About us – Page 16 – Gracious Rain

January 20, 2012January 20, 2012

A Little Help…

Oh, sure–I have a busload of other projects that need doing but fact is, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this scrumptious little baby ripple project…for that “certain” baby.

I’m trying out the stripe generator for the first time, so that I can get a feel for working with random colors. It’s kinda fun–in a wild sort of way–to let the computer tell me yarn to use next. This way, if it turns out a hideous waste, then of course it would be the computer’s fault. If, on the other hand, it turns out to be the most beautiful thing on earth, well then, it will be entirely MY doing. I sure you see my logic.

Now then, my friends…I’d like your opinion. My wise and all knowing daughter picked out a handful of lovely, trendy colors for this particular project and I’m having trouble deciding whether to use all 6 or not.

What do you think? With the yellow?

or without?

You know, if it were up to me, I’m just old school enough to think all colors need to be baby pastels, but I’m surrounded by brilliant, modern folk who are educating me on the finer art of color blending. It’s scary, unbroken ground, but I’ll tough it out and hopefully be wiser in the end.

So help me…please.

Yellow? No yellow? White? No white?

I’m terrifically stumped…

but I’ll wait patiently for your reply.

Well, until the cookies run out at least.

January 19, 2012January 19, 2012

Reveling In…

right this minute…

~our hourly visit from Flash Gordon…at least, I think that’s who it is.

~a fabric stash that’s calling to me from the depths of the closet.

~Cinnamon Sugar donut holes–a most wicked, dreadful treat, that should be eaten alone to be done properly. Heh.

~a soft, cuddly sleeper for the sweet new baby doll up the road a ways.

~tossing a few lovely things into a skillet and having it turn out tasting beyond incredible.

~finding a “Random Stripe Generator” at a site called Biscuits and Jam–to help with a fluffy little crochet project for the new soul coming soon. :}

~a quart of soup from one of my favorite places on the planet…and a loaf of asiago bread–that would like to remain anonymous–to go along with it.

~finding that the sugary crumbs are nearly as good as the real thing…

until mommy catches you.

What are you reveling in right this minute?

January 14, 2012January 26, 2022

Soup!

January 3, 2012January 3, 2012

For Another Day

Every year, in preparation for the holidays there are dozens of sewing bags or craft boxes or piles of yarn strewn throughout the house–so that no matter what else is going on, in the event that there is a spare moment–somewhere, the handmaking can continue, uninterrupted. I love it this way, because these particular hands are just too fidgety and restless to sit still for very long, without some purpose–any purpose.

But something interesting happened this year. There were the same stacks and piles and bags and yarn, all with a certain important project to be finished, but quite often, a little whispery voice would nudge me to just put it down…and so…quite often…I did.

True, the Babushka ornaments will have to wait another year to get their flowers…

the button trees are only partly put together…

the girls’ headbands are nearly finished…nearly…

and the cards never got sent at all.

I couldn’t find the laminating sheets for the nativity set…

and the snowflakes were never hung.

But in the end–there were the same smiles and giggles and hugs that come with the season– even without a few “vital” projects–that no one seemed to miss. And for me, the conscious decision to slow down, and be present and enjoy the moment with those faces I love–

turned out to be the greatest gift of all.

December 16, 2011January 14, 2022

Scrooged… Again

Oh, we can’t seem to help ourselves. For the last few years, this season pulls us to the Hale Center Theater for another evening of “A Christmas Carol.”