I tried but here I am

I know I said I was going to post daily but as usual everyone else's schedule interfered with mine.  Monday was to be the husbands day off and he got called in and so combined with his full-time job and the part-time one, working that extra day put him at work for 16 days straight.  This has made my household schedule a bit tight, I planned on a quiet day on Monday for Brian's day off, so once he got called into work I spent my evening knitting on my current project of a scarf, fingerless gloves, and possibly a hat, the scarf is done and I am almost done with my 1st glove.  I also put together my list for Tuesday's errands had Jordyn & Charles (her best friend since 1st grade) to school by 11 and then ran over to Brian's pt job then to the bank and then FINALLY had my blood drawn that I had been supposed to do about 6 weeks ago, then onward to Michaels for new pumpkins for the outside Halloween decorations which they were out of what I wanted so decided to check the dollar stores and Tuesday morning all 3 were a no go so decided to check JoAnns they did some but the small ones were $25 each way more than I wanted to pay since I needed like 10 or 12. Then as I stood there they put them on sale 60% off so now that made them basically $10 each.  Picked up a few more items there and moved on to Target for what I cannot remember right now but do remember they were out of the shampoo the husband likes and his bottle was down to the dregs so not a good thing but onward I went to Winco grocery store and then to Costco and was back to school by 3:30 to pick up the kids. By this time with all the shopping the back end of the Expedition was completely full, on to home and while I was dreading the unloading process but by the time I got home I had 4 sets of hands to help (help unloading happens rarely) so got it all put away and made dinner. Brian worked a night shift on Monday and doublebacked to a day shift on Tuesday so he was home for dinner and was actually able to stay awake till about 10:30.  Wednesday I spent the morning doing some laundry and other household chores.  Jordyn & Charles got together about noon and spent the afternoon doing homework, Brian left for work about 3:30 spent my evening checking the kids school work and got some knitting in. This morning realized my alarm clock was broken and woke up about 25 minutes before we had to leave for school and I had to finish shopping for items that were out of stock on Tuesday or that I didn't have time to get to on Tuesday.  Made it home in time to see Brian for a few minutes before he left for work and I decided this was the night that I am skipping household chores and just going to knit and do my blog post.  I was going to tell you what tomorrow might bring but so far today the plans have been changed 3 times so far so I am no going to plan I am just going to wing it and see how far I get.  I will let you know how my Friday turns out.

Finally Back

I couldn't decide if I wanted to do this based on the fact that I was not sure exactly how much I want to share and I have come to realize that I cannot lay out completely what I am and am not going to share and just going to  have to weigh each aspect as it comes up.  The knitting has been coming along and not sure why but my speed has picked up I am still very slow but seems I am completely more projects than I have in the past.  Things have been very chaotic between 2 daughters in College and 1 in High School she is a junior and we were not happy with changes her high school and so we decided to change her schooling and it is partially homeschool program and she also attends regular style classes it has been a huge benefit to her academically but then it also feels like I am back in HS again also, since I am responsible for helping her get through the work I also choose a lot of her assignments and I am also responsible for grading and tests all of this is followed up every month by a credentialed teacher so I do have a safety net if needed (which I do regularly) but I have been holding my own. Another benefit of her school change is she only attends classes 2 days a week, but her school is about 35 miles  one way so it eats a lot of those 2 days a week and all this is before I even begin to deal with the Brian my husband and the regular household issues.  My husband CHOOSES to work nights 4pm to 2am which drives me nuts since he has the seniority to work days but I deal for 2 reasons 1 since he used to work 24hr shifts and now it is only 10hr shifts and he is home everyday, but then add to his full time job a part-time job that adds another 6 shifts a month.  The reason for the extra job is to pay tuition for 2 daughters in College and another getting ready very quick.  As I look at my previous postings I notice that they are all so long and think it is because I have posted erratically I am hoping that with trying to post everyday will help shorten them I am also going to try to keep each post mostly about 1 subject and then comment on the other things going on but have to wait and see. For now I am going back to my current knitting which is a pair of fingerless gloves that will match a scarf that is already finished, they will be for the youngest daughter Jordyn.  So we'll see how it goes.

A Week

As a reader of several blogs I always wondered if I had time to read them how come they don't always post everyday and now I realize that it take longer than you think about what your posting and then editing it and in my case even longer since I have a tendency to write in one long never ending sentence.  So my new goal is to post daily 1 to help my scheduling of my day in general and so that I post what I want even if it is only the weather report but around here there is always something going on so lack of material should not be a problem.  Since last posting when I finished Jordyn's handbag I have started one of the 3 hoodies I am making for one of my brothers kids I am over half way done with the first and I have been working on the red satin dress with a black and white checkered pinafore apron did a fitting on the dress itself yesterday and all is good so today the plan is to put the collar and sleeves on and maybe cut off for hemming but I will probably leave the hemming for tomorrow then do the pinafore apron.  Yesterday when I was doing the fitting they asked me to make 3 more pinafore aprons these will be red and white checked all 4 pieces need done in about 2 weeks.  The last few days have been pretty rough since #3 daughter Jordyn was put on home/hospital care she has been doing homework regularly but when I asked about her work I had the feeling that she was procrastinating a bit turns out she has been doing it quite a bit for a couple of reasons 1 easy while at home to say I will do it later and then she has been dealing with quite a bit of pain from the knee problem and she has been skipping her clean up in her room.  Today ended up being the end of the end we had a conversation with her about the school work and she has picked up that task pretty good but then today dad went into her room and the mess he found was more than he could ignore any longer he had been asking her to be sure and clean up a bit everyday and she said she was and turns out no work at all in her room has been done.  He took her TV, computer, new SLR camera and she can use computer for homework but only around us so we are sure what she is doing  I really hate having to police her this way but hopefully she will get it all taken care of quickly and in the process learn to take care of business regularly (so much easier).  I have always been lucky enough with my kids that they didn't require much in the way of timeouts or punishments ask them to do or not do something that has usually been the end of it, some reminding but overall not a big deal.  However this time I know she is really overwhelmed with school from home the knee problems and coping with all the extra from these problems but there is only so much slack that can be allowed and I know in my heart that it is what is right for her but so hard for me to follow through being so tough.  My girls have always been so good and done so well I really wish I could take her pain from her.  I have to have the faith that all we are doing will work out the way we plan.  Till I know I will keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep knitting because that way at least I can show progress in something. Happy Knitting to all.

Another 1 Done

 Well done a few days later than planned but Jordyn's new purse is done.  The pattern is from "BAGS THAT ROCK" knitting on the road with Kelley Deal and yarn in Wool of the Andes Bulky color Galaxy from Knitpicks.  the bag it self is knitted in a rectangle and felted and then stitch up the sides and then pick up stitches around the top and knit a K2P2 rib.  Excuse the picture still having problems with the camera and so having to use phone camera and some don't come out to clearly.  So now going to start 3 zip up hoodies for 2 of my nieces and 1 nephew, picked up the yarn for these at Stitches West from Webs, I picked up some of their Valley Yarns in a DK superwash in basically a navy blue.  I am also working on the socks for Tylar and they are a lace pattern that I have been working on while out but it is to slow going so I think I will work on them mostly while home or only if going to be somewhere else for quite a while.  The basic rib socks I was working on for Brian ended up a bit to mismatched and so I am going to take both out to an even point and knit 2 at 1 time for them for whatever reason lately when I try and knit one sock at a time they do not come out even, even though I log how many rows and count them on each I am missing something so for now I am just going to knit 2 at once, then you don't have to deal with 2nd sock syndrome.  I also need to start looking into a new hat pattern for the yarns that I got for Chicken Bone she needs more than the 2 I have made her so far not nearly enough to give her plenty of options in style and color.  Brian's 2nd day off and so we have been just relaxing and not doing much more than watching TV and talking, knitting and just pretty much nothing.  Spending time with the kids and the husband what more nicer.

Great Day for Knitting ?

Yesterday was a bust left to do non grocery errands and thought it would take me a few hours I left before noon and got home about 7pm how ridiculous is that,  never thought it would take multiple stops to try and find new lamp shades ended up going to 8 different places how screwy is that, and I bought 2 each of 2 different styles and I don't think I like either one I think they are all going back, so back to square one.  As a result of my day moving down the road of the big black hole, I came home sat down to knit and passed out in my chair till about 1am got up and moved to bed just before Brian came home and went right back to sleep.  I did have 2 good parts Chicken Bone got her hat and loved it and I got my newest box of goodies from Knitpicks and my other box from The Loopy Ewe is on its way so I think I have everything I need for my plans for the next few months.  We'll see how it all goes.  Today should be better new storm came in last night and have nothing planned for out of the house today except Jordyn has physical therapy this afternoon.  So after doing a few household chores I am headed to my chair for some family time with Brian he is off for the next few days, some catch up on TV shows and my Knitting.

Blindsided

Well don't I feel ridiculous went for the yearly eye exam and was excited and ready, need new glasses current ones are really scratched not sure how since after spending over 20 years as a working Optician I think I have my glasses care just a bit ingrained never clean the glasses with kleenex or paper products and such. I always get them wet and use an appropriate cleaning cloth, really don't see those habits disappearing after this many years but with the old pair the lenses were already replace once due to the scratches and the 2nd pair has ended up completely scratched also.  But the bigger issue today was not realizing that they were going to dilate my eyes really hate them doing that. gives me a headache and sometimes makes me sick to my stomach usually plan on not doing anything after the exam because the problems.  But did have a funny encounter with the Dr. during the exam (her husband and mine work in the E.R. together) she is a crocheter and we have had conversations in the past about our current projects and I was telling her about Stitches West  I attended a couple weeks back and so when I got home I was telling Brian about our oohhs and ahhs about different yarns and our current projects I had mine with me a new pair of socks I am working on and she was working on a cape but the other piece she had I do need to call her back and ask what it was going to be but she was working it in the round and it looked like stockinette stitch only crocheted and I had never seen crochet look like that so I asked her about it and she showed me how to do it but I have never seen the technique done before looked amazing.  Funnier part was my husband was at work before hers and as soon as her husband came in he mentioned to Brian to keep my yarn addiction away from his wife.  I called him back and told him that his wife could have more expensive habits than nice yarn, and think of the end results.  Today I got out a felted piece that I did before Christmas so I could start the finish work it will be a new hand bag for #3 daughter Jordyn  made it out of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Bulky Hand Dyed in the color galaxy which is  varigated purples. the bag itself it a simple felted rectangle and then has a ribbed top on it that folds over like a turtleneck.  Here is the picture of the bag and the start of the ribbing on the top hopefully I will finish it tomorrow.  That is of course depending on how quickly I get through the rest of my day I have shopping to do tomorrow that is not grocery related fabric to try and find the stuff for the costume I agreed to make for the production of Pinocchio satin my "favorite" to work with and then I have a few other things to pick up.  Then I also have to contend with Aunties calls about her knitting for the day she is such an accomplished crocheter I am wondering about her learning crochet vs. her learning curve in knitting I am having so much fun helping her,  but I have not been on the phone with someone so many times a day since I was young and in love you know how you used to make so many calls to who ever you liked so much, makes me laugh thinking back hope I am helping her more than teaching bad habits but it is so much fun to help someone who wants to learn so much.  And of course instead of going shopping tomorrow I would rather snuggle in because the rain is supposed to start up again and then rain through the weekend.

Knitting Weather

Well here in Northern California we have had quite a time with weather, of course it is nothing like what the East Coast has been dealing with but for us it has been quite a ride tomorrow will be a big dangerous day with black ice in the morning and that very rarely occurs around here.  I am from Tucson, Arizona and there black ice is something that you deal with periodically every year so I have a hard time remembering that around here most have no clue what to watch for or how to handle it.  But because of the weather I decided to get a couple of quick errands done first thing this morning while we had a short clearing of weather and then went home and got dinner done early so everyone could make their plate whenever they were ready, then I sat down to spend the rest of my day knitting. Currently taking a break now and not sure I should call it a break from knitting because I have been interrupted so many times I have not gotten much done.  With everyone staying home and not venturing out due to weather I cannot figure out why everyone and their Uncle is choosing to call me today,  don't they realize I have other plans for the day.  I received my newest Loopy Ewe order finally got my camera back from my Aunt and went to go take pictures of my Stitches West and Loopy Ewe purchases but camera battery dead (of course par for the day).  I also do sewing and embroidery etc. but I have been concentrating on knitting for quite some time now and have only been sewing when I had to but I got a call today from the local dance teacher who all 3 girls took lessons from for over 15 years and acted as costume designer for most of those years but I cut back once the girls were not dancing regularly anymore but I got the call today for a costume out of red satin with a peter pan color and a black and white checked pinafore apron I am so hoping I can find a pattern close to what I need because I have no desire to design the pattern and then sew the dress together so cross your fingers that I find something close a few alterations to pattern I don't mind.  So more on this later so I guess I will head back to the sock for the husband I did a toe up sock and hopefully finish up the foot part tonight and then start the gusset and heel tomorrow and we'll see how far I get tomorrow maybe done because the leg is just a simple rib pattern for this pair.  The temperature on the back porch is like 29degrees so gonna be a cold night so I think I will snuggle in with my sock and something good to watch on tv or read a book I am in the middle of also such a nice way to spend the rest of my evening.