Chipmunks, chocolate and....um...

The Bug was quite excited to find out that there's a chipmunk hanging out in our backyard. She enjoys old Chip & Dale cartoons and often pretends that she IS a chipmunk.
Tonight we finished reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I hadn't read it since 6th or 7th grade, I suppose. I've seen both movies numerous times (Bug has seen the firist one 1 time...months ago...and hums the Oompa Loompa songs often) and it was interesting to see what each movie used, didn't use or added from the book.
I still think we'll go with Stuart Little next...I'll see what Bug thinks about that.
We found a microscope at Sally's today...woo! Bug gets to try that out tomorrow. She wants to see germs. Hopefully she'll settle for the fruit fly that's on one of the prepared slides that came with it.

Staying cool...

Well, we're in the midst of quite a heat wave right now. We're hanging out in the Bug's room quite a bit because that's where the air conditioner is. We've been reading a lot...we finished Charlotte's Web (Bug still doesn't like spiders, but loves to look at webs) and The Mouse and the Motorcycle. We just started Charlie and the Chocolate Factory yesterday. I think Stuart Little may be next...we'll see.
We spent a wonderful day in Stockholm WI on Saturday. It was their annual art fair. We mostly stayed on the hay bale seats under the tent and took in all the music. It was a bit cooler there. Bug got to play on the merry go round, swings and a bouncy chipmunk. Great fun.

An update...finally.

It's been nearly 3 months. I thought it might be a good idea to put something new here.
Let's see...regarding the socks from my last post...I finished them, but need to redo the cuffs. They're too loose. I need to get some smaller needles. Oh joy.
Our big, exciting news is that the Bug is starting to read! She's got the first set of Bob Books and loves reading the first few. She sounds out the words and is learning to recognize the 'tough' ones like "the" and "and". We're all very excited, although she hasn't read much for her dad, yet. I think she's waiting until she gets really good.
She's still drawing all the time. The latest theme is "smokers". Her dad has brought home some odd cartoon DVD collections...one has "The Huffless Puffless Dragon" on it....some old anti-smoking cartoon...and she loves it, so now she draws people smoking. Luckily, as she's drawing she points out that smoking is bad for you.

Toe-up socks

I'm trying socks from the toe-up...again. I've had no luck with a few other patterns, so I'm doing a short-row toe & heel sock. It seems to be working.



They do look rather odd without a foot in them. I'll have Bug model them when they're done. I got a few inches of the leg done last night. They should be finished by Sunday.
I'm using Schachenmayr Crazy Cotton yarn and, I think, size 3 needles...The toe and heel are shaped with short-rows. There's a 4X2 ribbing on the top of the foot that will continue onto the leg.

Raisins are good again.

Bug has had a love/hate thing with raisins her whole life. I offered some this morning (it's been months since she 'liked' them) and she agreed to try them...asked for more! I wonder how long this will last?
This morning, while drawing on her Doodle Pro (art medium of choice), she discovered that she can draw globes. Of course, she's quick with that erase bar, so I had no chance of taking a picture to post. Earlier in the morning, I tried to get a hug. She pulled away and said "I NEED to draw". That's so cool....

Lucy Bag is DONE!

I just finished this bag Saturday night. Had to...knitting circle was Sunday and I needed something for show and tell. I LOVE it! I used 2 strands of Istra yarn (it's from Norway...got it in a sale bin) and size 10/5 needles.
Here it is before felting:


And after:

Lucy Bag is nearly done!

I started knitting a Lucy Bag for myself, then we all got sick. I set it aside for over a week. I've got a few ends to weave in today, then I'll be taking pics, felting it and taking more pics....then I can bring it to my knitting circle for show and tell tomorrow. Bug is excited. She gets to join me and the knitters tomorrow. I think the thought of cookies and other treats is getting her more excited than the thought of knitting. She'll come around...Actually, she enjoys walking around the table, touching all the yarns (to her nose, of course) and declaring them "beautiful".
She was busy making new rhymes today...Angela/spatula and Asia/Gumbasia (from her Gumby DVD) were the highlights.
Right now the Bug is upstairs with her dad, discussing different types of woods...spruce, curly maple, mahogany, etc.

I think we'll like it here...

Yes, I do believe we'll stay.
Let's see...the biggest news in our world is that Bug is USING THE POTTY! Feel free to have a party or eat cake or something. She's been diaper-free (during the day) for about a month, now. She's dry most mornings, too. HURRAY!

We're off to the library today to get a new Magic School Bus video. We had one about plants last week. She took to drawing plants with human heads, just like in the video. Of course, on the magna doodle...and she erased before I could ever get a pic of it.

Trying out a new place....

I'm not thrilled with my current blog's home, so I'm trying out some options...
The Bug has been busy drawing, as usual. She's getting really good.


I've been knitting quite a bit, lately. I'm doing some felting again. Bug is loving her new wizard hat.