Autumn in Northern Minnesota

It was a beautiful weekend...

One more thing...

It's funny how life turns out...

I attended a wedding on Saturday..(my mom's cousin's daughter)..lots of relatives and local people...I ended up going to the wedding by myself...due to Him not having his shit together stuff done in time to accompany me there.

I hate going to stuff alone.

It's amazing what a great seat one can get as a single person, arriving 5 minutes before the wedding is to begin...4th row from the front...aisle seat...anyways...I digress...

As I was escorted to my seat...I see to my dismay that I am about to be seated right next to my old boyfriend's (high school love) mom and dad...not a lot of choice at this point...I had to accept the seat..besides, as I said..great view!

We chatted a bit after the ceremony, while we were waiting to be "let go" ...I always hate that part...the receiving line...always people you don't know...do you hug a complete stranger, just cause he/she just got married?

Anyways...on to the reception...as I am seated at a table waiting starving and eyeing up the food table for the bride and groom to arrive...They (old boyfriend's parents) came and asked if they could sit with me...

I spent the entire evening chatting with the person that very well could have been my mother-in-law...

It is strange how life turns out...Who knows, maybe if I would have went that direction instead of the direction I did go...Life would have been a whole lot different...better? i don't know....

It was a pleasant visit and it would be fun to be a fly on the wall if she mentions to the old boyfriend (in front of his wife) that she spent the evening chatting with me....I know...catty...but...it Would be fun...

Voo-doo?

How's that for a bizarre random title?

Well, of course there is a story behind that...Anyone who knows me...knows I don't do "random"...

As I was watching the students during passing time...I noticed a bottle of Mountain Dew being discreetly passed between about 6 seniors...each would take a sip and hand it off to another...this seemed a little suspicious to me...

I tracked chased his little ass half way around the school the owner of the bottle in question...sniffed the bottle...couldn't determine much...told the student I would hold the bottle for the principal to check out.

The Principal and student arrive at my classroom after the bell rings...I explain the situation,...the principal sniffs the bottle a couple times...he agrees that there seems to be a different scent..but can't determine much...consequently, we let the student go with a warning...

My question...(I know vodka is colorless and has no smell)...How does one determine whether a bottle is spiked without actually tasting it...and who in their right mind would taste it after witnessing at last 6 students take a drink from the bottle?

I would think there has to be a way...someone should invent a paper strip that can be dipped in..like litimus paper...

Oh...the voo-doo...well, that's what my 21 year old son said it's called "vodka-dew"... voo-doo...he said kids do it all the time at school....

I got IT!!!

I finally got IT...my Ravelry invite...I am just not sure what to do with IT....

Stay tuned to this channel for further updates.

Fall into Autumn Dishcloth Swap

TOPIC OF THE WEEK

Now that in some geographic locations the weather is starting to turn cooler:

Do you change the type of yarns you knit with?

I tend to change the type of projects I knit which...in turn...changes the yarns I use...

I tend to knit cold weather items (hats, mittens, slippers) more when the weather is cooler..I think it's my way of denying that 20 below zero days exist when it is actually 90 degrees outside...

I like light projects for the summer..dishcloths...socks...

In conclusion..I knit with more wool in the winter time and lean towards cotton and fingering weights during the summer months, not necessarily on purpose, just becasuse that's the way it seems to happen...

Lots and lots to talk about....

Ohhh...where to begin...

This week has been a whole lot better than last week was, even though it was a full week...it went by fast. I have the lesson plans somewhat under control...Actually, I spent all day Sunday doing most of them...I still don't have grades in the grade book or the online grade program...There's a few weeks until mid quarter...just kidding...I hope to have them this weekend at least in my hard copy..won't take long to input into the online grade program.

I don't have a teacher's edition for the college Calculus I am teaching...it's a college level textbook, but we are not offering it this year for college credit, anyways, I digress...I don't have a Teacher's edition, which means I have to complete all of the homework that I assign in order to have an answer to compare student's work with. It takes additional time, but I am definitely brushing up on my Calculus skills.

All in all..I think I just may survive this year. maybe.

In knitting news...I knit an entire dishcloth on the road trip He and I made a couple weekends ago...And in case you are still wondering where we went....it was the Wisconsin Dells....



I knit another dishcloth Labor Day weekend as I listened to the free concerts at the Casino...Joe Nichols, Telluride, someone else, and the headliner...Leann Rimes. Fun day in the sun...



I started my latest felted purse sitting poolside at the water park in the Dells. Originally, I had bought blue Tropicana sparkley ribbon/yarn to knit with the blue. I knit a couple rounds of the body and decided you really couldn't see the ribbon or the sparkles against the dark blue. I decided that I had paid too much money for the Tropicana ...to not have it show... so I frogged it back and left it out...I am really liking this pattern...it knits up unbelievabley fast.



It should be done and would have been done, except Cass pointed me in the direction of The Loopy Ewe. Holy Moley Rocky!!! I found Panda Cotton!!!! ...and it's all Cass' fault...

Stay tuned to this channel for further updates on the purse...If I can tear myself away from the new sock yarn darn you Cass ...I only have about 20 minutes of knitting to do and then the felting...

So, I ordered this and this and this....and yes, it came wonderfully packaged...





Reminded me of shopping at my favorite store, Christopher & Banks...they wrap my purchases in tissue paper and then gently put them into my highly recognizable bag with handles, no cheap plastic ...makes me want to stand a little straighter and lift my nose a little towards the heavens...

Well, I just had to immediately cast on a new pair of socks...see my little cuff...isn't it too cute? I think I am going to do a longer cuff on this pair and maybe a little more between the cuff and the heel. I had so much yarn left over from my first pair...it makes sense to use as much as possible...



This is the color I am using on the socks...



And...Here is a picture of my two boys on the first day of School...Chris bottom (left) is a junior and Nathan top (right) is a sophmore. Yes, I know it's sideways...just turn your head, okay?



And...here is Chris playing in pep band at last Friday night's football game...



And...still with me?...here is Nathan on the field at the same game....He's number 65...



Whew!!! That's a lot of stuff!

(Am loving this fast internet at school)

So much to share

Ohhh...I have so much to share...works in progress...new yarn....

I just need some time to put up pictures...Hopefully tonight.

Thanks Fall into Autumn Partner for posting soooo soon.

Back with details...this "working for a living" business is really putting a damper on my blogging time. ;(

Drum roll...please.....

And the 1st winner's number picked is...Rachel

Second number picked.....Christina @ Chrichri (Sorry, I couldn't follow your link in to your blog or e-mail.)

Thank you to all who took the time to read my rambling, totally ridiculous, and boring list of random facts about me and hung around to enter the contest. I appreciate it.

Thanks for all the book suggestions, the great project pictures and the kind comments.

Rachel and Christina please e-mail me at alaina DOT privette AT gmail Dot com

I need to know which yarn you pick Rachel (wool or cotton) and both of your snail mail addresses so I can get this off to you.

Hope you all hang around for the next 100...I promise I won't post 200 random facts about me... hee hee

Fall into Autumn Dishcloth Swap

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been doing it?

I learned to crochet when I was a child. I taught myself to knit about two years ago.

2. Have you made dishcloths before? Do you use them yourself, give them as gifts, or both?

I love making dishcloths...I use them myself and give them away.

3. What's your favorite cotton to make cloths from? What cotton would you like to try that you haven't before ?

I usually just use Peaches and Cream. I have no idea what cotton I would like to try...It's a dishcloth...

4. If you knit, do you prefer circular or straight needles? For all, do you prefer wooden, metal, or plastic needles?

I use straights on dishcloths and circs on hats and things...really don't have an opinion either way...I do prefer wooden needles to metal or plastic..although it seems the majority of my needles are metal because I have picked them up at Thrift store or garage sales.

5. What are your favorite colors? Any colors you don't like much?

I like the warm browns, forest greens, maroons...blues... rose...not much into orange.

6. What do you like best about Autumn?

The coolness of the days, snuggling under a warm blanket with the window open at night, picking my apples off of the tree, raking leaves, a fresh start with school starting, Thanksgiving...

7. Pies: Pumpkin? Apple? Pecan? All of em? or No Thanks!

Pecan would be first choice...then...apple..and then pumpkin...numm!!

8. When you were a kid, were you the one who couldn't wait to get started with school , or the one who overslept on the 1st day?

Let's just say the school supply aisle is still one of my favorite places in any given store. I had my school supplies organized, color-coded, labeled and in my backpack long before the start of school. Can you say "Geek"?

9. Do you celebrate Halloween? (The real key here guys is especially knowing if you have an aversion to the holiday or little goodies/decorations associated with it, given the time frame of the swap)

I give out candy, use to take my kids around trick or treating...now that they're older...don't much get into it any more. I could probably admit that I really don't like Halloween at all...

10. If you had to choose just 3 edible 'goodies' to eat for a full year, what 3 would you choose?

Blackjack Cherry Icecream...Schwans (with chocolate sauce)
Cheetos
Junior Mints


11. Do you have any pets? Kids? Husbands who seem like kids? ;)

I have "The Man", and four sons ages 22 to 15...two in college...two in high school...one not-so-smart-but-really-cute
dog and one adorable cat whose house we live in.

12. If you were to describe a particular yarn that shares traits of your personality, what would it be and why?

It would be a wool blend with a little angora...strong, stable, down home...weathers well...wool but with a soft heart and mushy side...angora.

13. Do you use your cloths mostly for dishcloths, or as facecloths?

I had never thought of using them for facecloths...hmmm...great idea.

14. Favorite Fall Holiday: Halloween or Thanksgiving and why? (Feel free to share another fall memory if you do not celebrate either of these holidays)

Thanksgiving, hands down!!! I love cooking a huge meal, using the nice tablecloth, setting the china, putting all the food in serving bowls, lighting the candles and eating until you feel sick...and then...later enjoying all those leftovers...turkey with mayo on bread with some salt and pepper...makes me hungry just thinking about it.

Besides the fact that Christmas is right around the corner!!! And, I love Christmas!

15. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should know about?

I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, which is more a personal pet peeve than an allergy.

It's been a really long week.....

Lesson plans...Geometry...new faces...Algebra II...Pre Calculus...Large classes...very small classes... Calculus....new grade program...not in the e-mail directory....exhausted every evening...did I mention I had a tooth pulled? yes, pulled!!!...

I did tally my contest entries...I will draw a name on Saturday. Thanks to all who left well wishes and great comments...as well as awesome pictures of projects.

Catch ya saturday.

Friday Night Football

It has begun...Autumn is officially here...summer is over here in Minnesota....Friday Night Football begins...

Here is my youngest with game jersey...He wouldn't let me follow him to school to take a picture of him in his full gear (shoulder pads and all the stuff to protect his Junk)...and the coach kinda frowns on Moms who yell for their sons to come on over for individual pictures while the game is in progress...so, maybe a better picture will be coming someday soon...

First game tonight and he is starting as Center on the Varsity squad...the only 10th grader starting on offense. Although with the pride of the moment, I am more than a little concerned...any sport that has an ambulance on stand-by on the side lines...tends to make me a bit uncomfortable....



Another sign that summer is over...yes...that is a turtleneck you see peeking out...It is official I have donned my first turtleneck of the season...we will not be seeing any skin in the chest area until maybe next July...

I have Under Armor on under that turtleneck, said turtleneck, a hooded sweatshirt and the game jersey (he actually wore the away one and gave me the home one to wear)...and to complete the look...I wore my maroon and gold Bomber mittens...the temperature did dip down to about 55 degrees and when you are sitting on a cold bleacher with the wind freely blowing across a football field...it gets damn cold.

As a postscript...we lost 16 to 13. Lots of fumbles, loose balls (oh, I am so not going there), and interceptions.

Fun to be back among young people, cheering with familiar faces, seeing familiar faces behind football masks...faces that I've known since they were all in Little league together so many, many years ago...now, young men, playing their hearts out on an Autumn evening...football in Minnesota. Its a good thing.