Alot has transpired since my last entry! (duh!) So let's get on with a recap and get down with the knitting!
1. I had successful back surgery last November.
2. The baby is almost 21 months old!
3. I've been doing a bootcamp for the last 5 weeks and this is my last week (woo- hoo!)
4. I've missed my knitting terribly.

So that's that! If you may recall I draped on the dress form as a pattern for my next project-a dress!
I'm knitting it in the round to the high hip- then splitting it-as it will be a dolman sleeve and I think it will go better that way. I've probably got over a foot done- which is actually impressive to me considering how little knitting time I've had. It's knit in Trilly (Filatura di Crosa) 50% cashmere and 50% silk. The center panel is a 2×2 rib, with center double increases and decreases and the side panel is Star rib mesh from A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. The Trilly is so much fun to knit with. I had made a swatch from mohair- which was beautiful and very sexy but not much fun to deal with!! I'll post a picture of the dress so far either tomorrow or today. Until then, Beth

Here are some Halloween pics of Tricking and Treating. The street right behind us fills with kids and parents and it's so much fun,

Those of you who reside in and around Los Angeles might be familiar with the eating establishment Canter's. Tonight we were there and upon leaving my daughter offered a new friend she had made one of her tiniest pet shop figurines- which i thought was really generous because she really loved them. Then as we walked to our car we encountered a homeless man and my husband suggested that Hunter give him her and Mac's leftover pancakes. Which she did. As we were driving away she mused at how good it felt to give the little girl her toy. Then she said, "But, ya know what felt better? Giving that homeless guy my pancakes." And she's right, it does feel good. We as knitters are by nature givers. I think we're very in touch with humanity and making contributions that seem small but in actuality mean alot. In this spirit I challenge, encourage, and hope that we can march as a group in Homewalk -United Ways walk to help end homelessness. On November 17 I hope to walk with my family -including my knitting family. Will you walk, too?

This is what I've been doing. Keeps the baby entertained and eating. These are Joe's O's, personally I think Cheerio's make for better stacking.
This is what I haven't been doing. It used to be when the house got really dirty I knew I was knitting alot! Now I just now the baby is really busy and not doing this!
Most of all I've been really pushing to get the addition to our house done. Part of the stuff we did (besides adding square footage) is we had our family room remodeled. The other night I realized we'd been pushed back into the original 1,300 sq. foot house! Don't get me wrong- I'm so grateful to have a roof over my head, however, It's just not enough space for 4 people and 3 dogs- Let alone all of the crap we had to move out of the other part of the house to work on it! This started in Feb.-ENOUGH!!!!
With all that I do have some really great news! I will be able to attend knitting tomorrow sans child!
A really great mom at my daughter's school who has an older child offered to babysit Mac. I hope it turns out O.K. because this is a really good thing!

Hey you guys (and you know who you are) How about this?: Lace in the Woods '08
"A Knitting Retreat" June 23-27, 2008 Big Sur, CA. I know you overloaded on Stitches last year, I think this sounds perfect! If they had a golf course I could get my parents to watch the kids and everyone would be happy. Five days of knitting lace. That would be SO cool! You'd come home and really have accomplished something. Think about it!