Catsup

Okay it has been a long time between posts even for my recent sparse frequency.  Time to rectify that.  The kids are napping, as is their grandfather, mom is downstairs I suspect she's at her computer finalizing things for my sister's wedding next Satuday and I have some quiet time as my shawl is soaking in the sink for its blocking.  I've tried a couple of times to put together a post, but it seemed that circumstances were conspiring to keep me from doing it.  One night our DSL connection was incredibly slow, the second one, it wouldn't connect at all.  Some pretty violent thunder storms two nights had the computers off entirely.  Oh well, just wasn't meant to be.  I have alot to catch y'all up on so lets get moving.

First and foremost, an update on the job thing.  Last I posted, I had received an offer and was waiting for the Freelance Place (heretofore known as FP) to counter.  Well, the boss lady and I had a serious talk Wednesday morning on the deadline.  While she couldn't offer me a permanent job, she did indeed have enough work for me to do to keep me until the end of the third quarter.  The 4th quarter was more than likely, but they don't plan that far ahead (interesting for a large corp, but whatever).  Doing the math, the freelance gig was paying darn well, even without providing benefits (I've picked an individual health plan with Blue Cross for $475 a month so that is covered) that it seemed silly to take a pay cut for the theoretical security blanket that a "permanent" job offers.  We all saw how permanent my last position was.  Also keep in mind that two of the three people I'm working with, now permanent employees, started as freelancers as well.  I also didn't have to take the first offer that came around.  The this job or that was an artificial limitation that just didn't need to there.  Freelancing offers me a great deal of flexibility and freedom that I couldn't get at the other company.  It seemed silly to not stay at FP.  I did the calculation, to match my gross income from BN.com, I just need to work 23 hours a week.  Not too shabby when you really think about it.  So there it is.  I'm working and happy.  We'll see what happens as we close in on the end of the 3rd quarter.  In the meantime, I'm getting experience in .NET that I didn't have before and found to be the necessary technology currently in my market.  The real upside to this is that one interview I went on early in my quest kept the door open that if I gained .NET knowledge I should call them back.  Options are good.

Now that summer has begun, the boat and the pool are seeing some usage.  Last weekend, we inaugurated both over the holiday weekend giving the twins their first tastes of them as 2 year olds.  Over the course of almost two hours, the pair got pretty darn comfortable in the water.  The lifevests gave them the security to keep their faces out of the water and freedom to do things without clinging to the nearest adult.  Speaking as one of those nearby adults, it was a most pleasant change.

Sunday morning the family trouped to the marina and spent this year's first overnight on the boat.  These kids are definitely water babies.  They took very nicely to the boat this year, which is a good thing as we'd planned to go to Kingston, NY, up the mighty Hudson River, for the extended July 4th weekend, via boat naturally.  Nice that they do so well on it.

This next picture isn't from the holiday weekend but one that I downloaded from mom's camera of a day trip that they took with the kids to the boat a couple of weeks ago.  I just loved it and wanted to share.  As always, click to see the larger photos.  I love seeing my dad with the kids.  They really look so great together.  Dad is just amazing with them.  The sun rises and sets by their PopPop.

As this is purportedly a knitting blog, I do have knitting to report.  First, I'd like to publicly declare my membership in the Summer of Stash.  I'm not sure what my reward to myself at the end of it is going to be, maybe the Mermaid kit or another Dale of Norway.  Who knows.  Really though I seriously have enough yarn in stash to keep busy all summer long without buying anything.  My exceptions are going to be the Sundara Petal's Collection as that is already paid for and not technically purchased between the end dates.  I withhold the right to buy myself a yarny birthday present in July as it is a birthday that end in {shudder} a '0'.  I also will claim as an exception yarn purchased as a souvenier should I actually go anywhere, like Kingston and find some.  So there we have it.  I did get some purchase in under the wire including two eBay buys of some Wendy Guernsey in Slate that is pegged to become The Danish Nattrøjer from the Winter '04 IK Issue.  I also picked up a pack of some Rowan Wool Cotton that is destined to be a Chicknits design, just not sure which one yet (Eyelet Cardi or Cutaway).

As it isn't always about buying yarn, but actually using some of it, I have been knitting.  And I have a completed project.  The ever present socks. They took a while for me to finish and with everything that has been going on, I honestly can't remember when I finished them, though the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend is a likely candidate.  I just won't swear to it.  I did start new socks the very night I finished these though.  I picked up a few skeins of Lisa Souza's wonderful Sock! yarn.  Having seen Wendy's socks naturally I bought the mahogany colorway, as well as the What-A-Melon and Earth Birth.  All are just gorgeous.  I eagerly started the What-A-Melon, working toe up on the same needles.  I finished the first one on Memorial Day and am now slowly getting some work done on the second one.  The yarn is just delightful to work with and is making some gorgeous socks.  Here you see the second sock posing as a modesty shield during little peep bath time.   Gave me something to do while they played.  Just have to work on that whole splashing thing.

In other knittings news, I've been working on Wendy's Lisa and finally started Reid for Kathryn.  Having had 2 days off in the middle of the week as Kat ran a fever, I got some knitting done during naps.  I've finished the back for Lisa and have a good start on the first sleeve.  The knitting is easy and good for tv and/or toddler watching and the drape of the Silky Wool is just to die for.  I sooooo love this item.   Reid is coming along nicely too, though the cotton yarn (Patons Grace) is not the easiest on the hands.  Alternating between the two, Silky Wool on Addi Turbos and the Grace on Addi Naturas is making my hands a little sore.  The socks enter stage right for hand relief knitting! 

Yesterday I needed to get the kids out of the house so that mom could get some things done, including hemming her dress for Rikki's wedding.  She's doing mine today and just ran out to buy a different thread for it.  Anyway, we needed to get the shorties out and the weather was just dreary.  Immediately this mall rat thought of heading to, where else, but the mall.  In the end, it didn't work out that way, but much better.  We went to visit these two!

It's Deb and Chappy!  Who where, as always, great hosts.  Even if Chappy gets perplexed by the fact that even after the initial excitement the toddlers are still moving around! I hear you Chappy, I still don't quite get it that they JUST CAN'T SIT STILL! They once again adopted the underneath of the desk in Deb's kitchen as their own personal playcave.  Goofy monkeys they are. 

That pretty much brings us up to date with the bigger goings on around the CFL household.  Except this, what is it?  I'll leave that to you all to figure out :)

Just as an FYI, I had to set the blogs comments to requiring approval after I got some serious comment spam of over 75 in one evening.  I spent too much time deleting them.  Bastards need to get a real hobby and not promoting their real estate, pharmacy or porn sites in my comments!

Gots to go block my shawl.  Ta for now!

Craft on!

Comments

[Nancy J]

So glad things are going well! Is the picture our kitty zen -- a kitty with painted pads???

[janna]

Great news about the job - it sounds like you made the right decision. I too have a big birthday in July (bigger than yours!) and hadn't even thought about buying myself something semi-outrageous. I need to start making a list! And the pictures of your dad with the kids are beautiful - there's something about being a grandpa..... (oh -- I have no idea what that thing you're holding is, and am not sure I want to know, either.)

[Claudia]

Welcome back! Fantastic news on job and housing front - your kids are suchs cuties!! Now... is that Cat-nail-polish on your kitty's nails?

[Eva (EvaLux)]

I know what that is :) I just can't remember the name... it is those covers you put over a cats nails so they can't scratch!!! they come in gorgeous colors too hahahaha.

Cheers Eva - PS that pic of PopPop and Alex is gorgeous!!!

[Marina]

Wow, 30 again ;-) Those were the days when I would consider wearing the same nail polish as kitty!

Did you ever open that box of Dales?

[Helen]

You've been busy! Sounds like it is all good, which is what counts.

Are those kitty claw covers that I've seen for dogs?

[Rachel H]

Hey, nice to see you again. Kat's hair is so long now. Wow. SUCH cute kidlets you have, and I love the pics of them with your Dad. He must be reveling in the new living arrangement. (which I bet you will lead to the introduction of quieter toys. just watch)

Great news on the job front too! Glad you're in a place you like and feel appreciated. Good for you.

[--Deb]

Well, I know what the picture is, so I won't say anything. We had a good time yesterday, too--poor, bored Chappy really needed a diversion. I love the pictures of the twins with their PopPop--that's exactly how happy they're supposed to look (adult and the kids).

Really . . . that was a lot of catching up all at once!

[Sara]

Whoo hoo on many fronts! FOs, jobs, kidlets, and I must have missed the memo about painting kitty toenails! (I've seen a number of versions in blog-land). I have a few FOs to report about too - I'm in an airport waiting for a connection right now so it'll wait til I return home (a week or so).

[Carole]

So good to hear from you! I'm glad all is well.

[michelle]

Yeppers, life is what happens when we step away from the machine :-) Yeah for jobs, FO, and fun!! I'm also participating in SOS - I did so well in Buy more yarn that I must do SOS.

As for Kingston there is only one yarn store (that I know of) but there are many in the surrounding area. So I say skip the one in Kingston and stay on the boat. :-) The one in Kingston is tiny but mighty.(but still very much skipable)They sell quilting, spinning, and knitting supplies.

[Lizzy B]

Someone has Soft Paws! I put them on my Ivan cat as a humane alternative to de-clawing. Ivan likes the hot pink and red best since they show up the best on his fur...

Looks like you had fun with Deb and Chappy! And congrats on figuring out the FP dilemma. That has to put your mind at ease.

Wow, those kids DO love water! :)

[Nancy]

I've been wondering about you! Didn't want to intrude since I know you're still getting settled, etc. Glad to hear work has also settled, for a while at least. Up to date skills are everything in your world - sounds like a good choice to me.

Kiddliwinks are adorable as always. Thanks for all the photos.

Socks look great. Love the pinky/peachy colorway.

So ... do the nail shields work?