I'm sitting at work, done my work already for the day (yes, at 10:00 a.m.), but still needing to man the desk until 4:15. So I thought I'd write a little post to complain about the weather.
Seriously? WTF, mate? Have you looked outside? It's dull, dreary and grey. When is summer going to get here? We only get precious few months in this country to celebrate warm weather, and every day that we have like this, it scratches yet another day of sun off the calendar. It looks like November in Denmark outside. Blah.
So this is "climate change." Apparently our weather is turning coastal. Perhaps preparing for Vancouver to fall into the ocean? I don't know how long this is going to last, but it better hurry up and change! My vegetable garden is not growing like it should. The only thing really growing is the potatoes.
In other news, Elodie has started full time at the local day care. SHE LOVES IT. Why didn't we think of this sooner? After all the stress and worry about finding adequate childcare (because believe me, the last place was NOT adequate at all), we find it, and it's great, and I love it. She loves it. Everybody's happy. She eats great when she comes home at night because she's spent the entire day playing her little legs off. She's going to sleep well because she's totally exhausted from a day of hard play. And she's DOING stuff. No longer is she being babysat by the TV in the basement while I desperately try to get some work done, despite her constant interruptions. No longer do I feel guilty for ignoring her while I try to manage my business and house.
Life is good.
She and Robbie are heading off to Newfoundland for two weeks starting next Friday. Whatever shall I do? Knit? Sleep? Bathe? All three? Sounds good!
7.10.2009
7.06.2009
Four Years.
At almost exactly this moment, four years ago, my mother-in-law passed away from lung cancer. I can't believe it's been four years already. And yet, I can't believe it's only been four years.
Vera was diagnosed on May 5, 2005 and passed away July 6, 2005. I’d only known her for a few short months, but like so many who had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know her, she was immensely special to me. She remains special to me. She is the reason I took up the needles again.
Before, knitting had been a passing hobby. It was something I’d learned to do when I was in the early teens, taught the knit stitch and a very rudimentary cast-on by a friend. Acrylic yarn and big, plastic needles were the only things I knew how to knit with, and I wasn’t really a fan. It was relaxing, but also completely infuriating at the same time.
So instead, I crocheted. It was okay, but I coveted knit fabric. The drape, the prettiness. I wanted to do that! Instead, my fabric was inelastic, inflexible.
After meeting my now-husband, Robbie, I began to expand as a person. I came out of my shell a lot, accepted the person I am, and I became an adult. I met his parents, and I LOVED them. His mother was everything I wanted in an extended family. She was smart, funny, beautiful, and handy. She could lay a hardwood floor during the day and knit a sweater at night.
Her yarns of choice were acrylics, fun furs, and everything I now refuse to knit with, but she was one of those rare knitters that could turn the flat-out ugliest yarns on the planet into beautiful, functional pieces. Regular handicraft cotton became delicate shawls. Pink fun fur became adorable baby sweaters. Scratchy acrylic transformed into soft, durable sweaters.
When Vera passed, our lives fell into two categories. Pre-death and post. For weeks after she passed, each time the phone rang, we would think, is this Vera? And now, four years later, I still wonder how our lives would be different, how they would be better, if she were still here. She would dote on our daughter, her first grandchild who never had the pleasure of meeting her. There would still be dinners at her house, she’d still be married to Robbie’s step-dad. Together, they’d have six grandkids now, up from zero four years ago.
There’d still be phone calls and jokes and great clothes as Christmas gifts. Her knitting basket and needles and yarn would not be sitting in my house, but in hers. Our family would not be missing something. I would not cry every time I hear Amazing Grace, and I would not have strange urges to wander the halls of Unit 47 of the hospital I work in.
I would not miss.
I miss her.
Vera was diagnosed on May 5, 2005 and passed away July 6, 2005. I’d only known her for a few short months, but like so many who had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know her, she was immensely special to me. She remains special to me. She is the reason I took up the needles again.
Before, knitting had been a passing hobby. It was something I’d learned to do when I was in the early teens, taught the knit stitch and a very rudimentary cast-on by a friend. Acrylic yarn and big, plastic needles were the only things I knew how to knit with, and I wasn’t really a fan. It was relaxing, but also completely infuriating at the same time.
So instead, I crocheted. It was okay, but I coveted knit fabric. The drape, the prettiness. I wanted to do that! Instead, my fabric was inelastic, inflexible.
After meeting my now-husband, Robbie, I began to expand as a person. I came out of my shell a lot, accepted the person I am, and I became an adult. I met his parents, and I LOVED them. His mother was everything I wanted in an extended family. She was smart, funny, beautiful, and handy. She could lay a hardwood floor during the day and knit a sweater at night.
Her yarns of choice were acrylics, fun furs, and everything I now refuse to knit with, but she was one of those rare knitters that could turn the flat-out ugliest yarns on the planet into beautiful, functional pieces. Regular handicraft cotton became delicate shawls. Pink fun fur became adorable baby sweaters. Scratchy acrylic transformed into soft, durable sweaters.
When Vera passed, our lives fell into two categories. Pre-death and post. For weeks after she passed, each time the phone rang, we would think, is this Vera? And now, four years later, I still wonder how our lives would be different, how they would be better, if she were still here. She would dote on our daughter, her first grandchild who never had the pleasure of meeting her. There would still be dinners at her house, she’d still be married to Robbie’s step-dad. Together, they’d have six grandkids now, up from zero four years ago.
There’d still be phone calls and jokes and great clothes as Christmas gifts. Her knitting basket and needles and yarn would not be sitting in my house, but in hers. Our family would not be missing something. I would not cry every time I hear Amazing Grace, and I would not have strange urges to wander the halls of Unit 47 of the hospital I work in.
I would not miss.
I miss her.
7.04.2009
Praise be to Buffalo
Ron (BuffaloGuy - Rav link) is the owner of Buffalo Gold. He and his wife, Theresa, have made their way from Texas to the Calgary Stampede this year. On Ravelry, they asked us in the Alberta Knitters Group if they should bring yarn. "YES!" we practically shouted, "YES! Bring yarn!"
I asked them if they'd bring fibre, and not only did they bring fibre, but they said they'd make a gift of 1 oz of buffalo down for any Ravelers who come to the booth.
This is what I adore about the fibre world. People who I don't know are giving $40 worth of fibre away to people that they don't know all because we DO know that we're knitters. We're fibre people. How awesome is that?
Anyway.
Today, I went to the Calgary Stampede.
Haleluia.
I asked them if they'd bring fibre, and not only did they bring fibre, but they said they'd make a gift of 1 oz of buffalo down for any Ravelers who come to the booth.
This is what I adore about the fibre world. People who I don't know are giving $40 worth of fibre away to people that they don't know all because we DO know that we're knitters. We're fibre people. How awesome is that?
Anyway.
Today, I went to the Calgary Stampede.
Haleluia.
7.02.2009
Veil of Isis
So beautiful!
Knit with Colourmart 100% Cashmere. YUM. This is a gift for my cousin's fiancee, Ashley. Modelled by the ever-lovely Terra.
The beads (which are rather hard to see) are only on the border. I used far more than called for, and they're a really nice smoky purple/green/blue hue. I am SO happy with this knit. I hope Ashley likes it!
Knit in just under two months.
Knit with Colourmart 100% Cashmere. YUM. This is a gift for my cousin's fiancee, Ashley. Modelled by the ever-lovely Terra.
The beads (which are rather hard to see) are only on the border. I used far more than called for, and they're a really nice smoky purple/green/blue hue. I am SO happy with this knit. I hope Ashley likes it!
Knit in just under two months.
5.23.2009
Must-Knit list
Yoinked from Annie. These are my must-knit patterns from my queue on Ravelry.
Linea. I LOVE this shirt. If only, if only I was still a skinny mini. Unfortunately, I gave up on my size fours, but I'm still holding out hope for the sixes. ;)
Kiehkuralapaset - Swirly Mittens. I queued a lot of mittens over the winter, but these still stand out for me. They're absolutely lovely, and I think if they were knit in Noro, they'd be stunning.
Versatility. This picture makes it a little hard to see, but it's a really interesting design. It's essentially a long stole, but with one side of buttons and the other side of button holes, not to mention a pretty ribbon, it can be worn lots of different ways.
B16-10 Jacket from Drops Design.
The always-stunning Burridge Lake Aran Afghan. Nuff said.
Currently, Veil of Isis is coming along nicely. Only one more repeat before I'm at the edging. No pictures yet. I want to get it all done, blocked and beautiful before I show you all. I nixed the idea of silk. After working with it, I wasn't getting the effect I desired. So I ordered in some really beautiful misty grey cashmere from ColourMart for $32, and it's perfect.
Mom's sweater has returned to me for alterations. Only about half a foot more length, she says. *sigh*
Linea. I LOVE this shirt. If only, if only I was still a skinny mini. Unfortunately, I gave up on my size fours, but I'm still holding out hope for the sixes. ;)
Kiehkuralapaset - Swirly Mittens. I queued a lot of mittens over the winter, but these still stand out for me. They're absolutely lovely, and I think if they were knit in Noro, they'd be stunning.
Versatility. This picture makes it a little hard to see, but it's a really interesting design. It's essentially a long stole, but with one side of buttons and the other side of button holes, not to mention a pretty ribbon, it can be worn lots of different ways.
B16-10 Jacket from Drops Design.
The always-stunning Burridge Lake Aran Afghan. Nuff said.
Currently, Veil of Isis is coming along nicely. Only one more repeat before I'm at the edging. No pictures yet. I want to get it all done, blocked and beautiful before I show you all. I nixed the idea of silk. After working with it, I wasn't getting the effect I desired. So I ordered in some really beautiful misty grey cashmere from ColourMart for $32, and it's perfect.
Mom's sweater has returned to me for alterations. Only about half a foot more length, she says. *sigh*
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