The Best Laid Plans

I have been working on my projects in hopes to finish something, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. Today, we were going to go to Kentucky to see a Horse Show that my friend's daughter was performing in, but DD2 woke up in a foul mood. She had one melt down over another. DD3 has been having a melt downs over silly things. DD1 is sneaking large scoops of sugar into already sweetened (not sweet just sweetened) tea.

I do have good friends because one friend and her mother saw a trampoline for sale at a yard sale and we were able to buy it!!! Yeah, we now have a trampoline. We don't have to get permission from the HOA to put up this backyard equipment and we can install it today and order the missing pieces (a mesh fence to go around the edges to keep the girls from falling through).

I found at the same yard sale a computer desk that I could bring home for use in the family room so that I can now have two girls on computer at one time. I just wish I didn't have to threaten them to get them off the computer (if I have to bodily remove you from computer you will not get any more time today).

I hope the girls crash tonight and get some good sleep because I will be alone with them tomorrow and I have altar care and do not want to deal with their bad attitudes. I guess we will see what happens tomorrow.

Have a good weekend. Maybe I can get some projects finished or closer to finished.

Finished and working on

I thought I would just show and update in photos for the things that I have finished and am working on. I did finish 2 scarves in the past two days (it helps when you have 1 hour in a doctor's office to work on things).

1. Dishcloth (for brother-in-law in Maryland). I am using a pattern for a Navy Eagle designed by RaAnn Clegg. I really do enjoy her patterns.

2. Hat (restarted for DD2). I am using Alpaca yarn for this hat and originally was working in a 3x3 rib. But since I restarted, I am using a pattern from a book called Hat's On! I know that she will like it when it is finished. The cast on was different than I am used to and I was very glad to get it cast on.

3. Scarf for DD3. I finished this in the doctor's office while waiting an hour for the appointment. DD3 really likes this scarf, she was willing to model it and then put it away.

4. Scarf for Neice (in MD), she told me she likes pink. Everyone else tells me her favorite color is purple. When I asked her what color hat and scarf she would like she requested pink. DD3 did not want to pose for this one. She and the neice are the same size (given they are 6 weeks apart in age).

5. Afghan for brother-in-law (MD). I started this last year for him last year and I have been working on it peicemeal with help from the girls. They have been wanting to help with it.

6. Afghan for sister's live in boyfriend. I have the last panel on needles. When that is finished I am going to stitch it together. It has just enough pink in it to make a point, but not a lot. A few years ago, I made an afghan for my sister and she complained about the quantity of pink in it.

7. Afghan for couple leaving our church to move to WV. The lady in this couple gave me the latest stash aquisition that caused me to cast on so many scarves and afghans.

8. Clown for Neice (MD). I have been working on this off and on for awhile, but I want it finished in time for Christmas.

9. Penguin for Neice (MD). The penguin is started but buried under all the other things. I just didn't want to move too much stuff.

10. Scarf for DD2. She went stash diving in the new yarn and chose some that she wants me to use to create her new scarf. (All my girls get new hats and scarves yearly. We keep the old if it fits, but they get new also for each school year). I just started it this afternoon.

11. Socks for DD1. The socks are also buried under so much other stuff.
12. Socks for DD2
13. Socks for DD3

14. Hat for friend's baby. Friend's of ours had a baby in May, who is very tiny. I am making a hat using a pattern that I found on Henya's (Chicken Stitches) blog. It is so cute, but I am using different colors. She used black and white.

15. Afghan for friend's daughter (Tori). Her mother was going to make her an afghan before she was born, but did not get around to it, so she gave me the yarn and told me this. I think she should have her afghan, so I am using the yarn to create a small afghan for her daughter. I have a nice start on it. I have been working on it when I have been on the computer and it is running slow.

Oh well, I am just glad to know I am making progress. Have a good week.

Project Count

I thought I would do a project count and found that it was too much.

1. Dishcloth (for brother-in-law)
2. Hat (restarted for DD2)
3. Scarf for DD3
4. Scarf for Niece (in MD)
5. Afghan for brother-in-law (MD)
6. Afghan for sister's live in boyfriend
7. Afghan for couple leaving our church to move to WV.
8. Clown for Niece (MD)
9. Penguin for Niece (MD)
10. Scarf for #1 Niece
11. Scarf for #2 Niece
12. Hat for husband.
13. Socks for DD1
14. Socks for DD2
15. Socks for DD3

I was reading my At Knit's End by Stephanie Pearl McPhee. This quote comes to mind because it is why I have so much on needles at this time. I was given a few bags of yarn from the lady (the couple moving to WV) from our church who didn't want to move so much yarn with her. By the way, here is the quote: "You know you knit too much when....Your friends and family know that you will always accept yarn sight unseen. Garage sale yarn, yarn from cleaned out basements, other knitters' cast offs, any yarn at all." - At Knit's End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Back from Columbus, OH

Yesterday, I took my husband to work and then my girls and I went to Columbus for the day. We went to COSI - the Columbus Ohio Center of Science and Industry. The girls had so much fun. While I waited in line to get "tickets" that are worn on your person, the girls sat down and waited for the Rat Basketball to start. The trainer told how the rats are trained and then brought them out to play basketball. The girls really seemed to enjoy watching the rats play basketball.

My only complaint of the place was that when trying to gain information, the first volunteer that I spoke with was very rude and nasty individual. Why would you put someone like that anywhere near people. They need to remove him from his post and put in the back where he can't interact with anyone. I finally demanded to speak with someone else who was more polite. But I still did not get my question answered. But at least he was nicer.

We moved on to look into the room marked space. Now while the way in was not very fun, the room itself was very fun and informational. The girls got to work on balance and lift bowling balls that were set up to show how 10 lbs would feel on different planets. The room even had a "space shuttle" that they could tour.

From there we moved into the Ocean room. In this room the girls could experience a submarine and working underwater (like what they are trying to do in the Gulf) and close quarters rooms. What a difference that made.

Then we went up the stairs to another room where they have something called gadget cafe where the girls could learn how to take apart and put together gadgets, but this is an area where you have to place reservations. They were getting hungry so we just did other things in that area. They had the opportunity to see how much force is needed for different activities, what is needed to make a helicopter hover among just a few things. They really enjoyed that room.

We moved on to the Life room and then when we finished there we moved back down to the enterance where they had two tents set up to show differences in temperature. We then moved on to lunch. We ate at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries. They don't serve much beyond that, but the burgers are so good, that my oldest will eat them. It also fills up my middle girl so that I don't hear I'm hungry for at least 4 - 6 hours! That is an accomplishment because she is perpetually hungry. She is also growing faster than her older sister.

After lunch, we went to the Columbus Zoo. We looked in on some of the animal exhibits, but very few, if any of the animals were moving. We wanted to see the Polar Bear exhibit that just opened this year. The bears were moving and swimming for a little bit, but sleeping primarily. The new exhibit is really nice. Columbus Zoo did a great job with it, and I would love to go back when I don't feel like an ice cream cone in a hot oven. (I'm melting, melting).

Today, Thursday we will be hanging at home and enjoying the silence. Hope everyone has a good week.

Trapped at home

We only have a few short weeks before the end of summer and school starts. We took the children shoe shopping over the weekend. That was a challenge. DD 1 and 3 were very easy. We found their size and a shoe that they liked no problem, but DD 2 found a shoe that she liked but not in her size. Then my husband and I also picked out some shoes.

We took the children with us as we ran around looking for a replacement computer for me. My old computer (over 6 years old) was overheating every time it was turned on, so I had to replace it. My oldest DD needs to be able to play a game to help her with her hearing and learning disability. So it was necessary to get a new computer. So very difficult to do.

We had company over on Saturday and that was a lot of fun. The children ran and played and ran and played and when the company left the children collapsed. On Sunday, it was very difficult to get everyone moving, but we did.

Monday, my husband took my car to work and then the girls and I have to wait at home for him to return so that we can return him to work and we can go out. We ran a few errands and then went to the zoo for about 2 hours. We then stopped at my mother's house to use their facilities (cleaner and more of them than at gas stations) and then we drove to my husband's work so that we could pick him up and bring him home.

Today, we are back to waiting on my husband to come home so we can go out to libraries and pay bills. Then we are going to libraries to return materials and turn in the girls reading sheets. I don't think we are going to finish the Centerville Libraries challenge (too far to travel when your car isn't available). We finished the challenge at our Library. The girls earned every prize they offered. After the library, I am going to take them to a museum. They love going to museums, especially the ones that have hands on activities.

Have a great day and try not to melt in the humidity.

It's Sunday?

I can't believe that it is Sunday. Last week, my husband killed his car. The engine blew up. So now we are again without a vehicle. Which means I go without a car until my husband can take time off during the day to come home, get us and then we take him back to work and then we pick him up at the end of the day.

Saturday, we had family over (they have three children, also). It was great we had a good time. We played cards (they won way more games than my husband and I did), but I didn't care. It was fun to have other adults to talk with and for the children to have other children to play with. My nephew went to their house and then came up to ours. While they were here, the hat that I was almost finished with (I was working on the crown) was destroyed...I cried. It was cathartic to roll it up into a ball. I learned a lesson...lock my knitting behind doors when my cousins come to visit. It was as much my fault as his, he is just 4 and has never been around knitting and I have trained my girls and cats well...you want knitted love, you don't touch stuff on needles. Good thing I love to knit and crochet.

I did finish my daughter's scarf. It turned out really nice. I added a red border to the edges, so it is very Christmasy. She likes it and that is what is important.

I will be restarting my middle DD's hat tomorrow. I am debating how I want to start it. Do I want to go back to the k3, p3 ribbing that was going along so nicely or do I want to go k1, p1 ribbing. Something to think about.

We took our DDs to the beach. They love anything to do with water. You give them options...ride rides, play in water. Play in water wins hands down. I took my DDs to Boonshoft Museum. It is a really nice museum and they loved being there. We also took my neice to the Cincinnati Museum and then we spent time with her at Kings Island. My brother-in-law wanted to go and he took the older girls and my cousin and I took the younger girls and the boy. We had to whole family over after Kings Island, so the kids got to play together some more and we got to visit. It was really nice.

So here is my project list:
Calendars (I make calendars for my family using family photos)
Hats (I refuse to think what I am getting myself into)
Scarves (it gets more and more complicated)
Afghans (yeah, I have a few people I haven't made them for like my middle DD)
Prayer Shawl (I only need one)

So when Christmas finally hits, I may still be working on something! But there is good news I received more yarn as a gift today! I have been trying very hard not to buy yarn.

Broken things and a Finished Scarf

I finished my daughter's scarf. It turned out so cute. I added a red border around the finished scarf. She likes it. That is all that matters.

I am still working on so many other projects. Considering that my husband killed his car (the engine blew up) I will have more time. The girls and I are trapped at home because he needs to take my car to work daily.

My computer has taken a turn for the worse. I had to finally replace it, but now I can't get my printer loaded. It doesn't like the newest program for Windows. Frustration. I will have to work on this.

We had girl scouts last night and we had a lot of fun. We put life savers candies and mentos candies into bottles of soda to see which would shoot off the highest. Diet Coke with Mentos won on first, but life savers always won on seconds.

We spent a few days with my niece. It was wonderful. We went to museums and Kings Island. We had all the cousins together again. But I should specify, my children and their cousins and then the Cincinnati branch of 2nd cousins. They had so much fun together.

We have taken the girls to a beach. We went to the Boonshoft Museum (my girls love to go to museums) We went to Cincinnati Museum Center with my niece (her first time there) and then we had a few doctor appointments - my middle girl is over 100% for her height. My oldest girl has a hearing impairment that can affect her learning. We go swimming regularly. It helps that there is a pool across the street. I also signed the girls up for another week of VBS. Another round of Saddle Ridge Ranch. They loved it. They still have their "vests" and "hats."

I will attempt to finish a hat, an afghan or two and a few other little things. I will post as I finish them. Wish us luck on finding a new car for my husband to drive into the ground.

It Has Finally Happened...

Yes, it has finally happened, a day that I didn't want to touch yarn. I knit all the time. I go to parks with my children and knit while they climb, swing and play. I go to the zoo and knit while they check out the animals (even while walking from place to place). I go to a beach, water park or pool and knit while my children get wet. But yesterday (Thursday, July 8, 2010) it was so hot and humid that I just did not want to pick up the yarn or my needles. It was horrible. I wanted to knit, but just the thought of holding my daughter's hat (an alpaca yarn) or a dishcloth (kitchen cotton) and I just couldn't do it. My husband also noticed that I hadn't knit a stitch that day. It has been a long time since that has occurred. Now too cold to knit happens every winter. I am very cold intolerant. At night I begin to shake from the cold and just have a very difficult time getting warm. But I will knit almost every day. The only time I don't seem to knit is when I have so much to accomplish that I just can't seem to fit in a period of knitting.

I would love to hear if anyone else has run into a time where they just didn't want to knit.

Updates on Projects

I started another scarf. One of my own creation using a stitch dictionary. It is quite pretty and my daughter already likes it. Make one of your own and have fun with it.

Wrap Mock Cable Scarf
By Mary Hofacre

Need:1 skein yarn (or more for an adult)
Size US 11 knitting needles
Directions:
Cast on 16
Row 1-4 Knit
Row 5: k4, p3, k1, p3, k5
Row 6: k4, *p1, sl1, k2, psso k2, repeat from * one time, k4
Row 7: k4, *p1, yo, p1, k1, repeat from * one time, k4
Row 8: k4, *p1, k3, repeat from * one time, k4
Row 9: k4, *p3, k1, repeat from * one time, k4
Row 10: k4, *p1, sl1, k2, psso k2, repeat from * one time, k4
Row 11: k4, *p1, yo, p1, k1, repeat from * one time, k4
Repeat rows 6 –11 until desired length, then finish with 4 rows of knit and cast off.
Weave in ends.

I also started working on another hat. I am using a size 8 circular needle (short connection) with Alpaca yarn for my middle daughter. I am more than halfway finished. It is really nice. I think it will need to be very long so that it will fit her large head. She models it whenever I want to check it and make sure it would fit her head.

I am also working on dishcloths for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law - an Army Eagle set and a Navy Eagle set. Patterns are from RaAnn Clegg. Love her site. I have attached a spot numerous times, so please check her out.

Now for something funny. My older girl wrote a note to my younger daughters: It reads: Rules Out of my bedroom and keep qite (quiet)E and N because I need nice and qite (quiet) or I'll bring the snakes out. She has a large collection of stuffed and plastic snakes. My husband and I spent a good deal of time laughing about this note.

Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July. Keep safe throughout the week. When I finish some of my projects I'll post some more pictures.