Turns out, I do like it. Even with black fly season upon us and sleeping in a 3-man tent with five of us. The kids LOVED it. Wow. And the weather - we couldn't have asked for better weather. I went swimming. Like, under the water without getting a headache. Growing up near Lake Superior means that swimming before July is not for the faint-of-heart. It is cold - and it stays cold. It's just that the outside temperature gets hot enough that you stop caring how cold the water is. But not here in Ottawa. The Rideau River was perfect, if not a little weedy.
Now we're just trying to figure out where and when we can go next. And we'll have to buy some equipment of our own. Our friends were kind enough to lend us what we needed for our trial run - but I need to return it to encourage them to get out camping too!
Isaiah and I have just finished up his Space Unit Study we've been working away at for the month of April. We used this book as the backbone for what he's learning. He's a clever little boy and he really enjoyed learning about the planets and other celestial bodies floating around out there. Since we're wrapping that up last week, we've started looking at the Green Thumbs book and planning some of our summer school activities. Now I'm super impatient for the Powers That Be to put sod in our backyard so I can get going on the gardens.
I've recently picked up the Guernsey Wrap Shawl I started knitting back in October or November but abandoned to finish up Christmas presents and baby items. I am really enjoying the project. It is knit from charts, which is challenging for me at times but I think I have a pretty good system worked out so I don't lose my spot.
Joining up with Ginny again today for the Yarn Along. Do you see this mountain of goodness? I know I've shown fabric and yarn - but it's all so yummy. The white and blue yarn is Berroco Vintage Worsted and is destined for the Shellseeker sweater and the sock yarn (Berroco comfort sock) will hopefully become Windward. Yarn Harlot described Windward as having that "post-apocalyptic shabby chic" style that captures the "I'm so cool my clothes are rags" look. I love her. And I love these patterns - so shout out to Heidi Kirrmaier. Click on her name to check out her other designs. The pink ball of yarn with the sequins was chosen by Lucy, who accompanied me on this yarny expedition. There was a sample scarf knit up with it that she fell in love with - so I have one more project to add to my list. The fabric has been sewn up into a birthday present for my niece. I'll post pictures of the final product once I get it sent off in the mail - I can't ruin the surprise :)
The receiving blankets and spit-up cloths are scattered throughout the house - along with a breast pad I must have taken out during one of the night feedings. My pillow isn't on our bed - it's in the living room with a heap of blankets - an attempt to give Keith a good night of sleep. The washing machine just chimed to tell me the load of cloth diapers is clean. The tiniest of our babies is grunting at me from her bouncy chair - her bed of choice when she has a tummy ache.
The first two weeks of Charity's life have been full. She has been to an Ottawa 67's game and seen her dad compete in the Million Dollar Shootout. She has been to Stanley's Maple Sugar Farm and to church, the doctor's office and various shopping locations. She's been held by some of the people who love her the most - grandparents, great friends, siblings, Mum and Dad. Truthfully, she's slept through most of these experiences (save those doctor's appointments) but I hope they - along with the photos we've taken will help her understand that she is part of a family and a community that has loved and included her right from the start.
I'm a day behind, but I'm Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along today. I'm reading (and will be for quite some time) Susan Wise Bauer's The History of the Ancient World. She would be on my list of most inspirational women. That combined with the fact that I love world history almost makes this a guilty pleasure to read. I bought it for myself for my birthday in February and have made it about 250 pages in. I'm trying to read it during the kids' quiet time each afternoon instead of watching a TV show - but I have yet to master the art of knitting while reading so sometimes the TV wins out.
