LaMamacita: February 2010 Archives

I saw this bag on Ravelry on queued it with lighting kninja reflexes:

It reminds of a carpet bag. Delightfully Mary Poppins-esque and so practical. The galloping horse intarsia motif was the deal sealer. I've had my eye out for just the right pattern to attempt intarsia and I think she may be it. The pattern is free here.

I have a few friends having spring and early summer babies this year that I have baby-knit plans for. Also a cousin getting married next month that I'd like to gift with hot pads. Some Easter baskets goodies and the bathmat I mentioned in an earlier post, some more progress on the log cabin blanket and then, then I'll learn intarsia. And hopefully have a sweet new "carpet" bag for those umbrella rides.

You get birthday snow and everything! Hope your day is perfect and you do nothing except what you wish. I mean it. Nothing.

My crafting has stalled a bit in the past few weeks so that I can catch up on reading in my Me Time. Crafting and reading are the two hobbies that I never tire of so I rotate them and attach myself like a hungry babe. And so.

I recently got these cookbooks and have been whipping up delicacies for the kids as well as for selfish reasons:

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule

Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats

I'm halfway through the novel Mariette in Ecstasy, as recommended by MamaT. I read the reviews and can't wait to see how it ends. I didn't make the connection that the author, Ron Hansen, also wrote The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which I read a few years ago. Really interesting.

On the school front I have The Unschooling Unmanual and Family Math awaiting my attention. I wouldn't describe our homeschool style as unschool, I'm hesitant to describe it as anything other than eclectic. The unschool book is a compilation of some of my favorite education authors and am looking forward to cracking it.

Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter's Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures
is by far my favorite knitting book and the only one I've ever seen fit to purchase what with the interwebz and all the free patterns therein. I've borrowed the library and a generous friend's copy many times before finally ordering my own. I have yarn for their Absorba bathmat all ready to transform. Remember my log-cabin-super-long-work-in-progress? It's from that book, too.

And finally, to start with Lent, an old favorite: The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ , which I plan to pair with more Masses, more confession and more prayer. I've been dry and gray in my interior and this Lent plan seems like a huge feat to me. I'm praying for strength, springy and fruitful insides for Jesus to stroll in come Easter. Or at a least humble and honest attempt at it. Good literature to meditate on is going to be huge. Recs welcome, as always.

Nauseating.

Bump+ is a new web show following three women trying to decide whether or not to abort their babies. Now, they're just actors but oh, sweet Mother Mary.

From the website:

"About Bump+

Is our society willing to give it a try? How authentic are these characters? And how serious are we about an open, honest exploration of this controversial topic?"

I haven't seen an episode yet. I'm afraid to go watch them. Have you?

My littlest one will be two on February 12 (a birthday she shares with our MamaT!). That her big day is so close to St Valentine's Day makes me want to Valentine the heck out of everything to do with her birthday. Hearts, red, pink, sweets, the whole nine. This may get annoying as she gets older, I checked with with MamaT just to make sure, but I'm enjoying the themeyness wholly while it lasts.

This bunny pattern delighted me for her Valentine/Birthday creation. It's a Japanese pattern, by way of a French blog, with a free pdf link in English! Bravo!

It's a simple pattern, as well. I made these Mama and Baby bunnies for her with my very limited crochet abilities in just a few days:

The red yarn I used came from MamaT, so they're fused with extra birthday goodness. Can't wait to give them to my Mila!

I'm pretty sure this last January was the longest month in the history of months. This morning we're welcoming Hopeful February with music. Okay, we welcome nearly every morning with music but today's has been dedicated to the end of January 2010, in any case. We have on Cat Power, whose Sea of Love cover is one of my very favoritest.

Now! Off to start school and instruct my children in the fine art of making up words. Favoritest and the like.