and for dribbling...
Don't wear mittens!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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!
and for dribbling...
Don't wear mittens!
Monday, March 10, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
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.
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. Friday, March 07, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, March 03, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wandering Through Wodehouse
Lately my spare moments have been spent before the small (computer) screen. I've been charmed by Wodehouse's giddy tales of English bachelor scrapes, witty butler's schemes, fastidious Aunts, and all the situations in which they find themselves.
I laugh out loud at the way one, in polite society, would tell one's nephew to go jump in the lake. This passage from Right Ho, Jeeves had me chuckling through a math and science lesson:
"Then I wonder if you would mind doing something for me."
"Give it a name."
"It won't take you long. You know that path that runs past the greenhouses into the kitchen garden. If you go along it, you come to a pond."
"That's right."
"Well, will you get a good, stout piece of rope or cord and go down that path till you come to the pond----"
"To the pond. Right."
"--and look about you till you find a nice, heavy stone. Or a fairly large brick would do."
"I see," I said, though I didn't, being still fogged. "Stone or brick. Yes. And then?"
"Then," said the relative, "I want you, like a good boy, to fasten the rope to the brick and tie it around your damned neck and jump into the pond and drown yourself.
So far, I've had rip-roaring reads through My Man Jeeves, A Damsel in Distress, and Right Ho, Jeeves. I'm laughing at the dialogue, the scenes, the inspired characters, the way I would enjoy a Carol Burnett skit or an Erma Bombeck book.
I'm looking forward to enjoying more. I believe some of these Wodehouse works have been adapted to the stage. That would be something to see.
I laugh out loud at the way one, in polite society, would tell one's nephew to go jump in the lake. This passage from Right Ho, Jeeves had me chuckling through a math and science lesson:"Then I wonder if you would mind doing something for me."
"Give it a name."
"It won't take you long. You know that path that runs past the greenhouses into the kitchen garden. If you go along it, you come to a pond."
"That's right."
"Well, will you get a good, stout piece of rope or cord and go down that path till you come to the pond----"
"To the pond. Right."
"--and look about you till you find a nice, heavy stone. Or a fairly large brick would do."
"I see," I said, though I didn't, being still fogged. "Stone or brick. Yes. And then?"
"Then," said the relative, "I want you, like a good boy, to fasten the rope to the brick and tie it around your damned neck and jump into the pond and drown yourself.
So far, I've had rip-roaring reads through My Man Jeeves, A Damsel in Distress, and Right Ho, Jeeves. I'm laughing at the dialogue, the scenes, the inspired characters, the way I would enjoy a Carol Burnett skit or an Erma Bombeck book.
I'm looking forward to enjoying more. I believe some of these Wodehouse works have been adapted to the stage. That would be something to see.
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