Nesting and Knitting

I know it's probably kind of early, but I'm already feeling some nesting tendencies. We're getting ready for our first in vitro embryo transfer next week, but we've been working with a fertility doctor off and on for over two years and intensely since last October. I'm making a list today of projects I want to get done around the house before a baby (or babies) arrive. I've also crocheted a baby blanket using my Grandma Pearson's pattern (it's almost done -- I just need to finish the edge).

In looking for some yarn to use for that blanket, I discovered a wonderful little haven called the "Stitch Cafe" not far from my home. When I went in to get another skein of green yarn for my crocheted blanket, they were having a sale and I purchased some yellow yarn so I could learn to knit again (I've learned several times, but never finished anything beyond a short sample of knit and purl). Finally, last week (knowing I have three days of bed rest approaching) I went in for some knitting instruction and the store's owner, Marci, created a pattern for my beautiful yellow baby blanket (I have now created the below sample of the pattern -- there will be a blanket, not just a sampler). There is actually a large group of women that spend quite a bit of time at the cafe. I went in Thursday (the day they're open until 9 pm) and then again Saturday, and I found the same group sitting and knitting and visiting about their lives, their families, and their politics. They helped me fix my new knitter blunders and oohed and aahed over my crocheted blanket. They asked if I was knitting for my own or a friend's baby. I told them that I am in the midst of in vitro treatment and they said that they would throw a shower for me and everyone would knit me something. Great ladies. Fun projects. I'll be going back again on Thursdays.

Another Height In Culinary Delight

Now...my mantra is that life is too short to eat bad food...that doesn't necessarily mean it has to be sophisticated food. Tonight my culinary delight of choice consists of green grapes (eaten with the fingers, of course) and animal cookies (drowned in whole milk and eaten with a spoon....like my own private cold cereal). So, I thought I would extoll the virtues of animal cookies and milk. My current favorite brand are the 365 Organic Animal Cookies from Whole Foods Market. I couldn't get an actual photo, but they look something like this <----- Quite delicious when eaten as a cereal, I must say.

Some of my favorite animal cookies from my childhood were the frosted ones. (As a kid, I seem to remember calling them animal crackers...was that my subconscious effort to fool my mom into thinking that they didn't actually count as a dessert? Or was it a label that she affixed to assuage her guilt for actually feeding me sugar? I have no idea. Either way, who were we kidding!?!!? These were coated in pure sugar frosting bliss.) Now those of you who know me well, know I'm a little uptight about my food and that the hydrogenated oils in these frosted badboys just do not measure up to what I put in my body. Typically I don't make exceptions on the hydrogenated oils issue unless we are a guest for dinner in someone's home -- then I eat on a "don't ask, don't tell" basis (unless it's a member of my own family of origin, of course, in which case I ask "Are you still angry about the time I . . . fill in the blank . . . when I was in the first grade, and are you intentionally trying to kill me!?!??"). But when it comes to these frosted animal crackers, there is no need for asking or telling, I know exactly what's in them. And despite my sure knowledge of the specious ingredients that will almost certainly shorten my life expectancy and most definitely reduce my quality of life in the ensuing years, these are at the very least beyond yummy, if not altogether "good food." And while I don't ever purchase them for myself, if you invite me to a picnic or potluck or game night, I have been known to surreptitiously down a Costco sized bag of these approximately once every two years or so. Now you know the truth.