What to tell a college Freshman

10 on Tuesday

Yeah, I am talking to you,! and to Ruthie and Stephen and Lizzie and Hannah, and whoever else may get sent here by a parent.

1. I have already told you this, get ahead on your reading, time goes so much faster than in High School and they assign so much more reading.
2. Go to your classes, this may seem like a no-brainer, but you are paying for this, so think of how much money you waste if you don't bother to go to class.
3. Do all of your homework. I know, the professor doesn't collect it, and you are pretty sure you understand, and it seems like a waste of time. Do it anyway. Practice is the teacher, and thinking about the questions...you will need to know it for the final, so don't ask. If they gave you homework covering the question, they want you to know it.
4. When you don't have a full course load, for whatever reason, when possible take a class for FUN. I don't care what it is, Beginning Social Dance, History of Theater, Costume Design, Softball and Volleyball, take a class out of your major that is a 1 or 2 credit class, that you can drop if the term is too hectic. This lets you meet more people and explore different or new things. You really do only get this opportunity once. My advisor gave this advice to me my Freshman year, I am glad I took the advice to heart.
5. Your professors keep office hours, go meet them. Even if you hate the class and the subject, you may decide you like the person teaching it, and it may make the class go better. If you are having issues, go talk to the professor, easier to do, if you introduce yourself before you have an issue.
6. Join a study group, yeah, there can be a lot of giggling and joking and it may not seem like productive time, but you might be surprised how laughing over a mispronounced word brings it back to you when you are fogged over by an 8 page final.
7. Get your sleep. No, I mean it, you need your sleep, if you get ahead on your reading and do all of your homework, you should not need to cram, so get your sleep.
8. Call Mom and Dad and your younger siblings. They miss you and they love you. They do care.
9. STUDY BREAK! Take a walk, go outside and blow the cobwebs out of your head. It will make more sense afterward.
10. Ask for help, if it isn't making sense, and you have done all the other stuff, find out if there is tutoring (all the accounting majors where I went to school had to work in the accounting lab once a semester...it was free, we were there.)
11. One last thing, it is going to be hard, keep at it, all of the sudden the lightbulb will flash on and you will get it. Once you get it, if you realize you really hate your major (not talking one term in, either) change it, declaring your major is not written in blood. Don't change your major rashly, talk to the older people in your life, yes parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Better to change your major than graduate with skills in an area you hate and don't want to do for a long time.

So the last one really is two things. There is so much to tell, I know I have missed something high on someone else's list, and I could kick myself for missing it, but I am not sure what it is. Having fun is covered in class for fun, study break and study group. Get your sleep, check, that is covered, read early and often, go to class, do your homework...oh, ok one final thing, eat right and drink plenty of non-alcoholic, preferably water, drinks.

What I am doing for Tuesday

So without a new 10 on Tuesday topic this week, I am going to go back and do a topic I have not yet done.

Finished Object is the Knotty But Nice hat from Knitty. The young man I knit this for has a rather large head, so what I ended up doing was knitting the ribbing on size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, and the first two rows of the cable chart. Then, I could not find my size 8 (5 mm) 16 inch needle, so I switched to a size 9 for the rest of the cable chart, up until I had to switch to dpn's. Actually I switched a couple of rows before I really had to switch. I switched to size 8 dpns, because I thought the ribbing was a bit looser than I liked for the fabric. Wonderful thing is, it fits him great. It is one of the few beanie type hats that actually covers the bottoms of his ears.

I used 50 grams of a 100 gram skein of Cascade 220 superwash. I actually had the called for yarn in stash. Both the hat and the remaining ball of yarn weigh 50 grams.

10 on Tuesday

Top 10 things about Bacon

1. It can be eaten on its own.
2. It can be eaten with Maple Syrup.
3. It is crunchy.
4. You can add it to a hamburger.
5. It can top a baked potato.
6. It is salty.
7. It isn't just for breakfast.
8. It keeps well.
9. You can have it in a salad.
10. You can have it in an omlette. (I can't eat eggs anymore, but an omlette with bacon is yummy.)

Quicky 10 on Tuesday list. Finished another book on the summer reading list. Did all the projects I wanted to before getting the next book, so hopefully I can get it today. Marching through the list!

10 on Tuesday

This week's 10 on Tuesday topic is what to Bring on Vacation. I am really not going on vacation, but just helped 18 year old get ready to go on vacation, so I have some ideas.

1. Camera -- got to have something to record and share the memories you make.
2. Snacks -- something for the car ride.
3. Sense of Adventure -- You have to be open to all the new experiences you may have.
4. Knitting -- In this case, the completed knit, above was taken, as friend is moving to college in Kansas, and needs something to keep his ears warm over the winter.
5. Appropriate clothing -- the last minute dash this morning was for the rain jacket.
6. Money -- always need that.
7. Sunblock -- my household of blue-eyed blonds can never have too much sunblock.
8. Music -- travel time requires music.
9. Comfortable shoes -- I have yet to go on a vacation without walking involved.
10. People you care about -- OK, probably not technically taking them on vaction, but they are a requirement to make a good vacation.

I am now on book five of my summer reading list. How are you doing on yours?

10 on Tuesday

Ten Things To Do Rather Than Watch TV

1. Knit -- no brainer, this is in theory a knitting blog
2. Read -- I am just about done with book 4 on my summer reading list. I don't know if I will get them all read by September 21, but that is ok too. How are you doing on your summer reading list?
3. Go for a Walk -- that always feels good.
4. Spend time with my kids -- Oldest just graduated from High School. This is, in some ways, my last summer with her as a kid.
5. Watch my kids play sports -- I do a lot of this, during Volleyball, Football, Basketball and Track.
6. Spend time with Friends -- Face time with friends.
7. Meditate -- spending time for yourself
8. Sleep -- most of my TV watching is in the evening/night hours, if I spend too much time in front of the TV I miss out on my required sleep.
9. Sit by the fire -- we have a portable firepit, and it is a wonderful evening activity, sit by the fire and talk.
10. Computer time.

I am sure I have missed many things that can be done instead of watching TV, but these are things I prefer to do instead of watching TV.

10 on Tuesday

10 Things to take Camping

1. Family/Friends -- for me, camping requires family and/or friends there, otherwise, just not fun.
2. Tent -- At one time sleeping under the stars was fine, not so much anymore. I don't like being mosquito feast while I sleep.
3. Sleeping bags and air beds -- I do require a small amount of comfort. No more ground sleeping.
4. Camp Kitchen items and food, bring all the veggies chopped in ziplocks on ice -- Have to feed the hoards!
5. Lighter and extra Lighter -- I make sure we have ways to start the campfire and the cookstoves. No playing survivor for me, I leave with dependable flame, and one for the kids to lose. It happens.
6. S'mores fixings! -- Do I need to explain?
7. Deck of Cards -- Pacific NW camping, rain happens.
8. Two sets of extra flashlight batteries -- This is up there with being able to start the campfire, must have light in the tent. Youngest child is now 13, this is not as important as it once was.
9. Complete change of clothing for each of my kids (this was after they started packing themselves.) -- It didn't matter how many times I went through and reminded what they needed. Finally, if it was important to me, I made sure they had it. Less stressful in the long run.
10. Knitting -- There is always some time for knitting. Socks are good, I prefer non-delicate items.

10 on Tuesday

10 Ways to Enjoy Summer

1. Go to the Beach - ocean, river or lake, it doesn't matter, but enjoy the summer sun and water
2. Favorite Iced Beverage - sweet ice tea, lemonade, strawberry lemonade, whatever floats your boat
3. Campfire/Bonfire - depending on if you are camping or home, complete with hot dogs, marshmallows and s'mores fixings. Make sure you watch the sky for shooting stars
4. Lazy days reading in the shade just out of the hot sun.
5. Go to the Faire - proof positive natural fibers are better than man made. Layers linen and muslin are still comfortable even in the hot weather.
6. Go to the Fair - sounds remarkably similar to the previous listing, but the modern experience is very different.
7. Bar-be-ques with friends. Potluck and great company makes this a low stress fun way to spend time.
8. Outdoor concerts. Music and warm weather really go together.
9. Spending time with my kids without the stress of too many scheduled activities and not enough Mom to go around.
10. Picnics in the backyard, at the park, midway through a hike or at the beach, eating fresh food in the out of doors with those you love is always a celebration!

WIP Wednesday

Work in Process and goals for this week.

I have several more works in progress, but these are the two I have plans for this week.

Black socks for the boy. I have less than six more rounds to finish the gusset on sock one, and then the long haul of the size 12 foot. I plan to get the first sock finished this week, and the leg of the second sock started. The leg is just seven inches, so it isn't too bad to get done.


The second WIP is the Mr. Greenjeans cardigan for Aunt Kate. I only have the cuffs, and button band to finish up. This was (is) the project that taught me I don't like knitting duplicate sweaters. I knit one of these for me, and it (for me) flew. Started and done in a month. Most of the knitting on this has not taken long, but I don't like the repeat. I am going to have this finished by next Wednesday. Getting this done will be my independence day celebration.

I don't have pictures of either of these, but will try to get some and add them to the post later. Summer league Volleyball tonight for middle child, so it may not happen. But, a post is getting done.

Ryan, yes I have a blog, but if it were my child I long ago would have been in trouble for neglect. Trying to rectify that situation.

10 on Tuesday

Summer Reading List

My summer reading list this year could be called a bit singular. Definitely a theme, and it may get interrupted part way through for a genre break, but we will see. I also don't think I will get through all of these books, but they are my list.

1. Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer - Completed


2. Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind - In Progress


3. Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind


4. Blood of the Fold by Terry Goodkind


5. Temple of the Winds by Terry Goodkind


6. Soul of the Fire by Terry Goodkind


7. Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind


8. The Pillars of Creation by Terry Goodkind


9. Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind


10. Debt of Bones by Terry Goodkind

This week is already booked up with non reading events, working in the fireworks stand for booster club this evening, summer league Volleyball last night and tomorrow night, possibly in the fireworks stand again on Thursday. Probably up to Heather's for the 3rd, and summer block party on the 4th. I am enjoying Wizard's First Rule very much right now, and would guess I will continue to enjoy it, however, I also may make a side trip to Middle Earth and read The Children of the Huran. But, that one will require some quiet time, maybe a better book for a rainy weekend. This year, that could be at anytime this summer.

10 on Tuesday

10 Ways to Entertain Children

1. Read to them - I can't count the number of times I have read 'Fox in Socks' and 'Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?' As the kids got older the books got bigger, and it was a chapter or two a night of Harry Potter or The Hobbit, or Ella Enchanted.
2. Play board games - Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Monopoly and Life have all held center stage over the years.
3. Go to the park - Family time outdoors is great fun.
4. Crafts - beading, water color paints, popsicle sticks, good for the child mind.
5. Watch clouds - imagination is a terrible thing to waste.
6. Bake - measuring is a good way to develop math skills, and they like the goodies they make the best.
7. Minor injuries- Kids love slapstick, and some of my minor injuries (stubbed toe, bonked head, etc) have provided hours of giggles for my kids afterward, not intentional entertainment, but entertainment, nonetheless.
8. BUBBLES! - I don't think I have ever met a kid who does not like bubbles.
9. Sidewalk chalk - I have seen amazing artwork over the years.
10. Video/computer games together - Mario DoubleDash was a favorite, as the four of us could play in teams together.

The most important thing about entertaining kids is spending time together.

Done and on to something a bit more fun

The boring boy socks are done. They did not go to Camp Seymour, but he did get to wear them to school on Monday. I had just woven in the ends on the toes, when he was getting out of the shower on Sunday night. He put them on (I wanted to make sure he was happy with them.) I will weave in the ends before I wash them. I will say, his smile when he put them on was worth the tedium. So far, the only pictures I have of the completed socks are on his feet.

The good thing about being done with that project, I get to go on to a different project. Sunday, when I was just about done with the socks, I had an hour to myself, and the LYS about half a mile from me was open. I went in to see if there was anything I couldn't live without. I walked out with the yarn for the Hexacomb Cardigan for my 12 year old daughter. I am making the smallest size and using Queensland Collection Maldive cotton yarn. The main color is color 10, which is a grass green with tweedy flecks, and the contrast color is 02, which is an off white with tweedy flecks. I got gauge with size 7 needles. Instead of starting with the body, I am starting with the sleeves to make sure she likes the color combination and the drape. She seems to be happy with it. I am not sure I am happy with the needle-yarn combination. Normally, I knit cotton on my aluminum needles, for the slide factor. This cotton is much smoother than good old dish cloth cotton. However, I was not happy with the yarn and bamboo needles. I think I will get out my Denise set, and try those. I think that may be the happy marriage of yarn and needles I am looking for on this project.

Being glad to be done with the boring boy socks is one thing, however, I think for volleyball tournaments, socks are right level of knitting attention. I have the log cabin to work on, for mindless knitting, but it is starting to be too big to carry around. I will be casting on for another pair of socks for the young man. This next pair will have the dark blue as ribbing at the top of the sock (just 44 stitches cast on for the next pair), for about two inches, to be followed by about four inches of the dark green in stockinette stitch, blue heel flap, plain green foot, ended with blue toes. Although it is a toss up between 44 stitches on the size fours or 48 stitches dropping down to size threes. I will have to test up some of the yarn on threes, to see if it is too dense.

Not So Boring Boy Socks

Not long after I posted the other day, I had Joe try on what was done of the sock. I wanted to make sure it was comfortable for him. He felt it was too big, and would not stay up. Trip to the frog pond it was. I cast on 8 fewer stitches, and I am almost to where I was, I think I am past the picture again. The reason they are now the 'Not so boring boy socks' is they are not going to be solid blue. He saw the green I am going to make the next pair out of, and requested the heel flaps and toes be green. OK, so they are still not the most entertaining knit, but I have color changes to look forward to after awhile. The green pair will now have blue heels and toes. Fairly daring for him. I have another inch and a quarter of the first leg, and then I will be onto the heel flap. I have about 10 hours of knitting time each day this weekend at volleyball tournaments. I am pretty sure at least one pair of socks will be completed prior to the end of the weekend. I am a bit of a slow knitter, but 20 hours of knitting, or close to it, I should get quite a bit knocked out.

I will attach a picture later today, but it really does not look substantially different at this point. Maybe later it will, and it will be a more interesting picture.

Goal Accountability and Boring Boy Socks

The month is not yet over, but I do have some goal accountability to report.

Washcloths...three done. No pictures, yet, and I may not get a picture of all three, as the Nine-patch, oldest daughter snagged and used almost fresh off the needles, and stained the white parts with pink lipstick. (Couldn't she have grabbed one of the older green varigated?)

I was making a Christmas present.

I found out a friend is traveling to New Hampshire, and does not have a good 'traveling' scarf. Her only scarf is very long, and not friendly for planes.

I finished the present, however, it is not going to be saved for Christmas. It is gifted. I am not going to have time to make another gift this month.

The rest of this month is going to be spent knitting boring boy socks.

Son of mine is going to be leaving for outdoor school in about 10 days. He does not have appropriate hiking type socks. He is 10 years old, and does not want socks that would be fun to knit. He wants plain, thick socks. I am knitting some navy blue (actually indigo, but close enough) socks, k2p2, mens size 9.5. He is going to get pampered feet, 100% merino superwash, which is lovely to knit. The next pair is going to be dark green. I have gotten consent to use a bit more of a pattern p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k1 repeat. I have two 10 hour days of sitting and watching the girls play volleyball this weekend. I will get them done. It is mindless knitting for sitting in the stands. He will have happy feet. At least he wants handknits, and wears what I make him.

I may take a break and make another Nine Patch washcloth. He needs to bring his own for camp.

Goals, not resolutions for the Coming Year

These are knitting goals for the coming year. May be a really simple list, but it gives me something to shoot for and keep track of throughout the year.

1. Knit a Christmas gift a month. Even if I do not know who the gift is for at the time I knit it.
2. Knit an item to be donated to the clothing ministry at church every month.
3. Knit Kristin a modified CPH (she does not care for the cables on the back. We may or may not come to a meeting of the minds on this.)
4. Knit two dish/face clothes per month. (This can be combined with item one, if more than 2 are knit and they are in all in a color family.)
5. Make notable progress on Jessica's lizard ridge.
6. finish Kristin's Log Cabin/start a blanket for Joe.

Around the first of each month, I will post my progress on each of these goals.

Boxing Day

I am not quite sure where the time has gone since my last post. Probably to knitting, and kids Christmas programs, and Church activities, and spending time with friends.

That being said, I did knit several (seven) Christmas gifts this year. This is actually the first year I have felt I my finished product was good enough to give to another person. Not exactly true, I got back to knitting and crocheting by helping DD #1 a few years ago, but that was just a garter stitch scarf.

I am a fortunate person, I knit for 5 fairly spoiled kids/teens, not related to me, four hats, one scarf. Not only where the knitted items not scoffed at, they were all donned and exclaimed over by the giftees. Several of the parental units know that I knit, but were astounded at the finished items. In fact, one of those parental units told me (back when I only considered my scarves worth giving) not to bother knitting for her or her parents, handknits would not be worn. Her 8 year old daughter, who will not normally wear anything on her head, would not take off the hat.

I will post the pictures I have of some of the items (not all were photographed) to go with the post. Actually, one of my other pleased as punch reactions, is, none of those hats came from a pattern, I just made them up as I went along.

Paying it Forward

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I have seen this on a couple of blogs, and now I have signed up. I would love to make gifts for the first three people who sign up. My handmade gifts will probably be knitting oriented.

No, you don't know me, but yes, three people should respond! OK, it could take quite awhile for me to get three comments, but I really would like to do this.

Unoriginal Hat

So, the weather is getting cooler around here (it is supposed to be in the 30's when they are leaving for school.) Friday night I cast on for the Unoriginal Hat by the Yarn Harlot. I used two strands of Patons SWS held together on size 10 dpns (I like dpns.) Good thing she has a small head and straight hair, otherwise it would be pretty small on her. For Kris it works. I have the yarn to make a second hat for oldest child, and she is not shying away from this hat. (Normally, she says she will not wear hand knits.) While the kids were all at Volleyball practice, I ran to my closest lys, to grab some size 11 dpns. She was out of stock. However, she is going to her supply house in the morning, and will pick some up for me and give me a call. That is great customer service, as far as I am concerned. The entertaining part is, as I was wandering and looking to see everything (hello...two hours, no kids...) another lady came in, looking for dpns, size 11 and size 13. She was added to the list of needles to pick up and people to call. The store owner is an older lady (she is in her 80's) and such a lovely person. I enjoy visiting with her whenever I go in there. I don't necessarily regard that lys as my 'favorite.' But it is a very close second. I really enjoy seeing the owner, and visiting with her.

My favorite lys is much further from my house, but it has a much better selection. The customer service is every bit the equal of this lady, and the charm of the store is much greater. However, I know I am really lucky to have three actual yarn stores in less than five miles from my house. Two are wonderful, the third I only go to in dire straights.

KIP Story

It has been a LONG time since I have blogged anything, but I have a story to share.

Sunday, I was knitting on my Log Cabin blanket while my kids were at Volleyball tryouts. I had just finished with the mauve and was figuring out the next few colors to use. So, the blanket was spread out on the gym floor, and I was switching around my potential colors. The kids were having a water break and a young man, I know he was between the ages of 14 and 17, I would guess he is in the older part of the range, grabbed his cell phone and ran up to the spread out blanket, snapped a quick picture. He looked at me, bright smile, and stated "I have to show this to my Mom." My kids 'accept' that I love to knit and are no longer phased by my knitting in public. My oldest has come to accept her friends think it is neat to watch the progression of various projects, and even her friends asking me about my knitting. But, for a guy total stranger to run up and take a picture of my knitting, they were shocked and surprised.

I can see a handknit hat in the young man's near future.

Mom's Birthday

Mom's birthday was yesterday. I got the wristwarmers done, but they are still sitting at my house. Of course, Mom has gone to her Mom's house, and won't be back until next week, so they can be waiting in her P O Box when she gets home, along with Tucker's bibs.

I am so lucky to have the Mom I have, and to still have her. She was almost killed in a car accident 10 years ago. The accident was 15 days before my son was born, so I remember it very well. It was a bit entertaining to be standing the waiting room of a level 5 trauma center and have a Doctor look at me, and offer to transport me to a different hospital. They don't deliver babies. He was actually relieved when I told him I wasn't there for me, I was there for my Mom and she was in X-Ray. He was pretty glad to get me out of the waiting room, and back in her curtain area. They didn't care to have a pregnant lady in the waiting area.

My Mom is truly an amazing lady. She has survived and endured so much, and yet retains her faith in God and in people. I am forever grateful she is my Mom. As I have told her, she may not have been the perfect Mom, but she is the perfect Mom for me. My Mom was infamous for getting to the gym, just as I was walking off the court when I played Volleyball and Basketball in HS. I am not sure she ever actually saw me play, but she was always there.

So, in the last week, for knitting, I knit Mom's wristwarmers, finished a burp cloth for the great granddaughter of some people I go to church with, worked on my daughter's lizard ridge blanket, worked on Banff for me, and the second sock of the first pair of socks I have knit with actual sock yarn.

I also got the Interweave sock book. I am eager to get to the toe of the sock, because the directions in the Interweave book for grafting the toe, look clearer than any other directions I have seen. It is the drawings that go along with the instructions that make it so clear. Unfortunately, I am just on the ribbing at the top, so it will be awhile before I get there. There are some really neat patterns in there, so I will constantly have socks going for awhile. I need to get another small project going (dishcloth type) that I can just keep in the van. I do lots of waiting for my kids in the van, so it is helpful to have something in there at all times.

And, thanks for the comments and welcome to blogland.

My Baby Has a Birthday

Ten years ago today my youngest baby was born. He was such a sweet little thing. He is still a sweet thing, but no longer so little. He is a charming and funny little boy. I couldn't be more pleased with who he is, kind, caring and empathetic.

Tonight I finished up the Log Cabin bib I was knitting for my nephew. Tomorrow I should have some pictures to post. Directly after that I cast on some Irish Hiking wrist warmers for my Mom's birthday next week. Lately, everything I have been knitting has been either knitting or ribbing. I figure the cables will be a nice change of pace, for a quick knit.