Loads of calories, real and visual

Emily turns six today. Every single inch of her is so totally six. She knows her own mind and isn't afraid to share it! We love her very much.

This quiltlet was made back in November, but every time I wash it with plans to get a photo, squirt here snags it back and makes it hers again. It's with her each night, on the sofa and generally around the house (leading to a new rule:  no silky blanket at the table). Wonderful to have anything you've made get so much use! The front side is made up of leftover blocks from a bed-sized quilt (WIP) and the backing is super silky soft pink plush (say that three times fast). You can see a bit of in the the second photo below. A big pain to quilt, but it was worth it.

 

Another birthday means another slightly goofy mom cake. I made pink cupcakes (that strawberry mix flavor) for my Pinkalicious girl to take to school. We topped those with white frosting and colored flower-shaped sprinkles. Re-beat the remaining frosting with red coloring to frost this chocolate cake and something tells me it was a little too much whipping for the butter. I was out of sugar so there wasn't much to be done and anyway, the birthday girl was OK with the look. Still, it was touch and go there for a few minutes as each time I'd frost one side the top layer would make a run for it on the other.

Now for the non-fattening content:  Calorimetry from Knitty Winter 2006.

Here are my notes from Ravelry:

CO just 90 stitches on US #7’s, but otherwise followed the pattern. I have a big head and it fits well. I’ve got about three color changes left on the ball. The pattern is designed to yield a wide band to cover the top of your head and it does that. Might make another narrower one for more of a ear-warmer/headband effect.

This colorway wouldn’t be my first choice, but I had this ball stashed to make a hat for my daughter. This winter she’s gotten into a “no mom-made for me” stage, so I considered it fair game. After seeing this knit up she wanted the yarn back for a skate hat. Sorry kiddo.

This is the perfect dog-walking at night hat. Just enough hat to keep you warm, but it avoids the dreaded hat head, which for curly headed folk is deadly. If I remember correctly, Ms Harlot equated the look with a part of a man's anatomy which I shall leave nameless.

Just so you don't think I felt as severe as the above photos look, I'll let you in on my not-really-a-secret that's just not been on the blog yet:  My 10-yr-old and I got braces around Halloween. Only 15 months to go... My front teeth have already moved forward a lot and soon my side teeth, so indented you can't see them, will be able to be pulled outward. Sometimes - everyday - I think I'm crazy, but my already narrow palate had shifted a lot after all that dental work last winter and I was bummed. I'll just drive my car for a few more years as I admire my smile in the rearview mirror (while my orthodontist picks out his new beemer).

I'll finish with some garden photos. Two bits of rain in December followed by temperate weather fooled my David Austin roses into thinking they were in England in the springtime. Some of the blooms are punky compared to spring, but the William Shakespeare 2000 and Ambridge are the largest I've seen.

We've cut back most of the perennials so the garden looks pretty bare. I've not had the heart to cut the roses until after this little surge because those spots of color are so cheerful in the cleared beds. Must do it this weekend though so they can get some rest before spring. I've not fed the poor dears since spring, so they're making these flowers on fumes.

   

Some things come into their own this time of year. The Breath of Heaven (behind the red rose above) are all blooming, the geraniums look great, the lavender is near perfect and the Christmas cactus is doing its thing in the courtyard. Most other things need a little R&R.

   

 

Comments

[moni]

oh it is sooo wonderful to see garden and flower photos! keep em coming :)

I really like your calorimetry! That is one I have not made yet...

And I love your daughter's quilt! How pretty! Did you know that there is a picture book called Pinkalicious that came out last year? I read it for storytime and the girls LOVED it :) It's about a girl who eats too many pink cupcakes and turns pink (or something like that).

[Nancy]

Thanks Moni. Pinkalicious is a favorite around here ... along with Walter the Farting Dog.

[Debi]

You must have the greenest thumb EVER! You garden is breathtaking even when you ignore it :)

[Susan]

It's so nice to see something blooming! We won't get any blooms until at least March here in Kentucky. I adore your roses! I bet they smell heavenly.

[Katie]

Roses, wow. I've not seen any since last August and won't be getting any new flowers until June. You got to love the English climate!
I love David austin rose, I once went to his Nursery and they were just spectacular!

[marissa]

Wow. I cannot express my joy at seeing those pictures of your beautiful roses, now in the cold gray dead of a Maine winter!
Your daughter, it goes without saying, is even more beautiful (mine is 7 next week).
I am writing to comment on how impressed I am with the number of projects you have either finished or in progress, where do you find the time?!?
Love your blog-I tripped across it only recently while trying to work out the neckband of 'wicked' (the small size has a stitch number problem), yours looks great!

[Liz]

Wow!! Your Christmas cactus is amazing. As are all of your gardens. Remind me where you live? Is it California? By the way, it's 11 below zero with a wind chill of 23 below this morning here in Des Moines. WHY do we torture ourselves?

Anyway, your quilt is beautiful as is your little six year old. :) Gotta love those funky mom birthday cakes, too.

As for the braces... good for you! I really should jump on your coat tails and do the same... hehe... a new trend in blogland? Knitters with Braces. Haha.

[Louise Snitz]

I love your website.

[Julia]

You got braces! ohmigawd, I am so jealous. Not of all the pain and expense, but you're going to get straight teeth! Oh, I wish. My oldest got hers off last spring at 29 - she has a great dental plan at work and was finally able to get it done. Her single mom couldn't afford it when she was growing up. That is a perfect turning six cake - homemade cakes are always preferred at our birthdays, 'cept I never get one unless i make it - which I do sometimes. What is is about that minky stuff that kids love so much? Abby has been feeling up some I bought to make a robe for her AG knockoff doll and she loves her fleecy blankets. Aren't roses amazing the way they look delicate but can bloom in the most damnable weather? I have hat-head shape issues like the Harlot too and it makes me crazy - wish I had your hair to fluff them up a bit. Happy Brithday Emily!

[Robin]

I am in constant awe of your photography. Thank you for your blog.

[kathy]

I had to laugh as I read your post. My first thought when I saw your daughter wrapped in the quiltlet was how joyful she looked and how much she must love it. Then when I saw your quilted headband I thought "that would be absolutely perfect for my curly hair." Your pictures are capturing your thoughts extremely well!

[Risa]

I just love your beautiful flower pictures. My brown thumb and I are insanely jealous! Cool on the braces :) Sorry about Mr. Greenjeans. I've been eyeing that sweater myself and have so far resisted as there's enough in my queue at the moment.

I can't believe she's six. A very happy belated birthday.

[Amanda Cathleen]

Happy Belated birthday to your Pinkalicious girl! Tell her to be careful not to eat to many pink cupcakes, you wouldn't want her turning pink! Beautiful quiltet I can see why she keeps snagging it. I would want to too!
You look beautiful in your Calorimetry! And your roses are lovely.

[juliet]

Little Miss 6 is beautiful (so is her big sister), she looks every inch a pink-quiltlet kinda lady, I am sure the puink quiltlet will be cherished (it is gorgeous). I am loving the hat - I have a favourite pair of socks knitted from the same Noro, it feels warm and cosy just looking at those colours. I love the garden photos - those David Austen flowers are way tougher than their appearance suggests, the Christmas cactus is stunning - wouldn't survive here (we are slowly dissolving with wind and rain and big storms forecast).