MAKE SURE YOU ZIGZAG IF YOU ARE CHASED BY AN ALLIGATOR!

I love the South.  The people are very friendly and the weather is wonderful.  Don't get me wrong - I love the North as well.  After all, that is where I was born and raised and that's where my family is - especially my three wonderful grandsons.  But there is something about the South and living close to the sea, where the palm trees sway and the alligators walk.  Yes you read correctly - walking alligators.  The first thing my husband told me when we moved here was don't feed the alligators and if you have to run from one - don't run in a straight line - make sure you ZIGZAG. Now generally I take much of what he says with a grain of salt as he is usually trying to put one over on me.  So I was very surprised when I saw lots of signs confirming what he had said.

But until today I had not seen an alligator up close and personal!  While taking our morning walk Joe and I were enjoying another day in paradise and were deep in conversation about all the beautiful birds - especially the graceful egrets that look like white puffs up in the trees.  As our eyes admired the blue waters of a peaceful lagoon our gaze was suddenly broken as we focused on this huge log like object.  OMG I said - is that what I think it is?  Slowly we crept down the bank making sure that we didn't tumble right into the water. We certainly didn't want to be breakfast for what appeared before our eyes!

It was huge - and completely still.  We stood there in amazement watching this prehistoric looking creature.  I have never seen anything like it.  Why the heck don't we have a camera I thought!  No one was going to believe the size of this guy without proof!  Oh well - another big story with no proof! Our kids are use to that!!  We continued on our walk and upon returning home Joe said let's take the camera and go back and see if it is still there.  And to our surprise - there he was!  In the exact same place we had seen him earlier and as still and quite as before.  Mother nature and her creatures never cease to amaze me.  And this prehistoric creature obviously has its purpose in our wonderful world.  As we stood for a few minutes and gazed upon his magnificence I again thought about how much I love my new surroundings - but I am also thankful that today I didn't have to try out that ZIGZAG theory!

Wonderful Relaxation!

We all need it ....we all crave it.....but do we truly take time to relax?  Since I was a little girl my favorite form of relaxation has been a hot bath!  Thank goodness I have a partner who understands this and has indulged my incessant need for this luxury.  There is nothing like a hot luxurious bath at the end of the day.  Every night after dinner he says, "So is it a tub night?"  And most nights it is!  I leave him to the task of kitchen clean up and I relax in my bath.  OMG you say - who is this man and how do I get one.  Believe me - I know how lucky I am!

Many times over the years Joe and I have based our house purchases on the basis of the bath tub.  Ideally it has to be separate from the shower - just mine alone for reading, listening to music, sometimes dozing - but always necessary to shed the stress of the day.  My friends are amazed and astounded by this.  Tubs - who the heck sits in a tub anymore?  My friend Eileen uses hers for drying clothes or blocking her knitting! " Oh my god" I exclaimed when I saw a pair of pants in her tub.  "What the heck are you doing".  "I have never been in that tub." she stated emphatically.  "They should have just left it out of the house."  Now that is something that I can never understand. 

So give it a try.  Pamper yourself and sprinkle some Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Soaking Salts into the warm water, slather on a facial mask, grab a glass of your favorite wine and sit back and relax.  You'll be glad you did!

It's Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day
I have always loved Valentine's Day!  It is such a sweet holiday!  When I was younger I loved to get chocolate in a fancy box. I did enjoy the candy but that was not the major attraction.  My father, Buddy Lally, always brought me a  red satin heart shaped box of chocolates with a beautiful doll on top.  The doll was always dressed in a beautiful gown trimmed with lots of ruffles and lace.  After the chocolates were gone my mom Claire would hang the beautifully decorated box lids in my bedroom up close to the ceiling. Dozens of hearts lined the ceiling of my bedroom and the beautiful dolls were lined up like fairy princesses.  Today with all the weight watching going on I don't encourage chocolate gifts anymore, but I do appreciate kind words and a thoughtful Valentine - especially from those I love.  And thankfully I am never disappointed!  I even received one from a knitting buddy (thank you Eileen) and I am going to pass it on to you . So Kiss your loved ones and enjoy the true meaning of St. Valentine's Day!

Feel Good Knitting

Today was the kind of day that gives you that sense of feeling really good about being a knitter!  The time when you realize what a community of knitting is all about.  Here in Sun City Hilton Head

our knitting group has come together to support women of our community who are dealing with Breast Cancer.  It is heart warming to see how so many knitters are willing to give of their time to make something special for someone they don't even know!  And for some learning a new technique is not easy - in fact it is a daunting task!  The first step for these students was learning how to knit on the magic loop.  What is that you ask - well most of them were not sure what the heck that is either! When I explained that they would complete their entire hat and socks on one circular needle they were very skeptical as to how this could possibly be done.  At first they were all thumbs but after many hours of knitting and ripping (all knitters can identify with that technique) the colorful chemo caps emerged from their needles.  Yesterday was the second  in the series of magic loop classes and everyone was very excited to knit the beautiful socks made from super soft Debbie Bliss Cashmerino.  Again, these socks were to be knit on one magic loop needle from the toe all the way up to the cuff!  It was a joy to watch these dedicated women carefully cast each stitch onto their magic loop needle with Judy Becker's Magic Cast On.  For those of you who knit, this is truly a magical technique that takes lots and lots of practice but is well worth the effort.  I watched in amazement as they cast on their stitches over and over  until the stitches looked perfect and they were happy with their results.  "After all" one of the knitters said, "we want these socks to look as beautiful as they can." 

 

   Carefully and diligently they knitted away chatting to their neighbor and stopping give help to someone who was not so quick to grasp the technique.  Suddenly before their eyes they saw the sock begin to emerge.  It always amazes me what wonderful things you can make from sticks and strings!  Unfortunately we are expecting that we will be giving out more gift bags then we would like- but we are hopeful that the love and compassion that is knitted into every item will be felt by the recipient.  Maybe even a little magic of healing will be transferred from the community of women who knitted these items to all of the women who will be receiving the gift bags.  Women they don't know personally but none the less they feel in their hearts!

Italian Night!

I admit - I am obsessive!  There I have agreed with my husband.  He is always saying that I don't just do things until they are finished - I keep doing & doing & doing!  I know this is one of my biggest faults but most times it does bring good results.  In fact he will not be complaining at dinner tonight as I have made one of his favorites which has been perfected by doing over & over & over.  Cooking is my other compulsion after knitting.  My friends will surely tell you that when they come to my house for any occasion the food is more than plentiful.  I guess it is my Italian upbringing.  I never want anyone to go away hungry or wishing for something else. My sister and brother often laugh at this since we are all cut from the same cloth!  Anyway tonight is Italian night.  Since I had a busy day which started with 1 1/2 hours at the gym and then some test knitting I knew I didn't have time to make the gravy (sauce to those of you who are not Italian) from scratch - but the meatballs are a must.  My siblings and I do not eat anyone's meatballs but our own.

Meatball ready to be cooked

Cooked in Olive Oil!

After all - there can be strange things added to meatballs.  I was taught to make meatballs by my Irish grandmother - Gertrude - who married into an Italian family.  She and her husband Daniel had six children and as a young Irish bride she learned to make all his favorites.  She taught me her secrets when I was a teenager and I loved to spend time cooking with her.

De-glazing the pan with wine!  Can't leave all the good stuff behind!

Add it to the sauce!

So this afternoon I made one of Joe's favorites and he will not be complaining about my compulsive behavior tonight. In fact - I hear him in the kitchen and I know that he is eating the meatballs right out of the pot!!!

Cooking away - almost ready for dinner!

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY - LOTS OF BENEFITS!!!

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!  I am really excited but not for the reasons you may think.  Yes I do love the Pittsburgh Steelers - after all I did live in Pittsburgh for almost 10 Years.  But my love of Super Bowl Sunday of course has to do with knitting and SALES!  My friend Bonnie and I love to check out the sales - especially at a small yarn store in Hilton Head called the Courtyard.  Every year on Super Bowl Sunday the owner Jennifer has an amazing sale in which the discount percentage is the same as that years number of the Super Bowl.  Yes - that is correct!  This year there was a 45% discount on all yarn in stock.  OMG - Bonnie and I had heart palpation's as we entered the store.  What should we look at first - should we bring a basket with us to hold our precious cargo - maybe a rolling cart would be better.  Should we concentrate on different yarns to look at - should we bring patterns with us - would our credit cards be able to cover the charges!!   And when all is said and done - how the heck are we going to get it all in the house without our hubbies having a heart attack.  I can already hear my husband - yes it is beautiful but where are you going to put it.  You can get the doors closed on the four floor to ceiling cabinets that I just installed for all of your stash.  Well we did make some smart purchases and we did not break the bank.  I bought some soft Sublime Luxurious Woolly Merino 

 to make a sweater and beautiful Noro King for a shawl I am designing.

Bonnie settled on some pretty baby yarn to make kimono's for the twin granddaughters that she is anxiously awaiting, as well as some Noro King to help knit my new design.   We both agreed that our day was a big success!

AND NOW IT BEGINS........

Well here I go – beginning on my new journey of blogging. I have never been known for my love of writing but everyone I know can confirm that I really do love to talk and for sure I LOVE to knit. Thank goodness I have a wonderful husband of 42+ years who puts up with my obsession and actually supports it! This in spite of the fact that he does not understand the need to stash (or hoard as he puts it) lots and lots of yarn. Let’s face it – there is no explaining this unless you are a knitter. He watches with a quizzical expression as I cradle and stroke every new addition to my stash and has given up asking “So what will you make from that?” He now knows that most of the time I have no idea what wonderful item will evolve from my cherished purchase. He is just happy that it makes me happy and for this I am very thankful.
Over the years I have instilled this love of knitting in my daughter Jennifer and she has become a wonderful knitter. I love to teach and help new knitters and have taught many knitting classes in my former home in Pennsylvania and here in South Carolina!
I am enjoying my retirement in beautiful South Carolina. It is just wonderful living so close to Savannah and Charleston. When I walk the streets of Savannah with my knitting buddies we all express our amazement at the beauty of this Southern city and how lucky we are to live so close by. Lately we have even had a chuckle as tourists ask us questions and directions – yes we really feel like southern ladies. What more can you ask for with the sandy beaches of Hilton Head only minutes away. That is why I now think of my life as a lucky lady who Purls By The Sea!