Finally finished

While on our East Coast trip, I was able to finish a project I've been working on since February. Yes, really. Of course I haven't been consistently working on it that long, there were a few points where I made mistakes and had to rip them out and then take a break for a while. But, here it is, blocked and complete. It was a challenge for me, for sure, but I learned a lot about lace knitting so that's a win. The pattern is Follow Your Arrow by Ysolda and it had a choose your own adventure aspect to it that was really fun. 

Hmm...what to knit next?

We've been working on some projects, a little knitting, and a little building/wiring the dollhouse. Fun stuff. 

You may have heard there was a major cultural event here this weekend, other than Chinese New Year. Yeah, all we know is that we had the zoo to ourselves, and the kids were briefly woken up by the fireworks but were able to get back to bed pretty quickly. 

a new hat

This pattern, from Taproot magazine again, was fun and easy. I started it right before Christmas and it took about a week. I told Brixton it was for him but it actually fits all of us, weird as that is. It's the all-purpose family hat. 

Brixton's hoodie

It's done! (Mostly.) Now I need to get both of them together wearing their matching hoodies....working on it. 

Unity's hoodie

I am so pleased with how this one turned out. (It's the hoodie pattern from Taproot magazine.) Of course there are some mistakes that I wish I'd done differently but altogether it knit up quickly and was a lot of fun to make. Brixton wants one next and I'm looking forward to doing this pattern again. 

This weekend was nice, a little bit calmer than our last which was needed. The kids had swimming and girl scouts and that was it. The rest of the time we just hung out, knitting and playing the same games over and over. Brixton loves playing "animal shelter" these days which involves him as a kitty at the shelter and you pick him out and take him home. Then he goes back to the shelter and you pick him out and take him home. 

Unity has gotten into reading the Magic Treehouse books and has been racing through them. It's so fun to see her get so wrapped up in a book. 

Chris is hanging in there too, doing his physical therapy and getting ready to take his wheelchair to work. We are doing ok. And I'm so thankful for that. 

the Yearly Meeting scarf

There is something about Quakers and the fabric arts. In almost every Quaker gathering, except Meeting for Worship, you will see at least ten percent of the room knitting, crocheting or doing needlepoint. I was trying to explain to someone how I feel like knitting helps me be a better listener, most of the time. It's something about occupying a certain part of my brain with a repetitive task, which allows the other parts of my brain more ability to focus. I think if I didn't knit during Meeting for Business, I would be more fidgety and distracted. I've noticed that when I don't bring my knitting, I notice other people knitting and my fingers itch.

So, this is my Yearly Meeting scarf. I started it in the car on the way to Oregon and carried it around with me for the five days we were there at annual session. For me it's seeped in the thoughts and ideas and Light that I was surrounded by, seeped in the occasion of meeting new people and deepening relationships. Being amazed again by the mystical and yet sometimes maddening Quaker process, and being so so thankful for the Religious Society of Friends.

Weekending- the old and the new

This weekend found us busy but satisfied. The kids had fake slumber parties in their new play tent (thanks Aunt Kristine and Uncle Patrick!) Because pretend sleep is so much better than the real thing. 

                                             We danced around at a Caspar Babypants show, and visited with
                                          friends. Then at one point, Unity came up to me and asked me to show her how
                                          to knit.
                                          I've showed her before and she's done it on one of those little wooden
                                          dohickeys, but this time I got out the hot pink size 17 needles and some extra
                                          bulky wool and she got it! She knit about eight rows with some help from me,
                                          but mostly by herself.

                                          Brixton still thinks he's knitting when he grabs a needle and stabs it into a ball of
                                          yarn, but he has to be included of course.
                                         

                                        We are a pretty low-technology family but on Friday nights we sometimes have family movie night. That hasn't been going so well, so this Friday we had family Kinect night. There is a very kid-friendly game that involves lots of jumping around and is not scary at all so maybe once a month we will all play it together. We are ok with occasional screen time, after all I would never give up my Downton Abbey, but we want it to be a special treat not an everyday habit. So far we've managed to find a balance that works for us.

Linking up at Habit of Being.