Hanging in there

Yes I really am hanging in there. I have managed to get some Christmas presents bought. The tree is up and the lights are on. Yay me!

I worked on some Christmas cards last night but I don't have any stamps so...

It is my first Christmas without having a dad. Yeah sometimes everything is fine then sometimes I realize he is gone and that makes me sad. I know he is in a better place. But this last year has been ever so hard. It makes me think back to 2016 with fond memories.

We're a few days away from the anniversary of D's accident. It seems so long ago and just like yesterday in the same moment. I know I'm still processing, which sounds so silly but it is true. It was a hard hit and I'm having trouble remembering some things. I guess I should have sat down and wrote is all out at the time, but I had my head down the whole time. Pushing, shoving my way through. That's me, put my head down and give 'em Hell Harry.

Momma? Your name's not Harry!? What the Dickens are you talking about?

Shh Burtie my boy, I'll explain it sometime, just go with it for now OK?

Purr OK.

I tried to finally write a blog post last night but I got a few sentences in and even I was bored of the whining.

So let's talk about some knitting shall we?  I finally finished D's sweater and he even wore it to the Holiday Ale fest. There is even a picture...but it is on his phone and I can't get to it. We did meet a couple from Seattle where the wife was a knitter and recognized a hand knit sweater.

From there we trooped down to Powell's bookstore where I got to help a lady in the knitting section. She wanted to learn so she could teach her niece. I told her about Ravelry and referred her to a yarn store across the river where she lived. It is one I've been meaning to go to and it looks wonderful for beginners. I wonder if she will do it?

All three pairs of socks on the needles (in various stages of progress) are for D. And none of them will be done in time for Christmas. I know I can't say I am shocked either.

In previous years I tried getting most of my knitting done so I could start new things in the year, but now I just want a nice calm intro to the new year. And we're house hunting so you know that is not going to happen.

I did manage to complete my adjusted Goodreads reading goal. I've figured out a way to listen to books at work too. I'm in a nice quiet office but have found the morning goes so much quicker if your mind is in Australia with Phryne Fisher. Powering through piles of papers is easier with your mind somewhere else.

Burt is cute as ever and slimming down nice. he does think that Momma shoud give him snacks at three am.

Momma, you're up to pee anyways, and you walk right past the food jar. And it has been hours, hours I say, since I had second dinner. What is a little 3 am snack between us?

Well my chest seams lighter so I'll go ahead and post this. Maybe I should pet some slender orange kitten fur for a while. Of course I could always try to finish a sock before Christmas...

Sometimes it does mean a lot!

I knit a simple shawl out of some lovely grey alpaca yarn years ago. Little did I know how much the shawl would come to mean to me. 

I was never able to get a picture that did it justice. It is such a soft warm yarn that pictures cannot convey. I loved the pattern (Multnomah) so much I made it three times, at least. But none of the others match this one. It is just the right weight and warmth. Easy to wear and it just makes you feel better, wrapped in soft warmth. 

When Gus was old and sick the shawl gained more significance. He came home with a shaved belly from an ultrasound. It took so long for that fur to grow back. The weather grew colder and so did Gus. Enter what became known as The Shawl of Healing.

Gus was tucked in under more than once. He agreed it was just right, not too heavy and not too warm. Each time he fought his way back.

He was one Big Tough Kitty.

Last year I put Gus's bed under the Christmas tree with the shawl in it. Orange fuzzy Burt asked Gus if he could give it a test. 

Now Burt is not yet old or sick so he lets me keep The Shawl of Healing with me. You know, since I need it more.

I even wrapped D in it while he was in the hospital. He looked like an old babushka, even with the beard. Sadly those pictures will remain private. They do make me smile.

Two weeks ago it flew with us back to South Dakota. My Dad was not doing well. It was a source of comfort and warmth for me.

A few days ago I thought I lost it. It was with me then it was not?! I searched frantically, thinking not now, I still need you. I had resigned myself to "it was just a shawl" and I could always knit another one but my heart was breaking. Till I turned around and someone had hung it where I never do. I had dropped it, it was found and placed safely.

Now it travels with me to be a continuing source of comfort at my Dad's funeral.

Also meaning a lot on this voyage are the socks I'm wearing. I was wearing them on the day D had is his accident that was bad, but could have been so much worse. I am still struck by how awful it could have been and how well he has healed. I like to think of them as good luck socks.

Tomorrow, I will be wearing my Adriene socks. The yarn was a  gift from a knitting friend and a source of comfort too. My very first pen pal. I'm still amazed that we hit it off so well after reading a random blog post. Who knew yarn cakes could be as much of a bonding point as real cake. It is the stuff great friendships are based on. Well we do love tea too.

They may just be knit items but sometimes they can mean so much more.

Today wrap yourselves in all the comfort you need. And say a prayer for my dad and my family if you can.

My Dad

You know when you really frustrate your parents and they say that one phrase...I hope you have a child just like you when you grow up.

Me? I am that curse from both sets of grandparents. I am 50% like my dad and 50% like my mom. I drove them both a little crazy and managed to make them both love me because of it too.

So my dad is not doing well. Today I was asked to "tell me about your dad." Not so easy as you would think. (I also have a hard time in interviews when asked to tell me about yourself too.)

My dad is a tough South Dakota farmer, who lost his farm. My dad always wants to know how everyone's crops are doing and where you are from. He can ask a thousand questions before you even get the chance to start answering the first.

He could always talk to anyone. A fact I hated at the time but find myself admiring all the more now.

My dad has one Hell of a temper, that he passed on to me and my nephew. He also lectured us in how not controlling that temper could get us in lots of trouble too. When I am mad, I am furious and you will most likely know it. But I also know not to let get the better of me.

I got my love of reading from my dad. I've read The Little House on the Prairie books several times. I still have the urge to pull two books out when I want to read one because of my dad. You would be happily reading along and set the book down to go do something, only to come back and find Dad had picked it up and started reading just where you left off. So we learned to leave out another book from the series as a decoy. Yep you read that right we left decoy books out.

I got my procrastination gene from Dad too. Along with my inability to send a card on time. If it can be done tomorrow why do it today?

Dad took me out on the back roads and made me practice driving home. It almost broke my heart to break the rules like that. But when the time came for me to get my license, I got my license and not my permit. Mom told me years later she thought I would fail and was ready to give me a good pep talk.

It was from both of them that I received the confidence to face a bully. I never had to fight but I knew if the fight happened I was going to hurt them more than they hurt me. I knew they would back me whatever the consequence. I still can remember them telling me I was tough and strong.

I received my strength and put your head down and get through it from them. I also received my joy and happy outlook from them. The ability to see beauty in everyday things, even rusting old farm equipment.

Oh and my love of rain definitely came from being a farmer's daughter.

And ice cream love that came from Dad too. Tea, the tea thing started with Dad.

Yeah I was the curse from both grandparents. It is good to be a curse.

OFFF 2017

Fiber festivals I really love them. I usually text Hubby when I arrive and say something like "I'm with my Peeps!" This year I may have even said "My Sheeps!" There is nothing like walking fairgrounds and seeing yarn and knitwear every where. Nothing like it. Ok fine I will admit to missing the gear up to Rhinebeck. All the excitement and chatter. Attending a knitter's mecca. It was fun while it lasted. 

I missed Black Sheep Gathering this year due to 100+ degree weather giving me the urge to strip off every piece of clothing not the urge to wrap up in woolie goodness.

But September in Oregon I got a taste of the fun again. Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival is held in Canby OR, close enough and cool enough for me to take myself off to join my peeps. After a lovely leisurely breakfast of scones and tea with my adorable family, I set off. No early morning wake up for this festival. It is not cut throat like Rhinebeck, something that I can like quite a bit.

I tend to do a walk through making note of who I'd like to come back and buy from at less hectic festivals like these. This time I walked up to a booth selling counting bracelets and decided I had found something I'd been looking for a while. It works like an abacus, two rows of beads. Nine beads on one and ten on the other. To mark where you are in a pattern you move one of the nine to the side with the sheep charm, on the tenth row you move one of the ten towards the sheep, and move the nine back to restart. So that little bracelet keeps track of up to 100 rows. Nifty huh?

I rarely wear jewelry so I felt elegant as all sheep with my shiny blue beads and sheep charm dangling. I really should pull out some of my favorite pieces. Now that I don't have to answer a phone at work I could get back in the habit.

I wandered out to the sheep and llama barns. I texted D saying I could bring home a couple of alpacas for only $1000, I'm sure Burt would like some sisters. Cat bed? Shmat bed I'll just go curl up with (on) my sisters.

In the llama barn I'm sure I was cursed. I foiled a llama escape plan. The lady went in to clean the stall and the gate popped back open while her back was turned both made a quick exit. I swear one of them had a little cartoon balloon above its head saying Ffrreeeeddoomm!!!

You know me I'm a farm girl at heart, I threw up my arms and said Whoa repeatedly. What? Whoa works on horses why not llamas? I did not want to grab for the halter, I don't like stranger's hands near my face why would a llama, so got to touch llama neck hair. Ever so soft! Honey if I'm a great wife, maybe next year I can pop the trunk and bring back some wool on the hoof???

I meet up with a fellow Raveler and had a lovely chat about our felines. We wandered into the stalls where I enabled/encouraged her to buy more fiber because a sweater is better than a vest. Oh don't act like it is not true, sweaters are awesome. Vests are of course awesome...without sleeves, which makes them less awesome. (Yeah, that one got away from me a bit.)

As I was petting and fondling all the lovely fiber, commenting oh this breed, oh that breed a plan formulated in her mind. She took me to another booth she's been to and showed me a 30 breed fiber sample pack. One ounce of 30 different breeds of sheep, all clearly labeled just ready for the sampling. What a nifty idea! But alas I am in my heart a product knitter, what would I do with 30 little skeins of yarn? I'm all for experimenting for experimenting's sake, but 30 little skeins of experiments without an end product to enjoy? That is just not me.

Then we walked around the corner and saw a garland of mini mittens and socks. Ding ding ding we have a winner!! A mini knit item garland for Christmas or anytime? Sign me up!!

I came home a happy little knitter. And promptly found my spindle full of wool from the last time I spun. So a sweater for Hubby, that I have still not pulled out of the bag for measuring, is not the only thing that has to get done around here before I can start some new fun. Don't worry, just like the sweater I am more than halfway there. Burt will attest to my spinning lately.

This post was written in October but I'm back dating it so I will be able to find it before I go back to OFFF next year. What things get busy but we can always write down the details and change the dates as needed.

A year ago

A year ago this little furry face came home with me.

He tucked himself in the closet and decided he needed a bit of adjusting time. 

Less than an hour later he decided he could most definitely call this place home. 

You know how they say home is where your heart is? We all know where Burt's heart is.

That is right Momma, I'm in this for the long haul! 

I don't want to rush into anything so I'll just take a nap or seven.

P.S. I love you too Momma!

I don't know

So I knit a swatch, I know I am shocked too! Planning a sweater I'm so excited. And this was with another heat wave hitting us, also smoke and ashes falling from the sky. Yeah it has been a bit of a weird week here in Oregon. Guess I want to talk about wool for a while as an escape.

How do we feel about a thistle yoke?

Hey guess what? Scale matters in knitting my cute 1 1/2 tall thistle bloomed to 3 1/2 inches in worsted weight yarn. Kinda big if you ask me. I do like it in the photo though. I was looking at it before the picture and thought the thistle was hard to see. In the picture it does look thistle-ish at least to me it does.

I am of course undecided. I may just have to swatch a few more motifs. How weird would purple or red sheep or kitty faces be? Maybe I should just choose something more geometric? You guys will intervene if I get too crazy...right?

Just to prove my sanity I'll show that I do indeed have a sock on the needles. I have not gone off the deep end yet.

Burt and Daddy are monitoring my condition closely.

Burt thinks kitty faces are cute, maybe try a red kitty face, but he won't say why. 

Duh Momma?!

Gearing up

Even though the weather has been getting warmer/stinking hot, I've been fighting my knitting mojo. Well, fighting is an awfully strong word. Let's just say my knitting mojo has been activated and I'm thinking about knitting sweaters. Yes you read that right sweaters as in plural as in crazy talk when it is above 90 degrees.

Yes I know I've given myself a very stern talking to about finishing D's sweater first. What do you mean you did not know I was knitting a sweater for Hubby? Just because I dropped it like the hot potato/wool that it was last spring...

The term knitting is thrown around pretty loosely in this house. Don't you remember those socks that I was "knitting" for over a year? *cough* more like two years *cough* The second sock took me no time once I pulled them out from under the pile. You know "the things I'm playing with or thinking about" pile. 

D's sweater is its own pile, a mostly completed pile. I abandoned it last spring when it was mostly finished, but needs to be tried on stage. Hey it was too hot by that stage anyways, plus why finish something that you won't dare to wear for at least 3 to 6 months. 

I picked out some sock yarn and started knitting smaller lighter items. But now I'm back to thinking about sweaters. Hubby will get his once the weather cools down, but now is the time to dream about my next one.

I was thinking about what color yarn I would buy when I was struck by the knowledge of two unknit sweater's yarn sitting in the stash. One a plum color for me and the other some left over colors from previous Rhinebeck sweaters and some lovely gray yarn, I could knit into a nice colorwork sweater. Hmmm what to do?

Well since I had bought a nice sized basket I intended to use for knitting I carefully extracted two half balls of green, three skeins of purple, nine skeins of grey and one partially knit ball of grey complete with ribbed swatch still attached. I had at least removed the needles for the move. I picked up the red skein I had brought home from the Rose City Yarn Crawl and consolidated it all in the basket.

I even found Gus' old ball of yarn that he loved so much. I tucked that one back in the stash. He would have loved this sweater I'm going to knit. He did so love rustic wools.

The ribbing on the grey was promptly frogged and a purple and red skein each were wound up. I mercilessly ripped needles from another dreaming about/knitting project and started tracking down colorwork motifs I could try out. Yep you read that right I'm knitting a swatch! Right now I'm knitting a small tube of garter stitch that will turn into a swatch. Unless I find something else to distract me till the heat passes.

Hey Honey want to go to the beach???

PS: Anyone have any thoughts on what motif I should choose for my colorwork yoke? I've found a geometric cat face, Scottish thistle and some sheep that I like. Right now they are theoretically going in the swatch. Sort of like survivor for knitting motifs. 

Eclipse 2017

 Burt was very busy this morning preparing for all the excitement. He could barely hold it in!

Burt do you like the mini pink alpaca blankie that Momma bought for you? I see you're busy prepping for the eclipse, I'll let you get back to your important work.   ZZZZZZzzzzzz

Burt how did you like the eclipse?

I didn't look at the sun once Momma! Aren't you proud of me for not ruining my vision?

Oh yeah Burt Momma is very proud of you sleeping through the eclipse. You're so brave!

He gets me

If ever I think the Hubby does not appreciate my knitting (I don't ever think that)...

Yeah, he gets me. My gesture of love is turned into his gesture of love.

Heart U made of hand knit socks. Yay me!!

Burt are you the arrow in Daddy's heart for Momma?

Sure Momma whatever you need to tell yourself.

I, Burt the Cat, am an expression of love for you.

Something to look forward to

Momma!! She is here, the Burtebago is here!!

Yep all vehicles are girls in our family. Momma says it is something to do with growing up on a farm?! I don't get it either, but she's the Momma so that is how we roll.

Oh Momma, it has a rear access port. 

And a front access port too!

Daddy says she is the Catillac, I like that name too. 

Can I get vanity plates that say RDWRER? What is a Road Warrior anyways? Is it something I can aspire to?

Now if the world is not too loud, too hot (this will not be our week for that) or too crazy, we should be able to enjoy walks together. Hey Daddy, we would love it if you came too!

I did pretty darn good on my two test walks didn't I?

Yes Burtie my boy you are on your way to being a RDWRER. Enjoy that post walk nap you're having.

Still looking back

So yeah I'm still a bit caught up in all the changes that have occurred in the last year. Today marks my arrival in Portland a year ago. So many feelings are only now being processed. I love living in Oregon but I'm still missing NY too. I'm slowly working through. At least it is not quite as hot and I am not unpacking boxes.

I've started enjoying some "new life in Oregon" things. We've taken a few hikes in Forest Park. My legs are learning to forgive me the effort. They protest that they were not climbing hills a year ago why should they start now? The scenery is just beautiful. Big tall trees covered in moss, very Seussical. I'll see if I can get a picture one of these times to show you what a Seussical tree looks like.

And now I've just set myself off again. I looked back through Facebook to see if I could find a Seussical tree picture and hit the section when D's accident occurred. Wow were there a lot of people praying for us in that difficult time. I'm pretty much a "put your head down and get through the rough patch" kind of girl. I never did really cry or get emotional during that time. I mean hell yeah I freaked out some when he kept passing out, but as far as processing my emotions and the scariness of it all? Nope, I'm not done yet, I may only be starting down that path. 

We took the opportunity to bask in the loveliness that is have a local winery. Having a nice chat with new friends in the shade looking at the vines and bringing home a nice bottle of wine? Yes thank you very much.

I even found a running shop that listened and helped me get a pair of shoes that will not make my feet hurt while hiking/walking/living. The rep was great at listening and explaining why some brands will not work for me. He sold me a pair of shoes that even look like my little Flintstone feet. Yes they do feel better.

Burt is continuing his campaign of cuteness. He had a grand time playing with Mr Mousie today. He got so excited with full tail fluffing. Mr Mousie was very afraid!

Post Mr Mousie paws crossed in relaxation.

He is also getting more brave. He ventured out into the garage a few times while I was on the elliptical machine. He also came right up to the open front door, not sure if that is a good idea or not.

Hubby came home the other day and planted the idea that B may want a stroller. He may just be an adventure cat, with limits of course, I can't bear the idea of my furball getting out on his own again. So yeah, I'm soon to be a truly crazy cat lady walking her boy in a stroller. Yes the one I'm looking at has a cup/yarn holder, I'm not that crazy.

Speaking of cup holders, I just the other day went to a coffee shop and used my coffee shop alias. Wait let me explain. My name has a rather unusual spelling, thanks Dad. Unfortunately I am rather sensitive when it comes to the proper spelling of my name. I know I should just get over it but nope it is not happening. You may want to wander over to read Adriene's blog post about the same thing. Now my spelling is not quite as unusual as hers, but yeah I would comment to a person that spelled theirs the same as mine. Anyways, I was in the coffee shop the day before reading that post and started thinking that maybe I should just give myself a simple name. So I thought and thought about it. Did I ever tell you that I didn't name the blog Hubby brainstormed with me and came up with my blog alias? Thanks again Hubby!

Friday I used my coffee alias. It felt weird and sorta cool. Why yes simple things do thrill me quite a bit, why do you ask? So if you're in my neck of the woods and a latte for Dot is ever called out, you can try to catch a glimpse of what I'm knitting. Most likely it will be a sock but Friday it was a cowl for my sister, more on that another day.

Looking Back

Last week as I drove to pick up D from the airport I was struck by the date. July first a year ago I was spending time with my Hubby on his last day of being a New Yorker. This year as I picked him up from his international flight I was struck by how much things change and how much they stay the same. Thankfully.

Turns out D had made the connection too. This time last year one of us was driving on to meet new things and the other was trying to wrap things up in our old life.

Neither of us could guess what the next year would hold. What a year! I've been asked a couple of times recently what was the hardest time in our marriage. Without a doubt it started March 2016. Since that month we've lost two beloved cats, sold our first house, drove cross country each by ourselves, settled into new jobs, survived a major medical event for D and illnesses during D's recovery period.

As difficult as the year has been it made me stronger. It made us stronger. We share a bond now. We have been through for better or worse and in sickness and in health. We have lived our vows to a greater extent. (Even though we did not use those vows.) And that makes me happy.

So yeah it has not been a walk in the park, but a tiptoe through a minefield. We hold things much closer but looser. And that is not a bad lesson to have learned. When we face difficult times in the future we can look back at our "worst" year and know that we have strength and endurance. And we will pray that it will be enough to get us through anything.

Burt's bikini

Momma, I just cannot face the heat today.

Burt, how about that nice white bikini you always wear? Doesn't it make you feel cooler?

It does not. I'm going back to sleep, wake me when it is cooler.

Ultra bright socks

Hey I've got some new socks to show you. I am super happy with them too. 

But first I show the yarn. It is Lilliput Simple Sock Yarn that I bought at my first Rose City Yarn Crawl. Not really my normal colors but I fell instantly for that lovely acid green. The dyer said she got the dye and had to play around with it first. I've got one of the experiments.

Burt and I knit on this one together. He seems to be adjusting well to having a knitting Momma. He has adjusted well to everything about us. I think he is pretty darn happy to have his own family.

These socks even flew back to SD with us to attend my nephew's wedding. No I did not knit during the wedding or reception but I did manage to knit a few stitches on the plane. I was the lucky middle seater so it is not terribly conducive to knitting. Sigh all that time with not a lot to show for it. I did get a few comments from family members on how they liked the color.

Anyways how lovely are these? They make me feel happier just wearing them. I hope they last a good long time.

I did take the opportunity to knit on a Hubby sock while waiting at the tire store the other day. I don't know what I hit but I knew exactly when I did. Two big old gashes will give you unscheduled knitting time.

Blog titles are hard.

I could write something about missing blogging (I do) or something about how busy we are (we are,  and so are you) or something about enjoying time together instead of being on the computer (we could be better at that). I will just say life marches on even when you're not blogging about it.

And now your much anticipated picture of His Royal Fluffy Butt, Burt.

I think Burt is pretty darn happy he picked out a knitting momma. He is doing his best to be a snuggle guy. And his best is indeed excellent. He has adjusted from life on the streets to life on the lap quite well. He is getting his teeth cleaned soon so we shall see how he does with that. I'm excited because they do a complimentary nail trimming. He likes to knead and those sharp little tips are sharp.

That nice green there is on its way to being my favorite pair of socks. I've got half a sock to go before I can take them out for a spin actually on my feet and not on my needles.

I am attempting to lure the mother of one of D's childhood friends over to the sock knitting side. It is long distance but I'm sure I send off some pretty strong vibes. Can my tagline be: Come over to the sock knitting side we have warm feet!

Anyways I have more to tell but many more things to get done before the morning. I just had to get a Burt picture on the blog before May is over.

No pictures but it did happen

So my blogging has slowed down as I'm sure you've all noticed, or maybe you all wandered off and I'm just talking to myself. If that is the case I've got to post more pictures of Burt, his cuteness amuses me so.

We've been pretty busy around here adjusting to many things. First that whole cross country move. Yowsa what an adventure. I really should find the pictures I took and post some here, maybe someday. Second the indomitable Burt picked me out and came home with me. While my heart was still grieving the loss of both boys earlier in the year, Burt and I are forming our own bond. He wakes me up in time to go to work early and snuggles back in with me on the weekends. He has not found his voice via Momma yet but it will come soon enough. Gus had a disdainful French/Russian accent and Jack always sounded like he was asking questions even when making statements.

Third I found a job and was on my way to settling in when a call from D's phone came in but D was not on the other end. A very nice lady was there instead telling me he had "fallen off his bike" but was in too much pain to talk to me?!

After some confusion and a mad dash to the ER, don't worry his bike rode to the hospital in the ambulance with him, we were told he had broken his pelvis and would require surgery. He was transferred to another hospital and I got to make a couple more lonely drives that night. His time in the hospital and rehab center are still pretty blurry to us, probably always will be.

And just to add insult to injury D was rehospitalized with pneumonia and flu, while I got my own flu diagnosis. I got to catch him three times in one day passing out. We've spent a lot of time and effort healing. I've been faithfully exercising every night for close to a month. The effort I've seen D pour into PT has inspired me.

The months following the accident were a difficult time of balancing my work and our healing. Because yeah your marriage takes a hit with all those big things. That is quite an understatement. I would even say it knowing we had a good strong foundation to stand on.

And you know what? I would go through it a thousand more times to be able to keep him with me. But not this year ok?

So I tell you all of that to tell you what we were able to do today. We walked five and a half miles together in Portland only four months after the accident. Not too shabby, but I'm going to let myself off the hook exercise-wise tomorrow. My calves are threatening a mutiny. 

Oh Burt has decided it is lap time. I must bow to my feline overlord. I post pictures of D's sweater once I finish it.

Progress

Burt and I decided to take advantage of a rare burst of sunny weather.

I know Momma, I can't believe it is this nice outside either. Are you sure we don't need sunscreen? We're both sorta redheads, I said sorta!

It's kinda hard to balance the camera and pet my orange fur? You know the right priorities.

 I've even been knitting on Hubby's sweater, just in time to find a mistake. Can you see a dropped stitch?

I spotted it the other day when I was matching it against another sweater to check for size. Guess I dropped it way back sometime and kept on happily knitting away. I thought it was right in the middle of is stomach but now I see it is off to the side. Don't tell anyone else but I'm going to just weave some yarn through it and secure it on the back. If anyone notices and comments then they can just learn perfection isn't everything. Part of the learning process is learning when to rip back and when to move on. I'd like to get a sweater on the needles for me and I have all that lovely sock yarn calling out to me.

You saw the yarn pile from the yarn crawl right? I get to see it every day. Gosh I love knitting.

What is that Burt? I gotta feed you before we leave for Daddy's PT appointment! Righto

You can guess who has been listening to a British novel in the car.

Disturb the cuteness??

This message brought to you by Burt's mouse filled mouth. Meow!

Burt would like to let you all know Momma is busy knitting a sweater for Daddy, working, going to PT with Daddy, and petting Burt's fur. He hopes that you can forgive her absence. Her lap is getting filled with Burt and it is hard to blog without disturbing such cuteness. Which we all know she is loath to do, disturb the cuteness? Come on!

Chin Up

I missed my Momma one day so I crawled up on her and we had a little photo shoot. 

Don't you just love how I have a hint of color on my chin? It took Momma a couple of days to notice it when I moved in.

Anyways Momma wanted you to know she is still knitting on Daddy's sweater. She suffers from hating-to-knit-sleeves syndrome. Now she just knits the sleeves early on and comes back to knit the body later. That way she can save the best for last(ish).

That Momma is pretty good at figuring out some things. Now she feeds me before we go to bed so I don't get so peckish in the morning and wake her up too early. I'm gonna wake her up tomorrow anyways though. Shhh don't tell her!

Your Pal

Burtie Boy

Jack was right

Momma will drape Daddy's sweater in progress over you if you crawl up on her lap and ask nice.

Daddy wanted a red sweater but picked out this nice red wine color. Does it bring out my nice orange highlights?

Wool knits into such a nice fabric. I feel just the right temperature for a nap. It is ever so hard taking care of Momma and Daddy. I think I just earned some treats don't you?

Momma watched a Doctor Who marathon, she still thinks 10 is her favorite. Auntie Lizard still likes 12 better. I am undecided... guess I need more lap time to decide.

Yarn Crawling

We may have moved across the country from my favorite yarn festival, but I still know how to find yarn. Burt was right you gotta stretch before these events!

I hit seven of the 13 stores over four days and enjoyed myself. Burt did not go with me to a single one?! He did however find some of the yarn interesting and tried to carry it around the house but did not get very far.

Yep that is a lot of socks to be, and a cowl and a pair of mittens for my sister. Oh there is a two color shawl to be in there on the left too. I got quite a few local dyers and one lovely purple skein of Handmaiden Casbah. Yep I finally found Casbah. I melted like butter when I touched it. I was strong enough to walk away and look at some other yarns before running back to pick out the original purple that caught my eye and touched my soul. What? I get a tad dramatic about yarn, ya'll know that. I'll save the actual loot listing for another day. Me? I've got some yarn to pet.

Gearing up

Thursday is the Rose City Yarn crawl.

Burt tells me that you have to stretch properly before venturing out into something like that.

I have no idea how he would know about yarn crawls and what they require, but you have to trust someone's expertise...

That is a face of a cat who knows things.

You know like where to find the best spot to sun yourself in February, in Portland!

Knitting to show

I know it seems weird to come here and find a post but one with knitting? Seems almost wrong.

Ahh now don't we all feel better now that we know the knitting is getting done? That is Hubby's sweater. I like my sweaters knit the same as my socks, top down in the round. I guess that construction makes the most sense to me.

While sweaters are not as portable as socks this one accompanied me a couple of times. First we went to knitting at the church one Saturday morning, it was lovely and I will be going back. Man though those church ladies start early. I am used to an afternoon of fun not the morning.

Last night we took the hubby over and had dinner with my brother in law's family. I was too run down to play games but I observed while occasionally knitting on the sweater. Yep too tired to knit that sums it up.

I had a long tiring week but hubby was cleared to walk again so we're pretty pumped about it. So pumped that he cleaned the kitchen. That is happy!

Burtis telling me we have time for a nap so I best follow feline orders.

I'm alright

Don't you just love little pink toe beans?

Burt takes his napping very seriously.

Random Thoughts

I can tell you that there is something very satisfying about knitting a sweater. It is a bit like eating freshly baked bread from your oven. It just feels so right.

Adriene and I had a video chat the other night. She knit on a blanket and I knit on the sweater. I was using different colored markers but they feel the same. I did a set of increases at the beginning of the round marker. I fixed it but the stitches were sloppy. I had rip back because triple size stitches don't even out just because you want them to.

Hubby made good progress on his convalescing puzzle. Burt is not thrilled to have to give up his comfy chair while Daddy works on the puzzle. The sacrifices a kitty makes...

We have been blessed to receive some meals from the church ladies. It is so nice to not have to think about dinner. I came home to the smell of beef stew in the crockpot.

There is talk of Portland getting more snow this weekend. If we don't I'm going to try going to the church knitting group.


Which reminds me the Rose City Yarn Crawl is coming up soon too. Maybe I need to work on getting my driving route planned out. It is a four day event,  may want to start pacing myself now.

Burtis reminding me that morning comes earlier than we wish.

Actual knitting

Yes I know I am surprised that I have pictures of actual knitting here too. I have finally finished a pair of socks for D that traveled with me all through his hospitalizations and recovery time so far.

The yarn is Into the Whirled Manchester sock in the Trek colorway. I'll just say that I loved this yarn and the colors so much. It made me feel warm like I was holding a campfire in my hands the whole time. Campfire without the burns is always a nice feeling. As you can see I ran out of yarn before finishing the second sock. I went leftover stash diving and found a complementary red to finish off. And since he is moving slower with his walker I have time to take pictures.

I started these socks for me on the move West last summer. It took me just over a month to knit them up with settling into the new place. It took me five months to get a picture of me wearing them. Apparently D is not the only one that needs to slow down for a photo every now and then.

These are also Into the Whirled but in the Gloucester base in the Aurora Borealis colorway. One of my former knit mates gave the yarn to me as part of the drive by yarning last January. I am going to miss my knitting buds and not only for random yarn gifts either.

They have been sending me support via the internet through this whole ordeal with hubby. So even if you can't make the meetings the knit group is still there for you.

And speaking of support Burt took care of me through the Daddyless times and through my own bout of flu. I just love how his ears are telling me don't even think about leaving the bed Momma!

I have cast on for a sweater for D. I had bought the yarn a few months ago but kept mulling over the idea that I should try knitting him a different style of sweater. I admitted that I want to knit a sweater and not just think about knitting a sweater. So I pulled out a familiar raglan sweater pattern and cast on. I am much happier in doing so. So D will finally get his red/wine sweater that he has wanted all along. Burt says orange/red is the color to be, and who wants to argue with a cat?

Moving forward

Well we've had an interesting end of one year and start of another. I thought we had made enough life changes for one year. I was foolish to think the changes were over.

A few days after Christmas Hubby went for his first bike ride into Portland. It did not end the way we would have liked. Streetcar tracks and bike tires do not get along very well. He was thrown from his bike and broke his pelvis. Even seeing him in pain in the ER we had no clue how our lives would change.

I can tell you that we have managed to keep our sense of humor and good will through the process. We are stronger and weaker than we've ever been. That whole sickness and health thing really does mean a lot to us.

I'm negotiating to get an hour of massage for each week of care. I may even have earned a few skeins of yarn in the process. While I have knit in all kinds of rooms sitting next to Hubby, I've not finished anything. I'm a bit of a worrier and fretter so I was mostly doing that.

Hubby proudly pointed out my handknit socks to anyone he could during the whole process. We even had a nurse that proudly showed off her socks knit by a German great aunt. I got to see two pairs of her socks. She was definitely sock worthy.

I'm trying to match or contrast a yarn to finish hubby's Indispensable Ensign socks. Looks like one toe will be different from the other. The question now is how different should it be? I'm leaning towards a nice dark grey.

So we're moving forward one slow hopping step at a time.

Somebody lied to us

It rarely snows in Portland.

This is respectable even by New York standards.

 The difference is NY knows how to deal with it. PDX (Portland) does not have the equipment, skill or experience NY does. 

So even if you "know how to drive in snow" you don't know how to do it here. Plus the hundreds of people in front or back of you may or may not "know how to drive in it." It is a completely different beast here. I think it is an angry beast too.

Daddy wanted some snow shots so I opened the patio door to get them. 

I picked up a looky loo in the process. 

That's a lotta snow Momma!! I thought it didn't do that here?

It is a lotta snow Burtie my boy. Doesn't it make you happy to stay inside with Momma? I'm so glad I found you.

Me too Momma, me too.