Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone. I spent another enjoyable year with my In-laws, all 15 of them.

The Boyfriend and I counted, and we’re pretty sure this is the tenth year I’ve attended.

I’m pleased to say it never gets old. Each year is different in some way. Each year I get to know another member of the extended family a little bit more.

Each year I’m amazed that this family manages to come together once a year, every year for the past thirty plus years.

My in-laws are a wonderful mix of personalities and I am happy to be counted among their numbers.

They are completely different form my extended family yet I love them both and feel I belong with them both. I am truly thankful this Thanksgiving.

Family...

First there was baseball...
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and knitting....

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We watched the entire John Adams mini series. This was my third time and you’ll be shocked to hear that there was some knitting during the film. This time I didn’t cry when Abigail dies but everyone else did.

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Then there was pressure washing, I still don't get what the deal is with that, but of course I supervised and knit.

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This year the Samurai family engaged in the traditional shopping but introduced a new sport, the knit shopping. There were no injuries.

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Then there was Funtown and The Thunderbolt, I refrained from knitting.

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Memere did come over to contribute to the knitting front. And later LT and I saw the movie The Proposal. I think I might have embarrassed her by laughing so loud in the theater. It definitely wasn’t the knitting in the theater, that didn't bother her one bit.

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Oh and did I mention we did manage to hit four yarn shops in our shopping adventures? It was torture!

Tomorrow we head to the artic (long and photo heavy)

Today I’m cleaning and packing. Why do they always seem to go hand and hand? I think it might be that old fear of someone having to enter your home while your not there and wanting to be sure it’s clean. Anyway, I’m packing for our trip to visit family on the border between Maine and Canada. Not the US and Canada, but Maine. That’s how I grew up thinking about it, as though Maine was the center of the universe unto itself.


Google Maps charts it as a 7 hour drive. The road trip will feature The Boyfriend, Mum, Dad and I. It’s always interesting ridding together. My parents and I have years of experience talking with Mum disputing Dad’s musical selections. The Boyfriend, who is normally quit verbose, tends to sleep through these situations, which is a foreign concept to Mum. Why wouldn’t you want to socialize since we’re trapped here for the next 7 hours together? While The Boyfriend enjoys their company, I think sleeping is his coping mechanism for dealing with the long hours in a confined space (he does the same thing on planes). Also, he didn’t grow up taking car rides this long, his family maxed out at 2 hours.

So tomorrow we head north to find -32 degrees and a complete lack of knitting stores. I’ll be bringing my Gravel Point hat and he’ll bring his Boy’s hat. Oh and did I mention that per usual, packing means spending the two days before fretting over exactly what to bring for knitting projects and the last twenty minutes stuffing clothes in a suitcase? At current count I’m at 8 projects, too many…

The dilemma is, road trips are an excellent time to finish small languishing projects that I lack the motivation to do under normal circumstances. The change in scenery and stimulating conversation offer enough of a distraction that my fingers can quickly work through the project when I’m not looking and I don’t even feel a thing. That’s not the dilemma, that comes with the knowledge that if I bring too many ‘chores’ I wont want to knit at all and the excitement of travel makes it easy to just pass up the knitting in favor of horse back riding or skiing (not likely to do either in this lifetime). So I must bring the right balance of chores and exciting projects (i.e., the latest socks). And herein lies the problem and why there are 8 projects being packed right now. Quick run down of who’s in…

The Cashmere Cowl No. 2 - Lace Rib…part of the gift challenge. The HoneyCowl…for spoiled me. The Callandor cowl…part of the gift challenge, and my own design.



The Steve Zissou hat to match Na-Ate Zissou’s. Susie's Reading Mitts…also part of the gift challenge.


The Ricky Morneaux socks, based on Dad’s sweater pattern using my hand dyed yarn. The Uptown Boot Socks, which have been waiting since we picked up Lulu back in October.
And the Sock Yarn Blanket, since it’s so portable and I’m behind on my squares.


Well the good part for you, is that after 14 hours in the car, I’m sure to have made some progress and have updates to show on a couple of these.

Doing Better

Monday morning was just like any Monday –get up go to knitting class and then head to Mum and Dad’s. Things were not normal when I arrive to find my mother with her fully packed suitcase. My aunt was on the phone saying ‘come now’. Two weeks ago my uncle had a valve in his heart replaced with a titanium valve. It’s been a slow recovery which included a two day stint in the local hospital because of chest pain. Eventually they sent him by helicopter ambulance to a major cardio hospital. Things did not look good and my aunt and cousin needed us. Mum and I formed a convey and headed to the hospital 2 hours away.

The car ride was a roller coaster ride of emotion. Knowing that the worst was possible and hoping against all hopes that it wouldn't happen. My uncle’s blood pressure was so low that when he arrived they performed emergency surgery in the ER without anesthesia or pain medication. Everyone involved said “it was one for the record books”. My uncle’s first words to Mum and I was that it would’ve made a great episode of ER with blood flying everywhere.

On the second day we saw a change in him. And as the day wore on he was eating and joking. Tonight they moved him out of ICU and into his own room. We four girls were like a comedy routine, laughing and making him laugh. It was just such a relief to be with him after fearing the worst. He even sang the chipmunk Christmas song to us which was completely unexpected but thoroughly appreciated.

Tomorrow we head home, in the new target clothes I had to buy since I didn’t have time to pack before we left. I’ll have to do some quick laundry, baking and packing of knitting supplies before we head to Northampton, MA for Thanksgiving with The Boyfriend’s side of the family. Can you guess where I’m going on black Friday?

Just Keep Going!

My computer has been the bane of my existence (honestly I feel a bit guilty saying that since are much worse things out there, so don’t pitty me too much). It’s been crawling along loaded down with pictures and obsolete programs. I do loves me some photos, as you may have noticed. Dad said to buy a massive external drive, 40 times the size of my computer to put archives on. I spent 4 hours moving things and now the computer is below 50% full and it’s flying along again! Yay!!!

While moving files I was knitting along on my Perrin socks. I finished them at 8:54 tonight. Just over a week after I dyed the yarn. That’s definitely a Sock-Toe-Bar record. I even did the picot crochet edging. I really enjoyed working with the yarn. It’s the Knit Picks Gloss, 70/30 wool silk blend. It definitely knit up well on size 2s. But really I’m ready to cast on for the next pair.

This weekend I visited the University, had girls weekend with Mum, Aunt, & Cousin, and of course hit the local yarn shop. I bought two skeins of Araucania Ranco, a denim blue variegated and a lime green variegated. I’m feeling a bit guilty since I already have two pairs worth of this yarn and bought more without ever knitting with it. I think that should be the next yarn on my needles. The Boyfriend says that the Lime color would look the best for cabled socks...

I just have to share these lovely photos of my mother and cousin. They were being thrilled by the messaging chairs at the mall and later as we giggled our hotel room, my little cousin decided to demonstrate her abilities to hop like a mermaid with a tail in one leg of her pants. On my way to meet the family I called Mum, below is a snip-it of the conversation, verbatim….

Me: Mum I’m Lost
Mum: Just Keep Going!
Me: But Mum you don’t know where I am.
Mum: Go past the intersection.
Me: Mum! I don’t even know the name of the hotel or if I’m on the right road, so how can you tell me to just keep going?!?!
Both: hysterical laughter

“Just keep going!” was our mantra the rest of the weekend.

My Friends

I wish I had written this. My mother actually sent this to me the morning after the debate... I did add my own little something to it, though.

"My Friends",
Let me tell you how I am going to save money in my household budget. First, "My Friends" I am going to begin by cutting My Husband's (my dad's) spending. If that is not enough "My Friends" I am going to decrease Simon's (the dog's) food allowance since he is overweight anyway. Next "My Friends" Simon's dental health care plan will have to stop since the costs are just too great. Then "My Friends" we as a family need to stop paying taxes. I believe, "My Friends" that taxes are too high so "My Friends" I will not pay anymore. Let me tell you "My Friends" what I am going to do about housing. I am going to get a new mortgage "My Friends". Yes, I am going to talk to Fannie and Freddie, or is it Eddie, one of them, "My Friends" and I am going to stay in my home. Also, I want to add "My Friends" no matter how bad the economy is my patriotism assures me it will get better.

My Husband's going to get some on the job training "My Friends" that will create a surge in our economy. So "My Friends" if you think I am laughing at "that guy" - NOT - then you are right "My Friends" because the truth is "that guy" is way ahead. Therefore in closing "My Friends" I need to close quickly and leave this email quickly even if "My Friends" are all shaking hands with "that guy". OK, "My Friends" that is all I have to say.

Good Night "My Friends",

The Samurai's Mom (Bet you are surprised it's me - I bet you all thought it was John McCain writing to you)!

p.s. if you do not "get" this email then you "My Friends" need to go and watch the debate again!

Trains, Salem, Waving Lace

We road the train yesterday. It was my cousin’s first time and she was excited to check it out. There are only two stops between my house and my parents. As we pulled into the station at the second stop and looked at the people out the window.
I saw white hair, with a white mustache, and a green Timberland t-shirt. Three strikes, that’s my Dad!!! Then we saw her dad and our mothers. Confused, we jumped up thinking they’d come to pick us up a stop too soon. Then we saw them in line to board.

The mothers joined us on the train and road the five minutes to our destination. We giggled the whole time. It was a good surprise.

All day we giggled, which was a nice feeling compared to the sadness that permeated our day yesterday. We girls had been so excited to go to Salem Massachusetts and visit the witch museums and see the sites.

The first museum was fine. The cemetery was fine. In fact we enjoyed viewing 200+ year old grave stones and marveling at how similar it was to Disney but without the shiny plastic, this was an authentic haunted cemetery complete with giant old trees and falling stones. The architecture was beautiful and there was a red line to follow as we walked the streets in a picturesque New England town.


Did you know that Salem is actually Salem town, and it was Salem village where the witch hunt actually took place. Salem Village has since changed its name to Danvers. The second museum, was too realistic of a retelling for me. The sadness of a community turning on it self and murdering 19 of it’s own members was overwhelming. We all felt it and we all were ready to leave.

I took my “little cousin” to knitting group that night. She threw caution to the wind and trusted me enough to venture out for the evening with a group of strangers. The girls were very welcoming and she really enjoyed herself. Speaking of knitting, I’m at 21” on the Ivy League Vest. I need to hit 22 to start the back neck deceases and then…it’ll be time to cast off and cut the steeks…eeeeek!

I finished the Waving Lace Socks yesterday. I love the color, used Colinette Jitterbug on size 2s. Although for casting off I need 6s to keep it from being too tight aroudn the top of the ribbing. Next time I should use size 1s for this yarn and add more stitches if I use this pattern again. The waving is stretched more than I’d like. I have almost a whole skein leftover, and I wear size 11s so what’s up all the extra yarn? I’ll save it for the barn raising quilt someday.

Even A Samurai Gets Thirsty

The wedding went off without a hitch. I am so happy for my brother-in-law and his new wife. She and I are very different yet similar in many ways. They did things just the way they wanted them and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.

I thought it was very romantic.


You may recall that last fall I wrote about an autumn wedding. The Boyfriend's “Identical cousin” and his wife are so much fun to be around.

At 8 months pregnant that girl danced circles around me! Definitely a great night, although I was left extremely parched.

Even more than 99.9%.

This resulted in an exhibition of my cat like reflexes as I slunk over to the beverage table, barefoot. Checking for on lookers and finding none, I requisitioned myself a pitcher of ice cold water! I then made a stealthy escape to elevator and up to the room. The Boyfriend followed with my shoes in tow. What can I say; even a Samurai gets thirsty sometimes.

No worries, I did not steal the pitcher. I would have if I could have thought of another occasion when I need that much water and refilling a normal drinking glass wouldn’t suffice. I drew a blank so the pitcher and I parted ways.

Sometimes the music doesn’t stop and that’s ok

Day two of our vacation was funny. We laughed all day. My aunt took me for a ride on their ATV during which we broke multiple laws and I was certain I needed a helmet. Later we drove to Canada where we ate at Boston Pizza. Good food but I had to chuckle that the city of Boston was being packaged into this trendy bar loaded with sports memorabilia. I’d say about twice an hour either Mum, LT or I would break into song, Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Take A Chance on Me. We really are all stuck on the Abba songs but don’t seem to mind. The only one voicing discent is my uncle who insists on responding to our singing by singing Cold Kentucky Rain by Elvis. It makes us all laugh but does not get the Abba songs out of our heads for long.
I have to admit that there was a distinct drop in knitting time. I worked on the second sock for the waving lace only to find that the waving was more of a straight line and I had to rip back the 19 rows of the first repeat. The pattern requires about 20% of my concentration as I need to remember when I did the YO & K2tog or SSK two rows back at any given moment. That makes it a little tiring.

Last night as we were about to settle down around the campfire for smores, the Two Old Crows arrived (my grandfather’s sisters, but I believe that was his nickname for them). While unexpected they were welcomed and joined us for a few hours. As they regaled us with tales of their adventures, we laughed that you never see one without the other. Both of them are forgetful which adds to the hilarity of their stories as one asks the other questions about details. Sometimes they say they can’t remember and other times they say they were checking to make sure the other could still remember. It’s all very funny. They did check out the sock I was knitting and asked if it was galoot warmer. I demonstrated that it was much too wide for that and we all laughed. They really are crazy old ladies. One of them looks so much like my grandfather, it’s shocking. I don’t remember that from childhood but I’m guessing without all the polish of hair dye, make-up, etc. there is more of a resemblance. I knit until it was dark and then put my socks away.

4am

When you go on vacation it’s exciting. For me, part of the excitement is getting up for an early morning flight. Although we were not flying, I still wanted some of that excitement and Mum & LT humored me. I set the alarm for 4am and surprisingly they both got up and got ready to go. By 5am we were in the car and on our way. I am crazy but they are just as crazy for going along!

Mum and I switched off driving as we sang a majority of the way. Mamma Mai! That’s the Name of the Game! Waterloo! We are all doomed. They saw and loved the movie just as much as I did.


Upon arrival we had a quick bite and then spent the afternoon talking by the pool. Mum laughed that the younger generation was knitting (silly stereotypes confusing people). Now if only I could get LT beyond a garter stitch scarf. Oh well she’s happy so who am I to change what she knits. I spent most of the afternoon working on my waving lace socks. I had set them down for too long to easily find my place. But I’m back at it and almost at the heel on the first one.

Tomorrow promises to be more relaxing and knitting. Can’t wait!

Get off the table Mabel

Yesterday was an ideal vacation day. Dad and The Boyfriend have gone to fishing camp this weekend, which is a whole story unto itself.
So I’ve moved in with Mum and the kittens for almost a week. Thursday night we watched a Rob Lowe miniseries for six hours. We agreed it was not the most spectacularly cast production ever, but yet we continued to watch hour after hour of it. While we watched, I finished up the 2nd pair of Mittens in May. The stitch pattern seemed simple enough but I think stopping and starting caused me to loose my place more than I would’ve liked.

Yesterday, after just 5 hours sleep we got up and got ready. Then it was off for a day of shopping. I got some black strapy sandals and an amazing replica of the Rockland Breakwater. I saw it and knew it was coming home with me. It might be a gift for someone else or we may keep it. I spent a lot of my hour school mornings-afternoons-evenings on The Breakwater.

The car was full by 3pm when we made our last stop at the new pet store and coffee house. Not to say that it was combined into one store, just that those were the last two stops on our shopping trip. More on the pet shop later. We headed home to check on the kittens before going to my Memere’s (grandmother) for dinner.

This is a momentous occasion. Let me explain, I have one of the best cooks in the world for a grandmother. You know, she uses the “real” ingredients, nothing low fat or sugar free (mind you, she’s nearing her eighth decade and fit as a fiddle). Memere loves everyone with food, always has. And we love her for it. Her chicken stew is world renowned. Growing up, every time I saw her, chicken stew was involved. So imagine her dismay 6 years ago when I explained that I wouldn’t eat anything with a face. She kept on cooking great deserts but couldn’t have her oldest granddaughter or grandson (as she calls The Boyfriend) over for a meal. For someone who loves you with food this is a big deal.

Fast forward to last night, my mother, my AP, my Memere and myself had dinner together. Memere planned a fantastic meal, deviled eggs, tomato and rice soup, American chop suey sans hamburger, and a delicious baked eggplant dish. Along with the banana rum and ice tea it couldn’t have been more perfect. We laughed and laughed until we cried. The atmosphere was just right and I felt a wonderful connect to the other women in my family. They tolerated my knitting and I joined in as we sang some of the songs from their childhood, including one about shaking my peaches.