gonzomama knits

beat it

2011-04-12T17:06:00-07:00

i'm sitting here at the computer editing photos when henry walks up to me and asks to watch the video where they are fighting with knives. i ask, "what?". i am completely perplexed. he tells me the video where the are fighting with knives, but not really, they are actually dancing with knives. (this doesn't help). i send him off to ask matt - maybe he knows what this child means. i hear matt say something about michael jackson and 'bad'. turns out henry wants to watch the 'beat it' video. random? absofreakinglutely. i have no clue where that came from! i'm afraid to ask to be perfectly honest.

so we go to youtube, type up our demand and before i can hit play henry is excitedly calling for the "lego one, play the lego one!!!" and sure enough, there it is.

and the whole time he's watching it, he's telling me that this is the lego set he wants.

i love this kid.

beauty for good.

2011-03-14T20:46:00-07:00

as we all struggle to wrap our minds around the terrifying effects of the catastrophic events that have and continue to occur in japan it is easy to feel helpless. while i was sitting here feeling stunned and heartbroken reading the news, my friend erika was putting together a way for all of us to help those who can provide some relief.

erika has a gathered a small collection of prints from a handful of photographers to be auctioned off with all proceeds to benefit the relief efforts of the ICRC (international committee of the red cross). each photograph is 8x12 with a borderless lustre finish and printed on archival paper. your purchase will ship directly from costco professional printers in order to cut down on shipping costs. there are 8 prints to choose from (see above) and at $20 each they make an affordable way for you to brighten someone's day (maybe even your own) and do a good deed all in one go. the prints will be on the auction block until saturday, march 19.

i feel fortunate to have friends with such giving hearts and am humbled that erika invited me to contribute to this project. i would be honored if you helped us in this effort to show some compassion and love for our fellow humans who are facing struggles and hardships that really are beyond my comprehension. it truly is a small world and every bit of kindness helps.

for more details you can visit here or go to the erika ray photography facebook page where you can get a larger view of the available prints.

this might be long winded.

2011-01-28T20:39:00-08:00

but for some reason it needs to come out, and i haven't visited this space in months so i'm just going to type and leave it at that. it just feels kind of nice to be back here.

i am horrible at organizing and editing my photos. i upload and run. i rarely delete. and i've been this way for 4 years now. this behavior adds up to a lot of crap photos taking space on my computer. apparently a lot of space. so, i've been slowly working on organizing my photos with the intention of then going back through the folders and tossing out the junk. and oh my, is there a lot of junk. i mean how many photos of baby food or carpenter bees do i really need? and the blurry ones? thousands and thousands of photos of blurry children run rampant on my hard drive. (have i mentioned that i've also never backed up my photos?)

so, i go to upload some photos and they won't upload. i'm out of space. then weird things pop up saying there was an error in trying to save my photos in iphoto though i don't even have that program open. panic starts setting in and mass deletion (on my part) begins. i'm trying to go ahead and delete the tens of thousands of photos i don't deem worthy of taking up space before i back everything up. which i really am going to do. i've lost photos before (though i think they could be lurking in the trash somewhere. i don't know because iphoto won't let me open it). dealing with this task has been a bit of burden in my mind and putting it off has been my way of (not) dealing with it. anyway, rambling here . . .

and here i get to the tissues sitting there on the desk. going through this many photos and reviewing them has been extremely cathartic. at one point i didn't feel like i was emotionally capable of going through certain folders, like ones from thanksgiving where there were so many photos of my grampa, or all the pictures of the kids with our dog mason (who passed away in september at the ripe old age of 15). i had to stop several times because i was a blubbering mess hoping that i didn't wake up the kids from their naps, but i kept going (and i didn't wake them up). i still have a lot more pictures to go through, but going through these en masse i'm also figuring some things out. for example, i don't need to take any more photos of carpenter bees or baby food being made. or that i've come a long way, baby. it's a big deal to me that i'm more comfortable shooting in manual mode than any other mode. i would not have even thought that possible two years ago. maybe two years from now i'll be impressed with myself for having a decent organizational system for my photos! who knows?

so, that's what i've been doing the last couple of days and will still be doing for the next few days. if you don't see me around too much in the next few days, you'll know i'm busy hitting that delete button with no regrets. unless i mess something up somehow. because that is very possible too.

and hey! i remembered my blogger password. that's something!

random.

2010-11-04T07:50:00-07:00

i think you should check this out.
make sure you click on full screen : )

2010-10-22T13:39:00-07:00

henry had his four year check up yesterday. they tested his ears and say his hearing is just fine.

i beg to differ.

peek a boo.

2010-10-14T19:33:00-07:00

just popping in again.

listening to the black keys and about to bake a certain girl's birthday cake. somehow bea will turn 2 tomorrow. and she is ready. especially for her pink (by request) cake.
she can't decide if she want's to go on a hike and have a birthday picnic or go to the museum and have a birthday picnic. tonight she said both. maybe we'll wait until we're in the car tomorrow before we ask again.

the pendulum of life has been swinging pretty hard between the good and the bad here lately. nothing i want to get into, yet. just life stuff. i'm just glad that when it has been good it has been really good.

my dslr is still in disrepair, but i hope to have it return soon. in the meantime, i am enjoying film, except when i really screw up the shot and with film i think that's pretty hard to do - but i am managing just fine a little too often. not to complain to much because i love the excitement and anticipation of getting the pictures back and thrill of seeing the ones that turned out better than i imagined.
i need a film fund and i'm open to donations, because i don't want to give this up.

so, here's a little film-y goodness for your viewing pleasure. i'll be back around these parts again soon.

random wednesday.

2010-09-08T12:19:00-07:00

i've been listening to the feelies a lot. at least when i'm not listening to these guys, because holy smokes i can't stop.

what are you listening to lately?

2010-09-06T12:22:00-07:00

tea leaves cardi in progress.

. . . . . . . . . . .

2010-09-05T12:45:00-07:00

my camera is temporarily out of commission. (that's a very wishful statement, by the way). i'm not quite sure what is wrong with it, but it keeps locking up and won't shut off without removing the battery. as of now i know it's not the battery or lens and that's about it. spending quite a bit of time online trying to troubleshoot before sending it off to canon. i'm also perusing new camera's just in case, ha ha.

so i figure in the meantime i may upload older photos that have never been seen. and to keep up with my 365 (i'm too close to the end to give up) i'm going to shoot film. at least i'm going to try. so, while i'll be attempting to keep up with it, my posts will be late.

keep your fingers crossed for me that the problem is as simple as a dead memory card!

community love.

2010-08-31T06:19:00-07:00

via hula seventy.

sequestered.

2010-08-29T19:43:00-07:00

lately i feel like i have more shadows than i should at one time. not enough quiet and calm to break up the noise and chaos. some days i can take this in stride, while other days i feel like all coping skills have mysteriously vanished and may never be seen again. i feel like hiding away sometimes and the other night i did. as soon as dinner was finished i bolted up the stairs telling matt i needed at least 10 minutes, ducked into the bedroom and locked the door. i put some music on and laid on the floor next to the bed. the lock is faulty, so my hope was that if a noisy small person came in i might not be found.

i was found, but sometimes all it takes is 10 minutes of breathing in a room that you have all to yourself. that night i think i got 12 minutes.

2010-08-27T10:37:00-07:00

this is from one hello world. you should go check it out.

it reminded me of this a little bit.

made in the shade.

2010-08-25T20:24:00-07:00

spent some time under here today with henry and bea. just us and the laundry. hanging out.

i was working in the garden trying to prep it for fall planting (which probably should have been done at least a week ago). it's hard to think about a fall/winter garden when it's still in the 90's.

so there i was moving dirt around with two batman's running rampant around the yard when one collided with the clothesline pole. she needed some love and i was lured away from my task. she wasn't really hurt, she just really likes to be snuggled. so we set up camp for a bit under the laundry and enjoyed the privacy and the shade. and i enjoyed the company and conversation.

the garden can wait.

in summary.

2010-08-20T11:06:00-07:00

i haven't been blogging (obviously), but i also haven't been reading blogs either. maybe a post here and there, but that's it. today i opened up my blog roll and i am behind on reading 867 posts. ha! now, in all honesty, there a several blogs that i just skim (certain photo and design type blogs). then there are those that i like to get lost in, so if i don't have the time - i don't open them until i do. this is the weekend i think i'm going to make that time. i feel the need to catch up and not feel so far behind. i also think this is the weekend i need to whittle down my blog list (like those blogs i skim, for example.). this was supposed to be the summer of simplifying. i think the simplifying will be carried over into the fall and most likely the winter. i'm okay with that. it's a process.

looking forward to catching up with many of you!

it's official.

2010-08-16T18:45:00-07:00

i am officially ready for summer to move on out of here. i'm ready for cooler weather. jeans and cardigans. leaves crumpling under foot. the smell of autumn. bonfires and smores. the list could go on and on.

school's are entering their third week here. that doesn't mean much to me except that i know fall is around the corner. it tempts me to start packing away the swimsuits and shorts and break out the jeans and socks. i almost did it today, but restrained myself. i know i've good a good month or so of summer left.

i'm just ready for the season to change. henry must know it too, because he brought this leaf in just for me and set it on the kitchen table without saying a word.

kal-el.

2010-08-09T20:15:00-07:00

finally made it to metropolis.

2010-08-09T06:23:00-07:00

2010-07-28T08:11:00-07:00

i LOVE this!!!

and here

monday maintenance

2010-07-26T07:40:00-07:00

it's been a domestic morning here. i think i've accomplished more this morning than i did in all of last week. starting some bread, hanging laundry, making some detergent, making another batch of molly's dish soap, and enjoying listening to this:

it's good morning music, but i think it would pair nicely with a beautiful sunset, a slight breeze, a strong drink, and good friends. but that's just me.
you can get a free download from junip by joining their mailing list here.

dog days of summer.

2010-07-24T17:13:00-07:00

ah, the summer of simplifying. in other words, a summer of slowly filling up the van with boxes and bags for donations (not to mention the recycling bin). today the garage was tackled. matt worked on one side (his studio/work area) and i worked on the other. i think it was close to 100 degrees outside, but by the time we were done the floor had been swept and the van was half full of toys, christmas decorations, a vacuum, and outgrown baby things. it always feels good to unload that stuff and pass it on (to those who will use it), but the job feels far from over. i suppose it could feel that way until the littles are bigger littles. one thing that felt really great was putting away the baby gate. it probably could have been done a couple months ago, but it sat to the side just in case. why we're hanging on to that i can't say, but we are. i'm just glad i don't have to look at it anymore.

the task (if that's the right word) of simplifying is a journey i will be on for some time i think. this stage of de-cluttering is the only way i know how to begin. it's not something new to me, but this go round is a little more intense and has more intention. it's about prioritizing and focusing. it's about cutting out some of the unnecessary things and giving time to the more important ones. it's about less physical/mind clutter and more open/free space. it's about less time spent maintaining and more time on personal growth. it's about less of that and more of us.

lazy days of summer.

2010-07-21T19:24:00-07:00

hello there!
i am not going to start out by apologizing for being absent from this space of mine (as i usually do). though i think about posting on a daily basis, something is compelling me to keep my distance, so i am just going to go with it.

it's due (partially) to laziness. it's summer so that should be encouraged. my attention(s) are elsewhere. i'm reading more, listening to music more, watching more movies than i should be, lazing about in the high heat of the afternoon under the ceiling fan with at least one small child, and consuming too many desserts that consist of blueberries and lemon cake. and those are just the positive lazy things. there are negative ones too . . .

like the mounds of clean laundry to put away, the stack of dishes in the sink (again), the little green army men littering the floor throughout the house, and the fact that as i type this, there is a browning banana peel literally hanging off the top of the piano. but, i have my back to it so i can pretend its not there for the moment.

p.s. i'm so lazy that the picture i posted is from nearly two years ago because i didn't feel like uploading pictures tonight.

***and here's some nice lazy relaxing music to enjoy***

proof of knitting.

2010-06-22T15:05:00-07:00

really, it does happen on occasion. and sometimes i even finish a project. like this little number.

the baby shrug knit up in sock weight midnight from shibui knits. this was my first time knitting with shibui. the name alone would make me buy it. i love saying that word! i enjoyed working with it and if i were a sock knitter that actually finished a PAIR of socks, i would definitely use this yarn for a pair. i also chose this yarn for the color. i knew i would love how it looks on bea with her blonde locks (even though at the time of purchase it was barely more than blonde fluff). i was not disappointed.

the pattern was well written, easy to follow. the main pattern is a four row repeat, which after a few rounds was easy to memorize.
it also hides errors pretty well. i'm sure i made a few. i opted not to do the buttonholes, because i didn't foresee using them.
still looks great without them i think. they seemed unnecessary, unless you just want some extra embellishment. the pattern says that each size (0 to 3 yrs) will fit a wide range of ages. i didn't do gauge (because i'm lazy) and i'd say this is true. i knit the medium (1 to 2 yrs) and it fits both bea and henry (though it's a little snug on him). and yes, he was a willing model.

the day i shot these photos, bea was not so willing to put it on. i had to wait hours for her to agree. i thought it was yet another knit to be denied by her. but, i feel redeemed. when we were on vacation last week she was cold so i put it on her. later in the day when it had warmed up again i thought she might be getting hot and asked if she wanted to take it off and she said NO!
i was so relieved. my knitting queue for her is long. it would be no fun to have a girl who doesn't want to wear knits!

so now i am drifting in project limbo. i have some sewing projects on the table, but no knitting ones as of now. randomly working on dishcloths to keep my hands busy during movies. i am on the search for a sweater pattern for henry. so far i haven't found anything i loved. any suggestions out there?

pool time.

2010-06-01T10:32:00-07:00

still feeling quiet. i just don't feel like i have a lot to say right now. bear with me.

we are getting well acquainted with the pool around here. whether it's this one or the blow up one in the backyard.
and in about a week and a half it will be all about the ocean. really looking forward to that. it's time to gear up for that
trip mentally!

quiet.

2010-05-27T19:30:00-07:00

not much to say lately. the words will come back. for now maybe just some visuals.

the norm.

2010-05-10T13:55:00-07:00

a typical conversation around here lately.

"mom!"
"what?"
"mom? mommy? mom?"
"yes?"
"mommy?"
"i said what?"
"mom - o!"
"WHAT?"
"mom. mom. mom."
"i'm listening."
"mom?"
"what henry?"
"mom."

repeat 43 times a day.