Alternative to Sunday lunch: Hospital!

My kid's have had almost sixty stitches, four casts, scratched corneas, even an ablation of an extra beat in my son's heart... the last time in hospital, until today, was last weeks Monday when the caveman accompanied my son to have his cast removed...

We're pretty used to going to the Emergency Rooms, we know which hospital to choose depending on what has happened...


But today I was taken    

by surprise when my daughter came running in from outside saying that Dad had fallen!

It's been raning three days and there are stairs that are really slippery and they attacked the cave-man!!!


His glasses cut the corner of his eye, but that didn't worry me... 5 stitsches are nothing in this family, but the bump that grew on the side of his head had me worried until they checked him in hospital...
And to think that this morning I thought to myself: Thank heavens this month is over!... I spoke too soon!

Oliver's First Year With Us!

KNITTING!

There has been knitting, but mostly the brainless kind...

This is all I knit during the vacation, and I didn't even finish it because the braid was a bit too much... so I finished it in those first days back in Italy.

The pattern is Molly (on Ravelry)
and the yarn is Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend.


































This is a fun neckwarmer/turtleneck thingy... very warm... Ihmepötkylä on Ravelry, yarn is Colinette Jitterbug in colourway Velvet.

This blanket is actually still in progress... have to finish the I cord around two sides still... Ten Stitch Blanket in Noro Silk Garden...  This one is for the Cave-man...

 Then I made this cowl, more or less like the Gap-tastic Cowl on Ravelry, from Noro Silk Garden and I absolutely LOVE it... it's warm and soft and comfortable...

And now that my brain is slowly coming back and I can concentrate again, I managed to finish my mother's Semele shawl in Rowan Felted Tweed which I has started in January... I love this yarn and this shawl  pattern by Åsa                                                                                 

A Pet's Prayer

A Pets Prayer
If it should be, that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then, you must do what must be done
For this, the last battle, can't be won.
Don't let your grief stay your hand,
For this day more than the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many years,
What is to come can hold no fear.
You'd not want me to suffer, so
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me to the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you'll see it is a kindness you do for me
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Don't grieve it should be you who this thing decides to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold tears.
SMILE, FOR WE WALKED TOGETHER FOR AWHILE.

Tuulia's Fibre Clubs

I'm taking part in two wonderful fibre clubs by KnitLob's Lair and while I sat beside my sick cat I spun the first two fibres... Gorgeous fibres, which I certainly overspun during my cat's last week, but the results are still okay... It is to be seen if I'll be able to not look at them with a heavy heart, but they did help me through those long days...

Roberta

 Today Roberta lost her battle with cancer...
She was by far one of the very best people I ever met, a good friend and a wonderful knitter, always ready to learn more.








 Not so long ago she borrowed my japanese craft books, and when she returned them she gave me this: A little capelet from one of the books, adorned with the most beautiful button from her collection.

I will miss her always, and her very distinctive laugh, like chiming bells, will always be in my heart. 
And this little capelet will be cherished...








Boy this year is rough so far!

There are wonderful friends in my computer!

It's been a rough year so far, and I think I would have gone nuts without internet and all the lovely and dear friends, old and new, that it keeps in my life. Yesterday was Valentine's day, and my family gave me some wonderful handmade chocolates (no photos), and then I received a package in the mail!!! A little package that cheered me up SO much... from a fellow-knitter and Raveler... Thank you Pampula!

                     Chocolate, licorice, a nice note and an awesome John Wayne kitchen towel!!!

More Textures

Life must go on...

My hearts is broken and my brain is numb, but life must go on, so... some photos of home...

Oliver's Tomb Stone

                                                     HERE RESTS PRINCE OLIVER,
          WHO REIGNED IN THESE AND OTHER LANDS FOR SEVEN SPLENDID YEARS

satumetsä

Satumetsän laidalla oli portti… 
Se oli pieni portti, pienin kaikista. 
Niin vihreä se portti oli ja täynnä pieniä kirsikankukkia. 
Siitä mahtui kulkemaan läpi vain harvassa ja yksitellen. 
Se oli taivaan portti pois Satumetsästä. 
Ja sen portin läpi kulkivat kerran kaikki kissat, 
niin rauhallisena mieleltään, kevyesti askeltaen. 
Portin takana oli ikuinen meri ja suuremmat metsät. 
Se oli uusi kaunis maailma, satujen kissataivas. 
Kerran päivänä rauhaisana, portin luokse kulki kissa. 
Ei kovin vanha iältänsä, mutta uupunut voimiltansa. 
Rauhallisena se kulki, 
kulki ikuisuuden portille 
niin pienelle portille, 
josta läpi kuljettiin vain yksin. 
Kissa istui, katsoi portista kauas. 
Näki valon ja ihastui siihen, niin kauniilta valo näytti. 
Olisi valon ottanut kiinni, mutta se paistoi portin toisella puolella. 
Niin askeleen rohkean otti lähemmäs. 
Niin kuin tähdeksi olisi syntynyt, pieni kissa, 
se muuttui kevyeksi aivan, 
niin onnelliseksi se itsensä tunsi. 
Valo kaunis teki sen taas nuoreksi ja rohkeaksi. 
Se istui katsomaan, odottamaan seuraavaa kulkijaa. 
Niin on kissani mennyt siitä portista… 
Kauniimmalla puolen ne vapaana juoksentelevat. 
Miksi suren, miksi itken niin paljon? 
Kissani on rauhallinen ja tyyni. 
Sen on hyvä olla. 
-tuntematon-

The very best cat in the whole world

OLIVER

15.4.2004-9.2.2011

Our hearts are broken, but he is finally at peace