So Long, Farewell, auf Wiedersehen… THANK YOU

It’s taken me a long time to realize what you have all know for awhile.   It seems KnitTogether has run its course.  I don’t even know why.  I’m still knittng, I still LOVE knitting…. I’m still reading ALL your blogs, even though my commenting has slacked off.  Somehow, I’ve become a blog slacker.

So…. It’s goodbye and THANK you, at least for the time being.  I’m fine – I’m great.  I’m still busy, as usual.  I still think of things I want to say to you all from time to time.  See… it’s because you are all my REAL friends.  Really, I love each of you and thank you so much for spending the last few years with me.  I’m SO glad you’re still blogging, because I’d miss you so.  And, it means a lot that you have missed me to.  So much, that when one of you would comment to see what’s up and where I’ve been… I keep telling myself I need to really make a thoughtful reply and tell you, Thanks, It means a lot…. and so I’d put it off until I had time to “make a thoughtful reply,”…. and hours turn into days, and days into weeks…. and so forth, and I’ve neglected you all.

So, rather than neglecting you – I want to thank you so much, for being my friends, for being my knitting mentors…. I learned to knit from all of you, and I’ve made some of my dearest friends here…and I will always cherish that.  AND, most important, I still know where to find you, so I’m not really gone, and you’ll still hear from me.  I’m still on Ravelry, so you can see the knitting there… I’m KnitTogether if we haven’t hooked up there, yet.

And, I’m on Facebook.  That I can do –  think up one-liners about what I’m doing , and I’ve found some of you. and would like to find ALL of you there… so PLEASE email me if you want to Facebook with me, and I’ll tell you where to find me.

I’ll leave you with the last FO for this blog… a multidirectional scarf, Lorna’s Laces Worsted in Motherlode….

This is really hard – you have all been truly knit-together into my heart.  And, now I’m feeling mushy and sad that I really just said this is it for the ol’ blog… but reality is, well reality…   I’ll be a better commenter and you’ll all still hear from me.  You really can’t get rid of me THAT easily!

Love you all ((sniff, sniff)),

Lynda

PS, remember to email me  (lvonrader@inbox.com) if you want to keep in touch on Facebook.

PSS, Wendy…. now you don’t have to look at the picture of the recliners any more ;o)

Knitting in Style

“Old farts with matching recliners-style.”  

The hubby’s old recliner was WAY past stylin’, and falling apart, so a couple of weeks ago he replaced it, with TWO!  His and hers, rocker/recliners.  They kids may tease us about looking like oldsters, but we seem to be having to kick the same kids out of our chairs all the time :o)

I get the one by the window – good knitting light, and a window sill for my important stuff – knitting tools, a place for my Diet Coke, and my girafe, Melman, to hold my reading/knitting glasses.  

Hmmm, recliner, knitting glasses, and I do seem to be falling asleep a lot in front of the TV at night…  Eh – so what, I get a bit of knitting done there, too, and it makes a nice lap for the dog…. and I’ve got the DVR so I can go back later and watch whatever TV show I nodded off to.   I’m likin’ it!

And, this is what I’m working on lately while I recline:

Everyone’s favorite “Chevron Scarf” from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  Lily has claimed this one for herself.  (It’s got pink in it!).  I’m using some leftover sock yarn, I think Lorna’s Laces Black Purl and Somerset.  It’s the perfect, just interesting enough, just mindless enough pattern for TV and car knitting.

Well, off to finish work, then I think I’ll recline.  We had a big weekend, a couple of nice celebrations – Lily’s boyfriend’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor, and the bud’s birthday/graduation party.  Thanks for the well wishes for his interview and birthday.  He’s got grown up decisions to make in the future…. he’s also finishing up his EMT classes and is seriously considering going on to paramedic and continuing his Search and Rescue work, and holding off on the police thing for a couple of years…. 

Do you remember back when you were that young, and the world was full of possibilities? – it’s fun to watch.  One of the perks of raising kids :o)

He’s getting so old…

and so am I.

My firstborn turns 23 today, and I find myself this morning ironing his first white dress shirt for his first “real” job interview.  He’s been working for years, but just graduated from college, with 2 degrees, and is ready for the “real” world.  Today, he goes for a “real” interview, with a real police chief, for a job with a real police department, as a real police officer.

He’s very excited and not at all nervous.

I’m very excited and a little bit nervous.   He’ll do well.  He’s come very far.  He’ll go even farther.

… gotta go – he needs help with his tie… my boy’s all grown up :o(

 

PS – knitting soon – I promise

“I can’t believe I almost suffered a rogue burrito to the dome.”

…overheard while the “kids” were eating lunch yesterday.  I don’t even know.what.this.means.  There didn’t appear to be any malice behind the statement, and it was followed by laughter…. I don’t even know…

They continue to amuse me, those kids :o)

Knitting?  Oh yes, I still do.  In fact, I don’t really finish many projects lately, but I do start them.  Yesterday I was torturing myself, wanting to cast on for a new shawl with my Moab yarn, but really wanting to work on and finish my Twist sweater so I can wear it this winter.

 

But, I’m feeling the cable knitting at the moment… so, of course, I cast on for the shawl.  I have no self control.

Okay… I have to stop and interject here, again.  Overhearing the girls upstairs, waiting for their ride to COLLEGE, mind you:

D #1:  These are seriously the most stretchable sleeves I own

D#2:  Let me see!  Can I stretch them? (said quite enthusiastically)

D#1:  Well, Okay, but just don’t use your Incredible Hulk strength and get all out of control, because I don’t want you to ruin it.

…hee, I didn’t even know one of them had Incredible Hulk strength.  And, I don’t remember the last time I checked my sleeves for stretchability… is this important?   I have seriously weird children.

Back to the knitting….. have you seen this?  Seriously great stuff.  This works so much better for me than my much-loved KnitPicks magnetic chart tracker thingy…. because I can fold up my pattern for on-the-go, stuff-it-in-a-sack knitting…. like yesterday at the DMV.  (Yes, the DMV again… don’t ask, and, yes, we have to go back AGAIN!  Third time’s a charm, right….?  Yeah… no.)

Oh, sorry, I got side tracked.  Anyway, this Highlighter tape has some serious coolness factor… love it.  Get some, especially if your like me and easily lose your place while doing ALL of your knitting lately during marathon sessions of my new favorite show of all time – 24.  (and, yes, I may be in love with Jack Bauer, and we’re only on Season Two).

aaaaaand, because this blog can always use a Layla picture… here’s your fix.  SheIS an adorable tough chick who knows how to rock a bow  :o)

Getting Away!

… for a week, just the hubby and I!  Where have we been?  

Moab, Utah!!

I bought some beautiful laceweight alpaca to remind me of the colors of Moab.

Here’s the hubby and I, off on an adventure ride with three other couples.  I rode 120 miles on the back of that bike!!  See what I’m wearing?!  My Cobblestone!  Forgive the Michelin Man look – it’s all about the layers when it’s 40 degrees when you start out and 100 degrees when you finish!  Look at the diversity of BEAUTIFUL terrain we covered in 120 miles…  (you MUST click to embiggen these pics – they’re just awesome!)

… and check us out standing on Muscleman Arch!  It’s about 8-10 feet wide, and WAY FAR DOWN if you fell!!

We had such an awesome trip.  We’re already planning to go back next year. 

Oh yes… I did not knit a stitch all week while we were gone.  I had visions of knitting on the 800 mile drive (each way), but gawked at the scenery and enjoyed the hubby’s company instead.   Didn’t miss the knitting a bit – but I can’t wait to pick it up again now that we’re home!

Glimpses…

I just love my son…. overheard today:  “Errands are weird.  I just came back with a burrito, antifreeze, beer, and a water pump.”

“I’m going to double the number of socks and underwear I own, throw out what is old, and order all new stuff online – there, done, just like that.”

The things that go on…

when I’m not looking!

What is this dog doing sitting at the table?

And, what is that wet mark on the table in front of her??

Ewwww…

Again, ewww.

In knitting news – I cast on for Waves of Grain from the most recent Knitty!

This is the Handmaiden 2-ply cashmere that I picked up on in Victoria on the Sea Socks Cruise.  This is the most luxuriosly soft yarn I have EVER knit with.  I have decided everything I own should be made out of this stuff.  Mmmmmm

Aren’t the subtle colors pretty?

Ok – well, I’d better go check and see what the dog (and kids) are up to!

PS – Thank you SOOO much for all your kind birthday wishes yesterday!  You guys are the best.  You’ve made an old woman very happy ;o)

…still a good day

This morning I’m enjoying my coffee out of

my new Guggenheim mug, a gift from my sis (my mom, Sis, and I have fun memories of our trip to NYC and the “Guggyheim) – snuggling under the beautiful new lap quilt my Mom made me.

And, this morning I also have a new FO!

Pattern:  Foliage Shawl, by Miriam Felton, Mimknits

Yarn:  a no-name 70/30 merino cashmere blend, fingering weight

Needles:  Size 7 Knit Picks Harmony circular

Mods:  none

I think it’s very pretty.  It’s also a very quick knit, with the fingering weight!

Maybe I’ll wear it to Bible study this morning and feel fabulous, instead of 49 :o)

Happy Birthday To Me

Horizons

Another knitting fear conquered… the knit-on border.

Easy-peasy, and actually quite fun!

Now I have to go through my Victorian Lace Today book and reconsider all those patterns I was afraid of because of the knitted border.

My knitting horizons have expanded.  I love it when that happens.

(This is soon to be a Foliage Shawl by MimKnits.  Why aren’t more people knitting this one?  It’s fingering weight yarn, and works up rather quickly – and is quite pretty, too… I think)

What is mocking you on your knitting horizon?   What are you still afraid of?

Cobblestone!!

Presenting…. my variation on a Cobblestone!!

As you can see by this pic of the whole sweater, my sleeves are a little long (the cuff is rolled back in this pic) – but all-in-all I couldn’t be happier with the fit!

And, you can probably tell I did my own thing with the yoke.  I used the yoke detail from Ann Budd’s Handy Book of Sweater patterns. (Rav Link)  Kaity hates it – I LOVE it, it’s just what I was going for.

Pattern:  Cobblestone Pullover (Rav link)

Yarn:  Berroco Ultra Alpaca, color:  Yucca Mist

Size:  43-1/2″ size, but my gauge was smaller so it came out to 39-1/1″, which is exactly what I was shooting for :o)

Needles:  Size 8 Knit Picks Options

Here’s a closeup of the yoke detail

Sweet!  Now, if it would just get cold :o)