Cosmicknitter

February 26, 2021

I’m Tasty and I Know It. Our National Candy

To all my American friends, I know what you are thinking. “We have a national candy?” Yeah, no, we don’t. But what if we did? Sitting at work the other day, this thought came to mind. I asked my boss and colleague what they thought our national candy should be. Without missing a beat, my office mate searched the web for ‘most popular candy’ The result was a statistic on the most purchased Halloween candy of 2020. Ready for this? Skittles and Starburst. I’ll give you a minute to get back in your chair for, I too laughed so hard I fell out of mine. Then, something came to mind that my chocolate-loving, sweet-toothed husband said to me last October: “When you buy candy for Halloween, get something I don’t like.” And suddenly, it all made sense! What if everyone shopped for Halloween candy like I did? Well, I imagine the most popular candy would be ‘Bit-o-Honey’ or those confounded circus peanuts! After much thought and a lengthy (and lively) discussion, we agreed the Hershey Bar would be America’s choice. If you look it up, the Hershey Bar was touted as ‘The Great American Chocolate Bar.’ Personally, I would vote for the peanut M & M.

My husband makes me laugh! He has a sharp wit and a quick sense of humor. There is one small problem, he is not suitable for prime-time. Whenever he sends me a funny text or email at work, I find myself hootin’ and a-hollerin’ out loud…but alone…because I can’t share it with anyone!! Mr. Naughty.

Speaking of my husband… I finished his blanket!! I named this project Eustace; an explanation is found on my project page. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn Co. Encore Colorspun in color 7653. The only requirements he gave me for this blanket were the colors: Blue (to match his eyes), Brown (to match the chair) and Gold (to match the dog)!! I hope he likes it!

**The pattern is a variation of Summer Sidewalk by** Fifty Four Ten Studio.

How did your scones turn out? did you try the recipe? I promised to share some alternatives to chocolate chip with you. I would have to say one of my favorite varieties is Cranberry Orange scones. Follow the basic recipe, but leave out the egg. In place of chocolate chips and vanilla, add fresh cranberries, a whole heap of fresh orange zest and fresh orange juice. I place the cranberries in the freezer before using. The dough mixes up in the same manner. While I will say that making individual scones is my favorite method over all, these do well patted into a circle, then cut into wedges because pressing the dough into a cup can cause the berries to squirt.

So, this happened:

This is a beautiful glass tea flask that I recently treated myself to. I waited patiently for a few weeks for it to arrive since it was traveling all the way from London. I enjoyed it for less than a week before I knocked it over on the kitchen counter. I am not one to cry over spilled milk, but this really made me sad. I was mad that I let myself purchase something ‘dear’ and even madder that I got so attached to a ‘thing’. It was lovely while it lasted and I would love to have another some day, but for now, this has to go in the trash.

I am a close to having another finished object to show you, but for now it is on the blocking mats. Seems like an eternity since I have completed anything so to have two projects come to an end is such a great feeling.

On a totally unrelated note, my husband watched This is Spinal Tap for the first time ever. As a musically inclined fella with a great sense of humor, this seemed like a match made in heaven. However, there did seem to be more head-shaking than giggling coming from his side of the sofa. I did hear him reference the movie a few days later when he commented on something that “lasted about as long as a Spinal Tap drummer.” My work here is done.

It is time for an afternoon cuppa before I start dinner. We are having broccoli rabe and beans, a Lenten favorite for Fridays.

In my cup: Harney’s Irish Breakfast

In my ears: Stitched In Sweden video podcast

Saint of the Day: Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin. Maria was born in Italy in 1888. She was very fearful of her father who was prone to jealousy and drunkenness. He preferred she work in the fields and help at home rather than go to school, so her education was limited. This often caused her to be ridiculed for not showing many “talents”. After joining the Sisters of St. Dorothy, she received a nurse’s training and began working in a hospital with very ill and emotionally disturbed children. It is here she found her calling. How beautiful is that? I feel sad for those who put her down. There is so much more to a person than schooling. And God shows me everyday that there is a place for each and every one of us in his plan. St. Maria is the patron saint of all those who are suffering from any form of spiritual, mental, or physical abuse. Thank you, St. Maria!!

Thank you for reading! Be well and have peace in your day.

Until next time,

ReginaMary

February 20, 2021

Oh, Those Scones!

Thank you for all the kind comments on my post for Su’s Virtual Tea Party.

I have been asked by many to provide my recipe for the Chocolate Chip Scones, so without further ado…

Scones

2 1/2 cu all-purpose flour

1 T baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

8 T cold unsalted butter, cut up

1/4 – 1/3 cu granulated sugar

2/3 cu milk

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cu semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Baker’s or granulated sugar for topping

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Position oven rack in the middle.

In mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; stir to combine.

Using a pastry blender, add butter, cutting in until the mixture looks like small peas.

Add sugar and toss.

In small bowl, combine milk, egg and vanilla.

Add liquid ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. Quickly fold in chocolate chips.

Place dough in the refrigerator for about 15 mins.

Baking the scones:

Using a 1/4 cu measure, place scones on parchment line cookie sheet. Sprinkle additional sugar on top of each scone and bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Slide parchment to a cooling rack to cool.

That’s all there is to it. However…I am going to share some of my little tips that may help you get stellar results. This is a very flexible formula for scones. Once you get the technique, you can make them your own.

When it comes to flour, I use King Arthur AP. I think it is the best. Use your favorite but try to avoid bleached and bromated flours. When measuring the flour, fluff it in the canister or bag, then spoon into the measuring cup and level off. Scooping directly into the flour can compact it, adding too much to the recipe and making dry scones. ew.

I never use salted butter. Ever. In anything. What I do, however, is let my butter and egg sit out on the counter for at least an hour. I know what you are thinking. “But Regina, your recipe calls for cold butter. Now you tell us you leave yours out? Has my whole life been a lie?”. The answer is yes, yes, and no. Sorta. When the butter is rock hard and just out of the fridge, it is so difficult to cut up that I found myself working at this step too long, creating a tough dough. If I allow the butter to stand a bit, the cutting in takes no time at all. Bada bing bada boom.

Vanilla extract. You can add it, or not. No big deal. If you don’t have any, substitute a liqueur.

On to the chocolate chips. I have made these with Ghirardelli semi-sweet, 60% bittersweet and 72% dark chocolate. They all work.

I use a trigger handled ice cream scoop to shape my scones. But don’t think you have to make individual scones. This dough can be gently patted into a 6″ circle which is cut into 8 wedges. Wiggle the knife as you cut the wedges to allow a bit of space for nice crisp sides. You can also roll out the dough and cut with a 2.5″ cutter. This is my least favorite option because the more you handle the dough, the less tender the crumb.

When you cool the scones, keep them on the parchment, on the rack and cover them with a very thin baking cloth to preserve the delicious crust that the sugar creates on top.

This recipe doubles and triples beautifully. When I make a large batch, I drop a dozen on the cookie sheet and put the sheet in the freezer. Once they are firm, I place them in an air-tight container or zipper bag in the freezer until I am ready to bake them. Just let them sit on the counter for about 15 minutes while the over preheats. You can freeze baked scones just as easily. Allow them to cool completely before freezing. When you are ready to eat them, let them sit out on the counter before placing them in the oven for about 5 minutes. Please do not microwave.

What if you don’t like chocolate? Fear not, I have modifications to suit every taste. Stay tuned.

Buon Appetito!

February 18, 2021January 12, 2022

Everybody Loves a Party!

There is a wonderful tradition amongst some very lovely bloggers. Su (Zimmerbitch) hosts a monthly virtual tea party and EVERYONE is invited. The kettle is on and the knitting is near! The tea is from the very local Harney and Sons in Millerton, NY. This particular tin was included in my F2T box. Do you like the tea set? This was a gifted to me by my boys a few years ago. We are getting a snow storm and the heat is coming on; time to snuggle in.

**Staatsburgh Blend: A local blend of black tea, apricot, red cornflowers, hazelnut, nutmeg and cinnamon. To Die For!**

**Chocolate Chip Scones. I ran out of vanilla extract so I added a little Frangelico Liqueur. I don’t think he minds!**

Stay warm and cozy!

ReginaMary

February 4, 2021February 4, 2021

How Very “Pinterest” of You

When you think of impulse shopping, what comes to mind? Shoes? Handbag? Yarn? Not this gal. Upon stopping for a bottle of wine to have with our Chinese food, I was immediately taken with a bottle of Chianti. You know the one. Round, not tall, with the raffia around the base. Stick a candle in it and – voila! – instant atmosphere. I had to have it. As the clerk rang up my purchase, she commented “how very ‘Pinterest’ of you!” Take a look! Even when picking out wine, I am such a nature girl.

January 27, 2021

The Eagle Has Landed

Well, not exactly. While I am, at times, a space cadet and my blogger name is Cosmicknitter, I am not going to write about the lunar landing.

Some of my favorite things in the whole wide world are birds of prey. Hawks, owls and eagles. When I see a hawk soaring, it stops me in my tracks. I have been known to hear a call from inside the house and run out to see a red-tailed hawk blast forth from a tree. They are wonderful. I have always loved the Bald Eagle best. For most of my life the only time I saw one was in captivity at a local raptor center. The bird was in captivity, not me. Recently, having some time on my hands, I took a drive to the Rhinecliff Landing. This is a little park and boat launch on the Hudson River about two miles from my home. Instantly upon parking, I spied two mature bald eagles soaring over the river-“catching a thermal” as my daddy would say. They were magnificent, breathtaking and beautiful. I opened the sun roof of my car as they passed overhead. I could see their eyes and make out their feathers. I felt so much joy I wanted to cry! Eagles are making a comeback in my area. They used to be more common, but their numbers dwindled. One of the challenges in preserving our eagle population is protecting them from the Amtrak and Metro-North trains that run on the east side of the Hudson and the cargo trains that run on the west. You can read more about the Bald Eagles of the Hudson River here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9382.html Next time you are in New York, pack your binoculars (which every self-respecting knitter has in her project bag…) and prepare to be amazed!

If you follow this link, you can subscribe to Eagle Cams. One lovely couple is nesting on two eggs! Just the other day, I watched as mama fought off an intruder. https://www.youtube.com/c/AmericanEagleFoundation

When my boys were small, and I was a young inexperienced mother, I learned that fair does not mean equal. What if my youngest cried “that’s not fair” when his older brother stayed up later than he did, should I have kept him up later because they needed to be equal because fair=equal? Absolutely not. Even if they were closer in age, one needed much more sleep than the other. Fair does not mean equal.

On that note, here is my soap box. Can we please stop electing public officials who believe that the designation of bathrooms is a burning issue of national importance that has to be addressed in the first week of office? Give me a h*cking break.

Wanna see something pretty?

This is a pottery bowl made for me by a wonderful young lady named Margaret. She knows how much I love dragonflies. I wish the photo were better; the colors are so beautiful and the glaze gives it such a striking finish. Margaret, her work (and cute puppy) can be found on Instagram: @wild_design and Etsy: WildDesignNY

Check her out and give her some love!!

Wanna see something else that’s pretty? My virtual friend Katinka has a beautiful blog, YouTube and Instagram presence that focuses on slow living and sustainability. She has recently been discouraged by the negativity on social media and thought of putting more emphasis on her blog and YouTube accounts. Katinka is a talented creator and her content is calming, and so good for the soul. Please pay her a visit if you are weary, or looking to find a quiet corner of the internet that is free from the ills of society. Let’s support one another in our struggle to find a gentler place to reside. Katinka Ponders

No knitting content today. Still plugging away at my honey’s blanket. I will need to order more yarn, which will allow me time to squeeze in another quickie!!

In my glass: Green smoothy (if I add bourbon is it still good for me?)

In my ears: I Thought I Knew How: A Podcast about Knitting and Life you can also find it on your favorite podcatcher.

Saint of the Day: St. Angela Merici, +1540. My husband told me about her this morning. She is a Third Order Franciscan! St. Angela, at the age of 57 (two years older than I am) organized a group of 12 girls to help her in catechetical work. Four years later the group had increased to 28. She formed them into the Company of Saint Ursula (patroness of medieval universities and venerated as a leader of women) for the purpose of re-Christianizing family life through solid Christian education of future wives and mothers. My husband knew I would love this Saint because he understands how much I value individuals who respect our girls and devote their lives to educating and forming young ladies in body, mind and soul.

:deep sigh:

Thank you for hanging out with me. I hope you are taking time in your day to nurture your bodies, minds and souls, too!

So much love to you all and prayers for peace in your day.

ReginaMary

January 21, 2021January 21, 2021

Life is Beautiful

Some of the best dreams are the ones where I can fly. Not just fly, but SOAR. Little effort is needed for me to rise above everything. I don’t take on a Superman pose, with my arms in front of me rather, my arms are to my side. Every so often I have to move my arms to give me height or speed, but for the most part I am soaring. It is so calming and peaceful. What a wonderful experience. I don’t know if any of you have had similar dreams. If you have, please take a moment to share them with me.

Some of the best foods are the ones that look like crap. There are a few things that I never buy because I don’t know moderation when eating them; liverwurst and German bologna, to name a few. Pickles are another favorite; not just any pickle, but a garlic dill eaten out of the jar. I recently walked into the kitchen to find my son eating pickles out of the jar. I have raised him well.

Making progress on the knitting front. I am down to the last ball of yarn for my husband’s blanket. He should have plenty of winter to enjoy it. Come to think of it, he will enjoy it in the summer if the air conditioning is too chilly for his legs.

I inherited a sweater quantity of yarn from a friend. 16 skeins (about 1500 yds) of Classic Elite Believe, a cotton/rayon. The photo is washed out. The yarn is black. I need a pattern that will be easy to navigate so I won’t have difficulty reading the fabric. I have a few in mind.

Emma’s Caponcho

This begins as a cowl then grows into a cape/poncho thanks to the addition of increases down the sides. Don’t you think it would be nice in a drapey cotton? I am hoping the yarn fades a bit with washing. The plain stockinette would be ideal for embroidery. Thoughts?

Top Down Poncho

As you can see, I am drawn to a cape or poncho for this yarn. I think it would make a great layering piece over jeans or a dress. I would hold the yarn double for this one. Not sure about the buttons. I have visions of them constantly coming undone. Don’t tease me.

I did a bad, bad thing. I clipped Razz’s nails last night. You know where I am going with this, don’t you? I snipped one nail too close to the quick. I KNOW!! My little boy squeaked in pain. He is fine, I am scarred.

For Christmas, I received a gift certificate for Harney & Sons Tea. I had a field day filling my cart. Formosa Oolong, Darjeeling, and Irish Breakfast. All loose tea. While cleaning out the storage closet recently I found a tea pot that my sister passed on to me. I cleaned it up and had fun filling it with my new tea. I learned a lot about this pot. It is heat resistant and can sit directly on the burner. I trust this to be true and have no intention of testing the claim.

In my glass: Peppoli Chianti Classico in a Pittsburgh Steelers glass. Salute!

In my ears: 9-1-1 Calls Podcast with the Operator. OMG! I love this podcast. Don’t worry, they always follow up the 911 calls with a happy ending!

Saint of the Day: St. Agnes. This is one heck of a story. Legend has it that Agnes was a beautiful girl of 12 or 13 yrs whom many young men wanted to marry. Among those she refused, one reported her to the authorities for being a Christian. She was arrested and confined to a house of prostitution. The legend continues that a man who looked upon her lustfully lost his sight and had it restored by her prayer. Agnes was condemned, executed, and buried near Rome in a catacomb that eventually was named after her. The daughter of Constantine built a basilica in her honor. What a horrible experience, but let’s hear it for our girls. Any surprise Agnes is the patron saint of girls and girl scouts?

As always, thank you for stopping by. Don’t be a stranger…drop me a line and tell me how you are!

Have a blessed day and hug a puppy!

I’m going to leave you with the song my husband and I danced to at our wedding.

Keb’ Mo’-Life is Beautiful

This is for Robert.

Love and peace to you all.

ReginaMary

January 11, 2021January 12, 2021

But What About the Puppies?

I have been seriously toying with the idea of deleting my Instagram account long before the latest whoooha. This isn’t the first time. I ditched Facebook and Twitter months ago and I am so glad I did. So what keeps me hanging on to my account? Well, all the yarny deliciousness right at my fingertips. I follow friends and knitters, dyers and designers. I would definitely miss all the inspiration in those posts. If I am going to be completely honest though, I would have to say it’s really all about the puppies. What would I do without the puppies?

This is Kevin. He has an Instagram @agoldennamedkevin. He quivers.

Well it has been a while. I hope everyone had peaceful holidays. I did. They weren’t all that different for us; our celebrations are typically quiet. The US Postal Service extended my husband’s Christmas. I just receive a gift I ordered from early December.

Thanks to weather and some really good football games, I was able to knit a hat. I have some long-term projects on the needles that will take a while to complete, so it was fun to throw in a quickie. (All you fans of the Office, enjoy that one on me!) I knit the Piper Hat by Yankee Knitter Designs in a bulky merino by Le Mouton Vert. My sister purchased the yarn for me while hiking in South America, but it is available online. The Piper is a lovely, cabled hat that is fun to knit, and combined with this yarn, it makes for a warm topper that is super wooly and soft. Melinda Goodfellow is the designer for Yankee Knitter. She has a very sweet Instagram presence-one of the reasons I stay. Please send her some lovin’! When yarn festivals are a thing again, I plan on heading to Connecticut for festivals and an in-person meet & greet. The photos will show you the evolution of my first pom-pom! The first image is what a pom-pom looks like when left to my own devices-Shaggy McShagster. My friend Katherine loaned me a cool little wooden gizmo by Loome and voila! I left the two ends of the pom-pom long and fed them through the top of the hat. Then I threaded them into a button and just tied the ends together. The button keeps the pom-pom in place and I can remove it whenever I want. Can you see it in the photo?

I am making slow and steady progress on my hunny’s blanket. I timed myself. It takes me 17 minutes to knit one row. That is without any interruptions from this guy:

**He loves to go in and out and in and out all day long whenever we have the fancy rain.**

My hand is in the photo for size perspective, not because I aspire to a career in hand modelling.

Yes, that Bill has been up to no good again! Here is his latest farmer’s market purchase:

***Charcoal and grey alpaca for a cowl***

I am knitting a cowl in the style of the Scoreboard Cowl. Since the wool is black and grey, I am loosely following the Las Vegas Raiders 2020 schedule. Not a fan of the team, just a fan of the yarn!

The end of the year brought many wonderful encounters. Some mornings, as I pull into the driveway at school, I encounter a lady walking two beautiful Golden Retrievers. Naturally, I stop in the middle of the road to have a chat! Traffic be d*mned! Just before we went on break, I received a piece of mail in the office addressed to ‘Secretary’. Welp, since that is me, I opened it.

It was a Christmas card from Parker the Goldie! Parker’s human wrote me a nice note on the back, introducing herself. Apparently, we talk so much about our puppers that we failed to share our names. This comes as no surprise to anyone that knows me. I showed everyone the card. I mean EVERYONE! Every kid that came by the office saw it too. There is something so special about this breed. Boop that snoot! Go ahead. I know you want to.

I received an email from a knitter who spied some wool in my stash that she desperately needed for a project. The yarn is no longer available and she asked if I would sell my skein. I really did not want any money for it; it feels so good to rehome yarn to someone in a yarn chicken death battle. Later that week, I received a card and a set of beautiful stitch markers as a ‘thank you’ for the yarn. Knitters are a lovely bunch!

**Sudeshna** **used to have an Etsy shop where she sold her wares. Aren’t they beautiful?** **The best part is that we are now friends on Ravelry.**

I did not make any resolutions for the new year; I typically don’t. I am, however, listening to The Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmidt. I love it and at 20 minutes a day, I learn so much. I also like knowing that I am sharing in an experience with so many people around the world. Very much like the community I find here.

This post has been languishing in my draft folder for waaay to long. I have said it on many occasions, but it bears repeating, all of my blogging friends who keep to a regular schedule have my unwavering admiration!

In my glass: Makers Mark

In my ears: Me. Me crying over what has to be the worst 5 minutes of football I have ever seen. Oh, but wait, there’s more! The next 5 minutes proved to be more than I could bear. Good night, Steelers, it was great while it lasted.

Saint of the Day: St. Alexander of Fermo. Not a lot of information about this saint; he was born in the year 250, became a bishop and was killed for his faith. I will gladly raise my glass to this man.

My son’s name is Alexander. I know tons about him, and he is in the early stages of sainthood. (Aren’t you, sweetheart)

Random Robert wisecrack: “Do you need the light on, hon? Oh wait, I forgot. You are the Cosmicknitter, you can knit by the stars.” He is such a goofball.

Sending love to everyone who stops by this silly little blog. I am enriched by your comments and humbled by your generous hearts. So much hugs.

ReginaMary

December 11, 2020

A Nice Minestrone

This post has no real direction; it’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Just like a nice minestrone.

It has been a busy few weeks for your favorite knitting space cadet (that would be me…). My sweet and plucky 93 yr old mama had some minor surgery so I spent many hours in waiting rooms and in some cases, due to COVID, sitting in my car. Just me and my knitting. I managed to get a few projects done. Let’s take a look, shall we? We shall…we shall.

You may recall from my last post, the basket of Roma tomatoes and skein of yarn I received from Bill, one of my son’s clients. Well I ate all the tomatoes. Raw. With olive oil, black pepper and sea salt. Apparently, they were intended to go into sauce. “No regerts!” I also knit up another Barley Light for Bill with the yarn. I threw in a pair of Appleseed Mitts from yet another skein he gave me; it seemed fitting. I failed to take proper photos before I gave them to him and he assured me he would send me an action shot for my blog and Ravelry page. I was not disappointed. Here is a fella who is ready for the elements.

**I am so glad you like your knits, Bill. You are very knit-worthy.**..

The next thing off my needles was The Seamed Wrap by Purl Soho.

A free pattern from Purl Soho, this was a joy to knit. The pattern calls for an all-over linen stitch with a band of two-color linen stitching along the neck. I did not have the patience for all that, so I began with a large band of linen stitch, knit the body in stockinette with garter stitch selvedges and the two-color linen stitch to finish it off. This is a modular piece that can be worn sideways, front or back hanging. It can also serve as a dog pillow, but that’s another story entirely. {{cough:Razz:cough}} I knit this using Miss Babs Yowza, which knits up into such a soft drapey fabric. I could have made the smaller size since Yowza does tend to stretch. Next time. And there will definitely be a next time.

There was a big event in my house. My husband bought a new chair. Not just any chair, mind you. A recliner. A real dude chair. An electric powered, soft as butter recliner. He is soooo happy!! He has wanted a chair in the bedroom so he can sit and read or pray quietly and comfortably. Feet up, nice lighting, peaceful surroundings. Get the picture? I’m sure you are wondering what this has to do with knitting. Or maybe not. If you are a knitter, you know where this is heading. What comfy chair is complete without a knitted blanket to snuggle under? It was his idea, I swear! The request was for a simple blanket in browns golds and blues; brown to match his chair, gold to match the dog and blue to match his eyes. I jumped at the chance to break the yarn fast, people! My friend recommended Webs since they always have sales, and there I found the perfect yarn. This is a wool/acrylic blend in all the right colors.

He wanted a simple pattern so I cast on for the Summer Sidewalk by Fifty Four Ten Studios. This will be the third time I knit this blanket. I cast on 400 stitches. Last thing I want is a skimpy binky! While this won’t be done in time for Christmas, it will be ready for the cold and dreary months that follow.

On the non-knitting front, my sister is home from Japan for a few weeks. We haven’t seen her in a year. She quarantined so we celebrated Thanksgiving the Saturday after and we had a beautiful day. One of the perks to celebrating late is not having to deal with the insanity at the supermarket.

Look what she brought back for me!

Look closely. there is something very special about this Hello Kitty mug. It features a sleeping Kitty. See her in the right hand photo? This is my first ever sleeping Kitty. Coffee tastes soooo delish in this mug.

On the days when my husband is out of town, I’m always a bit blue. This week, before he left, he gave me flowers. The message on the card reminded me that even though he was leaving, Baby Jesus was coming! He makes me smile.

My chonky boy has lost 17 lbs since September. With less stress on his joints and the cold autumn air, he jogs around the neighborhood little pup!

And in other news…
here are other things that keep me entertained.

I’ve been walking a lot.

It’s no wonder I’m so h*ckin tired.

I also enjoy stalking Golden Retrievers on Instagram

Saint of the Day: December 14^th is the feast of Saint John of the Cross. He is the patron Saint of contemplatives, mystics and Spanish poets. He is one of my favorite saints. I read “Dark Night of the Soul” at a very significant time in my life and the impact was profound. It was as if his writings found me; they spoke to the struggles I was having at the time and helped me navigate very difficult days and very dark nights.

“In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.”
~St. John of the Cross

In my cup: Lagunitas Hop-Hoppy Refresher

I love this stuff. It has no alcohol, no carbs and no calories. It has a crisp and refreshing ‘hoppy’ taste. You can still win a belching contest, but without all the boozey side-effects.

In my ears: The Patriots vs The Rams. It’s Thursday Night Football, baby!! Can I just say how happy I am that the NFL ditched the color rush uniforms.

I appreciate that you stopped by for a visit.

I hope everyone is healthy and well and enjoying all the traditions of the season.

Peace to you all,

ReginaMary

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020

Yes, Sir…That’s my Baby!

I don’t know how it gets to be a month between posts. I admire all of you who write daily or weekly. I really do.

I have two grown boys, aged 27 and 25 years. Who is my real baby? I think you all know.

This guy:

A few weeks ago Razz developed a growth on his lower lip. It grew quickly and it was ugly. His vet said she doesn’t like to play around with things on a dog’s mouth, so off it came! He did great. Surgery was uneventful and he came home without the cone-o-shame. The biopsy showed it was cancer. Good news is that the vet got it all and the skin around the site is healthy. Look at that face. Tragic.

Besides fretting about Razz, what have I been up to? I have had a productive few weeks. I have finished objects, people! You were introduced to some of these projects here: https://cosmicknitter.com/2020/09/22/sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing/

I am very proud of this sweater. It is Savage Heart by Amy Cristoffers. There were obstacles, but not with the pattern. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. This had some ‘new-to-me’ techniques. The sweater is knit in two halves and from side to side. It also has an applied I-cord edge on the bottom which I loved doing! And finally, I learned how to seam reverse stockinette along side seams as well as a bound-off edge. I am very pleased with the results. I am going to wear the HECK outta this one!

Next off the needles was the Larks Alvina by Louisa Harding. I would describe this as a nice palate cleanser! Easy pattern to follow using two balls of Morehouse Farm Merino Lace.

The last project to come off the needles was another Barley Light. I received a surprise delivery a few weeks ago. The doorbell rang and I was greeted by my son who was bearing gifts from his client, Bill, with the message “pretty please?” How could I resist? The tomatoes were supposed to go into sauce, but I ate them whole with a little sea salt and black pepper.

This is a great pattern and the yarn is from Sawkill Farm which is 10 minutes away in Red Hook, NY.

I love a good impulse buy as much as the next gal, so when I saw this fella online, I had to pick up a few for my knitting friends. I love his face. Here are photos of our front stoops. Mine is in the middle. I’m going to call her “Baaabs”.

We are planning a much needed vacation to Orwell, NY.

See that little dock? I love to sit there and say my prayers each morning.

Razz can’t go swimming because of his surgery, but there is no reason why he can’t go canoeing with his mama. These were taken last year. It was his first time in a boat.

Welp, that’s all folks. This post took forever and day to finally make it out of drafts!

Have a blessed day and kiss your favorite furry!

Love,

ReginaMary

In my ears: The wind is howling and gusting. Such a great sound!

In my cup: Tomato Bisque and black pepper crackers…I could eat this every day.

Saint of the Day: Today is All Souls Day! All Souls Day is a holy day set aside for honoring the dead. The day is primarily celebrated in the Catholic Church, but it is also celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and a few other denominations of Christianity. The Anglican church is the largest protestant church to celebrate the holy day.

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020

The End of Summer

Where did the summer go? You would think that working from home for weeks on end would result in a long, boring season. It was not that way for me. In my last post I wrote about all the knitting I did, without much to show for it. Today, I thought it would be fun to go off-topic somewhat and share with you some of my non-knitting wins.

I turned 55 in June. In spite of my health, it was a fabulous day! I wore my birthday tiara, got pretty flowers from my sweetie, bought myself a Razorbacks t-shirt, got a new Kitty for my desk and had lots and lots of CDC approved kisses.

The gyms may have been closed, but I spent my time in the Lord’s Gym!

I turned over gardens, hauled blue stone, thinned and transplanted perennials., and made lots of places for my birds to relax.

We had some victories at work due to solid leadership and a dose of teamwork:

**Preparing to open school for the students**…

I found some cute shirts to wear when I putter in the yard. I see a theme.

One of my first social outings was a visit to my friend’s porch to discuss her class budget. It was a beautiful day to snuggle up for a photo with her littles.

New friendships were made.

**I met Malcolm who noticed a certain Kitty on my desk!**

My honey had a birthday too! What do I give a guy who doesn’t ask for anything? A garden! Moving more dirt and stone for my man!

Once it fills in and blooms, it will be lovely. I planted Russian Sage and Rose of Sharon (both dwarf varieties), a miniature pine and some periwinkle for ground cover. St. Francis seems very happy! Next year I would love to add a hummingbird feeder.

Welp, that is my summer in a nutshell. Not bad if I do say so myself!

Have a blessed week and if you celebrate Yom Kippur, G’mar chatima tova! May you be sealed in the Book of Life!

Love to all,

ReginaMary

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