Friday, November 9, 2012

Childhood Rite of Passage

Sarah pierced Keegan's ear last night.  At his request, of course.  Also, after many jokes about accidentally piercing his neck or face or hand.  They used tons of alcohol - the rubbing kind, not the drinking kind - so that qualifies Sarah as "at least as professional as the girls at Claires in the mall".

I remember when I was younger, having my friends help me pierce my bellybutton.  I was not brave & it took quite a while to get it done.  I won't even talk about the tattoos my cousin Tara and I gave ourselves when we were 16!

Keegan made a pained facial expression just for this picture.  I'm proud of them though, this is some serious sibling bonding & something they may look back on years from now with a smile.  I know I'm privileged to be able to share this memory with them.  My kids are a blessing, they're brave and smart and thoughtful and... well, just amazing.  I'm lucky to have such an awesome daughter this year, and such awesome sons all the time.  I have the best job in the whole world.  That's why the word Mom is Wow, upside down!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Lookit this Awesomeness!


Two handed fair aisle knitting, that creates a woven background instead of floats that catch on hands/rings/fingers!

Crazy how stuff happens.  I found this link: http://www.philosopherswool.com/Pages/Twohandedvideo.htm after literally itching for a colorwork project for months.  Look what she's doing!  Fair aisle, but with no floats!  A completely woven looking back side to your knitted item.  Why would anyone ever do floats if this is an option?  I may not be experienced enough to answer that question, honestly.  And it's a grainy video at best so it's hard to tell how amazing the back actually looks.  I find it pretty amazing though.

This project will be a pair of mittens, hopefully for myself or my exchange-daughter.  She saw the pattern & claimed them before even one stitch was made.  Is this how all daughters are?  We're finding ourselves powerless against her.  She's painted Jeremy's nails.  She's staked her claim on Keegan (HER little brother, he's not allowed to have any pretend sisters at school now).  She wears my clothes.  My knitting isn't even safe.

I wouldn't trade her for the world.  I hope she loves the mittens.  I actually hope I get to finish them, so she has a chance to love them.  I also (as long as I'm wishing for crazy fanciful things) wish I was just wealthy enough to not have to work outside the home & could have an adequate monthly stipend to support a mild knitting & Keurig coffee addiction & tennis balls for my wretched addled fetch-hound.