Still here

I taught magic loop this morning and it went fantastic. The two hours flew by and we all had a bit of a sock completed by the end. I tried out the new addi lace needles and quite liked the tip. I was working with tofutsies (sp?) for the first time. I had to rip because my usual number of stitches looked a bit small. I use lots and lots of wool and had to accomodate the lack of stretch.

In other news, my latest STR sock kit came and I love the yarn. The color is much better this time and it is a new STR that has silk in it and it is very soft. Unfortunately, I'm still working on the last sock kit. I'm falling way behind.

Dear Kate,

The scarf you knit for the silent auction is lovely. What's that, where is the picture? It's coming soon. I'm off tonight to Peg's to work on packaging up gift baskets and taking pictures. In the last 24 hours I have typed in no less than 191 auction item entries. I then updated the excel spreadsheet to show the total of retail value auction items is 7,533.12 and the amount in retail value of door prizes is 292.00. I've managed to keep all five children alive, even after Noah stole Caleb's cinnamon roll from Panerra. I did replace the swings (took all 5 children to Home Depot) and Abby hung them. I think there were 5 other errangs in there including stopping by the shop to buy some needles yesterday. I'm itching to visit my lace knitting, but I suppose I should cook the children dinner before I go back to work on the auction.
Love,
Kara

The auction committee relaxing after another tough day fundraising

Well, not much knitting time. A fellow knitter has a little baby at home on a ventilator. He was born premature with birth defect. So, since having 5 children and homeschooling wasn't enough to keep me busy. I decided to have a HUGE fundraising event. We are having a silent auction, craft sale, bake sale, children's games, refreshments kind of fundraiser. The above fellow was donated by Dallas & Co. Until this afternoon, I didn't fully appreciate his potential. I had taken a picture of him last week and the lighting wasn't good. So one of my partners in crime, Peg, suggested a reshoot. When Peg and her husband put him in the lawn chair, I took one look at him and said, "He needs a beer!" The couple said they had said the same thing. So, John went and got a beer. This tiger is growing on me, but he is not, let me repeat, NOT, coming home to live with my five children! He takes up more room than the three youngest.

Easter at the Cake Artist Studio

The Cake Artist Studio donated a gift certificate for the auction. Here are my Easter purchases from there. They were really good!

Highland Thistle Scarf

Kathy in the comments asked for a picture of a highland thistle scarf. These are all the same pattern made from Highland Thistle from Hobby Lobby.

Attention Midwest Knitters!

It is now time to get out your "storm siren knitting." This year I am going to put together a kit for when I'm in the basement bathroom listening to yet another storm rip off yet another storm door. I had no idea the name "storm door" comes from the fact that the storm takes the door and then you have to buy another. I have less than an hour to decide what this year's project will be. I plan never to be trapped in the bathroom with 5 kids and no knitting again.

An FO!

This took a bit longer than I thought. It's the Panes Bag from Bloomin' Knitiot. I'm going to try really hard and line it with pockets.

On a sadder note, the quilt my husband and I made together before we were married 15 years ago did not survive Mr Washy today. It has been well loved for the last year by our toddler. The binding has disintegrated and the batting is escaping. Grandma is going to try and salvage what she can.

On an even sadder note, the little boy who lived next door to us in family housing died recently. He was Pakistani. He was actually 23 when he died, but he was 12 when we knew him. The family had sent him home after 9/11. The family was concerned for their sons' safety because of the anti-muslim sentiment in the US after 9/11.He hadn't lived in Pakistan since he was quite
small and had to learn the language and everything. The mother had planned on joining the two sons in a couple of weeks but found out she had breast cancer. She remained in the US for treatment with her two other children. The young man was just getting ready to come back here to his family after many years seperation.