Tropical Butterfly House and The Pacific Science Center

Luckily I asked about fun things to do with kids in Seattle in a mom's group and found out that our Oregon Museum Of Science and Industry membership was honored at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. So great! Going to any museum usually costs a fortune for a family of five. When I found out they had a tropical butterfly house I made sure we added it to our list of to do's in Seattle. Lucky for us it was only 4 blocks from our hotel!

It was a great place for the kids. Since their ages range from 2-13 it is hard to find activities that make everyone happy, but they all had a great time. We were there for several hours and still didn't see it all! We will make sure to visit again next time we are in Seattle.

A trip to Seattle

We took a little  family weekend trip up to Seattle this past weekend. It has been a long time since I had been out of Portland, or done anything at all really so it was a nice change of pace.

Our trips are usually out and away from any city because I am not much of a city person, my soul craves the quiet and peace of nature and Oregon has so many beautiful places to chose from. Not to mention spending time in any city is expensive, especially with a family of five.I thought Portland was big but compared to Seattle it feels very small. 

That being said we had a great time.

One benefit of Ben traveling constantly with work is that he earns rewards points towards free hotel rooms and it doesn't take long at all before he racks up enough points for a free room. So we stayed for free all weekend.The hotel we stayed at was just three blocks from the Space Needle and we had a great view of it from our room. The kids had fun watching the elevator go up and down while lying in bed. We found out that the Pacific Science Center accepted Portland OMSI membership so we also all got into the Science Center for free! What a thrifty trip it was!

That's how we roll.

We also got to spend some time with Ben's sister which was fun.

To be Continued.....

Yarn Along:How many mitts can a knit Witte knit if a knit Witte could knit mitts?

Hello. Just checking in for the Yarn Along with Ginny at Small Things. I am still busy knitting fingerless mitts even though I promised myself I would stop by Thanksgiving. I am send off a batch for my friend to sell in her lovely waldorf craft shop and a few to sell here locally in town and in my Etsy shop.

Whew. So mindless and easy I can whip up a pair or two every knit when my kids are sleeping. I love mindless knitting so I can watch a movie at the same time. My last name is Witte and that little rhyme in my title goes through head constantly now. Maybe I am going a little loopy.

I am taking a break from knitting my sweater until after the holidays as I am contemplating trying to complete several knit gifts in time for Christmas. Several gifts, none of them I have even started. Am I nuts? Well, yes maybe a little. The super cold weather that has been trading off with warm dark days of pouring rain have made staying inside and crafting my way to stay sane lately, although I do miss hiking terribly. At least I am being productive I guess.

 

I am still reading Arcadia by Lauren Groff. It is lovely and I find myself reading into the very wee hours of the morning. It is very poetic story of a young boy growing up in a hippie commune. I have always liked the idea of living in such a place. As a stay at home mom with a husband who travels for work it sounds lovely to have other people around all the time,at times I feel very isolated. The self sufficiency of the commune also appeals to me. To have daily meaningful self sustaining chores sounds very satisfying and quite opposite of trendy city living and fighting over parking in the Whole Foods parking lots.That sounds pretty good to me at the moment since I am at the stage in the holidays where I truly loath city life and my trendy neighborhood. A cabin in the snow far up the mountains sounds lovely. Guess I am a bit of a hermit not meant for city life. As long as I have some yarn, I'm good.

What are you knitting and reading? Please join the Yarn Along to share what your knitting for the holidays.

Visit HumbleLuna for Cyber Monday!

Hello Friends! I just wanted to let you know there are a few new items up for sale at Humble Luna and I am offering free shipping today 12/1/14 for Cyber Monday with the coupon code CyberMoon.

First  there are a few new dragon tail costumes in a hot pink with purple polka dots and a dark forest green tail with olive green spots. 

 A few fun and funky clothing items are available made from a bright vintage corduroy that can be made to order in your child's custom size. There is still plenty of time to have these made for the holidays.

There is also a new Christmas Elf hat costume available that would be fun for holiday parties or for caroling around the neighborhood.

Please stop by Humble Luna for Cyber Monday.

Happy Holidays!

Yarn Along: My Little Lamb

Hello! I wanted to join along with Ginny for the Yarn Along to share my little lamb costume I made for my two year old daughter for Halloween this year. The details of the pattern and my modifications can be found at my Ravelry page here. She still has a sweet baby accent and her L's are Y's so she said she was a "Yitto Yam". She will be able to wear this costume for several more years, it will be a fun addition to our dress up stash and it would also be great fun to wear to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival.

I am currently knitting fingerless toddler mittens to sell during the holidays. I currently can make about two pairs a day. I plan to stop knitting them for a while after Thanksgiving or after my colorful wool stash runs out, which ever comes first.

I also just frogged a half finished sweater that has been sitting around since last spring. I lost the pattern for it after I printed it out and left it at pub knitting. Then I got the book from the library and my printer was out of ink and I had to return it again before I could make another copy. So, maybe it just wasn't ment to be? I found a new pattern that I like much better called Flying South by Classic Elite Yarns.

 I would be lying if I said it has been easy going, but following a chart with my children playing wildly around me I mess up and ripped out more rows than I have knit. Unkitting really sucks, btw. A lesson in patience for sure. I think I am almost finished with the patterned yoke and out of deep water for now. I really need to just stick to easy mindless knitting when I knit around my kids. I have been a mom for 13 years, I should know better by now!

As far as reading I need to stop by the library today to pick up Arcadia by Lauren Groff. I am looking forward to reading it.It is about life on a commune in the 1960's in Western NewYork. I love everything about that decade and communes have always intrigued me so I am sure I will enjoy it. I lived in Western New York with my husband when our first child was a baby. Holy smokes are they buried in snow out there! Like several feet! Here in Portland we get a dusting  and schools are closed and the city shuts down, it is silly really. People near Buffalo would laugh at us....

Stay safe and warm out there knitting friends, snow or no snow.

I am sick with a cold and am pretty much good for nothing at the moment,nothing but knitting and reading, of course. That sound pretty good.

What are you knitting and reading? Stop by the Yarn Along to share!

Papa's Beach Birthday

 

We went to the coast last weekend for Papa's Birthday. It was one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen at the ocean. Simply stunning, take your breath away kind of beautiful. Best part was we had Nana there to share it with too.

Knit Along and the Flock and Fiber Festival 2014

 This year I was lucky to have my mom in town for a visit so we got to stroll around together at the annual Flock and Fiber Festival at our own pace kid free which was pretty lovely in itself. I really admire the dedication and passion that the fiber artist have for their crafts. I only bought one skein of yarn this year and a cute knit lamb purse that I plan to give to Nalah for Christmas. It can be a little overwhelming. My favorite part is visiting the fiber animals, they crack me up and bring me joy. Just look at the little baby alpaca, awe.

This inspired me to get back on track with the Knit Alongs with Ginny from Small Things and share a few of my recent knitting projects.

Some recent knitting projects that I finally have finished and off the needles and ready to ship off to a dear friend of mine are a Triceratops from the pattern Prehistoric Pals that you can find at KnittingAtKnoon and an Easy Baby Cardigan from the book More Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I just love these Dinos this is the fifth dinosaur I have made from the Pattern and I enjoy knitting them every time. It is such a well written ingenious pattern. I am in awe of folks who can think in stitches like that.

I have had this little sweater waiting around for ages to be mailed off I sure hope it will still fit the little guy it was made for. Fingers crossed!

I have read several good books in the last few weeks including Breathless by Anne Sward and Once Upon A River by  Bonnie Jo Campbell. Fall is such a great time for knitting and reading. I am hoping to keep up with the weekly Knit Alongs follow along with Ginny to share what your reading and knitting and see what other knitters are up to.

Welcome October!