Today…. you turn 5.

You, the bright and beautiful boy that I had always dreamed of , you are a self-proclaimed “big boy”. You are charming, energetic, smart, and inquisitive. You are creative. you have the soul of an artist and the sensitivity that will bring you many good friends in this life.

You are my joy. A joy that grows and expands with each inch you grow and with each pound you gain. A joy that I felt for the first time on August 27th, 2003 at 8:20 pm. A joy that is so inspiring that you make me want to be the best human that I can be. Every day you remind me how I would like our world to be for you and yours. Everyday I strive to create that place for you.

You are imprinted on my heart. Like a seal that holds it together and helps it to pump stronger. You are the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing that I think about in the evening. I have always told you that I kept a tiny piece of your heart in mine. You and your daddy are the heart of my hearts.

You are very, very bright. You read us a brand new book this morning. You could read your 5th Birthday book. Your daddy and I teared up at that magical moment when the power of words and the world of language opened its gate to you and welcomed you into the fold. That magic will sustain you through every part and parcel of this lifetime. I hope you grow to love language as we do. You already have a pretty large vocabulary and use it well and often!

The shoes you have on in this picture are your daddy’s. You are so very like him. In all of the best possible ways, you are your father’s son. You boys are a wicked hard force of nature when you get going. It is no use for me to resist the silly jokes, the very dry sense of humor, the witty comebacks, and those beautiful, long lashed, kind brown eyes. Those shoes of your daddy’s are not for you to fill. They are for you to grow into and find the right fit for you. Just know that your daddy will be walking in his shoes right behind you to catch you when you fall.

You, my beautiful son, have made us a family. I celebrate your birth as the birth of my little family. In my book, the most joyous day of the year is August 27th. You have celebrated your birthday with your friends and family already… and tonight we continue the celebration. And in the evening, when all of the pizza is eaten and the candles are blown out, I will tell you that I love you so much. If I cry a little or hug a little more tightly tonight… you’ll understand….right?

Happy 5th Birthday Joshua.

I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I am living, my baby you’ll be.

Mommy

oxox

I am always amazed at how this day knocks me on my ass every year. I try to fill the day with things that bring joy… seeing the 3 D “Nightmare Before Christmas” with the cowboy, the Great Halloween lantern Parade… construction in my studio.. and still my thoughts just wander to my dad and how much I miss him.Every day. I miss him everyday.

Before he died we talked once a day. Just about anything and nothing. Just to stay in touch because, at one point, we were not in touch (about 8 years worth of not in touch). But… after that time… it was like we were never out of touch.

There is this void where the “Happy Birthday” goes. And, quite honestly… it screws me up EVERY year.

So… because it is what India Opal and I do… here is a(nother) 10 things post about my dad:

1. He taught his artist daughter to LOVE baseball.
2. He taught his artist daughter to LOVE football.
3. He had a laugh that ignited firestorm of fun in any situation.
4. He made friends wherever he went.
5. He knew how to love you through just about anything.
6. He called me “punkin’” and “mops” for my formative years.
7. He knew how to forgive… and knew how to ask for forgiveness.
8. He was just about as regular of a guy as you could get… in the best possible way.
9. He commanded attention with his smile.
10. I am his daughter… I am like him in so many good ways..

So… here’s to my dad. I wish this morning the cowboy could have woke him up with a birthday song… that my mom and brothers and sister could have shown him how much we appreciate him.

This was our song at my wedding… and I will forever thank him for being the best dad he knew how…

La la la la…
You’ve been so kind and generous
I don’t know how you keep on giving
For your kindness I’m in debt to you
For your selflessness my admiration
For everything you’ve done you know I’m bound
I’m bound to thank you for it
La la la la…
You’ve been so kind and generous
I don’t know how you keep on giving
For your kindness I’m in debt to you
And I never could have come this far without you
For everything you’ve done, you know I’m bound
I’m bound to thank you for it
La-la-la-la…
Oh, I want to thank you for so many gifts you gave
The love, the tenderness, I wanna thank you
I want to thank you for your generosity, the love
And the honesty that you gave me
I want to thank you show my gratitude
My love, and my respect for you, I want to thank you
Oh, I want to thank you, thank you; thank you, thank you
I want to thank you, thank you; thank you, thank you

that I am grateful for on this birthday:

1. My wonderful, amazing husband D. Through thick and thin… he is my best friend and closest ally. I love him for loving me (even when “lovable” does not describe me!) I have a love so strong for him that I could never imagine life without him.
2. My wonderfully, amazingly creative, sweet boy. He has been referred to as “the sweetest boy I know” by some friends. He is my heart and he is the reason why getting up at the crack o’dawn is enjoyable. He chirps a “good morning mommy!” and all is right with the world. My cowboy is the light of my life. He teaches me so much about myself… I am so grateful.
3. My family. I have a great (and very large) family. We are all so different, but we love each other despite the differences. I have 5 siblings whom I love with all my heart… and I am better for each and every one of them.
4. My friends. I have the best group of friends that span the globe. I have friends from high school, from my early adult ( traumatically tragic) years, from my adulthood, from being a mom, from this internet knitting bubble we share… every person is so precious to me. They take me for who I am, and let me be a friend to them. That is an amazing gift to be given.
5. My health and the health of my family.
6. That I am able to live life as an artist. I have so much support from my family. My D is the most supportive man. I am so lucky.
7. I am grateful for the fiber arts and the tradition of the needle arts. My grandmother, my great aunts, my mother, myself…. it is a connection to a craft that has never changed, but yet it reinvents itself. I am mystified by my grandmother’s knitting, her grandmother’s knitting, and even her grandmother’s knitting. I am humbled before it and want to help reinvent my small piece of the craft.
8. For new opportunities. For being flexible enough to see new opportunities for anything when they arrive, or create them where they are lacking.
9. I am grateful for yarn. ( you knew that had to be in the list, right?) Fiber festivals and the ability to act like a complete and utter idiot around mass quantities of fiber ( with many. many others I might add)
10. The final thing I am grateful for is the chance at another year being grateful for all of the things in my life. For all of my hopes, and my goals… just that I get the chance to ground myself today, celebrate… and have a bigger and better year ahead.

Thanks to you all for your constant support and love. I am truly humbled and grateful!

Our baby turns 4 tomorrow… he had a HUGE pool party this weekend with a bunch of his buddies and their families. I do not have a single picture to show… I was WAY too crazy running around and having a great time.

In honor of my cowboy’s 4th…. here are 10 things about my baby.

1. He experiences life. Head first… jumps in… he really does enjoy life.
2. He loves his family. He cried when all of his uncles, cousin, and grandparents left for NJ. He just loves being with his “people”. (His actual words)
3. He is so kind. He greets all children he meets with a “hi friend”.
4. He loves to sing. He knows all the words to the Beatles ” Hello Goodbye”
5. He knew that Ted Williams played for the BoSox. He also can not believe that Babe Ruth did.
6. He genuinely thanks both his father and I (all by himself… no prompting) when we do things with him that he enjoys.
7. He tells me every night that I am his girl. He also hugs me and tells me “I’m never going to let you go”
8. He hates to see people cry. Especially me. He tells me that his heart is breaking when other people are sad.
9. He tells a great knock-knock joke (or 200 of them in a row)
10. He is the greatest gift to his father and I. I am so proud, so honored, and so profoundly grateful to be his mommy. Every day I learn from him… I grow with him… and I become a better human because of him.

Cowboy… Daddy and I love you so much.. Happy Birthday baby!

Seasonal Solids: Fall

For the Boys:

The Elements Series:

all photos credited to Jody Scofield 2007

The skeins have been added to the Warehouse here… and in honor of the cowboy’s birthday I have put a one time 20% off coupon code up!

fall frenzy

Come on down… the code applies to anything in the shop!

Thanks! more to come!

Ever tell you I am a BIG fan of….

And…. here are the lyrics to one of his songs……

I love everybody
Especially you
I love everybody
Especially you
So if you feel lonesome
Remember it’s true
I love everybody
Especially you

Well…. I have definatley felt the love this birthday week! You all have been so kind with your comments and emails…. I am a little overwhelmed!

My D and my cowboy made a big fuss of mommy on the special day!I got hugs and kisses and cake and this:

It is the PERFECT bag! It has a cocoon for Phyllis, my laptop, and room for my knitting. My D bought me a new briefcase that had room for my knitting. I love that man!

My COCO Swap partner, DMac, sent me this amazing haul.

A HUGE box of godiva truffles (my favorite!), Apple laine sock yarn in a Godiva colorway, a coco scented candle, and a bag of the yummiest coco filled biscuts ever! That bag is empty I will have you know! Thank you friend!
My friend Michelle sent me these beauties:

8 beautiful ounces of crown mountain farms fiber, sweet sheep self stripe, and a gorgeous hank of handspun. Thansk sister!

And my October Birthday Swap partner, Marion, outdid herself!

There is fiber…. there is yarn… coffee… CHOCOLATE!…. a glass sheep ornament…..addi bamboo needles… a colorwork thimble…beautiful red yarn… and two very amazing Estonian mitten pattern books that gives the history if each motif…. AMAZING!

I am using this:

to make these:

I went out the day after I opened the box and got the yarn to start the socks. I love them! Thanks so much! Lolly is dying for a copy of those books….. they are so amazing.

That’s not all folks! Last night my very dear friend CAm threw me a bithday party! Yup…. but mama style… it was a party with a twist… a birthday party/yarn swap. CAN NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT! There was bubbly(ummmm…LOTS for some of us!), great food… and yarn. Oh my!

Here are the ‘weens…. Jolene and Coleen. The cowboy says it JOWEEN and COWEEN…

Joleen knit me some BEAUTIFUL hand knit socks and Coleen knit me a Shedir hat in a gorgeous blue cotton tweed. Love you friends!

Look…. it is Lolly and Jen!

Look…it’s me and my Midge! I think this may be preview of what is to come on the seasocks cruise….Patricia watch out!

My girl, Amie, made this for me….

IT’S A YARN CAKE!!! It was so yummy… and beautiful. Thanks friend!

My friend Ginga participated in the merriment. It was our 10th year of celbrating birthdays together. I love her very ,very much and am so glad that she is my friend!

CAm…. she COOKED for me…. and she doesn’t just cook for anyone. She is an amazing friend and I am so lucky to have her. She is a constant… and has redefined herself in ways to remain close friends with me… and for that I am ever grateful.

Everyone was over-generous in their gift giving:

Thanks friends! I love each and every one of you! This birthday has been amazing… but the BEST gift has been my family and friends….sigh….

picking, eating, carving. You name it.. I love it.

This is where we pick pumpkins (well… this early in October it is FIND pumpkins that the nice farmers spread out among the green ones!) The cowboy loves the “apple man” .

He almost got lost in the patch…. the leaves seemed as tall as him! He had a great time….

And Daddy got to carry our pick of the patch!

My Friend Michelle did something really, really nice for me….. Thanks sister! I got teary when I read it!

I love October! It is my favorite month… my birthday month… my favorite holiday month…. I love October so much I thought I would write a 10 Things post about it!

1. The weather is so beautiful! We have warm days and chilly nights in early October… then we go to chilly days with chimney smells in the evening…..
2. The colors are brilliant. It is like the entire natural cycle makes its final curtain call in October… they all coordinate and give much input to a color junkie like myself…. I could stare at the foliage in New England forever…
3. We start to snuggle in to the thought of winter… not the same as desperatley wishing for Spring in February… In October, we start to crave to wear our hand knits and (in my case) danskos…. comfy sweaters and socks…
4. I celebrate my birthday in early October… and I love my birthday (stay tuned for a guest blogger on Monday!) as I love all birthdays. I love celebrating with my family and hearing the cowboy sing to me… my sister bird’s birthday is also in October. She turns 16 this year!
5. RHINEBECK! Enough said.
6. Halloween… we love Halloween in this part of the world. Every year the cowboy determines the theme… and D and I follow. We have an open house and we get to hang out with family and friends… I love it!
7. The Fall light… sunsets… the pink/orange.. royal and navy sunsets against the silver clouds…. beautiful!
8. SOCKTOBERFEST!!! Any sock knittin’ fool is crazy for the month!!!
9. This is my “good hair” season… meaning… no humidity… less bulk! Have you ever ever seen Mama’s hair let go? Recently described as “medusa-like” Ha!
10. We are still in the “I can knit an entire family of fair-isle sweaters for everyone I know for Christmas” delusional state. Yeah… and in my world… that means that 1 person winds up with mittens or a hat under the tree!
11. I have added an 11th thing… I love this October because it is the month in which my little boy asked for ” One more kiss… and one more hug” when I put him to bed tonight and said” you know what mommy… I wuff you so much…” Talk about a heart breaker!!

Happy October Folks!!!!

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who BOUGHT OUT the Sweet Sheep’s Sock Club! We are all sold….. stay tuned for round 2….

I have 4 spots left  3 spots left in my winter club…. email me if you are interested. Have a great day folks!

I saw these in the mall for 115.00… and wanted them…..

Then I saw these cruising on eBay……….. I bought them both on ebay for the retail price of the danskos! WOOT!!!! Happy early birthday to ME!

We are on the verge of SOCKTOBER folks!