Michelle Edwards's Blog, page 3

Junior Navigator

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The map was never far away. The road atlas was always within reach.  On the way home, the bag of spicy peanuts, purchased at a convenience store, rested between between us. The driver and the junior navigator.

We left early Saturday morning, and by late Sunday afternoon, we arrived at the Old Order Mennonite community in Delano, Tennessee. The fields were green and lush.  When we asked for directions to the family we were visiting, a teenage boy, riding his colt for the first time, led us there. Our visit was a short one, but the days seemed longer somehow. No electricity, no electronic interruptions to conversations or meals. We sat through an end of the school year celebration. We took a buggy ride. Neighbors brought by a meal to share. After supper the men stayed inside to talk, the women gathered outside. The children playing were outside, too. The boys running about. The girls milling around in twos and threes. Many of them, mothers in waiting, lovingly cradled the available babies.

We left before lunch on Tuesday, ready for hot showers, ready to plug back into our phones and the Internet. Ready to move freely without a prayerful eye watching over us. And most of all, ready to rejoin the world where a woman's voice can be heard.

 

 

 

Fall Excitement

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The Hawkeye Healing Shawl , my new essay for Lion Brand, marks a beginning. Now I understand a little more about the black and gold, the Hawkeye team colors. Last week, I discussed this with my neighbor and friend Ed ( Ed's Hat). He told me how he became a Hawkeye fan. And then, he invited me to be his guest at a game in the fall. I'm looking forward to that. I hope I can bring my knitting.

I am also waiting with eagerness and excitement for this fall to read my pal, Anne Ylvisaker's newest book, Button Down. The second of three books about Iowa's Button family.  Button Down, will be out just in time for football fever. Button Down follows Ned Button, a character inspired by Grant Wood's Plaid Sweater (above), in his quest to see the 1929 Hawkeyes play the opening game in their new football stadium.

Stay tuned. There will be more about news about Button Down. And even a contest.  You'll have a chance to win a autographed copy. In the meantime, check out the book that started the Button series, Luck of The Buttons.

Happy reading.

Lilac Blooms

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Back in September, I wrote about my lilac bushes. How they didn't bloom last spring. A kind reader (thank you, Rach!) suggested they might be sulking. Perhaps they were. But they are over it now. They have forgiven me for the very short haircut I gave them. The most severe of trims. An unintentional violation.They are budding and fragrant. Abundant. Hurray! Hurray!

 

Liliac Blooms

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Back in September, I wrote about my lilac bushes. How they didn't bloom last spring. A kind reader (thank you, Rach!) suggested they might be sulking. Perhaps they were. But they are over it now. They have forgiven me for the very short haircut I gave them. The most severe of trims. An unintentional violation.They are budding and fragrant. Abundant. Hurray! Hurray!

 

Plastic and Sparkly 4EVR

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Last night was the reception for my middle daughter Flory's BFA show at the University of Iowa.

It was a great evening.  I am so proud of Flory and her work. Here are a few shots from the show.

 

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Check out Flory's Tumblr --little angst on the prairie

 

Little Victory Chart Guy

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I almost lost him, the Little Victory Chart Guy. I found him late yesterday afternoon nestled deep inside a folder backed up on my eternal hard drive. I never did quite catch on to this back-up system. Not with ease. And yesterday was my day of reckoning, the device was full.  The time had finally come for me to enter the dark hole where my files had been sent and see what was there.  Deleting and consolidating both the old and new took much of my afternoon, and in the process, I found this guy.

The Little Victory Chart Guy is a knitting chart for the simplest "v". I drew him while writing the pattern for Victory Scarf and Wristers in A Knitter's Home Companion.  You can insert his "V" into a washcloth, Warm-Up America square, healing shawl or sock top.

 

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Congratulations to Kris at Light and Texture, Sometimes Sound.  Her comment on knitting and empowerment was chosen as the winner in our International Women's Day contest. Kris, please contact me through the email form on this site -- Open Road Media has an e-copy of A Knitter's Home Companion for you!

A big knitterly thanks to all who of you shared your knitting experiences. If you haven't read their comments, scroll down and enjoy. And if you haven't already, join in the conversation. I love reading about your knitting lives, and I'll be checking for new comments.  Take the time to visit Kris's website/tumblr-- Light and Texture, Sometimes Sound . It's a lovely place.

Iowa March

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Who would have ever thought that a phone could help you remember your morning walk?  I'm still amazed that as I move past pastures and housing developments, pet the neighborhood dogs and occasionally moo at the cows when they are out -- I carry my phone with me. I can stop and email if I'd like. Or write a note to myself. I skip the music part, although I know it's available. I not tempted to watch TV from the park bench in the middle of the field. But I do love taking pictures of what I see and how it changes with the seasons.

A bundle of thanks to  104Reviews and Joyfully Retired for their lovely reviews of A Knitter's Home Companion.

 

Women's Empowerment and Knitting

 

 

On March 8th, how will you be celebrating International Women's History Day?

Along with many knitters world wide, I'll be thinking about the women who influenced me and my knitting. Like my friend Isabel Nirenberg, who came to the rescue when the curse of the boyfriend sweater hit my needles. She dedicated a long afternoon to my wooly woes. And during that time, we drank tea and talked about more than just the sweater.

That boyfriend left my life a long long time ago. But Isabel and I are still friends, and I still have the graph paper she used to help me understand and pinpoint a sweater solution.

This year's Women's History Day theme is  "Women's Education ­ Women's Empowerment".  

How does knitting empower you? Do you have a knitting mentor? Share you story (in the comments section below) and you may be chosen to win a free e-copy of A Knitter's Home Companion.

 

The Joy of Drawing

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I have been drawing most of the week. Reacquainting myself with paper and pencils and pens. A glorious reunion. And then, in the mystical magical ways of our interconnected wired world, an email arrived from long ago and far away. It was from my good pal and a fine artist, Kevin McGrath. We met at Skidmore College in a drawing class taught by Susan Hauptman. After all these years, we are both still working -- drawing, painting, and creating.

Take an art break today. Check out Kevin's work on his website. Visit a museum. A gallery. Pull out some paper and pencil -- the simplest of mediums -- and discover the joy of drawing.

 

Thank you 104 Reviews for your lovely review of A Knitter's Home Companion.

Downton Abbey and The Academy Awards

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Last Sunday night, my husband Rody and I bid farewell to our friends at Downton Abbey. We were relieved that Mary and Matthew's romance is now on the road towards marriage. That is what their people do, right? We are pleased that Sybil is pregnant with the Earl and the Countess of Grantham's first grandchild --  a commoner? And that Daisy has found peace and family with William's father. We are worried about Bates, of course, but we will have to wait for next season to find out what happens to him, and ultimately, to his relationship with dear Anna.

This Sunday night, we'll take our seats in front of our television again to view another special show, The 84th Academy Awards. It is our first time watching the annual event. Rody's good friend, David Shamoon will be there and we are thrilled for his recent film success. David wrote the screenplay for In Darkness, which has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year - Poland.  In April, it will  be showing in Iowa City. Meantime, we read all the articles and accolades and await Sunday Night. I even have my knitting planned, a healing shawl, the pattern memorized. I can easily drop my knitting when it's time to applaud.

Movie Notes:

Watch  In Darkness trailer

Read more about David F. Shamoon and the story behind In Darkness here and here

Knitting Notes:

I am knitting the healing shawl in The Boneyard Shawl Pattern by Stephen West .  A free Ravelry download, it's lovely and simple with a great drape. Since the shawl is for a special football fan, I'll be making the Hawkeye version of it, in gold with garter ridge in black