Calling Mum...

I expected this to happen and am amazed it took 16 years but last night I needed to call my Mum and ask her a question. Since my mum passed away, I have carried around a feeling of dread for the moment I would come across a problem that required my moms help and it being too late for that, I would be on my own.

Enter Phentex Slipper Pattern....

My mum (and most Quebecois ladies for that matter) would crank out these slippers by the dozens. I remember being a little girl and asking my mom to teach me how to knit but this pattern (which was in her head and not on a piece of paper I could read) was the only knitting she was doing at the time. The technique of stranding the yarns was a bit much for me to comprehend as a beginner. So I never learned to knit Phentex Slippers.

I found the pattern on Ravelry and decided to make a pair using pure wool for the shop. I cast these on and then it happened. I thought to myself, if only Mum was here to show me how...again...

I think she answered anyway because a certain feeling of calm came over me and then I figured it out from memories of her and two balls of yarn dangling...

Thanks Mum! XX

The ever photogenic (not) Pounie! She always looks like such a tough cookie. Give me the jerky and nobody gets hurt...grrr!

And we decided to rename Toupette...We came up with Ichabird...as in Ichabod Crane from Sleepy Hollow. Ha!

P.S. I am kinda happy because I reconnected with some rather special people via Facebook lately...I love it! I have suddenly realized that I am a grown up...why didn't you tell me?

Monsieur Toupette...

Chloé has adopted a little darling. Toupette, a cockatiel that is as sweet and kind as any little bird can be. He needed a new home and a much bigger cage both of which HD provided. He says Peekaboo and whistles when he is not playing with his bell or riding shot-gun on a cozy shoulder....

Poune is finding the cooler weather a bit frisky in the evenings. I have doubled her blankets. We enjoy our quiet moments playing in the yard like when the linens are flapping on the line...The grass is still green but the insects have vanished and what a joy it is when those two combine...

p.s. Fringe is on tonight!!!

French nut!

Well, it's not exactly knitting, but yes, I love to read the dictionary and this one is my new baby. (I collect them)
Guide anglais français de la traduction by René Meertens
I found it at the local book store last Saturday and am thrilled to find this rich source of help for translating english words to acceptable french expressions. I have already learned so many useful phrases (many ahah! moments) and although my new website is not perfect yet, I did use this dictionary to help translate my ideas. My apologies to Stéphanie B. that has yet to proof read my french so far...merci!xx  I am very lucky to live in a country where we have two official languages and I love them both! Having french in-laws and children provide tons of incentive. Now if I could muscle my brain around 'grammaire' and 'syntax'...

About time honey...

Meet Persia...a new garment from Sirdar (Persia yarn - pattern # 9182)...I think the knitting gods have taken pity of me and have sent me this lovely cardi today to complement the tank top for Delilah's chilly nights...thankfully because I am not generating too many outfits as of late.

I have been going bonkers getting my new website up and running. Thanks for a load of help from Ren of Fairysteps xx I now have relief.
I say relief because until my website was up, I felt I could no longer blog as before...

I was using my blog as a find-me-on-the-web when my knitting shop opened. My usual animal-nature loving knit blogging just did not seem appropriate for business. Ack!

So, I am back!

I went to the movies last weekend with my HD to see Les Doigts Croches and I saw a pious lady wearing a black shawl and it inspired me... I have a cone of black alpaca lace in my woolly hoard that I now have an idea for.

I am knitting a new pinwheel using some Berroco Vintage in red...talk about a lovely yarn! Stay tuned...