More Frakking snow

(This is my new wonderful bureau and the only picture I have of me in the dress I had made for Hawaii by Daniel Beaudet, designer in residence at Effiloche. Barb, stop pestering me now.)

I have tried to be cheery about winter. It hasn't been to hard actually. I like that the fresh snow covers up the dirty snow and all looks fresh and clean and bright. Its beautiful. Its a marshmallow world!
I am so f%cking sick of shovelling "marshmallows" I could scream.
COME ON!!! I don't even like to talk to my KIDS before I've had some coffee let alone clean off the car AGAIN and shovel out the end of the drive so I can get them to school. Seriously. Enough is enough already. Thank gods for wonderful neighbors like the guy whose name I don't know (but i know his wifes name so I just call him C's husband)who was clearing his drive way end at the same time and trotted over to speed my job up. How sweet is that??
The backed up traffic was NOT sweet. Why is it that when snow is on the road simple things like manners or common sense are just thrown to the wind? The highways are VERY backed up this morning and as a result so are all the streets that have access to the exits. But does that mean you have the right to block intersections so that other people can't get around? Where I come from you keep the intersection clear while you sit and wait for traffic to move. Not everyone is going in your direction, dickheads, and it would be nice to get out and into the lanes going the other way! Or to be able to turn onto a street when I have the right of way. Dickheads.
Ok...what else is annoying me.. The Manly Fake Isle is being persnickity. To do the decreases necessary I will end up with a ginormous hat so I need to rip back and start them sooner OR do more of them. Thatc oupled with the math to figure out how many decreases I needed and how many stitches to knit in between near had me in tears. Math not good for me. Make me sad and cranky. Ug.
While I was doing some knitting last night my darling first born wanted to be full of the helpy-ness so he requested the permission to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer. Sure i said. he knows what buttons to press but we went over it again anyways.
Later he came to me to tell me how WET and DRIPPY the clothes had been and that it got water on the floor but he was good and wiped it up with a towel from the hamper.... AAAACK!!!! I ran down stairs to see that there was still some water standing in the washer (front loader), hit the power button on the dryer to shut it down and then slammed the washer shut to turn it onto the shortest cycle in order to get it to drain. It must have unbalanced or something and shut down and Ben assumed that all was well. Once washy was empty I opened the dryer and removed the absolutely sodden dripping clothes back to the washer to again attempt getting them clean. Then I had to sop up the standing water in the dryer and off the floor. Holy crap. There was a burnt smell whick I assume may have been from the belt of the dryer trying to tumble the very heavy soaking clothing. Ben and I had a quick tutorial on how clothes should never be drippy when going into the dryer and if this ever happens again, come get mommy. Oh the joys of scaling Mount Washmore.
I needs more coffee.
Washy and his brother are working fine by the way. The washer is running as we ...type/read...? There are still a couple loads to be done to eradicate all the dirty laundry. I did MANY loads yesterday and thanks to the wonder substance known as caffeine I even put my clothes away in my new bureau. And do you know WHAT??? Thanks to the wonder spatial event known as more drawers, my clothes FIT in the bureau!!! The drawers can open and close with ease and nothing gets caught.
There is even room for more.... shh don't tell.

On top of Ol' Laaaauuuundryyyy

There is quite a view...its getting so taaaallll there should be snow tooo......
Yes the laundty mountain is STILL not a foothill despite yeasterdays efforts. Its not the Everest it was...but its defininitly not levelled out. ARGH me and my laziness. See this is all because A) HM went away and while the cat is away the mouse totally slacks on the housework B) when HM returned he brougfht with him his laundry ($&*rassafrackin&#!...grrr)C) we had company so housework was not attacked this weekend as planned D) Cammie wet the bed.... These all added up to crazy laundry madness. No back to bed for me today. Laundry..only laundry..and maybe some knitting...and making supper...and hanging my curtains...
I assembled the laundry hamper and I am very pleased with its addition to the bathroom. Its already full, too. Whoda thunk it?
Last night for supper I made a recipe from the current Eating Well magazine. May I just say this is an awesome food maghazine? Its fantastic food but healthy and there are lots of healthy food articles too. We had a customer at our shop whose daughter worked for the magazine at that time and he recommended it as a title we should carry and thats how I got hooked.
Anyways, here it is:
Linguine with Escarole & Shrimp
NUTRITION PROFILE:
Low Calorie | High Fiber | Low Sat Fat | High Potassium | Heart Healthy | Healthy Weight
VIEW COMPLETE NUTRITION GUIDELINES »
Lots of tangy lemon, fresh tomatoes, escarole and shrimp create an incredible sauce for whole-wheat pasta. Serve with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and whole-grain bread.

Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each

ACTIVE TIME: 45 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

8 ounces whole-wheat linguine
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 pound peeled and deveined raw shrimp (16-20 per pound)
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
16 cups thinly sliced escarole (2-3 heads) or chard leaves
1/4 cup clam juice or water (see Shopping Tip)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 lemon wedges for garnish

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook linguine until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, heat 3 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until pink and curled, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add garlic and the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add wine and cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes. Add escarole (or chard) in handfuls, stirring until it wilts before adding more; cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk clam juice (or water) and cornstarch in a small bowl then add to the pan; simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the pan, add lemon juice, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
4. Drain the linguine and return it to the pot. Add the sauce; toss to coat. Serve with lemon wedges.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 271 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 112 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrate; 20 g protein; 10 g fiber; 502 mg sodium; 751 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (70% daily value), Folate (55% dv), Vitamin C (30% dv), Magnesium (25% dv), Potassium (21% dv).
2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 lean meat

TIP: Shopping Tip: Some bottled clam juices are very high in sodium, so salt the recipe accordingly. We like the Bar Harbor brand (120 mg sodium per 2-ounce serving). Look for it with the canned fish or in the seafood department of your supermarket.


USER COMMENTS
The best that can be said for this is that it is healthy and filling. But extremely boring. Some grated paremesan helped a little.

Susan, Ottawa, ON


I used spinach instead of escarole or swiss chard because I couldn't find either at the market. HM put parmesan on his like the User Comments. And it didn't make 6 servings in THIS house. More like 3 1/2. heehee

Monday is my new favourite day

Why? Because the boys are in this English reading program at lunchtime so that means I have the whole day, from the time they leave til the time they get home after shool, to MYSELF. Oh sweet UNINTERRUPTED peace and quiet how I have missed you. And what did I do so far? I slept.
Sad but terribly true, but I am exhausted from no sleeping in this weekend, and y'know how I loves my sleepin' in. We had early rising company visiting so we were good hosts and got up to make coffee and be sociable even though my sociable doesn't kick in til later. Sunday we took advantage of the getting up for guests to go to Ikea EARLY (unheard of!). By 11:30 we were back in the car with...ahem...a lot of stuff. 2 new dressers for our bedroom to deal with the ugly dresser and drawer shortage. A new laundry hamper of which I say we need about 50 to deal with the dirty laundry this house creates but oh well, we got one. A low table/coffee table thing to go next to my knitting chair, a duvet. a duvet cover, curtains, rods, finials, brackets, coordinating pillows....oh and lightbulbs. The car was packed. As soon as we were home and unpacked HM started assembly. this was a disaster for the largest bureau because the parts weren't right at all. Holes and pegs and drawer bottom slots did not line up. The half assembled bureau went back into the car with the smi assembled drawers and went back to Ikea. Oh and smaller bureau was perfect...but big bureau was seriously f%cked up. HM returned home with new boxes of bureau and by bedtime had it assembled. It looks lovely. We moved the antique loveseat from the dormer window nook to the end of the bed and put small dresser in its place. Tall dresser is where my white one had been. I washed the new duvet cover and the throw pillow covers and the assembled it all on the bed. Holy warmness!! That one duvet (the 365 duvet(year round)) is warmer than the two blankets it has replaced together. I was seriously warm...too warm. But its so poofy ... Today sleeping it was like nestling in to a comforting burrow. Aaaaahhhhh...
We went skiing on Saturday which was ok. i only managed one run thanks to the foot cramps from my boots and the terror that alpine skiing has for me now. In 2006 I was coming along very well! I was exhilerated and enjoyed it and did several runs each trip. Now I am terrified the whole time that I am going too fast and the other people are going too fast and they are going to crash into me I just know it and Godds why do skis have to be so f&cking FAST..... Going slow and VERY controled is tiring on the ol' quads lemme tell you. I spent the rest of the afternoon knitting...or trying to. Devising stranded knit earflaps for a project. I got both done and when home attached them into the cast on BACKWARDS...had to rip and re-cast on Sunday. I was just too tired saturday night(see above about no sleeping in) when the problem arose.
So that, in a nutshell is why today is my new favourite day. I sleep in, I do SFA more or less althought I do have a load of laundry in the washer now an will be doing at least one more, I will most likely knit or clean the kitchen too. And I suppose supper should be thought of....
Yup...
Until I meet the boys for their 4 PM hair cuts, my time is my own.

Remedies and an Idea..I has one

Cameron came home at lunch with mildly bloody socks. Seems he has contracted himself a case of Athlete's Foot. Not surprising given the fact that his feet get wet every day in his boots which may not dry thoroughly overnight (he has TWO pair and we rotate them wet for dry) plus wearing his maybe wet socks in his indoor shoes all day. Now that he showers himself (mostly) I haven't been going over him with the eagle eye like when I did the scrubbin's. Anyways, today was the day when his feet lost enough skin to weep a bit so I kept him home from school for the afternoon to go shopping. First he had a tea tree oil foot soak.
One pair of his boots literally has a hole in it now so they went into the trash. His other pair were dry this morning but wet by lunch hour even though I spray them with silicone spray (they aren't rubbery..kinda quilted vinyly stuff). We hit Walmart and I found boots for NINE bucks(regular $35). I bought two pair. They are not super fantastico like Kamik or Sorel but will do to finish off this winter. Colour me happy at such a deal. also found kids sweat pants for $6. Woo Hoo.
Hit Jean Coutu for dry green clay and searching for an essential oil thats particularly good for athlete's foot (tagetes). Could not find it anywhere I searched (2 drug stores, 3 brands of essential oils) so I got Cypress instead. Also got some zinc oxide cream.
Now, y'all might say "You don't have babies...why zinc oxide cream???" Well, lemme tell ya. Zinc oxide cream is indispensible in any home. Use it on : zits, cracked heels, cracked finger tips, jock itch, and other irritations besides diaper rash. Zinc is bactericidal and speeds heeling while the petroleum jelly and lanolin in the cream moisturises.
Once we were home I made a foot powder with the green clay, a bit of baking soda, and essential oils of : Tea Tree, Cypress, Lavender, and Eucalyptus.
I made a foot rub oil with olive oil and : Mint, Tea Tree, Cypress, and Lavender. It smells really nice but it tickles Cameron to have me rub his feet. LOL
Now for my IDEA:
I was visiting the gardening group on Ravelry and was inspired by a discussion on knit items for gardeners: one suggestion was a handle cozy for when you are raking or hoeing. My thoughts are these: one could make one by knitting in the round a sleeve for the straight handled tools It could be felted for durability and cushioning one's grip. The choices are to make it openended at both ends and glue it in place, or close one end with decreases etc like a glove finger and leave it loose so you can take it off and wash it. Bye bye blisters and slivers but not sure if it would slide too much.
Other Idea: THICK Felted knee pads or kneeling pad to protect tender knees from the ravages of kneeling in the dirt. Maybe Lambs Pride Bulky held double with a 12 or 15 mm needle? Maybe two layers of such? Or 3 layers of regular felted knitting?
By the way, dollar store flutter boards make awesome CHEAP kneeling pads.
What thinkst thou, oh knitters and gardeners?

A Plan...we has one

Spring (ish) Break is coming up here at Chez AliP at the end of this month. This has been an adjustment since we moved here...March Break in February? WTF?? back in NS ALL the public schools have the March Break vay-cay at the same time. Here in the Qc its staggered. Another adjustment because you say "We have break at this time" and someone is bound to tell you you are wrong because they have break at another time...but thats another story for another time...
HM arrived back from Va Beach last night full of love for that lovely place and this morning we had a discussion as to what this family will do for Break. Will we driv many many hours and lose two days to travel and go to his new favourite place in the 'Verse,or stay in province and do winter fun stuffs. Trust, it was a bit difficult to decide. I was kinda thinking that strolling on a vacant beach and not having to wear heavy duty outer garments would be a novelty in February...sigh. But the fact is thats a lot of driving for 2 or thress days of no snow. We are Canadian. We decided to embrace the snow. Plus if we don't go to Valcartier, the kids may kill us in our sleep.
SO, the plan is made. A room is booked at the Hotel Quebec in Ste-Foy for 3 nights. Its our favourite because of the pool area and good food in the restaurant. We have stayed there a few times now. Winter fun and shenanigans will be had at Village Des Vacances Valcartier. http://www.valcartier.com/page.aspx?GP=223&SID=241&LA=EN
If you have never been to Valcartier in winter OR summer you are missing some serious fun. Our first time was when the boys were pre-schoolers and we were here for a family visit at Christmas.
There...a vacation plan. We has one.

Whirlwind weekend

Friday we had snow. BIG snow, little snow, ice pellets...we had a storm that dumped big time. My friend Dana was scheduled to spend the night here Chez Nous after our knitfest at Effiloche. Well...Effiloche didn't happen for us thanks to the storm but Dana, being resourceful and wise in the ways of public transit, took the Metro to Laval and hopped an express bus right to the station which is only a couple blocks away from here. I got totally stuck trying to get out of my driveway and it took our wonderful neighbors Luc and Helene plus some random snowstorm pedestrian to push the $%^&&ing Acura out of the driveway. I tell you, I never woulda got stuck if I had the Volvo BUT someone has that in Virginia Beach where he's whooping it up with clients.
I finally made it to the bus station, got Dana, we went and grabbed pizza etc and rushed back home to the kids who were watching TV. Luc snow blowered my driveway Friday night during the storm. I owe BIG.
Saturday we lazed around in our jammies and ate pancakes and chocolatines and drank coffee and talked gardens. Then we decided we would get out so we showered, dressed, made the kids dress, and headed into Montreal. When we came out to shovel our way out because the plow had been by again and more snow was in the drive and on the stairs etc etc etc we discovered Luc had blowered out the end of the drive AGAIn. I owe SO big..
We hit Carta Magica for cards to bribe the kids with and then went to Effiloche to visit Ginette, whom I adore. Mucho hugs from G and Daniel. Ginette and I discussed a business proposition she had for me in knitting samples for her shop in return for compensation. This is kinda exciting! Daniel was also curious if I would do some for him at some point and we will discuss later if he still wants.
So, for Ginette I have two Fake Isles to knit. I love that pattern SO much. Easy but looks amazing!!! After we left Effiloche Dana treated us to dinner at Faste Fou. YUMMY fries there.
I wanted to cast on for the Fake Isle when I got home but I needed to call my mom and get scolded for not calling in days, read to the boys before bed, and then I was POOPED.
Today I have laundry piled so high...oh boy..
However, through LaineyGossip.com I found this clip of Sarah Silverman and I link it here because it HILARIOUS.
Backstory : Jimmy Kimmel has a running gag about bumping Matt Damon at the end of his show...Matt Damon has played along spectacularly..this clip is in retaliation for being bumped all the time. Sarah Silverman is Kimmel's long time girlfriend.
Enjoy: http://www.break.com/index/shes-screwing-matt-damon.html
An excellent finale to a great weekend.

Tuesday (what i did Monday)

I tried to post last night but the innernets was not cooperating with me. Here I am now though.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I went skiing again! I know!!... how crazy am I???
There is a trail we knew of but hadn't ever checked out so after lunch I dropped the boys at school and continued on my way to the trail Sure enough there were ski tracks so I got geared up and hit this unknown territory. Alone! I wasn't very stiff or sore so I was feeling a bit cocky. Lets just say I fell down more while alone..LOL
The trail went through a wooded area behind a subdivision and next to a golf course (Club Versant). The sun was shining and the ski was blue and my lungs were burning and my heart was pounding and my hands were aching from gripping my poles so tight. From the distance markers along the trail I think I did over 4 kms in an hour. I gfuess we could just measure by time: I skied for an hour with very short stops to A) get back up and B) catch my breath. Boy was I glad when I was DONE. LOL
The weather for today and tomorrow is BLEAH!!! Rain/snow/sleet/high winds... I am so glad I went out yesterday. My legs are stiffer, my back too, but it was good. And then I had a big nap. hee hee
Now, before I went out I had put RIBS in the oven. I have really got it goin' on when it comes to ribs now I must say.
Step one: Season the pork ribs and lay them in a roaster. I used Mrs Dash "Chicken and Rib" (i think thats the name) and a wee bit of salt. Then pour some water in the bottom of the pan, not much..less than a cup. Cover and place in a 200 degree F oven to steam cook slowly.
Step Two: Go skiing
Step 3: Take a nap.
Step 4 : ( 5 hours after step one) Increase oven to 300 for 30 minutes.
Step 5: Remove ribs from the roaster to a broiler pan or baking sheet. They should be pretty much falling a part so be careful. Douse with sauce and return to the oven, turn it up to 350 and leave it for 30 minutes to bake the sauce onto the ribs.
I served with potatoes and a vegetable. They were terrific. Tah-Dah!!!

A Beautiful Winter Day

Warm hand made socks (hand dyed by me too!), x-country skiing (ski fond in French), and I only fell down once!!! I had a hard time getting up so HM had to help. Lets just say between the laughter and getting bonked on the head by the camera around his neck, him helping me up was NOT a pretty or graceful sight.
So a I posted yesterday I had GREAT trepidation about buying the skis and going out for an afternoon of ski fond with HM. I couldn't get the pretty skis because the didn't have the right size for me(poop) so I got regular ol' skis and they work dandy. I love my boots. This afternoon we left right after the sitter arrived and headed for Cafe Castel to meet the Montreal Knits Sunday girls because I was buying newbie mary's Denise needles. Since we were there and had paid for parking, I let Samir talk me into cappucinos. Ok he didn't have to talk us into it. The man is a cappucino artist...he makes cool designs with the foam. I got a butterfly..hee hee Pretty coffee..hee hee HM got to meet the gals and see that YES I really do go out to knit with people and they got to see that he's not as bad as I say he is nd that he survives my abuse quite well.
Then it was off to Cap St Jacques for ski fond. And I did quite well for my first time in 23 years. The first half of the trail was harder than the second half but I only stopped a couple times to catch my breath. The legs and thighs were fine but MY BACK was not happy. At the top of a ginormous hill (ok...it was a small rise but you try shufflin' up a hill in skis) was the cabane where you can sit, get a snack, and in the sugar season have something syruppy. I had tea and a muffing and tried to cool off. Then we were off again and thats when I fell down. LOL

The back didn't scream for the second part of the trail and we had some good laughs. Afterwards we went to the Deli De La Tratorria in Pierrefonds for another cappucino and some goodies and then headed home. All in all it was a nice day and more romantic, in my opinion, than dinner and a movie. HM even offered to carry my skis at the end...(everyone go "AAAWWWWWWWW").. tee hee.
So now I'm chillin' with a beer and can't wait for next time.
It was all kinds of wonderful.

Back log pics 2

Ski babies and the Auto Show 2008. They did not like sharing a convertible and someone was very tired by the end.

The Day ..The Tempo.. Died

Where'd the Tempo go???




Oh! There it is....

What to do.....

Who knew that sleeping so much would end up sapping my muscles of so much strength? Ok..technically EVERYONE knows that but now I am living it. I have never been in such bad shape in my life and thats saying something because I have nevr EVER been IN shape. This is bad. A crisis of sorts for me personally.
Two weeks ago we went skiing and I barely made it through one run. ONE run where I used do do lots. Yes, my new boots are incredibly painful but it was also my thigh muscles burning that shocked me. Only ONE run. So incredibly pathetic.
I hate walking because its boring as hell. Working out to a video? Been there~ yuck to that. Join Curves? Did it and didn't go.
Tomorrow HM wants to get me some cross country gear. I loved cross country skiing as a teen. Haven't done it since although I wanted to and had the skis and boots iuntil my feet got too fat for said boots. I used to ask HM to get some xcountry skis and ski with me and he was always..NO WAY.
Well guess who bought xcountry skis when he was in Montreal alone for 6 months 3 years ago? He went a lot both with his Dad and alone and LOVED it. (ARGH!!!!!)
Since the kids and I have been here he hasn't used his cross country gear and we have spoken of it. So, tomorrow is the day we go and get me some gear and I start cross countrying again.
This should have me bouncing with joy and anticipation but actually i am having big trepidation. This whole out of shape is VERY bad and NOT an exaggeration and I fear the shame I will feel tomorrow trying to xcrountry for the first time in 23 years. The shame, the pain, the burning sensation in my lungs and various body parts, the anger and rage I will feel at myself for allowing this to happen......
This could be all kinds of wonderful or very very unwonderful and traumatizing. I'll let you know if i live.

Thursdayness..........

Its Thursday and its F%cking cold out there. Minus 20ish Celcius...no idea on the Farenheit (I believe minus 7C is 20 degrees F...I think I heard that on the news yesterday and was all "Oh...how interesting.." but i maybe remembering it wrong.)
~Break taken to find Celcius conversion online~
Nope I remembered the above more or less correctly ( -7C is technically 19.4F but who is counting)
Ok...Minus Twenty degrees Celcius is equal to minus 4 F.
Suffice to say: Its Chilly!!
So...what else besides its cold...ummm....
There is knitting tonight at Ariadne but I am feeling draggy so I think I just want to stay home tonight. Must go to Sunday's knit though because I have arranged to buy someones spare set of Denise needles at a great price and am quite excited. There are felted Denise holding bag patterns on Cat Bordhi's site http://www.catbordhi.com/free_patterns.html and I think i will have to make one because the Denise case doesn't have room for additional needles according to what I have read.
No school tomorerow and we were supposed to go to Sheila, Ben's therapist,(www.creativeandplaytherapy.com), but her poor mom has been in an accident and Sheila needed to cancel. Ben will be disappointed but I don't mind so much since it means no rushing around on a "day off". Sheila is absolutely amazing I do have to say and if you or someone you know has issues to be worked through, she is fabulous.
Dr William Dyer is on Ellen right now and I have never heard him speak before. Oh my gods the man is brilliant and so inspiring. WOW. His latest book is based on the Tao and its teachings. He quoted Mark Twain:
"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds upon the heel that has crushed it."I leave that thought with you now.

How bizarre and sad.

It was all over the internet yesterday about Heath Ledger's death. You know, thats how his FAMILY found out! It was all over the media before the police even could call next of kin. Sick and wrong, that.
Heath Ledger was never my favourite actor though I do not dispute the fact that the man had massive talent. With so much life, film opportunities, his daughter's life, etc ahead of him, his time is over. It really is such a waste. Sad sad sad.

OSCAR says Canadians Rock!

Ok..maybe not precisely like that but come on! Sarah Polley is nominated(or at least her film is) and Ellen Page and Jason Reitman are in Juno, which is nominated for Best Picture. Whats strange about Juno's nomination? Its a COMEDY. Thats almost unheard of, a comedy getting nominated for best picture.
Ok..now, why do I even care? Technically I don't so much. My cinophile tendencies are getting pretty watered down as the years go by, no longer a wanna be actress...no longer working in video stores...You know how it is.
Ok..back to why I am interested in Juno's nomination... Ellen Page is the actress playing Juno, the lead character in the movie of that name. She is a mere 20 years old and already her career is kinda WOW (Pit Pony, Marion Bridge, Hard Candy, X-Men Last Stand)! and...AND......
SHE is from Halifax, Nova Scotia!!!!!!! Yeah baby!
Ellen Page's family must be flippin' out with excitement. Halifax? Can ya's hear them screamin'??
Betcha registration at The Shambhala School goes up cuz of this. heh heh

Yummy!

In A Panic salad:
I am calling it this because I had supper going when HM called and it turned out he didn't pick up the spiced potatoes at Adonis like I told him to. Yes I did tell you. So what to do but throw on some rice and make a salad...but out of what?? A fridge search scrounged up this........

Red Onion (OR sweet spanish onion) thinly sliced in half rounds
Plum Tomatoes thinly sliced
English cucumber thinly sliced
fresh Cilantro leaves chopped
Olive oil, Red wine vinegar, a drop or so of honey, salt and pepper.
Slice the veggies and throw them in a bowl. Chop the cilantro ( a goodly amount)and toss that in with the veggies.
Into a clean jar Put oil and vinegar enough for your salad and add to it a drop or so of honey, just to take the edge off, and salt and pepper. Shake well and pour over the other ingredients, tossing the salad with your hands until slices are all separated and coated and mixed up.
Serve with meal.


I sit here and hour and a half eating the leftovers. Gods this is good.

Friggity Diggity Doo

Which is exactly what I got done today...nothing. I slept in, talked to my mom, got ready to go to the ski hill, knit in the bar after we got our pass photos done (got almost nothing done thanks to Frak ups following my mitten chart). Came home and made an Indian recipe from my Xmas Gift cookbook for supper while HM got the kids KFC. They never in a million would eat Minced Lamb and Peas with saffron rice and raita. It was very good and also very easy if you have all the spices etc. Next time I will up the chili powder or green chilis. I used the last of my cumin seed too and they weren't real fresh so they lacked a certain sum'n sum'n.
Now I am tired. I stayed out too late last night. It was Friday night knitting at Effiloche and after I drove my knit pal Dana home, we had a vissie at her place just the two of us. It was nice to see her apartment and borrow her knitting book, see her stashlette. I paid for it though because after I got home, I couldn't go right to bed (it was way after midnight) and I stayed up reading until after 2 am. I am tired and cranky because of PMS too. Oh, the heads I could have joyfully torn loose from bodies today for practically NO REASON except I had a low simmering rage going all afternoon. Awful. Sorry for being me , World. Tomorrow will most likely be better.

Diary of a lazy slacker: Day..ummmm

I'm too lazy to work out the math of what day of my existance it is...especially what with leap years and shit.
Went knitting last night and enjoyed my time. Got a bit done on sleeve one of Cameron's sweater, now I am done the increases. Got a bit done on my second sock. Both are stockingette boredom mindless knitting but switching was actually a relief thanks to the different gauges and colours.
Mitten experiment continues slowly when I have the focus to follow the graph. Its sooo puuuurrrrty.
Of course since I am bored with projects I itch to cast on something new and interesting. Must..resist..startitis... The siren song of the stash calls to me "Try a new sock pattern with a nicer heeeelll, Alison...." " What about those felted mittens you bought me fooorr?... "
Be quiet, voices from behind my chair!! Shush or I'll release some moths!!
This morning was lovely. Ben woke early and not only made his own breakfast (toast and peanut butter) and got dressed before I even came downstairs but he also fed the dog, put her out AND lined up all the morning pills. That sounds awful doesn't it...my morning phamily pharmaceutical round up... Ben has a prescription, and then there are the vitamins and EFA supplements that I make the guys take each morning and Cammie's Nasonex spray when I remember. See?? I am not supermedicating my kids,...really! The number of vitamin jars would be reduced by one if the boys took the same vitamins but I have Flintstones for picky eaters for Ben and sour gummi Flintstones for Cameron because he specially requested them and he is not such a picky eater. They take different EFA capsules too. Super duper dose for Ben (to try and help with the ADD and the fact he eats a very limited variety of foods) and Junior formula in easier to swallow size for Cammie (who eats a MUCH more varied diet than Ben but can't swallow the capsules Ben takes, or i'd give them the same ones). This is the second morning in a row that Ben has been cheery and bright and helpful and its absolutely delightful.
What made today even better than yesterday was that by the time I got downstairs after an apres alarm clock snuggle with Cameron, he too had gotten dressed and made himself a bowl of cereal for breakfast!!! WTF!? I stood there...with nothing to do but dole out the pharmacopia and give many hugs and kisses and praises for such a wonderful surprise. My mornings are usually full of wheedling, coaxing, demanding,, threatening, and finally screaming in order to get the boys ready and out the door on time, paired with breakfast preparations and chore reminders (feed the dog). Is this what it will be like when they are teens and I'm not supposed to have to herd them through morning preparations??? Its awesome. They were out the door this morning with time to spare for a cold walk to school with happy dispositions. Oh it was magical. Le sigh.........

Oh sweet frakking Jeebus

If I here Hello Delilah one more time today I will really get very cranky!!!!!
Although today there was parody on the radio called Hey There Jemima. It was about pancakes. Yum.

Last one

This is the sampling of my yarn haul...one skein of each type I got. The "blue" variegated in the back is actually a purple. Stupid camera. The variagated with orange is also featuring purple, not blue.
The brown sock yarn by "lifestyles"(hee hee isn't that a condom brand???)has a soft ballerina pink and aqua/turquoise in it that just made me go crazy for it. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

More pics

Sunday had me out and about with Marla then on Tuesday my family gathered to give best wishes to my nephew Trevor and his bride to be. My sister Jessie recieved the biggest poinsettia that I ever saw EVER. Her hubbie's biker pal brought it from where he works where they were preparing to THROW THEM OUT!!! Holy tax write off/wasted money. Isn't amazing????

NS Trip

My trip to NS was great. I had a wonderful chatty lunch with friend Karen on the Dartmouth waterfront on the Friday then we went for a walk.
Saturday saw a snow storm but that didn't stop me and Barb from our Yarn crawl and hooking up the the Halifax KOL crew. More pictures to follow!

better late than never:Xmas Morning Pics

New funny

I have just got hooked on "The Pen". If you are fond of sheep and New Zealand and sheepish New zealander humour, this might be for you too. Cooincidentally Flight Of The Conchords member Jemaine Clement plays Robert.
http://www.myspace.com/robertandsheepy

I Am LongCat!!

Your Score: Longcat

64% Affectionate, 45% Excitable, 46% Hungry

Protector of truth.

Slayer of darkness.

Loooooong.

Longcat may seem like just a regular lengthy cat, but he is, in fact, looong. For proof, observe the longpic.

It is prophesized that Longcat and his archnemesis Tacgnol will battle for supremacy on Caturday. The outcome will change the face of the world, and indeed the very fabric of lolcatdom, forever.

Be grateful that the test has chosen you, and only you, to have this title.

To see all possible results, checka dis.

Link: The Which Lolcat Are You? Test written by GumOtaku on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test View My Profile(GumOtaku)

Ok....

I may regret it but I am creating a 72 stitch mitten using a chart for a ram's horn motif and the cuff instructions for "Pirates". Yarns? Cherry Tree Hill in Foxy Lady and Briggs and Little sport in white...on 2.75 needles. Its a little looser than most would knit but my 2.5 s are busy.
May I just say that the Cherry Tree Hill makes me want to weep with its beauty. If I and said mitten survive they will be exquisite.

Long Time

Its been days since I posted and I have my reasons, laziness being one, but also stuff has been going on etc .
The HusbandMan called from work last Friday to announce we had to discuss something. Of course I felt that minute panic of "oh crap he saw how much yarn I bought in Halifax" but then I relaxed because I didn't buy THAT much. Turns out he'd found out about a job opportunity back home in Halifax and should we consider it. That filled my head space for the entire weekend..should we? ...shouldn't we? Yes? No? Looked at real estate just incase... Finally he talked to his higher up about it on Monday and while moving back would be great, it doesn't feel like this would be a most secure move. We moved here for some job security, such as it can be. Even if this job he has now was a dud, a large metropolis has more employment opportunities at HM's level than back in the Maritimes. To move back there to a position that is precarious at the moment and have no back up opportunities is very scary. So the decision is we stay the course, and thats fine. Mostly. While I see the need to be secure and like it very much, I still miss home. Not as much as I used to, but still... So I am glad the question is resolved as it is but have some residual sadness.
The boys are back to school this week and the daily bitching and complaining began immediately. "I hate school!" "I'm too tired!" "Drive us!!" " I'm not eating that for breakfast/lunch!!" "I don't want to do my homework!!" Blah blah blah. Oh structure how I've missed you! NOT!
Yesterday, it was very windy here. the morning wasn't so bad but the forecast for blustery day proved correct. TOO correct. We are no tempo-less. A tempo, for those outside Qc., is a temporary shelter for ones car. A seasonal garage consisting of a steel framework and a fitted cover of tarplike materials tied to it. One weights this mother down with concrete blocks and also stakes it to the ground. Yesterday in the blusteryness, our tempo went tits up into the front yard..totally turtled!! Pieces of the steel frame were twisted and bolts snapped, concrete blocks lay where the dropped, my pretty lampost was sheared off and needs to be replaced in the spring when the snow is gone to expose the rest of it. Holy moley! I had called my husband at work once earier on, when it was kinda funny how the tempo was filling with wind occassionally like a hot air balloon. He was very busy and not as interested as I was. Then I called back later and said " I know you are really busy and I'm sorry to call again, but I have a Holy Shit situation on my hands and have no idea how to proceed!" He replied that he was on his way! I took pictures so he would see how bad it was and just incase we were to put the damage through insurance. My neighbor came over aNd started dismantling the structure for me while I dealt with lunchtime kids and then together we had it partially dismantalled and totally uncovered so the wind couldn't move it anymore.
The weird thing? I'd gone out for a few minutes in the car earlier and decided to park on the other part of the driveway when I returned about 15 minutes before the tempo hit the fan. How's that for being watched over??! We would have had SERIOUS car damage if I had parked under the shelter as usual.
As soon as I can I will post the pictures.
On the knitting front I am very discontented. I want to start new things but when I try to decide its never right and things get ripped over and over. I am on the gusset decreases of sock 1 of my first pair for ME. I'm using Lismore Sheep Farm sport weight (single ply) that I hand dyed this summer with candy colours on white. Plain vanilla sock pattern though. Cameron's sweater draaaaagggggs on through stockingette wasteland. I have a sleeve on the go for that too. I tried to start a double knit mitten for Ben but its been ripped 3 times. Maybe I'm just bored? sigh. I haven't started Bird in Hand because I think its too hard for me plus I cannot settle on a colour combination. I want to make Norwegian mittens so badly but I don't have a pattern that doesn't have some fussy cuff edging besides the Pirate mitten...maybe I could take the pirate mitten and use its cuff with another graph...? sigh. HELP!!

I'm Back and its Next Year!!!

Holy crap. I went away for a week and when I returned it was the next year! 2008 is here. Time space continuum something or other, or too many Yellowbirds at my sister's house? Hmmm......
I had a great time in NS visiting with friends Barb and Marla and the 902 area code knitters that showed up at The Wired Monk coffee shop on the 29th for some yarny companionship. Hollah, home girls!!!!!
Anyhoo, I return with gifts of the Debbis Bliss book How To Knit which has been on my WANT list because of its concise instructions for cables etc. I loooovvveee yoooouuuu Baaaarrrrb! Also, yummy chocolates were delightful and are all gone. I also returned home with some stash enhancement and ANOTHER bookshelf addition, Ann Budd's sweater pattern book. These and the Christmas offerings of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Opinionated Knitter and Knitting Workshop make for a pretty full shelf.
On the stash enhjancement we have Lion Brand variegated wool, Paton's variegated wool, Paron's Krpy sock yarn, and LifeStyles by Zircon (?) sock yarn in subtle pale pink, beige, turquoise/aqua, and brown. LOVE it. The photo (to be published later) only shows one skein of each addition. Trust...there is more.
Tonight HM returned home from work bearing a gift. He neglected to purchase the first season of Flight Of The Conchords as a gift and the guilt/nagging/bitching/pouting was really getting to him so he hunted Montreal and Laval after work for a copy and brought it home to me. YAY!!! So, once the kids go to bed, you know what time its going to be. That's right.
Its gonna be time for Business Time.

Boxing Day

I hope everyone had a great Christmas day. We sure did starting at 4:45 AM when Cameron woke us to ask if he could open his stocking...LOL We even stress the fast the night before that stockings are great to open while everyone is asleep so that you have something to do and won't WAKE ANYONE UP!! Oh well. I listened to crinklings and giggles and mutterings until I dozed off again and was woken by Ben's more voluminous (as in higher volume!!) exuberance at 6. We gave notice that Mommy and Daddy would rise at 7 AM and to please ply with stockings until then.
It was so hard to crawl out of bed but its so worth it. Ben got a card game that had him nearly in tears with joy (Milles Bournes?) because he loves it so at school. Also screamed "Yes!! Yes!! Yes!!" at his 6th installment of a Quebecoise series of books. Its the final book of the series and he has them all AND has read them and loved them. Yay!
Cameron got the Pokemon book of his dreams...its like a big catalogue of ALL Pokemon. The illustrations are excellent. He also loves his Floam...they both do actually. Weird modelling clay stuff. Very cool. And I have helped both boys hatch their test tube aliens....heeheeheee. This is a cool interactive toy that they have to hatch out of its cocoon and keep fed in its tube for two weeks after which it can "survive" on water. Its blinking light indicates its status (fine, drowning, starving) and you register them on line.
Husband Man says I did well this year with the gifts..except the wine carafe! its fate is still unknown for now. he may take it back but thats ok. He LOVED that sweater I got him.
I got Attatchements for the Sexy Beast so i can grind and slice and make extruded pasta . I got 2 Elizabeth Zimmermann books so I think my EZ book collection is now complete, as well as the Knitting Glossary DVD. Woohoo! Help at the push of a button. I also got an excellent looking Indian cook book so lively curries will be abounding in the new year. I like books on CD for when I am knitting so HM got 10 books on CD in one set of 45 CDs in a zippered organizer. All classics like Pride and Predjudice,Wuthering Heights, Oliver Twist, and Frankenstein!!! Woo hoo! I hope they are read well. So excited! I really wanted Pride and Predjudice too. Yay yay yay! I gots chocolates and a knitting mag that I already have and one I don't and soaps and bubble bath.
My final xmas knit gift went horribly WRONG and ended up in the trash. Its ok. The kid is getting other things anyways. So now I cast on a pair of socks for ME with my hand dyed from this summer (Lismore Sheep Farm single ply) I got a couple inches done last night watching TV and they will be SO warm and pretty in their candy colours. Plain vanilla sock pattern though. I'm glad to do non xams knitting. Back to Cammie's sweater! Fix Jessie's sock! More socks and sweaters and mittens....I do have quite the pile of yarn and ahem...yarn shop hopping is planned for THIS saturday in the 'Fax. heh heh heh. So excited. I need some roving for thrummed mittens. I never finished Ben's but I will and make more! So easy...so warm...so wonderful.
ok...gotta breathe...
Happiest of holidays to one and all and may the new year find you healthy and joyful!

The Pattern...

.........I Has It!
My Presciousssssssssssss...

Birthday Pics

My new fingernails

Same fat fingers but tipped with funky dark nails. I likee. I bought the polish a month ago but was holding off getting to the salon for nails. A new set takes over an hour...ssssiiiggghhhh. Its hard for me to sit so long. Now, if i could get a manicure while sleeping, that'd be awesome.
Thanks to Steve and Mymy (meemee) at Ongles Mymy for awesome pretty fingers.

Shameless Promotioning

I had a big long post here and for some reason it disappeared. The gist of it is this: Do you love hand made luxurious soap? If you do may I recommend my favorite? Its made by a friend in NS and any handmade soap I try gets measured to this standard (and none have quite made it). I am hoping to place an order in the new year, oh yes I am! Bye bye dry itchy skin.
www.bohemianbubbles.com
Terri has been soaping for a few years now and her family uses no other soap but hers. Eczema and dry skin disappeared in her house. She worked and worked and took home soapmaking to a whole 'nother level with her spa quality offerings for sale. She has exacting standards so let me tell you, her soap is real good because she would have it no other way.
I'm looking at the Honey I Love You bar. Mmmmmm huuuunnnnyyyyy.

I bitched because I had no shoes....

Until my sister gave me her bad news.
I have been grouchy the last couple of posts thanks to PMS etc. Its been colouring my world a bitchy shade of crabby. Then I was chatting with myssister who has a genuine reason to be unhappy this week. It makes me feel very small and petty in comparison. Another reason why I want to be her when I grow up...only taller.
The decision to have a pet put down is never easy and always sucks. The pet in question had been failing for the last few years and it was obvious her time was running out. I am proud of my sister and her ability to support the pet as long as she did through deafness, blindness, a canine form of Alzheimer's, and elderly infirmities. She held out as long as she could and its longer than I could have let me tell you.
Tess, you are missed. Your stinky ears, your funny wriggle, your joyful whining in greeting. You were a Good Dog, always gentle and sweet. Be at peace and chase those Summerlands bunnies with gusto.

Thursday

Things are calmer and kinder here Chez Nous so far today. The guys were buddies again when the came home from school yesterday afternoon and played well until bedtime. HusbandMan didn't make it home in time for me to go out and I admit, I was pissed off. He always seems able to get home early on the days I don't need him to but its luck of the traffic and where his last meetings of the day were located. I guess I am going to have to call a sitter from now on if I want out.
So instead of my usual post knit night euphoria, today I'm schlumping around looking at unfinished projects and lacking in drive or ambition.
BUT my laundry is WAY caught up! For that I am grateful. I listened to Lime And Violet while I folded many clothes and deposited them in the correct baskets.
They are still calling for rain this weekend. I have mixed feelings about that. The snow piles are getting pretty tall and could use some shrinkage, but then they will freeze and there will be no shifting them until they melt in April or May. sigh..Winter!
My Scarf Of No Name measured out at approiamatelt 36 inches last night after this week's picking away at it. Only 24 inches to go to the goal length of 60 but i feel like OMG is this thing ever gonna end. Scarves, man...torture.
Today is the last full day of school before Christmas. the guys have tomorrow morning and then thats it until the 7th of January. I can't believe my trip home is coming so fast. One week!
Toys R Us had an ad on the radio this morning. They got in a shipment of Bakugan!! If you don't have boys my age then you won't care about this but my guys both had Bakugan on their lists and I can't find them anywhere and I started looking in November! Limit of two per family. First Come first serve. How early will I have to get up for this??? Anyone? Anyone? I have never queued for toy shopping before and honestly, don't think I should since they have a great haul piled up in my closet. But still......its Bakugan..one of the hottest boy toys this year.
Must..resist..urge..to..buy..children's..love.....

wednesday and the mood is ..?

Its up and down and all around today as I clean house and try not to kill people.
The laundry became a pile up yet again but this time its not all my fault. We had the idea that since winter came early, lets make an ice rink out back! This necessitated thawing the hose after its exile in the shed and connecting it to the only usable taps...those already attached to my washer. That would be fine but a certain rink flooder doesn't disconnect the hose when he's done so i have been washerless for 3 days and thats all it takes to go from somewhat in control of the laundry sitch to holy fuck where are all the clean socks in this frikkin' house. Today, he finally reconnected the washer and it has its second big load tumbling now. That doesn't seem like much laundry but remember that front loaders have loooooonnnggg cycles and hold a lot.
Then I attacked the kitchen floor. I vacuumed and mopped like a mad woman. I even pulled out the fridge and stove (eeeeewwwww). I am so sick of white floor that I could cry because I had it nice and cleanish,but once lunch was over I literally had to take the mop to it again. Thank you pomegranates!
The cat boxes need sifting and the aquarium needs cleaning/water changing, neither of which are fun.
I have a pork rosat marinating in the fridge. It better pass the finicky eater test better than last nights meal of creamy leek and potato soup, which was quite good. But HMan wouldn't touch it and instead had leftovers and a sandwich. Ok...is it just me or is this rude? I felt dissed. I'm still feeling POed at that. Its bad enough for kids to turn their noses up at what i produce for a meal but he is old enough to behave better.
I have no idea if i can get out to knitting tonight. Traffic is snarly what with snow removal being not done well and getting from point A to B is not easy so who know what time his Lordship of The Soup Rejection will get his ass home.
Speaking of asses: My son, whom I do love just don't always like, was so mean to his little brother at lunch i could have gleefully hurt him. i sent him to his room for his own safety. Thing 2 got a cute little certificate of recognition from his English teacher for a term well done and he was so proud he had to bring it home at lunch to show me. Thing 1 got pissed off at Thing 2 and ruined the certificate with snow because "he made me mad". There is a tear in it and the ink ran from the snow and poor Cam was sobbing his heart out when they got home while Ben mocked him making crying noises in a mean voice. I lost my temper big time...I couldn't be reasonable and kind and talk it out because I had one kid bawling and the other ranting like a little tyrant. Basically the tyrant was informed that he had behaved like something very rude and was shut up in his room...at top volume and rage because civility went out the window. sigh.
The house is empty again and quiet but I am still upset for Cameron even though he has accepted the situation of his certificate getting ruined. He was so happy about that certificate. It gave his ego such a lift and then his brother went and destroyed all the happy. I am so tired of this. I know Ben has his issues and his therapist can explain them all and give us methods to cope and things ARE better than they used to be, but sometimes I am just so resentful of the chaos he brings to the family unit.
PMS and lunch hour drama...not a good mix.

Tuesday.

Holy Frak there is a buncha snow outside my house right now. Its minus 18 celcius but no wond to speak of and we have more snow coming in the flurries before it swings around to rain Saturday and Sunday.
HMan tried to buy a snowblower on Saturday before Sunday's blizzard and had no luck. BUT the force was strong with him in that a business associate asked him yesterday if he knew anyone that wanted to buy a practically new (two years old, barely used, 10 HP) snowblower. Uh YEAH!! So we will get that this weekend I believe. Heart attacks averted! PS: about a 3rd of the price of a similar model NEW. I love you Universe!!!!!!
HMan started an ice rink in the back yard yesterday. Its had 3 sprayings of water so far and since the next few days will stay below freezing it will get a few more I think. Then if it rains, we have a layer of ice for it to settle on. In theory. The pain in the butt is Blossom cannot figure out why i want her to go out the front door to do her thing. She's confused...poo goes in the back yard in her mind and so the ice rink is not hugely hygienic though I cleaned up after her. Its the yellow blotched ice rink of the neighborhood. Stupid dog. She of course uses the area of least resistance...the snow is over her head everywhere else in the back yard. I should go out with tempera paint and draw flower petals around the pee blotches...LOL Purty.
Knit news: I knit another pair of holiday gift slippers last night. They still need their trim which will not take any time at all. One gift left!!! Whoot Whoot! My travel knitting will be to finish Jessie's sock and then I think I may cast on a pair for me. I do not yet have a pair of my own hand made socks and I don't know if you've noticed, but its frakking COLD here in my part of the world. My scarf is about 30 inches long now...halfway there.
Ok...so thats that. Ummm.. Oh there was this show on TV last night on SCN on improving your homes energy use. It was kinda like a game show. Anyways, the Halifax couple won. I think it was called Code Green. I am gonna go get me some window plastic for the living room today. That bay window is freakin' freezing. I should do the boys rooms too. The basement windows are under snow so they are pretty insulated right now. I bought new door stoppy weather strip for the front door yesterday but its too long. Now what?? Does it come shorter than 36 inches? I also will get a new door sweep, now that I know what that is and I checked my door and ours is broken. When it warms up later in the week I will put them into play since ya gotta have the door open to do this stuff.
Well...this is all. Knit night is tomorrow. Today is housework and the usual crap.

Yarn Haul

Ok...remember that yarn diet I made noises about? So not happening.
Last night was Ariadne's first knit night hosting and I knew I would need to buy some more of that Cherry Tree Hill yarn (Foxy Lady colourway) and that Opal 6 ply I had covetted last time and the ballerina pink O-Wool...mmmmmmmmm puuuurrrttty. So That's what I browsed and bought. Then Robyn brought my order from her shop because she was gonna be there last night so why wait until next Wednesday riiiiigggghhhht? The Ariadne girls were totally cool with that which was very kind. 10 skeins of Anniversary twist!!! SWEET! I am gonna have such a great sweater with my 15 skeins (would be 16 but I made that hat for HMan which he has now declared Too Girly!)
OH and Robyn exchanged me one skein of "Mist" Colinette for "Sea Breeze". A certain little baby on it's way in the spring might have a very nice sweater or something made with the beige, brown, and turquoise colours of the 'Sea Breeze' Colinette merino wool.

Knit musings

I have been knitting a plain ribbed toque for my husband out of Briggs and Little's Anniversary Twist. While its not the softest cushiest yarn to knit with, I am confident that with a bath it will bloom wonderfully and get softer with use. HMan's comment "Its not the colour I thought it'd be..." *blink* Ok.
I SHOWED hime the yarn before I started. I showed him the progress. I am now about an inch from finishing and he decides its too blue. But he'll wear it! he assures. Yeah. thats not the point. I want him to love wearing it. To be proud of it the way Ben loves his sweater and the way Cameron will love his if it's ever finished. I took time away from holiday knitting for this as well. Ingrate...(grumble grumble)
I on the other hand am very fond of the colour and want enough skeins for my very own sweater. I kinda know how I want the sweater to look but want it done in the round, not in pieces, though it may benefit from seaming. I want a Raglan sleeve for its flatterning fit on most body types, a faux shawl collar which stands up a bit in the back but will be buttoned or pinned in the front (like the NDG sweater in the summer 2007 issue of IK). I need a cozy house sweater and a cardi would be more practicle but i really want this to be a pullover. Possibly with 3/4 length sleeves. This is going to take some plannings.....
I am itching also to do some latvian styled mittens and have heaps of inspirations and have yarn. Just lately too much going on. I MUST have Kate Gilbert's Bird In The Hand pattern. MUUUUSSSTTT HAAAAVVVVEEEE. Love the red and white of it but it will look lovely in the purple and mostly white hand dyed I have planned for it.Love the viney/twiggy floral motif with the wee bird on the thumb.
The Sea Minerals mitten is also lovely. Mostly I'd like to plan my own graph.... It could happen! Someday.. I was thinking on a Lady bug mitten one day. Or Bumblebees...or butterflies done in hand dyed with quick repeats.. Red Cherries on black...

On a less knitterly knote...I got my tree at IKEA for 20 bucks. Its the least expensive tree we've had since we moved here to the land of pricey trees. I have furniture to rearrange so I can bring it in and set up.
One thing I miss from living in the boonies is beiong able to prune my own greenery from my trees. I made kissing balls for the mudroom yearly, out of a potato and greenery sprigs (pine, fir, spruce, and cedar if i could scrounge it from a friend's shrubbery), and wild rose hips. Sprays for the door were easy peasy with boughs and a big ribbon. Buckets of sand or kittty litter were filled with greenery boughs, dogwood twigs (RED) and wild rose hips and sat by my porch steps.
Now to decorate I need to buy stuffs more and I miss that tromping through the bush of the back fiels to select branches etc. On a plus? We at east have snow for Xmas here. LOL

Ok..does anyone else find this creepy and wrong?

On ELLEN today Tippy Hedron was a guest and talking about feline rescue. She is part of a group that rescues big cats from less than optimal situations...lions, tigers, panthers ...you name it.
She talked about a Liger and displayed a photo and explained that a Liger is the result of a male lion paired with a female tiger, where as if the pairing were reversed the result would be called a Tigon. This particular one may have been called Bob. I forget.
I'm sorry...this is just sick and wrong. Just like when that zebra and donkey got it on back home and created a zonkey (Oak Lawn Farm Zoo in Nova Scotia). I mean, ok...if the animals decided that they had to have one another, thats natural selection right? But if its a case of humans meddling with animals that would never have bred with one another, I just find it icky. Like the stories about rabbits mixed with cats. Mules are also kinda icky to me.
Am I too judgemental about animal breeding? Maybe. I just find it another way humans have interfered too much with nature.

On the day of my birthday, after my mom called and woke me up, this is the first thing I did. I opened my gift from Janet. I LOVE IT! I squealed and got the camera out then ran to the computer to post the photo. Only one mf my kids was home. Hm and the other child were missing. i figured, ok, they'd made mention of birthday plans..maybe they are getting birthday brunch stuff or something.
While I was trying to get my photos from camera to computer, they arrived back home and I was called urgently to come quick, sit on the sofa, and cover my eyes and to not look on pain of death.
I began to get worried because I heard voices outdoors and hear I was still in my pjs with greasy hair and kinda smelly. I thought maybe he'd gotten our friend Bruno and Antonella to come over and was starting to feel peevish at being caught like this.
Open You Eyes!! was cried and someone started singing happy birthday and when I looked there were my two sisters in my living room!!!!! All the way from Nova Scotia!!! I blinked trying to process, I screamed because I was startled/surprised/thrilled and then I started to cry. I was laughing but it was more crying than laughing. To say this has been the best birthday ever is such an understatement. I have never been more shocked or more thrilled. They'd been planning it for a month, for one sister to get the days off work and for them to take the train to Montreal on Friday from Halifax and arrive here Saturday morning, for my husband to pick them up at the train station, to keep it all a secret from me.
They should be home by now, having left yesterday evening after I took them to Chinatown. It was hard to have them leave. I want them to be here for longer but of course, its not possible. We had such a great weekend together talking, and talking and laughing and talking, watching Hairspray on DVD (gift) in our jammies, going to IKEA and Effiloche..all the time talking and laughing and sharing jokes and stories. It was awesome.
I have no pictures though! My sister will send me her's after she gets settled back home and then I can put them up.
So, this was what freaked my freakin' freak on my birthday and it could not have been a better one.

Oh My Freakin' Gods

This
has been
the bestest birthday
EVER...........!!!!!!!!
I will post more when I catch my breath. Its just freakin' my freakin' freak the surprise that was sprung.
Forty totally rocks.

Look what someone's getting

Went holiday shopping with the kids at rockland Center, a mall in Montreal. Holy Schmoley. The mall wasn't packed with people but the traffic was insane. We looked at a cool pet store and the games store where I looked for a couple of games Ben's therapist Sheila recommended for guys like Ben ( Othello,Connect 4, and Eclipse).
We hit HMV and got a couple of CD's for H-man and the Body Shop for some yummers body wash/shampoo. Gods he's gonna smell soooooooo good.
Then we went to Harry Rosen....and practically RAN out the door. Over 300$ for a SCARF??? I think not. Burbarry can kiss my cheap ass.
I can't trust him with clothes that expensive either. It will either get ruined or lost.
Off to Banana Republic, which I didn't know The Gap owned. DUH. I know I sound like a shopper, but I'm not much of one. I found this beautiful sweater that feels like it was knit from angel's butt hair its THAT SOFT (fine Italian Merino). Do you think I chose well?? I think so too after what he tried to leave the house wearing this morning. Hello, business world?? You owe me a debt of gratitude for that one. After that the kids were bitching about being hungry so we hit the food court. Then I was woozy from spending money so we left for home. the traffic to get away from the mall was crazy. One car would get through a lighgt at a time that how backed up it was. But then we took the exit to our highway and it was clear sailing. But we sat on Rockland for 1/2 hour for cryin' out loud. Thank gods for the CBC.
I think he's going to love this sweater. I also got him one from Zellers last week I think but its more itchyish and casual. This one is for DRESS or OFFICE casual. With that price tag it should be formal wear...LOL No that'd be at Harry Rosen prices I guess.

The secret is out...sorta

Mwahahahahahaha.....
Yesterday the innocent announcement by my son that there was a Kn-Ball tournament on Saturday afternoon made the secret come out..HM had been making top secret surprise birthday plans. They may be lame. They may be fabu! I don't know because they are still not revealed, only their existance has been leaked. He's been making lots of ha-ha-you're-40 comments. He cares more than I do. About the 40, not the birthday. I am BIG on any day that involves ME getting presents.
About the big Four O: Its not that I am 40 tomorrow its that I don't have much accomplished by now. Ok YES I had a business with HM. That failed, kinda. We sold it before we could fail actually but did not escape unscathed (major debt related to the biz). So i guess that an accomplishment/milestone/something. I have two kids, but really, almost anyone with a uterus can do that even those that shouldn't. Ummmm...I have a BA but its pretty useless and my GPA sucked bad (too much liquor). But it is technically letters after my name and an education so i'm counting it.
I have yet to be divorced, no matter HOW HARD I TRY!! (Just kidding) So I think in today's day and age where many marrriages fall apart very quickly thats to be lauded. And we usually still like each other daily so thats pretty good too.
I have not killed anyone even though I have a homicidal temper/rage issue. Thats an accomplishment. I have enough control not to kill. Drugs are good.
Hmmmm...I'm sounding better and better!
I can knit socks! I can Knit! this is not just a skill (homey and for old ladies...chyeah right. I think NOT!!!!) but an artistic expression of my creativity. I may not be a Picasso or an Edith Piaf but I enjoy my artform and the happiness it brings me. Not to mention the friends it has brought into my life.
Ok...so I guess I am ok for 40. Not a rocket scientist cancer curing philanthropic superstar, but I am ok. And for me, being a slacking underachiever, I think its more than enough. Maybe I should even take it down a notch??

Winter Wonderland..?

But very crappy photos...sorry!
We have lovely piles of snow outside and always more to come at this point in the year. Its apparently going to be an old time Canadian winter this year and part of me is all "Oooooh cool" and part of me is "Oh f%ck a duck...." Why did my husband listen to me THIS YEAR in regards to firewood? "Oh last year was so mild we didn't use all our wood...no need to order any this year.." ...CRAP!!!!! Every other year I have always counselled "More wood than last year" and every year he doesn't listen. I have used the word year a lot in this post eh? Could it be because I am 3 days from FORTY years old?? We have no plans because HM's legs are still bothering him something fierce. They are so weak that he thinks he won't be skiing this season. Ever see a grown man fight back tears...figuratively? He loves his skiing and we got new ones last year. The doc said it was residual effects of a virus...sound familiar? I think at this point we need a second opinion. What if its some sort of muscular disorder or nerve disorder? These can strike formerly healthy people without any warning or known triggers.
Anyhoo, todays pictures have a display of presents and a WIP in the snow, and a picture of the snow in front of my house.
Presents are : a purple hat for Holly, blue slippers for Taylor, pink handwarmers for my mom, a grey hat for Lorne. The WIP is a blue hat for HM in Briggs and Little's Anniversary Twist. I can't wait until its done and washed so the wool can bloom and soften.

New Yarn

The lovely ladies of Ariadne Knits (see links sidebar) have moved from a soley cyber shop to also merchandise their wares in the physical realm of shopkeepery.
Located on the (hard for me to find)corner of St Jacques and Laporte, Ariade Knits boasts an inventory of yarns unlike those of the other shops in town. Cherry Tree Hill, Lorna's Laces, Lamb's Pride, Cascade 220....these are but a few of the lovely yarns brands they carry currently and their selection can only get better. The parking is free in that area too!
Granted some of the yarns are NOT cheaps (My Cherry Tree Hill set me back 22$ a skein)BUT the Cascade and Lamb's pride are very very reasonably priced yarns for less delicate projects at less than 9$ per skein.
i felt up some O Wool Balance which is a gorgeous cotton wool blend. You get the great feel of cotton with abit of wool's sproing in a nicely tweedy two tone yarn. It would make for a scruptious sweater that you could comfortably wear against the skin. Something casual.
I really liked the denim blue of the Lamb's Pride Worsted and its a brand that also had a bulky weight and a HUMONGOUS "Burly" weight. Big bulk but not the skinny to thick back to skinny of some bulky burly yarns which is great for texture but not so fun to knit up. Very interesting.
Madly in love with the Reynolds "Whiskey" and there were a couple of silk blends that I loved the feel and look of.
Yes, I came home with sock yarn...so what. I have Serengeti colourway and the African Grey colourway which is anything BUT grey. I thought that Serengeti could be for anothe pair of socks for HM but maybe its toooooo pretty for a man, hmm?