Busting The Stash

Mom gave me some yarn stash of hers. I have never seen her with soo much. I was happy to take it. Most of the projects I do are quick. I need instant gratification. * shrugging shoulders*

The picture above shows cute little crocheted Snow Flakes. I will donate them to PTA to sell at our annual "Holiday Sale" next November. I'll put a safety pin on the back of some & a magnet on the back of the others. They can be worn on backpacks or coats or can be hung from lockers or refrigerators.

I crocheted these for The Blonde Frogger. They are so soft. He says they keep his hands quite warm. Have had requests for more.

This a lovely hat. The Pattern is called "The Divine Hat". I found it on http://www.ravelry.com/ . It was quite easy. I will make a few more of these. Some I will put up for auction at our local Relay For Life Event & others I will donate to other charities.

These are my favorite project by far. The lighter colored one still needs to have the ends sewn together. These are for a dust brush that rhymes with "Biffer". *wink wink*. I was never too fond of that particular product because

1. It is a scam to make consumers buy the "refills".

2. More garbage to go into landfills. Reduce, Reduce, Reduce!

I have now discovered a solution! These things work great! The oldest son (age 16) couldn't wait to use it. He did ceilings & walls. I did floors. The nice thing about these of course

1. They are reusable -- washable

2. We can turn them inside out and use both sides before washing.

BTW...mine need to be washed now after both of us tried them out...I know, I know...it says alot about my housekeeping skills, well maybe more about my lack of housekeeping skills. hehehe

THE Most Difficult Sporting Season

We are in the heart of Wrestling Season. Stewie, as you may remember from my last years post, had won Gold in many of the Novice Tournaments he competed in last season. This season he is not allowed in the "Novice" tournaments & is competing in "Experienced" tournaments. He has competed in 2 & has won Bronze in both. We are quite proud of him, this being his 2nd year in the sport. He, however, is having a difficult time with this. He does not understand the "Luck of the Draw" has been against him. At both Tournaments, his first opponents have been wrestling for 5 years plus. The good part:

1. He has NOT been "pinned" by those more experienced wrestlers.

2. He lost only by ONE point to one of them.

3. Competing against better opponents always makes one better.

The first kid beat him, point wise ( by 8), but...he did not get pinned. This particular kid won the State Title last year. We told Stewie he should be holding his head HIGH as "You gave that experienced kid a good run for his money. You have only been on the mats for 1 full year.... imagine if you've had 6 years of learning...things may have been turned out a little differently". Yet, Stewie still cried over the loss. I imagine we will chase this kid around in tournaments for the next couple of years.

Same thing today, Stewie's first match, he grabbed a kid with loads of experience. Did not get pinned and only lost by one point...final score 4 to 3. Not bad, Stewie! No need for tears...Once again...hold that head of yours up HIGH!!! *nodding*

Now, from the Mom's point of view, I have decided I do NOT like to watch this sport. I can't explain it. I do not have a good time. I feel the pain, both physically & mentally, for all the boys in EVERY match, even the boys I do not know...sheeez.

My boys have always played "team" sports...soccer, baseball, basketball. I have 2 soccer Goalies in the family & had a pitcher in baseball for a couple of years. But I do not feel the same anx in those sports as I do for Wrestling. Swimming, Tennis, Track, Golf, Bowling they are also "individual" sports...do those parents feel the same anx as I do with Wrestling? I tend to think they do not...no physical contact...but I am sure some of the same life lessons are learned are the same though!

Now, don't get me wrong, I know this sport is not for all kids. For example, my oldest would never even think about going out on the mat. He is a "lover", not a "fighter". It is just not in his "soul" to be that physical or maybe more important to ENDURE that kind of physical pain. Although, being a soccer Goalie he has his own demons to deal with... (team mates who blame him for each & every goal scored -- but he is a people "handler" - he knows how to deal with those team mates mentally & that is a secret all successful Goalies know...you know, SMILE when you are really chewing out a team mate so no one else knows what is really being said especially other team...giving ball to other team (over the midfield line of course) when no one "feels" they can get open... no excuse for not being able to get open... only laziness!

There are very good lessons to be learned in the sport of Wrestling. I see the boys shake hands with each opponent before the match. At the end of match they also walk over to opponents coach and shake hands with them as well. The boys watch their team mates at every match & offer support to their fellow mates..whether the team mate won or lost (as team mates have experienced both wins & losses as well)...learning what to say at appropriate times & in appropriate environments which are all very important life skills. I am thankful for that!

I will not let Stewie know of the personal dilemma I face each week during this sporting season. I will continue to go to each match/tournament & give him the support he needs & deserves, even though it kills my soul to endure the pain of each boy.

I thank you all in advance for those who chose to send private thoughts of encouragement to Maple Leaf Red for this extremely trying & tough sporting season of winter '09. :-).

All I said was...

....."Find a safe place for them so we can show Daddy."

& no, I was not talking about the soda cans!

"Mission Control, Mission Control, Cleared for landing?"

Just so you all know, the MOM -that would be ME- would have put them on a shelf. I know, I know... Boring, Boring, Boring *shaking head sadly*

The storage facility pictured above is far more imaginative & fun, don't you think? Well done to the pilot/designer.

"The First Ride"

All of my boys & both of my sisters' children had their first Carousel Rides with our Mom. Who cares, you might say? Well, this particular Carousel is 4 HOURS from where we live & all my boys had their first ride here! This was a special request made by my Mom... Grandma to the kids. You know, there are just some wishes daughter's just fulfill and this happens to be one of them we all managed to accomplish for our Mom.


This particular carousel has a rich history.

It was made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1909. It is called "Carousel No. 18". Kind of generic, if you ask me, but it was the early 1900's when it was named. *shrugging shoulders*.

The Philadelphia Toboggan Company (from now on will be referred to by PTC) was in Germantown, PA. They made many Carousels. Today, they are known for their Roller Coasters & have moved to Hatfield, PA. Cylonic, is probably quite familiar with this company. Anyone who has ever met him, knows he loves his roller coasters!!

Anyhow, this Carousel was hand carved by Leo Zoller, PTC's master carver. Mr. Zoller was paid $1,000.00. The Carousel was then shipped to amusement parks in Louisville, KY; Worcester, MA; & Erie, PA for many to enjoy.

In 1926, the Carousel was brought to Long Branch Park in Syracuse, NY. It stayed there for 15 years. In 1941, it was purchased for Roseland Park in Canandaigua, NY. It ran in Roseland for 43 years until that park closed on September 2, 1985.

The carousel was put up for auction 2 weeks later. Do you know what it means for a carousel to be "Put up for auction?" I did not til I did some history searching on this particular one. (Although, I recently read a book, The Thief Lord, & it mentioned something about a piece of a merry-go-round that some evil people had an interest in it...I personally would not know what do with one piece of a merry-go-round or carousel; nor do I understand the logic of having just ONE piece of beautiful artwork handcrafted by a professional..I'd much rather enjoy the whole piece as the creator meant for it to be). Anyhow, what happens is after each piece..meaning horses, carriages,

etc... have been sold individually to the highest bidders at the sale, the auctioneers total up all the final bids, add 20% to the total. Then the entire carousel is then offered up for bid at this price. Sounds a little unfair to the individual bidders there, but I guess that is a chance one takes. The Pyramid Companies of Syracuse saved the carousel by purchasing the entire ride for $397,500.

One of the many individual pictures on the lower level. I like this one.

Each of these pictures had to be professionally cleaned & restored. There are 2 levels of them on the carousel. I am only showing you 2 of the many that are on the carousel.

Now onto the horses themselves. There are 42 horses on Carousel No. 18, arranged 3 abreast in groups of 16.

I call this horse "The Chase". The rifle, the horn, the only thing missing is the dog. Notice the detailed painting on the back of the carriage in front of this horse. Just a beautiful scene of life in the early 1900's & the colors are quite vivid.

I call this horse "The Successful Chase"

38 of the 42 horses are "Jumpers" rather than "standers" on the carousel.

Both of the horses pictured above are the outside row of horses, also known as "lead" horses because they are most visible. They are also the lavishly decorated. (Good ole merchandising was in effect even back in the early 1900's). The outside row lead horses are the biggest on this carousel - each one weighing about 225 pounds. Middle row horses weigh about 150 pounds & the inside row horses, the smallest weigh in at 100 pounds each.

It took nearly 2 years to restore Carousel No. 18 to its original beauty. All the horses had to be stripped, repaired, primed, repainted in their original 1909 colors & varnished.

This beautiful carousel has brought joy & laughter to 4 generations of families, sweethearts & children.

One of the many Ladies in the Rafters -for lack of a better term- on Carousel No. 18.

Next time you go for a quick ride on the Carousel, please appreciate the history & craftsmanship that went into those original Carousel's made so many years ago!!