All because I taught him to knit. How amazing is that? This morning my nephew and I were knitting – quick – if you get dressed quick we can knit a little bit before you have to go to school! – and he managed to knit a couple stitches ALL BY HIMSELF and when we were done our mini lesson he told me I was his hero. All together now: AWWWW!!!! Tonight, on the ride to his bubbe’s, I told him I’d sit next to him in the back of the van and we’d knit some more.

Hanging with the kids is ALWAYS a good time. The baby isn’t a baby anymore, being that he’s one and all now. Okay, well he’s still a baby, but much less babyish all the time. Talking up a storm – if only we could understand what he’s saying! – and standing and laughing and dancing. He’s a sweetie pie if there ever was one.

And the princess is sick but still cute as a button. Although I think she got me sick too, or maybe it’s allergies, but my throat is scratchy and my eyes are all drippy and my nose is stuffed and I’m honestly sick of feeling like crap. Either tired or harried or stressed or like crap. I want to feel good! I want to RUN! The weather is definitely inspiring me to get my ass off the couch and strap those sneakers on. That and the fact that my sister and I tried on about 4,361 pairs of jeans and not one of them looked even remotely passable.

On the knitting front – a pair of socks is finally finished! But with a twist! Another sock is finished. And another one – the sock pal one – has been knit and ripped and knit and ripped and knit and ripped (literally!) and is finally on its way. I hope to have it finished by the end of the week and the next one started ASAP. I’m not worried about meeting the deadline.

I saw this over at Vicki’s the other day and it looked like fun fodder. Have a great day! Happy Pesach!

Do a Wikipedia search of your birthdate, minus the year; list three interesting events, three people who were born, and three people who died on that day.

Events
1. 45 BC – The Julian calendar first takes effect.
2. 1818 – Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus is published.
3. 1901 – The first official Mummers Parade is held.
4. 1985 – The Internet’s Domain Name System is created.

Births
1. 1735 – Paul Revere, American silversmith and patriot (d. 1818)
2. 1752 – Betsy Ross, American seamstress (d. 1836)
3. 1864 – Alfred Stieglitz, American photographer (d. 1946)
4. 1919 – J. D. Salinger, American novelist
5. 1970 – Gabriel Jarret, American actor

Deaths
1. 1953 – Hank Williams is pronounced dead after passing out in the back seat of a car which was travelling to his next gig in Canton, Ohio.
2. 1958 – Edward Weston, American photographer (b. 1886)
3. 1972 – Maurice Chevalier, French actor and singer (b. 1888)

See you Friday!
PS – You all know that whole toilet paper thing? A joke. Just a joke. (Albeit a bad one!)

I took up Bonne Marie‘s double dog dare and GOT ON THE RADIO TO TALK TO ANN AND KAY!!! Ohmygod I was so freaking nervous. There’s still time to call!

If I promised you that I’d send you something – contest winnings, orange chibis, etc. – there’s an excellent chance it’s going out in the mail today! Have a great weekend. I’ll be back on Tuesday, so chances are no post on Monday. DON’T WORRY. You know who you are.

L, C

How’s this girls?

Georgie saw you – and he was impressed. He said he could barely hold on and not fall but you kept on knitting away on something green. You didn’t even stop knitting as you were walking up that long, long staircase at the Fifth Avenue stop. When you tripped, YOU STILL DIDN’T STOP KNITTING, even though he tried to help you. You had a red leather alligator pocketbook on one arm and a big canvas knitting bag on the other and you just knit and knit and knit. Georgie wanted to talk to you – tell you that he understood because his wife is crazy like that but he was too shy. I told him I probably knew you.

Speak up oh KIPper!

to the pain and desperation and frustration in this man’s voice. It breaks my heart.

Baby, Mommy, Daddy, Big Brother, Big Sister and Aunt Cara are all doing great! Pictures to come!

Congratulations to Kathy and Johanna – they were the only ones to pick April 7th – so they both win!

Pictures will come, be patient!
Love,
Aunt Cara

My first order from WEBS came yesterday. I have to say, I’m going to like this store. A LOT.

I originally went there because they had ArtYarns Supermerino for a decent price – and with their discount program (the more you buy the less you pay) it was a great place to shop for Supermerino.

Lauren, that’s your three on the top!

I actually bought more of the Supermerino – I’m making cardigans for my best friend’s girls – not for a while though – but it was backordered. WEBS was very nice about it. I will definitely do business there again.

While I was perusing the shelves, so to speak, I came across some Jo Sharp Desert Garden on Clearance. So I bought two bags.

Color: Dandelion #238

I immediately swatched the yarn because it seemed so similar to Calmer. It’s springy like Calmer, not as much, but nowhere near as soft. It reminds me of All Season’s Cotton too. The yarn has that tube like appearance. It knit up nice though – I used size #7s.

The problem with this is yarn, though, is that it made me think of Calmer, and then I couldn’t STOP thinking about it and I ended up buying 12 balls of it from Janette. In the chocolate brown color. I kind of regretted it the moment I did it, but I figure it’s Calmer, right? Can’t go wrong there. (I’ll probably end up with more because I want a lighter color. Oy.) At least, I think I got a good price on it.

I barely knit yesterday. I needed the break.

Two things before I go: Happy Birthday Cassie! Cassie has the unique distinction of being the first blogger I met in real life since I started blogging! I owe you a cup, my friend!

And, I love this blog (of sorts).

Thank you Secret Pal for your warm introduction! I’m looking forward to hearing from you again. Here are some more items to help you get to know me:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- a nd/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
Yes, I would say I am definitely a yarn snob. I can honestly say I’ve never knit with Lion Brand OR Red Heart. I’m also all about touch. If it feels icky, I don’t want to knit with it.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
No. I can crochet a border on a knitted blanket, but that’s the extent of it. I don’t really have a desire to crochet or spin at this time.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
No allergies, per se, but I don’t have any animals because I’m not really a pet person. Don’t wear perfume because most of it is overbearing. I don’t smoke because it’s disgusting. For fiber allergies, see question #1. 😉

4. How long have you been knitting?
About three years, I think. Yes. Three years.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, but I can make one….

6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I’m a citrousy type person. Lemon Verbena (L’Occitaine) is a particular favorite, nothing too strong.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Is the Pope Catholic? I like gummy, fruity stuff just a tad more than chocolate. And milk chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
None, really.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I can play MP3s on my computer. Music I like – I don’t like Country or Heavy Metal. I love, love, love Bruce Springsteen. I’ll try anything once.

10. What’s your favorite color? Or–do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?
Greens. Blues. I’ve been into pinks lately. A fall palette. I’m not really choosy.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married. No kids. No pets.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Lucky me, I’m kind of living the dream. I write. I’m a photographer. I knit. I have a wonderful husband who loves me more than anything and a great family. Terrific friends. I know. You hate me. I’m sorry. I really am.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Right now, I’m absolutely LOVING ArtYarn Supermerino (or Ultramerino) and Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran – tweed or otherwise.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I’m not really into cottons. Unless it’s Rowan Calmer or All Seasons Cotton.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I’ll try anything – I’m going to be taking a class on color knitting soon, and I love cables.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Sweaters. I like the big, complicated patterns.

17. What are you knitting right now?
My first pair of socks (not so thrilled with them). A sweater for my niece. A ribby cardi. I’m about to start another sweater for my father.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I made one for myself, one for a friend’s daughter and one for my niece. I think I’ve made enough.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I pretty much only knit on Addi Turbo circulars.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
See question #19.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Not really. I’m making my first pair as we speak, but it very well might be my last.

22. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother taught me.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About six months old. I have a few scarfs/shawls that are unfinished, bascially because I don’t really care about them. I’m generally a really good finisher.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Hmmm. I’m not sure I have one. Curious George if I have to pick, because of my husband.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
New Year’s Day! 😉 No, really. I’m not a big holiday person, but how about Arbor Day?

26. Is there anything that you collect?
You mean besides yarn, right? Books. Books and more books.

January 20th. Knitblogs everywhere. Protest the unbelievable decadence of the Inauguration in this time of tragedy and war. As seen on Kerstin’s blog.

I’m in. Are you?