We met at Marylane’s house on a sunny, spring (finally) day.  When I got there everyone was gathered in the kitchen enjoying the treats that Mary had brought – an amazing poppyseed cake, a veggie platter and sweet/salty crunchies.  Wow.  Thanks, Mary.  You know what we like!  I was so busy eating that I forgot to take a photo of the table.

Kendra was visiting her mom (Marylane) and it was fun to catch up with her.  She had brought her golf clubs and got a HOLE IN ONE at the local golf course earlier in the week!  Congratulations Kendra!  Well done you!  Got your name in the paper and everything!  I can hardly hit the ball.  Maybe we should have a Castoffs golf tournament.  If so, Kendra’s coming and she’s on my team.

Oh, yeah, knitting.  We are knitting some great projects.  The grandmas among us are REALLY getting some wonderful things knitted.  Carol is knitting a hoodie/snuggly/ after bath thingy using some soft, thick synthetic yarn.  It felt amazing and gave Carol the award for Angel Grandma.

So far, only a halo...soon, a hoodie.

Mary sent me a photo of her completed sock monkey and it turned out so cute – in spite of our disparaging remarks about its resemblance to B-52s and penis covers.  Her daughter loves it – it’s already at its new home in Arizona awaiting the birth of Larissa’s baby in July.

Mary! It's a MONKEY!

In a springtime miracle, Mary brought her other sock to finish.  Yes, she is going to make a PAIR of socks.  Many of us stop at one sock (ahem, that would be me), but Mary unearthed the needles and yarn and is forging ahead to complete the pair.  She doesn’t think they will be a perfect match because she made a boo-boo on the first one that she can’t exactly replicate, but she’ll give it a try.  Good on ya, Mary!

Taking a break from baby stuff - it's a sock!

Leslie was knitting a very interesting baby item – a kickbag.  Sounds like something I used to do in the gym at the martial arts studio.  But no.  A kickbag is a loose, ah, bag that you stick the baby in – up to her little armpits – and let her kick, kick, kick.  Perhaps it’s a privacy issue.  Kick in private?  Or a game for the parents.  Hide the baby?  Whatever the rationale behind the kickbag theory, Leslie is using some pretty cool yarn and stitches.  The ribbed edge is a twisted rib pattern that I tried to get a closeup of, but it is difficult to see with the multi-colored yarn.

"And here's where the baby's head sticks out..."

Kickbag - a closeup.

Another springtime miracle happened while we were sitting there – Linda FINISHED HER SHAWL!  We egged her on a bit, but she bound it off and can move on to another project.  Not that we were tired of looking at it or anything…

Yay! Finished!

Linda was telling us that she had been to a class on Nordic walking – walking with poles to get a better workout.  Anyway, we were all pretty interested in this, so we are going to have a lesson next week at Linda’s house.  We’ll be knitting and walking.  Not simultaneously, of course, but it should be fun.  Bring your poles, Castoffs, and we’ll learn how to walk.

I brought the scarf that I’m knitting for my friend Michelle.  I’m surprised to see how quickly it’s coming.  The pattern is easy and although the ribbon yarn is not the easiest to work with, it’s not so bad.  Pretty, too!

Kendra is helping me display the ribbon scarf.

Ribbon scarf - closeup.

I think Michele was having issues with her sleeveless sweater.  I heard a lot of counting aloud and groans of displeasure.  She is knitting a lace pattern and I know that they can be difficult when a lot of commotion is going on around you while you’re trying to concentrate.

Uh-oh, that's not a happy face, Michele.

Deb has had an issue or two on her sleeveless sweater also.  The two of them, Deb and Michele, talked about the contortions they would have to go through while trying to hide the mistakes after the two sweaters are finished and on their bodies.  Deb did a silly walk that reminded me of John Cleese in ‘Monty Python’.  Sure hope they don’t have to walk THAT way.  If they do, I hope Leslie gets a photo.  It would be hysterical.

Oh, Deb! Walk THAT way!

Marylane is almost finished with her crossover shawl.  We love this one!  Good job, Marylane.

Beautiful shawl, Marylane.

Someone brought up the ‘Loud at the Library’ fundraiser, and we started talking about the chair that we are going to yarnbomb for the event next year.  As it happened, Marylane has the chair and the photo that we will use as a guideline for our artwork.  It’s going to be so cool!

The yarnbomb suggestion...

The object of our yarnbombing!

We’ll start working on the chair this summer when we can take it outside.  Very cool.  Then we’ll auction it off next spring.

Here’s a picture of three serious knitters.  I just thought I’d show you what we are usually like at knitting – haha.

Linda, Julie and Michele - doing what we come here to do.

Julie was also knitting a sock.  It must be ‘small, portable knitting projects’ season.  That’s two socks in the room.  She paused to stretch her back and reminded me of an otter.  Except for the needles sticking up out of her crotch.

Well, that's rather suggestive for an otter.

I’ll leave you with a photo of two of our very prim, proper and serious grandmas.  Don’t forget to bring your walking poles to Linda’s house next time.  We’ll all be walking around in a line in Linda’s neighborhood learning to Nordic walk.  And maybe raising Linda’s HOA fees – if the neighbors don’t appreciate our lesson.

Until then, Castoffs, keep those needles blazing and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Oh, Granny! What fun you're having!

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