Coming Up for Air

Good Grief it's been so long....

So long that I had to look up the password to be able get in here and post.

So long since I didn't have something due or nearly due.

So long since I could do my fun fibery stuff without knowing I really should be working on another assignment.

You guessed it. The quarter is over. Now it is back to my nice relaxing two job life for the next 3 months. Yes, that is tongue in cheek. I do have a class over the summer. It is online so doable in and around the rest of my life/our lives. Not kidding myself. I know it will take 12 hours a week at least. But somehow it seems relatively restful in comparison to the last 6 months.




I'm currently 2 of 7 quarters through the program. The instructors kept commenting on how we were 1/3 of the way through. I finally decided they see the see it as 1/3 of the way through the academic quarters. The last quarter is clinicals with two weeks of academics.

On the agenda for this summer -

Time with P and C
Shakespeare Festival in Ashland
Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene
Tour de Fleece
Sock Summit in Portland
Shakespeare in the Park in Portland
Camping on the coast
Oregon Flock and Fiber in Canby
Bike riding
Walking
Knitting
Spinning
Reading

All in 12 weeks. Better find my calendar!



The sun is out and I am off to enjoy the daylight!!!

--- Mavis

Hi it's Margolotta.

I have my own blog up and running now so I'll say "ta ta for now" to this blog and leave my mother and aunts in peace. If you want updates on my Guide Puppy please come visit me at:

http://thelifeandtimesofcaroline.blogspot.com/

I'll give you the summary of my guide puppy news. Her name is Tisha, she'll be almost 7 months old when she arrives. For her genealogy and pictures of her family go to my blog for details *hint hint* :) I also welcome any of the followers to visit me if they wish. Any friend of my family is a friend of mine.

Welcome to Whereever We Are

"Welcome To Wherever You Are"
Bon Jovi

Maybe we're different, but we're still the same
We all got the blood of Eden, running through our veins
I know sometimes it's hard for you to see
You come between just who you are and who you wanna be

If you feel alone, and lost and need a friend
Remember every new beginning, is some beginning's end

[Chorus]
Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life, you made it this far
Welcome, you gotta believe
That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be
Welcome, to wherever you are

When everybody's in, and you're left out
And you feel your drowning, in a shadow of a doubt
Everyones a miracle in their own way
Just listen to yourself, not what other people say

When it seems you're lost, alone and feeling down
Remember everybody's different
Just take a look around

[Chorus]

Be who you want to, be who you are
Everyones a hero, everyones a star

When you wanna give up, and your hearts about to break
Remember that you're perfect, God makes no mistakes

[Chorus]

Good morning. My son suggested this song this morning and I think it needs to be the theme song of this blog and all authors right now.

All of us struggle with perfection and the ugly counterpoint fear of failure. This means we look at where others are or where we perceive others to be and feel like we are not measuring up. I do this lots of times. We are who we are with the experiences we made creating our back story and the present we are in.

Do I sometimes wish I had a different, more ambitious back story? Heck yeah! But I am not going to have that. It isn't in my caretaker, mother earth bones. There is a reason Brigid, goddess of the hearth, keeps popping her head into my life. And isn't to kick me in the pants on the way to upper management/CEO. :-)

So...

Myrtle - Congratulations on making it through the tough years of supporting your family including working for an evil empire to keep the food on the table and the roof over your head. Those experiences make you stronger in dealing with your current congregations in the more rural parts of the state. I am celebrating with and for you in keeping track of the goal you voiced more than 10 years ago.

Maude - Congratulations on making partner in your firm. Your skill and ability in the aspects of architecture shine through even as other parts of your life exist in chaos. I have faith you will be able to weather the chaos as you continue to reach out to the lifelines offered. I am celebrating with and for you about your partnership!

Margolotta - Congratulations on pushing forward to head into the world in new and expanding ways even when physical pain drags you down. You continue to make small changes in your life in the anticipation that the physical elements will be resolved and you can again have more energy than the rest of your house. I look forward to seeing where your life adventure takes you.

-Mavis



photo from climate.met.psu.edu

Struggling

This weekend was a definite point of struggle for me. I think missing my oldest's 18th birthday and then all but him currently being sick is just hard on me.

But today as I was sitting in my small discussion group I realized how different than I am then others around me. We were discussing bring prayer to unchurched/uninterested in religion people as a group. My take on this was so very different than anyone else and then as we brought our discussions back to a larger group where we discussed our quadrant and others, I realized no one seems to think as I do.

I almost feel like I'm not good enough theologically to be here. Kind of sad to say when I know this isn't true, but it's how I'm feeling. I just wished I saw the world in the light these people do. I'm now worried about bringing my theological paper to class later today for fear that I'll have kindergarten theology when everyone else is presenting masters theology.

My rhetorical writing piece that I'll be discussing is actually the book "Jamberry" by Bruce Degan. I'm using it as a good example of written that is meant to be spoken and as such brings wonderful images to your imagination as you hear the words. Many of the children's books I know and love do the same things. They wouldn't be rhetorical writing from a classics study, but they do what go rhetorical writing does in my opinion, which makes you become part of the work by sounds and images.

I guess I should stop blogging and get back to my real life here on campus. It's only another 4 days but feels like an eternity with how I'm viewing the world right now.

-Myrtle

Humm, I like this theme of avoiding homework. My contribution to this blog is prompted by:

1) My life being very challenging right now

2) Homework is Hard. I did most of it earlier but now I have to read "Civil Disobedience" by Thoreau.

3) My own blog is about to be under deconstruction and moved.

And now on to the fun stuff!

The bad news:

I am taking way to many credits this term in a wide verity of classes consisting of Architectural Hand Drafting, Geology, US History II: the Civil War and Reconstruction, and Art History: American Residential Architecture. Three of these classes are asking for term projects as well as normal homework. "When are you going to do those?" you ask. Well to tell the truth...I have no idea.

The other piece of bad news is that I've been having gut problems. I was gluten and milk free for the last month or so. It was getting better and now it's worse again which means back to the doctor. The next step is either starting treatment for an Ulcer, an Endoscopy, or a Gastroscopy. The last two really don't sound fun, but not being able to eat isn't fun either and I am desperate enough now to try them. Being uncomfortable, in pain, or nauseated all the time really colours your view of the world and not for the better I'm sad to say.

The in between news:

A Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy I am very close to, she'd been living with me about half time for the past 6 months, was recalled for formal training last weekend. While I'm sad that I don't get to have her again and that Tazzi wont see her again, she taught him how to play which is a major break through for him, I delighted that she is getting to do what she was trained to do. She's currently being evaluated as a breeder, but if she doesn't do that I'm certain that she'll become a guide. A guide dog puppy becoming a working guide isn't as easy as it sounds, they have to have the right temperament, the right energy level, the right enthusiasm and a perfect bill of health, I think Delphine has all of those and she's a sweetie to boot.

And now what you've all been waiting for....The Good News!

My dietary requirements have given me a great opportunity to look at new and exciting ways of cooking.

I think my college major is going to be middle eastern studies, and maybe minoring in musical theatre or ecology. I'm working on my college transfer applications, so if all goes well I'll be moving next fall to either Corvallis, Oregon or Iowa.

And the biggest news of all. *do a drum roll in your head or on a table if your at one, please* I'm getting my own Guide Dog puppy in February. All I know right now is that its a female yellow lab that somewhere around 4 to 6 months old. I hope she has a good name. Because guide dogs has so may puppies and they don't reuse names until the owner of the name dies you can get some pretty weird names. A puppy in my puppy raising club is named "Trumpet", I just don't see that as a girls name. Another puppy I've heard about was named "Vulcan". By contrast I think Delphine is a perfectly wonderful name :) I hope she and Tazzi get along.

That's about it for now.

Delphine on a hay ride in Octobler
Tazzi and Delphine taking a breather after chasing each other all over the yard.

- Margolotta

Life as a Seminarian

In mid December I finished my first class as a seminarian. I was happy to put Greek behind me, although I will take several more classes which require me to know Greek as we'll be doing translations. I'm currently working through 2 classes (preaching and education). They are both part of my two week intensive time on campus in the frozen tundra.

My first week has been spent learning to set boundaries between myself and my church as they experienced their first crisis since I started working there in July. It's been challenging to say the least and by the end of the week I was learning to deal with them only on my terms so it was no longer messing with my sleep. (Too many nights of 2 hours sleep was playing havoc with my studies.)

I'm actually posting currently because I'm procrastinating. I know I need to work on one of my three papers for this coming week's preaching class, but I just don't feel like studying. Added onto that I need to create a posting for FeAutor and I'm not sure what I want to create there to upload. So instead I decided to let my families and friends know how I'm doing.

Have a blessed day.

-Myrtle

Ridiculous Obsession or Procrastination?

Procrastination is a beautiful thing!



Ridiculous Obsession is maybe even better.

This is what I've done when the homework was getting the better of me. I like to think the creative process was good use of my time and allowed me to assimilate what I was covering in the homework. Please don't disabuse me of this idea. I'll cry if you do.

The day I finished the plying of the Gale's Art Blue Face Leicester / Tussah Silk (75/25) blend in the Grape Vine color a pattern whose design process I've been watching was completed and posted. The pattern is by Hanna Breetz of the Evergreen Knits blog. It called Vermont Shawl. See pictures of it at Hanna's blog or on Ravelry

I am crazy in like with this shawl and I can't exactly figure out why. I am calling the one I am knitting Grape Vine in Vermont. Combo of the Grape Vine colorway name and the Vermont of the shawl name.

By the way this is the first larger project I've knit from my handspun. Maybe this is another reason why I am excited about the project. I've knit 4 hats and a scarf from my handspun all in worsted to bulky weights. This one is a heavy lace/light fingering weight.

BACK TO THE BOOKS... 2 quizzes to take before the end of the day.

-Mavis

Year of Changes

This has been the year of changes. After working over 6 years for our brother, I found myself unemployed Dec 31, 2009. I saw it as an actual blessing, so never was bothered by the lose of my job. Then in January my oldest son started part time at the local community college and found I had children from elementary school to college in my house all wanting my help on something.

The year continued with me being underemployed as a evening/night manager at Dollar General. Working "part-time, intermittent, seasonal" work for the US Census bureau as an enumerator and a crew leader. In August I quit my DG work to continue working as I have for the past 3 years at another community college converting books for Learning Disabled workers. And my year with the Census finally came to a close.

In June, I had an opportunity to go to the Central States Synod assembly for the ELCA as a voting member of my congregation. I took this and thoroughly enjoyed the process of watching church based politics and being involved. But at this same assembly I was asked to become the pastoral care giver for a small, rural, church 65 miles from my home. After much discussion and prayer I decided to take the opportunity. By the time I returned home from the retreat I had an email from the seminary I'd started the process of applying to, had sent me an email asking if I was still interested in their distance learning program. If so, I had 5 days to get 3 letters of references in along with my essay. I achieved this and was again hit over the head when synod asked me to also finish my initial candidacy process. Luckily for me I could use the same essay for both, because I've never enjoyed writing and two essays in one week seemed more than I could handle.

In July I started serving at the church in a shared ministry with a retired pastor who is a member of this congregation. Between July and August I preached 6 out of 9 Sundays and truly had my research and writing skills tested. Two weeks ago I preached for the second time at my home congregation and tried for the first time to preach without reading from my sermon. Although my sermon was cut in half time wise, I found I felt more comfortable doing this and did it again last weekend at my rural congregation. I have also preached my local church's sister congregation which is Presbyterian and found I could lead that service almost as easily as a Lutheran one.

Today is my last day doing book conversions at the community college and I must say I'm glad. Until this point I've worked an average of 70 hours each week, with some weeks totally over 100 hours.

I started my first seminary course at the beginning of September and am now finishing off my 4th week of 14, with the first exam. Studying has easily taken the 15+ hours the professor suggested, but I am amazed by the students who are studying 6-10 hours daily. I'm also glad for all the previous time I've spent studying Koine (biblical) Greek, because it's helped me greatly as I tried to work multiple jobs, study, and have time with the family.

As I go into fall, I'm now serving the congregation 25 hours or so each week between, services, adult Bible study, confirmation classes, pastoral care giving, and sermon preparation. I feel that I've been called to this ministry and blessed by the initial push I received by our brother. Without that I'm not sure I would every have started what I've wanted to do for years. And the nice thing is I have the support of my husband, children, and two churches as I move forward.

I look forward to hearing more from each of you. I know life hasn't been easy for any of us, but I will admit I'm thankful we each received our own different challenges because I'm not sure I could have handled either of yours.

Have a blessed day and know that although I'm poor at communicating with either of you, I miss you both, and would love to have a little sister time to get together and share some knitting time.

-Myrtle

More Than a Year - Little to Say

I looked at the blog several days ago and realized that I have posted nothing for more than a year. I could claim I have nothing to say, but that would not be true. Actually, I am trying to follow the guideline that if you have nothing good to say, you should say nothing (or at least very little).

I will share that my life has been challenging over the last year... no two years... no 5 years. Things have gotten particularly difficult since last spring and I have been struggling with how to parent a challenging child without loosing my marriage and my sanity. Some days I just hope to make it to bed so I can pull the covers up over my head.

I apologize if I have ever offered any parenting or relationship advice to anyone. I also suggest that you had probably best forget what I have said. It has become abundantly clear to me in the last 5 years that I know little about either subject. I still have my opinions, but unfortunately no one in the house seems to agree with them.

I have started to try to find more things outside of the home to keep my brain occupied. Work is almost always a good distraction. I have also taken up rowing, which is usually pretty relaxing. I have been reading alot. There is nothing like a good book!!!

Maude

Life as I live it

Well long time no talk.

Lots of 'fun' going on here. As you know we did the hospital thing with my son. Everything is much better now, but the ripples throughout the emotional well-beings of all three around here have been significant. We all had some past stuff to work through as well as the current situation. Talk about energy drain.

Energy drain seems to be the name of the game in this neck of the woods. We are all on edge in our own ways. No idea what is up with any of us. I think it may be an uncertainty in the air. We really need a cleansing rite around here.

Twenty-four hours before P was sent to the hospital I got an email with an acceptance to one of the schools I applied to this year. I felt numb, then terrified - this was the third year of applying. I finally was able to tell the kids and got a resounding groan followed by NOOOOO. The next 4 days pushed having to deal with the feelings surrounding the acceptance to the background.

Then a week ago I got another second acceptance to the second program I applied to. And I got the invite to interview for the third program. It doesn't seem to rain, but pour. eek!

This morning I accepted the offers of both MHCC and PCC. PCC starts Sept 2010. MHCC starts in January 2011. I have to decide between the two, but am delaying that a bit longer.

MHCC has been using the OCNE curriculum for 3-4 years, PCC starts this year. PCC has been attending meetings with the other OCNE schools in the area since the curriculum was codified so they are aware of what is expected.

I am torn for various reasons. Mileage to the different programs is an issue. Both in fuel utilization and more importantly time utilization. The big concern of the kids is that they will see even less of me. I get that. In many ways less travel would be wonderful.

The other thing I am having a horrendous time with is that I know it was only me and my record that got me into PCC. My former manager and friend said he would write to MHCC and tell them why they needed to accept me. (His wife graduated with a great reputation from the program a year ago.) The week of my interview at MHCC I told him that if he was serious about sending the recommendation that the time had come. Now I feel that I only got in because of his recommendation. I'm not sure how to say this without seeming ridiculous... I feel I didn't get into the program on my own. I know I am far too independent and self-reliant. I know this is taking it to an extreme. But I am having a hard time letting go of the feeling it wasn't ME that got me into the program. Why was it OK to ask for recommendations when moving from high school to college, but not now? I am such an idiot sometimes.


Enough blathering. I am still knitting, working two jobs, and trying to keep three people together. Maybe I will figure out at least some portion of me sometime soon.

--Mavis

2nd round of chicks

Spring is in the air. Our first batch of chicks hatched March 20th. Our second batch of chicks has started hatching today. Our third, and probably final for this year, will be hatched in the chicken coop versus the incubator where the previous two have hatched at some point over the next 10 days. Those are a little more variable because there are both chicken and guinea eggs being brooded by 7 guineas and one black australorp chicken. DS3 and DH put chicken eggs under her along with the guinea eggs she was sitting on so we'll see what appears.

The first round produced 10 cute chicks that are now being house in our larger chick box in the garage. The second round has 2 hatched and 3 in the process of hatching. We'll see what we get there. One of the ones that has hatched probably won't survive, but we always live in hope around here.

Other news at our homestead is fur being shed by the pound. Cibola is constantly shedding and so are the horses. We are finally seeing their none bleached out colors and they are much darker than we ever though. It's funny looking at them because the new hair is coming in a dark tan color and the winter coat is a light beige.

The only other thing I'm up to is finishing applications for two different seminary programs (Luther in St. Paul and Wartburg in Dubuque) along with scholarship and candidacy applications. All of these are due by May 1 and I'm pushing to have everything in so I can possibly start in the Fall. I'm currently taking an online course through Wartburg on discerning your call, which is helping me to see if online classes work for me along with figuring out the nature of my call.

I hope all is well for my friends and family. Who knows maybe Mavis and Maude will update me on their lives as well.

-Myrtle, whose knitting and spinning has fallen by the wayside as I work on other things.

My baby is growing up

I officially have a college student. This year has been one of multiple learning experiences for us as a family as he went about getting his learners permit, learning how to drive, and finally obtaining his drivers license. And now he's enrolled for two classes as a dual enrollment student at our local community college. He's planning at this point on becoming an engineer of some sort. He's still not sure exactly which field of engineer he wants yet, but that too will come.

He's accomplished many things in the past 17 years and taught us so much along the way. I just can't believe that he's starting classes on Tuesday. I still remember his being born and at that time I wasn't thinking about what lay ahead of us. I was just so excited to hold my first child and smell that new baby smell.

Time has moved quickly forward and in several years he'll be off on his own, but for now I'm still enjoying the hugs and his wanting to tell me his joys and frustrations in life.

So my baby is growing up; time moves forward; and I'm enjoying the small things in life that make me realize how lucky I am to have the wonderful family I have.

-Myrtle

Day 2 - new harnessing

They went out again today for awhile. Slightly warmer temperatures than two days ago, but still darn cold. They did not go out yesterday when it was horribly cold.

Sorry for the shaky video, but they are starting to master the art of sleigh riding. And it's fun watching and filming even when I am freezing my hands in the process.

-Myrtle, looking forward to warmer temperatures tomorrow that might melt the snow.

One Horse Open Sleigh

Here is a video showing the guys with their One Horse Open Sleigh. It's one of the slower moving times, so I was actually able to catch more on this video. I have an even better one to share, if I can figure out how to remove voices from my video.

-Myrtle, who needs to remember to size the needle before starting the project. I knit 20 rows on a cowl yesterday on size 7 needles thinking they were 4s. Needless to say the project was way to big,I ripped it out, sized the needles, and am not starting again on the RIGHT size.

I'm so humiliated

"I can't believe they are making me wear this! I'm so humiliated! And worse yet, I have to show my face in public." (Thoughts of Tini)

We are experiencing wind chills of -9 right now and Tini has a horrible case of Rain Rot* that we are still trying to clear up. With her hair falling out massively on her rear end, I decided we had to do something immediately to protect her skin. Ultimately the blanket will be cut down to a horse blanket shape and covered with ripstop nylon to make a horse blanket for her. But this is what she gets for today.

Hopefully later I figure out how to upload a movie and you all can see how boys with horses entertain themselves after the first decent snowfall of the season (4 inches maybe).

-Myrtle

*Rain Rot - A fungal infection caused by too much water next to the skin on the coat of a thick furred animal.

For us, Tini (an now Izzy has a lesser case) had been growing her winter coat of fur when we had lots of late fall rain. This wonderful, wet, weather caused many animals in our area to end up with Rain Rot.

The Great Pumpkin Strikes!

I've been working on a college campus all week and seeing the most beautiful Christmas Charlie Brown Christmas tree. However, it sat there looking very lonely and as if it were missing something.

Last night the Great Pumpkin was on the loose and had a fun filled evening and morning. After Snoopy arrived with Linus' lost blanket which he'd found in the pumpkin patch, The Great Pumpkin had a lot of work set out to get this blanket in shape to be given to the Christmas tree.


And then there is the Great Pumpkin's letter to the lost blanket.


Now, as the Great Pumpkin's side kick I can tell you "Cheap, Crappy, Acrylic" yarn is hard to find in a city you don't know. Add to that it takes about 5 hours to knit a diagonal blanket which is 18-20" on the side.

-Myrtle

Wow, It's November!

Not to make anyone nervous, but do you have any idea how close we are to Christmas? Way too close. My mental year is still waiting for summer and the downtime it used to be.

I hope you all enjoyed the extra hour of time as we shifted to Standard Time. Hopefully you used it to sleep. I didn't, but what else is new? I did take the opportunity to not set the alarm. A very rare occurrence in my life.

Enough rambling. Still working on Christmas presents so no photos. My mental queue - as opposed to my Ravelry queue- gets longer and longer. I often listen to knitting podcasts while knitting so hear about many new projects.

Speaking of Ravelry do you know you can add tags to your favorites? This allows for easier searching. Hopefully in the next year they will finally have a tag option for patterns in your library. Right now this is still in the 'coming soon' phase.

Done with my ramble for today. Happy November everyone.

-Mavis

It's Autumn

Hello folks,

It's Autumn here in the Pacific Northwest. In my neck of the woods the colors are great. Reds, yellows, golds, coniferous greens. The rain has washed away the summer dust allowing the leaf colors to glow.

Two kids, two educational centers, three campuses. Trying to keep track of schedules is challenging. the oldest is taking college physics and college upper level algebra. The youngest is taking college level writing and Shakespeare, Greek drama, trigonometry, American history, clay, and more.

Maude, my youngest is taking about exploring internship opportunities with you. Stayed tuned for more on that later.

I am spinning and knitting. I added much more to my stash at the Sock Summit in August and OFFF in September. I have given in to the fact that I am a colorholic. In a hopefully not to vain attempt to save my wallet contents I have photographed my stash and set up a screen saver that uses these photos in random order. The intent is to remind myself just what fun colors I have immediately available for use.

I frogged a few items that have been nagging me with their incompleteness. What a relief. Other than gift knitting I am trying valiantly not to start anything new before finishing something already in progress. We will see how that goes.

A couple of finished items:

A sweater for a co-worker's new daughter















Helena from Knitty - Summer 2008


Socks for one of my nephews:















Tree Frog colorway from Sereknity Yarn and Fiber purchased from The Loopy Ewe.
Toe-up, short row heel, ribbing at ankle and cuff. I am always amazed to see how the color changes differ depending on stitch count, and stitch type.

That is it for this morning. Off to the dentist for the semi-annual checkup.

-Mavis

Pouty Mare Syndrome (PMS)

Yes, that's correct. Izzy has Pouty Mare Syndrome (PMS) and tends to be a very irritable girl when this happens. The first time we didn't expect it and she sent DS1 flying as she got him in the rear. Today she was PMSing again, but she didn't get the great response she wanted. However, it was interesting to watch DS1 bring Izzy across the field to get up to the house to be saddled. She tried to rear, buck, and bite. However, this time DS1 was prepared and keep his rear end pushed against her shoulder and keep a close hold of the lead rope to hold the head down so she couldn't bite or rear. Once saddled she was actually not to bad to ride. She had a couple of irritable moments, but over all she was good.

Tini seems to not have Pouty Mare Syndrome quite as badly. However, running water is a totally new experience for her and she is having to learn how to go over it. Getting her out of the pasture and up to the house requires crossing a stream (normally dry except when we've had rain). Today I bribed her with a little food in the food bucket I was carrying. While riding she wasn't bad through the boggy areas and even went over the first creek ok. But the second was one that she refused to go across for any reason. So after way too many tries we ultimately walked her up stream until we found a place she was willing to go across. Her bad luck really because it meant she had to cross 3 more streams her way versus one the way I originally intended. The only thing with her is she's now decided to jump over streams, which wasn't what I wanted as I was taking her back to the field. She jumped right at me after I crossed the creek and I had to jump quickly out of her way.

The joys of living on the homestead.

-Myrtle

From one of the deliquent blog owners

OK all, where are you. I'll update you all on my life if you'll do the same for me.


Two days ago I picked the final harvest of hot peppers from the garden. The bag contains 13 pounds of chilies, Serrano, and jalapeno peppers. I cut the tops off all them, ran them through the food processor, and then froze them in freezer bags. I still need to break up the freezer bag contents into smaller (more usable portions, since these are HOT!)

I also picked 9 pounds of the remaining sweet peppers that I need to slice along with some of the onions from earlier this year and freeze. That way we'll have the pre-cut makings for fajitas in the freezer for faster dinner preparations.

Now I just need to finishing picking all the tomatoes (this has been a very poor year for tomato harvest here.) Then I'll see about canning a couple more jars of pasta sauce. I've canned 15 jars quart of tomato soup (plus we've had tomato soup 4 times for dinner this fall) and 2 jars of pasta sauce. Last year at this time I had over 100 quarts of tomatoes canned. As you can see we just haven't had a great tomato year.

We picked the last of the beans. The boys are tired of eating them fresh, but I'm sure they'll enjoy them again in a few months. We froze 12 gallon bags of beans, so those actually did well growing in the garden from just a couple rows of beans.


Knitting wise I've finished several pairs of socks that I posted last time and a couple of scarves and a shawl. Now I'm working on a pair of socks that has become my nemesis. I've taken them out more times than I can count and finally redesigned the foot because I couldn't figure out the pattern. For knitting time, these socks have taken me more time than my very first pair of socks that I knit 8 years ago.


I also a finished a pair of hand warmers that DS4 was given on his birthday. He was ecstatic when he discovered I'd made him a pair and wore them for two days straight.


Now I'm working on a hat knit from my first ever spun yarn. The yarn is definitely over spun and varies more than I'd like for diameter of the yarn, but most of it would probably be between dk and worsted weight. It's taken me several tries as well to get it going, but now is close to being finished (although the picture I'm posting is of the beginnings of the project.) I ran out of hand spun yarn, so am finishing it with some left over yarn and doing a seed stitch with that to make it look more intentional than it did when I just switched yarn.

I hope you all are doing well. My goal is to post weekly for the the next couple months. I miss you all, but am glad that Mavis and I saw each other last weekend as our 16 year olds had their first official campus visit.

-Myrtle