Kiss My Knits!

When my husband and I married, we got a lovely wedding gift from his parents. It was a bedspread set, certainly nicer than anything we’d get for ourselves. It was double sided, with a lighter color print on the reverse. As grateful as we were to have it, I must confess that when it finally started to develop a few holes, I wasn’t heartbroken. It was a kind gift that we’ve enjoyed, but we were married 15 years ago. Fifteen years of daily use had left it a bit faded and worn.

We got new curtains for the bedroom earlier this year, so a new bedspread was a logical next step. Since we had kept the last one for 15 years, we knew we wouldn’t be changing the new one out anytime soon. It made sense to spend a little more if it meant we’d be getting a good quality product that would last longer. And so, voila! Duvet! The cover came from Target, but the goose-feather insert came from Crate and Barrel. It was reasonably priced for the quality, and was made in the USA, which we appreciated. Having a separate cover and insert means that it will be easier to clean and easier to change out just the cover when it wears through.

Having slept under our old bedspread for 15 years, it took a few nights to get used to the new one. The new bedspread is thicker and cushier. Lying under it is like being smothered by a marshmallow peep. It’s also louder. The duvet cover rustles more than the old bedspread did, so I feel like I can’t turn in later than my husband or I’ll wake him up just by brushing past the bed to get to my side. Hopefully a couple of launderings of the cover will help that problem. It’s also a good deal warmer. The first few nights I found the cover creeping to my husband’s side so I could throw a leg out from under the covers. That could be good if it lets us turn the thermostat down another degree in the winter.

After a few nights, though, I started to adjust. I’m learning how to move so I don’t feel like I’m trapped. It’s kind of comforting, being underneath it, but then, I suppose that’s where “comforter” comes from.

Above all that, it’s nice to have something in there that we chose ourselves which reflects our current tastes. It’s revitalizing. Odd for a new down-filled duvet to give one energy, but that’s what change can do.

Em was roughhousing with her dad and bumped her knee a little.

Em: Ouch!
Dad: Did you hurt your knee?
Em: Yes! I think I got the H1N1!

Heh.

It’s another quiz from Em.

What’s my secret friend’s name?

1. It doesn’t begin with a vowel.
2. It doesn’t start with J.
3. It doesn’t have 4 letters.
4. It doesn’t have “ie” at the end.

You’ll have to turn your monitor upside down to confirm your answer.

When last we left our intrepid group, we had opened a trunk and found a magical deck which granted boons (or possibly anti-boons) to all who chose a card. So far we have gotten a cool sword, an extra level, greater strength, a boost to experience, a battle dog, and an emergency natural 20.

It’s Klyx’s turn to pick! Will our luck hold?
Klyx picks his card…

Almost two weeks ago I injured my foot. I was running laps around the outside of the house with my daughter when I landed badly on the side of my foot. I finally saw a doctor a couple of days ago, and it’s not broken. However, I haven’t been able to run for two weeks, and I’m only just starting to get over limping like Quasimodo everywhere. I rely on running not just for physical fitness but also for my mental well-being. Exercise is a very effective counter to depression, so not getting my usual dose has really put me in a funk.

When I saw the doctor for my foot, I think I picked up a bug in the waiting room. Yesterday I developed a sore throat, and I have an occasional low grade fever along with it. No sneezing or other symptoms, so I don’t think it’s the flu, but it has knocked me down. Add to that the usual stresses of life and I have not been in a good mental place.

But darned if this video didn’t make me smile. It’s a nice reminder that this is an amazing universe we live in, and an amazing time to be alive. No matter what else is going on, I am grateful to be here.

P.S. – thanks, Dad, for calling and telling me that story. It really made me smile. 🙂

A little cheer for a dreary day. Always dance like nobody’s watching. You never know what may happen.

GM Vaschon: Alright! We begin in this rocky cavern with a monstrous (no pun intended) chest. You’ve leaped the mushrooms successfully and discovered there are no obvious exits other than back the way you came or roughly a 50′ drop.

We think the back wall may be magical, but we can’t figure out anything else about it, so we let it go because there’s a big honkin’ chest in the middle of the room.

GM Vaschon: The chest is intricately designed, there is a big latch on the front. It does not appear to be locked. The chest is 8′ by 8′ by 4′.

Val isn’t with us yet, but like kids at Christmas, we can’t wait. Naturally, we open it.

And what’s inside?

Em and Mr. Tvini and I went to the Renaissance Festival today. Mr. Tvini heard someone say at the gate, “I love this place because I can smoke everywhere!” Funny, that’s just what I don’t like about it. Seriously, I haven’t seen that many people smoking since the 1970s. It was amazing. I was glad that I left my Jayne hat knitting in the car because there’s no way I could have worked on it out there. Nobody wants a tobacco-y Jayne hat.

We didn’t bring a camera, but Em rode everything she always rides, so you can extrapolate from past pictures (2008, 2006) what this year looked like. This year she also had her hair braided. I did get a picture of that at home. The flash made the copious amounts of glitter look red. The woman who braided it said the style should last several days, so Em’s sleeping on it. We’ll see how it looks in the morning. I think it’ll probably be okay – there’s certainly plenty of hairspray in it.

We stayed for at least four hours and there was definitely more we could have done, had we wished. I drifted off in the car on the way home (I wasn’t driving, obviously) and am totally wiped out. A good time was had by all. We look forward to next year!

I always have to have at least one non-Jayne project on the needles. I have to have something to turn to for a break or else I’ll go crazy. Stopping briefly to make something else keeps my enthusiasm high for knitting the same hat a thousand times in a row.

Everyone else in the sock knitting universe has made Grumperina’s Jaywalkers, but I’m only now getting around to it. It’s fun, though. A good nearly brainless pattern that I can stuff in my purse.

Actually, I don’t have to stuff it directly in my purse, thanks to this cute little pouch that Turtlegirl brought me back from SAFF. It’s a lovely little thank you for feeding her cats while she was gone. She’s so thoughtful.

This is a great size for a sock project. It’s from 2buttons who don’t seem to have an etsy shop or online storefront. This was a very unique little gift, and perfect for my needs. Thanks, Turtlegirl!