Working in a mall has its drawbacks. Your kids feel free to put items on hold letting the clerks know their Mom works in the mall and would be happy to stop by on her break armed with a charge card. They think nothing of interrupting your day with a request. "Mom, on your break…

I’ve decided that I can handle having four UFO’s at once. More than that is too much, but sometimes I cross the line. Yesterday I had the Autumn Silk cardigan, the cable scarf, and another incomplete scarf tucked away. The cardigan would be more of a fun knit if the yarn weren’t so frustrating. I…

So my birthday is coming up; I’m an Ides of March baby. Maybe that explains some of my quirkiness. My husband and I came to an agreement a long time ago regarding gifting.  The rules are: 1. Gifts can’t plug into the wall unless the recipient has expressed a desire for the object. A replacement…

Nadia, a UBC student and a knitting blogger, left a comment on my blog a while back when I posted about Koigu coming to Vancouver. Since she lacks transportation I offered to pick her up last Saturday at the seabus, take her to lunch and to West Vancouver’s Knit and Stitch for some Koigu. It…

I saw two signs last weekend that have stuck with me. They were both nice professionally made signs. One said "Free Manure – call to make appointment." OK, I’ll put that on my list of tasks: finish writing will, deposit cheques at the bank (how come that’s not banque in Canadian?), book time for teeth…

A few years back I was lamenting the fact that there no longer seemed to be time or energy to do anything except parent and work. I never thought things could possibly get easier, but as those little chicks get their flying wings, time has magically reappeared. Over the past year, in addition to working…

I haven’t talked much about our recent foreign student. We have hosted over 50 students in ten years and generally it is a good experience. Three of the four exceptions have been between the ages of 18 and 19. We are in the midst of one of those exceptions. This student wasn’t adjusting as well…

So how long should a scarf be? Please tell me that size doesn’t matter. Is 45" acceptable, 48", 70"? I’ve found scarves an excellent way to indulge in expensive yarns that I might  not otherwise buy. But sometimes two balls doesn’t seem quite enough for me. OK, get your minds out of the gutter. Any…

When it comes to carpet stains I am like a dog with a bone. I will not let it go without a good fight. I know all the products and swear by a few. I’ve had two puppies, a baby with projectile vomiting, and the normal spills of life but this week I met my…

When all else fails, read the directions. How long is it going to take me to learn that? Remember the Colinette Mercury I was knitting with a while back? I described it as being aptly named because the yarn "melted" into a pool even though carefully wound. Last night I found the label and noticed…