I finally feel like I’m getting my groove back.

I’ve remembered I love blogging. I’m knitting in the evenings again. I scrubbed the floors.

Perhaps it’s all the water, or the diet, or the vitamins but I’m feeling pretty good.

I think I’m gearing up to finish some of the knitting projects I’ve avoided making eye contact with lately. But not quite yet. I need some happy cast-on, cast-off projects to gain some momentum. I think I’ve found them.

I’m still working on the Downton Cowl I began last week as part of Shannon’s knit along. The lacework is coming together beautifully – simple yet elegant. I’m taking my time with it though – not ready for the pattern or tosh vintage to end.

In the meantime I needed some nice stockinette to pick up while playing boardgames or teaching long division. Using the beautiful swift I received for Christmas (!!!!), I finally wound a couple skeins I bought back in the fall for a little girl’s hat. Poor Sarah has been wearing a poorly sized hat after her own was felted. It wasn’t really suitable – not for this Alberta winter when ears need full coverage. I followed notes I made during last fall’s tornado knitting and a stripey design the kids love, and lickety-split she has a hat. Ravelry notes here.

Now all the siblings have placed their orders and argued over which hat needs to be knit next. Little brother won that one since his head has sizeably outgrown his older hats. Orange and yellow stripes are up next!

I had a whole stack of books come in at the library this past week. I’ve been picking my way through them – giving them a test ride to see what I’m in the mood for. So far I’m undecided. Nonetheless, I have a most exciting book to share with you!

My sister, brilliant gift-giver that she is, found an amazing book for the kids for Christmas: How to be a World Explorer. I’d heard tidbits from it such as how to reinsert your eyeball if it falls out (!?!?) but I hadn’t sat down with it until three-year-old Simon showed me the proper defence in the event of a bear attack. It is incredible! Younger siblings keep reminding me that, as the cover states, it is NOT-FOR-PARENTS. The older kids, though, are just too excited to show me how to remove a leach (use your fingernail to loosen it, then flick it away) or instruct me on desert island survival (be warned: sea urchin meat looks like baby poo). I am going to tuck in with this book and a pile of kids tomorrow to see what other gross, disturbing, and slightly frightening things we can learn from it. So much fun!

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One last thing – I realized yesterday that today is my 2nd blogiversary! I’ve been rather erratic in my posting lately but this space means so much to me because of the wonderful friends I’ve “met” through it. I’ve been incredibly blessed by you – first time visitors and old friends, commenters and wallflowers alike. Since I love you all so much and you’ve been so good to me, I wanted to host a little giveaway to celebrate. I made a few box bags (based on Truly Myrtle’s brilliant tutorial) to send out in the pay-it-forward swap I joined in last year. I ended up with one extra – just the thing to send one of you lovely people. It’s the perfect size for a portable knitting project, toiletries bag, or whatever you can dream up for it.

Leave a comment on this post for your first entry, follow house full of jays on facebook or share this giveaway however you’d like (on your blog, facebook, instagram, tell a friend) for your second! Just be sure to leave a comment for both possible entries!

And don’t forget to tell me what you have on needles and in the reading pile!

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joining Ginny for yarn along

Thinking about the people affected by Sandy. If you’ve been along the hurricane’s path, my prayers are with you. xoR

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When I took these photos to show off the sweet plain vest I finished a few weeks ago for the wee lass I had a hard time. I had to absolutely tear my focus away from those curls and remember I wanted to show the knit.

I do love the plain vest pattern. And this isn’t my first time mentioning it but I’m saying it again. It’s simple and fun and oh so sweet. I knit this one in a beautiful malabrigo worsted that my parents-in-law bought me for my birthday (and topped off for me afterwards as I mentioned yesterday). It was dreamy to knit with this wool. Why don’t I knit with malabrigo more often?!

While our weather has been cold and colder, it’s been the perfect thing for our little lady.

(ravelry notes on the plain vest here)

I cannot end this post without drawing your attention to the mat Mira is reading on. It came as a beautiful gift from my dear friend, Irina. An incredibly talented seamstress, as well as knitter, baker, writer, and photographer, Ira continuously inspires me with her creative endeavours. If she weren’t across many miles in Lithuania, I’d be knocking on her door for sewing lessons and sharing many cups of tea.

The kids and I were so excited to open her package. When it arrived the kids recognized the Lithuanian address and remembered the last package we’d received from her. The play mat is a lovely tag quilt. I thought to put it in Mira’s room for her cold hardwood floor but instead I haven’t been able to take it out of our main living area. And I’m wrapped in it as I type.

Thanks for keeping me warm, Ira!

Visit Ira’s shop here, and her blog here.

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While we’re talking about staying warm – how do you do it? I’m cloaked in wool and still so chilly!

Also, those curls…really, did you see them? Everyone in this house is powerless against those curls.

When we came upon the baseball diamond in the park the kids begged to stop and play baseball.

We didn’t have ball or bat but they wanted to play pretend baseball.

“In pretend baseball no one loses!”, our peacemaker chirped.

Well I like the sound of that sibling harmony.

They took the game pretty seriously.

And perplexed passersby.

They played until someone accused someone of cheating.

So much for sibling harmony.

But, boy, they were awfully sweet while it lasted.

Well, I’m not much for getting blog posts together these days. There is so much happening and we’re (mostly) having a great time. And while I’m in no way ready for summer to be over (or school to begin, gasp), I’m secretly looking forward to the slightly more scheduled rhythms of autumn.

In the meantime, we’re enjoying visits with friends and family, market trips, canning adventures (and lunacy), summer storms, and long days.

Since complete sentences seem to be beyond my scope these days, or more likely at the best of times, here’s the bullet version of some highlights:

• I am head-over-heals in love with my clothesline. Some may call it a sickness, I call it hugging Mother Earth while showing the neighbours our underwear. It is a bizarre kind of high.
• Our baby, although Daddy tries to tell me she’s not really a baby anymore – I baulk at that, is growing. She is trying to stand unassisted and walking holding fingers, clapping with joyful exuberance, and just generally being a most wonderful little person. Plus her hair makes a crown of curls when she gets hots. There is nothing not to love in that.
• Petting rabbits is fun. I’m trying to convince Dan we need a couple. It’s doubtful I will win this but I have cute children on my side.
• I’ve been canning lots, but not as much as last year marathon of canning. We’re still eating our way through last year’s abundance (or excess depending on where you’re standing). If only Canada Post didn’t cost an arm and a leg I would send you all a jar (or two).
•  Currently, I have 29 – 1 ltr jars of dill pickles lined up on my counter and outside on my canning table*. I think that should get us through the year…
• *Yes, Dan – angel of canning innovation that he is, bought me a propane burner. Canning outside is a whole new world. I love it even more outside.
• I’m knitting again. I never truly gave it up but through this summer of unexpected twists and turns it was more an afterthought than a constant. Well, I’m back, baby, and I’m knitting my first sweater for me!! A shalom in Cascade Eco to be exact.
• Our garden is growing! And we are harvesting from it! This is an exciting surprise…every time something grows it feels like a wonderful miracle.
• I’ve discovered Pomona’s Universal Pectin. This stuff is amazing! Thanks to its wondrous gelling powers I’ve been making jams with honey rather than sugar. Thanks to that fact I’m now actually letting my children eat the jam I crank out so fiendishly.
• I finished the 10-day fast. I made it through, and learned things about myself, and will definitely bring fasting in more often. Oh, and Laura Emily, is my hero. Really, truly, she is an amazing woman. I’m so excited I signed up for this next adventure with her.
• By way of Anna Marie Horner I discovered this cause and this fundraiser – what an incredible program. I love what they are doing (and they’ve made donating so sweet).
• My genius friend (thank you, Sally) let me on to the BEST fruit fly solution ever. Okay, perhaps you are of the sort who is above killing them (you’re a better person than me), but if you aren’t and you spend frustrated minutes trying to catch the darn things while your family and friends laugh at you, ahem, then this is the ticket for you: An inch or so of apple cider vinegar in a jar with a couple drops of dish soap (to break the surface tension) left uncovered. I didn’t think it would work and the smell of ACV makes me almost as batty as the fruit flies but low and behold I had near twenty fruit flies dead at the bottle of the jar in an hour. Well, I never!

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How about you? How is summer, or winter depending on your hemisphere, treating you? Are you ready for a change or do wish it would never end? Happy Friday!

This littlest girl of ours has turned one. One year ago we met her sweet self – all 10+ lbs of her, for the first time. We’ve all been smitten ever since.

With five children coming before her we’ve witnessed lots of sibling interaction with a new babe, but we’ve never seen such love and affection shown to a wee one as we have this year. She is doted upon with fierce devotion by her older siblings. Smothered in hugs, drenched in kisses, guarded almost jealously. With offers to change diapers and feed her lunch, and a zealous protection of her well-being, these siblings prove their love daily.

But, of course, there is so much love in our wee Mira. Her smiles, her curiosity and her determination. These last few weeks our girl with a thousand nicknames has grown so much.  And we, her admirers, have watched with great excitement as she turns her eyes to more of the world, all the while wishing we could hold on to our baby girl longer still.

But, of course, she has big brothers and sisters to catch up with so everyday she steps a little further away in the pursuit of adventure…oh, but she always comes back.

Mira, life will take you many places; God is full of adventure, the world is an amazing place. But wherever you’re led on this journey, always remember your home. You can always come back, no matter where you’re coming from or how long you’ve been gone. From across the yard or across the world, you’ll always have a home with us.