Pajama Party

Dear Mom,

Not since the newspaper delivery man's station wagon caught on fire in the wee hours of a Sunday morning about 10 years ago has the cul-de-sac seen so much activity. Or so many neighbors gathering in pajamas.

Last night, just after I climbed into bed to read myself to sleep, there came the sounds of heavy truck engines from out front. I was pretty settled in and trying to ignore the noise and finish my book when the Young Lady walked in and reported police cars in the cul-de-sac. Having not heard any sirens, I got up to confirm the eyewitness report and found 3 police cars, a rescue vehicle and a fire truck. Concerned about a recently widowed neighbor, I went to investigate. A step onto the front porch revealed clouds of white smoke from somewhere near the entrance to our cul-de-sac, but not near the widowed ladies house. I am glad. No medical emergencies for her.

Grabbing a windbreaker instead of a robe because it was handy, I ventured out, barefoot, through my Fit Neighbor's yard toward the epicenter of activity. An older white van was coughing up clouds of smoke, quickly fogging up the area. Fire hoses snake through the street. The kind policeman (who didn't seem to mind answering the questions of a woman wearing a red coat and pajamas which thankfully were the cute Susan Branch summer watermelon pj's and not the little shorts and tee shirt with cherries on them from Target) informed me that the vehicle was empty and no other vehicles had been involved.

Neighbors begin gathering. Most of us in some variety of sleepwear. Through the smoke I see teens clustered and pointing. And nothing makes a person look older than when he/she is standing in his/her pajamas near a gorup of teenagers. Just something I noticed last night.

Now, I do believe that every neighborhood has A Woman Who Knows, and if they don't, they need one. That Woman lives just down the street, and having had toddlers at home at the same time, we became friends over miles and miles of stroller walks. I have not had my finger on the pulse of the neighborhood since our kids outgrew their strollers and we stopped walking together. Not even close. Anyway, I had only just finished listening to the Policeman's answer to my question when I looked up and saw her. Smiling and waving (the area is taking on the atmosphere of a street fair/carnival now), she comes over. With the whole story. I would have been stunned by her information gathering skillz since she knew more than the policeman I just spoke to, but the story begins at her house, so I don't need to be scared of her or anything.

Turns out, her daughter's boyfriend, who has borrowed his family's backup vehicle ~the other 2 vehicles in this family having been totalled/involved in wrecks this past week- which are 2 more stories that I didn't get because it was late and we were in our pj's, and all I need to know about that is that no one was hurt and that not I nor any family member of mine will be driving with the boyfriend or his family: 1, because we don't really know them that way, and 2, because they probably don't have a car to drive right now anyway~ but back to the excitement of last night- boyfriend leaves for home in van, drives about 50 yards and van catches on fire. He safely extracted himself from the vehicle and returns to girlfriend's house to call for help.

A few of us, now having the facts, begin noticing each other's pajama's, recalling the time the paper man's car caught fire (which is now, 10 years later, being described as "The Time The Paper Man's Car EXPLODED and Caught on Fire) and how it left a mark on the street for a really long time, relating to each other how we came to discover that there were all these emergency vehicles in front of our homes, did you hear sirens?! I didn't hear sirens! and then, well, it's late, we better get back to bed, see ya tomorrow! And off we disperse, back to bed.

Where I find My Hero. Who slept through the whole thing, and will probably not know about any of it until he reads the blog.

(Do you think my reading light bothers him?)

Love,
Kim

D'Vine

Dear Mom,

While the Grandpa is napping on the couch and before I take the Young Man to tennis practice, I will, as promised, share the treats I purchased for myself at the D'Vine yarn shop in Shipshewana last week.

This first is Opal Sock yarn, which I totally bought because of the Harry Potter label and it was the last one. Plus, luckily for me, the colorway is called Lupin, one of my favorite characters.

The next photos show some yarn that was grown, dyed and spun at a local Shipshewana farm. Since I would never find this anywhere else, and this is all that was left of it, I bought it, too.

There isn't a lot of yardage of either of these, but I have some scarf/kerchief/neck wrap ideas I may try with them.

I also found these buttons and bought them because they are simple and pretty. That shop had more interesting, unusual and beautiful buttons than I could absorb. I wish I had easy access to that kind of selection, but it is probably a good thing that I do not.

Aren't those the best! Just looking at them makes me want to knit a pretty sweater for them.

Love,

Kim

Shipshewana

Dear Mom,

After a week of birthdays and a couple of days working outside the home, our 2 day trip to Shipshewana was a pleasant break and a fun getaway.

The fun started when we met up with a Quilting Group from the Ft Wayne area, deep in a Fiber Frenzy, searching through a boat load of fat quarters priced at $1. (Literally, the shop has a boat in the middle of it, filled to overflowing.) These women were having fun, and I don't believe they left until every fat quarter had been evaluated. There were shouts of delight when the elusive pattern had been discovered and fabrics were passed around and shared. Baskets were filled, dumped, spread out...

....and sorted. This lady found a spot away from the action to sort her finds. I think she is mentally piecing a quilt together.

And the quilt group was not alone. The Young Lady was elbow deep in those fabrics.

We found an inspiring shop with yarn, beads, tea, and gardening ideas. So inspiring that once inside, my mind began whirring and I didn't take any photos. I did take photos of my purchases once I got home and I will share those tomorrow.

After dinner Thursday night we took a quiet ride past Amish farms in the cool evening at dusk.

We could really appreciate the countryside with its well tended gardens and beautiful flowers while travelling in an open buggy at 9mph. And with a gentle hand on the reins, the driver could actually take his eyes off the road enjoy it with us. There is just no way to rush when travelling like that, and that is something I could get used to. Though when I do the math on how many miles it is to the schools, or the grocery store, or the library I KNOW it would be a hardship and I would be over it. But still. Probably I could knit and drive a buggy at the same time. Especially when the horse pulling the buggy can read the stop signs.

Our stay at the Big House in the Little Woods Bed and Breakfast let us sleep with the windows open, listening to the clip clop of Amish buggies, and waking up to the sound of a cow mooing (really! A Cow. Mooing. Way better than an alarm clock.) and the most delicious breakfast. The proprietors couldn't be more gracious or kind.

And while we ingested too much good food and loads of calories (I shouldn't eat anything for a week), and brought home some wonderful locally made cheeses and bread, I came home energized with more creative ideas than calories; my head filled with beautiful images and happy memories of time well spent.

Love,

Kim

Champions

Dear Mom,

After a long swim season, swim team has come to an end. The teenager, the diva and pipsqueak are in hibernation this week. Yesterday we were in our pajamas until 4:30 in the afternoon (only changing into our clothes before David got home)!!

This past weekend, we spent 23 hours at Miami University for swim championships. The kids swam for about 7 minutes of those 23 hours!! It was the most exciting championships -- ever. The lead changes were back and forth and the point spread was as few as 3 points ahead and as much as over 100 points behind!! Our team was not favored to win. The team has won 14 years in a row but as swim leagues and summer swim teams change and get larger, the margin for winning got narrower. The teenager placed 15th in all of the Tri-County Swim League in the butterfly! Woo hoo! The diva won her heat in backstroke and got to see her name in lights on the Miami University scoreboard! Woo hoo! Pipsqueak?! She's just so darn cute!! Woo hoo! The teenager, the diva and pipsqueak all swam their best times for the meet; the entire team fought hard to WIN--15 YEARS IN A ROW!!!!!!

It was a fabulous year. Swimming is always my favorite time of year. It is hectic and busy but at the same time, it is a time to sit on pool chairs spending time with friends, renewing friendships from previous swim seasons, cheering our kids on toward personal victories. The championships are the highlight of our summer. Our swim coach designs special championship shirts each year and our kids can't wait to see the new shirt! We wear our shirts with pride!! We nervous moms cluster together in the University stands and wring our hands. We celebrate when our children win their heats, we comfort each other when our child "DQs" an event. We whoop and holler when our children break and make new meet records.

When swimming ends, it is a reminder that fall is right around the corner. School and homework will replace the easy-ness of summer. Crisp air will replace the humidity of summer. Alarm clocks will need to be set. We will have to wake up in the dark and we will have to wear real clothes.

Until then, enjoy every moment of the rest of your summer!

Love, Wendy

Country Livin' in the Summer

Dear Mom,

Summer is just flying by! So much to do and see. The county fair is always a highlight of my summer...to see the proud 4-Hers displaying their projects and the community coming together to appreciate and support them is heartwarming. The "Small Animal Barn" is my favorite place to visit at the fair. It houses the poultry, pygmy goats and rabbits.

These are Sarah's pygmy goats--Jolly, Yeager and Bud. They just wouldn't hold still! Here are two adorable Jersey Wooly rabbits.
This is a beautiful Belgian Bearded D'Uccle rooster--Meg's male counterpart. Looks like he needed a special warning sign against poking fingers...poor little guy.

The weather has been superb and my little garden is producing some wonderful veggies. I really thought my beans were finished once the rabbits discovered them. I covered them with bird netting to keep the rabbits out and quickly learned that bean plants do not actually need their leaves to blossom and produce fruit. There are so many beans now that I don't mind sharing them with the rabbits.

This is my first big harvest...green beans, green peppers, Early Girl tomato and zucchini.

I'm eager to try out this sweet corn, but I'm not quite sure how to know when it's ready to be harvested...The 16-foot tall Sunzilla sunflowers....didn't quite make it much past 5 feet!! Oh well, they are still pretty along the fence line. These sunflowers turned out to be HIGH MAINTENANCE! The rabbits, bugs and shade are their enemies.

The hummingbirds are plentiful this year. Summer just wouldn't be summer without them, don't you agree?! Benny is certainly enjoying his warm summer days...on my clean tablecloth! Love, Bonnie Jo

THe MorNIng AfTEr

Dear Mom,
My Hero's 50th.
The Morning After.

Love,

Kim

Birthday Girl

Dear Mom,

Twelve years ago The Young Lady hollered her way into the world, and stayed angry until we left the hospital, when thankfully, she settled into the contentment of home and quieted down.

At last, after a string of boys, we had someone to wear the smocked dresses, lacy socks and Mary Jane shoes we dreamed of, and an excuse to buy Madeline dolls. We had a good reason to have a tea party at The American Girl store and buy Angelina Ballerina and all her friends, books, clothes and fully furnished house so we could play with it.

There have been rough patches, like the Stuffed Animal Stand Off of '99, and the Pikachu Halloween costume that caused me to take Deep Breaths at the kitchen sink when The Young Lady decided to forego the new costume I made her so she could squeeze into the Pikachu costume from the year before. "It's her Halloween", I told myself while breathing deeply.

If anything, she has taught me to choose my battles wisely, expect the unexpected and respect her individuality. She has opened my eyes with her fresh perspective, and I am inspired by her capacity for forgiveness and compassion.

Without a doubt, the years ahead will bring a new set of challenges and worries, but I also know that there will be even more causes for celebrating and while I will always be her mother, one day many years from now, I hope she will want to be my friend.

Love,

Kim

Dear Mom,

I haven't received my copy in the mail yet, but the September '09 issue of Creative Knitting Magazine is out there and has two (count 'em, TWO!) of my designs in it. Go here and you will see all the designs in this issue. Click on the small pictures to make them bigger, and if you click on the parka picture you will get to see the entire coat.

I still get a thrill and feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming when seeing my designs in print and my name right there as the designer.

Love,

Kim

Happy Birthday Bonnie!

Love, Kim

Harry Potter Madness

Dear Mom,

We have had Harry Potter madness this week. The teenager and I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. We got 3 hours of sleep before having to wake up again for swim team practice.

We picked up donuts for breakfast on Wednesday morning and bragged loudly to everyone at Dunkin' Donuts that "we've already seen the Harry Potter movie!" If you're gonna see a midnight movie and only get 3 hours of sleep, it's imperative that you let everyone know you were one of the first to see the movie!!!!!! The movie is fabulous and the people at the theatre were so much fun!! My favorite thing about the whole midnight movie?! For a few hours, I was once again "the best!" Mom in the teenager's eyes!

Love,

Wendy

Book Review

Dear Mom,
Loved it. Loved. it. Loveditloveditloveditlovedit. Did not want it to end. EVER.
Love,
Kim

A Rare Glimpse Into The Highly Unorganized Life of . . . Me

Dear Mom,

Unlike Kim, I will never be caught up. Not on daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly chores. I do have good intentions. My dryer does have dry towels. But that's only out of necessity because the kids need to dry off after swim team practice and meets. And the kids don't go to the "towel closet", they go straight to the dryer. Yeah, don't ask about the other dirty laundry that ISN'T in the dryer, or the washing machine for that matter.

My pantry did just get restocked this afternoon. I had to fit the grocery store in between swim team practice this morning, stroke clinics this afternoon and working a special event at the yarn store tonight. While the food was literally thrown into my pantry, the kids and husband will be fed. Of course, is there ever "anything good to eat" anyway?!

And books?! I have been reading several books. In bed. At night. So I've only been able to manage a few pages before nodding off. And then I forget what I've just read. So I usually have to start over. A lot. I've read several pages from several books, though.

I have also done several photography jobs. I have been the swim team photographer for several years.

I have also been talking to a high profile hotel and have earned the job to take photos of the hotel for an updated website and brochure! When that job is finished, I will let all of you "see" the website! I have also had a smattering of children turning a year older, smiling their biggest birthday smiles and looking equally smug and sweet in new birthday clothes!

No. I will never be caught up. I think I like it this way. I have been spending my "lazy summer days" with my kids, my family, my neighbors and friends. Time we don't normally have during school hours. In the summer, we have long cookouts. The kids have friends spend the night. We solve world problems over s'mores with neighbors. We stay out too late watching fireworks. We love. We laugh. Ahhhhhh. Life's so sweet.

Love, Wendy

Books

Dear Mom,

For the first time since "summer vacation" started, I feel like I am caught up. Sort of. This week I managed to get through my scheduled home maintenance routine, and I am certainly not saying that everything that needs doing is done, but everything that needs doing on a weekly basis is. That feels good.

While I've been catching up (and mostly what has helped me to do so), I have had the pleasure of listening to some good books.

Jeffrey Archer may be a new favorite author of mine. He is an excellent story teller. Not too long ago, I wrote here after listening to his Paths of Glory , and this afternoon I finished listening to my second Jeffrey Archer book, A Prisoner of Birth.

It is a well written, smart story of love and friendship, revenge and loyalty with interesting characters. I will definitely be reading or listening to more Jeffrey Archer.

I also started listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

I may only be about halfway through this one, but I am enchanted by this story so far.

The story is told in the form of letters written among the characters just after WWII, in London and the Guernsey Island. I am captivated, curious and don't want to stop listening! I have the feeling this may be one of those stories that I won't want to end. It also may be one that needs to reside on my book shelves rather than in digital form on my ipod.

Love,

Kim

The morning routine

Dear Mom,

My morning routine includes an email check and a scroll through some favorite blogs.

This morning, I found this picture on one of those regular places I visit.

It is not a naughty site, I promise.

Anyway, the blogger was wishing she owned a cat so she could get it stuck in a tree.

As I gazed at all that firemanly goodness, I drifted back to the day in 1982 when a group of Dental Hygiene Students Soon to Be Graduating and Desperately Seeking Board Patients went on an afternoon tour of downtown fire stations. Imagine a small group of cute 2o-somethings walking into the fire station and asking sweetly of the men if we could see their teeth. Not a problem as they were already grinning/leering. One of us did luck out and get a board patient, but the rest of us went on to find our patients elsewhere. And Nowhere did I see any firemen that looked like the men in that photo.

Of course, I was probably blinded by the engagement ring on my finger and wouldn't have noticed them if I was looking right in their mouths.

And just so you don't think I spend all my time looking at beefcake the web:

On Sunday, I finished a pair of socks.

Claudia's Handpainted Fingering, Passion Fruit

And started another.

Crystal Palace Yarns, Panda Silk #4014

Love,

Kim

The Rocket's Red Glare

Dear Mom,

The 4th of July here on the cul-de-sac is a tradition not to be messed with, and this year, in the spirit of the US Postal System, rain would not deter us from our celebration. We just had to make adjustments for the dampness, and rain ponchos only added to our 4th of July memories. In fact, as a testament to the importance of the day, our neighbors woke to find that their 8yo son had painted his face red, white and blue for the day's events. I don't think the red has washed off yet.

The food and picnic-ing was moved under the shelter of a canopy and into the garage and the grilling was done under a patio umbrella called into action, but as we had hoped, the rain trickled off in time to celebrate the evening with fireworks.

Every year the fireworks themselves get bigger. The Dads have taken it up a level. Or three. I can sum this up in one word. FUSE. I think My Hero has 100 feet of fuse in the garage. (If there is more than that I don't want to know.)Custom built supports are constructed for multiple explosives which are strung together and lit with some of that 100 feet of fuse. Gone are the days we can be entertained by smokey snakes and a sparkly fountain. Thankfully, sparklers will never lose their appeal and we can write our names in the dark, and dance along, twirling a sparkler overhead.

Every year patriotic music plays loudly during the fireworks display. A Cul-de-sac highlight and tradition involves a neighbor modifying a remote control vehicle with a creative display of fireworks which shoot off as the intrepid little jeep circles and dodges the fireworks display in the street.

This year, we seemed to be surrounded by huge display from neighbors and neighborhoods nearby. It occurred to me with all the shrieks and screams and loud percussive KABOOMs, the blasts and rockets and bombs bursting in air, that (God forbid!) should we be attacked by terrorists on the 4th of July, we would all stand there and ooh and aah and maybe even clap before we realized what was really going on.

Once the fireworks are exhausted, we have almost as much fun with clean up, as the kids and adults arm themselves with flashlights and brooms and clean up as much shrapnel as possible before we all head off to bed smelling of smoke and sulfur. Final cleanup the next day insures that no neighbors are left with any debris in the yards.

And a few Dad's I know are already planning on next year's fireworks display.

oh- and the boy with the painted face? up at 3 in the morning up-chucking some of the excitement and junk food he enjoyed....

Love,

Kim

What fireworks?!

Dear Mom,

This is our dog.

This is our dog on drugs.
I asked Keeper's vet if I could have some. She said no.
Happy 4th of July!!!
Love, Wendy

Current Events

Dear Mom,

As we usually do when the knitting group gets together, current events are thoroughly covered. It is a winding journey, these topics. Pay attention or you might lose your place.

This past week there were celebrity deaths to discuss. Which led to who was where when they were aerobicizing to Thriller and practicing their Moon Walks. Some of us were married (me), mothers (not me) and there are 2 of us who were still in high school. In fact, the youngest of us exclaimed her shock at Michael Jackson's age, saying, "I thought he was our age!". Two of us quickly pointed out that YES he was our age.

We moved on to really feeling bad about Farrah and how her death wasn't really getting the attention we thought it should, but one of us heard a family member had said that Farrah was private and it was all okay, and then we moved on to The Poster and how it was just everywhere and it really doesn't take much to remember that poster. And that it made a couple of college kids millionaires. It was the poster talk that I am pretty sure led us here:

We all remembered this poster, but, 2 of us clearly remembered a green shirt.

Remember this poster? I had it on my closet door. You know, so I could look at it when I fell asleep and then when I woke up, and some more when I was choosing outfits and getting dressed. It turns out that 2 of us, who at the time were teens living several states apart and would someday meet as knitters and become friends, bypassed the Rocky poster for pure Stallone beefcake.

I remember that Wendy had Shaun Cassidy on her bedroom door. I don't remember which one exactly. All that sugary sweetness starts looking the same after awhile. So I quit looking. I'll leave it to Wendy to take a stroll down that memory lane if she wants to.

And just to close the loop, The Young Lady has a Jonas Brothers picture on her bulletin board.

Love,

Kim