Christmas knitting...

...is underway. Emma's socks are done , so that's one gift done . Do you think that they're bright enough ? The orange is even brighter in real life . I'm sure she won't have any trouble finding them in the morning .

Specs : Regia Crazy Color 6 ply sock yarn Knit on 2.5mm dpns . The pattern is the baby cable rib from my usual source "Sensational knitted Socks" .

We had a bit of a scare with Jessey this week .Casey and Chantal had to go to emergency at the hospital with him with the flu which quickly turned into pneumonia . He was tested for the swine flu and given antibiotics and Tamiflu which is an anti-viral . This came on so quickly it was scary . After lots of rest and fluids and with the help of the meds he's almost back to normal . I took care of him alot this week , so I'm a little worried that I might catch this too . I tend to catch a cold most winters which inevitaby ends up in my chest and a gives me no end of coughing fits . I get the flu shot every year so I haven't had the flu , just colds . I'll be able to get the H1N1 vaccine the week of the 16th of November . I've taken all the suggested precautions and am hoping to escape this nasty virus .

We've got real November type weather here these days , cool , grey and damp . So far no snow , unlike Halifax which got blasted yesterday . Waaaay too early for that ! To escape these miserable dark days Mike and I booked a one week cruise getaway . We're leaving on Nov. 28th and coming back on Dec. 6th . I can't wait to get some sun ! This is an kind of an early 35th wedding anniversary gift to ourselves . We're looking forward to a little alone time , if you catch my drift ;-)) .

The last of the baby sweaters

At least for now ! I finished the sweater for Tara just in time for the baby shower on Sunday . The photo doesn't capture just how pretty the colour is ; it's a beautiful soft green called "Green Tea ". The yarn is Elann 's Superwash Bamboo , 65 % wool , 35 % bamboo . It was super to knit up and soft, soft , soft , perfect for a baby knit . I found some pretty buttons that remind me of those nougat candies , again you can't really see how pretty they are due to the washed out looking photos .

The Christmas knitting has begun . First up are some socks for Emma . I have lots of knits in mind but am taking it one project at a time . Whatever gets done , great , what doesn't there's always next year and birthdays coming up . I'm aiming for stress free holidays . I can hope can't I ?

Checking in !

Back in action after being missing for 10 days . I've been run off my feet . Jessey was sick , thankfully not the flu , but a nasty throat infection giving him a fever for a few days and just feeling generally miserable . I baby sat him so that Chantal wouldn't miss work . It was just as well that he stayed away from daycare , by Friday he was much better . Today he's back to normal . He also stayed with us Saturday until Sunday . His first overnight with me ! Casey and Chantal had a long planned weekend getaway . I'm having Jessey withdrawal today ...

My dad left for Austria on Saturday . I'd had the family and friends over for dinners a couple of nights last week on top of the baby sitting and we had a very nice belated birthday dinner for my father on Friday night . At least that was at a restaurant and I didn't have to cook . This was a shorter than normal visit and just seemed to fly by .

The sweaters for Dylan & Evan are finished. They're not matchy /matchy , but I'm happy with them . I've got sweater # 5 on the go right now . The deadline for that is Sunday , just in time for Tara's baby shower . I'd like to knit a matching hat , we'll see how it goes ...

One down , one to go

And none too soon I might add. Dylan & Evan came home from the hospital on Monday . How's that for a Thanksgiving gift ! Everyone is doing well , but I bet with having two babies to feed ,

clothe and diaper , Susie and Fred have their hands full . Fortunately she's got a good support system with family and friends willing to help out .

I'm happy with how this sweater turned out . I knit it with Regia 6 ply sock yarn . I wasn't sure how the stripes would knit up . I knew that with being knit top down & the short row shaping , the stripes most likely wouldn't wouldn't match up . I had to let go of my perfectionist tendencies and go with the flow .

After this next one I have 2 more babies needing hand knits . Jeez Louise , people just have to stop all this making babies so that I can get some Christmas knitting done ! Mind you , if Max & Stef get on that train I'd be one happy Omi , just saying ...

The little monkey's birthday

Guess who turned one last Friday , October 9th ? Yup , that would be our Jessey . Here he is after Chantal helped him blow out his candle . He's not too sure what's going and why all these people are watching him . Just what is that brown thing on his tray and what should I do with it ? It didn't take too long for him to figure it all out , especially how yummy chocolate cake is . He got right into unwrapping his presents , not the presents themselves , but the wrapping paper & bows provided no end of fun for the little monkey .

I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by . It's been wonderful fun to watch him grow and change from an infant to a one year old little boy . He's bright , funny , a real live wire , which sometimes can be a challenge , he's got no end of personality and can make me laugh like no one else can . We love him to pieces !

Baby sweater # 2

Sidney's sweater is finished , buttons sewn on and ready to be mailed to BC . I love this pattern , it's an easy top down raglan with the v-neck shaping coming from knitting short rows just after the cast on ribbing . So simple , so ingenious ! Another great idea was to knit the buttonholes on both sides . You can just switch the buttons for another baby.

Specs : Basic v-neck baby cardigan fom Cabin Fever Baby ' V ' no- sew knitting . The yarn is Sirdar Click acrylic/ wool DK . Needles were 3,25 & 4,00 mm circulars and dpns for the sleeves .

I really like this book it has some variations on the theme that are just adorable . I see lots of little sweaters being knit from the patterns on this book . In fact there's already another on the needles . Chantal's cousin Susie had her twins about a month ago . They're preemies and are still in hospital . It looks like they'll be ready to come home this month and they'll definitely need sweaters to keep them warm , don't you think !

Knitting

Life has a way of derailing the best of intentions . Regular blogging has been preempted yet again by baby sitting , birthday celebrations and yesterday a very special christening . There's just 2 more birthdays and then we'll be done till December . I'll have survived another birthday month with no major poundage gained !

Knitting has been going very well , no small thanks to the start of the new fall TV season . Some old favourites are back as well as a couple of new shows that look promising . "The Good Wife " with Juliana Margulies really stands out for me. I think she's a terrific actress and am glad to see her back to a regular show.

There's finally a photo of my shawl . I was so happy with this knit . The pattern was easy without being mind numbingly boring and the yarn lived up to my expectations . It was wonderful to work with , didn't break the bank and best of all the colour was exactly what I'd been looking for .

There's been some baby knits on my needles . I finished a cute little sweater and hat outfit , I can't post of photo quite yet because it's a surprise gift . I've knit a hat for Jessey , which didn't fit so that's going to another baby . I have a terrible time judging hat sizes for babies and inevitably end up ripping and re-knitting .

There is one almost finished knit I can show you . It's a sweater for Sidney , Shirley's latest grandchild , who just left for BC today . I'd started another sweater , but after having met Sidney in person , I didn't like it any more , so more ripping . I had this yarn in my stash , the perfect pattern and voila .... ! It just needs sleeves and buttons and should be in the mail by the end of the week if not sooner . I'm so loving it , hope his parents will too !