Girl, Where You Been?

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!

March 22, 2024March 23, 2024

Spring Break!

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.

March 5, 2024

Say Cheese!

I intend to welcome Daylight Savings Time with the maturity and unwavering grace you have come to expect from me.

Also me:

And a happy March to all!

I have always required at least 8 hours of sleep. My mother would tell stories of me as a child, able to sleep through everything. I am a sleeper to this day. While I don’t appreciate losing an hour in March, I tell myself the promise of spring is worth the sacrifice. I had plans for that hour, friends.

On to the knits.

Another pair of socks are off the needles. Knit with Opal 8-ply sock yarn in the “Lieblicher Sonnenstrahl” colorway (this translates to “Lovely Ray of Sunshine”). These began as another pair of Helgen Socks, so I named them after Spyro the Purple Dragon. As I worked the pattern, I was not in love with how the pattern and the stripes looked together, so I frogged and cast on for a plain vanilla sock. So glad I did. I knit these cuff down on 3.25mm/US 3 double-pointed needles. These socks were a quick knit, and the resulting pair is soft and squishy. They also happen to be in Rhinebeck school colors. Go Hawks!

As knitters, I think we can all agree that knitting for the littles is one of the greatest pleasures. The projects are adorable and they work up in no time. Our niece recently gave birth to a baby girl. She came early and the minute we got word of her arrival, I threw myself down the rabbit hole of wonderful patterns by Taiga Hilliard aka Cashmere Junkie. The most difficult part of the process was finding just the right pattern. They are all so stinking cute! I finally decided on Kayleena, a sweet little dress with a lace yoke, empire waist and full skirt.

I chose Cotton Fine by Brown Sheep Co. in the Faded Hydrangea colorway from stash. This is an 80% Cotton, 20% Merino fingering weight yarn that I held double. I obtained gauge using 3.25mm needles.

Almost as fun as knitting the sweater is shopping for the buttons. These little cuties are made by Pigeon Wishes on Etsy in the Neverland color.

This dress can be worn year round and hopefully for many years, first as a dress, then as a tunic. Does it surprise you that I have cast on for the next outfit already?

My husband is convinced that working with middle school students keeps me young. His fear is that retirement will have a ‘Dorian Gray’ affect on me. I’m not worried. I think middle school is a good fit for me and my “tweenager” sense of humor. This week, the program I use for writing our school newsletter added a feature that enables me to write in cheese. Not just any cheese, mind you…cheese from a can!

From cheese to pickles!

My dear husband pondered what would happen if my name was Pickles and there was a ‘Regina‘ font. And that right there is why we are meant for each other.

So, what would you be doing for an hour if it weren’t for that confounded Daylight Savings Time? I’d most likely be sleeping.

Be well, and thank you for stopping by!

Love,

ReginaMary

Saint of the Day: St. Piran. Piran was a hermit near Padstow in Cornwall. He is the patron saint of tin mines, and Cornwall. Not much information is available about this saint, but I was taken by this stained glass.

In my cup: Harney & Sons Staatsburgh Blend Tea. According to the tin, Staatsburgh State Historic Site was the Gilded Age estate of Ogden & Ruth Livingston Mills, located directly on the Hudson River (and down the road from the Cosmicknitter!) It is a black tea with apricot, red cornflowers, hazelnut and nutmeg. Delish!

In my earballs: My husband has been thoroughly enjoying Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Jazz. Johnny Costa was the musical director of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” When we are not listening to the music, my hunny is playing it on the piano. It’s such a good feeling…

February 20, 2024February 20, 2024

Apotheosis

Some of the best dreams I’ve ever had are the ones in which I am flying. Not in a plane, rather soaring like a bird in the air. I had a recurring dream as a child that began at my front door. I would run toward our hill and before I knew it, I was airborne. It was magical. I could see the tops of houses in my neighborhood and familiar roads that took me into town. It wasn’t a dream filled with unfamiliar sights, it was my neighborhood, my town and my home. At some point I learned I could control my dream. I recall a time where in my dream I suddenly began losing altitude. I thought “I’m falling!” as I frantically flapped my arms. I felt like Peter feebly attempting to walk on water toward Jesus. Then I started telling myself “I can fly, I can fly!” and just like that, I took off into the air once more. On more than one occasion I woke up in tears because I didn’t want the dream to end.

In my last post, I reference the video game Journey. It is a breath-taking game where the main character’s ability for flight features prominently in the game play. Oh how I longed to play! No long after I wrote that post, my son found the game as a download from the PlayStation Store, and I booted up. This game was everything I imagined and more. The music and scenery were evocative and beautiful. With each level, I became familiar with the landscapes and more comfortable with my character’s ability to fly (thanks to the scarf). As I moved closer to the end, the energy and intensity increased until the final level, Apotheosis, which culminated in a powerful and exhilarating ascent to the top of a magnificent mountain. The game ended. The credits rolled. I cried. It was that same feeling of freedom and awe I felt as a little girl who dreamed she could fly.

Now, on to the knits.

I completed the Wild Posy by Melody Hoffmann. This was a thoroughly enjoyable knit, but it was not without its drama. I was cruising along on the first sleeve when I thought I would try it on for length. I could barely get my arm in! Nothing in the pattern seemed off and I still don’t know what the problem was, but I needed to do some serious tinking. Except, of course, that this is Plotulopi…the “moody child” of the knitting world. There is no ripping or tinking back, only cutting. I cut the sleeve off, people!! You heard me. I collected my supplies: sharp scissors, strong bourbon and a deep breath. I cut about 1″ from where I picked up for the sleeves and went to town. And it worked! I had one row of stitches to wrestle with, inserted my needles and went back at it. This time, I didn’t decrease the full number of stitches and was sure to check the fit as I went. This sweater is warm and lightweight. The yoke is subtle but elegant.

Next off the needles was Declan, a sweet little knit for a sweet little boy.

The pattern is #214 Baby Pullover by Diane Soucy Knitting Pure and Simple. A joy to make, this knit up in a week using Blue Sky Fibers Sweater Worsted. A blend of merino and cotton, this is my favorite yarn when it comes to knitting for ‘The Littles’.

Here’s another “Little Knit”!

“Lil Will” , modeled by Lil Will himself is #37 Top Down Roll Raglan by Melinda Goodfellow of Yankee Knitter Designs. The yarn is a Yowza skein from Miss Babs in the Petrified Forest colorway. Have you ever knit with a Yowza? There is a whopping 560 yds in each skein! Say it with me…YOWZA! That’s a lotta yarn. Another great choice for easy-to-care-for hand knits, Yowza is a hand dyed superwash merino with enough yardage to knit a sweater for 6 mos to 2 yr. You might know Miss Babs from the insane line at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival. Here’s a pro tip. While you stand in line for your yarn, send someone out for the cider donuts.

Taking my cue from a fellow blogger, I cast on for a JuJu Beanie by Aspen Leaf Knits. What a fun and satisfying knit! This knit up in a day. What makes a better beanie? Matching mittens, of course!

I went deep diving into stash for this wool. Techno, by Blue Sky Fibers, is considered a blown fiber. It unique construction consists of baby alpaca blown into a mesh tube of silk. It looks like single ply but without the spitting. Imagine whole lotta soft, spun into a tube, filled with fluff, then wrapped in a cloud. It’s like that; bulky but light, soft and cozy warm. The hat and mittens were knit with two strands held together. Notice the pom-pom? I am getting wise in my old age. This in no way resembles a tennis ball, therefore the little terrorist leaves it alone. Good Carver! I am not sure why the ribbing looks so wonky. Good thing I’ll be tucking that in my coat.

Not that long ago, I knit a Felix Pullover by Amy Christoffers aka Savory Knitting. I loved the pattern and the beautiful blue Donegal Tweed yarn. The sweater mysteriously found its way to my mother’s closet, but I longed for one of my own. I chose the same Donegal Tweed yarn in purple. Here is Felix 2.0, or as I have named it “Please Don’t Give This One Away“. (I’m looking at you, Robert!)

The Felix is one of those patterns you don’t mind knitting again and again. No modifications to this sweater, and this one is mine, all mine!

Finally, there has been action on the sock front. I cast on for these over a year ago. I had completed one sock and was working on the second when tragedy struck:

Carver found the ball of yarn for sock number two and chewed the top right off. So many things went into time out that night. The socks, my dog, and eventually me. Oh, I finally found a replacement skein from half-way around the globe, but by the time I had the heart to cast on sock #2 it was the fall.

These are Helgen Socks by Anna Lena aka Anna Knitter. They are knit with Opal 6 ply making them a warm, thick and slouchy pair of socks for wearing inside boots or around the house. What makes them so special is that I blocked them in a bucket of my tears.

I hope you all are well. That little groundhog better have his facts straight. I feel the sun getting stronger and warmer every day.

Thank you for stopping by my crazy corner of the world. Until next time, be well.

Love,

ReginaMary

Saint of the Day: St. Jacinta Marto, youngest visionary of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. Her Patronage is broad:

• against bodily ills or sickness
• captives, prisoners
• people ridiculed for their piety
• sick people

I would like us to offer up a silent prayer to the victims of sex-trafficking. May God help them and have mercy on their tormentors. (don’t mean to be a downer, but seriously.)

In my cup:

Harney & Sons Formosa Oolong. Anything that can get away with “oo” is OOK in my book. Great brew!

In my ears:

Almost Blue from a live performance by Chet Baker. I was reading Kate Davies blog post from Sunday where she shared a playlist of songs about “Blue”. When she solicited other songs about ‘blue’ this is what I shared.

Here is the original Almost Blue by the inimitable Elvis Costello, featuring Chet Baker.

I can’t even…

January 18, 2024January 18, 2024

The Traveler

In the video game Journey, you set out on a trek to a mountain in the distance as an unnamed little character known simply as the Traveler. In this game, scarves feature prominently. As the main character advances, his scarf grows in length allowing for increased flight. It is a beautiful feature of the game. This is a game that successfully argues the “video games as art” debate. The soundtrack is performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. I wish I had this one on my shelf.

A few years back, I wrote about my adventures on the Long Island Yarn Crawl. It was a 3 part post because I visited so many great shops. In the last and final post, I spoke about The Knitting Garden in Huntington and the amazing door prize I won. For a trip down memory lane, click here.

Fast forward…

The kit included in the gift was for Quench by Lisa Richardson. This is a light-as-a-feather scarf knit with Rowan Cashmere Haze, a yarn spun from alpaca, cashmere and silk. Ermagerd! Remember the TV show “I Dream of Jeannie”? I imagine the inside of her bottle decorated with pillows and throws made with this stuff. It is divine!

The scarf is knit with two strands held together, creating very subtle color blocks. The finished scarf is 85″. This crazy length combined with the airy nature of the fabric lends itself to much wrapping around the neck. As an aside, once you start wearing this scarf, it curls in on itself a lot! It looks like one long narrow tube. I would definitely knit a wider selvedge if I were to make it again.

Carver footnote: We have moved beyond the yarn eating phase.

Another project off the needles is the Constellate Hat by Hunter Hammersen. Her patterns are clever and visually appealing, but this was not one of my favorite knits. I really did not enjoy working on this as much as I had hoped and it has nothing to do with the pattern. Maybe it was the choice of yarn? The hat is warm and the squish factor is high, but making the elongated stitches proved a bit tedious.

This hat was knit with Fully Spun 3 ply Sport, a deep jewel-toned marled yarn in the colorway Orion, and Cloudborn Fibers Alpaca in Rose Heather for the accent. Unfortunately, I do not have enough left over for a second pom-pom.

School was closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., and a snow storm was heading our way. That’s the perfect time to get in the kitchen. I took the opportunity to teach my son how to fabricate chicken wings and make a quick stock from the discarded tips. It is a good skill for a twenty-something fella to possess. He is good company in the kitchen and the end results were delish!

I hope everyone had happy holidays and a smooth transition into the new year!

Love to all!

Regina

Saint of the Day: St. Charles of Sezze. This is a new-to-me saint, but I fell in love with him immediately. St. Charles worked as a shepherd as a child. He joined the Franciscan order as a lay brother. His ability to read or write was limited so he served the order as a cook, porter and gardener. I read where he was described as “an accident waiting to happen”, starting a huge kitchen fire while cooking onions! What’s not to love about this man! There’s a little ReginaMary in this fella! St. Charles’ desire to be poor and to serve the poor made him a blessing to many. I could not find his patronage mentioned anywhere in my readings. Rest assured I will remember St. Charles the next time I forget the rolls under the broiler!

In My Cup: More of that yummy Barry’s Tea in this adorable travel mug. woof!

In My Earballs: Journey (Original Video Game Soundtrack)

December 19, 2023December 19, 2023

That One Rogue Flower

If you have been with me a while, you know that I name my Ravelry projects after video games. There are exceptions to that from time to time. Today’s post talks about one of those exceptions.

Battenfeld Farm is nursery here in Rhinebeck that grows the beautiful Anemone (a-nem-o-nee) for both wholesale and retail sale. You can pop into the work room and throw money into a cigar box and walk away with a beautiful bouquet. As I was putting my flowers in a vase, I noticed one rogue flower in the mix. A Ranunculus! And, speaking of the Ranunculus…

The Ranunculus is a pattern by Midori Hirose. It is well written and fun to knit. She provides video tutorials for most sections and there are plenty of knitters on YouTube who have done the same. I elected for the short-sleeved version and made mine a tad longer than the pattern states. This sweater is so comfortable and light-weight, and the color is stunning. A winner in my book. Please read the pattern through before knitting this and take advantage of those tutorials if you get stuck. It is so worth the effort. Carver agrees.

Oh how I loved this project. I purchased the yarn at Infinite Yarns in Farmingdale, Long Island; a friendly place with an abundance of yarn! I went with an open mind, not really knowing what yarn I wanted to work with. Then I saw it. The wall of Noro! ::she swoons:: Noro is a yarn that is lovely in photos, but in person will knock your socks off. The beauty of the Silk Garden yarn is that strand of silk that gives the yarn a subtle and distinctive sheen. The depth and variation of color makes this brand very special and I have yet to see images that do justice to its complexity . It is a woolen spun and slubby yarn that is dyed in colors that your eyes never tire of and the slight presence of lanolin make it easy on the hands. Give it a try.

Carver is getting better around my knits and it’s a good thing; there was a time when he could not be in the same room with any yarn. Look at that good boy!

Today’s Saint: Pope St. Anastasius I. Full disclosure. I picked this saint because out of all the saints whose feast is today, he was the only one that didn’t die a gruesome martyr’s death. I spared you the gories and you are most welcome. Anastasius was only Pope for 2 years, but he was a staunch defender of the faith. He is the one who instructed priests to stand and bow their head as they read from the Gospels. Don’t confuse this fellow with the other Anastasius who, you guessed it, died a gruesome martyr’s death.

In my cup: A delish cuppa white tea in this beautiful mug-both a gift from a friend.

In my ears: Absolutely nothing. I am typing this at 5:15am. The house is dark and quiet. The fire is starting to catch. All is right with the world.

I hope all is right in your world as we get closer to the arrival of Baby Jesus!

Love,

ReginaMary

December 8, 2023February 3, 2024

It’s the Law

I was chosen to report for jury selection on the first day of school. Clearly not idea for the school secretary. They rescheduled me and I gladly reported for duty. In the end, I was not selected, but it was a day of sitting and knitting. I was very productive.

This is the Bohdi Leaf Washcloth by Julia Farwell-Clay. It was featured in the MDK Field Guide No. 7 – Ease. You can see my Ravelry notes here. It is a terrific project for using up small amounts of cotton. It is interesting to see how the same pattern and same needles produce three different sized cloths using different brands of worsted weight yarn. These cloths will go into a gift basket for work, along with some lovely soaps.

My husband challenged me to wear this shirt to jury duty.

I did not.

Saint of the Day: Our Lady of Guadalupe. What can I say? A beautiful encounter with the Blessed Mother. ”Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego as one of his people is a powerful reminder that Mary—and the God who sent her—accept all peoples.”

In my cup: More of that yummy Irish tea.

In my ears: Fruity Knitting. A classic knitting podcast. I am listening to the episode where Andrea and Madeleine interview the mother/daughter team behind Knitting for Olive. Check it out…their knits are beautiful and classic.

December 5, 2023

She’s Come Undone

It feels like I am coming out of a blogging hibernation. It was a long period of very little knitting and no writing. I am delighted to be back in the company of all you wonderful bloggers and readers!

As I get back into it, I would like to share my latest project: The Wild Posy, by Melodie Hoffmann. Many things make this sweater special so I will start at the beginning with the yarn.

The sweater was designed with Plötulopi, an unspun Icelandic wool. If you have ever worked with Lopi, this will feel familiar. It is a lovely, toothy wool. But it is unspun. UNSPUN, people! The yarn breaks if you look at it crossly. The yarn was given to me by my bestie who tried her darndest to like it, but soon learned it was best to part ways. As I swatched for this sweater, the yarn broke on the regular. It seems the yarn and I were coming undone. I so wanted this to work; I really loved this pattern. Not to be deterred, I decided to carry a strand of Baby Alpaca Fingering by Ice Yarns. The name is deceptive; this is really not a fingering weight. I would describe it as more of a fine lace weight yarn.

The cast:

The strand of Alpaca did the trick and knitting commenced.

In spite of its tendency to break, this yarn has some wonderful qualities. When it does break, just grab the two ends, rub between your palms and it THAT’S IT! No spit needed. (how often does a gal get to say that?)

You can see the textured yoke in the bottom photo. This is achieved by knitting stitches out of turn, much like cables. There is no need to use a cable needle, however, the stitches hang out and wait for their turn to be picked up due to the nature of the grippy wool. Finally, this has to be one of the lightest weight sweaters I have ever knit. Now that I am knitting the body, the sweater should be done in no time. Maybe in time for Christmas.

Another project recently off the needles is the Snowglobe Hat by Tin Can Knits. Knit with a strand of The Knitting Goddess BFL and that versatile Baby Alpaca mentioned above, this hat was a fun and fast knit. The pattern was easy enough to memorize. If you decide to knit one for yourself, read the pattern through before casting on. The designers create the crown decreases in pattern. It is that attention to detail that makes this a keeper. This hat is a gift for my beautiful sister!

School Shenanigans!

Nothing makes the work day fly by quite like shenanigans.

See if you can guess the references.

This has been sitting in the office since early September, waiting to be installed.

Two by Two Zoo came to the school as part of our Madagascar Day activities. I got kissed by this little joey. I thought we bonded, but apparently he detected the smell of cheese on my breath. I knew someday someone would find that attractive!

Let’s wrap it up, shall we?

Saint of the Day: St. John the Wonder-Worker. St. John the Wonder-Worker died on this day in the year 750. John was a fierce defender of sacred images. This position placed him in considerable danger. But fear not! This saint performed so many miracles that the ruler, Emperor Leo V was afraid to prosecute him. I am personally grateful for this man. Sacred images and icons deeply enrich my time in prayer and meditation.

What’s in my cup: This hot deliciousness:

It’s Ireland’s finest after all…Curious if my friends across the pond drink this.

In my earballs: Pardon my Stash, knitting podcast. This bunch hail from Connecticut and spend a little time talking about knitting and a lot of time laughing. They are geeks so I love them!

Be well and take care!

Love,

ReginaMary

January 10, 2022November 30, 2023

On God and Fruitcake

Do you think God has an opinion on fruitcake? I started thinking about this on my walk today. To be accurate I started thinking about Genesis 4.

Genesis

Cain and Abel

Pleasing God

First fruits

Old fruit

Fruitcake

Does God like fruitcake? It’s a perfectly normal question.

For decades I have heard the story of Cain and Abel but never understood why God was so unhappy with Cain. I am listening to the Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike for the second year (yes, it’s that good) and it was his explanation of Genesis 4 that finally made things click. Abel gave God his first fruits while Cain sort of gave God his sloppy seconds. The re-gifted fruitcake. No parent would stop loving their child over a fruitcake, but it would be a sad encounter for sure! And that led me to think about my daily offerings. What part of my day do I give to God? Most days it is the very first thing I do each day. I say most days. And this is ultimately the icing on the fruitcake. This is what I took away from that chapter in Genesis and the revelation on that walk. God deserves my best, but at the very least, my first.

Now, on to the knitting!

I had the joy of doing another test knit for Melinda of Yankee Knitter Designs. The Color Block Mitten is a flexible and modifiable pattern in a variety of sizes. The first set I knit according to the pattern. Size Large, I used Malabrigo Chunky – Dusty for the main color with Tutto Santa Fe Fine Merino DK – Black Gorge as the contrast. I loved the pattern and the outcome. The mittens were true to size but since I wear size Medium, I tossed them in the wash for a spell and they felted beautifully! The fabric is dense and soft. These mittens keep my paws warm on the coldest days.

This is a great pattern because it is written for circular knitting using magic loop, or dpns and a version knit flat on straight needles. For my next pair, I used the same yarn, but rather than a color block design, I knit with both yarns held together. I also knit them flat using two 6″ dpns. Aren’t they cute? You can have a lot of fun with this pattern and the potential for modifications is endless. Oh, I forgot to mention, these knit up in a day!

**Two yarns held together make for warm and cozy mittens**

Our Holidays were quiet and peaceful; just the way I like them. The break from school always comes at a good time. Razz was hoping one of these gifts was for him.

I am making progress on Shawlography with only one set of clues to go. I know, better late than never.

Take a gander at this beautiful necklace. It was a gift from a very thoughtful server at our favorite restaurant. We bonded one evening over insects. These are the wings from a Brood X Cicada. Have you ever???

We had our first snow day last Friday. There is something really fun about having a snow day on a Friday and this school secretary secretly did a happy fanny dance. OK, so maybe not so secretly.

That’s all I have for the first post of the year. No resolutions, no ‘word of the year’, just a whole lot ‘o nuthin!

Saint of the Day: Saint Gregory of Nyssa. St. Gregory the Bishop of Nyssa. He was a very smart fella who fought the Arian Heresy (a really big deal). He is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers.

“Peace is defined as harmony among those who are divided. When, therefore, we end the civil war within our nature and cultivate peace within ourselves, we become at peace.”
––St. Gregory of Nyssa

September 16, 2021April 2, 2024

I See What You Did There

About the eyeballs.

When you work at a middle school and you’re friends with the art teacher, googly eyes are bound to appear.

It appears I took the summer off from writing. It wasn’t intentional, I assure you, but during the summer months, I love spending as much of my free time outside as I possibly can. I love the heat and humidity and enjoy working in the yard until the sweat drips off the tip of my nose.

We took a trip up to Autumn Lake again and it was wonderful. I made many new friends. There were two beavers, a barred owl and blue heron on the lake. It was fun watching the activity on and around the water. It was an encounter with a playful Loon that was the highlight. I found myself playing hide-and-seek with this guy:

Razz enjoyed his time at the lake as well. He made himself right at home in my suitcase.

The yard is shaping up and I enjoyed hours and hours of playing in the dirt and hauling stone. We added a number of plants which attract pollinators. Here are a few images:

**St. John’s Wort is a bumble bee’s paradise**

I managed a bit of knitting this summer. I tried knitting socks from the toe up using the Turkish cast-on and absolutely loved it! Using Lolodidit Plush Sock in the Auburn Tiger colorway, this pair of vanilla socks fit my son perfectly. I did a German short row heel which turned out fine, but I am not in love with it. If you knit your socks toe up, what is your favorite heel?

I also finished the Felix Pullover by Amy Christoffers. I loved everything about this project. My project notes can be found here. The yarn is Donegal Tweed by Tahki in Blue. This sweater was gifted to my mama for her 94th birthday. I hope to get a photo of her modeling it, but here are some photos of it blocking. This is a straightforward top-down raglan design with lace detail at the increases. Look at all the pretty, tweedy bits.

The only modification I made to the pattern is on the cuff. Rather than finishing with the same 1×1 rib as the hem, I finished with an I-cord bind off. I like the nice, neat finish it provides. I don’t like cuffs that get out of shape. I plan on making a Felix for myself. I might even choose the same yarn, too. Yes, that is how much I liked this project.

Do you remember the Perth yarn I attempted socks with on three separate occasions? I finally found a project that suited the wool nicely. The Sockhead Cowl by Kelly McClure is a classic. Her other pattern, Sockhead Hat is equally popular. I found the Perth yarn to be a bit fussy, so the simplicity of the Sockhead created a nice balance. I love the results. I have another ball of Perth in my stash, and rather than pull my hair out again, I just might cast on another Sockhead. Aren’t the colors pretty?

How many of you are planning on taking part in Stephen West’s next MKAL? I am the world’s worst when it comes to knitting timelines. Nonetheless, my friend Katherine suggested it and well…anything that I do with her is a hoot! The pattern calls for 5 skeins of fingering weight yarn in 5 different colors. Here are mine:

From top to bottom: Miss Babs-Babette “Thankful”, Suburban Stitcher-Silky Single “Sage”, Emma’s Yarn-Hella Hank “Mood”, Shirsty Cat Designs-Sock “Druid’s Rest” and Jill Draper Makes Stuff-Windham (unknown colorway).

Even though I am not a huge fan of the designer, I absolutely LOVE these yarns, so I feel good about the project. This is really busting down my fingering weight yarn stash.

The final item on the needles is a pair of socks. Deep stash merino and bamboo sock yarn purchased years ago at a craft chain. Another toe-up pair, but I have not decided on the heel to use.

Suggestions, anyone?

In non-knitting related news, school is open and all the kids are back! I am waiting for someone to figure out how to bottle up all that middle school energy and sell it to old goats like me. According to my fitbit, on the first day of school, I walked over 18,000 steps and 7.5 miles by the end of the school day.

For my first post in months, this is not very exciting. I have been keeping very low key and off line in an effort to maintain my sanity. I don’t have much to work with so I have to guard every bit! I am way behind on reading my favorite blogs as well. I look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to in the knitting/crafting/blogging world.

Thanks for stopping by!

ReginaMary

In my cup: Lavazza Perfetto coffee (molto delizioso)

In my earballs: The birds quarreling at the feeder.

Saint of the Day: September 17: St. Hildegard of Bingen. One of my absolute favorites! St. Hildegard was an abbess, artist, author, composer, mystic, pharmacist, poet, preacher, theologian. She is a Doctor of the Church. She is a rock star. From the time she was a little girl, she began having visions. Hildegard’s visions caused her to see humans as “living sparks” of God’s love, “coming from God as daylight comes from the sun”. Virtuous living reduces the estrangement from God and others that sin causes. Like all mystics, Hildegard saw the harmony of God’s creation and the place of women and men in that.

Being in nature always brings me closer to God and the writings and philosophies of St. Hildegard really speak to these experiences. Feeling stressed out? Put the kettle on, light a candles and let this beautiful music fill your heart. Voices of Angels – Voices of Ascension

“The Word is living, being, spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity. This Word manifests itself in every creature.” —Saint Hildegard of Bingen

Note: the featured image is “Cosmos, Body and Soul” by St. Hildegard

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!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

School Shenanigans!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!

This is too good not to share!