i'm happy once again!

good news! the camera wasn't dead, the batteries were. i'd had it tell me once before the battery was low, so i changed them. little did i know what it would do if totally dead. so while at best buy i bought a warranty, and rechargable batteries. so be prepared for a flurry of pics!

Knitting
no pics here, lol. the front is getting close to the neck shaping on mark's sweater, but not enough to merit pics of look alike front and back.

CROCHET CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT

ok, folks, in following posts, you will see the finished lay out, and various yarn choices for the border. i will also show the prize 99 Granny Squares to Crochet. it really is handy for crocheters (although i got this square from another book, lol, and i'm not giving that one up!). i ended up with two copies, so i thought i'd gift it to the lucky winner of this contest. the object is to pick which yarn i will use for a border on this beautiful piece which is going to be one round of single crochet, then one row of shrimp stitch (kinda doing single stitch backwards (clockwise) around the piece) (hah, boy i'm laying it on thick!). of those who pick the winner, i will scientifically choose a winner (put the names in a hat and let sean draw it). i will announce it when i get the bloody thing done, and y'all can see it (this may take a little time, lol, too many irons in the fire at the moment) ok, gang, who's game?

Home
was an interesting day. got quite a bit of knitting and crocheting done. also talked to my caseworker's supervisor (he called me!) and got some information that she hadn't given me. we had been asked to do couple therapy, but the state won't pay for true "couple" therapy. what they will pay for is two people trying to parent (and since mark's new at all of this) together to go to therapy. so maybe we will do this after all. we'll see. he said he'd talk to her about it. also, IFP (aka intensive family preservation) was explained to me as well. basically, they have a therapist come into the home once a week, and also a specialist who helps with skill building. the big problem is WHEN? are they going to take my weekends away from me too? sigh. i can barely breathe during the week, right now. oh well. i do what i must to get my son back home.

sean and i walked to the library, and i was just a bit tired after we got back. the little monster wanted adult fiction, and i wouldn't allow him to do it, so he went into the help section and picked out two chess books, so he can beat the pants off his CTA. i need to warn dennis tomorrow, lol.

went to liam's parent teacher conference, and learned a few interesting things. liam has turned in everything since we finally caught him, and although he failed everything 3rd quarter, he's well on his way for 4th. maybe we won't have to hold him back after all. we are seriously thinking about summer school, though, so he can catch up. we'll see. mrs krause did say that the ability is there, just not the desire. with the added impetus of a baseball game, and walking across the stage with the rest of his class (they "graduate" in 6th grade), plus video games and tv at home (he's been without either for 2 1/2 weeks, and won't get anything back til i see a progress report with better grades), he seems to be buckling down. his biggest problem is he'd rather read a book than do his homework. imagine that, telling a kid he's reading too much. it has always been his downfall, however.

You might be a redneck if you do civil war reenactments by yourself.

Pattern of the Day: Wild Berry Jacket. this is named for the stitch, as opposed to so many of these patterns that are named for the yarn. looks very pretty, but i'm not into cardigans much. maybe for my mom, only in acrylics, since she's allergic to wool. very pretty.

I'm reading The Fiery Cross, by Diana Gabaldon. love these books. and theres a publish date of Sept 27, for those of us who've been waiting with bated breath for A Breath of Snow & Ashes. i can't wait 6 months, i'll go through withdrawal!

Have a nice day!