Tag: reading

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MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I did in fact visit my favorite local-ish yarn store last week and picked out yarn for noah’s sweater, and cast on.  I am skeptical that I’ll have this finished in the next week, but I am doing my best!  He asked me yesterday if I’m making him a sweater this year and when I’m going to start on it, so that’s a good sign that it’ll be a worthwhile endeavor.  🙂  I’m knitting the “tot lot #10” sweater, using Shepherd’s wool in I think the Shepherd red color way.  Really liking it so far, just a simple knit.  It’s knit from the bottom up, so I’ve finished the body (up to the yoke) and also the first sleeve and now am onto sleeve number two.

I’ve been reading Housewife Theologian, which is a book I’ve had for a few years now and finally getting around to reading.  I’m enjoying it so far.

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DSC_0133I finished the Advent mittens for the kids, but decided to give them to them tomorrow for St. Nicholas’ day.  I’ve printed off some coloring sheets and we’ll make some Christmas cookies as we learn about who St. Nicholas was.  I thought it would be fun for them to have a little something to open on that day.

I need to get started on Noah’s birthday sweater, as his bday is quickly approaching, but while I wait to get the yarn I cast on some mellow shorts for baby girl.  I’ve been dying to cast this on and all I want to knit is baby knits!  🙂  But Noah has asked for a red sweater, and he truly enjoys my hand knits so I can’t resist making him something for his birthday.  I just visited my favorite yarn store today to get yarn for him and will hopefully cast on sometime later today/tonight.

Also, the needle case pictured was a birthday gift from Brandon (though I picked it out) from the etsy shop Pea Pod Thread and I love it.  My only complaint is that I can’t really fit my fixed circulars in there, and definitely no DPNS so I still feel like I need another case for organizing those.  My knit picks interchangeable needles are very happy, though, to have a new home, after the plastic case they came in was completely torn.

I’ve been really enjoying the first week of Advent readings from this book, Hallelujah, by Cindy Rollins.  Her book, Mere Motherhood, has been one of my very favorites.  This one journeys through the scripture and music of Handel’s Messiah, which we have been doing together in the mornings.  We still spend evenings in Ann Voskamp’s Unwrapping the Greatest Gift while the kids color corresponding ornaments to decorate our little wooden Jesse tree.  I grew up listening to Handel’s Messiah every Christmas and it holds a special place in my heart, so it is exciting to share it with the children, even if it may be a bit over their heads.

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DSC_0129I finished Phoebe’s sweater last week, haven’t blocked it yet but will soon.   I’m really happy with it though and think it will fit just right.  I woke up the other morning and my first groggy thoughts were of mittens, wanting to knit mittens for the children as a gift for the first day of Advent.  I started on Sunday and have almost finished Noah’s pair.  I will maybe be able to get these done before Friday?  If not, it’s okay, but they all do need mittens anyway.  I’m using leftover yarn from the first pairs of socks I knit for all the kids.  It’s knit picks wool of the andes.  I’ve been surprised with how well those socks have held up to abuse and machine washing, so I’m hoping these mittens will work well for child’s play also.  I have so many knitting ambitions lately for Christmas or for the new baby, and I’m thankful my knitting mojo is back in full force, but hoping I can keep up!

Phoebe and I started reading Madeline L’Engle’s little book The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas, which my sister-in-law sent us last year.  We’ve been loving it, and I’m planning to do something similar to what the Austin family does in the book for Advent, having one Special Thing to do together each day.  Phoebe and I have been writing down what they did each day of Advent and thinking about our own little list of ideas.  I really wanted to get a tree this past weekend, but we need to clear out some space in our home and organize a few things before we do.  Soon, though, I hope.

What have you been making or reading lately?

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Still working on Phoebe’s leksak.  I had to rip out the front edging part way through, realizing I had picked up the stitches on the wrong side of the fabric.  So I’m just now on the first sleeve.  I’m trying to force myself to work monogomously on this project until done, but I did cast on some Christmas socks for Brandon and trying to work on them secretly during the day if I have chances to knit so they can be a surprise for him.  He’s not a huge sock fan, but I’m hoping if I make a cozy enough pair, he might wear them?

I’ve been eating up this book, The Dirty Life, and loving it so very much.  Highly recommend.  It’s the memoir of a city girl from NY who goes to interview a young farmer and ends up falling in love with him and the farm life.  It’s the story of their adventure together and it’s been very engaging as well as interesting to me, a girl who’s always dreamed a bit about living the farm life.

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I’ve finished up the body of phoebe’s sweater, working on the front edging now.  Once that is done, it will be onto sleeves.  I’m surprised with how quickly it has gone!  I haven’t been able to keep it a secret, trying it on her multiple times (it fits so nicely!), and it will be hard to wait till her birthday to give it to her when these chilly and often dreary November days are upon us.

I’m still reading We Took to the Woods, it seems to take me much longer to make it through books these days.  Still, I carry on.  This one, The Secret life of Sarah Hollenbeck, came in the mail last week for me to review.  I’ve read the first few chapters, and it’s okay so far, but the jury is still out on whether or not I will love it.  It’s the story of a woman with a broken marriage who begins writing steamy romance novels, which become wildly popular, and then she comes to know the Lord.  The story then unfolds of how she deals with her past and the binding book contract she has even as she walks into a new future.

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It’s quite a dreary dark rainy day here, so I had a hard time finding a spot with enough natural light to snap a photo.  Philippa’s sweet little sweater is blocking and I cast on for a leksak tunic for Phoebe a few days ago.  I’m a few inches below the underarm now, so I’m hopeful this will be a fairly quick knit, although a sweater for a seven year old will inevitably take longer.  I’m knitting it with yarn leftover from my Lila sweater, Shepherd’s Wool in color way seabreeze.  I’m knitting her the size 6 because her chest fits those measurements better and I remember this yarn blooming a little bit once blocked.  I seem to always knit their sweaters too big, despite getting gauge when I swatch, so I’m hoping this will actually fit her just right.

I’m still reading We Took to the Woods and enjoying it.  It’s a very peaceful and engaging read for before bed, which seems to be the only time I have lately.

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I suppose I’ve decided to make each of the children birthday sweaters again.  I wasn’t sure if I’d have time to squeeze in 3 sweaters before Christmas, but I’m going to give it a shot.  I’m also very tempted to knit baby knits that I have planned, but really I can work on those in January and February before baby comes so I’m trying to hold off.  I’m thankful that each of the sweaters I knit for the children last year still fit and they have been wearing them again in this chilly weather we’ve been having.  Honestly, it brings me joy every time I see them wearing them!  I decided on this little cropped sweater for Philippa with a lace/cable detail on the front.  I’m adding length so that it’s not quite as cropped and I’m knitting long sleeves, after seeing Brienne Moody’s version on instagram.  I’ve made a few mistakes on the lace/cable panel, but I don’t think it’s terribly noticeable and I’m learning that I’m not a perfectionist when knitting.  Good enough is good enough.  🙂  I’m knitting it with Shepherd’s Wool yarn, which is such a nice yarn to work with and fairly inexpensive.

Also, I’ve been reading We Took To the Woods.  It’s a memoir written by Louise Rich who with her husband made a life in the Maine backcountry.  I’m enjoying it so far, her writing is often humorous and full of tales of the adventures that are inevitable in a mainly subsistence lifestyle.

ps.  Happy Halloween!!

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I knit the sweetest baby bonnet (free pattern!) the other night and just need to attach i-cord ties to it.  For some reason I’m having a mental block about best way to attach?  Any recommendations, knitters?  I have a 3 stitch i-cord.  I feel silly that I can’t figure it out.  I knit this bonnet with madelinetosh dk twist in color way snake.  Love the color so much.

Also, I received this beautiful book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, to review.  I first read this book back in college and it was very special to me.  Recently my sister-in-law sent Phoebe a child’s version of it, which she has treasured.  I am really grateful to have a new pretty copy of this book myself to reread.  This story is a classic, an allegory about journeying from the lowlands of fear to the heights of trust, similar in some ways to Pilgrims Progress.  The cover of this book is stunning and the watercolor paintings sprinkled throughout are truly breathtaking.  A few special features are some coloring pages of key scriptures in the back of the book, as well as some words from the author, Hannah Hurnard, about how the book came to be, and a brief autobiography.  I would highly recommend it to anyone as a great gift book, especially for someone going through a trying or scary season.

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Thanks to Tyndale Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review.

 

yarn along

MarthaKimball6 Comments

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I have been saving and treasuring this naturally-dyed yarn I bought from Ginny Sheller a couple of years ago (after knitting the antiquity mittens with it).  As soon as I knew we were having a girl, I wanted to knit her a newborn camilla sweater in this yarn, hoping I have enough leftover.  I did make some mods to the pattern, as it calls for worsted weight yarn and this yarn is sport.  But I wanted to sweater to be smaller and fit more true to newborn size, so this worked out well.  I didn’t think I would have enough for long sleeves, so I followed another knitters mods for short sleeves with the fan pattern repeated on the sleeves.  Anyway, I bound it off last night and am so happy with it!  I still have a small ball of yarn leftover.  I haven’t blocked it yet, but I couldn’t wait to snap a couple photos of it.  I love the subtle tonal nature of the yarn and it is so soft.  Can’t wait to see a baby snuggled up in hand knits!

Also, I’m pretending I’m reading The Wild Truth.  🙂  I read Into the Wild years ago when it first came out, and just recently heard that McCandless’ sister had written this book telling more of the story of their family life which drove her brother to such extremes.  I was curious to read it, of course, but the only chance I really have to read is in bed at night.  I’ve had a hard time picking it up because I guess I’m worried it will be distressing with tales of fatherly abuse, and I’m not sure I can emotionally handle those sorts of things before falling asleep at night.  I used to be able to read things without it really phasing me–somethings changed!  Is it motherhood?  Or adulthood?  Is it just knowing more about the darkness of the world and the frailty of life?  I don’t know but I’m definitely more sensitive to things that could be potentially depressing or fear-inducing.  Anyway, I do hope to read it but technically haven’t started yet. 🙂

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Making progress on my timber cardigan in brooklyn tweed shelter, color way fossil.  It’s good to be knitting again, albeit slowly.  This is a super enjoyable knit with the loveliest of yarns.  I’m trying to convince myself not to attempt birthday/Christmas sweaters for each of the children, but I find myself accidentally settling on yarns and patterns.  We’ll see.

I’ve been reading this biography of Francis Schaeffer for some time, I put it down when I was really sick with this pregnancy, but have just picked it back up in the last few days.  I have been so impacted by Schaeffer’s writing and work, as well as his wife and children’s writing on homemaking and home educating (Edith Schaeffer’s The Hidden Art of Homemaking, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay’s For the Children’s Sake).  It is fascinating to me to learn about this man and his family and the way they followed Christ and their impact on the Kingdom of God.

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