My 2nd Knitaversary

Actually, it's around midafternoon today but we're off doing Duck Race prep with the Masons today so I'll post now. Two years ago, on the August long weekend (forever known in my heart as Natal Day Weekend, for Halifax/Dartmouth Natal Day), I taught myself to knit. And since then, what a long strange trip it's been (thank you, Jerry Garcia!).

Peter and I had planned this getaway on pretty short notice and ended up booking a totally secluded cabin in the woods on Manitoulin Island. As I recall, we were supposed to be visiting some acquaintances of his over at the big Wiki pow-wow that weekend. However, it rained. A lot. So we spent a big chunk of the weekend in the secluded cabin, him reading and napping and me teaching myself to knit. And I knit a wee Red Heart acrylic potholder, and left it in the cabin, and started a scarf on the way home. And I've been knitting pretty near every day ever since, and it's a part of my life that makes me feel whole, and creative, and relaxed (mostly), and industrious, because it makes my leisure time productive. I can make pretty things, and practical things, and odd things, with the two-sticks-and-string (ok, sometimes four sticks) that have endless possibilities.

The best part is that nearly every time I pick up my knitting, a wee bit of my mind/heart/soul is transported back to that secluded cabin, just me and my man and no "civilization". I ache for it at times. We will go back one day soon. But for now, I've got my knitting.

In honour of today's Knitaversary, I will start a new project. I will start a pair of socks in yarn I purchased from Marian of Freshisle Fibers, on Manitoulin Island. (Yes, I bought it online through the mail but it still counts, dammit.) Marian and I correspond sometimes and check in on each other's blogs here and there, and I count her as an important Net-friend. She's sweet and creative and we share a lot of the same fixations (although I have not yet knit Horcrux socks, I did do all 4 house scarves!). And of course, she supplies me with a tangible link back to Manitoulin, one I can hold in my hands and smell and squish and make lovely things of. And in my mind, for a little while today, I will be back on the Island.

Happy Natal Day Weekend everyone!

Edit: 8:54 p.m. What a busy day! Knit half a sock in Marian's "Lilacs" colourway, helped tag rubber ducks for an hour or so, ran errands with Peter, decorated two more cakes, watched a movie, finished a book, and got my Dwarf Paladin up to level 20 on WoW (he was 19 before, but I got gakked several times trying to finish one quest...) Now, book and bed. Tomorrow is race day and housecleaning day.