Hungry Heart

Angry edit by yours truly . . . don't ship things with the yellow and red shipping company! The Flyer said, "You know, I almost stopped you because we used to ship with them and stopped." Oh, fuckity fuck fuck! I sent this out on New Year's Eve with an estimate of it arriving on the 2nd. Well, it's the 4th and so far - no package! Whenever I look on the "track your shit" page, I get an estimated delivery date of - and this is precious - the 3rd! Apparently DHL, like Superman, has the ability to turn back time. - Ava

Dear TBA -

Well, your mama must have received the package if this post is up and running, so why not give her a good hard kick and tell her to circle the date on the calendar since I finally sent something out on time (see ironic note at the beginning). Seriously, kick her until she circles it . . . she'll thank me later. She had to have known that the bar project was for her (or you, rather since BAR are your initials), but your mama was just being nice not pushing the issue - thanks for that, Lola. It's come a long way since looking like a jaunty beret. Let's just say that the panic of you possibly coming early forced me to knit on Serenity until I thought my knuckles would break.

Before we welcome you kicking and screaming into the fold, there are a few things that you should know about your Aunt Ava and the family. First, don't call me Aunt Ava . . . just Ava will do. I've never really liked the whole "Aunt" thing and only begrudgingly dropped it with the Other Sister since it seems to bug her that Betty and Veronica never called her Aunt Other Sister.

What else do you need to know? Okay, the obvious . . . your mama and I like to knit - a lot. I know, I know, you probably already figured that out by now, but sometimes you have to tell a person over and over again that you enjoy it. She knits more than I do (let's be honest, Lola - you do), but we both take some kind of twisted pleasure searching for the best yarn for the latest project only to find another pattern beckoning from the wings. Not sure if we should be seeking medication for knitting ADD, but I'm sure that your Mimi has some left over pharmacutical helpers from the Bro's battles with ADD if it gets really bad. When you are old enough, we'll tell you the story about the week that she took some of his meds and was amazed at how fast she could clean her house.

There are other things you should know that are more mundane like books. I love them and will drop a huge chunk of change on them . . . just ask your brother. But then again, I am cheap (hence the choice of yarn for your blanket - clearanced Merino superwash for $5 a skein). You'll figure the balance out eventually. Oh, and where your mama will make all sorts of lovingly prepared healthy dinners for you and Gus, I enjoy a good hamburger on a weekly basis and try to get out of cooking at any turn. The swearing is something I try (fingers crossed behind my back) to curb when I am around Gus since he points out the bad words. That's not to say that they don't slip out; I just apologize right after I tell the driver next to me to fuck off. One last thing, and this is something your brother found out the hard way; if I come for a visit, I usually sleep with Lola in a sort of grown-up slumber party. When the girls come with me, we all bunk in the same room so be prepared for a little "girl power" now and then.

The other stuff you'll figure out along the way and that, my dear little nephew, is part of the fun. Eventually, you'll meet the girls and the Flyer. I'm sure that he'll throw a napkin at you and you'll fall in love with him the same way Gus did. Good luck with the rest of the family - we're a pretty boisterous bunch but tame by comparison to most families. I'm sure that the girls will find a pair of baby ear plugs if we get too loud, but then again, it's usually your mama and me who start it. So, welcome to the family and enjoy the crazy ride!

Love,
Ava

Pattern: Serenity by La
Yarn: Summit Hill by Kraemer Yarns (clearanced because they want to sell it in hanks - boo!) in Adventurine
Needles: Denise Needles in 7 with 9s for the bind off
Modifications: Can we just call this "fuck ups" and be done with it? I messed up the border on two sides and I had "issues" with the double decreases so I fudged it in places.

Comments

[lola]

It took a while for me to figure it out, but only after you started asking about the package. Never would have gotten the initials part, but we've talked about how I can't really call him by his name yet. I'm clueless.

Only a knitters can understand just how in awe I am of this blanket. Just beautiful! And I'll say it every time I look at it. Even SK said, "That doesn't look like an easy knit." As always, I love you.

[Shannon]

Awww what a nice AUNTly gesture. Good ol' Aunt Ava. ;) It looks very nice, even with the fuck ups.

Ooh ooh is TBA gonna be Brian Austen Red? You know, like that wanna-be-black-but-I'm-from-Beverly-Hills guy from 90210?

[Cara]

Beautiful blanket!!

It was a very sad day for me when my nephew started referring to me as Aunt Cara. For the longest time I was just Cara and all the other aunts were Aunt Whoever. Made me feel special. Ah well.

[Kirsten]

Okay, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who swears at other drivers with children in the car!

The note to TBA is precious, it was fun to learn more about your family. You sound like a good bunch. Now, where can I find some of those meds that will make me clean the house faster?

The blanket is incredible!! So, so beautiful!!

[susan b]

Oh. My. God.

You are such a loving sister & aunt! And obviously - by the evidence in front of all of us - more than a wee bit deranged as well. Me no knit baby blankets - nuh uh, no siree! That's insanely beautiful AND bigger than a hankie - which shows just a stunning amount of love, time, devotion, and crippled now-arthritic fingers. (Or luff - which is even more love than just normal 'love', according to Woody Allen.) You are too, too good. We all bow before you.

[MC]

Sorry, A, the Princess and Prince have been calling you Aunt Ava for too long for us to try and deprogram them now. Blame their mother, because none of my aunts and uncles ever had the salutation used.

[tricia]

Serenity looks beautiful, but I did like the jaunty beret period as well.

I have never been an aunt either, I mean gees I was an aunt at the tender age of 14. But recently one of them told me I was her favourite aunt, so now at almost 50, I'm thinking that being an aunt is OK, just don't use the word with my name though.

[La]

Your Serenity...shee eez beautiful

sneef