Jo Knits!

All about shawls,

For quite some time I've been intrigued with shawls. I'd really like to knit one up for myself. I'm not fancy froufrou and want a single colored one. Has anyone seen a solid color Charlotte's web shawl anywhere? I haven't and wonder what it would look like. Also, does anyone know where in Canada would I find the Charlotte's web pattern?

I am leaning towards another pattern though and it is distributed for free on the web (check for the errors here). I would like to knit my shawl in a nice yarn, something in a silk or alpaca blend. I had started a shawl long ago but after a while I just got bored with it. I really would like to complete a shawl just once. Any tips?

The finger that got squished in the door is still hurting and swollen alot. All I hope is that by the time I go back to work it doesn't hurt anymore or else, I'm not sure what I will do.

I f you are in Montreal, tonight is a great night for many events to attend for free. Montreal High Lights Festival has many fun activities tonight, since I have to work on sunday I won't be staying up all night but I really wish I could. Check the website and find something to do tonight, most are free and a great opportunity to visit somewhere you haven't in a while. :)

hugs,

This is life,

Went to bed at 8:30pm last night and slept ten long hours in a row. It feels great and I'm ready to enjoy my weekend now. We are working sunday afternoon to set up the store we will be working on monday but we still get to enjoy a 2-day weekend, with today and tomorrow.

As I got home yesterday I pinched my finger in the door jam that Lucas was trying to close in my face. Let's just say I was VERY surprised. The finger is not broken but still swollen more than 12 hours later. I even try not to type with it thought it's my left hand index finger and I am left-handed, not too practical. LOL!

Yesterday Lucas came to visit us at work and it was such a blast, we tried to have our boss train him for the day but sadly Lucas had to leave early. teehee! He did help me out on my job for a while, he couldn't hve been more proud. Everyone at work were charmed by him. I was really proud, made my day!!! :) Also I got a compliment for the boss (doesn't happen very often around work!) he said I was really good at verifying, it was nice to know 'cause I really like it. :)

I've been wanting to buy some yarn for quite a while but not knitting much so I am resisting, haven't been to a yarn store in a while. I wonder what's new out there. ;)

p/s: Have you seen the Fleece Artist website!? They updated their kits and all, I think I found what I'll be buying next! YAY!

pp/s: I miss seeing my knitting friends, I couldn't make it last night, then I can't see them on sunday, whine, whine, whine. In july I promise I'll makeit though. LOL!

hugs,

Vacations are over.

Another medal to add on Zoe's small wall of fame. She got a participation medal just like all the other skaters at her skating event. Despite the fact that she thought it was very boring she still kept at it and did what was asked of her all day. They had two classes + the skating to attend, one was about body expression (she learned to mime someone face to a wall, verrrry cute!), they had phys ed with plenty activities (her favorite part of the day and the skating 'shindig'. She didn't really enjoy the body expression, did not like freezing on the ice for the skating part (her coach would put her own coat on Zoe between skills) but she had fun running around for the phys ed. I'm happy Zoe was invited to the recuit event in our area. Zoe would say differently, she is NOT going next year, too boring. LOL! We knew one of the three judges on the panel and he said that Zoe won the best smile part, they couldn't believe her smile. Surprisingly I learned alot more than I expected at the parent seminar, I am glad I went! Being a parent isn't always easy nor is there a book to refer too so the things I learned yesterday will serve me well, especially as a mom of two young "athletes". lol!

When we went to the movies with Lucas on his birthday, we were only 3 in the whole room. It was great, we saw Pooh's Heffalump movie, a perfect movie for a first movie outing. He got the whole treat, a bus ride to the movies, popcorn and juice once there and a chance to do a few car races sitting on mommy or daddy. He had so much fun on his birthday the next day he woke up hoping it was still his birthday or could we at least go back to the movies? Awe!

As for knitting... I am a few rows away from decreasing the arms of my cardi. So being this close to being done, I am too tempted to cast on a new project, it's socks in a nice Regia colorway #5759.

Sadly our week-long vacation is coming to an end and I really don't want to go back to work. There was a meeting that we missed on thursday (thank goodness for Lucas being born on the right day!) lol!

Not so happy

Dear skating club,

Since you obviously have no idea about things I thought I'd help you out a bit.

1- It is best to advise skaters and coaches about a competition more than 72hours before the event so they have time to prepare.

2- If a coach has a problem with the parents of a skater, it is best to tell them instead of having the kid pay for your frustrations

3- If a parent pays to have two kid skate in your skating club, wouldn't you try to keep them happy so they'd join the club next year too?

4- I'm sorry we aren't paying for private lessons anymore, sure you loose money but don't you want to know why we think it's unacceptable to pay for an hour when you can't find 5 minutes to teach my kid?

5- I love skating, wish I took lessons but frankly next year we will be going towards another club.

6- You loose! :-P

Zoe has to practice some skills at the rink tonight, apparently tomorrow is THE day for her recruit event. Nice that we learned only wednesday night after the lessons were over and by asking when was the event being held on. Oops.... they forgot to tell us, oh wait, they forgot to tell Zoe's teen coach also. I'm not surprised but Zoe is intitled to go, she has been registered and she can go, why 'forget' to tell us?

Tomorrow while Zoe gets two classes and has to skate, us parents, we get to learn about skating stuff. The bizarre part is that we'll miss Zoe's skills testing while we learn. Ha! I think not... both Carl and I are prepared to cleaverly exit the class when it's Zoe's time to hit the ice. How silly is that though? We are there to encourage her, she'll be wanting to see a thumb's up in her direction. Silly sport.

Off to start new socks, got me some new shoes too. :)

FOUR!!!

FOUR!!! Since the day he was born this little guy has brought joy to our lives. He is smiling from the moment he wakes up (well give him his space until he finds his smile...) then he is happy until bedtime (well again... not his favorite time of the day!). He is a little clown, loves to monkey around, does anything to make us laugh. His favorite activity has to be to hang out with his big sister! They dress up, play, sing, dance around together all the time, they can't seem to spend time away from each other if they are both in the house. Then again, Lucas often asks where Zoe is on shool hours, he is really eager to go to school also, once again it'll be a loooong year until he turns 5 and then can finally start again the next fall. I still remember when Zoe turned 4 and kept telling us that no, she was turning 5 right away, another eager one to start school. She is doing great though and her teacher can't wait to have Lucas in kindergarden.

So last night at the kids figure skating lesson, everyone sang happy birthday to Lucas (well most of the 30 kids & coaches on the ice). Then Lucas got the honor to do the warm up exercises with a teen coach and everyone followed his lead. :)

Today we are going to the movies with him for the very 1st time, he doesn't know yet.... I am more excited than he will be over this. LOL! We are EVEN taking the subway to go also. WOW! This will be an amazing day for my 4yo. ;) First though, breakfast, we are off to go see Mister Funnyfaces at Lucas's request. This guy wll do anything to make kids smile and Lucas has chosen to go to his restaurant on his birthday, how can we refuse? ;)

p/s: This day is even better knowing that we are missing a work meeting and it's ok with our boss to celebrate our son's birthday instead. LOL!

hugs,

post-valentine's

Well we have a little romantic at heart boy in this house. Last night Lucas had a date to go see his teen coach skating for a test. Not knowing the time she was testing we sadly arrived after er skating but did see Zoe's teen coaches testing. Both came to see us after and Lucas offered his 'date' a beautiful blue rose he chose for her. The kids had made some nice chocolates (they were the melt & pour kind) in hand decorated boxes to offer to just about everyone they know. Everyone was delighted from the 'teachers' at daycare to the skating teen and adult coaches. :)

My sleeves are slowling coming along, I'm not sure why I'm not more motivated about knitting them. Mostly it's because sleeves are the 'boring' part, oh wait then I'll have to block and sew all these pieces together. OYE!

Both Carl and I are trying to rest as much as possible while we are off from work. It's hard though as we should stick to our regular schedule of sleep, we are beig rebels and going to bed later though. Hopefully I'll get my act together and get some needed rest before next monday.

Only 2 more sleeps before Lucas becomes 4! :)

Happy!

We got Zoe's second report card and it is pure pleasure to read. It's in form of a little book and has a detailed list of things kindergarden students have to achieve over the year. Zoe has progressed very well since her first report card but what's even better is the personal comments her teacher adds throughout the book. The one line that stuck with me is that she said it is not a job to teach Zoe but pure pleasure to have her in class every day. WOW! She wrote that about my own child. My little kindergardener, I couldn't be more proud.

Have you seen Spun a new little online magazine, they launched a mini-issue. Hopefully a 'real' issue will have more patterns and bigger pictures 'cause I can't see much in those pics, hard to see details. Anyone knows when MagKnits should have a new issue?

Have a great day, I'm on the hunt for the new IK issue, where oh where will I find it today? LOL!

A whole week!

We have ten days off, count'em, one two three four five six seven eight nine TEN!!! Last night we slept almost 12 hours and we will try to sleep as much as we can for the next days off.

Today both kids were off on special activity days, Zoe had her 1st day at the school's daycare for a day of bowling and an impersonator was there to entertain the kids in the afternoon. (We actually saw Zoe at the bowling alley as we sneaked in this morning, she seemed to be having a great time too!). Lucas was at his own full day daycare which occurs only twice a month. Carl and I relaxed by having a great breakfast and then shopped and walked all around shopping malls AND Walmart throughout the day. Aren't we sad.... we worked in three different Walmart stores this week and still on my first day off I go shopping there. LOL!

I actually treated myself to a special little gadget today. It's a minidisc player, not fancy shmancy but it does come with the radio in it so I can either play music that I want or listen to the radio. The ipod is totally out of range for me and I don't listen to that much music after all. I do like to listen to some while we travel to and from work though, also it's fun to listen to different radio channels when we travel, it's always different from one province to the next. :) Next purchase.... a new cell phone but that will only be in a few weeks. I know the company and the plan, I simply need to find a cell that will suit my needs.

As far as knitting goes, I hope to get going on my sweater, I haven't had time all week so I will be catching up this week. The sleeves are started and I have about 2 inches done. I really want to start some socks but need to stay on track with the sweater, knowing me I'd just leave it there aside as an eternal work-in-progress. I also need to start some baby knitting as soon as possible. ACK!

hugs, wishing you all a great weekend. :)

Late!

Woke up at 5:15am! ACK! Our pick up was at 5am.... Thank goodness for cell phones, someone else will pick us up, our boss has been warned we'll be there for 7am but not 6am (it's more important to not be late for 7!).

Have a great monday... tuesday!

post-superbowl

What a fun evening we spent all the family cheering for the football players at the Superbowl. Man, I love that game, says the one who watches a single game each year... I'm getting better at understanding it too. LOL! I'd love to go see a game in a park or something. In 2002 the Montreal Alouettes won the Grey Cup (Canadian version of the Superbowl) and we went to the parade, it was alot of fun and one would think I would go to see a game someday, time just isn't on my side.

Last night was a great evening to knit and I will soon start on the sleeves of my sweater, I am only a week behind on my sweater making schedule. I will give myself two weeks to knit the sleeves and I'll be knitting them at the same time. I should have done the same for the cardigan fronts, hey I'm learning quickly though. ;) I'm decreasing the two fronts at the same time that way if I do something different I'll remember to do it to the other front.

I'm being teased about knitting at work and it's always surprising. So knitting seems to be un-cool to some, why should I care? Why the need to tell me that you think it's so passé or that it's dull? Do I judge you in any way, do I tell you your hobby is boring? Guess I'm too polite! LOL! The knitting trend is an english thing I believe, it's not catching on with french people (at least not in Quebec). So I often feel like I have to convince people that there are many 20-something knitters all around the world. Oh well, I love knitting and I'm thinking this particular person shall not receive any of my handknitted projects. LOL!

hugs,

Superbowl!

It's Superbowl sunday, the only game I watch every year until it dawns on me that I actually do like watching football! LOL! Last year we got stuck helping out at work and never got to see the game even though we weren't scheduled to work. This year, we made sure this wouldn't happen! Carl and my mom are betting who will end up making the dishes. LOL! Each year my mom looses but it's always funny to remind her that her team made points and then she's all excited. ;) The ads are always the best part of the game or at least one of the fun parts, sadly in Canada we can't always get to see those fun ads. This year I'll be checking this site though. :)

Last sunday we had a great day with the kids! We went to the Planetarium and saw a great show called Little Bear. This is a special event for kids of 4 years old and up. We went, my mom, the kids, Carl and I, everyone truely enjoyed the show. Kids get to interact in the show and scream out names of planets, learn new words, sing a song. We all came out of the show being a tad smarter than when we went in. LOL!

We are slowly making sundays our family activity day and today was supposed to be a skating outside day. Sadly Montreal is under it's sixth day of smog warning so I prefer we not spend a few hours outside. There are still a few activities we can do but I'm also planning on doing a few while we have our week off the week after this one. We were thinking of walking around Chinatown but again it's outside, so sadly we'll miss out on any Chinese New Year's activities. Wednesday the year of the Rooster will begin, hope all of those who celebrate this holiday have a great time. :)

hugs,

It's all work,

Wake up at 4am, run to our pick up spot for 5am, get to work at 6am, start inventory at 7am then finish at 5-6-7pm... Ride in a truck to a subway stop (they don't feel like dropping us off at the pick up point after a day's work!), take 30 minute subway walk 10 minutes home = 8pm. Eat, clean up, sleep, then start over the next day.

Today was a heck of a day, whatever could go wrong DID! I got to see my boss mad (not at me thank God!), there were at least ten people missing today. I wonder how many won't show up tomorrow. We are working looong hours with only our hour's lunch break and we are standing all day. The team's morale today wasn't too good, I'm scared for tomorrow. Today I woke up with a cold, started working and had to wait until the pharmacist opened at eight to get some dayquil, I felt a tad better for the rest of the day but totally out of it work-wise. I couldn't concentrate at all and in this job you have to be 100% concentrated in what you do, errors can easily happen, which is what happened today. I didn't do any (that I know of!) LOL! but our team made many and two members had to be sat down (they can't work for the rest of the day). It's always hard on the troop when this happens, errors are human, we can't be perfect but it's hard to see one of our's sat. Well today was Carl's turn.... he left the store before I knew anything of it and helped out preparing tomorrow's store.

Now here I am at home, haven't had supper yet, cold medicine is wearing off, kids are in bed, Carl is still not home and I have no way to reach him. I'm worried, I'm sick, I need to eat then go to bed 'cause another lovely day awaits me tomorrow. UGH!

Have a nice weekend as tomorrow is our last day of our week.