Happy belated Mothers day to all who survived it. It went pretty well over here, Joe gave me a beautiful handmade necklace and a gift certificate for the yarn shop, and the children gave me my favourite present...services. This is a gift that's given often in our house, these little coupons for things that the recipient would want. Joe has many that I've given him...I'm not sure what he's saving them for, but it's going to be a hell of a weekend sometime.
Some of the ones that I got are lovely for me personally, but not blog worthy. ("Blog Worthy" is a new expression around here. We've started saying things like, "yeah it's interesting, but is it Blog Worthy?") and then there were these:
This one from Amanada, my almost 15 year old. (It would have to come from a teen wouldn't it?)
I think this gift tells you a little something about what our mornings are usually like. I have no idea when to use it, it seems like such a powerful wild-card that I can scarcely bring myself to hold it. Amanda also gave me one promising to knit a washcloth. Given the loathing that my eldest currently holds for knitting, and all it stands for (I think that would be me) this is a real expression of love. I'm not going to cash it in. I'm just going to keep it, so that every time we have one of those mother-teenager meltdowns (about necklines, curfews or lipstick) I'll have it to clutch quietly in my fist as private proof that she loves me and that we will both survive her adolescence.
Megan gave me these. (among others)
I have some reservations about the "blog story" one. I'm torn between just giving it to her and seeing what happens, or having a little motherly sit down with her and finding out what she plans to do to give me a "blog story". The brainchild behind the voodoo dolls, Megan possesses an unusually quirky and dangerous brand of imagination. Don't get me wrong....all of my kids are creative, (and dangerous, actually) but Meg is a little, er...."darker" about it, and if the life we've been living over here has been "blog worthy" without her even trying? Well I shudder to think what a special effort would look like.
Sam's are forthcoming. (I've often said that the trouble with mothers day is that it's planned by men and children. You have to accept that it doesn't always have the co-ordination of fathers day. It's part of its charm.)
Yesterday marked the return of the Dublin Bay socks. These didn't work out in the Yarn That Shall Not Be Named, but are looking really dandy in the Confetti sock yarn. I'm trying to get a jump on Christmas. Every year I swear things are going to be different, that I'm going to plan ahead. Well look at me, it's May and there's a Christmas sock on the needles. That's right. Score: Harlot .20 (that's how much of the pair of socks is done) Christmas: 0
I grant you, that's not much of a lead, but it's a lead.
I'm still working on the blog surprise, but I'm unfortunately engaged in a battle with technology that I'm not winning at the moment. I've called in reinforcements, and I expect that things will start to improve as soon as Ken has time to bail me out of my latest mess.
Like, tomorrow maybe. Don't be too excited either, it's not like, cake or anything.
Finally I share with you my conversation with Meg last night.
Mom: Meg, time to put down the knitting and go to sleep.
Meg: Mummy, this shawl isn't going very fast. I wish there was some way to make it faster. Maybe you could help me? Just a few courtesy rows?
I laughed out loud. Courtesy rows?
Posted by Stephanie at May 10, 2004 12:03 PMYes! We do courtesy rows! Sometimes I do some for her while she does some for me, for variety or to get past a slogging point.
I got IOU coupons this year, too. She's volunteering to do her normal chores, but I have to present the coupons first.
Posted by: Sylvia at May 10, 2004 12:45 PMMy sister and I gave coupons as well... I remember choosing them very carefully (dishes? sure; mowing the lawn? forget it!)
My mother never cashed a single one in that I can remember... I do seem to recall however, her saying once that really, we didn't need to go through the trouble of breakfast in bed this year. I am sure dry eggs and burnt toast were NOT in fact made truly tasty by our affection being cooked in and all.
Posted by: Chelsea at May 10, 2004 12:59 PMWe barely survived the year Morgen was 15. In fact, I think we might have set new records for family counseling. She was great at 16 and is decent at 17. She is STILL the most stubborn person I have ever met though. I keep wondering when this will wear off, as well as her fear of making mistakes.
Oh what little charmers your girls are! The coupon that really grabs my imagination:
"one free piece of knitted anything - circle one"
Too cute! She didn't say one "item" just one "piece" - One sock? One mitten? How about one sleeve of a sweater!
Hmm.. even that could come in handy as you start gearing up for IT 2004. 8^D
Now repeat after me, "IT will be different this year." Don't go getting delusions of grandeur about how much MORE you can make for starting early..... We would miss you dearly Harlot, if you knit yourself into madness or oblivion!
Posted by: Maddy in Florida at May 10, 2004 1:33 PMWould saying I am glad to heaar I am not alone (I too am the mother of an almost 15y old) be cruel. Those teenage daughters can be such a blessing and at the same time drive you nuts.
Posted by: dragonridermom at May 10, 2004 1:58 PMIn our house the term is "blog fodder" :)
Posted by: Robbyn at May 10, 2004 5:01 PMAhh yes courtesy knitting, it is done around here as well, except it is done by the knitting fairy. My oldest knits his heart out before bed, throws it down in frustration and goes to sleep. I fix his mistakes and put it back in the bag. The next day he remarks how much better his knitting looks after a good nights sleep. Yup, the knitting fairy is a powerful force! Happy Mother's day.
Posted by: Crissy at May 10, 2004 5:18 PMThat's the ticket : courtesy knitting !
Any chance of a few rows ?...
Far,far better a very active and creative imagination than none at all - but you know that ! :0)
Posted by: Emma at May 10, 2004 5:58 PMOoh, I want someone who will provide me with courtesy rows! I like the coupon idea for Mother's Day -- do they have expiry dates?
(Meg's rockin' in the gallery.)
Posted by: alison at May 10, 2004 10:50 PMDid Meg already give you a blog story with the rocker wrist bands? You claim she's the brains behind the voodoo dolls, and do you suspect that she's the one who decapitated Barbie?
Be very careful, my dear. Who knows what she's cooking up...
Posted by: Gina at May 10, 2004 11:10 PMcourtesy charlotte? ;)
it makes me happy to be back and able to read you again. yay!
Posted by: abby at May 10, 2004 11:57 PMI want the quiet respect coupon. Want to trade for some fleece??
Posted by: Carolyn at May 11, 2004 4:44 AMLOL. You guys are a hilarious fambly. Courtesy rows = very funny!
Posted by: Ann at May 11, 2004 7:54 AMThe "quiet respect" coupon is worthy of framing, but your idea of clutching it during confrontations is better. One knitted item is priceless. I too have decided it will be a "socky" kind of Christmas. I have gone totally overboard in amassing a huge sock yarn stash (as evidenced on my blog)...I guess they are not gonna knit themselves, huh? The Dublin sock looks great!
Posted by: Bliss at May 11, 2004 9:21 AMLOL. Meg got a "courtesy row" out of me at bedtime yesterday. I read aloud while she knit, then she read aloud while I knit. And somehow that sock I'm working on still languishes...
Posted by: Ken at May 11, 2004 10:05 AM"courtesy rows" is hilarious! Can't wait until my girls are old enough to knit!
Posted by: Karen Heinig at May 11, 2004 11:46 AM