When Last we met....

I have been knitting, yes I have.

 

Yet another Watch cap, out of Plymouth Encore and this time it's for me! Doesn't happen often, does it?

We celebrated a little bit of March Madness...complete with cake and....

Basketball rings. Mom and I are modeling them here. Guess who has the bigger fingers?

 

Here in town is a big St. Pat's parade....Mom got into the spirit when the lady came by with a green can of hair spray. I can say, this was a first! I have never seen her in Green hair before.

These guys were Mom's favorite.

We celebrated another birthday. Check out the cake!

Pink AND purple so the daughter didn't have to choose one over the other.

Yep, she got some socks. Pink, of course.

(Lace Rib socks from the Little Box of Socks)

 

Baby daughter got some socks, too. These are called City of Boston by Regia. Can you remember why I would pick these for her?

 

 These are going to be for me. At some point. Another Regia pair. Because the Moment I start to knit for me,....

There turns out to be a baby girl on the way that needs a blanket. I'd share this one with you, but....it's not quite ready to be unveiled. Soon, I promise! But the purple sockies are pretty cute, right?

 

Check out what was finally mailed! Did you order your copy that was due out last year? Well worth the weight...errr....wait!

Just in time for Mom's Easter basket, I knit up and 'Easter Bonnet' for her. I think the watch caps are a good pattern for her to wear. No matter which hat I make her, she insists on folding up the cuff. This is the perfect pattern for that use. And this time, I used a skein of the left overs from her 'Too Teal' cabled sweater I made her a few years back. Yep...perfect match when you have the same dye lot.

 

I have decided a bit ago, that I wanted to start knitting up one of each of my patterns to keep on hand as a 'sample'. That way when I want to show someone a particular pattern, or take updated photos, I'll have them available to grab at a moment's notice. So, of course, as soon as I got this one started (can you guess which one it is?)....

 

Daughter went to a Bridal Shower last weekend. So, in the best UCLA colors we could find, came a set of Bridal Shower Lace Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel and Dishcloth and a few others to round out the knitted portion of her gift. Yes, she had a really good time with some friends.

How often do you look on Ebay? Check out what I found for $14 just two weeks ago! Yes, I believe it's about to be reprinted, if it hasn't been already, but having an original hard cover copy in terrific condition for $14, what a find! Yes, I have 3 sweaters already picked out and in my to-do list. 

But right now, I am trying to get this done for Baby Daughter's friend. Her little boy is on his way and I'm racing to get this finished and mailed back to California before he's ready to make his grand entrance. I'm using a double strand of Bernat Baby Softee in Mint. It was the closest I could find quickly in a green that says wrap me up and snuggle me all day long!

What are you working on? Sorry I took so long to pop back in. I know...I know...that's on my to-do list, too.

Our Valentine Sweetheart

Happy Valentine's Day!

happy superbowl knitting

 

Check out how I'm spending pregame on Superbowl Sunday! Yes, those are the new long Lace Tips, Addi Clicks. The newest in their line of Click needles. 

 

 Here's a good look at the length of the needles

 Here's the cable goodies-see where I put the tip? That's in the cable to add a lifeline! How ingenious is that?

 

Here is an original turbo click on the left side, long lace tip on the right. You can see the difference in the tips. Blunt vs pointy.

 Here's the box they came in...even that is pink!

 ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...now this is the way needle tips and needles should make knitting feel! Amazing! Yes, if I had not been a fan before, I certainly am a fan now, and my hands are loving the longer tips! But we know I've been a fan since the first time I picked up a pair of addi needles. Even the old 'questionable' chords-but I can't say I miss them now.  I am sold, and heading back to this blanket....go so many things on my knitting to do list! happy knitting!

'Tis time!

Aren't we all supposed to be buying local this year? What is it that they keep saying, $64 of goods from USA saves a bunch of jobs? I'm trying!

Since I'm not near mine, this just 'popped' up on Amazon at a ridiculous price. Bring on the cookies! Thank you Santa!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhh.....SNAP!

Don't you hate when that happens?

 I am not impressed with the 'featherlight' type of Lantern Moon double points. I adore the ebony and the rosewood kinds, and I've used them a whole lot without a single one of them breaking. I've only had the featherlight ones for about 2 weeks. I'm not amused. I'm going back to the ebony and the rosewoods. Those I 'heart' as much as my addis.


So, until next time! May your needles stay sharp and not snap!

How I spent my Saturday

Ok, so this is first up on today's show and tell...for over a year now, my Auntie has been trying to bring me to a LYS in her neck of the woods that she thought I would like. Yep. Sure 'nuff!  No only did they have another great selection of my new found fav Shepherd's Wool, but check out the glass that came home with me! Knit 1, Sip 1. Rumor has it that they now have some Rip 1, Sip 1 in stock, too. But they came after we visited last week. Cute, no?

 Oh, the store is called Ewe to You Yarns down in Grand Blanc, MI. Stop by. When I was there it was like a meeting of the Cathys. Mom loved the pattern books with lots of babies and my uncle was asking if I was buying enough to open my own store. (Nope, I didn't tell him what I have back in California. hehe ). I tell you, they know a lot of great places to find fun stuff around this state!

 It's that time of year again. Hat knitting in a quick bit of time kinda season. Here's another Stockinette Watch Cap from my fav book, Hat's on! This time, I stripped the cuff.

 Top view of the hat.

When I got finished with the stripping, I turned the hat and made the cuff inside out, so that after it's turned up, you don't see the inside. Hope it wears well. That yarn is soooooooooo soft!

 Don't you love how right on the label, it's says proudly, 'Made in Michigan'? Love buying something locally, and to have it such a great quality, even better. You should call around to your LYS and see if they can carry it. It's sooooooooooooo very soft! It's a joy to have in your hands.

 The skeins are 4oz, not just 100 g, but 113 g and after making this hat, here's what I had left over. Plenty to use for another hat.

Of course, this one is made with their new 'Michigan Blue' color! Yep, GO BLUE! And incase you haven't heard....they're heading for the Sugar Bowl! It's about time! 

So, until next time, Happy Knitting!

Happy 84th!

Happy 84th Birthday Mom! 

 I think we partied her out all week....

 Pre-birthday Celebration #1 at her sister's house with cupcakes that had lemon slices on top.

 yes, I have much talent at blinking at the wrong time...

 Carmel Cake, birthday celebration #2, her actual birthday...

 Her new watch cap, Plymouth encore, 100 sts cast on, Hat's On! book.

3rd party at her Day care center, brownies she made, with chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream.

Her reaction? "This was a wonderful Birthday week!"

And it was. Just the way we wanted it to be.

Starting to play 'catch up'

I think it was back in March, good grief, it's been so freaking long I can't remember, but I had the chance to go to Boston to see my son and made a quick trip into Windor-Button. If you live there, GO! I love that shop. Since the LYS in Harvard Square is now closed, it's my go-to. So many things all packed into the store. So many stores to pick from! But this one has Happy Feet DK yarn that I just LOVE! And make sure to stop by Finagle a Bagel. Fun shop with great bagel sandwich when you're out and about walking around.

Then I surprised my daughter while she was boarding a plane in Detroit. I had arranged a flight home to California to be on the same flight she was going to be on for her birthday trip home! Imagine changing planes, thinking you weren't going to make your connection, running, running, running, only to get to the gate to hear, 'Oh you're the daughter!'....and then walk onto the plane and seeing your mother sitting next to your seat. SURPRISE! It was fun! Nerve wracking as her first flight was delayed, but we didn't stop talking the whole flight. Sorry to the passengers sitting next to us on the DTW-LAX flight. Hope you enjoyed our conversation! 

 Baby sister picked us up from the airport and before she returned to California, we figured it was only proper to take her to the beach. Can you see here there? ya, so doggoned foggy you couldn't see the water standing on the pier! But...she was there. 

 I went back to Michigan for Easter Sunday

 

Back to California in time for a 'little' bridal shower. My middle daughter, the Cinderella lover that she is, received a 'shoe' cake from her baby sister. How do you like that slipper? I made it out of white chocolate! Isn't it cute?

 And then I gained a Son-In-Law!

In June and July, I went back to Mom and Dad's for the 4th and Dad's 83rd birthday. When was the last time you found a neighborhood kool-aid stand? We had a blast. I found a recipe for Dad's birthday to finally make his 'bakery style' frosting that he so greatly loved. It's been a long standing family joke about how Dad loved his little cake with the frosting. Corner piece please, and a few frosting flowers if you so please?

At the end of August, I was flying into Michigan to stay with Mom and Dad for 4 days before driving my daughter back to Michigan. Dad was concerned that she wasn't going to be able to find a job that would support her Master's Degree in this area. He wanted her to use her talents for what she  had been trained for. As much as he loved having her with them, he was wanting her to use her degree. He had talked to me in July about getting her to go home. Well, funny how things turn out. Do you want to hear God laugh? Tell him you have plans. While enroute to Michigan, Dad fell out of bed. At midnight eastern time I was on the phone with the paramedics giving them Dad's medical information. Turns out his hip was fine, but he'd had a heart attack. A few days later, packed in the car, Mom and I followed the ambulance as Dad was transported down to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit where they worked on him to the tune of 30 doctors. Yep, 30. So many complications, and body parts just completely wearing out. Baby daughter came to visit for a week. Honestly, I thought he was going to pull through. It wasn't until they told me at noon on September 24th that they were buying him time for oldest daughter to get back to Detroit, and while family were trying to locate my brother in town to get down to be with Dad, did it dawn on me we were going to loose him. I just figured everything was just one more thing, or hurdle for him to get through. The doctors kept telling me they could fix each next thing he came up against. It's really rough to hear your Dad tell the doctors, "I'm ready to go. And I want to go now." But...those were his wishes. And there was no way I was going to let him transition into Eternal life without us there. Mom, Melissa and I were with him as he passed.

Now, I'm here in Michigan. I'm not leaving. I can't fathom Mom being put into a nursing home. She wants to stay in her home and there is no reason she can't. While Dad was in Detroit, my daughter got a phone call from one of the hospitals there with a part time job using her degree! Dad was thrilled to hear not only did she get the job, but being part time it meant that she would be able to stay in the house with them to continue being a huge help. He was looking forward at the time to 'keeping her around'. Neither one of us has plans to leave Mom. We couldn't think of it being any other way.

Besides, Mom likes it when I knit her hats, and she's now hooked on Sbux chia tea with pumpkin spice. Thanks to the granddaughter! So, until next time! Happy knitting!