Where I've Been...

Have you been wondering about me? Here's what's going on! I have been to eleventy-billion softball games to watch Mayhem play. Her team is undefeated and just finished regular season play. Tournaments start next week! Not one single game was rained out.

The kids and I have been to The Toledo Zoo. The new children's area is beautiful, but geared toward little kids. My kids liked it, especially the "kids only" treehouse. We are really too grown-up for it, though.

Somehow, Mayhem was turned into a giraffe for a few moments.

One of my lifelong friends has the good fortune to finally be blessed with impending motherhood! I knitted a blanket for Linda's baby shower, and attended. We have known each other since Kindergarten, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Araucania pima cotton. All garter stitch.

The glowing Linda and a friend.

Bill and I again took a big group of 7th graders to Gettysburg andWashington, DC this year. Here's Bill and I at Mount Vernon. He's a big fan of President Washington. (I'm a Lincoln fan, myself.)
This year, my Absent-Minded Professor was old enough to go on the trip!

He was one of two students chosen to do the Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington.

My kid is wearing the red tie.

At the Lincoln Memorial, my favorite place in DC, all the kids ran up the steps, and Bill stopped me to have a very serious conversation. CJ took our photo afterward.

I said "yes"!!! I am the future Mrs. Bill. No date is set.


And the rollercoaster continues with pro baseball games and trips to Traverse City and swimming and swapping the kids back and forth with their dad...

Plans... Interrupted

Saturday morning, today, dawned sunny and warm, and I had a plan. I was going to pull weeds like a madwoman and then sit outside and knit to my hearts' content until late afternoon. It's Memorial Day Weekend, after all.

The little people at my house, however had other plans. It started with the phone ringing non-stop and the words, "Mom can you take me to..." repeatedly. My plans went out the window and I proceeded to shower, put on clean clothes, and drive my children all over God's green earth. One packed up clothes, swimsuit and towel and was dropped off to spend the night at a friend's. The other was transported to a video game store to trade in one old game and buy a new game. Unfortunately, that store didn't have the needed new game, so off we went to a different part of town to find the "absolutely must have today, Mom!" game. You know, the kind that is so urgent that he would die if he didn't have it.

I had hoped to share neat flower bed with newly planted flowers with all of you. I can entertain you with this, however. It's the most unflattering photo of me ever taken, and I'm only sharing it for two reasons. First, it documents my career flexiblity and the fact that I may have the option of working as a clown if my illnesses cause me to be canned from my current job. Second, the hair is gonna go. Next Saturday I have an appointment to drastically change the hairdo. That hair has not been cut in two years. (Thanks, Mary, for the lovely portrait of me!) Put down any drink you may be consuming. I'm not responsible for your computer.


Here is proof that I am knitting still. Look! It's on two circulars, even! The pattern is Eleanor, and it's free on Ravelry. You just have to join. The yarn is a custom dye for our sock of the month club by Sarah at Perfect Day Yarns. (Look her up, I'm too lazy to link today. Sorry.)


Hope the knitting is good in your corner of the world.

MAKE TIME TO REMEMBER OUR VETERANS AND FLY THE FLAG THIS WEEKEND!!!

World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C. 2008

Bumpy Road Ahead

Have you been to T-Town lately? Make sure your seatbelt is fastened securely because the roads are bumpier than most. We don't even need speed bumps. That's true of the road of my life, too, right now but there is a smoother road up ahead, and it's coming very, very soon. 18 days or less from today, not that I'm counting.

Mayhem is playing softball, you know, and her team continues to be undefeated. Yay, team! A week ago today she hurt her knee at practice, and it's still hurting. She voluntarily missed a game, tried to play the next game (against doctor's orders - long story) and had to be taken out. Today we didn't even attempt practice. Rest and ice. Ice and rest. I see an x-ray in our future.

During games, I knit. During practices, I knit. Does anyone else? Nope. I'm like a knitting alien. No one even asks about the knitting, or expresses an interest. Not one person brings anything else; not a book, not bills to pay, no other crafts. There's not multi-tasking even during practices. I don't get it.

Here's my latest project close to completion: Thuja socks, from last year's sock club. The yarn is from Chewy Spaghetti, in a custom color for our shop. Yum. Yum. (Yes, I was knitting during a softball game! *gasp*)

Bill's boys are home for the summer from college. Look what the oldest brought with him! Everyone is trying to decide on a name because according to Mayhem, "Blackie is a stupid name." I vote for Kat. My first thought was how in the world are we going to introduce her to my dogs??

And just for fun, I was playing with my zoom lens and took these photos from my car (while parked) waiting for Absent-Minded Professor to come out of school the other day.

That new lens is going to be great fun in Washington, D.C.!

Spring Happenings

The crabapple trees are blooming here. My front yard has two trees, but some streets are lined with them, almost making a canopy of blooms as you drive down the road. A strong gust of wind sends the petals flying, making it look like snow. They're beautiful, and I had to share.



My entire weekend was spent sitting at softball fields. Mayhem had her Pre-Season Tournament. Friday night it was cold and rained off and on; her game wasn't until 7:00PM. Saturday she played at 2:00PM and it was sunny, but chilly. We all sat bundled in sweatshirts and blankets. Sunday morning, finally, it was warm. Why so many games? They kept winning!

Mayhem had a great weekend. She had several hits, and scored two runs this weekend. Here's a photo of her coming in to home plate. Score!

Mayhem's team won the Championship for this tournament. Regular season play starts this week.

And what do I do to stay sane at the games? I complete my UFO's! Look: My Monkey Socks from last year's sock club. ~blush~ Size 2 US needles. Yarn is Muddy Maumee (custom dyed) from Perfect Day Yarns for Yarn Cravin's Sock of The Month Club.

They have been worn and are warm and comfy. My sock skills are definitely improving, as these fit better than any socks I have made so far.

Escape from Reality

Sometimes it's good to run away from everything. That's what I did last weekend. The Insanknitty Retreat was the perfect escape from the reality that is my life - medical tests, kids crazy schedules, refinancing, etc.

An overnight knit-fest with 40+ knitters, many of whom are dear friends, was just what the doctor ordered. We holed up at Widewater Retreat Center from 9:00AM Saturday until 5:00PM Sunday. I ate too much, had a fabulous massage, knitted as much as I wanted, sat in the sun...

There were eight people assigned to my room, including me, not that we did much sleeping! That full room was by choice, because we knew we would be up late being silly. I think we went to bed around 2:10AM, and finally fell asleep around 3:00AM. Much knitting and spinning was accomplished, though. Even more laughter was accomplished, and at times we laughed until we cried. Picture a big slumber party with your closest friends, away from home. Add in knitting and silliness... like Jello wrestling.

And musical entertainment.
I had time to spin... here I am pre-drafting some fiber.

We had some basic spinning lessons with drop spindles.

My friends in attendance weren't just local friends. Becca and Kristy and Beth came in from Chicago. Cary drove up from Tennessee. I love your faces!

Who could be stressed with beauty like this to see all weekend?

The retreat was well-organized and loosely structured enough to be relaxing. I missed my kids, but the time away with my knitter friends to re-charge my batteries was so worth it! Bill deserves a special thank you for the camp chair with attached foot-rest. It was so comfy all weekend for knitting, sitting outside and relaxing... my pregnant friend Heather also appreciated it! Thanks so much for another considerate gift, Luv.

Just Keep Swimming

Without boring you with all the details, I've finished the round of medical tests related to my migraines. The MRI showed I do indeed have a brain in my head. The brain even fills the entire space! I was allowed to see some of the scans after asking the technician, and they were pretty awesome. While the tests are done, I don't have answers yet. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

My Dad just celebrated his 75th birthday and I knew I would be seeing the youngest of my great-nieces and great-nephews at his party. A.J. is not quite 18 mos. old and I wanted to give him something special. I decided to whip up an Oliphaunt. Here's my version:




This is knit with Brown Sheep Bulky on size 8 1/2 U.S. needles. I started it Saturday evening and finished it in the car Sunday on the way to Dad's party. Bill and the kids loved watching it take shape. By the way, Bill was driving.

My children were lovely for Dad's party, and Absent-Minded Professor agreed to wear something other than his usual black or grey t-shirt. My Mom was so pleased to see how nice he looked. I was stunned to see how grown he suddenly looks!


This weekend, my LYS is having a knitting retreat. 40 of us, maybe a few more, are heading off-site, overnight, to knit and be silly together. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, and we will be together from 9 AM Saturday until 5 PM Sunday. I am taking 3-4 WIP's that I want to finish and also my spinning wheel.

If it's cold where you are, or you need a little hit of spring, this is for you. I took this photo on the way out of my hometown Sunday, after my Dad's party. The kids and I stopped to show Bill one of our favorite places, Kingwood Center.
Pink daffodils. I think I have to look for some of these to plant in the fall.

Photo Ops

Easter weekend photos for you...

Mayhem with the knitted Wiener Dog, which has been named Pinky. Pinky goes everywhere with Mayhem. She loves, loves, loves it! Details? Encore Worsted, size 7 needles and the book Knitted Toys by Zoe Mellor.

Absent-Minded Professor during the Easter Egg Hunt at Uncle Rudi's farm. Hey, there are eggs in the tree!

Beloved Bill, who became fast friends with Louie during the Egg Hunt festivities.
My darling parents, out for a walk together. Aren't they cute? Dad will be 75 this week, and the entire family is gathering to celebrate.

Random musings... I have a knitting retreat coming up April 25-26 that I am greatly looking forward to! I am in the process of refinancing my house for a great rate, but so is half the country, it seems, so it is slow going. I would appreciate some good thoughts this week. I have an MRI and MRA (angiogram) later this week. The MRA is to check for aneurysms and weak blood vessels - related to my migraines. It's that time of year when Bill and I get into full gear for the Washington DC trip, too. This year my Absent-Minded Professor is in 7th grade and he's going on the trip. Mayhem is playing softball again, so we're also busy running her to practice three days a week. Busy, busy, busy...