Flu or Bacon…

Posted on May 3, 2009 by Heather

I’ve been thinking a lot about what to say about the Swine Flu, or H1N1, or the Mexican Flu, or whatever it is that we are supposed to call it today.  And, really, what can I say that hasn’t been said already by an endless stream of know-nothing TV pundits.  According to CNN, as of today, there are about 853 cases of the flu worldwide.  That means 0.000001% of the world’s population is infected.  Compare that to AIDS, which 0.48% of the world has.  I wonder which disease should be getting more of our attention.

In all honest, I will admit to being a little concerned about the Swine Flu.  I live in Toronto, which bore the brunt of the SARS outbreak five years ago, and I also have Baby Man, who is only 15 months old.  Goodness knows I would do anything to keep him healthy.  And then there is my aunt and uncle, who are on vacation in Mexico.  (Actually, they should be on their way home today, assuming they can find an airline flying out of Mexico.)  But even with all those factors, I’m still not overly concerned.  We do our best every day to stay healthy, and short of isolating ourselves in a sealed bubble, there isn’t much more to do.

I know that this outbreak has the potential to be serious, but none of the previous Swine Flu outbreaks lead to a large number of deaths.  I can’t help but feel that a lot of the panic this time around can be laid at the foot of the 24 hours news channels that need to find enough content to fill all of their on-air hours.  Kinda like the Global Economic Crisis reporting of the past six months… which has seemed to slip off the radar a little bit.

Oh, and one last thing, I’m super tired of all the emails floating around saying that eating pork is what caused the Swine Flu.  Seriously, someone believes that?  And even if it was true, you’ve have to pry the bacon from my cold, dead hand.

1 Comment | Posted in The Outside World | Tagged

May 2009 Goals

Posted on May 1, 2009 by Heather

It is May already, and time to review my April goals and set some goals for May.

First, for crafting I said that in April I wanted to:

  1. Crochet an Easter basket for the Baby Man
  2. Finish Baby Man’s jacket
  3. Work on Camelot Miniature on Wednesdays
  4. Get started on Baby Man’s Christmas stocking
  5. Finish the second Show-Off Strand Socks sock

Amazingly, I did everything on the list!  I actually but the last sets of ties on the baby’s jacket today, but they were something beyond the original pattern that I added because I wanted the jacket to stay closed a little better.  And, yeah, I didn’t get far on the stocking, but it is started.  Yay me!

My other goals were:

  1. Write at least three new articles for The Lotus Pond
  2. Organize my knitting patterns
  3. Organize my knitting stash

I didn’t do so well here.  I got two articles written, mainly because I have lost the notes for the third article.  (Honestly, where the heck are those notes?!?)  I did get my knitting patterns sorted, and a knitting notebook started.  However, I didn’t get my yarn sorted out.  It is all in Ravelry, but it is stored all higgledy-piggledy in the closet.

So, my May goals are:

  1. Get at least 1/3 the way through my Lily of the Valley Stole (which I am very nervous about starting)
  2. Finish one more class project from the CreativFestival (Delightful Dragon maybe)
  3. Organize my free cross stitch charts
  4. Find my missing notes and write up that article, and write at least two others
  5. Start my new challenge (more on that in a couple of days)
  6. Try baby sign language with Baby Man again

I think I’ve set some reasonable goals again.  It makes me feel good to be able to set at the end of the month that I’ve accomplished something, even though most days it feels like I am just spinning my wheels.  If I can just avoid getting that world-ending flu (kidding!), I think this will be another good month.

Comments Off on May 2009 Goals | Posted in My Life | Tagged

Socks, Big and Small

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Heather

It’s been a little while since I’ve had a craft-related post on this blog.  For those who don’t know, I post about my crafting (knitting and cross stitch, mainly) over at Stitching Lotus.  However, I’m finding it a bit too time consuming to continue writing two blogs.  So, I will be posting everything here on Reflections going forward, and I will continue to post on Stitching Lotus until the end of May.  All this means that while Reflections will still have the navel-grazing, self-indulgent, somewhat spirituality related posts it was always had, it will now have the addition of interesting-only-to-me crafting posts.  What fun!

So, on to the crafting!

I recently finished up my fifth pair of socks, the lovely Spring Forward from Summer ’08 Knitty, using On Your Toes Bamboo.  It is a really great pattern, and turned out quite nicely… except they are a little large.  Thankfully, I know someone who has feet bigger than me, so these are destined to be a gift.

Spring ForwardSpring Forward
Yarn: On Your Toes Bamboo, colourway Seashell multi

I also knitted myself a super cute mini sock that was meant to go onto my sock blocker keychain.  However, it turned out waaaay to small.  I will be giving the pattern another go, but I will try going up a needle size or two.  (Just for reference, that is one of our wacky Canadian quarters next to the sock.)

Mini SockMini Sock!
Yarn: Mary Maxim Bamboo Soft Stripes, colourway Lagoon

This evening I’m planning on starting the lovely Lily of the Valley Stole using some pink Handmaiden Lace Silk.  It wasn’t the colour I was planning on using, but I decided I really liked it.  And, pink is actually something different for me, and will be a nice change.  Honestly, with my pale colouring, pink will look much nicer than the cream I was planning on. (And, it was actually a bit cheaper too.  That is a super big plus.)

And, with luck and some hard work, I should have a lovely cross stitch finish to share in a few days.

Comments Off on Socks, Big and Small | Posted in Knitting | Tagged , , ,

Modern Masters Missing?

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Heather

I just finished watching a documentary about Michelangelo, a master painter/sculptor/architect who’s work is still seen in the Sistine Chapel and elsewhere.  It seems that his patrons often took a chance on him, giving him the freedom to create great works of art that were a little shocking at the time.

What got me thinking was how we still regard his works.  They, along with works from other great masters, still have pride of place around the world.  And rightly so.  But I wonder how many modern masters we may be missing out on because we focus to much on the past.  I read an article the other day (which I can’t find now) about how there are factories in China full of art students who paint fake masterpieces to be sold as reproductions.  What great works could they be making if they weren’t wasting their time painting yet another Picasso destined to hang in our living rooms?

I wonder if our desire to have great works of art from the past is actually making it impossible to have great works of art in the present.  How sad it would be if that was the case.

1 Comment | Posted in The Outside World | Tagged , ,

An Escape to Camelot

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Heather

It’s been a little while since I’ve shared some of my knitting and cross stitch.  I’ve finished up a couple of things lately, so I figured it was time to share some pictures again.

Monday night, I put the final stitches into Camelot Miniature.  It is a darling little design, stitched almost completely over one.  This is the kind of thing I love to stitch, even though there isn’t much in it beyond simple cross stitches.  It Teresa Wentzler starting making use of speciality stitches like The Victoria Sampler does, I would be in stitching heaven!

Camelot Miniature by TW Designworks

Camelot Miniature (aka Medieval Miniature) by TW Designwords
Treads: DMC, Kreinik blending filament
Beads: Mill Hill
Fabric: 25ct. ivory Lugana

I also finished up my lovely purple and blue socks.  I used Panda Cotton to knit them, and honestly I’ve never worked with a more temperamental yarn.  But the finished product is lovely, and I will definitely be using Panda Cotton again.  You can find out more about them on my Ravelry project page: Showy Blueberry-Grapes.

Show-Off Stranded Socks

Show Off Stranded Socks by Anne Campbell
Yarn: Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in Blueberries-Grapes

I’m on to my next pair of socks using On Your Toes Bamboo.  I’m slowly working my way through all the sheepless sock yarns.  Only five more mass produced yarns to go!

The Never Ending Blue Shawl of Doom is living up to it’s name.  On Sunday I realized I had made a mistake up near the top of the shawl and I had to rip out a ball and a half of yarn worth of work.  It is hibernating in my knitting bag right now, but I will dig it out before the week is over.  I’m not going to give up on it.

And, lastly, the Baby Man’s jacket has been completely knit.  It just needs to be seamed, which I am aiming to do tomorrow.  I’ve found an awesome book to help me, The Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques.  It has totally gone on my wish list!

Comments Off on An Escape to Camelot | Posted in Cross Stitch, Knitting | Tagged , , ,

A Garden in Camelot

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Heather

My goodness! Where has the time gone! You’d think I’ve been busy, since it has been so long since my last post. Actually, I’ve had a bit of work to do in the evenings (even though I’m a SAHM now, I still do some research and data analysis for my previous job.)

So, what have I accomplished? Well, the second Show-Off Stranded sock is about 2″ away from having the gusset started. Baby Man’s jacket is nearly done; I’m about halfway through the last sleeve now. I crocheted him a wee Easter Basket using this pattern from Lion Brand, leaving off the flower. (It is a dull, rainy/snowy day here, so my pictures are all very poor.)

Easter Basket by Lion Brand
Yarn: Softee Chunky (basket) and Vanna’s Choice (leaves)

I also finished up the first part of the Papillon Creations SAL Castles in the Air. I think it looks lovely! For more about my changes and thread choices, see this post.

Castles in the Air (Part 1) by Papillon Creations
Threads: DMC and PTB
Fabric: Wind 28ct evenweave from Enchanting Lair

And here is Camelot Miniature, which I believe is now called Medieval Miniature.

Camelot Miniature by TW Designworks
Treads: DMC
Fabric: 25ct. ivory Lugana

This weekend I will be visiting my not-so-LNS to see the Victoria Sampler trunk show. I’m super excited. I really like VS designs, even though they aren’t really my style. I know, that doesn’t make sense at all. I’ll be picking up my birthday gift (a month early), which is VS’s Heirloom Stitching Sampler, as well as the supplies to Nora Corbet’s H fairy and, with luck, My Needle’s Work by Little House Needleworks as well. (Both were charts ordered before my 50 Project Challenge.)

This week I’m aiming to finish up the jacket completely, although I am nervous about seaming it all. Next time, I’m making a seamless jacket! I’d also like to get a few more rows of the Never Ending Blue Shawl of Doom done, and share a picture if it looks like anything. For cross stitch, it will be Camelot Miniature and possibly some of Tree for All Seasons that is in Just Cross Stitch. (Why did they skip a month with it? How strange.)

Comments Off on A Garden in Camelot | Posted in Cross Stitch, Knitting | Tagged , , , ,

A Little Off the Top

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Heather

I took Baby Man for a hair cut yesterday.  He was blessed with a full head of hair when he was born, so this is the third time he has had a trim.  Our appointment was supposed to be at 1, and we were perfectly on time (an amazing feat, as anyone with a small child can attest to).  Unfortunately, they were running behind and I needed to entertain the little man for a half an hour with almost no toys or interesting things at my disposal.

I’m always concerned about the little man making too much noise and disturbing other people.  Seeing child yell and run free and make messes while in public just drives me crazy, and I never want my little guy to be like that.  So, the though of having to wait around for an indeterminate amount of time was very worrying.  But, of course, I should know my little man better then that.  He is a super happy guy and generally is exceptionally well behaved.  (Although he is starting to get into the grabby phase, so I need to keep an eye on him when we are out shopping.)  I managed to keep him entertained and happy, with a little help from a couple of books they had at the salon.

Somedays I am just worn about by how difficult being a mom is, and other days I can’t believe how easy the little man makes it for me.  Not only dyd he behave well while we were waiting, but he was a little angel while getting his hair trimed.  There were a few squirms and some looking around, but the cut was fast and easy.  He’s no fashion plate, though, since I had the lady cut his hair pretty short.  He’s still my cutie though.

Comments Off on A Little Off the Top | Posted in Baby | Tagged