Knitting my first sweater………….

After joining the Parkchester Knitting Circle I decided on another project.  I was encouraged by a fellow knitter who has made many sweaters to knit one. Knitting my first sweater.  I thought to myself for who?  My youngest son Ismaeel.  Why?  So that way I can have a finished product quickly.  Am I being lazy?  Of course not.  I am just trying to go over that hill of sweater making.  I feel as though after this task is done then I can have the confidence to make another one and another and another.  I really love being a part of the knitting circle.  Its like a small family getting together and doing what we love.  Everyone brings there projects, notions and newly bought books and patterns.  Sometimes in big bags or shopping carts.  I think that’s cool.

We are all going to crochet and knit an afghan for a charity.  What a wonderful idea.  I always wanted to be part of something like this.  We start the squares this week on Thursday.  I have to think about which special stitches I will use to make it looks nice.

Here is a pic of my messy knitting bag with some small projects and  my Handy Book of Sweater Patterns Book.  This is a book I left in New York when I went to Egypt.  What was I thinking?  Also I took a pic of the sweater I am making for my son.  I think it’s coming along well.  I am using two circular Harmony Wooden Needles to knit two pieces at the same time.  My fellow knitter showed me how to do it.  I am so thankful.

 

 

Stress……

We put the boys school.  How did this happen? It was not easy to make a decision like this, but my hubby felt strongly about it.  As far as socialization goes, my kids are veterans.  The schools now require a lot of writing. Even Ismaeel is writing stories everyday.  Writing  has been the struggle everyday since school started.  Ibraheem has to get used to writing everyday or he will miss out on special trips.  So its time to put that pencil on that paper and get creative.  I bought the series “Adventures in Literacy” years ago.  I didn’t realize how good they were.  I brought it with me from my mothers basement.  I need to go back and get the other three books.  We started with the title “Adventure Stories”".  It has a whole page of words that you would find in a rainforest and other writing ideas.  It has been hard for all of us because I have  to help him and push him to get it done.  15 minutes of free writing can be hours for him.  I woke him up at 7 and its almost 12pm and we are still here at the table and I am still pushing him to finish.  I am hoping inshallah that this will get easier with time.  I still have to get some school supplies.  My head is starting to thump.  Headache, you better come back later.  I have no time to deal with you right now.

My finished shawl, it really is about time…..

Deep in the bins in my mothers basement was an unfinished shawl.  I think I had almost  2 panels done.  The yarn was Bernat in jewel tones.  Why did I leave it?  I don’t know.  I already sold a lot of yarn on Ebay that I didn’t want.  They were really old projects leftovers but the yarn was like I just put it away.  I was happy to get rid of it.  I made a huge effort in the past week to finish it.  I am so happy I did and its for me!  By the way its 1:34 am and I am suffering from these really bad menstrual cramps, unbelievable.  I am about to pop two Panadol right now before uploading the pic of my shawl.  What am I writing this? 

 

                          

Still in NYC

I thought I would be in Egypt by now.   I am missing that which I have gotten used too.  The masjids, the people, the adhans at prayer times.  I miss opening my balcony doors and feeling that warm air come in.  I miss trying to speak Arabic, which I hope I didn’t forget the little I know.  I miss my neighbor.  Although I don’t know how long I will staying there, but I am hoping to get back and finish our purpose there.

I finally picked up my crochet hook and said the heck with it.  I am stealing this time.  Leave me alone with a good show from Animal Planet, Create, Discovery and I am good to go.  I am making a shawl.  This was a shawl I started 4 years ago and left it in a plastic bin in my mothers basement.  It was neatly stashed away in a ziploc baggie.  How wonderful.  It looked like I just put it in there the day before.  I am determined to finish it.  Among other things, a pair of socks that I brought with me half way done.

I love the libraries in NY.  I go to the library in the Bronx all the time with my kids. We even homeschool in the library four times a week.  Wow, I haven’t seen so many books in a long time, old, current and new.  Why buy when you can borrow?

I went to Barnes & Nobles about 2 weeks ago and that surely was a treat.  I had to nearly drag myself out.  Didn’t want to go .  Kept on seeing books I wanted to look at.  I purchased a book on drawing, oragami and the latest Betty Crocker Cookbook.  I have one in Egypt. It is soooo used.  Sheets have stains, and show signs of  lots and lots of use.  Sooo, I needed a new one.  I would like to buy myself a book holder so I can have it sitting up and plus its easier to read. 

I want to get myself a cd player so I can put it in my kitchen.  I have so many tapes and cds but the radios in Egypt are crappy and break easily.  I have started filling up a tote bag of seasons and things I want to take with me to Egypt.  I have some new seasonings, sazon(of course), crystal light, and other little goodies. 

Hope I get to finish my shawl so I can post my picks. 

Bye Bye Habeebi & Mish Mish

I left May 12 to New York and left my birds with a friend. Apparently something happened and they both died. It could have been that it was too hot outside. No one really knows your beloved pets or even how to take care of them. I loved my little love birds. They were a gift from a friend who went back to the UK. They filled my days with beautiful chirps and songs. Even if Habeebi used to try to nibble at my finger when I would try to change his food. I am so thankful for having them for 3 years. I will miss them so much. The only pet I have left is Charlie (turtle). So far he is well and staying with a family in Maadi. I went through so much just to get him there and I am happy I did it.

Feeding cats….

I have this bag of Cat Chow that belonged to Ginger.  Every morning I see the street cats on my way to school.  So this morning I pack the bag into my book bag and fed one kitty.  On my way back I made a special trip by the bakery and found a sickly cat that I see all the time.  So I fed her too. 

My heart is sad.

Our kitten Ginger has passed away today.  I don’t know exactly what happened.  We found her in front of our building.  I am so sad and I am going to miss her dearly.  I wrapped her in a cloth and tied her well with yarn.  We buried her in an area deep by the train tracks where no one would disturb her.  I don’t think I can have another cat, especially living in this tall building.  So I will just stick to my turtle and my lovebirds for now.  I am happy to say that we loved her while she was with us.  I am thankful to Allah to have her as a companion.  She was fun and feisty and full of life.  She will continue to live on now in a better place.  We love you Ginger and we will miss you so much.

 

 

In with the new…..

Okay, the previous posts were actually written in December and January on the Windows Live Writer.  Now I am relaxing in my new flat.  Everything went surprisingly well.  I love this new flat.  We are way up too.  The breeze is amazing and the sun brightens the house.  I don’t even need to turn on the lights.  I can’t wait to finally get settled.  Time to go to bed now,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Just talking out loud……

Who the hell likes to move.  not me!  Furthermore my typing skills are suffering.  I tend to always have to press the back button lately.  Two days and we are out of this cave.  90% percent packed.  I am hoping that we can stay there for a long time. 

In the mean time I have been baking like a maniac.  I got stuck on a pattern and since then I had to pack it away.  I have my daughter Sumi as my assistant.  We have made cinnamon buns, pizza, nan indian bread, classic white bread and roti.  Of course I took pics  but its 2 am, I will dig them up tomorrow.  Its not like I can post this right away.  I have no internet, but I will in the new apartment!

The nan indian bread was the most one I had fun making.  I got the recipe from Weight watchers spicy cookbook.  Surprisingly it was a great recipe.  The only thing annoying was that I had to let it rise for five hours twice.  It was worth the work because the taste was awesome.  I never made a bread dough that included yogurt.  I packed everything except my bread ingredients and my baking supplies.  My husband announced, “There will be no baking tomorrow, we got to get out of this apartment!”.  I was like DARN! I guess I have to box everything in the morning. 

 

Ever given CPR to an animal?

Yes, I have to say yes to this.  Most frightening visit to the Vet happened yesterday.  I had to go and get the annual shots and clips my cats nails.  Technically she is still a kitten, only nine months old.  My husband has been bugging me to take her for so long.  So finally we got her an evening appointment.  My husband, Sumaiyah and I all went in a taxi.  Here I am thinking that this will go all so well.  I come in the office, Ginger doesn't want to come out of her carrier.  She was so afraid.  I never saw her so afraid.  Finally when I take her out, she clings to us for dear life.  She hisses at the vet and could have scratched her.  No way was she going to let anyone do anything, so the vet had to tranquilize her.  I was the only one holding her tightly, the vet injected her.  We waited until she fell asleep. Finally the vet took her out, clips her nails and gave her the vaccine.  They she asked me if I wanted to declaw her.  I was like in my mind, "Hell no".  I can't do that.  What if she escapes one day, she will be defenseless and will get killed.  My hubby was being such a pain, but I was like NO.  Anyway, she tells me that she will sleep for a while and the she may be a little tired and then she said that she was done.  Did she ask me to stay and wait, No.  That was it.  So we left with the Ginger sleeping in her carrier in a taxi.  Half way there she stops breathing.  My daughter noticed it right away.  We started panicking and crying.  OMG, Ginger is dead.  OMG, tears and cries.  Then suddenly I thought let me breathe in her mouth.  While I started the breaths, Sumaiyah called the vet and she said to massage her chest and I did.  Still breathing in her mouth.  My mind in thinking that she is dead.  Let me continue breathing in her mouth.  Then I saw a wink, continue breathing in her mouth.  Felt some air coming out, continue breathing.  We are already almost to the office again.  I lifted her out of the carrier and then I saw her chest rise.  We came out of the taxi and the outside air hit her and she opened her eyes more and moved her mouth and I said to Sumaiyah, She is alive.  We brought her in and the Vet opened her mouth and the cat meowed at her and tried to scratch her with her now cut nails.  Then she had the nerve to tell me that she forgot  to tell me to stay and try to wake the cat up.  Ugh.  I was so upset but glad that she was alive.  What an ordeal.  I was already flashing  thoughts of where I was going to bury her.  Egyptian cats are street cats here.  Some people feed them and some don't care.  They rather spend money on a Persian or Siamese cat.  Ginger is a beautiful mau cat.  How can this vet say that these cats are street cats and that no one wants them.  Not a nice thing to say.  Anyway, I had to get this out of my head.  Ginger is on my lap sleeping right now.  So glad it was not her time yet and she is still with us.  Love you Ginger!!1

Just collecting my thoughts…..

So many things has happened lately I don't know where to start. We finally moved to Alexandria. The apartment is nice and big. Just when I thought we were going to settle in this place we have to leave. We have only been here one month. So now, I have this feeling of I have to pack again, how annoying. We found another apartment that is much better than this one, big with a nice balcony and lots of sun. Its so cold in this flat and dark. The sun rises on the left of the building and sets on the right. There is a huge building in front of us that blocks the sun all day. Why wasn't this thought about before? The new flat is close to the Arabic center. Two blocks away. That eliminates traveling by taxi or microbus which is a big headache. Five minutes to school and back, yipee!!! Meanwhile I have no freaken internet. I have to go to this cafe which is close by. But its nothing like having it at home. Oh, yes, that is how it started. We can't stay because we couldn't get internet. Then more reasons came after. Oh well. I having been knitting too. Finally took out my needles and hooks for some quick projects with Lion Brand Wool=ease yarn. I can't believe I found that yarn, in Egypt! I knitted a pair of cozy socks for my husband and a nice scully hat. Come to think of it, I wanted it for myself it was so cozy. I dug out a project I started in October. Crochet-knit scarf using that big yellow hook. Half way I did a little tunisian knit stitch that I wanted to try. I swear the scarf is 6 feet long. I folded up the ends and made pockets. That was a last minute idea that I saw in another pattern book. So you think its not cold in Egypt? Ha. Its chilly at night. I also knitted a hat right from a pattern that came with the yarn. Thank you Lion Brand for those free patterns. Really nice and warm. I just snapped this photo of myself nice and cozy! Now I have going make myself some cabled wrist warmers from Learn to knit cables on Looms. First I have to learn how to make the cable. I practiced long ago when I first got the book. Now since my hands are cold its time to make them. Its so much fun when you can stay up all night, watching Friends back to back and knitting. Great combination. While everyone is sleeping!!!! My hubby doesn't like when I do that. "How can you stay up all night and knit like that?" The answer is, "Because I want too!!!". I have taken pics of all my projects. As soon as I am done with the wrist warmers I have to finish my socks. They been in my bag for nearly two years or more. I can't keep track. I am hoping I can get a signal on my laptop so I can post this.

del.icio.us Tags: Knitting,Crochetnit,Tunisian Crochet

Miss you blog!!

I am really missing my hobby. Now I feel facebook and twitter is getting boring. I am going to delete my twitter account. My hands have other talents besides typing on twitter. It was fun and still is a little, but I need to get back to my knitting and crocheting and my looms. I am going to start reading "The Friday Night Knitting Club". I heard it was good and I bought at a book sale in Maadi. Time to wipe off the dust and start having fun again. I miss reading blogs that have so much beautiful stuff that people make. Now I have to search for a pattern for my friends baby. She needs some warm knits for the winter. Bye for now.

Sisters Day....

I was invited to my friends house Wafaa. When I got there, my other crochet buddies were there, Hala and Maryam. I am teaching my friends how to crochet and we are having lots of fun. I did a mini class on granny squares with crochet thread and a little crochet hook. Wafaa wants to learn how to filet crochet and make doilies. Even though I know almost all the stitches I never done filet crochet. I only ever made one doily. So this is going to be new for me. As for the sock I never finished it, but hopefully before the winters comes alone. In addition to this nice day we had, Wafaa made some good food. We ended it with something tasty cake she made with coconut chocolate frosting.

Crochet today….

Its fun crocheting this sock.  I haven’t touch it since my first post.  I have been so busy homeschooling and I just don’t have  a lot of time.  But its early and I have some time to kill.  I am going to the Metro to get some food for the school lunch tomorrow and maybe watch a chick flick if its on and continue my sock.

Winter socks in the summer….

I am working on a Lion Brand sock pattern I saw on the wool ease label.

Time to Crochet....

I have been wanting to make another totebag. The other one needs a lining which I am going to sew. Everything is always slipping out of it, its so annoying. This new tote I am making I am definitely going to make a lining preferably in black. There are many crochet projects that I want to make this summer. Realistically I won't be able to. But anyway here goes. One childs poncho, pair of socks, and sweater from Big Girl Knits. This book has some many beautiful patterns. I feel like I bought the book to look at it. I really need to try something new. The fact of the matter is I really don't have any yarn except sock yarn. So I am aiming for a chunky knit sweater. I am not ready for something fine knit. I don't have patience for something that takes long, call me lazy whatever. I like things that work fast. I am going to treat myself to some yarn tonight. The little shop Mona has Lion Brand yarn. Can you believe it? Wool ease. Here is a little pic of my almost tote. I have completed only the bottom. Macrame is so cheap here. I really want to get more. I think the sisters would like to have crocheted bags here. Maybe I can make a little money and sell some.

Finished tote!

I finally sewed on the straps. I really didn't have enough fabric. Me and my friend Hala are going to attempt to make some really cool bags from this book named "Sew many bags so little time". I ordered it from Crafters Choice(great book club) I really like this book. It's very good for beginners and has lots of cute little projects. Here is a little pic of the tote bag. Once I start sewing, I couldn't stop.

Making a tote bag....

I started to make this tote bag so I can carry my sewing stuff to class. Its really cute so far. I have to make the straps. What is the best way to put straps? Probably the best way is to have the straps go from one side to the bottom and then up the other side. I just don't want the straps to rip off the sides of the bag. I bought the fabric in a sewing shop in Brooklyn. Boy, do I miss that shop called, "Sew Materialistic". The fabric in this place is beautiful. They don't have fabric like that in Egypt. It's printed with chocolates that you might find in a chocolate gift box. Yummy.

Got a sewing machine today...

I have been going to sewing classes with my friends in Zaituun. We learned how to create patterns by measuring ourselves. Really, I have been wanting to learn how to do this for such a long time. My crochet and loom knitting partner Hala told me about the classes and for 30 LE a month, its not bad, its actually awesome.

My friend Wafaa gave me a classic singer sewing machine. When I say its classic, its classic. It works pretty good too. I am so thrilled. So of course my daughters want me to teach them. I just have to wait until I get a little more skilled.

In class today we made a pattern for a skirt. Since I didn't have fabric, we used the brown paper as imaginary fabric. What we made was a nice fitted skirt. Now just imagine, the lady doesn't speak a word of english. Good thing I understood what she was saying most of the time. Its a good thing the tape measure has english numbers. LOL. She speaks the local ameyah language. Her name is Wafaa too. She is such a sweet lady.

Speaking of language. I have to go back to school and continue my learning. Really, how can anyone go to arabic school and its getting so hot out here? I tell you it was hot in Zaituun today. We went to a local fabric shop and Wafaa bought some fabric to make pajamas. I need to make some for my boys too.

Things I would love to learn how to make:
Jilbab(islamic attire)
Hijabs (islamic attire)
Pants
Tote bag (I already crocheted one, now I have to sew one)
Quilts(i love quilting_
Dolls

So I googles free patterns and I got some really good websites that have so many free patterns.
http://www.freepatterns.com/
http://www.sewingfreebies.com/
http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns
http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/653.asp

Lunch

I haven't worked out in about 10 days. I have to get back on the ball. Fortunately my eating habits are still the same. I am very much aware of how much bread and starchy food I eat and make sure I have plenty of fruits and veggies for my kids and I to snack on. As soon as the fruit is gone they head to the veggies and devour them. So, being that the case today, I made a nice salad for myself. What is missing is my green spinach. Got to go and get some tomorrow. Thinking of a nice spanish meal today. Roasted chicken, herbed pasta and a huge salad with lots of crunchy veggies. My kids love it.