Finished

I finally finished this beautiful tank top made from Berroco Glace. I added the shell buttons and made a four stitch i-cord to tie loosely in the back. I think it turned out really lovely and it fits!!!! I will have to wear a little shell under it as it is a little long under the arms. I love the color and the drape of Glace is always wonderful. Hope you like it, too!

A Trip to North Carolina

We took a quick trip to North Carolina while my oldest son was up at swim camp. The waterfalls we saw were so amazing.

While we were up there we met Wilber a 550 lb. pig. He is the family pet. He has a deformed back right leg so he was bottle fed as a baby. The family kept him in a play pen in the house. He let me pet him behind his very pink ears. I even got to rub his dirty snout. Then he had had enough of me and walked away.

We also met these babies, just a few weeks old. They were adorable.

Hope you had a good weekend, by the way my oldest son had a great time at camp. He worked his tail off!

Swim Camp

Tomorrow is a big day. Tomorrow I drive my oldest son to Orlando where he will spend the night with a swimming friend. Then on Thursday bright and early he will fly to Louisville, KY with two other boys and attend a special swim camp put on by USA swimming. It is an honor for him to be selected for this camp. Only 7 young men in the 14 year old age group were selected from the South East United States. They were selected from swim results from last year when he actually was 14.

He is very excited and I feel a bit sick to my stomach. This is the first time he is flying alone (I know with friends, but not family). This is the first time he is really going to be away from us, and he is going to be pretty far away. I don't think I am ready for him to grow up, and grow away from me so fast.

I am hoping he makes the right choices and trains hard. I am hoping he makes the right choices and doesn't eat sugar (he is hypoglycemic). I hope he makes the right choices and gets some sleep. I hope he makes the right choices and has manners and acts respectful to the coaches. I hope he makes the right choices and really has a wonderful experience.

I will miss him as he ventures off on his own, even if it is only for five days.

Excuse me, but do you still knit?

I know this is supposed to be primarily a knitting blog. I have been attempting to get out of my knitting slump and get my knitting mojo back. Actually, I have been forcing myself to knit, almost like force feeding myself. So in an attempt to get myself back on track, I am going to discuss what is on my needles. Keep in mind both projects should have been completed ages ago.


First, is this lovely tunic tank top from the Spring/Summer issue of KnitSimple magazine.


I fell in love with it right after I opened up the magazine for the first time.


I am making it from Berroco Glace in a beautiful sage green. I bought this yarn several years ago from a LYS that was going out of business. I was so sad for the yarn store but happy for me and my bargain purchases.

I actually swatched and came up with what I thought was an accurate gauge. I thought the drape of this yarn would be beautiful. I remeasured and started my new project. When I completed the back I realized It was a lot bigger than I intended. So now the original back is the new front. I am knitting the back (again) and making it a bit smaller width wise. I intend on making two i-cord ties to tie the tank top in the back to help if it is really big. Loose, and big are in, aren't they?

I also have these very beautiful socks on the needles. I am making this in Panda Silk which is so smooth to knit with. I am at the part where I am supposed to start the heel. Problem is I have been at this part for a very long time. Funny how if you don't knit something it isn't any farther along then when you left it in your knitting bag. I keep hoping that if I leave it in there long enough some magic knitting fairy will come and do some work on it.

I won't even show you the blanket I am suppose to be crocheting my oldest son. Right now I can't even think about pulling it out for a photo shoot.

Today I vow to get my knitting butt in gear. I am going to attempt to find the elusive knitting mojo that was my friend for so many years. I will apologize to said mojo, and hope it will forgive and embrace my soul once again.

At least posting this will make me try to make some progress. I will have to update this post at some point now won't I?

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there. A bouquet of Gardenia's just for you.

I am blessed by having a wonderful Mother who is coming over for dinner this evening. She has been the foudation of my life.

I am blessed to have a wonderful sister who has mothered me with her love since the day I was born.

I am blessed to have a wonderful niece who is a fantastic Mother. Watching her blossom in Motherhood has been a great joy to me.

I am blessed to have a wonderful Mother-In -Law who is very loving and amazing.

I am blessed to have so many wonderful friends who Mother me, but also let me talk about Mothering, to them

I am blessed with new friends I have found through this blog, Mothering me in their own way.

I am blessed to have been Mothered by Aunts, Sisters-In- Law, cousins, teachers and other women in my life.

But most of all I am blessed to have three boys, (one with fur), that have made me a Mother and have changed my life in so many ways. They are the center of my life. They have made me stretch myself and grow as a person. They have given me the gift of being their Mother.

Happy Mother's Day!

Gardenias

Since I am home today from work with a very nasty cold I thought I would show you some of my beautiful Gardenias. I imagine they smell wonderfully, I will have to rely on my memory for that. I have filled my home with them and given lots away to friends and teachers. There isn't anything better then a little homemade bouquet. Enjoy!

Mootherhood Slump

I work with developmentally delayed children two days a week. I rejoice in every skill they accomplish. My work is very rewarding and important to me. These little ones try so hard to succeed in their life even though it is very hard for them. Some of their biological Mother's did drugs or alcohol, some just have impairments that no one can explain. They are trying to work in a world that is difficult for them.

My son's are blessed. They have both parents at home loving them everyday. They are smart and talented. That is why I find it so hard that they don't always try to be the best they can be. How can you as a freshman in high school just simply not do homework? How can you think your Mother won't find out. How do you keep from going over the top when your kids aren't exactly honest with you? When they don't even do the bear minimum to get by.

As you can see my knitting slump has turned into a Motherhood slump. I never thought Motherhood was easy, in fact I think sometimes it is ridiculously hard. You have all these personalities in your family that you have to work with, including your spouse. Everyday you have to be putting out fires at home and giving praise when needed. You need to be able to help, then know when to back off to let your child fall on his face, so he learns a lesson. If you are lucky he learns a lesson.

I wish it was easier. I wish my children realized how lucky they are. Being a child in this day and age is tough. When I see the little ones I work with try so hard to succeed , it is tough not to see the difference in my own children.

Sorry this sounds a bit depressing. I really love my children, they are my life. They are beautiful, smart, funny and gifted in their own ways. It is just hard to see them not putting out their best effort. It should be so much easier than this.