The circle of life

In the last ten days, we've had a funeral, a birth, and a wedding in my family.  Sadness but oh so much joy.  All in all, we are blessed.  Although I will admit, tired!  The sadness of losing my great uncle is blunted knowing he is once again together with his beloved wife.  The joy that stretches so high and wide is my favorite niece had her first baby last week, welcome to the family Adelynne!  And finally two days ago, my cousin's daughter married in a beautiful park.  All in all, lots of family time, lots of laughter mixed with tears. 

In the mix I received a new package of roving.  I found a new dyer, Aloha Blue, her colors are heavily influenced by Hawaii and oh it shows. This is Tropical Sorbet. 

Then there is Lanikai Hike.  I'm a sucker for blues and browns

I also picked out South Seas - this is a Superwash blue Face Leicester roving.

And finally Blood Oranges.  This is what is currently on my wheel.  It is a wool silk blend that is heavenly to spin.  Just slips through my fingers. 

But the truly best thing I'm working on?  This is Baby Girasole, for another new baby on the way to our family.  This baby will be born in November.  When Kyle and his Anna were married three years ago, I knit them a Girasole blanket.  So when they announced they were expecting, I quickly ordered up some roving from Ginny at Fat Cat Knits, I spun her Millifiori into a fingering weight yarn and am powering through a baby sized Girasole.  I love the symmetry of the same pattern.  I'm nearly done and I'm so happy with how it is turning out.  So a couple pictures, does need some blocking eventually, but I think it is gorgeous.  smile....

I hate math

I was an English/Elementary Ed major in college.  Taught school for several years.  Most of those years I was a Reading/English teacher for middle school kids.  Note, READING....not math....ENGLISH....again not math. Later, I transition into the legal field, working as a paralegal and legal secretary.  Again...no math.  Well I'd have to number exhibits for trial but that was the extent of my math requirements.  So here I am, knitting.  A lot.  And what is part of knitting?  Math.  Sigh, sometimes a lot of math.  Did I mention I hate math?  That my sister is an accountant and can do math easily and in her sleep.  Me?  Not so much.  I can do it.  But it is a chore.  The Girasole is a well planned out and beautiful pattern.  I've even done it before.  Most of the math is limited to simple counting.  Apparently this weekend, that was more than I could handle.  But I'm back on track and should finish Chart F by midweek if not sooner.  But I did use my math skills to figure out that to finish this baby blanket, I have approximately 26,000 stitches left.  26 THOUSAND stitches.  This is why I hate math.  It is black and white and just lays it out there.  I need to run, must keep knitting.  I'm talking THOUSANDS of stitches needed to complete the blankie by August 4.