Off The Needles

Oh, children!

One day, just a week before his 7th birthday, Minda's son Marten announced that he knew E-X-A-C-T-L-Y what he would like for his birthday. He began hinting around that I would just LOVE to make it for him, and it would be knitted. And blue. With a yellow lightning bolt on the top. And it would be a pair of mittens!

Seeing as how it was mere days before Christmas and I had nothing else to work on ... I obviously jumped at the chance. I mean really ... a 6-year-old boy who wants nothing more than for ME to *KNIT* him something for his birthday?! Be still my heart!

After diving into my stash and finding a super-squishy Malabrigo, and after extensive consultation with Marten, we modified a pattern to create these:



This knitting quickly becomes a slippery slope. Marten's brother Evan, whose birthday arrived shortly after Christmas, requested a pair of slippers.

By this point we had put our house on the market and were wildly preparing to move. But a 9-turning-10-year-old boy must not have his desires quashed! And so ...



You know how kids are. They talk. A lot. Which means I wasn't really all that surprised when Lexy's son Griffin, another 6-turning-7-year-old boy, requested a hand-knit treasure. Mittens? Slippers? No problem! Our house was on the market (and market-ready, with all the immaculate homekeeping that requires). A quick, portable project would be just the thing. Griffin, with his big blue eyes and sweeter-than-sweet face, announced his deepest desire: a "Weasley Sweater," just like in Harry Potter.

Gulp. A sweater?? Not a vest?

Nope. What about a teddy bear sweater? Or a sweater ornament for the Christmas tree?

Nope. A full-sized, arms-and-all, sweater. In green. With a blue "G" on the front.

Counting my blessings where I could, I cast on, delighted that Griffin wasn't a hulking teenager with super-long arms and bulky biceps.



Finally, the sweater has been mailed (with a few sorry-it-was-late ice cream coupons). I have also sent along Strict Instructions to Griffin's mom that she must do everything within her power to Stunt His Growth until at least one autumnal sweater wearing. If she refuses, then she will be obligated to relocate from the Texas heat to a cooler climate in order to facilitate appropriate Sweater Weather (or, at the very least, a photo shoot during which his brain doesn't melt).

~ ~ ~

With no more children clamoring for gifts, I have had a bit of time for other projects. Our move included a 24-hour drive, so there was plenty of time for stitching!

One of my biggest concerns about moving to a new town ... was finding a new backdrop for photographing my completed projects. In our old house, I had a couple of spots in the yard where I could wander out, pajama-clad and funky-haired, and snap a few photos before too many rumors started. Although I haven't found something quite so decadent, I am thrilled to have found this spot:



Massive limestone blocks, adjacent to an office park, with full afternoon shade. I took a few other projects out last week so I could update my Ravelry page.


A shawl, crocheted with Shibui sock, perfect for chilly Midwestern evenings.


A prayer shawl for Jay's aunt.


I just adored this shawl pin!


A hat for Jay's cousin's new baby.

I have a few other projects on the needles, so I'm sure I will be visiting those blocks again soon.

Settling In

After several weeks crammed with entirely too much housing-related drama, disappointment, and negativity, we are finally settled in. As I shared with a friend recently, here is a quick recap of our first week (really! we have only been here one week!):

We are in a 2-bedroom apartment until August ... so the kids and I are spending our days exploring while Jay works. So far, we have gotten our library cards, attended 2 lectures on campus, toured the art museum (twice!), been to the local pool (twice!), been to Lake Monroe to check out the beaches, explored new walking trails every evening, located (and supported!) the local Goodwills, attended an event at the public library (where Maya met her first new friend!), taken a historic walking tour, been to the farmers market ... and tried 4 local ice creameries! Not bad for a week!!!

In addition, we have gotten lost a bazillion times. I finally dared to venture out without a map ... and was thrilled when I reached my destination in under an hour. (Ummmm ... our town boasts a population of 80,000. It probably wouldn't take an hour to walk the circumference of the outskirts!)

As you surely imagine, I have taken many, many photos. I will post those eventually, but in the meantime (and especially for my grandmother!), here are a few snapshots (via Instagram).

I Have No Idea How It Happened ...

... but somewhere between the idea of a campout with friends and the actual tent erecting, our plan for a leisurely getaway morphed from roughing it in the woods to a beach weekend at a hotel in Corpus Christi. I do recall there were a zillion or so phone calls (right, Lexy and Minda???).

Somehow, the girls (Maya, Aubry, and Avery) talked me into joining them for a sunrise walk on Saturday morning. I dragged my sleepy self out of bed at o-dark-thirty ...



... and headed to the beach for a few thousand crappy sunrise photos.



The beach was spectacular! We wandered along the shore admiring all the treasures of the sea.







At some point during our stroll, the girls decided to bring Griffin a birthday offering from the ocean. They filled their hands and pockets with all sorts of treasures ...





... then gathered around to bestow the bounty.



The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing, eating, playing games, hanging out ... and enjoying all sorts of beach adventures.


(I have no idea what was going on here ...)


(... or here ...)


(... or ... ummm ...)


(... I think you get the idea ...)

Meanwhile!















I was stunned by all the vehicles on the beach.



It was like crossing a street each time we wanted to get wet! I might have been getting a bit fussy about it ... until I loaded up the minivan with s'mores and drove right down to the surf for a campfire party! Ah ha! NOW I understand why people drive on the beach! (If you happen to talk with my beloved spouse and if he happens to claim that he had to dig out my stuck minivan, I will deny that episode ever occurred! Ahem!)

Other surprises included bulldozers shoveling seaweed ...



... and the biggest surprise of all: April Fool's Day! Minda came up with the fabulous idea that we trick the kids with an Easter egg hunt. It was a week early, so we gathered supplies and pranked the pool side (and a few early-rising hotel guests).















At one point, I mentioned that I wanted to pull a prank on Jay by disconnecting the car battery. I knew he would NOT be amused, but I just couldn't stop myself. Unfortunately, I fell asleep before he did, so I was unable to sneak out and get into any mischief. Imagine my surprise in the morning ... when the car wouldn't start! Everyone stood around looking at me, thinking I had actually managed the prank. The joke was on all of us (until we needed to replace our battery and a whole bunch of not-fun, under-the-hood stuff).


(Please excuse the wacky overexposed I-should-pretend-it's-artsy photo! I was laughing so hard I forgot to adjust the camera settings!)

The freakiest part of the trip was that we received an offer on our house while we were there! The weekend was bittersweet ... we were so grateful to have been able to be with some of our closest and dearest friends, we were thrilled to have a contract ... but we were sad to admit that we would be leaving those people who have become so special to us during our time in Texas. I seek consolation in the knowledge that we will remain in touch, despite the miles between us. I love all of you!