Un Slumping

Is that a word? Oh well, if it is great! If it's not maybe I should call Webster's. Anyway, things are progressing. Of course not at my pace but at God's pace. I'm coming to terms with the changes going on in my family. Don't get me wrong.... school does have it's advantages but I had my heart set on homeschooling until the kids were ready. Well, ready or not here they go! I think that they will do fine. I worked really hard on getting a strong biblical and moral foundation set for them so now that they will be in school is the time to test it. As much as I humanly can I will be all up in those schools checking their work and activities.

All I know is that the more involved they are the less opportunities for trouble there are.

My girls will be in middle school aren't they so beautiful? Or is that the momma in me talking?

Just wish one would smile more....cranky cranky

My oldest son will be going to the local grammar school where he was once before so at least he'll know some people.

They are growing up so fast

On to knitting news. I have finally finished the first mitten. The one I was so worried about all the lump and bumps and uglies. Well, much like God has done in my life, I was able to take something that looked like a hot mess and make it beautiful. Of course God's ways are always best because when we believe in Him and His Son all struggle and strife are but momentary because He is forever!

I finished a special project I called the p-town scarf. Pattern to come. I used nature wool that I found in my stash which for the life of me I cannot remember the colorway. But the golds and greens remind me of Garret Mountain in the fall so I called it the P-town scarf in honor of the city I grew up in Paterson, Nj. Now Paterson has a well deserved rep for being a little ghetto...ok alot of ghetto but in even these places there is beauty to be found, in the friends you grew up with, in your family who lived around you, in the changes of the season, the first snow, the little violet and white flowers growing all over a pile of rubble turning it into a thing of beauty, the loyalty developed in time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17. That is the Paterson I remember. So P-town, although I no longer live there, I honor you with a scarf designed for your beauty.

Pattern isn't written officially yet. Once I figure it out properly I'll post.

Slump

I am in a slump. A spiritual slump, a familial slump and a spiritual slump. I can't seem to get my act together in any other area of my life except work. Even that I feel I could be doing way better. That mitten that I'm knitting now is representing a hot mess with all kinds of lumps and bumps that really should not be there. And don't even get me started with the decreases. If I were to knit the chart up exactly the way it's written then the mitten would have been waaaaay to long. So I skipped a few rows to get to the decreases.

I also am in a designing slump. I have such great ideas. I've even sketched them out but I can't get the swatches to behave. So, because I litterally couldn't get to it until this Wednesday and only for a few minutes at a time I'll be missing out on submitting my designs to KnitScene. Deadline is Monday and I just can't seem to get my act together.

Right now my home is on a roller coater and unfortunately my kids are paying the price. Because of undisclosed reasons, they'll be going to school suddenly after 3 years of home schooling. The week to come is when they will be starting. This makes me so sad. I had commited myself to educating them but because of some serious financial trouble I had to go back to work so my husband and I made an arrangment where my mom would homeschool them 3 days a week and my husband and I the other two days. Unfortunately my mom has found herself in the position where this arrangement was not working out for her so here we go.

At this point I need to leave it all in God's hands. I feel like I have my back against the wall and I have failed my family. I also feel like I am whining so I'll stop now. Thanks for reading...this is not normal content for this blog.....just a vent.

Rhinebeck Family Fun

This past weekend I went to Rhinebeck with my kids.We had lots of fun. It all started early Saturday morning when it was quite cool. We left close to 8am and got there about 9:30 am. We saw the mist settled on the mountains slowly lifting upwards. The brilliantly blue skies so clear after the rains the day before. It was quite breathtaking.

Here you see the sheep dog trials. Quite a fascinating event. Once it got too crowded we doged the crowd.

Then we stopped by and looked at the sheep. I am such a city girl. I never thought there were so many kinds of sheep. It was absolutely stunning and beautiful.

The kids had lots of fun.

The little guy got to go on some rides. So did the not so little guy but I promised not to take pictures.

This is the only picture of the four of them together that I have. And none of them look like themselves in this picture.

There was lots of yarn and fiber and much more fun. The five of us had a great time at the gem and mineral show and many purchases were made.

It's ok. My husband has already found out about them so I might as well blog about them.

It was a great day so we chose to repeat it on Sunday......I guess I should have purchased the 2 day pass. Maybe next year.

Ravelry Member Over Here!

Soooo I finally got my ravelry invite.....Thanks Freckle Girl!
Now what do I do?
Well, just follow the directions of course! I'll be spending some time on that this weekend.... I hope. I've been doing precious little knitting lately....but I am certainly planning much both knitting and non knitting.
Anyway my ID on ravelry is Skip2MyLu might as well be consisted right?

I'm Too Old For High School

Lack of communication (or should I say proper communication) in a work place is the breeding ground for lots of confusion and silly drama.....sigh. Mama has a headache tonight!

I graduated from high school 13 years ago and I really don't want to go back.

Anyway...enough with the drama. I have to say I love coming home to my family. I recently started working (July) after quite a few years at home with my kids. It's been a difficult adjustment but i must say that I really like my job, I guess that is why it affects my spirit when things don't go well. I miss my kids terribly but finances are-a-calling. My ultimate goal is to get out of this debt. I tried everything under the sun to stay home with my kids but bills were not getting paid. My husband was killing himself and we weren't making ends meet so I got a great job and for the first time in years we are making ends meet properly and reducing debt.....AMEN.

Knitting has certainly suffered, but I still sneak in a little every time I get chance. It truly is a portable hobby.

Wanna see the yarn for my next project?

Earthy colors, gorgeous color combos. What do you think? Do you think they will make nice mittens?

No More Hum-Drum Mittens Questionaire

Mitten Meme
Here's a little about me. I am super thrilled to be a part of this mitten swap.
How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I have been knitting for 2 years (August of 2005) I was self taught from a book (Melanie Faliks book, Kid's Knitting, ROCKS!)

Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I would consider myslef an intermediate advanced. There are few things that I still need to learn.....ok there's a lot I need to learn.

What are your favorite colors? Any you dislike? I love rich fall colors. Especially oranges, reds and yellows with some green in there too. I cannot stand pastels or overly bright primary colors.

Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns? I haven't studied much on the Lativian type patterns yet but the ones that I have seen I have liked.

Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child? I have four kids, a full time job, a demanding husband (not really), two dogs and a cat.......I want mittens for myself. (am I being greedy?)

What other things do you enjoy knitting? I love knitting sweaters, hats, scarves bags...etc.

What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? I love my Denise interchangeable needles....L O V E them. But I also like metal circs and dpn. Bamboo are my favorite kind of dpns. And straight needles........can't stand them.

What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? A queen size blanket

What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? silk, angora

What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook? I like to sew although I am not very good at it

Besides yarn, do you collect anything? I collect knitting and crochet books. My daughter teases me that I have more knitting books than the library (which really isn't so hard if you saw my local library's selection)

What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? I enjoy trying new things. I love sweet and salty....especially chocolate

Do you have any kids? Pets? I have 4 kids ages 13-3 , two dogs and a cat.What is your favorite part of Winter? I love the first snow of winter. I also like going for walks with nice toasty warm winter accesories (hat, scarf and gloves...oh and a coat too....)

What is your least favorite part of Winter? I don't like slush or winter rains.

Lu, Lu, Skip 2 My Lu My Darling

So where did I get the name for this blog?
Well, my name is Luanda and for some reason everyone has wanted to shorten it one way or another. My godparents call me Lula, friends in high school called me LuLu and one of my boyfriends used to sing Skip to My Lu when he wanted to get on my nerves. And last and so far most permanently my husband has insisted on calling me Lu since we've met 11 years ago....sigh.
Now that's been settled....onto the purpose for this blog. This blog will be primarily about knitting and various other fiber arts. Maybe some sewing. Definately about my family.
THINGS ABOUT ME YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW (or not)
1) I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N AMEN! And I have C-H-R-I-S-T in my H-E-A-R-T and I will L-I-V-E E-T-E-R-N-A-L-L-Y. Want to know more about how to become a Christian or what that even is? E-mail me.
2)I am a mother of 4 ages 13-3.
3) I am wife to a wonderful man married 7 soon to be 8years.
4)I live in the Garden State.
5)I have 3 pets. 2 dogs and a cat
6)I work full time with a great staff and doctor.
7)I am a KNITTER. I love knitting, addicted to knitting. I also like crochet
8)sewing intimidates me yet calls to me.......I'll really give it a try someday
9) I love poetry and stories
As I think of other things I'll fill you in.