On the last day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Thought I would chat a bit about the projects that I finished for Christmas last year. Unfortunately, I gifted many of these without photographing them...a knitter's mistake that I will never make again. I'm not so great with downloading photos, but I have grand intentions to improve in this and I will be taking photos of my current works otn and posting them shortly. Now as for last Christmas...I knitted socks for hubby (Knit Picks Essential); mistake rib scarf in Thick and Quick; knitted a sweater for my little guy in a stripe pattern I made up as I went along with Peace Fleece wool; bobble ascot for my mom in Knit Picks Alpaca; felted hot pad and four coasters for my brother; random stripe large felted tote bag for my mother in law; felted knitting round "basket" bag for my sister in law; and last but not least, four crocheted aprons for my beautiful daughters. Pattern was from Anna over at Lullabies and Lace. Too sweet. As I began to purchase the yarn for these projects in the early fall, the sweat began to bead on my palms. Was I out of my mind??? To make all of these with a baby in my arms and homeschooling four children through the fall? Well, I did it. I did it. I did it. With about a week to spare. I just couldn't believe it. How, you may ask? I stole the time. Every knitting moment I could find. I never left the house without it. If my oldest daughter ran into the library to pick up an I Love Lucy that she had ordered, I would wait in the car and knit a round or two. I would knit for every car ride that hubby was driving. Yes, even the 8 minutes to church. Then, the sweet time when all were asleep. I would settle down to work with my coffee. Such tasks need high octane caffeine, no mild tea will do for midnight knitting. So, I'm very pleased with myself at the progress that I've achieved in the short time that I've been knitting. I would say it will be two years this summer, and I can say I'm a solid intermediate. Woohoo! Love it. Love it. Love it.



I adore my children and love every minute with them. I love homeschooling and I thank the Lord every day when we begin our day that He has drawn us to homeschooling. I wouldn't have it any other way. That said, there is something about the quietness of the night when all have gone off to bed. My little nursing fella stays down here with me until we go upstairs together later, but the girls head up around 9:00. I don't watch TV really, but I do visit my favorite blogs, research any latest query that has been mulling over in my brain that day, and to navigate around ravelry a bit. I just joined a month or so ago, so I'm still weeding through the vastness of the internet knitting world known as ravelry. Some very inspiring, beautiful, amazing knitters out there, along with some, well, odd people. As a Christian, I am careful with what I put in front of my eyes so I really dislike it when I click on someone's profile to see some of their other projects and there's questionable content and curse words, etc. :( Could really do without that! I've yet to really connect with a particular group yet, I just keep lurking and adding groups to my profile.



I have no other desire in my day to be away from my children. They stay with us during service in church, we don't get sitters for them, and we do most things together as a family. But, there is a refueling of energy and a quietness of my spirit I experience in the solitude of the night.



I notice that there is a similar feeling to the wee hours of the morning as well. I actually have fond memories of coming downstairs with my oldest daughter a few months ago. She was feeling sick, maybe around 2 or 3 AM. I brought the baby downstairs with us, I put National Velvet in, nice and low, and made some tea. These moments call for tea. Some nice English Breakfast or Earl Gray. We sat together and chatted, grateful for the private moments between a growing young lady and a mama. There is something about the mother in this film. Well, firstly, she knits AND she's a thrower like me. There is such a quiet strength about this character. She knows just when to let her daughter's wings fly and when to put her foot down. There is a beautiful scene when she gives Velvet the money for the admissions for the Grand National. It was her own prize money that she won years ago from a swimming race. What a moving scene up in the attic of their beautiful little cottage. This is a movie that we borrowed from the library, but whenever I think of it, I know it's one that we need to own. Just for the memory of that night.

I had to stop a minute because my little fella was giving me kisses...now he's off crawling to play with his sisters and explore the dog's food bowl.

May the Lord richly bless your day,

Lisa