I can’t believe it’s Friday already.  But it is.  This week has flown by with a flurry of activity.  I finished ordering all my curriculum for the upcoming school year.  I am excited to start.  I got quite a bit of dyeing done, we cleared the former house and am just waiting for our security deposit to be returned.  And we are settling in quite nicely into the new house.  Hubby admits that he really wasn’t so thrilled about moving into a smaller house, but has agreed that there are certain benefits.  Let’s see, first off, the money factor.  We save over 500.00 a month (yes that’s a huge thing) on rent and utilities not to mention gas in just his truck since we are now only about 3 minutes drive from his unit.  He’s home more.  There’s really no commute (and while before it wasn’t bad…20 minutes or so) we actually see him more.  Before, he’d have to go in at a certain time in order to avoid the traffic jam at the gates, if he got out later then a certain time, he’d have to drive further to get out of a gate that was still open (yes, it’s a closed post therefore ID’s required and certain gates close at certain times, etc)  Saturday, he got called into work due to an emergency, and he was there in a matter of 10 minutes (he had to get into uniform first) instead of 30 or so.  Oh let’s see…other benefits, so far, while there are a lot of crickets around here due to excessive rain, no snakes or mice, or scorpions in the walls (that we know of at least ha ha).  But I think right now the biggest benefit is the neighborhood kids.  The past two houses we lived in, there were no other kids for my kids to play with.  Yesterday, I think at one point I counted 20 kids in my yard or the front part of the street.  I know there were 6 in my backyard on the trampoline earlier then that.  It started on Tuesday or Wednesday.  My kids went out into the street (it’s a typical neighborhood street that’s safe to play on…it’s not like I let my kids go play on the interstate or anything like that) and drew a 4 square court and started playing.  Next thing I know, the littlest is running onto the porch for more chalk and they ended up playing 5 square…then 6 square…7 square…8 square…9 square….and I think they stopped adding onto the “court” at 10 square.  (by the way, I am not sure I totally understand the new rules for 10 square, but all seemed to be having good clean fun and that’s what mattered to me)

Yesterday three kids (not my own) showed interest in crochet.  Cassidy taught them the basics and I helped out and showed them some other things.  As I was dyeing for SFS, sock yarn, and other yarns, two showed great interest in what I was doing.  I let them pick out whatever colors they wanted (I figured I could always over dye) and I dyed yarn with those colors.  One skein did indeed need over dyeing, but the other turned out really great and I can’t wait to knit a hat with it.

But the most important thing is my kids are having a blast.  There is such a wide variety of kids in this neighborhood that there is an age group for each of the kids and they are all making friends of their own.  It was such a wonderful thing to sit outside and watch them play and get along, and just do normal everyday kid stuff. YAY!

Today more is on tap. More play, more dyeing, more outside…more everything.

I pray your day is blessed and you have a wonderful weekend.

from the scene of the crime.  I am not totally sure what happened here, but the Crime Scene investigators are here.  This is what I found on the front porch this morning:

Details are scarce right now.  The “body” has been taken away already, but the chalk outline remains.  The only clue is a sock that I recently began knitting.

Crime Scene Investigator M.Y. Tatorhead says he will be top of this investigation and will get back to us with details as they become available.

Wow..I can’t believe so many of you needed the same word to call a bingo.  Kelly, what are the odds of that?

But we did get one winner.  Congratulations to Karen. Please send me (privately) your mailing address and this prize will go out to you tomorrow.

You won and abacus row counter bracelet and 4 stitch markers my children and I made.  I hope you will like them.

Thanks to everyone who played this round.  It looks like most of you (if not all) had fun playing and I plan another round next month. Please be sure to tell others about it as I think it will be another fun round.

ETA: the kids took a vote and wanted another row counter bracelet to be sent out.  I had Cassidy pick a number and she chose 13.  The 13th person to send in their Bingo words was Helle.  So, Helle, you are lucky number 13 and you win an row counter bracelet too.  You need to send me your address again and I will get it out to you. (ha and you said you never win..aren’t you glad I kept reminding you to enter)

By popular request, I am calling another word before I walk out the door.  I won’t be home for  bit, so if you call a bingo, hang tight and I will get with you when I get home.

….drum roll please……………………….

21.  handspun yarn

leaving…….now

Good morning all.  I am going to call one word this morning before I leave for church.  Hopefully this will give someone a bingo.  If not, I will call another word after I get home this afternoon.

This morning’s word is:

18.  solid colors

Today’s words are brought to you by the letters M-O-M and are

7. instep

20. afterthought heel

Anyone have a bingo yet?

Jessi dug deep into the small little basket and pulled the following words:

3. heel flap

6. sole

11. stitch marker

24. top down

Do I hear a bingo anyone?

Today is Jac’s day so he drew the following words:

1. needles

5. heel turn

10. row counter

17. magic loop.

It should be anyone’s game now.  Jess, however, has has her day tomorrow and is praying no one calls a bingo til she gets to pull her words out of the basket.  (kids )

Where is time going these days?  I mean, even my oldest child has said the days are passing way too quickly.  And he’s bored half the time.  I have way too many things and need a few extra hours in my day.  Getting up early in the morning and going to bed later isn’t helping.  I still need more hours.

I have been dyeing socks and beanies lately and haven’t had time to get any new yarns out yet.  But hopefully by next week I will be able to do that.  I have created a few new patterns and sure could use some test knitters.  So, if you are up to knitting a pair of socks or a fair isle hat, and will send very clear and detailed photos and give feedback, contact me and we’ll “talk”.  I can’t offer free yarn right now, but you would get the pattern and a giftie from me when the photos come back.  I do need someone who can knit relatively quickly and get back to me soon.  Thanks in advance.

Friends are coming over this afternoon so I must get going.  Must bathe cats and get some dyeing done before lunchtime.

Bingo words will be called later this afternoon.

Today Chris pulled the words out of my basket.

He chose:

4. gusset

12. pattern

15. dpns

23. toe up

Good luck.

So, how are you liking kniting (and crochet too) bingo so far?  I hope you are having a little bit of fun playing.