Been on hiatus!

Well, I am back.  There has been SO much going on with little time to think and organize or even consider blogging!

What have I been up to since my last post?

My little business has come in handy.  At the end of last year I started a little business which includes many facets:  stitch markers, pattern designing, repairing various items, knitting for sale, and crocheting. 

I make stitch markers for our local yarn shop.  ((On a side note I was saddened to see some of the ones which haven't sold are starting to tarnish - I am going to have to look for better quality findings, I think.))

As you may (or may not) know I also have an affinity toward tiny and wee socks ... and I don't mean the size to fit babies, I mean the size that will fit over a finger - decoration only.  I was asked if I would be willing to come up with some patterns and perhaps teach once a month and do a mini sock of the month club for the local yarn shop.  Although it's a fabulous idea, I have yet to finish enough patterns for twelve months.  I have some great ideas, just need to bring them to fruition.  However, I did finish a couple whale patterns and a lattice pattern, and I have one on the needles to represent our ever-present rain. 

Last year I made a "brain hat" for Daryn for either birthday or Christmas and he wore it to a scouting event and a woman went ga-ga over it!  He had also worn it down the street to visit with our neighbor (and doctor) friend.  Well, our doctor friend had to have one, and then this other lady (whom we did not know but works for neurology somewhere) had to have one as well.  So, I made some brain hats and sold them!

Then the outside "fix-it" orders started to come in.  One was a red cashmere (store-bought) sweater, another was an "antique" afghan, and then a child's sweater with a hole, and another brown cashmere sweater, and then a gentleman's wool pullover, and the latest, a wrap a woman had made and at some point decided to make into a poncho - but didn't have a hole for her head!  That was a reconstruction piece!  Most of the ladies at the local yarn shop do not like doing this type of work at all; with that in mind, they call on me and there you have it, a mini knit repair business is tacked on to my little business.

Now, I still have one more thing to add on!  Ian and Evyn have been invited to dance with the Vashon Dance Academy.  Vashon is an island reached only by ferry, a 10 minute ride - but costly one.  The school is putting on a production of Cinderella but they haven't any older boys to play the part of prince.  While sitting there last Saturday the owner saw me crocheting a bun cover and she got all excited, as she has been consistently telling her girls to net their hair.  Would I be willing to sell them there?  (SURE!)  How much are they?  (I DON'T KNOW!)  Obviously, I didn't screech those responses to her - it was that booming voice in my head!  I said, I would love to make some and I'd be happy to bring them with me, but I didn't know how much to charge at that point, so I left that question unanswered.  I figured anywhere between $8-$10.  Daryn looked at them and said $12, and my friend at the yarn shop said - go with Daryn's price!  (I always underprice  myself.)  So, there you have it, I have been madly crocheting/designing beaded bun covers since last Saturday.

And why, pray-tell, was I working on one in the first place?  Amber's dance group and the competition teams are gearing up for their Spring Showcase and Silent Auction.  This is when we can put 5 items up for auction to raise money for our little dancers.  Last year Amber and I made beaded bracelets and earrings and each piece was under $10.  She didn't bring in nearly what the others were able to bring in, which was by hundreds!  I mean, let's face it, I don't know anyone in a welding shop that can make elegant coat racks or fire pits; I don't know anyone who runs a small plane or helicopter business who will offer up a ride.  I make things, and nine times out of ten, no one honestly appreciates handcrafted items and what it takes to make them (time-wise or skill-wise).

This year Ian is offering up an hour and a half tap lesson and the owner of the studio is giving him the studio rent-free for it!  I'll have to find out what that generally goes for - perhaps $25 and start the bidding there.  Ian said he'd mentioned it at the studio and several individuals are interested in the private lesson.  I hope there is a bit of a bidding war (ha-ha) so we can get a little something for it.  Many privates generally have a $10 studio fee, and then the choreography fee (which can be $75 or more) -- so upwards of $100.  I don't see that happening, but sure would be delightful!

Then a very nice woman at the yarn shop was talking about some bags she had made and how she offers them up for the kids at the school where she works when they need auction items.  Her purses can sell upwards of $60-$80 in specialty/novelty shops.  She has donated two to Amber with a suggested starting price of $20-$25.  Daryn thinks maybe starting at $25 of $30.  Now, to be honest, I THOUGHT she had said beaded bags ... so when they turned out to be knitted and felted bags (purses) with some novelty yarn in one and crocheted butterflies on another (both with handsome handles, by the way), I was a bit disheartened.  I can't seem them going for that amount, but that's possibly because I know I could easily make one.  So, we shall see.

That leaves me two more items to put up for auction.  Now, remember, I said I had already been working on beaded bun covers last Saturday.  I thought I'd put together a grouping of 3-4 beaded bun covers, package them as one, and start them at auction value of $25.  So, I was crocheting away on one of these when the owner of the Vashon Dance Academy saw it in my lap. 

Today I finished my seventh one.  I only had seven colors.  I'm going to have to mix and match my thread and beads now to make them look different.  And, although it looks like I'm being very creative, I'm not.  I am using a booklet for crocheted snowflakes to design the centers and then adding the netting.  Pretty inventive if I do say so myself.  I did find one pattern and the woman had written that she gets some of her inspiration from doily centers.  I figured, if you can use doily centers, why not the center of snowflakes???

And there you have it.  My budding business is wide and varied.  Time to grab up my size 6 steel crochet hook (used to be Grandma Helen's) and a ball of crochet thread and a tube of beads and start another bun cover!

Ta-Ta!

Christmas Day - part 2

This morning was not as pompy and circumstancy as normal Christmas mornings around here.  We didn't even eat breakfast until everyone was up and the gifts unwrapped.  It was 10:45 a.m.when Daryn had a fire in the fire pit going to burn the wrapping paper. 

The kids LOVED all the new clothing items they got.  Ethan exclaimed he LOVES to get clothes for Christmas!  I had no idea!  Now I know!  (Hint there, too, for others who inquire.)

I gave Daryn seat covers for his bug.  Whooppee!!  And that was it.  He didn't desire anything else and I didn't go and buy "stuff" just so he'd have something to open.  He didn't have anything for me.  Guess we just don't need things this year.

Totally loved the framed photo my mother gave to me (of herself).  I really love that particular photograph.  I am going to clear off my desk so it sits here for me to see each day.  :)  She also gave me a teapot that sits on a shallow cup.  Very cute and just right for a cup or two of tea.  We have lots of those during the winter here as the rain makes our days very damp and bone chilling.  I also received a very cute ornament from Mom and Dad - it's yellow with taxi-cab black checker squares on it and it says Mom's Taxi Service!  Totally love it!  I need to have a year-round tree to display it!  And Dad gave me a little sign that says our home is guarded by a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  Definitely will get hung up, and is it ever true.  Sherlock barks at EVERYTHING!  What a talker he is.

Amber crocheted a beret for me, but it really doesn't fit.  (Looks like a yamika.)  She did it on her own without a pattern.  Great initiative, but nothing I can wear.  She told me to put it on my bear.  Guess I'll have to do that.  She also gave me a beautiful candle sconce with butterflies.  She found it at a garage sale over the summer (from the Dawson's) and it will always remind me of her because of the butterflies.  Need to find a candle cup to fit in it and a place to hang it, which I think I already know, but need to see if it's possible (will have to ask Daryn).

THIS JUST IN ... LITERALLY!~!~!~!

A BOOKCASE!  I am UBBER excited!  Finally a place to put all my knitting books and possibly some project bags and baskets of yarn so I know what I'm doing!  WHOOPPEE!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Mom and Dad!!!!!  Oh, and that framed photo?  It's going on there, too!

Will have to update this later.  I have some books to put away!  (And Amber is wanting help to make birthday invitations.)

Merry Christmas

I know, I know ... I'm late.  It's December 28 and it's been AGES since I entered into my blog void.  We've been a "tad" busy in this house.  I have had to be more slave driver than mom, and I don't like that part of being a parent.  I have many high hopes that things will drastically change by the first of the year.  They my children will take on the responsibility of getting things done in a timely manner so I don't have to be the nagger I have become to get them through it.

After a year's worth of nagging, Ian will NOT be putting on Eagle Scout this year.  It has taken him a year PLUS to get it all done.  Guess it wasn't as much as a priority has he deemed it to be.  The project is completed, but it's all on his shoulders to get the remaining signatures and paperwork completed and he has just dragged his feet.  Needless to say, I have done my bit.  He will not be putting it on as part of the centennial celebration has he had originally planned.  We shall see when he actually finishes.  At which point we will prepare the obligatory Court of Honor.

This also applies to his school work.  With MUCH nagging, it is my deepest desire and hopes that Ian will also FINALLY complete last year's school work.  It MAY be possible if he puts his NOSE to the grindstone these next couple days.  The ABSOLUTELY last possible day to be done will be the day before he heads back to OC.  I DO NOT want to be harping on this through the next quarter.  It just tires me out WAY too much.

That all being said, we had a lovely Christmas holiday/vacation with Daryn's mother.  She was tickled pink we could come and stay and visit.  We weren't there a full week, but that was always weather permitting.  Our original plans were to leave Saturday (tomorrow), but the weather started to look iffy over the mountain pass.  So, rather than finding we couldn't make it, we left a day early and we had perfect weather for the trip.  Totally lovely.  Clear roads the entire way.  Kids and dogs were a bit restless now and then, but I happily knit away and very nearly completed the other Christmas gift.  I should actually be knitting now as I write, but felt this was also important, as I have been so delinquent.

Perhaps my goal for the next year, New Year's Resolution (?), should be to make sure I post at a minimum of once per month or at the most once a week.  I don't see it being once a week, as not many interesting things happen.  Our school year is pretty routine for us with schoolwork and dance schedules.

After we arrived in Coeur d'Alene Daryn and I did some mad shopping, as we were not prepared to have anything for the children there.  All the gifts we had purchased were left here at home.  So, we took advantage of some sales and got them some fabulous new warm clothing, which we really can't get around here.

Christmas Eve was a houseful with 14 people (and our 3 dogs).  We had Kenny and Denise, and then Kelly and Gary and their girls Audra and Kindal.  We also had the kids' cousin, Nathaniel.  The rest were Daryn's mother, Judy, and of course, our clan of 6.  Gifts were exchanged only between Kenny and Denise and the rest of the family, as they were not going to be out Christmas day.  Daryn and I were given a lovely candle (we gave them oil and vinegar containers and also bottles of oil and vinegar, as they both like to "play" in the kitchen).  They gave the boys camping equipment (shovel, mini camp stove complete with Sterno and matches).  Amber received a beautiful cross necklace, which she just loves.

Christmas Day didn't seem "usual" to us, as we were in a different location.  But, Santa still found us.  The kids' wrote their notes the night before and surprized Santa by requesting nothing and asking he take their gifts to children who needed them.  It was very touching.  After breakfast and we got everything cleaned up, we opened gifts for an hour or so.  Daryn and I gave his mother a tin of cashews from The Nut Factory (which I would LOVE to go back to ... yum!), and we also left a wee surprize for her which she has yet to find.  I gave Daryn several pairs of socks; a couple shirts, one of them flannel; and a mini vacuum for his computer keyboard, etc.  Daryn gave me a new hot glue gun, which has several tip attachments.  Something we have needed, as the other is OLD and doesn't work well at all.  He also gave me a beautiful wool key-hole scarf.  Will be perfect around here!  The boys and Amber all got some socks and some shirts.  Grandma gave Amber a pretty pink shirt with a butterfly and a necklace (with a feather).  She gave the boys snugly blankets, which they really like a lot!  She gave us a honey pot with a dipper in it and some honey!  There were some other odds and ends as well.  We had a HUGE dinner with turkey AND ham, a great mashed potato casserole (brought by Kelly, and of which we HAVE to get the recipe), stuffing, yams (only a few people at those), and her fruit salad dish (ambrosia).  We had all forgotten to get/make a veggie.  Dessert was a mincemeat pie (not sure we'll make one of those again), and an apple pie (thanks to Daryn), plus an assortment of cookies brought by Denise the day before.  After dinner we exchanged gifts again with Kelly and Gary (and the girls).  We gave Kelly and Gary a lemon squeezer and krinkle veggie cutter (as well as two lemons and two cucumbers).  Our kids gave the girls a couple pairs of socks and chocolate covered cherries.  The boys each received a t-shirt, Amber got a cute top and a salad-dressing-to-go thing (story behind it was also explained).  They gave Daryn coffee, a Starbucks cup, and a gift card; I got a pretty purple scarf. 

The day after Christmas Ethan asked to go to the city park.  So, while Daryn and I took a walk around the park, the kids had the park ALL to themselves and they had a blast (until someone got hit with a snowball and then no one was happy).  Oh well, kids are kids.

We've played Millionaire Monopoly, Left Center Right, and Scrabble a lot these past few days.

Now I really have to hit the needles.  More stories later as we celebrate Christmas Day #2 tomorrow.

Heading to college - on the ferry

 On board the Anapolis ferry and heading over to Bremerton at 7:05 a.m.

And off he goes!  :(

On the flip side ... this is what Ian saw as he got off the ferry the other morning.

 Then the sun rose and the big ferry was coming in toward Bremerton; Port Orchard behind the ferry.

This marvelous shot was taken today.  We got down to the ferry about 6:50 a.m. or so and we could see the sun starting to peek up on the Seattle side, so it was rising behind me.  When Ian got to the other side he has this view.  What a great way to have God say, "Good Morning!" to you!

Venting for personal reasons - not readable for others

The following is just me venting.  Ignore it.  I had to write it somewhere.  Consider this a personal journal entry for nobody's eyes but my own.  Thank you for understanding.  (And Mom, if you do read it ... please no comments ... )

I am ready to throw in the towel on boy #2 as far as school is concerned.  His attitude leaves much to be desired and when his response to me indicates I am interrupting his day with school work my only thought is ... fine ... go to public school, buddy.  Let them deal with your attitude; see how much you'll like it there when you have more than one person during the day telling you what to do!  I left at 7:50 this morning to take Amber to violin.  Returned shortly after 9 only to hear he was "done" with his schoolwork for the day.  Granted, his math class starts next week, but his grammar books arrived yesterday and you'd think I had asked him to pick up dog doo, mow the lawn, weed the garden, pick up and vacuum the house, plan dinner, and do the laundry ... and all I asked was for him to do lesson one!  This happens every year throughout the year.  Does Daryn see it?  No.  It is conveniently held for me to deal with on a daily/weekly basis.  Fantastic.  I should feel so blessed!  Additionally, it is one horrible example for the younger two to witness.  Urgh!  I thought we were done with this attitude ... I guess not.  Where's my wooden spoon?  Where's the principal?  I need to send him to the office!  Daryn Bartlett ... get home ... you have a student waiting for you in your office!

Now that I've ranted and raved ... I love my son so much it hurts.  Maybe that is why it bothers me so much when he does this to me?  It kills me.  I feel I walk on eggshells with him and have to tread very carefully so I don't piss him off.  He always seems to be pissed off at me.  I hate that term, but that's exactly what it is.  Anger, pure and simple, aimed directly at me and I have no way to deal with it other than telling him, fine, do it yourself.  Good luck.  I want him to excel in school and flourish and want to learn.  I know he thinks he knows it all, but he doesn't.  I'd love to say to him, fine, you don't have to do the ABeka grammar for 10th grade.  But, he does.  I have eliminated the spelling/vocabulary, and poetry on the premise it is covered in his HOW I curriculum.  But, I have to have him know all the literature terms this year.  It is his last year with grammar studies and he needs a firm foundation.  Does he see that?  I doubt it.

Now, Evyn, I know you are going to see this and probably get all ticked off again.  Maybe that is a good thing.  You won't listen to me when I talk to you at the table, so maybe you can further understand how I feel if you see it in writing.  Grammar is a necessary evil ... you have to do it whether you like it or not.  I know you're mad I had you start today rather than Monday.  Too bad.  It's one day closer to summer next year.  I love you, more than you will probably ever know.  I do not give you these things because I dislike you, but because I love you.  I pray you will understand.

I love you.

Wee Tiny Humpback Whale Sock

      Well, I have finally finished this month long adventure.  This little guy still has to pass the Ethan inspection, as he is my whale expert.  If my Wee Tiny Humpback Whale Sock passes with a 100% in flying colors, then I can get started on some other small sock ideas.

     I was approached with the idea of teaching a Wee Tiny Sock of the Month Club KAL (knit along) at our local yarn shop.  However, I need to have some ideas.  I have compiled a list of sorts, and now need to work on what would be a January idea.  I have two whale ideas which will work wonderfully for our local Whaling Days celebrated each June in Silverdale.  I will also need to find bigger sock blockers or maybe sweet talk Daryn into making a few for me that will fit my socks.  At any rate, for purposes of size comparison, this little guy measures about 5 inches from tip of nose to tip of tail.

First Day of School (well 5th day anyway)

     I had really good intentions of getting a photo of the first day of school this year.  That would have been five days ago.  It was even on my electronic calendar.  However, life intervened and the photo was never taken.  Ian wasn't up, then boys had to go off and do a wood stacking job ... yes, life intervened.  Next thing I knew, it was Friday.  Amber came downstairs this morning all dressed up and ready to have her photo taken.  Well, we don't ever do anything traditionally ... so we weren't going to pose on the front step as if to head off down the driveway either to walk to school or catch the bus.  So, the boys are dressed for the photo in whatever they were in when I said, "Let's go ... time for the photo shoot."

     So, here they are.  Ethan is "using" the thesaurus, Amber is studying something from her language binder, and Evyn is diligently studying his Algebra (from last year).  In regard to Evyn, he and Ian are getting tutoring for their Algebra classes and should be able to finish before long.  Ian should be complete with Algebra 2 by the time he begins Running Start with Olympic College, and Evyn could be a bit longer than that.  However, their tutor, Tanya Sutter, is willing to keep working with them until their lessons are complete and they have an end of year grade for next year.

     However, I digress.  Our first photo:

 All their lovely faces

     And lastly, our "graduate" joins us with his version of his first day of school.  As I wrote earlier, he starts mid/late September.  In the meantime, he's completing a few other things before heading off.

   Non-traditional ... yup, that's what we are!