Nearly a year ago, I put a call out to the wonderfully generous population of knitters far and near who visit my blog, and y’all responded with unbelievable swiftness, love and kindness for dear little Luke, my 8 year old neighbor who was suffering from a brain stem glioma (inoperable brain tumor).
Luke fought a tough battle, underwent a rigorous clinical trial of chemo and radiation. He showed great improvement and after the round of chemo and radiation even returned to school.
Luke recently took a turn for the worse and the doctors found that his tumor had returned. Luke lost his battle with the cancer on May 22nd 2009. He died at his home surrounded by family.
I want to again thank every one of you who helped me make the blanket for Luke last summer. I do know that he was very grateful to receive it and that it’s creation was filled with love and prayers from many across the country.
I apologize for not getting this info out on my blog sooner. Luke passed on the Friday of my Father-In-Law’s viewing, and I only learned myself after returning from the funeral weekend.
I am so saddened by the loss of Luke, for his family, his young twin sisters, his parents and grandparents. It’s never easy to say goodbye, and I imagine it’s even harder to say goodbye to such a young one.
I’m logging off of blogland… I will be back, but this post should explain why I need to take a break from my blog for a little… My hopes are to be back on here in the fall…
A whole month has passed since my last post and so much has happened in that time…
1. we decided to move back to North Carolina
2. my father-in-law became suddenly ill and died within two weeks time
3. the big guy moved south leaving us here to get the house packed up and on the market so we can join him by summer’s end
4. my nephew came to live with us for the summer (along with grandma)
5. my sister had a mild heart attack (she’s 37)
6. ????? seriously.. what’s next?
got this on email, seems fitting for the some of the way I’ve felt this month…
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.
We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so….. “Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t.
Pray for my sanity, my family (immediate and extended), and that I don’t become a garbage truck.. I don’t think I’m acting that way.. but I can see how my stress is building and building… I don’t want it to explode out like the garbage trucks out there….
My knitting is keeping me calm most evenings (when I can fit it in).. I’m participating in a Ravelry ‘kal’ of sorts… Harry Potter related of course… I’m enjoying every second of it… I’ll share my stuff at some point…
So, I haven’t blogged in EONS.. and I have good reason…
I have been having such a blast on Ravelry participating in the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup… I was sorted into Ravenclaw and have signed up for nearly ALL of the class offerings this month… thus far I’ve submitted coursework for
Arithmancy: Spirals for the Golden Spiral led me to the Hurricane Hat
Herbology
Mandrake Booties for my friend’s soon to be transplanted baby girl …
Defense Against the Dark Arts
A House Colors iPod/Cell Phone Cozy…
Charms
A felted Muggle bag, with my beloved Snitch added (to let my Wizarding friends know my true identity)
I included a pocket for my ‘essentials’ that always get lost.. I may have to make an additional ‘deeper’ pocket as I’m not overly thrilled with the depth of this one…
and Ancient Runes
I made this bib with the modern Runes of H and P for Harry Potter of course 
This bib pattern is being released to the Ravenclaw Quidditch team to outfit our Ravenclaw Babies for the summer release of the Half Blood Prince.
I have only one class remaining, and that’s Muggle Studies, for which I’m knitting a pair of socks inspired by True Blood.
This group has been fun, and a nice break from the insanity that is a hospitalized, sick family member, and an upcoming state move (Back to my beloved North Carolina wahoo!)
As part of the HPKCHC I’m participating in Quidditch and have altered my Snitch Dshcloth pattern to be a bib, and I’m taking this opportunity to update the patter into PDF format…
I hope to get it updated on Ravelry soon…
When we lost our sweet sweet girl on October 30, 2007, the vet’s office was amazing.. they were sensitive, and helpful. They even had a nice crocheted afghan that they layed on the floor for me to sit on while I held her until she went over the Rainbow Bridge to wait for us to join her.
That afghan inspired me to knit something I could donate to the Vet’s office for future families like my own… and I wanted to include the ‘Rainbow Bridge‘ poem with the afghan. I chose to knit it in an acryllic, that was soft (Lion Brand Homespun) and in rainbow colors of course… I picked a stitch pattern I enjoy knitting (some purl stitch thing that’s name escapes me at the moment), and got started…
I made great progress on the afghan but found that I was sad whenever I worked on it, so I had to keep putting it away for future knitting… but I was inspired to finish it this month by a challenge at the Finish or Frog Friday group on Ravelry… so I picked it back up and got busy…
As soon as I finished it the kids jumped all over it .. each claiming it as their own.. and all through major fits when I suggested that we donate it to the Vet’s office… it appears that the Chewyghan is here to stay…
I don’t feel badly about renigging on my plans to donate the lap blanket… I hadn’t ever told the office I was making it, and it does bring a smile to my face now that it is complete… and each of the kids has remarked that the ‘Orange’ stripe in the rainbow is exactly the color of our beloved Chewy… I saw that too.. when I bought it…
We love you Chewy and we miss you still!
I haven’t done a Finishing Friday post in a while… so I thought I would take the time to update my ‘list’… and post about some of the finished items from the last several weeks!
Here’s my updated WIPs/UFOs list
1. Snowman Hat for Rosalie
2. Snowman Hat for Emmett’s Best Bud
3. Vine Lace Scarf for Lace Knitting Class
4. Reader’s Wrap for Bella aka ME ** More than half done, but ran out of yarn, need to find where I can order it.
5. Ravenclaw Trapped Bar Scarf
6. Dobby for Rosalie
7. Hamster for Emmett
8. Kitchen Bag for Me
9. I Love Edward Socks
10. My Eskimo
11. My Underthings (Frogged)
12. Carlisle’s Cabled Hat – Moved to the Frog List
13. Chewyghan ** Balled the yarn for the finishing of this lapghan, no excuses now!
14. Esme’s Crest Bag (Design)
15. Peppermint Cloth
16. Rosalie’s dishcloth afghan
17. Alice’s Dischloth Afghan
18. Alice’s boa scarf
19. Emmett’s green fuzzy scarf
20. Halloween Cloth (Ball band)
21. Alien Hat
22. Odessa for Me
23. Hemlock Ring Blanket
24. Pomatomus Socks
25. Cabled Scarf ** Can’t find pattern, may end up frogging
26. Bus Scarf (Design)
27. Blue Linus Project Pattern baby afghan (Frogged)
28. June is for Jag Scarf (new 2009)
29. Amanda Hat (new 2009)
30. Neck truffle (new 2009)
31. Secret PIF Gift (new 2009)
32. Swallowtail (new 2009)
33. Cocoa Swap Buddy (new 2009)
34. Tracey’s Reading Mitts (new 2009)
35. My Reading Mitts-remix (2009)
36. Dream in Color Shrug (2009)
37. Denise Hat Test knit (2009)
38. Valentine’s Hearts (mochimochi land) (2009)
39. 5-Heart Dishcloth (2009)
40. Mini Marshmallow Keychain (2009)
41. Headmaster socks (2009)
42. Baby Boy Brimmed Hat (2009)
43. Booties for Michael’s baby (2009)
44. Baseball Sweater for Michael’s baby (2009)
45. Mini Booga Bag (2009)
46. Cabled Clutch for Cable Workshop (2009)
47. Simple Trekking Socks (2009)
48. Jaywalkin Babyghan (2009)
49. Pilgrim Socks Toddler (2009)
50. Pilgrim Socks Child (2009)
51. Doll Dresses x5 (2009)
52. Easter Bunnies x3 (2009)
53. The inevitable Sock Leftover blanket (2009)
54. Croc Socs (2009)
I’ve somewhat abandonded one of my rules… and I should revisit them to be honest… the rule was that I could not start a new project until I finished an old WIP… the problem was that I got down to only BIGGER projects (for the most part… that’s my excuse an I’m sticking to it)… and it is so hard to finish one of them when I have so many luscious other cool projects just begging me to try them…
I just finished up some design work and I think it’s time to focus on an old WIP…and finish it at last… just can’t decide which one! 
any suggestions folks…??? I’m leaning towards the Chewyghan as she’s been fresh on my mind a lot lately… we still miss her terribly….
I do so hope that the Dark Side of the force isn’t strong with this one…
My birthday girl and boy won’t have their TRUE birthday’s until later this week…but this weekend.. was birthday party central around here! Emmetts party is today… we’re heading to Split Rock Resort’s indoor water park (H2OOOooh)… it should be a blast… we’re going to start here with Pizza and cake… and then off for lots of water sliding fun…
Last night was Rosalie’s turn though… and we had loads of fun…
We started with a trip to the salon for some ‘dolling’ up for Rose…
She wanted to wear her clips given to her by Auntie for Christmas… they looked very pretty!
The ‘posse’ of girls arrived
and we headed to Olive Garden for dinner (filled with impromptu 9-year old poetry…lots of rhyming)
Then it was off to the movies for the dearly awaited Hannah Montana Movie…
And finally… home for a sleepover… (Yikes… remind me next year how LOUD girls can still be at 1 am!!!) I knit each girl’s American Girl a nightgown for the occasion… ALL the girls and dolls had a great time…
I’ll make Rose some cupcakes for her actual BIRTHDAY on Thursday werewolves have been requested…..
Dearest Old Man Winter,
The time has come for you to leave my humble abode. No offense and all… I do enjoy the romanticized snowfalls in December and even January, but your April Fools joke of snow this week pushed me past my limit.
Most importantly, we long for birdsong, blooming forsythia, tulips, and daffodils, playtime outside, and the warm sun on our shoulders, and an end to this view day in and day out:
The extra coats, the winter ‘clothing’ bins, and the boots.. not to mention the MUD and Dirt that encrusts the floor…
I’ve taken the liberty to change this view after your most recent snowfall and hope that I haven’t upset you with my premature cleaning…
Believe me… Winter is a wonderful season, one in which I get a tremendous amount of time for my passion… in fact… I have a few items to show you, recent knits to let you know how much I do enjoy your yearly visits…
I gifted the Jaywalkin’ Babyghan, and mother, baby and family all love it It’s perfect for a SPRING stroll (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
I finished 1/2 of the Pilgrim socks for Rosalie, she’d really like to wear them with a pretty spring dress, or capris (if you catch my drift).
In closing, your visit was a nice one this year, but I don’t want to see you again until at least November of 2009! Have a wonderful vacation through Spring, Summer, and Fall!
-Insanknitty
Seriously…
I mean really people! Every single week since the first of February we have had one illness or another in our house… EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK.
I know it’s a short week for us due to school break beginning today at 12:30… and I may have been jumping the gun last night when I whispered to myself that we are in the clear this week for the illness situation… I mean … Rosalie had her last dose of her antibiotics from her Strep on Sunday..
as an aside… who’d have thought that whispering could bring on the curse… I mean I even only whispered it IN MY HEAD! (seriously it’s ok for me to YELL now… )
Emmett woke this morning with a bout of vertigo like symptoms, and a fever of 102…
I brought this on myself for thinking that we’d finally broken free of the curse!
Today’s plans to help at school are now on serious hold… sadness… I had been looking forward to helping with Emmett’s class… My working at the gym two days per week has completely decreased my volunteer time in the class to ZERO…
On the bright side, I can get a lot of the packing done for our trip tomorrow to the in-laws for the holiday weekend. I’m always without email/internet when I am there.. which is a bit relaxing in all reality… I can get a bunch of knitting done, the kids get their cousins to hang with and it’s usually quite nice…
I’ll leave you with some recent knitting….
A new beautiful baby girl joined our friend’s family… Jacqueline received this ‘Jaywalkin’ Babyghan’ from our family… I tweaked the Jaywalker sock pattern to be knit flat with an eyelet edge for a ribbon, which I then decided NOT to use…
I really like how the jaywalker pattern looks so crisp when it’s blocked
Speaking of babies, my cousin’s fiance delivered Ryan Michael this weekend! They’re big Sox fans, so off when this goody (arriving the day before Ryan Michael)… before mailing I added a cute ‘It’s a boy’ ribbon to the booties, should have taken a photo.. but hopefully I’ll one day get one of little Ryan in this outfit!
I occasionally design for an online knitters newsletter called “Smart Knitter” … their April edition will include these Pilgrim socks… this particular photo is of Alice’s size… (toddler)… and I have got 1 sock complete of Rosalie’s size (kids shoe size 1-2) here’s some more of the patterning of the ‘Pilgrim’ socks (so named because of the colorway of the yarn used… ‘April Showers Bring May Flowers’… and in our house.. we always say… ‘ and what do Mayflowers bring?’….
Pilgrims
I learned a new technique while designing these socks… Toe Up… LOVE… now if I could just fall in love with the short row heel….
maybe with the sickie on the couch I can sit and knit… hmmmm now there’s an idea!
Calgon…. take me away!
Is nearly here…
Yes… two children with birthdays only 1 day apart this month… and with the sorts of cakes I like to make them, and they like to get… we’re already in the planning stages…
Emmett has requested a Darth Vader Mask cake… I’m wondering if I should venture into the realm of fondant or just go with straight frosting… I haven’t fully decided, but I have narrowed down the design to a 3D version of the infamous Mask, and a more 2D-3D version of the front of the mask (laying flat)…
Rosalie is having an American Girl sleepover party… with only a few girls… but… she has her Family of God Medal class on her actual birthday, so I am bringing her cake that day to the class for their snack… so she’s still in the deciding phase of what design she would like…
Last year we had the Golden snitch cake, and the Wii controller’s cake…
so you just NEVER know what sort of thing they’ll come up with… Darth Vader will be a test of my creativity/skills… hopefully Rosalie’s won’t be as tough…
There has been lots of knitting lately… but not much blogging.. I hope I can get back to more blogging soon… I’ll have pics of knitting later this week!
Why Spongebob of course!
He was my inspiration for my next attempt at dyeing… this time with Jacquard acid dyes… I obviously need more practice.. though my kids will love socks knit with this anyway…
The color struck fast… and didn’t penetrate the entire skein… hence the speckling… grrrr any dyers out there with suggestions???
and.. my attempt at ‘Bella’… browns and blues… the white I wanted for her pale complexion.. but not the speckling again… gah!
And… my cute little BUG… got honored for a BUG award for her 2nd quarter grades (BUG = Bring Up your Grades.,.. she had to improve her overall grades with no more than one grade slipping… honestly she has no where else to improve next quarter so I don’t know if she’ll receive this award again…)
