Retired and knitting!

In January, 2013 I retired from my position as an Assistant Principal in an elementary school.  This was bittersweet for me.  I loved the children and the wonderful staff I worked with.  Upon reflection, it was the goodbyes and closing this chapter of my life that saddened me.  However, I do not miss work!  I now spend my time between my home in south Florida, visiting my granddaughter and family in Orlando, Florida, and my get-away from the heat townhouse on Beech Mountain, NC.

I have now been able to wake up every morning when I want to, unless the new puppy has different plans!  Yes, a new puppy has joined our lives.  My husband and I are consumed with the love and attention from our new addition, Quincy.  He knows how to get attention if he thinks I am not giving him enough.  He quietly sneaks over to my current knitting project, and grabs the ball of yarn and runs! Of course, he looks over his shoulder to be sure that he has actually gained my attention.  Of course he gets it, the chase begins.  Now that he is 7 months old he knows the words "drop-it" quite well.  He is so smart he can transfer this new knowledge to the random shoe he tries to sneak away with too! I am sure he figured out that the knitting bag items he sneaks off with garner him a great deal of attention!  My recent lace project, hundreds of stitches on the needles, ran by me in Quincy's mouth!  I screamed "no" and although he didn't drop it my husband thought I was hurt.  Of course, knitters understand, after the initial visualization of all those stitches dropping off the needles I regained my senses and remembered the words, Quincy knows now so well, "drop-it!"

I have a 17 month old granddaughter to knit for these days, just knit her and her friend an adorable sun-hat, pattern called "On The Sunny Side" (by Melanie Hoffman) on Ravelry, found here:  http://www.ravelry.com/projects/brendij/on-the-sunny-side.  It came out great and I made the 2 - 4 year old size and it fits perfectly!  Thank you Melanie Hoffman for such a fun and easy pattern!  This was a quick knit!

I just finished the Summer Flies Shawl by Donna Griffin.  You can find my shawl here:  Summer Flies by Donna Griffin.  I also finished the "Afternoon Tea" shawl by Helen Stewart.  I will post photos once it is blocked.  Just started "Dinner in the Eiffel Tower Shawl" by Jessie Dodington.  You can find the pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dinner-in-the-eiffel-tower-shawl

I just love Ravelry.  So many patterns and everything you need to know, and more, about yarn, knitting, and oh so many more projects to add to your "to do" list!

A very good year!!

Summer brings me full circle! Last summer I spent up here in the North Carolina mountains to get away from the intense summer heat of Florida.

This has been my best year yet! Although I have gone into knitting withdrawal I am back on the knitting road. Both of our daughters met great men, and fell in love!! I would say they have truly met their prince charming and I knew both of the guys were keepers right from the start. Yes, of course I told this to the girls, they knew it too.

In December my first daughter got married and then in March the other one followed. I now have the sons I always wanted! So, now you understand why the knitting withdrawal! Planning one wedding is time consuming, two is well over-the-top! No complaints! Both weddings were perfect. The rain even cooperated for the first wedding. It was overlooking the ocean. It rained all day! Just when we were to decide to hold the wedding inside, the radar said we had a great window to precede with the outdoor wedding! We did, it was perfect, they were pronounced man and wife and as the last guest went back into the building for the cocktail party the heaven's opened up!!! It wasn't hurricane season but it sure looked like it! The palms trees bent over with the heavy rain and wind!! We were safe inside celebrating!!

One wedding down, one to go left very little free time. Knitting project ideas grew, patterns were collected and then the wedding came and went! Boy time flies! We are now happily settled into having two married daughters!

Summer has finally arrived. Much needed time off from school, 5 weeks, and I plan to knit and relax as much as I can. We know how time really does fly so we really appreciate each moment!! We arrived back at our little retreat tucked away in the North Carolina Mountains. Our favorite vacation spot. Life is a little slower here. The people wave as they drive by and the deer come out every day! They just love the corn we put out for them. We have enjoyed watching two new fawns as they navigate the grass and terrain to follow their mothers.

I found a wonderful new yarn company, Aslan Trends, and I am working on a new knitting project. I am getting ready to cast on the "Simple Things" Shawl by Mary-Heather Cogar in the Santa Fe yarn.

I just love knitting on vacation, it is so much fun!
I can do it anywhere, even in the sun.
I can knit two balls or one.
You know I will knit until I am done!
I start over again, pick another pattern to make.
If I don't my sanity is at stake!!
I find knitting is therapy, it keeps me happy and sane.
I will be doing this until I am old and walking with a cane!

Summer and the knitting is good!

This summer was filled with knitting and more knitting. I took several knitting workshops in the North Carolina mountains, specifically in Blowing Rock at Unwound. Knitting was held on the wrap around deck and the weather was refreshingly cool! Yes, sweatshirt cool! Just terrific!
I learned to knit two socks at a time on two circular needles and a Fair Isle Felted tote. Knitter's know knitting shops are filled with inspiration for new projects. I came out with a doctor's bag and a fabulous poncho!!!!!

Next I am off to join a Knit-a-Long (KAL)! This is sponsored by Universal, a Ravelry group. Unwound, the knitting shop in Blowing Rock, invited me to join in and we are all on to our next adventure in knitting, a Stained Glass Shawl! I just love the camaraderie! My first KAL!

Summer is a great time to kick back and relax! What better way than to get out the knitting needles, take some knitting classes to stretch your skills, and finish some projects. If you are like me you have projects in the wings to complete! Then there is the stash just waiting for that magic moment when you find both the motivation and the perfect project to match your yarn.

I am so blessed to be able to get away from it all, home, work, etc. and go to my home away from home in the North Carolina Mountains. The air is crisp and always refreshingly cool! No need for air-conditioning! The sweet calling and chirping sounds of the birds is music to my ears as I settle into my comfortable lawn chair on my deck. The mountain overlook, just a glance away! This is my bit of heaven! I have knitted socks, totes, and many a scarf here.

Knitting is so relaxing! I know when my summer break from work comes to an end I will be longing to return, longing for another summer. Alas, I have the memories and the calm that prevails when I knit to get me through.

Summer Vacation and Knitting

I am finally on summer vacation, that really means schools out and I have 6 weeks to do as I please. Knitting of course is the number one thing that comes to mind. I have already started the "Famous Shawl' using a beautiful metallic ribbon yarn by Louisa Harding called Sari. The pattern was pictured on ravelry and knit by many others in different fibers. The sari ribbon really caught my eye.

I have also stacked several romance type novels on my night stand to be read! I am officially on my third day of vacation and have read 1 book. So, as one should not get the wrong idea, I have also been to the movies twice. I saw "Up" in 3-D, not to be missed, and the "Taking of Pelham 123"... an edge of your seat movie! I am not one of the knitters that must knit in the movie theater, at least not yet!

I have my eye on an entrelac Dr. Bag" knit by some of my friends. I am trying to find out where I can purchase the pattern locally, I am in the mountains vacationing. Well off to knit and watch some television! The sunset behind the mountain is also calling me.

Pattern Organization

Organizing all the "dream projects" (that is the projects that catch my eye and I want to make someday) so they can be easily accessed is a project in and of itself! First I have three types of organization systems:

1. An electronic file! Yes I save all of my online pattern finds usually in PDF in a folder on my desktop. I also save scanned patterns here as well for my reference, or back-up if I need a fresh copy.
   
2. A magazine file! Yes I keep my magazines! Although at some point I imagine this will be too much to handle, then after weaning I will keep my favorites and scan my favorites for latter reference. I am careful about copyright laws!
3. My favorite.... Binders that have plastic sleeves that I place my printed copies of my patterns. I sort them by categories in the binder.

I also maintain a ravelry library of books, patterns, favorites and PDF's....

Random thoughts!

I recently went on vacation and found knitting in the car for three hours was extremely productive! Just be sure to be sitting in the front seat to avoid getting car sick!

I selected assorted black yarns of different textures and weights for a shawl from my stash! With a quick trip to the local yarn shop for an additional ball or two to fill in I was on my way. This was created as a gift for my mother. She wanted black, something that can be worn casual or black tie optional! Her wish came true as evidenced in the completed project!

Knitting is my zen! It is therapeutic after a busy day, it is so relaxing. Some could liken it to a spa on the tip of knitting needles! or not!

I am already planning my next knitting project! A yarn storage solution! Yes I have an idea, finally, in mind. Now I wonder if I can get my husband to help build it?