Rejoice! It is the week of Joy Sunday! This is a lovely reminder that our fasting and preparation are in joyful expectation of the Lord who has come, and who is coming. He will redeem the earth and resurrect the faithful to life. This is not a fast of strict penitence, but of self examination and preparation to meet our Savior with joy.

Aside from some fruit that we have left from our stockings, last week we ordered two 20 pound boxes of citrus, so we have grapefruit, lemons, limes, navel oranges, Valencia oranges, and tangerines. Plus apples and bananas and mangoes and some personal watermelon from our organic produce co-op. That is actually the only thing I don't like about it, while it's organic and the quality has been good, sometimes the produce is completely out of season, and not just for our immediate area which has a short growing season, but for our entire hemisphere. I don't mind going out of our county and even state for some of our produce at this time of year, but when we're off of our continent, or pretty close, I'm not too thrilled. But, in any case, it is tasty, and nutritious, and it is a nice treat for the kids and us when the rest of our menus are a little less bright. There are a few repeats from last week, and a repeat of my prayer request. I was seeing much improvement, but on Friday or so started feeling a flare up come again, and it is much worse now. Please pray for wisdom and for us to find an answer, as well as healing. We're waiting on some test results, and both we and my doctor are fairly sure that there are multiple things happening at once on my hand and in my skin.

This is a pretty busy week for us, with dress rehearsals and two recital performances for three of our four girls, plus a moms' night out for me. Between that and my own health issues, I've been planning meals and menus that can be taken over by Rich or the kids with ease, or that I can direct from somewhere else, while resting.

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, though this is complicated by it sometimes being I Esdras being Ezra in modern language and II Esdras being Nehemiah, and in that case, there is a III Esdras, it really depends on which translation you read).

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Lucy Jeremiah 1-3, Psalms 107, Proverbs 23:33–36, Hebrews 8
  Breakfast: Cherry Almond Oatmeal, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Loaded Nachos with Leftover Chili
• Monday Jeremiah 4-6, Psalms 108:1–20, Proverbs 24:1–6, Hebrews 9
  Breakfast: Almond Butter Toast with Jam, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Beans and Rice with Salsa, Cheese, and Hot Sauce, Sliced Apples
• Tuesday Jeremiah 7-9, Psalms 108:21–31, Proverbs 24:7–12, Hebrews 10:1–18
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Fried Potatoes and Onions, Buttered Toast, Canned, Sliced Peaches, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Carrot and Celery Sticks, Watermelon Wedges
• Wednesday Jeremiah 10-13, Psalms 109-110, Proverbs 24:13–18, Hebrews 10:19–39
  Breakfast: Harvest Pancakes, Fruit Plate, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Black Bean and Tortilla Soup with Lime Wedges and Sliced Avocados, Mangos, Oranges, and Tangerines
• Thursday Jeremiah 14-16, Psalms 111-112, Proverbs 24:19–23, Hebrews 11:1–22
  Breakfast: Toast with Cream Cheese, Za'atar and Olive Oil, Bananas, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Italian Sausage Skillet over Rice, Grape Tomato, Cucumber and Onion Salad
• Friday Jeremiah 17-19, Psalms 113:1–11, Proverbs 24:24–27, Hebrews 11:23–40
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Apples and Dried Cranberries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Beet Gratin with Fontina and Walnuts, Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Fruit Salad
• Saturday Jeremiah 20-22, Psalms 113:12–26, Proverbs 24:29–34, Hebrews 12:1–27
  Breakfast: Tunisian Shakshouka (using sweet potatoes), Leftover Fruit Salad, Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Rich is in Charge of Dinner

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: Advent, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Tales from the Kitchen

It is not clear to me how I could get nearly 70% of the way through Driftwood in a month, and take nine days to get 10% through it. In any case, here it is. It's a tiny bit further along than this photo shows (and that is our bathroom, post remodel, by the way). There are 10 more rows before the short rows begin for the peplum, then I need to pick up the bands and neck and knit those, with a button hole at the waist. Also, I have started Rich's manly rainbow socks. For the third time. I'm used to going down a size or two, as I knit more loosely than many people. So, I started on size 1 1/2 needles. Too loose. Then I went down to size 1s, and while they weren't as loose, they were still a touch too loose. I actually called Mountain Colors to ask if the yarn bloomed when washed, before I went down to the size 0s. The dyers told me their experience with the yarn, that it had little to no blooming when washed, and said how sorry they were to hear I'd be using size 0 needles and that they hated having to tell me to use such small needles. So, now I'm knitting men's socks on size 0s. 90 sts on size 0s. With 16 rounds to an inch. Though, to be fair, part of that is because I don't like socks to be knit too loosely. They don't wear well at looser gauges. If I had knit it at the ball band gauge, I could have done around 70 sts on larger needles. But, they would have been lacey. And rainbow colored yarn, even subdued, is pushing it a bit for a man's pair of socks, without adding lace to the mix. It's a good thing these aren't Christmas presents.


Swatch for Amira, which needs knitters in about a month.
Since I only have a couple knitters for this design, and Christmas is coming quickly, I'm going to put this on hold until January. If you are interested in being part of a Preview KAL/Test of this design, please do contact me, though, with a size you'd like to try. I'll note you and send you a reminder when we're readyget the ball rolling. This is a woman's, sleeveless shell that requires seaming, but only two seams, one on each side. As you can see from the swatch, it involves texture and simple lace. The pattern requires standard chart reading skills, ability to increase and decrease, make yos, knit in the round, and pick up stitches. Right now, I'm working on my own top in a deep red. There are no specific brand requirements for the yarn, simply a DK weight yarn that knits up at 5.5 stitches per in in stockinette (the gauge for the top will be about 5.25 spi, but I want a yarn that will drape well at that gauge). I'd like to have at least two knitters per size: 29", 34", 39", 44", 49" finished bust. Yardage requirements are calculated for each size, respectively, as: 790, 900, 1000, 1100, 1225 yds. This is still an estimate, however, so I recommend getting an extra skein of whatever you buy, or if you are using stash, making sure that you have an extra ball's worth of the yarn. I'll want you to join a Facebook or Ravelry group for preview knitters, if you are able, but will strongly request a Ravelry entry, tagging me in it, and a link up when the pattern is released. The specific details will be given if you take this on for me. I will give the finished copy of the pattern to knitters when the pattern is released, a percentage/amount off coupon to my Ravelry Store for those who complete the item, and a coupon for a free pattern for those who provide photos and link up to the pattern page. If you are able to do this, please contact me. Here's the weekly reminder to like Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, if you haven't already. That's where I put updates and preview knitting opportunities and other design news. Thank you!

Yet again, my primary reading has been with Amira. We finished Nice Girl Like You. Today, we started Myself and I. She is coping pretty well with the ups and downs of the book, and now wants to read some more by the same author - which we own.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, NaKniSweMo, Yarn Along

First, thank you all for your prayers. We've tried a new medication, and though I'm still having new flare ups, they aren't as bad, and the places that were truly awful are looking and feeling much better. We had a fun filled weekend, with three parties, two that the kids were invited to attend, and one for just us. There were many opportunities for great food, dancing, and conversation, which was wonderful! People who knew us and those who were complete strangers complimented on our kids' behavior, and on our dance moves, numerous times, which was nice for us. It always surprises people that Rich is such a great dancer. Mostly because he is so straight laced and an upright executive type. So, when they see how we dance together, the first comment is a compliment, the second is about how surprised they are that he has those moves, and the third is about how they now know why we have so many children and/or how this is how we must have gotten all of those children. Really. We've started answering that dancing isn't actually how babies are made.

After getting home around midnight, my sweet husband made the Saint Nicholas Cookies for our kids, because I am not supposed to have my hands in flour. I told him how to use the food processor as a short cut, but even so, he finished around 4:00 a.m., since he isn't used to either making the dough, working with it or the filling, or doing the shaping. The kids were so happy to see their cookies at their places for breakfast, and have the tradition continue. Rich got less than three and a half hours of sleep, I fell asleep on the couch while he was baking, but we still made it to church. Late. We went to some friends for a truly potluck dinner after church, and had lovely food to share. There was everything from pulled pork to black beans and rice to pizza.

In any case, we did a fairly good job of sticking to the menu this past week, though we have a couple things we moved around that are reappearing here this week. There is quite a bit of fruit this week, because we have a ton from our stockings left. So, there are satsumas, and (because Saint Nicholas heard that the kids were interested in having their own pomegranates) HUGE pomegranates that people are eating over multiple days. Plus all the apples we gleaned and bought from the last Saturday of the Farmers' Market. I'm hoping we can find a good deal on pears, though it may be too late for that. Citrus should be easier to find, but I'm also hoping to get some quince, which are rare around here.

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, though this is complicated by it sometimes being I Esdras being Ezra in modern language and II Esdras being Nehemiah, and in that case, there is a III Esdras, it really depends on which translation you read).

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Nicholas Isaiah 37-40, Psalms 104:28–45, Proverbs 22:27–31, Hebrews 1
  Breakfast: Saint Nicholas Initial Cookies, Satsumas, Pomegranates, Chocolate, Rice Pudding with Cinnamon Sugar, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Potluck - we brought Greek Roasted Potatoes with Feta, and an Arabic Style Coleslaw
• Monday - Feast of Saint Ambrose Isaiah 41-43, Psalms 105:1–15, Proverbs 23:1–5, Hebrews 2
  Breakfast: Yogurt & Jam, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pasta with Tomato and Pepper Sauce and Feta Crumbles, Leftover Coleslaw
• Tuesday - Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Theotokos Isaiah 44-47, Psalms 105:16–31, Proverbs 23:6–12, Hebrews 3
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Not Texas Chili with Chopped Onions, Tomatoes, Avocado, Lime Wedges and Sour Cream
• Wednesday Isaiah 48-51, Psalms 105:32–48, Proverbs 23:13–18, Hebrews 4
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Cinnamon Sugar, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Harvest Pancakes, Fried Eggs, Fruit Plate
• Thursday Isaiah 52-57, Psalms 106:1–14, Proverbs 23:19–23, Hebrews 5
  Breakfast: Toast with Cream Cheese, Za'atar and Olive Oil, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Ham and Vegetable Frittata with Stilton, Coleslaw
• Friday Isaiah 58-62, Psalms 106:15–30, Proverbs 23:24–27, Hebrews 6
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Apples and Dried Cherries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Beet Gratin with Fontina and Walnuts, Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
• Saturday Isaiah 63-66, Psalms 106:31–43, Proverbs 23:28–32, Hebrews 7
  Breakfast: Creamed Eggs, Toast Fingers, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Roasted Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Steam Sauteed Carrots and Green Beans with Dill

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: Advent, Blessed Virgin, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, St. Nicholas, Tales from the Kitchen, Theotokos

It comes as no big surprise after last week that I did not finish Driftwood. I actually had a chance, but the Thanksgiving cooking did me in, and my skin erupted so I couldn't use my hand and ended up resting most of the weekend after Thanksgiving. That's where I am today. Since I knew by Sunday that there was no chance I would finish by Monday midnight, I decided to undo a couple rows and change where the odd number of sts would be. The sweater was increased by double on one front and the back, then all across the second front, except the last st. So, that meant that I had 102 sts for one front, 164 sts across the back, and 101 sts for the other front. That made my little CDO heart a bit crazed. If I'd had even the slightest chance of finishing by the 30th, I'd have pressed on and either tried not to let it bother me or gone back to fix it later, but since I knew there was no chance, I thought I'd fix it while it was still recent, since it wouldn't make me any happier to have one side a st short of the other when I was further from it. So, the two fronts are equal and the odd number of sts is now placed in the center of the back. As it should be.

There are still the other four projects I need to finish or photograph, but I really want to start the socks for Rich. Since all my projects on needles/hooks right now are either large or complicated, I think I will cast on this weekend so I can bring knitting to the chi-chi party we're attending. It wouldn't do to have a whole sweater to seam or a nearly completed sweater that is knit in one piece or lace with a chart that makes it so I can't keep up conversation or a large baby/toddler blanket or a design I'm writing. Anyway, I realized the other knit object I can make for Rich: Vests. He doesn't wear sweaters, but he wears vests all the time. In fact I have an idea for a 20th anniversary, special vest to make him for next year. So, socks, vests, and a hat every few years.


Swatch for Amira, which needs knitters in about a month.
I only have a couple knitters for this design, and I know that Christmas knitting might be getting in the way of this. I'm still looking for knitters so I can get the Preview KAL/Test started in December. This is a woman's, sleeveless shell that requires seaming, but only two seams, one on each side. As you can see from the swatch, it involves texture and simple lace. The pattern requires standard chart reading skills, ability to increase and decrease, make yos, knit in the round, and pick up stitches. Right now, I'm working on my own top in a deep red. There are no specific brand requirements for the yarn, simply a DK weight yarn that knits up at 5.5 stitches per in in stockinette (the gauge for the top will be about 5.25 spi, but I want a yarn that will drape well at that gauge). I'd like to have at least two knitters per size: 29", 34", 39", 44", 49" finished bust. Yardage requirements are calculated for each size, respectively, as: 790, 900, 1000, 1100, 1225 yds. This is still an estimate, however, so I recommend getting an extra skein of whatever you buy, or if you are using stash, making sure that you have an extra ball's worth of the yarn. I'll want you to join a Facebook or Ravelry group for preview knitters, if you are able, but will strongly request a Ravelry entry, tagging me in it, and a link up when the pattern is released. The specific details will be given if you take this on for me. I will give the finished copy of the pattern to knitters when the pattern is released, a percentage/amount off coupon to my Ravelry Store for those who complete the item, and a coupon for a free pattern for those who provide photos and link up to the pattern page. If you are able to do this, please contact me. Here's the weekly reminder to like Arabian Knits Designs on Facebook, if you haven't already. That's where I put updates and preview knitting opportunities and other design news. Thank you!

The only reading we're really racing through is the Mama and me thing that Amira and I have been doing. We finished A Mustard Seed of Magic and started Nice Girl Like You. It has been a really sweet time together, as this is just reading that she and I do together, without everyone else. I am thrilled to pieces that she loves these books and the people in them as I do. I did feel bad, because this new book is the one that breaks her heart, because she finds out how certain relationships and people end up in the future, and it's not what you think it will be.



Also posting to Keep Calm and Craft On.

Labels: Books, Design, Family, Homemaking, Knitting, NaKniSweMo, Yarn Along

Thanksgiving was wonderful! Our friends made two kinds of sweet potatoes, dressing, applesauce, and eggnog, on top of everything else I already mentioned, and we stayed late enjoying the food and company. Unfortunately, all of the cooking seems to have pushed my health over the edge and a skin problem I've been battling erupted, so I spent most of the weekend, and even the beginning of this week and term, resting and trying to heal (thus the lateness of this post). I went to the doctor Monday and I'm on some more medication and have a steroid cream, which are helping, but I am still in excruciating pain, and could do with some prayers.

Our Advent fast is not as stringent as our Eastern brethren, and I only post about it because I hope it will help others who are trying to use this wise discipline from the Church, but either are new to it and easing in or have other challenges that require them to take it a little more lightly. Between our home of young children and my more recent health issues, we are only fasting from meat for four days of the week, and we are still including dairy, eggs, and oil. I am having to do some more diet shifts for this and next week to rule out some causes for my skin issues, so we won't be able to do some of our traditional dishes for Saint Barbara's feast on Friday, and I'll be enlisting Rich's help on Saturday to make the Saint Nicholas Cookies for the stockings.

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, though this is complicated by it sometimes being I Esdras being Ezra in modern language and II Esdras being Nehemiah, and in that case, there is a III Esdras, it really depends on which translation you read).

• Sunday Isaiah 1-4, Psalms 101:16–29, Proverbs 21:21–25, II Timothy 2
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Cherries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftovers
• Monday Isaiah 5-9, Psalms 102:1–12, Proverbs 20:16–20, II Timothy 3
  Breakfast: Yogurt, Bananas, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Potato, Onion, Pepper Frittata with Feta Cheese
• Tuesday Isaiah 10-14, Psalms 102:13–22, Proverbs 22:1–5, II Timothy 4
  Breakfast: Toast and Jam, Bananas, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Ham, Turkey and Bean Soup with Cabbage, Carrots, and Onions
• Wednesday Isaiah 15-21, Psalms 103:1–18, Proverbs 22:6–10, Titus 1
  Breakfast: Beet, Potato, and Onion Hash with Poached Eggs, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Black Bean and Poblano Tortilla Casserole, Salsa Rice
• Thursday Isaiah 22-26, Psalms 103:19–35, Proverbs 22:11–15, Titus 2
  Breakfast: Cottage Cheese with Fruit, Toast, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Chicago Style Hot Dogs over Baked Potatoes, Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pecans
• Friday - Feast of Saint Barbara Isaiah 27-30, Psalms 104:1–15, Proverbs 22:16–20, Titus 3
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Apples and Dried Cherries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Fried Rice, Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
• Saturday Isaiah 31-36, Psalms 104:16–27, Proverbs 22:21–26, Philemon
  Breakfast: Creamed Eggs, Toast Fingers, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pasta with Tomato & Onion Butter Sauce, 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: Advent, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, St. Barbara, St. Nicholas, Tales from the Kitchen