This is the beautiful shawl Mary surprised me with Thursday night. I did finally find a camera, and of course it was right in plain sight. It had just enough battery power to shoot the one thing I most needed photographed, and then, to keep me humble, that was all it was going to do for the day.
My house is chilly and I find myself folding this in half and putting it over my shoulders constantly while at my favorite knitting and reading perch here.
Meantime, I finally picked up the needles last night and gave it a try. I cast on 27 for that green scarf–the scarf idea won out–and had to rest after two rows. Then again after a few more. But I found myself picking up steam, going from wow size 9 needles feel big in my hands, to having it begin to feel natural and normal again. It felt so good to actually start to create what I’d been envisioning so long and to anticipate being well enough to walk clear across the hospital to where its recipient works.
Sam and my husband came home from shopping and found me sitting there with a growing piece of knitting in my hands. It was fun to see their faces light up in delight. They were thrilled. Me too. Me too.
While snug and warm in my shawl and under my Medicine Blanket (skip down to the third paragraph, and Robert, I hope to see you at Stitches) and another afghan made by my South Bay Knitters friends that they surprised me with as a congratulations when my book got published.
And life is good. Cold around here–I badly need to gain some weight back and stop losing it–but my friends are taking good care of keeping me warmed.
32 Comments so far
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Please give Mary my congratulations on her beautiful work.
I, too, am pleased to hear of your knitting progress. It’s as accurate a “growth gauge” as the marks on the kitchen wall tracking our children’s height.
Comment by Barbara-Kay 02.15.09 @ 5:23 pmWow, that is gorgeous. I am so happy for you that you feel up to knitting! May it continue to bring you peace and comfort.
Comment by TripletMom 02.15.09 @ 5:56 pmWhat a lovely and beautiful gift! It’s meaningful that you should receive a shawl, after having gifted so many others to ‘wrap them in comfort.’ Now it’s your turn to be pampered.
Comment by Mady 02.15.09 @ 6:03 pmOh, that shawl is amazing!
I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling better. Keep it up!
Comment by ccr in MA 02.15.09 @ 6:13 pmThe shawl is truly gorgeous and knit with love makes it more so. Between it and the medicine blanket, you will be stronger.
Comment by Sherry in Idaho 02.15.09 @ 6:26 pmThe shawl is more than gorgeous. You are obviously loved! I have some weight I can send your way. I’m at the other extreme.
Comment by Joansie 02.15.09 @ 6:52 pmThat is an exquisite shawl. Yes, you are well loved. Very glad to hear that you have cast on for the scarf.
Comment by sonya 02.15.09 @ 7:02 pmOh, how beautiful is that shawl! So glad you feel well enough to knit, however slowly. You’ll get back up to speed in now time. The weight will come back on when you can do enough to start needing the calories again.
Prayers of thanksgiving!
Comment by Pegi 02.15.09 @ 7:25 pmYou go girl best medicine in the world is ones knitting and the shawl is just gorgeous:)Darcy
Comment by Darcy 02.15.09 @ 9:06 pmMary that shawl is fantastic!! Alison – you are a lucky lady to have that to keep you warm.
Comment by rho 02.15.09 @ 9:22 pmYou know I know nothing about knitting, but that is a gorgeous shawl! Maybe a bit of humor will help warm you:
1. The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
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2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.
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3. She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her still.
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4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
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5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.
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6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.
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7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
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8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
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9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
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10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
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11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
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12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
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13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, “You stay here, I’ll go on a-head.â€
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14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
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15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: “Keep off the Grass.â€
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16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, “No
change yet.â€
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17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
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18. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
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19. A backward poet writes in-verse.
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20. In democracy it’s your vote that counts. In feudalism it’s your count that votes.
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21. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
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22. Don’t join dangerous cults, practice safe sects!
I hope you can now laugh without pain. Some of the above jokes were pretty funny, and often when I’m merely grinning you’re ROTFL. Mary’s shawl is gorgeous, but the one you’re knitting will be good medicine. Keep it up slowly, and keep eating on a regular basis, several times a day. It’s amazing what that can do for you!
Comment by LauraN 02.15.09 @ 9:47 pmWow-that is a stunning shawl — appropriate for you, the mistress of shawls!
Comment by Renee 02.15.09 @ 10:02 pmah, more little yet normalizing things- aren’t they wonderful? I am amazed you can knit on hydrocodone- I simply cannot.
I’ll think of you as I drip out some plateletes Friday.
Gotta figure out the leaves on that shawl….
Comment by Catherine mad knitter 02.16.09 @ 12:24 amOh my goodness, Mary’s shawl is just beautiful! Thank you for sharing the picture. 🙂
I’m glad you decided on a scarf with the green yarn. There’ll be time for bigger knitting projects later on.
Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 02.16.09 @ 6:45 amWhat a beautiful shawl! I’m so glad you’re able to knit again.
Comment by Michelle 02.16.09 @ 7:42 amThat shawl is truely a gift of LOVE! Wrap yourself in a big hug while happily knitting away!
Comment by Sue H 02.16.09 @ 7:52 amlovely, lovely, LOVELY shawl!
and yay for the slow knitting. Clearly you are on the path to recovery.
Comment by Carol 02.16.09 @ 8:04 amWow – what a beautiful gift, it’s a gorgeous shawl, perfect for snuggling up in!
Comment by Anna 02.16.09 @ 8:38 amThat is an absolutely gorgeous shawl! And it sounds like you’re staying warm in the best possible way 🙂
Comment by Jocelyn 02.16.09 @ 9:51 amI love that there are leaves on that wonderful shawl. It reminds me of new growth, of a certain plum tree, and of our Alison gradually gaining in strength.
I also love the image of those faces lighting up last night. I’ll bet those smiles were really something to see.
Comment by RobinM 02.16.09 @ 12:58 pmThe delight on Sam’s and Richard’s faces at seeing you snug and knitting is mirrored on faces around the world.
We love you, Alison!
Comment by AmyS 02.16.09 @ 1:18 pmHooray you are knitting! That is wonderful. Such a beautiful shawl, made with love, it will keep you warmer because it was made with love.
Comment by Vicki 02.16.09 @ 1:35 pmYay! I’m so happy to see the words “thrilled” here, and I’m so happy to know you are back to doing what you love.
Comment by Momo Fali 02.16.09 @ 6:32 pmAlison,
I hope your friend’s lists of humor/jokes aren’t too painful for you to laugh at but, I have to tell you, they crack my husband and me both up. 🙂 I hope he doesn’t stop…and I hope you’re continuing to feel better and better!
Best wishes,
Abby
And the shawl is lovely!
I do love Don’s jokes. Laughter is sometimes the best medicine…right along with loving people who care for you, and knitters who knit for you.
Love, laughter, and prayers.
Comment by karin 02.16.09 @ 8:02 pmThe blanket/shawl is lovely. I’m sure it warms your soul as well as your body.
Comment by Renna 02.16.09 @ 10:28 pmHah! You’ve been Alisoned! And with such a gorgeous shawl!
I cracked up at the jokes. If you didn’t have to grab some meds after that, you really *are* getting better!
I’ll send you an extra…oh…hundred pounds if you want ’em. I sure don’t! But they keep on sticking to me–I just can’t get rid of them.
Did you hear the one about the child-proof home? It didn’t work–they kept getting in!
It’s nice to have them there, too! *wave* Hi Je…er…”Sam”. Hi Richard….(even if you aren’t a kid) Keep on doing what you feel up to doing, Alison {{{{{{{{{Alison}}}}}}}}}
Comment by Karen 02.17.09 @ 4:48 pmLeave a comment
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