the latest socks

These are done on size 1 US, toe up, 2 at a time. Trekking XXL from Astrid and I am annoyed with the yarn! Notice that the socks don't match? I tried 3 times to find the repeat. I have about decided there is none. One entire sock appears to be heathered while the other has some heather and some more solids. this is from one skein, weighed, re-wound (3 times, did I mention that already?) and finally I gave up. The socks fabric is nice and manly, which was the goal. Guess who they're for...(GINGER!)

Volunteering kids

It might not look like volunteering, but when Sherri (House Manager of Ronald McDonald House Memphis) calls these boys answer! The video gaming equipment is not a forte of any staff or other volunteer so our boys go and trouble-shoot the equipment from time to time. The other day they went to fix the X-Box 360. Problem solved and all is well with the world.

Max gets braces

We've known it was coming. We've been warned. Today, cash in hand [gulp!] we arrived at Dr. S. Meade Moore's office for Max's first braces. He got the top brackets on and a very light arch wire. He chose royal blue for his bands (surprising considering he wears Carolina Blue almost exclusively). Here are the before, during and after photos. How does this kid manage to be so stinking handsome even in the challenging teen years? I do wish he'd let me get after that hair though :)

Happy Birthday Max!

We are finally ending the week long event that is Max's birthday. We had a GREAT time in Tulsa with my family, hung out at the water park (which is now shamefully shabby) and just enjoyed ourselves immensely at my brother and sister-in-laws. BIG HUGS Andy and Roxanne!!!
Locally he had a quiet gathering with his friends and I made the menu. Eggrolls and General Tsao's chicken with sticky rice. Sasha made a cake for him and it was fabulous! Thanks to Connie for continuing to host. The boys had a rollicking game of cards and some video pursuits as well. Today he's off on his annual lunch with his other grandfather, "Jigs." Happy birthday young man. We're crazy about you!

Oops, I did it again

William blew out the thumb of the kote I had only repaired (but the repair was in another spot and held). Today I discovered there was no repairing that thumb. some of it appears to be missing. So once again I called Gossett-san and asked to borrow the upholstery thread. I really should just buy my own. Thankfully I had enough leather left and already had another palm cut out (probably from when I foolishly thought I would repair both of them at the same time). The good news is that this time it only took me two hours start to finish. There must be a wicked learning curve on the repair of kotes. Now he's set for practice tomorrow and aside from a bloody finger (I was distracted by fighting children and punctured the heck out of my index finger), no frosty adult beverages or even sailor language was required this time.

Molly's toys and haircut (again)

Molly LOVES her dog, "bear" and bunny. As you can see the poor devils were taken outside and played with. She was so sweet and didn't bring them back in the house all grimy. After a spin in the washer and dryer, Bunny is like new! Molly promptly took each toy and tossed it as if to say "where have you been!"

Molly loves William. Big morning kisses.
Molly runs way with Bunny in her mouth
Before the haircut, it's a dust mop
After the hair cut, it's a wheaten!

apparently I got a little crazy with "the fall" and snipped some of those hairs too close. Give it a few weeks and it will be just right (and time for another trim!)

USA Today article on dementing illness

USA Today has an article that features two fabulous members of some e-mail lists I'm on. Congrats to Chuck and Richard!

It has happened, the child has surpassed the parent

Max, our darling eldest, has eclipsed his Mama in height. He is thrilled. She is less than thrilled, but secretly I think she's excited. His voice is deep, his manner reserved and he finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in less than 24 hours. He says its a great book and he's very happy with how she (J.K. Rowling) ended it. Now I have to wait for Ginger to finish the book before I can read it to William.

Latest sock, "tilting windmills"

Today's FO (finished object) is the Tilting Windmill socks from Scheepjes Invicta Coloris from Holland. The pattern draws the sock in and it is the tightest sock I have made to date. Ginger swears they still fit. When she saw me cruising the latest KnitPicks fall heathered yarns and swooning, she said "I don't know how many more socks I need". I shall pretend she did NOT say that!
I am not quite ready to admit defeat. To weaken her resolve, I am CO for another pair for her out of Trekking XXL. Surely she will succumb and continue to pick fun yarns for me to knit for HRH? I do not wear socks very often and certainly not in the summer except to exercise. These are not exercise socks! The only other people to knit socks for (in the house) are the teenage boys. Ask yourself how well teenage boys take care of their socks and then imagine how reluctant I am to knit socks for them, though I do adore them.

Another trip to Nashville for Kendo

I need a bumper sticker like the soccer moms have; "Kendo Mom" suppose there's a market for it? It should probably have a men on it, or in my case, a photo of a dollar sign and me helping William repair another gash in his shinai. This Sunday we got up at the crack of freaking dawn to drive William, K. Yasuda-san and D. Crittendon-san to Nashville for the last practice with Maeda-sensei before he moves to Fl. Everyone had a great time. the turn out was fantastic. Mike Quinn-sensei was even there from Charlotte! I was keenly thrilled when Yasuda-san and then Imai-sensei took the time to correct William's right elbow on his Men strike.
Of course, no extra practice would be complete without the trip to the Japanese buffet for a bit of sushi and beer. The Memphis dojo, Yasuda-san, presented Maeda-sensei with our parting gift. It was very sweet.

Why, you ask yourself, does this woman post a photo of her foot in the middle of the Kendo post? Because, dear children, if it weren't for knitting, I would probably impale myself on one of the Kendo shinais! Knitting, specifically sock knitting, keeps me happy while the shouts of "MEN!" and smacking of bamboo staves surrounds me. This particular sock is shown earlier in the blog. You can see how much I got done in one week (not much)

Your dojo is free to use any of these photos. (all photos from the event, listed separately) Individuals present at the practice may also use them for their own blogs or newsletters.