Author Archives: Kim Halloran-Fry

hooked

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Alannah and I have been encouraged by our first hat projects.  As in, they actually fit people's heads.  (we aim low lol) It was rather instant gratification as well since they came together inside an hour using this pattern. 

hats

We also got a little addicted to trying the sampler shapes from the Crochet Bible.  There were hexagons, squares, circles, flowers in circles.  Then I saw the African Flower pattern at Craft Passion and loved it immediately.  Or maybe really loved her color scheme. Either way I tried one of those as well. Since I have only scraps yarn these serve little purpose other than to affirm to us that yes, we can follow patterns and make cool things. And some days, that little reminder is really plenty of project incentive. : ) 

sampler

Any new hobby worth it's salt involves favorite new blog bookmarks.  Favorite new crafty blog is Rose Hip.  Her whole blog looks like Moira's room.  I want to make one of everything. Most definitely some edged pillow cases. Just as soon as I order the thread. (Let's pause for a little reality check here – this charmed country I find myself in is nearly devoid of craft stores.  What there is smacks of 1983.  Just saying. You mail order your craft supplies here.) 

And on the real stuff – I will say too that I have started two sweaters since which have not materialized as yet.  The first pattern I messed up and had to rip a bit out.  And have not been terribly motivated to continue because the worsted weight yarn, even in a soft blend, feels poufy for a little girl.  The second, from the Crochet for Tots book is true to its stated measurements, however it should be noted that those measurements are NOT typical for the sizes they are supposed to be.  I realized a young teen could fit into the sweater at the size it was stitching up, which is a good 9 inches wider across the chest than most size fours. 

So I am on the hunt for some cotton/bamboo blends in a lighter weight and patterns to work with.  Or maybe just a candy colored assortment of yarn to make Moira the Rose Hip inspired afghan she requested.  Really there is something so incredibly soothing about the repetitive motion and the delicious colors. I am glad we picked up the hooks again. 

Changing what you can

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A recurring comment I have gotten lately mentions the peace some people notice in the images shared here.  I have thought about this a great deal.  There IS great peace but I would add that it is also the very kind Jesus promised – not the kind the world usually refers to.  It has taken me a long time to understand the difference. 

"Even peace may be purchased at too high a price." – Benjamin Franklin

So often we confuse peace with with conflict avoidance.   That isn't real peace.  It is simply the refusal to acknowledge a problem and in fact creates exponentially more inner turmoil.  Part of cultivating real serenity  - for me – has been being very honest about what I am comfortable with and what I am not. What I can do, and what I truly feel I should not.  That is the first, essential step to peaceful living – honesty, as much with ourselves as with others. 

It can be very hard to know which response will result in true peace and healing because sometimes God asks us to be still, and allow him to be mightier than the storms which surround us.  Other times He says Arise, and walk. He gives you strong legs to replace those once paralyzed by fear and intimidation.  He leads you to a different place. Sometimes we are to remain and endure bravely and quietly, other times we are to shake the dust from our feet and move on. 

Peace is costly but it is worth the expense. – African Proverb

 It takes careful discernment coupled with sincere prayer to know what He is calling us to in a given situation.  But in the end we know.  It is a 'simple, not easy,' thing.  Sometimes the most difficult steps are taken with remarkable calm.  Conversely, what others around us assert should be easy leaves us with tremendous inner unrest.  And we just know.  

Blessed are the peacemakers.  – Mt 5:9

Peace is defined not as a gift of the Spirit, but a fruit borne through careful cultivation. It is not something you get but something you make.  That is where the blessing is promised. I have stopped waiting for it to just happen and tried to understand what had to change in my life for it to grow.  

Peace is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it. 

Be assured of this. We do not have a perfect life, but no doubt we the perfect life for us. Perfectly suited for our salvation.  Perfectly fitted with crosses which many would find unbearable to carry.  His simple – but never, never easy – plan for my life is indeed perfect. Resting in that knowledge brings true peace. Nothing else can. 

And I am not sure any of this makes sense to anyone else.  It is just what I have been thinking about lately.  

 

Serenity

Ombachsee

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The rest of the pictures from the wonderful day at Ombachsee. There were some wardrobe changes but they are all from the same day, which involved sand, trail, water, and lots of sunscreen. : ) 

point
The sand pit at Ombachsee has a system of narrow troughs channeling kid pumped water.  I am telling you, the Germans think of everything.  Except ceiling fans.  And ice. But that is another post. 

pump
They were enthralled with every part of this system. 

trough

hands

dig

fball

The sand pit fun, delightful as it was, was just a prelude to the lake itself. 

M lake

hill
 

lake

We had all the ingredients – kids, water, stones, dirt.  Not much else needed for a perfect day. 

skip

swan

Omsee ….perfect day. 

New International Picture Blog Project!

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I am so very excited to share a project that has been brewing the past few weeks. Friends from very different regions of the world have teamed up with me to create an international picture of the week project called Snapshots Around the World.  Each Monday Sue in Japan, Rebecca in the US (midwest), and I in Germany will share an image from our own cultural perspectives interpreting a general theme.  (Earthquakes, labor strikes, floods, nuclear blasts, emergency surgery, and acts of God permitting – because between us we have some of those this year ; ))

Please come join us and if you want to play along leave us a link in the comments with your take on the week's theme. 

 

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

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Prettyfunny icon

pretty:

I glanced up from the kitchen window this afternoon and this web caught my eye. 

web

happy:

Abbie and her Daddy.  

squish
smile
funny:

I have come to take a deep breath when I hear Hey, Mom c'mere!

milk tower

I think this one was the milk tower mastermind. 

kitchen

He had a funny little run in with Brendan this week too. B had gotten one of those rubber bracelets as a promotional giveaway at a booth. Aidan had been eyeing it and I noticed he was wearing it another day.  I asked how that came to pass.  He said "Brendan gave it to me."  "B," I said, "did you decide not to keep it?"  "Yes," he said very seriously, adding,  "but I am still little and I didn't know better."

So yeah, he's got it back. ; ) 

real:

sigh.

There is a story here. It pains me to write it.  I blame Angry Birds… 

phone
No, it's not what you think.  Truth be told I have never played with an Angry Bird.  I am not sure how the game even ended up on my phone.  Nor the giant pimple one which makes my stomach turn everytime I flip through my app's wondering where my Hipstamatic disappeared to. 

Anyway, I asked for my phone the other day and several people under double digits knew right where it was and rushed to get it, like, before the others got to it. The race to retrieve it was over faster than I can type this out. Abbie had an early lead but Brendan was closing in fast. She 'won' by making a Hail Mary pass in my direction…

"I gotchyer phone Moooom!" she squealed in jubilation.

so yeah again. 

If it survives the screen transplant I swear every frog breeding, pimple popping, bird flinging app is gonna be SO gone. Just Mom's boring old ical and shopping lists.  That's it. 

making things with light

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The littles have had fun way disproportionate to the $11 price tag on the Lite Brite this week.  Retro Hasbro games have a special place in my heart. ; )  Lite Brite was invented the same year I was and I still get a rush seeing the neon pegs light up. (remember this? I have been humming it all day.) 

lite 3

Turns out that magic works in this generation as well. 

lite
screen
Since she is wearing it here I should show you the outfit for Tess that is finally finished and on the girl.  We made the peasant blouse from Emma Hardy's Making Children's Clothes which I have mentioned before.  I LOVE this book for people like me with very basic sewing skills. It is a compilation of the best kinds of online tutorials but someone has drawn up and printed the patterns on heavy paper.  Saves a ton of time. 

blouse
Best part is that there are no special constructions and the sizing appears to be spot on.  The parts assembled easily and the finished piece lays nicely.  

blouse
And it has been tested and proven twirl worthy.