Happy Birthday, Alex!

Happy 25th Birthday to Alex!!! I think the picture is sideways, but couldn't fix it, so you might have to strain your neck to see him. Alex is in his Coach Tressel outfit. A true Ohio State fan although I think Manchester United is his number one team right now.
I would say that it feels like yesterday that he was born, but in reality it seems like a lifetime ago. It was a different time, younger, more energy, more time. And that's not to say that he has aged me, well, yeah, I think he has helped to do that! But Alex is a wonderful person. It is interesting to see how children turn out. He is Republican. We don't know how that happened but we love him anyway. He is very sloppy. I am not a great housekeeper, but not a slob. He says he learned that by himself. He is a very compassionate person that makes me very proud. He doesn't ask for anything for his birthday. A donation to a charity. This year it was Autism Speaks. All in all, a very good son. Sveiks, Alex!

Life goes on. My stitches are out. The dishes are waiting for me. Laundry in the dryer. Four projects on the needles. Many more in my mind. My teams are doing well in the brackets. Except for those Buckeyes!!! And the daffodils are blooming!!!

March Madness!!!

Ahh, March Madness is here! This is one of my favorite times of the year. College Basketball. I love it. Never knowing what will happen.
We are Big East fans. Lived in Syracuse, Philadelphia and other East coast cities. And Alex went to Seton Hall for a year. It was nice to see seven of their teams get in plus three out the four number one seeds are Big East. Time will tell!! That is what makes it all exciting, never knowing what will happen.
We also follow Big Ten because that is the area we live in now and mainly because of all the tuition we have paid them. A monetary stake. So, our TV's will be turned to the games and probably not much else will get done around here.
I am going knitting tonight though. I tried to knit a Project LInus blanket, but it was a disaster and will come off the needles. I will try to cast on something before tonight. It will have to be something easy until I can really use my left hand. My hand is getting there. Not much strength in it yet but more mobility. I even helped Nathaniel with all his buttons orders. What a mom.
I hope your team does well!!!

And now, back to regular scheduling

I am pretty much back to normal except that I can't get my left hand wet. So NO DISHES! Although, it appears they are just waiting for me. The surgery took about 10 minutes and I was awake for it. Really liked my doctor, all the nurses and the surgery center. And I can wiggle my thumb without pain. I tried not to knit, but I cast on for a Project Linus blanket. Didn't get too much knitting done. It probably wasn't a good idea.

It seems that there is no heat today. I had a garden meeting this morning and I didn't notice the temperature. I got home and it was pretty nippy in the house. Jeff went into work and he wouldn't notice anyway. Looks like I will spend the day upstairs.

Alex finally got to Manchester, England for his football game. At least we think so. He was suppose to leave on Thursday, but his flight to Philly got cancelled. He was soooo upset. Anyway, he got to Philly on Friday and was suppose to get to Manchester five hours before the game started. Uh oh, I just saw that his team lost! Well, he is just happy to be there.

Aren't the orchids lovely? They were an accomplishment for me as this was a second blooming for me. This is not always an easy task. I am now waiting for a third blooming. Time will tell.

Temporarily Out of Order

The socks aren't out of order. But aren't they delightful?? I had to take the pix myself but I think they still look wonderful. They are my Lenten socks. I needed purple socks and they were made during Lent. So that's that. They are a grain stitch pattern from a book by Edie Eckman.

I will be out of order after Thursday. Probably not for long though. I am having my trigger finger released Thursday morning. It isn't a big ordeal and I should be fine soon. I think I should take to my bed and be waited on, but we know that won't happen. Alex leaves on Thursday to go watch his football team play in Manchester, England. Jeff leaves on Sunday for Baltimore. Bryan will help me and Nathaniel comes home when he feels like it for Spring Break. He said I still could make buttons. No rest for the weary.

I don't know when I will be able to knit again and that worries me. I got all my projects done, so I don't have anything hanging over my head. I am going to miss some of my knitting groups, but should be back before they miss me!! The diamond baby blanket for baby Marin finally got done. Whew. I made a sweater and hat for her too. I think she will look cuter in the blanket than the hippo! The pattern is a free one from Bernat and is made with cottontots by them.

Now to rest up for all the festivities and those happy pills after the surgery!!!!

You asked for it, you got it!

Socks. What else can I say? They have taken over my life. I am not an accomplished knitter, but it came the time to move out of my comfort range of knit, purl and whatever. I knit with a group of great knitters, so I took the plunge in the Fall. I knew if I had questions or problems, they would help me. So I made my first pair. ( They look so nice on those cute chubby legs!!!) They had their problems that I didn't realize, but I was told what I did wrong. I was ready for my next pair and haven't stopped. I made socks for me, my mom, my son and my sil.

These are the buckeye socks for my son that went to Ohio State. What a great Christmas present! He hasn't worn them yet. Maybe he is waiting for football season. (those are handsome feet too!)

After making many basic socks, I was ready for a challenge. But was I really ready for one. Janet was making Monkey socks, and they were looking great. She said they are just yo and k2tog. OK, I thought. OHHHHHHH, I loved knitting them!
And the quest is on. I need purple socks. Got some great Malabrigo Violeta Africana from my favorite knitting store, The Village Yarn Shop in Zionsville, IN. I can't wait to get them on the needles!

On another note, isn't it fun to spend lots of money on necessary house repairs?? Our water heater developed a leak and had to be replaced. Our basement is finished, so the carpet has to be dried out. It sounds like there is a jet in our basement. And the smell. Yuck. Thankfully, it didn't get to Nathaniel's room or the Rockatorium.

This is a test, this is only a test

This is a test of my ability to post pictures. Nathaniel says to trust him that all that gobbly gook will transform into a picture. We will just see. If it does, isn't it a lovely picture of my family??? What a group! You have to figure out who is who. I will be the easy one to pick out.
I spent the morning out in the snow going to meetings this morning. And out on my quest to find a pineapple gift. And now I am home and the sun is out. Why?? Couldn't we have had the sun in the morning and snow in the afternoon? That would have made more sense to me.
The meetings went well, though. We have a new place for our church vegetable garden to feed the local food pantries. It will work out well. And we put labels on lots of blankets for Project Linus. A productive morning for me. And I did find a pineapple gift for my Psych swap.
I guess that is enough fun facts for one Saturday. I need to go knit.

A Tragedy

I only know of one family that lives in the Buffalo area. The Wielinski's live at 6038 Long St. in Clarence Center, NY. They are the family that got hit by the plane last night.
I couldn't believe the reporter this morning when he mentioned Karen and her daughter's names. They got out safely but she lost her husband in the crash. Karen's friends are so sad and wish we were closer to her to help her. But now we are all scattered around the country.
Karen and I lived in the same Ohio town and belonged to a mother's group. We spent a lot of time together doing activities with our kids. They moved back to the Buffalo area where they were originally from and were excited about going back. We also moved a couple of times, but we kept in touch. I always loved getting their Christmas cards. Karen would draw the card and it would be lovely. And always the family picture! Karen and Doug had four girls and I enjoyed watching the girls grow up in those pictures.
I could go on, but please say prayers for Karen and her four girls.