tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67606543992141788342024-03-19T15:07:56.896-04:00pleximama\'plek-si-'ma-ma\ n [fr. modGr pleximo the act of knitting + Eng mother] a woman who spends most of her time teaching children and keeping house, but dreams of yarn, lace charts, and tailor's chalkpleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-50319356353137993482024-03-01T16:14:00.003-05:002024-03-01T16:17:36.361-05:00yarn along:: march, 2024: scrappy <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVkRM4un96ubrEOKhKTzC2zIqeE4I11VZT7W2dZ6l-ez6mzShIY7cWqyPnutiHksiV38y2xiAwW6GpLHzTXW6o5Usvu_Y8KZl3rLS0JtYiK1D17RZmaXbKrujH1-Sznuk0X9O2jleULdb7Mwja5uRvPiZfgE-J2nIHsgqQ9n_l-1ItdtIkGyHpPN0SRzd/s6000/495AA804-BFF4-40D4-A58D-51810A04BE91.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVkRM4un96ubrEOKhKTzC2zIqeE4I11VZT7W2dZ6l-ez6mzShIY7cWqyPnutiHksiV38y2xiAwW6GpLHzTXW6o5Usvu_Y8KZl3rLS0JtYiK1D17RZmaXbKrujH1-Sznuk0X9O2jleULdb7Mwja5uRvPiZfgE-J2nIHsgqQ9n_l-1ItdtIkGyHpPN0SRzd/w640-h426/495AA804-BFF4-40D4-A58D-51810A04BE91.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnOIuLnbsL8ZEQXvm8fvaRLFk8637fJpCmUgXmgBg9L6qr9aPL9YzQAK-kNGDhetXbC4VsjPyliQSuK3Ctb8NQBwwdWG80ZLc9OaYU1pI4rnBvgpKTixSfUgQSVG16lB3EGzCtpqW6DInNz1a4Bt5FwiQT-53RSW_KWJ-cGgJpB-uzAr6ZDn5XRxHsoq/w640-h426/DSC_1089.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGL8WZ98UC_WiwMnDZmtOj_7rF8wiKcTvN3BatlfmGMFYdEYiXuxKk-Eu-tJ597HA-OBwu9AkJCdBc0jN4ByFuMTL_OTrUlo83yXwvZ8cVEyaKhOQ4qbT4yxpVjAE110B7Tabx8lX1pkHsNA8PcB6tADqNFKNGBA-ZpLzJyy4TFS7ZJJjRsdUaFPiGGvl/s6000/DSC_1096.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGL8WZ98UC_WiwMnDZmtOj_7rF8wiKcTvN3BatlfmGMFYdEYiXuxKk-Eu-tJ597HA-OBwu9AkJCdBc0jN4ByFuMTL_OTrUlo83yXwvZ8cVEyaKhOQ4qbT4yxpVjAE110B7Tabx8lX1pkHsNA8PcB6tADqNFKNGBA-ZpLzJyy4TFS7ZJJjRsdUaFPiGGvl/w640-h426/DSC_1096.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Has the winter gray and brown got you down? How about some color, friends! </p><p>I must have wanted more color in my life when, mid-February, I threw up my hands and down the beige sleeve I was struggling to finish. Instead of the beige, gray, and blue projects that were my February goals, I took a swim through my twenty years of leftover yarn and laser focused on three blankets. I'm surprised there weren't more scraps--I've been more economical with my leftovers than I thought! </p><p>Two blankets you've seen here before, but the third, a granny stripe, is new. For a while I've wanted to make a traditional granny stripe afghan using <a href="https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/granny-stripe.html">Lucy's tutorial</a>, but felt daunted by the first row. Once I overcame that, magic knot balls kept me chugging away at each stripe. It helps that I have a very short memory; each new color was an exciting surprise, even if only five minutes had elapsed since I'd wound the ball. It's addicting, stitching as quickly as I can to see what the next color will be. To be honest, the combination of colors hurts my eyes! My rule for the granny stripe: only fingering weight yarn, NO heathered, Shetland style. Leftover bits from knitted gifts in colors that I don't wear? Perfect for the granny-stripe. Only a foot of yarn left? Awesome. Crazy self-striping? You betcha! Add it to the magic knot ball. My husband loves homely, scrappy looking blankets, so I envision him claiming this one for himself. It's about a third finished, and I've run out of scraps.</p><p>Don't those stacks of squares make your heart leap? I added a few more squares to my collection for the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-coziest-memory">sock yarn square blanket</a>. Only a hundred square pairs until it's a good size! I am in denial about sewing in all the ends. The rule for this blanket: solid, semi-solid, and lightly speckled colors of fingering weight yarn. My <a href="https://www.cherryheart.co.uk/2018/12/battenberg-blanket.html">Battenberg</a> hasn't seen much action, but I've finished about a quarter of the colorful squares I'll need. More denial about ends. The rule: fingering weight, soft colors. I am debating about signing up for a <a href="https://row-one-yarn.myshopify.com/products/carnival-of-color">Row One Mini subscription</a> to get a broader variety of yarns so I can finish these blankets (and enjoy them) sooner. We'll see. </p><p>I've been trying to change my digital habits lately; there's some after-dinner time that can devolve into mindless scrolling if I'm not careful. What better way to change a bad habit than to start a good one? The <a href="https://scholesisters.com/5x5/">Scholé Sisters' 5x5 Reading Challenge </a>arrived on my radar from a couple of sources, and it seems like a better way to spend my time than watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho3IFJiBzrY">adorable bear cubs cross the street</a> or searching for a dress for a fomal wedding we have in May. I came up with a whole lot more than five categories, and I keep thinking of more as I go, so my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M11rpHJxqVY&t=128s">Matris Academia</a> will be full for a long while. </p><p>For British History, I'm reading <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_History_of_the_English-Speaking_Peoples">A History of the English Speaking Peoples</a>.</i> I think I read a bit of the first volume years ago, but this time around I've got six years of CMEC British History under my belt. Names, places, and events all have a place in my mind already; Churchill simply adds to the framework I already have.</p><p>For Geography, there's <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Heather-Looks-journey-childrens/dp/1922634700/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S9WAMCR5UFSU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yhV-kLbWIHbvNCktUB6ALz3JA8cHVTV6M3RqwVsudiLGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.pHEQjFp9UdWHymMmvQ5BQGwXiddo4chHTbswteDYbcY&dib_tag=se&keywords=how+the+heather+looks+by+joan+bodger&qid=1709325993&sprefix=how+the+heather%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1">How the Heather Looks</a></i>, which I have been wanting to read ever since I assigned it to Z her freshman year of high school. It's a dangerous book for my wallet. We have several new books on the shelves thanks to Bodger's shout-outs, and I hope to share about them as we get to them. Little M and I just finished a sail around the isle of Britain in her geography, so this is a nice way to dig a little deeper.</p><p>For Spiritual Growth, Fr. G loaned me his copy of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Mystery-Jesus-Christ-Patristics/dp/B0CFSG7VG3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QDDOQP87DC1M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.y_YeLzFTswFHn1J2hZ7qZ_IgFUQ1ox8E287VJWut7F5uyASkq7MUTSBT1XkOGjEBAT7S8TE3j8Ler3ABby1IQwX8OrOunwYU_5V2ZUXYm23ZaZLjgqV3vq0RFaG810y7d5sgQfLJH7XU8AZ10XQdBA8ZMUirEHqkQWSxvgfSGG0fxWy4LxN6SJbbJtHkITV8rclcNI4EjfggSFOPEs0cEHiw6RiGvjHUSsa6SJ2W6Zc.5ACDgixIhQVjoFq2nxARYvNUnU_lVISyjQWkYPnr0V0&dib_tag=se&keywords=on+the+cosmic+mystery+of+jesus+christ&qid=1709326212&sprefix=on+the+cosmic+mys%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1">On the Cosmic Mystery</a></i>. St. Maximos' writing is notoriously dense, so a page or two each day is all I can manage. Even then, I doubt I fully understand it! </p><p>For Short Stories, I am just finishing E. M. Forster's<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collected-Tales-M-Forester/dp/B004L1Z572/ref=sr_1_3?crid=4IYHHP2CZNY0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6dmtDnHcP8jRvEAJXui7fNxDpki0pT07iicbY0Bn2DF-MAh6zh1s8xSiystMw3lf.Yv5nUquWLbyjb-tnGQtJ1Pz89OndqHB_ZY-WaMxUnNA&dib_tag=se&keywords=em+forster+collected+tales&qid=1709327475&sprefix=em+forester+collected+tale%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-3"> </a><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collected-Tales-M-Forester/dp/B004L1Z572/ref=sr_1_3?crid=4IYHHP2CZNY0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6dmtDnHcP8jRvEAJXui7fNxDpki0pT07iicbY0Bn2DF-MAh6zh1s8xSiystMw3lf.Yv5nUquWLbyjb-tnGQtJ1Pz89OndqHB_ZY-WaMxUnNA&dib_tag=se&keywords=em+forster+collected+tales&qid=1709327475&sprefix=em+forester+collected+tale%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-3">Collected Tales</a>, </i><i>The Machine Stops</i> being the reason I bought the book. Definitely prescient of Forster! Next up is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/treasury-favorites-Turgenev-Hemingway-biographical/dp/B00005X07Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37T9Z4OVER4LP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.D5u0X4uhsJUxNMWotHdh-siFlzFWiQCtJ0qzXsoJIeNhK-TsfccgI2LZ1CYtoxNCwPLITvWbMtcmoekCjruV9rV4_bZXLH2Oc5H7hZUOVZ0-VxPfIP00CTGyr72zQ2VzNebLabWeMUEd_1e5qvcuYT7ONyNLLKgF6AGqvEjSzTRens1ZGhXk6o17IATeXIP6.2111cyLZyEPEnBBL-nLQ3BN9asjlXZJkNFqeGQnHdak&dib_tag=se&keywords=kielty+short+stories&qid=1709326376&sprefix=kielty+short+storire%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1">anthology</a>, which covers so many authors! </p><p>And finally, for Sigrid Undset, I am re-reading the Master of Hestviken tetralogy, since I finally purchased the last volume. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Axe-Master-Hestviken-Vol/dp/0679752730/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1K6JSH42CULAJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EVdaCyu-DpmYhaqtJCAoY9QPBXupFs5qNotTkiJsxd3xVdLPNIHD7V7sTrNHCO3Ctc8J3KZBMPGTDIfTnqS9lsrL8lAGdZ3oGsFbZovU9vph1SkRDJMoHwb6uOQZHlUKUQkwGQ5x1DnpqCa7zq40YIOWKsHeKVri1YHRkjf86RI_bnKKMjzX-KybOJ5UHfAUBvufcKMrqcEuw-Pb88smR7O4vyZrn6Z4Yl6ZxQmcneo.pucLXk4h8_cYTVFnh2zF6fyqFCGPGlDv09ZzePjanmY&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+axe+undset&qid=1709327834&sprefix=the+axe+undset%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1">The Axe</a></i> is on my Kindle, so it's not in the picture above.</p><p>And under all the books is the monstrous notebook for all my narrations! </p><p>Happy Reading and Stitching!</p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-23325810090540742242024-02-02T11:48:00.007-05:002024-02-02T12:21:31.967-05:00yarn along:: february, 2024: project successes and failures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoR9gjtJr0mfM7s3YzrfxgI_nkX4Dp2ZL2BwEQxgvcsQNcUxAVcN6dyiolN3Tpwe8LrOBay4z2H4NOkBHGgVX6-VTOUw-ndAyGXx1rxdWv3ucH73VYfmCRJa3ngI_jMeABnB6nQcx8QOnAEVKHVxlwhGEn6SDxu7CpIOEFvYxuqGN8O3Mb3istDo9PEDW/s6000/7BE1974E-5A63-4872-95B9-2C71AA539BFC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoR9gjtJr0mfM7s3YzrfxgI_nkX4Dp2ZL2BwEQxgvcsQNcUxAVcN6dyiolN3Tpwe8LrOBay4z2H4NOkBHGgVX6-VTOUw-ndAyGXx1rxdWv3ucH73VYfmCRJa3ngI_jMeABnB6nQcx8QOnAEVKHVxlwhGEn6SDxu7CpIOEFvYxuqGN8O3Mb3istDo9PEDW/w640-h426/7BE1974E-5A63-4872-95B9-2C71AA539BFC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ltkhmMq1TEuZ6PIWIQTUHruusQeXDFpqexsik-z5fP49VAOOsXRT10kypbyifOPrNfZopEzK5gVXWVWgAmqI-0YSmWujMMdhm6wKNkeef5K39pW8pvFOCiOV4UJkDBeU9MolOQ6_pRpKLjdVfze_oiSR1dJsgPmZwLPpkWs2BnSsSJU70hfkQKeTZf6w/s6000/CC529ADA-3D24-491D-ABD8-70D5ADE33308.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ltkhmMq1TEuZ6PIWIQTUHruusQeXDFpqexsik-z5fP49VAOOsXRT10kypbyifOPrNfZopEzK5gVXWVWgAmqI-0YSmWujMMdhm6wKNkeef5K39pW8pvFOCiOV4UJkDBeU9MolOQ6_pRpKLjdVfze_oiSR1dJsgPmZwLPpkWs2BnSsSJU70hfkQKeTZf6w/w640-h426/CC529ADA-3D24-491D-ABD8-70D5ADE33308.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The snow has melted, and we've had several rounds of illness visit the house in the past few months. Never sweeping through to lay us all flat at once, and not causing a slow domino cascade either, the germs have touched one here and one there. Our most recent visitor was the flu, and we had just one child in bed with symptoms. I have been making soups like it's my business and pushing fluids, vitamins, tea, oils, and whatever other tinctures my people will deign to try. My current favorite is sage and ginger tisane, a spicy and soothing combination. It's emphatically <i>not</i> my children's favorite.</p><p><i>All</i> that to say, I have had several pockets of rest at home in the last month, and more than usual time to knit. I set some goals for my making this year:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Finish things (knitting <i>and </i>sewing) begun before 2024, with the exception of two blankets. Make progress on those anyway!</li><li>Use up as much stash yarn and fabric as possible. Stash-free by 2026!</li><li>Become a faster knitter.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>I've ticked the box on the first two goals this past month. Off the needles are two pairs of socks, a sweater, a hat, several blanket squares, and a felted mat, although the mat still needs a <a href="https://dottieangel.blogspot.com/2014/11/woolly-tattoos.html">woolly tattoo</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The finished hat was such a disaster I didn't even snap a photo. I used Plötulopi, the last of the plates in my stash, held triple for the bulky Manhattan hat. And even if I hadn't had gauge issues, and loved the resulting fabric, the hat style isn't flattering for me. I felted the thing, hoping to use the resulting fabric, but even that was impossible! With the remaining 34g, I followed the <a href="https://www.artfulhomemaking.com/knitted-dishcloths/">Granny's favorite dishcloth pattern</a> to make a felted mat for catching tea drips. The silver lining is that I used up all the Plötulopi in my stash, and my white counter no longer has tea ring stains! </div><div><br /></div><div>The two pairs of socks I finished were <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/harvest-20">Harvest socks</a> in <a href="https://pirikayarn.thebase.in/">Pirika Sock</a> and some cuff-down vanilla socks in <a href="https://knitterswithoutbordersllc.com/collections/opal-exclusive-yarn/products/opal-kfs100-circus">Opal KFS Circus 100</a>. Although I love the finished product, I didn't <i>love</i> knitting the Harvest sock pattern. I'm going to try again, though. </div><div><br /></div><div>This month's knitting goals include finishing the Paul Klee I started in December 2023 and working on my Briogarter Split shawl, begun May 2022. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm reading <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cloister-Walk-Kathleen-Norris/dp/1573225843">The Cloister Walk</a> </i>for a book club and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jayber-Crow-Wendell-Berry/dp/1582431604/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RBM60EIOBEQB&keywords=jayber+crow&qid=1706892244&s=books&sprefix=jayber+crow%2Cstripbooks%2C78&sr=1-1">Jayber Crow</a></i> for myself, and while I like both of them tolerably, there's something missing in both. For me, at any rate. I need to read more of both to develop this thought. Maybe I'll share what I conclude, or maybe that type of exploration requires tea and in-person discussion. We'll see.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy reading and stitching!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-44705046524222945472024-01-18T20:06:00.006-05:002024-01-19T07:19:31.345-05:00little girl blue<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGUFzhgN8MRvob1-caaqloXIGCXLGWHM1YTYBhwciUzOsY-GTYMd1P_GhXZvLjDP9I6JpI_r4kd1uf17-CxcU67UNJ5GQuYG6_FZL6uknnoB5363uQncuTCltL7-wGGVzYgzsDJMuyS9p4txfvj8SPu1fdO8z62UtDrZ9BYqPeEede_JyCKqLeL_USmvD/s6000/F7A285A0-8565-4FCE-A8D0-947A630F6C3E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGUFzhgN8MRvob1-caaqloXIGCXLGWHM1YTYBhwciUzOsY-GTYMd1P_GhXZvLjDP9I6JpI_r4kd1uf17-CxcU67UNJ5GQuYG6_FZL6uknnoB5363uQncuTCltL7-wGGVzYgzsDJMuyS9p4txfvj8SPu1fdO8z62UtDrZ9BYqPeEede_JyCKqLeL_USmvD/w640-h426/F7A285A0-8565-4FCE-A8D0-947A630F6C3E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2Cx6calMHUVUt9F8fDtC1KuVz0f0vZsCYyjnbCK8h_XtF3-gHX-NcCbygSQ0F1nCB3Aj0YwRByOt0WBcXZoj7NLl6OZReCeQ_mYK0q12zrvImgapDemFOpXWI1UnH_9xaX4AEnSA9eaqa80lNNhAdUGHtuF5W7EwoE8l02QVGppso95v2_GCqDIFZ7yz/s6000/363E5AF5-D829-457B-8364-8FA231ADE6B7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2Cx6calMHUVUt9F8fDtC1KuVz0f0vZsCYyjnbCK8h_XtF3-gHX-NcCbygSQ0F1nCB3Aj0YwRByOt0WBcXZoj7NLl6OZReCeQ_mYK0q12zrvImgapDemFOpXWI1UnH_9xaX4AEnSA9eaqa80lNNhAdUGHtuF5W7EwoE8l02QVGppso95v2_GCqDIFZ7yz/w640-h426/363E5AF5-D829-457B-8364-8FA231ADE6B7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuyqEP40eGeL7qXId3ZK1u07EoFIG7R0rQWo4bKBx4JT7slEkC2Y_6X7GZbsN8na7l44oIEX3QwDhxdcMZnxTksjpG2hjzWQCWcDp_DsVy2lPuZB-DlfVOoaJZpDdFW4KyAp62mE1QnjFUUWV6A4mUN_RGhlOwCw7SHpACVUgUCZFdrNd0fPoWsFKMDVc/s6000/A7F04D3E-E85D-4445-B1A2-2BFD4E910E6F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuyqEP40eGeL7qXId3ZK1u07EoFIG7R0rQWo4bKBx4JT7slEkC2Y_6X7GZbsN8na7l44oIEX3QwDhxdcMZnxTksjpG2hjzWQCWcDp_DsVy2lPuZB-DlfVOoaJZpDdFW4KyAp62mE1QnjFUUWV6A4mUN_RGhlOwCw7SHpACVUgUCZFdrNd0fPoWsFKMDVc/w640-h426/A7F04D3E-E85D-4445-B1A2-2BFD4E910E6F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SFhfS0Vg7wD2iCiYDfk8I2OqTF_3Yf0e6cKPfVZOYU8m2EARFWTDgb2zXIxq2Nof7hMAeMfBs62VqEHqjgF_XJxyNZ9b0hFPC_Hz-VLbC5wqsAH2DfoQrHt2_64lcU4stRkomK5EFEqY76BbFN71SSnWSoDQSl2eSBOxhd6hjoMlLqWu3SS-6R1m9J0q/s6000/3D1C3FCA-DACC-4F24-8288-AC56A38A4AE3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SFhfS0Vg7wD2iCiYDfk8I2OqTF_3Yf0e6cKPfVZOYU8m2EARFWTDgb2zXIxq2Nof7hMAeMfBs62VqEHqjgF_XJxyNZ9b0hFPC_Hz-VLbC5wqsAH2DfoQrHt2_64lcU4stRkomK5EFEqY76BbFN71SSnWSoDQSl2eSBOxhd6hjoMlLqWu3SS-6R1m9J0q/w640-h426/3D1C3FCA-DACC-4F24-8288-AC56A38A4AE3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is <i>thrilled</i>. I think I am, too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTquO9FbyNxR4azhyphenhyphenJ23in1AGWhIuWtUzZDa8acmGjH6S85VhzcEu0WhAxNNiFqWvkBvQOgh_qmR_joNEHfzCmJ7zF8WlMrvj6t4IaPeGZ4T3y0H4fekT8m26xpu6SFRK8TWo2Irj76Q35Y5Jg0vzV3o-SQHyk0ToWT7wcrv9GWT4nhbquLF6h9LuXOrs/s6000/4CDA9889-DCD8-4814-B65D-062C854F84D2_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTquO9FbyNxR4azhyphenhyphenJ23in1AGWhIuWtUzZDa8acmGjH6S85VhzcEu0WhAxNNiFqWvkBvQOgh_qmR_joNEHfzCmJ7zF8WlMrvj6t4IaPeGZ4T3y0H4fekT8m26xpu6SFRK8TWo2Irj76Q35Y5Jg0vzV3o-SQHyk0ToWT7wcrv9GWT4nhbquLF6h9LuXOrs/w640-h426/4CDA9889-DCD8-4814-B65D-062C854F84D2_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div><b>the details</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>pattern:</b> <a href="https://www.petiteknit.com/en/products/ellens-cardigan-4">Ellen's Cardigan by PetiteKnit</a>, size 8-9</div><div><br /></div><div><b>mods: </b>Rather than knit the buttonband as I knit the body, I cast on, put the buttonband stitches on hold, and then picked up the buttonbands after I finished the body. I had grand plans to knit an afterthought buttonband and seam it to the body, but after several attempts at it, I threw in the towel. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>yarn:</b><a href="https://knittingforolive.com/collections/knitting-for-olives-merino/products/knitting-for-olive-merino-dusty-petroleum-blue"> Knitting for Olive Merino </a>held together with <a href="https://knittingforolive.com/collections/knitting-for-olive-soft-silk-mohair/products/knitting-for-olive-soft-silk-mohair-dusty-petroleum-blue">Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair</a>, both in the color Dusty Petroleum Blue. The second picture captures the color the best. She looks so lovely in blue! I started with 125g of the mohair and 200g of the merino; I used 81g of the mohair and 140g of the merino, leaving me with enough of both to make an extra-small <a href="https://www.petiteknit.com/en/products/sophie-shawl">Sophie Shawl</a>. Stay tuned.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>needles:</b> Oof. My gauge for knitting back and forth is incredibly loose. </div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>3.0 or 3.25 mm needle for the body</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>4.0 mm needle for the sleeves</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>2.25 mm needle for the hem, buttonbands, and cuffs.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>buttons: </b>These are just some random buttons I found at Joann. They're studier than the average shell button, but have a similar shimmer.</div>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-9160019472770062582024-01-03T20:17:00.006-05:002024-01-03T20:17:31.992-05:00yarn along:: january 2024, a fresh start<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmMzBrc-AkonZ5NnD08dbl0g91Q9_5Yb219_-90MaQwJsWaED05WTZrKZnqjFrooKxEDGpMhYMaUVEV-4tTlP0LuhFVzaM52KRajLbAtzOFFlVsE2GUmlYxhNRFkckdcZg10ZH-pHUWiw9pBPPUhGCRqb4qq53AyTMJAY5RBHgVLtHzQ9Q15rlr3NC8SK/s6000/1F874E7B-BAF6-4BEB-9A50-F3D5A19EEA20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmMzBrc-AkonZ5NnD08dbl0g91Q9_5Yb219_-90MaQwJsWaED05WTZrKZnqjFrooKxEDGpMhYMaUVEV-4tTlP0LuhFVzaM52KRajLbAtzOFFlVsE2GUmlYxhNRFkckdcZg10ZH-pHUWiw9pBPPUhGCRqb4qq53AyTMJAY5RBHgVLtHzQ9Q15rlr3NC8SK/w640-h426/1F874E7B-BAF6-4BEB-9A50-F3D5A19EEA20.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It seems just a moment ago I was writing <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2018/01/starting-fresh.html">a similarly titled post</a>. The turning of <i>every</i> year is a fresh start, but a new year in a new home and surrounded by new people...well, that's in its own category. I am using every bit of myself to carve out a peaceful, beautiful environment, despite our calendar telling us go, go, go. G, Little M, Z, and I are savoring the last few lazy, empty days before we open our books again. Or at least books that mean lessons; pleasure reading has known no bounds these past few weeks.</p><p>The littles and I visited a new-to-us used bookstore and came home with quite a haul! Some books were given as gifts or sent far away. I kept very few, but <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Clock-Howard-Pyle/dp/B087SMDP19/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JAA1EHLNQ377&keywords=the+wonder+clock+howard+pyle&qid=1704329433&sprefix=the+wonder+clock+howard+pyle%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-1"><i>The Wonder Clock</i></a> is one of them. We've been reading a chapter aloud here and there. G seems too old for read-alouds, but he asked me to "pause" my reading tonight so he could go get something and then told me to "play" once he returned to the room. I like it <i>almost</i> more than the<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tale-Collections-Andrew-1965-1968/dp/B00D66AZ5U/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2ARKQNOOHWIAF&keywords=andrew+lang+fairy+books+complete+set&qid=1704329482&sprefix=andrew+lang+%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-10"> Andrew Lang volume</a>s, or Grimm's. Pyle's tales definitely have more humor!</p><p>I am working through <a href="https://amazon.com/Minimalista-Step-Step-Better-Wardrobe/dp/1984859277/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10385DIA4691R&keywords=minimalista&qid=1704329779&sprefix=minimalist%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1"><i>Minimalista</i> </a>like a <strike>boot-camp</strike> workshop for purging and redecorating our house. A part of my household notebook (the one I started when I was reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Rule-Life-Bring-Order/dp/1928832415/ref=asc_df_1928832415/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312371602209&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10567005285844334974&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003636&hvtargid=pla-490575977886&psc=1&mcid=773df45c1c193dfd9c36aa1b430a93d1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61011965686&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312371602209&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10567005285844334974&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003636&hvtargid=pla-490575977886&gclid=CjwKCAiAqNSsBhAvEiwAn_tmxSH_BIL6ZyF29fRv-nIiElQrsCSisiDYrY6bsdm82XvxCS-gwdoJCBoCibkQAvD_BwE">this book</a> last winter) has been relegated to an exhaustive, room-by-room checklist. This time of year brings with it an urge to reset, and I am leaning in. You'd think that our summer move would have scratched that itch, but, no. <i>Now</i> is phase two of the move: I fit our possessions into a new space, like puzzle pieces.</p><p>At night I read a little of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Comes-Archbishop-Vintage-Classics/dp/0679728899/ref=sr_1_4?crid=RJ5L18MOLEJG&keywords=death+comes+for+the+archbishop%2C+willa+cather&qid=1704330090&sprefix=death+comes+%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-4">Death Comes for the Archbishop</a>, </i>another gorgeous used book from our new spot. I've not read much Cather. I don't know why, as I am enjoying this one immensely. </p><p>Knitting? There's just a little of that happening. Little M's sweater spent a week in button band purgatory, and I tried several iterations before going with version that worked best. More details on that when I post the FO.</p><p>My Paul Klee has a yoke, of which I am <i>very </i>proud. It took quite a bit of playing, I can assure you. And several pages of my knitting notebook are evidence of color pairing fails. But! it all came together organically, and I swapped and switched colors as the yoke grew. I blocked the whole thing before I started knitting the raglan increases, and it is so, so soft. I have enough left of all of the colors to knit a fair isle vest or sweater. Stay tuned!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-4882022412186513152023-12-07T08:21:00.008-05:002023-12-11T07:40:09.143-05:00Albini for me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMStYnh3QwCyT5H5Ya7AmnhkFICkYBHbmgc00AdqEQHwcBNmQSh0nkkbr5Jhafa8Yfz0oXFcj1PF7YZylIxYiFL8Eqc3mGWHK80OUWXgrBwsZwsLI6XplTGU_YYgaokLPP2bKwjk8JRncwKyFfv3LaKPDHy3vrVHa__5SQAu3QKpoIjfRxcH7m8eCQ5GT/s6000/94E777C7-1583-414E-8057-984BD7B857C6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMStYnh3QwCyT5H5Ya7AmnhkFICkYBHbmgc00AdqEQHwcBNmQSh0nkkbr5Jhafa8Yfz0oXFcj1PF7YZylIxYiFL8Eqc3mGWHK80OUWXgrBwsZwsLI6XplTGU_YYgaokLPP2bKwjk8JRncwKyFfv3LaKPDHy3vrVHa__5SQAu3QKpoIjfRxcH7m8eCQ5GT/w640-h426/94E777C7-1583-414E-8057-984BD7B857C6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcaaD-VFPDslRCj7UpK-6F4wiDfpv43UaMPtrRjyfhQZ6betZ6ns74HGFzV4WEmT7xzilZ1fGCXKrMwsEQBCC0aPbRq3eW68XXwMRFSIGnPjg4OqBZGD04uuxCCL_1Gudc3WwjFL6qDtpl7afBR1Hij5QJhfjDynaGg59BXuV4OsGeeZOLoS4ULS9I3mO/s6000/4B1D3393-118B-4C96-B53E-C7DDF8D1EDF3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcaaD-VFPDslRCj7UpK-6F4wiDfpv43UaMPtrRjyfhQZ6betZ6ns74HGFzV4WEmT7xzilZ1fGCXKrMwsEQBCC0aPbRq3eW68XXwMRFSIGnPjg4OqBZGD04uuxCCL_1Gudc3WwjFL6qDtpl7afBR1Hij5QJhfjDynaGg59BXuV4OsGeeZOLoS4ULS9I3mO/w640-h426/4B1D3393-118B-4C96-B53E-C7DDF8D1EDF3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj_pEDk3CsT6tYHtkITkM_YW08Co8aCepDxtFOZGLw-fcc0F0UE2CNQGEPOZpZa175m1Ors12dODil3toBA8XLgn-jc5w5CoFtycAk_fl-WGdTIfw0UPVMNp3xWlXhof56wcaTaW-g5qH5rGxDQ6q8LlHg6U4BPDfSMQm-0VB7YX61HzccPcSOounDuEi/s6000/6DCF4038-74B7-4A93-A78C-39DDDA87463A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj_pEDk3CsT6tYHtkITkM_YW08Co8aCepDxtFOZGLw-fcc0F0UE2CNQGEPOZpZa175m1Ors12dODil3toBA8XLgn-jc5w5CoFtycAk_fl-WGdTIfw0UPVMNp3xWlXhof56wcaTaW-g5qH5rGxDQ6q8LlHg6U4BPDfSMQm-0VB7YX61HzccPcSOounDuEi/w640-h426/6DCF4038-74B7-4A93-A78C-39DDDA87463A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJr0T4MwYj34WvnpChHm_YtX9bn1LxCWzYcpL0SBbJmbUOVkVI3XPER0hS3tiLV_qhcpsDcPvtFIIM12oD6mkEoeXkfumR1i0RzVsNGvEUGSyjg62D1tYBzW5tXny0u3MnH5gkBn0USI66GVOIZ7NZ9tGPXkHBThZc0sRm8xuXjXHNX5lb6u8QcWf-4tW/s6000/41213DD9-7A76-4E4D-95B6-7AC4ACC9EA4D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJr0T4MwYj34WvnpChHm_YtX9bn1LxCWzYcpL0SBbJmbUOVkVI3XPER0hS3tiLV_qhcpsDcPvtFIIM12oD6mkEoeXkfumR1i0RzVsNGvEUGSyjg62D1tYBzW5tXny0u3MnH5gkBn0USI66GVOIZ7NZ9tGPXkHBThZc0sRm8xuXjXHNX5lb6u8QcWf-4tW/w640-h426/41213DD9-7A76-4E4D-95B6-7AC4ACC9EA4D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf62BhRivfU49Xd76L64dymTMC4RCtEBJ4LM9JPLU7Aadb-GomCOIeJ_V8hyphenhyphen8nqFAnlDG15yJ_WxLuGBSrzpFGbpkLoEyI2iqYal-wST6h03W1JzapbrFBjYXm4lny3e6klXIDeZo8rssqtEqeJXZaOyvUfnKDc80RK0e5s55-pbP4R5vyfjVa2hbT5z2y/s6000/B64B3453-3FFC-484F-A787-8A727E25FC6D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf62BhRivfU49Xd76L64dymTMC4RCtEBJ4LM9JPLU7Aadb-GomCOIeJ_V8hyphenhyphen8nqFAnlDG15yJ_WxLuGBSrzpFGbpkLoEyI2iqYal-wST6h03W1JzapbrFBjYXm4lny3e6klXIDeZo8rssqtEqeJXZaOyvUfnKDc80RK0e5s55-pbP4R5vyfjVa2hbT5z2y/w640-h426/B64B3453-3FFC-484F-A787-8A727E25FC6D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-Q4u7nz-H4EdU8chXRaw4DBE-FwCBbh3dycmuJRIgK6m_ZwncvQZUVdleH_1xpjyh6PPR6ZqLgeizsSp6BD5rcqWIyxa82UhUHqW3a-kns7uE6qCdeTPcV50a3v7i11eunAVrg8o0R8OeEM5dplnawXxVa-m_PU1Dv6F0uNHpK53SezhMBswZEPBksj7/s6000/11B8399D-1F16-4D2E-B28E-3231B5CF24E6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-Q4u7nz-H4EdU8chXRaw4DBE-FwCBbh3dycmuJRIgK6m_ZwncvQZUVdleH_1xpjyh6PPR6ZqLgeizsSp6BD5rcqWIyxa82UhUHqW3a-kns7uE6qCdeTPcV50a3v7i11eunAVrg8o0R8OeEM5dplnawXxVa-m_PU1Dv6F0uNHpK53SezhMBswZEPBksj7/w640-h426/11B8399D-1F16-4D2E-B28E-3231B5CF24E6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">There's something about</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thegentleknitter/videos" style="text-align: left;"> The Gentle Knitter's </a><span style="text-align: left;">aesthetic that appeals to me: soft colors, rustic* yarns, simple patterns. Despite not producing any podcasts recently, and I sincerely hope her health is improving, Nicole makes choices that make many of her garments timeless. I've watched her 43 episodes several times and knit many of the patterns she has highlighted, although in different colorways.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;">One sweater she made, and has highlighted in several of her videos, is the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/albini">Albini Cardigan</a> by <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/tete-beche-knitwear">Orlane Sucche</a>. The first time Nicole showed it on her podcast, I <i>knew</i> there was a place in my wardrobe for it. I've knit an Orlane pattern <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2021/11/break-week.html">before.</a> She's a whiz at designing garments that <i>fit, </i>or at least fit<i> me</i>. I needed a cardigan in brown to replace the <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2013/05/finished-friday.html">Tea Cardigan I made a decade ago</a>, which was out at elbows and never quite fit properly. So this summer, in the midst of packing and bustle, I cast on and knit the yoke in the space of a few days, and then most of the body in another few days. And then the sweater sat until the end of October, when I realized I was a few inches shy of finishing the body. The cardigan then became my only knitting when I was at home, as it was too large to be portable. Before I knit the sleeves, I finished all of the edgings and buttonbands. I adore the shawl collar and foresee using it it a self-drafted pattern or in <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/billie-cardigan-3">this cardigan</a>. I'm so happy with how my own Albini turned out! It's incredibly warm, and I've been wearing it non-stop.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkPNcxMilOdQqnARY6qBK0-0X5p_9-CK71jXDUdOoiO1HxTvKb02uUYD8TUOeqQI4xTMEKtlQCgg1PsKwAUDDJG7DQxOheN68Qo7OCGkxHe2RNfuInk4hMcO9UHDAJztjgzVoGtXb6g3x8hGfd0zpWm1MQ7UA_gXm8VYqWT00lwcQuuo3bPLu3uZm69wm/s6000/1B9CBFF1-CDD4-4004-852E-40AEB7167E09.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkPNcxMilOdQqnARY6qBK0-0X5p_9-CK71jXDUdOoiO1HxTvKb02uUYD8TUOeqQI4xTMEKtlQCgg1PsKwAUDDJG7DQxOheN68Qo7OCGkxHe2RNfuInk4hMcO9UHDAJztjgzVoGtXb6g3x8hGfd0zpWm1MQ7UA_gXm8VYqWT00lwcQuuo3bPLu3uZm69wm/w640-h426/1B9CBFF1-CDD4-4004-852E-40AEB7167E09.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The details</span></p><p><b>pattern:</b> <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/albini">The Albini by Orlane Sucche</a></p><p><b>mods: </b>My gauge was a tad off, so I simply picked the instructions that fit with my own gauge to make the measurements I wanted. For the sleeves I used the instructions for one size smaller than the body. Instead of the center split hem, I made two splits on the sides. I was worried that the hem would flip up, so I decreased the body stitches by 1/3 before I knit the braid detail.</p><blockquote><blockquote><div></div></blockquote><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>yarn:</b> <a href="https://harrisville.com/products/shetland-cone?variant=42386631327908">Harrisville Designs Shetland Cone in the color Toffee</a>, held double <br /><span>The color is</span> much cooler in person, more like a mouse brown than warm toffee. I bought three cones and used about 550g of yarn. I forgot to weigh the sweater before I sewed on the buttons, so that's a rough estimate. I still have quite a bit of yarn left.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>needles:</b> 3.0 mm for the body</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>2.5 mm for the edging</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>3.5 mm for the sleeves</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>buttons</b>: purchased from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/StockwellCeramicsUK">Stockwell Ceramics UK</a>, a shop I really like. I used <a href="https://www.sewingworkshop.com/new-blog/when-to-use-a-backer-button">backing buttons </a>from my stash.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">* I dislike this term for minimally processed, naturally dyed yarn or yarn from specific sheep breeds, but can't think of a better one.</div>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-35082220076041514572023-12-06T16:59:00.008-05:002023-12-07T06:03:25.293-05:00yarn along, december 2023: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqviGBsL7pqpVIMzJzdBG1tKcgyvjBg17TjXb6A3jjJt-ckgUtxyPHkaTGBP6CLdGrblCm_6ZKPlK32P8aV3Ch3fkH8C4tsDwS03xr3V5NIlHQ0e3VoteUvRmsUX95D-OFZhU4aG43p07ijzWa3B3aqI8XzNrugNT2ESDNwEBcXNJwi1lW_xiEfEVEwDF/s6000/1C8184BD-37DE-45F3-99D4-3E93657A2213.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqviGBsL7pqpVIMzJzdBG1tKcgyvjBg17TjXb6A3jjJt-ckgUtxyPHkaTGBP6CLdGrblCm_6ZKPlK32P8aV3Ch3fkH8C4tsDwS03xr3V5NIlHQ0e3VoteUvRmsUX95D-OFZhU4aG43p07ijzWa3B3aqI8XzNrugNT2ESDNwEBcXNJwi1lW_xiEfEVEwDF/w640-h426/1C8184BD-37DE-45F3-99D4-3E93657A2213.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bITnVGIw2Jvk90Hh4Nr4AHibkHYRYJicsU_OZUzHvLPM3RxeUqh3beWrJ84DkQCyq3SIzaZxKjfwU5qBwBMDZuURdBX5-hBj5HJ9cyIRBqHs6lcgXVLiSxFz13vLeUzNo608VzDrZ74buddXivDxLY8cnjlxmIFTS0xqbi-JAHFtMrESRtViB1vNF5Pj/s6000/8761FD18-44EE-425D-8BE9-D93A67556DDB_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bITnVGIw2Jvk90Hh4Nr4AHibkHYRYJicsU_OZUzHvLPM3RxeUqh3beWrJ84DkQCyq3SIzaZxKjfwU5qBwBMDZuURdBX5-hBj5HJ9cyIRBqHs6lcgXVLiSxFz13vLeUzNo608VzDrZ74buddXivDxLY8cnjlxmIFTS0xqbi-JAHFtMrESRtViB1vNF5Pj/w640-h426/8761FD18-44EE-425D-8BE9-D93A67556DDB_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By 4:45 pm, a murky gloom settles on our street, and the feeble light from the street lamps makes dim fuzzy circles on the pavement. We have had just a few opportunities to embrace the seasonal <i>hygge</i>, but we try anyway. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mohair is definitely cozy, and a recent offer of free shipping to the US from <a href="https://knittingforolive.com/">Knitting for Olive</a> enticed me to order enough for a sweater for myself and for Little M. The beginnings of the above sweater, in dusty petroleum blue merino + mohair, are for her. The pattern is a Petite Knit <a href="https://www.petiteknit.com/en/products/ellens-cardigan-4">cardigan</a> (with pockets!). She has been begging for a sweater, and I am happy to oblige. My only critique of the yarn is that the merino is a little thinner than I expected.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have begun a Paul Klee sweater for myself, after a deep dive into my Shetland yarn stash and a trip to a local yarn shop for some Holstgarn and Biches et Bûches. It's early days, so I'm still in the "is this working?" stage. Updates to follow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My eyes won't stay open long enough to read anything these days, unless it's my early morning reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has taken me thirteen years to read through <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arena-Offering-Contemporary-Monasticism/dp/0884650111/ref=sr_1_2?crid=RAALUZG3XPHB&keywords=the+arena+branchianninov&qid=1701898869&sprefix=the+arena+branchianninov%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-2" style="font-style: italic;">The Arena</a>; while the guidance it contains was specifically written for monastics, there are bits that can apply to the average layperson as well. It's hitting the spot right now. Also a thinking book, <i>Patterns for Life</i> discusses the intersections of Charlotte Mason educational philosophy and Orthodoxy. I'm savoring it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-75288730316196489802023-11-10T15:54:00.006-05:002023-11-10T15:54:36.834-05:00Finished!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS4Z4-8bGVWzokGuivnXMBeO7o8fmTX_JzfXR8FoRRWcTI8fLJ5quNvricLnRFK6B_6t6DWlzaSF9gDEDMTfQyJfyVaJ9fzBMhmK51UVSvcSY3n5nT3pmDN8SPUVJ6rlWfqHstGnwWlXIHBfoh_krsA0Y6dLqzRApSAeB1Wc2WB4-U3j7cQOGOXFOqKOQ/s6000/F9AE17FC-C798-4266-B724-E0B3969B33AB_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS4Z4-8bGVWzokGuivnXMBeO7o8fmTX_JzfXR8FoRRWcTI8fLJ5quNvricLnRFK6B_6t6DWlzaSF9gDEDMTfQyJfyVaJ9fzBMhmK51UVSvcSY3n5nT3pmDN8SPUVJ6rlWfqHstGnwWlXIHBfoh_krsA0Y6dLqzRApSAeB1Wc2WB4-U3j7cQOGOXFOqKOQ/w640-h426/F9AE17FC-C798-4266-B724-E0B3969B33AB_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbtqjxFGIGh5OreXGNegDutYsIlWijFfqRybkniijY4n9ylazRdFoIZJyHUZcESgUjn9TKBh1_tDjv_lNhvsI1_Z0Qlp91iYJ95IGf8GPPu_dWP4YXA4RGFgX-hUlIosf9avjDGZ6cTr0vV3TjC1yKfmEEJ-VQAgsAu38Qbt1Q3q4gt4kDNzSSrJ6Sp02/s6000/D4B21BEB-52E3-4382-BD2E-6216200C32F1_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbtqjxFGIGh5OreXGNegDutYsIlWijFfqRybkniijY4n9ylazRdFoIZJyHUZcESgUjn9TKBh1_tDjv_lNhvsI1_Z0Qlp91iYJ95IGf8GPPu_dWP4YXA4RGFgX-hUlIosf9avjDGZ6cTr0vV3TjC1yKfmEEJ-VQAgsAu38Qbt1Q3q4gt4kDNzSSrJ6Sp02/w640-h426/D4B21BEB-52E3-4382-BD2E-6216200C32F1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUg99xU5h65Jfq5qDfnvgKywd7so1KkmPtSp9jA9fNqo-7q23a15hP6MHKyEeLAeQZgq_gALjbn1BFhuVwUjkhlZr6qx9ub6tt_75iAT4BoNPUM0KccLrNsXUoH4ptjc3JNMsDhtoybUeTYTjBYYbXO8Ww5gpLVMldBK06B6uPYwcAoUEDj6zl8k3L7yV/s6000/7D74ABCA-75B8-4B86-B811-7A7FA5DDC6A7_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUg99xU5h65Jfq5qDfnvgKywd7so1KkmPtSp9jA9fNqo-7q23a15hP6MHKyEeLAeQZgq_gALjbn1BFhuVwUjkhlZr6qx9ub6tt_75iAT4BoNPUM0KccLrNsXUoH4ptjc3JNMsDhtoybUeTYTjBYYbXO8Ww5gpLVMldBK06B6uPYwcAoUEDj6zl8k3L7yV/w640-h426/7D74ABCA-75B8-4B86-B811-7A7FA5DDC6A7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The photos are neither very creative or true to color, but the shawl is finished. Whew! That's such an accomplishment in this season. Let me share the nutshell version of the details before I need to make dinner!</p><p>D E T A I L S</p><p><b>pattern: </b><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moorland-shawl-3">Moorland Shawl </a>by Tania Barley</p><p>Even though the shawl pattern is meant for Höner Och Eir Nutiden, I knew the fingering weight would yield the size I like. I knit 6 repeats of chart 2 and 1 repeat of chart 3. </p><p><b>yarn:</b> <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/blue-sky-fibers-woolstok-light">Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Light</a> in the color Wild Thyme, 527.6 yards used</p><p>I bought two skeins as souvenirs in the summer of 2022 and knew they needed to be a textured shawl featuring garter and a row of slipped stitches. I had to purchase a third skein to finish.</p><p>The color is very dark and rich, and difficult to capture with a camera. I'm delighted with the result, despite losing the texture of the flower stitch somewhat in the dark green.</p><p>The yarn is a soft and squishy single strand, like the rustic version of Madelintosh Merino Light.</p><p><b>needles: </b> maybe US 4 or 5 bamboo</p><p><b>mods: </b> none, other than the yarn</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-80690280435109379552023-11-01T14:34:00.005-04:002023-11-28T07:54:03.970-05:00yarn along:: november 2023, giving grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLp9kzdTv_tcblTxQQHCconbKfFYXWXTnrQuB2AtiJUL2Vx_h5Tm0rYL3mvSzwTg8hoLKV08eY-yrGXYdZr07ytqdDgB1e-O9dR1wtAp2aeybhyJimej46fgGFciQ1y6upaW_Tmm0YkK63GNs9o3_c8r_1hyASY_yYZm6N1vcP4OP4sVHzjBNfIINoxYS/s4526/557C5CC0-2D81-48C5-A043-E6C8B1174194_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3148" data-original-width="4526" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLp9kzdTv_tcblTxQQHCconbKfFYXWXTnrQuB2AtiJUL2Vx_h5Tm0rYL3mvSzwTg8hoLKV08eY-yrGXYdZr07ytqdDgB1e-O9dR1wtAp2aeybhyJimej46fgGFciQ1y6upaW_Tmm0YkK63GNs9o3_c8r_1hyASY_yYZm6N1vcP4OP4sVHzjBNfIINoxYS/w640-h446/557C5CC0-2D81-48C5-A043-E6C8B1174194_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>There were more good days last week than hard ones. <i>It takes time to adjust to a new place</i>, I keep telling myself. I'd forgotten the pains and toil of moving six years ago, just like I'd forget the effort of childbirth until the day of my next labor. I was hoping to find a blog post that could remind me of the blur that was August 2017 to December 2017, but I didn't do much writing during our first four months in Philadelphia. All I found was a small re-cap in <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2018/01/starting-fresh.html">January of 2018.</a> My words from the past, written while I was still reeling from the move and before I had found my dearest friends in Philadelphia, encourage me in the present.</p><p>Meaningful connections <i>take time. </i>It really does take a whole year of living in a place to settle. We are doing the best that we can, so we need to heap <i>grace</i> on one another in abundance. Grace for myself, when I mistake the time and place of the basketball game for the boys, or get lost yet again despite GPS, on the way to a new meeting place. Grace for my sons, who each face some significant challenges amidst the joys of being settled in a lovely community. Grace for my daughters, one of whom is away and will never really call this place home. I hope she feels that <i>we </i>are her home. </p><p>All that to say, October's schedule left me scant knitting time. I made a little progress on a few projects: the green shawl, a pair of socks, some sock yarn squares. The results are not especially beautiful, so I'm showing you some newly acquired yarn that will become more socks for me. Just a few more pairs and I will be able to replace all of my worn-out ones.</p><p>Reading, too, has fallen by the wayside. Even pre-reading for next term, which starts in two weeks, isn't close to complete! I have, however, found little snippets of time before the day <i>really</i> begins to read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Song-Nagasaki-Takashi-Nagai-Scientist-Survivor/dp/158617343X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KJOYY6MJI9JT&keywords=a+song+for+nagasaki&qid=1698838178&sprefix=a+song+for+nagasaki%2Caps%2C72&sr=8-1"><i>A Song for Nagasaki</i>,</a> which is assigned reading for <a href="https://thecmec.org/">The CMEC</a> high schoolers. Oh, my. Some mornings have found me tearfully turning the pages of horrific details about the bombing of Nagasaki. I don't know if my tears fell for the tragedy of the past, or for the atrocities currently unfolding in Israel and Gaza. Lord, have mercy. </p><p>I leave you with words of hope. May you discover something glorious in the small things of your daily life.</p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></h4><blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There are some people who write haiku poetry to make a living. You know what I think? We should make our living become haiku poetry. You might toil at a clattering factory or on a tossing fishing boat or be battling to make a living in a dingy shop. There are people who have written inspiring haiku in such unpoetic situations. And we, if we really want to, can make each day into a poem. Of course we have to create a heart that is both serious and light! We have to gaze below the surface of things, search out the hidden beauty that is everywhere and discover glorious things all around us. Then each day becomes a haiku poem.<br /></span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"> - Takeshi Nagai quoted in <i>A Song for Nagasaki</i><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-42818941102493207752023-10-04T13:28:00.005-04:002023-10-07T06:55:23.892-04:00yarn along:: october 2023, new rhythms<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknp2M_oxqCHT0Rhq9t9Otdut6JT_HOcL7PekpS3IsTWttTt4zqB4Tz-2N44KclCQhtjEbjnCudKIwnzouK4R7BCn4Pp0OQjUrSufDmfBvUwd1c7flwVyTFIxFzFZDeQL1n8xod2FKWON4GXDwajWHFfKAL7skG_ICuEJxT7x1MErFIWBQGqoDuvhAMlCi/s6000/DSC_0691.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknp2M_oxqCHT0Rhq9t9Otdut6JT_HOcL7PekpS3IsTWttTt4zqB4Tz-2N44KclCQhtjEbjnCudKIwnzouK4R7BCn4Pp0OQjUrSufDmfBvUwd1c7flwVyTFIxFzFZDeQL1n8xod2FKWON4GXDwajWHFfKAL7skG_ICuEJxT7x1MErFIWBQGqoDuvhAMlCi/w640-h426/DSC_0691.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Little things, like the height of the light switches or the number of steps from the landing to the living room, require more adjustment than our big changes. When I descend the steps in the black early morning, I have to count 1-2-3-4, or I lose my footing. I spend a minute feeling the wall at shoulder height before I remember to drop my hand a foot and flip a switch. It's the tiny things that are done almost without thinking that need the most thought. When I FaceTime with my tidy and well-organized sister, I cringe at how cluttered all our surfaces are. The kitchen always looks like the cabinets have exploded. We're still learning how to live in a new house, tweaking our storage and the locations of things. We need to make another purge!</p><p>In the precious few minutes I have had to knit, I made for little M an <a href="https://www.petiteknit.com/en/products/oslohuen-mohair-edition-1?variant=39528899248183">Oslo hat</a> in some <a href="https://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?show=drops-kid-silk&cid=17">DROPS Kid-Silk</a> held with <a href="https://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?show=drops-flora&cid=17">DROPS Flora</a>. We made a visit to a <a href="https://biscotteyarns.com/">new local yarn store</a>, and I spent several minutes perusing their great yarn selection. Little M made a beeline for all the different mohair blends and began rubbing skeins against her cheek. I knew then we would not leave without something for her! Thankfully DROPS is very affordable, and her new hat was under $10. She wanted a shocking teal color (petrol!), but I steered her toward a softer blue (light jeans blue and denim blue), which will complement her eyes and hair better. The finished hat is a hit! A note about the pattern's construction--I found the instructions for making the brim's fold a little challenging for my exhausted brain to visualize and execute, so I did my own thing. It works, but I'd like to try again, following the instructions exactly.</p><p>The rest of my seven or eight WiPs sit in project bags, strewn all over the house. I'm making desultory progress on them all; every time I knit a row or two on one of them, I get restless and grab another to work on. If I continue in this fashion, it'll be months before I finish any of them! Last night I did unearth a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moorland-shawl-3">shawl</a> that I began in those whirlwind last weeks before our move and added a whole section repeat. Maybe there's hope for me? The rows simply flowed from my needles, and gave me the nudge to finish the shawl. It's my new priority.</p><p>Reading has also taken a back seat to other things this season, although I have been sneaking a few pages of CS Lewis's Space Trilogy at lunch or before bed. I finished <i>Out of the Silent Planet</i> and have moved to <i>Perelandra, </i>the one in the series I've read the least. Funny how this series has become my new comfort read! </p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-89539048624734509302023-08-31T08:07:00.004-04:002023-08-31T08:07:24.952-04:00Finding the light<p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T9FKcYMGo42QM0xD1_oWmidZlf8sCAPrbeZgLlq9I-eod4Op7SMIWt50fe2Q7RsF3G0jFujeiOeM4BvCndQ2GOaWUQDpZvN-meyxQ5N2kH_zpSBhdxBOcHaCXq8HHMOSxHTUSQhYJ6KH_rhXh5pRRx1EUs3hT5BtqGJMeRisSOHKfqBoS6j3jAc99Tud/s6000/6B7BF4A3-BDDE-4A39-AEEC-48A91D2F8F77.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T9FKcYMGo42QM0xD1_oWmidZlf8sCAPrbeZgLlq9I-eod4Op7SMIWt50fe2Q7RsF3G0jFujeiOeM4BvCndQ2GOaWUQDpZvN-meyxQ5N2kH_zpSBhdxBOcHaCXq8HHMOSxHTUSQhYJ6KH_rhXh5pRRx1EUs3hT5BtqGJMeRisSOHKfqBoS6j3jAc99Tud/w640-h426/6B7BF4A3-BDDE-4A39-AEEC-48A91D2F8F77.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TcpHyM4-goFkfJH_MZ7t1KENSaC4oa0OJLtbeLn2IbnwJBTVDmzkr_TZ8pOzs3OXk7mQ_8G1TnwRMs5h_k3UVyJUdd6x6EVbhINpxhzmmtxRIiTcGxhgt09D_j30DQK_vPRSqSLUPx52ywildZ7Dt3jfFlypBYfoSzwGg0TWPbL6BSJzkBsFm88_w3Ne/s5847/9F3E88F7-0F36-428C-BAAA-03462E07FAD1_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3898" data-original-width="5847" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TcpHyM4-goFkfJH_MZ7t1KENSaC4oa0OJLtbeLn2IbnwJBTVDmzkr_TZ8pOzs3OXk7mQ_8G1TnwRMs5h_k3UVyJUdd6x6EVbhINpxhzmmtxRIiTcGxhgt09D_j30DQK_vPRSqSLUPx52ywildZ7Dt3jfFlypBYfoSzwGg0TWPbL6BSJzkBsFm88_w3Ne/w640-h426/9F3E88F7-0F36-428C-BAAA-03462E07FAD1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFjmAKSqaEleOGcR1SouVpj5g_eV45onT66F1G-w3vdJ1tY-z3S2MOijRdNUtK4-02XNTiPG0ojN8GAgEyLIpJa6bpMqg73Doc1Za82gmp90EkdhB55NdjlxWOxdBe7fHGvX0ZpXclZJ4qLYwtdIksmYRfh4BtDRt1bvtAAiz_UViiI40VfMMK-nefGG8/s6000/E70E0664-0358-41B6-B826-AB0FAA847ECC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFjmAKSqaEleOGcR1SouVpj5g_eV45onT66F1G-w3vdJ1tY-z3S2MOijRdNUtK4-02XNTiPG0ojN8GAgEyLIpJa6bpMqg73Doc1Za82gmp90EkdhB55NdjlxWOxdBe7fHGvX0ZpXclZJ4qLYwtdIksmYRfh4BtDRt1bvtAAiz_UViiI40VfMMK-nefGG8/w640-h426/E70E0664-0358-41B6-B826-AB0FAA847ECC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4oEM93Kt9bLCKokZhrDKmlt-DdMzNWPYY8rBStF-TVDGspFi_zDWF7m9uTkRm2TNgKivlFCCXUPBy1uXKf6WArazymJXb6SJ6fgUkZ6MxOH_vewkLV9Fj5AIqxSxrzQVctv6Aq8hU5fD8H4RPGX8b0pZkCe252rk20k3g9PhJLL61KoSgc623XMbyseh/s6000/91F7505C-BC97-4F05-9A30-76BDF4F26535.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4oEM93Kt9bLCKokZhrDKmlt-DdMzNWPYY8rBStF-TVDGspFi_zDWF7m9uTkRm2TNgKivlFCCXUPBy1uXKf6WArazymJXb6SJ6fgUkZ6MxOH_vewkLV9Fj5AIqxSxrzQVctv6Aq8hU5fD8H4RPGX8b0pZkCe252rk20k3g9PhJLL61KoSgc623XMbyseh/w640-h426/91F7505C-BC97-4F05-9A30-76BDF4F26535.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>The house was quiet, save the for the crickets, who ceaselessly chirped with their natural cheer, and the incessant traffic from the busy road at the end of the block. All of our table lamps were in boxes, so I huddled in the living room within the small island of light from our floor lamp. It was my last quiet morning there, in the house that had given us so many good memories. Later in the day, after the sun was high, but shielded by clouds, I cleaned all the rooms newly made vacant by the industrious moving crew. Rather than mourn, I anticipated all the ways our bright, sun-filled old house would bless a new family. </p><p>In our new house, I look for ways to let the light into the rooms. The house faces east, and has no southern windows. Our backyard abuts delightful woods, full of mature trees that filter afternoon rays into our kitchen before the sun dips completely behind them. There's a giant weeping willow out front--we're deciding on the perfect branch for our tree swing--that shades the windows there. In short, very little natural light enters our house in summer. Hopefully bare winter branches will change that.</p><p>I'm determined, though, to find the light, appreciate it, however it appears, literally or metaphorically, and amplify it. I'm tearing out the wallpaper covered vertical blinds and heavy window treatments. I'm noticing the sweet downtown, within a short walk of our house, where we ate lunch yesterday. I watch one of my children sit quietly on our deck for an hour (though they didn't know I noticed), listening to the bird calls and the wind swishing the maples in our woods. I'm grateful for the tiny school where our second son will begin in a few short days; it's the perfect place for him to learn how to be in a "real" school. I think through new ways of arranging our space and our time, thankful for the reset that a move always brings. And while we miss all of our friends, we look forward to making new ones, and appreciate this gift of a slower year for our homeschool. It's an opportunity to fill in the corners of our schedule with the subjects and work that busy-ness never allowed. </p><p>(My begonia loves the low light! It used to put forth a few leaves, then drop them all. It's never bloomed before.)</p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-25929145796027382142023-08-02T12:36:00.008-04:002023-11-14T07:53:33.423-05:00yarn along:: august 2023, procraftinating<p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0NAjThHNsHYR56dxjJ3Ckw9y1H1_0PbA3uInuOv9jjLeTZidHlhrCTPMtVgjU82eEPVL9neJz-nlsxRKXrAXFIw6k71Qv8mJozc1OvZpp3K9QhKBlckmpSc8w0LfiVeI-g9OYRyCmb6x6UHri5beg9XW29zGDiOYTwPNIldlzAt69LuAF0bB9k4ge2wN/s6000/C1CB2497-3C08-421D-950C-E3A638F67700.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0NAjThHNsHYR56dxjJ3Ckw9y1H1_0PbA3uInuOv9jjLeTZidHlhrCTPMtVgjU82eEPVL9neJz-nlsxRKXrAXFIw6k71Qv8mJozc1OvZpp3K9QhKBlckmpSc8w0LfiVeI-g9OYRyCmb6x6UHri5beg9XW29zGDiOYTwPNIldlzAt69LuAF0bB9k4ge2wN/w640-h426/C1CB2497-3C08-421D-950C-E3A638F67700.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--xgnNeriwJDR_sdRfg2JEt_Q9NphrcOunsQjNGe80Ql2mdwrJ7-_N2ujNR0aYGf_IsJvvpArWl5MozR8AGZ08qXkRbXNk-Vb0pBPiNHVlZgU_i5hZhxHNtr_-v2a4WJHti_tUWVXI5akcjuMdEuA5ehggPv77hGxEF05R5UscC-zULKOif_jBelfuZKV/s6000/C18157F2-324F-4CBB-A80C-61ED09264C96_4.nef" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--xgnNeriwJDR_sdRfg2JEt_Q9NphrcOunsQjNGe80Ql2mdwrJ7-_N2ujNR0aYGf_IsJvvpArWl5MozR8AGZ08qXkRbXNk-Vb0pBPiNHVlZgU_i5hZhxHNtr_-v2a4WJHti_tUWVXI5akcjuMdEuA5ehggPv77hGxEF05R5UscC-zULKOif_jBelfuZKV/w640-h426/C18157F2-324F-4CBB-A80C-61ED09264C96_4.nef" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN6ZkltFk4jyr87PI5RPZ2Yx1Pqm6P0LhgVNrzO0zswZf1Vpljg0JowonDBZPQoZFETTEsGXO8NzcO52lXr4cXo2BdOmSRpfkqZQfuHK_0VYCVZha2mYLIpu3daDuEy1culocgBn9wM_tDfgBHjQPMa4o9e2Y9yvUznhMUbweZ_OYROZ1tiYhj5Qyy2Gr/s6000/0EE3005C-3B03-48BC-86A6-FA0CBEB06625.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN6ZkltFk4jyr87PI5RPZ2Yx1Pqm6P0LhgVNrzO0zswZf1Vpljg0JowonDBZPQoZFETTEsGXO8NzcO52lXr4cXo2BdOmSRpfkqZQfuHK_0VYCVZha2mYLIpu3daDuEy1culocgBn9wM_tDfgBHjQPMa4o9e2Y9yvUznhMUbweZ_OYROZ1tiYhj5Qyy2Gr/w640-h426/0EE3005C-3B03-48BC-86A6-FA0CBEB06625.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The word just came to me as I was texting my sister, and probably needs no explanation. When I typed it, I <i>knew</i> I wasn't the first to coin it. Sure enough, google "procraftination" and you'll find a plethora of podcasts, merch, and memes. I'm not the only one putting off big decisions and chores by casting on or stitching or winding yarn. The more I make, the more I use up supplies, and the more supplies that are gone, the fewer there are to move, right? (But the more projects I begin, the more I add to my queue! It's a vicious cycle.)</p><p>After ripping a hole in the seat of my favorite (and only) pair of nicer shorts, I knew I needed a new pair. I'm really picky about all of my clothes, and especially my bottoms. How to emphasize my favorite parts, de-emphasize my least favorite, and remain modest without overheating? It's a conundrum! I've been on the lookout for a flattering pants/shorts pattern, so when I saw <a href="https://truebias.com/collections/all/products/emerson-pant-short">this one</a> at a local craft shop, it came home with me. The pattern was easy and quick; I made a new pair of shorts over two stormy afternoons. I should have cut the elastic a little longer for a looser fit, but otherwise they work well. I bought the <a href="https://sewliberated.com/products/estuary-skirt-digital-sewing-pattern">Estuary Skirt pattern</a> at the shop, too, and I'm trying to gauge whether I'll have enough time to make it before we have to move. I have enough fabric for either that skirt or a pants version of the Emerson pattern. I'm also eyeing <a href="https://merchantandmills.com/us/the-quinn">this pattern</a> for some winter pants. </p><p>As soon as I bound off the Felix cardigan, I cast on a <a href="https://www.pipandpin.ca/shop/p/noni">Noni Tee</a> with some K<a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/10/dye-experiments.html">nitPicks Lindy Chain that I'd over dyed with avocado last summe</a>r. The yarn's really hard on my hands, but I'm hoping the finished product will be worth the effort. It's currently my pool knitting.</p><p>Last summer, I began another version of the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tales-from-the-isle-of-purbeck---mkal">Purlbeck Shawl</a> in <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/the-fibre-co-meadow?sku=FCO-MEAD-INDIGO&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2qKmBhCfARIsAFy8buJfENQu5NukpuCel9wt-fyNXjd3jvDhn6OZ_UuzRWE11r-ebKvMUTMaArukEALw_wcB">The Fibre Co. Meadow</a>. For some reason, it's a pattern I need to give my full attention, which is why the shawl has been "resting" in a project bag since August. I pulled it out again, determined to finish it before the end of July. I was only about 20 rows from the end of the charts, which was a pleasant surprise! But then I noticed that I had half the skein of yarn left. On my first version of the shawl, I had to skip some of the last pattern rows for lack of yarn. What was going on? I pulled out my original version, and realized that I used much larger needles to knit it. What to do? A wide garter border. I think I like it? </p><p>I also cast on for the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/albini">Albini Cardigan</a> I've been wanting to knit for ages in <a href="https://harrisville.com/products/shetland-cone?variant=42386631327908">Harrisville Shetland</a>, color toffee. I started it the evening we closed on our PA house, after we'd been watching friends' children all day while <i>they</i> moved, and during a heat wave. My gauge was off by 2 stitches, which is a pretty big deal--the stitch count for the extra-small size would have produced a large or extra-large sweater! I spent more time than necessary panicking that the yarn was unsuitable, trying to think of a yarn that would be better, and how I could get it here before <i>we</i> moved. This morning I realized I could just drop a needle size to get gauge. Duh. The fabric is a little stiffer than I had hoped, but it'll wear better that way. </p><p>Finally, my <a href="https://www.cherryheart.co.uk/2018/12/battenberg-blanket.html">Battenburg Blanket</a> is getting some love. Each square takes such a small amount of time and brain power that I can crank them out when I'm feeling a bit scattered. If I clean or pack or fill out paperwork for a bit, I reward myself by making a square or two. I have a sizable stack of the colorful ones waiting to be joined with the blue.</p><p>I'm reading very little aside from my school pre-reading, and I fall asleep at night after a page or two of E B White's essays. </p><p><br /></p><p>What are you making? Reading?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-12382460609368222152023-07-05T14:16:00.002-04:002023-07-15T06:18:39.755-04:00yarn along, july 2023: “Is it over yet? Is it good?”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKB21GECfeXRBgjNxrXyqYuaJvWz4pDvOQoI5RHGiTv3yo8HIbcwAUQMCVgtmC_W3CCqj7gSM_NyUV3kymQOJluczeQHxY7D1S8KJA2uxGWJnCYwqvYBzevTxWoJ1jo4-l6X7etB01ZHxeOQ5alPRvYDq3ToyneJFXZ5PJ6_3b33nKyRdBHfvWslPuZoM3/s6000/DSC_0651.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKB21GECfeXRBgjNxrXyqYuaJvWz4pDvOQoI5RHGiTv3yo8HIbcwAUQMCVgtmC_W3CCqj7gSM_NyUV3kymQOJluczeQHxY7D1S8KJA2uxGWJnCYwqvYBzevTxWoJ1jo4-l6X7etB01ZHxeOQ5alPRvYDq3ToyneJFXZ5PJ6_3b33nKyRdBHfvWslPuZoM3/w640-h426/DSC_0651.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">For the past nearly five months we've been scheduled to our utmost, between activities and house things. We've been totally consumed by house things: repairs, painting, cleaning, packing, and staging. But in the last two weeks of June, we listed our house, got it under contract, and had our offer accepted in our new town. Suddenly there's so little on our calendar! There are still some logistics to work out, but the enormous pressure to answer some big questions is no longer so...pressing. My body has thrown in the towel! Despite napping deeply during the day, I can't keep my eyes open past 9 pm, and I have trouble getting out of bed at my usual time. </span><i style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/functional_reserve">Functional reserve</a></i><span style="text-align: left;"> is a new phrase, introduced to me by my mother, that I use liberally; my brain currently has a very small functional reserve.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">All that to say, knitting and reading don't happen every day in this season, which is a bummer sometimes. I've committed to making dinner for a friend next Monday, who just welcomed her fourth child. To accompany the dinner, some handknit socks (from scraps) for the wee one were in order. The pattern is <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/perfect-newborn-socks">Perfect Newborn Socks</a>, which is free. They will absolutely be finished in time! I've also committed to finishing my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felix-cardigan">Felix Cardigan</a> (in Peace Fleece Worsted, color <a href="https://peacefleece.com/products/worsted?variant=15535364145209">Kalinka Malinka</a>) by the end of the month. My functional reserve is currently dedicated to all the low-hanging fruit, like easy-peasy stockinette. I plan to use up every last inch of the Peace Fleece--I find the concept of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJKAvhDRaEM&t=0s">stash</a> and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSggHGRFI_Q&t=0s"> scrap </a>free in 2023" very appealing. (I'm nowhere near that particular goal. Maybe in 2024 or 2025?)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Inspired by <a href="https://www.knittingnellie.com/">Morgan's lovely project bags</a>, I threw together a book cover yesterday from my stash of fabric and fat quarters. I think foundation paper piecing is my new favorite way to quilt. It takes a lot of the guess work out of piecing a block; measurements and cutting are the two most challenging aspects of quilting for me. Having a visible line to sew over makes the blocks look much more professional. The rest of the book cover is a mess, but darn it! That block looks great!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">At the pool, I have been indulging in E.B. White's essays from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Essays-B-White-Perennial-Classics/dp/0060932236/ref=pd_bxgy_sccl_1/138-0133902-4328049?pd_rd_w=sV7zw&content-id=amzn1.sym.26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_p=26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_r=7YY566FYJVN0EBPDJCTH&pd_rd_wg=PadZ2&pd_rd_r=8639e25b-9bad-49df-9814-bdf54a38b913&pd_rd_i=0060932236&psc=1">this book</a> when I'm not preparing lessons for the 2023-24 school year. They're the perfect combination of humor, intellligent commentary, and length (short!!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">p.s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">The day after bids on our house were due, my Mom asked me the following questions. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykua_G2HSIY72BqLLo-ILrH0-BeoWFtIINrEW7nOcAgnqBUnqEkanYKe34zCUzeDcNQHkxRdDAgDFjG7JLRppB-LY-we4uBx3j0so9hcXZ9oW5jvAN9THnA6RPKUwYD_G1RHFPAHNxVElrtYgzFU3fGt0dVM9C6uhGnb0aVDq73lRdXAwU7qsdvlO_P-p/s608/396F6A31-3E01-4EF9-8933-E9F31CD6C2D3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="608" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykua_G2HSIY72BqLLo-ILrH0-BeoWFtIINrEW7nOcAgnqBUnqEkanYKe34zCUzeDcNQHkxRdDAgDFjG7JLRppB-LY-we4uBx3j0so9hcXZ9oW5jvAN9THnA6RPKUwYD_G1RHFPAHNxVElrtYgzFU3fGt0dVM9C6uhGnb0aVDq73lRdXAwU7qsdvlO_P-p/s320/396F6A31-3E01-4EF9-8933-E9F31CD6C2D3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Almost, and it will be great!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-15549058759795303472023-06-19T08:56:00.003-04:002023-06-19T10:20:19.544-04:00before // after<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;">First Floor</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Entry</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLuV3qUA7uHe1bQrYhMY5CW9fNDtWzrFa7A33WzS87QKeimgPVe9_rq_yc_VG4I2SrIq6pL5D7rzeJYf9XS9TytV--oY5oYY68X_NpWvZpv3ZBOiPTdk95jI3VEl4sstmPSRxc0jGGv3LYKrrZeXpc-1kwMO9FrFF24grdd_Bi_BM3eHf7dXe6NcApwwQ/s1962/7F43D9B6-57DF-4119-8244-3EED8F95EBD0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1962" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLuV3qUA7uHe1bQrYhMY5CW9fNDtWzrFa7A33WzS87QKeimgPVe9_rq_yc_VG4I2SrIq6pL5D7rzeJYf9XS9TytV--oY5oYY68X_NpWvZpv3ZBOiPTdk95jI3VEl4sstmPSRxc0jGGv3LYKrrZeXpc-1kwMO9FrFF24grdd_Bi_BM3eHf7dXe6NcApwwQ/w640-h380/7F43D9B6-57DF-4119-8244-3EED8F95EBD0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">School/Dining Room</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64veYoyC8jJ7Jmu7F4ycTmU5XMovG0TE6RDnElQjQZbp-DpPaiqM66XV_cKV7KoO1DVUDcOysmrQBuXCxi7z9lu8Sxbj0ZuJ10iZLJDCmLGblzjFSl6VBBCDAS4ONWLxcYVbqYmShcqrAJtr2jDWtq64KNDAOOGjZq-_1oWpsigKW91jJImqWZ-ZNnb-Z/s640/B56A3CA5-9C6E-411E-A307-8433930D191D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="640" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64veYoyC8jJ7Jmu7F4ycTmU5XMovG0TE6RDnElQjQZbp-DpPaiqM66XV_cKV7KoO1DVUDcOysmrQBuXCxi7z9lu8Sxbj0ZuJ10iZLJDCmLGblzjFSl6VBBCDAS4ONWLxcYVbqYmShcqrAJtr2jDWtq64KNDAOOGjZq-_1oWpsigKW91jJImqWZ-ZNnb-Z/w640-h490/B56A3CA5-9C6E-411E-A307-8433930D191D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9BlIjw99_iPSzZ9F3cavt-AnWMKwj00v_SxmV_wgTBFmX8777bWgh0zAEnDtM0-mRWjy2ltVVWwY6XZoV2LFmiFvhA5_GXMEua3ZepFtzvRpl9xSxXWn7Bg1MBUZDHSBJgAJEuE1z9KGD-_T3wLrUE8Gq7v1bLA8UeBXwbHoxQOZQf9ptP8MdhUPlHV5/s1974/A5D0A817-C2DE-4B07-9C1D-F2036D4D4488.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1974" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9BlIjw99_iPSzZ9F3cavt-AnWMKwj00v_SxmV_wgTBFmX8777bWgh0zAEnDtM0-mRWjy2ltVVWwY6XZoV2LFmiFvhA5_GXMEua3ZepFtzvRpl9xSxXWn7Bg1MBUZDHSBJgAJEuE1z9KGD-_T3wLrUE8Gq7v1bLA8UeBXwbHoxQOZQf9ptP8MdhUPlHV5/w640-h374/A5D0A817-C2DE-4B07-9C1D-F2036D4D4488.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Living Room </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAxVtfilU72OlaphJRzrz4l35yhggMg1VWPwAjeIbYkEZ_LuuVnSyiEuPwIIiQ7gpfGjsDJM8O4vjgsBLP-eghvuufaoQupklK3PcbKQIakg-En5qDhM6M-7dyMf6CmaR0FmAE_MbzOWHtWgL2JO3sqkMH-0MhpYrx7okadiZPY0E4jnbhe2dDbbOhMrq/s1630/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.10.10%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="1630" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAxVtfilU72OlaphJRzrz4l35yhggMg1VWPwAjeIbYkEZ_LuuVnSyiEuPwIIiQ7gpfGjsDJM8O4vjgsBLP-eghvuufaoQupklK3PcbKQIakg-En5qDhM6M-7dyMf6CmaR0FmAE_MbzOWHtWgL2JO3sqkMH-0MhpYrx7okadiZPY0E4jnbhe2dDbbOhMrq/w640-h476/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.10.10%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6jLx7lomsz8lBeyMn5fcZIH3ruBEAgPpbWO-BbG06WcBPozyfFwyFllNB8XAZzrpsDQRqne9hVwRRvm_klL8U4CBk1ZaR0_20CcdaxElSj4qK26EqDuJHHUeBn-CZxbpS7YR0e9LSnV0DOsJcmou9rxp8VBomZfPWKjD68EG5Fu4IMzwx2hLsb84ysi0/s1586/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.10.44%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1586" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6jLx7lomsz8lBeyMn5fcZIH3ruBEAgPpbWO-BbG06WcBPozyfFwyFllNB8XAZzrpsDQRqne9hVwRRvm_klL8U4CBk1ZaR0_20CcdaxElSj4qK26EqDuJHHUeBn-CZxbpS7YR0e9LSnV0DOsJcmou9rxp8VBomZfPWKjD68EG5Fu4IMzwx2hLsb84ysi0/w640-h480/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.10.44%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidiaXssJFc55RD-FlumVE6Gkk0vwoDQgHCGEPB9pESl7TZI5tS3QS_XHPaYTaNe0qCQ0-TLhlTOrGGVV1h014oVfpTH0TvX71cxItJUU5I7qy_R2ptcYPuT8VqcCGGsizjPaenlaKgj1uM83NJCuUPlSq4zEhJQ8kbbvLJq9JeGuyPw_yFmKr28iVG4yV/s1969/0A194CAA-C5BA-4A00-AAAE-1C3F0048BE9F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1969" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidiaXssJFc55RD-FlumVE6Gkk0vwoDQgHCGEPB9pESl7TZI5tS3QS_XHPaYTaNe0qCQ0-TLhlTOrGGVV1h014oVfpTH0TvX71cxItJUU5I7qy_R2ptcYPuT8VqcCGGsizjPaenlaKgj1uM83NJCuUPlSq4zEhJQ8kbbvLJq9JeGuyPw_yFmKr28iVG4yV/w640-h376/0A194CAA-C5BA-4A00-AAAE-1C3F0048BE9F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Before</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkEQA-LxBaS1Re_sHDDn91j6dzECNs5azGu_aiKos8fHZ_I-I5KEEXxQx3bak0lfDqusN6JfktCB2OSb1x_9zZrMH1QtmS2YTQTPRIiNgBCWEjHyNjObWEUvCmQncOOPf87K5o3Zw29IkBo4G7Fv4Uz-SoMJPo_qxgyg6JjCBraOW0kzOYAg1UT956s5E/s1618/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.10.57%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1618" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkEQA-LxBaS1Re_sHDDn91j6dzECNs5azGu_aiKos8fHZ_I-I5KEEXxQx3bak0lfDqusN6JfktCB2OSb1x_9zZrMH1QtmS2YTQTPRIiNgBCWEjHyNjObWEUvCmQncOOPf87K5o3Zw29IkBo4G7Fv4Uz-SoMJPo_qxgyg6JjCBraOW0kzOYAg1UT956s5E/w640-h476/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.10.57%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFFhxsbPoOHPAdZZeQN643bTfCidYVZQ5zcCLeH3ijrAqkjTr9b1vOESlinzAB8XNYKvn8UNdJHjHnu39uXVjnh5ppKdCJx44t0X1nfpe6PcZvboJhgo97-equLjWATmZLNzuBOlRlUuPI6pa92wcI8ywU9zHq8w-Mm69jzRhzrviU4hV-ZPq-FehIJWE/s1967/05496560-7319-4E19-BCBB-065C4E74205E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1967" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFFhxsbPoOHPAdZZeQN643bTfCidYVZQ5zcCLeH3ijrAqkjTr9b1vOESlinzAB8XNYKvn8UNdJHjHnu39uXVjnh5ppKdCJx44t0X1nfpe6PcZvboJhgo97-equLjWATmZLNzuBOlRlUuPI6pa92wcI8ywU9zHq8w-Mm69jzRhzrviU4hV-ZPq-FehIJWE/w640-h370/05496560-7319-4E19-BCBB-065C4E74205E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhXrvzuFHJlFsu4zSv1EqRM5E4WcxuWu9KtYTi6waUdCjUMghLSvcPq-Thr64ipku1lcRK5J9yxqzykG4eXwCgWoSm0Hk8ZRFvOJf8L3twNa-A9B4sxFtZqeqBZ9wybpu7jJzleLO0pDAXAp4Cd-i-oW_qxgsB_SaEgdxTFg6QCmSNeF5mGi5SjPei4YF/s1972/266BA3AB-9737-458A-9A6D-42A6CD5A788B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1972" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhXrvzuFHJlFsu4zSv1EqRM5E4WcxuWu9KtYTi6waUdCjUMghLSvcPq-Thr64ipku1lcRK5J9yxqzykG4eXwCgWoSm0Hk8ZRFvOJf8L3twNa-A9B4sxFtZqeqBZ9wybpu7jJzleLO0pDAXAp4Cd-i-oW_qxgsB_SaEgdxTFg6QCmSNeF5mGi5SjPei4YF/w640-h372/266BA3AB-9737-458A-9A6D-42A6CD5A788B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Second floor</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Full Bath</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2jrObyr--0RvK1an6JG1uCl75CPCOzi0jf3PsJBLYzE-yMf4YN5N7VzYwgiHYEqjJeD-0VzxNNZ37pw3k1ngkCLqAMbaYCR4FRoveGScYVuo1ccwoG1ryU63tD6id5trGRHUbNW9swqbj89uy6fVXcyZbtJYv14kYH1R-58rgPNRnlMsSQQeZsmHzrj4/s640/1B4A8B5F-A84F-4F76-A0B2-3A2649AE8F40_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="640" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2jrObyr--0RvK1an6JG1uCl75CPCOzi0jf3PsJBLYzE-yMf4YN5N7VzYwgiHYEqjJeD-0VzxNNZ37pw3k1ngkCLqAMbaYCR4FRoveGScYVuo1ccwoG1ryU63tD6id5trGRHUbNW9swqbj89uy6fVXcyZbtJYv14kYH1R-58rgPNRnlMsSQQeZsmHzrj4/w640-h486/1B4A8B5F-A84F-4F76-A0B2-3A2649AE8F40_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8jU9oxoLzZA44Zq9G_LqlH64ffwxq8bp4DYY-q1zIky57wBrUNecjRxd2tZHauWcLka_OEIL-Oj6taGTIqWfc2RTQ_nlu3baFx13wr988jzlIrxApqfur_ZPZA0bxxUnjKRxjxjbCG7vOHfj8GpFkC_UgpwZwGVbb5vyRnJXfa8kCLLE-kBJ_C-S_kId/s1969/52918713-EA83-421C-9D27-1BF23388801F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1969" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8jU9oxoLzZA44Zq9G_LqlH64ffwxq8bp4DYY-q1zIky57wBrUNecjRxd2tZHauWcLka_OEIL-Oj6taGTIqWfc2RTQ_nlu3baFx13wr988jzlIrxApqfur_ZPZA0bxxUnjKRxjxjbCG7vOHfj8GpFkC_UgpwZwGVbb5vyRnJXfa8kCLLE-kBJ_C-S_kId/w640-h376/52918713-EA83-421C-9D27-1BF23388801F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Little M's Room</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F0Ar_JJgX3LgqQ9BPRikbBYi9nGAlDiZlSegzPRTFc_pZgWl0C7KaHBaf4hC25_p5wAaRtvA-cU-Ju9uYqvY0DAoQKGc7PQJYNzqkax9NZSJXsgsDzN2KQYq7KhW8tWjkKP0tRcNWxQ1Io7q9dxMNHLUlNYZPL6efUZKa9CC23znbf0W6TRDxf0p7WKv/s651/68F3CA71-125D-4173-B207-02B4A22FA85C_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F0Ar_JJgX3LgqQ9BPRikbBYi9nGAlDiZlSegzPRTFc_pZgWl0C7KaHBaf4hC25_p5wAaRtvA-cU-Ju9uYqvY0DAoQKGc7PQJYNzqkax9NZSJXsgsDzN2KQYq7KhW8tWjkKP0tRcNWxQ1Io7q9dxMNHLUlNYZPL6efUZKa9CC23znbf0W6TRDxf0p7WKv/w630-h640/68F3CA71-125D-4173-B207-02B4A22FA85C_1_201_a.jpeg" width="630" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MBvbZpCGD9HYlFM09Dvw3mucjFba5ZGV8cONFQSuyM2MVAbQO8AOCv-rzxVINji9AJsmUvJ7P_e-usbzH_al82nReu4pwo2bYhPimqiCyQ19v0Jl2pts1B5_s0B7aAJXtMZZshczvlJ7K8_LWnnS6YPxYYpb1lQcAVPIHb6Br_hZm8WZMCH_mnk9O3FE/s1972/4987B316-DFD5-4FB6-952D-DA9AEF8CC1B2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1972" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MBvbZpCGD9HYlFM09Dvw3mucjFba5ZGV8cONFQSuyM2MVAbQO8AOCv-rzxVINji9AJsmUvJ7P_e-usbzH_al82nReu4pwo2bYhPimqiCyQ19v0Jl2pts1B5_s0B7aAJXtMZZshczvlJ7K8_LWnnS6YPxYYpb1lQcAVPIHb6Br_hZm8WZMCH_mnk9O3FE/w640-h368/4987B316-DFD5-4FB6-952D-DA9AEF8CC1B2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Z's Room </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVEiR-ynEac9wOozLSvu6ANPEZiDQattbSJUftxXA6Y0f81KFa8NSUft5E3gUPuVjXd_ETdHajNqMZYloQSsqL8HVkcx4takw0Nukk5J8mj7iA8pRQGUPoBKUqKlnHbU1z_v5dvAH9ADNUpp__17B14s6CMx3EtHm2Rlsji2yQnkLLcDBinLnxt3YqpPA/s642/59F8DD9A-006C-453A-B4ED-BAD84297E866_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVEiR-ynEac9wOozLSvu6ANPEZiDQattbSJUftxXA6Y0f81KFa8NSUft5E3gUPuVjXd_ETdHajNqMZYloQSsqL8HVkcx4takw0Nukk5J8mj7iA8pRQGUPoBKUqKlnHbU1z_v5dvAH9ADNUpp__17B14s6CMx3EtHm2Rlsji2yQnkLLcDBinLnxt3YqpPA/w638-h640/59F8DD9A-006C-453A-B4ED-BAD84297E866_1_201_a.jpeg" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2MW4_DiFJEPt4vrFJyf0u99eJoffDj0f2CaeS_5ig5i6oeh50poRlx6ESI4KGIwYJZFMmY0NYtL7HYzr1kKk3W6jfzXt1g35SZ8pLnyjQTBmR2jZlGYqX2GG0i_m1ws9Y85tJ4wrFIAEGdOpuMZy2STbp7PQ-mgj7QPvXSmCwtIVYcuAEaqFHyW0DW8Z/s1972/56EBCE71-2D0E-4E8D-AE65-0D4FABE414D8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1972" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2MW4_DiFJEPt4vrFJyf0u99eJoffDj0f2CaeS_5ig5i6oeh50poRlx6ESI4KGIwYJZFMmY0NYtL7HYzr1kKk3W6jfzXt1g35SZ8pLnyjQTBmR2jZlGYqX2GG0i_m1ws9Y85tJ4wrFIAEGdOpuMZy2STbp7PQ-mgj7QPvXSmCwtIVYcuAEaqFHyW0DW8Z/w640-h368/56EBCE71-2D0E-4E8D-AE65-0D4FABE414D8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Laundry room </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEififsWFYgcCmiZi7fTkpkRBAvI52fPWEl9FWdW1PPHL9nos88C_jjYcl560GKSQJroy0YJwtLMNf9v8IxyX_CCvpolh-ukJG8_rJR55yYn4GyUOx4lSJ0Vrk8Wd9IEM_sUH6IoaEWIjlA3tM_9kMVshu8sh9T4J6HE_awACTwKCPsQaCn0UHZq4kORSlYS/s640/042EFC0B-D258-4417-B286-49C33DE28A03_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="640" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEififsWFYgcCmiZi7fTkpkRBAvI52fPWEl9FWdW1PPHL9nos88C_jjYcl560GKSQJroy0YJwtLMNf9v8IxyX_CCvpolh-ukJG8_rJR55yYn4GyUOx4lSJ0Vrk8Wd9IEM_sUH6IoaEWIjlA3tM_9kMVshu8sh9T4J6HE_awACTwKCPsQaCn0UHZq4kORSlYS/w640-h486/042EFC0B-D258-4417-B286-49C33DE28A03_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5_ICIFgkSDMqOw70mYh4Wz3kctFe1D9vV5fpPQKe6XkbzbsnXJYR9g7hfpar7RAg3W2ynM2qWl0A0U2V1QJ5Zru_CwLg7sCC5TGUaRUmZ4lZvkwoPEdRLAw4WzlYdfi1gWgTpgtxy-l-ad5CjcH32vcuOVU1MFq0ND4rqqq_4RblNELKSs7fQ25IUa7c/s640/A9234CAA-8DB2-4C09-8919-77DB1B6504CB_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5_ICIFgkSDMqOw70mYh4Wz3kctFe1D9vV5fpPQKe6XkbzbsnXJYR9g7hfpar7RAg3W2ynM2qWl0A0U2V1QJ5Zru_CwLg7sCC5TGUaRUmZ4lZvkwoPEdRLAw4WzlYdfi1gWgTpgtxy-l-ad5CjcH32vcuOVU1MFq0ND4rqqq_4RblNELKSs7fQ25IUa7c/w640-h480/A9234CAA-8DB2-4C09-8919-77DB1B6504CB_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHV2HZeL64lhBSGSZ-Q7M-4X26kzJL89nbkVCffk-UMG57sMlpMS-MYkljQh_1fLLHg1BiF97RDh3BiiNk2LfM17OuRZ2QK_KFbF9A-8HM5-ZrVNSwL-8JrrZojVHcDFp3xIYP861cEgBGoqnid3MuYWM6FWazIyE72n1YzZdOExB_vlUcwOJkfdWEvWs/s1946/38D5CC7C-9530-43D8-8309-85543E88DE7E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1946" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHV2HZeL64lhBSGSZ-Q7M-4X26kzJL89nbkVCffk-UMG57sMlpMS-MYkljQh_1fLLHg1BiF97RDh3BiiNk2LfM17OuRZ2QK_KFbF9A-8HM5-ZrVNSwL-8JrrZojVHcDFp3xIYP861cEgBGoqnid3MuYWM6FWazIyE72n1YzZdOExB_vlUcwOJkfdWEvWs/w640-h378/38D5CC7C-9530-43D8-8309-85543E88DE7E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezIVHvU6ooYgHp-WCZH99bxBJQBh_JZMlGV-JuftkWIkW5Ptz8Nma9wIXHEC-CfXdGbMgrLA67ZgJ8SVzCql7CWIAHMHMUQCI9YsVV7k997YBpJN9KZ52tklL0whwscxNXpqCsfGgDK23bJaVULBXjd97_LAzcsTR8LRio1fCBtS1JNiil9NLcsMhW_jg/s1967/5892BD43-C67D-40F0-A838-DF23DDA108F2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1967" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezIVHvU6ooYgHp-WCZH99bxBJQBh_JZMlGV-JuftkWIkW5Ptz8Nma9wIXHEC-CfXdGbMgrLA67ZgJ8SVzCql7CWIAHMHMUQCI9YsVV7k997YBpJN9KZ52tklL0whwscxNXpqCsfGgDK23bJaVULBXjd97_LAzcsTR8LRio1fCBtS1JNiil9NLcsMhW_jg/w640-h376/5892BD43-C67D-40F0-A838-DF23DDA108F2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Master Bedroom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCxpe_BJV2MFSZZNHNlkqm6Q7t9oGzvBiXjMIVqMfOQ8smvUzSWWITK9Q2nT0nk6V1_XSAPqocGYTmo3gszTRsuZzaFeVDtIZRfyKV68sorTJXRPZbRxrA-3OvvhosrQKU2LsaCspGXnxSQ2GHMS9GRW4Ev3XZ16WUAbGO49DFlN-BdhfMfQCdzd1g9Ar/s640/8E8F75B3-A420-4A94-9F5F-2BD7A8FDF4A0_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCxpe_BJV2MFSZZNHNlkqm6Q7t9oGzvBiXjMIVqMfOQ8smvUzSWWITK9Q2nT0nk6V1_XSAPqocGYTmo3gszTRsuZzaFeVDtIZRfyKV68sorTJXRPZbRxrA-3OvvhosrQKU2LsaCspGXnxSQ2GHMS9GRW4Ev3XZ16WUAbGO49DFlN-BdhfMfQCdzd1g9Ar/w640-h482/8E8F75B3-A420-4A94-9F5F-2BD7A8FDF4A0_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeotVwiTYzN8eyjmBUL4Oyzli6BiCtvrw62qgyUhOYuJEYNAhYMA2yWfMs8d87uz7m1VwKS6HevDRc7yBb5zSdbyzSSdw6OuYTjhjWmRfC829G08hI1bB263fvuBYx64cF792Z-zU7Mw28HFT0ecTpchP8d2LlMpsU-6fOor1xOxQBqcsNaxSkQochwC1/s1971/2EF825BE-4850-41DC-8061-371D18F5005E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1971" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeotVwiTYzN8eyjmBUL4Oyzli6BiCtvrw62qgyUhOYuJEYNAhYMA2yWfMs8d87uz7m1VwKS6HevDRc7yBb5zSdbyzSSdw6OuYTjhjWmRfC829G08hI1bB263fvuBYx64cF792Z-zU7Mw28HFT0ecTpchP8d2LlMpsU-6fOor1xOxQBqcsNaxSkQochwC1/w640-h366/2EF825BE-4850-41DC-8061-371D18F5005E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q-BPOWzHgBbhpqrRiUmvWWDky1IgBbSdrjbvI3-JsQ1g_zYmvf9kQWYQkxDk8fXLMIx471Eg23_m_d3ktj05BmZooQpscW0yfoYEVOvAknZfepF3DeEBZeIOlvTwTolXOcuwK0BOt3SNozbF1amjD7rQrG6-o6epB5ByreE78GrBCYjMLzYtEJzIM6Wn/s1963/EF68F3B8-F4A0-4AFB-BE5D-2CCF91AA0BC4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1963" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2q-BPOWzHgBbhpqrRiUmvWWDky1IgBbSdrjbvI3-JsQ1g_zYmvf9kQWYQkxDk8fXLMIx471Eg23_m_d3ktj05BmZooQpscW0yfoYEVOvAknZfepF3DeEBZeIOlvTwTolXOcuwK0BOt3SNozbF1amjD7rQrG6-o6epB5ByreE78GrBCYjMLzYtEJzIM6Wn/w640-h372/EF68F3B8-F4A0-4AFB-BE5D-2CCF91AA0BC4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Third Floor</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big M's bedroom </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZqG1aypK0DwkjZrz9JPohwBmw-e2WZI8Km6GHrizXDkQ642ePtRuORpP-Ts_oQnDHB-Y6APjRwRlXHp7vd-IZt2t__gab1vmkv2gOEIagxgNkSHy4hBHZ3x10lmnN1RVWqMfPLxkqvFENqEy1g2v0W6DpIQI2EdASToD38vTvaK3tsWLXNIcajeCA3iJ/s640/F4D3E020-16E3-4FA9-8F69-C4BD2926E93D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZqG1aypK0DwkjZrz9JPohwBmw-e2WZI8Km6GHrizXDkQ642ePtRuORpP-Ts_oQnDHB-Y6APjRwRlXHp7vd-IZt2t__gab1vmkv2gOEIagxgNkSHy4hBHZ3x10lmnN1RVWqMfPLxkqvFENqEy1g2v0W6DpIQI2EdASToD38vTvaK3tsWLXNIcajeCA3iJ/w640-h640/F4D3E020-16E3-4FA9-8F69-C4BD2926E93D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy9gtkgGdj7ddu14s92WCEVP-9hNhBAA7_Or36kOubE2UEQFqxYV1CK42v3c9nR3BIQtqcTzhma495qS6Td8c9zxfi3g3NHT6CGSFLisqqPJAjaWtl7fx-NN90rztm1l51TIcWHLInk5kYfr8Ys7zSYhEZYN0lWaLcJRmHC1i6PcEGmJHGatqfcmCQNjX/s1961/1C308B41-E68B-433C-9294-B7CCFE360583.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1961" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy9gtkgGdj7ddu14s92WCEVP-9hNhBAA7_Or36kOubE2UEQFqxYV1CK42v3c9nR3BIQtqcTzhma495qS6Td8c9zxfi3g3NHT6CGSFLisqqPJAjaWtl7fx-NN90rztm1l51TIcWHLInk5kYfr8Ys7zSYhEZYN0lWaLcJRmHC1i6PcEGmJHGatqfcmCQNjX/w640-h376/1C308B41-E68B-433C-9294-B7CCFE360583.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Little Boys' bedroom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHSRvchq7YeRcHl9ozJnQ8stD7oHDZfpVeC7bFH07jkX1gD40dVqwNPdfJZunFWqF2MJ3y-CI4aHdxSn4wRphTWdbVLjTvG--3wPHQyOS9JsFtzcb0W3LD-aHkhqpLeMkV7huuiNhMJH8fYfMq1x1fhosy7mHw_iIG8YRy08nQ00WsfDehVH3iQInqyW5/s653/6B2F9C15-8AA6-411E-B8B4-1C806E736672_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHSRvchq7YeRcHl9ozJnQ8stD7oHDZfpVeC7bFH07jkX1gD40dVqwNPdfJZunFWqF2MJ3y-CI4aHdxSn4wRphTWdbVLjTvG--3wPHQyOS9JsFtzcb0W3LD-aHkhqpLeMkV7huuiNhMJH8fYfMq1x1fhosy7mHw_iIG8YRy08nQ00WsfDehVH3iQInqyW5/w628-h640/6B2F9C15-8AA6-411E-B8B4-1C806E736672_1_201_a.jpeg" width="628" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM3DfeW5Uo2AU_VQwQYtANUoGc_ICV5n8HwRbq6rL_f1HrLr0P5Omh3pP6HcC_Jml6kvikDp8xTV8VgB9Fe04Hp1B8BPcecV_WfXP4OBW06SNBbvpUqr3mrNIOOfxhREQbC-KXYEAcrHPRuGyjJaHHRV6pFT0Uhgs3PrVcM0tw_GY81wDuBSn4O4HMpFo/s1976/4729DACE-1FEA-4FA4-A9F2-F85BA428FB70.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1976" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM3DfeW5Uo2AU_VQwQYtANUoGc_ICV5n8HwRbq6rL_f1HrLr0P5Omh3pP6HcC_Jml6kvikDp8xTV8VgB9Fe04Hp1B8BPcecV_WfXP4OBW06SNBbvpUqr3mrNIOOfxhREQbC-KXYEAcrHPRuGyjJaHHRV6pFT0Uhgs3PrVcM0tw_GY81wDuBSn4O4HMpFo/w640-h372/4729DACE-1FEA-4FA4-A9F2-F85BA428FB70.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn26fImaJcelJRsLY8ZOi_Wt2oUomLOJVE-qn0z2sJ3aOAwbW2uJG8v3PUL9oAMJk3f1krc-fwO9MUaLGpWWAZvJl4Xdn5XkQ0sqiP2lhWGEBGM9lvibHTBlWtZSWYMhu-VT4sFbpW1eIA5tburclGePnviyEQUlX3n8wYohdAOu-43vL3E4nm-w5P7lQ/s640/AA08E90B-4CBA-45C8-BAC5-64122B10B26B_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="640" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn26fImaJcelJRsLY8ZOi_Wt2oUomLOJVE-qn0z2sJ3aOAwbW2uJG8v3PUL9oAMJk3f1krc-fwO9MUaLGpWWAZvJl4Xdn5XkQ0sqiP2lhWGEBGM9lvibHTBlWtZSWYMhu-VT4sFbpW1eIA5tburclGePnviyEQUlX3n8wYohdAOu-43vL3E4nm-w5P7lQ/w640-h484/AA08E90B-4CBA-45C8-BAC5-64122B10B26B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNimJyc90mThppNySxNb_CqkrHkoPSA3uZzdYpL-VlsbI8nOBDIknDs4UiJFBYzqwrp7lt5ErfUu22tE1pgkuBZoXszILwQJZagAMfBDOkCdoCGHiFrS1-OwAYpjaOf8hToSWYXMZ_-i5GW1v-XWuSbp3jyVlWHN-DnYqPJFtSLt8YLVbIEGRRerkqhHcS/s1967/DB3014D5-0190-4318-A850-77870786BBD7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1967" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNimJyc90mThppNySxNb_CqkrHkoPSA3uZzdYpL-VlsbI8nOBDIknDs4UiJFBYzqwrp7lt5ErfUu22tE1pgkuBZoXszILwQJZagAMfBDOkCdoCGHiFrS1-OwAYpjaOf8hToSWYXMZ_-i5GW1v-XWuSbp3jyVlWHN-DnYqPJFtSLt8YLVbIEGRRerkqhHcS/w640-h372/DB3014D5-0190-4318-A850-77870786BBD7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for indulging me! I am so proud of how we have changed this house, mostly in the past few months. Ha. Although, to be fair to the previous owner, his pictures were not the highest quality, and the photographer for our listing makes the house look even better than it does in real life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've got a lead on a house up north, and we're hoping and praying this house sells quickly. So much up in the air--lots of sleep lost over the silly details, but not the big picture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I need to round up the troops to do our "Showing Drill"-- kind of like a fire drill, but making the house look like the pictures, rather than saving ourselves from peril. We've got showings booked until 7 tonight, so I'm filling our days with creek trips, pool trips, errands, and anything that can keep people occupied and happy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-37677194744701339462023-06-06T14:51:00.003-04:002023-11-14T07:53:44.236-05:00yarn along:: june 2023, bullet point edition<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryZLy1BFJHPLFQxjCgQS3aHea9s1NKuaWBZuQKbTXdP4YdHrq80AzxYyWmvmd1lA9umevUb1AvcfmfRmCgoT8YZ6lRMCDFYlw4SUFtWLUIpR5IJr7WF-vi3_AFmuuMHYjKCEipQNNfPQ8EI05Oc20T2-nzF0hthSnME-4WkKOCc47dcCljLsHUnwVxw/s6000/0C9B0E2C-EDD8-49C9-9632-639E4DB88E1C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PLCDd4FpeCGE2MGWe0LzbScDtCppITTqwzBcLPJ5BSysE-NVFK95eQ5U650UquVezHg-Fu9BjR_48pn1Z9YkBuoKylkfAlxwaRu9mM7DxGM8aCiDiMOK3ZiMaTeJv42zcP2dSOHWwdNea-39fT-6TvQGrIWD5nr-19nlW-dkp8jWBhvEZam7wYknjg/s6000/1F6E7D42-9861-4DFB-8AB7-A301C2AE8CFF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PLCDd4FpeCGE2MGWe0LzbScDtCppITTqwzBcLPJ5BSysE-NVFK95eQ5U650UquVezHg-Fu9BjR_48pn1Z9YkBuoKylkfAlxwaRu9mM7DxGM8aCiDiMOK3ZiMaTeJv42zcP2dSOHWwdNea-39fT-6TvQGrIWD5nr-19nlW-dkp8jWBhvEZam7wYknjg/w640-h426/1F6E7D42-9861-4DFB-8AB7-A301C2AE8CFF.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-03P6v4Oon0ItOeNTtI-lkFKlxXWMI4eHy9NnBjPUj2g0e4k4D-dar4ErSInX27btxMYN0z6bHMAtmy1mLadsSQopfRorrqO2nQvyoWbDS0bZ_qxEZoKdxJw3Fu4BNsUT-1KqHIDzAXGeFmXPAMV96Cz68OINviQeUidlZZqxmfh4zS7qDbS5qtuErQ/s6000/5D54C796-7523-4921-AA8B-7580FABD4CE8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-03P6v4Oon0ItOeNTtI-lkFKlxXWMI4eHy9NnBjPUj2g0e4k4D-dar4ErSInX27btxMYN0z6bHMAtmy1mLadsSQopfRorrqO2nQvyoWbDS0bZ_qxEZoKdxJw3Fu4BNsUT-1KqHIDzAXGeFmXPAMV96Cz68OINviQeUidlZZqxmfh4zS7qDbS5qtuErQ/w640-h426/5D54C796-7523-4921-AA8B-7580FABD4CE8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Projects Finished:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Vanilla socks in <a href="https://knitterswithoutbordersllc.com/collections/kfs-original-opal/products/opal-kfs-106-cherry-blossom">Opal KFS 106 Sakura</a>, painstakingly knitted to match as closely as possible. (second picture)</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Bias Granny Stripe Afghan, using scraps for the stripes and <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/cloudborn-highland-fingering">Cloudborn Highland Fingering</a> for the taupe middle section. Finished, it measures about 60" x 45".</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Projects in progress:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Harvest socks using Pirika 75/25 in Shabby Chic (top picture). Finished with one sock, but will need to rip out the toe and re-knit it so the sock fits better.</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>More Viola yarn socks, vanilla pattern with sublty contrasting cuffs, heels, and toes. (third picture)</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finished:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.roadtoemmaus.net/">Road to Emmaus Journal</a>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Road-Emmaus-No-63-Orthodox/dp/1635510643/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=road%20to%20emmaus%20no.%2063&qid=1585159582&sr=8-2">Number 63</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Road-Emmaus-No-73-Orthodox/dp/1635510716/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PBXNLO6Z3XHK&keywords=road+to+emmaus+no.+73&qid=1685536285&sprefix=road+to+emmaus+no.+73%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-1">Number 73</a>. Both were phenomenal, but I'd especially like to order more of Protopriest Artemy Vladimirov's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Faith-Vladimirov-Orthodox-Christians/dp/0916700135/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10IT2TT7DC9CG&keywords=bright+faith+vladimirov&qid=1685536359&sprefix=bright+faith+vladimiro%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1">writing and reflections.</a> A carrot for finishing preparation for our first term of the 23-24 homeschool year, represented by the packed bookshelves in the last picture? Possibly. </li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In-progress:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pre-reading for the school year is, as always, more delight than drudgery. Many of the books are old friends, and the coming school year will be my last visit (school) with some of them. Bittersweet, for sure. This work will occupy my mornings while I sit poolside, waiting for the kids to finish swim practice. I am <i>thrilled</i> that the four still at home are <i>all</i> on the team this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second to last picture shows a few of the books on my personal summer reading list. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> A little of <a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/logic-and-rhetoric/traditional-logic-i/">this course</a> daily, and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Book-Intelligent-Readings/dp/B06XDN7B8J/ref=sr_1_4?crid=O6WF2SXCFVKJ&keywords=how+to+read+a+book&qid=1685537747&sprefix=how+to+read+a+book%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-4">How to Read a Book</a> </i>is next. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ministers-Wife-Friendship-Loneliness-Forgiveness/dp/1496444809/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZSUDK3R8V7J8&keywords=the+minister%27s+wife&qid=1685537776&sprefix=the+minister%27s+w%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1">The Minister's Wife</a> </i>is for my clergy wife book group, although I've finished it already. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Know-Yourself-Psychological-Problems-Spiritual/dp/0971413959/ref=sr_1_1?crid=J0RPU4VI1ONA&keywords=do+you+know+yourself+symeon&qid=1685537805&sprefix=do+you+know+yourself%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1"><i>Do You Know Yourself?</i> </a>and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arena-Guidelines-Spiritual-Monastic-Complete/dp/0884652874/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?crid=24P7QZQV69FIL&keywords=the+arena+branchianinov&qid=1685537831&sprefix=the+arena+branchianinov%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-2-fkmr0">The Arena</a></i> are some spiritual reading for when I finish <i>The Ethics of Beauty</i>. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>For pleasure, I'm listening to <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Real-Tigers-Slough-House-Herron/dp/1616957980">Real Tigers</a></i>, the third installment of the Slow Horses series, which was free on Audible. I'm watching season 2 of the show on Apple TV, too. It's<i> dark</i> comedy. While the plot twists are clever and the characters vivid and memorable—Gary Oldman is positively repulsive—there's some graphic violence and spicy language; it's nothing that's kept me awake at night, but ymmv.</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I leave you with a quotation from Fr. Artemy Vladimirov, who is referring to a specific confession, but has broader application to raising children, in my opinion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, when a person's will is paralyzed we should find a way to help them express their decision through our own inner conviction. We do not overwhelm them or violate their personality, but we fill their heart with the courage to assert their own will.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-20422618266866937492023-05-30T18:53:00.006-04:002023-05-31T13:34:13.239-04:00the finish line<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFGp-SVCRSMif0B1JvTfB265IMfK2o-pFjVi6N-rAk9TTBrhKeSDEAreKazX9L5veY_4Et24djxev04ASO5VwG_dz7J9Qx4vm1yB65G5_laCXZDRgnyVNKhMOtskX3BPzSVf3kF88A1YGS8oaVJ1RpZt7flXPfzXewGyksjLifxeZD3FbkWbdX1DlCg/s6000/9CF19016-6FEC-4D7B-8714-858EBB92FA03.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFGp-SVCRSMif0B1JvTfB265IMfK2o-pFjVi6N-rAk9TTBrhKeSDEAreKazX9L5veY_4Et24djxev04ASO5VwG_dz7J9Qx4vm1yB65G5_laCXZDRgnyVNKhMOtskX3BPzSVf3kF88A1YGS8oaVJ1RpZt7flXPfzXewGyksjLifxeZD3FbkWbdX1DlCg/w640-h426/9CF19016-6FEC-4D7B-8714-858EBB92FA03.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I spent an hour this morning winding a ball of yarn by hand after three unsuccessful attempts with the ball winder, and also staring into space. I can’t get my brain to order what needs to be cleaned or purged or packed. My default must be <i>do something yarn-related</i>, because I’ve made quite a bit of progress on several WiPs. Maybe people touring the house will be so enthralled with the handmade afghan casually draped over my chair they’ll not notice the tiles falling off the second floor bathroom wall? I hope.</p><p>Our guys are close to the finish line, and I'm not sure we're even in the same house! I'm excited to post some more before and after photos. Once they wrap up, I'll be able to put back everything we've shifted to give them room to work. I'm reminded of a section of E.B. White's essay "Good-Bye to Forty-Eighth Street":</p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0.7em 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Turtle Bay, November 12, 1957</i><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </b>For some weeks now I have been engaged in dispersing the contents of this apartment, trying to persuade hundreds of inanimate objects to scatter and leave me alone. It is not a simple matter. I am impressed by the reluctance of one’s worldly goods to go out again into the world. During September I kept hoping that some morning, as by magic, all books, pictures, records, chair, beds, curtains, lamps, china, glass, utensils, keepsakes would drain away from around my feet, like the outgoing tide, leaving me standing silence on a bare beach. But this did not happen. My wife and I diligently sorted and discarded things from day to day, and packed other objects for movers, but a six-room apartment holds as much paraphernalia as an aircraft carrier. You can whittle away at it, but to empty the place completely takes real ingenuity and great staying power. On one of the mornings of disposal, a man from a second-hand bookstore visited us, bought several hundred books, and told us of the death of his brother, the word <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cancer</i> exploding in the living room like a time bomb detonated by his grief. Even after he had departed with his heavy load, there seemed to be almost as many books as before, and twice as much sorrow.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><tbody style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><tr style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0.7em 0px; padding: 0px;">Every morning, when I left for work, I would take something in my hand and walk off with it, deposit in the big municipal wire trash basket at the corner of Third, on the theory that the physical act of disposal was the real key to the problem. My wife, a strategist, knew better and began quietly mobilizing the forces that would eventually put our goods to rout. A man could walk away for a thousand mornings carrying something with him to the corner and there would still be a home full of stuff. It is not possible to keep abreast of the normal tides of acquisition. A home is like a reservoir equipped with a check valve: the valve permits influx but prevents outflow. Acquisition goes on night and day — smoothly, subtly, imperceptibly. I have no sharp taste for acquiring things, but it is not necessary to desire things in order to acquire them. Goods and chattels seek a man out; they find him even though his guard is up. Books and oddities arrive in the mail. Gifts arrive on anniversaries and fete days. Veterans send ballpoint pens. Banks send memo books. If you happen to be a writer, readers send whatever may be cluttering up their own lives; I had a man once send me a chip of wood that showed the marks of a beaver’s teeth. Someone dies, and a little trickle of indestructible keepsakes appears, to swell the floor. This steady influx is not counterbalanced by any comparable outgo. Under ordinary circumstances, the only stuff that leaves a home is paper trash and garbage; everything else stays on and digs in.</p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bluedragonfly10.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/white2.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(153, 102, 51); clear: left; color: #265e15; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"></a></div><p></p><div class="wordads-ad-wrapper" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal; margin: 25px auto; padding: 0px; width: 507.844px;"><div class="OUTBRAIN wa-ob-widget" data-browser="chrome" data-dynload="" data-idx="0" data-ob-contenturl="https://bluedragonfly10.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/essays-of-e-b-white-2/" data-ob-installation-key="WORDP263NC92GIANECJP6HEPM" data-ob-mark="true" data-ob-psub="entertain" data-ob-trackers="true" data-os="macintel" data-widget-id="AR_1" id="outbrain_widget_0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ob-widget ob-grid-layout AR_1" data-dynamic-truncate="true" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="ob-widget-header" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: center; box-sizing: content-box; color: black; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; justify-content: space-between; margin: 8px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><p></p><p>So true. The clutter stares at me balefully, daring me to pitch it. Won't I <i>need</i> painter's tape, a jar full of marbles, used envelopes, and those blinds from the dining room windows <i>someday</i>?</p><p>When an artist friend of mine returns from travels in Scotland and Ireland, she’s said she’ll help me stage the house. She's got an unerring eye for arrangement. There’s a bunch of furniture we’re not taking with us, which will have to go. (Anyone want a free piano? If we can’t find a taker, we may just have to move it and start those piano lessons for Little M that we've been promising.)</p><p>We're wrapping up school things, and simultaneously preparing for summer events. Graduation parties, award ceremonies (that our son arrived at in the nick of time!), Zoom meetings, Greek festivals, the Ellinomatheia exams, dance, swim team try-outs, transporting a child home from college and then to her summer job four hours away...Oof. We can't seem to get our summer calendar set. There's a chance for some international travel for a couple of us, some necessary college and family visits, and possibly camp for the kids? My head is spinning. I keep telling myself that once the house is cleaned and staged, I'll feel a little more on top of everything? Maybe not.</p><p>Does it seem like most of what I ramble about here is the fullness of our schedule and my inability to cope with all the activity? I'm not seeking pity or complaining. By writing in this little corner of the internet, I'm processing and mentally organizing. I'm also <i>grateful</i>: grateful that my children are out in our big world, embracing what it has to offer, in turn offering themselves and being formed as persons; grateful that they pull their extremely introverted mother along with them, although crowds and meeting new people are challenging for her; grateful that we've accepted a life of service to Christ and the Church, and all the joy and heartbreak that entails. Amen.</p><p>(Bias Granny Stripe Afghan is finished! It's a perfect light layer for the still-chilly evenings we're having this May.)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-42846475590916218512023-05-09T12:07:00.010-04:002023-11-14T07:53:53.350-05:00yarn along:: may 2023, in progress<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jR6TkBGehFSs03GO7OXfEVk-f7sFwpgTXdrVeKWX2x6_YtDf5tJ0MrcqFhiDAlOMQ8lLw25wmXX_lCE7n9FpNxm2e5UmRWAXE6YmPH6oRSR8Go1EwYoyrin-Boo1UUfLzu5q7jkmE_GBy_dCnrKaqnXUMZ_SF-SRvfZFL3M4C774CFDB6C1_O2dv9g/s5994/DSC_0593.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3994" data-original-width="5994" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jR6TkBGehFSs03GO7OXfEVk-f7sFwpgTXdrVeKWX2x6_YtDf5tJ0MrcqFhiDAlOMQ8lLw25wmXX_lCE7n9FpNxm2e5UmRWAXE6YmPH6oRSR8Go1EwYoyrin-Boo1UUfLzu5q7jkmE_GBy_dCnrKaqnXUMZ_SF-SRvfZFL3M4C774CFDB6C1_O2dv9g/w640-h426/DSC_0593.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwmUMjuyxbFTtQpdfSqy7F-W96IMfD_C9TYexZaaaDwFBGUk3ivnkMysLQ8dwkKSEah7NbFYw_jD7IaToZfHoPE3905jFhQwSvoxK6WaLLUr7iYXiHTbRZPjD5iz8TrE2utSOXEgqsohIAH-4L4KtW_O_4pWMAMQSrW9sQsBsUIC6hm8vw0rBkqd6NQ/s6000/DSC_0601.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwmUMjuyxbFTtQpdfSqy7F-W96IMfD_C9TYexZaaaDwFBGUk3ivnkMysLQ8dwkKSEah7NbFYw_jD7IaToZfHoPE3905jFhQwSvoxK6WaLLUr7iYXiHTbRZPjD5iz8TrE2utSOXEgqsohIAH-4L4KtW_O_4pWMAMQSrW9sQsBsUIC6hm8vw0rBkqd6NQ/w640-h426/DSC_0601.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>We're in the throes of packing unnecessaries (mostly books that we'll not read in the next few months) and painting and repairs and cleaning up the dust from painting and repairs. So much dust! I love the new paint color, seen here in the master bedroom, which brightens and enlarges our space. Fingers crossed that prospective buyers feel the same way. </p><p>My projects and books are ones that I can put down and pick up and put down and pick up, on repeat, a million times a day. <i>All </i>our attentions are scattered due to some Really Fun Plans, but we need to Finish Out the School Year.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkNEfTIPqD0VHtubg9rNjn_ew6qoUA6d-9qXUnATUKHRgB8x9cP6-_FO-vzIAsHObwM7ZdJisYjWWilinwT52JL5OhlKi5jq6bCcI_jF6A1L9WcrjEznoV9pIJeh9WmCb8i2gxFRPdjB7AT9DAMVTX6tVj6yfbJam1rn_0jPI2mXBETaVrrwr2UCfFQ/s6000/5A3D4E6D-EFC5-4160-90A6-4ACB4A8BE89B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkNEfTIPqD0VHtubg9rNjn_ew6qoUA6d-9qXUnATUKHRgB8x9cP6-_FO-vzIAsHObwM7ZdJisYjWWilinwT52JL5OhlKi5jq6bCcI_jF6A1L9WcrjEznoV9pIJeh9WmCb8i2gxFRPdjB7AT9DAMVTX6tVj6yfbJam1rn_0jPI2mXBETaVrrwr2UCfFQ/w640-h426/5A3D4E6D-EFC5-4160-90A6-4ACB4A8BE89B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>I recently began making granny squares to make <a href="https://www.cherryheart.co.uk/2018/12/battenberg-blanket.html">the Battenberg Blanket</a>, a pattern by Sandra Paul. I doubt I'll have the patience to make mine as large as hers (1020 squares is a <i>lot</i> of squares!), but so far they're quick to make. I timed myself: 8 minutes from start to finish. 1020 squares would take 136 hours, or approximately 5 2/3 days to make. Wild. For my neutral shade, I chose<a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/cascade-yarns-heritage-sock?via=Z2lkOi8veWFybi9Xb3JrYXJlYTo6TmF2aWdhdGlvbjo6U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cy8lN0IlMjJidXR0b24lMjIlM0ElMjJzZWFyY2glMjIlMkMlMjJxJTIyJTNBJTIyY2FzY2FkZStoZXJpdGFnZStzb2NrJTIyJTJDJTIydXRmOCUyMiUzQSUyMiVFMiU5QyU5MyUyMiU3RA"> Cascade Heritage Sock in China Blue</a>. Webs was having a sale, and I picked up 7 skeins for a steal! My rule is "only soft colors"; the squares so far are lovely.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUhMCYWrc3BQtFsUxjWTcf0LoUk7VGPlWSQSmiyIGlnHl1kfDFliS5ubM1XN_eMZFvmNyg_ygW2Xjl6vWsW8sTquqLFBpleHJ_zn4VNBlizL8iuzyGrFpHGccgbc1k9VhAGqul7xX5GTCtUrINeRHWV85W47lFa4LGufjvbcDTUiH1nKzFLA79xaYGw/s6000/DSC_1013.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUhMCYWrc3BQtFsUxjWTcf0LoUk7VGPlWSQSmiyIGlnHl1kfDFliS5ubM1XN_eMZFvmNyg_ygW2Xjl6vWsW8sTquqLFBpleHJ_zn4VNBlizL8iuzyGrFpHGccgbc1k9VhAGqul7xX5GTCtUrINeRHWV85W47lFa4LGufjvbcDTUiH1nKzFLA79xaYGw/w640-h426/DSC_1013.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>My bias granny stripe afghan is almost finished, which seems like a major accomplishment in this season of life. The rows are getting smaller, and choosing a new color for each one motivates me to keep going. I'll add a single crochet border of a few rows in the neutral taupe color and then a final single crochet row of dark blue. It's my at-home project. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ68Be_JdN70wKNU5IdKFyMVvMorfNO7NjJX6ySy0odTIqlV_EYswdwlnM1OcXUNxFdUeiO4jtSph9phLV2V_z1DjdgkM0QMtwaol2xiTJ6jMZuiFOOk0OrOjRAfsO5z2eBuDwVIhH9baXgPXH280xBmnFdBLKumxW3zYWDDN39crkXkQN32sc7JvzDA/s6000/80D550F1-2607-4416-859A-F36CA7B956C9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ68Be_JdN70wKNU5IdKFyMVvMorfNO7NjJX6ySy0odTIqlV_EYswdwlnM1OcXUNxFdUeiO4jtSph9phLV2V_z1DjdgkM0QMtwaol2xiTJ6jMZuiFOOk0OrOjRAfsO5z2eBuDwVIhH9baXgPXH280xBmnFdBLKumxW3zYWDDN39crkXkQN32sc7JvzDA/w640-h426/80D550F1-2607-4416-859A-F36CA7B956C9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_UMyMLJEhhD5HN0vgFol6nhQqW9I4_cd880TgLmnh9m2oU2AfSuU7ORgKtbGJLvTFblYvBiIlU93h41SVUP61HoN73tlcii-ZL2VgjpNWcw_QziNx1DsE6WG6_683I-vU1WWOaIlq8L9dOeRx5ftWorspInv0qGMSqVZmLxRxfaEmnIG0vW9pEJyXA/s6000/EEDEA076-6D06-4434-AD60-941464125972.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_UMyMLJEhhD5HN0vgFol6nhQqW9I4_cd880TgLmnh9m2oU2AfSuU7ORgKtbGJLvTFblYvBiIlU93h41SVUP61HoN73tlcii-ZL2VgjpNWcw_QziNx1DsE6WG6_683I-vU1WWOaIlq8L9dOeRx5ftWorspInv0qGMSqVZmLxRxfaEmnIG0vW9pEJyXA/w640-h426/EEDEA076-6D06-4434-AD60-941464125972.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">For brainless on-the-go knitting, there are socks. Lots of socks. There's a pair of vanilla socks in Opal for my sister-in-law, a pair for me, and six(!) more for me in the queue. I am loving the </span><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/harvest-20" style="text-align: left;">Harvest Sock pattern by Olivia Villarreal</a><span style="text-align: left;">, which has just the right amount of pattern to keep it interesting but not slow me down. The yarn is pillowy and very different from all other sock yarn I've tried! It's Pirika 75/25 sock yarn in Shabby Chic from Knitters Without Borders. (The shop is temporarily closed, so no links!)</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm gathering speed for my 2023-2024 Term 1 pre-reading. I don't have any beautiful pictures, but if you're curious about my booklists, check out the CMEC's <a href="https://thecmec.org/">website</a> or<a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.cmec/"> Instagram</a> account. I've made a good dent in the Term 1 assignments for <i><a href="https://nothingnewpress.com/store/the-story-of-the-middle-ages/">The Story of the Middle Ages</a></i>, my second time teaching this book. Fingers crossed that the information sticks in my brain this time!</p><p style="text-align: left;">What are you knitting? Reading?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Below is a before picture of our master bedroom, slurped from the previous owner's Zillow listing. I've saved it all this time because I was hoping we'd eventually get around to painting. Such a huge change!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWR1X6szCf0fA5VxfF8vVmE6hH6flGXvlJM4lCtcJIaaR5EnFdYlIEtv6zbB8aTVSwCHG9sG7aCyfe8iigdfGwMHfgmMSX24itrVAVH8X7TRZnNHNJ3DZLBfgs5L4oFtqgazba1q760dFHhsdBKFouVlFOrLqgN8UAWxiRMPLMqlCE_XO1R0MQCZ7cQ/s1204/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.11.11%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1204" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWR1X6szCf0fA5VxfF8vVmE6hH6flGXvlJM4lCtcJIaaR5EnFdYlIEtv6zbB8aTVSwCHG9sG7aCyfe8iigdfGwMHfgmMSX24itrVAVH8X7TRZnNHNJ3DZLBfgs5L4oFtqgazba1q760dFHhsdBKFouVlFOrLqgN8UAWxiRMPLMqlCE_XO1R0MQCZ7cQ/w640-h626/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-14%20at%2011.11.11%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-60448885061420703212023-04-29T15:21:00.000-04:002023-04-29T15:21:03.530-04:00an impossible thing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yoMnvC3NbK6r-e7dKKSKcIQIIit9Ueet-_ju7-nWlFW5Il_SetyojNDEZ3XbZpez9vPeUvxZjRTtEciT7sdaMiePMzDtwVkI0fGf19EyD4PsjCOc3l9mWSRO-R5pqqA1YmEMoyZFtu1NLiv0X8zfJaosXXjKlH7JF0Qj_nCFkrGMFiC7Id5TXbDTmA/s6000/DB5E0096-AB79-4C9D-8C77-7B922336504A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yoMnvC3NbK6r-e7dKKSKcIQIIit9Ueet-_ju7-nWlFW5Il_SetyojNDEZ3XbZpez9vPeUvxZjRTtEciT7sdaMiePMzDtwVkI0fGf19EyD4PsjCOc3l9mWSRO-R5pqqA1YmEMoyZFtu1NLiv0X8zfJaosXXjKlH7JF0Qj_nCFkrGMFiC7Id5TXbDTmA/w640-h426/DB5E0096-AB79-4C9D-8C77-7B922336504A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I get a lot of questions from people about our move. They mean well; they care. My answers are...no answers. It's such an impossible thing to do what we're doing: fixing up and painting the our old, shabby (but wonderful and beloved!) house, packing, saying good-byes, saying hellos, finding a new, cozy home. We don't have dates or plans, except the hope that we'll be totally settled by the start of the new school year. The cards are stacked against us, between interest rates, a slow market, and an abrupt increase in the cost of living between our old and new locations, but we don't need pity and I'm not complaining. <div><br /></div><div>The impossibility is a gift. </div><div><br /></div><div>Everything, and I mean just about <i>everything </i>pertaining to our transition, is out of our control, and my trust is in the Lord. <div><br /></div><div>Completely. </div><div><br /></div><div>May it be blessed, and to Him be the glory!<p></p></div></div>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-74878795799176574472023-04-05T07:46:00.004-04:002023-05-28T05:46:19.958-04:00yarn along: april 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv-BiT5RBmsYAY--r0QxQ9WSvJFbIWaDpJSdy0gIc2quyr0kYjrjWQm8TFDrWWC8ZVlzOkxdgtd7DmD-2ce6qcOiP1h5dVyTInu1iObUZxlPh8as4LVtQCQ_C652xSl3wsM5-GjAh0IeipnCGwnwG4Wxpfw4gLP-wuYH9IcNnHd_f4jNWs480GwK7zQ/s6000/D526DB8C-64AA-4F1C-8239-DA769F975505.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBv-BiT5RBmsYAY--r0QxQ9WSvJFbIWaDpJSdy0gIc2quyr0kYjrjWQm8TFDrWWC8ZVlzOkxdgtd7DmD-2ce6qcOiP1h5dVyTInu1iObUZxlPh8as4LVtQCQ_C652xSl3wsM5-GjAh0IeipnCGwnwG4Wxpfw4gLP-wuYH9IcNnHd_f4jNWs480GwK7zQ/w640-h426/D526DB8C-64AA-4F1C-8239-DA769F975505.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I started this post on Saturday, typing between the</span><a href="https://www.goarch.org/oratorical" style="text-align: left;"> District Oratorical Festiva</a><span style="text-align: left;">l, moving the wash to the dryer, and preparing for </span><a href="https://cosmosphilly.com/live-greek-independence-day-parade-a-celebration-of-greek-culture-and-tradition/" style="text-align: left;">Sunday's parade</a><span style="text-align: left;"> and </span><a href="https://cosmosphilly.com/relive-the-excitement-philadelphias-greek-independence-day-parade-post-parade-reception/" style="text-align: left;">reception</a><span style="text-align: left;">. Oof. The day was gorgeous: a foretaste of spring weather arriving all too soon, a reminder that our time in this house, with our friends here, is limited. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Pressing forward, SOCKS! In my dreams, yarn waiting on the shelf, and half of one on my needles. (edited: 3/4 of one on the needles!) I've thrown away five pairs of socks in the last week. Those holey heels, darn it! Yarn with nylon content is a must. I've gone a little crazy ordering sock yarn, my hoarding gene compensating for all the purging we're doing for our move. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92Z6fxio5A_4EthKBf-GuHDS2IXM__MN_AAiPFqaNjeXNAs34fduILEcvelQmfcYlO6YBWqFvgyPz4esuIoCbZOZ1kVySR2g0VDZJjvtrzolaVTCOqAbUr92nhv02PZd68djXvYxucJnGi9_C9XE1kvmoiuLdkU6lsq46QatxTzq_GslLYq7wDF2Zmg/s6000/DSC_0568.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92Z6fxio5A_4EthKBf-GuHDS2IXM__MN_AAiPFqaNjeXNAs34fduILEcvelQmfcYlO6YBWqFvgyPz4esuIoCbZOZ1kVySR2g0VDZJjvtrzolaVTCOqAbUr92nhv02PZd68djXvYxucJnGi9_C9XE1kvmoiuLdkU6lsq46QatxTzq_GslLYq7wDF2Zmg/w640-h426/DSC_0568.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Recently bound off (above): <a href="https://tincanknits.com/pattern/rye-light?g=2">Rye Light socks by Tin Can Knits</a> in<a href="https://www.jarbon.com/product/exmoor-sock-4ply/"> John Arbon Exmoor Soc</a>k, color Bibble Bug. The jury is still out on the yarn. Pros: Woolly wool, nylon content, non-superwash. Cons: Not super plush or springy, splitty, pills. I reinforced the heel flap and short rows with slipped stitches. Fingers crossed.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIejIURzux4zpm43tEOvElTu4T-I4lPkjhTYjo1HC-NSahR-IqSxC_i8wA0RkQM4u9CxlaP9C8sbWvv0Cni2Yur0aEmMWldDp0dQKMRrISHUtrCWN6P_mGWlGAYkAeuKYG4nI0Z5iQXtmCrlOU0B6hxJBjlWSSi1r-0EBGtHz05FaX2Nspaa_eEYf_7g/s6000/DSC_0572.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIejIURzux4zpm43tEOvElTu4T-I4lPkjhTYjo1HC-NSahR-IqSxC_i8wA0RkQM4u9CxlaP9C8sbWvv0Cni2Yur0aEmMWldDp0dQKMRrISHUtrCWN6P_mGWlGAYkAeuKYG4nI0Z5iQXtmCrlOU0B6hxJBjlWSSi1r-0EBGtHz05FaX2Nspaa_eEYf_7g/w640-h427/DSC_0572.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>I'm currently knitting the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garia">Garia</a> pattern in <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/viola-sock">Viola Sock</a>, color Eclipse 1. Viola Sock may just be my favorite sock yarn ever. EVER. The pair I knit last year using <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/04/nicole-made-me-do-it.html">minis</a> has worn well, survived an accidental trip through the washing machine, and is all-around amazing. I don't prefer the pattern's heel construction, so a mash up of <a href="https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/2019/10/21/flap-gusset-heel-recipe-toe-up-socks/">these</a> <a href="https://rhyflowerknits.com/heel-flap-gusset-toe-up-version/">two</a> tutorials will work up to one I like.</p><p>Next up: </p><p>For me, a pair of <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/first-snowfall-socks">First Snowfall Socks</a> in <a href="https://lichenandlace.com/collections/frontpage">Lichen and Lace Sock</a>, colors <a href="https://lichenandlace.com/collections/frontpage/products/silver-fox">Silver Fox</a>, <a href="https://lichenandlace.com/collections/frontpage/products/sage?variant=12413473357918">Sage</a>, and possibly Linen? They're replacing a pair I made with non-nylon yarn in <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2021/02/comin-around-bend.html">early 2021</a>. I'm excited about some low-contrast colorwork. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGSTWeN7CmzscAkdBFLfvWBYU58zjYV8WXYr1o9YP2M1IJJQ0i0EIxi68P8aJqcNwh6aKOarOqEmVKajckJK2MAQnpa_blfBwnG4o3v17TLf9lHeEm-XqKaksZXVZkpYfwTq4GyCfBZUKG_z9WayWQ4RIiq89x8R7L99spSrGnSh-9n1wWNQDjCEP3g/s6000/DEEDCB5C-3F07-4FE2-AE5F-9B439C585C1D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGSTWeN7CmzscAkdBFLfvWBYU58zjYV8WXYr1o9YP2M1IJJQ0i0EIxi68P8aJqcNwh6aKOarOqEmVKajckJK2MAQnpa_blfBwnG4o3v17TLf9lHeEm-XqKaksZXVZkpYfwTq4GyCfBZUKG_z9WayWQ4RIiq89x8R7L99spSrGnSh-9n1wWNQDjCEP3g/w640-h426/DEEDCB5C-3F07-4FE2-AE5F-9B439C585C1D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>For a sister-in-law, some vanilla socks in <a href="https://knitterswithoutbordersllc.com/collections/opal-exclusive-yarn/products/opal-kfs-106-cherry-blossom">Opal KFS in Sakura.</a> I ordered a second skein of the Lichen and Lace Sock from a new-to-me shop, <a href="https://knitterswithoutbordersllc.com/">Knitters Without Borders</a>, and threw in a few more skeins of sock yarns, including the Opal KFS, to avoid paying shipping. The yarn arrived so quickly, and was packaged so beautifully that I'll be ordering from the shop again!</p><p>I'm still reading the same things as <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2023/03/yarn-along-march-2023-cocoon.html">last month</a>, making slow progress. Below is an example of the ideas pinging around my brain. How I wish I had a book group with which to discuss <i>The Ethics of Beauty</i>! </p><p></p><blockquote><p>But if a spiritual guide lacks mildness, the soul of even the person with only very small sins to confess will become more self-reliant and harder. The shame* that we experience in confession must be directed toward eros for Christ, not toward increased self-reliance and self-obsessed moral effort. It should be shame that leads gently upward and outward to worship, not inward and downward to despair.</p><p> <i>The Ethics of Beauty</i> by Timothy Patitsas, p. 117<br /></p></blockquote><p>*Dr. Patitsas differentiates between <i>healthy</i> shame, the kind that leads us to love only good things and act in ways that are good, and <i>unhealthy</i> shame, which is a passion that attacks and overwhelms us.</p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-68250494023900339502023-03-11T16:32:00.006-05:002023-03-11T16:32:58.821-05:00it comes in waves<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD0kzHIGKRjXjbnH5SRO10pft1CR7RJZHhEUdJGxkPmSHbvepjhhZNO0dIHB5fXPT7-FSkjz33ElwHI3-Mv0GqPpWoT-_jni8TgxJ7ARKhjttvel3FMVQDydclK36AV5z2QSGVxqB2easaSZoGt9e4LMXbjqVkj8My4xE7ws40PrMs7KGkZdu73j-9w/s512/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="341" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD0kzHIGKRjXjbnH5SRO10pft1CR7RJZHhEUdJGxkPmSHbvepjhhZNO0dIHB5fXPT7-FSkjz33ElwHI3-Mv0GqPpWoT-_jni8TgxJ7ARKhjttvel3FMVQDydclK36AV5z2QSGVxqB2easaSZoGt9e4LMXbjqVkj8My4xE7ws40PrMs7KGkZdu73j-9w/w426-h640/image.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">This season of life, when I'm fighting the swells, I recall a walk I took in my childhood along a jetty that juts out into Lake Michigan. I don't remember the exact circumstances, it was so long ago. The waves were high, and a gentleman warned about the "Three Sisters" phenomenon. I must have been too close to the edge--there was no railing--and he didn't want me to be pulled in. Waves slapped the concrete pier in threes, each crest a little higher and a little stronger than the one before. Occasionally one would wash completely over the path. On a grander scale they would have overwhelmed a ship.</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>There are also the words below, ones I read first in December of 2010. O! for a convenient, well-equipped harbor! But think how resilient that swim to shore made those who did it. Aiming for resilience.</p><p>I still haven't finished <i>The Arena</i>. Some day.</p><p> </p><blockquote><p><i style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">God desires and seeks the salvation of all. And He is always saving all who wish to be<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>saved from drowning in the sea of life and sin. But He does not always save in a boat or in a convenient, well-equipped harbour. He promised to save the Holy Apostle<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Paul and all his fellow-travellers, and He did save them. But the Apostle and his<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>fellow-passengers were not saved in the ship, which was wrecked; they were saved with great difficulty, some by swimming and others on boards and various bits of the ship's wreckage.</span></i></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px;"><i></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-- </i><i>The Arena, </i>by Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov)</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-61689474376170610922023-03-01T07:57:00.007-05:002023-03-13T06:27:35.958-04:00yarn along: march 2023, cocoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Y2wV77zHFnTIbEXC_TRnDFaKax87YoW5IAux3Hc4cMqIDmYW32mrQYZbFY44Ksycd6_V_sKw6p6RvmvEhQzavnL_GV-GLEjajrfi9J9VqHcxkS4trbcVDNVvUoseKjIZT4Y5CAzxxTcJv6C1mIx_emhqkUjyu8Sair3wdeXX7b69-zqyMvT1FTZBsw/s6000/7AD1EF2D-7C6A-43EF-98AD-FB7BA289B52A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Y2wV77zHFnTIbEXC_TRnDFaKax87YoW5IAux3Hc4cMqIDmYW32mrQYZbFY44Ksycd6_V_sKw6p6RvmvEhQzavnL_GV-GLEjajrfi9J9VqHcxkS4trbcVDNVvUoseKjIZT4Y5CAzxxTcJv6C1mIx_emhqkUjyu8Sair3wdeXX7b69-zqyMvT1FTZBsw/w640-h426/7AD1EF2D-7C6A-43EF-98AD-FB7BA289B52A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW_DVVGTBkESy7Nn11HROyK9WDE4OHjUdnBuNxkxNC6xj7vq-kHgLG0vByxRlS-wGTTwg_qQHqitIlk1cnCoJwBp9LkllJb90tDZis_cBMbUPHfjR_6ioRV0Qig55mdM-qee-0tgOXI6GIFiBwB0iNxUSuoEJoI-qI1KgAqIpDxz59Uy_ZVrmXeWlVg/s5892/CEBE2577-F5F2-4FBE-BF34-1DD9B443C615_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3928" data-original-width="5892" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW_DVVGTBkESy7Nn11HROyK9WDE4OHjUdnBuNxkxNC6xj7vq-kHgLG0vByxRlS-wGTTwg_qQHqitIlk1cnCoJwBp9LkllJb90tDZis_cBMbUPHfjR_6ioRV0Qig55mdM-qee-0tgOXI6GIFiBwB0iNxUSuoEJoI-qI1KgAqIpDxz59Uy_ZVrmXeWlVg/w640-h426/CEBE2577-F5F2-4FBE-BF34-1DD9B443C615_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">In times of stress, I tend to cocoon myself. There's comfort in surrounding myself with soft layers of time, tidy rooms, cozy books, and soothing projects. I am learning to say "no" and to give myself lots of time at home, ostensibly to clean it. What is it about keeping house that offers the illusion of control? Never before have I so regularly mopped the floors and cleaned the bathrooms! The rest of our lives may be crazy, but darn it! the toilets are sparkling. Next week our contractor begins work on the house: painting, repairing, more painting. I can't wait for him to repaint the dirty yellow walls (see above photo) and ceiling of our kitchen, the kitchen we had plans to gut and redo in a year or two. (I mean, who paints a ceiling </span><i style="text-align: left;">yellow</i><span style="text-align: left;">?!) </span><span style="text-align: left;">The house will look closer to my vision for it--just in time for us to move. That stings.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We've entered the season of Lent, so my book stack has been chosen for growth, rather than entertainment, although I delight in every word I read. My koumbaro told me about the premise of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Beauty-Timothy-G-Patitsas/dp/1635511003">The Ethics of Beauty</a></i> during a recent visit with his family. He pressed his copy on me, but I declined his offer since he hadn't finished it yet. Guess what arrived from him in the mail a few days later? Written in the format of a series of interviews, the book makes ethics, philosophy, and trauma comprehensible. I recently finished <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Maintaining-Peace-Small-Treatise/dp/0818909064/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25TVSXNMACI4G&keywords=searching+for+and+maintaining+peace+by+jacques+philippe&qid=1677674091&s=books&sprefix=searching+for+%2Cstripbooks%2C71&sr=1-1">one</a> Fr. Jacques book and have moved to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-God-Jacques-Philippe/dp/1594170665/ref=sr_1_2?crid=37Q75O3C4PFNU&keywords=time+for+god+jacques+philippe&qid=1677674116&s=books&sprefix=time+for+god+phil%2Cstripbooks%2C69&sr=1-2">the next one</a> on my shelves. A friend recommended <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lively-Writing-Lucile-Vaughan-Payne/dp/0451627121/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3JOI9HE3M0RE4&keywords=time+for+god+jacques+the+lively+art+of+writing&qid=1677674396&s=books&sprefix=time+for+god+jacques+the+lively+art+of+writing+%2Cstripbooks%2C70&sr=1-1">The Lively Art of Writing</a> </i>to help my Form 3 child with his composition block. I'm sloooowly working through it.</p><p>All my selfish knitting projects are resting while I feverishly work on a lap blanket for a friend's husband, who was diagnosed with a serious illness in January. I recently attended the funeral for a <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2021/12/some-news-and-little-knitting-thrown-in.html">dear</a> <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/01/yarn-along-january-2022.html">parishioner</a>; didn't I just finish knitting something comforting for her, too? Of all the reasons to knit for people, this has to be one of the hardest. The presvyteres in my metropolis commissioned my current project, specifying the color. The blanket pattern is a<a href="https://www.berroco.com/patterns/lorraine"> free one</a>, knit with <a href="https://www.berroco.com/yarns/vintage-chunky">Berroco Vintage Chunky</a> in the color 6146 Azure. It's the blue of the Panagia, may she intercede for him!</p><p>Hoping that March brings the joy of spring to you! xo</p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-41194383324797975112023-02-10T16:20:00.001-05:002023-02-10T16:20:19.592-05:00yarn along: february 2023<p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IJA8MibGIbg9nK1cTVrc3gHPdJQJCZzL0m6bzg9-iCx7UEPMLv2TtQTqHv17JQ7Tt0QqTuSzrtamWhv7A5xzjro-3_aDlWvofcbwGRoUCUHeL-8S6nwvdbl9CSAIfN5dZg3TeBbBP7GIGJ2rUIu9wQaoH_ai8z6qaIiB1gDgivUPHUYUSNNj6X4j9g/s6000/23EA2D46-FF72-478E-B551-693C42FCB89F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IJA8MibGIbg9nK1cTVrc3gHPdJQJCZzL0m6bzg9-iCx7UEPMLv2TtQTqHv17JQ7Tt0QqTuSzrtamWhv7A5xzjro-3_aDlWvofcbwGRoUCUHeL-8S6nwvdbl9CSAIfN5dZg3TeBbBP7GIGJ2rUIu9wQaoH_ai8z6qaIiB1gDgivUPHUYUSNNj6X4j9g/w640-h426/23EA2D46-FF72-478E-B551-693C42FCB89F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqfzF78yKdHJgAOfUqfx8wNkyFuVB1sTQ9IUpzrXLL2KnZcIWVYzBoFqaAWLv35jeoC3-ioywKxTYifAYswWzxzO5L1YfrTrCj2PKtEARTP-hHM5uD8vCPZyr5_LCIDxpxga0ioKgDjMgr6aUg9kHZqLC7qyEdPKLrv8-oFm9PLWgVKE8jiISkAEkQg/s6000/72B14A6D-1478-4624-97F0-4EA207C60107.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqfzF78yKdHJgAOfUqfx8wNkyFuVB1sTQ9IUpzrXLL2KnZcIWVYzBoFqaAWLv35jeoC3-ioywKxTYifAYswWzxzO5L1YfrTrCj2PKtEARTP-hHM5uD8vCPZyr5_LCIDxpxga0ioKgDjMgr6aUg9kHZqLC7qyEdPKLrv8-oFm9PLWgVKE8jiISkAEkQg/w640-h426/72B14A6D-1478-4624-97F0-4EA207C60107.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>Behind the scenes, there's a lot of reading happening. More reading than should <i>probably</i> be happening, given the amount of non-reading work that needs to get done. But! No matter how late I've gone to bed the night before, I try to rise at five every morning and spend some time with my nose buried in a book.</p><p>I'm a few pages from finishing <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Maintaining-Peace-Small-Treatise/dp/0818909064/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XQ51BZW026CQ&keywords=searching+for+and+maintaining+peace+by+jacques+philippe&qid=1676060711&sprefix=searching+%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1">Searching for and Maintaining Peace</a></i>, another Fr. Jacques Philippe gem, and will begin <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-God-Jacques-Philippe/dp/1594170665/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UUMOARCQVS4B&keywords=time+for+god+by+fr.+jacques+philippe&qid=1676060753&sprefix=time+for+god%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1">Time for God</a> </i>next. Both eminently fit this helter-skelter, mostly solo-parenting season. Fr. Jacques Philippe's simplicity and directness, his common sense without over-philosophizing, remind me a little of St. John Chrysostom's <a href="https://frted.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/prayers-for-each-hour-of-the-day/">arrow prayers</a>. </p><p>For genuine pleasure, I'm re-reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erast_Fandorin">Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin series</a>, which I first read with Z was a baby. I can't even believe how long ago that seems! My preference would be to listen to the audiobooks, but they're unavailable on Audible for me. I looked in our library catalog, and couldn't pull up any of the books, so I called our local branch to inquire. Would you believe that they'd been withdrawn from the shelves just the day before?! The librarian said I could take home whatever they had, so I scored two: <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter_Queen_(novel)">The Winter Queen</a></i> and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_on_the_Leviathan">Murder on the Leviathan</a></i>. The kids and I are reading <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Strogoff">Michael Strogoff</a></i> together right now, so 19th century Russia is very much in my imagination.</p><p>I again set my monthly crafting goals at an all-time low: finish <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/intersections">one pair of socks</a>, using some <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2021/08/saying-yes-setting-up-for-success.html">KnitPicks self-dyed yarn,</a> and make progress on a shawl (the<a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/briogarter-split-shawl"> briogarter split</a>, shown <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/05/leading-with-beautiful.html">here</a>) and afghan (<a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-very-wordy-yarn-long-mid-december-2022.html">here</a>). Progress is defined by any work at all, so boxes for the last two goals are checked already! The first goal is slooooow going, but I need socks. All of my recently made pairs are falling apart simultaneously, and more socks <i>must</i> be made! Maybe the above pile of squishy sock yarn skeins* will inspire my fingers to knit faster? </p><p>*Lichen and Lace, some coveted Viola Yarn, and new-to-me Exmoor Sock.</p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-9237336200190158332023-01-27T19:03:00.004-05:002023-03-06T18:31:13.417-05:00epiphany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsDE89bODefsc2aP3Kujg9HqMCxvmTRoEfAzo_1O9nWIm2_6eGQRkkpcDbEbT_i7Gq43HKqZatfU1mPoQGHS9EU3-juxwhFicphufVm5aIJCBvoAN2yyc1tiREdWj0FcUHySOElwrEAShbAmM1CHzntJNGbwvL5s0H5NLizH8l29-2eGUJMA0pmUtgw/s6000/DSC_0533.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsDE89bODefsc2aP3Kujg9HqMCxvmTRoEfAzo_1O9nWIm2_6eGQRkkpcDbEbT_i7Gq43HKqZatfU1mPoQGHS9EU3-juxwhFicphufVm5aIJCBvoAN2yyc1tiREdWj0FcUHySOElwrEAShbAmM1CHzntJNGbwvL5s0H5NLizH8l29-2eGUJMA0pmUtgw/w640-h426/DSC_0533.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Our Christmas was so-so. <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2020/12/wanting-what-i-have.html">Some years we knock it out of the park</a> and others...well, this was one of the others. My parents were caught up in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Southwest_Airlines_flight_delays#:~:text=In%20December%202022%2C%20Southwest%20Airlines,its%20flights%20on%20two%20days.">that whole Southwest mess</a>, and decided to stay put rather than visit. They've rescheduled for May, when the not-so-little little boys are performing their Shakespeare plays, so we'll take it. Still, all those plans for board games and outings with them were cancelled. </p><p>I didn't take many pictures. Actually, I only took the one picture: my thrifted sugar bowl and Christmas breakfast in the background. Weird, right? </p><p>I sort of knew <a href="https://www.goarch.org/-/father-gregory-gilbert-new-proistamenos-tenafly-cathedral-2023">a big announcement</a> was looming after the holidays. I tried not to drown in the overwhelm that is repairing and packing up a seven person household, transferring homeschool and "regular" school children, and acknowledging the grief of farewells to several communities. We've got until this summer to face all those things, God willing, although my husband begins his extra-long commute in a few days. It's not all grief and gloom! Our new parish community offers corresponding activities to our current one; dare I suggest that there are even more ways for my kids to put down roots? If it's possible for a person to feel the whole spectrum between trepidation and joy, I do. When I look back at the past 25 years, our lives have been a wild and unpredictable ride. But a Good one. </p><p>In our daily life, we're coping. I expected the deflated, self-pity and inertia that arrives after the bustle of the holidays and unpacks for a long, long visit, usually until February or March; I wasn't blindsided. It's a yearly houseguest that's been coming for ages, decades probably, but whose pattern of arrival I noticed for the first time just last year. The early December appearance, though,<i> that</i> was new. Maybe it took my awareness as an invitation? This year, instead of lolling on the couch for weeks, or parking itself at the kitchen table for days on end, inertia is using our digs as a home base while it tours the area. It departs for days, and then returns just when I've tidied the house. Maybe I'll get wise and lock the door behind it the next time it leaves? I'm using all my habits and prayer to push it out. </p><p>Some things that are helping: </p><p><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Rule-Life-Bring-Order/dp/1928832415/ref=asc_df_1928832415/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312371602209&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4211621987782019473&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007233&hvtargid=pla-490575977886&psc=1&region_id=674469&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61011965686&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312371602209&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4211621987782019473&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007233&hvtargid=pla-490575977886">This book</a>.</b> A big Thank You to <a href="https://gsheller.com/2023/01/a-little-cardigan-and-a-mothers-rule.html">Ginny</a> for highlighting it.</p><p><b>Making sure a breakfast is on the table before my children awaken, and an "official" lunch is prepared. </b> Covid and a household that scatters in many directions throughout the day let me get lax in my meal oversight. Sure, we had appropriate foods available, and it was easier in the short run to permit people get their own breakfast and lunch when they wanted to eat(rather than make it myself). I told myself that our habits fostered independence and built cooking skills. Really, allowing everyone to prepare his own meal fostered selfishness, my own laziness, and some closet gluttony, not to mention that the kitchen was a perpetual mess. No matter how many good cleaning habits we have, there are certain cleaning skills that are too advanced for some young children, despite their best efforts. </p><p><b>Prep prep, prep.</b> This is connected to my aha! moment about food. If I can think ahead and prepare the day before, hours before, the house runs more smoothly. We're trying to lay out the next day's school table on the evenings when we're at home.</p><p><b>Working with our family's energy.</b> We all need breaks! Especially after lunch, we need at least an hour of rest before we move on with our day. </p><p><b>Chores alongside the children.</b> Back during the lockdowns, I trained the children to clean their bedrooms every Friday following a checklist while I worked on my own. How did that fall to the wayside? I've moved my own cleaning day so I can work with the children to go through their lists. Their rooms are much cleaner!</p><p><b>Bedtime habits are key.</b> Looking at you, dirty clothes on the floor. I'm making my best effort to help the children prepare for bedtime with a routine. Some children are more amenable to new habits that others. And one has internalized her bedtime chores already!</p><p><b>Setting the bar low. </b>My knitting goals for January involved finishing <i>two</i> projects and "making progress" on one other. At some point, I will need to start cleaning out our house. Our new parish is in an area of the country that is known for its exorbitant cost of living. We're downsizing by necessity, but I'm not complaining. It'll be easier to keep a smaller house tidy. We manage to fill to bursting whatever space we inhabit, which is a sad commentary on our acquisitiveness. I'll start small and work forward, watching <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80209379">Marie Kondo</a> in preparation. </p><p><br /></p><p>Whew! So much happening here. All that to say, if <i>this</i> space is a little quiet, rest assured the rest of life chez Pleximama is emphatically <i>not. </i>Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you!</p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-30870945085214485422022-12-28T07:49:00.007-05:002022-12-28T07:49:40.078-05:00finally time for sweaters<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxLoWRLT-e9N5o6KeKLERNh-u6rw1qZHTPH_CcP4KAr_JqXraUAA1L1pjrPTRUwVICW8HNIYeQEeoujOCo4vSg0XtylfJ3ASh7THbytL2Euw1lF1r4V40HJ-sc-WHA6VZrD3VxcFAeoPsVrLQeI93d_pK08bGN1SZE3arELLB6crBaXlAUw9ZSVSbEQ/s4195/4CBEB952-C91E-4C19-8AE7-600A2937E987_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="4195" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxLoWRLT-e9N5o6KeKLERNh-u6rw1qZHTPH_CcP4KAr_JqXraUAA1L1pjrPTRUwVICW8HNIYeQEeoujOCo4vSg0XtylfJ3ASh7THbytL2Euw1lF1r4V40HJ-sc-WHA6VZrD3VxcFAeoPsVrLQeI93d_pK08bGN1SZE3arELLB6crBaXlAUw9ZSVSbEQ/w640-h450/4CBEB952-C91E-4C19-8AE7-600A2937E987_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweSDPYtOQYBujJlq0TxPWXXZR7nhaPRroa2lBXiok_4zfr-qOWL19SZhZS9naoBpDb_jSy5YSWjMLnFGilcMF_DqyKUO1mGtXCXSEftir61Z_-JrfuYmm2Q3i_cqmx-Lzwux90llSw3VoRzbgWTkDNY_s0D8OYNPJKhgYCPtJqpBg4OHbN4NEmr7R2g/s5003/961F6272-1E88-4F0C-83A6-9567819EB73A_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3383" data-original-width="5003" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweSDPYtOQYBujJlq0TxPWXXZR7nhaPRroa2lBXiok_4zfr-qOWL19SZhZS9naoBpDb_jSy5YSWjMLnFGilcMF_DqyKUO1mGtXCXSEftir61Z_-JrfuYmm2Q3i_cqmx-Lzwux90llSw3VoRzbgWTkDNY_s0D8OYNPJKhgYCPtJqpBg4OHbN4NEmr7R2g/w640-h432/961F6272-1E88-4F0C-83A6-9567819EB73A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I finished the first sweater in mid-September. It was a self-drafted pattern inspired by Elizabeth Zimmermann's Hybrid-Yoke sweater recipe. My wardrobe "needed" a lightweight crewneck pullover, based on the measurements of my favorite store-bought V-neck, and this fits the bill. The yarn is <a href="https://www.violaandthemoon.com/shop/polwarth-cacao">Viola polwarth + alpaca in the color cacao</a>, blogged <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/06/a-magnificent-week-in-numbers.html">here</a> and <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/08/yarn-along-august-2022-between.html">here</a>. I used just a smidge over three skeins, leaving enough for a <a href="https://pleximama.blogspot.com/2022/12/its-been-while.html">hat</a>. It pills quite a bit, but that doesn't detract from my admiration of it. The best part is the three-needle bind-off ridge on the back yoke. </p><p>Some notes for the next time I make a sweater in the same style: </p><p>I like the high crew neck of this one a lot, but I'll make the shoulder saddles much deeper (and consequently the neck opening larger) next time. </p><p>The decreases at the underarm didn't turn out the way I'd hoped, leaving too much fabric that bunches under my arm. Must solve that problem next time, hopefully with the deeper saddles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBA4UyLWKA2gxycBEFXxwWdIkGtt4rDWsolhPeXRqLh5_hyUb8Q1UwEcL-4X2xYMgd7FMJx_KCcbIuNjN56G_FF1vuPFpCqZBQ942oqWDLqMaZzcSvLHsTn3ZTxCqjp02cM7zivYP0fFDjI9PcQrGL1913HUw4W5bkt2gEb7XW9ATWg9puNrc_eDZyg/s6000/CE9F3BBE-64F6-42CE-AE71-819E38F1763F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBA4UyLWKA2gxycBEFXxwWdIkGtt4rDWsolhPeXRqLh5_hyUb8Q1UwEcL-4X2xYMgd7FMJx_KCcbIuNjN56G_FF1vuPFpCqZBQ942oqWDLqMaZzcSvLHsTn3ZTxCqjp02cM7zivYP0fFDjI9PcQrGL1913HUw4W5bkt2gEb7XW9ATWg9puNrc_eDZyg/w640-h426/CE9F3BBE-64F6-42CE-AE71-819E38F1763F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Sweater #2 I started just as soon as I'd bound off the Viola sweater; it stalled out after the really-fun-to-knit yoke because of gauge issues. (I've posted this picture before. It still looks about the same!) The other day, after frogging my progress twice, I finally figured out the proper needle size to continue. I hope to bind-off the last stitch in January 2023. #goals</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4npXG0MPUUnnNCTi9f1niF2ToK1wdX-LvyoKaQHpVNid9dYSp1gIBXyee_eovF8MKxdlgCcQJIiONXt5xqiuZSrdq2RKwotx3PBLqb84hKvLBs7ig05ruC-rCuBkqOp8Puben8HJmlhGivNRlT0_Svu1JJIycHWKSSohzRTfyvV0wjcMt4koiL0iJw/s6000/DSC_0479.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4npXG0MPUUnnNCTi9f1niF2ToK1wdX-LvyoKaQHpVNid9dYSp1gIBXyee_eovF8MKxdlgCcQJIiONXt5xqiuZSrdq2RKwotx3PBLqb84hKvLBs7ig05ruC-rCuBkqOp8Puben8HJmlhGivNRlT0_Svu1JJIycHWKSSohzRTfyvV0wjcMt4koiL0iJw/w640-h426/DSC_0479.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I'm a late adopter for most trends, especially ones I'm ambivalent toward, like mohair, which is having a moment. Especially mohair + another type of yarn. Mohair + merino fingering. Mohair + mohair. Mohair + unspun yarn. This last combination is what snagged me. </p><p>I've wanted to try <a href="https://thewoollythistle.com/products/plotulopi?variant=37960476103">plötulopi</a> for some time, but worried that it wouldn't hold up to my destructive tendencies. A gift card to The Woolly Thistle combined with <a href="https://thewoollythistle.com/collections/peace-fleece/products/peace-fleece-dk-yarn">a perpetually sold out preference</a>* and impatience led to me thinking in a new direction (and a purchase). </p><p>For the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felix-cardigan">Felix cardigan</a>, I went with a <a href="https://thewoollythistle.com/collections/lopi/products/plotulopi?variant=37960476103">middle grey plötulopi</a> and a <a href="https://thewoollythistle.com/collections/mohair-blends-yarn/products/rauma-plum-mohair-yarn?variant=40457671049368">light grey Rauma Plum</a>. My gauge was a bit different from the pattern's but a mash up of medium and small gave me a perfect fit, and I knit the body slightly longer that the pattern specs. I will 100% be knitting this pattern again in Peace Fleece Worsted. It's very versatile. Buttons are <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/975956147/walnut-stained-olive-wood-buttons?transaction_id=3219537903&campaign_label=delivery_confirmation_subjectline_exp_treatment&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=delivery_confirmation_subjectline_exp_treatment_010170_418532352360_0_0&utm_medium=email&utm_content=&email_sent=1666281368&euid=6WVGBSX4by4c2q9QqlBXLM3PUAgi&eaid=1041457231309&x_eaid=759fc68994">these</a>, and they're great, but I must get around to reinforcing them with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxL-HXBdOgI">back buttons</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>*Wooly Bear, where are you? You've been out of stock for over a year...</p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-90203656145887809502022-12-23T12:48:00.004-05:002022-12-23T14:32:46.219-05:00merry, jolly, bright<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSoPOz-hnjFuKl5UB8ZPrzKy9tF6cIUc81Ww8CnGe3vBniU63Pas7dmOamM4zO9c6E8Fyf9eYd89SuiLTRowT2ugnaulVNMKdLv_sYU4Fb28CM7B4qWbozPaEkLjsQdgSwlvEWJUWPYmkPCVgc4ENSePYJXiDMF2Ce2Vh8FGT0UusMHgrsul8HocJZUQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="482" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSoPOz-hnjFuKl5UB8ZPrzKy9tF6cIUc81Ww8CnGe3vBniU63Pas7dmOamM4zO9c6E8Fyf9eYd89SuiLTRowT2ugnaulVNMKdLv_sYU4Fb28CM7B4qWbozPaEkLjsQdgSwlvEWJUWPYmkPCVgc4ENSePYJXiDMF2Ce2Vh8FGT0UusMHgrsul8HocJZUQ=w483-h640" width="483" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p> CHRISTMAS DAY<br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">A baby is a harmless thing</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> And wins our hearts with one accord,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">And Flower of Babies was their King,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Jesus Christ our Lord:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lily of lilies He</div><div style="text-align: left;">Upon His Mother's knee;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rose of roses, soon to be</div><div style="text-align: left;">Crowned with thorns on leafless tree.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A lamb is innocent and mild</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> And merry on the soft green sod;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">And Jesus Christ, the Undefiled,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Is the Lamb of God:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Only spotless He</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Upon His Mother's knee;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>White and ruddy, soon to be </span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sacrificed for you and me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nay, lamb is not so sweet a word,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Nor lily half so pure a name;</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Another name our hearts hath stirred,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> Kindling them to flame:</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>"Jesus" certainly</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>Is music and melody:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>Heart with heart in harmony</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>Carol we and worship we.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and, like much of the nation, we're hunkered down with the wind swirling and howling outside our windows. In the space of a few hours here, we've had thunder and lightning, hail, ice, rain, and snow. What a blessing it is to have a roof over our heads and warm radiators to lean against. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've got a pot of beans simmering on the stove for one last round of <a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/cheesy-vegan-pizza-beans-30-minutes/">pizza beans</a> before we break the fast on Sunday, and there's some dough rising in a warm oven for a <a href="http://www.astackofdishes.com/the-famous-ny-times-no-knead-bread/">crusty loaf of bread</a>*. The kids keep winding our Christmas music boxes. "Silent Night" tinkles throughout the house. The tree is in pieces on the floor, awaiting a strong male (or three) to assemble it. Children brought our boxes and bins of ornaments up from the basement this morning. Energy is high. (Too high!) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Goals for our Christmastide: coziness and rest. We've got this.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">May your Christmas be blessed! See you in the New Year!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>* It's the New York Times No-Knead Bread Recipe, which is behind a paywall. I used the one that has a 4 hour rising time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Edited: One more thing! We've been enjoying this festive album as we decorate.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/artist/4jPHiRMAFnHjM5fMOkBRzf?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760654399214178834.post-33935192319063029472022-12-12T13:25:00.001-05:002022-12-12T19:16:02.079-05:00a very wordy yarn long: mid-december 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63TWoJFAgcOK3M7GRwoM0I_fbYqh6SIPZxXnZZn_ovaeLnLiuO5pDcp8g4HANrxStA19wy-5vrXMiw55kE_VIHFsaQInnZSXlexXNqEtL7md5kbgB0KtRG11Tw9mob1_lXqr51Fcraii7loT1EkvkGEpNWYCwqFpVOEs2KQpcfz9zwuSHpMBRpmwdgA/s5069/F5979353-A5F8-4A4C-B3BD-8B27A636EDDA_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3498" data-original-width="5069" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63TWoJFAgcOK3M7GRwoM0I_fbYqh6SIPZxXnZZn_ovaeLnLiuO5pDcp8g4HANrxStA19wy-5vrXMiw55kE_VIHFsaQInnZSXlexXNqEtL7md5kbgB0KtRG11Tw9mob1_lXqr51Fcraii7loT1EkvkGEpNWYCwqFpVOEs2KQpcfz9zwuSHpMBRpmwdgA/w640-h442/F5979353-A5F8-4A4C-B3BD-8B27A636EDDA_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmFvNKdIu4noS9JhUCbU8jbYZNggPAzm-KmhOxO6w_-CEVT8u0gTWJPA2mOpLVAYcgSlQVK9xlIjVfZmFfnXYufT3Gj0bKy8yPoJ-jop8xy7u1lInEjJXl5UyVxbjFOwWCXgEBgpBPUHgPm4asn-E2ltmn5BYoGeRsKaXiTVLezwsuZAF9y9qWWjVhA/s5609/36255495-5A3A-442E-A140-D0378A2287FE_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3810" data-original-width="5609" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmFvNKdIu4noS9JhUCbU8jbYZNggPAzm-KmhOxO6w_-CEVT8u0gTWJPA2mOpLVAYcgSlQVK9xlIjVfZmFfnXYufT3Gj0bKy8yPoJ-jop8xy7u1lInEjJXl5UyVxbjFOwWCXgEBgpBPUHgPm4asn-E2ltmn5BYoGeRsKaXiTVLezwsuZAF9y9qWWjVhA/w640-h434/36255495-5A3A-442E-A140-D0378A2287FE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNKYbG_HMBS2xnsyvggS3vcQqMAf7Md3fvV2jLt4s0zEl-fTz0UhlGc_7sVLSqziO16IAaASB5ORJhCXLHr2pTQTcE1MfSL_NuYeh9Xa0F7KUq5FDTu1wrifZHdba949pq7TbCQNMWhdhnofH28DR5mIbImJGA7h7Qj2_M-z9imKDclPwi8PmNgNgRw/s6000/91E148B4-BAFB-4F11-B1CF-01A84E8E6709.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNKYbG_HMBS2xnsyvggS3vcQqMAf7Md3fvV2jLt4s0zEl-fTz0UhlGc_7sVLSqziO16IAaASB5ORJhCXLHr2pTQTcE1MfSL_NuYeh9Xa0F7KUq5FDTu1wrifZHdba949pq7TbCQNMWhdhnofH28DR5mIbImJGA7h7Qj2_M-z9imKDclPwi8PmNgNgRw/w640-h426/91E148B4-BAFB-4F11-B1CF-01A84E8E6709.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A lovely stack of books and a crumpled heap of squishy blanket. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">That's what I'll remember from this December.</span></div><p>I'm re-reading, or actually reading for the first time since my first experience was an audiobook, <i>That Hideous Strength</i>, probably inspired by<a href="https://theupheaval.substack.com/p/a-prophecy-of-evil-tolkien-lewis?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=330796&post_id=84717234&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email"> this essay</a>. (Looking at it now, I realize I didn't read the whole thing because it's behind a paywall.) Mid-November, I had a sudden urge to revisit the world of Mark and Jane Studdock, N.I.C.E., and Mr. Bultitude, a world eerily like our own. Lewis captures so exactly the secret and deepest longings of humans; his understanding amazes me. Mark's journey, his interaction with Dr. Dimble immediately before his arrest, the scales falling from his eyes as he sits in prison: these are the parts that strike me this second time around. Books meet us each reading with something new, don't they? </p><p>During our homeschool morning meeting, we're finishing <i>Freckles</i> and beginning <i>Great African Americans</i>. They're two very different books, although they both tell very compelling stories. I can't wait for Little M to be old enough for <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Girl_of_the_Limberlost_(novel)">A Girl of the Limberlost</a>. </i>Our poets this term are Browning and Poe, and I purchased Poe's complete stories and poems, hoping to read the stories in my free time. Someday.</p><p>We've re-discovered the treasures of our library after some disappointments in its catalog. Most of the books we prefer to read are no longer available on library shelves, but there are still gems. T has been exploring cookbooks, which has led me to the adult stacks with him. I picked up one a couple of weeks ago, needing an infusion of new recipe ideas for our Nativity Fast. It's been years since we used "replacement" ingredients other than vegan butter and plant-based milk. (Yes, I know vegan butter is terrible for us.) I've stopped trying to substitute non-lenten foods with vegan ones because they're mostly gross. But my teen, pre-teen, and tween sons are at an age where the only foods they really want are bacon, beef, chicken, eggs, and cheese. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unbelievably-Vegan-Life-Changing-Plant-Based-Cookbook/dp/0593232984">This cookbook</a> might bridge the preference gulf? We'll see. G used up a whole pad of sticky tabs to show me which recipes he wanted me to try. We're attempting the nachos from the cover image tonight. I remain skeptical, but open to trying new things.</p><p><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/House-Thinking-Room-Room-Look/dp/0060538694/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3POHALTT183WI&keywords=house+thinking&qid=1670868355&s=books&sprefix=house+thinking%2Cstripbooks%2C73&sr=1-1">House Thinking</a></i> has been an interesting read, although I didn't finish and I think it's overdue. (Must check that.) It's a room-by-room exploration of the evolution and purpose of the house. Much of the psychology I had never even considered; much of it resonated with me. </p><p>Two projects occupy my attention right now. Realizing it would be another two decades until I had enough scraps of sock yarn to finish my granny strip afghan, I ordered some very inexpensive yarn to fill in most of the body. I'll tootle along with this <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/cloudborn-highland-fingering?via=Z2lkOi8veWFybi9Xb3JrYXJlYTo6TmF2aWdhdGlvbjo6U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cy8lN0IlMjJidXR0b24lMjIlM0ElMjJzZWFyY2glMjIlMkMlMjJxJTIyJTNBJTIyY2xvdWRib3JuK2hpZ2hsYW5kJTIyJTJDJTIydXRmOCUyMiUzQSUyMiVFMiU5QyU5MyUyMiU3RA">Cloudborn Highland Fingering, </a>which is much more taupe than cream in person, until there's a bit of the blanket left and then I'll revert to stripes. Maybe there'll be enough left of the Highland Fingering for a sweater for me? </p><p>I'm using the last of my <a href="https://www.purlsoho.com/linen-quill.html">Linen Quill (in Stillwater Blue)</a> to make a simple ribbed hat, <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2x2">2x2 by Ida Wänsted</a>t. K2, p2, k2, p2, k2...soothing and mindless for an intense season.</p><p>Sending warm and cozy wishes your way, friends!</p><p><br /></p>pleximamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11786208044047874286noreply@blogger.com2