November hasn’t gone as planned.
And while we’ve been battling a virus for weeks (no, not that one) I wanted to post a photo story of sorts of all that happened just before I got sick and I watched the month of November slip through my fingers. Wow, that sounds dramatic! It really hasn’t been. It has been hard and sometimes miserable. My house may never recover, and homeschooling hasn’t happened in weeks, but we will do our best to get back on track as soon as we can.
A quick run down of the past six weeks so these photos will make a little more sense:
My sister Abby visited! She’s the first (and only!) person in our family to meet Ambrose. I’m so glad she came!
Mabel got passed down Job’s sweater. I’m really thrilled this year to have hand knitted hand me downs because I am not able to knit much at all. Small projects only!
Here’s a link to Seth’s birthday hat. I finished it about a week after his birthday.
Lamenting my inability to knit much and Ambrose’s need for sweaters, I remembered a couple of infant gowns I knit for Job before he was born. They were easy to quickly rip back and add new bottom bands! I haven’t gotten photos of the blue one yet. This was a super gratifying project. It’s wonderful to get more life out of those knits!
Job turned eight! All he really wanted was a Nerf gun. We have been Nerf free for years and I hated to change that, but it would have broken his heart. I had Gabe buy the gun, not realizing the one I told him to buy was battery powered and super obnoxious! There are darts everywhere…
Larkspur went to a homeschool homecoming dance with friends. Jonny did her nails and a friend did her hair. That tells you what kind of reputation I have for all things beauty.
I worked on that beautiful fall music shop puzzle while I was at my sickest. Much of it was completed in the middle of the night when I couldn’t stop coughing. It was a nice distraction.
Beatrix turned 13! I got sick a little over a week before her birthday and was certain I would be well before, but I wasn’t. That’s a pretty sad bowl of ice cream trying to hold up her birthday candles. Friends came to the rescue though, and I think she had a good day. I did knit her a hat using goldenrod dyed yarn! I’ll have to get a better photo soon, one of her wearing it.
My big task this week is to help Keats apply to colleges while managing poor sick Ambrose who no longer sleeps on his own. I’ve still got a guidance counselor letter to finish. I didn’t mean to put it off until last minute. I’m really not a procrastinator, this is just how things have ended up. I’d appreciate prayers!
I don’t think I’ll be able to update my gift guides this year. If you are interested, you can find my 2020 Good Gifts guide here and my Good Books guide here. I fund this blog with affiliate earnings so I really appreciate it when you shop through my Amazon links!
I do have some new things that I’ve been working on here and there for the past couple of months that will be in my shop sometime next week. There will be more soap, some very special salves, and Keats is working on some things as well! I’ll do a dedicated blog post letting you know when everything is listed.
I hope those of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow have a wonderful one!
So many beautiful pictures! I hope you’re on the mend soon; it’s so rough when you just can’t kick a nasty illness. Rest up and take care of yourself. 🙂
Thank you for coming here to share updates, even when it’s not easy to do so. Every time I pop over to visit this space I find your pictures and words soothing to the soul. That might sound odd to you when things from your end feel especially chaotic or challenging, but you share truthfully with such grace and humor that it helps those reading feel like they are not alone in how they feel with similar challenges. Lots of love to your family dear Ginny!
Ginny, would you share what type of camera/lens you are using these days? I’ve been convicted to put down the phone and pick up a real camera again.
Hi Rebecca! My camera is a Nikon D750 (I’ve had it for five or more years I think?) and I usually use a 50 mm 1.4 lens. 🙂
Glad you are on the mend, its pretty bleak to feel unwell for an extended period and family life doesn’t slow down much for that either! Love your photos as always and favourited a few more patterns on Ravelry.
I’m on the hunt for the name of a book/author that you wrote about a few months back i think, an English woman in a cottage or on a farm and writing about her seasonal year. I hunted back but just couldn’t find it and thought that someone might remember it and be able to recall it for me please! Thanks
I think your are thinking of The Magic Apple Tree?
https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Apple-Tree-Country-Year/dp/0140064206?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1630153976&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=smalthin-20&linkId=b7a9e234df40a94b800ffe624229c4a2&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il
I’m sorry you’ve all had a rough month. Very best wishes to you!
The links for the ocean anatomy puzzle and memory game seem to be broken? Maybe something changed since last year? The other links in the 2020 post seem to be working.
Glad you’re feeling better! Thankful for all your knitting inspiration!
Thanks for the heads up! I usually go back and fix broken links when I post new gift guides, but haven’t been able to yet this year.
You do know of beauty! Your words and photographs are proof! It’s so good to have an update from you. Your updates always give me a moment for a peaceful getaway. Thank you and I hope everyone is mended soon! Happy Thanksgiving!
So lovely to hear news of you, Ginny, and all your dear family. Sorry to hear of the prolonged illness, that must be truly trying! Still, “this too shall pass”, as a dear friend so often reminds me (quoting Holy Scripture, of course!). Easy to say, I know, harder when living through it! Ambrose is just darling! Thanks for all the wonderful photographs!! Love the hat you knitted for Beatrix – is that one of your own patterns? God bless and keep you all!
Hello Ginny;
Sorry that you were ill. Hope you are feeling better.
HAPPY and A BLESSED YEAR BEATRIX HAPPY,BLESSED YEAR JOB.
HAPPY,BLESSED THANKSGIVING
Marilyn
Hi Ginny;
Happy to hear from you. Wishing Beatrix and Job a HAPPY and BLESSED Year.
HAPPY,BLESSED THANKSGIVING
Marion
Hi Ginny;
Hope you are feeling better.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY BEATRIX
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY JOB
HAPPY,BLESSED THANKSGIVING
Joan
I love your nature and outdoor photos! You make everything look so perfect.
I usually find the time between Halloween and New Years a complete bust, homeschool-wise – illness or not. I pray you are all better soon.
Any chance you could share the link to the first puzzle..the storm one? Would love to purchase!
Yes! https://buffalogames.com/charles-wysocki-old-marthas-vineyard-300-piece-jigsaw-puzzle/
Sorry you’ve had a rough time lately and I hope all is much better soon.
I’ve enjoyed all your photos, as usual. Thanks for sharing!
My goodness,
your husband applying the nail polish so carefully is priceless.
I am sure your daughter will appreciate looking at that picture when she is a mother herself.
I think these are the words of Sidney Poitier “the measure of a man is how well he takes care of his children”.
I thought of this quote when I saw the picture.
Blessings,
Sophie
What a wonderful Thanksgiving gift. I am grateful for your sweet insights and beautiful pictures. They are a grace-filled balm to my spirit. Keep up the great work you are doing every day, even if it is just holding a grouchy baby. Cheering you on with prayers and good wishes for good small things.
Oh Ginny! I loveeee your photos! I could look at them alll day!
Love the brown paper packages all tied with string!!
Prayers for all to be healthy and getting done all that needs to be.
Happy Thanksgiving! Lots to be thankful for❤️