Archive for May, 2006

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

See? Knitting!

It was SO nice to finally pick up the needles again this weekend.

Because last week was entirely consumed with the girls’ homework and class projects, I really couldn’t focus on packing for the trip until Saturday morning, when there wasn’t much time. So for knitting, I took the only “grab and go” project I had, which was the green socks. That’s digging back in time.

I was a little worried because I’d tried to knit on the socks a few times this year, and couldn’t do it. They were too fiddle-some a project for how sick I was with the pregnancy, and then for how anxious and stressed I was when we were suddenly MOVING, while I was sick with the pregnancy.

But, that’s what I had, so I took it. And I loved it. The sad part is that the only page of copied instructions I could find got me through the heel flap, turning of the heel, the first round of the gusset decreases, and that’s it. All of which I finished the first day.

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Leaving me to pout and gripe the remaining two days.

But still, I knit. And it was glorious.

Now I am feeling quite motivated to find and unpack the boxes of knitting books and magazines so I can knit some more! It’s satisfying, and it doesn’t aggravate my re-injured back.

Monday, May 29th, 2006

We’re back

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It was a great time, despite my sore back.

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And I even knit, but there’s no photographic evidence. I’ll show you tomorrow.

Friday, May 26th, 2006

Health Group- Year 2, week 50

In approaching the beginning of the 3rd year of Health Group, I’m reminded that we missed my bloggy birthday! 2 years! It’s been fun.

Health Group is a day early this week because tomorrow we’re still planning to go camping, despite my injury.

This week sucked. We spent every single day getting the girls’ homework done and/or caught up in some cases, PLUS finishing the big project that each of them had due this week in their respective classes. Seriously. The entire week. So I didn’t do much exercising at all. And now I’ve hurt my back.

I’m still enjoying the breakfast shakes, and I know they’ve helped me to eat better throughout each day.

The injury to my back is confirmation that I need to be more dedicated to my physical therapy exercises, which I intend to resume slowly next week when we get back from the weekend.

Tell me about your week.

Thursday, May 25th, 2006

And that’s what I get for being that way

All that complaining about the things I can’t do put me on the universal justice radar and now, I’ve hurt my back. Pretty bad. Any bending forward, or even thinking about bending forward, and I have shooting, unbearable pain where the car accident damaged me.

Brilliant.

I made it sore yesterday by bouncing on my exercise ball while holding Clark. It was really fun, but I was sore the rest of the day. I had hoped that some Advil and a good night’s sleep would make me all better, and it seemed to help until I was bending forward today washing off a chair and BAM! My back made a very bad crackling sound, and I’m pretty much incapacitated.

Serves me right, I guess. I was whining, and now it’s worse.

But the day isn’t a total loss… our new dining room table was FINALLY delivered today, along with the chandelier and barstools. I took a picture of the table, but promise me you won’t pay any attention to the painting-in-progress in the background. The red stays, the dark purple and white are SO going. It’s not finished, ok? So ignore it.

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Not the best picture, you’ll see more as the dining room gets put together. The table extends to 121 inches!

Mmmmm, dinner parties.

Oh, and because I’m a dork, I continue to forget to tell you all how much I appreciate the excellent ideas you’ve sent my way for kid activities for the summer! You guys are awesome! Thanks!

I hope I’ll be able to move enough to do ANYTHING now.

Wednesday, May 24th, 2006

Things I forgot to include on yesterday’s list

I want to bake a souffle. Never done it. I want to make scented soaps and bath salts. I want to exercise every day. I want to weed my front yard and plant new things. I want to grow wheatgrass again. I want a haircut.

A point of interest, at least to some… I washed my felted clogs this week. They were quite dirty, mainly because I’m lazy and have kept them on when walking the trash out, or getting the mail, or going out on the back deck. Anyway, I didn’t want to take the trouble of hand washing them, so I put them in a laundry bag and threw them in the wash with the rest of the reds, come what may. They came out as little balls, but I unrolled them, stretched them a bit, stuck my feet in to restore shape, and they’re great!

Good to know!

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This is an action shot of the fountain that our realtor gave as a housewarming gift. The moving bells swirl around and tap the stationary ones, making pretty chiming noises. It’s really neat.

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006

I need more time

Those of you who’ve been around here for awhile, or know me personally know that I like to do it all. And then some.

Since having Clark, I’ve been pretty content to lay low and let things be. To just do what I can and be at peace with the rest. I’m coming out of it and am starting to feel restless. Boxes need to be unpacked. Things need to be organized. I want to knit. I want to spin. I want to scrapbook. I want to take the girls out on adventures. I want to learn how to play the clarinet.

Ok, that last one is kind of silly. But I still want to.

I want my house clean. All of it. At the same time.

Sigh. I can’t do it all. I can do little more than feed my baby and make attempts at keeping up with the dishes, the laundry, the girls’ homework, and personal hygiene. This is such a difficult thing for me. I’m still really enjoying Clark. I like feeding and holding him, that’s not it. I just want to do everything else, too.

Dangit.

Ok, since the lack of pictures on my site is driving me insane, I’ll show you my little birthday present. My main gift for Mother’s Day and my birthday was a new stove and dishwasher. The ones that came with the house were fine, but a serious step down from the ones we left in the old house. Considering how much time I spend in the kitchen, it was becoming annoying. And the dishwasher here completely sucked.

Anyway, I didn’t get anything big for my birthday, but I’ve always wanted toe rings. So Nate and I went to Pike Place Market on Saturday, and I bought some.

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Can you make out the design on the left? It was the only one like it, and I know it was meant for me! GOLDFISH, BABY!

And here’s the only picture we got of me and my cakes.

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You’d better believe I got them all!

Monday, May 22nd, 2006

Awww, thanks!

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I didn’t end up knitting because I forgot that all of my knitting books and magazines are still packed somewhere, and I need the lace book to do the daisy pattern on the scarf. So much for that. But we weren’t home much anyway.

It’s incredibly dark outside. I just heard that it’s supposed to rain all week and all weekend. As in, Memorial Day weekend, when we are planning our big camping trip. I’m very aggravated.

I had a good idea, or at least what I think will be a good idea for an activity with the kids when summer vacation starts. We inherited an old picnic table in the move. I’m going to examine it, and if the wood is sound, I think the kids and I are going to sand and paint it. It’ll doubtless be a messy project, but they’ll really enjoy it and it’ll get something done that needs to be done. Plus, I’m hoping it’ll stave off Olivia’s inevitable summer boredom for a few days.

I’m compiling a list of ideas to make this summer productive and fun. Abigail and Veronica are frequently content to entertain themselves with what we have here at home, but Olivia seems incapable of it.

And now, I’m going shopping before the rain comes in for the week because I’d much rather be home watching the rain when it hits than out running errands with kids.

Saturday, May 20th, 2006

Health Group- Year 2, week 49

Good morning! This was a pretty good week for me. I found the free weights last Saturday and used them on Thursday which provided that pleasant “you’ve worked these muscles” ache on Friday. Love that. I also did physical therapy on Wednesday and Thursday.

I’m driven by the very short cap sleeves on the pretty dress I get to wear at my sister’s wedding in August. My upper arms have been the least favorite part of my body for a couple decades, so anything I can do to help them out before a very public and photographically recorded exposure sounds like a good idea to me.

Today is my birthday. I’m 31 now. It snuck up on me and I still don’t know what I want. Maybe I’ll knit on that pretty lace scarf and let Nate take care of baby and things? Happy birthday to me!

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

Craving monster

It was so weird. I’ve been eating really well the last few weeks, starting the day off with a varying, homemade breakfast shake, eating a super healthy lunch, and a little less healthy of a dinner (but still pretty darn good). I’ll grab a string cheese for snack if need be, or some soaked almonds, or a couple dry apricots or cranberries, or a Talking Rain.

Usually indulging in some sort of sweet either shortly before or after dinner to satiate a craving, which I’m going to try to curb in the future. (I had an unfortunate conversation with someone about Snickers Bars recently. I haven’t eaten a Snickers in years, and it sounded so fantastically good, I bought some. They’re gone now).

Yesterday was craving day. I have no idea what the deal was, but immediately after a very satisfying lunch of chicken vegetable stir fry over brown rice, I turned into Rabid Craving Monster. Seriously. I could have eaten 2 dozen cookies and 5 candy bars if I’d had them around, and probably still been looking for more.

Instead of fighting it, I quickly made a shake with milk, peanut butter, a frozen banana, and some wheat germ. Yum, yum, yum!

It may have been a calorie-fest, but I’m pretty proud of myself. The craving monster disappeared until 9:30 or so last night when it showed up again in full force. Only this time, it wanted curly fries and pepperoni pizza. I decided to starve it out and woke up ravenous this morning, which is unusual for me. So far today I’m doing well, and the monster has yet to return.

Hehe. I won.