It's June WHAT?

Sign of the 21st century:

phone rings

WENCH:  Hello

WENCH'S MOM:  Hi. (pause, then with a note of concern in voice) How's everything going? I was just wondering...

WENCH:  Because it's been so long since I blogged?

WENCH'S MOM:  (chagrined laugh) Yeah, well, it seemed odd ...

So this is what we've come to! Mothers keeping up with their children through blogs.

So yes Mom and friends, I'm doing fine. Well, almost. Lots of family activities, a weekend of gardening and then two days of laundry have whacked my back and I'm taking pain meds again, but other than that I'm fine. Here's a taste of the gardening:

I know you can buy pre-done hanging baskets and succulent pots, but I like to watch them grow. Isn't that curvy pot cool? We had many of those plants in a succulent garden out back, but it was constantly being stepped on by little feet. Safer here, and it spiffs up the front porch nicely.

Have done a bit of knitting too.

Pi is slogging along. On the night I started the 576 st/rd section I cast aside my pattern finalists and this dark horse took the race. Four criteria developed as I was perusing the pattern books:  (1) must have similar pattern motifs for continuity (diamonds and chevrons - no curves), (2) must be a multiple of 8, 12, 18 or 24 to fit with the 12 points of the middle section's flower/star, (3) must be purl only on the wrong side and (4) must be busier than the pattern thus far (I was getting bored), but not so busy that it would seem disjointed. I think this works, but only blocking will tell.

Will choose the edging when I get there.

Details for you Pi-KALers:  This 24 stitch repeat is lifted from the Faux Russian Stole pattern in A Gathering of Lace.

Took the book to the library to make a copy I could mark up, but didn't manage it (no change, active kids, closing time), so I don't have much to show. I'm just marking the working line with a post-it and making the modifications in my head as I go. Basically, I'm switching all the decrease/YO combos to match the style of Pi (they're reversed on this pattern) and I've added one row to the top and bottom of the pattern band with a yo/k2tog every 12 stitches to blend the band with the section below. Added bonus is that those two extra rows bring the row count to exactly the same as the Pi pattern I'm replacing. This is an easy to follow pattern with just a little more going on to keep it interesting.

Haven't done as much on Deli, but I've made it though another decrease row since I last photographed it. This is my nod to English gardens that I begged my DH to let me to plant in our otherwise xeriscaped garden.

Looking for something easy and portable, I started a sock with this very funky Elann Sock it to Me Esprit, a cotton yarn with a 1.7% elastic core that allows it to stretch from 100 to 186 yards that knits on US #7's (impulse buy). Problem is that I'm not an experienced sock knitter so I don't have that "Oh, I'll use my favorite pattern" thing happening yet. I was in a really lazy mood and looking for easy distraction, not more work - I wanted plug and play. Got frustrated when I found this yarn didn't plug anywhere except for some thigh-high KMD&FM socks on Knitty and this Little Arrowhead Lace Sock pattern by Nancy Bush. I know, this textured yarn is poorly suited to lace, but I've been wanting to try lace socks and with this fat yarn it's flying along. And the colorway -- what was I thinking? Yeah, definitely an impulse buy! I own nothing in these colors. These are not "my colors" - they even wash my feet out! Oh well, they're just for around the house anyway.

Risa mentioned a while back finding a free on-line "What season am I?" site and I found one too after wading through a thousand people who wanted to charge between $19.95 and $395 for the privilege. Sorry, I don't seem to have bookmarked it. Anyway, like Risa, I was surprised to find that all these years I've been told I was a winter, when in fact I may be a "clear spring." When I'm shopping I have faith in my eyes to make good choices, but it's easy to get into safety zones (black and white for me). Also, I'd like to have more confidence with on-line yarn buying. I stick with my tried-and-trues for fear of having a sweater of bad colors instead of just socks, but I'm getting way too narrow, as evidenced by this:

Yes, I'm going to have a lot of deep plum knitwear. Need a little variety don'tcha think?

The really interesting thing about the clear spring color chart is that four of the colors that I'd never name as mine (aqua, yellow/green, evergreen, terra cotta red) are in fact the colors of some of my favorite pieces of clothing. Going to shell out the $12 and buy Color Me Beautiful.

Anyway, how did it get to be June 8th? Wasn't Memorial Day yesterday? Just as time slows down when you're looking forward, it speeds up when you only want it to stop. School's out next Friday and I'm not ready. I wish I could be one of those moms who's excited, looking forward to relaxing days with their darling children doing crafty things and lounging poolside. I adore my girls, but I am not one of those moms. Speaking of my girls, here's my knit photo helper in deep need of a bang cut and suddenly shy after begging to be photo blogged (phlogged?).

I treasure the three days a week that both girls are in school at the same time. I love the time I don't have to talk (incessantly with the 7-yr-old) or wonder what's happening up there (always with the 3-yr-old). Time to think, run errands, knit, read, blog ... time alone. This may sound self-centered, but my husband works until 6:45 or 7 and several days a week he's not home until after they're in bed. I have a long day. Twelve hours of MOOOOMMM! She's _________! everyday until mid August might just put me over the edge. Thank goodness for summer camps at the Y! One nice thing is that I won't be a room mom at the YMCA - I've been in the classroom three times since the holiday weekend and am on a field trip tomorrow. Wonderful in so many ways, but less knitting time. Gotta watch those priorities.

Comments

[la chica alta]

I love it! Knitting and gardening in one entry. The curvy pot is gorgeous and so are the succulents! I just started growing a few myself. Gosh the yarn is pretty and so are the pics! Oh yeah, is that foxglove?

[Anne-Caroline]

Ha! That's so funny, because some of my friends have been wondering if I was "okay"! So much knitting, so little time...

[Moni]

how cute that your mom checks your knitting blog :). Sorry to hear about your back pain! gardening does that to me, too. That's probably why I kind of just let my garden go.

I'm really enjoying your PI progress. It's kind of gearing me up for some lace projects that I want to do this summer. I'm a total lace newbie.

[michele]

Loved your post, loved the gardening and the knitting in the flowers picture. I can totally relate to the kids off for the summer and time alone. I find as I get older, peaceful time is more cherished...I love my kids dearly, but if I don't get a little time to knit or of peace each day...watch out :) Take care....I wish my mom checked my blog or if she does she doesn't comment...oh well :)

[Shawn]

Missed your postings woman!
As usual LOVE your knitting wonders. You so rock. Adorable photos of Rachel. Love the potted plants too. I was dabbling a lot early on but the heat has hit and I'm in the pool or AC more often than not.
I'm a lazy mom...so no worries on the mom front with me. Chin up...the summer will FLY by. Always does.
hugs

[Risa]

I love your opening conversation. That is too funny. My mom reads my blog but apparently nowhere near as regular as yours. Could help that I see my mom 5 out of 7 days. The flowers are beautiful and I love that curvy pot. I do like the different. Sorry about the back, I hope you recover quickly.

The pattern you found for the outerband on pi is stunning. Your search criteria were dead on matches of what I used to find a different border. I can't wait to see the final results. Its is beautiful.

I was completely surprised to find that I'm an "Autumn". I had fallen into the safety colors as well, black & white, which really aren't good colors for me. Well maybe white, but definitely not black. I'm going to have some fun discovering what I really do like. Heck I've always loved fall leaves colors so I'm going to use them as my guide. Glad I could inadvertantly point you towards examining your own.

As for lamenting the end of school? I can't say as I blame you. I positively skip to work on some mondays and I had only spent a weekend with the twins. I hear you loud and clear. Being mommy is hard work and you deserve a break!

[Jeannie]

Actually, now that my kids are 17 & 12, they stay at home by themselves in the summer sleeping, eating, and growing. My son grew at least 1/2 inch since school was out in May.!

I can leave my house at 6:15 in the morning and get to work at 6:30 if I want to! I don't have to drop DS off at school at 7:15 :-)

Or I can get up at 4:00 or 5:00AM (thank you, black kitty who doesn't get daylight savings AT ALL) and knit till 7:00 and still get to work on time(before 7:30).

[Liz]

I hear you on the YMCA! It's a sanity-saver in the summer, eh? I hope you and your girlies are having a good summer!