There's a Time

Anyone remember the song from the 60's or 70's "Turn, Turn, Turn"?  It was by the Animals, I think. I haven't checked on YouTube. But the song was based on Ecclesiastes 3. "For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven."
My knitting went like that yesterday.

I went with Hubby to get a set of tires in Muskegon yesterday. I took along my sock project and made a lot of progress on it. The yarn is from Yarn Hallow. It is a merino and tencel blend so it has a great sheen. the color is Spoumi and I love it. Bright and cheery.

If you look closely, the needle is positioned just above the ribbing. I ended up ripping back to the ribbing and starting over. No fault of the pattern or yarn. It was an user interface error. The textured pattern I chose didn't show up in the busy yarn. So rip it back and change to change plain vanilla generic socks. Much more suitable to this yarn.
All this happened after I had begun the lace bind off on the SWestie Shawl.

I loved how it was working,but after some analysis of the rows knit with the first ball, I was afraid I would run out of yarn before finishing. That's the trouble using stash yarn. This is a discontinued color of Gloss from KnitPicks.

So......
I deliberated some more after packing it away and this morning picked a shorter stitch count with a better chance of not running out of yarn. And once again I ripped.
I'm glad I didn't wait until I ran out of yarn.
Yes, there is a time for every purpose under heaven. That old Preacher was pretty wise.

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Pentecost, With Tongues

Sunday was the Day of Pentecost. Also known in history and fairy tales as Whitsunday, it is the day celebrated in the church as when the Holy Spirit came into the Apostles a d they began spreading the Gospel around Jerusalem, speaking in the languages of the many people in the streets. "People from from far away places, with strange sounding names."

At least that is how many of us who read the lessons would like to paraphrase the long list of countries that occur in the lesson from Acts traditionally read that day. This year we tried something a little different at St. John's.

I and another parishioner were talking about the reading a couple weeks ago. Since the lesson deals with the Apostles speaking in the tongues and languages of these "far away countries", he said he should do the reading in Russian, since he was lector. Well after thinking about that (never a good thing), I suggested we go one better. We found someone who would be willing to read in Spanish, and another who can do American Sign Language. I volunteered for the English version. And after okaying it with the priest, we did that Acts reading yesterday in all the languages we had available.

Mike started us with a verse in Russian. I then repeated it slowly in English while Bonnie signed. Then Kris in Spanish followed by Bonnie and I again. Mike and Kris alternated languages though the whole reading.

It was kind of fun. I think the congregation liked it, even if we were a little longer going through it. I only wish, with our town's rich Dutch heritage, we could have also had someone read some of the verses in Dutch!

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Yes, She Liked It

I managed to make connections with Farm Gal, and Lil' Farm Gal and delivered the sweater.  As I told her, just in time for it to be too hot to wear it. But maybe there will be some cool evenings.

I think she liked it.  It was rather warm at the time, so we didn't shift it around or button it, but it looked good.  

I have continued with the SWestie shawl and working through the lace pattern again.  And I have also worked on the car sock project.  The heel is complete and turned, with the gussets in progress.  It is far enough along that I can return it to the car for emergency knitting.  And yes, there is such a thing. 

Since she wouldn't move for pictures, small dog is once again included for details.

Operation Overlord

Seventy years ago, the world changed.  The Allies fought back, and this time, eventually won.  It is so sad that so many today, don't know why this day is special.  I don't know enough, but what I do know awes me.
So many young boys and men who died that day.
One think I do know is about my family.  I ventured to the city veterans memorial last week and got some pictures.  My dad and two of his brothers served in World War II.

I don't know where my uncles were on D-Day.  I'm not sure what they did in the army, although I think it was something automotive related.  (Do any of my cousins know?) I do know that when their father (my grandpa) died in August of 1945, they were both still in England, and according to one of their sisters, they wanted to remember their dad the way he was, and did not return for his funeral.
Dad on the other hand was home on D-Day, or at least back in the states.  Not because he hadn't joined yet, but because he had enlisted, and was severely wounded in September 1943, while serving with Darby's Rangers.  He was recovering from his wounds, and would not return.

But for Uncle Don, Dad, and Uncle Howard, and all those who served in that and other conflicts, my thanks, and admiration to you all.

Life on a Farm--Part 2

I neglected to mention the other day the other excitement on the farm.
We have a fairly small farm, only 40 acres, and have one small tractor, an older model Oliver.

But the other day we were invaded.
Older Son works for a local farmer with a large farm and who handles the field work for other large area farms.  He had once before raised his own corn in our back field, since we no longer grow corn.  The field is all of 3 acres.  This year, the ground was dry enough for the heavy equipment.  And heavy equipment we got.
When Hubby used to plan corn, he would disc it and manure it, disc it, drag it, and eventually plant it.
As I said, the heavy equipment was here around noon. And by 7:00 Monday evening, it was planted.  While the tractor pictured here was not used, a couple just as big were, only they had wheels.

Modern technology is wonderful, even in a little 3 acre field.  I hope I can catch a ride in the corn picker this fall.
And for the knitting fans, I will share where I am on the SWestie Shawl.  I have finished one repeat, and am ready to begin another.  I may only have enough yarn for a repeats, depending on the bind off I decide to use, once I get that far.