Author: Mylene Lacroix

I had one of those lovely winter days yesterday.  The sun was shining and (youpi) the snow is starting to melt.  It was chilly but not cold. 

It was a training day (first aid) for my job at the station.  I got to miss the day at the office.  Training days are not really like work.  And, I’m there with a bunch of guys (like 35) and some (4) girls, who all have a pretty funny sense of humour.  So, all in all, it was a good time… andI got my First Aid, CPR and Defib certificates.  

We got out early.  I could have found something to do in town but, I haven’t been home on a weekday during daylight in a million years.  So, I came home (after I picked up a coffee) and chilled out.  Oh, I did some laundry.  Jacob said he had no more pants.  I’m a bad mother (not really).   I knit, listened to some A. DeFranco (chick music) really really loud.  And, I got to knit… in the daylight.  I get the afternoon sun.   Being at home when it’s sunny is like sitting outside on a nice cool summer day.  When Jacob came home and I turned off my music (he says it gets on his nerves – the angry chick stuff – like his “screamo” stuff is better!) and I heard kids.  I looked over yonder and saw this:

Then France came over with pie!  Strawberry/rhubarb.  We popped that baby in the oven and went for a walk with Bodhi (her dog) in the back (I have a lot of land).  It was beautiful back there.  It made me wish I hadn’t left my camera on the kitchen table. 

We had dinner, France and Jacob both had two pieces of pie (I only had one) then I knit.  I got in three whole hours yesterday.  I’m almost done the first part of the trim.  It looks like this:

I’m in soooooo much trouble.  The border (yes, that’s right, the border) is almost done.  Just about four inches.  Guess how much time it’s taken me so far?  I just had a little panic attack!!!  Remember when I said that I thought the whole ensemble would take me about 200 hours, well, just this border has taken me 20.5 hours.  YOINKS!!!

I have to get ready for work now…

My sister France and I area very close. 

We haven’t always been like that.  As girls, we fought a lot.  I used her as my personal slave.  Then, I left (not really but that’s a long story) home at 16.  Maybe we missed each other because we got a little closer.  Then, when Jacob was born (she wasn’t even 16 yet), she liked hanging out with him.  She’s always been close to him.  As adults, we’ve had our differences and we’ve cried because of the other.  But, I figure now, she’s quite possibly my closest friend. 

   (Then and now)

I’ve been a little bummed out about something for a while now and she’s been there for me.  Today, I had a little “freak-out”.  (We e-mail about 12 times a day).  I went to the gym on my lunch for some exercise and distraction.  When I came back, this was sitting on my work chair: 

(I just finished the first one and was talking about having to get the second…)

She even got me a card.  It was such a perfect card too.  It’s like someone was talking about us when they wrote it.  Anyway, I’m thinking I’ll reconsider my position on knitting for other people and make her the felted clogs she’s been asking me to make her for over a year.   Honestly, they only take a few hours.  I think she’s worth that… and a million more hours of my time!

After I finish the gown!!!

… of the knitting gods. 

I have never, to the best of my recollection, had to be on a schedule for knitting.  I know people who have (for Christmas or something). 

On the whole, I don’t make things for other people anymore – it’s hard for people who don’t knit to appreciate what you do.  I’ve had people give stuff away without a care.  Or, I’ve even had people throw stuff out or give it to the Salvation Army.  Broke my heart… So, I don’t have knitting schedules becauseI don’t knit for other people.

Then I went and made a damn schedule.  Two hours a day.  That doesn’t seem like a lot does it?  IT IS!  I haven’t stuck to this schedule since I made it last week.  When I work all day, I have to make plans for after work, which sucks up any chance I have of knitting for two hours – unless of course I went to bed at midnight (not going to happen!).  I think that I’ve managed to squeeze in two hours total since Thursday!!!  Yikes.  That’s 6 freakin’ hours I have to catch up on.   

Now, I fear that the knitting gods will punish me by making sure I’m not finished by the time John and Rachelle need the gown to have their baby boy (yes, it’s a boy) christened. 

Maybe I should take a day off work to catch up???

Man!  Remember when you were in labour (if you’re a woman and have children that you gave birth to), the nurse told you that labour was difficult.  That you push and push and that the baby makes its way out a few inches at a time – out two, back in one.  Well, that’s what knitting this christening gown is like:  knit four rows, rip back one.  

It’s totally my fault for missing that whole design thing in the chart because I was talking too much.  It was Circle last night.  I was on vacation for the last one.  Lori’s knitting her first baby sweater for her coming-soon first grand-baby.  Diane W. was making my Diago socks and was getting frustrated.  It was so nice to see everyone again that I wasn’t paying attention.

I should have clued in when I thought to myself “Wow, this row is a breeze”.  Duh!  It’s ’cause I missed four yarn overs and the corresponding decreases.  Some days I’m smart , and some days I’m not. 

Seriously though, I feel like I’m making no progress.  I worked on this gown for two and a half hours last night and it hardly made a difference!!!  I think that’s 12 hours so far now?  I swear it’s not two inches yet!!!

I will persist because I love my friends and will love their baby boy when he comes.

Suck it up… it’ll be worth it.