Yarn: It's In Our Genes

Alternate title:

Have I told you lately about my grandkids?

Because that's what us Gramma-types do! You can see by the photo that there are 5 of them, ranging from their teens to toddlers...

...and they're all hilariously fun! From the oldest of the girls 

to the youngest of the boys,

They sure keep us on our toes! (Especially the second-borns!)

(My daughter is a second born too!)

I am proud of each one of them for so many reasons, and this week I'm gonna brag a bit on the first one that loved yarn with me...

This sweet Peanut saw me knitting from the beginning, and she was playing with needles and yarn from a very young age. 

When she made her first independent stitches, I was so proud! 

Then I blinked, and she had a phone...and she started sending me photos of her own yarny adventures (she's a crocheter now) from several states away, with a "Look what I made!"

This pic came to me as she and her family were on a road trip. I asked how many squares she was making, and we had this convo

She crochets based off vibes...I'm fairly certain that she's "hooked!" I can barely stand it, and I'm so enjoying watching her and her sister as they craft with crochet and knitting (photo cred to their mom... thanks,  Christy!)

Even though the boys are not into knitting or crochet (yet), they bring me so much joy,

and they all love the fruits of my yarny labor, so I just keep knitting...

Toys and sweaters and nore...oh, my!

...and loving that the yarn tradition has been passed on to next generations. 

After all, I learned from my Grandma! I wish I had a picture of that...

Now I'm curious...what did you learn from your grandmother (or mom, or aunt)? Drop a comment to let me know. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Speaking of vibes, have you seen
tbe fall colors this week?

Like a Bird on the Wing?

Like a bird on the ... wait ... 

No wings for this guy yet. Lolz...seems appropriate for a day that we're going to visit prison. Unlike my brother-in-law, though, this bird will get his wings this afternoon. In fact, a few of his feathers are already finished.

For anyone who might wonder, visiting someone in prison is hard. Pre-Covid, we visited about once a month, and it was difficult, but we had it down to a routine. These days, our visits are far less regular...and the motivation to schedule each visit is scarce. Still, since we are generally his only visitors and contact with the wider world, we are trying.

Unlike the depictions I've seen on TV and in the movies, we can't take in photos, books, gifts or anything to share with him, not even a stick of gum or a slip of paper. We enter the facility, obtain our badges and lock up our belongings before we walk to the building where visits take place. Just the clothes on our backs and a government issued ID are all we may have with us. 

And a credit card for the vending machines. Who wouldn't love to share a meal with loved ones from a vending machine? Well, our inmate appreciated his microwaved, frozen chicken sandwich, Nacho Cheese Doritos chips, Payday candy bar and Dr Pepper today, and we are glad for that.

We are allowed one hug of greeting, and one at departure, visiting seated on molded plastic lawn chairs on opposite sides of a small table between hugs. This morning, we had much to catch up about, since it has been 8 months since our last visit. Family news, job news (his and ours), newsy news...our time together drags between topics and races through the words that make us laugh or want to cry. It's awkward every time.

When the visit is over, we walk back to the entrance/screening building and collect our things for the drive home. We are both spent, and I may or may not have taken a three hour nap this afternoon. But I've gotta get back to those wings! 

Like a bird on the wing is the soul that follows Jesus...or so I've often thought it should be. His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28). But life is still hard in many circumstances. 

When I keep following Him, I get through the difficult things just fine. So I'll get by on a wing and a prayer (and maybe a bit of meditative knitting) when life gets complicated. I hope that you will do the same, no matter what life throws your way. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Stick Season? Not quite...

It's not quite the 🎶 season of the sticks here, in northeast Ohio, but it feels pretty crunchy in our current state of drought. Even our wetlands parks are looking dry...

Despite the dry, it is still a beautiful autumn, with lots of green plants for our friends to hide in! Can you spot the praying mantis? He (or she?) certainly spotted us!

... and our mums are looking lovely on the front stoop, in the company of pumpkins! 

Temperatures are dropping, which made today the perfect day to bake an apple crisp...yumm!

It's also a great day for knitting. In fact, I've heard that today is I Love Yarn Day, something for knitters everywhere to celebrate! I think I'll celebrate by admiring the finish of three hoodie sweaters for three darling boys!

And perhaps I'll celebrate a bit more by casting on a new sweater for Pretty...I have three possibilities on my mind, but I'm not sure which to start: A Christmas cardigan or vest in green, with colorwork...

A pullover in cream and minis, inspired by Daisy Jones and the Six...

Or maybe something in blue?

Yeah, I dunno either. The only thing I know for sure is that it is too late to cast on for a Halloween sweater...which I was never planning on anyway...lol! 

Stick season is the perfect time to knit sweaters, so watch me now, hey! 🎵 Work! Work! I'll work the stitches, baby! Work! Work! Stitches driving me crazy! 🎶 🙃 Lol

Yeah, I love Ohio, and it's almost the 🎶 season of the sticks...so, I suppose I'll turn up the tunes and get busy with my needles! I hope you'll sing along! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Unlikely Hymns

As I finished up my work day, heading to the ladies' room before locking up, a song 🎶 popped into my head: 

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! 
I did not wet my pants!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! 
Must have done the right dance!
I got to the potty in the nick of time, 

And I'm happy to say that my pants are still dry!

Those of you familiar with the hymn will recognize that these lyrics are fairly far-removed from the original...which is entirely on-brand for Pretty! The fact that the lyrics are new doesn't make my hymn any less of a praise, though, and I do regularly praise the Lord in small victories, as well as the big stuff. As a "woman of a certain age," not wetting my pants is occasionally a major victory!

I'm glad that I can praise the Lord in all things, and I'm glad that I can do all things through him who gives me strength! 

Like knitting!

And knitting makes my heart joyful, which is good medicine.

Knitting has brought joy and so many fun friends into my life, and friends increase joy, too! 

This weekend I'm spending time with some friends near the lake. 

Some of us enjoy a nice drink with dinner...

Some of us have matching pajamas...

...and all of us have knitting! 

So, praise the Lord! for dry pants, and a Lakeside weekend with friends, patio donuts and knitting...among other things. 

What's making you happy this Saturday? I hope it's something you can share with friends, because laughter multiplied increases joy exponentially! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Porch with knitting (where are the knitters?)

There they are!