Luscious

I love being a mom. I really do. I knew I would enjoy it, but I love it. I've been having some very rough days at work and I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Little Clover at his school on Friday. That single hour was restorative and washed away the stress I had accumulated throughout the work week. It was his annual school picnic, and this year, his school decided to have it at the park across the street instead of on the campus. They booked a deejay who played an awesome mix of tunes, and I spent my lunch hour watching Little Clover and his classmates dance away to the songs. It was bliss. His school does a lot of little things like this and has a strong policy of encouraging parents to be involved in activities. Parents are on campus every day of the school year and we know each other and our children. I've know Little Clover's classmates since they were four years old and seeing them all grow up has been an amazing experience. With most of the boys, I know I'll have the pleasure of seeing them age to the age of 18. To me, this will be remarkable, and I've loved every minute of it.

After the festivities of the day, we decided to head to a Memphis Redbirds game, yet another hidden gem of our fair City. The game was a blast. I honestly can't tell you who won, but I know the seats were cheap, we had a wonderful time, and the BBQ nachos were fantastic as usual.

From Irish Clover

After most of the home games, a local band will play as people leave the stadium. Friday night, the Memphis Rascals regaled us with covers of Michael Jackson's Beat It, Lynard Skynard's Sweet Home Alabama (a family favorite), and other throwbacks as well as their own original tunes.

From Irish Clover

The funny thing is, most of the covers they played were songs that came out before they were born. The kids in this band could not be older than 16. I give them 16 because someone had to drive downtown to the stadium. The drummer had braces for goodness sakes! The kids totally rocked though. Little Clover had an awesome watching the band and dancing, and I enjoyed watching little Hawaiian shirt dude shirt rock out as well.

From Irish Clover

From 2009 Finished Objects

In the midst of all the activities, I did finish a Lush and Lacy sweater (sans buttons). I do plan on getting a set of buttons for the sweater, but I do love it very much. One of the best things about this sweater is that it took 16 days for me to knit it. Granted, I had about 3 inches of it started before I picked it up again, but seriously! 16 days, people! That is one seriously quick knit. I love the pockets, too.

From 2009 Finished Objects

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk (love it!)
Needles: Denise interchangeable size 10

Oh, I also took a weaving class. I'm not sure how I feel about weaving. I enjoyed the class immensely, but, I think my sewing skills should be developed more before I really get into weaving. I did have fun though.

From Irish Clover

Finally, we spent the evening with poetry tonight. In honor of National Poetry Month, I asked Little Clover to read some Shel Silverstein poems out loud tonight. Not only did he read a couple of poems, but he read a lot of poems, with feeling. We were rolling with laughter and amusement! At one point, Italian turned to me and said, "All he needs is a beret and a cup of coffee." He was completely right. I've never experienced such performance art as I did tonight. My jock, athletic son definitely has an artist within him! I'll listen to him read poetry anytime.

When I Grow Up

I discovered this weekend that the reality of adult life sets in sometime between the age of 6 and 9. One of my nephews was in town this weekend, so I took The Little Russian and Little Clover out for lunch and to the Build A Bear Workshop as a special treat. While at BABW, The Little Russian looked at me and said, "Aunt Irish Clover, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

I replied, "I don't know. Maybe a writer."

He said, "I think you could be a cheerleader."

My son, the 9 year old, listened in and shook his head. At his tender age, he knows I am already a "grown-up" with a career of sorts. I keep telling him I'll be a writer when I'm all grown up, whenever that will be. I'm already working on my skills to be a professional hobbyist.

Since putting down the Noro cable sweater, I've picked up a project from last spring, the Lush and Lacy, knit in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. Ironically, I began it last March and put it down a week or so later because it was just too hot to knit alpaca in the Delta April. I don't think this April is reallly any cooler, but the feel of the alpaca on my lap and running through my fingers has been a nice contrast to the cool spring temperatures and chilling spring evenings.

From WIPs

Between the new founded jaded attitude of my son, the youthful optimism of my newphew, and the slightly cryptic message on my Starbucks coffee mug, maybe I do need to think harder about what I want to be when I grow up.

Message from my Starbucks coffee:
Failure's hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you're successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in.

~ Po Bronson
Writer of What should I do with my life.

Instead of blogging

I've been knitting and finishing a sweater.

From 2009 Finished Objects

Pattern Noro Cables and Lace (Y785)
YarnNoro Cashmere Island color 10
Needles Addi Turbo US Size 6 (4.0 mm)
Modifications I knit the entire sweater on 4mm needles instead of changing to the larger needles after the ribbing. This was unintentional, but I really like the size result. The original pattern is intended to have much more ease.

My Noro sweater is finally complete! This sweater was my personal albatross, it weighed on me and depleted most of my knitting and creative energies. I dreaded knitting this sweater because I knew I didn't have enough yarn. The knitting muses came to my rescue in the form of one ball hiding deep in the inventory pile of my LYS and a destashing initiative of KellyInTexas on Ravelry. She just so happened to be clearing out her stash and not only did she have the right color, but her skeins were the same dye lot. With the added skeins, my knitting energy was renewed and I couldn't wait to knit on the sweater and finish it, just in time for the Delta spring. It is warm and soft and beautiful. I love the color transitions and can't wait to wear it on cool fall nights

I've also been celebrating and planning a celebration. The first week of April is filled with birthdays. Italian, my brother-in-law, Mr. Soprano, and FoxyCPA all have birthdays the beginning of April. We spent Italian's birthday celebrating at home, then visiting the horses at the stables, then out to dinner with his family.

After Italian's celebrations ended, we began acting on the plans for Mr. Soprano's milestone birthday. The siblings decided to celebrate with favorite foods from the places they had lived. We flew in pizza from Aurelio's in Chicago and Maryland crabs from The Crab Place.

From Family

We served up a Memphis BBQ sausage and cheese plate and beer from Pennsylvania. Since we thought the meal was a bit light on vegetables, I made up a Chicago Dog salad with all the normal Chicago Dog fixin's and a mustard poppy seed dressing. Mr. Soprano was surprised, and we feasted. Overall, I think the event was a success. Oh, and if you ever order a bushel and a half of crab and 6 pizzas, be sure to clean out your fridge to make room.

From Family