The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap is knit in the most delicious Catskill Merino yarn -- the Super Bulky merino.  It's a single ply yarn that is so soft and squishy and warm, but light.  Really, it's like wearing a hug.  I designed the Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap specifically for this yarn because I wanted to have this yarn close to me -- to be able to look at it and to feel it's warmth and softness.  The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap  is knit on US size 15/10mm needles.  This makes it pretty quick to knit up!  The pattern is available on Ravelry and Etsy.  If you want to use a different yarn, please feel free to reach out and I'm happy to let you know if the yarn will work well.  Hand knit Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap are also available for purchase on Etsy and right here! 

I'm not a fan of being photographed.  It's awkward.  I feel like my smile is too big or it's fake looking and then I worry there's something on my teeth or I look washed out because I never wear make up -- just a lot to think about.  But, I also believe in representation because real people are all colors and sizes and ages.  Which means there should be gray-haired, make-up-free, mixed heritage latinx peeps like me out there!  So here I am, trying to look like a serious human.  It didn't last.  I couldn't stop laughing at something my kid said and neither could she and we get a blurry, but sincere picture.

This is the smile of relief and hope.  It has been a very hard time. Covid-19, the US elections, and having to be apart to keep each other safe has really taken its toll on us. We are so happy that Biden and Harris were elected to office in the US.  It made the socially-distanced visit with family extra restoring.  We were able to just relax and smile. 💙 #ilovemydaughter

The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap  is a quick-knit and makes a great, cozy #holiday gift. It's knit using super-bulky yarn on US size 15/10mm needles. The pattern is available on Ravelry and Etsy. Hand knit Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap are also available for purchase on Etsy and here. This one is knit using lovely, super chunky @catskill merino yarn - locally produced using earth-friendly dyes. It is so soft and warm, it's the closest you'll come to wearing a hug. Wouldn't it be good to be able to give someone a hand-knit hug?
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#handknitcowl #handknitscarves #chunkyknit #redcowl #madeinny #merino #cowl #wrap  #differencemakesus #sustainablefashion #vinesandleaves #farmersmarket #smile #happymoments❤
#handknit #handmade #quickknit #knittersofinstagram  #knitpattern #ravelrypattern #ravelrydesigns #newknitter #knitstagram #knittingpattern #handmadegifts #bipocdesigner #diversityisbeautiful #bipocknitter

My mom is casting her vote by mail.  She is 80 years old now and in a high risk category.  Her safest option is to cast her vote by mail.  She has strong feelings about the elections this year.  As a Puerto Rican, she was distraught when the federal government abandoned her birthplace after Hurricane Maria.  Since her siblings and family in Puerto Rico cannot vote for the president, she is voting for them.  And she is voting for Biden who has a plan for Puerto Rico that makes sense.  She was so happy when our friend gave her this t-shirt.  She promptly ironed (because, of course) and put it on.  The t-shirt has a great story that you can read here.  And if you want to get one for yourself, here's the link:  https://usgrams.myshopify.com/ . 

All the Love You Write is a YA novel with a spooky twist!  I think you'll enjoy it and you should give it a read if you're in the mood for a spooky romance!

I received a copy of this book from D.G. Driver.  I first met D.G. Driver when I reviewed Cry of the Sea, the first book in the Juniper Sawfeather trilogy, for Multicultural Childrens Book Day in 2018.  You can find that review here.  The thing about Driver's stories is that they NEVER go as you're expecting.  Just when you think you know what's coming, you'll find you're wrong.  Driver's stories never follow the expected narrative.  I've read three of her novels and each time, I'm fully surprised by the plot twists.

Mark is head over heels for Bethany, his brilliant girlfriend. Mark thinks Bethany is way out of his league and that makes him insecure. He's dwelling on how to keep her interested in him as he wanders into his first class in high school.  It is extremely overcrowded and he ends up stuck in the back of the classroom seated at an old, cluttered desk. As he's trying to find space to write, he finds the corner of the desk is deeply etched in beautiful cursive letters -- Eileen is written with a heart around it.  He tries to recreate the writing multiple times and only succeeds when he writes it on his forearm in sharpie.  He notes that it comes out perfectly and almost seems to glow on his arm.  After that Mark goes back to thinking about Bethany and texts, "thinkn of u."  Shortly afterwards, he finds a piece of paper jutting out of the desk and is surprised to find it is in the exact same cursive as the etched "Eileen" on his desk.  More confusing, the paper has a short note that seems to be addressing his text message.  The message admonishes, "What kind of note was that?  Does it even make sense?  You can't even spell, let alone romance a girl.  Try again."

Now, I've read all the Potter books, so I know you should be deeply distrustful of anonymous messages giving you unsolicited advice.  (See The Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling and I'm going to take this moment to say that I am dismayed by J.K. Rowling's hostility towards trans women.  It's horrible that such a great series is tainted by it's author's prejudice and hatred.)  I guess Mark didn't read the book because he starts following the beautifully-written advice.  Good idea?  Bad idea?  You're going to have to read the book to find out!

Oh!  There's 87 days until Christmas and 72 days until Hanukkah.  Have you started your holiday crafting?  I'm wearing Sue's Skew Fingerless Mitts.  The pattern is available on Ravelry and Etsy.   It is tech-edited and tested and comes in three sizes.  It's knit mostly flat in a unique construction to create slanted stitches.  You can usually make one pair with one skein of sock/fingering yarn.  These are knit using one skein of joyously colorful Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino.  There's also a simpler version available for free on Knitty.  But if you don't knit . . .

You can also buy a hand knit pair.  Here they are in three different sizes.  The multi-colored green pair are medium (left picture).  The red-hued mitts are the small (center), and the last picture shows the large size (right picture). Sizing details and purchasing options are available in my Etsy shop. 

I started my holiday knitting in August.  After numerous mishaps, like the year I lost a completed sock, I realized that I need to start early so I don't end up finishing a holiday gift in February.  (You can read about that here.)  I've gifts to make for my mom's caregivers (4), my spouse, my kid, and my mom!  So I'm getting back to my knitting now.  

2020 has really been some year.  I started the year with a raging ear infection (no joke, I was diagnosed on 12/31/19).  I should have taken it as foreshadowing for a dramatic year.  I'm hoping the year ends better than it started.

My level of stress and anxiety has been exceptionally high.  Being in NYC, the former epicenter of the pandemic, was stress-inducing for all of us here.  Most of my anxiety stemmed from worrying that I could get my mom sick.  My worrying was almost too much and often panic-inducing.  Last year, my word for the year was Seguimos (we keep going).  I used that word almost as much as I used my word for 2020 to focus myself.  We just had to take the situation day-by-day and do our best to not get sick or get anyone else sick. 

My word for 2020 is "risa".  This means laughter in Spanish.  This year has definitely NOT been amusing.  There were so many reasons for tears.  My ironic word choice, however, was actually not a bad selection.  I decided that when I could choose between getting angry or upset and laughing, I'd chose laughter.  So, while things outside our home have been awful, at least our family is closer than ever and our friends are more appreciated.  I have to credit risa with my mom.  Despite all the changes Alzheimer's is creating for her, she mostly stays positive and seeks laughter. 

By the way, do you like my sweater?  I bought the yarn for it in 2009, I think.  I didn't work on it until 2016 and I didn't finish it until this year!  It's the Butterfly Pullover by Mel Clark.  It's in the book Knit 2 Together by Mel Clark and Tracy Ullman. 

Look at this beautiful smile.  Here is one of my favorite models (my mom) wearing the Vines and Leaves Cowl in brilliant, super-bulky Catskill Merino green yarn.  I absolutely love this soft, squishy yarn.  It inspired me to design this pattern.  The Vines and Leaves Cowl/Wrap is knit on US size 15/10mm needles and is available on Ravelry and Etsy. 

Lately, I only see her this way in the day.  As the afternoon moves into evening, my mom starts to get nervous and unsettled.  She starts worrying and wants to go home.  Often, she is home, but she wants to go to her other home.  She tells me the other home looks just like this home, but it is not the same one.  I cannot persuade her that she is home.  I show her where she has her belongings , but she is not convinced.  Sometimes, I've had to go out, walk around and bring her back.  Now I just try to get her out until the late afternoon so that I can bring her back. I feel so badly for her, but it's also hard to be patient.  For her all of this is new, but for me, we've been through this countless times.  It can get taxing so I try to just keep going and appreciating the present.

I read an article by Marita Golden in Bitch Magazine about Alzheimer's in the black community.  The article is called Dying Indifference:  Confronting the Shame of Alzheimer's in Black Communities.  It's a moving article and I was struck by Marita Golden's description of the relationship between Jonathan and his mother, Janice, who has Alzheimer's.  Ms. Golden wrote: 

For Jonathan, every day with Janice was measured in present moments, and he had chosen to live in the redemptive space of the committed caregiver who witnesses and is strengthened by the grace of the task at hand. Every day, Jonathan found a way to access the honor bestowed upon the caregiver, and to live and move beyond the obstacles.

I am trying very hard to live by this.  It's hard to watch my mom's mental and emotional changes, but knowing that I don't know how long I have her makes me enjoy all her good moments more. 

I've never really been a shawl person.  My mom had many beautiful ones made by her mom, my grandmother, and my aunts, but they weren't really my thing.  I made a beautiful Nymphalidea shawl for my daughter, but since I didn't actually wear them often, I didn't make them for myself.  But, I realized that I actually am often looking for something to put on over a tshirt.  I started borrowing my daughter's Nymphalidea and realized, I should probably make some for myself! I decided to purchase Helen Stewart's Shawl Society III.  This is the third year Helen Stewart has released a volume of beautiful shawls and I'm so happy I decided to purchase these! 

​The Shawl Society provides six beautiful, well-designed, easy to follow shawl patterns.  I've made three so far and am working on the fourth.  The one above, is Ivy Over the Door.  It was the second pattern in The Shawl Society and I made it with alpaca yarn from my stash.  My alpaca stash is very special so I tend to use it for my own designs for worthy people.  Helen's pattern is a worthy exception.  The shawl is so soft and warm.  While I really like the finished product, and I'd really like to keep it for myself, this one is a gift for a friend and I plan to send it out to her soon.  I'd really like to give my friend, Krista, a hug, but she's very far away so I thought I'd send this beautiful shawl hand knit with my favorite yarn and hope it works as a hug for her from far away.