A Little Nibble

Here's a photo of the finished chaise, resplendent (Yeah, I just used the word "resplendent" in a sentence!) in the new slipcover I have spent the last two days sewing:

More photos forthcoming of the long-overdue, fully finished living room overhaul.

What does God want from us?

The gospel says that we, who are God’s beloved, created a cosmic crisis. It says we, too, were stolen from our True Love and that he launched the greatest campaign in the history of the world to get us back. God created us for intimacy with him. When we turned our back on him he promised to come for us. He sent personal messengers; he used beauty and affliction to recapture our hearts. After all else failed, he conceived the most daring of plans. Under the cover of night he stole into the enemy’s camp incognito, the Ancient of Days disguised as a newborn. The Incarnation, as Phil Yancey reminds us, was a daring raid into enemy territory. The whole world lay under the power of the evil one and we were held in the dungeons of darkness. God risked it all to rescue us. Why? What is it that he sees in us that causes him to act the jealous lover, to lay siege both on the kingdom of darkness and on our own idolatries as if on Troy -- not to annihilate, but to win us once again for himself? This fierce intention, this reckless ambition that shoves all conventions aside, willing literally to move heaven and earth—We’ve been offered many explanations.

From one religious camp we’re told that what God wants is obedience, or sacrifice, or adherence to the right doctrines, or morality. Those are the answers offered by conservative churches. The more therapeutic churches suggest that no, God is after our contentment, or happiness, or self-actualization, or something else along those lines. He is concerned about all these things, of course, but they are not his primary concern. What he is after is us—our laughter, our tears, our dreams, our fears, our heart of hearts. Remember his lament in Isaiah, that though his people were performing all their duties, “their hearts are far from me” (29:13 italics added). How few of us truly believe this. We’ve never been wanted for our heart, our truest self, not really, not for long. The thought that God wants our heart seems too good to be true. 

~ John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance

I shouldn't, but I am.

Hello out there in blogger world.  How are ya'll today?  Good, good, glad to hear it.  I'm pretty awesome myself.  I've been way too busy for comfort, and yet here I am, feeling one heck'avuh sunspot just short of sublime.

Halloween was perfect.  Here are some photos, from pumpkin carving to trick-or-treating:



That's a photo of me up there knitting -- not "just knitting", but creating the third hat this week.  I had such an awesome response to my slouch pattern that I received two purchase orders for them.  This made me very happy.  It's so nice when one's work is appreciated.  I knit up one in pinks and fuchsia, and now I'm finishing up the second one in green, just like mine but "slouchy-er" as requested by the buyer.  I'll have it shipped out tomorrow morning -- yay me!

Today, I got up very near the crack of dawn.  You see, I bought some gorgeous fabric this weekend (steel grays and charcoals, russets and greens, golds and chocolate browns) and it was calling my name.  "Elle," it whispered seductively, drawing me out of a deep sleep.  "Come sew me, Elle.  Come cut and baste and create with me, oh Creative One."  How could I resist?  But first I had to eat breakfast, hit the treadmill, do a little schooling with the girls, run a load of laundry, take Prudence for his neutering appointment, skip by the chiropractor, and swing by the grocery store for a few items (my aunt and uncle are visiting tomorrow from New York and they've requested grilled cheese and tomato soup) -- all the while my new fabric, calling out to me, yea verily even miles away as I lay 'neath the chiropractor's deft hands.

I was positively itching to get between yards of fabric and my sewing machine.  At last, I was allowed to heed the call.  The girls finished up their school and headed to the living room to watch a movie while I headed to the dining table to begins sewing the first of my slipcovers, this one for the chaise.  I couldn't be happier with the results.  I can't wait to show you photos of the finished living room.  With the new telly and the semi-new furnishings, it's going to be divine.  Candice Olson, eat your heart out.

Squeeeee!

I wanted a hat.

But not just any hat.  I wanted a hat I could knit myself.  And it had to be a quick knit, something that I could finish in a week or less.  (I wound up with a hat that took me five days to knit, but if I hadn't tinkered with it so much, it woulda only taken me a few hours).  It of course had to be soft as it would be touching my face -- oh, and I wanted that brand of hat one might call a "slouch": sloppy yet sophisticated, loose-fitting but with stylish comfort, something that wouldn't cling too tightly and give me hat-head.  I found several patterns on Ravelry, but the yarn was all wrong here or the pattern too persnickety there, the brim too shallow, the finished product too small, this one not "slouchy" enough, that one overly detailed.  So I set to work and here's what I came up with.  My first real pattern, created by moi. (Yay me!)  I present to you:

Elle's Simple Slouch
Level: Easy
Size: Large (very loosely fits a 22"-23" head) 

Gauge: 4.5 stitches in st st = 1 inch

Materials Needed:

• 165 yards worsted weight yarn (I used Malabrigo Pure Merino in color #203 "Verdes")
• 16" circular needle, US size 7 (4.5 mm) or size to obtain gauge
  
• double pointed needles, US size 7 (4.5 mm) or size to obtain gauge
• 7 stitch markers, one of them different from the others
• tapestry needle

Instructions:

• Using the circular needle, loosely cast on 100 stitches.  Place your single "different" stitch marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.  
• Knit one, purl one ribbing for 2 inches.
• Increase, knitting in the front and back of the stitch, every other stitch (the purled stitches from your ribbing) for 150 stitches.
• Knit in st st until piece measures 6.5 inches.
• Divide into sections, inserting stitch markers every 25 stitches (25 stitches between stitch markers).

Begin decreases;  on every other row, decrease 2 stitches before each marker and two stitches after each marker as follows:

• Knit 1 stitch, slip 1 stitch knitwise, transfer both stitches to the left needle, pass slipped stitch over the knit stitch to the right, transfer back to the right needle;  repeat.
  
• Knit until four stitches remain in front of next marker
  
• Slip 1 stitch purlwise, knit 1 stitch, pass slipped stitch over the knit stitch to the left of it;  repeat.
• Continue in this fashion until all decreases have been completed.
• Knit second row in the round with no decreases, alternating decrease rows.
  
• Change to dpns when knitting is too tight on circulars.
  
• When decreases have produced only 5 stitches remaining in sections (between markers), decrease by knitting 2 together before and after each marker, leaving 3 stitches remaining in each section (between markers).
• Take out markers and knit 1 row in the round.
• In final row, knit 2 together until 6 stitches remain.  
• Using tapestry needle, pull yarn through these final 6 stitches and pull together.  Weave in loose ends and block (optional).

Change is good.

In the midst of all of our traditional October fare (anniversary trips, Halloween costumes, pumpkin pickin'), we've had a few minor "flip flops" occur in the Toph 'N Elle household.  But we've handled them gracefully, methinks.

First, my diet has changed significantly, as I've already described.  I've been doing very, very well (minus the one saltwater taffy incident this past weekend whilst on our Magical Southern Mystery Tour -- and I only had four pieces of candy, so I'm not so very displeased with myself).  My original goal was to be down ten pounds by Halloween, and as of last Thursday, I'm down nine.  Not bad, not bad at all.  Cutting processed sugars and flours out of my eating plans has worked wonders.  This weekend's eating out for Mexican and a trip to Cracker Barrel for brunch aside, I think I'll just make my goal.  Yay me!

In not so good news, our television died on us.  This was cause indeed for mourning as it only cost us $100 (used) and lasted a good six years.  It probably could have been fixed (the sound worked, picture didn't), but Toph was giddy at the prospect of a new plasma, and while I had hoped to spend that moula on a new sofa and chaise re-upholstering, being the wonderful wife that I am, I consented to a Best Buy run for a new telly.  This of course meant that we'd need a new piece of furniture atop which to rest Toph's newest toy;  our beat-up entertainment center had already lost a drawer, ripped off it's hinges (apparently the weight of an eight year old sitting on it is just too much -- who knew?).  So a trip to Target ensued.  What resulted was a $230 masterpiece I find myself rather proud of: a diaper-changing-table-turned-entertainment-credenza.  After some minor alterations and adding a few blingy, doorknob-sized drawer pulls, we've got ourselves a lovely new Lovely.  Yeah, sure, there's a 42" monstrosity lounging on top of it -- but isn't it pretty?

On to the topic of homeschooling.  It's not been going as smoothly as I'd hoped.  Emma and Vera are in third grade now, but they're still (apparently) not able (or willing) to partake of good schooling habits;  they chat, giggle and daydream their (and my) day away, meaning we're often still doing school as late as 5:00 PM -- highly irritating!.  So I've had to bestow upon them a more "public school-like" schedule.  It looks like this:

8:30 AM – Bible Reading & Prayer
8:40 AM – Math
9:25 AM – Bathroom Break
9:35 AM – Lifepac/Eyewitness Bible
               Language Arts/Vocabulary
               Handwriting/Copywork
10:10 AM – Latin
10:20 AM – Snack & Bathroom Break
10:30 AM – Readers Read-Aloud
10:50 AM – History Reading
11:20 AM – Mommy Read-Aloud
11:50 AM– Lunch
12:30 PM – Science
12:50 PM – Poetry/Music
1:00 PM – Art (Fridays) or supplementary DVD/video
2:00 PM – Quiet/Personal Reading Time
3:00 PM – Free/Play Time

Tuesdays & Thursdays:
3:00 PM – Computer Time

So far so good.  We're on Day Three of our new schedule, and school has thus far always been finished and put away no later than 1:30.  The girls are liking it because they now get free time to play outside or on the computer.  Mommy likes it because she's no longer nagging them all day long.

Next up: Halloween, a Date Night with the Mister, some fabric shopping (so I can turn my dashed hopes for a new sofa and chaise into new slipcovers for the oldies but somewhat goodies -- lemons to lemonade), and a Thanksgiving-themed party I'm spearheading for our homeschool group.  God help me.  I'm gonna need it.

Come January and "A Grown Up's Mac 'N Cheese"

I've been very busy the last few days.  But you knew that because 1) I've not been around much and b) I keep telling you how busy I am (when I am around much).  I feel like such a flake, but trust me, after the holidays I'll probably blog so much you'll wish I'd been given a gag order for Christmas.

So what have I been doing?  Let me see....  I've been keeping up with my running, though by "keeping up" I mean "barely keeping up".  I'm not getting any faster, that's for sure.  I'm lucky if I have enough time to do a mile and a quarter (approximately 20 minutes) twice a week.  I'd hoped to make it to another 5K the first weekend in November, but I don't think I'll be ready -- that and, honestly, I'm going to want a weekend of vegging at home, no plans, just me and the spinning wheel, maybe some knitting needles.

Speaking of, I've been spinning a little.  I now have just over 500 yards of that luscious natural brown wool I told you about a while back.  I just might be able to eek out enough yardage for the sweater I want to knit with it.  Fingers are staying crossed on that one.

We're going to be away from home the next two weekends.  Tomorrow the family and I leave for a three-day hiking and horse riding adventure.  The girls are tickled pink about getting on horseback for the first time, and I'm excited about mounting one again.  I haven't been on horseback since I was in Colorado, and ever since I've been chomping at the bit (pun intended).  I wish we lived close enough for me to go riding once or twice a month, but we don't.  So I'm going to make the most of this weekend.  Yee-haw!

Toph and I will celebrate our 12th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday.  We went ahead and exchanged gifts last night (since we'll be with the kids on Saturday, hence no real private time to speak of).  The traditional gifts are silk or linen, so I got my beach-loving man a silk Tommy Bahama shirt and a twelve year bottle of rum.  He didn't go the traditional route this year;  nevertheless, I'm very pleased with my gift: a handmade, personal tea infuser from Fair Trade Winds (which supports fair wages for artisans) and a yearly membership in the Tea of The Month Club from The Tea Table ('cause I love me a cuppa hot tea).

Next weekend is The Holiday of the Year (for me): Halloween.  The girls' costumes are all sewn up, just a few minor accessory additions and we'll be good to go.  This year we're taking our ladies to The Home Town for the weekend.  They'll get to see their grandparents, go trick-or-treating at the haunts Toph and I grew up with, and I'll get a date night (on Friday the 30th) with my husband.  He and I are planning to go fabric shopping (for new sofa and chaise slipcovers to be sewn by me in my "spare time" *snort*), then a movie and dinner at a really nice Italian restaurant, followed by coffee at our favorite local barista.  Ah yes, totally looking forward to that.

Right now, though, I've got to take off and get a shower.  I'm all sweaty from my minimal run, and Maggie's got her last soccer game of the season at 5:00 PM.  I leave you now with a recipe for "A Grown Up's Mac 'N Cheese" (also suitable for children) -- it, along with a leafy green salad, is what's for dinner tonight.  Enjoy (I know we will)!


A Grown-Ups Mac 'N Cheese
serves 6

13 oz whole grain pasta (shells, rotini, etc.)
1 Tbl olive oil
2 Tbl butter
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup diced zucchini
salt and pepper to taste
3 T whole grain spelt flour
12 oz evaporated skim milk
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 cups grated extra sharp cheddar
1 cup crushed seasoned croutons
1 cup wheat bran

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat a 13x9 pan with no-stick spray.
  
• Cook and drain pasta according to directions.  Set aside.
• Heat butter and olive oil over medium heat.  Saute onion and zucchini approximately 5 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle flour over veggies and stir to coat.  Add skim milk, chicken broth, and nutmeg;  bring to a boil;  turn down and simmer about 5 minutes to thicken.  Stir in cheddar to melt then add pasta.  
• In a seperate bowl, mix crushed croutons with wheat bran.
• Add pasta to pan, top with crouton mixture, and bake 10-15 minutes.  Serve hot.
  

Baby it's frickin' COLD outside!

The family headed off to a local(ish) pumpkin farm yesterday, horked over $35, then proceeded to traipse around pumpkin fields, a small petting zoo, and a hayride amid the fifty degree weather.  I know, I know, fifty degrees should feel downright balmy to normal folks, but the wind chill was about forty, and it was all wet and yucky and overcast.  We were cold.  C-O-L-D, cold, you hear me?  I had visions of fingerless mitts and knitted hats dancing through my head.

But here are some pictures that make it look like we had at least a teeny bit of fun ('cause we did, really).

 

 

 

 

Staying Up-Beat

Just a quickie blog post before I head back to the trusty spinning wheel for the evening.  Been super busy, but it's been a good kind of busy, so I'm not feeling stressed, just blessed.

(Too cheesy?)

It's been raining cats and dogs here.  (Does the Deep South have a monsoon season?  Seriously, where is all of this water coming from?)  So the girls haven't had a soccer game in I don't know how long.  They probably won't have one tomorrow night either, nor on Saturday (the time of week when the soccer league has been attempting to schedule make-up games).  This could bum me out, but I'm not letting it -- just means I have more time to spend at home doing all that I enjoy.

Which brings me to the subject of fiber.  I purchased some lovely brown CVM wool roving a while back.  I'm spinning it now in the hopes that I'll have enough to knit into another sweater.  I've gotten in contact with the originator of the wool and she says the animal it's from has passed on to that great big sheep pasture in the sky;  this means no future perfectly matched wool, in case I run out, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed there's enough yardage when all is said and done.  So far I've managed 288 yards of fingering weight, with another 280 or so almost ready to ply up.  I may not have enough -- which could bum me out, but I'm not letting it.

(See the theme here?)

I spent all day with a seamstress friend, helping her help me in the making of my girls' Halloween costumes.  My daughters have been studying Native Americans and the impact of Western civilization on the American continents.  So Emma and Vera will be American Indians while Maggie will be a Pilgrim.  The costumes looked awesome when I left them (only 1/3 of the way finished) with my friend this afternoon (I had to get home to make dinner -- and blog), so I'm very excited to see the girls in the finished ensembles.

Speaking of dinner, we're having Chicken Chili Mole Tacos tonight.   This too excites me since it's one of my favorite dishes -- and it's totally healthy too.  Can't wait to enjoy a plate of crunchy deliciousness topped off with a dollop of sour cream.

And just in case you're thinking "uh-oh, she's falling off the wagon", think it not my friends.  I am down a total of seven pounds in two weeks.  Yes, believe it!  My goal is to be down at least ten by Halloween, fifteen by Thanksgiving, and twenty by Christmas with my ultimate weight goal to be a total loss of 40-45 pounds (putting me at weighing approximately 160-165 pounds) by mid March.  I can totally do that.  So I will.

And now you're all caught up.  Off to make dinner and spin a bit.  Chip-chip-cheerio!