There is something about making something by hand. Something I can’t quite put my finger on, that creates such satisfaction. Maybe it’s the time spent. Maybe it’s the love. Maybe it’s the test of non-immediate gratification. Maybe it’s the test of my patience. But there is something about it that keeps me coming back for more.

Like this little baby hat that I started a couple of weeks ago. Then decided it had too many holes and ripped it apart only to start over again. Definitely a test of my patience. You know I’m wanting to learn to be more still. To take the time just to be. It’s been a recurrent theme on my blog. The need to be still.

And with this week being the last week before preschool starts for Makena and a few days before Keegan’s birthday party, that feeling to flee arrives like a steam train. The need to run. The need to go. The need to get things done. But no. I’m going to stay put. Continue reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, a book I have fallen in love with for so many ‘patience’ reasons. Work on a little present for Keegan’s birthday. And simply spend time with my kids.

It actually rained last night. Let me rephrase that, it poured like God opened the floodgates. All night long. We woke up this morning to a fog in the hills that reminded me so much of our trips to the Pacific Northwest. And it’s supposed to rain all week. A great excuse to stay at home and just be. Just my babes and me. (Ha! That rhymed. That’s funny.)

If you think this post is a lesson in knitting, you’ve come to the wrong place. Turn around now, save yourself. This will be however, a lesson in patience, fine motor skills and my quick fire temper. You see when I write about things like I’d like to learn to knit, I don’t really expect people to take me seriously. Like, of course I’d like to learn to knit, but now? Like right now? Oh shoot. My mouth sure does get me in trouble some times.

So sweet, sweet Courtney… my new bloggy friend and local Austinite sent me a lovely email telling me she’d like to teach me to knit. Well isn’t that dandy. She decided to call my bluff. I’m a terrible gambler. And an even worse knitter. It all seemed fine… the idea of knitting that is. Sitting around with my new friend, looking cool with my new fancy yarn and sticks. And I would say to people “of course I can knit, I’m one crafty mama.” Ha. Blah.

It all started out okay. I was instructed to get good yarn, not the cheap stuff at Michaels or the Lobby, so we ventured down to South Congress for a little afternoon soiree at Hill Country Weavers. And look at that, a cupcake stand across the street well we have to get one!

Fancy yarn in hand, vintage knitting books by my side, I’m ready to knit. Shoot, look at her face. If she can knit, surely I can figure this out. She looks confident right?!?

And then with this book, this kid screaming at me like that. Bring it on baby, bring it on!

I have all of my supplies and then the pattern arrives via email. We’re going to make a baby hat (not for me by the way). Well, I was feeling confident until the pattern was in Japanese. Not really, but I can’t read a pattern so it might as well had been in Japanese. So now I’m feeling deflated. I can’t do it. I’m feeling short of breath. Getting lightheaded.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…