Blues and changes

Why, yes, I do knit. This is my Flower Basket shawl, still on the small side, but there has been progress. Although I'm past that horrible black mood I was in on Wednesday -- and can I tell you how fantastic it was to have that little episode be the one that I had to post for Day in My Life? -- it's been hard to get back to what really matters. I'm almost there. The shawl is Knitting That Requires Attention, so I'm doing just that. I lost my groove the other day, and I'm working on getting it back today.

My Fairgrounds Rockin' Sock Club sock will be ready for a photo shoot soon -- it's coming along, too.

The weather, though. It's beautiful. It heard my pleas, or else all my stomping around was a reverse rain dance, and I made the sun come out. Either way, how can I not enjoy life on a day like today?

~:~

And in the spirit of PS June...

:low tide:

:cup and glass:

:winter sky:

:spring sky:

:snowy yard:

I have more, but I'll save them for another time.

~:~

I joined the Knit Sock Kit Swap, dreamed up by Bev and Scout. Go on over and take a look! I haven't participated in many exchanges (well, only two, if we're counting), but this comes at a good time for me. It's about socks, and I'll get to create a sock kit (a bag, yarn, etc.) for my pal. I've been thinking about making a sock bag or two, so here's my chance to give it a try. Signups end on Tuesday, June 13th at 8am EST.

Who knew I'd become such a joiner? It's all good. I've connected with other knitters in ways I don't get to in my regular life. Seeing what others are knitting, sharing progress and projects, giving a little here and there -- I guess it's a "K is for Knitting" thing.

What a day

Click!

Wet, just wet, with knitting

This is what it was like here today:We had almost three inches of rain. Puddles everywhere, and ponds on the roads. At least the rain washed away most of the remnants of our cankerworm invasion. They ate many of the trees in my neighborhood, though -- the woods look bare.

The rain and dark skies made me cranky and wild-headed. There's no telling what I'll come up with when I post about my Day in My Life. It has been, let's say, very interesting to be participating in this project on a less-than-good-mood day. I'm just warning you, is all.

Anyway, the Trekking sock began to get a little jumpy, just like me. If it hadn't been for the great sock bag swap that Trek and I made, that sock might have up and left home on its own. No treks today, but a pretty new home calmed it down.

This is Annabelle, imitating me:

She understands my moods.

I did make some progress on my Rockin' Sock Club Fairgrounds sock. Backwards progress, but at least I found out that the Rock and Weave pattern, though it looks very cool and interesting, is not for me. I ripped it back and cast on for a regular sock, with a little seed stitch cuff that reminds me of the linen stitch that looks fine on everyone else's ankles. It looks perfect so far, but I'll decide tomorrow, or after I have stopped climbing the walls.

K just has to be for...

...knitting, of course. Few activities, or words, or ideas are as important to me as knitting. It gives me so much, and adds a dimension to my life that had gone missing since I left weaving behind, since I became a book woman. Knitting has opened up new worlds: Knitters Review, this huge community of bloggers and blogging, my Thursday afternoon Knitting Circle, and all the people I've encountered along the way. Some of my most important friendships have fiber -- spinning, weaving, knitting -- at their core. Some of them go back twenty and twenty-five years, and many are just developing, but all of them are treasures.

Knitting is the thread that winds its way through every one of my days, and unless I'm stuck on a project, there is joy in all the moments I spend thinking about it, doing it, being a knitter. It's made me feel creative again, and the other things I like to do -- make watercolors, take pictures, spin yarn, play with paper -- are more satisfying because I knit and I've developed the knitter's discerning eye.

I'm proud of what I can do with two sticks and some string, and every single time I pick up these simple tools I feel strong, and capable, and creative, and content. This is when I am my best self. I am a knitter.