My Favorite Baby Sweater

I love babies. I love the way that they snuggle right into you--totally naturally, as if you owe it to them--find their spot and get cozy. It makes me sad that we lose that ability as adults.

Luckily, there are a few new babies around. The first is my friend Jenny's. Here's the sweater for baby Jack. The cute little white bunny buttons aren't on it yet but I love it still. It's nice and squeezy and such a pretty shade of blue.


The pattern is a very basic raglan baby sweater that my friend Marlys gave me from a magazine about 15 years ago. I have no idea what magazine it came from but I love, love, love it. I can't begin to try to figure out how many of these sweaters I have made. I've added a cable. I've added little tiny knit leaves for an autumn baby. I've embroidered flowers on it. A long time ago I took my frayed photocopy and typed up the pattern so I could have it forever.

It's just perfect. The armholes and the neck are big enough for those yummy little odd baby limbs (and huge baby heads) and every Mommy has loved this sweater.

I love this yarn--the ball band is around somewhere--because it's not too precious. It's a real blue rather than an overly sweet baby blue and I'm sure baby Jack will be cozy as all git out in this sweater.

Of course it's still a gazillion degrees in the Y.O. so who the hell wants to put a sweater on but I made it big enough to fit him in the fall.

News 12 has been promising me a thunder storm for a week now and I feel totally let down by them that I haven't had a good one. Plants are dying. People are wilting. I hate this weather. I want a really good, really dramatic storm--the kind that scares you a little but you can't stop yourself from sitting in the window and watching. I think I'm owed one for not acting like a crazy person during these 90 degree (PLUS!) days. I don't think I should be held responsible for my actions if this doesn't break soon.

I'm also quite certain that my Con Ed bill is going to arrive in a box. Baby Cat is an old old old lady and it would be really cruel to leave her in the house without the a/c (never mind the other two cats). The living room air has been on for weeks and I'll probably be selling pencils on the corner to raise the money to pay for it but hey, what else could I do.

The Best Special Effects Ever

I don't care that it's 33 years old. I don't care that it was supposed to be really scary and doesn't scare me at all anymore (really never has). Jaws still has the best damn special effects ever!

One of the questions that I ask when I'm stuck talking to someone that I don't know and have run out of small talk is: If you got home at midnight--dead tired--and flipped the tv on for just a second, what movie would you stay up and watch.

My top three are:

1. Jaws
2. The Poseiden Adventure (the original and I probably spelled it wrong)
3. Scarface

I got home today just in time for Jaws. Granted it was 2:30 in the afternoon and I wasn't tired at all but I have planted myself on the couch to watch it. I'm working on that wonderful mitered EZ blanket that Brooklyn Tweed made and it has been the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Naturally, I have the airconditioner on 11 because it is hot as hades here in the Y.O. today. Not good for knitting anything other than socks unless you're in the a/c. So of course, I have two pairs of socks on the needles and am also starting a baby sweater. The cameras charging so there'll be pictures very soon!

Nancy Drew and the Case of the Disappearing Blogger

I've been gone because I've been working! Working like crazy. On good stuff. With good people. Now I'm not saying it hasn't been hard work--there's some stuff that is just craaaaaazy--but it has all been good and interesting and intelligent and I am so happy.

So here's a brief update:

• Knitting on the subway rocks. No one wants to sit next to the lady with the point sticks so I get some peace.
• Listening to my podcasts on the subway while I knit is even better.
• It's f*&)ing hot in NY right now. I hate the heat and I honestly don't think I could sweat more than I have in the past three days. I have my air conditioning up so high I'm surprised it doesn't thunder when I open my front door.
  
• On the upside of that, I noticed yesterday that my living room air conditioner actually "goes to 11". I almost wet myself laughing. Have I mentioned how I feel about Spinal Tap?
• The Hastings Farmers Market is open for the season. I am in veggie/chicken/fish/wine/bread/cheese/flowers/strawberry/duck heaven. It's amazing to me that as soon as they open their doors, my biological clock gets me out of bad at the crack of dawn on Saturday to be there early. There may be a Farmer's Market recipe in the future.
• Granny's birthday was last week. I took her out for drinks, appetizers and dessert and we sat at the bar at Jake's and had a ball. I recommend it. It's a favorite spot of mine.
• I'm considering letting my hair go gray. I've been dying it since I was 17 and I would love to know what it really looks like.

I promise I'll try to get back to posting regularly. With photos. I have lots of pretty knitting in the works right now. I also have two beautiful colorways coming from Three Irish Girls. I am very very excited about them.

Don't sleep in the subway darling!

I got a job! A real job! With real people! And real work to do! And enough room for everyone's egos (hmm--I'm not bitter, no, not me).

It's a three month contract gig which may turn into something longer. In the meantime, it suits me just fine.

And I have a solid 40 minutes to knit on the subway. Oh happy happy day!

The Crazy Cat Lady Dinner

Tonight is my favorite night of the year. A friend of a friend runs a cat assistance program here in Westchester County and they have a fundraising dinner every spring. Picture this--about 300 crazy cat ladies in a room together with wine, music and raffle prizes. It's a hoot and a half.

So in the spirit of the Crazy Cat Lady day:

Here's Buddie.


Isn't he a handsome boy? He's one of my sister's four cats.

Here's Tiny Cat and Heather.


Two of my three beauties. They are all about snuggling up together lately. They're both rescue cats and, honest to God, there is nothing that loves you more than a little animal that you took home.

Now onto things in my house that probably have some cat hair knit into them.

I finally finished my Monkeys but they are in the laundry so we must wait for a photo. And I finished Bratty Girl's Ogee Lace Skirt a few weeks ago. Here's a quick photo. It's unblocked but I let her take it on vacation anyway. I'll block it this week. I've got a blue one on the needles for her cousin in Ireland.


She tried it on over her sweats just to make sure it looked great on her (which of course it does because she is 14 and has a fabulous figure). She'll make it the newest style craze of The Rivertowns.

And on a sad note, a friend of mine was moved from the hospital to a wonderful hospice today. His life is coming to an end and, although I am comfortable with death being a part of life, I am sad about it. I will be filling his wife with wine tomorrow and celebrating a life well lived. If you read this, it would be lovely if you could take a moment and shine a little white light for a peaceful passage for him.

Actually talking about knitting today! What a surprise.

I have finally been uploading photos and have some wonderful things to show you.

First: Kathleen's birthday scarf from the Knitty breast cancer issue. I love it. It is Blue Sky Alpaca and so soft (probably has a little cat hair knitted in but--so be it).



Cornelia's birthday scarf. Berrocco (sp?) alpaca. It is so soft and just fuzzy enough. And, can I tell you, the price is right! Picked it up at Flying Fingers and breezed right through it.


I like this pattern a lot. It's ridiculously easy to remember and a lot of fun to make. The scarf is redder than it looks in this photo but I am still getting the hang of digital photography. The pattern is the Falling Waters Lace Scarf that I switched to four repeats instead of three.

Then there is this.


This is the yarn that I got from Denise. She didn't care for it. I am in love with it. It's going to be socks very soon (as soon as I finish my Monkeys which are (really--I swear) almost done.

More finished objects and in progress pieces coming tomorrow. For now, I am making a wonderful dinner for Boy. We had a rough weekend. I fully admit that I acted like a lunatic. I am usually very normal but for whatever reason, I was very vulnerable on Saturday night. I blame the full moon.

Anyway, all is well now. I am making a beautiful prime rib with au gratin potatoes. It smells amazing. It's drizzly and damp here right now--the perfect night for a cozy, warm dinner for two.

Has it really been over a month?

Lot's and lot's of knitting going on. It's the beauty of being out of work!

My monkey socks are almost done and I love them. Bratty Girl's Ogee Lace Skirt is done and it is really beautiful. Her cousin's skirt is cast on. Rockin Sock Club March package has arrived and I got great new sock yarn from this wonderful woman.

But today let's talk about food. Fabulous food!

Last night I went to the Westchester Italian Cultural Center They had a culinary evening in their kitchen space. Four tables of eight people each facing a full amazing kitchen. And the chef was the wonderful wonderful Dave Dibari of Zuppa in Yonkers.
I have been a Zuppa fan since they opened. The family who owns it (and the new Mima in Irvington) are delightful people and their food is beyond fabulous. Dinner last night was amazing. We had four courses--each one better than the last--paired with two wines.
My friend Cathy and I sat at a table with a group of strangers (two of whom thought they were cooler than we were but they found out they weren't--poor women). And even though I am as Irish as you can get without being born in Ireland I fit right in with all the wonderful Italians.

They are showing the movie "Life Is Beautiful" on Friday night with a speaker afterwards which I think I'm going to go to. It should be fun.