Yarn Along

This week, I think I am calling my knitting "in progress" (which feels a little more generous than the title it deserves, which is plain old "unfinished").  I have four projects that are almost finished that require the littlest bit of attention, yet are still just lingering in their current state.  Come to think of it, there's a lot of things around here in that sort of state. When I lay out all of my knitting, it starts to look some sort of knitting infirmary.

I have two "In Threes" cardigans without buttons, one "Tiny Tea Leaves" without a sleeve, and a Milo Vest that is almost completed, save for an inch at the bottom, which will require a trip to the yarn store to remedy.  I'm thinking this week I'll have the time and energy to nurse them all to health, at which point I will only have one bit knitting project left: a sweater for my biggest girl, Zosia.  I've been eyeing Granny's Favorite (incidentally, I have already decided that when my own children hopefully have children one day, Granny will be my name of choice).  And if I finish that up and am still looking for something to keep my hands busy before the baby comes, I might make a Sunshine Day Baby Afghan, although it almost feels like I would need to make two for the sake of equanimity.

I've picked up my copy of Lark Rise to Candleford, and have started in on the second book it contains, On To Candleford.  So far, I'm actually liking this book even more than the first, as it seems to be a little more character driven, yet still contains the picturesque descriptions of life in a rural English hamlet .  I especially appreciate the descriptions of domestic life that it contains, as I can quite closely relate to the women of the hamlet!

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along today!

Yarn Along

Several flights in the past week has meant plenty of knitting time, and it was so nice to have something productive to do during what could otherwise be down time.  It's not often over the course of a regular day that I have several uninterrupted hours of commitment free knitting time, so it was exciting to see some rapid progress.  I finished up one "in threes" cardigan during our trip to Austin, and am halfway through another.  It's such a nice, simple pattern, and I think that my finished vest will be just about 3-6 month size.  I still need to find a truly newborn pattern for the babies when they arrive in the mid winter!

We've been reading through the Little House books with the girls each evening, and it is such a treat to be reading them aloud.  Both Ben and I adore these books, and even when I am not the one reading aloud, I will usually remain within earshot to hear Ben reading the stories.  I think our girls really believe that they are Mary and Laura, and their personalities sort of fit the mold, too.  There's our careful, sweet eldest child, and our curious, lively littler sister.  When playing little house imaginary play, Hugo of course gets relegated to either the role of baby Carrie or Jack the bulldog.  Ah, life in a house full of girls.

Linking up with Ginny and the yarn along today!

Yarn Along

It's been a while since I linked up with Yarn Along!  A year?  Two years?  My only excuse is that it seems to take all of my full blown nesting instincts (and the mandate to sit down much more than I am really comfortable with) to instigate a regular knitting habit.  I remember knitting up a storm when I was pregnant with Hugo.  And then?  A little project here or there for a baby shower, but other than that, not much of anything.  I guess at heart I am really an occasional knitter.

Anyway, now that I have not only twice the babies to prepare for, but twice the nesting instinct, and twice the mandate to sit down, my knitting is back in full force!  I am almost done with Lily's tiny tea leaves, and probably would have finished today had I not run out of yarn for the second arm.  Why am I always so hopeful about two skeins of yarn lasting for a toddler sweater?

And I have actually been reading  a lot, but more in the homeschool research department than in the sheer pleasure reading department.  I have been reading and re-reading every homeschooling book in our library, and have settled on reading a chapter or two of Pocketful of Pinecones when I have a bit of time.  For anyone who is hesitant about homeschooling and feels overwhelmed by the mere thought of it, I recommend this book.  In the form of a story, it explores the idea of homeschooling in a Charlotte Mason style, which, so far, has worked wonderfully for us.

Oh, and I actually printed out and read the entirety of the papal interview!  I'm so glad that I did, because this guy has some really wonderful things to say.  Ben has been reading it too (warning: it's several pages long and has a lot of good material for thought, so you might want to split it into two nights).  And, as always, the parts that are most memorable and meaningful to me are parts that have been totally ignored by everyone else.

Here are some of my favorites:

On experiencing our faith as part of a community:

“The image of the church I like is that of the holy, faithful people of God. This is the definition I often use, and then there is that image from the Second Vatican Council’s ‘Dogmatic Constitution on the Church’ (No. 12). Belonging to a people has a strong theological value. In the history of salvation, God has saved a people. There is no full identity without belonging to a people. No one is saved alone, as an isolated individual, but God attracts us looking at the complex web of relationships that take place in the human community. God enters into this dynamic, this participation in the web of human relationships."

On finding a place for the unique perspective that women have to offer in the church:

"We have to work harder to develop a profound theology of the woman. Only by making this step will it be possible to better reflect on their function within the church. The feminine genius is needed wherever we make important decisions."

On the ambiguity that exists in the Christian life:

"Yes, in this quest to seek and find God in all things there is still an area of uncertainty. There must be. If a person says that he met God with total certainty and is not touched by a margin of uncertainty, then this is not good. For me, this is an important key. If one has the answers to all the questions—that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble. Uncertainty is in every true discernment that is open to finding confirmation in spiritual consolation."

Pardon my extensive quoting.  In my other life, I was a theology student, and I still absolutely love reading and thinking about this stuff.  Of course, the lesson of the last few weeks is that any single quote cannot sum up the entirety of what someone is trying to say, so don't trust me, read it for yourself.  But lucky for all of us, as a Catholic, even a puny lay perspective is still considered to be a part of the Church with a capital "C" (he actually talks about that in his interview, too), so there is value in us sorting through these things for ourselves.  Regardless of your background or perspective, I can honestly say there will be some wisdom to be found in the interview.  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Linking in with Ginny at Small Things, who is learning all about sitting down and resting in the final weeks of her own pregnancy.  Hang in there, sister!

Yarn Along: Halloween Edition

I wish I could say I was knitting up a storm or deep into some wonderful work of literature, but around here I've been doing little things here and there: a little Halloween sewing (almost done!), a little Martha Stewart Living reading. And the in-betweens have been filled with so much wonderful time playing outside, chatting with Ben, and even a little tidying up!

Oh, but I couldn't resist this little tutorial for a spiderweb frame (it's made out of yarn, does that count as knitting? I hope so). I actually just did the project in the last half hour while Lily was curiously looking on.

And here are some of our favorite seasonal reads, largely found through this wonderful list. Christopher's Harvest Time is definitely the favorite: and I have had to stretch my read aloud abilities through making up lots of little songs to accompany the songs in the book. Do you guys do that, too?

Linking up with the yarn along today!

Yarn Along: October 12

My knitting is off my needles and on the two little ones I intended it for! Woo hoo! They are quite happy (and silly) as you can plainly see. And I have been reading some amazing books: At Home, which I was so excited about that I actually preordered in paper back, but was then promptly comandeered by another adult in the household who will remain nameless (who is just the best, and so gets away with such things). I have been lucky enough to have a few pages read aloud to me, and we will then embark on the dance that is two people reading the same book at the same time. Does this work?

And then in the conflict resolution category of things, I have been reading Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline, which has been a very helpful way of resetting and recommitting to gentle parenting (why is it that we need so many reminders to do something so simple?).

And then I am lucky enough to have a loaned copy of Playful Learning (thanks, Michelle!), which is just amazingly beautiful and interesting. I actually had to put it down for a day because I was just too excited to read it properly the first time around.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone is up to in the Yarn Along!

Yarn Along: October 4

My, my, my. Wasn't I here a few weeks ago waxing about how I was just about to finish Lily's sweater? And here it is, still on the needles, albeit with a sleeve and a half more than where I left it. I guess knitting gets the backburner when life's little obstacles get in the way. But I am happy to report that after a couple of weeks of such little obstacles (sniffles, and long commutes, and the ever-present household chores), we are all feeling back in business. And even during those challenging couple of weeks I have made some progress, and it is close, oh so close to being done.

I'm going through Little House in the Big Woods, one chapter a day, with the two little girls, and we all love it and love to recount what we read to Ben at the dinner table. I really believe those books never get old, don't you think?

Oh, and I must add, I was sitting right there, beside the cute little baby and the knitting and the book the second before and after I snapped the photo: doesn't it look just a bit precarious? And you'll see the handiwork of two little "gardeners" who took out the dirt from the basil pots and did some planting of their own on our deck. I suppose God gives us rain for a reason.

Linking in with Ginny and friends at the Yarn Along today!

Yarn Along

I've been knitting away in free moments: when the girls are painting, when I'm outside and the little ones are playing (or in Hugo's case, lying next to me on a blanket), before bed and at quiet time. And I'm almost done with Lily's tea leaves, which is a good step towards equality between the girls (it just wouldn't do to have a sweater for one but not the other!).

And I am just a few pages from the end of My Antonia, and I have actually started reading as slowly as possible because I don't want it to end. Do you ever do that? Here's a lovely passage that made me think of you all from earlier in the book:

"There was a basic harmony between Antonia and her mistress. They had strong, independent natures, both of them. They knew what they liked, and were not always trying to imitate other people. They loved children and animals and music, and rough play and digging in the earth. They liked to prepare rich, hearty food and to see people eat it; to make up soft white beds and to see youngsters asleep in them. They ridiculed conceited people and were quick to help unfortunate ones. Deep down in each of them there was a kind of hearty joviality, a relish of live, not over-delicate, but very invigorating."

Isn't that just the most lovely portrait of domesticity?

Joining in with the Yarn Along again!

Yarn Along

I'm in a bit of a crunch: I am hoping to give the girls their tiny tea leaves for the equinox, which means I have under two weeks to knit, finish, and block (which in these humid days has been taking me at least two days)! I cast on Lily's yesterday, and I'm hoping to have the body done by Friday, which feels a bit ambitious seeing as how I can only usually knit during our afternoon family quiet time or after the little ones are in bed. We'll see if it works out!

And to make matters worse, I am entirely pulled into My Antonia, which I absolutely adore so far: as the daughter of Eastern European immigrants myself, it is quite shocking to re-imagine the American narrative with my own type of people in the leading roles. I am torn between reading and knitting, we'll see which wins out.

Joining in with the Yarn Along again this week!

Yarn Along: September 7

It's been a week of finishing on Zosia's tea leaves: all done and blocked as of last night! Now I'm just going to hide it away until I finish Lily's, and give them both on the Autumn equinox as a special present.

Last night I dyed the wool for Lily's sweater. I am new to dyeing, and somehow have been having the problem that even when I dye two skeins in the same dye solution, they end up coming out two slightly different colors. I made sure to mix it up well, so does anyone know why this might be happening or how to prevent it? For now, I am just embracing the slight variation in color!

And in the reading department I have been having a very exciting week of teaching a certain 4 year old to read from this book (and learning the theory behind it). We've completed the first five lessons, and if only I could videotape Zosia begging me for a new sound each day. I think this girl is pretty hungry to learn.

I'm joining in with the Yarn Along again today!

Yarn Along

Here's my knitting just as I found it: splayed on the couch, with needles sticking every which direction. Knitting on double pointed needles really is like wrestling an octopus, isn't it? But all that aside, I am thrilled to report that my tiny tea leaves for Zosia is almost done. Just the rest of one sleeve, some buttons, and some blocking. And just one more to go, and my knitting goals for the season have been met (and I start on my really big project: a winter sweater for Ben!).

Here's the sweater after I went over and tidied it up a bit, along with some books. These days I am up to my ears in early childhood education books. I'm re-reading everything I've read, discovering new books and trying to get a little bit of vision for what I want education to look like for these little ones. I love Montessori, love reading aloud to them (a la Charlotte Mason), and love Waldorf-style education, but don't really fall into any one category. I guess at the end of the day, you read all you can and then just do what you know best.

What are you knitting? Do you have any recommendations for resources about early childhood education? What style of education do you use with your kiddos?

Joining along with the Yarn Along again!

Yarn Along

I've been loving the tiny tea leaves! I just started this week, and it's just such a simple and pleasant pattern to follow. Since this picture, I've finished the body and now just need to find some properly sized needles for the arms. In the meantime, I'm trying to decide whether to dye some more yarn for Lily or find something else in my stash that will work.

And in the reading department, I've been doing lots of reading to the girls, who seem thrilled to curl up with me on the couch and read books all together, which is new and very exciting! This week we're in a "Tikki Tikki Tembo" phase, which, I must admit, is quite the catchy book.

What are you knitting or reading? And be sure to check out the yarn along for inspiration!

And for those of you who have asked or wondered, we did feel that earthquake yesterday, but as with most people in the area are just fine. The girls were playing outside and I grabbed a napping Hugo and ran outside too. Ben walked home from work to check in on us, and we were (read: I was) a little shaken in quite the literal sense, but just fine. I think Irene relished the opportunity to call me from Haiti to ask how we were doing after the earthquake. I suppose she was happy to be safe and sound in Haiti this time. :-)

Yarn Along

This week I have been getting my yarn ready for Zosia's fall sweater. I now have three skeins of grapefruity pink yarn ready for knitting save for a bit of leftover dampness (I think I will make her a tiny tea leaves, which looks just adorable!). I used some instructions I found for dying yarn with food coloring (just a little different than the other instructions I used a few months ago), and it worked well. I must admit, I am still quite a novice and have a hard time controlling the end results, but that is sort of the beauty of the whole yarn dying process-- the unexpected results!

And in the reading department, I am between books, so above is Ben's current reading selection: The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway.

Don't you love that little icon in the back? A friend brought it back to me from the Holy Land, and I absolutely *love* the way Mary is sort of releasing Jesus into the world. I must admit, I can relate to the feeling of having to release a little one into the world, and I can attest to the fact it is not nearly as easy as this Mary makes it look!

Be sure to check out the rest of the yarn along!

Yarn Along

Whew, it's been a while since I've been sharing a yarn along! But this week, a mix of having a doctor's appointment that I went to all by myself paired with some thrift store yarn I was itching to use (in green, my favorite boy color of the moment) resulted in a little pilot cap for Hugo this fall: and as a first, my gauge actually appears to be right on!

I'm excited because the pattern also comes in toddler, child, and adult sizes, so I see little pilot caps for all the littles in my family in our future (plus some little ones of friends!).

And reading has been sidelined for the time being in favor of recording-- something I feel like I do a lot of because of this space here, but in reality often skip. When my dear friend Rachel, the fourth of five children, reminded me that each child really deserves to have a well documented childhood, I immediately ordered "The First 1000 Days" books for each child in the family. Because I figure Ben and I will remember all those little details so much better now than in ten years, and even though we haven't been great about recording the details, we can start today. And I did. And this way ten years down the road we won't have any griping, because each little one will have exactly the same book filled with exactly the same amount of care (who am I kidding... I'm sure they will still notice little differences :-).

Oh, I so hope I have a charmed afternoon so I can browse through all the other Yarn Alongers!

Yarn Along: A Couple Wee Projects

I am happy to report that just as I was beginning to despair that there are no finished projects in our household in these final days leading up to the baby, a small miracle has been happening. Bit by bit, the projects have been nearing completion. There are still things that need to be taken care of, but it wouldn't be life if that weren't the case, right?
Of course all of that knitting and button sewing has meant that aside from finishing up last week's yarn, there are no new reading projects in the works.

The puerperium cardigan is cute as can be (albeit a size or two or three too big for a newborn. Has anyone had any luck slightly shrinking wool?), and the sizing issue isn't the end of the world, because it should be perfect come cooler weather.

And the Rhino Romper was a fun to knit up (seen here on top of a pile of fabric that hopefully, one of these days will be turned into a blanket and some decorations for the baby's room) and seems to be just the right size for a newborn.

Looking forward to seeing what cute little things people have been making this past week-- Ginny's cute little baby included.

Yarn Along

More baby knitting in these parts: although this week, I am becoming slightly more pragmatic, working on a short sleeved Rhino Romper in cotton, so hopefully the little one can wear some hand-knit items in the summer.

And, in another change of pace, I am actually reading a book for myself (along, of course, with several books to the littles): a hand me down copy of One Thousand Gifts. This book is absolutely beautiful: not only is it filled with spiritual insight and wisdom, but it is done so through the metaphors of life at home with children, with utmost humility and honesty. My days have been filled with little gratitude pauses, and those of you who have embarked upon a practice of gratitude know how transformational it can be!

I'm playing along with Ginny and friends again this week-- I'm looking forward to gathering up some knitting and reading inspiration.

Yarn Along

Last week seems to have kick started my knitting urge. These days, there is little to make me feel more productive than sitting down with some needles in hand (and with a curious almost-4 year old at my side with her "needles," which, these days, are a set of colored pencils). This week I just finished up a puerperium cardigan for the new baby. All it needs to be done is some wooden buttons and a darning needle (and some blocking!). I used a slightly heavier weight yarn, and my guage was running a bit big, so as it turns out, this cardigan will probably be just perfect for the fall... Those summer babies are hard to knit for!

These are also the days when two sweet little girls will cuddle in next to me with books in hand, requesting story after story, which I happily read aloud. My "free reading" has mainly consisted of some birth practitioner reading. I never seem to get tired of it!

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is up to at Ginny's yarn along!

Yarn Along

Just as abruptly as it started, my nesting seems to have run its course. There are still things to get done around here, but all in all, I have the feeling that were the baby to come today, it would be fine. With every passing day my body is simply telling me that it's time to settle in, to rest, to enjoy this special time with our family.We have a place for this little one to sleep (even if that's our bed), clothing thanks to the generosity of many friends, and so many loving arms to be passed between. What more does a baby need?

One of the absolute highlights of my day has been settling in for some special time with Zosia every afternoon or evening for some read aloud time. We've been thinking about the possibility of homeschooling in the future, and I love methods that are read aloud based-- partly because I have such fond memories of my mom reading books aloud to me when I was growing up. We just finished up Charlotte's Web, and it was a hit all around. I am so tickled by the fact that I get to re-read all of this amazing children's literature! Are there any recommendations for a second book?

Yesterday during Lily's "nap" (this child of mine hasn't napped in weeks, possibly even months, but spends an hour or so quietly playing in her crib), I realized we don't have any hats for this little one, and so I whipped up an Isaac Hat, which seemed appropriate not only because it's just adorable, but because Zosia has been lobbying hard for this baby to be named Isaac (note: while an adorable name, Ben and I have a favorite name of the hour of our own!). I grew up crocheting and haven't done a crochet project in years, but I loved it-- I love the flexibility of crocheting, and the fact that crocheting a hat somehow seems easier than knitting one on double pointed needles. And even though this is a summer baby who probably won't wear his hat for utility purposes until October (I sized it just a bit big), there is just nothing cuter than a newborn in a hat.

Be sure to check out Ginny's page for more yarn along! Such fun reading.

Yarn Along

We've been getting creative in the house these past few days, and for me that has meant working on some on the go-veralls for the little boy headed our way (thanks knittermama, for the inspiration!) between batches of homemade playdough and the like (perhaps more on all of that tomorrow). Do you recognize the yarn? Whew, that skein has lasted me through a sweater, these overalls, and possibly a hat or two.

I finally picked up some winter reading for me, and I'm looking forward to getting into it (some historical fiction, a new genre for me!), although with one of our very favorite out of town guests staying with us this weekend, I have been more than happy to wait.

What have you been knitting and reading? Check out Ginny's page for some more inspiration!

Yarn Along

Her sweater is done, and she likes it! I never imagined I could actually make a sweater. But this one was quite an easy pattern to follow, and I would have finished it in under a week were it not for, ahem, motivation issues. I still feel like I need to work on picking up stitches (which I had to do for the collar and the sleeves). I've watched all the how-to videos, but somehow am not quite satisfied with the results. Does anyone have a tip?

Now I've promised Zosia her own sweater, and even purchased the yarn for it. Any suggestions for a good girly sweater for an older toddler/young kid?

While I have no photo to prove it, a friend who has spent enough time with my family to know that my reading time is divided into quite small snippets gave me a book entitled "The Essential Wisdom of the Saints," and it really is a nice way to intersperse wisdom into a full day (each quote is just a sentence or two long, and stands on its own).

Here are a few I have loved (you'll see why: aren't they both perfect for a mother of small children?):

I know God. He is a father, a mother, who in order to be happy must have his child upon His knee, resting on His heart.

--St. Therese of Lisieux

Try interrupting the meditations of someone who is very attached to her spiritual exercises and you will see her upset, flustered, taken aback. A person who has this true freedom will leave her prayer, unruffled, gracious toward the person who has unexpectedly disturbed her, for to her it's all the same-- serving God by meditating or serving Him by responding to her neighbor. Both are the will of God, but helping the neighbor is necessary at that particular moment.

--St. Francis de Sales

And as always, I'll be looking for more knitting and reading inspiration over at Ginny's page! You should take a look.

Yarn Along

I have come to two realizations: I am not wonderful with transitions, and I sometimes just need a bit of mindless entertainment.

First, the transitions. Above: Lily's sweater, still in progress. The reason? I have to switch to 4.5mm needles for the cuff, and such a transition is just so tricky for me to actually accomplish. So there it is, a lovely sweater still on the needles. I promise (to myself, perhaps) that I will have some pictures of my little one frolicking in her sweater next week.

And second, the mindless entertainment. I finished Little Bee, above, and it was beautiful. Beautifully written, compelling, and yet a bit too challenging. I will carry parts of it with me for a long time, and yet I don't think I would read it again. I suppose when you spend your days wrestling with the very primal elements of human nature with two little humans, you don't need to be reminded of it in the evening. We did, however, receive The Story of the Snow Children in the mail today, and it is absolutely perfect. Now I just need to find a similar book that is intended for adults. Any suggestions?

Looking forward to catching glimpses of everyone else's yarn alongs (which can be found on Ginny's page!).