Kate's Perspective

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Tuesday, July 27, 2004

What I Would Write, Given More Time

Things That Make Me Cry

Athletic brilliance makes me cry. Also, parades.

Drumline practice at WCU.

Isn't it amazing, really, that humans can synchronize their movements so exactly? Rowers do it too.

Oh yeah... The Summer Games.

By the way, how about Lance Armstrong and a 6th Tour?

"What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on?" (click for source)

This actually makes me laugh, but then I start thinking about endurance and commitment and strength, which brings me to...

Motherhood: the expansion of the human heart and the enlargement of the tear ducts.

Dooce

Chez Miscarriage

I don't know if it's the hormones or what, but the thin line between beauty and pain/joy and loss shines too brightly for my eyes. The post I would write (given more time) would be really good, and it also would make me cry.

Slightly off topic, but still relevant: If the economy is so bad, why are the contractors too busy to return my calls?

posted at 11:20 AM # (2) comments

Friday, July 23, 2004

All through the Night

I had resigned myself to the possibility that Lydia would not sleep through the night during her first year of life. I was OK with that possibility. I am a first-time mom, so I've got lots of time and attention for this one little girl. But when she slept through the night last Thursday, I was feeling good. And when she repeated the trick on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I started feeling really good. After one whole week of sleeping through the night I am freaking delirious with joy! What a good baby! What bliss to have a sleeping baby who now will occasionally eat from a sippy cup so I can sneak off to knit with friends in the evening every once in a while! Perhaps this mama stuff won't kill me after all.

My red croc socks are coming along. I turned the heel last night and now I'm close to the end of the gusset decreases. I'm adapting the pattern from my IBH Peace Fleece socks to fingering weight yarn-- the changes are significant enough to include a lot of guesswork and I think each sock in the pair will be unique (I'm not taking notes). That's OK! I have a new attitude regarding the total busyness and absence of accomplishment in my daily life. I'm embracing it. When else will I have the freedom to do so little? Yes, I am changing diapers and cooing and interacting and cleaning and shopping and cooking, but it's a lot different than it was when I worked, and it's a lot different than it will be when she can talk and walk. An inch or two on a sock brings me great joy. And focusing on one project at a time is actually leading to more accomplishment than I expected.

Here's my next project:

We are talking total revamp. Before we move in we need a complete paint and refinish job inside. We also need a new upstairs bathroom and a new kitchen floor. The new me accepts that we may move in before the shower works. Good thing my parents (and their bathroom) are right down the street. Ssshhh. Don't tell!

OMG! I am not posting from my own computer, and just saw my blog via IE for the first time. OMG! So embarrassed. MUST. FIX. SOON. STAY TUNED. In the meantime, get Mozilla Firefox, people!

posted at 6:17 PM # (7) comments

Friday, July 16, 2004

Cindy and Susan met me for a sorely needed stitch-n-bitch last night. Lydia has been practicing a new shrill squawk this week which makes me wish my ears were detachable. Happily, an evening at the Barnes & Noble cafe with fellow knitters restored my good humor for the time being. And my red croc socks (frogged and reknit 4 times so far) have finally grown past the point of no return. The 3 inches I knit last night are even and relaxed-- a good reason to knit with friends more often!

We went to settlement on our new (old) house yesterday morning, and John has been busy filling the dumpster with 30 year old carpet and 40 year old drapes. Yuck! I am frustrated that the work right now is so dirty and dusty that Lydia and I have to stay out for our health. I can't wait until John wipes it down tomorrow and makes a clean corner for Lydia's playpen. I'm itching to pour undiluted Mr. Clean all over the greasy harvest gold kitchen floor and get to work!

Despite the thick layer of grime and dust, the house is gorgeous, and we are thrilled to be on this new adventure.

posted at 9:44 PM # (0) comments

Saturday, July 10, 2004

Dishes for Knitters

We made our pilgrimage to the quilts in Lancaster today. Neither of the books published about the former Esprit collection captures the color and exquisite detail of these quilts accurately. In person they are unbelievable. I plan to visit regularly to see the quilts as they rotate on and off view.

As a bonus, we found a British imports shop full of tea, biscuits and Cadbury chocolate. We laid in a supply of Bewley's tea biscuits and I found the perfect dishes for knitters...Aranware.

posted at 10:20 PM # (4) comments

Sunday, July 04, 2004

So BIG!

The 6-12 month size is fitting 4-month-old Lydia pretty well right NOW! Too bad it's 80 degrees and 95% humidity at this time of year... I am hopeful that it will still fit her in September. Knits are stretchy, right?

I used Sirdar pattern 3937 with Maggi's Aran Tweed yarn from the Irish MK Collection. The buttons are from my button box, and came from my great-grandmother. They're bright orangey-yellow plastic hemispheres and they pick up the gold slubs in the yarn perfectly. I'm thrilled that this is FINISHED!

posted at 8:59 AM # (4) comments

Saturday, July 03, 2004

The Collection Formerly Known As...

The Esprit Collection of Amish quilts has a new home in Lancaster, PA! I have owned the coffee table book for several years, and I frequently flip through the pages for color inspiration. The book is arranged by design, from simple to complex, and each quilt is amazing. I have often wished I could see the collection in person, but the Esprit corporate headquarters in California was never on my way to anywhere....

This morning I was flipping through a local art and antiques guide and was thrilled to learn that the Heritage Center of Lancaster County acquired the entire collection in 2002 and built a museum to house them! The Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum opened in March 2004, and I am on my way there immediately. I feel so lucky!

P.S. FO countdown complete! Tonight I finished the aran baby sweater, and given good weather tomorrow, I'll be taking photos.

posted at 10:39 PM # (0) comments

Thursday, July 01, 2004

For Sale

As of this past Tuesday, our house is for sale. Lydia and I leave the house early a.m. with all our stuff smooshed in the car. We return late in the evening to do laundry, eat dinner and clean up all over again. We're bag ladies. John and I have never sold a house before--it's stressful! With luck it will pass quickly.

I had to put 99% of my yarn and 100% of my fabric in storage. So I'm forced to focus on finishing that aran sweater! It WILL get done!

posted at 9:07 AM # (3) comments

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