Sorry for the crummy picture. Dan had to leave at o’dark thirty for his flight to El Paso, Texas. I finished the raglan (note “damn” is not in the title any more) in the nick of time. It hasn’t been blocked yet but, as you can see, it’s DONE!!! It took me longer to knit that simple sweater than it has to knit Dale of Norways.
I think the threat of being felted into tea cosies is what did the trick. Even the zipper went in on the first try and that **never** happens to me.
Dan is going to be one tuckered out dude. He was just in the States a little over a week ago. Back again today to testify in one of his cases from the last tour in Afghanistan. He gets home on Thursday afternoon and on Friday morning we leave for France. Guess who’ll be doing most of the driving. He may have to leave for Ft. Bliss again the day after we get back from France and then he has at least one more trip over the Atlantic in September. Can you say frequent flyer miles?! Problem is they’ll probably all be on different carriers knowing our luck.
Ooh. Did I slip France in there? Yep. Going to visit my buddy, Nilda (Waltzing Natilda) in Brittany at the end of the week! Check out the beautiful little town of Rochefort-en-terre! When she started her blog I told you all she had to be one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. Besides that she’s a lot of fun. We met in Scotland at the knitting/spinning retreat on the island of Mull. So much fun.
Neither Dan nor I particularly care for Paris, but we want the boys to see the high points so since we’re driving through we’re going to stop for the night and see the sites. We’ll take off the next morning for Normandy. My Gramps landed on Omaha Beach one fateful morning in June of 1944. I promised him photos and video of his great-grandsons there. We’ll get to Nilda’s in time for dinner on Saturday and stay until Thursday. Can’t wait, Nilda.
If you’ve never read any of the Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich you are missing out. They are hilarious. I just finished the tenth installment. I like to wait for the paperback, but I don’t think I can wait a whole year for #11. She’s a Jersey girl who ends up as a Bounty Hunter for her cousin’s bail bonds business and gets into all kinds of trouble. Her grandmother’s character doesn’t start coming out until a couple of books into the series but she’s my favorite. I bust out laughing so hard I think I’m going to wake Dan up. Seriously, if you need a good laugh, read number One. You’ll be hooked.
While I’m talking about books, I just started “Waiting Wives” last night. Maybe it’s because I grew up a military brat or have been a “waiting wife” or that I love history… but I can’t put this book down. Usually reading is how I get to sleep at night. A couple of paragraphs and I’m out. I was up until 2am reading this one. I had to force myself to put it on the nightstand and turn off the light. It’s the story of Schilling Manor. An old Air Force base in Kansas that they closed down and reopened as housing for families of soldiers sent to Viet Nam.
Yea! You finished the sweater! You are a master knitter. And I am so envious of you as you trek off towards France. Have a great time and think about us poor slobs sweltering in the Virginia heat.
The sweater looks great! I don’t think it’ll be needed on all of those trips to El Paso, though! It’ll come in useful when he returns, since the weather has been so crummy lately. Thanks for the tip on the Waiting Wives book, I’ll have to check it out.
Aren’t the Stephanie Plum books hilarious? I haven’t read #11 yet, but I’m hoping to soon.
The sweater came out great! Have a wonderful time in France. My husband and I went to Normandy just after Sep 11, and it was so moving and emotional. God bless America.
Don’t forget the cows, Jean!
The sweater looks really good, Jean, but I can’t figure out what color it is….Forest Heather? Even the zipper cooperated!
When I posted my Knitting Pure and Simple, someone suggested that I have mine sewn in-that was a completely new experience, paying someone else to put it in, but just as big of a PITA, because I had to go find one to match Silver Birch!
I know exactly what you mean-I don’t care for Sirdar patterns, because it seems like they pick the ungainliest method to get a job done.
If Dan has to go to Ft. Sam or Waco, holler, and I’ll send some coffee back with him.
B
LOVE the sweater! Hubby look so happy to be wearing it. Even at that ungodly hour of the morning. Or night. Really, it’s still night! 🙂
I have never read the Stephanie Plum books and I wonder why. I will be looking them up. I always love to find a new beloved series!
Here’s to happy, safe travel for hubby!
Congratulations on finishing the sweater by zero dark thirty. It looks wonderful. I am going to have to pick up Waiting Wives. I think I’ll enjoy it. Thanks for the recommendation.
Congrats on finishing the raglan, it looks great on Dan!
YAY!! It looks so so great!!
Have a wonderful time in France!!
Beautiful sweater! Do not wait for #11. Get thee to a library if necessary, it is wonderful!
It’s beautiful! I think you get double credit, because sometimes simpler designs are harder to stick with – all that monotonous knitting, and no where to hide mistakes – not that you made any – it looks perfect and it’s a classic he will wear forever!
Congratulations on finishing the sweater.
I just visited your friend’s blog. She hilarious! I know you will have a great time together.
Oh … Lucky YOU! Paris!! I am *so* jealous! Have a great time …. WhEEE or should it be *OUI*? 🙂
What a great sweater. I’m sure it will be a favorite of his for a long time.
Safe travels to Dan and your whole family!
Funny that you don’t like Paris either. My parents didn’t like Pris when we lived in Europe. But we did visit the rest of France. Enjoy your trip.
Congrats on the sweater. Can’t wait till you guys get here. Such trouble we’ll get into. Of the wooly sort of course.
Jean, your sweater turned out fantastic. What color did you use? At first I was thinking it was the Forest Glade Heather but then the up close version lookes like the Tranquil Lagoon. I’m glad that it turned out so nice for Dan to wear it on his trip.
Libby