Oh, knitting, I guess.

Did you know there is a feature on your Ravelry projects page called “Challenge”. Here you are able to set an annual project goal.

As the mega ambitious gal that I am…

OK, as the middle of the road kinda gal that I am, I typical set the bar at a conservative 12. That always seems reasonable; a project a month. But at this writing, I have 20 and that is very unusual.

But why keep all of my knitting deliciousness to myself. Let’s look a few of them.

This first pattern is the Wee Meadow Cardigan by Taiga Hilliard. (links will take you to my project page.)

I named this project “Karate Kid” because the colorway is Grasshopper

This designer creates the sweetest patterns for children. Knit in Green Mountain Spinnery Weekend Wool, this project was fast and fun. There is a simple lace pattern at the bottom hem, but the rustic nature of the yarn makes it hard to see. PS. I don’t care! 5 stars all around!

Another fun and easy knit was the Yume by Isabell Kraemer. I dove so deep into my yarn stash for this one that I honestly can’t recall where I got it. The pattern was a joy to knit! I finished this just before my birthday, so naturally, my tiara was at the ready. Is that a Hello Kitty Cupcake shaped lunch box? Why yes…yes it is! Jelly?

Here I am modeling it over my Hello Kitty pajamas.

Isabell Kraemer designs some of the most knittable patterns. Have you tried any?

Finally, the Felix Cardigan by Amy Christoffers.

If you know me, you know I love the Felix patterns. I knit two pullovers that get plenty of wear between me and my mom (IYKYK!). The cardigan was equally enjoyable. The photo doesn’t do the yarn justice. It is a soft wool in a deep purple with neutral colored flecks. I found beautiful wood buttons on Etsy. Look at them! If you haven’t knit a Felix, what are you waiting for??? Consider this your official invitation. You’ll thank me later.

Public Service Announcement: Paying for Air?

I interrupt this post to bring you a Public Service Announcement. The local Mobil gas station is now accepting all forms of payment for…AIR. That’s right, folks! You can charge 3 solid minutes of air to your credit, debit, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.

I get it. I really do. I have to deliberately put quarters into my pocket when I leave the house for the gas station and admittedly, most people have Apple or Google Pay on their smart device, But at the end of the day, we are paying for air. I don’t know…am I nuts? I guess I can use the quarters for other things.

Here is the latest from the dog pound.

I’m guessing this is about as much of me as you can bear, so here is the latest from the pups. Shunning both her crate and the recliner, my girl Melody has taken to sleeping on—gasp—my pillow!

Sending you love and wishing you well in your day!

xoxo

ReginaMary

In my ears: Smoke On the Water by Deep Purple (to match the color of the Felix Cardigan!)

In my cup: A glass of Villa Pillo, a yummy Tuscan wine that costs about $14.00 at our local wine store The Bottle Shop in Rhinebeck. If you are in town, check them out! Just don’t buy all of the Italian reds, please?

The zinnias in the photo are from my garden. Happiest flowers on the planet. The golden retriever wine stopper was a gift from a friend. Sadly, it doesn’t get a lot of use…I rarely have left over wine. HEY-OH!!

Saint of the Day: St. Monica. Saint Monica was an early Christian saint born in North Africa in 331 AD. She spent decades praying and weeping for the conversion of her pagan husband and her rebellious son, Augustine. Her immense patience and faith finally paid off when both her husband and Augustine converted to Christianity before she died. Please read more of this remarkable woman here: St. Monica. I have a deep love for St. Monica and was so fortunate to be able to visit her tomb on my honeymoon. Walking into the room in the Basilica of St. Augustine was a very moving experience for me. I felt like St. Monica was there waiting for me to sit down and tell her about my boys.

If you are here for the knitting, thank you so much for stopping by. Below is a little chitter chatter about my friend Monica.

Know that I appreciate you taking the time to read my posts. I love our exchanges and you lift me up with your comments.

With love,

Regina

Friends in High Places:

For as long as I can remember, I have been captivated by the lives of the saints. Their endurance and faith in times of trial inspires me. Their stories of great love and sacrifice convict me. I spend time with them in prayer daily and over the years, came to consider them friends. This is the case with St. Monica.

St. Monica has been a friend to me for over 30 years. She has walked with me through all the ups and downs of motherhood. I have learned much from this woman and you might think that after 3 decades of her guidance, there is nothing left for her to teach me.

She taught me that it is not enough to pray for my children. Looking outwardly at a situation was only factoring in half of the equation. Yes, asking God to move in people’s heart is what we are called to do, but doing so without complete and total faith in his ability to do so leaves the equation unbalanced.

I remember as a child, my daddy always reminded me to pray for myself. At the time, I didn’t understand what he meant.

I thought:

But change has to begin with us first. St. Monica helped change my disposition in prayer. Praying from a place of absolute confidence in God’s divine providence allows us to live a joy-filled life. She echoes the wisdom of so many who came after her:

St. Francis de Sales preached on “Holy Abandonment.”

St. Padre Pio famously advised, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry!”

Saint Faustina taught us to pray, “Jesus, I trust in You.”

Saint Joseph, the quiet guardian of the Holy Family, faced sudden dangers and extreme uncertainty with silent strength and complete obedience.

Spend some time in conversation with your favorite saint today. If you don’t have one, maybe start with your namesake? Here is a great resource where you can search for saints by name, or by patronage: Saints & Angels

God can transform the driest of bones (Ezekiel 37), imagine what he can do with us? The saints and our Guardian Angels are here to walk this journey with us, ready to share their faith, their struggles and their triumphs with us. Take five minutes today and talk with your favorite saints. Ask them to bring your cares to the Lord. Have coffee together and call them “friend”.

St. Monica, pray for us!

Two sixth grade girls came to the office to turn in a lost lock. Naturally, I showered them with all the love and fuss that a school secretary can muster. “Thanks girls, you’re the BEST!” To which they replied “No, YOU are! You’re iconic!” ICONIC! Do you know who is iconic to a middle school girl? Taylor Swift (and I have it on good authority that these girls are hard and fast Swifties). Well, if TS can have Swifties, then it’s only fitting that Mrs. Messa have “Messies”. I am taking pre-orders for t-shirts!! Tour to follow!

It is Friday afternoon. We just started our Spring Break. If I could bottle the energy the kids have on a day like today, I would make millions selling it. If you ever wonder where they get their energy, look around the halls of their schools…they suck it out of the teachers and staff!!

The Knits

I’ve been making a lot of gift knits lately. The thing about gift knits is that you give them freely in the hopes that the receiver loves them as much as you do. But they may not. And that’s ok! But doesn’t it feel so good to see your hand knits being worn and loved?

My latest knit is another gift for the new grand niece. After knitting the Kayleena by Taiga Hillard, I knew I would find a pattern in her extensive collection. I landed on the Edna Rose. This is a little bolero type sweater in “just right” sizes. The new baby has a two year old sister and I had enough yarn to make a little/big sister set. Here is the “little”one.

Somebody stop me!

See that sweet postcard? That was included in my button purchase from Pigeon Wishes on Etsy. The postcard came with a personal note and a garment tag to add to my knit. I know people push for shopping local, but I get far better service and attention to detail from my favorite vendors on Etsy than I do locally. Raise your hand if you have ever walked into a LYS and gotten the cold shoulder.

I have another pair of socks on the needles. The stitch pattern is based on Hermione’s Everyday Sock by Erica Lueder. I am modifying the pattern to knit toe-up and two-at-a-time.

These are knit with Rowan Sock yarn in the Coral colorway. This is a single ply yarn that is soft and pleasant to knit with. I started with the Turkish cast-on and for the heel, I want to try something a little different. I have been reading about the Simultaneous Heel Flap and Gusset technique on The Kninja Knitter blog and it seems to provide toe-up sock knitters with a way to knit a sock with a heel flap and gusset. Be still my beating heart! Stay tuned for the reveal.

Carver!

Our boy is becoming such a sweet little snuggler. I think he is losing his “puppy look” although my son assures me he will always be the little puppy.

Look at him, all grown up!

The Colleagues

You know from my posts about Halloween and cheese in a can just how much I love my colleagues. In many ways we are all cut from the same cloth.

I’m not like this because I work in a middle school.

I work in a middle school because I’m like this.
~Some wise school secretary

A colleague asked if I had hot sauce for her lunch. I opened my desk drawer and produced 4 different bottle of sauce in various flavors and intensities. You’re welcome…

A few days later, she appeared with this:

I love my job!

I am having difficulty deciding which ones to keep in the desk and which ones to take home.

The Poem

Recently, another blogger, Nanacathydotcom, wrote about Spring. She wondered if any readers had a favorite poem about the “renewal of the seasons.” My reply? Spring, by Walt Whitman.

Spring (first stanza)

To frozen clods ever the spring’s invisible law returns,
In the soft rose and pale gold of the declining light,
I heard the first hum and preparation of awakening spring—very faint,
Whether in the earth or roots, or starting of insects, I know not—but it was audible,
Then the first chirping, almost singing, of a bird,
And the grass not without proofs of coming fulness—
Palpable spring indeed, or the indications of it.
Walt Whitman

This poem is long; a full 18 stanzas. If this speaks to your heart like it does to mine, you can enjoy the full writing here: In the Words of Walt Whitman. Spring has always held such a feeling of hope for me. I recall walking in the yard and the woods behind my childhood home looking at all the newly sprouted buds and nesting birds. Daddy would leave scraps of old rags out and about for the birds and I would delight in finding a nest with one of those scraps woven in amongst the twigs. To this day, I toss yarn scraps around for the birds to claim. They seem to love the colors as much as I do! It is such a special time of year.

As we enter into Holy Week, I wish everyone a beautiful, restorative and hope filled Spring!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

ReginaMary

In my cup:

A shot of Makers Mark bourbon. (Did I mention I work in a middle school and it was the last day before Spring Break?) At least I waited until I got home.

In my ears: Nothing. Silence. (Did I mention I work in a middle school and it was the last day before Spring Break?)

Saint of the Day: Saint Darerca of Ireland was a sister of Saint Patrick. Aside from her relationship with the well known Irish Patron Saint, Saint Darerca was known for her piety and her many offspring (14 sons and 2 daughters). Many of her children went on the become bishops and later saints. She is the Patroness of Valentia Island, located off the west coast of Ireland.

Category: Carver’s Corner

Girl, Where You Been?

Public Service Announcement: Paying for Air?

Here is the latest from the dog pound.

Spring Break!

The Knits

Carver!

The Colleagues

The Poem

Spring (first stanza)

Public Service Announcement: Paying for Air?

Here is the latest from the dog pound.

This is too good not to share!

The Knits

Carver!

The Colleagues

The Poem

Spring (first stanza)

This is too good not to share!