More Milo madness

I knit this little Milo vest (my sixth!) last winter when I just needed to be knitting something *now*. Milo vests are good for that instant gratification knitting when you don't need another hat. I used some Cascade 220 handpaint that I had bought because it was such a good price for a handpainted yarn. I really disliked this while it was knitting up because of the awkward pooled stripes (sometimes I think I should just eschew all variegated yarn), but I stuck it out and finished it off because it's such a quick knit. And when I put it on the baby it was rather cute. Another Milo win. Rav notes.

Totally and completely

My child. This is how I found him the other morning. Field guides are some of our favorite reading material.

Blossom baby hat

Every time I see this hat, I want to sing "lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green..." Maybe because I don't have girls and have a true lack of the girly in this house. Anyway, this is Susan Anderson's Upside-Down Daisy hat, done up in Malabrigo and some Lamb's Pride remnants for a friend's new baby girl. It is very soft and very cute, only I'm a little worried that it looks too much like an eggplant. I hope it will be well-received all the same.

This is one of about fifteen (no joke) knits that I have finished over the past six to eight months and haven't managed to ravel or blog. Maybe this is a sign that I enjoy the crafting more than the blogging?

Flying horses

In November, I had to put my horse Joshua down. I'll probably write more here about him later, as he was dignified and loving and just a super horse for me for a decade of my life. He also made me very proud in the end; in his final moments he was still giving.

My little Henry is dealing with Josh's death also, and we talk often about Josh's body versus Josh's soul and where exactly he is, especially when we pass the un-miss-able dirt mound in the field on our weekly walks at the farm. Here's a conversation we had last week.

H: How do you get to the big barn in the sky, Mama?

Me: Well...

H: Because maybe Joshua could come back to visit.

Me: Honey, Joshua's gone. Joshua died.

H: Like the bird who fell off the roof?

Me: Yes, exactly like that. And we buried his body, but his soul went up...

H: To the big barn in the sky?

Me: Yes.

H: Did he fly there?

Me: Well...

H: Because that's silly. If horses have wings then you'd have to hitch them down to ride on their backs.

Me: That *would* be silly.

H: So you have to get a new horse... and I want a pony!

So maybe this just-three-year-old doesn't exactly understand the concept of death, and how do you even explain? Just when you think it's about to get too real, the practical toddler mind takes over. And at least he's focusing on the positive: we remember those we've lost, life is to be celebrated and can be silly and fun, and "I want a pony". Noble thoughts all. I'm enjoying watching him grow so much.

Two birthdays

Big brother turned three. He blew out his candles all by himself and gobbled his birthday cupcake in about a minute and a half.
Baby brother turned one a couple of months earlier. I could hardly keep that crown on his head, but he ate his birthday cupcake with a fork (how dainty!) and took an hour about it.

I'm loving both of these ages so much. Especially loving the co-play, and the way the baby looks up to his brother with adoring eyes. Also when Big Brother does something "gentle-ly" for Baby. Which isn't so often, but I choose to focus on the positive. Happy birthdays boys!

It is winter

How did that happen? Wasn't it just summer? Well. I've been having fun cutting paper snowflakes based on the ones on this site for at least a month. Such good fun. Back soon, I hope.

Knitting for the bigger boy

So, I'm attempting to make most of my bigger boy's fall and winter wardrobe. I've always made him lots of pants, and with the addition of some hand-me-downs from a friend of my mother's and a few hand-knitted sweaters and vests, he's usually pretty well turned out. I'm going to try to share some of the things that I've made for him lately over the next few days. First up, a couple of new-ish (if you count things made over the past year) knitted finished objects:

First up is this lovely fuzzy green pullover. It's an un-steeked Grow Like a Weed Jacket, done up in Lamb's Pride Worsted. The pattern was a dream, and the boy always gets compliments on this sweater when he wears it. It's also really thick and warm, and last winter (see, I told you, these are only sort-of new knits!) he was able to wear it in lieu of a coat when it was cold-but-not-too-cold. When I first finished this sweater, I thought I was going to steek it, but I never got up the nerve. And frankly, I think it's beautiful just the way it is (is that the fear talking?). I added a few rows of plain ribbing at the neckline after he'd worn the sweater a few times and I figured out I was never going to get it steeked and be-zippered-- I think those couple of plain rows make the neckline look more normal than it did. Outside of a little pilling that will be easily dispatched by the sweater shaver, this sweater will fit just as well this winter as it did last. Definitely a stretchy, well-fitting sweater for growing little boys.

And then, (yet another) Milo vest, this time made from Green Mountain Spinnery's Sylvan Spirit that I got back in 2007 when I was considering using this yarn for my husband's Cobblestone sweater. I love this yarn for this project. The tencel content makes the vest drape-y and soft, while the wool keeps it pretty warm. I also love how the colorway is kind of tweedy and matches many different shirts. A total keeper.

Here's hoping I make it back here again soon with some more kids' wardrobe additions. Happy autumn!