Monday, November 11, 2013

Sweater Weather... Dammit

I've just got to say I'm pretty disgusted with "the weather man." "He" said it was going to be sunny and in the 50sF (10–15C) for almost our entire visit. Well, we haven't seen much sun. And, although we've seen the 50s a couple of times, we haven't felt it. The wind-chill (we didn't have windchill in Southern California and we don't have windchill on the Mediterranean) has been below 40F (4.5C).

But are we complaining? Well, yes, actually. Every chance we get. We were well-prepared, however. We have our sweatshirts, winter jackets, scarves, gloves, layers. No problem really. I just wish I still had my father's sweaters made by the Dowager Duchess (who was just a Duchess at the time). I'd be a lot more "stylin'." While scanning old photos yesterday, I came across this shot of another one of my favorite sweaters made by the Duchess. This argyle cardigan was made for my father in 1948. I inherited it in 1969 and wore it until I outgrew it in the late '80s. It was still in perfect condition. I wonder who's enjoying it now.

(CLICK TO SEE THE FINE KNITTING.)

24 comments:

  1. Old sweaters made by the DD, imagine having that/those to roll up in...mmm!!

    Ron

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  2. Next.....All that complaining is probably keeping you guys warm!! lol
    Do love that sweater....a work of art and craftsmanship.

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    1. Jim:
      Today, even the kid brother complained about the cold. Of course, he showed up with a spring-weight windbreaker, no hat, no gloves, no scarf. That argyle sweater was incredible.

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  3. Its very windy here at the moment! Not really cold though, its at that late autumnal stage a bit to hot for a jumper or a light jacket but a bit to chilly not to wear one

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    1. Tynan:
      After the winds here off the Atlantic Ocean, mixed with the lower temps, San Geraldo might not even complain about the wind in Fuengirola ... for about five minutes.

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  4. What a great photo! I love the sweater, too, and I could wrap up in it right now. Here in Indiana, we're "looking forward" to a Tuesday with a 36 degree (Fahrenheit) high/ 17 degree low. Le sigh.

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    1. Michelle:
      That sweater was classy. Burgundy and Forest Green on a Gray background. I loved it! Right now it's snowing in New York... I mean it's FRICKIN' snowing in New York. But high of 40 today and no where near 17, so I guess I won't be flying to Indiana.

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  5. I've never had anyone make me a sweater. Mrs. Chatterbox doesn't even iron. That's a fine looking sweater. Take care.

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    1. Stephen:
      My mother used to make us all the most amazing sweaters. She would even make me a new sweater every other year or so for St. Patrick's Day. And, she used to iron even my T-shirts!

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  6. May I brag and say that I can still wear the jumpers/sweaters that my grandmother (known in the family as Queen Maud) knitted for me when I was in my twenties? ;-)
    I hope you are enjoying your time in America, despite the cold!
    Bye for now,
    Kirk

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    1. Kirk:
      In my case, it's a good thing those sweaters no longer fit. I was a bean pole back then! Having a very nice time here... watching it snow from 17 stories up!!!

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  7. I guess you mean you outgrew it in a fashion sense.

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    1. Andrew:
      Nope. The Dowager Duchess knitted classics. Those sweaters would still be in fashion. When I was 16 and inherited those sweaters from my father, I was about 6 feet tall and weighed 125 pounds. Ten years later, I was over 6-feet tall and weighed 145 pounds. I'm very grateful to have physically outgrown the sweaters!

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  8. Amaaaaaaaazing sweater!
    Looks like you've got some muy frío temps today out there in NY.... it's crashed down into the mid-twenties F here in St. Louis this morning! Madness!

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    1. Judeet:
      40F high today, which will at times feel like 30F (and I don't use that "F" lightly). Right now it's snowing. Give me Fuengirola's cyclonic winds any day!

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  9. Sorry about the bitchin' cold weather but just try to think of it as part of the ambiance.
    I sometimes remember a favorite old piece of clothing and wonder whatever happened to it. I never had a stylin' handmade DD argyle sweater though!

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    1. Ms. Sparrow:
      I gave all those old sweaters to a cousin for her son, but I don't think they ever made it to him (or, if they did, that he wanted them). I have a feeling my cousin still has them, which is fine with me! Very raw and cold today. Tomorrow is supposed to be much more pleasant... so, of course,

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  10. That argyle sweater is fantastic! It takes a LOT of patience to make those. I sure hope someone is enjoying it now, it's a classic that will never go out of style. As to the weather.... pfffttttt! (that's my word of disgust today... sounds like your weather is as bad as it is here)

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    1. Sharon:
      You would really appreciate the quality of my mother's craft. Odd to compare her to a knitting machine, but her stitches were so perfect that it was hard to believe her sweaters were done by hand. I love pfffttttt. That's going to be my word of disgust today. Frigid here!!! (Well, everything's relative... but it's cold!)

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  11. I woke up to a winter wonderland this morning! The first real snows always look beautiful, so I like to enjoy them while I can. Your parents are so good looking in that photo!

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    1. Kristi:
      I do love the look of a winter wonderland. We had rain mixed with swirling snow yesterday. Just unpleasant, cold, and raw. I do look forward to returning to our Mediterranean winter!

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  12. Marvellous photo and memories. I'm sure you wish you had kept that stylish sweater. I hope someone appreciates it.
    Di
    xoxo

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    1. Di:
      We were shopping at Macy's the other day. I saw an argyle sweater. Of course it didn't compare to anything the Dowager Duchess ever made. So I told her I wouldn't buy it; she could just make me a new one. She refused! Can you believe it?!?

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