Happy Thanksgiving!

The blog has been quiet for a while, but I've been working on my paper for my persuasive writing class, working on lab projects for biology, and knitting a shawl for my mother-in-law for Christmas. My father-in-law's socks are finished. So...what are our plans today you ask? Well, I'll tell you. We're going to Aaron's mother's for dinner. She and Jim have been cooking for days (as have I) and there will be turkey for the carnovors, and I made a veggie pot pie courtesy of a generous person on Ravelry for myself and anyone else who's interested. I also baked maple-roasted butternut squash from a recipe from Delish.com, Quick and Buttery Rolls from a recipe from the bees knees blog, and an apple pie from the America's Test Kitchens book that was my all time favorite birthday present from my friend Natalie. We'll be taking that all over, plus the pineapple cream pie that I bought from a former co-worker's child (fundraiser), and drinks for the boys and I. My hope is that we'll get over there in the next hour or so, so that I can get home in time to get Alex to bed by 5:30 as he's been waking up at 6am again. So, maybe I should get off the computer and go get a shower... I'll leave you with a photo of some of the stitch markers I've been working on. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Empty Nest

So we're all starting to feel better here in the Washington house. Aaron and Dante both seem to be fine, Alex is on the mend, and I'm fine except for the fact that I have no voice today. But I cooked and I ate real food today for the first time in about a week and I ate till I almost popped. Breaded eggplant and baked beans! Allergy friendly and yummy. It's been tough to stay with my vegetarianism while being sick because so many of my normal protein sources are no-no's for me when I'm sick. No soy (which I usually avoid but now...soy is dead to me), no milk at all, no nuts. So it's been interesting trying to eat foods that are easy on the tummy, and don't bother my allergies. Yesterday I made a quicky soup with some Better Than Boulioun and some sauteed onion, garlic, mushrooms, and Quorn "chicken". It wasn't perfect, but it worked just fine.

In an attempt to get out of my apartment, and get away from my family, I went to the library to exchange some books and get new movies. I picked up two Olivia books and I just loved them (and so did Alex). She is just like any typical kid and it's really humorous. Then I went to Bella Yarns to replace my 2.5mm needles that I lent out (and have not gotten back yet) so that I could start on Baby's First Fair Isle for one of the two expecting couples (haven't decided who gets the blanket and who gets the pullover). I got to talking to the co-owner Naomi about the Cascade 220 that they carry in the store now, and somehow the conversation turned to my Central Park Hoodie. I let her know that I knit it with Cascade 220 16 months ago and after wearing it almost every day (as most of you will attest) it still looks brand new. Naomi asked me if I'd be interested in lending mine to the shop so I thought about it...and thought about it...and decided that I could part with my favoritest knit ever to help benefit my favoritest yarn shop ever. So today I washed it and blocked it, and it's mostly dry now. I wrote down the needle sizes, the number and color of the skeins that I used, and when I finished it. Tomorrow, I will be dropping it off at the shop and I sort of feel like I'm dropping my child off for their first day at school or something. I adore this sweater. I wear it almost every. single. day. To adjust, I have been trying to wear my February Lady Sweater more often, hoping that I will become accustomed to reaching for it instead of the other. I feel very honored to be asked to loan a garment to the shop as it makes me feel like I have really become a good knitter, but I will miss this sweater a whole lot and I worry that it will be lonely being away from home. Please go visit my sweater at the shop so that it doesn't get too homesick.

We're alive...

Dante is basically fine now. He's back to school. Alex is still sick but getting better every day. Aaron is over the worst now and also getting better. I've managed to hold off the flu, but I'm tired and not feeling 100%. We will be better soon, and should be fine for Sunday's Primary Program.

Ground Zero

It's a mess over here right now. Dante came home on Friday sick from school and by Saturday night he had a fever just under 103. Saturday morning I had Alex up to the pediatrician's office for a H1N1 flu clinic, and Sunday morning he was running a fever too. I took them both in and they have a virus, but it's not the flu. Thankfully their fevers broke the same day and they've been fine. Sunday night, Aaron got sick with a fever just barely under 105! I almost took him to emergency but the "on call" doctor suggested that we just stay home and keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't get confused and disoriented, and then take him in to the office in the morning...because by the time he would have been seen in the emergency room...it would have been morning anyway. Well, he went up and they confirmed that he has the flu...and the only flu in the state right now is H1N1. So he should be sick as a dog for at least a week, and I'm tired already and feeling very rundown, and I have another week of this at least. Hopefully I won't wear out because I'm fighting this virus off right now and I really can't afford to be down with the flu when I have school and a primary program next week, and a very demanding 3 year old.

I did manage to finish the baby blanket, but per usual I only got a crappy photo before giving it away. I'll post it later. I also finished a pair of hand warmers for Dante that actually fit him for once. He promptly took them to school and left them there... Why did I bother?