Knitting Zeal

Canoli and naked chocolate

Since Chris was on vacation this week I was able to take a day to travel into Philadelphia via regional rail with a friend who was also without child to explore some new and favorite places in the city.   The Comcast Center is a brand new office building with a new marketplace in the "basement" that I have heard about frequently from my husband, who tells me about walking by the Termini Bros bakery every day on his way to the train.  When I ask "where is my canoli?" of him each time he mentions it, he just shrugs his shoulders.  So, I was determined to get a canoli.  We did briefly pause in the lobby of the building to see the gianormous wall of TV screen that projects some beautiful images for a bit.  It was quite clever.  Here is a video of the screens at the building opening. 

 

So we ordered one canoli to share, and watched as the bakery chick filled our canoli fresh with a ricotta and chocolate chip creamy mixture.  It was as amazing as I anticipated. 

Next on our stop was a walk over to Walnut Street to "have lunch" at the Naked Chocolate Cafe.  I had been there once last summer when I was pregnant, but this time not having a baby kicking internally made it a bit more pleasant.  We had Aztec Frozen Hot Chocolate drinks, which was like a giagantic frozen chocolate slushie with cinnamon and nutmeg.  So yummy.  We shared a black forrest cupcake (my favorite!) and a raspberry bar.  On a sugar high, we walked back up Walnut to LUSH, a favorite bath/body products shop.  I was good and only purchased a shampoo bar and one bath bubble bar.  It was fun smelling everything.  The one sales chick was extremely annoying, but apparently she was in training for the Houston store, so we won't have to deal with her again in Philly. 

Then we explored the big beautiful Williams-Sonoma Store on Walnut and I drooled over the cool cupcake cake pan and other baking supplies.  In the end, I decided the cupcake cake would be too small for Andrew's birthday party.  I have their beehive cake, which is a similar size, and it makes a small cake--ok, not that small, but it just serves the family when all are over. 

On our way home we stopped at our local Trader Joe's to pick up pizza dough.  I made a yummy Thai pizza that night for dinner.

Belly dancing, wine, and bad pick up lines...

Mommy’s night out led us to Casablanca. Not the Moroccan city, but the restaurant in the suburbs.  It is a BYOB establishment, so BYOB we did.  It’s been a long time since I enjoyed wine, pre pregnancy I think, so it was a good night.  I think that night was the most fun I’ve had with girlfriends since college.  The food was delicious and I think we all enjoyed just about everything served.  My favorites were the bastilla, the carrot salad, and the lamb with honey and almonds.  But besides the food, there were the funny conversations. The hilarity started with our conversation being overheard by a quad of high schoolers.  We thought it was odd that HS kids would be out at a restaurant like this, since it wasn’t exactly cheap, but apparently the son of the CEO of an expensive crafter’s light that starts with O and ends with TT can afford to take his friends out to eat fancy Moroccan food.  These two very young boys (I think they were possibly 14 or 15) popped over to our table and joined in our conversation, which I believe was at that moment about someone’s pre-teen son having pubes and the shock that their baby was growing up.  I suppose they were more interested in checking out our cleavage and I’m sure they went home with quite a story concocted to tell their friends.  Besides the obnoxious little boys, we also had fun learning to belly dance a bit and chatted up the dancer, who was very nice and offered to teach us at her studio.  Apparently our dancing was seductive enough for the possible future mayor of Lansdale to come over to us to chat.  His opening line was “I hear you crochet?”  Turns out he had been questioning the belly dancer who told him that we were crocheters, which wasn’t exactly true, but close. One of his dinner mates mentioned to us that he was single and looking.  We let her know that we were not.  He was very nice and a conversation about wine making ensued.  On the way out of the place, we saw the father/CEO waiting to drive his cherubs home.  He was in possibly the largest Hummer I’ve ever seen.  I guess he isn’t worried about fossil fuels.  His face looked botox-ed and he actually flirted a bit with us.  Like father like son??  It was a hoot.  Now if only we thought to ask for some free products!!

Twinness

My sister has once again successfully produced human life, this time in the form of surprise twins.  They are super cute and very healthy.  I got to visit them yesterday briefly and hold each of them.  I already forgot how tiny and light a newborn feels, especially after hefting my 21 lb baby around everyday.  This is my favorite photo of them so far.   I can almost hear Lilly thinking, "I am so going to poke you hard Anthony for all those months of squishing me in the corner of the uterus.  I am woman, hear me roar!" Her little smile is adorable and his look is the typical boy look--don't bother me, I'm sleeping.  She was 6 lbs, 10 oz and he was 7 lbs, 12 oz.  Not bad for only 37 weeks.  We grow them big in this family. 

Andrew came to the hospital with me, but they wouldn't let him in to see the babies.  He doesn't know it yet, but next summer will be a lot of fun for him and the twins, since they will be so close in age and able to get into trouble with each other.

I need to get cracking on their baby blankets.  I am halfway through his and maybe a quarter of the way with hers.  I had to replace the size 17 needle I was using for hers because the one I had apparently chipped on the join with the cable and kept snagging the yarn.  I was lucky to find a replacement one at AC Moore.  I so rarely use a US 17 circular that I couldn't justify buying an Addi Turbo this time.  Plus, with my coupon, I paid less than $4! 

Andrew and I went to the local store that sells big giant sizes of everything to stock up on more formula and to get gas.  How sad is it that I was excited to only pay $3.93 today for a gallon of gas?  The last time I was there it was five cents more a gallon.  I have no idea what kind of gas it is, but it is the cheapest in the area, so it works for my honda just fine.  Andrew's latest accomplishment today is roaring and screaming for kicks.  He sits in his car seat and just screams repeately with a smile on his face.  I think he is either testing his vocal cords or my patience.  I ignore it as best I can, but sometimes he just makes me laugh.  As we walked around the nice cold store (it is freaking hot outside here, so a place with icy cold AC was great) he roared.  He doesn't watch TV shows or videos to pick up weird sounds, so this must just be an innate boy sound.  At one point an elderly man turned to him and asked him if he was roaring at him.  Andrew then pulled the bashful act and tried to hide.  It was amusing.  His little personality is really showing now.  He is very adventurous and tries to climb and move in ways his body isn't capable of yet, but his mind wants to try.  Bumps and little bruises do not seem to hinder his attempts.  I can't wait until he walks.  We thought life was over once he learned to crawl, but I see much running in my future.

An afternoon swim, with an unexpected visitor

Yesterday afternoon was beautiful outside.  Hot but not humid.  After Andrew's very long nap, he was rewarded with a dip in his baby pool.  Chris captured it on video, and I managed to snap this cute photo of him chewing on a mini shovel.  It was a nice and quiet afternoon.  We have a fairly private yard and can sometimes hear our neighbors, but not see them.  I suddenly heard a man talking in our next door neighbor's yard.  I thought it was maybe the guy who lives across the street, for his accent was definitely Philly style and not our neighbor, who speaks with a heavy European accent (maybe Russian, not sure.)  Suddenly there is a huge German Shepherd in our yard on a long leash.  (There is a break in our fence where a panel was broken in a storm and we have yet to replace it since it means replacing the entire fence.)  Attached to the other end of the leash was a local police officer, who was talking into his shoulder.  He did not see us, even though we were sitting on our patio and quite obvious.  I startled him by saying hello.  Apparently I watch too much crime investigation tv, for if we were criminals or dangerous in any way, he would have been done for, in my opinion.  Aren't police officers supposed to always be aware of their surroundings?  Even the dog didn't notice us.  Turns out he was searching for a man and woman who were seen running up our street (we live on a very steep hilly street) who had been involved in a stabbing in a nearby park.  He was trying to get the dog to pick up their scent, but I am sure they didn't enter our yard, since access from the street is limited.  (Although apparently access from the neighbor's yard is easy!  We better look into that fence soon.)  Nothing ever happens in our little suburb of Philadelphia.  The biggest crime is usually DUIs, shoplifting, or zoning violations.  I guess the UM police department were in full action yesterday.  I didn't see the crime mentioned on last night's news, and I hope who ever was the victim is ok.  It certainly made Andrew's first dip in the pool a memorable event!

I posted seedlings a while ago that I was trying to grow indoors.  Let's just say most of them did not make it.  I'm not sure why, but this sunflower is the only one that survived. Two zinnias also made it, but haven't bloomed yet, and I think I still have some small rosemary plants that are growing.  I ended up purchasing basil and a grape tomato plant, all which are doing well.  I have to pick up pesto ingredients today so that I can use the basil that needs harvesting. 

Brangelina apparently gave birth to her twins last night.  My sister is still holding out, despite wishing that her babies would evacuate thier current location immediately.  She sent them an eviction notice, but they can't read yet, so they haven't responded.  Let's hope they arrive soon!!

I joined two online social/networking groups recently, mostly out of boredom and curiosity.  Facebook is not as interesting as I expected, but there certainly are a lot of people using it.  There are some fun applications to use and I have connected with a handful of people (mostly knitters!!)  Goodreads has turned out to be very useful.  I received an invite from someone I don't know, but I think is friends with someone I do, to join.  It is a great way to keep track of books and find new titles to read.  I keep discovering books I read a while ago and forgot about. 

Happy Sunday!

Embroidery trials

I purchased a couple of embroidery books with a gift card a while back and finally got the chance to use them.  I had been on the search for reasonably priced tea towels that were plain and in need of enhancements.  I found a few, but would like to find more.  I keep checking the local discount stores near me, which is where I found this batch.  Using sublime stitching patterns and Doodle Stitching as a guide, I sewed these two patterns onto towels.

I also found directions online to make a handkerchief hat for Andrew for his baptism.  I used one of Chris' handkerchiefs and some blue/brown ribbon.  There is a poem that goes with it, something about using it on a baby's baptism day and then later as a handkerchief on his/her wedding day.  I'm not sure if Andrew will wear it, but I'll try!

crawling

Crawling baby boy from Diane S on Vimeo.

Dig the dripping drool from his mouth.  We are waiting for more teeth!

Happy Independence day and night

Andrew celebrated his first Independence day decked out in a hand-me-down patriotic outfit.  The hat did not fit his big head, but we balanced it on him for a photo op.  He didn't really want to pose, though!  We spent the afternoon at my sister-in-law's house for a picnic and his grandma and great aunt got to gab with him.  He lasted longer than expected and enjoyed inspecting a new environment.  My SIL got word today that her adoption from Guatamala may be finalized in two months.  Andrew was happy to point out dangerous objects and locations around her home where child-proofing is needed!

Happy July 4th!

White rabbits

When I was in first grade, my teacher, Miss Barrell, used to have the class make a monthly calendar.  She taught us that on the first day of the month that we should say "white rabbits" on the first of every month for good luck that month.  Every month when I realize it is the first I say it, in my head, just in case.  Who couldn't use a little luck.  Turns out my teacher hadn't made up this little superstition--wikipedia has a listing for it!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_rabbit