Another year gone

It doesn't seem possible that another year has gone by. When did time suddenly speed up? I could get all introspective about time, endings, beginnings, etc., but those ideas are too cliche on New Year's Eve. Instead, I wish family and friends the best for 2008. May you all never drop a stitch in the sweater of life! He, he, he....couldn't resist.

Twistmas choice

And the winner was.....J.Knits Superwash Me Sock Yarn in the Wheeling colorway. Ahhh...I love sock yarn.

Merry Twistmas

Oh my gosh! Shelly with Twist Yarn Shop sent out a 20% off coupon. Do you realize that this has totally blown my day. I am impossibly distracted from all things work-related now. What would I buy? Yarn? Needles? A book? How can I choose? If I don't go in strong-willed, I'll be distracted by all things woolly. Nothing but leaving work and driving to the shop will fix this. Hmmmm. Due to having a baby at home, it has been a long time since I been to Twist. What if they have new stuff to tempt me. Oh dear.

Back to the Blog

I submitted my last assignment for the semester just minutes ago. Yahoo! Time for the blog for a few weeks.

We still have the baby and he is growing up fast. he is over six months old already!

I am still knitting up a storm...cranking out a lot of sock and have started on my first pair of entrelac socks. I don't think I'll make them as tall as eunny jang did in this picture:

Anywho, just wanted to let ya'll know I'm still out here.

Two weeks of catch up

Life is busy...very busy. I realize that it is okay to let one's hobbies suffer when there is a baby crying. My knitting is painfully slow and my grad school efforts are NOT honor's material. I have eight weeks of weeds in my garden. I won't even go into the pile projects at work . BUT...it is all worth it. I really barely notice.

Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks. Its unreal how fast the little guy is growing up.

The first is of bubby with his BFF Finn.
Second was taken at the Hamilton's last weekend.
Third is at a wedding a couple of days ago.

Bubba at Work

It is Saturday morning and Bubba and I are at the WATER Center. There is an eagle scout here working on his project - he is identifying the trees in Herman Hill Park so that we can create a guide book for visitors to use. He recruited about 15 folks to come in and help him this morning with the park-wide identification. There may be some "truth checking" that I need to do, but his teams are doing a great job.

Pat is out at Brian's bachelor party for the weekend so the little Bub and I are working together this morning. I am so thankful that my eagle scout brought his little sisters - they are awesome babysitters. I also like to get the baby used to being held by others. We want to keep him as socialized as possible.

Here is a pic of the girls taking him out to feed the ducks.

Ravelry!!!

Yahoo! I'm finally "invited" to the beta version of Ravelry!

B.O.W

This past weekend was the Becoming and Outdoors Woman program. We had a great turnout! There were close to 120 ladies and most of them were first-timers.

This was my tenth year to teach the backpacking and orienteering classes for the event. I just can't get over how happy everyone seemed over the weekend. Maybe it was the weather. The only rough part of the weekend was that I am still down in the back. Hiking across the prairie and rolling under barb-wire fences has not helped either. Hopefully I'll be able to stand up straight soon - I have a prescheduled backpacking trip on the 13th!!

Generations

We are still enjoying our foster-son and can't believe it will be four weeks on Friday that he has been at our house. We have seen some many changes and developments. He finally seems to be adjusting to our schedules.

Last week I finally got over to see my Grammie -here is pic of the occasion:

Jockey Person to Person Party

To all who take the time to read my blog - THANKS!!!!! I want to invite all of you to a home-party this Sunday, September 23rd at 3 PM at my place. A close friend is starting off with a new business and I want to support her efforts. I have purchased some of her Jockey Person to Person products earlier this summer and am VERY impressed with the quality and the creative way that the clothing makes me feel skinnier....seriously. The knitted tops are crazy-soft and don't get me started on the underwear!!!

Here are some things that I have purchased in the past (which ya'll have probably seem me wearing waaaay to often). I will not put picks of the underwear up....that's just wierd. If you want to check out the entire new catalog, go to www.jockeypersontoperson.com There are products for workouts, office, casual, and for sleep. There some totally cute yoga pants that keep tempting me. And how freakin' cute are the slippers....ugh...I love shopping.

Am I being to pushy??? Here is another reason to come bum around at my place on Sunday afternoon - you can love on the little baby! I'll also have some yummy snacks and some adult beverage options.

Interested? Shoot me a quick email to libbyalbers@cox.net before Saturday night and I'll send you directions.

Reality Check

Yesterday was a planning meeting on our foster care case. The birth family is working very hard and desperate to have their son back. I don't blame them at all! They have a lot of work to do with classes, parenting trainings, and visitations. Best case scenario, it will be January when the little guy goes home.

Pat and I are working to adapt our mindset to the temporary nature of this placement. There is still a chance that the case may go to adoption, but in my opinion, it is unlikely. We will just enjoy the time we have with the baby and keep working with him so that he reaches the milestones and gains the skills that he needs to be a healthy toddler.

I appreciate SO MUCH all the support we are getting from family and friends. This is a hard, hard process but we believe we are safe, healthy, bright spot in this child's life (and for future placements too). We go back and forth on whether we will try again to have a family via foster care. Its a gamble.

No words needed

Mmmmmm......Harlot

Yesterday was the long-awaited day when Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, AKA the Yarn Harlot, came to Wichita. OMG...she was awesome! What a hoot. It was so great to have a good laugh! Jessica Mounts and I met before the program and worked on our respective sock projects. Once we got to the presentation (held at East High), you would not have believed the crowd. There were close to 300 knitters in the building, all wielding their needles and projects!

She is touching my sock!!!!!!!! I am not worthy......he, he, he.

A New Journey

It has been a long sleepy week! A week ago today, Pat and I received our first foster child. We are busy trying to adapt to him and the requirements of the foster care program. I may be away from my extracurricular activities for awhile until we figure out all of the little guy's needs.

Knitterly updates

My knitting is slowing down now that homework is ramping up. Also around the corner is the rush of school field trips at the WATER Center once Labor Day is over. I do have one project 50% complete - an RPM sock using J. Knits "Kansas" colorway and Lang Yarns' Jawoll superwash for the cuff, toe and heel. You can purchase these awsome yarns at Wichita's newest yarn shop, Twist.

Personally, I am unhappy with the way the gusset connects with the foot so I think I'll stray from the pattern a little on the next foot. I dislike the row of purls that it called for between the ktog/ssk and the main body of the foot.

I still have a ton of "Kansas" left...even with one sock to go... and am toying with Eunny Jang's entrelac pattern for my next project with this colorway (along with some solid colors of Jawoll).

Also...exciting news. My friend Jess dropped of our tickets for the Yarn Harlot! Wahoo!

Back to School

I think my knitting is going to suffer for the next nine months. Darn education.

School starts up again tonight and the courses I'm enrolled for look to keep me busy. As it stands, I am nine hours into my Masters in Resource Interpretation from Stephen F. Austin State University. This is an on-line only program that was developed for the National Park Service Park Rangers. Since the National Parks are spread out all over the States, it is logical to have classes in a virtual classroom.

This semester I'm taking two courses again (in the Spring I can only handle one....work is too hectic during those months). Curriculum Based Interpretation should be familiar enough - I have been customizing my programs to school standards for a number of years. However, Interpretive Planning will be a huge jump for me. This is a concept that I have been struggling with while trying to operate the WATER Center's education program.

Nine hours down, enrolled in six, fifteen and a thesis to go. I'm thinking 2010. Sheesh.

Finished Objects

I finished up the Lacy-edged Tee (knitpicks) and whipped out some booties and the Unbiased bag (kintty). I also lined the Unbiased with a cool piece of fabric that my sis wove some years ago. If feel so strange to actually FINISH something. I need to keep going on this trend.

Busy Busy

I haven't decided why my life is so busy. Do I take on things I shouldn't? Do I get assigned things that I can't get out of? Do I have too many hobbies? Do I have poor time management? Who knows. All I know is that:

• four grants due
• need to complete trail grant project - meet with Eagle Scout this week
• spinning class in Lawrence
• grad school starts back up next week - need to buy books
• Christmas knitting
• finish posters and displays for WATER Center exhibit hall
• RFP for 2007-2008 WRAPS position
• Develop position description for 2008-2009 WRAPS grant

Sigh...it is too depressing to type it all out. It all due on or before 8/31.

Back to work.

Kitty Loooooves Finished Projects

I finished a Mason Dixon Baby Kimono knit in Paton's Paradiso (discontinued...boo hoo). It turned out so cute! I adapted it and made it a little more outdoorsy. The way I knit it, it will probably fit a 12 month old. I'm working on a pair of booties to match.

The funny part happened when I tried to take a picture of the finished project. Kitties love yarn.

Shot #1:


Shot #2:

Shot #3

Ugh.

Babysittin'

Last week we had the opportunity to babysit for Kris and Jess' baby boy, Finn. He, he, he...ya think we are ready for a kid?

Don't eat Spicy Food Before Bed

Sorry for the lack of postings this week - everytime I think I'll have a moment to sit down at the computer, something else happens.

I do want to use this time to pass on some sage advice - don't eat pizza before bed. I realized this long ago but had sorta forgotten what spicy food does to my dreams. I end up having the worst nightmares and Tuesday night was no different. That night I had gone out with the Wichita Paddlers for a Tuesday Night Pizza Meeting at Godfather's. Mmmmm.....pizza.

After a very restless night (I won't go into the horrifying nightmares and freaking out that there HAD to be somebody breaking into the house) and being woken up at 4:30 am by the brat-cat (Typhoon) dropping a wooden toy down the wooden stairs (how did she manage that????), there came a hilarious dream:

Pat and I had just received two little girls in foster care - one was two years old and the other was a baby. We were playing with them in the living room and trying to get acquainted. I asked the toddler their names....her name was "Aloe Vera" and the baby's name was "Crochet."

No pizza before bed. Period.

Room Ready

Although I do not feel ready to have a child...I guess the room is. Over the past couple of months, i sold some of my backpacking gear on eBay to fund our new hobby - parenting. We moved the guest bed out on to the landing and moved the hide-a-bed into the guest room. It means that the guest area is less than private but I have already gotten used to the bed being at the top of the stairs. It does provide guest with access to the TV, though.

I refused to repaint the walls so I had to rip out the wallpaper that I LOVED to put up something less Victorian and more kid-friendly. We are borrowing the bed from Lecia and were given the changing table by her friend Angie. I think we have everything but a car seat, diapers and formula. I figure it is best to see what age we get before buying that stuff. The other side of the room (not shown in the picture) is where the couch is. Above the couch are two big Ikea Lova Leaves - so cool!

Our temporary license came in the mail on Friday - so I guess we are official. Hopefully our Foster Care Worker will call us soon so that we can meet her and start learning the process.

Guess I better start knitting kid stuff!

"P" is for Procrastination

I know I put things off. Most of the time it is not deliberate. Okay...it is deliberate. But, sometimes I'm just busy. Since last Friday, I have prepped materials and supplies for yesterday's Senior Wednesday Program - "Edible Wetlands." The Interns dug the cattails last Friday, I soaked the roots all weekend, peeled the tubers on Monday, ground and dehydrated the tubers all day Monday (my day off) and cooked late into the night Tuesday night. I finally finished my PowerPoint on Wednesday at 10 am.

The program went off without a hitch - it was great. Then I came to the realization that I had a whole NEW program the next day (at 1 pm) about mussels. Luckily it will be with kiddos. I was naive enough to think that maybe these kids would be able to carve their own shell button or something. Last night (when trying the idea out), I realized that shells are crazy-hard. Plan B - scrimshaw. We'll see how it turns out.

15 Minutes of Fame and Over-work-ed-ness

After a long weekend (of painting, moving a friend, seeing old friends, cleaning, knitting, and doing work-work), I am back at work. I have decided a need a clone. I need someone to organize and work with the volunteers, someone to plan and prepare the programs and supplies, someone to answer the phone, someone to write and maintain the grants, and someone to work on the operation and maintenance of the Center. So that gets to what...five clones...which leaves me time to knit and garden and do fun stuff.

Anywho, to add a little more...I mean...to give myself additional OPPORTUNITIES, I have been nominated to the KCKA board (we'll see if I get on) and my friend Jan Brock and I had a spread in the Wichita Eagle on our women's hiking business, Cottonwood Adventures. It looks like I best get back in shape. The last bit of my chocolate bar is still dissolving in my mouth...and now...wait for it....I am on a diet. Damn.

So...if you are chicky looking for a Kansas backpacking trip in October...give me a shout.

Also - here is the link to the Wichita Eagle story (the pictures don't come through, but they also convinced me of a diet in my near future).

Muckin' Around

Friday was crazy busy - at work I had lots of great volunteers helping out with some of the stream maintenance. Vaughn Weaver's interns (Erin and Ashley) worked on one of the water falls for close to eight hours trying to repair the places where the water had undercut the rocks. It definitely looks like some of the big limestone slabs have slipped and shifted over the since they were installed four years ago. If they finally slip off their base, I'm not sure how will get them back up. Anyway - the girls and I hit wal-mart and picked up more rock, gravel and sand for the repairs.

When we got back to the WATER Center, Chris Collins showed up to return the kayaks that he borrowed for the float last Wednesday. It was great to have the interns there to help carry all the boats back upstairs. Chris and I agreed that we need to come up with a new storage systems now that the boats are getting used more.

At 1 pm by teen volunteers (Michelle, Anthony and Sebastian) came in. Michelle and Anthony worked on preparing supplies for one of the kids groups coming next week. Sebastian got in the stream and started gathering up all the aquatic planting baskets for the youth volunteers that would be coming in.

The goal for "Youth Volunteer Day" was to work on the aquatic habitat structures in the creek/stream. Eight kids, ages four through twelve came in and got on their rubber boots. We jumped in the stream and started transplanting watercress into the fountains, helping with the waterfall repair and moving logs around to create better fish homes.

3:00...little kids gone
4:00...teens gone
5:00...interns gone

Whew...no wonder I don't get my office work done!

Twist!

I ventured over to Twist, the new yarn shop, yesterday over my lunch break. (www.twistyarnshop.com) Wait...backup. I went to the bank and withdrew some cash, then I ventured over to the new yarn shop. Oooooooo.....so many temptations! I picked up a Twist logo bag and a prezzie for a friend. I was totally amazed by the awesome "yarn hammocks" that owner Shelley had designed - she so should patent them! After work I went back to knit and chat with some of the KIPpers. He, he, he...its so great to see other people as giddy about yarn as I am. I had forgotten how fun it was to talk gear with knitters.

Rejuvination

Thanks to everyone who has harassed me about my blog post being a year old...it is shameful.

Here is a start of a new round of posts:
Float of the Flying Fish
Chris Collins (http://www.wichitapaddler.org/) and I put together an evening float on the Little Arkansas River. Last night, a dozen of us met at the fire station at 21st and Coolidge to put in. The heat of the day was already dissipating and the shaded banks made the float even more refreshing.
Immediately after putting in, our flotilla saw the strangest sight - one that repeated itself throughout the float. Jumping Shad! The water was like popcorn in a popper - fish jumping out of the water and scattering in every direction. Some even jumped over the bow of our boats. The resident herons and egrets were thrilled as we "herded" the fish in their directions.
Lia Keller took some gorgeous pictures of the trip...see them on http://baskinginbliss.blogspot.com/ and http://knitandfit.blogspot.com/