Wednesday, November 30

On the Last Day of November

 
 

Our crape myrtle is nearly devoid of leaves now.  When we were working hard to get our occupation on the church property nearly five years ago, we were required to plant some trees.  Father and I chose four crape myrtles and four thundercloud plums.  The crape myrtles are the gift that just keeps on giving.  They flower in mid-summer and the blooms last for weeks and weeks through the hottest days of summer when everything fades in the strong sun.  Then, in the autumn the leaves are a riot of color from October through November.  

My little girl is knitting a spotted Jack Russell dog for her brother's upcoming namesday.  In order to complete the project, Auntie Kate needed to teach her a new skill called "intarsia," which is something neither Kate nor I have ever done.  I'm amazed and impressed by how quickly Sugar Plum is able to pick these skills up.

Reading Aloud


Auntie Kate, reading aloud from Little House in the Big Woods. 

Sunday, November 27

Reading


I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting."

Gerald Durrell 

Saturday, November 26

Sisters Visiting

 

Kate and I are visiting this week...  there are little puddles of in-progress knitting projects everywhere  turn. 

Thursday, November 24

In Thanksgiving


O Lord, how lovely it is to be Thy guest. Breeze full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun's golden rays and the scudding clouds. All nature murmurs mysteriously, breathing the depth of tenderness. Birds and beasts of the forest bear the imprint of Thy love. Blessed art thou, mother earth, in thy fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last for ever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: Alleluia! 

Wednesday, November 23

The Perfect Day

 

  I began the day with several hours of car ride knitting and ended it with several hours of chatting at a diner with Kate...  so, basically the perfect day!

The Perfect Accompaniment

 

  Leftover cake makes the perfect accompaniment to some lunchtime reading before afternoon spelling tests, math practice, and a huge stack of Thanksgiving books.

Tuesday, November 22

My Bullet Journal


Show Notes
Kyrie's Blog and Instagram
Baum Kutchen - My favorite purveyor of Traveler's Notebook journals and other goods
Traveler's Notebook (I have the Notebook in camel, but it also comes in black and brown)


:::::

How to Bullet Journal

 

On the Eve of Our Thanksgiving Holiday



Today was the last day of school before the Thanksgiving holiday and we are all ready to take a break!  After our schoolwork was finished each day this week, we spent hours outside in the cold, autumn air.  Our evenings have been spent in front of the fire reading our huge stack of Thanksgiving books.  Tonight, I remembered that I saw "Molly's Pilgrim" when I was a little girl and was happy to find it on YouTube to watch with our children before bedtime.  I cried my eyes out, but it is a beautiful little film with a lot to teach. 


I've been really enjoying this beautiful lace that my sister and brother-in-law brought us back from their trip to Italy as a thank you for watching sweet Sampson last month.  It looks so wonderful on our dresser and I love walking into our room and spotting it.  It's really a stunning piece and I  am so thankful that my sister thought to bring it back for us!

Sunday, November 20

Sunday Feasting

 

Today was my brother-in-law's namesday, so we had his family and my mother-in-law over for dinner.  I baked some salmon and sweet potatoes and made a huge tossed salad.  It was the first time I baked salmon (normally I used a skillet and cook it on the stove top) and I have to say that it was the simplest and best preparation of fish I have ever made.  I followed the cooking instructions I found on Food Network (though I used soy sauce, black pepper, and a bit of brown sugar to season it).  The fish was finished all at once rather than in batches and it was all cooked perfectly evenly.  Sugar Plum made a beautiful vegan chocolate cake for dessert.  It tasted so delicious  and was a huge hit with everyone.  Happily there is a smidge left to enjoy with tea tomorrow.

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner?   

Saturday, November 19

Reading

 

How comfortable it is here, he thought.  Much better than sitting in pubs with young girls or even drinking with one's colleagues, the hastily snatched pint of bitter before they caught their trains home to their wives.  There was a delicious smell wafting from a pink hyacinth which was growing in a glass on the table at his side.  It seemed typical of Ianthe, the slightly school-mistressy touch of growing the bulb in water so that its white Medussa-like roots were visible.  One could almost imagine her saying 'Now, girls' and explaining about osmosis or whatever the process was called.  What an admirable person she was!"

Barbara Pym

Friday, November 18

A Trio of Black Hats




I finally took a few photos of my little trio in the hats that I knit them a couple of weeks ago.  We are all very please with the hats...  the wool is not itchy at all and everyone wears them without prompting every time they go out into the chilly air.

I bought Plymouth Merino Wool at our local yarn shop and was pleasantly surprised with the softness and amazing stitch definition.  The kids are putting these hats through the wringer and they have held up well with nary a pill.

I used two different patterns for these hats.  Our daughter's is the Audrey Hat pattern that was featured on Fringe Supply awhile ago.  To size it for our little girl, I went down a needle size (from a US 6 to a US 5) and it fits well.  The boys' hats are the free Be Loving pattern.  I knit those as the pattern was written, casting on 88 stitches.



Thursday, November 17

Tuesday, November 15

Chris's Honey

 

I love the mild taste of this local honey that I was recently given, but I just might like the label even more.  Chris keeps bees at my friends' cottage farm and the little girl in the photograph is Chris's Wife:  Chris's Honey!

Monday, November 14

Hand Knitted Mitts


I just received the most thoughtful gift in the mail:  finger-less mitts knitted by lovely my lovely online friend Jeannine.  I have never been given a hand knitted gift before and am so thrilled and so touched!  Thank you, thank you, dear Jeannine!  I will think of you every time a slip them on.

Sunday, November 13

Autumnal Flowers


Here are some pretty grocery store roses combined with foraged autumn leaves from the woods. 

Friday, November 11

Hollows Shawl


I've been working on a new pattern, the Hollows Shawl, and cannot put it down.  So far it is well-written and easy to follow.  I've been a little rusty with my knitting and I was a bit worried that I would have difficulty with this, but it seems like it is going to go well for me.  I am using O-Wool yarn for the first time and think that I may have found a new favorite!  This colorway is called pearly mussel and looks so lovely with our chrysanthemums and pumpkin.

Thursday, November 10

Reading

I shall make jelly," she said, "and keep some on a dish here--  they smell so delicious."  She sighed, not wanting to add that they reminded her of her childhood home in case Mark should be hurt.  In these less gracious surroundings she had tried to recapture the atmosphere of her mother's house with bowls of quinces, the fragrance of well-polished furniture, and the special Earl Grey tea, but she often realized how different it really was"

Barbara Pym

Wednesday, November 9

Pearly Mussel



I ordered three skeins of new-to-me yarn on Friday and the parcel was already in my mailbox on Monday!  I chose O-Wool's fingering weight yarn in a lovely colorway called Pearly Mussel and am planning to cast on to Melody Hoffman's Hollows Shawl as soon as I finish my daughter's Audrey Hat.  

Sunday, November 6

Sunday

 
 

The perfect Sunday:  Liturgy, roasted turkey with church friends, and a glorious sunset.  Now, it's time for a little Poldark

Saturday, November 5

Sleeping Beauty

 

Sugar Plum and I were able to attend The Sleeping Beauty ballet this afternoon!  It was performed in a convention center nearby and we were fortunate to get front row seats.  It was such an enjoyable outing!   
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