lovin' the work

I finally cut down the big evergreen bush that we've been talking about getting rid of since we moved here 10 years ago. I was out doing some yardwork and the neighbor came home. We started talking and I started purning.....hard, with very old lopers my dad had given me, broken handle and all. She offered to let me use theirs... new and sharp, AND kept me company while I cut away. Secretly I think she was really happy to see it gone too. Anyway... I'm sore from all that. And now I still need to dig out the stump.

My friend Patti had invited me to come over and try out her wool picker. So I walked down in the late afternoon carrying 4 fleeces in clear plastic boxes. You should have seen the looks I was getting walking down the street with all that stuff. So she helped me prepare the fleece. We did part of the BL/BFL/Romney blend I bought last spring. After about two hours of picking I had 2 BIG garbage bags of puffy cloud-like fleece. I wish I could spin it right now, but I have to finish the afghan first.

I left the rest of the fleeces there (with the exception of the black lamb finn) to pick more hopefully this weekend. DH asked me how much a picker was... I told him I didn't want one here at home with the kids. It looks like some torture apparatus.

My room at the 'new' building was flooded over the weekend. It completely destroyed the 1st grade big book. Fortunately the guitar was in it's hard case and wasn't harmed.
The other school I teach in had a leak in the roof so there was water damage there as well.

hope someone is being crafty cuz I haven't been lately.

high time

that I post.

My friend Deb came to my little kid's concert at school Friday evening even though her 'baby' is a senior. She's a real advocate of the arts in our school district (we need all the supporters we can get). At any rate, she taped first grade singing The Library Song by Tom Chapin (all of their songs were about reading) The only part that's hard to hear is the part where they're using a stage whisper. It's 'sh quiet please' and then the refrain again.

I give you the Library Song by Tom Chapin


It was a beautiful evening. The seniors had prom in the park from 4 - 5:30 just across the street from the K/1 building. Our program started at 6:30. We had to have it outside because there is no place IN the building large enough to house all the kids at once. (yes, the building is newly renovated) So we used the back steps and then the parking lot as the audience seating area. Parents brought chairs and blankets and everything worked out fine! The whole evening rejuvenated me in my job and spawned my brain to come up with some new ideas. I busted my behind getting ready for it though hauling all kind of equipment and setting up the risers alone.... was my workout for the day. When P and I got home, I lasted about 20 minutes into Thomas' magic railway with him until I was dead asleep. LOL

I am working on square #9 for the Way afghan.. I need to get cracking really. June 6th is coming fast.

Haven't been to any thrift stores lately either. Must. go. soon. But I have been frogging delicious fibers. If you're on ravelry take a peak at my stash that's marked recycled. Most of that will be going in my etsy store once it's open. Still working on a name for that. Maybe I should have a contest!

We've been really busy with the end of the year activities at the school where I teach and my own children's schools: concerts, art shows, etc.

I owe you a picture from our earth day concert which was unfortunately inside due to the prognosticated weather. I have it stored elsewhere...i won't forget though.

Today my baby is sick. He woke me up at 6 with a belly ache... and of course vomited... at least in the right spot and not on me!

I think my mojo is coming back... It's been gone far too long.

on a break

in case you haven't noticed... the end of the school year and all the nonsense that goes with it is here.... concerts, grading projects, grades etc...
I've knit a bit, not too much but I've been busy frogging and trying to get ready to open my etsy shop as soon as school is over. More on that to come.

Just a reminder...be kind to the planet it's easy tothink green

go green

tmrw is earth day... and I'll be way busy at school doing our earth day choral concert (with any luck in the borough park) featuring all great songs celebrating Mother Earth.
Look for a write up in the tnonline.com or the Hazelton Standard Speaker today. Both papers were supposed to do a write-up... Lord knows our department can use some good PR.
The instrumental program is going to take a hit at the board meeting tonight I'm afraid.

Soon to come pictures of what's been happening in my life.. just no time to post until after the concert!

Do something to help save the planet... visit Earth Day and 50 Things you can do and if you have clear skies in your neck of the woods... watch the heavens celebrate with a meteor shower!

ten on tuesday

10 signs that you're getting older.
I could only come up with 9... maybe that means I'm not getting that much older? Doubtful

• harder to lose weight
  
• gray hair
  
• memory starts to fail
  
• need readers in order to see to read
  
• more content to sit
  
• less patience with loud noise
  
• awaken in the middle of the night
  
• don't understand the music of the youth as well
  
• think of the past as the 'good old days'
  

taxes are filed (hopefully) need to do the city ones while I put the kids to bed... We e-filed last night but it was rejected because of a silly typo....

The stress is building... but I'm trying to remain calm. I had to fix my tiedye dress and my boss' shirt tonight.. also dyed one for DD...

off to argue the chillins to bed

Happy Easter Monday

Yes I know I've been MIA.... but I really have been a bad knitting girl. I've been frogging thrift sweaters more than knitting of late... my idea is to open an etsy shop to sell recycled beautiful fibers and such so I've been building inventory while the thrift stoes still have wooly fibers to buy. It's getting difficult to find though. The last time I went I came home empty handed!

Friday was tie dye day. My colleague and I did about 70 t-shirts and a dress for each of us for our Earth Day concert. The kids will be painting the planet on the front on Friday at our combined rehearsal. I need to make the stamp yet... so I've been really occupied with work from school. The marking period ended not too long ago so there were grades... The knitters from PSSAs have been bringing in their completed and incomplete rectangles (which I need to finish) And the district is contemplating cutting a music position which has been weighing heavily on my mind.

So please forgive the lack of blogging AND knitting... I'm still touching lots and lots of fiber... hopefully will be creating rather than destructing soon.. We have a wedding to go to in June and I want to make them an afghan... so I better get working.

Easter was lovely with the family... I ate far too much. But it was tasty :-)


hope you're all well... I'll be surfing and typing again soon.

what are they thinking?

Yet again, the federal government is lowering health standards for the American public by entertaining an bill which seems intiated by Monsanto corporation (maker of aspartame... public health supporter??? please) to force organic farmers to use fertilizers and insect sprays to 'protect' the food supply... UM... isn't that an oxymoron to organic gardening???

If you are at all concerned, please read the article below, follow the links and write to your congressman and senators asking them to vote NO...

As a country, we need to encourage healthy habits which include stopping putting chemicals in our bodies... So much for supporting a naturally healthy America and decreasing long term medical costs.

Bill to Outlaw Organic Gardening

Subject: Monsanto: A bill to outlaw organic farming next week?

US House and Senate are about (in a week and a half) to vote on bill that will OUTLAW ORGANIC FARMING (bill HR 875). There is an enormous rush to get this into law within the next 2 weeks before people realize what is happening.

Main backer and lobbyist is (guess who) Monsanto (aspartame maker) - chemical and genetic engineering giant corporation. This bill will require organic farms to use specific fertilizers and poisonous insect sprays dictated by the newly formed agency to "make sure there is no danger to the public food supply". This will include backyard gardens that grow food only for a family and not for sales.

If this passes then NO more heirloom clean seeds but only Monsanto genetically altered seeds that are now showing up with unexpected diseases in humans.




The name on this outrageous food plan is Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (bill HR 875).

THIS IS REAL, FOLKS! PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL CONCERNED ON YOUR MAILING LISTS & CALL YOUR SENATE REPRESENTETIVES TODAY! Get on that phone and burn up the wires. Get anyone else you can to do the same thing. The House and Senate WILL pass this if they are not massively threatened with loss of their position.... They only fear your voice and your vote.

The best thing to do is go to http://www.house.gov/writerep all you have to do is put in your zip and it will give you your congressperson and how to get in touch with them. When you call their office someone will answer the phone, just tell them (politely) that you are calling to express your views on HR 875. Tell them your views, they'll take your name and address and pass your comments along to the congressperson. Here is a list for U.S. senators and their contact info.

Congress bill 875

Write to your representative

yup!

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

this brings happy thoughts

Today's 10 on Tuesday is

10 things you like to do on vacation:

1. eat local foods
2. sightsee
3. shop
4. sleep
5. knit
6. sunbathe
7. read
8. drink (not the water)
9. go for long walks
10. not think about work!

come play along with us

These day's I'm really needing a break. But it's not coming for quite some time... and so I plod along.

did you know?

How fitting that I am teaching students to knit this month! DD and I have been enjoying making a friendship bracelet with the kit she got from friends for her birthday.. uses embroidery floss and a loom type thing made of thick foam (there were 4 included with patterns for the colors of the floss... 2 square and 2 circles)

There's still plenty of time for you do participate. Here are a few links to find out some more information:
Craft Association
Family Crafts
Kids crafts

world wide water day

how can you save water?
use low flow toilets and shower heads
replace washers or faucets
Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth
If it's mellow let it yellow if it's brown flush it down
shower with a friend ;-)

for even more (and better) suggestions visit
Water: Use it wisely
Save water 49 ways
Think at the sink
Think of how you can save this precious resource.. we all need it!

some saturday

we got up (OK... 3 of us slept in the living room last night) got ready for gymnastics... DS2's class went to lunch and then on to the DaVinci center for brain awareness week!

After that we stopped at Salvation Army and I picked up 8 sweaters... 7 to frog and the last to felt at least the front and perhaps frog the sleeves and back.

I'm frogging the aran sweater. It's been a real pain to undo the neckband from the body. But I have the side with the buttonholes about frogged. This sweater is really beautifully knit.. a shame to frog, but the yanr will be gorgeous when its washed and dyed. and I love the buttons...

I finished another square for the lizard ridge and am on square #3 for the Way afghan. Also knitted some more rectangles for the blankies for Linus Project. I've done 2 in chenille so that there is a soft cuddly corner to love on the blanket.

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my dad's death. I think of him every day. He's probably cursing about the whole bail out issue and especially AIG....

happy crafting!

thoughts

1. my school knitters did an awesome job this week. They are ALL knitting successfully. I am so proud of them.

2. I've thought about the Peruvian sweater... I may deconstruct it and make some bags! A large one from the body and a smaller thin one (or wine bottle cozies) from the sleeves :-)

3. The aran sweater I believe is handknit from handspun.... just started deconstructing... after I'm finished and given the yarn a good bath, I think it will be dyed and will become GORGEOUS aran weight singles...


there is only 1 workday left this week.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Yesterday 12 students came for PSSA knitting activity. 2 had knit with me last year. One I started to teach to purl but today she fell back into knitting (she had left her original at home). It's a great group of kids... they learned to use a knit cast on yesterday which took a long time for them to put on 28 stitches... and today they started to take off. We had 90 minutes to knit and I'm so proud of them!

on a more serious note, the board meeting is tonight. I wish I could be there, but it's time to put own children before my school children.

one of the subs at school brought in 2 sweaters for me. One is Peruvian colorwork and so beautiful... I hate to frog it... but I know this wool doesn't felt well (I've tried with a different sweater) the other is a bulky aran knit with really neat buttons that remind me of coconut shell.... I'll frog that one. It seems to be hand knit... what a shame, someone obviously spent a long time knitting it.....

Didn't do 10 on tuesday today cuz I didn't have the energy to find 10 songs I hated.

here's to a happy tmrw!

not whining

but I'm worn out... school has done that to me. The drama and stupidity of the board of education and administrators not really thinking about the ramifications of decisions they are choosing to make and how those decisions will affect lives, in so many varied ways makes me sad, frustrated and yes feel physically ill.

tomorrow PSSAs begin and with that a new crop of knitters. I have some returnees who will be learning to purl so that we can add some variety to our blankets. We'll donate to Linus Project again this year... it's nice for kids to be making things for other kids.

My colleague sent me a copy of an excerpt from a welcome address given to parents of incoming students at The Boston Conservatory on September 1, 2004, by Dr. Karl Paulnack, Director of the Music Division. And rather print it here, you can click here if you care to read it. It is truly deep, inspirational and moving. Dr. Paulnack graduated from William Allen High School, in Allentown PA, not far from my home. Many of my friends went to school with him. This address doesn't just speak to music, it's really insightful to life... thanks Tommy for the mail.

On another knitterly note, I have 2 squares for the Way blanket finished. I'll use these patterns for my new purlers as well. I've been so consumed with the department news that I am afraid my knitting class will suffer...

i leave you with heavy heart.. perhaps I'll have pictures later in the week to post. I'll remember the camera to take pictures of my cherubs knitting.

I also have a tutorial to post about making your own knitting needles.
so much to do and so little time/energy right now.

peace friends...

short and sweet

and prepping for the PSSAs: knitting needles to sand and patterns to prepare for my cherubs.. teaching the experienced to purl this year.. so they can then follow a pattern.

Chorus: still finishing writing out the parts and need to record some vocal tracts.... too much work far little time, and plan the stuff for the t-shirts.. there will be pictures of them. Hopefully they'll look awesome

School: have these monster amount of papers to grade for 6th grade and the end of the marking period is here... that mans hand out 750 grades... bleh!
personnel is a huge mess and our department is falling apart... ugh!

knitting: started a wedding present from the Walker learn to knit afghan book but this will be all one color, socks OTN for me, DH's vest needs the math to be done for the armhole decreases

diet: about 8.5 pounds and holding... haven't measured the waist lately but it was at 4" The lack of sleep definitely is bad for the diet...... makes me hungry

I've found some great pages lately, that I'll post links to in the sidebar... really wonderful crafty fun blogs!

stating the obvious

that I'm not going to make it for the February NaBloPoMo.
I've fallen behind and can't catch up.
I'm not interested in catching up.
Blogging should be fun.
There's too much on my to do list.
I'm overwhelmed.

I'll be back... not promising when though

overdue shots

These have either been long promised or new pictures that need to be posted TONIGHT.

My proof that Martha Stewart has not one thing on me (OK she has a lot more than 1 thing, but this one I thought of before her help) My heart shaped brownies, served ath my DD party on Valentine's Day. They disappeared in a heartbeat


Next is the 16th square for the Lizard ridge and I'll follow that immediately with square 17.

Noro Kureyon 153A

Noro Kureyon 188D

Here are a couple of pictures from DD's party of the girls working on their crafts and them all together showing off their necklaces.

first thing - make the goodie bags


next we made bracelets... DH wasn't taking pictures then. He escaped to the basement. But you can see one of the creations on the wrist in this picture.


The heart necklaces were the last crafty thing. you can see all the girls wearing them here.

Between all the crafts, we ate pizza, decorated heart cookies and ate them, and decorated the heart shaped cupcakes. All this while the girls sang their hearts out to the Mama Mia! soundtrack

Here is the bracelet DH gave em for Valentine's Day. You can see the sheep and ball of yarn.

At the concert on Sunday as I was listening to the choir sing I was playing with y new bracelet and admiring it and it dawned on me that the chain is reminiscent of an i-cord. I don't know if I was able to catch it in this shot or not.


And finally my creation du jour.


Pattern: Ballband toilet paper cover by hakucho
Yarn: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Colors: hot green and hot blue
Needle: US7

Thanks hakucho, I've had this in my queue forever. Finally got around to it today. Gives me an idea for my upstairs bath to try to make one to match my shower curtain... kind of a jaquard plaid... I'll let you know how it goes.

DH's vest is back to the armhole deccreases again. I want to look at a vest that fits him to see how to go about the next step.

Off to do some schoolwork. Tmrw is a long day for me. Need to get ready for the sub on Thursday as well :-) and prepare for the spinning afternoon.

whoda thunk?

My friend Heather, found this on youtube. It's of our kids spring concert from school last year. One of their classmates must have taped it.
I'm just saving it so DD can watch it more easily. Don't feel as though you have to. They had a concert of old music and their decade was 1910-1920



I'll add more to this post later.

technically

for me it's still Sunday since I haven't hit the bed yet. DH and I sang a Vivaldi concert today at a Cathedral in town. There were 5 of us soloists. It was really fun. I enjoyed it. Wish I had had more to sing though. As I was sitting in the concert I was thinking of all the pictures to put on the blog, but sorry none for today. Hopefully I'll get some on tmrw. I was also admiring my new bracelet and it dawned on me that the bracelet part is much akin to a knitted i-cord... and the charms slide over the i-cord. Promise that I'll post pictures tmrw.

A very old dear friend found me on facebook today. I was pleasantly surprised. Haven't talked/seen him in more than 30 years. I'm sure we wouldn't recognize each other.

I frogged a bit more tonight and finished another lizard ridge square. So that means I've only hit about 9 balls of yarn so far this year... I really better get moving if I'm ever going to make 200. I keep harvesting yarn from sweaters and making more stash instead of knitting it and making it disappear.

This week I go to DS's school to demonstrate spinning. Tmrw I must make some rolags and prepare for that lesson... 2 classes of 50 1st graders. What excitement! It makes for a short work week for me though which is always good. Work Tuesday and Wednesday, off Thursday and work Friday.. can't complain at all :-D

OK.. I think I'm going to bed now... DS2 already came looking for me. So I need to put him back in his bed and crawl into my own!