More Bragging

DH just finished his two weeks of Annual Training with the Indiana National Guard. He is a helicopter pilot and today is Armed Services Day. This weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indy 500) the National Guard had their helicopters on display. We spent yesterday wandering around the track, watching qualifications and hanging out with the guys and their "birds." It was very nice to be walking around the Speedway with DH in his flightsuit and having people come up to him and thank him for his service to his country. People do support our troops! If they only knew he was also a firefighter too! DD calls him the "ultimate do-gooder!" and we are very proud that he is!

Part of our day yesterday was spent watching the qualifications runs for the Indy 500. Alex Barron qualified to start in the 9th row. Being up close and personal with these machines makes you really appreciate what it takes to run this race...220 miles an hour is amazing to watch!

On the knitting front, I struggled all week with some socks...I finished one, the second one came out nothing like the first so I ended up frogging them both...I've got some better sock yarn and a different pattern that I will be trying sometime soon...In the meantime, I relaxed and got rid of my sock frustration by working on the Lady Eleanor shawl I am making for myself!

Until next time!

Laura

Bragging Rights

Here's two out of the three kiddos....I promised a baseball picture from yesterday's game, but they lost and they didn't play that great and Eric was not in the mood to have his picture taken! So this is a picture from last year's season. My dad took this one. He's a much better photographer than I am, as you can tell. Eric's self-portrait is next to his baseball picture. He's a fun loving 14 year old and despite his hormonal moods he's a pretty great kid! He called a little bit ago and said "Mom, my homework's done, can I ride my bike up to Dairy Queen with Alex?" Oh, to be young and carefree like that again!!! I wish I could impress upon them how they need to cherish these moments and times in their lives...unfortunately, you don't realize how great being a kid is until you aren't anymore....

This is DS#2, Mark...he's got a personality just like his picture...sunny and fun. He's not in the least competitive so sports are not his thing...give him a book, a jigsaw puzzle, some Legos or a video game and he's a happy camper. He's very insightful and astonishes me sometimes with his wisdom...he's wise beyond his 13 years...

As Mother's Day approaches I realize that they aren't going to be around (at least living in the same house) very much longer. I'm sure the next five years are going to fly by and all my kiddos will be gone. Having one in college hasn't been that hard to adjust to, probably because she is good about calling and e-mailing and there are still two at home...the next one will be harder and the third will be harder still...so despite the trials and tribulations of adolescence I deal with on a daily basis, my kids are wonderful human beings and I'm very proud of all three of them.

Amazing...nothing about knitting in this one!

Progress!

I've been splitting my knitting time every day. I work on Mother's Day gifts for awhile, then I do a repeat on brother's aran and then I do a tier on the Lady Eleanor. I feel like I have a lot going on but it also feels like I'm stuck...I'm not seeing lots of progress on any one thing! I do love the way the Noro knits up into lovely rectangles!

My DH is gone for two weeks (active training with the National Guard)...It's been a long time since I've been a single parent and I'm not looking forward to it. He's usually home after school so homework is done and dinner's on the stove when I get home from work. The next two weeks it's up to me...and I have to cook! The boys aren't thrilled at that prospect either! I will definitely have to knit a few rows in the evening to save my sanity! Can you tell I'm feeling sorry for myself? Everyone keeps saying "Won't it be nice to have a break?" It's not a break! Not only will I miss him, but he does so much around the house (unlike a lot of husbands, I guess) and the boys and I depend on him for so much that it will be a busy two weeks for me. I have to do a much better job of planning out the day to make sure that everything gets done!

DS#1 has a baseball game tonight and the weather is beautiful. I'm going to try to get some good pictures at the game and hopefully will have pictures plus news of a win to post tomorrow!

For Me?! KAL

I've joined a KAL to make something for myself. The first project is a shawl or scarf. I won 10 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in the 245 colorway on eBay and have my pattern all picked out. I'm going to make a Lady Eleanor shawl for myself. I love the look of entrelac and can't wait to get started. Tomorrow is our cast-on day and I'm ready to go!

Mother's Day

I can post this picture of my Mom's Mother's Day gift because I found out yesterday that my Dad doesn't share the things I send him via e-mail with my Mom! I just assumed, and I know I shouldn't assume (the ass out of you and me adage), my Dad would share the family news about the grandkids and such with my Mom...I was wrong! Talking with Mom last night on the phone I found out that she knew nothing about DS#1's grant writing project or the resulting award...wonder what else she's missed out on recently. Note to self...after I send the e-mail to the rest of the family with news, call Mom personally...

I made the Moss Grid Towel from Mason-Dixon Knitting for Mom for Mother's Day. I used size #5 needles and Knitpick's Cotlin yarn. The towel took 2 1/2 skeins, leaving me with just enough to make a small moss stitch washcloth. They still need to be washed and blocked, but posed for this pretty picture this afternoon.

Mom also FINALLY retired! Yesterday was her last day and she and Dad left on much needed vacation to the east coast this morning. It's Dad hope that there will be many more trips in their future. He's been retired for almost 8 years and he's been after Mom to follow suit since day one. At 74 I think she's earned her retirement....it's been a hard decision for her though...she's one of those wonderful people who is happiest when she's helping someone else. She's active in her church, her philanthropic and education sororities, civic organizations and I hope they all appreciate the amount of time and love she puts into everything she does.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I'm addicted to dishcloths

Once you start on dishcloths, you can't stop! They are quick, fun, you don't get bored before you finish one and the gratification you get from finishing a project comes often and quick! Remember my WW group that did the scarf exchange (and does the prayer shawls)? We did a dishcloth exchange and I was hooked! I now belong to two dishcloth KALs and am always on the lookout for cotton yarn on sale! This is one of my favorite patterns. The garter ridges make a wonderful "scrubbing" surface for the dishcloth.

Just to let you know how nuts I really am...In addition to the dishcloth KALS, I am also participating in the International Tote Exchange IV, I am currently working on some Mother's Day gifts (can't tell too much...certain people read this blog!), I am also participating in the ForMe?! KAL and have my Noro Silk Garden and needles ready to start a Lady Eleanor shawl for myself. Not to mention the aran sweater I have on the needles for my dear brother to go with his kilt. I'm sure there will be more projects added to the WIP list before long!

Knitting helps keep me sane and calm, just ask my kids! Things are getting busy around our house. Our oldest son (14 yr old) plays baseball, so many evenings and Saturday mornings are spent at the ballpark. Both boys are usually on the run from one friend's house to another, back to ours (one of the perks of living in suburbia...my kids can run around the neighborhood like I did when I was a kid). School will be out in another 5 weeks and I'm sure that will only increase the busyness! My DH is in the National Guard and has two weeks active duty starting in a week and half so I'll get to be a single parent for a couple of weeks too! Think of all the knitting I'll have to do to stay sane then!?!

I'm going to try to be better about posting more regularly and Tote Exchange and the ForMe?! KAL will help hold me accountable for that.

See ya next time!

It's been awile and I've got to brag!

I know, I know...I haven't posted in a while...I've been negligent in taking pictures of knitting projects, writing, just about everything (except laundry, I can't be negligent about that!)

I've finished numerous dishcloths and have become addicted to dishcloth knitting...thanks to a dishcloth exchange with my wonderful WW friends....I will try to post pictures tonight!

I made a simple aran sweater for my nephew to go with his kilt (my family is very Scottish) and of course, forgot to take a picture...have to see if I can coerce dear brother into taking one of nephew in kilt and sweater?!

Now onto the bragging...DS#1 (the one in the striped shirt) is a typical smart mouth 14 year old and drives us crazy alot of the time. But....he was part of a team that wrote a grant to get $$ for their Teen Leaders group at the YMCA's community service project. They had to present to the local YMCA Board, the United Way Board and received the grant! Yesterday was the award ceremony. The adult leader for the group couldn't attend at the last minute so DS#1 volunteered to speak. He got up and described their grant project with no notes and no preparation...we were very proud and he really surprised us with his confidence and maturity!!! We are doing something right as parents!!!