Yarn Along | Martinmas mittens

A tradition is to make and gift new cold-weather clothing on Martinmas, but I'm perpetually behind, it's sort of my thing.  Anyway, I'm working up these mittens for Roan with some leftover yarn.  I got a slow start last night, so only a bit of the cuff so far.

Continuing in lateness . . . I've picked up my copy of Gilead I bought midsummer and am halfway through.  It's a very quiet, contemplative kind of book, not much action so far, plenty of reflection.  It's what I'd call a "nothing" book because nothing really happens, at least not what you can see from the outside.  And no, I'm not at all saying that's a bad thing.

Roan looks like he has hand, foot, and mouth disease.  He had an awful night last night and just wouldn't nurse.   I've already got some roasted vegetables and a sage stuffing chicken ready for roasting for our simple feast, but I don't know if we'll be up to any other liturgical celebrations with a sick and needy baby.  We'll see.

P.S.  Some Martinmas ideas from one of my favorite liturgical bloggers.

Poe Halloween Printable

Halloween isn't just a kids' holiday.  Think about a grown-up party themed on Edgar Alan Poe, or even just "The Raven"--there's plenty of material there for a spooky, sophisticated gathering.  Using this print-out as your starting point, think of all the creepy creativity you could conjure!

I'm gonna be honest here, I'm jealous of you guys with a permanent residence that you can deck out in crystal balls, spider webs, and velvet pillows to get the gothic library effect.  So if it strikes your fancy, please use this and show me how you incorporate it into your Halloween decor!

Here's an alternative version:

And these would work great for invitations:

Pottery Barn's sold stuffed crows the past few seasons, but they're nothing special, and I bet you could find some just as good at a craft store or thrift shop.

(The printable will fit in a document frame; otherwise, use a paper cutter to trim the edges off to fit a picture frame.)

What kind of Halloween parties and decorations do you indulge this time of year?

∆∆∆

For further reading:

• Autumn in My Home--A Blog Hop on A Knotted Life
• Haunting Your Home on a Budget on Everything to Someone
• and another free Halloween printable in this week's Quick Takes

Yarn Along // autumn bonnets

Instead of finishing {the last baby bonnet}, I threw myself into making these two new ones because I preferred the yarn.  I like to crochet in pairs or threesomes.  The first go is like practice, in which I go slowly, make mistakes, and figure things out.  Then I like to do another one right away, while the ins and outs and pitfalls of the pattern are still fresh.  I had to get this right because September, personified, is a enthusiastic child, saying, "I'm here, I'm here!"  And while I'm sure there are some lovely days of Indian summer still ahead of us, the first of the month arrived with a wintry whim.  Today's been the same.

Next I want to crochet a hat for Afon.

That ball of yarn is my first wheel-spun thread.  The thick lobs are there because the teacher said it was a shame I spun so even, so we left some lumps in there for good measure.  "It's beautiful, lovely, lumpy wool," she said, "and as you get better you can't do it any more."

When I get busy crocheting, I replace television and movie-watching with book-reading, so I haven't got any further this week with T.H. White, but I did pick up my favorite random mag of mischievous miscellany, Oh Comely.

Yarn Along // puffs baby bonnet

Breaking out the crochet is a real challenge these days, as my arms are almost always full with Roan.  And when they're not, I have to guard the precious project-in-progress from Afon.

I got the pattern for this bonnet from {crochetlatte} (who is also my photography muse), and I haven't put the pom poms on it yet.  I might do little balls instead.  We'll see.

Reading The Queen of Air and Darkness from {The Once and Future King by T.H. White}.  Significantly darker in mood than The Sword in the Stone, but I love how White characterizes the four brothers, Arthur's nephews.  White really knows his {Malory}.

#7QT: In My Commonplace Book

Lately, I've been trying to keep a commonplace book of some kind.  I used to do this before I knew what a commonplace book was, so I'm sort of an old hand at it.   Here are seven examples of what's been populating the ole' notebook lately.

-- one --

{The Cloister Walk} by Kathleen Norris

Liturgical time is essentially poetic time, ordered toward process rather than productivity, willing to wait attentively in stillness rather than always pushing to "get the job done."

-- two --

{The Magician's Nephew} by C.S. Lewis

For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.

-- three --

{Dad Is Fat} by Jim Gaffigan

All moms seemed simultaneously tireless and on the brink of exhaustion.

-- four --

{Charlotte's Web} by E.B. White

People believe almost anything they see in print.

-- five --

Children pay better attention than grownups.

-- six --

{The Sword in the Stone} by T.H. White

Education is experience.  And experience is the essence of self-reliance.

-- seven --

[To learn] is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.

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Some good inspirational sources for getting in the mood of keeping a commonplace book, or just finding material worth collecting, are {Cold-pressed}, {Holy Sparkle}, and {Amongst Lovely Things}.

Do you keep a commonplace book or something like it?  If you're curious, do a google image search for some beautiful historical examples.  Also, {my new favorite movie with Simon Pegg and Rosamund Pike} has a really neat commonplace book/journal example!

Linking up with Kelly for {Seven Quick Takes}!

7 Quick Takes

-- one --

This little guy is six months old!  Half a year ago we met face to face for the first time.  Read about {Roan's birth story} here.

-- two --

We finished {The Sword in the Stone} and I'm so annoyed that there's no equivalent audio for the other books in our library system.  The voice actor who read it was marvelous, I'll try to find who it was.  But reading it for the second time, the character faults and strengths start out from the proverbial page, and the tragedy of King Arthur is making sense more than it ever has.

Now we're listening to {Princess Academy} by Shannon Hale.  I like it, even though it was slow-going getting into it.

-- three --

My mother is helping to take care of my nephews, so I've got both boys in bed with me this week.  Usually, Afon sleeps with her so that I can get up throughout the night with the baby without the one disturbing the other.  So I've been putting Afon to sleep in a separate bed and going to sleep with Roan in another; but the little man sneaks into bed with us each night without fail.

-- four --

I jumped on ordering {Chatbooks} before the monthly subscription price went up permanently.  It's $6 per 60 photo volume, and you are able to exclude photos in order to curate your Instagram feed collection or make an entirely different themed album.

One of my volumes got shipped out before I had a chance to look at it, and I was annoyed that reposted grams of other folks were included in my private collection, so I emailed, and wow!  Prompt and friendly customer service!  I am very pleased.

And the books are beautiful and so well made.  Since I don't have time for scrapbooking these days, I really appreciate the collection of glimpses into my life as something I can hold and share.  It's worth skimming off the extra $6 per month to invest in these.

Use the code above to get your first book free!

#lovechatbooks

-- five --

I need a new pair of shoes.  I'm down to two pairs: these string sandals that have lasted many a year and the recent Walmart purchase.  I could just go back to Walmart and buy a new pair, or a different one, but I'd rather put down a little more money and get some use out of them.

What do you guys recommend?  Something comfy but cute, and maybe that can be transitioned from daily mom chores to Sunday service.  What's in?  What do you have?

-- six --

Jim Gaffigan has a television show . . . your argument is invalid.

Watch the first two episodes on Hulu before it leaves!  Then come back here, and let's gush about how awesome it is.

-- seven --

On the blog this week:

• {Liturgical Lifestyle: Saint Benedict's Day}
• {Roan Reuel's Birth Story}

Linking up with Kelly for {Seven Quick Takes}.

#7QT: Reading, Writing, and Drawing

-- one --

Everybody not going to Edel, stand up and say "hey-oh!"

That's it?  Really?!

As for the rest of you, OMG, have fun for us!  I'm so jealous.  Charleston!  (Any other Southern Charmed fans out there?)

-- two --

We finished listening to {Little House on the Prairie} and are now on to {The Sword in the Stone}.  This is a mad favorite of mine, since I am an Arthurian enthusiast.  But it stands on its own as a pristine piece of literature for the ages.

I'm not going to be homeschooling any time soon, at least not Afon, but this book would be ideal as both a model and a tool for home education.  "Eduction is experience, and the essence of experience is self-reliance" says Merlin.  Wow.  Just think about that for a minute.

And White's knowledge of natural sciences is so thorough and the opposite of boring.  I mean, I liked Biology in high school, but man, if Merlin were teaching it, I might not have gone on the English major track after all, that's how good it is!

White's insights as an Arthurian scholar are really profound as well.  And if you like folklore and fairy tales, you'll not get a better explanation of what fairies are than out of the mouth of Robin Wood in The Sword in the Stone.

This was my professor's copy of Malory when he was in school at Oxford.  It's one of my most prized possessions!

-- three --

I hope that if you are here, you know Tolkien wrote much, much more than the stories of Middle Earth, though no little can be said for the masterpiece that is The Lord of the Rings.  But did you know he was also a talented illustrator?

I've found that people were much better at drawing before the age of television and modern entertainments.  I think it was just natural for the childhood era of drawing to extend further into adolescence and beyond because there weren't as many distractions.  I'm just conjecturing here.  But I've been fond of Tolkein's illustrations ever since purchasing a book that document some of the letters from Father Christmas he wrote for his children.

Now this new book is out with new-to-me pictures that are really fascinating; they remind me of Blake's etchings, and that seems fitting, somehow.  You can read up on {Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator} {here}.

-- four --

It makes me want to start carrying a sketchbook with me everywhere.  I did it in Rome, along with my camera, and now I have a beautiful record of my four months in the Eternal City.  I'm not a great artist, but I'm very fond of the Pre-Raphaelite school and of modern Japanese manga style.

It's my own take on Alice, in Wonderland!  (Suki is my pseudonym for anything fandom.)

-- five --

It's just one more thing that needs prioritization.  While I have small children, blogging is a great channel for creativity because there is no physical product that Afon can tear up and therefore has to be carefully minded and put away out of reach.  Even when I did draw, I was terrible at filing and organization.  I usually just kept all my most recent pictures in a grubby pile by my bed with my art things and then went through them when they got to be too numerous.  I hated when anyone moved or otherwise touched these piles, too, because then I wouldn't know where to find them!

-- six --

So it's probably crazy that I've got this little {Etsy shop} selling hand-lettered quote cards and prints, but I do so enjoy it!

-- seven --

A much speedier outlet is collecting bits of inspiration and things from what I've read and jotting them downing a notebook.  This is called a {commonplace book}, and this is mine:

It's a Moleskine, of course, and Afon helped make it very pretty with some pen marks of his own.  I'd like to get some sketchbook versions of these, too.  If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to custom make them some, and we can go round Etsy.

Joining Bonnie this week for {7 Quick Takes}.

#7QT: First Impressions of Little House on the Prairie

-- one --

We've been {listening to The Little House on the Prairie audio book} on my long drives to and from Tampa twice a day.  Would you believe this is my first time experiencing a Little House book?

I don't really, either.  I have some vague memory of Little House in the Big Woods, so I believe it was read to me a long, long time ago.

-- two --

That might explain the great nostalgia I felt immeidately for the heavy, wooded Wisconsin the Ingalls leave behind.  Or more likely, I prefer and have known forests better all my life.  I have to hand it to her, though.  Though I've never seen a prairie, and never really felt called to it, Ms. Wilder's gorgeous writing makes me sort of like to see it.

-- three --

Is it just me, or is baby Carrie crazy good?  How in the world does a family with an infant strike out into the wilderness, crossing frozen lakes and flooding rivers, in nothing but a canvas-covered wagon, go so far with me forgetting about the infant's existence?  I'm wondering if there's some heavy memory editing going on on Laura's part.

Either that or babes were made far hardier back then.  Cause mine would be all like, "Pioneers?  Ha, no."

-- four --

Any couple needing to brush up on their relationship might do well to read a Little House book.  The cooperation of Ma and Pa Ingalls is just inspiring.  The moment when they cross the river and Caroline has to take the reigns and keep her cool while Charles jumps in to lead the horses.  I'm in awe of how much confidence and faith they have in one another's capabilities.

Seeing it through Laura's eyes reminds me a lot of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.  Little House is a little weaker in that Laura has to spell things out for the reader, but she somehow manages it without sounding moralizing.

-- five --

That being said, I don't like Caroline much.  She's the stereotype of the frowning, disapproving mother, always scolding them and expecting them to act like ladies.  Boo.  I hate the strictness.  It leaves a sting of joyless Puritanism.  Don't get me wrong; I admire her amazing strength.  I'm pretty sure I would die out there on the prairie if I had to do the things she does.  But I'm also pretty sure that if we were contemporaries, we would have nothing in common.

I much prefer Charles.  Someone somewhere said that the books were his stories more than Laura's.  They are indeed.

-- six --

That common human decency is something that can be counted on is fascinating to me.  Charles is intrinsically good, of course, but then so are the strangers who they meet on the prairie who they are happy to call neighbors.

-- seven --

Last, there is a great deal of description put into the setting up of buildings and the living in the wilderness.  I feel as if I'm getting a minor education in homesteading what with the careful account of how to make a door without nails, etc.

When did you first read the Little House books?  What were your impressions?  Should we bother to read the rest of the books after this one, or is this as good as it gets?

Linking up with Kelly for {Seven Quick Takes Friday}.

7 Quick Takes

-- one --

As of today, it is Afon's third day of school, and I'm not entirely sure he's hated every minute of it.  But I do have to tell you, the break is nice.

-- two --

We were shopping late at Walgreens the other night, and guess what came on the radio?  That 90's song "Peaches" by The Presidents of the United States of America, followed by Florence and the Machine's "Dog Days."  It was, like, zen, ya'll.

Young folks, take a listen (the video is also great, watch it to the end!):

-- three --

Been putting this baby in his Bumbo:

Someone gave it to me before he was born, which was so sweet and helpful!  He'll only put up with it for so long, but I like that I my hands are free and he's still sort of engaged with me while I'm doing other things.

He doesn't like his Moby wrap because he likes to be able to look around when I'm wearing him, and the backpack is pretty impossible for me to take on and off without help, so I'm sort of in the market for a sling.  I think he'd like it.  I don't want to spend a lot of money and then find out that it's really hot, short, or uncomfortable, though.

Any suggestions?

Or maybe someone wanting to sell a used one in good condition?

-- four --

What I've been reading lately:

1 // Still--or perhaps a more accurate word would be paused--on The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris. 

2 // Afon and I read and finished The Magician's Nephew for his bedtime story.  He mostly talked/babbled through it or fell asleep, and in retrospect, I want to read the Chronicles in original publication order, but it was good to try out a chapter book with him. 

3 // Re-reading--or rather listening to--Mary Shelley's Frankenstein podcast on my iPhone during long drives.  It's neat hearing it versus reading it; and my second time around, I'm catching on a lot more to things that I missed when the material was all brand new.  Still one of my favorites!

-- five --

I found this in my Blog Photos folder just now.  Just playin' around with PicMonkey.

That was just using the makeup features, not the nip/tuck photoshop brushes.  Really makes you think about this airbrushed "improved" versions of celebrities and models in magazines and glad for publications like {Verily} who swear off the fake in favor of real beauty.

-- six --

Game of Thrones season finale?  I thought the penultimate episode was better.  Still, eager to see what happens.  I should probably foreswear the television show in favor of the books.

Also, dissatisfied about the death of You-Know-Who.  Isn't he, like, a main character?

-- seven --

If you haven't been around in a while or are new to the blog, here's what you missed:

• {Philosophy of Makeup}
• {#5Faves: Things about My Husband}
• {That One Time I Handed My Baby to a Stranger in a Waiting Room}
• {Photography as Meditation}
• {Jill of All Trades, Mistress of None}
• {Liturgical Lifestyle: May}
• {3 Ways to Fit More Reading in with Your Child}

Joining the indomitable Kelly for {Seven Quick Takes Friday}.

3 Ways to Fit More Reading in with Your Child

Jenna posted about {8 Simple Ways to Fit More Reading into Your Day}, and I wanted to throw in a few ideas of my own!  Especially with a special needs child, it's important to me to foster a love of reading and make sure he gets his literary nutrition.  Therefore:

I've read to Afon since he was born; even when my old-fashioned English father-in-law chuckled at the absurdity of going over nursery rhymes with a six-month-old, I wasn't phased.  I'm so glad I did.  Because now, in this hair-pulling, harrowing stage that is autism always-toddlerhood, he's still maintains a slight interest in book reading, and believe me, I capitalize on that any way I can.

Here's how we fit more reading into our day, other than the usual bedtime story.

1 // Read in the bathtub.

We gals like to do this; and with scented candles, bubbles, and a glass of wine, we call it the height of luxury.  But little ones can enjoy reading in the tub, too.  Which is actually listening.  And you're probably not in the tub with your small child because that would be very soggy for the poor book.

2 // Read on the the trampoline.

Or during any play in which your child is fairly stationary.  He or she only has to be half-listening; I've been enjoy the {Read Aloud Revival podcast}, which confirmed my belief that children do in fact absorb some of what's being read to them, even if they aren't the sit-still-and-harken type.

Afon adores the trampoline.  I can let him jump and jump and jump and jump and just read aloud; he's getting some tiring exercise, and I'm not bored out of my mind.  It's a win for everyone.

3 // Listen to audio books in the car.

This emerged from the root idea of listening to podcasts while driving.  And when {Brandon Vogt} suggested listening to books on tape as well, the lightbulb clicked on.

Think about all that otherwise unused time you spend driving every week!  What if you could turn that into fruitful time not just for yourself, but for your child?

∆∆∆

How do you and your children fit reading into your day?  Any suggestions that I've missed?

7 Quick Takes

-- one --

If you read nothing else from this post, skip to my last take and do me a huge favor by answering a couple of questions for me!

-- two --

I'm trying to make some positive blog improvements.  One of these is cycling back around to a domain name that makes sense.  It's going to change yet again, this time to www.everythingtosomeone.org.  But if you're subscribed or follow via Facebook, nothing should change for you!

-- three --

I'm also trying to improve navigation and finding it very difficult.  The reason is that my interests and topics of writing span so many categories and often don't fit into any.  My hope is to find a way to seamlessly integrate them all without having to lose either content or usability.  So I've hired {Bonnie} as a blog consultant!

-- four --

On Everything to Someone this week:

• What Roan Wore with {Whole Parenting Goods}
• {April's liturgical lifestyle} in review
• {3 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Photography}

-- five --

What I'm reading:

{Holy Sparkle} // A young mom making her way towards Holy Mother Church on the worn and mysterious path.  I'm loving everything I'm reading so far.  Can't wait to see where Chelsea goes on her fantastic journey! 

The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris //  I haven't got very far, but it was love at first paragraph.  I will definitely be writing more about this, so stay tuned. 

How to Blog for Profit (Without Losing Your Soul) by Ruth Soukup // Got this one out of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle, and it's such an easy read.  A lot of the stuff so far I already knew, but Soukup includes a nifty To Do list at the end of each chapter to help you implement what you've read and learned.  Just the kind of push I need!

-- six --

Last week in liturgical living:

It was MayDay!  There were no formal May crownings in our area, so we brought Our Lady some potted tulips and went on a little pilgrimage to our local grotto.  More pictures and thoughts on the Mary's month coming up soon, I hope.

-- seven --

A quick reader survey:

• What was the reason you liked/subscribed to Everything to Someone? 
• What keeps you coming back? 
• If you haven't been coming back, why is that? 
• What could I improve?  How can I better serve you?

It's okay to be honest.  If you don't like something, tell me!  Otherwise I'll never know!  (I mean, don't be mean about it, but you know!)

Thanks in advance!

Linking up with Kelly for {Seven Quick Takes Friday}.