FOs in Cuernavaca, MX

I'm supposed to be knitting the rest of my sister's birthday gift (and am now), but the project is on very expensive and cherished Addi Turbos. Although the FAA is down with knitting, I was still a little scared they'd try to take it away and I'd lose my ATs.

So I decided to take an old size 7 circular and some cotton and knit some dishclothes -- totally easy pattern to memorize, totally inexpensive supplies to lose if push came to shove.

Here at the base we go through a lot of dishes. Last week my team was the Kitchen Team and we counted that we were washing somewhere close to 50 cups a day. There are 11 of us here, but all the cups are the same color and no one can keep track of one for too long, so 50 cups. As I was washing, sanitizing and drying I started thinking about knitting and then it occurred to me that I could leave the dishrags here instead of taking them home.

So they are loved by all and sure to be well used by us and future groups in their kitchen. And speaking of the kitchen -- check this out:



That stove has 4 burners, an oven, a grill, a huge skillet, a deep fryer and a broiler! And that list may not even be complete, those are just the things I've seen it do in the last two weeks. :)

Things I've Learned in Mexico

* Corn tortillas will taste good eventually if you don't have flour tortillas.
* 11 people can eat a lot of food.
* Scorpions are scary, even to Wayne.
* The rainy season is not just a cute way to describe a time of year.
* Emily can get out of a Pack n' Play.
* I'm a lot stronger than I thought.
* My Interpersonal Skills could use some work (we've been in an Interpersonal Skills workshop this week - super enlightening).
* My Spanish could use a lot of work.
* When you're cooking, learning, cleaning and living in community, there's not a lot of time to knit.

I apologize for the drive-by posting, but I'm pretty tired. I promise the next own will be better, maybe even with FOs. :)

I've had an excellent opportunity come up, you can read more about it here.

Feliz Cumpleanos Alison!

Alison turned 6 yesterday and our Mexican family bought her a cake with candles and everything. We had a little party at our mid-day meal. The cake was pasteles con tres leches and it's super rich, but tasty. Alison got the strawberry on top. :)

En Mexico

We made it. It was not the easiest trip, but we arrived safely at the training base at 2 AM on Saturday morning.

This weekend has been wonderful. We've been settling in and getting to know our 10-week family. The weather has been fair and even a little chilly at night - which is a blessing because the base has now air conditioning.

We lost Emily's binky on our last leg of the flight which has made sleep times a little tricky, but she's adapting. Historically it has taken her three days to adapt to any great change, so we're over the hump. :)

I've brought some knitting, but haven't really knit a stitch. But maybe tonight - I have a birthday gift to finish.

This week we go and live with a Mexican family in their home. This family has been instructed to speak only Spanish to us. I keep thinking it's going to be funny instead of frustrating. Fingers crossed. We also will be attending Language School in shifts so one of us is always with the girls.

Remember, remember

Roughly an hour ago, seven years ago we were shook by our vulnerability. In the weeks that followed we became better people than I think we thought we could be.

Remember that day. Remember the innocent and brave lives lost. Remember that we are all part of this, united.

Happy Birthday Seester!!

Hey Lady!

February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne

Yarn: Jojoland Wool, colorway 438

Needles: US Size 7

Dates: Started - June 19, 2008, Completed - August 31, 2008

Love it!



This sweater knit up relatively quick. The gull lace pattern is easy to memorize and recognize on the needles so you can pick it up and put it down with out having to check a row counter or tally sheet. I knit the sleeves before I finished the body, just to save myself form Purl Row Syndrome - I'm not the purl stitches biggest fan and having to do entire rows of it was a little daunting at times.

I cast off on Sunday afternoon and being very proud of myself, I decided to wear my FLS on my date with Wayne. I wore it for two hours before giving in to the 90 degree heat, but she's definitely coming to Mexico.

I didn't make any mods, but now I wish I would have followed the Rav crowd and made the sleeves a bit slimmer.



Again, I love it!

Stormy Weather

Well, hurricane season is still in full swing. Gustav didn't cause us much trouble -- although it did keep my brother-in-law from going back to work on his oil rig in the Gulf.

But this morning's news is bleak on the stormfront.

Coming later this week -- Hurricane Hanna (it's seldom a good sign when they become hurricanes before they even make it to Cuba).

Fast on her heels, Ike.

And behind him, Storm 10 -- not as scary since it has no name.

Alison's early birthday party is this weekend and in an effort to have a lot of fun and not have to clean too much, it was being held at the park by our house. Even if Hanna doesn't hit us directly, we're so water logged that even a little rain is going to flood out the park. I hope she gives up and decides to take an easterly course back across the Atlantic.

And Ike -- don't mess with my flight to Mexico.