And We're Off

D. is in the middle. He won the aggregate at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games. Best is good enough for me.

Off to the wilds of Glasgow for two weeks. It's a real trip travelling with the pipe band. You can bet on lots of pints. This time I'm not drumming, so I'll be able to steal away for some knitting at K1 Yarns.
I'm only packing one book and one magazine. I'll be able to buy what catches my eye. Wool doesn't need to be heavy. Buttons and jewellery are light. Who knows.
Stay safe and keep out of the beer tent.

More Like Logging Really

This is the wheel barrow full from just one rose bush. My Queen Elizabeths are over 8 feet tall. In anticipation of our trip (and to procrastinate from packing) I am hacking them back. There are three more. And then I need to focus on the other roses. Whew. I hope Boo will truck them over the bridge to the (burm) cuttings pile.
Kiri grows as we venture deeper into Harry Potter. Unfortunately Noodle Pie daughter is swimming at auntie's and then off to the Simpsons Movie with Grandpa. Thanks Grandpa.
So I need to put down the guitar and pack. I was practicing for a piece I did today in Gurani. That's a language of Paraguay. I wouldn't know that except I crapped out last time I tried to sing this piece and I was determined to get it off my nightmare list. Get back on that horse.
I think I got back on the horse too often as witnessed by my scars. But music I can handle and I felt a rush of relief from those who were tortured through the last brain fart.
Now I'll pack my flute. I'm doing well with my music theory study, too. It is so hard to keep off my feet. When I get restless, I can only sit in a different chair. Today it was easier to live with painful feet. Not good.
If I rest aggressively, I have no guarantee of healing. But I can guarantee I will have learned something, played something and knit something. Soothe my soul.

Happy Birthday to Me

I love presents. Even when they're not for me.
But yesterday was my day.
It was sunny, my mom and my sisters took me out to lunch. D went to Enumclaw for the Pacific Northwest Highland Games, but we had cake on Thursday night at his mom's.
Noodlepie made the cake. It was so good. Cara's Vegan Chocolate Cake from Dogs Steal Yarn. She put melted marshmallows on top for frosting and it was great. I don't have pictures from my camera, darn.
This is some of my haul. Notice the Stitch N Bitch journal from my dear bestest best friend who is now knitting quite a lot. She just started the flying geese from my Mason Dixon book (bday gift last year) and has ordered her own copy.
I took the kids to Harry Potter 5 last night (plus hers). It was good to go again but it seriously cut into our reading of the last book. I don't know how it came about that Noodle and I read alternating chapters out loud and can't read ahead. This does allow lots of knitting time.
We should seriously be packing for Tuesday, but it's still my birthday (friends for lunch today). I always manage to extend it over most of a week.
This year I wanted to share it with you.
Looking forward to another good year of blogging and reading blogs. Cheers.

Kiri, Kiri, Kiri

I love knitting this shawl. It's my second time and I love that I only have to look at the chart once at the beginning of a pattern row to know what to do. I'm big on knitting off the stitches.
Also, with lace, you have such a happy sense of accomplishment at the end of every row.
"Wow, the stitches add up, I must be so smart"
I am now daunted by my list of knitting because I fell into a 40% off sale. I didn't mean to. It was an accident. But we have the Canadian supplier of Cascade here in town and it's such a good solid yarn. I bought enough to knit a nephew sweater. But not the next one. I wanted navy for that. So I bought two bags of Phildar navy for the anniversary sweater in knitty. These boys are all over 6'2" and men's large. Why not baby booties?
I felt that as a good auntie, I couldn't die before I knit my godson an aran sweater. Well, he's still growing so I'd thought I'd start at the oldest. That makes 8 plus my neice who is also 6' tall. I've done two. I tried a third but got stuck in a bad swatch that turned into a disappointment.
Now when I finish the list of shawls, I can whip up the navy cables, the charcoal Durrow from wool I bought for myself years ago, and then the blue heather. These are not necessarily for birthdays or Christmas. They are because I want these guys to know that eventhough they are grown that the love I had for their baby selves is just as strong. No matter where they travel or what they persue, they will always have their family. They will always be a welcome part of my family.

Whirlwind

Today photos are loading lickety split. So I give you the beginnings of Kiri shawl. The color is really more fuschia, but the KSH is fabulous.

I took my Noodle-Pie to the big city, Vancouver. We shopped at Lulu Lemon, Chocolate Arts, Duthies, Ming Wo. It was a great Kitsilano experience. Unfortunately it was a bit cold and wet. This is her working on a free-form stuffed animal with kind of horns or ears. I call it a Nargle, but she says I don't know what a Nargle is.

We saw Romeo and Juliet at Bard on the Beach and I was most enchanted. The actors looked so young! They really pulled it off. The costumes were modern clothes in black and white and most convincing. Romeo wore tight jeans and a leather jacket that hinted at the silhouette of tights and a doublet. The backdrop was Vanier Park.
On Saturday we took the ferry to Victoria to see our son, Boo. D. met me at the ferry and I was perfect in my timing. The only thing I have been perfect in for a wee bit.
We met at the Noodle Box in china town and had fun at Silk Road teas and the variety stores. We each bought a bag of White Rabbit candies and ended up with 4 bags!!!
I indulged in a little sac for my sock knitting, like the monkey bag I've been trying to build a pattern for. The satin tissue holder has been on my replacement list for several years as mine is disintegrating. The pin cushion is the smallest of this variety I have seen. I bought my mom a huge one years ago.
It was so good to meet up with friends. The concert was superb. He really learned a lot in 3 weeks.

Then we headed up island for a family reunion where 148 of 163 descendants attended. A bit overwhelming, but good people. D. made a marvelous powerpoint presentation of his branch of the tree which made us all cry. I miss Nana so much at these things. D.'s grandma always helped me fit in with these crowds and was fun and generous and gracious. She died when Noodle was 6 months old.

And now we do laundry and pack for Scotland. I have quite a few duties in my committees to squish into this time. The kids want to take the guitar but our charter air service is being chintzy with luggage. I will take my flute and my theory which is coming along well. Won't my teacher be surprised?

Today I try to get some fresh food in the house. I won't change out of my work out clothes till I get back from the Y. I insist. But there's so much else to do too!

Second Trip

No pics allowed by blogger today.

I'm up and away again, this time taking daughter to Vancouver for shopping and Bard on the Beach. I'm almost 44 (next week) and I don't have to wait any longer for someone to invite me. I'm going to do things that matter to me.
It's hard to find a Shakespeare buddy. Especially in the summer. I'm thinking of trailing behind my opera friends to learn about that. But I was a great Lady MacBeth in highschool (like countless others) and eventhough I dropped out of Theatre after first year, I still love it. I think if I could have done solely Shakespeare in a whole lifetime, I may have stayed in.
I read about him and read his plays and poetry out here in the wilds of the farmland. We, luckily, have a super theatre program in our own college and I'm going to go to that, too. Just watch me.

From Vancouver to Vancouver Island to meet up with piano son and then on to the dreaded D's family reunion. You don't have to tell me it will be more fun than I anticipate. There are many very nice people there who are or can be kind. But I dread these 100 plus parades of who's the most successful or the slimmest. It's a bit hard on a housewife.
On that point, I mailed off more paper work to further my cause to re-enter nursing.

Harry Potter 5 was super. It was pretty close to the spirit of the book and Noodle Pie liked it. I like going to the giant movie theatre in Mission and shopping at Black Bond Books, too.
I have a lot to thank Harry for- our film festival means Kiri is on her way and I even worked on the long lost sock.

Hope you kick back and play summer games this weekend.

Anniversary Anyway

I missed my first bloggiversary.
I started on June 30th last year. Rather by mistake and still quite in secrecy.
This has been a fun exploration.
I am so inspired by the great knitting on-line community and in my own little way I'm a part of it.
I love my little camera and I'm learning more about communicating through comments.
I still read 4 or 5 almost daily. I have had times when I've checked 4 or 5 times a day to see if Li or Stephanie or Cara have updated. In my disappointment I still checked later in the day.
I needed some knitting sisterhood.

In my non-virtual life I am now at home at my LYS and helping them with advertising and coaxing them on ordering the real goodies.

They love the on-line information that I bring to them, but I feel they still think it is not for them. Perhaps this year I'll meet a local blogger and we will wink and nod.

So much fun and party and yarn porn. Some is just escapist, but there are definite feminist and charity focus blogs that can help us be the best we can be.

I didn't knit for charity yet this year. I guess I'll jump into a jag or go back to a monthly plan.
The 5 hour baby sweater is a great gift. I love EZ's baby surprise. Years ago I cut and pasted (with scissors and glue) the Knitter's publication of it. I have made so many copies, but never a sweater from them.

Kiri has begun. This is from alltangledup.com .I wonder if I won't knit 3 of them in a row. Like Januaryone.com. I am susceptible to a knitting jag. Starting with Lucy Neatby's crocheted provisiona cast on was a dream and my hands still remember the pattern from last June. Rowan Kid Silk Haze really is the crack of wool.

So, on this Sunday, I have earned some rest, some time for practicing my music and for listening to Lime and Violet while I grow the Kiri shawl.

In a year so much has changed and so much is the same.

Clapotis Part Deux

She be done and ready for the first wiff of cool air.

None to be had today.

I do love the Koigu and the colours. I'm trying to get my LYS to carry Koigu and STR and maybe even Fleece Artist.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I ran out of yarn. Totally preventably but not redeemable. I don't know how to frog back after the stitches are already dropped. So I just did a creative cast off. Hope you don't mention it when you see it.

I do have a bit of a dream that I'm travelling around with my lovely Clapotis (blue or pink) and someone comes up to me and says, "Is that a Clapotis?" I have a hug ready for that new knit-sibling. I would feel that, eventhough I'm in Ottawa or Stirling or Yarrow, I would not be alone.

Today is the shortbread factory. I'm acutally making 8 batches. It is my speciality.

I usually make it in July for our friend and piper, Frank. He died just after we competed at the Worlds in 2001. I still take it to the annual BBQ in Bellingham because he loved it so much and we want to remember him. I didn't get to go this year.

It's also my son, Mr. Boo's favourite.

My mother-in-law asked me to bring it to their family reunion. I don't really feel like baking on a hot July day. I gave up my trip to the gym this morning (I'm not bitter) to bake in the cool part of the day. It's all cleaned up already.

I will be selfish and keep one batch for my son't piano recital and one for another aunt we'll visit on the following Sunday.

So this is a big week.

On Wednesday I'm taking Emily into Vancouver to introduce her to Kitsilano and maybe Granville Island. We stay at the Wall Centre (pretty posh) and go to Bard on the Beach Thursday night- Romeo and Juliet. I'm really looking forward to it. Though I squished it too close to the trip to Vancouver Island.

I can hardly wait to see Mr. Boo who has been at the University of Victoria since Canada Day at piano camp. It'll be 3 weeks altogether. He's getting along really well with his friends from our piano studio and I thank my best friend for being the dorm mother. Shortbread isn't much to give her but we'll enjoy it.

I will try to cast on Kiri today with purple Rowan Kid Silk Haze. It's a bit too hot for summer knitting, but we're watching all the Harry Potter movies in the cool basement. It is a 70th birthday present for my husband's aunt. She and her husband are very successful and very generous. I owe a lot to her in understanding style and grace. I've known her since I was 15 so I feel as if she's my real aunt too.

Her husband is not well. His cancer returned. He's on dreadful experimental chemo. We can't tell if he's getting sicker or just reacting to the treatment. We're worried. She is giving up her month-long trip to Tuscany to keep things gentle. She knits and will appreciate the lovely shawl and wear it with elegance. She will appreciate the shortbread, too, because people (like us) drop in to visit with her and Uncle. It is not much to help, but it is what I can do.

Lessons Learned

I've been watching Lucy Neatby's videos. I borrowed them from our library and there's a lot of information there. Some of it is repetitive or a bit out of order, but it 's fascinating.
I didn't learn knitting from any expert.
I learned by faking my way through mistakes.
Kind of like life.

But when I see Lucy teaching how to do my cast on, or seaming in the way I finally ended up with ( or so far anyway), I am so encouraged. Maybe I'm not such a pretender after all.
Maybe that's why I knit for babies because they don't complain about gauge or finishing.

And gauge. Will I ever make friends with this dragon? My last sweater was a huge failure in sizing. Literally.

Lucy says be kind to your stitches. I have been pushing my right needle too far into the stitch so that the yarn has to stretch to double width. I can knit quickly like this. But she says I'm abusing the poor stitch. Sorry.
I will try to gently and gradually move to knitting with just the tips of the needles. Maybe I'll get better gauge, maybe I'll get happy stitches.
There are so many ways of knitting. And we are never finished learning our lessons.

Like Paddling in Ripples

I love my first tast of Koigu. I find this second Clapotis to be relaxing and enjoyable. I actually had the same feeling as paddling a canoe. A pattern in a few steps to pass the marker over or complete the J stroke.
This makes sense for Canada Day.

We've been to several tests and hospitals from New Westminster to Port Moody and the Clapotis has been an excellent travelling companion to augment a tense D. through cardiology.

The end result is he does need a heart repair, but he is allowed to pipe and we are going to Scotland in August for the World Championships in Glasgow.
This is a lot different from potentially emergency open heart surgery and no piping or flying for 6 months.

Did you see him in the Vancouver Sun on Thursday last week to advertise today's BC Highland Games in Coquitlam?



I also was gifted a huge box of acrylic yarns, some cool old patterns and plenty of needles from my great neighbour when she cleaned out her mom's apartment.
I use this wool and needles to share when I teach someone or to make donated items.

I'm just getting back on the horse. I have committee work that I begged off. I played flute last Sunday but I haven't been to band in weeks. They're performing tomorrow morning but I need to be available to a guest speaker instead. I'm not sure of Thursday either. I thought the season would be over by now. I'm trying to get ready for next season.

I also have some studying to do for volunteer work in September and I'd like to get my piano theory redone. I should have written it when my little Noodle-Pie did in grade 3.

All the report cards are in. Honours for both. Gifts given (replacement ipod and rollerblades). I'm "helping" Boo pack for 3 weeks of piano camp on the Island. Whew.

I also booked hotels for Bellingham and Vancouver for shopping/shows with daughter.

Make the most of this summer in the absence of beach weather. I'm not a beach person much anyway: I don't like sand in my wool.

Overcast

The sun shines weekly

Weakly

Summer reluctant to don

The small bikini

On blanched, exposed limbs.

She procrastinates

Fails to buy tickets,

Pack her beach bag

Nostalgic for days

Of shorter duration

Longer rests

By the fireside.

Big Steps

I am now the happy owner of an up-to-date first aid and CPR-C ticket. I took the course as part of my preparations to return to nursing and had a blast.



My first course was when I was 17 and in the reserve forces medical corps. We watched a film that had to be threaded through a projector and saw a woman choose a pencil and dial a rotary phone, very slowly. 9.........(the dial rotated back)1.........1.......

We practiced with no gloves or masks.

I got the chest crusher award because I was full of adrenaline at my test and almost busted the poor annie doll. I also got an annie hickey.



Yesterday was so different. I have taught first aid to other trades in the army. I went to nursing school. I have had two children and countless first aid events at camp and soccer and the skating rink. We had 4 nurses in the class and went through everything tickety boo. I'm proud of my success non-the-less.



THEN

I had a flute recital in which I played better than every before. I love my Haydn Serenade and my teacher is such a love ( and a knitter too). My kids were there. Though I had to drag them, they were very kind and it was not too much to ask them to sit through 7 flutist in 30 minutes with ice cream at the end. I'll play that piece at church next month.



So I have some tools to measure my life. The 15 miles I cycle at the Y, the steps forward toward nursing and the improvements I've made in my music. I can settle for that.

Big Fat Disappointment

This is the final product. Why am I surprised to have yet another sweater too big?

Hi, my name is Angie and I have trouble with gauge.

So what to do with this monstrosity? Here I am airing my dirty laundry (poorly constructed handicrafts?). But I feel that I'm not all alone and those of you out there who might chance upon this may have had a similar grief in the long past.

I'd even accept it being quite a bit longer than in the picture (or maybe not) but the underarm hole is gigantic. Not a quick fix. It is integral to the sweater.

My best bet right now is to take it to Hanne at my LYS and ask her to sell it. I think even one lady I've met there might like it.

I'm just going to ask the price of the yarn which I got at half price on Boxing Day.

To placate myself, I will start my Koigu clapotis.

I had to rip out that same sock. Poor thing. The sock that never was. I like the short row mitred heel, but I didn't finish decreasing- directly related to putting it down for too long. I like just having a sock on the needles so perhaps that's what I'll have.

The Fleece Artist Soft Wavy Wrap is lovely but too fluffly and hot for right now. I don't need it until October.

Sigh. Will I ever champion the acceptance of body image and knitting. Perhaps I should just knit something out of Big Girl Knits. It's sitting on my shelf, trying to be my friend and accept me for who I am.

IN other news, D. has a follow up tranesophageal echocardiogram on Thursday and possible heart surgery. It's been a big year. We are blessed with his tenatious baby brother ( an esteemed interist) and a great group of friends who are praying for him and us.

I"m Sorry William Shatner

I have been increasingly unwell despite working much harder than usual at my health, so I've taken a drastic step and taken out insoluble fibre from my diet.
I have IBS and bran is one of the noted gastro intestinal irritants. But I love my whole wheat everything and roughage. I was a Weight Watchers leader and the increased fibre can really make you lose weight and gain health.
For now I'm into white bread (from a good bakery) and cooked vegetables. Two cups of peppermint tea a day. I actually already feel less bloated after a few days. Unfortuately sugar and alcohol are also on this list. I can cut out the sugar OK for a while, but I would like a glass of wine on the weekends. Perhaps if I'm feeling well enough.
Mr. Shatner has a silly set of All-Bran commercials that I see when I'm on the bike at the Y. I think many people don't think about nutrition, fibre and whole foods. I 'm not enamoured of packaged anything. And now no granola, seeds or whole wheat and bran.
So the only fibre challenge that I am up to is using my imposed "rest" (non-weight bearing) to knit and plan knitting and wind up my lovely new balls from Mothers' Day.

One Good Turn

I turned the heel of this neglected sock and hardly realized it.

I've heard a lot about Nancy Bush and I was surprised to find I actually had the right yarn for her Ribs and Cable Sock in Interweave Knit's Fall 2005. This is a great pattern.

I'm no sock expert and I thought I would make Jay Walkers (put me alone on the list who have not made them yet) but I couldn't resist trying this simple, classic design. The yarn is from Helen's Needlework in Mt. Vernon Washington where I am lucky enough to shop during the July Highland Games. It's from a few years ago. I also enjoyed Wild Fibres there and would hit that store first. But I don't think I'll be going to any games on this bad foot.

So I managed to pick away at this sock during travels. I hope to make the toe with Lucy Neatby's chimney and cast on quickly for the second. I like having a pair of socks on the needles even if I don't need mindless knitting.

I like the short row heel. We'll see how it fits soon. This Mountain Colors is fuzzier and not as tightly spun as the Socks That Rock. I do love the colours. I like the idea of fancy socks that don't kick you in the teeth with their pattern. I have big feet and cold feet, so these socks should do fine.

I've knit several pairs before (5? 6?) I have three more pairs worth: 2 more mountain colours (one for pedicure socks for my friend for Xmas I hope) and Trekking XXL. That's pretty yummy stash for such a small gathering. I wasn't even tempted to buy more while I hadn't turned the heel on this one.

The great disappointment that is my blue diagonal cardigan now has one short sleeve and one long. I just ripped it from the longest point I could live with and knit up the cuff. I was going to knit it separately and graft it on, but with two rows of garter stitch, it didn't seem to matter. Still I couldn't face ripping up the second one last night while D. and I watched O Brother Where Art Thou (alone!), so I tucked in all the loose ends. It was surprisingly comforting like soaping a saddle or hanging laundry in the sun. Soon I will do the second sleeve and, instead of a pile of yarn in the stash, or an unfinished object on the needles, I will have a sweater. I will even try to love it.

I managed to get to the knitting Friday morning at the Chilliwack Craft and Wool Shop. I like those ladies so much. A fine smattering of old Dutch grannies, ladies my age from field and forest, and the odd (not so odd) hipster. Lots of learning going on in that group. I am their link to knitty and the internet. I can't imagine managing knitting without the internet community. So much sharing going on. And I'm learning to open up and add my two (Canadian) cents.

Well, one good turn deserves another.

7 Habits

Seven habits of a creature of strange habits.
This comes from Li at Life's a Stitch. Note to self: learn how to do hypertext links.

http://lifesastitch.typepad.com Hope that works.

Here's some of my many habits:

1. I always back into a parking space or pull through, "ready to go".

2. I have to earn my morning shower with a workout. Even if I don't get to clean up until 2pm.

3. I like to wear one donimant colour with neutrals. Denim is a neutral. Pink, red or purple are stand-alone accents. This has trickled into my knitting except for fair isle.

4. I do housework at the beginning of the week (Monday) so I can enjoy a clean house while my family is back at work/school.

5. I treat myself to a fun mystery novel after each serious read.

6. I can surf. I have surfed. I did surf. I have pictures to prove it. That was my dream for my fortieth birthday and it tasted great despite the salt and sweat.

7. I have lost some dreams on the sidelines.

Not Finished

This diagonal stitch cardigan from Debbie Bliss is a difficult sweater. I quietly picked away at it, row by row. I liked the interesting construction. I like the raglan sleeves. I like the drape of the fabric.
But it's TOO BIG. Can't win.

At first I thought the sleeves were just too long and I could easily rip them back, knit a new cuff and graft it on. Thanks to my on-line friends for even thinking that is a reasonable, normal venture.

But it's too drapey. It's not the sweater I was hoping to have. I wanted it more like the picture.

What to do? NOT abandon it to a container in the basement. I've had disappointments before and I have had successes. I will fix the sleeves and try to shrink it a bit in the wash. It's mostly cotton and may ignore it's acrylic content for me. It's not a bad sweater. Just not the one I hoped for.
Blogger is being cranky and won't let me post a picture. I'll try soon.
I'm not finished with you yet!

Finishings

I am spending a lot of time on very simple little baby sweaters. The knitting is very basic, the shapes are basic and the yarn is the focus.

Why would I do that when I can knit fair isle and lace, complicated sweaters of my own design and fantasitcal productions in wool?

I am enjoying the simplicity. At the same time I came upon a Lucy Neatby video at the library and I am charmed by her no nonsense and gentle approach to finishing.

Much of what she showed me was what I had been trying to do as the best choice from trial and error (lots of error) but I haven't been consistent because I never was sure.

I really felt that a "real" knitter would scoff at my finishing. I dreaded it and made a botch of it in anticipation of failure.

But now, when I'm rather exhausted from doing to much "out there", my knitting is simple and calming and I am free to gently and correctly match seams with the expertise of a great teacher behind me. What a joy.
In the past I have often charged that which I deplore. I became a crack nurse at gross dressings and the dying patient.

I'll do the nasty chores before settling in to get the nicer part of the job done- the equivalent of my oldest sister's "eat your peas first"

But finishing must be done last. It is so easy to go on to the next project with the promise of finishing later. I know people who pay others to do their finishing.

But now I have joined the ranks of those who accept finishing as part of a sweater project.

Just in time, too because I was brave enough to cast on the shawl collar of my diagonal sweater and I will have long raglan seams to finish as soon as I knit 4 more inches.

The scarf fit in a little plastic box. The kimono is ready for the mom's visit next month and the blue chunky sweater of Patagonian cotton will be ready to give our expecting skating coach this last week at the rink.

The cardigan collar is a fraction of what I thought it would be and I think I may work on my thistle lace shawl (also for myself) before beginning a nephew sweater of a birthday gift shawl. The Fleece Artist is awfully tempting. A siren rather than a muse.

I dipped into my extensive button collection to find buttons for this chunky cardigan. I finished it while watching Pan's Labyrinth. Not a great choice considering it is in Spanish with English subtitiles. But a wonderful fairy story told in a beautifully dark mood. Haunting music. I can still hum the tune.

This spate of finishing was foretold and I am not feeling any sense of loss. Rather relief to be caught up to my (artificially imposed) deadlines and expectation of future buffets of wool.

It is almost the end of the skating season, the school year, piano classes and Sunday School.

Aye Fond Farewell.

May Retreat

I'm just back from camp up at Cultus Lake. I'm so tired from helping the wonderful cook.
We had a blast but it was very heavy work for two to feed 80. Cook was so great about having vegetarian and vegan and milk free and wheat free. I got confused.
Not just camp food, either. Chicken enciladas, brilliant lasagna, they were very lucky.
Thanks wonderful cook for the fun and singing and tips on making things yummy.

My daughter went and had a good time at her second retreat.

I came home in the evenings and crashed infront of the TV. It was our 18th wedding anniversary and D. was on call, so we're going to celebrated with dinner tomorrow night at the restaurant where he proposed, La Mansione.

Right now I have to get my turn at the shower and put in a load of laundry. I have some finishing to show off next time.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Mothers' Day came with a trip to Urban Yarns in Vancouver. My friend has lost both parents and I was grumpy about last year's horrific Mothers' Day, so we took off for a lovely day.

I had ordered some lace weight, but it was sent to the other store. I ended up, after more than an hour of poking about, choosing the Fleece Artist Soft Wavy Wrap. It has the luminous blue and waves look I was going to use in the Print of the Waves shawl. The bonus is the quick knit.

I seem to be up to my armpits in projects.

I am dutifully decreasing on my sleeve. Good knitter.

Also having trouble with the pink tape online solo scarf as I have to use my right hand to throw the yarn.

Also quickly knitting up a black toque with pink wormy projections for daughter's super hero costume for camp this weekend "Anemone Emily".

Also looking at list of babies due. I have found the original patterns for the thicker yarns I had chosen and now have extra light yarns for future babies. Must finish one for May and one for June. The scarf is also for June.

Then...

the new yarn. Fleece Artist shawl for October- my second sister turning 50!

Kiri in purple Rowan Kid Silk Haze for September for Auntie turning 70! I'll probably work on this during out August Scotland trip.

Another Kiri for October- good friend turning 50! She'll get her pedicure socks for Xmas.

Another baby in October- our best babysitter we had for 6 years. She will be getting a baby denim jean jacket.

That's already more knitting than the calendar allows.

Whew.

And my carpal tunnel is acting up. Of course. I will try to moderate my rowing machine, but I love the way it strengthens my shoulders and improves my posture (all the better to knit my dear).

The list strangely calms me.

Don't expect me to stick to it too closely. Right now I'm a bit of a magpie.

Too many things on the needles. Perhaps in the coming weeks it will all come cascading to finishings. This is May, right?

My kids did do a lovely job of making me feel appreciated when I returned from my great escape. I'm lucky. At 16 and 14, they are poised to escape on their own adventures.