Another Big Finish (or 3)

Least week, we took a break from the big project for a tiny forest of crochet pines. This week, I added a beaded version to the mix. 

Then, I finished the afghan...and it's a big one!

I'm really pleased with how this came out, and I think my Minecraft-loving little buddy will love it as well! But, as you can see from the title, I've finished THREE things this week...may I present the Birthday Pig?!?

Ohhhhh, my gosh! I think I could not love this pig in a green sweater more! The birthday boy felt the same, but declined an official photo...lol. The party was a blast, tho!

What's bringing you joy this week? It may not be knitted pigs 🐖, or crochet afghans and trees, but I hope there's something. Feel free to drop a comment and let me know what your joy-maker is. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Halfway There, and more...

Ooohhhhh, we're halfway there... (IYKYK)

Halfway, plus one block, not yet attached...

Afghans are long term projects, and I'm making good progress, but this one has been a bit of a slog. Metaphor for life? Maybe...after all, I'm a little past halfway there in this life, too...but it's all good. I've got purpose. 😁

Some blocks are difficult, requiring apologies and multiple repeats of rows...and some blocks are easy, just hit auto pilot and go! The super-fun blocks are the best ones though, and I'm happy to report that we are on one of those now. 

You can never know how long the fun will last, though, so I'm hanging on to enjoy the ride. When we got the next hard time, holding onto the joyful memories will get me through. 

Whichever block of life you're in, I hope you've got some joy in the reserves tank to get you through. May you all keep your peace and love and joy close at hand, friends! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Jello gummies for the
5-year-old's party!

I Can't Count

I won't [count], don't ask me...🎶 

Well, I WILL count, but I won't be very good at it. If knitting and crochet have taught me anything, it is that I can't count consistently. I am 57 years old, I have successfully navigated 13 years of public school and 2 years of college, and I'm no slouch at math. But yarn apparently brings me to my counting knees. My latest example is this lovely crochet afghan...

I'm working on this as a gift for an educator, which is a really fun idea I found online! It will look like a sheet of notebook paper, and I hope to also embroider a note on one side before the end of the school year. Super-cute idea, right? But, if you start with 132 stitches and some math for the proper ratio to match an 8½' x 11' sheet of paper, then notice later that you only have 121 stitches, well panic sets in! 

Not for you? Well, how nice for you.

Let me tell you that panic set in for me on Thursday, and I counted, and I counted, and I counted those stitches some more as I sat there with my friends. I thought I saw the place where I had started to accidentally miss stitches about 12 rows back, so I figured I could add in stitches gradually to get back to 132. I took a deep breath, and I started to do just that. I added those stitches very confidently until it was time to go home.

Friday morning, with another 12 rows and about 8 stitches added back in, I counted again. This time, I used some removable stitch markers to help me keep track of smaller sections of stitches as I counted. Guess what I found? That's right...

One-Hundred Thirty-Nine stupid stitches! 

I sat there, and I counted, and I counted, and I counted again. As it turned out, my stitch count was only off by ONE back there, when I started adding stitches back gradually. Smack-My-Head, which I did repeatedly as I pulled back row after row of double crochet, balling up that yarn to work with again as I went. I spent all day yesterday, including my lunch hour (it was lovely, I sat outside...in February...in Ohio...weird but lovely), trying to just work back to the place before I started ripping back...

By the end of the day, I was finally past that spot, and my stitch count was correct. I don't know what will happen this weekend exactly, but I do know that I will certainly mis-count something along the way. It is inevitable, because I just can't conquer crochet counting. Or maybe I covet counting calamities. Who knows? But when I put this yarn down, do you know what I won't do for you?

That's right. 

I won't [count], don't ask me...🎶 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (and count) in Good Health!

The White Stuff

Oh, oh, oh-oh-oh🎶...oh, oh, oh-oh 🎵...

Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh🎶, the right stuff!

No-no-no...the "white" stuff! Because after I blogged last week, the white stuff came...and came, and came! 

We had tickets to a show downtown, so we did not snuggle up and knit all day. We got on a bus at the YMCA, and headed out in a blizzard to see the most depressing musical I've ever seen, Parade. LOL...

See those smiles? We didn't really know what we were there to see yet, and we were happy to travel with a pleasant bunch of seniors to lunch and a show...especially since we had a professional driver through the snow.

Spoiler Alert: Parade is the story of a Jewish man wrongly accused of murdering a young teenager. Despite the writeup of how hopeful and artistic this revived musical is, recounting the tale of love and devotion between the main characters (which it does well), the story does not end well for Leo Frank. It was very well done, but it was also a very hard watch. 

When we got home, I hunkered down with my needles and took advantage of the snow as a photo prop for the first shock of a pair!

The winter weather has continued this week, and by the time this weekend rolled around, there was fresh powder on the giant snow pile plowed from our neighborhood streets and driveways. It was the perfect opportunity for little (and big) boys to climb and play!

And yesterday, I started a new project, which is always a lift! Just like the weather, this afghan will be mostly white. 

It'll be awhile until it is impressive to look at, but I've finished the pink socks, 

and the afghan was the next thing on my list...well, after the shamrocks and clover (St Patrick's Day is coming)!

There hasn't been much yarnwork today, since this crew has been "in the house" overnight, so I'll sign off here. 

Thumbs down to no knitting!

Thumbs up to pancakes!

Naptime is nearly over, and playtime is just around the corner!

Thanks for stopping by and Knit in Good Health!

Sledding vid here, just for funsies! 

Bright Spots

It's been a hard week for some of the littlest Pretties, as the boys have had RSV. Everyone is getting better now, but there were... shall we say... moments?... for all of us! 

So today, let's focus on the bright spots! Like a sweater taking shape, 

and posing as a pile of colorful stiches between knitting sessions...

A box of yarn for an upcoming baby gift...

A winter bulb opening on the windowsill, bringing forth its lovelyness to all who enter...

A knitted heart-hug for a friend who is also having a rough couple of weeks (and a box of my favorite movie candy)! 

And, last but certainly not least, the last of the gingerbread, consumed by me just moments ago. The perfect midwinter, Saturday-afternoon treat!

I hope your week was good, and that you found plenty of bright spots along the way... especially if you trudged through any hard things. 

Whatever your week brought, I'm glad you've stopped in for a bit, so thanks for that! Now, go find some fun yarn, and Knit in Good Health! 

From Grandma's Kitchen

...with Love.

That's the title of this book that my daughter gave me for Christmas this year. She is a particularly gifted gift-giver, that one!

Jess knows that I love family...and food...making and sharing memories, often combining both. These last few years, she has come into her own in the kitchen, and she's started asking me to share some of our family's favorite recipes. She also knows that I love to write, so giving me a place to write down and share recipes and memories was a slam dunk, for sure. So much so that up until today, I hadn't figured out which of my treasured recipes would have the honor of the first page.

I'm not sure Delicious Scones are one of her favorites, but they sure are one of mine. They are also really easy to recreate, and it makes sense that the first recipe in the book should be a success, so scones it is!

While I don't remember where I originally found this recipe online, the name of the recipe was "Delicious Scones," just like I wrote on that recipe card...and they are! Sooooo delicious...especially with a little fruit or butter, a glaze or some clotted cream...you just can't really go wrong with them!

I've made these biscuit-like treats for parties, for holidays and for gatherings at church, and they are always a hit! Today's are plain, but I've added orange and cranberries, lemon and blueberries, apples and cinnamon and even strawberry jam to this recipe through the years. Sometimes I take out the sugar and add shredded cheese and garlic for a savory treat! So, after enjoying scones and strawberries for breakfast, I put this one in the book, and I hope that she gives it a try for her family! 

What will go in the book next? Will it be the dinner rolls? Easter bread? Christmas caramel? Something else? I don't know yet, but I do know that I will keep this book close to the kitchen while I cook this year. 

Where do you keep your treasured, family recipes? Have you shared them with your kids yet? If not, I hope you have plans to share them in some way! Some of my favorites are for foods that have been enjoyed for generations, and I love knowing that they will remain, even when I an eventually, inevitably gone.

So will the knitting, so I'm gonna sign out now to work on another baby blanket for the next member of the next generation! That's right, this good gift-giver is growing another grandchild for Pop Pop and Pretty, and we could not be more thrilled!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (and share your recipes) in Good Health!

Knit Together

Well, friends, I have started this blog-year pretty slowly. I've been a little sick since New Year's Eve, so I've taken everything a little slower, and I'm keeping to myself a little more than usual. But, rest assured that I am still knitting!

I've recently finished a baby blanket for a friend's foster child, and it's a pattern that I've wanted to try for some time: 10 Stitch Blanket I'm pretty sure most people use a lighter yarn for this pattern, but I needed this one done quick! I used two wheels of Lion Brand Mandela. 

Overall, I really like how it turned out! The thing I love the most is how each piece of the blanket looks the same and a little different. That's the beauty of this one, designed for variegated and gradient yarns, knit all together in one piece! This is my favorite corner:

I'll never be able to recreate this blanket, it is unique, just like each little angel that I've ever knit for. It has been made on purpose and with a plan, the same as every person I've ever known, I hope it serves as a reminder of God's love for this little one as he grows.

What kinds of things remind you of God's love? Even though the world we live in can be unpredictable, harsh and difficult, God's love is constant, fierce and perfect...and there are beautiful reminders all around us. Keep your eyes, ears and heart open, and let me know where you find it.

Until next time, I'll be over here on my sofa, recovering and knitting amd taking things slow. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

From Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

I Like Math?

Last Thursday, I mentioned math in a casual converstaion. This prompted my friend* to ask if I like math. "Nooo!," said I, wide eyed with wonder at this ridiculous question. "Who likes math?" After a short but uncomfortable silence, I then heard myself say, "Well, except for the knitting. There is a lot of math in knitting."

"Really...?," said my friend curiously.

"Well,  sure! You know, let's say I want to knit a pair of socks...generally it takes 70 grams of yarn for a pair for me, but it takes 90 grams for a pair for my husband, and over 100 grams for socks that would fit my son-in-law nicely. So, when you buy the yarn, it comes in 50 grams or 100 grams, and you have to know how much to get, and how much you'll have left. With 30 grams leftover, I could knit a pair of fingerless gloves, or the toes and heels on another pair of socks!"

Polite nodding commenced...

"Or, maybe you want to knit a sweater, and you have a pattern that takes worsted weight yarn, which has approximately 220 yards in a 100 gram ball...but you only have DK weight yarn in 50 gram balls, about 150 yards each. Math to the rescue! And you get to use ratios!"

The polite nodding continued, though his smile was fading. I went on...

"Or, like right now. I am knitting a blanket with a pound of yarn, and I am close to being finished, I have 24 more rows. But I am not sure I have enough yarn to finish. What do I do? Math!!! Weigh that yarn to see that there are 2.8oz left (of 16), which means that I have already used 13.2oz on how many rows? Wait...these are 12 row blocks, and I need a total of 19 blocks, and I have 17 completed. If 17 blocks takes 13.2oz, then how much yarn do I need for the last two blocks? A simple ratio, and 19x13.2/17 tells me that I need a total of 14.75oz, and I started with 16oz, so I will have plenty to finish, with just over an ounce leftover! Isn't that great?!? I wonder what I can do with that last ounce? I suppose I will have to use another ratio to figure out how many yards it is, then maybe a baby hat or booties?...oh! The possibilities! Doesn't it just make you want to knit more???"

At this point, I looked over. The polite nodding had stopped, and he was just...there, silent, head slightly cocked to one side... So I said, "Huh...I guess I DO like math! And knitting...ha!"

"Yeah, Gramma. That's great, but don't you have to leave for knitting?"

So, yeah, I like math. I love Jesus with my whole heart, I enjoy knitting (probably a bit too much), and I like math more than I readily admit on most days. That is me in a nutshell. I also like talk...and talk...and talk...apparently. Lol!

What do you like? Whatever it is, thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

*Based on a true story. 
*No, friends, the baby did not talk to me. But I am sure that he was thinking all of those things. And so what if I embellish a little here and there...?

Good Choices

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That is science...and it is life. For each dollar earned, there is an expense incurred. For every choice there is a consequence. For every head there are tails...same coin, opposite sides.

As I have worked on my latest project, a double-knit afghan, I am reminded again and again of the truth that my choices matter. Good or bad? High or low? Light or darkness? Sometimes there are shades of gray, like good vs. better or bad vs. worse...but most of the time, there are clear paths to right and wrong.

I turn my afghan after every row, and I see the lighter side approximately half the time. I like the lighter side better, and I think of it as the "right" side, even though the blanket will be completely reversible when finished. I just prefer the brightness, and it is much the same in most of my life. 

When I was younger, I dabbled on the darker side from time to time, and I usually got caught. I was not very clever or cunning, and therefore have been a rule follower pretty much from birth. I wish I had had purer motives for following the rules, but it pretty much came down to getting tired of getting caught!

The older I get, the more I see that the easier choice is almost always the right choice. It may not be easier in the moment, doing the right thing is often a struggle, at least temporarily. In the long run, however, the better choice leaves me with less explanation, fewer frustrations and a clearer conscience. No need to cover my tracks if my choices are legal, morally sound and in the best interest of myself, my family and society. I sleep better when I make good choices.

I have a friend who has two dogs. One is older, a calm soul, content to sit at her feet and get a good belly rub once in awhile. The other is a little rebel! Younger and super energetic, bouncing from person to person, this wild one wants all the attention all the time. I have often heard Jes say to her ping-pong pooch, "Sadie, make good choices!," and now that she is a mom of three, I am sure her kids hear it from time to time as well! This is the recording in my head when I am facing down a third chocolate donut, or a yellow light on the brink of red, or an easy way out that might not be the best choice: "Pretty, make good choices!" (For what it's worth, I am glad that Jes is not standing in front of me with a water bottle when I hear that recording...although the threat of a cold squirt would probably also help me to make good choices!)

These days, good choices are clearer to me, and I am thankful for that. There will always be some hairs to split on good, better and best choices, and I still eat the donut sometimes (as well as making other poor choices along the way). I am far from perfect, but making good choices is easier for me than it is for Sadie, even without the water bottle!

I am also thankful that life does come with an instruction manual...the Bible. I know that some will balk at that, because they don't believe in God or that Jesus is the Messiah, and I respect that we all have our own free will and opinions. However, I would also challenge the atheist, the agnostic, the apathetic to take a look again at the greatest commandment - Love. Love is clearly the basis of the whole Bible, and if we all worked at loving well, poor choices would diminish. Living our lives with love and respect for our fellow man and for God naturally leads to better choices, and better choices make for a kinder, better world.

Thanks for joining me on the brighter side this afternoon. May we all make good choices, and Knit in Good Health today!

Giving Thanks

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself thankful for lots of things. The thing I am most thankful for this year, though, is that my depression is finally lifting. 2016 has brought the strangest combination of events, many of them tragic, but I am ok. I am finally ok. After roughly 6 months of not being ok, suddenly I am...and I am so thankful for that. 

I am also thankful for a new job, with a new agent, that starts the first of December.

I am thankful that I have finished taking my pre-licensing courses and exams, passing each one and obtaining my licenses to sell insurance.

I am thankful that I have had some time off to heal.

I am thankful to have had a place and a job, provided by a very good friend, and for the opportunity to turn that temporary job into a new career. 

I am thankful for many friends who have hugged me and listened to my stories, reaching out with encouragement and affirmation when I needed it most. 

I am thankful that I have enough...enough to provide for my every need, enough to see me through a difficult time, and enough to know that I am loved beyond measure.

I am thankful for medical professionals and modern medicine that has given me the proverbial "new lease" on life. 

I am thankful for my God, my Savior, and the faith that has seen me through some dark, dark days. All of the good in my life comes directly from His hand, and he has provided for me an abundant life. 

Finally, I am thankful that I have my yarny mojo back. There was a time, it lasted much longer than I expected it would, that I did not feel like knitting. It's ok, you can gasp at that...it is shocking. :) But, I am especially glad that it is back, since there was a baby shower last week. I was able to bring this stash of goodies for the mother- and father-to-be, and they were so appreciative:

The masterpiece was an afghan that was not knitted, but crocheted. It turned out better that I could have hoped, and it was quite well received by the expectant couple!

Both of them love Jesus and they love music, so it was important to me that this song play a part in their nursery preparations. It was a good choice, and now I can rest my fingers for a moment before it's time for the real Christmas knitting rush! 

I hope that you have much to be thankful for this week and always. Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Projects  pictured include the following:

Jesus Loves Me afghan, Snuggle doll, bunting and hat, sweater and hat.

Twisting the Cat...

"The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. 

So we sat in the house all that cold, cold wet day."

Yes, you've heard that story before. Well, I think you have. I know that I am a big fan of Dr. Seuss, and The Cat in the Hat is one of my favorites. But my story is likely to digress, at least a little, from the mischief of a cat in a striped hat. It starts off with rain, to be sure...and it is chilly out there, but...

I sat here with Sweetie, we sat here, we two, 

and I said, "Oh! I know just what to do!"

So I brought out some yarn, needles and hooks, 

which garnered from Sweetie a sly little look...

Then I set straight to work, there's just one sleeve left here,

I knitted and knitted, and what's that over there?

A blanket unfinished? No more yarn? That won't do!

"Sweetie, let's go shopping," I started to coo.

We drove out to Michael's, I had 20% off

Then Jo-Ann's, with my birthday gift card, 

For more yarn, oh, so soft!

Then back to the house to knit in the rain,

Well, to knit in the house, with a mouse, on a train!

Well, that last bit is fiction, you've figured it out...

But I did knit my bit, for it was too wet to be out!

And now that the day is half done, what's your bet

That I'll continue to knit through the night? Don't you fret...

You know I'll be knitting, as long as there's light

Then I'll put up my needles and whisper, "Good night!"

But tomorrow I'll pick it all up again, 

Maybe we'll get a little break from the rain...

Even if we don't there's knitting to be done,

Sun, rain or snow, I'll have knitting fun!

Well, friends, there you have it. I've twisted The Cat in the Hat to suit my purposes. I hope you enjoyed it. If not, at least it didn't take long...

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!