A new hat for oneyear old T. It's a Monkeysuits pattern, a sweater is on the way. Currently working on a Pure and Simple Pattern , which is so simple, a hooded sweater.

This was sent to me by my best friend in the world, Katie. She always has a sense of what I need, even if we haven't spoken for a few weeks, it's almost eerie. She is my friend who makes me laugh, but also let's me cry. We grew up together, had our babies almost at the same time, walked those beautiful babies in big beautiful English prams (when we were two penniless couples, with generous parents)---we go back a loooooooong time.

"MAYA ANGELOU'S"
BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....

one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a feeling of control over her destiny...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself..



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship...


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

It's still beautiful women's month so ladies...........

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love Truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you Smile.

Did you know that it is "Beautiful Women's Month"?

In honor of that below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote
when asked to share her "beauty tips."
It was read at her funeral years later.

For attractive lips , speak words of kindness...
For lovely eyes , seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure , share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair , let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise , walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone...
People, even more than things, have to be restored,
renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands ;
one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.

My knitting has taken a back seat to my fledging business venture The Cupcake Cottage. This little business idea was born about 18 months ago, and never went further then an idea on paper when my sister was diagnosed with cancer. It came alive again with a bang when I was asked to cater a corporate event in mid-September, since then I've done two more events. I did not envision my "little venture" ever doing more than baking cupcakes for children's birthday parties. It took on a life of its own and I'll hang in there for as long as I can, catering for 50 requires more man hours than I have, but the big check is a nice reward at the end of three days of no sleep. I found it impossible to knit a few rows between batches of desserts--believe me I tried it. I have no grandiose plans, Martha Stewart won't have any competition from me and Magnolia Bakery can take a deep breathe they are in no danger of me opening a bakery a block down from them. If nothing else, it's shown me my limitations.
I am now looking forward to getting back to my needles. I have a poncho for daughter number 2 started, she asked for it and I planned to have it ready for her birthday, well I missed that, so now I have to put in overtime. I have so many things that I plan on knitting for Christmas, I'm excited about getting my groove back. I have severe arthritis in my hands, I've found it annoying over the years (had it since I was a kid), the latest flare up has been painful enough for me to see an orthopedist, who then sent me to a rheumotoligist, she claims the repetitive motion of knitting makes my hands worse. I've taken her advise and my hands are worse, so I'm going back to knitting to prove my theory that keeping them moving is the best therapy. Any tthoughts on that?? Okay, now I'm off to my comfy chair to knit up a poncho (all talk no action will get me nowhere). Happy Sunday!! And NO there is nothing for dessert!

Still at it!
Two shades of pink poncho and Wallaby without the hood.

In honor of Harry Potter being released tomorrow, a gift for my grandson to go along with his long awaited book





Miss I's White "Girlfriend's Swing Sweater"



Miss I's Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille Poncho in Scuba (yarn seceted by her, it's soft and cozy and HARD to work with)











So as you can see, although I've been absent, my needles have been flying, and I'm trying my best to keep the yarn industry alive and well. I finally invested in a ball winder and swift (all I need now is to be sitting in front of the hearth, in a rocking chair, and a huge black kettle bubbling away over the fire). I also was compelled to buy a blocking board ( I did think of making it, but decided it more cost effiecient if I just purchassed it). We were away on holiday in the Spring, I will post pictures and perhaps someone will guess our destinations. While away, Calamity Jane fell and broke my front teeth, had two black eyes and a fat lip ( I looked like a prizefighter). zour homecoming meant weeks at the oral surgeon and dentist---sounds like fun, no?? I brought back yarn, much to my husband's chagrin, my 8 year old granddaughter found yarn stalls at farmer's markets (who knew?). So Miss V choose yarn for a sweater she plans on wearing back to school on the first day, optimist that she is. I signed up for the Wallaby class, I'm working on three at once, five more to go!! Back to knitting the fourth poncho (second this week), my grandaughters won't freeze this fall.

I'm back after a long absence. I seriously doubt that the blogger world has missed me. I have been knitting and knitting and...............

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling




My tribute to St. Patirck's Day. I'm going to call this blanket When Irish Eyes Are Smiling because when it is finished, my Irish eyes will be smiling.