Tricotine

Baseball Game Sky

For Saturday Sky, a magnificient sunset above the ballpark in Portland, on Thursday night.

Baseball Game

Baby Tricotine was napping in her baby seat last time we took her to the Baseball game. Well, to be accurate, she was not actually asleep all the way through the 3 hours plus of the game, and her brother was not interested in sitting for so long at the time.  To make it short, let's just say that it was too early for our family to go the game all together yet...

                2 years ago...                 and last night!    

Now, that was 2 years ago, and we had not tried again until last night...  Surprinzingly, kids behaved very well, and Babynette had lots of fun following the game and cheering for both team(s)...

But Daddy Tricotine was very proud of her, and she proudly earned her very first Baseball Cap of the Team... and a tatoo!

Baby Tricotine even had the opportunity to give 5 to Slugger!

Results of the Game? Portland Sea Dogs lost 5-3 to Connecticut, but Baseball has a new young fan!

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There is a fact, I don't post much about Crochet here...  Now, could it be because I have not done much crochet in... let's say a while?  

As I was looking at my Crochet Album this morning, I realized that I had never posted about my first thread crochet experience. So, better late than never, here is the story:

April 2004, a Crochet Group Online I belong to had a CAL (Crochet Along), and as a very basic crocheter I thought I would never dare attempting something that looked so complicated... But I was convinced to give it a try so I decided to take up the challenge, and I certainly have never regretted I did, because I remember having some grand time all night long, from the first round to the end of the project. I was so amazed that I was actually able to make something that great looking, and so easily! 

At sunrise, the doily was completed and a new fervent adept of Crochet d'Art (as it is called in French) was born! 

 

I have learned a lot of new techniques and tips since I got to join BC, and I have also gained enough self-confidence to try new and sometimes challenging things. Without the Internet, I would probably still be a basic and frustrated crocheter...

The hot and sticky weather we are having these days makes me think about putting my needles down for a bit, and grab some thread cotton...

How about you?  How do you cope with the heat?

KEEP COOL EVERYONE!

Wordless Wednesday #25

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

Colinette Sock

As a child, I remember myself holding yarn for my Grand-Mother while she was patiently and nicely turning it into nicely shaped balls, but last night was the first time ever in 30+ years of my knitting "career" that I was actually winding yarn into a Center Pull Ball myself. Such an event, huh?

 

I have heard a lot about how to process - without owning a ball winder and a swift - but I was always too intimidated to give this a try, because of the preciousness of those hand-dyed yarns that come into hanks... But I am so glad I did it... It made me feel woolie!  

I didn't put the to-be-wound yarn on a chair but I use my feet to hold it instead, and I used this method (video) to wind a center-pull ball that so far, unrolls fine - only few tangles but nothing too mean...

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This is pair # 22,  and I needed an easy sock project - simple Stockinette - to take a break from the complicated Seduction Sock that has been on my needles for too long, and to make socks that show Colinette Jitterbug Yarn and the gorgeous Lapis color, the way it deserves... 

It is too bad that my photos don't reproduce accurately the yummy shades of deep blue, purple and green, but the photo of the sock on the sock blocker is actually pretty close... I so love this colorway that reminds me of yummy Maine's Bluebberies... How thoughtful it was of Devorah to send me that fabulous yarn for KTS3!

[Click on Photos to enlarge]

I knitted my socks with a set of 6 dbpns. Much less laddering, and it looks cute, isn't it?

 

Pattern: My own - 60 stitches and a deeper insteap
Yarn:  Colinette Jitterbug, color Lapis
Needles: Comfort Zone Flexible Double Pointed Needles (my fav! ) #2 US

 

 

Just Another Day in Paradise

We had pleasant family day in the yard, today, watching the kids playing in the sand, sliding and swinging... They really love their new playground!


[Click on photos to enlarge]

 

Sky Symphony

For Saturday Sky, a Blue, White and Grey symphony, orchestrated by the Wind.
So spectacular and entertaining... Now, that is my kind of sky!

Napoli Finished

On February 24th, I posted about my almost Napoli, and mentionned how I was reluctant I was about sewing all the pieces together... But today, 4 months later, I finally did it, and I am especially proud of mon travail de finition (my finishing), especially around the sleeves. I am usually not very good at that (or is it that I am not very patient at it... ), but I had to make a very special effort here, because this pattern is all Stockinette and even tiniest OOPSIES show...  Picking up stitches nicely and regularly for the ribbed bands was also a bit of a challenge...

[Click on photos to enlarge]

Pattern: Napoli
Yarn:  Caron Simply Soft, color Copper Kettle
Needles: Straight #6 & 8US, and a 29" Circular #6US

 

Now, I am going to have to wait to drop those few nasty pounds I have caught during my summer vacation for modelling my Napoli. Sorry... For now, it fits me way too tightly for a decent photo - I made this project size Small because I wanted it to be a motivation and a personal reward for being in a better shape. So much for that, huh?

My Vacation Time is Over...

French family flew back home and crazy vacation time is over...  Here are some random facts and photos about our past three busy weeks:

 

• Baby Tricotine is completely potty toilet trained - night and day

• We spent few days in New Hampshire - Visited Story Land, Santa's Village and climbed up Mount Washington again, but with the Cog Railway this time

• Drove a cool rented Chevy Van (with DVD player) and considering getting one. Well, maybe...

• Baby Tricotine climbed up Chuck E. Cheese's "big slide" for the first time!

• Bowled Candle Pins for the first time, and have liked it better than regular bowling

• Finished my Melody Shrug

• I have received my Favorite Socks Book in the mail

• Shopped at L.L. Bean (again) - Got myself some Wild Berry Coastal Clogs.  Amazing how those rubber shoes can be comfortable! 

• Toured Portland in a Duck 

• Kids watched Monster Inc. for the first time (while riding in the van) and they didn't find it as scary as I thought they would...  Maybe is it because we have our own little Boo at home? 

• Went to the Beach in Ogunquit

• Walked .8 mile to the Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland (and back)

• Gained 15 lbs - lots of comfort-food episodes dining out...

• Almost lost my sanity switching from English to French all the time...

• Have added another candle to my BD cake, and got myself a toe ring...  YEP! And I love it... HA!

 

• Got myself new Running Shoes & have resumed excercising

 

And ...

 

• Against all odds (let's kindly say that we didn't hire the right landscaper) the playset for the kids is finally installed.  Mister Tricotine did a wonderful job! There is still lots to do to fix desolation land around the playset though, and it is going to take some time...
  
  
• Watched Braves vs Red Sox on TV last night - for once Braves won - and after 7 years of trying, I have finally understood a bit of Baseball rules... Well, I think...    

Wordless Wednesday #24

[Click on photo to see little hands in action]

"She's two years old and she's my biggest fan,

And I'm wrapped 'round the finger of her little hand"

Phil Vassar - "The woman in my life"

~ Wordless Wednesday ~