On Volcanos

Just one thing remains.  I have only to make a ghost like outline of that far away volcano and it is done.  I may have to do a little bit of something on the ash coming out of the volcano.  The stitches are long and straight and in service as a pillow cover, those long stitches will catch and eventually tear.  He is only 8 after all.  My goodness time flies.  Once the top is done, I have to pull out the stuffing and make a pillow to fit and then sew this top to some very smooth soft backing fabric I have in the fabric piles.

This means I get to start Carter's volcano picture and I am really looking forward to it.  They interpreted volcanoes very differently, according to their personalities I think.  As a subject for a grandmother's needlework, they are even more interesting.   

I did manage some knitting too.  The green Elton, my preferred sweater choice for weekends, is looking positively long.  Not finished long but it is getting to where it would look excellent as a cropped garment.  On someone else.  I have lots of yarn and I mean to make it a sweater that works for me, which means long enough to give my lower back some warmth.  

Weekdays are for knitting the Blue Elton.  The two sweaters were about the same length so if I can manage to get in a good sit of knitting time on it this week, I will feel very happy.  I almost would make it my goal to finish the body, but I am not sure I am quite up to that. You know how it is with me and goals.  If I say it, it becomes the last thing I want to work on and these sweaters, I really do want to get both done asap.  I want it to be the first thing I want to work on so mum is the word.  

It is chilly outside, -16C with a gusty bitter sort of wind.  Full winter in so many ways.  I am here snuggled inside warmth and comfort and coziness, and not for a moment do I forget how very privileged I am. Not for a moment.  

Two Eltons.

Nov 24 is a special day for me.  I usually remember it.  2007,  2008,  2009,  2010,  and after that, my Anniversary posts get sketchier.   It is my wedding anniversary and this year, would be forty three years.  Sigh.  It was the best day of my life.  There are reasons it is not such a good day too, but life happens all around you no matter what else is on your plate.  

The two men associated with today in my life, my dad and my husband have taught me to enjoy what you have in front of you.  So that is what I am focusing on. Happy wonderful things we did and all the good in my life now.

That lovely mohair takes longer to knit than the fingering multi colour in the other Elton sweater I am making.  This is a delicate dainty pretty knit.  The other, even using Fleece Artist yarns, is a more sweater like sweater, more robust.  Mine is the green, and Luda's is the blue.  

For now I must get back to work.  I want hers done asap so she has it for Christmas at least.  Time is all I have and I will happily share it with her.

A Sock. A Sock.

One of the things that I have missed all fall was talking with and general hanging out with knitters. Virtual or live, it made no difference to me. I was taking some very easy courses but I felt overwhelmed by them and stopped the visiting with knitters so I could concentrate on the material in front of me.  Now that all is said and done, I realize that being overwhelmed was connected to not being well for most of the fall.  I have missed my people and my contact with the joy that other people who knit have brought into my life.

Keith pointed out that some of my issues the last few days, could be alleviated if I just went back to my knitting groups, that 'maybe it was time, mama'.  I took his sage advice and I joined the International Virtual Knit Nights group today.  It was a lot of fun because if pineapple pizza day.  I can't explain it but it really was fun.  I haven't giggled so much in a long time.

I wanted to knit something simple and pulled out this barely started pair of socks.  The yarn is one of my very pretty Opal's, the Claude Monet colour.  I love how the artist colours come out in this whole series.  There was not a dud among them.  I only wish I had the Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night one.

I did spend most of the morning working on my embroidery things too.  Marcus' volcano is so close to finishing.  I have the smoke at the top and a few bits near the bottom to do.  Another day or two and it will be done.  Then comes Carter's volcano, a very different look, but really interesting to play with.  

As it is, this blog is written at my bed time.  I am tired but am feeling really good about my day and the general state of things.   I may learn to love Bob Vader** yet.  I need my sleep.

**Bob Vader, Darth's cousin, who wasn't evil like Darth, but wasn't entirely good either.

Actual Knitting

The way back to knitting has been rather strange.  It feels as if it has been a very long time since I really knit and did it with the sense of joy that I found today.  It felt so very very nice to feel like I was back in my right place.

I had been looking for something different to knit for a few days. I had my heart set on this sweater but that WIP bin of mine is large and deep and it holds a lot of things.  It defeated me for a day or two.  I had to empty the whole chest to find it. I was overjoyed when I found it this morning and I sat down and knit on it on and off for the whole day.  

It is plain knitting just like the Elton out of the lovely yarn from River City Yarns, but this is such a different combination of yarns and it is such a different experience to work on it.  I love both projects but it is nice to have something to switch to as I work through both sweaters very long middle of the torso sections.

Not sure what will be tomorrow, but there will be knitting and there will be joy.  That will be enough.

Onward ho.

And as things so very well must, they go on.  It has been this way through all human history and will remain long after I am done.  So I will go on.

Besides all the things going on with my dad, I have been ill.  Very ill.  I did not recognize it but it ended with me being utterly undignified in a place where they deal with sick people for a much longer period than I ever want to be there again.  I came home with Bob Vader and his Deathstar.  Every time I wander down my hall, my hands are full and I find I need something for my phone.

Do you remember this sock?

It is one of the many I have on the go and it was the right place to turn into a nice little bag.  

I thought about knitting an icord strap, but honestly, there are a hundred things I want to knit more than miles of icord.  And not nearly enough time in the world to do them all. 

Later today I will hit the embroidery bag.  I have volcanos to finish.  

My dad

My dad passed away yesterday at the grand age of 93.  

There is so much I want to say about him and yet words fail me.  He was such fun.  He was kind.  He was a tinkerer and inventor of solutions to whatever little thing stood in his way.  He built a house.  He made a home. He loved us most of all and made sure we knew that.  I am going to miss his laughter and his care and his being in this world.  He had a long life and his passing was peaceful and quiet and really, that is all any of us can ask for, isn't it.

 My dad at his 90th birthday.  Photo by Olga Renneberg

I am going to miss you so very much.

Here

I am here.  Still planning on blogging and will update next week.  Happy to be able tp pop in.

Here and knitting

I am here.  There is knitting but very plebeians knitting. 

Still, even plebeians needed socks.

Just restarting a garter stitch heel.  The first time around I was suffering from a lack of clarity and the heel was a mess such as I have not made since heel number 1 on that fateful may afternoon.  

But it's a busy couple days and will be a busy couple more so I may or may not get posting tomorrow.