Hello, from Michigan

Thunderstorms, down-pours, and electrical outages, OH MY! Well, you wouldn't know about it looking at the pictures, but our 2 hour trip turned into a 4ish hour one and our family reunion got jump-started by having no power for the first couple of days. It wouldn't have been so bad if the family size was smaller, and we didn't have to buy so much food all the time and store it into a fridge that didn't have power, and also if the whole town wasn't under either for a few days. We had to travel far to buy food, and lucky for us, the stove ran on gas.

However, it has been fun having "me time"...reading, knitting, walking along Lake Michigan and such. I can get used to this whole no work thing real fast.

The sign above is a little snipit of what we saw on the beach: do not enter signs. It was really hilarious. You get to the beach, and you have like 100 feet of actual beach front where you can do as you please and to your left and right are all of these "keep off" signs. We did learn that you were allowed to walk along the beach, as long as you keep the rule "wet sand=green, dry sand=red."

We had several cabins to hold our generously-sized family. Joe and I practically had a cabin to our selves (it was a one-room one, but had a kitchen and bathroom with a washer and dryer in it). The scenery and decor was amazing, and the whole theme was "Elephant Walk" after the movie and book. Elephants littered the premises.

Here is a preview of the BSJ 3, for baby boy, if there is such a gender residing inside of me. Here's the thing, I first had trouble getting my hands on the pattern, but when I did, I happily knit and followed the predictable decreases until halfway through the pattern when I noticed that the back had more stitches than it should have (like in the double digits). I thought to myself, that can't be right...I did all of the decreases in all of the right spots and timings...until I looked through the pattern one more time in the beginning and noticed that on row 11 or so I was supposed to increase the sleeve stitches, thus adding many more decrease rows. The piece was not salvageable, and I had to frog the whole darn thing after two days of knitting it with color-switching and love. That really set me back, but I restarted it the next day and I am currently (and very tiredly so) am approaching the home-stretch. The sweater is cute, and I am loving the color scheme and natural alpaca quality to the yarn.

I used my Frog Tree yarn in sport that I had from the LYS that recently went under. It looks like I put a lot of work into color-switching...and I did, but not with lots of strands on the edging. Every row twists the 4 yarns together, and unwinding the tangles takes up a good percentage of the knitting process. However, it's worth it. The little tyke, or tomboy, will look cute in it.

I think I'm starting to feel the babies kick some. I put my hand on the spots, though, and the kicking stops. Meanies. 29th is the next ultra sound...will they let me find out what they are?

Family Reunion

Hey guys. Just giving you a tiny update before I leave for a week-long reunion with Joe's family in Michigan. I've finally got my hands on the EZ BSJ pattern that I was so desperate for (and I thanked the person repeatedly, what a goddess of the knitting fortunes), because I casted on for it before I found that the pattern was MIA. And the only library book in our county is checked out. And our local bookstores don't have it in stock. The Kimono jacket is about done. I have stopped short of one sleeve to do the next because I am still very worried about how much yarn is left. I hate fretting about that kind of stuff. I'll meet you back with some picture of my well-needed vacation and hopefully two finished (boy) sweaters! Babies seem to be doing fine, and boy am I getting bigger....
The next ultra sound is on the 29th, and maybe I'll find out the sexes? 16.5 weeks by then! I'm still waiting for my first undeniable kick!

Baby Kimono

I have searched high and low for that darn BSJ pattern to no avail. I have made two of them, and somehow the pattern managed to slip away from my hands. I really was hoping to start the jacket so I could bring it to my week-long reunion coming up next week. Now I just have to pray that the patron who currently is checking out The Opinionated Knitter book returns it early. Not likely though, since it's due back on the 22nd.

In the meantime, I have started the Harvey Kimono Jacket to calm my freaking nerves. I'm really nervous about how much yarn I have for this project. I'm using an Italian yarn that I purchased my last year of college, and I can't remember the name of the brand unless I search my blog because I removed both of the labels. I only have two 100 or 150yd skeins, and the pattern almost calls for 300yds. I'm hoping the designer over-shot the yardage requirement. I am making the smallest size.

I casted-on yesterday and finished the back, now I'm working on the left flap before I have to teach today. Meanwhile, I started dinner; I made a Caesar noodle salad, and chicken breasts spiced with Cajun and lime seasonings is currently marinating until I get back home later on in the evening to grill on those handy grill pans. (The other night I made a really scrumptious pork roast with potatoes and carrots that simmered in the crockpot for 6 hours. I even made a pumpkin pie that day, since it felt like Fall again.) I'm hoping the chicken turns out as successful. It seemed like a yummy idea.

The start of something new

Well, I am now offially in my second trimester! My bump is getting larger, and yet I still feel the need for small, manageable projects. I pulled this "Sweet as Candy" Cardi out of the hibernation bin and knitted away at it. Well, ok, it served as two purposes...because I needed my size 7 circ's too.

But, I feel great having finished another project after a long lull of startitis. I am craving to knit another baby cardi in sportweight yarn with lots of wonderful bright colors. I think I have been watching way too much Ravelry projects done with those wonderful assortments of colors as shawls and cardi's.

Really, this entire cardi was improv, and I don't mean in the general sort of way that I normally knit and design. This is a no-real-vision type of improv. It was started 2 or 3 years ago in just a top-down raglan fashion when I had that sort of kick, and was hibernating ever since until a few days ago when I just decided that instead of a boring 1x1 edging, I'll try some simple frilly-frill garter lacing. Heck, it's meant for a girl (if I have at least one), and you can get away with that sort of thing when they're babies.

I think it's cute, overall. I just have to knit away at a boy version now. No frills. I'm thinking maybe another BSJ.

By the way, I'm tres excited about this year's Midwest Fiber Fair. Anyone planning on attending that? I used to think that the other ones were close to me (30-45 mins), but now!...it's 12 minutes away, and would have been 5 minutes if they hadn't relocated Lake County Fairgrounds this year. I'm super-duper excited to buy some bright shades, maybe some STR for some more baby things.

I've been tending to my balcony garden, and am waiting with much anticipation for my tomatoes to pop up. Ever since my Snowpeas and radishes came up, I splurged some more for my garden (which I only have a few types of plants to show you, since these photos are a couple weeks old).

The first to really be fruitful is of course my snowpea plant. I have yet to see the string beans pop up, but it's still the beginning of June.

My lovely radish plant that overgrew, and didn't come with the instructions that once it flowers, the radishes diminish to support it. Yowzers. I decided to dig them up and make Radish Leaf Potato Soup. It was interesting, and wholesome. I'm not sure how much vitamins are retained after cooking it, but as a raw product, radishes are one of the most vitamin-rich plants. So I've read.

My cherry/beef tomato plant that looks totally different now. It's flowering everywhere, and I watch every day for some tomatoes to form.

If anyone's interested, my plant inventory now seems to be: snowpea, string bean, cherry, beef and roma tomatoes, green onion, radishes, jalepeno, rasberry, green pepper, cilantro, basil and a couple flowering plants.

Lastly, Joe and I spent last Saturday at Kalahari, as a last-minute attempt to have a vacation before we don't have a life anymore. We do have a week-long reunion that's coming up in the middle of June, but this was just about us. I couldn't do much (really, just the lazy river, eatting, getting a little sun and drinking virgin drinks), but it was nice to say we tried to have a little vacation in the Dells.

Babies!

Here's some ultrasound pics!
The first one is of the 7.5 week shot, when I first found out about the twins...


The next set is 11.5 weeks, and after all of the shock!
I love this one, especially when it's flipped. You can make out the nose and eyes better, and the feet looks like it had been moving around while the photo was taken.
I believe this bottom one is a bird's eye view (of both):They were both moving around...bobbing their heads and kind of squirming as they will. It was very strange and wonderful to witness.

Let me know.

Just stopping by. Don't have pictures yet, but I did visit a local knitting shop that was going out of business and put a little dent in the pocket for the two rugrats in my belly. I started a blanket with yarn that I purchased a while back, but decided against thin yarn (I have two of these things to knit up), and frogged it. I'm now knitting with a half wool/acrylic blend that is almost like unspun bulky wool. I plan on knitting a good chunk of it at the week-long reunion coming up.

Anywho, I just wanted some thoughts from you mothers who have delivered multiples. I used to be hard-core on the C-section notion (about 80% of expectant mothers now have them if they have multiples) because I watched/heard stories about how mothers went through hours and hours of labor just to only have to do the c-section anyways. One example was two of the heads was at the exit or another was one was in the correct position, but the other turned the opposite way. I just don't really know yet what the true risks are for a C-section, which is something I plan on asking my doctor at my Tuesday visit for a second ultrasound. I was working the other day when I asked a lady who had twins if she delivered naturally, and she said "yes," and without any problems. However, this was her second pregnancy...they supposedly get easier by the pregnancy.
Let me know if you know someone or you yourself have gone through a multiple delivery.

Double, double, toil and trouble

Hey everyone. Sorry for the lengthy absence. I've been meaning to post earlier on with some big news, but I couldn't until now because I didn't let my work on the big secret until yesterday.

Well, what is it? I'm pregnant..........with TWINS!!

The due date is 12/11/10 (a day before my birthday, but twins never come on time!). So, it looks like I have my hands completely full for say, maybe the next 21 years! I always knew that there was a possibility of twins for me (my maternal grandmother was a twin), but I didn't expect them on the first go. I went to my first ultrasound meeting on Tuesday, and we were focusing on one "sac" and the lady started to look around and saw the second and told us that there were two heart beats! They will be fraternal twins, because they are unmistakeably separated, both camping out in their own cozy tents and their own supplies. It looks like Christmas will be different this year! and Twins!

These booties are just the building blocks to other greater booties. (lol.) I see myself knitting moccasins, fluffy socks, ballet slippers (if a girl(s)), and even elf or Santa slippers for Christmas.

I have SOO much knitting to do...and I want to know the genders now!!! Whaaa!

I left off with Winter, and will pick up with Spring. Are you all stopping to smell the gorgeous tree-flowers?!? I want it to last extra long this year, but I don't have magical powers. I'm trying to take the time this year to really enjoy them, because they seem to only last a week or less.

Here's a picture from our first 2010 BBQ that we had with some friends. I think when we get our next place, we'll have to upgrade, but right now this little Webber is taking care of business. And yes, boys do love grillin'. (They just don't like cleaning up the mess.)

Leftovers, anyone?

Well, I hope you like leftovers, because I need to post about these now or forever hold my peace. Spring is here, and it's "out with the old and in with the new" from now. Lately, I was working on writing up the "Punk Rock Tunic" pattern, while knitting my second one, but I'm planning on frogging it and testing out a different way to go about the way I textured the raglan. I want to make this simple pattern even more simple while having it look the same as the original. I need to buy different needles now, so it'll have to wait until I have them in my hands. I was also debating about using another type of yarn as well, so I'll have to scour the store for a bulky yarn of the same thickness. But anyways, here are some things that have been going on:

These two snowy photos are leftovers from the last snowstorm (hopefully the last) of this Winter season. I love ice and snow shots; they seem so beautiful and artistic.

The onion. Oh how it grows! Joe and I had this onion that sprouted leaves randomly, and we thought it was cool...so we let it grow a little more. Then, when it just got too funny because it really took off growing, we thought it was too amazing to cut for cooking because it looked like a real plant, and I didn't have the heart to ruin it. Then the leaves got really twisty and spirally because the leaves had nowhere to go.

I keep telling the other onions, why can't you be more like your cousin?? I guess I "had it coming" when the other onions instead made me cry.

I was inspired by those "kneadless" books to make bread. Since it's the whole Easter season, I decided to make Challah bread (it is Jewish, but one religion came from another and it seemed fitting). I thought the recipe called for a lot of dough, but I had no clue of the magnitude of this recipe. In retrospect, I would have frozen half of the dough before baking...

In the bowl, it spins all innocent, so small...until bing-bada-boom...it takes up the entire oven! It was so heavy that I almost dropped the pan while taking it out. Everyone who looked at it shook their head and said "that's a lot of bread." (They might have glanced at it again and repeated themselves too.) I ended up freezing some of it because I didn't want it to go bad, and we later sliced it up and made French Toast out of it. It was yummy though. I might make it again soon. In a smaller batch.

Spinning!

I spun some more of this pink fiber-goodness from one of the Stitches Midwest, I believe. It's going to be a singles type of yarn. It's heathered-style because there were lighter pink strands mixed in while spinning, and I think it looks really nice. This yarn let me practice not drafting all of the fiber in bulk, like I did when I first started spinning. This one, I was drafting as I spun. It's a little tricky, and I need a lot of practice before I can call myself a proficient spinner, but it's a good start for now. The yarn is (relatively) the same thickness throughout. Score!

I might spin a little more with the spare pink fiber, but it won't be significantly larger on the bobbin. I'm still thinking of what I would like to make out of it. I don't know how many yards I have yet, but when I do, maybe you guys can pop ideas into my head.

I've been busy, busy, busy working two positions at the library while also teaching 15 students piano. I'm liking my new position working as a "Circ Clerk" (checking materials out, being the "operator," checking things in, etc.), and I haven't had too many bad experiences. I have noticed that although the weekends are very busy, people seem to be angrier and less able to be satisfied on a Saturday compared to Sunday. Maybe it's the whole "I just went to church, I'll be less of an......today." Besides overdue fees, the number one reason patrons yet really angry at a Circ Clerk is because if they are not in the computer, they are required to show 2 proofs of current address, not 1...on their license. Really, people get very, very angry! When they do find the second, they start telling you that they can also bring in 5 more the next time they are in because "you don't believe their word" that they live where their license says. Or, some toss their proofs your way when they do find it. It's very frustrating because although I'd love to take their word, I have to abide by the library's policies. I do want to keep my job. Shocking, I know.

Anyways, at least at the library I work in, we do everything we can to please the patrons, and shelvers really do ruin their limbs shelving if they've worked there a long time. If you want to do something really amazing, thank or compliment a librarian the next time you're in...it'll make their week. No joke.

Let's go ahead and end on a happier note though (lol). Since it's already springtime, I've decided to plan a small veggie garden for my balcony. I'm using that Jiffy Greenhouse Starter kit, and the radishes and tomatoes have already sprouted! I'm planting two types of tomatoes, two types of greenbeans, green onions and radishes for now. I'll give you a picture update a few days on their status. Meanwhile, I just finished the book "The Forgotten Garden" and I'm trying to finish up Charlaine Harris' "Dead to the World." Goodness, that girl needs to get with Sam. He's such a great guy and he's barely in the books anymore!

KUAS designs update

I have been working on Ravelry, updating the pattern galleries so that they have photos from other Ravelers. You'll see how everyone has their own take on the designs, which is a pretty neat thing to notice, as a designer's point of view.

I have been getting an alarming amount of requests for the "Punk Rock Tunic" which I have been procrastinating writing up. However, I finally did get the zing to work on it, and realized, to my demise, that the pattern is lost. I'm not sure what I wrote the pattern down on-sticky notes or the computer-but it is a goner. However, never fear! I remember how I did the pattern (it's really simple, actually) and I will reknit the tunic hopefully this week. I'll keep you posted on that in the future.

However, in the meantime...I will need a few seasoned "test knitters" for this pattern. I'll need to find some for the sizes "small," "medium" and "large." You'll need yarn that's similar to one one I used, if not the same kind (see the "Punk Rock Tunic" project page on ravelry or let me know if you need the info). I'm also looking for "seasoned" knitters because I want to get this pattern done in the near future, and I'll need people who can knit this up within 2 weeks once the pattern is sent, and also send me feedback about the pattern. I'm going to limit myself to only a few people for each size. Email me (knittingupastormATgmailDOTcom) if you're serious about being a test-knitter. First come, first serve. You get the test-pattern and finalized pattern free (however, I don't have money to pay you), plus the credit on my blog when I post about the finished pattern .

Just a few notes

Sorry, gang for my little leave of absence lately. I have been particularly busy the last couple of weeks because I have been putting in extra hours at the library ever since I got promoted to the "Circ Clerk" job. I am still shelving a little AV there, but I have been training the last 2 weeks with my supervisor, sometimes working two shifts, while also taking on my 12 students throughout the week as well. It's been a stressful time, and I have been getting home late, eating late and doing little but watching tv because my brain is fried, overly tired, giving my headaches, or all the above.

I do have lots of things to share with you all though, regrettably not too much in the knitting department. I have been working the past month in a half on various hibernated projects, but I have also casted on for something wintery because I just couldn't take it any longer. I'll talk about it more later on in the post.

I have a new toy! I bought this Wurlitzer piano off of a lady in my hometown, and I'm thrilled to have my very own piano. I have been falling out of practice ever since college, and I am practicing with a vigor that I haven't seen in ages. Granted, I do have to play as quiet as possible, since the piano carries in the apartment and I am trying to avoid a "noise complaint." I haven't gotten one yet, and I want to keep it that way. It is very difficult to play quietly every time I practice, but I tell myself that it is only temporary until our lease is up. Joe and I plan on searching for a reasonably-priced townhouse or a stand-alone when our lease is up.

I've been playing around with photoshop for these pics, because my apartment isn't really photogenic. I really like the edited pics.

I've been cooking too. I've made a cheesy hash brown casserole, experimented with a mango turkey meatloaf, a red cabbage & green apple side dish, scalloped potatoes, a "spaghetti squash" dinner with my specialty garlic bread, etc. The gizmo that you see in the picture was one of my wedding shower gifts from Avon that is really fun. It cuts your veggies into those slices when you push the lid down on it. They cut the potatoes into really nice sized chunks for scalloped potatoes or for cutting carrots.

Has it been snowing a lot by you too? I've been having a hard time just getting out of my parking spot! My balcony is definitely feeling the weight of the snowstorms.

I've been working on EZ's "Mitered Mitts" in the Frog Tree yarn that I bought a while back (the same yarn as used in my Striped Shawl). I'm digging the mitts so far, and I have been knitting them during my work breaks. My Striped Shawl is coming along too. I don't have a recent picture though to share with you all.

I have one more interesting (and a horror)story:
A couple of weeks ago, Joe and I invited some friends over for a "game night" with appetizer foods and some fun board games like "Dirty Minds" and "Cranium." After leaving-this is a Sunday evening mind you, and they were only over like 2ish hours-my friend calls me on the phone and says her car is gone. Now, we ran out of visitor passes, and the apt. office is closed on the weekend, so were were on good faith (naive) that a towing company wouldn't be around on a wintery Sunday evening. She first thought that someone might have stolen her car, but we found out that she actually did get towed! OK, so we called them up, they towed her car just TWENTY MINUTES before my friends left, on one of those random "patrols" they they must do to earn another buck. We ended up having to drive to a town 30 minutes away(!) and have to bail the car out for nearly 200 dollars, meanwhile having to drive to a shady shack in the middle of nowhere with a dark lot and a little house with no heat and carpet ripped out in nearly half the house. The money and drive wasn't the worst part, mind you. While we were paying, one man was taking care of the "business" transaction (only hard cash allowed) while the other man was in the darkest part of the shack, with a hooded sweater on, and hands in is pocket while he stared at us girls (Joe was along, though, it was the three of us). While we finished, we three collectively felt that this short mysterious man that was either DRUNK, or on DRUGS or both... was going to knife us as we walked out (he was standing by the doorway the whole time). Hey, that's three purses/wallets and no money trail since it's cash. This guy gave all us the serious creeps...and he really looked like a serial killer...and I'm not just saying that because of the hood and dark room. Bad vibes were flaring off of him, and we all felt the same way. We almost bolted out of that place, locking our car doors as we got in. We all wonder what would have happened if we didn't give them the money and tried to get out of paying. That place still gives me the goosebumps. We complained to our apt. manager, and he said he got a complaint about the creeps before.
That's my scary story for a while, hopefully. We all keep thinking of it as our "near-death" experience. I was very, very angry about the predicament, but I'm glad that we were all safe. Never, ever go alone to those places if you don't have at least a guy. It was us two girls and a guy, and we still all felt in danger. I can't imagine two girls going alone.

I'm going to leave you on a better note now and end with a trivia question: a thousand points if you can name this chord! :)

Winter Shawl

Meet Victoria.

Victoria has spiritedly joined the KUAS team by displaying FO's. And as a self-model and self-photographer a good portion of the time, it's a good deal. Ain't she purty? I got her at one of my favorite stores; one that has items always on discount and is unpredictable and sells unique things. She was a winner. And boy did I feel weird walking out of the mall with her. ha ha.

Hey, hey hey...I finished a project yesterday. It wasn't on the progress list, so you didn't see that coming. Bada-bing-bada boom! I blocked it on one of my Christmas presents from the hubby, blocking boards. It did need to be blocked, but I have to admit that after knitting the edging and looking at the edging post-blocked...I kind of liked how it looked pre-blocked. It almost looks like I just did garter stitch and stretched it out to have waves, but I did indeed to the work of increases and decreases. Oh well. Experience.

The first finished project that Victoria is displaying is from one of my hibernating projects, my Winter Princess Shawl. Because the body is made out of mohair, it's very warm and perfect as a shawl-scarf for the winter time.

This is a good stashbusting project. I used one skein of KidMo yarn, and did the rest of the border in Malabrigo Lace yarn, in a colorway that is just gorgeous. I just love that lavender, it's soo soothing.

Project: Winter Princess Shawl (KUAS orignial)
Yarn: 1 skein of Blue Moon Fiber Arts' KidMo & 1/5 skein of Malabrigo Lace
Needles: size US9 circs
Project started: May 18th 2009 Project Finished: January 16th, 2010