Project Count

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

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

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

Back from Columbus, OH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trapped at home

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's Sunday?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broken things and a Finished Scarf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It Has Finally Happened...

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

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

Updates on Projects

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

Wrap Mock Cable Scarf
By Mary Hofacre

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

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

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

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

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

Punishments

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....

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 niece 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.....

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 them 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.