The GrimmWitch of Jersey

2011-10-12T21:14:00.001-04:00

So I started a new project for Ella out of some Araucania I had sitting around.
The pattern is Elvira by Sanne Bjerregaard. It hopefully will eventually look like this...

So cute!!
On the baby front, my sister is almost due. She's so uncomfortable. My nephew is coming any day now. I'm so excited. I can't wait:)
- Posted by GrimmWitch

Baby blanket done!

2011-10-07T15:29:00.001-04:00

Took me long enough!

A little smaller than I would have liked. And I think I bound off too tightly. But he can tote it around when he's Ella's age...
She's trying to walk:)

- Posted by GrimmWitch

No knitting this week

2011-09-11T10:00:00.001-04:00

I got to meet my nephew as close up as possible, with sonogram. He is beautiful.

At one point he turned towards me. It was a different experience than when I had a sono, but it was just as amazing.

School has started. The kids seem cool. I'm super excited! I wish they'd all just understand that when things run smoothly we get to have way move fun; field trips, activities, events in school. I see all my kids from last year every day, but I miss teaching them. They are a terrific class and make teaching enjoyable.

This weekend we are celebrating little Elle's first birthday. My friend turned me on to a photo app called Hipstamatic, so I used it to document yesterday.

We went to the toy store on the hunt for the cuddliest Grover Monster we could find.

Mr. Grimmwitch had more fun than Ella did, I think!:) So, you see how the app produces an aged pic.

Ella did not like her cake. Due to her food allergies she has not eaten a large variety of foods and is unaccustomed to texture in her food. She puked up her tiny crumb of cake:( She wouldn't even eat the liquidy mix I made for her with formula, poor thing. Oh, and we got the awesome moment on video... from two points of view. Americas funniest home videos, here we come.

Other than that, Ella had a blast.

Here we are flippin' out.

Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in some knitting at some point this week.

In addition I want to get back to keeping up with Lesser Known Skeins, a group and web site my mom started on ravelry to link together many smaller blogs...button on the side here.
IDK:)
- Posted by GrimmWitch

The blanket ain't done

2011-09-05T17:11:00.001-04:00

Sadly my sister's shower came and went and I have not yet finished the yellow and blue blanket
Oops!
We did, however, have a great time. She was not surprised but I think she had lots of fun!!:)

Babywitch was her usual cute and crazy self. Here we are trying to get her to pass out.

Ella has been expanding her knowledge of the crawl level of the house slowly. She has now gotten into the living room. I think the table guards need to be released upon the room now.

- Posted by GrimmWitch

Come'on, Irene

2011-08-27T13:50:00.001-04:00

Waiting for the storm. I may have gone overboard with the prep shopping.

The NJ governor was scaring me crapless on tv and this was the outcome.
Ella and I are killing time until Mr. G comes home from work.

Ever striving to improve the house, we have begun to work on the once mouse-poop-littered sunroom.

We had the room empty for the workers, but the storm forced us to shuffle furniture around.

We here in Jersey rarely have terrible hurricanes, but we did have a very snowy winter like other parts of the country.

So, the big business...
Ella walked two steps on her own yesterday. She hasn't tried again, but I'm sure she will today. Like my mom would says, 'you're not going to carry her to college.'
In knitting news...
Benny's blanket is a little more than half done, but may not be done for my sister's shower:(
It did, however give me an idea for a two sided blanket. I need to look on Ravelry and see if one is on there.

UPDATE
Got naptime knitting done!

So I need to do about three more sections of the basket weave, then I want to go around in garter with a mitered corner trim that's thick. Time's a' ticking...we'll see how far I get before shower day...

- Posted by GrimmWitch

The loss of an Amazing Knitter

2011-08-25T13:06:00.001-04:00

Lena of Lenal has passed away. She was an incredible designer and knitter, and one of the nicest women I've ever met online or off. We will miss you so much.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Turdblastic!:(

2011-08-20T12:40:00.001-04:00

The rib's getting some kind of elastic thread sewn in or something. I can't keep ripping this out. It'll be next summer before I'm done! No, no. Elastic or it gets forever frogged. It's better suited for wool, but she's allergic to synthetics and wool so I chose cotton. Eek.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Long time no Write

2011-08-15T14:05:00.001-04:00

This is why...

Baby Elle is almost a year old. I have done pretty much no knitting at all...but I'm starting up again.
Here's a horrendous shot of a hat I'm working on right now for a friend of mine.

I've since ripped it out and started again. This is it's 3rd incarnation, having gone through needle and color changes.

Pattern:
Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson

Yarn:
Lion Organic Cotton

I've also been working on a simple basket weave pattern blanket. My sister is having her first child in November and it's for him:)

Yarn:
Lorna's Laces Fisherman

Wish me much luck:)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Taking a Break for Good Reason

2010-10-31T13:23:00.003-04:00

First of all...Happy Halloween!!

I hope this greets anyone who reads it with good health and happiness through the dark winter to come.

I clearly haven't been posting...and for very good reason.

Monday, September 13th, I went in to the OBGYN b/c L wasn't moving as she usually did, and I was worried. He thought she was fine, but asked me to come in again the next morning.

Tuessday, September 14th, I went in to the OBGYN and he said, "She's comin' out,"

Little L was born by c-section on 9/14/10 at 5:14.
7 lbs 6 oz
19 in
She came out screaming even though she had been exhibiting poor movement and poor lung activity before hand.

She is celebrating her first Halloween here at home today!

So I will not be updating until I get used to all this Mama stuff. I will probubly update for Thanksgiving, Yule, and New Years, and I will post a pic of her Halloween costumes (plural, yes) and the fiber stuff she's been sporting.

Until I get settled my mom, Lupie over at Knitting with my Mother's Hands will be posting any stuff I'm working on (all but the secret stuff!!)

Summer Cleaning

2010-08-13T14:11:00.005-04:00

Everyone in the GrimmWitch clan is getting ready for L. Mom has been cleaning out the attic and found some pretty interesting stuff. She has a lot of pics on her blog along with a new belly pic of me.

First pic...some Ewoks ca 1983.
These poor guys were in good condition but smell so bad from a poor storage environment in the attic. I'm going to try to clean them up.

Poor Rainbow Brite! She just looked terrible and smelled not so fresh:( We chucked her:..(
I used to have a big one too, Mom just found her in great condition.

These wall hangings are I believe faux retro, but a bit too not me, and I assume, not L.

I loved these guys when I was young. I know the albums are around somewhere.

Knitwise, I frogged the Kanoko pants as I said last post. I started again in Bobcat by Wool in the Woods. This is a CTH colorway, wild cherry. This is the same yarn Id been using for my mother in law's shawl, also mentioned in my last post.

Here is the pretty much finished Baby Surprise in chunky Zauberball. I need help with button selection.

Nesting

2010-08-04T17:06:00.005-04:00

So as I type this, only 54 more days until L's due date. I'm starting to have trouble sleeping. I'm also beginning to get tired more often. And the pelvic pain is getting more noticeable. This week I went to the mall and had two instances of people being shocked at my size. L is due in late September and I look like this...
So am I too big? I for certain don't know. I'll ask the Dr. next week what he thinks. All I know is that I feel fine other than those little nuisances listed above.

Getting ready for L to come has been my top priority. We were living with the construction for quite a long time for such small projects...over a month. Well over the estimated time the contractor originally gave Mr. G and myself. He seemed to not really be paying attention to the project, and mistakes and carelessness lengthened the work. The tile and fixture installer, however, was great, and did a wonderful job. We are currently waiting for the last inspections.

If you live in Jersey I recommend looking up Fuda tile if you're looking to renovate. The tiles are beautiful and the employees are great. One employee, thankfully, actually caught one of the mistakes my contractor had made involving the tile and was able to help us solve it before it was too late. Not to worry; he had plenty more mistakes up his sleeve to make up for it....

One of many mistakes...that is not my sink. I mean, it's my sink now, but I didn't pick it. I had a period looking sink picked out. I asked the contractor numerous times to measure and check the sizes of the fixtures. He apparently did not, and my sink didn't fit. Had he checked it as soon as it was delivered we could have ordered a smaller, but still Victoriany sink. He never checked, so the day of the installation the sink didn't fit. He went out to Joe Shmow hardware and bought some sink. He also had the nerve to blame the ill fit on Mr. G not measuring. He did this in front of Mom...Mommy don't play that. She knew that the only reason we'd hired a contractor and not handled hiring each individual on our own was b/c I'm pregnant and didn't want to over burden myself...she interjected, "Aren't you the contractor! Aren't you supposed to do that." Apparently he opted not to blame my husband any more after that...again...only one of many mistakes.

Sorry to go on and on, I could keep going too, it was just not a nice way for him to handle a gig, especially for a pregnant lady. The work went on for so long it bled into Mr. G's vacation...we couldn't go on our babymoon to Lancaster, and spent our 5th anniversary with all the construction going on around us. This was Mr. G's gift for me...

He got me dyed and dried black roses for a Valentine's day before we were married. The flowers were damaged during the construction and have to be thrown out. Here are my replacements drying in the closet. They are beautiful!!

Mom kept me company when Mr. G was at work all the other days of construction. She brought me, or rather, brought L a butterfly cupcake to help us manage:)

It was delicious!!:)

While the work was getting done Mom and I opted to do some nesting and reorganize my sloppy yarn stash so it would be out of L's way. We frogged some stuff I barely remembered knitting, like a thick winter hoodie with pocket done in Lionsbrand done in Chunky WoolEase and Homespun. I'm using the Homespun to make a blanket for Mom.

I also frogged the shawl I'd been making for my mother in law when she passed away. This was knitted in Wool in the Woods Bobcat.

I had to think for a minute a while back about what my mother in law would want me to do with this yarn. I hope to knit a hat and scarf for all three of her granddaughters...my two nieces and L.

Now, neatened up, my stash looks like this.

Mom and I organized it by gage. Yes, there is a lot of it. There is one shelf that has novels on it, another that has knitting and crochet books, and a third with supply containers...everything else is yarn.

Directly adjacent to this new knitting storage is what will be L's playroom/guest room. It was our bedroom and will be again when L and whomever else we end up raising are old enough to be upstairs alone. Today we got the sleeper sofa and glider we'd ordered.

On the knitting front...

I frogged this bugger!

I really like this pattern so far, it's called Kanoko. An earlier pic is on a previous post. I may also be using the Wool in the Woods Bobcat to complete this project. And the Trendsetters Merino VI seen in the pic can be used for something else. It just wasn't coming out right. it was too stretchy in some places, and had no give in others.

I finished these lacy socks. The pattern is something I came up with using two others...

Taken from a previous post...

"Aussie Sock in hot pepper purchased at Yarn Diva. Pattern Step by Step Cheat Sheet for Socks by Yarn Harlot and I added the diamonds using Interweave's Lace & Eyelets book."

If anyone wants to know how I meshed the two patterns let me know; I wrote it all down. These will go to my Titi Fina (Titi is aunt in Spanish) in Puerto Rico. I think she'll get a kick out of them:)

Finally, a picture of a lazy lay about:)

Five years ago today...

2010-07-23T14:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Anniversary, Mr. G. I love you.

L's room...

2010-07-21T08:33:00.003-04:00

Started these Kanoko pants for L in Trendsetters Merino VI. The Ravelry link to the pattern is HERE.

Her furniture came, so here are some pics of her room.

Yippy!

Almost ready for Little L

2010-07-18T09:30:00.005-04:00

Poncho is done, and I didn't post the Whirligig.

The pattern is from the book Knit Baby Blankets by Bev Galeskas. Here's the Ravelry LINK.

For mine I changed the color scheme, used a size 5 needle and Vintage by Berroco.

The yarn for the Whirligig by Stephanie Japel is called Let's Twist by Ellyn Cooper. Later this summer Mom, Dad, Sis, and I are hopefully going to take a drive to Mystic Conn. pretty much for me just to pig out on this woman's yarn. It is amazing. I wish she'd sell online b/c I love her yarns.

Here's the Ravelry LINK to the pattern info (pattern for in Interweave Weekend 2009) and the LINK for the yarn info.

So...the belly...

Once upon a time, when L was as tiny as a grape in there I looked like this. This shot is from a trip to the Martha Stewart show. Mom has more pics here. I included the bottom of my face so you can see what it looks like when I'm semi normal.

Now she's bigger than a ruler and tumbling most likely over three pounds and I look a bit different. The first pic is from our quick trip to the Met Museum in NYC last weekend.

And you can see the difference in my face here. My kid is huge. And I really do look different. It's very startling b/c I feel like just yesterday I took the pregnancy test.

Finally, if you need a movie night I highly recommend Inception.

IMDB LINK.

The Money Pit

2010-07-08T10:56:00.006-04:00

Construction has been the order of the day at the GrimmWitch home. In preparation for little L's arrival in September we wanted to break down the wall between the dining room and the living room.

Shot from the living room:
before (this was a shot with the previous owner's stuff):

after:

Shot from the kitchen/dining room
before:

after:

That project is pretty much done now, new pics to come.

My mom has new pics on her blog already.

Now the contractor is working on the bathroom. It still looks like this, minus the tub...

Every day my entire house is covered in a new layer of dust and crap. Poor mom has to help me clean constantly. Had a few friends over for the 4th and my family pitched in to help clean.

Mom also bought L a ton of stuff for her room. Here's the bedding we got.

The room was yellow when we moved in, Mom and my sister, Pepper, painted the room sea foam.This color looks amazing with the bedding and these wonderful letters I ordered from Pint Sized Designs on etsy. Here's one letter.

I love them!!!

On the knitting front I've done a bit more with the poncho. I adore the pattern. It's nice and easy, but looks great.

I'm also working on a Baby Surprise for L out of a chunky Zauberball.

Only about 11 more weeks until the due date!

Thank the Gods it's the Weekend!

2010-06-13T10:29:00.004-04:00

This week was exhausting, but I've had a nice weekend so far...
On Friday night, after work I went with eighteen of my co workers into NYC to see the Broadway musical, Memphis. We ate at Carmine's just across the street from the theater. The food was amazing. Since entering my second trimester (I'm 6 and a half months now) I feel like I can't stop eating so the meal was great for me, delicious and seemingly endless. The musical dealt with prejudice and race issues, but had a lot of humor and upbeat music. The set design was great. Not even a seriously ripping migraine could have brought me down.

And for sure I was out yesterday Knitting in Public @ Stix - n - Stitches in Montclair, NJ. Haven't been there in a super long time.

There's Mom armed with her camera. She'll have more pics from the day...
Here's Pat working on a crochet skirt for her granddaughter

While there, I purchased yarn and started on a poncho for the baby (still weird to say I'm having a baby sometimes...was beginning to feel like to would never happen towards the end there).

I'm using Vintage by Berroco to make the poncho. The pattern is from the book Knit Baby Blankets by Bev Galeskas. Here's the Ravelry LINK.
I'm only doing two colors instead of the three the pattern calls for. I have never used this yarn, but love it. It has all the squishy springiness of Ultra Alpaca without the slight fuzz - good for you to use, Mom.

My sister presented me with a beautiful diaper bag...but I'll post about all my baby stuff later.

In the evening we went to a surprise 60th birthday party for our friend, Karen. The cake was frickin' remarkable.

How cool is that!
Karen was totally surprised. The baby and I chowed down on tons of food...

All in all, a scrumptious weekend...I love my students, but do I really have to go back on Monday????

Only 3 Days Left to Knit in Public!

2010-06-08T22:33:00.003-04:00

Hee hee

Bonus adorableness: Smudge lounging at home, hatching some diabolical plan to seize control of the government and transfer all funding from the military to research and production of a tastier strain of flat parsley.

A new knitter suffers withdrawl...

2010-06-05T09:43:00.004-04:00

The following is a close as I can get to the original transcription of a conversation I have with my friend and co-worker, Crazy M. My friend, Sharon, just taught Crazy M. how to knit.

The names have been semi-changed to protect my arse.

Crazy M shuffles into GrimmWitch's (I am GW - step aside former president) disgustingly stifling hot box classroom.

Crazy M (in a tortured tone): GW, what should I do?

GW (fearing her friend may be uncomfortable in the heat): Are you OK?

Crazy M: Yes, but I have a problem. I need to knit.

GW (relieved and puzzled): Ok, so go knit.

Crazy M: I can't, I gotta teach a class.

GW: No, I'm taking all my kids to DARE practice (the show was great, by the way. Bravo, my minions!)

Crazy M: But I still have the 6th grade.

GW: Oh...well then you have to teach.

Crazy M: You don't seem to understand. I need to knit! I want to knit now!

GW: I'm sorry, M. But you're a good teacher; you're going to go teach that class.

Crazy M (grumbling as she shuffles from the room): What did you people do to me now? All I want to do is knit! I can't teach like this! I just want to sit and knit, that's all!

GW: I'm sorry, M, but I warned you...it is like crack.

Even when the kids are not there I manage to have fun at work.

Nice diversion

2010-05-31T18:06:00.002-04:00

Did I spell that right?...Anyway...

With Aussie Sock in hot pepper purchased at Yarn Diva. Pattern Step by Step Cheat Sheet for Socks by Yarn Harlot and I added the diamonds using Interweave's Lace & Eyelets book.

Thank heaven for little girls....

2010-05-26T20:07:00.005-04:00

It's a GIRL!

This is my daughter...we'll call her L.

I would have been just as happy with a boy, but she is a she for sure. There she is. I couldn't stop crying when I was watching her on the monitor. She was dancing the whole time.
I just bought her something cute from Etsy.

And I started making her an autumn color Whirligig Shrug by Stephanie Japel.

I love this yarn by Ellyn Cooper called Twist...it feels great!

Smudge is very happy he will soon be an uncle. The inability to control his own pooping, as you can see from the pic (he is pee litter box trained, though) leads me to think that he will not be helping to change any diapers...

The Knitting Bag

2010-02-21T08:33:00.005-05:00

So, I've been knitting a BSJ in stockinette. It's turning out nice. Here it is, in Araucania Ulmo with my many pictures of my kid. I keep thinking how weird it seems that I'm so proud of this person. She's done nothing but grow, probably sleep, absorb nutrients, that's it. But I think she's super amazing. I'm saying/typing she for two reasons a. I hate that he is the default pronoun to this day, and b. I really think it's gonna be a girl. If she is really a he I'll apologize:)

After taking that shot I went to go pull out the Dax sweater from my knitting bag to take a pic of that and found that one of my survival banana's had remained in the bag since Friday and had expired into a frothy, sticky mess. Thankfully, there were few casualties, but I found that there was an enormous amount of crap in the bag.

I have to carry around survival supplies now because the legendary morning sickness that comes with pregnancy is translated in my body to all-times-of-day sickness. I am not complaining, but like the honorary boy scout that all tom boys are, I do like to be prepared. So I always have Canada Dry, crackers (not in pick - sadly they were a casualty of the banana incident), oranges, breakfast bars (not in pic because they've all been eaten), and the dreaded banana. The pic also features an advert for the upcoming gem show in NYC...I'm super excited!

Also in the bag, my pretty new Anne Taintor knitting bag from Yarn Diva!

I always carry around reading material. Right now in addition to the two night table books I'm reading at home I'm finishing Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, just finished Blood + Water, and just got the new WeirdNJ special issue. In the center, surrounded by all this wicked dark stuff, a picture of my kid. She's going to either accept all this and become the most awesome darkling on the playground complete with Wednesday Adams braids, or she'll rebel and be a *GrimmWitch vomits in mouth a little bit* cheerleader.

I have friends who were cheerleaders and they've turned out okay, so even worst case scenario she'll be fine, but the poor thing will be the only one on the squad who's biggest fan sports an Ozzy halter, black long sleeve bolero, Betty Page bangs, and knitting accessories with prominent skull decorations.

The Dax sweater, in Bamboozle by Crystal Palace Yarns is turning out great. It feels wonderful, and the pic doesn't do the colors justice. The blue is a gentle gradient of light blue, sea foam, and all the good stuff in between.

Ah, the casualties of the famous banana explosion of 2010. You can see my Raymore and Flanagan envelope...we finally bought a bedroom set after five years of marriage.

Last night at the Lowes I went berserker with gift money from my parents and took care of the whole new room with curtains...

Paint (sea foam)

and curtain rods...it was a great day with only one hitch....

In moving up to the new room we discovered that the furniture would not fit up the stairs. So Dad and Mr. G removed the banister.

This was the room as the previous owners had it...

And this is what it looks like so far...

The chair surprisingly goes great with the furniture but it's my brother-in-law's, not ours. I don't know, however, when he'll be able to send for it to be shipped to Texas, so I guess it can stay:) I do wanna put a mini fridge in the spot where it is for baby stuff so I don't have to run downstairs at night.

I'm really happy with the set.

And last night, Mr. G and I, reveling in our last months of freedom, went to see Shutter Island. It was great and I highly recommend it. I dare you to guess the ending within the first ten minutes.

Sorry, but so cute

2010-02-06T13:13:00.001-05:00

Surprise, surprise...

2010-01-30T08:08:00.006-05:00

So...come with me "now on a journey through time and space"... January 17th I felt terrible, running a fever, tired, PMSie. I was preparing for invetro fertilization within the next few weeks. The grocery bag full to bulging with injectables and pills for the procedure glared out at me each morning from the dining room table like a lopsided snowman melting in the heat of my nervousness.

I woke up on the 18th and when opening the linen closet spotted the dreaded pregnancy tests. I can't tell you how many of these I've used in the past few years, but I know I can't count the number on my fingers and toes. I really try not to use them because they are expensive and I always knew what the result would be...negative.

The morning of the 18th however, something felt different almost from the moment I woke up. My friends words skipping though my head... "I had cramps, my boobs were sore, I was tired," she's said.

"Let me try," I thought. I grabbed the test and did my business, then walked off to brush my teeth. I came back to throw the stick in the garbage...and there it was...days before I was suppose to start my IVF medication injections...a positive result. The cold silence of the morning was pulverized by hoarse voice screaming as best I could for Mr. G to wake up and look at the stick. He was concerned it was wrong; how could we possibly have gotten pregnant the one month we'd used no drugs after three years of nothing.

I took another from a different box...the same outcome. By the end of the day my bathroom garbage was full of pluses and double lines and I was 99.9% sure I was going to be a mom.

Now I'm almost six weeks with a grain of rice sized kid growing inside me. At long last, after years of planning, making decisions about school, career, home with nothing but this new person in mind, I'm pregnant.

And back to knitting...so the Whirligig Sweater for my friends soon to be daughter, Nalani, is finished.

Front shot...

And back. I really like the way this came out.

I also finished the CLAPOTIS! Thank the gods. Pepper can finally get her scarf. I really feared that it would be too hot to use it by the time I gave it to her.

Thank the gods. Pepper can finally get her scarf. I really feared that it would be too hot to use it by the time I gave it to her.

I'm still working on a Spiderman blanket in crochet for my friend's grandson. It looks great but I am such a slow crocheter it's taking forever. I still have to finish the blue repeat, do a whole additional repeat of red, and the black lines shooting towards the middle.

I casted on this too ... the Dax Jacket from 2009 Interweave Knits Weekend. The pattern is by Katie Himmelberg and looks so squishy and soft. I'm just going to wing it with the colors (sea foam and white) b/c I have far more of the sea foam color. We'll see:)

Eh...Feeling Glum

2010-01-11T22:11:00.004-05:00

Obviously...I haven't posted since October. I'm not pregnant yet, and after three years (just beginning my 4th year of trying) the fact that the one stupid thing I obsessed about, being a mother before 30, is most likely going to be impossible is weighing on me. I don't know why it was so important to me, maybe b/c I feel that I was shorted years with my own grandmother and Lupie is sick with, well, lupus. I'm not feeling great. People and things occupy my mind, but when I'm alone all I think about is what's next, how long until the next Dr. visit, the fear that next month will be fruitless like this month. I'm usually a very happy, up beat person, but watching children living with indifferent parents (you jerks, you don't know how lucky you are. All my students are awesome whether they are appreciated or not) and no pregnancy is getting me down.

Anyway...I am still working on the clapotis, but started a baby sweater for my pregnant friend (I am pure happy for her, thank the gods, no bitterness - that would drive me crazy). The baby girl is going to have a super awesome name, Nalani, and this will be her girlie sweater (pattern by Stephanie Japel: Whirligig Shrug in Interweave Weekend 2009)

In addition, my sister got me hooked on the Mighty Boosh, a British comedy centering around two pretty original characters. He's a funny clip from the episode Nannagedon.

School has begun....

2009-10-04T10:35:00.002-04:00

I have had no time for anything other than 2 showers, a you know what, and two point five meals each day. This program that we started ... I stole the idea from other people, primarily my mom, and kept pushing it until "they" said yes ... has been an enormously stressful and time consuming disaster. What is it? Basically the school district says that the students are heterogeneously grouped, but they're really not. ESL students who speak Spanish are kept separate all day. Special needs students (all of them in the grade level) are in one homeroom filled the rest of the way with gifted students. Those special needs kids only have science and history/health (that's a whole other issue - the kids don't understand that NJ is a state and not a country, but the district thinks it's okay for the social studies teacher to have to spend two days a week on health...can't the gym teacher do that? I'm sure they'd want to if they knew their students think that we live in the country of New Jersey). The special needs kids don't have me for math or problem solving or my co workers for reading or writing...so those periods the gifted students, who aren't most in need of lots of one on one time with us are in a small group setting multiple times during the day. Others, who are borderline in need or special classes, are packed into other groups b/c the group with the special needs and gifted students has a cap on it. So I'll have a math class with lots of troubled learners...24 kids, then I'll have a class of gifted kids...8 kids. How is this okay?

In an attempt to help us move towards a better situation I suggested (rather nagged) that we have heterogeneous homerooms and that those homerooms would travel JUST to the activity classes together (world language, gym, art, computers, and music). The district chose this year to impose on us teachers another turd-tastic program that they chose not to have staff test run before purchase. Last few years it was an online plan book/teacher web page combo. I hate it, it sux, the web page doesn't accept hardly any widgets. Now it's an online gradebook. While I love the idea, had they asked me to try it (I would have volunteered w/o pay b/c I'm an idiot) I would have known right away that this would have posed a problem for our heterogeneous groups b/c we would need a middle school format of the program.

People up top I guess don't see the benefit of the program as much as we do on the bottom. I have bilingual students becoming best friends with special needs and regular ed students. My final dream... that science and social studies/health be totally mixed along with activity classes.

I've been crying every other day. People have lost patience with me. I've seriously thought about how Mr. G and I would survive if I quit. I really feel that unless I de-stress I will not get pregnant. So, that's where I've been. What's been up with you?

New Floors! & Some Beautiful Stuff

2009-09-05T15:02:00.003-04:00

Got prefinished wood floors in the bedroom upstairs. There used to be nasty 80s purple rug up there with stains in it. Now it's pretty pretty. Slowly but surely the place is coming along.

And I was wandering Etsy and found Siam2U's merch. I'd love to hear from someone who's ordered her stuff. It's beautiful!

I think it's high time Mrs. You know who learns to clean up after herself

2009-09-02T20:39:00.003-04:00

I helped my sister, Pepper, clean her art room today. Mostly we were cleaning up the closet she shares with the other art teacher. Sorry, but just to quickly vent...and please, I've thought about bleaching my hair blond so many times...nothing against anyone who does. Normally it looks great...but there are some situations when the chemicals start seeping into your brain...anyway...

Mrs. You-Know-Who-You-Are,

You art so lucky to be teaching with Mrs. Pepper b/c she puts up with your superficial, shamefully horrendous behavior and treats you with the civility and respect that you don't give to her. For the love of the Gods, you should be ashamed that you don't keep track of your supplies and that your younger co worker, her sister (who had a hole-ly classroom of her own to set up thank you very much) and their lupified mother have to come in and clean up after your years of closet neglect! It concerns me that my former students might be subjected to you in the classroom because I have total confidence that you care little for anything beyond yourself. Your dark, dark brown roots are showing; go bathe in peroxide and wash away all those tough thoughts you may be having. PS: Don't ever wear a low cut horizontal striped tank under a t-shirt that doesn't cover your belly or boobies. That's not appropriate attire for school. If even a tom boy like me knows that so should you, blondie.

Love,
GW

Then again, maybe Mom, Pep, and I shouldn't be complaining about our jobs...read this link about a guy who really hates his job.

Pilfered from Cynical - C Blog....possibly the most entertaining blog out there.

In knitting news, I made up a pattern for a holiday themed scarf (I'm sure there are patterns just like it elsewhere, but I've never seen one).

The next pagan holiday I celebrate is Harvest (or Mabon). That's the autumnal equinox so the night and the day are both the same length.

I wanted it to be a little lacy (representing the breeziness of summer) and also see patches of solid stitches (creating warmth for winter).

I wanted it to have both sides of stockinette visible on either side (purls always remind me of moonlight glistening off ripples of water and the v's of knit sides can be compared to the rays of the sun).

So I thought about all of this and came up with a pattern using some Noro Silk Garden Sock that has some autumn-ish flava's to it. I'm just playing with the needle size but will post pics soon.

Hats Done!

2009-08-31T20:28:00.004-04:00

Mr. G helped me take the pics but I think they came out funny.

October is Just Around the Corner!

2009-08-30T20:17:00.002-04:00

Domestic Witch is encouraging everyone to celebrate October with an October Blog Party.

PS...

Realized I skruwed up Brooklyn Tweed's fair isle hat and had to rip out about ten rows of colorwork. Ooops:)

My school looks like a war zone :(

2009-08-28T19:39:00.004-04:00

So I got to school today to do set up (teachers usually go in early -and unpaid, mind you - to set up? Why? 'Cause most of us teach 'cause we love our jobs and not for the fat pay check:) and I find this.

As if my students don't have enough working against them. The sad thing is that with my district's track record I don't know for sure what's going to happen. Will it be fixed? Who knows? In addition to this the nipple-looking leak outside my room pictured in this previous post has gotten much worst (there was a huge 3 by 2 sort of puddle that built up in less than an hour with three garbage cans having 4 inches each of yellow water right below the leak). Also, each of my colleagues has either a 2 by 2 or a 3 by 2 hole in the ceiling or wall (none of those appear to be leaking...yet).

The state is allowing the town to use moneys once destine to fund a new building for us to improve the high school that most of my kids will drop out of b/c they felt like they were pieces of shit in grammar school b/c they went to a turd ball school.

Sorry, but ... my job and my kids .... (yes, I'm goin to type this) ... are so important to me that they are only second to family (including Smudge) and friends .... even above knitting!

What have I been knitting...

This is the Brooklyn Tweed hat I posted about before. Lupie started hers too. She's having sinus problems with the hairiness from the yarn :( But she says she is enjoying it. I like it too. I would like to try it with a solid and a Noro sock as the background. I really like the yarn, Classic Elite Fresco, and will use it again.

Speaking of Lupie, aka my Mama, I just want to thank her so much for getting me my first Kitchenaid. Way more colors than they had way back when my mom got hers. It's a kitchen luxury that my mom always wanted to get for my sister and I as gifts when we were adults with our own households (notice I don't say married - feminist Lupie would never say 'when you're married' to her daughters. She taught us that marriage is great if you want it but not mandatory to reach adulthood).

I haven't used it yet, but every time I look at is I smile and I already have a bunch of ideas about what I wanna do. It's not shiny like most of them are. It has a mat texture. I think it's a more macho version of the original, perfect for a tom boy like me. I haven't seen my sister's yet, but apparently she got her a wasabi colored one. That's so my sister's color. In the pic you can also see some other awesome shit I have. The art nouveau coaster is from Griffin's mom years ago. My sister got me that slamin' Alice in Wonderland mug. The canister set was my grandmother's (Lupie's mom).

And now for some bun stuff. Here's my little lovely.

He is so funny...anyway, that clear ball in the background is a cool toy. It's just like the dog balls that release treats. When a bunny rolls it the treats you put inside come out. He hasn't figured it out yet:) I don't know where it came from...Mr. G got it.

Finally...my guilty pleasure has returned (one of them:)

Project Runway is starting out great. This season, unlike the previous ones on Bravo, is on Lifetime and is taking/took place in LA. I can see no change in the quality of the show since the change in stations. It's too soon for me to have any favorites yet. But if you've never seen it I would recommend you give it a chance. Although I watch Top Chef, The Fashion Show, Split Ends, Big Brother (go Kevin!!!! HOH) I'm not a reality show freak. It has to be fairly interesting and not too insipid to attract my attention. Project Runway, as usual, looks like it's going to be delightful!!!

Lots'a Yarn

2009-08-26T19:55:00.005-04:00

Last weekend Mom and I stopped at Yarn Diva in Hillsdale while out. She wound up buying me a Knit Kit. I think Pat said someone had asked her if it was a birth control kit.:)

Pat got her one and she was looking to spread the addiction. As she said on her blog, Mom added a needle to the kit. I'll be doing that too. Above the Knit is pictures from the front with some really vibrant Jitterbug yarn that I picked up at Yarn Diva. Below I'm posting a shot of the back of the Knit with some Aussi sock. That is the same yarn (different colorway) as the yarn I used for the Mary Thank You Socks.

I still have the Lapis Hederas on the needles here next to me. I'm thinking I may give those to Mary as well.

I've made a lot of progress on the BSJ for Mrs. B's new grandbaby.

I think I'm going to make something for the big brother of the new baby, Alex, but I'd want it to be crochet. I've been missing crochet so much. I also sleep with a crochet blanket every night and it's just as snuggly as any knitting! So I'm considering making this Spiderman blanket (Ravelry Link). I'd make one for Griff too, and I'd hope to make one for my other co-worker's son. We will see...that is a buttload of blanket!

Still working on my Clapotis.

It's taking much longer than I'd thought, but then again it is sockish yarn. And it does feel really nice. It's for me, so I'm in no rush.

I've done NOTHING to get ready for school. A little web design on my class site, but it sux so I'll need to re do it. The company that we teachers have our sites through makes good design difficult. Tomorrow (gulp) I'm planning to go in.

Mom, Pepper, and I were supposed to see Julie and Julia today but Pep got sick. Mom and I hadn't been to Stix-n-Stitches in a gillion years so we drove up to Montclair. I miss going there b/c the staff is great. They are so helpful and make everyone feel at home. They truly are a bunch of wonderful broads.

So I'd seen online that another store that had once been in Montclair had relocated. Mom and I decided to drive by and found that they'd moved down the block from Stix. I found this very puzzling. I wish them the best with their venture, and I know Stix will support a fellow yarn store in any appropriate way, but why would you open up a store down the block from another that sells the exact same merch? I also doesn't feel the same as Stix. If I need Rowan and don't want to drive into Hoboken to Patricia's I guess I'd go there, but otherwise I don't think I will. And I think I'd feel totally uncomfortable asking for help there.

While at Stix I finally got to spend the rest of my gift cert from Mom and Dad from December...yes, December! I was really looking for Flat Feet but I couldn't find any. Here's the loot I did get...

Although I love blues I'd never purchased an all blue sock yarn so there it is and it feels great.

I saw that they had all this Araucania Patagonia on sale so I went nuts with that.

I really love this yarn. A few years back I made one of my first sweaters out of it. I don't think I ever posted the final result...I know it's not on my Ravelry, so here's that...

I made it with a huge hood modeled after my favorite sweater ever, some cheep, fuzzy, black cardigan I got for $5 or so at some discount store when I was in college. Both the Patagonia one and the original are very warm, only good for late fall or winter. I knitted on a smaller needle with the cotton to make it heavy and very insulating. I wear it and the original one every day under my coat in the winter.

While at Stix I picked up some yarn to make a fair isle hat with Mom from Brooklyn Tweed's new book (Mom's a Jared Flood fan). Here's the Ravelry link.

The yarn is Fresco from Classic Elite. I eliminated the white from the pattern and changed it to black (I do white as little as humanly possible; my day glow 'how is she a Latin lady' skin it pale enough for any outfit I may wear). There's a pic from Ravelry of the finished fair isle along with a pic of the crochet hat I'm working on now, Raspberry Beret, from the most recent Crochet Today magazine.

Here's what my Raspberry Beret (love that name:) looks like so far...

A bit blurry, but you can see mine it far more grapie. I was originally working on it in Berroco Ultra Alpaca and just b/c I tend to crochet and knit like I'm strangling someone I didn't like the way it was coming out. This is Cascade 220, and the feel is much softer and is better for the pattern.

I did get one more thing at Stix. I saw this woman lugging tons of bags into the store. I didn't know why she was there, but I felt bad she had to do all that on her own. I wish my knee wasn't so screwed up 'cause I would have preferred to help her bring the bags down the steps into Stix, but the least I could do and did was to hold the door so she could just breeze in once she got her shit down stairs. When she was finally done Mom joked that she now needs to pay me in yarn b/c I was such and excellent door lady. She then proceeded to ask me if I like cool or warm colors and handed me a kid socks size piece of Flat Feet.

Turns out she was a yarn company rep and was there to show Sheila (Stix owner) new Fiesta and Flat Feet (really stunning new Fiesta!). I don't ever do shit expecting things back or b/c I'm thinking of the 3 fold law, although I do believe doing good always brings you good in return simply by just feeling good. I just do whatever little shit I do for others b/c that's what every one should do. And really, holding the door? That's just a little bullshit thing. That was really nice that she gave me yarn and I was touched.

In non knitting news...I'm silly often and one silly thing I do every year is watch the tv show Big Brother. This season I've chosen to cheer for Kevin Campell to win.

He was smart to lay low most of the game and although I guess his house mates would disagree he was as loyal as he could be to his allies while still taking part in the game play and not forgetting that he's playing for money. I think this loyalty mixed with reasonable self preservation will come to be the argument for him to win a freakin buttload of cash if he makes it to the end. Go Kevin!!

And don't forget...PROJECT RUNWAY IS BACK!!!!!! More on that next post.

Ridgewood, NJ Fiber Festival and Hell's Kitchen...Follow my train of thought, please

2009-08-16T01:20:00.004-04:00

Here's the link.

The ChalkDust Knitters are planning to go. There goes the neighborhood, Ridgewood! Honestly, when we get together we're hysterical.

I am a little weirded out that it seems to be sponsored by a Unitarian church. If I had to pick any Christian sect to sponsor a fiber arts event I'd sacrifice my cherished Snippy thread snipper to attend I suppose that would be the one. As a recovering Catholic school girl I bet one can imagine that I've had some bad experiences. I get a little creeped out when I'm in a churchy setting, like they can smell "child of the earth" on me, or something. I guess a Christian would likewise be a little uncomfortable at a Pagan event.

For those who many read this, may wanna go, but don't live in the area, Maven asked me about places to eat near Ridgewood on the Lesser Known Skeins forum on Ravelry. I made a short list if anyone needs suggestions. I'm also concerned about parking with Mom/Lupie and her lupus.

By the way...

I love Hell's Kitchen (Gordon Ramsay is freakin' hot, man). Apparently one of the contestants, Amanda Davenport, is living with lupus.

Pic Pilfered from Fox.com

Here she is with another contestant and Ramsay. I think it takes some balls whenever anyone opens up about having an illness. It leaves you vulnerable in many ways sometimes. It can also bring greater focus on the disease itself. Lupies need all the help they can get.

The Vampire Diaries

2009-08-15T23:13:00.003-04:00

Back in the day...when I was just a tween witch from Jersey (I was rather new to having a two digit age, Nirvana was a new band, I wanted my mom to get me a beeper, and my dad had just introduced us to Prodigy on the computer) there was no Twilight so I read the Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith. That time of life is difficult for everyone, but was made more complicated for me by the loss of my grandparents and one of my two late uncles. School was like being forced into an iron maiden for eight house a day, and as I still do today I used books to escape.

I readlly did love these books . . . I even know for a fact that I still have them in my parent's house somewhere . . . but I'd forgotten about them until just now when I saw the CW will be airing the series version in the fall. If you know someone young who needs something to read during math class (how did I avoid getting a detention for that???), likes horror, swoonie stuff, and stories about sexy dead boys who drink blood, I totally recommend the series. They were like, these sweet little nuggets of peace in an otherwise crazy school day and better than tv at night.

Taking a Break from my Knitting with...more Knitting

2009-08-13T17:58:00.008-04:00

I have been working on the Baby Surprise for Mrs. B's grandbaby. I got the invite for the party but sadly it's on my birthday so I won't be staying for the whole thing.

It's a second kid for the parents, so Mrs. B was asking us in school in June if we thought it was appropriate to have a smaller party. I think that whenever anyone has any sort of excuse to have a party one should do so; maybe a smaller party is called for or asking for donations instead of gifts is an option. I also feel that whenever a child of the opposite gender enters a family (the 1st child a boy, the 2nd a girl, or the 1st two boys, the 3rd a girl,m visa versa and etc) you're pretty much starting from scratch in many areas so a typical baby shower is fine. Mrs. B is just a very considerate person. She never wants to offend people.

So here is a pic of the newest portions of the sweater, now with lavender stripes introduced.

I took a break from sox and the Clapotis to make a hat. Mom (Lupie) had picked out a pattern she wanted to make and I wanted to work along with her, but I was eyeing another pattern from tentenknits.

I worked on it one afternoon at Mom's house and two nights in a row when I was trying to get to sleep and finished quickly. I tried my best with the floats but know that tension will get better with practice.

Tomorrow I'm going knitting with the ChalkDust Knitters for the first time in months. I'm very excited b/c I know Karen will have the latest news from school (she is an administrative assistant in another grammar school in my district). I don't know if I mentioned it yet, but apparently my school has been closed down due to asbestos. Gee whizz, I wonder if all the cave-ins, cracks, and ceiling nipples with dripping asbestos water could have put any of my kids in danger!?!?

Warning...Crazy Teacher Rant...

I really want to know what's going on b/c I had big plans to completely re-do my classroom so that it would be more organized, easier to run, and therefore a less stressful place to be. But who knows what will happen now, and who knows whether or not all the dangerous crap will really be cleared away. I bet any amount of money it won't.

People wanna know why my little dudes can't score as high as other districts (even though we score high compared to other urban districts like our own). It's because my funny, smart, beautiful, clever, awesome, caring, inspirational, terrific students (they are really too wonderful for words) are going to school in a century old building that was permitted to slowly desintigrate. They look at drab beige and brown walls and floors every day, my posters and decorations stretching to cover up the veins of water damage and dusty cracks that have been unrepared for years.

Then people try to blame the custodians. I imagine keeping my school clean must be something like trying to dust and restore an Egyptian pyramid after someone plays paintball inside.

Teacher Rant Over

I went out recently with two women I went to high school with. It's weird to call them women:) I still feel 18 sometimes. I think if someone had asked me which one of us I thought would be married and in a stable teaching possition ten years later I would have been my last guess. I tell my students all the time that sometimes life takes you to the complete opposite of where you thought you'd be. And in my case it ended up to be the best thing as I sit here typing next to the man I never thought I'd want to meet, in the home I never imagined I'd own.

And in music news I stumbled across the two year old album of the band She Want Revenge and really liked it. So one may want to check it out...it sits just perfect between Joy Division and The Cars in my iPod, but I wouldn't say it's exactly like either.

Sophia Tomten Done and a Daycation

2009-08-07T14:20:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, on the rainiest day of the week, Mr. G and I went to Bannerman Island in New York state. Mr. Bannerman bought the island in the early 1900s and used it first to house his 2nd had war paraphernalia used for his business and later for a home for his family in addition to his supplies. When we approached the island (in the rain) we saw one of the buildings that once housed the supplies. The arsenal buildings were all modeled after Scottish castles. They are in terrible condition due to over fifty years of abandonment and fire damage.

As usual, Mr. G took amazing pictures, even in the rain. The buildings are so beautiful and I love the look of the crumbling brick and concrete with all the greenery flourishing in this damp weather.

You can see above that the rain must have been immensely heavy. I had on a super thick sweatshirt (thank you, Mom) and it kept the damp out for most of it, but my legs were soaked up to my booty. It felt strangely good, though, a nice break from summer. And it added to the whole feel of the place.

This was one of the main entrances to the seven story, once four floor arsenal. You can't go near it...or can you?

The hole in the above pic is a whole in one of the five cisterns once used to store drinkable water for the residence of the island.

Below is a shot of the family's home. The shot is slightly obscured by rain drops on the lens, and he did take a second, clearer one, but I really liked the composition of this one with the garden shed in the forefront and the weathered stairs tumbling into view.

This building is also very damaged. The people who support the site and are fighting for it's preservation want to renovate this building to set up a "presence" on the island. There's literally no where to go in bad weather and I can't imagine them meeting with press or business people to conduct island bees wax without having some place with a roof.

Mr. Bannerman had to mark the property line even in the water, but instead of going for it in a hum drum maner he rocked it with these beautiful structures like castle fortifications. Some pieces are still there.

Remember that I typed that people can't get too close to the arsenal? Well, all the rain had the tour guide's worried about us and they brought us under the arsenal staircase for shelter.

It was a wonderful experience.

On the knitting front...I was opening my needle case to seem up the Sophia Tomten, and the bottom broke off in my hand. I am very sad. My friend, Jackie, gave this to me. I don't often trust people easily, but I just felt comfortable with her right away and she means alot to me.

Yes, so I was SEEMING THE TOMTEN!!!!! THAT MEANS IT IS COMPLETED!!!!!!

It took such a long time. I kept stopping to make baby stuff for pregnant people, and my clapotis, still unfinished. The buttons are from Yarn Diva in Hillsdale, NJ. I am so s Stix-n-Stitches girl, but Yarn Diva is great too, and the buttons matched perfectly.

I made it to match Griffin's (Sophia is my friend's neice and Griffin is my friend's son)

This one was for Grif...

The two are made of Jarbo Garn yarn.

My co worker, Mrs. B, who I adore is preparing for another grandbaby (number 3) so I started a baby surprise for that child.

I want to do something more purposeful with the stripes than I usually do...I pretty much just throw in a different color whenever I feel like it. So this one will be a bit different, but still using the Cotton Tots from Bernat. It feels great. By the way, my friend Jackie gave me this pretty bag too.

In addition to all this, Mom aka Lupie escaped to Lancaster, PA with dear old dad to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. They have been having a blast, but I can't wait for them to come home!:)

Bucket List

2009-07-30T10:17:00.003-04:00

A friend sent me one of those chain e-mails...like, what do you wanna do before you croak. But it had choices...many of which I didn't care about...so I'm making my own. Some I have already done but must list b/c they are cool.

Be a mom
Finish writing a novel
See the Crow in a movie theater (I was not allowed to when it came out, but it's okay, Dad, don't feel bad)
Donate money to the place where I work in the form of a scholarship
Visit PR
Adopt a frog
Wear a Sumo suit at fight someone
Go to Venice (done)
Make a cheesecake
Hear my uncle's music played in a big place
Eat at a fancy restaurant in NYC
Go to Paris
See Star Wars Episode IV in a movie theater
Teach Language Arts again
Get involved with the union
Play paintball
See my sister do comedy in front of people
Paint 1 room all black
Adopt a dog
Sleep in a castle
Knit an entire bed spread and matching pillow shams
Get a tattoo (see Mom, still sticking to the bargain)
Take my kids traveling (need to do the mom thing first)
Go to Prague
Walk on the beach at night
Travel in an RV
take cooking classes with Mr. G
Care for baby bunnies
Swim in the Pacific
Design a successful knitting pattern
Ride on a motorcycle
Go to Alaska
See a ghost (so silly, but I want it)
Have a huge ass theme party for a wedding anniversary
Stay up all night with my kids and have a Star Wars Marathon (again, mom 1st)
Go to England
Get a license to take my pets to visit schools so I can teach the children about them
Get blunt bangs
Write someone's memoir
See Rocky Horror live - I'm a RHPS virgin - I ALWAYS chicken out!!!
Finish my Masters (done)
See a whale up close
Go to Colorado
See Iron Maiden in concert
Get published
Look into the wolf display at the Museum of Natural History (half done - went with Griff and his mom and walked by but had to block my peripheral with my giant George Costanza wallet)
Make pottery
Go camping
Show my Dad that my book is in a library

I'm sure I'll have more to add. Hopefully I'm long off from the due date for this crap 'cause there's plenty of it. Off to paint, and then screw the house work (Mr. G is playing video games) I'm going to do some knitting!

Potentially Rockin' Movies 2 Come...

2009-07-27T18:05:00.005-04:00

I love the band The Runaways and apparently there's a movie being filmed about them to come out in 2010...

The girl from Twilight is going to play Joan Jett...and I'm like, not seeing it. I wanna see the movie, but Joan is my favorite and I hope that girl does her whole persona justice.

That's Dakota Fanning (is that how you spell her name?) as Cherie Currie and the Twilight girl...Kristin *typing slowly trains off as GW of J realizes she doesn't know the actress' last name and is too lazy to tab over and look it up*.

I don't know...but that might be cool.

And then there's this...

Trailer here...

Some people are complaining about it already, saying Burton's lost his creativity and can't do any original work any more...I have a responce to that. If you had access to any resources you could ever need, wouldn't you pay tribute to all the things you love? Yes is the answer. The End.

This looks promising...

Back from Mass!

2009-07-26T13:02:00.009-04:00

No, not a mass at a church....I am the GrimmWITCH:) Korny:)

Mr. G and I wanted to get away on the cheap just for a few days and our anniversary was coming up anyway (July 23rd was 4 years). We went to Massachusetts for four days...or planned to.

Our plans for day 1 were foiled when the Estate lawyer needed us to run around and do stuff for the closing of my late mother-in-law's home. This experience has been a difficult one from day 1 for poor Mr. G, and the town in which she lived made it very difficult. The town's requirements were insane (as we heard time and time again from different workers we hired for different jobs in the home). Phewy to you, Rutherford!

When we finally did get up to Mass. it was after 8 pm and the day was wasted:(

We visited quite a few places. One really great stop was the New England Aquarium in Boston. This was a spot I visited when i vacationed in Boston with my parents and sister. It has an amazing floor plan, with most of the exhibits spiralling around one massive cylyndrical tank in the center...maybe 24 some odd feet in diameter.

Pic pilfered from the New England Aquarium

These little guys are playing in the massive pool that forms the base of the aquarium. A bunch of them jumped into the water and took off swimming - they looked like they were flying under water. You can see the bottom of the central tank in the background.

The sea horse below is a species that blends in by mingling with the sea weed it looks like.

Neon green anemonies glow in the background as fish chase eachother in this tank.

This giant puffer lives in the massive tank...I think I remember it having somthing like 200,000 gallons of water in it constantly being filtered.

The guy below, Issac, is one of the seals that lives at the aquarium. I was splashing around playfully the entire time we were there.

This peachy - red jelly fish looks like it's made of some pretty frilly fabric.

When we were done with the aquarium we went to eat at Todd English's Kingfish Hall Restaurant in Quincy Market in Boston.

Mr. G had perfectly cooked steak and a delicious crab cake...excuse the poor phone pic.

My lobster and corn chowder was so good I actually said WOW involuntarily before I could stop myself.

After that we walked around Boston and did some exploring. Mr. G caught a pic of the Paul Revere statue.

Later on in the week we went on a late night tour of Bostons legendary spook spots in the Ghosts and Gravestones tour trolly. Sounds KoRny, but it was immensely informative. The people who work the tour are very knowledgeable. One of the most important things to me when I indulge in my cornier side is to be respected. Jumping out at me, grabbing at me, checking out my boobies (not that I'm a hot mama or anything, but it has happened), not cool. These people were wonderful! Respectful, and what I found most endearing, great with and sensitive to the young children who came on the tour. The two well behaved boys were not too young.

On another day we took a trip to Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester, MA.

John Hammond Jr., the former owner, was an inventor with a pension for collecting anything medieval or reminiscent of the time. Here is an exterior shot.

The castle is pretty much on the water, and I spent most of my time outside viciously inhailing the sweet smell of the sea as if it were laced with drugs.

Just a few pics of the more remarkable areas in the castle. One shot I don't have here is a pic of the indoor pool...awesome...here's a link though.

Below is a shot of the great hall. There was a cute, but massive group of middle schoolers there that I kept dodging...don't really like being around any large groups of children but my own.

This chair in the great hall...I suppose then, a thrown, was so beautiful.

We also went to Salem, although I have no pics of that (thanks alot, Mr. G, you pain you:)

I love Salem...yeah, it's got all the witch stuff (I actually identify unclassifyable pagan, but I do have a lot of beliefs that overlap with Wicca) but again, it's really all about the sea proximity. So beautiful! And a great place to bring kids.

Pic pilfered from usatourism.com

One of Mr. G's favorite visits was to the Higgins Museum in Worcester. The collection of weapons, armor, and other related items was compiled by the late steel tycoon John Woodman Higgins (I wonder if he knew Mr. Hammond...I imagine they would have been great friends).

Some of the weapons were rare versions of concepts that never took off like this gun/shield combo.

Another of the more unusual items was this doggie armor. The collection is second in size in this country only to the Met's weapons and armor wing and is far more varied.

Our last visit of the vacation, or so we thought, was a stop at Lizzie's house in Fall River, MA...

There I am outside waiting for a tour.

This is a pretty much exact replica of the couch where Lizzie Borden's father was found murdered. Mr. G and I posed for a pic on it later. Morbid, yes. If you're offended please skip to the bottom. I'd say I was sorry but I think you're being too sensitive and I'm a bad liar:)

This was the spot where her step mother was found.

This was Lizzie's room.

Here's my homegirl Living Dead Doll Lizzie in Lizzie's room... well, not really mine, mine was still in /jersey, but you understand...

We were driving home when we decided to stop in Mystic, Conn for fudge and food. Here's a gaggle of phone shots.

We got delicious food at the Sea View Snack Bar

Crab cake...yum!

Scallops and Calamari!

And saddly, I did no knitting:(

Just to show mom...

2009-07-12T21:21:00.004-04:00

Although I did do some knitting today I didn't take any pictures of it...just finishing up the Sophia Tomten. I saw her today at Griffin's 1st Birthday party and thank the Gods it looks as if she'll still fit into it. She's so cute and tiny. And I managed to get some in-my-arms time with the Grif. He smelled like birthday cake:) He is the most gentle baby ever.

So why am I here if I don't have knitting pics again? Hey, 'I do what I want,' and what I want is to show mom my new hair...

The roots were a half inch and the bright red was very different than my fawny brown and ever graying natural...so I dyed it dark, dark, dark brown yesterday and left some streaks of red. Wasn't happy with is this morning, though, and had no black left, so I dyed the streaks dark fuchsia (showing up hotter pink here I guess) and a few thin pieces light red.

Tomorrow Mr. G and I are spending the morning filling out paper work for my doctors appointment on Thursday, and planning a trip to Boston:)

When I am knitting what do I read (yes, if I'm not doing something really crazy, like an evil lace, I read at the same time. Many people do this). In addition to the Twilight series and some comic series I'm reading the book I just got...around ten years old me thinks...

Hysterical! Like the beginning of the Fisher King but way more creatively bizzare and silly. I also picked up the Graveyard Book...Neil Gaiman!!:) and a discount art book og Gil Elvgren's pin up art! Hubba hubba...and my avatar is featured inside:)

Super Busy...No Pics

2009-07-10T20:42:00.004-04:00

Pepper moved yesterday. The whole week was all about getting her ready for it. It was very tiring. I never realized they (my sister and brother-in-law) have so much crap:) The things we accumulate. As a bonus I've been running regular migraines.

The 4th of July was very nice and surprising. Usually Mr. G works, but he was off so we BBQed. I invited a few people but didn't expect anyone b/c I knew some go to the same BBQ each year, or they were busy...but we had nine people. It was a very nice surprise. Griffin, my friend's son born last July 8th, stumbled around my house and I just adored watching him.

I can't believe Griffin turned 1 on Wednesday. I thought about him all day long, and the stressful time my friend had waiting to get pregnant, and couldn't help think of my own difficulties. Spending time with Grif or seeing other women w/ their babies doesn't make me sad or bother me. I like to see others happy; it makes me happy.

Fittingly, but coincidentally I attended a Resolve meeting Wednesday night, migraine blaring like my own personal internal car horn perpetually honking in my head. Resolve is the National Infertility Association. The group meeting (confidential, so I ain't sharing and hard for me 'cause I'm super shy) really guided me to feel more hopeful. I wasn't depressed, but I had kinda given up. I was waiting for Mr. G to come around to be comfortable, something I was thinking about long before I found we had problems having kids of our own...actually before I met Mr. G. I made an appointment to go to a fertility clinic next Thursday to consult w/ a doctor that specializes in infertility. I'm kinda private about this stuff...can't imagine posting this...but I'm going to.

The following day my girlfriend from work is going in to the same place to see if she's pregnant. Please pray to your respective gods for her. Even though I don't think the gods will pick to bless her w/ a child b/c I prayed more I do believe in positive energy. And, after all she's been through, I can't believe she still has any of her own left...but she does. She's just amazing and with an adopted son I can see what a great mom she'll be to a second. Now that I'm crying I will sign off.

WhAt?

2009-07-02T16:49:00.004-04:00

I did not make this up. This is real.
And Maven of Fiber Pron asked about New Hope. It is just across the state line b/w NJ and PA. The NJ town bordering it is Lambertville, of Abandoned Lambertville high school fame. We tried to drive by the school but couldn't get close and I got chicken:( It's a nice day trip for anyone in the area...small shops, intimate places to eat, etc:)

New Hope, PA

2009-07-01T21:28:00.002-04:00

Today Mr. G and I went to New Hope, PA. Behold, a gathering of my day's booty and the reading material I took with me. Not wanting to tote Eclipse around I raided Mr. G's comic collection to find the next volumes of Fables.

The white bag contains FUDGE! I can't recall the small shop's name.
The bag is from a New Hope LYS called Twist Knitting & Spinning. The store has a nice variety of yarns and the people are very cordial and helpful.

I dug up some Ellyn Cooper's Yarns while there. It's not available where I live and I was really pleased - this was the only colorway in the boucle, but I love it. Her colors are so vibrant! she needs a web site!!:)

I was almost ready to ring out when I came across these...

I first saw the Zauberball on Jenny Leggings blog. She described is as slowly transitioning b/w one color & the next. I had a hard time finding them.

All this while I needed BSJ yarn and wasn't finding anything I liked. I had to stop at Michael's & get the Cotton Tots yarn that I love!

That handsome man in the picture on the left is my late Tio (Spanish for uncle, yes, I am latin). I did not intend for him to be in the pick...but this one was the only shot with the yarn in focus, and why would anyone mind that adorable smile. He was an amazing guy, an absolute perfect example of a good human being. I love you, Tio!

...It's a Wonderful Town

2009-06-28T18:29:00.007-04:00

Mr. G & I went into NY to see the Extreme Mammals exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. We've only been there together once before, but separately loads of times, and I never get tired of it. Life astounds me.

While there I always walk by three exhibits, one of which I did miss this time. I love the gemstones and minerals exhibit, but we did need to get back to do yard work and I have seen it a gabillion times, and I did want to make one lovely stop before lunch - get to that later - so I passed.

Another stop I make each time is the famous whale room. Not for the whale, though.

When I was young I'd always walk towards the back of this huge room right towards one particular display, followed by sister Pepper of course. The display was behind glass like the others and poorly lit. It would take a long time for your eyes to adjust to the deep darkness of the display...happening slowly. You'd likely be looking around the whole glass pain to spot something and I heard people many times insist that it must be under construction and walk away.

And then your eyes would finally get used to the inkiness and you'd see one grapefruit sized eye staring out at you - a sperm whale fighting a giant squid in the depths. It was terribly fun.

Last time I went the museum had removed the glass and put in some lighting. There was even a child...totally unafraid...crawling around on the floor of the display. I had no camera today so if you're pissed that I pilfered let me know and I'll remove it.

Shot by cerdsp on flickr

My third mandatory visit when I go to the museum completely befuddles and terrifies me. Yes, both, at the same time. If you go in to the North American Animals exhibit you'll see gigantic creatures like moose, the grizzly, towering, tremor inducing sights. Around the left side though, just beyond the jackrabbits is a display that glows with blue light. That one is the only thing left in the museum that scares me. Not the whale, not the squid, this...

Shot by peterjr1961 on flickr

See, looking at them like this...they're just cute. Not scary at all. Besides, I love dogs. It's the blue light that makes them creepy. Every time I go I say to myself, 'this is going to be the time that I'm going to walk right past them, look inside and see them, and walk away at a reasonable pace.' I pooped out again today :(

Shot by wallyg on flickr

Mr. G walked ahead, having seemingly forgot that last time we went he had to gently guide me past, with his arms protectively wrapped around me. I was going to try, but then couldn't. I had to wait for his eyes to meet mine across the crowd and he must have easily read the embarrassment and terror on my face.

He came to get me and instead of the protective embrace I expected he pulled me in front of the display, my eyes bolted shut, and urged me teasingly to open them. How a few years of marriage changes things:) I feel stupid saying, or rather typing this, but I couldn't control how afraid I was. I even yelped, 'NO,' so loudly I feared others around may have heard.

Laughing at myself brought me to tears...yeah, it was hysterical, when I was finally away from the blue light:)

The Extreme animals exhibit was great. All about special, specific adaptations that made certain species throughout history particularly unique. The one below was suited for the tropical climates...of the North Pole millions of years ago.

Shot by edenpictures on flickr; a family of 3 that have great pics of NYC

Now lets get to the important stuff...the short stop after the museum. Before eating lunch we walked to Knitty City, a yarn shop quite close to the museum.

I needed a few DPs...

...and I'd been wanting some solid or semi solid sock yarn (none on sale:( I'm so cheap...

...and I got three needle or small project bags, one for Lupie, one for Pepper, and one for myself, their pick...

...and Mr. G persuaded me to get this tank. It was on sale:)

If anyone commenting has any interesting stories about the American Museum of Natural History or any other museum trip they've made please share...

Hedera & Lesser Known Skeins

2009-06-27T21:34:00.002-04:00

Took a break from the Clapotis this afternoon and started the Hedera socks from Knitty. I've been eyeing them for a long time, and had all that Jitterbug. Just incase they do fit her Royal Lupie-ness when I'm done I'll leave the "for" part empty in Ravelry. I added an extra knit stitch in between each repeat to make it a bit more roomy. I got the idea from Tiphanie on Ravelry who did only one pattern repeat. Not the same thing, but looking at her pattern brought me to thinking about altering the pattern by adding more stitches and how I'd do it.

I also tried to work on the Lesser Known Skeins site. LKS is a Ravelry group my mom made for people who have blogs but weren't getting many visitors. Anyway, there's a bunch of very talented people who belong to the group. I love to hear stories, and reading blogs is just that, so I have benefited from it's creation. Lupie (aka mom) has thought about a page for a while so I've done a little work so far.

I took a background from thecutestblogontheblock.com and made some extra graphics...I hope they're okay with that. I could have made my own bg and made graphics out from there...but I really liked the bg I picked from their site. I originally got the link to their site from Plumpy.

Clapotis...Almost Forgot

2009-06-26T10:38:00.003-04:00

How have I been able to work on the clapotis in the car, while watching tv, and while reading (even comics!)?

Soul Knitting has this great spreadsheet you can print out as a guide.

Screenshot of Soul Knitting's Clapotis Spreadsheet : Get file here.

I'm making the clapotis in the size written in the pattern, so this works nicely, but I can see how one could easily adjust the spreadsheet if one were making a smaller scarf or larger shawl version of the pattern.

Twilight, Crafting, Clapotis, and Animals

2009-06-25T17:31:00.004-04:00

Let me begin with Twilight. It doesn't matter to me that it's Young Adult. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a series so much!
I lied.
Yes I can.
Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles.

So I finished Twilight, read New Moon...

And now I'm on to Eclipse.

I love the characters. I feel like Bella's long lost aunt or something screaming in my head when she does something I know is unwise or cheering her on when good things happen. I don't fall for characters so easy either! Stephenie Meyer is a darn good storyteller. People may critisize her writing ability...eh! says I! I like a well told story; it doesn't have to be the linguistic parallel to Shakespeare.

On the crafty front, I've been planning some non-knitting projects and stopped at the Cozy Quilt Shop for the 1st time to buy supplies. It seems it's one of the only places in the area to go for lots of fabric variety since the closing of my beloved Rag Shops :( Here's the stuff I got...all fat quarters (a half of a half yard) except for the half yard of purple.

In knitting news, I made a wonderful, marvelous, too good, excellent mistake:)

I knew I had two skeins of Jitterbug in Mist to do the Clapotis.

Wherever I seemed to stop on Ravelry when searching, though, it seemed people needed about three. I searched the web and found an about 5 buck off sale on Jimmy Beans Wool.

I got some other stuff b/c it was 5 bucks off and ...

Starting at top: Noro Kureyon Sock in S149,

left to right: Colinette Jitterbug in lapis, popsicle, jay, alizerine, and ofcourse the mist not pictured above.

Stuff came, I was psyched.

I went to pull down the second skein of Jitterbug I had stored with my yarn and saw ...

that there was another one behind it! I already had 3:) So now I have a whole bunch of mist.

Good thing I really like the colorway -

and I'm happy I ordered b/c the hidden skein I'd forgotten about is slightly pinker than the two old ones and the new one (as you may or may not be able to see above) so I'll be using the new one for the clapotis.

I'm just starting to form some latters.

And now for something about animals.

On Sunday mom (aka Lupie) watched Sunday Moring on CBS and DVRed a story about how many parrots wide up getting given away b/c they are very difficult to live with.

Mr. G is pretty interested in adopting a parrot and I'm pretty much dead set against it. Why? Not b/c I don't like them, or rather, don't love them. I love birds. But I've learned a bit about parrots and I just don't think they're for us. As tempting as it is to adopt a pretty, smart, attentive pet, there are issues to be considered, as with any animal.

Here's the link to the video of the story.

And here's a link to the blog of a parrot mommy and a woman who has written a book on the subject of the reprocussions of adopting parrots rashly and not researching, Mira Tweti.

My issue with the parrots is their long lives and temperment. I don't want to sentence my future children to keep a pet they may not be able to manage (or may not want to) b/c mom and dad wanted a parrot. I wouldn't want to fall in love with a bird and then have to give him up when she bites my child's finger or when I'm too old to care for her.

This kind of cautiousness and need to research when adopting an animal should go with any animal. You need to consider your abilities, their abilities, your future, and their future. For instance...I love this little guy...

Look at the lashes, people! Fa-bu-lous

Smudge was most likely an Easter Bunny - (no, sadly not the kind that brings you chocolate eggs:( ). Every year in the months after Easter rabbits all over are turned in to rescues (like the now closed one where we got Smudge), shelters, or left to fend for themselves on the side of the road or in a park, etc.

Most pets are not capable of caring for themselves, especially after having lived in a home. Smudge was found one morning by a pet store owned outside the store in a soaking wet cardboard box that had at least been out there over night in the pooring rain. A faimly adopted him and almost immediately brough him back b/c he was biting their kids. After having lived with him for about three years I'm left to assume that the children were harassing him b/c even when Mr. G and I have had to force medicate him with antibiotics he gets upset, but never attacks.

So I love him, don't know what I'd do without him, but he has negatives (not for me, but would be for others). Usually I crop out the poop when I post a pick. I vacumed his hiding place beneath the coffee table yesterday. He was out for about an hour. I just wanted to do my part and say a little something about researching pets and post the links above. It is really important not to just run out and get any animal. It's like bringing a new family member into the fold. I love the Smudge, poop and all:)

I love you, Dad

2009-06-21T00:59:00.002-04:00

I don't just knit, you know. I also like to write stories, and have been doing so since before I could physically write. I used to dictate stories to my grandmother and she'd copy them down in crayon. Although I've never done much with my writing my family has always been very supportive and interested, especially my dad. I would say he is probubly my biggest fan. Thanks, Dad.

Lyrics altered by me to fit the situation.

Tough, you think you've got the stuff

You're telling me and anyone

You're hard enough

You don't have to put up a fight

You don't have to always be right

Let me take some of the punches

For you tonight

Listen to me now

I need to let you know

You don't have to go in alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror

And it's you when I don't pick up the phone

Sometimes you can't make it on your own

We fight all the time

You and I... that's alright

We're the same soul

I don't need... I don't need to hear you say

That if we weren't so alike

You'd like me a whole lot more

Listen to me now

I need to let you know

You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror

And it's you when I pick up the phone

Sometimes you can't make it on your own

(This is it)I know that we don't talk

I'm sick of it all

Do you know you're why I write

You're the reason I write

You're the reason why the stories are in me

Well hey now, still gotta let ya know

A house doesn't make a home

Don't leave me here alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror

And it's you that makes it hard to let go

Sometimes you can't make it on your own

Sometimes you can't make it

Best you can do is to fake it

Sometimes you can't make it on your own

A little bit of everything

2009-06-19T20:45:00.002-04:00

Firstly, I'm really enjoying working on the Clapotis. The Jitterbug is so soft and smooth. I really thought that I wouldn't like the looseness of it w/ the size 6s, but I do love it. The Gods know I should be working on the tomten that keeps getting shoved to the side for one emergency project or another (gifts basically) but I can't take my hand off the Clapotis.

Nextly, I'm very tired of my dad being away. He's been visiting his mother - notice I type his mother and not my grandmother. I had a grandmother so I know what one is supposed to be like. Lupie's mother was a truly amazing person and devoted her entire life to her children and grandchildren. My dad's mom - not so much. I honestly don't know how he ended up being such a great person. Anyway, sometimes I wanna smack him but I am very attached to my dad and feel weird when he's away. I worry about how he's sleeping, how his stress level and blod pressure are while he's spending time with this very insensitive woman. I just can't wait 'til he's back tomorrow.

A small shot of Smudge. He's so cute. He's on antibiotics again. This poor guy has had such a tumultuous life!

Abandoned, homeless before he came to us, then the f-ing head tilt last summer (we thought he was going to die. I was just re-reading the posts from then to do the link here...it was horrible. I type this as Smudge is attacking my Ikea window bench in the sun room: ) and now a cold (sneezing and boogers are dangerous for rabbits) for 5 months. The doctor said the next time he has boogers he may want to flush out Smudge's nasal cavity.

Life has been consumed by Pepper house! I'm tired (had a freakin' headache and belly ache all last night and today) but am having so much fun painting with Pepper and our mom. They are hysterical and we all work well together. I love my co workers in school, but not every arrangement is as effortless as, for instance, my working relationship with my mentor. Its even better with my sister and my mother...like we don't even need to speak sometimes and we just do. I love summer with them (we are all teachers so the three of us are off in the summer).

Painting demands comfort so here I am in my good luck over the knee neon orange socks, Pepper's borrowed faux crocks in a Raquel Reed hair shade of blue and my cut off black sweat shorts - Ha ha ha - Jesus! Just a wrong wrong picture! But I was comfortable and the squishy shoes kept foot pain to a minimum.

For lunch we were pretty much out of cold cuts so for the first time in I estimate 15 to 18 years I went to Burger King with Pepper. And I ordered BEEF! I don't eat mammal except for the occasional strip o' pig for breakfast. I just don't care for most beef - anyway, so that was interesting. Pepper noticed that BK has some Star Trek cups for sale so I sheepishly asked her to get one for me. I wondered how they were releasing the cups...one a week or all 4 at once, that sort of thing. I really wanted only Spock and was curious if Pepper knew about my spock obsession. She place the order and the woman asked if it mattered which cup we got. Pepper replied by saying any cup would do...and my geek girl within surged up out of nowhere as I frantically mumbled, "Spock, Spock, SPOCK!"

I'll leave it at Pepper's house so I have my own glass over there. Thax Pep!

Here I Go!

2009-06-18T20:28:00.001-04:00

I can't wait to see what's next...there are no "bars" yet.

The Tale of the Pepper in the Castle

2009-06-17T11:00:00.006-04:00

Once upon a time there was a little sister named Princess Pepper. She had a wonderful husband, two adoring parents with whom she lived, Queen Lupie and the King, a fearsome dragon, named Maggie the adorable, and a wickedly stunning older sister who followed the old ways. She was known as the GrimmWitch.

Pepper was happy where she lived, but she and her prince dreamed of a castle of their own. They finally found it...nestled in the woods among the creeping things and the rowdy beasts of the forest. The thing of it was that the castle was very, very filthy. What was poor Pepper to do? She enlisted Queen Lupie and GW and all sorts of helpful beings from throughout the realm to aid in bringing this frightful mess of a castle back to it's former glory.

The sunken living room is huge. The rug must be ca. 1960. The below pic was taken from the wood panel "den".

Here's the den.

When I got there this was the only panel down in the about 5x5 room. Now they're all down. And Pepper did it by herself (with a little help from me). It was actually really fun. I got to use my hands. We work well together b/c our personalities I think are suited for teamwork.

Above you can see the wallpaper falling off. That is being removed as I type. And there is the gross rug. I feel bad for the elderly people who lived there until about 2007. Clearly someone should have advised their family to help them have the rugs replaced if they didn't know to do so on their own. And the renters left the place gross:(

Above is the 1st floor half bath. Pepper's gonna do a Frenchy theme in there - but in a tasteful way. The renters apparently didn't know that they have to at times clean the lint trap. Pepper and I filled her Dyson completely with filth from the lint trap. I estimate there must have been at least one full cubic foot of lint. When I'd tunneled past most of it I found a happy little surprise.

I had to use a hanger to get it out because the long lint trap brush and the vacuum weren't doing it. I also found a sandwich toothpick (like to keep a club sandwich together), some change, and a zipper pull.

Finally, triumph!
Lupie cleaned the kitchen. Everything was covered in dirt and oily grime. I don't understand why the renters seemingly didn't clean anything. I'm a pretty forgetful, scatterbrained, and lazy person in my opinion and it was even too filthy for me.

So Princess Pepper watched as her castle slowly transitioned from monstrous to modern, from filthy to fabulous. She, and the prince, and the dragon would live happily ever after:)

In other news...

The fingerless gloves will have to wait, Mom...It's time...

Photo from Knitty.com

I've had the yarn for this for over a year and never started...pictures to come.

And I'm sure all my little emo-ite, rock-esque, goth-lette students will be happy to know that I've bitten the bullet, or been bitten by it in this case, and

Yes, Sunky, I am reading Twilight:)

Hell Yeah!

2009-06-15T17:03:00.003-04:00

I frickin didn't get to finish Mary's Thank You socks. I would have been able to but I was running around like a mental patient for most of the day...I asked her to drop by my room and I told her about the socks and she freaked out! She took the finished sock and went around bragging to others that I was making them for her. It was nice of her to freak out like that. You rock, Mary.

I'm nervous about next year already b/c my principal is supporting me in the creation of this heterogenious grouping program I'm copying from Lupie's old school and I'm scared other teachers are going to make it difficult for me.

But for now I can say...
TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!
NO MORE PENCILS
NO MORE BOOKS
NO MORE STUDENTS'
DIRTY LOOKS

UPDATE

Just finished the Mary Thank You Socks

A pretty eventful weekend...

2009-06-14T19:54:00.006-04:00

I'll write quite b/c I'm STILL not done with the thank you socks... but hopefully she'll still get them tomorrow. Why must I have them ready for tomorrow?? Well, if you take a look at the counter at the bottom of my page you'll see

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!

Like I've said in previous posts, I'm going to miss my kids, but I'm excited to do stuff in my new house and to her my sister (yes, poor Lupie has two of us!) set up her (filthy) new home. (By the by, if you're renting, you still have to clean...even though it's not yours - the people who lived in Pepper's house until she bought it left it repulsive!)

So the weekend began with a fare well lunch for one of my co-workers being transferred to another school. I'm sad to see her go, but I'm happy b/c she'll be in a new-ish building in a school with a lot of spirit (we have spirit issues in my school - by the way, now the ceiling in the stairwell fell down - throw us a bone Corzine!)

She jokes about Tom Jones and his panty catching kitchyness. She and my other co-worker are even going to a Tom Jones concert in July (may the Gods bless them). There's also this whole funny thing with Angela Lansberry (don't know if that's spelled ok) that has a huge back story that I'm not going into on here...but anyway...so my co-worker jokes about them. Another one of us as a gag wrong a letter to the transferee in the persona of Tom Jones apologizing that he couldn't make it to dine with us and assuring my co-worker that he'll see her in July at the concert. Hardy har har:) And she even made these hysterical lolly pops (delicious by the way:)

On Saturday Pepper, Lupie, and I got our hair cut and I got mine dyed. My hair dresser put something like seven gradiated colors in it to make this gradual transition of reds to dark purple underneath. It looks less purple and more black on the bottom. It's very pretty, and the cut is great, but I don't know if it's wild enough for summer - I'll see how I feel.
Pepper's been working hard at her pretty new-to-her house. I love it. It has fantabulous landscaping. I went by on surprise today with Mr. G to invite her and Mr. Pepper out to eat at a local Japanese place but they had company so Mr. G and I went without them. We ate at Fuki (I love the name) in River Edge, NJ. This was the best Japanese I've had in a long time. Here's a shot of the Mary socks on the table at the restaurant.

The fish was so delicious and tasted fresh. Usually when I hit a Japanese place on Sunday, most any place, for whatever reason I feel the fish is only okay. This fish rocked. The service was nice, very attentive. It was priced similarly to most places in the area (Wasabi in Ridgewood is another good one, but this one is way cuter and much more homey.) I had a sashimi platter - the white tuna was awesome. Look at how they served my salmon row.

For desert we had Red Bean ice cream in a ball and deep fried tempura style. It was Mr.G's 1st time eating red bean ice cream. He really liked it. It was the perfect, scrumptious topping to a great weekend. And now...

One more day

And finally...True Blood...Right NOW!!!

I really think Lafayette is dead...wait...GASP

And watch for Suckie's grandma's knitting.

So tired...so excited!!

2009-06-10T20:49:00.002-04:00

Yippy Skippy!!!

Photo from Bravo

I am so excited about this!!

I have been very ill as I'm sure one can deduce by my last post. Yesterday, by evening by migraine was so bad that I called Mr. G at work to stay on the phone with me b/c the dizziness was causing me to walk totally messed up and I was afraid I would fall.

I would have stayed home from work today except A) it's so close to the end B) some of my students find it impossible to behave for subs - you should see the note a sub left for me when I was out Monday. I don't know what the hell they're thinking! The behavior is frankly unsafe, but hell, I should be able to get a frickin migraine and not fear that they'll kill each other - and C) I had a very important meeting about one of my kids and the mom keeps neglecting to show (she missed 5 meetings - I don't know, man). He's a great kid, a good person, a wonderful artist, and all I want is for him to succeed. Things didn't go as I'd hoped. I know he failed, but I feel the situation is beyond his control in some ways and I was hoping to get him AP-ed (administrative promotion). I haven't given up yet, though.

Honestly, they're all great, my kids, they're just freakin insane. They can't behave appropriately ever. I insanely picked this year (obviously unknowingly) to re-vamp my whole approach to discipline. These little dudes need the old, louder me (I was - am kinda still - a drill sergeant yeller) just because their volume is immence.

I really have the "artists row" of homerooms this year. They're all visual artists, or performers and they don't know it yet - hysterically freakin funny children. I have one who can draw really well, but I feel that he'd be a great writer too. He really drives me nuts and weighs on my patience - does this not speaking to me thing - but he's an awesome little guy & just human.

I have one who loves baseball and it's nice b/c I'm just getting into it more b/c of Mr. G - this kid's a genius. I adore his humor. I have another who is equally as smart and a wealth of obscure knowledge...WWII planes, King Tut, etc. My girls rock! They are the most helpful cutie pies ever. One of them is a total pisser - she could be a comedienne right now.

I have two secretaries too. One boy and one girl. I don't think they realize how much they help me every day. One of them is moving and I'm really going to miss her. She's like a little mini homegirl.

I can't wait for Monday - last day - to be over. They are totally crazy, but then, so am I, so we were all a good fit together. I'm proud to know them. They're a bunch of great kids.

Needless to say the Thank you socks ain't done. My nights have been full of headache and totally knitless:( I'm glad Mr. G is home tonight b/c I still feel shitty:(

Can't Sleep...Migraine Will Eat Me

2009-06-08T05:20:00.006-04:00

Pretty much accurate as to how I have felt as of late.

Art by Ellaine at Deviant Art

And here's a shot of the original Simpson's reference...

All the where-with-all of a drunken stuper with the pain of a severe head injury (I know the sensation of both from personal experience - they fit migraine description just right). Off to do some mental knitting I'll most likely have rip out later when I realize what looks awesome now is really a sea of whispy dropped stitches.

Thank you sock 1 is done...

2009-06-07T10:21:00.002-04:00

It's taking me longer than I'd hoped thanks to the Fables I can't keep my hands off of ( I can read and knit, but it's hard when you're reading a beautifully illustrated graphic novel and don't want to break the spine). Mr. G says they're going to make a live action series based on the book. I'll have to hunt for that.

I did not do the kitchner. I will do it again at some point when I can watch Mom do it again, but Bead Knitter, a really gifted blogger with great taste in Spocks :) suggested I do a three needle bind off after turning the sock inside out. This was priceless advice, especially since this was something that I could accomplish while tripping on a migraine (I ache right now:( ) Her blog is just amazing. She has incredible beading skills, like the stuff you see demoed in the Fire Mountain catalogue and think 'Who the hell made that, Da Vinci?'

I Survived the Worst Day of the School Year 'n all I Got was this Lousy T-Shirt

2009-06-05T18:56:00.002-04:00

Firstly, Mr. G took some pics of the really beautiful animals in our neighborhood and I wanted to share a few more. I feel so lucky to live here. Such an overlooked part of everyday...the animals around you, but I'm always mezmorized and there are plenty to watch by my house.
Nextly, today was the DARE Graduation at school. As a 5th grade teacher in NJ my students take part in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program during which a town cop comes in each week and teaches the kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse. Our cops take it one step further and throw in lessons about dealing successfully with any negative peer pressure involving illegal substances and violence. The cop we had this year was just awesome. The kids love her and you can see she enjoyed spending time with them too.

At the end of the program the students do three things...write an essay about what they learned, create a poster for DARE with a slogan (for example: Be Awares, Drugs are for Squares), and take part in a graduation. It has the potential each year to be cute...we all wear matching tees and put on a show for the parents, the 4th grade, and various town officials. Here's this year's shirt.

We usually do it up...rewrite songs with new, DARE-y words (STOP! in the Name of DARE, Before you Make Mistakes! Think it Oh-Over), skits, etc. As you can imagine this all takes time. But if you look further down on the page that counter to the last day is a' tickin' (thank the Gods), testing was late this year, and as much as I love all the kids in this year's 5th grade, as a group they're a difficult mix. So this year we tried to fly low.

It still managed to be very stressful. So many needy kids with so many issues makes for insane rehearsals. Other teachers complained that we were too loud (don't ever call the principal on your co-worker right away...go to them and talk first. Don't teachers tell kids to try to solve problems on their own first? I can't wait to see how other people are going to deal with this group! Let's see who complains then!)

We ended up making this Bob Dylan Subterranian Homesick Blues-esque video (that's the one where he holds up the signs in the video) all to the tune of Under Pressure (we used both the original version and the Used's cover during the show). The cop spoke, we ran the video, the best essays were read aloud and in the end everyone was happy, but the stress of getting there with 95 some-odd kids behaving like they'd snorted 20 Pixie Stix each was heavy. When I got into the car to drive home I realized that the only end-of-year work I have left to do can only be done in school and that I have the evening free. Mr. G works late...so I stopped at Kings (Ou La La, movin' on up) and got some treats for myself.
The Green Mountain Coffee bag says Mocha Nut Fudge and the cake is red velvet. I'm chowing down right now. Along with some knitting on the Mary Thank You Socks, the next volume of Fables and watching The Fashion Show with Smudge I think I'll feel better by morning!
The sock is coming along smoothly but as usual I'm dreading the Kitchner. I don't know why
I'm so bad at it. I even use a guide. Hopefully that'll be done before I go to sleep tonight.

Wish me luck with the Kitchner:)

Hole in the wall, and ceiling, and a crack in the wall as well

2009-06-02T17:15:00.002-04:00

Someone from the district came to look at the hole in Mrs. A's ceiling (she is still not back in her room) but did not come to see my nipple or my crack:(

An Old Time-y Village, Drinking from a Jar, Hearses, and My Crack

2009-05-31T08:41:00.006-04:00

Life at school totally sux right now. We are getting ready for DARE graduation and as piffly as the production has become (we used to do an actual play with scripts written by my co workers and myself) it's still stressful. And grading tests (a pile, no kidding, a foot high), and end of year junk, and Swine Flu is sinking its delicious, bacon-y hands into the district slowly. Then we walk in on Friday and Mrs. A found this in her room.

Yes, that is the ceiling missing up there, pic taken on the cell phone. The building is literally falling apart. The ceiling fell in in another area last year when Mrs. A was pregnant with Emma (the baby from such well known FOs as Emma Baby Surprise and Emma Baby Bolero). Thank the Gods both times there were no children in the room. The debris fell with such force that the closet was thrown open and the crap cascaded out.

My room hasn't caved in yet, but yet is the key word there. This is my crack...get your mind out of the gutter...not that kind of crack...this kind.

That's in my fucking classroom, ladies and gents, like, where my young students and I do math all day. I think that the pic does it no justice. It looks as if there's some kind of weird coloring inside the crack. Mold?? Who knows?

First you saw my crack, now I'll show you my nipple. I call this one the nipple b/c it has an areola made of water stain and mold-looking-browniness and it leaks water whenever it rains.

Last year the nipple that is located on the ceiling just outside my room against a wall adjacent to my crack was patched and I thought it was gone for good...but the tit came back the very next year. It is grosser looking in person, but you get the idea. If someone from my district somehow sees this, which they won't, and gets pissed...I am one of the district's most loyal employees. I could get a job and teach elsewhere but won't not b/c I can't, but b/c even though times are tough now I fucking love my job. I love the town, I adore my students, I love my co workers, and some how my freakin' rockin' supervisor, Also Mrs. G, has made me a math obsessive. All I want is for more effort to be put into giving the kids what they deserve...the least restrictive learning environment. My little guys have to look at this stuff every day, climb over the mountains of other obstacles such as language issues, community dysfunction, and poverty, and still compete with the suburban kids' test scores. But they keep their spirits up. They are awesome little minions.:)

Anyway, after a week like that I was drooling for the weekend this time around. First, these are the people in my neighborhood.

Mr. G hooked us up with a bird feeder and we are the popular food joint in the 'burbs. I know they're not unusual birds, but I could watch them for hours. They are beautiful. The shot below was my favorite. She or he looked like she or he was posing.

So, Mrs. L, Griffin's mom, called me up and asked if Mr. G and I would join her, her hubbie, and the Griffster on Saturday to visit Museum Village in Monroe, NY for a gem show and then an antique show @ Ramapo College. Mrs. L and I love gem shows, and I needed a break, so I agreed.

The five of us (Mrs. L, Mr. L, Griffin, Mr. G, and GrimmWitch myself) drove there and I got to sit next to Grif, which was a complete pleasure. He is by far the most easy going and delightful baby of all time and I thoroughly enjoyed his company. The gem show set up all around the small lost in time village was a 4 out of 10 as far as gem shows go, but the fact that it was inside the historic-y setting was a huge plus. The number of vendors would be massively dwarfed by the number at any other show we go to in NJ or NY.

The village is a conglomeration of genuine and reproduction buildings brought from all different places and reconfigured by the land owner similarly to poor Waterloo Village in NJ (Corzine, get off your fat ass and help Waterloo!). Although people dress in period clothing and do demos, there were none there on Saturday. Mr. G was very disappointed that he didn't get to chat with any "old time-y people." He did take some great pics of the place. Here's the schoolhouse.

Notice the lack of crack in this room when compared to my own classroom. It is equipped with a dunce chair in the left hand corner (I would have lived on that!:)

The Village also has a Natural History building. NJ has had some great dino finds throughout the state's history, so I was not surprised about fossils being on display, but this was great!

And they also have the biggest giant sloth skeleton I've ever seen. That includes the one from NYC.

There were some really beautiful Victorian carrage hearses in another building. Morbid, but I am the GRIMMWitch after all.

I love the finials on this one. The fabric is still there.

After the Village we ate at the Mason Jar. I had lovely Eggs Florentine and we drank our beverages from mason jars, hence the name.

The antique fair @ Ramapo was also really wonderful. There were so many beautiful things, but most were a little too expensive for a young couple with a new mortgage. Mr. G ate a deep fried Twinky that I didn't get a chance to shoot a pic of...but before he bit into it it looked like a corn dog. I did get one non-antique thing.

So scrumptiously Anne Taintor-esque, and so true. Do I have to go back to work on Monday?

Finally, I finished the Ribbed Lace Bolero from 10 feet high. I really love it.

See, I am the designers neck twin...(see previous post).

Step aside, Tim

2009-05-24T11:31:00.005-04:00

I'm watching The Fashion Show as I type. This is Bravo's response to having lost my beloved Project Runway . I love Tim Gunn's sophisticated yet nurturing approach and Heidi's very present fashion background. She's not just a model, but clearly loves the art. So sad that the show's been lost to Lifetime. I mean, who cares what channel it's on, but I never watch Lifetime. I love so many of the Bravo shows. PR belongs there. Honestly, the fans should not have to wait for what I believe to be an already filmed season.

Photo from Isaac Mizrahi NY.com

Anyway, the new show is good. At least I'm enjoying it. I don't see how Kelly Roland fits in. Is that how you spell her name? It means so little to me I'm not even going to look it up. Might as well have my sista' PepperBal from Geek of All Trades or someone co host. At least Pepper has an art background. I don't know Kelly's background...but I also can't see knowledge about fashion shining through. Isaac Mizrahi, on the other hand, I feel is someone who really has something to teach.

Smudge-wise, this little guy is just on a roll with the Magellan-y explorer mode. His most recent endeavor? He jumped into the top of his cardboard maze. Not a big deal for most buns, but this dude was five minuutes from the ~~Pearlly~~ Purlly Gates less than a year ago.

He's so cute! I love him!:)

I'm still working on the Thank you Socks, but hopefully will be done by Wednesday or Thursday. I'm also working on the Ribbed Lace Bolero from 10 feet high. I think I'd have it done already except for all the migraines I've had...you can see the bottom of the OTC meds in the pic below:(

I like the pattern very much, and the side pics the pattern sports looks like me - very weird to look at sometimes 'cause I wear my hair like that too.

Photo from 10 feet high

As of 6/13 though I'll be freaked out with color as I have a hair appointment am want to go crazy. I am so excited! I'm still trying to harvest ideas from the net and still don't know what I'll do.

Code PINK!

2009-05-21T19:43:00.002-04:00

Check out Knitting Like It's my Job's Megan posting about CODE PINK. She knitted quite a few squares for the project the group recently had. I'm not going to describe it...just go look at it. And if you're in support of the war I'm sure you can still appreciate the enormous effort!

Mark & Mark of Weird NJ on TODAY

2009-05-20T20:11:00.001-04:00

I am not a fan of Kathy Lee but I do think its appropriate that she use her music to punish people. Mark & Mark as wealths of knowledge and true examples of lifetime learners. I guessed right on everything except the hot dog question.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Mom's post about Annette & Thank's to Mrs. S.

2009-05-17T14:03:00.006-04:00

photo by Lupie of Knitting with my Mother's Hands

Lupie posted about the ChalkDust Knitter who just passed away, Annette. She was Pat and Karen's teacher and was incredibly gifted. She will be missed.

I'd like to say thanks to my friend, Mary aka Mrs. S. She was unable to go to see Billy Elliot on Broadway with a gaggle of my co workers on Friday and gave me her ticket. I was kind of afriad to see this with my co-workers b/c the story itself brings out so many emotions in me and connections to my own life that I can't help but be totally moved. I said what the hell, though, and had an immensely wonderful time.

First we ate at Becco in NYC. The food was good, but I don't know if I'd go back. I did have a good time. I sat by a few of my co workers I don't often get to spend time with and it was very nice to get to know them a bit better. My friend, Mrs. L, found out she is getting transfered come September and I got to spend some time laughing and bs-ing with her and that was great too. I'm going to miss her very much when she's working in another school, but I feel that that environment will be a wonderful change from the issue-weighty place we all work now.

The musical was totally amazing and I basically cried through the whole thing:) But it was good crying. Mrs. L. was roaring with laughted at the fact that I couldn't stop.

To thank Mary for the ticket I've started a pair of socks for her.

Here's the first of the two being made from Aussi Sock I purchased at Yarn Diva. I love this yarn and want to pick up some more. Beneath the sock is the second volume of Fables. I'm really enjoying the story and recommend it.

And in the wonderful world of Bun, Smudge jumped up to the kitchen level from the sunken family room at around 6:30 this morning. Congrats, little man!:)

Yippie! Jaywalkers

2009-05-12T19:14:00.003-04:00

I know this took me forever to finish, but I just kept putting it down to knit baby stuff...these women around me keep getting knocked up:) I really did like the pattern. It was fun to knit and I would love to make another pair but ... my co worker, Mrs. B, came in today with a sonogram pick of her next grandbaby due in November. I'm planning on making something for the big brother 1st and then the baby...by then they'll know the gender.
So I stole these for a moment to model them.

And for anyone who counts themselves as a Birthday Massacre fan, the new live album is out on iTunes.

Sometimes live albums suck, but this one is great. It has all my favorites, and the sound quality is good. I just love to turn it up loud - because I don't have to worry about bothering people in the next apartment now that I'm in my little Hobbit house (I love it) and dance like crazy.

My Mother's Day with Spock

2009-05-11T19:55:00.007-04:00

I felt so bad b/c my gift for my mom were the Jaywalkers and I didn't finish them in time, but for anyone who knows her or reads her blog I bet you'd guess she's not one for Mother's Day. She thinks any time you show your mother you love and appreciate her is mother's day enough. But I did go and hang out with her for a while.

After spending some time with Mama Lupie and dear old Dad on an adventure to a yarn store in JC that turned out to be closed (thanks a lot, your e-mail stated you'd be opened until 6 - we went all the way out there for nothing, butthole) I went back to spend the rest of my Mother's Day with Mr. G. Hopefully the last one where no one has a need to buy me stuff if you know what I mean (keep your fingers crossed like, forever:)

We went up to Nyack and saw...are ya' ready...STAR TREK

Two words...

Fucking Awesome

Mr. G and I saw it on the IMAX screen. I had my first ripping migrane in a while but was so glad that I didn't go home. I first watched the original Star Trek as a teen in high school when one of my teachers gave a mini class on its social commentary subtext and got hooked. I just loved the story lines and I had a thing for Leonard Nimoy:)

Why is Spock so irresistable? Am I the only one who feels like this...anyway...Zachary Quinto did an amazing job (as did all the actors...the dude who played McCoy rocked the roll - he must have watched the shows over and over to get the speech inflections down pat). And Quinto, who's striking in Heros (he makes you wanna be bad) was just as hot here.

Leonard Nimoy was in the film as well...I won't go into detail...but I gotta say, still good looking. And I love the way he approaches the dynasty that birthed his fame. He seems to enjoy and appreciate Star Trek. Not like the other one you-know-who-I-mean.

The writing was wonderful, the plot I found to be completely well crafted (not like poor Wolverine although I do like Hugh Jackman). It was just a great film.

Whilst at the mall I was able to get my Weird NJ. Don't know why the Borders by me has been dragging its feet to get it in...but I have it now and have been carrying it and the first volume of Fables around with me all day.

We have the NJ ASK this week and it is a little tiny nightmare. In frustration on Friday as we crammed I called the Smartboard a bastard outloud and didn't realize until it was too late. The kids asked me if I was scared and I had to level with them. I just hate the test. I am nervous. It seems people think that it's okay to judge the kids and the teachers on the results and it's totally not okay. I hate seeing their little faces contorted with stress or listless with boredom as they wait for the minutes to drain away when they're done and are not permitted to draw or read. I have a homeroom full of young humanists and artists. These kids draw in their sleep. How can I tell them not to draw?!? Testing is like going to the dentist and sitting in the waiting room listening to the patient before you scream as the drill growls...but waiting for an entire week.

Back to something less hellish..I also picked up one of the newest Living Dead Dolls. This series is based on urban legends. I chose the hook man.

Alrighty...I'm off to finish the Jaywalkers. Hopefully I'll have picks tomorrow.

On Lupie and her Mom

2009-05-10T07:16:00.003-04:00

Although I was just sitting here watching cartoons (what else is new) I do on occasion have adult conversations that do not focus on comics, video games, knitting, teaching, Science Fiction, movies, or zombie epidemics.

A friend and I were discussing motherhood last week. She was describing how lost she felt when she had her first child because, having not known her own mother, she had no example to follow. Thirty some odd years and four devoted, successful children later I can attest to the fact that she made it amazingly and did so without a leader.

I however, when the gods decide to bless me with a child, will have a wonderful example to follow. If anyone were to at any point ask me to name the most remarkable people I've ever known, Lupie and my grandmother would be my first two answers.
Remarkable because they were always determine and unwavering even in the face of the insurmountable.
Remarkable because they seem to simply shrug off the most intense physical pain.
Remarkable because they somehow had the power to make the wonderful out of very little or nothing.
Remarkable because they always pulled from an endless well of patience.
Remarkable because with nothing more than open ears and shoulders to cry on they wiped away all my worries.
Remarkable because they hands on my forehead packed more punch against a headache than a bottle of Excedrin.
Remarkable because they were able to bring learning to rival any trip to an amusement park or circus in level of enjoyment.
Remarkable because they never wanted me to forget that although they wore capes in my heart they were human.
Remarkable because they showed me that mothers can be superheros.

Thank you, Gramma, I miss you.
Thank you, Mom, I love you.
I'm still not done with your freakin' gift.

Grey Gardens

2009-05-04T20:36:00.004-04:00

Little Edie at Grey Gardens in 1975.

Photo: Getty Images

I'm facinated. Watch the documentary, some of which was on youtube, and then the HBO film and swear to me that sometimes you don't feel five minutes from Little Edie. I admire her ballsyness.

I want to go here

2009-05-03T11:19:00.001-04:00

Yarntopia

Long time no see, long post to come

2009-05-03T09:27:00.014-04:00

It's been a long, long while. What have I been up to...honestly, being an infant and surrenduring to a "hard time". I kept moving and shaking, but inside I've really allowed myself to surrender to my frustrations one too many times...but I'm human, you know. I stuck to my guns and didn't go to library school this semester. I'm glad b/c I had more time to devote to moving in. This house is a definate highlight in my life! I don't care what anyone else would have to say about it...too tiny, to old fashioned...I thought I'd never have one and now I do and I think it's great!:) We have done quite a bit in the short time we've been here.

Some B4 & afters...
the bedroom...
All we did here was paint. Is it blue? Is it purple? My husband's grandfather painted the pre-raphielite there.

Dressingroom?

It's a previous bedroom that joins our own through a blasted out wall. They were using it as an office. We're kinda leaving it open incase we need a nursery (cross your fingers, but it's been like two years and no dice yet).

Sunroom!:)

Mr. GrimmWitch has his compputer set up in there and we have a window seat sort of table with Smudge stuff and a round table covered with graphic novels at the moment.

Diningroom...

All the gross wallpaper is gone! Haste-La-Bye-Bye!! You may not be able to see it from here but it seemed almost 5 mm thick and was textured. It was pealing off in most places and gross! I have my Mucha reproduction and my devilish boozer art there. The wooden box is filled with my grandmother's silver...retro 50s stuff with six pointed nuclear-y bursts etched into the handles. I love them. Thanks Mom!

the Livingroom...

My mom has been calling this room "table city". We don't really have seating in here...nothing but that chair currently being used to hold some of my husband's weapons. The color is a gray green...and again, ALL THE FREAKIN WALLPAPER IS GONE! The same kinda stuff was in here, textured and thick. Also, this room, the stairs upwards, and the hall were carpeted. This beautiful wood was beneath that. We had this done right away.

Finally, my favorite room, the Family Room.

I love the color we painted the wall...it's "Pumpkin Pie". The sunroom is just beyond. The rug is still here, but there's no hard wood here so we'll wait until we can aford to do a planned remodel of the back of the house.

Smudge seems to be warming up to the place just fine. He had a cold when we moved in, but now he seems okay. There's his condo, and the cardboard structure on the left is a maze.

He started exploring immediately. This was his first night. He has not gone beyond this room yet.

In other news, work sux! It's gotten to the point where some days I actually hate my job. I love my kids... my supervisor was asking me if I like math. Shamefully, I am a write who's grown to love teaching math:) That's not it. i just have so many problems with the execution of my job for many reasons, the severe student apathy and poor work ethic (lord knows I don't expect the theory of relativity, but they just don't work, and I put bells and whistles on everything! How can such creative, fun people be so turned off when I toil to make the learning fun?). I also feel like my school community is going through a transitional period, like those first akward teenage years when your face is so greasy it has reflective qualities.

I am knitting quite a few things. I'm still working on that tomten.

Yarn Diva had buttons like the one's I used on Mrs. B's Sophia Baby Surprise in just the perfect color for this tomten (for a different Sophia:)

I had to take a tomten break to make this Baby Surprise for Henry L.

For whatever reason, who knows, i just wasn't as happy with this one.

Love the buttons. Same as Griff's.

Some of The ChalkDust Knitters are making this Debbie Bliss shawl scarf. Here's a very blurry picture of my still tiny on. My mom's is already so long!

Last, but not least...Here's the Shmed...

Not fiber arts...but may pass for some from far off...

2009-01-25T20:41:00.004-05:00

Saw these guys on CBS Sunday Morning. I love glass and this is just stunning...

Their names are Eric Markow and Thom Norris and their work is wonderful.

We went food shopping by the new house today. We drove by and I turned to Mr. G and said, "Holy $&^#, this is really going to happen.

The L Word...back for the last time!

2009-01-18T21:02:00.004-05:00

Spoiler that all the fans already knew about so don't be scared to continue reading but I'm writing as I'm watching it ...

It's starting...right now!

AND LUCY LAWLESS IS IN IT!!!!!!!! OMG....Shane is wrapped in a towel, wrecked on the floor and Lucy Lawless is in Bett's house with everyone else...the EMT's are removing a body....IT"S JENNY!!!! :(

Off to watch...Mr. G's and my hour of tooth rotting sugar-guilty pleasure ... the L Word's last season:(

The Birthday Massacre @ the Knitting Facorty & New House

2009-01-14T21:08:00.004-05:00

Never quite made it to see them:( But they were at the Knitting Factory, tee hee hee. Maybe next time. Does anyone out there have a favorite concert they've been to? I'm hungry for stories. Mom has the best...if she types one up on the comments maybe I'll re-post it here...

and a pic of my little house...

more after we close

Sophia's Tomten, Mom's Addi Turbo set

2009-01-11T15:50:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty happy to be working with the Jarbo Garn yarn again as I re-start this tomten. The yarn feels like you're knitting with spun cloud - so puffy.

My friend asked me to start this for her niece. My originial intention was to have Griffin's and Sophia's in the same yarn, different colors so they'd match, but I stopped when she said the hot colors may be too much for her sister in law, but after she go Grif's tomten and was so pleased with it she agreed. The yarn is so great. I'm not one for a mix of these colors if i were to hear about it, but when I look at it I have to say I would totally put this on my kid...when I have one.

And Mom picked up this set of turbos that Jackie bought for herself and brought with her on Friday to the ChalkDust Knitter's meet up. I showed up late, had a Christmas party for work. The food was good and I got to have a beer - been craving one for a while and haven't gotten around to it.

Thank you, Alyssa

2009-01-05T21:11:00.002-05:00

I gave my friend the tomten I'd made for her son, Griffin, without taking finished photos and she just sent me these.

Mom's Jaywalkers & the Finished Ripple Blanket for Griffin

2009-01-04T20:01:00.002-05:00

Here are the sox I'm working on for mom

I'm very happy with the pattern.
And here's the finished ripple blanket for Griffin. Mr. G is taking it there tonight.

Here's a pick of the yarn my student gave me. I've never received such a thoughtful gift from a kid.

And the Countdown Begins...the Great GrimmWitch Relocate

2009-01-03T15:36:00.011-05:00

Thank the Gods my college course is over. I was never able to find enough time for it. For whatever reason perhaps b/c of my rockin' SmartBoard, work I do at home for my job has increased and I find myself working at least two or three hours on work work after I get home at around 4:30. The move is slowly creeping forward and We need to start packing.

In between that I still have a huge amount of pressure at work. It doesn't feel like home away from home anymore. Every day I'm waiting for something else to go wrong.
I'm also trying to take the next few steps in my quest to be a mom. I suppose I should have listed that first in my non knitting pursuits, but sometimes my priorities get all jumbled.

So, cute things 1st. Smudge has made a wonderful recovery from the head tilt he had over the summer. We thought we'd loose him, and we hoped at the most that he'd live on unhindered by a permanent tilt, but he is my little hero and looks exactly just as healthy as he did before he was ill.
I didn't want to remember it so I didn't take pictures of his illness, but by the point the below was taken I was elated that he was alive and kickin' and thought this was going to be it for him so I snapped this shot.Well, since then he's improved greatly and is up to no good again. He discovered the moving boxes.
As previously promised I have some pics from Mr. G and my little trip to Phili for Eastern State Penitentiary's Terror Behind the Walls, a remarkable haunted house set up in the historical prison. Mr. G has yet to send me the few pics he took w/ his phone at the pen, but the next day we went to the Camden Aquarium (nice, but worth $45 some odd dollars per person?).

Many exhibits featured pumpkins for seasonal look.

Me looking at jaws from the extinct Megalodon.

View of hippo from the underwater area of their tank - this made it worth the money - they are extraordinary!

And the weekend's booty pictured next to my well loved copy of Watchmen. Can't wait for the flick. Mr. G bought me this Teddy Scares at the prison and he comes with a ball and chain...
And at back tat!
Now for knitting...
I finished Griffin's tomten a while back and added monkey buttons, but don't have a pic yet. Finished the ripple blanket as well...pics to come. Its being washed as I type.

I knitting a baby surprise for a co-worker's brand new granddaughter, Sophia, out of CottonTots from Bernet. I love that stuff.

The buttons are butterflies.

In celebration of this festive Yule season I made my sister, a long time Impressionist fan, a pair of socks out of Rio de la Plata merino in the colorway Starry Night purchased from Yarnmarket.

I made a scarf for a student of mine that gifted me with some yarn. She crochets and I knew she would appreciate this and wanted to thank her for her gift.

In addition to finishing my tomten for Griffin's cousin, another adorable Sophia, I'm working on Jaywalkers for mom, and a top down cardigan out of Zebra Caribe.

And another Baby Surprise for another pregnant co-worker.

I just love this pattern. I love that I don't have to seam too much b/c I feel that's my weakness. I think it's a warm, practical jacket that can be made to look so different every time by simply changing the colors and the way in which they are used.

Just as the vacation rolls downhill to a too quick end the ChalkDust Knitters met up for a great meet at Pat's house. It was just so nice, her place is beautiful, and I enjoy our time together more than I ever thought I could. Pat gave me a great book on beading (very comprehensive...Thanks Pat!!) Those of us who were not able to make it were enormously missed.

Pic Pilfered from Knitting with my Mother's Hands (aka - my mom's site)

And now for something completely different!

Happy New Year!!!

"I feel like a little worm on a big f%$&ing hook."

2008-10-25T12:36:00.002-04:00

I've been very busy. At work everyone and their mother is up our asses t9o "make sure we're doing our job correctly." If you'd leave me alone for two seconds I'd have time to do my job. Thank god my supervisor rocks b/c I feel like, even though she'd attest to the fact that teachers in my district are wonderful, the state of NJ wants to crush the life out of us. Library school is no better. A lot less work for this class, but it takes me forever and the last class had me reading code aka jibberish. Anyone else teaching it would have put me to sleep, but my professor is so entertaining he kept me up. The result...I felt like Alice sitting at the tea table with the Mad Hatter and a bunch of mome wraths speaking about gobbledy-goop.
We're buying a house. Hopefully it will come through.
Still no baby:(

I'm off to Phili to go to Eastern State!:) Pics to come

Two Questions...

2008-09-29T20:33:00.001-04:00

1) What are you dressing up as this 31st?
2) What was your favorite Halloween costume?

Pulling my Frickin Hair out... & I has been tagged

2008-09-17T16:32:00.003-04:00

Right away...I have no pics right now.

I finished Griffin's tomten, but need buttons. I'm "working on" Pepper's sox - the flat feet soxs - and finished one of the pair. I'm still working on the Central Park Hoodie.

School basically came up and hit me in the face. I have either been doing homework, school work, or been in intense pain with some sinus-flu kinda thing (the kids sneeze on you when you're a teacher...all the time!!!). In addition to this my homeroom is NOTHING like my homeroom last year...and homeroom does make a difference. Last year, with the exception of "Reese" - I blogged about him - my kids were crazy, but mature when they needed to be, quiet often, caring always, patient with me, respectful...I mean the list could go on. And Reese is all of these...but never does work or pays attention.

My kids now are freakin lunatics. Two suspended already (one with a court date), two with personal issues already. It's only the 2nd full week...oh, and one already had to be placed in another school due to behavior. Some are so awesome, but as a whole the totally drain me. I already love them. How or why, I have no idea, but I do. There's one who's so skutchy, but was out, and the room was, like, empty without her.

I still see my rockin crocheters...some have started knitting too. I found knitting needles and yarn on some random desk in an upper grade room and just smiled:)

In addition (yes, beyond the illness, work, and post grad school) we are trying to get my mom in law's house ready for sale and looking for our own home (home to move in Jan or Feb).

I miss this though...But I'm so done with this f^#%ing layout!

So...since I'm bsing right now...

Dibosai tagged me so I'm doing this

What are the last 3 things you purchased?
Lunch at a diner with co workers, a book for Mr. Geek of all Trades and a Pirate Hat (HA!)

What are the last three songs you downloaded?
I don't know but the most recent songs I heard were...
Helden (I think) by Apocalyptica and the lead singer from Rammstein
37mm by AFI
Lost by Avenged Sevenfold

What where the three best places you visited?
Venice, all of South Spain, and Eastern State Pen in Phili

What are your three favorite movies?
THE CROW!!!!!!!!!! - this was the best movie ever made!
Star Wars (VI being the best, but all of them)
Dawn of the Dead - THE ORIGINAL...not this new one

What three things can you not live without? (Other than family and friends)
Chocolate, good books, and music - 'cause Smudge counts as family

What would be your three wishes?
Does this make it not come true? Eh
To get pregnant
To have my parents, sister, husband and other family members for a good long time
To be able to always live near my sister & parents

What are three things you haven’t done YET?
Be a mom
Write my book
Be a mom

What three celebrities do you want to hang out with most?
Jack Black
Tim Burton
Phillipia Gregory

Name three things that freak you out.
When people make faces that look like they're passing out or very ill
Slugs (one of only two insects I don't like)
Maggots or grubs (the other one)

What are your three favorite dishes?
Mommy's Black Beans
Mommy's Red Bean Dumplings
Sushi with Alyssa & Griff at Wasabi

Name three things you are good at.
Fixing broken toys
Not following my husband's advice when he suggests I take medication I really need
Petting Smudge

What are three things you are currently coveting?
1st season of the Tutors on DVD
Sushi
More time to exist during the day

AND I'M ADDING ONE!!!

What are your three current favorite TV shows?
I'm putting too many but...
Network Telie - Lost / House
My 3 BBC shows - Primeval / Dr. Who /Torchwood
Anthony Bourdain (he's HOT)

I'm tagging

CrochetWithMe
Wittys Girl
and Raire

The Adventures of SmudgeStick & the Flat Feet

2008-08-20T09:18:00.004-04:00

Smudge still has a 90 degree head tilt and cannot move around more than a few inches on his own, but he can eat on his own if we put the hay or pellet bowls in the litter box with him...he was (and I assume still is) litter box trained, but can't get in or out of the box without help now so we line it with towels and change it frequently. One would think we'd of thought of that, but the small animal specialist vet thought of the idea. That way if he begins to roll he's in the box and catches himself.

In addition to Smudge being sick I was sick too:( I finally got out of the house yesterday and went to Stix with the ChalkDust Knitters. I got the black yarn I needed to finish the fair isle hat from the class with Sunday, also got some orange jitterbug and ... FLAT FEET!!!!

I'm doing the Harlot's basic sock pattern (it's in my ravelry) b/c I really want to do a simple pattern so I can see the colorway work itself out. I know its gimickie, but I really wanted it so I splurged.

Now for more crap...
the back of the Central Park Hoodie - Yes, I made it longer, and yes, the cables are backwards - I didn't have my pattern when I started the cables, made the mistake, and was up about a foot when I realized so they're stayin' as is:)

Griffin's Tomten - I saw him Monday. He is so freakin CUTE!! but I think he's still way too small for it. No news on the GrimmWitch baby front yet.

Sox for Griffin - too cute, bud!

And I finished the socks I made for my Mom.

Smudge Update: SmudgeStick Semi Stands

2008-08-12T18:22:00.002-04:00

Smudge has been forcing himself to stand all day long. His head is still tilted almost 90 degrees, but he is so determine. Its sad when I see him standing, and then just collapse under the strain, but I can see that he is getting better - I hope he doesn't plateau.

Smudge Update

2008-08-09T12:00:00.005-04:00

So Smudge got sick on Tuesday. He has this thing people call "head tilt" because literally his head tilts like 45 degrees to the left. The issue with this diagnosis is that it's a blanket statement, like "I have a headache," and you could have a headache for any number of reasons.

We took him to Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ. This animal hospital is the most wonderful place I've ever taken my animals. My first rabbit passed away there, and they were so tender and supportive. I've always taken Smudge there.
The 1st doctor we dealt with checked him out, gave us antibiotics and anti nausea meds and sent him home. He slowly improved until Thursday.

Thursday Smudge and I watched Juno and had a very lovely evening. By 12 though, things began to go badly. Smudge couldn't hold himself up. His head kept pushing to rotate further left, and in turn his body would roll. I righted him, and he'd do it again. Mr. G and I were both working to keep Smudge straight. Smudge kept reaching for the water bottle, but couldn't drink from the special no mess nozzle b/c he was tilted at such a bizarre angle. We eventually held his older water bottle (the traditional small pet type that has the ball in the nozzle like a ball point pen) and he drank from it the way an infant drinks from a bottle. We saw we had to take him back to the hospital. I didn't want to fight him any more, so the next time he rolled I helped him to stay on his side. I wrapped him in a pillow case and we drove to Paramus.

It was like torture sitting there waiting for the vet to come talk to us. When she finally came this 2nd vet talked to us about Smudge's blood work. It showed normal levels that would lead one to believe that he did not have an ear infection, one of the most common and easiest to cure reasons for head tilt. She mused that it could be neurological, something that wouldn't go away.
We went home to what felt like a cavernously empty home. All day Friday things were dismal, and then I spoke with the 3rd vet. Smudge was rolling and tilted, but she felt he was fine otherwise. She suspected no pain, and when she fed him Critical Care (think rabbit pellets and water in a blender) he was loving it and eating greedily. She gave us hope.

This morning she called to tell us that Smudge ate greens and carrots!!! They released him on a flat surface and he was able to walk straight for a short length. She was so pleased, as were we. He may have a long recuperation ahead of him, but a rabbit that's had so many second chances at life may have more cat than rabbit in him. He is an incredible animal.

Smudge is sick

2008-08-06T17:35:00.003-04:00

My poor little bunny is very sick. He's my righthand guy, and I'm so worried and upset.

Living Dead Dolls

2008-07-27T18:38:00.003-04:00

There are only a few things I spend my money on - I'm cheap with everything else, but with some stuff you just can't restrain yourself. The first is food, specifically chocolate and sushi, second is yarn, and third...LIVING DEAD DOLLS. I love my Living Dead Dolls. Think Madame Alexander gone horribly wrong. CopperScaleDragon kinda got me rolling to take some pics and post them. They came out very fuzzy, but I'll eventually put nicer ones.

First Fair Isle at Stix

2008-07-26T17:01:00.004-04:00

We missed Flynnie, who was feeling very under the weather, when half the ChalkDust Knitters went to Stix and Stitches for a Fair Isle lesson with Sunday. Pepper had already been practicing, so she and my mom took to it pretty quick. K and I, however, two throwers, stumbled a bit, but we both got it (at least I hope I did).

The second part of the lesson will be next Friday. Sunday from Stix is one of the most talented knitters I've ever met. She's really this incredible wealth of knowledge. The pattern is the Nordic Headband by Heidi Nyberg. Ravel it and the PDF is right on there for free, but here's her blog. I'm planning on turning it into a hat; the pattern is very pretty.
I've also done some more work on Griffin's Tomten, adn bought the yarn for his cousin, Sophia's as well.

I took some stash pics too for Ravelry, and took this one of two favorites...

Araucania Pehuen and Philippa Gregory. Are they making Pehuen again? I've seen some of the newer Araucania labels...they all kinda look the same...on pics of Pehuen on Flickr. That's one of my favorite yarns and I would love them to bring it back into production. It's a cotton boucle incase you haven't seen and fell in love with it, and it feels awesome.

7-23-2005, Aurora's Estate Sale, Tomten for Griffin, and Central Park Hoodie

2008-07-22T13:37:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow Mr.G and I will have been married for three years. We were going to go away but between my knee injury and all this stuff going on with Aurora's (my late mother-in-law) estate we were unable. So we'll be bonding in the tri state area tomorrow.

Aurora's estate sale was this past weekend. I would suggest that if anyone reading this every finds themselves in the position to have to sell the belongings of someone you cared for to hire professionals if at all possible. This is also a reminder to myself...may I never forget how emotionally hard this was even with help and not do this on my own ever.

The company we hired is called Dusty Old Bags. It's two women and their husbands who come into the home, research and price things, and then conduct the sale. I just sat in the background. The sale was Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I was there with the help of the DOB ladies and their hubbies as well as Mom and Pepper. This was the more difficult of the two days. Some people came in like beasts, throwing Aurora's things around in order to find what they were looking for. Some people tried (and I'm sure some were successful) pocketing things. Loosing whatever dollar or so we would have made off the stolen items wasn't what bothered me, it was just the thought that something my mother in law had used was stolen from within her own house. Some people were very mean, I assume not knowing or caring that there were family members in the house and criticized my mother in law's taste, spending habits ("What kind of person spends so much money on herself," sort of stuff). She did spend a lot of money on herself. She was a shopaholic. She was not proud of the fact, and told me that she wished she weren't that way. It did not make her a bad person, but the way some of those people spoke...There were two girls in particular. Both had the I've-Plucked-My-Eyebrows-To -Oblivion-&-Now-They'll-Never-Grow-Back disease. Wherever you are, ladies, may this message be carried on the wind to you...you're emotional age needs to catch up to your late twenty something but somehow saggy faces! Get thee to a salon to get thy brows done properly! Three fold, man, that's just what I kept telling myself.

Some people said really nice things, ("This lady had great taste," or "This is someone's home and stuff we're going through, how sad.") Those people were like a breath of fresh air and I hope their actions come back to them as well. Kind words meant so much.

So now her house is almost empty. The basement is still a hell hole. I've found so much stuff...pictures, keepsakes, precious documents, but until Sunday I hadn't found very much baby stuff from Mr. Grimm Witch's childhood. Late Sunday night I was tunneling through the ancient grilling utensils, bills from 1987, broken glass, fake flowers, etc and found it. Like some wooden crate out of Indiana Jones, preserved and forgotten, a box of baby shower paraphernalia circa 1974, and three baby books, one for my husband, one for my brother-in-law, and a thin pamphlet dated 1927 for their dad. I also found a heap of slides with cherubie baby images of my b-i-l and husband as well as 8mm films...Disney World, Great Adventure, and all you Jersey kids...there might be pics of Jungle Habitat! I feel a lot better having found that stuff.

So I started this tomten for Griffin - who, by the way, is one of the most beautiful children ever born (aren't they all, though:)

No, I have not finished his ripple blanket, but I'm almost done. It's just the yarn felt so great! The label says Raggi Jarbo Garn. I have to look into this on Ravelry. They had a girlier yet awesomely unbabyish colorway of the same stuff at Stix and I think I'll make his cousin a tomten as well out of that so they can match.

Still working on the Central Park Hoodie.

Moving along.

The pattern I wanted to write.

2008-07-15T23:49:00.005-04:00

I was looking at the newly added patterns on ravelry and found the Summer Gold Cardi. The pattern used to make the sweater looks remarkably like the one I was using o try to make my Lace Crop Sweater, but done much better. Wriiten by Arja Viitala, it's so beautiful.

She has other pretty patterns too. This one was only published in Finnish I believe. It may be the same for the others...but it's late and all good witches should be in bed.

ChalkDust Knitters Blog

2008-07-14T15:29:00.004-04:00

I've been a bit busy as far as a school teacher's summer goes (I haven't worked during the summer since the summer before I got married so usually it's just sitting around at Mom's house b/s-ing and watching the View or something). With physical therapy for my knee injury, knitting, school, and taking care of loose ends my mother-in-law left behind, I've had a pretty packed summer so far.

The group of women I knit with have met up a few times. It was good because I really missed them. I made a blog for the group to help us schedule meetings, and keep connected. I suppose it may come in handy, if not I'll chuck it, but the free layout looks so darn cute, even with a pinky pink pattern (I may be a hot pink and pitch girl, but you'd never catch me in pepto pink - flashback to Catholic High School - Eek!).

Just over the weekend we went to Stix-n-Stitches one day and plan to go back soon. We went to eat at Raymond's in Montclair as per Stix-n-Stitches' Monica save-the-day suggestion. Thank you! I had been dying for eggs, and they were perfect. When we walked in I realized I'd seen the place's add in Weird NJ.

If you love Jersey and weird stuff you need to get yourself a copy of this magazine. I've been collecting them for about nine years. Weird NJ comes out twice a year, and the web site, while cool, doesn't do the mag justice. This new one, seen here with my new clear, pink ribbon bag from Stix and the beginning of my Central Park Hoodie, is a particularly interesting issue.

The UnWicked Witch of the West of Central Park Hoodie

2008-07-11T16:57:00.003-04:00

I casted on yesterday. I forgot how much I love this yarn! And I got this one for half off, although I can't remember where, but I'm going to need more. I want to try to do different cables...I think I figured out how.

I pilfered this from Jess of Fig and Plum who recently posted a February Sweater in the incredible color. I'd started one for a co-worker's grandbaby to be, but the lace was coming out real tight...I was okay with it, but looking at Jess's beautiful one...mine's so lacking detail with the slightly too chunky yarn I'm using...I'm going to frog it!
Anyway...to the stolen goods...

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was just graduating high school. It was one of the most refreshing, liberating experiences of my entire life. People say those are your golden years, but I’d never want to go back to that. I feel like every year life gets just a little bit better.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
1. Type up my Freakin’ homework that has been done for two days but putrefying in my notebook.
2. Get more yarn for the Central Park Hoodie
3. Clean the Computer room
4. Finish Griffin’s Ripple Baby Blanket
5. Do laundry

3) Snacks I enjoy:
Chocolate

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire (in no particular order):
Buy a house for myself and Mr. GrimmWitch, one for Mom and Dad, and one for Pepper and my brother-in-law. Adopt like, five or six more animals and get Mr. G a toucan. Set up a scholarship for students of the high school in the town where I teach. Treat my little guys to Six Flags in September. Go to Europe. Pay for a weekend for all the ChalkDust Knitters to got on a yarn crawl through NYC, eating at an awesome restaurant, and see a Broadway show!

5) Places I have lived:
Only my beloved Jersey, and I love it!

6) Jobs I have had (I feel like I'm forgetting some, as long as the list is):
Receptionist for two seconds
Aid for special needs kids in a speech path office
Thomas Kincaid employee
Art Teacher
Language Arts/Social Studies Teacher
Rockin Math Teacher! (ironically the most enjoyable one).

Griffin

2008-07-09T21:34:00.000-04:00

Griffin was born yesterday, July 8th, at around 4:00.

Prototype Crop Sweater, Niyaz, Threadbanger, & A New New Jerseyan

2008-07-07T20:42:00.009-04:00

My new Library Media class started today. This morning I was very excited, but I know that when I have a week that is particularly heavy with chores and work and I can't knit or read I will wonder why I got myself into this again. I do want to be a librarian, I just hate homework! I sound like my students, but its true:) And now for the knitting...

I'm not totally in love with this, but I'm happy I made the attempt.

I'm working on the next, hopefully more likeable version of the pattern. Changes...
Cotton to Alpaca (Berroco Ultra Alpaca)
Longer length for body & sleeves
All seed stitch to 1 by 1 rib - it looks much better.
Shawl collar
Lace @ the raglan increases as well (by the armpits:)
We'll see.

While wandering the internet I came across this site I didn't know about. Threadbanger seems to be a site for creative, possibly rock oriented DIY type people. The site boasts a forum where readers share their DIY objects, a blog updated regularly, and video & instructions on how to make a lot of the stuff mentioned on the site. Most of it is sewing, but I'm very interested in that so it was cool. I found this demo turning a band t into a totebag posted by "Zanooka". Very awesome site!

Niyaz's new album, Nine Heaven's is out. The lead singer is Azam Ali, she's this unbelievably gifted musician with an incredible voice. She also does solo work and other music projects.

photo pilfered from allaboutjazz.com

Here's a video of a performance of a song, The Hunt off the last album.

Finally...my friend's doctor advised she head to the hospital and will be induced (is that how you spell that?) within the next 24 hours.
The blue and yellow cotton baby surprise with the duckies was for this baby. I was ofcourse going to be happy for her, but I didn't realize how excited I'd be to meet this little person. She is one of the most amazing people I've ever met, and I love her, so that has something to do with it, but I think I was and still am so interested in her journey through this part of her life because I want it so badly, and I'm just facinated by the whole thing. She's the first close friend of mine that will be a mother, and I hung on her every word when she was discribing how she felt, what she needed to do during her pregnancy. Keep Alyssa and her family in your thoughts, and I want to be the first to say, Welcome to Jersey, Little G!

One of Two on the Fourth

2008-07-04T15:54:00.002-04:00

I finished my first sock ever - for Mom, with tons of help from Mom and the Yarn Harlot's book Knitting Rules: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks

New Layout

2008-06-30T01:29:00.001-04:00

What do you think?

From Mom

2008-06-28T19:10:00.001-04:00

Ha Ha!

What type of House Rabbit are you?

2008-06-24T09:34:00.004-04:00

Pilfered from Punk Rock Knitters!, apparently Smudge is a "Snuggle Bunny."

What kind of house rabbit are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as The Snuggle Bunny

Awwww... you're the epitome of cute.

The Snuggle Bunny

75%

The Chewer

75%

The Athlete

69%

The Toys-R-Us Kid

56%

The Digger

44%

King of the House

Bye Baby (surprise), WWKIP, and Cyndi

2008-06-15T10:41:00.003-04:00

I spent Saturday morning at my friend's baby shower. She had a belly dancer perform and do a special symbolic dance for father, mother, and baby. It was really beautiful, different, and refreshing.

After my husband and I left the shower (yes, men were invited, as they should be!) I headed off to Montclair. Because of the traffic, however, I was very late for Knit in Public at Stix and I didn't even really knit in public at all yesterday, but Sheila took pitty on me and gave me a KIP pin anyway:)

And on Friday, one of my favorite people performed on Good Morning America, but I was at work so I'm catching her on Youtube...

Buttons are done, Man

2008-06-09T18:39:00.002-04:00

I love them...they're so cute...Mom put them on and tucked for me.

A closer look...

The collar is not I-cord, but layers of slip stitch (crochet).
While Mom was sewing on the buttons she saw that one duckie doesn't have a yellow beak...

but she said there was something endearing about the little thing, and I have to agree, so she stays.

9 Days Left!

2008-06-08T11:40:00.003-04:00

I am so ready for summer to come. I want to get out of work. My school seems to be disintegrating structurally, mirroring the same errosion in the behavior in some of the staff. People are treating others with such disrespect that I've found it very frustrating, and can't seem to put some issues aside.

School is also very difficult. I'm constantly reading (and knitting at the same time), but it's so much work right now with work from work and other things. My mother helped me grade my students' finals b/c it just would not have gotten done in two evenings. Thanks, Mom!

Aurora, my mother in law who recently passed, left us quite a challenge in her home. She kept everything, even stuff people just shouldn't keep...old bills, old catalogues, etc, use your imagination. Hopefully we'll be heading out in a few moments to do some more work over there. The week she dyed we were there from early in the morning until seven or so each night working non-stop.

On the knitting front. My other friend is having her baby shower next week so I need to have these two things done... the Cotton Baby Surprise and this Easy Ripple Baby Blanket

Hopefully all this will be done before next Saturday.

If time allows, Mom, Pepper, and myself will be taking part in the World Wide Knit in Public day next Saturday after the baby shower. We'll hopefully be going to the knit out at Stix-n-Stitches. Go to the Knitting in Public web site and see if a place near you is holding an event.

Other than that, I've started a sock, my first!

And I'm still working on writing a pattern...this lace top down thing...eh...I don't know...

Crappy pictures, but you get the idea.

Happy Birthday Mom

2008-06-03T20:06:00.001-04:00

I love you.

Remembering Aurora 1939 - 2008

2008-05-22T20:03:00.003-04:00

My mother-in-law passed away this week. She just turned...would have turned 69 yesterday. We had a very difficult relationship. She was not easy to get along with. It feels strange to be semi aware that she's not here any more. I keep expecting her to call. She used to call too much. I was working on this Feathe and Fan as a practice before I made one for my mom, and was going to give it to her.

Now I don't know what to do with that. She was so eager for more grandchildren; I have two neices. It's just been an unbelievable shock.

Wrap 'em up and Kiss 'em Good Bye

2008-05-17T17:17:00.003-04:00

With Mom's help I finished the cropped baby sweater and Baby Surprise gifts for my co worker's shower just as my ride was driving up. I enjoyed working on them, but am happy I'm done. One thing finished, 80 thousand more to go before summer begins.

She seemed to really like both sweaters.

My mother especially liked the cropped sweater. I did an I-cord trim and rolled cuffs instead of the ribbing the pattern called for.

The Baby Surprise was fun. I finished it last night, leaving seeming and buttons for today - both done for me by Mom as I rushed around.

Mom's blog Knitting with my Mother's Hands is up, as I said, and she made a new post. I think its so hard to learn something new when you're life is chaotic, and she's really pulling it off, so BRAVA!