Joining my little peeks into the Yarning Along with Ginny!
Last Friday a certain someone went to the Christmas dance at the little school up the road from us.
After years and years of girls getting ready for dances, we have had a break, and now it's like we're in a new phase, starting over again. We dug out the curlers and the hairspray and the swirly skirt and the inserts to make dance shoes stay on and it was pretty fun. (The boys got ready too, but it wasn't at all exhausting, somehow, if you know what I mean.)
I just put that picture of the Pope up on the opposite wall, and I didn't intend to do more here than get her reflection…but if he wants to watch over her as well, that's fine with me! |
Can you imagine a dance with families, great music, and very little attention to pairing off other than for waltzing and the Virginia reel? Can you wrap your mind around a dance where the kids aren't acting like little adults, and where the adults are having as much fun as the kids? I'll tell you about it sometime.
I have a post almost ready to go — another installment in the kitchen-cleaning series, but that hardly seems appropriate to the moment. Gosh, no one wants to hear about that now! You all have everything decorated and spiffed up and all your presents are wrapped and I'm the last person in blogland to have no real idea of how to get from here to Christmas and yet for some reason is thinking about sponges.
And, man, I have so much to do!
I have so much to show you!
But I can't yet 😉
But you know what? My New Year's resolution for last year (well, one of them) was to learn to make socks, and now, after a bunch of pairs, I think I have memorized the Kitchener stitch! Does that impress you? Because it sure as heck impresses me. I think that is the most unnecessarily complicated thing ever invented in crafting.
Since technically I'm posting this on Tuesday, I will throw in a link — this one helped a lot with the above skill:
Breanna says
Gah! I hate the Kitchener stitch! (From someone who's knit since she was 8 years old, that should make you beginning knitters feel good.) I loathe it, but I use it, because it does make things look neater…but I confess, my Kitchener stitch is backwards (comes out like a purl stitch) and I can't make it un-backwards for the life of me, so I turn the item inside out and do it from the wrong side. Ahem.
Lovely girl, and it sounds like a MUCH funner dance than the only prom I went to. (I was kind of chaperoning younger sister/friends/exchange student, and while my charges were sober, I never did like seeing drunk high school kids.)
Jill Farris says
Dear Leila,
I, for one, am impressed that you have not only mastered the stitch but memorized it! This certainly must prove that you are well-prepared to be a grandmother! 25 years ago when I was expecting my first baby, I toiled and toiled to try to knit a nice old fashioned Christmas stocking to match the one some great Auntie had made for me. Well, every time I got to that darn heel I gave up! And every Christmas when I look at the ten Christmas stockings, of which nine are not hand knitted, I regret not persevering and learning the skill. That baby who was in my womb has grown into a qualified and experienced knitter but I have yet to convince her to knit a whole slew of family stockings.
BTW, our church does put on dances that are mainly Scottish Country Dances and they are nights of wonderful fiddle music and wholesome dancing complete with laughter and just plan fun. Every young person should have the joy of such a dance!
Have a blessed blessed Christmas and thank you for a wonderful year full of inspiration and down to earth “mothering” in the spirit of Titus 2.
Jill Farris
_Leila says
Well, Jill, honestly, if it weren't for that video I think I'd still be in the dark, blindly K, P, P, K and having to watch someone every time, and I still sort of do. I can't imagine figuring it out at all from written instructions! Thank goodness for You Tube.
I am so glad to hear about your church dances. When I get around to posting about this topic you can tell us all your experiences!
Merry Christmas!
Sara says
I've been known to say Very Bad Things when using that stitch. Very uncomplimentary toward Lord Kitchener, I'm sure. God help the person who interrupts me before I'm finished! Good job on memorizing it. Even better job if you can get through it without needing to follow up with confession.
Maybe I should finish all my socks in the confession line?!
Nadja says
It is this stitch that has prevented me from attempting socks…I don't know if I could get away from my six kids long enough to complete a sock in one sitting, and interruption seems a very, very bad thing when attempting it! Maybe I will resolve to learn it in the year ahead. Thank you for the link!
womanofthehouse says
Bridget looks lovely! The dance sounds terrific too! I have seen a rise in the type of dance you describe, and I think it's wonderful! Have a blessed Christmas!
jess says
All of these photos are terrific! I love the one of your studio, and the lovely skirt and flowers on your daughter are perfect.
Happy knitting!
Rachel says
Kitchener is relatively easy once you have started and I am DEFINITELY impressed that you memorised it! I certainly haven't LOL
Mamabear says
I am not ready either! But I was an idiot and wound up in the ER, and emerging from the cloud, I had my daughter's birthday yesterday….I haven't sewed my gift bags yet but laundry will have to come first.
Love the green skirt, and the flowers in her hair!
And all of your yellow walls.
CarlynB says
I was admiring her yellow walls, too! And wishing I could go to a fun dance like that…
Pippajo says
First off, Miss B looks positively sweet and refreshingly age-appropriate! Redheaded Snippet no longer goes to dances (unless they're the Big Deal, fancy-dress kind–which we haven't had to deal with in a few years, thankfully) because of all the hormone-fueled shenanigans that go on at them. But I would LOVE for her to be able to go to the kind you describe!
Second, I guess misery does indeed love company because it makes me feel so much better than you are bewilderingly behind on your Christmas preparations as well! I still have presents to wrap, presents to PICK UP and tasty things to buy. But it will get done and I will not have to run around like a maniac to do it!
Third, I always fool myself into believing I can knit and then I see something about a specially-named stitch that requires memorization…I think I'll stick to my scarves!
priests wife says
Our homeschool group has English Country Dances for the 13 and olders- so we have just a short wait (!) before we can start indulging
…love that Papa is looking out for your youngest 🙂
emily b says
I can't wait for the dances post. Lovely pictures–she looks beautiful! Emily B
S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen says
Lovely hair piece on a lovely girl!
kristen laurence says
She is so beautiful! What a gorgeous skirt, and that headband…so pretty. I love getting glimpses into your home…so love-filled and lovely. Merry Christmas!
amanda says
i love to kitchener! after a while you'll find it rhythmic 🙂
beautiful daughter – love her hair accessory and her skirt!
Lisa says
That dance sounds so fun. Our church had a New Years Dance last year. All the families had a blast. There is nothing more fun that see your parents having a great time together and then the kids get to join in!!
She looked so classy!!
Lisa
donna says
I never thought of checking youtube for knitting vidoes! Thank you do much. Your daughter looks beautiful!
Joy says
Bridget looks lovely. That dance sounds so nice. I wish we had events like that for my boys to attend. I keep meaning to try knitting socks but keep getting sidetracked. I'm working on a hat right now which requires knitting in the round so perhaps socks should be my next step. Thanks for the video. I suspect I'll need it.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Your cheerful blog has been like a daily Christmas present this last year. Thanks you so much.
JaneC says
Your daughter looks lovely! My school's dances were never about pairing off, and we often had a very high chaperone-to-student ratio because the dances were so fun, everyone wanted to come! It's hard to pair off at a very small school when you've known everyone since you were little. You're all friends, and the risk of a teenage romantic relationship going sour is too high to risk that comradeship.
And no, you're not the only person in blogland who isn't sure how to get from here to Christmas. We hosted Advent Vespers services at our house all four Sundays, and have been so focused on that and on all the musical rehearsals for Christmas that the housekeeping and decorating were neglected. I'm working my way through each room, cleaning first and then decorating. Thank goodness my in-laws aren't coming until tomorrow afternoon!
margo says
Good for you with the socks!! I am impressed. I've made it a resolution to make a resolution to learn to knit socks. . . sometime. I'm happy with my crafty repertoire, right now, so I imagine I'll get to it sometime.
I would rather discuss kitchens than all this infernal Christmas food. But yes, you are wise to wait.
Your girl looks so pretty! That skirt is divine! And I have been to such a dance as you described! When I was a sophomore class adviser as an English teacher, we planned the first ever square dance for our Mennonite school. Everyone had SO MUCH FUN and no one wanted to stop and eat – teenagers not eating?! The adults enjoyed the teens enjoying the dance. I miss that part of my teaching world. Do tell us about the dance sometime – I know you all do some very pretty Irish dancing, too.
natashamlawler says
Bridget look beautiful! I love the flowers in her hair. And I love the deep, dark brown yarn and awesome blue trim. I just watched the video… very impressed you memorized it! Can't wait to see what you're making.
Suki says
I am so happy to finally be here, and not just have to get my fill from looking at the pictures!
I think the season is getting to you–do you mean “second longest fourth WEEK of Advent”?
_Leila says
True! I'll fix it 🙂
Sukie says
I am so happy to finally be here, and not just have to get my fill from looking at the pictures!
kate says
Your girl is just lovely and I hope she had a good time, the dance sounds perfect.
I am envious of your sock knitting skill. You have a long list of great skills, I love that you like to learn new things.
Dusa says
Ah, how I love you Kitchener stitch! It's so rhythmic once you know it! And my inquiring mind wants to know if the blue trim being added to the vintage linen is handmade by you…so very pretty!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Cyndie says
I just love your blog. I am a transplanted Yankee from MA to MD. Somehow reading your blog makes me feel less homesick, and you inspire me to do better in the homemaking department too. Your daughter is just lovely, and I love that skirt! Could you share details about where I might look for one like it ? Is there a name for the silver pattern decorating it? Thank you. Back to wrapping.