Plum Stitches

summer just wouldn't be complete...

without just a bit of major construction in our household.  I mentioned a few weeks ago that we were having our door moved that exits from our kitchen on the ground floor into our backyard.  In order to access the backyard you had to go through a 'scary area' (really more of a tool/utility shed).  Our contractor came yesterday and quickly cut through existing window and brick and actually installed the door in one day. 

Here's what the door replaced - no good pictures yet of the new door.  There's still work to be one on the inside, but the door is in!

I was thinking last night - is it more rewarding to buy a house that needs to be fixed up or to buy one that someone has completely renovated for you?  I suppose it depends on your temperament, patience and ability to actually do some type of construction work.  I'm thoroughly torn on this one.

We have lots to do around our house before this new baby arrives...

I started this last week, right before we headed to VT.  One advantage of those long road trips is the amount of knitting that I accomplish.  This is another Harvey Kimono, just about done.  I'll have more photos once it's finished and blocked...

I go to the Dr. this afternoon for my gestational diabetes test.  I've been dreading that orange soda stuff you have to drink as part of the test, since my last Dr.'s appointment. Yuck.  I was in the clear with Chloe, hopefully the same holds true for this pregnancy.

For those of you in the U.S. - Happy 4th of July!

first chocolate cosmo

It smells chocolate-y too.  There are lots more buds on the plants I ordered from
Chocolate Flower Farm.  Can't wait...

vermont weekend

We're back from spending the weekend in Vermont.  The weather was so-so, but we still managed to squeeze in a trip to the children's farmyard at Shelburne Farms.  Although I grew up in Middlebury, my mom and stepfather have moved closer to Vergennes, just north of Middlebury.  These days that we seem to spend more time in Vergennes, which has made quite the comeback in the last 10 years (maybe longer).

If you find yourself on the western side of Vermont, these are two places we enjoy in Vergennes.  3 Corners (formerly Eat Good Food) serves breakfast, and lunch.   The Black Sheep I think just serves dinner, at least that's what we've been there for...

The trip was great for knitting progress, which I'll share soon!

 

sea isle city

Just got back from a few days in Sea Isle City with my Mom's side of the family.  Chloe had a great time, the weather wasn't so hot the first two days, but yesterday was gorgeous and we spent most of the day on the beach.  The water freezing.  You know the kind of cold where it only seems bearable because your legs and feet have numbed.  That's exactly what it was like.  But it didn't stop Chloe.

 

Growing up I spent many, many vacations with my Mom's side of the family in rental houses in Sea Isle, Townsend's Inlet and Strathmere (all three towns are right beside each other). 

It's fun to go back and see how it's changed.  Which, is actually a little sad - all those cute beach houses seem to have been torn down and replaced by large duplexes.  The newer homes have great breezes, views and your not forced to sleep in the same bed with a squirming cousin, but it's a much different vibe.  Despite the types of houses changing, the beach has remained the same - the most important part.

Not much knitting happened over the past few days.  I did finish a book my Mother-in-law had given me - The Wife by Meg Wolitzer, which was quite good.  It just occurred to me that she wrote the new book, The Ten Year Nap, about several women that have chosen to put their careers on hold for full-time motherhood, that I've also been wanting to read.  Does anyone have any other good book recommendations - I'd love to hear them!

We're back at home for a few days and then off to Vermont for a long weekend.  My 20th year high school reunion is this weekend.  I've been wondering recently where those 20 years went...

harvey kimonos

Pattern:  Harvey Kimono, Natural Knits for Moms and Babies, by Louisa Harding (girl & boy version)
Yarn:   Peru DK Luxury (merino/alpaca/silk).  This was a steal, from the sale bin at AC Moore.
Needles:  Size 5, circular
Size:  up to 6 months
Notes:  great gift knit, although I think I'm getting tired of seaming!  I think if I were to make the little boy version again, I would change the garter stitch to seed

I've spent the past few days helping to empty/clean out my grandmother's house.  Boy, was that exhausting.  She and my grandfather downsized to a smaller house about fifteen years ago and I think she left some stuff in her basement untouched from that move.

My grandmother was a great collector of antiques, which have been dispersed over the years, but there were still some beautiful things.  Some of which that are now in my possession!  One of her hobbies when she was younger was to go to estate sales.  These days they I don't think they have sales like the ones she went to.  It seems that everything (for the most part) gets handed over to a dealer and they take it to an auction. 

I LOVE this, if you haven't seen it yet - February Lady Sweater.  Gorgeous!  I decided to frog my Phildar Swing Jacket and make this instead.  I've made a bit of progress in the past few days, but I'm sure that will slow down once I get into the lace pattern.  I feel pretty confident about being able to actually make this after making the mini version.

And on the gardening front...I did call Wayside Gardens and they're sending me all new thyme plants, no hassle or really any questions.  I hope they get here soon as the temperature is actually quite pleasant and perfect for planting.

oh, monday, monday

We spent the weekend at the beach with Jim's parents.  A nice, low-key Father's Day celebration.  The weather was actually pleasant and not all sticky gross, like it had been.

I finally got a shot of Chloe in this dress that I made for her last summer.  It actually fits her now.  I want to make a few more of them for her - it's perfect for when the weather is hot.

We arrived home last night to find my absurd order of creeping thyme waiting for us.  Something must have happened in the transport because only 7 of the plants survived :-( 

My initial thought is that with all of the hot sticky weather last week, something must have happened to them while en route to our house.  Needless to say, I need to call Wayside Farms and request that new plants be sent.  Knew it was too good to be true!

I finished both Harvey Kimono's, sewed the buttons on, fixed the one for the little boy.  Now I'm just waiting for them to dry and then I'll have pictures.  Not sure what I'm going to work on next, I think I need a 'to-do' list for my knitting. 

That's about it for the moment.  Hope everyone had a great weekend!

hot, hot, hot

And it's only June!  You know I tried as hard as possible not to be pregnant during the summer, but that didn't work out for me.  Surprisingly I feel pretty good, but we've had four days of 95+ degree weather.  I'm not sure if I can take a whole summer of this.  My garden is looking a bit wilted from the heat, but we're supposed to get rain tonight, which hopefully will bring it back to life.

We had a great weekend - lots of birthday parties to attend of Chloe's friends, with parents invited as well.  Summer comes and we seem to be out of town most of the time, so it was nice to actually be around and catch up with old and new friends. 

I haven't touched the Harvey Kimono I need to fix, but have been busy working on the one for the little girl, which seems to be going quickly.   Tonight's my knitting group, which I haven't made it to in ages, but I'm hoping to get there tonight.

As far as my cutting garden, I have been able to cut enough flowers for a few small bouquets, which has been really nice.  I seem to be gravitating to oranges and pinks - think I need to diversify a bit.

My mother was telling me about a friend's garden with creeping thyme planted between flagstone.  It's grown enough that they just mow it, which inspired me to order a TON of creeping thyme from Wayside Gardens.  I went a little nuts, and ordered about 40 plants.  Oops.

oops

So, I finished the Harvey Kimono.  It looked kind of weird and as I was washing it I realized instead of sewing the shoulder seams together I had picked up the stitches and incorporated them into the edging.  Duh.  I should be able to fix it pretty quickly (I'm hoping) once the sweater dries.  I must have been thoroughly distracted by The Tudors, as I was catching up on an episode while I was sewing the it up.

We just read The Other Boleyn Girl for my book club in April, so it corresponded well with the series The Tudors (the last episode was the beheading of Anne Boleyn).  I'm a little behind with my book club books and just finished reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which I thoroughly enjoyed, although dramatically different than The Other Boleyn Girl.  Next up for me is The United States of Arugula, I just started it this morning - it's about the 'American Food Revolution', so far it's good.

We had a 'Chloe-free' night last night - she spent the afternoon and night at Jim's parents house.  Our regular babysitter is away for a month and we had tickets to see Dangerous Liasons (or  Les Liaisons Dangereuses for all you french-speakers).  Laura Linney played Marquise de Meurteil.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, Jim thought it was boring.  Guess that's how it goes...

While the messed up Kimono is drying I decided to start on a sleeve for the little girl version...



 

cutting garden dreams

I've had this little fantasy since we moved into our house that one day I would have a cutting garden in our backyard.  Or at least a varied selection of flowers to cut and bring inside.  I'm hoping this is my year.  We made a trip to The Farm at Green Village yesterday and picked up a few more plants for the backyard, in addition to mulch.  I managed to weed and mulch half the yard, before I ran out of mulch AND energy.

Among the goodies I brought home:  Cosmos (the ones that supposedly grow to 48 inches), pink Dahlias and I picked up some 'Irish  Eyes' Blackeyed Susans.  Now that they're all planted, I'm hoping with a little TLC, that they'll actually deliver the flowers that I want.  My fingers are crossed.

Ooh, one other thing - has anyone every seen the chocolate Cosmos?  I found them long ago, but haven't seen them for sale in quite some time.  Although I did read about Chocolate Flower Farm, in a recent issue of Horticulture magazine. Wish I it was closer - I'd love to visit!

We celebrated Jim's birthday last night, that is Chloe, Sadie, Jim and I celebrated his birthday.  I made a chocolate cake from Martha Stewart, although for the life of me I can't find the online recipe..  I've made it in the past with no problem, but for some reason this one sunk in the middle!  Of course, that didn't really affect the taste or our ability to gobble slices of it down, it was just a visual bummer.

I did manage to finish the 'bones' of the little boy Harvey Kimono, now I just need to sew it together and finish the edging.  Then, I can move on too the little girl version...

On the sewing front, my machine remains packed up, but I did put this little dress that I made last summer on Chloe today and it fits!  I need to make another one - I really love the simplicity of the Japanese Pattern books that this is from...

perfect weather

Chloe had an arts & crafts playdate in the park with friend from the neighborhood and the weather couldn't have been better.  I little crisp, but gorgeous, if only it would stay like this for the rest of the summer.  I know it's wishful thinking, but you never know...

I had some odd skin reaction yesterday to my sunscreen combined with facial lotion, which turned into a red blotchy mess.  Of course, we went to a parent's open house for the Montessori school will be attending come September.  I know this is my moment of vanity, but I couldn't believe how self-conscious I was about it!  Today it's not so bad, and mostly dried, up, but yuck.

We found out last night that the school is going to expand up to six grade next fall, which is great news for us if we want to keep her there.  Of course, there are public school options too, but it's nice to know that this will be there.  We both think Chloe is going to have a great time there with all of the activities and the animals they have in the classroom.  It's nice to know she'll have that in the fall when the second baby arrives.

I broke a few weeks ago and bought a lady bug kit at our local garden center.  We did release them, but haven't since then.  Not sure what happened to them, but I am considering picking up another kit.  Here's one corner of our backyard that's finally starting to fill in...

I have made progress on the Harvey Kimono, at least one of the twins.  The babies still haven't arrived, so I do have a little time, but not much.  Although, I do remember it being nice to get gifts after Chloe was born, even if they were a few weeks or months she arrived.  It's the thought that counts, right??