The Hudson Valley's Best Kept Secret

Hmmmm, once it's written about in the newspaper can you still call it a "best kept secret"? :)

Babygirl and I met some friends by the river this morning.     The locals call it a beach, having grown up 20 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, beach to me means sand, waves and that ocean smell. I miss that ocean smell!  Don't get me wrong, we had a lovely time.  It's a beautiful spot! I just have a hard time calling it a beach. 

Babygirl and I started out down by the river.  Unfortunately I could not let her out of her stroller because there was so much garbage along the water's edge.  We saw empty soda bottles, a few shirts, a pair of shoes, wrappers galore, a life vest...  Really people???....I would think that they go there because it's a beautiful spot.  How much longer do they think that's going to last if they keep using it as a garbage can???

Once my friend arrived we took the girls on one of the nature trails.  We were rewarded with this view:

 

And then this at the end of the trail: 

Babygirl's favorite part of the trip:

Collecting rocks near the parking lot.  And singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with her new friend "I".  Sorry about the picture I have no idea what's going on with my camera.

Year of Projects: Sunday Update #4

I'm sure you've noticed by the lack of blog posts that I'm still being a slacker :)  I just can't seem to get it together.  I've been traveling home (2 hours away without traffic) pretty much every other week for the past month and a half and it's catching up to me!  I just can't seem to catch up on everything when Babygirl and I are traveling so much.  Thankfully this week will be the last trip for a month or so.

I did finish Babygirl's sweater this weekend.  She was very uncooperative while I was trying to get a picture.  Here's the best one I could get:

Here's the sweater from the front:

I've got enough yarn to make a matching hat so I'll be starting on that soon.  In the meantime, I added a few rows to this:

Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of knitting/crocheting soon.  I've only got a month left before I go back to babysitting.  I'd like to get some stuff done before then.

My List:
UFOs:
1. Hubby's blanket (just needs to be sewn together)
2. Kool Wool Sweater
3. Rainbow shawl
4. L's blanket

Craft Fair:
Make 30 items

Christmas:
1. Babygirl:
2. Cousin J: hat?
3. Cousin Crash: car hat
4. L:
5. M:
6. Gma:

New Projects:
1. Irish Sweater:
2. Socks that Rock Socks (in progress)
3. Babygirl Sweater 1 Completed 7/28/12
4. Babygirl Sweater 2
5. 120 Hexipuffs (10 a month)
6. socks
7. sweater: Lacy Cardigan (in progress)
8. colorwork
9. shawl
10. Solar Flare (in progress)
11. my stocking 

A Year of Projects Sunday Update #3

 I've been a slacker this week!  The weather was HOT! HOT! HOT! By the time I put Babgygirl to bed I was done, just watched some TV until I passed out.

The only thing I worked on this week was Babygirl's sweater.  Here's the most current photo:

I've decided to make the sleeves a bit longer than the pattern calls for, so I'll have to do sleeve one over.  If I have enough yarn left I may make a hat to go with the sweater.  Anyone have a children's hat pattern to recommend?

Healthy Eats: Strawberry Spinach Salad

Found out Babygirl likes fresh spinach as I was eating this for dinner last night.  I don't get it, the child is refusing to eat most vegetables yet will chow down on a bowl of spinach.  Crazy kid!

Here's my spinach salad:
Baby spinach leaves, orzo, sliced strawberries, pecans and feta cheese.  I usually use raspberry pecan salad dressing.  So easy and delicious!

WIP Wednesdays

Wip Wednesdays:

WIP Wednesdays with Tami's Amis:

Solar Flare: still looks like this :)

  

  My version of All The Shades of Truth, in worsted weight yarn (Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand). Still looks  like this:

Now for the new stuff:

Babygirl's sweater.   I am loving this yarn, although it can be splitty at times.  This has been a quick knit.  I think I need to knit baby sweaters more often...they go so fast!  Working on the last sleeve now!  Sorry for the crappy picture.  We are in the middle of a heat wave and I wanted to get this posted before Babygirl wakes up.  As soon as she wakes up we are headed out to the mall for a show, then we're setting up her pool because it is going to be hot and nasty today!

Hallett's Ledge: Swatch is done.  I need to pick up a set of circular needles. I'm waiting until I finish Babygirl's sweater.  That way I can't start :)

My Lacy Cardigan sweater:  Still looks like this.  I did write out the directions for the next section.  I'll get back to this soon!

The back is finished:

I've started the front:

Pinning my Morning Away...

Couldn't sleep this morning so I jumped on Pinterest.  Came up with some projects I'd like to tackle in the near future:


These will probably be first up. I'll be making vanilla for Babygirl, we haven't done chocolate yet :)

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com via Baby on Pinterest

Then these:

Source: imperfecthomemaker.com via Baby on Pinterest

This is adorable!  Hopefully my sewing machine and I will get along long enough for me to make one for Babygirl.

Source: prudentbaby.com via Baby on Pinterest

And this.... We'll have to recruit Daddy to help with this one.  I'm going to start searching garage sales for a table.

Source: homemaking-cottage-blog.com via Baby on Pinterest

Once A Month Cooking: It's Time to Start

Halfway through July already.  UGH.  Come September Babygirl and I are going to have a new schedule.  I'll be watching two boys before and after school a few days a week.   There is NO WAY I will manage getting up and out of the house with breakfast served if I have to make breakfast every morning.  Looks like the perfect time to jump into Once A Month Cooking.  I've been checking out menus and recipes over at Once A Month Mom.

I'm going to start with breakfast only, since that's going to be the most challenging time for us.  I've decided to try these recipes over the next month:

Sausage and Pancake Breakfast Balls 

Mini Sausage Breakfast Quiche

Peach Raspberry Muffins

Blueberry Granola Pancakes 

I will also be using a baked oatmeal recipe I have and my Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins, since I know Babygirl eats them. Hopefully Babygirl will like the new recipes so I have a variety to start with.

Have any of you ever tried Once A Month Cooking?  What was your experience?  Any kid friendly recipes to share?

This post is linked at:

A Year of Projects: Sunday Update #2

Must. Stop. Casting. On.

Yikes!  Since last week I've cast on a sweater for Babygirl and my Irish Sweater.  What have I finished...nothing!  I will not start any more new projects until I finish something!

Here goes...on my needles:

1. Everyday Baby Cardi for Babygirl.  Yarn is Lion Brand LB Collection Cotton Bamboo in Persimmon.  I purchased the yarn on a field trip to Lion Brand in Manhattan with some members of my crochet guild.  It was back in the summer or fall of 2010, because I was pregnant with Babygirl.  Started Thursday and I've already finished the back and half the left front.  Loving how fast this is going.  Think I'll work on some more sweaters for Babygirl when I finish some projects.

2. My Irish Sweater: Halletts Ledge with my Irish yarn.  I think I know what the yarn is, just waiting for confirmation from the shop where my mom purchased it.  Technically I've only swatched this.  I need to get  a set of circs in the correct size...all mine are currently busy with other projects :(

3. Solar Flare us still on the needles.  No progress there.

4. All Shades of Truth wrap - same no progress there.

5.  Lace Cardigan - Not much progress there since Wednesday.  I have to sit down and write out the next
     part of the pattern tonight.  (I do this for increasing/decreasing parts to help me see it better.)

I'm looking forward to seeing what others have been up to this week!  Happy Knitting!

UPDATE: 10 Things to do this summer

Update of a May post: 10 Things to Do This Summer

I love lists!  I love making lists and I love crossing things off lists.  This list is for Little Miss Monster. 

Ten Things We Will Do This Summer

1. go to the beach
2. visit the zoo  6/03/2012
3.  plant a garden June 2012
4. visit three local parks 2 down 1 to go as of 7/11/12
5. spend a whole day visiting with Miss J 7/11/12 @ the aquarium
6. run (okay maybe toddle) through the sprinkler
7. get messy: finger paint, play with oobleck, etc
8. blow bubbles many, many times.  Babygirl loves bubbles!
9. go for a walk on the rail trail
10. visit a farm

New York Aquarium

Babygirl and I had a wonderful trip home earlier this week.  While we were there we saw Aunt L and Cousin J and took a trip to the New York Aquarium.  We lucked out as the weather was beautiful. (The recent heat wave had just ended!!)

Babygirl enjoyed looking at the fish in the "pool".

She really enjoyed the Sea Lion show...except when the sea lion went under the water and she couldn't see him!

The best part of the day for mommy was this:

Two little princesses playing together.

Wip Wednesday!

Wip Wednesdays:

WIP Wednesdays with Tami's Amis:

Solar Flare: still looks like this :)

  

  My version of All The Shades of Truth, in worsted weight yarn (Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand). Still looks  like this:

Shell stitch baby blanket: DONE! Just need to weave in ends.

 

Now for the new stuff:

This is mine, mine, mine:

                                                Straight from Ireland!  Thank you Mommy!

Change in plans, I think it's going to become Hallett's Ledge.  Yardage is too close or just short of the other two projects I chose.

Back on the needles:  My Lacy Cardigan sweater.  Yarn was purchased last year at Rhinebeck, I'm hoping to wear the sweater this year at Rhinebeck.

The back is finished:

I've started the front:

Year of Projects: Sunday Update #1

I am super excited!  After my Crochet Guild Meeting I get to "meet" my new yarn.  My mom went to Ireland and came home with some wool for me!  Yay!  The shopkeeper told mom (who is not a knitter yet still searched high and low for some wool for me.  Thanks mom!) she purchased enough to make a sweater.  If that is the case I will be making either Ardara or Killorglin as my Irish sweater.  Both are by Carol Feller.  I'm waiting until I see the yarn to make a final decision.

Currently on my needles is the Lace Inset Shaped Cardigan or Vest.  The back is complete and I am not working on the left front.  Photos will be posted Wednesday on my WIPS Wednesday post.  Also on the needles is Solar Flare.  The yarn for both these projects was purchased last year at New York Sheep and Wool.

A Year of Projects

While visiting some blogs during Wip Wednesday I came across "A Year of Projects".  Since I'm trying to get more organized on the knitting/crocheting homefront I've decided to jump in.  Some people are knitting/crocheting through a book.  My ultimate goal is to continue knitting/crocheting from stash.  With the exception of Rhinebeck, I have only purchased 3 skeins of yarn since December 2010.  This year is the same:  I'm hoping for no purchases until Rhinebeck.  (Although mom did just bring me some yarn from her trip to Ireland....I'm picking it up on Sunday and can't wait to see it!!!)

Here's the list I've come up with for A Year of Projects 2012-2013.  I'm using this as a guide, because part of the fun is picking out new projects :)

UFOs:
1. Hubby's blanket (just needs to be sewn together)
2. Kool Wool Sweater
3. Rainbow shawl
4. L's blanket

Craft Fair:
Make 30 items

Christmas:
1. Babygirl:
2. Cousin J: hat?
3. Cousin Crash: car hat
4. L:
5. M:
6. Gma:

New Projects:
1. Irish Sweater:
2. Socks that Rock Socks (in progress)
3. Babygirl Sweater 1
4. Babygirl Sweater 2
5. 120 Hexipuffs (10 a month)
6. socks
7. sweater: Lacy Cardigan (in progress)
8. colorwork
9. shawl
10. Solar Flare (in progress)
11. my stocking

WIP Wednesday

Wip Wednesdays:

WIP Wednesdays with Tami's Amis:

Solar Flare: I've added six rows this week.  This is the old picture because it pretty much still looks like this :)

  Bellatrix: FINISHED!  Finally.  This pattern was challenging and sat in time out for a few months before I finished the second sock.

  My version of All The Shades of Truth, in worsted weight yarn (Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand).  Added a few more rows this week. This is last week's photo as the addition is not really noticeable in a photo.

Shell stitch baby blanket: This baby has GROWN.  Here's last week's photo.....

And now this week's:

I cannot believe how much I have gotten done the past two weeks.  I'm hoping I can keep this up!

Book Review: MoonRivet Saves His Skin

I was recently given the opportunity to review the children's book  Moon Rivet Saves His Skin by Harris Tobias.  It is illustrated by Emma Latham.

What a cute story!  The book is about MoonRivet, a frog made of recycled items who lives on the moon.  MoonRivet lives in Dusty Lake with other creatures made  of recycled items.  The creatures of Dusty Lake must beware of the birds on the Moon.  At the end of the day, it is MoonRivet's quick thinking that saves him.

I love that there are science facts and concepts throughout the story.  MoonRivet and his story allow children to use their imaginations and explore the genres of fantasy and science combined.   The illustrations are wonderful, using mixed media to combine real life objects and drawings.  I look forward to reading more about MoonRivet and his adventures!  I have already ordered a print version of this book to add to Babygirl's collection for when she is just a bit older.  At 15 months it's a bit above her level but she was drawn in by the pictures while I was reading it to a friend.  I can't wait to share this book with my goddaughter and nephew.  They are the perfect age for this one!

In addition to being available in print, MoonRivet is also available in Kindle and Nook format. While the age range given is four to seven I can see older children enjoying this as an independent read. 

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I received an electronic version of this book to review.  All opinions expressed are mine.
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June Update

I thought it would be nice to record some of Babygirl's milestones i a post once a month.

Here's what June looked like:

new words: cookie, knee, yes, Eyeore, spoon
new signs: cookie, apple, yes

favorite books: If You're Happy and You Know It, Mirror,Mirror and The Sleepy Monster

favorite toys/activities: reading books, play with the gumball machine, play Peek A Boo ("peeka!") or play with the Leap Frog table

This month's highlights:  *first trip to the zoo
                                     *family visit for Father's Day
                                     *fingerpainted Father's Day gifts
                                     *started self feeding with a spoon
                                     *took 3 steps by herself (6/28)
                                     *went in the pool for the first time