Simple Woman Daybook - July 17

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it is hot.  The sun is shining and it is hot and humid.  When I left the house this morning at 5:30, it was 78 degrees.

I am thinking... it has been awhile since I posted on Daybook.  I have missed it.

I am thankful... for Dave.  He is my strength and love.

In the kitchen... not much.  It is too hot.  We are having leftovers from Saturday.  I made a sausage, pasta, vegetable dish and there is enough for leftovers.

I am wearing...black slacks (no surprise there), green/blue/black scoop necked shirt and white cotton sweater (it is, after all, cold in the office)

I am creating...wingspan . . . only ten more rows to go.

I am going... to sit in my office and read at lunch.

I am wondering... whether I could get away with taking my heels off and walking over to get a cup of coffee without them.  My feet hurt

I am reading... Hostage by Robert Crais

I am hoping... to finish Hostage during lunch

I am looking forward to...seeing my sisters this weekend at the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival

I am learning . . . to say no

Around the house... We've added Bella, the kitten.

I am pondering... wondering why we got a kitten.

A favorite quote for today... Sing Anyway

One of my favorite things... when my hair is long enough to put into a French twist and get it off my neck.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . have a Frontline meeting tomorrow (need to do my "homework" for that, working on Wingspan (just gotta get that baby done) and working at Z's swim meet on Thursday

A peek into my day... work, walking, picking up Lindsey at work.

And here is a pic of Bella and Z . . .

Please go visit Peggy!

its just too hot . . .

to knit.

I have two projects that are just this side of getting done.  Wingspan needs about ten more rows and a neck edging.  The entrelac scarf needs more length . . .

But it is too hot to knit.  In the summer, I will sit on the back porch and knit in the evening.  It isn't too bad, even when its hot.  However, we have a new member in our family:

Bella will NOT leave my knitting alone.  She thinks that her purpose in life is to attack the yarn.  Very funny. Kind of irritating.

So if I am on the porch knitting, she is helping me. Therefore, I am not knitting.  Instead, I play with Bella.

And it is just too hot to knit in the house.  Of course, I could break out some cotton and do cloths or something but instead, I turn on the fans and read.

Just finished "Hostage" by Robert Crais.  It was very very good.  I, by the way, love my Nook Tablet.

busy things . . . lazy days

Busy things . . . lazy days.

An oxymoron, I know . . . we should have been busy all weekend.  We are having company next weekend and leaving on vacation the following weekend.  Dave spent Saturday cutting the grass (an acre of grass takes all day).  Lindsey had class downtown on Saturday, so I drove her down, went to the office, left at 10:00 to go to a memorial service, went back to the office and she called at 3:00 for me to pick her up.  I then dropped her off at a friend's house as they were going to a graduation party.  I then had to go pick her up at 7:00 p.m. because she was going out and needed to be home because she was going to another graduation party.  Not a problem.

On Sunday, Dave said that he was going to weed-wack around our fence, another all day project and wanted to know what I had plans.  Ummm, nothing.  I did reorganize some things in the yarn department, dusted the upstairs and cleaned my bathroom, but that is just a normal occurrence and doesn't count.  I also cleaned the van (not the windows . . . Dave does the windows) but wiped down all the dust, dead bugs, cleaned up the trash, etc.  He then decided that he wasn't going to weed wack the fence but was going to sit outside on the back porch and drink a beer and wanted to know if I wanted to join him.  I love our back porch.  We have three rocking chairs, shades that we put down and lots of trees for additional shade (although you can't tell from this pic).  We also have barn swallows that are nesting on top of one of the shades so we were watching the birds flit in and out of the nest and diving into the pool for water.

Now, anyone who knows my hubby, knows that he rarely just sits.  But sit we did.  Through two beers.  Then I took a nap.  Of course, while I napped, Dave vacuumed the kitchen rugs and put them away for the summer.

For the record, Lindsey can, on a regular basis, say things to me that send me from zero to bitch in 30 seconds flat.  Last week was the last couple days of school for Zachariah and Dave.  Zachariah had school through Wednesday, as did Dave, but Dave had to go in on Thursday to clean his room.  Lindsey had work (noon to five) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the chlorine levels were whacked and they sent her home by 2:00.  She did go over a neighbors house for an hour or so every morning to calm their dogs (they are getting a new roof).

Once Dave is off from school, I leave the house in the morning to catch the 6:00 a.m. bus.  So on Thursday and Friday, I was in the office by 6:30 a.m. and left at 5:00 p.m.  This past Wednesday, my employer had our quarterly update meeting at the Browns Stadium at lunch time.  It was great fun and I was recognized especially as June 19th is my 40th anniversary of working for the Firm.  Yep 40 years.

So, getting back to Lindsey, after we got home at 7:15 or so, she had gotten dressed for the second party and came downstairs and wanted me to hook a bracelet or something.  I looked at her nails (she does have beautiful nails) but they all were only half polished, laughed and said "considering you knew what you were doing this weekend and that you've been home most of the week, I would have thought you would have fixed your nails."  She informed me that "I worked this week."  Really????  I looked at her and laughed.  To her face, laughed.  Ten hours, maybe?  Aghhh.  I then compounded the grievance and pointed out to her that I worked more than forty hours this week.  Her response was priceless:  "You should.  You are forty years older than me and I have four jobs, you only have one!"  She was indignant.  Seriously??  Pissed me off.  Really!  Zero to bitch in 30 seconds.

I did forget that yes, she does teach an hour swimming class on Sunday mornings and starting this week, she will be working at another job for about 10.5 hours each week.  And maybe, if they can get their schedules together, she will be teaching another private swimming class three mornings this week, maybe.  So, lets see, if I combine all of her hours and potential hours over the last and next week, she will have worked 40.5 hours.  In two weeks.  Really!

Oh and the coming and going and fetching and carrying for her . . . she is pushing it because, we have told her for years, that she can get her drivers' license when she has saved up a year's worth of insurance, in advance.  At the rate that she goes through money, she will be 40 before she does that AND wouldn't THAT be poetic.

a little more wingspan

A little more wingspan.  The silk is "heftier" than the alpaca.  Or the alpaca is softer.  So I used the alpaca on the first wedge, the black silk on the second wedge.  I am using a red and black wool for the third and will use a solid black wool blend on the fourth and then decide where I am going to go from there.  

As promised, the info from the ball band from the alpaca reads as follows:

Baby Alpaca Yarn w/10% Tencel

2 ply Sport weight 2 oz or 150 yards

Color:  Ameritrust II

Fiber from NE Ohio alpacas, spun locally 

and Hand painted by us.

___________________________________

Alpaca Fiber Studio

www.alpacafiberstudio.com

Robbie Grodin  216-849-8850  rgrodin@roadrunner.com

Donnie Christley  440-285-4251  mmfalpaca@aol.com

The cost per skein was $16.  Worth every penny.  I would like to fill a tub with this stuff and roll in it, but I couldn't afford it.  I wish you could feel this stuff.  Really.  It is fabulous.  I think when I am done with the wedges, I am going to add an border on the top edge in the alpaca so that what is close to my face will be this luscious stuff.

fun weekend . . . might explain the exhaustion

You know when someone calls you or send you an email that starts something like "so, whatcha doing Saturday?" and you cringe.  Its not that you don't want to spend time with them or have really outlandish plans (washing the hair comes to mind), its just that "Saturday?  Really?"  I mean who has time to do "things" on Saturdays?

Well anyway, one of my older sisters, Peg, emailed me Thursday wanting to know if I were busy on Saturday.  "no, not really."  "Good, I'll pick you up at 9:15."  The upside to this is that my swimming class (I do deep water aerobics) was cancelled for Saturday morning.

True to her word, she was at my house at 9:15 and we were on the road by 9:20.  She took me to this wonderful little shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio (about 50 minutes from my house).  It is called Alpaca Fiber Studio and is run by a wonderful woman, Robbie Grodin.  She is an artist in her own right and was setting up for a class of needle felting.

She raises alpaca.  Who wouldn't love this face:

I have fallen head over heals in love with her yarns.  I bought some truly luscious stuff and am going to make wingspan (hopefully).  It was sooooo tough to make a decision but I had limited myself to spending no more than $40 and since she doesn't take credit cards, it is relatively easy to do (especially since my hubby went to do the grocery shopping and took the check book and my sister didn't tell me about the credit card thing until it was too late).  But look at some of this stuff:

oh, and this is just a wee bit of it as she had bins of the stuff because next week is the Great Lakes Fiber Show in Wooster, Ohio and she is going to be there selling her stuff.  I'll definitely remember my checkbook for that little venture.  

In any event, I bought two skeins of this luscious alpaca.  The band is at home and I will update the post tomorrow with the name.  In any event, the wingspan seems to be an easy pattern and is going relatively quickly.  I am using the alpaca (which is the reddish yarn) and black silk that I got at Birds of a Feather . . . another favorite place.

Just a bit more . . . or Oh Crap

I am making the City Tweed Dropped-Stitch Shawl for me.  It needs to be finished today, so that I can block it tonight, so that I can pack it on Saturday to take with me to Texas on Sunday.  Now, some people will wonder why I would feel the need to take a shawl with me to Texas in May and it is simple, when the temp in the evening, it feels really cool.  So I thought that this would be a perfect solution.  I am making it of a fingering weight so it will be light but sufficient to keep my arms warm.  The one place I know for sure I will wear it will be at an evening event that I've attended in the past.  It is outside and we will spend lots of time under the stars.  

So, you know when you are tooling along on a knitting project and you are getting close to the end and you keep feeling up the quickly disappearing ball of yarn and know, just know, you will have enough to finish . . . and you get to the end, cast off and have six inches left.  It is a great feeling.  Truly.  

Then there are the times when you are tooling along on a knitting project and you are getting close to the end and you keep feeling up the quickly disappearing ball of yarn and know, just know, you will have enough to finish . . . and you all of a sudden realize that not only are you running out of yarn but you have six more inches of knitting to do.  It is truly a sick feeling.  

So last night I sat with my knitted project and thought "I'll just bind off and be done with it.  It is for me anyway."  And then I realized that I had inches left to knit, probably about twenty rows.  Granted, those our decreaseing rows but it also includes at least four more dropped stitch rows.  

You can see from the pic below from where I cast on (on the left - circled in red) and the matching, oh wait, missing piece on the right (circled in yellow), with the wee bit of yarn that is left.  

Just so that we are clear, this is what I had left on the skein.

But, there is an upside.  I have another full skein of the yarn.  I was going to make fingerless mitts with the other skein but I will have to wait and see exactly how much of it I use up.

Me time. Is that allowed?

Wow, it has been awhile.  I am so busy.  I thought last year was busy but this year is has been busier.  However, and I know this sounds strange, we have been taking time to just do nothing.  Does that make sense?  I think part of the reason that I am busier is that I am carving out "me time."

So, you might ask, "how does that work?" and "how do I get me some of that?"  It is, in many respects, relatively easy.  Because I cannot justify just sitting around or, frankly, doing only one thing at a time, my first stop (as it has been for years and years) is the local library.  We are very lucky in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.  We have one of the best ranked libraries in the country.    Really!!!  For our population, our library is ranked number 1 in 2010 (I don't think the rankings have been published for 2011).  For a point of reference, Cleveland is the county seat for Cuyahoga County.  Yes, Cleveland.  Yes, in Ohio.  Cuyahoga County Public Library is a jewel.  We go there at least once a week.  Currently, the schedule is to go to the library after swimming on Saturday mornings.  Zachariah prowls and usually goes on the computer.  Me, I sit.  I listen to a book on a playaway (book on a little MP3 player thingee . . . it is something you can check out from the library and they are getting more and more books on these things).  Anyway, I sit.  I listen to a book.  I knit.  There is a very nice sitting area in our local library branch, with a fountain and comfy chairs.  We usually spend about 60 to 90 minutes there.

Boom.  60 to 90 minutes of me time.  Just like that!

I take the bus.  Again, on the bus, I listen to playaways and knit.  I think my fellow bus riders enjoy watching my latest projects grow.  I take the park and ride bus.  The park and ride is about ten minutes from my house.  The bus ride in the morning takes about 30 minutes and then I have a seven minute walk to my office.  Going home, I leave work at 5:15 and am usually in my car headed home by 6:10.

Boom.  Approximately two hours of me time.  Oh, yeah!

During the winter, I often spend my lunch hour listening to books (either on CD or a playaway) and knit.  Now that the weather is getting nicer, I will be walking at lunch but, again, I can still listen to a book while I walk.

Boom.  60 minutes of me time.

Now, you may think that I probably had this time before, but while I did, I didn't take advantage of it.  We would zip into the library, grab some books or movies, race out, stop at the store, do more running around etc.

On the bus, I would be checking my blackberry, sending emails, listening to stupid messages, etc., and basically working my way to, well, work.

And at lunch, I often would sit in my office and, again, work.

The funny thing is that I have discovered that I am much more relaxed and don't have a problem grabbing time to just sit and knit and read and taking time to just relax.   The only and I mean the only issue that I have is that when I am not taking time to relax, I am so very very busy.  LOL.

and other knitting

I also forgot about this hat.  I had sent it along to Lindsey without getting pics on a head . . .

This is again, the three tams pattern from Knitty.com.

 

 I made it for Lindsey and sent it to her for 18th birthday and told her to be sure and send me some pics.  Ta da . . . 

She even took pics off the head.  Again, I've got to tell you, this is an easy pattern and using solid and variegated gives you lots of color changes and variety and you only have to do a bit of changing yarn.  You just carry the yarn behind as you follow the pattern.

 

Of course, being that she is 18 and has informed us that since she is now an adult and can do whatever she wants, whenever she wants, she will probably go back to school and shred the hat . . . or her favorite thing is that she will give it away.  Sigh.

April 15 2012 Swap - from Nate

So, I was very surprised to get a box . . . I looked at the label and it said Nathan Lamirand.  Isn't it funny that when you are so used to think of someone using their nickname that when they use their full name, it causes you (or at least me) to go "who?"

Then it clicked in and I was very excited.  I opened the box and it was bright . . . really, really bright.  This is a perfect bag to carry my knitting or for shopping or taking on vacation with the summer reading that was also included.

Nate also included books by some of my most favorite authors.  Kathy Reichs, James Patterson, Robert Ludlum.  I have to admit that I have already read two of the books BUT the cool thing is that I can share them with my swappee . . . since I haven't finished to put the package together yet . . . I not only have the box to send the stuff in but I have some books to include . . . and they are awesome reads.  Really, really good.

Nate also included two skeins of yarn.  The yarn is very soft.  I like to make hats for our Christmas hat/mitten/scarf tree and these yarns are perfect for that project.  The yarns are soft and the colors are lovely.  

And here is the box unpacked . . . six books, two skeins of yarn and the incredible bag.  I really love the colors in the bag.  

Thanks so much, Nate.  It is a great box.

Oh, look, I've been knitting . . .

I know that it has been awhile but for those of you who think that I've just been sitting around eating bon-bons and watching tv . . . I haven't. 

I cleaned, organized and discarded mucho stuff, including tons of yarn that for whatever reason I had purchased and ended up not liking or couldn't stand working with (i.e., eyelash yarn).  I frogged things that I had started but didn't have a pattern for.  I sorted by yarn type and put things away.  I told the yarn to behave itself and not to get tangled together.  AND, I put a framed note on the cabinets to remind my children that the area is not a dumping ground for their junk . . . the note did not go over well, but I didn't think it would and, frankly don't care.

I also have a friend that gave me yarn when her mom passed away.  It was bright acrylics and I sent it to my son's school for a service project that the students were doing for a local senior center.  They were covering hangers and needed acrylics . . . the brighter the better.

My younger daughter informed me that she wanted a tam.  With a flower on it.  I did make a flower but attached a pin to the back so that she could remove it.  This first and second pic are from that tam.  The pattern came from knitty.com.   It is called three tams.  This was Tam B.

I had so much fun with it, that I made another one for my older daughter.  I liked everything about this pattern.  The corrugated rib (seen in the pic just above), is easy but adds a fun element.  Using a variegated yarn makes the whole thing fun.  The one above had long repeats while the one below did not.  There was a definite difference in how they looked but since I have knitter's adhd, the changing patterns kept me interested.  



then I had some Knitpicks Chromo and started making fetchings.  That pattern too came from Knitty.com.  I've made these in the past with a heavier yarn.  I actually like them better in this lighter yarn.  It would perfect when you are working on your computer (or knitting) and your hands are getting cold.

 And finally, I am using Chromo and making an entrelac scarf.  I LOVE entrelac.  It takes FOREVER but it is fun to do and with this yarn and the changes, just really great fun.

Knitted Jewelry

What I have been doing at lunch.  It is a very slow go.  It is basically thread and beads and size 0 needles.

You string on lots and lots of beads.  The bigger round ones are magnetic.  The stuff to the left is what I have knitted.  The stuff to the right is the string with beads.  And see those wee tiny needles.  My thumbs are sore.

So unusual . . . January in Cleveland

“Forgive all who have offended you, 

not for them, but for yourself.” 

~Harriet Nelson

Knock on wood but we have had one of the mildest winter on record.  We had the rainest 2011 and a super mild winter.  

This is out my office window on January 13.  It was, so far, the worst day of the winter.  About 2 minutes before I took this picture, you could only see the trees and not any of the other buildings.  It was horribly blustery and cold and took me two hours to get home.  In fact, my husband called and told me I should leave early because the drivers were being stupid.  The usual.

 Today the weather is absolutely gorgeous.  Current temperature is 58 with the low being 47.  I am so excited. I am going to open windows.  Oops, my windows don't open but look at this view.

Sunshine.  And look . . . you can see the buildings and grass.  And it is January.  In Cleveland.  OMG.

But keeping with the knitting . . . have you seen this pattern:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wingspan-2

I do think that I am going to have to make me one of these.  I especially like the purple and black.

Being organized . . . a bit

Time is strange.
A moment can be as short as a breath, or as long as eternity." 

 ― Cornell Woolrich

We did manage to get all the furniture moved . . . and mostly cleaned up.  I really should have taken pics of before and after.  My grandparents bedroom furniture is really really heavy.  Fortunately, all we needed to move was a dry sink, a dresser and a chest of drawers.  Zachariah's furniture was almost as heavy but only because it is made of big bulky wood.  It was, at one point, a bunk bed set with a built in dresser and desk.  We took the bunk bed apart years ago but it still was quite cumbersome to move.  Sarah's furniture was the lightest and except for the corner desk was not difficult to move.  It appears that the furniture delivery guys were very diligent when they put the desk together and not only screwed the top to the base but glued it too.

The other problem was the stuff we found.  Some of it is stuff that the kids have just outgrown (a Sponge Bob desk, clothing and many young child type toys).  We have about three boxes of toys, a box of books, four garbage bags full of clothing and other miscellaneous stuff, including many many tote bags that I and the girls had collected over the years.  Plus, Sarah had never taken any of her knick-knacks or mementos from school.  She is getting two boxes of stuff.

First of all Sarah's room had become a dumping ground.  Christmas decorations that were missed and didn't get put away . . . put it in Sarah's room.  Clothes that don't fit . . . put in Sarah's room.  It appears that whenever Lindsey would clean her room, the "stuff" that she didn't want and didn't know what to do with, went in Sarah's room.

It is sort of like my desk in our office downstairs.  Dave's desk is pristine.  When someone picks up something that they don't know what to do with, they put it on my desk.  Makes me crazed.  Of course, the advantage is that when any papers are missing, everyone know where to go look.  Now you have to understand, I do the mail once a week.  The evening before trash day.  We do look through it as it arrives but only those things that are important get pulled and processed.  When I do the mail, invitations or stuff with with dates on them (school info, etc.) get added to the calendar and then clipped to magnet on the fridge.  Once the event is over, the invite, etc. gets recycled.  Bills and invoices are taken care of (I do most payments online).  If a check needs to get written, it is done then and a date is put on the envelope for when it should be mailed.  Junk gets recycled.  Bank statements, etc., come with me to work and are shredded there (we have super heavy duty shredders).  Any of the kids' mail gets put on their place mats for them to deal with and then they reappear on my desk.  Obviously, they think it is a solution.

Anyway, everything is moved.  Zachariah is ensconced in his room.  He did inherit Sarah's feather comforter.  We bought a new duvet and sheets (Target was having a GREAT sale . . . the duvet was $12 and the sheets were $9).  Boys are much simpler than girls.  All he wanted was green or red.  He ended up with green plaid sheets and a reversible duvet.  He is thrilled.  He hung his posters (many of which he had inherited from Sarah . . . David Justice, Jim Thome, Carlos Baerga . . . and some of his own "Celebrate the Whole Boy" is a great poster of young (10 years old or so) football players with one of them playing a violin).  He did keep a small table that had been in the hall.  He wants it for working on Legos.

His former room has my grandparents' furniture and smack dab in the middle is the ironing board.  Obviously, it doesn't take much to excite me because having the ironing board someplace that is easily accessible just thrills me.

Now the job will be to keep people from making all these clean spaces a dumping ground too.  Any suggestions?

so much for resolutions

What fun this weekend was!!

Zachariah spent Thursday night at a friend's home, getting home around noon.  They didn't have school on Friday.  It had snowed, starting late on Thursday and all day Friday.  Zachariah and Lindsey shoveled the driveway (twice) but we only got about five inches.  In any event, I usually am walking in the door at 6:30 but because of the snow, I was walking in the door at 7:30.  Zachariah was barely conscious.  Poor kid.  According to him, they hadn't slept all night.  He ate and was in bed by 8:00.  I told Dave that I wasn't going to wake him to go swimming on Saturday morning.  Scratch that resolution off the list . . . although I did go swimming last Tuesday and Thursday.

Saturday night, I made Chicken Parmesan, tortellini with pesto and fresh pineapple for dinner.  One of my caps came off.  Fortunately, it was on a tooth that had already had a root canal.  You do have to count your blessings where you can find them.  So, instead of moving furniture yesterday, I ended up at the dentist.  I also cleaned off my desk and sorted some things.

For two hours.  Zachariah also had some reports that are due by the end of this week and the end of the month, so he (and I) worked on those.  I really enjoy his teacher, but she does this current events thing that makes me crazed.  This week's current event is due Friday.  The students have to find a current event about Catholic schools or students.  Really???  It takes him forever to right up a full page much less find an article that would work.

As it turned out, on the way to school this morning, Zachariah told me that he wants to "try sleeping" in Sarah's old room first before he moves in there.  Good plan.  I am so glad I didn't move a bunch of furniture only for him to decide that he wanted to move back.

We did celebrate his birthday on Sunday with family and some close friends.  He wanted gift cards to Toys R Us because he was hot after a telescope and figured the only way he could get it is if he could get everyone to give him gift cards.  Smart kid!

Lindsey left to go back to school (Univ. of Dayton).  My sister lives in Northern Kentucky.  She had come up for Zachariah's birthday and offered to drive Lindsey and her friend, Danny, back to school on Sunday.  To be honest, I miss her.  I don't miss the noise nor the chaos.  She was not happy when on Saturday evening, she handed me a list of things that she needed to get before she left.  Face stuff (very descriptive).  Socks (really, she only has about 50 pairs . . . oh, but I don't like those . . . and you didn't get me any for Christmas . . . no, I didn't get you any for Christmas because I had straightened out your drawers and discovered all the damn socks) and boots (you got boots for Christmas . . . but those are not WARM boots, those boots are for wearing when I am going out . . . NOTE:  she picked those boots out and we had this discussion at the time), and she need to go to Target.  On Sunday.  FAT CHANCE, baby.  We went to Rite-Aid for her facial cleanser that the dermatologist recommended when she saw him on January 4.  Yes, a week and a half before she was leaving and she forgot about until we were packing.   I have to give her credit though.  She didn't wait until Sunday to pack.  She waited until Saturday which is when she realized that she was missing some really important stuff.  She also picked out a hat pattern that she wanted me to make her.  So I cast on the hat last evening.  It is in Knitted Accessories.  She didn't have time to pick out the color she wanted so I am combining a green (bright kelly) and cream wool.  It is actually very nice.  She won't like it.  But if she won't wear it, I will.  They left by 4:30 and were safely ensconced in their dorms by 8:30.  Ahhhh, peace and quiet.

brand new endings

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

(Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, 121-180)

So what is 2012 going to bring . . . 

I have not made resolutions (I think) yet.   But I have come up with some ideas of things I want to accomplish.

• I love going to deep water aerobics.  But like any exercise, it is always easy to come up with a reason as to why I don't. So I am going to try to do it at least twice a week.  Definitely on Saturdays since I take Zachariah swimming anyway.  The other two days it is offered is Tuesdays and Thursdays.  There is no reason why I cannot do both as it starts at 8:00 p.m. 
• We are going to move Zachariah's room into the bigger bedroom which had been Sarah's.  It doesn't have a closet but he doesn't need one and doesn't use the one he has.  Given that, I am going to move her furniture (desk, hutch and corner desk) to the hallway and give away some of the toys and stuff that Zachariah has there.  I can put the Mac on the desktop.  I will then move Grandma and Grandpa's bedroom furniture and kitchen table form the hall into his old bedroom which will open up the hallway.
• See the item above . . . once I move him and the furniture around, I am going to go through my stash and organize it.  Items that are on needles that I don't have a pattern with are going to be re-wound and bagged.  Yarn that I don't like and don't want is going to a new home.  Needles are going to be organized.  Knitting books and patterns will be sorted and stored appropriately.  Clean clean clean.

I can make start now and make a brand new ending out of that mess that is my stuff.  Dave will be so happy.  

A little kinder than necessary . . .

“Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight? Always try to be a little kinder than necessary.” 

 ― J. M. Barrie

Isn't that a wonderful thought . . . always try to be a little kinder than necessary.  I would share this with some of my co-workers but they might think that I should be following my own advice . . . LOL.  

But what is the cost of being kind?  For that matter, what is "being kind."  Is it being a bit more considerate?  Being willing to help out a co-worker or friend?  And what about family.  My darling daughter is really charming.  She is funny and kind and sweet and generous.  To her friends and their families.  They all love her and I am told over and over again, how lucky I am to have such a nice and sweet child.  But to be truly honest, I have told her on more than one occasion that it would be "nice" if she treated "us" like she treated her friends. If she makes a promise to a friend, it is written in stone.  If she promises my 10 year old that she will play cards with him, there is always an excuse as to why it doesn't happen.  Unfortunately, it is usually because she has a better offer from one of her friends.  Sigh.  I know it is her age, but . . . 

So, anyway, getting back to being kind.   I guess it would mean being considerate, thinking of others first, staying the course, being true to yourself.  It can be truly easy, sometimes.  And I see some people doing things and think "that is just so nice of them."  One woman on our bus (we are all regulars), knows who is getting on at what stops and who has to run to catch the bus (especially if they are transferring from another bus).  She keeps an eye out for them and sits in the front seat and make sure that no one is running only to miss the bus.  Me, I usually have my nose in my book.  The cost to Joan is nothing.  The result is priceless as it makes some people's days (especially the end of the day) just a little bit more pleasant, only because someone was being kind and looking out for them.

The cashier in our cafeteria always has a kind word for everyone, whether it is about their necklace or a new haircut.  Even those haircuts that are hideous, Lisa will say "you got a change, good for you, it is always good to make a change."  

So, another goal for 2012, not to necessarily make people wonder what drugs I am on, but maybe to try to be a little kinder than necessary

and unto us a child was born . . .

Love one another and you will be happy.
It’s as simple and as difficult as that.

~ Michael Leunig

I do hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  Our's was very nice . . . kind of strange . . . but very nice.  

I have four sisters and two brothers.  My younger sister's oldest son is in the Navy and is currently deployed to Afghanistan.  He is based in Pensacola and that is where his wife and kids live.  Since he isn't home, my sister, her husband and her youngest son, who is in the Air Force and just got home from being deployed, went to Florida to spend Christmas with Michelle and the kids.  She was eternally grateful that they would do that for her.  She couldn't face driving to Ohio by herself and had decided that they would just have a very quiet Christmas.  

My younger brother does all the cooking for his wife, daughters and mother-in-law (she lives with them).  He loves cooking and as a young child plotted to become the Galloping Gourmet.  He became a lawyer instead but loves to cook and try new things.  He also has very bad arthritis so a huge meal takes much out of him but he so enjoys it, no one can talk him out of it.  Eddie's wife, Debbie and their daughters came to our house on Christmas for a couple of hours.  I think he actually kicked them out so he could go at it in peace.  

My younger sister who lives in Kentucky drove up with her husband and 9 year old daughter.  It is a good thing because my 10 year old son insisted it wouldn't be any fun if he was the only kid around.  He and Mary are very close and thoroughly enjoy each other's company and the same things.

One of my older sisters was coming over . . . . but never arrived . . . .  She was going to be going to her youngest daughter's house for Christmas dinner but had said she would be stopping by for a bit.  But, her daughter's water broke and by 8:00 p.m.ish . . . unto us a child was born . . . and it too was a boy.  He was almost three weeks early and weighed in just over 5 lbs, 18 inches long.  

It has been a long time since we had a wee one around . . . at least two years . . . LOL.

Alone we can do so little. . .

Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much!

~Helen Keller

Did I mention that I was going to attempt the 2011 Advent Scarf on Ravelry.  It is a fabulous piece of work.  I am using Knitpicks Chromo in Prism.  It is a fingering weight and I am using size 2 needles.  

We are given a "clue" every day, it is approximately 24 rows of knitting plus eight rows of spacer knitting.  There are optional beads in the spacers.  I'll see if I can upload a pic.  Sometimes blogger is cooperative and sometimes it just isn't.  But you can go here to see it.

But the goal of the thing is to be done by Christmas.  I am a notoriously slow knitter so I am not sure that I will get there . . . especially since I am just finishing Day 2 and should be working on Day 5.  Others who are working on it and are ahead of me, have said that Days 3 and 4 are relatively quick going.  The advantage to this project is that I can see what others have done and are doing.  It is interesting to see what happens with the various kinds of yarn and needles and beads (and skill levels).  People are so talented.  I am so impressed and humbled.  

Dave is going to Science Camp tomorrow morning through Friday afternoon.  It is at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  It is with a bunch of 7th and 8th graders and is part of the Gifted and Talented Program.  Should be interesting.  I know that I will get knitting done, which means I've probably cursed myself so that I run into some hideous problem.  Zachariah will be going to bed early.  LOL.  Who knows, maybe I'll go to bed early too.  I doubt that though.  When Dave was going to school and working nights, I had a terrible time going to sleep, especially on Sunday nights.  I would often stay up until 2:00 a.m.  In fact, the one time, he didn't have enough work and came home around 1:30 a.m. and scared me as I was twiddling away making panoramic Easter eggs.   Oh well.  

And Winter Cometh . . .

One kind word can warm three winter months.

~ Japanese proverb

I will have to remember this as our winter starts to hit full throttle.   I have my gloves, mittens, coat, scarf, boots and other fun stuff to help me get through the winter . . . now all I need are some kind words!  LOL.

and then there is December

"Maturity is the capacity to endure uncertainty."

~John Finley

I truly love the holidays and I've decided why I enjoy the holidays.  

I love knitting.  

I love yarns and fibers and new patterns.  

I love cables.  

I love it when people stop at my table at lunchtime and "oh" and "ah" because they just "can't do that."  

I love easy knits and I love complicated knits where my kids start whispering "don't bother her, she's counting."  

I love making things that I can felt.  

I also love the idea that if I really don't like what I am knitting or the pattern is too stupid to continue, I can stop and rip the whole thing out.  

But the one thing that I love the most, is that I don't knit gifts for Christmas.  Ignore the previous post.  Really.  This is my new mantra.  For one thing, everything that I had knit previously has already been worn and used.

No one needs to hold their breath wondering what super fabulous thing that they are going to get from me or whether I am going to be knitting them another hideous sweater.  I have been known to knit a wine tote, which I use as a host/hostess gift while giving wine to a friend at Christmas.  But that wine tote was probably made in July or February.  It wasn't knit because we were invited to a party and I have two weeks and what the heck . . . it was because I had it there. Hmm, go figure.  

I have been known to apply myself and make a knitted sweater and booties for a baby shower.  I've also been known to think about making a baby sweater and booties and going to Target and buying onesies and diapers instead.  

I have knitting friends and family that start knitting on December 26th for the following December 25th.  They make themselves CRAZED.  

Really, truly, I have enough things in my life to make me crazed without putting that kind of stress in my life.  

Family things.  

Work things (budget season scheduled to end just before the holidays!!!  Really!!  Why can't they change the fiscal year end to October 31?).  (and here are some pics of my office) . . . note the bottle of Tylenol.  Actually, I am in the middle of doing year-end cleaning so it usually doesn't look this bad . . . sometimes, its worse.

Social things.  As it is, my family (speaking hubby and kids) laugh because I take knitting everywhere.  As my hubby has been known to say "we are only going to be in the car for 15 minutes.  You really need to bring 'that' with you?"  Duh.  He doesn't know about the secret knitting stash in the van that is there for emergencies.  What if the car would break down.

My sister for my birthday spun me some fabulous yarn. I'm planning on knitting up something for me.  I'm thinking about starting on December 26th.  Just for the fun of it.

Oh, and just so you think I've not been knitting, I have.  And this is a perfect pic because it doesn't look like much of anything but it is the only gift that I am making this year.  But it isn't for Christmas either.  By the way, the color on this pic is lousy.  It isn't gray.  Its a another color.  A knitting thing of another color.