A Sad Knitting Story and The Beach

Yesterday, I said the reason my poor Grumperina Jaywalkers aren't done is because I knit for everyone else first. Well, that is partly true. Here's the other reason: the picture on the left is from this last winter, when I started knitting them. See the sock turning back into a ball of yarn? Yep, I am a bad knitter who doesn't swatch! I just knitted along like a fool, then tried them on and they were too tight! Honestly!! So, there they are today, bigger, next to some baby socks I knitted. They match, and maybe my new socks will too. If they don't; I won't really care that much.

LD and I went to the beach today. That is not big news around here. If it's nice out that's where I want to be. I'll have to get a picture of one of our beaches. Michigan's only saving grace is the beach at summer. Here is a big news item around here; while we were gone, MM did the dishes! By hand, since we don't have a dishwasher. He wants money to go to the movies. Smart boy, he knows Momma hates doing dishes.

I also talked about the teaching of the knitterly arts to the young. (That sounds fancy, doesn't it?) I LOVE to teach people to knit. I've hooked more new yarny addicts than you can count. During the school year we have an after school program for like 5 weeks twice a year, and of course I teach knitting. There are a lot of other classes, too. This last spring, almost one whole third grade class could knit. The teacher let them knit during the time she read out loud, if they still paid attention. Most of them knew how to knit when they took my class. The teacher taught them, or their mom's did. I bet I've taught over 20 kids how to knit.

The school my kids go to is a good size, I think. There are about 40 students per grade, 20 per class. Give or take, you know. Some of the teachers my kids have now, were my teachers when I was in school. Weird, huh?

Well, off to cook for the starving ones in this house. Guess I better go buy food, first!
I'll probably be back after the weekend, if I can make myself stay away, it's new and fun so all I want to do is post!!
Happy Knitting!!

Knitting, Fishing, and Us

At our small town's summer rec. program, I teach knitting twice a week. Whatever kids want to learn that day are shown how , and the ones who already know how, just knit on whatever they want to that day. Well, today Lil' Diva went fishing with the summer rec. kids, while I knitted with some other ones. It was her first time fishing, and she caught a fish! We brought it home, cleaned it, and made some lunch. She took a tiny bite, and said "You eat it. It's yucky." So, I had some perch. She sure doesn't look very diva-ish holding that fishhead, does she?

While we were knitting and fishing; my boys, 13 yr. old MusicMan, and 16yr. old SkaterPunk went to the library TOGETHER! That's a big deal. I love it when they sort-of hang out together. I hope when they grow up they're friends. MM is called that because he's really into the real rock: like The Who and Styx, and lots more. When he was really tiny he was obsessed with the Beatles, and he still likes them a lot. SP would probably be really mad if he knew I call him that. He's into the music thing, too, thanks to their dad, but he skateboards really well, so he's SP.

This has been a lot about stuff and a little about knitting! I am going to go knit on my Jaywalker socks now. I've been knitting them forever. I keep setting them aside, and knitting stuff for other people. I will finish them and then wear them SOON. I'll show y'all a picture when they're done. I'm also going to add some links and fun stuff to this blog as soon as I figure out how!

Knitting Pictures

We just got back from the park. Which is a good thing, because it is about to rain. The Little Diva (my 7 year old daughter) took pictures of me knitting. You might see them some day, but today you get Old Knitting. (Said with a spooky echo)

Here are my very first hand knit socks. I didn't worry about the not matching thing. I wanted to learn to knit socks so badly, but I had no one to teach me. Not for free anyway. So, I just went and learned all by myself. Thanks to the library and the innernets! These were knit with Lion Brand Magic Stripe. I heard that it's going to be discontinued. I need to go buy more, if I can find it. I like the cheapness, and the way this yarn wears. No holes in these babies!
These are Mother's Day 2005 gifts. I knit the green ones for my mom out of hand-dyed (by me with kool-ade) merino. The striped ones are knitpicks simple stripes. Those went to my mother-in-law. It must be the camera angle, because both pairs of these socks were the same size., even though the green ones look tiny.
Well, thanks to everyone who has read my first couple of posts. I have to go let Little Diva here paint my nails. The fun never ends around here!!

There's a first time for everything!

Well, here goes! I've been reading blogs for about two years, and I finally started one of my own. I don't know if I've been afraid of people reading my thoughts, or putting it out there and noone reading it! I'm going to talk about knitting, and life with three kids, one husband, one cat, and one dog. I'll try to keep it positive, even though I have been (I believe unjustly) accused of being a complainer. I'm not really!
So... this is my first post. Next time I'll try to add a photo.

And, just so everyone knows, the definition of motley is: of many colors, or of many different or clashing elements. So, it pretty much sums me up!