Knitting news

I finished a couple of projects. One needs to go in the mail, the other has already gotten some good use on a couple chilly nights around here!

The wrap for myself from super yummy Biggan Australian merino purchased while we were in Brisbane. Very simple knit but it took ages. Skinny stripes are seed stitch, wide stripes stockinette.

Baby dress. I adapted this pattern, it was a simple pattern but I made it a little longer and changed the straps from super wide garter stitch to nice (but still tough) i-cord. Made from mystery yarn from the clearance bin at my local craft shop, it's some sort of cotton blend (poly I think). It's super soft and as it's recipient grows the ties will adjust and the dress can become a tunic.

Pool Party

To celebrate the Big #2 in Perth, what better than a pool party?
OK, so it's the dead of winter here, but that's actually one of the reasons why I picked it. Parties in a park are popular, and very fun, but we're in the thick of rainy season here and I didn't want to stress about the weather (and it poured on party day). We also have extremely limited parking at our house, and FFM loves the pool (he has started hollering if we are driving and don't make the turn to the pool) so it sounded like a plan to me. Plus, they cater and clean up!
I did the cupcakes, a vehicle theme. I made the chocolate ones in a blender and it was so easy I don't think I'll ever buy a box mix again.Do you know it's really hard to take a group shot of all your guests when they are busy having a good time swimming around a giant pool? Anyway, here are a few of them... Ryan and his parents and Jacob and his mom...Ava and her mom...Cormac and Delaney with their dad, Ryan with his parents...FFM and his dad, Lexi on the slide with her dad ready to catch her, Amy and Jacob and their moms enjoying the really shallow end...I have a whole bunch of pictures (that I'm not going to post) of kids splashing around so much if you aren't me (who took the picture) or their parent you'll have no idea who they are :) I'll take that as a sign that they were having a good time.

After swimming the sandwiches and mini pizzas were delivered, and those kids were HUNGRY.Yes, that's a giant basket of chips/french fries (free with the party). After eating his sandwich the birthday boy got busy stuffing his face.Singing commenced, cupcakes were consumed, and FFM wanted to go back for more. The blue cupcakes turned everyone's lips and tongues blue and turned out to be the most popular with the kids. I'm not sure how the parents felt about them...I'm hoping there aren't too many stains...(Mom and Dad, I've had enough of pictures now and I'd really like to get back to my cupcake!)

Overheard today while packing

We have a tiny travel scale used to weigh our bags so we don't go overweight. It looks a little like a clock and FFM was quietly playing with it today while I was packing for our trip and as he was turning it's knob I heard (it was in rough, toddler speak but you could understand exactly what he was saying):

"One, two, three, four, five, seven, six, seven, eight, nine."

I nearly fainted dead away with pride and I'm sure my heart burst a little. They're definitely here now, but FFM's words were slow to come and to hear that many all in a row, and to have him put them in context all on his own was amazing.

Word of the Day

MINE!

(and strangely it was about the water running the sink, he didn't want to share with Dad)

Narrowers

Perth is the only city I know where they work to make their streets SMALLER. Yes, that's not a typo. Since we've lived here they have steadfastly made many four-lane streets into two lane streets. And I see it's about to happen again (Oxford Street in Mt. Hawthorn for you locals).
Look for the vague white marks on the street to see the future median. And yes, cars can park in traffic lanes here (like that black car in the opposite lane). They did in Brisbane, too. It's an Aussie thing. It can make for very tricky driving when you are new to a city.

The medians remind me of Phoenix and all their left-turn blocking medians, but at least Phoenix streets are all on a perfectly square grid so it's really easy to drive around the block. Anyway, it's not too much bother for me, but it's so amazing to me that most of the cities I've lived in go through huge and expensive construction feats to make their streets able to accommodate more traffic, and this city is able to subtract traffic lanes with little impact. Crazy.