "Christmas Panic" thing is going to turn into a series.

I've knit a hat so far, a pair of mittens need their thumbs, and a funny little toy needs sewing up.  I just can't believe how far behind I am!  I'm knitting double speed with bulky yarn- that'll do the trick, don't you think?!  I need to sing the praises of Eco Wool, by Cascade.  That yarn is such a bargain, $15 for 478 yards- and the yarn is great to work with!  I have two skeins, and I'm planning on making most of my presents from just those!

What are your solutions for holiday gift giving?  Do you wait until the last minute?  Plan all year?  Find the quickest means possible and then- execute!?!  I'm love to hear how you all deal with the holiday season as a crafty person!

A Mother's Guilt

Harold on bed-rest 

Ok, so I haven't had any children yet.  But I do have my little snuggle-puss, Harold.  I adopted him about four years ago, and I take my job as caretaker very seriously.

Recently, he's had trouble jumping up on my lap.  Determined kitty that he is, he would claw his way up the chair to settle on my lap.   He's never had any problems with his hind quarters, and this new development really scared me.  Also, when I would try to get up and give him a little boost off my lap, he would meow and hiss.  Not a good sign.

This went on for a couple of days.  I was hoping that it was just a pulled muscle, and it would heal on it's own.  It didn't.  I gave the vet a call on Monday, and they saw him that very afternoon.  They said that it was one of two things:  either diabetes or that he had been injured.  To get a urine sample, the vet wanted to hold him overnight.  We refused.  Harold lived in a shelter for four months, and the idea of leaving him in another "jail" type setting broke my heart.  We were instructed on how to get a urine sample, and sent on our way.

The next morning I brought Harold to the vet again.  They gave him a blood test, and ruled out diabetes immediately.  The next step was x-rays, and I'm shocked still at what they found.  His back was broken in TWO places, with a chip of bone floating around in there.  TWO PLACES.

I've been trying to deal with this for two days now, and I'm still so shaken up.  He's an indoor cat.  He's a bit sedentary.  He doesn't really play, run or do much of anything.  I feel like such a bad mom.  I know that accidents happen, but I don't understand how I let him be in pain, without getting a diagnosis.  I'm just racked with guilt. I've had nightmares about a flash flood coming up to the house, and needing to save Harold from drowning,  welling up with guilt at the idea of letting him down again.

So my question is, to all of you moms out there, how do you deal with this sort of thing when it's your child, not just a pet?  I'm so freaked out by my situation pertaining to a cat- what will I do when I have children?  Do you learn to just keep a brave face?  

In Search of Lost Time

This is my favorite street sign ever!  This was one of my favorite books in college.  I've been meaning to snap a picture of this for years now, but I've never felt like I had the time to stop.  The other day I slammed on my brakes and finally snapped a photo, before my camera died.

You all are pretty lucky my camera died, though.  On my drive home I got stuck behind a pickup truck with its tailgate down, dead deer at eye level with me in my little Subaru.  I reached over to grab my camera- I really wanted to include you in want life looks like here in rural Maine!  You're not too disappointed, are you?  ;)

Today I will....

Spin a bit.

Knit a bit.

Read my new books!!!

Think about weaving in some ends.

I will also think about cleaning the apartment, but I'm pretty sure that's as far as it will go.

Preview

I hope you all have had a great weekend!  I worked all weekend, but that's a good thing.  I'm just excited to have a little work on the side- any extra income will help with Christmas on its way!

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I feel like I need to provide a sneak peek into what I've been creating as of late.  This project is taking forever!  It's a scarf made of fingering weight yarn, so it's creeping along.  I love it, and can't wait to show you the Finished Object, blocked and in all it's glory!

I haven't knit a scarf for a long time!  My focus has been mainly on hats and mittens and socks! oh My!  The speed (or lack thereof) of the project is making me wonder:  Why is a persons first project always a garter stitch scarf?  Scarfs take a long time, are pretty boring, and take a long time.  Why don't people knit a rolled brim hat as their first project?  It's all knitting, the mystery of decreasing is snuffed out with the first project, and a hat looks more impressive than a scarf even to a non-knitter!  Why oh why must we first trudge through a scarf?

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I've been looking for a good website with free blog backgrounds.  It's hard to find a good one when you just google the words "free blog background".  A bit broad, don't you think?  Are there any sites that come to mind?  I love shabbyblogs.com , but they don't have anything that really calls to me right now.   I would be grateful for anything you might think is useful!

Your opinion, please.

Thanks so much for all of your comments on the previous post!  You ladies are so amazing!  You really know how to make a girl feel better.  Thanks for all of your kind words- they really mean a lot.  I'm feeling much better, and looking at things in a new light!

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I started a new job a month ago, working in antiques.  I have absolutely have no background or knowledge in this field, so I'm really learning a lot!  I've always thought of antiques along the same lines as russian literature- there is so much information, so much to learn that I just don't know where to start.  So now I've been thrust into this whole new field, and I'm having a blast!  My coworkers are kind and funny- and already feel comfortable enough to give me a hard time, which I love.

But there's something I need you all for.  You see, I'm still "the new girl" and I still feel pressure to be professional.  But there is something that's been bothering me for some time now.  I asked My Mister if I was a gross pervy pervert.  He said yes.  Thanks, honey!



What do you think?  Does this seem like a good way to display two footstools?  Every time I look at it I just think of two Galapagos turtles going at it.  Is it just me?  I really hope not!  The sexual goings on of huge reptiles is not something that I want to think about at work.   I really, really feel like it looks like one footstool is mounting the other!  On a gilded bed, to top it all off!  It just seems like a silly way to put the two together!  When would one ever be propped up onto the other inside ones home?  To simulate turtle sex, of course!



So tell me- am I a weirdo sex person?  Or is that just a really inappropriate way to display footstools?

Funk.

Not the James Brown kind, either.  I'm in a little funk, and I'm working on getting myself out of it.  Do you ever feel a little uncomfortable in your own skin?   I just feel a little less sure than I usually do.  Most of the time I'm really confident, I don't second guess myself and I just roll with whatever life brings my way.

I think that the blog has made me pay attention to my life.  And I don't think I'm processing that information in a way that is useful.  I've been looking at my life, and I honestly don't do much.  I go to work, I come home, cook something, and then sit down in my little wingback chair and knit with my cat on my lap.  There really isn't much more.  I live in a rural area, so there really can't be much more.

I could totally look at this in another light, though.  And I guess that's what I'm trying to say.  I really love my life, and there is so much energy that I could be putting into enhancing what I have.  I love my job.  I love coming home to my sweetie and making a delicious dinner where I have the opportunity to be creative and experiment with any ingredients that I want.  Every night I get to hang out with my favorite person in the world.  I have the time to knit for hours on end.  My life is great- but I think I may have a case of the winter blahs.

I've decided to give myself a kick in the ass.  I can find the little things in life to post about!  My life is rich and full, there isn't a lack of inspiration!  I also think I should force myself to post more.  Maybe everyday? I"m not sure about that.... We'll see.  Is there anyone else who is posting daily?

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of Bok Choy that I picked up at the grocery store today.  It's so beautiful and green, and luscious.  My Mister picked it out for me, and we both just stood there and studied its beautiful leaves and veins.  Tonight it will be cooked in a ginger sauce with tofu and rice noodles- yum!

Stash Enhancement Sunday- Hello Yarn Edition

I've posted a picture of my little Ladybug, just in case anyone is a member of the HYFC, and hasn't received their fiber yet!  If you don't want to see club fiber- go back now!

I'm so excited about this fiber! I waited months to get into the club. The waiting list to get into the club is years long, so I was thrilled to receive the invitation after only six months! This is the third installment that I have received, and it's my favorite yet!

The colorway is called Grim. The fiber content is 60% Superwas Merino, 30% Bamboo and 10% Nylon. This fiber is screaming "Socks!" to me, but first I feel like I have to practice spinning superwash again- it's been a while! I really don't want to mess up this fiber. It's so pretty, and I'll never have another chance to spin it, because this is it. She dyes up batches for the club, and then it's gone. I need to stop thinking so much about Hello Yarn fiber, and just spin it! I have a bunch in my stash now, but it's just so pretty the way it is! I'll leave you with a bit of pron. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

The Perfect Day Off

I am having the most wonderful day off!  Yay!!!  First, I slept in and hung around in bed.  I stretched, rolled around, rubbed my face into the cold part of my pillow and generally acted like a sleepy little cat.  I had a lazy morning around the apartment and really didn't do anything.

Until I made breakfast.  Oh, how I love to eat.  I often wonder what it would be like to be a person who could actually forget to eat.  Seriously.  I love food.  My whole day is organized around what opportunities I will have to eat.  This morning, I decided to try out a recipe I found on Smitten Kitchen.  It's the Breakfast apple granola crisp and holy my goodness gracious is this stuff good!  If you like baked apple goodness, then please please try this!

I did modify the recipe just a bit.  I reduced the butter to 6 tablespoons, because there's this part of me that really can't handle using a whole stick of butter for one dish.  It's a mental block that I just can't seem to break down.  A whole stick of butter seems like so much!  I didn't have any coconut, so I just doubled the amount of almonds.  I had macintosh apples on hand, which tend to cook down quickly, so the cooking time was reduced to 25 minutes.

My day has consisted of eating my apple crisp, knitting on something that has been hibernating for a few months now, and watching last nights episodes of The Office, Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock in my jammies.  What a lovely day!  What do you all do to enjoy your days off?

A Post of Many Parts

Harold had a wonderful, drug crazed birthday! He wanted me to send you his thanks for all of the warm birthday wishes.  Thank you so much!
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I woke up yesterday morning with an earth shattering migraine. I could hardy function. Every step walking down the stairs seemed to jog me in a devastating way. I had to force myself to eat something, so I could then take medicine. Thankfully, My Mister had the day off, so he was here to take great care of me. I went to work, but I wasn't really working at 100%.  I sort of shuffled through the day, trying to be a pleasant as possible, trying to wear my big girl pants.  Yesterday was miserable.

But this morning, I feel great! There's something so wonderful about life after a migraine. I realize just how lucky I am to be healthy for the majority of my existence. I remember how wonderful my body is, and how blessed I am that most of the time, it is a beautiful machine that almost never causes me pain.  I just feel so much relief!
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There was something else that brightened my day- I won a blog contest! Karen Gray Designs had a blog contest for a box of fat quarters! Of Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope! It was beautifully packaged- like a little package of candy, and before I could realize what I was doing- the package was torn apart!  I thought to myself  "What the hell are you doing?  Now what will I show the blog!" Well, the pretty fabric, of course!



Isn't this fabric so amazing- I've just been day dreaming about what to do with all of these little lovelies!  I love the designs!  I love brown and blue!  These fabrics are so perfect, and I'm so excited to figure out what to make!  Thanks so much, Karen!  This is such a treat!