There’s been so much excitement around here these past few days, that I don’t quite know what to do with myself. Thank you so much for all the support you showed for my Sunday Sweater pattern yesterday. Somehow we still managed to have a sort of normal day. There was school, a baseball game, a baby who wants to be held all the time, and even some knitting with a friend’s daughter followed by grocery shopping. All the while my little sweater made it to number three on Ravelry, thanks to all of you. Friends left me messages singing and cheering. I did a lot of laughing and crying. It’s not really about the front page though (although that was pretty neat.) I can hardly believe that something went from an image in my mind to completion amidst the busyness of my everyday life. Only by the Grace of God, that’s for sure.
Here’s a bit of everything else we’ve been up to:
We’re shelling peas, and working to get the garden ready for winter.
I got my fig trees planted (by the kitchen door, with a southern exposure as some of you suggested. thanks!) I also solved the problem of chickens eating my violas. I potted them and then put tomato cages around the pots. It’s worth it to me to have just a few violas; the rusty tomato cage doesn’t ruin the prettiness for me. The chickens can still reach the flowers at the edge, but they can’t hop into the pots to scratch and destroy. I put cages around my fig trees too. So far, all is well.
Honeybees are a little crazy this time of year.
This is some sort of sphinx moth. It may have begun it’s life as a tobacco hornworm (can’t remember what Seth told me.)
Gabe pitching. Keats pitches too.
Green snake! (and yes, green marker on Silas’ face)
I received a gift in the mail yesterday. A new wool diaper cover for Silas, to replace my all time favorite cover that was lost recently.
And finally: I forgot to mention yesterday that I wrote about my favorite first knitting project for children, a knitted headband, over at Rhythm of the Home.
shwell says
Ginny
if you see this, can you tell me where you got Seth’s T shirt in the above photo
Thanks
Ginny says
Very old hand me down…most likely belonged to my little brother. I just grabbed it to see what else it says: 50th anniversary of the “Nine O Nine” B-17G Flying Fortress. Collings Foundation Stow, Mass.
shwell says
Thanks for doing that, we are big B-17 people here. My husband’s Great Uncle was a ball turret gunner and we did a lot of research into his flights and history. Always looking for cool t shirts etc, will just keep looking, 🙂 M
Alma says
I am a glutton for your pictures and the way you capture a moment. Love the headbands!
Summer says
Thank you for the wool diaper cover idea! I have been looking for something like this! I just placed an order with Reborn:)
Also, I am definitely going to get a children’s knit group together and start with that headband! So cute.
Finally, Love the blog changes. It looks really nice. Love ya!
Summer says
oops, I mean Rebourne.
Lisa @ Happy in Dole Valley says
Oh my… My very first ever knitting project was a knitted headband! Taught by an older lady in our church (now I’m getting to be one of those “older ladies in the church”), my now-grown daughter and I learned together. Such wonderful memories! A few years back I taught my now 11-year-old daughter to knit using the same headband pattern. 🙂 Congrats on your gorgeous pattern!! ~Lisa
Heather says
Congrats!
lori says
so happy for you sweetie! enjoy this very special moment!
silas, haha, takin after his big sister 😉
Eileen says
What a beautiful family and life you have. Thanks for publishing Sunday sweater, love your blog.
Jacq says
I am so pleased for you! I will knit it up for a gift for my friends new baby that will arrive soon.
I was thrilled to be able to contibute in a more financial way than just as a commentor. Money isn’t everything, but it sure makes life easier, so I hope your pattern makes you a squillion $$ so you can happily continue to do what you love XX
Jacq
Debi Miller says
Congratulations! I am so happy for you! I’m glad you showed a picture of the bees. I hope you post an update soon. How can I be a vicarious beekeeper if you don’t show them from time to time? LOL I love the little sweater and I am considering switching from Tiny Tea Leaves to yours. To have the Grands match their mama or not, that is the question! Continued good wishes flowing your way!
meredith says
i’m so glad for you that your sweater pattern is doing well. i am adding it to my to-knit list! i love the rusty tomato cages around the violas–that made me smile. we have to put fences around a lot of plants here in the mountains, because the deer are voracious, so i agree that sometimes it is worth fencing stuff off just so that you can add a little beauty to your life. i’m glad that you found a good place for your figs!
Rebecca says
I love the picture of Silas painting, he looks like he’s working hard at it. 🙂 I have a baby just a little younger than Silas and lately she likes to be held all the time too. Congratulations on the release of the lovely sweater.
priest's wife (@byzcathwife) says
so sweet- and I just might steal this pattern for myself because I am completely out of practice
heathermama hawkes says
such a great bunch of photographs. your sweater pattern is lovely. looking forward to knitting it up once i finish a jacket i am starting.
looking forward to saturday garden journals again. i finally have a garden to journal about! lol i am planning on planting a fig tree and a pomegranate and a meyer lemon tree soon. 🙂
Anna says
I also found your pattern for the baby hat. It willbe perfect to use the left over yarn from my blanket. So many knitting projects and so little time! (I also have some smocked dresses my sister started and gave me to finish. Need to do that before spring! ) I don’t see where you find time to knit up such loveliness with a housefull of little ones and homeschooling. Oh, about the Sunday sweater. I keep looking at it and wondering how practical it would be to put the pattern down the tops of the sleeves. We live in Fl so that little bit of opening wouldn’t be too detrimental. I am so thankful you have the larger size and think that is the reason for the popularity, there is a huge gap for pretty things in between toddler and adult sizes. I hope you continue to create as out little girls grow older, practical yet feminine is always good in my book. Savor it, it’s all grace!
Heather says
So happy for you and your pattern! It is lovely. And great idea with the tomato cages! My chickens seem to love my potted flowers as well…I keep trying to give them more treats so they will leave them alone…that doesn’t seem to work though 🙂
Sara says
My children are very young but I often wonder when I read blogs such as yours, how it is that your children find interest in certain things. Did your boys decide on their own that moths were something they wanted to study or was it something you found interesting so they followed? I’m at a point right now with my 3 year old daughter that just feels like she has zero interest in things. She could walk around the house whining all day long and I’m very ready for her to take some interest in anything.
Heather says
My kids are 2 and 4, and I find that if I give them open ended toys – wooden blocks for example – they have a ball with them. I think it is about exposure, read to them a lot, and do a lot of painting, your kids will let you know when they have found something they want to learn more about 🙂
Jacq says
Hi Sara, my children are a little older now ( 8,9 and 12) and my one piece of advice would be, get them away from TV. We used to watch it when they were little, I weaned them off and now they have grown up all the better for it!! We still watch DVD’s and use computers, because we love them and I feel they have a purpose. Tv seems to numb their minds and creativity. I have just read a book that could be beneficial to you ‘Project Based Home Schooling’. You don’t have to be a homeschooler, it has a lot of information about how to encourage your child to follow their interests.
🙂 Jacq
Ginny says
All of my kids are different. Seth, from the age of four or five began developing real and lasting interest in certain topics, but none of my other kids have that young. The others have needed more guidance. Larkspur and Beatrix still have a very hard time occupying themselves at times, Beatrix especially. Having an older child who does get really interested in certain topics helps the younger ones because they want to follow what he is doing. But, I definitely deal with a lot of “I don’t know what to do” from both girls.
Tracey says
Thank you for the smile this morning Ginny!
I am so very happy for you.