The League of Extraordinary Women

I might have mentioned before (then again, maybe not) that I come from some exceptional stock.  A more fitting name could not be found for them than The League of Extraordinary Women.  The list includes people who are blood related and some that are not, but they've all helped shaped me along the road of this crazy life.

My mother, The Great G, is always the first on the list...not only did she give birth to me, but she showed me what it is to not just survive the things that cause turmoil in our lives, but how to LIVE in spite of those damned moments.  She's been through so much in her life and, yet, still continues to grow, change, learn and love as she lives the best life she can.  Her writing sparked the writer in me at a very young age and I have constantly held myself up to the highest standard that I can in my writing...The Great G.  The imagery that she can put down in one line can paint a picture so beautifully of what she is trying to express that it has been known to take my breath away.  The work ethic that she has always held taught me that if you work hard, do what is right, then you can and will achieve great things...she works in a typically male job and has made a name for herself in more ways than one.  The list of positive attributes would be endless if I were to even try to write it all down.

She has two sisters that have paved the way in their own lives in different ways.  One, The Melodious MA, overcoming obstacles to finally become the music teacher we all knew she was Gifted to be...always the littlest sister, but never left behind in what she has achieved through the work and determination that only the Women of the League can possess.  The other sister, The Marvelous M, working in an area that few women still dare to go, but doing the job and doing it well.  She is a perpetual reminder (through action not word) that my emotional self is not a thing to be feared or conquered, but something instead to holds hands with, embrace, and learn to walk down the Path of Recovery knowing that it's okay to feel as long as I keep moving.  She has found ways to keep moving through some of the most horrible pain that a person can go through and she's still here...and still amazing!

Each of these women learned at the feet of a great master, their mother, my grandmother.  A woman who never begrudged a child curling up in bed with her as she said her rosary each night...even when we chattered on endlessly like the little monkeys we were!  She would smile, talk a little with us and keep on with her rosary as we would ramble on.  Her contagious laughter, always a gift, could be heard through any room of her small home...a gift she has passed on to her daughters and they have passed on to theirs'...yeah, you might not ever want to be near if/when we all get together!  She was a Leader in every sense of the word and our lives are better for having her in it.  I am forever proud to share my name with hers.

The ranks of the League are not confined to only blood relatives, as I said.  My "Big Sister" taught me about music, acceptance and how to be who you truly are, no matter how hard it is to finally be it. The Queen of TCT's Children's Workshops, one of The Great G's best friends, taught me how to breathe, act, relax, about art and how to make her special syrup out of honey and fruit when the two women were trying to feed all 4 of their combined kiddos on a budget. 

I could keep going for days about these women and a few more, but I don't think anyone would be able to read for that long...So I'll close with this:  I am honored to know these women and grateful that they have helped to shape the me I am today.  Who's in your League?

The Crafter In Me

I go on crafting binges.  There.  I've admitted it.  I
will craft my little heart out, forgetting just about everything else until the urge to craft has passed...the problem is that it never really passes for long. The crafting ranges from sewing, wreath making, quilting, embroidering, crocheting...the list keeps getting bigger.  This time crochet hit full force.

Jayne: (wearing ugly homemade hat) "How's it sit?
Pretty cunning, don'tchya think?"

Kaylee: "I think it's the sweetest hat ever."

Book: "Makes a statement."
Jayne: "Yeah, yeah!" 
Wash: "A man walks down the street in that hat,
people know he's not afraid of anything." 
Jayne: "Damn straight."

This holiday season it started with a simple discussion about a Jayne hat.  For those of you not familiar with the Jayne hat, I'm sorry, you've missed one of the best (and tragically short-lived) shows ever that had a character, "The man named Jayne."  A new friend to my son brought around new friends for us, Fro-Boy's mom and soon-to-be-step-dad. (And before you get offended, the kid is seriously proud of his fro and even has an Xbox live name that uses fro in the title! LOL)  They, like us, love the series Firefly and the movie that was based on it, Serenity...The Calm One even has a hat that a friend made for her that looks exactly like Jayne Cobb's cunning hat his mother lovingly knit for him.  She'd love to have hats for the 3 boys in her house, Appalachian Man, Fro-Boy and the Little Fusser...me being the crocheting kind, I told her I bet I could make her a couple or teach her how.

And that's all it took.  Out came the left over yarn, crochet hooks lovingly packed in their case and my favorite little purple scissors.  Before I knew it I was making a beautiful scarf and hat for my adorable niece, baby headbands with flowers on them, wrist warmers...anything my mind jumped to.

A beautiful hat and scarf for my beautiful niece.

All of this led me to wondering if I could make something with a cabled braid on something. I could've looked up a pattern, sure, but that would've been too easy...and I've never been about the easy way in life! So off I started working out which way to work the stitches so that it would look the way I wanted to. At the end of it all I was able to look at one slightly bulky, but very warm, wrist warmer.  After all of that there was no way I was going to forget how I got to this point, so I typed it all up and figured what better way to make sure I never lose it than to post it?!

These instructions aren't going to be great because this is the very first time I have EVER written up one of my crazy designs, but hopefully you'll get the idea.

Not sure of the weight of the yarn because it was a leftover from an old project and I didn't have the cover anymore; but it's extremely thick strands...so the end result is rather bulky, but SUPER warm.  I'm fairly certain that this can be increased in size by adding one of the small braided sections and I'll be trying this with a finer, nicer yarn as soon as I get a chance.

Size F hook (this size was perfect to go around my knuckles and leave room for movement, but I have a VERY small hand...size 5.5-6 rings).

Terms Used:

SC=Single Chain

CH=Chain

CH SP=Chain Space

DC=Double Chain

ST=Stitch(es)

SL ST=Slip Stitch

BPDC=Back Post Double Chain

FPDC=Front Post Double Chain

FPTC=Front Post Triple Chain

2 BPDC= BPDC around the posts of the next 2 stitches from the previous row. 3 FPDC=FPDC around the posts of the next 3 stitches from the previous row. (etc)

BPDC2TOG=Back post double chain two together-used to decrease stitches-Insert hook as if you're going to do a BP stitch, YO and pull through (2 loops on hook). Insert hook as if you're going to do a BP stitch around the NEXT post after the one you were just working with, YO and pull through two loops, YO pull through both loops on hook. BPDC2TOG completed.

This is worked by looking at the back of the project working from the join area around to the left...therefore when I say BPDC, it may look like a FPDC to me, but as it pertains to the project, it is a BPDC. (I hope that makes sense.)

FOR THE RIGHT HAND:

ROW 1: Ch 35 join to first ST to form a ring. CH 3

ROW 2: DC in each CH SP around (35 ST) Join with SL ST to top of CH 3. CH 2

ROW 3: FPDC, BPDC around (35 ST). Join to top of CH 2. CH 2

ROW 4: BPDC around each stitch (35 ST). Join to top of CH 2. CH 2

ROW 5: FPDC around each ST (35 ST). Join to top of CH 2. CH 2

(This is where it gets interesting.)

ROW 6: BPDC, FPDC, CH 2 – skip next 2 ST (this is the thumb space), 3 FPD, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 6 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 3 FPDC, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 3 FPDC. Join with SL ST to CH 2.

ROW 7: BPDC, FPDC, 2 DC in chain 2 SP, *FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made*, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd and 4^th FPDC SP, FPTC in 1^st and 2^nd FPDC SP, FPDC in 5^th and 6^th FPDC SP, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, repeat from * to *, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, repeat from * to *. Join to top of CH 2. CH 2.

ROW 8: BPDC, *FPDC, 2 BPDC, 3 FPDC, 2 BPDC*, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 2 FPDC in 1^st and 2^nd FPDC of previous row, FPTC around 5^th and 6^th FPDC of previous row, FPTC (BEHIND the 2 FPTC you just made) around 3^rd and 4^th FPTC from previous row, 2 BPDC, repeat from * to * ONCE, 3 FPDC. Join to top of CH 2. CH 2.

ROW 9 (You'll be decreasing on this row so it starts differently.): FPDC, *2 BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made to the middle post of the set, 2 BPDC, FPDC*, 2 BPDC, 6 FPDC, 2 BPDC, FPDC, repeat from * to *, BPDC2TOG, FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made to the middle post of the set. Join with SL ST to CH 2. CH 2. (33 ST)

ROW 10: FPDC, BPDC2TOG, 3 FPDC, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd and 4^th FPDC SP, FPTC in 2^nd and 1^st FPDC SP, FPDC in 5^th and 6^th FPDC SP, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC2TOG, FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC. Join with SL ST to CH 2. CH 2. (31 ST)

ROW 11: FPDC, BPDC, *FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made to the middle post of the set*, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 6 FPDC, 2 BPDC, 2 FPDC, 2 BPDC, repeat from * to *, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, repeat from * to *. Join to top of CH 2. CH 2.

ROW 12: FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC2TOG, FPDC, 2 BPDC, FPDC in 1^st and 2^nd, FPTC in 5^th and 6^th, FPTC (BEHIND the 2 FPTC you just made) around 3^rd and 4^th FPTC from previous row, 2 BPDC, FPDC, BPDC2TOG, 3 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC. Join with SL ST to CH2. CH 2.

ROW 13: *FPDC, BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made to the middle post of the set*, BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 6 FPDC, 2 BPDC, repeat from * to *, BPDC, repeat from * to *. Join with SL ST to CH 2. CH 2.

ROW 14: FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC2TOG, FPTC in 3^rd and 4^th FPDC SP, FPTC in 2^nd and 1^st FPDC SP, FPDC in 5^th and 6^th FPDC SP, BPDC2TOG, FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, 3 BPDC. JOIN. CH 2. (29 ST)

ROW 15: *FPDC, BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made to the middle post of the set*, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, 6 FPDC, BPDC, repeat from * to *, BPDC, repeat from * to *. Join with SL ST to CH 2. CH 2.

ROW 16: FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, FPDC in 1^st and 2^nd, FPTC in 5^th and 6^th, FPTC (BEHIND the 2 FPTC you just made) around 3^rd and 4^th FPTC from previous row, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, 3 BPDC. JOIN. CH 2.

ROW 17: *FPDC, BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made to the middle post of the set*, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, 6 FPDC, BPDC, repeat from * to *, BPDC, repeat from * to *. Join with SL ST to CH 2. CH 2.

ROW 18: FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd and 4^th FPDC SP, FPTC in 2^nd and 1^st FPDC SP, FPDC in 5^th and 6^th FPDC SP, BPDC, FPDC, BPDC, 3 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, 3 BPDC. JOIN. CH 2.

ROW 19: FPDC around each ST (29 ST). Join to top of CH 2. CH 2

ROW 20: FPDC around each ST (29 ST). Join to top of CH 2. CH 2

ROW 21: BPDC around each stitch (29 ST). Join to top of CH 2. CH 2

ROW 22: FPDC, BPDC around (29 ST). Join to top of CH 2. **END**

LEFT HAND:

ROW 1- 5 are worked the same as for the right hand.

ROW 6: BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 3 FPD, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 6 FPDC, BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, 3 FPDC, CH 2 – skip next 2 ST (this is the thumb space), FPDC, 2 BPDC, 3 FPDC. Join with SL ST to CH 2.

ROW 7: BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, *FPTC in 3^rd FPDC SP, FPDC in 1^st FPDC SP by going BEHIND the FPTC you just made, FPDC in 2^nd FPDC SP making sure you go in front of both previous stitches you just made*, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, FPTC in 3^rd and 4^th FPDC SP, FPTC in 1^st and 2^nd FPDC SP, FPDC in 5^th and 6^th FPDC SP, 2 BPDC, FPDC, 2 BPDC, repeat from * to *, 2 DC in chain 2 SP, FPDC, 2 BPDC, repeat from * to *. Join to top of CH 2. CH 2.

ROWS 8-22 are worked the same as for the right hand.

For The Thumb Spaces:

Join yarn to any place and SC around the opening for your thumb.  When you get to the first ST join with SL ST and CH 1. SC in each CH SP around, increasing ST if necessary join last to first, CH 1.  Continue SC rows until half of the thumb is covered.

So there you go! My first ever pattern...it's not perfect, but I still put it out there because it ain't half bad, either.

Trial And Error

Simple joys in life are the things that keep us going when times are tough. We can pull the memories of them up and hold them like love letters from the past. The pureness of such a simple emotion as happiness will sustain me in the most trying times...like today.

I've made many mistakes in my life, as have all human beings...to be human is to be fallible, but I can honestly say I have few regrets in my life. After all, when something bad happens you have 3 choices: you can let it define you, let it destroy you or let it strengthen you. To be defined by it means to place myself as the victim, a role in which I have never been comfortable. Destruction of myself is not an option, I come from powerful women, we fall, we struggle, but we continue...to otherwise is just not an option because there's still just too much to do. That only leaves growing stronger.

Through what I've learned from life, I had hoped that my child would escape some of the hardships that I had grown up with...especially when I had learned that he shared my ADHD, but things don't always go according to our own plans. He makes mistakes, some of them the same that his mother made before him and some entirely his own. That doesn't mean that he's a bad person, it just means he's human...my job is to see that he learns to not let those things define or destroy him and sometimes that means asking for help. Not just from Duckie, but sometimes beyond that to someone outside our immediate family. It may have taken me a long time to get that through my thick head, but I do know it now...and we're working on it.

Through all of this we have become better parents not only for Monster Teen, but also for the Toddler Troll. It is a part of life, a fact that is sometimes troubling to a parent, that the first child is the “trial and error” child. But, if we do our jobs well, they turn out beautiful human beings not only because of us, but sometimes in spite of us.

So today I remind myself of the beautiful joy that my teen can give me and rejoice in the fact that he has learned at least one lesson that I have given him...mistakes happen, be remorseful in the wrong that you've done, but move forward.