Mary's Sharing Space

Dream Catchers

2012-01-03T14:05:00.003-05:00

My oldest DD complains that she has nightmares every night. So in an effort to stop her complaints, I decided I would make her a dream catcher. So I will share my pattern for them here. They are very simple and require very little.

Supplies needed:
1 metal ring....it can be any size you desire, mine was about 8 inches.
enough yarn to go around and make the web (less than 6 feet)
1 crochet hook (size I used was a G Hook)
1 yarn needle
3-5 beads
3 feathers

Begin by doing a single crochet all the way around the ring.
When you have sc all around the ring, end it together, but cut a very long strand of yarn (about 3 feet). Put this on your yarn needle and start making a web, as you go along put a bead on the web in various areas. The feathers I used allowed me to stitch through them to attach to the bottom of the dream catcher. I finished by weaving the end into the sc on the ring.

The Dream Catchers don't look alike, but were made in my daughter's favorite colors.

Just Curious

2011-12-23T21:22:00.001-05:00

If you buy yarn to give as a gift.....do you have to reset your countdown clock? Just curious.

The Kids Christmas Party

2011-12-23T21:18:00.001-05:00

On Thursday (22 December) we had arranged for the kids (mine and friends) could get together for the first time in a long time. They were able to visit with each other and we gave them their gifts. My friend and I had been working very hard to give all the children a few nice knitted items to let them know how special they are to us. The kids were so cute. They loved their items! The girls wore their purses or scarves or in one case, all of their wearable items. My girls came home and put their things away or played with them. The snitches and wands were a hit. I told the moms and grandmas how to disable the wands, should things get too out of hand. They love that. I told them care instructions on hats and scarves, etc. Some things were made with acrylic yarns and will wash like a dream, but some things (i.e. hats) were made with wool and need special care, but I know they will do it. So much fun had by all. The kids were good, too. It became a real party and the staff at our local Big Boy were so great. We had one waitress and she took care of the whole party and everyone had a nice meal. So much fun!

6 Days to Christmas

2011-12-19T22:11:00.009-05:00

So much has been happening since my last post.

First comes, November. We have a lot of birthdays in November. Some of my friends, my father, my daughter and my birthday. We even have a couple of anniversaries. It is just a very busy month. I did accomplish quite a bit of knitting and crocheting. Quite a bit more to go. To celebrate my birthday, we went to the Cincinnati Zoo. I love going to the zoo. It was a gorgeous day and there were quite a few active animals. This guy did not like my middle daughter. He came charging right up to her, teeth bared and ready to fight. Good thing there was a solid glass wall between them.

3rd December 2011 is the Lebanon Horse and Carriage Parade. I just love this annual event. My children have missed a few due to extreme cold (and their extreme youth) or illness. This year we went with friends. We had a lot of fun. We got down early enough to get a good spot for photos and it was a gorgeous day. I think everyone has their favorite when it comes to horses. I do too! My favorites are Clydesdales. They are so beautiful!

I have also started tutoring a group of kids in math. So now I only have one day a week for myself (so to speak). But it is all good.

I took my girls to the Christmas event at EnterTrainment Junction and they got to see Santa. They loved that! They have been writing to Santa non-stop since they saw him. I love reading their letters. But they haven't understood something major....Santa said, "Listen to your mom and do what she says." I say pick up they go to bed and ignore that. So I finally reached my limit and picked up their toys and put them in a garbage bag and they were put away. The last time I did this the toys disappeared for over a year!

Here are some of the many things I have finished, including many pocket purses, scarves, purses, sunglass cases, Harry Potter styled wands, Harry Potter styled snitches, and hats. Not everything was finished, but that is okay. I will get what I can finished and finish the rest later.

Happy 50th Birthday

2011-10-16T07:49:00.002-04:00

Today, my DH turns 50. Everyone keeps telling me how I am married to an old man. I can see it, but I still the wonderful man that I married 11 1/2 years ago.

Our children love him so much that they ask him daily if he has to work, because they don't understand his work schedule and they miss him.

This year, he had to get glasses for the first time. They are just readers and eventually he will need to get bifocals, but right now he just needs the readers. But he is resistent to wearing them. He still sits and reads his paper without the glasses.

This year, I have noticed that he is starting to move a little slower. But he is still moving and helping our middle DD learn how to ride her bike. Middle DD and I butt heads, the reason, when I tell her to do something she refuses to listen to me. So where possible I let him work with her, she listens to him. But I also point out to him that this child is most like his mother! I see that more everyday. In fact, I took food to my mil, when I went to visit her at the nursing home and she screwed up her face just like middle DD and refused to eat it at all! "I don't like it!" she wailed. Wow, just like my DD.

This year, I have noticed more gray in his hair. But he is still very handsome.

This year, has been another good year with my wonderful, loving husband.

Happy 50th Birthday, Honey. I love you.

Warning....71 days until Christmas

2011-10-15T20:13:00.001-04:00

Just saying! If you are doing a hand-made Christmas you better get to work. I am right there with you.

Trick or Treating with the Dinosaurs

2011-10-15T19:58:00.004-04:00

We have Kings Island Passes and go often enough that we are making out really well. We take the kids, ride some rides and play in water (when the water park side is open). We also go to their Halloween celebration. In previous years it has been in a section that was open to the public and free.

This year, they moved the stuff into the area where we had to pay to get in. They called it Trick or Treating with the Dinosaurs. They built this area with animatronic Dinosaurs and charged $5 for people to get in. It is worth the money, but is an area that one trip through is enough. I was really upset that they were taking advantage that way. So I took a bag for the candy and apples also. Granted most would be sent away to nephew and I ate the apple (good apple). But it seemed that they were holding it hostage because they weren't able to generate the revenue to make back what it cost to build this area.

It seems that people went in once and that was all they needed because you walk around and once you have seen it, you've seen it. It doesn't change. It is too big to change it around every other month or every other week to make it interesting. So people came through or just went to COSI (which also had a animatronic dinosaur exhibit and was free to anyone holding a museum pass). Or they saw a similar exhibit at Cincinnati Museum of Natural History exhibit. Very interesting and free. So why would they go through more than once when they could see it free in other places.

So where I would have taken the girls to Kings Island at least 4 times before Halloween, this year we will only go once. Where I would have bought them something special on the way out of the park, I didn't that money went towards the Dinosaur Exhibit.

Will we go to the exhibit again next year? No, definitely not. We saw it. I took photos, it will be the same dinosaurs again next year, don't need to see them again.

Sorry Kings Island, but you just didn't research this as well as you could have. Someone sold you a bill of goods about how Dinosaurs are a draw and people would pay to see them, but that just was not the case. Why pay when it is free other places?

Maybe over the winter they will do something with that area or put in something else. Who knows, but this was just not a paying concern for them.

79 Days Until Christmas

2011-10-07T11:56:00.003-04:00

For the past couple of days, I have not had time to touch needles! I have been either ferrying kids around to doctors (just sit down and then get called back) or working in the schools on projects for the classrooms. I also spent 1 and 1/2 hours chasing my cat through my yard and my neighbors yard, trying to get him back into our house. Rotten cat. He escaped again...his name: Houdini.

My middle DD has a UTI and as a result I am exhausted from getting up about every hour to make sure she gets to the bathroom (so she doesn't have an accident).

I also had to take my DDs to the shoe store. All of them needed new shoes, because their shoes were either too small (2 out of 3) or falling off their feet (1 out of 3). That was a very expensive trip to the store.

My DDs want to go to a park to play, ride their bikes (and people in my neighborhood...not all, just some) would rather run the kids down than slow down. They also want to go hiking. This is going to be a very busy weekend with me trying to get the girls through their homework. Get them out of the house (what can I say the weather is so very nice right now) and to Kings Island before they close for the season to see the Halloween stuff they have.

I am hoping that real soon, I get some semblance of life back where I can sit and knit a little, just a little. We'll see. Wish me luck, because I have looked at my to do list for Christmas and soon I will be feeling extreme pressure to finish.

It doesn't help that my dishwasher is still broken and I am still waiting for them to fix it (oh by the way, the latch to the dishwasher is now broken.....it broke on the repairman!). Time to do some dishes, get shoes on and go to school and help some little guy learn to read. Woo Hoo.

81 Days until Christmas

2011-10-05T10:42:00.002-04:00

Really, it is getting so very close. I have so much to do in that time. I didn't need the extras. My middle DD has a UTI. A very bad UTI. 8 year olds are not supposed to have UTI's that bad. Then the pharmacy gave us the wrong drugs. I caught that or it would have been an overdose for her. To take things and go over the top....my dishwasher broke. The buttons stopped working. Called in repairman, he replaced that part. 2 days later, it doesn't work at all! Nothing, nada. Handwashing 3 sets of meal dishes a day. That does not include all the cups that my DDs and DH use. They get a new glass for every drink. So I have many, many sets of dishes to wash throughout a day.

To make sure that my middle DD gets better, I have set my phone alarm to go off every hour, so I can get her to the bathroom. Otherwise, she would pee in bed and then I would have to clean her and the bed up in the middle of the night. Still trying to decide which is worse. Getting up every hour or letting her just pee in bed (remember UTI).

The repairman is here now trying to figure out what is broken on the dishwasher to make it not work. He says he is going to order the parts needed to fix the broken dishwasher, I think this is obstinancy on his part because he installed the part that is broken.

I am still plogging along on the Christmas gifts. I had to take a break on them to make something special for a little girl (who goes to same school that my oldest DD goes to) and her father (diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease). I made them both a little pocket purse with a prayer square and a cross attached for them to keep with them. I gave this to the pastor (who lives 2 doors down from me) and he is going to bless them. Then they were going to give it to the woman who works at the school with the little girl. Then we are going to see what else we can put together for all the family. But I am uncertain. I have so much to make yet for Christmas.

Scarves, hats, afghans, more and more and more. But I have 81 days.

Also, Oct 16 is DH's birthday. He is going to be 50! So we are working on the plans for that special day celebration.

More finished projects

2011-09-21T10:01:00.006-04:00

I have been very busy knitting. One of my friends and I decided that we wanted to make some really great presents for our girls, her son and their friends. So we found some really great patterns for simple gifts and started working. We are making pocket purses, purses, scarves, Hats (if possible), sunglass cases, wands (ala Harry Potter), snitches.

I have also been making afghans for my brother and father. I took some squares that my mother had made, made 3 more so that I had enough to get a good start and sewed them all together. After I had them connected I started using all the old yarns, from the 1970's and started crocheting around the edges. Then I used all the same colors and started working on another afghan (granny square) for my brother so he and my dad would have the same afghan, but one would have my mother's touch to it (especially since my mother has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma).

Other things that have been happening. School started (as can be evidenced by my previous post) and my cats are more present than ever. Making for some really great photos of them.

Grrrr....such homework frustration

2011-09-20T10:48:00.002-04:00

My children's teachers have arbitrarily decided how much time they are to spend on homework. Since this is a fighting point at the house, it takes much longer to accomplish homework than they figure it should take. Let's give an example. My youngest had to write her first and last name 14 times the "correct" way. She had a melt down that started with, "Why do I have to write my name? I already did it!" Showing me the page that she had completed at school. The response, "Because your teacher wants you to do it at home!" This then took 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete (Homework is not to last more than 30 minutes a night)! Now here is how the work is to break down: 15 minutes reading (3 books), 10 minutes math, 5 minutes spelling (25 - 35 words). Can you say, "Yeah, right!" Now we moved on to the reading and that did take 15 minutes because the books were short. Math, play cards. War, 21, go fish (what really are they learning from playing cards) and this took 25 minutes because DD3 likes to play card games. Now we move onto spelling. This took not 5 minutes but 25! So let's add homework time (for one day) 75 + 15 + 25 + 25 = 140 (2 hours and 20 minutes)! I have three kids.

My middle daughter is supposed to read for 15 minutes (let the battle begin - "I don't like this book! I don't want to read this book! Why do I have to read this book!") reading the WEB book sent home by the teacher that is the appropriate level for her reading level. Now this battle also includes, me telling her to re-read that section because I didn't understand what she said! This results in a 45 minute temper tantrum. When this is finished we move onto the math (10 minutes). This results in my requesting that she write her numbers correctly and neatly (so that they can be read). Another 45 minute temper tantrum (because I am picking on her and I am to leave her alone). Then we move onto the spelling. By this time her sisters are watching tv in another room and laughing about Scooby's antics or whatever they are watching. So she locks herself in the bathroom because I am mean and won't let her play! Finally, we are onto the spelling (remember 5 minutes?). She has to list 10 words each that have a long a, short a sound and a long i, short i sound. This took 45 minutes (we need 9 days to complete the homework!). So let us compute her time for homework 45+45 (90 minutes of temper tantrums)+20 (bathroom)+ 15 + 15 + 45 = 185 minutes (3 hours and 5 minutes). Yeah I realize that some of this time comes from the children, but it plays into the homework time.

My oldest daughter now starts her homework. Her break down for homework: 15 minutes reading, 10 math, 5 spelling. I still want to point out how are you able to accomplish anything of worth in 5 minutes! So we start with her math. It took her 20 minutes to do to the math, spelling took 25 minutes (5 days all right there), 15 minutes on reading. But she also had a melt down on having to write her observations on the book. This then took us 45 minutes. In order to accomplish anything, I have to have a whole day to get this work finished or I have to most of the work and they just re-write it.

Here is what a teacher told me to do: Write down that she spent 25 minutes on the spelling and she doesn't have to look at it again for the rest of the week because she did 25 minutes in one night (yeah right....what do you learn in one sitting of studying spelling?) I don't have a problem with the work, I have a problem with the arbitrary decision of how much time homework is to take! I think that a parent and the child should decide how much time to spend and the teacher's should fall in line. To sit there and say it should only take 30 minutes a night is just wrong and so many different fronts that it is sick. A child cannot learn all they need in one sitting and they are not going to retain any information just by looking at something for 5 minutes. But be reasonable in the work that is sent home. I try to get a lot of this work out of the way during the weekend because I don't want my kids hating school and staying up until midnight (like we have done in the past) or getting up at 4 a.m. to finish something (again we have done that). Make homework expectations reasonable.

"Life is a Spiritual Journey,....

2011-08-05T22:24:00.004-04:00

and, no, we're not 'there' yet." - Keely Chace

My girls and I have been on many journeys recently. We have been to many places to get them out of the house and playing. I took them to the Christmas in July at EnterTrainment Junction. They loved it! They got to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. They got a cookie from Mrs. Claus and got to tell Santa what they wanted. It was so nice!

We saw my mil for the first time in about a month. She was very mean the time before that with the girls and they actually refused to see her. I will not force them to go because I don't want them to dread going every single time. But it was her birthday and I felt that we should go and I promised that it wouldn't be for a long time. She was out of her room and a much nicer mood, but they hung back from her. They were still so uncertain. But they got to see my mom and dad and their dog. They got to see my friend's mom and dad and their cat and then they got to see my sister and her youngest DD. My darling neice. That was a good time for them.

We went to two churches on Sunday, a Lutheran church. I had to work there that morning. It was my turn to make the coffee. Then we went to the Baptist church that we have been attending. My neighbor is the pastor and I really like the service and the bible study time.

Monday, I took the girls out for awhile. Then we came home and watched some movies. Tuesday, my DH and I took the girls to Sunlight pool at Coney Island (an amusement park in OH). They loved it! We were there for such a long time that they all got burned.

Wednesday, I met my friend and her kids and my nephew at the museum center and went through the museums and closed the place down. They really enjoyed that!

Thursday was the PJ day that the girls wanted and we watched Scooby Doo and Harry Potter.

Friday, play time at McD's. Saturday is coming and I know that we will probably stay at home. We have been watching some old tv shows on Netflix through a gaming system. the girls think it is funny that these were the shows that their dad and I grew up on. My husband and I marvel over the price of gas back then. In 1971 and 1972 the price of gas was $.36 a gallon or less or more depending on the filming areas. Such a major difference between today at $3.69 or more a gallon. Got to love those old fashioned shows!

I am looking forward to church on Sunday. I just don't know where we will be attending that day.

My Life for two days was a series of Ray Stevens Songs

2011-07-19T22:50:00.002-04:00

My family and I went to my cousin's funeral on Monday and Tuesday. We spent a night at a hotel, because of the distance. We took the elevator up to the room and got right off and there was our room (We had the room right near the elevator). Across the hall from our room was the ice machine and soda machine (across from the ice machine). I heard the elevator and ice machine all night long. It was a very long night. My girls were very funny sleepers. Suddenly they would sit up, look around and flop back down. They squirmed, they wiggled and they moved.

When we went to the layout, we arrived just as the storm moved in. We were inside listening to the thunder and watching the lightning and the lights went out (I ain't sitting up with the dead no more.....the thunder crashed, the lightning flashed and the chains round old Uncle Fred went snap). When the electric came back on, the sirens went off. In the area where I live, we don't pay attention to the sirens. Probably because they go off when there is a storm, but no tornados sighted. Up there they sirens go off when there is a tornado. Everyone got very worried. The men who worked at the funeral home (very nice men) went to listen to the news, to see if we needed to move to the basement (all of us)!

Then I called my friend, Margaret (It's me again, Margaret). I needed to see if she could watch my girls when we got back home. My mil was rushed to ER Monday morning for shaking. She is thought to be having a seizure. I have questions, but I have to funnel them through my husband since it is his mother and his sisters may answer him. They only answer me when they feel like it. I think they are also mad, because they asked questions for my DH and I typed in his responses and so they think I am the one saying these answers.

I think I am going to go listen to some more Ray STevens and see where else his songs applied to my life for the past couple of days.

More Finished Projects

2011-07-19T22:06:00.011-04:00

I have been a very busy knitter. I am motivated. I want to finish some things so I can work on the things I want to work on. So I finished the One-Eyed Monster in Red, with the pattern posted in my blog. (I need 2 one in red and one in blue). I finished a prayer shawl for a man. It is crochet. It is a simple pattern and I don't remember where I saw it and I don't remember who claims it, but I did use it and I will share it and if the person who developed it says "It's mine." I will gladly give the credit. Basically, you chain 63. The 1st row is single crochet. The 2nd row is half double crochet. The 3rd row is double crochet. You repeat these rows until the shawl is 60 inches or wingspan length. I quit at 63 inches. Now my problem with this piece was the type of yarn that I used. I couldn't see my stitches very well and so it started to become narrow in spots. So be careful what type of yarn you use. I finished a scarf called the Universal Scarf by Vicki Square (http://www.interweave.com/wir/kr110604.htm#2). It is a simple, pretty scarf that knits up quickly. I liked it so much I started another one. I finished 2 pocket purses for a project that my friend and I are going to work on. We are going to make all the little girls in our group that goes around together (11 girls), 1 purse, 1 pocket purse, 1 sunglass case, 1 scarf, 1 hat. The little guys (only 2 boys) are going to get 1 messenger bag (not a big one because they are small), 1 sunglass case, 1 scarf, 1 hat, 1 cell phone case (for use with walkie talkies), a scarf and a hat. For our DHs who are wonderful men, a scarf and if we have the time, a hat. We also will make them duct tape wallets in rival colors (Blue and Gold - Navy/Notre Dame for my friend's husband who cheers for UC and Red and Black for my husband who cheers for Navy). I finished a pocket prayer square with an army eagle image in it for a friend. I will be mailing it this week. I also finished a dishcloth with 3 crosses and a pocket prayer square with 3 crosses. The dishcloth is being mailed for an exchange and the other was given to a neighbor who just got a job as a police officer. I am working on a Prayer Afghan using knitting and crochet together. Some of the squares are knit on a diagonal. Other squares are granny squares. I think it is coming together nicely, but it is taking some time. I am also working on a Cable Sampler Scarf from a Debbie Macomber book and from her website (http://debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=nnp&pageID=265). I am really liking this scarf because I am learning cables at the same time.
Happy Crafting.

One - Eyed Monster

2011-07-14T20:13:00.003-04:00

I decided that I needed to make something that was sort of squishy and soft, but didn't have any extras that could be torn off...for some young boys. So came my work on the One-eyed monster.

ONE EYED MONSTER

Using a thicker, softer yarn and a size 10 1/2 US knitting needles. A very large button with a wiggly eye.

Cast On 3.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2 - 50: K, wrap backwards to avoid a hole, knit rest of the row.
Row 51: knit
Row 52: k, k2tog, knit rest of the row. Continue until there are 3 stitches left on. Cast off. Make another panel the same way.
Attach the large button securely. Then glue on the eye. Sew sides together with the eye on the inside and then when there is a small hole left, flip it inside out and stuff it. Finishing sewing it shut and you now have a one-eyed monster....you can add arms and legs if you want, but this way there isn't too much to be pulled off.

RIP Marti

2011-07-09T22:31:00.003-04:00

Friday, 8 July 2011, my husband's cousin, Marti, left her life with us and went to join her parents and God in heaven. Marti had been diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. She lived longer than anyone thought she would. She was not to live past a year, over 4 years ago. But she was a fighter, who had a heart of gold. Towards the end she was living in a facility and only wanted to get home to see her dog one more time. She never made it home, to her earthly house, but she went home to God. Marti was a knitter/crocheter. She helped me to find yarn for my girls for their special scarves, hats, and socks. She and I spent a weekend night talking about knitting and yarn. In fact, she was such a good sport that she had her picture taken with a sock I was working on. I never finished the sock, more because I didn't realize that working a heel in a car with a driver who likes to hit potholes, was a very bad idea. I had to tear out and since I am getting to an age where I need bifocals (and still don't have them) I couldn't catch my stitches to reclaim and start again when I wasn't in a car. I am praying that she is with her family and that the family that remains is able to find their own peace with her loss. Goodbye Marti, you will be missed. But we are glad that you are no longer in pain.

Ever feel like a Character from "The Peanuts?"

2011-06-14T15:16:00.002-04:00

In dealing with my husband and children, I am feeling like a character out of the "The Peanuts." When I was growing up, my sister, brother and I loved to watch anything with Snoopy and Charlie Brown. I felt a lot like Charlie Brown or his little sister, Sally. These days, I am feeling a lot like the adults in Charlie Brown, where all that was ever heard from them was "Wa wa wa wa wa wa." I tell my children something and they say, "WHAT." I repeat myself, and then demand that they come to where I am for the next repeat. They argue with me and then refuse to do what they were told to do and then I am yelling at them. I often feel that the only people who understand my words are my friends (women), because my husband makes me feel like a Charlie Brown adult (wa wa wa wa). So just wondering does anyone else feel the same way that you are speaking some foriegn language to your DH or DD or DS? Just wondering.

Crazy Weather

2011-06-13T17:42:00.003-04:00

Last week our weather was so very hot and humid. It was miserable outside and if you had to go from place to place, the van was miserable to be in. One day we drove to so many places (running errands) that I was so very glad that I could be home and not go anywhere on Thursday.

Friday, I took my oldest to get two teeth pulled. She had two coming in and two staying put. We waited two weeks to see if she could wiggle them loose (she didn't). Then she and I stopped at our local yarn pushers and got a skein of yarn to send in a swap. Really pretty blue/green combo. I need to pick up a post card and finish some dishcloths to send in my swap (and I want to pick up some chocolate) for my swap partner. We discovered that they are starting a Kid's Club for knitting. My oldest wanted to join and so I signed her up and my other two girls are interested in participating also. So I have signed them all up. Then I took them shopping at JoAnn Fabrics to get them some needles. I will take them stash diving for yarn. (DD#2 blue, DD#3 pink). While at JoAnn's we found out that you can make a craft for Dads and card. I will be taking the girls for that activity (all JoAnns).

Come Saturday, it was a little cooler after a little rainstorm at 5 a.m. Saturday was knit in public day (KIP Day) and I convinced some of our knitters to come and knit on this day at church. We had 5 knitters show up. We are going to try and plan a once a month meeting and see what comes from it. But the weather was not hot like it had been. It had cooled down. After running some errands, I brought the girls home and we had some supper and went outside and played a little and then watched some movies.

Sunday, we went to JoAnn Fabrics and got another needle (for the last daughter). We also searched for a yarn color for a Ravelry friend from Washington (we were successful). I just mailed that today. Now Sunday was very cool outside! Very nice day. Today, Monday, was also very, very nice, but haven't been outside (due to playdate with friends at McDonald's). The kids had a blast playing together. I am hoping to get them outside yet! Have a great Monday!

Secret Languages

2011-06-07T21:07:00.002-04:00

I recently acquired a Texting Dictionary with lots of little definitions for short terms used frequently. My favorite is BAG - Busting a Gut. I borrowed a book from the library called The secret Language of Knitters. I found some very useful terms. For instance, FROG POND is described as a place that unloved UFOs and WIPs go to await their froggy fate. These places tend to be bottoms or backs of closets.
FUN FUR: acrylic yarn that is not fun or fur. Hides mistakes and doesn't allow you to frog it.
FROG: The act of ripping out knitting (i.e. rip-it, rip-it).
KAL: a knit along, a group of people working on the same project at the same time. It can be online or in person. Allows for support on projects.
KIP: Knitting in Public. This is the act where someone (a knitter) sits somewhere publicly and knits from a KIP bag.
LYS: Local yarn store...or local yarn pusher. A place where a knitter can go to get their yarn fix or help on a project or even just to be with other knitters.
SSS: Second Sock Syndrome. The problem caused by finishing the first sock and not starting or finishing the second sock.
SEX: (my all time favorite) Stash Enhancement Expeditions. This is where the knitter goes to an LYS and adds to their stash.
STASH: The knitters collection of yarn.
TINK: a way of going back to a mistake stitch by stitch or unknitting (knit spelled backwards).
UFO: Unfinished Object. Something you have started but have not finished. I have many of those. I really need to finish them this summer.
YARN CAKE: a skein of yarn that has just come off a ball winder and is easily stored.
YARN PORN: A term used to help describe beautiful photos of yarn. Sometimes spelled pron to keep dirty minded individuals away from a blog.

What are some of your favorite new words...texting or yarn related.

Ravelry

2011-06-02T16:58:00.002-04:00

I just got the word that Ravelry has been attacked by people who have nothing better to do with their time than make something good - bad. I still like Ravelry and I changed passwords on other areas as soon as I saw that I needed to. I just feel that these people need a better punishment. Something that would make them not want to do this ever again. What kind of punishment would you think is best for this type of person.

Another storm and another project

2011-05-24T21:08:00.003-04:00

We have been hit with a lot of rain and a lot of storms over the last several weeks. Yesterday, the storms were so bad that they put out tornado warnings with the storms. We kept the kids up so that we could move them quickly if we had to. But once the worst had passed us by, to bed to bed sleepy heads...

I am also working on a prayer blanket for a friend of mine. She had many tests and they tried to biopsy the area without success and now she has to have surgery to see if there is cancer. She is scared (her youngest is 1 year old) and she is a single mom. So I went in search of her favorite color (red) and couldn't find what I wanted for her in yarn. So I went for the next best thought: felt blankets. A two sided blanket (two colors) with tied ends. I also picked up some decorations for it (faces of the sort you see on the poster "how do you feel").

Please pray for my friend (P.M.) that this is nothing more than an inconvience and not cancer.

RLC's Prayer Shawl Ministry

2011-05-22T16:52:00.003-04:00

Recently, I have received many phone calls about needs for prayer shawls at my church, Resurrection Lutheran Church (RLC). One of these requests was for a little boy (age 4) who was in a bad accident. I told the requester that a prayer shawl would not be good for him....wrong age and wrong sex. I said I would make something for him and in my free (feel free to laugh here) time I would make something for him. 81 squares of a prayer afghan. It will be small, but he is small. It will be small, but he can carry with him and it won't trip him up (very important given the type of injury). Then I went to church and found a prayer shawl for his mother. I saw her the Monday after the accident and she was looking very stressed and I felt would benefit from this gift. But we didn't have anything for the dad of the little guy. We didn't have anything for him or for his brothers. I spoke with the secretary and got put down to give a temple talk. (A speech about the needs for this ministry).

I then called people that I knew had received a prayer shawl. They gave me some great quotes. I will share part of my speech here:

I remembered something that I read: In every stitch there is a prayer. This prayer shawl started with just 3 little stitches and increased by one every row. When it is finished, it will have about 12000 stitches or 12000 prayers.
Then I began to remember all the people who received a prayer shawl, afghan, toy or gift. Then I began to talk with them.
My first ever shawl was given to Clara after the death of Jack. It took me a long time to compete. But I worked on it a little bit every day. But I finished it and gave it to Clara. Clara told me that prayer shawls make you feel good because it helps to know that people are praying for you. It is wonderful!
After the crash Alex and the girls were in, we gave the family a prayer shawl or afghan. Kristin just recently told me that her girls cherish their shawls.
Diane told me, after her mother lost her leg and she received her prayer shawl, it helped her to know that people who didn’t know her were praying for her and cared for her and wished her well.
Annie told me that she wears her prayer shawl all the time. She feels the extra prayers and love that are meant for her.
Marty told me that the prayer shawl given to Carson brought him a lot of comfort, especially at the hospital and he wore his all the time.
In speaking with Judy, she reminded me that making a prayer shawl provides benefits for the knitter or crocheter. The person receiving gets the benefits of knowing someone cared for them. I remembered reading many different books where someone said that there are health benefits in knitting or crocheting. It lowers blood pressure and relieves stress. Basically, a hook or needles and yarn are cheaper than a therapist.
Glee told me she also cherishes her prayer shawl, given to her before she had surgery. She wore it all the way to the OR and would only give it up when there was a chance that it wouldn’t make it back to her. She shared her prayer shawl with her husband Paul and Betty Robertson before their surgeries. This shawl means the world to her.
Sharon said, “Crocheting is a gift that God has given to me. To be able to create a prayer shawl for a special person I care about with the wonderfully soft, silky yarns that are available is actually relaxing and comforting to myself as I stitch and pray for my friend or loved one, I’m concerned about. I pray, asking God’s blessings for them as I stitch along, “Oh, Lord, bless my loved ones with your healing touch!” So my gift becomes a gift of hope, of comfort, of peace, of love. And when the recipient wraps up in one of these beautiful shawls, it will remind them of the love with which it was created.”
As one person told me, “It is like comfort food. You wrap up in your afghan and you have a feeling of comfort.”

When I got to church on Sunday, we had some new prayer shawls in our bin and someone that I didn't know could crochet or knit, brought me a blanket she was working on and said I made mistake, help me fix it and then teach me how to cast off. She had made a baby blanket for anyone who might need it for a baby! How wonderful!!

I really do go to church with some great people!!

Double Rainbow

2011-05-06T20:44:00.006-04:00

For the month of April 2011 we had 13 inches of rain. 2nd highest rainfall for April since recording of weather. One night we had a gorgeous double rainbow.

Also, the past couple of weeks have been so traumatic. My oldest DD was pushed on a playground during a game of freeze tag and broke her distal radius. Then my husband's aunt had passed away and we had to travel north for an overnight stay to attend the funeral. On the trip home we passed through Berlin, London, Charm, South Charleston and then we came home. For people who don't know...these are all places in Ohio. The girls had a really nice time visiting with their relatives. (The girls with their Great Aunt Karen) They played shying around some of them. But others are so great. I love my husband's Aunt Bev. She is the most wonderful woman. She has been in the convent helping people and teaching for 50 years. Congratulations on your jubilee, Aunt Bev (aka Sister Winifred).

This week my youngest DD had to have 2 teeth pulled because she was keeping her baby teeth while her new adult teeth were coming in. Poor kid, but she was phenomenal. They said she did better than a lot of adults. She is a real trouper. She got a gold coin ($1) and 2 half dollars and true to form she lost one of them.

Knitting time has come down to a little here, a little there and simple memorized patterns that don't need thought or concentration to be created correctly.

"WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

2011-04-30T23:37:00.002-04:00

My husband's great-aunt passed away on the Friday of Holy Week (the Friday before Easter). She was a very sweet lady and we would visit her whenever we would go up to Massillon. Today, was her funeral. On the card given at the funeral home, there is a motto for living on it from Aunt Grace. One that I would like to share.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, maple cream in one hand, golf ball in the other, and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a ride!"

Rest in Peace, Aunt Grace. You certainly went skidding sideways into heaven...it was a great ride!

And Tuesday Began with A Bang

2011-04-19T14:31:00.002-04:00

During the night thunderstorms moved through our area. Now as a general rule, I am not afraid of storms. I can sleep through them. I know to stay inside and away from windows.

Today, my alarm had just started to go off, when there was a loud bang and a bright flash of light. Then everything went black. I searched in my yarn bag (yes it was right by my bed) for a flashlight. Then I went down the hall and discovered light, coming from my daughter's bathroom (the benefit of having a night light in there), but my room was still dark (nothing lit), my one DD's room was dark (no lights or fans), the other DD's room lit up (another night light).

I wandered down the stairs and turned on the light in the kitchen....it worked. I wandered down to the basement and checked the breaker box. There was a switch flipped. Okay, I am woman, I know how to flip the switch. Nope didn't work. That's not right....I now wander outside to make sure my house is not on fire. Nope, nothing on fire, nothing smoldering....still no light in my room or my one DD's room. Now I am getting scared and I need to talk with my husband to let him know what is going on. He finally comes home and we decide to get an electrician out to the house....King Electric. The man that comes is very good, he determines that the breaker is destroyed and he puts in a new one...all in an hour from arriving at my house. He was polite, he was nice and he worked quickly.

So if you are in the Lebanon, OH area and need a reliable electrician call King Electric.

The Prayer Shawl and other things

2011-04-13T22:19:00.004-04:00

The Prayer Shawl
I made this for a friend of mine to keep in her office. She is a nurse midwife and she was telling me about having to help a woman deliver her baby (dead). I asked her if she would object to keeping a prayer shawl(s) in her office should she ever have to do that again. She said she would like that. So I finally finished it. This is the prayer shawl that fell out of my bag and didn't get run over (because the driver of the truck must have been the recipient of yarny goodness). It is very pretty and very warm.

I also have been making a lot of dishcloths (still, yet, again). But I have also made some scrubbies they are kind of fun to make and are so simple.

The prayer shawl can be found in Debbie Macomber's book and also on her website. The dishcloth is a diagonal (I am loving this because it is so simple and so fun to change colors on it). The scrubbies are from the same pattern page. These are from Gwen Bortner http://tankhouse.knitability.com/freepatterns/DishClothDuo.pdf.
Have a good night.

A Rainy Monday

2011-04-11T15:12:00.003-04:00

We had a busy Sunday. I took my daughters to church for service (and coffee making) and then Sunday (LIGHT) School, signed them up for VBS (Vacation Bible School), took them to brunch (at Big Boy's) because I had a bad feeling. I felt that there would be no food for anyone at the church on Sunday and I didn't like that. But what was I to do about it. There were three (yes 3) girls left at the church while their parents left to go get lunch with their other children. I offered to go to my house and get a wheel of cheese and some crackers to feed all those children. But no one wanted that. After I stayed at the church with the 3 girls who were abandoned after calling all their parents to let them know that they girls had not been fed (hey what can I say) and that they were waiting for them. Only one girl knew her phone number (or her parent's cell number) and the other two did not. When I called for them, they were not there or not answering. One girl had someone at her house who answered but did not know where the parents were (really...you leave your child somewhere and don't leave a number)! But he would try to locate them. After the final child was picked up, I took my girls to the zoo. The Cincinnati Zoo's female giraffe had a baby! She is a pretty little girl. I don't know who took this photo, but I love how the parents are wrapping their necks around their little girl. She is sooooo cute. I had a feeling that with the good weather and the new baby that the zoo would be crowded, but I figured that at 3 p.m. (2 hours to closing) it would be easy to get a place to park. Boy, was I WRONG! There wasn't any parking, anywhere! So I took my daughters to Krohn Conservatory. This is a like a very large greenhouse with different areas of flowers and plants. It is just a really nice place to visit. They are getting ready for their butterfly show! My children are so excited about this! I also cannot wait for this show. It is the butterflies of Brazil!!! After that we went up to a park that is called Overlook park, but there wasn't any parking there either. After that failed, I took the girls to McDonald's the outdoor play area McDonald's was not open, so we went to the one in Taylor Mill, KY. Let me tell you about that real quick....dirty, dirty, dirty. They only clean it once a week and on Sunday, it was filthy!!! Also, paying customers beware. Training for new employees at this site....non-existent. Poor kid, first day and they threw him to the wolves. After that visite my mother-in-law (she is still recuperating) and they girls like it better when she is upright.

Today, had the van checked out and there aren't any more critical oil leaks. So we will move onward. Then I worked with my youngest daughter's class and then brought her home to feed her and then we went to McDonald's to visit with a friend for a moment and then to the post office to send a box of goodies to my nephew (in college). I have fun filling up boxes for him. He doesn't know what he will get and I have fun picking things out for him. But the rain makes things gloomy. But I will take my middle daughter to the store to search for a dress for her for her 1st Communion and maybe get a few other clothes.

So stay dry (if it is raining by you) and have a good Monday!

Best Night of Girl Scouts Ever

2011-04-08T20:25:00.002-04:00

My friend and I are Girl Scout Leaders. We have a little troop (and I do mean little - all of 9 girls). Of those girls 4 belong to other moms and the other 5 belong to us. We have been with this troop for 2 years and have discovered an interesting little fact....we are a babysitter for these other girls. The parents drop their children and leave. They don't stay and they don't participate and they don't even come into the building to make sure we are there or who might be there. They just leave them in the parking lot and leave.

So tonight once we knew that the storm that the previous night was going to be coming missed us (gotta watch the news right before meetings), I called my co-leader and said, how about a night of playing in the great outdoors. She loved it. So we found a bunch of games that they could play and we let them play. We threw out the games and they played and they played and they played. They had a lot of fun and so did we!!! The best game....Kick the Can!!!! The most simple game was the most fun. They ran and they ran and they had fun. But tonight we only had our daughters and then one other. When she arrived she was dealing with issues brought about by living in two homes. Sad, but true. Our other girls all have issues. These issues are what make every meeting night a new adventure for us. But we love our girls and we love the fun that they have and those rare, wonderful, fun nights are what make things the best.

So tonight was the best night of Girl Scouts, to date!

Changing Tides

2011-04-05T17:15:00.003-04:00

What can I say, but today, I am irritated. Yesterday, as I was driving to the Library with my daughter, the oil light came on. I know that this means there is a problem. I know this with every fiber of my being and yet, because I am a woman, they treated me like I didn't know what the light means. Seriously, it was not need an oil change light, but the oil can symbol light, which means there is low oil in the vehicle! Today, when I took the vehicle back to have a gasket changed, I asked about something else (just to get a price so I could know how much it would cost to fix it) and the mechanic (a man) gets into the car and changes from hot to cold and back again and says that it is not broken. When I explained again that this is something that is in the dash and requires getting up in the car underneath the wheel to fix and I asked did he do that? "No" says the woman in charge. The reason there is a woman in charge because women don't like to take their cars somewhere to get work done on them because men do tend to talk down to them. They are trying to get more of the female population to bring their cars to them for service (very expensive service). Now here is the fun part, the leak that was just fixed is actually an old one that was not noted on earlier visits. This was put off as not cared for by the master mechanic. Seriously, the guys you are hiring don't know there is a leak! Then this, he moves the controls and there isn't anything wrong with the vehicle. I would like to put that man in the back of the van on a very hot day, with the windows closed and the airconditioner (that is not broken according to him) on....after he has been back there for a good long time, we can discuss this "dumb" female's knowing or not knowing her vehicle.

Then to add to the frustration. My daughters are participating in a program at school called "I've Got the Facts." When the paper work came home, it read that a box is used for every 10 minutes. So I had been marking off the 10 minutes on their sheets. Today, the Assistant Principal sent home a note saying that it is to go by the day! Now when did that change take place? Why wasn't this information sent home earlier? I don't know about you, but the principal of this school doesn't make me very happy with his job performance. He ignores parents and teachers that he doesn't like. He pretends that they don't exist and he refuses to respond to them when they greet him. I have seen this and in fact, when I have greeted him, he looks over my head (an interesting thing since I am almost as tall as he is) and pretends that I said nothing to him. I will be very glad when I no longer have to work with him. But I have two more years, unless he is replaced first. Because of these things, I am seriously reconsidering my position on voting for the increase in taxes to pay for the school. I mean why would I pay for this behavior. You put this with the aid who treated my child so horribly in front of me in the cafeteria! Seriously, is this what I am paying for: A principal who pretends that I and many others do not exist! An Assistant Principal who changes the rules on a program because someone is completing it too quickly! An Aid who yells at children in the cafeteria, for of all things, taking too many ketchups, when she actually didn't her mother brought them for her!

I guess I better tell that story. My middle DD requested that I come to lunch with her and I brought her a sandwich from a restaurant. I requested additional ketchups for her because she likes the stuff. She had the sandwich, the ketchups, the bag (with the name of the restaurant) and the wrapping to the sandwich (also with the name of the restaurant) in front of her. This woman demands to know why she has so much ketchup and does she really need it. When I got to my daughter, I had to work to get her attention. Then I had to let her know that I brought the ketchup. Does this woman apologize? No not in the least, but then when this is the behavior of the principal, why should she? She huffed and left the area, but the damage was done, my daughter was in tears and shamed in front of her friends. Is this how a public school employee who is dependent on the funds of another should be treating the children? No!!! But she still has not apologized for her behavior and I am still irritated that it occured.

So if you are uncertain as to whether you are voting for an increase in taxes, consider the above. Many of the teachers that were low on totem pole are already searching for new jobs, so they may be gone and then the tax increase will not be needed but they won't reduce it and they won't cut their spending on people in administration.

By the Way, can you tell that today was not a good day!

Monday Mutterings

2011-04-04T09:50:00.002-04:00

While reading another blog, there was an encouragement to blog about something that bothers you or that you want to talk about, with a link back to her link. So clicking on my title will lead back to her blog so that you do the same.

My Monday Muttering:

I am so tired of people who just drop their children off somewhere and don't even bother to make sure that they are with a responsible adult or when they are supposed to stay and participate they can't get out of there fast enough, so they just drop the child off at the door and drive away before they are even in the door. They talk about how important that child is, but they don't really prove it because they just dump their children. Cases in point...I am a girl scout leader and the parents just dump their children outside the door, they don't come in to get their child or make sure that the leader is there. Dump and run. Another case in point, a child is getting ready for their First Holy Communion, the parents drop her off and then leave, they don't even stay to make sure there is a class or that the instructor is present. Dump and Run. Seriously folks, what kind of example are you setting by doing this?

The Height of Laziness

2011-04-01T08:20:00.002-04:00

This week I spent a lot of time with my children and traveling across OH and KY. We have also spent a lot of time in many bathrooms (what can I say three girls and they all can't go at the same time). We would go into the bathrooms and many are equipped with automatic toilets (and if they aren't many people have forgotten how to flush), automatic sinks (and if they aren't they assume they are broken and walk out without washing their hands) automatic soap dispensers (see previous comment) and automatic hand dryers or towel dispensers (then they get mad because they were unable to dry their hands after washing them).

I watched this in many bathrooms across these two great states. If it didn't happen automatically people forgot how to do this for themselves and walked out of the bathroom upset that these items were broken.

I watched as my children (even) put their hands under the faucet and got confused because it didn't turn on automatically. These things are supposed to be water, energy, paper savers and yet they make it possible for more people to waste these things because they work too sensitively and then you have children who like to play in them because they do work automatically.

Let's go back to the flush yourself, turn it on yourself and work to get it yourself.

Attention Parents

2011-03-31T20:31:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, I took my children to a museum and wonder of wonders there was an supervised young (toddler) girl...

This girl was flinging water everywhere and no mother, or adult around. Now I will admit that when I take all three DD to places, I cannot be with them all at once, but I do try to keep track of them. But when they were this young, I did try to stay closer to them, especially near water.

This child was not being watched. Many people were soaked by her water flinging and no one came to stop her and/or supervise her. Eventually, after I took a photo of her, the mother came in and said don't do that and then moved far, far away from her (into another room)!

Wednesday, when I took my daughters to another museum, a young boy decided to force himself between me and an exhibit, stepping (not once, but three times) on my sore and aching foot (arthritis didn't help me) and I was very irritated with the boy and his mother (who didn't care what her progeny was doing).

Today, (Thursday) I took my children to another place and while at McDonald's having a drink and some more play time, another mother told me about another child who was not being supervised and was doing some major harm.

Listen parents, your children are your responsibility. We other moms will help if you are trying and are being torn three different directions at once, but you need to step up and do the work!!! We will applaud you (yes I have been part of that scene when a dad used a very commanding tone to get the attention of his child who was screaming) and we will support you as you deal with your child's misbehavior. But don't expect people to be supportive of you when you are ignoring your children. Don't expect people to like you if they are being really horrible and you aren't doing anything to stop the problem! You need to step up and teach your children proper behavior. Today, a lady at the restaurant where I took my children for brunch told me how good my DDs are. She said that there are times where people bring their children in and they are so very bad that they are happy to see them leave.

My friends and I took our children to lunch at this same restaurant and someone treated our whole table of children (about 9) to a dessert! It was a special treat for the children. We did take them out as fast as we could before the sugar could cause major issues and took them somewhere to run it off, but they noticed and let us know that they appreciated the good behavior of the children.

Please, take notice of your children and watch them. Demand respect from them. Demand that they behave when they are places. Demand that they sit in their chairs. Demand that they use utensils and not show the food in their mouths! Demand from them what your parents demanded from you! Be the good parent! Be the strict parent and stop ignoring your children.

I found another LYS!!

2011-03-28T21:40:00.002-04:00

I took my daughters up to the Columbus Zoo (OH) today. They love zoos. This zoo is so large that getting through it in one day just hasn't happened. We walk until we are tired and then we head for home (with a stop at a playplace restaurant for good measure).

On the way home, I decided that I wanted to see what LYS's in the Columbus area had to offer and did a quick search on my cell phone (did I mention I have a new cell phone and carrier and I love my cell phone!) for LYS's in the Columbus area. It came back with this website http://knitty-knotty.blogspot.com/2005/08/columbus-ohio-lys-list.html showing all the current LYS's in the area. I went to the one closest to where we were at the time and it was fabulous!!! Thanks knitty-knotty for the great information!!! I went to a store called Temptations Yarns. Inside I met a woman named Michelle Hunter and she has a site (www.knitpurlhunter.com) where she has videos on how to knit socks, knit socks using the magic loop method and many other things. She teaches classes at this store.

The store was wonderful...so much yarn, so little time! I had the girls with me which meant they were touching everything and wondering all over the place. I bought some yarn (I guess I'll have to change my counter again, but I just might wait until after I have another chance at another store first).

Maybe after Spring Break, I'll get around to posting the yarn for all to see. I found some gorgeous colors and it is so soft. Not sure if I will use it for socks or for hats or scarves....decisions.

Today, I also found another Burger King with a playland. My girls had a blast playing there! It was good for them to have a place to run and play for a little while. You see while the Columbus zoo has 3 playareas, only one girl is allowed to play there. The other two are too tall! They don't go by age, they go by height. My older two girls are over the height for playing...something is wrong with that thought if you ask me. It's like saying you are too old to do anything, once you are a certain height. They don't want to watch her play and it's not fair to them. So I make a point of finding a place where they can all play for a little while before the long trip home (although coming home from Columbus at 5:30 takes way less time than coming home from Cincinnati at the same time)!

Have a great night!!!

Some very Pretty March Days in 2011

2011-03-27T19:49:00.006-04:00

We had some pretty days in March and when they fell on weekends, I took advantage and took my children out to get some fresh air. They loved and so did I. We went to the zoo many times and I was able to take some nice photos. I also took my youngest DD for a picnic with friends. Here are some photos from those gorgeous days.
A photo of a tiger. I love the expression on his face (I am guessing he).

A photo of a white lion. They are a gift from the magicians from Las Vegas who used lions in their act. I am drawing a blank on their names.

I love to watch the guerillas at the zoo. They are so interesting.

A flower that was already showing up when we were at the zoo.

There is a park near us that has a "spider web" for the children to climb on. At some point we looked up and most of the children at the park were on the web. It was so fun to watch them climbing around on it.

More spring flowers...beautiful yellows!

Gorgeous reds on the flower and the butterfly (this was indoors).

Squirrels were out and eating bulbs. This one let me get pretty close to take it's photo.

The zoo had it's fountain out and on.

Some days have been so warm that we have had our windows open and all three cats are in them!

March is almost over and then it is on into April. March 31st is Opening Day for Baseball and there will be parades and other activities in Cincinnati. So I will gladly stay away! April 1, is my anniversary. It will be 11 years that we have been together.

Spring Break is here and many people are already travelling. We are staying home. We will go places as weather permits, but we will stay home.

Make a note...April 16 through June 19 there will be the Butterflies of Brazil at Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati. Lots of fun. Love to look at all those gorgeous and in some cases exotic butterflies.

2nd Grade Music Concert

2011-03-25T06:32:00.003-04:00

My oldest DD is in 2nd grade and her class put on a show for the parents. They sang some songs and did some dancing and played some instruments. It was a very good show. The children who participated (there are about 400 students in her class) did a very good job.

This was the dancing section...they sang Loobie Loo at the same time.

We have had so much happening. My friends and I take our children to places that they can eat together, that they can play together and we get to socialize together. So Monday, we took the children to McDonald's and we talked about how the parks here in Lebanon are hubs for drug sales. It is sad, that there is so much drug trafficking going on at places where children play!

Tuesday, I worked in DD2's classroom. I helped her teacher with paper grading and then she honored me, by asking me to write her a referral. She said that since I have known her for three years and have had two children in her classroom, she felt that I knew the most about her abilities. She is looking for a job because her job her is tenuous due to budget concerns.

Wednesday, the friends got together again, for a special lunch and to let the children play. I ended up teaching 5 children (4 girls and 1 boy) how to knit. One of the girls found a dishcloth that I had just finished and she wanted to give it to her mom. Then her cousin (the boy) wanted one also for his mom, and I offered to let him help me make some of the stitches. He took me up on the offer. Then his cousins (2 of the girls) wanted a turn. One of those girls kept coming back to try again and again. Then another girl wanted a turn and then my daughter wanted a turn. It was so great! My friends took pictures. They loved that the children making a few stitches in knitting. I offered to formally teach the children if they so desired.

Today, is Friday. At 3:45 p.m. begins Spring Break! It is 38 degrees F and Sunday we have been told to expect 3 1/2 inches of snow! Well my plans are going to have to change around. I have plans for Spring Break, they do involve visiting my mother-in-law who is in a nursing facility. My husband has been helping his brother pack up his apartment to move back in with their dad to help take care of him and then their mom when she is finally able to return home.

Good Friday All!

Prayer Shawl

2011-03-22T16:47:00.006-04:00

Sometime ago, I mentioned that I was making a prayer shawl for a friend to give to mother's who lost their babies during or before childbirth. I just thought I would show off where I am at. This is also the shawl that fell out of my bag and landed on the ground.

Also, I finished a hat. Someone from church requested that I make some hats to be donated for a silent auction because some people liked the ones I made for my daughters so much. I finished one of those as well.

I also finished a dish cloth and a scarf (no photos yet), but I like when I am making progress. I will admit that on Sunday, I purchased more yarn (like I really needed more), but I did. I bought something with my mother-in-law in mind. I told my husband and he likes my choice and I will get to work on it posthaste.

Good Tuesday. Tomorrow, I will write about the 2nd Grade Music Concert for parents and maybe post some photos of all the little ones.

Memories of Disney

2011-03-20T17:13:00.003-04:00

Between my sophmore and junior years of high school, my family and I went to Florida for a vacation. My mom was getting over her father's death. I was healing from a badly broken leg and badly sprained ankle. My sister (my youngest sister was not in the picture yet) was recuperating from a fall where she needed stitches. (My father says, I have one son, yet it is always my daughters that help me with my projects and they always get injured).

We went to lots of places. Homes that had gorgeous gardens (loved those). An amusement park that can also be found in VA. We went to the beach (not a fan...burning not fun). We went swimming (a lot). But we also went to Disney World. This was before Epcot (they were just starting to build it).

I hated every minute of it. I was pushed and shoved so much that I was in pain by the time we left. People cut in line (aka line jumpers) and it took so long to get on any of the rides and I think we only rode maybe 3 rides the whole entire time.
My memories of Disney are not good.

Now my daughters are watching all the "magical" commercials promoting Disney to try and get more people to come and visit. But I just don't want to go to Disney. I would rather take my children all other places, but I do not want to go to Disney. I hate the place. I also find that it costs so much to go that it is too expensive (in my mind) to take the girls. I don't want them to go one day and have tickets to go for 3 days knowing that I wouldn't mind going back, but if I spend that much money on Disney I want to get the most out of it.

I wish I could get them to realize that Disney doesn't even match up to Kings Island (here in Mason, OH). There are so many places that we could go and spend money better than Disney. Yes, I know Disney wouldn't be happy to know that my memories of the place aren't good, but that is what they are. I don't want to go back and I don't want to submit my children to that horrible place either!

It happened again....

2011-03-20T16:20:00.002-04:00

Well the poor little girl who was just dropped off by her dad and then left alone at the church was dropped off again. She required help with her bible and reading the passage. Fortunately, one young girl had both parents there and they were able to divide to help her and their own daughter at the same time. But what was interesting was that another parent did the same thing. They just left their child at the church alone. When the program was over the parents weren't anywhere to be found.

The first little girl must have been told to pretend to leave the church after the class and then hide somewhere until someone came to get her. But I saw her dad coming up the walk and he had to search for her. The other girl's dad was out on the playground with the younger siblings. I realize that it is harder for people to go to church and these lessons when they have to haul the younger siblings along for the ride. But these classes are not easy for the children and this is a large group.

I took my children to the bookstore that is closing. We got some books for them. My oldest picked out a book on how to knit (for children). It came with some yarn, a crochet hook, a yarn needle and knitting needles. She sat and read the book the entire trip home and then sat down to work on a scarf (the only thing in the book that was all knit...the other things have purl and since she isn't ready to learn purl). She has been sitting patiently working on the knit stitch using some yarn that I had already wrapped. The other yarn is in skeins that have to be put on a swift and made into center pull balls. She has some definite design elements, but that is okay she wants to be a good knitter and make things for herself. I will not discourage her.

My other daughter got a book and kit to make "puppies" and she lost interest (over Harry Potter) and is watching tv. My youngest got a book where she could write in it. It came with a special pencil.

Time to get off and do some work. Have a good Sunday.

Why Is It...?

2011-03-13T15:01:00.002-04:00

We have some very unhappy people at my church and they choose to inflict their meanness on others. As a result, I am not very happy at church. My DDs are all in First Communion training and learning about Communion and what it means and will mean to them. There is one lady, that when her daughter asked her why Daddy went home, she made some very nasty remarks about how "Daddy went to get some breakfast," and how "Daddy is going through menopause." I am sure you get the picture. Well to make matters worse, I have been coughing pretty hard for awhile and due to circumstances beyond my control (my insurance and my PCP cannot get along and so have decided to part ways) I have not been able to get any good medication (at that point). I had a very bad coughing fit and when it was finished, she made the comment (in church and in front of everyone) "Are you going to live or should we amputate?" Seriously, I did not cry from the pain in my sides from the coughing and I didn't demand that people go get me water or anything else for that matter. I just coughed until it was over and then she made her comment. I pointed out to her that amputating lungs would essentially kill me, so I guess I am not going to live!

Today, during the class, the instructor, points out that there are only 2 ceremonies that Lutherans truly believe are from God. One, Baptism because God through his Son commanded that we all be Baptized and it uses water. The second, Holy Communion, because God through his Son, said take and eat of bread and take and drink from wine during His final meal with his Apostles. So in our celebration we use bread and wine. She then began to argue that God did not command it, that Jesus did and that is not God. We then asked her does she believe that Jesus is the Son of God? She said yes. To which we pointed out that He is then part of the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and that Jesus being part (Son) is able to command that we do these things in His Name. She just wanted to argue faiths and beliefs. I am sure that next week will be just another argument with her.

Next up, Why do some parents feel that it is perfectly okay to take their children somewhere and then leave? Case in point, my Girl Scout Troop parents, drop their children in the parking lot (they don't even come in!) and then drive away leaving the children. They don't come in to get the children (generally) and they treat this as a babysitting service. Today, another set of parents, dropped said progeny off at First Communion and promptly left. They didn't stay with the class and they didn't care. They just went on their merry way. Class had ended and the young child was still there without any parents to be found! Seriously folks, if you can't bring yourself to care, your child isn't going to care when they are old enough to go on their own!!!! Church is a family affair!!! Not a babysitting service so you can go home and sleep or shop, fill in the blank. Fun part, I called mom's cell phone and she didn't even have it turned on!!! The instructor for the course stayed at church waiting for her parent(s) to finally come and get her!

Thanks for the time. Weigh in on why you think parents are like this. I would like to hear what you are thinking.

Darn It

2011-03-07T21:47:00.002-05:00

Some time ago, I read something by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka YarnHarlot) where she said she darns socks...she drops them into the trash and says "Darn it." I loved that. So when I was trying to get my girls to start throwing away clothing with holes in it, I taught them to take the item to the trash and as loud as they can, say "Darn IT!"

As a result, they would tell me, "Mom, I have a hole in my...." I would tell them, "When we get home, darn it." They would tell me okay and depending on the article of clothing that needed darning, the "Darn Its" would be with little feeling (as in "darn it" to much feeling because it was their favorite piece of clothing, "DARN IT!!!!") I love hearing them when they are darning their clothing. It tickles my funny bone.

One time, DD told me, "Mom I have a hole in my sock." and since I had an extra pair in the car, I offered her the opportunity to darn her socks right then and there or wait until we got home. She said she wanted to darn them now. An older gentleman overheard the conversation and was surprised that I knew how to darn socks and that I had taught my children how to darn socks as well. Then he saw her take off the socks, put on the new socks, walk over to the trash can and with a lot of feeling say, "DARN IT! Those were my favorite socks!"

Yesterday, DD the youngest, had to darn her favorite pair of pants and as they went into the trash can, I heard, "DARN IT!!! Those were my favorite pants."

Thank you Stephanie for those wonderful moments with my children! I hope that they carry it on with their children also.

"Darn it."

Bad Day for Knitting

2011-03-03T22:13:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Wednesday, I took my knitting, picked up my daughter from school and then went to Burger King so she could have a play date. Now in my bag are lots of projects. A goddess knits cowl, a dishcloth and a prayer shawl that I have been working on to give to my friend, a nurse practitioner, who sometimes has to help a woman give birth to her dead baby. This prayer shawl would stay in her office until she needed it and then she would gift it to the patient. This is when tragedy struck...the prayer shawl fell out of my bag and landed behind the wheel of my car and then went across an area that people drive through and into the restaurant. I realized what had happened and I ran out to my car, collected my prayer shawl and as I am walking back towards the restaurant, someone is driving towards me. Now this person very kindly slowed down and waited for me to collect my yarn that trailed across the road and I was able to save my prayer shawl. I am grateful to that driver for not driving over my yarn. I am afraid of what would have happened if they had. I will, no doubt, wash it when it is finished and take a photo so everyone can see this prayer shawl that is definitely meant to be.

Now I need to go...I need to do some more knitting.

It's Tuesday?

2011-03-01T12:30:00.002-05:00

Really, it is Tuesday...Today, I went to school and worked with DD2's class on finishing their pirate flag. I would show a picture, but there are two girls from the class holding it and I am not allowed to post their pictures because it is a violation of their privacy, but the flag turned out really cute. It is interactive and 3D. They worked really hard on it and they are proud of it.

Yesterday, I worked with DD3's class. I did math with them. Then I took my daughter and my friends took their children/grandchildren and we went to McDonald's to play for awhile. There were a lot of children there.

Yesterday, we got the news that the Master Cylinder (on my husband's truck) and something else (note I didn't speak with mechanic) rusted out and that is why he cannot drive his truck (I am vehicleless until he gets his back!). It will cost $787 before the discount (AAA - got to love it) to get it fixed.

I need to run some errands and then I will be allowed to knit for the rest of the day (until my daughters get home and it is time for homework). Have a good Tuesday....

So very busy...

2011-02-28T08:23:00.002-05:00

Too busy for knitting at times. Most of it has been driving back and forth. My mother-in-law has been moved into rehab and next week will be moved to a skilled nursing. Most of that is because of her motivation levels. Her sister-in-law (a nurse who is 3 years older than my husband) came into town and has been with her and has been working with her. She does have some control of her left arm back, but she isn't still near where she used to be. So please continue to pray for her and the family as they continue on this journey.

My children played their last basketball game of the season on Saturday. It was two very good games (my two older girls are on the same team and my youngest was on another team). All last week, I worked with my middle daughter's class to help them make their own pirate flag. We took picture of the whole class to put on the flag, they were wearing hats that they made and eye patches. They made a map (that I brought home to burn and water down to make it look old), to put on the flag. They made a treasure chest (I still need to get some "coins" to put in the chest). They made their own pirate insignia and I reminded them that their teacher is the Captain.

My husband's got-to-have-it truck broke down and I found some listings of places that work on Transmissions. This is the 2nd time he has picked out a vehicle that has broken (big breaks) within 6 months of him getting it. I am making him call the places that are listed and I will call AAA to get it towed to them.

Knitting time has been scarce. But I have still found some time to work on a prayer shawl.

Thanks for all the prayers for my mil and her family. They are appreciated. Have a good Monday.

Just a Few Updates

2011-02-14T18:40:00.004-05:00

I will start with the biggie: My mother-in-law is out of the hospital and in a rehab. She is relearning how to use her left side and how to walk. She has a long road ahead. She has some moments where she is so on, she knows where she is, how many children and grandchildren she has. Other times, she doesn't know and she has forgotten her granddaughters. It will be a long road, but one that she is making.

Next up: I have started a project...I will be making at least one prayer shawl a month (I hope) to give to my friend's practice. She is a nurse midwife and she and I were talking about new mom's who have lost their baby during childbirth (or having to deliver a deceased baby). I helped her acquire her first prayer shawl for a mom who just went through such a sad time. My friend's little granddaughters wanted to touch the prayer shawl and were shocked that I was making something different. Good thing the prayer shawl is easy. Thank you Debbie Macomber for this pattern (you can find it on her webpage).

Then: My husband and I became ill....not just a little ill, but a lot ill. High fevers with coughing. Both of us sick at the same time...not good. I went and saw a nurse practicioner at the Kroger on Sunday and found out it is not flu....thank God. But I need to rest....like that is going to happen. After the days I have had, more than likely I will be heading down to my doctor to get some antibiotics, so that I can finally get over whatever virus I had that decided to morph into something else. Typical days while sick: I had to take the children out of the house so they could use some of their energy...Then I had to do laundry. Today, Monday, I took all the computers (4 of them) that my husband had acquired for donation to a school out of the house - delivering them. Then I went to kindergarten and picked up my daughter to take her on a play date. From there I went to Walmart to buy my daughters some new underwear. From there I went to be a mom for a classroom party. Then I went to Kroger's and picked up a prescription for my husband, picked up some items to use for cooking a supper that my husband asked for. Brought all this home and put it away. Then went back to the school to pick up my daughters from Lego Club...something they are really enjoying. Home again to start homework with the kids, start cooking supper and getting them into baths and bed. From there I will have to feed the kids, and do the dishes and more laundry! Bedtime...I sleep on the couch and wake up when the buzzer goes off on the dryer.

Where is my husband? Good question....he played on the computer all day. Then he went to bed when I brought the girls home. He is not allowed to do laundry because he doesn't follow directions and has ruined enough clothing. He needed to rest because he is sick...When my fever hit 103.3 I still had to take care of the kids! I am sore and I am tired and I am a wee bit irritated with him. Good thing the new couch is so comfy!

Edited to add: He is sick, also. He has been running fevers and he did take care of the kids as he started to get sick, but today just wore me out and I am cranky. He is a good man and he does try to help. Now to start the dishes and put away the food.

My Mother-in-Law

2011-02-06T08:11:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, my mother-in-law fell again. This is the 2nd fall that we know of where she was injured. She fell the week before her anniversary and blackened her eye. Pressure was applied to make the house more accessible for her or moving into a facility that would allow them to be independent and yet have someone checking on them daily.

But, yesterday she fell again and this time it was worse. She refused to allow EMS to be called and she laid on the floor at home for several hours. We were not called until after I had left with the children to go to my mom's for supper. Then they called and talked to my husband who headed down to face off with his mother.

But just before he arrived she deteriorated and had to be taken out by EMS (yes, they were finally able to call because she wasn't coherent). I was then called to the hospital to be with the family and help them keep it together, keep everyone on same page. During night she tried to get out of bed several times and was finally catheterized. My sister-in-law is beside herself and my husband is worried.

Thankfully, my husband's cousins (that I call my own as well) are going to watch my young children for me until I can get back to them and then I can spend several hours with her and my husband can sleep until it is time for work again tonight.

Please keep my mother-in-law and the family in your prayers. It is going to be a long process.

Christmas 2011

2011-02-04T22:49:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know I said, Christmas and I know we just finished Christmas less than 2 months ago. But I just started working on my list of Christmas gifts I want to try and make for this year. I do this every year. I sit downa and write out the names of my family. I figure out what I want to make for them for Christmas and then I'll put it on my computer with the hopes that I can make it seem manageable.

Every year, I purchase a scrap book style calendar and print photos that I took over the year to create a calendar for my family members.

Every year, I make a list of things I want to knit or crochet for people and their favorite colors. This is important, because I want to use a color they like so that maybe they'll wear or use whatever I am making.

My goal...finish a large number of afghans. Wish me luck. I also plan on making a lot of hats and scarves. Several dishcloths....that is being worked on right now. I finished another dishcloth. My list includes those I consider knitworthy...this year I have to make hat and scarf for my husband, he is so very knitworthy.

My children also fall on the knitworthy list and I want to make them several pairs of socks, so I need to get those on needles and learn how to turn that heel!!! I am going to try and go to a LYS on Saturday (last Saturday) morning and learn how to get the heel turned.

What are your plans for Christmas? Are you making things or buying them.

Calamity Day #7

2011-02-01T09:57:00.002-05:00

I can't actually call this a snow day as there isn't any snow on the roads or sidewalks. Lots and lots of ice everywhere. It is supposed to rain next. After the rain comes more snow....wonder if we will have school tomorrow or not.

Today, I have already made food for the girls (turkey bacon, cinnamon buns, scrambled eggs, french toast) and koolaid to give them through the day. I need to get a shower yet and I have laundry to do.

After that, we will play a game that will help my youngest with her counting and math. It will also help older girls with their math. From there spelling, reading and more math. I am a very mean teach for my girls, snow day/calamity days do no mean no work, just more from mom.

I am also working on finishing my dishcloths. I worked on one at a McDonalds and had people coming up to ask me what I was making and then commenting, "Is that all you can make?" Seriously folks, think about where I am at and what I am doing. I am socializing with my friends and watching my child (and my friend's children) play. I do not want something that requires thought or concentration. I want something easy and not requiring much thought. Also, I have many people who like these dishcloths and ask for them as gifts. So I might as well work on them while I can. Why would I bring out a sock I am working on when I know that to make and turn a heel (something that I need to concentrate on) out to work on when I know that I will end up having to tear out and start again. Why would I bring an afghan out...it is too large. Hats, those have too many skeins at play (I am using at least 3 strands on the hats), I don't want the skeins rolling all over the floor. What is even funnier is that when I take these to basketball, I don't get that question...I get, "Wow you are really good, you aren't even looking at what you are doing!" and "Can you teach me?"

Oh well. Time to get on with the work. Have a great and safe day....stay home if you can.

Snow Day #6

2011-01-21T20:30:00.013-05:00

I told everyone that I believed there would be no school on Thursday (due to the snow coming down) and that there would be no school on Friday (because of the ice from the previous day's snow). I was right and I had three kids home going stir crazy. Also, way too cold for them to stay out for long. So I went out and shoveled my driveway and sidewalk (we are fortunate that if I shovel, the sun will melt and dry the driveway and sidewalk for me). My oldest and youngest came out and helped for a little while, but the ice and heavy snow were too much for them, they went out back and played in the snow. The middle girl ran around in the snow until she got cold.

After that, I took the girls to Burger King to play in their playland. We stayed there for 4 hours. My friend brought her three and they just played and played and played. They were so exhausted.

While there I finished my Thanks Dishcloth. It turned out really nice, but it is very difficult to see the pattern in the cloth, but it is very nice. It was designed and shared by Enid Danforth. Here is a link: http://knittingmemories.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html She is very talented. She has the Cat in the Hat dishcloth, French Horn, etc. Check her out.

When we got home, my husband and I cooked supper for our children and each other. My oldest has been requesting that I make doughnuts. She really likes my mom's yeast doughnuts, that I have made them. Here is a link to where I have shared the recipe http://marysharingspace.blogspot.com/2009/03/recipes.html. They are very easy to make and lots of fun for the girl's. After you finish cooking them, you put them in a paper bag with powdered sugar and shake them.

After, the doughnuts were finished, I was finally able to finish the hat for my youngest daughter. She was so happy to have her hat, that she sat around wearing it for about an hour. She loved it!! My children are so very knit worthy!!!

I have many people that I deem knitworthy. My mother-in-law and one sister-in-law are knitworthy or just plain craft-worthy. Everything I make they use and show off. They brag about the things I have made them. My one sister is knitworthy...she loves dishcloths. She brags to everyone about her special dishcloths. My husband and children are knitworthy. They wear everything I make them and tell everyone, in the case of the children, their mommy made it for them!

Time to get back to work.

Snow Day #5

2011-01-20T09:32:00.005-05:00

Yes, we have our fifth snow day today. Not much snow on the ground (at 9:30 a.m.) but it is supposed to get worse. Also, there is a nice layer of ice under the little bit of snow. So I am trying to get the children to do their homework (teacher and mom assigned) and be silent so that my husband can rest. Not working out very well. I am also in the process of making lots and lots and lots of bacon (one daughter can eat 1 package by herself). I will be sending them out to the hill in the back to work out some energy. Right now, one is playing a computer game, the others are looking over her shoulder. The other will be set up here soon (math) and the third will be given written papers to work on.

Last night, I finished another hat for my middle daughter and started a third hat. I also finished another dish cloth (not very exciting just a border of knit stitches while there is knit and purl in the center to make a flat area. I was showing my friend what she would be working on next. She is learning to knit. She made the mistake of saying to me one day, I just don't have time to knit...I cast on for her, taught her the knit stitch and gave her the yarn and needles and let her go. Now every time we are sitting at McDonald's she is knitting with me! So when anyone says I want to learn, I tell them to bring needles and yarn to McDonald's and I'll teach them.

Right now, I have to get off the computer....it is being requested. Math time...fun, fun, fun!

So Very Busy

2011-01-17T21:23:00.006-05:00

I began work yesterday on a hat for my oldest daughter. Silly me, I did the one thing I know better than to do...I didn't have enough of the same colorway on one of the skeins of yarn. I ran out and the hat was not finished. So I took the children and went to the store to get another skein. Fortunately there was one more skein that colorway and that dye lot. I was able to finish her hat this morning. She loves the hat. She wore it when we went out and put it away when we got home. It is similar to two other hats that I made for her when she was in Kindergarten. My youngest wants a hat similar to this hat, just in pinks. My middle daughter doesn't want a hat that looks like it. So I am going to be very busy making hats for the girls over this week.

My daughter's also had their photo sessions this past Saturday. I was able to get two of them individually and their team photos. I promised the mom of one of the girl's that I would print a copy of the team photo for her, because her mother didn't want to buy any more photos of her daughter. I can understand that. But I also like to have these photos because one day the girls can look back and remember that their mom made them play basketball. At least, at first, I made them play, now they love it and ask to play.

Have a good week all.

I am Voting Yes

2011-01-14T22:33:00.003-05:00

I found out this week that there will be a new Levy put on the Spring Ballot. This is to keep 60-90 teachers on payroll for the Lebanon, OH school district. I am voting yes.

My reasons:
1. We have some of the best teachers around. They have Masters Degrees or are working on Masters Degrees.
2. They put a lot of themselves into teaching our children. Many of the teachers buy a lot of things with their own money for their classrooms for the children to use to help in their learning "centers."
3. The kindergarten class has 375 students, the 1st grade class has 425 students, the 2nd grade class has 400 (these are approximate numbers because there has been a lot of moving going on -into and out of the district). Each classroom has 25-30 students to one teacher. If they let go of 60-90 teachers that number WILL increase!
4. The teachers agreed to a pay freeze (they did not get a pay raise). They are paying more for their benefits (just like many other people). Teachers with a Masters Degree are making about $50,000 to $60,000 for a year of work (yes I know it is really 9 months of the year, but it is still for a year). They work more hours in a day than 8 hours....think of all the prep they do for their classes daily.

If they are willing to let go of 60-90 teachers, how many bus drivers are they letting go also? How many secretaries (at the kindergarten we have one secretary and she is phenomenal and the 1st and 2nd grade secretaries are also wonderful) are they going to cut loose? How many administrators?

The biggest threat to our school district is from a district that has people who are not willing to pay for their children's education! They refused to approve levies many times and now they are looking at the closing of their school! Their children are going to be shipped into neighboring school districts and I don't want to pay for their children! If they don't want to pay, why should I pay for their children! I am more than willing to pay for my children! I am willing to give up something so that I can have a quality education for my children! So I will vote yes on the next levy and I hope that others are willing to do so as well. These teachers are very important to our school.

So before voting, pray and consider what is best for the children in your school district. Also, be willing to fight for what you believe in. I believe in education, if I didn't, I wouldn't work so hard with my children at home!

Snow Day #4

2011-01-12T16:08:00.002-05:00

More snow overnight...slushy roads turned to ice....I71 North shut down in many areas...school closed! Yesterday, my children would go out, get cold and wet and come in and change out of the wet stuff. Then they would get warm and then back out they would go. I still laundry left over from yesterday. Today, I am back to laundry and the piles are all over the floor and the kids want to go out and play outside some more. All I want is to get caught up! They don't understand the work I am doing trying to get the laundry finished. So now there are more wet clothes left lying everywhere and I won't have any hot water.

Snow Day #3

2011-01-11T14:02:00.004-05:00

So much has been happening over last few days. My In-laws celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on Friday, Jan 7! Many happy returns of the day. I asked that we be allowed to celebrate the day with them...We (my husband and I) would bring in the food (we bought salad makings from Krogers, veggie tray and cheese tray and Hamburgers from 5 Guys Burgers and Fries). My sisters-in-law would get the ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. We visited with them, helped them with some things and then cleaned up (with my sisters-in-law). We also celebrated my aunt and uncle's 56th Anniversay on Jan 8th and my parent's 45th Anniversary on Jan 8th. The girls 1st basketball game of the season was also on Saturday, Jan 8th. Nicole did better this year and I think had more fun. Hannah made a basket after stealing the ball from another player (on the other team). Esther stole the ball, but she said frequently, "I'm over here!" to get the other player's (that she was to guard and was to guard her) attention.

Sunday, I took the girls to a place called EnterTrainment Junction. This place has a train museum, model trains set up showing different scenes of railroading. They also have a large play area where kids can climb and play and explore. My girls had so much fun. We got a season pass called a "1st class boarding pass."

I discovered on Sunday, that a website that I go to often enough, called www.goodreads.com, is encouraging reading by having people choose how many books they can read in one year. Then it keeps a tally of how many you have read to date. I guess you could say I am cheating....but then I am reading the books. The books in question are the books my children are reading. As a result I am reading a lot of books in the Magic Tree House Series, the Junie B. Jones series and Level C readers. All of these are very fast reads and if I get close to my goal, I may have to change it! If you like to read, go to goodreads and join the challenge.

I took my youngest to McDonald's so she could have a playdate with her friends. She loves her McD's Mondays as we have come to call them. She eats lunch with her friends and the adults get to visit and have a good time together. We let the kids run and play and we all watch them. Our group seems to be growing and we need a whole section of the playland just for our group.

I finished some more dishcloths. I just keep working on them whenever I can, but these last few days just were not a time to work on them. I did get some work on one while at basketball games and driving to in-laws to celebrate.

Now for today, the third snow day of the school year. The girls loved it. I took them to Big Boy's for breakfast and then to Walmart (didn't want to go any farther) to get a new sled for the great outdoors and a new coat for my middle daughter. She has already outgrown her new coat that I just bought in October 2010. We slid into Walmart, fishtailing and praying. Thank God, we were safe and no one was following close behind us and there weren't that many people in there shopping.

The girls have been outside sled riding, throwing snowballs, attempting to build a snowman and making snow angels. They had so much fun. Now to the laundry I go. Have a safe day and enjoy the snow!

I don't want my children to be happy.

2011-01-05T11:53:00.004-05:00

I read this blog today (you can click on my title and it will take you to the post)and I have agree, I don't want my children to be happy. Content, yes. Holy, yes. Self-sufficient, yes. Good people, yes. Happiness doesn't come from someone giving you everything. Happiness comes from contentment. I know that I had to pay my own way through college. It was hard to pay for everything and sometimes, my parents would help me, when they could afford to, but it was my responsibility to pay my own way. My younger sister had to earn her own way through college and she appreciates her education, also. My younger brother had to pay his own way. My youngest sister, being so much younger than the rest of us, had hers paid for. She had earned some scholarships, but she didn't have to work her way through college, like I did. Putting off certain classes because I didn't have the money or the job wouldn't adjust so I could take it. It took me 7 years to get a BA in Literature and a BS in Archaeology. I want my children to work for their education and I encourage them to study now so they can get the good grades that will help them get the scholarships. I will help them pay for school where ever I can...they need to remember that they will all be in college together for 2 years! But they will be able to work and they will be able to get an education, but they will have to work for it.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T14:00:00.002-05:00

It is 2011! It is the time where many people make a resolution to do something differently than in previous years. I think my resolution is not to try and make so many gifts for Christmas I stress myself out. I will make many, many dishcloths. They are quick. They are easy. I can work on a plain ones when I am somewhere that doesn't allow for me to work on patterned ones. I will work on patterned ones when I am alone. I resolve to learn how to make socks. I have tried and tried, but have not succeeded in getting past the heel. This year, I will get past the heel (even if I have to take a class). I will finish a few afghans (for next Christmas). They aren't hard, just time consuming and large. I have several in various stages of completion, so I will just complete them. I will finish the clown and the penguin. I can give them to my neice when I see her next (along with a few Barbies). I will learn how to make gloves and mittens. I want my children to have warm hands and feet. I will make their hats and scarves over the summer (same as always and I already have their yarn). So to all my friends who read this blog...Happy New Year. If you are inclined to make a resolution, make it something achievable. Seriously, this is going to be a successful year!

What Happened to Courtesy while Driving?

2010-12-30T00:11:00.002-05:00

With the Christmas Holiday, I have been driving 50+ miles one way for family related things (delivering Christmas gifts, spending Christmas with family, spending time with my little neice in from Maryland). As I would drive, I would try to change lanes and have to drive faster to get over because the people in that lane were not willing to let me in their lane. I watched as a truck was forced to use a wrong exit because people in the lane he was in would not let him over.

I have been living in a country area for six years now and I really like not having to get on the interstate. I really like not having to fight my way through the traffic. I watch on the morning news as they tell about accidents that involve many vehicles (or just one that ran off the road).

Are we in such a hurry to get somewhere that we can't slow down (even just a little) and show some common courtesy to other drivers. Let them over into the lane we are in or even speeding up a little so they can slide in behind us (if they are sort of behind us to begin with). It won't shave any time off our commute if we have an accident and it helps us to be better drivers if we show each other just a little courtesy while we are driving.

I hope everyone is able to get to their destinations safely and have happy travels.

I am Weak

2010-12-29T23:58:00.002-05:00

Well, maybe not as weak as I think I am, but I bought yarn today. Mostly, I bought more cotton yarn for dishcloths. There are many people who like them so much that they ask for them regularly as gifts (birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas). So I bought yarn. I also bought yarn for my DD's to have new hats and scarves. They like to pick out their own yarn for their hats and scarves and they love to wear these hats and scarves, but today at 11:30 a.m. I bought yarn and I had to reset the clock on my blog to show that I am starting over. Since this is the only yarn that I seem to be using faster than fast, I bought more.

Have a good night and if you are on Ravelry, you can check to see what I bought becasue at some point I will post the purchases (besides it was on sale!).

Merry Christmas, Everyone

2010-12-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

Happpy Birthday, Jesus. I think it is important to say that also. It is His birthday and yet we are the recipients of gifts. My family and friends and I played Santa to many people in our area this year. I am lucky I can participate in this activity. We bought gift cards, made gifts, bought gifts, bought food and shared with as many people as we could over such a short period. It is amazing how many people are in need and how few are able to help. But this year we were able to help and I am grateful (Thank you God) for being able to help. My family (husband and I) like to help as many as we can to make sure that others get the help they need.

My family and I attended church at St. Luke Lutheran church in Cold Spring, KY. Last night. It was wonderful. It has been ages since we were there! More due to distance in miles than not wanting to attend church. We had our neice and had to return her to her father, so we took her to church with us. She said, "Church is boring." My youngest said, "Not our church. It is fun!" I think this is a tribute to Pastor Harry and Sharey Biles. So my neice asked if she could attend church with us and we took her. She really seemed to like it. Then we took her to Grandma and Grandpa's house. The girls ran some more. They have so much fun together!

This morning the girls woke up so very early and they were so happy with their gifts. They received what they wanted from Santa (sort of). Esther got a large stuffed dog and a small one that jumps. Hannah got a "Toothless" flying dragon toy, Magic Tree House books, Nicole got a large fire truck and a semi with color changing cars in it. That made it worth all the fighting they have been doing. They are so happy to get clothes. Board games (Parcheesi, Yahtzi, Monopoly Jr, Memory, etc).

Have a Merry Christmas all and Happy Birthday, Jesus!

If you can do something nice for someone who needs it, please do so. It could be as small as buying some canned goods to take to a food pantry.

Owned by Cats

2010-12-19T18:20:00.007-05:00

I recently commented on my Facebook, that you know that you are owned by a cat when you turn on your heating pad and your cat gets on it and you don't move him/her/them. I have arthritis from breaking so many bones and sometimes after shoveling snow (or waiting for it to fall), I will ache and so I turn on the heating pad and then I have to get up and I leave it on because I know that I will come right back to that spot. My cats have discovered that the heating pad is warm and that it helps them feel better also (one cat has arthritis also). My husband thinks it is very funny that I have lost my heating pad to the cats. The cats even wait turns for it. It is so funny to see one cat curled on the pad and then when he gets off to go get a drink, something to eat or use the litter box and there is a cat waiting nearby to get on.

These cats have been such nice company for me when my husband worked third (when we were newly married) and then when he would be sent to other plants in other states, owned by the company (had two babies and a third on the way) and now that he is back on third shift with the new company. The cats sleep on his side of the bed. He also really loves these cats... He laughs that if I am sitting and available the cats are fighting for space on or beside me, but when I am not available, he becomes their next choice.

We have had a lot of snow and my children have been outside as much as they possibly can, sliding down the hill... They have these little dogs, called Eddie dogs. You can find them at Eddie Bauer outlets. They keep taking the dogs outside to "exercise" them. The girls are too funny, taking to stuffed dogs outside.

The weather people are saying more snow on the way. I pray that it isn't much so the girls can have their three days of school before the winter break (please note not Christmas, but winter).

I have finished another dishcloth, 2 scarves (one very long) and I have started one for a teacher. It should be finished quickly since I am not getting fancy with it.

This is the very long scarf, that I made for my friend, it uses alpaca yarn that her sister found.
This is the dishcloth that I made for my mother-in-law. She really likes these dishcloths.
This is a scarf that I made for a friend's daughter.

Count Down to Christmas: 6 more knitting/crochet days and counting....Merry Christmas

No School - Snow Day #2

2010-12-16T14:48:00.002-05:00

We got about 4 1/2 inches of snow here in Lebanon, OH. It is cold and the snow is light and not good for packing (not a wet snow). I turned on the tv and turned on Scooby Doo Movies (that I taped years ago for the girls from television). They watch a little go out and play, come in get warm, watch some more and then go back out to play some more. My laundry just quadrupled and I won't tell them not to go out and play. We had some older teen boys come by wanting to snow blow our driveway, but that is my exercise!! So I told them no thank you and sent them on their way. They did get to snow blow the neighbors drives. I finished another dishcloth (so many people like them and they can be worked on anywhere and require no thought). I am trying to finish another scarf. I am closer than I think but I have to keep stopping to work on something else and then go back to work on it. Then when I get that finished I have to make a scarf for my DD1's teacher and one for my DD3's teacher. Then I can work on my youngest neice's (DN3) penguin and clown. I need to finish so many things for Christmas, I think I am going to be knitting and crocheting on Christmas Eve! I hope not (at least not under pressure). So time to get back to the needles! Have a good and safe day.

No School-Snow Day #1

2010-12-13T10:35:00.003-05:00

In Ohio, we are only allowed to have (I think this year) 3 snow days. After that we have to make up at the end of the year. So today is the first snow day. I knew yesterday that they would cancel, but they had to wait until 5 a.m. to call everyone and let them know that they would officially cancel school. My girls were up and ready to go at 7:30 a.m. It is a long day when that happens. I made coffee and they are presently each settle with a cup of coffee (we use it when DD2's asthma is at it's worst). They are enjoying their mixture of flavored and decaf coffee and that is all they will get.

I let them out to play and they were back in after about an hour, nice rosy cheeks (from the cold) and wet (from the snow stuck to the clothing). They changed out of the wet and into dry and wrapped themselves in blankets and are watching the original "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with Boris Korloff. Then we'll put in something else for them to watch.

After they came in from playing the neighbor's kids (and yes they have two (2) a boy and a girl-who looks to be the same age as one of ours) came out to sled ride also. They didn't stay out long. I don't think they are used to the weather. But no dogs so far. If they take good care of their dog, I will lovingly accept the dog.

Tomorrow, DD2 gets her cast off her arm! She'll get another x-ray and we will go from there. If she is out of the cast we are signing her (and her sisters) up for karate! Maybe we can try to keep her from breaking any more bones. My DN1 (darling neice) broke her finger and did some serious damage to it, playing basketball....vicious sport!

I finished a few more scarves. (I may have mentioned my friend and I played Santa to a little girl and I made a scarf for her and to hide that, I made many extra scarves for other children). Now to make the scarves for the teachers. One teacher won't be getting a scarf because I want to make her something special (she is a good friend).

Have a good day and stay safe!!

Snow, Snow, Snow

2010-12-12T16:35:00.002-05:00

It is not safe to be on roads with all those people rushing to get their Christmas gifts. On Thursday, I drove down to Kentucky to get my car worked on. It had a vaccuum leak that needed to be fixed. I took it to the shop I went to when I was in college. I trust the men who work their and when I called to find out what the codes meant and what symptoms the car would exhibit, they were truthful and helpful. I don't trust a lot of the mechanics I run into. They try to scare people into getting the work done and I just don't like that. On my way back down (I borrowed my mother's car so I could transport my children) on Friday, I had to get off the expressway because of an accident where the cars were creeping along (I spent a half hour sitting). On the way back home, another accident where the road became a parking lot. I got off the expressway and it still took me over 2 hours to get home! That is a long time to be travelling and I had to call and wake up my husband so that he could go get my daughter from school. I knew that I was just not going to make it home.

Yesterday, we took the girls and went Christmas shopping for my brothers-in-law, my brother, my nephew and sister-in-law. We also bought the girls some clothes (my older two need clothes) and shoes. #1 DD shoes were ripping out (they were only a month old) #2 DD outgrew her shoes and #3 DD still had good shoes that were only a month old and she wanted a new pair also! She melted. I reminded her that she was going to get a new dress for Christmas. She could choose...new shoes or new dress...she chose the dress.

Overnight the rain changed into snow. It just isn't safe to drive with all those people in a hurry to get their gifts. I just don't want my stone to read, "She died for Christmas gifts." So the girls and I stayed home. I let them play in the backyard (no dogs, I don't have to be right here when they are out there!!!! (I sang my new song...Ding dong the dogs are gone, the evil dogs are gone!) I am betting that with all this lovely snow there will be a school cancellation due to snow. I hope not. I have too much to do and I would like to get finished, but I will deal with whatever happens.

So if you are anywhere where there is snow, Enjoy! If not, but are waiting for it, Stay Dry. Have a good Sunday!

They are GONE!!!

2010-12-06T23:03:00.002-05:00

On previous posts I have told about my evil dog owning neighbors. These are the people who own 4 dogs that come into my yard terrorizing my children and biting one of them! I have taught my children (and other people's children) what to do should those dogs come into my yard while the children are out there. I have kept shovels (heavy duty) close to my door so that should I have to go out after the dog to protect my children (or other children) in my yard, I could. I have prayed that they move and God answered my prayers. They moved (I feel for their neighbors in GA). Recently, I thought I would search the woman's facebook and found that she told her friends that I am an evil cop-calling-dog-hater! So very funny to me that I am to blame for all her troubles with her dogs. Dogs that she had to have! Dogs that she didn't train! Dogs that she didn't exercise! I think the last is most important to note. She even told the police that it was my fault that her dogs would get out of her yard, run into mine, bite or corner my children. It was my fault because I have children and cats!

They put their house on the market in September, had an offer on the house in October and moved out in November!!!! In this housing market it was a prayer answered. I have still not met the new neighbors, but that is okay, I know that I will eventually.

As for dog-hating....I love dogs. I would take care of previous neighbors dogs. One neighbor's dog, would leave their yard and come onto my back porch. I would open the door, he would come into my house and play with the kids. I would yell over to the owners and let them know that I had their dog. They would bring over his leash and say to bring him home when he was finished playing. They were a great couple and I was sad to see them leave. But they needed a smaller place (he had bad knees and couldn't take the stairs).

The next neighbor had a dog. This dog was so sweet. She would bark at my husband because she didn't trust men, but she loved the girls and I took care of her. She would come over to my yard with her owner on a regular basis. Her husband was transferred to CO soon after buying and moving into this house.

I also could control another neighbor's Rottweilers. Both dogs were female and the most loving, sweet dogs (although one would corner my husband and I would have to go rescue him). They would always come to my house for me to love on them (they were two doors away).

I would take care of my parent's dogs. I grew up with Chihuahuas, shepherds, dobermans and a collie. My neighbor growing up had dobermans and greyhounds that I took care of when she went out of town. I stayed at her place over weekends while in college to care for her dogs. I walked all these dogs and loved all of them. So I find that dog-hater label funny. I only hated her dogs because of the fear they created in my children. My one daughter is still afraid of dogs, especially if they get excited and make noises. My other daughter backs away from dogs when they get too rambunctious. As for the cop-calling, sorry but if you can't take care of your dogs, then I need to involve police so that you understand your job! They had to go to court over the attacks on my children. I think they only got the idea that I didn't like them when I called the police on them and the dog warden.

By the way, the woman claims that she is going to be a veterinarian...seriously. I don't think that will be a good thing. I hope that they bought a place with lots of land.

On the crafting front. I have made several dishcloths (with two on needles in my bag) and 3 scarves (with one on needles). I am also making this really cool hat/scarf combo called an Athena Smoke Ring that is on needles. It looks really nice when it is finished.

My middle daughter is still healing but has been falling down a lot (sometimes with help from a boy pushing her from behind). She is not supposed to be running (yeah right), she is not to be playing contact sports (does tag count), she is not to be participating in PE (there wasn't any running or contact sports involved), she is to be wrapped in a blanket to go outside for recess (seriously what idiot thought of that one-a nurse). She is not to climb on the play equipment (like that would happen). I get some interesting phone calls from the school about her.

Well time to go to bed....have a good evening all.

So Much Going On

2010-11-14T17:07:00.007-05:00

On the 2nd of November, I took my gorgeous DDs with me and went to the polling place and voted. I took a picture for Ravelry where Crochet Queen asked all her forum people to post photos of them with their stickers. It is not me, but my daughters, but we are outside the polls with our stickers.

Then I drove them to Frankfort, KY. The state capitol of Kentucky. I discovered some sad things. 1. Marshall's Restaurant is closed and replaced with something else. 2. The Old Capitol Buildings that used to be a museum are closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, with limited hours on the other days. One building is converted into offices for some state agency and God forbid you enter the building through an open door looking for restrooms for your children (who are young). Once the lady realized that I hadn't broken in and that I was looking for restrooms for my young children (one that started to cry) she took us to the restrooms and then took us out and discovered that the door was in fact open (the wind opened it). The place that was opened to replace the Old Capitol for a museum space, was also closed on the above mentioned days. 3. All the homes that used to be opened for tours, are closed. 4. The old Arsenal that was a Military History Museum is closed for renovations, but everyone believes it to be opened already, but in point of fact it is closed. 4. To get into the New Capitol building you need to walk through a metal detector that is so sensitive that my camera set it off and we had to provide identification and be signed in.

The good things: 1. Poor Richard's Book Store is still open and the women running it are still so very nice. We found some Magic Tree House books, some Junie B. Jones and a cat book and a Grimm Sisters Novel. 2. The New Capitol was open and we were able to wonder around inside and take some photos still. The officer realized that we didn't have anything dangerous on us and when the metal detector went off he still let us in. 3. We met a nice man in the Law Library of the 2nd floor that allowed the girls to look along the stacks. 4. We were able to go into the KY Supreme Court Room, The Senate Room and House Room. 5. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial for KY was still in place and just and awesome as it was over 15 years ago.

That night there was an explosion close to our home. 11 families were displaced by this explosion and fire. 2 are still in the hospital (they were severely burned and air lifted out). The fire was still being fought when my husband came home from work and that was aroudn 4 a.m. Yes, my husband is on night shift now and the girls and I are adjusting.

Thursday evening my daughters tore my room to shreds, sheets and blankets off the bed, clothing everywhere and the drawers open and my medicine was moved (I take medication daily and I keep it in the same place so I don't forget it). I screamed at them while I cleaned up the mess and then sent them to bed. Around 11:30 p.m. (everyone was asleep) my middle DD got up and took a walk that ended with her falling down the 13 stairs. She broke her arm. I stabilized her arm, called my husband at work and told him he needed to come home to help me. I took her to the ER and they said it was broken and it needed to be "reduced" and needed to see ortho surgeon. We got home from the hospital at 5 a.m. When I asked for a note to keep her home on Friday, they balked....She can go to school. You don't need to keep her home. I pointed out the time and said by the time we get home and go to sleep, we'll have to wake up 2 hours later....then go to school for a whole day! Then they wrote the note. I had to ask for a note to keep her out of P.E. (otherwise she has to go). Every request was met by an argument. I feel that common sense has left people. To think that she can go to school on no sleep after breaking her arm and staying all night in the ER. To think that she should be allowed to go to P.E. and do all the games.

After I saw the Ortho with Esther she got her new cast. It is purple with rainbow sparkles and she loves it. I asked the Ortho for permission for the nurse to give meds at school. They asked what she was taking for pain and I gave them the list. They said we can't do that it is a narcotic, I asked for Regular Strength (Adult-she is a big girl) Tylenol. They wrote it the way the ER wrote it and then signed off on it. I took it to the school nurse and she called to verify the strength of Tylenol and a nurse named Gert at the Ortho's without verifying the child's size, said that the amount was too much. On the note to keep her inside on cold days...Put a blanket around her and send her outside, but she is not to run (she ran everyday last week on the playground), she is not to play contact sports (try this one on for size, she played tag and "Star Wars") and she is not to play in P.E. Seriously, what kind of people are they hiring that the woman doesn't even pull the chart first, she makes an executive decision, she puts all these weird rules in place about how she is to go outside and sit on a bench (as if).

But I did finish 3 dish cloths this weekend and I saw my oldest neice playing soccer. She played a good game, but the boys need to learn to share the ball with their teammates and not be ball hogs. Her team lost 5-2. Oh well. Lessons learned.
Have a good week. I have to go make my bed and put away some clothes.

It's November

2010-11-01T21:40:00.002-04:00

I can hardly believe it is here! November! We have had some cold days and very little rain. We are under advisement to not light fires of any kind as a stray ash could start a major fire.

There are 54 days to Christmas, so it is time to buckle down and get the Christmas gifts finished. I have so much to work on. There are 21 days to my daughter's birthday! Hard to believe that 6 years ago I was on bed rest to try and prevent her early arrival. There are 23 days to my birthday. This is a year where reversing my age won't be any fun. It is a year where the number is the same. I have a lot of fun telling people my age is the reverse of what it truly is. When I turned 39 I told people I was 93! When I turned 40, I said that I was 4...I didn't have to go to work or school or nothin'.

Tomorrow we get to vote. I have been encouraging my friends to get out and vote. I don't care what their views are or who they vote for, that is not the point. The point is to get out and vote.

My husband loves his new job. He is so very happy at his new job and is excited about getting more training. He started a new job on October 4th. He was so excited to get this new job and then to be working somewhere different. The girls and I are getting used to his new schedule and then it will change again. But he said that there are so many people from his old job there that he doesn't feel like an outsider. A friend of ours (who was at the old place also) just started and said that he has been helping her so much.

I am working on a new throw rug for my bathroom, but I neglected to keep track of what I was doing and so this will definitely be a one of a kind rug.

Well Happy November all. Make your voice count and vote!

Photos from my husband's birthday

2010-10-23T10:25:00.003-04:00

As promised here are some photos from my husband's birthday. We went to the Columbus Zoo for his day. This is my husband with his girls. They love that he chose going to the zoo for his day.
These are the girls. Every sculpture at the zoo was a photo op.
My youngest DD, looking at the turtles in the tank in the reptile house.
My middle DD with her elephant ear headband. She is very tired from all the walking and she is also very hungry.
This is my oldest DD, she is adding to her snake collection!

We had a great day at the zoo and had lots of fun, wandering through. But now it is official my older DDs are too tall to play on the playgrounds! Not much fun for them.

Today....

2010-10-16T21:27:00.002-04:00

Today is my husband's birthday. We spent the morning with basketball evaluations. Then we went up to the Columbus Zoo. It was a gorgeous day. We spent about 5 hours at the zoo today and still have not seen all there is to see. But we have learned that our poor older girls (at 55") are too tall for the play areas at the zoo. They did get to ride a horse (the youngest got to ride a miniture horse). They got to go on a train ride (nice little ride). We had a great day. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his day (even if we had to do basketball before we could do what he wanted to do). For now, I am going to finish laundry and then I am going to bed! Have a good weekend all. I'll post some photos from our day after I download them to my computer and sort through all of them (the girls were allowed to take photos also, so I have to review them first).

The Nicole Alexandra Hat

2010-10-04T20:33:00.005-04:00

I was bound and determined to knit a hat for my neice and DD3. They are both about the same age (my neice is 6 weeks older than my daughter). So I am lucky that they wear the same sizes. So I called this hat the Nicole Alexandra Hat for the girls. This hat will fit a child with a head circumference of 21".

Nicole Alexandra Hat

Needle:
US 5 dpn and circular (16 in) - I started with circular and moved to the dpns on row 73.

Yarn:
Pink Sport Yarn 220 yds. You may or may not need all of it. Color is the favorite of the child.

Gauge:
4” = 24 sts
4” = 32 rows

Measurements:
Circumference of Head = 21”

Cast on 126
Join and place stitch marker
Row 1 - 70: K3, P3 (rib) continue to end of Row 70 (you can stop anywhere from 60 to 70 depending on the child).
Row 71: K1, K2tog, P1, P2tog to end of row (84 sts)
Row 72: Knit to end of row
Row 73: K2tog, P2tog to end of row (42 sts)
Row 74: Knit to end of row
Row 75: K2tog, repeat to end of row (21 sts)
Row 76: Knit to end of row
Row 77: K2tog until 6 stitches remain.
Close by cutting long end and then drawing through remaining stitches and weaving ends to finish.

Give this a try and let me know how they turn out. I like the ribs on this hat and they hold well to the child's head. My DD likes a shorter hat and my neice likes the longer hat. Have fun with this hat. Change colors, add stripes. Make this your own.

Some more finished projects

2010-10-02T20:31:00.005-04:00

I finished a few things. A hat for my DD3. It is pink (her favorite color) and it is shorter because she doesn't like it being folded, so it is long enough to fold but short enough that it won't stick up that much should she decide not to fold it over.

I finished another hat for my friend's baby. But it didn't fit. It was too small. That is okay. I have never knitted for a baby before. I have crocheted, I have made counted cross stitch, never knitted, so I am still learning.

I finished a crochet border felt blanket for my neice. I made one for her about a year ago and I was told that she liked the blanket. With the divorce of her parents it is missing. I decided that I needed to make her a new one.

I made a short scarf for a friend of mine. I put a slit in the scarf to allow her to slip the scarf through and she wouldn't have to have so much scarf to cover her neck (given that she is kind of on the short side). Another scarf that I will give to a friend's daughter. She likes browns. It will be easy to wash, especially given that she likes to ride horses and is in college.

I am working on another hat for my neice (to look like the one I made my daughter, just longer). I am working on a few dishcloths. I hope that I can get some more items finished so that I can post pictures soon. But for now I am dealing with pink eye and a broken washing machine. It conked out on Monday, the repairman comes resets it. Shows me how to reset it and then leaves. It works for 4 days and then today of all days it stops during a wash cycle. The towels are drenched. I have to haul all the clothes and wet towels to the laundromat and run them there. I bring them home and am drying them now so that I can put them away. Good things about the laundromat: 1. The people are nice. 2. The wash is completed quickly. 3. I can get some knitting finished. Bad things about the laundromat: 1. It cost $8 to wash two loads of laundry. I had to haul it out and home. 3. I had to wait for my husband to come from the YMCA with the girls because my vehicle is the only completely enclosed and has enough room for three girls (he bought a truck with an open back and can only hold 1 girl comfortably).

Have a good evening.

More of the Same

2010-09-08T11:12:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday, my oldest daughter complained of a sore throat and a fever. I took her to her doctor and was told it was not strep and she could go back to school the next day. The next morning came and her fever was higher. I sent a message to the secretary asking if the note I have would work for two days or if I would need a new one for the Friday. No response. I have noticed this a lot with the school district. They want more money and they aren't willing to show parents that they care enough to respond. Why would I vote more money for this school district when they aren't showing the care. So fine, I think the note will work.

Saturday comes along, and my daughter is worse! Her fever is very high and she is miserable and refusing to drink. I call the doctor and get the doctor on call who doesn't give her an antibiotic, just tells me to get the fever down. I was already working on that. Three days of fever is something serious.

Sunday, more fever, lower than the day before, but still high. Go to Kroger's and find out that Tylenol Jr tabs is not available due to a recall (wasn't that back in January?). I can't get any more Tylenol. Now what to do. I buy Ibuprofen and move along.

Monday, the fever is definitely going the right direction. I am thinking, she is going to school on Tuesday.

Nope, she doesn't get to go to school on Tuesday, but I take her to school to turn in her work and then take her to doctor. She has morphed into something else and the fever is gone (at doctor's office). She has medicine finally.

I take the girls to the bus stop in the van today. Our bus stop is 1/4 mile away and today I am very ill. I feel horrible. I drove them so I can get more rest. My youngest daughter's bus driver (a wonderful woman) is off and we have a substitute, who blew past her stop without even stopping!!!! I call the bus barn after I get my other daughters onto their bus and the bus driver lies....
Lie 1: The signs are all knocked down and I couldn't find H. Drive.
Lie 2: The child wasn't even at the stop. (If he couldn't find H. Drive how does he know she wasn't at the stop?).

I made them come back for her. Sorry, your job, paid by my taxes says you are picking her up at the bus stop (that I take her too). You don't want to do this job, get another job!!!

Sorry, I feel very frustrated that they actually allowed this man to tell these lies while I was listening and then make it look like I didn't do my job. I really think I need to vote against the taxes that they want us to pay.

Mistake Rib Hat

2010-09-01T18:53:00.003-04:00

I finally, finally finished my DD2's hat. I am calling the mistake rib, because instead of 3x3 ribbing (like it was at one point) I ended up with some k3, p3, k4,p2, k2, p4. It really is messed up. But considering that the first time I cast on this hat it was going along nicely until a cat got tangled in the yarn and the stitches came off. I wasn't able to rescue the stitches (I made this using alpaca yarn and it just wasn't easy to find the stitches to rescue).

The next time I cast on, I used a set of bamboo circs with a loose cable. I didn't realize how loose the cable was until DD2 wanting to try on her hat, put the unfinished hat to her head and stretched the cable pulling all the stitches off when the cable pulled out of the needle.

I cast on again. I had it to the crown shaping. I was so excited. I put it down where I thought it would be safe. Silly me. I had my cousin and her family and my nephew over for a Harry Potter night. We drank Sangrias. (Wow, I really liked those). We played cards, while the kids played and watched the movies. Unknown to me, my nephew (aged 21) and my cousin's son (age 4) got hold of the hat and tore stitches off! I cried. I rewound the ball and started again.

I cast on the hat for the 4th or 5th time (I lost count). I started it late one night and worked on it during church. Somehow, I made a mistake on the rib. The only thing I can say, is that at least I was consistent. Wherever I had 4x2 I stayed at 4x2, 3x3 stayed 3x3. It is not easy to see that I messed up.

I continued to work on the hat. I finally got it to the length that made my DD happy. I made the crown (I kept the hat in lock down). I cast off. She came home from school and I tried it on her. It is too loose.

I remember reading that Stephanie (aka Yarn Harlot) wrote there are just some things that aren't meant to be made with certain yarn. I should have listened better to this yarn. I know in my heart of hearts, she won't wear it to school. It is too loose and she doesn't like that.

Oh well. It is finished and I am tired of that yarn and that hat. I think I will finish a scarf, a clown and a penguin. I am on the other hand liking the hat I am making for my neice. It is turing out quite nice.

My Child was Missing

2010-08-27T10:50:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, was the first day of school for my older DDs. They got to school, they had lunch went to library and played with their friends. They ate their lunch and brought home more papers for me. Then it was time for them to come home. My middle DD did not come home on the bus. She was missing. No one knew where she was. I called the school and was told she was on a bus and definitely not at school. The buses were being searched for her.

Happiness: She was found. She got on the wrong bus. She went for a ride on the bus. My baby was missing for over an hour. I paced and paced and paced.

I made a missing child picture using the first day of school photo on the off chance it was needed. It showed her from her head to her toes.

Today, she is to be placed beside her sister who has been given instructions to hold her hand and make sure she gets on the right bus. They don't have to sit next to each other, but she has to stand beside her, she has to hold her hand and she has to go where she goes. I don't want a repeat of today.

We keep reminding her that she needs to get on Bus 36 and that I will be waiting for her to come home. I had to promise to make my oldest DD something so that she is compensated for her trouble and embarassment for having to watch over her younger sister. Next year, I am sure that I will have to have Esther watched by her younger sister (my youngest DD).

Here is the poster I made and have been teasing her with:

Horse Back Riding Photos

2010-08-20T23:18:00.003-04:00

As promised here are the photos of my DDs riding on a horse. They loved every moment of it. The loved taking care of the horse and saddling the horse and most of all riding the horse.
Also, this week, I took my daughters to a park that we haven't visited in awhile and to Kings Island (each girl got to choose a ride and then we came home). Today, I took my youngest to the Optical store to have her glasses examined and a new lens ordered for her glasses. My youngest had to get glasses this summer and the glasses have been left lying around the house. Fortunately for us, they are insured. But we have to pay a small price. Since the glasses cost over $200 the first time, the replacement lens was only 1/10 of the price we paid first time ($25). It seems the cause of the damage to her glasses is that a cat has been chewing on the frames and the lens. Who would have thought that one of my cats would eat a pair of glasses. When I was in college one of my parents dogs chewed up my glasses, but never my cats! We just aren't sure which cat it is. So we have to find a new place to keep her glasses so that the cats don't chew on them. Oh well. Have a good weekend.

Difficult to write, knit or read...

2010-08-18T11:23:00.002-04:00

Right now I have a child on my lap and I keep adjusting her so that I can read blogs that I like to follow. I keep trying to adjust her so that I can type (write this blog) and get pictures off my camera, but she is in a mood (actually all my DDs are in a mood). My DDs do not like to stay home for one day of rest. They like to go continually, although one is sleeping on the sofa and complaining of headaches (she doesn't like to stay hydrated) and one has to work on her homework for her hearing impairment (she doesn't like to do that) and the other won't keep her glasses on. It is very frustrating.

Monday, I took the girls to a park so that they could play. We were there for over an hour and it wasn't until we were ready to leave that someone showed up. It was a nice day and it wasn't really humid (like it had been for a long time) and there weren't any people at the park.

Tuesday, I took the girls to the pool so they could play in the water for awhile. Then in the afternoon, we went down to my friend's house and over to the farm behind her and the girls got another lesson on how to care for and ride horses. I took some photos, but as I said it is very difficult to do much with a child on my lap.

Hopeufully, later I will be able to get the photos off the camera onto the computer and then I can post some of the photos from yesterday's lessons.

Have a good day.

More Finished projects

2010-08-14T16:34:00.005-04:00

I have finished three projects and started working on a pattern for my DD3 and DN3 (neice). They are both about the same size and I make my girls new hats and scarves yearly and I will be including my neice in this as well.

But for now I have finished a scarf for a friend, a dishcloth for a bil and a hat for a friend's baby. I would like to thank RaAnn Clegg and Henya for their wonderful patterns and sharing them.

I made a Navy Eagle Dishcloth. My husband and brothers-in-law all served in the Navy and served on submarines. I truly appreciate your skill in making this pattern.

I would also like to thank Henya of Chicken Stitches for her wonderful Got Milk Hat pattern. I have a friend who has a very tiny baby (just 3 months old and smaller than my babies at 3 months) and so I made this pattern. It is fun and not frilly. Both of which my friend requested. I hope that she sends me a picture of her baby wearing the hat.

I also finished a scarf using yarn given to me by a lady from church. Her husband got a job in another area and they have to move. She didn't want to move all her yarn and so I received her yarn and have been using it frequently to make scarves.

I am continuing to work on an 3 afghans, 2 hats and 2 scarves. I really need to finish a few things quickly. Thank God, school starts soon!!! I will be able to work on more then and I need to finish my neice's hat soon because I want it in time for her birthday.

Good Weekend All!

Something Else Finished

2010-08-07T11:14:00.003-04:00

I finished DD2's scarf. Her new one for winter. She chose the yarn from the enhanced stash and I worked on it. I had to restart her hat because I didn't like the way it was looking and the scarf that I started while waiting for my surgery had to be torn out (something to do with dropped stitches and stitches that I picked up from another row while trying to rescue it).

Yes, I had surgery. Minor procedure for exploratory purposes. I have been having a problem with something for awhile and so before making decisions, I have to have tests to see if there is something else going on first. I will see doctor again in two weeks and we get to make the decision. But for today, I will be resting some and then taking a walk with my family, It is a nice day outside.

Have a good weekend.

Value City Funiture Continued

2010-08-06T16:24:00.004-04:00

Okay, so I purchased some really cheap furniture to store clothing for my daughters. I brought it home on Tuesday and two of the pieces broke....they were stapled together. I called the store and told them my sad tale of woe and they reordered the broken pieces and my husband goes to get them. Now here is the funny part: It is Proudly Made in the USA. I don't think I would want to advertise that information!!! Seriously you are proud of this work!!! We get the pieces up the stairs and take the boxes (ha, ha) off the pieces and start putting the knobs on them. My daughters are excited and then....the drawers break on all THREE pieces!!! Seriously, I sat there with pieces of chest in my hands looking at the staples that were meant to hold them together!!! Again, this was PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA. I remember a time where people were proud of the work they did and now here we have this junk!!! Pieces of furniture that fall apart when moved!!! Now I took photos and I will download these later and post here and on Facebook. I really think people need to be warned you do not want to buy furniture made by the company (Harden Manufacturing) and Value City (since they sell this junk). Seriously, if they are proud of this work something is seriously wrong with them.

In one way we are fortunate...I have a hammer (and I know how to use it) and I have nails (again I know how to use them) and I have a husband (to lend the extra hands) and we used wood glue and we reattached the pieces of drawer (can you say I really did not want to call them again and reorder the parts, sitting waiting with 3 broken chests waiting for new ones that would fall apart also.

So be warned do not purchase Harden Manufacturing furniture from anywhere, especially Value City Furniture.

Value City Furniture is Terrible

2010-08-03T21:47:00.003-04:00

I bought three chests to use as dressers for my children. I went and picked them up from Value City today and brought them into the house. I lifted them gently and did not drop them, but one broke at the bottom and when I took it out of the box (ha, ha) it was coming apart at the bottom. I called and they ordered another to replace the broken one.

I opened the other two and when my husband and I were lifting the one to carry it up the stairs, I got a nail in my hand and then when we went to flip the chest to carry up the stairs, we discovered why I got a nail in my hand. The bottom of this one was coming apart. The whole bottom is coming apart.

I think I would like the kind where I build it and then I can use wood glue to help hold them together and they wouldn't be coming apart at the bottom. It's not like they are heavy and it is not like I dropped them. I lift 50 lb bags of cat litter all the time. I lift 40 lbs bags of water softner salt all the time. So lifting these were not difficult. Not entirely easy, but I didn't drop them and I didn't need to drag them.

It is frustrating to get something new and have to return it to the store and have new ordered. Seriously, I would think we could at least get a few years from them before they fall apart.

I wish I could buy better furniture, but that is low on priority list considering how my children have broken the other chests in the past. I really don't want to spend great quantities of cash on something that could potentially be used as a stepping stool by a child.

Oh Well, life goes on. Have a good week.
Remember Value City Furniture is poor quality.

So much going on....

2010-08-01T22:19:00.002-04:00

Let's see, we bought a new vehicle. My husband killed the Toyota one day on the way home from work. So we started the search. He found a Ford Truck and he is in heaven. He can't take all the girls with him, but he is happy. He can haul stuff again. So on Saturday he got to do just that. My friend found someone selling a Trampoline (full size and good shape and best of all a really good price). So I went and looked at it and bought it. Then he had to go pick it up and bring it home.

I went to the store today and bought three new chests (for use as dressers) for my daughters. They are very, very hard on their furniture and as a result we went from 3 to 2 and now we are at one broken dresser. So I searched online and found a store selling what I wanted for a price that I would be willing to pay. Went to the store today and purchased them. Now I have to wait for them to come to the store, so that I can return and pick them up and drag them home. Supposedly they come assembled. I will be shocked if they do. I have always had to build the dressers and that is what I am prepared to do.

Tonight, my husband and I built the trampoline for the girls. I told him that I think it would be best if we take it down before it snows so that we can keep it in good shape. Rebuild it every year. Also, it might keep idiot children from the neighborhood using it whenever they feel like it.

Today is Sunday and I am grateful that we had this day. Went to church this morning and the pastor had a very good sermon. The music was wonderful, but the children could not sit still through the whole service. It went even longer than it has in the past.

I made a friend through ancestry.com. He is a member of my husband's family, a very distant relative. He and I have been sharing photos and other things. My husband knows about the friendship and thinks it is funny that his family is reaching out to me and I only married into the family. I told him, it is because I have taken an interest in the family tree. I hope that we can get more photos together. It is good to have them. I printed one that he sent me, so I can give it to my mother-in-law. I know that she will like that.

I am still trying to finish things, but I work on it haphazardly. Since I cannot drive and knit at the same time, it is difficult. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I think the girls will not want to go anywhere except to the backyard to jump on the trampoline. They love this item and are excited about it. Have a good week. I will try to finish a few items and then get them up here and on ravelry.com.

The Best Laid Plans

2010-07-31T13:42:00.003-04:00

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

2010-07-27T21:19:00.016-04:00

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

2010-07-25T21:09:00.002-04:00

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 Neice (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 Neice (MD)
9. Penguin for Neice (MD)
10. Scarf for #1 Neice
11. Scarf for #2 Neice
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

2010-07-22T13:36:00.011-04:00

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

2010-07-20T09:55:00.003-04:00

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 everytime 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?

2010-07-18T22:02:00.007-04:00

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

2010-07-17T10:57:00.007-04:00

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 neice. 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 neice (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...

2010-07-09T21:04:00.002-04:00

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, waterpark 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 dauhgters 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 occured. 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

2010-07-05T11:17:00.006-04:00

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.

Punishments

2010-06-27T18:19:00.013-04:00

I really don't know who I punish more when I take away tv viewing for a day or several days. My middle girl who can read at a 3rd grade level (while still in Kindergarten) or myself. When I turn off the tv the girls tear the house apart. They do things that would bring them harm (sliding down the stairs on blankets) and lots of noise. I tried throwing them out of the house to play, but we had the "it's a bug" crying, the "it's raining" cry and the one I loved most...."it's a thunderstorm." It doesn't help that they really can't play in our backyard without constant supervision (not of them, but of the evil neighbors and their evil dogs). I do have Jim Dale reading Harry Potter books (number 5) playing in hopes that they listen quietly (yeah, right), but that is not happening. I can't handle this much noise and there are things that I want to get finished before the weekend. That is what I am trying to do...I am working on dishcloths (to give as gifts), my daughter's hat (she tore the needles apart trying to put an 1 1/2 inch amount of knitted hat on her very large head) that I have restarted more times than I care to count, 3 afghans and 1 clown and 1 penguin. When I get these finished I'll post the links to where I got the patterns or at least the book that you can look at to make something like it. I am also trying to get photos onto my snapfish account so that I can print photos for my neice (she is coming to town and I like to give her pictures of her with her cousins). But that keeps stopping itself. So very frustrating. I decided to take a break from that and put up some photos of things I have made recently. I hadn't put up photos because gifts for my friends were in there and I wanted this to be a surprise for them.

Okay, now to the pictures:
Hats that I have made.... The pattern idea came from Wendy Knits. It is a 3 x 3 rib, but I added 18 to the cast on to make it large enough to fit my daughter's head. The smaller size fits my youngest daughter and my neice. This hat was made for my oldest daughter and fits my youngest. It uses some leftover sock yarn that is a rainbow. My oldest loves rainbows. I started with a 3 x 3 knit and I don't remember how many I cast on and I used 1 1/2 US dpns. When I got to the crown, I just started playing around with trying to put a long thin area that would just be fun.

Did I mention that I was working on dishcloths? I think I did. I have a friend who likes the color yellow, so I made her some yellow dishcloths: I made one with a stripe, because I had someone ask me how to add a stripe to knit items. I made one that has Christmas coloring. I made just a plain yellow dishcloth. I also used a pattern from RaAnn Clegg (her site is: http://wicketstitch.blogspot.com/2007/11/leprechaun-and-pot-of-gold-dishcloth.html) I love her designs and I really enjoy making the dishcloths using her patterns. I also finished a prayer shawl. I gave this to my friend Margaret. She has very serious asthma and hasn't been feeling well. Also, there have been a number of accidents in her yard or in front of her house. She loved her new shawl and was very happy to get this. I also began teaching my daughters how to knit. This is the scarf that my oldest girl worked on:

Now for some of our backyard wildlife: We saw this poor bird and couldn't figure out what it was, but with some research, it appears to be an albino robin (it is half normal coloring and half albino). We have several rabbits They come very close to the house.

My newest cat has become a very interesting part of our household. After Easter, we had some empty Easter baskets lying around and she would lay down in them She likes to play with pencils: The other two cats just have to have a good deal of adult contact. My middle cat, has taken up residence in a broken drawer of my daughter's dresser (we are in the process of trying to fix it, again).

It is Friday....

2010-06-18T22:05:00.002-04:00

Friday has finally made another appearance. This week has been a long week for me. My daughters have not been able to get the concept that mom needs to rest. So this week I went to Burger King (one near us has a playland), to McDonald's twice (again a playland) and the Museum (a scavenger hunt with the girls), a pool (across the street) and Kings Island (play area with water). Rest....what is that? I have been working on little projects in hopes of finishing them.

I started an afghan for a friend's daughter. I have a clown for my neice and a penguin for her as well. I finishing a hat for my daughter. Dishcloths for many people (I fill a box for someone and then put a name on the box and put it away for Christmas). I have an afghan for my brother-in-law that I am working on. It is slow work, because I don't have a pattern and I am making this up as I go. I have to make many hats and scarves. Every year I let the girls pick out their yarn and make them hats and scarves for the new school year. So I have 4 hats and 4 scarves to make. My husband is funny, he wants one too.

My new cat is a yarn cat. She loves to play with the yarn while I am knitting. But I made an interesting discovery....kitty teeth are sharp enough to make the wool separate. She chewed through my alpaca yarn while I was working on something. She is a good cat, she doesn't play with the yarn when I am not making something. Now I just have to teach her not to play with it when I am working on something.

I have been looking at some pretty funny knitting sayings on different items. I think one of my favorites is that I knit therefore I am always armed with two really sharp sticks, sturdy yarn and scissors so don't mess with me. I also like the ones that mention K2tog - do you know the code. I have a friend who liked the phrase SABLE....Stash Acquisition beyond life expectancy. But my absolute favorite shirt was the one where the front says, "My wife says we have the perfect marriage..." the back says "I work so she can knit." My husband agreed with it. But I think I knit to keep me calm when the kids get wild. So maybe my motto would be more like I knit so I don't kill. But I think I just knit so that I am able to control my blood pressure. What is best is that my girls love to wear what I make and love to pose with the items. I have a good group of girls and a wonderful husband.

Time to go....storms are moving in. Have a great weekend.

It's June.....

2010-06-13T21:04:00.003-04:00

I find it hard to believe that it is already June. We celebrated my oldest girl's birthday. We had the girl's annual birthday picnic. We celebrated my oldest girl's 8th birthday, my middle girl's 7th birthday and for those who just can't get around to it, my youngest girl's 5 1/2 birthday. Everyone seemed to have a good time. My friend and I had dueling cameras (that is where we took pictures of each other while taking each other's picture). I was so glad to see all my friends who made it up to celebrate with us. Had a nice visit with my cousin, who came to the party. Visited with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. My mother-in-law had just had surgery and was recuperating at home, but my father-in-law made it to the party. My parents made it....but my sisters (one of whom likes to state that we live too far away) and my brother didn't attend. But then they don't want to make the effort. This is where my friends, who are more like sisters, come in....they take the place of my sisters who like people to think they are good aunts, but really don't make the effort. I love being an aunt, but was never given the opportunity to be an aunt to my neices. When I married my husband, I inherited a nephew. A great guy. I was allowed to take him places, spoil him and take a real interest in him. I will be grateful to my sister-in-law for letting me be the aunt that I wanted to be. My brother-in-law is also allowing me to be an aunt to his child. I love that little girl, but I refuse to dictated to by her. Reason: I have three girls and it would be anarchy if I let her do it and they saw me let her do it. I do love her and I love the time I have been allowed to be around her. We wish we could see her more often, but she lives pretty far away and when she comes to town we go to see her at my in-laws. I am looking forward to July, because I will get to see my neice again and we want to take her swimming or playing at a park. My girls are also looking forward to her visit. They have so much fun together.

Now, I finished a prayer shawl today, took a picture (haven't downloaded the photo yet) and put in a box to be wrapped to give to my friend for a gift when she needs one most. She has been down a lot lately. People are crashing in her front yard and in front of her house and her lilac bush has been seriously hit more than a few times. You add in that her health hasn't been the greatest, (I have no room to talk) it really weighs her down. I miss seeing her and hanging out with her, but we do try to talk whenever we can.

I started working on a blanket for another friend's child. She gave me all this yarn that had been intended for her to make a baby blanket with, but she couldn't motivate to make the blanket. So I told her I would see what I could do for her. It is acrylic yarn and I am using two strands at once. I will be curious to see how this turns out.

Backyard wildlife has been blossoming. We have big black rat snakes....Saw one with my own eyes and where there is one there are two. We have lots of bunnies - adults and babies. Got to love that. We have chipmunks (I wonder if that is what drew the snakes to us). Birds, lots and lots of colorful birds. But there is a noticeable absence of cats...in the past we have had lots of strays in our backyard. We always took care of them, but they seemed to have backed off recently. It must be the neighbors evil dogs. Yes, I still have my lazy neighbor and her evil dogs. Over the winter it came to brass tacks. I take photos of the dogs in my yard, call the police and the dog catcher. Then they (the idiot neighbors) go to court and have to pay fines for their dogs. I noticed something one day. I was walking to church and when I was walking on the sidewalk, she would scold the dogs for going on the attack, but let us go out our back door to our backyard, she lets the continue the attack. I had a friend and her children over one day, I was telling her children where the yard ended so they stayed in our yard. Then I let the children out into the backyard and her dogs were out. My friend got to see first hand what I have been dealing with. She let them continue to charge barking and growling at the children (3 of whom were not mine). We watched the dogs and made sure that the children were safe, but she is getting even for our calling the police on her. But then her dogs should not be allowed to chase my children (has happened twice) or run in my yard (happened at least 4 times that I know of). The thing that is most gross is that she doesn't clean up after her dogs and it smells like a sewer next door. I know eventually there will be repercussions from that. That will have to come from the HOA.

I should be finishing a dishcloth and a hat real soon, plus I really want to finish some afghans. We will see where I end up on these projects. Have a good week.

Just a Few Updates

2010-06-11T22:56:00.002-04:00

I have been busy. Yes, I have been playing on Facebook, but I have been working on dishcloths to give as gifts. I have made several. But since they are all about the same, I didn't take a lot of photos. I finished a hat for one daughter, a scarf (used to teach my oldest to knit). All three of my girls decided that they needed to learn how to knit and I had them all sitting around with needles and yarn knitting. Fixing their mistakes when they would pull the yarn off the needles. But only one was still working on her project over the next few days.

School is out. I have pneumonia. Go figure. My asthma takes a turn for the worse and I get very ill. I have another hat almost finished. I finished one prayer shawl in alpaca blue color and gave it to the family of Maria Schafstein (sp?). She died on her way home from spring break. The vehicle she was riding in flipped and she was killed. Others in the vehicle were injured and one is still in critical condition. She went to my alma mater and I just felt I had to share this with her family. I am almost finished with a pink alpaca shawl. I think that will go to a friend. Not sure yet. Usually about that time, I decide. I am still using patterns from a source I have shared before, for the patterns in dishcloths. I finished her leprachaun and pot of gold. It turned out very nice. I used yellow cotton yarn.

I am still working with Girl Scouts. I have a great time with my girls. My co-leader and I work very hard to get the stuff together for the girls to do and then we find all kinds of fun patches they can earn. It is a lot of fun.

My family and I have been spending a lot of time out. We go to the nearby amusement park. Love the place, especially the water side. I can watch them play and have fun, while I knit. I have so much to finish. I also take them to the zoo and to the museums. They get more out of all our activities. So do I. I enjoy being with the girls when they don't fight.

Don't forget Saturday is WWKIP Day. Take your knitting or crocheting out and have fun. Let me know where you plan to knit. For me it will now be in my house. Reason: I have pneumonia and hauling children to another place to play is just too exhausting and I need my rest.

I am addicted to...

2010-01-17T15:55:00.003-05:00

facebook. I know that is becoming more common with many people. I enjoy some of the games and then when I get on my children start demanding a turn. That doesn't mean there hasn't been things happening, but facebook cuts into other activities.

1. I am now sitting and watching out my back window for my neighbors to get lazy again. Their dogs attacked my daughter one Saturday in the new year. They had her cornered on the porch with her trying like mad to get into the house. The neighbor says "Sorry" like that is supposed to make all things better. Now, I sit where I can watch out the backyard more often with a camera ready to take photos of her dogs trespassing into my yard again. We are also plotting putting some nasty bushes along our border with some kind of fencing that you put on the ground and cuts up paws when walked on. I know that this is evil, but I have to protect my children and I refuse to give up my yard this summer, so that she can be a lazy dog owner. She has 3big dogs and 1 small dog, all mean.

2. I am busy with Girl Scouts. I am my daughter's leader and so we are selling cookies. They want to sell quite a few and so we have been walking and calling to sell cookies.

3. I am busy taking my daughter's to the library to get books for them to read or be read. Love the library.

4. I have been taking my daughter's (all three) to their basketball practices. Then to games on Saturday. My wonderful sister-in-law has been coming up from Kentucky on Saturday mornings that my husband works to help me get my oldest to her game. The younger two play at same times and different venue than their older sister.

5. I am helping my church's mission group with baskets for their silent auction. We are doing a knitted love and a dry ingredient cookie jars. This should prove interesting. They have to be finished this weekend. Wish me luck. I have finished 2 dishcloths for them and now if I could just finish a prayer shawl we would be going places.

6. My friend is having surgery on Jan 27th. She has to have her gall bladder removed because she has a lot of stones. My mother has to have surgery, but she is anemic and they are trying to find out why. Pray for them. Pray for the people of Haiti as they deal with all the losses they are experiencing. Help them to be patient as people come in to help them.

7. I am also busy reading. I love to read and so I read a book about Charlie Bone (the 1st in a series). It was a very good book. I am also reading a Dan Brown book, a G-Free book, a 101 Chicken Soup for the Souls book and a book from a series about ghosts (5th in the series).

Enjoy the photos below.

The first couple are photos of my oldest playing basketball on Saturday....I forgot to mention, she had the most rebounds!!!! Way to go, Honey!!!! My younger two are posed with their teams. The token girls look like boys, because they have very short hair. But short hair is best. Then I have a photo of my cats all on my bed and next to each other. Yay, cats!

White Death is Upon Us

2010-01-07T10:08:00.006-05:00

My husband and several others I know, call snow the "White Death." This is because if you turn to any news agency in the area they are acting like everyone is going to die or be trapped in their homes for weeks on end. When we first moved up to this area, my husband was solely responsible for shoveling the driveway and the sidewalk. Start laughing now. The first substanial snow of December arrived just in time for Christmas. I had just had the baby less than 4 weeks before and so I wasn't allowed to go sled riding, I wasn't allowed to shovel snow, etc. He took the girls (the older two) out for their first sled ride and he was grouchy! He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to be bothered. I persisted. I threatened (fine I'll take them, then you can take me back to the hospital). He went. Then he had fun! I took photos. It was a great event for all involved. He had to shovel the substantial (over 16 inches) of snow. He didn't do it. He let it accumulate and when he finally got around to it, he had a lot of work to do. He only made a path. From the front door to the cars and a small path for the cars to go up and down.

The next snows, I went out and shoveled. I took great care. When it was substantial, I shoveled for an hour, took a break (letting more snow land), went out shoveled more, break, etc. So when the snow finally stopped, I had the whole driveway finished and the sidewalk also. One year, my neighbor (I miss you Cathy) and I worked together to keep our drives and walkways clear. We had fun. We took girls sled riding together.

This year, we had our first snow on Tuesday (my younger two had their school canceled by a two hour delay). So we went out with our shovels and shoveled our driveway and sidewalk.

Last night (Wednesday), the weathermen and women, kept predicting that the white death was coming. Schools closed, called two hour delays. At 5 a.m. this morning (Thursday) no snow. 9 a.m. came and the snow has started. Not even an inch has accumlated yet. But the schools were cancelling right and left. They did not want the responsibility of the children.

Today, we will shovel our walks and driveway and the girls will sled ride and my coffee maker will get a work out making hot drinks (coffee in morning, decaf tea in the afternoon and evening). The hot chocolate is already being made.

So stay safe and warm and know that the white death is here.

Cookie Recipes

2009-12-30T20:37:00.002-05:00

I have been told that I am one of the few people my friends know that still make cookies for Christmas. It is fun to make cookies with my children and it is a learning experience for them. So here are some of the recipes I used to make cookies this year:

Cowboy Cookies (I got this one at a cookie exchange for the Girl Scout leaders)

Beat 1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup Crisco
Add 2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups oatmeal
small pack of chocolate chips

Spoonfuls onto cookie sheet
Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes (maybe less)

Chocolate Chip Cookies (I have had this recipe for so long I don't even know where it came from any longer)

1 cup butter, melted 1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup brown sugar 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar 6 oz chocolate chips
2 eggs 1 cup nuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Beat melted butter until homogenized. Add brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla and blend well. Add salt, baking soda, flour and mix well until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop dough by teaspoon full onto cookie sheet lined with brown paper. Bake in 350 degrees oven for approximately 9 minutes.

Sugar Cookies (I got this one from my mom)

3 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs

Sift dry ingredients together. Add shortening. Mix with a fork. Add unbeaten eggs and vanilla. Roll out very thin on floured board and cut with cookie cutters. Decorate tops if desired with colored sugar or nonpareils. Bake in a moderate oven of 375 degrees F for 8 minutes. May ice with colored icing, if desired.

No Bake Cookies (I got this from my friend Nancy Morgan)
1/4 stick butter (2 Tbsp)
2 cup sugar (1 cup white and 1 cup brown)
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk (I use Soy milk)
Bring the above ingredients to a boil, stirring constantly, turn off and let cool one minute, then remove from heat. Add 1 cup Peanut Butter and 2 1/2 cups oatmeal. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool. Add oatmeal to the heated ingredients first and then the peanut butter.

Neiman Marcus Cookies (I got this from an email. My mother made them for my wedding reception and I made changes that I liked. The changes will be in italics.)

2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
5 cups blended oatmeal - I don't blend it
3 cups chopped nuts (optional)
24 oz chocolate chips
1 8 oz Hershey bar - grated
(I use a mixture of Dark Chocolate Chips, White Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch chips, Milk Chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips in place of the grated Hershey bar and the straight chocolate chips)

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender until it is a fine powder. Cream the butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking soda, baking powder. Add this to the wet mixture slowly. Add chocolate chips and Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes on 375 degrees F. This recipe can be halved.

Peanut Butter Cookies (This is another recipe I got from my mom)
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
dash of salt

Mix together 3 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda and salt and set aside. Thoroughly mix first four ingredients. Add eggs and mix thoroughly. Stir in peanut butter. Add remaining ingredients a little at a time. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes.

I also make Buckeyes (those are the peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate) and brownies for Christmas. Then I give these to people as an additional part of their present. These cookies do not take a lot of time, but they mean a lot to the people who get them.

Enjoy.

Photo updates

2009-12-30T20:22:00.007-05:00

My in-laws, husband and children. The whole clan, minus one (my youngest sister-in-law)
My brother-in-law. It looks like he is trying to take a photo, but he is actually looking at photos of his daugher. This is his first year without her. His ex-wife had her for this Christmas, he is supposed to have her next year.
My nephew loves his cousins (my girls). He plays with them nonstop when they get together. When I was their age, my older male cousins would hide from us and refuse to be around us.
My youngest sister, and her dog with my girls. My daughters love their aunts, uncles, cousins, but it seems like they never get to see them.
This is the hat that I finished for my neice. She likes the color purple and I really like this pattern. It is from Wendy Knits book. It is a very simple hat and fits my daughter's head perfectly and since my neice is only 6 weeks older than my daughter, it should fit her well also.
This is the photo of my girls with Santa. The girls couldn't wait to get at him and my youngest even sat on his lap this year. Last year, she wouldn't even get close.

Santa, Christmas and Family

2009-12-27T00:13:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy 4 days. Let me say, Happy Birthday, Margaret. My friend, who is also like a sister to me has her birthday today.

Now onto business. My DH and I took our DDs to see Santa. We put a wreath on my husband's family plot at the cemetary and then went to another cemetary to find my family's stones and make sure they were okay.

On Thursday, I made 4 batches of cookies: Peanut Butter, Cowboy, Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal. These were added to the presents to share. My brother-in-law's were opened by everyone else and eaten before he even had a chance at them. Poor guy. He is really sweet.

On Friday, Christmas day, we went to my mother, my friend (that I call mother) and my mother-in-law. Poor lady thought I was upset with her. Not sure why I would even consider such a thing. When we told her where we were and what we were doing she understood our lateness. But we helped her out as soon as we arrived and supper was served as usual.

My other brother-in-law came into town. It is so good to see him again. He is looking good. He got the chance to visit with his neices and he is going to a football game on Sunday. He should have a good time. We shared photos.

My DDs all got Children's Dictionaries. My middle DD even started using hers to look up words.

I made many dishcloths to be given as gifts. I even gave one to my brother-in-law who is in visiting. He had not received one before and so he was saying that as a blanket it was small. My husband let him know that he would be envied because I have a hard time keeping any for myself since every time I get one finished they fly right out the door.

I also finished my neice's hat. Now I only have to finish her penguin, her blanket, her scarf and her clown. She needs lots of knitted love. We don't get to see her very much and she is so sweet. I may have to teach her how to knit. For now, I will continue to teach the neighbor's children and my children. I am in the process of teaching my youngest DD to tie her own shoes. She accomplished it once, but then stopped.

The girls are so intrigued with their gifts, it was hard to get them to do anything else, yesterday. We should be up for resting today after church. We will have to see what the day brings. Have a happy Christmas season (I was reminded that the season does not end until Three Kings Day) and a good Sunday.

Krohn Conservatory and GingerBread Houses

2009-12-22T15:51:00.002-05:00

On Monday, the Preschool classes at the school my DD3 attends made "Ginger Bread Houses." This is a yearly event for the classes and the children have a lot of fun. Today, they had pajama day and ate popcorn and toaster pastries and watched a Christmas movie. The children love this and it starts their holiday off with a lot of fun.

On Sunday, we took the children to the Krohn to see all the beautiful plants that they put together for the people. Just gorgeous. I just love poinsettias, but due to cats and children, I know that I won't have any in my house for some time to come. But I can always go to the Krohn and look at them there. Enjoy.

So much to do, so little time

2009-12-22T12:54:00.004-05:00

So much has been happening. My DH and I took our DDs to the Horse and Carriage Parade in Lebanon, Ohio. It was wonderful. So many horses and carriages and people really get into the event. My favorite was the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who and the Rein Horse. It was a great day, but sad also. It seems that there had been a fire in one of the barns, many horses perished as well as two men. Very sad. Pray for the families affected.

Then Saint Nicholas visited our girls. He brought them books (they love to read) and a few cars and a Fur Real Friend baby. DD3 is still carrying hers with her. DD1 sleeps with hers. DD2 takes hers, puts it down and walks away and then we go back to get it.

Sick children have been keeping us busy. We spend a lot of time visiting the doctor, just to get a note. Our school district is so strict on how many days a child can miss, but don't want them when they are ill. My children have been so busy fighting me on getting ready, that they have missed their buses and then I have to drive them to school. The oldest and the middle and youngest all start at the same time and are about 7 miles apart school wise. Makes for an interesting commute.

Basketball practices have started. Each girl is on a team and the younger two will play against each other for one game. It will be a lot of fun to watch them play. My older two practice at Urbancrest Baptist Church and my youngest practices at Praise and Worship. This keeps me busy during the week.

While at DD3's practice, I taught a 4 year old girl how to knit. She loved it so much. I finished the item and then gave it to her mom (she is a neighbor and church member). Her mom had even taken a photo of us working on it together. She said she is going to save it in her memory book.

I have been very busy making gifts, but I still have such a long way to go. My family and friends are a true blessing and I am very glad to have them. I just wish I had more time. I feel like I am constantly busy and no down time.

My Girl Scout Troop worked on a Service Project collecting food for the Lebanon Food Pantry. They didn't collect a lot, but the troop is small and young and the day of the collection was very snowy. So I am not worried. They did the service project and they had a good time.

My DH and I took the girls to the Krohn Conservatory. They have an awesome display for Christmas and the girls were able to see a really wonderful Creche. It had live animals and life size display. They had a good time.

My DD2 is upset that I did not attend her school party, but I explained that her younger sister would have to attend and she said that she didn't want me. My DD1 was a little upset that I had not attended her school party, but I explained to her that her sisters would have had to attend and she said she was glad I hadn't come also. My DD3 had her gingerbread making on Monday. She made a cute house. Then when we were home, she ate all the candies off of it.

Last day of school is today. It is going to a be a long 2 weeks of no school. I will have to come up with some interesting ways to keep the children busy until school starts again. McDonald's will only work for so long. The space is smaller and more confined than it used to be so not as many children can play as before. Going to other places have to be economical.

When I get the photos downloaded I'll put up the photos from the Krohn. Such a lovely place. I will also put up some of the photos from the Gingerbread making. The moms that I am friends with and I just put our cameras out and take photos and then send them to each other. We have a good time.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

St. Nicholas Day and The Horse and Carriage Parade

2009-12-03T18:06:00.002-05:00

St. Nicholas day is just around the corner. I am so excited for this day to come. My girls don't really get excited about it, but my oldest girl said she wants to sleep near the fish tank. I asked her why and she says she has to protect it from St. Nick. I said why, she says because he might take it back since they hadn't been very good this year.

Also, Lebanon, Ohio is having their Annual Horse Carriage Parade on Saturday. Keeping fingers crossed that the girls stay healthy. We have yet to see it live.

For those who have little children go to www.northpole.com, your children can write a letter to Santa and play games and read stories and color pages. Very nice set up.

Have a good weekend all.

Wish me luck. I will have 2 extra children in my house tomorrow.