Saturday, September 13, 2008

A Lazy Summer passes and brings a Fall Surprise

Summer under the fairy moon passed slowly and pleasantly, sleeping in until 8am whenever possible (and yes, post children 8am really is sleeping in...). We enjoyed our backyard, sprinklers, and swimming with Nana and Grandma whenever possible. It was, quite simply, my favorite kind of summer - the one with nothing to do.




Then September came, Liam turned 6 years old, and school started. All in the same week. The alarm rudely awakens me each morning at 6am (gah!) and I dress children and pack lunches each morning once again. Liam LOVES being a first grader, and is digging into first grade with gusto. Brandon is a proud 3rd grader, and finding things in common with his new teacher, like a love of the environment and caring for animals. Maia is now in Group II over at the pre-school and ecstatic to find our neighbor and her "best friend" Grace in her class. The only bad thing about school is that I have to wake everyone up for it. All in all I am hopeful for the next school year. It feels good.







And of course, the L.A. County Fair is now in full swing, and we decided to take full advantage of the "kids free Friday" yesterday, and went to see the animals, and the Heritage Square which is filled with bits and pieces of American history. I love it there. There was spinning wheels (FIBER!!!) a black smith, gold panning, rag dolls, and broom making. A little Red School House, and a frontier home filled with all the necessities of a home at the turn of the century (facinating...). We wandered over to the Pirate Show "Pirates of the Columbian Carribean" and discovered one of the most daring and facinating feats of acrobatics on a high wire. Completely worth your time. Sit and enjoy. Serioiusly. I could have sat and watched them all day. And night. And... well. I don't think I would have gotten tired of it soon.



Brandon tried his hand at roping a "dogie"










We saw a mother duck,






a Sow and her piglets





Maia was a princess...


And met Barbie Princess at the Princess Dream House



And Brandon was excited to find himself with power tools! (in a cut-out picture...)





Maia played in bumper boats





Liam rode the Dragon (Coaster...)



and Brandon worked to conquer the mountain tops (he almost made it too!)

It was wonderful fun at the Fair.

One of the stops we always make when we go to the Fair is Tapestry. Tapestry is a display of all the different needle craft artists who have entered their work for judging. My MIL usually has at least half a dozen entries, and we go to see each piece. She has had at least one piece place each year - usually more than one, so we have been very proud. Well... this year there was a surprise. For me! I made her a stole for Christmas. The Estonian Garden from Fiber Trends. It was my very first piece of lace, and it was made with care and love. Do you see where this is going?


She entered it without my knowing, and I placed first in the lace competition!





And not only that, but it received a Judges Award of Merit - which basically means that it was in the final pool of needle crafts (this includes knitting, crochet, quilting, embroidery, etc) for the Best in Show ribbon. Amazing.
















I can't believe that my humble (but lovely!) piece of lace was in such vaulted company. I was nearly dumbstruck. And I had to re-evaluate my own skill level. Maybe I can be considered an advanced knitter now?















I had also given her a pair of socks which managed to place second. So two entries - 3 ribbons. Unbelieveable.


I'm also thinking about what I will enter next year....







Hope that everyone's school year is off to as wonderful a start as my own.

Happy Fall everyone!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

dude! How cool is that?

The lace is gorgeous, btw. There's a reason it won. :-)

MollyKnits said...

You have a lovely family, and congrats on the knitting ribbons.

Wendy Stackhouse said...

Congratulations on all of your awards! I saw your beautiful shawl yesterday in the display and was very impressed. I am still striving for a rosette, but enter in the handspun classes only. To get an Award of Merit among the plethora of regular knitting entries is truly an achievement!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! What a fabulous surprise!

Anonymous said...

Wow - that is gorgeous!!! (See, I think the reason I cook so much is that I am utterly helpless in other domestic areas - like needlecraft of any kind...)

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a nice MIL you have! It's clear she appreciates your handknit gifts. Congrats!