Gratitude and Growing...

Have you ever noticed how much JOY you get from doing something for someone who is grateful for your effort? 

How much MORE you want to do for that person who appreciates you...

Appreciates the things you do for them... little or large... easy or hard... just for them...

Gratitude grows your love for doing things for them...  fertilizes it... brings forth blossoms... and fruit.

Roo is one of my favorite peeps to do little hats for... because he loves them, uses them and ALWAYS says, "Tanks, Noni."

I wonder if our own blessings grow or shrink in proportion to our gratitude versus our feeling slighted or overlooked... or begrudging that we should have more?  God is always so much bigger than I am. That said, I find many of His lessons strewn in the ordinary business of living... so, I'm going to take away a desire to grow my own gratitude from this one.  ;)

The Crochet Love is still growing... neither of these photos has good color (inside, bad wintry light)...

I had it outside in the afternoon light the other day and the beauty of these colors almost took my breath away!   I think I need to do about two more feet before calling it quits and starting a border... Onward!

My Roo photos are compliments of Amanda. THANK YOU, Amanda. 

"Gratitude is a word that I cherish.  Gratitude is what defines the humanity of the human being."
~  Elie Wiesel

May you find joy in the simple... and express gratitude for its magnificence. 

blessings ~ tanna

Dancing in Sunshine...

Don't you just relish being around folks who love you at your worst and yet always make you want to be your best?

That's probably one of my favorite things about my daughter... though the list is quite long.

She has inspired me to want to improve my photography skills by her example... She has become very, very good and she is working to be even better.   I love that!

I want to be better.  So, I've set a goal of taking at least one photography class this year... really trying to get better.  I'm pretty intimidated by the idea of a class... but, there's much I have to learn.

I've been trying to define exactly what it is in a photograph, or any art, that makes me really like it... My answer is that it has to elicit a feeling. 

I would like to be able to convey the feeling that my knits (or whatever) give me...

One of the things I've learned in life is that we quickly recognize the familiar...

So, maybe the ultimate challenge would be to share that feeling with someone who has never had it... ???

Just pondering here...

A very, very special thank you to Amanda for indulging me with this photo session.  She UNDERSTANDS the desire to capture... and shares the love of the pursuit.

Shawl is Morticia by Boo Knits.  Done in Madelinetosh Lite:  Esoteric. 

The yarn I'm using in the Stripy Crochet is Madelinetosh Tosh DK.  I'll be sharing more about it soon.

My heart's hope is that there is someone in your life who inspires you to be bigger than you are... reach higher... do more... and yet, loves you when you do nothing at all.  We all need at least one of those.  I am blessed to have many. 

Life.  Liberty.  And the pursuit of Happiness.

May you dance in sunshine today.

blessings to all ~ tanna

Hooked: A Crochet Love

This fascination started with an old afghan I couldn't resist in Canton at the Trades Days, grew with this beautiful gift from the LM & Co., and blossomed with this Mixed Stitch Stripey Blanket Crochet-a-Long by Julie Harrison.

My friend, Laura, loved it, too, and, the next thing I knew we had whipped each other into a frenzy to begin!  We each walked out with a bag FULL of happy colors... then, I took mine back the next day and traded them in for these... they are more quiet, more somber, probably more me.  I want the bright, shiny, happy... but, I am more serious... less sparkly.  Maybe one day...

I am very much enjoying the crochet... learning new stitches... changing colors... my knitting needles have been abandoned (only for the moment).  The one thing I really hope to learn before this project is through is how and where to START and END each row.  Keeping a straight edge is a constant battle for me.  I will persevere. 

Things have been hectic around here... The Old Girls DO NOT like extremes of temperature... which means I DO NOT like extremes of temperature!  ;)  I am sure enjoying this warm front and the calm that is following it!!  Hope each of you are all safe and warm.

"The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic or intellectual, forms a basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference."
~ Audre Lord

It is good to have peeps to share your joy.  Roo asked me while they were here last month, "What's that (peeps), Noni?"  He was insatiably curious about every new phrase; he talks endlessly now.  I told him peeps were your people... the ones you could count on, the ones you celebrate with and cry with... and most of all, love... the ones who share your life. 

blessings ~ tanna

Happy Accident and Happy Moments

The last knitting project of 2013 was a Happy Accident (Details are here).  I'm tickled pink over how my Roo Vest turned out. 

When my daughter and grandsons are in town for their annual December visit, I will not lie… I go through withdrawals from my LYS. However, we make NUMEROUS trips to Hobby Lobby for Christmas projects, etc. In my desperation, I fondled this yarn and LOVED the way it felt. I surmised it might enlarge the Baby Sophisticate enough to make Roo a larger version than his first.
Almost as soon as I started it, I recognized it was going to be MUCH larger than Roo could wear… and I had a secret hope it might be large enough for me. ;)

After they headed home, I picked it back up… did a little math and decided it would work perfectly… and, I decided to make it with cap-like sleeves, more like a vest (which I love to wear… way more than sweaters).  It was indeed a Happy Accident!

Just a few Christmas memories...

If one is good, two must be even better!! 

I'll hold these precious moments in my heart until I can hold these sweet angels in my arms again...

I miss them...

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
1 Peter 5:7

blessings ~ tanna