Some pictures to brighten the day :)

So, after the loss of my only job, I've decided that I need a pretty post, filled with pictures.

 Little Man on his first overnight stay...we left him with grandma & grandpa on my 31st birthday (January 7, 2011)

I was trying to catch him smiling on camera...it didn't work too well but, I tried :)

More attempts to catch a smile...

I did a test-knit for a hat. It's supposed to be toddler size and it's rather large for Little Man (it stretches a lot)...but I needed a photograph of it :)

I actually did the test-knit for the same hat twice. This was the first one, actually. It's supposed to be a toddler size, too and it fits Little Man but it's still a little big.













Anyway, hope you enjoy photos of Little Man being cute :)

Wasn't ready for that...

So, I called work to make sure they had my paycheck because my husband is going to pick it up tonight. I got a nice little shock: I'm out of a job.

No, really. I no longer have a job.

It's not because I'm staying on maternity leave longer...they're just...closing.

I have no job. I mean, I can always substitute teach (if I put Little Man in daycare) but other than that, no job.

I really wasn't ready for that...or expecting it. I was expecting a hostile take-over by my boss' brother-in-law. Guess he didn't like her counter-offer for the business.

I'm a winner..........

I'm excited and I have to share. I've won a contest over on The Plucky Knitter. I will receive a six month membership to the Plucky Classics club :)

Translation for non-knitters or those that don't know Plucky: I will get three skeins of yarn over the course of the next six months in her new fiber (Primo Worsted - but I have the option to have fingerweight yarn, if I so choose) - one skein every other month.

Yeah, I'm excited. Can you tell?

Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Kleeeeening....(part the second)

I'm still working on that Karma. After getting rid of some yarn, some baskets, and some candles, I found MORE things to get rid of. I still have a huge pile in the dining room/living room for Vinny's (they're coming on Wednesday) but I have some things that I know they won't take and I'd hate to just throw it out. So, I have office supplies for the grabbing on Freecycle. I have someone coming by tomorrow afternoon to get them: folders, notebooks, envelopes, index cards, etc. It's not that I don't have a use for these...I do. But I'm not getting around to it and it's taking up space (not a lot but it's still space I need for other things). I also have my sewing machine posted on Craigslist for $70 but I may change the price, just to get it out of my house. I've only used it twice. I'd rather hand-sew anyway.

Speaking of hand-sewing, I'm contemplating making some things out of old towels and fabric that I have. I got the idea from a combination of an etsy shop and from something I got as a baby gift. My diaper bag came with this changing pad and yes, it's machine washable but while that one is being cleaned, I'd need another one. So, I have all this extra fabric around (in fun designs and colors and such) and Bob knows I have enough towels for a small army. I was thinking of making changing pads with the towels (for absorbency - in case someone pees) and the fabric (for the pretty). What do you think? I've never really done a lot of sewing (by hand or by machine) so this would be more of a labor of love than anything. I'm not quire sure how I'd do it, either. And, depending on how things go, I may make my own little etsy shop with it :)

I'm slowly finding my office. I can actually get in there and sit down. I'm nowhere near finished but I'm off to a good start. We have also almost found the dining room. I moved a lot of stuff to the closet and threw out a bunch...and I moved some things around. The biggest problem we have in there right now are all the boxes and bags to go to Vinny's. Once that's gone I should be able to finish in there.

Wow. It's been all about cleaning.

I've been knitting, too. I'm almost finished with the major project for the Knitters' Guild Brown Bag Exchange. I'll post pictures when it's finished and blocked. I'm also working on socks and a hat for Little Man and I'm going to be test knitting a hat for someone (that will be given to Little Man). I'll have to post pictures along the way...

And now for someone cute:

Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Kleeeeening....

I'm working on my Karma.

As per my "List of Things I'd Like to Accomplish in 2011," I've been cleaning. I've gone though the 4-closet sectional and have a HUGE pile of stuff to get rid of (either to Vinny's or Freecycle or Craigslist). I also have ROOM in there! It's amazing to know that I've gotten rid of that much stuff. I can finally start going through some of the things in the office and start cleaning out that room.

Today, I've gotten rid of a bunch of candles (not all of them). I have someone coming to get yarn and another someone coming to get baskets. It's glorious! I'm also looking into getting rid of a couple of mirrors.

Like I said, I'm working on my Karma :)

Genealogy...and other things

I've been cleaning (per this post). Last night I found some amazing things. Actually, let's be honest, I knew these existed but I took some time to actually look through them.

What am I talking about? Something that doesn't involve knitting, amazingly. I found some old photograph albums that were from my maternal grandfather's family. Unfortunately, 95% of the photographs are not labeled and I'm not sure who the people are in the photographs. I can recognize my grandfather and his brother, and their parents. Other than that, I'm not sure. I know there are some people labeled as "Aunt Katherine" or "Grandpa Mousel" and I kind of know who they are. Grandpa Mousel was my grandpa's maternal step-grandfather, if I remember correctly. Aunt Kate was my grandpa's aunt...but I don't remember if it was his mother's sister or his father's sister. I suspect it was his mother's sister. Katherine isn't exactly a German name (my great-grandfather's name was Anton and they were a German Catholic family).

I want to get copies of the photographs and send them to the remaining members of the family. There really aren't many left in the Green family. My grandpa's niece and her husband (in Arizona), nephew and his wife (who live here in town), and his nephew's children and their child (in Washington state and Georgia, if memory serves) are really all that remain from that family. I think it would be nice, especially for Roman (my grandpa's great-great nephew), to have these photographs. But, you can't just scan them using a regular scanner because it will damage the original photo. So, we're going to have to get a digital camera set up to photograph the photographs. I'm also going to look into proper archival of them. I know there's a building at the University of Wisconsin that does this but I can't, for the life of me, think of what it's called. I suppose I could look on a campus map...that would be the most obvious answer, wouldn't it?

I've also found old letters from both sides of the family, my parents' wedding album (I knew where that was), and other more recent photo albums. Oh, and I've found copies of obituaries and other information that some members of my family would give their right arm to have...not that I won't share :)

Ultimately, I think I'm going to have to spend some time at the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Library.

Other than that, I've been spending some time knitting. I'm almost done with my item for the Madison Knitters' Guild Brown Bag Exchange. I'm going to photograph it and I'll post them after I've given the item back to the owner of the yarn I'm using. I frogged my sock. I tried it on and it was way too loose in the cuff/leg. I was at the toe decrease...and I completely frogged it. I'm also still working on Little Man's blanket and a cabled hat for him.

I've been good about using yarn already in my stash. Obviously the sock I frogged and re-started was yarn already in my stash. The cabled hat for Little Man is using some Cascade Pima Tencel that I had in my stash. The blanket has been on-going and the yarn for the Brown Bag Exchange isn't even mine.

Sometime I'll photograph things and post pictures. I like pictures :)

Thirsty Thursday...

In college, Thursdays were "Divine Stein" night at 'Scoes. I only partook in this adventure a few times in my later years of college. I wasn't a beer drinker so it had to be a special occasion that I would sit and drink beer.

Today is a different kind of Thirsty Thursday. I've been sick with a cold and because my nose is draining at night, my throat hurts. To combat this, I've been drinking hot lemonade or hot Tang mixed with hot lemonade...or anything hot, like coffee but not tea. It's been helping my throat feel better but I need the runny nose to go away. I've been taking DayQuil and NyQuil, though not as diligently as I should be. I'm almost at the point where I'm considering taking my allergy medication because I know that will work to relieve my runny nose.

Otherwise, today is a random day. I'm cleaning and doing laundry in between Little Man's naps and bottles and diaper changes. Needless to say, I haven't gotten very far on cleaning in the bedroom but laundry is plugging along, probably because I don't have to watch it constantly. I'm hoping to go do a Curves workout when Husband gets home from work but we'll see. If I'm feeling like crap, that may not happen. Or maybe it will anyway. We'll see.

I was hoping to work on my Knitters' Guild Brown Bag Exchange project but I don't think that's going to happen today. I've finished the body up until where the sleeves will be added and I'm almost done with the first sleeve. Once the sleeves are done, I can work on putting it all together and finishing it. I'm going to need help with that because I've never made a sweater this way before. Luckily, I know plenty of people that can and will help me :)

Yes, I should post pictures. No, I'm not going to. Sorry.

Happy, sick Tuesday.....

Yes, it's true. I've come down with the common winter ailment known as "the cold." Runny nose, sneezing, some coughing...ick. Luckily, Little Man seems fine at this point. I'm not too thrilled with being sick but, I don't really have much choice at this point either. I'm just going to have to let it run it's course.

I've stared a spreadsheet that will catalog all my yarn. I've gotten through the first two bins worth...but I have six bins total, and some drawers full...and a basket...and some bags...

I think I have a problem.

Anyway, that's part of my NYRs so I don't feel so bad that I'm taking some time to do it. And I'm sick. I think maybe some lunch is in order at this point...I like lunch :)