This is usually the scene in my bed at the end of the day. Mabel goes to sleep next to me, and Giuseppe snuggles in next to her when I get up. He prefers Mabel’s sleeping self to her waking one. I typically do a few more things to get ready for bed myself after Mabel goes to sleep and Jonny carries her up to her own bed (or often Beatrix’s.) For a little while, I didn’t have the energy to do any reading at night, but maybe I just needed the right book. Now I’m rereading In This House of Brede and I look forward to it each night. I first read it about ten years ago, so it’s like the first time again! I hardly remember a thing other than loving it.
This is the belated birthday hat that I knit for Keats’s 18th birthday. The pattern is Ribbed Hat by Tammy Burke. It has quietly replaced his other on his head, so I think that means he likes it. My how a child changes between the ages of 12 or so and 18. Actually, I think Keats was 10 years old when I knit his first brown ribbed hat. Considering how many hats I knit only to have them lost, it’s miraculous that he still has it, and that it doesn’t have any holes in it!
Larkspur needed something blooming… Now the yard is full of early spring flowers.
Job had his first penance a couple of weeks ago. He will most likely never forget it because he slammed his finger in the car door when we arrived and was bleeding profusely when we walked in the door. Confessions are being held in our parish life center/preschool, and thankfully they had a first aid kit. It happened to be his middle finger that was injured and he greeted the priests by wordlessly pointing his bandaged finger high in the air when they arrived. It was memorable for all.
We recently celebrated Larkspur’s fifteenth birthday! None of us can quite wrap our minds around that. I think that part of the reason that it’s so hard to believe is that she has sailed gracefully through these early teen years. I see so much of myself in her, minus that sailing gracefully part. That is all her own. There was nothing graceful about my teen years. (Sorry, Mom!)
School mornings begin with our favorite Lent book, though we took a week off of school because I needed it, and I neglected to keep up with the Lent book so we are behind. That’s okay.
I gave up honey in my tea for Lent this year. I sadly drink it with no sweetness each morning. I feel like a spiritual wimp, and maybe just a wimp in general. I didn’t expect to miss honey so much! I have friends losing grandparents and caring for ailing parents. And here I sit, crying in my tea. I’ll blame pregnancy hormones.
Spring means crocuses and lots of eggs!
I excitedly ordered this “seasonal” puzzle (maple syrup season and all) but upon closer inspection, we all felt a little confused. Fall color, though a couple of trees have green leaves, snow on the ground, and I presume they are cooking maple syrup? The snow makes sense, but not the leaves. I told the kids to let it go and chalk it up to artistic license. In the first puzzle photo, those are the dogs wrestling at my feet. It’s their favorite place to play, which can be annoying and sometimes dangerous when I am trying to walk.
I knit these mitts for Larkspur for her birthday. The pattern is called Rowan Lace Mitts by Fox & Folk. They are a super quick knit, perfect when you need something handmade last minute. I highly recommend the pattern!
I have been meaning to write here sooner, but the days are so full, and my energy is just not what it usually is. I’ve wanted to tell you that our new baby is a little boy. I am a couple of weeks past the halfway mark and he is apparently healthy. Outside of the aches, pains, and typical body failings of a pregnant woman who has done this quite a few times, I am also doing well. I feel very thankful, but also very quiet. Pregnancy is typically a quiet time for me, so that isn’t unusual. I’ve not been quite so tired in the past, but given my age and all the responsibilities on my plate, it’s to be expected. I make sure to do all that’s most important early in the day, before the bit of caffeine in my cup of honey-less tea wears off. And when I’m feeling disappointed in what I don’t get accomplished in the second half of the day, I remind myself of all that I did before noon. I also remind myself that carrying a growing baby is important work in and of itself, certainly not to be dismissed.
Hi Ginny,
Hope all is well on your side? You have not posted in a while and just wondering if everything is ok.
I hope so too. I’ve been wondering the same.💕
I remember in the past I would always read your Larkspur birthday posts and get ideas for my daughter’s Easter basket. Now they are so grown. It’s so hard to believe. I love your blog so much still, after all these years. Those crocus photos are amazing too! And the wild iris! (I think that’s what that is.) It is a beauty too. Thanks!
I read ‘in this house of brede’ a few months ago for the first time and loved it as well. I remember being surprised by the elegance of the writing and the story and the fact that I only had heard of it relatively recently.
Beautiful, as always. A graceful teen is a wonderful thing; it was blessedly that way with my Lydia (though the year she turned 5 was a nightmare – I got it early, I think). I also loved In This House of Brede.
Hi Ginny,
So happy for your family with baby boy. I teally thought it would be a girl, although I don’t know why.
Bought the Mitt pattern yesterday. I love the knit of mitts as they are wuick and like you said perfect quick gifts.
Working on baby gifts here. A friend has new great grand baby twins, boy girl. Proud that I am knitting with Debi Bliss stash . It all smells fresh and new thanks to your sachets.
Take care now, rest and read !
Congratulations on your sweet baby boy. Our daughter just found out that our 16th grandbaby is a sweet girl (she has 3 boys and 1 girl and a little boy, St. Jack, in Heaven)..
Thank you for a lovely blog . I look forward it each time.
God bless all of you.
happy birthday to L! I drink green decaf tea without anything and it is good. I don’t think I could drink any black tea without aid. My poison is coffee in the morning and I am trying to cut down/out sugar, it’s not easy and fake sweeteners are yucky.
AND you finished a photo album for her birthday!!!
Ginny, I love watching your family grow. Congratulations on your next sweet boy!
The words and photos that you share here are like a sweet exhale, a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
About two days ago I wished for another blog post of yours so I was checking my email more often than usual (usually I check it about once a day). And here we go 🙂
It makes me so happy to hear all these news from you and your family. Take care!
This is one lucky baby boy – although he doesn’t know it yet.
I love everything about this post, Ginny. Everything.
About the honey-less tea: perhaps, after Lent, you’ll find you actually like it better without! That’s what happened to me years ago…I used to take sugar with my tea, but then I ran out of sugar. I was a student at the time and was too lazy to go get more, so I went without, and have been drinking it that way ever since! 🙂
Happy belated birthday to Larkspur! I look forward to hearing what you’ve named your little boy once he’s born; I love your kids’ names. In the meantime…take it easy, ok? You’re doing enough.
Much love to you.
Congrats on that baby boy….I love In This House of Brede as well. I have been meaning to leave a comment letting you know that my husband and I joined the Church on Feb 27th after 60 something years as protestants. Many have led us on this path and you had a part when you recommended Bishop Sarah’s book, God or Nothing. Thank you for being a vibrant witness Ginny. God Bless you.
Welcome home! And thanks for echoing a book recommendation – I am always on the lookout for something new to read.
So glad to read this update. Happy Birthday Larkspur. May your baby boy be blessed and a blessing. Take good care of yourself Ginny. The work will still be there tomorrow. Perhaps it’s time to delegate more? May the Lord bless you with wisdom.
Nice to hear from you Ginny. Glad you and the baby are doing fine. it is hard to believe that Larkspur is 15 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR
Ginny i was thinking of you and hoping all was well. You and your baby boy are in my prayers.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR Have a blessed and happy year.
Marion
Like many have said, I’ve followed for years and just have a hard time wrapping my head around Larkspur….15! Happy Birthday dear!
I’m glad you are in a rhythm with this pregnancy and a new baby boy will be so fun.
Thanks also for info on your knitting. I’ve knit several of your projects and they always turn out so nice. Those mitts would be great Christmas gifts!
Take care Ginny and enjoy the Spring!
Happy Birthday Larkspur, 15 years old, amazing you beautiful girl!
Love the pictures of all your Spring Flowers. My spring flowers are under snow, 30″ that we had dumped on us this past weekend. It’s beautiful and much needed, so am thankful for the storm.
I see you started to put your pictures in an album! Any method to this project?
Job, hope your finger feels better
Ginny, congrats on the little boy you are caring!
Wishing you many, many blessings, lots of contentment, and the strength any (and every) mom needs. Congratulations on your littlest one! Thank you for sharing your writing and pictures with us. I am praying for each one of you.
They do grow up quickly, don’t they? So, it’s nice to begin again and I’m sure he will consider Mabel his special friend. It will be such fun for her to be the BIG sister for a change.
Try to remind yourself that although you feel tired in the afternoon, your internal body is working hard all around the clock. So, sit down, put your feet up, take your needles in hand and get one of the children to read to you, tell them you are busy knitting a baby together for them!
A wee boy! How wonderful! Thinking of you often…..especially when we miss your posts….but so glad you are taking things gently.
So very excited for your new little bundle of joy! I can’t wait to hear wait names you are considering for him. And I can’t believe Larkspur is 15 (and Keats 18!). I’ve been following your blog for years and although I’ve seen them change and grow in all your photos just reading “FIFTEEN” still seemed surprising.
Many prayers going up for you and this little one.
Been following you and your darling family for years. Congratulations on the upcoming arrival of you new son. Blessings to you and your family.
Soooo happy, happy for you past the halfway point now—yay! And a boy…he’s going to bring so much light and beauty to your lives here very soon. Rest as much as you can. Let folks help you and be good to yourself.
Oh yay! Baby boy! My friend just had her first baby–also a boy, named Jonas–after years of trying so we are so glad to see his chubby little self here in the world! 🙂
I really need to overcome my fear of knitting mitts. I am knitting my first hat right now!
sending you a big hug! and hoping you can enjoy a nice nap when you need it. my favorite tea of late is “youth berry” by teavana. a little pricey, but easy to drink w/o sweetener, and it doesn’t even get overly bitter when you let it steep longer to get more flavor out of the dried fruit in it. 🙂 yum!
Felicitations !
Congratulations! I’ll be anxiously awaiting to hear (read) what his name will be!
So happy to hear from you. Congratulations on having a baby boy. The flowers are certainly blooming.
HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR.
Joan
Congratulations on the sweet little boy news ! Wishing you a smooth end of pregnancy.
I have loved your blog for so many years so I kind of gasped when I read that Larkspur was 15. It seems like she should be about 9 in my mind at least.
Congratulations on the baby boy! And being quiet during pregnancy makes sense. The work happening is so internal, quite literally but also figuratively. With five of my own, I don’t resume being “chatty” until about 14 months postpartum!
wishing you health.
So happy for your little boy – that was my guess! Praying for you!
I no longer have a Ravelry account. What is the name of the mitt pattern? I love them!
God bless you!
Hi Michele!
Thank you! I will try to remember to start including pattern and designer names instead of just linking to Ravelry! Those mitts are called Rowan Lace Mitts by Fox & Folk. 🙂
Thank you!!