A SEAL and His Needles

I recently told y'all about my friend Phil who is a Navy SEAL and among his many talents and skills, he's recently learned to knit.

We've been emailing each other nearly every day since we reconnected (Facebook does have a purpose beyond Scrabble!). The email he sent me yesterday started with this...

I have been in a bit of a dry spell for a few days. I totally ran out of yarn! How awful it is. I am sure you know the feeling.

BWAHHAHHAHA! I explained to him that I am in no danger of EVER running out of yarn. Like the Yarn Harlot, I collect and hoard yarn as though there will be some tragic sheep blighting disease that will eradicate new wool forever.

Someone sent him a box with some yarn in it and he dug right in. (It wasn't me, I am putting together a package for him but haven't finished/sent it yet.) He sent me a pic of the scarf he started...


I emailed back and about an hour later he responded and sent another pic of the scarf.....


It's a bit depressing that he knits faster then I do and I've been at it for about 6 and a half years now!

When he first told me about his new hobby, he sent a pic of these rockin' arm warmers he made...

I love those! It's also a wonderful pic that shows off some of the great tattoos he has. He's had ink from many parts of the world. The last time I saw him in person (1999), he had a beautiful angel on his arm - it had the most delicate face - that he got in Amsterdam.

I was thinking of having a contest... You know, you send me yarn to mail to him and then I pick a winner from the people that play. But then I remembered he's in Iraq and needs to travel light. I know how generous knitters can be and I think sending him a metric ton of yarn probably wouldn't be the best idea.

His birthday is this Friday and I'll be mailing his package on Monday (ish).

Oh! and here's a picture of him...


Even squinting into the sun, he's still beautiful! Behind him is the solar oven he made (this pic is from his house in the US).

He's sent me a some really cool pic's. One of him in his full combat gear with a really gorgeous weapon. One of his outstanding Harley with his equally outstanding sons in front of it (I was going to post that one but I didn't want to put his kids on the interwebs).

Since Dave and I both have a real thing for guns, I showed these pic's to Dave and when he saw the above one (with the solar oven), Dave commented that Phil looks just like "Castle". In that pic, he totally does! Especially the squint and the way his hair is.

Anyway, Phil ended yesterday's email with....

This knitting thing is biting me pretty hard, I wonder if it will ever let up!! Phil

Now that's something I can relate to!

Enabling him with yarn, Ruth!