Sometimes the Cute Outweighs the Crazy

It’s the season for go, Go, GO!  Much as I’d like to protect my family from the chaotic energy of it all, I can’t.  Sometimes I don’t want to because their excitement is contagious!

I’ve been absent here because our commitments for both family and work began before Thanksgiving, then we had a lovely visit away for the holiday, to return home to all that needed doing after our absence.

I’m looking forward to sinking into the cold season, anticipating the coming solstice and the visiting with friends and family that will continue during the coming weeks.  As the intensity of the winter holiday season ratchets ever higher, I’m going to be looking for the cute and funny to ground us all.

Village Frock Dress Pattern from Sugar City Journal

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Gifting Those “Last Minute” Hand Knits

Though I love the book, and its predecessor, as any one who knits knows, it is a bit of a misnomer.  Hand knits are NEVER last minute.  They simply can not be by their very nature.  Choosing the yarn, the pattern, swatching and then knitting the final product is all part of a process that takes a little bit of planning, at the least, and hours of creating to reach fruition.

But oh! to see those stitches work into something to be used, worn, loved by someone–that is such a happy feeling, regardless of if the project is “last minute” or not.  Though  I surely knit a great deal for myself (I know I appreciate what I make!), I do love to knit for others, too.  So bring on the last-minute gifts or the more long-term projects.  I’ll take them both.

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{this moment}

From Soulemama: “{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

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A Wee Addictive

Fast, sweet, and fun, knitting this little sock was addictive. My usual, “just one more row” went far beyond that. I stopped because my hands really couldn’t handle any more knitting (the carpal tunnel seems to be worse than usual lately) and settled in with Pride and Prejudice before bed instead.

Knitting Stats:

Pattern: Baby Socks by Joelle Hoverson in More Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: Lornas Laces Shepherd Multi, leftover from socks made for a friend years ago

No mods, pattern was just fine as is, made in 0-6 month size.  The book is great, I think I’ll be using it just as much as I have the first.   The socks are for a new baby soon-to-arrive in our family.  Her little sweater is almost done, too, just waiting some buttons and seaming. The shower is this weekend, so I need to get-to-it!

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My Bliss: The Little Things

Little things making me smile lately:

Frost coated leaves in the morning

Wrapping up a shop order

New slippers after wearing holes through my knitted pair, again.

It’s an exciting life, I know.  🙂  What little things have been making you smile this week?

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Finding Gratitude

Local-to-me blogger Jessica at Turkeycookies is writing a series of posts this month on gratitude and they are just beautiful and inspiring. Because there are some days when I feel less-than-grateful for these beautiful little faces:

We all feel like that sometimes, right? Like even the things we love most in our lives are burdensome? Maybe it is the very fact that they are so important to us that can lead to that heavy feeling. I am grateful for those feelings that run so deep, and grateful for the recognition that I wouldn’t be me without them.

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{this moment}

From Soulemama: “{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

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When 25% Is A Big Deal

A random photo of my love–snowboarding last winter.

Just a little post to say how proud I am of L1. Today marks him reaching the first quarter of his riding goal for the year, a little over two months after his accident. I am amazed at his resiliency and determination.  His body is *mostly* healed, though those abrasions on his arm keep getting ripped open every few days.  I still hold my breath every morning waiting for his message that he has arrived safely, but I was doing that before he was hit.  He is a source of inspiration for me, and I hold gratitude in my heart that he is so dedicated to riding as a way to make our family’s carbon footprint lighter.  Thanks to all of you who have continued to check in on his progress. 🙂

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Don’t Be Afraid

“Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid it will never begin.”

–Grace Hanson

I made it through Mayday!  Despite nerves and last-minute panic attacks, the show happened and I survived it all with a smile on my face.

There was a steady, lovely crowd there from opening until after closing. People were kind in their words and manner. I sold a few things, including the Gathered Yoke Shirt.

The show was such fun, too. There was live music, a hula demonstration, and chocolate samplings throughout the day. The Village Gate was beautiful to look at with sculptures and other pieces of art decorating the space.

I wasn’t able to see much of the rest of the show because I was by myself all day, though what I did see what great!  I’m sad to say that the pictures L1 & I took were few and poor. Wrong lens, wrong ISO, and a feeling like I didn’t have time to take pictures because I needed to be ready to greet and talk with people all contributed to some of the worst pictures I’ve taken in a long time. *sigh* That is my biggest disappointment, I think, that I don’t really have good pictures to hold the show better in my memory.

Whatever may come after this, more shows or no (though I think more would be good!), at least I won’t have regrets.

ps: I spent time during the show embroidering the above quote on some fabric.  It was so fitting, don’t you think?

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(this moment}

From Soulemama: “{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

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