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Friday, December 31, 2010

Out With The Old

It has been an eventful year. My youngest has gone to all-day school. I began a blog. I began designing.
My kids are still alive and healthy. My man is great.
What will 2011 hold? I'll answer that in a year.

On the micro-level, today was a very strange day. It got up to 52F, at least. I scrubbed the garage floor (there's a first time for everything). And I planted my Spring bulbs. Thank you, God, for providing this day for my procrastinating! We had a thunderstorm in the middle of the morning, which freaked out two of my chicks. And I started sorting the landfill which is my desk.

Here are a few more pictures of, at least, the last few weeks in review:



This is a moebius cowl of my own design, knit in Colinette Iona. I simply love this yarn.



Here is a hat I designed for my friend, Molly. This is the Christmas present for her, I believe I posted about when I began it. Here it is all steamed and blocked and ready to mail her. Although, I harbor a deep suspicion that it will be too large on her.



Here is my friend Mary Catherine, fellow knitter, crocheter and attender of one of my circles. She did this afghan in Tunisian Crochet. Isn't it beautiful?



Finally, here are some more festive picture of the family in celebration:









Happy New Year, everyone!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Bedbugs

Yesterday I stripped and changed the sheets and met with an unpleasant surprise.







A giggling bedbug!! I tried squishing her, but it only made her giggle louder.

On another note, I began a lovely braid trim hat for my friend Molly for Christmas. It's not here, yet!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. And, three clarinets and a sax, please!

It is Winter Solstice and I have resurfaced. It's been almost two weeks since I've posted, and in that time, I have had two kids gain a year, all three sprint through the final stretch of school before break, and we all endured a band concert. Most importantly, we have survived at least two days of break!

My youngest is back on antibiotics after one of his emerging boogers requested statehood. His ears have not been checked lately, but here's hoping the antibiotics clear up his hard-hearing. Otherwise, I must put it down to male pattern selective hearing.

The email is acting up. Many pictures won't download. I almost didn't post this. Rather than try for too much (or wait too long again), here are two videos of the band concert. One is great, the other not so much. I'm not telling which is which. But I will say, in the first video, the guy who walks in late is our mayor. This was the third song in the concert!





General consensus in these parts is that the baritone section is stunning, both in tone and execution.

I know I am more old-fashioned than many, but it still bugged me that through the whole concert, the middle-aged woman next to me was texting. She had a three year old sitting next to her. What can she say when the girl is wanting to text during a more formal setting? Of course, I was knitting. Is that activity on the same level as texting? I can pay attention mentally to something else when my hands are moving. Hmmm.

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Thursday


A friend called this morning and said the kids and I were on South Bend's channel 22 11 0'clock news last night. Yesterday, my friend and the kids and I had all gone up the the South Bend Chocolate Company's Downtown Cafe Store to see Karolyn Grimes, the child actress who played Zuzu on It's a Wonderful Life. She said the shot was of our family posing with her -- the photo below, and of her signing my IAWL snow globe.




I must confess, I brought the rose that is sitting on her signing table. I thought and thought about it, and decided, by golly! If her stage teacher can give her a rose, so can I! She was so kind! She jumped up and gave me a hug and reassured me that she does still like roses.

An unusual Wednesday, but lots of fun.

As for today, I am making soup for a friend who had neck surgery two days ago. Potato and leek. Yummm. As well, I am gearing up for birthdays. I have several things for bake for a carry-in tomorrow. As well, in our home one birthday boy requested hotdogs and apple slices for his special dinner. And store bought snack cakes to take to school for his treat. Let's hope his tastes improve with age.

As well, I am continuing to work on the sweater. Past the armhole shapings! I'm glad there haven't been any major problems so far.

I'm back to working out. Youngest still has plugged ear tubes and is deaf as a doornail. Makes for interesting conversations.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

What Santa Really Does At the North Pole



Caught in the act.



And, he's got good taste in projects!

Monday, December 06, 2010

December Can Be a Low Month, Too

I saw one of the saddest sights of my life the other day, and I've been mulling it over ever since.

Keep in mind, the woman who types this baked homemade three-kind-of-chocolate chip cookies, apricot bars and lemon bars before eleven am today.

O.K. There was a woman in Kroger toting a three year old child who was...

...wait for it...

buying no-bake cookies.

BUYING NO-BAKE COOKIES.

One can't even say, "maybe her oven went out." Buying them.
I had no idea stores even carried them.

They are disgusting, and I hate them. The only thing they are good for is a sugar fix in case of emergency. And doorstops. I did, however, make them yesterday for my eldest to take to youth group. The are middle school fodder, and I almost understand how someone might want to eat them. But, buying? No Bakes?

I wanted to rush up to her and offer sympathies. I wanted to give her the recipe. I thought, maybe I should give her the 2-1-1.

I seriously need to think awhile longer to try to come up with the best possible scenario. Any ideas?

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Winter in Indiana

...can be crazy


White on Green



Green on White



Yellow on Green and White

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Winter

December 1 it snowed. Someone must have pushed the button. It has been quite nippy since then, and the snow has never completely left.

Little ones fight with me over coats, hats, scarves, mitts and boots. Official notes have come from school assuring all that these things are necessary. When I went to pick the littlest one up today, his ears and nose were red from just having come in from recess -- without his hat.

Bad weather and feeling ill has driven me to more knitting, surrounded by hot drinks and netflix. I have two and a half of the bands done on the fair-isle sweater. It is so much fun, and I just love the Jo Sharp yarn.

Well, it's 8:10, and bed is calling. Tomorrow I shall try to upload pictures.