Through The Looking Glass

This was my notes, including sketches, on a knitting pattern idea. Sam wanted to draw, and he wanted to draw ON MY NOTEBOOK, and you know what? I let him. I remember what it said.

We are still not doing a formal curriculum (and I can’t really imagine ever starting), and I have no real plans, but I am collecting supplies for my guy!

(The picture above links to the etsy shop, whose photo I used because there was no light today.)

I first read about sandpaper letters on Sew Liberated, which is the blog formerly known as Montessori By Hand. I do not agree with a lot of things in Montessori theory, but there is a lot in there that I do like. (I won’t get into many specifics, partly because I am tired and partly because I am not very knowledgeable about it.) This tutorial on making your own letters also includes an explanation of how they are used. The idea, in short, is to trace the letters and speak them phonetically with the child.

I’m not sure how Sam will feel about these. He is, well, not very fond of things that are supposed to be played with in a certain way. Which I think is wonderful! But it makes it a little difficult for me sometimes. I don’t really anticipate using these “normally” (i.e. as intended) but I hope Sam will be interested in them.

THIS POST CONTAINS ZERO SARCASM.

On Wednesday evening, Will arrived home and informed me that he thought the Vespa was leaking gas. Since that is our second vehicle and the way he commutes to work, this had the potential to be Very Bad.

Yesterday I drove him to work. He called the Vespa shop and made an appointment, and this morning I followed him there. I was encouraged by the fact that I didn’t SEE anything bad happening, but still incredibly nervous. I may have mentioned once or twice before that we are POOR. Beyond the occasional splurge for beer or tacos, we can’t afford anything beyond our regular expenses. I just got paid for helping out at the yarn store, so I crossed my fingers, toes, and everything else that it wouldn’t cost too much more than I had just earned.

And the universe totally gave us a break. It’s costing $51 and the bike is ready to come home. If I remember right, the shop charges $40 an hour for labor, which means the problem was fixable with an $11 part. YAY!

I am so grateful that we don’t have to worry about this. I spend most of my days waiting for the other shoe to drop, whatever that means, and it’s nice to have something work out in our favor.

NOW BACK TO WHINING AND BEING SARCASTIC.

This morning I got a notice from the library that the books I reserved are in at my branch: The No-Cry Sleep Solution and The No-Cry Nap Solution.

This afternoon Grace napped for three hours.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I am not complaining, but oh man that’s ridiculous timing. I’m going to pick the books up anyway, though. Just in case.

Earlier, Grace scratched me, so hard that I hollered, right next to my eye. In order to prevent that from happening again (for like 3-4 days), I am trimming her fingernails.

I bet you can guess where this is going.

I trimmed a nail and the clipping flew right into my eye. OH YES IT DID.

I am not sure whether to laugh or cry. I’m leaning toward laughing because SERIOUSLY, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

It’s possible I’ve forgotten how to laugh, though, since I spent three hours this morning looking for the DMV paperwork to renew the Vespa registration which is due TOMORROW and was RIGHT ON MY DESK so of course I still haven’t found it. (I did renew the registration, however, using the information from last year’s paperwork which actually turned up first THAT IS HOW MESSY AND UNORGANIZED MY DESK IS.)

So if you don’t hear from me for a while you know why.

There was a lot of swimming. In fact, Sam went in the pool every single day that we were at Cassie’s, sometimes twice. I bought him goggles, which he doesn’t care for, and a kickboard, which he LOVES. He can get all the way across the pool by himself! Best $4.99 purchase ever.

Grace went in a lot, too. I swear she likes it. No, really.

(Most of these pictures–at least the ones I am in–were taken by my sister. I have this Canon Waterproof Camera and it really does work underwater!)

AND! We did this:

I took more kite-flying pictures, but with my sister’s camera, which means I can’t show them to you yet. OMG it was so much fun! Up next, making our own kite! Or at least buying a nicer one.

Will made a wise observation this morning: I am not on vacation, after all. I am doing my normal job(s), in a different location, with added responsibilities and less backup.

HEY, THIS SUCKS.

I mean, I am actually having a very nice time. But.

Taking care of children is hard enough in their own space. In a strange space? A later bedtime is the best I can hope for, really. They know things are not normal and they react to that.

Plus I am still trying to work on my knitting designs, to do some actual knitting, and to catch up on sewing. Last year when it was just Sam and me (pregnant with Grace), I got SO MUCH done. I knew this time would be less productive, but I didn’t realize how very much less.

And I’m cooking in a strange kitchen, which requires a little extra creativity. (Let’s be honest: I am eating a lot of pancakes made from a mix. Which is so easy, but I’ve had an upset stomach all week because I can’t handle the dairy.)

Oh yeah, and I am writing. Or rather, I am not writing, but I need to at least write this week’s column. I’ve basically given up on writing anything for myself.

Also I am taking care of Cassie’s house and cats (though K is doing the lion’s share of the cat care, since she is sleeping in Cassie’s room).

So Will was pretty spot-on when he said I’m not on vacation. My job is harder than usual.

CRAPPIT.

So I still need a vacation. It can’t be very long (Grace needs milk) or very far (I have a $0 budget) but I need some time for myself. I’m not picky–it can be a working vacation or a lie-around-reading vacation. (I am sitting here laughing as I type because YEAH RIGHT.)

With those easy-peasy parameters, ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Yesterday I went back up to LA so I could help out at Knit Culture Studio, the yarn shop near me where I sometimes teach. It was Customer Appreciation Day, and among other things I taught a class on reading a knitting pattern. It went great, and now I am back at the beach! I think the children will mutiny if we get in the car again EVER, but there’s a whole week until I plan to go anywhere that we can’t walk (unless we go visit Brenda and Bug).

I am waiting for it to feel like vacation. All the back and forth has meant no time to settle into Cassie’s place, so things are all over and I haven’t set up my crafting stuff. I feel like I’ve done nothing here but sit and nurse the baby. WHINE. Anyway, I’m lying–I also finished a knitting pattern. Unfortunately, it’s one that I plan to submit, so I can’t move forward with it yet (it is spring-appropriate). I swear I will plan better from now on (that is a lie).

Gratuitous Baby Picture:

We’re house-sitting, the children (and K) and I. This means that Grace has found out about cats, and that Sam has, remarkably for the first time, found out about cats’ claws.

He ran to me and burst into tears, showing me a scratch on his arm. I hadn’t seen the cat, so at first I didn’t know what had happened. But when I realized there were actually two or three scratches, and they were swelling a little, I had a suspicion–and when he ran away from her the next time she showed up, I knew. He’s all fixed up with Calendula, a band-aid, and lots of kisses. Also a movie.

The other thing Cassie’s house means is more stairs. Today Grace climbed up about half a dozen steps with her aunt spotting. When she got to the top, she crawled to me, and for the first time she crawled upright instead of with her belly on the floor.

Help my baby isn’t a baby anymore.

I’m famous. Seriously, you guys. My Leapfrog pants are the staff pick for August at Blue Sky Alpacas, who make the yarn the pattern calls for (which is my favorite).

The Secret (to stir-fry). This week’s Prudent Pantry is all about the one-pot meal. I’ve been making it every week or two and no one is tired of it yet. WIN!

er, just those two. FOR NOW. I forgot one!

I’m teaching at 4:00. In Los Angeles? Come to the Kitculture Studio Customer Appreciation Day this Saturday, and as a bonus you can hang out with me. Also there’s prizes and stuff.