Japanese Homestay

This weekend we are hosting 2 teenage japanese students through VIEC. Approximately 300 students from the same school travel together for a 'taste of Canadian life' to see if they wish to pursue an English program longer term. As a group they travelled by plane to Vancouver, chartered bus onto BC Ferries then to University Canada West where they had an orientation then were paired up with their host families. We got them home by 7pm, where we made a very quick omelet dinner. They had been travelling for 10 hours, were hungry, but excited, even though the time difference meant it was afternoon tomorrow in Japan!!

I'd say the omelet wasn't one of the student's favourites - I hope I can do better tomorrow! I bought stirfry beef, but didn't have time to make rice tonight, so for a quick dinner I made omelets with cheese and broccoli. I was considering smoothies, bagels and/or cereal for tomorrow...although the Japanese breakfast is considerably different. However, I am supposed to show them what we (as a Canadian family) would normally have...

I learned a couple of things, for instance, Japanese apple juice isn't as strong as it is here...so I mentioned that my husband adds juice to flavour his water and that might be an option to try next time. I learned a Japanese greeting to say AFTER dinner is complete, however, I have no idea how to spell it :)

This is truly a great experience, one student showed me photos of his family and home tonight :) We brought out my husband's old trumpet for the other student to play - he oiled it, but its still a bit 'off' - he likes playing jazz like louie armstrong, etc...he liked looking at the sheet music we had as well.

Plus, our 5 yr old son was as entertaining as ever. The students brought us gifts, a beautiful japanese platter, origami sheets (they made a crane for me and an airplane for my son), as well as some rocket balloons that kept my son running around giggling all the while after dinner.

And, as it was a long day, they are calling it an early night - I guess it's likely a good thing that our clocks go back tonight - gives them an extra hour to adjust :)

Hand-made Holidays

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeIn past years, I've done alot of knitting for family gifts, and so saying we're going to do the "Hand-Made Holiday" challenge may not seem like a challenge, but it will be. Our son is just over 5 this year, and asks alot of questions about Santa and his workshop. I think it would be great this year if all the gifts under the tree were hand-made, so he can appreciate the uniqueness of everything AND consider "Santa's elves made this". There's not much time before he'll lose that magic of believing...although if he's anything like his mother (me), he'll believe no matter what :)

So our challenge - is convincing the rest of the family to NOT buy commercial toys, clothing - and instead purchase hand-made. I don't expect the rest of the family to make gifts, but there are certainly plenty of artisans, crafters, holiday craft fairs to purchase unique, one-of-a-kind hand-made items to keep this holiday season traditional and homey.

I'm excited...

A Hug Means so Much

I'm currently knitting some purple hats for Period of Purple Crying. It's a project to raise awareness that no baby should ever be shaken.

So, today, while I'm knitting my son looks at the hats and is quite intrigued. I tell him they are hats for new babies born in the hospital. At first he's worried I'm going to the hospital and I let him know that we (a group of my beginner's knitters and I) are dropping them off at a yarn store and they will take them to the hospital.

"So they are gifts to the new babies so they all get a hat when they are born?"

"Yes, just like you got one when you were born"

He then hugs me and thanks me for knitting hats for the babies.

I can't stop smiling :)

Running with Knitting...

Image via Wikipedia

As mentioned in yesterday's note, I was inspired by a photo in the June issue of Runner’s World Magazine about a knitter setting a record for the ‘longest scarf knitted in a marathon’ - I googled her and found her here: She doesn’t appear to be on Ravelry.

So last night I knit on the elliptical trainer - not a problem - cotton dishcloth, don’t need to look, I’m knitting on circular needles and could keep my running form…

Today, it was our long run (21km). So hubby and I run while our son rides his little bike out and back along the Galloping Goose Trail from just past the 13km marker to the 24km marker, then we have a snack and start running/riding back. I felt good at the start as knitting helped keep my neck/shoulder muscles in a more relaxed state than they were on last week's long run. I knit for first 3km, then spent the next 2km untangling the ball that slipped out of the belt :( - I own just one fanny pack, and my husband was wearing it with the snacks in it. Guess I learned a lesson to make sure I get another one or confiscate that one from him.
Sadly, due to rain I had to stop knitting :( - Because it was a cotton washcloth, it got really tough to pull those stitches along. Guess that's another lesson since the marathon is in October and might be similar rainy weather - I'll have to consider knitting wool(?)

I’ll try again tomorrow if the weather clears - we only have a "short" 6km run tomorrow :)

Knitting at the RVM - hmmmm

Image via Wikipedia

I've been quiet for a bit due to lots of other things going on in life. One of which is that my husband and I are training for the Royal Victoria Marathon (now supposedly known as the Good Life Victoria Marathon due to title sponsorship - I think they should have kept the Royal in the title, but I digress...)

I've had a couple of setbacks on the training however...I lost the month of June due to an unexplained cough that wouldn't go away...after a month on the puffer there was no difference, but give me 4 days on allergy pills, and it went away (too bad I didn't figure that out sooner!) Now that's behind me, my shoulder issue is flaring up while running as July/August has the longer runs starting now - we're going for mileage now, not just time!! Last Saturday (one week after I started training again), we had to do 16km - and the shoulder/neck muscles voiced their disagreement early into the run. Hubby, having significant knowledge about sports injuries, had me clench my hands/release and do some finger dexterity exercises - told my physio about this and he agreed that was 'bang on'. If the hands are in use, the shoulder muscles can't tense up! (hmmm, I joked with hubby that perhaps I should knit)

Anyhow, tomorrow we have a 21km run, and I decided to go read some Runner's World magazines for motivation. Well, what do you know, June 2010 issue had a reference to a knitter with a guiness record for longest scarf knitted while doing a marathon!!! Guess what I'm going to try on my run tomorrow ;)

I'm knitting, honest I am!

Image by mirvettium via Flickr

Didn't realize how long its been since I last blogged!! During the Olympics - egads! Honestly, I've been knitting, but working both my business and around the house has kept me from blogging here (I'm blogging on my business blog).

I've been teaching sock knitting in my home since JDF Parks & Rec made an 'oops' and accidentally put my sock knitting class for spring in the fall folder, so there wasn't a class in the spring/summer brochure...but its been great to have a small class in my home to 'work out the kinks' and as a result we're likely going to continue all summer as a 'stitch n bitch' group on Saturday mornings. I have 3 other people from West-Mont school (parents and teachers) who want to learn knitting, so I'll teach them over the summer months while my sock knitters progress to more complicated stitch patterns on their socks :)

In the fall JDF Parks & Rec will be offering beginners knitting followed by Sock Knitting 101 again...but I'll keep the Saturday morning group as a support/help/coffee/chat group - although if we grow in size, it'll be time to find a coffee shop instead of my living room :)

You're welcome to join us - just drop me a line knitcaboose at telus.net

My first medal

I feel so honoured to have received my first Ravelympics medal and bouquet



Event: Aerial Unwind - a project that I had started in 1995 that was never to be finished, is now a pile of yarn to be used for something new and fantastic!

My next event will be posted soon!!!

Teaching a class

Image via Wikipedia

Well, tonight I'm teaching my first beginners knitting class. Well, not truly my "first" as I did create a knitting group a few years ago, taught some people knitting, and now one has gone on to design her own hats, knitting for a yarn shop, etc. (I digress)
Tonight is the first time I'll be a PAID teacher of knitting. It's through the Westshore parks & recreation, and although I don't have a full class, it is the first time JDF has offered knitting, and I hit my minimum class size on the first try! (There is still room though if you'd like to join in! )

I'm nervous, excited, and what calms me best in this situation is knitting...I just can't find my favourite knitting needles :(

Knitting choices...

Image via Wikipedia

I've joined Team Canada for the Ravelympics (knitting olympics, accessible only by the 1/2 million members of Ravelry). Basically, this is competing in one or more categories of knitting/crocheting/spinning/weaving/designing from the time the torch is lit at the opening ceremonies, until the closing ceremonies of Vancouver 2010...I have a month+ to decide what I'm 'competing in'.

Most people pick something to challenge themselves...having done entrelac for a scarf for christmas, there goes a new 'technique' challenge for myself :( I've done 2socks on 2circulars, I've done magic loop, I've done toe up and toe down socks...I can't think of what I could complete in 17 days time and yet still challenge myself...so I'm searching interweave knits magazines, ravelry pattern lists for inspiration...while at the same time trying to figure out my christmas knitting list (probably good to make the knitting dual purpose right?)

My queue on Ravelry is a mile long, yet I can't decide on what I'll knit for 17 days?!?!?!

If you're up for it, join in! - http://www.ravelry.com/groups/team-canada (you need to be a ravelry member to log in).

Merry Christmas!

It's the end of a long, happy day. I'm exhausted, having stayed up until 2:30am last night trying to finish The Deadliest Crab for lil k (like he needed another gift!). I resigned myself at 2:30am, when shaking and having chills that I needed sleep before the lil guy would wake me up in his excitement. I figured a crab that needed assembly (I needed only to sew the legs on) might be fun(ny) for him.

It was a great day, busy, with my parents over, phonecalls back east, and lots and lots of playing and food. It's after seven, the lil guy is now in bed, big D is watching Star Wars, and I've got time to myself without deadlines to meet! I'm too tired to sew the crab legs on, and still have big D's scarf to finish (a gift given on the needles - he had to understand with my having shipped 9 handknit gifts back east to his family, 4 handknits for family here, 1 handknit hat for his secret santa gift, and 3 more for staff at JBCCS). Being too tired to knit, I'm at the computer conjuring up my list of knits for next year - I'll keep on the schedule this time (famous last words). I managed to get 2 gifts done by end of January last year, but stopped knitting the gift list until September (ugh!) maybe I can keep the momentum going in 2010 so I don't have any last minute 'gift assembly' next year... either that, or I'll just give different people gifts on the needles...

Wishing everyone wonderful festive season!

A knitter's 'bucket' list...

Found this on another blog while looking for a hat pattern they had - a list of knitterly things one has done, wants to do, etc... I'm all for it! But I think there are still some items missing :)

Making progress

I love this. I think it's a great list to inspire and also to give me a focus so I don't pick up my knitting one day and say, "I hate entrelac! I knew I hated it. Why am I doing this?"

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: Toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hats: Top-down
Hats: Cuff-up
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Combination knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Dyeing spinning fiber
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Tassels
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed Toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Westshore knitting...

I recently moved from downtown, heart of Victoria (James Bay) where there were a variety of knit night venues, yarn shops, spinning shops, etc. I now live in the Westshore - Langford, where even the community recreation program doesn't include knitting in its offering and where one of the downtown yarn shops attempted to open a satellite store that it closed less than a year later.

So, I've been on a search for a nice place to knit on Tuesday nights - and then I'll start inviting people to join me once I have a 'scheduled' location. I've started a knitting night before, but having the group all voice their preferences had us move the night from Tuesday to Wed to Thurs to Monday, then changed location from a pub to a coffee shop to a meeting room in the back of another coffee shop...we lost people along the way. So this time, I'm picking a place and that's it.

Tuesday nights because that's my night out

Location - to be determined.

Options:
1) Starbucks downtown Langford - open til 9pm, bright, free wifi for me to check my ravelry patterns - BUT it's small and crowded even on a tuesday.
2) Serious Coffee Millstream Village - very spacious, lots of comfy seating, free wifi, but I found it difficult to see my stitches on my son's navy socks I was knitting - as well, it closes at 8pm.
3) pubs - variety to get around to - but I'll need to find a partner-in-crime for this - don't like the idea of sitting alone in a pub :)

BTW, Yarn Harlot posted the pattern for the Pretty Thing cowl (finally).

Blame it on being blonde...

For a few years, I've had not just one, but TWO microfibre cleaning cloths. I bought them as an environmentally friendly alternative to dusting sprays. Get this, I thought they were just for dusting. Now I have a sample cloth from Norwex and find out these things clean bathtubs, kitchen counters, windows, mirrors...the list is endless! I thought it might have just been a sales pitch from the Norwex company, but no, it's actually true - these cloths are meant to clean with only water, or at most, vinegar!!!

Skeptic that I am, and being sick with germs, I decided to attack the dirtiest part of the house - I cleaned two bathroom sinks and bathtub in mere minutes - and they shine like no vinegar/baking soda solution has ever made them shine...they shine as well as my parents chemically cleaned bathrooms, but without the yucky fumes...

I'm stunned that I didn't know this before! I'm having a Norwex party - anyone interested in attending!?

Moving

I'm exhausted...we finally have a new house, and are moving this week, but in the days preparing for it, we've been painting, cleaning, transporting awkward items; transporting precious breakable items...and trying to keep a 4.5yr old entertained, excited about his new space, and calm because everything this changing.

For an adult, we can go for a run, take stress pills, take additional vitamin B & C, meditate, do yoga, or whatever it is that 'works'. For the little guy, change is very scary, and we somehow have to create some 'normalcy' which is very difficult during a move. So although I'd like to keep working, packing, I do have to stop and play so he is able to adjust. He is also wanting more of our time than normal (he'll usually find things to play by himself for awhile before wanting someone to join in - but this past week, he doesn't want to do anything alone).

This past weekend I had help from friend and parents while hubby was away...I was still struggling to do what I felt needed doing and yet keep my son calm. Hubby is definitely better at redirection than I - we called him at one point and he had a great job for lil k to do - take paper/pen, walk around the house and draw what furniture is going to go where...that kept my son busy for about 5-10 minutes, but it was enough to calm him and he then found himself something to play with while we continued painting.

I joke that my husband is a big kid, and that's why he can come up with these fun activities to redirect my son's attention to avoid meltdowns...maybe he needs to come up with activities for me to redirect myself to avoid my meltdowns :)

reBlog from table4five.net: Tightwad Gazette Recipe for Laundry Stains | Table for Five

Drove by the house today - we close on Tuesday/take posession on Wed - looks like the previous owners have already moved out and left us their Bell satellite dish and a bench on the front porch!?!?

We're not finished packing, but a good portion was done on Saturday with the great help of my mother!  Alas I'm now in need of a couple of things that I told her to pack (I definitely wasn't thinking).  Although, I had to pack my Tightwad Gazette book - and of all times, D needed his beach referee shirts cleaned - stained collars from sunscreen didn't come out in the regular wash, so he needed the 'laundry stain remover' that I've been using out of that book for years...lucky for me, after googling, I came across a blog published today with the recipe!:

Of all the tips I picked up from the books, the one I have used the most is the recipe for laundry stain remover.  When you’ve got something really stained, like for example, when you are potty training a three year old who refuses to poop on the potty, you mix up this formula and soak the stained clothes in it. My experience has been that the clothes might not look brand-new, but the stains are significantly lightened. This is the formula:table4five.net, Tightwad Gazette Recipe for Laundry Stains | Table for Five, Jul 2009

Shirts are soaking as we speak - I'll be bookmarking this site for future reference!

Memory String

I've been away from knitting for far too long - I let work get in the way :( Feb/Mar were crazy busy, plus we kept getting sick. I was intentionally busy as I had no idea whether I'd have any work in April knowing the BC Government had frozen consulting contracts. So on top of that we booked a vacation to Mexico. Well, lo and behold, I had work for April, a proposal to get out the door while I was on vacation!!!

So you are somewhat caught up as to my disappearance since March.

Now I'm knitting my son some navy blue socks (we were in Vancouver at Urban Yarns last weekend and he helped pick out some sock yarn that was on sale for $2.95 - $3.95) I cast them on while at the hotel, knit some while watching beach volleyball, then knit some more watching Midsomer Murders on Knowledge Network last night. When I picked up the needles/yarn, all those memories came back to me. I find it comforting for some reason to sit and knit and remember all the 'events' that occur while knitting a particular item. Note: I'm knitting the Hedgerow Sock pattern for a preschooler using Filatura Di Crosa Maxime Soft Socks on my Crystal Palace size 0 bamboo needles.

To test this theory out, I then pulled out the "Hey Teach" sweater I started on vacation in Mexico - and yep, I could recall doing the cast on while at home; the knitting at the airport while our flight was delayed, and delayed and delayed; the frogging when I messed up the pattern not once, but twice (I didn't read the instructions properly). Then as I knit some more I could recall the knitting on the beach, watching my son running from waves, then running back to taunt the sea :)

This is so much more interesting than photo albums :)

Beware Food Network cravings..

Watching Food Network television can land you in the kitchen for 4 hours on Sunday!
Last evening, we were watching Drive-ins, Diners and Dives, and they were touring a couple of Barbeque 'shacks'. Well the food looked sooooo tempting, we instantly started scouring the net for recipes to make our own version (as our favourite place to go is Memphis Blues in Vancouver and a road trip was out of the question - there is the local Smoken Bones restaurant, but if we're going to go out and spend that kind of money...well, if you've been to Memphis Blues, you'd understand...)

So we made do with what we had...

Maple Leaf Corn Beef Brisket was cooked in cast-iron dutch oven similar to this http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/My-Mothers-Brisket-13482
Baked Beans - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Boston-Baked-Beans/Detail.aspx
Crockpot Cornbread - http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/01/crockpot-corn-bread-recipe.html
Coleslaw - http://southernfood.about.com/od/coleslawcabbagesalads/r/r80731b.htm
Potato Salad - http://southernfood.about.com/od/potatosalads/r/bln298.htm
Whole Wheat Loaf from Fol epi
Rice Pudding - http://www.veganchef.com/ricepudding.htm

Let's see what the verdict is after we eat! At the very least, we have plenty of leftovers for lunches this week!

If Today Was Your Last Day

Playing around with radio stations I heard this song by Nickelback. Now I've never been able to truly put myself in the shoes of someone terminally ill and figure out what I'd do if I only had one day, one month or whatever to live. But, this recent warning from the doctor actually made me think this song through.

One line "would you forgive your enemies?" made me realize that a heck of alot of energy is wasted on keeping people as 'enemies'. I've thought that enemies are like those on tv or in a book - someone's ongoing nemesis. Not that I have an ongoing fight with anyone, and I can't really see that I have a nemesis. BUT, I do find it takes alot of work to avoid someone who hurt me severely, so I guess she would be considered an 'enemy' and the work involved does take its toll, not to mention avoiding her has cut me off from some dear friends. I thought about it, and if I did only have one day left, I would forgive my 'enemies'. Once I said that to myself, wow, did I ever feel like alot of weight lifted off my shoulders..

So I guess that means I should forgive my enemies and feel lighter now as opposed to waiting for some major health issue...

Balancing Act

Supposedly, I'm run down and need to realize I'm able to "do it all" at my age (my doctor's words, not mine). But he has a point, I think everyone's tired of my complaints of being 'sick and tired of being sick and tired'.

It started with pregnancy, then with sleep deprivation. Yes, my lil k will sleep, but it seems that with motherhood, I've become an extremely light sleeper. Even with earplugs, I will hear lil k coughing, snorting, talking, knocking his water over, etc. However, it's not just the lil k that wakes me up, I'm dreading the upcoming "tourist season" as I found last year, I am constantly awakened by the buses, ship horns, hotel guests. Lack of sleep means I'm not as productive. This proved to create huge stress last week when I couldn't work due to lil k's asthma flareup, and my lack of sleep.

So this week, after being called back to the doctor for results of my annual checkup, I was somewhat confused and frustrated. My blood cell counts are dropping, so much so he says I'm rundown and my immune system is virtually non-existent. So it appears EVERYTHING is out of balance, health, home, work...

I believe I need to work full-time to earn an income that will reduce the stress. But of course, I have a 4yr old boy who wants me working less, so I try to spend time with him, then work when he sleeps. The more I work, the more tired I become, so this creates a downward spiral. Strangely enough, on Monday night, I opened up a book by Daniel Bach and the topic was that of living your life by your values, not by 'goals' or 'stuff'. He created something called 'Value Circles' tm reflected by a continuous ring of personalized values. "There's a starting point to this ring, but there is no ranking. ... if you don't put a fair amount of effort into all of your top values, your life can become unbalanced." So if too much emphasis/priority is spent on one area to the detriment of another, you get out of balance. So I'm reviewing my balance - I try to juggle everything at once (security/career, freedom, family, health), and trying to balance work while lil k is sick creates an imbalance. Today I decided to stay focussed on the immediate task at hand. Once I stopped trying to do so many things at once, everything settled down.

Now I just have to figure out whether I really know what my top values are!

Weekend Chores

For Christmas I received the Yarn Harlot's 'Never Not Knitting' page a day calendar. Today's date had a weekend chore of culling yarn from the stash - ie that yarn which you KNOW you'll never use, no longer sure why you got it in the first place, etc...

I'm not prepared to venture into the stash and pull things out - I *believe* I need to be able to concentrate on this task, otherwise I may just give up something that I shouldn't (ie If I'm not concentrating, I may forget what the item was for, and accidentally give away something that is scheduled for knitting later in the year!!!) So, instead of culling yarn, I'm on the computer culling emails from my outlook to save some computer space...and ran across the following:

From the excerpt: Types of Automatic Negative Thinking that you need to stop:

Mind reading --- predicting you know that another person is thinking something negative about you without them telling you. I often tell my patients that, "A negative look from someone else may mean nothing more than he or she is constipated. You don't know. You can't read minds. I have 25 years of training in human behavior and I still can't read anyone's mind."

I need to remember everyone is constipated (grin)