May - Derby Day, Mother's Day

This is my new knitting nest. My husband bought the swing for me a while back and refurbished it. He bought me new cushions for it and hung it on our private deck outside our bedroom as a Mother's Day gift. I spent all Mother's Day in it - knitting, napping, knitting, reading. I woke up from my nap to this from D#1:

This is a rose from a rosebush that my mother started for me, that she started from a slip from her grandmother's, that her grandmother started from a slip from her grandmother. My favorite part of flower gardening is having a plant with history.

On the knitting front, I have been busy with Bella Paquita, but she is still not finished. I am having trouble getting the sleeves sewn in just right. My seaming is P-I-T-I-F-U-L! I took the sleeves out for the second time today and will have to work up the gumption to attempt them again.

For a little mindless knitting in those "I am so sick of you, Bella!" moments, I'm just working up a good ol' dishrag - or warshrag as D#1 likes to say.

I did not make it to Stitches South in April, but my friends were able to go. My good friend, Liana, didn't want me to miss out on any yarny goodness and brought me this gift:

The colorway is "Wild Thing" - doesn't she make your heart sing? Thanks, Liana! And thanks, Martha and Chris for sharing your stories and for the show-n-tell!

Also, this month, it was my privilege to work as a volunteer at Churchill Downs again during the Oaks and Kentucky Derby. Four friends from Nashville drove up to join me on Friday night, May 2, to work a 12+ hour shift manning souvenir trailers at the Downs. It was a long, hard day, but we had a blast. We were participating in a fundraiser for G.O. Ministries, for which my brother and sister-in-law work. G.O. received $47,500 for working this event! I've already committed to work again next year - my 4th year in a row - a great time for a great cause.

That about wraps up May for me. The kids will be out of school this week (although D#2 has had some kind of bug and will probably miss her last day). We're looking forward to our family vacation next month. Then, the month after that, we hit birthday season. Hopefully, Bella will be done by then!?!

Resurrection and Renewal

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "

--Luke 24:1-7

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

--John 10:10


Spring is all about renewal, rebirth, resurrection. I stepped outside early this morning and smelled the cool crisp air, listened to the birds signing, and saw those pink-tinged clouds I love so much scattered across that beautiful clear blue sky. Mornings like this are vivid reminders that He loves me, that He loves all of us -- enough to do whatever it takes to reconcile us to Him. Over 2000 years ago, Christ became a man to teach us how to live and love, to stand in our place and take our punishment, and rise again. Because of His love, each new day can be like the first day of Spring for me. I am a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. I am bewildered, stunned, grateful, whenever I consider this.

See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come
--Song of Solomon 2:10-12

Will Bella Go to Stitches?

It's 19 days until Stitches South in Atlanta. A few from my downtown knitting group are going. The jury is still out as to if I will go. But, it never hurts to be prepared.

Since one can simply not appear at such an event without wearing some evidence of one's work, and it will be warm in Atlanta at the end of this month, I am making Marnie MacLean's Bella Paquita. The cross-over neckline is a favorite of mine. After browsing through many finished projects in Ravelry, I chose Red Heart TLC Cotton Plus in a lavender shade.

There were several projects on Ravelry made from more expensive yarns, but the two I liked the best were from TLC Cotton Plus. I ordered mine from Joann.com and it only cost me around $25. Who can argue with that?

I am finished knitting the bodice and the sleeves. I am about half-way through the lace neckline (I've learned the value -- the necessity -- of using lifelines while working with lace).

Keep your fingers crossed that Bella will be done soon, that she will fit like a dream, and that she will be traveling to Atlanta at the end of the month.

I'll post some pictures this weekend.