Quick Update — Pretty Colours!

I wrote several hundred words of a post trying to explain why I’m having trouble blogging recently, but have left it uncompleted and in draft form for now, for fear of boring you. Instead, I’ll just quickly share this photo of the Fair-Isle yoke, almost finished, of my second Birkin sweater. I’m very pleased with it, and so glad that I decided to allow the mossy-green and that cerulean blue into the neutrals-only palette I’d intended.

I did muster some words about some mystery novels, over on my Reading Blog.  And I’m feeling creative in other venues, enjoying writing by hand in my Garden Journal, but stuttering in my approach here, hoping to get my mojo back before too long. Meanwhile, thank you for your patience.

Off now to meet a friend for coffee, and the weather is near-spring perfection — expected high of 10 degrees Celsius and sunny.  Hope you have some happiness ahead this Thursday as well. 

26 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    15 March 2018 / 4:09 pm

    Hello. I am so surprised to read you feel you have lost your mojo here. Quite a lot recently, I have thought how prolific you are with your blog. You never fail to entertain, inform,include. Whatever pace you decide on to produce your posts is more than fine with all of us,I am sure.
    Have not commented much recently but definitely reading. I am always delighted to see you have written.
    Two American guests with us now for two weeks, two more guests for 8 days next month, then planning for early to mid May departure to Maine for 6 weeks..and, ggrrrrrr, still cleaning up from the flood in our flat in December, as well as my own work,along with the dreary tedium of handling the insurance claim,has me feeling busy but very non-creative. Thank you for sharing all your creative endeavours with us- makes me feel better about doing nothing in that area for weeks and weeks.
    P.S. absolutely love the sweaters. How long would you estimate it takes to knit one sweater like that? I'm in awe.
    Interested, too, I how you plan your travel.
    A.in London

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:32 pm

      Thanks for the kind words, A. Wow! You've got a busy few weeks of entertaining guests and then preparing for travel PLUS Ugh! cleaning up post-flood can't be fun.
      Hmmm, tough to estimate how long to knit a sweater like these. Just over a month for the last one, I believe, with many hours spent in front of Netflix, and many just meditating through the stitches. . . I do have to be careful not to end up with any repetitive-stress injuries, and sometimes it's really tempting to keep on just a bit longer than is wise.

  2. Anonymous
    15 March 2018 / 5:20 pm

    Lovely colour combination . I don’t know how you fit all your interests into a day . Do you have longer days in Canada ? Have a good break .
    Wendy in York

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:32 pm

      hahaha 😉

  3. belle
    15 March 2018 / 5:24 pm

    Those colours!!! Spring, blue sky days…love the mix.

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:32 pm

      Thanks, I. I'm really please with it.

  4. Anonymous
    15 March 2018 / 5:34 pm

    Your sweather is so beautiful! Just in time for spring
    Weather is warm- mixed sun/rain intermezzo before another cup de grâce of winter next week (weekend included)
    I've seen the exibition Nikola Tesla-Mind From The Future,excellent,multimedial,playful as well. After 20.3. it goes on tour:Prague,Budapest,Paris and New York,following his path in life and inventions (and Dubai-I doubt that he went there himself),worthful to see
    Take care and take your time,we'll be here…..
    Dottoressa

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:35 pm

      I'm trying to remember — wasn't there a play or something that you saw earlier, about Tesla? Or have I confused that with something else? Did this production/exhibition include some theramin music?

    • Anonymous
      17 March 2018 / 4:42 pm

      What a memory 🙂
      It was a play (not connected with the exibition)
      D.

  5. hostess of the humble bungalow
    15 March 2018 / 11:42 pm

    I'd never have guessed that you are having trouble writing your blog…perhaps you just need a break for awhile…come back when you feel rested and the writing will flow.

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:35 pm

      Thanks, L.

  6. Megs
    16 March 2018 / 12:23 am

    Love all that you write. Waiting for your sourdough story and the recipe. (Hint).

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:36 pm

      Thanks! And I am working on it. (made another batch today, in fact)

  7. Madame Là-bas
    16 March 2018 / 3:39 am

    I love the colours of your yoke. You are a busy person and perhaps you you need a break. Enjoy the sunny weather.

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:36 pm

      Isn't it glorious?! Makes such a difference to the mood.

  8. Anonymous
    16 March 2018 / 4:11 am

    Please don’t be so hard on yourself. Maybe a small blogging break would help…just a small one though!!!
    Ali

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:36 pm

      😊

  9. Mardel
    16 March 2018 / 2:01 pm

    Even your lack of mojo, not in evidence, shows up with charm. Take time. Release yourself from expectation. We will all be here you know.

    • materfamilias
      16 March 2018 / 9:37 pm

      Thanks, Mardel. Despite my intention to "blog without obligation," the sense of obligation does creep in. . .

  10. Rosie
    17 March 2018 / 10:29 am

    Hi Frances, as I’ve said before, I love the colours in your sweater! Looking forward to seeing you wearing it ��
    I was actually pondering on just how much you fit into your life a week or so ago … when you wrote about your personal trainer. Like Wendy said … maybe your days are longer!!
    You put a colossal amount of thought and work into your blog, so I can imagine there’ll be days when it simply feels like “hard work” I always read your posts although I haven’t commented as much recently, due to being away and unwell. I for one, would be happy with a quick hi from you, and to hear about your days, at times when you feel you don’t have the time or perhaps inclination to write a long post!
    Take care, have a happy weekend! It’s snowing here at the moment and bitterly cold!
    Rosie
    ps I’ve been meaning to say my “northern” grandma used the expression “Shanks’s pony” for using our legs for walking!

    • materfamilias
      20 March 2018 / 12:00 am

      You're so kind and encouraging, Rosie. Thank you! Hope you're managing to stay warm.

  11. Eleonore
    17 March 2018 / 4:55 pm

    Congratulations on the sweater! The colours are lovely. And more good luck with the weather. Over here, were are back to snow and and icy wind. I had been dreaming of going to the lakeside and open the season this weekend, but there is not even thinking of it.
    I agree with all the commenters who admire you for the broad variety of activites you seem to be able to fit into one day. I am still struggling with getting my priorities straight. So when I suggest you only blog when you want it/feel like it, I know this is easier said than done.

    • materfamilias
      20 March 2018 / 12:01 am

      It is, exactly, easier said than done. Still sorting, even three years after retirement — I expect the move was another factor as was my daughter's decamping for Italy. . . .

  12. Anonymous
    19 March 2018 / 3:32 am

    Consider that it is the whisper that is calling you to let go. That we have done something for so long does not require we must continue.
    As Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis so famously said: I want to live my life, not record it. You may be approaching that line.
    Giulia

    • materfamilias
      20 March 2018 / 12:04 am

      Much that might be true here, Giulia. I'm pretty confident that I'll know if/when it's time to let go — I've switched gears and tracks enough times in my life to know I can do it if it's right. But, pace La Jacqueline, I don't think of myself, here, as recording my life rather than living it. Not sure how that could ever work, anyway 😉

  13. Anonymous
    20 March 2018 / 12:08 am

    Yes, I have an electric tea kettle. And I live in Southern Missouri. I grew to discover I needed one badly, not in Europe but in Canada, where for ten years I had a long-time Canadian client and living in hotels and apartments in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver with electric tea kettles.

    They're so functional and so FAST that it was a no-brainer to add one to our kitchen here in the Ozarks. Couldn't live without it. I use mine for teas and for instant coffee. Don't laugh — I'm addicted to Nescafe, but only for afternoon coffee. My morning coffee preparation is too complicated to explain in a simple post and involves two different kinds of coffee, a special filter, and … never mind, it's too complicated to go into further. 😉

    And regarding your immediate need for a tea kettle in Portland, there's always Amazon. I hear that they deliver everywhere. 😉

    Ann in Missouri

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