Tips to help teen find life balance . . . a contest.

http://juliasalbum.com/2014/12/7-tips-to-help-teens-find-life-balance-mixify-100-visa-gift-card-giveaway/#comment-272252

I've entered this contest and will get another entry by blogging about it.  This site has lots of great ideas and I enjoyed reading about the "Tips to help teens find life balance."

Thinking about my kids and finding a balance, it is really easy when they are young teens and rely on Mom and Dad for car rides.  We eat meals together and spend lots of quality time together even if it is spent driving to/from swimming, school, marching band, etc.

It is when they get older that it becomes a problem.  And when they want to flex their authority.  Both my older daughters don't think twice about not eating something that is on the table.  However, we do put our foot down if they start to pull out other things that they want instead.  If it isn't on the table as part of our meal, then they can't have it.

The other problem is making sure that not only are they eating well but they are being fully hydrated.  None of them drink nearly enough "good" beverages.  Too much pop, not enough milk and not enough water.  It is a battle.

Not about knitting at all, at all

We aren’t cool parents.  Never have been, never will be.  First of all, we are old.  Truly, how many 13 year olds have 60 year old Moms or 63 year old Dads.  And, gasp, we have rules:  chew with your mouth closed, use a napkin, sit up straight, change the toilet paper.  I mean geez, we are hard-nosed.  But I would like to think that we have tried to get our kids to be themselves.  While it is hard to get across to them, that they only get one crack at high school and they should get involved, we also want to encourage them to be themselves. 

Do what you love!  Be all that you can be!  Demand more!  Make a couple of really good friends and you will have them forever.  Good advice from not-so-cool parents to their kids.  Oh, that would be Dave and I.  So you get interested and involved when your kid(s) get involved in something that they really like doing.  Then came marching band, band camp, symphonic band, etc.

The girls didn't do marching band.  First of all they went to an all girls high school and the only football games played by the girls were done in prom dresses as part of a powder puff game.  Plus, they played the piano (Sarah) and violin (Lindsey).  Neither instrument lends itself well to marching band.  Snort. 

Zachariah plays the trumpet.  His trumpet teacher played with the North Olmsted High School Marching Band.  Even if Zachariah had gone to one of the local all boys schools, he would have been in marching band.   

Marching band is not just the weird kids that play musical instruments wearing funky uniforms to every Friday night football game.  It is more.  Remember the "demand more."  It is part of that more.  Many of the kids that play musical instruments are artistic, funny, brilliant, shy, outgoing, clumsy, popular and/or geeky.  In marching band you get them all. 

And the great equalizer is the uniform.  Truly.  Everyone looks the same.  Unisex.  Some uniforms are sharp and stylish (those schools must spend a small fortune on them), while others are traditional.  That would be the NOHS marching band uniforms . . . after all, if they have been in use for 30 years, they must be traditional.  There is, however, a lot to be said for traditional.  The cost savings alone is primary.  Someone told me to purchase new uniforms (hats, jackets, pants) is $400/each.  That would take some serious fundraising.

While some people might think that the kids don't look good in the uniforms, I have to disagree.  I think they look great.  No matter if you are the youngest, dorky freshman or the senior 6' stud that can make the drum line rock, you look good.  Again, the uniform equalizes EVERYONE. 

And, for the record, I LOVE the spats.  Our team wears white spats.  You really see the difference when two marching bands are on the field and one has spats and one doesn’t.  The spats showcase the rhythm and consistency of the marching band.  You just don’t get it from those bands that are wearing black pants, black socks and black shoes. 

Plus, the uniforms don't come home.  Really.  The kids pick them up before the game.  They return 

them after the game.  A group of parents (i.e., the Moms), re-hem, sew buttons, fix lapels, every week during the season.  And, when they start to stink (and they will, since they are wool), they are sent out to be dry-cleaned.  Really.  Except for the socks and the under-armour that the kids wear, you don't have to worry about cleaning the uniform.  However, I do recommend investing in quality socks and shoe sanitizers.  Marching around on wet muddy fields can tend to lead to stinky feet. 

Band provides kids from different grades and areas and likes/dislikes to comingle.  Your freshman may never have met some of the seniors.  They need to perform.  They need to practice.  They need to learn to work together.  Marching in band is not something that you just "do."  Everyone needs to learn how to do it and it is the older students who make sure that the younger students get it.  They take care of each other.  Not only during band but at other times in school.  We've only been at this one season, but I am awed by the way the older kids treat the younger kids.

Band Camp.  Talk about serious exercise.  All day for a week, no matter the weather.  It is hard, exhausting, tiring but according to my son and others that I have talked to, it is also awesome, fun, great and totally cool.  They concentrate on their music and they don't know that they are getting a workout.  I am sure that someone has done a study on how many calories are burned marching for five days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in August in Northeast Ohio, but I am sure it is a whole lot. 

And after day after day of marching, they sleep really well, even with the cat, at 6:00 p.m. on the porch

As for me, there is also the commaradarie that is formed.  When you sit around sewing buttons and hems every Wednesday for weeks, you learn things.  You learn that your kid isn't the only geeky one in the bunch.  You learn which teachers are great and which are iffy.  If you or your student has an issue, you learn who to go to in the School Administration (and it isn't always the principal . . . LOL).  When you work the concessions on Friday nights, you get to meet other people and learn other things.  Band parents are really nice.  They are concerned not only for their kids, but for all the kids.  And they tell the best stories.  

Band kids are busy.  They are marching or practicing and doing homework and practicing and sleeping.  And you will find that, while they are in the car, they will start drumming out band songs.  It is kind of difficult to get in trouble when you are marching.  

how do I love thee . . .

So yesterday was a very productive day.  Breakfast, shopping, a little more shopping, clearning out part of the upstairs hall and defragging Zachariah's computer. 

Breakfast was eh.  Perkins.  They forgot the corned beef in the corned beef hash, but that is okay, I didn't need it anyway.  They eggs were perfect as was the toast for dunking.  Sarah ate my potatoes.

Went to Penney's and dragged Zachariah through Zephora just to irritate him.  It was even more irritating when the young lady asked if she could help and I said "nope, we're just hear to embarrass this one."  She laughed.  He humphed.  Sarah did buy a dress for the wedding we are going to next month.  It is black and has one sleeve and the other side has a strap with sequins.  She is planning on wearing red pumps, really high red pumps and red dangling earrings.  There is a guy that is going to be there and she wants to knock his socks off.  It also helps that since got divorced, she has lost 40 lbs and is now in a size 8.  I also have to hack about six inches off of the dress.  This is way outside her comfort zone.  We haggled over the hem length. 

Did our usual zip through Target to pick up various items or various endeavors then headed on home to do some serious cleaning . . . . both the computer and the hallway. 

I should have taken a picture.  Really, it was totally incredible. 

I know exactly how to entice Zachariah . . . watching HGTV.  He is a sucker for home remodeling.  So while his computer defragged (it was taking hours), he and I sorted all the yarn in the hall.  I am destashing big time and was brutal.  My niece is getting gifted with a huge parcel of stuff that while I bought it, I don't want it or don't have any plans for it.  Some of it is good.  Some of it is lousy and made me scratch and wonder WHY I ever bought it in the first place.  It is a colorful collection and I am sure Amy will make great use of the stuff.

He also took all of my straight knitting needles and many crochet hooks and put them in a vase on the table.  They do look rather loverly.   He rewound balls and raised an eyebrow more than once, especially when I unearthed the sweater that I was making for him when he was four . . . or the one sock that I finished for him when he was six.  His feet have grown two sizes since January, so there isn't even a remote chance that it would fit.

But the funniest thing happened.  While I managed to fill a huge zippered container for Amy, I still ended up with LOTS of yarn.  But I only kept stuff that I loved or that Zachariah would put his hands into and say "ohhhh,  this is nice."   I bagged matching stuff in zip-locked bags.  Sorted by type.  Frogged some projects.  Saved lots of stitch markers and redeemed many needles.  Got rid of lots of random patterns and still have about three large bags of bagged yarn.  All nicely sorted.  I have an entire bag of cotton for dishclothes, etc.  I don't even like cotton but I do like to make dishclothes for wedding presents. 

Zachariah thinks that is all of the yarn, as does Dave.  Oh well, as they say, what they don't know won't hurt them. 

Shifting Gears in Chroma - Atlantis and Smoothie

Shifting Gears from O/C Knitiot Designs.  It is a wonderful shawl using two very contrasting yarns.  It is a Crescent Shape Shawl worked with 2 different long striping yarns to create a stunning use of color. Featuring a beautiful scalloped loop cast on, 2x2 Fair Isle knitting, short rows, and an I-Cord bind off.  I am currently in my third repeat of the Fair Isle knitting, which for me is very SLOW going. 

The yarn I am using is Chroma from Knitpicks.  I love this yarn.  I've made several things in it and have always found it to be interesting and fun.  It has very long repeats, which is perfect for this pattern.

The colors (Atlantis and Smoothier) are as follows:

 

The description of Atlantis is: Step back in time and into the lost city of Atlantis with this cool, mysterious colorway! The deep water blues of Atlantis blend with soft grey and teal shades that fade into a dark seafoam green and finally, into a barely there icy spring green.

 

The description for Smoothie is:  Inspired by the vivid colors of its namesake, Smoothie introduces splashes of orange, tangerine, and papaya with a handful of farm fresh strawberries for good measure. These cheerful colors combine together to make a rainbow that is just as yummy as the best fruit smoothie.

 

 

The cool thing is that with this pattern, these colors really work.  I can hardly wait to show you . . . but I haven't taken a pic yet.  Soon and very soon, I will.  

 

I love you, more

It was just yesterday that he started in kindergarten . . . a minute, a second ago . . . this was the smallest shirt that we could get him.  The school required polo shirts, belts, dress shoes and khaki pants. 

 

He just graduated from 8th grade at St. Mary of the Falls School in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, last Wednesday, June 4, 2014.  Fr. Wally and Mrs. Rajincek passed along his diploma. 

 

The girls were there to celebrate with him.  For someone who has always been so small, when did you get taller than Sarah and almost as tall as Lindsey.  It isn't like you've grown to be tall, by any stretch of the imagination, but you are becoming a young man.

Although, he wasn't pleased with the smooch from Lindsey, IN FRONT OF HIS FRIENDS.  The embarrassment of it all!

We have a marching band meeting this week and swim team practice to get ready for the high school team.  You are registered and ready.  But, truth be told, I am not.  I can celebrate who you are and how you are but I still love the times when you take my hand. 

I love you, my son, more. 

Eden Prairie . . . ta da . . .

Started in March and finished last evening . . .

from Knitpicks yarn

 

progressing through bits and pieces . . .

to the finish.  And I used this idea from Samurai Knitter to seal off all the ends. 

 

it just needs a gentle bath and gentle blocking to be a done deal.

Success . . . almost

We went to the Great Lakes Fiber Show this past Saturday.   It was loverly.  The yarns and fiber and alpaca and wheels, truly wonderful.  I save my $5 bills all year to go to this Show.  For me, it is a cash only endeavor. 

Last year, before the show, I had identified patterns to find yarn for . . . I was semi-successful of sticking to it.  There were only two slip ups . . . and, I have to say, if I am going to slip up, I do it in style.  The first was at Fiber Optics.  The other was buying six skeins (huge skeins, like 600 yard skeins) of alpaca.  The goal with the alpaca is to make an Icelandic shawl.  I also purchased a couple of skeins of Wolle Yarn Creations to make Color Affection.  So how did I do with my purchases last year?  I started Color Affection . . . it isn't very affectionate with me . . . if I were to do it over, I would use something other than Wolle.  The Icelandic Shawl skeins are finally wound (last week . . . I think guilt set in).  And, while I started the Fiber Optics shawl thing for my daughter, somewhere I lost the pattern.  Gone.  Poof.  Vanished.  And, because I am an idiot, I didn't right it down in my journal.  The Color Affection with Wolle is there.  The Icelandic shawl in the alpaca is there.  But no Fiber Optics.  Piss me off.  I know it is something with beads.  Isn't that helpful. 

Anyway, due to my lack of success last year, I decided to not overdo this year.  So I came home with a pattern for Undulating Waves.  Now, since I am anal and lose patterns, I always scan in my patterns.  Imagine my surprise when I found that I already purchased a copy of Undulating Waves.  Nuts.  However, it is a loverly pattern and I have beautiful yarn (Lorna's Lace in Flamingo Stripe)

I also bought some wool/silk combo in pinks and orange . . . no idea what I am going to do with it but I am sure to figure something out.  I also bought to other skeins of hand dyed yarn, which I don't remember the colors (gasp).  But I will take picks and figure out what to do with them.   Once I identify the pattern that works with the yarn, I bag them together.  In my own very limited way, I do try to stay organized.

One of the advantages, if you want to look at it as an advantage, since I couldn't find the pattern for the  Fiber Optic yarn, is that I plowed through all kinds of patterns and stash and have decided to unload some of the stuff that I don't like (and wonder why I bought it in the first place anyway).  I mentioned this to my sister and she said that her daughter will take any and all unloved yarns.  So that is where a huge bulk of my stash is going. 

My sister, Peg, spins.  I think I would like to learn how, but listening to the spinners and such, I know that it is a habit forming, mind blowing endeavor.  For example, my sister and her friend, Shelly both were rather disappointed that between the two of them, they had only purchased five raw fleeces.  Now, if I were going to take up spinning, I have to say that I would buy only the stuff that is already cleaned and dyed.  Not that I'm going to take up spinning, I'm just saying that is what I would do . . . although Peg does have five or six spinning wheels.  I wonder if she uses them all? 

early mornings and birthdays and, a wee bit of knitting stuff.

Once again, Yarn Harlot has inspired a post. 

I get up at 5:33 every Monday through Thursday.  It is my way of playing with my head.  If the alarm isn't set for 5:30 then it doesn't seem that early. 

On Fridays, I set the alarm to get me up at 5:22 (see a pattern?).  On Friday, I sort the laundry and drop in a load before I leave for work.  T

he other days of the week are spent getting myself ready, waking my 13 year old son (usually twice), making him breakfast (today he did have cold left-over pizza . . . so I'm not that noble . . . on the other hand, the other mornings this week he had french toast for breakfast) and being ready to go by 6:25. 

We celebrated Sarah's birthday last Saturday, May 10.  Her birthday was on Sunday, May 11, but none of us want to venture out to any restaurant on Mother's Day. 

We went to FatHeads Brewery.  Yummy.  Oh, yeah, truly yummy.  I think we should start a knit club to meet at FatHeads at least once a month.

It is a great place, good lighting and beer.  They have their own microbrewery.  And some really good beers.  Here are pics of Sarah and Lindsey and then Sarah, Lindsey and Zachariah.

She doesn't look like she is 28, does she?

 

And here is a good pic of Zachariah, waiting for breakfast.  This was taken a couple of weeks ago.  Ten minutes after we finished breakfast, he got a haircut (note the hair in the above pic).  The choice was that he can either start using a comb or get it cut.  

 

The yarn fairies are playing with my knitting.  I knit and knit and knit and never finish anything.  On the other hand, I made an executive decision today and decided that the one project that I am working on, is going to be ripped out.

I am also going to divest myself of all the yarn that I will never ever use.  I'm not selling it but donating it.  I am sure that someone will make great use of it.  I just have to get the time to do it. 

Planning for the next project . . . the ADHD is kicking in really bad . . .

Okay, so I am almost done with Eden Prairie.  I finished the last diamond last evening and started the edge.  Of course, it will probably take a month, but I am already planning my next projects

This was what I did in Dallas

This has been since Dallas, notoriously slow. 

I am thinking about doing Shifting Gears and have bought the yarn.  Chromo from KnitPicks, in Atlantis and Smoothie:



Knitpicks description:  Step back in time and into the lost city of Atlantis with this cool, mysterious colorway! The deep water blues of Atlantis blend with soft grey and teal shades that fade into a dark seafoam green and finally, into a barely there icy spring green. and

Knitpicks description:  Inspired by the vivid colors of its namesake, Smoothie introduces splashes of orange, tangerine, and papaya with a handful of farm fresh strawberries for good measure. These cheerful colors combine together to make a rainbow that is just as yummy as the best fruit smoothie.

Copyright©2014--‐“Shifting Gears"--‐O/C Knitiot Designs– DebyLake--

This is not a free pattern, "Please respect copyright and do not reprint to give away."  ocknitiots@gmail.com

OR, last year when I went to the Great Lakes Fiber Fest in Wooster, I bought alpaca.  Wonderful alpaca.  It was originally $22/skein but they were getting "out of the business" and were selling the skeins for $7/each.  I should have bought more.  I bought six skeins and these are hefty babies.  420 to 520 yars each.  So, I am going to make the Icelandic Lace Shawl with the yarn.  The colors I purchased are the right colors and the pattern is loverly.  When I saw the yarn, I knew exactly what I was going to make.  This patter is from Knitting Daily and it was a freebie when I downloaded it but I don't know if it is free anymore. 

I have a feeling that this may end up being a year round project.  Wish me luck.

Oh, and by the way, I am going to the Great Lakes Fiber Show this year (May 24-25 in Wooster, Ohio), so, maybe both of these will be put on the back burner . . . or maybe I'll do some of the other projects that I bought last year . . . maybe I should leave my wallet at home . . . or lock it in the car, so I'll have to at LEAST have to walk back to the car to get it before I buy anything . . . who am I kidding . . .

By the way, if you go to the Great Lakes Fiber Show, be sure to go into Wooster and go to the Broken Rocks Cafe.  It is fabulous.  The food is freshly made and when they are out, they are out.  Get a loaf of bread and share it with your family.  It will make up for your being gone all day . . . besides, it is your way of sharing a different kind of Fiber!

Dallas in the Springtime

Zachariah and I took Amtrak to Dallas the last week of March.  We left Cleveland on Saturday morning early (4:15 or so) and arrived in Chicago at 10:00 a.m.  We then left Chicago at 1:30 and headed to Dallas, arriving at 12:30ish p.m. on Sunday afternoon. 

We spent a week with Janet and Edith.  I think it rained one evening.  We didn't do much.  Had lunch with some friends, played trivia with some of Janet's friends on Wednesday evening (Zachariah rocked it) and pretty much lazed around.  We watched some movies.  We both cried while watching "Saving Mr. Banks."  It is truly a wonderful movie.  I highly recommend it. 

I did get some knitting done on Eden Prairie but not alot.  We spent too much time talking and relaxing.  We did go to the Dallas Arboretum.  I highly recommend it. 

This is at the Arboretum and is a peacock made out of flowers and bushes. 

 

Zachariah and Edith relaxing.  Edith turned ten while we were there.  She is the most gentlest of creatures.  She was a service dog for several years.  

Easter 101

So I was over reading the Yarn Harlot's Easter post and thought "hmmm, great minds."

Both of my daughters got purses instead of Easter baskets. One had been complaining that her’s was falling apart but she loves it because it has a super long strap, tons of pockets and the middle is the pit where she dumps everything. The other’s purse was a hideous thing that everytime I saw it, I cringed. They were both very excited. And, they got chocolate bunnies (and a baggy of chocolate eggs and mini-Reese’s cups . . . had to put them in the baggy so the new purses wouldn’t be messed up).

My son did get a traditional basket and an Itunes gift card. Seemed only fair since he wouldn’t have wanted a purse!

I am still working away on Eden's Prairie and the baby sweaters.  Obviously, I am not the knitting queen like Stephanie but I do so enjoy it.

Pics coming soon.  I am trying to decide on a new camera. 

Zachariah and Mary really enjoy spending time together. 

This summer, before we go to the Irish Festival, we are getting them shirts that say "No, we are not twins."

They both have ipods and the only person, besides their Moms that they are allowed to talk to is each other.  They were frustrated because their Spring breaks were at different times and since my sister and I follow the same rules, they each took turns having to say to other, "gotta go, I have school tomorrow."  Mary was really bummed when she found out that Zachariah didn't have school today and she does. 

Eden Prairie - not quite done

Eden Prairie is beautiful and it is something that I might want to do again in other colors, different yarn, bigger and smaller needles.  This is a very adjustable pattern.

Right now, I am through the third left stripe.  I have the matching light stripe to do on the right.  Then there is one small diamond at the bottom and edging.  This baby uses up about 1,400 yards of yarn.  But, it is truly easy to do and when you do the stripes, it is mindless knitting straight knitting.  Nancy did a great job of designing this. 

so much knitting . . . so little time . . . is this a repeat . . .

I am knitting Eden Prairie.  I am using knitpicks Knitpicks Stroll heather:

Knitpicks Stroll Heather . . . lovely stuff

Through the first diamond . . .

 

 

Through the second diamon . . .

 
Yesterday, I finished the third diamond . . . . no pic, yet. 

I am also attempting to finish two baby sweaters.   My nephew and his friend are expecting twin girls.  You know baby sweaters are so very small but they take so very long.

WIN Fiber Dreams' Picnic Perfect Shawl Kit

Good golly, miss molly . . . it has been a long time!  I have been knitting.  I finished some fingerless mitts that I have finished and am going to give a friend who likes to keep her home cold.  She sleeps with a knitted cap. 

My shawl from the previous post is done.  I haven't blocked it.  I am just using it to keep the chill off.  I am thinking about making some felted gloves for my son.  He hates knitted mittens that aren't felted because his hands get wet.  So I figure felting will do the job.

I did a sweater for my nephew's baby.  Dream in Color's rainbow thing.  I have pics somewhere that I will post.  I am also making me some worsted socks.  We have been having bitterly cold weather and there is something just heavenly about wearing hand-made socks.  Why or why are they warmer?  Could be the wool but I do them in acrylics too and they are still warmer.

I started a shawlette for my daughter but lost the pattern.  Duh. 

One of my most favorite patterns come from Fiber Dreams.  If you have seen Sandra's stuff, you know what I mean.  Well, you have an opportunity to win.  Follow this link.  Of course, to be honest, I hope I win.  Just sayin'.