Great Big Thank You

A great big thank you to Kari for designing my blog for me. It is beautiful and I love it. She does wonderful work!!

Back from Vicksburg

Holy cow we had a great time. The girl and her mom that we roomed with were a hoot and we all enjoyed our time. Friday we arrived at the hotel around 3:30pm so we checked in and freshed up a bit. We all decided to go downtown and do some window shopping. The downtown area is sooo cute. Lots of old shops and resturants with the Mississippi river as a back drop. The streets are all bricked and best of all the parking was free. The lady in one of the stores told me of a tornado that hit in 1953 and ripped thru her (wasn't hers then) store. She then showed me a picture of the damage it had done to the store itself. It seems that the tornado just sat down right in the center of this shop and tore the inside of it up.

This is just an alley way next to the stores. If you were to keep walking down this alley and a bit further down you would run smack dab into Ole Man River.

We then decided to go to a haunted tour of an old antebellium home. The house was built in 1863 and the couple that lived there had 11 children of which only 6 saw adult hood. The man who owned the home was a lawyer and a jeweler. At the time of the seige of Vicksburg Gen. Grant slept in the home and the original furniture is still in the room. Also there is a place in the floor where a cannon ball went thru the floor in one of the parlors.

After the tour was over we went back to the hotel room and got ready for bed. The girls had a 10:00 game and a 2:00 game and they needed their rest. Saturday all we did was soccer and went out to eat as a team. Sunday we had a very early game at 8 in the am. After that game we went to the Military park. I will post some pictures of that tomorrow to show some of what we saw. If you are ever in or around Vicksburg, MS take time to see the sights it is well worth it.

Another Soccer filled weekend....

We are off for another one of those soccer filled weekends. Hopefully this one is the last for a few months. I know in the Spring we will be going all over the place but I need a break. Don't get me wrong I love watching the girls play but you know this has been non-stop since last February. I think we have had 2 weekends off with no practice or games in that time. We are going to be in Vicksburg, MS for the weekend and I'm hoping to have time to visit the military park there and take some pictures.
See you guys sometime Sunday or Monday.

Laundry

A simple enough title one would think, however if you dig a bit more you would find that laundry is not such a simple subject at all. There are 5 people in our family not including the 3 dogs and 2 cats. The 5 humans have the capability of creating mounds of laundry even as the wash lady finishes what she thinks is the last bit of dirty clothes in the house. I do not think these kids wear these clothes what I think happens is the clothes gnomes go thru the closest and decide that this looks like it was washed yesterday lets throw it on the pile in the floor so we can give that lady something to do she looks like she might have gotten a bit to comfortable. It's either that or these kids are wearing entirely to many clothes at once. My daughter and I are getting ready to go out of town this weekend for.... you guessed it soccer, and I have to get all the dang laundry done. I know that I could probably make the kids get it done but it wouldn't get done right or they would mess something up and that something would end up being something of mine. For all my complaining it is worth me doing the laundry. So tonight its laundry and packing for tomorrow. Then I have to get up with the chickens in the morning and get my oil changed, gas up the truck, go get drinks to fill the cooler and get snack type food for the road. And make sure I have plenty of yarn to keep me busy this weekend after games. We are going to do some sight seeing and maybe find a yarn shop if there is one around.

On another note, I bought the cutest cable sweater last night at JC Penney's. I sure with I could knit me one like this or some of the other ones that I saw. I have been looking at the different stitches and cabling trying to figure it out. I know it can be done but don't know if I'm able to do it or not. I might just try.

Better today

I'm better today, still a bit on the queasy side but better. I have come to the conclusion that I will live from what ever malady hit my stomach regions yesterday. Thanks again for all the well wishers I very much appreciate it.

One of my cats seem to think that my side of the bed on the pillow is a fabulous place to take a bath. Last evening I went into my room hoping to sit on the bed a crochet for a bit before anyone else in the house hollered for me to do something for them. Entering the room I immediately saw that it was apparent that I would not be getting on the bed at that particular moment. Scarlett was up on my pillow sitting on her butt with her back legs forward, here see for yourself:


It just isn't right I tell you. So I tell her to get down that I'm tired (yes I explained myself to my cat) and this is the look I get from her,

Looks at me like I can just wait.

The cat is crazy. I promise it about took an act of congress to get her off my side of the bed. Then she got mad and started pestering the dog who is scared of her. Miss Katie Scarlett is a fussy kitty cat but we love her anyway.

Thanks all you guys for the well wishes. I will be ok but getting thru today is been fun...not. I have been about frozen all day long. I couldn't turn the heat on because we have never lit the pilot in this house and I don't know how to do it. So I have sat here all day in socks I knitted out of thick wool (ugly but warm) my PJs and a jacket that came with some PJs I have. I kinda feel bad about not being at work only because I hate to push my work on someone else but sometimes you get sick.

Another one of those days....

I feel like crap. I stayed home from work today because my stomach decided to act a fool last night and this morning. The youngest is suffering from the same ailment. However, my gall bladder has been bothering the heck out of me. I haven't gone to a doctor about it yet and I know that I should but I haven't. It has been hurting me for about 2 weeks now and today is no different. I really hate feeling like this and I hate even more leaving work for others to do. That's not me. I have a desk full of work to do but I can't go in feeling like this. Heck I can't stay away from the potty room long enough. I know TMI for this morning.

I'm going to go get into bed and crochet today. Maybe I can get the baby blanket done or even most of the way done. That would be good. Then I can start on a baby hat and maybe a sweater if I can find one that I can do.

Of Blankets and Spiders

I know that was a really weird title but there is a reason, of sorts.
I'm making the beautiful baby blanket that Deneen created. I love it and it is so easy. Thanks Deneen. I will post a picture of it when I'm done I only hope I do it justice.

On to the other subject of spiders, we have a wonderful garden spider out the front door. She/He has spun a web across part of the flower bed. The kids and I have been watching her for the last week hoping to see her build her web and catch some dinner. I took a picture of the spider today for my youngest son thought it would be cool to take to school. His science teacher would appreciate it.

Long day

Today has been a long day for me. I took off a half day to take my daughter back to the doctor. She had been coughing for a couple of days before the tournament this past weekend and I had been treating the drip and the cough but by Sunday after the first game she had to be picked up and carried off the field. She got to where she couldn't breath and was getting dizzy. Monday morning I let her stay home from school because she was feeling so bad so my mom took her to the doctor for me. Well, I thought she just had bronchitis but noooo she has pneumonia. She hasn't felt any better and was just laying around not wanting to eat or anything else for that matter so today I decided that I was leaving early and taking her back. We get to the doctors office today and they refuse to see her because they say I owe (get this) $44.00 that the insurance didn't pay. I told them I couldn't pay that today but I would in two weeks so they told me they wouldn't see her. I asked them why they didn't tell my mom Monday and saw her anyway then told me to bring her back today for a recheck. They told me that they were sorry that no one told me that but they weren't seeing her. OK by this time my blood is boiling. I said to them, 'Are you telling me that 44.00 is more important than the health of a child and you won't see her because the insurance wouldn't pay for a wrist splint?' They told me yes. So I told them OK, since the doctor told me to bring her back today if she became more ill and ended up in the hospital or worse I would be hiring an attorney and suing the office for hospital bills and what the insurance wouldn't pay. I left at this point before I absolutely lost it. By the time I get home the office is calling me back to bring her back in to be checked. Jeez, I had to get mad, get my blood pressure up just to get my daughter seen. They took another x-ray today and there is no change matter of fact they said she sounded worse. She will bounce back soon but she is missing a bunch of school.

I had started working on a sweater but I got a call from a friend last night asking me to make a baby blanket for her daughter. I guess I can do both but it won't take me long to make a blanket. Might add a little hat and sweater if possible.

Monday's

I swear if I could have stayed in bed this morning I would have. This weekend has worn me out with all the soccer that was played. Now mind you my fat tail didn't play any soccer but I did take a butt load of pictures from the side line and I expended a bunch on energy on hollering at the girls to get with it. Outside of that, getting up before the dogs do is just to much for me. I was so tired by the time I got into the bed last night that I fell right out. Plus I'm getting all stuffy thanks to my coughing daughter. Oh well I guess that's the way the ball bounces.
My eldest was so good to me while we were gone all weekend, he did all do you hear me ALL the laundry, vacuumed, did dishes and took care of the dogs. I was so thankful that I didn't have to do all that. I didn't get the bathrooms cleaned but I'm going to get that done this evening.

On a good note, I was able to finish the socks I was making. I wasn't able to take a picture to post because as soon as I finished them my daughter took them and put them on her cold feet. She is going to love them. Maybe she will let me photograph her feet wearing them.
I'm going to start a sweater. Wish me luck because boy I'm going to need it. I found a pattern that didn't look to hard to do and I think I have enough yarn to actually make this one. The one I want to make is going to cost me an arm and a leg to make, right now I just don't have the money to buy the yarn to make it. I haven't gotten to buy yarn in a couple of months. And I'm beginning to have withdrawals. Our local Michael's is having a yarn sale and everything is marked down a bit but still I can't get what I want. They have it but I just can't. I keep entering the months drawing at Knit Picks hoping to win one day. I'm not that lucky and I'm sure that 15 million others are entering too. Maybe for Christmas some nice relative will look upon me with pity and give me a gift certificate to buy the yarn I want. LOL.

Soccer filled day

Today was nothing but soccer. From 7:30 this morning to about 2:00 this afternoon we played soccer. We didn't win either game but they played hard. The team has a ways to go to get to the level of some of the other teams. Anyway I'm to tried to write to much so I'm going to go but here is a picture of them playing well its my daughter stopping a ball.

Felted purse

I have been meaning to post the pictures of the purse I knitted a few months back. It turned out pretty good but after I felted it, it shrunk unmercifully. I could not believe it shrunk so much. But anyway here are a couple of pictures of it:

Busy, Busy

I'm going to be beyond busy this weekend and I'm not looking forward to it at all. Lets see....Tonight my family and I are going to my MIL' s birthday party. She orchestrated this entire event and it looks to be a bunch of fun. Then tomorrow morning Tori and I have to be up before the rooster crows to be on the soccer field in Memphis at 7:30am. My mother will be taking the youngest to his soccer game in Mississippi at 8:30 then she and he will be meeting me at the Memphis field after his game. Tori plays again at 12:45 then I will leave with the youngest to back to Mississippi for him to play another game at 3:00pm. We will make it home somewhere around 5:00 that evening. But wait folks that's not all... Sunday again we have to get up before the rooster crows and this time be on the field at 7:00am in Memphis then she plays again I think at 3:00. It's nothing but soccer this weekend. I love going to the games but I hate when they are back to back like this. Sundays are not to bad at least the girls can get a bit of rest in between. Fortunately we only have one more tournament this month in Vicksburg then no more soccer this season till Spring. I really could use the break. Tori is going to be lost without it because that's all she does besides school.

Braces no Braces

My daughter saw my new blog tonight and asked me why her picture wasn't on here. So instead of just showing her I thought I would show the difference between the brace and no brace. She just got them off about 2 weeks ago and is very proud.

Socks

I took a picture of the socks that I have in the works. I think they are funny looking but hey I made socks. This is the second pair I have made using this pattern and I think I'm about ready to move on to a new pattern. I want to learn how to do cables, for sweaters and socks. I found a pattern for a scarf that is in cables and it says that its the fun way to learn how to cable. Well we will see. I can see me getting frustrated with all that fun. Once I get the hang of it, it will all be OK but until then.. I like making socks. Especially these wool socks. They are so warm. You know

.now that I look at these socks they looks different from each other. I made them from the same pattern and followed it the same and look at the difference. Strange if you ask me. One looks like an elephant sock and the other looks well.... normal.

I have made up my mind and I'm going to start a sweater next. I'm going to conquer my fears and just dive head first into it. Well, maybe not my head you have to be careful of the needles they can be sharp. As the little engine said, I think I can , I think I can, I think I can. I will post pictures as I go. Woowoo!!

Wow its been a bit since I posted last. I'm a bad girl for not keeping up with this but I'm not to sure anyone reads it anyway. Well I know my mom does, HEY MOM!!!!! My house is so busy right now. Tori is playing competitive soccer and practices 2 evenings and 2 afternoons a week plus the tournaments that come up. For instance she has a tournament this weekend and one in 2 weeks out of town. Cody plays football so there is football practice everyday after school and he plays Jr. varsity and varsity so he has games on Monday and Friday nights. And last but not least Shelby plays rec soccer so there is 2 practices a week plus game on Saturdays except for this Saturday he has 2 games. My daughter plays in the forward position and my son plays goalie or as I call him 'The Keeper' sounds good anyway.

Mom this picture is for you. There is your boy.

The only time I have to knit anymore is either at the practices or before I go to bed. I don't get much done which is driving me nuts. I have been working on this same pair of socks for a couple of months. I should have been finished a long time ago. They are so cute and turned out a bunch better than the first ones I ever tried to make. I think for my next project I'm going to attempt to make this sweater . I have never made a sweater before and I know this one is probably way above my head but the pattern itself after reading thru it doesn't seem as hard as it looks. So, I'm going to give it a shot.

On the crocheting front, I haven't had time to ever begin to work on the sweater I was going to attempt. Right now I'm stuck on knitting. You know just not enough time in the day for a working working mom.