History is Alive :: The Silk Road

The boys and I explored the mysterious East in our history lessons a few weeks ago (well, it might be a couple of months ago now).

We started at the Taklamakan Desert with our heads covered to protect our heads from the extreme heat and sun.

A stop at an oasis in the Gobi Desert for water.

A float down the Yellow River using a yard stick for a boat oar.

We traveled the silk road just like explorers from Europe might have to find gold (chocolate coins), spices, ivory (old frosting containers), and exotic animals (an assortment of our own stuffed animals).

:: Yarn Along ::

Another Wednesday, another post about my knitting and reading. Yarn Along with Ginny to see even more goodies.

 

On the needles :: Still plugging away with Mr. Wiedz's sweater. Still haven't decided if I'll do a plain back or work it in the pattern. I really want to do it plain but I'm not sure if it would look right. Ideas? 

I've gotten quite a few rows done on one-half of the front of #6's cardi. 

I finished the headband I was making with that purple and immediately cast on a shawl for myself with the yarn. I'm planning on this being my summer no-brainer, traveling project...anytime the pattern calls for enough increases to get into the hundreds of stitches I figure it'll take me awhile.

On the nightstand :: Still working on Jane Eyre . Actually haven't made it much further than last week's post. Borrowed The Hunger Games from a friend. #1 wants to read it and a friend of mine's daughter wants to read it. Friend is waiting on my opinion and #1 is anxious for me to decide if it's appropriate for her to read. I'm so tired by the time I get into bed I'm not sure when I'll take time to pick it up but I've heard once I do it'll be hard to put down...we'll see.

Project :: knitted pants (and baby toes)

While I was pregnant with #5 I tried to knit baby pants. I was new at knitting and only got through one leg before I ran out of yarn and gave up. During my pregnancy with #6 my mom bought me a knitting book, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, during our fun birthday girls weekend. There are so many patterns in there that I want to make, but one of the first projects I cast on was the Tiny Trousers.

 

I finished them and blocked them and put them in the drawer to await #6's arrival. And the other day she wore them! She looks as cute in them as I thought she would. She has worn them a time or two since this day that I photographed them. Actually she wore them to her brother's freezing t-ball game the other night and thanks to the wonderful soft wool she was warm and toasty!

Another picture to show her adorable baby toes. I think I decided to knit a bigger pair in some wonderful grey wool that I bought just before she was born...I've been waiting to decide what should be made with that yarn...

Ravelry notes here.

:: Yarn Along ::

It's Wednesday, which means it's time to Yarn Along with Ginny.

On the needles :: in the midst of spring basketball for #1 and baseball for #2, #3, and #4 (#4 will impatiently remind you he's playing t-ball, an altogether different activity, I guess) I found myself knitting what would be the equivalent of 2 rows a day on Mr. Wiedz's sweater. I put it that way since I didn't even get the thing out everyday but I did do 14 rows this last week in a couple different settings, so same thing right? I think I will have one more pattern repeat before I split for the neck - yikes, exciting! I have been toying around with the idea of doing the back plain garter or stockinette stitch instead of in pattern as it is written. I figure I have a better shot of finishing it if I do it that way but would it look strange?

I started on the front for #6's sweater but only got 1.5 rows done so that doesn't count.

On the nightstand :: I'm still plugging away on Jane Eyre and still enjoying it some. I would love to watch a Jane Eyre movie, anyone have a good recommendation?

:: Yarn Along ::

Joining Ginny today with another Yarn Along post.  

On the needles ::  Still plugging away on Mr. Wiedz's sweater. I'm trying to get at least 2 rows done. Unfortunately, 2 rows a week is still going to put me getting this sweater done when he's like 80. I would love to do 2 rows a day as a goal, I'll try that this week. I got the back done on #6's sweater. I'm making the 6-12 month size in hopes that it is done around the same time (fall) that she'll need a sweater. I figured there wasn't a lot of sense in making a small size that she would hardly wear in the summer.

On the nightstand :: A couple of weeks ago I was given a gift for #6, in the gift was a book, Jane Eyre counting board book , another mom at the baseball field, where the gift was given, noticed the book and was interested. This got us talking about Jane Eyre. I had started the book but was so unimpressed, I found it difficult to continue with. That was at least a year ago. But this mom told me to keep trying. This book was on her list of top books and I love reading classics, I really wanted to read it. So I dug it out of the storage drawer I was keeping books and other things that were accumulating on my nightstand. I must have stopped right before I got to the point of it pulling me in because now I am in! I read while nursing mostly but I find myself thinking about the book and Jane and Mr. Rochester all day long. I am grateful to this mom for suggesting I give it another try and for the gift giver who has helped me start my #6 towards classics like Jane Eyre.

Rowing :: Katy and the Big Snow

It has been a long time since I posted about a row of ours. This one was interesting as I looked back a photos while uploading the ones I would use for the post, there is one that #1 took that shows my very pregnant belly in the background. So strange that not too long ago I was waddling around.

We rowed this book in the middle of February (13th-17th) and enjoyed it a lot. I think I had been able to get a lot of organizing done on our rows for Febrary so I had a lot of activities and projects all lined up.

What's better for sensory play and rather snow looking than shaving cream. I thought I would be able to get a couple of things done with the older kids while the younger ones were busy with this activity, especially as #5 seemed so interested as that first photo indicated, but #5 hated it past that first reaction and the other boys spread theirs out so much that it dried out really fast...the activity was over in moments and I got nothing else done. But the big boys loved it while it lasted.

We had a little lesson on directions and the compass. Compass rose from homeschool share and my compass app on the iPhone.

"By noon it was four inches deep... By afternoon the snow was ten inches deep and still coming down. "Looks like a Big Snow," they said at the Highway Department, and sent Katy out."

We painted pieces of paper after we measured 4 inches and 10 inches. I also showed the boys how we can measure with a ruler, a yard stick and a tape measure.

I found this idea on pinterest and still need to finish it but we did do a painted foot. All the boys thought this was awesome fun. And looking back I am amazed at the amount of messy projects we did...brave mama that week!

Links ::

delightful learning :: inspiration

homeschool share :: compass rose and inspiration

and linking up ::

One Month

Last Monday (the 9th) Little Miss #6 was one month old. While in some ways I can't believe that is possible, the days just march along with so much love, noise and work that I'm sure it's at LEAST been a month. A friend of a friend has a blog and with all of her babies she's done this wonderful photo with the same bear and backdrop each month. I love the way it looks and I love seeing the progression of growth compared to the bear. I thought I would copy her so here's the first installment, we'll see if I can keep it up for the whole year.

* Yes, I made the pants, a post about those coming soon. *