Pumpkin Spice And Everything Nice
I love autumn, I really do. In fact, the Mister and I love autumn so much that if we were ever to have a girl she would be named Autumn. So when autumn rolls around, its like Christmas has come early. Its when the stores start carrying pumpkin scented things, and pumpkin pies are half off. Lately though it seems that everyone is on the pumpkin kick, imagine my surprise when I discovered this at my local grocery store (Southside Giant Eagle):
Its not too bad actually, if you can get past the color (if you have ever had children, you will know why the color is disturbing).
So while being disturbed by the color of my vegetable oil spread, I also began knitting mittens for the youngest who no longer fits in his mittens from last year. Here is the first, prethumb:
As Severina has often stated, its mad hard to take photos of black knitted projects. The mittens have since grown a thumb and the second has been started. When I have them finished, I plan to duplicate stitch something on the back of the glove (non palm side), but I’m still debating on what it should be. Initials would be blah I think… oh well.
Its getting cold here in Pittsburgh, I need the heat on or I’ll freeze. Its a switch up from last year when Mario the Bulgarian Massuese lived downstairs since he had the heat on in September, and kept it as high as it would go all winter long. The third floor (which is our apartment’s second story) was 90* all winter long, sometimes more. Mine were the only kids in Pittsburgh to have heat rash in winter- no lie. My kids wore no clothes all winter long except to go places, and I ran around in my house in shorts and a tank top. This year though, will be different. Mario no longer lives downstairs, and the thermostat has been moved to our first floor. Already there is a vast difference between this year and last, we never let the dial go beyond 75 on a really cold night and that’s just to kick the heat so the Flying Diaperinis will go to sleep. I wouldn’t envy being Paul though, who is our new downstairs neighbor.
This Sunday will be Sam’s fourth birthday. The big 4!! Wow, its crazy how time sneaks up on you like that. Its odd, when Zach (my stepson) was four, the Mister and I started going out. Here we are now, Zach will be turning 10 in November, TJ just turned 2, and Sam will be turning 4. The math all adds up in fun ways- go ahead, play with it.
Can you imagine that this little booger is going to be 4 on Sunday? He’s getting more wiley too. To help him understand the passage of time, we’ve been marking off each day on the calender with a big to do and counting how many days left until his birthday. Would you believe he climbed up there while I was getting the mail and marked off the rest of this month’s days so his birthday would get here faster. “Look Mommy, today is my birthday!” …
…..if it were only that simple.
Go Go Hurty Stephie
I usually post on the same schedule as the guys from Penny Arcade, Monday-Wedenesday-Friday, but yesterday I could not for I was indeed…… hurty…. hurty ouchy oh lordy even. On Wednesday I revealed my trip plans for the weekend, and now that I am home I wonder if before I left I was an old person in a convalescence home requiring people to turn me lest I get bed sores…. because I didn’t do much, but you would think I never move with the amount of hurty I have going on.
I hurt in places I never knew I had places.
I fell more than I can ever remember- AND I almost ended up in a frigid lake….. good times good times.
Here is a weekend overview:
- I almost fell into the frigid lake
- I fell outside the mess hall
- I fell in the fake castle under the stairs
- I fell in the fort
- I fell up the stairs to the girls’ cabin
- I fell down a sloping log encrusted path
- I fell off a little bridge over a creek
- I landed in mud
- I landed in more mud than I can ever remember falling in
- Rich people would pay thousands to fall in as much mud as I did this weekend
- I ate pie
- I met a nice married couple who live near me
- I have requests for my shop
- Some girl turned the thermostat in our cabin up to like 90* and I woke up the next morning simmering in my own juices
It was though a good time. I took my camera with me, but didn’t take a single picture- is that lame or what?
by the way, fake eyelashes rock- that is all.
My Mister Is A Halloweiner
So, I’ve been sewing like a woman possesed. If you wonder what sewing like a woman possesed is like, it entails me stabbing my fingers, uttering the most slanderous of cuss words, spitting pea soup on occasion, and if I break one more goddamned needle on my machine my head will start to spin 360*. Funny, these things only ever happen when I have a deadline. So imagine my joy when the Mister got on my case about Halloween.
Apparently he decided at some point, all on his lonesome, that our children would be resplendent in homemade costumes. Now, I will be the first to admit that they are darn cute little nippers and would look resplendent in darn near anything, but homemade costumes? I wouldn’t mind it so much, if the Mister had retained the wherewithall to decide on costumes and remind me of this three months ago. As it stands he reminds me everyday about my lacking in the finished homemade little kids Halloween costume department, and I am almost this far |-| from showing him where he can shove his Halloweiner. I’m pretty sure this is the face he would make…
In other news, in the comments of my last post, Sev said that my new setup keeps crashing her browser. Is it crashing anyone else’s? If it is, I will totally change it… since I am afterall a comment ho.
Oh My God!! The Humanity!!!!
Yeah, I couldn’t come up with a witty post title.. so there you go.
So….. yesterday I sent off Kaity’s prize for winning the Stephieface Button contest. I hope its in colors she likes…… it has ……..[looks around for Kaity] ……..plaid. It also has one gigantor pocket to keep your WIP pattern in, and your little pouch of needles and whatnot as well if you like. It has a button. Snazy no? And it has a wee pocket on the outside that can hold a bus transfer slip, gum, or if one was so inclined (and I didn’t try this) protection. I truly believe in safe knitting. Congrats again Kaity. Now if I can just remember how to put it in the sidebar I’d be set.
I’ve often forgot the craft cram I used to endure on a monthly basis, and I was reminded this week. I know, it does sound dirty… doesn’t it? In any case, it may be something you actually can relate to, despite its dirty name. I am going to a LARPing event this weekend (where I dress up in corsetry and what not) the draw is that there are a bunch of people there wanting to buy my stuff.. so there is incentive for me to go. But, when I used to go all the time there was the week’s worth of Craft Cramming right before the event. Everyone would wait until the week of to ask me to make stuff for them… and I, being the giant push over that I am, I would agree. The Craft Cram Week was my own personal hell week. Why I did it so often to myself only shows how much I must have really hated myself at some time. Obviously I hated myself because I rarely got stuff done, or done well. There were times when one could see me sewing away at my sewing machine 5 minutes before the event is set to begin. I have brought my sewing machine with me and had small yet essential pieces break in transit finding me scurrying for a macguyver-esque fix to finish something I promised to have done before then. I have always sucked at deadlines…. even my kids weren’t born on time (Sam was 2 weeks late and TJ was 1.5 weeks early). In any case, I have been trying to make sure that I get stuff I promised to get done before the event- done.
In a revealing moment of true honesty… do you want to know why I get so behind? Its cause I make stuff for myself and push everyone else to the wayside…. terrible, I know!!!!
See this? This is me hard at work on someone’s something before the event…..
Look at my fingers fly! Look at the action!! The Suspense!!!
Thanks and Baby Ruth!
Thanks to everyone who responded. I have no idea what exactly happened, but for all of yesterday I couldn’t see my blog. By “couldn’t see my blog” I mean that there was nothing, just a white screen….. no writing, no links, no comments, nothing. I refreshed and cleared the cache, I even restarted the whole shebang holding a lucky penny and reciting “I do believe in fairies, I do, I do, I do”…. and I got squat. Whatever caused the issue is gone now, and I can thankfully once more see… well… myself. I suspect that Caitho may have been on the computer being mischievious- but you never know.
So yesterday, we reinstalled a Stephieface essential in our home……
We bought Goonies on DVD.
Oh yes, Goonies.
Really, how can I expect my kids to grow up and not know what the Truffle Shuffle, Pinches of Pow, and who Chester Copperpot is. These are important life lessons. It does also contain one of my first same age crushes, Sean Astin. I say same age, because before then I had a thing for older men apparently. But Sean Astin, Hobbit Extraordinaire…come on… who’s with me?
By the way, in case you actually wondered… I am way more fond of Sean Astin than I am of his brother Mackenzie. I also like that Sean is built like a person, and in general I like people built like persons.
My only hope though is that we do not have a replay of the last Great Goonies Snafu. The Great Goonies Snafu is priceless. The eldest monkey, when he first ever watched Goonies on VHS, decided to look for secret tunnels to treasure by cutting holes in our floor. I’m sure this would have worked out for him eventually since we live in the second floor.
The Mister brought home other films as well, that- because I did not choose them- I am sure are not going to teach our children life lessons. Does Independence day teach our children to follow maps? Nope. Does Starship Troopers show our children where they can successfully hide discovered pirate treasure so that Joe Pantoliano and Anne Ramsey can’t find it? Not at all. What can my children learn from the movies HE picks? Alien kicking and don’t say I Love You or you’ll get skewered by ginormous bugs. I mean really, his movies don’t even have slick shoes….. sheesh.
Something is up with the blog
For some reason, whenever I try to access my blog it gives me a nice blank white page of nuthin. So, if you can read this…. then the issue is all me… contact me and tell me so…. k?
When Yarn Winders Attack!
I finally got my camera and computer talking again… those two have a tumultuous relationship to be sure. So, about the yarn winder…….
Here is how the post office handed me the box
Now, to some people they would think that the post office handled their package poorly…. me? I know the truth… my yarn winder escaped and began a killing spree somewhere around Warrendale PA. The box was smooshed in their efforts to recage it, and this is why it was there so long… they had to conduct a winder hunt. How do I know it was on a muderous bloody killing spree? The CSI like evidence:
I’ve circled the eeeeeeew for you. If you are brave and curious you can click the picture to make it better to get a larger view. I have also thankfully left the handle out of the picture, it was the worst part of the whole thing, it caused a rookie cop to spew his Moo Goo Gai Pan.
In any case, it was cleaned up and looked over, cleaned up once more, and then Goo Goned to be safe- then it was put to work. I think my yarn winder is just really energetic, the post office would not have had any problems with him had they just made him use up all that extra energy he has. I could tell he was going to be mischievious, so I did what I would do to my kids, which was tire him out. I pretty much wound and rewound every yarn like substance in my house:
As you can see I have an awesome organizational system…. acrylic in the milk crate and not-the-acrylic in the tub. I used to have them all seperated in ziploc baggies with their fiber content written on the outside…. but then I was like… yeah… so they aren’t that way anymore. By the way, that bright red wool is from a Goodwill sweater I was finally able to finish taking apart now that the Winder is here. It took me an hour, instead of the few days I’m used to…. it was marvelous. I think I will name my winder…. Caitho…. Caith is the gaelic word for eat, you know in rememberance of the postal workers Caitho devoured in Warrendale.
Yesterday, Zeeppo remarked how scary it is that he believes he lives near me, then I counter remarked that I think I live closer than he thinks, that I may live a block or two away from him. While this is true, I did not want to divulge how I knew this…. but in the interest of all things honest I will.
I stalked Zeeppo once….. well I unintentionally stalked him….err…. I stalked him by accident.
You see I drove to the nearest gas station to get gas, which was the A+ on 18th. While pumping gas, a bus pulled up and let people off. Since I have nothing to do while pumping gas I was watching the people stepping off the bus…. and lo and behold there was Zeeppo and his wife stepping off the bus. I know it was Zeeppo because I had just knitted in public with him months before at WWKIP day and I remember faces. I wasn’t sure if I should call out after him. Firstly, what would I call out? Zeeppo or his real name that I learned on WWKIP day (but I must keep his secret identity…. well… secret… go here to read about Yarn Man). This quandry alone stayed me from saying “Hey! I freaking know you”. Then there was the question of whether or not clowns are okay with groupies and fans. So, they walked away as I continued to fill up my car. When I was on my way back to my house, I passed Zeeppo and his wife as they were walking to their house. Though I don’t know which house it is, I figure its pretty close to me- but far enough away that my crazy neighbors can’t get them.
On the Crazy neighbor front, Man Neighbor and Girl Neighbor are moving away, they were loading up the moving van the last two days. Or, at least I saw Man Neighbor loading up a moving van the last two days. I hope the curse of that house is broken. Ever since the old lady with the tastey dogs (they are tastey dogs because other neighborhood dogs kept eating them, no lie) moved out it has been pretty bad. Here’s hoping for better neighbors!
Is It Possible To Go Postal On The Postman?…. And ETA
If you recall, Monday I was extolling the virtues of Columbus Day, explaining my dismay at the lack of mailage… especially when I am expecting my yarn winder. The grand issue was that I paid $8.60 for shipping for my yarn winder. Now, I’m no walking postal scale, but that would lead me to believe that I would get my package…. oh I don’t know…. sometime soonishly after paying for it.
Yes, right about here you can chuckle and say “Foolish Mortal”, its okay, I’m totally expecting it.
Also, because I also completely weird about shipping I log on to the United States Postal Service website and constantly stalk my package. I also stalk other people’s packages too, like anyone who has bought something from my shop has had their package stalked…. I’m stalking Stepherz’ package right now (and aside from sounding dirty, its true). I even signed up for the updates on my package’s whereabouts. On Friday it reached Warrendale PA, and left Warrendale PA at 7:30am. Warrendale is about 25 minutes or so away from me… so I skipped around my house with glee almost assured that my yarn winder was almost in hand.
Yeah, it never came Friday…..right about here you can chuckle and say “Foolish Mortal”, its okay, I’m still totally expecting it.
But, I still had the contented hope that I would receive it Saturday- you know, since its so close in proximity to me and all.
Yeah, if you didn’t chuckle at all the first two times… you can totally do it here.
So Saturday came and went, then Sunday, then I was unknowingly visted by the vile holiday known as Columbus day. But yesterday……….. Oh Tuesday…… it would not forsake me. Just to make sure, I posted a note up on my door for the postal person to ring the bell so I would know when it all arrived. Around 3pm my bell rang and I ran down the steps. I reached the bottom and discovered…… it was just my usual mail lady and no yarn winder. Still, its pretty kick ass that she rang the bell. So we started talking about how my mail will get stolen occasionally and said that if I like she’ll ring the bell everyday when she drops off the mail. That is awesome. Now I can stop stalking her the minute she steps on my street. So I leave up my sign, because obviously it works, and return upstairs. About 6pm my instant messenger BINGS that I have a new email. Its from the post office (because remember, I signed up for updates on my package’s whereabouts). The message states that they attempted to deliver the package, but no one was home so they left a notice and I can maybe pick it up tomorrow or they may try to redeliver it. Mind you…. I never left the house and it says they tried to deliver at 4:05. I was home at 4:05, I was awake and washing dishes at 4:05. I ran down to the porch and there is no notice. No sticker saying “Hello, we missed you…”- nada. My sign was still hanging right in plain view. There was no bell ringing, there was no knocking, nothing.
If you like, you can totally imagine me doing the Charlton Heston Planet of the Apes “damn you, damn you to hell, you damn dirty apes” speech right about now…. go ahead… I’ll wait.
So then I call the main post office number, because obviously they wait until the post office is closed to give me an alert of attempt of delivery. The lady there was very nice, especially considering that she was talking to a crazy mail obsessed lady…. moi. I explained my issues, and asked if there was a way she could just note to keep the package where it was and that I’d come get it. “Just let me know which post office its at and I’ll go pick it up- honestly if I have to wait one more day I think I may scream”….. “that’s delightful mam, please remember to bring your ID.”
What I think is the ultimate in burnsauce is….. its at the Mount Oliver post office which is about 5 blocks from where I live. Not only can I not have it, I can not have it five blocks from my house.
Edited To Add:
So I went to the Post Office to pick up my yarn winder- of course it rained all this morning. I might consider buying a lottery ticket except I’m terrified that the ticket will papercut me and open a vein.
Anywho, I get that sucker home and open her up. Guess what next?
Go ahead….. guess….. it’ll be fun…….. go on………..
Give up? My new yarn winder isn’t new. Its been quite very used. The handle had…..gunk…. and it was very dirty. Currently my theory involves knitting postmen who raid packages to wind their yarn.
It could happen.
Its A Wonder My Children Have Foot Coverings At All…..
So I made another critter to put in my shop…… Bob:
Made from little boys socks and predominately handsewn. I really like the tail.
I have Second Glove Syndrome, terrible isn’t it? I started knitting the second glove right away, but to no avail. It will get done though.
Its almost like Christmas here at Chez Stephieface. Two weeks ago I won an eBay auction for a yarn ball winder. Yes finally I have almost reached the 20th century. Now I sit and wait patiently for it to arrive. Which is why I feel that today, Columbus Day, is the bane of my existance. I have walked downstairs to check the mail at least 7 times today (just in case the neighbors try and steal the package off my porch which they have done in the past) only to discover an hour ago that its Columbus Day and no mail gets delivered.
This is how Columbus No Mail Day makes me feel:
Yes I realize that tomorrow I should have it, but I could so use it tonight. I was extremely lucky being able to score a brand new one for $20, and knowing I no longer have to ghetto PVC nostepinne yarn into center pull balls makes me giddy…….. Giddy I tell you!
I joined up with yet another Craftster hosted Terry Pratchett swap…. The Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: The Hogfather Swap. Oh yeah, say that five times fast. I’ve participated in every Terry Pratchett Discworld Swap that Craftster has had so far…… why stop now? This totally explains why I have a knitted DEATH of Rats pattern on my site……
Okay, yeah…. maybe not.
Do Do Do Doooooooooo…. The Winner Is……
Before I get to the winner, I would like to thank those who entered.
Thank you those who entered!
Believe it or not I only had three entries for the contest. The argyle background was used by all of you (great minds think alike!) which will fit perfectly with what I have. Since I only had three entries, or rather three people who entered I’ll show you what they all sent.
Zeeppo sent me this one:
Lani sent me this one:
And Kaity, who was also the winner, submitted this one:
So thank you all for entering, I shall be contacting Kaity about her prize soonishly.
Meanwhile, in other news, I added a few things to my shop, like so……
A red bag with acorn lining
A houndstooth pattern bag with black lining (with a wee pocket)
I made another Swearengen scarf, this time in a fuzzy homespunesque like yarn
I know, my eyes are scary huge, right?
And right now I am working on another pair of shop destined fingerless gloves, because… let’s face it… I’m destined to knit them. In TLC Essential, color “Falling Leaves”
If you look closely you can see my kick ass stitchmarker I got from here which was like 8 stitchmarkers for $4 and no shipping costs which is a pretty sweet deal.
While watching Sesame Street with the Flying Diaperinis today, it just sort of hit me how creepy cookie monster can be sometimes, really.
