Not to be dogging on the mailman or anything, but it gets weirder and weirder. Today the packages showed up at 10 in the morning. There’s just no order to the matter! Something I keep meaning to mention is that Joe’s mom works for the Postal Service sorting packages at their big plant in the suburban Twin Cities area. I wonder how many of my packages she’s come across, and how I can possibly explain this project to her. Hopefully I won’t have to.
Sophie has been somewhat agitated all day, and is struggling to go to sleep right now. She’s very tired, but keeps waking up screaming like her tummy hurts, and when I go up there she grabs my fingers or thumb with her little hands and holds on tight as if to say “Don’t leave”. So I stay till she drifts back off, then creep back down the stairs and we repeat it all again 15 minutes later. She’s been spitting up all day as well, and unfortunately I think I have to blame the chocolate. Those little Lindt bars are so very tasty, and I do adore chocolate…but I’m going to have to put them away or give them away because they are not worth the price of causing my baby pain.
Joe is off playing golf and drinking home brew beers with a buddy this evening, so I took the girls out to dinner and put them to bed on my own. It’s not fun, but I expect him to do it when I go teach my classes, and he darn well deserves a night off for some fun just as much as I ever do. I am feeling touched out, though. Julie wanted to be in constant physical contact with me all day long, climbing into my lap, leaning against my leg, climbing on my back. I know some day I will miss these little bodies begging to touch mine, but it is hard to enjoy it all day every day. I’m really hoping Sophie can settle down and give me a bit of peace.
On to the packages!
Loren in Seattle sent me a lovely Opal-looking purple jacquard. She says her little girl likes to wear mismatched socks and that she can normally squeeze a single sock out of what’s left over from her own pairs for her daughter to wear. This time, she’s donated the extras to me. Loren, that’s really generous. I’ll make sure this ball makes it right to the top of the work basket so it gets in the blanket for sure. Maybe it can even be one of the larger squares, as I’m due to start one of those now.
Joan from Bradford, Pennsylvania send me what looks like an almost full ball of Opal that’s been to the frog pond just a bit. I love the colors, though! I also love Joan’s address label with a frumpy little lady knitting on it.
Ellen from Connecticut sent a pile of fun. Her original e-mail to me said “Go Heathens and Harlots!” which I think is very cute. She listed what each of the yarns had been for in a cute little note, and look – just LOOK – at the little crochet granny squares she included in the package. I’ve always been a fan of granny squares. I think they are so pretty, although not so functional with the little holes for fingers and toes to stick out of when you’re trying to stay warm. I must find something worthwhile to do with these perfect little things – a patch on a piece of clothing? Some kind of jewelry? A decoration somewhere? I don’t know yet. Brainstorming suggestions welcome.
Jo from Detroit Lakes, MN sent two partial balls of Regia-looking jacquards and two balls of yellow vintage English wool. Jo, if you’re reading, yes I think I can fulfill your request – everyone else is just going to have to wonder what it was.
Kelsey from Tigard, Oregon sent some nice purple Lorna’s Laces. She says she is sadly blogless. – ‘cmon, Kelsey, it’s not that hard to start!
Nancy from Washougal, Washington sent a box full of lovely bits. She says this box once held a giant cinnamon roll. Nancy, I’m not complaining or anything, but I’m just letting you know that the other box you said was coming hasn’t shown yet. We’ll keep our eyes open, and if you haven’t sent the other yet, know that I’m quite satisfied with this one! Next time you’re back in the Twin Cities, we’ll have to go have a treat you-know-where.
That’s it for todays packages, and my running count so far is 44! I just can’t believe this is happening to me. The giant containers that I pulled out are getting full, and we haven’t even reached the halfway point of people who e-mailed asking for my address. I have to reiterate – I have no intention of letting this yarn languish or go to waste. What I can’t or won’t use in the near future, I’m going to ship back out to people who promise to use it themselves. By collecting all these scraps in one place, it’s going to make it possible to pool them into useable quantities.
Also, if you’ve commented or e-mailed and haven’t gotten a reply, you might want to try again. I’m doing my best but I know some are going through the cracks. It has been just a tiny bit frustrating that some people are still coming over from Stephanie’s site and asking the same questions over and over without reading the more recent blog entries that answer them all. Apparently someone is still looking for me in the comments over there – well, it’s easy to get hold of me. Send me an e-mail at shellyk at shellykang dot com (that way I have your e-mail address right there and can just hit reply) or at least post a comment on MY website so I get a message that it’s there.
Let’s end with some happy kids. Sophie is getting really good at sitting up on her own for longer and longer periods, although I like to keep the Boppy pillow behind her for when she does eventually fall.
Our neighbors were getting rid of their kids’ picnic table and offered it to us. Julie has asked to eat every meal out there today, so we had a snack of popsicles and cherries in the yard this afternoon because she couldn’t decide which treat she wanted more. The weather here was really fine today – low 80s and dry, with a bit of a breeze.
Oooh what lovelies you’re getting! I’m just green with envy! Maybe Sophie is teething, did ya check her gums? I’m resending you an answer-back e-mail, btw, but it’s low-priority so you don’t have to hurry or anything.
Man, that Lorna’s laces is SO pretty! Lucky ducky, you are!
My carpel tunnels hate to crochet, so although I once saw a fabulous sock-wool granny square afghan, I couldn’t do it.
Touched out! I can totally relate! That is one of my strongest memories from when my kids were under 2. By evening time I was so overpawed and overtouched and I just needed some mental and personal space. It was a relief to but the partyanimals to bed–for so many reasons.
I was usually happy to see them in the morning though.
Hi Shelly!
I sent a comment on the 18th and haven’t received a comment back – no biggie – but I tried again and the email keeps getting kicked back?
Maybe this will get to you and you can send me a message at my blog address or leave me a comment on my latest entry?
Hi, Shelly,
Me, again. I think I might make a blankie of DK or worsted yarn. Although I love making socks, I don’t want to knit that many miles on US1’s or whatever it would take. I knit my sox on US000’s, and they take about 25 hours apiece. That’s enough super-fine gauge for me, although Kim at String-or-Nothing likes 00000’s. I am going to keep my eyes peeled for colors that make me happy and start it when my current project list is shorter. Thanks for the inspiration.
I had sleep problems with my kids with tea, chocolate, coffee, coffee ice cream, blah, blah, blah. And I gave up sugar when DS turned 1. No energy help at all! So save the chocolate till the baby is done nursing and all will be well.
And touched out I understand. DD wouldn’t sleep AT ALL without a body to be nestled into, so even bedtime was cuddly. And we co-slept both of them. DS was much easier that way, but he cried more so it’s always something.
Finished my socks last night so now I can have blankie fun, yay!
If Sophie has trouble sleeping lying down, have her ears checked. Might have an infection. My kids had them frequently, and even without other symptoms, that was a dead give-away–lying down increased the pressure on the eardrum and they’d wake up screaming.