Love song for a sweater

The evening after I wrote the last blog post, I got knocked down by a sudden, strong fever.  Literally, Job came home, and I excused myself from the evening routine, and went to bed.  Although the fever was gone by the next day, I'm still battling whatever "bug" this is.  I've had varying levels of energy and malaise.  Job ended up getting sick too, and so did little "M."  We had to cancel our weekend trip to visit my sister in Washington.  We braced ourselves for a miserable weekend of stir-craziness, illness and dealing with the disappointment of the older (thankfully healthy children).  What are we going to do???  Hubby and I asked each other.

A calmer moment in the otherwise stormy weekend

Well.  We still celebrated M.'s birthday with a quiet, quaint celebration Friday night.  She enjoyed her treat of peaches and whipped cream.  Nothing too sugary for this sick little birthday baby!  She had no qualms whatsoever, and ate it up happily!

Funny Girl!!!

Chicken broth was made.  Naps were had.  Books were read, and movies were watched.  Messes were made.  Dishes were done.  Laundry churned.  Rains and winds battered the trees outside. I read some of the latest issue of "Taproot", and admired it's stories and beautiful photos, and tried not to hate myself for not living on a farm, raising chickens and foraging for edible weeds I've never heard of.  Amazingly, the kids got along with one another and made up games to play. Really, it was a mind-boggling blessing to have them play so nicely-- it doesn't always happen, let me tell you!   Job was feeling well enough to take the oldest three to church today, while I stayed home with M.

I managed to get out amidst the wet downpour this evening and pick up a knitting book.  Now, I may have also purchased enough yarn for a sweater.  I may have even chosen a sweater pattern.  I may have even joined Ravelry for sheer inspiration.  But I'm tentative to say "I'm going to learn to knit!"-- because I've said that before, and I got bored/ impatient/ lost and gave up a short time later, and I'm afraid it'll happen all over again.

HOWEVER.  I love sweaters.  And I would love to one day, be able to make my own sweaters to go with my self-sewn clothes.  Some of my long-standing favorite sweaters have recently "bit the dust," whether it be holes in the elbows or merely less flattering on my 'mom of four' body than it had been on my 'sophomore in college' body.  I've tried, in vain, to scour the thrift stores for new sweaters.  But the only ones I've found have holes already, or need to be dry cleaned (ick!).  I have not had success (or the time) to find new favorites.  I often think that the best thrifted clothes often find you.  I won't mention now that I'm currently wearing and sort of loving a garish men's sweatshirt with the words "Big Bear Outfitters" on it.  And yes, you guess it-- there's a big bear on it.  I picked it up as a gag-- something cheap to repurpose.  I brought it home, washed it and laid it aside... Then, earlier this week, in my feverish delerium, I picked it up in desperation for SOMETHING to fight off the chills.  Then it was so comfy I forgot I was wearing it, until Job saw me and started laughing.

SO... long story short, I think I might need to learn how to knit.  

Agatha

Anyway.  If I can't make a sweater for myself, maybe I can make one for Agatha.  Agatha is the Waldorf doll I made for little M.'s birthday.  I had a lot of fun making her-- it wasn't as difficult as I thought it'd be!  M. didn't really give her a second thought... but V. and S. played with the doll all weekend :)  Although I only know a minimal amount about the Waldorf education philosophy, I can say that I admire their appreciation for/ attention to aesthetics.  Making Agatha was  a much more satisfying experience than going to a store and buying something off the shelves.  Even though M. seems to prefer stuffed animals and kitty cats, I know she'll like Agatha eventually.  :)