Updates...

One week down with no ER visits! Woohoo! (I hope that being grateful is not tempting the fates, believe me, I'm not being smug or taking anything for granted!)


Molly's knee is better. It was not as bad as we expected, but it is still an impressive injury. The Ortho Doc labeled it a "second degree tear of the MCL" with some effusion (fluid build-up) and a possible tear of the meniscus, which is kind of like the padding under your knee cap. We had the MRI Friday to determine the exact status, but haven't heard any results thus far. I am thinking that no news is good news. (Again, no fate tempting here....) Suprisingly, he really didn't give her any restrictions other than not to push it and to know that if she's not careful, she could do further damage. Duh...
With that lack of restriction, and a really good brace, Molly was determined to be on the field marching last night and nothing we could say or do was going to stop her. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the last roadblock she had to overcome was Hutch, and he wasn't so easy to convince. Despite her best attempts, Molly watched the performance with the Pit Crew from the sidelines, even more determined to get back out there for next week's competition. I think she'll do it. It's kind of unnerving that the band director has final say at our house these days....



(Shout out to Theresa Kelly for the photo)










Socktoberfest at the Rainforest was great. There were lots of people, food, dessert, and best of all, yarn. Everyone got a goody bag full of knitterly delight and several hours to sit and enjoy it.
































Even The Flint Journal was there to document the event. You can read the article here at M-Live. Thank you Phyll, and everyone else for all your hard work! It was a lot of fun.

Spinning class at Heritage Spinning and Weaving last weekend was Awesome! This first class was primarily focused on learning about different kinds of fiber and how they are prepared for spinning. We all received a hand made drop spindle and plenty of wool to practice with.















It was great fun and I am totally addicted! I bought more fiber on the way out to practice with and I am happy to say it is all spun and plied. I couldn't resist the calling of the wheel. It didn't take long after getting the hang of the drop spindle to figure out that the wheel works exactly the same way except you don't have to stop every few seconds to spin and wind.























Next class we spend spinning on the different kind of wheels that the shop sells. I know what will be on my Christmas list this year!

What a week....

The folks in the ER at POH Clarkston have grown to love us (or maybe not). We've spent a lot of time there the last few days.

Let me start by saying Grand Blanc Marching Band is standing #1 in the state. (Well maybe not right this second, I haven't checked the scores from today) But if not #1, definitely in the top 3. Those of you who know what goes into a successful marching band know how much time and dedication the kids put in. It's impressive. We started out with band camp in August and have done or thought of little else since then. (I say we, but I really mean Molly). The band is awesome! A few days ago, Molly was running on the field and was cut off by another student. In an effort to "save the trumpet,' which was in her right hand when she started to fall to the ground, she swiveled around to break her fall and landed hard on her left hand. That was a bad thing. Wet grass = bad fall = bad hand.
Off to the ER we went.
The good news was, it was not broken. The bad news was, it really hurt anyway - for days and days. Did I mention to you the story of the missing keys on the morning I was trying to get to the ER? No? I'll save that for some day when I can't think of anything to write about....

Ok, so days go by and things are improving. No one is sick or injured. I get to knit/ listen to my current audio book. Life is good. Just when I'm thinking how great I am for getting so much done, Saturday morning, Heather comes downstairs and informs me that she can't see. What do you mean, you can't see? I say.
I don't know, everything in my peripheral vision is smeary and I have this really bad headache that is getting worse and worse. This is where having a husband that is a physician is a mixed blessing. We all know what these symptoms COULD mean( but probably don't) and you have to ignore that 'probably don't' part and go with the COULD.
Off to the ER we went.
The nurses and everyone are now looking at us with a spark of recognition in their eyes. A shot, an IV, a prescription, a diagnosis of 'migrane', and a couple hours later, we are on our way only a little worse for the wear.

This is the time I start to think, ok, that's it. We've had our dose of ER for the rest of the year. I can relax now and not worry about anything else happening. Life is good. That was really stupid.

Yesterday, I get a frantic call from one of the marching band directors that Molly has 'hurt her knee' and I need to come and get her. Hurt her knee? Can she walk? What happened? Never mind, I'll be right there. Luckily, Chris was home and was able to go with me. We arrived to find Molly not only hurt, but in absolute agony and unable to move any part of her leg.

Off to the ER we went.

The staff greeted us with recognition.
The good news is, we got in and out in a hurry. Everyone knew who we were.
The bad news is Molly's knee is really bad I think. We won't know for sure until the swelling goes down and and Ortho Doc can see her. But it's not looking good. Grand Blanc Marching Bobcats are going to carry on without her, and Molly is very, very sad.

I've learned.

Be prepared. Don't tempt the fates. Be nice to the ER staff.

Keep your fingers crossed for Molly.

And the winner is....

For the last three weeks, during the Back to Basics class, the UPS guy has shown up with boxes of (what I assume was) yarn. Carrie would then take these boxes to the back room, out of our line of vision, and loudly proclaim how soft and lovely were the contents of said boxes. Mind you, they didn't put any of this yarny goodness out for us to see, or experience for ourselves. (Well, I did get a little peek at the sock yarn - but just a little one). It was all for the Grand Opening. And, by the way, if you spend enough money, we'll enter your name into the grand prize drawing! How is that for a little temptation?

Earlier in the week I had made arrangements with my sister to ditch the kids (all of them) and head up to the store together. She couldn't make it until late in the evening, so I went in the morning without her. There was no way after all that waiting I was going to settle for 'what was left' of the new sock yarn. I picked this:










Lorna's Laces - Shepherd Sock Seaside & Sassy Stripes


And this:





Zitron - Trekking XXL











I would have chosen more, but I actually had a rational moment when I realized that we still need to eat and buy gas for the rest of the month. Will put it away for me so that my Sister wouldn't know I cheated and came early without her. Unbelievably, when I went back with her later that evening, I didn't buy more. I just paid for my yarn (and because I spent enough, I got my name in the drawing) and left. But not without having a really weird conversation with Will about sex education and kids....but that's another story.

Friday afternoon, after spending all morning painting marching band props (also another story) I got the best call. I was the winner for the Grand Prize! Woo Hoo! This is what I won:

Very cute knitting bag
enough yarn to make a purse & Pattern
Needles for pattern (Addi circs and bamboo straights)
Stitch Markers (2 kinds)
needle holders (2 kinds)
tapestry needles & case
Pattern and yarn for decorative felted pumpkin
Pattern and yarn for Halloween sock (teeny)
project bag
2 gift cards for 4 sessions of round table knitting at the store
knitting Christmas ornament

A fabulous end to a VERY LONG week! Now, if I just had time to knit.....The only thing I've done in a week has been homework for BTB class.

As a side note: Grand Blanc Marching Band kicked ass at Trenton on Saturday . They took first place, all three caption awards and are currently standing 2nd place in the state. On to Linden next weekend!



(This was practice Friday afternoon)

Knitters Anonymous

I am not sure how this happened. It started with two stitches ( I would do purls, but preferred knits). Pretty soon, two were just not enough and before I knew it I was doing YO's, K2 tog's, and SSK's. I even started knitting in public! From there I progressed to cables and then lace charts. I suspected I might have a problem so I took a class, but that only led to more and more knitting. (Not to mention, hanging out with other people who knit too...) I started to realize that there were dishes in the sink, laundry piled up and general disorder in the house on a regular basis. When I couldn't stand to look at the mess any more, I went to the yarn store. All tasks I performed for family members were preceded with "ok, just a second", "just let me finish this round/part" or "can you wait? I'm counting." The last straw was last weekend. RAVELRY. I have fallen, and I can't get up.

Reveling in Ravelry

It came on Friday - my invitation to Ravelry, that is. Since I've already cashed in my invite, I can't hang out with the impatient Alpaca. Last time I checked though, there were about 12,000 people in line behind me. That makes me one of the elite...

Now since it was the weekend I haven't had a lot of time to check out the wonder that is Ravelry. From what I did get a chance to see, I think it is quite clever, and I can't wait to see more. Just from the blogs of the Keyboard Biologist and Yarn-A-Go-Go (I picked two randomly) I think I should be prepared to be completely and totally hooked.

Lots to do today - must finish my homework for class tomorrow!

Back to Basics

I started another class Tuesday. It's the Ewe to You version of the 'Knitting Boot Camp' aptly named Back to Basics. It was lots of fun and very informative. Quite often, I don't learn anything at the classes I take. I have now attributed this to the 'cleaning your house for the housekeeper' syndrome (my mom used to do this - clean, that is, before the person she paid to do just that showed up). My problem with knitting classes is that I do a bunch of research on techniques, or the actual pattern that we will be working on and figure it all out ahead of time. This isn't necessarily all bad, as I have lots of time for chit-chat after the initial explanation is over. It's not all about the thing that you're making anyway - the company of others who share at least one thing in common with you and a couple of hours to knit without interruption is half the fun. I think this class is what I've been looking for, though, in the challenge department. We've got books and homework and such. Not to mention, Kathy said the magic words. "What do you want to learn?"

I'm making a list!

A Note on Pomatomus

I like a challenge, but these socks are kicking my arse. I have started them three times now. Tried new yarn, different needles, and lastly a different size needles due to yarn overs that were the size of my head. I think maybe three's a charm, because after two days of knitting, I've actually made it to row 15. Whoo hoo...... I have read nothing but rave reviews (and cute stories) about this pattern from those with the worst 'second sock syndrome' who claim the second in the pair just flew off their needles and those who have knitted 3 or 4 pair and can't wait to make more. I must be doing something wrong, because after 6 rows or so, my hands are cramped and forearms sore from wrestling with this thing. Me thinks I'm a stone's throw from defeat.....We'll see.

Carrying on, for now, with some sturdy hand painted yarn (not trekking XXL 100- too crazy) metal needles (not bamboo), and size #1's (not#2's).