Once Upon a Time...

Bogged down with the stuff of summer this week, but here's an old family photo...

Back row: Pretty, Pop Pop, and Pretty's Sister

Front row: Dollface, Pretty's Mom, Mork

Wow! We are all so YOUNG!!!

Taken at Cedar Point (in 1990-something) I noticed this on display at my mom's house the other day, so I thought I'd share it with you! Don't we look like a happy (and hot, sweaty, and tired) bunch of amusement-park-goers? We've always had fun at Cedar Point, and I went with my family every summer, up until just a few years ago. When I was a little girl, I wanted to live there, and some of my favorite summer memories are in that park! I think I'm feeling the itch again this year, but even if we don't get to go, it's fun to remember all the years we spent running from ride to ride, and then teaching the next generation to love those rides AND plenty of new ones, too!!! If you haven't been to Cedar Point, it is a worthy destination...even if you are a state or two away!

While I'm thinking about how to fit in a trip to Cedar Point, I guess I'll get back to the grind...maybe there will be time to knit today, and maybe not. Either way, it's going to be a busy summer!

What is your favorite summer memory?

Left leg. Lazy lion licks a lollipop.

I know. That's a weird title. And why is my first picture a pair of shoes?

Well, let's back up the train a little...say, about 6 weeks. Wait, let's go back even farther.

Do you remember when you learned to read? The first time you looked at a book, without your mom, or dad, or brother, or teacher...you opened that book, and YOU read the words...and it was MAGIC! Or, at least, that's how it was for me! I even remember that most of my first books were of the Dr. Seuss variety, and I have clear faves from my childhood...like this one:

That Marco had quite the imagination! 

I LOVED that book, with it's simple and colorful illustrations, and I often wished that I could see such spectacles on my way to and from school! I still own my childhood copy, and while my children didn't love this classic as much as I did, I am holding out hope that perhaps Peanut and I will share it as a favorite someday...I've even bought the app!

I read a LOT as a kid, and I had many favorite books. Some might even say that I was a lazy kid, much preferring a quiet corner and a good book to a game of tag, or kickball, or a bike ride, or anything that did not include reading. The adults in my life were all so impressed that I loved to read, none of them insisted that I just go out and play sometimes...so I didn't. I grew up "fluffy" and uncoordinated, and I've been pretty content with that for most of my life.

Another of my favorite Seuss books (which became more of a favorite as I taught the kids to read) is Dr. Seuss's ABCs...but it's not just a favorite book, I have a favorite letter, the letter "L." It stands for "Little Lola Lopp. Left leg. Lazy lion licks a lollipop." Wait! That's me! I'm lazy and I LOVE lollipops! Little Lola Lopp should be my BFF!"

When our own kids were small, Sweetie would handle all the playtime. I was often there, even if I was on the sidelines...after all, someone had to be there to capture the fun on camera, and be ready with a band-aid, just in case...but I am decidedly play-challenged. It's never good when Mom knocks the toddler over with the ball or frisbee, or if she can't remember what "ghost man on first!" means.  Mind you, I do know how to have fun, but I would never be mistaken for a "player," not in any situation! I'd still usually rather sit and knit, or read, or do something quiet than go outside to run and play, or bike, or even play corn hole. Severely play-challenged.

So, imagine my shock and surprise when I decided that I'd like to be a runner. Whaaat??? But I'm the lazy one...that's my whole identity! And, if you think I was shocked, you should have seen Sweetie's face. As a matter of fact, we were out running one day, and a neighbor spotted us. She was shocked beyond words for a moment, then asked Sweetie, "How did you do it? How did you get Pretty to run???"

He answered, "Well, I planted a tiny seed 25 years ago..."

But seriously, I just want to be healthy. To that end, I have recently (in the last 3-4 years) overcome my aversion to the out-of-doors, with its dirt and bugs and uncontrollable temperatures, and I have even started to enjoy long walks in the park. Our walks are usually somewhere between 3 - 7 miles, depending on the time we have and where we walk. But lately, I've noticed that my whole family runs, and I guess I was feeling left out, so I started a C25K (Couch to 5K) program for beginner runners six weeks ago. I bought good shoes (pictured above, with neon green laces) and some breathable running clothes, and I stepped off (with the coaching of Sweetie, Snake and Dollface).

In week 1 of the nine-week program, I was running in 60 second intervals, walking in between the runs, and it was hard. Every step and every breath was hard, but I've kept at it, and yesterday I ran for 25 minutes without stopping or walking at all! I'm not sure how far I ran, but I think it must have been a tiny bit over 2 miles...pretty impressive for someone who couldn't run to the end of her (very short) driveway without passing out 6 weeks ago! (Thank you here, to Dollface, Snake and especially Sweetie, for your encouragement and advice...without you, I would have quit long ago! I love you guys!)

So there you have it. Am I still lazy? Mostly, I suppose...my favorite hobbies are still yarn and craft related, with little to no exercise involved. But, like a lazy lion with a lollipop, I know Icould drop the sucker and run...if I want to. You know what? Don't tell anyone, but I think I am even starting to like it a little. I mean, about halfway through my run yesterday, Sweetie asked how I was feeling. I think I barked at him, "Like crap! How do you think I'm feeling?," between my huffs and puffs. But then I started to pay attention to how I was really feeling...and I don't think I really felt that bad. I mean, for the last 5 minutes I was really struggling, but up until then, I think I did feel ok. And afterwards...well, there just is no describing how I feel after I run (and after I catch my breath)...then I feel AMAZING! I felt so amazing after last night's run that I celebrated with some knitting!

What are you celebrating today? Even if it's just that you opened your eyes this morning, take some time to celebrate, and also to Knit in Good Health!

Words to Remember...

Those of you who have been paying attention will have noticed that I have had a little visitor of late. She's short, but full of personality, and she's quite the kick to have around! As a matter of fact, there's only one down side to having her and her parents in town...they eventually have to go home. Since "home" for Mork, Mindy and Peanut is several states away, and their visit was over on Sunday, this makes Pretty and Pop Pop sad. :(

To cheer myself up, and you too (just in case you need cheering up), I will share a few of my favorite memories of this visit, including the joyful words and phrases that are currently a regular part of her toddler vocabulary:

Upon approaching a cat - usually at warp speed, hands reached all the way out front, she says, "Hi, Cat! Hi, Cat! I see cat!"

Upon not seeing cats in plain view, "Where cats? I go find dem. Here kitty, kitty!" (wiggles fingers) This is usually followed by a search of all three floors of Gramma's house...and then by, "Hi, Cat!"

Upon seeing a bird or squirrel outside, "Hello! Hello, Bird!," and, "Hey, Squirrel!"

Upon seeing all the animals at the zoo, she runs to the edge of a grassy area on the path, arm outstretched, to shout to a nearby sparrow, begging for a french fry lunch, "Look! A bird! Hello! Hello, Bird!"

Also at the zoo, we heard about "the baby lion in the mommy belly" and "the baby monkey in the mommy belly." Overall, there was a LOT of talk about "baby in the mommy belly" this visit. It's exciting...like she has this brand new information about her world, and she is on a mission to tell everyone! (Before you get carried away, we asked both Mork and Mindy, and there are no babies in Mindy's belly...not even in the planning phase for any of that yet...according to them anyway! We think Peanut wants to be a big sister...)

With an impish grin, and a wagging her pointer finger, "No car shopping, Pop Pop!" (One of Pop Pop's favorite pastimes is car shopping. We did not go car shopping while Peanut was in town...lol!)

During and after the Bunny Foo Foo song, she is prone to shout, "Stop boppin', Bunny!," with uncontainable glee!

When she can barely keep her eyes open, "I walk. No stroller..."

"What come next, Gammy?," while reading the Nighty Night book, and putting all the animals to sleep, one at a time. (By the way, parents and grandparents, this is an excellent app! It's available for android and iPad, and reading the book got ALL of us ready for bed!)

In a hushed voice, after bedtime prayers when she sleeps over at our house, she gazes up into my eyes and whispers, "Say it again, Gramma..." I know she is stalling, but I can't help myself...we say them again...and again. :)

With determination, "My do it!"

With eyebrows raised high, and a slight nod for emphasis, "I like that!"

With furrowed brow, and chin down for emphasis, "I don't like that..."

"Gramma, Pop Pop buy Pink Lala Loopsy?" (We tried, but couldn't find a pink Lala Loopsy during her visit. We're still looking...I'm sure there will be a gift-giving occasion in the near future, right?!?)

Every time she came to our house, she did her best to give all the cat toys (as in toys that are cats) to the actual cats. "Cats like them toys!" (For the record, I don't think White Cat and Black Cat are all that impressed with any of Peanut's toys...but she is so generous!)

Turning away from the camera, "No pickles, Gramma!" (lol! No pictures? With all that cuteness, how can I not take pictures?)

"Go to playground?"

With every impish grin, every golden curl, every joyful step and every hug about the neck she has wiggled her little blond self deeper into our hearts this visit! It's like that with kids...just when you think you can't possibly love them any more without your heart bursting right out of your chest, there is one more moment of endearment, and your capacity to love is stretched again, beyond your wildest dreams. There is no love so sweet as the love of a child (and the love of her grandparents!).

Now, back to the knitting. What should I make for Peanut?

PS - How many of my knitters recognize this Peanut version of a learn-to-knit rhyme?

"In sroo thront door, Out back, Cat darf."

Socks to Match My Sweater?

I really did not intend for these to match, but you know what? My Gemini...

...pretty much matches my summer socks...

It's kinda creepy, like I planned it or something...but I did not. It just happened. I must like those greens and other earth tones...and now that I know they match, I can't wait to wear them together someday! You know, when I have summer sockS, and not just a single summer sock!

So I'll keep knitting, and I hope you have time to do the same this summer! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health (and in your favorite colors) all summer long!

Edited to add:
I finished sock #2 before this post went "live"! Yay! I have summer socks to match my summer sweater!

More Peanut Fun and Spinning

My friend Jeanne (of Life in Cleveland, you might have seen her blog mentioned on Cleveland.com!), and some of my other friends with little kids, have been giving me great ideas about things to do with Peanut while she is in town! I am eternally grateful, and I wish we had time (and enough vacation days) to take her to all the must do places! Even though we couldn't do them all, last week we went to the zoo, and yesterday we visited the Cleveland Botanical Gardens! Peanut loved the flowers...she loves to smell flowers...

...and she liked the "baby frog" too..."I like baby frog. You like Pop Pop frog, Pop Pop?"...he even caught the frog so she could get a closer look!

She actually held the tiny frog for a second, but my camera was not that fast! Still, I did manage to snap a quick shot of her harvesting lettuce and spinach in the Children's Garden...

Then gobbling them up...she LOVES her veggies!

And then there was the water...

...Oh, the water!

What a fun morning! All that fun was followed by a fairly long nap (she was pooped!...lol!), so I took the opportunity to do a little spinning...there was this batt from my friends at That'll Do Farm:

And my new Seven Yaks spindle, and I am now up to about 17g spun into singles!

When I fell into bed last night, I couldn't help but smile at the memories of that amazing day! How am I going to concentrate on work today?!? Maybe I'll just have to bring some spinning or knitting out to center myself...?

Hmmm... You're probably right. I should just work on my work. Bummer.
But there's always knit night tomorrow, and maybe a sleepover visit on Friday! Surely this high can last me until Friday... =D

What's keeping you going this week?