Knitting Yearns

Shaklee Independent Distributor

2011-11-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

Flowers

2011-01-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

I remember one of the things I was so anxious to comment about the other day. First, my St. Pauli African violet has another bud on it. It has been about six months since it last bloomed. Second, my brother Bob gave me a slip from Mother's Christmas cactus plant which he had rooted last fall. Mother's new cactus planting at home had an impatiens growing in it from seed from the flowers growing nearby the cactus, and as my cactus grew, so did an impatiens sprout up. The cactus bloomed last month. It is finished, but I now have a few flowers on the impatiens. What a way to add splash to winter!

I purchased some close-to-sell-by-date thistle seed, and will put some out today to see if I can attract any finches.I still see the blue jays and northern flickers at the sunflower feeder.

After all of my fuss over the two knitting books I could not find, and discovered that I had indeed loaned them to Anne, and then forgot to pick up when I was at her house, I have found a new pattern to use for my second purple gift scarf. I am moving out of my comfort zone little by little. One stitch at a time is bringing me to new levels of ability.

Grandmother

2011-01-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

Going over to see my little granddaughter again today. Nothing more snuggly than having a baby sleeping on my shoulder with her head next to mine. Kitties are very warm, but babies fit better. On Wednesday I could hardly bear to leave Anne's house because Little Girl was content to be in Grandma's arms.

We are having snow, snow, and more snow. This must be closer to what Laura Ingalls Wilder's family had in The Long Winter. It is closer to the winters that I remember as a child, absent the cold temperatures. I can remember one year that the St. Paul Pioneer Press gave Mother Nature the cold shoulder award for so many days with temperatures below zero. That was the year steering wheels were breaking off in Alaska because of the extreme cold.

Off to work. I cannot remember the things I was so anxious to blog about yesterday! Senility is upon us. I need to pick up some provisions for Anne, and get a Shaklee package out in the mail.

Grandma and Grandpa!

2011-01-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

We are now Grandma and Grandpa Becker. Anne had her baby on my birthday. Baby Girl has silky-soft dark blonde hair, a double chin, and itty-bitty fingers and toes. Can you hear Grandma cooing? Today we sang songs together, played pat-a-cake, played This Little Piggy Went to Market, counted to five on her toes, and took a walking tour of the apartment. I also got to change my first diaper in many years.

I stopped at Michael's to use my Christmas gift card today, but I did not have any knitting patterns with me and could not find a particular yarn, so I will hold off until I have more time to look.

I saw a bald eagle flying near our house as I headed into town, and a male ring-neck pheasant as I drove home.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

Only Rush Limbaugh can turn the first Thanksgiving feast into a meal of free-range turkey and organic vegetables. Thanks, Rush! I needed the laughs this morning.

We had a couple short periods of freezing drizzle before the snow started. I hope my husband makes it home safely from work. We will decide tomorrow whether it is safe to drive to my sister's house in the Cities for Thanksgiving dinner. I will wait until tomorrow to prepare my bring-along food.

I have fallen off of the band wagon on my retreat resolutions, and have even taken a step backwards from the progress I had made earlier. Blessed Mother, help me out of this slump. I am persevering in my reading of The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori, in spite of its length. In another month I will need to start my annual review for my consecration to Mary. But I am so lazy....

I started some breads today. I need to take something to the Becker Thanksgiving on Sunday, and also need some extra loaves in the freezer. The house is cold, and bread baking is a good way to warm it up. I hope to get some knitting and sewing done in between kneading and rising.

Wouldn't ya know, Janet Nepolitano has announced the possibility of using the new high-radiation full body airport scanners in bus terminals and railroad depots. The new American Police State is now in full swing. No thought of strengthening our borders because the real goal is subverting the American people, not preventing terrorism. Why else subject them to the degradation of the TSA pat-downs and body scans? Don't believe it? Experts say the new scanners probably would not have caught the underwear bomber.

Six of One

2010-11-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

I am embroidering simple cross stitch quilt squares. As I work to untangle my floss for the first five crosses, I think of all of those who scold the long string users. The theory is that quilt thread, embroidery floss, and hand-sewing thread should never be longer than 18 inches, so that it does not tangle as it worked. Us long threaders prefer them long even if we have to deal with tangles, so that we do not have to make so many knots. We are just as correct.

I can think of countless examples where there are not the absolutes sometimes attributed. Women can make beautiful quilts out of cut up clothing and cardboard templates as well as out of pricey quilt shop fabric and the latest cutting tools. Eggs can be eaten runny or hard. Toilet paper can roll from the front or from the back. Cats can live in the house, or in the barn. A person can be comfortable reading from a book, or off of a Kindle. There is no disputing taste.

It looks as if I will have to head to the veterinarian with Gracie, if not for her shots, at least for a look-see at her eye. There is no pus, but I do wipe blood away daily from her tear duct, and her eye is quite red. The fur around the eye is now darkening, as if bruised underneath. I do not like the thought of spending money on the cat just now.

I am making headway on several different quilt projects. Can' have just one going at a time. No Sirree! Last night I did restrain myself to window shopping at JoAnn's for fabric that will match some of my future quilt pieces. If I get too much piled up my stress level increases.

Garden of Weedin'

2010-11-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

I spent the afternoon working in the Mary Garden at St. John Cantius. Yes, Gerard, I realize now that I did not take any pictures of the garden when it was in full bloom. I cut down some perennials, pulled out the annuals, and worked on edging the patio blocks. Tomorrow I may not be able to move. I am looking forward to a cozy evening embroidering.

I finished the book, Looking for the King (Downing, Ignatius Press). It kept me interested enough to have to finish it. I would not, however, rate it as one of the best mysteries of all time. I had planned on moving right on to Rachel's Contrition, but I side-tracked into Pearce's Tolkien: Man and Myth. The later appears to be an easy read, and suitably follows Downing's book with guest appearances by the Inklings. I am on my second chapter just reading on my lunch breaks at work. Arthur has expressed interest in this book, too, since he has watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies with me. I read those books down at the lake in my youth. I am paying for those bad sunburns now with skin discoloration and moles.

Time to prepare supper. Fried potatoes and fish. It's Friday.

Time

2010-11-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

I got a hair cut today. As I looked into the barber's mirror, I noticed a very prominent silver hair near my cheek. One of these years there will be too many to count.

Gracie still has a scab on her tear duct. I hesitate to wipe it off as I usually do. It looks as though she had a claw catch her there. Not my fault if she fights. It was probably with Blackie. In the picture below Gracie is displaying the quilt which I won at St. Anthony's last week.

Gracie Girl

Blackie

Long Time No Write

2010-10-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

Anne started her own blog, so I guess that means I need to get back into the swing on mine!

My latest news is that I won a quilt at St. Anthony's (St. Cloud) Quilt Bingo. This is about the fifth year that I have gone, so it was mine time. I am proud to be one of their new quilters, as well. The quilt which I won, as are all of their quilts, queen size. It has embroidered patches alternating with maroon patches, sashing and backing. The amount of work put into the emroidery alone is incredible.

My quilting is improving in speed, if not in stitch length. At one time at a quilting afternoon at Gone to Pieces, I was advised by another quilter to use a smaller needle and shorter thread. So far that has not given me smaller stitches. Mary B. has impressed upon me the need to use a thimble. I laugh with the other ladies at St. Anthony's about using longer thread so that I tie fewer knots, even if it means running the risk of tangles. Half of them do the same.Helping the quilters has energized me in the completion of the quilt top I started for them two years ago. It was supposed to be done in summer months while work was slow. Never happened. Now, however, I am on a roll.

Baby Mark's afghan is still unfinished.

Today I am baking cracked wheat bread with millet and flax seed thrown in. I also started some oatmeal apple bread, a good bread for breakfasts. Dinner tonight is pork chops and potatoes.

Now off to do laundry.

Eat Your Vegetables, or Else?

2010-08-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that when politicians talk about reducing health care costs by making healthy choices, they limit their targets to obesity, cigarette smoking, and seat belts and bike helmets, the politically correct sins of the new century? What if they mentioned studies about how abortion can cause breast cancer, or about how the Pill can cause heart trouble? What about the diseases picked up through sexual promiscuity? What about AIDS, which is still a disease acquired primarily by homosexual activity in men? What about the mental illnesses caused or exacerbated by abortion, sexual promiscuity, divorce and infidelity? What about drug users? What about people who refuse to eat their vegetables, or fiber, or protein? What about using organic products as opposed to junky white bread, apples sprayed with pesticides, and milk containing growth hormones? What about people who refuse to believe in God, or pray, or go to church, when studies say these things make people happier, and healthier? Ask the centenarian why he has lived so long, and you will be told everything from drinking and smoking to having a beer and bacon everyday. The list of things which the government would have to include if it wants to "protect our health" would be endless.

Far better that the government gets out of the health care industry altogether, and lets individuals control their own health and seek their own happiness in their own ways.

Police State

2010-06-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

Tornadoes ripped through the state of Minnesota on Thursday. The city of Wadena was particularly hard hit. By late evening we were hearing reports that the police had barracaded their streets so that only residents could access the city. I find that rather alarming. I can understand the possibility of gawkers and looters. What I do not understand is closing off the citizens from outside assistance by family and friends. What if you had elderly parents living in the town, or a single mother with young children. It is the natural response to want to check up on them. It is also common to call on friends and family for assistance. This one might have a chain saw, or a pick-up. That one might want your fallen trees for firewood. Why should the police department be able to say you cannot enlist their help?

The more I hear about the oil spill, the angrier I get. Why would we refuse the assistance of foreign oil skimmers just because the ships were not built with Union labor? Why not let BP burn the oil, or use chemical dispersants, so that the oil does not reach land. Why not let the state of Louisiana build sand berms when and where they want? Why send the Coast Guard out to disrupt clean up for an entire day because the clean-up crews might not have life jackets? Safety is well and good, but there is a time and place for everything. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater by being so tied up in regulations that we cannot move.

Who in our congress is willing to stand up and tell President Obama that he is acting way out of constitutional bounds by placing a moratorium on gulf drilling and by demanding that BP use a third party settle damages?

Yesterday I did a long overdue scrub-down of the bathtub. It is my least favorite cleaning job, and the one most easily left undone. Left undone, it grows into a larger task as each week of soap scum clings to the walls. It requires major elbow grease to cut through the grime. Now it is done, and I wonder what happened to that young bride who set aside one day every week to clean the bathroom, dust, vaccuum, and scrub the kitchen floor. I think she has gone knitting or something.

Christian Mothers

2010-06-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

http://www.fatherangelus.com/The national office of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers now sends out semi-monthly e-newsletters. They can be reached at christianmothers@consolidated.net, or at http://www.fatherangelus.com/.

Long Time No Blog

2010-06-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

Since my last blog I have finished numerous knitted dishcloths, sewn three more Smart Bags and cut out several more, finished reading Andy Adam's Campfire Tales, become a Shaklee distributor, traveled to New Ulm, planted several annuals, and done some much needed weeding and thinning in my flower beds. I hop to figure out our new camera so I can add some pictures of my work.

Campfire Tales was a light, easy to read book. It was broken into three to four page stories, or tales, so I read one or two at a time. I found this book in one of the national park gift shops out west (probably Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l Park), and purchased it with the intention of reading it with Anne for school. We never used it as such, and in retrospect, so much the better. While the stories are told by cowboys around their evening campfires, it seems a book better read to oneself than read aloud. I enjoyed the simplicity of expression, though I did not know the meaning of all of the horse lingo, nor the geography of the trails from the 1800's.

Our annual trip to New Ulm took us to the Holiday Inn New Ulm for a first stay. We visited Domeier's, and while Papa did a tour of Schell Brewery, I paid visits to the two quilt shops and a second-hand bookshop in town. I enjoy the small quilt shops very much. I am not overwhelmed by too many fabric choices, and I feel like I am helping the local economy by my purchases. We discovered Turner Hall with its late 19th century paintings on the walls. Perhaps we will try out their lunch menu on a future visit. We drove past the Wanda Gag house, but it was not open for tour. We did a run through the Minnesota Music Museum, Arthur looking at Whoppee John, Sherwin Linton, and a few other familiar faces. The museum guide had lake cabin connections around central Minnesota, so I am sure his long chat with Arthur made his day. I looked for F. Melius Christiansen, music professor at St. Olaf who probably formed much of Mr. Engen's teaching at White Bear, but I found only the display from his induction ceremony into the Museum. I looked for more on Margie's old favorite, Johnny Holm, as well, but could not find his display. Arthur was not happy with his ribs at Wiegel's Kaiserhoff, so next time we will try Otto's restaurant at the Holiday Inn. Mama will probably like Otto's better, too, since they serve all my favorite German sides with their meals - red cabbage, German potato salad, and sauerkraut.

Marriage makes for truly strange bedfellows. I am hankering for a good pasta salad. Papa prefers potatoes. I like the pumpernickel bread, rosemary bread and popovers when we eat out, and he prefers the white bread. He usually orders the same thing, I usually try something different. He was raised on fried lake fish for Fridays, I was raised on tuna. I like green beans, while he prefers peas and corn. I like cooked carrots, while he prefers his raw.

I have a sparrow in one blue bird nest box, and a wren in the other. I put oriole nectar and grape juice out again this morning, but I may give up if we have another rain, or if the humidity brings on the mildew again. My new oriole feeder does keep the wasps out, but ants are still an issue.

Warm Up

2010-03-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

I am supposed to be typing my overdue Christian Mothers newsletter right now. My internal (Patrician) calendar is always late, and in my mind I had another week to work on it, until a phone call made me realize it had to be in the mail today. I am still the student handing in late papers.

A glance out of the window showed my pussy willow in full catkins. After years of stagnance the branches are lengthened to a couple feet, and pulled toward the sky. I am trying to imagine my bush at the 20 foot height it will become. Although I saw no tulip tips in the Mary Garden at church last Sunday, I see two remnant tulips about five inches high in my flower bed in the side yard. I may not get blooms, since I dug out most of the bulbs last year, and what I see now is either a damaged or stray bulb.

One of the blogs which I follow is Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. (http://www.foothillsofthegreatsmokymountains.blogspot.com/) I first found this site in a search for a dishcloth pattern from http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/. Foothills has a gorgeous header photo of the Smoky Mountains. Recently she posted pictures of some of the projects she has knitted. I enjoy her pictures, often done against a backdrop of nature. I enjoy the vibrant colors she has used in her projects. When I looked at her site a few days ago it felt like spring. I was also intrigued by her participation in a Christian knitters group. When I have more time I can investigate that group.

Lion Brand had an article on picking up stitches in their latest e-newsletter. I scanned the article thinking I would get tips for a shawl pattern I plan on making. I am beginning to see why people who use the internet need to bookmark things. I cannot use the information from the article immediately, but I might need it in the future. Better save it! Then, just as our houses collect stuff that needs to be weeded out, every once in awhile we need to go through our computers and get rid of the things we do not need. How many computer storage sheds do you have?

Knitting

2010-03-17T18:53:00.000-07:00

I decided I would take the plunge and join Ravelry, an on-line knitting group. Once again I am spurred on by seeing a new knitting pattern on another member's web site, which I simply must have!

St. Augusta was filled with spring today. The sun was out, and the neighbor's cat was on the prowl. The black labs next door were having hissy fits when they saw the cat walk through our yard. I had to go out and investigate when I did not see the meter man's car, or the mail man, or the UPS truck, or a garbage truck, or the other neighbors working at their shed. I forced Gracie Cat to stay in the house when I left for town later on. She gets nasty when her territory is invaded, and the other cat was larger, and probably male.

I purchased some wool yarn for a prayer shawl this afternoon. I am under the weather, and my mind is half gone, so I am thinking that I probably needed two more skeins than I purchased, since I am using a different yarn than the pattern called for. I did comparisons in the store, but who knows what I was really doing when I did it!

Friday

2010-03-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finished a baby bootie using a pattern from The Knitter's Bible. I successfully used the M1 increase from both the front and back, and did a simple turn. Today I will attempt to stitch the seam. Next I think I will start a beret from the sport weight pale blue Brown Sheep wool that I purchased years ago from The Weaver's Cabin. May as well use it up while I am trying something new. I found a shamrock dishcloth pattern from http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/, but decided not to buy the green yarn yet.

This week PBS did a rerun from Frontline on Dignitas, a group which promotes assisted suicide. The program included footage of an actual suicide from their "suicide apartment" in Switzerland. For a suicide, the man certainly required a large number of people to give him assistance. Surely, with that much support, it would have been just as easy to help him to live. The man choosing to take his own life did not appear to be in great pain or disability. Nor did the death seem very dignified as I watched the man call for apple juice to wash down the apparently unpleasant tasting sedative cocktail. His wife wished him a good journey before she left the room, and I kept thinking, a journey to where? He did not believe in an afterlife, only that we reamin alive as long as someone remembers our name (sic). There is no journey between life and death. We are only living, or dead. When we are dead we face God for our judgment, heaven, hell or purgatory and then heaven.

This issue lead me to a conversation I once had with Fr. John Mary Burns, O.C.D., regarding the existence of God. Father said somthing to the effect of, "Why not give God a try? If He is not real, you have nothing to loose. Do you want to take the chance of denying Him if He is real?" We have been presented with many proofs that God exists in philosophy, in miracles, and in Christ's coming to earth. On the other hand, who can proove that God does not exist? We are so busy trying to discredit the proofs for God, that we forget about the proofs against Him, and the "What if He does exist?". Just in case He does, I wouldn't piddle around with assisted suicide.

"At the end, forever, you and I will be in Heaven or Hell, period." Fr. John Corapi

"But the master of a slave has by law the right of life and death over him...." St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

The Saga Continues

2010-02-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

Since I am still trying to deplete my stock of U.F.O's, I started another scarf out of the Homespun yarn. Just when I think I have the hang of it, I discover added stitches, and my dislike of the yarn is renewed. It is impossible to find mistakes because the rows are not as sharp and even as with regular worsteds.

Last week on our trip to Alexandria, I made a stop at Dawn's Quilt Shop on Broadway. I had attempted to stop there when we were in Alex previously, but the store was locked. Dawn said that they were in fact just opening a couple of years ago. The quilt shop that was across the street is now closed. I did find a few fun things at Dawn's. She is obviously a cat lover, and has ceramic and fabric cats all over the store. Next time perhaps she will have a live mouser to keep in the spirit of things. I picked up a fat quarter cat print which I hope to put into a Smart Bag. She also had a set of sewing themed cookie cutters that came in a box: a sewing machine, spool of thread, and I do not remember what the other two cutters were, but a cute gift for someone who is gaga on sewing or quilting. I would have purchased a set had I had extra cash.

I actually had a successful day of shopping in St. Cloud on Friday. I have a tough time buying clothes because I am both petite and large, and big in the hips, but not on top! I hate to buy a new skirt and have to cut four inches of fabric off to get it the right length. I did find a new skirt and two tops at Christopher and Banks. I was able to order a second skirt from their on-line store. I plan on going in again next pay check to try another blouse that will match one of my skirts, if not both.

The vinyl is peeling off of my nice white tennis shoes. I only paid 50 cents for them at a garage sale so it is not such a horrible loss. Still a disappointment, though. I tossed out my expensive Munro work shoes last week. They still had good soles, but the buckle straps were stretched out and worn almost through, and did not hold my shoes on as snuggly as needed. I should not cry over those, either, since I had them for ten years. Nevertheless, they were expensive to start with.

Repeal the 17th Amendment

2010-02-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

We had an interesting discussion on the repeal of the 17th Amendment at our BPOU convention on Saturday. The more I think about the idea, the more I like it. I like it first of all because we are a republican form of government, not a democracy. This would remind people that it is so. Secondly, it would reduce the amount of money and time spent on campaigns because we would eliminate the need for a senatorial election. Third, and perhaps most important, it would renew interest in our local elections, because our state house and senate members and/or governor would be responsible for appointing our U.S. Senators. Fourth, as Jim Knoblach brought up, it may remove the need or desire to impose term limits, because our local elected officials change office more frequently, and therefore our appointee would change more frequently. Since our local officials already reflect our local desires, at least as close as we can get out of those who choose to run, I do not think there would be a drastic difference in whom the state would choose, over whom the people would vote for.

My resolution on eliminating primary elections was tabled before it could even be discussed.

More from The Imitation of Christ

2010-01-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

I am re-reading the preparation prayers for the total consecration to Mary in anticipation of my anniversary in February. It is as if I am reading them for the first time. The following quote fits perfectly with our Schoenstatt Mothers Group study on temeprament. I need to remember this Oh! So Well!.

"We are quick enough in perceiving and weighing what we bear from others; but we think little of what others have to bear with us. He that should well and justly weigh his own doing would find little cause to judge harshly of another." Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 5

What Makes You Tick?

2010-01-21T10:23:00.000-08:00

I went shopping at both of the local craft stores today. I have a marked preference for one over the other. One has an easy to open e-mail ad. The other's e-mail ad might be easy, but I am not accustomed to it, and the layout does not appeal to me. One store has bright lights and broad aisles, which makes it easier to choose which colors of yarn, or beads, or paper, or flowers, or ink, or buttons I would like to purchase. One store always asks for my zip code when I am checking out, which is always a turn-off. One store has a much larger variety of yarn and knitting needles. One is easy to get to from both sides of the road; the other requires ocassional u-turns at a busy intersection. One has fabric; the other one keeps a few fat quarters on hand. One has a gigantic selection of rubber stamps. One is locally owned and operated; the other is a chain. One always has sales flyers at the door; the other expects me to check the paper. One rewards me for spending money at their store; the other does not. Can you guess which is my favorite?

Suffering from Mens' Errors

2010-01-21T10:03:00.000-08:00

"But what great matter is this, if you who are but dust and a mere nothing, submit yourself to man for God's sake, when I the Almighty, and the Most High, Who created all things out of nothing for thy sake, humbly subjected Myself to man." Imitation of Christ, Book 3 Chapter 13

Birds

2010-01-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

I refilled my bird table and hanging feeder with black oil sunflower seed. I also put out an orange and the last of my homemade peanut butter suet cakes. The birds usually get fed on the days that I empty the cat boxes. The sun is out, bright and beautiful. The temperature, I am guessing, is around 28 or 29 degrees, so it was a great day to be outside. I decided that I would soak up more vitamin D by staying out for a bit, and so I emptied out my bird houses from last year. Unlike my father-in-law, I am not observant enough to always tell when my bird houses are occupied, or when each particular brood has left the nest. As a result I usually do not clean out the houses until well past bird migration. Imagine my surpirse today when I found a house containing not only tons of sticks, but another round nest of grasses and feathers, containing a frozen but whole egg, about 1/2 inch long. It is a pinkish egg with brown speckles, but after more than two months of freezing temperatures, I wonder if that is the original color.

I am reading Robin Kane: The Mystery of the Phantom, 1966. Robin's father draws the comic strip, "The Family Scene", for which he uses his own children as models for his characters. Sounds just like Bill Keane's Family Circus to me, although my guess is that the book was written first. Funny!

2010-01-17T11:17:00.000-08:00

"There is one thing which keeps many back from spiritual progress and fervent amendment of life; and that is: dread of difficulty, or the labor which must be gone through in the conflict...It is a greater task to resist vices and passions than to toil at bodily labors."

Imitation of Christ, Chapter 25

Off Day

2010-01-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

I have the day off from work, and I feel like doing nothing. Some tasks cannot be ignored, though. The cat box must be emptied before rebellion occurs. The compost has to go out. The dishes from last night's dinner have to be washed. 'Til we meet again.

Christmas Gifts

2010-01-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

I prepared Peter and Karin's package for mailing today, since we were snowed in here for Christmas day, and did not get to see them. I was reminded that while I am still enjoying sewing Smart Bags, I have yet to complete the sewing projects meant for last year's gifts. I'll let you in on what they are after Christmas next year.

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T16:19:00.000-08:00

Today we purchased a new bed frame to replace the teddy bear bed in the spare bedroom. I purchased the teddy bear bed (so called because the head and foot boards resembled the beds seen in story books) at Wolfgrams' garage sale in WBL when I moved into my little apartment on Cedar Street 18 years ago. The mattress supports were broken in enough places that I did not feel comfortable offering it for guest use. The new mattress and box spring also made the bed higher than I wish for the times that I sleep in that room. (It is my snuggly place to go when I cannot sleep, and need to move where I can read while Papa sleeps.)

I made another run to the Foley quilt shop for more interfacing for Smart Bags. I am enjoying sewing them very much. I did sneak some Moda Christmas print fat quarters into my purchase, too. I have been eyeing those prints since I first saw them at Barb's booth at the St. Cloud Heritage Quilt Show in October. Really cute. Vintage looking. They are petite prints.

John William Dando Vandeberg, I am still laughing at your antics. I am proud to be your auntie!

Great Finds

2009-12-27T13:12:00.001-08:00

I am in that "keep it or give it" quandry with two Christmas gifts that have yet to go to the people for whom they are intended.

The first is the book, Made by Me (Jane Bull, DK Publishing, 2009). I first saw this children's book at Crafts Direct, and fell in love with its simple and cute sewing, knitting and embroidery projects immediately. It has a doll pattern with dresses, a nightie, a teddy bear, a hat and a little jacket all to go with, all made with hand sewing or garter stitch knitting. Then there are felt ornaments with blanket stitch edging, embroidery stitches for tee shirts and other items, and a pink and white varigated scarf made on jumbo knitting needles. The colors make the projects look very appealing. I can see sitting down with Goddaughter or down the road, a grandchild, to do some of the projects. I can see Goddaughter using some of the projects for 4-H exhibits at the fair. I ultimately ordered the book off of Amazon because I could not find it when I looked for it again at Crafts Diret. However, last time I was at Crafts Direct I found it by chance among some quilt books shelved with the fabrics. Should I resist the temptation to buy my own copy, or use my half-price coupon?

The second is the book, The Knitter's Bible (Claire Crompton, David and Charles, U.K., 2004). Here again, I have three or four other nice knitting books which I use for reference, and a gazillion other pattern books. This book, however, demonstrates seam sewing with two different colored yarns in a color photograph, not diagram, which is easy to follow. I need something like that! It also has patterns for hanger covers, a loopy sheep that I could make out of wool yarn, a stylish cardigan, and sachet bags. I purchased a copy for Anne so that she could look up binding off when she is knitting alone, but I want one, too....

Vintage Fabric

2009-12-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

I am doing some sewing for Christmas. Today as I ws digging for a bold piece of fabric that would match a fat quarter, I discovered that that same bold piece is "guaranteed Dutch Java" material. I got it when I loaded up on fabrics at the mission shop before it closed. Who knows how old it is. I can imagine it coming home from WWII for someone's bride, or someone purchasing it while on an exotic vacation. Unfortunately I also discovered that it is full of holes from either moths or cigarette burns. I hope it is cigarette burns, since I do not need to have my stash riddled by moths.

Rejuvination

2009-12-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Anne and I made a trip to Quilts on Broadway in Foley. I spent money on patterns, and yes, some fabric. I got another Minnesota Shop Hop fabric apron, which I am tempted to keep for myself, because it covers both top and bottom. I also purchased some bag patterns using charm packs, and one that will work for an embroidery bag for Maria. Barb showed me how she buries her thread when she uses perled cotton. I enjoy stopping at her shop, and came away ready to hit the sewing machine again. She also thought that Anne looked like me!

After our shop hop Anne and Brenden made dinner for Arthur and me. Anne has their apartment decorated for the Christmas season. Even the bathroom had a splash of Christmas color.

I looked through Anne's knit and crochet purse pattern book. I might have to borrow that when my afghan, prayer shawl, Anne's scarf and hand warmers, and my socks, are finished!

The Cardinal

2009-11-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

We watched The Cardinal (Otto Preminger) last evening. What a difference a few years makes! This was the third time I watched the movie. The first was when I was in junior high, when it was on television. The second time must have been about 10 years ago. I saw the movie very differently last night. The Fermoyle family struck me as being very disfuncional. Three adult children were still living at home, none married. When Florie and Mona fought, though he had been studying in Rome for presumably a number of years, Mother sent Steve off to comfort Mona instead of reacting to the fighting herself. Dad also remained silent. Mona expected Big Brother the priest to make all of her decisions for her, and in turn blamed him for the painful consequences. At Mona and Benny's engagement party, Benny and his Jewish parents acted as if that was the first time they had addressed the issue of Benny's marrying a non-Jewish woman. Their indifference to the interfaith marriage until then was out of keeping with the time period. After Mona's death another woman, one of his students (No ethical eyebrows raised there) falls in love with Fr. Fermoyle, and he with her. Then suddenly he decides to return to the active priesthood, no explanation given. She was so "in love" with Fr. Fermoyle that she was never able to love her husband, and after her husband commits suicide, she has no desire to live. Throughout the movie Fr. Fermoyle never looses the guilt he feels in following the Church in moral decisions. His guilt implies that there is something wrong with the Catholicism that he must practice, rather than a deficiency in those who make bad choices, and then suffer negative consequences.

The film does show some good shots of traditional Catholic liturgy, and even goes so far as to show tonsures on the newly ordained men. Except cursory references to to prayer, however, neither Fr. Fermoyle nor the other clergy in the movie are portrayed as deeply spiritual men, and are even presented as being a bit callused, ambitious, and greedy. It takes Fr. Steve to save them from their errors.

We've decided this film is not a keeper.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

I stayed up late last night to make the "turn" on my afghan. I am now over half way done.

Anne and Brenden are coming over for breakfast tomorrow. I plan on washing my mother's red, stemmed glasses and using my Old Curiosity Shop plates so that we can have a Vandeberg style Thanksgiving. (I still cannot fathom that Mother dared to let us use those very breakable glasses at every holiday meal!) Arthur has requested homemade cinnamon rolls, which means I will also bake.

I had a flock of cedar waxwings in the oak tree this morning. Also a few snowflakes.

Sweater Stone

2009-11-21T16:40:00.000-08:00

I broke down and ordered the sweater stone which Lion Brand advertises for removing pills from knitting, fleece and drapery. The sweater stone leaves behind a gritty residue which smells like charcoal. I found it easier and cheaper to use a pumice stone designed for sloughing dead skin off of feet. Either way, I am pleased to have the means to restore the look of my two favorite wool sweaters.

A Matter of Virtue

2009-11-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

I am reading 1917: Red Banners, White Mantle (Warren Carroll, Christendom Press, Front Royal, Virginia, 1981). The carnage of WWI continues. I hate to think of all of the reparation that is required to atone for the sins of that war alone.

When President Wilson jumped into peace negotiations, he refused to accept the crowned heads of Europe as legitimate spokesmen for their countries. He saw it as the duty of the United States to "pave the way for democracy". Almost a hundred years later we are reaping the fruits of that democracy-turned-socialism. It takes me back to the issue that government is only as good as it's rulers are virtuous. Let us pray.

Impeachment

2009-11-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

One solution to unconstitutional actions should be the liberal use of impeachment. What might our country be today if after Roe vs. Wade the people rose up and demanded the impeachment of the Supreme Court justices who chose to have complete disregard for state laws, and for God's law?

Fall Vegetable Soup

2009-11-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

2 lbs fully cooked sausage rings or links, cut into chunks
1 small head of cabbage, chopped
3-4 potatoes, in jackets or peeled, cubed
3-4 carrots, sliced
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. if you do not use any meat
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup butter
3 cups water

Cook in a five quart crock pot. You can add more vegetables if you have the space. Cook on high 4-6 hours.

Before serving stir in one cup or more of warmed milk and 1/4 cup of fresh parsley or 1 tbsp. dried parsley.

If you are short on time or are accustomed to using prepared foods, you could probably use a package of frozen hash-browns and packaged, shredded carrots and cabbage. We have our own potatoes, carrots and onions from the garden, so I use those.

Constitutionalists vs. What?

2009-11-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday was a red letter day for the Constitution Party of Minnesota. We sponsored former Sheriff Richard Mack at the Holiday Inn Airport in Bloomington. As treasurer, that leaves me with a pile of paperwork on my kitchen table. Last eveing we attended a Republican gubernatorial candidate forum at St. Ben's. Both events leave me skeptical as to the desire to return to our constitutional roots, both on a federal and state level. George Washington, our first president, went against the U.S. Constitution with the Whiskey Rebellion. Thomas Jefferson overlooked the Constitution with the Louisiana Purchase. Abraham Lincoln overlooked it in refusing the southern states their right to secede from the Union. At both the state and national levels our money has been taxed from us to be redistributed as charity to other nations, or other citizens. How many more instances are out there? If violation of our constitutions has been going on from the beginning, what makes us think that we can reverse the trend now? That they are able to be violated so easily indicates a flaw in our U.S. Constitution and our state constitutions. Is this American experiment, then, really the best, most moral form of government there is? Have we been presumptuous in attempting to foist our form of government onto everyone else? Is it worth saving? Are we able to save it? What next?

Back to Knitting

2009-11-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

Politics off of my chest, I did break down and buy more yarn. Anne got a new winter coat, so I need to make her a new scarf and hat. Something more grown up now that she is married. Don't ask me when I will get that done, but I have the yarn for it. I also rationalized four bright skeins of Sugar and Cream into the purchase because they were so pretty, and because they were on sale.

National Health Care

2009-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

I am hoping that people will storm heaven and the Senate so that the health bill does not become law. It is unconstitutional, and immoral.

Where in the Constitution of the United States does it give the federal government the right to pay for, or oversee our healthcare? It does not.

Under the guise of giving everyone the "right" to health care, it will make us bow to government standards of care rather than deciding for ourselves what treatment we should receive. Look at the fiasco at Walter Reed Medical Center and ask yourself if you want to become one of the soldiers receiving sub-standard care because of lack of funds and poor management. It is just and right if I decide to forgo treatment for myself or a child because the risk or the cost or the chance of a positive outcome make a particular treatment extraordinary. It is quite another story if the government puts a value on my life because of my age or condition of health, and decides for me that I am not worthy of care. That'll slip us right into situational ethics. But wait!
I thought we were all "created equal"!

The solution to rising costs is to remove tax incentives to employers who give healthcare as a benefit to their employees, so that employment and insurance are separated. Next, remove all government mandates for insurance, and let people pick the plans that suit their incomes and needs, not the things the government says we need. I am Catholic. Why should my coverage have to include birth control, abortion, sterilization, tubal ligation, in vitro fertilization, or prescription drugs to "assist" me in ending my life? Next, let the universities determine who can be licensed to practice medicine. Next, let the pharmaceutical companies and health food stores be responsible for the safety and effectiveness of their own drugs and supplements. Let our healthcare be ruled once again by reputation, scholarship, pride in one's work, and charity to others in wanting what is best for them, not by government employees awarded their positions as political favors, or politicians with their socialist agendas.

Beer Bread Recipe

2009-11-08T15:41:00.000-08:00

3 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
1 can or bottle of room temperature beer

1/2 cup melted butter

Thoroughly mix the flour, salt and baking powder. Pour in the beer. Mix just until ingredients are moist. Pour into a greased, 9x5 loaf pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Pour half of the melted butter over the bread. Bake for another 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and pour remaining butter over the bread. Let cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to finish cooling on a wire rack.

Baking temperature 35O Degrees.
Yields one loaf.

This recipe is especially good with soup or chili on a fall or winter day.

Knit Down

2009-10-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

I am in stash-buster mode. I decided I really do not need to have so much stuff around, and I am bound and determined to do something about it. No more new yarn or fabric until a good portion of my current stash is used up. I mean it!

I worked on the Mary garden at church for a short time this afternoon. The weather was perfect, albeit a little too breezy. I dug up my own Stella d'Oro lilies and divided them for replanting here, and at church. The church yard is starting to look like a real garden now. God be praised!

We now have Relevant Radio in the St. Cloud area. This afternoon I listened to an ad on that station for St. Ben's Monastery, in which the Sister narrating declared this week-end a week-end of three feasts, Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. Perhaps Halloween is a feast for those who worship the devil, but it is not a feast on my calendar! The Sisters should tune in this week while Moira Noonan is a guest on the Drew Mariani Show.

New homespun Pattern

2009-10-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

I am not having good success with the other patterns I have tried with Homespun, except the garter stitch prayer shawl. I am going to try the hat and scarf pattern below to see if that works. I have not learned knitting in rounds yet, so it will be an experience!

Free Knitting Pattern 70379AD Hat And Scarf : Lion Brand Yarn Company

2009-10-24T13:47:00.001-07:00

Free Knitting Pattern 70379AD Hat And Scarf : Lion Brand Yarn Company

Posted using ShareThis

Sunday Afternoon

2009-10-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

The sun is out, and weather is warm compared to the last few rainy, cold days. I have been busy planting the Mary garden at church. Last evening I cut back some of my own plants, Stella d'Oro lilies and irises, which I will transplant to church. I snipped some of the lilac seeds as well. A little late, but it may be of some use to the new buds. I also took out my rosary making box last evening. I did not get more than a decade made before I decided it was time for bed, but a decade is a decade. Arthur has a meeting this evening, so I will probably do more rosaries and some knitting on Paris Olivia's afghan. I also plan on taking out my clarinet. That should prove to be interesting!

I have started reading 1917: Red Banners, White Mantle by Warren Carroll. It is holding my attention. So many good books out there. So little time.

The Winner

2009-10-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

I just received an e-mail from Associated Sewing in St. Cloud informing me that I won the Bali Pop Pack fabric pack from their drawing at the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters Cotton Candy Quilt Show on Sunday. Wahoo!

If it did not conflict with the Knit-Wits at Crafts Direct, I would join the quilting guild in a heartbeat. Both meet on Thursday evenings.

Wedding Preparation

2009-09-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

I am stalling on completing the second dress, although it is going better than the first one. One of these years I will finally figure out how to sew. Never mind that I have been doing it since third grade. The zipper I did on the other junior bridesmaid dress was probably the quickest, neatest zipper I have ever done.

We had our first frost last night. I covered the flowers, but completely forgot about the acorn squash and last tomatoes on the vine. The squash looks like it managed. The cosmos are in full bloom, also untouched by the frost.

I had one cat draw blood from me this morning. The other came into the house bleeding.

I long to take out my clarinet. I have had lesson music running through my head this morning.

Anne and I finished cleaning things out of her old room, and we switched beds between the two spare bedrooms. I have to make up the two beds and vacuum, and then I will have room for my music again.

Vanna's Choice Baby Afghan

2009-09-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

I finally completed Leo's baby afghan. I used the Fanciful Rose pattern (Our Best Knit Baby Afghans, Leisure Arts, 2000). I added eight rows of garter stitch on each end to square off the blanket. The yarn is Vanna's Choice Baby (Lion Brand) in Aqua.

I am itching to try some of the solid weave patterns in that same book with Cottontail yarn, but first have to finish Paris' baby afghan, and my Simply Ridges afghan.

Now I simply must get those dresses done for the wedding, or my daughter will have my neck!

Project Roundup

2009-09-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

We returned from our Two Harbors vacation on Monday afternoon. My vacation knitting goal was to complete my aqua baby afghan at Two Harbors, and then make significant in-roads on the Cupcake afghan while we are on retreat. I did not quite finish the aqua, Vanna's Choice baby afghan, but I am nearing the finish line. All I need to do is bind off and tuck in ends. Leo, your blanket is almost ready!

During this stay at Two Harbors, I was able to check out most of the restaurants and shops in the vicinity. My top picks are Pioneer Arts Co-op (a required North Shore stop for me) The Sweet Pea, and Burt's Mercantile. The Sweet Pea carries imported gift items, and also has a number of booths which local artists rent to hock their wares. Some of these artists also have merchandise at the Pioneer Arts Co-op, so if you cannot make it up the shore, a trip here would still give you an in to the local market. Burt's Mercantile carries mostly foodstuffs, with an emphasis on wild rice. However, they do sell quilts and aprons made locally. I was particularly attracted to their use of beautiful quilted wall hangings around their bins. I did not see prices on these, so I was not sure if they were for sale, or just decor. Still, they lent a pleasant ambiance to the store. It was fun just to look at them. We discovered a thrift store in town, too. Musty smelling, but otherwise well organized, and inexpensive. If you are looking for dishes, stop there before heading to Second-Hand Rose in Silver Bay (another required stop). My favorite places for food were On the Waterfront Cafe, and The Vanilla Bean. Of course, Burlington Bay was still my favorite, and most productive agate hunting grounds.

I did the fitting for Brenden's sister's dress for the wedding.

Kits and Knits

2009-08-14T20:54:00.001-07:00

I managed to knit three rows of a baby afghan with a cat on my lap yesterday! It helped that he was tired. Of course, I was unable to shift my legs without dumping him on the floor. Later Gracie had to see if I could knit with her on my lap. It worked for about a row. Things are getting good around here.

Tidbits

2009-07-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

I did scrub my kitchen floor, clean the bathroom and our bedroom sink, and vacuum the house. I also cleaned a few bird feeders, filled the bird baths, watered my Endless Summer hydrangea, raked up the compost pile, and dug out all of the heliopsis. Tomorrow I am back to work.

Places for knitting

2009-07-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Another favorite spot to knit is in the kitchen, while I am waiting for cookies to come out of the oven.

Preparation for Communion

2009-07-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

In one of his memorials, Blessed Peter Favre wrote that he wished his heart and soul would be open to seeing Jesus coming to him in the Holy Eucharist, and that Jesus had come to him 'entirely too often without my being alert to His coming.' (To the Other Towns: A Life of Blessed Peter Favre, William V. Bangert, S.J., Ignatius Press, 2002). How telling! A blessed of the church who had to make an effort to receive Communion in the proper spirit! Let us also strive to be attentive to Jesus when we receive Him.

Now, off to do my vacuuming and scrubbing so that I can then head out to the garden. A perfect day to be out of doors. The breeze is cool and refreshing.

Where do you knit?

2009-07-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

I've knitted at my daughter's swimming lessons, at the doctor's office, on the bus, in the car, at meetings, and sometimes while waiting for a concert or theatre performance to begn. The last can be difficult because the lighting is usually not very good. Car knitting is best on longer trips when I can acccomplish a number of rows. I am grateful then that my husband does all of the driving, and I have the time to do my stuff. I do think about what would happen if there were an accident. Being impaled on a knitting needle is not my idea of the way to go!

Political Yarn

2009-07-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am the Minnesota woman who knits her way through political conventions and meetings.

Knit Flowers

2009-07-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Lion Brand has been publishing patterns from the book, 100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet by Lesley Stanfield (St. Martin's Griffin, 2009) in their on-line newsletters. The patterns are incredibly real looking. I am fascinated by the intricate patterns. I have copied only one in hopes that I will be able to buy the book. I am gettting overly zealous in my plans, of course, but they would make elegant embelishments to other knitted projects.

Every Now and Then

2009-07-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

I still sit down to my quilting every once in awhile for a break from my knitting. I find the change to be very energizing. Of course, I have as much fabric to use up as I have yarn and rosary beads! I have finally fgured out this paper piece quilting stuff, and connecting the two ends of binding strips together after the binding is sewn onto a quilt.

I have started a bias scarf out of Country Spa yarn. I am having more success with this pattern, which calls for knitting into the front and back loop for an increase, rather than a yarn over. It is only 15 stitches wide.

For at least a third time, I ripped out the bias prayer shawl I had started in Homespun using the Lion Brand V Shawl pattern. On the last run I was four stitches short after only about six inches of knitting. It is very hard to keep track of the rows.

Prayer Shawls and Prayer Blankets - A Catholic Perspective

2009-07-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

Some of the parishes in my diocese have been making and distributing prayer shawls, or prayer blankets. After seeing some of the beautiful prayer shawl patterns and yarns being promoted for this purpose by the yarn companies, as well as having friends invite me to assist in their blanket making, I decided I had best do some checking on the "orthodoxy" of this new work of mercy. It seemed a bit new age, not to mention a great way for the yarn companies to increase their sales!

According to the shawlministry.com web site, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo conceived the idea of prayer shawls after having graduated from the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute, a program on Applied Feminist Spirituality at Hartford Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut. The web site refers to shawls as being "symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God" (Janet Bristow, 1998), and like the "unconditional embrace of a sheltering, mothering God." The site suggests that the shawls can be given, amongst other things, for "leading ritual" and "croning rites of passage." That sounds a bit pagan, or new age, to me. If it is new age, how can Catholics promote the practice of prayer shawls in our church?

The web site, sthubert.org (St. Hubert Catholic Church, Hoffman Estates, Illinois) says their blankets are given to "provide hope, comfort and healing to those who most need a reminder of God's love for them through the work of our hands and the prayers of our hearts."

A blanket, in and of itself, provides warmth and comfort. A blanket made by a loved one reminds us that we are loved. The person making a prayer shawl or blanket is asked, in addition, to pray for the recipient before beginning it, while working on it, and after finishing it. Praying for someone is a good thing. We know that in addition to praying as we work, we can offer the very work itself for the good of another. In the Catholic Church prayer blankets and shawls are also usually imparted a blessing from a priest or a deacon, thus directing the blankets to the sanctification of the user and the glory of God.

I am almost finished with my first shawl, and have yarn for two more. (I succumbed to the warm colors of Lion Brand Homespun and to their prayer shawl pattern books.) Still, I think of another "shawl" which has been in use in the Church for centuries. It is called the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Sewn into it and given to us by the Blessed Mother are her love, her prayers, and all of the good works of the Carmelite monks and nuns throughout time, and throughout the world. Makes me wonder....

Round dish cloth

2009-07-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

For a beautiful dishcloth pattern, check out foothillsofthegreatsmokymountains.blogspot.com

Garter Stitch Dog Pattern

2009-05-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

I am looking for a simple garter stitch dog pattern from the 1960-1970 era. I believe the ears, legs, body and tail were knit seperately, and sewn together afterwards. It was a very easy pattern, probably put out in a beginning knitting book.

Anyone have any cat and dog patterns they recommend?