Swimming Upstream

Here we go again. Back on the breastfeeding tirade again. I swear I am on this earth for some purpose, some days I’m sure of what it is, some days not. This is one of the latter.
I have been a La Leche League leader in this Iowa town for eight years. (Gawd, has it really been that long???) I have helped numerous moms who’ve wanted to breastfeed, and have helped moms to wean who were feeling ready to move to the next step in their parenting journey. Overall I’d say the past eight years have been rewarding, frustrating, and enlightening all at the same time. Every mother has her own take on what kind of mother she wants to be and how breastfeeding might fit into that. Some moms who desperately want to nurse cannot for whatever reason (usually circumstances out of their control, or lack of info from the onset) are devastated that it isn’t meant to be for them. I mourn along with these mothers. Part of their dream of motherhood has died and they have to come to terms with mothering in a slightly different way.

Most women who are committed to breastfeeding have success in breastfeeding. I love these mothers. I am so encouraged when I meet a mom that is longing for that closeness and natural experience with their baby. It’s exciting to be able to help them and I love seeing their joy in their success and how they marvel at the awesomeness of their body’s ability to sustain another human being. It feels like the universe is in order when I can be a part of that.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the mother who attends a couple meetings, has trouble nursing in the early days in the hospital, and is soon formula feeding her baby. I usually see her out in public with a bottle or hear from a mutual acquaintance that the breastfeeding ‘didn’t work out’. I always react the same way, a little disappointed, sad for the mother that she maybe didn’t get the help she needed, and wondering if I should have done more to encourage or inform her. Maybe if I’d gone to the hospital to visit her I could have helped. Maybe I should have at least called. And I still haven’t taken her and her hubby a meal like I’d planned. I really should have, then I could have been there if she’d had questions.

Or maybe it was just her choice, and that’s okay. But it feels like I have failed.

As an endnote here I have to say that the mom I’m referring to here could have possibly avoided all this if only the docs would have been patient and trusted the miracle of breastmilk in the case of jaundice. Instead they supplemented and apparently the mom never went back. It seems like it all could have been easily avoided. When will things ever change??? What is the next batch of pediatricians learning about jaundice in med school right now? How long will it take for policies to change??!

Sophie Update

Life with a new dog definitely has it’s ups and downs. She is still sweet and lovable, but we’ve learned she has some separation issues. My daughter has been showering her with attention and Sophie is not alowed in the kids bedrooms (for now) and so at night she fusses and then chews my daughters flip flops to shreds. I think it’s a love/hate thing. Loves my daughter so much but is angry that she’s deserted her so she chews. Hmmm. A crate will fix that, it’s coming tomorrow. As well as a choke chain to curb her nasty leash behavior. I don’t think she really walked much on a leash before we got her.
We’re still trying to figure out the rules. I would love her to be able to have free roam of the house, and my daughter wants her in her bed at night, but untiil we have her awhile and make sure the potty issues are resolved, I really don’t want her on my carpet unattended. So much for my soft heart!

And yes, Roobee, I can’t wait to knit for her! I saw a great dog sweater book at the library. Gotta get the Kevat shawl done first. It’s posted on my ravelry page for anyone who cares. It’s nearly done, photos coming soon.

In other news, I spent ten hours in bed today with a migraine.  Woke up this morning feeling awful and took meds, ate some toast, and went back to bed.  Got up at 6:15 pm.  Not good.  Thankfully my DH had the day off and could help me with what had to be done.  I missed an all star game this evening and feeling bad about that, but mostly I’m just relieved that the pain in my head is gone.  This was a scary one, vomiting, and pure misery.  I took my max of meds and was worried I’ve have to go to the ER if it didn’t let up.   That doesn’t happen often, maybe once per year, but I’ve had two of those in the past 30 days.  Send some healing thoughts my way.  Or the name of a good surgeon who can perform a headectomy.  That is my husband’s idea.  He’s so helpful.

Miss Sophie Butterscotch

Well, I have done it again – gone off the deep end like there’s no tomorrow. We got a new dog today, Sophie. She’s a very sweet little thing, the kids love her, and she has a great story too.

One day last week my friend Melissa told me about a dog had been hit by a car and brought into the vet clinic where she works. The woman who hit her couldn’t keep her and the dog was in foster care. Today I called the woman and she told me how the dog ran in front of her car and about the many people who stopped to help. One woman offered to pay for half the doctor bills, one woman insisting on saying a prayer for the dog and so everyone around prayed for the dog. Another woman said that since the dog appeared to be dying that it wouldn’t be right for her to die without a name, so she offered up the name ‘Sophie’, after a dog she once had that looked similar to this dog. Though the dog was limp and in shock, it was a miracle that she only sustained a ruptured ear drum and a fractured pelvis.

She is getting around fine considering her pelvis injury, but whimpers when she gets in a position that hurts her back end. She’s getting along fine with Bruno, the 6 year old Husky/Shepherd we’ve had for five years.  She’s pottying outside, no accidents so far in the house.  She loves the kids and is not aggressive in any way.  She lets us pick her up (she’s about 12 pounds), and she isn’t hyper or barky…so far.

I told the fam that we are test driving her to be sure she fits our family.  But actually, I think I can tell that she fits in fine.  But then again, new brooms sweep clean.  I’ll keep you posted!

Bruno, king of the castle (before today)

More 50th Photos

50 Years Deserves a Party

Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th Anniversary this weekend with an open house.  It was a total success.  I think we were all shocked by the number of friends and family that attended.  The happy couple had a lovely afternoon chatting away and having their family around them.

After all the months of planning and an afternoon on my feet cutting cake, I am pooped.  As my daughter’s first grade teacher taught her students, “We did a good job, YES!”  (as I pat myself on the back.)  And siblings, if you’re reading this, you did a good job too!  We did it!  And I’m so glad it’s DONE!!

Surprise! Men Knit Too!

I have to share my story of meeting a new knitter today. I was at the weekly summer band concert in the park in my town and noticed a man knitting from about 25 feet away. He had been there the entire time, about 45 minutes, and I hadn’t noticed him until then. He was with his wife, sitting in lawn chairs, and just happily knitting away. It was on circulars, and it was blue. I couldn’t tell if it was in the round or back and forth and the curiosity was killing me.
I finally stood up and decided to just get a closer look. I walked toward him and stopped to watch. I couldn’t take it. I HAD to know his story and find out what he was knitting. I found myself walking toward his lawn chair and I didn’t really remember deciding to do that. What was I going to say? Thankfully, knitters are always nice people, at least in my experiences. I told him I noticed him knitting and was curious what he was working on. Of course, he was nice and we had a lovely chat. He was knitting a blue baby sweater front for his grandson. We discussed the knitting group I go to, which he was aware of, and he is considering attending. Turns out he’s only been knitting a year and he’s already knit several sweaters, one of which was the Baby Surprise Jacket. I was so impressed!!
Just goes to show, you never know when you’ll encounter another knitter.

And now, show and tell:

The yarn, Tye Dye Sock yarn, is wonderful yarn and really fun colors. I bought one skein, so this will not be a large shawl, which is fine for summer anyway.

I found this pattern online, the Kevat Shawl, I think it’s Finnish, but it is also a Ravelry free download. The lace pattern (which is lost in my yarn, not wise on my part) is really lovely, and easy to knit.
I’m hoping to get it done in time to wear this summer!

Off the Weaving Deep End

I took the leap. I can now add weaving to my list of fiber addicted hobbies. I always have a little voice in the back of my head when I’m about to dive into a new hobby. It says, “Hello? What if you don’t like this? You’re spending HOW MUCH? Did you even try this first? How do you know you won’t hate it?” And to that voice I say every time, “Shut up before you get smacked. It’s yarn! There is no possible way I will not like this.” And thankfully, I have not been wrong. I absolutely love weaving. The rhythm is addicting, the speed is amazing, and the fabric is so interesting and different from knitting or crochet. It has such possibilities that knitting does not. I am primarily a knitter so that’s what I’m comparing it to. A blanket or scarf, shawl, or placemat could be completed in about half the time of knitting. And no curling edges, and as loose or tight as you choose. The only drawback so far is the warping of the loom seems a giant pain. For the first dressing of the loom I enlisted the help of a wonderful fiber guild member, Aletha, who is in the first photo explaining weaving to my daughter. I did not know her previously, but she was referred to me by a friend. She is 87 and just the sweetest lady. She came over for two afternoons to help me get started. I will never forget her.

So off I go weaving. I feel like I did when I first learned to crochet, knit or spin. That feeling of, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but isn’t this grand?” I refuse to think about all I do not know about weaving, but will concentrate on challenging myself with every project so to learn all I can from everything I do.

Right now I have two scarves CO to the loom, pardon the knitting terminology, it’s habit! The first scarf was an experiment of different yarns, which is in the photos. The pink was just the start to stabilize the warp, then the aqua and greens, blues is the experiment scarf. I have finished that in just a week and now on to the the second, no photo yet, of an alpaca yarn in browns. It’s lovely, but not sure it does the yarn justice. We’ll see. Photos to come.
Wish me luck!! I think I may have lost my mind! Again!

More Treasure

I forgot to post a photo of the serving platter we also found in the attic.  And took a shot of the shuttle for the person who wanted one.  Sheesh, I didn’t know anyone was reading besides Ruby and Joyce. I’m flattered.

Attic Treasure!

We cleaned out the attic a bit today and lookie what we found!  The previous owners left several boxes of junk they said they didn’t want.  We said we’d take care of them.   Wonder if they know what blasts from the past were inside?

teeny

Champ Clark (congressman from MO I believe) campaign button from 1912 election.  Worth about $10 on ebay.  Feh.

Also found was an old black (plastic?) tatting shuttle.  It’s work about $15 on ebay.  The fan is probably worth about the same.  I may keep the fan since I love old fans.  It’s a Master Craft brand if anyone is interested.  Didn’t strike it rich today, but what a history lesson!

Exit Capelet Hell

Finished this beast on Thursday last week. I think the yarn is lovely (Hempathy) and also love the color. The pattern, however, leaves much to be desired. The decreases didn’t work out and it was too large around the neck opening. Saggy, even. So I pulled my old standard knitter trick out of my notions bag and strung a long drawstring through the top and tucked the bow inside. Nope, it doesn’t really show. Yes, you’d probably have to be a knitter to notice the problem that is still quite obvious. Am I losing sleep over it? Nope. I’m wearing it, preferably to darkish outings, and enjoying the compliments. It has gotten noticed the one time I’ve worn it out. The lace is quite nice.
Pattern was a freebie from Crazy Girl Yarn Shop. Be sure to ask for the Hempathy one or they’ll give you one for DK yarn. Call me if you have questions. The chart was tricky, but mostly b/c it was missing the K2togs. Whatever. I’m amazed I didn’t throw the entire thing in the trash. I’m frugal and couldn’t waste the yarn.  So glad I didn’t!