Airdrie

This weekend the Yarnharlot suggests in her tear away calendar that you air out your stash and take stock of what you have. I have several locations in my house where the stash is located, but this weekend I cleaned out the cabinet in my knitting room. It was so wonderful to see what I have, projects I wish to complete and wonderful yarn that will be making it's way to our local assisted living facility (I donate all of my unused stash to them).

While going through everything, I noticed that I have certain skeins of yarn that I just can't part with. They represent a time in my life or a total luxury buy..... places I have visited and so on. In 2003 Mr. Fantastic and I went on a trip to Scotland to visit our nephew who was attending the University of Edinburgh for a semester. It was such a wonderful trip and I have such great memories of being there with other members of our family. Mr. Fantastic's father was born in Scotland and came over here when he was young. While on our trip, we visited with cousins of my father in-law, saw the town where he was born, Airdrie, and even visited the street where the house stood (it is gone now). While in Airdrie,  I was fortunate enough to see a yarn shop and my sister in-law and niece and I went into it. I bought some yarn and a pattern with the intention to knit a vest for my beloved Father In-law. 

I never finished it.... and now he is gone. I know it would have made me feel so proud to have given him a vest made out of yarn from his home town, and I have learned a very valuable lesson in procrastination. My Airdrie yarn has had a special place in my stash for a few years now, I never knew what I would do with it..... until a visit from our wonderful Kelly. 

Kelly is the daughter every woman would want. She is kind, beautiful, patient, sweet, smart, caring and did I say beautiful? She is the daughter of Mr. Fantastic's oldest brother and she was on the trip to Scotland (her oldest brother was attending the college) and was with me when we bought the yarn. She picked out the pattern she wanted from one of my books  (a new favorite I might add) and I set out to work. I had the best time making this sweater/dress. I thought of our wonderful trip, our sweet Kelly, my father in-law that I loved fiercely, and the bittersweet act of giving up something I love. I was so happy during the making of this that I didn't want it to end....

I can't think of anyone else I would rather give this very special yarn to.....I am just as proud to give it to you Kelly, as I would have been if I'd given it to Papa Steve.