I finally got the desktop running - I still have to call Dell because I can only boot from a floppy but the computer is at least useable. I just took a look at the Etsy shop on this monitor and I am definitely going to redo all of the pictures - I can't beleive how dark everything looks. No more editing pics on a screen with the brightness turned way up.
Same promises as always - more verbose post to come...
The Knitty Keen Etsy Shop is now open for business!
Right now there are only a few yarns, but I'll be adding more stock over the weekend.
A more verbose post is in the works, just not at 5am.
Michael got a hold of our digital camera the other day while John and I were still upstairs. Here is his artistic vision...
We just got the written report from Michael's IEP evaluation. It looks like we'll have no problem getting into the type of program that we want - not that we've looked at any of them yet.
After the evaluation, I felt great as I usually do. I felt like my concerns were really addresses and I got the validation that I so often need that I'm not blowing things out of proportion or seeing something that isn't there. Getting a written report outlining all of your child's deficits is an entirely different kettle of fish. I agree with *almost* all of it (the not showing distress when a parent leaves is a crock, because the huge meltdown and repeated requests for mommy that happened on Sunday when I went out with S blows that out of the water). While their observation of these deficits are going to get us the help we need, it feels like they completely gloss over what he can do.
I need more time to digest things before I can write coherently about it.
Yes, I'm going to work that pun for all it's worth. I finally got around to taking decent pics of the yarns I dyed last week. I'm planning on doing a few more this afternoon so I can get the store stocked this weekend. Here's what's come out of the dye pot...
...if I went upstairs and just reloaded the bios on our desktop rather than scrolling through a free fonts site to find the font I used for the Knitty Keen logos.
The motherboard came last Thursday and I decided to tackle it on Friday night. I've never done anything this complicated before and I am never doing it again - we will just go without until I can pay someone to do it. I thought everything was going well but again I couldn't get the video card seated properly and the new board didn't have an integrated one so I couldn't test it out. Our friend came over on Saturday morning to take a look at things and that is when we realized that I fucked up with the CPU. Thankfully, he was able to get the pins unbent and found out that our case was bent which was why the graphics card didn't fit in. Things seemed to be going smoothly but there seems to be a problem with the bios. he gave me instructions on what to so and if they don't work I have to call Dell. You can now see why I am dragging my feet about this. I HATE being the family IT person - it sucks. That is just the tip of the list 'cause I'm in a bit of a mood right now.
On other fronts, much dyeing has been done, The BSJ is just waiting to have ends woven in and buttons sewn on, and I am going a little more insane each passing day (well, maybe not that last part). A big crafts update is in the works. We have to call Elwynn tomorrow to find out what is going on with Michaels IEP evaluation and get on the ball with picking a school. We have to make the appointment with the developmental ped, genetics, and audiology to boot. I'm still not sure on the genetics appointment, but my stomach sinks a bit every time I read a thread about a metabolic disease causing a kid's problems and here I am a year and a half into it without ruling these things out.
I guess I'll go play with the desktop now...
I cast on again for EZ's Baby Surprise Jacket and it's really flying this time. I found two great resources for working the pattern. the first is an article on Knit Wiki all about the BSJ with great instructions on altering the pattern. The second is Baby Surprise Notes - which is a nice expansion on EZ's instructions.
I'm really starting to like EZ. Her patterns take a bit to get used to since that aren't written out, but once I got into the groove, I'm definitely feeling the love. I bought a copy of her Knitter's Almanac and I just ordered Knitting Without Tears. I have three skeins of Lion Cotton Ease that I am going to turn into either a BSJ jacket with a color for Michael or a Tom-ten. I may even break my own rule and knit up a BSJ for the planned for Baby #2's hope chest because it is that much fun to make.
So yes, S - you will be getting this on Sunday. I'll post picks later.
On other fronts, Michael is taking a lovely nap, one that he initiated himself. I am going to take advantage of this quiet to do some dyeing and of course work a bit more on the BSJ. On the decluttering front, I am tackling shoes and the back-bedroom closet. After Michael gets up, we are finally going to start my seedlings - I think he'll have a blast filling my little peat-pots with seed starter. I was planning on putting my pansies out front, but the nighttime temps are supposed to be in the mid 20's so it's another week before that can happen.
I wrapped the sandwiches I made for John's lunch in wax paper (and very nicely, if I do say so myself). I also talked to him about making lunch bags out of some cotton and PUL I have upstairs although that is just another project to add to the ever growing pile.
I'm going to do some more decluttering upstairs today - I'm plannning on at least 25 things.
I am so absurdly pleased with myself for wrapping the sandwiches in waxed paper.
I was working up an Elegant Egg when I realized I made a glaring mistake in the pattern. I've fixed it and have uploaded a corrected version.
Cross Posted on Knitty Keen
I picked up an inkjet printer at Staples this afternoon. Of course I had Michael in the stroller, already packed tight with groceries from BJ's. I ended up using my scarf and a couple of those plastic links to tie it to the back of the stroller. John couldn't even figure out how to untie it.
On a complete side note - I just overheard on the news that we are supposed to have SNOW tomorrow? I guess it's a good thing I haven't gotten my act together enough to put my pansies in the planter's out front yet.
John was home today so I got to take the afternoon off, and a very much needed afternoon it was. I can't remember the last time I listened to one of my mixes on John's i-Pod with the volume cranked up almost to the point of being uncomfortable and just knit. I'm disappointed that I didn't make the trek up to Chestnut Hill to participate in the rally, but my mental health pretty much demanded that I do what I did this afternoon - besides the fact that I didn't get out the door until just before noon.
I've completely thrown myself into Easter knitting. I wasn't even planning on doing anything this year since I am not actively practicing my religion and I really object to the secularization of Easter. That mouthful out, Michael has been having a ball playing with the plastic eggs I got for sizing and the chicken egg covers so he'll be getting a basket after all. I'm very excited about these egg covers - they are just so cool. It's too late this year, but I'm planning on doing up a pattern for next year, most definitely for sale and trust me it will be worth it.
Here's my handy-work:
Chicken egg-cover, version 1.1
Aside from not having access to files that I need to get things going for the Knitty Keen Etsy shop, it turns out that I don't have the font I used for all of the graphics on this machine. The problem is that I have no idea if it's from a fonts CD or if it's one that I downloaded. Keeping my fingers crossed that it's on the CD - that will cut my work in half, otherwise I'm looking at some late nights recreating the graphics. I also just realized that I don't have access to a printer since our laser printer uses a paralell port and the laptop only has USB's. This could not have happened at a more inconvenient time.
Yes - I will back up my files from now on - I have learned my lesson.
Anyway, I'm hoping I can find the motherboard we need for the desktop on Friday so that machine will be up and working by the end of next week.
That I just uploaded a new pattern on Knitty Keen for the eggs pictured below. Take a look - you know you want to make them...
Sarah wrote:
Interesting. I'd also be interested in learning the incidence of malpractice suits brought in Europe vs. America and whether there is a difference between how European and American women view, and seek treatment for, their own bodies.
I don't trust doctors implicitly but I think there are other factors ar work as well.
...in order to avoid what she really needs to do. In my defense, I have re-wound almost all of the yarn I'll be dyeing this week and after I do some cleaning in the kitchen, I'll be mixing some dyes from my stock solutions and get some kettle-dyes yarns done this evening. The truth of the matter is that I am more than a bit overwhelmed and I'm trying hard to break this down into manageable chunks. Now that that is out of the way, onto the pictures...
I just saw this over at The Lactivist and it definitely resonates. I'll be back later for some thoughts.
It looks like the mother board on our desk top is fried, so we are going to be without it for a week or two. I've been scrambling trying to recreate needed files and remembering what needs to get done, going a bit crazier in the process. I'm also feeling the crunch time with Knitty Keen. I bought a signature advertising package from MDC two weeks ago and I have yet to get the blog up to snuff or get my Etsy store stocked. I will definitely be putting the nose to the grindstone this week - I have a lot of yarn to dye (and wind into larger skeins, a skein winder is definitely on the agenda), patterns to write, and stitch markers and needles to make. Whew, I'm tired just writing it all out.
That said, here are some pics to make your day...
Michael Gardening...
and the contents from my Magic Yarn Ball
Be sure to check out Knitty Keen for some new pattern teasers!
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