AHH!

There was just a major thunderstorm. Power out, things blowing around outside, slightly frightening, but SO COOL!

I love that the sky kind of looks green and orange and weird at 8.30 at night.

What I don’t love, is having to wait for the power to come back on to make some coffee.

I’m annoyed at myself that I haven’t had any inspirations on what to knit. Is it the weather? I don’t know. I’ve tried browsing Ravelry, the library, my pattern books, blogs. Sigh. Maybe it’s the weather, or all the laundry I have to do.

I am completely lost. I have no idea, no inkling as to what to make next. I was attempting a turtle neck for my Hbee, but didn’t have the yarnage. Then I thought maybe some sweater sleeves for me, but was just not liking any patterns.

I guess I’ll just keep reading. 17 books for 2009 so far.

I can finally post what I’ve been secretly knitting!!

Pattern is from Lion Brand. I didn’t repeat the texture pattern because I felt it was going to be too much. This afghan is the largest thing I’ve knitted so far.

It’s for my good friend who got hitched on Friday. I think it’s perfect for snuggling up and watching TV with someone special.

It was pretty fast to knit, just heavy on the needles.

Now, what’s next??

BREATHE.

May 12, 2009

An old lady. She’s pink from head to toe. She’s got a head scarf on and a band aid on the bridge of her nose. She looks very weather beaten. I like her quilted pink jacket. It has large front pockets that I think would be perfect to hold my house keys. She shambles over to block my path. I’m driving a double jogging stroller so she must have a death wish.

“Good Morning!” she says as if she knows me. She tells me that she is 81 years old, a widow, she thought she’d never have children, in fact the doctors said after five years she was barren but her mother said don’t even listen, and her mother after all had 11 children but she only had 7, her oldest being 62 and her being 81 and a widow and my grandchildren, she has 22 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. It is too bad her husband is gone because he was so good to her. In fact, she asks me “Is today May 12?” It’s his birthday today. He was a runner and won (forgive me, I wasn’t listening to this part) an event, I’m sure it was ground breaking. His neck was swollen and he didn’t want to go to the doctor, that was on Monday, on Thursday they found a tumor that was feeding off his spinal tissue and then he was gone. 17 years, and he was so good to me. It’s his birthday today. He’s buried in West Orange and now because she is 81, cannot go visit.

This is where I try to break in the conversation. I’ve just been listening. Soaking in her whole life story.

“You’re very blessed to have such a big family.” I say.

“You’re very blessed to have such a pretty face,” she says, ( I know.) and looks like she wants to grab my cheeks but I maneuver out of her reach, “and such beautiful children.”

” I have 7 children, 22 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. I used to buy for them all the time, but now only birthdays and christmas. My husband is missing this. He died 17 years ago. He had a tumor and if he would of went to the doctors they could of taken it out. I’m 81 and I can’t go visit him anymore.”

I say, “Well, you don’t need to visit him anyway, he’s always with you right?” Her face lights up as if no one bothered to tell her that she can take her memories of loved ones where ever she goes. I want to ask her where she’s going because she’s holding a wad of twenty dollar bills. Who’s with you, where’s your home, does your family know that you are walking around? But she’s shambling off with new energy, an upbeat step while she gazes around.

I reach for her. I squeeze her arm and wonder where her bones are, she’s all quilting. I ask, “What’s your name?”

She smiles and seems touched that I asked. She takes a moment, maybe recalling that she’s 81 and a widow or maybe even trying to remember her very own name. “You can call me Mrs. Murphy.” and then she’s gone.

I’m still here, just knitting a secret.

1. Laundry
   
2. organize bookshelf
   
3. finish gift
   

Yea!!  Finished my Knitted Tank for my niece.  I had a hard time with the directions.  Either I can’t follow instructions  (quite possible), they were written poorly (it was Lion Brand),  or I was working on this right before I head off to bed instead of during the day while I am at maximum comprehending capacity.

I embellished w/ a crochet chain around the edges, and then with a flower.  My sad attempt at embroidary.

The yoke is supposed to be 3in longer, oops, but it still fits a 10mo old.  I would of like to have this grow with her into the fall so she could layer it, but that’s what happens when you rush.

I’ll be married for 7 years on April Fool’s Day.  I think about all the people who  get married and not make it through the first year, so I’m lucky to have chosen wisely.  Or did he chose me wisely?

Eight Things that work for us:

1. We laugh.  A lot. Everyday.  It’s usually at the expense of the other person, but we’re both good sports.
2. We discuss things.  From the smallest decision regarding  dish washer detergent, to big issues like going on a budget.
3. When we disagree, one of us always maintains a level head.  We don’t go to bed angry, unless the room happens to smell like rotten eggs because somebody had too much foliage.
4. We say I love you when we feel like it.  In the middle of dinner, changing a diaper, or whenever.  I tend to remind myself that I love him when I’m perturbed at something he’s done by saying ” I really love you, you know.”  It’s kind of a jab, but not really.
5. We respect each other.  We don’t call each other names or curse.
6. We try to remember things about ourselves, so instead of getting annoyed and trying to change the other person, we are prepared for the outcome..  He knows that being in the sun without sunglasses makes me crabby so he asks if I have them before we go.  I know that he gets sluggish driving at night, so I ask to take over.
7. We don’t look over and see the greener grass on the other side of the fence.  If one of us goes out, most often we come back home and say “I’m so glad I found you.  I don’t know what I’d do if I was dating.”
8. We still think we’re cute.  Weight loss on Adkins, weight gain from babies, the aging process.  We are still in love with each others inner self, and the outside, well it’s just a shell.

I’m so smart.  I’m working,  ( last minute of course ) on my niece’s tank top.  I’m working on both front and back panels at the same time, instead of finishing one side and then starting the other.

The pattern is somewhere on Lion Brand , I think it’s called a Child’s Summer Tank, done on #5 needles, w/ LB cottonease.  There is no ease with this yarn either.  I need this gift  done by APR 11.  SHouldn’t be a problem!