Thursday Blog Letter

These posts end up sounding more like a letter to a friend than a blog post.  And perhaps that’s what this is.  Thanks for being “letter writing” sorts of friends.  I wouldn’t take the time to write a letter to just anyone, you know! 

(My Nephew, photo-ed yesterday building a snowman with a “snow man” kit I got him for Christmas a couple years ago.  CUTE!)

Today I upgraded to Internet Explorer 7.0.  I selected for it to “make the text more clear”.  Who wouldn’t like “clearer text”?  However, it’s sort of a blurred bold to me like ink bleeding on an old carbon copy.   If you haven’t upgraded, I’m not sure I’d select that option on install.  Tabbed browsing is nice.  Pics are posting to my blog more easily as well.

(All my nephews are such dolls!)

(Here’s another one…)

(and if this doesn’t just melt your heart a little…)

Yesterday, I started another knitted potholder, not because I need another potholder, but because I like to have identical things in multiples in my shallow towel drawer so that things stack more neatly.  And, I still had some learning to do.  My knitted edges look much better this time.  I’m so pleased with my progress.  (Richard Foster would be proud, no doubt.) 

(My REV version, a 20th Anniversary edition.  You might find it in this cover as well as the last I posted.)

My brother (left) heads out for Iraq waters tomorrow–he has a staff infection in his hand found this week.  He had to have something surgically removed out of his hand, apparently.  I’m a little unclear on the whole thing, but burdened for him. 

My step-Dad is almost back to Iraq.  Stories of road-side bombings in vehicles surrounding his make it harder this time.  Their work is branching out into more dangerous areas outside the protected camp.  Difficult to think about or process in any meaningful way.  The only useful exercise is worship and trust…and knitting. 

(Larry, Christmas in February.)

In other news, I was not a good Mom to my kids last night at church.  Their nitpicking and antagonizing just got the best of me.  Better self control lately with my “bracelet wearing” for attitude, it sticks out like a sore thumb to me today that I lost my cool.  Lord, make me a good Mom to my kids that reflects your heart toward them.  I’m SO stinking at it sometimes, and my time IS limited…

(I love how cute the tops of their heads look when they are playing well together.  The game? ”PERFECTION”).

This weekend, my son goes for his first all-day school bused trip along for an Academic Team meet.  Due to other commitments, it does NOT look like we are going to get to be there at all for his big meet!  Not only that, today I filled out my first paperwork–I had to put on it for next year a different school for him…MIDDLE SCHOOL!  It is naseating at times to see your kids growing to the next phase.  I’m proud…oh, yes!  But, it’s middle school.  He’s probably ready, but I’m not.

 

(I love how they look more alike in black and white photos)

I bought an issue of Family Circle today.  It’s inexpensive, it has lovely spring colors and flowers on it, and really enjoy a few of the back issues I found.  Also, I bought some low calorie Klondike ice cream sandwiches that are rocking my world.  I’ve eaten three.  Mmmmm.  Also, today, I found several second hand lightweight jackets and heavier coats for little Flash when he’s out riding the 4 Wheeler.  The “mud issue” is creating a need for multiple coats and jackets and jeans–the things we do for love.  You just can’t seem to keep from splashing mud when you ride!

Today, I had another special gift.  A friend said as she was driving to work, God told her to come pray with me for a minute. 

She told the Lord she’d be late for work if she did. 

He said, “Well, you can go on and get there on time, but then you’ll just have to turn around and go back.” 

Just take that in.  I still am.   

 

In blog news…I’m thinking about starting a “Meme” for Thursday called “Thursday Thoughts”.  I was thinking we might (whoever wants to or feels like it) try to post a review of a book or a quote from something we’ve been reading on Thursdays.  I’ll try to come up with a graphic button for us to use for it.  You can post other posts on Thursday as well, or book reviews on other days, but I am loving the book quotes and reviews from you guys–just wanted to encourage you to keep them coming!  I may just use this picture above…it seems fitting today.  I’ll add text and get it out today.

Hope you and yours are well.  Write me a letter on your blog if you want to respond, or email me. 

Love,

“Mags”

HAVING TROUBLE KNITTING?

It’s finally starting to look “keep-able”! 

I was having me some trouble knitting!  I had to undo my first 5-6 attempts! 

I switched yarns.   I switched “needle” sizes, watched more videos, tried different cast-ons, different tensions.  Different moods.  Different weather. 

I could not get an even row to save my life! 

I could not tell the difference in a bad stitch and a good stitch until I’d finished a couple rows, then, the “hole” was apparent!  Ugh! 

Yesterday, I finally made progress.  First, I shifted from nylon to cotton yarn.  I had some left from last Sunday’s Sunday school craft.  I found that the cotton did not slip off the metal needle as easily as the nylon, making control easier.  Still, I didn’t have a straight line!  Tear out again.

A New Project That Helped:  Next, I discovered instructions suggesting doubling the COTTON yarn for the correct insulation for a potholder (synthetics can melt).  That sounded like a good small project to tackle.   However, doubling the yarn sounded daunting – I couldn’t even handle a single strand yet!  After trying, I found that it helped me learn the stitches, keep good tension, and learn much faster.

Color:  This isn’t my favorite color for kitchen towels.  It helps that my daughter thinks this one is heavenly.

Alterations:  Instead of square, I want to make this potholder rectangular shaped, for wrapping around my long skillet handles.  I have a smaller one I love, but it won’t wrap around the iron skillet handle for me.

Challenges to knitting double strands:  I wasn’t that confident in my ability to do the project, so I didn’t halve and cut the ball of yarn first.  That meant when I ran out of my long tail I was using for doubing, I had to figure out how to reattach more yarn to continue.  I’m not sure what you are supposed to do in this case, but it seemed a good idea to overlap the new strand  for three stitches, weaving the new strand into the work before trimming the tail.  Knotting doesn’t work, by the way!

The second issue is that working with two strands, causes the strands you are working with to twist.  You have to untwist the two “strands every half row or so to keep from having a great big wadded mess.  But, not too hard. 

Conclusion:  I would recommend doubling.  I could easily see the mechanics of the stitch, and see what was causing my problems:   casting too tight, picking up pieces of threads I wasn’t supposed to have.  Now, my rows are straight!  I know when to drop that stray thread from the yarn if I accidentally pick something up that isn’t supposed to be there.   No problem! 

I got the “rhythm”! 

Stitches:  I’m using the knitting stitch, or the garter stitch.  It creates a nice, flat stitch that doesn’t roll, great for flat projects like this.

Next:  I’ll try to learn purl stitches, better edges, and switching between purl and knit–difficult, but still called “beginner stitching”! 

Words From The Fam:  

Boy Wonder:  “Mom!  Wow!  Look at that!  You are really doing great!  When did you get all that done?  That’s GREAT!” (He was serious!)

Flash:  “Wow, Mom!  Is that for me?  When are you making my sweater?  I wanted a blue one.”  (Thanks for vote of confidence.  I’ll get right on that…right after I learn to make this here potholder).  (He was serious.)

Goldilocks:  “Mommy!  Ooooh!   {holding it as I stitch}  You have REALLY improved!   I would have given up a long time ago.  Good job!”  (She was serious.)

The Hub — 11:06PM  “You coming to bed soon?”  (He was serious.)