The days they do march on. August is almost gone and the girls are back in school. Monday morning their dad and I walked them to school together, an annual tradition, and bid the new school year welcome. Kaelyn is in fifth grade now, worrying about the rumors that her teacher is mighty strict. When my friend Lisa observed that it's Kaelyn's last year of elementary school I almost fell off my chair. No way! I thought. I'm not ready for that. Well, ready or not, it's true. She'll be 10 in less than a month and there's no way to get the clock to stop.
Karin is in second grade. It's her second year in the multi-age classroom too, so she's with the same teacher again this year. We're grateful for this on many levels. All summer Karin has been missing her teacher. As Mrs. C. reached out to shake her hand, (one of my favorite things about her is that she does this with the children every morning and every afternoon) a slow, shy smile grew on Karin's face until she was just beaming. Good teachers are such a blessing.
In the knitting realm, I received a package from Canada yesterday. My Handmaiden Yarns from Red Bird Knits arrived at last. From top to bottom: Silk Floss in Berries, 3 hanks for the Prayer Shawl (I've finally decided on the Shaped Triangle Shawl from A Gathering of Lace); Silk Floss in Paris, 2 hanks that I would love to become the Peacock Shawl from Fiddlesticks Knitting, but I think I need another hank and Red Bird only had the 2 (anyone know where I can find more?); and Angel Hair in Amethyst, 2 hanks that don't as yet have a project planned. The Silk Floss is just gorgeous and has the most amazing sheen. I can't wait to swatch it.
I finished the back of the Slytherin House sweater on Sunday. It's hard to see unblocked, but I added quite a bit of waist shaping. My gauge drifted a bit as I worked up, but I adjusted once I noticed it and I think it will be fine. cast on the front on the way to choir rehearsal on Monday. It will be a deep v-neck with narrower contrasting stripes in the neckband. The sleeves also will have the narrower stripes. I think the Rowan CashSoft is now my favorite yarn. It's just like heaven to knit.
I'm having a bit of a tough time prioritizing my knitting right now. I have a lot of unfinished projects scattered about. I apparently suffered from tremendous startitis over the summer months. On quick survey I spot Soleil in pink DB Cathay; Smooch, the Rowan All Seasons Cotton tank; Elsebeth in royal purple Calmer; the Mediterranean Lace Shawl in Italian merino; Birch 2; Martha in 4 Ply Cotton; Lucy in Cotton Tape; the Americana Socks; the Farmhouse Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks. Some of these are close to completion, others stalled in the beginning stages. Guess I have to go on another project fast until I get some of these things done. Except the Prayer Shawl. That has priority since my friend starts chemo in Oct. I'll be casting on today!
The house sweater looks so nice ... the colors are beautiful.
Posted by: Ruth | September 03, 2005 at 07:44 AM
School days, school days... the girls are beautiful.
Congratulations, too! ; )
Posted by: Vicki | September 01, 2005 at 10:23 AM
Wow. That Paris colorway is going to make a magnificent Peacock Feathers Shawl (which you should be good for if there is ~1300 yards in the two balls). I'm trying madly to get my own Peacock Feathers done and blocked so I can bring it into the store on Sunday for the Social Knitting time to show it off.
So, just to verify, it looks like you decided to go with the SS/CoS-style Slytherin house sweater in the lighter grey body, as opposed to the charcoal black PoA/GoF-style? Any particular reason?
Congrats about the kids starting school. They do grow up so fast. :)
Posted by: Alix | September 01, 2005 at 07:46 AM
The house sweater looks awesome! It really is just a nice looking sweater and the colors are lovely.
Awww... back to school pics. :)
Posted by: alison | September 01, 2005 at 07:19 AM
I know the feeling. It seems like only last year that my daughter started Grammar school (11 years plus)and here she is going back to start her GCSE year and turning 16 in two weeks!
Love the yarn
Posted by: Janine | September 01, 2005 at 12:55 AM
Our K back-to-school day was today. Tomorrow is The Day. I think the boy will be fine. I will be tears however...
Posted by: Sharlene | August 31, 2005 at 01:38 PM
They are so cute, Nathania - and they look SO much like you. They are lucky to have such a cool mom!
Posted by: Carrie | August 31, 2005 at 01:05 PM
I love the armwarmers!
And handmaiden...drool.
Posted by: Steph | August 31, 2005 at 12:16 PM
your girls are so beautiful. you are very blessed. and yes, the jump from elementary to middle school is a big one. they do grow fast... time flies. good luck with your projects - I have a bunch of unfinished ones myself (some from March).
take care,
~Jodi
Posted by: jodi | August 31, 2005 at 10:35 AM