this is sam, another san diego knitter (and another of kim’s sons), posing with his hand-knit pirate patch. he made this for a friend’s birthday gift last year and it was so popular that he had to take orders for more.
today i am distracting you with sam’s knitting because mine looks pretty much the same as yesterday (i worked on the shawl last night, but proportionally, the amount i knitted doesn’t look like much . . .)
sam started knitting in october 2006, when he was 8 years old. his first project, a scarf for the hamster, seems to be lost to posterity, but photos of a few others survive, thanks to kim (ah, mothers . . . what would we do without them??).
then there was his sleeping mask phase, which also proved popular as a salable item (who knew??).
sam took an interest in knitting during a discussion about the vikings, and how they knitted during long voyages. kim explained that there have been many male knitters throughout the life of the craft, and he liked the idea of joining the ranks. and because it looks so cool, too.
he doesn’t always break completely with tradition, however
everyone needs a good scarf, after all
the next thing sam made was a hat and wristband set in chunky yarn
he couldn’t figure out how to close the hole at the top so he made it into a ponytail hat (i love the creative problem-solving here, instead of asking mom to do it). i think this kid has a future in some sort of mechanical design field.
sam likes working on circular needles, and next made another hat for his brother cole (of the volleyball), for christmas last year.
he hesitated to model it because it doesn’t belong to him, but i talked him into it
(i know. not bad looking at all, eh?).
and i do believe he will knit green ham and eggs some day.
currently sam’s knitting is in a bit of a lull; he started this blanket during the winter
but seems to have hit a bit of a malaise with it (don’t we know the feeling . . .)
yesterday we did some more exploring around san diego (which is why we conked out so early last night and didn’t get much knitting done). before i got here, kim did a 20-mile urban hike with some kids and she planned an abbreviated version for us to do together.
we started in balboa park, and apparently, i was so enthralled and busy looking at everything that i forgot to take any photos there (duh.). it has been years since i was last there and i’d forgotten what an amazing array of beautiful buildings and plantings the park has—and i have to say, it’s looking a lot better these days than it did back then. there are literally endless things to do and see there—you should go if you get the chance.
from there we walked down to the embarcadero (the waterfront) where we cruised the boardwalk, which features changing scenery and roadside attractions all along the way, including some snazzy airplane tricks.
the red bull air races are this weekend and we got to see the trials and practice runs as we walked. we won’t go to the races because we are attending an important summit of like-minded compatriots and peers on saturday (otherwise known as lunch and shenanigans with other knitters; and there might be a yarn store involved . . .).
sculpture of the day
i just love this; it reminds me of david (not literally, but you know, the general joie de vive of it).
then we turned in the other direction and saw that lace is, indeed, everywhere
after the waterfront we headed up through the gaslamp district to wend our way back to the park. this is a charming old quarter of the city with beautifully preserved buildings
it’s interesting to see older building in a climate where they suffer a little less wear and tear from the weather (i was struck with the same reaction when we were in austin recently). the stone, brick and clapboards seem to maintain crisper lines on the edges and in the ornamental details when not exposed to snow, ice, and wet conditions, even though other harsh conditions are present (like wind and sun).
if the buildings were not so obviously built with a different quality standard at work, and the evidence of actual hand-wrought processes, you’d think they were new.
we stopped to eat indian food for lunch, and had the opportunity to meet this gentlemen
if you feel you need to be talked out of what you were sure you wanted for lunch—anytime—he’s the guy to see. seriously, no matter what you wanted . . . you didn’t. and he knows it.
hehehe. it was a good lunch though.
we stopped in little italy to pick up some items at the mona lisa italian grocery; i cooked dinner for the family last night (with the help of kade and sam). we picked up fresh angel hair pasta, olives, cheese, anchovies, and bread—then we stopped before we got completely carried away.
we went home where we set to work making a nice seafood vodka sauce with grilled asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, and garlic
and since we had all these wonderful oranges from the yard
(arrangement courtesy of kade), we made everyone’s favorite christmas eve salade
once everything was pulled together, and everyone was in from volleyball practice and various other after-school activities, we all sat down to eat
have i mentioned how much i enjoy eating with kids?? i do.
26 thoughts on “sam knits green eggs and ham”
Thank you so much for sharing the photos. they are beautiful. I have never been there and those trees look like something at Disney – not real! Sometime you should post the pasta recipe – or should I say “Please share the pasta recipe sometime!”
I’ve really truly been loving this trip of yours, I was born in Balboa Park… Naval hospital, heh. It all looks SO GOOD!
Oh man, that dinner looks amazing. What’s in the xmas salad?
How much sweetness can you cram into one post? Between the statue that reminds you of David and loving to eat with kids…sigh. I think I’ll head home soon and have a glass of wine with my sweetheart and think about how good life is. Luv ya!
I would also love that recipe, it sounds, and looks, so good!
*sniff* I miss Balboa park…I used to take Giggles there when we lived in San Diego. And I just have to say “YOU Go Sam!!” Can Kim give me any tips on how to teach Chicken to knit. I taught Giggles, but not so much as she is a book learner…but Chicken…..*sigh* When do you come back to the crazy weather here? It was 75 and beautiful yesterday, today buckets and buckets of cold rain and in the 60s. They say mid 70s as a high, but come on….who are “they” kidding.
That Sam can really knit! His brother’s hat is very cool.
I’ve got to show Older Daughter all that knitting goodness — she’s in a lull… And yes, isn’t eating with kid fun? Especially kids who are enthusiastic (and I would guess, complimentary?) consumers of your cooking mastery 🙂 One more day!!
I really enjoy your “lace is everywhere” series! And can’t you see a bit of manLace in the tall ship picture? I can, and I know a guy who’d love a piece of manLace inspired by a tall ship – maybe even the one he sailed on… I’ll have to dig up the pictures I have of it and see if I can come up with something interesting for him – unless you come up with something first, as your design would undoubtedly be better than whatever I could achieve. Anyways, thanks for the inspiration!
It’s always good to hear about another guy knitter, especially one of a young age. I feel the force is strong with him.
Mmmmm, that seafood vodka sauce looks devine!! Do you have a “shell” of a recipe that you throw together?
Anne- Sam is one cool knitter guy.
I love the sculpture and the trees. You guys are no food slouches either.
Everything looks so wonderful! I’m glad you’re having a good time. I love that the boys are knitting. I didn’t know about the Vikings. That’s really cool!
Good day there!
Kids are great fun to eat with, even if they’re not eating. Unless it’s one of Those Days…
Looks like you are having an AWESOME time! I adore Balboa Park too, such great buildings!
Sam is adorable. What a great knitter!
Um. Share vodka sauce recipe? PLeeeeeeeeeeez??? 😀
Beautiful photos, those trees were amazing looking! Also that pasta sauce looks great! Do you have a recipe?
Pasta sauce recipe request here as well. Do you know the name of the Indian restaurant? San Diego’s only a couple of hours away from me…
I was an idiot not to steal away with you in your suitcase.
I should mention that your photo-text came through while I was in DC, in Knit Happens, of all places. I showed the girl working that you all were having fun in San Diego. Then I bought some sock yarn. heh. Souvenir yarn!
Love Sam’s handknit goods. 🙂
I haven’t been to San Diego in years. There was so much stuff to do. I’d love to go back with my kiddos.
Not to discourage anyone, but Vikings didn’t knit as far as we know. They did something very similar called nalbinding, and later sailors did knit, so it isn’t that far off. Congratulations to Sam for being a good knitter!
Mmmmmmmmm. 🙂
It’s so nice to see how you’re having a good time in such a beautiful place with the company of great people !
Three girls I have and none of them knits 🙁 Sam,I’m proud of you (can’t you come over and teach them ?)
Seriously, I just had breakfast, and now I’m hungry for dinner with those photos!
What a great trip! and you’re so lucky to be able to knit during a flight. Here it’s totaly forbidden.
Anne, I sure would love to meet you one day – even though I am not a knitter, I am sure we could find things to chat about! In addition to being a fantastic knitter (which I heard!) you also are a great photographer!
What a wonderful story you tell. I’ve been away from other folks’ blogs, working on deadlines and the like. It was great to find myself at this post after too long away.
I teach kids to knit, and have a handful of regular boys (ages 7-10 mostly). I am SO hyped about a pirate eyepatch! Thank Sam for the cool idea, on behalf of the boys in Lansing’s CityKidz Knit! program.
LynnH
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