School Nurse Jackie Nits!!

I'm knittin mittens... and they're talking to God!

This is the 5th year we have been coming to Hatteras, North Carolina.  For the past 3 years we have vacationed with our good friends, the Olsens, but they were not able to join us this year...  We miss them terribly and things just weren't the same...  then came the idea to go PARASAILING! 

I had been knitting like crazy for Ravelympics...  I brought a lot of new projects and two WIPs (Works in Progress)...  I went for coffee with my sister and mom to my FAVORITE coffee shop on Hatteras - The Dancing Turtle.  I was enjoying my Toasted Coconut Latte (hot) and was perusing the bulletin board when a long yellow card caught my eye...  It said PARASAILING...  and the back said KAYAK TOURS...  To be honest, I was thinking the Kayak Tours sounded really cool...  It went up the Sound side of the island and was informative about the history of the island...  So I took a card...

My sister knows the family that runs the business (she lived down here for a few years) and said she would call...  When I got back to our place, the boys wanted to go parasailing (kayaking was a far second)...

So...  they went parasailing:

 

 

I was OUT OF MY MIND with worry in the boat...  both boys can swim, but they were 400 FEET UP IN THE AIR... Liam loved it immediately, but it took a little help from Liam for Eamonn to relax and love it...  It definitely made this trip a little less lonely without the Olsens.....

then....

Terry went up...

He LOVED it too...  he was relaxed immediately and crossed his arms about 75 feet into it...  He said he was "close to God"... 

If you're wondering - I did NOT go parasailing...  I really didn't even want to go on the boat, but was talked into it by my mom and sister...  Kayaking is today at 4:30 for 2 hours.

Anyway - here are the mittens to match the hat...  I'm getting ready for the winter... 

Pattern:  Mighty Mitts by Carol Anderson

Yarn:  Cascade 220 Wool (doubled) 1 skein Black and 1 skein Red

Needles:  US 8 circular 16 inch and US 8 dp needles

Now to finish Emily's 2nd sock....  casting on shortly! 

Hurry... it's the Closing Ceremony!!

I had BIG hopes of many projects during the Olympics (for Ravelympics)...  but I finished my last project today at the beach...  Eamonn's hat...

Need to get this picture on Ravelry...  details about the yarn and project to follow...  by the way.... WEATHER GORGEOUS today at Cape Hatteras...  I am a knitting TAN Goddess!!

                                   

Updated 8/25/08):  Pattern:  Flap Cap by Carol Anderson

Yarn:  (doubled throughout) Cascade 220 Wool

                   Red 1 skein

                   Black 2 skeins

Needles:  US 9 and US 10 circular 16 inch and US 9 dp needles

Note:  Eamonn liked it without the ear flaps.  This hat is AWESOME and warm for the winter - very heavy and wears well.  I made one last year (with ear flaps) for my older son Liam and it still looks great (picture to follow)...

BTW:  Not a cloud in the sky...  drinking my coffee on my deck and watching the waves crash...  The days are going too fast!

Heaven on Earth...

We left Lake Wallkill at 1am and arrived in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina Outer Banks at 12:30pm today...  First time we are staying at a condo and it is beautiful...  Weather was hazy, hot, and humid until the rain began to fall..  No damper on our day though...  Unpacked, bought groceries, ordered pizza, Terry made shrimp for him and Eamonn, and we vegged and caught up on some needed rest...  Will update tomorrow on weather...  About to go..... KNIT!!  :)

Coffee will be right here in the morning...  I'll take pictures of dolphins if I see them!

Size matters!

After knitting the mittens on size 2 needles, I needed a fast knit on big needles to make my head feel better...   I had been staring at my ball of Sheep Shop Yarn 2 and decided I should make my winter hat...  It took me 5 hours (including 3 hours that I went out to dinner with a friend) and I am going to knit a bunch of these for Christmas!  I love the leaf pattern and the way it fits...  Onto Eamonn's winter hat... 

Pattern:  Emilee Mooney's Foilage (Knitty.com)

Yarn:  1 skein of Sheep Shop Yarn 2

Needles:  Size 9 and 10.5 circular and 10.5 dp needles

Cold Hands.... Warm Heart!

They're done!  And I LOVE THEM!  I must thank Spiritknit for inviting me to my first Knit-A-Long on Ravelry.  When I saw them on the cover of Vogue Knitting this month, I thought they were just beautiful.  I don't think I would have tried to knit them (after seeing the chart) unless I was invited...  so I got out of my knitting comfort zone (way out) and began them...  The Chevron wrist wasn't too daunting, but then the pattern began....  on double pointed needles....  and I was hooked! 

So.... this late at night...  here is the finished product....  go ahead.... get jealous...  I'll be the talk of the city in these babies!

Pretty Polly Wrap

My sister-in-law and her husband live in Bermuda.  They moved there almost two years ago because he was transferred there with his job.  I love knitting for their daughter Fiona.  I had knit Martin Storey's Polly for Fiona in June, and I was able to give it to her when she arrived back in the states this July.  The pictures I had of the wrap did not do justice until I was able to photograph her today in the sweater...

                                    

I'm glad I made it in a bigger size because she will get to wear it for a while in Bermuda.  The Rowan Cashcotten DK is a favorite for me to work with and wears well.  Here is a picture of the back:

  

I wonder what I will knit next for her...  I'm thinking a poncho in cotton...  Anyway - last few photos (and her mom is due in December again - so I need to get busy with a baby blanket)...

Ravelympics! Summer Olympics 2008!

Man, I love the Olympics!  I love all highs and the lows....  I try to use it to show my boys that anyone can achieve ANYTHING!  While the Michael Phelps Gold medal and new World Record in the Mens Swimming 400 meter Individual Medley was beautiful to watch, what I love more is the story about Raj Bhavsar, USA Men's Gymnast who didn't make the team in 2004, and made alternate in 2008...  and got his chance when another gymnast was injured.  There he is in Beijing, China, with his Indian parents representing the USA!  He did not stop training when he was selected as an alternate...  He trained just as hard as the team members... there's a lesson in that!

Then there's South Korea's Men's Swimmer Park Tae-hwan who first entered the Olympics at the age of 14 in 2004 and accidently fell off his starting block and disqualified himself immediately.  He went into the men's bathroom in shame and did not emerge for hours.  Yesterday, at the age of 18, he was the first Korean swimmer to ever receive an Olympic medal, and not only did he get the Gold in the 400 meter Freestyle, he set an Asian record!  How one deals with adversity speaks to his/her character.  This is sooo important to teach our children.  Not everyone will be an Olympian, but everyone does deal with setbacks...  these men are truly inspiring....

Now....  onto knitting subjects...  I entered RAVELYMPICS and committed to knit several projects during the Summer Olympics...  I started with my first "Knit-a-Long" invitation to knit up Jared Flood's Green Autumn mittens. 

                                                                        

 

 

What an adventure... I am definitely keeping these for myself...  After discussing yarn choices with Patricia (owner of my favorite LYS, Patricias Yarns) I decided to go with Rowan Cashsoft 4 Ply and size 2 needles...  The cables really POP!  The first 3 sets of bobble cable twists were daunting, then SUDDENLY I got the hang of the cable needle to the front, back, and pattern.  It went super fast from Row 35 to Row 81, and the saddle closure around the outside of the mitten was fun...  I intend to cast on and finish the right mitten today and tomorrow and one project for Ravelympics will be completed! 

You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me!

                                                

Today is my 15th Wedding Anniversary!  Believe me when I tell/write you - NO MAN would ever put up with what my husband puts up with!  I remember the first night I met him in Hoppe's Pub (no longer open in Bayonne, NJ).  He was handsome and funny that night - and that was 20 years ago!  I am not good with remembering details, but there are certain things I remember as if they happened yesterday.  The night I met Terry is one of them....  and our first dance at our wedding is another....  I remember him singing to me - and me being incredibly happy at that moment....  we were surrounded by our family (some of which are no longer here) and our friends....  We have watched as some of our friends have struggled in marraige - and we always say to each other, "Aren't we lucky to have what we have?"  I'm not sure how one gets what we have...  it just came naturally to us...  I don't have advice like, "Don't ever go to bed mad,"  or, "If you're not going to be mad a year from now over something, then let it go."  Like all marraiges, what works for one doesn't always work for another -  but I think it's the friendship between the two that keeps it working....  He is and always will be my best friend, and he is definitely, "The Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me."

As happy a day as this is, I am so sad for our friends, The Olsens.  There was a tragic car accident on Friday, August 2nd, and a son, nephew, and friend was suddenly taken from us at the age of 22.  Ryan M. Olsen was an outstanding individual.  We have known Ryan for many years and had the privledge of swimming with him and his family at Lake Wallkill.  He personified what Lake Wallkill is and why I want our sons to grow up here every summer.  There are no words to express how sad we are, and pray for the family to try to let peace come into their hearts knowing that Ryan is in a much better place than here and we will all swim with him again someday.  There is another angel in heaven today and I pray that he is sitting right next to his Grandmother, my mother-in-law, and all the other Lake Wallkill family that has passed!  Rest in peace Ryan M. Olsen.