The last few days I’ve been working again on this old cross stitch sampler that I started (4 or 5?) years ago when Philippa was a baby. It’s for above her bed, much like the Alphabet sampler I cross stitched for Phoebe. Philippa cannot wait to have it done and has been so thrilled to see me working on it again. I’m stitching the little cottage right now and it feels appropriate as we are all stuck at home. I have a couple more of Alicia Paulson’s cross stitch kits that I’m eager to get to, and I’m committed to working on a letter and a motif each day on this one until its done. Once I sat back down and started on it again, I just loved it so. I do love knitting more than cross stitch and that’s why I seem to devote any free crafting time I have to knitting. However with the current stay-at-home orders and crafting being more important than ever as a pleasant distraction, I have especially wanted to finish off projects that have sat unfinished for a long time. I have portraits to paint of Philippa and Wren for my bedroom, a silhouette of Wren to add to my living room wall, and I’ve even thought of finally getting to those baby books that desperately need work. Maybe its the quarantine, maybe it’s the onset of spring and the desire to organize and tidy.
Meanwhile, I am still knitting, jumping between these Fir socks and a couple other projects (a Nurtured sweater for myself and an Ara shawl for a friend). I really want to cast on something new (spring-y) but I’m trying to discipline myself to get a little farther on these projects before I do so. I am knitting these socks on a 56-stitch count and I can BARELY get them on my foot. Maybe that’s why I’m tempted to put them aside. Once I do get them on my foot they fit ok. I think this yarn has some cashmere content and it isn’t as stretchy or springy (not really my favorite, though I love the color). My plan is to finish this one since it’s so close to the toe, block it and see how it fits then. If it’s still super hard to get on my foot, I may have to rip it out. That just feels really defeating right now when it seems like I don’t much energy for much of anything.
I had to return Gilead to the library and have placed a hold and am waiting to pick it back up. Our library is closed, but they will still do curbside “orders.” I haven’t tried it yet. Meanwhile, I finished off Little Women finally and I must say I’ve never read the book before and it really met and encouraged me each time I picked it up with things I’m facing in my own life. Last night I began reading Adorning the Dark which I’ve been sort of hoarding. It was a gift from my sister-in-law and I’ve been eager to get to it once other books were finished.
I am so grateful for books, yarn and thread to keep my company in these overwhelming and sometimes dismal days. Also, that cute succulent in the hedgehog pot was a gift dropped on my doorstep by a dear friend and it brings a smile every time I see it. I hope you are finding some small pleasant distractions in these uncertain days. We are all living so much smaller and slower, aren’t we? It really could be remarkable what we discover.
Praying and hoping you are well, discovering some good and remarkable things, finding time for pleasant distractions to anchor your days and keep hands busy. I sure do appreciate your reading along here, your comments and contributions! What have you been making or working on? Are you finding energy to do so? I know we are all doing our very best to keep spirits up and minds busy with something other than anxious thoughts.
Linking up with Ginny’s Yarn Along and Nicole’s weekly Crafting On
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everything He gives 