T-Minus... Who Knows How Long

We had such a great time on vacation, I just want to turn around and do it again. Who knows how long it will be before we can get away again though. It was such a relaxing and peaceful vacation. We even took a nap one afternoon...oohhh how luxurious.

I knitted on and off the whole time we were gone. I brought 4 projects with me but really only knitted on 2. I changed my mind about knitting the Swallowtail Shawl, and started the Cheshire Cat Stole instead...omg, I adore knitting this. It's keeping me on my toes as it's a 30 some odd row repeat, and each knit row is different...and it has BEADS...how cool is that? I also knitted on my Voyager Mystery Sock KAL from the Outlander group on Ravelry. I'm really enjoying those as well, I'm magic looping and doing both socks together.

We did lots of fun things and just had a nice time. I missed my angel, but I felt her with us so many times. I mean truly felt her presence. Sometimes it was so obvious it was like she was saying "Hey Mom". I love you Corrina, forever and ever and always!



Ciao

T-Minus Now!!

So as of 5 pm we are now officially on vacation and do not have to be back at work till the 13th...woo hoo! I can't wait till we leave for New Mexico. I'm almost finished with my 9 to 5 socks as I'm ready to start decreasing for the toe's. I've also decided to cast on for the Outlander group sock KAL (LC Voyager Socks by Janine Le Cras). They are a mystery as well and clue 1 & 2 have been revealed already so I'm a wee bit behind. The socks incorporate beads, so I need to buy some before I go out of town. This way I'll still have 4 projects on the needles to carry along. Can you tell I'm excited???

Corrina used to sing "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, in the summertime", over and over when we were getting ready for a trip. I miss her so much. Nothing seems right without her, but yet I feel her with me wherever I am. We were so close, extraordinarily so. I know that connection will NEVER be lost, never, ever. So I know she'll be with us on this vacation. I love you RinaBean, forever and always!


Ciao

T-minus 3 Days

That's when our vacation starts. I'm REALLY looking forward to this vacation. That hasn't happened in a LONG, LONG, LONG time. Since losing Corrina I've always had some sort of apprehension, tremendous sadness, and intense longing for her to be with us, before leaving for each and every vacation.

I still wish she was coming with us, oh how I wish that, I'd give ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to make that happen, but the apprehension is no longer a factor, and while the sadness will ALWAYS be with me, it's not as debilitating as before. So Ruidoso, NM here we come. Seven days in the mountains, mmmmmmmmm, I can't wait.

I've got my four projects on the needles to take with me...

1. Mr Foster sock monkey

2. 9-5 Socks

3. Scandinavian socks

4. Swallowtail shawl


And I'm bringing some good books too. I plan to relax and knit. Maybe hot-tub and swim, with a possible visit to the Thoroughbred race track one afternoon thrown into the mix.

Now if I can just last 20 more minutes it will be time to go the heck home for the day.




Ciao

Goals and Holy Crap!

Ok, so I was over at Ali's blog, http://www.skeinsherway.com and she was mentioning setting some knitting goals for the summer. She's even doing a contest, what a great idea huh? So anyway I was thinking about what my goals will be and here goes:

1. Knit myself a lace shawl. I like the Swallowtail pattern.

2. Finish 5 pairs of socks (3 gifts, 2 mine)

3. Finish Mr. Foster, the sock monkey (gift)

4.Knit myself a beautiful cardigan with the GORGEOUS silk/merino I splurged on



Ok, so that's my goal list. Now for a "Corrinaism". She used to say "Holy Crap" all the time. It didn't matter if it was something good or something bad...it was just "Holy Crap". So in honor of my sweet Corrina...Holy Crap people it's FRIDAY!!!


Ciao

JUST SAY NO...to Hobby Lobby

Today my friend Judy bought me a little gift. It's a cute pair of flip-flops that are black and have cherries on them. Normally I would already have them on my fat, little feet, but they came from "Hobby Lobby", cue the ominous music. Now we need to travel back in time to early 2005 when my sweet Rina girl was working for "Michaels" the "other" crafting store. She told me that I couldn't shop at Hobby Lobby, that I would be a traitor if I did. My sweet girl was nothing if not loyal!!! So I made a promise to her that I would never set foot into a Hobby Lobby store...and of course I haven't, but my mother-in-law and my friend Judy go there quite often, hence my gift.

My dilema is as such, do I wear the flip-flops because they were a gift and because Corrina was all about loving her Flip-Flops??? Or do I not wear them because of the "Hobby Lobby" boycott??? You may not believe this but it made me cry...not so much the shoes, as the memory of my girl and the promise I made her. Silly huh? The funniest part of all of this is that Corrina would find my behavior EXTREMELY amusing, I just know she would.

I wish I was knitting on something right now instead of working. I'm going to cast on another pair of socks tonight. The "Summer Socks" pattern by Cookie A. I ADORE her designs...what a talent she is, and what an artist.




Ciao

A Brand New Week

Ah, it's Monday. Too bad the weekends are so damn short. I had such big plans for this past weekend...didn't accomplish much of it though. We're planning to re-do our bathroom and I intended to start on that, but nope, didn't happen.

I did get some knitting done though. I hated the way the socks I was working on were turning out, so I ripped them out and started over with a different pattern...ah, much better now. I got quite a bit done on those. Finished up and gifted away all the baby items so it was a pleasure to work on something different for a change. I also cast on a lace shawl, and my Mr. Foster sock monkey from Knit Picks. I'd like to cast on for one more pair of socks as I like to have 4 different projects going, just to keep it interesting.

I had a dream about Corrina last night, and I remember seeing her in this dream but I can't remember anything else about it. I'm content enough though just being able to have seen her, if only for a moment, and if only in my dreams. I love you Angelpie!



Ciao

Time Slips Away

Geez, times slips by doesn't it? I can't believe it's June already. My dad would have been 79 this year. My niece Heidy has a birthday in a few days and she'll be 36, and my brother-in-law Ed will be, ok I don't know, maybe just old..lol. He's older than me anyway.

Corrina loved June...school was out, summer was here and good times were usually had by all. No particular month holds anything special for me anymore, and that's ok because I just look forward to getting through the present. When I found out that Corrina had passed away, I just knew that it was over for me too and that I couldn't or wouldn't EVER survive one moment without her and believe me, I didn't want to survive.

I remember many of my aquaintances saying things like "If it was my child I would just die" or "I don't know how you're getting out of bed each morning, I know I wouldn't be able to cope" and "I can't believe your back at work already. I couldn't survive without my child, let alone work". I remember at the time being very ANGRY with these statements. To me it sounded like they were insinuating that they loved their children more than I loved Corrina. I know, stupid right? But I couldn't help how it made me feel. My grief was so new, the wound so raw. I, of course, know now that they we're all just trying to help in their own way and unless you've suffered, endured, survived the loss of a child, there is no way to understand or comprehend.

I have figured something out though, I never knew I could ever be this strong or resilent. I still have my melt down days, where all I want is to be with Corrina again, but I will say, they aren't as often as they used to be. My faith, hope, and love get me through. I owe that, and so much more, to my RinaBean. From the moment they placed that little peanut in my arms she made me a better person, more loving, giving, patient, kind, gentle, compassionate and MOST IMPORTANTLY, she made me her mom...the greatest honor and pleasure of my life. I love you my angel!!!

Ok, so now on to my knitting. I'm finishing a hooded baby blanket/towel for a co-workers baby shower. I also made her two itty bitty washclothes, and a pair of itty bitty baby socks. I've been working pretty exclusively on those items, so not much other knitting going on. I can't wait to get back to my Cardigan KAL and also cast on my Mr Foster sock monkey from Knit Picks. I think I'm going to rip out the one tank top I started as I'm just not happy with they way it's turning out.

Well I guess that's it...don't post for weeks and then I can't stop talking!



Ciao

Ready, Set, Go!

Ok, so it's Thursday and I'm SO READY for the long weekend. We're not going anywhere, just staying home...just the way I like it. Although in July we're going to go away for a week to New Mexico and I AM looking forward to that vacation.

I expect(hope)to knit most of the weekend, some on my cardigan KAL, and some on a pair of socks, and some on the Swallowtail Shawl. We'll see how that all goes. I'm almost finished with the sleeves for the cardigan. It's looking like it'll be a really great sweater.

I also need to start transfering all of our videos to DVD's. I just get so emotional whenever I try to start that project, but I haven't tried in quite some time so maybe it's time to try again. We'll see. I love seeing Corrina's face and hearing her voice, but I start to cry and can't stop. I love and miss you so much, RinaBean!

Anyway, those are my Memorial Day plans. It will be nice to have the extra day off.


Ciao

Bum Around

That's exactly what I did this whole weekend. I relaxed, knitted, computed...and it was nice and quiet. Scott, the kittie's, and I really enjoyed it. I worked on my KAL cardigan, and swatched and cast on for a the "Swallowtail Lace Shawl". I also lined and finished the knitting bag for my sister. I need to get it into the mail by Thursday or Friday.

Time goes by quickly, doesn't it? My sister will be 58 on the 13th. My other sister will be 70, and I'll be 48...unbelievable. My RinaBean would have been 22 this year...I miss her soooooo much. Life goes on...whether we're ready for it or not.

Well back to work.


Ciao

Going CRAZY!!!

Ok, so I here I sit at work, and all I want to do is knit. I wish I could figure out a way to work and knit at the same time...wouldn't that be awesome??

When I get home this evening it's the first thing I'm going to do...pick up one of my "way too many" on the needle projects, and START KNITTING!!


Ciao