Whittlin'

A recent post from Ben Hewitt on his kids and knives:

http://benhewitt.net/2015/02/18/on-kids-and-kutting/

So, Megan got a knife this weekend. Funny thing is we've been talking about it for a couple of weeks and talking about what the responsibility would be, etc. and she wasn't too keen on the idea--lots of fear of cutting herself with a sharp knife and such. (I have a lovely story about being impatient with my Daddy and not waiting for him to sharpen my knife and nearly severing the end of my finger off when I was about seven that put an end to her 'sharp knife fears' in short order.) She was still apprehensive though. 

When we were in Tempe on Saturday, we went to Bass Pro (of course) and I suggested we just see what kind of knives they had and let her see/hold some smaller knives to see what they felt like in her hand. 

Her little face just lit up and she was so excited when she held the one we ended up getting. She loves it and has done some whittling and just some wearing (it came with a belt sheath). 

Her sense of responsibility and 'grown-up-ness' has just soared. Of course, there is some risk of cutting herself, but with proper instruction and careful attention, I have no doubt she'll do well. Well with the whittling, and the cleaning up/bandaging of the inevitable nicks that will follow...

Quote :: February 27, 2015

Mamma: "You're slower than molasses in January!"
Meg: "No, I'm faster than molasses in June!"

On Felting and Life

I knit Megan a Sunday Sweater two years ago this fall.

She loved the color, I loved the pattern.

She lost the sweater, I found the sweater.

She rolled in leaves in the sweater, I picked bits out of the wool.

She learned to wash and dry her own laundry. I breathed a sigh of relief at having a couple less loads to do.

She washed and dried the sweater. We both cried.

A summer went by. And a fall.

Now, on the cusp of our 'winter' I decided to try wet blocking it to see if it would 'un-felt' a bit and return to at least a little of it's former beauty and fit.

I soaked it in cool water. I squeezed the excess out. I rolled it in a towel and stood on it to press out the last of the water. Normal procedure. Nothing new.

I unwrapped the soggy towel, I looked at the sweater--same size as before all the soaking and squeezing.

So I took a sleeve and stretched and stretched again. Then stretched the other direction, all the way to the cuff. Then the other sleeve. Then the back and the fronts. Slowly, her sweater--the one I'd spent hours knitting and caring for--began to show itself out of the felted fibers. The lace panels once again opened up and the stitches showed definition.

As I was pinning it to the blocking mats, I began to think about how I often 'felt' things in my life. How I take over a job I'm ill-equipped to perform because someone has to do it. How I oh-so-often do things without really giving them my full attention. How, when I 'felt' things in my life, God has to reach down and make things uncomfortable in order to stretch me back into shape. How, if I would simply keep my eyes on Him, focus on the tasks He sets before me, and give thanks in all things (even the laundry piles of life) I wouldn't need so much 're-shaping' in this life.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Quote :: August 18th

"I cannot imagine a world without spoons."
Meg

Simplify :: Home School

Though I haven't done much with my One Little Word Binder this year, I have done quite a bit with my Word-in my life.

{SIMPLIFY}

Ministry :: I am down to three commitments. From approximately six.

Home :: We are here most of the time. Less running around makes for a simpler life.

School :: We have adopted Charlotte Mason's philosophy and teaching methods, which make for a simpler, yet more full, school day.

It's like coming back home after a long, long vacation.

Why did we wait so long?

Poetry & Tea :: An Afternoon Ritual

The beginning of a {hopefully} daily ritual. Tea, a bite and some poetry...

August 5 :: Second Grade

Such a joyful morning with this sweet, clever and very lovable little girl...

Leaves :: Again

Allie the Owlie

A very kind Officer in Las Vegas saw us walking back to our truck and stopped to bring Meg this great stuffed Owlie whom she named Allie. Totally made her night!

Piggies in Her Hair

Swingin'...

...in the rain!

An Unseasonably Warm Day

Joy!

The Fairies Did It

The Fairies refilled my cup and left me a little message...

Sunday Sweater

Sunday Sweater by Ginny Sheller.

Ravelry link here.

Two Hands :: Two Feet :: Two Wheels

Fairy Party

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Meg's Matryoshka

Meg wiggled her first little tooth right out of her mouth this morning during Sunday school! We came home and began working on her little Matryoshka Pocket Baby so her tooth has a place to rest while waiting for the Tooth Fairy to come inspect it. She cut out the pattern pieces and some of the fabric then moved on to making flags to hang on her cork board while I hand stitched her baby together. We stuffed the baby with wool roving so she could keep warm from the inside out!

Her letter says, "Dear Tooth Fairy, Please leave my tooth." She sent wishes out into the world for the Fairy to leave her letter and picture too! She's a Keeper of all things Sentimental for sure.