Countless Blessings

Ann, who lives way up in Canada, the country that is my own, a country that French Canadian singer and poet Gilles Vigneault calls Winter, tells us how to heal our broken places.  


My country is not a country, it's winter

My garden is not a garden, it's a plain

My road is not a road, it's snow

My country is not a country, it's winter


In the white ceremony

In which the wind to snow marries

In this country of powdery

My father had his house built

And I am going to be faithful

To his way, to his model

The friends room will be such

That we will come from the other seasons

To build next to it


My country is not a country, it's winter

My chorus is not a chorus, it's a gust

My house is not a house, it's the cold

My country is not a country, it's winter


In my great solitary country

I scream before I shut myself up

To all men of the Earth

My house is your house

Between these four falls of ice

I take my time and my space

To make the fire and the place

For all the humans at the horizon

And humans are of my race


My country is not a country, it's winter

My garden is not a garden, it's a plain

My road is not a road, it's snow

My country is not a country, it's winter


My country is not a country, it's the other side

Of a country that was nor country nor homeland

My song is not a song, it's my life

It's for you that I want to posess my winters

                                                             Gilles Vigneault

 Ann, who takes her time and her space to make the fire and the place for all the humans at the horizon, urges us to give thanks.

Let me pick up were I left and count the blessings of this day.

 ~31 This post and this one, about what happens when people care.

~32 Beautiful Elizabeth, her faith and her trust that defies all human reason.

~33 Warm tears tickling down my face as I read about wondrous love.

~34 The opportunity to give a sick mama a break.

~35 Round, rosy cheeks.

~36 Pale heather blue cotton sweater, blue socks peeking out of black leather mary janes, moonstone earrings.

~37 Warn breeze

~38 As I was strolling down Ava down the dusty path, meeting the man in brown, in the big brown truck, who gave me a brown box full of Moomintrolls books (just like Lydia), shh....  it's a secret gift for Friday's birthday boy. 

~39 Buttery butterfly cookie with purple sprinkles, lovingly made by auntie Sara to delight Maddie.

~40 Wings to fly.  Pink ones are the best, and even better if they have real feathers. Makes my heart flyes to see a little one twirling in them.

Maddy's Party

 Saturday, we went to Maddy's maternal grandparents to celebrate Maddy's birthday.

Our friend William gave Maddy a pinata.  It was a great success.

Leo is a natural at this!

Emma is giving it a fair turn!

Go for it Maddy!

OOPS!  It's down but still intact!

OK, William hold it, but watch those fingers!

Good job!  Enjoy!

I wonder who is having more fun?

Well it is hard to say...

Those two look quite happy!  Thank you" muncle" Felix!

.  



Isn't Madalyn radiant?





She received many ponies and horses gifts. 




And her own Phoebe's mouse! 
Laurence made her a pegasus/unicorn birthday card.



Maddy hugged and thank him.  But when you are eight years old, girl's hugs are,,, well...not so well received!



Happy Birthday little princess, we love you so much!



Happy Birthday Madalyn!

Happy sixth birthday sweet Madalyn!   We love you! XOXO

Yarn Along (February 9, 2011)

Our computer crashed last week!  I am hoping that this Yarn Along post will get me back into blogging a little more regularly.  I want to participate again, like Lydia, to Ann's Multitudes on Mondays.  And now that I have Elizabeth's book Small Steps for Catholic Moms it motivates me join her monthly Small Steps Together. 

This week on my needles is a secret present for tomorrow's birthday girl.  I will post pictures after her party, Saturday.  Of course I am always working on more than one project and I couldn't wait to cast on this dreamy Midwinter Chroma fingering.  I wanted something fairly simple, lacy and feminine.   I choose Twilight from A Fine Fleece, a pattern easily memorized so that I can knit while praying or teaching.  

The two books are very dear to my heart.  Ann's deeply moving  A Thousand Gifts is as Lydia says a must read!  Ann's poetic blog is a rich banquet of words and pictures, go ahead and feast on it, it will fill you with grace.  I read the first chapter while holding little Tobias on my chest... I ripping experience!

 I finally have in my hands my dear friend Elizabeth's book Small Steps for Catholic Moms.  The book itself is a treat to hold; it is velvety soft, reminding me of my gentle friend Elizabeth.  Inside are words of wisdom from the saints; a quote a day, a prayer to meditate on these words, and a simple suggested action to put it all in practice.  It is uncluttered, simple but profound.  Let me also mention Elizabeth's blog, she so generously shares her gifts with us.  I am forever thankful for her gentle presence in this world of harshness. 

Books and knitting always come with tea... it's a given here.  I am growing very fond of these two loose teas from the English Tea Store; Lady Londonderry, and Dorian Grey Blend.  With a little half and half it's one of life simple pleasure.

Yarn Along (January 26, 2011)

Another Yarn Along with Ginny and friends

My internet connection has been terrible all day, so this will be brief.  Blogger will not let me link either.  I'll try to link tomorrow. 

This week I made one mitten from my new Woodland Mittens kit from Knit Picks (sadly not available anymore).  I first intended to give these mittens to Lydia for her birthday in March, but I must knit rather tightly because this one fits Laurence!  That's OK, it will look very nice with his Robin Hood sweater (another unfinished project).  You can see it in the background.  The mitten is knitted with Palette.

At Laurence's request I made another pair of leggings.  I realized I made a mistake in my last Yarn Along, the pattern is from the book Weekend Knitting, by Melanie Falick. This rainbow Chroma yarn is called Prism.

 Lastly I worked on Ava's elephant.  This was actually a Christmas present!  I am hoping to have it done by the end of the week.  Pear the Elephant is knitted with Swish, a washable merino yarn form Knit Picks.  

I am reading and loving,  Divine Intimacy:  Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year, by Father Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen O. C. D.

Edited on 1/27/20011 to add links

Yarn Along (January 19, 2011)

Another Yarn Along with Ginny.

This week I knitted two hats for Tobias, one too small (he is wearing it in the pictures from my last post) and another one that hopefully will fit better.  The yarn for both is Bare Knit Picks Stroll.  The pattern for the first one was from the book itty-bitty Nursery by Susan B. Anderson.  The second one picture here is from Natural Nursery Knits, by Erika Knight.

I also have been knitting a few legwarmers.  They are very easy and quick to knit.  This week has been busy and my brain couldn't quite handle complicated patterns. They are all from the book Knitting at Home, by Leanne Prouse.  The first two pairs were sent to Lydia today, the last is one is for Dominique.  Maybe these will help soothe his growing pain (his legs often hurt at night).

 This first pair was knitted with Wool of the Andes in Pampas Heather. 

These are made with Knit Picks new Chroma yarn, a very lovely soft lofty yarn.  The colorway is New England, in worsted weight.

 For Dominique I picked Mesa.

Laurence is reading Farmer Boy!  I can't believe my youngest is now reading this beloved series.  I couldn't count how many times these books have been read here throughout the years.

Welcome Tobias!

Tobias was born yesterday, January 14, 2011 at 9:50 AM.  He is 21' and weigh 9 lb. 4 oz.  He looks a lot like Leo when he was a newborn. 

Leo was so happy to see his mother, he didn't really care about this new little bundle.

Three generations

Oh, who's that? 

Praying cherub! 

Au revoir little brother.  See you tomorrow.

 Congratulations Kristie and Augustin!