For Tea Forsake

Many estates are spent in the getting, 
since women for tea forsake spinning and knitting, 
and men for punch forsake hewing and splitting.  

~Benjamin Franklin~

Chocolate, Crochet, and Tea

 

Awhile back my blogging friend, Tammy, wrote a blog post called Chocolate, Crochet, and Tea. Now that is a title that's sure to draw me in!  I always enjoy her blog posts, especially because Tammy knows how to enjoy the little things in life. Moments rather than things are treasures to her. I appreciate her perspective and her joy in living each day. She really does fill her quiet moments of the day with chocolate, crochet, and tea! She crafts some beautiful things! 

Years ago my mother attempted to teach me to crochet. As a teenager I made a baby sweater and booties for my "hope chest". Of course they were made in "pink" and I never had a baby girl so they weren't used. They are still stored away for a time when they might be needed for a grand-baby or two. When mom taught me, she was my instruction guide. I didn't learn to read a pattern and since mom could make anything without a pattern, I never really learned how to decipher the art of pattern reading.

This past winter I decided that I needed to push myself and learn something new. Pretty yarns in beautiful colors drew me in, and I decided to learn to read a crochet pattern. Of course there were many aspects of crochet I had to relearn as well. I admit to many frustrating moments, but Tammy's example spurred me on. She posted this dishcloth pattern on her blog and started posting what she'd made. I decided to do the same and "wallah", dish cloths were the result! Thanks to my friend, Karleen for helping me decipher pattern instructions...and to Mitty and Verna at the Quilt Guild for taking time out of quilt piecing to help me fine-tune my stitching technique. And of course, thanks to Tammy for inspiring me from far away! Throughout the stitching process, my teacup of chocolate oolong tea has been by my side. Chocolate, crochet, and tea.

Projects for a Cold Winter Day

What kind of projects do you work on during a cold, winter day? We've recently experienced some weeks of ice and snow. Such weather changes normal routines and alternative activities take their place. Sometimes these activities include cleaning out cupboards and drawers. At my house that resulted in candle tapers of all colors being melted down into a kettle of "latte" colored wax which was poured into odds-and-ends cups and containers to create candles for the cabin and home. There's something relaxing about working on a project out of the daily norm, and rewarding too, as one looks at all the candles lined up on the counter top! It's also fun to learn a new craft. I found a box of yarn, crochet hooks, and instruction books that had been my mothers. My skills are basic at best, but I am learning and growing in my abilities with the crochet hook. Some of my blogging friends post inspiring projects that feature their crochet skills and I visit and revisit their posts and am inspired to continue upon this venture. What kinds of things are you doing during the chilly days of winter?