Finished!

Finally!  I'm finished!  I've completed my first design for a cardigan.  I've knit it up and even written out the pattern.  I love it!  I wanted something classic with texture, and I think I've accomplished that.  A special thank you to my knitting buddies, Susan, Clara and Jenny, who helped with the button contrast decision.  The sweaters will be for sale on my Etsy site, and once I make the changes for the larger sizes I will sell the pattern as well.  This sweater is probably a size 1.  I haven't given it a name yet, still working on that, Come to think of it any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  So without further ado....here she is:

Isn't it sweet?

And because I mentioned them several times, here are the Crusoe socks, still on the blockers.  I really enjoyed this pattern, and found it to be a very fast knit.

That's all I've got, back to Chris's b-day socks...

Blame it on Peri

So, who is this guy, Peri?  Apparently he's Peri-menopause.  According to my doc, he'll be sticking around until Menopause shows up.  When will Menopause be here, well that seems to be the question of the day.  Menopause arrives when you stop having menstrual cycles.  All I can say is could it get here soon?!

I had my list of questions for my doc today.  After a congratulations on my blood pressure, which apparently is genetic, since it failed to be controlled with diet and weight loss. I had to ask, what's with the aches in my joints and swelling, which only seems to happen when I'm PMS'ing?  That would be Peri's fault.  The lack of hair on my arms and the appearance of it on my chin?  Peri's fault again.  The continual trek to the bathroom during the night, well, partly the blood pressure meds, but possibly Peri's fault.  Waking up in a pool of sweat?  Peri doing his thing.  The sudden flash of heat that seems to start with my face?  Thank you Peri.  The bouts of nausea that resemble the worst of morning sickness?  Yeah, Peri.

So I'm stuck with this guy Peri, for an interminable amount of time.  I can't even divorce this guy, like I did that other horse's behind.  All I can say is, he better leave soon, cause I'm just not in the mood!  I'd have a glass of wine or tequila, but Peri seems to dislike that as well.  So for now it appears Peri and I will live together in some form of peaceful war until Meno shows up.  Lord help us both.

Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

Eye Catching

I love to check the new patterns on Ravelry.  Lately I've been obsessed with socks and mittens.  I'm also thinking fingerless gloves are in my very near future.  Shawls and scarves are a major part of my wardrobe, so I'm always on the lookout for those that catch my fancy.  This is what caught my eye this week:

Love this dainty look of First Frost

Fun mittens, appropriately titled Bug Mitts

These socks are a definite must, especially with a name like Dog Days of Summer

That's what has been catching my eye this week.  I'm ready to move on to the next project, since I finished my Crusoe socks, which I'll post later this week.  I know I should be starting Chris' Giants socks, I want to have them done for his birthday, July 3rd.  Since they are colorwork it will take me longer then the usual 72 hours to complete them.  Perhaps I'll start tomorrow, I just feel like I want to do something light and airy right now..hmmmm....decision making.

Random Ramblings

The boys sometimes accuse me of going on a rampage or rambling about inconsequential things.  I'm feeling a rampage coming on, and since Tim already rolled his eyes at me, I'll have to opt for blogging it instead.

1.  50 is not the new 30.  So quit saying that it is.  No one at 30 has these aches, pops, pains and issues.  Now I'm not denying 50 is easier then 30, I'm just saying the spirit is willing, but the muscles are definitely weak.
2. Toilet paper rolls that are not thrown out, are not art.  It doesn't matter if you stack them in neat pyramids on the edge of the tub. It's not art!
3. I'm a parent, I love kids, okay, mostly my own.  Please don't put your kid on the phone to talk to me, I don't understand them, they're not great communicators at age 2, and hello, I have things to do.
4. Could you not have family conferences in the middle of the supermarket aisle? Really, I just want to get my shopping done, not have to pretend to ignore your family drama.  By the way, I think "because I said no!" does not hurt your child's ego as much as you think it does.
5. I understand you haven't seen that person you have stopped your car in the middle of the street to talk in ages, but does that have to mean the rest of us have to wait while you become reacquainted.  And by the way, putting up one finger, whether it's the index or middle one, does not make it right.
6. Whoever invented that all plastic packaging that requires C-4 to get the item out of..there's a special place in the "hot spot" for you.

Phew...that completes today's rampage.

On a lighter note, I just started knitting these great socks Crusoe.  It's hard to believe I hadn't knit socks until this year!  Next sock project will be Giants socks for Chris.

Rainy Day Sunday

It's a very rainy Sunday here today.  The kind of rainy day where you keep the windows open so you can smell the rain and feel the cool air. The kind of day where you keep your ear tuned to hear the changing cadence of the rain.  You can hear it splat on the new leaves, patter on the roof and the sound of a waterfall as it empties the rain gutter.  Rain reminds me to listen.  

I like rain.  I don't like the cold, dreary rain of winter, but I do love this spring rain.  I love that the clouds break and the sun streams through as it continues to pour.  This rain pushes me to nest.  To bake, to clean, to run the sewing machine.  To shut out the sounds of civilization and tune into the sounds of nature.  

Later this week I'll post my new projects and update on the search for work.  For today I'll get back to listening to the rain and nesting.

Are You Superstitious?

I like to declare that I am not. However, I did think a bit today about it being Friday the 13th.  So far nothing's gone wrong (knock on wood).  So being the curious sort that I am, I decided to look up the most popular superstitions.  Obviously I need a life!

So here they are numbers 1-10:

1.      Friday the 13th  – Bad Luck
Many of us can't help but get a shiver of trepidation when we realize that a Friday the 13th is lurking within the current month. A fear of the number 13 is one of the most common superstitions around, and is so widespread that many apartments and hotels omit the 13th floor and some airlines fly without a 13th row. The most popular thought on the origin of this origin is that Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper and that Christ was crucified on a Friday. Put it all together, and you have one unlucky day of the year.

2.      Itchy Palm – Good Luck

There seems to be a lot of variations on this superstition, but the idea of having an itchy palm generally refers to someone who is greedy or has an insatiable desire for money. 

In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Brutus states, "Let me tell you Cassius, you yourself are much condemned to have an itching palm." Some believe that if the right palm itches, you will meet someone new, while an itchy left palm means that money is coming.

Others say that an itchy right palm means money coming in and a left-handed itch foretells money going out. The bottom line is, if either of your palms itch, do not scratch them or you will counter the effect – unless you scratch it on lucky wood or brass.

3. Walking under a Ladder – Bad Luck
It's common sense to avoid walking under an open ladder for fear of something falling on you, but there are superstitious reasons for doing so as well. Consider the shape of an open ladder; a triangle that signifies life to some.

When you walk though the triangle, you are tempting the fates. You may also awaken spirits that live within the triangle (including evil spirits who may not be happy with the disturbance). If you do accidentally walk under a ladder, you can counter the bad luck by placing your thumb between your index and middle finger. Another method is to cross the fingers on both hands to call upon the sign of the cross to protect you from evil.

4. Breaking a Mirror – Bad Luck
Most will tell you that the agreed upon time span for bad luck is 7 years. 7 years is also how long it takes to fully rejuvenate the entire physical body.

Since a mirror was thought to be a reflection of the soul, breaking a mirror was harmful to the soul. To counter the ill effects, you can take the mirror outside and bury it in the moonlight.

5. Finding a Horseshoe – Good Luck
Some people believe that this is the luckiest of all symbols, especially if it is found with the open end pointing toward you. If you find one of these gems, pick it up with your right hand, spit on one end, make a wish and toss it over your left shoulder, leaving it where it lands. You can also place a horseshoe over the entrance of your home with the open end down to bring luck to the family living within. Some traditions say that the number of nails left on the horseshoe will indicate how many years of good luck are to come.

6. Opening an Umbrella Inside – Bad Luck
It seems like a no-brainer that opening an umbrella inside can be bad luck, since it runs the risk of breaking valuable items and poking folks in the eye. However, there are also common superstitions that prohibit this act as well. Umbrellas that shade us from the deified sun are considered magical.
When the umbrella is opened inside and out of the way of sun's rays it offends the sun god. It may even signify impending death or ill fortune for both the person who opened it and the people who live within the home.

7. Knock Twice on Wood – Reverses Bad Luck
The origin of this common superstition dates back to a time when some cultures believed that gods lived in trees. When one would ask for a favor from these gods, he would lightly touch the bark of the tree. To say thank you after the favor had been granted, he would knock lightly one more time. This custom may have also originated with Christians who were offering thanks for good fortune with this gesture to Jesus Christ who died on a cross made from wood.

8. Tossing Spilled Salt over your Shoulder – Good Luck
Salt has always been considered a valuable substance capable of purifying and warding off evil spirits. By tossing spilled salt over your left shoulder, you are driving away the evil spirits lurking with the intent to cause misfortune.

9. Black Cats – Bad Luck
This is a tough one for cat lovers to swallow, but in the Middle Ages it was thought that witches kept black cats as companions.

Some people even believed that these kitties could turn into witches or demons after 7 years. Powerful men like Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte were prepared to conquer nations, but terrified of a little black kitty.

10. Saying "God Bless You" – Good Luck
You may think it is etiquette pure and simple, but blessing someone after he sneezes is actually a common superstition. In the 6th century, people were congratulated for sneezing because it was thought they were expelling evil spirits.

Early Romans believed that a good sneeze could release your soul into the world, and a "bless you" would keep it safe. When the plague hit Europe in 1665, the pope mandated that everyone should be blessed when they sneezed since they were probably going to die. The blessing was usually followed up with the sign of a cross for good measure.

How superstitious are you?

Weary Wednesday

Wednesdays are busy around here.  It would seem that they wouldn't be, considering I'm not working.  However, they always seem to be a crazy day.  Thursday is our scheduled garbage pickup, so I clean out the refrigerator every Wednesday.  It seems it should only take 30 minutes or so, but once I get started it's usually an hour or two before I'm completely finished.

We also tend to do any major yard cleanup that day as well, since pickup includes clippings and other yard debris.  Again, what looks like a 30 minute job, is never done in less then an hour.

I have Knitting group on Wednesday night, and Tim has a class that starts at 5pm.  Dinner always seems to be an issue.  It used to be that we would do the "Little Caesar's" $4.99 special, but that meant one of us was getting cold pizza.  So I've changed it up a bit, and instead we go with the Crockpot special.  Tonight we're having barbecue chicken.  This is one of Tim's favorites and I like the low calorie aspect.  We serve the chicken over whole grain noodles, with a side of salad.  I'm including the recipe for anyone interested in giving it a try.  It's an easy fix, less then 15 minutes to prepare and few dirty dishes/utensil used for prep.

2 medium potatoes

1 large green pepper

1 medium onion

1 tablespoon tapioca

2-2 1/2 lbs chicken (I use chicken thighs)

1 8oz can tomato sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 large clove garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

Scrub and clean the potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes and put into bottom of crock pot.  Slice green pepper and onion, place over potatoes in crock pot.  Sprinkle with the tapioca.  Remove skin from chicken and layer over the vegetables.  Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour over the chicken.  Cook on low heat for 10-12 hours or on high for 5-6 hours.

Viola, you have dinner!

On Being a Boy Mommy

I am a "boy mommy".  I've only ever had boys, and honestly I never imagined having a girl.  I've loved every moment of being Chris and Tim's mom.

Growing up I had a sister and a brother, which really didn't prepare me for the boys.

I've learned some things about boys:

When they are two they will tell you that you are as pretty as a princess.
At four they will tell you how smart you are.
At thirteen they will tell you that you don't know anything.
At twenty they will be shocked by how much you actually know.

At about age six their pyro gene will kick in.
At ages ten and thirteen, neither one will be able to tell you how the toilet seat got a burn mark on it.

During their infancy you will tell them what good boys they are when they burp or otherwise expel gas.
At age two they will announce that they have burped or in another way expelled gas.
At age ten they will compete at burping and expelling gas.
At age sixteen they will burp or expel gas at one another.

You will insist that your boys will never play with guns.
At age three they will bite their toast into the shape of a gun and shoot at their sibling.
At age eleven you will discover bb's in your living room wall and a hole in the window, they will deny any knowledge.  You will point out that the beveling in the glass indicates that the bb was shot inside the house.
At age fourteen they will swear they have no idea how the squirrel on the fence managed to have a pink bottom, clearly someone else in the neighborhood has pink paint balls as well.

At two they will squeal at the fantastic job you did making their dinosaur costume.
At age five they will hug you for making the fierce pirate costume.
At age seven they will declare that Dracula needs blood and the cape is cool.
At age nine they will decline to wear any costume you make, ever again.
At age twenty they will ask if you can help them with a costume to impress a girl.

At age eighteen months they  will announce that they "lub you".
At age eight they will ask you not to hug them in public.
At age thirteen they will announce that they "hate" you.
At age nineteen they will hug, kiss and tell you they love you in public.

So, if you can survive the gas, guns, fire and hate words, you will find on the other end, that boys are amazing to raise.

I love being a boy mommy!

Are You my Mother?

The phone rang a few minutes ago, and a young man began to read Dr. Seuss' "Are You my Mother".  I allowed him to read the entire book, listening as the voice seemed to magically become younger, and the visual in my mind was a little boy with a mass of tumbled dark curls and beautiful brown eyes.  I could feel my heart swell in my chest, my throat tightening, tears stinging my cheeks.  My voiced quivered when I answered his final question "are you my mother?", my response "yes Christopher, I am your mother".

Even now, after completing our conversation and moving on, my chest feels full, as if my love for this child and his brother will burst from me.  It isn't that I have forgotten how much they can frustrate me, or the many tears I've cried over their mistakes.  All of those memories and feelings remain, yet they become trivial in comparison to the overwhelming love and pride I feel for them.

Tomorrow will come and go, Tim will take me out to brunch, he'll barbecue and even do the dishes. I will think about my own mother, and wish that she could have lived long enough to see my boys.  There will be a melancholy feeling that both boys couldn't be with me..  My heart will remain full, knowing how much I love Chris and Tim. Knowing that when all is said and done, my greatest blessing and accomplishment will have been the two of them.

So, as I head out to brunch in the morning with a young man who stands almost a foot taller then me, who's voice is deep and resounding, and who actually puts his hand out at the corner to keep me from blindly stepping in the street, in my mind's eye, this is the boy I will see:

In the Past Week..

I've continued to apply for jobs.  I've gotten my 7-10 resumes/applications out.  I've actually received three responses, okay, so they were all negative, but at least they were responses.  I'll just keep working at it.  I have to believe that a door or perhaps a window will open, hey I'd settle for a crack in the sidewalk! In the meantime, it's just best to stay positive and stay busy.

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the California Central Valley, but if you're not, think in terms of where most of your vegetables and fruits come from.  We are surrounded by farms, orchards and dairies.  Yes, we have personal relationships with the California Cows in our area.  What this means is that besides waking up to the acrid aroma of manure on a daily basis (referred to as the smell of money by our local ranchers), we have very warm weather.  We don't really have seasonal changes, one day in late October or early November it gets cold, averaging in the low 50's during the day, going down to the low 30's at night.  Then one day in April or May, it suddenly becomes summer, averaging in the 90's during the day, and the low 80's at night.  This week "summer" arrived.  Wednesday night, when I passed the temperature and time on the bank it read 8:30pm and the temperature was 80 degrees. It takes some getting used to.

I've continued to do some yard work, as it seems to be a never ending chore.  Note to all, do not wear flip flops while weed whacking.  I still have all my toes, just a kind of beat up surface of my left foot.  One of those things that should come with a warning "don't try this at home".

I mentioned in April that I was working on my own design for a vintage/classic style infant/child's sweater.  It's a much harder task then I imagined, but I'm almost finished.  I wanted something with texture, which I think I've accomplished, you be the judge.  I chose Cascade 220 sport weight in Natural.  I love the way this knits up, it is so luxurious, in my opinion.  I love the texture and pattern on the right side, but also love the way the wrong side looks.  I'm kind of picky about the innards.  I still have to finish the left front, sleeves, decide on the collar, button bands, not to mention the actual buttons.  I'm leaning towards maroon buttons, I'll have to see how they look.  I welcome any feedback at all!  Have a look:

I'm also working on this lace scarf,  Mirabelle, I'm using Knitpicks  Shadow Lace Yarn in Vineyard Heather. I like it, although, it will probably be a gift, as it's a little too girlie for my taste.  I love that it's more of a spring, early fall scarf.

I'm continuing to purge, it seems to be having a freeing effect.  Who knew we could get so bogged down by stuff?

That's been my week, I hope yours' went well!

How Did You Build Your Castle?

I was outside using the weed whacker today.  I get weeds, as I suppose most everyone does.  I'm not thrilled at the prospect of having to whack them down, but it clearly needs doing.  Unlike most of my neighbors, I've only lived here for 8 years, so I'm the new one on the block.  Apparently, I also need advice on how to  mow the lawn and trim my hedges.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't appreciate the advice.  I just don't appreciate the belief that every house should look identical.

I'm not much for cookie cutter uniformity.  I haven't painted the house flamingo pink, nor am I likely to ever do so.  Do I occasionally fly a Jolly Roger Banner, instead of the "Spring" ones my neighbors' fly?  Absolutely!  At Christmas do I wax nostalgic and put up multi-colored bulbs reminiscent of my own childhood instead of plain white?  You Bet!

The question that seems to plague my neighbors is "why won't I conform"?  My answer is simple.  This is my castle.  It is what I have built for myself and for my children.  It is my haven, and their haven.  It is meant to reflect who we are individually and as a unit.  I can't tell you how comforting it is to come home, to open the door, and feel my home.  It emanates warmth and comfort.  It is familiar.  Even the scent is comforting, even if it is a mix of Gain laundry detergent and cranberry candles.

What should we build our castles of?  Should it be a reflection of a magazine, or a reflection of our hearts?  If we each reflect in our homes the people who live there, why then should it look like anyone else's home?  What do you look for when you come home?  I glance at the entryway wall, where the boys outfits they wore home from the hospital are framed.  In that first moment I walk in and see those tiny outfits, I am filled with memories and love.  I am home.

This is my home, this is my castle, it was built from the sand I chose.