I suspect that many of you will be relieved that I chose not to photograph and share the copperhead snake that we encountered last week. The snake warning system is outdated at this point and many aren’t aware of it, so I try to be considerate. 😉
Anyway, we were pulling up to our house in the van when Gabriel commented, “I think there was a snake back there on the driveway…”
Sure enough there was, and I had run over it’s tail. He and Keats ran to check it out and announced that it was a copperhead and it wasn’t dead. So, I did the sensible thing, turned my van around and headed back up the driveway to hit it again. Of course, I missed. It’s harder than you’d think to run over a snake on purpose! Seth gleefully came to the rescue with his pellet gun, shot it square between the eyes, and declared it dead. I called Silas and Job out to educate them on the dangers of the copperhead snake, wanting them to be able to properly identify them. You know how my kids are: always grabbing snakes, bringing them in the house to show me, and just generally not being afraid of them.
We left the dead snake lying next to the driveway and the next morning it was gone. While I am sure it simply became part of the food chain, I can’t help but imagine that it resurrected and is now lurking around the house.
*****
(Not a warning, just a slight shift in topic. Don’t worry!)
There is a LOT of knitting happening in my house right now, and I may owe some of that to the copperhead snake. On a recent afternoon, looking up from a scarf she’s working on, Beatrix told me, “I’d be outside if it wasn’t for that copperhead.” I think there’s more at play though. Knitting seems to finally be clicking for her, and I do believe she’s genuinely enjoying herself. Larkspur has turned a knitting corner as well, and I think she’s ready to start reading patterns and knitting more complicated objects.  The other night when I asked her why she hadn’t finished her math assignment she explained, “Every time I came up to my room to work on it, I would see my knitting and get distracted and start knitting…” I replied, “I totally understand. That’s the reason I have a messy house and a pile of knitted shawls.”
At any rate, between math and copperhead snakes, my girls are knitting up a storm. At one point on a recent evening, Larkspur, who couldn’t put down the scarf she was knitting said to me, “How could you, Mommy!? You’ve gotten us addicted to knitting.” I told her, “Well, better knitting than cigarettes and whiskey!”
p.s. I’m finally working on the second of my pair of Stepping Stones socks and they match the book I’m reading, Jane of Lantern Hill! You know how much I love it when that happens. 🙂
Michelle says
I love the girls’ quilt! Is it an heirloom or recent purchase?
Michelle says
Do you have a book suggestion for beginning to read knitting patterns? My 12 yr old has been knitting and crocheting for years (learned on YouTube) but doesn’t seem interested in patterns- she wings it somehow. I’m hoping the right book may change her mind.
clémence says
How I love those pics above! I hope I can share my love of knitting with my children one day, that would be such joy! Brrrrr I can’t think of a snake around the house without being so afraid, I hope here in my French countryside they are rare… or at least not very dangerous!
Taryn @ WoolyMossRoots says
This cracked me up! Yes, knitting is the best thing to be addicted to. 🙂
Lori says
I love your blog, your writing and the way you have chosen to raise your family. Reading your posts warms my heart. Bless you all 🙂
Kim O. says
What a wonderful life you have! I wish when my girls were younger I focused more on my hobbies than a clean house!
Ruby says
Hahahahaha, I love the line “that’s the reason I have a messy house…” AMAZING come back!!!! I love how you give permission for all of us mamas working in the trenches to let go of some of that guilt–thank you so much for that, Ginny. And the snake story was me and my sister when were teens in South TX visiting our Grandmother, only it was Rattlesnake and we were completely unsuccessful in running it over…it truly IS harder than it looks/sounds! Love all these photos of your creative girls!
Richard (in Charlotte, NC) says
LOL, “better than cigarettes and whiskey”; oh my, you crack me up. Good lesson on the subject of snakes too.
I knit now because I have no money for whiskey or running the streets now that I have spent it on a yarn stash! I’m also a heart patient so, my running anywhere besides my yard days are long over with.
Is that some of your hand-dyed yellow and orange yarn that is in one of your photos? It resembles some that I saw on Instagram the other day. I asked the poster where the yarn came from and I was told that it was from Gingers Hand Dyed Aran from England/Britain.
Richard (in Charlotte, NC) says
The yarn I mentioned came from this Instagram posting:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVw-9_5lXgF/
It is a really nice looking baby blanket. Your girl’s yarn in one of the photos looks quite similar.
Richard.
Annie Kitching says
I was looking at Jane of Lantern Hill, and thinking that would be a lovely read-aloud, then re-read the description including the “overbearing grandmother” and not wanting to be cast in THAT role, I’ll pass that one up. I’d love it if one of my girls would enjoy crocheting or embroidery…. Maybe Monica.
Ginny says
Annie, you are NOTHING like the grandmother in this book! 🙂
Heidi says
I hate to say it but I love that you tried to run it over again cuz I would have done the same thing and looked like a maniac driver. Something my kids never would have never forgotten. Your girls are looking so grown up knitting away. Your writings & photos always remind me of the Little Women series….my favorites. You really have so many gifts.
Kate says
The girls look so old in that first photo! When did that happen? Maybe knitting gives one a certain air of maturity….
I’m working on a part-time graphic arts project for my husband’s business with a “yesterday’ deadline. Knitting is very relaxing after staring at a computer screen for hours. It would be interesting to have your girls put into words how they feel when they’re knitting (other than “addicted”). For instance, my husband said he feels free when he rides his bike, while my youngest said he feels powerful.
Evelyn says
Reading your blog brings me such peace. It takes me back to my childhood in the 1940’s in Iowa. Days of going barefoot and trying to miss stepping in a cow pie (or a snake). Wading in the creek with my cousin. Settling down with a book on a hot sticky afternoon and hoping mother wouldn’t notice and call me to work in the garden. Thank you for sharing your life.
Ashley says
I was wondering if you guys are homeschooling year round we are starting early this year but I’ve been considering a year round schedule! I love the girls knitting I’ve been wanting to learn for years but I’m not catching on very good I need to find a good resource to teach myself with! Hope u all have a great day.
Julie C says
Still laughing at the cigarettes and whiskey comment. Indeed.
Caroline says
I hope they never find a cure for yarn addiction, what a sad day that would be. Your photos brought back lovely memories of my cousins and I all knitting with my gram, mom and aunt, just wish we had a photo or two.
Elizabeth says
Oh how lovely! My boys don’t knit, but sometimes I knit with my mum and it’s nice to have an intergenerational activity x
NRenee says
Jane of Lantern Hill is one of those books I’ve periodically returned to ever since I was a kid–I was a huge LM Montgomery fan, but Jane is a favorite. The look of concentration on your girls’ faces is wonderful!
Stephanie Joy says
I love Jane of Lantern Hill!! And that’s a beautiful colourway for the socks. Can’t wait to teach my own girls knitting when they are old enough!
Sarah says
Reading this post really made me smile , thanks Ginny, I love your writing!
Laura says
We’ve had a black bear making appearances in our yard over the past week and that’s keeping my four indoors. However, they’ve taken up knitting yet, too busy perfecting the art of annoying each other.
Eileen says
Love pictures of all the women knitting in your house,{Mabel being too young I know, but I bet she watches}.
Thank you for not showing pictures of the snake, though I did have to look up copper heads and read all about them. Yikes, I wouldn’t like being around those, we have LOTS of rattlers around here and they creep me out! Hiking, I always wear hiking high top boots. Perhaps that is how cowboy boots came about, though they are not comfy hiking shoes;-} have a wonderful week!
PS: I can never figure out if its hot or cold in Virginia, your kids are in summer clothes and you are in a sweater?
Ginny says
As far as the temperature here goes, it’s hot! But sometimes I am cold first thing in the morning and put a sweater on. But that’s just me. 🙂
Cindy in NC says
Love the pics of the girls and their knitting. Looks like Larkspur is far more adept at DPNs than I will ever be. The grandmother who taught me to knit and crochet didn’t have any daughters. I never thought about how happy it must have made her to have me take up these crafts. Every time I pick up a hook or needles I think of her. Your girls will have that association with you someday. What a gift.
Helena says
“How could you?” Oh, that’s adorable! 🙂 My daughter recently had knitting click for her also, and I find her knitting away when she sometimes should be doing other stuff. Or with her nose in a book after bedtime. It can be mildly exasperating sometimes, but at the same time I secretly love these manifestations that she is so my kid. 🙂
Cassidy says
My husband hit a huge rattlesnake the other day. And by hit – I mean hit it, backed up, hit it again, rinse and repeat until dead. Country life. I know they are a vital part of the food chain…but I walk down that road and I might have given up my walk for now. He tried to find it the next day and it was gone. We have all kinds of critters who probably enjoyed munching on it…still, not feeling my walk just yet.
“Better knitting than cigarettes and whiskey.” Love it.
louise says
love these pics, sweet girls knitting away…
Leigh says
Your girls concentration is palpable.
Diana says
Aw, I would have liked to have seen the snake … but I totally understand that a lot of folks don’t like seeing snake pix. I just read somewhere that hospitals down south are seeing more copperhead snake bites this year. Be safe!
Laurel says
Love all these pictures of you lovely ladies knitting! MUCH better than the copperhead. 😉
Katurah says
I love that you are wearing a knitted headband. My mother loves to tell stories of her own grandmother wearing the “beautiful things” my mother made her to church– paper hats on Easter, or popbead necklaces. It’s such a testament to the nature of beauty and love.
Theresa says
I dream of my girls sewing or knitting with me. I have seven daughters (from 9 down to “coming soon”), so hopefully ONE will, right?! 🙂