Knitting Challenge

see it sparkle? It is really pretty.

Finished my short-row shawlette. I've been trying to challenge myself a bit; this one is designed by Lorna Miser and it said "beginner" and it was, once I got over being intimidated by A Pattern. I love the way it came out. I used Caron Simply Soft Party yarn which has a bit of a sparkle in it. I normally don't use anything but Red Heart (blush!!)  but Lorna gave me a bag of stuff and this was in it. I am really going to enjoy this. Now we need some cold weather so I can use it. Thank you, Lorna, for the yarn, and for the encouragement.

Life as Told by Recipes...

Going through my mother in law's recipe file boxes. Yes, boxes! I realized as I was looking that this is a little piece of her life. She always said she wasn't a good cook even though she made DELICIOUS food! The reason, she said, was she always used other people's recipes. Who doesn't?  I never considered myself a good cook, and the reason was I don't follow recipes well! She was a wonderful cook, and always had the best collection of cookies for her neighbors, grandchildren, great grandchildren-- and whoever stopped by was asked if they would like some cookies and tea, coffee, or milk. Or fruit or vegetables, but that's another story.

She was blessed with friends. Her box has recipes from Audrey, Joy, Aunt Oletha, Violet, Fran. Some are in their own handwriting, or typed on an old typewriter. Little pieces of friendships that spanned decades. She lived in the same house for more than sixty years. Some of those friends were also friends of my mother's, some became friends of mine. I also heard the old stories of the Times Gone By. When my mother in law slipped into dementia, those friends became more real to her, and she talked of them often. I even became "Audrey" one day when she thought I was her. The present faded away, but the past stayed.

Those friends are gone now, and so is my mother in law. What a treasure of friendship they had! I can't help but imagine a Heavenly place, where I can see them sitting around the kitchen table, sharing life, swapping recipes. And maybe some of that wonderful zucchini bread.


 

Learning things you never thought would happen...

Learned something  today. The older American Girl dolls are chubbier than the newer ones. So.... no wonder I had trouble getting the jeans to fit. Now I have to find out what doll Kaleigh has. And if I am going to continue to sew for American Girls, should I get another? I of course don't want to spend $$ on one. So if Goodwill gets one in, I'm ready. LOL

I'm a bid sad about that. The originals were shaped like real girls are shaped. I haven't seen a new one to compare, but it is sad that they thought they better skinny them up. Mine is getting loose jointed so may end up going to a doll hospital.

I actually bought a pattern online today. Mostly I have made do with the free ones. Now I find out (because it is a good pattern and says that it is made for the newer dolls) that my poor girl is chubby. I don't think it will make much difference.

The pattern I got was from craftsy. The Juliette Dress

Kaleigh

Working on some American Girl Doll clothes for Kaleigh. I don't have a grand daughter of my own yet, so Suzie graciously offered to loan me her daughter! Since I've been sick I haven't done much, but I did finish a scarf and hat set while traveling to Disneyland. Here's my Molly modeling them.

I did not plan the way the variegated yarn striped. I LOVE it but probably could never duplicate it! I still have a bit of that yarn so might try again. The hat could stand to be a few stitches larger but I think it's really cute.

Kaleigh isn't getting her package until after Christmas unfortunately since that's in two days. I hope to have a few things done tonight.

Christmas Day.... turned out to kind of be wacky, because Kerry is still sick. We went to Jay's but only stayed an hour or so before coming home so he could go to bed. Which left me alone for the evening, again. Sigh. HOWEVER.... finished the jeans, cut out the vest. I love the detail on the jeans. Yes the stitching isn't perfect. Yours wouldn't be either if you were making a less-than-two-inch pocket.

midnight musings

playing with snowflakes in the night. There's a cool snowflake maker on theproblemsite.com  which is a cool site with lots of educational games.

I need to be asleep but sometimes I just need to do something to quiet my mind. These are interesting to do for a bit of distraction. I've been pretty distracted lately and not in a good way. Maybe tomorrow I can sew. That would help. Tonight, the snowflakes helped.

Babies and babies.

This doesn't really look like anything, but it's a nursing cover. Liv and I made three of them today, two for Chandra. and one for her. I also made three baby blankets, two for unborn Jasper and one for JP. Once I figured out the secrets, the blankets were pretty easy, although NOT a 10 minute project like the video said. I do want to make a few more. I have to hurry up with one project for Wyatt, because at the rate I am going it will be summer before it's done. I wanted to be done sooner but oh well.

It felt good to sew. The last blanket was made while sitting on the floor with the sewing machine-- I don't recommend that. But sometimes you just do what you gotta do.  

The King Fire 2014

not my picture. Photog unknown

I see faces in the flames

creepy, demonic ones

like a lion

seeking whom he may devour 

Even in the shape of the fire

there always seems to be a demon

laughing 

at those who try to stop it.

I know I need not fear

The Lord is with me

still I quiver

in the face of such evil...

And yet.

God uses fire to describe Himself

Apart from the evil. 

Wind.... rain... fire...

 both evil and good 

two ends of the spectrum. 

 I  see more 

than just the evil 

here in this mocking fire...

because I know
that GOD

will eventually be

the VICTOR.