Saturday

I was able to do two things today that I have been wanting to do for a long time. Life just keeps getting in the way and there are so few free moments to just sit and do something you love. But today...today I got my chance. I was able to knit and play my guitar.
I've been working on these mittens for myself for...I'm ashamed to say how long. I guess less then a year. So that's not so bad, considering we had summer in there and who wants to knit mittens in +20 weather? Anyways, the pattern is from a great little book called, "Favorite Mittens , Best Traditional Mitten patterns from Fox and Geese and Flying Geese and Partridge Feet" I really like the pattern and I love the way the contrasting colours are working. The two yarns worked so closely together makes a thick warm fleece. I'm excited to try them out against the Sask.


And I picked up my guitar to try to write a little and just enjoy playing. I have been piddling away at a certain song now for a while and I went back to it again and enjoyed hashing it out again. Ian slept through it all. The other two where occupied ( I bet you can guess how) and I had a few moments too myself. Lovely.

knitting, and saskatoon berries

We've got a mix today. First i had to show you this beautiful picture of Grace and Ian. She is a really good helper. I can't thank the Lord enough for the love Elijah and Grace both have for Ian. They are always willing to help me with him.

Second I had to show you the vest completed. I changed it up a bit and he wears it as a tank top. I like the changes I made though. More summery.
And Thirdly, I wanted to show you the Saskatoon Berries I picked this afternoon with the kids and my friend Leanne. I wish I had remembered to bring my camera with me to the berry patch. We had a lot of fun. The kids found caterpillars and spiders and Leanne and I picked. The kids also accidentally knocked over the pails a few times, so they need a good bath when we got home. So that's what I'm doing in this frist picture. Two pails worth in the sink with cold water. Alot of the leaves and sticks and stuff floated to the top conveniently.


Then I took my little strainer and scooped out the berries. As I poured them into the bowl I grabbed out the bad ones and anyother stuff I don't want in my jam.
And here's the bowl full of yummy clean Saskatoon Berries. I picked too small of a bowl so they eventually ended up in my largest Tupperware bowl. It is unfortunately white, so I'm scared it is going to turn purple...but what's a girl to do?! I try to remember to take picture when I turn it into jam.

Knitted Vest

On my needles I have a very nice sweater vest for Ian. (pictured at the top) I'm not going to use the contrasting color on the edges. I've been wanting to try Lion Brand's Cotton-Ease. I bought it at Micheal's. When I found it there I was so excited. I had thought I was going to have to order it. I didn't have a pattern in mind when I found it so I only bought two balls of this brown. So had to find a pattern that only used that much. The Lion Brand site has so many great patterns for free.

Eye Candy

I found this amazing blog today called "homespun living". You have to check it out. She is a gifted seamstress, knitter, and home decorator. I am inspired by her art and beautiful photos. It is so generous of her to invite us into her home and work.
I have copied down her pattern for knit dish clothes and am excited to try it out. Need to get some cotton. I might have enough for one cloth. I guess that's a start!
I'm working on a sweater for Ian. I received the pattern from my mom. When I left home she gave me all her knitting supplies and binder of patterns. Its a raglan sweater with finished neck line. ( unlike the last sweater I made which was also a raglan.) I've changed the look of it by knitting a different motif. Its more like a Fair Ilse look. I enjoy uses a pattern but also being able to add my own creativity. My camera's memory card is full and the the battery is dead, so I'll have to up load some photos when that problem has been solved.
I'm looking forward to the day Ian starts taking two long naps a day. I'll start sewing again and get more knitting down. At the moment the sewing has all but stopped and the knitting is done in 5-10 minute intervals. I'm not complaining...just looking forward to the future! :)
Well that's it for me. I'm off to bed. Church tomorrow. Sundays are always big days.
Amie

Ian's stripped sweater.

I'm really happy with the the way this sweater turned out. I had to use needles a size larger than the pattern called for so its a bit stretchy. Its a bit big for Ian just yet. It made it 9-12 months. The neck line is bigger than I thought it would be but I think it will look better when the sweater fits him on the whole. Its so soft and the blue is so bright and warm. I'm so proud of all my seams. I find a sight called Knitting Help. It has lots of videos showing how to different techniques. So this is my first kniiting projects with such great seams.
I've just found this great website in the last few days called Ravelry This is a community that shares patterns, projects, yarn. You can find out info on all kinds of yarn. I haven't yet explored all of its possibilities. Crocheters and Knitters alike will really enjoy this site. Take a look. Lots of free patterns!

Domestic Bliss

I had bought a turkey awhile back because it was a good price. Since, I have not had the time or will to cook it, but today I finally did it. First I roasted it. I boiled the neck, liver and heart with carrot, celery and onion for Ian. I didn't puree the heart or the liver for him but I'm hoping all their goodness got into the veggies the neck meat and the broth. Then I took all the meat off the turkey and put it into a pan to rewarm later for supper. I put some pan drippings in the bottom of the pan to keep it moist. Then I made my broth with the carcass. We definitely didn't eat enough turkey at supper. Lots of leftovers. I'm going to make soup for supper tomorrow with my broth and extra meat. There is a lot of broth so I think I'll give some soup to someone. I'll make a double batch. We can use some of the turkey for lunch meat. I'll freeze some for a cassarole later. I"m not great at remembering to use frozen leftovers. I also have a hard time thinking of ways to use cooked meat. I'm hoping you can use it the way you would meat with less cooking time. I was going to make a lentil casserole this week. You'll find the recipie at my girlfriend's blog on the Jan. 19th entry. I made it a couple weeks ago and everyone liked it. I added some cut up boneless chicken thighs, but I wonder if I could put some cut up turkey?


I thought I would add a picture of the yarn I'm using to knit Ian's sweater. I rolled it all into balls this afternoon. 50g skeins don't take any time at all to ball. I'm used to larger skeins that seem to take a long time to get into a ball.
I put some puff wheat on Ian's tray today and he picked it up and ate it. He loves eating. I actually think he must be having a growth spurt because he's nursing consistently every 3 hours or sooner.

Elijah's sweater

So after i knit Grace's sweater I had to make one for Elijah. So here it is. I used one of his monster drawing as a template for the picture I stitched on the front. I think he really likes it. It is a bit of a heavy sweater. It may be good for the spring, when that's all you need to wear outside.

I also made him a hat. I got the idea for the rim off Etsy . I made a pink one for Grace but she seems to have misplaced it already. Very sad. I'm sure I'll find it somewhere and then I'll post a picture of it. I think it made it a bit deep.
My next project is a sweater for Ian. In Regina I bought some beautiful pima cotton, Merino wool mixed yarn. I'm planning on using a Debbie Bliss pattern.
All this knitting has really dug into my reading time. Not really getting any done. Its hard to knit and read. So I'm still not done "Shake hands with the Devil." Its pretty depressing, and very long. I try to read a few pages while I'm nursing. Ian doesn't take too long though so I only get a couple pages read at a time.
We have been watching a whole lot of Olympics. The TV is on alot. Its a bit addictive. I'm getting tired of hearing CTV say, we have a great chance on getting a medal and then we get 4th or 5th. I wish they would stop jinxing us like that.

The kids are all having fun crafting this morning. Ian is watching his siblings with awe and amazement. It makes a big difference now that he can sit all by himself. He'll sit long periods of time just playing with his toys or watching the older two.

from bum to top...

I knit this diaper cover for Ian last summer while I was still pregnant. Very easy pattern, and you can add legs if you want. I bought the pattern online from Green Way Babywear You can buy them already made or get the pattern to make it yourself. You need 100% wool. Try to find a soft kind like, merino wool. I bought just plain wool but it is processed gently without a lot of cemicals so its pretty soft. Its called Custom Woolen Mills ltd. Make sure its not superwash because you need all the natural lanolin and a bit of felting. If you are interested in learning how to help make your woolies even more waterproof just ask and I'll send you the instructions. I really like them. They are not bulky, and keep baby dry. We live in a cold place but I've read from moms who live in hot places that it keeps their babies cool and dry. The miracles God created for us!


So I finished the sweater for Grace. I took it apart a few time before I settled on what it was going to look like. I used some wool I already had in the house. Unfortunately it was 100% wool and not a very soft variety. So she's complaining that its itchy. Poop! I had her wear it with a long sleeve shirt on underneath. This seems to appeased her somewhat. Elijah wants one now, but I'm not going to go to all that work just for him to complain its itchy too. So I may just go to Walmart and buy some cheap yarn.