School Nurse Jackie Nits!!

Happy Birthday!

                                                                                                                        

Before I lay my head to sleep, I must say Happy Birthday to a very special place...  Patricia's Yarns... my favorite LYS in the world!  Once again, when I listen to the universe, I know that I was meant to meet Patricia Scribner and her husband Adam (and little dog Riley too!).  Birthdays cause us to remember all that has changed in a year, and I know that I have had a year full of change, and so has Patricia!  Her yarn store was her dream in 2004, and she has shared her talent, gift, and expertise with each of my projects.  She learned about me, my family, and my friends through countless hours of knitting and all the while we were knitting and creating our own friendship.  Her dream has been a blessing for me - and I say, "Happy 4th Birthday Patricia's Yarns!  May you have many more ahead of you!"  Good night!

The Beautiful Lonely Tree

                                     

My FAVORITE thing to look at when I sit on the beach of Lake Wallkill is this single, lonely, beautiful tree that is at the top of the mountain that surrounds the lake (off center to the right).  It is separated from the other trees at the top and sits almost bare of leaves by itself.  I find that I am mezmerized by this single tree, and my mind just wanders when I stare at it....  I wonder why it is separated from the other trees, and why it is almost bare of leaves...  That single tree makes the entire mountain of trees REAL.

I am really enjoying my time here...  my boys are involved in a ton of daily activities, and are getting so mature - it's getting harder to answer those tough life questions (about friends, girls, you know the gig), and I find that parenting isn't getting easier - if anything it's getting harder because they are developing their sense of morals, ethics, loyalty, and self esteem.  So....  I knit at the beach.... and I look at the tree....  and I ponder all those things....  and I enjoy these times - because I know that in 5 years, Liam will be going to college after the summer at Lake Wallkill....

Anyway - onto my knitting....  Still OTN - Terry's first Argyll Sweater (Back is 15 inches so far) and I LOVE the Rowan Tweed Wool....

                                       

And - I needed a break from that back Stockinette Stitch - so I did a quick pair of Socks (one down - one to go) for a special girl at the Lake (Tofutsies Wool - picked up a few years ago from Knitting Addiction at the South Shores of Outer Banks North Carolina).  Making my way down to my FAVORITE LYS - Patricia's Yarns for more wool...  Baby Blankets needed...

and RAVELYMPICS (on Ravelry)...  Knitting during the Summer Olympics 2008 at Beijing...  I committed to getting the winter hats, scarves, and mittens done during the Olympics!  Soooo...  I need the wool!  Anyway - STAY COOL! 

And it begins....

                                          

Argyll Cardigan - Wendy Baker

Rowan Felted Tweed - MC SH 153 - Brown

                         Color A - SH 161 - Green

                         Color B - SH 147 - Grey

                         Color C - SH 152 - Blue

I'm casting on Terry's sweater today!  He picked out the pattern from the Rowan Book Knitting for Him book.  I went to my favorite LYS - Patricia's Yarns and with her help (and Margaux too), we came up with the colors for his first knit sweater.  I've knit plenty of scarves, hats, and mittens...  but never ventured to more than a baby sweater.  My fear is that it won't fit after all that work, but I'm taking lots of precautions and measuring...  and re-measuring...  and even....  making a swatch!  Come now!  I can't remember the last time I made a swatch...  I always figured the baby sweater would fit - someday...  and did not worry about it too much...

I am soooo in love with Rowan.  I love the cotton and the wool....  Last year I made Terry a basic beanie wool hat with this same brown wool tweed so I'm hoping that the argyll sweater will coordinate!  I'm going to try to make everyone a sweater by Christmas!  Let's see how that goes!  Gotta run!

Before I go to sleep....

                                             

                                             

Leslie Scanlon's Eyelet Baby Blanket

Size 11 circular needle

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes - 7 skeins - Color 2003

I am about to go to bed, and I am glad the blanket is finished!  It was an extremely fast knitting project (size 11 needles), and I didn't LOVE it until I was binding off the ruffle.  It is just a beautiful blanket - a true heirloom.  I didn't even have to block the center piece before picking up the stitches for the ruffle.  It is soooo soft and gorgeous.  The babies were born 2 months early... yikes...  and came home today!  I think she will love the boy and girl baby blankets!  Each stitch was filled with a memory of my mother-in-law.  She would be happy - she IS happy tonight!  Good night all!

Paradise...

                                             

I have arrived at Lake Wallkill and am enjoying the quiet nights (except for crickets and racoons getting into my garbage).  My boys have already started Swim Practice every day at 10am at the swim lanes, and our first swim meet is next Monday....  I spent two full days cleaning the cabin (thank God for the poor weather last week), and I am slowly getting everything here that I need.  I've had some real power knitting time.  I love waking up early (before anyone else) and getting my coffee and sitting in my screened porch with needles clicking.

My mother-in-law's very dear friend had twin grandbabies...  one boy and one girl.  I had originally begun the Leslie Scanlon Lattice Baby Blanket for another friend, when I was informed that Laurie Curry had her twins two months early....  So, what was to be the Brill Baby Blanket and Fiona's Sibling's Baby Blanket quickly became Laurie Curry's twins' baby blankets!  I have finished the boy's blanket (Mikail)...

                                        

I have three out of four sides done for the ruffle of the girl's blanket and just put a pot of coffee on to finish it tonight.  I need to get down to my favorite LYS, Patricia's Yarns for my Rowan Tweed that arrived to begin the Argyle Sweater for my hubbie!