Proud Parents and Grandparents

I am all aglow from the events of the last week.

And not just because of the heat wave which engulfs us and is sending the kids home early today (the temperature in the classrooms is up over 100F, definitely no learning going on.)

No, I'm a very proud mom after a weekend of the school play, a horse show, and the sixth-grade award ceremony.

"It's Showtime!"
And best yet, all the grandparents and their uncle Goo were here to celebrate all of these with us.

The play, oh the play.  The kids--all the kids--were marvelous in Madagascar Jr., a musical retelling of the popular animated movie.  Bud played "Rico," the kung-fu fighting, sushi-loving penguin.  I loved watching him perform, from his slides onto the middle of the stage, his quick kung-fu moves, to his singing "Sea Shanty."  I really liked how he waddled and moved his head around like a real penguin. For me, he just lit up the stage.

Sis was a police officer, appearing mostly in the first few scenes and then the end, looking intimidating in her navy blue (real) police officer shirt and hat.  She does stern well and was believable with that walkie-talkie.  But oh, we had a shock to see her in eyeliner and blush.  She became a teenager right in front of us.  Kinda surprising.  But it all totally worked in the part.  And she didn't have to dance (which she does not like to do on stage.)

I was the snack coordinator again, meaning I oversaw the procurement and distribution of water and snacks to the cast during all three shows.  It's a bit of organizational work, but not much compared to people in charge of costumes, props, choreography, etc.  And we get to go backstage, which other parents not working do not.  I saw the show twice, checking the cafeteria before and after, and during intermission, and then worked the cafeteria snacks on Saturday.  It was pretty hot the last two performances, but we had enough water and watermelon, which is their favorite.  Mama, Gommie, and Pop also helped us out--fetching coolers and ice, helping bring in snacks.

After the show on Friday, we all headed to a local diner with much of the cast, loudly celebrating while wolfing down dinner.  Everyone was exhilarated and exhausted.  Saturday night, it was me, Mama, Gommie and our Beloved Babysitter and her boyfriend.  So special that they came!  She brought the kiddos flowers and then we all went to a diner together afterwards.  We love to see her and were interested to finally meet her chef boyfriend.

After Sunday's show, there was a cast party after the last performance.  The kids signed each other's t-shirts and posters between a chicken dinner and cake.  They also got the cast cards that audience members could leave for them.  We all wrote cards for Sis and Bud, and I also wrote cards to all my Girl Scouts and a few of the other cast members.  I just wanted them to know how much I really enjoyed the show and all their hard work.  It was a nice little party, after an amazing weekend.  And I couldn't be prouder.

Ride 'em, Horse Girl
In the midst of all that, Sis had a horse show on Saturday which we did not want to miss.  Even tired, she loves to ride "her" horse, Murphy.  So, Gommie, Pop, Mama, and I spent a hot day in the field watching those beautiful beasts and their composed riders.  Sis got a first place for jumping (because she made her diagonals correctly) and three third places for Walk-Trot-Canter equitation and pleasure (her dear Murphy was being a bit stubborn.)  I can't really tell what makes for a good ride; I just like watching.  Gommie was especially interested in how the whole horse show worked--the different events, the different commands ("the class is closed," "riders reverse at the wall," posting vs. half-seat, pleasure vs equitation--I understand it all, just barely.)  But we were all a bit relieved to get out of the heat after her events were over.  Still, I love watching her ride.  Almost as much as she loves horses!

Though, the kids did manage to go swimming with Gommie and Pop after eating some SmashBurgers!  And then it was off to the next performance . . . .  

And the Award Goes to  . . . .
It was a very hot night in the school auditorium, where I had been since Thursday (for the final dress rehearsal, I chaperoned with Gommie), but we were all happy to gather in our hot-weather finest for the celebration of the kids leaving elementary school.  I guess you could call it graduation or commencement, but they don't.  Sis wore her dress pants and white gauzy shirt, Bud was in a light blue Oxford--basic dress up clothes for them both (like for chorus or orchestra.)  We took a lot of pictures, in many combinations, getting a few great ones with grandparents and many of their school friends.  We didn't quite know what to expect from the ceremony, didn't really know what awards there were.  It started with a basic presentation of certificates for their involvement in the play, chorus, art, orchestra, etc., all of which were just passed out in an envelope.  We did know about the Presidential Awards, which the kids hoped to earn--the Gold award was for a 3.5 GPA and over 60 on various STAR tests.  I thought they qualified, but we didn't know until they were both called--the second set of twins to earn the Presidential Gold Award that night (the other set, in their class, also has two moms!)   They just beamed with pride and I was sniffly.  (I laughed that we should switch their last names so they could be called earlier in the round up!)  Then the Character Education Awards.  Someone had told Sis they thought she should get one--and she did!  Wow!  And then Bud won a prestigious Citizenship Award named after a local detective, that came with $100 (all the kids oohed and aahed)!  (He got it with another young lady, one of our friends and a former Girl Scout.)  Wow again!  So proud of them--academics and character!!!  Proud of all of our kids, especially their gifted-and-talented classmates and my Girl Scouts (current and former.)  It really was fun to celebrate them.  Which we did with more cake in the cafeteria, more pictures all over, and then a trip to the local ice cream shop with a bunch of their classmates.  I got a hot fudge sundae because I was proud of Mama and me, too.  Ma had even said we were good parents, which was a wonderful first.  My folks say it a lot, but it means so much each time; I was really glad that my dad made the trip, which was a last-minute decision.   And I'm glad they were all able to be with us, surrounding the kiddos with love and support during this exciting time.

And so now, they'll be home early because of the heat.  Gommie and Pop are off to who-knows-where, but we'll see them later.  The kids are essentially done with class--tomorrow is their 6th-grade picnic and then they have two half-days (hope the heat dismissal doesn't change that.)  Then they really are done!  Middle Schoolers!

It's all bittersweet.  I love their teachers and the supportive environment of the school.  They've had good times here and grown and learned so much.  I have, too.  But just as we moved from home to preschool, preschool to half-day kindergarten, half-day to full day, the small elementary school to the upper grades at the larger elementary school, we'll all be okay moving to middle school.  And I think, after a bit, we'll all be good, thanks to the love and support of family and community.

Studying My Craft

I have two colorful but scratchy (old acrylic yarn) Granny Square afghans, one from each of my grandmothers, I believe.  And even though that description covers them both, they are totally different. 

Hermione likes them both but not that I woke her up!

First, there is my paternal grandmother's with variegated rainbow squares outlined in black.  It's like a stained-glass window.  

Second, there is my maternal grandmother's with a variety of yarns--some variegated, some squares more solid--in all sorts of colors, outlined in gray.

And were we to put one of my afghans next to theirs, mine would be fluffier, looser, bigger stitches--but still with lots of colors.  And still acrylic yarn. I think I remember Grandmother's rainbow afghan on the back of her sofa at Raucous, their rural home in Denton; it was one of the things I asked for when she died when I was 14.  Except I never had thought how it was made.  And I didn't learn to crochet until I was an adult, from a friend of mine, Miss V, who stayed with us when her husband was in Iraq.  Though, I did fingerweave as a kid.  I didn't actually know the other afghan was from Bammie until a few years ago.  I know she was crafty, but I hadn't known she crocheted.

Closer inspection reveals that my maternal grandmother Bammie's stitches are small, tight, and very neat.  I can't imagine what small hook she used to crochet.  My other grandmother's stitches are looser and bigger, though still smaller than I like to crochet.

I think they're patterns are slightly different; the edging and connections definitely are.  The Rainbow afghan even has a diamond outline!

I'm told by dear Aunt Sis that my grandmother took up crochet late in life to keep her fingers nimble.  I'm not sure about Bammie.  Bammie's afghan seems more utilitarian, with its varied scraps and straight pattern.  She is also more precise and careful, down to the chain outlined round around the shell edge! Her pattern is also more challenging with a decrease from 4 to 3 double crochets after the first round, and the double crochet edge around each square.which gives it an airy feel.  And she even changed yarn between rounds sometimes--each square is a work of art.  Lots of hard work.  My paternal grandmother's rainbow seems more artsy, with the rainbow and black contrast and the diagonal diamond edge; otherwise, the pattern is very straightforward and the skill level is not as advanced.

Bammie's afghan is in fabulous shape; the rainbow one has some broken stitches.  Neither is soft at all, so I'm not sure I'm ever going to use them.  I'm considering making pillows and/or mounting some squares in a picture frames so that I can see and enjoy them everyday.  Though, now that I've studied the afghans, it might be hard to take them apart.  





These are my best bets as to the patterns: 

Rainbow Afghan
Each Granny Square:

Rnd 1: Working in rainbow variegated yarn, ch 4, join with sl st to first ch made to form ring. Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc + 2 chs),*work 3 dc in ring, ch 2, rep from *twice more, work 2 dc in ring; join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (four ch-2 corners) DO NOT TURN WORK.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sl st into next ch-2 sp, ch 5, work 3 dc in this ch-2 sp, *ch 1(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * twice more, work 2 dc in final ch-2 sp (which is right beside the beg ch-5); join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sl st into next ch-2 sp, ch 5, work 3 dc in this ch-2 sp, *work 3dc in next sp (side), work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp (corner), rep from * twice more, work 3 dc in next sp (side), work 2 dc in final ch-2 sp (which is right beside the beg ch-5); join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. 

Rnd 4: Working in black, Ch 1, sl st into next ch-2 sp, ch 5, work 3 dc in this ch-2 sp, *work 3dc in next sp (side), work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp (corner), rep from * twice more, work 3 dc in next sp (side), work 2 dc in final ch-2 sp (which is right beside the beg ch-5); join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. Finish off.

Make as many squares as needed for size desired.

To put together:  
Arrange squares on a diagonal, so that there is a zigzag edge.
I believe it is pieced together with a sewn seam (essentially, lay with squares right side facing and lace up like shoes, working through the stitches back to front.  Pull to draw together.)

Edging:  *Work 2 dc in each ch-2 sp, ch 3* repeat, (work 6 dc in corners)

Gray Scrap Granny Square Afghan
Each Granny Square:
Rnd 1: Working in colored yarn, ch 4, join with sl st to first ch made to form ring. Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc + 2 chs),*work 4 dc in ring, ch 2, rep from *twice more, work 3 dc in ring; join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (four ch-2 corners) DO NOT TURN WORK.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sl st into next ch-2 sp, ch 5, work 3 dc in this ch-2 sp, *ch 1(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * twice more, work 2 dc in final ch-2 sp (which is right beside the beg ch-5); join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sl st into next ch-2 sp, ch 5, work 3 dc in this ch-2 sp, *work 3dc in next sp (side), work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp (corner), rep from * twice more, work 3 dc in next sp (side), work 2 dc in final ch-2 sp (which is right beside the beg ch-5); join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. 

Look!  I think that rainbow variegated
 is the same as my other grandmother's!

Rnd 4: (This is confusing) Working in gray, dc in top of first and third dc, ch 3, and repeat.  Finish off.

Make as many squares as needed for size desired.

To put together:  
Afghan is a giant rectangle.  I believe it is pieced together with a sewn seam (essentially, lay with squares right side facing and lace up like shoes, working through the stitches back to front.  Pull to draw together.)
Traditional shell edging (*sc, skip 1 sp, 4 dc, skip 1* repeat, with a ch round outlining (around shell:  begin in any space, sc with chosen yarn, ch 3, sc in next sp, repeat until end, sl st together and finish off.)

Countdown to Fun!

Gommie and Pop are somewhere over Illinois right now, if the airline flight tracker is correct. They'll be here sometime later this afternoon.

Which means we have at least 4 hours or so to pass. That is harder than it sounds when you're are six and your sibling is driving you nuts and you can't find anything to do and "why aren't they here yet?" keeps reverberating in your brain! If I give them Benadryl now, they'll wake up right on time, right?

Just kidding. Or wishful thinking.

So we've tried to play together, tried to play apart, tried to work out a compromise. And it's Just. So. Long. Which means I've given up on all my maternal standards and have turned on the tv.

Next will be the DS, if tv doesn't hack it.

And we had s'mores for snack.

Yep, I've really sunk quite low.

Grandparents aren't the only ones to spoil kids . . . except I don't get nearly half the credit!

All of which is to say we're really looking forward to their ten-day visit.

Fall Fun

We have been packing in the fall activities while Gommie is in town to give the Texan a little taste of New England. First, we hosted our first annual Applepalooza Apple Festival on Saturday, inviting friends over for apple food, crafts, games, and fun. It was a beautiful day, which is good because the party was outside. We had painted an apple tree and jack o'lantern on our patio doors as well as made an apple-shaped welcome sign. There were pictures to color and connect-the-dots, paper worms to play "pin the worm on the apple", little apple nametags for people to put their names on our tree (next year, it's going to be "pin your nametag apple on the apple tree!"). Plus food, glorious apple food: apple enchiladas, apple sour cream dip, apple muffins, apple spice cake, apple sour cream pie, apple cranberry pie, apple doughnuts, apple sundaes with caramel and toppings, apple cider (served with cream and rum, too). And lots of our friends from playgroup, church, and around, including one who came in all the way from the city! Everybody needs a little taste of fall in New England. We'll be doing it again next year, perhaps with apple-bobbing this time! I just couldn't face the moms of a bunch of wet three-year olds this year!

On Sunday, we headed to Sturbridge Village for a day of old-time fun. We loved the guest musician Jeff Warner, who played on the banjo, concertina, guitar, bones, spoons, and Jew's harp, while telling stories of the development of folk music ("we think of all the old songs as Appalachian, but that's just where they hung on the longest" and "I think all folk music probably started out as a dance tune until someone put words to it.") And he played the limberjack, or dancing wooden doll, which was the most amazing feat. He was rather like the Garrison Keillor of New England folk music. Bud and Gommie were fascinated, and at least Sis stood still. And then we listened to the pipe organ in the meetinghouse. Sis liked it more, I think, if only because it was big and novel. While the musician played the 1810s organ, Bud danced his fingers in the air as if he were playing too. And we talked about how our church once had an organ and that the pipes are in a sculpture outside. Of course, the Count on Sesame Street plays an organ, too. Sis liked the stage coach best, of course, horses being at the top of her nightly happy thoughts list. She declared the bumpity-bump of the stagecoach to be much better than that of her stroller. Bud's head met the door frame on one of those bumps so he was less enamored of the ride, but still had a good time. Gommie, of course, was interested in how fast it travelled, how long it would take to get places, how it must have been to be a passenger. Typical history-loving Gommie questions. Which returned when we visited the cider press and heard all about making apple pumice, pressing the apples, and letting them ferment. All the while wasps circled our heads. We had lunch, pretended to weave and spin, played in the children's section--Bud loved drawing water from the well--and napped on the way home.

Today we hit two fall highlights: pumpkin picking and farmer's markets. We took a hayride to the pumpkin patch, where Sis and Bud each chose a small one for decorating (either with decoupage or markers). Then we played around the farm, chose some squash for eating, and bought a decorative bale of hay. We snacked on cookies and cider, too. Then we headed to the farmer's market for some beets--we'd seen them roasting some at OSV and wanted to try it--more squash, and the last of the late summer raspberries for Bud.

And then we rested. There's a lot of cooking to be done, including all those squashes, the beets, some roasted pumpkin seeds, and a batch of Amish Friendship Bread. Then there is school, cards to make for family back home, and just lots of fun with Gommie before she leaves on Wednesday. It's been a great trip . . . and it's not quite over yet.