hatteras knit bits

back from vacation ( insert big frown). Im never ready to leave the outer banks, but this time was made a little easier by the prospect of a stop at a lys -- Knitting Addiction -- and a quilt shop -- Funtastic fabrics --- in Southern Shores NC.

Good hubby agreed to the stops and to "be good" while I oohhed and aahheedddd and spent more money than I should...

Vacation was good. i go to the outer banks for peace, and i felt it coming over me on Wednesday of the first week there. it was hard for me to go away this year, it was the first time away from my youngest daughter since her serious illness a year ago and my son has recently become engaged and a parent to be, so driving almost 400 miles away was tough for the most involved mom in the world....

but, the obx won and i learned to let go a little bit of my kids problems. its hard, I have always seen it as my job to fix things for them -- i know I cant anymore and i have to allow them to falter and trust that they will pick themselves up...

So I knitted. Made a pair of socks for val, a kimono for first grandchild to be, started a green sweater for same grandchild.... And I read "friday night knitting club" which if you havent read you should skip the next sentence. i GOT SO MAD I THREW THE BOOK ACROSS THE ROOM. maybe Im just getting old but i dont get all warm and squishy when someone dies -- i wanted her to live, damn it.

knitted on the beach, in the truck, on the deck, on the dock. it was glorious. all of the pieces I made have the essence of obx in them, and will therefore spread peace and joy whereever they are worn!

At the yarn stop I purchased the needles for Taresa's lace socks, yarn for Jena's hospital booties and some beautiful red handdyed yarn for a scarf for taresa and a purple blend for myself for a shawl. All, also infused with hatteras charm and good luck.

I hope to return to the outer banks later this year, but will probably have to wait til next summer. I hope this 2 week fix was enough.

needles and pins

our vacation starts friday. me and the hubby first then all 3 grwon kids and their others storm in a week later. So looking forward to this ,we last did it 2 years ago, and its just so fun to have everyone in the same place.....a lot of eating, drinking, laughing and fishing!

a little different this year, our son and his fiancee are pregnant!!!! so, we'll be buying OBX baby wear for sure.

and I was going to schedule a fishing trip. youngest daughters boyfriend is in, we'd pay for the father to be, and thought oldest daughter and her husband ( who make more money than all of us) would love the idea. " Oh my, thats expensive" WHAT?!? The girl who spends 400 for a coach bag, who knows how much for her hair and i dont even want to think about how much for dinner at all those restaurants she writes about, wont drop 250 for her husband to spend the day in the gulf stream with the rest of the guys? kids.

baby angel james blankie

as i stood in the nicu nursery tonite, with my great nephews tiny hand clutching my finger, I prayed harder than Ive prayed in a long time. Now, I knwo that you dont have to pray "hard" for god to hear you ,but this time I felt the need.

this dear little baby, so tiny, so frail, and hanging on so hard to life. so far we know his PDA is closing, his oxygen level is getting better, he has a blood culture infection, and now his little belly is swelling --and he is brusing -- they are saying words like nephritis and gangrene, and talking terms like "life threatening" and worry.

As I knit and crochet and try to give him gifts full of love and warmth, as I hold my niece and try to say the right thing, as I try to explain to my brother what is going on and skim over the pain for my dad -- as i watch valerie struggle with her own battles, as i cling to my faith and pray to my god, I am amazed at how much emotion thisl ittle tiny 1 lb. 3 oz .baby can evoke
be well baby james and know that you are loved.

beach tote

excellent beach tote. loved the pattern and putting it on my shoulder makes me remember all thetimes I slung a tote over my shoulder and headed to the beach when I was a teen. This one looks just like I wanted, its cool beans

Sweet Baby James

interestingly enough, I dont spend a lot of time with my extended family. I am busy, I guess, I teach, maintain a large house, have a great husband, and try to make a difference in the lives of my own 3 children as often as possible. But, I am guilty of not seeing mybrother, cousins, and nieces and nephews as much as I should. I love them all. often think of them and something Id like to make them, or say to them, or do with them.

but time is short, and its easy to get lazy on the couch and vow to do it later.

but then something happens. Tony goes to war, Al gets in a car crash, and now, Rose, my sweet niece, gives birth to a baby, 16 weeks early.

Little Angel James was born on April 17, 2008, his great grandmothers birthday. he entered this side a tiny 1lb. 3 oz. barely 11 inches long, unable to breathe on his own or cry that sweet newborn cry, but here none the less and fighting hard to stay,

So Aunt Cindy kicked in. I dont know how I can related to so many people who are so stupid. My oldest brother doesnt even have enough sense to be here for his little brother, the babies granddad. I received no less than 3 calls telling me "rose lost the baby", Lori tries to talk serious business with a new mom trying to pump mlk for the first time.

but there is no lack of love, and that is what is keeping this dysfunctional family functioning. That, and for the first time in his life, my brother is sober and sane and together enough to be the father and grandfather that rose and angel james needs. the baby monitor above his little head read "baby cold" so I knitted him a hat, and booties. his little skin is not yet able to stand the pressure of the yarn, but as soon as he grows a little bit he will be cold no more, ever. I'll make sure of that.

And now Im thinking about the bassinet Im going to buy to have for this baby to lay in our family room, because Ive got a feeling that around august, when he really gets home, hes gonna need a quiet place to come every now and then.

broo ha ha

got myself in a little broo ha ha over at ravelry. had joined the adhd group -- seemed kind of fun, but then they started a thread about home schooling. I got into a ah hem, discussion, about the merits and cons of, as well as my feeling that being a mom doesnt make you a teacher. boy did I hit a nerve. Oh, well, I guess a spirited discussion is good for the bloodpressure and circulation. So, i wandered away from the adhd crowd, Im afraid theyre a little too intense for me. I mean, Im just in it for the knitting, you know???

Lets Go Mets

Its done!!!! gonna send it to Gregg on Monday. I love this silly hat.

knitted it on circular needles, used a technique where it looks like separate triangles but its really one.