Warshrag Addiction

I'm a year behind, but I don't really care. I've had the Mason-Dixon book for awhile and hadn't cast on for anything yet. I was going through some of my Gram's knitting supplies and came across a few partial balls of dishcloth cotton. I figured I had nothing to lose. I've already given the first cloth (this aqua one) to my Gramp, and I forgot to get a photo or finished measurements. I started another with different scraps. I think this one reminds me of a giraffe.Then, while I was out shopping for school supplies these snuck into my cart. What can I say, they were on sale...and I bought the kids favorite colors to make them washcloths for their baths. The denim color is for me. I could use something nicer to make wiping down the table after each meal more enjoyable. I'm using 6's and the pattern calls for 8's. I think it makes it nice and squishy though. I should try washing one...I hope that the shrinkage doesn't make it so that an 8 would have been better.

Baby Knitting Update...

I finished one Baby Bolero. Now, I have less than 2 weeks to finish the 2nd. I should have chosen to make them in different colors for the twins...I just cast on for #2 and I'm already a little tired of the yellow. I guess that's just because I know what it will look like and there isn't the excitement of discovering how the yarn and the pattern and the color all work together. It's a good thing I really like the finished sweater.

Baby Bolero from One Skein. Knit with about 3/4 skein of Bernat Cotton-tots. I love how soft this yarn is. I used a 3 needle bind off at the shoulder, and picked up stitches to knit the sleeves in the round. My measurements are right on...but I'm wondering if these sleeves are a bit wide for skinny little baby arms. The sweater fits my model great...but she's a little fluffier than a newborn.

VBS

We attend a rather large church. So, VBS is a HUGE endeavor. It's such a blessing to be able to be a part of something with this magnitude. I should have looked at attendance totals when the staff newsletter came around each morning. But, here's some numbers to ponder. I worked in 5's class (those going in to Kindergarten). There were 14 in our class...and there were 2 kindergarten classes. I think I may remember a number like 131 for attendance one day in the pre-school (you can only attend VBS as a pre-schooler if your parent is working). I saw an attendance sheet for 1st thru 6th with a number like 742. So, basically...we're talking 900-1,000 kids (that doesn't include the teen helpers or adults). VBS is run like a small city. I totally applaud those who have been working very hard since April to pull this off.

I know the big kids have tons of fun...but being a staff kid has it's privileges too. They've done several crafts each day. Heard a Bible story each day. Miss Pockets (a high schooler with an apron that has a pockets all over the front...each pocket holds a piece of her story) talked to the kids about William Carey each day...the kids offering is going to India with some college students this summer. Their singing time was lead by puppets. Thursday was bounce house day. And today...WATER DAY. The kids came in their swim suits and during rec time, played in little pools, sprinklers, and slip-n-slides. Perfect for the 95 (feels like 101) weather today.
This year our theme was SONFORCE. My boys really liked the spy theme. (the program was great for girls too with stories of Mariam (Moses' sister) and Esther.) I'm counting on the excitement over space to continue long enough for me to cover this as an early unit in our school year. My kids don't want VBS to end, but I'm not sure I could continue at this pace for very long. I really didn't enjoy shoving breakfast down the kids to hurry them to the car...to be at church by 8am (it's a good thing we live less than a mile from church). This is just another confirmation that I've made the right choice for our family...homeschooling. I love spending time with the kids in the morning...and feeding them a good breakfast. I feel that we're rushed enough as adults...there's no reason for me to hurry them through their childhood.

I hope my thoughts are cohesive. I'm super tired from this week. But, this is such a 'good tired'. I love feeling like we've had fun as a family. Now as I sit here typing, listening to Disneyland fireworks...I'm ready to get back to my knitting. I've made lots of progress for this being such a busy week. I'll post updates soon. Good-night.

Ms. Palmtree says I ROCK!

Nancy, you say the nicest things! I'm so honoured that you would nominate me! I'm a little slow to blog this week...but I really want to pass this on. I nominate Beth! She's awesome...she knits, she sews, she gardens. What more is there?! =0)

Lavender

Most of what I posted about last week has been planted. I think there's a few pots still waiting. M actually bought a few more things to fill in...and just dug up some more spider plants last night. (Much of our yard was spider plants when we moved in. While there's nothing wrong with that plant...it shouldn't be ground cover!) The yard is always a work in progress. I hope to have photos of the new plantings next week. For now, here's some lavender. (I didn't do any editing in photoshop other than to crop and reduce the image size. I actually like that the foreground isn't in focus.) This is a good filler plant for us. Inexpensive, grows quickly, and seems to thrive in spite of us. I wish we could get the Russian Sage to grow this well...but each time we've planted it (3 times in different locations) it has struggled.


It was VBS for us this week...and I worked in 5's class. I love that when a parent is working...then the pre-schoolers can attend too. My kids had a blast. I have so much I want to write about...I'll probably be blogging all weekend.