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That’s right … we’re about half-way there.  I’m almost at 17 weeks in my pregnancy!  The nausea has subsided (thank goodness!), now replaced by exhaustion, aching muscles, cravings, and the start of a baby bump!

No make-up and exhausted, but look at that bump!

I’m starting to rub my belly involuntarily now; something that I don’t notice but other people do.  And it is all that I can do to watch my mouth and make sure I’m on my best behavior.  Some days are terrible; I understand more and more why women were once ‘sequestered’ while pregnant.

But, despite moodiness and the desire to eat an entire cherry pie, one fabulous thing has happened …

I CAN KNIT AGAIN!!!!

I started a simple cardi for the baby with some red and brown yarn that I had in my stash.  The pattern is Garter Yoke Baby Cardigan, and it is almost finished.  I also ordered the yarn today to make the baby blanket; Hemlock Ring!  I love this pattern, and the yarn will be super-wash, so I can toss it in the washing machine if needed.

In addition to knitting, my mother is helping me with a little sewing for myself.  I’m dying for some vintage clothing, and since finding maternity vintage is next to impossible, I’ve decided to make new garments from vintage patterns.  A simple shirt and skirt combo from the 1950′s, and a cute inverted-pleat smock dress from the 1960′s.  We ordered the patterns today and I’m hoping to get started on them next month!  While I love my maternity jeans, I am going crazy not having anything vintage or fun to wear!

I am hoping that, now that I’m feeling better, I’ll be blogging more in the near future.  Baby knitting to share, sewing progress to display …. things may be back to normal here at the Menagerie quite soon!  Thanks for sticking it out with me!

It occurred to me yesterday, after chatting via email with a swap pal, that I really haven’t updated my blog in over a month.  I knew that it had been awhile, but wow – I can’t believe how long it truly has been.

Did you miss me?  *bats eyelashes*   I missed you, readers.

So, let me get you all up to speed.

I had an amazing birthday.  Not only was the night of yarn and chocolate a true treat, it was so wonderful to see almost all of the knitting ladies turn out to meet Tina and fondle all her hand-dyed yarn!  We had the best time, and even though I was having hormonal hot flashes and sickness, it was still a lot of fun.

The whole weekend I was not myself; I have been sick thus far for the entire pregnancy, and was exhausted and ill the entire time that my house was full of company.  But, I couldn’t have asked for better company, and I hope that they had a great time as well.

Tina and Steve, at Awabi. Two of my favorite people and the best gift was their visit!

Speaking of pregnancy, yes, I am still pregnant. While I’m really excited about having a baby this fall, and welcoming a new member to the family and into our lives, the process itself has not been fun.  As I mentioned, I’ve been physically miserable the entire time.  Sick and exhausted, still, despite the fact that I am now in the second trimester.  I still can’t knit. (The motion makes me sick. I can do six or seven rows before I feel like I’m gonna pass out. I plan on learning crochet in hopes that this will not be as bad.)

But, on a happy note, I finally had to break down and buy maternity jeans, and I always smile when I put them on. We’ve picked out a boy’s name but not yet agreed on a girl’s.  My husband is the best man in the world; he’s been doing almost all the chores and cooking, not to mention going out to get me food when I just can’t stand the smell of anything cooking.  We’re picking out nursery furniture this weekend, and I can’t wait!

My position, cat included, on most days.

So, I apologize for my absence, but I’ve been so exhausted that most days, I don’t even want to turn on my laptop.

I hope you all are doing well!

I apologize for not blogging as often as I normally do.  I’ve been rather busy, and slightly stressed, with work, so I’ve been taking a lot of time for myself.  I’ve also been lost in the land of the UFO; trying to finish Mom’s plain ’50/50′ socks from last year and Tory’s wedding shawl.

So, while I’m slack on photos, I’ll give you my answers to this week’s ‘Ten On Tuesday’.

‘Ten Things To Do When It’s Too Cold To Go Outside’

1. Knit!  At least, that’s what I do when it is cold outside.  Of course, this is what I do no matter the weather.
2. Spin!  If I had a fire-place, I’d spin more than I do.  But it is a more pleasant hobby to perform inside when its cold.
3. Watch some tele.  There are some great shows on right now (Being Human, Alcatraz, Face Off,) so there is always an excuse to cuddle under a blanket on the couch.
4. Bake some bread.  My husband has been doing this one.  He’s perfecting a sourdough starter, and the finished project is delicious!
5. Read a book.  I’m currently hooked on the Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson (Case Histories, etc.)
6. Play a board game.  Yahtzee is my all time favorite (and I should buy the table top version at some point, rather than just playing on my iPhone,) but we also love Monopoly.
7. Practice some yoga.  I took my first yoga class last night with Amanda,(or should I say, the first one in almost ten years.)  It was a great experience and I think we had a lot of fun.  And while yoga can practiced in the cold, I find it more comfortable in the warmth of a studio or a home.
8. Have a cuppa.  Be it tea, coffee, or hot cocoa, nothing warms me up on a cold day like a hot cuppa.
9. Snuggle with a furry friend.  That is one of my nice things about the cold weather.  My cats actually want to snuggle with me and John more often.  When the weather is really cold out (even though my cats are indoor dwellers and we have heat,) I always wake up with at least one – if not both – of them curled up against me.
10. Turn up the ‘Otis Redding’ station on Pandora Radio, and just relax.

Stay warm, and enjoy the rest of the week!

For all of the knitters and crocheters out there, the Swap Stop (the Ravelry swap group that I co-host with Karen,) is now taking sign-ups for the new swap.  For the first swap of the year, our theme is ‘Learn A New Skill’.  If you are on Ravelry, you can check out the details HERE.

Learn A New Skill – Q&A

Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?

I knit, and have been doing so for about seven or eight years now.

What are your favorite yarns/fibers? Are there any that you want to try but haven’t?

I am a huge fan of Indie dyed sock yarns, but also love Cascade 220 Wool, Knit Picks WOTA, Manos del Uraguay, Madeline Tosh, and Spud & Chloe.  I’ve been wanting to try more yarns from Knit Picks, like their City Tweed and Sugarbunny lines.

Are there any yarns/fibers that you don’t like?

I do not like acrylic (I don’t mind a yarn that has a little bit of acrylic in it, but not too much.)  I’m not a huge fan of cotton either.

What colors do you like/dislike?

I love any and all colors, except for neon or pastel shades.  I’m trying to branch out of my ‘safety zone’ with colors (mainly purple.)

Are there any skills that you have been wanting to learn, but were afraid to try?

Extreme lace.  I mean, one of those shawls that requires nupps and more than 2000 yards of lace yarn.

What would be the number one ‘skill’ you want to try this year?

I really want to learn to crochet.  It has been on my list for a while now.

Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift?

Yes, both.

Do you have a blog?

Well, you’re reading right now, aren’t you?

Do you collect anything?

Not so much anymore, but I do love to gather new recipes for soups and stews (crock pot, especially!)

Do you like sweets? What are your favorites?

I’m trying to cut back on sweets, but I’ll never truly turn them away.

What is your living situation like? Any pets? Children?

I live with my hubby, John, and our two cats – Mavey and Cooley.

Are you allergic to anything?

Just certain medications, so nothing to worry about.

Is there anything else that you want your pal to know?

I’m not a fan of strong scents for lotions or candles.  Other than that, I know that I’ll love anything that you send!

(First, I want to apologize for some formatting issues in this post.  I have done both visual and HTML edits, and nothing is working.  I am confident it is a glitch with WordPress and not me, but none the less, I get very OCD when my posts look messy and made by a five year old.)

I keep reading articles about the world ending this year, due to the Mayan predicton for 2012.  I like to think of it as the possibility of a mass change for the better, not the end of the world.  Because an ending isn’t always terrible; sometimes it can be the beginning of something wonderful.

But as 2012 starts, giving us a new, shiny, fresh out of the box year, I want to take a moment to reflect on my crafty accomplishments for the year that has just passed.  Taking a cue from Chan, I really enjoyed her post and I thought that I would do one of my own.

In 2011, I completed sixty plus projects, in the following categories :

• Eighteen pairs of socks
• Twelve hats
• Six cowls
• Nine shawls
• One sweater
• Nine baby items (sweaters, hats, booties, etc.)
• One scarf
• One dishcloth
• Six pairs of mittens/fingerless mitts
• Two bags

What a weekend!  I have to say that the best thing about this Christmas, was actually getting to celebrate with friends and family on Christmas, without having to work.  Amazing, I tell you.  Simply amazing.

Christmas morning was all about the food.  I cooked a classic breakfast; bacon, eggs, and sausage gravy.  My mom brought the biscuits and hash-brown casserole, and my MIL made a tasty coffee cake.

Mrs. Claus, cooking breakfast

My aunt and uncle

I received some lovely gifts; new cookie sheets, a new hand mixer,  a new light fixture for the dining room, and yarn.  My mom, who knows that I don’t believe that Santa will bring me gifts, thought that I might believe in this one.  So sweet!  It was a necklace pendant made from a recycled Scrabble tile, that had the TARDIS on it.

A gift from The Doctor!

John was the one who made out like a bandit.  He’s been doing some deer hunting this year, and his parents thought that he should have his own gun.  When he opened the box, he looked over and shouted, “It’s a Red Rider BB gun!!!”

'You'll shoot your eye out, kid!' I hope not.

It was a wonderful morning, and I couldn’t have asked for more.  To have the immediate family here, to celebrate, laugh, and eat a tasty meal.  That is all I could ever want.

The afternoon was spent resting, watching Christmas movies, and knitting.  I needed a break before I started cooking for the Doctor Who Christmas party that evening!  It was just a small gathering, some fellow geeky friends, me and my husband.  But look what I made for desert … Fish Fingers and Custard!

Jen, ready to dive in

A delightful night, full of yarn and hand-knits!!!  John received a new hat and cowl from Brandon and Tory, and I received yarn, a new hat, and new fingerless gloves!  They received hand-knits,too, because they are both knitters and I knew that they would not only love them, but appreciate them as well.

Brandon and Tory

The Christmas special was fantastic; a heart-warming tale, and always a happy ending for the holidays.  In a way, I think its kind of funny that we all come together on Christmas to watch a television show.  But in the same respect, it feels very ‘retro’ to me, like people gathered around the radio to listen to a Christmas program or special.

So, we can hang our hats on another wonderful holiday season.  Many thanks to my friends and family, who helped to make this weekend the best one that I’ve had in a while.

Happy Christmas to everyone in Blogland!  The festivities have begun and it is turning out to be a wonderful weekend.

Last night we celebrated Christmas Eve at the In-Laws’ house.  Ellen made Yorkshire Pudding, David the roast. The food is always so good, just like the company.

Dave, cutting the venison summer sausage

Cupcakes!

The cupcakes that I made were gingerbread with brown sugar buttercream icing.  Needless to say, that by the time coffee and gift opening was over, there were no cupcakes left on the plate.  They were so delicious; I found the recipe at the Tidy Mom blog.  Try them out, you won’t be disappointed.

And, of course, I had to make everyone get together for a few photos.  It is so important to me to have a family photo each year.  One day (or so I hope,) my kids and grandkids will be able to look back and share the memories with me.

Dad and John

That’s a funny photo, because my Dad doesn’t drink.  He actually almost knocked the bottle over and I managed to get this shot after he caught it.

The whole family (Me, John, Mom, Dad, Dave, and Ellen)

After we finished, John and I headed home for some wine and our traditions of opening our stockings and watching ‘A Christmas Story’.  My sweet, smart husband; my stocking was full of chocolate, hand-made soap, and knitting notions.

One thing that we always put in each others’ stockings (something started with my grandparents,) are lotto scratch tickets.  I didn’t win anything this year, but John won twenty-one dollars!  Not to mention the pair of socks that I knit for him (which he immediately put on!)

Basic Rib Socks in Mountain Colors Barefoot

So, from all of us at the Menagerie, we wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful, happy New Year!

Best Wishes from Mr. and Mrs. Darsie!

It’s Christmas Eve!!!!  I’m so excited.  I’m happy to have friends and family to celebrate with, happy to give gifts – both bought and handmade, and I’m happy that I have so many blessings to be thankful for.

I always think about my Grandparents on Christmas.  There were so many happy memories for me that involved them.  Christmas was a big deal for my Grandmother and there isn’t a holiday season that passes when I don’t miss her.  I wish that she was still here, sharing in the food and the cheer.  I wish that I could hug her and sit at her feet.  I wish that I could see her smile and hear her laugh again.  So, I do get a little misty on Christmas, but I remember that I’m lucky to have had all the wonderful times that I did with her and my Grandfather.

My grandparents - Ina and Jennings - 1948

Today, I’m getting ready to bake and cook a few things.  We have dinner tonight, brunch tomorrow, and another dinner tomorrow night.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve, everyone!  May your day be both merry and bright!

One of my favorite things about the holidays is seeing friends and family, both who I see daily and those who I haven’t seen in years.  This year I was in for a treat; I got to see Cyrena.  She and I went to school together, from elementary to high school, and were such good friends.  She’s since moved to Colorado, so trying to get together can be a bit hectic.  But finally, we nailed down a night when she was home and I wasn’t working.

Just like old times

Catching up over wine and sushi, I was amazed on how much we’ve grown up.  I’m always mixed on my feelings; at times I feel like nothing has changed and no time has passed, but at other times I ask myself, ‘When did I become an adult?‘.  Cyrena is doing fantastic and loving life; working as a meteorologist, training horses.  She’s still as vibrant and beautiful, both inside and out, as she was when we last saw each other ten years ago.

I hope that you all will have a chance to visit with friends and family this season, and possibly re-connect with some folks who you haven’t seen in ages, too.

Today is the Winter Solstice.  And to all of my Pagan friends out there – I hope that it is a good one for you, full of friends, food, and good hopes for the upcoming year.  Chan has a little blurb on her blog post from yesterday.

The Oak King of the Winter Solstice

If you don’t know a lot about Solstice, you can check out the Wiki article about it.  It was, traditionally, the last big feast before the winter, a time to remember and celebrate.  Because even though winter blankets everything with cold and darkness, there is always spring just a short time away.

But I won’t lie; for someone who works night shift, it can be a very long night.  I mean, just the fact that it is the longest night of the year, can make a night at work seem never-ending.  But, I never really know how my night will be until I get there.

And with all of this darkness setting in, with a long night and a cold morning, I’m thinking about my own spring and new year.  I’m thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2012, and where I want my life to go.  But more on that tomorrow.  Tonight, stay in, stay warm, and light a candle to remember all of the blessing that you have, and all that you are thankful for.