Sweater for your father

Hi Megs,

Loved the tulips - am jealous. We have been cold (+2 to -8 C) the last two weeks and we are all tired of it. So the sight of the tulips - very nice.

And I do LOVE the idea of the maple flakes. As you know - I DON'T like those maple cookies that are shaped like maple leafs. But the idea that I can have real maple on my oatmeal or Red River Cereal - I like that idea! I think I am going to order some. An innovative Canadian product.

I also love the flower tea. What a crazy idea to have a flower bloom in your tea. They probably won't ship to Canada. It is on my "wish list" when we come to San Francisco in May. The advantage of living in a city is that you can go to events like the Fancy Food Show and also buy interesting and trendy products. The best we can do (at least this time of year) is have great lobsters and sea food! Not so hard to take.

Now - what knitting have I been doing? Well - started several projects (like I need more). Mainly I have been trying to find a nice sweater for the really beautiful yarns I bought to make you brother a truly horrible sweater - but didn't thanks to your advice and his funny look. Dad wanted a vest so I did find a nice one (the colours in the picture are awful) but the fall browns and greens are going to be very nice. This yarn is three different textures: Rowan's Silk/Cotton, Tapestry and Kid Classic. I particularly like the Tapestry. It has a very subtle variegation. The pattern is from Knitter's Magazine Winter 2006. Usually don't find things I like in this mag - they pick truly awful colourways and designs where they are just trying to hard to make it different! But this is a nice one. Classic bones.

Before I got very far with it I did check it out with Dad to make sure he liked it. He pulled out several of the sweaters I made him in the past because it was cold and he wanted something warm. He wore the Alice Starmore "Stornoway" I made 9 years ago (and won "best knitted item" the first time I entered it in the Western Nova Scotia Exhibition) from the book "Fishermen's Sweaters". I made it from beautiful 5 ply gansey wool. So yes, us old gals (and guys) have been knitting for a long time and when Stan started pulling out all the sweaters I made over the years, I guess I have been productive. Note: picture is NOT Stan! He is better looking.

Happy I brought back memories of grade 6. I was trying to find a picture of you wearing the sweater - I know there is one - but can't find it. Oh my - what we thought was pretty in the 80's!

Take care - enjoy life.

Love ya, Mom XOP