Emptyknitster

This Halloween was full of firsts! I haven't dressed up in years...   Shark Week!!! AND The Pirate not only took his costume to school but went Trick or Treating with friends!

I called The Pirate's sock blank Mr. Magoo's Socks because they looked like he'd painted a pair of glasses on them. Of coarse he had no idea what I was talking about - I must be getting old.... Pattern: Modified Blueberry Waffle Socks by Sandy Turner with a Fishlips Kiss Heel Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Stroll Single Strand Sock Blank Colorway: Hand dyed Mr. Magoo by The Tiger Needle Size: US Size 1 I've finished them and will be working on Chloe-A-Little-Bit's soon.

Every Christmas I have the blog entries printed into hard copies for the family. Somehow this Christmas my biggest fan didn't get his usual edition. When I was cleaning up Christmas wrap in the fiber room, there was The CaliforniaDreamingFamily's copy hidden under the mess! I didn't miss the opportunity to get it down to California last weekend when Bri was visiting. I was happy to get this photo of The Pirate. I see my fan club continues!

Apparently, The Pirate is changing his M.O.!  Recently his school decided to set a new record for the largest Einstein gathering for the Guiness Book of World Records. They now, unofficially, hold the record - with plenty of help from their parents!

The Pirate has only been around grumpy old cats, ones that only see kiddos as unnecessary interruptions in an otherwise perfect live. Over the years he quietly wormed his way into Nkkos heart with his gentle ways but it had taken years and The Pirate growing up. Now there is a new kitten and it took only a few days for them to form a bond, kitten learning "The Boy", for I'm sure this is her name for him, could be trusted and "The Boy" learning he could touch her without a lightning quick paw scratching an outstretched hand. The kitten is happy with me each morning - until she hears footsteps on the stairs and at that moment she rises up on her hind legs, her neck extended just waiting for her first glimpse of "The Boy"! He is learning her daily habits and is waiting for her after the daily three and half hour morning nap with a quick snack and her favorite toy. There is nothing sweeter than a boy and his cat!

A little over a month ago, while The California Dreamin' Gal was in Africa at a conference, older sister sent me this SOS photo message: I found out later, The California Dad felt The Pirate could do without his mom or he could do without his sweater but he couldn't do without both! So, The Pirate wore his sweater to school until Christmas break. By then I had frantically begun knitting Pirate Sweater IV but even after completing three sweaters  previously, or perhaps because of it, I ran into a little technical difficulties . Following some discussion and soul searching I decided I could live with the imperfection. The skull and bones (minus the cross) would remain and I knit on. Meanwhile, The Pirate started the New Year minus his sweater. Last Monday, after a week without it, a friend brought up his loss. He was very happy to report that there would be a new Pirate Sweater on his back by the end of the week. The news went through the 5th grade like wildfire! The Pir...

Upon my arrival to The Bay Area we quickly decided that a visit to Bake Sale Betty's was in order.  As you know, we do love her chicken sandwiches and ginger molasses cookies to distraction!  In fact, I had been told by Hubby not return without a dozen cookies for him. Waiting in line at Bake Sale Betty's It was a beautiful day and a very nice one mile walk to her shop. As usual there was quite a line to the counter. I know the routine, when placing your order there is no messing around. 1. State your order. 2. Fork over the money 3. Move aside! Before I stepped up to the cash register I mentally practiced my order. "Three chicken sandwiches, two dozen ginger molasses cookies and three lemonades, PLEASE!" Pay, Step Aside! But when I got to the two dozen ginger cookies things fell apart. "We have Oatmeal Raisin, or Chocolate Chip - no Ginger Molasses." "Will you have some tomorrow?" "Maybe, or sometime next week." "Can ...

During our Easter vacation we all enjoyed playing games. Grandpa had a great time playing chess with The Pirate, and Ticket to Ride with The Tiger. The California Family brought a new game to share, The Settlers of Catan that soon became a favorite with The Tiger. I was excited Chloe a Little-bit fell in love with Shanghai Rummy! This is a card game my Mom and Dad loved to play. When we pulled out the cards there was a hand written list of the books and runs needed each round Mom had written down years ago.  I'm looking forward to spending many summer afternoons playing with Chloe while she's visiting!

The family began trickling in on Friday, first the NorDak Family and the later in the evening The Chick Who Flew The Coop. Finally, on Saturday the California Dreamin' Crew flew in. Most families have a traditional Easter egg hunt, church and ham dinner kind of a day but obviously we are a rather unusual family... The boys sat around most of the morning warming up to what the day could bring.  Ultimately they hatched the potato gun idea! Thankfully The Chick offered to take the boys to the local hardware store for supplies knowing full well that there was no way the twosome could drive there and back without some mishap.  Off the three of them went and shortly thereafter Cousin John dropped by for a quiet few minutes before the trio reappeared. The partners in crime! The potatoes flew across the gully, over the road and into the horse pasture! I really can't believe that we had so much fun shooting those darn things!

There are several reasons for this blog. I want to document my knitting, the things I do over the course of a year. I also write memories of mine so that one day the grandchildren will know a different side of me and what my life was like growing up, and what my grandparents parents and siblings were like. At the end of the year I have the blog printed and bound for each of the families. Not long ago The California Dreamin' Gurl was talking to a friend about the blog and book. The Piraate showed immediate interest, sat down and read the journals cover to cover.   As he turned the last page he asked his mom, "When is the next edition being published?"

Last weekend I was in rainy San Francisco. The Wednesday before I was to fly down I was gifted  with a cold and laryngitis - again, the second time this school year. With some quick reflection and a little math I realize that I have 700 pupil contacts a week and I'm sure that they aren't all healthy and germ free. When I started my teaching career every year for the first five years I was sick by the third week of school - Open House night was always timed right in the middle of my cold, cough and laryngitis. So I guess it is reasonable the when serving that many bodies a week I will have to boost those immunities. When, over lunch hour, my cold turned into laryngitis I paniced! I had been so looking forward to my trip to see The California Dreamin' Family! I wrote up Sub notes and decided that I would stay home Thursday and Friday, not talk to anyone, and hope for the best, After all the cold would be almost a week old..... By Friday I was better but not even functioni...

The Pirate's Sweater Take III was finished in July. I wanted it to look fresh and new for the beginning of school and planned on mailing it right before the first day. However, with the start of MY school year it quickly became too hectic for me to even get the package in the mail, that is until I received this email.... The sweater was popped in the mail and I received an email this afternoon.... The California Dreamin' Gurl wrote: "Apparently there was a crowd of "at least 20 kids" gathered around Cameron this morning as they waited for school to start - all admiring the new sweater!  First time they had seen him in something (slightly) different in two years!"

While The Pirate was visiting we had a nice discussion about his Christmas sweaters. Something is coming between him and every single one of his Christmas sweaters - the Pirate Sweater.  He loves the pattern, the fit, the hood the yarn, everything about his Pirate Sweater. I explained I LOVE knitting him sweaters but I also want them to be worn. We came to a mutual decision to knit another Pirate Sweater, Pirate Sweater II is dieing.  He would like to have it for the new school year. (Last winter he explained to his mom that he didn't want to wear any other sweater to school because it would call attention to him - he's known for his Pirate Sweater.) We went to the yarn shop and I said he could choose any yarn  he wanted. The Pirate chose a tweed (like Pirate Sweater I and II) but in ruby not green. I was proud The Pirate was stretching out of his comfort zone! It wasn't until we got home that his sister shared The Pirate choose ruby because there was only one skein o...

First to check in with their new sweaters: Chloe A Little Bit The Pirate Grandma gets the second set accounted for: Sadie Lou The Tiger And the last two are looking good!

Today a package arrived for Cameron from Gramma.  He approached the package with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.  He knew that Gramma had heard of his desire for a sweater "zactly" the same as his old one, and he expected that the arrival of this package was a fulfillment of this request.  But the bar had been set high, for Cameron thinks that "zactly" is a term to be treated with mathematical precision. Like a dog approaching a stranger, he began by sniffing the sweater.  Luckily he that is where his animal instinct stopped, falling short of licking it or otherwise marking his territory.  Having passed the smell test ("This one smells like Gramma too."), he moved on to more empirical tests. The white pirate skulls were the same size, but the new one, lacking one year of non-stop wear, was at least five shades lighter. He checked the sleeve length next - the sleeves were not the same length due to a quick-fix to the old one during...