Chasing Clouds

Cloud Chaser is the perfect name for a sweater to wear today. Though I'm trying mighty hard by modeling and wearing this garment, it's not helping to chase away our thick cloud cover. I've no doubt it'll rain tonight, but in my vest, and with the help of my sheepy umbrella, I'm ready for this fickle spring weather.

When I make this sweater again, and I know I will, I think I'll try to find a way to lengthen the back. Other than it being a tad short in length for my torso, it's otherwise perfect, really cozy and not too hot.

Four hanks of Lorna's Lace's, Honor, was more than enough yarn. In fact, there's enough left over for a pair of fingerless mitts, or booties and a hat for a wee babe. If you can't find LL Honor (see link for a good option to buy), I think Road to China Light would be a perfectly good alternative yarn. Whatever you choose, make sure it has a fiber content that allows for drape. Alpaca, bamboo and silk are a few that come to mind. Honor is a 70/30 alpaca and silk blend.

It's really sad, but I did run out of this one of a kind yarn that I used to make a sweater for a friend's baby. I still have to sew the seams in the sleeves and crochet a front border. I bought the yarn 5 years ago and there is no possible way to get more to finish the job. Still...all is not lost. I can use a different yarn to sew the sleeves and save what's left for the border. I'm grateful it's a baby sweater and not something big, or there would be a whole lotta griping going on around here. Ironically (or not), the name of that pattern is Little Clouds Baby Sweater.

Hmm. If I want the weather to change, maybe I should knit something that doesn't have clouds mentioned in the name.

Honestly?

With this dog's proclivity for mooching, one might think he is never fed.

The Man Kitchen

I grew up with a man in the kitchen--my brother--who could, and still does, cook like an angel. Last night though, I met a man who told me about the man kitchen. I thought I knew what a man kitchen was, but apparently, I'd been misinformed.

He was likely a giant of a man at one time with impressive height and enormous hands the size of baseball mitts. These days, his hands are mangled from arthritis, and a multitude of illnesses have robbed him of energy, weight, and, yes, height. He walks well enough, but it takes him several minutes to move from sitting to standing in order to get anywhere. Standing upright is impossible and instead, he motors with stooped posture.

When I asked what he'd done for a living, he told me he worked in a man kitchen where he made steel for a paycheck. He said he adored that job and likened making steel to baking a cake. The recipe must be precise and the ingredients added one at a time until the mixture and great heat produced the perfect cake. Though hot, and grueling, he'd loved his life's work. Loved.



When I questioned this patient about pain, he refused to admit he had any, though to my trained eye, it was obvious he was suffering from some. It was not in his nature to complain. After much gentle prodding, he did admit there was pain that troubled him, but only in the mornings and only for a little while.

It's not often I meet someone so stoic, but I'm sure after serving in General Patton's army in WWII, and then a lifetime in a steel mill, one would learn to live with the obvious and pain becomes an every day fact of life that people like him just accept as normal. This is his price of admission to continued life, if you will.

My hope for this man is the plan I put into motion brings him the relief he deserves without clouding his senses. He has wonderful stories still to tell and I wouldn't want anything that I did bring those history lessons to a close.

While he may not know it, this beautiful human being brought me great joy last night, though I'm quite certain, I may have been the last person he wanted to meet. He was kind, gracious--a gentle giant--and meeting him reminds me why I love what I do for a living, too.

I will never again bake a cake without imagining the man kitchen and thinking of him.

More muddy bits

Finally! The vest is finished as of this morning and is currently in the process of drying. I could have rushed it in order to wear it to an event yesterday, but after all these weeks of work, I didn't want to risk using steam to block the piece. It's got a high silk content and I thought that since I'd followed the instructions of this piece so precisely, it might behoove me to follow the designer's operating manual on blocking, too. So I gave it a bath. A long one that I hoped would wash out the coffee stain. It did. I didn't spill the coffee, but in preparation for bathing, I set the finished vest on dark coffee grounds on a dark counter top. Don't worry though--the coffee stains are gone.


The sweater is gorgeous, soft and warm. All the qualities I like in my hand knits. Pictures on the live model will have to wait for the drying process.


There was a bit of worry for a time when I realized that somehow, I'd lost my focus and made some rookie mistakes on the collar. In one area, I forgot a cable. In another, I dropped a stitch and didn't notice for 2 rows. In my defense, that stitch was hiding in a ribbed section. The last was finding a yarnover when clearly, there's not a yarnover to be had in the entire pattern.

There was a lot of puttering, tinking and cursing to make it all right and for now I'm blaming the mistakes solely on Donkey Kong.


On Saturday, I bought a used Wii system and had my son rent Donkey Kong Returns for me. Instantly, I was transported back to the days when my kids were young and played video games. When they went to bed, I hogged the nintendo system all to myself and I played DK and Mario Brothers for hours on end. It's taken 2 days and an entire team, but we've cleared two worlds so far and are dying too often on the third world to make a dent. I ignored the manufacturer's warning on this operating manual and I did sustain some minor injuries. I have developed a bruise on the tip of my left thumb from manhandling the controller. We were supposed to go out for dinner last night to celebrate my birthday, but instead, we ordered pizza to be delivered while my daughter, my son and I played and laughed for hours.

Now that's my kind of celebrating.

Eye Candy Friday

I instituted a weekly fiber show and tell and within one week, I've already forgotten all about it and failed to post for All Things Sheepy Thursday. You'll have to settle for Got Fiber? Friday this week. I do have fiber and I do have progress on Cloud Chaser, though I'm not chasing clouds, I'm chasing time. I really wanted to wear this on Sunday, and right now, it's not looking so good, but not for lack of trying.

As I suspected, the collar, while simple, is just a little tedious at this point and my mind and hands are prone to wander off if not entertained or supervised. For sure, the Kindle has gotten in the way of knitting progress, and so has work. For cryin' out loud, I only have 3 pattern repeats, the ribbed border and the finishing of the arm holes. I should be able to complete that in my sleep.

I've included a recent photo of Leo, snapped just this morning, to distract from the fact that I'm forgetful. And lazy. He wanted a belly rub and a photo shoot. You know, I think Leo just might be a part of the distraction issue for me. Don't blame me if he distracts you from finishing things, too.

Living History

One year ago today was moving day for us. It's probably safe to say I don't know how to plan a birthday celebration, don't you agree? Today is much different, though I forgot to request the day off and I do have to work tonight. I worked last night, too, but had no assignment and only one call. I can only hope tonight is a repeat, but since I want to live to see 55, I won't hold my breath. I'll do well to consider last night's shift an early gift.

I awakened today to find I'm the new owner of a Kindle and the holder of tickets to see Neil Young. I couldn't have gotten better gifts if I'd bought them myself. They're just perfect.

Note to my 54 year old self: if you want to use those tickets, you need to take May 4th off.

That's a whole lot of yarn

I'm very torn about parting with cash these days. I'd rather hold onto it than buy yarn, clothes, or anything I don't really need.

I'll let you recover from that yarn statement for a moment...

That said, I have an overwhelming desire to see Neil Young when he comes to town next month. I love his music and his very unique voice. I even like his more obscure and undervalued work, like the CD, Are You Passionate.

The problem is the price for tickets. Holy Cow! The cheapest seat for his May 4th concert is around $100. Add a buddy...add parking...add a cocktail...add dinner. Factor in really good seats for a last in my lifetime chance to see this guy live and by the end of the night, I'd have to work 3 days just to afford the tickets.

I'm trying hard not to let it bring me down.