Memories are tricky things. There are the memories that you think about so frequently and you just know you’ll never forget, even if they get blurry around the edges and then there are the memories that sort of hit from left field and it just seems crazy that you still remember such a thing.

Betsy gifted me a very cool book for Christmas – Knit Green – it’s got some great information / articles along with several very cool knitting patterns / ideas (Ravelry link). One I can’t stop thinking about is this soft basket – it’s made from cutting up a flat sheet and then knitting with that “fiber”. We don’t use the flat sheets on our beds, so I know I have a potential resource right there (just want to clear it with give hubs a heads up to this project first). Anyway, I also remembered that I had some old sheets from my Nana – she gave me her full dining room set and china set before she died, and we must have used the sheets to cushion our packing. I found the sheets (tossed in a cabinet, where they have sat untouched since they left Nana’s house with her stuff, so that’s at least 4 years) – they still smell exactly like my Nana’s house. They are in the washing machine right now, but still, I was floored. I’ll have before / during / after photos on that project soon!

Then I was prepping dinner (making chili, my folks are coming over tonight) – I was chopping an onion, which I rarely do (side note. I just don’t like onion. Hubs doesn’t miss it either – usually I really shortcut it and add in some dehydrated minced onion so there’s some flavor, but I’m coming around – I bought a bag of onions at the last grocery trip.) – I was chopping it up and smelling the onion and wondering if it was going to make me teary and WHAM image of Nana, chopping onions in her kitchen, laughing with tears from the onions in her eyes, making Sunday dinner for the family. A good memory, but still, took me off guard.

I miss all my grandparents that have passed – Poppi’s easy smile, Grampa’s stories and grin, and Nana especially. I like to think that Nana would approve of my onion chopping and also that she would approve of cutting up her sheets. We don’t have any twin beds in the house – not planning on getting one either, but I kept the sheets, and I know Grampa would approve of my thriftyness there. And having the family over for dinner.

My other grandmother gave me this picture at Christmas – from my bridal shower, 2004, good times. Betsy! you’re in the background!

Did you see that the signal has been put up?

Maybe you have used your Cell phone to make a donation?

Everyone’s budget is tight right now – times are tough. Through this website, others are finding a way to raise funds with giveaways. Every little bit helps.

Want to pick up your needles and Knit a Square – Hugs for Haiti – there’s a Ravelry group already set up.

I got a huge kick out of the Incognito pattern as soon as I spotted it in the winter issue of knitty. Not casting it on right away allowed it to stew in my brain for a while and think about things like colors and mustaches. I came to the conclusion that this is the perfect starting point for Lorax inspiration.

It’s subtle – the colors are not of a high contrast at all, but I am pleased with the results. I used Vanna’s Choice yarn and a fun-fur-ish yarn I traded another Raveler for back in the summer (I held two strands together). I also modified the mustache slightly – I started with the “Poirot” chart and filled it in to get the walrus style.

This was a quick knit – and turning that hem while knitting I find is a lot of fun.

Looks nice and it keeps the edges from rolling too much.

While I was taking photos of the cowl, I spied another Lorax.

She was enjoying watching herself eat her lunch.

Consumed
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

No big surprise to anyone if I state here in my blog that I’m addicted to knitting. I am starting to feel the pull of crochet as well. But this was something unexpected. I was gifted a Kindle for Christmas and I started out with some fairy tales (Grimm’s and the Blue Fairy Book) and found I wanted something just a bit more… So I purchased “Twilight” – I can’t stop reading! I also can’t quite put my finger on what is so compelling about this story / writing style. I am totally going to read the rest of the series when I finish this first installment.

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by nutmegknitter

If I just put a blanket over my head and focus on my toys, all is good.

Blankets are perfectly acceptable hats.

For the record, her dad put the blanket on his head the night before while I was out and she started to mimic him last night. I didn’t know any of that today when she came up the stairs with the blanket on her head. Silly girl.