what did you do on the 4th?

what a day.....we had plans to go to our friends' house for a picnic and then fireworks. The rain and our schedule of events cancelled out the fireworks.


We're driving along and all of a sudden the battery light goes on..... (mind you the check engine light has been on for about 5 1/2 weeks and nothing has been done about it) a few miles later the ABS light comes on and then the engine starts to rev. I suggested that we pull over... and turn off the car. So DH kindly followed my instructions. Then tried to start the car and it gave that rr, rr, rr sound of a dead battery. So call AAA (thankfully we have AAA+ which tows for 100 miles for free) and I start thinking who can pick the 7 of us up? My brother won my vote and as serendipity would have it (in a bad situation) his van was finished getting fixed, so he just had to pick it up and my nephew followed in his car. They let us have to van to use until ours gets fixed. Mind you, my brother lives 50 miles from me (albeit in the direction we were traveling) but still, he's an Eagle Scout through and through.
We unloaded the car with stuff that we'd need and all the people and parked in someone's front yard along the side of the country highway (a state route... that is fairly busy) and waited for the tow truck, which came pretty quickly once we figured out where we were. Oddly enough after the tow truck took away the car, the people in the house came out and looked a bit puzzled but were very kind in offering their facilities should we need them. My brother and nephew came and rescued us with their van and rabbit (be a better story if they rode in on a mustang, no?) and we continued on our merry way.
I'm curious to know what the problem is and if it's related to the check engine light.

Two of the caterpillars have pupated and one is in the J. The fourth looks about ready. I'd take pictures but the batteries in my camera died and my kids used the rest of the AA batteries in the house, so I'll have to go get more tmrw.

I started this cloth on the way down, finished it at our friend's house and left it for her. I found the idea on ravelry and think it's a brilliant way to use up those scraps of kitchen cotton.

Pattern: Lizard Ridge Dishcloth by Laura Aylor
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream
Colors: Delft Blue, Red and White
Needle: US6
Made for: Gaby

There's one goof in it, but I left it go. All in all it's a great patriotic cloth and another wonderful use of the Lizard Ridge pattern. Thanks Laura! :-)

I still haven't finished sock #2. There is about 3 inches left to knit. I should get cracking. Tomorrow, OK technically today, starts the Tour de France and with it the Tour de Fleece... I'll spin up what I have in rolags and hope to card more as well.

And last but not least, some pictures from the Philly zoo yesterday. We bought the family deluxe membership so the kids got to go on all the stuff that was available and we'll have to go back again in the next year (I personally could go there every day!) We arrived around 11:30 and stayed until closing. Suffice it to say that there were 7 very tired people when we got home!










The tree house. This is a very cool large room where everything is oversized even for adults. You can climb up inside the tree and look out at the room. There are giant frogs kids can climb inside. A HUMUNGOUS beehive, gargantuan monarch caterpillars and butterflys, Some dinosaur replicas, a flower seat and more. The kids had a blast here.

There will be more pictures after I steal them from my FIL's camera ;-)

finished

Pattern: Amanda's Squatty Sidekick from Interweave Knits knitting daily
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool Merino
Color: Chestnut Brown
Needle: US 10.5
Lining: purchase at Wilson's Calico booth at Kutztown Folk Festival
Button: gift from Argentina (ironically from my MIL)
Recipient: MIL

I just finished sewing the lining in. It's not perfect, but it can be a constant reminder to her that neither am I......

I wanted to do more, but I need to sleep.... I think it's the zoo tomorrow if the weather holds.

citizenship

comes with certain rights and priveleges. The most important being the right to vote.
DH became an American citizen today. The Philly convention center grand ballroom was packed with 1500 new citizens and all their guests. The color guard are volunteers that are all descendents of Gen. George Washington's original colorguard. I didn't think it would be a big deal, but there were moments that choked me up a bit. So now, I'm married to an American citizen. He did register to vote immediately after the ceremony. It took all of 3 minutes as they had many volunteers there registering the new citizens.

In other news, my brother turned 53 today. Happy Birthday E.... even though you tormented me all those years, I still love you!

I can now say that I have knit at the Philly convention center and the Market St. train station.. making that kip list longer every day LOL. This decoration was at the end of the food court in the train station. If this was the Mason Dixon blog, I'd put it under found objects, but it's not, so I just have it here. I also missed taking a great picture of a metal outline sculpture of Ben Franklin on a bridge crossing 676 heading out of town.. just not quick enough with this camera. I'm finishing up my second sock, working on a lizard ridge block and frogging the second leg of a pair of longies that is merino (the rest of the sweater has been frogged for quite some time and the wool is luciously soft!)

I need to sew the lining to MIL's purse. I was interrupted last night as I was readying the machine by a little boy with a nightmare.

busy busy busy

I have stuff to post, just no time.

I've finished 1.5 socks of the Charade and fulled my MIL's squatty sidekick. She chose (and bought) fabric for the lining at the Kutztown Folk Festival at Wilson's calico booth. We went there Sunday as well as to the Crystal Cave. The fair was great. I could have spent more time there but the kids were worn out. The disappointing thing was the lack of knitting and fiber. There was only one booth which sold knitted items, some handspun yarn, square needles, and roving. Her fiber is gorgeous. She has goats, bunnys and sheep....nice lady. When I find the paper with her info, I'll add it to this post.We got there at about 10 and left at about 4. At Crystal Cave, I stayed in the car with DS2 who was taking a LONG nap. Everyone loved the cave.

Yesterday, we went to the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary which is owned by my friend Mari Gruber. It was a great program and the kids loved it. In fact, DD asked me this morning when can we go back there? DH was chosen to be the human butterfly. I'll post pictures when I get them off the card of that. It was quite humorous!

Today we're off to Roadside America I haven't been there since I was about DS2s age...that's a long time ago and tomorrow DH swears in as an American citizen.

And I've been busy carding rolags to prepare for the Tour de Fleece on ravelry. I want to get as many ready for spinning as possible. Brown BFL for a vest for DH

I'll be adding to this post later, but for now I need to get ready for the trip!

happy crafting

ten on tuesday

10 sports you like to play/watch

• swimming
  
• tennis
  
• gymnastics
  
• diving
  
• baseball
  
• figure skating
  
• ice dancing
  
• ballroom dancing
  
• ski jumping
  
• dressage
  

ten on tuesday

10 Inventions That Have Made Life Easier

1. Computer
2. Midi keyboard - these for me are coupled together
3. Microwave
4. Cell phone and blue tooth
5. Cordless/speaker phone - pairs with the above as well
6. Self defrosting freezer/self cleaning oven
7. Digital Camera - wish I had a good one again
8. TIVO - not that I have it, but maybe I'd watch my favorite shows if I did
9. tilt-in windows -for the rare times I wash them!
10. weed whacker - no more blisters from the hand trimmer :-)


I'm on the handle of the Squatty Sidekick. I should not knit late at night. I spend more time frogging than knitting.

Today I stopped at the Salvation Army thrift store in Quakertown on my way home from my cousins funeral. I picked up a black sleeveless dress that is 55% linen and 45% rayon for $5. It's really long (which is a good thing) because after I got home and was showing my MIL, I noticed a hole in the back. I'll cut it and make a sleeveless tank and a skirt (or some such thing).

I also got this Cashmere sweater for $3 to frog and recycle the yarn. It's a Laura Ashley ladies size 8 so it would NEVER fit me... even when I was skinny. The side with the buttonholes I won't frog, but perhaps felt and cut to make a baby lovey. The rest I may dye, although I don't find the color obnoxious.. it's kind of a caucasian flesh tone.

The last purchase was a brand new 100% cotton white blouse for $4. I bought a white skirt not too long ago and this will really look nice with it.

There was no yarn nor needles to be had, but I think I fared well.

Off to pick up DD at her friend's house while DH takes DS1 to gymnastics.

las medias

here they are, long awaited and returned, together finally.... and some happy feet as well.

Pattern: George's Socks by PiaCusick
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Stretch
Color: 61 Olive Green
Needle: US2 KnitPicks Harmony sock needles




and lizard ridge block 11 that has been done for a long time now

Mom called yesterday to tell me that my cousin Kim succumbed to ovarian cancer... that C word seems rampant lately, or maybe I'm more sensitized to it. A friend just had a lumpectomy to removed a tumor in her breast this past week as well.

I forgot to mention that I cut my hair. I was under the misconception that locks of love didn't accept dyed hair. Otherwise I may have gone a couple more inches to donate it. Well there's always next year. As you can see there isn't much purple left in it now anyway...it's barely noticeable and when you can see it, it's more blue than purple!

silvia has returned :-)

with a new optical drive and double the RAM. Thanks Greg.... love havin' a geek in the family.

So much to share and where to start?

Last Monday we had a day out with Thomas the Tank Engine We went with another family that are wonderful friends with 2 boys. Everyone had a blast. We took picnic lunches and ate under the shade of the trees by the train museum in Strasburg. There was so much to do that we were all exhausted by day's end.

We stayed over at the Holiday Inn Express next to the Rockvale Outlets. The idea was to go shopping. Aba and I went that night while the men took the kids to the pool, but the next day we didn't hit any stores because DD convinced DH that we HAD to go to Dutch Wonderland which was down the street from the hotel. We had been there 2 years ago and I guess she had a great time. This time DS1 could go on every ride in the park. We stayed until a bit after 3 because DS1 had gymnastics class at 5:30. I went to the school board meeting in the district where I work for some evening entertainment. Honestly, I can't believe the poor ethics of the directors there. But I guess having all my previous knowledge I shouldn't have been too surprised.

Wednesday was a quiet day (we needed to recuperate) DD had gymnastics in the evening.


Thursday was DS1's birthday and we had a kid party at Bounce U. I'm telling you they take care of everything. It's a parent's dream party. The cake was even tasty... we had dominoes pizza, beverages and cake from Weis Markets. He opted for a power ranger cake.


We had workmen at the house all day Thursday and Friday installing AC in the kids rooms. I have to say the 2nd floor is so comfortable now. And the units on the wall are very small and unobtrusive. I'm very happy :-) But that meant that we were out chopping down the rose bushes so they wouldn't eat the poor guys doing all the installation. It's a condensor unit outside that has some copper tubing and wiring that goes into the unit which hangs on the wall. There is a small hole through the side of the house in which all the pipes etc travel. Gives me even more resolve to stay here for quite some time.

Yesterday we had the family party for DS1. It was cookout style. Hamburgers and hotdogs for those meat eaters and veg stuff for us. This was the first year that I didn't make his cake. We got it our our local grocery Wegmans I did, however, make yummy potato salad and a kind of Waldorf salad. I didn't really measure anything but this is somewhat how it goes

Carole's Blue Cheese Waldorf Salad:

• 8 celery cut into 1/2" chunks
  
• 4 granny smith apples cut into 1" chunks
  
• 1 c chopped walnuts
  
• 1 c crumbled blue cheese
  
• 6 T mayonnaise (more or less)
  

Mix together and refrigerate until serving.

Sorry I forgot to take a picture. If I make it again I'll post the picture here with the recipe.

I finished DH's socks. Here's one... I'm hoping he'll model them. A funny story to go along with them. We were singing at a union ceremony on the 14th. We were invited to a rehearsal dinner at which the accompanist would be there as well as some other performers (there wasn't a rehearsal per se) so of course I took along my knitting. And thinking I'd be knitting up a storm, took along the finished sock to have something to measure the 2nd one against. While we were rehearsing with the accompanist (and waiting our turn) I pulled out the sock to knit... unknowingly dropping the completed sock on the floor) We left later that evening and went to our hotel (yes the first night ever away from the kids together) and I noticed I was missing sock #1. So I called the folks and asked them to bring it to the wedding. They did but we all had our thoughts turned elsewhere, so when it came time to leave the reception, they told us that the sock was around somewhere but they didn't exactly know where at that moment because it had been carried around all day. Well I knew DH would see them the next week so I wasn't too worried, but the thought that maybe it decided to walk away by itself did cross my mind. I finished the 2nd sock without it's mate and DH brought it home today to reunite the two. I'll post more details about the pattern with a picture of the couple together.

I started a pair of socks for myself as well. They're going faster than DH's. It's with yarn I bought on ebay. I believe it's a company called ColorMe.


I had a misfortunate occurence today. I broke one of my Lantern Moon needles. It snapped in two... along with it snapped my heart! I only use these to knit on the Lizard Ridge... I guess I'll be making a short needle and a DPN ... I wrote to Lantern Moon to see if by any chance they have a replacement policy... keeping my fingers crossed.

I need to start a Squatty Sidekick for MIL and I need to find something to knit for me for the knitting olympics on ravelry. I had wanted to do the wild stripes for a friend who is due at the end of Sept. Thought it would give me a push... but that doesn't qualify since it's not for me! Oh what to do. Also signed up for the tour de fleece in which I hope to finish spinning the yarn for DH's vest. Maybe I can get that made for him for Christmas!

well nuff said for now... I'm so glad silvia is back. How I missed you!

happy birthday DS1

I can't believe you're 6 years old today. I hope you get everything you wish for!

We're off to Bounce U for the kiddie party. The guys were here all day installing AC in the kids rooms. Quiet beautiful day.