The Scottish Lamb

With Gratitude

Thank you all so very much for the Birthday wishes!  Dan ended up working late, but he and my friends are having a BBQ for me today.  I'm looking forward to doing nothing all day.

We've had the most perfect weather all week long.  I swear we went straight from Winter to Summer here in Germany.  I got the spring cleaning fever on Wednesday and have been doing all the little things in the house that have been driving me nuts all winter.  Dan had the day off yesterday so we went and bought all the flower boxes and garden stuff. I'll post pictures in a couple of days.  I got a little sunburned while I got everything planted.    I LOVE summer.  I put some fibery things up on Ebay that I realized I really don't have the room for or don't use.  They end today.  I'm sad to see them go, but I need to get rid of some of this clutter.  There's tons more that should go, but it's so hard to give up our toys, isn't it?

I finally talked to the neighbor about Daniel yesterday.  I was in the garage getting planters out and she was walking by.  I asked if she had a minute to talk.  It turned out much better than I expected.  I think she already knew.  I suspect that one of my well-meaning friends might have already spoken to her.  It's almost as if she reads the blog because she said a lot of the things that was mentioned in the comments.  I started off by apologizing for my rude behavior and explained that I had just been so angry at her.  I told her why and she was immediately apologetic.  In the beginning she said that she'd thought about Daniel and that she should have come talked to me and in the end the story was that she just hadn't thought about Daniel.  Her explanation was that her son just kept adding guests and before it got to Daniel she had told him that was enough, no more.  Daniel was the only child that age in the neighborhood that wasn't invited and I explained to her that he did realize it and it hurt him.  She did say there was no excuse and she felt bad.  She wanted to make it up to Daniel.  They are moving and on top of that she's leaving a little early to go to her family's home in France to have her daughter baptized before they move back to the States.  I know how stressful moving time is, so I told her not to worry about it and that I'd just wanted to clear the air before they left.  I think it just hurt so much from her because she does know about Daniel and I thought she was one of the ones that really understood.  And as I explained to her, if it had been me it would have been like water off a duck's back, but as a mother, it hurts so much more when you're child is hurting.  She completely understood.  She said that she was glad I had because she could use it as a lesson should she ever meet another child like Daniel.  So... all's well that ends well.  I feel so much better now that I've talked to her.  It was really eating away at me.  When will I ever learn that stuff just gets worse as it festers?

I finished the Fortissima (color 8040) socks a few days ago.  I love the way the yarn bloomed after washing.  Okay, Katy, do you see why I won't show you my naked feet now?  lol.  My feet have such a weird shape to them and they aren't even the same.

I've been working very little on Dan's raglan but I really want to finish it before I get into the full swing of Summer or it'll sit until Fall.  I want to cast on another pair of socks, but I'll use that as my incentive to finish up Dan's sweater.

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend. 

15,342 Days Ago ....

I am 15,342 days old.  Holy crap! I think I'll stick to years.  I don't feel old like I thought I would when my parents turned 42.    If I were a dog, I'd only be 6!  LOL.  Okay.... don't wanna go back that far.  Thirty-five would be nice again.  I wouldn't take the 20's again for nothing... strike that... I would if I could go back knowing what I know now.  ;-) That'd be kinda fun.  Since that's not gonna happen, I'll be content with 42... 

It was a pretty interesting time... 1963.  Did you know you can read the Time Magazine articles from the day you were born?  Kinda cool I thought, but then I'm geeky like that.  ;-)

Check out what it was like on the day I was born (from the dMarie Timecapsule):

Friday, May 24, 1963

Top Songs for 1963
Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton     My Boyfriend's Back by Angels     I Will Follow Him by Little Peggy March     Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs     Fingertips (Pt. 2) by Little Stevie Wonder     He's So Fine by Chiffons     Dominique by Singing Nun     Hey Paula by Paul & Paula     Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto     Walk Like a Man by Four Seasons

1963 Prices		US President
Bread:	$0.21/loaf	John F. Kennedy
Milk:	$1.04/gal	US Vice President
Eggs:	$0.96/doz	Lyndon B. Johnson
Car:	$2,300	Academy Award Winners
Gas:	$0.30/gal	Best Picture: Tom Jones Directed By Tony Richardson Best Actor: Sidney Poitier in Lilies Of The Field Best Actress: Patricia Neal in Hud
House:	$19,300
Stamp:	$0.05/ea
Avg Income:	$6,998/yr
Min Wage:	$1.25/hr
DOW Avg:	763

People born on May 24
1941 - Bob Dylan [Zimmerman] Duluth MN, singer/songwriter (Blowin' in Wind) 1945 - Priscilla Presley Brooklyn NY, actress (Jenna-Dallas, Naked Gun) 1955 - Rosanne Cash Memphis TN, country singer (Runaway Train, Seven Year Ache, I Wonder)

On TV in 1963
The Andy Griffith Show    McHale's Navy    The Lucy Show    Bonanza    Candid Camera    My Three Sons    Petticoat Junction    The Dick Van Dyke Show    Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater    The Flintstones    The Beverly Hillbillies

Hot New Toys in 1963
Mouse Trap    Easy-Bake Oven

More Photos

Still working on the Finished Projects photo album (top of left sidebar).  I added these today:

This is the Scalloway Yoke sweater from Ann Feitelson's The Art of Fair Isle Knitting.  I love this just about everything in this book.  It not only has beautiful patterns... it's a great reference book to have on hand.  I think I've worn it once.  I want to make it into a cardigan.  I'm almost positive I still have the main yarn left to do the button bands with.  It would get a lot more wear as a cardigan.

There's also the Fridarey Vest in the photo album from that same book.  It was knit in the round with steeks for the center front and armholes and then cut and finished.

Next up are two cardigans that I did using Meg Swansen's Lupine Cardigan Details pattern from Meg Swansen's Knitting.  The first is just as it was done in the pattern.  It's knit in mule spun yarn and one of those sweaters that's like an old friend come Fall.

They are knit in the round with steeks and then sewn on a sewing machine before cutting the center front. 

I used this pattern but changed the yarn color and chose a different pattern and knit this cardigan:

One of my favorite sweaters is this one:

It's Classic Elite's pattern #807, but I used Naturespun Worsted for it.  It's soft and cozy and I always get compliments when I wear it.   The trinity stitch was time consuming, but worth it.

Dale of Norway's Thunder Bay pullover for Dan.  This one sat in the knitting basket for months after I realized I'd forgotten to do the neckline shaping.  I realized this about 20 rows too late.  That's over 400 stitches, in color work *times* 20.  I literally cried.  Then it sat for months while I hoped that the knitting elves would fix it for me.  Didn't happen and I cried again as I frogged those rows and redid it the right way.

Blackberry Ridge socks from the first Sock of the Month series.  I finished these within 12 hours of giving birth to Joseph so that I could wear them during labor.  The nurses were so afraid of messing them up. lol.  They kept my tooties nice and warm while I gave birth to my last baby... all ten pounds of him.  ;-) 

I think that's all of the items I've knit that I still have on hand.  There's lots of gifts out there that I wish I'd taken pictures of and there are some of the boys' baby stuff that's in storage in the States.

Many Thanks

Here's a virtual bouquet of flowers to you all.  Even though I know how much support there is out there in knitblogland, I'm amazed and very grateful for the outpouring of kindness and support I received over the last couple of days.  I'm pretty sure I emailed everyone who left comments and emailed.  If I missed you, I'm sorry, it definitely wasn't on purpose.  It had been a rough week, but it's had it's positive points and I've learned a few lessons and got some great advice.  I haven't talked to the woman yet, but I will next week.  Probably on Monday.  I just don't want to do it with anger, so it give me some time to calm down.  Just a side note, she does know about the AS and she's known us fairly well since she moved here a year and a half ago.  I'm not really sure what her reasons were behind leaving only Daniel out, but I am going to let her know that it hurt him, Dan and I. 

On a lighter note... look what arrived from Japan already!  I am in love with these books.  The basket weaving one is full of baskets I want to make (haven't made one in a couple of years), the Handmade Felt books....  oooh..  too much to make in those, not near enough time but I'll try.  I may let a couple of them go... in time.  There are step-by-step photos to show you how to do everything.  If you are interested in them, you can find the ISBN's for each in my photo album.

The absolute keeper in the whole batch is the Fair Isle book.  GORGEOUS stuff inside.  Have a little taste:

Gorgeous stuff but my favorite is the one in browns and plums.  Normally I can't wear brown, but I think I could pull this one off because of the rosy shades and the plums in it. 

I finished the self patterning socks but forgot to take a photo.  I'll get one up in the next post. 

I'll leave you with a link that Jayne in Canada shared with me: Click here to hear a BBC broadcast about about the tradition of knitting ganseys in Whitby, Yorkshire.

Autism Awareness Patterns

Hey all, head on over to Melissa's and purchase some great patterns donated by Greta, Danette and Melissa herself.  The proceeds from the patterns go towards something near and dear to my heart, Autism Awareness. Using the colored puzzle pattern from the Autism Awareness Ribbon, I made a button for the cause.

I really don't mean to sound like a whiner, but this couldn't have hit at a better time for me.  I've really been struggling this week with the issue of my son, Daniel, being left out because he's not "like the other kids".  As Asperger's goes, Daniel has had a lot of help since he was three.  We're lucky.  It could be a lot worse.  He's always been in a mainstream school.  He's a sweet and caring boy who has a hard time with dialog.  He talks at you, not to you, endlessly.... about numbers and facts that other kids find weird.  We're working on it.  But how much can we do when what he needs is socialization and the other kids don't like playing with him?  It hurts to see him with a group of other children and they completely ignore him.  I don't blame the kids, they are just kids after all, but it hurts all the same.

Thanks to Katy, I've told the school about Circle of Friends and they are going to start the program with Daniel next year.  We've had problems with bullying at the school, he has few friends (though if you ask him, his best friends are anyone who talks to him for more than a half an hour) and he's starting to realize he's the outsider.

This past weekend I experienced the straw that broke the camel's back.  I blame myself partly for failing to open my mouth when I should have and just letting things go (which if you knew me, is pretty hard to believe) and not working harder to make people around us more aware of Daniel's diagnosis of High-Functioning Autism.  In that respect, I failed my son and now it's coming back to bite me in the arse.

Let me explain.  We've lived in this neighborhood for almost two years.  We call it little America because there are quite a few military families on this hill with us. There are three other boys that live here.  They are all Daniel's age and all live within a few yards of each other.  Except for my next-door neighbor, who is a close friend, Daniel has been left out of every invitation list since we got here.  Not just birthday parties, but trips to the pool, the movies... you name it.  The three other boys are very close friends.  I'll admit, Daniel would prefer to hide out in his room alone, but wouldn't you if no one wanted to talk to you about the only things you found interesting and no one wanted to play with you because you are "weird"?   He loves when they play game boy, pokemon or chess with him.  He's just not into sports.  We tried for a few years.  He has said he'd like to try again next season, but I think it's more to fit in than anything.  We'll give it a go though.

This past Saturday he was left out again and this time I really got angry over it.  I've bawled every day over it.   I'm just so tired of it.  Daniel is starting to realize he's getting left out and there is nothing that rips my heart out more than to see him hurt.  He is a very kind boy who has no clue as to why he's not accepted more.  He does know about Asperger's.   We've been very open with him, but he doesn't understand that's why no one wants to spend time with him.

This party was a big camp-out in the back yard.  The birthday boy comes to play with Daniel only when the other two boys aren't home.  When the other boys come looking for him they all leave within a few minutes and leave Daniel alone again.  This boy has spent the night in our home but the invitation has never been reciprocated though the other boys spend the night together often.  I don't blame the kids.  And I understand a parent saying, "Okay... who do you want to invite?"  But c'mon!!  How can we teach our kids understanding, tolerance and compassion if we let them exclude a child that you know is left out of everything except when it's convenient?  How do you let your child exclude this boy even when you know about the Asperger's?!  I just don't get it!  Every other kid in the neighborhood, even girls, were invited to this party.  Everyone but Daniel.  I'm not one that can hide my anger.  When I'm angry there's no doubt because it's written all over my face.  The mother came out to the bus stop yesterday morning and I was very rude to her.  It was the first time I'd seen her since I found out about the party.  I completely ignored her and she definitely knew it.  There was no doubt in her mind that I was angry with her when she walked away.  I was afraid that if I said anything I would start bawling and blow up in front of all the kids.  Part of me wants to go talk to her, but I know it wouldn't do any good.  There'd be justifications and excuses or she'd feel really bad about it and I really don't want to do that to someone either.  I really do blame myself for not making people more aware.  On top of that they're moving back to the States next month, so I can't help but think what's the use?  I know I need to go apologize to her for treating her the way I did yesterday, but I'm still angry and I want to be able to do it without the anger showing it's ugly face.

Anyway...  please!  If you know a child with Autism and you have children that age, please, educate yourself and your child and show some compassion.  I can tell you as a mom, there is nothing more heartbreaking than to see your child shunned for something he can't help.

More Knitting Memories

Still trying to update the photo album.  Here's what I added today:

This is Daniel's guernsey that I knit from Debbie Bliss's Classic Knits For Kids.  I knit it around 1997 in hand-spun Falkland wool.

I knit one for Joseph using store bought yarn a few years later.

This is the first Elizabeth Zimmermann sweater I did.  It was knit in 1995 using her percentage system which you can find in just about any of E.Z.'s books. It's knit with Jamieson & Smith's jumper-weight wool.  I love looking at this sweater and remembering how much I love knitting after I discovered the knitting list and Elizabeth Zimmermann.

Ahhh... the Tomten Jacket.  Again... Elizabeth Zimmermann.  Catching a theme here?  This one was knit for Daniel and he wore it for about three years and Joseph wore it for a couple of winters.  I can't remember the wool I used.  I think I knit it in 2000 also.  This pattern can be found in The Opinionated Knitter or Knitting Workshop.

Since I was talking about German sock yarns in the last post, I remembered I wanted to show you all this cool site.  I met the woman with a ponytail at a spinning meeting I went to a year ago at my friend, Elke's, house.  Elke and I met through Spin Off magazine when we were up in Kitzingen last tour.  She and I used to only live 20 minutes apart.  She has a great little farm.  They are renovating her home and the upstairs is her studio. It's gorgeous.  She even has a dyeing kitchen up there.  Now we live about an hour away and it's been hard to get up there to see her.  I need to make a point of contacting her soon.  But I digress....  the woman with the ponytail... all I remember is that she had a huge bag of Opal yarn at the spinning meeting so imagine my surprise to see her in this video.  Anyway, check out the video by clicking the link word "Fernsehsendung" after Download.  It's all in German, but it's fun to watch.  The Opal factory is only about 2 1/2 hours away.  We went once, but it was closed that day.  I really want to get down that way again... to find the time...

Lace and Socks....

I've been working on my photo album of finished projects for the past week or so.  It's funny how you think you've done much less than you have.  There's tons more that I never even took pictures of.  I wish I'd kept better track.  Check out the album.

Jayne commented that she wanted more lace...

This is the shawl that I knit about six years ago for Joseph's Baptism.  I bought the pattern and yarn in Lerwick, Shetland.  I tried to find the pattern online, but couldn't.  It's Paton's booklet 8008 for Fairytale 2 and 3 ply - 1985.  I knit it with jumper weight wool from Jamieson and Smith's.  Not sure if I actually got the pattern there or not.

I found all my lace books and magazines while we cleaned the garage out this weekend. I have several issues of this Diana lace magazine left from when I was ordering them for the lace list.  There are 24 patterns in all (mostly doilies and centerpieces).  All in German but they are charted and I have a key for most of the symbols.  It's $10, which includes Priority Mail.  Email Me if you want one.  First come, first serve.

Finished my Gramp's socks up this weekend.  I was going to get the soles at the yarn shop in our Marktplatz, but it's closed today due to a German Holiday.  Figures.  At least I know they'll be done in plenty of time for Father's Day.

My favorite plain vanilla sock pattern is from Pricilla Gibson-Roberts Simple Socks Plain & Fancy I always do them from the toe up so that if I'm using handspun and I'm cutting it close, I can do each one seperately until I run out of yarn.  It also makes it easy to try it on as you're knitting the sock.

I'd placed an order with Martina here in Germany (she speaks English, so if you can't find your way around her website, just click on the Kontakt button up on the top under the banner and you can email her).  I ordered it on Thursday and it came Friday.  Yea!  Obviously, it'll be a longer wait for the trip across the Atlantic.  Anyway, I couldn't wait to cast on the Fortissima Socka in color 8040. 

I've been having fun playing with the camera, but I need a lot of lessons and practice.  Anyone know how to put a frame around your photo in Typepad?  I know it's something simple, probably staring me in the face, but I can't figure it out.  I'd appreciate some help.  Here's a picture I took of Bailey.  Such a sweet girl.  She got tired of me chasing her around with the camera.  It would have been perfect if she hadn't been under the coffee table:

Wrap it up and put a bow on it, baby!

All the hinting paid off!  Even though my bday isn't for ten more days, I got my wish yesterday:

The Canon Rebel XT with 8... yea, I said 8... bohonkin' mega pixels!! Ohhh... she's a sweetie.  I was at the big PX in Würzburg yesterday and they had two in stock.  Now, we military over here know one thing well...  get it while you can especially just before a pay day weekend because it won't be there on Monday.  Called Dan (because I'm an effecient and thoughtful wife)... 

Me:  Hey!  They have the camera in stock.  There's two.

Dan:  Oh, reeeally.  Because I called the day before yesterday and they said they wouldn't have it for a week.

Me:  Well, I'm standing here holding it.

Dan:  You know I was going to get it for you so just go ahead and get it now

Me:  You can still wrap it up and give it to me on my birthday.

Dan:  (laughter)  You know you won't be able to wait that long.

So while I was finishing up my shopping I got a guilt complex.  Called him back to ask if he was sure.  He said he knew I'd wanted it for a long time and he really wanted me to have it.  Besides, now we could have really great photos of our last year in Germany.  Sold! 

I took photography in High School but I have a lot to remember and learn.  There are so many buttons and menus... it's gonna be fun though.  Here's a little sampling of my play today.

A fantastic thank-you gift arrived from my Secret Pal, Suzie!  She sent a beautiful set of crystal heart stitch markers that she made, a cute little glow-in-the-dark lamb and some Japanese stationary.  The little card has a picture of a knit sweater on the front.   Thanks so much, Suzie!  Totally unnecessary, but I really appreciate it!

 

Lacey

Something's going on...  First it was Nilda...  then Annie pointed us to Carissa...  Lace is definitely in the air.  It is the perfect warm weather knitting project.

Nilda was asking me about Spanish lace knitting patterns just a couple of days ago (if you have any info, please contact her!).  I have quite a lace library because I was really into it a few years ago.  I met Katy's mom, Sue, on the Lace List.  So anyway... I go looking for my lace knitting books and German lace magazines for Nilda and I can't find them!!!  Then I'm reading my bloglines this morning and Annie had posted about Carissa's beautiful lace.  Now my fingers are itching.  Did I mention I can't find my lace stuff?!  I'm in a semi-panic.  I still have a box to check in the garage, but I can't imagine me leaving knitting things in the garage!  I've done weirder things, so who knows....

I knit this one about five years ago.  It's in serious need of blocking.  I just found it in my china hutch. It's the same one that Carissa is working on, the Madeira!  Too funny.  I don't remember where the pattern is... probably in one of the magazines that I can't find....  Anyone??

I used to volunteer to order the Diana lace magazines from Germany for the lace list so that we could all split the shipping from Germany.  Eugene Beugler (yes, the same one that designed Dayflower Daydream from Best of Shawls and Scarves as well as other gorgeous creations - very nice man, by the way) contacted me when we were stationed here the last  time asking for help in obtaining some German lace patterns and was the first to tell me about the Diana magazines.  I haven't seen them since we got here a year and a half ago.  Crocheted lace seems to be big here now.  At any rate, as a thank you gift, Eugene knit this gorgeous doily for me out of a tencel thread.  It's as gorgeous to the touch as it is to the eye and one of my most prized possessions.

Dan made a trip to Russia for a Personal Security (think body guard) mission for Cohen was he was the Secretary of Defense (around 1998).  While there, he found a small shop that sold the Orenburg shawls.  He called me that night to tell me so I got him to go back to the shop to buy some for other lace-listers.  I don't remember how many but it was at least ten.  There was an old woman in the shop actually knitting the shawls.  She hugged Dan with tears in her eyes when he came back and purchased the others.  Dan learned some Russian courtesy of the Army and he still remembers how to say Orenburg Shawls in Russian. lol.  I have a black one and a white one.  Here's a close-up shot of the white one:

And you thought I wasn't knitting

Lots of knitting going on around here.  I cast on a pair of socks for my Gramps for Father's Day.  These are getting leather soles so he won't have to use duct tape on them!  Let's see you put a hole in these babies, Gramps!! ;-)

I showed you the Online ladder yarn I bought the other day.  I did a very simple garter stitch scarf on large needles.  If this picture doesn't prove how badly I need a new camera then I don't know what will: (hint Dan... birthday... two weeks... hint...)

You can click on it to make it bigger, but it won't do much good.  You'll just have to trust me when I tell you it made such a cool fabric.  All slinky and silky and gorgeous color.

I'm just about to the underarms of Dan's raglan.  I'm doing it in the round so the sleeves are next.  I'll show you when I attach them.  Then it'll be time to pull out the reference books since I'm not following the pattern.  Who wants to knit a raglan flat with all that seaming.  "Not I", said the wise knitter.

We watched Raising Helen with Kate Hudson the other night.  Very cute movie.  I love her.  There are times when you forget she isn't Goldie.  Joan Cusack is preggers in it and knitting on the sofa with her husband one night.  She makes a remark about how interesting it is that a lot of celebs are knitting now.  Funny moment that no one else, but a knitter, will appreciate.  Now I'm hooked on John Hiatt.  I love the song they played in the movie, "Feels Like Rain".