How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Ok, I recognize that this week was the official start of the summer season (and the solstice is a month away), but we have had the weather and the vacation already, so I am going to share.

The family and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and take some much needed time away by camping out at the beautiful Lake Ouachita. The particular campground we chose is my absolute favorite place to camp. And I must add that this was the best camping trip I've had in years. So good, in fact, that it didn't bother me in the least when no one remembered Mother's Day. 

Part of the reason it was such a good trip is due to my hubby. This sweet man decided that since camping trips have traditionally been a lot of extra work - and hence no vacation - for me, he was going to make sure everyone pitched in and did their fair share. And he succeeded fabulously. 

I can't think of a better place to have morning devotions. Prayer takes on a whole new atmosphere, Bible study becomes deeper and more meaningful, and God feels so much closer when you are surrounded by creation. And the object lessons are out of this world.

While Hubby and the children did a lot of canoeing and swimming (cold, too cold!), I mostly enjoyed the scenery and the weather - which was absolutely gorgeous (with one exception, but that was timed perfectly, since the rain was overnight and while we were at church and didn't mar our outside time at all). I walked a bit, canoed a bit, rode my bike a bit - and knit a lot. I was on a deadline to finish a shawl for a friend's graduation. I chose Troy's Folly because it is beautiful and had a lot of simple stockinette to balance out the lace, which isn't my favorite thing to knit. (And it was the right size and yardage for the yarn I wanted to use.)

My sister, who is also the designer, blocked it for me when she came to visit (more about that in a bit). The yarn was hand dyed by me on a KnitPicks base. The colorway was totally an accident, the dye broke during the process, but oh, what a lovely result.

When I wasn't knitting, we went hiking together as a family. We found a previously unexplored (by us) trail with beautiful, huge trees and plenty of lovely scenery to admire. And as is usual in Arkansas, the relatively short trail meandered through several different biomes, each with its own unique and wonderful characteristics - so it was not only a thoroughly enjoyable hike, it was an interesting learning experience.

My son was afraid people would think he was hugging the tree. While he is a lover of the outdoors, I assured him that I would assure you it wasn't so. He is simply demonstrating the size of the tree.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (ok, baby fowl do not qualify as a ranch, but I digress), our new babies were thriving under the care of our neighbors. Just before we left, we acquired a rather large number (for vegans with no use for chickens) of pullets, six baby ducks, and a turkey. Don't ask why, I can only say that I am not to be trusted in a feed store in the spring. I love them all. (While pullets aren't terribly expensive, building a coop with an attached run to protect them from foxes, stray dogs, and owls is. I scavenged as much as possible, but, um, whoa.)

Today was liberation day for them, the first time they were allowed to free range during the daytime. All went well, and all went peacefully to bed in the pen to be locked in for the night. Whew. (No comment on the nine tiny guineas currently residing in a box in the dining room. Not to be trusted, I tell you.)

After we returned, we helped out with some meetings and then the real fun began. My sister came to visit! I hadn't seen her in a year and we tried to squeeze as much as possible into the week she was able to stay.

The thing we were looking forward to the most was dyeing. Usually we dye yarn, but this time we focused on silk scarves and shawls. We tried wax resist, tie-dyeing, and anything else we could think of. 

It was so much fun, and so addictive I think I could happily do it for a living (and I may try that someday). After all was said and done, my sister took most of the finished scarves home with her (only fair since she paid for them, and I don't really wear scarves). My daughter and I kept our favorites, though.

Did I mention how much I love dyeing things?

Another thing we always do when she visits is go craft store hopping. It was a great opportunity for me to pick up some stitch marker supplies, and as a result I have added several new items to my Etsy shop. My absolute favorites are these:

Knitting mood markers! Each set of two beads comes with a fun chart to help you determine your knitting mood. Feeling stressed? Garter stitch scarves. Relaxed? Lace shawls. Plus other great suggestions. They are  a bit pricier than my other items, but totally worth it.

I hope your summer vacation is as fun and fulfilling as mine was, and that you encounter many wonderful object lessons from the Lord.

God bless,

JJ

Families in the Family of God

My family has recently returned from our annual trip to Oklahoma Family Camp Meeting. Five fun-filled, Spirit-filled, friend-filled days spent with each other - it has become our favorite holiday and best vacation tradition. We attend every year, and I must say - wow! what a blessing, it gets better each year.

Put on by Restoration International and hosted by our friends Mike and Connie, Family Camp is one of the reasons my husband and I are still going strong and our children love the Lord. There are inspiring, timely, helpful messages interspersed with lots of great music, yummy food, wonderful friends, and uplifting conversation. Plus, plenty of time in the beautiful outdoors - canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, and playing family freeze tag. 

You should attend. Your spouse, your children, your soul will thank you. And it doesn't matter your age, your marital status, or whether you have children in the home, out of the home, even no children - Family Camp is for you. If you belong to God, you belong at Family Camp.

I've included some pictures, just a taste. Enjoy. And come with us next year. 

My daughter's decorations were a great hit.

We are always one of the first families to register (and the last to leave). Don't want to miss a moment.

While the children and I set up camp...

Hubby took care of some last minute "transportation issues".

There was plenty of time to spend in God's beautiful creation.

On Sabbath afternoon, there was free popcorn and watermelon (from south Texas - in April - yum!). This year I was in charge of making the popcorn - 400 bags! - it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know the family that helped us.

Family Camp is by far the best way to make new lifetime friends - who also love the Lord.

Want to know more?

Family Camp Video

There are Camps all across the United States, plus other countries, too. 

Come go with us, you'll never regret it,

JJ

P.S. What's a woman to do with seven hours of car trip on the way to and from Family Camp? Knit of course! Check out the new items in my Etsy Shop. Here's a taste:

Of Illness and I-cord

Above you will notice a picture of where I have spent much of the past few weeks. Yes, that is my couch. No, there is not normally a neatly placed throw pillow there. Usually throw pillows end up on the floor at my house. However, yarn can usually be found there, and not only mine. But I digress.

I found out much about myself during my illness (it started as strep throat, became the flu, and ended at last. I'm much better now, thanks for asking.). First, when I am sick I apparently have the attention span of a two year old, only with less ability to understand anything being said to me. Thankfully my family members are old enough to take care of themselves. Theoretically.

Which is where i-cord comes in. I purchased (years ago) a nifty little machine that was supposed to crank out i-cord by the mile quickly and effortlessly. It was intended to make the long, braided handle of my Noro purse a dream. In reality, Noro Silk Garden is much too loosely spun for the machine and kept breaking apart. Thus I spent many a long road trip cranking out miles (ok, maybe not miles, but it was for miles) of i-cord by hand. Good discipline, though for what I don't know. (Oops, sorry, I am the Queen if Digression (and parentheses). Maybe we should just accept that and go on.)

Anyway, back to my nifty little machine. I've included a picture of it (gratuitous spring pictures of my flowerbed are completely free). Recently my sister was lamenting that she had miles of i-cord (ok, ok, fifty feet - to the hand knitter it's all relative) to make for a hat. I mentioned my little machine (which had not been used since said Noro mishap) and we brokered a trade. I got a box (!) of sock yarn, and she got (or will get) 54-ish feet of brain-pink i-cord.

Normally, I would have collapsed from boredom somewhere around 10 feet (especially since one of the little hook things somehow got slightly damaged and must be manually worked every fourth stitch) except for my inability to think (and knit, and read, etc.) when I have the flu. Hence, I was saved from death by boredom (I am not a couch potato unless I have knitting or a good book, and often not even then) by i-cord. Elizabeth Zimmerman may have loved that. Except for the intimation that i-cord is boring, she may not have liked that part.

Well, now I'm healthy (praise the Lord, I was sick for six weeks and beginning to think I really would die, and not from boredom). And thus the problem rears its true and ugly head. For in that picture above (with the lovely daffodils, I'm shameless) you see... 27 feet of i-cord. Yep, I ran out of yarn and now wait for another skein (sadly, this time it will not include sock yarn) so I can finish the deal. Only I have to do this skein with my full (ha!) wits about me. True discipline, I tell you.

Especially since it's spring (baby tomatoes!) and I want to spend every waking moment outside. Sigh. Such is love and the power of a promise.

And speaking of promises, I found this one:
"I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer..."
Psalm 40:17
(His flower garden is as pretty as mine, isn't it? Tiny wild violets)

Happy Spring!
JJ

P.S. There's new yarn in the shop! Some of which is perfect for spring. Colorways are limited though, just so you know. Thanks for peeking!

New Beginnings

What does one say when she steps out on a new path in life? A new business, a new blog, a new step in uncharted territory. I've wanted to do this for some time, but fear kept me back. That, and a lack of a reason. Now I have a reason. A new business venture, doing something I love for a reason beyond money-making.

I've opened a shop on Etsy: Shear Joy Yarns. I love to dye yarn, but my stash is full, beyond full. I don't knit fast enough to use it all, but I still desperately want to dye yarn. Plus I make stitch markers, but really, how many does one woman need? And then there is the sewing. What's a girl to do?

Sell them. That way her husband quits giving her "the eye" because she owns enough yarn to open a store. That way her children stop teasing her (nicely, of course) for running around with multi-colored fingers.

And the reason? I want to go on a mission trip. I want to go back to school. I want to serve my Lord with my whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.

Want to walk with me?
JJ