My Life & My Knitting

How many babies must die?

2008-09-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

Nestle found themselves in the news yet again... and they are up to their old habits...

In China, 6200 babies are gravely ill and 4 have died so far after melamine was found in Nestle formula/milk products. And the number is growing.

Melamine... in baby milk.

When will we as consumers stop giving our money to these companies who care only for lining their own pockets with money laced with the tears of dying children and grieving mothers???

Please... boycott Nestle.

Recap

2008-09-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

All right... it's been a whirlwind summer with way too much fun... and just the right amount of yarn.

Dorcas Camp was a hoot... a soggy, wet hoot, but a barrel of fun nonetheless. Sadly, I don't hae any pics because my camera died two days before I left. I was able to pass on the fibre-loving bug to 42 young ladies and their moms. Josie was an awesome helper (Hi there!!) and she is one awesome girl. Her grandma had taught her how to knit using the continental method, and she has some mad skills! She passed on her knowledge and so I'm giving it a go. It's a totally different feel, but I think it just might be faster when I get the hang of it. There was plenty of adventure to be had - Mum's van broke down and we were given some kindly help from Carlos at Mr. Lube in Brantford... he asked for a token from Sarnia, but we could only find a knitted bunny to give him. I offered to teach him to knit, but he declined... so the plan is to knit him a hat and send it off. I'll try to get it done and in the mail by next week. Also the week was filled with rain, rain and yes, more rain. On the last night, a massive thunderstorm began at 2am. I prayed for God's mercy, please let it stop. But His mercy was delivered in a different medium, in that the kids slept soundly thru the whole thing. I was shaking like a leaf but they were peacefully unaware of the storm raging around them. There's a lesson in that, no doubt.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27

We had an awesome holiday at Fair Havens. There was something for everyone and I didn't have to cook or clean all week. Yipee! It was restful and I found it to be a respite from my emotions too. I'm continuing to walk thru the process of greiving 2 lost babies, and it was such a healing week for me. I spent a lot of time focusing on my spiritual walk with God and I found myself rejuevenated by the end of our time there... ready to come home and focus on the physical healing that needs some tending. The kids had so much fun! There was even a petting zoo brought in one day... with sheep, angora goats and alpaca... I was looking for a pair of sheers!!

And now, we are back to our routine of school. [insert sigh of relief]

I'm looking forward to cooler temperatures and knitting with my new stash! Yipee!

Tiny socks

2008-06-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

I knit a tiny pair of socks yesterday.

Red, with a white ribbon.

Perfect for Christmas.

Therapy knitting.

I hadn't been able to knit anything before yesterday... before I knew that Sammy's heart had finally stopped. Anything prior to that was just too hopeful, and I hadn't the heart. But good-bye knitting is easier than hopeful knitting.

The socks were so tiny, and yet, they were so enormous compared to the wee tiny boy that Sammy was.

And so, these tiny socks will be tucked away, as will my hopeful feelings... for I say good-bye to my tiny boy, but I know that it is not final. I will hold him one day.

Oh God, grant me patience in waiting for that day.

Hiding Place

2008-06-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

The sunshine was astonishing. The breeze was perfect. The day was as lovely as could be.

The happy sound of my children playing outside was interrupted by a heart-wrenching cry... I ran to the window to see Hannah, lying crumpled and bloody, on the sidewalk. I bolted for the door, not stopping for my shoes. I ran across the grass to where she lay. Gathering her up in my arms, I brought her into the safety of our home.

As tenderly as I could, I cleaned her scraped and bleeding knees. A little ointment and plenty of bandaids helped, but thru her sniffles, she just asked for a cuddle. She just wanted to be held.

Everything within me wanted to love the hurt away. I held her as tightly as I could and I didn't let go until she was calm.

-----------------

There are moments in life that strike with extreme clarity... moments that are bigger than oneself... moments when it is undeniable that Someone is trying desperately to communicate with us, if we would but listen to that still, small voice...

As I held Hannah, I knew that I myself was being held. When inside, I felt like I was a crumpled mess, I knew I was being held by Someone much bigger than I... Someone who was able to contain all the sorrow and pain... Someone who was not afraid of my tears... Someone who just wanted to love the hurt away. I sat there holding Hannah, knowing that I, too, was being held.
----------------

Please take a moment to listen to Hiding Place.

Psalm 32:7

You are my hiding place;

you will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Long overdue

2008-04-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

It's been far too long since I've stopped by... poor, sad, little blog. I'm sorry. Well, here are some yummy knits that I've been working on...

The biggest and best... Mark's 10th anniversary sweater...

Details: Mission Falls merino

I think I could have made the torso a little longer, but Mark is quite happy with it. It's tailored to his hobbit-ish size and fits him so well. I modified the pattern somewhat, as I think some of the instructions got a little lost in translation. I also knit a crew neck instead of a turtleneck, which you can't see in the Garnstudio pattern because of the scarf. I'm really happy with how it turned out...

Next posting...

lots'o'socks
wee little tomten

(I promise, I'll be back soon)

Stop and Think

2008-01-30T20:57:00.001-08:00

Knitting Therapy

2007-11-30T08:45:00.000-08:00

I've always loved the therapeutic affect of knitting... the repetitive motion, the feel of soft yarn twisting thru my fingers... there's something wonderful about that. I find it helps me to focus my thoughts and blot out the things that would distract or worry me.

That being said... I've been doing a lot of knitting lately... my yarn could charge me a decent hourly rate if it were my therapist.

I've worked on Mark's sweater... but I've found it to be a restless project. Although I love the man fiercely, I have discovered that I do not love knitting a gazillion stitches in the round. The other night, we settled on the couch to watch a movie to distract ourselves from the emotions of waiting. I measured the sweater beforehand, I knit for the whole movie, and then at the end... I remeasured. How is it one can knit for two hours and end up with the SAME cms???? I was undone... it didn't help that in the movie, the main characters wife lost her baby. It didn't talk about that on the back cover. The knitting and movie were not as therapeutic that night as they should have been.

I'm continuing to work on socks for my dad. Used the YarnHarlot's pattern she did for her dh Joe - a manly man, and a Newfie... so I figured if he liked his socks, my dad might like them too. After several pairs of plain black, I needed a little variety.

My true therapy has been knitting a few baby things. I bought some heavenly soft angora at Spun, my lys. It's soft and white and soothing to touch. I will never hold this baby, but I will have this lovely knitting to touch when the longing arises, and I hope it will soothe the pain with time. It was hard to bind off the last row. It seemed so final. The knitting was done before I felt done... ready to move on. So I cast on again, this time for booties... but I ran out of yarn after the first one was complete. I wondered if I ought to go and buy another skein... or does a project left undone seem more fitting? No amount of knitting will help, I've decided. I just have to wait and walk this thru. I could end up with a whole layette for a baby that will never wear it, and I doubt I will feel satisfied in the end. Proverbs 30 speaks of a barren womb never being satisfied - and though I am not barren, I've sadly lost this child, nothing I can do will satisfy the longing I will forever feel to hold this child. God alone is the one who can calm my heart and fill the emptiness.

Though the loose ends of my baby knitting have neatly been woven in, the feelings of my heart are not so easily dealt with. They cannot be tucked away, snipped off, or buried. I feel a little ragged, and the process of working thru the emotions of losing a baby takes more time than knitting these baby things.

Amazing Grace

2007-11-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to figure out how you say good-bye to someone when you haven't even said hello. How is it that you can love someone so much... someone whom you've never officially met, held or beheld.

For 9 weeks, my life was filled with the sweet surprise of a new baby. We were all overjoyed to be having another baby in the family. At my ultrasound last Thursday though, I was told that there was no heart beat... no movement. I was dumbfounded. And I cried. And cried. And cried.

Mark had a dream the night before I went for the ultrasound, that he was in heaven and a little girl he didn't know came up to him and said, "Hi Daddy."

We decided to call our baby Grace.

God's peace has radiated my waiting time, and I'm not worried about any of the "why" questions. I just want to know... how do you stop your arms from aching to hold someone you never will?

Falling

2007-09-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note...

It's been a wonderful August... and I haven't posted once about it!! Oh dear...

Dorcas camp was wonderful with Hannah and Amanda. Girl time! I was inspired by a number of craft ideas, and I walked away from the week renewed spiritually and emotionally. I came home a better wife and better mother.

Our anniversay dinner with our family and friends was amazing. It was great to celebrate ten years with some of the people who have been there for us, good times and bad, encouraging us and praying with us. I'm thankful to have been blessed with such wonderful parents... and I am doubly blessed to have received such a special second family of in-laws.

Mum Joy and I are starting a Daniel fast this week. It was her suggestion as a kick-off to the year... a time to focus on the Lord, set ourselves apart and seek after Him. A few years ago when I did my 40-day Lenten fast, I realized very quickly how much our lives around food and we seek after it to fill us and fulfill us... but it is utterly incapable of doing so. I want to begin this year focused on God's plan for our homeschool. I want to spend extra time in prayer for Hannah especially... I love her exceedinly but she tests me to my limit... I want a breakthru for us.

I want just one thing in my life... God.

All the rest will just fall into place.

Strong trees

2007-08-02T10:52:00.001-07:00

10 YEARS!!! Wow! I can hardly believe it! Ten wonderful years... sure, some of it was a little up and down, but I love how my mom used to say that storms make strong trees... and our marriage is going strong after all this time because of the lessons we have learned thru the good times and bad. I love this man, more now than ever!

Now for knitting news...

Woo hoo! my Branching Out scarf is finished and all set to block... I even have a little alpaca left for another project... perhaps the cuffs of socks or stripes in a simple scarf... we shall see. For now, back into the stash pile.

I am thrilled with how well it turned out. It's soft and beautiful. It feels like such an accomplishment... my first truly successful lace knitting. (Pictures to follow.)

happy news #2: my ebay parcel arrived with the rest of my Tootsie yarn and so I'm back to the Meadow Flowers shawl. I love it!!! I also got 4 balls of yummy soft yarn that will hide in the stash for just the right project. What will be worthy enough?? hmmm...

Prep for Dorcas camp is under way. We've tested our new tent, assembled our gear... and Hannah is totally thrilled. I'm praying that it is a real building time for us, and that God will bring us closer together.

Knitting Inukshuk

2007-07-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

Once again... the wip's are flying off the needles... here's what's been happening. Sorry I've been slow to post the progress...

for Helen and Tafari's beautiful little girl... a wee tiny thing.

I loved this yarn! Helen hates pink so I knew I had to find something that was a little different. The colours were perfect... something I could imagine Helen wearing... ruby red, with a thin variegated strand that changed from violet to blue to green to gold. The picture does not do it justice. The pattern is a basic, yoke-down "five-hour baby sweater."

I finished grumperina socks. I can't wait to pass them on to Genevieve. (It's so much fun to knit socks for someone who loves knit socks!!) She sent a postcard from Ireland... and to be honest, my first thought was about how much wool these sheep were representing!! ;)

Now, ladies and gentlemen, what a treat we have for you! Our model for the day will be the lovely Bosco...

I started the meadow flowers shawl... I got itchy fingers and cast on this Tootsie yarn from my stash before I got out to the lys to buy something wonderful and flowy... I don't mind at all though... I'm liking the density of this yarn. It's hard to see the pattern with it being so chunky, but I'm sure that it will block out a bit nicer. To be honest though, I don't mind either way. It's cozy and cuddly. A nice flowy shawl in a beautiful hand painted lace weight will follow without a doubt...

I did manage to pick up some spinning fibres in a colour scheme that's to "dye" for... hardy har har... I think I'm gonna turn it into a pair of slipper-socks for Aunt Pat, seeing as she was really loving the colours... we shall see... I have only spun yarn twice, both times resulting in slubby textured yarn. This time around, I'm being a little more patient and I'm liking how it's turning out. I think it's a wee bit too thick, seeing as I still have to ply it... which is why I think it will be something worsted or sport weight... we shall see. I'm still learning...

(This was just to see if Bosco would actually sit there... and he did! Though the look of "I'm just tolerating this because you give me food" was not lost on me.)

Mum came home from BC with a wonderful surprise... Alpaca from the Farm!!! SQuee!! It's soooo soft... what to make from 100gr??? Although it's enough for socks, I can't get past the fact that I hate (wearing) socks... and even if I knit them out of alpaca, I would barely wear them, and that would be a shame. I I thought it would be great to turn it into something that would be near my face... so I've started the Branching Out scarf. I made this for Annie a few years ago, and I remember wrestling with the pattern. It was my first venture into lace... and I was such a straight'forward knitter up until then. Well, I've had a few more years of experience so I thought I would try it again... it's been a lightbulb experience this time around. I've come to understand how stitches relate to one another, where yo find their homes, and the basic flow of creating movement in a pattern. Before I was muscling my way thru... trying to memorize and decode the chart... this time, I find myself barely looking at it!! Mind you, I've had to frog a few rows, but overall, I'm thrilled to be at a place of understanding. Knitting this lace is intuitive and flowing and some of the most meditative, deep knitting I've ever done. I'm absolutely moved by it and what it represents for me. It's a landmark. It's my inukshuk. It's true, I'm a Knitter (capital K).

A round of applause folks, for our lovely model. (Thanks for being so co-operative Bosco!)

And this is next... this absolutely gorgeous sweater for Mark as a 10th anniversary present... he's going to look completely yummy in it. He's such a good sport too... he's coming to the open house at Spun tonight to make his colour choice. He may not be a knitter, but he's far from a muggle. (And he's just as hunky as the model!)

Drawn Deeper

2007-07-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

One year ago my grandmother died suddenly.

My inspiration. My encourager. My teacher.

She had been excited about having another great-grandchild and she wished that this little one would be born on her birthday. To lose her so suddenly and not be able to attend the funeral was extremely difficult for me. I had to hold onto the faith that she had taught me, and sing my way through the hard times, another thing she taught me.

Home by and by, when our journey is o'er

There we shall meet on that bright and happy shore

Safe with my Saviour, in His arms forever more

Glory to God! I'll be home by and by

This was one of her favourite songs to sing, a hymn from the tiny Salvation Army church in Newfoundland that she attended for years and years. I can hear her now, as if I were standing beside her... a strong alto, singing with great conviction. Oh how she longed for heaven, especially after Pop had already gone to be with Jesus! The night before she died, she had a dream that Pop had come to lie beside her in bed, and wrapped his arms around her. The next day, she was wrapped in her Saviour's arms and reunited with her life-long love.

Some days I find myself reaching for the phone because it feels strange to have not talked to her for so long... and then I remember. I think that is part of what has drawn me deeper into knitting... it's my connection to her. It's how I feel close to her.

Punishment Pie

2007-06-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

Today, I dutifully worked away in the kitchen, working culinary wonders to transform the fresh rhubarb from Genevieve into delicious rhubarb custard pies. Four of them.

Now, I don't bake very often. (That's a bad sign.) It's not that I can't, but I find it tedious to follow an exact list of ingredients, in exact proportions. (That's a bad sign too.) I love to cook, where I often add a little of this and a little of that. All that being said, I was very proud of the fact that I was not just going to make one pie, but I thought I'd use up all the rhubarb and make extra pies - one for Mark for celebrating Father's Day, one for the freezer, one for the neighbour who resodded our dilapidated lawn, and one for our friends, the Windsors. There, four pies.

When it comes to baking, I rely heavily on trusted sources. People I know can bake... and I've tasted their recipe before. Mum's recipe for apple bundt cake can't be beat for a delicious, not-too-sweet dessert, that begs for french vanilla ice cream. She also passed on her recipe for brownies, which I must say, cannot be beat. There is not a better recipe out there for brownies. Stop looking. I have it... well, Mum gave it to me. My other trusted source is my mom. Pineapple squares, rice pudding, and rhubarb pie are her classics. I look forward to this time of year when summer begins because it means I can pull out my recipe box and dig for the rhubarb custard pie recipe, made with Bride's pastry, which has been passed down for generations of Newfoundland brides, one to another. Thus, I've learned to make amazing pie crust. I don't mind tooting my own horn. Well, you know how it goes... pride goeth before the fall.

We had homemade pizza for supper tonight - yummo! The house had been filled with aroma of baking for a while, and we were all so anxious to get to dessert. However, in the midst of getting it ready, the kids got into a bit of a row and it was Time Out on the Naughty Spot. Once the episode was over, we all regrouped around the table. The suspense was too much. Hannah dug in first...

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! This is too spicey!!!"

I took a bite... it took 45 minutes for my face to unpucker and come out of its contortions. It was obvious that I had forgotten to add something... sugar. After diligently chopping 16 cups of rhubarb, 4 cups of strawberries... beating 12 eggs... grating fresh nutmeg... adding a bit of flour... I neglected to add even a speck of sugar.

We peeled back the top crust of our pies and sprinkled a spoonful of sugar, much like Mary Poppins, to help the pie go down.

Mark's brilliant comment: "Hey, instead of the Naughty Spot, you could just make the kids eat the pie!" Yeah, thanks.

So now, I have 3 pies for the freezer...

I give up.

Paging Sparkles, the Tooth Fairy

2007-06-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

Yay!!!! Party time in the house! Mark got the job! Woo hoo! (I told you Mr. Employer that it would be worth it!!)

Good bye traffic jams... crummy commute! He's close enough to come home for lunch if he wants to! Thank you God!

btw...making good progress on sock 2, just turned the heel... I always feel like it goes quickly after that. Sock 1 is really nice... I love the pattern. It's a dream to knit - just 2 pattern rows, one of which is soooo fast, the round just flies! I totally recommend this pattern! A pretty pattern, good intro to lace-ish type socks... I'm hooked. Hannah's were variegated, but with one colour, the beauty of the stitches totally shines. I was bummed to find a wee mistake... is it really a mistake or just untidy stitching?? Hmmm... does it bother me enough to rip it out? No... but seeing as they are destined to be a gift for someone, I'll just have to make another pair for them after these are done (and I do Mark's socks, and then this....)

It's my summer project planned for Dorcas camp. More about that on another day...

It was a big day around here... Jordan lost one of his top front teeth... the one beside is ready to come out any day as well...gotta love a kid in the summer with front teeth gone! I'm trying hard not to giggle at the whistle when he speaks... he's finding it weird (and not as cute as I think it is...) He's sporting his new shirt, feeling goofy about the gap in his teeth and raring to pose... I think he totally looks like his daddy... (not necessarily the toothless goofy part...)

Ok, this one's a little more normal... He's all set for Sparkles the Tooth Fairy to come tonight.

Also captured this photo... they have the same expression... way too cute...

Dear Employer

2007-06-11T13:53:00.001-07:00

Today you will meet an extraordinary man.

You will not meet a man who is more faithful, diligent and hard-working than he. He is brilliant at what he does... he speaks to computers in their language, causing them to swoon and bend to his every desire ( it might be the Italian in him...) He has won accolades, awards, and contests for his abilities (Google his name if you'd like) and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who would be a greater asset to your company.

I implore you.... hire my hubby.

There's a place I know in Ontario...

2007-06-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Marineland!! Thru the homeschooling network, 194 people showed up at Marineland to enjoy a fabulous, fun-filled day. I can't figure out what was the highlight of the day... it was so amazing... but I was bummed out when... ah crap... the battery died midway thru the afternoon.

Our indoor show pics didn't turn out that well... it was really dark in there... but I will never forget the startled expression of glee on the kids' faces when a massive walrus entered the stage! His rumbling bark resonated thru the auditorium... it was so cool.

Hannah and Jordan both loved the rides...

but to varying degrees as can be seen here...

the faster the better for Hannah... the smoother and more predictable for Jordan, the better.

Jordan is in the third car... he grew paler and paler each time the ride went around the track. Hannah screamed at the top of her lungs the whole time... she got off the ride and exclaimed, "That rocked!"

We couldn't get Jordan off the space ships (where he could control the movements of the ship)! Daddy had fun on it too...

They enjoyed feeding the deer and walking amongst them.

This is when the camera died. sigh.

They fed the belugas and touched them. Jordan said that he would never forget the experience for as long as he lives. Jordan was tall enough to reach over the side of the aquarium, and give caplin into the mouth of Baffin, the largest beluga at Marineland. He could see the teeth, tongue... all the way down her throat, he said. he touched her smooth skin, which felt like hard jello to him. For Hannah's turn, I had to hold her in my arms so that she could reach over the side. I thought her heart would pound out of her chest! She was speechless afterwards... a rare occurrence... so I know that she was moved.

Black bears were wrestling and swimming and climbing trees... and there was a little romance going on by the trees...

I am amazed by the vastness of Creation and the Creatures that live amongst us. There is such diversity and beauty, it overwhelms me.

Excerpts from Psalm 104

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

O LORD my God, you are very great.

How many are your works, O LORD!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,

teeming with creatures beyond number

— living things both large and small.

These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up;

when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are terrified;

when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,

as I rejoice in the LORD.

Cash, credit or... yarn??

2007-06-06T19:01:00.001-07:00

I went to the grocery store.

I went to the check out.

I opened my purse to pull out my wallet... and there it was... the long lost sock! ... and no wallet.

I guess in choosing my priorities when preparing to leave the house, I (subconsciously) decided that my knitting was more valuable than my cash and i.d.

Mark, my darling, you are not (entirely) a muggle, and I am very sorry for blaming you. I know you didn't hide my sock, and while I may prefer to believe that evil knitting fairies did it, I (probably) put the sock in my purse. I'm sorry lovey. I promise, when grumperina is finished, your socks are next. Perhaps in time for father's day.

Represent

2007-05-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

Gotta reclaim the good mojo... I'm still recovering from the sock ordeal, so I will go back to Friday and relay the awesome events of YarnHarlot "Represent" Tour...

Travelling to Toronto is always a big deal for me... I grew up in the country... I love the country... I love the wildlife, the grass under my feet, the space... that's not to say that I'm a redneck, but I have saltwater in my veins and a zealous appreciation for Creation (and the Creator). Anyways, Toronto makes me hyperventilate... too many people, pushing and shoving, weird smells... I generally feel like I have to shower when I get home. All that being said, it was quite an adventure trying to get to Indigo for Friday night, navigating the (non-wheelchair friendly) Go train, Union Station, and the subway during rush hour. Ugh... only for the Harlot would I dare such a feat.

The anticipation was killing me and I just about burst as I walked in the door. I couldn't believe how many people were there!!! It was incredible!!! It was wonderful to be part of such a large fellowship of knitters, but I was also really glad for the YarnHarlot. What a victory for her - a great turnout for her hometown. I wanted her to be blessed... and indeed, she was... who could stand in the midst of so many affirming, beautiful knitters and not be??? I know I was! And I was in the peanut gallery!

Her humour was unforgettable! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! I loved her explanation of CHOKE - Cultural Humilation of Knitters Everywhere... how we struggle against so many stereotypes and judgements. As I was standing close to the store entrance, it was pretty freaky to witness people's reactions as they came in, responding in very a CHOKE-like manner, oblivious that they were the visual aids! It was worth a good snicker amongst those of us stuck on the balcony.

Indigo was completely overwhelmed. YarnHarlot has posted repeatedly how bookstores never believe many people will come. In Toronto, two celebrities from HGTV were presenting the night before and that was supposed to be a big deal... She wanted to see if she could at least beat out those guys. I heard that they ended up with just 30 and she had about 300!!!! Indeed! 300 supporters crammed into every nook and cranny of the store! The staff were scrambling for chairs... velvet rope to section of areas... it was chaos for them! And most of us were snickering on the inside... some on the outside... :) I loved how the staff kept coming over and telling the group of us that we weren't allowed to sit on the stairs... it was a fire hazard. I love it!! Knitters are a fire hazard!! That's amazing.

From my vantage point, this was all I could see between the slats of the railing...

Nice, eh? Well, I could hear her and that was most important. I took a peak around to try to capture the scope of knitters....

the place was crawling with them! It was filthy with knitters!

While waiting to have our book signed, we noticed Swatchy and had to introduce ourselves. (there's a pic of me and the kids! Jaden is seriously debating taking Swatchy home!) Swatchy is not just unbelievably cute... but Swatchy has a good heart... someone Swatchy loves very much suffers from CFS and so Swatchy goes out into the world, and then carries back the tales of the adventures had. I love that. I mean it... I really love it. Having a hubby with MD has opened my eyes to many things that I have never thought of... such as the sinking pit he feels everytime he is faced with a flight of stairs, little things like having to bend over to pick up a dropped coin or put on shoes... What Swatchy represents - kindness, sharing with one another, carrying one another's burdens - that's pretty cool. And being a cutie doesn't hurt either. ;)

Noricum was Swatchy's chaperon for the night. She's a ray of sunshine. Gotta like anyone who wears a frog shirt. She's holding on to her hat to donate for StreetKnits... part of YarnHarlot's plan in the Represent Tour. Not just show up en force... but make a difference in the process. btw... love noricum's hat... fun pompom action going on there.

Oh... Hannah and I brought hats too, but I forgot to take a picture of them. Rats. You can see them on YarnHarlot's site. One is 4th from the bottom left - a cream colour chunky 2x2 rib, and the other is a little to the right and up from centre - it's pink and fuscia. Ok... I admit... I was using up my stash. The rib hat was intentionally using up some yarn I picked up at a yard sale, started knitting with it, but hated it. However, using 4 strands together gave it this awesome spongy texture. Didn't hurt that it used up 4 of the 10 balls I have! Regardless... May whomever wears these hats know that there is a knitter praying for them, that their hearts would find their true home.

There are many things that I admire about Stephanie, one being she's a doula as well. In chatting with her during the signing, it was so cool to connect with her on that level... show off my homebirthed babies. You know how it is, when you share one thing about yourself and it fills in a lot of blanks. One word speaks volumes. "Doula" is one of those things... it speaks of the joy of (home)birthing, babies, breastfeeding, embracing who we were created to be... tack on being knitters, and the connection is that much cooler.

When it was time for signing, she announced that those "with babies in their bodies, or outside their bodies and with them" could jump the line. That was very cool. And not just because I got to jump the line. ;) When I asked for a photo, she said "Sure! Got your sock?" Out came Grumperina! They look lovely together.

I'm sure I could ramble on about the evening... it was just so incredible. I'm still "full" a week later. But I better call it a night... tomorrow is our Family Vacation Day! Woo Hoo!

My little lost sock

2007-05-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

I am on the verge of despair.

I went to pick up my nearly finished Grumperina sock... and it was gone. GONE! Gone I say! It has completely disappeared! Vanished! Il a disparu! Zut alors!

I have torn the house apart trying to find it. I'm feeling a little like Yosemite Sam..."Come back here you friggin fraggin yugnnn hrmfff..." I cannot find that sock anywhere!!!

I know I had it last night when Mark and I were watching the hilarious I.T. Crowd (a comedy from UK... very very funny... but that's beside the point...) When we were finished, I set my knitting down on the hockey table in the rec room... but now it's gone!! I'm so frazzled. And I was almost done dagnamit!!!

I found a very suspicious looking dpn hanging around the dining room floor... but there's no sign of the other 3... nor the sock attached to them! Ackkkk!!

The cats are usually to blame for ferreting away my yarn, but they usually leave a messy trail tangled thru the legs of every chair in the process. They didn't look guilty enough when I questioned them.

Hannah seemed innocent enough. Although Jordan couldn't keep a straight face when I asked him what he did with my sock... but I think it had more to with the fact his mother was losing touch with reality than a guilty conscience.

Mark... the muggle hubby... when I questioned him, he replied that he "might have" tidied up a bit and put in one of my knitting baskets. He was not helpful at all. He was very muggle-ish. In fact, he made such comments as "It's just a sock." Do you know what I think??? I think he has done away with it, because he's tired of me making socks for everyone else, but not him. Well... that little plan has backfired! To the back of the bus you go, Pal! No socks for you until you tell me what you did with Grumperina!!!

Ha!!

Full

2007-05-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe how long it's been... I'm so so sorry, my poor neglected blog. Wow... when BoozerBabes asked me to start blogging for her, I loved the idea, but I 've gotta figure out a way to not be so neglectful.... but that's not to say that I haven't been knitting! Woo-hoo!!!

Ok, enough with the chitchat... I just got home from seeing the YarnHarlot... live... in person... travelling sock and all! It was one of the most wonderful nights of my life! Does that seem strange? I don't care if it does... I was overwhelmed completely, and felt this outpouring of joy to be surrounded by so many like-minded people. We arrived later than planned (figuring out TTC when you're non-Torontonian & toting a nursing baby, Hannah, and a slow-walking MD hubby... but that's another story...) and I stood on the balcony with Mr. Babeez while Daddy took Hannah shopping for books. The view was not great... but we could still hear and the vibes were flowing all the way to the balcony. It was soooo cool. There was a prego mama from Kingston sitting on the steps beside me... a couple of young ladies in front of me... a beautiful smiley woman who kept playing peek-a-boo with you-know-who... two Italian mama mia's behind me who asked me why I liked knitting socks, and I got to tell them it was all about my Nan. And you know, I felt so... so... so... full. Does that make sense? My heart was full.

I'll write more about on the weekend, I promise... I just had to put to words this glorious feeling I have inside right now, before the day comes to an end.

I can't wait to show you pictures, and tell you about meeting Swatchy.

:)

Socks x 2

2007-05-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Ok... a few quickies before Jaden wakes up...

Tada! The spring socks (a la Grumperina) are done. Hannah loves them. Nearly destroyed them the first day she wore them... climbing the side of the crib to play with Jaden... The yarn got caught on the bottom latch and pulled about 4 inches out, but it didn't break... so I pulled it back in, bit by bit, evening out the stitches again. Phew!!! She felt so bad.

Little socks for Jaden... twisted cable pattern. Love it. here's a wee photo of one of the tidiest heels I've ever done. Woohoo! (don't know why I don't have a pic of the whole sock... hmm... Note to self: take pic when they come out of the laundry.) Funny thing about the close-up... I see my grandmother's hands. Weird.

Mr. Funny Face and I are having a blast hanging out this week. I think he should be in a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon... you know, it's time for his Dad to take a picture, and every time, Calvin makes a goofy face...

Gotta run! Someone is waking up!!

Feathered friends

2007-05-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Had a delightful little visitor to the garden this morning. Never have I seen a bird in the wild with blue feathers. Ok... other than a blue jay... I bolted for the camera and tried to get a few pics before he flew off... this is what I managed to come up with... He's an indigo bunting, I believe.

Jordan and Hannah are off to Nanny & Poppy's for a week, so it's just me and Jaden here during the day. I plan on getting a few things done around the house... such as tackle the laudry room, which had a considerable chunk of organizing already done to it by Nana. (btw... thanks so much, Nana!) Also, I'm going to get some sewing done for Hannah's summer wardrobe. I admit, I haven't done much sewing lately, and I'm trying really hard not to be thinking "I wish I were knitting right now..." but I don't think Hannah wants to wear knit shorts all summer long. Besides, I have a wall of fabric ready and waiting.

Here were a few of my selections to begin with.

In looking for a pattern, I realized just how long it's been since I've had the Pfaff out, when I didn't have any patterns the right size. All I have are toddler patterns... so I'm going to fudge it a wee bit and see how it goes. Knowing Hannah, she's just going to park herself out on a mound of dirt somewhere, and pretty, perfectly hemmed pinafores are not her thing. We'll see how much I can get done this week.

I also want to make some time for me... well, me and God is more like it. Rejuv my spirit.

Mark and I are going to snuggle in and watch Heroes together tonight, without interuptions... woohoo! btw... Heroes rocks. Luv it.

Well, off to do some clutter bustin'!

Oodles of News

2007-05-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was the OCHEC conference. Usually I come home with my batteries recharged and my passion for homeschooling renewed. This year was a little different... the homeschool aspects of the conference were quite thought-provoking as usual, but I felt personally renewed, beyond just my role as a homeschooling mom. "Raising Maidens of Virtue" and "As Unto the Lord: Keys to Being a Biblical Wife" were two workshops given by Stacy MacDonald, mother of... get this... 10!!! Simply having that many kids makes me want to sit up and listen! But her strong desire to see daughters of the King living pure and passionate lives was overwhelming and I came home changed. Absolutely changed. We live in a culture that is very "me first" but we live an upside down faith - one that seeks the servitude of others first. It was wonderful.

Amanda came with us to attend the youth workshops to develop her mind a wee bit and learn about having a God-centred worldview. It was great to hang with her for the weekend, talk about... you know... stuff. She is wanting more of God... and that is good.

We hit Subway for lunch... time to photo-blog... Mark did a little Mambo Italiano for us...

Gotta love him. He certainly keeps life interesting.

Saw the sights of downtown Hamilton a wee bit before heading back.

I showed the Grumperina sock to the statue of Queen Victoria in downtown Hamilton. It was very impressed.

I think the lion looks very impressed too.

What homage to receive: Queen and Empress, Model Wife and Mother.

How is it we have come so far away from this? Being a wife and mother are no longer considered positions of honour. There are no accolades... little respect... Our society considers women who choose to raise their children and educate them to be just a mom... just a housewife. I am so thankful that I do not rely on the world around me for my sense of value. What I do, day in and day out, is beyond value and the rewards are beyond compare.

I leave you with this bit of graffiti...

Sunny days!

2007-04-25T18:37:00.000-07:00

All right... I'm a little slow in posting... but man, was it ever nice this weekend! The kids couldn't wait to get outside! Jordan was up and dressed, teeth brushed and everything by the time I emerged for my first cup of tea!

Jordan and Hannah asked to get the car out, and so they took turns pushing each other. Awwww... isn't that nice?!?! Yeah... they took turns ramming each other into the steps - crash up derby style! Bonus points if they managed to make the rider jettison out the side! Sheesh! some people's kids!

On the knitting front, sock 1 for Hannah is done and I'm one to #2. I must have been completely dazed when I picked up the stitches for the heel, because one side looks horrible and the other side is fabulous... and of course, I didn't notice until I was grafting the toe... that's what happens when you knit while watching tv... you just do row after row... Love the pattern though! Based on Grumperina's sock featured in Interweave Knits, but made for my mini-Grumperina. Based on 48 stitches. Rib 3, then brioche stitch. Also, I'll be finishing Jaden's raglan sleeved sweater tonight. (Impressed yet?) I'm just doing the last couple of rows for the rolled collar and then I'm done! And not a moment too soon... I hate circular needles! Ick! Ick! Ick! I've only had to use them for the collar and it just seems so fiddly... could just be me & my technique... I've never used them before, so I shall suspend my formal judgement for now, but I sure will be glad to be done. I must say - it looks fabulous! The seams are... seamless! hardy harr... I'm tickled at how nicely it has all come together. Just in time for his big 6 months old tomorrow! Gosh... where does the time go????

Snapped this a couple of days ago... Mr Big Man sitting in mama's bed.

And then there's this... what an angel... I could just stare at that face all day.

Spring

2007-04-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

"It tis such a lovely day," said the Sock to no one in particular. It was merely enjoying the beauty of the sunshine reflecting off its glorious colours.

"I do say," said the Sock, "the sky certainly is enjoying my blue. "

"Well, enough of this lounging about... I'm off to see if Spring has sprung." And so the Sock left its comfy place in the sun, and went off in search of Spring.

"Excuse me, my fine fellows, but have you perchance seen Spring?" asked the Sock. There came no reply. "How rude" thought the Sock, and so it continued.

How will I ever find Spring?" said the Sock, to no one in particular as it continued its sun-filled journey.

It found a Tree, full of buds. The tiny Lilac blooms would not appear for some time, and yet they were there, the waiting of promise of beauty and fragrance yet to come. From this vantage point, the Sock asked again, in the loudest voice its wool would allow - "Has anyone seen Spring?"

And then, a little voice startled him. "Ahem... I've seen Spring."

It was a Crocus, opening its petals to the warmth of the Sunshine. It said again, "I've seen Spring."

"You have?!!" replied the Sock, hurrying down from its perch. "Oh you must tell me where you've seen Spring!"

Shyly, the little Crocus replied, "Oh my, Spring is beautiful. Spring is about changes. Spring is about warm colours emerging from the coolness of winter."

"It sounds lovely," said the Sock.

"Yes. You are," said the Crocus.

Boogies, Bees & Blankies

2007-04-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have seen eeeeeeenuf running boogies, flying phlegm, viscous vomitous goo to last me a lifetime!!! Ick!

Well, dear little blog, nearly everyone here is sick... and definitely everyone who is under the age of 8... including the bambino, who still manages to look amazingly cute even while he's sniffing and snarfling. I haven't slept in three nights... but hey... I've been thinking about you and I just wanted you to know that... So here are the highlights from the last few days (boogies aside...)

Jordan participated in the Canada Spelling Bee on Saturday - he was very excited and totally pumped... he was ready to go all the way (but also preparing himself for the possibility of not winning...) He studied very hard for it. Triumphed in Round 1. But erred in Round 2. He was crushed. He mispelled warmth... such an easy word for him. Had to be nerves. He was totally crushed. The setting was horrid, I have to say... it was set in the middle of the food court in the mall... could you find a worse locale?? The sound quality was an issue as well... ok, I know... I'm going on a bit... but I think things could've been arranged a little better to see the kids be successful, not stressed out of their witts. Well, Jordan didn't make it to the next round. After the tears, he was able to accept that he was a winner... maybe not with first prize, but he worked exceptionally hard, went to all the practices, and tried his best. He'll need to study more than just words for next year - learning how to focus better and tune out distraction. He's determined to do better.

Pre-competetion: cool as a cucumber

Sneak shot during Round 1: Cut the tension with a knife!

WIP News: Started a new project..... a test project actually... I want to make a blanket out of my odds and ends of sock yarn... inspired by: Shelly, whom I read about on Yarn Harlot (scroll down)... but I thought I'd test it out first. It's made up of a bunch of mitered squares and looks very cool with all the fantasitc colour changes that come with sock yarns. I'm nearly done Jaden's raglan, getting a little tired of blue... so I thought I'd set my hands to testing it out. Ya know what? These squares have awesome MOJO!!! Great info here. These squares get faster as you go (because you decrease stitches every round) and it's quite thrilling. Honest. It's like riding a roller coaster - the slow climb... then zoom... down the hill, and you're done. What? You don't believe me? Fine then...

So, my test project: I dug out a bunch of crappy yarn that's been kicking around... mostly squeaky acrylic... actually I think it's all squeaky acrylic... but Frugal Me says I shouldn't throw it out, some good ought to come from it, even though it's like knitting with steel wool. Ick. Oh well. THe wicked mojo makes up for it.

Square 1: (My internal conversation...does this look right? it doesn't look like a square to me... hey, this looks like underpants...)

By last night:

And tonight: thought I'd try a big square mixed in. Messed with the mojo. Me not happy. Oh well.

The colours look a little nicer in real life... honest. Just a little though. It's not the prettiest bag of stash... most of it is coming from a neighbour who had a yard sale last year, and after I bought a scooter from here, she said "Hey Jo, you knit... take this wool." (I hate when all yarn gets called wool... this stuff hardly qualified as "wool"...) So it's been occupying a corner, and it's about time I did something with it... get rid of it, or make something out of it. I'd like to get some nice wool to occupy that space!

Ooooo! big BTW... a yarn shop finally opened in Burlington. Gotta go check it out! Spun Fibre Arts - owned by my former naturopathic doctor... I couldn't believe it! Sit and knit is tomorrow. Gonna try to make it out...

Bact to the blankie... It's putting my in mind of Nan actually. she's knit/quilt/craft with whatever she had on hand. Her quilts may not have won any state fairs, but they grace every bed in this household and keep us warm during the long Canadian winters... btw... will it ever end? geez, it's cold! enough already... so I'll knit up these squares from time to time, when the feeling hits and I need some mojo... the finished project will be religated to the tv room, where the kids will use it make forts, the dog will lay on it, and anyone who feels a little chilly can snuggle into it.

This one's for you Nan. I'm calling "Home by and by." I miss you.

It finally happened!!

2007-04-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hello dear little blog,

What joy this morning... I awoke to the sounds of the birdies outside my window, twittering away... the sun barely peaking through the curtains... I felt rested. Sigh.

AHHHHHHHHH!!! It happened! It finally happened!!! Jaden slept through the night! Woohoo!

Is he not the cutest thing in the world??!!

It's been a whirlwind lately, but here's the breakdown of all the fun:

1/ Went to make myself a cup of tea a few days ago. Jaden was playing happily, and when I looked in on him, here he was.... He had rolled over and was displaying mixed emotions. Part "Wow, look what I just did!" and part: "Oh crap, what did I just do??" Very cute.

2/ Spent a great weekend at the CafazZoo... it was awesome. We celebrated Easter together. We also had a Passover meal... I know, I know... Passover was Tuesday... we're not Jewish... but we were celebrating the fulfillment of Passover - Jesus, the Lamb of God, our Y'shua. It was deep and incredibly meaningful. How amazing that God gave His people a revelation of their Messiah and true Deliverer - a hint of what was to come... not just deliverance from Egypt, from deliverance from the bondage of sin and death. Every minute detail of the Passover has significance and is a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. How amazing. Baruch ata Adonai!

3/ Annie loves the Boy. We do too. He's probably still recovering from the kids tackling him and using him as their personal jungle gym. He tolerated it well. So we decided: Yup. He'll do.

4/ We celebrated 3 birthdays… Hannah who was proud to turn 5 – which she announced very loudly from the back of the church Sunday morning when the Rev. asked if there were any birthdays… Annie nears her ¼ of a century mark, continuing in maturity as a woman and in the Lord… and then there was Boozer Babes... although she is hardly a babe any longer, crossing the threshold of her Sweet 16.

Boozer Babes gets her first car... Hot Wheels...

Musical-obsessed Boozer Babes flippin out over her Wicked b-day card from N8.

As a family, we gathered around her to pray and bless her. Was there a dry eye in the house? Don’t think so. (Thank you Jesus for waterproof mascara!) (sorry the photo's a bit dark... forgive me, N8)

5/ Hannah asked if she could play with Jaden, and I smiled to myself, thinking how beautiful to see the bond between sister and brother developing. However, when I peaked around the corner, I realized that she wanted to play with him… as if he were her little play thing. Even Bosco got in on the action.

6/ Knitting news: started a wee raglan sweater in 2-toned blue cotton for Jaden. I have some appointments/events coming up that require me to sit and wait, so I thought I’d set my hands to a project that was fairly straightforward and I could just knit mindlessly. I love it! It’s so fulfilling to be growing as a knitter, to see my skills grow so that I can picture something and then knit it. I’m taking notes, and I’ll post the pattern if it works out! (I should probably stop tooting my own horn just in case this flops!!)

Note: This post was supposed to go up last night but just as I went to upload it, the server crashed. I could hear the voice from the Starship Enterprise speaking – “Unable to comply…” I lost everything, and I was very very very PO’d. I don’t get to post often enough as it is, and then when I do get to it, it crashes. AWK! So I sat down, ate some chocolate and I felt better. Even today, there are still some issues because my images won't upload. I'll try again later, but here's the post for now. BTW… it seems like the sleeping thru the night (STTN) was a one-time deal… sigh…

This and That

2007-03-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

Alrighty... a quick wip! Before I could post about it, it was done! Wow! Sewn up and everything! A quick and simple pair of slippers for Jaden, knit out of frustration that of all the socks and booties that I found... I could only find one of each kind. grrrr!! So here they are... on the loveliest little feet... which belong to the loveliest baby who just passed his 5th month. Wow. And he's still getting cuter by the day.

He's massive. Jordan won our family contest to guess his weight at the last check-up - right on the money with 19lbs 7 oz.

He's my little man.

Whoa. Those feet look big.

Life's been busy, but I'm finally into a rhythm... I love Mum's illustration - it's like learning to juggle with an extra ball added, and it takes a bit of time to figure it out. Well, I feel like I'm finding that place. Here's a few things that have helped:

"Once a Month Cooking"

I spent one day cooking and ended up with 32 meals packed away in our new freezer (thank you Mom!!) So now, everyday, I just pull something out and it's all set to go. I just have to pull together the sides. I now have time for other things, which often includes a fussy baby, right at dinner time. (btw... how is it that babies just seem to know when you're trying to make dinner, and kick the groucho factor up to ten???)

The other thing: 15 minutes a day for me and God. Ok, ok... 15 minutes doesn't seem like much... but I wanted to set my sights on God and being close to Him without interruption or distraction... and around here, 15 minutes is about as much as I can come up with until baby starts sleeping thru the night, Jordan learns how to do long division on his own, and Hannah can manage not to get glue in her hair or playdough on the carpet.

Before I go... this is a little late, but we found a funny little leprechaun hanging around on St Patty's Day and I managed to snap a pic of him before he could scurry away to his pot of gold (which looked strangely like a bowl of scooby snacks.....)

Work-in-Perpetuity

2007-03-19T19:34:00.000-07:00

My dear little blog,

Please don't be offended that I haven't added to you in quite some time... it's not that I haven't been thinking of you... I have! Often, in fact! Many a time throughout my day I think of you, ponder quaint messages to share with you, take pictures that I might share with you... but alas, I have neglected you.

Sigh.

But I have good news! Genevieve's socks are finally finished (sort of - I just have to graft the toes... oh tortuous process... oh beautiful result...) Mark was starting to call them a "work in perpetuity" ... but I finished them with a sigh... It has taken me four months to complete what I can usually do in four days. Seeing as knitting is a prayerful act for me, a way of meditating on God's heart for the recipient, I usually finish a project with a sigh... all the more so for Genevieve's Welcome With Love socks... it is the closing of a chapter of a most beautiful phase of my life... the journey of meeting two lovely people - our son and our midwife.

But it is just a chapter that has been finished... many more await...

Find Rest

2007-02-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

I sit here weeping, as the clock tips over into another day, and I feel so weary.

Joys abound with motherhood and the rewards of homeschooling are beyond compare... and yet, as with all things, there is a cost... and right now, the cost feels like me. Waking up 3 or 4 times a night, lesson plans and teaching time... it's leaving me drained by the end of the day. But tonight, I have this song by Monique Tute on repeat and it is soaking me. (download it for free from ionmusic along with some other great music) As it soaks into my heart, the weariness is fading away. Thank you Jesus.

Find rest, my soul, in God

Find rest my troubled heart

Find rest my weary body

Find rest, find rest

For He alone is your salvation

He's your strength, you will never be shaken

He's your rock and your provision

He's your only hope

And you'll find rest...

To have rest, I must find it. I must pursue it, look for it, search for it, obtain it by effort. My rest must come first to my heart before my body will receive the benefits of it. How many nights have we finally laid down to "rest" but our hearts are troubled, our minds anxious?

I am thankful for quiet sacred moments with my new son, the waking times at night, when I can pull him close to me and curl around him. He is most precious to me. Herein lies my perspective: everything in life costs something. There's no free lunch. Our culture tells us we can have it all, but the One who made it all says it doesn't quite work that way. It's the whole "equal and opposite reaction" thing. The cost of welcoming a beautiful new soul into our family is sleep (or lack thereof to be more accurate.) The blessing of having a warm house to live in means I have to clean it... clothing to wear? = laundry to do.

So I will strenuously pursue rest. My weeping is over, and I go to cuddle my new favourite human being. restful at heart. restful in body. sigh.

I'm so thankful for the truth of God's word, inspiring music that feeds the soul. But I am most thankful for Him, and Him alone.

I will never be shaken. He is my hope. He is my only hope.

-32??

2007-02-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Brrrrr.... a frigid -18 out there this morning... feels like -32 with a windchill warning for Halton region. Our cranky furnace is sputtering and wheezing and churning away, but the house still feels like an igloo. There is a reason for igloos being associated with Canada!! Hannah has abandoned her room - the coldest one in the house, and barred her door shut. She's rescued her favourite toys but vows not to return until the climate changes. (Could be a while.) She's sharing with Jordan right now, and the two of them are cuddling up for warmth. It's just like Little House on the Prairie. Way too cute.

I have managed to pull a few projects of the needles:
I've finally turned the heel on Genevieve's second sock. Finally!

Started and finished Jamie's trummed mittens. Poor kid - he suffers terribly from chronically cold hands, so what could be better than a good pair of warm woolies??? I finished them late Saturday night while watching Star Trek Insurrection (my fav ST movie) - good mojo since Jamie is also a Trekkie. Took the picture on the way to church Sunday morning... then the battery died, so no pic with Jamie wearing them. :(

Started thrummed mitts for Chris. Finished one slipper for Jaden.

Jordan has been sporting his Wee Willy Winkle hat a lot - ok... I made it last year, but I'm still proud of it... my first (successful) project with 2 colours and no pattern. Yay me! And of course, I love the fact that Jordan loves it too.

Oh... and we've had another Sammy sighting...

Ok, this sleep-deprived gal needs another cup of tea to ward off the chill while I finish Jaden's slippers... ttfn!

Girl draws, Boys knit

2007-01-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

I fell asleep last night thinking about knitting...
Sigh...
I've had a few busy days in a row and not much opp to knit a few, purl a few... It was Jamie's b-day on Friday and I did manage to cast on his thrummed mitts...

Here's a couple of pics that Hannah drew...

This one is called "Mama knits."

Knitting is cool, says Hannah. Check out the knitted pants already hanging up, and the hoody just coming off the needles.

Jordan asked me to teach him how to knit. Yay! He's going to make a wee blanket for his sissy... well, for one of her teddy bears...

It was a snow day and one of his friends came over, saw the knitting, and asked if I could teach him too. While Jordan is slow, methodical, and very accurate, this kid could fly on the needles but his end product, a coaster for his mom, looked more like k2tog, yo stitching! Not bad for a first try though. I know, I know, I should've been watching his wip as he was progressing, but babies care very little if boys are learning how to knit. The magnitude of that surpasses them.

Happy 3 Months Babe!!

2007-01-23T17:28:00.000-08:00

Hey Peanut!
Look who's hit the big 3!
3 months have already passed in this big wide world.
Life is sunnier with you in it!

Love,
Mama

Joy of Sour Milk

2007-01-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

Last night after posting, I went to get ready for bed... and all I could smell was sour milk... "oh joy..." I said outloud, though I was alone. The joy of nursing a (not-so)newborn...

and then it hit me...

the joy of sour milk.

Dear friends of ours lost their tiny baby girl just a few months ago. She fell asleep with her tummy full of her mummy's milk, but she never woke up. I cannot imagine such agony...

and so I will celebrate the perfume of my motherhood: eau de lait aigre. Sour milk.

More than just me

2007-01-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

My last few days have been... well... emotional. I love my life... I love my babies... but sometimes it just, well, it's just hard. Sleep deprivation will do that to ya.

In the midst of it all, there are moments of absolute beauty that overwhelm me. This morning as I was nursing Jaden, I was looking down at him and he was gazing at me too... and then the corner of his mouth turned up in a beautiful smile and he let out a giggle. It was one of those moments that you want to remember forever. I wanted to take in everything - his tiny hand wrapped around my thumb, the warmth of him cuddled close, the sweet smell of the top of his head... and as I looked into his eyes, I saw my own reflection. I stopped. It was a God-moment. I was only reflected in his eyes because I was so close to him... and that's what God desires in me... to be so close to him, that He is reflected in my eyes... when others look at me, they see more that just me... but my Father reflected.

As I climbed into bed last night, I had tears in my eyes. I was so tired from nursing thru the night, the ever-growing mountain of dishes and laundry (I've come to hate that one in particular), the constant smell of sour milk, the tangled mass of my long hair, the bed still being unmade... it felt like too much. In moments like that, I have learned one thing... to drive the sword of God's word deep into my sorrow. The truth of Hebrews 4:12 has been made clear to me in so many circumstances: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." If my heart is troubled, I turn to God's word that I might hear His voice of comfort. If my mind is troubled, I seek His word as a seive to sort thru the thoughts that circle 'round my mind. If I feel as if I have swallowed a stone that sits in the pit of my belly, I know my attitude needs to brought into line with God's gracious word. And so last night, I reached for Mark's copy of The Message, sitting on the night stand...

Psalm 34
2 I live and breathe God;
if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy:

4 God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.

5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.

6 When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot.

7 God's angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.

8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.

18 If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there...

What amazing words of comfort. At the end of the day, when I feel as if all I could do was just muscle my way thru to the end before collapsing in bed, I fell asleep knowing that I am not hidden from Him. I am not invisible to Him... No one else may know that I've had a lousy day, but He does, and He cares about what I'm going thru. He sees me, knows me, loves me. I wish He could do my laundry for me... but I don't think it's on His agenda.

Phew!

2007-01-16T19:18:00.000-08:00

What a week! Tons of stuff on the go... wips coming off the needles... wow!

Coolest Thing #1: ANNIE'S HOME!!!! Back from Mozambique, completely ruined for her Jesus, I think is how she put it. She'll be here on Saturday to meet Jaden for the first time. Can't wait.

Coolest Thing #2: Shared at the Hamilton Midwives about home birth this week. They had an info night for couples considering it. It was absolutely amazing fun to share about our experiences, answer question and just chat... I love our midwives... I love all midwives... in fact, I don't think I've ever met a midwife I didn't like... and any opportunity that rises its lovely head, I will surely take it in order that I might extol the profound greatest of midwives!!! I spoke with Jessica (the hosting MW) afterwards, about how MW are "a unique breed of folk." She laughed, because that could be taken in two ways, one wonderfully, and one in a quirky sense. Both are true she said. :) BTW, Jessica is also a knitter... apparently a lot of midwives are... Anyways, it was a fabulous night. Totally connected and exchanged emails & numbers with a few people. Very cool. I left feeling completely jazzed, knowing that I had left a fingerprint in the life experience of another. What can top that?

Coolest Thing #3: Finished WIPs!
Baby socks galore for a friend who just had a little girl... and with a MW! Talk about a week with great mojo! The picture is a little dark and yellowish... a photographer I am not... one is just a simple stripe pattern and the other is based on the twisted cable sock from here: http://www.helloyarn.com/cabletwistsocks.htm

I apologize for not yet knowing how to turn text into a link... I'll get my hubby on that! .... actually... I think I did it... wow! I did! I rock! I so completely rock!!! (ok, I have a low standard for rock-worthiness...)

A close-up of the baby twisted cable...

Anyways, I'll post how I changed the pattern later today. It was so much fun and I can hardly wait to make some adult versions of these... I'm tempted to frog the Welcome with Love socks, because I think they would look wicked with the variegated yarn... but I had better not... it's taken me waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy too long to get as far as I have, and I'm anxious to pass them to the lovely, awaiting Genevieve... MW extraordinaire!! :) XO

God is a Knitter

2007-01-10T19:55:00.000-08:00

Ok... God is a Knitter... with a capital "K"... always knew it, but thought I'd ponder that for a bit...

1. One of my most favourite verses of all is Psalm 139:13-14. I had it posted on the wall while in labour with Jaden... and if this doesn't convince you that God is a Knitter, then nothing will!!

"You created my inmost being;
you KNIT me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14

2. A question... We know that He is our Shepherd (Psalm 23). In fact, Jesus says that he is the good shepherd in John 10"11... how could one spend so much time with sheep and not knit?

3. Although it's not mentioned by name in Scripture, do we not refer to the "Purly Gates?"

4. There are numerous references to God's abilities. In the Message translation, Job 36:26 says "See how great he is—infiKNIT,
greater than anything you could ever imagine or figure out!"

If the Message is a little too funky and modern, how about the King James? Psalm 147:5 says

"Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infiKNIT."

I bet He never feels stumped by peculiar pattern instructions.

5. He had a tendancy to use whatever is on hand... no doubt, his stash is pretty incredible. Look what he was able to dig up for Job...

"Did you not... clothe me with skin and flesh
and KNIT me together with bones and sinews?
You gave me life and showed me kindness,
and in your providence watched over my spirit."
Job 10:10-12

6. BTW... He also sews a little:

You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:5

A closing verse, and a slightly more serious note... I love knitting, but Philippians 3:8 sums it all up...

"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infiKNIT value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ."

Twins!

2007-01-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

Two finished projects! Wow!

Jordan requested two pairs of socks a while ago (I won't mention just how long ago it was!) - one pair for his baby brother that would match his own, and he asked for a pair of red ones. He chose the yarn himself on one of our shopping expeditions. He very kindly asked if I would buy the yarn for him...let's just say, he didn't have to twist my arm! But he did have to be patient in order for me to finish them. I started them while I was still pregnant, they were meant for his birthday present on Nov. 18, and well... they sat there, waiting... staring at me for the longest time. You see, I don't suffer from SSS - Second Sock Syndrome. My personal affliction is IGS - Irritating Grafting Syndrome. I hate grafting toes... even though they look amazing. Well, they're finally finished and I called them "Les canadiens" in honour of Jordan's favourite hockey team.

"Jr. Blue."

Here's the miniture version of his blue self-patterning socks, finished for Jaden.

Welcome With Love v2.0

2007-01-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

Ok... I frogged the socks. I love the feel of the yarn, but it wasn't turning out quite the way I was hoping... partly due to the fact that I wasn't able to get the right colour combination. I'm having to go with an "inspired by:" version, as oppossed to a replica. And... I've made my peace with that...

But the socks were lacking pizzazz. So I decided to frog them...

to frog: to undo one's knitting, partially or completely,
thus named as one must "rip it... rip it..." in order to correct an error

Here's v1.0

And here's v2.0

Ok... so it's not the greatest picture, but you get the idea. The variegated yarn is such a surprise to work with... the pattern has been unpredictable. I had no idea how it would swirl around. I still think that I will eventually do a true Welcome With Love sock but I've enjoyed the process, as this has been my cross-over project into Knitterhood... I feel as if I am now a Knitter - capital K... not merely one who knits.

I've also discovered that I'm not so much attached to the end result, but rather I enjoy the process. For me, it is the time that I spend sitting down, thinking about the recipient for whom I knitting that I enjoy. And so, I've enjoyed my reverie with the WWL socks... my reflections on Jaden's birth and the warm place in my heart that Genevieve now holds. It has been a joy to knit for her...

So off I go to cast on sock #2, before "SSS" sits in.

SSS: Second Sock Syndrome

The dreadful malady that plagues many a sock, and many a knitter.
Yarn from one's sacred stash calls out to be knit
before the second sock is cast on or completed.

Wonderful Weekend With Wendy

2007-01-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

We had a fabulous weekend! We made the trek to Aunt Wendy's house for a belated Christmas visit, and to introduce Jaden to the rest of the fam. A warm welcome always awaits us and it was so wonderful to be surrounded by such love. Jaden enjoyed meeting everyone and had lots of smiles to share. Uncle Ben wasn't to keen on sharing his cuddle time though! If someone else was holding Jaden for more than a few minutes, he was sure to bud back in line and take the little guy. :) However, Jaden took him quite by surprise with a tremendous rumble followed by what we have come to refer to as a "squishy".

Aunt Wendy and Uncle John both had their turns... total naturals! They're so amazing. They have been such a blessing to us time and time again and every time we leave their home, we feel as if we have soaked up a whole bunch of love and joy. I never could have dreamt to marry into such a wonderful family. :)

Jordan and Matt looked like long-lost brothers.

Jasmine took the kids out to the park... and I don't think they were gone for more than 5 minutes before they returned... Hannah was soaked to the bone after enjoying a ride down the slide that ended in a nice muddy puddle. She ended up sporting some of Jasmine's pj's for the rest of the night! Look at these girls... way to cute.

Uncle N8 was there as well, and lo and behold he was found peeling yams. Had to take a picture of that... record it for history! lol

Knitters everywhere... unite!

2007-01-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

Just got back from taking a boo at yarnharlot's blog... she's going to be on tv... here's the info from her site:

"For anyone interested in hearing me talk about you (I promise I'll only say nice things) the CBC tv interview has been moved from today to tomorrow at about 10:45 - 11:15ish on Newsworld. It's five minutes, it's live...it's scaring the daylights out of me."

She's been calling out to all knitters everywhere to pare back on self indulgance and give sacrifically to Doctors without Borders. Near to a quarter of a million dollars has been raised so far! By knitters! That's so cool. check her out ... www.yarnharlot.ca

I'm "it"

2007-01-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by Amanda - aka Boozer Babes - to list 5 things you probably don't know about me... allrighty then...

#1. I swam with pink dolphins in the Amazon.
#2. I nearly drowned moments after swimming with said dolphins.
#3. I hate pajama pants.
#4. I won first place in a karate tournament.
#5. I can catch, gut, and clean a fish.

How's that for a completely random list of things???!!!

A Knitting Orphan

2007-01-03T20:33:00.000-08:00

Along with my late night musings on capital K, I realized something... I have become a knitting orphan.

Every year, especially at Christmas, I knew that my Nan would be sending something handmade. All manner of quilted and crocheted things would arrive via Canada Post... and whenever I'd open the box, I swear I could smell the ocean! Now, Nan's choice of colours was always, shall I say... interesting. She had a penchant for peach and mint green... cotton candy pink variegated with flecks of baby blue... You'd never know exactly what awaited in one of Nan's parcels, but I do know that in ten years of marriage, I've hardly ever had to buy pillow-slips, tea towels, dish cloths or bubble bath. In mom's parcels, there would be lotion from Avon, Jackie's would have a little money to buy herself a treat, for me, a bookmark with a prayer on it. In the end though, it was never predictable, never the perfect colour... and never so missed.

When she died this summer, I didn't expect to feel her absence in so many little ways.

Her bibs and bobs for around the house weren't my favourite things to receive, and they were usually stored at the back of the cupboard for the day when everything else was in the laundry and they were the only ones left... However, in her absence, I find myself pulling them out, so that as I dry my hands or wash the dishes, I feel as if she is with me... or at least, I allow myself a moment of reverie. I miss her so much. (sniff)

But not all that she made was religated to the corners of the house... her vamps (knitted socks) were worn throughout the winter. They were always warm and comfortable, simple in their construction and colour. As much as I liked them, Mark loved them even more... and Nan was glad to have another person to knit for. Her "double-ball mitts" were amazing. Never knit from a pattern, never charted out, yet beautiful designs would emerge in alternating colours. The body of the mitten was a split-finger design, to allow for better dexterity, but I have a hard time imagining any Newfoundlander explaining it in such a way. It's just the way to make mitts. Period.

Christmas came and went.and no parcel arrived. No bibs and bobs. No vamps. No double-ball mitts. And then I realized... I'm a knitting orphan.

Capital "K"

2007-01-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

Last night as I was falling asleep, I decided something...

I am a Knitter. With a capital K.

I am not just someone who knits. It has become part of who I am. It defines a part of me.

Last night, I felt myself crossing over... I received some wonderful books from my wonderful hubby for Christmas, two of which were by the Yarn Harlot herself, Stephanie Pearle-McPhee. In Knitting Rules! she explains some of the math behind knitting... in an extremely humourous, laugh-out-loud, pee-your-pants kind of way.

I understand sock construction!! I could knit a pair of socks without a pattern now! (I have yet to actually try, but I'll keep you posted on that!)

My whole life, I've watched my Nan knit... rarely with a pattern. She tried to explain how to "eye" things, how it would feel or fit just right, but I never got it. Last night though, I had a light bulb moment. I understand now how Nan never needed a pattern to know how to turn a heel or shape the toe.

I am no longer bound to the pattern, following line by line, counting exactly where I am! I have crossed over!

I AM A Knitter!

2007 - Embrace the Rhythm

2007-01-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

RHYTHM
1.movement or procedure with uniform or patterned recurrence of a beat, accent, or the like.
2.Music.
a.the pattern of regular or irregular pulses caused in music by the occurrence of strong and weak melodic and harmonic beats.
b.a particular form of this: duple rhythm; triple rhythm.
3.measured movement, as in dancing.
4.Art, Literature. a patterned repetition of a motif, formal element, etc., at regular or irregular intervals in the same or a modified form...
7.the pattern of recurrent strong and weak accents, vocalization and silence, and the distribution and combination of these elements in speech.
(from www.dictionary.reference.com)

It's amazing how God has created so many things to function cyclicly. The seasons progress thru their patterns. The phases of the moon, the tide of the ocean. The water cycles from the sea, evaporates to the sky and then returns to water the earth. A farmer's field prospers when allowed to remain fallow for a season. Even my body has its own rhythms... my circadium clock, my womanly cycle, pregnancy and breastfeeding... all these things have a natural rhythm that beats without my involvement.

We go thru the cycles ourselves... periods of strength inflected by moments of weakness. There are days when we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and there are days when our feet have yet to hit the floor and already we are overwhelmed. But as in the musical definition of rhythm, there is measurement. In our weakness, God has measured us and He knows exactly what we are able to withstand... we may be hard pressed, but never crushed. We have seasons when we are living on the potter's wheel, where we are molded and fired in his kiln before the beautiful work is revealed.

God made cycles. God made beginnings. Open your Bible... what are some of the first words that you'll see? In the beginning...

We all have the blessing of a new beginning... an opportunity to flow in new creativity and to find the natural rhythm that God has for us.

In the last season of 2006, I made peace with my own rhythm. I stopped trying to be someone else, to do what someone else was doing, and embrace who God made ME to be.

In 2007, I want to continue my walk to be who I was destined to be, defined by God.

I embrace my rhythm.

Newfie New Year's

2006-12-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

The festivities begin with a few b'ys showin up. At least they didn't show up empty handed!

And here's some of the fam by the tree.

And so this is Christmas

2006-12-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

Well, there you have it. The momentous day has come and gone... the last few bits of wrapping paper hiding in corners has been cleared away, gifts have found their new homes, some semblance of order has returned, and finally, I breathe again. It was a whirlwind... and after 6 days of company, I can relax before the next set comes tomorrow. (don't get me wrong... it's been wonderful... but a little overwhelming when we're still finding our routine with our new baby...)

{queue music}

"And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?"

This song is used in a commercial for child sponorship agency and this year we decided as a family that we wanted to take up its challenge seriously. We wanted this Christmas to be different. We wanted our celebration this year to be intential... our giving to be meaningful. And it was.

We pared back our giving so that gifts were from the heart and not about a display of wealth. Not that we are wealthy per se, but we live in a nation that is rich in comparison to many in this world. We wanted to give to others, to clothe freezing children in Russia with warm woolies, to feed children who would go hungry otherwise. We wanted to pay attention to where there was darkness in this world, so that we might shine light and help bring hope. After all, was not a little baby born, and called the Light of the world?

We wanted to celebrate the little things, that need to be big things.

We celebrate our health and our lives.
Not to be trite or quote the adage "Well, at least you have your health..." We're serious. We attended far too many funerals this year, and we have far too many widows counted amongst our family and friends. Our dear friend succumed to his brain tumour. My father-in-law struggled thru his fight with cancer, chemo and a bone marrow transplant and is back on his feet again... Mark struggles daily with MD and its toll on him... with all it robs from him. He experienced a great revelation this year however, when he came to realize what a gift MD can be. He is forced daily to cast himself completely on God for the strength to put one foot in front of the other... and he has found that to be a most beautiful and peaceful place. We are so thankful to have the health we have, and the joy of one more day.

We celebrate our blessedness.
The day before Christmas, we were flipping channels while watching tv and we stopped at a horrifying sight... a room, littered with refuse, the windows were blown out, and one could only imagine what the odour was like that must have filled that place... and then, huddled in the corner, a family. This was their "home". They lived in a war-torn country, and this was all that was left of their dwelling. My daughter was struck by the severity of their poverty. "Why do they live there, Mama?" she asked me, not understanding what she was seeing at first. For my son, he was impacted by his own wealth. Earlier that day, we had reorganized his room to accomodate for the overflow of toys on his shelves... he had never thought himself to be rich before, but in seeing this sad family, he realized just how blessed he was. We have a home that keeps us warm and dry. Our fridge always have food in it. We have an excess of clothing. We have access to free health care and wonderful midwives. We live in peace. Blessings to numerous to count.

We celebrate our family.
What a joy to have a babe craddled in your arms on Christmas morning, while the original story is retold of a babe born so many years ago and placed in a lowly manger. We nestle in with warm blankets and hearts full of thankfulness.

We celebrate the greatest gift of all... the gift in the manger.

Knit 1, bake 1

2006-12-23T13:05:00.000-08:00

Current wip: Melissa's chic ipod cozy... knit inbetween batches of mocha bites - yummo!

ok... the mocha bites look awfully small in the photo... but they are awfully delicious to eat!!!

Google knits

2006-12-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

Gotta love the Google pic for the holiday season! Knitting kangaroos!!!!

Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to knit I go!

Lots of Christmas knitting awaits... a wonderful surprise for Amanda... fruit cozies galore (my gag gift of the season)... and an Ipod hoody for Melissa... we'll see what else I can accomplish in 2 days... and then I'll get back to finishing my thrummed mittens!

More than a Midwife

2006-12-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late posting this blog but I've had the words and thoughts swirling around in my mind for a while...

(Look at that gorgeous baby with our midwives, Daina and Genevieve. He's just a couple days old.)

I love my life. I love the place that I'm in right now. When everything around me is fading into winter, I feel as if my life is vibrant and blooming. My new son is a pure delight and I've been blessed to have some wonderful companions on the journey to welcoming him into the world. Midwives are more than just health care providers. They are companions, nurturers, encouragers. Words do not suffice in exemplifying them or thanking them.

For Mark & me, it truly was a journey... with a few ups and downs along the way. Jaden was a complete surprise to us, and it took me a while to adjust to the detour in the road... a most beautiful detour. Morning sickness was horrid, lasting into my 5th month, making it tough to be totally excited. We experienced loss along the way as well - Mark & I both lost one of our grandparents, and a wonderful friend finally succumed to cancer after battling it for 8 years. In the wake of all that, an ultrasound showed two cysts on our baby's brain... and although we were told that it's probably nothing, the possibility existed that it could indicate an issue that was "incompatible with life." Ahhh... but God is so good. Immediately, He spoke to me profoundly... it was as if the world slowed down and became distant... I was "in" but not "of"... and He said "This is not for you." And I knew that everything was going to be ok. And well, the proof is in the puddin! Just look at this wonderful baby!

Anyway...

The journey would not have been the same without Genevieve. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Her quiet confidence is remarkable and her smile and sense of humour are absolutely contagious. She nurtured our family. With each visit, she spoke gently and kindly to my children, helping them feel more prepared the transition of welcoming a new baby, and during the birth, she was a calming influence. (Jordan said that she is more than our midwife... she is our friend. I agree.)

I once heard someone compare beautiful people to fruitful trees... how wonderful it is to be with them, as if sitting in the shade of a fragrant apple tree... how fulfilling to share in life with them, to share the fruit of their lives. This illustration came to mind as Genevieve told funny stories about her family's orchard not far from here... Kind of ironic.

I remember sitting on my bed during my first week, postpartum. I journaled while regaining my strength. I wanted to write down every detail of Jaden's birth before they started to slip away. In the course of a week, I saw the leaves turning colour and falling off the trees outside, beautiful and vibrant. My life was changing too, and full of beautiful, vibrant colours. Genevieve was one of them.

She shared with us the wonderful book, Welcome With Love... a homebirth story, parallel to ours. For us, Genevieve will always be an important part of our story... and we are so thankful, that even though the book has closed, its final words were not "The End." A new chapter awaits to be written...

Sammy's back

2006-12-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

found another face in my sammy at lunch yesterday... what can I say? I took the pickle out of the jar and it was smiling at me!

Ok... I admit it...

2006-12-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

For breakfast this morning I ate a mini cheesecake and a 2-bite chocolate cupcake... the remains of a Christmas party I hosted for some of the moms from our homeschool support group. So much for my super healthy habit of Irish oatmeal with flaxseed oil. I'll have to fit in the omega-3s elsewhere today.... i'm so weak...

oh jo..

It reminds me of a joke from university:
A cup of Irish cream coffee has all the important food groups for a student: caffeine (from the coffee), fat (from the cream) and alcohol (from the Bailey's).

Not a bad start to the day!

Wonder-Full, Counsel-her

2006-12-14T12:59:00.000-08:00

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

I love the names of Jesus... scripture is so full of them, each a new insight into who Jesus is.

He is Wonder-full... He never ceases to amaze me.

The Father has said to Him... Counsel her. She needs you.

He is mighty, strong enough to defend me, strong enough to stand up to me, strong enough to carry me.

He is everlasting... always there, always faithful... He is my Dad. My Abba.

He is a Prince... Songs of Solomon 1:2-4.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—

for your love is more delightful than wine.
Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the maidens love you!
Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the king bring me into his chambers.

His Kingdom is Peace.

Bobber & Otter graduate

2006-12-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

Last night Hannah & Jordan were thrilled to receive their certificates for swimming. They'll be moving up a level, with Hannah becoming a Bubbler and Jordan, a Seal. Pretty cool.

Embrace Sin... huh???

2006-12-12T14:30:00.001-08:00

Last night I saw an amazing woman on a talk show... and I froze... she was beautifully well-spoken, and she shared from her heart, with great conviction of all that God had done... not just for her, but for all of us!

Thanks be to God
for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

Then her name flashed on the screen... Liz Curtis Higgs. Wow! I nearly fell over, for she is one of my favourite authors. Her fiction is riviting, moving, and powerful... and her non-fiction is inspiring and challenging. Any one who can write a book called "Bad Girls of the Bible" demands attention. Her inspiration was her own life, being a "bad girl" herself. Yet in her adult life, God reached her... "in a pit of despair" she says on her website. Her real life story is just as moving as her writing... read more about her here: http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/whoisliz.htm

I was floored as she was speaking. Her new book is titled "Embrace Grace" and on the show, she shared from one of the chapters called "Embrace Sin." ACK!!! My jaw nearly dropped to the floor! I couldn't understand such an idea... are we not to put "...aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls." (james 1:21) ???

She clarified...

We must embrace our sin before we can let go of it. We have to own up to it, so to speak. We have to acknowledge the areas of our lives that are contrary to God's ways. She shared about her father who was a good man... but in his goodness, he was never able to embrace his sin, even to his dying day... he could never acknowledge his sin. I understood... how often we compare ourselves to others... I'm not as bad as so-and-so... I've never done (fill in the blank), I'm not so bad... but even our very best falls so short of God. Even on my best day of loving my husband and kids, my neighbours, it all falls short... His word says our righteousness is like rags placed before Him. That's a tough pill to swallow for most.

He is not a God who is waiting for us to finally fess up so that He can shame us and command us to grovel before Him... He is waiting so that He can wipe our sin away, and draw us close to His heart, in an all-encompassing embrace which fills us more deeply than we could have ever dreamt possible. It's about finding the heart's true home... with our Maker.

When we embrace our sin, we are embraced by our Loving God.

Click here for a link to read more about Liz's book, Embrace Grace, and to the whole first chapter. http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/waterbrook/Embrace/Embrace%20Grace.htm

The face in my sandwich

2006-12-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

After church, we got a little silly with our lunches. This is my grilled cheese face.

Daina's Scarf

2006-12-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

One WIP I can cross of my list... a delightful project for a delightful gal.

Daina was our student midwife attending Jaden's birth. Like a rose coming into full bloom, it was wonderful to watch her blossom in confidence and skills on our journey to welcoming Jaden. She was always wide-eyed and ready to soak in everything around her. Encouraging, inquisitive, joyful. She's a truly lovely person. Often during our appointments she would be wearing a beautiful scarf, so as a thank-you, I knew that a scarf would be a fitting gift.

The yarn is a blend of alpaca and... and... oh geez... I forget. Anyways... it was gorgeous yarn to work with, incredibly soft and smooth. It's not a complicated pattern, but other fancier stitches didn't show off the yarn as beautifully. Sometimes less is more, as they say.

Pattern: Cast on a bunch of stitches. Knit 4 rows.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit 3, purl until last 3 stictches, knit 3.

Pretty simple. It's tough to block it enough to not get it to curl under though... but sometimes that's a nice feature too.

May God bless you, Daina, as you continue on your own journey.

Where's my knitting????

2006-12-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

This is the cheeky little monkey that ran off with my knitting!!!

Look at those fingers fly!

Paffute!

2006-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

Look at the cheeks on this kid!!!

Is there a chin in there?

Is there a neck?

He'd better watch out for all the Mama Mia's at the next (Italian-side-of-the) family reunion...

Che le paffute guance!

(what chubby cheeks)

Nana's WIP

2006-12-06T10:32:00.000-08:00

Nana's WIP is finished, as seen here, shown off by my favourite model.

The Wonder of a Snowfall

2006-12-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

I remember the joy of winter's first snowfall... starting in Nov, running to the window every morning to throw back the curtains to see if it had finally snowed...

Well, last night was our first snow and Jordan had to get out and play in it. This morning, I sat by the window with Jaden. The expression on his face is priceless!!!

Top 10

2006-12-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Ways to Make Time for Knitting

1. Declare a Family Movie Night. Everyone will think it's a great idea to spend the time together... and then I get to knit during the movie!

2. Declare a Pizza Night. I get out of cooking and if we use paper plates, I won't have any dishes either!

Knitting Math

No cooking + No dishes = More knitting time

Put #1 and #2 together for a Bonus Night of Kniiting... I mean family time! Cha-ching!

3. Multi-task.
a) Knit while I'm teaching the kids during homeschool time.
b) Knit while in the bathroom. (Hey... why not? How many people take Uncle John's Bathroom Reader in with them???)

4. Knit while breastfeeding. Put baby in sling, so hands are free.

5. Have others do your bidding... Hubby: dishes. Kids: laundry. Wha-ha-ha. (my best tyrannical laugh.)

6. Declare it "Work." Knitting as gift-giving at Christmas is the perfect opportunity for this. hee-hee (my sneaky little laugh.)

7. Declare a "Mental Health Day." Say, "I'm too exhausted/drained/burnt-out from the demands of my busy life to do the dishes/laundry/cook... so I'm just going to sit here and knit. Trust me, this will be better for everyone." (see "Knitting Math" under #2)

8. Reclaim Sunday as a Day of Rest. After church, what could be more restful than spending time meditating on the goodness of God while knitting? Especially if knitting something for another person, it can be an exercise of gratitude as well, by focusing on prayers of thanksgiving for that special someone. How about making it an exercise of intercession, by bringing that person before the Lord in prayer. (don't I sound sooo spiritual???)

9. Knit everywhere. In the car (while hubby is driving), at the YMCA (while waiting for the kids to finish their swim lesson), at support groups/homeschool meetings... anywhere!

10. Skip going to the YMCA, support groups, homeschool meetings, etc to make more time for knitting!!!!

Thrumming

2006-12-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

These are the thrummed mittens I am making for Genevieve, our midwife, to go along with the Welcome With Love socks. Mitten #2 is on the needles still, and #1 is finished and turned inside out, to show what the thrumming looks like on the inside. The ball to the right is the roving from Belle Vallee.

My Dad

2006-12-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

My Dad.

Here he is as a school boy, growing up in Point Leamington, Newfoundland.

Mount Washmore

2006-12-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm tackling Mount Washmore... and I'm about to find out if there is life after laundry...

Life with a new baby is wonderful, but overwhelming at times. With late night nappy changes, moonlit nursings, and sunrise spit-ups... well, something had to give... and laundry it is. But after several days of hearing my children and hubby cry for clean socks, I have had to cave in and tackle the oozing mass of soiled accoutrements pouring out of the closet...

So shovel in one hand, and 4 laundry baskets at my side, I have begun...

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion to the ongoing saga...

dah-na-na-na...

Fat Back and Molasses

2006-12-02T07:29:00.001-08:00

I'm delving into my heritage tonight... making fish and brewis for our church potluck tomorrow. It's supposed to be an "international foods day" ... so I'm making Newfie fish & brewis.

Der's nuttin' more Newfie den dat, my son. No sir.

Can you hear I's the B'y?

Real Men Knit

2006-12-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

Check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jYa_rJyG18

I remember when I was 8 and my mom taught me to knit... I was so excited... so proud! I made a scarf for my Barbie... then a blanket... then a little dress, cinched at the waist with an I-cord... oooo... I had the knitting bug!

And then I was amazed when my dad... my strong, manly man dad... told me he knew how to knit... all the boys my dad's age had to learn when they were going to school.

So, here's to you Dad! I raise my sticks!

Welcome With Love

2006-12-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

Here is another WIP... a knitting work in progress. A pair of socks for my widwife, inspired by a most amazing children's book. It's called Welcome With Love, by Australian author Jenni Overend, with wonderful illustrations by Julie Vivas.

In Welcome With Love, a little boy tells of the (home)birth of his new brother. It follows the family on their journey of preparing for the homebirth, the midwife's arrival, the noise and emotion, and finally the joy of the baby's birth. It's such a warm and heart-touching story. The book wouldn't be the same with the handiwork of Julie Vivas. Her illustrations are warm and beautifully detailed, sketched to show the vast array of emotions encompassing birth. They are absolutely captivating... and I loved seeing the family wearing handknit garments... especially socks. When our midwife, Genevieve, shared this book with us, I knew that I would make these socks for her.

I couldn't find the separate colours in order to do the exact striping from the pictures, but this Peter Pan varigated wool has the same colours. The effect is different... but the inspiration is there. I hope she likes them!

My arrow WIPs

2006-12-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127:4,5

Two sons and a daughter. Blessings from God that He has given to me that I might train them up to know Him... to follow Him... to love Him.

That's a tall order... and that's why as a mom, I'm a Work In Progress. Most days are good days, and I lay my head down at night with peace... but there are days (said with the gritting of teeth) when my children do not rise up and call me "blessed" (see prov. 31) and neither are "the words of wisdom and faithful instruction" (vs 26) on my tongue.

And that's why I'm so thankful for God's mercy. Each day is new, and I can walk in that knowledge every morning.

Favourite WIPs

2006-12-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favourite "WIP"s.

ima wip... what's a wip????

2006-12-01T08:34:00.000-08:00

"He's still workin' on me
to make me what i ought to be
it took Him just a week to make the earth and the stars
the sun and moon and jupiter and mars
oh what a wonder i will be
He's still workin' on me."

Work in progress.

That's me.
That's my life.
I'm a Work In Progress... "ima-wip."

And every day I thank God for His mercy - every day is my second chance. :)