Untangling the Skein...Sort Of

Last night I was finishing up the baby blanket that I was making for my granddaughter, Amelia, and I was having all kinds of trouble.  I needed to use a new skein of pink yarn to finish the edges.  I pulled the string that is supposed to unravel the yarn from the inside.  This usually works, but instead of one end coming out, two were there.  So when I pulled on the string, some yarn came out, but then it got tangled.  For the entire border, I had to pull a wad of yarn out, spend up to 15 minutes untangling it and then crocheting on.  The process was bordering on oppressive.  I prayed and that immediately helped me to get my good nature back. And I got an idea to cut a long piece off the top of the skein and tie it on and use that.  After taking many more hours than it should have taken, the pink edge was done.

Now I had a new problem.  I had about 1/2 of a skein of blue and I was hoping to add this to the pink edge in the shell stitch.  If if didn't reach, I would have to pull it out and either do a regular single crochet stitch or single crochet with a picot (a little knot) every so often.  I didn't think it would be enough, but I hoped and prayed.  When done, I had a small ball left over.  Praise God.  All ended well at last.

Now let me tell you that I have never seen such a knotty mess as that yarn (which is going in the trash.)  It was almost insurmountable.  If there is a knotty problem in your life, God can help you.  I know He will.

This majestic love and all good gifts are why I am so excited about Thanksgiving.  Have a great day!
 

Three Good Things

The first good thing I want to talk about today is that we finally got our first snow here in Michigan.  But Praise God, it was just flurries.  My dear husband had my car brushed off before I even got up.  I know snow is coming, the kind that clogs the roads and makes them slippery.  But for today, I am very happy to see a light dusting that actually stirs up the little girl in me who used to love the stuff.

The second good thing happened at the optometrist's office.  My eyes haven't been quite 100% since I got new lenses after cataract surgery.  My doctor worked up a prescription recently in Oct. and he did some tests.  My eyes are just doing their own thing, but today I was able to order a pair of glasses that will work for a time since my license says I need to wear them for driving.  It was nearly all paid for this time by my insurance.  And I got some cute new frames thrown in for good measure.

The third good thing is all of the smells here and there at this time of year.  I raked up leaves recently and I enjoy that pungent aroma. My son and his wife made a lovely roast and the scent was heavenly with rosemary.  Everywhere I go in the stores I smell my daughter's favorite, pumpkin spice. I put on one of those perfume strips from a fashion magazine and hit the jackpot.  I don't know what it was, but if was so fresh and feminine and wonderful and not too overpowering.  (I should have written it down on the paper.)  Near the end of summer, I smelled real licorice.  Oh, that took me way back to my childhood and the big case of penny candy at the little mom and pop store.

Here's hoping that you get some good things coming your way. One other thing.  These few weeks between the election and the big Christmas rush are so sweet to me.  I'm busy, but there is a serenity that just comes from this time of Harvest Home.  Enjoy your week.

Wonderful Words

Words are fabulous.  They are currency for writers.  We all try to spend them well.  Along the way, I have come across a few gems that I'd like to share.

Tenacity - In the book of James, he says "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2.3 NKJ.  Webster says that's tenacity, firmness of hold. 
I just love the idea of holding onto something so tightly that it hurts and never letting go.  I love trying and going on trying.  I may not apply tenacity to all areas of my life, but I like it as an overall goal.

Epiphany - My friend said this word is used incorrectly.  She may be right.  She says that it only refers to the appearance of Jesus in the incarnation.  Certainly it does apply to that and the appearance of the Holy Child to the wisemen.  It refers to the church celebration of this event.  Besides this, I always thought that it meant some bit of wisdom which came upon someone in a certain circumstance.  The closest thing Webster has to this is "to show forth" or "an appearance."  I still love the idea of some great thing hitting me by thought or emotion.  And I love the very sound of the word.

Eclectic - Webster says "composed of material gathered from various sources, systems, etc"  The first time I heard this word was in the first Bob Newhart Show with Suzanne Pleshette.  Suzanne (Emily) wanted to get rid of Bob's old ratty chair and she redecorated the apartment in a hodgepodge which she called eclectic.  I always loved Emily and her attitude and I loved that new word.  Now I decorate my house in what may be loosely called British Colonialism.  I have netting and a safari hat and beads and lace along with animal prints.  The style just lends itself to the eclectic air.

Well there you are.  Do you have favorite words? I'm sure I can come with a few more again some time.