Kiss My Knits!

We had a good Brownie meeting last night. The co-leader, Sandra, did most of the talking about girl scout history and terms, and we sang a couple of songs. Then we played the ‘upset salad’ game to talk about diversity and inclusion. This is a game where the girls pretend to be different kinds of vegetable and we all get into a salad bowl (circle) and then take out the ingredients we don’t like one by one and talk about what it’s like to not be included. It was surprisingly popular as an activity.

Out of the blue, that game brought forth this gem from one of the girls. “Diversity is because of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He said the color of your skin doesn’t matter. If it wasn’t for him, (our two non-white girls’ names) wouldn’t be here.” I’m going to hope that she meant “wouldn’t be in the troop” and not “wouldn’t be on this planet.” The co-leader and I looked at each other for a minute, clearly thinking the same thing, then went on to say that we weren’t just talking about skin color, that there were lots of ways people could be different.

Based on experience, we knew we’d run light, so I had dug up a couple of games to try. We played a game to show things we have in common, “Brownie to Brownie.” The girls paired up and a person (me at first, later others) called out body parts and the girls had to touch them together. For instance, they’d have to touch right hands, or heads, etc. We made it a little harder by doing it Twister-style, so they didn’t let go of right elbows before touching left knees, etc. That was also fun.

After that, we played a teamwork game called “caterpillar race.” We went out in the hall and laid a string at one end as a finish line. Then we broke into two teams of four girls. They formed a line and got down on hands and knees. Each girl had to hold the ankles of the girl in front of her. They had to race to the finish line that way, but if they let go of the girl in front of them, the team had to stop until they were connected again. This also proved popular, and we played four times so each girl got a chance to be in front. For the first race, Emily was in front, and her team won. I know it was supposed be about teamwork, but SUCK IT, OTHER TEAM! The first three races were fun, but apparently they got a little overenthusiastic in race four and a couple said their knees hurt. Walk it off, champ.

Aaaaanywho. Then we all signed a card thanking our cookie mom for her hard work. One of the other moms had arranged for a really cool fruit arrangement from Edible Arrangements, which is one of her part-time jobs. We’d all chipped in and she’d gotten a discounted rate. And weren’t her employers sweet? She said, “This was supposed to cost $53, but they asked how much I had. I said, ‘$35’ and they said, ‘well, that’s how much it costs!'” People are nice. This woman’s daughter is bridging to Juniors next year, and I’ll be sorry to see her go.

After that, we did a circle with a friendship squeeze, and the girls were free to go. We’re getting better at structuring the meetings, I think.

On the knitting front, Emily’s sweater proceeds apace. It’s actually going pretty quickly. I charted out where I wanted the colorwork to start, but I think it was a little low so I added a few more rows of green. As far as width, it seems to be right about where I want it. I’m only slightly concerned that it could be a little small after it’s washed and dried. However, using a shirt that fits her well now as a template, I think it’ll work out all right. It’s been very handy to have something as a size reference, so I think I’ll ask Dad to give up a sweatshirt or other shirt that fits him well when I’m actually making his sweater. This has already been a good learning project.


I had thought this was my first seamed sweater, but I had completely forgotten about this toddler sweater I made in 2004 for my kindergarten teacher’s son. Maybe it’s because the yarn was such a terror to work with. Manos Cotton Stria: beautiful but deadly! I’ve learned a lot in the last three years, so I’m expecting better results this time.

This morning I’ll be driving out to another girl scout leader’s house to drop off a registration form for my two rising Juniors to attend a bridging workshop. The form’s late getting in, but apparently everybody else’s form is too, due to Spring Break, so the organizer said it was fine. Later I’ll be going back to Stitch to pick up something for my knitting niece and also for someone from my knitting group who can’t get away during business hours. She’d like a little extra of the yarn she got there, since she’s decided to make the sweater she’s working on a hoodie. I’m glad to help out a working stiff.

After de-cluttering the house for a solid hour and a half yesterday and filling two garbage bags with papers we don’t need, I noticed absolutely zero difference. Anyone walking in would still speed dial the board of health. I may give it another go today if I get time.

Emily has a field trip today to Lake Norman. It rained all day yesterday and was stormy last night, but it’s sunny now. Let’s all hope it stays that way.

This morning: errands, Jayne hat knitting, cleaning, and a little Dragonrealms work. Y’all have a good one!