That green hat? Now I can say it.
We had a tree come up near the house, oh, about ten years ago, a nice little tree. I’m an East Coast person who grew up in the woods (just enough grass at the front there to be, you know, proper, although we loved the wild violets that popped up all over and let them be in all their delightful little purpley glory).
I like all the green I can get around here.
But it became not so nice. Our patio started to buckle and we sure didn’t want it to do that to the house, too. I read up on it and it was apparently an ailanthus, an alien species that doesn’t support the local wildlife and a fast grower because it hogs all the water–and its roots reaching under the shed to the other side looked like they were tangling with the neighbor’s tall and much-loved redwood that overlaps onto our property.
I pointed that out to the neighbors and promised them. The young tree had to go.
I waited for nesting season to be over, just in case, although I’d never seen the birds or squirrels stay in it for long. Too open. Too vulnerable. They clearly preferred other types. Curious.
The guy I called for a quote came last week with his little boy in tow, an absolutely adorable preschooler who shyly shook my hand too like his daddy, who was beaming proudly, as well he should.
After they left, I went through my stash: years of knitting lace and fingering weights for book material (did you SEE last week when the cheapest new copy of Wrapped was listed at $96.07?!) meant there was nothing really there in the way of little boys and hat material. Purlescence was having a big sale Saturday, though, and surely I could find something good.
Right. Finding good yarn at Purlescence. Difficult, I know.
And so that Jo Sharp merino/silk/cashmere went home with me and a very soft hat got made for an unbelievably small amount of money. Two balls five bucks. It took me just one.
Guess who came along with his daddy for a few moments this morning on his way to preschool? Did I mention he’d already melted my heart? And how much he looks like David, my sort-of-other-son from way back when? (The oldest child of the Tara’s Redwood Burl Shawl story.) But then the little boy’s face lit up and he waved hi at me with a smile when he saw me, not quite so shy this time–and I went right back inside and got his hat.
Chris, if he should ever lose that and be heartbroken, you let me know and on a day’s notice for the knitting, I’ll sneak you a spare. (I know, it doesn’t work with baby blankets either, the kids can always tell. But if he’ll let me, I’ve got the yarn, I can knit him another.)
And if you live in the Bay Area of northern California and you want a good tree service, I thoroughly recommend Chris’s.
Oh, and? The barbecue grill got moved over a bit during all the goings-on. Later, I got to see a gray squirrel give it a quick glance from a planter, take a flying leap, and… miss! It landed on its feet but I think it stubbed its nose, poor thing. Then it got up on the lower bar and posed a moment in triumph, as if to declare, Tadaah! I *meant* to do that.
And here I’d been just waiting for one of them to leap for the missing tree.
8 Comments so far
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You are a dear. I bet he doesn’t lose the hat… my silly, irresponsible (legally adult) nephew hasn’t lost the camo one I made him last year.
Comment by Channon 07.23.10 @ 7:36 amHat? Done! Tree? Done!
Comment by Sherry in Idaho 07.23.10 @ 8:12 amlovely — I’m sure he’ll enjoy the hat
oh and, I really can just see the squirrel “stubbing his nose” — great word picture!!
Comment by Bev 07.23.10 @ 8:33 amwait — $96.07!! wow — of course those of us that own a copy know it’s priceless, but that’s a whole other thing
Comment by Bev 07.23.10 @ 8:51 amYou have such a good heart. That boy will love that hat forever. I’m sure he’ll take good care of it. g
Comment by gMarie 07.23.10 @ 9:04 amSeems like you melt the hearts of youngsters of all ages.
Far better that the tree go than your house! And I doubt you’ll see any animals leaping for a non-existent tree.
Comment by Don Meyer 07.23.10 @ 9:07 amMy husband and I had a twenty-year battle over the violets in our yard. I loved ’em; he hated ’em. Paid lots of money to have ’em killed–didn’t work. I WIN!
Comment by Abby 07.23.10 @ 10:05 amSigh. I have been so, incredibly busy this summer (working part-time from home, repair projects around the house, softball, baseball, and my nearly 76 year old mother moving for the second time in nine months). I haven’t been online much. I think I have missed it here most of all.
Comment by Momo Fali 07.23.10 @ 6:27 pmLeave a comment
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