Friday, June 23, 2006

Randomness

I have been taking a bit of a knitting break this week. As I was knitting up the border on Julian's blankie, I started getting weird cramps in my right pinky (the one that tensions the working yarn while I knit). My hand kept getting strangely deformed and really hurt. Ever happen to you? So I put the needles down and didn't knit for the rest of the evening. Next day, pick up the needles and there it is again. So maybe a longer break.... like say 'til Monday! I really don't think I can take a longer break without loosing my mind ;0)


So instead, a random post! I have become a bit of a regular at Jennifer's etsy shop since she launched it this Spring. I especially love her pottery and recently added her petite nesting bowls to my collection of JCASA originals. I received them a while back, but I don't think I showed them to you yet so here they are. Aren't they lovely? I love how they have different rims. They are really small (think the size of the palm of your hand) and I originally thought I'd use them to serve spiced olives (one for the olives, the other for the pits), but now that my return to work is looming, I think I'll need a little bit of blog love on my desk to keep my spirits up when I'm away from Julian and yarn so I think I'll bring them to work and fill them with paper clips instead ;o)

I'm going back to work next week, July 3rd to be exact, after a year long maternity leave. {Yup, that's right, the Canadian government pays 55% of your salary for a year to stay home and take care of your baby all the while guaranteeing your job upon your return to work! Ain't Canada great!} Anyhow, I am feeling really weird about going back. So many emotions, all conflicting with each other. I'm happy. I'm sad. I'm excited. I'm guilt-ridden. And through all of those emotions, I have to keep reminding myself that it's not like I'm giving Julian up. I won't be spending long days with him (he'll be having oodles of fun and making memories with his grandma and grandpa - lucky him), but I'll be home for dinner, I'll still be nursing him 2 or 3 times a day, he'll still be sleeping in our family bed at night, we'll get to spend lots of time together on weekends, and I have 8 weeks of vacation coming my way next year to boot. I do know that all things considered, I am pretty lucky and that I really can't complain. But it's hard.

So since I've been a bit of an emotional wreck this week, I bought a lot of yarn! And when I'm bad, I'm really bad. I had a bit of a yarn spree over at Cucumber Patch. First I picked up this Rowanspun 4ply in 708 midnight because it was $19.99 shipping to Canada included for, get this, 10 skeins! I mean, please! At that price, you don't ask questions like what the heck am I going to knit with tiny yarn...at that price you just by it. Right? Then I came across this Rowanspun Aran in 971 heath and because I love the colour and am planning another original design, this time a sweater for myself, I had to buy it now. Plus, it was $65 for 10 big 100g skeins, overseas shipping included. So naturally I had to buy it too.

So far, not so bad. Right? But then I saw this kit for Hanne Falkenberg's Diva cardi and couldn't resist. I tried. Really. But atlas, the cleverness of the pattern was stronger and it is on it's way to me from the UK as I write this ;0) I got the teal/emerald green combo and can't wait to see it in person. The whole thing is knit in garter stitch though on tiny (for a sweater) needles so I don't know how much fun it'll be knit, but I think wearability will make up for it.

So now I really have to go back to work to pay for my "it's okay Anny, life as you know it is not really over, you can totally knit on the train" yarn indiscretions.

Sniff! Sniff!

8 comments:

  1. That sweater is so cute, and your right the prices are great.Enjoy going back to work, sometimes that makes the time you do spend with Julian that much better.

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  2. You deserve all the yarn, I'm sure.

    Going back to work is really tough but it must be a relief to be sending him to Grandma and Grandpa's. You might be surprised how much you enjoy the company of adults again (I was).

    Thanks for the link to the Fiestaware. I might have to whip up a set for C's new table.

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  3. The way I see yarn, is it's my clothing, hobby, AND psychotherapy allowance, so I'd say you're getting off cheap! Plus, that cardigan is lovely.

    I can imagine how hard it must be to go back to work, but don't worry. You have a wonderful arrangement, and Julian will be just fine! As far as knitting...I work full-time, up to 60-70 hours/week, 6-7 days a week, plus church, plus teaching church school and working at a homeless shelter, and I STILL knit alot. The train is great, lulls at work are great, an hour in the evenings is great. You'll be fine :)

    Oh, and my hands get all kinds of crazy after knitting! My job also involves alot of repetitive hand motions, so I get cramps like crazy, plus cuts on my hands from the yarn and tinier needles. That's when you take a break. If you need something yarny to do, weave in all those ends on your blanket, or wind skeins, organize your stash, sew together pieces, etc.

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  4. Oh no, yarn stashing to feed the poor working soul. I've been there! It'll be hard at first, but you'll see Julian bonding with his grandparents and thriving in spite of it all. There'll be set backs, but there's always your own Anny Purls Knit Designs business looming in the future...

    BTW, my blogs look like I'm not knitting, but it's going on in the background because I don't have time to blog... did that make sense, LOL?

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  5. Hey...you could take those bowls, and some olives to work and put them on your desk to snack on ;o) hehehe

    I'm sure it will be hard to leave Julian the first few days - even though you know he'll be well taken care of. I know I'd probably cry if it were me.

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  6. {{{hug}}} Enjoy going back to work. Try not to think of it as time without Julian, just focus on the time you will be with him.

    I hope your finger feels better soon and you are able to knit up that new yarn. :)

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  7. Oh, the yarn can just be your welcome back to work present! :)

    Those are some cute fingers in the pic!

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  8. Anonymous6:15 p.m.

    That cute little fist!

    I hope your return to work goes well. I'm sure it will be great, but I'm hoping for you all the same.

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