Stitches of Looooove

This is my 100th post. No cards necessary, unless they be gift cards.

"Stitches of Love" has become a sort of inside joke between the DH and I. It began first, I think, when I was knitting the Lily of the Valley stole for my younger daughter. It was meant to be a wedding gift, and I worked on it very constantly until the wedding was called off. Later, it was a gift before the wedding that did happen. She's a constant challenge, this kid.

Anyway, when I was working on it, I was very full of hope for her, and sentimentally (yes, even I succumb occasionally!), I felt a bit of hope, a dream, some love, was caught up in every stitch. When I said this to the DH, it became Stitches of Loooooooooooooove. LOL.

The laughter continued when I began a gansey sweater for him. He'd look at me and say, "Knit, knit, knit!" to which I'd reply, "Stitches of Looooooooooove!" Then the darling man (humph) lost thirty pounds. I stopped work on the sweater, feeling a wool swimming pool would not flatter him in the least.

Two years later, and I've finally taken heart to try again. This time it's a beautifully cabled aran sweater called Iain. Put out by Figheadh Yarnworks, you cannot purchase it directly from them, but I got it from Patternworks. It calls for Cascade's Ecological Wool, and I let the DH pick his color. Thing is, he picked Awassi, which is a lovely tan and white marled yarn. I was really worried that the texture wouldn't show up well in a non-solid, but I think I worried needlessly.

I began the sweater on Feb. 26th, and in spite of having to write a history paper about Elizabeth I and Mary of Scots (with footnotes and bibliography) which was about 11 pages, I'm still making good progress. It's worked circularly until it divides for the armholes...done that, and I'm almost done the back. This is a detail. Note that since it's unblocked, the center cable is puckered like it's been sucking on a lemon. It hasn't. The smaller side cable is a bit compressed too, but it won't be when it's washed and blocked.

You can see all the cable work here, the broad double-cabling in the middle and then the two simpler cables on either side. The rest of the texturing is a lovely basketweave. This color is a bit more true.

And another angle that shows just how much that center cable is drawing in. Flattened out there is almost a full inch of purl at the narrowest part of the cable. It looks so cool, doesn't it? And even without blocking to make it pop, there's plenty of texture easily seen.

This sweater has the added benefit of having given us another phrase - "Cables of Cuddles." Yes, we're ridiculous together.

But I know you won't tell.

Dancing With Your Eyes Closed

A dear friend, Witt, and I loan books to one another. Normally I rip right through them, but recent events have left me little time for reading. I've had one book from him for a couple of months without cracking it open. I finally did and found a woven bookmark that he made me. Lovely, and simple, and I'll cherish it.

As I am the story...this is wonderful. The more so because it's a first novel, by Patrick Rothfuss, called The Name of The Wind. The prose is engrossing, and the story fascinating. But one passage moved me to tears.

I quote from page 108. "My parents danced together, her head on his chest. Both had their eyes closed. They seemed so perfectly content. If you can find someone like that, someone who you can hold and close your eyes to the world with, then you're lucky. Even if it only lasts for a minute or a day. The image of them gently swaying to the music is how I picture love in my mind even after all these years."

No offense to my favorite gender, but how many men get that? How many men understand the absolute importance of the quiet, almost unnoticed moment that still means more than words can say? Damned few, in my experience...especially if they are straight.

But I have one of the few. His birthday is Friday, and we're entertaining, so I may not have time to post that day. You should know that we often work weddings together; him photographing this so-emotional day, and me officiating, joining the two into one. When our work is done, we wait for the DJ or band to play something slow. "Soul Provider" was our first dance, and if we can request it, we do. And we dance. With our eyes closed.

Happiest of birthdays, my darling. I could never begin to match the gift that you are to me.

A Fable for V-Day

I'm going to tell you a story, and as all good stories go, it begins, "Once Upon A Time..."

...there was a young-ish man. Not a kid, but seasoned by time, and some grief. Years before he'd lost the woman he loved to some murderous thugs who raped and killed her, and left him badly injured.

Oh! Did I mention this is NOT a bedtime story?

He took a long time to recover physically, and a longer time to recover emotionally. As the years wore on, he dated occasionally, but never seriously, and withdrew very much into himself. He was kind, but remote, brilliant, but reserved. His life consisted of work, reading, music, and running a local BBS (Bulletin Board System.)

Once upon the SAME time, there was a woman, younger than the man, unhappily married but with two great daughters. She had had to put all her dreams on hold to follow him around the world, but he never appreciated it. Living with him was like walking on eggshells - every word measured, fighting often, knowing herself unloved and under-appreciated. Her husband would snarl at her, "We're not married! We have a piece of paper, but we're not married." She worried a lot about her girls growing up thinking that this was what marriage was, but she was afraid to leave.

One day, her beloved grandmother died, and she saw how the grandfather who had always been so close to her heart mourned his lost wife. It hit the woman very strongly that if she were to die, her husband would feel relief, not sorrow, and it came to her that she deserved better. But after so many years of hurt, she didn't believe with her mind what her heart knew.

About a year later, the woman was testing a new BBS for some friends, and it led her to others in the area. She made several friends online, but the most special one was the man who ran his own BBS. They would talk about games they played online, and music, and families, and he came to realize that she was very unhappy, believing very little in herself. She came to realize how caring but lonely he was. They became dear friends and confidantes...but they had never seen one another.

After several months of getting to know one another over modem lines, they decided to meet. The woman was cautious, picking a public place and taking a girlfriend along. She went to Walden Books, and waited, scared to death. What if he didn't show? Worse, what if he DID!?

The man was nervous too. He didn't wear the sweater he said he would, just in case he decided to flee. But he didn't. He saw her, and he instinctively opened his arms. She walked in to them and it was the warmest, kindest gesture she'd had in years. Their friendship was well and truly sealed.

That was 15 years ago this past Sunday. His caring and belief in her gave her the courage to tell her husband that he was right about them not having a marriage, and she deserved better...even if it meant being alone. She knew her friend would always be her friend, but she didn't know if it would become more.

The man was a bit leery...he was used to his bachelor ways, and inviting three women into his life would mean changes beyond his scope. But after a year and a half, he called his parents while the woman was visiting, and told them the two were getting married. Although he'd asked her earlier in the day what she would say IF he asked her marry him, he hadn't actually done so, and she pointed that out when he got off the phone.

He remedied this oversight, and they were married a year later.

Okay, it isn't Cinderella. It isn't even Sixteen Candles, but it is true. The DH made my biggest dream a reality; he loves me just for me, and I can be utterly my own snarky self with him. Oh, and he still gives incredible hugs.

And we really have lived happily ever after.