Rocker Girl

Sydney is a punk rocker, Sydney is a punk rocker, Sydney is a punk rocker now!

(the earworm is worth the cuteness)

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Tuesday Tunes

You pass through places

And places pass through you

But you carry 'em with you

On the souls of your travellin' shoes

Littlest Birds - The Be Good Tanyas

Well I feel like an old hobo,

I'm sad lonesome and blue

I was fair as a summers day

Now the summer days are through

You pass through places

And places pass through you

But you carry 'em with you

On the souls of your travellin' shoes

Well I love you so dearly I love you so clearly

Wake you up in the mornin' so early

Just to tell you I got the wanderin' blues

I got the wanderin' blues

And i'm gonna quit these ramblin' ways one of

these days soon

And I'll sing

The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs...

Well it's times like these

I feel so small and wild

Like the ramblin' footsteps of a wanderin' child

And I'm lonesome as a lonesome whippoorwill

Singin these blues with a warble and a trill

But I'm not too blue to fly

No I'm not too blue to fly cause

The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs...

Well I love you so dearly

I love you so fearlessly

Wake you up in the mornin' so early

Just to tell you I got the wanderin' blues

I got the wanderin' blues

And I don't wanna leave you

I love you through and through

Oh I left my baby on a pretty blue train

And I sang my songs to the cold and the rain

I had the wanderin' blues

And I sang those wanderin' blues

And I'm gonna quit these ramblin' ways

One of these days soon

And I'll sing...

The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs....

I don't care if the sun don't shine

I don't care if nothin' is mine

I don't care if I'm nervous with you

I'll do my lovin' in the wintertime

Howl For A Cowl

Cowls are very popular here this winter. I made one for myself at the start of fall, and then two others as winter came on, both gifts. Soon after Yule, Ben kept asking for one of his own, which I finished last week. As soon as his was done, Nate wanted one as well. Each boy now has his own cowl in the color of his choice and has been wearing it proudly.

I didn't use a pattern for either of these, just estimated size and went for it. That's another nice thing about simple cowls, they are stretchy when completed and very forgiving. I cast on about 80 stitches for Ben's and 65 for Nate's. I used worsted weight yarn and size 10.5 16" circulars for both.

Cowls are so easy to make and a lot of fun. There are tons of patterns out there for a variety of styles and skill levels. My latest favorites include the Fan & Feather Cowl, Aspen Neck Cowl, and the Twisted Cowl. Definitely head over to Ravelry and throw Cowl in the search engine - it's a good way to spend a few hours.

(Cowboy hat sold separately)

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Something For Everyone

We all try to pass the time stuck inside in our own ways. The boys have been building forts today, we just whipped up some play doh and we've been watching way more PBS kids/movies/hulu than I'd really like, but if it keeps the peace right now, I'm ok with it. I've made my peace with wanting less tv and actually making that a reality. The time to make that a reality is NOT when you are stuck inside due to your hilly driveway being a sheet of ice and on the cusp of another storm set to start in about 12 hours. The math just doesn't work out on that one.

So the kids have been doing a decent job of entertaining themselves, and I've decided to keep busy with knitting. I know, you didn't see that one coming did you? Ok, but here's the thing... I've cast on three projects in the past two days. I guess I have to have different things to work on constantly. Two of them are just straight up knitting in the round for the most part, the third is Amigurumi. Amigurumi!!! This is serious. We'll see how it goes, but so far it's really a LOT of fun and my only complaint is, that I have to concentrate when working on it, so I'm wishing Syda would take a longer nap so I could spend more time on it. Fortunately, I have until March to finish the Sea Star in time for Ben's birthday. He's also requested the Jelly Fish from this book, but I haven't made any promises.

The oddly shaped triangle to the right is one of five sea star arms.

Here is the second sea star arm, just started today and pic snapped about 60 seconds before Syda woke up.

On the needles for Syda is a third attempt at the Skull Jumper from PenelopeCraft. I've changed the needle size and the number of total stitches so hopefully it'll fit her this time around.

On the needles for Nate, a rainbow cowl. He's been admiring my green cowl and as I finished Ben's blue cowl this weekend he sweetly asked for one of his own, "But in all the colors." Thank goodness for variegated yarn. :)

Plenty to keep me busy for a bit.

Shameless Thief - The Quiet

We're a bit cooped up these days. It's January in Maine and we live on the worst hill to pass (not well) for a driveway. So we haven't been venturing out too much and the volume inside has been growing. It's not bad, but you know, it's life with three young kids, it's intense and noisy sometimes. I think any parent can relate. So today, I visited Dooce.com and this entry just called to me. I had to share.

Tuesday Tunes

This is my winter song to you.

The storm is coming soon

it rolls in from the sea.

My love a beacon in the night.

My words will be your light

to carry you to me.

Winter Song - Sara Bareilles (feat. Ingrid Michaelson)

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
it rolls in from the sea

My voice; a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love

They say that things just cannot grow
beneath the winter snow,
or so I have been told.

They say were buried far,
just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum bum

I still believe in summer days.
The seasons always change
and life will find a way.

Ill be your harvester of light
and send it out tonight
so we can start again.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause youre not where you belong;
inside my arms.

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon
it rolls in from the sea.

My love a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Tuesday Tunes

For Baby E and his wonderful parents!

It's a big world, baby

And you're little

For a Little While

It's a big world, baby

You can fiddle in your own style.

It's A Big World - Renee & Jeremy

It's a big world, baby And you're little For a Little While It's a big world, baby You can fiddle in your own style. It's a big sun It's a big tree It's a big boat It's a big sea It's a big dog It's a big plane It's a big cloud With a little bit of rain. It's a big world, baby And you're little For a Little While. It's a big world, baby You can fiddle in your own style. It's a big house It's a big chair It's a big zoo It's a big bear It's a big street It's a big car It's a big sky With pretty little stars. It's a big world, baby And you're little For a Little While It's a big world, baby You can fiddle in your own style. It's a small bug It's a small shell It's a small bird It's a small bell It's a small cup It's a small toy It's a small girl It's a small boy It's a small coin It's a small ring It's a big world for every little thing It's a big world, baby And you're little For a Little While It's a big world, baby You can fiddle in your own style. It's a big world, baby And you're little For a Little While It's a big world, baby You can fiddle in your own style. In your own style. In your own style. In your own style. In your own style.

Quote of the Day

N: "I have the butt of doom!"

B: "I have the feet of doom!"

N: "Mama, mama has the knitting of doom!"

Freezer Fun in the Freezing Months

We finally tried Freezer Paper Stencils this weekend. A few of the great gals at my Knitting Night have been raving about this project for a while, so I decided it was high time we tried it. Why did I wait so long?! It's incredibly easy, and I highly recommend it. My only tip, get more plain shirts and pants if you don't have a good stock already because you'll just want to keep doing this once you start. I was at the point of wanting to stencil my cloth shopping bags yesterday. Ben & Nate both really enjoyed this too. Nate painted one of his own, the tie dye spider, and Ben was so inspired that he made a shirt for a friend's birthday this week. It turned out really well and it was exciting to see Ben enjoying making something for a friend. Maybe he'll catch the crafting bug after all!




Nate, painting the spider on his shirt.



Ben's wolf shirt. He's currently reading the Wolves of the Beyond series which inspired this shirt. About three months ago that probably would have been an owl.



Ben sporting his new shirt and the hat that I knit him several months ago. There are few things better than seeing the kids really enjoy something that I've made for them. Ben wears that hat daily, inside or out.



Syda's Totoro shirt. Ahh, Totoro! We shall be seeing a LOT of Syda's shirts with various Miyazaki stencils I think.