Gates Open at 1 pm

and radios go on at 1 p.m. (if not sooner!). And for baseball fans all is right in the world today. At 1 p.m. fans will begin to fill Progressive field. Will it be a new name for a new era? Time will tell. And at 3:05 CC Sabathia will throw the first pitch of the 2008 season to the Chi Sox's lead off hitter. Tom Hamilton's golden voice will fill my family room and I'll have a smile on my face and a light hope in my heart and fun on my mind.

Yesterday was special too. Thank you, Pistol Packin' Presbytera for remindng me that yesterday was the Artist's baptismal birthday. We took the occasion to enjoy some brownies!

To all baseball fans, A good season to you!

It looks like this opening day will not be a repeat of last year's Snopening Day.

"The Silly, Wonderful Me"

The Artist is using a watercolor instruction book for art class this year. I really like the book, and she does too. So far it has made her art classes a delight for her, and a fun way to end her school week every Friday.

Today's lesson was called Techinicolor Beasties. She made some sweet flying parrots and posing frogs, even a crocodile leaving a trail of footprints behind himself.

One tableau I didn't quite pick up on, so I asked for her explanation.


Tell me about this one.

That's a colorful cliff, and this (left) is the water.

What are the green and yellow in the water?

The green is part of the water's color, the yellow is sunlight.

What's going on on top?

This is a person pushing another person off the cliff.

Oh. And what is this? (the top right black figure)

That is a "No Diving" sign.

Oh, well, I guess they didn't dive, did they.

Nope. That's the silly, wonderful, me!

No home school students were suspended or expelled for this egregious threat of violence.

Buttons

At long last I have found some buttons that will work with the Audrey sweater.For three weeks I've been scouring Joann's supplies and found some perfect buttons that were too small and, no, I cannot order a larger size. Or I've found some absolutely beautiful buttons that I could use, but for the fact that I could only locate two. And, no, I cannot order more because the computer said they had more in the store. Why is it, if they get buttons on their truck every week, will it take at least two weeks for my order to come in considering I can only order things they stock on their shelves?

I finally opted for an internet search. I went for gold tone, because I didn't want to trust a color match on the screen. I bought this attractive scroll design.There was a very similar floral button at Joann's, but they would not order more for me. The scroll buttons I found on line are less expensive, but because they come in lots larger than I need I ended up paying slightly more for 15 buttons than I would have paid for 5.

My needles have not been quiet through the button search. Slow progress is shown on the Millicent socks. I have eight more rows to go on the pattern chart of the second sock.

After that I'll have a new challenge. The instructions say to turn the work so you are knitting in the other direction. I'll have to figure out how that is going to work.

Kids and Casserole

Aren't children and casseroles usually dire enemies? When I make a casserole, usually once or twice a week, the "Dinner!" call is not greeted with cheers. Sometimes, I'm treated to shouts of joy and children full of excitement running calling "What are we having?" When I pronounce the sentence, their faces fall. One reverts to If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. The other whines and complains and is shortly given a choice of eating with the family or not eating in his bed.

What happened last night?

I was so impressed I almost got the camera out. Then I thought I'd better not draw attention to what I was observing, in case it should disappear forever.

I served my family a roast pork loin, mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. And this time I even disappointed them by not making the Italian breadcrumbs sauteed in butter to top the asparagus. Apparently they like the vegetable with or without the breadcrumbs.

As I was enjoying my dinner I noticed the Artist making a well in her mashed potatoes. I reminded her that I did not have a gravy with this meal. That didn't bother her a bit. She filled that well with slices of asparagus. Then she covered it over, hiding the asparagus. Then she cut her pork slices into bites and topped the potatoes with the bites.

Imagine her surprise when I told her "Oh, You made a casserole."

"This is casserole?"

"Casssserrrrollllle?" the Engineer inflects a question despite his chewing.

"Sure, you have your meat, starch and vegetable all in one dish." I refrained from adding If I'd thought to cook it that way we'd have fewer dishes to clean up. She is not yet responsible for kitchen clean up enough days of the week for that statement to have a full impact, so I'll save it for later.

The Engineer thought the self-built casserole looked like such a good idea that he made one too.

I wonder what we will be having for dinner tonight.

March Madness, Math Madness

We do not really follow college basketball too closely in our family. Rick and I were happy for Cleveland State when they had a good run this year, but we are not so invested that we were affected by their not making it into the tournament running.

Rick occasionally reads ESPNs website. I occasionally hear news and sports sound bites at the tops and bottoms of hours through the day. The Artist and the Engineer don't have much in the was of sources of information about college basketball. Although I probably should let you know the Engineer forgets very little of what he hears about sports records. (Getting him to understand that the team that has the ball is on offense. The team that does not have the ball is on defense. And it will change hundreds of times during the course of a game is more difficult to get across to him!)

Anyway, Rick had all four of us fill out brackets this year. Rick claims dereliction of duty because he went to sleep last night before recording winners on our bracket sheets. Don't worry, Hon, this duty is so far down on the list that it really does not matter.

But so far, Rick is doing well with 27 games picked correctly. I'm having some kind of luck streak, because I've picked 30 games correctly. I've never done better than Rick before with the brackets, and I don't expect it to continue. And I think it's funny that I've done so poorly in the Midwest, where we live.

The Artist is plugging along with 25 correct calls, and the Engineer has 29. Rick did allow both of the kids a mulligan. One of them chose Kent state to be the national champion, and the other had Kent in the final four. He warned them this was the one and only time they could make bracket adjustments.

So now, Memphis, UCLA, Louisville and Xavier, someone in our house is rooting for you to win it all! Go Team!

Math Madness:
What Engineers like ours do to amuse themselves during the sermon.

Easter Eggs

I did the cop out this year.

The idea of boiling dyeing and drying Easter eggs with the kids was too daunting for me this year, when I'm trying to cut a great deal of stress. So I bought some candy and located the hoard of formerly useless plastic eggs in my attic.

Today the kids had a ball putting a surprise in each egg. There was more cooperation and fun in this activity than we've ever had with egg coloring before. Some other time we may be making some durable painted wood eggs we can use for years and years. This year I will miss the beautiful creations, but I will not miss two week old hard boiled eggs for breakfast, again.

Sad, Not Surprised

I am saddened by the Keischnick regime's decision to get rid of Issues, Etc. How spiteful of them to get rid of all the archives too.

Deja Vu?

Well, It was darn close to a year ago that this happened, and this morning it happened again. Some differences...Rick woke up before I did. Last night, I didn't stay up too late to function well this morning, but I did take some Nyquil to help kick my cough and it took me a while to start thinking clearly.

I made Rick a ham sandwich and banana lunch then started looking around for the food bars he takes to work. Of course, we're out. And he probably will not get to stop at home before church tonight. And of course, there is no soup supper before services tonight. So I put some cereal bars and a pop tart in his bag. He may not be at top nourishment, but at least he will not starve. Oh, I say! I just remembered a single drumstick leftover in the refrigerator. I can put that into a container with some leftover boiled potatoes. That will be much more like it for a good lunch.

I got the extra food into Rick's bag just before he came downstairs to head off to work.

Next I'll concentrate of breakfast for the kids and for me. Dear Daughter will need to get her math lesson done before we head off to Latin. She needs to be done with all school before 2:30 this afternoon when we head off for her eye doctor appointment. Stay tuned... we'll see if she comes home with glasses one of these days.

Last night I knit 5 rows of lace, frogged seven rows of lace, and re-knit ten rows of lace. Alas, for where I could be (in the pattern) compared to where I am.

Surprise, Surprise!

Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Martin Luther The daddy of the Reformation. You are opposed to any Catholic ideas of works-salvation and see the scriptures as being primarily authoritative. Martin Luther 93% Karl Barth 93% Anselm 80% Jonathan Edwards 73% John Calvin 67% Augustine 60% Friedrich Schleiermacher 60% Jürgen Moltmann 53% Paul Tillich 33% Charles Finney 13%

Well, not really much of a surprise at all. Thanks to A Round Unvarnish'd Tale for pointing me to this quiz.

You Won't Believe...

...What We Found!

I could not believe it myself. On my may to a morning appointment I passed this house. I though, out loud to myself, "That's the biggest snowman I've ever seen! The kids have to see this!"
He is taller than the house behind him!

I did go back with the kids and camera later as is evidenced here now. Those are small tires making up his buttons and his eyes.

After being through the washer once I set my Audrey shoulder pads up on the shower rod to dry because I thought they were too big. One more trip through a less crowded washer should do the trick. I did go button shopping. I found some nice buttons, but none I liked had enough in stock to finish my sweater. So I'm still looking. In the evenings I've been keeping at the knitting, but getting used to the chart for the Millicent socks is hard work. I have been through the chart once on one sock (two more times to go) and I'm one third of the way through the first chart on the second sock. Thankfully it is going much faster and I'm making much fewer mistakes on the second sock. I'm looking forward to getting through the chart work and beginning the legs of the socks. They were the most intriguing part for me.

Engineer's Tip

After some experimenting yesterday the Engineer has come up with a valuable basketball handling tip. For shooting...

and for dribbling...

Don't wear mittens!

Shoulder Pads

Last night I made two shoulder pads for my still-buttonless Audrey cardigan.

After looking at some patterns on the web (Thank you Gina in LaLaLumay Land) I decided to venture out on my own and make some similar to those I'm used to wearing. I think I buck the current trends (imagine that!!!) and I actually prefer shoulder pads.

I experimented a few times and came up with a design that I can fold in half to get double thickness.This approaches the thickness I'll need to achieve.
Tonight I hope to tack them in place and check the fit. After that I may decide that I'd like them better a little firmer. If that is the case I'll remove them, felt them and then sew them back into place.

I'm testing a tiny felted swatch to see how it might hold an arched shape when it is dried. The poor thing does look a bit like it is being tortured. On the other hand this photo captures the actual color of the yarn better than any I've posted yet. If I do felt the shoulder pads I can block the fabric onto an old favorite pair of shoulder pads hiding in the back of my sock drawer. They'll look like a pair of frightened blue porcupines while drying.

Canceled

It might have happened, but in the 28 years that I've been in northern Ohio I do not remember Sunday morning services at church being canceled.

When the decision was made it was my job to call the organist. I spoke to his wife on the phone, and she was so relieved! She told me they went out to measure the snow in their driveway just for the heck of it -- 17-inches!!!

I don't know what our total was because a kind neighbor came over around 8:30 am to clear our driveway with a snow blower. After that, Rick and I went out every three hours to clear another 3 - 4 inches of new-fallen and drifted snow.

Here is what our garage looks like in the morning light. The windows are frozen shut so I had to photograph through the screen. And the wind created quite a drift on the neighbor's deck.There are thousands of cars stuck in drifts around the region. Some of the suburbs have declared travel for emergency vehicles only. Others say to stay home if travel is not essential.

Four Oh!

Happy birthday, Rick!

Rick's co-workers were enthusiastic in their birthday wishes!!!
They also treated him to a taped-shut coffee mug, a tape-disabled mouse, and a telephone receiver taped to its base.

I want everyone to know you did not ask for this snow for your birthday. As we joked last night, he was not specific in anything he wanted for his birthday, but neither was he specific about what he didn't want! The first forecast I heard yesterday was for 5-7 inches. Then it changed to 6-10. This morning I'm hearing 8-12. That's sounding pretty lion-like to me.

I still have not been out button shopping, so the Audrey Cardigan is in limbo. I am happy to report that all the ends are woven in, so she just needs those buttons.

It must be that I enjoy a challenge in my knitting every now and then. The Millicent Socks are providing one. Wednesday night I knitted the first three rows of the chart and before I went to bed I ripped them out because I could not tell where I had lost track and I could not come up with the correct number of stitches.
Thursday I (hopefully) anchored myself more securely to the track by moving a life line with my knitting row by row, and putting a stitch marker in between each repeat of the chart This will be slow going, but these socks will be worth it.

Lamb and Lion

There is the old saying that if March comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb, and that if it comes in like a lamb it will go out like a lion.

What I have never understood is how many days are included in that coming in portion, and how many can be included in the going out?

I don't recall any significant weather either direction on the first or second. The third was lamb-like and balmy! The kids got to enjoy recess outside for the first time in ages. We re-inflated all the basketballs and they worked on their skills.

Yesterday the rain was gradually subject to cooler and cooler temps. By the time I was sitting on the couch with my knitting the Wednesday school closings were listed on a crawl on the bottom of the TV screen. This morning, the list has grown exponentially due to the lion-like conditions. For the first time in ages a number of colleges and court houses are also closed due to the ice storm.

The Artist's actual birthday is today. If they are open, we will still make it up to the library to get her library card.

Knitting updates: I have cast on for both Millicent socks, and completed the ribbing on both of them. And the Audrey cardigan is nearly complete. My fitting fears were alleviated when I tried it on to find where the buttons should go. But at that time I also decided I'd like to knit, felt and attach some shoulder pads into the garment. All that is needed are buttons and the shoulder pads. I have not looked for a shoulder pad pattern yet.

A Birthday Party

The Artist will be 11 on Wednesday. We got some family together this weekend to celebrate with her.

The Artist made her best cake ever, a delightful cherry-vanilla cake with vanilla frosting, decorated with some colored frosting and flower sprinkles. It was quite yummy!

It is such fun to hear people sing in your honor and to think of a wish before you blow out your candles. Grandma took several photos, but we did manage to capture one scene on our camera. The Artist's uncle gave her The Daring Book for Girls. She was very excited to receive it. Later in the day a friend came over to spend the night. The Artist and she huddled over the book together playing some of the hand-clap games inside. She was also delighted with a book store gift card (enough for the two books she wanted), some computer games (Chessmaster and Sims*) and a certificate to spend on some Scupley tools.

On Wednesday, she does not know it yet, but she will have another wish granted. We will stop up at the library and she may apply for her very own library card.

Stay tuned later in the week for more birthday doings, or stop over at the Quipper's to wish him a happy milestone birthday. It is coming up on Friday!


*Mom and Dad are not too sure about the Sims game. This may find its way to the Good Will box. The game is rated Teen for three things: comic mischief, mature sexual themes and mild violence. Excuse me, but what has happened to games in the last 20 years?!?!? In what world is this an edifying thing to give a child? Any feedback, anyone? No fault to the giver, by the way. That person had no idea.