Tag: reading

yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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I set aside my Lila for a week or two because I thought I had knitted an extra 3 inches past the first side shaping.  I was nervous to rip it back and also just frustrated.  So I cast on a hat for Noah with the last skein of the Shelter yarn from his sweater.  (He had asked for a green hat and sweater.)  It was my first time doing cables and it was fun!  I finished that up in a couple of days and then picked back up the Lila and with fresh eyes realized that I had only added about 2.5 inches and I was planning on adding about 2 inches in length anyway.  So I just knitted on.  Why do our brains do this to us?!  I’m so happy to be back knitting it because it is the most relaxing knit.  I’m needing something mindless lately, as life has been so full and overwhelming.  Everyone here (except for Brandon) has been sick with a respiratory virus, and Philippa developed an ear infection to boot.  I am prepping to begin packing up the house for our move.  Etc., etc.

I’m still reading The Broken Way, and probably will be for awhile.  It is so timely.  I’ve been reading Watchman Nee’s old classic The Normal Christian Life as part of my morning study time for the last number of weeks (highly recommend), and it’s amazing how much it reverberates the same message about a cross-shaped life.  The two books seem to be talking back and forth to one another.  Isn’t that just how God works?

Joining with Ginny.  
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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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It’s been a week of knitting consternation.  This Lila sweater that I’m knitting for myself is so blissful to work on, I got a bit carried away and knitted three inches past where I was supposed to to begin side shaping.  I’m nervous to rip back for fear I’ll cause more problems, but I can’t keep knitting on it and the whole thing is so frustrating that I’ve just set it aside for other projects.  I cast on for a pair of simple house slippers for phoebe with some leftover yarn and ran out of yarn on the toe of the second slipper.  She didn’t mind me using a different color for the toe, and I didn’t feel like ripping it out.  I cast on for a bulky cowl for myself with some Rowan Biggy Print that someone gave me and about half way through decided I didn’t like the way the yarn and pattern were looking together.  Grr.  Rip rip rip.

I’ve been saving Ann Voskamp’s new release, The Broken Way, for the new year, and I’ve relished diving into it this week.  Her words are resonating deeply, as they usually do, with where I find myself this January.

Bento bag pictured is from StacyZink on Etsy and I love it!

Joining with Ginny.  
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yarn along

MarthaKimball2 Comments

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I cast on for the Lila sweater (for myself!) last week and got about 2.5 inches into knitting before I realized there was a twist in the knitting.  Grr.  So I ripped back and now am back to where I was.  I’m loving knitting with Shepherd’s wool!  Still need to do the button placket on Noah’s sweater now that it’s finished blocking.

I have stopped pretty much all previous books I was reading to invest that time in reading up on some things for Phoebe’s health.  I’m revisiting Breaking the Vicious Cycle to refamiliarize myself with the SCD diet.  We have hit a pretty major roadblock as I shared a couple of posts back, and I am busy researching when I have a few moments here and there.

Linking up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along where we share what we’re currently reading and knitting.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball5 Comments

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Well, Noah’s birthday came and went and his sweater is still on my needles.  I’m a little disappointed, but it has been a more complicated knit than I anticipated so it’s to be expected.  And I will finish it soon, probably in a couple of weeks once you add in time for blocking and buttons.  But I know he will enjoy it whenever he gets it.  He was much more interested in his other gifts yesterday anyway. 🙂  We wanted to give each child a hand knit sweater and a musical instrument for their birthdays.  He got a small beginners drum set from us and he is so happy.  And he was spoiled rotten by the grandparents, too, so he probably will appreciate the sweater more anyway after the birthday and christmas frenzy is over.

I’m still reading To the Bright Edge of the World, maybe half way through, but not much time for reading the past week or so.  I had a hold request on Letters from Honeyhill: A Woman’s View of Homesteading and it just came into the library so I’m wanting to dig into it but trying to discipline myself to finish what I have going first.

I’m linking up with Ginny of Small Things to share what I’m knitting and reading this week.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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Still reading To the Bright Edge of the World but also daily in this book by Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift, as I have read through it every advent season for the past three years.  Good every time and the Lord always uses it mightily.

Knitting a bright green Christmas surprise hat for Brandon (improvising a pattern).  I promised him a hat a long time ago but have been busy with other projects.  I can only knit on this when he’s not home which leaves very little time for it (since I usually knit in the evenings).  I’m making headway on Noah’s sweater as well, maybe 1/3 of the way through the second sleeve.  Phoebe’s sweater is blocking finally and buttons have arrived for both, so I’m hoping I will finish them both in time for their birthdays (the week of Christmas).  We travel with Phoebe tomorrow afternoon to Winston Salem for her procedure so I should have about 5 hours of car knitting time and I hope to nearly finish Noah’s sweater?  We’ll see.  If you think of it, send prayers our way for our girl, for answers and healing and for courage for us all.

Happy knitting and reading, friends!

xo

I’m joining with Ginny of Small Things for her weekly yarn along link-up.
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yarn along

MarthaKimball10 Comments

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I’m onto sleeves for Noah’s sweater.  I’m so enjoying this knit and can I just say the tubular cast on is brilliant?  But I’m also a little worried these sleeves are looking too big.  It’s weird to do a sweater this way, bottom up and attaching sleeves later and I hope it all comes together well.  I’m starting to think I won’t be done in time for his birthday, which is the 20th.

I picked up To The Bright Edge of the World from the library and am falling happily into this adventurous story of a Colonel in 1885 exploring the vast Alaska territory, and his newly pregnant wife who longs to leave behind social restraints and join her husband in the icy mysterious lands rife with wild animals and rumors of wilder natives.

I’m joining up with Ginny at Small Things for her weekly yarn along link up where we share what we’re currently knitting and reading.  Affiliate links included in this post.

yarn along

MarthaKimball14 Comments

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Almost done with the body of Noah’s sweater and getting ready to split for sleeves.  I haven’t knit a sweater bottom-up before, so it will be interesting to do it this way!  I love love love it so far.  It’s different/challenging enough to keep me interested, but also a very relaxing knit, and who can’t love working with Brooklyn Tweed?  I keep worrying it’ll be too small but I *think* it’s good.  We’ll see!

Reading Come Thou Long Expected Jesus advent readings with Brandon in the evenings before we fall asleep.  I’m also still finishing up Missional Motherhood.  Needing some good fiction next, I think.

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

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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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