Reunited, and it feels so good....

We haven't heard from our friends Kevin & Robert for almost four years. A tragic misunderstanding would have made that a permanent seperation, if it wasn't for a strange series of events. Happily, we have reconnected and it feels very much like nothing has changed at all.

Rob and I go way back, to when I first moved out of my parent's house (when I was 22), and moved into the Beaches. We lived with many, many people as they hey all came and went over the years. When Rob moved out and I went to a different address, we kept in touch. In fact, I wound up living in the basement apartment of Rob & Kevin's house in Riverdale for four tormutulant years (it was the best of times, it was the worst of times). I meet Heather at the end of that time (when I was 29) and Rob & Kevin sold the house shortly therafter. We still kept in touch until we bought our house in the west end, and the misunderstanding happened.

It was very difficult for me, as Rob had been in my life for so long and I was convinced that he was writing me off. We had been through many great and many horrible times together. When I got a call from him last week, I told him my perceptions of what happened. He said he was sorry I thought that, but it couldn't be further from the truth.

So, we reconnected and had dinner with Rob & Kevin last night. It was like the void of time that had passed, shrunk into nothingness. It is a continuation of where we left off, and I couldn't be happier. Lessons here? Don't take your friendships for granted, and question things when you think you have been wronged, it might be the wrong perception.

On a knitting note, my good friend Eden and I went to Romni on Friday and did the last run before their sale ended. I got 9 balls of yarn for Heather's sweater, which I will start when things cool down a tad (can't even think of touching wool in this weather). It is Lamb's pride (Aubergine) which I got for 20% off. I hope to do a neck down sweater, and it should look stunning in this colour (thanks again Eden for your great suggestion).

Vroom, vroom.....

I heard some wonderful news from a co-worker that the adoption of her son was now official, and shared pictures with me of the little guy. Those of you who know me well, also know that I am not interested in raising children (either through childbirth or through adoption), but the news of this bundle of joy just about had me in tears.

Anyway, I immediately thought about what I could knit for him (and indirectly for his mom) and came up with this extremely cute but simple pattern called Charlie's Car Cap. I am not one to subscribe to gender stereotyping, but cars and boys is a pretty safe bet.

This was last Thursday, and by Friday at noon I was at Romni picking up the Rowan Wool Cotton it called for. This yarn is one of the most expensive I have ever bought (even though I timed this well as Romni has a 20% sale on right now), and one of the most loveliest to work with (it always goes that way, doesn't it?).

Friday night I had worked out my gauge and by Saturday morning I was knitting. Sunday morning it was done (not that there is a lot of work involved in it) and I am very pleased. I just hope the new mom is too.

As an end note, how did it get to be the middle of summer so soon???? July 22nd and I captured this wee beestie on camera in our garden (you gotta click to enlarge the picture, it is scary). When the Cicadas are out, you know its mid summer.

You almost look like a crocheter....

My mother's comment to me as I grapple with how to hold yarn in my left hand while crocheting with my right. Earlier she told me I looked like I was knitting. Hmmmmm.....I will get my form in place at some point. Meanwhile, I finished the crochet edging of the baby blanket which means it is finished!

Thanks to lots of knitting time up in Chapleau, and being able to finish the edging at my parent's, it took just over 2 weeks to complete. I am pretty impressed with it if I do say so myself. Too bad you can't feel how soft the yarn is through the computer.

This second picture shows the baby blanket lying on a bed throw my mother made a couple of years ago. It is quite a feat and kind of makes my little blankie seem not quite so impressive. But mom said she was very taken with it, and I think it will be much appreciated by the recipient.

We were in Guelph to celebrate my father's 86th birthday, which actually falls on tomorrow's date (July 16th). He was quite happy with our dinner of fondue (with ham, bread and tomatoes for dipping) and a variety of salads, and ice cream cake for dessert (yum, yum).

Dad did quite well for presents receiving two books on the British Army Homeguard (from Heather and myself) which he was a participant in, and a total of three bottles of Harvey's Bristol Cream from other family members (he loves the stuff, but don't get the idea he is a lush). He also got quite a few nice cards with fun poems inside, as he is famous for providing all of us. A wonderful day indeed.

Just got in, from way up North....

And so I did yesterday as Heather and I spent a week up in her hometown Chapleau, visiting her mom and dad. In the middle of the province, it took us much of yesterday getting home yesterday and we were pretty beat when we got in.

What does one do in Chapleau? Well if you don't fish or hunt, there isn't too much to do. But the quite is very condusive to knitting. July 1st was Canada Day, and at the museum they were having a party. I found a crocheter there, and had a good look at the knitting and needle arts display.

They had some very interesting antique items there, and some hand knit doilies that was found in a second hand store!!









Anyway, I got a ton of knitting done, and darn near finished this baby blanket that I started just before we left last week. Now that we are back, it is swealtering hot and I don't want to go near anything fuzzy right now. But here is me blissfully knitting on the best day we were there, up at the Pellow's camp.
As it has been so hot and humid today, I have been playing with this new site called Ravelry. It is in beta production right now, but if you sign up and patiently wait several weeks, you get an invite to join. I got mine the day before we left, so I have been itching to get on it. Lots of fun, and a great distration if you 'don't feel like' knitting.