WIP Wednesday: Two In A Row

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Myrtle2911

Woohoo! I’m linking up with the Yarn Along two weeks in a row! Such a silly, simple, yet daunting accomplishment. I might just get the hang of this blogging thing yet. 😉 On to my progress report.

The Hook

I’ve made no progress here this week as I’ve been mostly focused on knitting. I’ve made great progress in that area. Still, here’s a gratuitous picture of my afghan in progress.

One day, it will completely cover the bed. I may be 80 at this rate, though. 🙂

The Books

Truth be told, I haven’t done much reading this week, either. Gah! I love both books. It’s that old “read or knit” conundrum, and knitting has been winning out.

The Needles

So here is where the bulk of my free time has been going.

If you’ll remember, last week I only had the collar of this little sweater completed. Today, I’m nearly to the hem! I’m trying desperately to beat little one’s arrival, or finish it as soon after little one is born as possible. Ive been searching for a bit of lace to add to the hem, but can’t come up with a pattern I like or that fits the stitch count. Next time I knit one of these, I’ll pick a lace pattern earlier so I can accommodate it when working the underarm section where it won’t be obvious. In the mean time, I think I’ll finish this off with the garter hem in the pattern.

It may not be obvious in the photo, but I’ve made significant progress on my Baktus. The progress seems to go slower as the rows get wider. I suppose that’s true for any shawl…er…scarf… Scawl? Sharf? Whatever you want to call it. I’m loving the colors in this yarn, although I’m really hoping my friend doesn’t find it too rough around her neck.

That about does it for me this week. What are you crafting or reading? Let me know in the comments, or, better yet, come join us over at the Yarn Along!

Have a great Wednesday!

~Janet

WIP Wednesday: Hello Again!

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Myrtle2911

Yikes! I haven’t written anything in well over a month! My schedule drastically changed in April, and the two days where I do the most posting have been back to back 12-hour shifts. I’ve barely had time to eat and sleep. The internet connection at this case has been a bit dodgy, so posting from work hasn’t really worked. Ah well, I’m back now. Hopefully a few of you are still here.

Time for a brief update and the link-up at Small Things.

The Hook

I did manage to make a tiny bit of progress on my Magnum Opus in April.

The Books

If you remember, my Lenten practice was making my own bread. Well, all that bread baking caused me to reminisce about a book I loved reading as a child, Heidi by Johanna Spyri. That probably seems like an odd connection. In the book, Heidi’s diet on the Alm consisted of bread, cheese, and milk. Ever since I first read the book, it has always made me want to eat bread, cheese, and milk. My grandma was the same way, and I’ve heard others say the same thing. So, while I was eating a cheese sandwich on homemade bread, I suddenly got the urge to read Heidi. I guess the association goes both ways. I just picked up the book, started randomly readinreading, and found myself in Chapter 13. My favorite!

The other book in my stack is Embracing The Body, by my friend Tara Owens. You may remember me mentioning it a few times. Tara and I havent been able to connect for our interview yet, but there is a great interview on Tanya Marlow’s blog! Really. It’s fantastic! As is the book!

The Needles

Among the many things on my needles are this Baktus for a friend’s birthday:

and this adorable sweater for a soon-to-arrive little girl:

I’m knitting it out of a luscious merino/cashmere/silk yarn. So soft! The designer also designed the Beyond Puerpurium cardigan I’ve made a couple times.

I just finished a blanket for this same little girl the other day. Here’s a sneak peek:

And that about does it for me this week, and hey presto! It’s still Wednesday here. Hope you all have a blessed night.

~Janet

The Feast of Saint Patrick

Image

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

The text above is commonly known as the “Breastplate” of Saint Patrick of Ireland. Today is his feast day. I find it a little sad that his day has morphed from a religious celebration of the man who brought Christianity to Ireland into a general excuse for debauchery…at least here in the states. Take some time, in the little left today, to learn about the man for whom this day was named. He has a fascinating story!

I hope you all had a safe and blessed Feast of Saint Patrick.

~Janet