As Kat Knits…

Hello everyone!  Am I blue?  Nope!  But, the skies here sure are - blue in the morning, blue at noon, and blue as the sun goes down!  All this glorious, cloud-free, weather is causing West Michigan to become a bit parched!  I am watering up a storm - I will post some photos soon of my blooming hibiscus, my sunny yellow yarrow, my golden lilies, and my coral-colored begonias!  We have got color and LOTS of it!!  How does my garden grow?  Very rapidly with all this sunshine!! 

Well, with all this sunshine and great weather - you would wonder what I have been knitting, right?  Oh, yes - there has been knitting!!  I finished Chapeau Marnier - wow, what a great pattern!!!  I shall have my daughter take a photo of the hat on Rachel - I did not have my camera upon completion to get a quick shot off before the hat was enroute to Northern Michigan to daughter #1.  Let me tell you, if you have not stopped over to www.knitty.com to see their summer lovelies, go right now!  I knit the Chapeau with Louet Gems - in an awesome brown color, and with a pale blue ribbon with some matching shades of brown spots - it was adorable!

 I am also working along on my Monkey socks - although, I have not been able to put down the Elspeth Lavold Silky Wool that I am knitting into the Indigo Waves Skirt from an earlier issue of IK.  I am through the “hip” increases for my “hippy-ness” and I am about an inch from starting the lace work!  I love this yarn!!!  It is the perfect summer yarn - it is light weight, it feels so good, and the colorway - this amazing green - has worked its way into my heart.  I want this done and soon! 

 Oh… speaking of done… You all need to stop over and see Judy’s Clapotis!  Holy cow, it is gorgeous!!  Okay, now she has me wanting a “denimy” Clapotis to wrap around me!  I promise you - she will inspire you to cast on this great pattern!  She did it with 3 ** 8 (**new note, Judy let me know of my error, she kindly corrected me.  Thanks, Judy!!) skeins of Elspeth Lavold Silky Tweed - mmmm, mmmm, mmmmm!  If you have already knit a Clapotis, this will invigorate you to cast on again!  Great job, Judy!

See how easy it is to ‘fall off’ the yarn wagon?  All it takes is a fellow knitter’s finished object!  I will be keeping my eyes open for some Silky Tweed on sale!

I have been enjoying “Knitting Daily” - the new thing from Interweave Press - there are some great patterns out there.  There was a lovely sweater from Wendy Bernard yesterday - yes, that is calling to me with it’s siren song as well!  I will be heading to my stash this weekend to see if I have anything that will work for this sweater! 

July is looming on the doorstep, pushing out June as she comes - can you all believe that June is almost over?  Where did the month go?  I can assure you that my head is spinning with how quickly this month has been flying by!

This weekend I went up to some friends “cabin in the woods” with Ken - okay, now I am using “cabin in the woods” loosely here folks!  Get this - no running water, no indoor plumbing!  AACCKKKK!  Am I nuts?  Oh, there is a brilliant idea - head up to the north woods with a guy you want to continue to be interested in you - and not have a shower to remove “bed head” in the morning!!  Oh. My. Gosh.  Can I tell you about the bugs?????  They have the corner on the ‘eepy-creepy’ market there in the northwoods, I can definately assure you of that!  There were some high points - I dazzled everyone with my “birding” skills!  And, sitting around the campfire on Friday night was fun!  At least it was until I realized there was no shower to remove the “campfire aroma”!!  In spite of all the negative odds - Ken seems still interested!  LOL, maybe my “bed head” is not so bad after all!  The other plus was 4 hours of knitting time in the vehicle going up and coming home!

 Well, it seems the work day is over - I could certainly be busier at work.  Think some good thoughts for me about the job front - and remember, I am thinking good thoughts about all of you!  Have a great Monday night, I shall try and be more faithful about blogging!! 

Hello everyone - Sam has 2 more days of driver’s training…2 more days!  It will be nice to have this aspect of parenting completed!  It has gotten easier with each child - so I am happy to be finished running back and forth to get him there at the various hours the driving school determined.  I am quite sure that the driving school has no concept of time - the schedule has made working a challenge!  But, as long as Sam passes his written test tomorrow - he will have his driving permit!  Now, this is a very good thing - Sam driving equals knitting time for me!!  Woo Hoo!

 Speaking of knitting time, I have been working sporadically on Chapeau Marnier - I have about an inch to go before the decreases!  I also have been working sporadically on my Monkey socks!  I have to sit at a home for the Holland Parade of Homes for the next few nights - so my knitting time will increase hopefully!  I will soon be posting completed objects!

 I have also been working a bit on my package for my partner in Lynne’s Special Swap - June is gardening month and I have been finding fun things to put in my package.  It will be ready to go by month end - a package filled with garden treasures!

How is your spring ending - summer officially starts tomorrow!  What fun things do you have planned?  I am going to San Diego in July for a few days - more on that later.  I have never been to San Diego - any one know of any “knit spots” there? 

Have a great Wednesday everyone - get out there and enjoy the weather!!

Hello Everyone - Happy Father’s Day!  This is an ambiguous day in my house.  I am spending the day with Heidi and Sam - their dad does not think Father’s Day is a big deal.  Strange, huh? 

Growing up, my dad would not have won any awards for his fathering skills.  I have been reading blogs this morning and I love the tributes to father’s!  Thus, I am going to offer one up to my Father…the one who has always been constant, and will always be constant.

 I was blessed as a child - when life gave me lemons - my Father showed me how to make lemonade!  I grew in an amazing relationship with my Father.  He was always there to listen when I came home to share frustrations.  He was excited with me at the triumphs I achieved.  He comforted me when I cried, He laughed with me when I was happy, and He never was too busy for me.  I would never had grown in this relationship without the failings of my earthly parents - so, I am thankful beyond words.  I woke this morning with a tune in my head… maybe you all remember this from Sunday School as you were a child.  “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears.  All nature sings, and ’round me rings the music of the spheres…” 

 On this Father’s day - this most certainly is my Father’s world. 

 Have a great day everyone!

Hello Everyone!  Well, we have survived graduation festivities - barely!  After going over to my ex-husbands home for the day - they had asked for some help with “last minute” food items - I wonder at my level of sanity.  So, I head over to the “Taj Mahal” and what am I doing?  Vacumming, cleaning bathrooms, dusting, mopping, sending Heidi home for items that they did not have….did I say cleaning bathrooms????  Hello!  I think I should be nominated for “dumbest woman on earth”!!  If any of you ever need lessons in biting your tongue - I can certainly help you out.  How much cooking did I do, you ask?  Well, I had made Gamoo’s (my ex-husbands mother) “Sloppy Joes” and brought those over.   I am telling you, she had an award winning recipe!  After I was finished with my cleaning duties - I cut up vegetables for the veggie tray, skewered some fruits, and watched the girls dip strawberries for the “center piece” for the table.  I was granted a reprieve at one point in the afternoon - Michelle, my ex’s wife, got a Jaguar convertible recently - and she took the maid (me, LOL) for a ride in it.  I know, be still my beating heart! 

  On the knitting front, have you all seen the new issue of Knitty?

If you have not, use the link to go browse some amazing new patterns!  I have found a few things I’d like to knit up - of course!  The perk is that I have yarn in my stash for some of the items… this is good for the pocketbook, and will ultimately make more room for more yarn.  Don’t you love my reasoning?

 Here are a few of the things I found interesting

I just love Wisp, it is so beautiful.  And, I have several skeins of Rowan Kid Silk Haze in my newly organized stash closet! 

What about this one… I love the construction on Coachella, it is very different. 

Isn’t it lovely? What a great summer top!  The pattern calls for Berocco Suede, but I am thinking that I have something else that might work… I’ll be swatching this week for sure!  If I don’t have anything that works, I might just have to pick up some suede and get this knit up!

  And, lastly, isn’t Chapeau Marnier just adorable???  My newly graduated daughter will just love this.  And, it will be a great addition to her “going off to school” packing.  Something knit with love to warm her head!   And, I have a skein of Gems that will be perfect for this!!  It is almost this color - and with a lovley rose ribbon it will be perfect for Rachel!

 After all, do you think I’d clean just anyone’s bathrooms???  That was done with love as well!  Here’s to the start of summer - get out there and knit people!!

Okay, look out everyone - this is going to be a photo intensive post!  I forgot my camera last night at Knit Knite - but a good time was had by all.  Lots of laughter, new projects cast on, some sharing of UFO’s that are becoming FO’s!  It seems that not everyone at knitting last night knew about www.knitty.com - okay, ladies - here is the link!  And, you can find the Monkey socks I was working on last night here!  Now, you too can cast on for these awesome socks.  They are moving along nicely - I am doing the picot edge that some of the knit bloggers have done.  If you want the directions Cara has kindly posted them here for all of you.  My only difference is that I am using a size 2 needle, rather than the size 1 Cara used.  I have “thicker” ankles so I wanted a larger circumferenced sock!

 So, I promised photos - well, here you go gang! 

So, here she is - Miss Heidi - Yo Yo Ma, look out! The Symphony Orchestra played for graduation - and wow! They were awesome! Here is a photo of the entire orchestra. You have to be pround of these kids - they all committed to an entire year of arriving at school at 6:30AM - one whole hour before school starts - to be part of this special group.

So, the event of the evening was not to see Heidi play - okay, maybe a part of the evening was to see Heidi play - but Rachel graduated that evening - hold the phone, she even had her picture taken with yours truly! Here she is in all her graduation glory:

It was just lovely outside - cold and starting to rain.

Here they are - my three kids, Rachel, Sam, and Heidi.

And, I leave you all with one last photo - Copper, who has put on a bit of weight, we are starting to call him “Chunky”

Hold me back - Knit Knite is in a few short hours!  Woot Woot Woot! 

Do you all have something you look forward to?  Something you eagerly anticipate?  Somthing that if you miss, your week just does not seem right?  Well, having missed Knit Knite for several weeks due to work/kids/life schedules - I am HUNGERING for an evening with the girls and some sticks and some yarn.  A little laughter, some amazing fellowship, and some knitting time is just what this girl needs to bolster her sanity!!

 We have the most amazing group of women that get together - just amazing.  I know - you all will say that your Knitting groups are amazing as well, and I believe they are.  But, this group of women is extra special.  And, tonight is even more so - Barb is retiring from driving a school bus and we are having a little celebration for her tonight.  More details and pictures tomorrow!

If you are off to your Knit Knite - have a very fibery, wonderful evening!

Oh… and I have cast on the Monkey socks - Monkey see, Monkey do!  Update with photo coming soon!

 Work has been strange, to say the least, it has slowed down drastically.  I got a job offer from a competitor on Friday.  I am going to speak to them about their offer on Friday morning - I will keep you all posted.  I also have some other irons in the fire - with the way the economy is and how many changes are happening in the lending arena - I have been trying to look for opportunities outside of the mortgage world.  I will keep you posted on that front as well.

It was the last day of school today - Heidi and Sam are excited!  I am excited too - this means no more getting up at 5AM to get Heidi to school at the crack of dawn.  I am proud of her for choosing to be part of the Symphony Orchestra - but we are ready for a break.  I will savor the summer days until fall arrives and with it the early mornings again!  Sam started drivers training yesterday - before my eyes, my children are growing up.  It is bittersweet, but I love the young adults they are becoming. 

I better get moving and get in the shower and head off to work!  Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Wow, I am stunned to find June has barged right on in - shooing May right out the door!  I was so enjoying May - and now it’s gone for another whole year!!  There were lots of good things about May - tulips blooming, lilacs blooming, trilliums blooming - lots of blooming in May!  My word we even had socks blooming in May!  This was my first year to participate in Amanda’s Bloomin’ Feet sock extravaganza - boy am I happy I signed up!  This swap will remain on my “must do” list for the fall when Toasty Toes comes around!  There is something very theraputic about knitting a pair of socks for someone else!  Living in a house with teenagers - it can be very important to have something besides their chaos to take your mind off the insanity that surrounds life!  May also had Mother’s Day and Memorial Day - lots of M’s there!  It was a truly glorious month!

June has ushered itself in with a BANG - on the 1st I joined the ranks of singleness!  Yes, gentle readers, I am divorced - again!  Now, there is a statement to make - divorced again.  Can you say - don’t get married again?  Well, don’t worry - I am saying those words often so I do not forget! 

Tonight is my daughter’s graduation.  This would be the daughter who wants a new mom - maybe she can “divorce” me too!  It seems like yesterday when she was starting preschool - and back then she did not want a new mom!  It has been a weekend of crazy feelings - happiness, sadness, confusion…. more I cannot even put to words!

I have a couple of photo’s to upload - one of a spectacular double rainbow that was outside my door last night.  A double promise of sorts - or at least that is how I looked at it.  I was comforted greatly by it’s beauty in the sky.  Here I was expecting more “2×4 moments” and what do I get - 2 rainbows.  Most undeserving me was humbled by creations glory. 

On the other kids front - they are keeping me hopping!  Heidi is a social butterfly - and she must be in the “in crowd” because she has been invited to all the “in” graduation parties!  Sam is certainly not easy by any means - I am seriously wondering how someone who is “afraid of the bogeyman” can sneak out of the house at 1AM to TP someones house.  But, alas, he was caught and now he has to pay the piper - or at least the mother!  No internet for a few days and I have found some awesome chores for him to help with!!  He even confessed his crime to his youth leader - Craig.  It was a moment that a mother - even a very angry and very tired mother - was pround of.  Mr. K told Sam that trust is something very fragile and breaking it was not easy to repair.  Sam, I believe sees the error of his ways - and either he will be better at sneaking out - or he learned the value of telling your mom about your plans for the evening!  LOL

I will try and get those photo’s uploaded later tonight - after the graduation.  Have a nice week everyone!