SWEATER WEATHER

 Back in the summer I made a list of blog ideas as they were happening to write about later. This post is one of those, not because I can't think of anything else to write about, but because the longer I put it off the less flowing I think the writing would be.

During the summer, before school started up and when the days were so incredibly long. I did a thing. Actually a couple of things. I took some ideas I had in my head and turned them into reality. I saw how much yarn of one colour I had and thought "That could be a sweater.”

So I began to experiment with ideas, stitches, hook size.  I didn't want to knit it - I have a couple of knit sweater projects on the go already, so I wanted something that would work up quickly and still look amazing.

I did the first one for Monkey.  Not bad for a first attempt and not really using a pattern! (I think it's too loose and baggy but she absolutely LOVES it).  

So then I grabbed a different colour and did one for Girlie (a little more fitted because that's her style). I am always surprised when I re-learn what her favourite colour is, because she often picks yellow for things she'd like me to make her.  Yellow hat, yellow mitts, now a yellow sweater.  She sure does look stunning!

When I saw how well these ones turned out I decided to try something different for myself. Super bright colour, more of a wrap than a pull-over sweater, with a tighter and a smaller stitch. I trimmed with black and it is so warm! It has, of course, been "borrowed" and I encourage that ;) Things made with love are meant to be shared with love. And honestly, she wears it better than I do! 

I learned more about blocking and have finally fallen in love with a patiently blocked piece of work.  Most of what I create now will be properly blocked (mitts and tuques excluded) and I continue on my knitting journey.

Monkey had a volleyball weekend a few weeks ago where we were at the school constantly, and I was able to work on my most recent kniiting work almost constantly during that.  Monkey said that I mesmerized a couple of her team mates because my eyes rarely left the court but my fingers were constantly busy!  That could only happen because the pattern was so repetitive, not because I'm that amazing at it ;)  I'll post a picture when it's finally finished, knitting just takes so much longer than crochet. But I do enjoy both so much.

There will be more.  There are anecdotes to write about, catching up on birthday cake, and other snippets to share. We are currently 4 months in our new home and the adjustment to the change has been about as expected. It always takes longer than we hope to feel like the transition is settled, and the 4-6 month mark is often the hardest emotionally. Good thing we know this coming into it and we are prepared to give grace to each other when we can. There is decidedly less daylight now, there is snow on the ground, and we (Monkey and I are at least) are starting to plan out when we can decorate the house for the winter holidays :D

Giving Thanks

    This is Thanksgiving weekend. In our minds we revisit past weekends spent with friends and food; last year when dear friends drove out to see us, years on the east coast with people we wouldn't have met if the military hadn't put us all there at the same time, years in the congregation and at the seminary with wonderful people brought together by shared faith and value.

    With new places always come new people. I'm grateful for new and emerging friendships that we are finding here. Transitions after a move are hard sometimes and while we celebrate new people to be grateful for we also mourn and miss being close with those we love in other parts of the country. We give thanks for connections and community found in ever place we've landed.

    I give thanks for a roof over our head and food in our tummies. For the friendships the Littles have with each other and the support they find within our home. We are a family of dandelions, we bloom where we land.

    I am grateful for games we've been introduced to that create memories of warmth and laughter that we can share with others. We have passed some favourites along, we have picked up new ones, making new memories layered on top of old memories each time.

    I give thanks for random connections made through activities, for conversations with other parents during volleyball or archery, for opportunities to explore archery in the north, and for the chance to grow both personally and professionally in so many facets.

    I am grateful for technology and that with it connections over distances are so much easier to maintain. These moves would be much more lonesome and the solo parenting would exponentially more challenging without the tether of tech that makes staying in touch so much easier.    

    I am grateful for hobbies that keep my hands busy when my soul is anxious and keep those I love warm. I was sitting on the bed this afternoon, looking at the blanket on it that I had crocheted, trying to remember how old it was because it's starting to fray and there are some fibres breaking from use. I started making the blanket when Hubby was on tour and it has been used every day since I finished it. I am grateful for the friends and family that saw us through that deployment and for the safe homecoming when it was done.

    I give thanks for expression of emotion through music. The playlists we've had on repeat (always eclectic) and the ability to sing/hum/meditate to the sounds have been healing for us all. As well this week we were blessed to attend the ordination of two new deacons in the Anglican Church here and the hymns were like a balm to my soul. Music is therapy.

    I give thanks for the furballs in the home. Their presence sometimes feels more like a burden than a blessing, but these Floofs have been a life saver for the emotions and anxieties of the Littles. They cuddle when the Littles are feeling down or rough, they boost the mood when things are feeling a bit on the low side. Hubby was away for a week and the canines managed to sneak onto the bed with me in the middle of the night so I wasn't lonely. The Littles tend to hang out on the bed too when Hubby is away too; I suspect they don't realize it, but they also try to help me not feel lonely when Hubby is away. <3    

    There are so many things to be grateful for. So I give thanks.