Just jumping right in here...

On the writing front: No, I've not posted any excerpts. Mostly because my writerly self-esteem isn't doing too well right now, so nothing sounds good or post-worthy. I'm hoping that most of that has to do with the flood of hormones racing through me right now. Ergh.

Also, I keep fighting off a germ of a plot idea for a historical romance/bodice ripper that keeps trying to form in my head. I'll just go ahead and blame that on hormones, too.

In baby news, I'll be thirty weeks along this weekend, with only ten weeks to go. It's a bit scary that she's already to preemie size in there, and that in only a few more weeks, she'll probably be knocking pretty close to five pounds and her immune system will be fully functional on its own. Even knowing that I could have her right now (Oh, no! Please, please, no! Just stay in there for a little while longer...) she would most likely be all right without any long-term health problems down the line. And still she kicks... I think I might have some kind of callous built up inside my uterus now.

On the crocheting front: I finished two things this week. First:



It measures five feet long and three feet wide. I'm really proud of it, and now it's all folded up and tucked away, waiting for baby Freja to make her grand appearance.

And also, there are my Hobbit Feet Baby Booties:



Because what else is a mommy to do, but to foist all of her fandoms onto her child before she can even sit up?

On the reading front: I finally picked up Dead Until Dark and will be starting it this weekend (as soon as I finish that last forty pages of Little Dorrit, that is). I'm looking forward to it, since everyone I know who has read it tells me that it's good.

Okay, time for breakfast, or Freja's just going to kick the ever-loving crap out of me from the inside.

Busy, busy, busy.

I've moved in with the boy, which makes visits to the doctor easier since I'm now only ten minutes away, but work is farther away, so I guess you can't win 'em all.

The baby is growing and growing. I'm nearly six months now, and Freja's gone from gentle kicks and prods to daily bouts of pummeling. I'm pretty sure she'll be able to knock me out of my chair come August. I'm still in that happy stage of pregnancy, when all the morning sickness and early inconveniences are out of the way, and yet I've not grown so large that I'm uncomfortable. But I'm heading into the dreaded third trimester now (DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN!!!!!) so here's hoping I don't get some of the more common ailments (hemorrhoids, swelling in the feet and ankles, stretch marks, back aches, etc.) On the plus side, my hair has been really nice and thick lately (though that will go away after the baby is born) and my nails have been pink and lovely and hard as a rock. Also, I've put on about 21 pounds now, which means that I look about as twiggy as I always did, but with a bit of a belly in front.

Insomnia has been creeping in as well (mostly because it's starting to get warmer outside, and I never sleep well when it's warm) so I've been crocheting and reading and writing to keep my mind occupied. On the crochet front, the Tetris afghan is coming along well:



That's the eighth row I'm on. Eight out of ten. Add a border to that, weave in the ends, and it's done.

But I had to take a break from it last night, so instead I tinkered around with something else:



Brownie points to anyone who can guess what that little bugger is from. ;)

And finally... yes, I have been writing again. The Victorian Ghost Story. The warmer weather has piqued my interest in it again. I don't have anything to post from it right now (in other words, anything that I'm willing to post) but I hope to start up a more regular word count report soon. Wish me luck!

So this is my first baby project. I'm not exactly sure why I decided to go with Tetris (okay, the simple little block shapes probably had something to do with it...), but I know that my childhood love of the game had something else to do with it.

And so I decided to crochet a Tetris baby afghan for my daughter. Simple enough, right? Heh, heh...

First, I had to decide: Was I going to make this look like a screen shot of Tetris, or was I going to just fit a bunch of Tetris-style blocks together and call it a day? An hour of messing around with some graph paper (and reminding myself that I had only five colors to work with, one of them being the background color) produced this:



(My apologies for any photo weirdness today. I am working with a brand new scanner and a new-to-me computer, so...)

Also keep in mind that the color key at the top translates to baby colors. So Baby Yellow, Baby Pink, Baby Blue, etc. and so forth. Also also, the white (the background of the game) is a thicker yarn than the other colors, and that's on purpose. I wanted the texture change in there so that baby can feel it against her little fingers.

Well, with that out of the way, I had to decide how I was even going to crochet this thing? Afghan stitch? A whole bunch of granny squares sewn together at the end? (Okay, I kinda vetoed that idea right at the beginning.) I settled on this stitch, done in blocks that are slip stitched together as I go. Which means that speed is not something I'm looking at here. Oh, well.

But after a few false starts, I'm proud to say that I'm now this far along:



Almost done with the second row. Whew. The stitching together as I go bit is pretty nice, since I'm able to stitch in a lot of the ends as I go, as well. And that's a queen size bed there, so just try to imagine how nice and big that thing will be when it's done. Now obviously, I know that it's going to be longer than it is wider, but any extra white yarn is going to be used for a border that will add a few more inches to the right and the left.

Oh, and you wanted more of a close up of the blocks? Well, have at it:



There you go. Lovely, eh?

Now, who knows how long it will take me to finish this thing. And who knows if it will actually stand up to the wear and tear of a baby. But if it strikes even the smallest spark of appreciation in my daughter for a little game called Tetris, then it'll all be worth it. :)

I had another ultrasound on Thursday (Baby is now twenty weeks along! Halfway there!) and everything looks good. The comments I constantly get from the doctors consist of the length of my baby's legs ("Look how long they are!"), how active she is ("She just won't stop moving around!") and how tiny I still am, even though I've put on nearly fifteen pounds so far.

Oh, and did I say "she"? Yup. It's a girl. :)

Tim and I have talked about names, and we've decided on Freja (No, we haven't decided on which spelling yet, since there are several.) Tim also wants to use my first name as her middle name (Freja Quenby? Hmmmm....), but I'm not completely sold on that idea.

And finally, there are pictures:

( Clicky! )

And now I'm off to work on my latest project, a Tetris baby afghan. Pictures of a work-in-progress coming soon.

Yes, I fell off the edge of the map again. So many things happened at once, and then it just became easy not to update (and just when I was starting to do so well...).

So, to move a few things out of the way:

My mom is fine. She had a small skin cancer growth that was on the surface, that was non-cancerous and supposedly not immediately dangerous, until it ruptured a vein and sent her to the emergency room down two pints of blood. They had to have immediate surgery to stop the bleeding, but everything went fine, and she he is fully recovered, with only a small bandage (the size of a band-aid) covering what's left of the wound.

I also want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers that week. I really think my mom came through so much faster because so many people were sending good thoughts and vibes her way.

I had my first ultrasound, which went well. The baby kicked and squirmed non-stop, and kept trying to moon us.

( And first baby pictures! )

And that was three weeks ago. They told me that I was only 14 1/2 weeks along then, but I'm not quite sure I believe them. Especially since I've been feeling the baby kick for a full two weeks now, and because I've already started to show pretty well.

( See? )

So I think I'm closer to 19 or 20 weeks right now, rather than 17 or 18. But no matter what date they give me, it's still always in September. So it's become more of a due month than a due date.

My next ultrasound is on Tuesday, and they're going to try and see if they can identify the baby's sex, which I really want to know. (Or as my boy says, What "flavor" the baby will be.) If the baby doesn't give us a good shot, then I've got to wait another whole month(!) for the next ultrasound. Boo, I say to that! Boo!

After a rough bout of morning sickness, I've managed to put on about twelve pounds, which feels nice, but means I only fit into one pair of my jeans, a pair that I never wore because I bought them too big. Now I just keep waiting for it to get warm enough that I can live in high-waisted sundresses and flip-flops for the rest of the year.

In other, non-baby news, my school's Spring recital is this weekend, so this week is all rehearsals and costumes and finalizing music edits and reminding people for the fifteenth time NOT to take a hot iron anywhere near their costumes. Those things melt faster than candle wax! Steam, people! STEAM!!! But I'm looking forward to the show, and the two weeks of vacation that come afterwards. Then it's two five-week summer sessions covering the second half of May all the way to the end of July.

And August? Well, that's when I put up my feet and sit back with a tub of ice cream while I watch my belly get bigger.

My mom is in the hospital.

More details when I have them.

Please, please send your prayers and good thoughts her way.

Nothing major to report, except that I am officially three months pregnant today!

*cheers and stuff*

I've been stupid busy the last few days, and I'm pretty sure that next week should be easier. Also, my brother is giving us his kids' old crib, which should save us some cash. And... now I'm off to sleep. Jeez, this taking-care-of-another-life thing wears me out!

Well, with a wedding to plan and other things that'll be popping up at the end of the summer, I do need the extra money. :)

So after being given a box full of old patterns from the 60s and 70s from a kindly grandmother who thinks that my ability to crochet also means that I am master of a sewing machine, I'm selling these babies off.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade fassbaby.etsy.com

Yeah, there.

Back to your regular programming, please.

They're out spreading manure in the fields today. This is going to be the smell of my life for the next few months.

So I've been absent for a bit. I don't think I have any single, massive reason why, but a plethora of little reasons darting about that have kept me from updating, or from thinking of good update material when all of these little reasons have been busy floating around and distracting me.

So here's a couple of reasons (some little, some massive, depending on your view, I guess) in no particular order:

I'm sick. Right now, I'm dealing with this horrible cold/flu hybrid that's worse than a cold but not as bad as the flu, so I'm not throwing up, but I am weak and achy, and all the cold symptoms are there, but they seem to be running through me rather quickly.

I've not been home a lot. I know that's kind of a lame excuse (at least, it sounds that way to me) but time away from the computer does keep LJ from my mind.

I'm getting married.

I got a new (to me... in no way is the poor thing actually new by any other standard) car. An '89 Buick Park Avenue. She drives like a dream.

Oh, did I say I was getting married? You thought I might just gloss right over that one, list it in importance with - let's say - standing in a long line at the DMV?

Okay, okay. So I don't have an incredibly wonderful and romantic proposal story with which to entertain you all. He proposed, said he loved me, said he's never felt so loved as he does with me (He even cried a little! Oh, gosh! I had to wipe tears out of the corners of his eyes!), and then I said yes.

And... that's it.

And I'm happy!!!

Okay, okay. I'll calm down now. I'm actually not too excited right now, as too much excitement will bring on a wave of sinus-infection dizziness that I really don't have the strength to deal with right now.

So that's where I am right now. Once I'm feeling better, I'll update more. Pinky-swear.

Okay, it's cold. It hasn't been this cold for a while (about 3 degrees last night) and I'm sure that one of you guys reading this is experiencing even lower temps right now, so my wishes of warmth and safety and cars that start properly go out to you.

Now they're calling for 6-10 inches of snow tomorrow. This has been one of the colder, messier winters I've seen in a few years. I guess I got spoiled by the last few years of milder temperatures, but then I have to remind myself that weather tends to go in cycles. So in a few years, it'll probably be mild again. Before it freezes. Again.

No Christmas pictures yet. The boy has some on his camera that he still has to send to me, and then I'll try to post them in one big batch.

No writing today to speak of. I felt ill this morning from lack of sleep and really wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and pretend it wasn't below freezing outside and windy. Now I have to go to work and get home before the next batch of bad weather hits. Eh.

My life exploded over the holidays, hence my absence. It was a good bit of exploding, mind you, but it's still going to take up a good bit of my time, and... well, that's all I can really say right now.

I did start the new year with some writing. A whole 117 words. That's progress, right? Well, I'll take it.

I also have some Christmas pictures to post, which I can't seem to find right now. So I'll post the pictures I took yesterday after the (latest) ice storm.



( The rest cut for size and number )

I'm in the middle of another ice storm this morning. I've already lost count as to how many we've had this year, and winter only started a few days ago. It's lovely to look at and all, until the branches start falling off the trees, and the power cuts out, and I'm trapped at home worrying about everyone I know who might be trying to travel in this mess.

And in a few hours, that will include me.

I'm spending Christmas with my boy, going to his parents' house, meeting his sister (one of two) for the first time. I'm also making a ham and frosted sugar cookies later today, probably after we set up the train around the tree and finish wrapping presents.

I don't have to be back to work until January 5th(!), so I'm going to try and catch up on reading and writing during the break. If I'm silly enough to squander two whole weeks off....

So I wish everyone here a Happy Holiday. Be safe, no matter the weather the skies decide to fling at you. And here's to a better 2009!

I think, I think my mind might be trying to shift back into writing mode. It hasn't been there since the summer. The lack of creativity has been a wee bit depressing.

Yes, I had the Nutcracker idea last week, but really, deep down inside, I still want to work on the ghost story. And I think I will pick it up again, probably some time during Christmas break. (Funny enough, I picked up a chunk of it a few days ago, just a random bit from the middle, started reading, and thought "Hey, this isn't crap!". Which is a good sign that I might be able to slide right back into it.) I'm debating whether or not to post excerpts here as I go, the pro side being that posting bits of it, even small ones, will get people nagging me to keep going. The con side being that other people can read it. And everyone knows that's just so horrible. And stuff.

I made the mistake of going shopping earlier today, and had to fight all of the evil holiday crowds. I really thought I wasn't going to make it out of the Wal-Mart parking lot in one piece. But I think I've bought everything that needs to be bought. I'm still struggling to finish all of the handmade gifts without losing the feeling in my fingers. I knocked off a couple more gifts over the weekend, and then realized that I still hadn't put together or sent off any of my Christmas cards. So...

... that means last call for Christmas cards. If you'd like a Christmas card from me (one that will most likely NOT arrive before Christmas) just leave your real name and address in a comment. And comments are screened. And so forth.

And I promise there will be pictures of the Christmas tree, complete with crocheted pork products and Leaders of the World Shrinky-dinks this weekend.

And now I have to go crochet something.

So here I am, in fear that after this Christmas, and all of the handmade gifts and cards have been distributed, I'll be that crazy relative/friend that everyone dislikes come holiday/birthday/general-gift-giving-time, because I give out ugly handmade scarves and sweaters and gloves and who wants to wear a crocheted necklace and earring set that's all matchy-matchy? Who wears crocheted jewelry???

Maybe I'll simply cave three days before Christmas and buy Amazon gift cards for everyone.

But the gloves for my mom are finished. That's one gift down.

I also need to add another nine feet to the sausage-link garland on the Christmas tree. But the crinkly bacon strip ornaments are finished. (Looking back, I'm trying to figure when exactly the boy and I decided to decorate the tree with crocheted pork products. I'm pretty sure there was no alcohol involved, which makes it just a bit more frightening.)

We're also thinking about another batch of Leaders of the World Shrinky-dink ornaments. The list of completed ornaments goes like this:

George Bush
Dick Cheney
Barack Obama
Gordon Brown
Tony Blair
Hugo Chavez
Kim Jong Il
Fidel Castro
Alan Greenspan
Vladimir Putin
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Angela Merkel
Nicolas Sarkozy

And.... I think that's it. For now. I know I've missed so many countries, and we did go ahead and shrinky-dink some people who are no longer in power. Suggestions? Who did I miss that absolutely needs to be up there? Japan? Australia? Canada? Mexico? Hmm... I might have to buy more shrinky-dink paper.

I'm getting things done. And still figuring out what I'm doing.

My mom is getting a pair of heavy crocheted gloves. She has small hands (her ring size ranges from about 4 to 5) and has a lot of trouble finding thicker, heavier gloves that will fit her fingers, so I hope she'll appreciate a custom-sized pair. I have one glove completely finished. Now that I've got the size worked out, the other one should be done in a day or so.

My dad is getting a hat with earflaps. Or I hope I can find a decent pattern for one. It will probably be grey. I haven't gone yarn shopping yet.

Alice is getting a crocheted pair of earrings and a matching choker in either silver (which I have) or gold (which I don't) thread. Those are easy and can be done in a couple hours.

Ellen (a girl who helps me with the pre-ballet classes) is getting earrings. I don't know what color, but she has dark brown hair, so I think a really rich, vivid color would look good on her.

My sister-in-law... I don't know. Maybe a ruffled scarf in a soft, homespun yarn. Easy-peasy pattern, maybe a few hours to make.

The sad thing is... I know my gift list is much longer than this, but I think if I just look at a few projects at a time, my brain won't spare itself the misery by leaping off a precipice.

Oh, and there's still the cards to make. And the materials to buy to make the cards.

*headdesk*

On a completely different note, I finally sat down and watched all four episodes of Lost in Austen, and I loved it. I even told my mom about, and I'm hoping she watches it so that we can talk about it. I'm also completely caught up on Little Dorrit, and am eagerly awaiting the last two episodes later this week. And then? It will be time for The Devil's Whore, no doubt.

That's it. Everyone I know is getting handmade gifts from me this year. The stores in the mall can wrap and overwrap and garnish and glitter their overpriced gift boxes of scented lotions and candles and perfumes that all smell like someone steamrolled the beauty aisle at Wal-Mart into a chemical soup, but I'm not falling for it this year. I will not buy your faux-fur throws that cannot be pitched into a washing machine or even touched by water. I will not rifle through your assortment of glycerin soaps that melt into a puddle as soon as the plastic wrap is unwrapped. I will not be drawn to the giant boxes of chocolates that are really just giant boxes, with so much paper and filling and foil around them that by the time you make your way down to the half-dozen pieces of sickly sweet candy, you really just want a salad instead.

I am going to crochet and sew and glue and bake until I've taken care of everyone on my gift list, and then all of those people will mistake my cheapness for thoughtfulness, my distaste of shopping for creativity. I will watch Martha Stewart and actually pay attention to what she says, instead of just using her show as filler until that rerun of Doctor Who comes on.

And I only have two and a half weeks to get it all done.

Oh. Crap.

Because of a trip to see The Nutcracker ballet yesterday with my boy, and because of various random comments made, I now have my muse knocking on my head, trying to get me to write a re-telling of the Nutcracker story (originally by E.T.A. Hoffman) set in a steampunk universe.

And it would be called either Doktor Drosselmeyer's Machine or Herr Drosselmeyer's Machine.

Dangit.

From sroit



Okay, I absolutely love that the third day aaaaaallllmmmmoooooosssstttt worked out. :D