tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83031711552020842532024-03-13T09:50:44.183-07:00Keowdie KnitsMe, My Life, My Knits...Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-8956394410833599052015-02-09T15:41:00.000-08:002015-02-09T15:41:48.210-08:00Chloe's Blanket-o-LoveI knitted this for my newborn niece. It was completed last summer, but I'm just now posting.<br />
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This was my own design and I enjoyed knitting it... for the most part. I started by knitting in garter stitch, and randomly knitting rectangles and squares of various sizes into the blanket. I loved the way the blanket developed organically. When it was finished I cut out a <strike>million</strike> bunch of hearts from some fuzzy green fabric, and stitched them into the squares & rectangles. (This was the part I liked less - it was so tedious!)<br />
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I ended up adding one pink heart, just to add some interest & break up all that green & white.<br />
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<br />Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-14664300758291523382013-06-28T20:42:00.000-07:002013-06-28T20:42:06.820-07:00Antique - A Baptism GownLast weekend, our beautiful girl (who is now 6 months old) was baptized. I knitted her gown, and one of her godmothers knitted her bonnet. Both turned out beautifully, and received many compliments. I've vacuum-sealed the gown, bonnet, extra ribbon, and the rest of the last skein of yarn used in this project all together for future generations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05mbWm3w60s0ZUJnebU0023iHLpR_GY7xuauai1OgUNHSCN5-Db9jWujfiX-58wsDE3cks_58kkJsJwpOtxM4EGQRGdm6RMfRzwIwgSaXux7EkRFB3IxVCQbYODGWjjb7L59QJLV62sh1/s960/gown1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05mbWm3w60s0ZUJnebU0023iHLpR_GY7xuauai1OgUNHSCN5-Db9jWujfiX-58wsDE3cks_58kkJsJwpOtxM4EGQRGdm6RMfRzwIwgSaXux7EkRFB3IxVCQbYODGWjjb7L59QJLV62sh1/s320/gown1.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
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Here are the specs:<br />
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<b>Project</b>: Antique<br />
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<b>For</b>: Kinsye's baptism <br />
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<b>Pattern</b>: <span style="font-size: small;">Isla - A Seamless Modern Baptism / Christening Dress </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> (which can be seen <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/isla---a-seamless-modern-baptism---christening-dress" target="_blank">here</a>) </span><br />
<b>Yarn</b>: Baby Alpaca Indiecita<br />
<b>Color</b>: 100<br />
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<b>Modifications</b>: I followed the pattern exactly as written, but I used a lace weight yarn instead of DK. I wanted a softer, lighter fabric because St. Louis in summer can be hot and muggy.<br />
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<b>Thoughts</b>: This was a pretty easy, quick, and fun knit! I loved that there was no seaming, and that the slight flair of the skirt was achieved by increasing needle size, instead of increasing the number of stitches.<br />
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The yarn I used made it look vintage, which is exactly what I was going for. Because I used the lace weight yarn, I ended up with a more sheer fabric, which meant that I had to sew a slip to go under it. I'm not at all good with my sewing machine [yet], but it wasn't too hard to come up with something simple to keep the gown modest.<br />
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Here are a few more pictures:<br />
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I have to say a huge thank you to my sister, Katie, from <a href="http://rivercityimagesstl.com/" target="_blank">River City Images</a>. She took fantastic photos of Kinsye in her gown!<br /><br />
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<br />Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-924275223358120272013-02-12T07:15:00.000-08:002013-02-12T07:15:52.537-08:00Try it Out Tuesday: Coconut OilThis Try it Out Tuesday entry comes from Becca, over at <a href="http://theroadfromtheretohere.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Long and Winding Road</a>. She pinned it and suggested it, and actually tried it out with good results. I wanted to see if I could do the same.<br />
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Here's my <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/170222060887844367/" target="_blank">Pin</a> for Whipped Coconut Oil, and here is the <a href="http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2012/02/homemade-whipped-coconut-oil-body.html" target="_blank">original article</a>.<br />
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I've been hearing a lot about the virtues of cocnut oil lately, how it's healthy, can be used for cooking, beauty products, etc. The thing that really hooked my interest, though, is that it is recommended as a... "backside balm" for cloth diapered babies.<br />
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We are not exclusively cloth diapering (Kinsye wears a disposable to sleep at night, when we will be out and running around for a long day, and when we go camping). But when we are home or just visiting relatives, she's in a cloth diaper.<br />
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You can't use regular diaper creams with cloth diapers. (Actually, you can't use a lot of regular products with cloth diapers.)<br />
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So, I bought the coconut oil (which doesn't really resemble an oil at all). It's very solid, and I had my doubts.<br />
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I measured out about a half cup and put it into my bowl.<br />
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It was sort of solid, but gloppy, and did not look like something I wanted to smear on my baby girl's backside (or Hubby's hands, or my heels).<br />
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But, I had faith. Armed with my trusty hand mixer, I started whipping.<br />
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I whipped.<br />
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And whipped.<br />
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And whipped.<br />
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And after a couple of minutes, it started to look quite smooth. <br />
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I think I maybe could have whipped it a little longer, but here is my finished product: <br />
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So far, I have used it on chapped lips, an irritated baby-bum, and a dry patch on my elbow, all with good results.<i> A very small amount goes a very long way, </i>and it practically turns to liquid with a little warmth from your fingers. <br />
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So here are my thoughts:<br />
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<b>Modifications:</b><br />
None. It's pretty straightforward, so there's not much room for mods. I will say that I did not add the optional vitamin E or essential oil for fragrance. Since SugarPlum has sensitive skin, I am trying to use as few products on her as possible.<b> </b><br />
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<b>#Fail Factors:</b><br />
None! <br />
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<b>FTW!</b><br />
This was really easy and quick to do. I think it took longer to find a container to keep it in than it did to complete the project. It takes a little getting used to because of the consistency, but I think we will be using this for a long time. Speaking of a long time, since a little goes a long way, this small container will likely last us a month or more.<br />
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<b>Will I Do This Pin Again?</b><br />
Absolutely. It's clean, healthy, and since a little goes a long way, it's pretty cost-effective.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Got a Pin you'd like me to try? Let me know in the comments section below!</span></b></div>
<br />Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-74300878918992150442013-02-09T14:02:00.000-08:002013-02-09T14:03:36.838-08:00Baby Knits! <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>We welcomed our newest little one on Christmas morning! As every knitter knows, there's no better reason to knit than a baby. <br><br>Here are a few of my recent baby knits:</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegt-fdyl5wXd7EKZEHAsR5eCwWoPHfCQz-imyFBazn5dWDxenOaMrmkZQUTfgF0f9eICeVbF-fIjweUYe2Wtz9g0X6CrRdfipKWRWR-kZKv246y0bSt0sVw9ejnpAtMAZhqAatgTTiodX/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqaZLlEeDQFYRPuypnZzm7Rm2lsfdfYB9nPVjsemcdBjnX2SbX0Ei_MN1eNG8LzwtSYYr0sazhnoezfSnfkPbezg3BJBeDbsLPcQZoaqxb7klK-zT-l206d0vWrryxWbmSLK3klpdsMlg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2B1zrtfwjX3xP465EH9TdV9CvdNpi39SKf9386zA1kEB4YHEiLY5dGf2joWLxQeP0VZfuZRaBaZb2E-H3NDiMrHkuPelE6MtLG2nz32QFOnYJ07RozUyL44m4lGs6QstHrnhoV-M2j5R/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUSDR0C8HJ_FkIjuW6HksKEp-V_CMcpwnCtlCSqSuoOYp7VUhHdrVWWoD60Lq0c3ZapmM0auHns1qmG-tYUvE_CTmj6xNyMJTn71fCxj0FmrKgv29rw3yPfmHAzfO7z8YnM4Fk8y8J_gC/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmtKqzNeVrHhfpPT3qW0cAv28xdCSun0_FHtlOdMDFbr85zEjs5KAxVQeJgh02TSjZdd_3WPA_njit6TuqiRN4u5QaU70pu1Fw6gY28DmF2b6_TmliQgkfhKiqdnVFyFkbEV4fuOFkf_N/'></div></p>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-10381965487911929602011-08-01T10:00:00.001-07:002011-08-01T10:00:57.967-07:00"Sew and Tell"<div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section">I guess that technically every blog post could be titled, "Show and Tell," since the whole purpose is to show you pictures and tell about what's going on. But I am thinking about doing a semi-regular feature wherein I can show off some of my recent crafty goodness. Or "amazing feats" of cleaning and organization. Or (if I can figure out how to post videos) some of my recent educational music videos or podcasts. Or whatever I've recently done that bears mentioning.<br />
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I have to give a special thank you to my G-ma Alice for this one. She taught me how to sew. Thanks to G-ma, I understand the basics of sewing and construction and can usually find my way around my sewing machine. I am by no means good at sewing, but I can make basic items, Halloween costumes for my kids, and mend some things.<br />
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I don't have a permanent home for my sewing machine; all the stuff that seems to follow it around, so I usually wait until I have a list of things to sew. Then I haul it out and it lives on the end of my dining room table until: </div><ul><li> I am completely stuck on a project and can go no further...</li>
<li> I am completely frustrated with a project and would rather eat it than try to finish it...</li>
<li> I can no longer stand the mess on the end of the table...</li>
<li> I have company or host dinner for one or more persons.</li>
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This go around, I've made sachets, worked on a quilt for Riley, and made laundry bags for our pop-up trailer. </div><div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="bloggerplus_text_section">Whenever we go camping, we always end up with no place to put the dirty clothes. Matt's clothes end up in a plastic shopping bag, mine end up going back into my bag (where I make a futile attempt to keep the clean ones separated from the dirty ones) and the boys' clothes end up in the strangest of places (like in the refrigerator, under the mattress, and mixed up with the pop tarts and cracker boxes). <br />
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My solution was to give everyone a dirty laundry bag. I went looking, but didn't find any that were priced an amount I was willing to pay. So I made some.<br />
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I have a big box of fabric scraps downstairs and actually found four pieces big enough for bags. Then, just for fun, I personalized each one. They are by no means fantastic, but aren't bad for my limited lessons and experience.<br />
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</div><div align="left" class="bloggerplus_image_section"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWsWx87DawR6Pb0g4QyCzUac0o_LUDCtdWb64_ZpzZStuxZMfkpKY7uTVl2oXFsH7j4VGwFEwvDAESlB71nxpgxHnQ-snrAy_L-3lZb2Gh-kuhh-9zJxq5qa54oF47zE-o4vfqVJ103c/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWsWx87DawR6Pb0g4QyCzUac0o_LUDCtdWb64_ZpzZStuxZMfkpKY7uTVl2oXFsH7j4VGwFEwvDAESlB71nxpgxHnQ-snrAy_L-3lZb2Gh-kuhh-9zJxq5qa54oF47zE-o4vfqVJ103c/" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc2WOdFRR94HdR3Ts5hm5bFRapUmKZbrid8DWMNyLGW3dHytauFqx53QQwuWQYX0ucP-VmQCc_5gZyX5pz6GaO9KIEOAPSig8uehDlNtOhDBEMBRFCE4wJaIP89TSoxLEl0rt0mDnfa0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc2WOdFRR94HdR3Ts5hm5bFRapUmKZbrid8DWMNyLGW3dHytauFqx53QQwuWQYX0ucP-VmQCc_5gZyX5pz6GaO9KIEOAPSig8uehDlNtOhDBEMBRFCE4wJaIP89TSoxLEl0rt0mDnfa0/" /></a></div></div><div align="left" class="bloggerplus_image_section"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc36QrlrRsR-G35mcHF1akJeNJvd2-rZRM_xxuIL3xM0PFHghPbw_n-r-7s6SqBfRuV81N5BAZDY-Aw02tvnJup-4Ep7uOBneOGiGBmxinW-Rhk_mb0zmn6uZBflrXs-1ZWOjWXTOevA/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc36QrlrRsR-G35mcHF1akJeNJvd2-rZRM_xxuIL3xM0PFHghPbw_n-r-7s6SqBfRuV81N5BAZDY-Aw02tvnJup-4Ep7uOBneOGiGBmxinW-Rhk_mb0zmn6uZBflrXs-1ZWOjWXTOevA/" /></a></div><div align="left" class="bloggerplus_image_section"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNb9EXVX-sxhw-ZzPFetruXSQV0eXMgnG1n4BrBc6SP-PaUaOKCAPxDh6i0IZO8O-2NksbNoeqxWBgYia2z256-samAU0AcI_GeL5lwlNdNMydFBlF0LZxyO7XxqSWcKcoopZ-PX6tQhc/" /></div><div align="left" class="bloggerplus_image_section"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We ended up with fun laundry bags that cost me nothing, and taught me a bit about making up my own patterns and embellishments.</div>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-12113112225900354852011-01-20T09:18:00.001-08:002011-01-20T09:18:40.197-08:00Visits in the Snow<div style="text-align: center;"><i>When the snow falls quiet,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNWG0fm-KYEOVWpRp_0KzJWyuAIQNy9-MeUuMJ4g-RpcwExl3VdJVuGCquD0FAbt8Iw3-bJKvziirycs15tGKgtddQ3GyC1u78y2EHHnall4dXWNbc-pvpX2Xc8bWC_mkTggbhsXIwXU/s1600/DSC_2562.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNWG0fm-KYEOVWpRp_0KzJWyuAIQNy9-MeUuMJ4g-RpcwExl3VdJVuGCquD0FAbt8Iw3-bJKvziirycs15tGKgtddQ3GyC1u78y2EHHnall4dXWNbc-pvpX2Xc8bWC_mkTggbhsXIwXU/s400/DSC_2562.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>we put out the tray of seed.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi-vDj4WInxRh-gJUqSRElAa_7GY3UbZI7f82xdZfH1skNx6YkLDERKnpqo3X3aS4VjQN1CK5FMdJW1Gh5F0MjGSdWs1inIci0BPD8ZmchVi5yMSdRAxLTCP_ZwZ9pQIyOrvW_fqu58k/s1600/DSC_2563.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi-vDj4WInxRh-gJUqSRElAa_7GY3UbZI7f82xdZfH1skNx6YkLDERKnpqo3X3aS4VjQN1CK5FMdJW1Gh5F0MjGSdWs1inIci0BPD8ZmchVi5yMSdRAxLTCP_ZwZ9pQIyOrvW_fqu58k/s400/DSC_2563.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And a host of God's small creatures</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1DlI4Z5bT2UBN8zqSxzGktLk7SXYs_-JHePLlrY0CQDxaXDNUSPnvYz3gK9d4Xp_y89Ow_92S_kAwjX8rsjxg0yGScOP4n666uWyos8Mnj6jemuX3eElp1bgyq4vCgX9hpCCh3l87B4/s1600/DSC_2564.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1DlI4Z5bT2UBN8zqSxzGktLk7SXYs_-JHePLlrY0CQDxaXDNUSPnvYz3gK9d4Xp_y89Ow_92S_kAwjX8rsjxg0yGScOP4n666uWyos8Mnj6jemuX3eElp1bgyq4vCgX9hpCCh3l87B4/s400/DSC_2564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>come to visit for a while.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-c5cpWG9j45mo9t83F3NAPTk-ERpeNVed8f0CT7xjIJnyWBv7bTLnjanz5yWTgQ5goc4X0NiNsgFWmb0ihQIyyGbsyuIlsC3F4mF7T0Zmi-OgpeU2A_uoePhTgzxa-pPw7yb8fm-FPc/s1600/DSC_2565.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-c5cpWG9j45mo9t83F3NAPTk-ERpeNVed8f0CT7xjIJnyWBv7bTLnjanz5yWTgQ5goc4X0NiNsgFWmb0ihQIyyGbsyuIlsC3F4mF7T0Zmi-OgpeU2A_uoePhTgzxa-pPw7yb8fm-FPc/s400/DSC_2565.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thankful for what they receive,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgAB4FYobRGFNhV5Vdv8vqLr-4vVJ75fOo_UAzGStvMixvVwfd981VMFiqLOgomYvzc1BuGo2iF0Mpw6WdGeGc9nUE75f3W2F2MHJlDzG_1WxhoX89QGH6zRaA272y6ZVMNp_C4-ARg8/s1600/DSC_2566.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgAB4FYobRGFNhV5Vdv8vqLr-4vVJ75fOo_UAzGStvMixvVwfd981VMFiqLOgomYvzc1BuGo2iF0Mpw6WdGeGc9nUE75f3W2F2MHJlDzG_1WxhoX89QGH6zRaA272y6ZVMNp_C4-ARg8/s400/DSC_2566.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>they commune with each other,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijIxcG3hHrM-ebbC9uhJNVN9UywJ5qNWWBGi3ExI48xvVxg9Taw9Iyi0axIVlZ3A-p3TLJf5eBi_t09Jn3STXTwPLrYOHXzgKAuFhH9S4eW64cTauyMh7FaFzNkRdOX4e8bukbuEMQsQ/s1600/DSC_2567.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijIxcG3hHrM-ebbC9uhJNVN9UywJ5qNWWBGi3ExI48xvVxg9Taw9Iyi0axIVlZ3A-p3TLJf5eBi_t09Jn3STXTwPLrYOHXzgKAuFhH9S4eW64cTauyMh7FaFzNkRdOX4e8bukbuEMQsQ/s400/DSC_2567.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>with God,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIUzErJsiGSz66vMctwCAAuRw5FzmK1UrBpqFpv4dZ8GYud0DCm6Q6itlhoYqeVjD7Oml_DJmh7-8oFWNWAqlC9-jrkRazy28u_F0Vx8db7cADpXGEfk8nmu96Z1P9qjuQSG9OmXsbHI/s1600/DSC_2568.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIUzErJsiGSz66vMctwCAAuRw5FzmK1UrBpqFpv4dZ8GYud0DCm6Q6itlhoYqeVjD7Oml_DJmh7-8oFWNWAqlC9-jrkRazy28u_F0Vx8db7cADpXGEfk8nmu96Z1P9qjuQSG9OmXsbHI/s400/DSC_2568.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and for a few moments, with us.</i></div>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-69030858883902039662010-12-29T16:13:00.000-08:002010-12-29T16:13:17.566-08:00Winter is for Knitting.Okay, well, thr truth is that as far as I'm concerned, every season is for knitting.<br />
<br />
But winter is especially good for knitting because your hands don't sweat on the fiber.<br />
<br />
And knitted items make great Christmas gifts.<br />
<br />
And somebody <i>always</i> gives me a gift certificate for my favorite local yarn store.<br />
<br />
And everybody knows that yarn store gift certificates will certainly burn a hole in the pocket or bag in which they are stored if left there too long. So they have to be used quickly.<br />
<br />
I did, actually use one of my certificates today, but that's a post for another day. Today, I'm sharing pictures of the slippers I made for Riley (age 2).<br />
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I call them the Tweet-Tweet Slippers:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HCVVGLmeuVYMqUQYA__81V-rcRrHH7Aw3J3ZTfUJa-g383JFC-Il3RIdiZMWFt1rQxc8sjBktiG31LKKq8y4yMUMh3FFaIykULbav1HhjXyb_bym5IbYmaNFMzY9jK8VSOlnIWVi47s/s1600/DSC_2113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HCVVGLmeuVYMqUQYA__81V-rcRrHH7Aw3J3ZTfUJa-g383JFC-Il3RIdiZMWFt1rQxc8sjBktiG31LKKq8y4yMUMh3FFaIykULbav1HhjXyb_bym5IbYmaNFMzY9jK8VSOlnIWVi47s/s320/DSC_2113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I knitted them with a strand of Splash and a strand of Encore worsted. The splash makes a great effect for a kid-project, but it was not very fun to knit with. It's hard to see the stitches, and Lord help you if you have to rip it back for some reason.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mvt8hEmu6Y51VgZYeW8us48c4QFtLfskuHmC3_bZ6cewW0a9cDHfX0BHup-GXG6hSqXL9uMmqGNxiBjVIwZdjKMk9D8vEn6mvS9we6Ok3WZL-TLpBJfXaB0esOev4yDFQcC9COF2HSY/s1600/DSC_2114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mvt8hEmu6Y51VgZYeW8us48c4QFtLfskuHmC3_bZ6cewW0a9cDHfX0BHup-GXG6hSqXL9uMmqGNxiBjVIwZdjKMk9D8vEn6mvS9we6Ok3WZL-TLpBJfXaB0esOev4yDFQcC9COF2HSY/s320/DSC_2114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj120OCcv3Pj89jcAFiqspiaY5umet5wW1KhEWwqCvbOxD-3oWHJv01aTD3qI8YHpjexGntr9Wy-FeUB56Jg8_82WXsvs9vTPtApGGEwwFHJDPbJeyimZkhJNOvg63RWqNUMbx9z4lQg/s1600/DSC_2115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj120OCcv3Pj89jcAFiqspiaY5umet5wW1KhEWwqCvbOxD-3oWHJv01aTD3qI8YHpjexGntr9Wy-FeUB56Jg8_82WXsvs9vTPtApGGEwwFHJDPbJeyimZkhJNOvg63RWqNUMbx9z4lQg/s320/DSC_2115.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
Now I'm working on some blue dog slippers for Tyson. I had hoped to finish them this year, but the knitting is slow with the novelty yarn, and I'm quite certain that I couldn't finish them by Friday night... even if I did absolutely nothing bu knit between now and then.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-13679174852516999862010-10-14T19:08:00.000-07:002010-10-14T19:08:48.558-07:00What?I can't believe that I haven't posted here since July!<br />
<br />
Has it really been that long?<br />
<br />
Well, I guess it has something to do with me misplacing my knitting mojo.<br />
<br />
Again.<br />
<br />
I think it must have something to do with having kids. My opportunities (and desire) to knit were seriously curbed when Riley became a toddler. He was toddling all over the place, getting into everything & I needed to be alert & ready to move at any second. I had to have both hands free so I could lunge across the room & rescue Riley/the dog/the furniture/etc. from those little fingers.<br />
<br />
Now he's two, and I still need to be alert & ready to spring into action at any given moment. I still need both hands free to rescue Riley or the dog(s), but now I also need them to soothe tantrums, bring the independent determination down to a safer level and empty the little potty.<br />
<br />
Thus, my knitting is often limited to knit night. Since I am a slow knitter & knit night consists of only three or so hours, that equals very little progress to share. <br />
<br />
I had gotten out of the habit of posting progress pictures because I thought they were maybe a little boring. (You know, serving as a non-narcotic sleep aid.)<br />
<br />
But given the fact that progress is all I seem to have lately, perhaps I should reconsider. I miss my knit blog, and I miss keeping up with the blogs of other knitters.<br />
<br />
Yes, I think I shall set a goal for bloggy goodness.<br />
<br />
Henceforth, I will do my best to post some sort of knitting content to my Keowdie Knits at least once per week.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And I will hope I still have at least one or two readers left who might enjoy it!</span>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-24046495446627645682010-07-26T13:41:00.001-07:002010-07-26T13:41:43.706-07:0013 Years...A guy rang my doorbell today.<br />
<br />
It was the FedEx guy, and he brought this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEqlgvZ7OpCaoAMRWNnu20ajzGVGTGnyFCYg3JGa90-r3jZ5Kybv7IBRxB3J6SFulFb7wfGcEkNi_AERs2DOcDlN7X7_ES2eq3V_76niO5O-Wjnl-H_B_NhFcmf0RoM_2RKxPDkaZndk/s1600/DSC_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEqlgvZ7OpCaoAMRWNnu20ajzGVGTGnyFCYg3JGa90-r3jZ5Kybv7IBRxB3J6SFulFb7wfGcEkNi_AERs2DOcDlN7X7_ES2eq3V_76niO5O-Wjnl-H_B_NhFcmf0RoM_2RKxPDkaZndk/s400/DSC_0758.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hAL3A-KiP2XfPoJxx8G3nsnAHwjiI43jusG-nOMrBZDo3bgv9UvTrFdzPRoF41m3esXm5FqWyMP5qtm4-UWBleso6kN_wDCFgsptJ0iMpjRm5cs8oPwFlsGG4gqeQeS9VpcFQsfLTiw/s1600/DSC_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hAL3A-KiP2XfPoJxx8G3nsnAHwjiI43jusG-nOMrBZDo3bgv9UvTrFdzPRoF41m3esXm5FqWyMP5qtm4-UWBleso6kN_wDCFgsptJ0iMpjRm5cs8oPwFlsGG4gqeQeS9VpcFQsfLTiw/s320/DSC_0759.JPG" /></a></div>I haven't received a box like this before.<br />
<br />
This is what I found inside:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOyXnLFQM_zXRxZiv7KkSkes9cpgsEw1e1J5CZQ0mnSFmGKpDpRlD5Nhoy8VahBnga5O515d2UPHvlaS9KpexwbacFxQ1Dws9B3Z5sPo6stZ4DwUp2bTGJPKDX1DpzrVbhv5QfjH2FrY/s1600/DSC_0766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOyXnLFQM_zXRxZiv7KkSkes9cpgsEw1e1J5CZQ0mnSFmGKpDpRlD5Nhoy8VahBnga5O515d2UPHvlaS9KpexwbacFxQ1Dws9B3Z5sPo6stZ4DwUp2bTGJPKDX1DpzrVbhv5QfjH2FrY/s400/DSC_0766.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Beautiful<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVikKu5BMWAr3Zs4C6HLy7Lth6x6l7sv6tn1Bt_nEe3dofKyod2JCZYBK-kLTyl0rPvpAHHXUXWBG81lMlHTB20elIkBuSc3TBV4ebNplOySZOZKMjhvgHQS874XgdbVeW5XvKgU8d3Y/s1600/DSC_0763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVikKu5BMWAr3Zs4C6HLy7Lth6x6l7sv6tn1Bt_nEe3dofKyod2JCZYBK-kLTyl0rPvpAHHXUXWBG81lMlHTB20elIkBuSc3TBV4ebNplOySZOZKMjhvgHQS874XgdbVeW5XvKgU8d3Y/s400/DSC_0763.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Delicate (and perhaps suffering from a touch of heat exhaustion... but they're already looking peppy-er)<br />
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<br />
And the card?<br />
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13 years ago today, Matt I promised to love each other in sickness & in health, in good times & bad... as long as we both shall live.<br />
<br />
Thank you, Matt. These flowers are beautiful.<br />
<br />
I love you!Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-86118289318561427942010-07-25T02:10:00.000-07:002010-07-25T02:10:00.706-07:00RocksOne of our favorite outdoor activities is chucking rocks.<br />
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We find a place on a gravel bar where there aren't any other people. Then we wade in a bit and start letting the rocks fly. What boy (old or young) doesn't want to here the words, "Well, for pete's sake, throw that rock!" I think it's interesting to watch my boys approach this activity in their own ways.<br />
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There is some tandem wading, <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQpMaVKmmX9PmzC9P1FyRP9Eoi82hyphenhyphenqTGln6k5Au-IdHlX5_4dpu5loCE-spXyuEFYIZ6RtykM1u3-hex2iuuElLX7xbo77Ln4K0je0P3ki_oSqJu_pmRYwExclfq77alV-DJaHff3hA/s1600/DSC_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQpMaVKmmX9PmzC9P1FyRP9Eoi82hyphenhyphenqTGln6k5Au-IdHlX5_4dpu5loCE-spXyuEFYIZ6RtykM1u3-hex2iuuElLX7xbo77Ln4K0je0P3ki_oSqJu_pmRYwExclfq77alV-DJaHff3hA/s400/DSC_0569.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKvxszo9FJIEzr-rZyVJX8ZWAWMgGSxF6oR_r5rLW7k7zCXe0wY9dbN060U-m9-PtVzcgmx8KrmuNvwoQ_dRJX7VeypDrr0-Z2NhaonTAM0Jn2ZXZ8Yd3jMFgkOIpAd0w-LCWDPjx2mM/s1600/DSC_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKvxszo9FJIEzr-rZyVJX8ZWAWMgGSxF6oR_r5rLW7k7zCXe0wY9dbN060U-m9-PtVzcgmx8KrmuNvwoQ_dRJX7VeypDrr0-Z2NhaonTAM0Jn2ZXZ8Yd3jMFgkOIpAd0w-LCWDPjx2mM/s400/DSC_0607.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
...usually at first as everyone gets used to the cold river water.<br />
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And then they sort of do their own things.<br />
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Tyson enjoys the feel of the water on his feet:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_3UdyQNatNSNR3Nhnr8NKAV_Apgz8_UNu4uiFzPzFdcEx6Med5V-znDsKQXMunsZc3369GjPxHm6ENwJnY6nRN7-zgU2gSuvZ-9qoZeohOVZcZYupt0tDaMkbRqENMUhrAhU3-FD2fk/s1600/DSC_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_3UdyQNatNSNR3Nhnr8NKAV_Apgz8_UNu4uiFzPzFdcEx6Med5V-znDsKQXMunsZc3369GjPxHm6ENwJnY6nRN7-zgU2gSuvZ-9qoZeohOVZcZYupt0tDaMkbRqENMUhrAhU3-FD2fk/s400/DSC_0561.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT9_lul4dUTMj0q6_O7qj8jE_wTZO-EpD0PvMMrkVsCuvW8a0QBMrEdzJeGJegq7sbN6k0r3-6-3Hu5rspwI6wR3G91tHDfcd2f6IkLqN97TfEoBBW2ucREKXNZXcjfbDsskrS2H2QQ0/s1600/DSC_0562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT9_lul4dUTMj0q6_O7qj8jE_wTZO-EpD0PvMMrkVsCuvW8a0QBMrEdzJeGJegq7sbN6k0r3-6-3Hu5rspwI6wR3G91tHDfcd2f6IkLqN97TfEoBBW2ucREKXNZXcjfbDsskrS2H2QQ0/s320/DSC_0562.JPG" /></a></div><br />
He likes to search for interesting rocks and share them with us:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82xJ8NT_VC_Lrp3BcfdXkfuTvcEN3niDSQ1DQ5bAAJZLTRrRmWEfYFf8uSA7civC7wDPiXR1hAmqlJKB2XKIod8gEbLzSwSWD9peIibAjTc9E7HtKE7FgbXpAuhFEjpYfYrJF3xwGe0w/s1600/DSC_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82xJ8NT_VC_Lrp3BcfdXkfuTvcEN3niDSQ1DQ5bAAJZLTRrRmWEfYFf8uSA7civC7wDPiXR1hAmqlJKB2XKIod8gEbLzSwSWD9peIibAjTc9E7HtKE7FgbXpAuhFEjpYfYrJF3xwGe0w/s400/DSC_0577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
He is fascinated by the skipping of rocks, and he both loves to watch Matt & my dad...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2AFNuRjwlaRRSc8XJzGV1S_I4UvaySuvIFuPyzy5PqhrDQ6TAokKQOBs6YtqL-069yQ72Ach6FicH_1JDxpt8dQfm-F1FM6dExcXEyuKwbkP-YgKceMKAFakrdaCj7tEAbzKVS39cDc/s1600/DSC_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2AFNuRjwlaRRSc8XJzGV1S_I4UvaySuvIFuPyzy5PqhrDQ6TAokKQOBs6YtqL-069yQ72Ach6FicH_1JDxpt8dQfm-F1FM6dExcXEyuKwbkP-YgKceMKAFakrdaCj7tEAbzKVS39cDc/s400/DSC_0585.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>...and "teach" his little brother how to skip rocks:<br />
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Riley takes a completely different approach.<br />
He loves to watch the boats go by:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDegBhSRCofXHUiVXWNoOPeDk9Tpds9SEDCEGlpEtPnuIIdTlby-sEj2idAT3gJH6TzAtIMeap6_1M8frNqlreJOgZtIF0Fsn-52nUbUIjq9votrFhMt8YHQLOrqpa2GdTzbvpzC4J_c/s1600/DSC_0575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDegBhSRCofXHUiVXWNoOPeDk9Tpds9SEDCEGlpEtPnuIIdTlby-sEj2idAT3gJH6TzAtIMeap6_1M8frNqlreJOgZtIF0Fsn-52nUbUIjq9votrFhMt8YHQLOrqpa2GdTzbvpzC4J_c/s400/DSC_0575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And other than that, well, Riley just loves the<br />
<br />
pure...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTOtkp93dUGjakFr1oE0w3KDZROmZWTiDDdBbPMFfwsOOWsB72vrQdgCsudeSJ6I469dyL08qy0Ru11-UfkVBIkBDbqf5G85ia2nDjLz8K5B4cPrh3ScRcdKWq5CF5wW8nOmwjmnuoo4/s1600/DSC_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTOtkp93dUGjakFr1oE0w3KDZROmZWTiDDdBbPMFfwsOOWsB72vrQdgCsudeSJ6I469dyL08qy0Ru11-UfkVBIkBDbqf5G85ia2nDjLz8K5B4cPrh3ScRcdKWq5CF5wW8nOmwjmnuoo4/s400/DSC_0593.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-rlC9ngpL0sULIrX7cGoxAYktTmYkBFjhY_23KZECyoPOjlA4xUvH0VbQeM-s7bgIoPebguu1r83GuNrRHMWQB0HHri3NK8HAnIqvKtHL2zBX8zf87a0CzrmtBI2LicgD0Os5LbT4CE/s1600/DSC_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-rlC9ngpL0sULIrX7cGoxAYktTmYkBFjhY_23KZECyoPOjlA4xUvH0VbQeM-s7bgIoPebguu1r83GuNrRHMWQB0HHri3NK8HAnIqvKtHL2zBX8zf87a0CzrmtBI2LicgD0Os5LbT4CE/s400/DSC_0595.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>...and complete...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8vQpaK63miH1Wc8MDQH3L6K0BVf-Ia_ScssGiTe9TTL_lDq3Mkdye82NJNDOQrnB7c0cdILb3roCXblZ9e1OrPOwVSq5_M5-fz3T_iP4Vg3ckKBS3lhIkW7jlECBjoRXSh02GlLtqLo/s1600/DSC_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8vQpaK63miH1Wc8MDQH3L6K0BVf-Ia_ScssGiTe9TTL_lDq3Mkdye82NJNDOQrnB7c0cdILb3roCXblZ9e1OrPOwVSq5_M5-fz3T_iP4Vg3ckKBS3lhIkW7jlECBjoRXSh02GlLtqLo/s400/DSC_0599.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn_vpEg0BBLQilcajAFX_L4aZ0N_Wxn1GZjti5WqMGwmeUOoRvsK0Jq9psOsVrv5wKEWiaNgPM9j3obmfs_FW0SQ9OrlHnKhwyh8jaX6o-tW7B5ZcjwN_nCztrSILjTZMgCH0RGHzhkA/s1600/DSC_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn_vpEg0BBLQilcajAFX_L4aZ0N_Wxn1GZjti5WqMGwmeUOoRvsK0Jq9psOsVrv5wKEWiaNgPM9j3obmfs_FW0SQ9OrlHnKhwyh8jaX6o-tW7B5ZcjwN_nCztrSILjTZMgCH0RGHzhkA/s400/DSC_0597.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>...joy...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccsXR1YNKbKEEIQjAxPjaJQbdTj1HRCRWdzKPHZ69drPHPGlpbSNKKgKmFF9Czfq7Z6b8noBg-qquAx1d6TVLtp3AGQyKZ65TM1qZD7JkqMrxOtRqBoLLioUUWGWvkZpsDGVasnx5wmI/s1600/DSC_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccsXR1YNKbKEEIQjAxPjaJQbdTj1HRCRWdzKPHZ69drPHPGlpbSNKKgKmFF9Czfq7Z6b8noBg-qquAx1d6TVLtp3AGQyKZ65TM1qZD7JkqMrxOtRqBoLLioUUWGWvkZpsDGVasnx5wmI/s640/DSC_0598.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>...that comes from chucking rocks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeWnPDCJOaqsBsYnHKvy5mg0nT1evKGcRB0pXyySWgzVQNsj_hu-oLMkp0yTsraAz1X5EB_87FSpQfzA_ePl7S7rvOM8G0X04F07oImZ_mhMMOH2_jf_RRrHLI_dhHTRGwrNfFpMkF9g/s1600/DSC_0600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeWnPDCJOaqsBsYnHKvy5mg0nT1evKGcRB0pXyySWgzVQNsj_hu-oLMkp0yTsraAz1X5EB_87FSpQfzA_ePl7S7rvOM8G0X04F07oImZ_mhMMOH2_jf_RRrHLI_dhHTRGwrNfFpMkF9g/s400/DSC_0600.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-64002194217241998252010-07-24T01:00:00.000-07:002010-07-23T14:09:54.354-07:00The Family That Camps Together......stabs eachother with hot dog sticks.<br />
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I'm just kidding! We love camping, and every camping trip is a happy one... with no stabbing of anything other than hot dogs & marshmallows.<br />
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Summer is for relaxing, slowing down and recuperating from life's crazy pace the rest of the year. The best way we know how to unwind from the hustle & bustle is to grab the pop up trailer and head into nature.<br />
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So, what do we do while camping? Well...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEWNj1Fd4jfYW29jWN3NoinjpfjQdxWFzvOwjSEV2VAgoMh2a0a81uAk3VjZ618yjNA-YYPj_4ejLNDZ0ng79TNlAWrO0ooTs0yKWV7fBA7AukZnwvReNlO9BVZIHGL2hbG02N1tArhQ/s1600/DSC_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEWNj1Fd4jfYW29jWN3NoinjpfjQdxWFzvOwjSEV2VAgoMh2a0a81uAk3VjZ618yjNA-YYPj_4ejLNDZ0ng79TNlAWrO0ooTs0yKWV7fBA7AukZnwvReNlO9BVZIHGL2hbG02N1tArhQ/s400/DSC_0555.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>We relax. I know it looks like a whole lot of nothing, but there is some serious rejuvenation going on here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacnv3Dt2GPXOux_OsuXzOePCgnv-izBS6l4vwrXVYj4HaSQNNzm8M4SOUwMp9FFaCi7r7uqVpzBIuzSY0bwylvHdXKriVXERyB7frcAlYP41BletFf9F3wc15CWJIcMEYnh_YefKcO7g/s1600/DSC_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacnv3Dt2GPXOux_OsuXzOePCgnv-izBS6l4vwrXVYj4HaSQNNzm8M4SOUwMp9FFaCi7r7uqVpzBIuzSY0bwylvHdXKriVXERyB7frcAlYP41BletFf9F3wc15CWJIcMEYnh_YefKcO7g/s400/DSC_0478.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>We read. A lot. This is my dad. What you don't see in this picture are Matt, my step-mom, my step-grandma and myself, all reading while the boys chase bugs nearby.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUR5bECSvxY2-F06GJT8-K8zb2VzqudMRot5o4SP7wWLesMGtTGoPhalE8LdtYn1W0LIThE8kngqwe8PqzmlNzb4gh7J04hcmq2G1oZ9nMw-Y9NW2ACUqc_dDqH0sLJfnFFNp1xu7zcs/s1600/DSC_0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUR5bECSvxY2-F06GJT8-K8zb2VzqudMRot5o4SP7wWLesMGtTGoPhalE8LdtYn1W0LIThE8kngqwe8PqzmlNzb4gh7J04hcmq2G1oZ9nMw-Y9NW2ACUqc_dDqH0sLJfnFFNp1xu7zcs/s400/DSC_0474.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>We eat fabulous summer foods. Watermelon, foil dinners, hot dogs roasted over a fire and s'mores are our favorites.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriw1sVXY72xg8EvSiLTbyrigAnM6fy5-V4sADSZ6Bmly4n-gWIXLwNy3hAFVl0dIiTuT30cU_9LqkfBVKnQmTmvvJvVhgGdGE7e6xLB56CJ2lSm1QG2874PNX8b5tZWFq5_xM3XSprl0/s1600/DSC_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriw1sVXY72xg8EvSiLTbyrigAnM6fy5-V4sADSZ6Bmly4n-gWIXLwNy3hAFVl0dIiTuT30cU_9LqkfBVKnQmTmvvJvVhgGdGE7e6xLB56CJ2lSm1QG2874PNX8b5tZWFq5_xM3XSprl0/s400/DSC_0640.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And we sleep. All that fresh air makes for some tired boys and long slumbers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhpXdGlf8tydn-lfvI2emdnLSrXDyQXQPGZSSgYpaPPGDDWB4x_1BltIoOGF5DmnP6319I99WEhGzxlUj6EjuxImRsarRHqMkIxIQQ8GoWOlBevWvnlFSJwn8wHsuyzc3onA4EjpNPwk/s1600/DSC_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhpXdGlf8tydn-lfvI2emdnLSrXDyQXQPGZSSgYpaPPGDDWB4x_1BltIoOGF5DmnP6319I99WEhGzxlUj6EjuxImRsarRHqMkIxIQQ8GoWOlBevWvnlFSJwn8wHsuyzc3onA4EjpNPwk/s400/DSC_0639.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And yes, sometimes one of those tired boys leaves the campfire (on his own) to commence with the slumber... with unbrushed teeth and s'mores still on his cheek.<br />
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We also enjoy chucking rocks, but you'll have to come back tomorrow to find out what that looks like.<br />
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What do you do to relax in the summertime?Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-66401392582762580722010-07-23T14:04:00.000-07:002010-07-23T14:04:57.111-07:00Journey to the Center of the EarthOkay, we didn't go <i>all the way to the center,</i> but we were pretty deep:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic94KYwlgoQ5g80LrqsahZAooK95ZAo4otqwTTK2z0nBUax2sduXSNL8d-eeqAT98bpZcsrqH6hfEHKMbPqlhTgRyDzGZV-Z1SEX4IApcIG0IhezUoGbL4Aub8zidr61z9epyAYU7_8M/s1600/DSC_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic94KYwlgoQ5g80LrqsahZAooK95ZAo4otqwTTK2z0nBUax2sduXSNL8d-eeqAT98bpZcsrqH6hfEHKMbPqlhTgRyDzGZV-Z1SEX4IApcIG0IhezUoGbL4Aub8zidr61z9epyAYU7_8M/s400/DSC_0518.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Last weekend, we went camping at <a href="http://www.mostateparks.com/onondaga.htm">Onondaga Cave State Park</a>, in Leasburg, MO. This was our second trip to this particular park, and this time we decided to take the tour of the cave.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-Pybx5vFj_OJ_lJF3hH7alezN8OpwqA2Dy8ioDS4v38bsJDbxfefGMxvNaYM3FNkOk7-bfMaRl_n-W0CCliAR5R4pAD437G8mKiZXFWiRWh3Qqq8QIWkqGMMYBzAHMcBPi02G8EnmUQ/s1600/DSC_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-Pybx5vFj_OJ_lJF3hH7alezN8OpwqA2Dy8ioDS4v38bsJDbxfefGMxvNaYM3FNkOk7-bfMaRl_n-W0CCliAR5R4pAD437G8mKiZXFWiRWh3Qqq8QIWkqGMMYBzAHMcBPi02G8EnmUQ/s400/DSC_0535.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The tour was 90 minutes, and took us very deep under the park. Despite the fact that I'm not crazy about small places, and I might be a <strike>complete sissy</strike> little afraid of the dark, I love cave tours.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9d1eMoOYGwpovtHVV1eZfW69HpHy6hStFCA90BNb22e62m2fxjpzU4WjiOJ8NznvYdwrA6CmntSyG0C4S-Htka3vJgh-hBaWtLJmi7YjsLBjtYBxsi6SyZjTSh3dx5D7N-FzRWrGQrs/s1600/DSC_0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9d1eMoOYGwpovtHVV1eZfW69HpHy6hStFCA90BNb22e62m2fxjpzU4WjiOJ8NznvYdwrA6CmntSyG0C4S-Htka3vJgh-hBaWtLJmi7YjsLBjtYBxsi6SyZjTSh3dx5D7N-FzRWrGQrs/s400/DSC_0544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I love nature. I love anything that has to do with the outdoors (or in this case, the most natural of "indoors" possible).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux5s715PikjmxGArrZQ6EwZgAo7tvb2EmoakSpnVFhg4JeExQjc3e9NAAoVk7M27tXfAoR5Jl4y8BC_r_Q0P5OqL63qIJezwxuj_4WVnkatEg6vE4JNZcI17EJu3LCW2F7aXlHZ2Wyoc/s1600/DSC_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux5s715PikjmxGArrZQ6EwZgAo7tvb2EmoakSpnVFhg4JeExQjc3e9NAAoVk7M27tXfAoR5Jl4y8BC_r_Q0P5OqL63qIJezwxuj_4WVnkatEg6vE4JNZcI17EJu3LCW2F7aXlHZ2Wyoc/s400/DSC_0523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>My love of the outdoors is closely related to my relationship with God.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTAUcEl36ekMse8mhccPB1eW2scnOrmSzR-pRrz7v6t9qbWGaZnSeZJx7r2VQgcSZlrbMWMW1gZVmn2o_5sIgopQDzA9Y7S0Og2OVXqTbg8TgfTrgDb9PON5YDprm6nnJ459fyq7qJ9k/s1600/DSC_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTAUcEl36ekMse8mhccPB1eW2scnOrmSzR-pRrz7v6t9qbWGaZnSeZJx7r2VQgcSZlrbMWMW1gZVmn2o_5sIgopQDzA9Y7S0Og2OVXqTbg8TgfTrgDb9PON5YDprm6nnJ459fyq7qJ9k/s400/DSC_0484.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>When I am out, in the parts of the world that have hardly been touched by humanity, I feel the closest to Him. I feel free to marvel at His power, His grace, His love.<br />
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I love that He put in us ~ as part of our humanness ~ curiosity, wonder, and appreciation for beauty. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l7WDwPd25DhZgn31mCD6FAG83cUir5ZMdkv8-4J-sKFwn_PXCV3kDQQNY1BxJDU7jcF0CSs5OVSvSXO2OtL-e7EhkRyoQWQSak5HPIvPNa2-47w04C5zgYFNFnOB3FE-kP96FABruf8/s1600/DSC_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0l7WDwPd25DhZgn31mCD6FAG83cUir5ZMdkv8-4J-sKFwn_PXCV3kDQQNY1BxJDU7jcF0CSs5OVSvSXO2OtL-e7EhkRyoQWQSak5HPIvPNa2-47w04C5zgYFNFnOB3FE-kP96FABruf8/s400/DSC_0539.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I think that when God created this earth, He delighted in leaving for us interesting places to explore...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfQg5IfcDwtHM_4t8I65v3SzYA733Ic7K8GJks1BaEh_jBNLAEty6bWC0oSht1YQ6bAM3g7zhanCbLhvc6v0Cyt2KJoJ5Nw9_8SrtqLgXY7SLdBvYz9BXWX3i5Yva6s4cehPS0uFmsYU/s1600/DSC_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfQg5IfcDwtHM_4t8I65v3SzYA733Ic7K8GJks1BaEh_jBNLAEty6bWC0oSht1YQ6bAM3g7zhanCbLhvc6v0Cyt2KJoJ5Nw9_8SrtqLgXY7SLdBvYz9BXWX3i5Yva6s4cehPS0uFmsYU/s400/DSC_0536.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>...interesting treasures to discover...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Ei8pfyq4TEz4xixsz-y1kuom3G9WvcXVR_WgAHXEDxvIp_LL2sbik7CQrGOzZ0piM7ZTwJIpkSv_rBlnt8ppNIHIOkrWVqvqhqx4LDJcHHkaebGNlORosmro-i8IU0pkbmVxQyAXTE/s1600/DSC_0546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4Ei8pfyq4TEz4xixsz-y1kuom3G9WvcXVR_WgAHXEDxvIp_LL2sbik7CQrGOzZ0piM7ZTwJIpkSv_rBlnt8ppNIHIOkrWVqvqhqx4LDJcHHkaebGNlORosmro-i8IU0pkbmVxQyAXTE/s400/DSC_0546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>...hints of His power...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDQLpKTH6an8L8wraa_I0ZV1Wxgp9QXS2S90QQ5Gt65MErAkUQgOjfQdR6Xbj2_bN6sWXKqrNIKYUJKl-l-Qckb2dNWL7UEQvssuKcvpz9IUa-qsI3LjJiXgT3_uu_xkTX6q_paH6V4c/s1600/DSC_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDQLpKTH6an8L8wraa_I0ZV1Wxgp9QXS2S90QQ5Gt65MErAkUQgOjfQdR6Xbj2_bN6sWXKqrNIKYUJKl-l-Qckb2dNWL7UEQvssuKcvpz9IUa-qsI3LjJiXgT3_uu_xkTX6q_paH6V4c/s400/DSC_0543.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>...and beauty to stand in awe of.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH5iEPoGhR7t9_RtJMyRS6pbGMF1Uhx6bgOfFmFqwcU6_iMPhTd1cfcx2yyrEX7PZ6s4myc9M3ndKNKLW3FpOL5P3j2F_o_y0VSDi_Vd_IFRoy0-szz82EbQVInN-Jb2d1pIRz_fPhjI/s1600/DSC_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH5iEPoGhR7t9_RtJMyRS6pbGMF1Uhx6bgOfFmFqwcU6_iMPhTd1cfcx2yyrEX7PZ6s4myc9M3ndKNKLW3FpOL5P3j2F_o_y0VSDi_Vd_IFRoy0-szz82EbQVInN-Jb2d1pIRz_fPhjI/s400/DSC_0490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I found comfort in that big, dark space.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuHfKJU4kxEHSl8bjbNDcYYtExu8TZkUxQRXWpa6XDdRU8QLytfJGBMgyJRNu2gXj765Pr1KcncQS-RD6aoebo_9d_Hukj4g9MlH8FCEHlOj5Yilr0v-KTT5bE1uuo_jF4NdSRRNDrfY/s1600/DSC_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuHfKJU4kxEHSl8bjbNDcYYtExu8TZkUxQRXWpa6XDdRU8QLytfJGBMgyJRNu2gXj765Pr1KcncQS-RD6aoebo_9d_Hukj4g9MlH8FCEHlOj5Yilr0v-KTT5bE1uuo_jF4NdSRRNDrfY/s400/DSC_0500.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Because looking at these wonders, I was faced with the reality that God has always been here...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5pzpJPe7fcXPXlK2P78EvlO9qkBWecmNbVOsaFm8ZO2dyLihvCsDIcWTdC7cjweIiaTnB-Lq6Sgkg3gcJsulBvdPeG2fzZOcVOGlBP4PiSn5ywII8K_09twLtqW3gttWZH1wqKBYBb0/s1600/DSC_0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5pzpJPe7fcXPXlK2P78EvlO9qkBWecmNbVOsaFm8ZO2dyLihvCsDIcWTdC7cjweIiaTnB-Lq6Sgkg3gcJsulBvdPeG2fzZOcVOGlBP4PiSn5ywII8K_09twLtqW3gttWZH1wqKBYBb0/s400/DSC_0547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>...and that He left his footprint, this beautiful reality of His power & might, for us to find.<br />
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And I'm certain that as I delighted in each new sight, He delighted in my curiosity, awe, and appreciation of the beauty He put there.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-91640580491845707322010-06-29T13:38:00.001-07:002010-06-29T13:38:31.646-07:00Knit-serverance Pays Off... MaybeI have been knitting the same "quick" project for what seems like for. ev. er.<br />
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It's a baby sweater for a friend. The baby was born a while ago and I am still knitting this sweater. In all fairness to the sweater, this particular version is not the first of it's kind here. This one is actually my third, <i>third</i> attempt.<br />
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The first time I cast on too many stitches. Okay, that was my fault for trying to cast on, watch TV, and prevent a cranky two-year-old from destroying the <strike>world as we know it </strike> house, all at the same time.<br />
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The second time I cast on the right number of stitches, but I neglected to swatch. The <strike>dreadful</strike> thing was nearly 7 inches long before I realized that my gauge was horribly off, and that sweater would probably have fit a preschooler. I'm all for making baby knits that babies can grow into, but I like for that to happen before they start kindergarten.<br />
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I have finally finished the body...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrDmdjikWS55jIXAGyh9oCUMDiYCn4UjxJuyKDULjVtpvXvFArLTKy2nhDnBKt7USN7eKn7agr6bxDPQEmnts9kyZ1ljhJnwWNG1MnnrBkY6u9FIk2jAWFElyY-yzDJifSHid-xL80GY/s1600/DSC_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrDmdjikWS55jIXAGyh9oCUMDiYCn4UjxJuyKDULjVtpvXvFArLTKy2nhDnBKt7USN7eKn7agr6bxDPQEmnts9kyZ1ljhJnwWNG1MnnrBkY6u9FIk2jAWFElyY-yzDJifSHid-xL80GY/s320/DSC_0313.JPG" /></a></div><br />
It's a little wonky, I know... but it is knit beginning at the bottom of the front side, up, over the shoulders, and down the back side.<br />
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And I picked up the stitches for the sleeve:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IMVG1T8bf6MdsfSAT2htC8xgoPXczW8craH8zyhjGwDX14OymyIWwfNs-d9BQ3Moj8-ArbfGUgBdP0hNS4p-Ik4xQhtaKhPoWFSkRDuJhRqHUwuiAo5YdkfmmD7lxXZRriEMCH2a1PI/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IMVG1T8bf6MdsfSAT2htC8xgoPXczW8craH8zyhjGwDX14OymyIWwfNs-d9BQ3Moj8-ArbfGUgBdP0hNS4p-Ik4xQhtaKhPoWFSkRDuJhRqHUwuiAo5YdkfmmD7lxXZRriEMCH2a1PI/s400/DSC_0314.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>This was no easy task, since even though I swatched and got gauge, <strike>it lied as gauge swatches tend to do because they are pointless and evil</strike> my gauge is off anyway. This sweater is still too big, which made the measurements for the picking up of the sleeve stitches way off.<br />
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Argh! I did a little knitmath (ugh...) and I think it's going to work. Of course, it did involve math, so there is a chance that this sweater will only fit a baby that is shaped like a bowling ball with pencils for arms. Whether it does or does not, I will finish this <strike>stupid</strike> precious sweater soon. I need to get this thing off the needles. <i>Need</i>.<br />
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In my frustration, and with a road trip coming up this weekend, I might have caught a small case of startitis. There is a chance that I might have sort of cast on a pair of socks...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvZLZySO7Lymgg5Wlnaw_6KWhuaGRTXOf16MnXNndvnCGWdpF-5lCClsrFgU_UM12SGUaYRQo7qF80cM_fhH4OubwGJXsVCpy3hSsbJGbaXHioBbucp-oS6vgag4mTFK05M0EfornY9Y/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvZLZySO7Lymgg5Wlnaw_6KWhuaGRTXOf16MnXNndvnCGWdpF-5lCClsrFgU_UM12SGUaYRQo7qF80cM_fhH4OubwGJXsVCpy3hSsbJGbaXHioBbucp-oS6vgag4mTFK05M0EfornY9Y/s400/DSC_0315.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>This was another risky move. This particular yarn has been started into four other pairs of socks, and has been ripped back each and every time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzN-CpRV7ZlIdD_vQDBOPUgJB2XKulc_98OFZz-7sTzTqwQRzoonBY6QLHr6fopL1gUunPYwhEqt3qnIPeNz2B0mKlRopyKSeXzi-g2BRHYFAOwQrY6uNWhZO2XpY7m_Vt4kkYWU7N8g/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzN-CpRV7ZlIdD_vQDBOPUgJB2XKulc_98OFZz-7sTzTqwQRzoonBY6QLHr6fopL1gUunPYwhEqt3qnIPeNz2B0mKlRopyKSeXzi-g2BRHYFAOwQrY6uNWhZO2XpY7m_Vt4kkYWU7N8g/s400/DSC_0316.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> The colorway is lovely, but the changes come up so quickly that I'm having a hard time finding a pattern to compliment it. So, the four failed attempts were really due to my own pickiness. That, or this yarn is cursed.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-15082507973906089852010-06-06T10:14:00.000-07:002010-06-06T10:14:47.271-07:00In Which Keowdie Dreams...Since I finished the Bible in 90 Days (...in <b>143 days</b>... ahem.) I've been looking through my book shelves for books to read. I've got a couple of new ones to read, but they are all pretty long, and... well, I just don't think I'm ready to commit to another long read yet.<br />
<br />
So. I'm re-reading some of my favorites. Last night, I spen about an hour reading this book before bed:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWZ5_A2f2wOhN0SCKxUeWnYeauO1gsTTIje5nGZ-jUk6zfJ_vHvWhU_Pm_r1FL6tpsZ5KnAMQkBk5IUTkQs3gGtaonvM5m2WGF-QYPEu0ETata5VA2rgd9gynfIRX-ln4on8KRJP2H6b2/s1600/51aQzLBNgwL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWZ5_A2f2wOhN0SCKxUeWnYeauO1gsTTIje5nGZ-jUk6zfJ_vHvWhU_Pm_r1FL6tpsZ5KnAMQkBk5IUTkQs3gGtaonvM5m2WGF-QYPEu0ETata5VA2rgd9gynfIRX-ln4on8KRJP2H6b2/s320/51aQzLBNgwL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't "click to look inside," by the way. That came with the image I copied & pasted from <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Pearl-McPhee-Casts-Off-Knitting/dp/1580176585"></a>. </span><br />
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Anyway, the past part I read was her brief story about the woman who knitted plastic grocery bag strips into bags.<br />
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And then I had vivid, colorful dreams about knitting bags from bags all night long.<br />
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I really must be more careful about what I read before bed. Maybe I'll crack open that new Stephen King novel after all.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-38716050236231402862010-06-03T13:27:00.000-07:002010-06-03T13:27:07.490-07:00Happy Summer!Summer vacation is finally here. This means homeschooling with the boys, a (hopefully) large garden and lots (& lots & lots) of time for knitting! Also, it means that a few of my creative monkeys can be used for writing blogposts.<br />
<br />
It's an odd paradox for me. When I was self employed & had much more time on my hands, my knitting tended to drop off in the summer months. If you've ever been to St. Louis in July, you know why. It's hot. It's humid. It''s not at all uncommon to have many consecutive days with highs in the upper 90's and humidity at 80%. That doesn't exactly make one long for wool. Or cotton. The only thing those conditions make a person long for is a pool (we don't have one) and a cold, fruity drink (alcohol optional).<br />
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But now that I am employed by a local school district, just about the only time I have for knitting is during the summer. There's no stress from work. There is a lot more free time. These are things that make me <i>want</i> to knit! Even if the air conditioner has been running all day and the shingles on my roof are melting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this last week alone I've made more progress on the baby vest I'm knitting that I did in the last month of school. It's a gift. A gift for a baby. A gift for a baby who is now nearly a month old. That's okay. It's never too late to welcome someone to the world! Here's what I've got so far:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTjzR7t3F1TNIsmBUTaXTcQHO7FDMukdtBCCqo-Is5mHmszz4ZBf-AsB3F7DBxdK1QYvGFJXYabIU22IzPROoLFYkf6svKNwptRbaT5B58kDc-t9i8ZnX7kJLadGGhSEndAAWq6MEGFC3/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTjzR7t3F1TNIsmBUTaXTcQHO7FDMukdtBCCqo-Is5mHmszz4ZBf-AsB3F7DBxdK1QYvGFJXYabIU22IzPROoLFYkf6svKNwptRbaT5B58kDc-t9i8ZnX7kJLadGGhSEndAAWq6MEGFC3/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" /></a></div>I know. It doesn't look like much right now. I had the hardest time <strike>figuring out this completely wonky pattern </strike>wrapping my brain around the general workings of this unique pattern. This is my third attempt at this pattern. The first problem I had was that the pattern called for "Number 10 needles." So, although this seemed awfully big for a baby sweater, I hauled out my US 10's. Three quarters of the way up the front I realized that this sweater would fit <i>my</i> baby. <b>My baby is two years old.</b> So, I hit Ravelry & found that most people had knit this pattern on 4's and 3's. I ended up on US 5's. Then there were other issues. I couldn't find the instructions for knitting the back. I couldn't figure out how I was supposed to attach the left front yolk. I wasn't really understanding the sleeves from just skimming over the pattern.<br />
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Then, yesterday, the light bulb went on, the heavens opened and angelic choirs sang a perfect G-major chord. I realized that I knit <i>up</i> the front, cast on a bunch of stitches for the back neck, attached the two sides at the shoulders, and am now knitting <i>down</i> the back. I think the sleeves start with picked up stitches & are knit <i>down</i> from the shoulder as well, although I'm not there yet, so I'm not entirely sure.<br />
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This is what it looks like if I fold it at the shoulders:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tdjuBNrGar6YflY6RV3ir4vwJnp5tX-KyUdnes3Qx04ozvSbznUSeBjdaL-55vo4kfCvOMArOdCgqF3kFA5QFjqHuyodDCQFs33zQu6IrZbEzBLiy8TmwQmbDhysLL-zDsOXmTnt3EJu/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tdjuBNrGar6YflY6RV3ir4vwJnp5tX-KyUdnes3Qx04ozvSbznUSeBjdaL-55vo4kfCvOMArOdCgqF3kFA5QFjqHuyodDCQFs33zQu6IrZbEzBLiy8TmwQmbDhysLL-zDsOXmTnt3EJu/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" /></a></div>It still looks like an amoeba. But an amoeba that resembles a sweater. Sort of. If you squint at it. A lot.<br />
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This is what it is supposed to look like:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm3QGY14UdCP3OTf-kQt9zJzr6WxS763YE0K8pPlMEGKM0JJgO2bg-GaETVE-SK2mt8qcxjtTTVBaLl4pxW_gulVODgcbffcYaLolSTdBF0jmJu5cTzsj2VnYZEYdop2f7fWEmclwG6xl/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm3QGY14UdCP3OTf-kQt9zJzr6WxS763YE0K8pPlMEGKM0JJgO2bg-GaETVE-SK2mt8qcxjtTTVBaLl4pxW_gulVODgcbffcYaLolSTdBF0jmJu5cTzsj2VnYZEYdop2f7fWEmclwG6xl/s320/DSC_0077.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, if I get frustrated with this <strike>wonky</strike> pattern, I can always work on a sand dollar for Riley's blanket that was supposed to be done by Christmas...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDb7TjZvCST6nVpZEqqkQR9ijX6yqa-xFvY0FNPJEuBjjq5klrDEZWFevKgFPvqsVBuM62Fmc-psZseWaNUjYeEJYPQIzB4Fp62HZ-0UVBAu5TBYieYu3I7LTF8gj7JAbAU-CRdbNwMAk/s1600/DSC_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDb7TjZvCST6nVpZEqqkQR9ijX6yqa-xFvY0FNPJEuBjjq5klrDEZWFevKgFPvqsVBuM62Fmc-psZseWaNUjYeEJYPQIzB4Fp62HZ-0UVBAu5TBYieYu3I7LTF8gj7JAbAU-CRdbNwMAk/s320/DSC_0079.JPG" /></a></div>I'll be posting much more frequently now that I'm knitting more. And now that all my creative monkeys aren't completely preoccupied with writing songs about money, letter sounds and toilet training. It's hard to write blog posts when all your creative resources are focused on work.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-41974523035213210282010-04-09T18:39:00.000-07:002010-04-09T18:39:38.648-07:00The Illusive FOFO's are very rare creatures in this part of the knitosphere. They can be quite illusive and may be difficult to spot. This particular specimen is quite intriguing, as it took a ridiculous amount of time to emerge from it's natural habitat (the knitting bag). Some in this region even speculated that it had curled up and died inside its bag, but, alas, it has emerged!<br />
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Moving very cautiously, my team and I were able to get close enough to actually take a photo of this rare find.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58j77Xwb1WYeV5Bu5Pf8J1SMteZuu7kc2QiMHId_UF96nKOF3_8BRnwAnpTaMRkXP0nDKci14vAH0hn2fYzFFvqCj1pGRcFfAJaSG85AJctg-Rc71l24LHJMLHxZ4w1E0A3SGAsOz_C64/s1600/right+mitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58j77Xwb1WYeV5Bu5Pf8J1SMteZuu7kc2QiMHId_UF96nKOF3_8BRnwAnpTaMRkXP0nDKci14vAH0hn2fYzFFvqCj1pGRcFfAJaSG85AJctg-Rc71l24LHJMLHxZ4w1E0A3SGAsOz_C64/s1600/right+mitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58j77Xwb1WYeV5Bu5Pf8J1SMteZuu7kc2QiMHId_UF96nKOF3_8BRnwAnpTaMRkXP0nDKci14vAH0hn2fYzFFvqCj1pGRcFfAJaSG85AJctg-Rc71l24LHJMLHxZ4w1E0A3SGAsOz_C64/s320/right+mitt.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58dZIkZLGhiICSIHkhJawtzpqviw0mHRT2fHVzzlYvc9ErOYalzfu6e4k_7HNQV2zh-jWlyTiu-B4riK7KqVjS18RuXqQAk3KmB4Ejn1AhpusGFVr1pykBP7BXE9FX4yFPV4WljjO-y-U/s1600/left+mitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58dZIkZLGhiICSIHkhJawtzpqviw0mHRT2fHVzzlYvc9ErOYalzfu6e4k_7HNQV2zh-jWlyTiu-B4riK7KqVjS18RuXqQAk3KmB4Ejn1AhpusGFVr1pykBP7BXE9FX4yFPV4WljjO-y-U/s320/left+mitt.jpg" /></a><br />
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You can see how the stripes on this magnificent creature do not match bilaterally. This asymmetrical display may be related to some mating ritual, although we cannot be certain without further study.<br />
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Here are some additional observations we were able to make:<br />
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<b>Name</b>: Granville Mitts (So named for Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia - where the wool was originally found)<br />
<b>Pattern</b>: Kid Merino Fingerless Gloves by Cathy Campbell <br />
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<b>Yarn</b>: Maiwa (hand spun)<br />
<b>Needles</b>: 1.5 DPN<br />
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I'm pretty happy with the way these turned out. The stripes are meant to be random and mismatched. I am quite certain they will improve my performance at work next winter (since it is very difficult to play a guitar with fingers that are frozen stiff!) The only problem I have to solve is the scratchiness. Yes, it's wool, and sometimes wool is scratchy. But, ya'll, I have to tell you these things could be used as a means of torture at Guantanamo. It's like wearing a hair shirt from the middle ages. It's like wearing a pair of porcupines... <i>inside out</i>! I'm thinking a good washing & a dip in some Soak might help. If that doesn't work I will attempt to line them with some soft, stretchy fabric. <br />
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I am so happy to finally have these off the needles! I finished them just in time for 80 degree temps! I started them in December... just before I lost my knitting mojo. Well, it was partly a missing mojo, and partly because the Bible in 90 Days started January 1. The challenge involves a lot of reading, which meant cutting back on a few other activities... activities like reading other books, watching TV, knitting and showering. (I'm kidding about that last one!) Despite giving up so many other activities, I am actually on day 97, and I'm still in the book of Mark. But I'm still trucking along.<br />
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And, since the reading is so much quicker and easier now, I went ahead and cast on for a baby knit. (No, I'm not having a baby.) It's for a friend who is expecting her first. I'll post some pictures of it soon.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-46620120427948332542010-03-29T19:46:00.001-07:002010-03-29T19:46:35.915-07:00A Toddler, a Tub and a Tur....It rarely happens, but with Littles, there is an occasional... um accident... in the tub. In fact, it happened just this evening. So here are my steps to taking care of the situation:<br />
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<ol><li>Get everybody OUT OF THE TUB! As quickly and calmly as possible. <i>Please do avoid gagging, shrieking and general freak-out behaviors.</i></li>
<li>Calm toddler, who is nearing hysterics at the horror he is experiencing over his accidental, um... deposit. Wrap in a towel and hold close while making "shushing" sounds.</li>
<li>At the same time, calm seven year old who is nearing hysterics at the horror of being in the tub during the accidental pooping. Reassure him that <i>nobody ever died from a little poo.</i></li>
<li>Once everyone is relatively calm, put the toddler into a diaper and have the seven year old put on some undies. (Wait. Strike that. I was strictly informed this evening that boys do not wear "undies.") Decide that this is definitely blog-worthy.</li>
<li>Get children involved in playing or looking at books. Go to kitchen to get paper towels and disposable shopping bag. <b>Trust me. Do not skip this step</b>. Consider whether to grab camera... blog posts are always better with photos, right. Decide against it. Probably too graphic.</li>
<li>Return to bathroom. Assess damage. Procrastinate using one of the following strategies:</li>
<ol><li>Call husband (who is conveniently out for the evening)</li>
<li>Tweet commentary on the incident (in 140 characters or less)</li>
<li>Check email on iphone. Email friend about incident.</li>
<li>Run out of "legitimate" reasons to avoid the bathtub.</li>
</ol><li>Steel yourself for what comes next. Submerge hand in water to pull the plug. Shudder. </li>
<li>Pull out toys and place in tub-toy keeper. (See WFMW for more on this.) Shudder <i>again</i>.</li>
<li>Wait for water to finish draining. Briefly consider whether it might be easier to set tub on fire... Scrap that idea on the grounds that the insurance agent would not likely understand.</li>
<li>Use paper towels to pick up the... offensive deposit. NOTE: You will be tempted to use toilet paper, but <b>I strongly urge you to use paper towels</b>. The tub will be wet; the poo will be wet. Toilet paper does not hold up in very wet situations (<span style="font-size: x-small;">unless it's that very thick, scratchy notebook-paper-type stuff they use in public school restrooms</span>). Trust me. Use the paper towels. Place the um... waste... in the bag. Shudder again.</li>
<li>Take bag out to garbage can; grab cleaning bucket on your way back to the bathroom.</li>
<li>Check on children. </li>
<li>Return to bathroom knowing that the worst part is now behind you. Scrub (and I do mean <b><i>scrub</i></b>) contaminated bathtub with Scrubbing Bubbles, Kaboom! and bleach. Please be sure to rinse after each chemical so as not to fill your house with toxic fumes (even though you might wish for a little something to take the edge off right about now...)</li>
<li>Repeat scrubbing. Seriously. It might not be necessary, but you'll feel better.</li>
<li>Start shower, gather children and put them back in shower. Reassure toddler who is less than excited about returning to the scene of the crime.</li>
<li>Give everyone a good scrubbing. (Ignore temptation to use bleach and steel wool.) This part should be <b>quick</b> and as <b>happy</b> as possible. Try singing a song.</li>
<li>Remove children from shower - use <i>clean</i> towels to dry children. Don jammies and settle in for a bit of extra snuggling.</li>
<li>Place children in bed. Pray, give kisses, turn lights out. Return to bathrrom. Realize that as long as you've got the cleaning bucket out you might as well give the whole bathroom a once over. </li>
<li>Gather all towels. Consider starting a bonfire in the back yard. Think better of it as the fire department would likely not understand. Start a load of towels (even though it's not towel day), being sure to use extra hot water and non-chlorine bleach if you've got it.</li>
<li>Collapse into chair. Knit. Or read. Or blog about the entire experience in very graphic detail.</li>
</ol>And since blog posts are, in fact, better with photos, I will share with you this photo I took this evening...<i> post cleaning</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWU-Qh_Mg9phS5jY7IyK_dvPjQQSKwOL4gtLbZccwx7qSl4EM3KYKnG9x4wr8e2K_BkdMXuxvOxvhhy1bER-ZINcLCJps2SaZNtzgcVbhkCtGtRP2dmJK4TFRkJGQxPlJrwzR-Qd9Hlo/s1600/tub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWU-Qh_Mg9phS5jY7IyK_dvPjQQSKwOL4gtLbZccwx7qSl4EM3KYKnG9x4wr8e2K_BkdMXuxvOxvhhy1bER-ZINcLCJps2SaZNtzgcVbhkCtGtRP2dmJK4TFRkJGQxPlJrwzR-Qd9Hlo/s320/tub.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shiny! (and completely poo-free!)</span></div>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-29710368993006493182010-03-27T20:31:00.000-07:002010-03-27T20:31:00.340-07:00Secret Decoder Ring...Remember the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085334/">A Christmas Story</a>? Remember how Ralphie ran home from school every day to check the mailbox? How he waited with bated breath for his Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Ring?<br />
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I've been just like Ralphie for the last 11 days.<br />
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Every day I race home from work to check the mail & see if the thing I've been waiting for has come.<br />
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Every day for 10 days I was disappointed.<br />
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And yesterday, on the 11th day, it was there. In my mailbox. We were very excited.<br />
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Hmm? What's that, darling? Oh! You're wondering what on Earth could be so exciting?<br />
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This:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF4zWdQ1eQYMBs1n-PyvKD7TdXeoQGHNholxj_lzEHXarNXE5dE6WpvsjjyKqxuFaazhf1PYeeTs-RJIBqYPPzdvdrhC9bJ0nxEX5hXDHqcLcAiI1-9SX1znLq70sExRY9CwKms1wr9A/s1600/Compassion+packet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF4zWdQ1eQYMBs1n-PyvKD7TdXeoQGHNholxj_lzEHXarNXE5dE6WpvsjjyKqxuFaazhf1PYeeTs-RJIBqYPPzdvdrhC9bJ0nxEX5hXDHqcLcAiI1-9SX1znLq70sExRY9CwKms1wr9A/s400/Compassion+packet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is our new sponsor packet from <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/waystosponsor/ChildSearch.htm">Compassion International.</a><br />
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I posted a link to this fantastic organization a few weeks ago. I heard about them when <a href="http://www.wearethatfamily.com/">this blogger</a> and <a href="http://www.mycharmingkids.net/">this blogger</a> went on a fascinating journey called Blogging Through Kenya. I watched their journey through terribly impoverished areas. I read the stories (and watched the videos) of young adults who were sponsored as children, and the difference their sponsors made in their lives. I studied their photos of the landscape, the conditions and - most importantly - the faces. The children, living in slums, hungry, and... smiling. <br />
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My heart was moved. I wanted to do something. <i>How could I not</i>? I saw those faces, the hope... and I was moved. Matt & I talked at length. He had all kinds of very logical, manly questions. Why help a child in some other country & not one in the U.S.? How do you know this is a reputable organization? What percentage of the money we send monthly goes to actually helping the child? (It's a little above 80%, by the way, which is a high percentage for international aid.) I anticipated these questions, and had done my homework. I also prayed for my husband's heart to be moved the same way mine had.<br />
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And so, we decided that we would sponsor a child. God has blessed us. We felt compelled to give something back. So, we went to the<a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=105833"> Compassion International</a> website to find a child to sponsor. I must admit that this part was a challenge. How could we choose just one? Also, it felt... odd... to look through all those photos of children in need. It felt a little like "shopping" for a child. But we prayed for God to show us which child He would have us support. We knew we wanted to sponsor a child who is about the same age as Tyson. We knew we wanted to sponsor a child from a relatively small family so that we could be sure to send enough stickers, etc. for all the children in the family to share. We hoped to find a child who's profile would suggest that we could find something in common, something to share.<br />
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And then we saw her. Her name is Michelle. She is seven years old. She loves to sing. How perfect is that? When I looked at her eyes, I couldn't help but think that I was looking at an "old soul." We felt pulled to sponsor her. And so we did. And I waited with bated breath for the new sponsor packet so that we could send her our first letter.<br />
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So, what does it mean to sponsor a child through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/waystosponsor/ChildSearch.htm">Compassion</a>?<br />
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Sponsorship means sending $38.00 per month to Compassion, who in turn sends it to the mission project in that child's community. The workers in that community act as case managers. They work with the child's family to determine what is needed. Food, clothing, a home, vocational training for the parents, etc. In addition to this monetary support, we also get to send letters to our child. Our plan is to mail her a letter, plus photos, pictures from Ty & Riley, stickers, etc. once each month. As sponsors we are encouraged to share with Michelle encouragement, stories of our faith and prayer requests. The program is one of discipleship, and although the children and their parents are never required to choose a walk with Christ, they are given opportunities to attend church, learn about Christ, and develop a relationship with him if they choose to do so. We started raying for Michelle and her family the same night we made our commitment.<br />
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There are many opportunities to help this organization improve the lives of these children. From one time gifts, to child sponsorship, to being a correspondence sponsor (which means you sponsor a child with encouraging letters), Compassion makes it easy to make a real difference in the life of a real person. A real child. I hope that you will visit their <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=105833">website</a>. I hope that you will pray. I hope that you might be moved, as we were, to give something of ourselves to help a child in a place where help is so scarce.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-71962112057630334272010-03-26T21:23:00.003-07:002010-03-26T21:23:53.993-07:00Turning Two!On Wednesday, my Baby...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wQdBrsoUrrFipilOVfxpZ2uF_uEBCEknfaUQAHr0YR8B_bZGACLGfgNZZw9nSDo1TT_k6u6Q1PbiobfktyXJ8GfR5CgHjIQBAm6_0vvSXcfd0GBf2vqslkYmlEhwsZb7WS2K3f7xLZY/s1600/Riley+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wQdBrsoUrrFipilOVfxpZ2uF_uEBCEknfaUQAHr0YR8B_bZGACLGfgNZZw9nSDo1TT_k6u6Q1PbiobfktyXJ8GfR5CgHjIQBAm6_0vvSXcfd0GBf2vqslkYmlEhwsZb7WS2K3f7xLZY/s400/Riley+baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...turned TWO!</span></div><br />
He's such a big kid now...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi7Ocsv5D0xidMRwfoxtgb23BhS24EtVDw_J14TUCpP8EKYVAV0niQ-kPHVt0L0I7ZmblcQ0PU3XQA-H3W3oLnSzzfieNjdqcEmvoTaxxIw_QKP4r9P6xlawsJAhQpi8iBIU5kWexaL4/s1600/snack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi7Ocsv5D0xidMRwfoxtgb23BhS24EtVDw_J14TUCpP8EKYVAV0niQ-kPHVt0L0I7ZmblcQ0PU3XQA-H3W3oLnSzzfieNjdqcEmvoTaxxIw_QKP4r9P6xlawsJAhQpi8iBIU5kWexaL4/s320/snack.jpg" /></a></div>He can open his own snack baggy...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ6QiWwkSuf5TcAUisQTg3g8eCq186U3acu6iMDszup3MxhV9rrcjwvK3CcWr52pahd11hF6S8vg0xHeNLuDMafwxBsxGENI6EKa9P-ZxXkCNf_VUWUb2Gp81aPZOYzHFpEeRs7vHVb8/s1600/Cheerios.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ6QiWwkSuf5TcAUisQTg3g8eCq186U3acu6iMDszup3MxhV9rrcjwvK3CcWr52pahd11hF6S8vg0xHeNLuDMafwxBsxGENI6EKa9P-ZxXkCNf_VUWUb2Gp81aPZOYzHFpEeRs7vHVb8/s320/Cheerios.jpg" /></a></div>...and then shove his snack into the cracks in the driveway.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkjTrbcuLl_UD0_wwA-QfMPGX1tB7l6idQ47BpsS4VEG-IVLnFU9wDPd6PR8m16vEPc59KIFWOJuIIOPVt8bCIu6A-OAe19bw9HoWRdwk6vI-Vy_aZDGiHyS1goapBc6B_fOGGrP5CN8/s1600/onthego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkjTrbcuLl_UD0_wwA-QfMPGX1tB7l6idQ47BpsS4VEG-IVLnFU9wDPd6PR8m16vEPc59KIFWOJuIIOPVt8bCIu6A-OAe19bw9HoWRdwk6vI-Vy_aZDGiHyS1goapBc6B_fOGGrP5CN8/s320/onthego.jpg" /></a></div> He's a busy guy...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QRniPisyVrMYx3VpqVhQyRqndXZw8YieRkf9roHpwVlQVBjyLeHQGybO42H-swdRysqr1N6GpmpHpNYMLaWyiXbvn8yt1xsnbmJE1rahro4pbTfqayP4CoiQRPo0sT0kQ_PCocmsvGE/s1600/tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QRniPisyVrMYx3VpqVhQyRqndXZw8YieRkf9roHpwVlQVBjyLeHQGybO42H-swdRysqr1N6GpmpHpNYMLaWyiXbvn8yt1xsnbmJE1rahro4pbTfqayP4CoiQRPo0sT0kQ_PCocmsvGE/s320/tractor.jpg" /></a></div>..and always on the go!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI9C4yeWypQl42obuu68rerXUk8ddh1RQ7Uxf_8RPc7XVieKyG5qeis47CE-pqx6KMtoOvwoTULTpPWJTy6mAA8ciw3GtolsEFZqyOKaUWHS0qpasvaxRQTNHH75i-aTzIsf4zeqoLnY/s1600/run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI9C4yeWypQl42obuu68rerXUk8ddh1RQ7Uxf_8RPc7XVieKyG5qeis47CE-pqx6KMtoOvwoTULTpPWJTy6mAA8ciw3GtolsEFZqyOKaUWHS0qpasvaxRQTNHH75i-aTzIsf4zeqoLnY/s320/run.jpg" /></a></div>He loves to run around like a Wild Thing...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn0COQwDhsLKNjkLA5MGsS2SOimi0alNcnCFk8WV3SSudqMoH_lFFO3Xu-oHPxVIdQv5FGpyDk0i1ptz99zqvgydMNpvZOf1s7NWRXkJw9eGhZkhvL_RcEnlgogtX9kxvzam18wrhRXg/s1600/kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn0COQwDhsLKNjkLA5MGsS2SOimi0alNcnCFk8WV3SSudqMoH_lFFO3Xu-oHPxVIdQv5FGpyDk0i1ptz99zqvgydMNpvZOf1s7NWRXkJw9eGhZkhvL_RcEnlgogtX9kxvzam18wrhRXg/s320/kids.jpg" /></a></div>... and play with the big kids...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ1fEDrX32ho66HONIZWeNTt9N9Cj2uVOVSsoFdeOuEgtUsQNL4Gza4jL3xop0Jooi1q2DHSenIRLZcjF6Awt5zTZY76DZ2G6xJQf0qi0kU8ZGuyVpYZSizYWFiTMPNuxaI7k1n-lAvw/s1600/Riley+gitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ1fEDrX32ho66HONIZWeNTt9N9Cj2uVOVSsoFdeOuEgtUsQNL4Gza4jL3xop0Jooi1q2DHSenIRLZcjF6Awt5zTZY76DZ2G6xJQf0qi0kU8ZGuyVpYZSizYWFiTMPNuxaI7k1n-lAvw/s320/Riley+gitar.jpg" /></a></div>...and do everything that his Daddy & big brother do!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpxDTSVgD_1FhZFxX2T2RREWH4bC6cgwV8Slc5SFHmj-EbTc9Wiw_Oc7g9PSaF0iHV1iSNYspeUJ4cqA8x-pKQVn050GuvCqjtouQHezdRnMU91BrReAYScUgRXufwZVkSAFAICLgg2o/s1600/silly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpxDTSVgD_1FhZFxX2T2RREWH4bC6cgwV8Slc5SFHmj-EbTc9Wiw_Oc7g9PSaF0iHV1iSNYspeUJ4cqA8x-pKQVn050GuvCqjtouQHezdRnMU91BrReAYScUgRXufwZVkSAFAICLgg2o/s320/silly.jpg" /></a></div>He's silly...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpQiV3F-EyDS9ZPSb9f0-s0px7DgR0TK1ytDX0UfP1EnITQTmev9uFHJhlzGfScAXfXFWUCrPid6xJhqLeK7G3r1iwS6JSsMT1zLL2NCrMj9-w4svmfDBmhTKLlxCLHsWXdXo9uNjbuM/s1600/snuggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpQiV3F-EyDS9ZPSb9f0-s0px7DgR0TK1ytDX0UfP1EnITQTmev9uFHJhlzGfScAXfXFWUCrPid6xJhqLeK7G3r1iwS6JSsMT1zLL2NCrMj9-w4svmfDBmhTKLlxCLHsWXdXo9uNjbuM/s320/snuggle.jpg" /></a></div>...and snuggly...<br />
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and<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">We love him!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDtH43p-hQfs5BX52x9kQXYEMB3JIJfEwoL9psFQG7OuGSjuzYYCgHHtGnEZmGlRy0S-6xRoBx_gjh17HYcYZcUflCXxYskMDsAaue0peOUkJF2tTgUdN9CuhK-Bc5PNX-nCy7ZObxok/s1600/chalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDtH43p-hQfs5BX52x9kQXYEMB3JIJfEwoL9psFQG7OuGSjuzYYCgHHtGnEZmGlRy0S-6xRoBx_gjh17HYcYZcUflCXxYskMDsAaue0peOUkJF2tTgUdN9CuhK-Bc5PNX-nCy7ZObxok/s320/chalk.jpg" /></a></div>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-80810363757757789592010-03-12T15:20:00.001-08:002010-03-12T15:20:21.692-08:00Ahhh... Life With Boys!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3JIJs9BvpDhY4vky6fzljTw-uN5CQD3iHkybGtK9DVPNH48eQMxVo3vgjHsSYreOT8iOlRvy7EXz2Yw5SHvCgwOPHJbdv0MQ3Zj2pUdTwTbaCMlKlIymWj1pclg6lhGyi8IJhHqyn5s/s1600-h/photo(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3JIJs9BvpDhY4vky6fzljTw-uN5CQD3iHkybGtK9DVPNH48eQMxVo3vgjHsSYreOT8iOlRvy7EXz2Yw5SHvCgwOPHJbdv0MQ3Zj2pUdTwTbaCMlKlIymWj1pclg6lhGyi8IJhHqyn5s/s320/photo(8).jpg" /></a></div><br />
Here is a conversation I had with Tyson today. We had just left the book store, where he spent a gift card from Christmas (Thanks, Grammy & Pappy!). We were in the car, and from the backseat I heard:<br />
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Ty: Mom, why did that boy have the diarrhea? <br />
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Me: (thinking some poor kid had to leave school early today) Who had diarrhea?<br />
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Ty: That boy.<br />
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Me: Honey, I don't know which boy you're talking about. Did someone get sick at school today? (And also wondering why on earth bodily emissions are so fascinating to little boys.)<br />
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Ty: No Mom. You called him the "diarrhea kid" at the book store.<br />
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Me: Tyson Norman! I am quite certain that I did not, in fact, <i>would not</i> call anyone a name as offensive as that! It would be very rude and hurtful and I am pretty sure that particular phrase would never, <i>ever</i> cross my mind. (Thinking that we might have to pull a consequence from the jar when we get home)<br />
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Ty: But, Mom. You kept saying that about the boy on the book. That red book I got. I showed you the book and you said you heard of this diarrhea kid book.<br />
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Do you want to know what he was talking about?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJd2A8K2lmBkE4LKhrRoKg14-PJmJjAQ4XhtEFNxcPMgsiR8cvEaCx_MNyA2PeymxabUvbj5RMnUwUkF4KpMoUpo4u4yBydwXuL-fEGWBuq2NWQYC_BzlhsRQT-me4xZ4XJRl2nXSkkk/s1600-h/photo(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJd2A8K2lmBkE4LKhrRoKg14-PJmJjAQ4XhtEFNxcPMgsiR8cvEaCx_MNyA2PeymxabUvbj5RMnUwUkF4KpMoUpo4u4yBydwXuL-fEGWBuq2NWQYC_BzlhsRQT-me4xZ4XJRl2nXSkkk/s320/photo(7).jpg" /></a></div><br />
My very sweet son didn't hear "<b><i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid."</i></b> He heard, "<i><b>Diarrhea </b></i>the Wimpy Kid!"<br />
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I laughed so hard I nearly had to pull the car over!<br />
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And then I wondered: Why on earth did he want to buy a book about a kid with diarrhea?<br />
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I think the answer is probably: <i><b>Because he's a boy.</b></i>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-36957399080270629242010-03-06T14:57:00.000-08:002010-03-06T14:57:03.691-08:00Crafty Creations - a Carnival!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSmLWcG9jRW-FY7QU7jEdu5FmCaZEZeBf0Hf2nUVWke5vHtGroA3NKCgWL6UzDnjN2b8bX6C5WbAPj40WbvY7Ldj_6y6lfOeuFiYSGP8LCT5Z9RawjCSRTI9i3y4TiS1A-WAYCtz0dtvI/s1600-h/CraftCreationsbuttonresized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSmLWcG9jRW-FY7QU7jEdu5FmCaZEZeBf0Hf2nUVWke5vHtGroA3NKCgWL6UzDnjN2b8bX6C5WbAPj40WbvY7Ldj_6y6lfOeuFiYSGP8LCT5Z9RawjCSRTI9i3y4TiS1A-WAYCtz0dtvI/s320/CraftCreationsbuttonresized.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This post is a lot later in the day than I had hoped. I had planned to write it right after breakfast, but then my dogs did battle with a groundhog (& lost) and there was blood to clean up, wounds to attend, and a vet to go see.<br />
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Thankfully all is well. Just a few scrapes. And two bruised K9 ego's. <br />
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And I have a few minutes to share with you something that is totally cute and crafty!<br />
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Over at <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/">MADE</a>, they do some pretty amazing stuff, and last month they celebrated the BOY. It was all boy craftiness all month long. (If you have a boy, then you know that sewing and crafting projects for them are usually in short supply.)<br />
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My favorite thing of the month was freezer paper stenciling (which really could be great for a girl or a boy, depending on whether you go with something like frogs or something like flowers).<br />
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<a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/08/tutorial-freezer-paper-stencil-makenna.html">Here's the link</a> for the original freezer paper stencil post.<br />
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And here's <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-presidents-day-shirts.html">another example</a> of the same idea.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5u-YRCpKijWlFgbfhFCiDuEoPJGFIVgpFkjQ6pwyTVoBZSFT887Lv6NoxmnXBwcYtQPIUlOf-R7bBkh5sb3e2GgW1q0t5tYtqRS2vWxq9qZ9Rj9mJRDNMb36R6QfCk-auMetsI-A9E4g/s1600-h/jj2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5u-YRCpKijWlFgbfhFCiDuEoPJGFIVgpFkjQ6pwyTVoBZSFT887Lv6NoxmnXBwcYtQPIUlOf-R7bBkh5sb3e2GgW1q0t5tYtqRS2vWxq9qZ9Rj9mJRDNMb36R6QfCk-auMetsI-A9E4g/s320/jj2.png" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(photo borrowed from <a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/">MADE</a>) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I cannot wait for the school year to end so that I will have a little more time for crafty stuff. I really think this is a great idea that could save us a little money on clothes and would definitely be a fun activitiy for my 7 year old. I'm sure he will enjoy making requests for various sayings & pictures. Hopefully I'll be able to deliver!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Plus, who knew freezer paper could be so very awesome?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more Crafty Creations, visit the very sweet <a href="http://maddiesfavorites.blogspot.com/2010/03/crafty-creations-post-your-links.html">Maddielynn</a>!</div>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-81157080884469843402010-03-05T14:01:00.000-08:002010-03-05T14:01:40.246-08:00KidSpeakOne of the most amusing things about being a mom is the amazing (& sometimes strange) running dialogue in our home. When we were a young married couple with no kids, the house was filled with talk of politics, weather, funny friend stories and where we should eat out (Because, dude. I seriously could not cook).<br />
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Enter the children, and even the grownup conversations seem to center around snot, school kids, bowel movements, who put which new scuff mark on the previously freshly painted walls, and oh-my-gosh-how-can-we-be-out-of-milk/bread/toiletpaper-already?!?!<br />
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The best stuff is what we hear out of our kids. So, without further ado, I give you some of the strange things we have heard around our house this week:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY0QOrNUkMPdTICbAazHJ_hwcSsfTnKJj5WroapontSDEXvx_ezc6b2n_C0oJog0ssHT7XO83aNvp2Xl7D8cwPzinKEy0B7aP7sGgJ_RxJkx6L-tow557Mc9JpYdZYnBjVCInEy_1DWQ/s1600-h/photo(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY0QOrNUkMPdTICbAazHJ_hwcSsfTnKJj5WroapontSDEXvx_ezc6b2n_C0oJog0ssHT7XO83aNvp2Xl7D8cwPzinKEy0B7aP7sGgJ_RxJkx6L-tow557Mc9JpYdZYnBjVCInEy_1DWQ/s320/photo(5).jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From Tyson:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I hate to tell you this, but..." <i>(this is his new catch phrase, and it could be followed by anything from "these bananas are squishy," to "Riley is stuffing buttons up his nose.")</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"That is soooo inappropriate" (<i>uttered to his little brother)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"He's not making good choices. Again." (<i>uttered about his little brother)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Mommy, what does your colon do?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Everyone needs to be quiet, because I need to tell everyone this...." (<i>this preceded a big announcement at dinner - see the next in the list)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>"...</i>we made a home for worms yesterday!" (<i>Worm homes are apparently quite important..)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>"</i>Mom! You just said the 'Nerd-Word'!" <i>(I admit to needing an explanation of what exactly a "Nerd-Word" is...)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>"</i>Wow! Mom, you have got to come here [to the bathroom]. I just dropped a BOMB in there!" (<i>Do I really need to elaborate? Suffice it to say that boys are strange, and sometimes icky, little creatures.</i>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPall2gakp46KzlsZFlVEtqX5qXkiYeSp6nGIB8bCVm4U2vE2iq43Nl_qdwFcF7M1jQwNXU7OAdglGgl5W11ryMQRrRGV-FIO6YjjnNjQx9wDrfLGUDn_b6Id1JRV-VM9l84BDVyYrSbM/s1600-h/photo(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPall2gakp46KzlsZFlVEtqX5qXkiYeSp6nGIB8bCVm4U2vE2iq43Nl_qdwFcF7M1jQwNXU7OAdglGgl5W11ryMQRrRGV-FIO6YjjnNjQx9wDrfLGUDn_b6Id1JRV-VM9l84BDVyYrSbM/s320/photo(4).jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">From Riley (with translations)</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Momma! Rotcoe [slurping noise] [licks hand] Ewwwww! [touches face]" <i>(Mom! Roscoe the dog just licked me all over the face when you weren't looking and it was gross, but that won't stop me from going back over so he can do it again.)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Uh-oh. Momma! Uh-oh! Wiwey may mess meowk. Momma! Meowk coe!" (Uh-oh! Momma! Uh-oh! Riley made a mess [with] milk. Momma! Milk [is] cold!) (<i>Uh-oh! Mom, you're not gonna like this, but I just spilled an entire cup of milk all over myself, the cabinet front, the floor and the dog. Oh, and the milk is cold.) </i> </div><br />
"Wiwey no yike Daddy caw rrrmmmmmmm." (Riley no like Daddy's car [that goes] vroom.) (<i>I do not like Daddy's Mustang Cobra, as it is quite loud, and the emissions from the tailpipe could easily kill an elephant unfortunate enough to be behind it.)</i><br />
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<i>"</i>Momma! [grins] Wiwey oohh. In oohh." (Mom! Riley ear. In ear.) (<i>Mom! I have stuck several peas into my ear. Good luck getting them out because peas are really squishy and I have the smallest ear canals ever seen on a human toddler.)</i><br />
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<i>"</i>Jfjiilllll. Wiwey fhfhfhpplththth." (<i>I have no idea. Seriously. Sometimes he just lets loose with a string of very excited, but completely unrelated phonemes, then nods his head as if he has made his point. He then waits for us to give some sort of appropriate response. Thankfully, a "really?" or "Oh, I see" from us is sufficient.)</i><br />
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"Momma! Wiwey weh. Neenee. Wiwey wike neenee. Weh."(Momma! Riley wet. Candy. Riley like candy. Wet.) (<i>Mom! My diaper is wet. It's barely wet. Okay, maybe it's not really even wet, but you've been giving me a mini M&M every time I come & tell you that I'm wet. I really like candy, and we hardly ever get any at all, so I'm gonna go ahead & cry "Wet!" so that I can get a little candy. By the way, we both know that you will give me the piece of candy, and then take me to the bathroom to change said diaper. And that's when I'm planning to make my escape. The minute my feet hit the floor, I'm going to do the "wet noodle" & drop to the floor, then I'm going to do a "triple sow cow with an extra twist" to wiggle away from you. I'll finish my program with a full on naked-from-the-waste-down sprint around the house during which time you'll be thinking about how my diaper wasn't really that wet & I'll probably end up peeing all over the house as you chase me. Good times, Momma. Good times.)</i><br />
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What kinds of things do you hear in your home?<i> </i>Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-56601785091752769162010-02-24T19:38:00.001-08:002010-02-24T19:38:34.355-08:00Valentine's RecapWe here at Purple Brick Road were all about the Valentine's spirit. From the songs we sang (<span style="font-style: italic;">Skin-na-ma-rink-a-dink....</span>) To the foods we ate (peanut butter & celery with pink sprinkles anyone?) to the paper we used in our crafts... we were all about <span style="font-weight: bold;">love</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25hhqOdd5vgsl7Lf3XmvgKWMYwe5LjLmERmj9-ClLfRp54IroohTlhJAf63JQQG1xhz5cRrbDSx-584kTn8KYCEy29Gd7bpFrmFmm-wu8SZDePAgzRLGWbCSiFsQDENgxRFe58Y7aqxA/s1600-h/Valentine+Paper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25hhqOdd5vgsl7Lf3XmvgKWMYwe5LjLmERmj9-ClLfRp54IroohTlhJAf63JQQG1xhz5cRrbDSx-584kTn8KYCEy29Gd7bpFrmFmm-wu8SZDePAgzRLGWbCSiFsQDENgxRFe58Y7aqxA/s320/Valentine+Paper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011487289714082" border="0" /></a><br />Even our peanuts got into the spirit. Tyson found this while he was eating one of my "quix mix" snacks (<span style="font-style: italic;">which is basically a trail mix that I throw together with whatever I can find, then serve in coffee filters because they are oh-so much cheaper than paper plates and so much easier to clean up than real plates - Thank you for the tip, G-ma!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wow</span>. <span style="font-size:85%;">Run-on sentence much?</span>) Anyway, he looked down & said, "Hey, Mommy? This peanut is a Valentine's peanut." I said, "Um, okay. Whatever floats your boat. I guess we can call this the 'Valentine Mix'." Then he said, "No, no, no. I mean, it has a heart on it." I said, "No way." And lo & behold (<span style="font-size:78%;">don't you just love saying that?</span>) it actually did have a heart on it. Cool.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfjk_zV-8zKQmq2-YSckSaYrdPatd82pxFiPw72vC8QFt4WRZE1NUlNAWNeBvg-AFTJ10u7ICA4q39VPI2J-_5JUsVnT8W8KBS3G7DtpVpncAUmkHRk2p0_zAF_qJLZSjUWznyPWwzn8/s1600-h/Peanut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfjk_zV-8zKQmq2-YSckSaYrdPatd82pxFiPw72vC8QFt4WRZE1NUlNAWNeBvg-AFTJ10u7ICA4q39VPI2J-_5JUsVnT8W8KBS3G7DtpVpncAUmkHRk2p0_zAF_qJLZSjUWznyPWwzn8/s320/Peanut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011492094003730" border="0" /></a>(Please try not to notice my terribly dry and ugly cuticles. If you played guitar and washed your hands about a bazillion times every day your cuticles would be crying out for help too. For the record, I often paint my nails on Fridays, so they can look pretty until Sunday night...)<br /><br />I came home from bootcamp Saturday morning to find my boys gone to tennis, and this waiting for me on the kitchen table:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2UKY5SYb9QCMujKMBYADiqBJyF7WMBbubbEuF_XpIx83PFPQOMYE1TfXAHtFGk79lKo-wZ2J0RIJ1jkGWDvmbdmEgIHkSNtufNSoSDFuqbykxMLwIvBbEUzH6w_1GCTxEAYL3qGGyo/s1600-h/Flowers+%26+Card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2UKY5SYb9QCMujKMBYADiqBJyF7WMBbubbEuF_XpIx83PFPQOMYE1TfXAHtFGk79lKo-wZ2J0RIJ1jkGWDvmbdmEgIHkSNtufNSoSDFuqbykxMLwIvBbEUzH6w_1GCTxEAYL3qGGyo/s320/Flowers+%26+Card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011482394838210" border="0" /></a><br />This was the cute card that Ty & Riley picked out. I suspect it was more Riley's choice since that boys does love a rubber duck. I won't share the message they wrote inside, but it was super-sweet, and bears Riley's first-ever signature. (which he had a lot of help with, but still.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWXZemvxGPVpyoJZQyHnzFT-kPymQv4NwvqtihQh4BwkuVo1WtHVgj9202ZjYdXon2qcY68OfSFGyoOhnIiFg7Unp9-LW3AlRdphx3HIsUeRCKaqHKeyYyOBPpmC7xscOg09-pBX-63M/s1600-h/Card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWXZemvxGPVpyoJZQyHnzFT-kPymQv4NwvqtihQh4BwkuVo1WtHVgj9202ZjYdXon2qcY68OfSFGyoOhnIiFg7Unp9-LW3AlRdphx3HIsUeRCKaqHKeyYyOBPpmC7xscOg09-pBX-63M/s320/Card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011481021801650" border="0" /></a><br />Aren't these beautiful. I'm so sad that my camera couldn't accurately capture their beauty.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuF8Z1vXvokLJ8gj_6R3JG1K64MujncPQuwk1Q3XEA-Wtryge-WyXgqciyWKiiFw5HEPGULa5gDlYyCRGYqsZ6CZZNwo-OaULxphFiESNSgJxOAZ232rDHHZlAELioNzwaFaMjMzvXbg/s1600-h/Rose+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuF8Z1vXvokLJ8gj_6R3JG1K64MujncPQuwk1Q3XEA-Wtryge-WyXgqciyWKiiFw5HEPGULa5gDlYyCRGYqsZ6CZZNwo-OaULxphFiESNSgJxOAZ232rDHHZlAELioNzwaFaMjMzvXbg/s320/Rose+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011100847432210" border="0" /></a>It sort of chugs & chokes along when I'm trying to photograph anything up close. But I promise that now, almost a week later, those roses are still gorgeous. I think they might make it the whole week!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOamh-Ra_Y1qckZPCEArMrebv5wReup3Tfae_rnUZEI_A1PP8h8vpHfxMNfAsrUXVFh-h2SkeBFTkHYS920sGYdEEXcP6jA0Q55uOD4gLVSn2BNYGu2fLMbw8w0fTantk1dT61bWWS2w/s1600-h/Rose+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOamh-Ra_Y1qckZPCEArMrebv5wReup3Tfae_rnUZEI_A1PP8h8vpHfxMNfAsrUXVFh-h2SkeBFTkHYS920sGYdEEXcP6jA0Q55uOD4gLVSn2BNYGu2fLMbw8w0fTantk1dT61bWWS2w/s320/Rose+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011096342533282" border="0" /></a><br />And, in the fridge was a tasty treat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhYGI13rK-RqHojSoKl39LhwHyI7kcatbyMI56GvILo93oZCmh32IDEfGD3VMSuVq_IwoC1lNTqBbMVEU2DrabFWw1bTjoABFNi3OANOYNG3vlfL0iFpbwXZRwAwA8Gd_m6AAesRLq7c/s1600-h/Strawberries.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhYGI13rK-RqHojSoKl39LhwHyI7kcatbyMI56GvILo93oZCmh32IDEfGD3VMSuVq_IwoC1lNTqBbMVEU2DrabFWw1bTjoABFNi3OANOYNG3vlfL0iFpbwXZRwAwA8Gd_m6AAesRLq7c/s320/Strawberries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011093786055954" border="0" /></a>Strawberries! (Since I am trying in earnest to dump the junk food.)<br /><br />Oh, but these are not just any strawberries. These are <span style="font-weight: bold;">ginormous</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">mutant</span> strawberries that must have been grown near a nuclear power plant, or Bruce Banner's gamma lab, or something.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31-rx8fcB3uRFktp3-9Wt3e9miAONrLb9hF7AHhPD21F3NxEyqnlaSrc4izqnmrTwgi8qtZe33siN4n2WeIm-TtyFIac5VfUGTDjJOtafYwQM6-4kIX_fd87padeV5qbu5Vx8LowYzek/s1600-h/Huge+Strawberry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31-rx8fcB3uRFktp3-9Wt3e9miAONrLb9hF7AHhPD21F3NxEyqnlaSrc4izqnmrTwgi8qtZe33siN4n2WeIm-TtyFIac5VfUGTDjJOtafYwQM6-4kIX_fd87padeV5qbu5Vx8LowYzek/s320/Huge+Strawberry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011579702490386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I really must say that I noticed some interesting things this Valentine's Day that I had not realized in Valentine's Days gone by.<br /><br />#1. Even the craft-foam hearts at my son's school speak "tween." At this point, I'm just thankful that I knew what "LOL" and "BFF" meant without asking. I feel so out of touch sometimes...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORogbNuOtmz3hg4y7TtZ96VfqoqJtQgWyblKwQquLwV1eLGNb6xV3C1PFsypJKqEWaD03rdeg_q_v2N1QCNR8lwRlCLlWwRitDoGmz6B0x2btETVCmYl-3WjJ1nuCnL0e6eJf1-0mWzk/s1600-h/Hearts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORogbNuOtmz3hg4y7TtZ96VfqoqJtQgWyblKwQquLwV1eLGNb6xV3C1PFsypJKqEWaD03rdeg_q_v2N1QCNR8lwRlCLlWwRitDoGmz6B0x2btETVCmYl-3WjJ1nuCnL0e6eJf1-0mWzk/s320/Hearts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011495190807826" border="0" /></a><br />#2. Valentine's Day with boys is weird. Little boys are not into cute cards, sparkly hearts, and fluffy bears like little girls are.<br />Apparently, boys are into eyeballs. Gummy eyeballs. <span style="font-style: italic;">Which are meant to be eaten</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjFRJL4Xdz1JoAd7ARRdjTF2s7hGiLGC4ok5OwSrGs699Mh4Ok0YhedbDTMB0-0NFQkaWLbItq5o_OJ4sBQhgMdXX3Pj1D_lnn52a3p-40Ax0-fFSpFOs2B5XAL5tnhSb7fL2Qqn6ZeY/s1600-h/Valentine+Eyes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjFRJL4Xdz1JoAd7ARRdjTF2s7hGiLGC4ok5OwSrGs699Mh4Ok0YhedbDTMB0-0NFQkaWLbItq5o_OJ4sBQhgMdXX3Pj1D_lnn52a3p-40Ax0-fFSpFOs2B5XAL5tnhSb7fL2Qqn6ZeY/s320/Valentine+Eyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011085420282386" border="0" /></a>And also, little boys are into cows. Oh, yeah. I can hear you saying, "What? Cows? That's a cute cow. And very appropriate for Valentine's Day if you live on a dairy farm."<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6gKkK0f_mA0HUdR-0za0skwIM_kOmwzSoZ0kdmnVBwCKkKBeXSQ3ITaeS6QYi5biGPmN45cO73bLJ7V4aX7NUkJw3qq-lFMhMk0blDyhZh3xLMiSX4QCW7YHO22pUSaxgrFY2nXkey4/s1600-h/Valentine+Cow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6gKkK0f_mA0HUdR-0za0skwIM_kOmwzSoZ0kdmnVBwCKkKBeXSQ3ITaeS6QYi5biGPmN45cO73bLJ7V4aX7NUkJw3qq-lFMhMk0blDyhZh3xLMiSX4QCW7YHO22pUSaxgrFY2nXkey4/s320/Valentine+Cow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442011080253942306" border="0" /></a>Well, here's the thing. We do not live on a dairy farm (although ironically, both my maternal and paternal grandmothers grew up on dairy farms... but I digress). Also, this cow is noisy - it moo's anytime you pick it up, bump the table, or cause a slight breeze to brush past it's general vicinity. <span style="font-style: italic;">And it is full of candy.</span> "What's wrong with that," you ask? Well, true to the interest of adorable little boys, one must lift the tail of the cow to get the candy out, <span style="font-style: italic;">if you know what I mean.</span> (For those of you who don't know what I mean, <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">the cow poops out the candy!</span></span>) Which boys apparently think is hilarious.<br /><br />Who knew that living with boys would be so... unusual?Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-23853469898540158572010-02-15T19:48:00.001-08:002010-02-15T20:00:32.037-08:00Hello? Are You in There?Yes, I'm in here. [waves] I'm still here!<br /><br />And I have been knitting, <span style="font-size:85%;">but not very much</span>.<br /><br />As per usual for this time of year, life is interfering with my knitting. Mostly, <span style="font-style: italic;">my job is interfering with my knitting</span>. I've hardly had time to knit a row here and there.<br /><br />Another thing that is interfering is actually something that I'm okay with.<br /><br />This year I am reading the Bible in 90 Days. <span style="font-size:78%;">(Well, I'm a bit behind, so I hope I'm reading it in only 90 days!)</span><br /><br />But the stress of balancing work and a family with two young boys is sucking all my knitting mojo out of me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But, not to worry. </span><br /><br />Because it will be back.<br /><br />I'm revamping a few things. I'm changing some stuff. I'm shaking my proverbial tree to see what falls out. The stuff that falls out will stay out so that I can make more time for my Bible, my family & my craftiness. I think the one thing that will be out is wasting time on line. All of this social networking is taking a surprisingly large amount of time. I'm still going to read my favorite blogs, and I'm going to continue to post on my blog(s). But other stuff is going to have to take a back seat.<br /><br />So, for now, suffice it to say, I am still here, and I am still knitting <span style="font-size:78%;">(sort of)</span>.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303171155202084253.post-454047913675422422010-01-27T09:46:00.000-08:002010-01-27T09:46:00.157-08:00All Aboard!We made good use of MLK Day last week by going on a GoSeeIt with Ty's Cub Scout Den. We went to the <a href="http://transportmuseumassociation.org/">Museum of Transportation</a> (because, really, what boy <span style="font-style: italic;">doesn't</span> love trains & planes & cars & stuff?).<br /><br />Did I mention that we are beginning to enter that phase where Mom & her camera are not always <span style="font-style: italic;">entirely</span> cool? He humored me, anyway. Sweet boy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w85PyKbVwr0CjtVsGch-Z2ZHWBn7LEp9k2n1DOqMsnuMO11kuJda3MxMvUfFZflZLF3Md2hfvuSVqGTZbEUWDkvjpIJ9pRTcsIMn8DxbTQ62J-QTxDzC_EnaVMsyLjck5wnmxXBDr-U1/s1600-h/Ty+on+train.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w85PyKbVwr0CjtVsGch-Z2ZHWBn7LEp9k2n1DOqMsnuMO11kuJda3MxMvUfFZflZLF3Md2hfvuSVqGTZbEUWDkvjpIJ9pRTcsIMn8DxbTQ62J-QTxDzC_EnaVMsyLjck5wnmxXBDr-U1/s320/Ty+on+train.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430368071903035490" border="0" /></a><br />Our whole family went, which is something I love about Cub Scouts. When one kid joins, the whole family joins too. It's fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sI9c5vw6nhlZFSlPNHlINxzOvDo1YAvmveaLZJDqLivslEF44LDdNLyWTDUuMN3l2leoeJM11G2hfAUiYkCDakeeRlw7ME3BmJH4fP5v8fn42LZEUjTpe-jKSpwpIAl9ikQRcMr609bS/s1600-h/Boys+by+train.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sI9c5vw6nhlZFSlPNHlINxzOvDo1YAvmveaLZJDqLivslEF44LDdNLyWTDUuMN3l2leoeJM11G2hfAUiYkCDakeeRlw7ME3BmJH4fP5v8fn42LZEUjTpe-jKSpwpIAl9ikQRcMr609bS/s320/Boys+by+train.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430368065846752562" border="0" /></a><br />Of course, Riley absolutely had to do <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span> that the big kids did. Here he is, trying to ring the bell. (Sorry, Sweetie! You need to gain a little weight first... so eat those veggies!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdwZpk2oT7jn3aD5bkJStlbYqlccgdOwi_wdn4-S_jRYfUkXAGz7UvcvTwpc2ve2W9LM033Brd-VEgNEGc31Fkv1V-AK69Vi49tD6cbpbQirtAuzyFmZE2h_B3frsAIoIVNzjzArmlZY8/s1600-h/riley+bell.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdwZpk2oT7jn3aD5bkJStlbYqlccgdOwi_wdn4-S_jRYfUkXAGz7UvcvTwpc2ve2W9LM033Brd-VEgNEGc31Fkv1V-AK69Vi49tD6cbpbQirtAuzyFmZE2h_B3frsAIoIVNzjzArmlZY8/s320/riley+bell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367885101725362" border="0" /></a><br />They have some pretty cool trains there. I believe this is the one they called "Big Bertha." It's ginormous.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0HTE6ILVxTYjRi2tBXkRLkdbzsEdsHUIlu8Q_ZdXcQQhP5PCGEymGsqUmqH1gqEc4RyoNodasx2p3twgtqm0j0w86aIAhhDOM3tLOkIusGcrHeDmZibU0SK-ZomIsqyx5Sadmz0rJzEX/s1600-h/Big+Bertha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0HTE6ILVxTYjRi2tBXkRLkdbzsEdsHUIlu8Q_ZdXcQQhP5PCGEymGsqUmqH1gqEc4RyoNodasx2p3twgtqm0j0w86aIAhhDOM3tLOkIusGcrHeDmZibU0SK-ZomIsqyx5Sadmz0rJzEX/s320/Big+Bertha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367879225274482" border="0" /></a><br />This was an old passenger train.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hRp0yKF3K_2ZxjVxGi_ievZ5S4C_jIlgiQ297PDERSTYN33mkgMgZThEnR8cpOXUW13qqYDwcluRgxtFE9ZCWeI0zMSKtn5D558dcZoVLxH90-aH_rXUyb_KUYaObt5NdFLpiB116c08/s1600-h/passenger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hRp0yKF3K_2ZxjVxGi_ievZ5S4C_jIlgiQ297PDERSTYN33mkgMgZThEnR8cpOXUW13qqYDwcluRgxtFE9ZCWeI0zMSKtn5D558dcZoVLxH90-aH_rXUyb_KUYaObt5NdFLpiB116c08/s320/passenger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367874092057554" border="0" /></a><br />This is what they used to use to clear the tracks (of snow, & other debris). It's quite large.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__DKJxjd3elOQWUcBHw3FjP2lzjx2iS3uDLIFqcBOn2puIaEyw2OebYvEzgq2iOiPXvRciD95IdHMFFHi-NHQ7KWp8Ym0TRzW-uOJiq8cdDF-vxwHMN1zZ2KjX89tXj9JgeAZ-5_bjUiQ/s1600-h/track+clearerer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__DKJxjd3elOQWUcBHw3FjP2lzjx2iS3uDLIFqcBOn2puIaEyw2OebYvEzgq2iOiPXvRciD95IdHMFFHi-NHQ7KWp8Ym0TRzW-uOJiq8cdDF-vxwHMN1zZ2KjX89tXj9JgeAZ-5_bjUiQ/s320/track+clearerer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367525563663650" border="0" /></a><br />They have a bit of risque St. Louis history inside the auto museum. In case you're not familiar with it, this is an actual piece of the Coral Court Motel. It was the last motel in St. Louis to rent rooms by the hour. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ahem</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleqvnhDV-lDVJtzTk7w-Pa1D515C8VKIwGGxY-Q_hEK-jfm_aV0y0hsBxIf9SdKIwg54eg0a9IrU-lGvofYVizxdo_cU6VFPY8eR8w3ZOxnLvsZ9UyCNQVm2ftB3crz1EqpLDfb3XBa-w/s1600-h/cor+court.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleqvnhDV-lDVJtzTk7w-Pa1D515C8VKIwGGxY-Q_hEK-jfm_aV0y0hsBxIf9SdKIwg54eg0a9IrU-lGvofYVizxdo_cU6VFPY8eR8w3ZOxnLvsZ9UyCNQVm2ftB3crz1EqpLDfb3XBa-w/s320/cor+court.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367522396919730" border="0" /></a><br />We ran into my step sister there, too! She was doing some extra credit for school (way to go!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzdmw5KFz75V8VeS8fCk6uo2VT7YrMFxTq-zfSIhIB59oCEtax91NI8f_2C75qM95D56tMr6rx_3g7Gb93CZr1KoMXXJpWX86aal-GvM4394CecOI8cBUhAg0HX2L3qGbS5wQ3GTTPpTk/s1600-h/Ty+%26+Bon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzdmw5KFz75V8VeS8fCk6uo2VT7YrMFxTq-zfSIhIB59oCEtax91NI8f_2C75qM95D56tMr6rx_3g7Gb93CZr1KoMXXJpWX86aal-GvM4394CecOI8cBUhAg0HX2L3qGbS5wQ3GTTPpTk/s320/Ty+%26+Bon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367514867849106" border="0" /></a><br />And, there were two signs I couldn't resist sharing with you.<br /><br />The first is an advertisement that was on the side of a very old delivery truck:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGlSVtIuno4k9ykNCOln31IANSxKBW605TSmnNmQedVzlHpUqp4p-Vl0sxcSdznxwYC4B0Jl0k6slNyQ_l_ZWQp4sA9K8EZZz1YJH80d7bGJWB8x_u_iJ3dSaXEYGQqQ00w2SuiRVnxZ6/s1600-h/funny+sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGlSVtIuno4k9ykNCOln31IANSxKBW605TSmnNmQedVzlHpUqp4p-Vl0sxcSdznxwYC4B0Jl0k6slNyQ_l_ZWQp4sA9K8EZZz1YJH80d7bGJWB8x_u_iJ3dSaXEYGQqQ00w2SuiRVnxZ6/s320/funny+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367508971470354" border="0" /></a>So, apparently, if you take this all-vegetable laxative, your blemishes will disappear over night. I wonder where they go? Hmmmmmm....<br /><br />And this... well, it pretty much speaks for itself. Although I'm not sure why they needed to attach it to the back of a train.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9yVyTz9UBSSGThkPJ_Zy-eSO0Dd6H2TSSGRWSIgQnRdES6yM_0VNzajgRnmpq5WebMNRIIS_53_Trm2XYNWWss4N7la4Hm1BzXSEtTA75xEAw4mDWCeV0y2z00bbc15dpveC6xe6wOhA/s1600-h/Do+Not.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9yVyTz9UBSSGThkPJ_Zy-eSO0Dd6H2TSSGRWSIgQnRdES6yM_0VNzajgRnmpq5WebMNRIIS_53_Trm2XYNWWss4N7la4Hm1BzXSEtTA75xEAw4mDWCeV0y2z00bbc15dpveC6xe6wOhA/s320/Do+Not.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430367502902890626" border="0" /></a>Words to live by, my friends. Words to live by.Keowdiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03822164041930362667noreply@blogger.com3