Lost a Day This week--and found it again

I've been working hard to get the house organized and tidied since we start the Greenhouse work soon, and every week before then I have to make two trips to the city which will take all day (well, one of them is a trip for a valid reason extended to all-day because I want to visit one of my knitting groups and visit my favorite LYS--just to chat, not to buy).
So, on Friday I thought it was Saturday, set the alarm clock in the evening so I wouldn't miss church.  Went to bed early.  Got up before the alarm in the morning, and when I went for my vitamin supplements (in a 7-day dosette box), I noticed I was on Saturday's vitamins.  I sometimes forget to take them, so when Kubota Man got up, I asked him what day it was, and he said it's Saturday.  I'd have had my pick of seats at church that day.  So, I found a day and that was a very productive one, because it seemed like a bonus.  I sorted out my recycling and loaded up the cab of the truck, and sorted out my CWL (Catholic Women's League, I am president of my chapter) papers, which had been spread out all over the spare bed), and, what else?  Started some new knitting (not to be revealed until later).  Oh, and deleted about 1300 old e-mails after reading them to see if they could be trashed.  Funny how what I thought might be important at the time didn't matter 2 years later.

I finished all the parts to Richard's orange set:  Briggs and Little Heritage.  The hat is a bought pattern, the scarf is a fully reversible cable pattern, Palindrome Scarf, a Ravelry link, and the mittens I made up, adapting the cable on the hat band.

I started the Dreambird, Ravelry link shawl pattern,  this pattern was ambiguous for a lot of people, so I took the challenge.  Held another knitter's virtual hand through the first feather, then made a chart for it.

Helped another Ravelry member interpret this little preemie bootie pattern, and committed myself to re-writing all the sizes for it, as well as the hat and sweater.  These little knits sure are fast.

And last, but not least, the raw materials for Chain Mail which I have to knit for the Theatre.  The gold is for King Arthur, the silver for the Knights.  The cord has to be dyed first since it swells up (as I found out when the holes disappeared on the prototype hood), so my first task was to skein it up so the wardrobe dept. can dye it:  the white will be dyed shades of grey, the gold will be dyed some mustard shade so it looks more antique.  Then I will get it back to do the knitting (10 cowls, mayb 10 pairs of sleeves) for a mid-April production.

It's only a couple of weeks till we get started in the Greenhouse.

Till next time:  It's important to have a twinkle in your wrinkle. (author unknown)

Life is Different

Life is different without Mom.  I don't know how to feel, so I'm going with the flow.
Christmas was noisy as usual--all the kids came home except Kubota Man Jr.  who was on call and couldn't leave the city.  The food was great, some of them played board games (NOISY) some of them watched movies (NOISY).  And I hovered on the sidelines, happy in the presence of my family, and horribly sensitive to the noise.  This is the first time ever that I was glad to see my family all leave.

I had the funeral arrangements to make.  I determined that I would have a Celebration of Life.  I spent several days choosing photos for the slide show, and choosing music. That was sad and joyful at the same time.  I went through all of Mom's photo albums, from her childhood through all the kids' weddings, and the grandkids, and the great-grands.  She loved kids.  I wrote the Eulogy.  I must admit that it was beautiful.  The whole process was good for me, opening rawness and healing, all at the same time.

The Celebration of life did take place on my birthday--I wanted it that way.  Afterwards Kubota Man and all the kids and grandkids took me out for my birthday to Montana's, and I got to wear a birthday Moose Hat--I'm sure Mom was with us enjoying that.

Suddenly all was quiet again, and I hovered around the house like a ghost, not knowing what to do with myself.  I decided to go with it and only do what I felt like doing.  Well, that isn't housework, it's KNITTING.

I finished DD2's black cabled hoodie (a duplicate of the ecru one I made her a couple of years ago), one she requested.

I can't do better with photographing the black pattern.

I made her a skull scarf (illusion knitting--from most angles it's just a grey and black striped scarf), a last minute addition to Christmas knitting, but ready for Christmas.

And a last-minute gift for a friend who usually gets baking, but both she and her hubby have to lose weight, so, being the friend that I am, didn't tempt her.  She loved the mitts--her first hand-made gift.

Richard's scarf--totally reversible--same cables on both sides.  In the meantime, the hat and one matching mitten are finished (no photos yet).

As a reward to myself for stash-bustin' and not buying yarn for almost a year, I started my Marina sweater--it's about 5" long, but I won't take a picture till a whole pattern repeat is finished.

The pictures above are my Philosopher's Wool Mandala sweater.  I have joined a KAL to finish PW projects that have been languishing.  The body consists of 8 squares, the sleeves are larger squares.  The squares are knit on circular needles from the outside-in (sort of like a tam).  I've had this kit for a long time, and don't like things so bulky any more.  The third photo is the bottom of the sleeve with ribbing attached.  I don't like how that is so bulky.  I am working on two ideas to solve this:  either re-chart the sleeve to incorporate shapings (I have both sleeve squares finished), or take the sewing machine, sew a tapered seam and then cut out the excess.  The second option is fast and easy, the former one is teasing my intellect.

Tomorrow I am going to the city to join one of my knitting groups for knit and chat, and then some errands.

For my birthday, DD1 bought me a lovely book: Chicken Soup for the Soul:  The Magic of Mothers and Daughters.  This year I plan to go back to my old habit of leaving my readers with a thought.  In memory of Mom and in honor of my daughters, I will select these from that book.

Till next time: Kids spell love T-I-M-E.  (John Crudele)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone.  Will post soon with updates (no new finished knitting), and some knitterly plans for 2013.