Suzanne Back At Home

And it rained all month until the very last day.

2009-11-04T08:10:00.006-05:00

(Pics not necessarily in order.)

Trick-or-treating.
Dinner is served.

Pumpkins '09.

Decorating for the party.

Our Tiger Cub waiting for Uncle Barney to come and join his group in a trip to the arch. He is selling popcorn right now if anyone is interested.

I babysat this crew. They are all showing off their musical talent.

Declan's party and a traditional pic from the valley.

Trick or treating on Main St the day before Halloween.

October ended with a whirl wind of activity. Ariel had a celebration down at Lost Creek to celebrate Declan's graduation. I obviously celebrated a little too much. Wendy had her fall piano recital. Getting over the jitters is going to be a real challenge for her. She might preform again this December for some Christmas festivities her instructor is on to. Bri's Mom and Dad had their 50's wedding anniversary party and Bri's sister, Mary, flew into town. That was fun. And then Halloween, of course, the most important holiday season of the year. It was soo much fun. We had a house full of peo, food and enough trick or treating to fill up all the kids treat bags. I think we may have wiped out a few of the candy bowls in the neighborhood. I never got a head count of how many kids we had and it was prob a miracle that we came home with the same amount, not one less and not one more.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-10-22T08:11:00.002-04:00

Everyday is a day for some thing. Tonight we actually have a night off but it will dedicated to making and decorating note shape sugar cookies for Wendy Mae piano recital Friday night. She has 3 songs memorized to play. The last song she learned just this last week. The goal is to play 5 songs but I know from the last recital that goal is a tall one. Wendy was the only one that had her music memorized much less 5 pieces. It will be a good experience for her. I am loving to have to collect the fancy dresses for the events.

My knitting is moving a long. I think I am on mitten number 7. It is a repeat of the last one. My selection of mittens is getting more particular. I am going to start on some very traditional designs. Yesterday I got some yarn for my "Mittens of the Aran Islands". I was really wanting to get started on these Sunday but had to get the right yarn first. While the kids are at school or in bed I am working on some of their gifts. Wendy is always wanting flip flop socks and new slippers. Beck is always wanting all the crazy creatures he sees on Ravalry. I have decided to knit all the kids some kind of toy. After I finish Wendy's socks I will start on some of those.

I have been busy trying to get a room party together for Becks class. DELEGATION is the key word. There doesn't have to be a lot to do but there is a lot of correspondence to make it happen. Most of the time I let other peo be the "head" room mother and just be a helper. I didn't get that choice this time. I think I am on top of everything now and have all the donations and bodies I need so I am feeling pretty confident with this event.

Both of the kids are having a great school year. They both have great teachers and that really makes all the diff in the world. We all have been healthy (knock on wood) and I am hoping that we all stay that way. I am looking forward to Halloween, having peo over and trick or treating. The kids have had their costumes picked out and ready since September. The count down has begun.

Comforts Of Home

2009-10-14T08:16:00.003-04:00

I imagine all peo have some little thing that reminds them of home, baking, games, whatever, it could be anything. The thing that brings me back more than anything is rain and snow. Ironically I would never allow myself to get rained or snowed in the valley now. As soon as the creeks look as if they might rise I haul my ass out of there. Still, the rain brings with it a kind of peace I don't find in many other things. I am loving this weather.
Bri has been home since last week. He worked on my van in the cold and drizzle the last two days. The power steering has been making noise for forever, now it is finally less whiny than I can remember it ever being. The fact that he had to detach and then reattach the air bags worries me. I guess I will just drive it around with my seat back as for as I can possibly put it and coast to all stops. Better safe than sorry.
Last week was a bang up knitting week. I didn't see Abe until this Monday night for dinner. Marley had flu and Dec and Ariel stayed home with the kids. I appreciate that they kept their illness to their selves but I sure missed my kiddos. I knitted like a mad woman to compensate for it and have 5 pr of mittens completed. I'm at the point that I will have to start buying more yarn. I am going to start on the fingering weight ones next. I am not there yet, I have yarn for two are three more pairs and today I hope to get to the library and pick up some more pattern books. I will try the drive through reserve pick up window for the first time. Could they make the library any more awesome. The last two days I took a short break to knit a hat/cap for Beck. It is like the snowboarder hat with the brim. I am hoping it works. Abe and I have to head out to the store today and get materials for the brim.
It seems like we have been super busy with Bri home but all I have talked about is my knitting. Bri had a work picnic that we all went to and Sunday we went to Daniel's Pumpkin Farm. The weather was really wonderful and I was glad because we were out in it the entire time. The kids came over for dinner on Monday. Marley is so funny, she wants me to write down my gravy recipe. She is 5 going on 30. I got a call from Wes last night, he and Michelle are closing on their house on the 19th, very exciting. Last week they had the walk through and settled with the owners to fix almost everything, they were very happy about that. I still haven't gotten to see the place and expect to finally do that this weekend or next week for sure. They are going to need everything. They got rid of everything they had collected before when they were living with Michelle's Mom.

Knitting

2009-10-02T07:38:00.008-04:00

Knitting, knitting ,knitting. I finished both of the boys sweaters and I couldn't be more pleased with the final result. The combination of pattern , color and yarn is perfect. It could possibly be the worlds softest wool on earth. I only finished Abe's yesterday and I still have to block it, it is beautiful. Yesterday afternoon I started on my first pr of mittens. Most of the mittens I have chosen use diff techniques than I have used in the past. I have already come up against a snag but lucky for me Ariel will be coming with Abe this morning and I hope she can help solve my problem. I am soo excited about knitting mittens and all the peo I can give them to. I have found patterns for Maine lobster men's mittens, Russian folk mittens, pirate mittens and even a witchy pair. Some peo have hinted mittens weren't their thing. I have gotten over finding that offensive and moved on to making a diff list of peo to give my gloves to. I realized that my gloves are made for special peo who need them as much as I need to make them. Peo who go for long walks, boot up computers in cold rooms, play instruments in frigid classrooms, moped riders (I am positive they need mittens). Anyway although I have lost a few peo from my initial list my list keeps growing. Yeah mittens!

Abe's fall sweater before it is blocked. Beck's sweater. It fits perfect.Beck tried to look happy about playing dress up, he was trying real hard.

Wendy has informed me she wants want of those stylish jackets all the other kids have in school, aka hoodie (maybe one with a monkey on the back????). I just don't know? I spent last night looking up pretty cardigan patterns that would be beautiful on her. I worked at the school store before school this morning. I did notice not all the girls wear hoodies. She just might have to work with me on this....

"61 Ford Apache

2009-09-27T20:10:00.005-04:00

This weekend was dedicated to Wes. Bri and Wes spent the weekend looking at trucks and Wes bought a 1961 Ford Apache (sp?). It is awesome. The owner before him did some really good restoration work on it and after a weekend of labor by Brian I hope it is road worthy. He loves it and that is what is really neat. Now it is after 7 pm and Bri finally got to do some fishing with Beck. Brian did not however get to work on any of his own projects. He will survive. It was a busy weekend. It started on Thursday. The kids had two days off for Parent Teacher Conferences. Fri the kids and I went to the Zoo and then Fri night we went to the German Festival down town with Dec, Ariel and kids. Yesterday we turned off the tube and kept the kids busy in all sorts of other activities. We had Wes and Michelle over for dinner Sat and Sunday. It has been a long time since we have been able to do that because of their work and school schedules. Speaking of Wes and Michelle, they signed a contract on a house last Fri. We didn't get to see it this weekend but hope to be able to next weekend. They still have to have approval for there loan but everyone seems to feel confident that that will happen in time. It is being held up by paper work I think. As for as knitting news I have finished Becks sweater now twice. The first time I had to take it apart and lengthen the sleeves. This time I think it will work and I only have a few things to finish off before I can block it. I need to take lots of pics but that requires me dumping all my pics onto a disk. I will get that done the first of this week. Finally now after a most beautiful day it is Sunday night and although Bri leaves again tomorrow and we have a busy week ahead of us I will perhaps get a chance to rest, at least Monday will be a day of semi rest.

Knitting News

2009-09-18T07:54:00.003-04:00

Actually, there is no knitting news. I am getting really, really, really anxious to complete the top I am doing for Wendy Mae. I already have a project bag set with needles and yarn to start working on the boys sweaters and am collecting even more mitten ideas. Yesterday after putting the front band on the top I realized that the whole top was to short. Wendy is very long waisted and I hadn't added any extra length. I had to take it all apart and add length to the back and then wait until this morning to measure it against her to see how it will fit. Today I will work on the sides and hope to finish it for sure this weekend. Speaking of this weekend, it will be a busy one, so much is going on. Tonight is the balloon glow at Forest Park and tomorrow the Irish festival in going on down at the river. The kids and I will really enjoy these events. Sunday Beck has his first Tiger Cub meeting. I hope he isn't too disappointed to find out they aren't holding giant snakes or shooting sling shots. I imagine this meeting is mostly organizational. I am only going because of that reason. He has already announced that he would rather have Brian or Uncle Barney (in the case that Brian isn't in town) taking him to the meeting. He is totally looking at this as a GUY experience. I hope the sight of all the other mom's at the meeting doesn't totally put him off. ??? We'll see how it goes.

Swine Flu

2009-09-15T07:43:00.002-04:00

Not - Beck has been having flu like symptoms since late Sat, he has been laying on the couch now for over two days. Yesterday when we went to the Dr she tested him but alas he only had the normal flu. ?? It isn't like they would do anything either way. Unless you have a life threatening illness, elderly or an infant you probably won't be treated. The good thing is that he can go back to school tomorrow. Actually he looks pretty ready right now if you ask me but since this is the first morning I have been able to maintain a normal temp without medication I will keep him home one more day. Today will be a test of patience for me as I have two houses to clean and Beck I suppose will be "in tow". Beck is the reason I quit cleaning houses yrs ago. We will see if he can actually hang out with out breaking or spilling anything and for god sakes the last thing I need is any help. Eeek! It make me tense to think about.

Co-Co Button Front Tank

2009-09-14T08:32:00.002-04:00

I think Wendy's vest turned out awesome. She looked sooo cute heading out to school today. I like the idea of making a vest which is such a popular accessory this year and the fact that it doesn't look like it came from the Hannah Montana signature clothes line.

Knitting Fever

2009-09-13T09:49:00.003-04:00

I've got it again,"Knitting Fever". I have been knitting non stop. I will be finishing WM's top today and starting on another top for her. While I was knitting up the vest I found some errors in the patt and wrote the creator and she apologized me and let me choose another for free. I was so excited. I have an odd ball sense for picking screwed up patterns and this is the first time I have gotten anything for my frustration or effort to make it right. I have also picked out matching sweaters for Abe and Beck. My goal is to have them done by Thanksgiving. This is the first time I have done a project like this for the two of them, now that they are finally getting older I just have to do it. I went down to Ariel's knit shop yesterday (Sat) afternoon and checked out the clearance yarns that were on a 1/2 off sale. I was able to get all the yarn for the boys sweaters and some to start on my Christmas projects. (I saved over 90 dollars!!!!!) I have decided to do mittens this Christmas. I am real excited about this. There are so many diff style and tech and I want to try them all and I thought by doing them for everyone for Christmas would give me that opportunity. I have been told by a few peo that they want socks - they don't wear mittens. I think I am just kinda at loss of words with this but maybe I can work through it. I certainly don't want to make it a prob but what????? I AM making mittens this Christmas!

"Giving Up" Or Rather "Letting Go"

2009-09-10T08:19:00.004-04:00

Adios to the peasant sweater that I was knitting for Wendy Mae. Hell on needles was what it was. I feel like I gave it a fair shot but it was becoming a huge block, physical and mental. Personally I work on one project at a time. I like a challenge and will usually come through on it, aka Brian's "Giant Orange Sweater". This was something else and I admit I may try it again someday but not someday soon. I had trouble from the get go. After having figured out the technique I was jumping through hoops because I changed the fiber. The pattern was written to use Caron Simply Soft cheap acrylic yarn and no way could I work a whole project much left put in the time and effort into one and end up with a fiber that is repulsive to touch. Oh well, enough said I searched the world over and found another pattern (numbingly simple) that I could use the yarn on (because I am also terribly practical and frugal and didn't want to see any yarn getting cast aside). So right now I am working an a simple brown vest for Wendy to wear with jeans, skirts, etc..... easy, casual and perfect for play or school. She would like a purple one after the brown but I will see how this brown one goes first. It is a really awesome pattern, I would wear it myself. Very simple and grounded, a style I would choose for myself. Anyway, now I am back in the knitting groove and picking out patterns for everyone. Poor Wendy was disappointed but I explained to her if I kept working on that project there would be a good chance it would be the last knitting project I ever did because I couldn't foresee finishing it in my life time.

BNNTA

2009-09-07T11:45:00.006-04:00

"Busses Nowhere Near The Arch" at Mark Twain Lake was a great time. I think we will be marking this on our calender every Labor Day.

The kids fishing and enjoying the lake Sat morning after we arrived.
Wendy.
Bus caravan to Mark Twain Cave. This pic is at Cannon Dam.
Mark Twain Cave.

Indian Creek Campsite. Bri making breakfast.
We had a little car trouble on the way. Bri is working on the points with the help of a new VW buddy. I think he has been convinced he needs to bring the car up to Bonneville races next yr by this same guy. I don't know that I want to thank him for this.

We really had a good time and will go back next yr. I have a list now that I know more about the camp set up. It is always hard to pack for four for the whole weekend into the Fastback. I think a small trailer may be required to do it right.

Beautiful Weather

2009-09-02T09:09:00.002-04:00

Life is good, the weather makes things even better. I know as soon as I start taking it for granted we will be having 90 degree days again but right now I am loving it. I do wish the rain predicted for the weekend would vanish. Our camping trip may be a soggy one. Between cleaning houses and watching Abe I have been nursing a sore back. I think I pulled a muscle stretching last week. Whatever I did I don't want to do it again. I slept with a heating pad for the past four nights and even then I was most comfortable standing. My knitting is getting no where. I started a sweater for Wendy in the middle of August. It uses a new tech (the round on two straight needles) that still has me baffled at times. I also have the issue of using a nice cotton instead of the cheap acrylic used in the original. I think I have worked out the kinks with the yarn but I am still working on following the new tech and pattern. All of that isn't the biggest obstacle either. The worst thing is that I have fallen into a reading fever, especially short stories. I love short stories, they're so much fun. Maybe I will eventually read some bad ones and then I will be back in the knitting mood. Of course as my back heals and allows me to sit more that would help the process too. Alas then there is Abe, Abe doesn't like one to sit and knit. He is an on the go guy and would rather head out on an adventure and he gets his point across very well making it no great joy to knit at all. Some how, some way I will get back on target someday.....

Back to School

2009-08-25T08:07:00.002-04:00

The last few weeks have been glorious. The kids are back at school. I forgot all those cute "back to school" snap shots, it must have been the excitement of them finally leaving. My world isn't totally kid free or do I have all this time all to myself but it has been a satisfactory feeling. Abe visits with me three days of the week. Abe likes to go on long, long walks spotting trash cans and trash trucks and after that pulling out everything from my kitchen drawers. The bang of pots and pans is wonderful to him if not me. Last week the back yard seemed to be wet and muddy all week so we didn't get much time out there but I have decided I need to make his time more organized. It will be better for the both of us. Bri has been gone since last Tuesday. He will be flying home for the weekend. We are anxious for the visit. He will be home again next weekend and we have a big VW festival we are going to and will be camping at so this weekend he can help me gather supplies. We certainly will be limited to what we can bring because it will all have to fit in the fastback. I am looking forward to the trip. It is at Mark Twain Lake and we will do a road tour to Hannibal one day as well as a band , BBQ, fishing swimming at the camp sight. Something for everyone.

End of Summer

2009-08-11T08:54:00.007-04:00

Summer seemed to consist a lot of babysitting Abe and Marley but finally at the end , after Declan finished school, we got some time to play. We had to do everything it seemed in a two week period. On my old body it deff took a tole. I have only caught up from rest from our camp last week and my body is full of bruises from either Six Flags, Johnson Shut Ins or whatever else I was doing. We went camping in Southern Mo for Grandma Camp and it was excellent. We enjoyed a rope swing on the Black River, Johnson Shut In's and Elephant Rock as well as a side trip to Mastodon State Historic Site on the way to our destination. When I got home I was to tired even to knit. Luckily I shopped, got Beck's haircut and school supplies for school the week before. Now we an relax and enjoy the last few days of summer. The kids start school this Wed. Oh I forgot to mention the weekend before we celebrated WM's B-day. She and her friends had a blast!

Wendy Mae's B-day

Aug 1st, 09

Cassidy, Wendy Mae, Autumn, Taylor, Race

Grandma Camp

Mastodon State Park.
We tie dyed shirts together for camp.

Our first night was raining but we ate good inside our DRY cabin.

With rain poncho's and flash lights no way was the rain going to keep the kids down.

Johnson Shut Ins was just a short distance away and we spent an entire day there playing in the falls.

Weeee!

Black River near our cabin. Everyone loved the rope swing.

Good bye cabin. Last day.

Elephant Rock State Park.

The kids found tadpole pools on top of the big rock.

Through most of this Bri has been out of town. He did get to come home for a brief visit over WM's b-day. This is his first real long trip since the beginning of summer so it has taken some getting used to again. He took of as much time as possible while the kids were home. Beck is really not liking this but he will get used to it all over again, we all will. Now just one more day to keep these guys busy before the new school year starts.....

Way Too Busy Summer

2009-07-26T09:50:00.002-04:00

A busy summer hardly describes this one but that is what it has been. There has been grand kids, travel, celebrations, camping and lots of fun. I have watched Marley ad Abe 3 days a week until this last week. I started the summer out with projects everyday, a trip to the park ounce a week and sprinkler time outside each day. The park and the sprinkler time got old in time but project time was big every day. I focused on science a good part of it but we mixed in quite a few arts and crafts as well. Thank god for Michael's dollar projects. The kids love 'em. A word of advice, growing crystals is not as easy as they say it is. We had a family trip to Wisconsin and stayed at an indoor water park and then hit the Dells for a day. Wendy Mae and I also went camping with Girl Scouts. She enjoyed that a whole lot. Beck is into everything breathing and found under a rock or down a hole and probably has a specimen of each in a jar or cage in his room. Lizards, worms, snails, frogs, bugs, etc..... they're up there. He has also developed a passion for fishing this summer. He never gets enough. Still I have lots to do and the kids start school Aug 12. Tuesday we will go to 6 Flags and then I still have Grandma Camp to do. The kids and I have a camping trip to Johnson Shut Ins and Meramac State Park planned and now it is time to make it happen.
What ever happened to long lazy summer days with nothing to do????

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-23T07:57:00.004-04:00

Beck's spring picture.
Soccer awards.
Choice Awards, both Wendy and Beck received them.
Each teacher picked one child, I understand Wendy getting it but Beck has really transformed himself into a diff child at school. I think he kicked at me that very day when I was trying to get him dressed for school.

Kindergarten graduation.

Wendy's piano recital.

Recital.

We have had a full May. There hasn't been enough time for every ones celebrations along with all the activities. Beck's grad and Michelle's B-day fell on the same day. Instead of making her dinner we went to Beck's grad and then she went to her Mom's for dinner. I made them a cheese cake to take to their celebration. Dec, Ariel, Marley, Abe and our gang all went to Lyons. Nothing like a celebration at Lyons when you live in St Charles. Yesterday Wendy's piano recital took place. Murphy's Law was acting in full force but we did get there, she did look beautiful and played beautiful. She was sooo very nervous but learned that it wasn't half as bad as she thought it would be and will be much better equipped for her next one. I have been completely busy with the kids end of the yr activities. Field trips to Blanchette parks and end of the yr performances. I have learned that spending a day with nearly 100 kindergartners is pure hell. I asked the teacher and she said that you got used to it but that everyday is a long one. I also spent the day with the second graders flying kites. Now that was much more enjoyable. One more field day with all the St Charles Elm schools next week.

Wendy won a coloring contest. You can see her drawing at this sight, www.modental.org/mx/hm.asp?id=cdhm . This is pretty cool for her. Although it says that second place got 50 dollars she actually received 75 and everyone in her class got a small bag with a dental kit. She is really excited.

With all this going on we also put a new floor in our foyer and living room. We have approval for the garage and fence. Bri went ahead and moved the fence and now we are discussing the plans for the garage with an architect. There is not enough going on around here. Coming up is the VW show in Effingham and this is the last free weekend before then that Bri will have to get the car ready. No rest for the weary.

Now that the weekend is here I am really hoping to get to relax, a little. I have lots of things I want to do, they just don't include 75 kindergartners or 100 2nd graders. The kids and I are planning a day at City Museum today. Wendy was invited and Beck and I are just making a day of it since a group we know will be there. I can't wait to go with him. He hasn't been since he was three.

May 1st

2009-04-30T10:49:00.002-04:00

May is finally here and all is happening all at ounce.My weekends are quickly filling up with activities for the kids and ourselves. Bri's schedule is working right so that he will be able to be here for Wendy's recital and Beck's K-grad. Summer is going to be really busy. I am going to be watching Abe and Marley at least 2 days of the week and I have so many plans for Wendy and Beck. I have been busy again with field trips, projects with Brian as well as covering furniture in the living room and the patio furniture. Silly me started of with the pillows (inside). I think it would have been easier to reupholster couch and chair and then do cushion but I didn't. I am still working on a sun suit for a friend who had a baby several weeks ago. It has been a slow go since it is squeezed in with reading, reupholstering and gardening and today I need to start on Abe's B-day present. I am really counting down the days to this so that is what I am going to start to work on this morning/afternoon.

April

2009-04-18T13:31:00.005-04:00

April has been busy and seems to be going by way to quick. One more month of school to go and the temps are getting more likable everyday.

Becks first soccer game.

Wendy as a sheep in "E-I-E-I Oops"
Abe playing with Sid.

Easter car show at Forest Park. Just a little bit chilly.

Brrrr.

Last week Bri and I finally got the play set put up for the kids.

It is a bigger job than it looks.

Is she going to ride her bike or talk????

Marley.

May is going to be here before we know it and we will be celebrating Abe's first B-day, Bri and my wedding anniversary, mine and Michelle's birthdays and of course Mother's day. Three of those occasions highlight me, I just know it is going to be a good month.

Spring Break

2009-03-29T20:30:00.006-04:00

At the Science Center we saw the "Sue" exhibit.

Cass joined our group.
Beck really liked this exhibit.
Dec, Abe and Marley joined us in the afternoon.

Building the arch.

The zoo on Wednesday. Marley, Cass, Savannah and Bridey joined us.

Thursday Elephant Rock.

It was a perfect day and a great drive in the VW.

What's up with this gangster stuff?? It has got to go - too dorky.

OK, I just like taking pics of my girl.

Way up.

Great scenery.

Now spring beak is over, the kids will go back to school tomorrow. I think they had fun. We visited the Science Center, zoo, art museum and made a trip to Elephant Rock in the VW. The weather cooperated fantastically all week long until Sat morning. Beck was supposed to have his first soccer game but it was a rain out. He took it a lot better than I thought he would but I had been informing him over and over that if it rained it would be rained out. I guess the prep work payed off. We had Marley over Sat night. She and Beck had a big time. They are two peas in a pod and have something going all the time. Today they turned the upstairs into a giant spider web trap. Crazy kids. Bri was working on his bus every moment he had through the week. I am hoping the this next month I can influence him to work on a few projects for me, the kids play set, a raised bed garden and taxes still need to be done. It is hard when he has so little time at home. I think he spends all his time away thinking about what he should be doing next to the bus. bus bus bus....... He is away now for another 12 days. After being home for 3 weeks straight it is going to be weired with him gone again. As always there is more than enough to do here to keep me busy, grass cutting, sewing, making little mice for Sid, etc.....

Introdution to Beck's Fat Toed Gecko

2009-03-24T09:48:00.003-04:00

Beck is obsessed with making video's. I am burning 1 - 2 CD's a day for him. He may just be a budding film artist. ??

Full House

2009-03-22T16:28:00.004-04:00

Beck finally got his ants this week. Wes and Michelle had given him an ant farm for his B-day and of course you have to order ants. THEY SENT HIM FIRE ANTS!!! He got a little hysterical when I mashed some with my palm but the thing was I had like six bitten into me and my hand hurt. OK, it really didn't matter about me I should of been better with the ants. I learned my lesson, someone else can open up the lid when they need to be fed. Then two days later Wes came over and realized I was looking for a cat. I was in no hurry but that isn't a concept Wes can understand. If you want something you need to go get it. He called around all the pet adoption places until he found what he thought might fit my criteria and we came home with Sid. Sid is great, he gets along with Sunny and Brian and the kids love him. After that we needed Sid toys and then Wendy and I made Sunny and Sid treats. Sunny really likes his. Sid didn't seem very interested but then he is still a young cat. I guess I will send some home to Jasmine to see what she thinks of them. While Wendy Mae and I were making cat toys and pet treats Wes, Bri and Beck went to the reptile expo. I guess I should of known before they even left the house what would happen and as of yet Bri hasn't even told me what but that Beck will have a surprise for us when he comes home. He is with Wes right now. Well Bri isn't very good with surprises and so for we know it is about 5 inches long has suction like feet and lives in and aquarium with a heat. OK, gecko. I won't swear on that until after I see it.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T10:01:00.003-04:00

Beck has leprechaun traps set up all over the living room. He kept asking for some of my jewelry to use as bate. Instead he used gold coins and necklaces that he had recovered from the pirate chest at Marley's B-day party. At least I think that is all he used, I should probably take a peak and see.

It certainly feels as if spring is here to stay. I started working on the yard yesterday. Already I have found the poison ivy, yuk. I am starting with the yard and then will go to the gardens. I fear it is still to early to uncover the young plants but I am all too anxious to see them. I am hoping to get all the not so fun work done this week and then have fun things to do that the kids can help me with next week on their spring break. I really have a lot to do outside plus I need to recover the patio furniture this year. I will work on that on the rainy days. I had some high ambitions for my garden this year and Bri was on track with it but now this VW seems to be all he can think about. I won't give up hope, maybe he will come around still.

Last night I received news that Dr Duhart died. He was the Dr that delivered Declan and Wes. The best I could figure out on his age is that he might have been about 76. Amazing. I am pretty sure that he was still delivering kids to date. Most people are retired from there professions by this time. I will take this as a testament of how much he enjoyed what he did. I am sure many people will miss him.

Well Brian is back at work this week. Although he is at AB and home every night it is nice to have some time to myself again that isn't total discussion of VW buses. Who would know that there could be so much to say on the subject. I will be watching Abe a few days, cleaning for the neighbors and trying to get the yard in shape. Hopefully I will make to the valley as well. So much to do...

......

2009-03-12T08:51:00.004-04:00

Brian has been home since Sat and so it has been a nice week. He got home two days early and surprised me right before I started getting ready to go to Judy's 50's surprise party. It was a fun party with more surprises. I think Judy enjoyed herself.

Bri has invited me to go out to Warrenton to help him with his bus today. Yea!??? It will be fun. I will have to have rubber gloves on before I touch any of those dirty bus parts though. I guess it is officially a go on the bus now. Bri has spent a yr waiting and then months of leaning this way and that to whether he would keep it or not. Now he has made a big investment so it is deff a GO. We are all in this now. Good thing I like VW's.

This weekend will be a busy one. Bri will be back at work Sat but he will be working at AB in St Louis for the next ten days so it will be almost like old times. Unfortunately he has to work Sat and Sun. Sunday Wendy Mae and I will be selling girl scout cookies at IGA. I hope it warms up. Later we have a piano recital to go to in the evening. That should be interesting but at least I won't have to bring Beck, it will just be a girls night out. It would even be nice to get Wes to sit with Beck and both me and Bri go since the opportunity exists.

I haven't gotten much done on the knitting front. I finished Judy's 3rd, medium sized, market bag and started a pr of toe socks to wear with my flip flops this spring. I have only just started and will bring them along to work on while I am out at the bus today because after all you know where my interests really lie. Sewing has been slow this week, as well, but I am almost done with a top for Wendy and have another pattern to try and a pattern for Abe that I need to pick out some material for. I have been trying out the whole wheat Artisan bread. I learned Tuesday at knit night (yes, I got to go to knit night) that you can add gluten to it to have it raise better but then I am thinking the gluten is what isn't so good for people in bread so maybe I am better off with out it. The loaf I made was good and sliced easily enough to be used as toast as well as sandwich bread. I still think I had a little too much flour in the boulle but it was a little better than my first batch. I am working on another loaf with this batch this morning and over the weekend I will try again with the white. I am planning on making pecan rolls this time. Yum. These will be for me.

Ahhh Beck...

2009-03-06T08:11:00.002-05:00

There is thing about Beck. He has a huge imagination. Everyday, all day, he is in another world. Now, it isn't that he is checked out at school but when he is with us he is just gathering fuel for where he would rather be. He is driving Wendy Mae crazy. This morning he pushed her away for the piano insisting that he had every old piano song in his head and then played them for her, and for her, and for her, and for her until it was time to go to the bus. On the way to the bus we heard a motorcycle revving it's motor. It is Cole across the alley from us but Beck was furious that Colin (from sch00l) would be making that kind of noise so early in the morning. He has been to China at least 3 to 6 times. He likes to eat pizza at Sun's Pizza Parlor, they make his very favorite kind of pizza. When he leaves for school he tells me to download games and send them to his lap top at school. Laptop? By the way they were taken away yesterday because Colin wouldn't be quite. The teacher took away everyone's lap tops. What a shame I didn't even get to see them or the blog he was blogging on all day, everyday. And guess what? this is just the tip of the iceberg, this kind of reality is Beck's reality. I don't remember this with the other kids when they were six.

2009-03-04T08:23:00.011-05:00

Wes's B-day socks. I call them "Chalk Line Socks" because the blue line reminds me of a chalk line. Notice in one I put a repeat of the chalk line over and over to stress this point - that are I was running out of yarn?????
Bri's ear flap hat. He likes it! and it is perfect for when he is up near the great lakes. It is the Animal Crackers pattern from Ralvery. I added a liner to make it extra warm.
Donut experiment #2. Crispy cream style. They were good. I think Crispy Cremes might be double coated with glaze. I only dipped them ounce, to me Crispy Cremes are too sweet. These have been my favorite so for. It boggles my mine why we consider donuts breakfast food. This recipe take 3 1/2 hrs, it is more like tea time...
Wes's addition to our home. Apparently Michelle's mom wouldn't allow him to keep two snakes so he talked me into housing one. Since this picture he swapped this one out and brought his ball python here. He wanted to monitor the rainbow boa more closely to make sure it's temps were right.

I didn't get picks of Bri's vest or socks. He packed them up for his next trip before I got a chance. He actually wore his vest when we went out to dinner on his B-day and it looks perfect and even he had to admit it was a nice layer of warmth and didn't look at all ridicules. (Brian has a vest problem.) He wore it in Chicago but has let me know that he thinks it may have gotten snagged on something. I am hoping it is just a dropped stitch and isn't too hard to fix. Last weekend was Marley's B-day and it was a big event. I wonder if Abe's B-days are going to be as big of an ordeal. It was fun.

This week I started by working on some sewing. I made a vest for Wendy Mae that turned out perfect with the exception of the zipper. I bought an 18 inch rather than a 16 inch. I didn't realize the reason for my prob until I was nearly finished and managed to work the longer one in. She loves it, in fact when I woke her this morning she was sleeping in it. It is sooo soft. I took the left over fleece and made a diaper cover for Abe. I don't know if it will fit. It is kind of an experiment. I took apart one that was too small and then tried to add to it to make it bigger. It looks really big. Next time I see him I will try it out. Oh ya, I finished a pr of PJ pants and a pair of PJ's for Beck that I had cut out after Christmas before I started on any of the other sewing. I wanted to do Wendy's vest so badly I used the vest to bribe myself to finish the PJ's. They turned out great but he was a little disappointed with the pattern of the material. I had just used on had material but he was wanting something with sharks or dinosaurs. As it happens I do have a dinosaur print in my collection so I am going to cut them out in the next day or two. I picked out a summer top pattern for WM and I am going to experiment with that too with some on hand fabric that I have. I hope to get all of that cut out today. I am planning on starting experimenting with Artisan Bread today as well. I bought all the ingredients yesterday so I would be ready to start on it this morning. I am using the recipe's in Mother Earth News. It includes a pizza dough recipe, pecan sticky rolls, herb dinner rolls and whole wheat sandwich bread. I think Bri might like the sandwich bread for his trips.

I think I have finished 6 market bags with my extensive collection of rug yarn. They came out in all sizes and work great. I have finally burned out although I am plugging away on another when I have time like when I can't concentrate on anything deep, like tonight for instance when Lost is on...

FYI - if anyone reads this that has ordered Girl Scout cookies from Wendy Mae I will be have them Sat night. I know you are all waiting for them.