13

My daughter turns 13 today.

I hear people say it makes them feel old as their children get older but that's not how I feel. It just makes me wonder what happened to all the years in between. They flew by so fast it seems like I missed them.

I want to turn back the clock and live them all again.

Christmas Morning

Peace found me on Christmas morning. I felt able, finally, to take a deep breath and notice the beauty.

Peace hasn't been around here for some time, and its nice to see it.

The peace began last night with a chance to read on the couch and doze off. I can't remember when I was last able to do that!

A good night's sleep was followed by an opportunity to appreciate some of the images of Christmas morning that follow.










Merry Christmas!

Mittens

Its cold here in Central Oregon and in the morning, when I get in the car, my poor hands don't want to touch the steering wheel, they want to stay warm.

Last winter I lost one half of a pair of mittens and my hands have gone bare ever since. But I am a knitter and so . . . . I made mittens. And quite by accident, the mittens I made match the Clapotis I made two winters ago. (Maybe because that was the yarn that I had leftover from making the scarf that I found to use for the mittens.) So now I have matching mittens and a scarf.

November Gratitude: I'm thankful that I have a job that's flexible enough to take time out when I need to spend time with one of my kids, taking them to the doctor or just having an afternoon to throw the football around. And I'm thankful to be able to throw the football around with my son on an autumn afternoon.

November morning

October's sock yarn for November knitting continues at a good pace. The monkey pattern lends itself to this with consistent pattern repeats that can be done in a reasonable amount of time on a daily basis. Its an enjoyable knit and this yarn is lovely.

I love to take my lunch break at the hospital and sit in an easy chair in the lobby where the volunteer plays the piano and knit for an hour.

Whats not as relaxing is raising a pre-teen. Being around a tired 12 year girl old who's getting ready for school at 6:30 in the morning is an exercise in tolerance and isn't the best way to start a morning. However, that being said,

November Gratitude: Walking with my daughter to the bus stop on a pretty, chilly, autumn morning. Something about the two of us together, out in the world eliminates the crabbiness.

Leaf and Vine

The new scarf: Leaf and Vine. Its four leaves hanging from a thin vine that goes around your neck. I think: Funky. Not sure I'd actually wear this but you never know until its finished as I learned from last month's scarf.

This month's yarn is Nashua Hand Knits 'Cilantro' 136 yards of 70% cotton and 30% polyester, it feels like microfiber. Color: Soft Green, to look like a vine and leaves.

Once again, this is a pattern that if seen by me flipping through a pattern book, would be passed right over without a second glance. However, in this challenge I've set for myself, I must knit whatever they send and learn something from it.

November gratitude: I'm thankful that my family is coming to my home to celebrate Thanksgiving and I get to plan a menu, shop for groceries, and prepare food, all things I love to do.

Not so bad

October's scarf is finished and it actually turned out pretty nicely. It just goes to show, you can't judge a scarf by its picture.

To understand the scarf, you have to knit it up and feel the yarn in your fingers, you have to experience the pattern. This pattern was one of the easiest patterns yet to memorize which makes the knitting a little more enjoyable.

And the scarf turned out so nicely, it just might be a good gift.

Transition to November

Okay, it can be November now, October's socks are done!