open-air knitting

As long as I am able to carry my knitting along from here to there, I am content. Summer brings such  multitudes of opportunity to knit out in the open-air. 

                      

 

My Opal striped sock was being knitted in the majority of these photos, the one exception being the black sock. If I could squeeze in a few more outside activities this summer, the striped sock would be completed. Then it can rest on top of my sock stack until cold weather makes its appearance and the need to dress my feet in wool is fully satisfied with a new pair of socks. I wish I could be like Elizabeth Zimmerman and fill a sock drawer with newly knitted socks, but I will be satisfied with what I have accomplished this summer.

“Now, have a good summer. Dabble your feet in the water, and fill the sock-drawer against next winter. I find this as satisfying as studying seed-catalogues by a roaring January fire.” – The Opinionated Knitter

And while not exactly open-air knitting, nonetheless, I knit as I travel. A new project was begun while in the car on the open road to Ohio two weeks ago.

a small state of chaos

I am discombobulated. This is due to the master bath renovation currently going on in my home. I am grateful for upstairs bathrooms  and upstairs bedrooms while the redo is going on downstairs. My husband vacuumed with a fierce spirit last night with frequent statements of how dirty the floors are under his feet. I grin inside because I know we all maintain ways of trying to cope with all the sheet rock dust, boards and paint as best we can, not to even mention the boxes of things moved temporarily upstairs causing great disarray there too.

As an attempt to take control, knowing it is useless to do my normal house cleaning duties at the present, I engage in a housekeeping duty of a small nature. I was thinking it would be beneficial to have a weekly housecleaning chore of those things I don't do on a regular basis. The other cleaning can wait to this weekend when the workers will be absent.

Housekeeping Duty of the Week:
Remove the kitchen faucet handles and scrub all the gunk that has accumulated around the edges. While you are at this job, be sure to remove the nozzle of the faucet, and likewise, clean the build-up gunk. This is one of those jobs that is not easily noticeable to the eye, but it makes one feel so much healthier after completing the chore.

And I might find it a good thing to consider a virtue to work on while I am evaluating how to make my home peaceful and calm in the midst of a higgledy piggledy state.

Virtue of the Week:
Generous, in spirit and in manner. I can afford to be understanding of others that live in the same house  and are living in the same chaos. If they want to run the vacuum in the evening with fierceness...I can smile even if I am tired and the vacuum makes my nerves go "BING". I can allow Charlotte a lunch break to watch an episode of House Hunters International. I can even take a cat nap after lunch if it helps with the sleepless nights due to being in a double versus queen bed.

What do you do when things of the physical nature are chaotic in your home?

lessons to learn

This mother of 32 plus years (my eldest son will be 33 in October) began another homeschool year with 12YO youngest daughter today. My second year of having only one student. My hats are off to those mothers with so many students to school in a day. I am slightly weary and worn around the edges this afternoon. I am taking a break from school instruction, laundry and household duties to post. I have a pretty teacup that Claire gave me setting by my side of freshly brewed tea with a dollop of "our honey" to sip for refreshment.

By seventh grade the holes in your child's academic record becomes more obvious, and a carefully laid out plan to remedy and close some of the gaps are devised. So much easier to speak about, but very difficult to bring about I must confess. I remember those days when my children were toddlers, the consistent discipline needed to  get them to obey was trying to the utmost, but promised to garner fruit in the end. The same principles are applied to schooling.

We will eat an early supper because ballet lessons begin tonight from 6-8. I think 7:00 is a perfect time for dinner, but 8:00 is simply too late to have a body digest a big meal and have a reasonable bedtime. I might just sit outside at the our local Food Coop and read, knit and do geography lesson plans for tomorrow. Or I might take my laptop and catch up reading some of my favorite blogs. Oh, the possibilities!

"Then let us all do what is right, 

strive with all our might toward the unattainable,

develop as fully as we can the gifts God has given us,

and never stop learning."

                                 ~Bethune~

                        honey harvest

I hope your day went well!

                 Cathy

more scattergories

B  Bridesmaid Dresses
        (August 1)                                

                                                                                                                               

Claire's sister got married on a beautiful evening on the first day of August. Three of the bridesmaids asked me to alter their dresses, which I so willingly and happily altered while listening to podcasts on the computer in my sewing room.

M Music Camp 

        (July 19-24)

                             Every morning Charlotte would travel to the next town's university to attend a summer music camp. She would leave home at 8:00 A.M. and get home somewhat weary at 10:45 P.M., full days of music for sure. My husband and I would take advantage of the time in the evening to dine out in a wonderful restaurant or sit outside at a campus coffee shop. On Friday we were able to be in the audience of two daytime informal student performance concerts, and one formal evening performance concert.

                    ballgame right outside restaurant's parking lot           practice room on old Baldwin piano

D Dip and Dots

                             

What can I say...they stand on their own splendid merit.

C Creation Museum

           (August 14)

Situated right at the Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana borders sets the most glorious museum. My advice is it is worth making the trip and experiencing this museum; God's Word is honored and upheld as total truth in this place. Ken Ham and his team ministry, Answers In Genesis, do a superb job of giving creationism validity. If you plan to go for a  visit, keep in mind it will take at least a full day to see this museum and planetarium.

O Ohio

        (August 15-16)

We visited with some dear friends that live in the middle of Amish country. As we sat outside on their side deck that morning, we were able to observe the horse and buggy wagons noisily ride by the road. Then later that day we rode through the green countryside and observed such wide open spaces and simple rural life living. We stopped at one farmhouse to buy a veneer basket and the wife offered to give us a tour of some of the rooms in her house. She was so kind and answered questions that must have seemed silly to her. 

It is Saturday, that makes tomorrow my Sabbath. I still have a few preparations to make to our Sunday meal, so I am signing off for now. Thank you for reading and leaving comments from time to time. I hope to visit your blogs this week and enjoy reading about what you have posted about recently. 

Lord willing.

scattergories

One of the things that keeps me coming back to this place is the knowledge that I am able to just open my computer and begin to post. No one slaps my hand for however many months I have not posted while my blog lies dormant and silent. Gracious are those of you who check my blog from time to time. Melissa simply writes..."missing you"...my heart felt good for days after reading that comment. Thank you.

I am  giving this post the title scattergories. Have you ever played that game? It is a truly fun game when a group of people are gathered at your house and you are looking for a game to entertain. Everyone must find a word in the categories given with a key letter. So with that in mind this is my weak attempt to entertain you with some of what I have been doing this summer. Due to its length it will take at least two days of posting. It is not my intention to overwhelm after all....

F Fourth of July Celebration

        (July 4)

 We hosted a get together on the Fourth of July at our house. It was hot and humid outside with threatening thunder storms so we stayed inside where the air-conditioned rooms decorated in red, white, and blue kept us in a happy mood.

S Swimming

     (June-August)

After many summers of no swimming I  made a plunge into the pool waters once again on a regular basis. From 10:30 to 11:30 I show up at the pool and I swim on the average of three to four times a week for the solid hour. 

P Pointe Shoes

      (July 7)

 The day arrived, finally arrived! Charlotte is dancing "en pointe". We made an appointment to have pointe shoes fitted at our local dance wear store. The sewing on of elastic and ribbons shortly followed enabling her to attend her first classes this summer on pointe. This was a very big deal indeed! I love seeing her on her toes.

T Tennis

       (July-August)

Charlotte picked up her rack for a week long morning camp to improve her skills at playing tennis. Then I would take her to play with her friend on Saturday mornings.

While at the courts I met a lovely woman who sews lingerie. I have plans to contact her this fall so we can get together. She would like to learn to knit while I am enthralled with the desire to learn to sew lingerie. O the glories of those people one meets while waiting for children at various activities. Wouldn't you agree?

I glance at the clock on my computer screen and realize it is 5:05, hungry people live at my house and tonight we have the addition of a six year old we are keeping while his parents are celebrating their anniversary. So I will stop for now and hope to get back soon.

Enjoy the rest of your evening!

Cathy