Moms and Knitting

So Eye Candy First - pattern cobbled together from Latvian Mittens, a few beads left over from something else, and buttons from the "Button Box" a compilation of buttons from different family members who have passed...
Now a Quick Apology - so I've been busy...and well that was it.

Now the News...John Burroughs School is going to the Missouri State Finals at the Edward R Jones Dome on Saturday! Need I say that the beastie is well the beastie is, uhm...well he's 17 and going to the DOME - please pass the analgesic of your choice! So how much Blue and Gold Stuff do you think I can make by Saturday?

Now on to why I sat down to update this thing...

I sat at a "craft/art" show for the beastie's school over the weekend and it was a blast but it also taught me what a lucky girlie I truly am...

I was smart enough that when surrounded by talented women I took the time to say "Hey How Do You Do That" and what made me very very lucky is that those women actually took the time to teach me. This weekend I had so many 40-somethings stop by (and a few actually had tears in their eyes real honest to goodness tears) and lament the fact that they had not taken the time to learn to knit from their mothers, grand mothers, aunts...and now those family members had passed on without having shared their knowledge. These women missed their family and their "connection" of knitting and family. They hoped to keep the tradition going but they got busy, had careers and families and then when they had time to "sit and knit" it was too late. So if you're reading this and feeling a bit guilty - take time this Thanksgiving weekend - give your aunty a call and say along with that sweet potato pie with the mini marshmallows and pralines sprinkled on top (YUM) could you bring a bit of wool and needles and show me how you do that voodoo that you do so well! You'll hold on to that memory a lot longer than the calories consumed in say eating half a casserole dish full of sweet potato pie!

Now if you are already a knitter this part applies to YOU! I know that you're busy and carving out a little time to knit can be hard, nay sometimes impossible, but I want you take a few minutes and take a size 8 circular needle, cast on 90 stitches with some wonderful squishy non-splitty plain wool and knit 8 rows in ribbing now STOP. Put it in a zip lock baggy in your purse along side your knitting project and forget about. It will now "live" in your bag so some day when a little girl named Jade stares at you while you are knitting in a booth chatting with a bestie and eating fudge (uhm...yum...home made fudge) for like 10 minutes before you notice her (bad me) you will have more to teach her on than a pair of size 2's with lace weight!! Thank goodness the bestie had a plain and simple hat going. Jade sat with us for almost an hour - but at the end of it she had learned to knit - and we gave her mom the guild information - and we told her that there were lots of "ladies" like us at her church, her school, even on her block - and we all learned from someone once too - so don't be afraid to ask - and never take "I'm too busy" as an answer. And Jade there - well she's going to change the world by watching, shyly and quietly asking questions...and eating fudge. And me - well I'm going to work on listening for those whispered questions...

Happy Thanksgiving