Dad's 95th; more ice and Knitting

I'm off again this weekend for Dad's 95th birthday - about 20 family members getting together to drink his health.

Dad as a young kid - note the black dog. This was NOT the dog that got rabies - that was a chow dog that Dad had when he was about 10 years old. Dad's father called the vet (of course) to put the dog down, the vet was young and inexperienced and got bit (as did Dad). Both had to go thru the painful anti rabies injections - two weeks in the abdomen. When I was 20, and Dad was 60 something - I got my first dog from the ASPCA in NYC (more about that story some other time) and Dad and I took the dog to a local vet for a checkup. The vet was about 70 years old, still practicing in Brooklyn - and he took one look at dad, and at our name, and asked if he was the Stella that "had that damn rabid dog". Yup, Brooklyn can still be a small town.


Dad in high school...love the brilliantine in his hair, but ain't he cute?

Dad in his 20's or so. He was a very good looking man - a tall, slim Italian with blond hair (even tho' it looks dark in these pictures, he was blond until his 40's). Family stories say that all the Stella men are over 6 feet tall, and blond - strange for Sicilians who are often thought of as dark. Another family story is that we had a Norman ancestress - who - when they had to move her grave for some gruesome reason, was found to have had long blond hair. I don't know how much I believe this story - what were they doing opening her casket but I like the story so I'm keeping it. My brother is tall and blond; his son is blond but only 12 and he has alot of growing to do.


Dad and Mom dancing at some "affaire". This was a few years ago - he's gotten much thinner since then.

Dad and I are rather kindred spirits in our family - I truely think that he is the only one who really understands me, we are very alike.

Ah well... onto the ice storm!

We have had another ice storm - not as bad as the first one last month, but still difficult driving - scary roads. I was glad to get home, snuggled up in front of the fire with my knitting - only to have poor DH call with a dead car. He had to have it towed and I went to pick him up on some slippery slidey roads.

I am reteaching myself how to knit. Here is a picture of my first real project - an "easy to knit" sweater. I'm having fun with it, knitting and then ripping out - very therapeutic in a way.
What I like about this is the flexibility and ability to change a pattern, adjust where necessary. What I haven't gotten the hang of yet is getting it to be the right size. This one looks enormous, but I did follow the pattern and got the right stitch gauge for the yarn etc. Well I figure if it's too big, it'll be more comfortable!

Of course - I've had to indulge my passion for bags, found this at a local store and its a funny bag with a zipper. It's a bag to hold yarn, but it also turns inside out to become a sort of backpack - it has long zippers that allow it to turn inside out. Only sold in bright pink and green - rather preppy for me but the usefulness outweighted the bright green. (on a side note - see the table the bag is on? Mom, Dad and I bought that table and the chairs around it at an antique store sometime in the 60's. I think we paid $5.00 chair and $10.00 for the table. Dad refinished the table and it has never had to be redone since he first did it. I think it's the only piece of furniture that he's refinished in his life - the man has never been handy. But he did a good job on this one - it's a wonderful table)

This bag I just bought on Etsy - the side pockets hold yarn and have grommets for the yarn to go thru. Not big enough for my long needles, but who really cares. My grandma taught me to knit with the needles under my arm so I have to use long 12" to 14 " needles. I've always used Grandma's old aluminum needles, but have bought some bamboo ones which are so light and flexible!
Here is what the sweater is supposed to look like. Perhaps a solid color might have shown the checkerboard pattern more but the yarn I am using is so soft and I love the color. I wasn't actually looking for something that knit up in stripes but live and learn....

I'm really being good about projects and not overwhelming myself, but I do enjoy a new challenge occasionally, like this sweater. Plus it's creative (every day).

What a funny rambling post. I'm getting a bit nostalgic I think - thinking about such a highlight of a birthday. But the truth really is that old age really ain't for sissies. Dad now has macular degeneration, and uses a walker but he still enjoys having us all around and giving me grief about stuff. I know he can't go on forever, he's getting so tired...but no matter how much I rationalize it to myself - I will never be ready for him to leave.
Ah well again. Ah well.