what is the point?

What is the point? Last week you asked if she was going to do something specific. The answer was no, and what she is doing instead. You then launched on, if she was going to do the specific thing, it was up to her to pay for it, and get rides. What is the point, you had been told she was not going to do it and why. Was it that important to say you were unwilling to help?

What is the point? I was having a conversation with that person when you walked up, positioned yourself between us, back to him, and started talking with me. You are 72, not two, you would have been rather intolerant of me had I been so rude to you at any point in my life.

What is the point? Have I done this yet? Yes, and this is the result. Well then you need to do it again, because you don’t have the answer for me I want.

What is the point? Does she need money for this? No, she doesn’t, it isn’t a sport. Oh, wait, you actually listened to an answer rather than going ahead with your pre-determined lecture.

What is the point of pretending to ask and listen to an answer, when you are just using it for a launching point of a lecture? The pretext is old, if you are going to lecture, just get it done already, rather than pretending it is an off the cuff response to my answer.

I am hoping to get Wingspan to the 50% mark today. We will see if it happens.

  

Day 4

The girls ended up in 4^th place at the district tournament yesterday. It ended up being a very long day. The matches were scheduled for an hour and a half each, but almost every match went well past that mark. By the third match of the day, they were already an hour behind schedule, and it got worse as the day progressed. The match that was supposed to start at 6 was not finished until well after 9. The fans got their money’s worth!

I got my Wingspan mistake ripped out, and got it back on the needles prior to leaving for the tournament yesterday. That was in the first section. I have eight rows completed of the third section at this point. I am wondering if I can get it completed in time to wear it at state this coming weekend.

 

 

 

Day 3

The boys won their game last night. They are on to the first round of state playoffs next Saturday. It is a game they are very capable of winning. Winning does take teamwork, a place where this group of boys has been lacking.

The girls are playing today for seeding in the state tournament. They need to win two matches to get the third place seeding. They have played all of the three teams they could face, and have split with the team they are playing first. The loss was on the opponents home court, with homer officials. At our home court, with what I am going to call neutral officials, they won. Today is neutral court (although our girls are probably more comfortable in that gym) and neutral officials. I hope our girls really go to play. The second match, well, it depends on the outcome of the two prior matches. Take that as it comes. As the official scorer for all of our matches today, I can only assure the book is kept correctly.

Working on Wingspan, all knit, all the time, right? Well, except when you are slipping a stitch at the start of the rows. So why the heck last night in the car did I purl back a row? Yeah, I am a happy camper, I have to go visit the frog pond. I want to get that done, and get it back on the needles (alpaca on addi lace needles) before getting into the bouncy bus to go to the district game. We may be taking vans to the district tournament rather than riding the bus today. I know we are taking vans and a car to the state tournament rather than a bus. Makes sense, less fuel and the district doesn’t have to pay a driver, plus driver meals, plus driver room while staying at the tournament.

I am composing this blog post in word, rather than in blogger, and I really hate the grammar checker in word. It is inaccurate if you do not use standard sentence structure. One of the sentences in the prior paragraph had to be recomposed three times before it didn’t get the green underline. In my head I was able to diagram the sentence and verify it was not a fragment, but it was still getting flagged. I had a composition teacher in high school that made use diagram sentences. I hated it, but it was a great tool. Diagraming sentences is not as bad when you can use pen and paper. I had an instructor in college who made us diagram sentences on a typewriter. (They existed prior to word processing applications.) That REALLY sucked.

Day 2

Last night the girls unfortunately lost.  They can do no better than 3^rd in District playoffs.

Tonight, the boys football team is playing their crossover game. They won home field advantage, but because of the condition of the field, it is not considered to be playable, so they will be playing on the turf in Centralia. If they win, they will be in the first round of playoffs next week against Raymond in Aberdeen.

In knitting news, I started working on Wingspan last night, and it is a rather addictive knit. I can see why this is such a popular item. Knitting is easy and rhythmic, great mindless knitting.

Long time no blog

Blogging again, going to try blogging for a month again, and keep it up, maybe sporadically. I thought about going for the novel, but that really isn’t my type of writing.

So this evening, I will be keeping score for DD#2’s volleyball team, on their quest for state seeding. They have already punched their ticket for state, now all that is left is to try and get the best seed they can, going into state. Going into district, they got the worst seed they could, and still make it, and then punched their ticket the first night. They played a five set and a four set match to earn their way. Winning six out of nine games in one night is earning your way there.

Riding the bus I may start working on a different knitting project, as my current project is losing its portability. I am working on a sweater of my own design for DD#2, and right now I have the back on the circular needle I used up to the divide, and the front is on straights, a bit cumbersome but not too bad. I am going to start a set of wrist warmers for DD#1, she has complained her office is cold, and her birthday is coming up.

I was going to blog ahead what is on tap for tomorrow evening, but I think I will save that for tomorrow’s blog fodder.

Talk to you tomorrow.

10 on Tuesday Freezer Edition

So, what is in the freezer right now...well, lots of stuff...

1. Strawberries, uncut, sliced and mashed for making freezer jam.
2. Marionberries whole for using however we want.
3. Blueberries, whole and ready for oatmeal, pancakes, muffins or in a crisp
4. Salmon, step brother has caught quick a few, and they are in our freezer right now.
5. Chicken, always have to have chicken, it is a staple at our house.
   
6. Green beans from the garden, both bush beans and pole beans.
7. Corn, from the garden.
8. Clams, Sonny boy is quite the clam digger and we have plenty of razor clams.
9. Pork, got half a pig from some friends.
   
10. Ice cream, a must at our house.
    

There are lots of other things, but the home frozen berries and veggies are what stand out when you open the freezer.

Busy time

Last night was a work appointment at the end of the work day, followed by Sonny Boy's football game. They won, 49-28. It was a far closer game than the score indicates. Yes, it was a middle school game, but the coaches don't make an effort to run up the score on other teams. As a matter of fact, first game of the season, the starters were pulled before the first half was over, as they were simply having their way with the other team.

Tonight, the Volleyball team came here for dinner prior to their match. A well played match at that, but we came up on the short end of the stick. The ref was a friend of mine from high school, she did say my daughter is a joy to watch play.

So, I missed blogging yesterday, failed in my blogtoberfest bid, but I am going to keep blogging on a far more regular basis.

I just started a test knit, and I like it so far. But I will not be posting pictures of it. I will be posting pictures of other projects, and things.

10 Things to love about Fall

10 on Tuesday

10 Things to love about Fall

1. Cool, crisp air. For me, this makes for good sleeping, I like to have the room cool and to snuggle down under the covers.
2. Sweater weather. I have always liked sweaters, but now that I can make my own, even better.
3. Rain. I am a native to the Pacific NW, rain is part of my life, and hearing rain fall reinforces the coziness of home.
4. Homecoming parades. As one of the teachers may have said, it is a cheesy little parade, but it is OUR cheesy little parade.
5. Volleyball. I love volleyball, and even though my girls have played nearly year around, there is something special about the High School season, as opposed to club.
6. Football and Cheerleading. All my kids are involved in this, in one way or another, family bonding and fun. Sonny Boy is good at football, and sports make him work harder in school, no grades, no play, works for me.
7. The smell of woodsmoke from fireplaces. A cozy smell of fall.
8. The colors as the leaves turn, such a rich palette, and colors I can wear.
9. Soup for dinner, rich savory homemade soups. I love it.
10. New crop apples, fresh and freshly pressed apple cider, and apple cider just as it starts to develop the tang before it turns to apple jack.

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Kids going back to school is another good reason, but that part of my life is on the downhill slide. After 17 years, the number of kids in school by requirement is going down. College is different, as they have a choice about going, rather than going to school because they are told to go.

Dang, I think I missed Monday

But, then again, maybe I didn't, as I have not yet been to bed. Worked the gate at a MS JV football game, then went to the MS volleyball game. Watched as good friends daughter crashed and burned. Middle schoolers mom is at a hospital 2 hours north, with a different family member. Went with them to the ER as substitute Mom (complete with all the release paperwork explained and handed to me, I refused to sign the discharge papers, made Dad do that.) Dad is great for a lot of things, but sometimes teenage girls want a mom shoulder to cry on.

I will post my 10 on Tuesday later.

Day 3 of Blogtoberfest

Homecoming picture from October 2, 2o1o.

DD #2 and her date for Homecoming. They had such a pretty day for Homecoming. She is actually wearing 4 inch heels and is still that much smaller than he is.

Today I feel as if I have accomplished quite a bit. Made breakfast for DD #2, Sonny Boy and their cousin. Sonny Boy helped, he made the scrambled eggs. DD # 2 did clean up and swept the house. Good kids. Then I did the meal planning for the week, with the kids. Thursday is easy, chicken fettucine alfredo, caeser salad, garlic bread and probably a berry crisp, for 20. The volleyball team and coaches are coming for dinner, plus Sonny Boy, DD #1, Boyfriend, coaches daughter and Boyfriend's little sister. I hit Costco for the groceries, put them away, walked on the treadmill for an hour and knit, now I am blogging.

I am over halfway done with the knitting on the baby blanket. Tonight I will do some more seaming on the blanket and possibly take a picture to post tomorrow.

Homecoming

Tonight is Homecoming for DD #2. In an effort to save money, I am going to make her date's boutonniere. Homecoming is not exactly formal around here, he is wearing Jordan's and a hat to complete his outfit, and I do not mean fedora or bowler, cap would be a more appropriate description. The boys won the football game last night, 55-0, so they have some reason to celebrate. It might be more impressive if the other team had actually won a game so far this year.

Pictures to come later.

Blogtoberfest Day 1

Fall is here and it is a busy time of year. DD #1 is cheering for a college football team. She got dropped from a full extension in practice earlier this week, so she will NOT be cheering at the game this weekend. College is going well for her, but she is finding out she really is much faster paced than HS.

DD #2 is playing volleyball, starting as an outside hitter for the varsity team, as a sophomore. She was also chosen as one of the team captains. So she has practice three nights a week and matches two nights a week. They are a very young team, and the season thus far has not gone quite as they would like. They are growing as a team.

Sonny boy is playing MS football, starting as a lineman on both offense and defense. They are undefeated, but he was rather disappointed with the game last night. He didn't get to sack the quarterback the entire game, after getting three sacks last week. It was also his first experience with really bad homer officials. I had to laugh, because that was the one place my HS basketball coach (a very fair and balanced individual, teacher first, coach second, a well played loss was better in his mind than a sloppily, lazily played win) actually said the outcome of a game was influenced by the officiating.

On the knitting front, I am working on a baby blanket for my neice who had a son last week. I am more than half way done with the knitting, but I am really getting tired of the project. I will try to post a picture of it tomorrow.

Blogtoberfest

I have committed to Blogtoberfest.

10 on Tuesday -- What is in the 'Fridge

10 on Tuesday Refrigerator edition

Lots and lots of things are in the refrigerator

1. Leftover pork chops from last night. Thought I was cooking for 4 kids who had just finished practice, but only ended up being 2 kids.
2. Parmasen cheese -- it is a staple at our house.
3. Apples -- it is apple season and fresh apples are great.
4. Medicine for Mister. He is one of our cats, and we have some ear medicine in there for him.
5. Milk...we go through gallons, there is always milk in the fridge.
6. Eggs--fresh from a local farmer.
7. Sharp cheddar cheese.
8. Greek yogurt.
9. Ranch dressing, my kids use it on everything, or just about everything.
10. Homemade syrup.

There are many more things in there, but leftovers and locally grown products are the norm.

10 on Tuesday How to Celebrate your Birthday

How to Celebrate your Birthday.

Interesting topic in our household, as we have a few complaints about our natel day. DD #1 is sometimes a Turkey baby, in fact, she is again this year. Fortunately, she likes Turkey and all the trimmings for dinner. DD #2 is mid-summer, all of the friends on vacation ruining her birthday party. Fortunately, her favorite cake is Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes, at least they are in season. Sonny boy is mid-March, has been known to fall during Spring Break, and again friends out of town. Additionally, two older half sisters are the two preceding days. He likes cake, more is good. Their father, his is December 24, and he has his own issues (in oh, so many ways, so he is not in the picture.) I think I have it worst of all, as mine is not even on most calendars three out of four years. That said, ways to Celebrate your Birthday...

1. With Friends and Family.
2. Quietly and with peace.
3. Loudly with exuberience.
4. With 10% off during your birthday month at your favorite LYS.
5. Being pampered and taken care of.
6. With three dozen long stemmed roses being sent to your office (OK, Mom was told to never do that again, long stemmed red roses are FAR too expensive in February.)
7. Without any agenda but what comes to mind.
8. Waking up with friends and/or family singing to you.
9. In college, the year I had a birthday, there were actually two of us in our wing with that birthday. The hallway was decorated in our honor. Generally birthday girls got their door decorated.
10. With love and happiness.

10 on Tuesday -- Why to watch Football

This week's 10 on Tuesday topic is why to watch football

1. My son plays football. This will be his 4th year, and the first year he has played he is one of the older experienced boys. He is starting on all the teams and excited.
2. In small towns, football is the happening social event of fall evenings. You need to see someone in town, go to the football game, they will be there. The last varsity HS football game had around 4000 people at the game. Not bad for a school district with less than 500 kids. (The game was the 2008 State Champs vs the 2009 State Champs.)
3. It is fun to watch football.
4. It is a family event.
5. DD #1 cheers for one of the local college teams. OK, I don't care so much about that team, could care less if they win or lose, but I want to watch the kiddo cheer.
6. Great knitting time, and it is nice to knit wool in cold weather. I work on a blanket for my daughter during football season, one of these years I may even finish it.
7. Great place to show off the hand knits. Again, cool weather and knitting are made to go together.
8. Good fund raiser for the High School. Parents do a lot of fund raising at the football games, and the funds help all of the High School teams.
9. Root for the home team. Support the local kids.
10. Being involved with my kids and showing that I support what they regard as important.

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.