Toys and Games oh my!

Starting with the toy, here's my bunny. Well, not my bunny anymore. But I did breath life into him! And now I've sent him on to fulfill his mission to love and be loved by a beautiful baby boy.

This is the Lola Bunny designed by Beth Skwarecki ( free pattern download here ) and it is the first toy I've ever knit and it won't be the last. I can say that with some certainty because I've already had a request for another one! From Steve (giggle). When he saw this little bunny finished he was so impressed and liked him so well he asked me to make one for him - or perhaps a dog or a lion. So, a big shout out to anyone who knows a great pattern for a knit dog or lion to please hook me up.

This is a good sized bunny - approximately 12 to 13 inches from the top his head to the bottom of his legs. Unfortunately I forgot to measure him before he was sent, but he's a nice size. Not too small and would work for a child of almost any age (giggle).

While I was knitting this bunny I got to thinking about children's toys and in particular the toy in the story The Steadfast Tin-Soldier. The Steadfast Tin-Soldier is a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Anderson. You are probably familiar with H.C. Anderson's more popular fairy tales such as The Princess and the Pea or The Little Mermaid but he wrote quite a few fairy tales most of which are incredibly sad - guaranteed to traumatize any child of sensitivity. Anywho, the beauty to be gleaned from the story of The Steadfast Tin-Soldier comes from revealing that no matter what our outward appearance or how we are treated in life we can still have a beautiful heart and, in the end, that's all that really matters.

Specs: Pattern Lola Bunny Love; 1 skein Schaefer Yarn - Little Lola - 100% superwash merino 280 yrds; US3 double pointed needles; finished dimensions approximately 12-13 inches. The only modification I made was to close the bum segment more rapidly to create a flatter bottom so that the bunny would sit up more easily. To do this I simply made my decreases all the way around each row rather than just once on each needle. I have to say this is a really well written pattern and was a pleasure to knit.

Bye bye Bunny.

On to Tagging Games......

Do you ever get the impression that my maturity level might be a little lagging behind my chronological age. Maybe that's why Steve and I get along so well. Hum, something to think about. Kidding aside, these games are a fun way to share a little about yourself and in turn learn a little about the bloggers that you read. I was favored with a tag by both Denise at The Knitting Den and Bridget at The Ravell'd Sleave, both of whom have really interesting things to share.

Here are the rules for this MEME:

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

Practicing law and living in South Bend, Indiana in a house situationed on the St. Joseph river in the middle of a beautiful wooded area. I still miss that home and the beauty of the changing seasons.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
Since it's late in the day this is my to-do list for tomorrow. Morning: meet a legal colleague for coffee and give him the exhibit I worked on today and then I'm off to grocery shop at Whole Foods Market. I love this market - everything is organic and tastes so much better than conventionally grown/raised food. I know they say you can't taste the difference - but I can. I know I can so don't try and convince me otherwise. As an aside, you know you are working too hard when the highlight of your week is a trip to the grocery store. Afternoon: (1) draft corporate resolutions; (2) research a tax issue; and Evening: manicure finger nails and play with Mr Puffy (not necessarily in this order).

3) Snacks I enjoy: Good for me snacks: carrot sticks dipped in hummus or wasabi peas. Bad for me snacks: Chocolates or potato chips. Unfortunately, and truthfully, I eat way more of the bad for me snacks.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire: For myself, I would travel to all parts of the world focusing on the best beaches (my personal favorite so far is on Eleuthera Island which has incredible pink sand beaches). For others, I would fund education and medical research programs.

5) Places I have lived:

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, I left Santa Barbara to live in Los Angeles, California until I moved back to the Midwest to go to law school at the University of Notre Dame . After about ten years in South Bend, Indiana I moved back to California and now live in Topanga (a suburb of Los Angeles) and have for the last three years split my time between Topanga and San Clemente (a small surf town located between San Diego and Los Angeles).

6) Jobs I have had: As a teenager one of the jobs I had was selling flowers on the street corner (not a job I would recommend but the tips were good). After college I have worked as a certified public accountant and as a lawyer.

7) Bloggers I am tagging who you will enjoy getting to know better:

Jillian at Sknitty (a fellow LA girl);
Hilary at The Yarnaid (check out her beautiful Safire bolero Ravelry Link she designed it herself);
Theresa at T Does Wool (a fun new blogger);
Amanda at FancyPants Knits (she really knows how to knit that perfect fit sweater);
Marie at Knitted Gems (a knitter who knows no pattern limitations).

Have a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day Holiday!