Frog Lips

From the mouths of babes...err, I mean frogs. Because frogs have a lot to say. Who knew? Anyway, let's start at the very beginning, because it is a very good place to start.

Last week, I decided to knit a frog...an endeavor which was highly supported by my beautiful, smart and cool 12-year-old granddaughter. The rest of the family feels this may be confirmation that I should be fitted for that "special" white coat and sent someplace to rest. But I digress. What happened was that I did, indeed, knit a frog. 

Through the process, there were moments of doubt... 

Little Voice, inside my head: That doesn't look like the picture...

Me, right out loud: Well, I'll just keep going anyway. It's kinda whatcha do, there, Pretty!

Me, right out loud, again: Oh! He needed his frog lip! Lol, I am knitting frog lips! I love him and his frog lips!

Frog 1, now that he has a mouth and all his appendages: Hi! May I have a friend, please?

Suffice it to say that he did not have to wait long for the requested friend!

Frog 1, leering a little: She is BEE-YOU-TEE-FUL!!!

Ms Froggy, shyly: Ummm, may I have some clothes please?

As I watched the pair of frogs interact, and knitted them both new outfits, I considered carefully how they should be dressed. I started with a simple sweater and a pair of overalls. Let's see how they like them.

Frog 1: These are awesome!

Ms Froggy: Ooooh! I love this sweater! It is so warm and cozy! 

Ms Froggy: Ummm, Pretty, have you noticed that this guy is a little dull in the eyes? Is that something we can fix? And he keeps taking our clothes off...it's a bit disturbing really...

Pretty: Well, ummm, the eyes go in before the stuffing, and I don't know how behavior modification works in frogs. I could knit a third frog...I suppose?

Ms Froggy, confidently: Yes. Please. Do that.

My knitting needles: Click, clack. Click, clack. Voilà!

Ms Froggy: Oooh...hi, Handsome! Pretty! quick! Put the overalls on him!

Frog 1: Ummmmm...

Handsome Frog, with an educated, British accent: Very nice. Very nice, indeed. I shall also be requiring a jacket, Miss Pretty. Can you get right on that?

My knitting needles: Click, clack. Click, clack. Voilà!

Frog 1: Ummmm...

Ms Frog: May I have a pretty dress, too?

My knitting needles: Click, clack. Click, clack. Voilà!

Handsome Frog, trying on jacket, admiring dress: Splendid! Now, I believe we would like to write a blog. What should we call it?

(Frog one hops away, discouraged.)

Ms Froggy: (to Pretty, with a wink) Oooh! He's a writer! Good thing I take dictation! (to Handsome Frog, wishing she had eyelashes to bat) I also make a pretty good cup of coffee!

Handsome Frog: I'm afraid shorthand is so very out-dated, Ms. Froggy. Can you type?

Ms Froggy: Can we get a smaller keyboard?

Pretty: This is all I've got, friends. Can we make do, if I turn it on? 

Handsome Frog: If it's all you've got, I suppose we will have to.

Frog 1: Ummm, can I have my pants back? Please?

Whoops! I guess that's not an unreasonable request. But do you remember what happened last time? I mean, if you give a frog overalls, he's gonna want a blog...

While the frogs blog, I suppose I'll wrap up here. I apparently have some shopping to do. Smaller computer, smaller coffee cups, perhaps a little desk and lamp. Oh, and I'll need to knit more pieces for Frog 1's wardrobe. Wait. What have I gotten myself into?

Readers, I sure hope your Saturday hasn't gone off the rails like mine appears to have done! I will be welcoming my day of rest tomorrow, and taking a break from the craziness that frog lips have brought to this knitter's life!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Frog Pattern is by Claire Garland
Yarn is by Knitting Lizzard and some leftovers.
My Project Page has all the details
Clothes improvised, notes may be coming.

What Happened? I wasn't looking...

What happened? I wasn't looking...

This is a common phrase for me. Usually it is because I am knitting and not looking at the television. Yes, I think that is the most common time I use that phrase, as written above.

Another common usage is when I was looking at the television (and not at my knitting) and I discover a mistake or split yarn 12 rows back...or more! I say it over and over again as I drop down, rip back or "tink" to the problem area and rework the offending stitch(es)...the "punctuation" may be slightly different:

What...happened...? Gah! I wasn't looking! 

This week, I have had one of these moments as well. A few weeks back I noticed that I was nearing my 1,000th blog post. I took note, and planned to say something profound*...yes, that was most certainly the plan. 

Then I published the May 23 post, and looked up to see that it was post number nine-hundred ninety-nine! So, what happened?!? Because I clearly wasn't looking! 

I started this blog in 2009, never planning to post for 10 years. Yet I have posted weekly (or nearly weekly, even twice weekly very regularly for a time) and now it has been 11 years!

I would like to think that I have had something of substance to say, and I know that has occasionally been true. Other times, I have posted about yarn and knitting, row counters, selling things, and general silliness. I have even let the cats try their hand...err paws at blogging in that time. (They are pretty good. They could maybe have their own blog.) 

So, what now? I mean really, what happened? When did I come up with something to say for 1,000 blog posts? And will I ever run out of words?

Rest assured, friends. I am not likely to run out of words! Bonus! I have learned some things about those words along the way. 

I have learned that some of you want to read about the knitting and all the craft fun. Even more want to read about the Pretty Knitty Family. But the posts that get the most attention are the ones where I have shared my heart and soul. Perhaps you have noticed that those posts are not as few and far between as they once were, and I anticipate that will continue.  

I have found no shortage of words to share these past 11 years, though I am trying to keep it to 500-700 words** at a time these days.  So rest assured that you have not seen the last of Pretty around the blog. How long do you suppose it will take to reach 2,000 posts? 

I am not sure either, but I plan to go for it! I hope that you will stick around and keep reading and knitting along with me, every Saturday at approximately 3:33pm, and I look forward to seeing you here!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

*While I do have lots to say, most of it is NOT profound

**Word count = 498, before these footnotes

Is This THE END?

Well, this is it. The end...

The end of me showing vacation photos, that is! Are you ready? 

The end of our journey to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus was, as you might imagine, bittersweet. We had seen great sights, reaffirmed faith decisions, remembering the milestones in our own personal journeys of faith and made new friends. When we got up on our last day of touring, we had to be out of our rooms by 7am and on the bus by 8.

I am not gonna sugar coat this next part at all...we were tired, we missed home, some of us were sick (including Eric, who went to bed the night before with the start of a cough and fever that continued into the day) and we were all fairly concerned to be leaving our luggage in the lobby for the day. But this is how it is done, so we followed protocol, got on the bus and tried not to cough on each other. 

Our first stop was the Valley of Elah, named for the Elah tree, which is a type of oak. 

Although I do not remember anything in the Bible about Jesus walking in this valley, there is a significant story about a young shepherd who defeated a giant Philistine here before the time of Jesus. You have heard of David and Goliath, no doubt, even if you are not a religious person. It is a great story of victory to the underdog! There are smooth stones in the Brook Elah below, which was pretty dry on this day. The stones are worn down by years in the water. David chose five.

Being in the valley of Elah on this sunny day in the year 2020 AD, with the place nearly empty invites the imagination into the battle scene. Cowering soldiers on one side, taunting giants on the other...and one young man, too small to even think about wearing armor but brave enough to step out in faith anyway. That must have been quite a scene, and there is a whole new dimension to "fear not" when you consider it.

It was a peaceful stop, and our pace for this day was clearly going to be slower. We were thankful for that as we ambled back to the bus and headed to the possible site of Emmaus (Latrun). It was on the road to Emmaus that Jesus appeared to a couple of his disciples after his resurrection, though they did not recognize him at first. There are ruins here of a Byzantine church, and like many places throughout Israel, mosaics abound.

At one point, Eric found a single tile on the path. It is amazing to me the detail of some of the mosaic work we have seen. I have not witnessed anything to compare it to at home...such small tiles, and such grand works! Even though the color is faded, the fact that these pieces still exist is testimony to the craftsmanship and time that was put into the construction!

We followed Emmaus with an early lunch to an American Diner, 

and a visit with the "King." Ha! Modern Israelites have a sense of humor, and an appreciation for American tourists, apparently.

Then we were onto the Samuel's Tomb. This site kindof underwhelmed me. 

We went down steep stairs to the basement, where we saw some women praying, then we came back up...anti-climactic. But then we went to the roof!

At first, I was not super excited about the roof either. But looking back at the pictures, being up there gave us one final overview of the lands we had walked these past 8 days. 

Our final stop was the Church of St John the Baptist, which has three distinct churches.

All around the courtyard are engravings of Zechariah's song, the Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79), in which he praises God for being God, and for bringing a son to himself and Elizabeth.

There are translations into more languages than I even recognize. Israel draws pilgrims from the ends of the earth, from every tribe, every tongue, every nation. This land of antiquity is relevant to everyone it seems, and I am so glad that we went on this journey!

I am especially glad that we left for and returned from this trip before the coronavirus hit either the US or Israel. When I began blogging these photos, I noted that seeing these large, ancient sites made me feel small and insignificant. The pandemic and its effects around the world has often made me feel the same. I am not fearful, but I am sad that lives have been lost and many have been impacted in difficult ways. 

However, I am also hopeful when I see my brothers and sister helping one another, staying home and doing what we all need to do to keep this virus at bay. Be a helper where you can, friends...and if you need help, look for the helpers. They are everywhere these days. 

Now it is time for me to do what I do, and knit a third bunny. I hope that you also have something to look forward to this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!