Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

Today is my husband's birthday.  It is not one that ends in zero, like last year's which required much fuss and a big party.  This morning he received birthday hugs and kisses from the three women who share him and some special handwarmers I knit.  

See, DH owns 25% of the shop.  He says it's so I can ask him to move boxes to the basement, move stuff in the stock room, change lightbulbs I cannot reach, etc.  So to justify his ownership interest, he is now the proud owner of a pair of Intercostal Mitts.  These were the perfect gift, as he hates to wear gloves or mittens, particularly when driving.  To make it even better, I knit them from Jade Sapphire 6-ply Mongolian Cashmere in the Film Noir colorway.  I used just over one skein.  Had I been more careful, I could have gotten them out of one skein, but I didn't.  Looks like I might have enough left over to make myself a pair of Fetching, which I have always wanted.

Now, about the birthday boy.  He is the love of my life.  He is my soulmate.  We met online debating whether Bill Clinton should have to testify in the Paula Jones suit during discovery on a political list-serv.  Eventually, we realized we only lived about 20 minutes apart and had dinner.  That was 11 years ago this past May.  We'll be married 11 years in January and I couldn't be happier.  He is my best friend.  He is a wonderful father and we are very lucky to have him around.  How many other men would put up with their wife buying a yarn store instead of practicing law!  Truly, a rare breed.

The Intercostal Mitts are a quick fun knit.  I cast them on at the shop on Wednesday and only knit on them at the shop as I had time.  It turns out my husband notices what I knit.  When I pulled out a project that was not my sweater, he announced "That's not your sweater!"  So much for stealth knitting at home.  Anyway, I don't get a whole lot of time to knit in the shop, but was able to whip these out.  Cast off last night around 6.  I'll try to pry them from him for a photo.  

In other knitting news, after I finished the wedding stole, I cast on a hoodie for my older daughter.  Knit in Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Chunky.  Great yarn to work with.  I rewrote the pattern as I went.  All went well until we got to the hood.  I ripped it four times before I got it right.  It's done.  She loves it.  Maybe I'll get a photo of it someday too.

Also in the works, a pattern for a child's ponytail hat.  As you may notice from the photo of the girls with the bride from August, both girls have very long hair and tend to wear ponytails to school, which makes wearing hats in cold weather tough.  I'm working on a modification of the Hannah pattern from magknits in worsted weight yarn for elementary aged girls.  Will be posted soon.  

Finally, on the knitting for me front -- which doesn't make noise often -- I'm knitting the Dandy sweater from the Kaffe Fassett Colourscapes book.  Wow, it is lovely.  I'm about halfway up the back.  Will keep you posted.

And -- dear husband -- happy, happy birthday.  Let's celebrate many more together.  I love you.

Why is this a threat to Bud?

The photo, above, is of an Addi Turbo Lace needle.  Addi Turbo Lace needles are a beautiful thing, particularly if you are knitting lace.  The one's I was carrying were size five and connected to a skein of Creamy, a milk based yarn, in the natural colorway.  This is becoming attempt two at my niece's wedding shawl.  (We don't talk about what happened with the first attempt -- it resulted in gnashing of teeth, wailing and much language which is not fit for a family blog!)  

So, last week, I found out that these needles are a threat to the great Busch Entertainment Corporation, which is related in some fashion, to the ever large Clydesdale pulled Anheuser Busch (aka Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob, etc.) beer wagon.  We went on vacation with the girls to Busch Gardens and Water Country USA.  (Yes, we went to the water park despite Daughter 2's broken arm -- she didn't let the cast stop the fun.)  

Now, these days when one goes to a theme park, you must go through a security checkpoint.  Here we are at the check point on the way in to Water Country when a nice, young security guard says:  "I'm sorry, ma'am.  You can't bring those knitting needles into the park.  We don't allow them."  The look on my face was clearly "What?!"  I responded very calmly, "I can bring them on an airplane, but I can't bring them into a water park?  If you had inflatable pools, I could see your concern, but I don't see how my needles can hurt your concrete pools."  The knitter in me was saying under my breath -- If I have the guts to bring my good yarn and needles to somewhere there is this much chlorine, I should be rewarded for my fortitude."  I did not utter that part aloud.

Darling husband took the ziploc bag of yarn, pattern and needles away from me and walked it back to the car, while I muttered all the while.  

I'm sending a letter to Busch Entertainment asking for an explanation, because my sock in progress had a wonderful time at Busch Gardens Europe.  It rode the skyride across the park a few times, the carousel, kept me sane while waiting for people to ride rollercoasters.  Now, it is possible the sock was never detected because rather than being in a plain, see through ziploc bag, it was in a Go Knit! pouch (blue ripstop nylon -- I love them.)  However, many Busch Gardens employees saw me knitting in the park -- including in the Emerald Beat Irish Dancing show (which was quite good).  

So, what should we do.  As the Yarn Harlot says (and has proven), knitters can be motivated. We are a multitude.  We out number golfers in North America.  Most knitters I know are motivated by beer.  We need to let the folks feeding the Clydesdales know how we feel.  I, personally, will not be drinking another Busch product until such time as knitting is allowed in all Busch theme parks (Sesame Place and Sea World included.) You can let them know how you feel by dialing 1-800-DIAL-BUD. If you expected us to endure endless lines with good humor, the least you can do is let us have our knitting.

BTW -- other than the needle incident, we had a great time. 

Off to Columbus

When I was practicing law, I tried cases in some odd places.  Hattiesburg, Miss.  Des Moines, IA. Fort Wayne, IN. Abingdon, Va. just to name a few.  Generally, I would not get excited for traveling to these spots.  Excitement was reserved for places like Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle and Miami.  Well, my days of trying cases on the road are over.  I have a trip in the works and I'm excited.  

I'm going to Columbus, Ohio!  Yep.  Columbus.  Why?  TNNA,  the National Needle Arts Associations big show where all the fall yarns will be out, other shop owners will be there and a chance to take classes on running your shop and sharpening your knitting technique.  I have signed up for three classes and have completed my homework for each.  

Hotel -- check.

Plane ticket -- check.

Extra bag to bring home yarn samples and goodies -- check.

The family thinks I'm nuts, but I can't wait to get on that plane tonight.  A full day of toe-up socks is a dream come true for me (maybe I'll finally find a toe-up toe who's look I like!)

Off to the big city!

One Day at a Time

Dad is still at MUC. We drive Mom back and forth each day. It's taking it's toll.

On a happier note, littlest one turns 5 on Tuesday. A classmate is having his birthday party Saturday at the Rodent House Pizza Joint with Loud Arcade Games from 12-1:30. Following at 2, is Littlest's bowling party. Lots of tired 5 year olds on Saturday night, I'm sure.

Still have to bake cupcakes for school, fill goody bags and the like. Bless the husband for taking today off to do the running around for the party. I don't know what I'd do without him.

With all the chaos with Dad sick, not much knitting has been going on. I really need to knit to keep myself sane.

Wishing you all a great weekend.

The Chemo Begins and Knitting Continues

Here I am again, at MUC with mom and dad.  The chemo starts today for the next 21 days.  We'll see what happens.  The socks continue, as do the Broad Street Mittens for my law clerk.  She has tried on the one which I lost then found and is very happy with the choice of yarn and colors.  She has declared them "Fab".  

Of course, mother of young girls, when I hear my law clerk saying "Fab", all I can see is Sharpay from High School Musical 2 singing Fabulous.  

Sometimes, you just have to laugh.  If I don't laugh now, I don't know what I'd do -- other than knit.  

Knitting, Love and Cancer

I haven't blogged much in the last week or so. My dad, who is 84 and has been in wonderful health until about six months ago, was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia on January 3. They were at their winter place in Florida, but my sister and her husband were visiting at the time. We needed to get them home -- which happened on Saturday.

However, his condition took a turn and I spent from 3 p.m. Monday until 1:30 a.m. Tuesday at the emergency room of a major university medical center (MUC) -- where he was admitted. He was in very grave condition and remains in the hospital. (A word about places like MUC -- not its real name -- the oncology staff, both docs and nurses, are true angels. I am convinced there is a special place in heaven for all those who work on that floor.)

What do you do when you're sitting with your mother and father, who have been married almost 63 years, in the ER all afternoon and evening? Both are scared and not used to big city hospitals. You're placed near the trauma entrance and bay, so you see the gun shot and accident victims coming in. You take along that skein of Colinette Jitterbug (see my ravelry stash for a photo) and hand wind it into a ball. Then you cast it on US 1 needles and begin knitting a simple sock, because anything else requires too much concentration.

Why do you do this? Because your parents know you can't sit still without something occupying your hands. They have watched your craft through family gatherings for more than 40 years -- knitting, needlepoint, cross stitch. Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, just plain visits. There is always something in your hands. If you don't bring something, they may think you're scared and worried, too. It is a sign of comfort to them that all is OK.

As I sat winding the yarn, I thought of the Yarn Harlot's touching story in her first book. Steph writes of a time she spent as a doula -- always knitting at least some socks for the new baby during labor. She wrote of the comfort the needles brought to both the laboring mother and herself, that everything was fine. Buy or borrow the book. Read the essay. Cry. As a mother, it was wonderfully touching to me when I first read it, but now -- it touches me in a different way. I am the one who sits and knits trying to hold things together for my family -- to be strong.

So, there I sit, as I watch my father sleep and breathe and listen to my mother mutter and mumble about all the things she has to do and how she wants him to eat some more -- one needle into the other -- round and round in stockinette. No cables. No lace. Nothing fancy. These socks will be like my father -- simple, plain, strong and durable.

The Mitten Monster

If you look back a few posts, you will see a mediocre picture of the Broad Street Mittens I am knitting for my law clerk for a holiday gift (now overdue). There is proof, via my IPhone that the first mitten was completed and does exist. I CAN'T FIND IT NOW.

The second one is mostly complete and I cannot find the first one. I have tried every active knitting project bag. When I was a kid, my mother would say: "Put it someplace safe, so you don't loose it." Well, wherever I put this mitten, it is very safe -- I cannot find it. The good news is I have enough yarn to knit another one, but that's not the point. The other one was COMPLETE. DONE. FINISHED. ENDS WOVEN IN.

It's gone.

In other news, Christmas with the family was wonderful. We are blessed to have a wonderful family we are related to by blood and a second family we have made of dear friends who truly make us remember how loved we are.

I'm going back to tearing apart the house now to find the mitten.

Happy Boxing Day!

Linked by Casseroles

So, I'm tooling around other blogs yesterday and Nake-id Knits mentioned that a friend was going to have surgery. Leslie was looking for casserole recipes. Fan of 50s cooking that I am (water chestnuts wrapped in bacon, anyone?), after a few suggestions sent her off to the Cambpell's Soup web site for more uses of condensed soup than a sane person should know.

Side benefit of this bit of cooking trivia -- I've been linked! In a matter of two days, I've gotten a comment and a link. Whoa.

Thanks, Leslie. Feel free to come back any time.

On the knitting front, I've cast on the remaining Broad Street Mitten which will be a Christmas gift for someone in my office. I can mention that since she doesn't know I blog. The photos from my iphone don't do this yarn justice, but here is one completed mitten. This was my first attempt on something with fingers and I'm pleased. (It's not blocked -- be kind when you comment.)

Now an idea. My girls go to an aftercare program at their school. The aftercare ladies (who are wonderful) are outside with them on nice days, but that's still cold at this time of the year. Would knitting up quick Caliometry head warmers be a good idea?

I have a ton of really great hand spun Shetland wool from Maine (gift from my SIL last Xmas), that would be really warm. Any other ideas for something quick that can be knit four or five times between now and December 21? Thanks.

BTW - if you comment and leave an email address, or your Ravelry ID, I'll write back and "friend" you on Ravelry.