Wicked's Munchkin Boq

I’m thankful that today was a good day.

We made a bunch of old people happy and it really didn’t take much. We took N’s mother to listen to some Thanksgiving Tunes at the nursing home. While there, the man performing asked to meet Boq (my little boy dog) and then I took him to say hello to all the people listening to the show … while the show went on. Lots of smiles.

Also spent an hour or so outside and chatting with family of the elderly men and ladies who live here. It’s amazing how everybody has a story about a dog. Even the people who appear to be totally “out of it” smile and connect with a fuzzy little face. Boq was a champ and it feels so great to bring a smile to the face of someone else. Especially on Thanksgiving.

And I got a bit of knitting done, too!

"Freedom from Want" by Norman Rockwell

I’m working hard to stay upbeat and happy heading into the holidays.

In my past life the holidays meant a lot more work added to my plate – shopping, cleaning, wrapping, cards, gifts, trips to the Post Office to ship said gifts, all the kids’ events at school – and no support from my former spouse. One year, pre-divorce, I even called a family meeting and was prepared to cancel Christmas because I was overwhelmed with all that in addition to my work and volunteer stuff. But when the big day arrived, I was always grateful to have made the effort because the kids had fun and it was fun to spend the day together.

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. No extra stuff to confuse the reason for the season – simply a day to gather around the table and remember what we’re grateful for. Sharing time with family. Eating and laughter.

This year, heading into the holidays knowing that I will not be seeing my children again is really difficult. I understand, on one level: my eldest is working in California. Yes, that’s too far to come for a dinner … even for a long weekend. My second child is working at Thanksgiving – probably to avoid having to make a choice of her father’s or my house. The last child is likely eating with his father because he’s in the same town and it’s only a long weekend.

Yearning for the "Old Days"

Christmas is the same for daughter #1. The other two kids (despite my invitation to have Christmas in Florida this year) are spending the fourth of five Christmases with their father. “He’s had a tough year.” My mother died in 2008. That was a tough year. Did anybody come to my house for Christmas? Nope. And it sucks. No mother should have to loose her children because of a divorce, or a move or anything, frankly. There’s no reason not to be sharing holidays and it’s not OK.

So, once again, I face the prospects of Christmas and Thanksgiving without my kids. Nothing and nobody takes their place. I miss them terribly and I’m yearning for the “old days” with my kids … holidays are difficult. Life is difficult. I hope my patience and (sometimes) forced happy attitude will be rewarded one day. You get what you give, right?

Gone knitting.

So, I’ve been making the fingerless mittens (two patterns so far) for my order and have decided that I should try to write an entry about increases for those of you who knit … or want to learn!

The thumb gusset (or any place where you’re going to add stitches in almost any pattern) will look sooooo much better with increases that lean in the direction of the rest of the pattern. So, in the case of increasing a mitten or glove for a thumb …. since you start the increases just above the wrist (in order to have the needed number of stitches to accommodate the thumb) it ends up being the shape of a “V”. Stitches that lean to the right (on the right side) or the left (on the left side) of the “V” will blend in and seamlessly add stitches to your garment.

Enter M1r and M1L

As you knit, you’ll add the stitches to the right side of the “V” first (knitting from right to left) and that’s where you’re going to make the M1R (make one stitch leaning to the right).

Do you see the bar between the two stitches? (One stitch is knitted on the right needle and the left needle stitch is, as yet, unknit.)

The stitch to pick up

Left hand needle should pick up this stitch from the row below from the back to the front.

Now, simply knit the stitch as normal.

For the M1L at the other side of the “V”, again you want to pick up the stitch from the row/round below …

See the purple "bar" between the yellow-y green stitches?

Pick up this stitch with the left hand needle from the front to the back.

Knit into the back of this stitch to complete the M1l (make one left-leaning).

Ta Da! You’ve got it! Two stitches increased … one leaning to the right and one to the left so that the thumb gusset is pretty! See?

Practice this  … practice makes perfect!

Gone knitting!

Red Skelton was a comic (and many youngsters won’t even know who he is) in our parents’ day. I remember him, too but he was really old when I was a kid.

Regardless, if this doesn’t bring a tear to your eye or make you think about how fortunate we are to be Americans, well … have a listen!

On this Veteran’s Day 2011 (11-11-11), I thank all of the Veterans and those still serving in our military for their service. It’s by their generosity and bravery that we all can still pledge our allegiance to the American flag.

A special “shout out” to my father in heaven. Thanks, Dad, for your service. You never ate another hot dog after being aboard your ships and you returned hating monkeys – the one you had on board was smelly and messy as I can recall the story. I love you and miss you every day.

God bless the United States of America and those who serve her.