Saturday, March 16, 2024

It's a Good Day!

Today is a good day. The sun is shining, spring-like temperatures are on the horizon, and I've already been productive as part of a church project making Peace Crosses for our community. (I'm not in any of the pictures, but I took them all, so that proves that I was there! If you were also there, thank you! It was only an hour, but the work was restorative and fun!)


Also, I've nearly finished the requested red and tan scarf, and now I mostly need to decide on fringe or not. I'm leaning toward not, as I'd probably have to buy more yarn for fringe...but the jury is still out. 


The socks are coming along. I've made a pretty significant error on the cuff of sock 2, but since these are purposefully "wonky" socks, I've just done a quick repair (that doesn't hide it at all), and moved on. We'll see if anyone ever gets close enough to my feet to find it. Might be bad news for them, if they choose to point it out...lol!


Got a LOT of pictures from the newly-minted teenager recently, as she just did a class trip and then had a birthday the next day! These girls just keep growing, and  I am excited to hug them in person on an upcoming visit we have scheduled!


And the boys are still keeping us on our toes! So active, and with the sun peeking out more and more, we are outside and moving with them as much as we can! My quiver is full of these joyful, young people, and there are days that I cannot get enough!


There are also days that I just need a nap, which means balance is the name of the game. I am getting over a fairly significant cough, so still taking it a bit easy as that abates. Have any of you parents and grandparents figured out that perfect balance? If you have, please send the formula! I want to do ALL THE THINGS, but there are simply not enough hours in my days...still, today is a good day. 

What are you up to today? Is the sun shining, or is this a cozy up with cocoa, a movie and some knitting today? Whatever you are up to, I hope that today is a good day for you, too!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Silly Pretty Knitty Gramma

Part of the challenge of being a knitting Gramma is finding the balance between connecting with the"kids these days" and just being me. Silly, pretty knitty me, who sometimes hears the eyes of the next generations rolling when they aren't even in the room! I'll give you an example: 

Silly, pretty knitty me finished a sweater this week, so I did a photo shoot (as you do, when you've just knit an awesome sweater like this Fall Frolic):


The shoot involved two locations, one fall (yes, I was jumping; no broken bones or bruises,  yay!)  and zero other humans. Just a knitter, her phone and a tripod...and about 200 resulting photos (some were very silly)!


Silly, pretty knitty me also loves to knit for her grandchildren, which can be a dangerous game. No knitter wants to think of her babies' babies crying to mom or dad, "But it's ugly and it itches!" So, it's important to ask before venturing into a big project.

Of course, asking brings its own challenges, to be sure. This morning, between ambushing Pop Pop on the couch,


and sneaking Mommy's cookies,


The 5-year-old told me (again) that he would like a Mario Smash Brothers sweater. "You know, like this, Gramma. I know you can knit it,  just like the game,  Gramma!"


This kid has faith in me, his silly, pretty knitty gramma...and I'm gonna give something a try here soon, I think. But first, I'm gonna have some fun with a pair of self-striping socks...


and there's a scarf promised to one of the faraway granddaughters, inspired by Taylor Swift, of course...


I guess being a silly, pretty knitty Gramma is pretty fun for this knitter, actually. It brings me so much joy to knit for them! 

What's bringing you joy today? Whatever it is, devour it and keep doing it. Life is short, so be sure to make the most of this (and every) day!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Cookies also bring me joy. 😊 

PS-For those who've asked, my father-in-law is in hospice care at home, and he is doing well. Your prayers and good thoughts are much appreciated. Thank you.   

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Church Secretary R Me

I work in a church. Some people assume that, in order to work in a church, one must be a member of the church in which he or she works. This is not necessarily the case, but that is only a small part of what this post is about. Wait, this is gonna take a minute...have a cookie and settle in a bit.


I have worked in church offices for more than 20 years, and I am getting ready to celebrate 6 full years working at Avon United Methodist Church, where I was hired in April of 2018. I am a Christian, and I am thankful for this church, even though I have not placed membership. It started this way as I was recovering from a church relationship that had become less than ideal. 

(Side note: I was a member of that church for 20 years, secretary for 16 of those, and most of my relationships there were very good. Some things happened because people are people, wherever you go, and I needed a time to heal. Healing, as it turns out, is taking longer than expected, or maybe I am healed...the scars still hurt, though. Ahhh, people.)

Anyway, I love Jesus and his church, and I especially love the church office. Come to think of it, it could probably be any office (I have a somewhat peculiar fondness for paper clips, excel spreadsheets and friendly phone greetings), but I have settled well into the church office through the years. Especially when life outside the office throws me for a loop, I enjoy the flexibility of a job like mine, and I also appreciate the friendships developed with co-workers who also love Jesus.

Friendship with Christians can be like "Jesus with skin on," which is something I once heard a friend verbally long for. I know that Jesus loves me, just as the song says, but sometimes I need a hug...and Jesus just doesn't do that for anyone (as far as I know) in this lifetime. What he does do is send a friend when I need it most. 

Is it always the person I'd like to see? Not always, but often it is. 
Is it usually someone who will just hug me, without reminding me that I really need to find Jesus in the moment? Almost never, but I need the reminders. 
Is it sometimes a person that requires a little extra grace to smile at? Lol...would I even bring it up, if the answer were no?

But, here's the thing: Friendship with Christians is not perfect friendship, in the same way that there will never be a perfect church, on this side of Heaven. Why? Because people are people, wherever you go, and not one of them is perfect. 

Yet, God always sends someone, because he knows that I need someone. 
I need someone to listen while I verbally process. I need someone to remind me that I am not the only one going through whatever this mess might be. I need someone to love me in spite of my imperfection, and to remind me that I am never alone.

I need Jesus with skin on, represented by His followers who are doing their best, even though they (and I) will never be perfect. I've found that in my working and non-working relationships with the folks where I work, and also in relationships with Christians from a couple of other churches I attend regularly. As it turns out, I am not ready to place membership with any church until my scars heal a bit more, but I long for community in worship, discipleship and friendship. 

So, thank you to friends at AUMCSoutheast Christian Church, and all the churches who have provided me opportunity to worship, to study God's Word and to make friends in his name. You've been my Jesus with skin on in this life, and I am excited that we will be together in the next!

And thank YOU for reading! That was a heavy, but important post for me, especially as Easter approaches. Now it's time for something a little lighter, hey! Yarn is light! I think I'll knit a bit, 


...and enjoy some cookies. Want a cookie?


Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!


PS-If you don't know the story of Jesus, or want to know more about why He is so important to me, just drop a line. I've got so many more words than you see here!

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Precarious

This week has felt...precarious, at best. I've shared here, maybe over-shared at times, about my in-laws and the weird ways that our extended families relate to one another...and there has been much family relating this week. 

My father-in-law has been in less than optimum health for some time. At 85, he has trouble keeping his diabetes under control, so he ends up in the hospital once or twice a year to get things straightened out. This time, the hospital visit came with some heart troubles, and things don't look great. Sweetie's week has been full of difficult conversations and more emotions than he is used to, in general, and mine has too.


Sweetie's mom and dad have been married since 1964, so these moments are hardest on her. With all that this family went through in 2016 (if you don't know, go back and read some of my posts between Feb-April of that year) watching Grandpa's health decline is hard on our nephews, too. Add in difficult talks about next steps that may mean imminent goodbyes, and precarious is a great word for this week.

That's not to say that there have not been good moments along the way. I asked Dad what year he and Mom got married, making conversation that I hoped would bring him some joy. His eyes lit up and filled with tears as he told us about meeting and marrying Mom, and how she "was the prettiest girl I ever saw," and "She still is!"

I'm glad they've had the chance to spend some time together this week. It's so difficult when they have to be apart, since they both have mobility issues... and we really can't say when he will be able to go home. 


And there's been some knitting...mostly on my sock, since that's the best for portable, hospital knitting. 


Tomorrow is never guaranteed, so we are trying to not put off loving our loved ones as well as we can, while we can...and we remember that, despite all this, God is still good.  I hope that you will do the same.

Thanks for stopping by, and thank you to all of the friends who have reached out and checked in with us along the way. 

Knit and Love in Good Health, friends! 

Our youngest grand, my daughter and my mom...fun photo to close a hard week.


Saturday, February 17, 2024

Soured?

During the pandemic years, many people made sourdough bread...for fun. Dutch ovens and proofing baskets and mason jars were purchased, and there were varying degrees of success posted to social media. So, when I was offered a sourdough starter, I gladly accepted. 

And then I made sourdough, with varying degrees of success,  though I did not buy any new equipment to make that happen. Mostly, I enjoyed the process, and the bread...the bread that sometimes took two days to prepare for the baking. Two, labor-intensive days of measuring and mixing and checking and folding and checking and shaping and resting before baking, with constants stops to wash the sticky dough (and all of the moisture) from my fingers and hands. 

The bread is good, but I'm not sure it's worth the 48-hours of attention I've lost to it. It's really more of a hobby than a recipe.

Today, as the snow continued to gracefully and lightly accumulate, 


I made French bread with yeast. It took about three hours, and the most labor-intensive part was 8-10 minutes of kneading. This bread will be every bit as good as the sourdough, and we will gobble up every crumb over the next few days...yummm! 


Some things are worth hours and days of my time and attention...like a handknit sweater, or pair of socks...



Or watching my grandkids jump off the end of the slide in the backyard, until they have tired of shouting, "Watch me! Look at me, Gramma!"


I'm not really soured on sourdough, but I think I'll save my attention for knitting and playtime and recipes for French bread (and sweet rolls and fresh, white bread).


If you have a starter, and you look forward to making and eating sourdough regularly, I am so glad for you and your bread hobby! If you'd ever like to learn to knit or crochet, I'd be happy to help you get started with that hobby, too.

Whatever you give your time to, may it bring you great joy! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Sometimes, my joy comes from a
ceramic chicken dish on the table.