A Little Bit O' Knittin'

My owl collection gathered to welcome a new member of the hootery, an owl cowl knit of some yummy Lopi wool sent from the Faroes by Abby.

I hadn't knit anything bulky in forever, so it was fun to knit it up so quickly. It's a bit scratchy, so I'm thinking of lining it with some silk, or something else soft. It's warm enough, so fleece won't work for lining.

As I continue to work on my toy knitting, I made this quick little rocket for Lincoln. It's okay, but I made a few mistakes that I will rectify on the next rocket. He does love to help me with a countdown and blast-off.

The rocket found a few books to read.

Cutie Pie Thursday: June Cuteness Round-Up

To everyone sending money to help support the cuteness, thanks. I'd be cute for free, but I appreciate the birthday bucks.

I've been playing pretty hard, so sometimes I get really thirsty.

Dad keeps trying to introduce me to new sports, but I'm still pretty small.

Anyway, all this cuteness is hard work. Sometimes I just like to chill in my chair.

An Ode to My Husband, on Father's Day

Lincoln and his proud papa at Linc's first birthday party.

For over a year now you've been a proud dad,
You've helped me and helped him, and let me be mad.

You've cleaned up diapers--at least one a day!
And patiently work to earn monetary pay.

You've held him so I could run to the potty,
And let me ramble on when I start to get dotty.

You've listened to me ramble on historical topics,
And dreamed about maybe a visit to the tropics.

He loves you so much, my dear, and so do I,
We'd bake you a cake, or maybe a pie (if we had the time).

Happy Father's Day!

Cutie Pie Thursday: Push It Real Good

When you turn one, everyone gives you things to push. Sometimes they are hippos, that you must navigate through a crowded party.

Sometimes, they are classic Ikea pushcarts, that you use to run over mom's toes.

And sometimes, the toy is a cleverly designed adult item, given to you by adults who want to train, or brainwash, you into loving mowing the lawn. As you can tell by this photo, he's not quite buying it. Although he does love the "glug, glug" gas sound.

Watching TV is My Business, and Business is Good

So, this week, the High Plains Library gods decided to issue me a challenge--two television series to watch in a week. I had been on the list for Mad Men, Season 3 for about four months. I had requested the library purchase Slings and Arrows about a year ago. Suddenly, they were both mine, and I only had seven days to watch them. (Actually, until tomorrow.) It has been a fantastic TV week here in the summer doldrums for me, and I thought I'd write a bit about both series, as my wee lad is sleeping in.

Mad Men is the best known of these two, and my friend Hannah introduced me to the series last year when I was first home nursing. Season 1 was okay, season 2 was better, and I cared enough to want to see what happened next. Season 3 was amazing--every episode was interesting, things moved along with every character, and the finale was superb. In my opinion, it was the best season finale I have ever seen--closure for each seasonal storyline, and I'm dying to see what happens next. Unfortunately, Season 4 doesn't start until next month on AMC, and I probably won't get to see it for at least another year. It is feeling a bit Harry Potter-ish here. Now, I know Mad Men isn't everyone's cup of tea--especially if loose morals concern you--but the focus on the advertising business in the 1960s is fascinating, and the acting superb. Season 3's episodes concerning childbirth in the 1960s (a horror film for an "enlightened" modern mom like me) and the assassination of JFK were stunning, and threw you back fifty years.

Slings and Arrows, on the other hand, you might never have heard of, and if so, seek it out. A Canadian TV show/miniseries from 2003-2006, it stars Paul Gross (Canadian Mountie Benton Fraser from Due South) as a somewhat insane artistic director for a Canadian Shakespeare Festival. I know! You're excited now, no? In each season, the focus is on a specific play, working through Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Amazing Shakespearean knowledge (I know my views on Ophelia were totally changed), great humor and pathos, and the best opening credit music ever! Ask your library, Netflix it, and if you have my name for Christmas this year, buy it for me.

Anyway, for those of you concerned, I have fixed meals, played with my darling boy, done laundry, and swept floors this week as well. I just imagine when I turn these in on Monday, I might go into good television withdrawal.

Cutie Pie Thursday: Multitasking

Geez, all I can think of with this picture is how big he looks, how sturdy, how in control of his body. This all happened pretty fast.

I think he's pretty cute, and I appreciate all the comments that side with me. My free time recently has been filled with reading about Nazis/Nuremberg and watching Mad Men, Season 3, so hanging out with someone so adorable is certainly a trip.

Cutie Pie Thursday: Lincoln Vs. The Cupcake

Sometimes, words aren't necessary.