I have a lot going on in my head this morning after reading several posts on mothering. A definite reflection of my own search to find my new parenting groove without S (he's still in Chicago and will be until December). I know I am not alone in being sans spouse from time to time. But it is hard. And hard now that we are in the world of the "beautiful people" of the beach. You know those people...the people who pay for a tan, pay to have things sucked and tucked, who drive hummers and consume way too much gas to drive 6 blocks. You know...THOSE "beautiful people".
I have been journaling in wordpad before bed and have a few half finished blog entries, but until I resolve it in my own mind, I thought I would share my major accomplishment of the weekend.
GRANNY SQUARES!
You all know by now, I have been granny square challenged. Probably because I can't read or follow a crochet pattern to save my life. And when I spoke to Erin, a knitter, who said she had taught herself to crochet in a weekend and had already done a dozen granny squares, I was insanely jealous. Game on! Not by Erin, who is as sweet as the come, but in my own mind.
As a joke, a friend of mine (who doesn't blog, but reads mine) sent me one of those crochet kits you get at Michael's meant for 12 year olds learning to crochet. She thought this was hilarious!
But it worked. Look! Do you see them? Granny squares! Four of them...from a goofy little kit with a cheap, hollow, plastic crochet needle. Granted, the grannies are a little wonky. And the three double crochets and three chains they suggested was not working and I changed it to three shells and two chains. But they are there...and there are more on the way. I think I have concluded that it was the yarn that was not working for me. I think the tacky nylon yarn that came with the kit slides easier than the cotton I was trying to work with. And when you can slide the double crochets around, it is easier to see the holes the chains make.
With the new confidence in my granny making abilities, my mind started thinking of huge projects like afghans and wall hangings. But I am resisting. And reminding myself to keep it small. Maybe a baby blanket for my friend Perrin's new girlie on the way. Or maybe just a pillow.