Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Yarn Along 08/01/2012

Joining Ginny for Yarn Along :
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~


These last weeks I haven't found my knitting in my hands as much as I would like. Hardly a stitch, I am sad to say. Shortly after my post, two Wednesdays ago, I ripped out almost to my lifeline and spent the weekend playing catch up. Sadly with shaking hands and a ball of nerves in my belly, I set my knitting aside and took a break. But this week with a new resolve I picked it up again.  This time placing stitch markers every 20 stitches--to ensure my stitch count is accurate after each row! I feel like I am back on track.
My reading is quite sporadic--I am reading a bit of everything. I finished The Time It Takes To Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean. I enjoyed it and could relate to the main character, Dolores. Being in middle school(like the main character) at the time of the Challenger launch. I, like Delores, followed Challenger launch and the explosion for months after. I found myself reading long after my Little Family was asleep. I haven't had the urge to pick up another fictional work since--has that ever happened to you? I think the term is called a Book Hangover.
Southern Plate by Christy Jordan is never far from my hands. I purchased it, feeling very guilty and selfish at the time. But I love it and am only sorry I haven't had it in my hands before now. SO many wonderful recipes that my family will love and wonderful stories that make my eyes well up with tears. Playful Learning is a book I have been sneaking a peek in when I can. It is packed full of ideas for purposeful play and learning. I wish I could get a chance to sew up some books for my boys!
There has been lots of reading with my boys over these last two weeks. Can anyone say Needle Procrastination or Distraction? Pete's a Pizza is a new favorite in our home. The only book my boys have EVER wanted to hear over and over! If you haven't read it with your Little One try and snag a copy from your library. I have no doubt that a giggle(or two) will escape from both of you!
We have had The Life and Times of the Honeybee for a couple of months and my oldest son has gone back and forth with this book. The drawings are amazing and the book is full of information. After this weekend, I have come upon him looking at this book quite a few times. I think being able relate the drawings to what he saw has made such a difference. The knowledge he was able to grasp in a brief conversation(with Ginny) have impressed his dad and myself greatly. He can repeat word for word the conversation and grasp the information she gave him!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Yarn Along 7/18/2012

Joining Ginny for Yarn Along
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~


Hello All. Thanks for visiting. Nothing exciting or new this week, which for me, is comforting. Still knitting on my Hyla. Tinking back occasionally. I am reading the same book- True Sisters by Sandra Dallas . I believe I am finding solace with my needles and wool. Nothing earth shattering(thankfully everyone is health) just a dark period full of worry and misunderstandings and heartache.This, too, shall pass. 
 
“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either.”

― Elizabeth Zimmermann

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Yarn Along July 11, 2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Taken from Ginny's blog




Hello all!  My post this week is short and sweet(I hope). I finished The Giant of Aberdeen County. The ending didn't satisfy me as much as I thought it would. But it was a happy ending and she got the guy in the end :)  It was a magical summer read.
With the ending of that book, I got to pick a new one off of my stack! This time I chose a historical fiction novel based on the trek the Mormons took to get to Salt Lake City. It is a very interesting read, True Sisters by Sandra Dallas.
I am still knitting on my shawl. I haven't even gotten to the end of my first ball of wool and the end is coming near. I added my first life line ever! Trickier than I thought it would be. I do think I have frogged more than I have knit. But I don't want to stare at  the Finished Shawl and always look for the imperfection. But maybe that is part of knitting--the inperfections are just like life. Knitting (and life) can be messy, contain imperfections and reflect the sometimes daunting amounts of personal work invested. 
I do think I will add another section of lace and garter stitches to make it longer. I am enjoy knitting it up- much more than I thought. I really am a loose knitter--especially when not knitting in the round....
I have, also, cast on a very quick test knit. An Icord Earflap Hat by Melody's Makings. I am such a big fan of her patterns--they are super quick and always make me feel like a rock star knitter. And I get to knit it in Yummy Malabrigo.  I do think it will go to the Project Stash KAL as soon as I complete it.
I can't wait to catch with everyone and thanks for stopping by. And Happy Wednesday!! I hope your day is full of finished pages and crafting.
I am leaving you with this blog post I stumbled on a couple of days ago....

When negative thoughts and worries creep in "give thanks", your brain will have no room for dark.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Yarn Along July 4th, 2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Taken from Ginny's blog



Happy 4th of July to my Fellow Americans! And Happy Wednesday to my fellow fiberists! I cast on a project this week. Okay truth be admitted...I cast on 2 but the one pictured is the one I am really excited about. I just fell in love it as as soon as I saw it and bought it as soon as the pattern was released. I cast on as soon as I had the pattern in my hands. What is it, you might ask? What is so gorgeous that I had to cast on as soon as humanly possible? Well is it a shawl!  A lovely shawl that I don't think I will keep for myself. I would love to gift it to someone and have them to be able to draw some comfort from it. It is such a fun little knit. Isn't that pattern delightful--all that lovely garter stitch. My reading is much the same. I only have a few pages left- maybe completed this evening. I am such a slow reader this summer. But each page is a wonderful summer read.  Do you see the chair my knitting is on? My husband built it from a pallet! The bag is from Julip Bags. It is called the Everything but the Knitting bag. And it really came with everything BUT the wool and needles- a cute little notions tin filled to the brim with scissors,  measuring tape, and stitch markers were all included. Even a crochet hook was inside-- kept cleverly secured inside the bag with a sewn in holder!

My favorite spot to watch my children play and to knit  a few rows or read a few pages from.

I hope you enjoy your Wednesday and Happy Reading!


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Yarn Along June 27th, 2012

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Linking up with Ginny this week.

Hello all-Thanks for stopping by! Exciting news on the blog front--I managed to figure out using this link to respond to comments from reader. It always bothered me that I couldn't respond(I love reading comments  and never could figure out to respond)-- I have seen other bloggers have access to reponded right on the their blog (using the same blog format) and I have ALWAYS wanted to respond to anyone who has taken the time to read my blog and  posted a comment.
Which book to choose?
This week, Yarn Along finds me reading a whole new set of books. Most were chosen by what I have seen on Yarn Alongs lately. We went to the most amazing library on Saturday and found wonderful books and a new park! I wanted to stay longer at the park (for a change) and for once, my boys wanted to leave!

Aren't they great sports?!

I really had a hard time settling on which book to start on. But I managed to press on (wink, wink). The one I chose wasn't even one I had on my list! BUT it is a wonderful  and a surprisingly good read--especially since it wasn't on the list I bought with me.  The Little Giant of Aberdeen County is captivating and almost a bit of a fairy tale. There is a town witch and old money and a community full of secrets. I haven't even told you the best part of the story- the heroine is a bit of an Ugly Duckling. I am a sucker for Ugly Duckling stories.
My knitting is sporadic. But I do love what I am knitting and that is what is important. At least for now. A shawl for me, and, as always, some baby knitting.


I can't wait to catch up with everyone! Happy Wednesday!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Yarn Along June 20, 2012

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I think having the Yarn Along each Wednesday makes the week just fly by, don't you think?

This week's Yarn Along finds me in the same place reading wise. I really haven't felt the urge or had the time(truth be told and how is that possible?) I Gave My Heart To Know This is a nice summer read. Perfect for when I gather my boys and the sprinkler and head outside. The last few days have been quite cool and rainy but today it truly feels like summer is arriving. This year I have been quite impatient for it's arrival. Eager for my children to be out of school here at home with me. Days that we can play, play, play! I am sure they are growing tired of workbooks and Mom trying to craft with them but for now they are good sports.

Knitting has been something I have picked  up quite alot this week. So much that I now have quite a collection of WIP's. Not something I am terribly proud of or something I can seem to control. I have cast on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Moebius Ring for my oldest daughter and I have cast on a Schlüttli  for a wee one. I have just been casting on whatever I have in my queue that I have wool for in my stash. It seems I have a lot of one skein project. This way, I can just pick something little when the time comes to welcome a new life into our world. I do think that every baby should have something handmade- it helps to celebrate and welcome the new little life. Well, that is my opinion, anyway.
My oldest daughter actually completed her first knitting project on Monday! She just picked up the needles and cast on  as pretty as you please(she made it look simple!) and worked until it was finished! I am having a hard time putting it to use--it is such a treasure. I know it would please her to use it, I just never realized how much joy there was in being given a handknit.
A dishcloth! Isn't it the grandest cloth you have ever seen :)
Anyone have a favorite one skein project? I can't wait to catch with every one's projects and the wonderful books they have picked up. Until next week...

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Yarn Along 6/13/2012

Joining Ginny for Yarn Along this week.
**Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~
 New reads and new projects this week! My children's last week of school was full of tests, promotions, and fun! But so very busy. I barely had time to knit or read. I didn't manage to post about anything new but I did stop by your blogs when I could to see what you all were up too.
I have decided to put Gettysburg back on the shelves...at least for a bit. It is very good but the technical elements leave me dizzy. The human element of the story, though, I truly do soak up those words but those pages are few and far between. It is so difficult to imagine what the characters are viewing as far as the battles. I feel like every word I read I need to read twice. Maybe seeing a reenactment would make the the reading a little easier? Not sure I am brave enough for that--the suffering and death would be more than I could bear witness too. It makes you wonder how the members of both sides of each army and the ones left to clean up after each battle managed to do what they did....
My children and I traveled to our library this week... we stocked up on books to read for the next 2 weeks. Our stacks are large! Did I tell you we joined the Read Aloud Book Club  for the summer. I am so excited! We managed to snag the last copy of Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe . And we did grab a copy of Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I have such fond memories of this book and I can't wait to share it with my boys.
The book I choose for me this week  is I Gave My Heart To Know This. It truly is multigenerational saga of the searing power of war, memory, friendship, and family.**words taken from Amazon-I couldn't have said it better, though.

Now for my knitting! I cast on a Baby Vertebrae. I really don't know why I did it. I have no one little to knit for but Ginny inspired me. So cast on I did....I do love how it is knitting up. But really with no one little to knit for I don't know why I just didn't ignore the urge to knit up something little-- I was quite happy knitting up a Simple Things for myself. BUT, Oh the horrors I have encountered with this shawl. If I didn't love the wool so much I would hide it under my bed and cast on some else! It is a great pattern. Fun to knit and easy and the wool is beautiful but I had a terrible time re-skeining the wool. Re-skeining you may ask....It arrived like this(isn't it beautiful!).


The problem..... was (notice I typed WAS) that when it arrived to me it was machine knit using 2 strands of fingering weight wool. It was sent that way so you could knit 2 socks as one- clever, huh?!! I would SO love to do that(one day)! But when I first saw this wool(online) I fell it love with it and impulsvely bought it without reading any of the fine print.  I just knew it would make a beautiful shawlette for me. I, also, didn't read on the site until later that the wonderful dyer would have wound the wool for me if I had let her know! Always the hard headed knitter---I tried to knit straight from that luscious scarf! Big mistake--I wasn't knitting 2 at once so you can imagine the trouble I ran into.... I decided to frog it from the wonderful scarf uaing a ball winder. Then, I truly realized that there was 2 strands of these glorious wool together! The re-skeining begin and boy was that a struggle! It would have been fine but with 2 strands wound into a beautiful yarn cake--it was a mess! My wonderful husband and my oldest daughter rallied to my side and we begin to reskein the wool into 2 hank using a 2 kitchen chairs and these directions . I am so happy we did it--I learned some new skills and in the end I had 2 lovely yarn cakes and and I am teaching myself how to knit with 2 balls of wool and alternate skeins. It sure does keep the knitting lively, doesn't it?

I also decided to cast on a Prayer Shawl. I have never knit anything as wonderful as this. My husband's Aunt--she is such a wonderful lady and is going through some with some health issues that are terribly frightening and I wanted to let her know I am thinking of her. I am only 2 rows into it... The problem I have run into is that I can't find time to find a quiet place to knit and pray for our beloved Aunt. I could knit it throughout the day and it would roll of my needles in no time but Prayer Shawls are different. Any thoughts, dear readers?


Can't wait to catch with you.