G is for...

Gray Hair! It would seem everyday I find another, but on my birthday? I think they multiplied last night. Now, don't get me wrong, I actually like my gray hairs. Every one. I will never color them. They way I figure it, I've earned them. And as someone who often marches to the beat of a different drummer, I can appreciate that they seem to have a mind of their own; they kink and are unruly. They will not be tamed. After a lifetime of mostly straight hair that doesn't like to do much but go flat before I've even left the house, I look forward to the adventure that a full head of gray hair will provide.

Birthday Bangs, with Grays

So, do you flaunt or deny your grays?

F is for Flyboy!

F is for Family. With every passing year I appreciate my family more. My parents have never told me how I should live my life, raise my son, treat my husband. They have never pushed, guilted or judged. They appreciate me, and have no unrealistic expectations. They and my little brother mean the world to me.

And Flyboy. What can I say? Motherhood is the most amazing journey. And most of the time Flyboy makes it rather painless. He's a great kid with such shining optimism and enthusiasm he truly brightens my life. I cannot imagine life without him.

E is for...

Can you handle another nickname? Somehow, over the years, the ubiquitous "Anne Banana" morphed into Eenie Bean. And it stuck. I've been answering to it for at least 30 years. Gotta love family!

A Finished Object:

Solstice Slip socks
STR lightweight in colorway Firebird
June 2007-August 2007

I enjoyed knitting these and hope to have the opportunity to wear them this week as we head into fall here in New England.

As soon as I opened the Fall issue of Interweave Knits, I knew I would knit the Minimalist Cardigan. Having recently catalogued most of my stash over on Ravelry, I decided I had no excuse to buy new yarn. Shocking, yes, I know. However, I think I found something suitable. I'm using some Hemp Yarn that is 55% hemp, 45% cotton. I scored this yarn at the HCSS Yarn Swap last year (or was it the year before...?) and thought it would add some interest to my wardrobe with the bonus of being machine washable. Of course, gauge is vastly different, but I think I've got it under control.

I'm 5 inches in and while I can only knit with this inelastic yarn in short chunks, I'm loving the results so far.

D is for...

Duluth, MN where I was born.

Diamonds. When I was 22, I had a really, really bad break up with my first post-college boyfriend. I realized I didn't need a man in my life to feel complete, that I could be complete and be by myself. Around this time I moved to California. While exploring San Francisco one day, I found this simple, elegant, beautiful estate wedding ring in a little jewelry store in Union Square. I bought it for myself, my first diamonds, as a symbol of my independence. I wear it always.

CeCe fini!

C is also for CeCe!

CeCe by Bonne Marie Burns
RYC Cashsoft 4 Ply in Eggplant

OK, so it's been done for like a month, and the photo is crap but her she is! I LOVE this sweater, especially now that the mornings are a bit chilly on the way to work. I think I've worn it every morning for the past week and a half. Cashsoft feels so luxurious, it feels like a treat to wear. Even better, I got this yarn dirt cheap when Knit Happens had that huge sale a while back and it cost me less than $20. Woohoo!

C is for Connecticut

C is for many things....

Connecticut, my home since February 2004. I'm still warming up to living here.

Cloquet, MN, the town where my mother grew up and lives again. My grandparents' Cabin is there, as is my parents' retirement home. I have many wonderful memories associated with summers at the cabin on Big Lake and love to return with Flyboy whenever possible.

Cambodia, the last overseas trip I took. I still get teary-eyed seeing pictures of Angkor Wat, remembering the first time I saw its towers. At the time, I was pregnant with Flyboy but early enough on that I had no idea. Someday I want to take Flyboy to see the temples and tell him the story of his beginning.