mary makes merry

February showers bring Easter bunnies

I had the loveliest afternoon imaginable yesterday! Bonne Marie hosted a baby shower for me in her beautiful pad, to which most of the core of the KIP crowd came. It was such a relaxed and fun group. I had a wonderful time. Thank you, Elizabeth, Carolyn, Michelle, Corinne, Rachel, Heidi, and Monica (in absentia). All the gifts were so sweet and fun, and the food was delicious. The host-chef roasted a turkey breast to perfection, Pim's cups were enjoyed (vicariously by me, but I'm eager for the next special occasion!), the freshest-tasting guac ever made was consumed, an amazing coffee cake and a fantastic cheesecake were scarfed and -- I'm forgetting things; forgive me! But be assured that I ate so much there that I skipped dinner! And just hanging out with you guys on an otherwise gloomy Sunday was such a treat.

More to come, but a huge thanks again to Bonne Marie and all involved. I really did feel like a queen (mother) for a day. Which reminds me -- a special thank-you to Rachel, who, on the ride home, reminded me that I was still wearing my tiara. Since I had to leave the shower slightly early to get to an unexpected work requirement, she almost certainly saved me from wearing a silver plastic tiara into my place of employment!!

Can I invoke the International Dateline?

Yesterday did not go as I had planned, and so I'm a day late/dollar short in wishing Carolyn a happy, happy birthday! Hope you're having a very festive weekend, Carolyn. Sorry to have missed it!

My mind is definitely going -- I blame it on the baby. I royally messed up my evening schedule for this week. As much as things have changed in my life, I still can't be in two places at once, darn it. But I think I got everything sorted out.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

And many morrrre!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Clark!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Bonne Marie!

And belated b-day greetings to Theresa,
who I thought for some reason was in the middle, rather than at the beginning, of the Triple-Threat February KIPFest!

Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful year ahead!!

I'm celebrating Clark's birthday by doing a few rows on his long-suffering vest (yes, the poor vest has been suffering along with the two of us over its molasses-like progress). I am also working on another baby sweater in All Seasons Cotton. I thought I'd be very clever and combine a few patterns, etc., etc., rip, rip, rip. But now I'm just following a pattern in the Yarn Girls' book for kids. Fortunately, that stuff knits up so quickly that I haven't (really) minded mis-knitting the neck three times.

Have a great weekend, no matter what you're celebrating!

Cruising, sort of

I'm on a little bit of a roll -- Pumpkin is finished, and I made those Ugg booties, too! Although there's only one in the picture, both are now finished:

It's a really fun pattern, I have to say. Thanks to Monica, who inspired me to make them.

I used the Berrocco Suede called for, but substituted a funky Habu yarn for the Berrocco Plush suggested for the trim. I used a double strand of it and am really pleased, though it was pretty fiddly. I especially enjoyed watching the "toe box" take shape via short rows. Note to self: Since they came out a little bigger than expected, use US 5's, not 6's, if you make them again.

And I even got Clark's vest back out and am making some (slow) progress on it. Brioche stitch, I do not like thee anymore. But we'll keep at it.