Imbat is finally live, and I cannot be prouder. This is a simple, cropped sweater, with classic lines. However, those lines are created with a lot of attention to detail, and with clever shaping and techniques. It is not difficult to make it, but each part was designed with a lot of thought. It is designed with negative ease for a snug fit, is perfect worn over a dress or a short sleeved top. Knit from the bottom up with simple lines and deep ribbing, it creates its own shaping to fit to your body. The modified dropped short sleeves are easy to fit with minimal sewing. Even if you are not a typical crop top wearer, it might become your go-to garment for transitional weather. Slip it on to ward off the evening chill of spring or summer, or wear it as a layering piece in autumn or winter. I think you will enjoy making and wearing it, as I did.

As a Christmas gift to you, the first 10 people to use the coupon code Frightful on Payhip will receive 75% off, the next 10 people to use the coupon code on either PayHip or Ravelry will receive 50% off, and everyone else will receive 20% off at either storefront. All coupon codes are valid through the end of the day, PST December 30, 2022 (you may have to be a little patient for the shift from one coupon to another on PayHip). Merry 5th Day of Christmas!🎄

My GAL has been fun, but not as productive as I would have liked. There are only a few more days, but I have only finished one hat, one slipper (still to be blocked), and begun a second hat. I am hoping to have the second slipper mostly finished by the end of the month and event. I will work on the hat when I am not doing "work" knitting in January. These are both really fun patterns, though, and I am happy to be making them. The adorable slippers are from Jenise Hope, the Persian Curled Toe Slippers, and the hat, is the Rime of the Ancient Beekeeper Hat from Julia Decker. It is truly a beautiful hat, and a great introduction to circular brioche if you have never done it.

Unfortunately, I have gotten hardly any reading done this past week.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Books, Design, FOs, Giftalong, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Grandbaby, Homemaking, Knitting, Prayer Requests, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:55 PM 0 comments

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

We are celebrating joyously this week! Christ is born and our salvation is begun, so nothing else is really as important. We have been bitterly cold this past week and had a Christmas tree emergency (we had to replace it on Christmas Adam, because the hard below zero temperatures froze our tree from the west side), but that isn't really that important. We have no fasting over the next 12 days, and we are making a lot of delicious treats.

Christmas was full of freezing rain and we had to miss the Christmas Eve service, as it was cancelled so people would be safe. We might have to cancel the Christmas Day service, but because we hold it in the evening, there might be enough time for the roads to clear. If we don't meet with our church group, we will have a lot of leftovers from dinner tonight.

This week is also full of some significant events in our family. Jerome gets wheat back, glory to God, and he is so happy about that. It is also Rich and my 26th wedding anniversary. We are celebrating with a special dinner here at home. The kids will be eating snack tray and leftover cookies and desserts earlier in the evening. Yet again, we are making our cookies and candies throughout the 12 days of Christmas, rather than making them all at once, and stressing ourselves out over them.

• Sunday - Feast of the Nativity of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ
  Breakfast: Turkish Eggs in Yogurt Sauce (Çilbir), Christmas Bread and Butter, Bacon, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Garlic Rib Roast, Wine Pan Sauce, Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Boursin Stuffed Potatoes, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Braided Egg Bread, Lentils and Ham, Salad, Devilled Eggs, Triple Chocolate Cheesecake with Candy Cane Ice Cream, Brown Sugar Shortbread, Fruitcake, Wine, Apple Cider
• Monday - Feast of Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
  Breakfast: Orange Cardamom Muffins, Bacon, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chinese Take Out, Decorated Sugar Cookies
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist
  Breakfast: Bacon and Egg Cups, Toast Fingers, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Tandoori Chicken and Rice with Yogurt Sauce, Harissa, Rosewater Almond Tea Cookies*, Pistachio and Cardamom Crescents
• Wednesday - Feast of Holy Innocents
  Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls, Bacon, Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Kofta bil Bayd, Rice, Loubiyeh bi Zeit, Roasted Squash, Harissa, Raspberry Almond Shortbread
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Thomas à Becket
  Breakfast: Chorizo Breakfast Casserole, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pizza, Salad, Chocolate Cranberry Walnut Cookies, Brown Butter Ginger Chews*
• Friday
  Breakfast: Christmas Scones, Sausages, Hard Boiled Eggs, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Bierocks with Mustard, Fried Cabbage and Onions, Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookies
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Cranberry Pumpkin Bread and Bacon and Biscuit Bake for Potluck after Liturgy
  Dinner: Pasta with Parmesan, Lemon and Cream, Seared Scallops, Three Hearts Salad, Faux Pots de Crème, Sparkling Cider, Prosecco

Labels: Christmas, Church Year, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Nativity, Romance and Relationship, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 2:20 PM 0 comments

We are in the home stretch of Advent now. Christmas Adam and Eve are upon us this week and we are so excited. I keep forgetting that it is only a week until Christmas, though, and while I have most of our gifts ready, not all of them are. And I am a little concerned. But we have 12 days of Christmas, and 40 days of the Christmas season. It will be alright.

Our plans for the Christmas tree changed a bit, because we had an opportunity to get one from the west side, and so we took that opportunity. Also, we had to move some menu items around last week, so that means we have a couple repeats this week. Since Saturday is a strict fast day until evening, we will make a light breakfast for Nejat and maybe Mariam and call that good.

Gluten and wheat have been going really well for Jerome, so that means that he may only have to avoid lima beans and bananas strictly. That is not such a bad thing, as neither of those are his favorites anyway, and we are grateful to God that it it looks like he will be able to eat normal bread shortly after Christmas! Oysters went alright, but as he doesn't love them, he probably will only eat them occasionally, bubt that means that the foods he loves so much will largely be available to him. Glory to God!

• Sunday - Fourth Sunday of Advent
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Croissants (a tiny bit for Jerome), Raspberries, Milk and Coffee, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Brudet (Croatian Seafood Stew), Soft Polenta with Parmesan, Crackers, Vegetable Tray, Oranges
• Monday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash Burritos with Salsa, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Mediterranean Braised Vegetables, Rice, Mandarin Oranges
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Onions and Roasted Peppers, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Kusheri, Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Sliced Oranges
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast with Honey (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Vegan Dan Dan Noodles, Mandarin Oranges
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oatmeal with Chopped Apples and Raisins, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Fried Shrimp, Vegetable Stir Fry, Jasmine Rice, Fruit
• Friday - Christmas Adam
  Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Peanut Butter Drizzle, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Faux Meatloaf, Onion Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Fruit Plate
• Saturday - Eve of the Feast of the Nativity
  Breakfast: Tahina and Date Paste on Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Pasta Trapanese, Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Fruit Plate

Labels: Advent, Church Year, Family, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:27 AM 0 comments

Rejoice! And again, I say, rejoice! This is our little break in the darkness as we prepare for the Light to enter the world. This is a 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. We are still in the Advent anticipation, and still busy with fasting, praying and almsgiving, but are also taking time to remember the happiness that awaits us in His Incarnation and return in glory. We are planning on putting up our tree with the lights today, as we used to do at our former home, in honor of Gaudete Sunday. We will still decorate it on Christmas Eve, though.

• Sunday - Gaudete Sunday
  Breakfast: Baked Oatmeal with Chopped Apples and Walnuts, Leftover Pies, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pasta Trapanese, Vegetables, Ice Cream
• Monday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Onions and Roasted Peppers, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Faux Meatloaf, Onion Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash Burritos with Salsa, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Baba Ghanooj, Hummus, Khoubz Araby, Shorbat 'Addas, Mandarin Oranges
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter and Honey Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Shrimp Creole, Rice, Sliced Oranges
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oatmeal with Chopped Apples and Raisins, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Creamy Avocado Pasta with Cashews, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Peanut Butter Drizzle, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Vegetable Korma, Basmati Rice, Mandarin Oranges
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Lenten Banana Muffins, Shrimp and Vegetable Salad in Lemon Vinaigrette for Potluck Breaking the Fast after Liturgy
  Dinner: Irish Boxty, Fried Eggs, Fruit Plate

Labels: Advent, Church Year, Family, Fasting as a Family, Gaudete, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 12:12 PM 0 comments

I have finished one project in the GAL and started another. Here is Jerome in his Acropolis hat. He loves it! He has taken to wearing it most of the time now, because he loves it so much. That is definitely a win in my book.

Speaking of books, I've been reading from this one, on and off, for a little while. You can see it with the beginning of the baptismal gown, which really should be close to finished now. Yikes. I had to rechart the cables in it, and had I to do it over again, I would have made the border design a little differently, and mirrored the smaller cables, as well as making them an eight round repeat instead of a six round, so there would be two repeats for every center cable repeat, but I'm just continuing as it is for now.

Besides It Takes a Church to Baptize, we are still reading through Further Chronicles of Avonlea slowly, and I am making tiny progress in The Diary of a Country Priest which should be going faster, but I am mostly falling asleep after reading a few paragraphs.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Books, Design, FOs, Giftalong, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Grandbaby, Homemaking, Knitting, Prayer Requests, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:57 PM 0 comments

I know the picture says peace. We don't know why. Peace is the last Sunday.

We had a lot of schedule shuffling last week, so there are some repeats on the menu this week. We are relaxing the fast on the feast of Saint Nicholas, and yet again I find myself wishing we hd a decent sized Middle Eastern population here with whom we could "trick or treat" for Saint Barbara. Though, with as cold as it has been, maybe I'm glad not to do that.

Jerome decided to take the risk on testing gluten back this week, so we will see how that goes. This means he will also try a small bite of his initial cookie on Tuesday. Please pray that it goes well for him and that it is clear whether or not he should avoid it. If all goes well, he will still have a few things to avoid or watch, but all food will be normal food for him. He will still have to avoid bananas, canola, and lima beans.

• Sunday - Second Sunday of Advent and Feast of Saint Barbara
  Breakfast: Waffles (Gluten-free for Jerome) with Maple Syrup, Fruit Plate, Milk, Coffee and Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Baked Mediterranean Rock Fish in Tomatoes and Onions, with Green Beans and Olives, Basmati Rice, Qamhiyeh for St. Barbara's Day, Saffron Buns for St. Barbara's Day, Fudge for Jerome
• Monday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Onions and Roasted Peppers, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Vegetarian Ranchero Beans, Rice, Pineapple Fruit Cups
• Tuesday - Saint Nicholas
  Breakfast: Saint Nicholas Cookies, Chocolate, Oranges, Peanuts, Pistachios, Pomegranates, Coffee and Milk
  Dinner: Margherita Baked Polenta, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Chocolate Pecan Pie, GF Pumpkin Pie for Jerome
• Wednesday - Saint Ambrose of Milan
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins and Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Chickpea Fajitas, Salsa Rice, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Eggless Harvest Pancakes, Mandarin Oranges, Coffee, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Cajun Sweet Potato and Shellfish Chowder, Crackers (Gluten-free for Jerome), Fruit Plate
• Friday - Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Theotokos
  Breakfast: Toasted Crumpets with Peanut Butter and Honey (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Falafel Plate with Yellow Rice, Harissa, Taratoor, Veggie and Olive Plate, Dates
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Ful, Harissa, Olives and Roasted Veggies for Potluck Breaking the Fast after Liturgy
  Dinner: Quesadillas with Peppers, Corn and Onions, Fruit Plate

Labels: Advent, Church Year, Family, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:08 AM 0 comments