A walk in the woods

A walk in the woods
Originally uploaded by Jonquil MomI need to knit John a hat.

We all took a hike today over at Reedy Creek along the Umbrella Tree trail. It was the first time we had really taken the kids hiking. They did great! The trail was .7mi in length, but due to the terrain, more like 1-1.5mi... Jack did some riding on Daddy's shoulders, but even he walked most of it. Abby went along and seemed soooo pleased to be out away from the house.
Afterward, we headed for a coffee shop to warm up. Jack was wiped out and out cold - so he slept the whole time on the couch there while John taught Dory the beginnings of Chess. It seemed like she did a pretty good job! I dare say she knows nearly as much as I do now...
Really, a good day... other than John decided he really should have worn a coat. It was about 40, and felt a bit colder due to the shade and breeze.
I sure hope we can do this more often. :)

A log with a hole.

Dory was fascinated by this hollow trunk. She practically wanted to climb in with whatever was hibernating.

A log with a hole.
Originally uploaded by Jonquil Mom

Can you see us?

Fort Day
Originally uploaded by Jonquil Mom

The fort got sooo much larger after I took the picture, but they had a blast for the whole day Tuesday playing with the folding table and the kitchen chairs. I think we had every available towel, play silk, baby blanket and afghan available draping something... There was *no* room under/in this table, Jack is slithering under the bars and Dory is firmly planted between them. The whole day I was pestered with questions of "Can you see me?" Most of the time, the answer was a very definite yes.

Jack

Jack
Originally uploaded by Jonquil Mom

Peanut was overdue for a nap on Monday? (Maybe it was Tuesday), and cute about it. He was so zoned.

Patience, I have none.

So, I have entered myself into this contest for my patterns... and now... I wait. I wait right along with everyone else who entered. We are **ALL** on pins and needles, jumping at every new forum post over on Ravelry. Oh, the wait is killing me. The sheer anticipation of glee or bummer, either way. Oh, how I hate surprises.
LOL, this might be a good cue to me not to submit my patterns to magazines (like Interweave Knits)and webzines (like Knitty, Popknits or Twist Collective)... the thought had crossed my mind but I might be much more of a self publishing person. The torture is a bit much.

Flounder Blues

Ok, I know some of you are here for the kids and some of you are here for the knitting. Today... you get neither! Tough tahooties, get over it. You get of Pickles & Blues instead. Market rambles.
So- remember when John and I had date night last week? We headed over to the Tailgate Market Fundraiser. Bill, the Pickle Guy, also has a jazz band and they played for us. We thoroughly enjoyed Bill's band and the songs... so much so that John bought the CD. It's been in our car ever since.
This morning I worked the market for Summer, since she could not man her Felicitea booth. Well, I set up right beside Bill and ate pickles all morning. Yum. REAL pickles, cultured, fermented and no vinegar. Yep... yummy. I even came home with a jar of pickled green tomatoes. Seriously, good.
Anyway, over the course of the morning I told him how much we like the Flounder Blues... and he let me know there was a music video for it. It's not huge and fancy, but it is fun. I like the imagery I get in my head a bit better, so listen to it once without peeking... but the video is cute, and I just have to share. Of course, if you don't like the idea of going fishing or gigging... well, then you might not like the video.
I wonder if we can find some flounder for dinner now...

John is side tracking me...

Your result for The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test...

4- the Individualist

you chose BY - your Enneagram type is FOUR (aka "The Romantic")

"I am unique"

Romantics have sensitive feelings and are warm and perceptive.

How to Get Along with Me
* Give me plenty of compliments. They mean a lot to me.
* Be a supportive friend or partner. Help me to learn to love and value myself.
* Respect me for my special gifts of intuition and vision.
* Though I don't always want to be cheered up when I'm feeling melancholy, I sometimes like to have someone lighten me up a little.
* Don't tell me I'm too sensitive or that I'm overreacting!

What I Like About Being a FOUR
* my ability to find meaning in life and to experience feeling at a deep level
* my ability to establish warm connections with people
* admiring what is noble, truthful, and beautiful in life
* my creativity, intuition, and sense of humor
* being unique and being seen as unique by others
* having aesthetic sensibilities
* being able to easily pick up the feelings of people around me

What's Hard About Being a FOUR
* experiencing dark moods of emptiness and despair
* feelings of self-hatred and shame; believing I don't deserve to be loved
* feeling guilty when I disappoint people
* feeling hurt or attacked when someone misundertands me
* expecting too much from myself and life
* fearing being abandoned
* obsessing over resentments
* longing for what I don't have

FOURs as Children Often
* have active imaginations: play creatively alone or organize playmates in original games
* are very sensitive
* feel that they don't fit in
* believe they are missing something that other people have
* attach themselves to idealized teachers, heroes, artists, etc.
* become antiauthoritarian or rebellious when criticized or not understood
* feel lonely or abandoned (perhaps as a result of a death or their parents' divorce)

FOURs as Parents
* help their children become who they really are
* support their children's creativity and originality
* are good at helping their children get in touch with their feelings
* are sometimes overly critical or overly protective
* are usually very good with children if not too self-absorbed

Charting

I'm tired. I'm confused. I'm overwhelmed. All of this by a simple little - ok, not so little - chart. I've been trying really hard to get this pattern out in time for the Malabrigo Junkies design contest on Ravelry, but, wow... it's kicking my keister. Wanna' see a pic? Here you go:

ETA: The chart is written, it was more the translating from chart to written directions... and it has been decided that can wait awhile. :) Thank you for all the kind comments and notes!

From Flock Photos

2nd haircut

Before...



And After...


Does it say anything that both pics are of him strapped down? lol

Halloween 2008!

Jack as Bam-Bam Rubble... and he would not leave the costume on.


Dory as a Monarch Butterfly, she would barely hold still. She is keeping a look out for Ba and the kids so we can head out!


Off we go, Dory flapping in the wind.


Bam-Bam and a hatless cowboy.


The men are organizing the attack. They did a great job!


Patiently waiting for the door to open. All night Jack refused to say 'Thank you.' Dory did well, but Jack got off with it being cute due to his age. The boy will have to learn.


Jack's very first lollipop. :)

All in all, a really good night. Dory traded her candy out for a knitting kit. She was pleased and is doing well with it. I think it is just a great tradition that Ba and family come with us, it makes it so much more fun. I also love that we have such a great neighborhood for going door to door. Dory's costume stank though, who knew the smell of a magnum sharpie wouldn't air out in a day? It gave us all a headache once back at the house, so she was stripped of her wings. By the end of the nigh Jack was *finally* saying 'bam-bam' and bopping the bat on the floor. He had earlier been quite determined that is was indeed a baseball bat and needed to be swung. Apparently he's a natural at that, John should be thrilled. Maybe he'll go as a Yankee player next year.
:) Yeah, it was good.

UPDATE: Ba posted some more of the kiddos here. :)

Jack Attack... finally!

At long last, I finally put the Jack Attack up on Ravelry as a free download. I do not have the pattern hosted here like I do the Mabel and Patty - so if you want it, sign up for Ravelry. Enjoy!

From Ravelry

My Taste in Art quiz

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Balanced, Secure, and Realistic.

16 Impressionist, 2 Islamic, 9 Ukiyo-e, -24 Cubist, -29 Abstract and 16 Renaissance!

Impressionism is a movement in French painting, sometimes called optical realism because of its almost scientific interest in the actual visual experience and effect of light and movement on appearance of objects. Impressionist paintings are balanced, use colored shadows, use pure color, broken brushstrokes, thick paint, and scenes from everyday life or nature.

People that like Impressionist paintings may not always be what is deemed socially acceptable. They tend to move on their own path without always worrying that it may be offensive to others. They value friendships but because they also value honesty tend to have a few really good friends. They do not, however, like people that are rude and do not appreciate the ideas of others. They are secure enough in themselves that they can listen to the ideas of other people without it affecting their own final decisions. The world for them is not black and white but more in shades of grey and muted colors. They like things to be aesthetically pleasing, not stark and sharp. There are many ways to view things, and the impressionist personality views the world from many different aspects. They enjoy life and try to keep a realistic viewpoint of things, but are not very open to new experiences. If they are content in their live they will be more than likely pleased to keep things just the way they are.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

ACC anual show

The American Craft Council has an annual show here in Charlotte, and I got to attend yesterday. In keeping with tradition, I brought home a new mug for the year.

I'm already using it to death and love it. I have to knit a cozy for it since it lacks a handle so my hands don't get burned by the pipping hot tea and coffee.

I hope to get links up to my show faves soon. :)

Wedding!

Gail got married on SecondLife on Saturday night. :) Here's a pic of me at the reception.