Sunday evening catch up
I couldn't keep up with time last week. Now it is Sunday evening and I am totally exhausted, as exhausted I imagine one would be after running a marathon, or climbing Mont Blanc. I have done neither. I am emotionally exhausted, too. Being James' mum has been rather draining lately. As he gets older, his difficulty to retain information becomes more troublesome. It is a bit like Groundhog Day sometimes.
But the weather has been glorious and we enjoyed many hours outside, in the garden, in the woods, along the canal and river, on the front steps. The days are long. Last night Alistair and I walked home from a party at about 10:45 pm and I noticed that the horizon in the West was not completely dark yet. I love the Northern summers! It was half moon and Alistair explained that the invisible side of the moon was sleeping. I did offer that the relative position of sun and moon to each other was the real reason but he didn't believe me. At least the moon distracted him from the fact that I had taken him home from a great party far 'too early' * (his words, not mine).
I
I have finally finished two stripy jumpers I have been working on since Christmas, or thereabouts. I have gone of knitting lately but I had promised James and Alistair knitted jumpers. I used a pattern called Tea with Jam and Bread by Heidi Kirmaier. That was the plan anyway and I stuck to the pattern halfway through the yoke. It is a top down in the round pattern, my favourite kind because it has no seams at all and requires very little purling. This particular pattern uses short rows to shape the back yoke, which is a great way to get a bit of extra length in the neck area. I love short rows! The yoke increases were a bit odd, the intervals between increases changed, which I didn't like. I guess it is designed to get a bit of extra yoke length without ending up with too many sleeve stitches but I didn't think it was necessary for the small sizes. I forgot to knit the pockets with James jumper and decided it would cause too much trouble adding them for Alistair's version. James loves orange and chose a really bright shade. It looks great with his ginger hair. Don't you love his hair? I do. Alistair opted for bright red. I alternated these colours with a stone grey for both jumpers. James wanted big stripes, Alistair small ones. I love stripes, there is something happy about stripy clothes. I am thinking that I need some happy stripy clothes myself.
I am watching Jack chase a piece of broccoli as if it was alive. It is hilarious.
Tomorrow, the weather is due to turn colder again. I hope the forecast changes as we move through the week. Sam has only one exam, chemistry on Wednesday. He loves 'study' leave and even does some studying. He also walks Jack, which is great. I am looking forward to my cycle ride to work. I have been watching swans build their nest. Last time I checked there were four eggs. They are not sitting on the eggs yet so maybe there are more to come. I'll share some photos next week.
Wishing you all a good week. I hope to have time to stop by and read your own posts, it has been a while. xx
* James stayed at home with Sam, Richard and Annie returned around 1 am, just in case you were wondering why Ali and I were out on our own.
But the weather has been glorious and we enjoyed many hours outside, in the garden, in the woods, along the canal and river, on the front steps. The days are long. Last night Alistair and I walked home from a party at about 10:45 pm and I noticed that the horizon in the West was not completely dark yet. I love the Northern summers! It was half moon and Alistair explained that the invisible side of the moon was sleeping. I did offer that the relative position of sun and moon to each other was the real reason but he didn't believe me. At least the moon distracted him from the fact that I had taken him home from a great party far 'too early' * (his words, not mine).
I
I have finally finished two stripy jumpers I have been working on since Christmas, or thereabouts. I have gone of knitting lately but I had promised James and Alistair knitted jumpers. I used a pattern called Tea with Jam and Bread by Heidi Kirmaier. That was the plan anyway and I stuck to the pattern halfway through the yoke. It is a top down in the round pattern, my favourite kind because it has no seams at all and requires very little purling. This particular pattern uses short rows to shape the back yoke, which is a great way to get a bit of extra length in the neck area. I love short rows! The yoke increases were a bit odd, the intervals between increases changed, which I didn't like. I guess it is designed to get a bit of extra yoke length without ending up with too many sleeve stitches but I didn't think it was necessary for the small sizes. I forgot to knit the pockets with James jumper and decided it would cause too much trouble adding them for Alistair's version. James loves orange and chose a really bright shade. It looks great with his ginger hair. Don't you love his hair? I do. Alistair opted for bright red. I alternated these colours with a stone grey for both jumpers. James wanted big stripes, Alistair small ones. I love stripes, there is something happy about stripy clothes. I am thinking that I need some happy stripy clothes myself.
I am watching Jack chase a piece of broccoli as if it was alive. It is hilarious.
Tomorrow, the weather is due to turn colder again. I hope the forecast changes as we move through the week. Sam has only one exam, chemistry on Wednesday. He loves 'study' leave and even does some studying. He also walks Jack, which is great. I am looking forward to my cycle ride to work. I have been watching swans build their nest. Last time I checked there were four eggs. They are not sitting on the eggs yet so maybe there are more to come. I'll share some photos next week.
Wishing you all a good week. I hope to have time to stop by and read your own posts, it has been a while. xx
* James stayed at home with Sam, Richard and Annie returned around 1 am, just in case you were wondering why Ali and I were out on our own.
That orange looks brilliant with his hair and you'd think it would clash.
ReplyDeleteI love the jumpers! You did a great job. I chuckled about Jack and the broccoli; our (late) dog used to bark furiously at, and try to bite, the garden edger tool when we used it. He hated that thing with a fiery passion! :)
ReplyDeleteThe jumpers are terrific, and yes, I do love James's hair. It must be very challenging working through the difficulties James has in recalling information. I hope you are able to find some things he excels at to balance out the frustration he must feel with academic work.
ReplyDeleteIts ben so long since I knitted childrens jumpers, I am not about to start too many grandkids to knit for, your jumpers look smashing.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a less exhausting week. Love both those cheeky little boys in their striped jumpers. James does look good in the orange stripes... Such gorgeous hair!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds busy at your end, remember that crazy time with the kids exams, it's tense but I remember the dog enjoying a few extra walks which was good, I can imagine Jack with the brocolli! Your knitting looks great, I love the bright cheery colours and let's face it you can wear a jumper all year round in the UK so I'm sure they'll get much use!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, hope you spot some action from the swan eggs!
Wren x
Oh yes, it's gorgeous hair, I love that colour. And brilliant jumpers, well done you. Sorry you've had such an exhausting week, I hope this one is easier and that emotionally it is better as well. Hugs, CJ xx
ReplyDeleteThe jumpers are really lovely, I was actually admiring them in the photos before you mentioned them. The orange one goes great with James's ginger hair and yes, I do love it. I don't know why people with ginger hair often get picked on, I think it's a lovely colour. Good luck to Sam, I hope his chemistry exam goes well. Eleanor's sitting a Psychology exam as I type this then she's got a rest until next week.
ReplyDeleteI hope your week is off to a better start. I too love the sweater you knitted. The colors are a wonderful match, too. It sounds like it was a fun and enjoyable pattern to knit. We have clouds and its a bit cool here in southern California. Take care my dear friend, Pat xx
ReplyDeleteThose are fantastic sweaters, so modern and although I don't know those boys, they look like they are 'just them' if you know what I mean. I guess it is because you listened to their requests. Parenting has been pretty tough here too and she is only 6! My back ache has been a bit stress related and it has felt good to just let some stuff float away and for some stuff to not get done this last week.This week I just have my head above water family wise! Going to work is my saviour too - wearing a dress and talking to grown ups - FAB. Jo x
ReplyDeleteLove that hair colour (my mum and all her siblings were ginger). Well done on the sweater making, they look fab. I haven't yet mastered knitting in the round, despite taking part in a beginners' workshop. Hope your week got off to a good start.
ReplyDeleteThe jumpers are fantastic. I didn't understand a word you said about the complexities of knitting them but the end results are great! Hair colour also fab. Hope you have an undemanding week and catch up on your r&r. Sounds like you need a few early nights if poss. Sam x PS Best of luck to your Sam with his exams. My Tom has been studying hard today but is now shooting things on the computer. All work and no play and all that :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous hair indeed and I loved the colour of his jumper it went perfectly. Hope all goes well with the exams and that you manage to get some rest. Take care.
ReplyDeleteGreat jumpers! The colours chosen really suit the boys too. My son's short term memory is patchy at best so I can relate to what you wrote about James. It's frustrating isn't it? I hope you have a calmer week ahead, Christina. xx
ReplyDeleteI hope that things get easier for James and for you too. The jumpers you made them are wonderful! They really suit their personalities!
ReplyDeleteThe jumpers are terrific, I think stripy says happy too. Hope you have a easier, calmer week this week Christina xx
ReplyDeleteThe jumpers are great! Yes I do love James's hair. Hope you are having a more restful week?
ReplyDeleteYes, I admire his hair, too, and I admire your knitting skills, Christina! I hope this week is less exhausting and wearying for you, and I hope that James is able to push on past Groundhog Day looping in forgetfulness.
ReplyDeleteToday I thought of you and a comment you made to CJ about your slug eating dog, Jack. After commenting to CJ that we had found a slug and a snail and stopped their munching in our garden, but were still being vigilant, I found another bigger well fed slug near my HollyHocks this afternoon! You could perhaps make your fortune renting out Jack for slug patrolling! xx
They are both gorgeous boys, thank goodness because sometimes their cuteness is what saves their lives! Boys can be rough on a good day, but adopted boys who may have extra issues can be even worse. I am sending you positive thoughts that all goes smoothly this week.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love the sweaters.
Meredith
Being a mum is hard going at times. Love the jumpers, they suit the boys very well X
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the exams. Love the jumpers. That's one of my next challenges to knit a jumper in the round! B X
ReplyDeletehope this week is easier x
ReplyDelete