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Make N’ Tell: Knitting Progress

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

My big news is that residency is officially over. Hoo. Ray. What I didn’t realize is that the end of residency created a lot of angst and stress, which I relieved by knitting up a storm. I saw a t-shirt on Facebook that said “I knit so I don’t kill people.” I’m sure my knitting pals have already seen something similar, but boy did it ever ring true in the last month. It’s hard, in a Stockholm Syndrome kind of way, to leave behind the place you’ve spent thousands of hours working your butt off in, and it’s hard in a healthier way to leave behind the people you forge relationships with while (forgive me a little drama here) saving children’s lives.

That’s not the story of this entry, though. This is about the fabulous products I created while ignoring things like my licensure paperwork going bonkers, my family and friends being sad and hurt that I’m leaving Chicago, and my own sadness at closing this chapter in my life.

First up: I finished Theo’s starfish sweater! I really love how it turned out. Once again, letting the child pick out his own colors resulted in a bright, fun combo that looks really nice. You’d think I steered him toward colors that go nicely, but I really didn’t have to.

Out of focus as usual, but the kid moves fast

The other problem is that the neckband is a little tight on his big old noggin, so I’ll probably have to rework it a little when cool weather rolls around again. Likely I’ll do a little creative snipping and stitching to make room. He got the Sheldon head.

Better focus, and better detail of the starfish

So sweet! He loves it, though the trauma of being stuck in it while I wrassled it off his cranium stuck with him for a bit. I’m not even adjusting until we know the mythic proportions that melon will reach. There’s just no point.

My other FO (that’s knitting talk for “finished object.” I’m getting down with my bad, needle-wielding self now) was finally finishing Max’s other sock.

Max feet, now with new socks!

I’m not totally thrilled with the result of these socks, but I learned a few things along the way.

1) My kids have weird feet. I actually already knew this, but making socks for Max reinforced it. They both have very tall insteps, which makes it hard to gauge where to start the gussets. Close examination will show that these socks are two different lengths from toe to heel, neither of which really fit well.

2) All kids have scrawny ankles. This makes keeping a sock on the foot rather difficult. Max can jump right out of these socks if he doesn’t have shoes on.

3) Knitting socks for kids just isn’t worth it. It seemed like a nice way to use up scrap sock yarn, but the time involved is more than I care to spend on someone who’s outgrown one sock before I can finish the second one. I’ll make socks for grown-ups, which is a little simpler and more rewarding.

Don’t be sad for me, Brainphreak fans. You live and learn, and you cast on something else. I’m currently working on a very cute bag from the Sweatshop of Love’s summer patterns eBook. Please consider spending a few dollars on this book or any of the patterns now available individually on the website. It’s a mighty cool book, and I’m proud of Allyson for putting together such a badass production!

Posted in Knitting, The Boys | 2 Comments »

Make N’ Tell Revisited (part II)

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Part II of Make N’ Tell Revisited is devoted to knitting and food. First up is this fancy blue tank top, which I mostly finished in February but didn’t really finish until March-ish. The story goes like this: My sister hooked me up with the yarn (Lion Brand Incredible in Blue Shades), which I then found a cool pattern for in a Vogue knitting mag that my stepmom had. I started making it, but didn’t have anywhere near enough yarn. If only I’d known at the time that my excellent friend Laura, progenitor of the MN’T Challenge in the first place, actually works for Lion Brand and could’ve turned that to my advantage. As it was, I visited numerous craft stores, hobby shops, back alley yarn trucks (ok not that last one), where my request for the yarn was met with a derisive sniff and the explanation that “We don’t carry Lion Brand.”

So I resorted to the internet, where I happily found 8 skeins of the exact yarn I needed on Ebay. Once I had those in hand, the rest of the top knit up very quickly, thanks to the drop stitch design that puts in an extra 1/2 inch every 6 rows. I also got my first opportunity to shape a neckline, which turned out to make perfect sense and work just great.

Sadly, when I put the top on, it just didn’t look quite right. It was a little wider than it was long, which is a look that begs to be worn with acid-wash jeans in my mind. No, gracias. But I had an idea! I went to a group class at the Sweatshop of Love, where the delightful and talented Allyson showed me how to pick up stitches. I added 12 rows of garter stitch to the front and back, which I opted not to seam, instead leaving a little slit at the hip on both sides, et voila!

Headed to the opera in my snappy tank!

Next up is the octopus sweater I knitted Max, which built on the skills gained from the tank. I let him pick out the colors, and I think he did a better job than the folks at Vogue did. Also, this sweater is a handy replacement for the crab sweater his punky little friend at school teases him about. Because the octopus was duplicate stitched on, it was super easy but makes me look like I have skills that I lack!

Max in his octopus sweater

In the same group class where Allyson revealed the secrets of picking up stitches, she also taught me the second half of what I needed to know to make toe-up socks. As you can see, I put that to good use on two socks for Dan and one sock for Max.

Socks

Max will definitely get a second sock soon, especially since he’s demanding it. I’ve been busy with the next project, though, which is a sweater for Theo from the same pattern as Max’s. In the same vein, I let Theo pick out his own colors, and he did an awesome job. When his sweater is done, it will have a starfish on the front instead of an octopus. Because I can’t make the boys too matchy matchy, no matter how fun they think it is right now.

Finished back of Theo's sweater

Theo tries it on

Next up: the recipe

On our trip through the Texas Hill Country in February, we explored a bunch of wineries with Dad and Peg and the Reicherts. One of them had a tasty tempranillo that cost a little more than we wanted to pay, but we couldn’t resist. Dad offered to buy a second bottle if we could all share it paired with some paella. Sounded like a deal to me. It wasn’t until April that we finally got around to it. I didn’t have a particular recipe in mind, but I knew it would have to have shrimp, since the boys are crazy for it. I also figured some of Ms. Crystal’s delicious chorizo would be called for. I looked at a few recipes on Epicurious in the morning, let them roll around in my brain during the day, combined them with what we had around the house already and came up with the delicious result below. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture, but it looked very colorful and was a huge hit. Definitely Tempranillo-worthy.

Paella with Chicken, Chorizo, and Shrimp

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. chorizo
1 onion, diced
1 jarred roasted pepper, chopped
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
3c chicken broth
1c dry white wine
2 bay leaves
2 packages Vigo yellow rice + pinch of saffron
1/2lb. shrimp
1 tomato, diced
1c frozen peas

1) Heat grill, season chicken breast with salt and pepper, grill chicken breast
2) Heat olive oil in large pot on med. high heat, then add chorizo and cook until browned
3) Add onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes
4) Stir in roasted pepper and garlic powder
5) Add chicken broth, white wine, bay leaves and saffron and bring to a boil
6) Add rice and shrimp, reduce heat to low
7) Chop grilled chicken and add to pot, cover and cook on low heat for 25 minutes
8 ) Add tomato and peas, cook 1 more minute or until heated through

Posted in Food, Knitting, Make n' Tell Challenge, The Boys | 2 Comments »

Make N’ Tell Day 7: Now With Video!

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Hey everyone,

Gonna be quick tonight because I got my butt kicked in the PICU last night. However, I took video today, so my audio-visuals can speak for me. The whole family worked together today to make apple butter, apple sauce, and the puree that will become tomato sauce.

Good, wholesome, family fun. Stay tuned for the sauce tomorrow.

Posted in Food, Make n' Tell Challenge, The Boys | 2 Comments »

Sheldons get a video camera

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

We finally picked out the video camera that Sarah “bought” for me for Christmas.

Let’s see if this works!

Dan

Posted in The Boys | No Comments »

What’s New?

Sunday, April 13th, 2008

First off, not me. While back in Boston for Theo’s baptism and the Otherworld benefit ball, I received a very powerful reminder of who the old me is. Kristi had put together a presentation featuring quotes from staff members regarding what we love about each other. The one about me mentioned my contagious enthusiasm and consistent good nature. Oh yeah, I remember that girl. The one I haven’t been for about nine months now. Then Pastor Pam instructed us in her sermon on Sunday to “remember who you are.” Finally, on returning to work Monday morning, the church sign at 93rd and Pulaski that I always check for its pithy quotes said “Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?” Message received. So my current priority is on being the old me. My soul just got a makeunder, because the new, toxic, cranky me was not panning out as well as one might have expected.

As for my babies, they’re growing fast and furious. Theo can now stand on his own for as long as he cares to, though he hasn’t taken many steps yet (just one as far as I know). He was proud enough of this accomplishment to climb onto one of the kid-sized chairs in the living room and stand up on that. Showoff. He looked kind of like a prairie dog popping his little head up high to look around. We promptly ushered him off the chair, and then I tried to recreate the scene to take a picture of it, safety be hanged! In other news, Max has now peed in his potty twice! Both times I invited him to sit on his potty and then busied myself with other things, so I think he prefers to go when the pressure’s off. The first time, he went into the bathroom by himself and came out a few minutes later announcing “I’m done!” Sure you are, thought I, on to the next activity. It was only half an hour later when I went to use the bathroom that I discovered he truly had done something. There was much celebration and rewarding with jellybeans, topped off with a call to Grandma and Granddad (his idea) to leave a message on their voicemail, “Hi Grandma Daddad I peed the potty got a jellybean. I love you. Bye.” Thank God the end of diapers is actually starting to come into view. I thought we’d never get there.

Also in other small tidbits: I got a new treadmill in the hopes of getting some exercise on a regular basis. It’s shiny and fancy and I like it a great deal.
We’re going to Costa Rica in May, which will be my first vacation since September. I cannot wait. I really need the break, and I will not make the mistake of spacing my vacations so far apart next year. Also, the boys got their passports, which are too cute for words, particularly Theo’s “you’re taking me where?” face in the photo.
I’m almost a senior resident. This intern year has flown by, and I can’t wait for it to be over. I don’t kid myself that being one step up from the bottom of the totem pole is going to solve all my problems, but I’ve been assured that quality of life goes up with the onset of second year. July 1st, everybody. Just keep me in your thoughts until then.

Finally, if you’re reading this, you’re most likely a loved one of mine. Please know that you are in my heart all the time. Updates with news, recommendations, or random thoughts are always appreciated, even if I don’t write back as much as I’d like. I would love to hear from everybody, and hopefully you’ll be hearing more from me as the sun comes out, both literally and figuratively, here in Chicago.

Posted in Residency, The Boys | 3 Comments »

Lesser known milestones

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

Max passed a couple of life events recently that I feel should qualify as milestones, though they’re not typically considered as such. Number one: first bite injury. Evidently, he was sitting down to breakfast at daycare, and the little girl next to him hauled off and chomped him on the cheek. The daycare workers aren’t allowed to tell you who did it, probably because they know I’m likely to bite back in defense of my golden-headed sweet pea, but I found myself staring down all the little girls when I picked him up from school in the hopes that the offender would crack under pressure. No dice. Dan was out of town and begged me to document the event with photos. Since he took the camera with him, I had to take them with my new phone, so if I ever figure out how to get them from my phone to the internet, I’ll post them. They’re very dramatic, made more so because he was fighting me on having his picture taken.

Milestone number two was, uh, number two. In the tub. On the plus side, this means he’s getting ready for potty training. On the minus side…need I really explain the minus side? Fortunately, I’d been reading some educational materials in clinic about potty training, and I knew how to respond. I don’t feel the need to go into it all here, since that qualifies as an anecdote of the “your children aren’t that interesting” variety. You’re welcome.

Posted in The Boys | 1 Comment »

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