Fancy That!

"

I have been working on this little hat for Sista Lena to keep her head warm. This is done in a butterfly stitch. The pattern is done in sets of 10, 5 for the butterfly and 5 for the spaces in between them. I got this idea from the DIY network program Knitty Gritty. The show was called Flirty Skirty. Here's the pattern:

Flirty Skirty
Details of butterfly stitch

Switch to circular needle
slip 5 WYIB, *P5, slip 5 WYIB, *P5; rep from *until end of row.
Place marker and prepare to join row circularly for knitting in the round.
Row 1: P all
Row 2: *P5, slip 5 WYIB; rep from * until end of round.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 three more times.


Then P7, *on the next stitch (which is a the center of the slipped group) insert right-hand needle down through the five loose strands, bring needle up and transfer the five strands to left-hand needle, purl the five strands and the next stitch together as one stitch; P9; repeat from *, end last repeat with a P2.

Then: *Slip 5 WYIB, P5; rep from * until end of round.
Row 1B): P-150 stitches.
Row 2B): *Slip 5 WYIB, P5; rep from * until end of round.
Repeat Rows 1B) and 2B) three more times.

Then P2, *on the next stitch (which is a the center of the slipped group) insert right-hand needle down through the five loose strands, bring needle up and transfer the five strands to left-hand needle, purl the five strands and the next stitch together as one stitch; P9; repeat from *, end last repeat with a P7.
You may have the hang of the stitch pattern by now, but just in case:
Do Row 2A and 1A for FOUR rounds, then do first bulleted step.
Do Row 2B and 1B for FOUR rounds, then do second bulleted step.

I made this a bit easier by knitting on circular needles and switching all purls into knit stitches and WYIB to "with yarn in front" (WYIF) instead. I like knitting much better than purling.

I just finished this book, and it was a bit of a window into the mind of a tantrum proned, manipulative child. What I understand is that I am being tested to see if I am worthy to be the authority (one of them) at my own home. Game on! I've learned to exercise this stern discipline when my little one intentionally decides not to obey and outright rebels when I need him to do something. It's better to establish the rules and boundaries first, and then enforce them if they are crossed as soon as it happens. If I do this sooner than later, I can avoid a simmering confrontation boil over later. I hope this will help me, but the journey with parenting is a day by day thing. I'm going to mess up, but then I'm gonna get up and try to be better next time. Will someone please pass the Lindt truffles?

I was in the beauty shop on Sat. and a man walked in to ask if he could have the left over hair clippings from the trash. He left with a little plastic bag where all the beauticians had added the hair swept off their floor. He was going to put the hair around the edge of his garden and near flower beds to keep rabbits, deer, and other animals away. Human hair supposedly never loses its scent, so animals won't come around to steel veggies or bulbs from a garden where they are smelling humans. I may have to try this little secret out for myself.

These guys got the boot after only 3 weeks on the show, and it's a disgrace!! I've been listening to them on their myspace page, and they are kool katz! I don't know why they didn't go farther with this style. When does the album come out? When's the tour? When are you coming to Cleveland? On the show it was said that the guys met at church performing for a praise band. Got my vote there! Let's just pray that new fame doesn't test their faith too much, and they can stay on course serving God.

Ok, so if I have to pick a second favorite for the competition it would be the 3 brothers who play w/ their hearts on their sleves w/ such a window to their souls, The Clark Brothers. Close behind with my attention is Sixwire. They seem to be into the whole thing, but are they really wanting their band to take off into superstardom? They produce their own albums and write all their own stuff. I wonder if they will be alright with handing over the reigns to someone else, and giving Simon Cowell part of their proceeds. (He'll take it as part of a finder's fee) We'll see. If Tres Bien keeps up that rubber leg dancing for much longer and doesn't exit the show soon, I will have to chalk that win up to the power of this techy generation who votes for their age group - for 2 hrs straight - long after most of us working adults have gone to bed. Dot Dot Dot is just too punky for me.

Time: 900am
Day: Saturdays
Place: The Rush
The Instructor: Travis

Ok, so I've been getting up any Saturday I'm in town to do a little preventative maintanence work at The Rush. I've got to say that Travis is a cool instructor. He picks the best music to get me thru 50min. of Spinning. Just as I think I can't go any longer "Bust a Move" takes me to the next level. The song of the day today was "Wild Thing". Thanks for the sprints, Travis. I really liked the comment that sprints will get rid of that thin layer of fat - mine is a bit thinker these days after Thanksgiving. Ok so spiritually, the cool down mix of "Keep the Faith" helped me coast on to Max Muscle class happily.(Was I crazy? I couldn't even feel my legs during the squats! and I am having a bit-o-trouble w/ the stairs tonite.) It's a good thing that Sunday is a day for rest. I'm truly honoring that tomorrow.

I found the coolest little tip for us newbie parents from the site www.andreacandee.com. I'll quote her tip. "Wondering how to use that banana for a splinter? Simply cut a piece of the ripened peel, tape it on, pulp side to the splinter, leaving it in place overnight. In the morning, the enzymes in the ripe banana will have pulled the splinter to the surface. Deeply embedded splinters may require another night or two of fresh peel. Just think of the memories your child will have when they’re adults!"

Now I won't have to be the mean mommy who holds my little man down with a sterilized needle to get out a splinter like when I was a child. Ummm that hurt! ALOT!!

http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/482/child-cold-natural-care/#more-482
I was searching this website for natural remedies for my coughing, sneezing, bugger-pickin', snot-lickin' son who always seems to have something going on once a month in the winter especially. All I got outa this site was to get to the store and buy some onions and it'll all be history. I probably won't be doing most of this stuff, but here is my research if you have an older child who tells you in English what is going on with them. I hope it will get really cold soon to kill all the germs in the atmosphere. Maybe our cold and flu season won't be so bad. I better get my flu shot this week!

Lord, thank you for the friends you've put in my life, new and old. Girls who giggled with me thru high school, and were there when I bought my first car. Ladies who saw me thru pain and heartache, and listened to the stories of new flavors of the month, College buddies as we floated on air in our new found freedom - my friends were fun and gutsy! They believed in happily ever after and let me see that there are some men out there who really do live out their promises. Thank you for my 6 bridesmaids walking down the aisle before me on my wedding day, two of whom reminded me recently that they gave me their umbrellas to save my hair from the pouring rain when we pulled into the church that morning with "Goin' to the Chapel of Love" playing on the radio. New friends I made as a new wife to John were ready to go with us skiing and to Six Flags and more skiing. We were unstoppable! Sunday School sweethearts sharing Pampered Chef parties galore. Who's house would it be this month? Choir friends and work friends from jobs that I've had over the years. Women and confidants to me who helped me through the good times and bad- counseling me and praying for me - how could I have made it without them? They were there when I needed a shoulder, a kind word, a dose of reality, and an invitation to call you in the morning. My friends who offered to come to the hospital with me when I had my new baby. Visitors and ladies preparing me meals and throwing showers. We celebrated. My girls at the gym at M Power saw me there for weeks of getting back to the treadmill and the stepper, lifting weights to keep our sanity was all we needed. We supported each other as we got back into shape. They'd ask, "Will you be here tomorrow?" Lord, thanks for my girlfriends at Mt. Olive. They are there for me each week for these 11yrs. They call, and come over, and we party, and we laugh, we scrapbook. We tell each other the miracles of God praying all the while our homes will be protected and lavished with love. We are strong and sensible, full of faith, and striving for beauty. Help us to speak the truth in love, and give each other space if it's needed. I live in a day to day world where I come against indifference and spite, jealousy and jabs of unkind words. I can let it all roll off my back when I know I have God on my side, and the security and encouraging smile of my friends.

Earlier this week John said he was going to KMart, and I asked him to pick up the newest release by Carrie Underwood. Jared and I have been listening to it all week on the way to and from work. I have to say it is very good. The song that I cannot wait to see the video for is "Just a Dream". It tells a story that will be easy to display, and I wonder if this song will hit the airways in time for next Memorial Day and July 4th as a tribute to all the wives and fiancees left behind. Quite a few more hits are on the way for the "Female Vocalist of the Year". The song I like to identify with on this album is "You Won't Find This". I taped the Country Music Awards last week. Carrie looked like a Barbie Doll in that long yellow tulle, bell-shaped dress. It was a great night of cool performances. (I gotta say that Little Big Town did the best).

Last weekend was my chance to breathe. Breathe in the air of the great smokey mountains in Gatlinburg, TN with 12 of my girls from church. We rented a lodge that would sleep 25, but who wants to sleep on a pull out couch? Have a little preview if you'd like! http://www.firesidechalets.com/811.html The downstairs was all ours after we moved the pool table, foosball table, and air hockey tables. Some brought their own folding tables, and there were 3 folding tables to bring inside from the screened porch. Girls were scrapbooking late into the night. Some were up till 4 am. (not me, I hit the pillow around midnight) I'm an early riser; gotta get up and brew the coffee!! Saturday morning we assembled some layouts and then got in our mommavans and headed for the scrapbook superstore. We are die hard, right? We had a table at the fireplace at Calhouns for a late lunch. One group motored on to the Krispy Kreme bakery while the other scrappys headed back at it again. We stayed up very late Saturday night because we knew Sunday am was checkout. Did I say we ate good? You couldn't compete with our menu of homecooking: apple cobbler, breakfast casserole, spicy chili, cheesy spaghetti w/ french bread, gooey pumpkin dessert, I'm getting hungy again!! We talked about dieting too. I had a wonderful time creating and giggling with the girls. We always encourage each other, and know we are so lucky to have friendships like these. God has truly blessed us all, and we will surely be back for more next year!

Robin Williams is very funny in this movie, License To Wed. I was totally entertained! Mandy Moore was so sweet and a great fit with John Krasinski, "Never to Fart"! I kept trying to see the entire list of the Ten Commandments in the Family Feud version of the quizzing game hosted by Robin as the Rev. Frank. I did wonder HOW in the world they constructed the baby robots to get the snots and poop green paste. That was far better than what I had to do in high school- carrying a sack of sugar around to practice the responsibility of parenting. This would be a good movie for newlyweds and newly engaged couples. I will be buying a copy of this one!!

One Night With the King had me on the edge of my seat even though I felt like I knew what was supposed to happen. My favorite character was Hagai, Tommy Lister. He was such a big muscular tower of a man, but had a heart of gold. Wow, and he knew that the king would pick Ester too, so much that he arranged a teaser meeting to get him thinking about her way before any of the other candidates. I felt the emotion and chemistry of Xerces and Esther. I'm not sure I agreed with how long he put her away from him after suspecting her of seeing another man. I suppose that communication breakdown is what happens in most marriages. Tiffany Dupont as Esther was a beautifully delicate actress. I hope to see her in more films in the future.