Ignore the Inconvenient

At least that is what I was going to do. I haven't posted in 2 whole weeks? Ah, skip it. But then, NO! There are actually pictures. I had been planning to post, honest, I even have a little list on a scratch pad. Granted, I had been planning for so long, I don't know what a couple of those scratches mean. I still think that my memory is so good that I won't forget anything, especially something funny. Ha.

Well, let's get on with it, since you obviously don't believe that I have done anything but sleep for two weeks.

There are no pictures for yesterday. The boys and I met up with Laurie and her family at Trax Farm for the Family Fall Festival, or something like that. Laurie had a camera and looked to be taking some nice pictures, maybe she will post them for your pleasure. We were soundly defeated by the corn maze. We had to be led out by some small child who climbed between the stalks to find his way. Probably if we had listened to Laurie's Older Son- he was yelling "LEFT," I don't know how we ignored him- we may have found our way out without the shame... either way, it was an adventure.

Let's step back in time...





A picture of the boys from a week or so ago... notice that INBA is wearing a sweater that I made for Eldest and he refuses to wear. He was really smug when I noticed that INBA was wearing it, like he had pulled one over on him... Huh, huh, INBA is wearing that sweater, huh, huh.

Fine, be that way. The Mister says that I cannot love the younger one more because he wears my knitting. Besides he is still 4. He has his own issues.








Speaking of issues, INBA has very delicate toes. He cannot stand socks and the seams. Oh, what a fight to get the kid back into shoes for the winter. So, after a million dollars and the most seamless socks one can find commercially (which are not seamless, thanks for nothing stride rite) I made the boy a pair of socks. See, I took a picture when I started because I planned to post...

But here they are finished. I didn't pull ahead in the skein to match the stripes because I wasn't sure that I could get both socks out of one skein (knit picks Parade.) But I did, and could have matched the stripes and been ok. I do, however have another skein- purchased with the intention of a pair for myself- so I am intending to make another pair to match the first and then have 2 pairs of matched stipes... follow?



ok, it looks like I have extra pictures that show up in the post but not in my working area. Sorry.

Anyway, this morning INBA refused the "seamless" socks in lieu of mommy-made socks. But I don't love him anymore than I would have. I promise.








And there is Pea Pod. I really like knitting lace, I just cannot do it while tired or when I have a headache. So, progress is slow since I do my knitting in the evening after the world has sucked almost every last drop of energy from my bones.
I have gotten 3 of the buttons knit on, so it will get done. I suppose I will just have to give myself permission to knit during the day. It is a gift with a deadline, after all, not just for my pleasure -which I am certainly not entitled to during the day. :)










What Has the Mister Been Up To?
Well, he fixed our front porch.
Several of the bricks along the front and side were about to fall off. Also, many in the middle had the mortar crumbling around them. Every time I swept it I took more out. So he made it as good as new. How unbearably useful my Mister is!!







Then the Mister took the boys to Alcosan's Open House.
Yes, that Alcosan... Allegheny County Sanitary Authority- the waste water treatment plant.
They all really enjoyed it.
I had a couple hours to myself which I enjoyed as well.

Anyway, these are the pictures the Mister took.
The boys doing Mad Science.
The boys coloring.




No pictures of the 100ft deep pit that all the waste water flows into, no picture of the screens, no pictures of the river, nothing. I love my boys as much as he does, but geesh. At least he remembered to take the camera, which is better than I do most of the time. So, good job, Mister.

This is his favorite favor from the open house. Frankie the Fish on a Bethel Bakery Cookie. He made a point of taking this picture as soon as they got home.

Now, I solemnly promise to be better about my posting.
Peace.

Post Without Pictures

I Remembered the Camera...when we were about half an hour from home. Ok, maybe a little further.
We went off yesterday to Penn's Colony with the boys. It was quite fun! The boys are still getting the hang of Country, State, County, City.... so the idea of a Colony, well that was just a bit much.

INBA was persistent in trying to understand. So, I told him that it was what Pennsylvania was before it was a state, a long time ago. He says, "Oh, but they had steam trains!"
"No, before Steam Trains." Sorry, but it really is all the kid thinks about. And then I got a little sassy and said, "before dirt." hahhaahha.
He misses nothing. "Before dirt!!! What was under the grass?"
*Sigh* Then we had to go through the whole, no-no, Mommy was kidding, thing. And, "Did they have bushes and trees?" thing. And the, "Are we there yet?" thing. "We've been in the car a really long time." thing. The, "I don't want to go." thing. The, "I am still 4," thing.

Eldest enjoyed the Scotsmen in kilts playing traditional music in a rock and roll style. And I must say Do Ya Think I'm Sexy on bagpipes is pretty, um, enjoyable. I cannot top that.

Dragons in the Burgh

We took the kids down to the South Side to see some dragons.

On the way, we saw a train. Yes, that could have been the adventure in itself, but we continued down the path to the Riverfront park to the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival.
There were plenty of vendors with lots of interesting goods, (it felt, just a smidge, like Chinatown) chinese food and entertainment. By the time we got to where we could see the races, there was an oil barge passing creating a delay in the race starts. It was huge and took quite a while to pass.


The race that we watched, was two boatfulls of breast cancer survivors. One from Philly, the other from Pittsburgh. Amazing and inspirational. I was really impressed by how many boats there were and how far the teams came. It was a lot of fun. Just a suggestion for when you go next year... bring a chair. Not a single solitary place to sit.



We had a nice time and the boys did, too. We parked at South Side Works and walked over. Before we got back into the car we did a smidge of shopping. Ok, so I did a bit of shopping and the Mister and the boys snacked on trail mix at REI. Actually, the Mister did do a bit of dreaming about his bike rack while at REI. He will eventually break down and buy one. Probably when INBA wants to ride a bike on the trails instead of pushing the Thomas train (whose face has broken off and has lost the seat that used to be ridden on, is frankly unrecognizable as Thomas.) The whole point of this blurb is that if you haven't been down to the South Side lately, you should go. You can really see the clean up creeping along, block by block. And, it is still urban chic and not totally yuppie. Not that I have anything against yuppies, but if you've seen one yuppie neighborhood, you have pretty much seen them all. I prefer revitalization that preserves some character amongst the chainstores. And I like the South Side.

Settle In

Boys are Back to School, Why do I Feel so Out of Place?
INBA has embraced 4 year old preschool. I am so glad for him to be having a positive experience. I feel bad, though, when after only 3 days of going he is talking about the one little boy who, frankly, bullied him, but has moved away. Yesterday he was telling me that when this Little Boy wants to fight, he is just going to say no. I just don't know how a teacher can ignore such behaviour in the classroom. I feel bad for leaving him in that situation. I had my reservations, but I really had no idea how much it really was affecting him. I know that I can only do so much, that I have to rely on the school, the teacher, to inform me and protect him to a certain degree. But it still cuts at my heart to think that I failed him in that way. For no reason should he have endured being bullied and for no reason should those teachers allowed it to go on. I don't care what other parents allow in their own home, but that is not acceptable in the classroom, ever. I don't understand rationalizing behaviour based upon bad parenting. Children need many role models and if the ones at home are less than great, it would be nice to think that they could find a better one elsewhere. Gosh, I feel so guilty. Will I ever be able to make it up to him?

Let's Think about Yarn Instead.
Ah, nothing like avoidance to solve a problem. That's status quo, right?
Either way, I walked down the path to more sock yarn.
This beautiful yarn is a handpaint from Fernwood Woolworks that I acquired from Ebay... I swear I was just looking for a costume for Eldest for Halloween... I don't know how this ended up in my win list. It is called garden harvest. Very lovely and I think I am inclined to make my first pair of gloves with it. I am thinking that spring colors will make me feel better during the long grey winter. Ok, hoping.

















Oh, that Damn Harlot. She was oooh-ing over some Sweet Sheep sock yarn and I inadvertantly looked. And then I saw this. Purpurly and Catholic Kilt. Catholic Kilt is navy and white and burgundy. My Mister says it reminds him of Catholic School Girl plaid.... Oh, really? I don't want to know what exactly he conjures in his mind's eye.
And to make it worse, the lovely woman included a hand-written thank you note along with a small sample of the katia bamboo yarn and a discount code for another purchase. Am I really so transparent? I am a sucker for a thank you, I would much rather patronize the nice shops, online or otherwise. Maybe the Mister will use the code for a Sweet Sheep Holiday Treat...



















I decided, since I purchased 3 times too much yarn, that Baby H needed a hat and booties. I think it is the sheen of the yarn that keeps it from photographing properly... it is grape, as in a royal purple. And I put tassels on the booties and bonnet. I like tassels. I am not so crazy about pom pons.






Oh, those shawls. Just about through the second ball on Cascades and have finished the second ball on Sand dune.
No, that isn't a trick of perspective, my diamonds are getting much more squat in the Sand Dunes. I think I would be happier if the green was a little softer and blended more. It just takes too much of the focus.



Busted! I am so embarrassed. The Rooster bag that I gave to Laurie, broke down. The strap, on BOTH sides has come loose! The bizarre thing is that there seems to be no fabric fatigue, the stitching just let go. So I am sending in reinforcement. I think a decorative stitch or maybe just double stitching. To add insult to injury, the Mister suggested that it was a "cheap thread" issue. Um, excuse me? Do you really think that I would use cheap thread? Puh-lease. Defective craftmanship, perhaps, inferior materials, not likely.
It is a really good feeling to give a gift that gets used, but my word, woman, what were you carrying in this bag? I will do my best to see that it doesn't fail you again.

Autumn...
INBA and I took a jaunt down to Trax Farms and picked up some apples. The boys helped me make the first apple pie of the season. I let them in on my secret recipe, just in case they need it when I am gone. Not that they eat apple pie. I know, I know, what kind of freak children do I have that do not like pie. So this is all that is left of the pie... I suppose the Mister and I will have to arm wrestle for it... except that he is at work for several more hours... I need to wash the dish... hmmm. Maybe I will save my bon bons for tomorrow.

Cautiously Optomistic

INBA went to preschool today. The teacher is an angel. He is enthusiastic and excited.

Hopefully, Friday will be as splendid.

I won't say anymore, don't want to jinx it.

When does he turn 5? Oh, not soon enough. You have to be careful with these Mayhem genes, 4 is a rough year. Fair warning to all you little girls not old enough to read yet, but destined to become entangled with my little men. 4 is a rough year. This, too, shall pass. Thank God.

What Would You Do With a Camera?

Hmm, I suppose I would take a picture... if only I had not left the memory card in the computer.
So here is a link instead, to the World's Largest Teapot in Chester, WV. I wonder if they have ever made a pot of tea in this teapot... could you really call it a teapot if you haven't made tea?

We were on our way to Minerva, Ohio to ride a Train. It was good, less than 2 hours from home, so Mommy didn't get too cranky. The train ride was fun, but the boys would have liked to go faster and farther. Of course.

I worked on a sweater for Baby H, not expected until January, but I found the size 10 1/2 needles before the size 6 I was looking for to work the pea pod yarn. I have been fondling it, wondering where I put those needles. The Mister put up more shelves for me in my Sewing Room. It is just the hauling of all my junk up from the basement that seems to be hindering my progress in putting it all back together and knowing where my junk is. Not that I don't know that it is in the basement right now...where it has been since July.

Regardless, it really was almost, only 5 hours for a baby sweater. Not knowing the sex of Baby H, I opted to twist my Make 1's for a less lacy look. I like it so much!
It only took one skein of Caron Simply Soft Tweed in Grape, which is much more of a royal purple. It is an Acrylic with Rayon. And frankly, it is simply soft with a lovely sheen.
Oh, did you notice the button? It is yellow, from the pile in a previous post. See, the junk is useful.
I didn't put the cord through the eyelets at the neck. For some reason, I couldn't put a little rope around the baby neck.




This is the swatch for The Mister's Blue Cable Sweater. I didn't realize how much the cable would suck up the stitches. It is beautiful and I really like the Patons Classic Wool.



Otherwise, still working on the Shawls, I have a sock on, too. The weather is reminding me that I have no reason, ever, not to knit socks.

God Bless the Working Mom

Not to Say that the Rest of Us Don't Work,
but gee-whiz, how does one do it all? I spent 3 evenings and one afternoon running a booth for our first ever church festival. It was so much fun! I think it was a smashing sucess whether we made any money to help build the new school or not. My point lies in the fact that I was only out of the house for a few days, hours really, and I am exhausted, overwhelmed and waaaayyy behind in my home life. I missed my husband, my kids (ok, the break from them was nice, but I felt left out,) laundry is piled up to the sky and no one has had a decent meal in days. I don't know how you ladies make it all work, God Bless You!

Speaking of God
I guess we can put this one into the "So this is what happens when you raise your kids with religion," file.
Anyone who knows my kids, knows that there is no shortage of creative spark and imagination to them. This is what they were playing in the back seat this afternoon on the way to get their hair cut to go back to school.

INBA: "I am Jesus!"
Eldest: "And I am GOD!!"
I: "How did you make me again?"
E:"I raised you up to be with me. And then I sent you down so that they would know you were with me."
I:"Ah, so I could see my friends!!"
E:"Yes, like James and John."
I:"Oh, but I didn't get to see one."
E:"You mean Thomas?"
I:"No! JJ!!!" Laughter
E: "Let's play another game."
I:"Like Jesus Christ on the Cross?"
E:"Yeah, let's play stations of the cross. I say a thing and then you say, 'that's the best one!'"
I: "I'm the king!"
Game over, cut short by super choppers.

Now, I am a convert, but it isn't like we were raised without any religion, and I surely don't remember playing games like this. It cracks me up, makes me happy and scares me, all at the same time.

So, lets move on to a Prayer Shawl or Two...
Per request of a man that loves his mother, I am knitting a shawl for him to give her for Christmas... and one for a family friend, too.
I took that opportunity to try out Knitpicks' new handpainted Suri Dream.

This is Cascades, the blue and green are more vibrant in real-life. I like it, it reminds me of dusk in the Sierra Nevadas.






This one is Sand Dune, I like it, but I am a little worried about the patterning... It is looking so regular, I am concerned about what will happen when I add the next balls?

I know, I know, this is where you chastise me for not alternating 2 balls to alleviate some of this effect... but that is part of what I like about handpainted yarns... It is a mystery. Sometimes happy, sometimes not. So, I am reserving judgement for another half a ball.





Oh, and About Being Judgemental...

loving the sherbert socks. Must be the quickest to finish pair, yet. Of course, plain ol' stockinette can be that way. I have been avoiding the Mister's Blue Cable Sweater. I frogged all that I had done of the original pattern, found a new pattern that the Mister liked that was plain ol' stockinette with an Ensign Cable up the front, but my gauge was off. So, now I am halfway thru a swatch of the cable and then I will just whip out The knitters handy book of sweater patterns by Ann Budd and work out the logistics on my own. It's not like the arms of any standard pattern would work for the Mister, anyway. *sigh* I am so avoiding having to think.




Been Caught Reading, once, When I Was Six...
apologies to Jane's Addiction.

This is what happened, though. It was about a 8am, it was too quiet, I went looking for the boys. Eldest was reading for pleasure!! Granted, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles wouldn't have been my first choice for him, but whatever! We can work on the Newberry Prize winners later. I am as proud as I can be and thrilled that school starts tomorrow.

Buttons

I'm Cleaning, I Swear!
So the plan was to put my Sewing Room back together since I had not made priority to do so and the floors were finished a month ago. Well, I did manage to get a few things cleared up, but then I was messing with my button boxes...


So INBA and I started sorting buttons... I have no less than 5 boxes this size full of buttons. Some are random boxes like this and some are full of only one or two kinds. *sigh* That adds up to a whole lot of buttons. Like, 16 dozen 7/8" tortoise shell type buttons in a box along with 8 dozen 5/8" ones and a few dozen fat black buttons and several more dozen small brown buttons and some small black buttons with ridges and... HUNDREDS of buttons in one box. But this box INBA was sorting because it had lots of different kinds and he loves to sort and it wasn't nearly as full.



As usual, I find more projects for myself without even trying.
Check out this button. I have 7 or 8 of these. Can't you just see an earthy tweed cardigan? Maybe with a shawl collar and side seam pockets? Yeah, me too.








I don't know what I am going to do with these, but obviously something purple is in my future.













I think these will do nicely for the pea pod sweater.













And how do you love this button? There is only one, so it would have to be for something special. Seems like there was a sunrise cardigan that Interweave Knits had a few issues ago? Laurie, do you remember what the name of it was? I think it was circularly knit? I cannot recall exactly but I thought of the picture when I saw this button.






Finally an assortment of creamy and irridescent yellow buttons... looks like something yellow in my future, too.


So many projects, so little time.

Don't Judge a Sock by Its Skein

Nice and Easy

I dunno, sometimes I just want to knit and not think.

I love my portable relaxation.

Knit around and around and then, "Hey! I need to turn a heel!"

And besides, it makes a warm sock no matter the pattern.

I suppose I shouldn't have to rationalize the fact that I feel the need, desire really, to knit a Magic Stripes sock.

Plain, not Fancy.

So I have this skein of Magic Stripes that Laurie gave me, but I wasn't really excited about the colorway. In the skein, well, it hides it's perky self.

Even the Mister thinks the skein has more ugly going on than anything else.

Well, that's what I get for judging before knowing.

'Cuz I really like the sherbert stripes! These will definately be for the day this winter when I cannot take the grey anymore!

(Uh-oh, I might wear them out, better keep my darning yarn handy.)

Shark Bites, or Orca Oracles.

The ever fabulous Laurie brought me (Really INBA, I am a means to an end) this pattern for Orca Mittens by Maggie's Rags from Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

Of course, INBA insists that they are Great White Sharks. Ok with me. I was confused, though, when I let him pick the yarn and he picked a charcoal grey and creamy white. He knows the Great White is grey. I can only speculate undue influence by the pattern pictures. Like it really matters.

Either way, I think this is at the top of the list of unbearably cute knitting. When my kid is wearing wool mittens in August... I think he likes them, therefore I win and get the

"Mommy of the Day" Award.

Thank you for the applause, it was nothing, really.

What Can You Do?

I think it was Ghandi who said,
Be the change that you would like to see in the world.

I get an email newsletter from Creative Knitting, the editor Bobbie Matela. This is an excerpt from the edition that I just received... please take a moment to read.

-I'd like to tell you about an opportunity to help save newborns in developing countries by simply knitting caps for them. The name of this effort is called Caps to the Capital, and it was developed in response to the State of the World's Mothers 2006 Report, released in May. This report revealed that the first 24 hours of life are the most dangerous time for babies in the developing world; of the more than 4 million newborns who die each year, 2 million die in the first 24 hours. A simple knit cap, to help protect and dry the baby after birth, could help save its life.



Knitters and crocheters that heard about this report contacted Save the Children. Then Warm Up America! joined forces with Save the Children and helped spread the word. The goal of their program, Caps to the Capital, is to flood the White House with knitted caps, thus convincing the President that more basic health funding is needed for the developing world. Simple health measures and education could prevent 70 percent of the newborns' deaths. These measures include antibiotics to fight infections, immunizations against tetanus, training for skilled birth attendants, education on breastfeeding and basic care such as drying a newborn baby and keeping it warm (this is where the caps come in). America's leaders and citizens could save millions of newborns' lives by increasing international assistance for programs that offer these inexpensive life-saving tools.

You can read more about this on the Warm Up America! or Save the Children Web sites. Here are the easy steps that will allow you to make a difference.
1. Download the Action Kit, available from these Web sites:www.savethechildren.org orwww.warmupamerica.orgor call 800-728-3843
2. Make a Knitted (or Crocheted) Cap using the patterns in the action kit; also make sure to attach the tag that is provided in the kit.

3. Write the President using the form in the kit so that President Bush knows you care about newborns around the world. Your note and cap must be mailed by January 2, 2007, to Save the Children, P.O. Box 950, Westport, CT, 06881. Let the President know that saving the world's newborns is an important item to include in his budget.
4. Unite for Newborns by calling the White House on October 10. Send in the Stay in the Loop form in the action kit to receive e-mail newsletters and updates about this situation from Save the Children.
I urge you to read more about this and spread the word to other knitters and crocheters. Tell them to visit the Web sites: www.savethechildren.org or www.warmupamerica.org. Post the flyer (provided in the kit) at your favorite yarn shop or community bulletin board.
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 100 countries.

The Warm Up America! Foundation (www.warmupamerica.org) is committed to motivating, training and coordinating volunteers to knit and crochet clothing and afghans for people in need. Since the Warm Up! America Foundation was founded in the early 1990s, volunteers have knitted and crocheted 12 million squares that were joined into hundreds of thousands of afghans.-


Please consider taking a moment to download the file and a couple of hours to make a hat or two. It is a very small thing that can make a large difference in an infant's life.

That is part of my think Globally, act locally philosophy.

On to the Breaking News from the Family Front

Eldest lost his first tooth on Thursday.
We didn't know it was loose, he didn't know that he had lost it.
How weird is that?
We were having lunch with friends at MickeyD's so that he could play with the C children before they move to North Carolina, and I noticed something dark in his mouth when he came over to get a drink.
I said, "Hey, Eldest, what is in your mouth? Let me look."
He comes to me and opens up his mouth.
"What happened to your tooth?!"
"What tooth?"
"Yeah, exactly! Where'd it go?"
"I dunno, maybe it is on the floor..." and he began looking under the table.
I am just kinda stunned.

So what is up with that? He is getting tall, losing teeth... What's next? Dating?

At least INBA still has all his teeth...

Home Grown

I just know that there is a really good (and perverse) caption for this picture...


Our neighbors (who think, for some reason, that it is more desireable to live in Sydney than the 'burgh and are leaving us,) shared some of summer's bounty.

Is it cucumber envy?
Looking forward to a bed of leafy greens?

Whoa, Where'd I Go?

Good to be Flexible

As it turned out, The Mister did not have to work his Friday off. So, we loaded up the Mayhem Mobile and headed out to Indy to see my Siblings.

The Mister did his usual surrogate husband thing at my Sister's house (that would be fixing sinks and such... dirty, dirty mind.) And then we did a Zoo tour.
The kids got tattoo'd...

And tried to measure up.

My Brother looks pretty good for a guy with a Titanium leg. Still nice and tall. You should see the star-scar on the back of his leg. I will take a picture next time. It was way too disturbing to see this time to even think about taking a picture.

Hey, Kids! Don't Drink and Drive!


I knit a bit on the way, finished an eggplant hat for Bella.





It is really purple and green. Something weird happens with the afternoon light, lately.

Then, I finally finished my Claudia Handpainted socks.

As for what is to be next...

Well, I am working on The Mister's Blue Cable Sweater. Seems like I am going to be working on it for a while. I have been doing 2 rows a night... y e a h ... it is going to be a while. It is just that *insert whine* following a chart, in the evening, when I am tired and achey... *keep whining* it just proves that I love him. He'll get it someday.

Oh, yes, I could be knitting a baby sweater, but brilliant me, I have tangled up the size 7 Crystal Palace Bamboo needles (that are awesome, that I bought to make baby sweaters) in the Mister's Blue Cable Sweater... hmmm... what to do?

In the meantime, I suppose I will begin another pair of socks... maybe that Rock, maybe that sparkle. Maybe I will be inspired.

Hot Enough For You?

A Hot Sunday calls for Cool Jazz.
And how cool is it to go to the Phipps and hear Jazz in the Garden by Joe Negri and his band.
Yep, that Joe Negri, Handyman Negri... The boys were confused, but enjoyed the music.
I took the picture of Mr. Negri signing a picture for the boys, but I left it to the Mister to get a picture of the band. Ummm, nice backside.
















Is that a strawberry tart or are you just a goofy 4 year old?

A little of both, I suppose. This is the knitty Baby Tart, done a little different. It is an infant topper, but stretchy to momentarily fit a kid. It has been sent off for a beautiful child.


















Pretty as a Picture

The Mister is very, very good with photographing landscape and wildlife. For portraiture, see above, but for Nature, this is about as lovely as it gets.

And did you know, Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa, California, developed the shasta daisy? Now you do.

"I firmly believe, from what I have seen, that this is the chosen spot of all this earth as far as Nature is concerned." Luther Burbank, 1875
(he was speaking of Sonoma County...see, it's not just me)