New J



It thrilled my heart to hold the littlest J
before she was even 24 hours old.

Here she is 4 days old,  and wearing a sweater that I knit for her.

You know,  babies have a special place in my heart.

It's just such a wonderful thing:

God has answered!

While We Wait

The hardest news: no heartbeat. 18 weeks.

How can this be happening?

Go through the motions of an ultrasound to confirm,

BabyCakes is in heaven with Jesus.

With Ellie, at this stage I was numb from shock.

Now I am weary and sad,

and all these feelings are familiar. Hand-picked flowers sent from my dr.'s office.

This cotton blanket was going to be full size, with a trim (of either blue or pink!)
to be added after our 20 week ultrasound. I am so thankful that I had finally starting something for Babycakes....
to be buried in.
I'm finishing it now,
while we wait,
through my tears.

Raising Boys~~Homeschooling

I sit here on the couch beside my son, unsure of whether to laugh at the irony or yell in frustration. He is in the throes of a stubborn fit over his reading lesson....the word over which the battle rages is the word SUBMIT. He cries, pulls on his cheeks (an angry habit) and is in constant figeting motion with his hands, twisting and turning, picking and pinching. I (ever so calmly, of course) remind him to fold his hands, put his eyes on the page, sound it out, and READ THE WORD. We are going on 30 minutes with this word, a word I know he can read, and I scribble blog notes and shopping lists to help me keep my own impatience in check.

This is not the plan. The plan for these first years (1 and 2 grade) with these active boys is to focus on the basics and keep it quick. I want the majority of their day to be spent outside, where boys belong. On an average day, we are done with 4-5 subjects in just a little over an hour. We multi-task (their pennmanship is copying out their Bible memory verse, and their reading is the Bible, (the gospel of Luke) devotions, and time with Mom. The math and piano lessons are after those subjects.) and try to keep distractions to a minimum. Right. I remind that distractions and learning to perservere through them is a life-skill that they will need as grown men.

Today, schooling is taking twice as long. It's character time, I hope. Inevitably, this happens on a day when I had planned on going somewhere fun after school. Even that doesn't motivate him. I pray silently for wisdom and patience. And I knit.

Knitting is my secret weapon for the early years of homeschooling. I am able to channel my own figets and frustration, rising temper and plain annoyance at the current events into the needles and string. And, usually, something useful and beautiful is to show from it.

Our plans have cancelled, foiled by a six-year-old who is learning the hard lesson of submission. I am, too.

Keeping Close

Ian is a little under the weather....

so he's my constant companion,

along with this alpaca silk!

Guess who's 6?

This cheerful little man!

His birthday consisted of:

waffles, bike rides in the rain,

and hand-knit socks with a blue border,

made to order!

Cinnamon

the softest yarn
the delicate lace ruffle

Just as I'd hoped.

May Showers

A capelet on the needles.....
and the smell of lilacs blooming in the warm rain....

November Knitting

A Celtic Knot Cloche to match my charcoal gray winter coat....
Striped Socks for Braden....
finally! a successful pair!

This is a rescue from the knitting basket of "flops"....

anything can be fixed with

handmade lace and antique buttons, no?

Of course, it really won't do for my boys....

hmmm.....

More Knitting

This crazy long scarf is a new favorite
and a turn-a-square hat for a gift
(shhh, don't tell!)

Loopy Lace Scarf

My first pattern...hope you like it!

Loopy Lace Scarf
This light and lofty reversible lace

honeycomb rib scarf features a loop

to keep it in place and keep you warm!
Yarn: Frog Tree Alpaca
Sport Weight in Natural ..2 skeins
Needles: Size 4 (I used my set of bamboo double points...

you'll need three for the loop)
Gauge: 26 sts in pattern=4inches
Finished Size: 6 inches by 34 inches

Abbreviations:
k ~ knit
p~ purl
sl 1~ slip one knitwise
yo~ yarn over
psso~ pass slipped stitch over

.

.
Cast on 40 (or a multiple of 5 stitches. )
(k3, p2) repeat seven times, k3, p1, sl 1
(k1, yo, k1, sl1-p2-psso)repeat seven times, k1, yo, k1, sl 1-p1-sl 1-psso
(k2, p3)repeat seven times, k2, p2, sl 1
(sl 1-k2-psso, p 1, yo, p 1)x7, sl 1-k2-psso, p 1, yo, sl 1

.

.
Knit honeycomb stitch pattern for 6 inches,

ending with a simple knit/purl row.

.

.
Dividing Stitches for Pull-Through
Divide stitches onto two needles (holding two needles in right hand, work in left hand, slip one stitch onto front needle, second stitch to back needle, alternating until all stitches are divided)
Knitting one side at a time, Knit 1 Purl 1 ribbing, for two inches. Cut yarn, leaving 8 inch tail, and attach to other side, knit until equal length. Then holding both sections in left hand, slip stitches one at a time, alternating front and back needles, until all the work is together again on the right needle. Pick up pattern again, starting with row one.

.

.
Knit honeycomb pattern for 23 inches (or desired length for around the neck)
Repeat Dividing Stitches.
In pattern, knit 6 inches, bind off loosely. Block lightly.

New Stuff

in the shop!!!

(surgery) Fund Raising

I am getting ruthless......sorting and cleaning my house.

getting ready for a yard sale and listing things on etsy....

*Cute as a Button* Baby Hat

This hat is for a dear friend who just found out she's

having a baby girl!! Yippee!

Recent Knitting

*fingerless gloves for Braden, from my own hand-dyed yarn *matching hat for Ian

Yes, it's the end of May,

but in my defense,

it's been pretty chilly around here this last week.

Ear Flap Hat

--- This little cap was knit in just two hours---

pattern made up as I went along!

Three in One---

Watch this----I'll update on three topics in one post!! These fingerless gloves are for my Mr. Wonderful---

in his line of work he can't wear normal gloves---

the details demand a good grip.

Knit in merino wool, with my first cables.

They are a success---he's wearing them!!


And football huddle on Sunday afternoon, time with the boys,
teaching character through the winning and the losing
(which nearly always results in tears!!)


And finally, a sneak peak at the siding on the front of the house!
Isn't it looking great? Like a real house??

Take #2 in Blue

Guess who this is for?

Knit with a few variations from Nathan's sweater,

but with just as much *frogging*

(that's my new word for the week---

knitters lingo for "rip out the last 6 hours of work!")

I had hoped to just knit it through---

but *blond moment*, I had changed my technique

(from *throwing* or "English" to *picking* or "Continental")

without rechecking my gauge,

which resulted in the body of the sweater being nearly big enough for me.

But it's not for me, so that wouldn't work.

Photo Recap~~ Nathan's birthday

Nathan was totally surprised that the sweater was *his*!

Let's get the sweater details out of the way, then we can talk

about the birthday boy!

I re-did the neckline and hem 4-5 times, trying to get the look I wanted.

It was originally a rolled neck---but I just hated the floppy, sloppy look.

And then the raglan seams were to open with an eyelet looking stitch,

so I sewed up that seam to try to keep it from looking too girly.

The silly boy demonstrates how soft it is!

(that baby alpaca is just lovely!!)

He spent all morning working on these little Pooh cards---

And reading his new book with Daddy.

After a quick trip to town to play at the new playground,

a long and restful nap,

we took a walk/ride in the brisk fall air.

Let the races begin!!

And end!!

Nathan did a face-plant on the road---

his body outran his feet!!

Back at it---brothers and competitors to the end!

Picking dandylions in the evening while Daddy

cranked the ice cream.

*see the closed seam? I like it!*

Another competive game while the ice cream sets---

down.....set.....HIKE!!!

*You hand it to me, and then I will score a touchdown!*

Stellar brother defense takes Daddy down!!

The birthday boy bites the dirt again!!

Finally, the moment he's been waiting for---

pumpkin pie with home-made ice cream!

Happy Birthday, Nathan!

Walk

This is my favorite time of year---the chilly mornings, the delicious sun in the afternoon, and being given the time for a brisk walk to the park with the boys, knitting in tow, and seeing beauty like this.


Did I mention knitting? My sewing machine is broken---so what's a girl to do? Learn something new!!

This is a super easy seamless pattern, knitting top down. It will have long sleeves---they're just waiting while I finish up the body portion.

Ian is the happiest little guy around---and look at those chompers!