Just a quick post before I head off to work…

Littlest Chick (my son, in case you’re new to my blog) was reading one of my blog posts the other day when he encountered his name. He’s like, “Mama, you call me Littlest Chick? Why would you do that when 1) I am the tallest in the family, and 2) I am not a girl, and “chick” sounds like a girl.”

Uh oh. My boy is turning into a man.

So, I’m on a quest to rename him. We sat down and googled words that mean “male chicken.” I won’t tell you the first word that came up, but in this day and age, let’s just say that I can’t use it to refer to him.

I want something that fits in with everyone else in the family.  I am AuburnChick, of course, and soccer-playing daughter is, quite naturally, Soccer Chick. The Mr. is the Mr., much like Brad Pitt is known as Mr. Jolie.

My creativity is kaput. I need your help. First, a few tidbits about the boy.

He’s a teenager, entering high school this year as a freshman. He plays drums and has a heart for the Lord. He’s quick to serve, recently returning from a week-long mission trip. He likes to swim, but I’m not sure that the high school swim team is in his future due to his interest in the drums. He’s forgetful and messy, as most boys are. He’s almost the tallest one in the family too. He’ll pass Mr. AuburnChick this year, I believe. He adores animals, and they know that, gravitating towards him. He also has a dry sense of humor…very witty, I tell you. Oh, and the best part? He still likes me. He’s not embarrassed to be nice to me in front of his friends. Kind of a Mama’s boy, but in a balanced way.

So, bring on the ideas, pretty please. The Littlest Chick would be most appreciative, as would I.

Technology is definitely a good thing. It allows us to communicate instantly with people across town, across the country, or across the house.

Did I just say “across the house.”

Yes, I sure did.

Technology can be a bad thing too, as evidenced by Mr. AuburnChick’s recent behavior.

Do you remember that I bought him a new cell phone for his birthday? I upgraded my plan to include unlimited data usage. Mr. AuburnChick is having fun. He’s what I consider a techno-wannabe. You know the kind…the person who longs for the gadgetry that is flashy. And when the person obtains it, they can’t figure out how to use it. And they refuse to read the manual or google for help.

Despite Mr. AuburnChick’s fumblings with the phone, there is one feature that he’s quickly mastered.

Texting.

We’ve created a monster, I fear. You see, Mr. AuburnChick was lazy before receiving this magical piece of plastic/metal combination. After working a full day, he typically retires to another room, coming out only to eat a few morsels, if I’ve been so inclined to cook. If he needs to speak to someone, he hollers for them.

“Soccer Chick, bring me a glass of water. Littlest Chick, bring me your laptop.”

That sort of thing.

Enter in the new gadget.

No longer does he holler.

He texts.

“Soccer Chick, come here please. AuburnChick, what is the name of Soccer Chick’s friend’s dad?”

Are you kidding me? I’m in the living room watching TV. Why not come out and ask me face-to-face.

The man sends texts to the members of his own family, while we’re still in the house…ten steps away.

Weird, I tell you. No, actually I think the better word is lazy. Laziness to the extreme…laziness the 2008 way.

Yes, computers have really changed the way we conduct our lives. Mr. AuburnChick is proof of that. Hey, at least I’m getting my money’s worth, though. He’ll probably set the world record for middle-aged men sending text messages from within their own homes.

I’m so proud.

Whew! What a week! I woke up today hoping that it was Friday.

Um, no, it’s only Wednesday. Boy am I tired. Feels like I’ve been through the wringer.

First of all, you already know about my friend’s son. The project to collect money and get packages sent is going quite nicely. I’ve received almost $500 in donations. I am going to do my best to stretch out every penny. I am psyched! Sometimes adrenaline can be physically exhausting!

On Monday, I took Soccer Chick to the doctor. She came home from a soccer camp with what appeared to be a spider bite. Over the weekend, it started looking bad, so I begged a dermatologist’s office to fit her into the schedule.

Guess what? That ain’t no spider bite on her leg.

Nope.

It’s a staph infection! My heart fell. How bad of a mom was I to wait to take her in?

The doctor was a young, sympathetic gal who quickly reassured me that all would be well. She then proceeded to explain the pain she was about to inflict.

Poor Soccer Chick. She’s been through many painful things in her 16 years. When she was eight, she had plantar warts frozen off of her feet. She was in so much pain that Mr. AuburnChick had to carry her out of the doctor’s office that day, and she couldn’t walk for a couple of days. To make matters worse, those stupid things returned, and she had to make weekly visits to a podiatrist to get them scraped and burned with an acid solution. I took her to every appointment and watched her try desperately not to cry each time. Not fun.

A year and a half ago, she had very painful ACL reconstruction surgery. You’ve read about that. Again, not fun.

So, although I tried to reassure her on Monday, I could see the dread in her eyes. Again, I hurt for her in the way that all parents hurt for their children when pain looms in the near future.

I grabbed her hand, bravely told her to squeeze when she needed to (I say bravely because Soccer Chick is very strong), and promised to buy her ice cream on the way home. She endured what appeared to be a mini wrestling match, with the doctor strong-arming Soccer Chick’s leg, needle in one hand and Soccer Chick’s hand on her other arm.

Soccer Chick is now following a strict regimen of hot baths, warm compresses, and antibiotics. Everything she touches has to be sterilized.

I’m exhausted.

And then, to top off everything else, today I discovered that my camera is broken. Oh, I can view the pictures on it, but if I try to take a picture, all I get is a black square.

This camera is special to me. I bought it after my dad passed away. My sister and I received a bit of inheritance, and I decided to buy a nice digital camera with it. My dad always supported my love of technology. He bought me my first scanner and cell phone. I remember agonizing over how to spend the money. I think he would have been pleased. Even though I bought the camera in 2001, it was still a good one.

I feel like I’ve lost a family member. Isn’t it funny how we associate items with people? They become a part of us when people cannot be there physically.

So, that’s my half of a week, in a nutshell. Ok…not a nutshell…more like an entire acorn tree.

I haven’t had time to do much knitting, although I did start working on another Oddball Baby Blanket last night. Since I just painted my nails, I’ll probably finish my portion tomorrow.

I hope y’all are having a better week!

I fixed Ms. Jean’s care package yesterday! What a grand time I had too!!!

FYI…I LOVE wrapping presents at Christmas. Lots of ribbon is the key.

I did the best I could, using tissue paper, so the individual packages are odd-shaped.

I kept all of the cards with the items they belonged to.

Here’s what it looked like when I got started…

Here’s what it looked like after I had wrapped a few items…

Here’s what they all looked like when I got done…

Here’s a close-up of the note I wrote…

Now it was time to put everything in a box. Easier said than done. The first box was too small, so I tried another one.

Obviously, this one was too small. Time to move up in size…

I figured out that you can smoosh packages only so much before they quit smooshing.

I didn’t have another box big enough, so I trotted off to the post office to get one. It poured down rain, of course. I was wet when I got home, but dab-nab-it…I had the box I needed…

The box I wound up with is on the left.

I’m going to put it in the mail on Monday.

I sure do wish I could see her face when she opens everything. Of course, not seeing is really part of the joy in giving. Kind of like leaving a gift for a neighbor, ringing the doorbell, and running like crazy to avoid detection.

This week, I received a prayer request from a friend on Knittinghelp.com. Her 10 year-old son was badly burned in an accident. He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on 60% of his body and was transported to a Shriner’s hospital for long-term care. He will probably be at the hospital for a couple of months, minimum.

The knitter and I have grown to know each other through our chat sessions on the KH site. She works nights and pops in during the early evening hours before her shifts begin. I’ve asked her questions about my animals, since she works at an animal clinic, and we’ve commiserated about raising children. It’s amazing to me how the internet has brought me close to so many people.

Something that humbles me is the fact that she turned to me for prayer. I don’t know if she is a Christian, but she knows that I am, and that she can count on me to pray. One of the first times that we actually “clicked” during a chat was when she told me that she had a good night at work the evening before. I was glad for her but didn’t understand the point she was making. Sometimes I’m a bit slow, you see.

She went on to explain that the afternoon before, I had told her that I would pray that her evening was slow, with the hope that there would be few pet emergencies. Apparently, the Lord had answered my prayers for her that evening, and it touched her heart. It’s something she hasn’t forgotten and a reason why she turned to me a few days ago.

I am humbled.

I am not a perfect person…far from it, in fact. My family can testify to this, trust me. I am conscientious, though, when I’m out in “public.” I am very aware that people are watching me. Our lives are, for the most part, open books. That I have garnered any kind of respect is not of my own doing but the Lord’s. He turns the ugly in me into something beautiful in others’ eyes. That is a miracle in itself because the ugly is really ugly. Trust me. I know myself.

My friend gave me the phone number and address of the hospital, and I gathered my nerves and called her. What do you say to a person you’ve never actually met?

“Hello, this is Nathalie…uh, AuburnChick, how are you?”

That was a good beginning. I told her my heart aches for her and that I’m praying for her. I asked what we can do for her, and she was very hesitant. It’s difficult to receive help from others. I told her that she would have her turn to give one day. Thankfully, she has grown more willing to tell me what she needs. Once I had my list, I got moving. I immediately posted a request on Knittinghelp.com, and the response has been immediate and extremely generous.

One knitter has begun a Granny Square Knit-a-Long. Her goal is to get 20 8×8 squares and have them seamed together into a blanket by the middle of August. This is the same knitter who will be doing the border for Ms. Jean’s blanket.

One of our Canadian members organizes a charity blanket project with other Canadian KH’ers. They have unanimously decided to donate their Teddy Bear Love blanket to my friend’s son. It is a beautiful blanket. I’ve seen pictures.

Many people are sending cards and other goodies to the hospital. Some have sent money to my Paypal account. I will use this money to purchase prepaid cell phone cards, balloons (mylar, of course), and some other types of gift cards…perhaps Walmart or Visa cards to help pay for the practical needs of the family.

I am incredibly awed by the outpouring of love. A knitter in need is the SOS that draws the masses to the rescue.

If you want to contribute to this cause by sending money or a card or any other item, please let me know. Please keep my friend, her son, and the rest of her family in your prayers.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve mentioned a project I’m involved with. A group of knitters on KnittingHelp (and a couple from Ravelry) banded together to produce home-crafted items for a fellow KH’er. Mason’s (Knitting_Guy) mom, Ms. Jean, underwent surgery to remove her larynx and is supposed to be undergoing a second round of chemo.

We wanted to something nice for a member of our “family.” The items have been trickling in over the last couple of months.

I wanted to post pictures of all of the items so everyone could take one quick look at everything.

Before I start posting pictures, I wanted to say thank you to every person who participated. You know who you are. As I’ve said before, crafters are a special group of people…overly generous and quick to respond to needs. I have been touched as I’ve opened each package and seen the creativity and care given. Thank you for allowing me to organize this.

Y’all rock!

And now, on to the photos…posted in the order I received them.

One knitter had a bump in her plans when her dog tried to help her knit.

She sent me a non-doggified hat later (picture is posted a little further down).

Here are items that were completed without the…er…”assistance” of furry friends…

A washcloth…

A bath mitt…

More hats…

A couple more washcloths…

In addition to the above items, the group wanted to make Ms. Jean a blanket. Our original hope was to get at least 14 squares. I think we wound up with 28 or 30! One of our knitters is seaming them together, and another knitter will crochet a border. Here are the squares that we received. I don’t think I have photos of all of them. I do apologize if you don’t see your’s. Send me a picture, and I’ll post it!

The blanket will be sent separately. I wish I could see Ms. Jean’s face when she opens her packages.

This is why I started knitting…for the joy of making something practical yet loved.

You may not know this about me, but I am becoming a sports junkie. This is something that has long been in the making.

I remember spending my youth holed up in my room on Sundays watching the Redskins and Broncos — two of my favorite teams. My love for sports extended beyond football though. I loved Wide World of Sports. It highlighted such sports as skiing and the seldom-watched log rolling.

I watched Nadia Comaneci win the Olympic gold medal. Every little girl wanted to somersault like her and be hugged by Bela Karolyi. Do you remember when the Olympics were held every four years…both the Winter and Summer games? I was thrilled when the Olympic Committee changed this so that there would be games every two years. Now I didn’t have to wait so long to be submerged in the competition.

I sometimes wonder where this love of sports came from. I am, by no means, coordinated. I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. Walking across the stage at my recent graduation should have been an Olympic sport all on its own.

I stunk at tether ball in elementary school. Have you ever seen the movie The Benchwarmers? Do you remember the scene where Will Ferrell is playing against his father? That could have been me and any other kid on the playground. I used to get beaten quite badly. I’m not sure I ever really understood the rules. I don’t think I do to this day.

I did play basketball in high school. I spent more time on the bench than on the court. I only played when the team was either way ahead (and my entrance wouldn’t allow the opponent to catch up too quickly) or we were way behind, when all hope was lost anyway. I just did not function well under pressure.

Take the time I was on the court at an away game. Keep in mind that I went to a small, private school. To give you an idea of the size, the school only had one class of every grade, and my graduating class had 18 students. So, everyone knew everyone else…even at the other schools

So, I got buzzed onto the court. I was so excited! I finally got to play! I usually played point guard because I was so small. There I went, dribbling happily down the court.

All of sudden…

Pop.

What’s that, I wondered, just as my boobs gained their freedom. My bra strap had broken. These were the days before sports bras.

Now, I was covered up, and nobody could tell what was happening. But to a 16 year old teen, every crisis is magnified. I did what most teens would do.

I dropped the ball and went running down the court with my arms crossed over my chest, advertising the fact that my body was, quite literally, celebrating its freedom from that bench.

Yeah, I had not yet mastered the art of being discreet.

So, I ran down the court, arms over my chest, looking at my coach saying, “My bra strap broke…substitute me NOW.”

“What?” he hollered.

Typical man. Just didn’t get it. The entire gym sure did because everyone was laughing their heads off.

The rest of the night is a blur in my memory…thankfully. I think I eventually got off the court, and someone had safety pins and fixed me up so I could go back out there, red face and all. I never lived that one down either.

So, that being said, I really don’t know why I love sports so much. I think it’s because I do not possess such skills myself and can truly appreciate those who do. Also, having children who are quite talented also helps. It’s a safe bet that they got their sports genes from Mr. AuburnChick. (They got their brains from me, and you can advertise that all you want.)

Ok…you must be wondering…

What in the world has possessed AuburnChick to talk about this?

Well, I just spent most of the day watching Wimbledon’s men’s finals. Wow! What a marvelous display of artistry. It was one of the best finals I’ve ever seen, and as noted above, I’ve seen quite a few.

What I most admire is Federer and Nadal’s humbleness afterwards. The mutual respect they displayed are marks of true champions. Federer had won five straight Wimbledon trophies, beating Nadal during the last two years. He lost the first two sets and was prime to lose the third, when he dug down deep and pulled off one miraculous shot after another. It was simply amazing to watch.

Nadal, to his credit, never gave in. Despite two rain interruptions, he came back and beat Federer in the fifth set.

Wimbledon at its finest.

Throughout the six + hour match, I did what any other knitter would do…knit!

I am stuck on my Froot Loop socks and have sent out a couple requests for help on the heel. That’s what I get for trying to adjust a pattern. Remember that I don’t think well on my feet. Stick to the pattern, I keep trying to tell myself. But no, I have to try to challenge myself.

Silly girl.

Rather than sitting idly by, I pulled out that marvelous skein of Malabrigo that one of my KH friends sent me.

I began work (for the second time) on my Leaf Lace Scarf. It’s an easy pattern, but my previous attempt was with a similar yarn, almost identical color, and similar weight. For some reason, the first yarn didn’t go with the pattern. It was almost too thin.

Enter in the Malabrigo.

I LOVE this yarn! It’s the first time I’ve ever knit with the fabulous Mmmmmm. Now, I understand the reverence knitters ascribe to it. Simply winding it up (I have yet to buy a ball winder) was a sensory experience.

I’ve completed seven pattern repeats, and I love how it’s turning out so far.

So, sports and knitting. Two of my favorite things. Can life get any better?

I think not.

As you might have gathered by now, I mostly knit things for other people. I have worked on a number of Oddball Baby Blankets with a group of KnittingHelp.com knitters. I also try to surprise people with unexpected gifts. No, I’m not this fairy godmother of knitting. I simply like to knit with a purpose. That is the reason why this craft appealed to me in the beginning.

Every now and then, it’s nice to make something for myself.

You might remember the Tilli Tomas Rockstar yarn that I bought myself after my graduation. The color is Glazed Ginger. It has different hues of brown in it, and glass bead are strung on a separate thread and spun together with the silk. If you’re new to my blog, here’s a photo of it.

When I bought the yarn, I casually mentioned to the gal at the yarn store that I could probably make a scarf out of it.

“One skein won’t be enough,” she kindly informed me.

“Um, for the price I paid, one skein will have to be enough, even if I’ve got to knit it up with size 40 needles,” I thought to myself. There was no way I was going to make a scarf that cost me $80+ in supplies.

Enter in Ravelry. Now, I have to say that I am a very loyal person. KnittingHelp.com is my go-to, end-all, be-all place of knitting knowledge. The free videos, forum, and chat assure me that I will find an answer to almost any question I have, at any time of the day.

However, Ravelry has some very nice features too. One of the features I use often is the search option. You can search for patterns and find out what kinds of yarns people used and changes they made to the patterns to suit their particular preferences. I like to search by yarns to learn about patterns that have been used with them. That’s just what I did with this yarn. Thank goodness too.

I am an anal person. I cannot buy yarn without knowing beforehand what I’m going to make with it. I tend to get all flustered and bothered. I must have a plan for everything, you see. I don’t think well on my feet.

If you are a member of Ravelry, you can go to this link to see what led me to use the pattern I finally settled on. Of course, it wasn’t a free pattern but required the purchase of a book. Boy, this scarf was getting more expensive every time I turned around!

Here’s the book that has the Lace Scarf pattern I used:

Now, another part of my knitting personality is that I tend to remain loyal to a project. I do not like to put one down and start another, hence I do not have many WIP’s. But when this book arrived in my mail…well…AuburnChick stepped outside of the box…albeit a bit guiltily. I put aside my Froot Loop sock I had recently started and cast on for the scarf.

The pattern is very easy. I quickly had it memorized. The scarf flew off of my needles. If I didn’t have to work, I’m sure I could have finished it in a couple of days. It took me almost a week, blocking time included.

Here are the results…

And a close-up of the stitch…

I have resumed work on my sock, but I’m feeling too lazy to take a picture of my progress. I did finish the leg and will begin work on the heel. Pictures will follow in another post.

I hope you are all having a wonderful 4th of July! Happy celebrating, and happy knitting!

As the 4th of July nears, I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on what this day means to me.

I’ll admit that my first thought is “Long Weekend,” since the holiday happens to fall on a Friday this year. Sleeping in, eating barbecue, and watching fireworks are the first images that come to my mind.

However, my mind quickly (and guiltily) shifts away from these traditions to the reasons behind the celebrations. Perhaps this is because I just graduated from college, where I spent the last two years immersed in history classes.

On second thought, I think that my awareness of the true meaning of Independence Day has come slowly over the the years through a series of events in my life.

Although I was born in Canada, I have spent nearly all of my life in the United States, so I feel like America’s history is a part of my heritage as well.

I became a naturalized citizen on April 29, 1997. I was sworn in when I lived in Miami — a hodgepodge of cultures. During my ceremony, the name of each country represented by at least one new citizen was read out. We stood up when we heard our country’s name. It was an incredible sight to behold, for the list was quite long.

I was given a packet before I left. It contained my Certificate of Naturalization along with a letter from the President (in my case, it was Bill Clinton). The first two paragraphs of the letter speak volumes to what my heart cannot adequately express:

“Dear Fellow American:

…As you enjoy the benefits of American citizenship and assume the responsibilities that accompany it, you follow the many brave men and women who have sacrificed to establish and preserve our democracy over the last two centures.

You now share in a great experiment: a nation dedicated to the ideal that all of us are created equal, a nation with profound respect for individual rights. The United States is a land of unparalleled natural beauty, vast opportunity, and freedom. It is home to people who have been drawn to our shores from all over the world and who share a common love for life and liberty…”

I’ll never forget the first time I voted after becoming a naturalized citizen. I was nervous and excited. Mostly, I was proud. I was proud that I could finally have a say in the way things were being run. I took my children with me, as I continue to do. I never want them to take this right for granted because I know what it’s like to not have the privilege.

A couple of years ago, my family traveled to Arkansas for a soccer tournament. On the way, we stopped in Vicksburg, Mississippi. This was the site of a long siege and fierce fighting during the Civil War because of its strategic location on the Mississippi River. We visited a graveyard with the tombstones of many who fought there. What a poignant reminder of the lives lost during the battle to preserve this country.

It reminded me of my visit, as a teenager, to Arlington Cemetery. My mom, sister, and I attended a changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Although I was a teen, prone to a disrespectful attitude common among that age group, I knew my place. This was a rite of tribute and honor. It was beautiful to behold the care given to those fallen in the line of duty.

Perhaps the event that most made me aware of what it means to be an American (and thus truly “get” the meaning of the 4th of July) was September 11th. This was probably the event that tied us together in such a way as had not been seen for several generations. I think that this day showed me how quickly things can be taken away. The security I had always relied on was shattered, for a time. I cannot imagine living in a country where people face this fear every single day.

So, what does the 4th of July mean to me?

Bravery. Those first settlers who left their homelands for a world unknown…seeking freedom from the tyranny that surrounded them — surely that took a lot of bravado.

Perseverance. Those first decades were devastating for the newest citizens of this land, yet many stuck it out, refusing to give in to the elements or others who tried to thwart their plans for a better life.

Determination. The patriots dared to take on England…the giant of the day…to not allow the rights of those living in this country to be trod upon unjustly.

Sacrifice. The many men (and even women…I know this from my studies) who laid down their lives fighting for a seemingly lost cause. I am awed by this. I picture the first shots that rang out at Lexington and Concord. I cannot even begin to imagine the fear and uncertainty that must have plagued each person as life was disrupted. Nobody at that time could have predicted the ending.

Wisdom and vision. The great care our Founding Fathers took in creating the government, which was so unlike any other that existed during that time. George Washington could have become another king, yet he showed great restraint in not allowing the power to go to his head. He was one of many wise leaders.

Throughout the years, many events could have torn this country apart, but Americans banded together and somehow found a way to prevent this country from dissolving into a chaos that it could not recover from.

What is even more amazing to me is that this country is filled with people who willingly serve in the armed forces…determined to protect our country and help other countries facing tyranny. I realize that our ideal of democracy may not work in other countries due to years of their own particular struggles. However, the recognition that we have so many freedoms that others do not have…and the willingness to help put those countries on the same path…well, it just boggles my mind.

Thus, because others much more brave chose to serve:

I am humbled. I am grateful. I am proud. I am free.

I have to say that I shed some tears on Saturday, and it wasn’t even Soccer Chick’s fault.

I saw a big envelope on my front porch and noticed the return address. The envelope was heavy. I just knew what was inside

I went into the house and gathered the family for the grand unveiling. Soccer Chick had three friends over from the night before. They were invited to watch.

When I opened the envelope and peered inside, I had to pause a moment. This is what I have been waiting for ever since I started the journey. The tears flowed as I pulled it out and saw the cover.

I was almost too nervous to open it. But I did, of course…

Yes, it’s my college diploma! At long last!!

In my mind, I quickly went through the journey, step by step:

Making the decision to go back to school.

Requesting my transcripts from other colleges and completing the registration process.

Registering for my first class.

Signing up for financial aid.

Signing up for more classes.

Papers that were written in the wee hours of the morning.

Books toted around the country as I followed my daughter to soccer tournaments…studying during each trip.

Mid-terms, finals, and other exams sprinkled in-between.

The joy of taking that last final and walking out the door…free at last.

I peered a little closer at the diploma..

Yep…they spelled my name right. The last name is there too (just covered up for obvious reasons).

If you look closely, you’ll notice the Magna Cum Laude.

:::Sigh:::

Bliss.

I thought that my commencement signified a finality to the process.

I was wrong.

Receiving this piece of parchment was the last piece of the puzzle that I had been putting together for 20 years. A complete picture at last.

I lost my high school diploma during one of my many moves. You better believe that this one will be kept in a safe place…proudly displayed but never left behind.

I am humbled and awed by how much it means to me. I am appreciative of my friends and family who supported me through the rough patches and absentmindedness that I went through. This paper symbolizes the sacrifices I made as well as those others made to help me reach my goals.

Most of all, I am grateful to the Lord, who has a grand plan. I am thankful that He allowed me to go through this experience. I learned a lot.

:::Sigh:::

Bliss…