Stuff

So, I was without internet access for a week.

And moved one kid to college. She's doing well. Experiencing the usual culture shock that is dorm living and higher education.

And waited for another kid to move himself to college. Yikes, into an apartment with four other boys. Yikes again! He and his friend and roommate rented a Uhaul and drove their crap into the city. He says he likes it. He says he's broke. He says he may have another job. He says he's doing lots of school work.

And I've knit lots of little bits and bobs. Well, maybe not lots. But some here and there. I don't feel like taking pictures and posting them right now. I'm going to wait until my computer is back to normal. I'm getting a new motherboard tomorrow. The ethernet card is apparently welded to the motherboard so they have to replace it. Joy of joys! Anyway, I knit a multi-directional scarf with Patons SWS. I had 2 balls I had bought to make a felted something or other and never did. I ended up needing to buy a third ball. It's a nice heavy scarf. I'll probably give it to someone. Summer of Socks 08 ended last week? Yeah, last week. After the third bi-weekly period I sort of got disenchanted with the whole thing. There were some words between a participant and a mod in the Ravelry group and it just rubbed me the wrong way. I'm in the middle of a pair or two of socks. Nothing special. Oh, I am also in the middle of a Flower Basket Shawl. I've always had trouble with lace shawl type things. I get messed up where I am in the pattern and if I make a mistake I have difficulty ripping back to it to fix it. I don't know. Anyway, this one has been very successful so far. I'm using Koigu Kersti I had in the stash (like most of my projects lately) and I love it.

So, to come, pictures of WIP's. And maybe a trip to a LYS.

Move In Day

We moved Meghan into her dorm yesterday morning. I am so excited for her and know she is going to have a blast! Her roommate is very nice and the room isn't terrible. All the tuition bills got paid and as soon as Peter picks up his stuff this weekend, I can relax and get into a somewhat normal routine again. This summer has been a whorl wind and very busy with a little stress thrown in. I am so looking forward to fall (my favorite time of year) and cool dry weather. Zach started school the 21st and now I can concentrate on him for a bit. He has two honors classes this year which might prove to be a struggle if he gets off track. So that is my mission now.

Oh yeah, and did I say, life is good!!!

What a Party and Some Sock Knitting

All the work we put in last week getting the yard and the house ready for Meg's Graduation party was so worth it. It was hot and sunny in the low 90's and we couldn't have asked for a better day. Good company, good kids and loads of fun!!

As far as sock knitting goes, I started Belle Epoque from Melissa Morgan-Oakes' book, 2 at a Time Socks. This is a great pattern. I'm not terribly thrilled with the color of the yarn but it's growing on me.

Graduation Day

My Girl and Her Dad

All Of Us

Wow, what a night! Last Friday night, Meghan became an official DHS alumna. So proud! She was beautiful and happy. The ceremony was short and nice. And I only teared up once.

It's Almost Done

This week is almost done, thank goodness! I thought today would be an easy day to do the housecleaning and make stuff for dinner tomorrow. But no! Got a phone call yesterday from a foundation in Worcester with whom Meghan applied for a scholarship. They had been trying to reach her for a week or so but we haven't checked the answering machine. Anyway, she had an appointment for an interview at 8:45 this morning. By the time she and I got up there was no hot water because my boys insist on spending way too much time using all the hot water. Then I had to drive to and around Worcester which is fine except it was to a section of the city that I haven't driven to before. Any way, it all turned out fine, it was very easy to find and easy to get home. They asked some general questions and she was done. Now we wait and see.

Tomorrow night is the big night! She's excited and we are excited and proud. I'll say it again, I can't believe she's done with high school. She is very much looking forward to college and a change of scenery. Way to go, Meg!!

Another Monday Morning

We had a pretty busy weekend. Friday was move out of the dorms day so off to Boston we went to pick-up city boy's stuff. He stayed because he had stuff to do over the weekend. Saturday, Meghan had placement tests at UMD so off we went. It was a gray, yucky day so we weren't able to sit by the ocean and wait for her to call when she was done. Instead, we sat in the parking lot where I knit and Pete read. Yesterday was grocery shopping day and prom dress day. Want to drop a wad of cash-go grocery shopping and buy a prom dress in the same day. Slightly depressing! Anyway, that was the weekend.

I did finish CeCe on Friday. I'm considering frogging it. The Reynolds Saucy yarn is heavy (duh, it's 100% cotton) and while the body fits well, the sleeves are huge, even for me. We'll see.

Oh and I joined Summer of Socks 2008. It doesn't start until June 21st. So I'll finish the two pair of socks I have started and then just make my plan for the summer until 6/21. Between Sockapalooza 5 and SoS, I should have plenty on my plate.

It's Monday...Again

Brooklyn Candy Sock Love #1 was started on Thursday and I'm up to the gusset decreases. I also worked on the Anatolian mittens which are coming along nicely.

I'm in a mood. And it's Monday.

The weekend was good. The kids marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Providence Saturday. It was postponed from the beginning of March when we had monsoon winds and rain. It was cold and breezy but sunny. Meghan was feature twirler out in front and was awesome as usual. And Zach looked great on the bass drum. He's grown so much he's one of the tallest in the percussion line now. Sunday Pete continued painting the kitchen (which is looking great) and I attempted to organize all my knitting and sewing stuff in the dining room. What a mess! It looks a little better. This week I have to make a valance for the kitchen window for when the trim painting is done. So I needed to clear some space to measure and cut.

I'm looking ahead to my next knitting project too. I think I'll surf Ravelry and see if anything jumps out at me.

Happy New Year's Eve!

And Happy 15th Birthday, Zach!

My other sweet boy arrived with a lot less drama than his older brother only a week late on New Year's Eve 1992. He was the peanut of the bunch weighing in at 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 21 inches. He was moving from the movement he was conceived and hasn't stopped yet. He too is sweet and smart and intense and very compassionate. He is a good friend and very helpful. I love you, Zach!

Yesterday Was The Day

My sweet, lovable little boy was born 20 years ago yesterday 20 days late.
Yeah, that little due date predictor wheel my OB used was sooooo WRONG! Back then I was 25 and really stupid or I would have demanded being inducted ASAP. Peter checked in at 9 lbs 15 oz and 22 inches long. Aside from a couple of those teenage years (when I wanted to give him away-hell, pay someone to take him away) he has been sweet and kind and happy and smart and goofy. I could not have asked for anything else in a son. Now he's 20 and an adult. I can hardly believe it. He still makes me proud and makes me smile. And so worth the wait! I love you, Peter!

Painter Guys and HHH

That's a really stupid title but I can't think of anything else. I'm tired and I have 3 non-english speaking painter guys outside painting my house trim. They were here yesterday painting the exterior of the house. I don't really like strangers around my house. It kind of invades my comfort zone. Even though they are here performing a service for us and we are paying them, I just don't want to deal with them. I'm funny like that. Pete, on the other hand, is the people person in this family. But of course he is at work so I must deal with them. I am shy and am not very comfortable talking to strangers, especially those that don't understand what I'm saying in the first place. Blah! They should be done today and I can have my space back.

This is my latest sock in progress-Cherry Tree Hill in SSYC colorway from, duh, Simply Socks Yarn Company. Yeah, I started another sock before the second Waving Lace sock. I do that lately. Knit one, start another one, go back to the second, back and forth. I try not to allow myself to start a third until the original first pair is done. Does that make sense? Probably not. That's the kind of mood I'm in today. And doesn't that picture suck? Oh well!

The HHH part of the title stands for hazy, hot and humid. Yeah, summer's back for a few days. 90's predicted for today and tomorrow. I guess we get one more weekend to swim in the pool.

On a happy note, my boy got "most improved percussionist" at band camp this week. Yeah, Zach!

Back To School and other stuff

The kids are ALL back to school now. My three went back at three different times. College boy, Peter, was dropped off in Boston the beginning of August for Orientation Leader training and the actual Orientation week with the freshman (he's a sophomore this year). Zach started his first year of high school at the local tech school two weeks ago. And last but not least, Meghan started her senior year here yesterday. Phew! What a month! It worked out kind of nice though because I wasn't swamped with school clothes shopping and college dorm room shopping all at once.

As seen in the first picture above, one Waving Lace sock is finished. This pattern is really very pretty. And easy. I will make more of these. I don't tend do more than one pair of highly patterned socks. It relates to this thing I have about not reading a book twice and rarely watching a movie more than once. It's kind of a "been there, done that" thing. But Waving Lace will definitely be done again. I see Christmas gift socks in the near future. We'll see.

There's a picture of the Heroes Season 1 DVD set. Meghan and I love Heroes! Even though I don't like watching things more than once, Heroes was a must. There's so much going on that we had to refresh our memories before the season premier Sept. 24th. Awesome show! I think Tuesday may be "Discuss Heroes" day on Mer's Blog. Here's hoping season 2 is as good as season 1.

And just so I'm on the record, I only have 8 more pattern repeats on Mom's shawl and 13 days til I leave for Florida. I believe I will finish it in time.

May I have some Cantaloupe with that Monkey?

Now that my Sockapalooza 4 socks are done and mailed, it was time to move on to something else. The yellow, green and orange sock is Wendy's Double Eyelet Rib Socks Pattern . I used Sockpixie's sock yarn in Cantaloupe. I started sock #2 last night. The other sock is a Monkey in Meilenweit Colortweed that I bought at Simply Socks Yarn Company. I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon and do what all the cool kids are doing but I didn't want to do plain old stockinette socks with this yarn. I wanted to add a little interest to the stripes. You can't really see the pattern very well but I like how it came out anyway.

Speaking of Sockapalooza 4, my sock pal, Jessica, received her package last weekend. Thanks again, Jessica, for all the nice things you said. You really made my day. Heck, you made my week! You rock! And to Sarah and Emma who left nice comments regarding Jessica's socks, thank you. You two are very kind. And Nova, if you find your way back here, I am enjoying my "free" time. I use quotes because even though I don't work anymore, I have 3 kids who keep me VERY busy. P is going back to college this weekend so I've been shopping for stuff for his suite-they have a kitchen this year and need kitchen gear. M has been working a lot and if I want my car I have to take her to work. As soon as P leaves, I'll be school shopping for M and Z. Throw in laundry and housework and there goes my day. It's been good being here to monitor Z's computer and TV time. I was concerned about that at the beginning of the summer. He's been able to have his friends over more frequently and go in the pool a lot more. It's all good!