Halloween Candy

To make this holiday a tad bit less stressful I decided not to make suckers to hand out on Halloween. I was at the store on Saturday looking at the selection. I just couldn't bring myself to purchase already made candy! I have been making suckers for the last 3-4 Halloweens and love doing it. I am just going to have to be super organized this week and get it done. Pictures will be posted soon...

Concert Season

Last night Kyle had his first choir concert at the high school. Sadly, I was unable to attend, but Jim was there. Tonight was Josh's turn. He is in the junior high concert band and plays the clarinet. This time I am here while Jim takes care of business elsewhere.

We are so proud of our boys and how they are not afraid to share their talents with others
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

When Blog Posts are Few and Far Between

I have realized that when I have something interesting on my knitting needles I rarely have time for anything else. Well, I have been knitting a beautiful piece of lace that has been waiting to be knitted for quite sometime. I found the pattern this past spring. I bought the yarn for it in mid summer. I just started it a few weeks ago and I am done with the first part.

I am so excited for this particular project. I am what a famous knitter and blogger, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, calls a "process" knitter (as apposed to a "project" knitter; someone who loves the end result only). I just love the process. I love picking a pattern, finding the perfect yarn and watching the magic of what can happen with a bit of string and two little sticks. Usually when I am finished with the item I find someone that will appreciate the item and hand it over without a thought of the time (or, if you are Jim, the money) that has been put into making the item. I just love the process.

It has been different with the latest project. I decided I wanted to learn how to knit lace. I found what I thought would be something that wouldn't be too hard. I bought the pattern and the yarn and then thought about it for a while. I knitted easy things like hats, scarves and socks. Even a baby sweater or two. I just couldn't start because I knew this project would be different. Well, it is! Once I started I couldn't stop and I couldn't bring myself to pick up any other knitting. (When I knit something easy I get bored so I usually have two or three things going at once) I have been working on it any time I have what I think is a spare minute. And the more I work on it the more I fall in love with it. I knew from the beginning that this would be something I was knitting for me. Something I would be keeping and using myself. And now that I am almost half way done I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. That light is shining on a beautiful piece of lace that I will be able to wrap around my shoulders. It will not only keep me warm(ish) but I will be able to look at it and marvel at the magic of what can be made with a long piece of "string" and two little "sticks". I imagine it will be something cared for lovingly by me and possibly by my children's children. I have hope that it will inspire others to start knitting. I would love to teach this magic to others.

We are children of a Heavenly Father who has given us this remarkable opportunity called life. We are here to learn, grow and create. For those of you who don't think you have any creativity at all, I say you do! (And so does Dieter F. Uchtdorf, an Apostle of Jesus Christ) We have divine qualities that come directly from He who created us all, our Heavenly Father. Because we are His children we have within us a part of Him. Sharing our talents and creativity with others is something we must do. That's why I knit hats, scarves, socks and even baby sweaters. But just as a reminder to myself that I can create beautiful things, I will keep this piece of lace all to myself. And every time I look at it I will thank my Heavenly Father for the talent I know I have only because I am his daughter.

This is picture of what I am working on. It was taken a while ago. Right now this piece is about 18 inches long. I have started on another piece that will look just like this one.