Looking Back/Looking Forward

Thank-you for your kind words and thoughtful wishes. It's always hard to loose a pet.

I did also mention that I was Celebrating my own kind of anniversary and I thought I would share with you just what that looked like. This year.

First, you check into a hotel/resort ALL BY YOURSELF and walk briskly to the Spa for your Pedicure that you're actually just on time for (which really means, you're late).
Then you go to your room, and enjoy the surprise fact that they've given you the King bed that you wanted, but had been told that you would get two Queens. Of course this is the cue for the photo op. I have a wreath sticker on both big toes and the polish colour is called..."Don't Toy With Me". At least 50% of my decision as to what colour of polish to wear is based on the name.

After that, one must unpack and set up for the two night stay of knitting time that will only be interrupted by Spa time.

It was pointed out to me that I (again) brought more projects that I could ever complete in two days. (My son had to carry the luggage to the car for me!) I brought the "Must complete" project, along with the "should get that done for her" project, followed by the "should make that for him" yarn, and let's not forget the "who this getaway is actually for" projects that include two WIP for 'moi', one with a good two year seniority on the other, finer, recently cast on sweater. Some magazines and books were also included should I find myself needing something else to do.

hahahahaha!!

I did, however, in my rush to get out the door, forget to bring wine.

I KNOW!!! I hate it when that happens.

Thank goodness for room service. Note: I did not forget the chocolate---thanks mom and dad!
Here's something I learned during my little adventure:
If you stay up until 1 o'clock in the morning the night before your planned getaway catching up on the shows you've PVRd over the past few days and procrastinate packing until the day you are going to leave and then rush around trying to get just a couple of more things done before you go, rush out the door, having only eaten...I think it was a granola bar...drive for an hour in fog and rain, go directly to your pedicure, check into your room and at 3-3:30 realize that you haven't eaten anything substantial all day, but don't want to spoil your dinner (yea, I'm a mom) and you order a lovely cheese platter with a glass of Chianti and sit back to enjoy said platter while knitting a pretty simple little lace pattern on the cuff of your recently cast on sweater (see list above). It doesn't matter how much water or tea you drink...
you're gonna need a nap.
And when you wake up from the much needed nap, you will then have to rip out that lovely little lace pattern and do it over before more wine comes with dinner.
Just, you know, if you find yourself in a similar situation; then you'll know what to expect.

I didn't complete the "MUST COMPLETE" project, but was able to complete it when I got home so that I could send it off to the "Think Outside the Sox" contest being held by XRX Inc. and Knitters Magazine. I've been planning my entries since the spring and wanted to work within my stash to enter some designs. I only had to purchase one skein for one category (and well, another 'replacement' ball when I fudged the first design), but over all was pleased with how things were going. I was set to send two pair along (having initially thought I would get five out there), so I went on line to down load more entry forms, confirm that the entries would be accepted with a 'postmarked by December 31, 2008' status and was surprised to see that they've extended the deadline until January 31st, 2009! You know what that means, don't you?

December 30th I swatch and December 31st I cast on.

BRING ON 2009!!

2008

It has been a very eventful year.
There have been many Celebrations and sometimes those Celebrations haven't necessarily been especially joyful.
Too many times this past year I've had to Celebrate someone's life as they are no longer here to share future Celebrations. At least not in body.
I've lost two friends to cancer this year and yesterday I Celebrated my second cancer-free anniversary. I took some quiet time away to reflect and to re-energize.
I've made plans for the future, but have come to acknowledge, that all we can really count on is what is happening right now! We cannot change what will happen, but we can hope and look forward to a future that is bright and full of friendship and laughter and love.
We can also remember, knowing that it was indeed a past that is done.
Fifteen years ago, I was living in Collingwood, ON. I was soon to purchase my first home. A semi that had been immaculately renovated and decorated by a hard working European couple. I moved in with my cat and my dog.
A short time later a nurse that I was working with, heard about a stray kitten that had been found and needed a home. I went to see him.
He was about four months old and a bundle of energy.
I took him home; how could I not?
Next, he needed a name.
At that point in time I was in my Kenny G phase of music appreciation and one evening while driving around town it came to me...
Kenny C---the cat from Collingwood!
My dog loved him! I remember watching them play and Bailey coming over to me to, well, thank me for getting her that kitten!
My husband and I had been dating for a few months when I adopted Kenny and they became quick buddies.

Kenny enjoyed being outside and sitting on the hot tub was a great way to keep warm!

Visitors were often greeted with this pose and Kenny was always ready for a belly rub.

The past few months though, our fourteen year old Kenny had been fading.

Today, I came home to find a sad, sick, old cat. He wasn't having a good time here anymore.

The kids and I said our good-byes and while we Celebrate the wonderful cat that he was...we're sad and we'll miss him.

Good bye Kenny.

Helllllloooooo Out There!!

Hi.


Yea, my bad.


It's been a month!!


In that month, however, there has been significant action around here...



(Now, just in case this post looks really wonky...I've decided to multi-task--- because that's what we do--- and do some typing while the pictures are loading; so we'll see if I can put it all together when it's done.)



These images are presented in no particular order, but trust me, I had wild and wonderfully witty stories to share about all of them...but I forget.

And while we're waiting...I feel pretty good about the whole Christmas prep thing. I may be, oh, what's the word, completely unrealistic (?) in my optimism, but you know...it's gonna come anyway, whether I'm ready, finished, prepared, tired, sore...doesn't matter; December 25th will come on December 25th and I refuse to kill myself in preparation for the day after December 24th and the day before December 26th. Been there, done that and (my favourite) bought the T-shirt!

Images not ready yet.

I've had some good news over the past few weeks and some good times...
Christmas parties with friends is one of the best things about this season.

Here's an example of some of the cookies that I made for our "Cast Off's Christmas Party"

I LOVE our Christmas party. It's just us...15 of us...and WE ARE ALL JUST THE BEST PEOPLE EVER!!! ( if I do say so myself)

Another Christmas Celebration that I had the honour of attending was for the lovely ladies that I have met through Wellspring at Doane House. (Men are welcome, but they usually don't stay with us for too long). I made this for our hostess. She knew the owner of the yarn shop where I purchased this yarn, Hand Maiden Cashmere and Silk, long before I did, and the funny thing was...I just bought it 'because'. I even started knitting it 'just because'. And then one day...a light bulb went off (I was trying to think of a word to describe a sound effect for a light bulb going off and then decided writing "a light bulb went off" would make it more clear for all of you) and I realized that the scarf I was knitting was for M. She took it out west with her when she visited her in-laws and it kept her nice and warm...and that's a good thing.

Unfortunately we recently lost a special lady to Breast Cancer, and while we celebrated the holidays, she wasn't able to join us and a few days later she was gone. We're all very sad and will miss her tremendously. We shared many tears at Doane house...tears of laughter, tears of fear, tears of anger...but at no time did we shed tears of loneliness, because we were always there for each other. Always. Anytime. We were a found family when we didn't know who or what we were looking for...there we were.

And then we're gone.

So, here and now. That's what know for sure. Here and now. (sorry got a little deep there, but I miss our friend)

So, the family and I got to go see a Raptor Game. The kids had a blast!! Me? I had wine. hehe

This is my daughter and I celebrating another 3 pointer for the good guys.

We lost, but it was a really wonderful afternoon.

More knitting...

Remember L? Took up knitting and was whizzing through Misti Alpaca like nothing? (still going strong, by the way)
Well, she's a hockey player and she organized a very successful tournament a few weeks ago; so I donated these for their fundraising efforts.




I made a pair of guards for her last year...(or was it the year before?) anyway she and her team mates thought they were great!! (I made a pair for my son too...he --and my husband--laughed, and the dog ate one) Anywhooo, because she said that they were so popular I went with putting together a pink pair with some minor modifications from the pattern as written on Knitty. The case I designed; yes, I designed, to go with it so that the guards could be stored in it on the bench and keys, cell phone, etc. could also be accessible. The ladies were tickled and expressed and overwhelming demand for more. hehe :o)
I'll need to follow up with the original designer, but I think this could be fun.

So, yes I've been knitting. I've been producing knitted items that should then leave a void in the stash.

No worries.

There's been stash enhancement as well.

There we are, caught up a little bit. I'm working on one last 'would really like to get it done for Christmas' knitted item, but have run into pattern design issues and am, right now, as we speak, waiting for clarification from the designer himself (yes, himself)!!

I love knitters.

Do you get that?

I'll try to post sooner than later.

Take care all.