Raindrops On Roses And Whiskers On Kittens…

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favorite things…

Kittens and Puppies and Sweat pants and Snowmen,

Cooking and Baking and Mountains and Austin.

Old buttons, Texture and Bright Colored Yarn,

Comfortable jeans and Ice cream and Wine.

Cinnamon, Straight hair, Fresh cornbread and Butter,

Black and white movies and Flannel pajamas.

Lace and new Shoes and Hot coffee and Red.

Fall, Colored leaves, and Music and Plaid.

Quilts, Homemade soup, Rainy days and The Littles,

Antiques and Caramel, The first snow and Flowers.

Fast cars and Smooth flights, Peach bellinis and Beer.

Thoughtful people and Honesty, Knitted Sweaters and Scarves.

Vermont and Christmas lights, Candles and Green.

Roast and gravy, My kids and Junior and Pine trees

Rainbows and Lemon pledge, Homemade soap and Knitting,

Bubble baths and Apples and sometimes just Sitting.

When the dog bites,

When the bee stings,

When I'm feeling sad…

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don't feel so bad.

There’s a site for knitters, or just people who work with yarn in general called Ravelry. It’s a great site with patterns, pictures, yarn, ideas and just general information on things you can do. I was looking around, as I often do, and ran across the coolest project ever! It’s called “The Pillow of Sei Shonagon”, and is from a book called “Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together”, by Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown. A pillow book is a diary, of sorts. It can be a list of most anything. It consists of personal messages and private thoughts, or can even be quotations or a story. Sei's “pillow book” was finished in the year 1002. Today “pillow book” usually means a collection of thoughts that can reflect a certain time in a person’s life, either yours or someone else’s.

While viewing the posted finished projects I ran across one that I really thought was nice. It’s by Debbie, or yarnRx, who lives in New Brunswick, Canada. Debbie’s pillow was a gift to her long-time friend Doreen, for a ‘significant’ birthday. Her text was excerpts from books her friend had given to her over the years as well as lines from poetry which had special meaning for her. I am sure Doreen was honored, amazed and even humbled by such a gift from the heart. I know I would have been. Debbie graciously allowed me to use her pictures.

Close up of the scripted strips. © yarnRx

Full size pillow. Gorgeous! © yarnRx

I did finish the Gap-tastic Cowl. It’s pretty but I don’t know that I like it. It’s not as wide as the pattern called for but it still seems wide to me. I do really like the yarn though. And here’s another picture of the Anthropologie knock-off.

GAP-tastic cowl long.

GAP-tastic twisted.

Another hanging picture. See the width?

Anthropologie knock-off hanging.

Knitayear is still going strong. Well, I’m behind as usual, but it’s going! Day 292, January 17 is a typical Monday. I ended up staying home. The kids hit a deer and it really tore up their car. So I gave them my car. I probably could have made it in but I needed to clean up some of my messes anyway. It’s urgent it seems. So that’s what I do. I choose neon orange, like a hunting vest, but this isn’t for safety. Day 293, January 18, and I’m on the way to Austin. I truly love going to Austin but this trip might not be one I’ll enjoy. It starts with a flight that takes 5 and one half hours. I can drive to Austin in 6 hours. And I’m in a car that’s not mine, from home that is. It’s nothing bad except getting used to where things are, etc. First thing I do is lock the keys in the trunk with my suitcase. And of course, I’m running late as usual. Luckily I didn’t re-lock the doors when the wrecker came for the other car so I was able to get in and finally find the trunk open button before true panic set in. On a good note, I stopped at the yarn store on the way to the hotel because there’s a 7 page agenda greeting me upon arrival. I won’t have another minute to do anything. I already feel out of place and I’m not even there. I chose a camo colored cotton. Not so much camo as neutral. January 19, day 294 starts at 7:00 am with breakfast and a bunch of strangers. I try to blend in or at least stay invisible so I won’t be any problem. It’s working fairly well. I don’t know what’s going on but I was told I don’t have to know. I listen and try to figure out what I’m doing here. It works. It’s a really long day, ending at 8:00 pm, with a whole 30 minutes free time. I’m exhausted. Something is making me sneeze and I don’t feel good physically on top of everything else. Ah well, such is my life. I’ll survive. I chose gray wool. Just that kind of day. Day 295, January 20, again starts at 7:00 am. I truly don’t like early and am willing to forego breakfast for another hour to get ready. We meet and start right in. Today, I’m finally introduced to the group. That would have been really useful yesterday! But I suppose if I’d wanted it done I should have done it myself. We only go to noon today and I fly home. I’m ready. I choose a variegated purple, gold and green. Day 296 is January 21 and Friday and my day off. Who could ask for more? I still feel bad and sleep in until 11:00 am. That’s really unusual but I guess I needed it. I need to get more energy to finish the jobs I have here. But I’m tired. I choose tan with a white twist for this day. And I get busy. I’m looking at some of my favorite things and wondering why I need them. Maybe I should just get rid of it all.

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don't feel so bad.