Hello, Old Friend!

Those of you who follow this blog, or know me in person, you know that I knit. And many of you also know that knitting was not my first craft love. That title is reserved for crochet. 

Just like my first real love, I suppose, I've never forgotten my first craft love. But unlike the first boy I kissed, I regularly met up with crochet. This week, a friend told me she had seen him in a video. 

Is crafting gendered? I think not, but it does help with the metaphor...and I'm always curious about what old friends are up to these days... So, in very short order, this happened: 

Then this...

And this, because why would I not make a big letter "S" with my crafting?

Finally, I was here, and now I want about a thousand more crocheted "beads" and yards and yards of cording, too. 

If you have a favorite pony bead pattern, let me know. I definitely sense that there will be more of these in my future! 

My Crochet Beaded Lizard

By the way, if this inspires you, there are LOTS of patterns and tutorials out there! Just search "crochet 90s beaded lizard," and it's off to the crochet races for you, too! 

Now it's time for me to get back to the knitting, and start some new socks for the coming Christmas season! (It's coming, eventually!) These are a test knit, so no links yet, but the socks will be on my Ravelry page for sure.

Have you thought of your first love lately? 

Thanks for stopping by,  and Knit (or crochet?) in Good Health! 

Goofing Off

Goofing off should be a national pastime. Well, maybe it already is...lol...and that's not always a good thing. But goofing off should be recognized as productive sometimes...it can be a great self-care tool.

Before you get angry with me, and you start complaining about how no one wants to work these days (well, except you and me) let's talk about productivity. I mean, I love to get things done, and the days that I call my best are highly productive. Those days are also long, full of fret and occasionally frustrating. But at the end, I have something tangible to show, even if it's just a line of checked-off boxes on my to-do list. I feel good about myself on these days...good, and tired too, usually! 

The days that frustrate me the most, though, are the ones with no checked boxes, despite much work and few breaks. My pattern is to just buckle down and work harder, concentrate harder, skip bathroom breaks until I can finish just. One. Stinkin'. Thing. 

Hmmm, I feel a new respect for potty-training toddlers...trying to learn and do ALL the things. Who has time to sit on that thing, Mommy?

I'm so obsessed with productivity and getting things done that even my hobby ends in a product. I'm not always sure what the purpose for the project is...sometimes it's just the play, I suppose. 

A knitted star and tiny bag, just for fun!

And there you have the goofing off part...the play! Whether the play is organizing mini-skeins of many colors for a large project, 

or figuring out what to do with little, knitted stars and bags (this bag may be a yarn holder?)

Or maybe the goofing off is binging something on Netflix while mindlessly knitting a simple sock...or knitting nothing at all. <gasp!> Can I even not knit???

It turns out that I can, which is good, because goofing off can also result in the occasional ambush nap...and every knitter knows that falling asleep with pointy needles can be dangerous! 

I don't think I'll ever overdo goofing off, and I think that's good. Too many lazy hours or days aren't really good for most people. Though I do see the need for some down-time, relaxing isn't in my general nature either, and I really have to work to create spaces to relax. Maybe you do, too. If yes, let's do lunch...soon!...and goof off a little together! 

Until then, I hope you find some time in your busy schedule to relax and goof off, even if it's just for a few minutes. It'll do your body and mind good! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Wild Life

What do you think of when you read "Wildlife?" Do you think of snakes?

Or frogs or turtles? 

Maybe you think of hawks (on the church steeple) or other creatures of the forest? 

Perhaps you think of something entirely different, but after the wild week we've had around here, I will think of this crew (the Fantastic Frogs!) when I think of wildlife!

I'll think of fun crafts and friends,

and games outside,

and singing and being able to share all of that with my grandson this week!

You know what? There was even a snake at VBS this week!

He came with Jungle Bob, who put on a great show for the kids! Even the youngest in the crowd were super-focused on this knowledgeable grandpa-type entertainer!

He had dad jokes, for kids and grown-ups alike, and kept the kids' attention for the entire hour...even after the Popsicle Party!!!

I can't pick a favorite memory from the week, because there were just too many good times! But I do have a favorite photo, that I have already shared with my friend, Amanda (who is, by the way, our VBS Director!):

Preacher's kids, and the offspring of many church staff, never fail to entertain! Lol...

Have you had a good week? It's hard to believe that summer is half over, but then I look back at the fun I've already had, and I realize that there is so much more summer to come! What a lovely time of year (if you can get out of the heat occasionally). Full of wild, life experiences for young and Pretty-aged people alike...and plenty of time for knitting. Is there anything more satisfying than a beautiful, i-cord edging on a summer evening? Well, if you're a knitter that is...! 

Whatever your summer brings, I hope that you are finding time to rest, be well and stop and smell the roses...or whatever flowers you come across. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

It's Gonna Be Wild!

Once upon a time, when my own kids were small (and a bit beyond that even), I looked forward to VBS (Vacation Bible School) every year! It was so fun, and I wish I had digital photos to show you, but that was another time and place. Wasn't it? I mean, I like to think the old VBS photos are hanging around somewhere, but mostly those memories live in my mind, and that's ok. 

Eventually I had a couple of grandkids, and I was so excited to share the experience with our first little peanut, as she came of age for such things...

By the way, she is 12. She's a "Swiftie" now (went to see the Eras Tour last night with her family), and I'm not sure she would be thrilled to know that I know that she sometimes sang those church songs in the shower back in the day, but her mommy told me she did! 

So, it's been a minute since I've been a part of VBS, but the oldest of our grandsons has been asking about church, so I've signed him (and me) up to attend! As a volunteer, I had the awesome opportunity to help with setup. I'm not sure, but I might have had just as much fun at church as the Swifties had last night! I mean, these people are Wild!

Jump rope anyone?

No, tying up Marcie is better...

Or Miss Amanda. Yes, tie her up too!

Miss Amanda, I think you have lost control...

Well, that's what we did, in between perching perilously on chairs and creating water and trees from thin air for our Wild Life week! Yes, the volunteers have transformed the church, and VBS is gonna be Wild all week!

If you're local, you can sign up and get all the details at this link: VBS Registration, and I hope you'll consider it! Even if you don't get a chance to register ahead, join us tomorrow at 6 (come a little early to fill out a short form)! We will play games, sing songs, get a little wild and have so much fun learning that Jesus is Wild About Us all week!

If you're not local, look around for a VBS near you. Memories and new friends are made at VBS, whether you're a volunteer or a kid, and summer is all about memories and new friends! 

Now, it's time for me to settle in and knit a bit on my Modulancho...it is growing daily, and I am enjoying the process as it comes together!

What's got you excited this summer? Whether it's VBS or something else, drop a comment and tell me about it!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Modular Monogamy and More!

Last Saturday I showed you some ZK2023 photos, and the retreat was still going pretty strong! 

I hadn't even been yarn shopping yet when I wrote that post. Boy! I had fun with my friends! 

Here's a flash of my new stash, properly laid out on the hotel bed before packing...as one does at a yarn event. I wonder what I'll make?

I came home with plans to knit new things...like a Moduloncho (by Shanalines Designs, who has great, modular knit designs!) with some Destination Yarn! I have a Solar System mini set and two full skeins of Silver Shiny in the Noir colorway...oooh!

Of course, I hadn't quite finished the neon socks I came home knitting, so I didn't start right in. As a matter of fact, when I did finish the socks, it took me over 24 hours to decide whether I'd knit the poncho or something else. In the meantime, I did some stash diving and lots of knitting math to help me decide. Then I spent a whole morning on yarn management... so, no knitting for nearly two days!

That's one of the downsides of being a monogamous knitter...with only one project on my needles at a time. Sure, I could work ahead,  choosing projects and yarn before finishing the current project... but I have a feeling that's how most of my friends have ended up with 12 sweaters, 3 hats, 5 pairs of socks and a couple of blanket projects, all going at the same time! 

"Knitter, know thyself" thinking helps to keep me grounded, with only one work in progress (wip) at a time. 

Occasionally, I do cast on an additional project,  but never more than 3, and each must fit into a different category (socks, sweater, hat, for example). Knitting monogomy is definitely my vibe! My current project is that poncho I mentioned earlier, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it come together. Right now, it's still in the beginning stages, but trust me...it's gonna be so good! 

Before I can really dig in to my knitting again today, I'll be hanging out with some of my favorite guys! 

And I hear there's a holiday coming up, too. I hope my US friends have some fun plans for the Fourth of July, and I hope you'll all be safe and find joy in the days ahead. You can bet that I'll be knitting! 

Whatever you're up to, Happy July to you all! Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!