So, I know there are dozens of stories like mine out there, but please, just let me tell you mine.
I’ve been wanting to get James one of those “puddle jumper” floatations jacket/ water wing things for the pool. We were at Walmart and happened upon a display, so I told the little guy to pick one out.
• Green with a frog face
• Green with a monkey face
• Purple with a koala face
• Red with a ladybug face
Why they had faces, I don’t know. I found them a little disturbing. Anyway, James chose this one.
He was quite happy with this decision, so we preceded to checkout. When James put his purchase on the belt, I got a sharp look from the cashier.
I replied with,”That’s the one he wants.” Meanwhile, an excited 2 year old boy beams with pride at his selection, and tries to wait patiently for the cashier to return his prize to him. The lady behind me scoffs.
The cashier rings up the purple puddle jumper and begins to stuff it in the bag. At this point I stop her and tell her that he would really like to carry it out.
“Are you sure you want to let him?” Was her response.
“Yes, of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”
It upsets me that someone would judge a two year old by the color/character he chose to wear. How can we be so rude to each other over a simple color choice? It’s maddening.
It’s real, actual knitting! Yeah, I just remembered this is a knitting blog.
I made my father-in-law a new hat, after his old one was lost between hospital transfers. He’s home and doing wonderfully. Seriously I am impressed.
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Mercury & Cascade 220 in a color way I cannot remember.
Pattern: Broiche Hat by Wendy Easton in Weekend Knitting.
Then I had to make myself a new hat. My old hat was made when I had a really short hairstyle. Now that I have it crazy long, my hat doesn’t fit. So, the old one went to live with my niece in Ohio, and I made a new one.
Yarn: vintage Manos del Uruguay, red & Jamieson Shetland Heather in a color I forget.
Pattern: improvised
Now I’m starting a sweater for James. He’s not impressed.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride in Rust
Pattern: River Forest Gansey by Jolene Treace from Handknit Holidays
I made James a new hat. It’s a futile effort I know. I think it’s cute though. I have been referring to it as the “Koothrapali”
Yarn: Cascade 220 heathers (gold) & Jamieson Heather (orange)
Pattern: improvised, but inspired by Raj’s sweater vests in The Big Bang Theory.
Of course there is the ever-present, ever-growing 10stitch blanket.
Yarn: Moochi Plus in 3 different color ways.
Pattern: 10 stitch blanket by Frankie Brown
As some of you know, during the school year, Jess spends about one week a month at the Indiana School For the Blind and Visually Impaired. The program she is in is called “Shortcourse”, and she loves it. While she is there, she keeps up with her schoolwork, which is sent with her, but also attends other classes. Classes like botany, adaptive PE, tech labs, & daily living skills (much like home economics).
She stays there in the dorms. They often have after school outings, rec time, talent shows, etc. As you can imagine, she has a great time.
This year, i decided to drive her back and forth, instead of her riding the bus. I take her to Indy and drop her off the Sundays and then pick her up Fridays. James stays home with Dad on the Sunday trips up, but has to come with on Fridays. He likes Fridays. He gets very excited to go get “Sissy”.
On this last trip, the Shortcourse week is only four days long. This meant I drove Jess up Monday, and that James came along. We got there and helped Jess get settled in her room, & said our goodbyes. Then Jess bolted from her room, off to see which of her friends had already arrived, and James and I piled back into the car for the ride home.
Something happened then, that I wasn’t expecting. James started crying, no, sobbing for his sister. I guess I should have expected it, but Jess had been making these trips for over a year, and He’s never before been phased by Jess’ absence.
So there I was, in the car, driving home while James wailed in the back. The poor kid cried himself to sleep, which, I have to admit, made the remainder of the three hour trip much more bearable.
We arrived home late and went straight to bed. This morning, James woke and ran straight to Jess’ bed only to find it empty. Poor guy. I then found him here.
He does this often when Jess is gone. Originally, I thought it was opportunity- based. Jess would never let him get away with this if she were here. Now I’m thinking it might have more to do with missing his big sister.
So, why did I decide to post this? When I pregnant with James, more than a few people made comment to me that an almost nine year age difference between my children would most likely result in my children not bonding with each other, and we would almost be like two separate families. To those people, I say this, “Neener neener.”
Nate and I are due to celebrate twelve years of wedded bliss next week. It hasn’t always been easy; it hasn’t always been fun. It has, however, always been wonderful.
So, I have yet to decide what I will be when I grow up. Lately it’s just been some odd jobs here and there that I could do to earn a little cash but not have to punch a time clock.
Recently, I had decided to look into some training for yet another side job; something I have been thinking about for a while that I think I would enjoy.
I started looking into certification to repair Braille Writers.
For those who I have now lost, this a Perkin’s Braille Writer.
It a very old-fashioned looking thing, but very useful. They also can be very temperamental.
So to become certified in Braille writer repair, one must attend two workshops, each one week long.
Okay that I could do.
They are in the Boston area.
Hmm, depending on airfare and other expenses I might still be able to swing it.
One must purchase tools.
That’s a bit of a no brainier. They run about $400 at least. So I can probably save up for that.
Each workshop costs $750.
Ouch.
Honestly, any of these separately would probably be manageable, but all together they are quite the opposite. I’m sort of bummed. I’d love to get this training, and I’d also love to go to Boston, but I’m just not in a place to be able to do so right now.
You know what I need right now more than a trip to Boston to learn Braille writer repair? I need a new roof. Also, a roofer that accepts the job then actually shows up to do the job.
(Sigh) Maybe I need to learn how to roof.
So, like every member of this family, Ollie has food quirks. For one, he hates rawhide. Hates. learned that after we bought him a big ol’ bag for his Christmas present. He used to like real bones when he was still a chewing pup, not so much anymore. He doesn’t like squeaker toys. He whined with empathetically every time the retched little plastic snowman squeaked. Plushies worked well for a while until the day he took one outside, peed on it, then tried to bring it back into the house.
So, to treat our finicky furball, I make him homemade dog treats.
here’s the recipe:
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 t. baking powder
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. honey
1 egg
1 t. vanilla extract
3 T. sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Roll out dough (chill first, if needed) & cut into squares. place on cookie sheet & bake for 10-15 minutes. Treats should be dry & firm. turn off the heat, but leave treats in oven for 1-2 hours, so they may harden.
Olliedog loves these almost as much as he loves jerky.
A little bit of everywhere. I haven’t been able to focus on anything lately. I blame pinterest.
I’m still recovering from “Natefest”, which was a lot of fun and pirate-themed this year.
For those of you who know me, you will be shocked, but I am not yet done with my Christmas shopping. Also, I am only knitting for one person this year.
Have I knit? Yes, some, but it is all gift knitting, so no photos.
November has snuck in on me. So now I have to play catch up.
