Don't Rain on My Parade

Well, it did rain on my parade on Saturday. Not too bad, though. At least we didn't get soaked like last year. If you ever consider being in a parade, first get a long range weather forecast. And practice waving for long periods of time. The float highlighted our church's veggie garden and feeding program. We did not throw the plastic veggies that were on the float. We had people handing out the necessary candy to keep the hoards happy.

The first delivery of veggies for the summer happened on Wednesday!!! Much rejoicing for zucchini! Our garden looks great. We have tomatoes, peppers, melons, cucumbers.  Beans being picked on Saturday!!  And, knock on wood, everything looks very healthy. Our new location on the grounds is working out great.

I think all I am doing this summer is weed and knit. Trying to exercise, but it is useless. They had member appreciation day at the gym. There was food. This was very wrong. They just want me to work harder. On the needles: a foster child sweater, my Crabby Crafter socks and a darling hat!!!

The laundry gods are calling. Must obey.

Happy Knitting!!!

You say it's your birthday,

It's my birthday too, yeah. And my brother-in-law, and my niece, my knitting friend and an old neighbor's daughter!! It has been a festive week so far. A great time in Kentucky for Father's Day. Went antiquing a the Burlington Antique Show. We used to sell there a lifetime ago. Saw some dear old friends and bought three amber bracelets. Happy Father's Day!!

Monday was Kona's fifth birthday and she is such a party animal.

Today was a great day. I finally met Silvia, my ravelry knitting same day birthday friend. And we met up at the Village Yarn Shop, of course. A great way to start the day. Then a nap before the family got sort of together. Nathaniel was here for presents. Opened some home, then to the wine store to open some with Alex. It turned out to be a Yankee birthday!! A Jeter shirt, a Jeter bobblehead and the whole family is going to a Yankee-White Sox game in August!!! (Plus the Yankees are on TV now!!)

I also got my Crabby Crafters magic ball swap. Such lovely items. The rosewood cable needles and rosewood seaming needles are beautiful! But now I have to learn to cable. I will do it in style.

And Alex's sweater vest is done. It's a miracle. It fits.

Out to dinner tomorrow and then the festivities are over for now. No more birthdays in this house until next year.
Happy knitting everyone!!

Happy B'day Gnat!

Ah, my baby turns 20 today. Happy Birthday, Nathaniel. I hope you have a great day!

No more teenagers in the house. This doesn't mean no more juvenile behavior though.( How did Elise hurt her nose? Well, we were on the roof. OK, I don't need to know anymore.) And the list could go on.

This was a hard birthday for me. Not because I was sad about it but because I had no idea what to get him. He only requested a new expensive button machine. So, I took him clothes shopping. He wanted skin tight denim shorts. These don't exist. Well, they did, in the girls department and they were a little too frilly for Nathaniel. I didn't think it was smart to buy $40 jeans to cut off. Then it was on to vegan slip on shoes. That was a no go too. So, we went to Kroger and got a hand held can opener, garlic press and a new salt shaker. I am so good to my boys. (there was a little trouble at Kroger though. They stopped carrying tofu!!!! How can this be possible??? I did cause a bit of a ruckus)

We went to Amber India restaurant for dinner. It took me about 3 hours to get through the menu as it was very extensive. They had a good variety of vegan items, so Nathaniel was happy. My meal was very good and everyone enjoyed theirs. Lots of spices. Lots of water. Then home for the vegan carrot birthday cake. I should have made the cake in the pan recommended and not in cake pans. Cakes without eggs do not stick together well. It didn't look very good but was very tasty. Very moist. Yum!

This is where I mention that I can't believe that it has been 20 since his birth, but in reality, I do believe it! I also won't mention that his birth was shown on the Jerry Springer Show. It wasn't really, but on the news show that Jerry Springer was an anchorman in Cincinnati! (we were file film for many years for the birth of children on that channel)

Now, all the festivities are over. It was fun and now Nathaniel is off to shows here and there. I think we get to see him sometime this weekend. Or maybe not.

And back to knitting Alex's sweater vest. It is coming along well and may actually fit him.

Good knitting all!!!

Take me out to the ball game

The weather was great, so we decided to go to the Indianapolis Indians game. Jeff got us good seats. The guys like to see me duck when foul balls come my way, so they picked close to the field just beyond first base. I got hit in the head once at a knothole game, and for some reason, I think they are trying to reenact this. There were about 300 pitching changes and this game went on forever. And then our team lost.

I did get most of the ribbing done on the back of Alex's sweater vest. The lighting is very good at a ballpark! And no one even noticed what I was doing. I found it hard in the beginning of the game to knit and watch the game, so I decided to only knit when the other team was batting.

Then we went to Granite City for dinner. A nice cold beer went down quite quickly. The food was good but could have fed a small country. I did not take out my knitting there.

Finished my Wanida socks from Socks Innovation. I really like the way they came out in Mandie's red yarn. I can't wait until cool weather to wear them. What am I saying? I wear them now.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary!

How does your garden grow?? We hope with many veggies! We got the church vegetable garden planted. We worked hard Saturday preparing the soil in our new garden area. We still had a lot of garden soil to move from the parking lot to the back of the church. Not an easy task. But then a guardian angel came. Ok, it was Rosie Gardens. They came to plant around the new church and came with lots of big garden equipment. Oh, please, could you move this little bit of dirt for us?? And they did!! Got it all in their truck and then dumped exactly where we wanted it in the garden!! There were a lot of Whews. Then we, (ok, not me) raked, tilled and whatever we do to dirt. It started to look like a garden.

Then today after church, the garden crew and some parishoniers got to work planting. The kitchen crew fed us a great lunch so we would have all the energy we really needed. Bryan and I were planting pepper plants. I got four in and sliced open my knee with a very useful but very sharp garden tool. I did finally get my plants in. Jeff and Alex really worked hard and got 5 beds planted. Now we are waiting for rain, but not too much. That happened to us last year and all the beans drowned.

The garden is smaller than our old one, but we will still get lots of veggies. All the food goes to local food pantries. Second Helpings got quite a bit of our veggies in the past. So pray for good growing weather.

I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. And that everyone who went to the race had a great time and brought their knitting with them!!! Besides working in the garden, I think all I have done so far is eat. And knit. Finishing up a foster child sweater and I hope I have enough for the sleeves or it is going to look pretty funky. Second Wanida sock going well. Finished a gift. (oh, it is cute!)

Punk Rock Prom

I love waking up at 3:30 in the morning to the house alarm. My husband barely moves and the dog doesn't wake up. Now, it is either a burglar that knows the code or Nathaniel coming home unexpectly. It was Nathaniel. And he was very sharply dressed. Oh, it was Punk Rock Prom!!! I thought it was next week. So, we didn't go. The theme this year was Swine Flu. How romantic. The picture is from a couple of years ago. Nathaniel and friends. He is in the back and looks like he walked out of the movie Newsies. I know there are pictures from Friday, but not sure where.


Oh, there he is. This is a good picture because it shows how he looked with hair in the picture of him on the mantle. It's all I have to to remember the old Nathaniel.

Nathaniel came home to bring me a Mother's Day present! Vegan cupcakes. Yum. They really were very good. And he was off again.

I hope everyone had a good Mother's Day. I know some people don't have great relationships with their mother's, but I have a wonderful mom. She was always there eventhough I wasn't always an easy teenager. She had many talents that I wish I had learned from her, but she never wanted to push us into something we weren't interested in. I don't get to see her much now. She is in an assisted living facility near my sister. We talk often unless she doesn't have her hearing aid in or the battery is dead!!

My guys spoiled me the whole weekend. Alex bought me a knitting book that I can't believe he remembered I wanted. Vegan cupcakes. Bryan was his usual sweet self. New earrings. Beautiful flowers. Waffles with berries and whipped cream. And mimosas!! Off to Lowes and Salisbury brothers for yard plants. And they got planted! Then lobster for dinner!!! And wine. Whew. I slept well.

Now it's back to regular scheduling programming. I had all the dished to do from last night. Laundry, etc, etc, etc. It was good while it lasted, though.

Way to Go, Jeff!!

WOOHOO, Jeff!!!! Jeff ran the mini in good time!! Official time 2.02.28. Not bad for an old man!! Alex and I got up at an ungodly hour to go downtown with him. We watched him run off and then had breakfast at Cafe Patachou. Not a bad way to start the race for us. Then we went over to the finish line, knowing that we were very early for that. We edged our way up to the front. And waited. And waited. Hmmm, Jeff should have finished but we still waited. And he called us. He has been finished for a while. Yes, we totally missed him finish. I still can't believe it. Two sets of eyes watching. We will never live this down.

Yesterday was Jeff's birthday. Moosey the mouse was a hit and went to work. Hopefully, no experiments will be done on him. Jeff and Kona loved the tribble. Kona goes nuts whenever it goes on. Tomorrow we are going somewhere for his birthday dinner. We carbohydrated on Friday to get ready for the race. Unfortunately, I don't really need to load any more carbohydrates.

But now we are ready for next year's race and will get a picture of Jeff finishing. He will run on his 60th birthday and we can't wait. Hopefully, his brother will be here, too, to run.

Didn't knit at the race. No place but the bleachers and there were no seats left. Finished the prayer shawl, working on a second sock and co a foster child sweater.

I very proud of you, Jeff!!!!!