Shower, Art Fair, and Santa gifts

As I'm sitting here in Michigan, it's 81*F but only 68*F back in Southern California. We just got back from the Art Fair in town, and my shoulders were beginning to feel the heat. Now, I ask you, what is wrong with that picture? So much for Sunny Southern California being the warm place to be! I got a feeling this was the year of jewelry at the Art Fair. I didn't get pictures of the jewelry, but did take lots of other things. One quilt vendor, several t-shirts and sweatshirts, one really neat woven basekets, and a few pottery places mixed in.

I really liked the blue pottery bowls and vases, but they're so heavy I didn't want to chance taking one home. The baskets were beautifully woven, but didn't have room in my suitecase either. Drats!

Besides, with my luck, I'd either be over the weight limit or they'd smash it to bits. And being the 'thrifty' shopper, ok..cheap shopper...to mail it back would have really increased the price of the items. But they were very pretty. I figure pictures on the camera disk are much easier to pack to bring back home. Truth be told, there is a new yarn shop in town that I'm dying to go check out. Rowan yarns, etc...but it's closed on Sundays and Mondays. Mom said if I found something I liked, she'd get it for me for my birthday (November) and Christmas. Now, would I be able to be surprised when I opened it? My answer? Mom, my memory lasts about 5 mins, and I'll probably forget it was ever bought! Tuesday, can you hurry up? ha ha ha.

Yesterday was the baby shower that I've been knitting for lately. The daddy-to-be is my cousin's son, and is between my two oldest kids in age. He came to California several years ago and helped me out with my kids during a particularily rough time in the family. This will be his first baby, and a long awaited girl for his family. It was great to see several of my extended family members and the weather has been fabulous! The daddy-to-be and Grandpa-to-be were grilling hotdogs and brats...mmmmmmmm love those! Food was fantastic and she was gifted with many gifts. (I think she was given enough clothes for triplets!) We were teasing them that a bigger house was needed to hold it all! Her grandfather even made a rocking chair for Little Miss "B" when she makes her grand entrance mid August.

In my famous tradition, I wasn't quite finished knitting until we were 1/2 way to the shower. (Both prom dates had to wait downstairs while I finished sewing my hems....it's a gift I tell ya! Keeps Mom on edge. Always guessing...) Hense the white sweater in the picture is minus the I-chord for the neck. It was finished, all ends tucked in and wrapped before we arrived at our destination. It's so nice to be picked up for the party and ride out with additional family members while being able to knit! Ah the things you don't get to do when you move nearly 3,000 miles away from home. I do have to say...giving up the purple blanket wasn't easy..it's sooooooooooooooooo soft!

The sweaters and baby wash cloths were from me, the purple blanket is from the youngest daughter, and the Rainbow Feather & Fan blanket is from the middle daughter. Son's request will hopefully be finished before I go home on Saturday, and if the oldest daugher ever makes up her mind, that last item could be ready before the August 14th due date. We'll see. Making up her mind, is never a strong suit for her. (We don't take her to Baskin Robbins for that reason)

Now, here are the reasons this was so important. 3 1/2 generations worth. Many years ago, I was about to have my first baby. I was living 3,000 miles away from all of my family and feeling quite lonely. One day a box arrived in the mail. Inside was a beautiful white knitted sweater set, 2 sewn adorable dresses, and an embroidered bib made with a draw string top that gave great coverage for messy eaters. Here are those same women today, plus the Mommy-to-be, Auntie-to-be and my mom. It is in their honor that I knit for this baby. And I've had time to knit up a storm for this baby where in the past having 4 of my own, and working 2 jobs and 2 separate volunteer groups left little time to do much else for other babies in the family. Telling the Mommy-to-be and her Mother-in-law and Aunt what my reasons for the gifts were, made me cry. Ahhhhh..it's so good to see and hug family again! And to finally let them know how that one little box meant so very much to me all those years ago!

Last but not least, I brought these along. They will be delivered shortly to another Aunt. They are the ones who play Santa and Mrs. Claus every year for groups around town and to a couple of special shelters on Christmas Eve. 6 scarves, 5 adult hats, and 4 children's sizes of hats will kick off my knitting for them this year. And I won't have to pay USPS for shipping. 2 Christmas' ago, I got the nicest note after the holdiays about how excited the kids were to be able to pick out their own hats. I try to make them all different so everyone can have their own. Plus, as a Mom, it's much easier to remember who left it laying around if they are all unique. Hopefully, some warm heads will be covered come December this year.

The week's only begun! More knitting, and knitted things yet to be delivered!.

And it's sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good to be back to high speed when trying to upload pictures! YEA! Now, if only I could have some cell phone reception! PLEASE? Somewhere in this town?

Batten Down the Hatches...she's Blown into Town!

I am one tired, but happy camper right about now...not only did I arrive at my parent's house via some interesting airpockets around O'Hare and Flint airports, but I just found out I can pick up broadband in their apartment! Don't know how long it will last, but for right now, it's working! Sooooooooooooooooooooo much better than dial up!

Ok, I finished the purple blankie 10 mins before we landed on the 2nd flight today. The baby shower is tomorrow. The last two sweaters aren't even started...oh well. I originally thought I had until August to get all things finished before I knew I was going to be here. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a lot of pictures tomorrow and post them shortly. If this broadband thing holds up....we might even get out of Dallas and back to California on this little trip story! Loading up pictures on the last installment, I kid you not..took me 4 1/2 hours! That's a longgggggggggggggg time to load pictures. And ifin I wasn't so tired, I'd finish it now.

However, the night before I fly, IF I get any sleep, it's not much and it's not good sleep. I end up laying in bed with 3 alarms set, and still worry that I'll sleep right through them and miss my flight. The good part, is that I arrive tired, need sleep, and hopefully I'll adjust to Mom and Dad's time schedule very shortly. (Trust me on this one...they like the same time table for everyone and it makes things much smoother. Even if we 'forget' that they're morning folks and I'm definately NOT.) Last night I 'sorta' got 1 1/2 hours worth of choppy sleep. Dad has invited me out for breakfast in the morning IF I get up in time. But then has a makeup radiation treatment while we girls head on off to the shower. My uncle is going with him and they will then head out for a 'guys' lunch. The baby to be will be my uncle's Great-Granddaughter, but the guys just aren't interested in all things baby showery like. Go figure. HA!

Have you ever gone home to visit your parents, and find that their bedtimes just don't match yours and are 3 hours ahead of your time table..and then...their floors squeek when you want to get a drink of water? Tip-toeing just doesn't do a thing, when the whole floor doesn't just squeek..it squeeks like it matters and wants to sing it LOUD!

Luckily, at the end of next week...some of my classmates are gathering in town for an informal 30th class reunion. Can't wait to see who can make it back to town. Cuz you KNOW I don't feel old...I refuse.

Signing off for tonight. I'll add some pictures later this weekend if the broadband stays afloat to spice up this post. Tonight...I'm just a bit too tired. But, I have arrived, so have the bags, and the baby gifts (Knitted of course) and were hand carried into town. I wasn't going to take the chance of it getting lost in luggage, so I carried them all onto the plane. 2 blankets, 2 sweaters ready to go, one hat to make tonight, and 2 sweaters before the August due date to go! (Plus some charity knits to be delivered while in town...story to follow.) I can't wait to see my family members all in ONE PLACE! AT ONE TIME!

Hey...kids of mine...are you jealous yet? ehehehehe..(I tried to send you a picture of Grandma and Grandpa when I got here, but my cell phone won't get a signal. Not even outside down the street and around the corner...literally! dang it!

Oh, and kids...I get to hug K tomorrow, too! And V, and M and M and Auntie M and Uncle A.......hehehehehe....ahhhhhhh....family love.

I promise, I'll bring your hugs all home for you guys, too!

One other thing...it's kinda nice to be in a part of the country where real news..is the news around here....and it's veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy quiet!

Busy couple of weeks! Part 'Dallas.'

Before I continue with the story here (which will most likely take longer than the 2 days to drive this trip...so put your feet up and get some knitting done while I get long winded. and the dial up takes daysssssssss to load the pictures...) I thought I'd mention a little something to Rae.

In reference to your comments on yesterday's post. You have a cutesy little one at home. You're supposed to be 'on time' to get to work and take care of the little one. You can learn to be 'carefree' when the road-trip time comes when a) it's not your car, it's your child's. b) your child is in 'charge' of the trip (I know, I gulped when I read what I just wrote, too...scary thought - huh?) c) your 'child' is about to be 25, and you know that at his age, you were chasing around not just him but his older sister and had one more little one 2 months away from birth at that time. A road trip with his mom is a piece of cake compared to 3 kids under the age of 4 1/2 at home to clean up after! d) you still have PROMS, that's right plural...PROMS to live through with your daughter before you hit the road with her...once you survive those, a road trip is gravy.

Oh, and Rae? I'm sending you Excedrin when it's time to start shopping for those prom dresses. Keep me posted when the time comes! (I have 3 daughters....trust me..Excedrin for Mom and a magic bank account helps).

Now let me give you some back story on my son and why this was an 'important' day. My son loves baseball. Not just loves...but breathes in baseball like I breathe in knitting! When he was born the ladies from my church wanted to know what I'd like to have for him. Living in the greater Los Angeles area, Dodgers baseball outfits was my answer. As he got a little bit older, my parents helped us to outfit him in Detroit Tigers clothing. Cute little bugger. At that point, he thought the Tigers were the bomb! Until that public school thing hit and he relearned that there were other baseball teams out there in the world, and he lived 'near' Dodger stadium. GRRR...

The year after he graduated from high school, he bought his first 'packet' of multiple game Dodger tickets and took me to the game on Mother's Day. He had one rule. No knitting Mom! HUH? That was really hard...but I gave in and took my brand new cell phone that day. It was a blast! It was the first time my son had taken me to a game, and we were able to take my parents along for the 'ride' via the cell phone and sing 'take me out to the ball game' from 3,000 miles away together. Years earlier, I came upon a couple of great tickets to a game in Dodger stadium and I took my Dad, my son and my youngest daughter. Our seats were in the second level, directly overlooking home plate. They were so good that you could call the pitch before the umpire got to it! So, to call Dad from the game was one of those cool memories I'll never forget and share a 2nd game with him 'at' Dodger Stadium.

Anyway...continuing on...(see, told you..long winded-I've been told)...this kid really loves baseball. Baseball facts, baseball games, baseball trivia..baseball everything. A couple of weeks after his high school graduation, he was at Dodger stadium and used the disposable camera he'd left in his car from Grad night. He took pictures of the stadium after ordering his jersey. Just after snapping the last picture on the roll of film, out from the stadium...who did he run into? Tommy Lasorda! Figures, huh? The one time he's there, no witnesses...and no more film. That was one excited kid on the phone....MOM...MOM! You're not going to believe this! Guess who I just met!

Cut to a few years later, he transfers to UCLA. UCLA has a baseball team. UCLA pretty much pre-drafts their players ahead of time, but this kid is brassy enough to approach the coach and asks to be a walk on try out! Unfortunately, he didn't make the team, but the coach liked him so much that he asked him to stay and help the team out. In exchange for being a pitching coach and team manager, he got scholarship money to help pay for school! And road trips with the team. Which translates into free tickets to the games. Not too shabby-huh? Oh, and he met Charlie Sheen when he came to have batting practice with the team one day, too.

Ok ok ok..back to this trip..and THIS baseball story...Here's our first look inside the stadium.

One of the things he loves to do, is to watch batting practice. The CALIFORNIA ANGELS were out on the field when we went into the stadium. (I hate the 'new' name and refuse to use it-get a map people, they aren't in Los Angeles, that's the 'other' team.) Texas Rangers vs. the Angels.

At this point, we had a new conversation. It went like this on my cell phone:

M: Dad!

My Dad: Hello.

M: Guess where kiddo and I are?

D: Um, in Indiana?

M: Nope, we're in Dallas!

D: Dallas! What are you doing in Dallas?

S: Mom-technically it's Arlington.

M: Ok, technically it's Arlington, Dad. We thought we'd go see the Angels play some baseball.

D: How'd you get there?

M: I flew into Indiana to help kiddo drive home for the summer, and we thought we'd 'stop off' on the 'way' home.

D: HAHAHAHAHA That's a bit out of the way! Good for you!

With batting practice over, we started hiking up the stadium. Yep...hiking. What a cool stadium! The box seat entrances, which I neglected to get pictures of...had pictures of past baseball greats. Try has hard as he could...kiddo couldn't get into them to 'peek'...he didn't have the right ticket.

However, he did manage to do a little more of this:
Yep..more texting...and yes, to two girls. Again.

But check out this view! Amazing!

Now, of course, we had to eat dinner at some point, and honestly, how can you go to a baseball game without a hot dog? Here's probably the only way you'll ever see me eat ketchup. (They didn't have any BBQ sauce. darnit)

Then, our seats were wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy up here...where guess what kiddo did....yep..back to the phone! And yes...girls, again.

Here's something you won't see in a California or a Detroit stadium...the whole crowd singing Deep in the Heart of Texas!

As the game went on...we walked around the stadium a bit, and worked our way down behind center field. Nice view I tell you! We saw Sammy hit #596, but son refused to take any pictures of the moment.

S: I don't take pictures of cheaters.

M: Ulg...but this is history in the making.

S: I don't care. I don't take pictures of cheaters.

If you see the skyline above the 'song board'..you'll see some pretty dark clouds rolling in. We stayed to the end of the game, but not for the fireworks. We chose to hit the road again before a nasty Texas sized storm was due. Even the stadium people were warning the fans about the storm's arrival. It was late, and we had at least 20 more hours to drive. And as you can see, I'm already tired here. (Notice the 'comfy while we drive' attire I'm modeling)

Blanket update....6 more lace pattern repeats to go..and ticket, as of this afternoon has been procured! I will be able to hand deliver baby shower gifts in person on Saturday! (I'd show you another picture in progress, but it's already taken me over 4 1/2 hours to upload this much) WOOO HOO BABY! I'm going home for a week....starting this Friday!

It's a good thing, I promise.

Busy couple of weeks! Part 'Indy'.

This has been a couple of weeks that have passed by very quickly! I'm glad that I have taken pictures so at some point I will be able too sit back and enjoy what we all had together! Hopefully, on dial up these days (ulg-don't ask) I'll get this story up in parts as uploading will allow me to add pictures.

First, was the trip to Indiana to meet up with my son and our drive back to California. Let me say this...my son has the coolest set of music on his I-Pod! Hours and hours of great stuff..country, to 70's, to Motown, to dance, to hip hop! and a few of those songs you tell your kids; "you have to wear head phones on that..cuz it's not something I want to hear". Followed with; "don't you EVER let your Grandmother hear that!" The only time on our whole drive home that a song was repeated, it was by request. That kid has some kinda collection! (sure hope he's got it all backed up on Cd's...ask me how I know this is important! GRRRRRRRRRR.....)

Continuing with the story... I got into the airport on an earlier flight. Just a bit ahead of his arrival to pick me up. That first conversation went like this:

Me: Hey kiddo! I got the earlier flight so we can hit the road earlier.

Son: Well, I'm not exactly finished packing...

M: What do you mean-'not exactly'? I called you this afternoon and told you I was going to try and get in earlier.

S: Well, I know what I'm bringing home, but it's not in the car.

M: Haven't you been off of school for a few days now? And I couldn't come in before Thursday, so you had EXTRA time to pack?

S: Well, you know. I had people to see.

OK, so he gets to the Indy airport and off we head into our little adventure. Stopping off at his house (6 grad students in one house...6 MALE grad students in one house) to pick up his stuff and hit the road...it's nearly 10 pm now. There are piles of clothes-some even folded (when did he learn to do this? ) on his bed, and there is this stack of books from one semester to cart home. (So glad I didn't have to read this amount for college) and this is the pile of papers he needs for his research paper this summer! (I'm so glad this kid loves to read!)

As we go up and down this staircase to bring down his stuff next to the door...he starts texting on his phone. Not one, but with two different girls. (Mom pulls out preemie blanket to work on while he's deep into conversation. Thank goodness for knitting!) He then gets to his computer to print maps for the trip. (Mom feels much better with maps in hand. ) Keep in mind, with all the driving back and forth for three years of school, his plan is to add to his goal of seeing a baseball game in each stadium across the country. Last year, AFTER he pulled out from his apartment, he asked us to check which teams had home games while he was out on the road. I texted him driving directions over the phone to the stadium, for a haircut and finally home post game. This year I said I wanted maps prior to leaving. So the next conversation went like this...

S: Mom, do you want to go to a baseball game on the way home?

M: Heck ya! I love going to games with you! Where abouts?

S: We can go to Dallas, or Houston, or both.

M: Do you know how far away Houston is from Dallas?

S: Not too far, really. About the same distance.

M: Are you kidding me? It's at least 4 hours in the opposite direction of where we need to go after the game. Texas is a bit of a 'swing' out of the regular path home, but Houston is a much bigger swing. How long do you want to take to get home?

S: OK, so we'll just go to Dallas and not to both, OK?

M: Sounds like a plan.

S: Well, Since the game is at 7pm tomorrow, we really don't need to leave until 2am and we'll still have plenty of time to get there.

M: Wake me up when it's time to leave.

S: Mom, we need to get this stuff downstairs. You don't need to sleep.

At which time there is more texting with the girls and I decided to plug in my camera batteries to make sure they're both full before we head on off down the road. (baseball game will need to be documented..right?)

S: Mom, don't do this..it's a bad idea. You're going to forget it.

M: Kiddo, I'm sitting right here, the light is on and I can see it every time I walk into your room and there's no way I'm going to leave this behind. It's going to be fine.

S: I'm telling you Mom, don't do it!

M: Kiddo, We have to unplug everything before you leave, it's going to be fine.

(Cue the music. You know the kind....da da dada da dadadadadada............)

Once everything is downstairs and the first battery is fully charged and in the camera, I thought I'd plug in the 2nd battery and give it all the charging that time would permit while he was packing the car. I stood in front of his TV staring at the battery to make sure I wouldn't forget to take it with me. (getting late now, and I'm feeling the 1:30ish time)

S: Mom! Don't do it! I'm telling you...not a good idea.

M: Kiddo. I'm right here. Let me know when you've finished packing the car and don't forget my bag and computer case. I'll be right there. I don't know how many pictures we'll take at the baseball game and I don't want to run out of battery juice.

S: Mom....

M: I know...but it's going to be alright....I promise!

Car is packed...and off we go! Right to the grocery store for Red Bull and Pepsi for son, water and diet Coke for me. As we are pulling away from the store he says...

S: I wish I had had the chance to say Good bye to everyone. I had been invited to a party tonight and didn't get to go.

M: Well, we haven't left town yet, swing by if you want to say a quick goodbye! It's only 2:08am. What's a few more minutes?

(3 days later, he admits to me and his sister that he went inside the gathering to greet his friends and nearly forgot MOM was OUTSIDE IN THE CAR! He almost stayed for the remainder of the party! Ulg. Good son....good son.)

Finally...off we go...heading south in a packed car...music playing and on our way home! Here's where the 'girl' stories all begin...he's got a ton of 'girl stories.' So cute. Remember those days of past? Flirting, dating, hearts crushed...Listening to music as we head on out of town. (Dang, great music!) Mom has put a limit on the songs tho'...no songs that would remind him of old girlfriends. Period. Mostly he stuck to the rule. Well, unless I didn't catch him and turned it to a new song, that is.

Down the road, I decide to take a nap so I'd be awake and ready to drive when it was my turn. Well underway, somewhere near the MO/Ark border I wake up in a sweat! Shaking and panicking! "Slightly" panicked!

M: MY CAMERA BATTERY! I LEFT IT AT YOUR HOUSE! (saw that one coming, didn't you?)

S: Told you it wasn't a good idea! (said calmly with a bit of a smirk on his face)

M: I HAVE TO HAVE MY BATTERY AND MY CHARGER!

S: I'll be back in August and I can send it to you then.

M: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I CAN'T GO THAT LONG WITHOUT RECHARGING MY BATTERY! CALL YOUR ROOMMATE, GET THEM TO MAIL IT TO ME.

S: Not going to happen Mom, they're gone for the summer.

M: GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

S: I told you not to plug it in.

M: I know, I know...but...but... ulg. dangit (kids just loveeeeeeeee being right....huh?)

Driving along, I'm seeing soy bean research fields in Arkansas and the gas tank is low. Very low, and making Mom nervous. Kiddo thinks it's funny to stress out Mom and this is how the gauge looked! I rest my case. This music better be good to keep the vein in my head from popping...

Pulling into Dallas gave us several hours before to the game to find something to do. There was a Best Buy around the way from the stadium where we went to buy a new battery and recharger for my camera. Another situation where it 'all depends on the week...'

M: Here's my camera. We are traveling and I left my battery and charger behind. I need new ones, do you carry them? We're only here for the baseball game. Do you have any? Generic would be just fine.

Best Buy Dude (polite name for the kid I'm ready to strangle..figuratively speaking, of course)...Ah, we don't have any for your camera, but we can order one for you.

M: I just said we were traveling and only stopping in town tonight for the game.

BBD: I can order it, it would be here in a couple of days.

M: Do you listen? We're only here for a couple of hours.

BBD: Oh, I'm sorry. We don't carry rechargers that would fit your camera.

M: What's this? Would this work for my camera? (box of generic recharger hanging on display wall)

BBD: Oh, Ya, that would work. I didn't know we had that here.

M: ...I know, I know, it 'all depends on the week'....(my head hurts.)

Next part soon....here's the baby blanket that seems to have no end...it's due in Michigan on Saturday for the baby shower. Count down begins....will she make it? Stay tuned....