The Blog Has Moved!!!

Update summer 2021: blog has a new name! Please visit me at https://thepowerofquiet.blogspot.com/

Sunday, June 20, 2010

2 Graduations and several glasses of wine...

It's been a busy week.  My youngest son graduated from 8th grade.  You wouldn't think much of that, but they have awards and a big graduation ceremony.  My oldest son graduated from high school.    Much expected hoopla.  My in-laws came up to see both.  My mother-in-law is suffering from aphasia and dementia, so it is an adventure to have her come and stay.  Don't get me wrong, I love my mother-in-law.  She was the most supportive and helpful mother-in-law a woman could wish for, in her heyday.  Unfortunately, she is slipping into dementia, and doesn't understand much of what is happening around her.  I miss her.  She was such a smart and strong woman.  At least she was able to enjoy this visit.  We don't get many visits anymore, as it is much more difficult for her to travel. My father-in-law is now a caregiver.  I don't think that was his plan, but he never complains.  He has to work much harder to do all the things he used to do, but he never complains.  I wish we could help more.  They live in Delaware and we live in Connecticut, and I have school-age children that I cannot easily leave.  But I still wish there was a better solution.


I am still knitting the graduation scarf.  Graduation has come and gone.  Jeff, and his girlfriend Heather (recipient of said scarf) have received scholarships, and graduated with their class, gone on the class all-night graduation party, and attended various other graduation parties, and I am still knitting on this darned scarf.  I thought I would run short of yarn.  It is looking like the scarf will be reasonably long.  In fact, there is more yarn left than I thought there would be at this point.  I even weighed the knitted portion of the scarf and the yarn left on the ball to compare them, to make sure I would have enough yarn.  A longer scarf than planned is not a bad thing.  But I should have finished knitting it by now.  Guess I need more TV nights to sit and knit.  At least I know Heather will not feel like we're forgetting her.  Jeff has told her that we're getting her SOMETHING for graduation.  Hopefully this week I will be able to finish up, now that all the awards, graduations ceremonies, and parties should be over and we can relax a little.

I am still trying to recover from the poison ivy I found in the corner of our property when we were trying to clear out the bittersweet vines.  I am down to mild itchiness and a few scabs and mostly healing lesions, but it is still uncomfortable.  I  have been wearing very long skirts in order to be comfortable and hide the fact that I haven't been able to shave my legs in the past 2 weeks.

I will sign off, and try  to come back again soon.  Happy graduation to all, and to all, a good night!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Springing into Summer

Well, summer has hit and so far it's not bad.  Most years we get about 3 days of lovely spring weather and then, BAM! it's hot and humid and miserable.  This year, we've had a number of beautiful days in the 70s and low 80s.  Of course, good weather means yard work.  I have scratches and punctures all over my arms and legs, but we are slowly making progress against the dreaded invasive, non-native bittersweet vine.

I don't knit nearly as much in the summer as I do in the winter.  I suppose if we had air conditioning I might.  I did get some knitting done last night, while staying up ridiculously late waiting for Jeff, #1 son, to get home from the senior prom.  He drove himself, and would certainly get home safely, but I wouldn't sleep well until I KNEW he was home safe.  Which was about 3 am.  I channel-surfed a bit, and knitted on a scarf that really needs to be done by June 18 (graduation).  It's for Jeff's girlfriend, Heather.  She told Jeff one day that if I ever asked if she would like a hand-knit scarf, to tell me yes, but not to come right out and tell me that she'd really like a knitted scarf, which he did, when I asked what she might like as a graduation gift.  It's kind of nice to know that she likes my knitting and it wasn't just lip service.  Anyway, I have a luscious skein (350 yards) of Mountain Colours Bearfoot sock yarn in blues and purples (and her winter coat is medium gray so the scarf would look good with it).  I found a free lace scarf pattern online (I'll try to look up the url and add it later) and I'm over a foot of length into the scarf.  I'm knitting it fairly wide and am beginning to be concerned that I'll have enough yarn for a decent length.  I bought the yarn years ago, and am not sure if I could find another skein in the same colorway and close enough to the same dye lot.  Cross your fingers for me that one skein will be enough.  I'll try to take a picture and add it soon too.

Finals for the kids start this coming week.  Jeff is unconcerned (he only has to take one, as seniors with an 85 or higher average don't have to take most finals, and his one class is for college credit so the final is mandatory).  Jessica is a freshman and nervous about it all, but she is studying hard and on top of her homework.  Jason is in 8th grade and only has to take a math final at the high school.  His middle school classes will just end, no fanfare or big tests or projects.  I suspect that, as usual, I will be just as relieved as they will be when the school year finally ends.

I'll try to post more knitting content in the future.  I still have to get used to this blogging thing.

~Shelley in CT