Lent

Growing up in a Southern Baptist Church, Lent was a foreign concept to me. On Monday my daughters came to me asking about Mardi Gras and Lent. I answered as fully as I could, but I really did not know. Tuesday I received a message from church describing Lent and how it is a 40 day preparation for Easter. Two references so close together made me think I should probably check this out a little more. I did a little more reading and decided to see if Chris was interested in us observing Lent this year. He was all for it. So for the first time this Southern Baptist raised girl is observing Lent, not necessarily in the traditional sense but our way. We are going to do the BCC Bible reading plan as a family and Chris and I are trying to refrain from using swear words.

Why are we doing this? I have always felt our celebration of Easter was lacking. It seems it has turned into a "candy" holiday. We've let this happen. I do not like it, and this is my way of changing it back to the religious observance it should be.

Christmas Knitting & Crocheting

A knit hat for Christy to match her fingerless mitts down below. I actually finished this one on Jan 1. The mitts were for Christmas and the hat was just to use up the left over yarn. But I think it turned out nicely. It was my first attempt at stripes.

Knit fingerless mitts for Jessye. She saw Christy's and loved them so during her visit this week I made her a pair. You cannot tell in the photo, but the yarn is white and gold. The gold was so stiff it made these much harder to knit. But the irregular yarn hid my new knitter mistakes well.

These are Rachel's fingerless mitts. They are crochet and were by far my favorite to make. So easy. The yarn is from Farmhouse yarns.

And finally Christy's knit fingerless mitts. I know there's only one in the photo. She's looking for the other one right now! These are sooooooo soft, made from cashmere yarn. We all love the way they feel.

It was fun making some of my Christmas presents. I already have plans to make my brother-in-law some fingerless gloves and a hat for his upcoming February birthday.

Update on Chris' Hunting Hat

The gift highlight for Christmas (for me) was the conversation I overheard between my husband and brother in law. The girls had just finished showing off their new fingerless mitts I made them, when Chris began telling the story of him loosing the hunting hat. Robbie looked very surprised. Seems he found a hat matching the description of Chris' missing hat a day or two after Chris lost it! In the woods, no less! So the hat has been returned! I'm so happy about that!!!

Chris' Hunting Hat

He wore it once and said it was too short. So I ripped the entire top out of it and added about 3 inches of stockinette so it would be long enough to pull down over his ears when he gets cold. Then finished out the top again. He wore it the next time he went hunting and LOST IT! HRUMPH!

Rachel's Fingerless Mittens

I decided to knit & crochet a few Christmas Presents this year. I'm making Rachel some fingerless mittens. The yarn is Farmhouse Yarns Andy's Merino II in Calico. I am using a G/6 4.25 mm crochet hook. The pattern is from Ravelry.com "Basic Fingerless Mittens" by Julia Vaconsin. http://crochetme.com/patterns/basic-fingerless-mittens

I expect to finish them this weekend. I hope she likes them.

Christy's Vanity

We bought this vanity at a yard sale for $25. The finish was in very rough shape, but it was really sturdy and Christy loved it. This is the before picture.

Then I stripped it.



I'll post the painted pics later.

Hunting Hat

Last night I finished my first hat. Chris wanted a camo hat for hunting. I started it Saturday evening and finished it Monday evening. It went very quickly and seeing as how I made up the pattern as I went, I think it turned out very nice. I enjoyed it so much that I'm now filling orders from my girls. Rachel's is first. It will have a rolled edge and be knit with a cream yarn.