Formerly known as the Sears Tower
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, please leave a link in the comments to your moment.
WIP* Wednesday
I have been working very diligentally on the Mara Shawl because I'd like to finish it before our first camping trip in June. I just thought it would be nice when a little extra warmth is needed in the evenings. Unfortunately, the yarn worked against me and I ran out halfway through the second border. I knew I was going to run out and I made the choice to order more yarn, dye lots be damned. One of the things I really liked about this shawl was the large second border; the contrast that it added to not only all that garter stitch, but the smaller 1x1 ribbed border. So, I'm going to be optimistic and hope that the last 2 inches won't look too out of place if the yarn is clearly different.
*Work In Progress
Productive
We had a quiet day of gardening and visiting with a friend yesterday. I found that the last few weeks, Monday is my most productive day. This included yesterday with the gardening, making Rhubarb Streusal Muffins, quiche, and spaghetti with pesto for dinner (using up the frozen pesto). Everything turned out splendidly and I found that I need more flowers for my pallet garden (pictures to come later).
The bus stop was also a productive place to be. We learned about leaves, the kids practiced walking backwards, and Annie's learning how to behave on a leash.
Garden Time
Sometimes we just have to bring the outside in and go outside even when the weather isn't cooperating. Both of which we did this weekend. When the chives and sage started to blossom we didn't let that stop us from enjoying them. We also didn't let not having a vase handy stop us. They may not smell as nice as the carnations behind them (which were for Mother's Day and again, there was no vase handy), but they add a nice color. (Side note - obscured behind the chives is Thomas Jefferson.)
Yesterday we ended our 90° F weekend with rain showers and some cool wind. What started out as me jokingly asking Son if he wanted to go play in the rain ended with Son and Annie going to play in the rain. I never would have asked if I had intended to let him. I've found it's best not to joke too much with 3 year olds, especially when they're tired and take you seriously.
Despite the hot weather I was able to get most of the plants in the ground. I still have one tomato left to put in, some flowers, and some seeds (green beans, carrots, pickling cucumbers, and sugar pumpkins to be exact). I need to find some room first. In all, we have:
- 9 tomato plants (I wanted to can more of my own)
- 4 cauliflower
- 4 leeks
- 1 zucchini
- 4 eggplant
- 2 sweet peppers
- 1 jalapeno
- chives
- sage
- basil
- 1 cucumber (my neighbor also planted one)
- swiss chard
- peas (which are coming up now!)
- rhubarb
- spinach (harvested and sitting in my fridge for tonight)
- kale
- buttercrunch lettuce
- rosemary
- thyme
- oregano
- mint
- strawberries (there are already a ton of green ones, but I'm not optimistic enough to think we won't have to go pick strawberries at the local farm)
With the exception of the sugar pumpkins and some romaine lettuce seeds (for fall) the rest should be planted within the week. I'm a little surprised by how much we have this year. Special thanks to Husband for helping me add a raised garden bed (with some cinder blocks we had in the yard) and digging up dirt from behind the shed for me.
Planting Time
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, please leave a link in the comments to your moment.
Plant sale
You know what I love about Spring? Plant sales. A way to support the local community (in this case it was the local community college) and get a good deal on plants. For this particular one, we went a little late so most of the vegetables were picked over. They still had some really nice flowers so I picked some up for the front of the house. We had bushes up until last year when I had someone cut them down. They were hideous looking and housed mosquitos. It just didn't seem like a nice way to welcome visitors anymore (except for the ones I didn't want - take that sales people!).
I let Daughter loose with my camera while I picked out some plants. I'm not sure where she found the zucchini because I missed them. I'm toying with the idea of planting some again. I really like zucchini and you can freeze it, but I always get squash bugs. Then the squash bugs spread to any squash related thing I have. Anybody know how to not get those things?
Balletomane
I finished the Balletomane on time by staying up way too late on Friday night (thanks to some entertainment with friends). It looks so good on her, but she was super crank yesterday afternoon (be jealous) so she was determined not to like it. This all changed after a nap and she apparently now loves it. Go figure.
This is a nice lightweight sweater that will be good for dancing and layering on summer nights. I loved the construction of it. All that short row shaping made it go quickly, my only complaint is in the sleeves. I used a size 2 needle for them and wish I'd used a 3 and gone up a size. The sleeve is very tight and the wristhole is really small; it took a lot to get her hand through it. I'm going to try to stretch it, but I have a feeling it's due to the fake icord edging. As nice as it looks, I wish I'd either left it off or added an icord edging after the sleeve was finished.
When I started I wavered between a size 6 and 8. With the exception of the sleeves I'm really glad I chose a size 6. I was sure to lightly stretch the length during blocking and the garter stitch is so stretchy. I think the size 8 would have been really large.
Dance
This is the part where I tell you that she rocked it. She rocked it more than she ever did in class. It was as if once she got up there she understood why she wanted to try dance in the first place. Suddenly, all the arguments about going to class, all the "not nice" kids, all the complaints about the leotard, and all the whining about people looking at her just disappeared. So much so that she wants to do it again next year. We'll see if her parents' selective memory kicks in by then.
Happy Mother's Day!
Hi, I am husband. I thought that my wife should have Mother's Day off from her blog. Even though we do not say it enough, the kids and I are thankful for everything you do for us every day. To all the moms that read this blog, know that your family appreciates you.
Going to the Car Wash
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, please leave a link in the comments to your moment.
