Dear Dante, Why Stop at Nine?

Shawshank has been at it again. This time, it involved a little black and white interloper at 5:00 a.m.

One thing that can be said about our dear Melody is that she is efficient. No blood. No fur flying. Just one dead skunk.

Because of this, I have discovered what may be an undocumented terrace of the Inferno. Had Dante been a dog owner, he may have considered sending the betrayers into an eternity experiencing the eye-watering counter-defense of a close-range skunk blast rather than a frozen lake.

Otherworldly.  

Melody’s ruthless efficiency is nothing short of legendary. To dispatch an interloper with such quiet, bloodless precision at five in the morning is the work of a seasoned guardian—even if her prize choice left us paying the ultimate toll. 

I was transformed from a sleepy pet owner into a groomer, laundress, sanitization engineer, and undertaker, and still managed to be at my desk a mere sixty seconds late! That is not just a morning routine; that is an epic labor worthy of classical myth. I didn’t just survive the tenth circle; I conquered it before most people had finished their first cup of coffee. 

Here’s hoping that Melody decides that nine circles of trouble are enough for the foreseeable future!

Enough murder and mayhem, let’s talk about knitting.

I test knit a new sock pattern by the lovely Judy Jewell of Autumn Acorn Knits. The pattern is Magic Heel Socks DK Vanilla.  I knit these using Zwerger Garn Opal Paradise 6 ply in the “Quelle Der Freude” (“Wellspring of Joy”) colorway.  This is a sweet and fun pattern; essentially a glamorous tube sock! I would say this is an ideal sock pattern for those who have found sock knitting fussy.  This pattern is great for beginners, knitters with aging eyes, social knitters, on-the-go knitters.  You don’t have to be a very experienced knitter to modify this to different sizes or yarn weights. It’s all about proportion, baby!  I know many knitters who can’t stand knitting socks.  I think a pattern like this will open up the world of sock knitting to so many.   I also think this is a great option for gift knitting.  You don’t have to worry about exact measurements necessarily; they will fit a wide range of sizes.  Also, you could drop down a needle size on the ribbing if you wanted to increase the heel “hug factor”.  To avoid too much slouch, be sure to knit these with some negative ease.  

Opal 6 ply is a bouncy, squishy yarn in an endless supply of colorways. Socks made with Opal wear like iron and look too cute to hide in shoes.

While you are cruising along on your Magic Heel Socks, take in an episode of Judy’s podcast https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutumnAcornKnits

Speaking of podcasts…I don’t watch many.  Too often, it is just a lot of “look at what I bought”.  The ones I do enjoy tend to focus on the process of knitting rather than showing off stuff.  One that I have enjoyed for years is Knitting the Stash with Melissa Littlefield.  Melissa dives into knitting  modifications and garment design with an accessible manner making the process seem down right possible!  I always enjoy her content.  She recently authored a book called Reinventing Wool-How a Natural Fiber Survived the Synthetic Revolution.  Stay tuned for a review!

Cheerios at Church?

From time to time, and for no particular reason, I look down at the floor under my feet while I am at Mass. Twice recently when I did this, I spotted Cheerios that were obviously dropped by a child. It made me think of the effort that goes into getting a family ready for Mass. It also reminded me of a young mother who had three children, all under the age of six, at a 7:30 a.m. Mass recently. I got to thinking about the possibility that a future saint sat in that pew—nibbling away on Cheerios while listening to the readings and Gospel. I know many families who don’t go to church because of the fuss that the little ones can make. I understand that because I was one of them. Now, when I see children attending Mass, I am thrilled (especially if the little girls are wearing Hello Kitty dresses)! If you are a young parent and are reading this, please don’t stay home on my account. Take the time and a deep breath, and bring your children to church. You may never know the lives those little ones of yours impact, but I am better for having them there. Honestly, there isn’t a priest on the planet who doesn’t give at least one homily that is improved by the crying of a baby.

Well, that about does it for now. Thank you for taking the time to sit and visit. I look forward to sharing more knitting and murder with you soon!

Many blessings in your day!

Regina

In my earballs: The sound of the first fire of the season starting to catch!

In my cup: Dragon Pearl Jasmine by Harney & Sons. Find it here: Harney & Sons Dragon Pearl Jasmine.

Saint of the Day: Saint Bruno was born around 1030 in Cologne, Germany, and is the founder of the Carthusian Order—a religious community that has quietly witnessed to the power of prayer, silence, and contemplation. Although he left behind no formal rule for his order, the example of his life as a hermit formed the Carthusian vocation in humility, simplicity, and union with God. No, he did not write a formal rule, but humility, simplicity, and unity with God are absolutely an antidote to the challenges we face in this life. St. Bruno, pray for us!

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