Sunday, September 29, 2013

A Prayer for Today



Holy God,
you reach out in love through Jesus Christ to save us
so that we may live as faithful servants of you alone.
Unchain us from our desire for wealth and power
so that we may, in turn, release others
from the prisons of poverty, hunger, and oppression.
Amen.



Prayer & Image Credit

Sunday, September 22, 2013

A Prayer for Today



God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us.
Amen.



Prayer & Image Credit

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Happy 5th Birthday Lola!

It's hard to believe that this little munchkin

is 5 years old today!



Happy 5th Birthday Lola!
Aunt C.C. loves you so much!



Image Credit

Sunday, September 15, 2013

A Prayer for Today



Merciful God,
your desire to bring us into your commonwealth
is so great that you seek us
in the places of our ignorance,
and the forgotten corners where we hide in despair.
Gather us into your loving embrace,
and pour upon us your wise and holy Spirit,
so that we may become faithful servants
in whom you rejoice with all the company of heaven.
Amen.



Prayer & Image Credit

Sunday, September 8, 2013

A Prayer for Today



Creator God,
you form us on the wheel of life
as a potter molds the clay.
Shape us into holy vessels,
bearing the mark of your wise crafting,
that we may remain strong and useful
through years of faithful and obedient service
in Christ's name.
Amen.



Prayer & Image Credit

Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Post In Which I Share My Spoons for September


Sharing Our Spoons is a monthly link-up for those of us with chronic illnesses where we support and encourage each other in a holistic way by focusing on five goals each month. The five goal areas are: Physical, Mental/Emotional, Spiritual, Something fun, and BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone each month. We'll be linking up on the first Tuesday of each month. We'd love to have you join us.



My Goals For August were (and how I did):
1. Physical: Focus on getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night and preferably get to bed by 1am especially with the upcoming time change (we'll be moving 6 hours ahead) with the move which will be a difficult change for me. ~ The time change was actually not as bad for me as I expected. In fact, of the three of us, I seem to be the one who has adjusted the best. Not to say that it has been easy, but it was not as difficult as expected. Out of the last 7 days, 4 of them I got to bed by 1am (and 3 of those nights earlier than that) and I'm averaging 9 hours of sleep each night which seems to be a good amount for me.

2. Mental/Emotional: Finish some current knitting projects that are on the needles and start designing a new pattern so that it can be knit up and published. The design is in my head but I need to work on it. ~ I finished all the projects that were on my needles and I'm almost 50% done with my new design. Hoping to have it to testers this weekend.

3. Spiritual: Restart my weekly Sunday posting of a prayer for the week. As I worked over the last few weeks on revamping my blog, some of my favorite posts to look back at were these posts. So I really want to start doing this again. ~ I've successfully posted a prayer for the week each week for the last 4 weeks.

4. Something fun: Take the time to paint my fingernails and toenails. I always feel better when my nails are painted. ~ I've done this successfully and my nails are looking great. This makes me so happy!

5. BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone each month: Move to SCOTLAND! If this doesn't get me out of my comfort zone, I don't know what will. LOL! ~ We've moved to Scotland and been here about 1.5 weeks now. We're getting all settled in and are loving our new home!


My Goals For September are:
1. Physical: Being in Scotland now, we are entitled to healthcare through the National Health Service. This month, I want to get registered with a GP (general practitioner) surgery and see what we can do to help me find a new normal with my health. I can already tell a difference with the change in weather (the extreme heat of Texas was very difficult for me) so I hope that we can make things continue to improve.

2. Mental/Emotional: Finish designing my new knitting sock pattern and publish it hopefully by the end of September, but no later than October.

3. Spiritual: Find a new church community here in Scotland. We visited a church this past Sunday. It was very nice and the people were SUPER friendly. There were no kids Damaris' age though and we really want to find a community where she can be active as well. We're planning to visit another church this coming Sunday.

4. Something fun: Participate in the Single Handed Knit Buddy System K2gether. I "met" my buddy yesterday. Her name is Eileen and she's from Ohio. We've discovered we have TONS of stuff in common. We're talking now about what our projects are going to be for the KAL.

5. BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone each month: Have some new friends over for a meal. It's been a long while since we've had friends over. I'm also getting back into the whole cooking thing (Russ & Damaris have done the cooking for us for most of the last 1.5 years) so I'm a bit nervous. I hope everything goes well.



Your turn! Link up with Jamee here.

Monday, September 2, 2013

The Post In Which I Check In On Create for August

Eight months ago, I shared that my word for this year is create. I also shared some goals to go along with my word create. It's time to check in again.

2013oneword

~Design & publish at least six knitting patterns.
*Rescue Me, Chin Boy, and Show Me the Stars (Doctor Who Inspired Socks)
*Lola’s Ziga Zaga Scarf and Fingerless Gloves
*Baby blanket pattern is on hold as a different pattern is being used so I need to reknit this still at a later date and then send to testers before publishing
*Working on a new sock design currently, should be sent to testers in the next week or so

~Knit enough pairs of socks that I can stop wearing store bought ones.
*Five pairs completed for me.
*And another pair on the needles for me.
*Plus one pair for a friend and a pair for Damaris and a pair of baby socks as a gift and a pair of my RMCBASMTS as a shop sample

~Knit my second ever sweater.
*Looked through some patterns and I think I know which one I'm going to knit. Haven't bought yarn or begun the knitting yet.

~Knit at least six preemie hats to donate to charity.
*2 done. I've slacked on this and don't know if I'll finish this goal.
*Damaris also knit 2.
*All 4 were donated to charity before we left the US.

~Consistently journal.
*Haven't gotten started back on this, but blogging again regularly is somewhat filling that void.

~Continue keeping a list of the eucharisteo/gifts/joys/Thanksgivings in my life.
*Over #2350 counted.



Finished Projects
leethal Adventure Knit-a-long! Green Byway ~ From the leethal Adventure Knit-a-long! pattern by Lee Meredith. Knit on US 1.5 (2.5mm) needles with Farmhouse Yarns Fannie's Fingering Weight in the Clay colorway. This was a three week mystery knit-a-long where I only knew this was going to be something for my hands, but didn't know exactly what. I received a new clue for the pattern each week. I ended up flipping them upside down because the hand portion was too large for my hands. I think the modification really works for this pattern.




Drizzle for Me ~ From the Drizzle pattern by Mel Ski. Knit on US 5 (3.75mm) needles with Berroco Geode in the Moss Agate colorway. I had previously knit this hat in this yarn for Damaris and had enough left to knit one for me. Mine is a bit slouchier than hers though.




Scotty the Knitted Frog ~ From the Knitted Frog Prince pattern by Oliver Boliver. Knit on US 0 (2mm) needles with Vice in the Amazingly Amy colorway. Scotty Frog traveled with us for our Goodbye Tour and our trip to Scotland. If you look at my blog posts from the traveling, you will see her in lots of pictures.




Seamless Salomas Slippers for Damaris ~ From the Seamless Salomas Slippers pattern by Megan Williams. Knit on US 6 (4mm) needles with Aurora Borealis Twist in the Venetian colorway. I fell in love with this pattern and as you'll see, I have now knit 5 pairs of them. They are a super fast knit and super comfortable to wear.




Seamless Salomas Slippers for Me! ~ From the Seamless Salomas Slippers pattern by Megan Williams. Knit on US 6 (4mm) needles with Bernat Denimstyle in the Skinny Pink colorway. I fell in love with this pattern and as you see, I have now knit 5 pairs of them. They are a super fast knit and super comfortable to wear.




Seamless Salomas Slippers for Beth ~ From the Seamless Salomas Slippers pattern by Megan Williams. Knit on US 6 (4mm) needles with I Love This Yarn! in the Soft Blue colorway. I fell in love with this pattern and as you see, I have now knit 5 pairs of them. They are a super fast knit and super comfortable to wear.




Another Pair of Seamless Salomas Slippers for Me! ~ From the Seamless Salomas Slippers pattern by Megan Williams. Knit on US 6 (4mm) needles with Bernat Denimstyle in the Skinny Pink colorway and Aurora Borealis Twist in the Venetian colorway. I fell in love with this pattern and as you'll see, I have now knit 5 pairs of them. They are a super fast knit and super comfortable to wear.




Another Pair of Seamless Salomas Slippers for Damaris ~ From the Seamless Salomas Slippers pattern by Megan Williams. Knit on US 6 (4mm) needles with Bernat Denimstyle in the Skinny Pink colorway and Aurora Borealis Twist in the Venetian colorway. I fell in love with this pattern and as you'll see, I have now knit 5 pairs of them. They are a super fast knit and super comfortable to wear.




Current Works in Progress

New Sock Design Pattern ~ in progress



2013 Projects To Date:
I thought it would be neat to keep a list of all the projects I knit during 2013.



Baby Blankets
*Baby Blanket for Baby Boy Busch (my own pattern design to be released later) ~ Completed 04/24/13
*Doctor Who Baby Blanket ~ Completed 06/02/13



Fingerless Gloves
*Hand Thingies for L #1 ~ Completed 04/20/13
*Hand Thingies for L #2 ~ Completed 05/03/13
*Hand Thingies #1 ~ Completed 06/11/13
*Hand Thingies #2 ~ Completed 06/14/13
*Lola's Ziga-Zaga Scarf & Fingerless Gloves (my own pattern design which can be purchased here) ~ Completed 06/20/13
*leethal Adventure Knit-a-long! Green Byway ~ Completed 08/04/13



Hats
*Tristan Hat for James ~ Completed 01/06/13
*Tristan Hat for Michael ~ Completed 01/09/13
*Rambled Hat for Wyatt ~ Completed 01/10/13
*2013 Top Down Preemie Hat #1 (my own pattern design available for free here) ~ Completed 01/11/13
*Camden Cap for Lola ~ Completed 01/13/13
*2013 Top Down Preemie Hat #2 (my own pattern design available for free here) ~ Completed 03/02/13
*Camden Cap for Momma W. ~ Completed 03/07/13
*Camden Cap for Damaris ~ Completed 03/10/13
*Camden Cap for Me ~ Completed 03/15/13
*Dallas Cowboys Hat for Dad W. ~ Completed 03/16/13
*Texas Flag Hat for J.R. ~ Completed 03/22/13
*Graham Hat for J #1 ~ Completed 04/16/13
*Graham Hat for J #2 ~ Completed 04/27/13
*Graham Hat for J #3 ~ Completed 05/08/13
*Mock Cable Baby Hat ~ Completed 05/16/13
*Graham Hat for the Hubs ~ Completed 06/24/13
*Drizzle Hat for Damaris ~ Completed 07/01/13
*leethal Adventure Knit-a-long! Orange Trail (Hat) ~ Completed 06/28/13
*Drizzle for Me ~ Completed 08/07/13



Shawls
*Junction Shawl for Mom A. ~ Completed 02/27/13



Slippers
*Seamless Salomas Slippers for Damaris ~ Completed 08/11/13
*Seamless Salomas Slippers for Me! ~ Completed 08/13/13
*Seamless Salomas Slippers for Beth ~ Completed 08/15/13
*Another Pair of Seamless Salomas Slippers for Me! ~ Completed 08/08/13
*Another Pair of Seamless Salomas Slippers for Damaris ~ Completed 08/21/13



Socks
*Rescue Me, Chin Boy, and Show Me the Stars (Doctor Who Inspired Socks) (my own pattern design which can be purchased here) ~ Completed 01/01/13
*Mix Match Leftover Socks ~ Completed 01/03/13
*AfterThought Heel Socks ~ Completed 01/27/13
*Socks on a Plane for Katie ~ Completed 02/23/13
*Level Up Socks ~ Completed 03/30/13
*There and Back Again Socks ~ Completed 04/25/13
*Rescue Me, Chin Boy, and Show Me the Stars (Doctor Who Inspired Socks) - Paire Deux (my own pattern design which can be purchased here) ~ Completed 05/06/13
*Mock Cable Baby Socks ~ Completed 05/16/13
*Stripey Everyday Socks for Damaris ~ Completed 07/10/13



Sweaters
*Baby Sophisticate Sweater ~ Completed 05/28/13



Washcloths/Dishcloths
*Three Mother's Day Washcloths ~ Completed 04/28/13
*All Washed Up Washcloths for Me ~ Completed 05/19/13
*All Washed Up Washcloths ~ Completed 05/25/13
*All Washed Up Washcloths ~ Completed 06/08/13
*Doctor Who Washcloths ~ Completed 07/03/13
*Doctor Who Washcloths ~ Completed 07/06/13
*Leftovers Washcloth ~ Completed 07/07/13



Misc. Items
*Acequia Mini Sock ~ Completed 04/25/13
*Sarah Jane the Doctor Who Stuffie ~ Completed 06/05/13
*Dandy Sir Cephalopod #1 ~ Completed 06/21/13
*Dandy Sir Cephalopod #2 ~ Completed 06/26/13
*Dandy Sir Cephalopod #3 ~ Completed 07/13/13
*leethal Adventure Knit-a-long! Gold Route (Cup Cozy) ~ Completed 07/26/13
*Scotty the Knitted Frog ~ Completed 08/09/13




As always, find all my completed projects plus what's currently on my needles on Ravelry:


And you can also find all my knitting pattern designs (those available for purchase and some freebies as well) on Ravelry: