Brief Catch Up

Wow, it's been since April when I last posted!  Well, on this blog anyway.  I did share on my Continous Journey blog.  Once.  But while I have missed blogging, I also have enjoyed the break from it.  It is funny, because I find myself still taking pictures for blogging.  I just don't blog.

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I recently finished knitting a turban for wrapping up my wet hair.

Large cat included for scale.  Well, that and the fact he wouldn't move.  This pattern is really easy.  It is basically a long narrow triangle shawl, folded and stitched from ends to center back.

I decided to pass on the button.  I just fasten it up with a hair clip, one of my larger ones. It is 100% microfiber and soaks up the water just fine.  I like it, but super bulky yarn is still outside my comfort range.  I still prefer lace to worsted weight yarns.  

I also started a blanket for our priest.  Being from southern India he always escapes each winter for a trip home, escaping the January cold.  I thought he might appreciate a blanket.  

The pattern I found is a free one, The Squared Shades Throw.  It is fun. And easy, but not boring.  The large piece shows one of the squares.  It is started as a circle, in stockinette with occasional garter ridges.  Then is squared off using garter stitches and short rows, each side separately.  When all four are done, they are joined with a three needle bind off, and finished with I-cord all around.  The smaller circle on the lower right is almost ready to begin the short rows on the first side.  As long as it doesn't get too warm when it comes time to join them, should be finished fairly quickly.

Other news, most of our kittens found new homes, although we have some of the wilder ones that have come out of hiding.  One little cutie, a calico, has eyebrows like the ones Groucho Marx used to put on with shoe polish.

And next week, while hubby tends the homestead, I and a friend are trekking "Up North" for a little escape.  Can hardly wait.

I hope just it is cooler.

A Bit of News

So much has happened since I last posted.  After all, I did say that I was cutting back on my posts.  

Now that the guilt over not posting so frequently is over, I find myself being called back.  As long as I can return here when I think I have something to say, I may be able to pop in every so often.  A month's break was quite refreshing.  I hope I don't make this a seemingly never ending post.

One of my most recent bits of news is our new family member.  Harbor Humane Society called him Figg.  Here he goes by Figgy Puddin'.

 

It took until last night for him to come out of hiding.  For the first couple days we could usually locate Figgy by thes hisses and by Leo staring (or glaring) in his direction.  But he has come out and now sleeps a lot in out of the way areas.

The highlight of the last month was my confirmation.  It was after much study and prayer that I was confirmed at the Easter Vigil service.  

 

Midge patiently shepherded me through the process. Mary was my sponsor and Fr. Stanley celebrated the sacrament that brought me into full communion with the Catholic Church.    Much of my Lenten reading, especially a book called "When the Church Was Young" strengthened the decision I had already made.  I am very happy with my choice.  It is good to know your church actually takes a stand.  And that it has a tradition going back to Christ and Peter.

And I have been knitting.  (Not crocheting Doug!)

 

I am making a Shape It Shawl for Mary to use at the silent auction for the new hospice house she is a part of.  It will be a long triangle with tapering ends.  Perfect to wrap around and tie or let hang.

 

I am using the left overs from my handspun yarn.  I originally used it for the yoke of a sweater I made about seven years or so ago.  I also had stripes of it around the bottom ribbing and the cuffs.

Well, there you have it.  I won't promise I won't be gone so long because I just may.  But I will pop back from time to time.

I Promised Pictures.

Here are the pictures that were sent to me from my spinning demonstration on Tuesday evening. Phone pictures so not the highest resolution, but you get the idea.

Yes, I do spin barefoot. At the most only with socks... and only hand knit of course.

This picture shows the sweaters and other items knit from my handspun, I had lots of yarn, as well as fiber: merino, mohair locks, Southdown wool, Shetland wool, blends, silk hankies and even some yummy soft pygora.
Not pictured is another chair that displayed a couple shawls and a poncho. The one shawl was this one completed during the 2012 Summer Olympics. It had bits of many different handspun samples. And no, my Gertrude didn't get to go.

Finally, after yesterday's rain, I managed to get everything brought in and put away. I'm glad I tossed the stash for this. I found some fiber, and yarn, I had forgotten about. Now I have more projects in mind.
That's all I need.

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Spinning Success

I think I was a hit.

At my spinning demonstration Tuesday at the church ladies group, I may not have known what I was going to say but I had plenty of display items, two tubs full! What I didn't have was presence of mind to take a picture of the table laden with fiber samples, hand knits, yarn and tools. I didn't even think to have anyone take my camera and get a picture.

But I didn't need to worry about what to say. I had a few questions to get me started, and continued from there. The one in charge, was great about asking some to get me started. Then as I referred to some of the items on the table (sweaters, socks, hat, fiber, etc) she passed it around so everyone got a chance to see it up close.

There were lots of questions, and I think those who were there enjoyed themselves.

I know I did. But I still haven't completely unloaded the car.

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Crafty Little Me

I almost forgot the other day, in my review of current knitting projects, to show my progress on the Ten Stitch Blankie.

That was almost a week ago. I have since continued the right side to the top and turned the corner.

There won't be a lot of knitting going on tomorrow though. I may have mentioned a while back that I was drafted into giving a talk on spinning at our church ladies group. Tomorrow is the night. So tomorrow will be devoted to gathering stuff and loading my car, Hharry.

I will be tossing the spinning stash and sorting my handspun and knits using my handspun. Two wheels, my Traditional, and my portable Joy, will be loaded into Hharry together with samples of fibers. I hope to have Shetland roving, hand painted top, some merino top, mohair blend, Southdown, even some silk hankies, and angora cloud if I can find it. I plan on taking two shawls, and possibly two sweaters made from my handspun. One shawl is a sampler of an assortment of my handspun, the other is cormo silk. I may toss in my "Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook" too.

It may be more of a super "show and tell" than talk. I hope they like it.

 

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Busy Busy Day

While, after returning from getting Younger Son home from work at 6:30 am, I was able to get a good nap in, it has been non-stop ever since today.

After cat, dog and chicken chores were finished, I headed to the memorial service for my cousin's daughter. (Well technically, for all you genealogists, the service was for my first cousin, twice removed.) The 21 year old had a small toddler son, and loved Batman. So in her honor, all were asked to wear their Batman gear. For those like me with no Batman stuff, they were ready.

Yup, Batman ribbons. The service was sweet, and very moving with the wee son toddling up and down the aisle as his great uncle sang, and another eulogized his momma. Cut down at only 21, it makes you aware that if the Lord is nudging you to do something, do it!

Also, all her uncles give great hugs. Such a loving, supportive family remembering her with great love.

I had to rush away because I had volunteered to help with distributing food at our church when the food truck was there. It was a great time to serve others, as well as fellowship with my church family. I am more and more becoming a part of the parish.

Oh, and did I share the parish's hay sculpture for the Harvest Festival?

Saint Teresa of Calcutta. How perfect. It looks just like her.

 

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Back in the Groove

Funny how even though I haven't been in school for years (decades even), life still revolves around the school year. With the start of the school year, Community Bible Study also started today. It was great to see the excited faces gathering and to see several familiar faces in my group. This is my fourth year and I have gained so much each time.

This year we are studying Matthew--less than a chapter a week! It will be a change from the sometimes confusing but always intense and interesting books of Daniel and Revelations last year. It is going to be a great year, as always.

On the home front, the girls are laying plenty of eggs, and they are getting larger.

Good thing I got some lemons to try another pie this weekend. The weather has got to break soon.

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Keeping Busy....Part 2

As I mentioned yesterday I have been keeping busy. I failed to mention that it will be getting busier.

My beloved Community Bible Study (CBS) starts on this coming Thursday morning. I found out my group leader is a friend at my new church who worked with my dad when he got his infusions. I will enjoy getting to know her better as we study Matthew this year.

Because of CBS, I will be unable to attend breakfast on Thursdays with some of the women from church. I have enjoyed diving in and getting to know them better. They invited me to the women's Bible study at All Saints, on Tuesday mornings. I am seriously considering attending.

And then there was the surprise I got at Mass this weekend. One friend greeted me, noting that I was settling in and becoming famous. With great poise, I said "Huh?

Turns out, according to the announcements, I am on the schedule to be a speaker for the women's group, CCW, in October. I repeat, huh?

I figured it out later, after corralling one of the gals who had come to see my spinning demonstration in my hometown earlier this summer. They had suggested that would be a great program. So I got drafted. I don't mind, if they want to see it, but what a surprise.

So I suppose I should attend the meeting this month, to see just what kind of program they expect. They meet once a month on Tuesday nights. Sounds like I may be missing Knit Nite occasionally.

I may also need a bigger table than I had in July.

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Knitting, Studying, and Chickens

A bit of knitting going on, as I steam through the third pattern repeat. The picture below is a week or so ago so there as been a lot of progress since then.

There as also been a bit of work on the Tapestry Hitchhiker since I had a couple visits to the doctors office this week. (Not to worry..checkup and blood tests.) I haven't got a picture of that though. I will take and post one soon.

Life goes on. Bible study ended for the year, until September. What a blessing that has been this year. Studying Daniel and Revelations really reinforced the knowledge that "there is a God in heaven, and He is in control." It really is the only thing that has gotten me through the primary season without completely losing my sanity. I am sure to be clinging to that through the election.

And now I must be running out to catch Dizzy. She still can't manage to get up the ramp and into the coop by herself.

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Poetry Month, Day 30--The End At Last

As April 30th rolls around, it's time to heave a sigh.

Poetry month comes to an end, away my rhymes will fly.

And as May bustles in, with all those flowers it brings.

We say farewell to poetry, until April once more springs.

 

That marks the end of the rhymes for another year, so I can return to my regular blogging. I have been slogging through the next pattern repeat of the Traveling Woman Shawl. I must also pick up the stitches for the second front band of the colorful baby Tulips Cardigan. The new project, the Tapestry Hitchhiker will probably come with me to my doctor appointment Monday.

The dusting pan I put in with The Girls (the chicks) got filled with water. (By the way, the girls seem much larger now. I'll need to get new pictures if we get some sun.)

It was an old roaster. But apparently, even with the lid, all the moisture collects around the rim and runs back into the pan. So instead dust, they have mud. Once it dries out, I may need to keep it under the coop section of their pen, away from the sides and rain.

And my big news today was that today I underwent the sacrament of reconciliation and had my first Holy Comunion in the Catholic Church. More than ever, it feels like home.

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poetry Month, Day 29--Salad Luncheon

I helped work today at the church salad luncheon.

Oh my, what riches of salads to munch on!

And since Hubby is strictly a meat and potatoes man,

It was a feast for this salad loving fan.

But the torture to watch as I fetched and washed trays!

The sights and aromas taunting the tummy in so many ways.

Finally, my shift ended, I sat down. And yum!

If you missed it, you must wait for next year to come.

 

Great fun to work at the salad luncheon for All Saints today. Plus I got to meet many fellow parishioners. I can recognize the faces, even it I can't places names to all the faces.

I forgot to take my picture in my purple apron. So, in the meantime, here is a picture of the yarn for my newest project. It will be another Hitchhiker that will be a better traveling project, since Sandy's Traveling Woman shawl is strictly charted work now. This yarns as part of my Christmas gift certificate purchase and is a rayon metallic. The colorway is called Tapestry and is brown/burgandy with a coppery thread running through it.

And tomorrow, my first Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession), and Eucharist!

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Poetry Month, Day 28--Good Day

Bible study, lunch with friend.

Scrabble with my aunt.

Good day, despite rain and cold.

 

As poetry month winds down, it is getting harder to make up poems about nothing in particular. Bible study was visitors day. One of my friends came to check us out. Then afterward, we had a great chatty lunch together. She made the same journey I am making to the Catholic Church. We had a great visit together.

Later, I visited my 93 year old aunt. We played a rousing game of Scrabble. She beat me by 100 points. Next time, we better try Yahtzee. I may have a better chance of winning.

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Poetry Month, Day 21 (+1). Oops!

It wasn't for the lack of rhyming,

Just blame my not so accurate timing!

 

So...yesterday, I got ready to blog, and behold! It was after midnight. So instead I will try to catch up today.

In the mean time, just enjoy this picture of some Little Lambs praising the Lord, at the children's program, yesterday at Community Bible Study.

Sing out!

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Busy Busy Busy

What with the Board of Review, Bible Study, Little Farmer and all, this has been a very busy week.

This is the week my check comes and with the help of on-line bill pay, I did manage to get my payments sent out. But I couldn't decide when to get groceries. So, much as I wanted a recovery sleep in day, I got up semi-early and went to Muskegon for groceries. I would have gotten them locally, but Meijers was out of my coffee last month. The replacement I got was fair, but not my Meijer Columbian.

I was able to get my groceries and even found a bookcase I had been looking for. And home just in time to make the Saturday edition of Palm Sunday services, even if I did miss the Rosary.

No this isn't a current picture, but from a couple years back. For some reason a stray daffodil bulb landed in the hay field and has come up every year. While we don't have blooms yet, the leaves from the other patches are coming in great bunches.

Just in time for spring tomorrow.

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Being Accountable

I thought it would perhaps be a good idea to check in occasionally on my resolutions to help me in at least try to work towards them. Of course I didn't really call them resolutions. More like goals, at least as far as my knitting was concerned. If you want, you can see my original post on these goals dated January 8, in the archives sidebar on the right.

I wanted to work on finishing the most active projects. I did finish knitting the Lilac Cardigan, even though at the time it was dangerously close to being abandoned. The lace was seriously slow going at the time. But it still needs washed and delivered before I can say it is truly done. I also finished the Stonehenge Shawl. And the back of my Navy Tweed vest is up to the arm shaping. Although as I reported recently, it is still stopped in mid-row. The other items I mentioned then haven't been touched. Oops.

The main reason for my lack of action on the other WIPs (Works In Progress) is of course my Bang Out a Freyja. The "Banging It Out" means it is supposed to be the only project I work on. I think before long, I will be reverting to putting something else in rotation. But, on the bright side, the Freyja does help my second goal of knitting one or more cardigans for myself. I did intend making them out of stash, but hey...a sweater is a sweater.

Socks? As I mentioned in the January post I need more socks. And that is more so now. I discovered another pair that needs darning. I started one pair of smocked socks, but....Freyja happened.

So three projects have been finished so far this year, not too bad.

I haven't finished any of my Craftsy classes yet either, but I have been dabbling with them.

There were two other goals that I noted in my Bullet Journal that didn't hit the blog.

The first was to try to blog more often. My exact words were "as close to daily as possible." I think I am doing fairly well with that goal. I deliberately left myself wiggle room.

The other goal is also one I have already taken action on. It was to explore finding a new church. I think that has been accomplished. I feel quite at home at the Catholic parish I am attending now. Classes for membership won't start again until September so I have time to settle in and make a final decision.

If anyone wants to know more about this big jump. I am blogging about it at :

thecontinousjourney.blogspot.com

I will not be posting there daily, but I just wanted a place where I could record the reasons I am making the change. I also hope to simply journal about how the change progresses. Feel free to bookmark the website because I will not always be sharing those posts on Facebook as I do this blog.

And now, just to finish on a cheerful note, here is my favorite small human again.

I love that kid.

 

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The Purple Period of Lent

It seems strange that the color of royalty, regal purple, is also the color used for the quiet, reflective periods of the church year, Advent and Lent. Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Christ and runs through the four Sunday's before Christmas. Lent is the time before Easter when we prepare our hearts and souls for the events leading up to Good Friday and culminating in the great Resurrection of Easter Sunday.

Of course in Victorian times, in the historical novels, as women left off full mourning for loved ones, they got rid of the black, but started half mourning, in grays and purples. There was some mourning being done. In the same way now, as we view our lives, with our pride and lack of being all we should be, our sinfulness if you will, there is a touch of mourning for what we should be during these times.

This year, as I start my journey exploring my future in the Catholic Church, Lent feels more real and important. I am still learning what is I am to become. But I am trying to throw off some frivolousness this year,

As my Lenten discipline I am turning to my reading: No novels during this period. Poetry is allowed, and non-fiction. (Finishing "Spoon River Anthology," and my Kindle version of the lost "Cleopatra" on my apps. The Emmaeus Road for hard copy book.). I did that in the past, and really felt it did me a lot of good.

In addition this year, I am avoiding reading any of the political blogs I follow. Other blog topics are allowed, and I can watch the news, but no reading commentary until after Easter. That could even help my blood pressure!

May you have a reflective and growth filled Lent.

 

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A New Church Home?

I know I said I would share photo of my finished Lilic Cardigan, and it will come, I promise. But first, a step on my journey.

This weekend was my first weekend seeking for a new church. I talked with several friends, and had several offers for me to accompany them to their churches. But I had the feeling I was being called to the Catholic Church. In a way, it is like completing a journey. I started many years ago in a little Wesleyan Methodist church, progressing to Methodist/United Methodist for many years from upper elementary through college. After several more years I attended Catholic Mass with friends many times, I even occasionally played guitar at Saturday Mass. I considered making the change permanent, but thought it was too big a leap. Then I discovered the Episcopal church. It felt like home. It was my church home for more than 30 years.

But in recent years, it felt like it was changing in ways I was uncomfortable with. The three legs the church was supposed to be balanced on seemed to be more like it was teetering on one leg. The scriptural teaching and traditions seemed lacking.

So, when I attended one of the nearby Catholic churches Saturday I was pleasantly wrapped in a sense of worship. The homily was not a talk about the beliefs of the priest, but was based on the scriptures. He touched on the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel readings, tying them all together in a Bible based message. I felt closer to Christ than I had for a long time at my old church. I was moved to tears. I felt that I had worshipped. I will give it a few weeks to be sure, but I may be done looking.

And if you are only here for the sweater, here it is, buttons and all. I think I like it. The Lilac Cardigan, just waiting to be gifted and worn.

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Changes

This is an old snow picture, from 2009. But you get the idea. This weather has been up and down, warm and cold. Not a decent snowfall yet.

There have been other changes in my life too. After a run of 27 years attending my local church, I decided it was time for a change. The reasons are too varied and too many to discuss here. You are invited to e-mail or message me if you want particulars. Basically I was finding myself at odds with the national, diocesan and local levels of the church. And I was being fed spiritually in places other than my church. The time has come to move on, move forward.

This also involves a change of venue for Knit Nite as well. The new location will be announced as soon as plans are set.

Normally I hate change. But at times it's necessary. And hey, I think a quiz on Facebook said that my word of the year is Change. I guess so.

Wish me luck.

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Stealthy No More #2

Another one of my gift knitting items also made a couple sneak appearances on this blog.

These slippers were from the pattern named Leethal Mary Janes and were made for my daughter-in-law. I made them to more or less fit my feet, but a bit longer. I think they should fit fine since the garter stitch which makes up most of the foot is very stretchy.

They were knit with one strand of Plymouth Encore Mega in a black/gray and two strands of Encore worsted in the same silver that has been appearing in the Scoreboard Cowl.

The strap isn't buttoned, but sewn down with a button merely for decoration. These buttons looked perfect on the card. But next to the yarn they looked more brown so were replaced with plain black buttons.

Notice the large button canister in background. The plastic box on top holds the buttons and other fasteners. You can see I do have a good stash of random buttons to choose from.

Another present that I do want to mention, even though I think I already showed them here are the boot toppers I made for a teenager at church.

More stealth knitting with the last present tomorrow.

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Getting Back In the Groove

I mentioned in my last post that my Bible Study started back up Thursday. If anyone is looking for a great Bible Study and a way to grow your faith, I cannot recommend Community Bible Study (CBS) highly enough. It is great.

This is my third year in CBS and I have learned so much. The first year we studied Amos and Isaiah. Last year was Romans, where I found my favorite verse. (Romans 14:12, Message version. Gotta be that version.) This year we are covering Daniel and Revelations.

Wow.

This year promises to be great. If anyone local would like to start, it's not that late to join in. We roughly follow the school, with time off for school holidays and Fremont school's snow days. There are classes for both men and women, as well as for children and teens, although their classes are filled. Even the nursery has Bible stories.

Just let me know, and I will help you get started. Remember, you receive blessings for just reading Revelations. It says so in the Book.

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