Molly's Mukluks

When I saw this pattern, I simply could not RESIST giving it a go.
And a go it has been :).
It's probably the most challenging piece I've done, considering it was a pattern from part of a series and I had to figure out some of the stitches without all the pattern information at hand. PLUS, I fell in love with a gorgeous chunky wool that was JUST PERFECT, but not the easiest to crochet with ;).

So, even though there are only two in a set, each boot has been reworked several times, so I feel like I've actually made a couple of pairs!

BUT, it was so worth it.
Aren't they adorable :)?

I got the pattern from CrochetMe - a site offering free and sellable patterns. This particular pattern was from their Baby Series. If you're into stitching, check it out because there are some adorable little patterns there!!!

Now, I am in the process of FINISHING projects before starting up anything new. Because I have a few big projects on the horizon and I'll need time and energy for those. That includes crochet projects. However, I might put together a pattern and just-perfect wool tote for the van, just in case ;).....

I'm BA-ACK!

Well, that was an unofficial blogging hiatus.
In fact, I was tempted a few times to post this pic...

Except that we haven't really "gone fishing" ...

...We've survived furniture shopping with three girls 5 and under AND managed to decide on a lovely living room furniture set (since we've been married officially, as of yesterday, for twelve years now :P, we figured it was okay to replace our already-been-loved set with something new).

... We DID make it through the McDonald's drive-thru and headed to a park for a picnic. There was so much excitement in the air you'd have thought it was christmas!!! After finding a cool place to park, the kids jumped out of the van. Sweet K did her funky little dance, all the while exclaiming E-SITED E-SITED E-SITED (excited!! excited!! excited!!).

 

 

... Thanks to the generous use of Jon's parents motor home, we did survive a long weekend of camping in extreme heat and humidity. Usually we just take a gigantic tent, peg it down good and voila. Camping. However, this particular weekend was hot 'n steamy, MB style, and we were thankful for the reprieve. We had a great weekend of camping with my family. The kids loved playing with the cousins (6 kids, age 5 and younger!), splashing around in the lake, playing with Grandpa G's assortment of water pistols and so on.

In between the outings, we've eaten far too much ice cream :), kept cool with the water sprinkler, and enjoyed an unseasonably hot MB summer (which has been a welcome switch from the previous several rainy and wet and BUG-infested years!!). My flower beds are actually thriving; in fact some of my pots have suffered due to OVERWATERING. This is very unusual. They typically suffer from over-neglect!

We do some hanging out, some visiting with friends, and I'm trying to whittle down the stack of books that I optimistically signed out from the library but haven't had a chance to finish :).

These are sunny, funny lazy days.

And they are delightful :).

Thorns, Blooms and Grace

I was strolling through the gardens a few nights ago, and noticed something peculiar in my raspberry patch....

Now, as far as I know, lilies are not carried about by seeds.
Maybe they are, I don't know.
However, I do know that I have no idea how this lily bulb got transplanted smack in the middle of my prickly berry patch!

But there it was, blooming away as bright as could be.

And I thought about grace, and how even in life's prickly moments, full of thorns and weeds (you should see my raspberry patch, it has an abundant weed life!!), God's rich grace digs in deep and yields something so beautiful.
Even more breath-taking because of the pain surrounding it.

There have been seasons of life that I'd gladly have side-stepped - altogether uncomfortable and quite difficult. And yet, right in the middle of those pain-filled moments, God stepped in, and in His rich mercy, forged something even more wonderful than I could've imagined.

I am still tempted, sometimes, when I see the storm clouds gathering on life's horizon, to pray for an escape route from the coming storm. And yet, there is a knowing too, that the One who holds me is stronger than the winds that blow.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me
I will hide myself in Thee
Till the storms of life have passed...
And I'm safely home at last.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
I will hide myself in Thee