Fair is over, we have Alexander all registered and filed, and there are no birthdays this week. I have three swatches and/or prototypes for design proposals finished, have one started, and three more to do before the month is out, with only one proposal written. So, this week should be a little less stressful for me. We do still have the bathroom remodel going, but I think everything we need is already gotten and progress is steady so that we might have a finished bathroom this weekend.

We did not have the birthday cake I planned last week, because Mariam asked for a fruit "cake" like you see on Pinterest. Well, our stores that always have watermelon didn't, and she asked me after the farmers' market had passed. There were only tiny cantaloupe at the store, too. However, there were the first fall pomegranates, some raspberries, star fruit and kiwi, and we had blueberries we had picked, frozen. I bought some raspberry sorbet, too. So, Rich made this out of the fruit, while I made dinner:


I think it turned out pretty spectacularly. He filled the cantaloupe with the sorbet, which was a nice touch. I still can't believe that she actually refused chocolate cake in favor of this. But it was lovely and delicious. Jerome had asked for a dinosaur cake, and it had to be postponed because of our fair schedule, so we made it this past weekend. I made the cake, Dominic made the frosting, Rich and Jerome dyed the frosting and decorated the cake. I think it turned out pretty well.


The tree was Jerome's idea and work, and the placement of the dinosaurs was all his. I made them scrub the dinosaurs and then sterilize them in the dish washer before I let them put them on the cake.


Anyway, we have a few repeats this week. The kids are sleeping over at friends a lot this week, which means our dinner table is always missing someone, but we're trying to squeeze in all the last bits of fun before we all have to put our noses to the grindstones again. Amira's name day is Saturday, but I still haven't figured out what we'll do in honor of that.

Below, I include our daily Bible readings which we use to read through the entire Bible each year. We read through all of the Old Testament and New Testament, reading the Psalms and Proverbs twice. 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, I Ezra is also called I Esdras in other translations, II Ezra is often translated as Ezra or II Esdras).

• Sunday III Maccabees 5, Psalms 30:1–14, Proverbs 6:7–12, Romans 1
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Apricots and Dried Cranberries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Linner
• Monday - Feast of Saint Aidan III Maccabees 6-7, Psalms 30:15–25, Proverbs 6:13–16, Romans 2
  Breakfast: Labneh with Olive Oil and Za'atar, Sliced Tomatoes, Toast, Pomegranate Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Pizza
• Tuesday Job 1-2, Psalms 31, Proverbs 6:17–19, Romans 3
  Breakfast: Migas, Sliced Pears, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Tortilla Casserole, Salsa Rice
• Wednesday Job 3-4, Psalms 32:1–12, Proverbs 6:20–25, Romans 4
  Breakfast: Ful, Green Hot Sauce, Chopped Tomatoes and Onions, Toast, Sliced Pears, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Creamy Avocado Pasta with Cashews, Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Gregory the Great Job 5-6, Psalms 32:13–22, Proverbs 6:26–31, Romans 5
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Coconut and Craisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Souvlaki, Grilled Vegetable Skewers, Rice Pilaf, Garlicky Chard, Khoubz Araby (Pita Bread), Hot Giardinera, Home Cured Olives
• Friday Job 7-8, Psalms 33:1–11, Proverbs 6:32–36, Romans 6
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast with Bananas and Honey, Pomegranate Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Herb and Greens Soup, Rolls, Pears
• Saturday - Feast of Saint Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner Job 9-10, Psalms 33:12–23, Proverbs 6:37–40, Romans 7
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Berry Syrup, Bacon, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Stuffed Peppers, Rice, Salad

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.

Labels: Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Name Day, Tales from the Kitchen

So, I wondered why there was no knitted Best in Class ribbon at the fair. It turns out that I won it for my Equinox sweater! The ribbon wasn't on there the first day of fair (which was when I originally took photos). I also picked up a second most original ribbon for my "striped" shawl. Most of my knitting this past week has been for proposals that I can't share here. There has been a little progress on Amira's cropped hoodie, also, but I only brought that out with me when I was going somewhere that I couldn't be focusing on my notes and graphs. I didn't even bother photographing that, because I'm just at the end of the ribbing.

This weekend, I have a swatch done for a proposal to a knitting magazine and am working on the writing and sketching. I have one finished and one almost done for a yarn company, with two more to do. I have an idea sketched and begun for an online pattern magazine/aggregate. I'll be swatching for something in a similar vein to put together an e-book of patterns to publish myself once the exclusivity contract runs out if my four are accepted with the yarn company, or to self-publish sooner with another design already published and one in the idea phase now, if they are not accepted. The last two things I'm working on right now are related, similar, spring/early summer garments for babies and toddlers/children for a knitting magazine's spring issue. The first is due the third of September, most of the rest are due around mid-September, and the final two are due at the end of September, so I have a lot of work on my plate right now. The good news is that we are completely busy with preparations for school, a bathroom remodel, Alexander's college program, Rich is slammed at work, and we have eight children to raise, so we have all the time and energy in the world! I'm only a little stressed out about all of this. But excited, too. I am so hopeful that I might finally get a little break that would make my name and designs a little more familiar to knitters out there.

Here's the 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. There hasn't been a lot posted there in a while, but your liking it gets me more visibility with folks who may not know about my patterns and that helps. Thank you!


My reading this week consists mostly of a Romans study we're doing with a parish back in the area where we used to live. They are using Google Groups so we can participate, even from here. There is a video series by N.T. Wright that we are watching along with it, which you can follow along with, too, if you like. We will be on week three next Thursday. This is the schedule of reading and videos from our priest, if you are interested.

Week 1:
- Bible: Read (or listen to) -- the book of Romans [Yes, the whole letter, from cover to cover. It takes less than an hour.]
- Read -- Paul for Everyone: Romans, Part One (For Everyone): Introduction
- Read -- Romans (N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides): Getting the Most out of Romans

This are the videos by N.T. Wright for week 1:
[Most weeks we will only have one video. However, the background information is very important to consider in the letter.]

Introduction --
Context and Setting --

IMPORTANT TIME SAVING NOTE!!!: On Youtube you can listen at 1.25, 1.5 or 2 times normal speed. I almost always listen at a faster speed. This is available by clicking on the settings icon next to the CC options in the lower right side of the video window.

Week 2:
- Bible: Romans Ch 1 and 2
- Paul for Everyone: Romans Part 1 Chapters 1 and 2
- Video: (NT Wright On The Book Of Romans - 10 Part Series - Part 3 of 10)
- Romans Study Guide: Chapters 1 and 2 [I encourage you to work every question. At least read the questions. Bishop Wright includes teaching attached to each question. Our discussions will focus on the questions listed with each week.]
> Ch 1: Romans 1:1-17 and questions: 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
> Ch 2: Romans 1:18-2:16 and questions: 1-13

Week 3:
- Bible: Romans 3-4
- Paul for Everyone Part 1 Chapters 3-4
-Video: (NT Wright On The Book Of Romans - 10 Part Series - Part 4 of 10)
- Romans Study Guide Chapters 3-5:
> Ch 3: Romans 2:17-3:8 questions: 1,2, 5, 7, 8, 10
> Ch 4: Romans 3:9-31 questions: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13
> Ch 5: Romans 4:1-25 questions: 1-4, 7, 10

Week 4:
- Bible: Romans 5-6
- Paul for Everyone Part 1 Chapters 5-6
- Video: (NT Wright On The Book Of Romans - 10 Part Series - Part 5 of 10)
- Romans Study Guide: Chapters 6-7
> Ch 6: Romans 5 questions: 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11
> Ch 7: Romans 6 questions: 1, 5, 8, 10, 12

Week 5:
- Bible: Romans 7-8
- Paul for Everyone Part 1 Chapters 7-8
- Video: (NT Wright On The Book Of Romans - 10 Part Series - Part 6 of 10)
- Romans Study Guide: Chapters 8-10
> Ch 8: Romans 7 questions 1, 3-5, 7, 11, 12
> Ch 9: Romans 8:1-17 questions: 1, 3, 5-7, 13
> Ch 10: Romans 8:18-39 questions: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11

I believe we'll be doing the second half at a different time.




Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Faith and Morality, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

This is another busy week, but it's at least slowing down a little. Mariam's birthday is this week, and her name day is this week. We are down to one bathroom while we fix the drywall and sink and toilet in our upstairs bathroom. Which means we are using the boys' gross bathroom downstairs. I sent them in with scrub brushes and disinfectant after I had to use it once.

We have a couple repeats this week, but I expected that. We had so much leftover from our fair food that we brought some with us on the first day for our lunch and only bought dinner and snacks/treats there. Since Rich worked the fair booth every day but the first, and I worked every day but the first two, we are both recovering a bit, too.

As usual, fall began today. It always comes the Monday following fair week. We get two or three weeks of fall and then winter starts. That's kind of depressing. Rich is coming up with ways to extend our garden, because we are getting late snap peas and all sorts of lovely things and we'd like to keep harvesting as long as we can.

Below, I include our daily Bible readings which we use to read through the entire Bible each year. We read through all of the Old Testament and New Testament, reading the Psalms and Proverbs twice. 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, I Ezra is also called I Esdras in other translations, II Ezra is often translated as Ezra or II Esdras).

• Sunday II Maccabees 7:1-8:20, Psalms 24:1–11, Proverbs 4:19–23, Acts 23:12–35
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Banana, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftovers
• Monday - Feast of Saint Bartholomew II Maccabees 8:21-10:23, Psalms 24:12–22, Proverbs 4:24–28, Acts 24
  Breakfast: Chocolate Mint Yogurt, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli, Salad
• Tuesday II Maccabees 10:24-12:16, Psalms 25, Proverbs 5:1–6, Acts 25
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Craisins and Cinnamon Sugar, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, Garlic Bread, Garlicky Sauteed Swiss Chard
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Mariam Baouardy II Maccabees 12:17-14:17, Psalms 26, Proverbs 5:7–14, Acts 26
  Breakfast: Toast and Labneh with Za'atar and Olive Oil, Sliced Cucumbers, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Butter Basted Fish with Thyme and Garlic, Pan Roasted Potatoes, Marinated Beets and Onions, Salad, Chocolate Cloud Cake
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Monica II Maccabees 14:18-15:39, Psalms 27, Proverbs 5:15–19, Acts 27:1–20
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Coconut and Craisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Garlicky Grilled Yogurt Marinated Chicken with Saffron and Lemon, Rice Pilaf, Sauteed Okra and Onions
• Friday - Feast of Saint Augustine of Hippo III Maccabees 1-2, Psalms 28, Proverbs 5:20–23, Acts 27:21–44
  Breakfast: Ful, Green Hot Sauce, Chopped Tomatoes and Onions, Toast, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Herb and Greens Soup, Rolls
• Saturday III Maccabees 3-4, Psalms 29, Proverbs 6:1–6, Acts 28
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Berry Syrup, Bacon, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Stuffed Peppers, Rice, Salad

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.

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Name Day, Tales from the Kitchen

Click on each photo to see project or pattern information.
All of my fair entries won first prize, and one even received the most original ribbon. A lady with a crocheted lace tablecloth took the best in class. I have knit a little more on Amira's cropped hoodie for ballet this year, and worked more on swatches and prototypes for design submissions. Like this hat, which is almost how I want the design, but not quite. It's still a nice hat, and I intend to use it as a baby gift, but the cables aren't quite as I envisioned, so I'm working on prototype #2 right now (which I won't be able to share here unless it, too, falls short of my idea).


Here's the 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. There hasn't been a lot posted there in a while, but your liking it gets me more visibility with folks who may not know about my patterns and that helps. Thank you!

This month is the last month of Paradise Fibers' Spokane/PNW themed yarn club. I automatically roll over to the new club unless I cancel, so I'm keeping my ears open for details about it so I can decide if I want to continue. I really liked the color of this month's shipment and it is a yarn company I like, too.


Baah Sonoma in Blue Paradise
I finished Emma with the kids and finished Under the Duvet: Shoes, Reviews, Having the Blues, Builders, Babies, Families and Other Calamities for myself, but haven't moved back to my other books or started a new one.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On and Yarn Fanatic Party.

Labels: Books, Design, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn, Yarn Along

It is fair week! And we are slammed! This menu plan is mostly a guideline, because who knows what will happen while we are working our neighborhood ice cream booth at the fair? I have three recipes to post, and a post I've been meaning to finish for over a month, a randomania post, and another post planned for next month about the book with Saint Catherine in it. But I am doubtful that those will happen before Sunday. Oh, and it is Jerome's birthday this week, too, so we're busy with things for him as well. He turned three the year we moved here and now he is nine! I'm going to work hard to get my yarn along post done, because I want to brag share if I have ribbons at the fair.

We're getting Alexander ready for his college classes this fall. There are two things left to do, one is easier than the other. The first requires dealing with the government school district, which can be antagonistic to homeschoolers. So, we'd appreciate prayers there. The other is just paying the fees, which are lower than I expected them to be, actually. Alexander is already registered for his classes, has his student ID, and is excited to get started. We do not want a bureaucrat, who thinks she has the authority of our son's education, to mar that in any way. So, I'm going in with his transcript (which covers nearly three quarters of the credits required to graduate from high school already, even though he is only a junior this fall), a big smile, nice clothes and makeup, and just saying that "We understand that we need a letter from the high school counselor or principal to complete the process for his admittance to the college. Here is his transcript, we are not seeking a diploma from the high school. Thank you!" We'll see how it goes.

On top of all of this, we gleaned a ton of corn, so have been blanching, cutting, and freezing corn forever, plus wrapping entire ears for freezing, plus eating a ton of it. We served some for our fair food night tonight, too. Our friends brought coleslaw and watermelon and Rich and I fried things for a long time. Loads of food and loads of fun. We had 22 people here, including our family - and that was only three families! One of these families raises pigs for 4-H, and they are giving us a pig to clear some of our weeds in the garden and pasture and fatten up for butchering in October or so. Our kids have already named him Sir Francis Bacon. Rich, Alexander and Dominic have been very busy building fencing, a shed, and a gate for the pig. We already have a watering trough and feeder.

The smoke is pretty bad still, and Washington and Idaho are mostly on fire. We are still safe, but the smoke is really a challenge. I feel bad saying that when there are people whose homes and businesses have been lost or at risk, but breathing is hard for all of us just with the smoke. We wake up to a fine layer of ash on everything each morning. I feel like my eyes have been red since the end of June.

Below, I include our daily Bible readings which we use to read through the entire Bible each year. We read through all of the Old Testament and New Testament, reading the Psalms and Proverbs twice. 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, I Ezra is also called I Esdras in other translations, II Ezra is often translated as Ezra or II Esdras).

• Sunday I Maccabees 10:59-11:53, Psalms 17:33–51, Proverbs 3:17–22, Acts 19:23–41
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Hamburger Skillet with Okra, Onions, Shallots, Zucchini, Beet Greens, Corn and Peppers, Rice, Sliced Armenian Cucumbers
• Monday I Maccabees 11:54-13:11, Psalms 18, Proverbs 3:23–27, Acts 20:1–16
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Craisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Fair Food Night - Corn Dogs, Potato Wedges, Buttered Corn on the Cob, Onion Rings, Coleslaw, Watermelon, Funnel Cakes
• Tuesday I Maccabees 13:12-14:24, Psalms 19, Proverbs 3:28–32, Acts 20:17–38
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Barbecue Brisket Sandwiches and Curly Q Fries
• Wednesday I Maccabees 14:25-16:24, Psalms 20, Proverbs 3:33–38, Acts 21:1–16
  Breakfast: Yogurt with Jam, Toast, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Butter Basted Fish with Thyme and Garlic, Rice, Marinated Beets and Onions, Salad
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux II Maccabees 1-2, Psalms 21:1–19, Proverbs 4:1–8, Acts 21:17–40
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Coconut and Craisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Loaded Nachos with Chorizo
• Friday II Maccabees 3:1-4:29, Psalms 21:20–32, Proverbs 4:9–12, Acts 22:1–29
  Breakfast: Ful, Green Hot Sauce, Chopped Tomatoes and Onions, Toast, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Herb and Greens Soup, Rolls
• Saturday II Maccabees 4:30-6:31, Psalms 22-23, Proverbs 4:13–18, Acts 22:30-23:11
  Breakfast: Sausage and Eggs, Toast, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Meatloaf, Scalloped Potatoes, Buttered Peas, Dinosaur Cake

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.

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen

Here are the photos of my "striped" shawl, all blocked and finished. My thumb is doing something weird in the picture out of the UV light. I really like how this turned out and I'm excited to send it to my friend after fair. Because I am entering this in the fair as well, with a photo of what it looks like in the light, since it will be in the shade the entire time. Nejat's starry, starry, night for her birthday (in May!) is pretty close to finished as well. I think I said on the project page that I was 55% through it - I think it's closer to 60 - 65%, and I'm leaving off all the fiddly appliques. Good thing she doesn't know anything about calendars or birthday customs!

I had a little set back on Ventus, but I have a few opportunities coming up with yarn companies looking for patterns that are exciting to me, and I think after fair is over I can fix the issues with Ventus. And, of course, there is Saint Catherine, which will be published around September 8 in:


One-Skein Wonders for Babies: 101 Knitting Projects for Infants & Toddlers
It is available for pre-order right now! I'm really hoping that she made the back cover. When the book is released, I will also publish the pattern for sale individually. I really like working with Storey. They've been communicative and kind every time I've done something with them. Even though this book has taken almost two years from call to release, it's still been a good experience and I'd be happy to do more with them.

Here's the 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. There hasn't been a lot posted there in a while, but your liking it gets me more visibility with folks who may not know about my patterns and that helps. Thank you!

There's been a little more time to read this past week, and I've made some decent progress on Under the Duvet: Shoes, Reviews, Having the Blues, Builders, Babies, Families and Other Calamities. Enough that I really thought I'd be finished, but no such luck. Next week for sure.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On and Yarn Fanatic Party.

Labels: Books, Crochet, Design, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

Last week was a little hectic with lots of activities, and this week is a lot hectic preparing for the fair. I promise I will post those recipes, but it's getting crazy around here. We do have a repeat of a meal, because we had to move some things around. However, we are beginning to be able to use produce from our garden, and our neighbors have supplied us with lots of fish that we are taking advantage of this week.

A major feast is this week, the one which we truly thought of when we were naming Mariam, before we knew of Saint Mariam Baouardy. We also have a dance scheduled this week, and a birthday to prepare for next week. I'm trying to do all our major errands this week, too, to free up our schedules next week so we don't have anything but fair and Jerome's birthday to deal with in our days.

In other news, I am in denial that school begins in a month. Which is hard, because Alexander registers for college courses this week. I finished off his transcript, and was pleasantly surprised to see how broad and well rounded his education has been. It was good to take a step back and see the big picture that way. We're so excited for him, because this is an opportunity to graduate from Trinity Academy here at home and also have an Associate's Degree and FAA certification, all with no student loans, and with the potential to begin an entry level job in his field of choice at a pay rate that is higher than most college graduates'. He has made excellent choices for his education and career path. We are praying for his success and transition to manhood right now.

Below, I include our daily Bible readings which we use to read through the entire Bible each year. We read through all of the Old Testament and New Testament, reading the Psalms and Proverbs twice. 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, I Ezra is also called I Esdras in other translations, II Ezra is often translated as Ezra or II Esdras).

• Sunday I Maccabees 1:1-2:14, Psalms 9:18–39, Proverbs 2:1–5, Acts 15:22–41
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Chopped Apples and Craisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Rotini with Fresh Garden Tomato, Garlic and Basil Sauce with Sausage, Marinated Cucumbers and Onions, Watermelon
• Monday - Feast of Saint Laurence I Maccabees 2:15-3:41, Psalms 10-11, Proverbs 2:6–9, Acts 16:1–18
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Elk Steak Huevos Rancheros, Black Beans, Green Chile Rice
• Tuesday I Maccabees 3:42-4:61, Psalms 12-13, Proverbs 2:10–16, Acts 16:19–40
  Breakfast: Blueberry Muffins, Bananas, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches, Fried Peppers, Okra and Onions, Sliced Nectarines, Cucumber Salad
• Wednesday I Maccabees 5:1-6:17, Psalms 14-15, Proverbs 2:17–23, Acts 17:1–15
  Breakfast: Coconut Yogurt with Jam, Toast, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Butter Basted Fish with Thyme and Garlic, Scalloped Potatoes, Salad
• Thursday I Maccabees 6:18-7:50, Psalms 16, Proverbs 3:1–5, Acts 17:16–34
  Breakfast: Toast with Feta Cheese, Za'atar, and Olive Oil, Nectarines, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Bacon Cheeseburgers, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Friday I Maccabees 8:1-9:53, Psalms 17:1–17, Proverbs 3:6–10, Acts 18
  Breakfast: Ful, Green Hot Sauce, Chopped Tomatoes and Onions, Toast, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Tuna Pasta Salad, Marinated Beets, Sliced Watermelon
• Saturday - Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary I Maccabees 9:54-10:58, Psalms 17:18–32, Proverbs 3:11–16, Acts 19:1–22
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Cheese, Bacon, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Sausage and Chard Soup, Rolls, Fruit Plate

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.

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Name Day, Tales from the Kitchen

This is a week of finishing! I finished the "striped" shawl. It took me until today to get a decent picture, and I still need to wash and block it, but I'm counting it as an FO. Also, I finished up two more of the scrunchies to make into a nice floral, scrunchie, bouquet.



Fair is in two weeks and I'm gathering the knits and crocheted items I want to enter. I'm going to enter these scrunchies on the ends of crochet hooks as "stems" in a floral arrangement. Amira is letting me enter her shawl, and I'll be entering Equinox and the matching hat. I'm thinking of entering my designs, Sea Smoke and Saint George (if Alexander lets me) and I will ask Elijah if he will let me enter his Weasley-ish sweater. I don't think I will enter many baked goods this year. It's a lot of stress to get it all done in the short window of time they have to be baked and brought in for judging.

I've kind of gotten over my design hump, I think, and I'm working a bit more diligently on Ventus, and have two more designs in early development, with the hopes that one will be ready for fall and the other for winter. There is also a quick hat pattern that I have almost ready that I'd like to publish mid to late fall, and I could always use test knitters for any of these projects. Oh! I keep forgetting to post this. Saint Catherine will be published around September 8 in:


One-Skein Wonders for Babies: 101 Knitting Projects for Infants & Toddlers
It is available for pre-order right now! She didn't make the front cover, but I'm waiting to see if she made the back cover. I did love the proof page photos they sent me, and I'm confident any other pictures will be great. When the book is released, I will also publish the pattern for sale individually.

Here's the 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!

Technically, I'm still working on these books, A Christian Ending and Under the Duvet: Shoes, Reviews, Having the Blues, Builders, Babies, Families and Other Calamities. In reality, though, I barely read anything this week. Rich suggested that I post a picture of our mail. But, to be honest, I haven't read that all that closely, either.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On and Yarn Fanatic Party.

Labels: Books, Crochet, Design, FOs, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along

Here is another delayed post. The fires around us socked us in with smoke which gave us, especially Rich and me, a relapse of our cough and illness. We had significant ash on our cars this weekend. I'm praying that the fires and smoke abate for those directly affected and to give us a break. The recipes will be posted this week.

Our farmers' market treasures this week were gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and eggplant, nectarines, and three kinds of plums. We also had some bounty given to us from one of the people at Rich's work who always has an abundant garden and shares with the staff. Rich brought home some lovely Armenian cucumbers. We finished our apricots, but didn't have enough to preserve this year, as a late freeze killed the blossoms on our tree. Again. We've really only had two good years of apricots since living here and one mediocre. Freezes have gotten them the rest of the time.

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, I Ezra is also called I Esdras in other translations, II Ezra is often translated as Ezra or II Esdras).

• Sunday Judith 8-10, Psalms 1-2, Proverbs 1:1–5, Acts 10:24–48
  Breakfast: Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Raspberry-Pomegranate Preserves, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Upgraded Nachos with Leftover Carnitas and Black Beans, Brown Sugar Pie*
• Monday Judith 11-13, Psalms 3-4, Proverbs 1:6–10, Acts 11
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Peaches, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftover Blackeyed Peas with Ham and Rice, Sliced Cucumbers, Watermelon
• Tuesday Judith 14-16, Psalms 5, Proverbs 1:11–15, Acts 12
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Hot Dogs, Chips, Ice Cream
• Wednesday Esther 1-2, Psalms 6, Proverbs 1:16–19, Acts 13:1–25
  Breakfast: Banana Bread, Hard Boiled Eggs, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Tomato and Gruyère Pie, Fried Eggplant, Marinated Cucumbers and Onions, Watermelon
• Thursday - Feast of the Transfiguration Esther 3-4, Psalms 7, Proverbs 1:20–24, Acts 13:26–52
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Craisins and Coconut, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Elk Steak Huevos Rancheros, Black Beans, Green Chile Rice, Blueberry Peach Pie
• Friday Esther 5:1-8:12, Psalms 8, Proverbs 1:25–29, Acts 14
  Breakfast: Ful, Green Hot Sauce, Chopped Tomatoes and Onions, Toast, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Chick Pea Salad on Flat Bread, Pan Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Fruit Plate
• Saturday - Feast of Saint Dominic Esther 8:12a-10:3k, Psalms 9:1–17, Proverbs 1:30–35, Acts 15:1–21
  Breakfast: Waffles and Berry Syrup, Bacon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Dinner with Friends

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.

Labels: Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Name Day, Tales from the Kitchen