A New Picture and Progress

I'm starting off with a blurry, yet very special picture. This is a Painted Bunting adult male that spent the summer on our farm last year. They return each summer to eat at the feeders, raise their young in unknown nest locations, play in the various water features we have around the house, and make our summer a joy to behold. Although the picture was taken from quite a distance, through a window and screen, with less than optimum lighting, it is one of my favorites of these brightly feathered small birds.

I'll post a picture of female and immature Painted Buntings in a later post.

We are expecting the return of our Purple Martins to our colony site in just 2 or 3 weeks. Last year they returned on Feb. 21st, 2005. I'm sure I will be thrilled to see the return of the first Purple Martin of the season and hear their wonderful song.

Saturday morning I woke up to the singing of Bluebirds! They were everywhere. They were perched on nestboxes, fence posts, and even the mail box. The males were busy singing to the ladies and doing their *wing waving* to get female attention. I think it's a little early in the season, but they don't seem to think so at all.

And, yes, I have made quite a bit of progress on the never-ending shawl project. I got wonderful customer support from XRX book publishers once I contacted them...and I'm now cruising on the lavendar alpaca shawl! This has me smiling ear to ear. : )

I'm having a busy and hectic week this week. I spent over 1/2 the day on Monday having medical tests done in preparation for the administration of an investigational medication. I'm looking forward to possible benefits and providing information to others from my experience (via the health care professionals conducting the study), but the tests are a bit rigorous. It seems I'm at a health care facility nearly every day. This is in addition to those 50 year old, 50,000 mile check-up tests. (I'm glad I only have to turn 50 once!)

So, to balance all the medical hooplah out, I'm trying to have some quality prayer time, Bible study, and knitting with friends, too! Knitting will be Thursday night, as usual, at Borders with lots of friends. Friday evening we're all traveling to Guthrie for the Friday Night Knitting at SWAK. Then next Tuesday, the 7th, several of us are planning on attending the Spinning Guild meeting to see spinning demonstrations, various spinning wheels, and to ask questions to our hearts content.

I'll post a shawl progress picture later. In the meantime, enjoy the male Painted Bunting, and know that I'm praying for you, too.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NAS
Philippians 4:11 - 13
11...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

The Shawl Struggle Continues...

Are you tiring of variations of the same picture? Yes? Well, me too.

I've almost knitted back to the point where I had to *FROG* back to a lifeline in this shawl project. Now, as I approach charted row 5 again, your positive thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated. : )

I feel that if I can just make it through row 5, correctly, that I will be on my way to successfully knitting this alpaca shawl for my grandmother.

As you can see, I had the book chart enlarged, then colored the charted lines with colored book highlighters. This is my attempt to keep from accidentally changing the line that I am following on the chart. I find even with a ruler, sticky note, or other following implement, unless the lines to follow are of the same color when switching from one chart to the next, it is easy to follow the chart on the wrong row. So, I enjoyed coloring for a time this afternoon. I hope it helps. Otherwise, I may switch to coloring shawl charts....rather than attempting to knit them!

So, my goal for tonight is to complete charted row 5 successfully. Yep, I have stoop goals this Saturday evening. : ) I guess that I am refining my diligence and patience just now. And, for all of us, I hope I have a very different shawl progress picture to post soon.

Your Friend,

Shelly

P.S. I'm leaving you with a better picture to view. You will see a beautiful White-winged Dove that visited one of our feeders in 2004.

HCSB
Romans 12:11-12
11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

Still moving, backwards possibly, but at least still moving...

Do you hear frogs in the background? Yes? Well, that is me frogging two of my latest knitting projects. And yes, I am so very thankful for lifelines!

I was making good progress on my grandmother's faroese shawl, when at the end of a very busy row, my stitch count was off by 2! Argh! At first I wanted to blame the chart, but alas, the problem was my own. So, frogging commenced back to the most recent lifeline. I keep trying to convince myself that this is *good experience* for me to reknit part of the pattern....but, really, for the 3rd time?

Then, there is my simple and mindless stockinette stitch socks, and yes, they are getting partially frogged as well. The frogs are having a hey day at our house today! I thought that since the socks were just mindless knitting that I would try a new heel. Yep, you guessed it, I messed it up. The first two stitches of every 3 of 4 rows are slipped purlwise. My problem was where I had my working yarn at the beginning of these particular rows...*not in the right place*. I managed to mess up the slipped stitch edging on one side of the heel flap! So, both heel flaps of the two socks are being *removed by frogging* today.

For those of you that may not be familiar with the work of frogs in knitting, it is when you have to undo, or unknit, some of your knitting by removing many rows of stitches. You *rip it* out...which sounds like *ribbit*, the sound that frogs make. Thus, the term *frogging*, or *rip it, rip it, rip it*. Frogging is one of the least favorite activities of any knitter, and you can include me as one of the knitters that really dislikes this activity.

I'm really hoping to make more progress on my grandmother's shawl. I'm putting almost everything else on hold in order to get this project completed. I would like to send her the shawl before summer!

I had planned to go to Borders last night and knit with all my pals in our knitting group. However, I felt really rotten a few hours before time to go. I'm blaming it on some medicine that I have to take. I took it with food to prevent stomach upset, but evidently my stomach didn't think it was sufficient to keep from getting all in a tither. So, next week I'll wait until *after* knitting fun to be medication compliant. Yep, I've learned my lesson on this situation.

I did make it to the public library this week and was excited to find that they had added several books to their knitting selection. Although most of the books were checked out, it was a delight to see all the new listings. The trip was not in vain. I think I checked out 6 or 7 books on *spinning*. I have been progressively being consumed with a desire to learn to spin various fibers into yarn. I've even been dreaming about it!

I think the lucious alpaca that I have been knitting with has really turned up the heat on my desire to learn to spin. I love the look of almost any spinning wheel, or even a drop spindle. I've been reading and trying to learn about the process, the terms, the history....it all appeals to me.

I was able to find a spinning guild in our area from the Interweave website. I made contact and we now have an invitation to attend the next spinning guild meeting! The spinning guild members are even going to bring their wheels so that we may see a selection of wheels, see demonstrations, and ask questions. How wonderful is this? I don't know if I'll be able to sleep much in anticipation of the spinning guild meeting on Feb. 7th. : )

I think I'll concentrate on the joy of new beginnings for the remainder of the day. I can *re-begin* on the troubled areas of my knitting projects, look forward to learning more and possibly beginning the adventure of learning to spin, and beginning the remainder of the afternoon with a better outlook on all of these things.

One of my favorite *beginnings* to remember is that of the arrival of our Dachshund puppies in 2004. This is the only litter of puppies that we have had on our farm. We don't plan on allowing it to happen again, but they were adorable and treasured. We still have 3 of the puppies, and the other 3 went to excellent homes. So, our current Dachshund count is *6* (Ellie, Doogie, Streudel, Montey, Moose, and Linus). We love these doggies! We also have Jake, my hubby's Australian Shepard. And, we have our grand-dog, Charlie. Charlie is our daughter's dog, but since she has newly married and is settling in to another semester away at college, we are babysitting our grand-dog this semester. Charlie is a lovable, mixed breed, charmer.

The picture was taken when the puppies were just 24 hours old. : )

Have a great weekend everyone!

Your friend,

Shelly

P.S. The baby birds in the last post were indeed baby Bluebirds from a previous nesting season. : )

NLT
Philippians 3:13-14
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

About the Pictures

I've taken all the pictures that you see posted on my blog. I've used my trusty little Olympus and tried my best to get some pictures of life on our farm.

We have a Bluebird Trail, a Purple Martin colony, several nestboxes for various bird species, horses, dogs, cats, and various other critters (not all pets, some are wildlife visitors).

I haven't posted any pet pictures yet, but be prepared, you'll probably be begging me to stop once I get started.

All the pictures are copyrighted, so please don't copy/use them, or link to them, unless you have received written permission.

Have a great week and see today's real blog post below.

Your Friend,

Shelly

Counting, Counting, and More Counting

I've been counting today. Counting in the car, counting in the house, counting in the store, counting while awake...and I'm sure I'll be counting in my sleep tonight. Next time I decide to make another shawl, *please* remind me how much counting and intense concentration is involved.

No shawl progress was made yesterday, nor was I able to attend our ladies Bible study. I was in bed most of the day with an intense headache. So, today I decided I'd make up for lost study and knitting time. Well...

The knitting on my grandmother's alpaca shawl was progressing slowly, but steadily, until I tried to knit at Border's with their choice of music playing in the background. Each row of the shawl has over 300 stitches at this point, and keeping count of all the yo's, k2tog's, ssk's, and other intricate stitches became quite a challenge for my ability to concentrate without becoming distracted. Before my stint of knitting on the Border's couch was completed, I was tempted to track down whomever selected the music (sounded like some poor lady yodeling *Lady of Spain*!) and see if they could find my *now missing* stitch! : (

After fretting for a couple of minutes and feeling faint (knitters will understand this feeling), I tinked back 1/2 of row 3 of the chart and found the error of my knitting ways. Thankfully, row 3 was corrected and completed, followed by row 4, and I'm now ready to proceed on to row 5 of the tiny and quite complex chart.

I'll definitely be bringing the shawl to Sit 'N' Stitch this Thursday night, but, I don't think I'll be able to work on it during our group. Well, I might if someone could loan me a *cone of silence* (remember this from *Get Smart*?) so that I could totally block out all noise and distractions and only hear myself counting...aloud, of course. Under these circumstances, I may be able to complete a row without having to repeat it; or to have a brown, paper bag handy for any possible hyperventilation episodes secondary to incorrect stitch counts at the end of a row! : )

I'm definitely using a lifeline in this project. And, I'm placing a new lifeline every other row. I do notwant to have to frog all the way back to the beginning if/when I make a mistake.

Does this remind you of life? It sure reminds me of how life goes. I'm so thankful that we don't have a *chart* of our life laid out before us to have to follow. I'm so relieved that we don't have to perfectly perform every tiny square exactly as written for us to have a worthy result in the end. I am so very thankful for our loving Heavenly Father and for His grace he freely gives. I'm thankful that we are not bound by having to follow the law as presented in the Old Testament, but rather to just accept the gift of his sacrifice and grace toward us to have an eternal relationship and life with Him. His faithfulness and forgiveness can remove our gravest mistakes and make all things brand new...no matter how many mistakes we have made. He is our ever present lifeline.

I'm going to spend the rest of the evening counting my many blessings and give the stitch counting a break. : )

Your Friend,

Shelly

KJV
Psalms 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

KJV
II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Am I Making Progress?

I've got my Grandmother's shawl cast on....all 327 stitches today. I've even worked several rows. Does it look like I'm making progress? It is hard for me to tell at this point.

I am really enjoying working with the buttery soft alpaca. I have found that my Denise needles are a great match for working with this, not too slippery, and just the right points.

You can see the swatch for the shawl in the upper left corner of the picture. It worked out very well. I'll be using my blocking wires for the first time on the finished shawl.

This project has convinced me that I definitely need to work with alpaca again soon. I think I'm getting spoiled. : )

I've also been working on a pair of socks (as seen in the picture). They are a pair of nice, mindless, stockinette stitch socks...for relief from shawl stitch counting. The self-patterning Socka Colori color changes keep my interest, even though it is a mindless stitch pattern.

I think I'll be taking the shawl to our Sit 'N' Stitch group at Border's this Thursday. I may need the others of the group to help me keep count!

Now to the personal front -

If I had known that turning 50 also entailed all the 50,000 mile check-up exams within a few weeks, I think I would have chosen to stay 49. Actually, I am very thankful for all the fine physicians and medical facilities we have access to, but in addition to regular appointments, all the extras have me a bit on medical overload. My knitting has been making it to all the appointments lately, so I've definitely been doing my share of knitting in public.

Tomorrow we start our ladies Bible study. I'm really looking forward to having some quality time with friends, and spending time learning, discussing, and praying. We each have areas that are challenging us, and I hope this study benefits each of us and our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Have a wonderful week, friends!

Shelly

HCSB
James 1:2-4
2. Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Decisions Made, Paperwork Done, Knit On!

I have finally made it *over the hump* and am making steady progress. I was delayed a day by a full schedule of appointments, but now that they are behind me, it is full steam ahead.

I finished the dreadful paperwork and it has been sent to all those that believe all this detail is necessary....for the 48th time. And, now I can breathe a sigh of relief, until they decide it is time for me to repeat the process and complete another heaping pile of paperwork again at their next whim. : (

I've also made some knitting decisions. YEA! I did it!

I will continue with my husband's Aran sweater with the FLAK group. I'm glad this group just gets installments on what to do every 2 weeks because it gives me time to do other knitting projects.

I'm also knitting a shawl for my grandmother. She's a quite young 97 year old that has recently relocated to IL. I hope she will enjoy a soft and warm, alpaca shawl to put around her shoulders in the cooler climate of IL. I found some beautiful sport weight, baby Alpaca today in a lovely lavender that I feel will make a beautiful shawl for her. I'm not going to make the shawl very large since she is small, and I don't want it to interfere with her sitting or walking. I hope she likes this beautiful and scrumptious Misti Alpaca in *lavendar* (she had told me earlier that she is tired of pink, so hopefully lavender isn't out, too).

I'm also continuing on some additional items for CIC.

Any knitting, other than the above, will just have to be in spare moments and are currently placed *on the back burner*. : )

Our Sit 'N' Stitch group meets again tonight at Borders. I really look forward to spending a couple of hours knitting, chatting, comparing patterns and projects with my new knitting and crocheting pals. We have a wonderful time and I'll try to get a couple of pictures of our group to post, if they agree.

Our ladies/friends Bible study group met today for an organizational meeting. We officially start on Monday afternoon. I'm surely looking forward to learning more in this group, praying together, discussing, learning together, and getting to spend time together. The Lord has blessed each of us bountifully and also brought us each through difficult times. I pray that we will each become more of what He would like for us to be through this study time.

I want to thank all of my online friends that have prayed for me to get through being overfaced. It certainly has made a difference. I want you to know that I will also be praying for each of you, my local and online friends, for whatever your needs or trials may be. Please feel free to contact me at any time. And, always feel free to leave a comment, too.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NAS
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Decisions and Paperwork ... Oh My!

Do you ever get stuck? I don't mean like physically stuck in the mud, but just stuck in decision making or just really dreading doing a particular task? Well, I do.

I'm currently stuck (or maybe overfaced is a better term) on 2 fronts.

First, an easy one, I'm stuck on appropriately dividing my time between knitting projects. I'm participating in the FLAK and hoping to knit a beautiful Aran sweater for my wonderful hubby. I'm also going to participate in the EZasPi group knitalong for the anniversary Pi shawl. I also have some ongoing socks, CIC knitting, and a few smaller projects. So, how to divide my time between these projects, without leaving any out, has me immobile presently. Argh!

Secondly, is a much tougher one for me...and that's the dreaded paperwork looming in a pile on the table. It really doesn't take that long to complete, but I just dread it terribly. It really makes no sense! I can probably have it completed in an hour or two, but you would think I have to climb Mt. Everest by the way I'm feeling inside. Argh, again! For me, paperwork is right up there with my dislike of housework. And, the paperwork that must be done today makes me feel quite helpless and vulnerable (see picture above).

I really don't understand. I've always loved being on the go, energetic, determined (even stubborn at times), self-motivated, and getting things *done*. However, put me in the house with a mop and broom, or at the table with medical forms and piles of other paperwork, or even several decisions to make about pleasant choices...and I freeze up like an old engine.

I just don't get it. I'd rather be in the barn cleaning stalls, outside doing yard work, on the tractor, repainting a room, or even replacing flooring...rather than doing paperwork of this type, or cleaning the bathroom. You know, I'd gladly rather come and help you clean your house, or do your paperwork, rather than do my own.

Anybody else feel like this? Ever?

I think I'll be concentrating today on the same verse from the Bible that I used earlier. I'll be praying, too (while plugging through the pile of paperwork).

Have a wonderful day everyone! I'm off to conquer those things that have effectively stopped me in my tracks today. And, I'm anxious to have some quiet time this evening to read and prepare for a Bible study that I'm going to be sharing with some girlfriends.
I hope that you are each having a wonderful week and that you don't get *stuck*, or overfaced, in your life. Please know that with Him, we can conquer any situation that tries to hold us back.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NAS
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Do You See the Potential?

One of my favorite yarn shops, Sealed With A Kiss in Guthrie, OK is having a wonderful, in-store SALE this weekend. Of course, I was there last night! The store was crowded with all ages. What could be better for a fiber lover than to be in the midst of fellow fiber enthusiasts, in a great store having a great sale, with freely provided home-made Chocolate Chip Cookies for the customers? Ahhh, what an absolute delight.

Isn't the sage Jaggerspun laceweight, 50% Merino & 50% Silk just stunning? What do you see that becoming? Me, I see a shawl. Not just any shawl. A beautiful shawl, probably a Fiddlesticks Knitting shawl design.

I aspire to someday being able to knit the Fiddlesticks Knitting design, the Garden Shawl. I don't think I'm quite ready for that one yet, but I'm working toward that. I'm a bit like the tortise, slow and steady progress to get to the goal. So, for now, I will choose a bit simpler design. But, in my heart and mind, I know I am working up to the Garden Shawl.

I know that each of us has *great potential* in our lives. We may not be great scholars, government leaders, highly public figures that have accomplished heroic deeds; but we each have unlimited potential to impact the lives of those around us.

I often wonder what the Lord sees as our individual potential. In His eyes, I'm certain that He sees great potential in each of us. He is there to encourage each of us, and desires each of us to know of his unending and steadfast love for us.

Please know how important and significant you are. Please join me in striving to see our individual potential through the Lord's eyes, rather than the limited vision of our own. We each have the ability and heart to care for others, give of our time and talents, and make a lasting, positive impact with our lives, before going home to be with the Lord in the next.

NAS
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

A Gift Of Nature - A Gift of God

If you are looking forward to Spring's return and feeling that it may never arrive, hopefully this may encourage you.

Today I'm sharing some of my filming of *nature* at our farm. We have a large Purple Martin colony (another of my many passions/interests). I enjoy keeping a close eye on the colony and learning lessons from these beautiful and faithful travelers.

I have a small camera installed in some of our Purple Martin housing and have spent many hours of wonder and enjoyment watching, filming, and learning from these beautiful creatures.

Please enjoy the video clips of these devoted parents and their adorable young. You may also notice that the parents, especially the female, work diligently to knit, or weave, their nest together in preparation for their young. : )

(The pictures and video clips are from the 2004 and 2005 Purple Martin seasons.)

Click on links below to view individual movie files:
(It may take a bit of time for the movie file to download. Only the first movie clip has sound.)

Female Purple Martin Building Nest

2nd Purple Martin Baby Wriggling From Egg

Adult Male (Dad) Purple Martin Feeding 2 Day Old Hatchlings

Adult Female (Mom) Purple Martin Feeding Dragonfly to Young
I hope that you have enjoyed the pictures and video clips. I have many more, so let me know if you would like to see more pictures and videos of nature at our farm.

I'll have much more knitting content to post tomorrow. Our local, new, knitting group, Sit 'N" Stitch, is meeting at Border's tonight. What fun! : )

(Special thanks to *Susan* for starting our local group.)



GNT
Psalms 139:15
When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there—

Sock Knitting Frustration & Treatment

I guess that I have slept one time too many since I last knit socks. I'm working on a pair for CIC and have ended up getting myself so twisted up and confused that I had to put them away last night...and I haven't had the courage to bring them back out again yet today. How can this happen?

Have any of you ever had this experience? I'm really hoping that I'm not the only one. Did the sock knitting part of my brain shrink
during one night's rest unbeknownst to me? YIKES!

Maybe the problem is that I'm knitting in a heavy worsted this time and not the usual lovely Opal sock yarn. That must be it, don't you think?

I usually knit 2 socks at once on one long circular needle. This
time, however, I'm only knitting one at a time since I didn't want
to split this huge ball of yarn into two separate balls. Maybe I
should just break out my double-pointed needles and continue from there.

I have no clue how I got so confused and twisted with this sock. So, what did I do to make myself feel better today before facing the dreaded sock tangle? Hubby took me on a date to a new (new for me) yarn shop! Of course I picked up a new ball of Opal in the Petticoat color. : ) We *DO* have a shop in OK with Opal. Hooray! I even treated myself to my first hank of Mountain Colors Hand Painted yarn and some Lantern Moon needles.

So, my advice to anyone that ever faces a similar sock knitting
dilemma....the successful treatment for self, sock-knitting doubt
and sock-knitting depression....*buy more sock yarn*! : )

Now I need to face my sock tangle from yesterday and try to figure
out what I did (or didn't do). If I get overwhelmed, I'll just talk
it over with my new Opal Petticoat and see what it has to say. I'll also refer to my sock knitting books, if need be.

This troubled sock knitting reminds me of many experiences in my life, both past and present. And, sometimes, how the Lord has just had to teach me the same lesson more than once. It reminds me of how many times I have messed up simple matters unknowingly. I am certainly thankful for His steadfast love for all his children and his patience with each of us, especially me when I have needed it most.

This is also the reason that I keep reading my Bible and praying. I find the direction, guidence, and comfort from the Lord to lead me and help me to untangle the things I have tangled, or allowed to become tangled, in my life.

I pray that each of us keep our knitting, and our lives, untangled. And, that we always remember that there is unconditional love and help for all of our tangles.

HCSB
Psalms 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

Your Friend,

Shelly

Challenges, Change Points, and Trust

My life has recently seemed to be full of challenges and change points, which have again prompted me to continuously trust fully in our Heavenly Father. I have frequently been reminded of his tender care by the examples He has for us in nature and His creation.

It is always comforting to be able to look from a window and see the birds in the air and know that even each of them has a purpose, and is provided for by our Heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:26 (NKJV)-
"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 10:29-31 (NKJV)-
29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

So, why should I be concerned or give in to worry? My life has changed. I'm no longer a mom with children at home. My purpose is changing, and I want to keep up with the changes that are needed. I faced this challenge previously when illness took me away from my long time career as an RN. Now, I face the challenge again... the need to change and pursue the purpose of my life at this point. Although a bit stressful, change is exciting and necessary as we adapt. I want to be *on target* with being all that the Lord has for me to learn and accomplish.

I have enjoyed amateur photography of the birds on our farm. These pictures show clear examples of selflessness, excellent parenting, devotion to family, discipline, work ethic, being a good neighbor and helpful friend, and of God's love. I'll be periodically sharing some of my pictures. I hope they uplift you, too.



Knitting Challenges

This last year was the year of *socks* for me. I learned to knit socks and then found I couldn't quit! Socks can be addictive to many knitters...and I am definitely one of the afflicted. : )

Once I learned to knit socks on double-pointed needles, I became intrigued with the MagicLoop method. That grew into knitting 2 socks at the same time on one long circular needle.

I completed several pairs of socks, but only have pictures of 2 pairs partially complete. These socks were during my *beading* phase with socks. They were knit with Opal sock yarn in the Uni-Solid colors. The pattern was designed by Christina Coghill as the December '04 sock pattern for the Six Sox Knitalong Yahoo Group.

I find our life challenges are much like knitting socks. Once you agree to face the challenge, it will take you some place wonderful. The results will be well worth all your efforts. : )

Where has the time gone? We're already 6 days into 2006!

Our beautiful daughter, Amanda, married her fiance, Ryan, on December 24, 2005. It was truly the most beautiful wedding that I have ever seen. I'll share pictures as soon as they are received from the photographer. I didn't expect to cry because I was so very happy for both of them, but I cried like a baby throughout the ceremony. It is a good thing that someone had the foresight to set a full box of Kleenex in the pew where all the parents were seated. I cried from joy and from wondering why time had passed so very quickly. Our wonderful baby girl was now an adult. I wouldn't want it any other way....I just wish that time would slow down a little for those special moments to linger.

Our son, Zachary, was the best man. What a handsome sight he is in a tux. And, what a wonderful, Christian young man, to boot.

As parents, we have been blessed beyond measure. With the formal addition of Ryan, we now have 3 children. Our hearts are full to overflowing. : )

On the recent knitting front, I can say that I am thankful that the Christmas knitting is finished. I made 5 winter hats, 4 snuggly, heat/cold packs for comfort of the recipients, cotton chenille flower washcloths, and a few more items. None of the items were very big, but with a wedding happening in the midst of the holidays, I had to keep it simple this season.

I'm currently knitting for CIC (socks, slippers, and vests) and also participating in the Follow the Leader Aran Knitalong, FLAK led by Janet Szabo. Both of these endeavors are fun and personally very rewarding.

I've just finished my cabled FLAK swatch as you can see. The sweater will be for my husband (we've been married almost 27 years) and he chose this heathered green color of Cascade 220. The color doesn't show very well in the picture, but it is a sage/olive green with heathered highlights of gold, rust, and even a little blue. It is gorgeous yarn to see and easy to work.




And here's a picture of my latest vest for CIC. Special *THANKS* for the pattern go to Marguerite for the Cozy In Cables vest.