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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Menu Plan: Trinity Sunday

I'm not sure how I did this when menu planning last week, but I completely forgot that it was recital week, and that from Thursday on, I would be on high alert duty and Rich would be a single father. So, lots of the meals I had planned were moved around, and there are a few repeats this week.

We had our church picnic today, and having it in nearly 90 degree weather with a breeze was so much better than our usual summer picnic of over 90 to 100 degrees, blasting sunshine, and no relief. Our priest asked how we liked the earlier date and we all encouraged him to continue this. I suggested our former church's practice of the Tongues of Flame Barbecue and having the picnic tied to Pentecost. He seemed to like the idea, so maybe?

We only have two weeks left of our school year, though the truth is we spend the summer reading and learning, too. I always end the Friday before Dominic and Rich's birthday. So, now we're cramming things in, while nobody really wants to be doing it, as well as having all the end of year recitals, games, awards' ceremonies, concerts (including my choir's concert!), and so on and so forth. Busy times.

It's also our last week of local asparagus at $0.50/lb, so we will be cooking lots of it and pickling a ton. Rich is taking time to relax and rejuvenate himself by working on our (late) garden, but we only got a few asparagus spears this year. We were gone when they were ready, and so we're letting them go to seed to spread some more. Since we have no real travel plans this summer, we are hoping to have a better grasp on our garden here, and maybe introduce a couple pigs to raise for meat.

Remember that the Psalms are according to eastern numbering in our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles (II Kings is II Samuel in the west, III Kings is I Kings, and IV Kings is II Kings).
What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:16 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Yarn Along: Some Progress

Sadly, some of the progress made on Nejat's blanket had to be undone. Twice. I was trucking right along and doing pretty well, then I had too many stitches on one part of one arm of the star. Went back and fixed that and got to the next round (star?), then found that I had only done half the shell at the tip of one arm of the star on the previous round and had to redo that, too. I have about six rounds of the blue to go before starting the white, cloud border, then finishing off the star with the white. Then making eleventy billion yellow stars to sew on in a pleasing, random fashion. And I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to sew them on, anyway.

I started this scarf, using brioche, which I've never done. Using a youtube video, I was able to get the cast on on my first try, and I think I managed the brioche stitches pretty well just by keeping a glossary of brioche stitches up on my iPod while I worked them. I have less than a week to finish it if I want to get full credit, otherwise it's just half credit. But it's free money at a yarn store either way, so I'm not complaining.


I picked up quite a bit of yarn this week while at a conference for Rich's work. I met another director's wife at an evening event, and she drove me to the yarn shop, then we took a nice walk on the river front and talked a bit. She also lives in the same area that we do, so now I know someone else here. I kind of abused my souvenir yarn rule to get all of this but, first of all, they had some yarn that is often out of stock and hard to find, and second, they had a sale on MadelineTosh that made it 25% off, on top of my 10% off discount for being a yarn club member, and third, they had this yarn that matched exactly my ribbon that I've been holding against yarn ever since I saw it across my purple dress. It is destined to be a jacket of some sort to wear over that dress (and other things).


This makes me so happy. The pink was already turning in the first picture - I had to take it really quickly.

One of the yarns I picked up was the other color of the UV color changing yarn. I also picked up some cream yarn by the same yarn company. Both of them will be used with the other UV yarn I bought to make a "striped" shawl. When it isn't exposed to UV light, it will just look cream with some texture, but in UV light it will be cream, purple, and pink. That delights me. I plan on taking the project with me to work on at our church picnic this weekend, since I will be sitting outdoors and will be able to see which color each of the UV yarns is.

So I heard back from Knit Picks. It was a no. A nice no, in which they said that they liked the design, but that it didn't fit with the rest of the collection as they arranged it, and to submit again, but a no nonetheless. I had kind of hoped that if they didn't want it for the collection, they would make an offer for something else on the website as a single pattern. Rich and I had a conversation about whether or not these nice replies were just standard responses or if they meant what they said. We decided that it might be like if someone is unattractive, or not that smart, that you wouldn't say anything to point that out, but you wouldn't talk about how gorgeous he was or her astounding intellect either. So, we figure they are letting me down easy, but they might have just said, "Thank you for your submission. Your design does not match our needs at this time." And again, nobody has asked me never to submit again, so I figure that is a good sign. I'm going to re-knit the swatch in a different yarn (different color and weight) and submit it as a submission for a spring issue next year, and see what they say. If I get a yes from them, that would be great, and if not, I will work it up as a pattern for the fall on my own with this yarn, or for the Knit Picks IDP, using their yarn. I still have some issues to work out with my swatch for VK, but I think I have the other proposal ready to go now. There is another design I had in mind to send to IK for their spring 2016 issue, but it was a real Hail Mary type proposal, and I only have until the 17th to get it ready for them, and I'm pretty sure that they won't want it because of the type of item it is, even if they love the design, so I'm thinking of shelving it and working on it for Knit Picks' IDP for next spring, since it uses their yarn. Hint: This would be useful for next year at the Paschal Feast. So, at this point, I'm thinking that I will put my biggest effort into the other two designs, and if I finish those proposals, then work some more on this one, and if it is ready in time, send it in and see what they say, and if not, save it for next year.

Here's my weekly reminder to like Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, if you haven't already. That's where I put updates and testing opportunities and other design news. Your liking it gets me more visibility with folks who may not know about my patterns and that helps me. Thank you!

It's been a week of slight progress on my reading as well in both The Terror of the Southlands (Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates) and A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter. I also finally bought Coastal Knits: A Collaboration Between Friends on Opposite Shores, which is chock full of patterns that I love.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On, Yarn Fanatic Party, and One Project at a Time

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:53 PM 10 comments

Monday, May 25, 2015

Menu Plan: Week of Pentecost

This was the first year since we moved that we've hosted a Pentecost Tongues of Flame barbecue again. Lots of food and lots of fun. We're enjoying some rest today. The kids are sleeping in while Rich works on the yard and garden and I work on the blog, planning, and some design work.

We are not fasting this week, because of the feast of Pentecost. Then, we are back on our normal schedule of abstinence in our diet. Rich has been enjoying the Paschal season quite a bit and says that his pants are telling him it is time to return to some fasting and abstinence. I'm actually feeling pretty good about maintaining a good diet and exercise, even with our feasting, and have either lost weight or maintained my weight each week.

The heat is back, so we have fans going in the house and ice water in our cooler outside for the kids to drink while they play. We're doing a lot of grilling and quick meals, slow cooker meals, and so on, so as not to heat up the kitchen too much in the afternoon and evening.

Remember that the Psalms are according to eastern numbering in our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles (II Kings is II Samuel in the west, III Kings is I Kings, and IV Kings is II Kings).
What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:15 AM 0 comments

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Recipe Round Up: Quick Sesame Noodles with Cabbage

I started with a recipe that was posted to a Lenten board I read on Facebook. The recipe was woefully small for this family, and relied on a few more packaged/dried/instant ingredients than I wanted to in a recipe that already had ramen noodles as its backbone. I also added a couple things to it to bulk it up for our family and changed proportions to match our tastes. This was surprisingly easy, tasty, and an excellent dish for Lenten or abstinent meals, if you aren't avoiding all oil.

10 packages ramen noodles, reserve seasoning packet for another time, or discard (substitute refrigerated or higher quality ramen as you wish)
1/3 cup safflower oil
1 large onion, finely diced
2 1/2 pounds cabbage, cored and finely shredded
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sesame oil
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pound fresh or frozen peas (optional)
1/2 cup chopped scallions, to garnish
Sri Racha to pass at table

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook ramen noodles until chewy and soft, about 4 minutes. Drain and rinse to remove extra starch. Set aside.

While noodles are cooking, heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat, and sauté onion and cabbage to soften, about 5 minutes. Add in cooked noodles, sesame seeds, ginger, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Cook another 2 minutes, then add peas, if using. Heat another minute or so, taste to season with salt and pepper.

Serve garnished with scallions and pass sri racha at the table.

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 12:48 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Yarn Along: Crocheting and Yarn Club

It doesn't seem like there has been a lot of progress on Nejat's blanket. I'm further along, but I really wish I were at the white border already. We'll be doing a lot of driving this week, or rather, I'll be doing a lot of riding in vehicles while other people drive this week, so I should have more time to work on this. I also have two other projects in my knitting bag if I need to switch things up a bit.


My May yarn club shipment came this week, too: Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Pavilions. I really like this yarn and I plan on making these socks with it. It came with a few beads (enough for a rather small project), an "I'd Rather Be Knitting" license plate frame, and a pattern for a beaded shawl, which is nice, but I'd rather make it in a solid or semisolid color.

I did finish one of the five UFOs from last week's photo. It was a swatch for a design proposal to Knit Picks. And I turned it in Saturday, so we shall see. I should hear back by this Saturday. I like that they tell you when you should hear from them, with an actual date. I have two more swatches to make for magazines, and a proposal to get the final editing done for another magazine submission. Also, the UFOs. And I decided to add another project to try to finish by the end of this month. Because I need more deadlines. If I finish it in time, though, I will get a credit at the yarn store, as part of our yarn club. If I finish one of those UFOs, I will also get a credit, because the yarn was from the yarn club, but it will be smaller, since it is past the deadline.

Again, if you haven't already liked Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, please do. That's where I put updates and testing opportunities and other design news. Your liking it gets me more visibility with folks who may not know about my patterns and that helps me. Thank you!

I've done a little more reading this week in The Terror of the Southlands (Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates). I also skimmed through a couple books trying to decide if I wanted to commit. I didn't.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On, Yarn Fanatic Party, and One Project at a Time

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:11 AM 5 comments

Monday, May 18, 2015

Stitch Fix #3


Thank you everyone who has signed up using my referral link. It has helped me get these more than the once or twice I expected to be able to do so this year. If you are interested in learning more, I wrote about my first experience on the blog, and you can do a search on my Stitch Fix posts.

Some people have had different stylists, even when they were happy with the one they had had. So far, Liz has been my stylist for each fix. I'm extremely pleased with how she is doing. I think she is reading me and my style preferences pretty well, and also pushing me a little out of my comfort zone with clothing and color. This time I asked for lots of color, and she delivered. I asked for a denim jacket in either an indigo or a dark blue, and a pretty, go with everything, purse that would fit my wallet, planner, keys, phone, etc., without being monstrous. She wasn't able to find those this time, but will keep her eyes open for me.

Item #1 41Hawthorn Dita Sleeveless Ponte Dress - $68

I LOVED this color and the cut and style. The detail just above the waist keeps the dress from being boring, and while it is fitted a little in the hips and waist, it isn't a sheath, which is more flattering to actual, human women of any shape and size, especially if they have to do more than stand in one position. However, as you see below, it was too small. I couldn't zip it past the middle of my back. It technically fit over my hips and belly, and without squeezing or pain, but still doesn't fit quite right there, as you can tell from the wrinkling. If I can get this in a larger size, I will definitely buy it, but in this size, it has to go back.


Item #2 Market & Spruce Julia Utility Jacket - $78

This is one of my favorite shades of green. And the details on this are exquisite. Rich said that it looked like a boyfriend type jacket, which needs the cuffs rolled up to give the impression of wearing his clothes, rather than hers. It was feminized in subtle ways that delighted me. There is slight shaping at the waist and a little flare at the hips. This keeps the jacket from being too boxy, and follows the shape of a female body. Then there is the navy with white polka dot trim on the pockets and inside the lining. I wasn't sure about keeping it, because I am still looking for an indigo denim jacket, and this is a little too close to the same style, and I don't really need to have multiples of the same or similar style jackets, especially at this price for multiple similar items. However, Rich loved it and, even though he wasn't thrilled with price on it either, he thought it would go with more of my clothes (see my skirt above for an example) and could go with skirts, dresses and jeans.

Item #3 Market & Spruce Adler Embroidered Shoulder Knit Top - $48

Honestly, if I had seen this while shopping, I would have thought that it was nice and just moved on to the next thing. As I follow directions, though, I did try it on, and the color and cut and fit were lovely. This will be great for our hot summers, and the shoulders form a slight cap, so I think I could even wear this to church. I especially liked the lace and embroidered detail on the back and shoulders. I forgot to have Rich get a picture of that on me, though, so here it is laid out on our bed.


Item #4 Lavender Brown Blair Silk V-Neck Blouse - $78

Her note said that she knew she had included something that had a looser fit than I usually liked, but she thought the print and color might be interesting to me. It was, and it was a silk blouse, and I really wanted to give it a shot. However, it was both too loose in the shoulders and body and too tight at the hips. And it reminded me of nurses' tunics over their scrubs at the hospital. I also thought it made me look older than I am. So, sadly, this is the only thing I really hated in the box. I did like the turquoise color in both the lighter and darker shades, and she was right that I like big floral prints.

Item #5 Gilli Astra Sleeveless Maxi Dress - $74

The order sheet called this red, but I think it is more a coral, or almost mango, color. If I had seen this in a store, I would have fled. I am rather averse to orange, so anything that even tends that way makes me nervous. However, as I try everything on in the box as instructed, I was happy with both the color and the cut and fit. The ruching at the bust, the band just below and the gathering below that, are really flattering, and the coverage is such that I can wear a normal bra with it. Rich loved it on me, and the kids just said "Wow!" when they saw me in it.

The style card for this dress was the only part that hurt in this fix. I had asked for a denim jacket, either indigo or dark blue, and the style card showed this dress with almost exactly what I wanted. Only it wasn't in the box.

I think this is a success. Three items are staying, two are going back, but if the cobalt dress had fit, I would have gotten the entire box to take advantage of the 25% off discount, which would have made the silk blouse free (plus taken a little more off of everything else), and I would have given it to someone else who actually liked it.

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:45 AM 2 comments

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Menu Plan: May 17 - 23

We did have our Ascension Day picnic last week, after Jerome's baseball game. It was fun and the food was wonderful. I think it's the second year since we've lived here that we managed to do it. Next year we will try for picnicking on a hill.

This week, we have so many things going on, so I have meals planned that are either quick to make, or easy for other people (besides me) to make. There are no birthdays and no major feasts this week, however.

Remember that the Psalms are according to Eastern numbering in our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles (II Kings is II Samuel in the west, III Kings is I Kings, and IV Kings is II Kings).
What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:40 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Yarn Along: Starry Nights and UFOs

The rain started on Monday, and I haven't been able to get a decent outdoor photo this whole time. So, this is the best I could do, indoors, with my mediocre photography skills. I'm still working on Nejat's blanket. The pillows aren't started, but since, again, she doesn't even know when her birthday is yet, I can get those done as I am able.

The photo that follows may shock you. Avert your eyes if you are easily offended. They are all of my UFOs from THIS MONTH. These do not include the UFOs I have that I've put aside for the moment. These are just the ones I have been or should have been working on recently. Some are design swatches, so they won't need as much time or work, but still, they are unfinished.


I most definitely need to get on these. Especially the two on the left, as they have deadlines. I see some late nights in the near future.

Speaking of designs, I am going to try again with the magazines. I have three design proposals for two magazines right now. They each have a deadline in June, with one of those almost completely ready to send. There is also another that I am pitching to Knit Picks for one of their early spring collections. Actually, I am quite proud of that design. If it weren't for the rather limited number of designs that they are selecting, I'd say that this was a shoe in, but they are only seeking six to eight, and there will be a lot of other people submitting, so it's not quite so guaranteed. Again, if they don't take it, I will either offer it to them as part of their IDP, or pitch it to another magazine if it matches their themes (I can probably get it in for a spring submission, and if not, fall or winter would work, but not summer). If nobody wants it, I'll self publish. I told Rich that I had almost achieved the holy grail of cable knitting, and if I could work out (later, eventually) the other part that would make this aspect perfect, it would be even better. We decided that should be called the holy ciborium.

I'm comforted, even though a design I thought was excellent was rejected recently, that so far no rejections have come back with a request never to send a proposal in again. In fact, each time, they tell me when the next call for submission will be, so they must be willing to at least consider my work. I try to remember that this is a lot like writing novels or essays, and that for every acceptance, I'm probably going to see 10 rejections. It's still kind of discouraging, though. My ratio is actually better than that: Three acceptances, seven rejections. That's not too shabby. I'll try to remember that. Rich is my biggest cheerleader, though, and his (very typical male pilot) response was that if they rejected that design, they were fools. I can, at least, recognize that it may simply have not fit with the other patterns they chose, wasn't quite how they envisioned the theme being played out in the issue, or that they may have thought it was not quite the right color scheme and didn't want to take the time and effort to rework that. There are a lot of reasons for a rejection. I just kind of wish they'd liked it enough to hold on to it for a future issue. In any case, it is ready to resubmit to another magazine and we'll see how it does there. If that is a no go, then I will put it aside until the fall and try to publish it myself in late fall or early winter.

Again, if you haven't already liked Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, please do. That's where I put updates and testing opportunities and other design news. Your liking it gets me more visibility with folks who may not know about my patterns and that helps me. Thank you!

I have to be honest and admit that I have read absolutely nothing this week. Not counting Facebook and our readings for Morning Prayer.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On, Yarn Fanatic Party, and One Project at a Time

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:47 AM 1 comments

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

For My Stitch Fix Stylist

It turns out that I own 22 skirts and eight pairs of pants. I didn't count my dresses and shorts, but I'm fairly sure the ratio is similar. I think this says something about me, but it's not something I want to change. I've decided that if I had to pick a phrase to describe my style, it would be: Retro Feminine Casual Chic. But casual the way they thought of it in those retro years. Not a suit, not a formal gown. Casual skirts and dresses, and pants. Jeans and shorts set aside for hard work and play, rather than every day wear. Dresses and skirts really are more comfortable to me, and I think they are more flattering to my figure. I'm not a no pants or shorts kind of person, and I wear jeans often enough, though usually with a nice sweater or top with some accessories. I don't iron my jeans, though. So, in my next and future fixes, I'm probably going to be looking for more casual dresses and pants other than jeans (because my four pair of blue, cream, black, and flannel lined are really enough for me - though a silver pair that is really silver, but not lamé, would be pretty cool). These boxes coming have really been my motivation to lose weight, too. My husband laughed and said that it wasn't going to be my health or energy level that got me to lose weight, but the thought of wearing pretty clothes, and I think he's right. Thank you, Liz, for your work picking out things I would love. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to try to match the selections with my preferences and Pinterest board and measurements and weight, all without never really seeing me or meeting me. So, here I am in my natural habitat:



If you sign up using this link, I get another credit to use toward a new box!

P.S. I counted. I have 26 dresses (including my wedding gown, some I am keeping for sentimental reasons or in case I get pregnant again, and one I plan to give to Amira when she can fit in it), and 11 pairs of shorts (including some cut offs made from old jeans). I am considering giving away about three or four of the skirts, about the same of the dresses, and I'd like not to fit into some of the shorts ever again, as I keep losing weight, so I can give those away, too.

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:54 PM 0 comments

Monday, May 11, 2015

Menu Plan: May 10 - 16

So, baseball began. Only we didn't get the call and Jerome wasn't placed on a team. Even though we registered and paid and the check was cashed. I realized this when I started seeing pictures of the baseball/softball parade on my friends' Facebook feeds. So, I called, and found out that he had slipped through the cracks. They hastily put him on a team and he was slammed into real life last week. He's missed all the practices before the games began. He also missed almost half the games. We are going to be having a talk with the coordinators about this, but even though I was tempted to tell them to forget it and refund our money, Jerome really wanted to play, so we let him try. He's struggling a little, because this is his first year in actual baseball instead of t-ball and he missed all the practices. He's doing remarkably well for all of that, but is having trouble with catching and is discouraged about it, so if you think of him, please offer up a little prayer. Anyway, that made our schedule a lot more hectic last week and we get to continue with that theme for the next few weeks.

Nejat is turning two this week. I can't believe how quickly she has been growing and learning new things in the past four to six months. In December, she was still wearing size 12 month clothing, and now she wears 24 month clothes. She can run and jump, she can speak in pretty decent sentences, and her words are much more articulated than they used to be. She is finally catching up. She is a lot more rambunctious than Amira or Alexander or Dominic or Jerome were. We were kind of hoping for a mellow little girl, but she is active and curious and we love that. She's not a baby anymore. We're kind of out of babies here. Usually that's about when we have another. We're not sure that is what God has for us, though. It's a little daunting to think that Nejat may be our final baby, and we are still open to having more, but things are changing a lot, and barring a surprise, late in life pregnancy, we are wondering if she is our last baby blessing. That's a bittersweet thought for us.

We are excited to celebrate her second birthday, though. While looking through pictures with her of when she was first born and first at home with us, the contrast of how tiny she was and how big and strong she is now couldn't have been more stark. I am so blessed and relieved that she made it - that we do have the modern facilities and treatments that allowed us to keep her in longer and keep her blood sugar up and her temperatures more steady and enough nourishment in her. Even just 15 years earlier, it would have been a much larger challenge. We are blessed to have this memorable little one. Big one.

The Paschal season is coming to a close. We have only two more weeks. Fortunately, baseball and ballet schedules permit us to have our picnic for Ascension Day together as a family. We're going to try to find a small incline, which is what passes as a hill here, to eat it on, to try to get to a high point for the Ascension. We might even bring a kite to fly. I'm also excited because we have another dance this weekend. We're getting the word out there and people are coming, which is nice.

We're getting the asparagus this week, which thrills me, and we'll continue for as long as they offer it. I am hoping to make some pickled asparagus this year, and to blanch and freeze a lot of it for the summer, fall, and winter. At $0.50/lb, you can't really go wrong. We'll be eating it in egg dishes, roasted, steamed, grilled, and so on for quite some time. It's a good thing everyone likes it. We had so much to eat on Saturday that we ended up having snack tray for dinner, then we had our Mother's Day meals, so the ham and beans is on the docket for tonight. Fortunately, it is made already, so we only have to make cornbread and toss together a salad.

Remember that the Psalms are according to Eastern numbering in our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles (II Kings is II Samuel in the west, III Kings is I Kings, and IV Kings is II Kings).
What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:28 AM 2 comments

Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Yarn Along: Finished and Finished!


Just in time for the heat to hit us, I finished Elijah's sweater! He is delighted, which thrills me, and told me that it was comfortable, which is high praise from him. He is very sensitive to textures and how things feel, so I'm glad that this feels nice to him. The good news is that even though we are in the high 70s, sometimes reaching the low 80s, during the day, the nights are still cool, and honestly, even in the 100 + degree weather in August, he wears sweatshirts and wraps himself up in thick blankets. Being a desert climate, while the sun is up, it is hot, but we're high desert and there is almost always wind, and the evenings and mornings are usually still cool (or at least cool, relative to the high daytime temperatures - our temperature spread can be up to 40 degrees). Also, Rich pointed out that since our kids grow up and not out, he'll probably still fit in it this fall.

Another finished item is the working pattern for Ventus! My testers have it now. I found a couple errors in it, and had to upload an edited copy, but it is ready for them to work on it and help me find problems and places that need clarification. Yay! Ventus should be ready for publication by the end of this month, or the beginning of June.

If you haven't already liked Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, please do. That's where I put updates and testing opportunities and other design news. Your liking it gets me more visibility with folks who may not know about my patterns. Thank you!


I have started a late birthday present for Nejat. Her birthday isn't for another week and a half, but I already know this will be late. It is crochet, and I am slower at that, and it is a relatively large project, an afghan with some fiddly sewing on of appliqués at the end. Plus I want to make matching pillows. The good news is that Nejat can't read calendars yet and doesn't know when her birthday is. I found this photo tutorial to be of inordinate help when getting started with the star blanket pattern. The instructions were kind of confusing to me as a beginner, and seeing how it was supposed to work made it much simpler and quicker.

My reading is still somewhat limited. A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter has been our read aloud book as we drive. Rich drives, I read. I'm almost finished with my brain candy book: The Terror of the Southlands (Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates).



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 7:49 AM 7 comments

Sunday, May 03, 2015

Menu Plan: May 3 - 9

I'm pretty disappointed with myself, because I missed the deadline to get our order in for the $0.50/lb asparagus. Last year, it happened for six to eight weeks, and I'm hoping to get another text this week. That means no asparagus on the menu this week. Lots of ham, though. We made a huge ham Saturday, and we've been eating off of it for a few of our meals already. I still haven't posted the quick noodle recipe, but that is forthcoming.

Remember that the Psalms are according to Eastern numbering on our daily Bible reading, also I Kings is the original designation, it is I Samuel in western Bibles.
What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up.


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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:24 PM 0 comments

Friday, May 01, 2015

Yarn Along: Late and Not Finished

So, I still haven't finished Elijah's sweater. My modified goal was to be finished by the end of April, and that obviously didn't happen. I have around half the second sleeve to finish and the neck to do. This weekend is my modified, modified goal. I've done a little bit of other knitting, but nothing significant. I've been trying to focus on this sweater and finishing the pattern writing for Ventus.

If you haven't already liked Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, please do. That's where I put updates and testing opportunities and other design news. And I don't post multiple times a day, or even once a day!

I've only done read alouds with the kids for school, our daily Bible readings, and a little in a brain candy book: The Terror of the Southlands (Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates). This is the second book in the series, and it is fun, light, and an easy read.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On

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// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:36 AM 1 comments

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