After finding this adorable you tube video, Mom and I decided we were going to make ourselves some hand made fingerless gloves. We wear our wrist warmers a lot at home, so we thought this would be a good investment, and gift idea. Here is the video for those who are interested…

I chose a crimson and cream color from Wool-Ease as my yarn and design. The yarn is a little chunkier than I wanted it to be…however, I will not freeze! I made this pair in less than nine hours. I started at four in the afternoon, and was finished and ready for bed at around 1 in the morning.

…loose enough to show I’m a lady.” I read that quote on Christa Taylor’s interview with Jasmine Baucham. I pondered and finally added it to my favourite quotes list.

It struck home to me, because whenever we’re going clothes hunting, I always go for the two sizes too big. I like loose clothes that hide me, but I’ve come to realize that hiding under things isn’t feminine. It may be modest, but when we are dressing to please our Creator we should make sure we are still maintaining our gender.

These past five years, skirts have come into play for me. I wear them 90% of the time that I am dressed, and usually a loose flowing top to go with them. But then I look like I am wearing a floral potato sack.

Recently, I’ve been watching what I wear and seeing how it affects my shape and such. I don’t have a defined waist, so I wear skirts and the pair of pants that sit higher on my waist, to create the curve I’m missing. And if I’m wearing a blouse, I have it pulled back and sewn around the upper waist to help add curves. Yet nothing hugs my figure.

I also happen to have broad shoulders which throws off my smaller waist. I enjoyed wearing shirts that I could hide under, but in reality, I was making it much worse. Too much fabric on top overwhelmed my lower half, making me look like a traffic sign. Now when I wear something a little more defined in shape, I have a top that is more equal to my lower half.

So, after reading Christa Taylor’s interview, I now have the goal to wear things that show I am a woman, but also that I am a lady.

The lack of posting here at Painter of Words has been due to a slight change of schedules. Instead of book learning this week, we went camping. We left Monday afternoon and stayed through Thursday morning. Those three days were peaceful, a bit dirty, but enjoyable and a much needed get-a-way.

Our campsite was 373, a different spot than where we camped before. Let’s just say that it is a nice spot to camp, and therefore many people have camped there, therefore the grass has been worn away by constant use. We cordially named it “The Desert”.

The pregnant dog did really well with only a week to go. This is her “I want food” face.

We took walks on the nearby nature trails, spotting many mushrooms. And if you’ve read the About Me page, you will understand this picture of my feet.

On Tuesday evening Uncle Rob, Aunt Robin, Breezy, and Emily Rose came to visit us, along with my Granny. We haven’t really camped without them before so it was kind of different watching them leave as we stayed. Some of my best memories have been camping with our two families. Another unexpected experience happened that night. You can read about it here.

My parents made excellent camping companions. Chess games, reading aloud, Bible study, bike rides, walks, etc. were so much fun. Mom worked on practiced stitching leg warmers while I read from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sunken Ships and Treasure. Fascinating accounts.

I also worked on a few crossword puzzles.

We saw beautiful clouds, which I think of as the columns of the skies. Showing a grand designer, majestic structures, and a fleeting stability of a stronghold.

We also had delicious ‘over the fire’ food. Hot dogs, hamburgers, salmon, potatoes, fried apples, dough boys, and pork chops. *yum*

Our camping trip went splendidly, with no bitter weather. Although, I did get 10 big, infected mosquito bites on my right foot. These were the biggest I have ever gotten, and my whole foot was red, swollen, and itchy- not a good combination when you try to sleep at night. When we returned home, we soaked my feet in Epsom salt, which stung like crazy, and now my feet are on the mend. The only unpleasant reminder of the camping trip is now fading away.

On Thursday, we picked up the book Kitty, My Rib by E. Jane Mall from the library. It’s not a big book, with only 173 pages. It was written in 1959, and is quoted as being a “fictionalized biography” by the author herself, so not everything is accurate, but most of the facts are portrayed correctly. I was mostly captured by the title, which I think to be adorable.

The story is about the life of Katharina (Katherine) von Bora, the beloved wife of Martin Luther, the great reformer. It starts as the nuns make their well known escape from the abbey, and ends with Katharina being old, a widow, and dearly loved by her children.  It is a warm hearted view into the God honoring union between Martin and his wife.

I would recommend the book as a quick easy read when you want to relax with a good book.

Two weeks later: No puppies, it was a false pregnancy….very disappointing

In two weeks we will have the pitter patter of little paws, the slobber of multiple doggy kisses, and the joys of raising our own pups. Courtesy of our six year old Border Collie, Jenna, we will be experiencing our first litter of puppies. Researching, however, the process of “whelping” I fear I may need to be absent during such a time. My gag factor is relatively low, and just reading about all the sacs, and green discharge…*shudder*

So, I will be enjoying the fruit of her labor, literally. Meanwhile, I will allow you to wait anxiously for pictures. I pray all goes well and that mother and pups will be healthy.

Here is the mother-to-be:

Any advice from experienced puppy owners about the whole whelping process, please leave a comment.