Erica’s Blog

OK, I must say that I am SO proud of my girls!  They are both really excited about Paul’s birthday.  After we came home from the party store, I was wrapping some anniversary presents for my parents, and they wanted to wrap presents for Paul.  Thing One wrapped the duck.  Thing Two decided she not only wanted to give Paul the “I’m One” bear, but also her stuffed polar bear to be the little bear’s mom, so she wrapped them both together.

When we went to the library today, Thing One got two prizes for the summer reading program.  One that she chose was a fuzzy blue heart coin purse on a keychain.  She got it for Paul.  We’re all going to write notes to put inside, and we’ll hang it off his bud vase. 

I’m so happy about how they feel about their brother and their attitude about his birthday, wanting to make it special.  They love him so much.  When we were wrapping the presents, Thing Two looked up at me, smiled, and said, “Baby Paul will be so loved!”  How cool is that?

Well, today the girls & I went to the party store to get stuff for Paul’s birthday next Tuesday.  I let them have free rein (within reason). 

Here’s what we got:

• A package of Sesame Street 1st birthday plates
• A package of different 1st birthday party hats
• An Elmo candle
• Elmo sugar faces for on the cake
• A small stuffed “I’m One!” bear (Thing Two chose)
• A stuffed duck (Thing One chose, only 99c)
• A “Birthday Boy” button
• Cardboard letters to spell out “Baby Paul”, plus a couple of teddy bears, a bow, balloons, and a number 1
• A tiny toy car
• A few toy bugs 

On Tuesday morning, I’ll go buy the balloons.  Before we go to the cemetery, we’ll tie the letters, the car, and the bugs to the balloons.  At the cemetery, we’ll tie the balloons with “Baby Paul” to the bud vase at his niche, and we’ll let the other ones go.

I almost lost it in the party store, and that would have been OK.  If people think I’m whacked, too bad; I have a good reason to cry. 

OK, I just did this “loser quiz” (found the link on another knitblog) and expected to score as a total loser, being a 40-year-old full-time mom “church lady” who barely drinks, etc.  I, however, scored a 28, which means that I’m cooler than 72% of people.  Yeah, right.  On some of the questions, it’s hard to find exactly the right answer, but it’s kind of fun to do it. 

Click here to do the quiz and see if you’re a loser….

OK, this post is for the gals in the Felted Bag Knitalong.  From the left, we have Lamb’s Pride, Galway, some ancient Alafoss Lopi, and the reason why my marriage will be at risk if I buy any more yarn.  ;->  (This does not include the yarn for the preemie hats for the ICN, the yarn for the baby blanket in progress, or the Fun Fur, Homespun, Wool Ease, Paton’s Divine, Caron Simply Soft Brites, and assorted bits of cheap acrylic up in the attic, either.)

On the Lopi, what you see is all I have.  Same with the Galway.  With the Lamb’s Pride, I have two skeins of the purple color (Orchid Pink), and a few of each of the other pinks.  FYI, the Orchid Pink, Lotus Pink & RPM Pink are all seconds, but I’ve had no trouble felting them.  The Lotus & RPM were both used in the “Double Sophie”.  They supposedly have white spots, but all I’ve seen are paler spots, not out-and-out white spots. Oh, and the turquoise is not up for swap; it’s for a special-order bag (as are the two skeins of black Galway I forgot to add to the picture).

What I’m looking for is two skeins (around 200 yards each) of magenta feltable yarn.  I’m thinking something like the Wool of the Andes in Cherry Blossom or the Galway in Mulled Wine.  Anybody got anything to trade for an equivalent amount?