Join with other Wordless Ones.

I have never done a Knit-A-Long or any mystery knitting.

Babetta at Babetta’s Yarn and Gifts  my favorite yarn posted on FB that she was joining and my daughter, Mary, at Hopeful Days , said she was joining; so I thought why not I only have a few projects going I can do another.

So I went to the Stash Hotel and found Shadow from Knit Picks waiting for me. Shadow is 100% merino wool, by the name of Lost Lake Heather. The project called for sock weight, Shadow is lace weight, so I’ll knit it double.

Shadow is on the swift.

Identifying paperwork

From Swift to ball winder

All wound up. See the ends only about an inch or in difference so it would up very evenly.

Did I mention beads. I bought the beads from U Bead It, in Sacramento, CA, 30 grams for 2.60, 8/0 Smokey topaz.

All ready to start, January 23

Better light, better color

After all afternoon of the 23rd and not getting the project sample completed, knit…rip…knit…rip…on and on.

My problem
a.  I haven’t lace with the pattern being knit in every row, I’ve knitted lace with a knit or purl row between pattern rows.
b. And this pattern requires a ‘p2tog tbl’ not an easy maneuver for me to do.

So I decided to work the pattern in a worsted weight yarn, so I could easier see and follow the stitches.

January 24 I knitted and ripped and knitted and ripped some more. My sample looked pretty until I came to the ‘ptog tbl’.  Then it looked nothing like the picture.

I have never been so challenged with knitting.

Today is a new day! I’m going to use addi Turbo lace  needles and the toast worsted and try again.

If I weren’t so frustrated, I’d be having FUN!

My audio book listening pleasure is the tried and true Pride and Prejudice, listened to it many times  — so it soothing background with I focus on ‘P2TOG TBL’.

January Joy Dare–capturing these gifts and joining Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience.

“Joy is always a function of gratitude — and gratitude is always a function of perspective. If we are going to change our lives, what we’re going to have to change is the way we see.”

January 8.  light that caught you,     morning sun in my eyes as I awake

a reflection that surprised you,     the reflection of his mother across my husband’s face

a shadow that fell lovely –    the  sun through the blinds across this sweet face

January 9.

a gift in your hand,    a little girl that says, “hand, hand” reaching up as we walk together;

  a gift you walk by,   stepping pavers laid three times until the Farmer got them right for me

a gift you sat with   sitting with a dear saintly friend laughing,  praying, . . . weeping

January 10.

 a gift that is sour,   fresh lemon juice in my tea

a gift that is sweet    Yummy,  See’s dark chocolates with nuts

and a gift that is just right   my bed at night is just right

January 11.three yellow things that strike you as fresh mercy

I always smile at Yellow roses

dandelions they are so persistent

the golden yellow of a fresh range free egg

January 12.

something above you,   Skylights, I love skylights

something below you,   hardwood floors

something beside you   the Farmer as we walk hand in hand

January 13.three sounds you hear

the tractor engine, it tells me the Farmer busy having fun

the tick of the clock  – take time for God

the hummmmmm of my computer, electricity lives in my house

January 14.three ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God

when the nurse said “this one isn’t going to make it,”
God said “I’ve just begun”

my anchor holds

Mal 3:6  For I am the Lord, I do not change;

Gifts 138–155

For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

Today’s Prompt  –  VIVID

Joining with http://thegypsymama.com/2012/01/five-minute-friday-vivid

start

As usual I read a few 5MF’s to see what others are writing about, a couple wrote about the vividness of the color of flowers and yes, I do appreciate that color.

My mind went another direction. I thought about the vividness of the memories of the first time I looked into my baby’s eyes.

#1  –  Baby girl   born 9 weeks early, tiny with deep blue eyes.

#2  –  Baby boy  born on his due day, looking like my brothers with blue          eyes.

#3  –  Baby girl born 15 days late, oh look, brown eyes like her father.

#4  –  Baby boy born 10 days late, again dark brown eyes.

#5  –  Baby girl born 19 days late, blue eyes shining and bright.

I can close my eyes and see their eyes waiting to. . .  LOOK !

stop

I don’t have pictures available of baby eyes, so I’ll share this one of eyes all grown up and still looking.

back row  #2, #4,#1    front row  #5, #3

Joining with other Wordless Ones here

January Joy Dare–capturing these gifts and joining Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience.

“Joy is always a function of gratitude — and gratitude is always a function of perspective. If we are going to change our lives, what we’re going to have to change is the way we see.”

January 1. three things about your self you are grateful for

I can organize; I enjoy trying new knitting patterns ;

and I am content on    Cozy Acres.

January 2.  three a gifts outside, inside , and on a plate

Lilac bushes, my comfortable swivel rocker, and bacon, tomato and guacamole sandwiches

January 3.  three lines that you overheard that were graces

A young grandson who loves playing the game with me   “I love you bigger than_______”;

“I love you” from the Farmer regardless; and a precious promise from God when I so desperately needed it:

Psalms 91:14-16  Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].  He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation. Amplified Bible

January 4. three gifts  -  one gift old, new, blue

An old gift, finding the first quilt I made; a new gift, tangerine marmalade, and a blue gift, the eyes of my first born daughter

January 5.    something you’re reading, you’re making, you’re seeing

I’m reading the Bible, morning and evening; I’m making a shawl, and I’m seeing my first grandson grow taller and mature

January  6.    one thing in your bag your fridge, your heart

I have in my bag a slim New Testament/Psalms and Proverbs;

in my fridge fresh brown eggs from our flock,

               in my heart a desire to live pleasing to God.

January 7.  three graces from people you love

From my parents  – an appreciation for nature;  from my in-laws love and acceptance before they knew who I was just because their son loved me; and from my husband, the Farmer, constant, faithful, abiding love.

counting  116-137 gifts.

Linking with Small Things to show what I’m doing albeit slowly.

I hear ‘yarn along’ and I think I always take my yarn along.
Most places I go I have some kind of project to work on.
I’ve even knit at stop lights.

This is “The Wonderful Wallaby” by Cottage Creations. I’s like a sweat shirt knit from the bottom up, only seaming is at the  top of the hood and a few stitches under the arms. So easy!  My grandsons love them.  Usually I make the sweater all one color, thought I’d try accents this time.

January 4 – Yarn Along– I pictured a shawl, it’s still on the needles, if I could only get past row 84 with a correct count!

I finished listening to The Forgotten Garden, I enjoyed it and since it is from Audible and on my Itunes list, I will listen to it again. It’s a story that jumps back and forth from 1900-1913 to 2007 a  mystery of a little girl found and kept……..and finding her history.

This week’s writing prompt is AWAKE!

AWAKE!

UP, UP it’s a new year!

the old year is asleep

the year is over and done.

Up, up it’s a new year!

New lists

new visions

new resolution

not resolutions but resolution

a firm decision to begin anew

Not wallowing in regrets, self recriminations, accusations

But bowing, humbly, dying, praying

Getting courage, strength, hope

Reading:

Daniel 10:12,  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. . . .  And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

Believing ‘a certain man’ is just the same today.

UP, UP it’s a new year!

Linking with other wordless ones -
http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

Join The Gypsy Mama, she will tell you want to do:   ROAR

http://thegypsymama.com/2012/01/five-minute-friday-roar/

go:

what is that I hear

a roar

of life

busy life

commitments of life

questions of life

disappointments of life

joys of life

pleasures of life

facts of life

all mixed together into one big jumble of ROAR

but I am seeking

but I am looking

but I feel wounded

the Roar isn’t the answer.

Now I am hearing

a great and strong wind rending the mountains

breaking in pieces the rocks

after the wind . . . . . an earthquake

after the earthquake  . . . . . a fire

I am still wanting for

[a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice

arising rebuking the wind

and telling the sea

Peace, be still.

stop.

1Kings 19:11-12  And He(God told Elijah) said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;  And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice. Amplified Bible

Mark 4:39  And he(Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.KJV

picture: roaring‑sea‑wedigo‑ferchland.jpg  fineartamerica.com

Join with us here:
http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

“So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?”

As with most shawls, this one looks like nothing in progress. I am using Kraemer yarns ‘Tatamy’, walnut (a brown/black mix), dk weight, 45% cotton, 55% acrylic (I wanted something easy to wash) and  purchased at my favorite yarn store, Babetta’s Yarn and Gifts.

http://www.babettasyarnandgifts.com.

The first time I made this, I didn’t count regularly and I had dropped stitches. Frogged it all back. I am  counting  very carefully this time.

I listen to audio books, I’ve downloaded to iTunes. My current listen is The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.

Back to knitting!

Frost has come.

Now it is time for the Farmer to clean up the garden and begin to prepare the soil for next year.

The Farmer used a push rotary lawn mower attached to the tractor to chop the dead plants for faster decomposing after being tilled into the soil.

There is always something to do at Cozy Acres.

Happy New Year!

I am thinking about this Zucchini bread I made last week. Two loaves went with me to my family’s early in December Christmas Dinner.  They liked it. One was eaten and the other stayed with the hostess. The third loaf is on its way to Idaho to join some dear ones who are like family in my heart. (She is the sister I never had.)