Guess Where We Went???

Have you figured it out?
What about now?

Yep, the Wake Forest vs. Elon football game at the BB&T Stadium in Winston-Salem!

I am not a football fan. However, there is something about being at the game instead of watching it on television that makes it exciting! This morning, RL told me that he had managed to get five tickets at work for the game. Okay, I was listening. The game was Saturday night - a few hours from when he was telling me. Before I told Mom, who loves football, I decided to ask the kids if they would like to go. I am so ashamed to say that neither one of them has ever been to a football game. Since they were homeschooled, we didn't go to high school games. So, at 21 and 19, they attended their very first, in person football game.
By the way, when it came time to ask Mom if she wanted to go, she didn't have to be asked twice!
Our view was great! We had seats on the visitors side - just where the Wake Forest fans sort of mixed in with the Elon fans. We had the privilege of sitting in front of some very disgruntled Elon fans. Made for an interesting game!

Final score!

This field clears out fast! We had no trouble getting out of the stadium, finding our car and hitting the road home. It was a very good evening with cool temperatures and the kids enjoyed their first football experience. What more could I have asked for?

The Dreaded Socks

I like knitting socks. I really do. However, this pair nearly changed my perception of sock knitting forever. I don't know if it was me or the yarn or my mood or what, but I hated knitting these socks. As you can tell, the pattern is the usual, generic sock pattern I've used a million times. The yarn is from Knit Picks. I like the sock pattern. I like Knit Picks sock yarn. However, I hate this pair of socks! Maybe it's because I started out with this glorified idea of knitting something different. I was going to be creative and add a pattern to the generic sock pattern. It didn't work. I ripped them back to the cuff with the help of my trusty assistant, R. Then I moved onto another pattern idea I had in my mind. Nope. Wasn't going to work. Ripped them back to the cuff a second time. Did I learn anything? Did I realize that I'm not a designer? Did I finally say to myself, "Self, you need to just stick to the pattern as it's written and knit these suckers." Well, yes, I did. But not after trying a third stab at yet another pattern. What can I say, I was feeling stubborn. I decided not to throw the disasters of socks across the room because I know Knit Picks dpns can be deadly. Instead I asked for help from my trusty, and extremely patient, assistant to rip them back yet again. Then I knit the stupid generic pattern. They took forever! I don't like the way the gussets turned out. I grew to hate the colors. The yarn was splitting like crazy - maybe because it had been ripped out a million times! I love Knit Picks sock yarn. I don't have any complaints. However, this time I was not liking it at all! I need a challenge I guess. Needless to say, I am not knitting another pair generic socks any time soon....well, unless I change my mind, of course.

Ginger and Birthdays

Not a whole lot to report around here. Ginger has been soaking up the sun. She has found the perfect spot - in the sun and next to the cotton yarn. There's a slight hint of fall in the air and she must be soaking up all the sun she can.

She has had a little excitement around here lately. It's not all lounging for that girl! Who knew that the battery operated blood pressure thingie (and yes, that is the technical term for it) would make Ginger's blood pressure spike! She was very curious about the noise coming from that little box!

She likes to relax a lot, as you can tell.
But you never can tell when she's going to turn on you!

I completely forgot to show you L's birthday cake. He wanted an Iron Cross shaped cake. He is very into WWII. (Did you know that a Maltese Cross and an Iron Cross are two different things? Apparently Wikipedia doesn't!) This is the gaming table that he and his Dad built. Dad played a quick game of 'Flames of War' with him on his birthday. Right now he has felt cutouts for trees, houses, roads, etc. but all of that is changing! I can't believe all the time, effort and $$$$ that goes into having the perfect game table! The boy is crafty though and it's looking pretty darn good! When he's finished constructing more of his 'stuff' I'll have to show you. I'm impressed!

I will leave you with a picture of Miss Ginger ignoring us.

Don't ask her to turn around! You wouldn't like her when she turns around!

She scares me so.....

Pictures From Waaaaaayyyy Back When!

While cleaning the basement at Mom and Daddy's house, we have run across some real treasures. Lots of neat books, clothes, fabric, patterns, and, of course, pictures.

I have NO idea when this was taken, but I still have that figure (yes, I am the one on the right.)
I noticed it had some writing on that back about 'that tummy'. Yes, it is a tummy! That's for sure. My sister and I are actually being nice to one another. What's up with that? Must have been the candy!

Now this is more like it! I have no idea what my sister is doing. Probably nothing at all, but from that smile on her face and the misery on mine, I still wonder......

Today is your birthday!!!!!

Look who's surprised he's 19!!!!!

Happy Birthday L!!!!!!

Parenthood

At the end of this week my 'boyby' will turn 19. It is so difficult to believe that my baby boy is 19! Where has the time gone? Seems like I just cried and carried on that he was turning 18! This year has flown. It's been a tough year for all of us, but having my kids is always a joy. Sure we have moments that are tough. I remember the days when they were little and I didn't think I would ever have a minute to myself. My friends with grown children would tell me to cherish those moments because they would be gone before I knew it. Sure, yeah, whatever. I just wanted a few minutes to myself. I didn't want somebody talking to me while I was going to the bathroom. Mainly I didn't want R straddling the bathroom door frame and climbing up it like she was spiderman! I could picture her falling and my running across the bathroom with my pants down around my ankles to save her life. I wanted to take a bath without a child staring at me, wondering when I would be finished so I could play or read a book. I wanted to scream when L thought it was necessary to baptize the cat while R took a bath. But I couldn't scream because R was and so was the cat! Don't even get me started on the time they were little bitty things. I would bathe them together and L pooped in the tub! I don't think R could get out fast enough. (Bless her heart. She's been traumatized so much in the bath. It's a wonder we can get her to even shower these days!) I love my kids so much and it's been a real joy to share their interests and learn from them for a change. However, my friends were right - I should have cherished it because it was gone in a minute.

Some days parenting was like this:

Most days parenting was like this:

Even though we have a birthday to celebrate this week, we have been busy as ever. L and RL built a gaming table for a role playing game that they are interested in which deals with WWII. I'm so glad my kids are history buffs. R is dreaming of her fair entries and trying desperately to decide what exactly to enter and how to get them finished in time. We have also been helping Mom clean her basement. So many things were put on hold for a few years while she took care of Daddy. We have found some very interesting things we had all forgotten about - like tons of pictures.....even my kindergarten graduation picture! It's in black and white - did they have color film back then?

Thanks for the good ideas in the comments regarding the handle of the knitted shopping bag. I think I might have to try them if I ever make another one.

More Knitting!

While the boys were in Florida, I decided to knit something besides socks and dishcloths. I can't remember the issue, but one of the recent issues of Creative Knitting, they had a pattern for a Lace Shopping Bag. I had to try it. I like to knit in the round, so that made it a little more enjoyable. However, I am not used to knitting with Knit Picks needles and cotton. I almost had blisters on my index fingers because I feel the need to push the needles back through the yarn. Why do I do that? Do you do that? Anyway, I worked on NOT doing that and my fingers started feeling better.

I bought the yarn a gazillion years ago - well, maybe one or two - at AC Moore and I can't remember which brand it was. It came in a HUGE skein. I didn't even begin to use the whole skein! I've knit a couple of other things out of it and have at least enough left over for another dishcloth.

I love the bottom. It turned out really cool. The only problem I had with any of it was the straps. You knit them and then sew them on. I'm really afraid it's not going to be strong enough, but time will tell. R was afraid it wasn't big enough for anything so she did a test. We had just been to the Fresh Market and had gotten four plastic bags of groceries. They ALL fit in this little bag! I couldn't believe it! So, if the straps hold on we'll have it made!