Things I wish I were knitting

Owls by Kate Davies

Little Birds by Ysolda Teague

I just noticed the bird theme. I must really want it to be spring. I also have two non-pattern based sweaters that exist in my little brain that I wish I could knit-up and maybe make patterns out of, but alas, I have no time for knitting and no money for yarn just now.

In Memoriam

Fernando Silverstein

1998-2009

My friend Erin sent me this story from a veterinarian some time back, I think it helps:

“Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. 

We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.' Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'"

spring is in the air

First, I found this image over at craftgossip, and I thought to myself what do I love more than knitting? That's right, cupcakes.

Second, the new spring interweave preview is up and it's a real snooze fest. Even Norah Gaughan's design seems uninspiring. The design I like most is a lace weight cardigan, but who has the time and patients to make a lace weight cardigan? Anyways, I am once again disappointed, and hoping for some good articles. Yes, I read the articles in my knitting porn, especially when the visuals leave a lot to be desired. Or maybe it will be better in person... One can hope.

In other news we are at 3 weddings and 5 babies for 2009 and counting...  I guess I'll be spending the spring and summer knitting for the expected little ones, which I will very much enjoy. Knitting little things is always fun. I think this may prove the perfect opportunity to finally make an EZ baby surprise jacket or a February sweater on two needles, or maybe a baby kimono from Mason Dixon, or perhaps practice a new top-down technique for a future big girl pattern. And let's not forget a baby blankie or two. I'm thinking bulky yarn for the blankies...

UPDATE: Here is a link to vegan yumyum who made those boss cupcakes. Apparently Martha Stewart is a fan. The imbedded video shows you how to make them!

February?!

How did this happen? How did I only post 4 times to my blog in January? Why have I not put up any pictures of FOs? Oh, that's right, I don't really have any for January. I've been so busy with the new semester starting up that I've been sort of MIA, and I cannot promise that this won't be a trend until spring, but please be satisfied with a beautiful picture of our new niece, Cora Jane sleeping under her majorly modified modern log cabin baby blanket (from Mason Dixon; yarn is knitpicks crayon).

Coming soon: My knitter's "To Do List" and the much promised photos of December FOs (I'm way behind - I know!)

Change Has Come To America

Best Wishes Mr. President.

a rose by any other name

It is a truth universally acknowledged: A knitter can never be satisfied. It is all yearning and yarn. 

I am now the proud owner of Kim Hargreave's gorgeous Heartfelt: The Darkhouse Collection (thanks TC!!!) and am most of the way through one of the sweaters in that lovely volume, when today I run across her Amber: A Winter Gathering, which includes many loverly designs all gorgeously photographed and knit in luscious Rowan yarns. The above design is aptly named Beth and I believe I must knit her. As some of you may know, my very first attempt at knitting a sweater was another KH Rowan pattern also named Beth. The yarn from that sweater eventually became my shopping tunic (my actual first sweater). While I failed at my first namesake sweater, I believe that this Beth and I are just meant to be. Or perhaps not, as my queue of to be knits is longer than the line to get into Barack Obama's inauguration.

What I'm doing in the New Year

1. Resting more than I should be, but I'll need it. I don't see much rest in my future until mid-May.

2. Preparing to teach three new classes in the Spring (just two more weeks!) Fine tuning the syllabi over and over, creating powerpoints, reading...

3. Avoiding completing a draft of a chapter for my dissertation - I am resolving here and now to get to work on that, just as soon as I finish this up.

4. Clicking everyday to benefit 6 different charities. You can help too! Go here  and click, then go to each of the tabs across the top and do the same. It's that easy. I dragged the url to my bookmarks bar so that I remember to do it everyday.

5. Puppy snuggling

6. Updating my winter wardrobe with generous Holiday gift money, and also stimulating the economy. Can't you tell what a good job I'm doing?

7. Waiting for my new niece/nephew to arrive. Come on baby! (S-I-L is almost a week overdue, poor Jess)

8. Knitting a sweater - Calm by Kim Hargreaves

9. Finishing holiday knitting that did not get done

10. Trying, and failing, to stay warm in Antarctica, I mean Wisconsin