Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Join Ginny to leave a link and share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I have several current knitting projects, but I’m really working on my niece’s Lace Capelet for her FHC on Pentecost Sunday. I want to finish this in plenty of time. The yarn is Cascade Ultra Pima cotton, which I just LOVE to use. Since I’m getting interrupted so much I’ve put markers on the lace repeat, every 23 stitches, to make it easier to count. I make such stupid mistakes.

Since baseball season began Saturday, I’m getting extra time to knit. I’m also am a bit under the weather with the pollen count being so high, so much of my day is sitting, and at least I am somewhat productive in some area.

The books I’m reading are varied, but these are the highlights right now. I’m getting regular milk delivery, but the cream is not really “pourable” for my coffee. Homemade Living: Home Dairy with Ashley English: All You Need to Know to Make Cheese, Yogurt, Butter & More is extremely practical, with color photographs, and how-to with raw, pasteurized or store-bought dairy products. Call me crazy, but I really was so pleased with the book because she includes the formula for making half-and-half:

You can also make your own half-and-half by combining 1 cup heavy whipping cream with 3 cups whole milk. Whisk the milk and cream together to fully incorporate before use.

So a 1 to 3 ratio to make my own half-and-half. I know that’s a simple example, but her book is full of these simple ways of making your own dairy foods.

While originally I was looking for ways to make yogurt and my own half-and-half, I’m now trying to control my inflammation right now (I’m in a lot of pain) and hoping that following Autonomic Recovery Program will help. But I need something for my decaf coffee that is not milk, but some kind of cultured dairy. I’ve got a few ideas, including creme fraiche, as a possibility.

The Complete Dairy Foods Cookbook: How to Make Everything from Cheese to Custard in Your Own Kitchen is an older title from 1982, but still applicable, even for someone who is not running her own dairy.

We have done nothing in our garden for this year. I was sick during the time I should have started seeds, and we’re on a really tight budget this year. A friend has offered a few seeds and seedlings, which is thrilling. I’m just not sure when I’ll get anything in the ground anytime soon. It’s all time and health dependent! BUT, we do have two cherry trees that need pruning, and I still have hopes for the garden, hence The Essential Urban Farmer and Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living. Novella’s book is a thick tome, black and white drawings on newsprint paper. Some of her directions (like pruning fruit trees) presume previous knowledge of a fruit grower’s vocabulary. So reference, but if you’re looking for very beginning help, I think I’m a little lost. The latter book is interesting, but information is a bit sketchy in details in some areas, again, something a beginner needs.

Visit Ginny for other Yarn Along posts.

Seven Quick Takes (Vol 147)

Praying for Jen and her sweet little one. May he get stronger and come home soon!

1) I know so much of the US has been experiencing crazy weather. We didn’t have ice storms, but still very extreme weather. We broke heat records this week for temperatures in the 90s. We had freezing temperatures and snow in March and all of a sudden it’s super hot. This is so typical for Virginia’s springs. We never warm up gradually. Thankfully we are experiencing some rain today to lower the temperatures a bit. And the rain helps ease the pollen a bit…for a day. Tree and grass pollen are my bitter enemies. I’m religiously taking my 6 allergy medicines to keep reactions to a tolerable level. And Vitamin C. But it’s a day-to-day battle. We already have the A/C running because open windows are not an option.

Early Stages of a Creative Artist?

Do you have a writing and/or coloring fiend in your family?

When he was a baby I never had problems with writing on things other than paper. But now he’s 5 and is insatiable with coloring and drawing. His day MUST include using crayons and pencils and pens. He brings coloring books and crayons where ever we go, even short trips, to do in the car.

I think it’s wonderful. He even considers himself the family artist.

The downside? He’s “experimenting” on every surface. Little hidden places, books, walls, tablecloths, tables, windows. I found crayon on the upstairs carpet during Holy Week. Since we have give so many warning, this was the last straw, so we took away all writing instruments until Easter. So the Day of Resurrection was glorious for him — he missed the drawing so much.

But I think it backfired. Sunday evening I discovered this creation done in pen on the bed sheet under his pillow:
I had to keep a straight face, because they are the cutest line drawings of two bunnies holding eggs. My husband and I burst out laughing once we were out of earshot. (I took the picture when he was not around.)

My son told me he drew this because he was do excited about Easter. And why bunnies? “It was all I could think of.”

(We don’t do the Easter Bunny, so not sure if that whole thing, but I am a proud Mama to see crosses on the eggs.)

I remembered that Tomie dePaola included a bit about drawing on his sheets in The Art Lesson. I’ll have to read that story to him.

But I’m pondering how to go forward. We have stressed to not write on anything but paper. I do provide so many different types of art supplies, so that he can try different media, both with drawing and coloring and also the surface he’s writing on.

I don’t want to stifle his creativity, but he needs to control his urges. So how to find the balance? If you’ve had this experience in your household, please share.

And any tips to remove ball point pen from walls and sheets? I am tempted to keep the sheets as is…they are so cute. (He doesn’t know that DH and I think so, though!)

The Search for Shoes and Comfy Feet

It has been almost two years since my whining post on my feet. So much has changed, and yet, so much is the same. The pain in my feet kept getting worse…although the doctors couldn’t find exactly what was wrong. One doctor suggested surgery, and second opinions were no help. I could barely walk. I wore lace-up braces and athletic shoes with orthotics and tons of pain pills.

I knew that I needed to help myself, so I thought if I lost weight perhaps it would help my pain level. I stopped eating wheat, and noticed within 2-4 weeks a drastic improvement. DRASTIC. And I found that avoiding foods in the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers) also improved my foot pain. I was able to stop all the medications and the braces. That experience made me realize that there are other inflammatory causing foods — besides the nightshade family and gluten, sugar and alcohol are other examples. Well, at least for me. And then I stopped drinking Diet Coke and I experienced more improvement.

My feet are still super sensitive to everything. I’ll be the old lady predicting weather and catastrophic events due changes in my foot pain.

Even if I’m top of all my good eating, my feet still hurt almost all of the time. I just have better and worse days. I have severe flat feet, extreme over-pronation, and a high instep, plus harder to fit narrow feet and heel. The search for the right comfortable shoes is ever consuming. I rarely buy shoes, and when I do, they need to last for years (because they are so expensive). When I finally do find the right shoes and buy them, it’s a big long production. I know I could buy online and buy from Zappos or other sites, but I do prefer to actually try on shoes.

I do not like to wear athletic shoes. My style is SO not sporty! But on days that I’m spending so much time on my feet, I wear my orthotics in my athletic shoes and endure the bad fashion choice. But what to wear with skirts and slacks, and even harder, dress up clothes? For years I’ve been wearing mostly Dansko, with some Mephisto sandals for summer. I need shoes with a strap. Clogs or clog style used to work, but now they aggravate my problems. Dansko shoes I think have changed. They are not comfortable for me any more.

I do have prescription orthotics, but they are 3/4 size. Shoes rarely accommodate the orthotics comfortably without removing the footbed, and having only a 3/4 means there is no padding at the toe area. Solutions? One solution might mean a new full size orthotic. Not a great option because it means more $$$, but…

I can wear shoes without orthotics if they are super supportive, but it’s getting harder and harder to find the right shoes with extremely good arch and ankle support and nothing to aggravate my high instep. For years my go-to store has been The Walking Company. The local store is 40 minutes away, so our trips are planned and few and far between.

This Friday was one of those rare trips, and DH and the boys accompanied me for moral support. I did spend some time researching online, but most of the shoes I thought would work didn’t. Most of the shoes that could support orthotics weren’t supportive for the pronation issue. Floppy and soft and low sides don’t work and flats aren’t good. I also need ankle support. The process was long and tedious. I ended up buying Dansko Harlow but they are going back. After wearing them at home, they are causing metatarsal pain — an issue I don’t usually have!

I think my feet have outgrown this store. Dansko doesn’t support my feet any more, and the other two major brands that The Walking Company really pushes (ABEO and UC 24/7, I think these are their own brands) really don’t work for me. The store carries less stock in the other brands, so I can’t try on other options. Plus, it seems they are just pushing brands, and really not catering to each foot.

Of course, now comes summer, and I HATE to wear shoes. My feet get hot and uncomfortable. But I need shoes now with some support for all times. It’s been a hard fact to face that I cannot be barefoot anymore.

While I’m still looking for the everyday shoes to wear all year, I need some cooler summer options. Ideally I like to have a dressier sandal and then something that can endure long walks and picnics and baseball games. Mephisto Helen has been my tough sandals (and house shoes / flip flops) for years (I’ve gone through 3 pairs), but it’s seriously time for new ones as the footbed has no support any more. I’m considering switching to Mephisto Elka or Hannel or Birkenstock Habana or Florida. Switching to Birkenstock would be a big jump for me (and my DH) as we aren’t even slightly crunchy or have any hippie fashion acclimation at all. This post has some possible options, although I am concerned about the soft sides. The closed toe shoes might be a good substitute for those awful looking athletic shoes, but I am concerned that they are so flat….

I’m impressed if you made it this far on my whining post about my feet and shoes! Does anyone else have this problem? I can’t find the right shoe. My current shoes are 2-3 years old AT LEAST. They are uncomfortable and almost unwearable, but seem to be better than the newer options. It’s not that I’m indecisive, it’s just that my feet are so needy! So now I need to return my new Danskos and find another local store that specializes in more orthopedic shoes, and perhaps buy my supportive sandals online.

If you have similar problems, I’d love to hear your recommendations!

ETA: I think I’ve found a store I’d like to try: Potomac Cobbler Foot Comfort Center.

Annunciation Coloring Pages

The Solemnity of the Annunciation USUALLY is celebrated on March 25, but this year because it fell during Holy Week and no feast supersedes Holy Week nor the Easter Octave, the Solemnity will be Monday, April 8.

Annunciation Coloring Page
From Crusade, No. 12, 1955 by the Maryknoll Sisters

Annunciation Coloring Page2
From The Hail Mary by Society of Saint Paul, 1952

Annunciation Coloring Page
From We Love God: Ordered Activities in Religion by Sister Mary Francine, S.S.C., Illustrated by Jeanne Dekan.

Annunciation Coloring Page3
From The Rosary Color Book, drawings by Ettore Fattori, Copyright 1949 by Catechetical Guild.

Easter Yarn Along

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! Ginny at Small Things.

Christ is risen, Alleluia!
He is risen, indeed, Alleluia!

My knitting has fallen behind because we were involved in pysanky. In fact, we’re still working our pysanky.

Since the Easter season lasts 50 days, working on our Ukrainian Easter eggs is a wonderful way to keep up the Easter spirit and celebration.

We’ve been reading our Easter Eggs books. I have not mentioned two of our favorites, An Egg is for Wishing by Helen Kay (Older book, first printed in 1966) and Yosef’s Gift of Many Colors: An Easter Story by Cassandra Maxwell (another out of print, but a little easier to find).

All the egg talk led us on a rabbit trail, studying other birds’ eggs both by enjoying the farmers’ chicken, duck and goose eggs, but also through the wonderfully illustrated book DK Handbooks: Birds’ Eggs.

But the knitting is plodding along. After posting all my projects here (I’m still working on my mother’s shawl) and blocking my Barnwood Cowl, I sewed the edges together so well that when I realized I had it twisted. Trying to undo my well-sewn edges resulted in having to frog it all and begin again. I’m a little halfway done, but behind on my timeline for birthday gifts.

I finished Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter and almost finished with French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon. I’m still pondering the books to come up with complete thoughts. One thought about Carpenter’s book is that I realize that since I have no hippie roots whatsoever and don’t have hippie contacts, anything I do related to suburban farming or homesteading will not look anything like her endeavors.

I’m beginning a few projects. First are some crocheted roses like the ones I made for my friend. There are numerous patterns for crocheted roses. I use this pattern or this one.

I am making a Child’s Lace Capelet for one of my nieces for her First Holy Communion which will be on Pentecost next month. So I have less than 50 days.

I have to return 100 Snowflakes to Crochet: Make Your Own Snowdrift—to Give or to Keep by Caitlin Sainio to the library today, but I know I’ll check this out during the fall and winter. The variety is so wonderful. I’ve been crocheting snowflakes for many years and try to collect as many different patterns. My first snowflakes were from this Simplicity pattern from the 1980s, which took a lot of starch to get the desired effect. The ones in this book aren’t as complicated but quite varied, arranged in order of difficulty. Each pattern has both written directions and charted directions. It’s a great collection!

What is on your hook and needles and what are you reading? Join in with Ginny at Small Things.

Quick Paschal Candle 2013

This is an update to last year’s Quick Paschal Candle design. Also note you can find another beautiful version by Juan José, thanks to Evann at Homeschool Goodies, even more beautiful than mine.

PaschalCandle2013
This is a .pdf version of the candle design. Print in color, and cut, leaving the amount you need to wrap around the candle. Either tape, or cover with Contact paper or use ModgePodge over the image to apply to the candle. Make sure to extinguish the candle when it gets close to the paper.

Below is the .jpg file of the image below. Click on it to view the full image and save to your computer. Adjust the printer to landscape and whatever size you need the image to print, since there are smaller and larger candles to cover.