Autumn abundance

First of all, it isn't autumn yet despite the fact that the temperature was 49* outside when I woke up this morning. I've written a formal complaint to Mother Nature and she replied. Did you know Mother Nature swears like a longshoreman and basically doesn't give a rodent's posterior what I think or want?!!!

When I was a kid, I loved school. I loved new school clothes, new supplies and the anticipation of new teachers and what I would learn. I was a nerd, but I was happy. Residual nerdiness still affects me this time of year and go into scheduling mode. Sometimes over scheduling mode. This year is no exception other than some of scheduling is not my fault. I am just caught in the whirlwind. And not complaining one bit.

My son and his girlfriend are looking at houses. In order to take advantage of the first time homeowners tax credit, they have to move quickly. Hubby and I looked at houses with them yesterday. I know once they find one, Hubby and I will helping them move in, and that will probably include painting and pulling out shrubs because that is what Hubby likes to do now. Got any vines you want pulled? He and my sister-in-law are great at that.
Hubby will be working for a week or so in Las Vegas, probably his last time working this particular convention. I was going to go as it is unlikely we'll go to Vegas on our own. My ticket hasn't been purchased yet but I'll need to decide soon.

Halloween is a big deal for me, even though we don't have as many trick or treaters as when my sons were little. I still enjoy it, decorate for it, bake for it, and usually dress up to hand out candy.
We'll be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. I can probably shop for it without a list. I just need to remember to clean the house before everyone comes over. Real spider webs on the light fixtures might be explainable for Halloween, but not for Thanksgiving.

Bill's godson graduates from Clemson in December. We are going to that the week before Christmas.

Christmas! Yikes! Somewhere along the line I am going to need to shop for Christmas!
Countdown Clocks

And let's not forget the baby shower in either December or January. Did you hear that I am going to be a grandma? I don't think I mentioned it yet in this post. Those who know me well will know that I have more baby projects planned than is humanly possible to complete.Maybe I can do without sleep. Purple shadows under my eyes won't look bad, will they?

Purple! I forgot to mention that I've signed up for 8 weeks of watercolor classes again! Three hours, once per week, plus homework, add in baby crafts, the trips, cooking for Thanksgiving (notice I did not mention cooking on a regular ole week day), a load of laundry here and there and a few trips to Kroger for diet Coke and coffee yogurt...if I give up sleep, I should be able to get everything done.
I hope to post fun and funny blog posts while all of this is happening, but I may not be a regular for Blue Monday, Finished for Friday, or any other meme for a while. I'll still be reading your blogs in the mornings over coffee.

This autumn is truly abundant. Maybe that is why it is starting while still August.

Check out the barefoot twins holding up a finished autumn quilt at Lit and Laundry by clicking on the Finished for Friday logo at the left.


My post today doesn't look much different from last Friday's because my sock obsession is still going, but there is a difference. The current self striping sock is stalled (don't ya love alliteration?) while I wait for new needles to arrive. I want to knit the ribbing on slightly larger needles and couldn't find them locally so I ordered them from Knit Picks. They are one of my favorite online/catalog sources.


The cream colored strip is a scarf that I started a few days ago to use up two skeins of leftover yarn. I tried quite a few designs until I came up with this one. It appealed to me because there is no wrong side to the scarf. I like a scarf that looks good whichever way it is turned. Still being a work in progress should disqualify it for Finished for Friday, BUT by deciding to use this pattern, I did FINISH the decision making process!
The baby sock was done in an evening, just last night. I will finish the mate to it tonight. My niece that I posted about a few days ago will have plenty of socks made by her mom, so this pair will be going to my grandchild, due in March. I still can't believe it when I say or write "my grandchild"!

The waiting game

My middle niece (of the Michigan variety) is pregnant. She went to the hospital yesterday after her water broke. When a call came a few hours later, we thought it would be an announcement. It was, but not what we expected. The hospital sent her home because her contractions weren't close enough together. They were 7-8 minutes apart. The hospital said to come back when they were 3-4 minutes apart. She posted on Facebook this morning that she is still walking, walking, walking around her house.

Once upon a time women were kept in the hospital once their water had broken and the mucous plug had passed. We were told that the risk of infection was greater without them and that delivery had to occur within 24 hours. Did medical science change their opinion or is this a case of insurance companies overruling good medical practice again?

While Jess paces her home, probably answering questions that her four year old is likely asking, the rest of us do what we do best. Jess' hubby will be trying to make her as comfortable and calm as possible, which is not easy at this stage. Her mom is probably scrubbing surfaces down to their underlying layers. Her dad sits quietly looking calm but undoubted is not. Her sisters will each jump every time their phones ring. Bill would probably call me to see if I heard anything except that Jess's oldest sister works with Bill so he will probably know before I do when the new arrival comes. I am flitting from one thing to another, keeping positive thoughts.

And of course, we all are praying.

As you read this, whatever your spiritual orientation may be, please send a prayer, a hope, a vibe, whatever you may call it for good health and an easy delivery. And ask for it come as soon as healthfully possible.

Amen.

And thanks.

**Added info Thursday evening** I haven't spoken to Jess, her sisters or mom yet, but apparently her water didn't break after all. This has me confused. She isn't a first time mom. I hope that if she has any doubt, she is being heard and not brushed off. This information came home with Bill who heard it from the niece that works with him.

A tote bag by any name

I have a thing for tote bags. I don't need anymore tote bags, BUT if you give them a new name, there is reason to make a new one!

Has anyone noticed that with the emphasis on being "green", many tote bags are now being called "market bags"? I do remember to take cloth bags with me when I shop at Aldi's , but I confess that I don't remember to have them with me for other shopping trips.

Back in June, while on on a quilt shop hop, my friend and I each bought printed interfacing to make market bags that we had seen on display in one of the stores. Part of the appeal was that no fabric went to waste. The areas between the handles would become pockets. I found the directions on the panel to be very confusing, and I am not a novice stitcher. I prefer a wider pocket so I won't be making this tote again.

What I did like about this tote was the adaptation that the store in Richmond, Michigan (Sew Together) displayed. Take a good look at the handles. Do you know what those clear rings are?

They are shower curtain rings! The store owner assured us that the rings on her totes have never popped open and so far, neither have mine. In fact, I really had to use quite a bit of force to squeeze them closed. A package of 12 rings was $1.19 at Target.

I thought the rings made a fun difference in the tote's appearance and they may show up in other projects now. After all, I have eight more to use!

Blue Monday with Big News!

It is Blue Monday again, hosted by Smiling Sally. Visit her by clicking on her logo -------->




Today's Blue Monday post only has a 50% chance of being blue. It may turn out pink. We won't know until around March 12th of 2010. That is when Bill and I will become GRANDPARENTS!!!

Since we are quite fond of both pink and blue, we really don't care what color footprints we get!

Happy Blue Monday everyone!

Socks

I seem to have a sock obsession lately, almost an addiction. When not knitting a sock, I am reading sock patterns, looking at sock yarn, reading other knitter's blogs about socks or watching my sister-in-law whip out another pair. She is actually the one with an addiction. I merely have a keen interest in them. Nothing as dark and sinister as an addiction.

My first pair of socks done back in April (here) were knitted on double pointed needles from the cuff down to the toe. I was pleased with them and love the needles that I used but was intrigued by the idea of using two circular needles instead of double pointed needles. For those who don't knit, I know this is gobbledygook to you and I won't bore you with the details. It was merely using different tools to create the same result.

This pair was done on the circular needles. The big advantage for me is that the work in progress seemed more portable without the fear of a needle slipping out.
I had another method to try, still using the circular needles but working the sock from the toe up the cuff. Do you hear Fred Astaire singing "Heaven, I'm in Heaven"? I asked him to sing it for me because my voice isn't one you'd want to listen to and besides, if I'm not singing, I can be talking about socks! Here is the pair done from toe to cuff.
Both pair are shorties, just tall enough in the cuff that they won't slide down inside my shoes. Here is the current sock on my needles and the book that inspired me. It was a happy day of internet wandering that led me sock pattern designer Wendy Johnson and her blog.
Life is good when your hands are busy and your feet aren't cold.

Please click on the logo above to visit Lit and Laundry today and future Fridays for more Finished for Friday posts.

Let the pampering begin!

My name was drawn in a giveaway hosted by Cailin at 5 Kids, 2 Labs, 1 Lizard and a Hermit Crab Besides being a busy mom and both dog and reptile caregiver, Cailin is an Arbonne consultant. I worked with a woman who loved Arbonne skin care and cosmetics but I never got around to trying the products.

Isn't it exciting to have a package to open? Especially when it is something you've won!!!

The contents included Intelligence Herbal Foot Cream (do all of you bloggers know how bad my heels look? I've tried not to photograph them), Intelligence Hand Cream (love these names), Aromassentials Sea Salt Scrubs in Unwind and Awaken, About Face Sheer Shine Lip Gloss, FYI It Shines Lip Gloss, Lip Saver with SPF30, REactivating Body Serum, REfinish Body Lotion and facial care samples.

If I wasn't dressed and ready to head out for a busy afternoon, I would wash off what I've done with my old products and try everything out right now. Alas, the pampering will have to wait for tonight.

Please visit Cailin's blog (click on title above) for fun reading and email her if you are interested in Arbonne products.

I need to go now. The sooner I am done running errands, the sooner the pampering can begin!