One week to go

So my excuse?

Despite having knit, off and on, for the last several years, this is the first full year that I would consider myself a "knitter"  (i.e., a person who spends all her discretionary income - limited though it is - buying yarn, needles and other related goodies).

That's why I seemed to think it was a good idea to make most of the Christmas gifts this year.  In October.  Hell - October was 2 months ago.  What the heck have I been doing with my time since then?

Oh, sure, I've been working - you know coaching, talking to animals and ghostwriting.  And every once in a while I've been socializing (knitting though has really helped me indulge my introverted side) and even volunteering.

Still.  I woke up yesterday and whispered, "I need another week." Michael rolled over and smiled, saying, "you HAVE another week."  I pouted.  Saying I needed one week after that week.

So, do you remember that scarf (the ionic) that I was going to make for my cousin? (you can see it in it's infancy - so full of promise - here).

Frogged it.

Just wasn't what I wanted her to be is all.

Still.  I was enamored with that yarn.

I decided to make another Hurricane Hat using it.

Sadly, the yarn looks like an awful camouflage in that pattern.  But it's too late to turn back now.  This may be the hat I'm wearing all season.

Here's what it looks like so far -- you don't need to spare my feelings, I know it's "original" at best....

I have finished a couple of other project these past few days -- thus the not writing here...sorry

A larger version of the Thistle Cap

Here's what the first version of the Thistle Cap looked like.  I did 4 repeats of the cable pattern, should have done one original and then repeated 4 times for a total of 5.  Thus - small.  (my head isn't as big as I thought)

And I finished the pair of mittens for my BFF.

I'm aware that from that lame-o photo you cannot tell it's a mitten.  But trust me, it is.

That's about it.

Oh.  And lately I've been learning alot about counting.  (not just days in the calendar either).

Have a super week and we'll talk soon (ish).

Thanksgiving

I was sick for two weeks.  That was good for my knitting.  Finished a scarf for Mom's birthday (drat! I didn't snap a pic of her wearing it -- next time) 2 wash cloths and started and made great progress on the scarf for my sweetie and my sister in law.

There were a few times along the sniffling, sneezing, itchy eye path that I worried about getting my germs on my work.  And would it transfer to the recipient.  I decided that frequent hand washing and generous use of tissues (not to mention a dose of antibiotics) should keep everything clean. 

Of course I'll be blocking everything before it's ready to go - so that's how I made it work in my mind.  Anyone have anything more scientific to go on?

I spent almost a week with my parents - drove down with the dogs to celebrate mom's birthday (low key - but she liked the scarf!) and then helped out where I could to prep for Michael's arrive with his kids for Thanksgiving.

Every time I'm visiting them I'm intrigued to see glimpses of how I got to be who I am just be observing my parents' being themselves.  46 years we've been a family and I'm still learning things.

It's fodder for a book.  That's for sure. 

The thing I'm most thankful for this year is the fact that I can find a way to sit back and observe and take note, without reacting.  (Okay,  mostly).  We get into patterns with the people in our lives and the usually the hardest patterns to dislodge are those with our parents.  I know people that haven't spoken to their family for years because the patterns can be so painful.

It seems I'm finally realizing that the pattern is as much a part of me as I want to make it.  In other words, I can change the pattern anytime I want.  I can even frog the story I've been telling myself about my family, how I got there and why I am the way I am.  I get to start over anytime I want.

Family relationships are there for the learning.  They may be complicated pattern, but it's what we have and, I truly believe, what we choose.  This year I choose to be curious, and non reactive with my family.

And because every post should have at least one picture -- here's my oldest, this morning as I was loading the car to hit the road for home.