Nowhere to Go but Up

Graduation. Completion. An ending.

Commencement. A new beginning.

So many graduates are starting their journey from school to life in these next few weeks. It happens every year, but it is not every year that I have a personal connection to the story. If we go back a few years, when my kids graduated high school and Dollface finished college, it was very personal. We celebrated, as you do. Looking back on those celebrations, I wish I had celebrated them more. 

If we go back just a few more years, to my own high school graduation (...ahem...yes, just a few), I did not feel like celebrating. I felt woefully unprepared, and I really did not look forward to the transition from student to adult. Truth be told, I was scared to death. I did not even want to attend my commencement...as if not attending would somehow free me from the obligation to transition. 

But my parents forced me, my cap and my gown into the car. In my teen angst, I went with a scowl on my face and a rebellious attitude. I believe there is one photograph somewhere, taken by the company that takes photos as you walk across the stage and sends a proof and a price list a few weeks later. I do not know where that photo is, and I am totally ok with that.  It was not a good photo.

Despite the lack of photo evidence, I believe that I have transitioned pretty well. I mean, it has taken roughly 33 years, but here I am...an adult, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, an aunt...somewhere along the way, I have grown up. Up was really my only choice, so there you have it.

This week, my nephew's wife graduates Nursing School with her Associate's Degree. We attended her pinning ceremony, 

with the anointing of her nursing hands, on Thursday;

and commencement today. I am as proud of her as I can be, and I am glad to share her joy! Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you! 

Way to go, Kiddo! You worked hard, even when the circumstances of life did not cooperate. You kept going when life seemed to be working against you. You have overcome obstacles, and you continue to fight adversity as you celebrate this occasion without some loved ones that you desperately wanted to celebrate with.

Again I say that I am proud of you, Girl, and I am thankful that you have so many to celebrate with you still. Grandmothers,

Friends,

and even this guy, our nephew, your handsome husband.

In the new Mary Poppins movie, there is a song that I think describes your path...Nowhere to Go, But Up! That is where you are headed, dear Niece...up! Up to the next job, the next degree, the next chapter in your life...in your story! I am excited to see where the journey takes you. Hold on tight, and we will be right behind you.

Who else has a new beginning coming? Share your graduation, commencement and other new beginnings stories in the comments, friends! I know it can be scary to start a new thing, and bid farewell to the things that you know, but I also know you can do this. There is nowhere to go but up!

Thanks for stopping by, and now commence to Knit in Good Health!

Another Saturday Night. . .

And I've got plenty of people around me! Haha! I spent most of the afternoon/evening at a grad party for a young lady at church, and many of my good friends were there. . .it was a lot of fun! Brenda throws a great party (Kevin too, I know he was at least partially involved)! And congrats to Cara and all the high school grads I know - you guys rock!

This morning, same old, same old. . .with a song in my heart. . .

Laundry, Laundry
You're always here
Laundry, Laundry
Seems like you never disappear. . .
But, Laundry day comes
just once a week around here!

Well, not entirely, but Saturday is the main laundry day for the Hubster and I. Besides laundry, we defrosted the fridge and I did some minor cleaning. . .not enough to break a nail or put on the rubber gloves for, just a little bit here and there. Someday, I hope to get around to my "spring cleaning" for this year. All in all, a good day!

In knitting knews, this week I completed the third piece in a set for College Girl to take with her in the fall. The Baroness Beret (below, top) was piece #1, and the fingerless gloves and neck cowl/scarfie thing were pieces 2 and 3 (or 2, 3 and 4, depending on how you look at it). I could not find any link to the patterns for the other pieces, which were in back issues of Creative Knitting magazine (Nov 2004 and Nov 2008).

This morning, I finished up the toe on sock 2 of my Groovy Socks! And they are groovy, indeed. And they make me feel groovy! There is something about the lacy rib pattern that hugs my feet and legs, yet does not feel at all tight. . .love them!

Since I had finished all my hangout projects, I decided to start two new things. A repeat of the College Cables bag I made for College Girl (by request of the mom of another College Girl), and a pair of Sunday Swing socks! These are a Knitty.com surprise pattern for this summer, and I knew the moment I saw it that it was THE pattern for the yarn I bought from Jeanne over at DestinationYarn! I had seen all of her "America the Beautiful" yarns in person (she is a member of my meet-up group), and when she brought the variegated that she made with her leftover dyes, well, I was slow on the uptake, but I knew I needed to have it! And I got it! And I found a pattern I think will look G-R-E-A-T in this yarn! Yay!

By the way, all the yarns over at DestinationYarn are based on places. . .check out the Vienna yarn, and tell me your mouth doesn't just water! Yummmmmmm!

Speaking of etsy, watch the shop for some specials coming next month! I am looking forward to a fun day tomorrow, but now I am going to bed.

Knit in good health!

In Memory of the Years Gone By. . .

. . .so started the Alma Mater for my High School. I know all the words and the tune. I was in the band. I could probably play it on a trumpet, or sing it a capella, and I could probably record and upload an audio file for you, but that might be labeled “cruel and unusual.” Suffice it to say that I remember when I was a High School Graduate.

Now, my youngest is a High School Graduate. I don’t know if she knows the words to her Alma Mater (different school than the one I graduated from), but the administration was kind enough to print them for her on the back of the Commencement program they gave her with that all-important diploma. Yes, I am sure she (and all her classmates) will save those. NOT!

And today we had her Graduation Party. Now, I am not a party goer or a party thrower, generally speaking. Oh, some have said that it’s a party when Pretty Knitty is there, but planning for parties really kinda stresses me out. I knit, and I make jewelry for my knitting, but I do not have a lot of experience planning for parties, and the last Grad Party (two years ago, for our oldest) just about did me in!

But this time, I waited until just a few days ago to shop, and the Graduate, her Dad and I rolled meat for the deli tray, cut up fruit and veggies, and made a killer pasta salad last night and this morning. Then, this afternoon, I had a great time at the party! No worries, just the fun of sitting (and standing) and visiting with friends and family while we congratulated the Graduate! Maybe it’s because I finished two good-sized knitting projects this week, but I just really enjoyed myself! I think the Graduate and her Dad did too! Yay!

Speaking of Knitting, here are the two projects:
Lacy Ribbed Top (modeled by Pretty Knitty herself – thanks for the photo, Michelle!)

And the Cleveland Knits West May KAL Sock (Mad Color Weave)

Oh, and before I forget, please join me in congratulating the “Apparently-So-Happy-She-Could-Dance” Graduate!

Knit in good health!

Sweaters and Purses and Socks. . .Take 2!

So, in the hustle and bustle of my week, I realized (nearly too late) that I have not blogged today! Aaaargh! I am trying to blog just 2 days a week, and I can’t keep up?!? What is with my life?

Oh, that’s right. One is graduating. . .err, has graduated (over the weekend officially) and is headed for college in the fall. And the graduation party is this Saturday.

Blogger stops to mention that Saturday’s blog may not appear until Sunday, BTW.

And then the other one is in a place far, far away, where scary things can happen. There was a little tension last night. . .we heard of an “incident,” but our soldier is safe. Still, it was not a restful night of slumber as we waited to hear for sure.

Blogger stops to mention that she avoids the news stations most days. . .the Army will let her know what she needs to know. . .
No news = good news.

So, I almost forgot to blog. Luckily, I have been knitting away, and I have TWO finished items to show you
(picture me dancing, if you know me, or you think you might know what I look like, anyway)!
A Sweater:

This is the Lacy Ribbed Top from Creative Knitting! It looks much better on, but I am short one willing photographer at my house tonight, sooo, here it is in it’s un-blocked glory for now. I bought 4 skeins of Vivace yarn, then suffered some buyer's remorse when I found the pattern only called for 3. Still, I kept the fourth, and lo and behold. . .I needed it! I only made it about half-way through the second sleeve when that third skein ran out, so Boy!, was I glad I had a #4 in my bag! And there's a lot of #4 left, but Yay! for #4!!!

Today’s “blog-isode” is brought to you by the number 4,
and the colors Green and Blue and Gold!

And I finished the Bride’s Purse, knitted of three ribbons (white satin, white organza and silver tape yarn) and a string of clear beads so it sparkles a bit:

And the Bride did not ask for it, and the Bride may not want to use it, but the Bride’s mother sees the merit. . .and if the Bride decides against it, well, maybe I can sell it in the ETSY Shop? I will learn to roll with the flow (said the “recovering “Type-A,” OCD, Anal-Retentive Blogger to no one in particular).


But, even though I have finished a sweater and a purse, I still have not finished the KAL socks. They are the next in line, I suppose. . .right after the Graduate's scrapbook. . .and the deli trays. . .and the fruit and veggie trays. . .
But, now that the Blogger has blogged for the day, the Blogger is going to bed. I hope that you sleep well when it is your bedtime, aaaaaaaand. . .

Knit in good health!

Sweaters and Purses and Socks,

Oh my! Ha ha ha!!! That’s what I am knitting on, tho! A Sweater to wear to the wedding I am going to in a couple weeks, a Purse for the bride to carry at her reception to hold any “little things” she might need to have with her, and a pair of KAL Socks! For now, the only picture updates I have is a photo of the last little “Bride Purse” I made (for my now-DIL to carry on her wedding day):

Graduation is over (little cheer) and we are now fully into the party planning for next weekend. . .my next post might be titled, “Melons and Cold Cuts and Cake, Oh my!”

For now, Short Post and Knitting and Quiet, Oh my!. . .for the rest of this evening anyway.

Knit in good health!

Pocket Pals to the Rescue!

And Pocket Pals are fun. . .although they are far different than “pocket pool,” but I digress. . .already in the first sentence. I guess I digress a lot these days. I’m feeling scattered in everything from work to knitting. It’s just the season, I guess. . .Graduation Season, that is! My youngest will graduate from high school this Saturday, and she will leave for college in the fall – close-ish to home, but she moves out nonetheless. It makes me kind of nostalgic.

I have caught myself daydreaming in grand form, dwelling on romanticized memories of when my “nest” was full with two tiny ones. Of course, it’s easy to remember the good and the great times. . .even though I know there were hard times, they are not my favorite memories, so I usually don’t dwell there long. This is a strange new world my Hubby and I are moving into. . .we will soon be “Empty Nesters” – (cue dramatic chords) dum-dum-dummmm!

I have seen this coming for some time, our oldest got married last summer, after all! But still, I don’t know if it will truly hit me until she actually takes flight. In the meantime, everything just keeps going forward in an almost surreal fashion. Is it really true? Am I really old enough to have two “grown” children? Hmmm, I guess so.

For now, I will keep on keepin’ on. I continue to knit and craft and play with the itty-bitty ones at church, making toys and sweaters for them. My sweater (to wear to the June wedding) is coming right along, though I have no new pics of the Lacy Ribbed Top to show, and I throw in a "little something extra" project every now and again.

Oh, I do have a picture of three of the little something extras! Here they are:

Until next time, live each moment fully and knit in good health!