Fall 2009 Blogger to Blogger Book Exchange

Here it is!

This past September a 2nd round of Blogger to Blogger Book Exchange was organized, with an end date of Canadian Thanksgiving - October 12th. It was wonderful to see new participants from the first round, as well as some familiar faces as well.

I enjoy the book exchange for a few reasons. It makes the blog world seem a little bit smaller, and I love the list of books that always results.... both times there have been books I've never heard of before.

Erin - received The Kite Runner, from Sophie
Meghan - received A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana, from Elizabeth
Sophie - received The Sweetness in the Bottom of the Pie, from Cheryl
Mrs. Spit - received Labyrinth, from Meghan
Linda - Vinyl Cafe Unplugged & The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, from Erin
Carmen - Against Medical Advice & The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, from Linda
Elizabeth - The Friday Night Knitting Club, from me

Thanks to all who joined in! If participating in an exchange intersts you, let me know. I'd be happy to organize a 3rd round next Spring :)

Sharing Happiness

Elizabeth has posted up some videos that will surely make you smile. Go have a gander.

To add to the merriment, here is one Annie posted up a few weeks back. I love it for so many reasons.



Do you have a video you've seen lately that spreads a smile across your face?

A Couple of Thoughts & The Last Reveal

First the couple of thoughts I'm having today:

I have too much yarn. Can you believe I actually said that? Now I will justify myself a little bit, by saying I don't have any yarn that doesn't have a plan. December brings with it the last shipment of the Rockin Sock Club for 2009, and November & December will present the opportunity to join another sock group through Woolgirl. Which I'm dying to do given they will all be based on Alice & Wonderland. But....

In my stash I have:

6 pairs of socks to cast on (*ahem, after posting I realized there are actually 8....) Obviously I have a love affair with knitting socks...

2 shawls

3 kits to arrive next year

2 fingerless mitts

1 sweater

Right, and a new babe on the way, a toddler, and a husband who probably wants to see me.... not always knitting. I'm thinking I should forego the sock clubs. Alice & Wonderland or not.

2. It was a pretty big day over here yesterday for this Mama. We had our 32 week growth scan for Aidan in the morning. We met with two specialists who asked me the typical questions I'm now used to "Are you feeling him move throughout the day?" "Anything out of the ordinary in your pregnancy?" They said, so far, everything looks good, they just want to make sure his growth is on target for my number of weeks, as two cord babies usually show growth abnormalities. Nate, Grace and I were led into the Ultrasound room. We only had an 18 week scan with Grace, and let me tell you, seeing a baby at 32 weeks is pretty astounding. His whole face took up the screen - we could see his chubby cheeks, his little tongue, and when they were measuring his abdomen, we could see him practicing breathing. Mr. A weighed in at a marvelous 4 pds, 3 oz. Around the 50th percentile for being 32 weeks. The pediatrician said (and here is the WONDERFUL news!) that the cord must just be a fluke. A random chance. There are no abnormalities present, and the cord does not appear to present an issue. The last 7 weeks or so of this pregnancy are alot less fearful for me. I know he's safe. To add to the merriment yesterday, I woke up and realized Grace was celebrating a half birthday. Officially 2.5. Needless to say, we made a cake and had a little celebration last night. So so blessed. *On a side note, we were in the car after leaving the hospital, and I was saying to Grace that next time we saw Aidan, he'd be coming home with us. She thought for a minute and said "With his Mommy?" "Yes honey, but I'm his Mommy. Your Mommy and his Mommy." She quickly changed the topic of conversation.

Onto the reveal. I've been saving the best, for the last. Or perhaps it's just the one I'm most excited about. Halloween wrapped up early for us, given our toddler goes to bed at 7:30, and Trick or Treating was done for us by 6:15. With Grace snug in bed I cast on for a pair of slippers. Daylight Savings Time the next day gave me a couple quiet hours in the morning to finish them up while the house still slept. This was my first felting project and I'm in love. They are so comfortable and warm. I can see making more of this pattern in the future.

Pre-felting.

I'm looking forward to a weekend snug at home, lounging around with my family, and drinking warm drinks. I hope you have a nice weekend planned as well!

The Outcome

Since my first post on Monday about procrastinating, something has happened.

I've stopped.

It is almost as if admitting it, has sent me into a handmade crafting frenzy. Christmas Eve pyjamas for Grace have been started, one of the nasty knitting projects has been cast on, and I've even organized a mailing list for the baby announcements.

And each time I sit at my computer, I feel guilty and close it up. Can't. Blog. Must. Craft.

Obviously I needed accountability.

But, I don't want to leave you stranded here without showing you a couple more procrastination craft projects from the month of October.

Without any furthur ado, here is:

"Procrastination Brought to you by the Letter A"

*On a side note, have you noticed Google the past two days is all about Sesame Street? Yesterday Big Bird, and today the Cookie Monster. Go check it out, it's terrific.

Shortly after Grace was born, I headed to Michaels, picked up a 9" letter G, and set to painting her a letter for her room. It seemed only right I also make one for Aidan.

Mid October when Nate and Grace headed to Victoria, a group of my friends came over for a crafting night - they were all working on growth charts for their kids. I set about making Aidan's painted letter A. The frog and paisley pattern on it is derived from his quilt.

I'm pleased as punch with how it turned out. A project well worth the procrastination.