And some knitting....

Yes, I have been knitting, and sewing, among other things.

I made Kutey a dress, well 2 dresses really, for her first birthday and Easter. And then I HAD to knit a sweater to go with it. Why two dresses you ask? The first one, while adorable, did not hang the way I wanted it to for photos. The fabric just wasn't right. No reflection on the seamstress (mostly my cousin), it was really just a fabric issue. So she uses that dress for "play." I made the second, after selecting some fabric I hoped would be better. Here are the finished products:



The sweater is my own pattern, again. Apparently I don't like to follow patterns. The only real issue with the sweater is that somehow the sleeves ended up a bit too long. I just rolled them up a bit and they are fine. The yarn is Bernat Satin in Seashell. I think the whole sweater took 2 skeins, and I am pretty sure I paid $2 per skein, so $4 for the sweater. Not too bad!



I also finished one more hat for charity.


This one will be going to Hats for Alex.

So far I am right on track, I think. I have 5 hats done 5 months gone. I just need to get on the ball and finish one in the next week to STAY on track!

Is that a Jackalope?

I recently had an interesting sighting in my otherwise generally boring back yard. We have long had a family of rabbits living in our yard. They thoroughly enjoy dining on the clover patch that has sprung up near our patio. Imagine my surprise, however, when I looked out and saw this:


What the heck is that??????







I was a bit ooked out, but after seeing it, I began to understand the Jackalope references!

After a great deal of digging, I found this article:
"Jackalope fans, take note: Your mythical beast really does exist!"

Turns out it is a virus that causes those spikes. Can I just say, "YUCK!" and I hope it doesn't transfer between animals, because my dog hangs out in the same areas as the rabbits.

Where have I been?!?!?!?!

All over the place. Really. Hubby and I packed Kiddo and Kutey into the mini van and drove. And drove. AND DROVE. Seriously. We drove to South Carolina. Then on to Florida. Then back home. In all, we logged over 4,000 miles. And yes, all of that with a 4-year-old and a 14-month-old. And the 14-month-old is still rear-facing in her car seat.

BUT...

WE HAD A BLAST! Hours and hours of driving were rewarded by visits to various relatives and fun outings. Hubby went to a conference in Florida, while the kids and I spent some time at the zoo, went swimming and attended a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk at Pinocchio's Marionette Theater. The marionette theater was FABULOUS. Kiddo watched with rapt attention the entire performance. He loved the window to the backstage area. He did not want to leave, even when everything was over. He loved it. Kutey was a bit less entranced, but still enjoyed it. Her favorite part? The giant. She pointed the entire time he was on stage. Thanks so much to the theater crew who went the extra mile for an out-of-towner. I REALLY appreciate it! If you are in the Orlando area and want a refreshing reprieve from the overly commercial, check them out!

My favorite outing was the trip to the strawberry fields in South Carolina to pick berries. I don't take the kids with me when I pick here, I want to work faster than that. But boy, watching them pick was SO fun. Kutey picked one, got her thumb into it and was upset by the mess of juice on her hands. When she licked her finger and realized what it was, the WHOLE BERRY disappeared into her mouth, greens included. I had to quickly stick in my finger to grab the leaves before they went too far. From that point on, she was sold. I had to watch her to make sure she wasn't eating every berry in sight, ripe or not!

We also got to spend some time at the beach in both Charleston and Tampa. AND we discovered that Kutey is part fish. She never wanted to get out of the pools, even when she was purple. Guess I should be considering some lessons for her! Kiddo enjoyed the water, but he also thoroughly enjoyed the sand. Building and knocking over sand castles was good fun.

I think the thing Kiddo enjoyed the most, though, other than the other kids we played with, were the parks we found along the way. On driving days, we would stop for lunch at a park. He got to play at some of the best parks out there. It is amazing what small towns can offer you. Kiddo thought it was great to play at so many different parks and stay in "Show and tells" each night.

So did I knit?

Honestly, not much. I took so much yarn along, had so many BIG plans, and was so uninspired. Oh well. I did leave most of the lovely hostesses we had with a homemade dishcloth, so there were three of those, but I took no pictures, so I have nothing to show. I started another project, which is going to be a gift, so no details there. I do have some pictures to post, but I have to get them sized, etc., first. I'll get there, I promise!