My heavens, he's six. We spent the birthday at Petroglyph National Monument counting millipedes, chasing jackrabbits and attempting to keep our eyes and mouths shut for 5 whole minutes while paying careful attention to the sounds around us. The suggestion of five minutes of silence was offered in the Junior Ranger Guide Book given to us at the park Information Center. Our silence lasted exactly 6 seconds. The guide book was evidently not written by a person who has ever spent time in nature with any real junior rangers.
At the end of the adventure, both my boys were awarded a very official Junior Ranger Badge and a Certificate. It was thrilling. A fabulous way to spend a day that I cherish with two of the people I cherish most.
Last weekend we drove up to Castlerock and Denver for family celebrations and to deliver a knitted hound to our new 5 month old cousin, Orion.If you've never driven between Albuquerque and Denver during spectacular thunderstorms, you really must. In particular, the stunning area between Las Vegas and Raton, where we saw rain streaming down across hundreds of miles and drove through rain so loud that we could no longer hear the kids asking us how much longer till we get there.
Pattern: The Handsome Hound
By: Lucinda Guy from Handknits for Kids
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky, pea green 109,
Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Azul Profundo
needles: size 7
Aside from the ridiculous amount of time I spent finishing this baby up at the absolute last minute (in the car on the way to the shower, 45 minutes late), it was adorable and I was happy to see that it strongly resembles the baby's real live dog. The baby's parents naturally assumed that I had very thoughtfully and intentionally made the handsome hound in the likeness of their adorable little dog. I said nothing to dissuade them.
As for baby Orion, he immediately began sucking on the hound's protruding nose. Approval indeed.
Labels: life in general, Toys