Anywho, not much to write about. Feeling rather morose this morning. Browsed through the most recent issue of Pagan Moonbeams. The theme is death (and rebirth). And that got me thinking about people and loved ones we've lost. And because it's February I was thinking of a HS friend who committed suicide one January (years ago), but I always associate him with February because of this whole funny thing where he'd told one of our teachers that he was a leap-year baby and she'd planned a special thing for him and then found out he'd made it up as one of his many jokes. I don't know why that story always sticks out in my mind, but he and his friends will forever be remembered as pranksters. Oh, the things that were left in my yard... the things that were tapped under teacher's desks... the number of meter sticks broken... the stories I have for their children! (and they have children...) Sometimes those days feel like yesterday, but the memories are over a decade old and being pre-Abi they're really more than a lifetime ago for me. Everything pre-Abi also feels like a lifetime ago (literally and figuratively). To bring Abi into the thought processes, the Moonbeams issue included stories about pets who pass over and that's one thing I'm always trying to prepare for - the inevitable day when one of our furry family members passes on. I'm hoping that the current felines will have a longer life than most of my past cats. I've had bad luck with sick cats - all different forms of illness and all came on suddenly from out of the blue when the cat was otherwise very healthy. Recently vet-checked in some cases. Anyhow, I'm not emotionally ready to deal with another death soon, even though I know I can and I would and everything would be okay. It's draining. If I might ask a favour of the gods - I'd like a death-free year (food-sources aside; and I mean death in the classic sense, not the metaphorical sense, because I know there will be plenty of endings and transformations this year).
On to more pleasant thoughts today.
Such as a picture of Abi modeling her adorable scarf I whipped up using the yarn she dyed and balanced by some plain white. It's a very cozy, warm scarf. The dyed yarn is alpaca and the white is a wool-mohair blend. Warm! The stitch pattern is a double-ended, double-garter simple stitch - in case you were wondering. That means I knit across with yarn A, slide the stitches back across the needle (circular or a long double-pointed needle), then knit across with yarn B. Repeat to desired length. Incredibly easy and quick and great for on-the-go, chatting, etc. This scarf is nice and long - it wraps around and can then be tied.
The photo is from when she was sick. :(
Here she is outside, all bundled up, while Robin shoveled the deep snow. If only she was wearing her pink and purple knit mittens for this photo... she'd be knit-coordinated.
And here's a project I'd like to share. A friend of mine gave me a couple of balls of yarn last fall saying she saw it and thought of me and imagined I could make something beautiful with it. (Major Goodwill score! And she'd beat me to the store by 30 minutes.) I made myself a short-sleeved cardigan in the fall. And in January I made this, which the "knitting fairy" recently left on her doorknob (and almost wiped-out running away). It was my first beaded project. And, technically, it is crochet work.
The second photo was taken before I steam-blocked the shawl. The yarn is an acrylic blend (Mary Maxim "Mohair"), so it should be permanently blocked in shape now. Oh, if you were wondering, the Ravelry link for the original pattern is: Festival Shawl.
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