Easter

This is a little late but I know our relative in Canada will appreciate seeing these pictures of our Easter celebration.

Uncle Matthias helping Tobias 

Leo

Resting snugly on mama

Chores still need to be done

Eli with daddy

Clark holding a precious bundle

Orange is very becoming on Toby

Daddy (Xavier) holding his princess Emma

On Easter Monday (Ava, Laurence and Leo)

Welcome Raymond Philip Eli!

Raymond Philip Eli was born on Good Friday, April 6.  He is the cutest little baby boy!  Eli is seven pounds fifteen ounces.  Laurence and Eli have one thing in common, they were both born on their maternal grandmother's birthday!  Isn't that neat?  Mom and baby are doing well and are now back in their beautiful, brand new house. Oops, I forgot to take pictures of mom and dad with their sweet baby boy.  

Gentle Maddie with her tiny baby brother

Maybe one day you will ride horses with this little brother of yours.

Emma is a big sister now!

She is giddie with joy.  That's Emma!

Holding this precious little bundle, this new life, I am in awe!  God is good!

 Congratulations Kelly and Xavier!

It's Spring!

Tasha gave birth today to two sweet kids.  The black spotty one is a female and the other a male.   

Yarn Along, Knit, Pray, Love

This Knit Along will not have many words.  I burned my hand Monday (it isn't to bad), typing is slow and knitting is impossible.  But I really wanted to share with you some projects I have been working on.

I started a shawl for Kelly, you can see it in the basket.  I just love the comment Kelly left on Lydia's blog , when Lydia received her shawl two weeks ago.   Kelly said, " The picture of you wearing it says so much... it looks as though your Mom sent you a HUG!!!".  What a beautiful thought!  From now on, I'll always think of this when I knit shawls, I'm knitting hugs!  Hers is Pequito,, in Shine worsted, colorway Currant.  I love the color, a rich deep red violet color with brown undertones, similar to maroon.  The yarn is velvety with a soft sheen and drapes beautifully.   

The pale blue project is The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife.  It is knitted very loosely with  Wool of the Andes in Clarity, a very pale aqua blue.  While perusing the designer's blog last Friday, I came upon this post, and than this one.  Sunday was a good day for me to knit and pray in the quiet of my room.  I knitted the three little hats above, and today I sent them off with a loving note for each mama.  Two of them are knitted in Shine and the other, the aqua one, is Simply Cotton..   The pattern is Simple Baby Cap 2, from Itty-Bitty Hats, by Susan B. Anderson.  Today is the last day to send hats to Knit, Pray, Love, but I urge you to watch the video, it is very touching.  Just a little note though; in no way do I consider these women as my enemies.  We are all God's children, therefore they are my sisters.  I am very thankful to have been able to pray for three mothers and their babies, and show my loving care.  I will continue to pray for them and their families.  

CURE Knit Pray Love from CURE Video on Vimeo.

I am reading A Call for a Deeper Love, The Family Correspondence of the Parents of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus.  This book was gifted to me by our OCDS president on the occasion of my definitive promises, last July.  It consisted mostly of the letters of Blessed Zelie Martin, St Therese' mother.  She was a remarkable women of faith, and quite an inspiration to me.  


And what about the boots?  These are Lydia's, she forgot them when she left for Belmont the Spring semester.  I sent them to her today along with the movie "There Be Dragons".  What a powerful movie!   Highly recommended by everyone here.  When I told Lydia about it, she planned a movie night this weekend with Raphael and their friends.  


Well this wasn't that short.  I guess my hand is much better.  Not quite enough to knit, but soon I hope.  

Today's Wise Words From Small Steps for Catholic Moms

Picture taken at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception when we were in DC for the March for Life.


Think
“God hasn't called me to be successful.  He’s called me to be faithful.”

                                                                                             Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Pray

Jesus help me to remember that it doesn’t matter how many things I cross off my to-do list if I am not kind and charitable and gentle as I do them. 

Act

Instead of focusing on outcomes of your activities today, focus on your state of soul as you do them.  As you work don’t sin.  

Today's words of wisdom from "Small Steps for Catholic Moms", by Danielle Bean & Elizabeth Foss.  This book is sadly out of print.  Let us hope it will be republished.

She got her shawl!

I took only one day!  And I sent it regular mail!  Go take a look.  Isn't it pretty on her?   I used Full Circle in Hollyhock a soft beautiful purple that reminds me of the heather that grows in York, England and on Scotland's moors.  OK, now let's have some real winter weather.  I'm not quite ready for Spring yet.

Yarn Along, February First

I can't believe it's been almost six months since my last post!  A Yarn Along seems like a good way to get myself back into blogging.

I took this picture this morning, before I finished Laurence's Robin Hood  sweater.  This was an old UFO (UnFinished Object) I started last year.  It's a good thing I got it off the needles, because he almost outgrew it.  When I picked it up again a few weeks ago, it was sleeveless and hood less.  I had to add a few inches to the sleeves and a few increases to the hood.  I used Wool of the Andes in Forest Heather for the body and sleeves, and Swish in Merlot Heather for the trims and the hood.  Swish, a machine washable merino,  is wonderfully soft around the face.

Here is Laurence reading a favorite Moomintroll book.  We had some old, old well loved tattered copies of the Moominland books, that I replaced with nice crisp ones last Fall.  As I type he is still engrossed in his reading, wearing his sweater despite the fact that it is nearly seventy degrees outside. 

I am reading St Theresa of Avila, The Book of Her Foundations, a study guide by Marc Foley OCD, in preparation for the OCDS class (Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites) I will be facilitating this Saturday.   A kind member of our community let be borrow her copy.  Hopefully, this month I'll be able to purchase the Third Volume of Theresa Collected Works that includes her poetry as well as The Book of Her Foundations.

I have knitted dozens of things since my last Yarn Along.  One day I'll update my Ravelry page, but this is a project that would take quite some time.  Maybe, I should try to start with my most recent projects.  That is, if I remembered to take some pictures before giving them away.   Just today I sent Lydia a box with her Terra Shawl, only to realized later that I had no picture of it.  I am sure she will, and if she post it on her blog, I'll send a link to it.

Pictured with the book is my Peery Flooers.  I just had to show it to you, although I knitted it in November.  Actually, it only took me a few days to make it, this pattern is so addictive.  I used Palette, the color combinations could be endless, I would knit a dozen different ones if I had time.

You probably have notice that I knit almost exclusively with Knit Picks yarn.  Just in case you wondered, here are my reasons.  First I love their yarn.  I am sure I would love many other brands, but Knit Picks is affordable (a very important factor here) and dependable.  It is easy for me to keep up with what is new and I have a nice stash of my favorites.  It is a one stop shopping with free shipping over $50.  Frankly, I do not want to spend more time searching for yarn than knitting with it.  This is how I keep my knitting purchases simple.  It works for me, I am happy with it.

Happy knitting and reading!  It's good to be back.

Hat tip to Lydia.

And also as Lydia reminds us...