Almost a week in Portugal

This city, Porto, is rich in color. The portuguese language is throaty and unexpected and beautiful. The people we met were kind and hardworking. Seeing a glimpse of Emily's life has me feeling thankful as I have imagined it for a long time. I shook it's hand. I saw her real sunny smile. I hugged her tight and that made the travel worth it. While I wouldn't recommend traveling with a toddler alone, I also couldn't regret such an experience. Bea and Emily met. That makes me very happy. I'll always remember our days in Porto together, three girls hanging out, walking the Douro river, watching a woman sing Fado, drinking pingos, chasing pigeons, admiring drying laundry, hearing portuguese compliments for my daughter. We ate green melon, cheese sandwiches, and octopus, especially Bea. We watched a duck waddle in her backyard and cats leap from orange rooftops. I hope you like the pictures.

The big girl she is becoming slaps me in the face every once in a while.

I made such big and joyful laughs this morning watching her discover how fun it is to swing on tall bars. I wonder if we woke up any of the neighbors.

These are some of our summer colors:

Knitting

As a parent and a knitter there are many bags of yarn and needles around. At least one to tick away at while the child plays with blocks or even pretends to knit right along side of me. She even says "knittttiin". Oh, honey, you just gave me the go ahead to teach you as soon as your little brain can handle it. This is the hang around Bea project,

Hello stockinette! This here is a bottom up Elizabeth Zimmermann design for my special man friend. The pattern is fun and found in Knitting Without Tears (always a good idea). I like her classic designs as you have to measure and multiply and think. As you read her unique patterns you hear Mrs. Zimmermann's voice and get to know her as an intelligent woman with a sense of humor sitting in rocking chairs, tending to her family, and really creating amazing garments to share with the world. I am enjoying the tealish acrylic, nylon blend of Berroco Comfort, which I wouldn't normally gravitate towards. It is soft and squishy. It seems like it will wear well for years and years. That's what I want for my guy.

The alone or knitting without child is this Perkins Cove knit in shibui linen,

I am a big Pam Allen and Quince & Co. fan and now a lover of Shibui Knits yarn. Quince is based in Maine and Shibui Knits is a local Portland Oregon company. This pullover will be a special treat for myself. Hopefully I can wrap it up by September because I'd really like to start working with this yarn for the 18 month old I love so much,

Ever since I started working at Close Knit I have had such urges, such intense fiber desires to buy this uniquely variegated superwash wool for Bea. She is a creature of big emotion, of dramatic reenactments, of gallops and love that knocks her to her knees to express just how much she loves something like the big green water tower and that to me says, "mommy, I need a lot of color in my knit wear sometimes because I am a lot of color most of the time". So, I did it. I bought the dang stuff and gees was it hard to choose a colorway! Kenny chose this one. It is the most perfect combination of gold, gray, hot pink, and green. Maybe with this pattern, The Retro Baby Smock? My current favorite crafter Alicia Paulson may have convinced me that this is the right fit for such perfectly wild yarn.

I hope you're loving what you make.

Close Knit

I really, really love this place. Thank you for letting me work here, Sally.

Oh the beauty and talent this place holds and invites! It/you/they inspire(s) me to make as many quality knitted garments as I possibly can.