Category: the shelves

yarn along

MarthaKimball6 Comments

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I cast on for Noah’s birthday sweater on Sunday to have it ready for our long day of driving on Monday, taking Phoebe 2.5 hrs away to Brenner Children’s Hospital to their celiac center.  She has hit a more major setback in her healing and our medical team locally is recommending we go to the experts.  It is good for me to keep my nose in the books and my hands busy with gift knitting.  I learned how to knit about a year ago, and I am pretty sure I have knitted every day since learning in October of 2015.  It has now become so much a part of my evening routine that it’s hard to remember what I did before.  I am so thankful for it.

Anyway, I am knitting the Wyatt sweater for Noah in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.  I have hit the point where the pattern is established and it’s now just about 10 inches of knitting ahead.  I love this yarn.  I still need to finish the hood on Phoebe’s sweater and order buttons for both of them, but I wanted to get going on Noah’s sweater as the pattern is more difficult and his birthday comes a few days sooner than Phoebe’s.

I’m still reading Missional Motherhood and on the last chapter or so of Hope Heals, both so good.  The kids and I are addicted to chapter book read aloud time together.  I love that Noah is joining in on it, and because the kids cheer so when I say it’s time to read, Philippa is getting in on the fun, too.  We usually read all together after lunch and before naps/quiet time, so Philippa lays on me some days and sucks her thumb quietly and listens to the chapter book after we read picture books.  We finished Island of the Blue Dolphins recently  which we all enjoyed, and didn’t realize it is based on a true story.  Phoebe has been playing that she is Karana ever since.  We started My Side of the Mountain, which they are enjoying.  I couldn’t resist also starting Little Women with Phoebe, since it is that time of year when I watch the movie over and over again.  I have never read the book though, as far as I can remember, and it is delicious.  It’s so fun to share these things with my girl!

I’m joining up with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along today.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I don’t have a minute to spare but I can’t resist popping in here for a minute to say hello!  I went away for the weekend to a hermitage for some rest + solitude, and I hoped to get more knitting done than I did.  I have finished Philippa’s birthday sweater, and it is blocking now, so it will be done in time for her birthday next week.  I’m debating about casting on a little crown for her, too?  Am I crazy!?

I finished the first sleeve on Phoebe’s birthday sweater, and maybe half way through the second sleeve.  Then the hood, blocking, sewing on buttons and it will be done!  I’m already gauge swatching for Noah’s sweater.  (Both have birthdays the week of Christmas.)  Busy, busy.

I began Hope Heals during my hermitage stay and just read luxuriously for hours on end.  My sister-in-law sent it to me as a gift.  Almost done with it!  Quite the compelling story of a young woman in her late twenties and first years of marriage and motherhood suffering a massive stroke, miraculously surviving, and her journey to recovery.  It’s written by both her and her husband, each telling their parts of the story.  Beautiful and hopeful for me in a season with my own girl and her health issues, our continued battle for answers and hope.  I need to remember that there really is power in hope.

Linking up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along to share our current knits + reads.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I put all other knitting aside to try to get Philippa’s sweater finished in time for her birthday in a couple of weeks.  We have a lot going on right up until her birthday which is the week of Thanksgiving.  I think I will actually finish in time!  I have really loved this sweet and easy chunky-knit pullover sweater for her, knit in Brooklyn Tweed Quarry.  I think it will be so cozy and sort of wish I could make one for myself.

I’m still reading Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman and enjoying it so far!

I’m linking up with Ginny Sheller’s yarn along today.  

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yarn along

MarthaKimball1 Comment

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I’ve made it to bodice/front panel of Phoebe’s phoebe sweater.  It’s very enjoyable to knit and I just split for sleeves last night, so I’m getting excited to finish it up maybe soon?  Phoebe has figured out it is for her by now, and she is so thrilled, as I’ve “tried it on her” a couple of times to check length.  It will be really hard to not give it to her as soon as I’m done, as she could make use of it right away!  (Her birthday is in December, the week of Christmas, so I’m hoping to tuck it away until then, if I can discipline myself.)  I’m trying to also discipline myself not to cast on for another couple of projects but to stay focused on just this one and force myself to knock out the birthday sweaters.  I ordered yarn for Philippa’s and Noah’s sweater, which arrived this week and eeee!  It’ll be my first foray into Brooklyn Tweed.  Also, I cut 10 inches off of my hair this past week and am loving LOVING short hair.  Phoebe snapped this picture of me knitting from our front stoop yesterday.

Also, I’m almost through with Falling Free by Shannon Martin.  I review a fair amount of new releases and get a bit leery of some, thinking most will be predictable or fall into the “Christianity lite” category.  This book by Shannon Martin has been surprisingly different than I expected (shame on cynical me!).  I’ve had a hard time putting it down.  Her writing is rich, textured, both humorous and gut-wrenching.  Her story is real and surprising, instantly likable and terribly convicting.  She shares about giving up a comfortable and typical American lifestyle to move to a small inner-city home in a rough-ish neighborhood and mediocre school system.  She shares about her and her husband giving up lucrative careers in the political realm to work in the prison system, to adopt children of various races and backgrounds.  Her insights and reflections on money, poverty, community, loving our neighbor–they are like a jolt of electricity to stale American Christianity.  Yet somehow her writing doesn’t feel preachy and guilt-inducing.  Instead it leaves me hungry for Jesus, for the true and real Kingdom of God, for His uncanny ways and unconventional means.  It is good, sound theology incarnated, fleshed out in a beautiful story.  I am trying to linger over her words, but find myself turning page after page devouring this book!  In other words–I highly recommend!

I’m linking up with Ginny today and her lovely wednesday gathering of readers and knitters.

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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I cast on Phoebe’s birthday sweater a few days ago.  Appropriately, the pattern is “Phoebe’s sweater” and it’s one she saw and fell in love with awhile ago.  She keeps asking me if I’m knitting it for her and I’m trying to pretend that I’m not, but realistically I will probably need to try it on her throughout, so I’m sure the secret will be out sooner than later.  I am enjoying knitting it so far except that it’s making my wrists ache–maybe because the needles are larger and the yarn is pretty slippery so I’m having to hold it more firmly?  (Also, I finished Philippa’s leksak a few days ago and you can see pictures in my last post.)

I finished Crossing the Waters and definitely would recommend it for someone wanting a fresh look at the Gospels, and a fresh encounter with Jesus.  I’ll post a review soon (behind on those, per usual).  I’ve just begun Shannan Martin’s new memoir Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted about her and her husband’s selling of their farm/dream life and moving into the city to follow God’s call to a “less is more” life.  I’m sure this will be interesting to read/contemplate as B and I look to buy our first home.

I’m linking up today with Ginny’s yarn along today.  
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yarn along

MarthaKimball6 Comments

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Not much time for reading this week but definitely have a hard time putting this one down in the evenings when I do have a minute or two.  Crossing the Waters is a beautiful, insightful read.  Basically the notes and reflections of an Alaskan fisherwoman as she contemplates the Gospels through the lens of her experience living life on the waters.  It feels like a modern day retelling of the Gospel stories which brings them to life again in an achingly winsome way.

I’ve been knitting these 70 yard mitts for my sister-in-law, per her request.  She picked out the yarn color and pattern and they are super fast to knit and its always lovely to work with Madelinetosh yarn!

Linking up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along today.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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Ha!  I haven’t posted since last week’s yarn along.  It was a super busy week, followed by a weekend away visiting Brandon’s parents in South Carolina, and then back to busy with school and catching up on house things.  The weekend away afforded me some extra knitting time, so I cast on a new project, a Leksak tunic for Philippa.  I’m using up some old yarn in my stash that is something probably cheapy that I bought before I knew how to knit (used it for a weaving), but it feels like wool/dk weight.  It’s knitting up quickly.

Also, I’m eager to dive into Crossing the Waters by Leslie Leyland Fields.  I read her book Surviving the Island of Grace about her early life as a salmon fisherwoman on Kodiak Island in Alaska and thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Alaska life.  This book looks promising!  She lends her knowledge and life experience as a fisherwoman as she looks at the biblical accounts of the disciples and their many experiences with Jesus on the water.

I’m linking up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along today, a little wednesday community that shares what we’re currently reading and knitting.  

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yarn along

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I finished the little boy sweater for my nephew.  It’s blocking now, and I’m really happy with it!  I’ll share pics of it soon.  So now I’m working on a pair of socks for me, my first pair for myself.  I love them so far, though I think they have more “positive ease” than I realized, or whatever that means.  They are simple and cozy and so soft.

I’m still in the last few chapters of Moments and Days but this book, Slow Church, arrived at the library so I put other books on hold so I can maybe read it before its due back.  I can’t remember where I first heard about it but I was interested in it because of the way the authors address our current church culture, examining the way the wider cultural value on speed and efficiency has trickled into the way we approach and do church.  Borrowing from the “slow food” movement, the authors relate the McDonalization of our food to the “McDonalization” of our churches, viewing them as “spiritual filling stations, dispensaries of religious goods and services.”  Also, they had me at the byline: cultivating community in the patient way of Jesus.  Something in me stirred at those words–always, this hungering in us for community and something about the “patient” way of Jesus (such a good turn of phrase) that is always so counter to how we tend to do things.  We get away from His narrow way so quickly and easily, don’t we?  I’m enjoying the book so far and it makes me want to do a massive study on church.  Gah.

Linking up with Ginny of Small Things today to share current reads + knits along with her little community.  

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On last sleeve of this sweater.  Almost done!

I’ve been reading Indian Captive to Phoebe for our read aloud.  It is based on the true story of Mary Jemison who was captured and raised by the Seneca Indians from early childhood.  It has been admittedly a bit intense and emotional at a couple of points, in my opinion, and I’ve asked Phoebe throughout if she still wants to read it or if it’s too sad.  She has pled with me to keep going and doesn’t seem bothered by the hardship Mary faced.  We are about two chapters to finishing and both can’t wait to see what is going to happen.  It is a book I will probably make a mental note to revisit when we talk about this period in history, as it is a true story and deals with so many of the emotions and difficulties and prejudices of the Native American/White people conflict.  It has been powerful to gently talk with Phoebe about Mary’s response to difficulty and to adoption by the Native Americans.

I’m linking up with Ginny Sheller today and her weekly yarn along where we share what we are currently knitting and reading.

 

yarn along

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I started this sweater for my nephew a bit ago, then had to rip it out after I split for sleeves and realized my stitch count was way off.  Second time around I have the sizing right, and am busy on the body of the it now.  I’ve been trying to devote all of my attention to it, but my free time for knitting/reading has been a bit less since starting school with Phoebe last week.  It will be late, but hopefully it will be worthwhile!

I’m still reading Moments & Days by Michelle Van Loon and have almost finished the first portion of the book on the Jewish calendar.  It is such a treasure to me to have a Jewish perspective on the feasts of the Lord, and even better that she shows how each feast/celebration finds their fulfillment in Jesus.  The design of God is brilliant.  I’m learning a lot!

I’m linking up with Ginny today and her weekly yarn along, where we share what we’re currently knitting + reading.