Pool time

The kids started swimming lessons this week. Oh how they love to swim and now they are guaranteed to be able to swim Monday through Thursday. They are both doing quite well and will be moving up to the next level for the next session and I am able to breathe a little easier knowing that their swimming confidence is growing. These swim lessons have also provided an unexpected opportunity for me, planned knitting time. Yay.

I love that the swim classes are only four to five kids a class, which gives all of the kids plenty of swim lesson time. My favorite picture is of Rian jumping with his feet in the air. That picture is the epitome of childhood fun. Love it. That is another picture of the cowl I started yesterday, with a little bit better detail on the deep red color. Unfortunately soon after that picture was taken, I realized that there was a mistake somewhere, so I ripped it all out and started all over again. Oh well, at least there will be plenty of knitting time next week during swim classes. OK off to bed...speaking of bed, I really need to start going to sleep earlier on nights that I don't work.

Peace, Yasmin

Yarn Along

Hello all, yes yes I know it has been awhile. Actually one month exactly...I have been quite busy with life in general and also somewhat uninspired to do anything creative. I know, crazy right. I met with my knitting partner and knit for the first time since summer break started, just this past week. Since last week, my knitting fever is back in full force, which is quite lovely. I am even dreaming of fall time and warm knitwear. So today I am joining in with yarn along to share what I have been knitting and what I have been reading...two of my favorite things.

First, something I just finished for an upcoming birthday and my son graciously modeled it for  this here blog. I think the special someone that is going to be gifted with this will like it quite a bit. Ofcourse the one problem with letting my son model this piece of knitwear is that he ends up wanting to keep it for himself. I think the next hat I make will need to be for him. This was knit with Malabrigo, I think it was Rios.

Second, something in progress. A baby blanket that I started yesterday for a new mama to be, which I am quite excited about. This mama to be doesn't want anything girly or pink, so grey it is. This was yarn in my stash, so I am not sure the brand, but I do know that it is machine washable, which make it very practical. The pattern is the Pine Forest baby blanket from Ravelry.

 



Third, is a project just now started and for some reason my camera could not pick up on the instense deep red of this yarn. It is also Malabrigo, mecha. A chunky yarn that I get to use size 13 needles for. Fun fun. I am making the Gaptastic Cowl from ravelry for myself.

Oh and lastly, what I am reading right now. I just finished Yarn to Go, which is a new mystery knitting series by Betty Hechtman, I enjoyed it and can't wait until the next one in the series comes out. In the meantime I picked up Saved by Ben Hewitt, which I had heard about from other blogs. I just started it, but am enjoying it quite a bit so far. Ok off to bed.

Peace, Yasmin

Day out at the Biltmore

The other day we woke to a gorgeous sunny day, so we decided to take full advantage of being outdoors. I packed a picnic and we drove on over to the Biltmore Estate for a day of fun in the sun. They have a farm with a petting zoo and acres and acres of beautiful land. We didn't go into the house this time since it started to rain, but we have an annual pass so we can go back at anytime. Today is another cloudy/rainy day, so I think I will finally take care of the cleaning that I have been planning to do. It all works out perfectly since we are leaving for the Florida Keys on Friday for an extended family vacation for nine lovely days. I can't wait. It has been way too long since we have been to the beach. Well I am off to get cooking and cleaning.
Peace, Yasmin

That thing called Rhythm

Ok, so I think I am starting to find a bit of a rhythm, but there is still a ways to go to be totally in it. I think one of the problems is that there is some serious organizing that needs to get done in this house, but with the beautiful weather we have had all week  so far, I can't justify spending it indoors organizing. Speaking of which, I need to get this post written quickly so that we can enjoy the outdoors some more today. I may also do another blog post tonight highlighting our adventures from today. This post was supposed to be written yesterday, but I ran out of time before having to head out to work. So anyways, one of our favorite things to do outdoors is to take our dog to the dog park. Everyone gets to run around and we have a very happy dog at the end, so that is exactly what we did the other day. I also have been cooking and baking a lot more, which is helping with that rhythm thing. I made cheesy grits, eggs, and a bagel for breakfast yesterday, Banana nut choc chip muffins, a delicious egg, avocado, tomato sandwich on a jalapeno cheddar bagel that was homemade and sold to me at the Tailgate market, and I also made some ice cream mix to be frozen today. The flavor is Hibiscus ginger...we'll have to see how that goes. There is a recipe for chocolate lavender ice cream that sounds divine as well...that may be the next one to try. Ok I'm off to prepare our picnic and enjoy the rest of the day outside. Have a lovely day.
Peace, Yasmin

All was well in the house, and then a tree fell...

Hello, hello my friends. Life has been hectic as usual. I have been working a ridiculous amount of hours, which is great for now since we are going on vacation soon, but I am somewhat exhausted. I am looking forward to getting into the rhythm of summer time. My rhythm that I was hoping to start today was slightly thrown off by the tree (apparently two trees, we just found out) that fell against the house at 3am this morning. It had been raining all day yesterday and we are guessing that the ground just got so wet and soft around one tree that it made it fall and it took another tree down with it. After that, this momma could not go to sleep for the worries of a tree coming through the kids' room and taking them both out...I know a little morbid, but unfortunately things like this do happen and as their room is an add-on, I feel that it is not quite as sturdy as the rest of the house. Ok off the bad and onto the good summer things...Ashleigh graduated 4th grade and we have been enjoying yummy summer foods and beer, glorious beer. I made vegan herb potato salad, sweet organic corn with Amish butter, and sliced some fruit. My free rose plant finally bloomed, the variety is called Ketchup and Mustard. By the way, that tree took out all of my potted veggies on the back deck...I guess I will be starting from zero once again, boo. The beers I have been enjoying are Bell's Oberon and an India Red Ale that my boss brewed, it was delicious. One other thing that we have enjoyed is our dog, Molly, barking at her own reflection in all of the glass doors, hilarious I tell you.

Hopefully there will be no more trees falling against the house in the foreseeable future and I can start to truly enjoy this break from school. Ta ta for now.
Peace, Yasmin

It's summertime and the livin's easy...

Hello friends, sorry it has been quite a while since I have posted. I have so much content from the time that I was absent, but I had absolutely no motivation for writing. Sorry folks, but sometimes we need a break from these things. Let's see what has been going on while I was away...lots of school, I got an A in Chemistry and a B in Anatomy and Physiology 1, I took and passed my Nursing Aide 1 State Exam on the first try...woot woot. I am back at work full time for the summer, and dear hubby is also working this summer so that we can stay afloat financially. So needless to say there is a lot of juggling and separate shifts, so that we can keep the kids out of way too expensive summer camp. The kids get out of school in a week exactly.

This 10 year old graduates 4th grade next week....you might ask why there is a graduation, well here where we live, they have decided to build a transitional school that houses just 5th and 6th graders to relieve some of the overcrowding in the area schools. My daughter is very excited about the possibility of being in the same class next year as her best friend that went to a different school in the area this year. She will be finishing 4th grade with straight As and I am so proud of her. The little man is doing well as well. He jumped from a non-reader at the beginning of the year to a level D, which puts him at the end of Kindergarten level. We have decided that it would be most beneficial for him to repeat 1st grade and to try to overcome his dyslexia issues. The school has been great about getting him extra attention and he spends a little bit of time almost everyday with a special ed teacher. I am so proud of the strides he has made as well.

So it seems that we may have skipped over Spring and jumped right to Summer. What does summertime mean for us...it means making the most use out of summer berries by making muffins, mint infused ice cubes, water with lemon and mint, Begonias, Sun Tea, easy dinners out, easy meals in. The meals pictured are pesto pasta with eggs on top, grilled tomato and smoked gouda sandwich with an easy tomato balsamic salad, and spinach artichoke dip for our meal out. Once the kids are totally out of school, I will be home during the day Monday through Thursday...I look forward to that. I have lots of plans of cleaning, organizing, crafting, hiking, swimming, etc. It is going to be a good summer...and now off to work.

Peace, Yasmin