Monday, June 30, 2008

In 5 days it will be time for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France. I've had my project picked out for a while and even had the yarn but discovered I had to go and buy an addi lace circular needle because it just hurt my hands too much to try to knit this ridiculously thin yarn with regular circs.


I am doing the Adamas shawl in Knitpicks Shadow in Oregon Coast Heather. It's a neutral color yarn that has subtle shading in it when it is knitted up.


Since I am in the Polka Dot Jersey section of the kal, my project could be a wip as long as it is a challenge for me. And boy has this been a challenge! I learned a new cast on technique (cabled cast on) which was cool and I like it and may use it in the future. I have also learned that lace knitting is hard. No, that's not right. It's not hard, it's challenging. That's why this is for a polka dot jersey. I have cast on 8 times and have finally finished chart one. Lifeline time. I have never felt the need for a lifeline but have now come to see the wisdom of one.


I don't have to finish this before the Tour is over on the 27th of July but I'd like to. We are going to a wedding on Aug 2nd and I'd like to wear it as my wrap. There are 14 repeats of the second chart and then a third chart. I'm going to wait until the 5th to pick it back up. I hope I'm not being too optimistic....


Tonight I helped PK bottle his latest batch of beer. Messy business. I wish I liked beer. It would make the whole process more fun. He is counting down the days until the 9th of August when he takes his plane ride. He has also pointed out to me that there have been 3 small plane crashes in the last week. I told him the insurance is not really that much. I am going to get a disposable video camera so I can record this for posterity. If I can figure out how to put it on the blog, I'll share.


I spent some time at the hospital while my aunt was having a 'procedure' today. She was supposed to have a cardiac ablation (they kill off rogue heart muscle cells that don't play well with others and march to their own drummer) but decided not to do it because there is a clot in her heart and they don't want to disturb it. They'll give her some medicine to regulate her heartbeat and some other stuff to hopefully disolve the clot. Better living through chemicals. This is PK, my aunt Elsie and my aunt Joan (the one in the hospital), three of my favorite people in the world last November. I know they're getting old. Today when I picked up Elsie to go see Joan, I noticed the bounce is gone from her steps and I had to duck my head so she didn't see my face. I love these women. It hurts my heart to see them age. I am working on socks for aunt Joan's perpetually cold feet. She loves showing then off and made me show the nurse today what I was knitting. Every stitch has a small prayer and positive thought knit into it.
Oh, and my supervisor loved the socks. She showed them off to everyone on the third floor (where the admin folks hang out). I heard about them all day. It was great.

11 comments:

Bells said...

so you have started your project already??? I thought we were supposed to wait and cast on on the day!!!

Good work on getting the lace needles. They are a life saver.

amy said...

What's the French connection on the shawl? I'm curious. And cable cast-on is my favorite. I pretty much use it for everything. I know I should learn others, but I haven't had any need to so far, so I haven't put the time in.

I'm sorry about your aunts. When my grandmother's sister died I was surprised at the loss I felt. I didn't see her often, but when I did, she always had nothing but kind words for me. She always told me I was a wonderful mother. And when she was gone, I felt keenly that there was one less person in the world who loved me no matter what.

Galad said...

What a lovely idea to knit socks for your aunt. I bet the love that is knit in to them will warm her heart as well as her feet!

Best wishes and hugs to all of you as you deal with her health issues.

Denise said...

You know what is totally bizarre? I am listening to "Better Living Through Chemistry" by Queens of the Stone as I read nearly the same words on your post! LOL!

Sending warm and healthy wishes to you and the important women in your life.

Rose Red said...

Good luck with Adamas.

Great to hear your supervisor loved the socks (how could she not!!) and hope your aunt is doing ok - it is hard to see loved ones aging but so good that you are so close to them.

Dianne said...

What a great picture of your husband and aunts. They are lucky to have you as such a loving, caring niece. Healing thoughts and prayers are headed your way for your dear aunt Joan.

Sheepish Annie said...

Isn't it great when the knitted gifts are appreciated so well?

DPUTiger said...

I think I have successfully "connected the dots" on my TDF KAL project. Glad you have chosen something as well :) It's tough when people you love get older and star to fail, but it sounds like your wonderful aunts have led full lives and at least you have been able to enjoy them! That's why I left a job that I love to move home -- to spend more time with my family while they're still healthy and fun :)

Amy Lane said...

ooooh... good luck on your shawl--I can't wait to see!

And as for the relatives...my great grandmother died about fifteen years ago, and my stepmom was devastated. Time happens, but our hearts, and the people in them never really age.

roxie said...

Blessings on you, and speed to your fingers. How heart-warming that your Great aunt cherishes her hand-knit socks. How loving of you to knit them! Love endures. Bodies age and pass, but the love endures.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the shawl - can't wait to see pics! I hope you aunt feels better soon...

Happy Sunday!  I am sitting here working on my sweater made with the cashmere yarn my husband gave me for my birthday last year. I’m further...