Caution! Vacation Photos Ahead!

Apologies in advance, but this is going to be a bit of a photo dump! I suppose that's what happens when there's a LOT happening in life...like somebody's baptism (and ensuing cute, pseudo-shyness with the grandmas)!

Party at Grammy's and Pappy's house after.

Don't forget a quick family vacation, like a long weekend in Traverse City last weekend, with time in the water, time in the sand, sightseeing and adventures with almost everyone in tow for all the things!

Beach at Traverse City, MI.

Even the littles love pictures!

Scenic Overlook, Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Each of these photos represents a moment of family relationships growing, whether it's a grumpy "Boss Baby," or "All Smiles" on Everyone!

Yes, when there are 10 in a house (a great AirBNB on the outskirts of our destination) there's bound to be a grumble or two. But overall, we had a great time, and I can't wait to do this again! It was just so fun to play together for four days, and even to enjoy the "down time" we had between big activities and beach time. 

Drawing with Pop Pop!

The house had a pool! Yay!

Bonfire with marshmallows!

Even the littles learn to shoot pool!

Putt-Putt with way too many people...lol!

It was just so much fun! Of course, when there are littles about, even the every day is fun! Trips to the playground are even adorable, don't you agree?

So, there. I think that's all I'll dump on you for now...I'm trying to get some of my faves printed and framed as I type (uploading hundreds of photos takes longer than I'd like), so lookout to my IRL friends...I am a Gramma with pictures, and I'm not afraid to share! Lolz...

What will you be up to this weekend? Any last hurrahs before summer bids us farewell? Whatever you're doing, remember to take a photo or two!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (and enjoy your family as much as you can) in Good Health!

A White Cat and a Black Cat Walk Into a Blog...

White Cat: Ever since we arrived at this new house, Black Cat and I have done everything we could to be helpful. We have tested the canned cat food supply...repeatedly.

We have welcomed the knitting bags of their guests...repeatedly.

We have inspected the cushions of the seating vessels...repeatedly.

...and in different positions.

We have been on the lookout for counter stools out of place...repeatedly. (Seriously, man. Why can't they just slide those back under the counter when they get up???)

We have secured this corner of the area rug...repeatedly. (Of course, we have also played with this corner of the area rug, making it stick up, repeatedly.)

We have helped to test their agility, by squeezing naps into the places their feet should be when they sit on the couch...repeatedly.

We have tested the integrity of the staircase, which (by the way) is the perfect spot to chase that little, red dot. (How does it move so fast???)

However, and even with all of our good reputation, she has not asked us to blog ONE.SINGLE.TIME since we moved!

If we were more worried about it, perhaps we couldn't sleep. Of course, we're not that worried usually.

Even if we are, the worry can usually be alleviated by burying one's face in one's sister's tummy...or so I've heard.

Black Cat: Hey! Don't you tell that story! Promise you won't tell that story! If you don't promise, I will sit on you until you DO promise!

White Cat: Fine. I won't tell that story, as long as you clean up the Legos and bring them back. Where are they off to this time?

Black Cat: I have no idea. I thought she told you. 

White Cat: (with a heavy sigh) No. I wish.

And so, dear reader, now you know the rest of the story. Blogging cats is not nearly as difficult as herding cats...but it's up there. In any case, I hope you enjoyed the shenanigans of White Cat and Black Cat, walking into the blog in my absence. 

Please don't worry about the cats' safety or sanity over the past four days. I was on vacation with these cuties (and, you know, their "real kid" counterparts), and I will be back to relieve my cat sitter lickety- split!

Until next Saturday, thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Pretty

Gauge, Schmauge

Sometimes I learn lessons when I'm not even trying. Like this one...

I started knitting my grandkids, just for fun this past week, as you do. We were planning a vacation where I would see all of them (more about that another time), and I wanted to have a little something for each kid.

After I finished the big boy, 

I started right in on baby brother, and they were both super cute! 

Of course, as I picked them up for their photo shoot, I noticed something. They were not the same size. 

As per usual, I had made some changes as I went, knitting one in the round and one flat. I figured same pattern, same needles, same yarn, same size...right?!? Well, perhaps not.

Not that a big deal when knitting toys, except that it's a little silly to gift a baby brother so much taller than his big brother! So, I'll re-knit that one, as you do. 

What? You don't? 

Well, as I do then. It's kindof a thing for me...and I had planned to knit four, so what's one more?!? Lol...plans, schmans; gauge, schmauge on this project, I suppose. 

I don't think my block-building,

container emptying,

"tree" climbing,

holding tight grandkids will mind too much! 

The bear? Yeah. He seems annoyed at the waiting. I suppose I'll skip knitting him this time, to save us both the angst. I can always come at it again next time. 

Yes, gauge isn't all that important when knitting toys and dolls, and plans be darned. I'm just gonna love those kids and knit for fun this week. When I cast on that next sweater, though, I will do some better planning, I think! 

Have you ever had plans go awry? What did you do? Did it involve re-doing something, or scrapping the plan altogether? How did you work through that? 

When my plans hit a snag, it often shuts me down for a minute. Sometimes more than a minute...I am not really good at the hairpin turns while navigating changes to the plan. So I take a beat, I take a breath, and I try to find true north. Eyes on the prize, rip that plan right back to the cast on and think about where it went wrong and what could make it better. 

If it's something independent of the knitting, I consult God. What is he teaching me? What am I missing? How can I hear him better and stick to the good plan he has for my life? Hard questions to be sure.

When I take a moment to think through things, it is often easier to find my way. I am thankful for that...so thankful. I would encourage you to do the same, just take a minute. Take a breath. Find true north. Or, as my mom used to tell me, "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again." Good advice, no matter how old you are!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope all your plans work out well. If you hit a snag, I pray that you will learn something that makes your life better through it. 

Happy Saturday, and Knit in Good Health!

Are You Following Me?

"Are you following me?," is a pretty popular question around here. I would suppose it is for you, too...especially if you have kids, pets, or spouses who are feeling neglected! We just finished a sleepover with the boys, and so have felt fairly followed for the last couple of days...but we love it! I mean, it's adorable that the big boy wants to make necklaces and put them all on Pop Pop...

And now that he has figured it out, this little guy will follow anyone with food around pretty good...though sometimes only with his eyes...we're still working on crawling!

Of course, sometimes we follow them! Just this morning, we took them on a walk, and we had a hard time keeping up with the boy who pulled his brother in the wagon...

...and climbed hills of rocks...

That big boy never did seem to tucker out, but his little brother stopped following us while he recharged his battery for a bit.

I wish I could say that I had some time to follow my knitting while he napped, but my only finished object for now is still this cutie pie, who was doing her best to follow the sunshine for this glamour shot! 

Now that the boys have gone home for their big naps, and Pop Pop and I have taken a moment to breathe, I thought I'd pop in to say that I am glad you follow the blog (if you do)! And if you follow the blog by email, chances are good that you will no longer receive an email link to the blog, starting sometime this month, as Feedburner will discontinue its email subscription service in mid-August. 

If you still wish to receive blog links when I post, please drop me an email at prettyknittyjewelry (at) yahoo (dot) com. I will be looking for a new email subscription service soon, and I'd love to include you, if you are still interested in receiving updates. If not, that's cool too. Pretty Knitty is not necessarily for everyone, so thanks for following so far, and maybe I'll catch you somwhere on the flip side of things!

I will continue to post a link to my Facebook page when I post, so if that's how you get here, you are still all set! Remember to drop a comment once in awhile. It's not all about me, you know, and I love hearing from you guys and gals in Blogland!

Thanks for following, and for stopping by today, and Knit in Good Health!