An Admission

I love children's music. It is true. This fact is appalling to some who cannot fathom enjoying such a genre of music. I love it. I croon along with it all. Now, before you write me off as someone a bit soft in the head, perhaps I should explain what I consider children's music. I don't enjoy squeaky chipmunks or oversized purple dinosaurs. I do love genuine inspired musicians who play hip music for small people, which can be silly, quirky, gentle and just plain fun. Enter They Might Be Giants, Dan Zanes, Ralph's World, Trout Fishing in America and Elizabeth Mitchell. There are others, but these come to mind first as my children first loved them. I am sure new artists should be on this list, but these are what my kiddos have grown up with and love.

Having lived for a few years in Chicago, I am a fan of outdoor concerts. I happily recall sharing a picnic with dear friends while listening to Yo-Yo Ma at Ravinia. When we first came to this area for our brief stay, I knew I wanted to check out Wolftrap, which is an outdoor musical venue surrounded by national park. I remembered visiting my sister when she lived in Virginia and hearing her rave about the musical experience. Imagine my delight when I checked their performances and found that one of my favorite children's musicians was performing during our stay. Without hesitation, I snatched up tickets for us, and we waited.

After a long wait, we finally set off for the concert in the woods yesterday. In truth I may have been more excited than the kiddos. I packed snacks and plenty of water for the trip. Temperatures were predicted to be high with a heat advisory in affect. We arrived at the venue early and found great seats near the front. The children's theater in the woods is nestled between tall trees which provide plenty of shade. The kiddos watched spiders and ants while we waited for the show to begin.

Once it started I was enthralled. I was actually at a concert for Elizabeth Mitchell. Swoon! The kiddos and I sang along with her music and delighted at seeing her daughter and husband perform alongside her. We learned hand motions to songs and laughed at Storey's appalele (apple ukelele). For over an hour we grooved, clapped hands, sang call and response and made a dancing train. The heat didn't matter. All that mattered was being together with the music.

At the end of the concert, I bought a coloring book for Aine and a new CD full of more magical music. Aine asked Elizabeth to autograph her items, which Elizabeth did with a quiet gentleness. As soon as we returned to the car, we popped the new songs into the CD player and began singing all over again with Aine and me the loudest. I believe I may have a fellow aficionado of children's music on my hands.

Staying In

Living in the D.C. area most people assume you will head to The Mall for fireworks. Living in the D.C. area, you know that you don't want to go to The Mall for fireworks. People, people and more people congest the downtown area. Locals tell of lines for the underground metro running down the street.

With the knowledge of the locals in mind, yesterday we stayed in for the evening festivities. We considered walking to a neighborhood gathering at a local field to watch the fireworks, but the heat advisory and a general disinterest from the smaller people kept us home. I figured we could see the fireworks from home. From the top of our building, you can see the US Capitol fairly well. When it became dark we started watching. The view was pretty good. You could see firework displays in the distance. The Capitol event was televised and playing in the background. When the main display started, we could see them partially obstructed by our neighboring building. To be honest the kiddos liked watching them on the television better. After a quick viewing, we headed back home.

That was our very D.C. Fourth! How was yours? Did you manage to stay cool and avoid crazy crowds?

Drive Time

With all the time spent in the car this past weekend, I made quite a bit of progress on my newest project. Since the TTL Mystery Shawl was off the needles and blocking, I was ready for something new. Fortunately the second project of Camp Loopy began on June 27. I picked the Que Sera sweater as my 800+ yard project. The pattern is a bottom up cardigan, and I just split for the fronts and back yesterday. The left front is almost done and I hope to finish the right today.

This sweater is zipping right along. The lace pattern is easy to memorize, and I think I do well with artificial deadlines.  I am trying to finish the entire sweater by July 27. I am almost halfway through my yarn, so I should be fine with the deadline. Why so much fuss you ask. Well, if I complete each of the three projects, I get double yarn buying points and a free skein of yarn. It is just enough incentive for me.

I even have my next interim project ready. I am gearing up for another mystery project. This time it is with designer Stephen West. Eamon had selected one of his shawls for himself (Pokemon Vulpix, of course). While I wait for yarn at home on that one, I decided to try this WestKnits mystery project. I am using yarn from Swan's Island fingering as well as a variegated skein from Camilla at Twist and Twine. I am very excited for this one. I am excited to use Twist and Twine yarn and hope this shawl does it justice. It is so pretty.

Where do you ask are the socks? Well, they were cast aside for bigger and brighter things. I do still carry them out and about, but progress has been slow. I also am waiting on buttons for the Modern Garden Cardi I finished last week. I hope to get those in the mail and do a proper photoshoot. I owe you a few pictures - socks, shawl, sweater -PHEW!

Our family finished reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh while driving this weekend. We loved it.  I picked it up as part of Annie's Read Aloud Along. I have yet to get the newest book, so we are reading Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms together while we wait for our weekly trip to the library. This one is a page turning and is similar to the The Mysterious Benedict Society, which is our newest audiobook. I am still finishing up The Butterfly Cabinet when not knitting or reading aloud. Busy times here.

How has your week gone, fellow YarnAlongers? Since I am on the hunt for buttons for this sweater, where do you find buttons for your projects? Do tell.

An Outdoor Classroom

During one of our first homeschool park days in this area, I was told about an amazing course that some of the kids took. One parent was particularly enthusiastic about the program and could not stop raving about the experience. I immediately knew Eamon would love it. She indicated that her daughter went, and thought Aine would love it too. I wasn't so sure about Aine loving it, but I figured we could check it out. I jotted down the name and decided to look into it when we were home. 

After talking to Dave and the kiddos about the program, I contacted the administrator. After multiple email exchanges, we agreed that Eamon and Aine could attend one class and then register for the remainder if they liked it. I still wasn't convinced that they both would like it. I didn't want to "waste" our money on something they would not want to do. We have done that in the past with other classes.

Before the first class, we outfitted their backpacks with lunch, ponchos and a knife. Coming from Arizona, we did not have much in the way of rain gear or warm clothes, but we did our best. Both awoke early on the first day eager to set out for their class. We piled into the car and headed out in pouring rain. I was nervous. I was about to hand over my desert dwelling children to a stranger in the cold rain in the middle of a nature preserve. I was the only one concerned; they jumped out of the car and were off. I spoke a bit with their mentor and felt more comfortable. With only Benton at my side, I returned to the car and left them to explore and learn in the outdoors for the next five hours.

I could not believe what I heard when I returned to pick them up. They had the time of their lives. They both loved every minute of the adventure. My worry was unfounded. Aine didn't mind the rain or walking. Eamon and Aine both wanted to know when the next class was. There was no doubt; they wanted to attend the full course.

Every week for the past six weeks, they have ventured forth in the woods and learned. They have built a teepee, debris hut, a fire without matches, discovered a natural spring, fished, carved, identified edible plants and had fun. With new found knowledge, my kiddos have continued to impress me with what they have gained from their time with Ancetral Knowledge. This opportunity has been phenomenal. I am so glad we found out about it. I only wish it had lasted longer. I now have children who run ahead on hikes in search of greenbriar and wild sorrel, which they greedily munch as snacks. Eamon will warn me about harmful plants and show me what is safe. He immediately identified the Indian Pipe on our last hike. Aine happily recounts stories of swimming in the water and finding tadpoles. They have increased confidence in their new surroundings, and I am loving the result. It was money well spent and I am hoping to find something similar when we leave here.

(For anyone in the VA/MD area, I cannot recommend AK more. The weekly classes resume in September and are completely worth it).

Whirlwind

Walking along The Freedom Trail, spending time playing in water at a famous pond in Concord and driving encompassed our weekend. Today the kiddos and I are winding down after a glorious, whirlwind trip to Boston.

{this moment}

{this moment} - Joining Amanda in a Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

For the Love of Bulky Yarn

I would have gorgeous socks to show you this week if I had not heard the siren's call of my stash. Last week I went through the yarn I brought with me in the hopes of finding a skein or two to use for the Stephen West Mystery Shawl Along. I decided to use a gorgeous skein of Twist and Twine from Camilla. Her yarn is so pretty, and I think it will be perfect paired with a charcoal for this shawl. After deciding on that project's yarn, I set about putting the yarn away. As I reshuffled my piles, I noticed a huge ball of Quince and Company Puffin, which was all that remained of my Oatmeal Pullover. I frogged this sweater severals months ago, because I did not love it. I wore it a few times and just didn't really like the fit. It was very unflattering for my body type with such bulky yarn. I decided then and there it was time to resurrect that yarn.

With the one huge ball and two smaller sleeve sized balls, I cast on for a Modern Garden Cardigan on Saturday night. The sweater flew off the needles. By Monday night I only had a few more rows to knit on the collar. As of yesterday morning, all was done. I even wove in all the ends. Now to find just the right buttons for this sweater and give it a good blocking. Amazing - Three days! And the sweater? I love it. The fit is perfect. Dave commented that it looks much better than the other sweater. The ingenious pattern utilizes shaping within the design elements, and it works so well. (I would have a modeled shot, but we stayed at the park Tuesday until well after 8pm. By the time the kiddos and I arrived home we did not have time for a photoshoot).

In addition to my new sweater, I did knit more on my mystery shawl. I ran out of yarn and had to buy a mini-skein to carry me through to the end. I am eager to receive the final clue this week and block it. I have been thinking of giving it to one of my aunts. I think she would appreciate the gift. I also began the heel on the socks. It is a new one for me since the socks are toe up with a gusset heel. These are great for park or out of the house knitting as they are very portable. I am planning to cast-on another sweater this week as well. The summer seems to be my sweater knitting time. I knit several last year during these warm months and hope to repeat the feat this year.

With so much knitting, reading has been slow. I was able to listen to part of my audiobook on my trip to the yarn store, and I catch a few pages of my print copy before falling asleep each night. Hopefully next week I have a bit more to share on that front.

As on every Wednesday I am joining Ginny for our weekly Yarn Along. I love checking out everyone's projects, and I hope you do too.

Pass the Days

Our weekend was full of:
* metro travel to see my Aunt and Uncle as well as their daughter, my cousin, and her family
* deciding it is almost as cool to sit in the last car as it is too sit in the first
* dining near my cousin's home on yummy antipasto and pizza while crammed around a small table in the corner with 11 people. The laughter was contagious
*singing so loudly as we played this song again and again (someone yesterday mentioned the video. you should watch it, because it is quite cool. also this one).
* laughing at our musical abilities or lack thereof
* getting lost again and again at the Loray Garden Maze
* laughing even more despite the warm day and the confusion
* finding our way out and gathering all four clues
* returning the quarter which was collected from the fountain by eager little four year old hands
* marveling at the wonders 160 feet below the earth
* wishing you could capture the beauty of the caverns and the still, mirror-like effect of the subterranean lake
* panning for rocks and minerals at the museum
* graciously receiving a forged bird hanger from the blacksmith on duty to use in our yard
* watching a movie together based on a convincing recommendation from a small friend (thanks, Grace)
* relaxing together after much busy-ness in the last few weeks
* a solo bus trip to the yarn store in hopes of finding a bit more yarn to finish a mysterious shawl
* happily finding a mini skein in just the right color way and hoping it is enough
* retrieving a couple items from Target along the way
* walking home while enjoying an audiobook and the solitude
* chatting with two of the grandparents
* enjoying a delicious dinner made by Dave featuring green beans, avocado salad and salmon - yum!
* reading stacks of books
* making plans and preparing for the week ahead