Color Me...

Color me HAPPY, when I get to do my favorite things with some of my favorite people...I love that they look happy too!

Color me SAD, as I celebrate the life of a friend who is now waiting for me in heaven...even the flowers were sad to see her go, dropping petals while bringing joy and beauty. 

Color me CONTENT, while I hung out with these boys...who got a new couch this week. Looking good over there at that new house, Jess and Aaron!

Color me BLESSED, as I thank God for all the good things in my life, and for getting me through the things that aren't quite so good. Popsicles are good in summer, and God is good, all the time. 

Thanks for stopping by, Knit in Good Health, and let me know when you'd like to join me at Cedar Point!

This kid had his "best day ever"
at Cedar Point this week! 

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!

The Joy of...

I was going to title this post "The Joy of Knitting,"...

She says, as though that thought would surprise someone. Anyone? She didn't think so... Also, copyright law...

...because knitting does bring me great joy! But it's not the only thing, especially at this time of year. For example, 16 pair of festive feet(mine!) make my heart sing!

And candy making each year for gift giving...

And little boys with Christmas cake...

And gingerbread baking...

And little, Christmas donuts brought in by a co-worker (thank you,  Jill!)...

I mean, what doesn't bring me joy at Christmas?

She says, hoping the people who know her best aren't paying too much attention...because she does grouse about some things...but not here.

Getting back to the knitting, one thing that brings joy to my knitting heart is a perfectly placed, set-in sleeve...

...or two!

I know that it might be contentious to say to knitters today, but I love setting in sleeves on a sweater! It is so satisfying. 

There are other ways, and every knitter has their favorite...drop-sleeves, top down raglans, bottom up & joined at the yoke... there are even ways to knit that sleeve into the armhole with short rows! But sometimes, when I think about an armhole-in-waiting, 

I just get the itch to sit with needle and yarn, gently easing the two pieces together until they are one. 

So. Very. Satisfying.

She sighs, contentedly and sips her cocoa, while admiring the work. 

What brings you joy in your work? In your knitting or crafting? In anything?  I do hope you find joy somewhere. This life is bleak when there is no joy, and I would not wish that upon anyone. If today's post brought you just a little joy, drop a comment to let me know. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

It's Wonderful

Let's talk about my favorite pattern for kids' sweaters. As you might guess from its name, it's pretty Wonderful! 

Through the years, I've completed 14 Wonderful Wallaby sweaters for grandkids and other kids, and I started number fifteen just last week! 

This pattern is a classic hoodie, and super simple, though it does have a couple of places where the knitting gets tight. Still, I can't help loving the simplicity of a seamless sweater that is easy for kids to wear...and also easy to put on and take off "all by themselves!"

Quick to knit, I've added custom touches to many Wallabies, and looking back through them (and the kiddos wearing them)  makes me so happy! 

The one I'm currently knitting makes me the happiest right now, and it will have many of my favorite custom touches...such as an actual placket (the pattern calls for just a simple split at the neck opening)... 

...pictures and details in duplicate stitch or intarsia, to make each hoodie special...

...and sleeves provosionally cast on so I can knit them down to the same length as the body. (Bonus: sleeves knit top down are easily lengthened later by ripping back cuffs and adding rows!)

Wallabies are certainly wonderful for the flexibility they offer the knitter, and I will keep knitting them as long as I know kids who love hoodies! 

So many things in life are wonderful, just like the Wallaby...and so many things are not. Let's focus on the wonderful when we can. That's my plan, at any rate. I hope you'll join me. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

PS-not compensated by Paradise Fibers at all...I just really LOVE this pattern! 

Joy and Beauty and Knitting

When we moved from our old house to this condo, one of the things I lamented leaving behind was our front porch. 

With red brick risers and concrete steps, outdoor photos in daylight were full of texture and background color that was neutral enough to show off hand knits pretty spectacularly...

...especially tiny things and toys.

Since moving here, I have learned to appreciate the airy, openness and natural light of our many windows for bright and beautiful photos...

...and our white countertops have been the background for many photos of smaller items.

But I think the item I enjoy the most in the backdrops of my knitting photos is my chunky coffee table...you know, where the pig lives! 

As a matter of fact, that pig and his sweater show up a LOT in the pictures, lol! But this isn't about the pig. 

This is about blooming where one is planted. There are plenty of things I did not like about the old house: dark corners, small rooms, weird layout. And there are plenty of things I'm still not really used to in this condo: nowhere to "hide," overly bright light fixtures, and a little too much "road noise" from the highway.

Yet there is beauty and joy to be found wherever I am. Not because everywhere I go is beautiful, but because I want to find the beauty wherever I am. Finding beauty in the mundane brings me joy, so I will keep looking. 

What small things bring you joy? Whatever they are, I hope that you are finding that joy, savoring it and storing up a bit for the days and nights that are a little more "dark and stormy." Maybe you've even found some joy in this post, and if you have, I'm so glad. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

January Goals

Yes, goals. Not resolutions. More specifically, this post is about my January knitting goals, which will be met, yay! My goals were to knit a pair of Christmas socks, which are finished, yay... 

...and a January sweater, which will be done by month-end! Again, YAY!

I'm also planning to cast on another sweater, mittens and a pair of socks for me. I'm not sure I'll get those done as quickly, but I am excited to be doing a little selfish knitting before I get back to the roots and kid-knits. After all, the Rainbow Yoshi pattern needs some revision, in my opinion...

...it seems to have an odd shape and the parts seem disproportionate to me, so the plan is a little modification. Or maybe a LOT of modification! In any case, not until after the current projects are done. 

Sometimes the planning is as much fun as the knitting, you know. I mean, Easter is coming, so there should be bunnies of some sort... And there's a crochet pattern out there for marshmallows with dino costumes...ummm, super cute! And it is snowy and cold outside, which is proper winter/knitting-inside weather. So. Many. Plans! 

What are your plans for the weekend? For winter (summer, if you're Down Under)? Whatever you're plans are, I hope you can sprinkle in some joy! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Oh! And we did a puzzle!