Goodness...I didn't realize how long it had been since I have posted on here...almost a year! So, what has the last year brought? Some freedom, some frustration, some sadness, some happiness...it has brought life!
Eleanor is almost 17 now and has been driving for a long time. We managed to buy her a nice used car last summer and it has given her more independence and has given me the opportunity not to be the dance taxi any longer. In exchange for the car, insurance and gas, she has taken over the carpooling responsibilities, freeing me up for time at home, time with friends and time with Will. She started dating Michael last May when school got out and they are still "an item" having attended all important school functions that required my purchasing special clothes this year including homecoming, Sadie Hawkins and prom. She has been to the lake several time with his family and will be traveling with them to Orlando for a few days when school gets out the end of May. She needs to start thinking about where she wants to go to college so we can fit in a few college visits.
Amelia is 14 and finishing up her year of purgatory at the Freshman Center. The only thing worse than having to start high school at a dedicated FC is the fact that they are closing the FC next year, reintegrating the freshman in with everyone else and making her a part of the last class to be "segregated" away from "real" high school. She is teaching the preschool ballet class on Saturday mornings and earning a little bit of cash. She has the lofty goal of saving up for a car....which is hard to do on $10 a week. I want to encourage her to save in general though, so I'm trying not to rain on that parade.
Olivia participated in show choir this year and they competed twice, winning once and coming in second place the other time. It was a good showing for them. I don't think she will try out again for next year, but we still have a couple of weeks until those applications will come out and she has the opportunity to change that mind. They will be traveling to Disney in May to perform and it will be her first trip away without parents, beside camp in the summer.
I did not get any of the summer seminars that I applied for, but I was chosen to be an AP reader in Daytona in June, so I need to start sharpening my FRQ grading techniques. I have also been chosen to be a delegate to the NEA annual meeting in Chicago...considering the move by many state legislatures to destroy public unions in America at this time, I think this will be an interesting meeting to attend. Richard S. and I are going to ask for professional development funds to attend the AP Annual Conference in San Francisco in late July. The PD offerings look really great and it will be a nice opportunity to learn with other AP teachers. I've never been to San Francisco either, so I look forward to that opportunity.
Will is still working hard with ESPNU and is looking forward to summer and the slower, more relaxing pace of the summer. It has been a hard year in many ways, although he has been blessed with so much work that it is hard to complain without sounding ungrateful. He is also starting to stop by the admissions office at promising college campuses he visits and asking for information for Eleanor's college search.
What else is going on with me? I have moved from knitting as a hobby to knitting as a lifestyle. I knit daily now. I have made many good friends at Memory Hagler Knitting in Vestavia and have become a valuable member of the group. We meet a couple of nights a week for fellowship and knitting, and are enjoying planning new activities for the new shop location which will move this summer. I taught my first knitting class today, on a beaded necklace project, to 11 women. It was a great experience and I will be repeating the class next month, with 6 already on the list to take it. Very humbling.
Next week, as I celebrate my 49th birthday, I will do so by taking classes at Stitches South in Atlanta. Stitches is a knitting convention that takes place quarterly in different parts of the country. Last year, I was unable to attend because Eleanor could not yet drive and they had to get to rehearsals. I was unwilling to ask for the help of the grandparents when rehearsals were involved, and of course, it is still college sports season so Will was working. This year, I decided that I not only wanted to go, but I wanted to work on increasing my technical skills. I have knit 3 sweaters since late July and I will be taking 9 hours of class at Stitches on sweater construction techniques to help me increase that skill toward independence and design. I will be able to go and stay using frequent hotel points and cannot wait for the PJ party on Friday night! Of course, the market is also a draw, but less so than the classes (which is better for my pocketbook). I'll have to report back afterward and update on how it was. The girls will enjoy spending time with the grandparents.
For now, I will continue working on multiple knitting projects. I have started knitting samples for the shop, which is a win-win. It allows me to work on different skills and projects than I might normally choose for myself, using yarn that is provided by Holly at no cost to me. I also get the ego stroke of knitting beautiful things and having them admired! Current projects include mesh jewelry, a market bag and a baby blanket. I recently knit a doll sweater and skirt for the shop and the beaded necklace that I taught in a class today. I'm watching for other potential sample projects and class ideas for when the shop moves and has a separate classroom. In personal knitting, I have knit a baby sweater for a family member, a skirt for Amy K.'s daughter, a sweater, a shawl, a cowl, some fingerless gloves, and several small gifts for friends during 2011...I think I have finished 15 projects so far and hope to continue that pace for the rest of the year!
I am blessed!
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