Citron Shawl

So ... this is my first knitted shawl ... have done plenty of crocheted ones, way back in my hippy days they were the kind to wear (don't have any pictures, darn it).
This shawl has been a bit of a challenge for me, only because there are so many stitches, I'm known for dropping stitches, losing my place (I've gotten better, with the help of a little note book and pencil), ripping out and various other knitting mistakes. But, I persevered and today it will be finished! 4 more rows! so excited ...

Have so many things I want to knit ... love the creativity of taking a piece of string and making it into something to wear! it's amazing how it works ... I think about how, in years past, people made their clothing this way. There were no stores to go buy your clothes.

I am lucky to live in Portland, Oregon! there are so many lovely knit shops here and everyone is wonderful. I've only been to a few of them, Happy Knits is my favorite tho ... Sarah is the owner and a wonderful, giving woman who has created a lovely atmosphere for us to come knit and bond with other knitters. I have met so many wonderful people there and it has given me the sense of community I was looking for here.

We are coming up on 7 months here in Portland. It was rough at first. All the loss that happened in the year before was a bit daunting and then the move was hard for all of us ... my son, daughter-in-law and I. Adjusting to the weather, it's so much colder here than Costa Mesa ... (tho right now they are having more rain than we are! ), making new connections, missing friends and family was particularly hard ... but as the days pass, I see that it's the best thing I've done for myself in a long time!