Major Knitter

Busy as a Bee

Earlier this month, BF and I went to visit friends in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.  It was an idyllic getaway and we had a wonderful time relaxing and hanging out with friends.  Every day we took walks and enjoyed the area.  

We strolled past the Ocean House and enjoyed the lovely refurbished Victorian Inn's grand vista as a pivotal part of Watch Hill's attraction.  This picture was taken early in the day before the morning haze had burned off to a bright blue sky.

A stroll through the hotel's gardens revealed a very busy apiary.

The beehives were busy with activity.

Not wanting to get too close, I can say I was truly grateful for the zoom feature on my camera.  I really find bees fascinating.  

Later in the morning, with the morning mist completely cleared, we enjoyed the summer heat and sunshine.

Having exposed myself to a little too much sun the day before, I set up for knitting lessons on the screened in porch.

My friend Julie was a natural.  In no time at all, she learned the basic knit stitch and was already catching mistakes and fixing them intuitively.  I can't wait to help her get her first finished item knit up.  Won't that be great?

See, even on vacation, we're busy as a bee.

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Baby

It's that time of year again and that means I'm knitting a pair of worsted weight cashmere socks for BF's birthday.

Happy Birthday!  Hope it's a great one.

 

So Long My Friend

My knitting group is losing a key member this month.  We've known that Lisa would be moving at the end of this summer for more than a year, but that doesn't make it any easier now that the time has come to bid her farewell.  So to honor our dear friend, we decided to hold a farewell luncheon.  Our hostess Joan made the cutest little name place cards

We each brought some special dish to the luncheon and created quite a delectable array of food.

And of course, we did the only logical thing a knitting group could do.  We knit her a friendship blanket.  

She had no idea... which is saying something since we've been knitting it on the sly since about February or March.  We couldn't post anything on Ravelry and kept saying that we had all "lost our knitting mojo."

She loved her blanket and it will be a wonderful hug from her knitting friends when she's in the midwest.  We'll miss you!  You're a treasure!

 

 

Great Gift

My friends Michelle and Kathy worked together to make me this great little retirement gift that combines two of my favorite things:  Marine Corps and knitting

Isn't that the cutest little knitting bag you've ever seen?  It's Marine Corps fabric with a matching red banner with Major Knitter embroidered on it.  Awwww.  I just love it!  Thanks Michelle and Kathy!

The Retirement BBQ

BF and I hosted a Brazilian BBQ or churrasco at the house.  We had the BEST churrascaria in the New York City area come cater the dinner. 

If you've never seen a Brazilian BBQ, think "Parade of Beef" and pork, and turkey, and chicken, and bacon...

 I've known the owner, Farid, for 17 years and it was great to have him come cook for the big celebration.

Here's one of the servers slicing beef at one of the tables.  Mmmmm.

USMC:  Not as mean, Not as lean, But still a Marine

And my new official head gear.

Semper fidelis!

Fair Winds and Following Seas

On Saturday, I had my official retirement ceremony from the Marine Corps.  I wasn't going to go through the bother of having a ceremony, but my Commanding Officer encouraged me to do so.  I'm so glad I did.  It was a great way to end my 22+ years with the Marine Corps.  Here are some snaps of the official ceremony.

The color guard

One platoon of Marines from Headquarters Company

"Person to be retired, front and center"

Making my remarks about what my career in the Marine Corps means to me.

Family photo - the ones who support me

The celebratory cake

Farewell Marine Corps.  You will always be in my heart.

 

Man Cub

My boys are home from Brazil.  Life is good.  Primogeniture was home for about an hour before he departed for his work at day camp.  Secundogeniture is hanging out with me.  We're watching NCIS marathons and I'm knitting.  I decided that I should make the current socks for him for showing such dedication.  

Did I mention my man cub is a size 13?

Know Thine Enemy

I did it!  I really did it!  I picked up the Kaffe Fassett Floral Jacket after a 3-year hiatus.

This should have been my first clue that something wasn't quite right.  I'm not a ripper.  I cut my yarn when I'm done with it.  This was shredded.  Odd, right?

But I knit anyway.  I didn't notice anything amiss until I finished half a round of fair isle knitting and I came upon this purple stitch that was also shredded.  Uh oh!  This isn't shredded.  It's eaten.  UGH!

I was trying to explain to a friend how hard it is to knit on dark yarn (black, navy blue) and I pulled a partial skein out of the Floral Jacket knitting bag and knit up a little swatch.  ARGH!  It was entirely eaten to pieces at about 18 inch intervals.

I'm in a bit of a tizzy now.  I think my only solution is to rip out the row of sts with the eaten spot(s)?!  Then I'll toss all the yarn.  I took a moment for a quick inspection and haven't noticed any major damage to the sweater.  I had to put it down and take a deep breath.  Deep calming breath.  Breathe.  Breathe.

What do I do now???

 

Happy Birthday Sister!

I rarely knit gifts for birthday gifts... but I've been making some gifts for friends and family lately that are fun, that will most certainly be appreciated, and also have the added benefit of being quick and easy to knit.

Here's a picture of my sister Ellen modeling her birthday fingerless mitts - aka Susie Rogers Reading Mitts

Happy Birthday Ellen - hope you enjoy your new fingerless mitts (after this heatwave breaks....)

Mittens in the Middle of Summer?

I know.  It seems a bit odd.  Temperatures are soaring.  Heat waves are crossing the nation.  The midwest is suffering a drought (odd, right, after last year's flooding Missouri River??)  And what do I knit?  Fingerless Mitts.  That's right.  Wool mittens in the blistering heat.

This is my favorite pattern for fingerless mitts

Pattern:  Susie Rogers Reading Mitts
Needle:  US Size 5
Yarn:  I lost the label - I can't remember!

I really enjoy this pattern and know these will be greatly appreciated when the cold weather returns.  While I'm not trying to end summer so soon, it's always nice to have a quick and easy (not to mention, small) knitting project for these hot summer months.