Friday, May 25, 2012

Ready to Cast On for Camp Loopy!

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Sheri from The Loopy Ewe recently announced all the rules/parameters for the 2012 Camp Loopy – and of course I’m in!  You may remember mom and I went to The Loopy Ewe Spring Fling in 2011 in St. Louis and had a blast!!!  So naturally when Sheri sponsors any kind of an event I want to jump in.

 

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For Project One I’ll be in the Brown/Black Canoe.  We are to knit/crochet something from a designer not from our country.  My pattern is the Merlia Scarf by Elena Nodel – from Russia.  It is a gorgeous cable scarf and I believe will be a perfect Christmas gift for the perfect someone.

 

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No surprise – the yarn I’m using is from MadelineTosh – Vintage in the Antique Lace colorway.  Cannot wait to knit with this!

The rules state that we cannot cast on until May 27, so as you can see from the photo above I have my pattern printed and one hank of yarn wound.  We have 30 days to finish this project and I am so ready to start!!!

OH – and Sheri always has fun t-shirts and such for us to get at each of her events.  This year she has one of the ever popular tumblers – with the Camp Loopy logo – too cute!!!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Brooklyn Loves the Park!

We met the kids for dinner and had the best time!  Funny how you think you’re just going to go eat and chat and you end up with great memories.  :)

 

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We started off with a picture by the Giant Chicken outside the restaurant….

 

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… and followed up with a picture on the 3 legged horse!

 

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After we ate we walked to a nearby park.  Brooklyn had a lot of fun on the slides and I just LOVE static hair!  She got to giggling and did the slide over and over so that grandma could take a bunch of pictures.  She is so good to me…  :)

 

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Then Grandpa and Brooklyn started having fun with ‘Brooklyn coming down the slide and the two of them touching fingers’ – thereby setting off the static spark!  MUCH laughter!!!

 

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After the slide fun the two of them played hide and seek in the park, then back to the slide.  This photo is kind of a combination of slide fun and hide and seek fun.

 

Grab the joy any time you can – enjoy life with those you love!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

{Review} Beyond Hope’s Valley by Tricia Goyer

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Beyond Hope's Valley
by Tricia Goyer
284 pages
BH Publishing Group

ABOUT THE BOOK: Book Three in the Big Sky series

After an extended stay in Montana, where Amish traditions are different than in her home state, Marianna Sommer returns to Indiana for two reasons, first to help her brother and his girlfriend prepare for a baby and their wedding. Second, to plan her own wedding to Aaron Zook -- a marriage she’s been dreaming about ever since childhood. And yet, although she had missed the idyllic farms and families of her upbringing, Marianna is surprised that Indiana is somehow making her long now for Montana.

As months pass, secrets that were hidden in winter’s frozen grasp thaw and take on a life of their own. The truths about a child, about a past relationship, and about God’s plans are being revealed. Walking through a valley of questions, Marianna must hold on to hope as she decides where and with whom her heart truly belongs.

MY REVIEW:  It’s not secret that I love Tricia Goyer books.  In addition to always penning a wonderful novel Ms. Goyer adds tidbits that I’m able to mull over.  And sometimes those words bring a smile to my lips as I ponder:

“He smiled.  Wouldn’t that be just like God to make him a star so one kid would pay closer attention to the words he had to share?”  page 140

I smiled when I read this and then the Chris Tomlin song Not To Us (but to Your Name be the Glory) popped into my mind.  And isn’t it great when a fiction novel can do that?

The third and final novel in the Big Sky Series brings a satisfying close to this story.  Marianna is torn between her newfound love for Christ and wanting to conform to the old ways.  And that love for Christ resonates throughout the novel.

She’s also torn between two men that love her.  I was quite pleased at the end of the novel at her choice, though of course I won’t spoil it here.

Ms. Goyer does such a fine job not only with how she handles Marianna’s struggles, but also the struggles of other characters in the book.  She also brings to life, for me, the Amish lifestyle and the struggles they must have, which really are not that much different than some of the things we face on a daily basis.

I can absolutely recommend this book and the entire series!

My review of Along Wooded Paths

My review of Beside Still Waters

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

More info: Living Inspired and www.triciagoyer.com.

ABOUT THE PARTY: 




One fortunate winner will receive:
  • Custom Amish Wall Hanging {You choose the colors!}
  • An Amish Doll {Sweet.}
  • Amish-made basket {It’s picnic season!}
  • Doilies, potholder and an Amish cookbook {All items form Bird-in-Hand, PA!} 
  • Three book Big Sky Amish series {Be swept away by this captivating series.} 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 20th. Winner will be announced at "All Things Amish" Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/21. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and more! 

So grab your copy of Beyond Hope's Valley and join Tricia on the evening of the May 21st for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Amish?) and lots of giveaways. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!) </ span>
Enter via E-mail Enter via Facebook Enter via Twitter</ a>

Don't miss a moment of the fun.
RSVP today and tell your friends viaFACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 21st!

 

 

** Thank you to Litfuse for providing this book so that I might give my honest opinion.  To see other reviews of this book, check the list here.

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Sock #1–Socks of Kindness

I *finally* have the hankerin’ to knit again and more specifically, knit socks.  And though it was so very tempting to pick up the new yarn I got for Christmas… or the new yarn I bought on a field trip Saturday (more on that later), I took a look at some of my WIP’s (works in progress) and decided that I would feel much better if I finish some of them up before starting something new.

 

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And I’m glad I did!  Hot off the needles from earlier this evening, I give you the first in a pair (hopefully!) using the Socks of Kindness pattern.  The pattern is actually a ‘recipe’ that the author posted on Flickr and I really like how it turned out.

 

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It can be rather iffy when you use any hand dyed or multi-colored yarn on a sock with a lacey pattern.  Sometimes the bold colors can obscure the pattern, which is why I usually do a vanilla sock with many of my hand dyed yarns.  But this worked out beautifully.

 

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My notes in Ravelry from when I started the sock say that the yarn is some that my mom had given me long ago and at that time we thought it was a Lorna’s Lace yarn, but I have no idea the colorway.

And now I will make a confession for all the world, or at least the world that reads my blog, will now know.  I started this sock on 3/28/2008!!!!  I really must hate to rush into things!  

My plan is to go in there and cast on Sock #2 while I’m still excited about them.  SSS (Second Sock Syndrome) is a real problem around here!


** Linking to Get Your Craft On, Take a Look Tuesday