I Would Die For You - Jann Arden

This beautiful song takes me back to that night standing in Paul's empty apartment, days after he had left his wife and moved in to the tiny space so we could be together.

I had discovered my love for Jann Arden during round 1 of mine and Paul's relationship. I listened to her a lot during those first two and a half years we went out. We parted, he got married to another woman, and I waited. Dunno why, but I did. Probably had to do with self-esteem issues. One year later we were fooling around and then we were suddenly in a relationship again. It was very overwhelming but something that I thought I wanted. For years I thought that.

Anyways...I remember that moment of that night in his empty new apartment, furnished with old car seats and a mattress on the floor. I had that CD playing and we were slow dancing and he held my face in his hands and looked at me for a long time. He didn't say anything until I broke that moment. We stopped dancing and he said, "You know I couldn't hear any of her music without crying when we weren't together."

I know I shouldn't have, but I felt glad. Happy. Vindicated that he had not spent our time apart in a state of bliss. I was pleased that I made such an impact on this man's life. & especially pleased that even a marriage could not keep us apart.

I had so much to learn from that moment on.

We are still potty training (but nearly done now! yippee!).

After every poo on the toilet he gets a a smartie. this is how the conversation goes:

andrew: andrew gets a smartie.
me: yes, because you pooed in the toilet
andrew: does andrew get 2 smarties?
me: ok, you did a BIG poo and get 2 marties.
andrew: does andrew get ALL the smarties?

always.

ps. he always refers to himself in the third person. sometimes he replaces andrew with 'your little boy'. it's adorable. "mommy! your little boy is hungry".

I love making Dishcloths. I love the simplicity, the beauty, the colours, the sizes, the variety. I love working with the cotton. I espeically love the variegated cotton. I think it looks so pretty and bright. I always think of warm sunny days when I see all the different colour combinations.

I started crocheting Dishcloths about 5 years ago. When I was a novice crocheter they were about the only project that I could ever finish. Now I like them because it is a good way to try out new stitches and patterns. If you're not sure how to make a cluster stitch or a double treble crochet then a dishcloth is the perfect way to try it out. It's even more appropriate if you're not sure if you would be able to read say, a diamond pattern for a larger project. Try it out with a dishcloth! If worse comes to worse you just unravel a dozen short rows and pick another pattern. Crochet Pattern Central has loads to choose from or if you want you can make your own. It's easy enough to do. Just pick a stitch and away you go.
I always give dozens as Christmas gifts every year. It's become 'my' thing now. My grandma claims she has too many now and my friends get upset if they don't get a pair at Christmas. So far this year I haven't been crocheting any. I haven't had time...and my crocheting skills and ability to read patterns have both drastically improved so I've been making slippers and hats and bags and other more complicated items. But when I get frustrated with a pattern or don't know what to make next, I always return to the Dishcloth. :)

I hope you enjoy the pictures. Cheers!

This week felt very busy, but as I sit here trying to think of something to write I can't think of anything of note.

• On Thursday and Friday me and Andrew walked home from daycare (well I walked and Andrew rode in the wagon). That is a good 45 minute walk! I figure we'll walk home as much as possible for a) it snows b) it gets frigging cold and c) he doesn't fit in the wagon anymore.
• I have an 'order' for 3 slippers! One of my facebook friends (a girl from high school that I haven't seen in years) saw my pictures and asked me to make her some pairs! I am so pleased with myself.
• I believe that Andrew is toilet trained now. He still has some accidents, but not many. I am so pleased that he caught on as fast as he did and that his daycare group leader was so awesome in the process. I was so thankful that I crocheted her a hat that matches Andrew's. Now they're hat twins.
• I have a cold. It's not getting better and I'm living of DayQuil an NyQuil. I hope it gets better.
  

I made these slippers on the weekend from this pattern. They are nice and RED and made from a very thick and sturdy yarn. I really enjoy making the popcorn stitch too. They fit my feet so I know they are quite large. I plan on making some more of these in a variety of sizes and colors.
I've also been working on my picture taking. I took about 25 pictures and these are the best out of the lot. I'm not even too keen on this last picture. The first one is definitely my favorite.

Egads! I just realized there's only 70 days to Christmas. I've gotta get Christmassing.

I'm really not feeling focused this year about what all I'm making even though I've made lists and charts and diagrams.

I made some slippers (one pair for myself, one pair for Andrew, and one pair for the craft sale or Christmas). I made a scarf...but then didn't finish it. *sigh*

Hit me with some motivation and some focus....now.

I think for the rest of this week I'll work on my scrap-ghan and maybe make a snowflake or two and if I feel real stuck I'll make a dishcloth. Dishcloths always make me feel better.

This song takes me back to latter half of 2003.

Living on Lipton Street in the West End with Erin. The neighborhood had definite ghetto tendencies and instead of crying we would laugh and sing this song. It kept us sane as the neighbor dealt drugs out of his back door, the neighbor on the other side had 6 dogs that barked all through the day and all through the night, and the ghetto insulation that I created for the back door.

"On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'/A poor little baby child is born/In the ghetto/
And his mama cries/'cause if there's one thing that she don't need/it's another hungry mouth to feed/In the ghetto"

Andrew sees me crocheting all the time and demands that I make him various items. He especially remembers that last year I crocheted 2 hats for him. Often I ignore his requests or tell him what I'm making is for grown ups and he loses interest right away.

Last week he started in on the 'make me a hat mommy' routine and I have to admit that I caved. I finished the scarf I was working on and starting in on making him a variation of this hat pattern. I made him a similar one last year that matched his winter coat. I wanted to make one this year that matched his Fall Jacket. I think it turned out pretty good.

As soon as I finished it he wanted to put it on and got very excited every time i tested out the size on his head while I was still working on it.

The original pattern doesn't have the ear flaps, it has the brim instead but I remembered from last year that the brim made it too bulky for such a little head and I wanted something that would keep his little ears warm.

I get to show you guys the pictures of the hat and scarf but it's also a good time to show off my little boy.

appreciate what you have


after watching this i realize that today i am thankful for my fridge, having a bank account, and my bachelor of arts.