The Best Knitting Book Ever

I generally don't buy "how-to" knitting books. I know the exact location of every knitting book in our public library (and have met some interesting knitters while sitting between the stacks, studying cast on techniques). Also, knowing that I can google "double yarn over" and come up with not only detailed instructions, but invaluable advice on knitting vs. purling the second stitch gives me the confidence to spend my knitting budget on pattern rather than instruction books. But when I checked out When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters by Marion Edmonds and Ahza Moore, I knew I had to have this book. For keeps. As the title implies, the book has lots of helpful recovery tips when a knitting project goes wrong. But there is so much more in this book! I found Chapter 2, The Secret Language of Knitting Patterns, to be particularly invaluable. I've been knitting for years (admittedly, self-taught) and I never figured out that a beginning/end of row increase/decrease should actually be worked two or three stitches into the row to avoid the stair-step phenomenon. This one tip will make sewing the sleeve seams on the One Button Cardigan much easier. Now I will have detailed instructions on increasing in a purl row at my fingertips (why can't I remember how to do that?). The size of this book is also perfect--about 5 x 5 inches--and tucks nicely into a knitting bag. Only $11.15 including shipping on e-bay ... a bargain.

Happy Birthday Peter

Sixteen years ago, minutes after 3 in the afternoon, Peter was born. Shortly before delivery, his heart stopped and he was delivered quickly via forceps, hence the bruises on his face. Today this baby boy is 6'2" but I still remember how it felt to hold him in my arms for the first time.

Aus Dem Vaterland

Ross is in Munich for Oktoberfest and emailed a picture with significance for me ... Ludwig Beck am Marienplatz. Only the best department store in the world. Ah, the memories. I spent lots of time--and Geld--there.

More Progress

Finally, significant progress is being made in Grandma's bathroom. Several contractors gave us varying opinions as to whether the shower pan was leaking ... or not. One insisted that it was not leaking and we should not mess with it. Another reasoned that it had to be leaking because the water was coming from somewhere. Grandma was taking a shower when the mold guys were under the house doing their thing and they confirmed that, indeed, the shower was leaking. I guess, by that time, the crawl space had dried out enough from the burst pipe that the shower leak could be identified. When the tile guys dismantled the shower, they found a seam in the shower pan right where the water damage is the most evident and pronounced the original shower design to be "funky". They suggested a different design, which included moving the drain and changing the slope of the shower. These guys have had some experience building handicapped showers; I am hoping they know their stuff.

Linen Swirl Sundress

I've worn the Linen Swirl Sundress several times, and have received many compliments. The New Look pattern only listed yardage requirements for 60" wide fabric so I was limited in fabric selection. I had originally planned to make it in a rayon batik, soft and flowing, but chose this embroidered linen from Fabric Depot. The bias cut fabric hangs and moves nicely, just as I had hoped. I'm thinking now that the slightly heavier fabric was a good choice for those reasons. I measured the pattern pieces and this pattern could be made using 45" fabric: no pattern piece is wider than 45 inches. I still need to figure out the exact 45" yardage requirement as I will definitely make this patten again. The neckline is perfect (modest) and the dress is very comfortable, yet stylish.

I also made a matching lined jacket using another pattern, heavily modified. I shortened the length to slightly above the waist, removed the overlap in the front since I didn't want any buttons, and cut the neckline to match the neckline of the dress. The sleeves are maybe a tad too long ... something that could be fixed, but I'm really off to other projects now.

Some Progress: New Laundry Room Floor

Some progress has been made in response to the water debacle. The leaking washer has been replaced with a high efficiency, front loading machine, which--of course--had to be accompanied by a matching dryer. I have discovered that the general population does not yet have high efficiency, front loading washers, as evidenced by the lack of HE laundry detergent at Winco Foods. The only place I've found the stuff is Costco; luckily the free and clear variety is available in the Kirkland brand. If I had to use Tide, I couldn't afford to wash more than two loads a week.

Best of all, the new floor has been installed in the laundry room. I love the vinyl. The same vinyl will go in Grandma's bathroom, once that room is dry (which, I'm thinking, may be never). Grandma didn't want to go along to look at vinyl, but as I was leaving, she said, "Think pink." I have not shopped for vinyl in 15 years and was surprised by what we found. Nowadays, most of the vinyl is designed to look like wood or stone or tile, and I don't like fake wood, stone, or tile. Cork was nice, but too high maintenance for a bathroom (although at least one college I know of thought it appropriate for a high traffic dining area). I found this pattern, loved the sample and hoped I would love it in a bigger space. I do. Some of the leaves are a very subtle pink, some are gray-blue, and the vines are a light, warm tan. It is also very textured. I'm most excited about the floor, Craig is most excited about the washer and dryer.

Another Kind of First

After months of playing Scrabulous (daily!) with Sarah, I have finally won a game. One game. Admittedly, the score was very close, but I won!

First Day of School, Second Child

Today was Ben's first day of school and he thought it was pretty stinking cool that he started a day after Peter. The boys are so different and up to now Ben has not experienced any bias as the result of having a high maintenance brother who precedes him. Up to now. When Ben told me one of his teachers had singled him out to find fault with everything he did, I knew exactly which teacher had done so. There has only been one teacher who never discovered Peter's finer qualities and, consequently, Peter continued to torment said teacher throughout the year. We discussed the situation, Peter reflected on some of his less endearing moments in the class, and Ben understands the challenges he will have in altering perceptions.

Like his brother, Ben was unwilling to have his picture taken and cited the same "not cool" excuse. This evening, in response to my query regarding his day, he offered that "they should find a less painful and antagonizing way to educate people." I think Ben's ready for college.


Eight years ago, Ben started kindergarten and, at the same time, I left my job of 15 years and started a new job in a different city. Consequently, I really don't have any warm, fuzzy memories of Ben's first day of school. I only remember ... chaos.

First Day of School

Today was Peter's first day of school. It seems like just yesterday he was boarding that big yellow school bus bound for kindergarten. The 'cool bus, he would call it. Long before he started school, he would wait at the window in the morning, just to catch a glimpse of the bus. Tim gave him his first set of Matchbox cars, which included a yellow school bus and he carried that bus around forever. Not long ago, I finally cleaned out the toy drawers and took bins of Matchbox cars to the Goodwill, but I tucked that yellow school bus into my nightstand drawer.

Today, there were no school buses for Peter. Today, he drove himself to school and on the way I gave him the 'be thoughtful, be kind, be respectful' advice that I always give him on the first day of school. "Yep," was the response, but I also got a good-natured grin.

And today, there were no pictures. Because that would not be cool.

And today, there are braces on those teeth.

And today, ten years later, he's still a pretty sweet boy.