Swaps

I have joined a couple swaps on Ravelry - and need to get my packages wrapped up and in the mail today...Since my blog is linked on Ravelry - I hesitate to share photos of the goodies - maybe after they are received...

Three swaps - three themes - Destash, Red, and International Scarf.

Lots of fun - would highly recommend.

That's it for today...

Dish Rag Tag and other ramblings...

I am once again participating in Dishrag Tag. This is my 5th year - and I am so excited.

This weekend was my 30 year class reunion - we had a great time - old friends and lots of laughter. Hard to believe it has been so long since high school. Some people really changed a lot and others looked just as they did in High School.

I dyed another skein of yarn on Friday....Didn't turn out a wonderful as the first skein did...but should still be pretty awesome knit up...I am not sure what I will make... This is a picture of the first skein - 3 packages of grape, 3 of black cherry and 3 of breezy blue - all Koolaid.


If you haven't tried - I would highly recommend. Very easy and highly entertaining :)

It's time to give this poor blog some attention

I have been so busy with facebook and ravelry - that I have abandoned my beloved blog. :(

Since I have signed up for dishrag tag - again - I think this is my 4th or 5th year...I decided - with respect to my teammates - I will try to keep this up to date.

Life is busy - busy knitting, busy cleaning, busy getting boys ready for college....and busy getting ready to go back to school myself.

Stay tuned...I will show you some of the things I have been doing. I dabbled in dying yarn last week.... it was awesome.

I will post pictures.

I can't believe it is already Labor Day

The summer has flown by. It has been a different summer at my house - I had the pleasure of all four sons living at home, I don't know if that will ever happen again. It was a noisey summer with their comings and goings...quiet as far as I didn't do much of anything. I tried to get some de-cluttering and organizing done - I don't know that I succeeded.

Now, Fall is here. Two sons are back in dorms, another is attending college but commuting from home, and the fourth is working full time and saving money by living at home for awhile. School begins on Tuesday. I have high hopes for the upcoming year...new things I want to implement in my classroom and looking forward to the energy that comes from being around young people.

I have been knitting. I updated my projects on Ravelry. I hope to throw some pics on here at some point.

I was lucky enough to be included in the alternate team for this year's version of Dishrag Tag. (It's been so long since I have blogged, I don't remember how to link anymore...and my notes are in the back room, and I am too lazy to go get them)

Cheer on Alter-knits!!

I might be back....

...I can't promise for sure...but...I now have high speed internet and maybe, just maybe, this poor, neglected blog will get some attention...complete with pictures....maybe.

Help...

I am working on this baby sweater...I have the front, sleeve, back, sleeve, and other front done - now have it all on a circular needle to do the yoke...my problem - all the loose yarn from those 5 individual pieces are getting all tangled up...

The last step in the pattern says to sew the seams...Can I sew them now??? It would eliminate all the loose yarn that is hanging and tangling..

..And...If I sew them now...HOW do I sew them?? Is there a special way of sewing seams, or can I just whip-stitch them together???

This is my very first garment...and I don't know how to do this....

I need HELP from all you experienced, crafty, knowledgeable ladies.....

No title needed...

I really don't have much to say.

Andy arrived safely - haven't heard anything other than that from him.

I start back at school next Tuesday...I can't believe the summer is almost gone. I have way more to do than the time to do it...I really should go into work/school today and get some things organized...

I am still working on the baby sweater - and knitting dishcloths. I really would like to join a sock club and maybe that would motivate me to finish and/or start a pair of socks...Will have to see - time wise.

I can hardly wait for DRT to start. I believe the boxes are mailed out pretty soon...I should go look for sure. I think it is later this year than previous years. I remember being home when the box arrived...I will be in school this year - won't be as quick turn around time - but still will be exciting - once it starts.

I hate the fact I have dial up and it takes forever to post pics - blogs are so much more interesting with pics.....

Mom musings...

This is so not about knitting...it's about the mom thing.

If you follow me regularly, you know that I have four boys, ages 17 to 24...Jeremy is at UM - Morris (4 hours away), Chris just started at Winona State (4 hours, different direction), Nathan is a senior...but, Andy is my musings today.

Andy goes to college also at Winona State - however..he is leaving on Tuesday morning for a years study abroad program in Tokyo Japan...

Over the years...I have brought the boys to their respective colleges - I have shed tears - remembering the little boys they once were - and very, very proud of the young men they have turned into - shedding tears as I let go and left for home without them - knowing that I was letting go of them - but they were within reach - a short 4 hours away - I usually visited once in October -and of course, they come home for Thanksgiving, then a longer time home over Christmas - the Spring is broken up with Spring break 0- and before you know it - they are back for the summer - and my house seems complete again...

I don't know how to let go of a child as he goes away for an entire year - a year full of holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, and just the everyday life events...How do I do this?

Don't get me wrong, I am so excited for this opportunity that he has to follow his dreams...I am trying very hard to keep a positive front because I know he is struggling with some of the very issues - he wants to go - but struggles with the sacrifices involved....

How does one let go?

I know it is going to be really hard on Tuesday morning as I watch him walk through the gates, after the final hugs...but,....I know that I will be okay and he will be also...

...and a year will pass by quickly..and my son will return...a changed young man.

Right???!!

It will be all good...it doesn't feel like it right now..... :(

Knitting news

I am 3/4 of the way done on the baby sweater I am diligently working on...

I have the front, back, other front, one sleeve and almost done with the second sleeve...

Then, I put them all together on a circular and make the yoke - while decreasing for the neckline - I haven't done this before and the directions seem a little confusing...I am hoping they will become clearer as I approach that step...I should post some pics...

Been knitting dishcloths like crazy.

Andy needs to bring gifts with for his host family to Japan...Would it be weird to send a couple hand knit dishcloths??? I don't want to insult anyone...

What do you think?

Dishrag Tag 2009

Registration open today at noon....I hope I don't miss it.....

Pictures

My four boys - I love this picture....



...and a picture of me with them....



...anyone know if Cass of "shutupim counting" is still in blog land - I tried to find her blog - and I have not been able to get to her....thoughts?

I hope to take some pics of my knitting...stay tuned....

Here I am

I'm here...If any of my friends are still checking my blog....

Life has been busy - The end of the school year - Chris' High School graduation - Moving Jeremy and Andy into different living arrangements -

I have been knitting - I started a baby sweater - I have so far completed the back, left, and right front and am working on one sleeve. The top is apparently then knit all as one piece. I am definitely learning as I go - making choices that I hope will turn out to be right as pieces fall into place...I hope to get a picture up...

I have also been knitting the round dishcloths - I really am having fun with them - problem is - I don't like to sew up the seams - so, consequently, I have a pile of 15 of them - all needing the seam to be sewed....

I hope to post more often and get some pictures up - I think of some of you often and am sad that you are no longer a part of my life and hope to revive the friendships that I have let fall along the wayside....

It's all about dishcloths

I am hooked on a new dishcloth pattern - it's awesome - and round...I have no pictures - darn dial up...just a tease of things to come...

I am 3/4ths of the way done with the prayer shawl I am currently working on. I am not sure where I can donate it to when I get done with it...ideas anyone?

Still haven't finished any of the three pairs of socks I have on my needles...note to self - should really work on the socks....

I need an entire day at the library to upload pictures and play with my ravelry account - so many people have asked me if I am on - I am but have not done much with it - sooo little time....

I can't believe it is already March...

The days are flying by..

We are at midquarter for 3rd quarter - which means - very soon it will be 4th quarter - and then summer break....

I have been at work most evenings until about 6:00...makes for a really long day and not much relaxation or knitting time....

I really need to get to a library and upload a bunch of my finished projects. Darn dial up.

Happy New Year!!!!

Nope...didn't fall off the face of the earth...Still here.

Hope your Christmas was blessed with family, health and good friends. Mine was. Jeremy and Andy were both home for the holidays. I got a little choked up at Christmas Eve service as I looked down the pew at my family of grown young men. Thoughts of Christmas' past and little boy excitement and wonder....Although, I don't think they ever out grow the Christmas excitement!

We lost water the week before Christmas - We replaced the pump, pulled the entire well, replaced all of the steel pipes and all the mysterious stuff that goes back in the hole. Still no water....So, I took drastic measures...I blessed the entire business with holy water before church...We came home from church and tried to prime it one more time....and...IT PRIMED!!! Our personal Christmas miracle.

Needless to say - it was short-lived..A week ago Monday...the well stopped again.

We don't know what to do...at this point, it looks like we will have to drill a new well - which we can't do until April - due to the frozen ground....

It is already the end of first semester. The year has been a good one - very busy but a good one. I have a smartboard in my room which allows me to save all my notes and post them on my school web page - so kids can view and print them. Which is wonderful, but it takes time to put the notes for 3 different classes and then to post each day to my webpage...again...good stuff.

Speaking of school - we had two bomb threats this pass week. One Tuesday - we evacuated and returned to the school when the school was cleared. Messed up the day...And again on Wednesday - this time we just evacuated and had parents come pick up students and closed for the day. A 53 year old mom of one of our students was arrested and in custody for the two day incidents. I really hope she gets the help she needs and her daughter is cared for during this difficult time.

And then...if the week wasn't messed up enough...we had a "weather"day on Thursday...With the windchill - the temperatures were around 45 below...Way too cold for man or beast.

I have been knitting. I finished a hat for Katie. I think she likes it. I will post a picture. I started a pair of mittens for myself. I am working on a hat for Jeremy. and the gadzillion other projects that I have started and not finished.

I am determined to lose weight this Spring. My doctor put me on high blood pressure pills last June - and I have gained 35 pounds since then. I don't fit in any of my clothes...not to mention what it's done to my self image. I am weaning myself off the pills - feel better already. I have energy again and motivation.

We are in Winona at a hotel (yeah for high speed) visiting Andy and Katie. We are going to LaCrosse shopping today and celebrating Andy's 21st birthday, which was last week. Should be a fun day.

I discovered facebook. I am listed as Alaina Privette. Come check me out there for pictures and stuff.

Well, enough for now - hope to be more regular at posting.