Mille Lacs Mojo

I haven't touched a knitting needle in over two months.  This has kept me up at night, thinking of the three (or more) large plastic bins full of yarn and projects getting dusty in my damp, dank basement.

Then my niece showed up . . . the one who has taken up the calling, remember her?  She said, "Auntie, can you show me how to knit a pair of socks."  And she produced a few (sorry Liv) limp and dusty skeins of lumpy old wool and said, "I brought my own yarn."  Oh, you sweet thing.

So a quick trip to the Local Yarn Shop (LYS) for some Addi Turbos and a quick dip into one of those aforementioned bins* and THIS is what she whipped up in a matter of hours. 

 Literally.  Hours.  She is knitting faster than I am!  An eleven year old!  I am so proud of her.  She chose a nice Collinette Jitterbug sock yarn in the colorway: Popsicle.  Isn't it perfect for summer and for an amazing niece?

 Today she turned her first heel.  I am a very proud Auntie.

*Side note: when you open one of my yarn bins, there is an ethereal light that shines forth and if you listen closely, you may even hear angels singing the hallelujah chorus.  I'm just sayin'.

And while Liv was busy looking for the perfect yarn in my bin, I noticed this neglected yarn called "Icehouse" and thought how UN-icehouse it was, but how perfectly "lakey".

(Here is a picture of Minnesota ice houses - note the lack of, um . . . color).   This picture was taken in February of Lake Mille Lacs (say it with me "mill - LAX").

However, I spent a beautiful summer day fishing on Mille Lacs with some friends and family yesterday and these were, indeed, the colors of the day.  The photos don't quite show it off, but the day was heavenly blue and deep shady green.

So this is my Mille Lacs sock using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi - Colorway: Icehouse.

The pattern is Nutkin by Beth LaPensee which is a favorite since it is quick and easy to memorize.  So thanks to Liv, my knitting mojo has returned!  Thanks, Liv.  I'm back.

I'm still here, folks.

Hi friends,

Just me, here - Rani.  I am going to be up front and tell you that I haven't touched my knitting in over a month.  A MONTH.  It's just too pretty outside.  And warm.  And, well, I just don't feel like knitting. 

We've been in Montana for some rest and relaxation.  I didn't even bring my knitting.  !GASP! 

Aaaaaaaah.  Summer.  Hope you're enjoying yours, too.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary . . .

 . . . how does your garden grow?  Sigh.  Do you know what I've been doing lately?  Spending time in my garden.  Taking pictures.  Breathing the warm air.  Last week the air smelled like apple blossoms.  Really, it did. 

I took my camera out today and took a close look at things growing there.  I caught this tiny creature nibbling on a yellow flower.

Don't worry.  I let him go on a big hosta plant.  That will take him all summer to devour.  Good luck, little buddy.

I've waited so long for this. I'm going to savor every minute.

Miracle

Some of you may remember when I posted about my sister losing her baby later in her pregnancy.  This happened a year ago - May.  I am so pleased to tell you the great news.  That same sister, after a nail-biting pregnancy, gave birth to a healthy baby boy.  He is home safe and sound with mommy, daddy and big sister. 

My hubby meeting Little Buddy for the first time.

Where do you knit?

Where do you find the time and place to knit?  Here are a few of mine:

 Cabin time.

 After-school-sports-waiting-in-the parking-lot time.

Piano lesson time.

TV Time.

R & R

Hoooo, boy.  I just enjoyed a much needed little breaky-poo Up North.  This was Stella's first trip in a boat, on a dock and in wolf country.  Within an hour, she pulled a leg bone of a deer up onto the porch with meat still on it (shiver me timbers), presumably from a recent wolf kill.   This morning, we heard footsteps of a large (wolf-sized) creature trot past the back of the cabin just out of our sight.  We'd best keep that puppy close or she'll become a snack for the local wolf pack.  Sends shivers down the spine, doesn't it?  Last summer, we had wolf scat right in front of the cabin.  But I never hear or see them.  Hmm.

Anyhow.  I finished my beloved Coraline!!

This is what I look like when I'm blowing off steam and trying to relax...

She is a beaut.  A tad small.  But if I can't stand the fit, I have a nice sister out west who lives in sweaters and happens to be smaller than I am.

Yeah, it still needs buttons...

Puppy Problem Solving

I also started a kit that's been in my knitting cupboard for a few years now.  It's a pattern that was written in Norwegian and translated by Arnhild Hillesland.  The pattern is called Ladies Mitts.  I figured that it's putzy enough for me that I should start them now if I want them in time for next winter.

For my dog lovin' friends.

Knitting? No. Crafting? Yes.

Today is the one year anniversary of the birth of my sister's still born baby girl, Olive Stephanie. 
While it was horrible and sad, there is great joy here, too.  My kid sister is due in three weeks to deliver a baby boy.  Just one year later!

So while we twiddle our thumbs in anticipation of the birth, we spent the weekend making these gorgeous baby wraps to donate to the hospital specifically for (yucky word ahead) fetal demise.  Isn't that just a horrible couple of words!?  Yuck. 

 We made several sizes from premie to full-term.

 Boy warps and girl wraps.

 We cut 12, 14 and 18 inch squares out of cotton flannel - washed and ironed. . .

 Fold the middle piece of fabric in half, wrong sides touching.

 Lay folded piece on top of second piece (right sides touching).

 Add third square over the top of both (right side down).

 Straight stitch starting at bottom third of pocket and continue all the way around leaving about three inches open so you can flip the piece right-side out.

 Top stitch the entire blanket once you've flipped it right side out and given it a good iron.

 Attach ribbon to the back.

 Fold and tie.

If you are in the mood to try your own hand - please do!  There is a great need for these items.  Preemie clothes and hats are often too tricky to use with these fragile bodies.  When we dropped off our twenty wraps, the nurses were so happy and appreciative.  This was exactly what they needed, which made us all feel so good.  They told us that they have about 150 - 200 cases of fetal death/still birth every year.  Can you imagine?

Straight Up.

Hey.  Did you forget about me?  I have not forgotten about all of you, but I have been a huge lazy ass when it comes to my blog.  I have begun a monogamous relationship that has been taking up any and every meager bit of spare time I have.   Her name (yes, it's a her and it's really not that racy) is Coraline and she is a warm and nifty little thing.  Well, take a look for yourself.

Almost done!

The pattern was written by Ysolda Teague.  I'm using a basic Knit Picks Swish DK in persimmon and a puny size 3 needle.  It has been a turbulent relationship but I think we've come to an understanding.  She looks good with a nice pair of jeans. 

We're still wearing wool sweaters and jeans in Minnesota but today I wore a short sleeve shirt underneath.  Sadly, I even wore my floor to ceiling down quilted ugly brown coat to work today.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a miraculous 58 degrees.  I'm skeptical.  We have an outdoor field trip scheduled and I'll be damned if I will spend another two minutes standing around watching my own breath freeze in the air.

Spring has been keeping us busy.  The garden is completely untouched.  Too cold.  Now it's too wet.  Wah wah wah.

Stella has grown into a pretty little lady.  She is quite the swimmer and retrieves like a mo-fo.  Seriously.  We've been smacking tennis balls into the woods and after zigzagging back and forth for 5 minutes, she comes back with the darn thing.

Easter came and went.  It was lovely.

We rented a little teeny tiny cabin with the kiddos and had a sweet little vacation in the woods.  Wait.  Don't we live in the woods already?  I guess we do.  Hmmm.  I'll have to think about that a bit.

 Fishing for minnows in a hidden creek.

 Floating rubber duckies down the creek.

 I forgot the graham crackers.  No worries.  We made due.

 Mr. Darling was the master roaster.

 

 While the rest of the family played games in the lamp light, I snuggled into my top bunk (I had to wrestle my kid for it) and knit on with my headlamp.  You all would have been so proud of me.

Bob, Chuck Norris and Flower - bad ass rubber duckies