November Nuptials and A Knit Cap

On Saturday we joyfully witnessed the vows of my husband’s youngest brother and his long-time love!  The ceremony was simple and lovely.  The bride’s teenage daughters were her beautiful Maids-of-Honor, and her son served as Best Man.  The sight of the newly formed family together at the front of the church promised that my eyes weren’t dry!  Little hints of autumn set a beautiful color scheme and a warm atmosphere.  The bridesmaids wore chocolate brown gowns, and the silver accents all around added a bit of magic to everything.  The flowers incorporated white, yellow, and an orange that was so orange I could almost taste it!  Gorgeous.

I love weddings.  I love the Holiness of the promises made.  I love the romance, the food, the care that goes into every decision.  But even if they had stripped away all of the special details, this would have been an uncommonly special wedding.  My new sister-in-law and her kids have been as good as family for nearly as long as my husband and I have been married (more than eight years).  We love all four of them, and we are delighted to make them “official.”

And guess what!  A certain orange cap is finished.  Whoopee!  Although the top didn’t turn out as I had envisioned it, my little man looks quite handsome in his first mommy-made accessory.  I’m still totally in love with the yarn—the color and quality.  This was the first time that I used a circular needle for a hat, and I enjoyed the process very much.  My knitting was unusually even and smooth.   Maybe it was the yarn or the needle, or maybe I’m actually improving.

 

A wool cap update…and more pumpkins

(The following post was supposed to be up Wednesday evening.  Oops!)

I set a goal…orange hat completed in time for the pumpkin patch field trip.  Well, I didn’t quite get there.  Unfortunately, I’m grading a mountain of 4 to 6 page essays this week so knitting time as been scarce.  Fortunately, a turn in the weather produced a 65 degree morning with an ultimate high over 70.  No wool cap needed.

The field trip was a rousing success.  The army of four year olds and many of their parents approached the farm with enthusiasm for the great hunt and a spark of that unmistakeable charm that occurs when you bring together pumpkins, crisp air, and fresh apple cider.  The day was beautiful–especially appreciated after the uncomfortable douse of wet weather last week. 

 

Sad confession:  I only know of the beauty and the charm because Daddy took the camera along.  I, on the other hand, continued to comment upon the aforementioned college essays in our attic/office.  Yes, I had to forgo the smells of cinnamon and earth and all the autumn splendor of the day.  But don’t feel too sorry for me.  I take great joy in knowing that my little son could share the fun with his Dad.  Not many kids can have their fathers along for a weekday adventure.  We are so blessed to live the life we lead.

 So I leave you with this photograph to summarize the day.  My hubby got to put aside Melville for an afternoon among the pumpkins (the gourds and the ever-so-sweet preschool kind), and the cap has seen significant progress but no outdoor time as of yet.

 

(Note: this pumpkin, though small, was chosen to come live with us because it had a “crook.”  Good choice.)

 

A Wool Cap

Fall has taken a surprisingly cool turn.  Snow has appeared in the forecast and on morning door steps.  The proverbial frost on the pumpkin is quite real.  Makes me want to sit down with a cup of Earl Grey and You’ve Got Mail.  Unfortunately, instead of delving into the yummy, cozy rituals of a cold (and rainy) autumn, I’ve been doing a lot of nose wiping and other related activities.  Hmm…now that I think about it, these are the rituals of autumn and the months ahead.  At least for a mommy. 

But despite the tiredness that comes with broken sleep for several nights coupled with the worrying that inevitably comes at the time of a little one’s illness, I’ve been quite productive in my knitting.   Two weeks ago, I completed a small blanket for my new godson.  That project took five months!  While I loved the yarn (good quality washable wool in Caribbean Blue and white) and was fond of the pattern, I confess that the slow progress made me lose my zeal for the project part way through.  In the weeks before the baptism, however, I found myself falling in love with that dear blanket again.   I loved how it felt between my fingers, and I loved imagining the baby wrapped in it or resting on it while his mama tickled his toes or read him a story.  Many prayers and warm thoughts went into that blanket.

As I finished the blanket, my four-year-old asked if he could have a hat.  He had never asked me to knit him something before, and while I often look at wonderful patterns for fun little boy garments, all my knitting seems to be gifts for others.  Neither of my boys has any finished items made by me.  (Although they are fortunate to have a number of beautiful pieces knit and crocheted by people whom we love and who love us.)  So the baby blanket was delivered to its wee owner on a Saturday; on Monday I made a trip to my favorite local yarn shop.  I stole thirty minutes of bliss—stroking skeins, browsing hat patterns, comparing needles.  I confess that the shopping and the planning are as exciting (if not more) as the actual knitting and completing of a project. 

To match his new fall jacket, I chose a muted orange wool and an accent color called “Ash.”  And now I’m knitting, knitting, knitting.  I’m snatching every little moment that I can.  I want this wool cap to be upon my little guy’s head when he goes to the farm on Wednesday for his class field trip (assuming his health improves).  And while I would never wish a cold on any child, a stuffy, feverish little boy needs an early bedtime, and therefore, mama gets to knit!