When you knit on a circular knitting machine, it’s a whole different ballgame than traditional needle work. You cast on stitches, you turn a crank and watch each of 48 needles rise, grab the arm, and take it down into the stitch. A hundred things can go wrong. The yarn has to be just right…smooth, but not too smooth. Thick, but not too thick. Even then the yarn may split or a stitch may drop. There’s a big learning curve but once you get the technique down, it can make beautiful things.

You can’t place too much tension on the yarn, so you have to pull several lengths of yarn off of the ball and let it pool on the floor at your feet. My carpet is clean, but I still don’t like the idea of putting the yarn on the floor that’s going to be used by another person. So I’ve been trying to come up with something that would hold the yarn up off the floor and eliminate the tension issue. I’ve seen a yarn ball holder that consists of a spindle that allows the the ball to spin freely. I found one on Amazon and ordered it. 

When the package arrived and I began to open the package, I read the bottom of the box. “Made in Ukraine.” My breath caught in my chest. Then it ached. I ran my finger over the smooth curve of the wood and thought, “Who made this?  When? Are you ok? Are you safe? Or….” It just made my heart hurt, but I loved that I could send some money their way and I’ll cherish the yarn spinner and pray for Ukraine while I use it.

Today is Mr. FixIt’s birthday. Our son called yesterday morning and wanted to take his dad to Cabella’s. He was up for that and they had a wonderful time. He got a pair of heated gloves for his birthday…something he’s wanted for a very long time. While he was gone, I wove the strips together for the baby blanket I’ve been working on and started crocheting the border on it. 

It was a beautiful day and today we’ll be celebrating my husband’s 72nd trip around the sun. I think I’ll make lamb chops for supper and baked apples for dessert! I am so grateful for his presence in my life and the world is a better place with him in it. 

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”a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.“

Ecclesiastes 3:8 ESV