Home again

Mike and I went for getaway week at the end of October and came back just in time for Amanda's wedding on November 7 th . The week away did us both a world of good . We went to Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba , our time there was wonderful , beautiful hot weather , long walks on the beach and nothing to do but relax . We couldn't have asked for more ...

Amanda had a beautiful day for her wedding , she looked beautiful and so very happy . Don't they make a handsome couple !? I don't think you could meet a nicer and more suited couple than those two .

They were married by Matthews' mother who is a minister . She 's performed the weddings for each of her four sons , Matthew being the last one to tie the knot . It was a wonderful evening and we feel blessed to have been included in their special day . We wish them a lifetime of nothing but happiness !

Life has been a little more mundane since . I have been unpacking , doing laundry and just generally getting back into routine . We've attended a couple of Jesseys hockey games , we had an absolute blast cheering for him and the team . I'm not a hockey mom , but am definitely a hockey Omi . I am hoping to be able to go to most of his games .

I didn't do very much knitting while I was away , it was much too hot . Since coming home I did finish the Go Habs Go socks , making a pair each for Jessey and Mason .

The socks will go in the gift box for Christmas . I had trouble sleeping last night so I got up early to start another of the Top This ! hats .This time a monkey for Jessey . I have at least four more knits lined up that need to be done before Christmas . I am waiting for a delivery from Loveknitting.com for the yarn to knit Stella and Charlie each a shrug to wear with their Christmas dresses . No pressure , right . I have the yarn to knit them each a Burton Bear Cowl . At least one will get done this week if all goes as planned . They are knit with 9mm needles so it shouldn't take more than an evening or two right ?

Anyhow that 's it for today . Thank you for coming by and I wish you a good week ahead . Till next time ...



Promise me

This is Amanda's wedding shawl ready for the big day November 7th . It has been a work in progress since mid August . I had knit a few other things while doing this, just to keep my sanity.The stocking stitch part was easy peasy , but the lace and beads were challenging . I am so happy that it is finished , it will be wrapped and gifted to Amanda this weekend .  For once I wasn't rushing to meet a deadline.

Have a wonderful weekend , till next time ...

A bump in the road

I have been away from this blog for a little over a year . Late last year life threw me a curve with a breast cancer diagnosis .  I was very fortunate that it was early stage but had spread to my lymph nodes meant that I would have to have surgery , chemo and radiation . Everything went well and I finished treatment mid June of this year . At my last follow up with my oncologists I was told that I am now cancer free . Without the support of my family and friends this would have been much worse . I had some rough patches but am finally feeling more like myself . There are still low days here and there , but who doesn't have those , and more days of counting my blessings and enjoying each day . 

There has been knitting not that you'd know it by looking at my ravelry page . Many were completed and gifted before I thought to take a photo . I blame it on chemo brain , lol . I will try and update it soon . What I'm working on now ....

Jesseys' socks in the Go Habs Go colour way from Biscotte & Cie 
 

A Gaptastic cowl for My friend Yvonne . And last but not least a wedding shawl for Amanda who will be tying the knot with her sweetie Matthew on November 7th . I have 5 rows left plus the cast off to do .

I hope to give it to Amanda next weekend . I also finished a quartet of hats for my grandkids . I fell in love with these hats after seeing them knit up at my local yarn shop . They are kits by DMC called TopThis ! I mean who could resist !? 

 That's it for today , off to work on the wedding shawl while it is still daylight . Have a wonderful week !
 
 

Well hello June !

How did you get here so fast ! It must be because of this ...


Working hard in the garden

Swingin' good time



See Omi , I can make pancakes ...


 

Then of course there was some of this too ...

Spring socks finally finished !

Recently my stepmom Linde fell and broke her shoulder . She's having a rough time of it so I thought a warm  hug was in order . Because she lives too far away to give it in person , I'm knitting one for her , filled with good thoughts and good wishes for her recovery .


In progress , some one needs hugs



By special request , new socks for Jessey
 

 There were also adventures with Mason in where he learns  how much fun it is to catch frogs and just how cool it is to hold a real snake . He also learned that Omi doesn't share his enthusiasm for snakes  . Wouldn't you know that Omi forgot her camera at home , so you'll just have to imagine that adventure .

That about wraps up the month of May . Bring on June and summer !




Show and Tell

Ever since my cast came off  I have been a knitting fiend , albeit a fickle one . I guess I'm making up for lost time . Just before I broke my wrist I had two pair of socks in progress . After a couple of weeks with the cast , I was able to knit a few rows at a time , then gradually a bit more every day . Lo and behold , just before we left to come home I had a finished pair of socks .

Not so Vanilla socks

The pattern is Vanilla Latte on ravelry . The yarn was a impulse buy from my LYS . After our long  cold , dreary winter , I was in the mood for some colour and this yarn ( Lang Yarns Jawoll Color Aktion ) and another equally colourful one came home with me . The very nice thing was that included in the ball was a coordinating reinforcement thread . It is nice to have but I find that using it really bulks up the heel .

The second pair of socks are almost done , I just have to finish the toe on the second sock and sew in the ends . It should be done already except for the fact that I cast on for yet another pair of socks . But that's not my fault , more new sock yarn and this pattern made me do it .

Groovin' on a rainy afternoon

I mean really , could you resist ?

Have a wonderful weekend !

The intermittent blogger

That's what I should really call this blog . Long story short , the day after my last post I fell and broke my wrist . I was fortunate that I didn't require surgery  and just had to wear a cast for 6 weeks . All this just before our trip to Florida , our grand daughter Stella's birthday and our concerns for our other sweet pea Charlie . Charlie's condition has much improved . The diagnosis in the end was something called cerebellitis , a slight swelling of the cerebellum , usually caused by some kind of virus . The prognosis is that she will outgrown the tremours but she will be followed up by the neurologists at the Montreal Children's hospital . The condition is very rare in such a young child and since the diagnosis was really one of exclusion they want to be sure that all continues to be well with her .Our heartfelt thanks for all the concern and prayers for Charlie, it means more than you could imagine .

This morning a very colourful package from Dee arrived in my mailbox . I was completely surprised and delighted by the contents . Inside were these absolutely gorgeous socks , a pair that I had admired on her blog. They are even more beautiful in reality and they fit perfectly . I had a wonderful visit with Dee last year on our trip to Florida . This year thanks to my broken wrist and not being able to drive we couldn't manage to get together in person . Thank you Dee  , I love them !

My wrist has healed and the cast has come off . I have some mobility issues but physio should help . Oddly enough despite all that knitting is not a problem . I even managed to knit a little with the cast on . Updates on that next time . I promise it won't be so long between posts ...

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms !

Mad March

 Mike calls this month Mad March because that seems to be my state of mind every year at this time . By this time I'm heartily sick of winter and to top it off , it is tax preparation time . They're done now , and everyone and his brother has got their extra pound of flesh , so I can relax and get ready for our trip to Florida . I am looking forward to it more than ever this year . It might be spring on the calendar but we are still in the minus side of zero on the thermometer .

We've had some worrisome days lately . Charlie started exhibiting odd  involuntary movements . Her pediatrician referred Stef and Max to the Montreal Children's hospital . The poor thing has had all kinds of tests, including CT scans , MRI and multiple x-rays , eye exams and blood tests . The fear originally was some kind of brain tumour but that was finally eliminated this past Tuesday , thankfully . On Wednesday Stef had to bring her in for more blood work and now we wait . So far the doctors are unable to identify the cause but are hoping that the last blood tests might help with a diagnosis . She'll be going back to see the neurologists  in 2 months time unless there's some news from the latest tests and her symptoms worsen . Keeping fingers crossed ...

While we were waiting for news I knit , and knit and knit some more . The end result , another pair of Patina socks .

 

Once these were done I cast on another sock . Then Dee posted about this KAL and yet another pair of socks were cast on . I feel the need for colour and some mindless easy , peasy knitting .

 

They one on the left was started today , the other at knit night with the girls on Tuesday . The left one is Jeck and the other Vanilla Latte , both on ravelry . I hadn't realized how similar they are until I took the picture . I have to say this is my first time working two at a time socks , different patterns . You think I might be losing it ?

Weekend plans include babysitting Jessey and Stella while mom and dad get a day away . They're coming over tomorrow and staying for a sleepover . I think easy peasy sock knitting will be a perfect way to spend a quiet Sunday ...

Have a wonderful weekend !