Wrist Warmers?

Tags

fingerless, handmade, homemade, knitting, wrist warmer

Not sure why…I promised myself I wouldn’t pick up anything else until that dreaded panel was done but I could not resist. I changed everything from the written pattern. I used a different, heavier yarn, which changed the cast on stitches and used a different cable pattern. But the seed stitch wrist warmers are basically from Essentially Feminine Knits: 25 Must-Have Chic Designs by Lene Holme Samsøe

Bloom Where You Are At!

Tags

acceptance, bloom, chaos, family, kids, preschoolers, spiritual, tantrums., toddlers

Bobic Family Rule #4

Quit Waiting and Bloom Where You Are At!

I stole this title from Sunday worship at Medway United Methodist Church. Meaning to seize the moment and make the most of what God has given you at this time in your life, good or bad. Loved the sermon and love the idea. As you all know I keep thinking things will be easier and more fun once we are in the house. But spending my time complaining is a huge waste of all the fun we can have in this YUCKY apartment! There is less to clean and more time to play. Never again will house keeping ever be so easy. Bloom!

There are so many other ways to apply this though. I first came across this idea after my first baby was born. The first week of her life, when I was not staring at the most beautiful miracle ever, I was in tears over missing a second of her. What has happened to that moment in time where I didn’t want anything to change. After that first hormonal period it turns quickly to “I can’t wait until she smiles, or crawls, says ‘mama’, walks, rides a bike, goes to school, gets married, has kids of her own”. All you moms out there know it is easy to wish away their childhood on anticipation for the next stage.

Brady is at that great stage between one and two where he doesn’t quite talk or understand the concept of ‘NO’. Maybe I should phrase that he doesn’t WANT to understand the concept of ‘NO’. He is also big for his age and physically has mastered skills of a 4 year old. So when a tantrum does strike I have to pick up what feels like a kicking and screaming preschooler off the ground. And yes….I think ‘how great it will be once he talks, is listening a little better, and gets control of his temper. But wishing for those times, wishes away playing catch a kiss through the rungs of the crib with him which I never want to end.

God grant me the patience to find peace and contentment through the tantrums of toddlers and preschoolers so that I may fully feel your treasures in my life at the moment.

“The Kitchen Timer”

Tags

chaos, kitchen timer, parent, parenting, rules, time outs, timer

I do not need a researcher to tell me that time outs work. If I am consistent with 1….2….3 Time Out” my children’s behavior changes within a few days. Even my almost 2 year old responds. He pouts a little, which is super adorable, and then sits in his chair until the timer goes off. Staying calm, collected and not arguing back are key objectives in this process of course.

Bobic Family Rule #3:

Go Nowhere without a Timer

Contrary to Penelope’s belief that “people should not get time outs outside because they will get their butts dirty”, I disagree. Portable kitchen timers work great for this. I just worn every one before we step out the door: “I’m putting the timer in my purse. If you misbehave you will get a time out at (fill in the blank)”.
I’m starting to think I should keep one in the car, kitchen, purse and on the back deck.

The timer doesn’t have to be just a tool for discipline. Use it to grab some extra time and set clear expectations for them as well. You can add ‘the timer goes off’ to the end of the following statements and get great results.

“Mommy needs to finish cleaning. I will help you when…”

“You can swing a bit longer. We are leaving the park when…”

“Scrub, scrub, scrub those teeth until…”

“Because you are fighting the toy will go in time out until…..”

“Daddy and Mommy need to talk for a few moments. You can join us when…”

Would love to add other suggestions. Anyone have some good ideas?

Knitting Through Chaos

Tags

chaos, knitting, lamb, lemons out of lemonade, mess

I think my son was about 10 months old when he first got into my knitting. We had this cube storage, for toys, against the wall shaped like stairs. The knitting basket sat on top. It was perfect! Until of course the day he pulled all the toys off the cubicles and climbed the stairway to my knitting.

I had started my first project using fingering yarn and it was going to be a sweet little lamb puppet using this pattern from spin off magazine.

I was about an inch and a half in and he destroyed it! He ripped everything off the needles and broke one of my double points. I flipped. I sat on the ground in tears crying. More like bawling. Screaming….’why?’. Any mom knows not to ask why….if there is a reason children can not articulate it (especially at 10 months).

Instead: Hide all remnants of project and possibly all things that remind you of knitting and in this case sheep. Breath. Drink a big glass of water. Then get outside and do something physical. There will come a time when you can pick the project up again without even being sad.

Bobic Family Rule #2:

Never cry over broken needles or destroyed projects.

Later that afternoon the realization that my children had seen me act like that appalled me. I will not ever let them see me act like that again over knitting. Knitting can be redone…that’s the beauty of it actually. Needles (the ones I buy) are cheap. And while my knitting is ever so valuable to me in the moment the finished project is not important to my or my childrens’ well being.

It also caused me to pose the question of what I valued in my life. Sometimes our actions do not line up with our values. I value and valued my children, their happiness, their development, my position as a decent role model. Why then did I not take it seriously. Someone once told me its easy to be peaceful and patient and kind when things are going well. But that is not a true test is it?

Now when I get the lemons I think of it as an opportunity to teach my children how to make lemonade.

New Socks

Tags

hand knit, knitting, socks

I always said I would not knit socks….lesson learned…Never Say Never! This summer I have made a pair for Ben and Penny. Can’t wait until I have a chance to make myself a pair too. I started with Ben’s using The Basic Sock pattern by Ram Wools Yarn Co-op. Loved the way they turned out so I messed around with a design for Penny’s. If you have never worn a pair I suggest you find some. Hand knit socks are the coolest thing since white bread! Although…..they actually were probably making them before white bread….hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….to ponder. Ben’s socks look big in the pic but that’s because I’m wearing them…..

5 Reasons to love life with a vizsla

Tags

dog, violet, vizsla

#5 They make great guard dogs. P.S. Violet! take the bath toy out of your mouth. You’ll look more intimidating.

#4 They teach kids responsibilities (even if they really don’t need brushing and have no dog odor)

#3 Who doesn’t want help taking off the boots after work????

#2 you are never bored with a vizsla

#1 You are never cold with a Vizsla

 

Stranded Colorwork Vest

Tags

color work, knitting, vest

I am soooo excited about this project I LOVE to do colorwork but never do because it requires more concentration than I can afford to take away from everything else. Purchased this before I even thought I could do it but finally started about a month ago. Love the color choice too (which I usually screw up on). The pattern is from Knit Picks (click on pic to go to pattern)

I needed something a bit more natural. I can’t pull off that much purple and yellow so chose the following. I’m looking for a top to wear underneath it, similar to the one above, but in orange.

So my goal is to finish one round a day. There are only 160 some rows and it takes me about 30 minutes per row since this is done in fingering weight yarn….That is only about 80 hours! Even if I add a few for the shoulders and finishing….wow! Thought it would take much longer. Now considering I have not finished one row in 3 weeks thanks to the evil Paneled Sampler Afgan. I’m not sure I will ever get to wear it. I will say that it is coming along better than I thought. I have added row markers at the middle and quarter points to ensure I can find my place and fix mistakes easily.

Vi’s Swim

Tags

ducks, swim, violet, vizsla

Ben came running in the apartment today ‘Page get your shoes on I need your help!’ He had been outside playing with the dog and Penny. Worried sick that Penny is in trouble I ran out and its Violet! Go figure. Swimming around with the ducks….for a half hour….they seemed to know she couldn’t swim as fast as they could and they just kept going around and around and around the pond. She loves the water now!

Go ahead Ben keep throwing rocks at the ducks. If they do take off…do you think she won’t just run after them?

“I’m afraid she will get tired and have a heart attack and drown”. Really? I have the feeling that her heart might NEVER SLOW DOWN let alone just STOP! For crying out loud. We hitch her to our bike with a harness and she can go for hours. (1 Running Dog Bike Tow Leash found here http://www.biketowleash.com/index.php). Then we walk in the door and she starts chasing the cat. Never ending energy. Vizslas should have been the mascot for Energizer! My theory: Just let her swim. She was on point the whole time. Well at least her tail was. It looked like a little rudder sticker out of the water.

Violet The Big Red (Nosed) Dog

Tags

Clifford, Clifford the big red dog, food coloring, funny, mishaps, the big red dog, violet, vizla

I heard that Clifford the Big Red Dog was based on a vizsla. It wouldn’t surprise me. He never walked slowly into a room and there are days here that it feels like Violet is as big as Clifford. At least her presence is! This picture was taken just before Valentine’s Day when Penny and I were peacefully icing cupcakes. What a surprise when I looked over and saw Vi (as we call her). I couldn’t do anything but laugh. She looked like one of those mishappen and made up dogs on greeting cards. It took about three minutes for me to realize that if her nose was red, she had gotten into the food coloring (the gel kind, very potent) and that it was probably on more than just her nose…..It was…..all over my white carpet about 2 days before we put it on the market!!! Which leads me to

Bobic Rule #1:

If every thing is peaceful look again….you are missing something.

Paneled Sampler Afgan – watch what you throw yourself into!

Tags

afgan, cable, Caron simply soft, debbie macomber pattern, group, knitting, sampler, yarn

Watch what you throw yourself into! Offered up my time (what time?) to make a panel for this afgan for a local quild. Based off of Debbie Macomber’s Cabled Sampler Scarf pattern it uses the different cables to make an afgan. Each panel is almost 70 inches. I am working on the 7th cable pattern, it is beautiful but has long since lost its ‘fun’. I love it so much I want someone else to make me one. Using Caron Simply Soft yarn and it has a lot more stability in a cabled pattern. It’s limpness is something that bugs me when I usually use it.