KnittingSister

ZOO DAY....REALLY?

     Jessica and I love to take Will and Loulu to the zoo.  We like to go as often as possible.  We don't always have the best luck.  We were there for an earthquake, the animals went wilder than they already are.  We were there on one of the hottest days of the year.  Yesterday was the most amazing yet.  We went in a torrential downpour. 

 

Note to self, next time do not mention the word zoo to Will until you are in the zoo parking lot and it's sunny.  He had been saying "I'm going to the zoo!" since the night before. 

 

     When we first pulled into the parking lot it had just started raining and we decided to go get some lunch first.  This caused Will to melt into despair and Loulu cried along with him.  They cheered up as they were eating while we drove back to the zoo, assuming the storm  had passed.

 

     Back at the zoo we were so happy to see the rain had stopped and had just enough time to visit the flamingos before it started again.  We headed for the Merry Go Round-it's covered and Will loves it....Loulu is now big enough to love it as much as he does.

Look closely at Loulu's face....she does not love the Merry Go Round OR she wants her mom on there with her.

     By the time the ride was over it was really raining but we couldn't leave without seeing the giraffes, birds and riding the train.

     We fed the giraffes (Loulu still not a fan) and got wetter.

     The birds were happy to see us!

     Finally, the zoo ride!  Our last event.....it was moist.

      The zoo has this new little shelter with windows that look into the animals....

....how did they get cameras?

      At the end of the day we were wet but happy.

     We'll keep trying until we have a perfect day at the zoo!

 

Try Again

     I'm going to try again to keep this blog going....maybe because I've been knitting a bit more.  I'm also need to pay attention to my Ravelry page.  This morning I put on two newish projects....

  .....this is Loulu's Baby Ruched Cardigan that I knitted for Loulu when she was a baby.  I thought about it when Jessica asked me to knit her another one in a size that will fit her now.  This was knit in Katia Bombay which I love.  I'm thinking about using two colors of Socks That Rock in alternating colors for the new one but I'll really have to try it out first on the swatch to see how that looks in a sweater!

 

     I made Loulu a Big Snowy Owl for her birthday.....I really want to make one for myself!  I love it!

     In January I told Jessica to pick out a sweater she may want and she just recently decided she wants a short sleeve, white, cotton February Lady's Sweater.  I love that pattern and will have WIP pictures soon.  I'll also knit the February Baby Cardigan to match for Loulu.

      In July we celebrate EVERYONE'S birthday except mine.

Charlie-July 13, Bob-July 9, Erland-July 8, Rob-July 11....Charlie brought everyone Nats shirts and we had a BIG party to celebrate all the birthdays!

    Off to work on Ravelry....

FINALLY-SPECTRA!

     It has taken me FOREVER to knit this pattern....86 repeats seemed endless but I think that was only because I kept setting it aside to knit other things.

     I do love this pattern and my verison reminds me of little pieces of stained glass. 

     Now I need St. Anthony's help to find my CHRISTMAS STOCKING PATTERNS!  I need to knit 3 this year so I better get started.......Loulu will be looking for Santa here AND at her house!  Where are the patterns?

IN THE MOUNTAINS

     Bob, Donna, and I met Jessica, Debbi, Will, and Loulu in the mountains yesterday for some apple picking and fall fun!  On the way I finished two candy corn hats for Will and Loulu.

     There's nothing as exciting (ha)  as last minute knitting that needs to be finished in the car!  I just couldn't stay awake late enough to finish these Friday night!

     Will and Loulu looked so cute in their hats....

Will wanted to run in the orchards nonstop....

....Loulu was content to be carried around and admired by the crowds.  She was the perfect candy corn model!

     Bob was  a happy GrandBob holding a snugly Loulu.

     Donna met Loulu for the first time and they got along just fine.

     While we were visiting with Loulu, Jessica and Debbi were in the orchards with Will picking some delicious Fuji apples-my favorite!

     Time to move on the Christmas knitting I think!

THIS IS FUNNY

 

2 FOs AND A SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY...

     I have two FOs to share...they were both secret so I waited until today to show them.  The first is Kristi's wedding shawl.  Kristi and I teach kindergarten together.  She is one of the nicest people I've ever met and  is also wickedly funny.  Kristi wanted to marry and have a family but was smart enough to wait for just the right person to spend the rest of her life with.  She wanted someone who loved animals and was sure he wanted a family.  Someone who would get along well with her family and would appreciate her school friends (ok...I added that last part...but it's important to us,too).  Last year she met just the right man and they are getting married this Saturday!  I wanted to knit her a prayer shawl for all the happiness she has ahead of her.  She picked the pattern and left the rest ot me. 

 

This is the Swirled Pearl Shawlette and I used Jade Sapphire Silk Cahsmere.

 

This is the first time I've ever knitted with beads and I loved it...I see more beaded knitting in my future.

     I also finished a Bunny Blanket Buddy for my precious Loulu.

 

My friend Judy gave me the Lion Brand VelvetSpun and I love the way it turned out.  The yarn shed so much that I almost thought I couldn't give it to her but I popped it in the washer and dryer and that solved the problem.  I gave it to Loulu today at her dedication.

 

Loulu had so many family members at church today to support her but she just slept like an angel through the whole morning.

Banjo wasn't sure what was going on but did spy lots of people he knew in the congragation. (When Jessica came in wearing the wedding shawl I made for her I really teared up...little did I know when I knitted it that I'd see her wearing it with Rob and two precious babies!)

     There was much posing to remember Loulu's special day.

 

Loulu's dad's family

 

Loulu's mom's family

 

4 generations

 

all the women

 

sisters!

 

proud Auntie Erland

 

Banjo and Loulu with their great grandmothers....I've spent 39 mother's day without my mother...I do wish  she was here... I couldn't help but think that if not for Alzhimer's Disease Bob's mother would have been standing so happily with these 2 remearkable great grandmothers...wish she was here....

BLOGGING IN THE FAMILY....

     Another family member has joined the blogging world!  My dear daughter, now known as Peanut Butter, in now writing a blog with her friend.  It's all about finding good, cheap happy hours in Richmond.  Here it is if you're interested...I think it's cute!

http://pbangeli.blogspot.com/2011/05/banditos.html?showComment=1304416329650#c4287993429272265868

THE SMOCKERY

     My BFF from high school  has a very talented DIL, Nora.  She owns The Smockery and was sweet enough to gift Banjo with 3 precious outfits when he was born.  I was thrilled when I came home from school on Tuesday and found a box waiting for me with goodies for Loulu.  I was so tempted to rip them open but I just couldn't....it wasn't for me.

     The next day I dropped by Rob and Jessica's house to deliver the gifts.  The beautifulness was worth waiting for.  In one box was a sweet strawberry dress.

 

 

I love how her dresses have so much hem...they can be worn for years just by letting down the hem as Loulu grows.

     The second box was just what I was wishing for...lacey diaper covers...

 

 

These are the cutest things I've ever seen....lucky Loulu...thank you Jane and Nora!

WONDERFUL APRIL

     This April has brought much happiness to our ever growing family!  Banjo has a new baby sister, Loulu!  He doesn't seem to notice her too much, yet, but the rest of the family is thrilled.

     The night before she arrived Rob, Jessica, and Banjo came over for dinner.  They posed for their last family of 3 picture.

 

All excited smiles except for Banjo...he's suspects something's up...he's right.  Rob and Jess slipped away after this picture and Banjo spent the night with us.  His mom and dad had to be at the hospital WAY too early for him. 

     The next morning we got to the hospital before Loulu arrived and Banjo got to visit with his parents for a while.

 

He didn't even seem to wonder what his dad was wearing....he really just wanted to figure out the hospital bed...

 

...but soon he was able to meet his adorable sister.

 

And she is ADORABLE! 

 

Here she is with her proud daddy...look at that hair!

 

She has enough hair that Jessica was able to clip a bow in it for her hospital pictures!

     Of course, there has been baby girl knitting.  Her pink blanket is the Oat Couture Pinwheel Afghan. 

 

What a fun pattern to knit.  I made her a hat to match and she wore them home from the hospital.  I used one of my favorite cottons-elann Sonata.

     I've also made Loulu two sweaters so far.  The first is the Garter Stitch Baby Kimono by Joji Locatelli.

 

I love this little sweater, especially the buttons.

 

Several years ago I bought a collection of Georgia Bow Yoke buttons and now I have a baby girl to give them to!  This yarn is Creatively Dyed Yarns Merino Twine that I've  had in my stash for years.  I have lots of it so there will be bigger sweaters from this yarn to come.  I also made a sweet little hat to match.

    The second  sweater is  one size up from the kimono.

 

This is Helena from Knitty.  I saw it on Wendy Knits and couldn't resist! 
The yarn is Sublime baby cashmerino and silk dk.  I have enough for a little hat. 

     Right now I've taken a break from the baby knitting to knit a wedding shawl for a dear friend.  I'll have pictrues after I've gifted it to her.

     Today is Easter but we had our family celebration yesterday.  Remembering that last year we ate out on Easter at a Mexican restaurant we decided to have a Mexican fiesta for Easter!  There was good Mexican food, homemade Sangria, and homemade fried ice cream.  The fried ice cream wasn't as hard to make as I thought it would be...I used Paula Deen's recipe.  This was the biggest mess I've EVER made in my kitchen...I'm just getting ready to empty the dishwasher for the 5th time!

     The best part of the fiesta was the pinata filled with Easter candy!  I made Pinata bags for all the kids.

 

The pinata was hung from the basketball hoop with care.

 

Banjo had no interest in the Pinata this year as Tim's dog, Chase,  was visiting and he just wanted to chase Chase.  Rob and Charlie beat the candy out of the pinata and then wore the beat up pieces as their trophys.

 

 
I really don't know how Erland got so much candy in her pinata bag...everytime I saw her she was doing this...

.

Proud aunt...sweet niece

 

BANJO PLAYDATE WEEKEND

     Yesterday I had a play date with Banjo.  He's getting so big and so much fun to hang out with.   He loves to be outside and was so eager to go when I went to pick him up.  Our first stop was the playground. 

 

He loves to go up and down the steep ramp that goes up to the pirate ship...but he really loves to just run, run, run from place to place.  He's so full of joy as he's running that he squeals with glee.

     After about an hour at the playground we went for frozen yogurt.  The treat didn't really interest him as much as the swivel table and chair.  We didn't stay there long, sitting still wasn't what Banjo had in mind.

     When we came home Banjo put on his boots and explored our waterlogged backyard.

 

 

     After all that excitement Banjo and Bob relaxed with Tootsie Pops and watched the ACC  games on TV.

 

     What a great day.

     Today I've been working on Loulu's baby blanket.

 

Just a few more wedges to knit...it'll be done well in time for her grand arrival.....I can't wait.