Fun Stuff...

Both Kendra and Kim gave me the "Make My Day Award". Yay! I am not so sure that I am deserving, but I love it none the less (is that supposed to be one word?). Thanks, ladies. You would be on my list for sure. Now I have to figure out two to take your places.

The Rules: Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.

Here goes (in no particular order...just from my google reader):

1. Cass - You rock...this isn't just the 2 bottles of wine talking. A fellow vodka drinker, she is a homeschooler, a pet sitter and knitter. Girl crush, oh yeah.

2. Phoe - A youngster and one of the absolutely most generous people that I know (virtually). She has already received this award, so this is twice as nice.

3. Jenn - I totally miss you blogging. Come back please!

4. Vicki - An inspiration to the minions like me. I hope that in my next life, I am born a human again and can be like Vicki.

5. Deece - Seriously, could I not inclued you? I am so happy that we have our Saturdays together...wish we would have started sooner. Your creativity and ingenuity are an inspiration to me.

6. Alicia - I don't know you...just a lurker...but I am constantly in awe of your creativity. Keep on doing what you do!

7. Mona - My favorite Kirida...even if I really don't know what that means, and I don't really know you. You say the things that I wish I had the balls to say. And your son is the cutest. Well, next to mine.

8. Debi - We are so alike that I find it weird that we aren't related. WTF? Go OBAMA!!! 2008 is our year, baby!!! I will so get to your tag in a minute.

9. Michelle - I love your style, your photos, and the stitching. I finally saw Marie Antoinette...loved it!

10. Melanie - I wish that we lived closer...you are an inspiration! I am loving the crafting...plus the kids could play together!


My BFF, Stels....if you had a blog, you would be on this list. Just know that you make my day all the time. <3. Chiloe, you are on it! And B, if arranged marriages were allowed in this country, I would forfeit my retirement so Connor could marry June...way too cute! And KaLu, I am sending you lots of love...and warm weather wishes...I am hoping we come to LV next year for vacay!). Just have so.much.to.do.

Namaste.

Love love.

Survivor: Micronesia

Seriously, they are just faking us out. We are watching Palau again...where is Guam? Where is Saipan? Agrihan? Hmm, those are islands in Micronesia that haven't been previously filmed. WTF....Palau? Already done.

Come on. Redone re-runs suck.

Namaste.

Knitting for The Lord of the Rings

Okay, first it was my elvish slippers. Remember them? Yeah, very elf-like if you look at them from the side. Is it a coincidence that I didn't photograph them from the side? No.

So, today I tackled another one of my 2008 goals...sock knitting. I was knitting like a woman possessed, double pointed needles flying everywhere. They are done! And already in the mail to their recipient (boy isn't she lucky, mwhahaha?!?).
Aren't they beautimus? I think so. I used a bit less than 2 skiens of Knit Picks Swish Superwash in the Bordeaux color, size 3 double pointed needles, and this free pattern.

Now, they look okay for the most part like that, right? Here's the rub (a top down pic for you)...

Who the eff am I knitting for? The cast of The Lord of the Rings? Seriously. Why can't my projects turn out semi-normal?

Deece, I hope that you start showing off the knitting soon! Freakish sock knitters unite!

Namaste.

Rockin' the cabbage

Can you believe that I made it past the 1-year mark with the whole nursing business? Holey moley, I can't. BTH has officially been weaned for just under 2 weeks. And what do I get for my troubles? More pain in the breasticles than I have ever imagined. Between this and the whole frankennipple episode at week 6...ey-yi-yi. Here I am rockin' the cabbage in my bra. It really works. That and ibuprofen. Better than that whole bottle of Gray Goose that I downed in no time flat.

Did anyone hear the girly squee last week? That would have been me. Yeah, my new needles are here! They are so awesome, I can't hardly stand it. Want to see their beauty? Okay.


I immediately put the size 11 tips on the longest cable and switched the tween shawl over. That is when the knitting kicked into high gear.


I only had a few rows of it done, now I have as much done as I can do. I am one row away from being out of yarn. So, I am waiting for a decision to be made by the recipient.

And I am about to start the heel flap of sock # 2, but I don't have any pictures to show of it. Next time. Pinky swear. They might even be done by then.

Okay, back to the Free Tibet dvd that is in. I saw this show back in 1996 (or 97) with a friend. Why didn't I realize then the awesomeness that it was? And I seriously had such a minimal grasp as to the cause that they stood for. Wow. Heavy stuff, that is. Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine, Fugees, Beck, and lots of others that I am forgetting.

The countdown to Japan is on. We are going to Tokyo, Sapporo and Kyoto. Whee!

Namaste.

Cutting back

Oh my. I just cut through my Google reader feeds. I went from 165 blogs to 79. And that is just looking at the names of the blogs and cutting. Next step is to actually visit the remainders and see if I am keeping those or not.

I am not using blogrolling anymore, I am going to put a post of with links to the blogs I enjoy and then just a link to that post in my sidebar. Maybe I will get that task done this week. Maybe not. So much on my plate.

Namaste.

I've been knitting!

Yay for me! I am working on my first "real" pair of socks. I started these as a KAL with Deece.

Knit Picks Swish Superwash wool in Bordeaux
Size 3 DPN's
The Unique Sheep's free pattern

That, my non-knitting friends is a turned heel and short row shaping! I am learning so much, it is crazy. It is also proof that I don't have a clue as to how to use the macro setting (or where to find it) on my camera. Must learn.

These socks are fun. I am about to start the toe shaping, then I will be done with my first sock. They are nice and thick...actually very very firm. I think that I will go up a needle size or two for my next pair that I make out of worsted weight wool. They would be good for someone with small feet that does stuff outside in the winter. Like ice fishing. : )

I have my first finished non-scarf, non-dishcoth knitted item to share:

Not So Baby Yoda Sweater
made for: BTH
Berocco Touche in Apple green, just about 3 skiens
size 7 straight needles

Yay! I am so happy to be done with this sweater. I started it with the intention of BTH wearing it in Japan, and it fits him pretty well, so we should be good. I don't know that I will be making another one of these anytime soon. I hated the part in the instructions that said "make right side the same as the left, just reverse for shaping". Umm, hello, I need a bit more than that. I was okay until I got to the bind off row. Somehow, I could not get my brain wrapped around how I was supposed to do it so that the shoulder seam side was correct. I ended up adding an extra row to it and it worked out well. I now just have to decide on buttons or ties. No i-cord for me. Oh, I did do 10 extra rows on the arms because BTH is very long limbed. And skinny. He is in the 90th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight.

I started another Tween Shawl for my cousin's friend.

Improvised design: CO 4 st. K2, yo, k to end repeat until it is the desired size.
Lion Brand Baby Soft yarn, held double
Size 11 bamboo circular needles.

We aren't in Japan yet, still have a while to go. Thank you Debi for your info. I will be emailing you this week. I want to go on the Geisha lecture walk while in Kyoto. Trying to convince DH that it will be fun. He isn't buying it methinks.

This week I am anxiously awaiting my new needles to come. I ordered the Knit Picks Options Harmony set and it is about killing me to wait. Plus, I ordered a sweater's worth of wool from Peace Fleece along with a cardigan pattern a few weeks ago, and it should be here any day. Got to love gift certificates and Christmas money!

Namaste.

Japan, anyone?

We are going to the Land of the Rising Sun, y'all. I am sooo excited! I have dreamed of going to Japan ever since Dad K. went (twice) for training with Mitsubishi and came back with his exotic stories (girls do what with hot wax?!?!) - not that I am going to see the girls...no siree. I am all about culture.

We are going to Sapporo, Tokyo and Kyoto. I know that we are staying in military lodging in the Sapporo area, and in the Tokyo area. Any suggestions for Kyoto?

I have been reading our Lonely Planet guide book for Japan and so loving the fact that Kyoto has tons of Buddhist temples. That was one thing that I loved loved loved about Thailand...the temples. By the way, if you ever go to Thailand, see the Reclining Buddha and the Emerald Buddha. Trust me. Take lots of pictures of the Reclining Buddha's feet and be a total farang. I was.

Anyway...the most important aspect of the trip hinges upon this question...can I get Noro for cheaper in Japan? I have read that I can get bamboo needles for 100 yen per pair (score!), but I am now wondering about Noro. Anyone? Bueller?

And if you give me a head's up about yarn / knitting shops in Sapporo (or Misawa), Tokyo, or Kyoto, I will get you a shiny souvenir. If you are a knitter, you might even get Noro and bamboo needles.

Cause I am nice like that.

And please (no offense to Melissa) do not suggest Tokyo Disney. DH would not stand for it for one minute. Plus, the rampant consumerism is enough to make me sick.

Namaste.

ONE!

Hard to believe that a year has gone by already. I remember with great fondness the anxiety, trepidation and excitement that I posted this message. Wow. I never knew that my life would be so changed. Nothing that I read (and I read voraciously) could have prepared me for the journey that I would embark upon. Motherhood had been challenging, frustrating, scary and totally wonderful. I never would have guessed how much I would love this little guy a year ago. The love I feel grows every day, if that is possible.

I am not sure that I will share so much of BTH in the future. Just for his safety. I want to show him off of course, but I have to draw the line somewhere. Let's take a walk down memory lane one more time...

Shortly after being born:

One month:

Two months:

Three months (with Grama Lauri):

Four months:

Five months:

Six months:

Seven months:

Eight months:

Nine months:

Ten months:

Eleven months:

Twelve months:

I am so grateful that you were able to spend lots of time with Grama Lauri in March and in August & September before she passed away. She loved you so much.

Happy birthday, my baby. You mean the world to me.

Namaste.

I *heart* Iowa.

I have been waiting to see what the results of the Iowa Caucuses were...everyone was reporting that it was a virtual dead heat between Barack and Hillary.

According to this site, Barack got 37.5 percent of the vote and Hillary got 29.4 percent.

WooHoo!!!!!!

It is a good day to be a Democrat. Now we just have to see what happens in New Hampshire.

I am so glad that I will be able to vote in November. Registering to vote will be one of the first things I do when we get to Juneau.

I can't believe that it has been over a year since I first blogged about Barack Obama. I still think that he is the bee's knees of politicians.

Go donkeys!

In other news, I should have pictures and fun stuff to report later this weekend. Melissa is joining Deece & I for our knitting session tomorrow! Yay!

Namaste.

2008 Goals

I don't typically make "resolutions" in the sense that most people use. I like to think of them as "goals". So, in that vein, here goes:

1. Continue to be a nerdy bookworm.

In 2006, I read 53 books. This was pre-Baby Tree Hugger. My total for 2007 is 36. Not horrible, but far from surpassing the 53 mark from the previous year. I started this year off with a bang...re-reading the Harry Potter series. I received 3 of the books for Christmas and have somehow miraculously stayed far away from Book 7 spoilers (please don't ruin it for me now).

2. Learn more Spanish.

So I can pass along my knowledge to Baby Tree Hugger as he develops his vocabulary. Unfortunately, I didn't retain much of the Latin I learned in High School.

3. Knit three sweaters.

At least. I have fiber and a pattern coming for two, and I have one on the needles (Baby Tree Hugger's).

4. Knit lots o'socks.

I am starting my first "real" pair as a KAL (knit along) with Deece this weekend. This is kind of my practice pair. I am using a worsted weight, that way I won't mess up any of the beautiful yarn that I have (and that I have received from Phoe). Plus, they are faster, hopefully avoiding the "second sock syndrome".

5. Continue to met with Deece for our weekly knitting while on island.

I really enjoy this time out. Being a SAHM without any family nearby is a little hard on the nerves sometimes, so it is good to get away for a couple of hours each week. Plus, Deece is totally cool, a much better knitter than I am (she makes her own patterns!), and really rocks out, even though she doesn't swear enough. We get to chat and sip coffee (coffee float for me!) without feeling guilty. Anyone on island want to join us? Want to learn to knit? We go to Coffee Care on Saturdays at 2 pm.

6. Find a sit and stitch in Juneau. Or make friends that knit and meet up.

Pretty self expanitory.

7. Make more cupcakes.

Because they are fun, cute and easy. I plan on exploring this site more: Cupcake Bakeshop. First up, the Hummingbird Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for Baby Tree Hugger's birthday next week.

8. Remember to take Calcium supplement every day.

I have slacked majorly since BTH was born. I need calcium and I know it.

9. Explore my spirituality more.

I am really struggling right now with where I am spiritually. I sensed a profound change in my way of thinking and rationale after Mom died. I question things more readily, I wonder about things. I have been thinking about this subject for a few months.

10. Get Pregnant

Yep, we are planning for Baby # 2 in 2008. No, I am not pregnant now, nor are we trying. Yet. Give me a few months... I want to have BTH weaned and be able to enojoy a couple bottles glasses of wine while making/eating dinner. Plus some vodka drinks. Totes off limits when incubating a new BTH or nursing a BTH.

By the way, I have a line on the IK Fall issue that I posted about in the last post. We are just negotiating the specifics. Thanks!


Namaste.

On with the sewing (and a knitting plea)

First things first...I am seriously trying to find a copy of Interweave Knits Fall 2007 magazine. It is sold out according to the IK website and it is not a magazine carried at the only bookstore here on island. If anyone has a copy that they no longer want, please email me at mhighfill at gmail.com. I recently subscribed to this magazine (picking up the winter and holiday issues while in Guam), but media mail and magazines take 18 years to arrive. Okay, not 18 years, but I just got my November Martha Stewart Living magazine...yeah sucks.

Okay, on with the sewing goodness...

So, remember when I lamented on and on about my sewing machine and the havoc it was causing me? Good, then I don't need to rehash it. Well (Leah this is for you), as it turns out, I somehow managed to crack and subsequently chip a big hunk of metal off of the thingamajig that the shuttle race fits into. The non-movable, cast metal looking part that holds the shuttle race (but on the top). According to the repair guy, "No fix". English is not his first language. So, I boxed it up and am hoping that there is a Sears around Juneau or another repair person that can fix it for me.

Then, do you remember my obsession with the cutest of the cute Singer sewing machines? Well, when I was at home with Mom in August and September, I scoured eBay, thinking that I would win a little cutie and just load the 80 pound thing into my luggage and bring it home...weight restriction be damned! I have a Silver Elite card for Continental, get out of my way! Anyway, so I won a little cutie. I was over the moon. I could hardly wait. I had visions of setting it up in BFF's basement and sewing my way through insomnia and heartache. It was not meant to be.

I should have known when I saw this as I unwrapped it:


Then I saw this and I was seriously almost in tears:

The machine is not functional and now resides in a closet at my Dad's house. I hope someday to find a good Singer repair person and have them fix it, along with buying a new original green jadeite case. But until then....

Christmas came early! (I got this the week before Christmas)

A Viking Husqvarna Emma!!!

My Aunt in Dallas upgraded to a Viking Husqvarna Designer II SE (the evil one) and sent me her Emma. I am thrilled to bits!

I already love this machine and I haven't even plugged it in yet. I would be lying though if I told you that I wasn't a teensy bit intimidated by it. I have never owned such a nice machine. I am trying to locate a manual for it so I can learn to thread the bobbin. Right now it is threaded with yellow thread (forget something, Aunt Tamie?), so I might just figure out something small to sew up using yellow thread and give her a go. So many projects on the brain...aprons, needle rolls, birthday buntings, quilts...*sigh*

Well, it is New Year's Eve here on Saipan. Baby Tree Hugger is in bed (we are working on weaning and it is going well). DH just brought in a bottle of champagne (maybe to make up for putting in idiotic Nacho Libre in the dvd player?), so I am calling it a night. I will be asleep in prolly 30 minutes. Real exciting around these parts.

I have a few resolutions and reflections, but I will save them for my next post.

Wishing everyone a peaceful, prosperous and happy 2008.

Namaste.

Peace.

First Christmas and knitting goodness

Baby Tree Hugger's First Christmas

"You mean we open these now?"

"And I have to wear this thing?"

"Blocks. Mmm, I love blocks."
"Mom! You aren't going to blog this are you?!"
"I love presents from The Land of Nod."

"And I really love my new scoot around."

So, remember that post earlier in the month about the socks of doom? The ones that I didn't really have a pattern for, let alone have any experience in sock knitting? Yeah, they got frogged. Instead, I knit some slippers for said hard to buy for lady. I used this free pattern. 2 skeins of Knit Picks Main Line yarn, a couple of buttons and voila! Slippers. I dare not show you a side view...they really look elvish (as in elf-like, not Elvis-like), but I am hoping that they fit the lady's smaller feet. I can get them on my size 9 clod-hoppers, so we should be good. Lesson learned: How to M1 increase and I suck at making pom-poms. Hence the buttons.

Another present was this crocheted granny square throw. Made from 4 cones of Peaches N Cream cotton yarn. 2 in Ecru, 2 in Peppercorn ombre. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I started the granny squares 2 years ago, then started seaming them together and got thoroughly fed up with the seaming and put it aside. I decided that this would be the year that it got finished.
Simple granny squares, with a single crochet border (twice around). Easy peasy. Anyone want some left over granny squares? I have a handful of them and nothing planned for them. Let me know.
Another day, another Ball Band Dishcloth. This is for the knit along on Ravelry. I need to make a pile of these things by April.

As if that weren't enough, I started a sweater for Baby Tree Hugger. It is from the Not So Baby Yoda free pattern. I am using Berocco Touche in a green apple color. I actually did a gauge swatch on this and am crossing my fingers that it fits him for a few months since we will need in for our trip to Japan in a few months.

The back is complete in one day. I started on the left front side now and a bit nervous when it comes to the right front...it just says to reverse for shaping. Keep your fingers crossed that I do it right!
Peace.

Christmas Vacation

The blog has been on vacay for a while...due to my MIL being here. She is now safely home in Illinois and the blogging will resume. Hopefully.

We took her to Guam for a few days and saw the sights there. Then we did lots of sightseeing and beach-going around Saipan.

Baby Tree Hugger at the museum at American Memorial Park. He is so cute, he picks up phones and says, "Ello?"

Baby Tree Hugger toddling around at Suicide Cliff.

We went to the Zoo. It was much better than I anticipated. And they give a local discount.

And a free bag of popcorn to give to the animals. They have a pig there that is so funny...it catches the popcorn that you throw to it. Well, you kind of have to aim for it's mouth.

We also went on a dinner cruise.
Baby Tree Hugger got to drive.
And then was serenaded by the entertainer. Seriously, he sang the ABC song to him. Okay, the other kid listened as well. We went on the Stars and Stripes Dinner Cruise. Honestly, it totally blows the other dinner cruise that we have been on out of the water. I highly recommend checking out the Stars and Stripes. The food is catered by the Fiesta Hotel and the boat itself is very lovely.

We hauled our cookies down (and then back up) the 100+ stairs at The Grotto.

Baby Tree Hugger got a helmet to wear when he is on the back of Papa's bike. He likes it. Really.Wing Beach was enjoyed by everyone

We ate like Kings the whole time that MIL was here. A sampling:
Chamorro Village (Guam)
Rotary Sushi (Guam)
Cold Stone Ice Cream (Guam)
Jamaican Grill (Guam)
Spicy Thai Noodle (Saipan)
Wild Bills (Saipan)
Aqua Resort Christmas Eve Buffet (Saipan)
BBQ at the Ranch (Saipan)
Garapan Street Market (Saipan)
Taste of India (Saipan)
Aqua Resort Happy Hour by the pool (Saipan)

I will post about Baby Tree Hugger's first Christmas in the next post. Along with lots of knitty goodness.

I have eleventy hundred emails to catch up on...gotta go.

Peace.