o.m.g. i haven’t had german chocolate cake in years but this weekend was my birthday and when david asked what kind of cake he should bake, it hit me that this kind would be a nice change of pace.
why yes, it does taste as good as it looks, thank you david!
i had nice treats all weekend, in fact. while i did have to spend part of friday on taxes and accounting work, i managed to knock off by 2 pm so david and i could go out on our bikes and take advantage of a beautiful afternoon to do errands (errands by bike are a LOT more fun that regular errands).
beckie picked us up after work and we all went for a cocktail, then dinner at a new asian bistro in our neighborhood. the espresso martinis were yummy and the thiai food was outstanding—a totally welcome surprise. i think we found a new go-to restaurant.
beckie gave me these sparkly opal earrings and i got a lovely package from alice of fine skin care products from london
i can’t believe she remembered my birthday at a time like this, with a baby due any moment. thank you alice!
and from phoebe there were sweets (i forgot to put the emergency chocolate in the photo) and some really lovely handspun polwarth yarn; what a special gift, thank you phoebe!
i also got some pretty gardening gloves; aren’t they lovely?
on saturday morning i got together with debby and susie for knitting and we all sat and chatted while the snow fell outside; it was magical (it’s been a weird winter—we’ve had almost no snow or cold weather this year; the ground never froze, really).
just when i thought the weekend couldn’t get any better, on saturday night i rounded the corner into the front hall and came upon this scene in the (so called) living room
what’s this?? david is blocking something—i didn’t even know he knew how!
ooooh, let’s go in a little closer to see what it is . . .
looks like he’s finished up that cashmere/wool wrap he’s been working on since last winter—the project that’s been halfway around the world and back again, woo-hoo!
i knew it was intended for me, but i didn’t know it was done. last i saw it, he needed to bind it off and was procrastinating because he had to learn something new.
it’s lovely and a wonderful record of his progress in knitting. when i look at the beginning edge i am reminded of just how much of a challenge this project was for him at first (cookie and ysolda will confirm it; he needed constant guidance during those first ten inches or so).
but somewhere around the time he got into the second cake of yarn, a light bulb went off somewhere and all the information we repeatedly repeated clicked into place, so that by the time i went off to london and the west cost this summer, he was able to spend long evenings working away without a hitch.
by the time i got back he was very close to the other end of the piece and it was looking very well indeed.
and his knitting shows marked improvement from a year ago, yes?
i love that when i wrap it around myself i can see both ends side by side; i’m completely smitten with the pair of them.
what a fabulous birthday gift! why didn’t i get modeling shots before it got dark today?
i wonder what he’ll knit next?
(heh; no rest for the weary mister knitspot!)
yesterday he unpinned it and tonight i’ll show him how to weave in the ends. then it will be mine to wear as i please, yay!
i think he deserves a new pair of socks, don’t you?
i’ve been inspired to keep my promise of knitting a little bit each day on his and amad’s basketweave design.
and whaddaya know? they are indeed growing. huh.
i’m also making great progress on the front of his enchanted forest sweater—i’ve gotten all the way through the armhole shaping now, which makes those rows a lot shorter and faster to work.
still, a guy sweater in sport weight involves a LOT of knitting; i’m glad it’s a simple pattern with great rhythm that i can easily knit while watching TV.
the pleasing textures go a long way toward motivating me toward the finish. once this piece is done, i have just one more big one to go.
but i can start writing the pattern this week, now that i’ve gotten this far. my measurements are working out as expected and i’ve no concerns about the fit at this point. i’ve gotten several other patterns on to the next step in the last couple of days, so my desk is momentarily clear—i think i can give myself the green light on starting it tomorrow morning, yay.
but for tonight, i think i’m going to wander upstairs and get reacquainted with wasp and rose; i need to pull that out, figure out where i was at last time i worked on it and get it back on track.
i also need to finish up the final hem chart for it, but that’s a story for another day . . .
56 thoughts on “YUM!”
Oh my….I didn’t realize it was your birthday…..Happy happy day my friend!!!!! You have an amazing gift in David. That picture of him blocking a shawl that he knit for you is priceless….absolutely priceless. You are very blessed!
xoxo!!
Yes, what a wonderful gift–the shawl and David.
I’m lovin’ the photos of David. Looks like you had a very special birthday weekend! Happy Belated Birthday, Anne. I remember when my daughter knit her first scarf, and the beginning of the scarf and the end of the scarf were quite different from each other, but still both so beautiful.
David is definitely a keeper! Homemade German chocolate cake and a beautifully knit wrap. How special for you, Anne.
It looks like you had a Happy Birthday indeed! Kudos to Mr. Knitspot!
I had just been wondering about the wasp and rose design. It looks to be another beauty in the making.
Happy Birthday! Sounds like it was the best sort.
(I don’t know you but I do enjoy your blog, and who can resist 3 layers of chocolate cake?)
Happy Birthday to you! Wow, you get a homemade cake AND an amazing knit piece. How incredibly thoughtful. And I think it’s wonderful that you appreciate so much all the work and love that went into that wrap, and that you love how it shows David’s progression as a knitter. You are both lucky to have each other!
happy birthday anne!! and that wrap is such a treasure =)
Happy Birthday!
What a fabulous birthday! Thanks for sharing!
Happy Birthday, Anne!
David has definitely earned new socks 🙂 That wrap looks so cosy, like a hug, and what a first project!
Happy birthday Anne! Hope you had a wonderful day!
And congratulations, David — that is some achievement! I am loving your development as a knitter. And where better to be inspired than with Anne? 🙂
The ultimate in romantic gestures, baking AND kinitting for you. Hang on to that man or someone may steal him. Happy birthday.
Happy Birthday. What a wonderful celebration!
Happy Birthday from me, too! It sounds like a lovely one.
I love David’s sweater. You do design the loveliest textures in the yummiest yarns!
(And I can only imagine how snuggly your cashmere stole will be!) What a precious gift!)
Happy Belated Birthday! Sounds like a great day!
Go Mr Knitspot! The wrap looks fantastic. Happy Belated Birthday Anne 🙂
Happy Birthday to you! The wrap David made is amazing. It’s simple and full of love, what more could a girl wish for? 🙂
I think the shots of David on the floor blocking that wrap are my most favorite-est ever. Totally made me smile this morning.
This weekend was my birthday, too! Looks like you had a great one, yay. 😀
Well done David! Well done indeed! That sounds like the best kind of birthday gift ever… made with love and dedication.
Happy Birthday!
Lovely late Happy Birthday!!! Brilliantly done, David!!!! (both the cake and the knitting!!!)
Sounds like a fabulous birthday. Happy! Happy! Love the pictures of David blocking his wrap. Kudos on a great project. I think “around the world” projects are the best. They hold so many memories.
Happy Birthday Anne! What wonderful gifts you received. I cannot imagine my DH ever knitting and blocking something for me (although he did once make a cake and it was German Chocolate too). I am seriously impressed with David 🙂
Happy belated birthday, Anne! What lovely presents! The wrap that David made you is wonderful. All that love knit into it and you can wrap yourself up in it when you travel or cozy up at home. He deserves socks, and that sweater and all sorts of other things. 🙂
The cake looks spectacular. I love German cakes (and I’ve eaten a LOT as we always have cake overdose when we visit Mr JK’s family in Germany.) Have you tried Liz Earle’s skincare range before? My claim to fame is that she and I were in the same ballet class when we were kids!!! You were certainly right about David’s gift – how wonderful to be able to wrap yourself up in such love.
Happy Birthday to Anne!!!
Mr. Knitspot – you ROCK!! Beautiful cake and knitting! (I am totally showing my husband this post. Though, admittedly, my husband is cool too: he raises alpacas!)
Happy, happy birthday from one Aquarius to another. Your celebration looks like great fun and we’ll look forward to seeing both you and Mr. Knitspot modeling soon!
Awww, happy birthday dearest Anne! I can’t believe I missed it in all the craziness. May this be your very best year ever, full of love, joy, good health, prosperity and success of all kinds. Love to you! xox
I just smiled through the entire post, you two are definitely made for each other! What a wonderful birthday surprise and weekend for you both! Can’t wait to see you in your wrap.
that is the sweetest thing ever! Happy Birthday fellow Aquarius!
Do you know I was thinking of Wasp and Rose just the other day, and I swore I was *not* going to ask you about it. I’m so happy that you’re going back to it.
David did an outstanding job with your birthday. The cake looks extra yummy. And that wrap – OMG, Anne. What a labor of love! I know you’ll cherish that gift forever! How special.
I’m so glad you had a wonderful birthday, Anne. Many, many more.
Happy Cakeday, Anne!
And, if we didn’t think mr. knitspot was perfect already, the pic of him blocking a handknit wrap clinched it:)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and great job with the knitting, David!
happy birthday, anne! and congrats to david on finishing such an enormous and lovely piece of knitting! i think you should encourage him to knit some instant-gratification thing for himself now, for a change of pace: a scarf in bulky yarn? or is it time to pick up the DPNs and learn to knit a hat?
What a beautiful present from Mr Knitspot. He’s given you his first year’s progress in the craft, which is a present he can never create nor give again. A truly unique present full of love (and very beautiful to boot).
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Looks like you had a great day. Enjoy all of your wonderful gifts and I know you enjoyed that glorious chocolate cake.
WTG David!!!!
Belated Happy Birthday! What wonderful gifts, and what a guy you’ve got there, Anne:) I’m sure you enjoyed every minute and every mouthful of cake. And the sweater is to die for – I think I’ve said that before.
Happy Birthday! David did a wonderful job. Thanks for sharing the blocking photos. My brothers have no idea what blocking is but they are very knitworthy.
Happy birthday, Ann, and lovely post will all sorts of goodies. Thanks for vicariously allowing us to share in your birthday treats.
Mr. Knitspot…. Renaissance Man. And I think that wrap will keep you cozy inside and out, knowing how lovingly it was crafted by him. Sounds like an excellent birthday all the way around!
German Chocolate cake is my tip-top favorite – yum, indeed!
David, you did a wonderful job on Anne’s Birthday present – good for you! It really is lovely and I cannot wait to see a photo parade.
Happy Birthday! The picture of the lovely cake may inspire me to make a german chocolate cake. I haven’t tried to do so in years. I had a problem with the frosting one time. Very impressed with David’s knitting skills..
Happy B-day fellow aquarius my was the 2nd. You have a man that knits amazing! What a sweet guy to to make you a gorgeous wrap like that. I’m just thankful to have a man who is stash and fiber animal friendly.
Happy Birthday, Anne, from yet another Aquarius here. What a nice celebration you had! Lots of meaningful gifts, and David outdid himself. Thanks for sharing your life with us, inspiring us with your fabulous designs, and helping us to understand all the ins and outs of knitting and finishing. Have a wonderful year.
Many happy wishes and congratulations. It sounds like you’ve had a good day, which you certainly deserves.
Happy belated birthday. It’s such a touching scene to see David on his knees doing the blocking. You are a lucky lady.
Happy Birthday Anne 🙂 And lots of love to you and David. Can’t wait to see you in April!
Happy belated birthday! And you are.killing.me.with.those.cake.photos. Three layers of chocolate mmmmmm
Happy belated birthday!!! It looks like you had a grand weekend of celebration!! That cake looks delish, and your birthday wrap from David is outstanding!! He has obviously been keeping a stealthy eye on all your knitting and blocking activities as he looks like a pro!! What a special gift!! Wishing you all the best! xo
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