Blue Skies!

Last week, there was some Blue Sky in my mail box. Isn't it lovely. This is a present from Allison. It was such a surprise! And looking at it on the shelf in my living room is like feeling a hug every time I glance at it. I KNOW that my gray cloud can't follow me forever. And glimpses of Blue Sky help to maintain HOPE! (Thank You Allison!!!) Any ideas of what I should make? This I definitely want to be for myself. I want to try to make these handwarmers with this yarn. I had to buy new needles. And now I have them. So as soon as the blanket is done I'll start some smaller projects. This probably should be a hat...in honor of Allison. And it will be cute at a set...that's not so matchy matchy. Any good pattern suggestions? Or is it calling to be a scarf?

This week:

Blogwise: I've been interrupted by a lousy email that is trying to kill my computer. Somehow it got stuck on send...and I've been receiving it every 5 minutes for over a week. I now have it set to permanently delete but it's still clogging my inbox. This was from a family member. She's so sorry to the 50 people that are stuck in this dilemma. But, that does nothing for my outlook. On the plus side...my Gmail is unaffected. I can still email all my bloggy friends.

Yesterday I was interrupted by a puddle in my yard...that turned into a new water heater. I'm so thankful that my water heater is in a little closet off the garage. There was no yucky puddle in my house. And this was a good reminder about how much I take hot water for granted. It's a luxury that many in our world don't have. Many don't even have clean water, let alone running water. I'm so grateful for the blessings I have.

Knitwise: Last night I added the 5th ball to the Wedding Afghan. Thanks for all the lovely comments. I know a knitter would swoon over a gift like this. I hope that a non-knitter gets that it's a gift of love. And...I sort of feel bad about giving anything of warmth in June...in Las Vegas.

Some of my knit time this week was sucked into a g00gle calendar. I had a curriculum meeting with another homeschool mommy. She brought over all the books she's ordered for next year...and I shared mine with hers. That was fun. Do I really have no life when I get excited about text books? And then I started a g00gle calendar for our school year. I just love that I can print in month/week/agenda! And...sharing calendars...that's so fun. I am easily amused.

Kidwise:
I though I'd try a fun/easy experiment for my kids. We picked some more Shasta Daisies from the yard. Then, I added Wilton purple food coloring to the water. So, do you have any idea why they flowers turned a bit aqua? My Friday Flowers this week have been in my kitchen since Tuesday...getting a bit more aqua with each day.



And...did you notice that the aqua matches the Blue Sky yarn? This must be my new color of HOPE.

A Wedding Afghan

I don't know yet if this is a mistake or not, but I picked up this pattern book at Michael's of Afghans and Throws to knit in 10 hours. I was glad that most of the patterns were on US #15 and not the 50's that most speed patterns call for. I use #15's for my felted bags, and those are quick, but not uncomfortable. I cast on May 3rd. But then when we had heat spells, I couldn't work with this on my lap. Then I had to finish my Clapotis...the KAL deadline had already passed. And then I had to work on my socks...because it was hot...and they are small. So, I picked this up again with the cooler weather. I've knit 2 balls of yarn, and I attached the 3rd last night during Grey's. Here's where I'm at...

The pattern was for a throw, and the finished dimensions were 54 x 42. I wanted it larger, so I added 2 extra 16 stitch repeats.

I really like the lace pattern. And the 10 rows are easy to memorize. I have markers in between the repeats and that's helping with seeing the stitches on this fuzzy yarn. It's Paton's Divine. That's 76.5% Acrylic, 10.5% Wool, and 15% Mohair. Which means don't knit this while wearing black pants.


This is for the wedding I'll be in Vegas for June 21st. It's M's cousin. I hope the happy couple likes this. And I hope that I can finish this in the time I have left. That means that I'm really counting on June gloom (our So. Cal foggy mornings in the month of June).

I'll leave you with a few Shasta Daisies I picked from my yard. They've been a bit of sunshine for me this week. And my blue skies...well they came from Northern California.


This is how brain dead I am this morning. I think it's the end of school that's done this to me. I put the memory card into the card reader to download my photos, then I took my camera to set up and take photos of some yarn. I make this whole little display, and my camera tells me NO MEMORY CARD. Duh. So...yarny blue skies to follow. ;0)

Six Things....

"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? I was helping my then boyfriend (now husband) to finish his thesis. We knew that our relationship was more important than finishing college. So as not to be under that tremendous amount of stress at the same time, I graduated a year later. In 1998, I was building models and preparing presentation boards. In 1999, he did the same for me. Also, I was packing to go to China. The summer of 1998 was the last summer I spent in China.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

1. Sign for the UPS (I missed them yesterday while I was teaching our co-op)
2. Fill out the paperwork to enroll my 5 for Kindergarten (JCS)
3. Some sort of school for a child who thinks it should be summer
4. Renew library books
5. Knit like a crazy woman on an afghan that I need to finish for a June wedding. (That means more than 1 ball of yarn a week. I'll post about this soon. I've been to lazy to take photos. I'm just through the 2nd ball of yarn. I couldn't work on this during our heat spell...I couldn't hold it on my lap. I'm counting on So. Cal. June Gloom.)
   

3) Snacks I enjoy: Right now, fresh raspberries and blueberries...they're coming from the bushes in our backyard. Dark Chocolate. Chips and Guacamole.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Build my own house on a lot with enough grass to need a riding lawnmower (that's a dream for my boys...and I know they'll be mowing in a few years) and a small cottage in the back for my mom to stay in. Buy a beach house for when I need to get away. Buy a GIANT RV...for our tour across America...(1 year...as many states as possible...homeschooling in an RV...hopefully not losing my mind). Travel, Write a Book, support some organizations that I really believe in.

5) Places I have lived: Northern California, Texas, Southern California (unless you count summers in China)

6) Jobs I have had: Babysitting, Scooping Ice-Cream, the GAP, Architect, Mom.

7) 6 peeps I wanna know more about: I'm going to cheat here. I'm listing a few more.
Sarah
Anne
Chan
Nancy
Karen
Beth
Tracey
Allison
Amanda

Clapotis Fini!

Between church this morning, and our Co-Op Open House this afternoon, my FIL took some FO shots for me. I loved this project. Here's my Clapotis just hanging out on the rings in our backyard. After this shot, there were kids hanging from the rings while we continued with the photo shoot.
The finished length is just longer than my span. I did add a few extra repeats.

I'm surprised that I didn't faint with this wrapped around me in the 98 degree heat. With the drops, it's not too warm. But, when I draped this over my shoulders last Monday (we had a chilly morning) then it was just warm enough. I think I'll get use out of this. Even if it is just as a cuddly wrap while I read my Bible in the morning.

Pattern: Clapotis from Knitty
Yarn: 2 skeins of Dream in Color Smooshy in Cloud Jungle from Michelle
Needles: US#8 Bamboo straights.
Modifications: I did a few extra repeats in the straight section.

I knit the increases from one ball. Then started alternating 2 balls for the straight part. I have a lot of yarn left over. Not enough that I could have knit this with one ball. But, my plan to start the decreases when I finished the first ball of yarn didn't work out. One end is a bit different, but you have to really know to look for it. I so enjoyed working on this while watching movies with M that I just may knit another one some day.

My Last Day of MOPS...EVER!

I've graduated from MOPS. Sure, I have a 3 y.o. so I still qualify. But, next year all my boys friends will be in Kindergarten. They don't have a class for the homeschooled kids like they did in the past. Instead, most of my MOPS table signed up for CBS (community Bible study). Many of us have been together at MOPS for 6 years. That's a lot of life we've shared. Babies born. Casseroles brought. Family deaths. Casseroles brought. Moms night out. Play days at the park. And picnics. Definitely MOPS moms know how to fix it all with a casserole. ;0)

So, I'll share my one of the casseroles I bring when it's table's turn to provide the brunch.

Brunch Enchiladas:

What you need:

• 2 c. fully cooked ham, cubed
• 1/2 c. chopped green onions (I leave these out when cooking for my kids)
  
• 10 @ 8" flour tortillas
• 6 eggs beaten
• 2 c. milk
• 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (I probably use more)
• 1/4 t. salt

What to do:

Combine ham and green onions. Place 1/3c. mixture in the center of each tortilla. Top with 2T cheese. Roll up and place seam side down in a greased 9x13 dish.

In a bowl, combine flour milk, eggs, and salt until smooth. Pour over tortillas. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350. Remove from refrigerator 30 min before baking.

Cover with foil and bake for 25 min. Uncover and bake for another 10 min. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 3 min longer. Let stand 10 min before serving.

Serve with salsa, sour cream, and even guacamole if you like. =0)

In the garden...

Typing my thoughts is so therapeutic. But, not what I want at the top of the blog. After I cried a little...I took the kids out into the backyard.

I just subscribed to the Craftzine blog. I was already getting a little irritated that there were 6 new posts a day...until I saw the link to Write, Mama. Write. I had bought some Crayola Model Magic for $1 in the clearance at Michael's. I thought this would be so fun. It was. And the fresh air is definitely what I need.
We divided the each little bag of model magic into 3 balls. We gathered leaves from the yard. Then we used the bottom of a large mug to flatten. These should air dry by tomorrow. It was so great to see the post, and then find things on hand to have a science craft afternoon. And then the little ones had blueberries and watermelon for snack. And just look at these cute faces. Seriously...except when they make me want to lock myself in the bathroom...they're the sweetest things ever.
And those washcloths I made them...I chose colors to match our IKEA bowls. Napkins aren't enough for my crew and they're outgrowing the baby washcloths that we've used for years. I need some more cotton to match the pink, yellow, and dark blue.

The Storm!

I had thought that I wouldn't write about this...but then I decided wanted a record of my thoughts. I feel like a cartoon where the little gray rain cloud follows that one person...and the rest of the world is sunny and dry. I wonder when the rain will stop.

The rain this week is the senseless shooting of my mom's best friend. There are newspaper articles all over the internet. And some of them are gathering ugly comments. It's not right. Let the family and friends be.

Seriously...
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I don't know what's next. This current storm started in August of 2004. Or at least that's the last time I remember the "sun shinning" with out a cloud in the forecast. In September of that year, I found out I was expecting #3. My first 2 had been pretty easy...not to bad in the morning sickness...and a little pre-term labor with #2. But, #3 whooped my but. I was ILL. All. Day. Long. I had an almost 3y.o. and a 19mo. ...with lots of energy. My Gram was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In November, she had the surgery. By Christmas, my pre-term labor was starting. In January 2005, I had an abscessed tooth...and started bedrest. I spent time in the hospital. My Gram was undergoing chemo...and my mom was torn between staying with me so I could keep my little bun in the oven, and being with her mom (7 hours away). I gave birth 5 weeks early (at least that part was easy...she was little 7# 4oz...good thing she was early...at term I could have had a 10# kid). And then when my baby was 5 days old I went in for the evaluation with my endodontist. That's when I saw that I would need 8 root canals...maybe more. I cried. I visited my dentist regularly. I took adivan for the appointments and vicodin for the pain. I don't remember a lot of weekends as I had my appointments many Fridays so M would be home to watch the kids while I recovered. At least I knit. My Gram died just before the littlest turned 1. I knit with more fervor, because it made me feel close to her. Then I finished with the teeth (or so I thought) just before my littlest turned 2. A little sun broke through the clouds. 2 1/2 months later I fell. I couldn't drive for 3 months. Then I drove with my left leg and earned parking in those special blue spaces. Just before my handicapped parking tag expired, my dad died. We finally paid off the dental bills from the last few years. Then I ended up back at the dentist for another root canal, 2 major fillings, and a pulled tooth (not all on one day, Thank God;0)). And then this...I started getting calls from my mom's school switchboard on Thursday while I was at the library. Within a few hours, I was making calls to family and friends. So, I'm at another funeral on Tuesday. The day before I turn 33. Oh, did I mention...I spent my 30th birthday in the ER, and my 31st at the Urgent Care, and my 32nd...well, we didn't go to Urgent Care until the following morning...because I just couldn't be there 3 years in a row.

I generally find a song to pull me through. Here's my song for this.

Overwhelmed!

Kidwise: I'm late in writing about things again. So, I'll be back posting to catch up on what I want to record. 3's Birthday. 5 learned to ride his bike. Our Tye-Dye experience (now that the kids are into dye...I'll have to buy some bare yarn.) Our veggie garden for this year. Our butterflies hatched, and we're watching ladybugs grow now. We've been busy.

Knitwise:

• I started Rosa's socks to take to piano lessons as my Clappy was too messy to travel with. I forgot to adjust the stitch order on the needles before starting the heel...so when I went to rejoin the stitches on the top of the foot I was off. I could have left it, but then I'd have to make the other sock a mirror. I frogged back. Now I have to start the heel flap again.
  
• I'm almost there with my Clappy. I did miss the KAL deadline though. I should be done before Mother's Day...so maybe this is a present to me.
• I CO for an afghan this weekend. It says that it can be knit in 10 hours. Not likely for me, but I am widening by 2 repeats since the pattern was for a throw size. I'm knitting this in Paton's Divine Icicle White (the yarn called for in the pattern). I'm hoping that I can finish this for M's cousin's wedding in June. It should be doable...as long as I can stay focused.
  
• I gave up on my replacement #5 tip for my Little Sister set. They said they were sending one. I called back...now I've just given up. I bought a short #5 circ. so I can pick up my Square Cake again. If I had a dress to match...then I'd love to have this for me to carry at the wedding.

Blogwise: I think this OVERWHELMED thing runs deep. Another book I'm reading is Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton. I need to create some space for me...for replenishing. When I started my blog, it was that. Now, for some reason...I find that instead of journaling 1x a day...I'm checking my email whenever I have a small break. It has lead me to try and cram more into each day. "Breaks in the day that used to be small windows of replenishment for body and soul - like driving in a car, going for a walk, having lunch with a friend- are now filled with noise, interruption, and multitasking." I'm going to try letting go of some of my multitasking. (I'm going to only check my email 1x a day). Much of my multitasking is inherent in being the mom of 3 little ones that are with me all. day. long. But, I want to find quietness for my spirit once again. I'm driven to perform. Thus the title SuperMom. I try to do it all. I feel that I am only worthwhile when I am achieving and doing. (WOW...that's hard to say out loud.) I want to let go of my expectations of myself. I want to play tag with my kids and not fear someone seeing my sticky kitchen floor (It's really bad right now, 3 spilled an entire bowl of watermelon...but she's napping, and I'm having a quiet time too...instead of mopping.) I also have "unresolved tension and toxicity from some relationships" I haven't felt free to extricate myself from them. Now, I'm giving myself the freedom to do that. When time with a friend is draining, then that friendship isn't worth it. It may just need some space. It may regrow. But, it may be gone forever. I have to be OK with that now. Because the toxicity has settled into deeper levels of my soul...and I'm exhausted. (Don't worry, if you're reading this...you're not the one who is toxic in my life. She doesn't know what's going on in my life at all. Her jealousy kept her from being happy for my successes. Her schedule kept her self-absorbed and distant...she's not been there for me as I've weathered this storm. (I read a bit ahead in the book...I would never have been able to put words to what I was feeling.) So, I'm moving on. I need to give my soul room to breathe. In another chapter that I glimpsed at...Ruth talks about gardening. This touched me especially as we planted our tomatoes and squash this weekend. We also spruced up some corners of the yard with annuals. You know how those little 6-packs come so root bound that there's hardly a thimbleful of dirt remaining. And the roots are creeping out the holes at the bottom...striving for some nutrients. Then the gardener loosens the knotted roots...and gives the plant a much larger space to grow and flourish in. That's me right now. My soul needs some WIDE. OPEN. SPACE. I'm ever so thankful for the Gardener in my life. And...I'm so thankful that it's almost summer. I really need a break from the busyness of this school year.

Goodness...it feels like a weight has been lifted from my chest. I guess I needed to get all that out. I would maybe worry about what people reading this might think. Except, there are some posts that I've read lately that renewed my HOPE. So, don't look at my sticky floor. Look at my garden. This is one of those plants I freed from a 6-pack.

Miters!

On Wednesday, our homeschool group took the kids to the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace. It just happens to be 11 miles from my house. (If you have to...ignore the politics long enough to see what I found.) In the house that he grew up in, I saw a gorgeous mitered afghan! Flash photography is not allowed, and it was a bit dark, so I did the best I could with the photos. I would have liked a closer look, but there was a barrier keeping me from the knits. I wonder if it would have been worth getting kicked out just to touch the blanket?

It's fun to look at the miters and then see how they switched it up for the center. I love the way the black ties the whole thing together.

Really, this isn't a 'fun' fieldtrip for the kids. But, we were expecting to be able to get on the helicopter. It had a flat tire, and so we couldn't get within 20' of it. I'll have to go back again to let my boys on the helicopter as promised.