Sock saga

That was a long blogging break.  Who knew that a case of acute sinusitis could impede pretty much everything – even simple tasks like bending down to tie my shoelaces.  But, I’m doing better now and thank you to everyone who sent me get-well-soon emails and comments:)

Back on my needles is my TTL Mystery Socks🙂  It’s no longer a mystery since that KAL has long been completed.  I’m determined to try and finish these socks and I have to report that sock knitting is not as scaaarrrrry as I thought.  I decided to take the plunge and continue knitting with the DPNs that this sock was on and…it’s not difficult at all.  After a few rows I felt like a victory chant was in order!!!! 

I can’t wait for the leg to be done before I work on the pretty heel.  Eye of partridge heel on a sock is sure pretty – me loves!!!  The pictures of the finished socks for this KAL on Rav is definitely an inspiration to keep going.

In exciting yarny news, Vineet decided to surprise me with a yarn gift certificate from Eat.Sleep.Knit, this being my birthday month and all:):)  So, I have new yarn in the mail and I am sure that it will arrive on my doorstep bang on my birthday because he will make sure to get the timing perfect….well because he’s sweet like that.  What does this mean for my yarn diet???  Gifts don’t count, right???  I also signed up for the yarnathon and I think that I have already earned the 1 mile badge.

yarnathon-badge

In any case, I did some stash-sorting a couple weeks ago and realized that I would probably never knit with a lot of it. This stash is going to be donated to a friend who uses fabric and yarn remnants as crafting supplies for kids who are disabled:)  She recently had a craft sale to raise money and awareness for this very purpose and sold some exceptional crocheted berets and scarves made by these sweet kids themselves – so colorful and pretty!

In other news, it seems like we always get to see this city that we live in through different eyes each time we have guests over at our home.  We are fortunate that Dubai has a central location globally and so many friends and family have routed their transcontinental travel via the Sandlands.  This has meant that we have always had guests popping by for a few days every few months – which is great!  We had an uncle visit us this past weekend and we really enjoyed his company and stories of his adventures.  He is great with kids and so our kiddos had a wonderful time with him. We will miss this once we move but life goes on and for today I am happy.

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Sick leave

It’s been flu season around these parts lately and we have been surrounded by Tylenol, tissues, VicksVapoRub (mmmmm), Sudafed (being drunk like it’s coffee sometimes!!!) and more tissues, tissues, tissues.  Really, really bummed that I couldn’t make it to a knitting afternoon with all the lovely ladies from the UAE Ravelry Group. Will be back when this bug has been exterminated. 

A sick, sneezy, wheezy household – not a pretty sight.

Knitting progress – absolutely ZERO!!!!

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Hookin’

No.  Not the thigh high boots, trashy make-up, mini skirt wearing profession. 

But this….

hexagons-table-topper

I was clearing out some stuff and came across this crocheted doily, table topper, runner (???) that I had finished a few years ago.  I do not remember where I found the pattern for this but I do remember exactly when I began working on this and it brings back sweet memories.  Picture this – freezing temperatures, crackling fire, Austrian alps, delicious warm Schoki… we were at a precious little B&B in Salzburg when I began working on the hexagons.  Of course, it took me a few months to complete all the bits and pieces and join them but I remember being so thrilled when it all came together because I had never crafted something this large before!!!   

My next big project was a Lanarte cross stitch piece of a ballet dancer which is framed and hangs on our living room wall. 

Sadly, crochet and other crafts have taken second place in my crafting basket because knitting keeps being a big bully screaming, “pick me, pick me“.  All I have crocheted in the recent past are a couple flowers.  Sad, I know!  But before I go dive into any other exciting craft, I am determined to work my way through my knitting stash.  So, back to the knitting it is, at least for now.

hexagons

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Prithvi Blogs – Part 1

How to make my favourite ice-cream

My favourite ice-cream is called citrus twist and its very sour.

To make my favourite ice-cream you will need ice, cream, milk and my favourite lemon and lime juice.

First you take the ice and mix it up with cream and milk and mix it all together then you take the ice-cream and roll it into a ball

with your hand put it in the freezer (ooh chilly!) and wait for a day and then put some of the juice in a hole and you have my favourite ice-cream. 

citrus-twist-picture

So, my sweet Prithvi has asked me many times if he could write on my blog and I’ve always said no, or maybe later, or blogging is not really for kids, etc etc.  In my mind, I always kept wondering if he would spill some deep dark secret of mama’s – ok, I’m pretty much an open book, but you know, I was just shy about what he might say.  I finally gave in and this was what he came up with for the first post of “Prithvi Blogs”.  Funny, sweet kid.

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In the kitchen

Most Saturday evenings, we cook dinner together as a family and we’ve come to learn that this is a great way to build memories and have a great time.  The laughter and silliness that goes along side the preparation of this evening meal makes it so enjoyable which is why we are always coming up with “ideas” for Saturday dinner. 

I am always on the lookout for family friendly recipes.  This was what we came up with this past Saturday and it was delicious and super easy too – my kinda cooking.

Grilled shrimp washed down with some aromatic red – YUM!!

shrimp-ahoy

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A perfect day

When I wake up to rain, I always feel like its going to be a perfect day.  I know that this may sound odd, but I really, reeeeeeeally love the rain.  This past Friday was one such day and perfect it was.

This is how it rolled…  (in pictures)

For the record, I was not a part of this pack of steel clothed in skin but just a part of the cheering crowd witnessing this year’s Dubai Marathon.

dubai-marathon

You can’t see Mr. Yellow Shoes (Ethiopian runner – Haile Gebrselassie) clearly, but he came out on top of the pack!

mr-yellow-shoes

And here is Mr. Yellow Shoes!  Now, that`s what I call a get-up!!

Fast forward to the same afternoon.  Not a cloud in sight,  only cool breezes with plenty-o-sunshine.  Perfect for a Party in the Park.

birthday-in-the-park

This little cutie turned one!

more-birthdays

More birthday candles for the others who turned, um… more than one fer shuuure!

bebes

I hope that it rains every weekend.  I know that this statement is going to come and bite me… ask me if I still love the rain when we move to the Canadian Wet West Coast.

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Exam fever

Haven’t been able to post or knit lately since it’s exam week (for Prithvi, not me thankfully!!)  Lots of cramming happening and hardly any knitting or much of anything else.  Off to re-learn about how our muscles and tendons work.  Will be back shortly!

TTFN

jenny-bunny3

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Ten years and then one more

While they were played Our Song eleven years ago, we promised to have and to hold and to take this journey together.  I cannot think of any other place I would rather be than by your side. 

us2

I love you forever. xxx

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There was Christmas knitting

Due to Christmas knitting being synonymous with deadlines, I tend to stay away from it each year.  But this past Christmas, there were a couple handknit gifts – definitely a first for me.  I blogged about one in December and it was received in typical baby fashion – squeals of delight tearing through the wrapping paper and then chomp, chomp, chomp on the contents of the package and then back to shredding the wrapping paper.  I did manage to get a picture of the chomping:)

kiki-emma

The other piece of Christmas knitting was Odessa (Rav) by Grumperina.  This was for a friend who will be moving to Halifax.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of it.  I used Lang Merino yarn in a gorgeous burgundy for this hat and followed the pattern throughout omitting the beads.  Great pattern and fun to knit.  I’m thinking that I might knit this again maybe with some Rowan Calmer.

Both these projects were knit with yarn from the stash.  I’ve been reading all over blogland about knitterly resolutions and self-challenges. I have been thinking too about consumerism and the desire for more and the need for things and must-haves.  I would like this year to be different and so I hope to reduce my stash by at least half this year (gasp!!)  

As a family, we are going to steer away from the magnetic force that the words “Sale” have on us and even though my favorite china is on sale, I will say no!!!  I will weep a little, but will say no.  This is no easy task, what with the Dubai Shopping Festival a mere week away, this is going to be tough, tough, tough.  Wish us luck!

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New beginnings

I blinked and the whole festive season passed by!!  Wonderful, special times with family and dear friends made this Christmas such a memorable one.

I smile when I think about the year gone by because of all the memories created.

On to new beginnings and new adventures.  Enter 2009!

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