Sunday, May 31, 2009

Sweaters and Purses and Socks,

Oh my! Ha ha ha!!! That’s what I am knitting on, tho! A Sweater to wear to the wedding I am going to in a couple weeks, a Purse for the bride to carry at her reception to hold any “little things” she might need to have with her, and a pair of KAL Socks! For now, the only picture updates I have is a photo of the last little “Bride Purse” I made (for my now-DIL to carry on her wedding day):

Graduation is over (little cheer) and we are now fully into the party planning for next weekend. . .my next post might be titled, “Melons and Cold Cuts and Cake, Oh my!”

For now, Short Post and Knitting and Quiet, Oh my!. . .for the rest of this evening anyway.

Knit in good health!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Pocket Pals to the Rescue!

And Pocket Pals are fun. . .although they are far different than “pocket pool,” but I digress. . .already in the first sentence. I guess I digress a lot these days. I’m feeling scattered in everything from work to knitting. It’s just the season, I guess. . .Graduation Season, that is! My youngest will graduate from high school this Saturday, and she will leave for college in the fall – close-ish to home, but she moves out nonetheless. It makes me kind of nostalgic.

I have caught myself daydreaming in grand form, dwelling on romanticized memories of when my “nest” was full with two tiny ones. Of course, it’s easy to remember the good and the great times. . .even though I know there were hard times, they are not my favorite memories, so I usually don’t dwell there long. This is a strange new world my Hubby and I are moving into. . .we will soon be “Empty Nesters” – (cue dramatic chords) dum-dum-dummmm!

I have seen this coming for some time, our oldest got married last summer, after all! But still, I don’t know if it will truly hit me until she actually takes flight. In the meantime, everything just keeps going forward in an almost surreal fashion. Is it really true? Am I really old enough to have two “grown” children? Hmmm, I guess so.

For now, I will keep on keepin’ on. I continue to knit and craft and play with the itty-bitty ones at church, making toys and sweaters for them. My sweater (to wear to the June wedding) is coming right along, though I have no new pics of the Lacy Ribbed Top to show, and I throw in a "little something extra" project every now and again.

Oh, I do have a picture of three of the little something extras! Here they are:



Until next time, live each moment fully and knit in good health!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

FIBER FANTASTIC!

So, yesterday I went to my first ever Fiber “Event”!

And the crowd roars!

And I bought yarn!

And the crowd roars!

And I bought a spindle as part of a “Learn to Spin!” Kit!

And the crowd roars!

And I totally exhausted myself wandering around the Wayne County Fairgrounds at the Great Lakes Fiber Show, in the heat of an almost-summer sun with my knitting buddies, and with some new friends, too! As a matter of fact, we saw a new friend walking by herself while we were headed out to the car for lunch, and we had fun adding her to our group! Hi, Mandy!

And the crowd fidgets a little, wondering if the host has made Mandy uncomfortable. . .

But I digress. . .I, being a list maker, made a list of 5 sweaters I would like to make in the near future. . .and, amidst the wool soak and spindle kit, I GOT YARN FOR THREE OF THEM!

And the crowd roars!

And I came home and took some pictures, and wound some yarn (thanks, Michelle!) and cast on a sweater, the Lacy Ribbed Top from the July Creative Knitting Mag!

And the crowd roars!
Now, I am going to go upstairs and knit on my sweater, at least a little, before I turn in. . .what a great weekend this has been so far!

Knit in good health!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Yarn Ahoy!

Heading out to the Great Lakes Fiber Festival in Wooster! Planning to blog when I get home or tomorrow! Maybe I will see some readers there? I have my Ravelry button!
Knit (and shop) in good health!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Come on World, there’s a sock that we’re knittin’!

C’mon get happy!
sigh - Ravelry-friendly David Cassidy?

I am pretty happy with my latest KAL sock for the Cleveland Knits West group over on Ravelry! It’s the Mad-Color Weave Socks by Tina Lorin! And this yarn, I love this yarn! Knit Picks Bare merino/nylon fingering! I have used this yarn before, and I have always loved the way things turn out!

And the colors. . .did I mention that I dyed the yarn? Well, I did! With Easter Egg dyes!. . .and I love the colors! I wanted some $30 yarn I saw in a shop, but I just could not justify the purchase with a skein of Bare sitting at home. . .so I gave it a go. . .not too shabby, eh!




And this pattern. . .well, it’s a bit fussy, but well worth it!. . .I love this pattern! And the socks are coming out pretty fan-tastic! So, I am pretty happy. Note: I skipped the heel shaping in the pattern in favor of my fave heel-turn. . .my eyes were starting to cross, so I had to do it!



Next up? I mean after the socks. . . Well, more crocheted pocket friends (see 5/13 post), and I have been choosing gender-neutral baby sweater patterns because all those women at church are pregnant! Again! Oh, my! I will not drink the water at church. . . I will not drink the water at church. . . I will not drink the water at church. . . I will not drink the water at church. . . After the baby sweaters, who knows?!

“Oh the places you will go!,” said Dr. Seuss.
Ravelry-friendly version: Oh, the projects you will knit! (or crochet!)

Knit in good health!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

These are the moments. . .

and, you don’t get these moments back, and you can’t make up for them later, so live them now.

Another short one. But, it’s been quite a day. The prom is tonight, now actually, and I am the mother of a high school senior who is a girl. She has spent hours in hair and makeup with her sister-in-law. We spent hours a few weeks ago finding the perfect dress and shoes. Today I spent a couple of hours knitting an evening bag for her to carry her little essentials in. And now she is at the dance, and I am left with the memory of the day while she makes memories of the evening. It goes by so fast!

Knit in good health and live all of your moments right now. . .

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

EEK! Is that. . .a MOUSE?!?

Silly, short post today! But silly and short are better than nothing, just ask anyone who is silly and short. . .like me! Ha ha ha!

So, lately my knitting life has been less than full. I have finished a pair of socks and a couple small projects, and I was all in a tizzy because I did not have a project to bring to Starbucks last night. But, there is a mommy at church who showed me a crocheted cradle purse she had received as a gift from a friend of her family. . .and it was yellow.

Now, I had a cradle purse when I was a little girl, and mine was white. My Grandma made it. They should always be white (or off white), you know! Aaaaand, this mommy has two tiny girls and a little boy. One cradle purse (as in 1. . .uno) just will not do. Since I had a pattern that I liked a bit, and since I have crocheted since I was 10, and since I made several cradle purses a few years back, and since I have an abundance of easy-care, acrylic yarn, I decided that this family needed some new toys.


Two Cradle Purses later I realized that I could NOT give a little boy a purse. Maybe a bag. . .maybe a toy tool bag. . .maybe. No! Wait! Ravelry! I searched crochet patterns for tiny toy animals, and I found one for a mouse. And I brought my yarn to the knitting meet-up, and made a little Mousie!


Sooooo cute! But, the “babies” had a cradle and a purse. Where would the mousie live? So, late last night I started, and I finished this morning. I wanted the thing to look like a mushroom, and the Mommy said it looks a little like an acorn. Either way, I’m cool with that.


And the kids like the new toys. And the Mommy likes the new toys. And all is well in my little corner of the planet! I hope it’s all good in your corner, too!

Knit in good health!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

M is for the many times . . .

The many times she what? Changed your diaper? Kissed a boo-boo? Packed your lunch? Gave you money? Listened to what you had to say? Taught you something new? Tolerated your bad attitude? Kissed you good-bye? Told you she loves you forever?

Well, I don’t think any of those things are part of the song, but I do think they all apply. Moms are often pretty amazing women. (Note: Dads are often pretty amazing guys, but Father’s Day isn’t until June.) As I was saying, Mom is quite a title, isn’t it? When we are kids, our moms are the ones who are there for the big things, and the little things. They pick us up and encourage us to try again, and they often do that while putting their own needs “on hold” for the better part of 18 – 25 years. Even so, having Mom around us all the time, we often miss what a big part of our life she is. . .I myself have ignored my mom, resented my mom, and occasionally ridiculed my mom for things that I now admire about her. Sorry, Mom.

So, is the title of “Mom” one to be coveted or one to be feared? A little of both, I’d say. I have mothered two human beings to adulthood (my youngest will graduate high school this spring), and I remember the fear like it was yesterday. . .how will I know that I am a good mother? How will I know what he/she needs? Will I know when to hover and when to back off? Will my kids think back to this time and admire the job I’ve done, or will they work through that time only with the help of a licensed professional?

Yet, here on the other side of the fear, is a pride like none other, the pride of a Mother who has raised two children to young-adulthood. The pride of seeing your child take his first steps. . .speak her first words. . .learn to use the potty “by myself”. . .ride his first bike. . .pass her first driving test. . .go on a first date. . .oh, the many joys of parenthood. I am so glad I have had this adventure in my life, and I look very much forward to the adventure of grand-parenthood as well (but I am not rushing anyone, trust me!).

So, as I look at the flowers my dear son had his dear wife send to his dear mother in time for tomorrow, I take this moment to reflect on what being a mom has meant to me.

Then I revel in the fact that my son and his dear wife were raised well enough by their moms that they have not forgotten these special ladies on Mother’s Day.

Today, I spent the day with my husband and his mom. It was a nice day, and we took a long drive in the country, stopping for a late lunch/early dinner at an Amish restaurant, and enjoying each other’s company. Here’s a shot of the shawl I knit her:
If you are a Mom, I wish you peace and love, no matter what Mother’s Day brings you.

If you are not a Mom, I hope you will take a moment to think about your Mom, and maybe give her a call if you can. I know you all have a Mom, so do your best to honor her, or her memory, this Mother’s Day.

Oh! And knit in good health!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Time. . .on my side?

Well, that contest was fun! And I hear that our prize-winner has received her booty in the mail, and she is very excited! Yay! And I am excited for her, too. I will have to do that contest thing again. . .when? I am not sure. Actually, I am not quite sure when I will do anything anymore. . .it seems like time is just getting away from me lately. . .Do you ever wish you had more of this precious commodity? Of all the things in the world, I wish I had more time. . .

Time to spend with my family.

Time spent not fighting with my family.

Time spent not regretting fighting with my family. . .

It has been a rough week around Pretty Knitty’s house. . .and I spent a good part of this week thinking about time that has passed and wondering about the time to come. You see, amidst the knitting, and the blogging, and the Etsy selling, and the jewelry making, and the working at my “regular job,” and the doing of the stuff that must be done when your High School Senior is in her last month of school and your oldest is somewhere in the Middle East doing whatever it is that the Army asks him to do, we lost a dear friend this week.

Our beagle (pictured in the last post) was a treasured member of our family for the past 12-and-a-half years, But we had to put the old girl down. Now, I don’t want this to be a bummer of a post, I just want to let you know where I am coming from this week. So, rather than dwell on my days of mourning, I’d like to tell you a little story of how we became dog owners.

Back in the day, we decided to get married, and it was good. We decided that He would go into the Navy, and I would “follow him, follow him wherever he may go, because I love him, I love him, I love him, and where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow. . .” And He is my true love, forever.

After we moved into our first apartment, we talked about pets. We adopted a stray cat, and named her Kitty. About a year later, we moved into our first rental home, and He wanted a dog. I did not. We compromised by adopting an orange tabby kitten that we named Fido.

Fido grew and grew and grew, and so did I. I was pregnant with our first child. While pregnant with our second child, Kitty met her demise, and we bought our first house. He still wanted a dog. I still did not. “But it will be so good for the kids!,” he said. “But I don’t want anything else to potty-train!,” said I. Another compromise, a kitten with a big white stripe down her back. We called her Stripey.

Add a few years, the loss of Fido (who was at this point an outdoor cat because he was not as fond of the litter box as we would have liked), a release from the Navy, a move back to our home state, and our second house purchased. The kids could both speak plainly now, and all three of them wanted a dog. I still protested. Do you know who takes care of the dog? That’s right. Ultimately the Mommy does. We adopted a second cat with a white patch on her back, and we all named her Patchy.

Fast forward about 9 months. It is nearly Christmas. We have two cats. I am in the Christmas Choir Extravaganza at church that night, so I have just gotten out of the shower. I have a towel around my hair and another around everything else, and the 5-year-old bursts through the back door, yelling, “There’s a dog chasing us Mom! Come quick!” SUPER-MOMMY throws the fuzzy, pink robe over the towel and runs out into the December air, bare-footed, to rescue the children from what could be a rabid pit-bull with a bad attitude!

What I found in the back yard, however, was a darling beagle, oh, four- or five- months old, chasing the children and begging them to chase her, too. It was like her little beagle face was saying, “Come-get-me! Come-get-me!!!” She was covered in mud, from her head to her foot, and her beagle-smile was contagious. “Mom! Can we keep her?!,” asked the children. “No,” I said firmly. “She is all muddy. We will tie her up in the garage, and see if we can find her family.” Well, that’s not exactly how it worked out. Before going to church that night, I had bathed the beagle, we had bought her a dog bowl, and a matching leash and collar and food. I also re-showered, and made it to the church in time (barely) for the Choir concert.

Three days later, on Christmas Eve, the calls started coming from my neighbors. Did we see the paper? There is an add for a lost beagle puppy. . .did we want the number? Well, we did not! We were in love with this dog, even though she needed some training. . .

Still, I reluctantly dialed the number from the paper. The man who answered was so relieved to get the call. He came right away to get Rosie, saying that his little girls had gone to see Santa just the day before. They told Santa that all they wanted for Christmas was to have their puppy back. I cried. We gave the dog to her owner, and we all just cried. Stupid beagle.

The day after Christmas, we scoured the ads in the paper, and we found what we didn’t even know was missing from our family a few days earlier. We piled in the van, and drove about an hour to purchase an 8-week-old beagle that smelled of corn chips when she napped, and took all of our hearts captive from the first day we brought her home. She will be missed, but I’m so glad for the time we had with Holly, our just-after-Christmas beagle.

Enjoy some time with your family today, and knit in good health!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Yooooooou Whoooooooo!

You! Yes, You! You Win!

What? Oh, I didn’t tell them who yet. . .so they are probably wondering, “You, Who?,” then, hmmmm? Well, I will certainly have to fix that!

First, here’s that shot of gorgeous prize booty again:
A prize package including a beautiful 100g skein of Noro Sock yarn, and a set of four stitch markers with a matching row counter from PrettyKnittyJewelry.etsy.com!

So, yaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy! for YOU!

Oops! I did it again! I played with your heart. . .I didn’t name who would win. . .hmmm, I am SURE those are not the right words. . .

ok, Ok, OK!!! The winner of the PrettyKnittyJewelry, One-Month Bloggiversary, first PrettyKnittyJewelry contest ever, is

drumroll. . .trumpet blast. . .ta-da-da-daaaaaaaaa

LYNN!
And the crowd goes wild! And Lynn goes wild! And (because she is a Party Girl at heart) Pretty Knitty also goes wild! Congratulations!

blows party horn. dances. jumps up and down. wishes she had worn a better. . .ahem. . ."support garment". . .

Runs off to send a quick email to Lynn, so we can get that booty shipped out ASAP!

Lynn , if you don't hear from me in like 30 seconds, send me an email at
PrettyKnittyJewelry AT ymail DOT com

Now we pause for a gratuitous shot of the cutest beagle in this little corner of the world.Thank you for indulging me. . .

Oh! That post, while not chock full of information, sure took a LOT of energy to compose. I’m gonna go take a nap! Another post in a couple days, I promise.

Until then, Knit in good health!