Spoons & Stitches

While I was traveling with my mom, I came up with this idea for a little shrug for a baby at our church. (Enjoy MacKenzie!) I pretty much just made it up as I went along, but have now written it up and am posting it here. For larger sizes, repeat rows 1-6 an extra time before you continue. I like using the various stitches, because it adds a bit of a texture to it, almost like ice cream ripples. My mom called Neapolitan and that name has stuck. Enjoy and please post any questions you have. This pattern is free for personal use, but please do not use it for commercial purposes. download now Neopolitan Baby Shrug by Jenna Moore Materials: 1 skein each white yarn, chocolate brown yarn, and strawberry pink yarn. I use dk or sport weight Size H hook Shell stitch: *Sc in first stitch, sk, 5dc in next st, sk, sc in next stitch.* Body of Shrug: ch 56 with White Row 1 Sc in second ch from the hook and in each remaining chain. Row 2 Turn and sc in each chain across. Change to...

Easter was a wonderful day in our household this year. The kids and Michal and I went to the sunrise service at Union Grove Baptist Church. We were there at 6:45 AM for the service and then stayed to help fix breakfast, eat breakfast, and play. The boys played on the playground while we were making breakfast. And after breakfast Michael took time to teach them both about basketball at the basketball court at the church. They had a great time and so did I. I found little Connor got very tired after getting up so early. So I laid out his blanket on a pew and we just wrapped and rolled him up inside his blanket for a little rest. I sang him some songs while we sat there and he rested though he didn't sleep. After that he was ready to go back out and play more basketball. The service was wonderful. The 11 o'clock service they did a little drama-almost a mini rock opera! It was really cool. The boys eyes were riveted to the stage. We enjoyed the rest of the service too, and ...

Overall it's been a very good weekend. On Saturday I got some gardening done with some help from Jeremy. We planted some seeds. I forget what they're called some very tall spire looking things for the mailbox, after first spending my morning digging up all the weeds around mailbox. After that we had a friendly game of Pathfinder and lasted probably to 9:30. This morning we enjoyed church; it was quite a strong message that I really needed to hear. And tonight's service was our baptism. Michael and I were both baptized in the tub full immersion. I've never done that before. But it was the right thing to do. I feel closer to God already. And I feel like the last of my old life is finally gone. I got a chance to say a few words and that felt really good. when I was in high school I took Jesus into my heart and I asked him to be my Lord and Savior but I didn't know what that meant. He was in my life, but he was in my life like a physics class was in my life. Now ...

It's been a long week this week. I've been sick with headaches, a cold, flu, and fever. It's been really hard to function. I haven't been able to get to the office since Monday or really get anything done. I spend most of my days sleeping and just trying to recuperate from whatever this is. I am hoping that this will get better, because I am sick and tired of waking up with a headache, going to bed but the headache, and always seeming to have a headache. On the upside Michael seems to be doing better. He says he will call CTG and find out if they will find a job for him. Him being a known quantity there should truly help him out. In the meantime, he seems to be taking a good enthusiastic approach to our business. I gave him the job description for the graphic intern today and I'm hoping that'll help get us jumpstarted. Once we have the graphics, we can then move forward to integrating those graphics into the module and into the program.

So much has been going on that I've scarcely had time to keep up with it. Michael is on the search for work while also going to school and starting our business. The kids are quickly approaching the end of the school year. And I am about to pass out from lack of sleep. Guess which one I could control? That's right-the one that involves Not starting new net searches at 23:48 hours. Truly, though, it's been a good couple of days for me and the kids. We spent Saturday together, watching movies, playing, cooking and gardening. Sunday was its usual lazy self. Getting back to work is tough, but worth it. Now where's my coffee?

Ever had one of those days when you feel like it takes so much to get out of bed that by the time you're dressed you've got nothing left? Of course, most of us have. Today was definitely one of those days for me. I slept badly and woke up worse today. The bright spot that got me up and moving, as usual, was my boys. Today was costume day for Connor. I didn't get any pictures yet, but they should get sent to us early next week. In the meantime you can see Connor with his Cookie Monster slippers. Connor and I had a fun talk on the way in, about what I don't recall. Despite the fatigue, I had a good time at our little afternoon social at work. My boss had a very scary costume: Manager in a Full Suit. If you knew the man you'd know how scary that can be. Lately I've been getting a lot of satisfaction out of work and that is a HUGE improvement for me. It doesn't fix the constant fatigue, but I do feel good know I'm being more effective. The end of the day wa...

SAS is holding their annual employee craft fair on December 1st. I have decided to get a booth this year and sell some of my knitted and crochet pieces. Maybe some of my home-made jewelry, too. It should be a lot of fun. So far I have created a few scarves and two different styles of market bag. The first market bag was the green variegated one below. I loved that color-this photo does not do it justice. I might be almost hoping that one doesn't sell. ;) The other, which I like to call the cow bag because of the black and white spotted look, was also fun. The photo doesn't do that one justice, either, but it's cute. It reminds me of my Grandpa, who worked in the dairy extension program at NCSU for much is his career. When my sister and I were kids he used to take us over to the vet school and let us play with and pet the cows. And no, we didn't tip them. I guess I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for cows. I am working on a little crocheted baby sleep sack too...