Yarn-a-Long

Joining Ginny today for the yarn-a-long!

Well homeschool co-op is over and so Wednesdays are a little less crazy so lets see if I can get this written and linked up today! Wahoo!

BOOKS:

I just finished Someone for book club this week, I am reading The 7-day Christian and listening to Minstrel on Audible.

KNITTING:

I finished my Spindleberry in San Diego visiting my Daddy and blocked it last week! And I started a Cosette Wrap on the flight back home. I am calling it my Technicolor Dream Shawl as I am using my Valentine's Day yarn from my honey! Dan asked, "Your making ANOTHER shawl? I never knew you were such a shawl person!", but really its just that I have gotten some yarn "for me" recently and its not enough for a sweater and I just don't know what else I'd use! In between I knit a sweet baby hat in white for a dear friend who needed comfort and prayers for her babe in utero. Sadly he was just not strong enough.  

Happy Wednesday! And thanks for visiting!

Awakening!

Easter 2014 next to my almost blooming lilacs!

Where does the time go? I kind of feel like I've missed a few years during this crazy ride. Some seasons are well etched and vivid in my mind, some are like a far away memory and some I just don't remember living through! But it also helps me to really GET what an experienced grandma once told me, that there are different seasons of life and you can do it all but you have to do it in the right season (she was enjoying a fulfilling career after years of being a stay at home mom). I am in this weird place in-between seasons, I am trying not to hurry the end of the one or the beginning of the other. I am not the mom of babes anymore (and after so long in that mode it is very strange). I did not go to the "Big Cloth Diaper Change" nor will I go to the "Big Latch On" this year. Instead I run to piano, or scouts, or homeschool co-op and dig my heels about how much technology comes in... 

It's also an awakening in a sense. I have started to remember who I am and desire to be me again. Can you believe I have interests and talents in more than pinning a explosion proof cloth diaper (although I proudly wear that accomplishment)! I'm glad to be a mama but I am also glad to find out that after years of surviving and being a different form of myself that I am still me! I am different and  changed from the experiences of the last 14 or so years but it is comforting to find myself under all these layers.

My kids still need me (some days more than possible) but it's not the same constant need. They can scrounge up things to eat if I'm absorbed in a sewing or knitting project, they are even great at helping me unearth the kitchen after an amazing cooking storm (or a few rough days worth of dishes)!

I know in a few years I will look at this picture as I now look at others and think how young they all were and how little I knew, but right now I see this picture as a time of change. And I'm happy with the change, there may be some growing pains but I think this is all good.

And Happy May Day! Who will you give flowers to today?

Tax Return Miracle!

Well we have had a wonderful "Tax Return Miracle" and now I sit here at the computer desk actually typing with all of my fingers on my new computer! The funny thing is we have not bought a computer since Riley was toddler (we've just always had hand-me-down computers). Crazy!

So this means a couple things, 1. I can actually take pictures with my real camera again (I've had no where to download them or any easy way to use them). And 2. maybe I could get blogging in a little easier and maybe even pick up blogging on my other blogs. We will see, it is spring and so there is lots to do outside!

 So I have a few links to share and then maybe I will find a good blogging groove. The picture up there is me and my Grandma J. reading my Gold Bug book by Richard Scarry. Both of my grandma's read to me often, it is one of my most fond memories.

:: The Dalai Lama's Ski Trip 

:: Life-Changing Bread - on my list to try this week!

:: Awesome YouTube Video on the power of words!

:: Plantain Chip Nachos - on my list for the week too!

:: Fern & I are excited to go to the first ever General Women's Meeting together tomorrow night.

:: Olive Us video - who doesn't love seeing siblings having fun together!

Have a great Friday!

XO

Yarn Along & Links for the Day!

Yarning along today...

The beauty of this post is that I did not have to hack Dan's computer nor am I typing on my thumbs, yep all the saving up and waiting has paid off! This week we went over to best buy and bought a computer! I am still getting use to it and learning but so far it is wonderful! 

I am continuing to knit my Spindleberry and I have another baby hat on my needles for when I need a portable knitting project. 

I have only about 20 pages left in Song of the Lark so I will be finishing that today (which is good since book club meets tomorrow)!

I finished listening to Bringing up Bebe which I borrowed from the library, their digital offerings are really growing!

A couple things around the internet I thought I'd share:

The Knitmore Girls Podcast

A friend who could use your prayers! 

Ceramics class fun! photos #2, 5, and the little one in front on #8 are creations from my kids.

Dairy-free Banana Chia seed pudding! Yum!

Yarn Pyramid

I think that is it for today! Hopefully I'll find my way here more often now!

Yarn Along - On the Needles & Off the Bookshelf

Busy busy! Joining Ginny today for her Yarn Along from yesterday. ;)

Reading: Song of the Lark (and getting serious about getting through this since the book club deadline is quickly approaching!).

I'm listening to Bringing up Bebe with the library's uber cool app and I'm still reading the crazy fun knitting books from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee here and there. 

Knitting: I finished my project bag, I love the pattern but not the suggestion of using plain cotton. I want to make this again but with either a thinner weight cotton or with a cotton blend. 

I am also working on my Spindleberry, it's awesome I love the pattern and I love the yarn! I have to watch the pattern so I am only knitting this at home which means I need to start another project that I can take with me. ;)

What is on your needles and off your bookshelf?

{Yarn Along} February 20, 2014

Ok maybe things are a little crazy here...4 books going and 4 projects pictured!! Joining Ginny!

Reading: Keeping Chickens by Ashley English, Free-Range Knitting & At Knit's End by Stephanie McPhee, and Song of the Lark by Willa Cather!

Knitting: I finished Fern's Big Lace Scarf, my Hats for All, a heart patch, and now I have started this super cute Little Project Bag!

Whew!

Trying to post my yarn along on Wednesdays is just not going to happen. Yesterday I came to peace with that after our full day (LLL meeting, homeschool co-op, nephew to sing Happy Birthday to, scouts...). The nice thing that comes out of that crazy day is that Thursdays have turned out pretty mellow, staying home, plenty of knitting time, and even time to post my yarn along!

Everything in there time and season, it just works better that way!

{this moment}

A moment I want to pause and savor from this week!

{this moment}

I think Sunday is a good day for me to post a {this moment}. So let's try this out since this is the end of my week looking forward to all the new craziness to come!

Happy Sabbath!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny for the yarn along today!

So....we hit the end of January and now it's February, and in true mid-winter fashion I put things on hold and started some new. I've not abandoned the shawl or The Monkey's Voyage just paused (but I am still contemplating frogging the shawl and maybe using the yarn for this cowl). 

I started this blue scarf for Fern last week, I've ripped rows out a couple times and it is a project you have to be aware of what your doing and count a bit so it is slow going. And because of that I started another hat, for me this time so that I had something to knit while watching the big game (and Mansfield Park the other night...). I am reading Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (one of my favorite authors of all time), it is part of her "pioneer trilogy". I have read the other two many times as they are my favorites but I've never read this one. I am reading it for a book club. I also picked up Keeping Chickens by Ashley English at our local bookshop yesterday and dove right in first reading the chapter on taking care of chicks and then started the coop chapter before i fell asleep with my nose in it! My chicks are ordered, 6 buff orpingtons and 6 black australorps! So exciting!!!

Easy Peasy Useful Crafting!

For Chirstmas my family surprised me with a Kindle Paperwhite! So exciting!! 

In January we decided to go on a little road trip and so of course I wanted to take my kindle with the book I was reading. But the night before as I was packing my "front seat" basket I realized I did not want to just throw it in! I had not settled on or justified the cost of a cover so...I ran into my sewing room with an idea!

Luckly I had felted this sweater and thrown it into my fabric bins for a future project (I pick up all wool seaters from Goodwill when I come across them).

At first I was going to cut a square out of the bottom body part but then I realized there was a golden idea here!! The sleeve! Less sewing (remember it was the night before and I do have everything else to pack)!!

So I cut it off and sewed up one open end. Easy peasy!

Then I grabbed a small hair rubber band from my drawer and sewed that securely on (still on the wrong side).

I turned it right-side out and sewed on a button (measure how far down according to your tablet).

Slip it in!

And off you go!!! 

The wrist band was a little tight at first but a little stretching and use has made it better. But it is still tight enough to be secure which I like, no slipping out!!

Yarn Along!

Yarn Along!!

This may sound silly but keeping up with Ginny's yarn along helps me keep up with the knitting and reading that is always on my list of wants to do!

I'm still reading the same books, there has not been much time for reading in the last couple weeks. But I have gotten a bit of knitting in, I whipped up this little hat from the last Taproot magazine for miss Leili. It was a good pattern I will do again. 

And I'm still knitting on this scarf/shawl that I'm still not completely sold on, but I still feel compelled to continue. Maybe it will surprise me at the end or....

It has finally started raining and now we have a winter weather advisory for tomorrow so maybe I'll get a little knitting or reading in. We need it, are praying for it, and will be fasting for it this Sunday, moisture that is. We need lots of moisture. 

Happy Wednesday!

Derby!

In our family we LOVE Derby Day! It is a big event on our calendar and so it has been for years now.  We have built 8 cars and competed in 9 races (one year Riley got to go on to compete in the district race). 

Jake had the same excitement and sadness Riley experienced in his last race. Jake was ready to race and take on the competition! He named his car Whiplash!

His hard work and building paid off! He won every heat and so he won first place! What a way to go out! He also received an award for "Sleekist Car". 

Mostly I think others are just glad our family will not be competing next year, but we are all bummed. Maybe we will have to find a way...

Walking

It's January, in the Great Basin, at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas. We should not be walking everyday in sweaters and hats but it is beautiful  and wonderful. This is just out our front door, literally! I grew up by the sea, my dad and grandpa were sailors. But these mountains, this dessert, that river. I love it here. 

But please could we get back to winter, we REALLY need the moisture, and it would be great if all the fruit was not killed this year by late snow.  

It's that time of the day again and so we are off out the door!

Have a great day!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny! I finished the gnome hat and sweater for Scarlett and have it all packaged up to mail today! It is easy to wip up all this knitting when you have a hubby doing all the driving on a road trip!

I started a new shawl/scarf out of this dreamy Plymouth merino! I am a little concerned that the yarn is a bit too bulky to show off the open work of the pattern but I'm going to wait a bit longer to decide to frog or not...

I am continuing reading The Monkey's Voyage but also threw in for something a little lighter Free-Range Knitting thanks to Lisa!! It's hysterical! 

Yarn a Long

Joining with Ginny again today!

I finished the gnome hat for Scarlett and have dived into the little vest/cardigan to go with it. Same yarn, using the "in threes" pattern in 0-6 mo. size.

I have started a new book this week, 

The Monkey's Voyage: How Improbable Journeys Shaped the History of Life. It just came out yesterday and was written by a friend's husband. Commentary to come!

Creative Time!

This is my current place for most of my creativity, it is an old desk I found garage sale-ing with my mom and sister, its in my bedroom, it faces the backyard, and it is basked in the most glorious sunlight most of the day during the winter. My other creative place, my sewing area is in the far north end of the house and looks out to the front yard. Its cold too (partly due to the fact that as we discovered recently there is no insulation in that part of the ceiling)! So sewing has not seen too much action lately.

So creative time! I decided this year that instead of buying a pocket calendar that did not meet my needs or was even remotely me that I would MAKE one! Crazy I know but even crazier is that I am not alone!!! There are a lot of other creative people out there doing the same crazy thing. Like this AWESOME gal! So I looked and researched and thought about what I would want exactly and then I went to work. First came the collaged cover with lots of meditative layering of modge-podge. Then how to organize the actual calendar part. I did not want a week by week, so I did months with enough space to write. Each month is blank so that I can fill in a couple at a time in whatever color or fashion I want. And spaces for notes, because I do that a lot and I did not want to fill in the margins with too many notes. I then  braved the cold north of the house and sewed a simple line down the center as a binding, easy as pie! Making time for a little creativity feeds my soul and soothes my spirit. Even better when I get to enjoy my creativity with something useful and used.

And so yes I now have 4 calendars (3 wall & one pocket), maybe I'll be on top of our activities more....or maybe not, I already forgot about a meeting this morning and ended up late! Oops!! 

Happy New Year!

Yarn Along

Happy 2014!! 

Did you get your new calendar up? I got two (out of three) up. 

My goal was to finish My Life in France before the new year and I did just before I drifted off to sleep and missed all the hoopla at midnight. ;) 

Joining Ginny again today! 

So today I am starting Wild by Cheryl Strayed, it's been on my shelf waiting since my birthday in July. I am excited to read about a trail on this side of the country! I've read a couple on the Appilacian trail (some day I'll do part (or all) of it), but maybe I could do part of this trail sooner (since I live closer to it)! Sunday I cast off on Fern's hat and she has been happily wearing it since. Then after a New Year's Eve trip to Jimmy Beans I started in on a new baby gnome hat and vest for a good childhood friend whose daughter is due to make her entrance this month. These are my least favorite needles (given to me) but most used needles as they are the size I use for these baby hats. Maybe someday I'll sit on them (and the twin pair I have too) and then I'll buy a wooden set of size 7 needles. One can hope! ;)

Merry Christmas Card Readers!

2013 Year in Review!

* Riley turned 12 in February hurling our family into the world of Young Men's & Boy Scouts! Riley prepared himself well and received the Priesthood too. He enjoyed Boy Scout Camp this summer and completed both the 15 mile mountain bike Flume Trail up at Lake Tahoe, and the 25 mile Verdi Loop road ride! He is my awesome helper!

*April took Mom to HAWAII!!! For an early 15th anniversary celebration Grandpa M. braved our crazy crew & Dan bought an airline ticket for me so I flew over and met him (he was there on a charter). 4 blissful days on Kona with my lover!  

* In May we took a "Family Vacation"!! With Dan!!! We meandered down to San Diego to our favorite beach house aka: Grandpa's house!! A week laying on the beach, playing with cousins, and wearing sandals in May was awesome! We also had some great adventures in our adventure-mobile along the way, Tufas at Mono Lake, hiking inside Panum Crater a rhyolitic plug-dome, Manzanar National Historic Visitor's Center, and Fossil-falls lava tubes to name a couple!

* Sweet Leili turned 4 in June! How did that happen!! Again she got two birthdays as Dan was away for her actual birthday. But she is not complaining!! She got a two wheeler and was off on two wheels not to long after that!

* July brought an AWESOME family reunion in Provo Canyon, my Grandma J.'s favorite place to take all of her grandkids! Then down to our favorite 4th of July spot! Grandma's house!

On the way home we stopped at Great Basin National Park and got to explore the Lehman Caves and see petroglyphics & pictograms.

Danna's birthday in July brought PRE-APPROVAL for purchasing a home!

*Ok are you paying attention...the end of July brought our pre-approval letter and for Dan's birthday at the end of August we moved into our NEW HOUSE!! Can you say whirl wind!! We bought a great 1960 ranch on a 1/2 acre in the most AMAZING neighborhood! We have seen deer, quail, mountain lion tracks in our front yard, bear scat in our back yard (they caught one a street over in Nov.)! We are close to the river and close to a county open space. Dan left 4 days after we moved in and was gone for a month jaunting around NYC and London!

* October brought us Miss Fern's 8th birthday! She choose to be baptized on her birthday and dad flew in just in the nick of time to get to the church! Fern has been taking a sewing class and has been knitting up a storm!

* Super Man Jake turned 10 at the beginning of November!! I got to take he and three other friends on a birthday hike, it was awesome, they were goofy, and I survived! Success!! Jake has turned into a reading machine, he has 6 books going currently!!!

*In november we also welcomed two new kittens into our family! They are so sweet and wonderful! Rose is content to cuddle and let Leili carry her around (we also have to be careful as she is a garbage disposal and will eat anything)! Bryony is sassy and fun to play with (she just chews everything, including chewing an ear bud off of Dan's set)! Petunia and Zinnia are tolerating the new youth, the bunnies Daisy and Dandelion don't really care as long as they get fed and get new hay.

We wish you all our love and good wishes and we hope you enjoy love, light, & simplicity this Christmas Season!
XO

Not a creature was stirring...

...except the bunnies and kitties...

We braved the snow last week and drove up into the mountains to cut down our own tree, it was a magical time to stand in the woods with my family and listen to the silence. My house is not often silent, even when the kids are in bed there are the cats scurrying around and the train. At night it is quiet enough to hear the train. 

I love to look at the tree all lit up in a darkened house with my kids all in bed. Things are so busy around here that somedays I never look at the tree during the day! But at night I take a breath. Find my center. 

I hope you are finding a couple breaths during this Christmas season. 

XO

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny again for her Yarn Along!!

Right now I'm reading, "My Life in Paris" by Julia Child and I'm knitting this cute slouchy hat for Fern in Cascade 220 Heathers color #9453. Shhh, don't tell her!!

XO