Grumpies and Goodies

Today was another movin' and shakin' day, good in the sense that we were out of the house and busy with minimal whining and boredom, less good in the sense that I am now exhausted. Not too exhausted to go do a little knitting when this is done, I'm sure.

We started at my Monday-morning knitting group, and this time Julie came along since she doesn't have school during this holiday week. I got absolutely no knitting done, but did get to see some nice knitters I hadn't seen in a long time. I took some photos for my friend Jean, who just wrote up a pattern for some fingerless gloves and is getting ready to sell it at the Yarnery, where we both teach. Here's the picture we agreed on:



This type of gauntlet thingie is oh-so-popular right now, and my first impression of the form is "cute, but not for me". I mean, I think Jean's pattern is a fine example of this trend - simple, but elegant, and has a nice pattern to it. Her timing is impeccable. This just isn't a project that I normally would choose to knit. Then, something happened today. I was handling them - she had four pairs total, but we decided to use only one in the picture so that the stitch pattern would show up better - and I sort of fell in love with them. The idea crept into my mind that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to knit a pair. Hm.

Well, knitting time ended a little early since Sophie was crabby. She is still working hard on teeth, and I think that was the problem this morning. We headed over to the mall to meet up with some friends for a play date in the climbing area and lunch. Sophie was much happier after a dose of Tylenol.



She's trying to stand up on her own, unsupported. Hasn't happened yet.



Julie and Maymuna had fun dancing and jumping around on this interactive light show thing that is set up near the play area. The kids love it, and I find it mesmerizing, even if it is full of advertisements.



After lunch, Julie started to melt down a bit, and we ended up leaving the mall as quickly as possible through her veil of tears. Oh, the walk of shame for a Mommy - pushing your howling child in her stroller through the stores as her voice echoes over the muzac. Strangers stare, some giving you sympathetic looks, others obviously curious what is going on. I can't help imagining their internal voices "What is that white woman doing with those two Asian babies, and the big one is screaming that she doesn't want to go home. Should I call security?" Okay, I know that's not what they're really thinking - at least I hope not - but in a situation like that one starts to worry. At least I do.

We came home and I got everyone in from the car, still somewhat grumpy and/or clingy. I stuck my head out to check the mail, and found this box sitting on the doorstep. It's from my SP9 Pal! A fun package from me! The clever girl used the UPS store in Howell, Michigan so I didn't get a name of any kind yet, but maybe that clue will lead me closer to finding her. I haven't really dug much around the participant blogs yet - for one thing there are so many - and really I'm pretty occupied as it is. Let's open the package, shall we?

First, a super-cute card with a sheep going off to take a bath, with a very nice note.



Buried in all those peanuts were four separate prezzies for me to open, all the more fun!



Opened up, in all their glory - a page-a-day Stitch 'N Bitch calendar; a kit for some wrist warmers from Morehouse Merinos that she bought at Rhinebeck (can you feel my jealousy emanating off the screen? oh, it's there!); an amazingly soft and cuddly skein of baby alpaca/silk called Fino from Alpaca with a Twist with a Fiber Trends moebius scarf pattern; some "delicious chocolate to hide" as my SP put it so aptly; and finally a skein of Regia Jubilee Color that I've had my eye on more than once in the past. It feels like Christmas came early this year!



Thanks for making my day, Secret Pal!