Before the Pineapple

 I miss the Vedder River Trail. Carly can't walk that far and we have had bad experiences with off leash dogs in the past. So on Tuesday I took her for her little 20 minute walk and then headed out to the river. Because of the sunshine and the ability to open my stride, I really enjoyed a brisk 45 minute walk.

 This is a major feeder into the Fraser River, the reason our town is here. The rivers were the highways and canoes were the vehicles in the 1880's when settlers first discovered this valley. Salmon are still swimming here, but in inconsistent numbers.

The snow line is rising. And today we are being hammered with a pineapple express: 40mm of rain and temperatures rising to 11 degrees C.
You can hear the chorus of rain on the deck, tinkling down the overflowing down spouts and, at times, hitting the window.
It's a great day to snuggle up with some knitting and an audio book. But Im not sure yet I can knit.
While carefully slicing potatoes last night for my Dad's 74th birthday dinner, I took the tip off my left pinky finger. If I can get the bleeding to stop, I can put on a light dressing and go to work tomorrow night. But I cant get a glove on this hand. You should see my typing mistakes!
Thankfully I am pretty ambidextrous. It came to me yesterday as I was devising a pressure dressing, that I can work pretty well with both hands, though I am left dominant because when I was turning 4 I broke my left arm and spent the summer in a cast. I must have adapted to using my right hand for many things at that plastic age.
And I am thankful. As much as I would like to moan about the discomfort and inconvenience, I am capable of finishing dinner (ham, scalloped potatoes, carrots and peas with an almond bundt cake) and redo my dressing a few times. I think of Mel, and marvel again at her strength and spirit. She is an inspiration, even if I'm behind on my KAL.
I wish you wellness and enjoy the monsoon.

Best Things

 I love this hand cream. It was a gift from my MIL last Christmas and I have been saving it for special. Do you do that? Now it's almost gone, I feel as if I should use it every day. I have pretty strong allergies, and I'm not allowed to wear scent at work, church or at choir. So on days when I'm just kicking around, or hanging out with D or my friends, I like to wear perfume lotion. But when it's gone, it's gone. Maybe I should just save it.

And now I'm using up my sock yarn stash. This beautiful jar of blue yarn was waiting for a ripple blanket, but I was enamoured by the Tiny Owl Knits group on Ravelry and the ingenious design of this pattern. The hexipuffs are a delight to knit, and will be an ongoing project, maybe a baby blanket.
But now I remember I have other yarn started and stashed for other blankets. Don't keep them for good. There will be more yarn, and it may even follow me home.

Hope

Today people are walking around in shorts. For one day they discard their winter jackets. Hope is a snowdrop.
I have made it through more than 2 weeks of respiratory infection and ear problems. It's hard to believe that I spent half this month on my but or in bed. I watched and listened to podcasts, read a couple of Louise Penny novels and did a lot of very easy knitting.
I managed to complete the first clue in the Hoaloha Mystery Sweater Knit A Long (KAL) by Mel of Single Handed Knits. It wasn't easy because there was math and my head was pretty foggy. Today she delivered the second clue and I'm really excited about finding out how this will look. One thing I know is that it will fit.
I also knit the whole centre portion of the Icarus shawl in a beautiful lace weight alpaca. It was only this morning that I dared start the fancy edging. And I can do it.
It's hard to believe that on Saturday I could hardly walk the dog a few blocks, and on Monday I did a 12 hour shift. There are only 2 two nurses in the team, so when you show up, you have to be ready to pitch in. It went well and I was glad to be back and nursing at hospice.
On Sunday evening Dan and I cooked a spaghetti dinner for 60! It was a huge undertaking. One of our friends bowed out at the last minute, so we stepped in. Couldn't have done it without our friend Steve, who has worked in a restaurant and his lovely girlfriend, Kim.
But I am most grateful for our grown children who were able to cook and serve and help everyone with out being told what to do. They were wonderful.
Today is almost back to normal. Scotty is still home so we're having BBQ for supper instead of crock pot. I was going to do a whole bunch of errands, but I just did a few and I'm back because I still need some rest.
But I have hope in the sunshine that I'll be back to normal, back to work and back to yoga soon.

Growth and Change

The Christmas Roses  (Hellebores) are still blooming at my front door next to the snow drops. They don't mind that the seasons have changed because it is still technically winter.
And I have a winter cold. So I have been watching Single Handed Knits video podcast from my beloved Kauai, and knitting on the simple part of the Icarus shawl for a friend who will take it with her to Hawaii. I am lucky that I am doing the body of the shawl while my head is muddled and not the intricate edging.

My front door welcomes you and spring. There has been sunshine that I can only enjoy from my chair in the sunroom and a bit of rain to keep everything green. Today I walked the dog her short walk which takes me to my favourite tree.

It spreads its branches over the empty lot and blooms regardless of the calendar. Both brave and fragile. I need to plant one. The tree in my front door pot is a witch hazel that I will plant in the back garden when I change up the pots after Easter. But next year I hope to plant one of these. Maybe my mom can identify it.

The beautiful waxy petals. Delightful.
My magnolia will soon bloom as well and continue until October. What a blessing to be surrounded by such grace and beauty, even if I see it through foggy eyes.
Soon everything will be a riot of blooming colour, I'll be up and running around and I may forget this small gift of the first blossoms. We grow and change with the seasons.

Not Knitting

I'm a little under the weather. Measuring the sore throat moving to the nose and then to the chest. Taking tablets and hot tea and ice water and all but charting its progress in my nursey way.
But I have been able to make and do a few things.

A foam ring, some novelty yarn and fake flowers makes a surprisingly cheerful wreath for my mother to mark the next sorority meeting. She was pleased with her birthday dinner at the local Chinese restaurant and the closeness we 15 shared between the generations as we admired and demolished lovely cup cakes.

I finished the silk scarf at Kamloops. I love the Falling Waters pattern that I keep on a card and can almost memorize. It has turned out in several different yarns. She be blocked and dry.

Ready to join the Haitian and local art for a fundraiser. Carlton is always working for his Help Haiti and Help Mexico projects.

Right now it looks as if I won't be able to go to Mexico for an Easter mission. There's always next year.

I have had enough brain for tunisian crochet and even figured out the purl stitch, working a dishcloth in honey comb as a primer. The shawl is perhaps a bit dense, but the stitches all woven and interwoven give me pleasure and the Ancient Arts Pieces of Eight merino and cashmere is soothing.

I have managed a bit on the shawl for a cruise. Glad I didn't take it out on my trip because I needed the magazine (Interweave Knits Summer 2006) to get me back on track. The long spokes are totally doable in this foggy haze I am living, if I put on an audio book instead of a video. I shall, after my soup.
This morning I have been kind to myself and dove into a wonderful book by one of my favourite authors, Anne Lamott. It's called "Help, Thanks, Wow" and it is a balm to my soul. There is always a better way to simplify things and she links metaphors as fast as my gum ball brain can shout out. If you can, take the time to find her writings. And be good to yourself, even if you're not knitting.

A Cowboy's Life For Me

 I took a few days to get away to my sister's ranch near Kamloops. It's only 3 hours away, but a world apart.

 Her Border Collie cattle dogs accompanied us on our walk in the snow and on the lake. I know they will get us home, even if we get stuck in thigh-deep drifts and have to roll down hill to get back to the trail (yes we did).

 On Saturday we did some calf sorting. They were getting their first inoculations. I was very helpful and moved the pole back and forth to keep them in the chute. Julie was on horseback with a few others. We just about outnumbered the poor heifers.

 Despite the activity, the little girls were quiet and well behaved.

 The ranches blend into one another along the snowy banks. I am getting to know the landscape a little, but it looks so different in the summer.

 We also picked up a miniature mule at a sheep farm. These were 4H sheep and so quiet and friendly.

 There were twins born that morning, but these 3 day olds were the cutest.

Julie and I swatched for our Single Handed Knits Mystery Sweater Knit a long (KAL). We both got gauge. I knit on a silk scarf to donate to Project Help Haiti and listened to Anna Karenina on the bus ride up. It was pleasant and the roads were clear.
We ate in restaurants a lot with friends of theirs, I got to visit with my niece at the wool shop and her 3 year old, as well as the niece who is expecting. We are all excited. Plus we went to the Hobbit!
It was a real holiday!

New, New

I finally traded in my "new" camera for a newer one. The shop was very good after they agreed that 4 times to the repairs was beyond expectations. Hope this one lasts better. I was pretty happy with my other pocket camera and always sorry to have it in the shop. First picture, of course, is my dog.

After the yarn crawl on Saturday to see Jane Richmond at 88 Stitches and celebrate Diane's birthday (no pictures, see above), I knit up a Maximus cowl and a Fleece Artist hat (Starving Artist) that was summarily frogged for size and colourway. Not the pattern's fault, I don't think. I was looking for my hat when I remembered I had given it to Elizabeth in Cape Town. Instead I made a replacement Gretel out of leftover Malabrigo. Isn't that scrumptious? Leftover Malabrigo. Must say my stash rocks. I bought a little yarn on Saturday, but mostly books: Island and Pacific Knits. Go local designers! I walked the dog today and it was so balmy (and wet) that I didn't need mitts. But I'm going where they have serious snow. Must have warm knits.

Last night I learned a new skill. One of our young Common Threads members taught Tunisian crochet. What a blast. Such a good teacher, she brought a sample and handouts. I made a washcloth! I can really see this for afghans (it's also called afghan stitch) and in linen for market bags.

The fabric is much less stretchy than knitting and I think that would improve the bags I've seen.
Tomorrow I take a bus to Kamloops. I really don't want to drive the Coquihalla alone. Have you seen this show?
But I look forward to staying on the ranch, seeing my sisters and maybe even my niece. We will drop by electrictree. I need a needle gauge. Not yarn. Got it?
I signed up for a Mystery KAL- a top down sweater! And signed my sister up too. I have the perfect yarn for her and for me! I trust Mel of the Single Handed Knits Podcast enough to let her lead me through a top down pullover. It's a bit too exciting. We'll see tomorrow when the first clue comes out. Why don't you join us? It's a great group on the Ravelry boards.

Starting Again

We were given this amaryllis late in the Christmas season and didn't know what to do with it. When we opened it, the flower had started anyway and has an elegant, though sad beauty.

The baby sweater for our relay is finished. We should have 3 or 4 layettes ready for our Chilliwack Common Threads baby shower/Valentine's party. Each of us does one element. I chose the Helena pattern, but swapped out the lace for a fair isle pattern that matches the finished hat that Diane knit. This is definitely a good pattern.

Now I can begin something new. Wrapped up some beautiful organic cotton from blue sky alpacas for a Baby Bobbi Bear.

And some lovely alpaca lace for a friend's Icarus shawl. She is going on a cruise and we have been planning this at least a year. I am happy to get started so she can wear it on the high seas. She is making me a quilt in return. Such a great group.
Even though I'm home a bit sick today, I made 6 dozen tiny chocolate cup cakes for tomorrow's yarn crawl. It is the Jane Richmond trunk show at 88 stitches and Diane's birthday. So we will share our celebration (and stick mess). I went so far as to make them gluten and lactose free for our allergic friends. I've never made marshmallows before. It is so messy, can you tell? They are certainly worth it!

Speaking of cooking new things, I only did a turkey soup in the crock pot on Tuesday, but I made these killer ribs that remind us of Azeka's in Maui. We are planning a trip to Sugar Beach, but have to wait till May. These sure got us in the mood for sun and sand! (I made them with chicken breasts)

Maui Ribs
3-31/2 lbs flanken beef short ribs
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup dark sesame oil
3 Tbsp honey
2 tsp chopped garlic
2 tsp thinly sliced ginger.
Combine all ingredients and pour over meat, marinating at least 24 hours.
Grill over medium heat.
Serve with sunglasses and flip flops.


Now I'm casting on a silk shawl for the Project Help Haiti art auction and fundraiser. Thought I would have had it done by now, but at least I have time to start.

Crock Pot Tuesday

This is my back yard one year ago. We had a lot of snow last year.

This is the same bridge and flower pots today. I am hoping for moderate weather. It is warm enough to feel like walking the dog. Though I need a new plan. She can't walk more than about 30 minutes and I require more activity. I hope to get down to the Vedder River Rotary Trans Canada Trail each month. Maybe today.
Tuesdays are busy with my Bible Study at 1 pm and the Common Threads Knitting Circle at 7. I have booked them all off. This means I can be more in control of my time, and open my ideas to the communities that mean so much to me.
I am going to try a new crock pot recipe each week, and can harness the favour of time.
Last week it was pineapple pork and I learned two things: cut up the meat and brown it before you put it in the crock pot, and don't be afraid to have flavourful sauce.
This week is ginger beef. I haven't found a recipe yet, but pinterest is on my side.
Knitting on the baby sweater. Just about to add the colours, which is not good for group knitting.
Maybe I'll just do the long rounds of ribbing on my Philosophers. Looking forward to the chaos and laughter!

Punky Start

 A little under the weather today. After all those shifts, I'm taking a day off to sit in the sun and knit with my tea, like a cat.

 Finished the baby blanket. I know this may be a spoiler for one or two, but I'm very happy with it and especially how quickly it knit up. It's Bernat denim rag from the sadly clearances of Zellers. We are slated to have a Canadian Target in November. What could they be doing for 10 months?
The pattern is another made up one with gansey patterns from my Knitting Ganseys book by Beth Brown Reinsel. I hope to have a new great nephew or niece in March.

 The Handmaiden Cashmere 4 ply worked up quickly into Lu's Mitts. They fit swell, but I failed at reading the pattern. The lace is actually 8 rows where I only knit 4 and therefore I missed some rows before the thumb gusset. So I gave up at the top and just knit what I wanted. It's OK to be contrary when you are knitting with such luscious yarn. Now I need to change purses because I want to wear my multnomah shawl, my pi and my kiviut scarf to coordinate.

 Also a cat is my dog. We went for a small walk yesterday that was sunny and very cold (minus five celsius), but she prefers to follow the sun around the carpet. Can you see her tail wagging in the back, even though her eyes are sad? She's saying, "You're not casting on another sweater? We'll never get outside."

But yes. Starting in the middle. I dug out the Philosopher's Wool sweater kit that I started December 18 2008. The sleeves were completed before I balked at casting on the body with its steeking and all. Thank goodness I took good notes (on tiny pieces of paper that were stuffed in the pattern).
Now I have the Cassidy sweater that fits me. I measured it and extrapolated the stitches based on reported gauge. This is a sweater I would wear to meet the Yarn Harlot.
This is a technique, fair isle, that I reportedly adore. This is the year I will complete it. I have the mind-blowing technique of passing floats that I learned from Barb Brown at the Electrictree retreat a few years ago. I have the beautiful wool that shows its lovely spin and smells of... wool.
And I have a punky day to sit and catch up with podcasts and Elementary and try out all my 25 varieties of tea.

Epiphany

Today is the 12th day of Christmas. The day we celebrate the Three Kings. The great gifts. It is the start of the next season.
I changed the front door pots from holly and ivy to daffodils and crocuses. I hope they have a gentle spring and lots of chance to bloom a welcome. I am ready to begin:
This year I hope to live with an open heart. That is my "resolution". I want to believe the story and write it down, to give generously and react with compassion.
I find it singularly difficult to shut myself up to write when I really want to be with my friends, who have been so kind to me this Christmas season.
I will need to return to yoga to get centred, to continue some good practices I started in the fall, and to continue to build a knitting community. The Chilliwack Common Threads girls are raring to get back at Tuesday knit night.
Our new charity knitting is for the Better Beginnings baby program. I am still collecting scarves. It will be a year round endeavour.
I am grateful for the knitting interwebs and the free sharing of designs and ideas that enrich our craft. It is an astounding truth that the generosity of this community makes all our lives richer. That is a gift.
And a true epiphany.

Unveiled

 This Christmas. I did some good knitting and met almost all the deadlines. I received some lovely gifts, too. Like this sock monkey felted yarn bowl!!! His name is Stanley and he will travel with me to knit night. Thanks so much Dianeiam!

 I can now reveal some of the things I made. These thrummed mittens are for my cowboy sister who lives in a colder climate. The yarn is super wash wool and the fleece is stuff I picked up with her (years ago).

 I like them, but I learned some things about spacing and wrapping. They are very plump inside!

 For my sister and niece who own a yarn shop, I made a little sweater for their window.

 I hope they like it. I had fun making it.

 This is the world's warmest hat. That's what the pattern says. My BIL complained the hat I knit him wasn't warm enough and too small. It was hand spun and he shrunk it in the dryer. Hmm.

 So this one is super wash. It's really just one hat knit, then pick up the cast on edge and knit another hat for a lining. I hope it's warm. Next time I would knit a true double knit hat.

These are handspun fingerless mitts for my daughter to match her new cobalt blue jacket. The pattern, from work+shelter, is excellent, quick, and would be great for teaching knitting.

I really enjoyed knitting the robot mittens for my great nephews. You have seen these before, but they belong in this list of Christmas knitting. Along with the 6 scarves for our Green Heart- Warm Heart initiative.
We collected and shared over 300 scarves for those in need. What a great community we live in.
Also, I worked full time in December and was able to connect more closely with some of our patients and families to make a difference in their end of life journey. The team at work is super and even though we were full up and crazy busy, it was a nice way to spend Christmas.
I worked yesterday and then D and I had some champagne and went to bed early. The kids are back at university and the house is sighing after family gatherings, tables full of food and late night video game tournaments.
Today I took down the tree, changed the linens on all the beds, cleaned the main bathroom and put away the Christmas decorations. Everything looks fresh in the clear sunlight.
The new year unveiled.