Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Ch..Ch..Ch..Ch... Changes

Smokey Checkerboard Mittens
Kind of like the Bowie song , things are changing. Yes, I know that they are always changing but some times you hit milestones in your life.

I feel like this is one of those times. Tomorrow I am moving my parents into an independent retirement home. They are 78 and it is time. They both face different sort of challenges but it became obvious that they were starting to struggle living on their own. For the past 3-4 months I have taken them around to different places, talked with administration, and to many relatives. We finally have reached the day now where it is time to move.

Mom is ready for this but Dad unfortunately is not. Myself I know that this is what is needed for them to be safe and to have help in their daily lives beyond what we can provide on a makeshift basis. I worry that the change might be too much for my dad and make things worse, but hope that instead it will make things better. Only time will really tell.

It's funny how life goes from your parents looking after you to you looking after your parents. Life is really the cycle they say it is.

For me, I am turning 50 in a few weeks and I guess they say that is a big milestone. Myself I am just happy to make it. I am not sure how I feel about turning that age. Actually I don't think I really feel anything. We'll see.

I am in between any big knitting projects lately. I finished my Lehe Shawl and have a few other shawls in mind. Although I am not sure how much people can use them I really love the beauty of them so I am in a bit of a shawl rut. Above are my Smokey Checkerboard mittens. I love this pattern which I got from Robin Hansons book "Favorite Mittens". I adapted the size but really just love this simple design and the warmth that comes from them slightly ribbing together.

I am working on a quick pair of socks while I figure out what comes next. I really want to do a sampler Blanket from Treasury of Knitting 4 but still have not bought the wool. I am also teaching a few classes this month. I enjoy that.

Well, just figured it was time to blog again.