Sunday, November 30, 2008
First Snow this season II
the Temperature lady on the phone says it is 30oF,
there’s almost 4” of snow on the ground, flakes are still falling.
Outside my window 30 November 2008
I have decided to forego church service due to inclement weather.
Plus, Husband’s car is getting the radiator worked on, so my car will be needed the minute Lucas calls for a ride.
Please ask for Blessings on Middle Son, traveling home from CA today. He’s gotta be on a train to the airport, a plane over the mountains, a bus coming from Chicago, and my car to Urbana.
the brightest spot of color is neighbor’s flag
this picture is exactly as it came from the camera chip
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Same Ol’ Saturday Stuff
Only a few accomplishments done today. First was going out for breakfast with my spouse, but we didn’t talk much. We’ve already had two days together to catch up, so we got right at forking in food. Besides, there were large party groups on either side of us, making conversation a bit dubious.
I got the oil change check-up on my car, needed because it will be used to return Lucas and Scratchy an hour’s drive.
While in the waiting room, I pulled out some yarn and my 59 peg loom and put three rows on a hat. A mom and couple little kids were there also, and the little girl came over watching carefully but not saying a word.
The mom started to pull her back, but I spoke up and asked if she had any questions.
Her first was “What will it be when you are done?”
When I answered “a hat” she looked really confused, seeing that 2” of yarn hanging from a ring does not look anything like a hat.
I pulled my own hat out of my pocket and demonstrated the cuff, then put my hat on my head, just like a person wears a hat.
Her brother came over and asked if I had made the one I was wearing now.
“Well, sure, it’s been about a year ago, and of a different kind of yarn than the one on the loom this morning.”
They were just fascinated that a hat begins with a ball of yarn. “Can I touch it?” I wasn’t sure which ‘it’ was intended, so I held out the loom and yarn with one hand, the hook tool and my own hat with my other.
It was like watching kids at a classroom Science Table, turning things this way and that, trying to make so many new connections.
The mother watched from near the counter, paid receipt in hand.
The little girl turned to her mom, my hat in her hand.
“Mom, She MADE this!” as if using supplies and completing project was incredible.
the mother then said it was time to go, so they handed me back my stuff, the boy said “Thanks for showing us” and off they went out the door to their van
After she was strapped into her seat, the little girl looked through the window at me and waved an extra time.
the teachable moments surround me
I have the hat knitted up to one row after the cuff. I would like to get it done today, but my fingers need a break. As if typing is different enough to consider it relief.
Awhile ago, I walked 21 minutes on the treadmill. I’m having to build back up to the 30 minutes I was going before I got sick with the flu last month.
Right now, I’m feeling a blahs weakness, as if a nap is needed, which I attribute to leftovers. Eating turkey twice a day for three days in a row could become a medical study. I’m pleased to give it my best effort.
Gonna go poke through the fridge and get the fixins for supper.
Here’s hopin’ yer weekend is going so well.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving! 2008
Whenever we have a bigger package, the carrier leaves the mail between the doors at the front of the house. A few days ago I figgered I should go out to the mail box to find out what had been shoved through the slot.
When he puts some in the slot, he makes sure what he calls the “love” mail (aka address is handwritten) is on top. Perhaps this knowledge demonstrates that I learned too much about a workman’s habits over the summer when I had so much free time on the porch, while peg loom knitting hats and crocheting potholders.
Anyways, musta been Saturday, there was a yellow envelope on top of the pile, and using the dim light coming in past the slot’s cover, I recognized my sister-in-law’s handwriting. I’ve often thought that Becky and I could be friends even if we hadn’t married brothers. It’s so sad that half a continent full of prairie and rivers and mountains is between our houses.
the envelope contained a nice card
the inside message Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!
and every other available bit of space on the cardstock is covered with Becky’s handwriting, giving the news of their jobs, their sons, request for crocheted potholder pattern, plans for the holiday mentioned on the front of the card.
Our mother-in-law is also at their house today.
I loved getting this card, and all the careful letter forms.
I struggle as a tutor to give Second Grade kids a reason to learn handwriting.
A chatty card from a loved one is a good answer.
It is with a bit of nostalgia that the thought came to mind that it might be the last card full of news I get from her. One line stands out “we finally have high speed internet, and here’s my address ************ “
Ya know what this means? I have to add a name to my Dear Ones List, which is already so stuffed full that my in-house Tech had to raise the traffic limit on my messages account.
Meanwhile, I’d like to echo the sentiments of the card.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Delay in crocheting a baby aphgan
There’s a Baby Shower happening at church this coming Friday afternoon.
I’ve known there was a “bun in the oven” for quite awhile now, back in September I began to crochet an aphgan while riding in the van going to Women’s Retreat.
After about 10 inches or so, that project just did not feel right, as if the color or texture would not be favored by the little one. I tend to go with my instincts on most of my projects, and if I don’t listen to the inner voice from the start, I usually have more frustrations in the end.
So, I set aside the cotton aphgan.
I’ll get going on it again, just not for this baby.
Then I went through my yarn closet and found some lovely pastels 3-ply acrylic, and began working with it, doing a simple double crochet stitch and letting the colors work their own pattern.
The blankie now covers my lap, so last evening I spread it out to see if I might be getting close to being able to put the border on it. Only two and a half days until the party, doncha know.
I’m not happy with it. The center looks like I missed a stitch but didn’t realize, and one corner is lopsided, even though the stitch count is correct.
Hhmm. I love the yarn, but the work hasn’t been going well.
I’m gonna pull it out and start over.
I cain’t finish knowing the mistakes are visible.
There’s no way I’ll expect my weak hands to crochet a full blankie done by Friday, so it looks like I’ll have to give the momma an I.O.U. note alongside the two baby hats done on peg looms.
Meanwhile, on today’s To Do List, there’s grocery shopping for holiday dinner, filling the scrip for my thyroid medicine, buying envelopes and stamps for Christmas newsletter, and using a coupon for a latte at a shoppe I rarely stop in.
Times are lookin’ good, and I’m off until 01 December.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, November 24, 2008
Middle School Woes
For the two days that classes are in session this week, I am working at a junior high as a TA Sub Classroom Assistant and Group Tutor.
First Hour is 7th Grade Language Arts, 7th Hour is 8th Grade Industrial Technology (building rockets!) with the rest being a variety of 6th grade classes.
This fella is one very busy guy. The only actual break for the schedule is a 32 minutes lunch, and that means moving through the same cafeteria line as the students, which leaves hardly enough time to eat.
I found it stressful for answering the call of nature during class changes. Three minute interval between bells, to get from one end of the 200 hall outside to the Portables. This follows some of the student schedules, so I know if I say it is a problem, then I’m sure the kids are under pressure.
A Portable classroom is more-or-less a double wide mobile home equipped as a classroom, parked between the school building and the ball field, except there are no rest rooms across the yard!
Last week I overheard a guy complaining about how the school district has financial needs for plans to build two more schools.
He should be walking in my shoes today and tomorrow. And trying to explain the distributive property for math equations while sitting at a small table at the end of the hallway while students at the next table were drawing posters about ancient Egypt.
Talk about feeling crowded and rushed.
And I’m a grown-up who knows it can be better!
Gotta get to bed.
Rest for the weary brings Brighter Times Ahead.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Peg Loom knitted doll hats
Lots of fun, I’ve been having.
A friend asked if I would be willing to work up some hats for baby dolls in time for holidays with the grand-kids. Even gave me some Fun Fur yarn to get started, and I did make a couple hats using it.
Not happy doing those, I am not so fond of tickley yarn,
but I did manage to get a couple done using it, and they do turn out cute.
Anyway, some of the fun was finding suitable yarns, a bunch of love while doing the peg loom knitting, and the rest was for showing off the finished products.
At least three times I got to pull the hats out of a basket or bag, one at a time so that each could be ooohed over.
One comment was that the bag must be bottomless.
This morning during church Fellowship Hour, I had them on a table top in the corner so folks could see the whole deal before they got paid for with satisfaction, and carried away for her family togetherness.
click to embiggen
Gotta get hooking on the current baby blankie.
I’ve already walked 20 minutes on the treadmill, but must remain quiet while Husband is having a Sunday siesta.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Crocheted potholders and knitted hats
Last winter I peg-loomed a purple hat as a gift for my youngest sister. She wanted one to match her coat, and says the one I sent was ju-ust right. Then she mentioned that her husband would like one in dark blue and orange, so I bought the yarn then, tucked it away, and forgot about it until a week or so ago when my wonderful spouse put up a new shelf unit in my yarn closet.
Stuff came out from the corners all new in my eyes again.
Oh yeah, I’d better get on that, the weather is down to 31oF and snow is happening in his part of the country.
the navy blue and orange stripe hat is for brother-in-law Joe
the holiday colors hat is for a baby due 09 December, but the shower is this coming Friday
potholders as always (ain’t the peach and brown self-stripe yarn real purty?)
I gave a pair to a friend for her birthday in April. She says there were several admirers in her kitchen at a recent family gathering, so she has asked if I will crochet up a few for money, then she’ll be able to wrap ‘em up as gifts. Since most of the cash earned from finished items goes right back into new yarn, I said I’d be glad to do it. (I am working on a couple more pair, picture later)
The weather here is gray and gloomy, so today I’ve been inside with a crochet hook in hand. I have about 24” done on the blankie, so that is the current urgent project, what with the party in less than a week.
It’s in 3-ply sport yarn, so the going is s.l.o.w.
The guys are in the living room watching some disaster movie, all the while with laptops in front of ‘em.
Lucas says the plot of the movie does not require full attention, so surfing the net and showing me a cute squirrel picture at The Onion website brought a couple grins.
I called my mom the other evening and got filled up on news from the Valley. I think that if it weren’t for church meetings and doctor’s appointments she could get pretty bored. She is having a bunch of folks at her house for Turkey Day, so she’s making preps for then.
It’s about time to rustle up some grub for supper. I think there’s a package of boneless chicken breasts in the fridge, so probably a rice casserole will go into the oven soon. Bland food as bland can get.
Lucas is leaving on a jet plane early in the morning and does not want digestion woes alongside sinus aches.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, November 20, 2008
It Would Seem I Have Been Missed?
There has been much pestering, yes pestering! from several corners for me to write something on my blog. The e-mails are numerous, folks coming over to me at church, an acquaintance I bumped into at Hobby Lobby apparently is an avid reader of me, even though our children graduated from public school years ago.
I’ll have to tell ya people, writing is not my favorite thing to do anymore.
Back in the day, I did have a titillating diary about what color skirt I wore to try to impress the guy who sat next to me in high school Chemistry class, but after typing out all those college research papers, and Mrs. N’s B- - - (that’s a B minus minus minus which was actually a grade written on the top of a paper) I really lost my oomph for pulling out the thesaurus to find a new adjective for ordinary.
Plus, I have been doing a whole bunch of Teaching Assistant positions, each with its own challenges.
And I am not supposed to say anything (which I would really have some stories to tell) outside of the job because of privacy purposes.
Somebody mentioned plans for the holiday. The people coming to my house have been fewer and fewer these last years, what with the sons growing up and moving away. Sometimes I have invited others, but I really don’t like all the extra work and worry of having others in my house.
I’d have to clean the toilet and mop the floors really special, otherwise somebody might be making a report to the health authorities.
The other evening, I loaded the dishwasher, washed all the extra stuff by hand, punched the buttons, then went to bed.
Next morning, there sat waiting the full drainer on the counter, and the green light glowing on the machine.
I went to the middle of the living room and yelled out “Whose turn is it to put away the dishes?”
The cats both came running, looking at me like I am crazy.
Which I am, a strong toehold grip on the edge of the cliff.
Same property where we raised three sons is too much these days.
Anyway, middle son Lucas is coming home Friday, so we are having a family dinner on Saturday, then on Sunday he is getting on a plane and going to the West Coast to see his sweetie. She began a job out there the first of this month, and so does not have any recreation time built up.
His cat will be staying with youngest son Chris because our cats and the other cat cannot get along.
Our school break gives me Wednesday off, then the actual day itself, well, I have a fresh turkey on order, so I’ll be cooking up a storm, then having much leftovers for Chris and our freezer.
There is an open invitation to a church dinner in the community room, but we’re not much interested in mingling. We all have jobs where we are with people non-stop, so a holiday is for rest and housework.
My own plans are to rearrange the Yarn Closet. Husband has put up some shelves, and I have acquired some donation yarn, so organization moves to the top priority.
There have been some yarn items either crocheted or peg-loomed to put into my basket.
I’ll have pictures sooner or later. Husband, the camera pro, says Saturday would be a good day.
After a morning being in the house for the treadmill repairman, (which the machine does sound much more in rhythm and quieter) I must now put on some shoes and get going to my Yarn Group.
We had our Craft Sale last Friday, and so I’m sure the project people have been busy doing calculations and income tally and sorting leftovers, so there will be much information to hear.
I’ll try not to be so long in writing again.
It seems MrsDoF Withdrawal is not pretty and no one likes silence.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
ps I got a new Darius Rucker cd last month for our wedding anniversary. Love It Love It Love It!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Stayed inside to watch a video
Somehow in my travels around the interwebs, I came across a story about Jimmy Stewart, the actor.
Of course, after reading that article first published in Meridian magazine, I had to order the video Mr. Krueger’s Christmas.
Yes, indeedy, a used but good vhs tape for $0.01 plus shipping arrived in only 3 days, long before I needed it to pass the time over Christmas break.
I decided to watch it today, since the temperature has dropped and the clouds look like snow might come, so winter blahs are setting in early.
It’s a nice story, really. Starring Jimmy Stewart? gotta be
I’m quite touched, especially since I didn’t know about it before.
If you get a chance to see it, I betcha you’ll like it.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, November 06, 2008
New Baby Name
FOX news reports newborns and namesakes
a baby boy born in Florida has Obama as his middle name
and a mother in Maryland named her baby girl after his daughters
I’m gonna have some interesting Roll Call readings in a few years
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
When I opened the door this morning
this is Mahalia’s view (her whiskers touched my hand while I pressed the shutter)
and here’s mine while I kneeled beside her
we were going out to fetch the paper
saying Barack Obama is now our President Elect
something I already knew from looking at online websites
I’m home today, waiting for the furnace maintenance guy, catching up laundry
and probably knitting a couple hats on the small peg loom
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Um, there’s an elephant in the parking lot
During the month of October, our local Great Harvest bakery had Pumpkin Scones as a special a couple days a week.
I made sure to drive over a few times to make a purchase, once even getting a couple extra to drop off for son Chris and his roomie to enjoy.
On the last visit, in the parking lot of the same shopping plaza, I spied an elephant.
A fake elephant, thank goodness, but still. . . .
I didn’t have my camera with me right then, but when I mentioned the elephant down the way, the clerk said it had been there awhile because of another tenant in the building.
This morning, what with the time change giving us an extra hour, Husband and I decided to go out for the breakfast we didn’t get to have together on Saturday because I was being a volunteer at the church blood drive.
The restaurant is only a couple blocks from the elephant in the parking lot, so I made sure to have my camera handy.
Knowing Husband is much better with lighting and angles than I am, I asked him to get these pictures.
We just never know what’s gonna be seen in the land of the free 
~~love and Huggs, Diane