I am updating my shop today at 1 p.m. ET. Sorry to let you know last minute! It’s a small update and there will be goat’s milk soap, sachets, and a few things from Keats: cutting boards and shawl pins. 🙂
Jonny and I took a walk down into the swampy part of our property a few days ago to look for winterberries, but there were very few to be found. I guess it’s too late in the season and the birds have eaten them. I’ve been doing my best to exercise every day, which is very unlike me. I like to hike, garden, push a wheelbarrow, or something along those lines, but exercise for the sake of exercise is not my favorite and I never stick with it. For two weeks I’ve been following a prenatal plan from Every Mother. It’s almost habit now, and I don’t dread it. It’s a miracle! Well, I am admittedly motivated by the fact that I paid for an entire year of this plan. (This is not an ad or sponsored post.) I am determined to do my best to handle this pregnancy differently than my previous ones because of my age and the pain and physical issues I am already experiencing. After just a few days of exercising my low back pain disappeared! That seems impossible, but it’s true! I am still early in the pregnancy, so I know that things will get harder as baby grows, but right now I am feeling encouraged.
I can’t seem to get motivated to start any baby knitting, possibly because this baby is due in July. July in Virginia is quite hot. I do have some of my naturally dyed yarn stashed for baby things and will probably start a fall baby something soon. In the meantime, I am knitting a row here and there on my Ardent shawl, and I knit an adorable red kerchief for Mabel. It was a quick knit and I think it’s super practical too. The pattern calls for about 50 grams of worsted weight yarn and results in something that will be worn a bunch, I think!
Our Silas is having surgery next week and he is very worried about it. He had the same surgery three years ago (a hernia repair), so he remembers what it was like and that is making it harder for him. If you could offer a little prayer for him I would really appreciate it. We have been snuggling on the couch every night when he starts to worry. Watching the new All Creatures Great and Small series has been a wonderful distraction and I love that we can all watch it together. We are taking all of next week off from school for appointments and preparation. I am very good at clustering lots of appointments close together. Next week Silas has a covid test and then a couple of days later his surgery at a hospital an hour away. I also have a prenatal appointment and two DMV appointments! The rest of the month will be fairly clear, so maybe it’s good to get everything out of the way in one week.
I was supposed to clean out our basement storage room last year during Lent and never did. I am not usually a procrastinator but I kept pushing it off because it’s just an awful job. I finally got motivated last week and tackled it because it is almost time to start seeds under grow lights and that is where mine are set up. Now that it is finished I am so relieved. In the process of cleaning up, I came across a copy of The Children of the New Forest (affiliate link) that I bought years ago to read to my kids but never did. I decided to read it myself to see if I think Silas and Job would like it. It’s a really great story set during the English Civil War and I am really enjoying it. I think Silas would love it, but Job is not quite ready so I will wait a little while before adding it to the bedtime read-aloud queue. Have any of you read it?
Alright, time to get a late start on our school day and start thinking about getting prepared for the snow that is predicted for our area this weekend. Leave it to me to need to grocery shop on a Friday with snow in the forecast for the following few days. Should be fun!
p.s. Here’s a link to the unicorn puzzle. Mabel just insisted that we do that one again. 🙂
Ginny, thanks for the link and for beautiful scarf.
Your blogposts are my inspiration.
Good luck, Mary
We had an adenoid surgery when my son was maybe 8…he was fine with it until we started the long drive there. The pediatric hospital was trying their best… their approach (sort of a fun, silly attitude, loud cartoon hospital gown, etc.) may have been comforting for many children, but was foreign to mine and caused some panic. Luckily we could leave quickly after and the recovery was easy.
Something that helped was that recovery was his special time where he got the attention (and ice cream in bed!) I’m sure you already do that, though. I imagine going in for medical things is even less fun these days than it has in the past, so hopefully it is quick, with little discomfort and a pleasant recovery.
And do you do something with the winterberries?
Awww. Poor Silas. I get anxious when I have to have things done at the hospital too, so I understand his nervousness. I will be praying for him to have peace. And for you too, Ginny.
Said a prayer for Silas, that he feel comforted and safe. Much love to you all :).
praying for Silas and his surgery and his nerves.
Children of the New Forest is fantastic. The BBC did an adaptation many years ago which is worth a watch if you can find it.
I so enjoy your blog and it’s rhythms, especially as my kids are all grown and out. I rarely comment, but hope to be able to help Silas a little bit. I was a pediatric nurse for part of my life, and giving routine vaccinations was a part of that. Kids get a lot of vaccinations when they are young, but then there is a big gap of years before they get their next tetanus booster. In that time, they’ve grown up a great deal, and remember from their young child brain. That results in a lot of fears. I would talk with them a bit explaining that. Please tell Silas that he will hurt some, and be scared some, but there are people and medicines to help him. Tell him that a lot of how he feels is because he’s remembering with his 3 years ago brain, but his brain is now a lot older and more grown and can help him quite a bit. It will be easier because of that, not as scary or hurty, and that he can say things to himself that help. He can talk back to that kid in his head telling him scary things. He was little then and being scared makes everything worse, but more grown up Silas will be there to help that little Silas this time and it will be so much better and easier because of that. Please tell him that I am having surgery this week too, and that I will pray for him and think of how we are doing this thing together.
I am happy that you are finding this exercuse program helpful. I will keep Silas in my prayers next week. Thank you for the book recommendation. I have a grandson who might find thus story entertaining.
Praying for your pregnancy and Silas. And yippie for the clean basement. Sometimes I put things off and then when I do them they are not as bad as I imagined them to be.
Nice to hear from you Ginny. Mabel’s scarf is lovely. I will keep Silas in my thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and a minimum of pain. God Bless.
Marilyn
Will be thinking of Silas that he will not be too uncomfortable and have a quick recovery. Love the red scarf on Mabel.
Joan
Hi Ginny,
Nice hearing from you. Glad to hear that you are feeling fine. The scarf for Mabel is very pretty. Silas will be in my prayers for a successful surgery and not too much pain.
Marion
Glad to hear you are feeling well, and yes of course will keep Silas in my prayers.
Your Ardent shawl looks almost identical to the Affiknitty Shawl, which I just finished , again #6. Love that shawl and this one is for me.
Take care and best wishes for Silas
PS: I am a retired OR nurse and OR Nurses take very special care of children, especially cute little boys!!!
Prayers for continued good health for you, and successful surgery for Silas, with as little pain as possible. Hernia surgery is unpleasant, so sorry that he has to deal with that.
Thanks for the link to the cute scarf for Mabel! I’m going to make them for my granddaughters for Christmas next year. Maybe if I get started now I’ll actually have them done. She looks darling in hers.
Prayers up for Silas!❤️
I read that one last year with my 10 and 8 year olds! They loved it, as did I! Can you link to some good grow lights? I think I want to try that this year!
Ginny.. I’m so excited for the new baby!!!
Over the years I have loved watching each new child come into your family, Mabel was a very beautiful baby and is still as cute as a button. I can’t believe how big all the boys have gotten and the girls have turned into such lovely young women.. such a blessing for your family? Will definitely be praying for Silas .. poor little guy… May the Lord continue to richly bless your family
Claudette
We will pray for Silas! Best of luck that everything goes smoothly! You are doing amazing things!
I am a Ravelry member but couldn’t find the red kerchief pattern. Would be such a nice Valentines gift. Any suggestions.
Sorry, I linked to it in the post but my links aren’t very obvious! I need to figure out how to fix that! Here’s a link to the pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-kerchief