Tuckerman's Ravine

We spent Friday, the last day of my son's school vacation, hiking up to Tuckerman's Ravine on Mt. Washington. This pic from the caretaker's cabin, about 1.5 hours into the hike, is the first time my son got a look at the ravine. I've hiked up to the ravine before, but never on such a spectacularly clear day.

The plan was to hike in, mostly watch other skiers and riders, and not for him to attempt to snowboard the headwall. But every 14 year old wants to prove his Mom wrong, so up the headwall he climbed, over "the lip" where he disappeared for several agonizing minutes. I waited for him to appear. Waited some more. Is this what it is going to be like when he gets his license and takes the car out the first time? Or will that be even worse? Finally he appeared at the top of the headwall and rode down the wall with ease. The dot in the middle of this pic is my son. He paused for a minute at the bottom, and climbed up again. It was a great day for us both. Hiking back down to Pinkham Notch, he was glowing with a sense of accomplishment. And you know, I felt good about letting go enough to let him do it.

AJ's Sweater

AJ's sweater is finished. This was such a simple pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The pattern provides intructions for sizes 3 months to 8 years, so I know I'll be back to use it again.





Currently on the needles is a Girlfriend's Swingcoat for my niece Ava. This is a great pattern by Wendy from knitandtonic. It does not look like much yet with the sleeves waiting on stitch holders and the flare of the body bunched up on the needles, but it's going to be a winner. And I love the blue sky alpaca cotton yarn. After this garment is done, I'll be back to knitting socks. I joined another knit along - Count Your Socks.

Best of Boston

I had the pleasure of going to Boston last weekend, marathon weekend. This is the best time to visit the city for someone that loves running and baseball. The Red Sox are always in town the weekend of the Boston Marathon. For the past couple years, my siblings and I attend the runner's expo and sox game on Saturday. Then we return to volunteer in the Boston Marathon on Monday, patriots day. Between us we have at least 10 Boston marathon finishes.
These are just some of the images captured from this great weekend.
"America's Most Beloved Ball Park." Well at least that's what Red Sox fans think. She looks great, even better after the reconstruction of the 406 club behind home plate. As a friend of mine said, all the updates look like they have been there for a 100 years.



Everything around Fenway contributes toward an awesome atmosphere, even the Sausage King. Although actually consuming the sausage from the King may actually ruin the appeal.









Section 22 is where the true Red Sox fans are. It's right behind home plate - great view in front of you and the sounds of the ragtime band coming from Yawkey Way behind you. The bandwagon fans can have their $150 seats, I'm happy standing in Section 22.










The finish line of the Boston Marathon is a beautiful thing.









After running 26.2 miles, it is an wonderful welcome to Boston.

Happy Birthday Cara!

Cara is one year old today. She is our faithful companion, running partner, ball catcher,












attentive co-pilot,









stick retriever, a teenager's confidant.

You are a great friend Cara. Happy Birthday!

Stuck in Knitting Loserville

I know it has been a while since I have posted, but that does not mean I have not been busy knitting. Unfortunately all the objects I have knitted have not worked out as I had hoped. Yep...they are loser objects. But we must blog about the bad as well as the good right?

My husband was asked to be godfather to our newest nephew, Anthony Joseph (AJ). This honor, as all momentous occasions, must be celebrated with a knitted gift.
First I knitted this felted ballcap, which I have successfully knitted for a friend's baby boy before. Result - loser. The wonderful thing about felting is the object can look horrible going into the wash, but then come out wonderful. Unfortunately the reverse is also true. Wonderful going in, horrible coming out. The J really was straight before the hat was felted.





So...then I knitted this basketweave sweater, a pattern that looked great for either a boy or a girl. I picked out a boyish lichen green color in lambspride superwash for AJ's sweater. I was having so much fun knitting with this yarn that I did not notice how the basketweave in this loose a guage is really too frilly for a boy's garment. Result - loser. Sweater design too frilly for a boy. Sweater color too boyish for a girl.
So...I am now working on the Child's Placket Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Is the "third time a charm" or is it "bad things happen in threes"? We shall see.

Welcome AJ! I am your crazy aunt who knits.

We interrupt this knitting...

...to finally finish the sweater. Now I remember why I do not sew. I also think these garments might be named sweaters because of all the sweat that goes into making the thing. Seaming is a painful process. I must have ripped out each seam 3 times. I thought I finally got it right until my aran cable sweater instructor got a look at it at knitting group on Thursday. Strangely enough the seams looked perfect on the inside of the sweater. She said "Are you sure you did not seam this on the wrong side?" I could have. At one point I was so dizzy with the ripping and the seaming that I seamed a side of a sleeve to the body of the sweater. I spent this weekend ripping and seaming some more. And it's done. Or I'm done with it. It's not perfect, but I do love those cables. I think I'll go back to socks now.