A Brand New Start

Dear Sis,

It has been 6 years. 6 years since our last digital letter. 6 years of so much life. Rather than even attempt to fill in any gaps, I’ll let the gaps fill themselves as needed. Instead, I’m going for a brand new start.

It has been such a very long time since I sat and had a cup of tea, since I sat with my yarn. These are the things that happened today that led me here. First, TinyM came and asked me if I had any yarn for the robins. I pretty much tore apart the storage room, but I knew I had a small bag of yarn ends in there somewhere. My total disregard for the mess I was making was rewarded, and as so infrequently happens these days, I found what I was looking for.

Yarn for robins!

Later, after picking up TinyM from preschool & having lunch, we sat down to watch his favorite show (Lots and Lots of Really Big Trains) on Amazon. While the show started, I brewed some tea (mixed jasmine & black) and considered what I would do while TinyM watched his show. I thought about yarn, but I’m so tired. It is nice to have the week off work, and I just got my room (mostly) straightened up. Then the smell of the tea hit me, and I was instantly reminded of this place, our place.

It would seem that since we live so much closer than before (just a few towns apart) we wouldn’t need letters, but I think we maybe need them now even more than before!

So… what is new? Well, in BIG news, I finally broke down and got a classroom pet. Or at least, I may have. We shall see if she makes it to school. TinyM has fallen in love. Meet Hedwig:

Meet Hedwig.

It’s a long story, but long story (relatively) short… I talked to a local pet shop a couple weeks ago, and a woman who looked like someone important told me she’d order what I was looking for and have one in the week after. I ordered her a pretty cute looking cage that seemed to match the size requirements for her. Fast forward a week, the cage is together and awaiting an occupant. I stopped by the shop & the same exact lady told me word for word the same thing. So I called 2 other pet shops nearby. Each of those didn’t even know what I was talking about. Finally, I called the place we found her. She came home with us and I was immediately aware her new stylish home was WAY too small. I fast ordered her the cage I should have ordered her in the first place, and spent the next day reorganizing my room to make space for Hedwig’s new digs. This was no small feat, considering. You know me: I won’t take out any furniture just because new furniture is being added! Hilariously enough, my room has never looked more spacious.

Because I hate sending things back (especially by mail), and because I wouldn’t want to donate the inhumane tiny cage and encourage anyone else to use it… both cages are now in my room. I cleaned out the tiny one, and it now has a much more appropriate life as a bookcase. Her wheel is still too small, but I couldn’t order the new one on rush. It will arrive asap, though! (And bonus… it’ll be purple.)

Horrible cage repurposed as a shelf… I now have the bottom filled as well.

With any luck, we will have cheerfully colored robins’ nests to look forward to, and everyone (including Granpa) is already enjoying our new housemate. I miss you, as always, and I love you!

❤ Kia

PS – tea: Arabian Night; on the needles/hook: socks… and have been since last summer

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Letters to My Knitting & You

Dear Circs,

I really hate you.  I moved my shawl over to you because Sis told me I would need you.  533 stitches is too many for straight needles, she said.  I dutifully followed instructions, but as I was moving my shawl over to you, I realized I could no longer use my knee to brace my needle.  You’re simply not shaped correctly for that sort of thing, are you?  And oh my goodness!  Is it necessary to constantly throw your plastic bit in my face?  It really gets in the way!  You’re so very unwieldy!!!!  I had to put my project back onto my straight needles until we can get this worked out, you and me.

Signed,

K

Dear Sis,

Thank you for letting me borrow your Circs.  We haven’t gotten off on the right foot.  I won’t lie.  It got a little dicey there for a while.  Things were said neither of us can take back.  Names were called… I said Circ was unwieldy.  Circ retorted that I was a newb.  It got ugly.  But we’re passed it.  Maybe in the future we can work things out, be friends.  But for now we just need some distance.  He’s currently hanging out in my new knitting bag in the zipper pocket.  He’s got plenty of room in there, and his plastic bit is learning to tame down.  I hope.

❤ K

Dear Shawl,

I’m very sorry I thought I could knit you during the day when everyone interrupts me.  I should know better than this.  I didn’t want to have to frog you all out, either.  And I’m just as hurt as you that the last bit felted and the yarn broke.  That little bit of darker green was my favorite bit so far 😦

To make up for my failings in knitting, I have sewn you a beautiful home.  Sit, enjoy.  I made this just for you.  I know I messed you up, but I’ll be more careful next time.  I promise not to take you out when I’ll be interrupted until I’m a better knitter.  Rest up!  I’ll need you soon!

❤ Me

Winter Break is Over…

Dear Sis,

With the Christmas break over, it’s been a bit difficult to find some time to write, but that doesn’t mean there has been no crafty time!  I have so much to write about, you can expect a few letters from me over the next few days.

What has been going on over this absence?

Big snows:

Even more snow:

Dr. Suess – like snow:

Warming up by the fire (sorry for the terrible lighting in this photo):

Lots of hooky:

(Credit for the green piggy and yellow birdie goes to you! Thanks again! I’ll explain more to our readers soon…)

And going through your yarn stash:

So much to talk about!  Must start writing here more often… but for now, I need to finish my lesson for tonight.  My students will not appreciate how much yarn fun I’ve been having!  They will be much more interested in the review game I’ve promised them… I’m off to compile some prizes!  Talk to you soon.

Love,

K