Ups and Downs

The Man Child has graduated 8th Grade and is now officially a High School Student. Now comes the challenges and scary times in front of me. Say a little prayer. Especially when he is so handsome...



Sure is hard to believe that he's only 14... I. Know.

Over the holiday weekend, we opened the pool by taking the tarp cover off and filled the pool up so we could get the filter going. Then after buying all the chemicals, scrubbers, skimmers and arm floaties.... We woke up to this:



The water pressure coming out of the tear forced the 5 inches of stones out and away and dug a major hole into the ground. To say that we are devastated would be an understatement.

The Clock is Ticking...

Only 16 days until Christmas and I think I will be able to finish what I've set out to do. I'm really kinda pleased with that.

The Gumdrop socks are close to toe construction... just had a slight delay while I had my children on a secret mission to discover Grandma's shoe size. I was a little disappointed to hear that there are three size shoes all through out the house... 9, 10 and 11. What is a knitter to do? I'm going with a 10 as I'm hoping that is her average and knowing socks stretch I shouldn't have too much of an issue.



Ya'll just don't know what goes into getting these work-in-progress shots... I swear putting on a pair of socks that are connected at the toes (without loosing a stitch mind you) AND trying to get the right angle with the camera. Without knowing it I think I just invented the next torture-aerobic-workout!

The other projects I've been working on are hats for the kids. I downloaded Norwegian Sttar Earflap Hat which is a free download (revelry link) and got started.

The first one turned out too big and it wasn't until I bought more needles that I realized I had actually knit the larger hat instead of the child's version. D'oh!



It turns out I had enough yarn to make the smaller version and now I have TWO! so now me and Miss Mac will be Matchy-Matchy!!

The next item on my list was a hat for Eric. It was time to bring out the Failed Anime Hat that I started this time last year.



Second time around it turned out much better. It's still wonky but I'm hoping with blocking and a polar fleece lining it will smooth out.



Here is a better side angle of the Red Cloud symbol that Eric's favorite character Itachi wears.



Just look at all those ends I have to weave in. sigh. That might take me just as long to do as it took to knit.

My only other item is a pair of socks for my sister-in-law. I don't plan on seeing her until after the holidays and this my perhaps give me the extra time I need to finish those for her... I just can't decide what pattern to knit. Maybe I'll try the Snicket Socks.

Random Monday

Just popping in to give some random updates. Lets see...



Linda and Eric got married. Congratulations! and how can you not love the lacey-loveliness she has draped over her shoulders.



Took advantage of the sunny day and made our way to the pumpkin patch.



And this piece of evil has been driving me bonkers. Yes, I love it and I want to burn it at the same time. Why-oh-why do I feel this driving force... I will conquer over this Ishbel.

FO: Boat Covers

Pattern: my own generic toe-up 2-at-a-time on 2 circular needles

Yarn: 1 skein Cascade Heritage Hand Painted

Needles: US 1.5 circular (2.5 mm)

Started: September 29, 2009

Finished: October 12, 2009

After completing Miss Mac's socks, I could see a slight twinge of jealously in my son's face. I ask ever so softly, would you like me to make you a pair? He replied with a very soft, okay.

He then went on to request red and white flame socks. Whoa-boy!



Yeah-no. You can pick from the stash, thank you very much. I think he chose wisely. The Heritage yarn was REALLY nice to work with and hell, you get 437 yards... plenty to cover this boy's boats. We lovingly tease him about his large feet and it has become a habit to requst him to remove the his boats from the ship yard... otherwise known as removing his shoes from the living room.



I didn't knit every yard of this yarn and should have made them a tad longer in the cuff, but you know when your just "done"... yeah, I was done.

I did try my had at the newest bind-off to enter our knitting world: Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off. I love it. Love it. Love it. and plan on using it more often and for every sock I do toe up...oh, and in case your interested in seeing the matching cast-on by Jeny as well. All very cool indeed.

Do You Have A Clue?

Any clue as to what this is? I started another project on Valentines Day. When my son returned home from his visit with the grandparents, I placed it on his head. Told him it wasn't quite done, but soon, very soon.

After finishing the felted clogs for my husband, I had to cast on another pair for my son. He seemed a little lonely in the handknit department. The major set back is that his feet are big. We're taking size 12...men's size 12.

This photo will give you an idea of scale:



Yep...large feet alright.

Just for the Record

First off...let me apologies for the poor photo.

Over the weekend I discovered a height chart from when Eric was small(er) and decided to hang it up in Mac's room. It's a pop-out Muppets chart ... so it's gets hung, Mac gets charted. I then discover this by Kermit's foot:



Miss Mac and Eric were the same height not at the same age, but a full year and a half difference. Eric was three years old at the time and Miss Mac is well on her way to being 5 years old. I knew my boy was off the charts, but seriously it stuns me ever time.

Heck, even in the photo you can see that in that eight months time he grew an inch and some. wow.

It Started out Great

I had this vision of a double knit hat made up for Mr. E as a tribute to his favorite anime character. If you click on the link it will show you the cloak he wore for Halloween and I figured if I could make a hat with this same odd red cloud then he might actual wear it.

The main image is a red cloud with white outline on a black background. I sketched out the image and after calculating the stitches per inch I made a grid for the pattern, which turned out to look like this:



The hat would be first constructed in red from the top down, increases for the crown then continue around until deep enough. One row of purls creates the turned edge and thus begin the black background and pattern. Once the pattern was complete I do everything in reverse as to the red. The red part gets inverted inside the black and attached at the crown once the decreases come to an end.

It was great, Now It's Arse. Perhaps worse then that. Fucked up and ugly = Fugly.



I don't know if it's the dpn's that are messing with my tension or if I'm just doing it all wrong. Perhaps I put the project up on a circular needle and see what happens. sigh.

Random Leftovers...

My heart just pounds seeing my son. MY SON. On the court and having no clue as to what he's doing along with every other kid on the court;) He gets better and better each day, but seriously... it's hard to watch sometimes.

You see I'm that obnoxious parent in the stands who yells and screams at their kid. I'm so going to get kicked out one day, perhaps even banned.

What else have I been up to... well knitting of course.



The Cloned Rib socks are coming along perfectly. Wish I could put more up but work is killer.

One Love

There have been some things going on lately that have me in a funk and I didn't want my blog to be dragged down by it. Not that my peeps could not handle it or be there completely understanding and all that. You guys are awesome that way. It's just that family can get complicated and I don't think it would be good to broadcast via blog the frustrations of my daily life.

The one thing that hits the spot and lifts my spirits is a little Bob Marley....

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love)
There is one question I'd really love to ask (One heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me

Ya-mon!

Enough of that, how about an update in my knitting world? Of course you do.. Ogee Tunic is off the needles, blocked and seamed up.



A better photo shoot will happen soon. I'm just not happy with the lighting situation around here lately. I want nice pictures and it's hard to do that when the sunrises and sets at funky hours of the day. Lets not even talk about the overcast clouds making it gloomy... I like that kind of feel, but it doesn't help in the good photos kinda way.

In other exciting news... the man child made the basketball team.



We are so proud of him. It has been a rough battle to get him to this point, but he made it and now we just need him to stay there.

13 going on 30

Today is Mr E's 13th birthday. What happened? Where did the time go?



Thinking back to thirteen years ago where I was recovering from a c-section, holding the little peanut who was early yet weighted 6 lb 12 oz. I couldn't have asked for a better son. He's sweet, caring, loving and funny... gosh he cracks me up. But just look at him. It blows me away every day I look into his eyes. Really, honest he's thirteen.



I really am so proud of my kid. He's had his share of bumps in the road, but he has survived and in turn boosted his confidence. The next thirteen years is going to be one hell of a ride and I'm glad I'll be apart of it.

Something to be proud of...

Eric is off punishment. Or should I say the family activities can go as normal now. He came home on Friday with his report card... three B's and four C's. sigh. Thank G-d. So, we went out for dinner to celebrate.



You'll notice that he has his cell phone in hand, right? One of many electronic devices that have been reinstated. Now he can't get enough... he has even gone to bed at 10 pm every night (which is not his normal thing) because Wii is giving him a workout. Hahaha.. I find that completely hilarious.

He's Cracked

My son has finally cracked under the pressure.

What? you say...lets go back to February 15th. This brings us back to a time when I knew my son was struggling in school, yet was unaware of the full clusterfu** that it would become. Friday February 15th was the day that the The Teacher called. It was the day that a progress report come home and showed half of his assignments were missing... missing assignments leads to 0's.... 0's mean failing.

Eric was then put on punishment. I like that word. It sounds like it's painful. Any other time he has been on punishment, it hasn't fazed him. It took 18 days...18 days of no cartoons, 18 days of no computer time, 18 days of no video games, cell phones or Grandma weekends.

People...we are so serious we put the parental code on the TV just to make sure he wasn't sneaking in any unapproved shows. The only cartoons approved are ones that would drive anyone over the age of 5 insane... have you watched Bob the Builder? or as Mac would call it... Bub da Budder.

Eric was then instructed to produce any and all papers from his locker, class room, bed room and backpack. Dudes....we had a pile about 4 inches thick. Half of the pile was graded the remaining was unfinished or if it was finished, no grade. Why would you do the work and not turn it in? The grades he does get range from A's to C's... so as long as he turns it in then he's getting passing grades. I just don't understand the thought process when it comes to not completing an assignment.

Over the past 18 days he has been finishing the unfinished homework on top of his everyday homework. He mumbles and groans while sitting there for hours... and then protests that he shouldn't have to do it, it doesn't count, and wont go towards his grade. I DON'T CARE. You can't just forget about it...it wont go away and I certainly wont let you just slide by or say it's okay do better next time.

Last night he came to me and said... You know what I miss most? ... My cell phone.

I then asked if he understands now that I don't play around when it comes to work and school. I want him to understand that there are consequences for his actions. I don't ask for much. I don't push him to get A's (although I know he can), I don't push for sports or any other activities. I encourage him to try things and to do the best he can. If he just does his best then he'll be great at whatever he does.

He finally came to realize that only an hour a day of study time is completely doable compared to the 4 - 5 hours he's been experiencing. I then asked him if he will ever take for granted the privileges and freedoms we provide. "No Mom, this is horrible and I've learned my lesson."



We broke him. Finally. Punishment will continue until The Teacher has reported back a improvement. He has been begging The Teacher to send something home since Friday... it's a wait and see game now. I don't like having to do this to him, but what else is there? I then think back to my childhood and remind myself that we didn't have computers, video games and cell phones. If I lived through it, then I'm sure he will too.

How Do I Deal?

I try to create interesting photos of my finished objects. I try to take an unique approach to the subject matter. I could just plop the thing on my obnoxious bedspread and be done with it. I'm not going to say I'm super cool about it, but lets just say I at least put thought into it.

Do you even have a clue as to what I have to go through in order to get the right shot? This is in no way ranting or bashing anyone... While deleting some unused photos from my camera I noticed a trend. Here is some samples of why it's so hard to be me.







Maybe it's not sooooo hard, but...yeah, do you see how I have to deal with such cute camera monsters?

Hallow's Eve Sock Update

I'm knitting away at Fulmar and I look over at my yarn cake that is no more...hum, I've come to the end of a ball...hurray! First skein...promise I'll post pictures soon. This milestone left me with having to make another cake...which has happened, but in the mean time I grabbed my socks and started some rib..



Couple more rows and this is finished...I've got extra and Miss Mac needs a matching pair;)

I was happy today to get out for a few minutes and capture this shot. It always surprises me how bright and powerful the sun can be during fall. I'm practically blind in these conditions.

~:: a little rant ::~

The other day I was waiting for my train on the platform like usual. When I notice a friendly familiar commuter, and we greet each other. All the niceties are exchanged...you know...how are you...the weather is getting colder...you know, chit-chat. We actually have more in common then riding the train at the same time. We both have boys in 6th grade and they are friends. Not the best of friends, but friendly as 12 year-old boys can be.

If it was any old joe asking about my family I would say, Oh, yeah...their great. But, when he asked about Eric and how he was doing, I was honest and said that we've been having some issues with homework and such.

He dives in and starts to share his woes about having spent hours on math homework with his son last night. And I can't believe what they're expecting out of these kids. I contribute and tell him about Eric's struggle with reading and writing. Folks, I got a blank stare. I tried to back it up with how he's had these issues for awhile and it's a daily struggle...Still the stare, then a slight "oh" escapes his lips.

This is not the only time I've gotten this reaction. Why? Why is having issues with reading and writing is worse then math? Why is it okay to suck at math, but not the English language? It's like your a complete idiot if you have trouble spelling, but figuring out the greatest common factor is hard, so it's okay...besides everyone sucks at math, right?

Don't get me wrong...math can get hard and I don't know how good I'll be in the homework department come High School. But hell...I just don't understand the unsympathetic attitude towards our struggle.

Dim Sum

Gosh...getting back into the swing of things is difficult. Especially when the little one plays with the alarm clock. Woke up thinking I was late and not until 5 minutes into frantic rush did I realize I was actually early;)

I just wanted to quickly share with you some pictures from the Sunday Mom & Son trip to Chinatown. Temperatures hitting 95 with heat index of 105...but air conditioned trains and L, plus yummy Dim Sum leads to a perfect afternoon.







Highly recommend the Three Happiness Chinese Restaurant for the dim sum. Grab you a fresh fruit smoothie right from any of the local vendors and wonder around looking in all the import stores.

What was super cool is getting to knit on my socks while on the trains. I'm already creating a short row heel and wondering if I can do a reverse Jaywalker pattern for the cuff. Thanks Knitterary for putting that bug in my ear;)

A Little Cake and Dye

So, technically my son doesn't turn 12 until Tuesday, but hell...it's upon us. That just means I'm getting older. ahhhhh. Over all it's not bad, older I get the wiser I feel. Yeah, if you believe that one, I've got plenty more where that came from.

Party went off with some minor hitches, but what's a party without late guests, melting ice cream and kids screaming for more tokens. Quick Question? When is it appropriate to cuss out a child guest? Ha...just kidding. I didn't cuss anyone out, but I sure wanted too. There was evidence of a good time.









Five hours of party fun and I was in the bed with my little Mac getting some much needed zzz's. Going to bed early is always good, but waking with a headache is horrible. I was not comfortable all day until late this evening. That's when I decided to do a little dye experiment. I had finished the spinning the Shetland wool and pulled out the Kool-Aid packets. I got my instructions from Knitty and did a basic bath with as many black cherry packets as I could find. It was really very easy to do. I think if I was to do the black cherry over again, I would double up on the recipe. Right now three skeins are drying in the bathroom. They look pretty cool.