tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66131492024-03-07T11:45:17.787-06:00Through the Back LoopAdventures in knitting, fiber arts, and family.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-72455564100258332302011-01-23T10:13:00.002-06:002011-01-23T10:22:48.499-06:00Slowly Knitting - Slowly BloggingTen months. Time continues to march on even though nothing on the blog seems to record it. Maybe that means my hair didn't become more gray. Maybe those extra pounds I wanted to lose have melted magically away. Maybe I've been so busy clicking my knitting needles that I haven't been able to blog. Maybe. Oh, the possibilities!<br /><br />The reality is - The hair is more gray. I'm trying to grow it out to embrace my true age..... we'll see how much more of that I can stand. The extra weight is still on me, but my husband has managed to lose over 90 pounds in the last year, and he is healthy. He joined a weight management program, and has dedicated each day to being a newer, healthier man. I love him! Knitting? Well it's amazing how much I had forgotten about parenting little ones.<br /><br />By the time meals are cooked, kitchens cleaned, homework done, and little ones are tucked into bed, I have little motivation. Projects are moving slowly. It doesn't help when one major project that was meant as a gift was obviously the wrong project.<br /><br />My mother wanted a new knit shawl, and I was secretly making one for a Christmas present. When she described the "exact" type of shawl she wanted me to knit, it turned out to be the opposite of what I was half way completed with. Bummer! It still sits on needles and I ended up buying something closer to what she wanted. It was my only project of the moment, and I had no motivation to make anything else... but......<br /><br />to my surprise... my 18 year old daughter has FINALLY become a knitter! She takes her knitting to school, sits in her room listening to music or watching movies and... KNITS. Ahh... success at last!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-85152799171625955562010-03-03T08:44:00.003-06:002010-03-03T09:22:48.204-06:00It takes Roughly Nine Years to Travel In a Complete Circle<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=KangarooCircle_sm.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/KangarooCircle_sm.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Here I sit again. In the kitchen. A bag of knitting at my feet while watching the feathery steam float from the top of my hot cup of coffee. The radio in my kitchen plays current pop hit songs and I am at peace. Finally.<br /><br />Nine years ago I sat the same way, but in a different kitchen, with a different knitting project, a different radio station, and a different feeling in my soul. Trepidation. We started what later became the most difficult years of our lives. I never knew when I started blogging that I would be recording those difficult years. I blogged because it satisfied some need within me to write. I never cared who read my entries, never cared how many hits my blog got, and I still only write to satisfy my own needs. Now, however, I'm thinking of printing off all of my entries to serve as a journal of our journey.<br /><br />My knitting served a crucial role during this time. <br /><br />Constancy. <br /><br />Predictability. <br /><br />Stability. <br /><br />It traveled with me as my husband graduated from earning his new professional degree. It sat with us as we sent off hundreds of applications. It came along on the trip to set up his apartment in a new community several hundred miles from our family home. It came along as I carted our oldest daughters to and from activities like a single parent. <br /><br />My knitting rejoiced when I was hired to work near my husband and our family was finally reunited. The needles and the rhythm of completing each pattern soothed my soul as we moved again and again, lost the equity in our home from mold damage, mourned the loss of my mother-in-law, and it soothed me most when my husband began his battle against cancer. <br /><br />Now, those things are finally behind us. We sold the property that was weighing us down for years, took our huge financial loss, and still managed to buy a new home. A beautiful home to raise our new family. We moved on my daughter's birthday, a great reason to celebrate many things, but mostly to celebrate life. To celebrate the new lives that will be joining our family later this spring through adoption. <br /><br />We have waited so long to have traveled in a complete circle. <br /><br />So here I sit again. Caring for two small sick little girls while the radio pumps out current hits, and my coffee sends curls of steam into the air. The only differences? <br /><br />I don't feel the same trepidation, even though my husband is undergoing routine cancer testing at this very moment. I feel the joy of my family, even though my little girls are sick. I feel the relief of only owning one property, the home we live in each day. And my knitting?<br /><br />Well, it's amazing how I had forgotten how difficult it is to knit when there are little ones to be taken care of, but when I get the chance. It rejoices with me in the happiness we have finally found!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-91359768371848342402009-07-04T06:51:00.003-05:002009-07-04T07:33:08.334-05:00OH JOY! It's FINALLY here!<strong>Warning:</strong> This blog entry contains positive language, happiness, and excitement. Readers may not be used to this kind of attitude from this particular blog, and extensive exposure may result in joy and happiness for the reader as well. Proceed with caution. You HAVE been warned!<br /><br /><br />Good news. On every single issue our family has been dealing with! SERIOUSLY!<br /><br />First, the first afghan gift was given in late June, and I finished the project under the wire, again. I made the fringe the night before the wedding. At least THIS time the afghan was dry when I made the fringe. Last time, it was still a bit damp, so I left it out in the back of our car to dry during the church service and then wrapped it before the reception to increase drying time. This time... much better. <br /><br />Second afghan needs to be started SOON! I plan to order the yarn this week. For the last yarn, DH and DD stopped at <a href="http://herrschners.com/">Herrschner's</a> on the way home from an ortho appointment and bought the yarn. When I saw the receipt I was shocked. It cost more to buy it there than it would have to buy it online? Even with S&H? Strange.<br /><br />Also, I'm back at camp, teaching knitting. This year many of the girls brought their own needles and projects and in the second week of camp everyone is already knitting away! AWESOME!<br /><br />Ok. ok. ok. You are wondering about the happiness warning that started this entry. I had to get SOME knitting content in here. Joy, joy, joy! Where do I start? Adoption? Ok. We got to spend one night with our new little girls, and it went very well. We are officially starting the transition process next week, and they will be with us permanently in a couple of weeks. We have a crib, car seat, a stroller, and we will be shifting the older girls rooms so that everyone can share. The sharing of rooms is working out because our older daughters are SO excited about adding to the family. None of us can wait until the day they come! <br /><br />They are also excited that sharing rooms may only last a few months BECAUSE......<br /><br />THE HOUSE IS SOLD! THE HOUSE IS SOLD! THE HOUSE IS SOLD!<br />Closing is July 31st and everything is in line for it to go through without any problems. We got the news about a week ago, the same time that we got the news about the little girls and transition. We are truly happy...... BECAUSE......<br /><br />We were given the pre-qualification to build! Oh, my. Yes! Our credit has taken a huge hit over the past two years especially, trying to maintain all of our monthly payments. It was getting harder and harder, but we did it. At first, we didn't qualify because of the foreclosure on our home? Did I already write about that? There was NO foreclosure, but for some reason (it's a long story... it took a long time to find out why this happened) it was appearing on our credit report. A month later, after many phone calls and sleepless nights, it was gone. The difference in our credit report was pretty amazing. We can build!<br /><br />We have picked out house plans, will meet with the builder to trim some of the costs down (we now need a bigger house for 6 people, but have less money because of the $40,000 we lost in the home from the <a href="http://throughthebackloop.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html">mold damage</a>)and can hopefully order the home in August and be in by Christmas! And? Yes, there is MORE! And... the house we are renting was in the process of being sold to someone who wanted to live in our side of the duplex. Somehow, the sale fell through and our landlord has taken the house OFF of the market! Plus, our new lease was signed for six months starting July 1, which means that we can move into a new home and not need to find a new renter!<br /><br />There is happiness and excitement pulsing through this family again! And NO longer will we have to use the phrase, "when the house sells," as an explanation about why something cannot become a reality for us. <br /><br />Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to the powers above that have finally provided!<br /><br />We hope for more good news on July 15th when DH has his next cancer check. July will TRULY be a great month!<br /><br />No go off and spread that happiness that this blog has given to you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-10165989139210122932009-06-04T20:56:00.003-05:002009-06-04T21:09:36.158-05:00It's sold!But not the one you are thinking of. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First... knitting.<br /><br />The "Project" that I'm working on is coming along very, very well. Ahead of schedule. My wrists hurt most of the time, but the darn gift will be done on time! <br /><br />I'm also preparing for summer knitting at camp. I've put together some informational handouts that are laminated and on book rings so that the girls can refer to pictures to help them out if I'm busy with someone else. I have some basic projects planned, and a better system ready to keep track of who has what materials, who has completed which techniques, and who is ready for their award. I'm pretty excited. <br /><br />Knitting has been pretty good. I'm planning projects for the little ones who will be joining us in a month or so. Two little ones.... we are very excited. We are just waiting to hear the dates that are being planned for this, but we know that it will happen over the early summer months. <br /><br />HOUSE<br /><br />It is sold.. as I said, but not our house. The house we are renting has a buyer, and we were first told that she wants to live in our side (the bigger of the the two units in this duplex) and rent the other one out. Our landlord wanted to get us a lease for six months to protect us so that we couldn't be kicked out. Our home that has the offer is not moving along - the buyer has not sold their home and cannot lower their price. We are afraid that the deal will die. Because of our struggles financially, we cannot even put in an offer on a house to buy, or qualify for a loan to build if the house were to sell. At least not for six months. And.... ready for this? When our rental is sold, even with a six month lease, we have been told that the owner has the legal right to ask us to move out with 30 days notice. <br /><br />So... we will be adding two little girls to our family, with a lot of love and no money..... we may lose the buyer for our own house, we could be kicked out of our rental - and we don't qualify to buy or build anytime soon. <br /><br />Yeah... I'll be losing sleep again. Our social worker for the little girls was amazed at what we have lived through, and how we have continued to hold our family together in a positive way. She said over and over,"You guys are amazing." I don't feel amazing. I say my prayers several times a day. Not for a new house, not to be able to buy, but to have our financial burdens lifted - basically by selling our house in Valders. <br /><br />If you have read over our history - and you think we are worthy of a mention - send a letter to Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. Please. We can use all of the help that we can possibly get.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-90961577650891783432009-05-20T22:11:00.004-05:002009-05-20T22:31:52.713-05:00That Quiet Time of the DayIt's late in the evening. The house is quiet and everyone is shifting into that nighttime mode. Temperatures today were so warm, that the windows and doors are still flung open and a nice breeze crosses the house. It's very peaceful. Michael Buble is helping with that, too. <br /><br />There has been quite a bit of knitting going on. In fact, the deadline of knitting "due dates" is bearing down on me. I can't talk a lot about the project because the person who it is intended for may actually be one of my ten hits each day? Who knows.. I wouldn't want to ruin a surprise. <br /><br />The knitting is going well, and it's a project that I enjoy. My family is supportive and wants me to make these things, too, so they allow me to indulge that knitting bug even more than ususal. Mother's Day was a perfect example. I got a headlamp that allows me to knit while we are on the road at night. AWESOME! There is a red light, so that I don't bother my husband the driver, or distract oncoming cars. I originally wanted it for camping trips, so that I could knit by the campfire, but I realized right away that this could also be used in the car! Now I don't have to always drive the night shift so that I'm free to knit during the daylight. Again, AWESOME!<br /><br />I've used the laundry soap for all of my washing since my last post, and it has won over the hearts of all of my family. Even the picky teenager loves it and wants to use this forever. The clothes feel better. They look brighter, I think, and the fact that it's "green" (is Borax "green"? Hmmmm don't know) really apeals to my oldest daughter. I gave so much away to friends and family that I had to make a new batch this past weekend. At about two dollars a batch, I can't really complain. Most of my friends loved it and they want to have a laundry soap making party? Sounds great to me! If we serve some wine and make laundry soap - I'll be happy!<br /><br />House news. <br /><br />Well, I mentioned how happy I am right now. I'll leave that update for another time. It's not good news, and I don't want to ruin the moment. I'll just say that we will need to continue renting for 6 months to a year before we can buy or build anything. Long story. So, we plan to bring two little ones into the small duplex, and we are Ok with that. What's important is the quality of our family, not quantity of what we have. The best thing that we have is a happy life :)<br /><br />Thanks Michael - your voice has brought real content to this weary soul on a warm and breezy spring night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-60481006606662549002009-04-18T21:08:00.003-05:002009-04-18T21:53:07.231-05:00Laundry Day... Errrrr NightYears ago I decided that it would be a good idea to learn how to be self-sufficient. The kind of self-sufficiency that meant that if there ever were another depression, I would be prepared to do very valuable things like raise vegetables, can and freeze, sew anything, bake my own bread from scratch, and cook up just about anything I needed from scratch. I am pretty much a freak, I know. <br /><br />We were newlyweds, and I brought my penny-pinching ways into my marriage. Luckily, my husband didn't mind sampling my pink homemade applesauce, and he waited months before I perfected lump less gravy. He also feigned interest as I explained and tried dozens of ways to make the perfect boiled egg. Now he likes to brag about my perfectly boiled eggs to others (how embarrassing!). I also found several recipes for making my own baking mix and my own ant repellant (it didn't work very well). <br /><br />I have always loved frugality and we live pretty frugally, even when we have had more money than we do now. I joined the Frugal Homemakers group on Ravelry and noticed a thread for homemade laundry detergent. I was doubtful. Finally, I read it and was so excited that I had to wake up my husband to tell him all about how wonderful it would be when I started cooking up some laundry detergent. This was at midnight on a weeknight, so he wasn't really thrilled to hear about my new "experiment".<br /><br />On Friday night I went out for my evening's entertainment. I went in search of these:<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=100_0345.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/100_0345.jpg" border="0" alt="Laundry ingredients"></a><br /><br />I went to four different stores in search of the ever elusive Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. Turned out that my regular grocery store had all three items, who knew? And all of the items were cheaper than what I had paid for them at the hardware store. Oh well, lesson learned. <br /><br />I came home and started supper, and started shredding the Fels-Naptha soap<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=100_0349.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/100_0349.jpg" border="0" alt="closeup grating"></a><br /><br />Then I cooked it up while we ate the real food. I was very careful not to confuse the pots and serve up soap soup.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=100_0351.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/100_0351.jpg" border="0" alt="cooking"></a><br /><br />Then I added the rest of the ingredients and set it aside for the night. <br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=100_0353.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/100_0353.jpg" border="0" alt="ready to set"></a><br /><br />I had to wait until morning to see how it would turn out, so I will make you wait until morning as well. Sorry! I know that the suspense must be killing you. My husband also had a sleepless night, filled with fret about how my $8.00 experiment would turn out. And wondering if I would actually use the stuff.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-50731712141175753242009-04-12T13:30:00.005-05:002009-04-17T23:05:48.033-05:00One Dollar MittenYep. One dollar a skein. Bargain priced yarn at the dollar store - and it's pretty good!<br /><br />When I saw some mittens at the LYS in Wausau with a cable cuff - the cable ran around the wrist - I knew that I had to make some. I picked this yarn to experiment with and....<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=081.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/081.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=083.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/083.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Pretty nice, no? For the next pair I will make a few changes. A wider cable cuff and more ribbing, and maybe a different shaping style, but all in all it was a good first effort.<br /><br />We spent the weekend in Sheboygan again, visiting Opa, Grandma, our nephew, my brother and sister-in-law, and Nalena. All in one day. EXHAUSTING, but a great day. The Easter Bunny left an early basket for Nalena, and the girls went outside to blow bubbles, play with the chalk and play in the sandbox. It was chilly, so coats are still required for little ones. <br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=080.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/080.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><strong>House</strong></em><br /></span>Because this is primarily supposed to be a knitting blog, and because I need to find some space to purge all of my financial agnst, I decided to separate posts into knitting and "the house" which is our primary finacial strain. This way, if you are interested only in knitting, you can skip right over this part. And if by some strange chance you enjoy hearing the continuing saga of our house, you can find those updates without having to read through knitting stories. Brilliant? I thought so.<br /><br />We had an offer a few weeks ago, did I mention that? No, I checked back. I didn't mention it. That's probably because it wasn't worth mentioning. The offer was $45,000 below our already $20,000 reduced price since the lower level was gutted. She came up $5,000 and we went down $5,000, and then she said it wasn't worth any more than that. Since then there have been two walk throughs. Their comments are ringing in my ears because it is now always the same story, again and again.<br /><br />"The lower level will require too much work."<br />"The siding is old and starting to deteriorate."<br />"The garage door is old and the trim is starting to deteriorate." (the garage door is actually a new problem)<br />"The upstairs bathroom is out of date."<br />"The kitchen floor has a tear in it."<br />And, "It needs new carpeting in some places upstairs."<br /><br />All true. And impossible for us to do anything about.<br /><br />A friend of mine was asking about the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition application that I sent in, and I told her that this was sent over a month ago and so far we have heard nothing. Their application very clearly said that we would hear nothing unless they were interested, so no news is not good news. Then my friend asked me if I had considered the Oprah show. I hadn't. I haven't watched the show in years because I'm never home in time, but I went to the website and they wanted me to condense my "remodeling project that has become stuck due to financial reasons" into 2,000 words.<br /><br />I began writing. I read it to DH and he liked it. Then I began to copy and paste it into the form online and... whoops. It said 2,000 CHARACTERS, not 2,000 WORDS. Great. Four pages of text and now I had to cut it to 2,000 characters including spaces? Hmm... challenging.<br /><br />I wrote a poem:<br /><br /><em>Lessons in Life<br /><br />Stuck<br />Wheels spinning in mud<br />Nine long years<br />Young children watching, learning<br />Lessons in life<br /><br />Job to be eliminated<br />Back to college, both<br />House damaged<br />Windows and roof replaced<br />Full time work and classes<br />Young children watching, learning<br />dedication<br /><br />Heart attack<br />Quit job<br />Savings gone<br />Finally graduate<br />But no job<br />Young children watching, learning<br />determination<br /><br />Hundreds of applications<br />Still no job<br />Substitute teacher<br />Three years<br />Waiting<br />Children watching, learning<br />Patience<br /><br />Finally a job<br />Three hours away<br />Separated but happily married<br />Two homes<br />Finances stretched<br />Children watching, learning<br />Sacrifice<br /><br />One year becomes almost two<br />Finally another job<br />Rent<br />Family reunited<br />Pop-up camper is home<br />Children watching, learning<br />Healing<br /><br /><br />New savings gone<br />Repairs, new carpet and paint<br />Credit used for bills<br />Finally house for sale<br />Buy beautiful lot<br />Children watching, learning<br />Effort<br /><br />Flood<br />Mold<br />Oma has died<br />Finally accepted to adopt<br />But no – testicular cancer<br />Teenagers learn<br />Despair<br /><br />Chemotherapy<br />Lost wages<br />Disability<br />Money spent driving<br />To cut grass and remove snow<br />Teenagers learn<br />Hopelessness<br /><br />Decreased property values<br />Sluggish house sales<br />No money for updates<br />House decaying<br />Adoption pending<br />Teenagers learn<br />Heartache</em><br /><br />Our story in basically 2,000 characters. We have proposed donating our home to a needy family if we could have a home in our new town. This is my plea for help. Hopefully they will hear me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-20167346337533060552009-04-01T19:24:00.003-05:002009-04-01T19:40:22.295-05:00Reality......Another month dodged. <br /><br />How the money came to be to keep our mortgage going, I will never understand. I only know that when I called the mortgage company, the situation was a bit better than I had thought. They got my March payment as they sent the default notice. That counted for February. Somehow.... I had stashed away enough money, and borrowed some from another account... to make another payment and get caught up. With John being on disability for the month of February, he didn't get a penny of income until the end of the month. For some reason, I had recorded that I paid the mortgage payment already when his disability check came in, but I hadn't. That has never happened before, and I hope that we will never be in that situation again, but with the economy the way it is...... it's only a matter of time before we cannot afford to keep the mortgage in one town while trying to sell the property and renting a place to live in another town. This has to end.<br /><br />I really don't feel like knitting again. I can gauge my emotions by how much knitting I do. I don't have the money to buy more yarn, and I'm tired of my stash. I don't have the ambition to spin on my wheel, either. I pretty much get up, go to work, come home very late, take care of things around our "apartment" and go to bed. I did manage to knit up the summer cap for John, and that took a lot longer to make than I thought it would. Now I have no real projects that I want to do... only some gifts that I need to make, but don't have the wool for. <br /><br />Yep... I'm a bit down. Again. The happy days that we got really worked to pick me up, but reality crashes hard around your head when the trip is over.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-80935655806248231722009-03-19T10:23:00.005-05:002009-03-19T11:00:29.496-05:00Happy FeetHere they are....<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily028.jpg" border="0" alt="feet"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily029.jpg" border="0" alt="more feet"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily030.jpg" border="0" alt="mixed up feet"></a><br /><br /><br />all of my girls in the socks that I have made for each of them. We had a blast this past weekend trying to forget the realities of our life and smiling for the first time in months. I hadn't realized that it has been months, close to a year really, since we have genuinely smiled. We were really smiling. Really happy. It was hard to leave.<br /> <br />Anna was a great big sister. She's pretty excited to not be the youngest.<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily032.jpg" border="0" alt="Anna &amp; Nalena"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily015.jpg" border="0" alt="hubby &amp; girls"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily089.jpg" border="0" alt="Two Ann's"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily092.jpg" border="0" alt="Where do we go now?"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=NewFamily056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/NewFamily056.jpg" border="0" alt="Nalena &amp; me"></a><br /><br />Better days <strong>have to</strong> keep coming. <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-6945866243271168862009-03-11T20:20:00.003-05:002009-03-11T21:01:19.314-05:00I can't even come up with a title for this oneI tried. Really I did. Things were looking up and I had told myself that March would be better. Everyday I was feeling positive. We heard some great news about a little girl that we know and of course John got his first "all clear" from cancer. Bills were getting paid. There was extra money to go shopping for the first time since last summer and I was really looking forward to our trip this weekend to the water park. Even the mouse terrorizing our empty house wasn't enough to really bring me down. <br /><br />Then I checked the mail today..... after paying WAY too much on myself - for my hair. What a foolish, foolish girl I was. I should know by now that whenever it seems like we have extra money... it really isn't there. Something bad will happen. EVERY. TIME.<br /><br />There it was. A loan default notice for our house. I was enraged. I make payments every month. Always. I called the 1-800 number to yell at anyone who would be there. They were closed. So, taking the time to gather all of my ammunition.... I went online to find the cleared checks for our mortgage payments. March payment - cleared. February payment.... February payment.... February payment... there it was. In January? No, that would be the January payment. Panic ensued. Where was the February payment? After checking the account three more times, I realized that money was so tight in February when John was on disability that I hadn't sent it in. I don't EVER remember that happening. I ALWAYS pay the mortgage... and John always checks to make sure that the payments clear. I SWEAR I paid in February. Somehow there is no record of any check being written or anything clearing our bank for that month.<br /><br />I put us in default. <br /><br />You know what? Take the house. I don't want it anymore.... it won't sell... no one wants to invest to finish the damn thing and it has caused us more sleepless nights and tension filled shoulders than I ever thought could be possible. The bank can have it. There is no hope. <br /><br />Since August my mantra has been, "I can never do anything for <em>me</em> without somehow paying for it." Now I'm afraid to even go this weekend. I know that we can't even afford the "free" trip that has been given to us. We don't have enough money for the bills...... again. How will we find the money for this great "free" trip? We will need extra money for the dog vaccination, the dog kennel, gas, food, and who knows what else. My daughter just said that they don't have to play lazer tag in order to save money. Some relaxing break from our problems this has turned out to be. <br /><br />I can't do this anymore. I give up. Done.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-55794236872817434422009-03-08T21:23:00.002-05:002009-03-08T21:54:55.043-05:00It's Been Awhile... But There Has Been KnittingBesides the chemo caps that I have made for John....<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/032.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/026.jpg" border="0" alt="John's chemo cap"></a><br /><br />I have also been working on some toddler socks, 2 needle mittens to teach the girls at summer camp this year (Anna got the "test" mittens), some mittens for my oldest daughter, and now I have yarn to make John some summer caps to replace the old faded ones from years ago.<br /><br />In the wings are two gifts that I can't mention here, but I can say that I was worried about the pattern. I could only find part of the pattern, but thanks to Ravelry..... I found friends who had the book and they gave me the basic information that I will need to make the gifts. How many stitches to cast on and final measurements were all that I needed. <br /><br />On Feb. 18th we got the news that John's final cancer markers were within normal limits, and they weren't recommending surgery for him right now. He won't need any more CT or PET scans until April 2009. Normally this would be great news and just today John said that most people, after facing cancer, feel happy and optimistic about life. Each day is a true gift for them and their biggest worries are behind them. For John (and me) this isn't the case. The cancer lifestyle was stressful and scary, and afterwards we should have felt even better than we did. To be honest, now the reality of our house is hitting us square between the eyes. Another massive price reduction, no people attending open houses, and a mouse eating at some of the things that were left behind. There is no moving forward for us. We fight and struggle to hold on to any thing positive. <br /><br />Here she is.... our positive thing in life.....<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=Nalenaforblog.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/Nalenaforblog.jpg" border="0" alt="Nalena"></a><br /><br />We get to spend the weekend with her, her little sister, and our friends at <a href="http://www.wildernessresort.com/">Wilderness Resort</a>, thanks to the generosity of <a href="http://www.angelonmyshoulder.org/">Angel On My Shoulder</a>. We have never been given anything like this before in my life... a three day weekend. We are very excited. We will NOT think about anything else.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-2366951679356261552008-12-31T09:12:00.004-06:002008-12-31T09:46:13.752-06:00A Naughty WordCancer is a naughty word. When you hear someone else say it, it takes your breath away and leaves your head full of questions. What kind of cancer? How bad is it? Did they get it all with surgery? Will this person live? When the word <em>cancer</em> is used to diagnose a loved one, the shock is even greater and you are left with a million more questions. I know. John was diagnosed in November. <br /><br />Our world has turned upside down once again. Pretty soon, things will have turned upside for us so many times that we should be right side up again. Hopefully this is the time. I won't give a lot of details here, because I have started a <a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnlohoff">caringbridge</a> site for John that explains everything that has happened, and satisifies my urge to deal with situations through writing. I have also been able to deal with this situation through knitting.<br /><br />My good friend Karen was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, and after the first gasp of shock and after the many initial questions had been answered, I took out my needles and made her some chemo caps. Karen was the kind of person who never asked for help. Even during her treatment, which lasted for more than a year, she never called to ask for meals or help transporting her or anyone in her family. She was given these things, and was very grateful for the help, but she got through things on her own. I gave her three different colors and styles of caps, wondering if they would be a welcomed comfort. I got my answer a few months later when she called me out of the blue. After catching up over the phone for several minutes, I asked her if there was anything that I could do for her. She stammered a bit and was obviously uncomfortable, but then asked if I would make her some more chemo caps. She loved them. She asked if she could have some that were a bit longer and would cover her ears so that she could wear them at night because her ears got cold. I said that I could. I asked her what colors and what types of yarns that I had used that she liked the best, and immediatly cast on stitches to fill the order I was humbled to have been given. <br /><br />When Karen went into remission and returned to work, people asked her during one lunch break about all of the things that she had been given during her treatment. She spoke of DVDs, books, meals, blankets, and then said that she had donated everything that she had been given during her treatment because she wanted to put that part of her life behind her. A few seconds later, she looked at me and said, "except for the chemo caps that you made for me, Kristyn. Those I carefully packed away just in case I need them again." We all hoped that she never would. <br /><br />Several months later, her cancer returned and she went for more difficult treatments. My caps went with her. She didn't make it, and cancer took her too young. <br /><br />Last year, one of my mother's friends was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my needles were again filled with chemo cap stitches. Her treatments have finished, and she is doing very well. I hope that the caps brought her comfort as well.<br /><br />Now, cancer has hit much closer to home. It has hit in my home, in fact. John was diagnosed in November and I immediately cast on stitches for his chemo caps. There are some differences with his, though. He has specific orders. He wants caps that he can wear in public that will support the school colors of the school he works for and the school our daughter plays on teams for. Of course this wish has been granted. Being male, he also has an easier time pulling off the bald look. He doesn't wear the caps all of the time like my friends did, or like the women in the oncology center do. But, his caps are cerished just as much because he knows how much it means to me to be able to support him in any way that I can. He will beat this thing, and we will be stronger because of it. And hopefully our world will be set right side up for us to march along together again. <br /><br />If cancer has affected a friend or loved one in your life, consider voting for this cause on Obama's <a href="http://www.change.org/ideas/view/end_suffering_and_death_due_to_cancer">Change.org </a> site. The strong issues created by the public on this site will be given to our future president. Let's make sure he knows that cancer needs to end.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-19036831309210509502008-11-27T19:39:00.003-06:002008-11-27T19:54:23.005-06:00Happy ThanksgivingStart with knitting.. well actually crochet.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=smallbasketfilled.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/smallbasketfilled.jpg" border="0" alt="Oma's basket"></a><br /><br /><br />Just to prove that I <strong>have</strong> been doing something lately. <br />I inherited this basket and the unused yarn from my mother-in-law and I thought that since she is no longer here to make her annual Christmas presents for all of the women in the family, I would take her yarn and make them myself. No one else in the family knows how to crochet. Plus, this is a good time for repeating double crochet stitches at nauseum. That's because our family continues to suffer from more bad things. My DH was diagnosed with testicular cancer on 11/24 and yesterday we found out that the treament will mean several rounds of chemo and possibly one very nasty surgery. He is in pain from his surgery to remove the tumor, and we couldn't go to visit my father-in-law for his first holiday alone. We felt just terrible, but John was not up for the 7 hour round trip car ride. Tomorrow are more doctor appointments, but today we tried to have a normal Thanksgiving.<br /><br />Anna was my right hand woman. She cooked every dish for the meal with me. Stuffing, turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and the gravy. Alicia made the pumpkin pie. And. It snowed. Right on cue and big fluffy flakes, see?<br /><br /> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=smallsnow.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/smallsnow.jpg" border="0" alt="Thanksgiving day snow"></a><br /><br />Here is Anna in action... 13 years old and she can cook with the best of 'em.<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=smallerAnna.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/smallerAnna.jpg" border="0" alt="Anna making green bean casserole"></a><br /><br />I carved the bird. <br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=smallturkey.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/smallturkey.jpg" border="0" alt="Carve that bird"></a><br /><br />And we all ate.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=49af9940.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/49af9940.jpg" border="0" alt="The happy family"></a><br /><br />You can see that John is hurting, but he is in good spirits. Tomorrow Alicia turns 16. Oh. my.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-19624844012394572362008-11-02T12:31:00.001-06:002008-11-02T13:30:13.875-06:00A Memorial - Lore Lohoff<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=2c35b79e.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/2c35b79e.jpg" border="0" alt="oma"></a><br /><strong>12/29/1929 - 10/02/2008</strong><br /><br />My mother-in-law was one of the most wonderful people anyone could have met. She had her flaws, just as all of us do, but my memories of her will always be of the gifts that she gave to me. Those kitchen table talks with coffee and at times cigarettes while kids played around us, husbands watched television, and time stood still are the gifts that I will cherish.<br /><br />From her I learned how to cook. We shared recipes and tips for how to make things better. Really, she taught me the tried and true German way to cook and I gave her little tips that I had learned from some magazine article. I have many of her recipes, but will never be able to make hospital jello right. Even when we tried them together side by side in my Valders kitchen years ago, hers worked. Mine never has. She, however, could never manage to make a pie crust as flaky and flavorful as mine, even when I helped her.<br /><br />I learned how to shop from my mother-in-law. We compared coupons and techniques. If we bought twenty dollars at one store we could get the free item and drive to another store to spend twenty dollars there for another free item. Saturdays were spent with each of us pouring over our own Milwaukee Journal clipping coupons, and setting up our strategy. After shopping we would call to compare notes and let each other know about specials. Even today I find myself competing to get a bag of groceries for ten dollars, and I can do it with meat and other expensive items in the cart. I know she is proud.<br /><br />I learned how to garden from her. She would sit on the most bitter cold winter day and plan out the vegetables and flowers that my father-in-law needed to plant. When spring came, they worked side by side to turn the soil, pull weeds, and get seeds and small plants started. My beans never produced half of what hers did. My flowers never bloomed as fully, and my cucumbers never grew to the huge yellow sized submarines that hers did for a perfect senfgurkin. The garden was her special place. She loved to sit in her garden and watch her grandchildren play. I loved to sit with her there, too.<br /><br />Most of all, I learned how to love family in a new way. She made an ultimate sacrafice when she, her husband, and their two year-old daugther decided to move from Germany to the United States. Times for her were tough in a war-torn Germany that was trying to put itself back together after WWII, but things for a German immigrant family weren't much better when they came here. She wanted to go back a few months after they moved here, but my father-in-law didn't. I am able to have the best husband in the world because they stayed. She would give you the shirt off of her own back, and often did give away something that she treasured if you said that you liked it. It made her feel good to give, and you never left her house without something in your hand that she had given to you.<br /><br />I have missed my talks with her for many years as her illnesses took her away from us very slowly over time. Now I'm left with an empty, aching feeling in my heart. She is gone to us forever and the world is not the same. <br /><br />Thank you, Oma... for all of your gifts. I love you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-48621147190414380482008-08-29T08:10:00.004-05:002008-08-29T10:32:38.760-05:00Rock BottomI am convinced, and no one will change my mind on this, that the minute I take time for myself to do something for me, I am punished. I'm not joking, in fact I am quite serious. And it seems that in the last few months, the amount of time that I am allowed to enjoy myself before being slammed with some tradegy is getting shorter and shorter. It now seems to be only a few hours, which makes me nervous about writing this post. What bad thing will happen after I click Publish?<br /><br />Since moving and trying to settle in a new area, my husband and I have worked extra jobs to build back the savings account we had to drain for many different reasons. I've posted about them over the years, and finally, this summer, we had money in the account. Immediately, I said that I was nervous because something would happen to prevent us from keeping the account. Some emergency. After my husband and I took our first trip away from home without our children in 16 years, we returned home and a few weeks later our car needed $1,400 of repairs. I thought this was my punishment. Boy, was I wrong.<br /><br />One week in August, both of my daughters were gone for the same week, one at work (she lived and worked at a summer camp that week) and the other went to her girl scout camp for the week. It was heaven. I sat and watched tv. the house stayed clean. My movies were not interrupted. I watched the Olympics. And I knit. It was heaven. I told my mom that I worried about what price I would pay for such luxury. Well, that luxury seems to be at the price tag of about $30,000.<br /><br />Last week Thursday, one week after our girls came home, we got a phone call from our realtor. Someone had gone on a walk through of our house and found mold in the basement. She sent us the pictures. The first pictures didn't seem so bad, but as we clicked on and on, they got worse and our jaws fell open in shock and disbelief. <br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=1e1d7f3d.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/1e1d7f3d.jpg" border="0" alt="house damage corner"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=P8190866.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/P8190866.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=CopyofP8190863.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/CopyofP8190863.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br />This couldn't be happening. We had an accepted offer, but once they were told of the mold, they decided not to renew the offer (it will expire on August 30th).<br /><br />I immediately called our insurance agent who said that this must be from the floods in early June. But we had been in the house in July, I told him. Still, he said that insurance would not cover mold or flooding, and that there were homes in our community with collapsed basements from the flooding. He encouraged us to call FEMA. We called FEMA and the adjuster came to look at our house. "I've never seen anthing like this," he told us. Really? A FEMA inspector hadn't seen worse? Imagine the bad things that he must see in his job! Then I called someone to give us an estimate of the costs to repair the home. He went in and later called me to say that the basement was still wet, which we knew, and that he couldn't do anything until we got the water out. Oh, and it would cost about $30,000. Now, we live three and a half hours away and the new school year has just started. We were at a loss to figure out how to dry out a basement so far away. I called another company and basically blubbered through my phone call and told him the story. Ron was so nice. He went into the house that afternoon, called my husband - because I then couldn't complete a sentence without crying - and said that he wouldn't leave the house until things were taken care of. He pulled people off of other jobs, and I don't know what they did, but he has assured us that the house is ok. For now. Our worry was, and still is, that the mold will spread to the upstairs and instead of losing the finished basement where our daughter's rooms are, we would lose the whole house. The house that carries our only investment for being able to build and settle where we are now. The FEMA grant decision came quickly. They awarded us $3,000. That leaves about $27,000 unpaid for.<br /><br />Both men who estimated repairs said that the problem was not a flood, but rather a sump pump malfunction with clear water back up. They told us that this was an insurance issue and said that we should call our agent to file a claim. My husband did, and the insurance adjuster went through yesterday. We were feeling a bit better, and I actually had my first day without tears on Wednesday, when we knew that we were allowed to file a claim with our insurance. Yesterday I spent 14 hours at school getting my room ready and all of the work done at school so that we could go to the house and the nursing home this weekend. Oh, I forgot to mention that my mother-in-law took a turn for the worse on Wednesday. You see, she had a massive heart attack on Easter weekend, and we were told that she wouldn't live through the night. We all grieved and said our goodbyes, but by morning, she opened her eyes and asked for breakfast. A miracle, yes, but also a tradegy because she has since been in a nursing home and is only a shell of the woman we all used to know. We were going to leave this morning, but have changed our minds because my mother-in-law is a bit better and our girls have plans with new friends they are trying to make in our new community. My husband just left to go visit his mother, stop at the house, and continue our fight to find $27,000. <br /><br />Last night, after taking the time for myself at school, he told me that the insurance adjuster basically laughed at him telling him that this was not a sump pump malfunction. I guess our sump pump pit is dry and our sump pump is not working and hasn't worked for awhile. There are no water levels to show a flood, and the basement has water in places where you wouldn't expect it if there had been a flood. He thinks that the heavy rain waters saturated the ground, and that those waters are slowly seeping through our foundation and ending up in our basment. He even thought that possibly someone may have hooked up a hose and let it run along the house to intentionally do harm, but he realized that wouldn't have been the case, based upon the damage areas. I guess our house is a puzzle. No one knows what happened, and I don't really care WHAT happened, I want to know how to make it better. I don't want to lose all of our money, but the way things are right now - we are looking at losing everything, including precious items in the basement like holiday decorations, pictures, high school albums, and items that I hold dear because they were my father's. We may have to sell the house at a loss and save to build. We were about 5 years from paying off the house and being mortgage free, which was one reason I didn't want to move, and now we may be looking at starting all over again. <br /><br />I pretty much started this blog when our troubles began - Read <a href="http://throughthebackloop.blogspot.com/2004_06_01_archive.html://">Hogging the Brownie</a> and you will see what I mean. Four years later and things are even worse. People say that it can't get worse than this, but things always do seem to get worse. Especially for us. <br /><br />My daugthers have watched me cry so many times in the last several years, and they told me this week that it actually hurts them. "You are our parents. You are supposed to be able to handle anything. So if you cry, then we know that things are really bad," my daughter told me this week. Both of my girls have said that they want to do something to help, so they are planning to apply for Extreme Home Makeover. Alicia looked up the application information and it is quite overwhelming. I told both of the girls that if they never finish the application process - I am still proud of them for thinking of this. <br /><br />So basically, I cry, I try to get ready for a new school year, I answer people's questions about if we have sold our home with sobs and long stories of mold, and I go to bed at night in tears with a throbbing head. John does the same. But he is still able to fight. This one has even taken the fight out of me... and I have been known as a fighter. I'm done. I roll over. I give up. This what rock bottom looks like. I will never be able to enjoy taking time for myself again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-43200546268097322822008-08-14T14:01:00.002-05:002008-08-14T14:44:25.290-05:00Finish Line!<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=lacestole003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/lacestole003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Finished Object. <br />FINALLY! <br />I cast off last night and started blocking it this morning. The blocking board is too small so I will have to block it in two stages. <br /><br />I finished ahead of schedule. It usually took me two weeks to finish one skein for this project, but that was during the school year, and now it's summer so I have a lot more time on my hands. Not to mention that both girls are gone for the week - one working at a summer camp and the other attending another summer camp. Can you say.... HEAVEN!<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=lacestole001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/lacestole001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Finished Object Stats:<br /><br />Girl's Cashmere Stole<br />Started - December 2006<br />Finished - August 13, 2008<br />Yarn: Spinnerin Cashmere Plus (Italian) - Cream - Fingering - 85% Cashmere, 15% Wool<br />Pattern: Took from a swatch in a book and repeated for desired width<br />Needle: Size 3<br /><br />What I loved about this project: The yarn was so, so, so, sooooo soft and feeling the fabric drape on my lap as I worked was luxurious. Also, I managed to memorize the 12 row pattern, and could pick up easily even after the project had sat for several weeks or months. <br /><br />What I didn't love about this project: White! working with white was scary! I dripped coffee on it twice and nearly passed out with fright that the stains wouldn't come out once I had found them. They did. <br />Another struggle was just finishing the sea of white lace. It never seemed to end!<br /><br />Now... on to finish the clapotis!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-87778879944475290362008-08-12T08:55:00.003-05:002008-08-12T09:18:14.643-05:00Day 5 - progress and painThe yarn pile is getting smaller, see?<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=day5002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/day5002.jpg" border="0" alt="Day 5"></a><br /><br />There is now only one skein left, and not a complete skein. It's almost half-way used up already.<br />And, my hands hurt. Knitting for so many hours each day on such small needles, I feel the Olympic pain! Must. Keep. Knitting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-18815293695278999052008-08-09T07:23:00.002-05:002008-08-09T07:27:03.941-05:00Let the Games Begin!Day one... and here is the yarn that needs to be knit up<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=yarnday1001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/yarnday1001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />On size 3 needles with 146 stitches in a row!<br />This will be a true test of ability!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-86699401108720193372008-07-23T07:54:00.002-05:002008-07-23T08:25:04.663-05:00Knitting KnewsAn update on my knitting - finally!<br /><br />I went to the Stitch 'N Pitch Brewer's game on July 9th and had an awesome time. It was incredible to see so many people wearing the distinctive white caps while working on a project. My husband bought the seats almost the first day that they were available, and we were seated in the front of the section - which was nice for watching the game, but made it hard to check out the projects around me. <br /><br />I brought the cashmere stole that I have been working on in spurts for that past two years. <br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=MammaDaddy004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/MammaDaddy004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />am determined to get this done by the time my high school aged daughter goes to Homecoming - even though she has already told me that the stole wouldn't be appropriate there because the Homecoming dance isn't formal enough. I don't care.. I want it done. There are projects in waiting that need to be started. There are two babies waiting to come into the world... and also waiting for some knitted treasures. They are due in September and November. Must Start Knitting!<br /><br />At camp - I am excited to say that I have now taught 4 left-handed girls how to knit. I searched and searched online to figure out the best way to do this. I heard about using smoke signals and mirrors and lulling left-handers into some kind of trance in order to teach them. Then, I read a note online about sitting opposite from the left-hander and having them watch me knit with the idea that they would copy me - using their left hand like I used my right, and using their right hand like I used my left. And. It worked! I must have jumped around the camp shouting with excitement ALL DAY! Those girls are knitting machines now, and I'm thrilled to know that I can honor left-handed learners by teaching them the correct way for them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-53450551664842886102008-07-04T07:11:00.004-05:002008-07-04T09:09:25.208-05:00A Teaching Moment - Where I End Up Becoming the StudentIt's always a good idea to learn just how much it is that you don't know. Both feet are kept firmly on the ground when you realize that not only are you NOT as great as you thought you were, but also that the skills that have taken a lifetime for you to develop can be figured out in a split second by a more creative soul. This has been my experience at camp.<br /><br />My friend is a co-director of a girl's camp, and asked me if I would come and teach knitting because she has seen several girls working on projects over the years and thought that they may enjoy learning more. I was up for the challenge, and began searching for patterns that would excite new teenage knitters, and challenge those who had more skills. I also developed a pattern to create a piece of camp clothing that is used each week during what is called the "council fire". All campers come to the council fire on Sunday nights and use camp hats and sashes during the ceremony. I developed a camp sash pattern that they could make and take home with them, thinking that this would be a great beginner project - and possibly an exciting project for them. Well, I have learned that guessing what is cool for teenagers is almost impossible - and better left to, well - the teenagers - because their tastes change with each cup of coffee I drink. <br /><br />There are over 100 campers, between the ages of 8 and 16, not to mention the many counselors and counselors in training who also want to learn to knit. I set off to my new summer camp knitting lodge.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=ACBuilding001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/ACBuilding001.jpg" border="0" alt="AC Building"></a><br /><br />After a few days of knitting in public, girls started approaching me and asking if I would teach them to knit. I took a deep breath, let them pick their own yarn from what some generous people had sent as donations, and set off on my new task. It went pretty well. Those who had already learned how to knit from a family member, but had never "started" a project were taught the cable cast on method (my personal favorite) while true newbies were given a project that was already started so that they could learn the knit stitch. Before casting on, I would ask them what they wanted to make, and show them the sash that the director and I thought would be very popular. Most girls looked at the sash and thought about it for a minute, then told me that they wanted to make - a scarf. OK. I wasn't discouraged. At least they still wanted to knit - scarves were a great beginner project, even though I knew they many would give up on the project before it would ever be finished - especially since many will leave camp in a week - but they would learn the essentials of knitting and be able to take that home with them. So I set off.... teaching two or three at a time until I had taught about 10 girls. They were off in their cabins, needles clicking away during rest hour, and tempting others to learn. After a week, I had 30 knitting, and now after two weeks, the whole camp seems to be at it. <br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=ACBuilding006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/ACBuilding006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=ACBuilding005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/ACBuilding005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />I can't keep up! I hear my name being called out all over camp, "Kristyn, I have a problem," or, "Kristyn, this doesn't look right," or, "Kristyn, can you fix this?"<br /><br />I have run out of knitting needles, even with three trips to the local department store, and some campers have resorted to using filed wooden dowels to work on. The stitches stick, but can be used by people who already know the process. <br /><br />My own summer knitting has changed. There are no socks on needles, no baby sweaters or intricate lace being worked. I'm spending my time on garter stitch squares that can be ripped out and reworked and used to teach the knit stitch, purl stitch, increasing, decreasing, and casting off. I have worked this same square over and over for two weeks, and my fast knitting has slowed. My hands are holding the needles like I did when I was a beginner myself. And I am amazed at the transformation. It seemed to come along on its own - my hands at first holding the needles like I always do, but then changing to a more awkward grasp after several girls told me that what I was doing looked "confusing."<br /><br />The summer session has almost reached the halfway point, and many campers will be going home while a new group comes in. Some campers will stay for the full summer. What I have learned about teaching; THAT will last much longer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-59447120311684637962008-04-18T20:22:00.002-05:002008-04-18T20:47:54.353-05:00A Story of Waiting"All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope" - Alexandre Dumas Pere<br /><br />Well... my wisdom must be freakin running to a low point. We wait, and wait, and hope for our new house to become a reality. Then wait some more. <br /><br />We have moved again - because the cottage rental where we were is only availalble during the school year, and we found a three bedroom, two bathroom duplex that would take all of our pets. Knowing that even if our house sold, we wouldn't be able to build and move into a new home before summer, we had to leave. So on the coldest weekend in February (again) we moved. If you look back to last year in February, we also moved on the coldest weekend in 10 years to become a family again. Someone has a really bad sense of humor towards giving me crappy situations and frankly, I've about had it. <br /><br />My anger towards life turned towards my knitting, and with a venegence I worked to get rid of every crappy old project that was weighing me down. Then I knit for myself. That luxury that knitters rarely bestow upon themselves was mine. My choice of yarn, my choice of pattern, and my attitude improved. UNTIL.... the next crappy situation. My mother-in-law having a near death experience. On Easter Sunday we were taken from our family gathering after visiting her in the hospital and realizing that things were not good. We returned to the hospital with the rest of the family to wait for her to die. There was no hope. We waited all afternoon, evening, and night. There was no hope. Her darkened hands and shallow breathing brought us all to tears, and then we were content and ready. We waited. In the morning she woke for a few minutes and gave us a precious gift of more time to talk to her. She said that she felt, "Great!" I watched as my daughters cried at her death bed, then had moments where they were able to have great talks with cousins who they hadn't seen in years. The kind of talk that seems only to happen around death in today's world. <br /><br />By later morning, the doctor's proclaimed a miracle, and we reacted with anger, frustration, and sadness. My mother-in-law left us many years ago from the dementia brought on by two severe strokes. We were ready for her to leave, and happy that she would have died without having to have lived in a nursing home. Now that would not happen. We spent three days getting her things ready and moved her into her new home while her husband sobbed. He still cannot be convinced that he has not let her down. His COPD makes it impossible to take care of her now that she will not walk, eat, or toilet herself. She looked around the nursing home and told me, "This is a nice place......for the old people." Our hearts and spirits broke.<br /><br />We try to drive the four hours one way each weekend to see her, visit with my father-in-law and my mother, and take care of the property that refuses to sell. We are going deeper and deeper into debt - two educators with Master's Degrees...working every extra school job we can get our hands on. The gas prices laugh at me as I drive past each station. Up $1.30 from a year ago... and four hours of driving now add up to an extra $40 on gas each weekend. I'm back to deciding how badly we need generic peanut butter each week. I'm tired of life giving me crap so that I can be a stronger person. I'm strong. And tired. Very, very tired. I give up.<br /><br />My knitting sits and glares at me from the bag. Sandy's chemo caps that should have been done two weeks ago when her chemotherapy started are angry with me; they yell at me and add to my guilt. The stole that I wanted for my daughters' dances is frustrated to still be sitting on needles, and the yarn stash is planning a coup. I think they will run out of the house if it ever stops snowing or raining. You see, they are afraid of ruining their fibers in the bad weather...this is the only reason they stay.<br /><br />Despite all of the bad things, I like my job - which may not last because I am a new hire and a referendum looming could mean the end of my job - and more importantly it could mean the loss of a decent education for many, many students as I would not be the only one to be let go. If this happens, I can only imagine how many part time jobs I would have to take to be able to buy the generic brand of toilet paper that I know we MUST have each week. <br /><br />So, I would like to give my yarn stash a little message. Run. Fast. Get out while you still have a chance and get as far away from my house as is yarnily possible because you know things are bad, and I know that even with patience and hope, they are not about to get better any time soon.<br /><br />But I have no choice. I will have to continue to wait. And hope. If I can.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-18160956011539381912007-12-29T11:40:00.000-06:002007-12-29T11:44:03.529-06:00Christmas SnowChristmas as a kid meant two things. No school and snow. This year is finally providing us with both. It seems like this is the first year since I was a child where the snow banks are up to my waist. And my waist is a little higher now compared to when I was 9 years old! <br /><br />The snow came as a surprise. Well, sort of a surprise. We were celebrating with our family “down south” and new that our new home “up north” was getting a snow storm. We drove back north on the 26th at night. Every 15 miles farther we drove, it was clear that there was more and more snow. The banks on the sides of the highway, even in dark, were piled high. As we drove through lit communities we could see the piles in parking lots grow taller and taller. Then, for the final twenty minutes, it became incredible. There must have been 15 inches on the ground, and true to Northwoods fashion, the roads were clear. These guys work miracles!<br /><br />We unpacked, went to bed, and woke up to the reality of the storm.<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/?action=view¤t=snow002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/snow002.jpg" border="0" alt="snow 12/23/07"></a><br />That branch is normally above our heads, but with the weight of the snow it has now drooped, like all of the trees have.<br /><br />Beautiful. And yes, at least 15 inches of snow on the ground, with more to come.<br /><br />Anna has been playing with her Christmas sled on the driveway, and both Alicia and Anna have been ice-fishing on the lake with their father and a friend. Unfortunately, no fish.<br /><br />My Christmas knitting is still in progress. I finished a pair of felted clogs in three days to give to my mother. Note to self…. To get them to dry more quickly, put them on the heat registers and they will be dry in two days instead of three! My mother wore them on Christmas night and was as pleased as punch. She was the first person to wear out the original pair given a few years ago. I used a Plymouth paint yarn in purples, blues and greens, and then a matching green for the cuff and sole. Yummy! They were a hit! Now I need to finish the stole that was supposed to be a birthday present to my mother a year ago. Then, on to finish a pair of socks for DH and then mittens and a hat for Anna. After that I am free! Free to make a scarf for myself from my birthday yarn! More to come on that later.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-7794511554553764132007-11-12T20:37:00.000-06:002007-11-12T20:48:23.421-06:00The Perfect WeekendFinally, a weekend that seems to be going my way! Our new life “up north” means a 3 ½ hour drive every Friday to go to our home “down south” and take care of our house and my in-laws. While it is exhausting, it feels good being able to help them out. <br /><br />Once a month we stay up north, usually because of something our girls are involved in. This weekend was the weekend to stay in November. My youngest had her first swim meet here and we weren’t sure how long it would go. Turns out that I also hit the jackpot because Sunday was the opening of women’s college basketball, it was declared International Pajama Day, and???? Are you ready??? I was invited to RAVELRY!!!<br /><br />Here’s how the day looked from my vantage point…<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/Germany270.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Heaven…<br /><br />The girls have adjusted to the move here pretty well. DH loves being able to stay in the job that he loves, and I really like my new school. We have purchased land to build on and have the house plans all ready to go… just waiting for the house to sell in Valders. <br /><br />To end the perfect day, my daughter and I had a hot beverage..<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/lohoffk/CopyofGermany266.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br /><br />What a great weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-36269378525519781332007-09-09T09:46:00.000-05:002007-09-09T10:17:09.161-05:00Happy Birthday...um... to me!Yesterday I celebrated 38 years of living by spending time watching my children play soccer and volleyball. Then we made our 3 1/2 hour jaunt to our "old home" as we do every weekend. <br /><br />My mother came "up north" with us to stay the week, and it was a wonderful visit with her. As we drove home, my mother told me about her memories of the day I was born. After finishing supper that night, she began to feel some contractions and called the doctor. She was told to get herself to the hospital. Being the kind of person who tries to plan ahead, she called her mother, my grandmother, who was in the hospital due to an illness to see if she needed anything. <br /><br />"Yarn," my grandmother told her, meaning that she needed some skeins wound to continue working on her project. My mother checked into the hospital, and then promptly went to visit her own mother. As the contractions became stronger and stronger, my mother continued to hold up her hands wrapped with yarn, so that my grandmother could wind the skein she needed into a ball. My mother was never a knitter, and everyone tells me that I inherited my love of knitting from my grandmother. <br /><br />This is how I was greeted into the world, a knitter from birth.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613149.post-56127969690837187292007-08-21T17:33:00.001-05:002007-08-21T17:35:33.238-05:00I Won't Do That AgainVery quick... very short.<br /><br />I opened a new email account at our new home, and couldn't get onto Blogger because the old email address had expired. <br /><br />It took me way too long to straighten that out!<br /><br />We are in the process of moving (kind of) and setting up our new lives in Minocqua. The old house is almost ready to show (if we can ever agree on a carpet installation price with the company) and we now own land up north.<br /><br />Lots of great knitting things have been happening in between, believe it or not!<br /><br />Pictures to come.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1