Instrument Petting Zoo

Thanks to our friends, Carol and Tom, I was able to take Jordan to hear the Houston Symphony play Peter and the Wolf and music from The Lion King.

We got to Jones Hall early enough to attend the instrument "Petting Zoo".  Sounds fun, right?  Jordan, with the help of Carol, found that she was destined to play some sort of brass instrument.  She was a natural.  Sorry, Daddy.

Jordan was tickled to death that Tom was playing the "Cat" in the story of Peter and the Wolf.  We were sitting on the second level of Jones Hall, so we could see the entire orchestra.  They were small figures, but the hall has large screens that show the players up close.  The camera people are trained to catch the important solos and special parts as well.  So every time Tom showed up on the screen Jordan would wave furiously, completely unaware that he could not see her and was incredibly busy performing beautifully.  Jordan was wiggly and a little noisy, but it was a children's concert.  We were surrounded by hundreds of wiggly and noisy children.  It was a wonderful first symphony experience.

Project Number 1: Noro Garter Stitch Scarf

My Beautiful Garter Stitch Birthday Scarf:      

Started December 3rd, 2010-Finished January 15th, 2011

 I purchased the yarn before Halloween, 2010.  It was on sale which was great because each skein is normally $17.50.  I needed to use 2 skeins.  I used my harmony interchangeable size 10 1/2 needles with the extender so that I could cast on 250 stitches.   I knit the scarf lengthwise for about 23 rows.  I love the striping pattern.  I have to thank Heloise at Sugar Land Yarn Company (My favorite local yarn store) for the pattern and idea.  I have been drooling over her scarf for months.
Many people might think a scarf is just a simple, cheap, quick gift.  Considering it took about $20 worth of yarn (after the sale price), price of needles (luckily already purchased), $3 for the needle extender, about 7 hours of labor (though some of that time was spent chatting with good friends), and 5750 stitches; I am very pleased to have this lovely gift.

Project Number One Complete! (Now I can start something new) 

12 in Twelve

I have a plan this year to finish some unfinished projects.  I am not saying that I won't continue to start new ones!  That would be impossible.  I am just going to finish TWELVE unfinished projects, or projects for which I have already purchased materials.  That makes one project a month.  Here are the first five, though I may not choose to go in order.

1.  Rodeo/cowgirl outfit for Jordan started last year.  The pattern is mostly cut out in a size 5, meaning if she is going to wear it I will have to finish before this year's Houston rodeo in Feb/March (Yikes!)

2.  Lime summer top I started last summer.  I ONLY need to hem it up and block it.  Should be ready for this summer!

3.  Sushi wallet that needs felting and a zipper.  My fancy washer is too gentle on clothes for felting.  Plus you have to open it frequently to check your projects as they felt.  That is not possible with the front loading washer.  I will have to impose on a friend to finish this project.

4.  Baby blanket that I started as an easy TV watching, waiting room, riding in the car project.  I have no particular baby in mind at the moment.  It is yellow so it could go for a girl or a boy.

5.  Noro garter stitch scarf.  This project is for ME!  I saw this scarf in my favorite local yarn shop, Sugar Land Yarn Company.  I loved the colors.  I was lucky enough to get the yarn on sale.  It was a birthday gift for myself.  Needless to say, I did not finish it for my winter break.

This is my plan!

Budding Artist & Home Decor

 Jordan is an artist.  She wakes up and draws.

She draws in the car with her doodle pad on the way to school and on the way home.

She draws when she gets home from school. 

 She draws in the bath!

She draws in my classroom at school!

 She has a dry erase board upstairs where she is constantly drawing and erasing.

She draws before bed.  There are markers and paper on the kitchen table all the time.  We never put them away.   Recently she has discovered SCOTCH TAPE.  This is the result.