Lest I Forget

For once, there are multiple projects on my needles. The sock yarn was calling to me when I saw it in the store. I still am not sure I am using it for its intended purpose, but we shall see. I am trying to make a scarf, but it is rolling something awful and I don't have much hope that blocking will tame it. Olivia's second glove is taking shape and none too soon, for those last glorious warm days have disappeared until spring, I'm afraid. I finished "I Capture the Castle" at lunch today, and oh how I will miss Cassandra! I am reading "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" to the kids. I can't help but recall my local theatre's rendition of this when 'local' meant Manchester, Tennessee.  Thank you Ginny for hosting, as always!

What better way to begin this Advent season than to begin a novena to Mary as the Immaculate Conception? Join me and many others, won't you? Boy, did you notice I am full of questions today? Here is the link to follow: http://www.praymorenovenas.com/

Our time with Sophie home was all too short. She and Tony are on their way back to college, stopping in to check on my mother-in-law tonight. Before they left, we headed over to Fort Eustis to have a little fun. The weather was gorgeous. There was a miniature golf course, go-carts, and a batting cage. I thought for sure that Jack would want to ride the go-carts, but he said he only wanted to play golf. We did not know until we arrived that they only accept cash. While we were discussing who was going to go to get some cash, the employee on duty asked if we were only golfing. We were. He then let us play for free! The kids ran to the shed where the supplies were kept, most excited to start playing.  score keeper  I believe that was about 20 strokes!  Can you tell I am having fun with the manual setting? It was time to leave when Jack changed his mind about the go-carts. Anna wanted to try it too. Even though it was $6 per c...

In preparation to celebrate Thanksgiving, I travelled to Steubenville, Ohio to pick up my college girl. She usually is able to find a ride home, but not this time. Hindsight being what it is, I should have bought her a plane ticket. Still, I am thankful for a safe journey there and back and all the stuff in between. Back in September, I told you my grandmother turned 100 years old. What I did not mention is that my other grandmother is 97. She lives in West Virginia and it was only a slight detour to go see her. We got a nice early start Tuesday morning, me and the three littlest kids. Tony had to work and Olivia had school. So I plugged Nana's address in the GPS, filled the tank with gas, and we were off. As we neared the town of Front Royal, a warning bell sounded and all the lights on the dash went out. They came back on but were flickering. Thankful that we were near a largish town, I pulled off the highway to see Wal-Mart's automotive sign from the road. I pulle...

This afternoon, instead of doing what I should have been doing, I pulled out my camera to capture the fun my kids were having. The weather was an amazing 73 degrees! I know it won't last, so I snatched up the chance for some photos. I will say this: I know nothing about photography. I wish I did. I love taking pictures and looking at pictures. There is something so wonderful about capturing a moment just as you see it. So, mustering up some courage, I moved the little dial thingy from "auto" to "manual" and started shooting and changing settings.  This was on the auto setting. The colors were washed out and dull. Still on auto setting. Dull, dull, dull.  Look at the difference! I can't tell you what I set it to. I just moved the dial until it looked like what I saw with my eyes. Then I accidentally found this! I took about 50 pictures just so I could get one this good. I love this one so much. Back inside, I experimented...

We attended a wedding today. I just love weddings. Tony always whispers his vows again in my ear when the groom says his. He gets very romantic at weddings. At the reception, Jack was hungry. Hungry for cake, not the food. I told him that he had to wait for the bride and groom to cut the cake. To which he replied, "That's OK, I've got a knife. I can cut it myself." I tried to explain that it is a tradition for the couple to cut the cake together and then everyone can have a piece. He then said, "Then why did they give me a knife?" I knew at that moment that it was going to be an interesting evening! Oh, I almost forgot! Anna was the flower girl. She loved getting her hair curled, her nails painted, the fancy dress, a kiss of lip gloss, tossing the flower petals....she loved it all!

One trip to the craft store and $10 dollars lighter, I returned home with some new yarn and many project ideas. A dear friend has recently started her own baking business and asked if I might want to make some dish clothes for her shop. This is my first attempt. I have seen many "owl" projects out there and really wanted to try my hand at making a cute little owl. I am really happy with the result. A skein of a soft, chunky weight yarn in a creamy shade was bought for a dual purpose. I am making one more hat for the little one with cancer. It should keep her little head very warm as the weather becomes cold. When I am finished with the hat, Anna will receive the rest of that yarn to add on to her scarf. I also bought some self-striping sock yarn. I am not sure what it will become, but it is fun deciding. I am still reading "I Capture the Castle". Slowly, very slowly. Thanks, Ginny, for hosting.

Who says silverware is necessary?  The one-hand approach  The two-hand bowl hold Hmm.  The concerted effort  The slurp  The lip  "I think I lost one up here somewhere" "That was fun!"

I think everyone knows by now that I strive to cook good, healthy food for my family. It is how I show my love, OK? So how did I go from this: homemade apple cinnamon pop-tarts (which tasted just like apple pie) (which made my husband suggest ice-cream for breakfast) To this:  beanies and weinies fresh out of a can. (we went to co-op today) (I taught eight piano lessons) (Tony is working tonight)  When the kids saw what was in the pot....  ...this was the unanimous reaction!

Outside my window... ...a gray morning is dawning. The sky is a solid gray with the very edge of the horizon taking on a pinkish hue, giving me hope of sunshine later on. The colors of the trees, though, are stunning. The reds, yellows, and browns all jumbled together against that gray sky are such a stark contrast. I am thinking... ...that I need to get up earlier than the kids more often. It is so quiet! I am thankful for.... ...my faith. ...my little family. ...soft yarn and knitting needles and a fire in the fireplace. From the lesson plans... ...week number 9 is just about over. We checked out books about Thanksgiving and South America this week at the library. Anna and I decided to pick a saint and ask for their intercession as she prepares for her First Holy Communion. She chose St. Bernadette. I would welcome any suggestions on getting to know our saint better! From the kitchen... ...enjoying the pumpkin butter I made yesterday on some toast this morning...

This week has seen me knitting a chemo cap for a 2 year old little girl that I have never met and probably never will. She is the niece of a friend of mine and she lives far from here. But I felt honored when my friend asked me to knit a couple of hats for her niece.   I used Therese as a model, and since she has a slightly larger head than most one year olds I figured if it fits her, it would surely fit this little one in need. I've had this yarn sitting in my stash for years, never knowing what project it was destined for. I hope that she likes it. I just started reading "I Capture the Castle", by Dodie Smith. Go on over and visit Ginny , our host.

With the threat of rain in the forecast, we headed out to collect our sugary booty a little earlier than usual. Which was good, because the "scary" houses were not nearly so frightening. Jack came bounding back to me, exclaiming "That wasn't scary at all!" Anna, who was Rapunzel, told her friend "Cinderella", while they were crossing a street, "Ladies don't run, they walk." And so they walked, elegantly, hand in hand across the street. Therese didn't really understand what we were doing, but she loved it because she loves being outside. During the day, she stares longingly out the window while her mean mom makes the other kids do schoolwork.  Meet Jack the Construction Worker. The orange vest was sewn in a couple of hours with only minor adjustments needing to be made. The flannel shirt was a $2 find at Goodwill. The rest we already owned!  Next up: Rapunzel. My mom bought her the costume for her birthday. She decided t...