Mod R is out today, so you are in my semi-capable hands. This is a slice of life post.
When I was a child, time seemed to move in a straight forward way, like floating down the stream of a slow, gentle river in a little boat. Then I became an adult, and the passage of time stopped being a steady ride. Sometimes it’s a rapid current, and I don’t know what’s going on, and the boat is falling apart. Sometimes the river turns into a swamp, and I’m going in circles, rowing as fast as I can and getting nowhere. Sometimes I just give up and drift. But then there are times when I open my eyes and notice that the sky is a beautiful blue, the water is clear, and the weeping willows are bending gracefully over the banks.
April had managed to pack all of those moments into 4 weeks. It’s always a very busy month for us. Gordon and both of our daughters were all born in April. This year, there was a book tour on top of it, followed by Gordon getting sick, and then a storm that ripped the decorative shutters off our house and damaged the stucco. Through all of it, we have been working on the book, which is a mammoth at 173,000 words and still isn’t done.
The river has been clogged with debris of Not Done for a while. Boxes of books haven’t been mailed, admin tasks haven’t been attended to, phone calls haven’t been returned, and important errands haven’t been run. I haven’t unpacked. I normally unpack within 24 hours of coming home.
::stares at the suitcases::
I swear I will unpack today.
We did accomplish some things. I have gone to my medical appointments. They had given me a heart monitor out of abundance of caution, and I am delighted to report that I am allergic to whatever kind of glue is on it. I broke out in hives, and the itching was ridiculous. The monitor fell off after 5 days and I actually did a little dance of happiness. I also dragged Gordon to have an eye exam, and his new glasses have arrived. I need to drag him out again to pick them up.
We went out for a dinner with friends and then again to celebrate the birthdays. We have left the house so many times in April, it has to be a record of some kind.
We signed and mailed off 2,600 bookplates for a special book box.
We heroically cut the grass in the backyard, because we finally got rain and in the true Texas fashion, the weeds had gotten thigh-high in a space of a week. Gordon ordered a dumpster for a spring cleaning, and I am ridiculously excited, because I can clean out the back yard. It accumulates old planters, random items like rusted thingie that was used at some point to turn the shutters, and other weird stuff, and I swear that refuse keeps reproducing somehow.
Someone emailed about the mammoth I made during the Q&A. Here she is.
I made her with Premier Parfait Plush for Kid 2. The pattern is available on Etsy from KnotsandSnuggles. Their mammoth has a wider head and less curly hair, but I really liked the curls. There is no trick – they happen naturally if you pull up a longer yarn loop.
I haven’t finished the Book Tour Shawl. I am saving it for the summer trip to Columbus Book Fair.
The next project is this shawl, Frühlingserwachen. I’d love to know what that translates to.
This is a very interesting pattern that looks deceptively complex, but is actually pretty straight forward. My issue right now is that I don’t quite have the right yarn for it.
I can hear you laughing, but hear me out.
This shawl takes at least 1,200 yards. I wanted to do one of Wendy Wonders gradients with it, but realized that what I have tops out at 800 and matching to it will be difficult. I’m trying to figure out how to approach this. Should I do each section in a different color? Do I want cotton or something like Blue Heron with lurex for this or do I want wool? Fingering or DK? Should I stick to the gradient but do the narrow cross sections in a different color or would that look ugly?
I am conflicted.
Well, I need to be at work in 8 minutes, so I have to end this lovely picnic and climb back into my metaphorical boat.
This is my reminder to myself and to anyone who needs it today: the book will get finished, the chores will get finished, the planet will keep spinning. In a rush to get everything done and to catch up, let’s not forget to enjoy the river.
Spring Awakening (Frühlings Erwachen)
Play by Frank Wedekind
Spring Awakening is a controversial 1891 play by German playwright Frank Wedekind about the tragic consequences of sexual repression in late 19th-century Germany, following teenagers as they grapple with burgeoning sexuality, identity, and societal hypocrisy.
First, and also a very unexpected translation.
I’m pretty sure the pattern doesn’t reference the play, but both (play and pattern) relate to the awakening of spring.
“Frühlingserwachen” is a poetic, slightly outdated way to decribe the waking up of flowers and other plants and nature when the sleep of winter is over (to stay in the same descriptive language 😉 ).
I know of several garden-focused events here in the area that use this as a name, which are most often happening in some old parks or around old estates.
The word does not only refer to plants in the literal sense, but is more often used to describe the feelings going along with it. Feeling the first warm ray of sunshine on your skin, seeing the first flowers and so on. Sometimes it can have a romantic connotation as the beginning of a new love (I don’t know the play, but I guess that would be the intended meaning). But as a German myself I can attest, that it is not often used colloquially 😉 .
Woot.
The Spring Awakening musical, based on the play, has some fun songs 🙂
Take time to enjoy life 🙂
You deserve it
The mammoth is so stinkin’ cute!
+1
I was here as well to provide a translation… albeit minus the play reference. I, as a fellow knitter AND collector of yarns, completely understand your dilemma of projects that don’t have quite the right yarn (be it weight, color, or amount)… not enough stash busters out there that I would really like to dedicate time to. It is a lovely pattern.
Good luck unpacking and unearthing the back yard!
I love your slide of life posts! Thank you!
Oops slice of life. Darn autocorrect. I am also about to live this scenario in May. 3 of my 4 are born in May, they are all in school, in various after school activities, and we have two major trips planned. Oh and we are also starting the process of packing. We are moving to Canada from the US in July sometime. The next few months will be interesting. Insane, but interesting.
Enjoy your move, I hope it brings you everything you are hoping for!
We moved from the Netherlands to Sweden, like a lot of other Dutch people do, and enjoy it every day.
Slide of life works for me. Best wishes on your move; I know a lot of folks who might be envious. Me for one, if it were warmer up there.
It is a lovely shawl. I have been on a yarn diet for several years now. However, there are 2 allowances for buying new yarn.
1. A project where I don’t have the right kind or enough of the “right” yarn
2. There is a hand crafted yarn so beautiful I’ve never seen one like it. I am required to buy enough yardage that I could make a shawl. ☺️
Buy yourself some new yarn if need to. 😉
But for what it’s worth, I think the design of this shawl opens you up for lots of possibilities. I think it can handle even different
styles of yarns for each section as long as you can match gage. Have fun with it.
I love that shawl! I’m a weaver not a knitter/crocheter so may not understand some of your concerns. I like DK better than fingerling when I want to emphasize patterns/stitches. I LOVE gradient yarn but using it would mask the pattern a little and as you said, it can be hard to keep the color pattern continuous when using many skeins of hand dyed yarn. (I’ve never used Wendy’s Wonders yarn but it’gorgeous!) I know I’ve started several Saori-style shawls with plans for a single color and have always decided they’re too plain and added some color (one all black shawl ended up as black, evergreen and olive because the waste yarn I used to spread the warp looked so good in those colors.) Looking forward to seeing the finished project!
I think I’m just down the road from you at Canyon Lake. so sorry to hear you had damage from the (much needed) rain we had. I love all your books!
I just wanted to say this- Life is hard right now. Finding out you were coming to Columbus was very happy news, thank you.
The mammoth could not be cuter.
Love this post because I have been having similar thoughts lately about time (and I have an April birthday too!). We got a dumpster delivered on Friday and it felt so joyous to clean out the house and get rid of old flooring, furniture, and shutters. It’s funny what brings you joy as an adult! I feel like a weight has been lifted and the house and yard are cleaner and less cluttered. Happy birthday to Gordon and the kids!
Love the analogy and the mammoth too. Happy Monday!
I understand a little too much. The sweater pattern is beautiful but the knitting gene died in the last generation. Some things have to give. My current book refuses to drop lower than 141000 despite my many protests. Is it possible to split yours in two? As a lovely reader surprise.
😲🥺😱☠️
Now, we have a new BDH swear word: spl!t. I daresay this may be the most vile of all swear words uttered on this page. (insert Victorian era swoon here)
Just kidding, mostly. 😉🤗
Spl!t ??? I am not liking this word!
oh spl!t IS a dirty word!!!
+1
-1 to your +1. I like the idea of a split, as long as its not a cliff hanger/tease.
But I think I’m always the outlier.
Right! I’m guessing much of the BDH was with me with shudder of foreboding/horror upon reading such a word. Let us all scroll up to look at the adorable mammoth and ponder if I’m skilled enough to make one. Or possibly a herd of them, much like the various ones Kate, Curran, Conlan, etc have in their new home.
I’ve got lots of family craziness to deal with atm-involving the apparently ever-changing date for my nephew’s birthday party, to which we must travel. In early May. I’m trying to think fluffy thoughts…
It seems there is actually some language more horrible than wa!t or pat!ence! I can’t even bring myself to write such horrible words!
Dear Author,
Thank you for this slice of life… I have forgotten what the sky looks like from my boat, between cancer diagnosis and other evilness happening in my life currently…
I can’t quite see the sky, but I am sure I’ll get an opening and see it.
Thanks for your posts, it’s always lovely to peek in HA blog.
I love your knitting… all I can do is stare in awe because in this case, I have two left hands… The mammoth is beautiful and so is the shawl. I would ask, in true BDH fashion to have some in the store, but I will not push it lollll…
Enjoy your boat
As a fellow cancer survivor (fingers crossed), keep looking for that bit of blue sky, it will reappear – Hugs!
🤗
Praying that ALL will be well.
Thank you.
Prayers are keeping me afloat… All will indeed be well.
I am so sorry. I wish you full and quick recovery. ::hug::
Thank you 🤗🌻
Hang in there R: I’m sending lots of hugs, good thoughts, and well wishes your way. Here’s hoping they bring lots and lots of blue skies with them. 🫂
Hang in there. My best advice is to find one small thing each day to look forward to. Could b your favorite nurse will b working, or finding a solid half-hour to read your book, or a cookie. Listening to music u like, but find something. And as you deal w the various circles of hell each day brings, u can focus on that one good thing to get thru all the rest.
And know that the BDH is with u, here when this blog is the thing u look forward to. ((Hugs))
+1000
Survivor of many things including a very invasive cancer here (wiggles fingers in the nerdiest way).
Totally unsolicited suggestion: Take time to take care of yourself. It’s so easy to forget. Also please ask for help when you need it. Even if you just want to read Maggie a third time and eat blueberries. Do it.
Big hugs, tons of healing energy + prayers.
I’m just going to say is all the above.
The Horde is with you. 💛
You all are so nice, and I am so grateful to have found such a community of support in the BDH…
Thank you for your kind words and advices (totally solicited!) as I navigate this…. I’ll write to all of you now lol
Thank you so much
<3 <3 <3
Many (((((hugs))))) and sending good thoughts for your recovery.
Maybe you can read some IA books to help!!
is the dumpster thing the same as a new kitchen sponge (from an apt renter) – also the cutest stuffy every
It is for me. It is a chance to throw away junk. Like actual junk that appears magically in the backyard and things that have been in the garage and unused for over a year. We have lived here in this house for longer than we’ve lived anywhere, ever. Over eight years and stuff accumulates. It’s cathartic.
We have a Drop Off/Swap Off in my town every six months. They take just about anything except liquids (oil/paint/cleaners). It’s helped me keep on top of getting rid of the flotsam that washes up in my garage on a regular basis as well as the random electronics that find their way into the drawers.
We did this once, many years ago, and my husband was so traumatized he stopped buying physical things and leaves it to me.
My boat is rudderless and I get seasick 🤪 But sure, I’ll look at the pretty sky, assuming my glasses didn’t fall overboard! Life.
That mammoth is absolutely darling. And I’m jealous of that shawl! I think BDH love is your projects – can’t wait to see it! Buy more yarn!
Thanks for giving us a peak into your life. I understand about not unpacking right away, that feeling of I cannot do one more thing.
Time is so variable these days. I feel it gets more so the older I get. Lately I’ve been having Mondays that feel like a week.
One of my oldest, best friends is coming up today so I am looking forward to an afternoon of tea and conversation.
The mammoth is so cute and the shawl looks like fun!
May the words spill out in a wondrous flow!
Take a look at Blue Brick yarns, based in Canada. It’s a bit expensive but the gradients are gorgeous and fingering skeins run up to 1600 yards. A 1200 yard skein runs $132. If, like me, you always buy some extra “just in case”, 1600 yards runs $176. Would love to see the shawl when it’s done!
I’m rereading Magic Claims and the first thing I thought of when I saw you mammoth plushie (love the curls; he looks adorable) was the ancient elephants in that book.
My thought for the shaw is three hues of the same color, like a medium blue for the dense sections, a darker blue for the diagonals and a lighter blue for the more open sections. Or hues of green, etc. Other suggestion was still break out the colors, but go with ocean motif since you like the beach. One part is the clear blue-green of a calm tropical sea, another part is a seafoam green, and another part either a dark blue gray of a stormy sea or sand colored.
That sounds very pretty! I can’t knit to save my soul, but I do crochet although not as much as I used to when I worked- go figure.
I’m sitting at work listening to my playlist while I plug away at boring but necessary financial spreadsheets. Your blog post popped up at the same time as “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” by Sara Bareillas and now I’m sitting here crying and plugging away at boring but necessary financial spreadsheets. I, too, have a bag (or two!) that is yet to be unpacked. Thanks for sharing the slice of life. I appreciate the reminder.
Thank you for the slice of life. Yes, the world will keep spinning, the work done, and all the joyous occasions will be celebrated. Plus, the unpacking, packing, and moving all the stuff to the dumpster will be done.
I know all about the packing/unpacking stuff right now. I’m in the packing stage for an eventual move at the end of September, beginning of October from an apartment I want out of now, if I could get away with it. Saturday, I packed two dining room chairs into a grand wardrobe box for easier moving. I have four more chairs to pack into two more of the wardrobe boxes. Pretty soon, I won’t have anything else to pack since I’m using the things I have out and not packed. 😊
On top of the packing, my apartment’s air conditioner condenser line decided to spring leaks Saturday night when Fort Worth was under severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. I heard this “drip, drip, drip” upstairs where the air conditioner filter is located. I have buckets under the drips. I have to get two more buckets just in case other drips start up. My apartment’s maintenance people have been notified. Now, the wait is on to see when they get in my apartment to fix this issue.
That mammoth is very cute!
Good luck with your move! I had to sort and pack up 38 years’ worth in 2023, and the sorting was cathartic. Ended up in a sleeping bag for a few days before the actual move. 😀
That shawl would be neat in color blocks but I would take a million years picking the colors. I am making a sweater after buying hand dyed yarn. The hand dyed stuff was chosen to coordinate with Cascade Pima I already have. The sweater appears to be entirely the single color Cascade Pima now that I have a few inches of it done. The stitch pattern is really nice in a single color and I have to wear this thing eventually.
You know, if this Maggie thing goes the way we think it will, it might be time to consider giving up things like “mowing”. While I’m sure it seems like you should be able to mow your own yard, as they say, something has to give. A regular service would give you time to play in the yard, which is relaxing, instead of having to do chores in the yard, which is not. Just something to think about.
Hooray for the mowing service! I just play with my flower beds.
I was thinking the same, and also a house manager/personal assistant to take on some of the inside chores as well. If it were up to me, Ilona and Gordon would do nothing but write, with maybe a book tour for a change of pace.
The recent fad is leaving the lawns and making them pasture or pollinator friendly. It’s suggested to contact your local garden, state resources, or even farmers for local native plants. My hubby and I are looking into this alternative, especially with the current water situation (restrictions and costs)🤷🏻♀️
I’ve done this with about 2/3 of my property – maintaining enough lawn for the dogs to run on, and mowing a perimeter strip and paths for the neighbors. Three years in, with more plants flowering each season, they’re starting to appreciate the look.
Looking forward to taking the Richmond Area Native Plant Garden Tour over the next couple of weekends. Last year they had some really spectacular gardens. There are ten each weekend this year, so I won’t get to see all of them. Check in with local garden groups – even an arboretum employee wasn’t familiar with the tour until I mentioned it.
For your shawl, if you want to use the gradient yarn you have, pair it with a solid color from the gradient. You can do the denser woven-looking diagonal stripes in one (the gradient might be show best there) and the airy lace sections in the other (where the effect of the gradient would be harder to see).
Avoid all design decisions by buying massive amounts of yarn to cover all possibilities, problem solved.
Hugs! Sometimes life really piles on. But so glad you are home. Pls take time to breathe also 💗💗💗🌸🌸🌸
Happy birthday to all! I understand because half the people in my family are born in December + Christmas! One son was born in March so I always bought a present for each of my kids for Easter.
I have also been working on my yard but last week we got a new rescue dog who immediately dug into all the flower beds. Oh well.
I would do a different color in each area of that pattern and make the border areas a solid or even black or white depending on the other colors you choose.
Have fun and post a picture when you are done.
I’m mentioning this because this is often the detail I miss. From https://wendyswonders127llc.com/products/lily-forest-800-yards-hand-dyed-yar.
“If you need a larger skein for a project, please message me. ”
Hope this helps!
+1
I love Wendy Wonders gradients too!
She’s awesome & will definitely work with you to make sure you can get your preferred gradient & yardage!
Yup. Enjoy the river. And go ahead. Buy more yarn. You’re going to anyway; might as well be for that gorgeous shawl. Today I was grateful for today, despite the chores. I am making sourdough pizza, we got to go out for breakfast, my brother stopped by, the garden is growing. I don’t need much, not really.
You guys are so busy!!!! Sounds like you need a once a week in- house assistant and a mower service. But what you really need is a trip to the yarn shop at Baha-Char! that will give you more time to relax (or Write!).
I live north of you I think.
The thunderstorm with hail hit us too.
Did some damage to the trees and backyard.
The mammoth is adorable.
Aside from my husbands day job we are in the process of moving the massive 56k inventory of a family owned costume rental shop to a more viable venue.
Your books are the incredibly welcome breaks at the end of long days of effort, as they have been in the past during previous extended projects.
I hope you know how much joy and escape you bring to all of us.
What a great shawl pattern! It actually looks like it is begging to be made of leftover yarn in your stash.
Dk wt is my favorite go to. Otherwise for gradient you could buy two cakes of Mandala and let the colors go do their thing.
It will be a great de-stressing project after a day of work!
May you have clear waters, blue sky and a fabulous view. I love the idea of life being a river.
The shawl looks so beautiful 🥰.
Things will get done in their good time.
I always, very much, enjoy your “slice of life” posts. Your boat and river description of life is stunningly true. You are, without a doubt, incredibly talented! I love the mammoth and the shawl is stunning, I cannot wait to see what yarn you choose. Many blessings are wished for House Andrews.
+1
The mammoth 🦣 is too cute
While I do devour your books I can definitely play the “long game”. Remember to take breaks for self care. You two will write more books (for us) : ) if you’re rested and healthy. If that self care looks like purging more power to you. If it means slow weekend trip to the Frio river or Lost Maples, that would be lovely also. Deadlines, who needs them.
I love the mammoth! And the shawl is beautiful, but wow looks very complicated. You are very talented. Here’s to a tranquil May
I like your analogy and it’s a great reminder! The mammoth is adorable – too bad I’m not talented enough to create it. 😁
Lovely post about your slice… of life! May it soon become more like a perfect cake (thinking about the Black Beast Torte by local place, Holy Cannoli!) and less like a slice in golf to the ponds (frustrating and no fun at all)….
LOVE LOVE LOVE THE FREAKING ADORABLE MAMMOTH 🦣 GIRL! (I AM CHALANT ABOUT THIS!!!) So very sweet I just wanna grab and cuddle her! 😍😍😍
Take time for you, self-love in hard schedules, and know the Horde waits patiently…😂😂🤣🤣
just be happy if you can💜💜💜 So grateful you guys exist! And hone your storytelling skills and feed our hungry imaginations and hearts! Thank you, Ilona and Gordon
I can’t remember, how many words was This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me?
The mammoth is adorable!
Every time Ilona types “the book” my brain autocorrects it to “THE book”.
That Mammoth plushie is so cute!! You and the BDH knitters have inspired me to try a wobble kit. I haven’t opened it yet, but I have the goal to complete at least two very small beginner projects before TKWNKM 2. Maybe a little something with lots of green and black😉!
Please take more care, and not because of my greedy sticky hands , but because this world needs more people like you in it😊
Tha picture reminds me of Bayou Moon, the mammoth is absolutely adorable and the shawl is super cool, sending healing positive energies to all of you
Your Mammoth is adorable! Good luck with your shawl!
Thank you, Ilona, for sharing this creative and introspective ‘slice of life’ with the Horde! The shawl pattern is beautiful and the mammoth adorable. May you find what you need to conquer the tasks in front of you! (‘80s dance music accompanies my dishwasher unload/load activities on many evenings….).
Sending peace, health and safety to all!
Blooming Yarns by KW, based in England.
I love this shop for my shawl yarn, I haven’t found anything state-side that is comparable. She will adjust colors to match your ombre imaginations and goes up to 2000 yards. I made my daughter a shawl with yarn from her store and it was a delight to work with.
Love the different textures, but the grey doesn’t work for me. It should be a bronze/brick red.
Beautiful shawl – prefacing with I am not a knitter, but is it crazy to say I like the shawl as is, with the unique not completed parts?
Oh, my Hell, the mammoth is so cute!! 🥰🥰🥰 I wish I had more time to learn how to flip the patterns to make them left-handed, but right now, time isn’t something I have, sadly. (I have a baby blanket – another – for a colleague – another colleague – to finish, a scarf to finish, two scarves to make, and another baby blanket to make – this one for a student, whose family arrived in Canada almost two months ago and whose mum is expecting a baby girl soonsoonsoon. And that’s the extracurricular stuff, since we’re two months from the end of the school year.)
That shawl pattern is gorgeous, Ilona. Do it as you feel it. 😊
Happy spring and happy everything, writing and all! 🤗
Thank you for the slice of life! I rarely knit but have the same issue with fabric when sewing. I would see some gorgeous fabric and buy 2-3 yards and later realize it was not enough. Then I would need to buy more fabric.Buy more yarn!
I also had a crazy April ending with knee replacement surgery today. Your books are great appreciated . Mod R- hope you recover well!
Happy Spring!
I’m the same way with fabric. If it’s a fabric I really like, and I have the money, I just buy the entire bolt. That way I know I have more than enough fabric. 😁
Best wishes for a quick and uncomplicated recovery!
I needed that final comment. I will try not to forget to enjoy the river. Even when stress.
What stage of domesticity is where you you get excited about the idea of a dumpster? I love the idea of a spring clean dumpster.
That shawl is lovely. I sew (or I used to) and I just started up an embroidery kit. I’m trying to enjoy the river even though it often just feels like nonstop rapids.
Ilona, I have never tried knitting, but I just love seeing your projects! The shawl is going to be beautiful, and the mammoth is just adorable. 🥰💕💕
Buy the yarn you want: your ideas always turn out gorgeous, and I’m sure this one will too.
Enjoy the river indeed! I’m swamped with a move back into the house we built 26 years ago and which renters abused, an 87-year-old father with dementia, and a deep desire to scream to the heavens, “WTF? THIS is retirement??”
Thanks for putting it all into perspective. If I just glance up from my oats I will realize my raft is not the only one swirling in TX flood waters. Just ahead is a turn, one I can’t see yet but is there, and I just need to make it around that corner.
The mammoth is sooo cute!
As for the shawl, I’d probably do the denser sections in a darker shade and the lacy sections in a lighter shade of the same color, and border it in the darkest shade to kind of pull it together. And I’d be tempted to use fingering weight, but that might be too delicate. Whatever you choose, happy crafting 😊
The shawl is gorgeous! Think I would do it in fingering because the basketweave pattern can get pretty dense. Used that pattern as part of an aran afghan, and it was the thickest part of the blanket, almost double thickness compared to the rest of the blanket. Agree with the earlier poster that if you want to use gradient yarn, the more solid portions would show off the effect more. Happy stitching!
I finally read the first Maggie book and I am glad I made myself wait. It was so good. The audio is great. Great characters that I am anxious to see again. I didn’t know what to expect and the plot surprised me constantly. Great worldbuilding. I actually thought how is she going to get home by the end of the book? Little did I know. Lol. It felt like traveling to the past. But I had to keep reminding myself that it was a made up world. How will they take it to know they are from someone’s imagination? I don’t envy her when they find out. Mind blown. Thanks for a great new series.
Thanks so much for this post Ilona. The time and energy HA puts into fostering this community is deeply appreciated. Here’s to blue skies, more picnics and full dumpsters!
I sympathize with your glue allergy. On all of my medical charts I have listed severely allergic to adhesives.
I had shoulder replacement surgery several years ago. I woke up to find that they had glued my incision.
I had virtually no pain from the operation but I was ready to rip my arm off because of the itching.
Well as to the shawl questions: Do you want to wear it year round or just in cool/cold weather? Year round use cotton or silk, cool temps is for wool. I think an ombre colorway (lighter st the shoulders) would be lovely with a contrasting neutral edging. I am also doing spring cleaning of the yard and getting some raised beds in to try and deter the #%$@ gophers. On my 4th reread of Maggie and I bought a regular hardback for loaning out–the Waterstone is not leaving my possession. Enjoying the snippets- thank you and hoping for calmer waters soon.
Frühlingserwachen
Awakening of Spring
Firstly thank you for a wonderful post, you always make me smile(your way of making difficult things amusing). Hope the rest of the week is plain sailing .My dear father always said it’s a storm in a teacup it will pass and he was a keen sailor x
I’ve found the Tinsmith’s Wife in Comfort to be a good store to go to when I need to look at and decide between lots of yarn choices. Though I’m sure you have a few closer to your neck of the woods!
According to Google’s AI search:
Frühlingserwachen is a German term meaning “spring awakening”. In the context of clothing, it refers to a transition in fashion toward lighter, brighter, and more natural styles that symbolize personal renewal, shedding winter layers, and aligning with the blooming nature of the season.
Love the mammoth, and the trip down river was so true for many, I’ve unpacked my case though.
Hi House Andrews🙋♀️New member of the BDH here ( I LOVE Maggie! it’s my first of your books) and I find after checking everyday for your blog posts (it started out as checking for news on Maggie merch or book 2) I ended up enjoying what you two write so much I’m here for everything else too.
This slice of life post speaks to me Ilona – how did you know what my boat is like?! I feel so seen (except at a mere hint of blue skies or calm clear serene waters right now my boat suddenly bursts into flames or I’m bailing out water from the zillion new holes that just randomly appearing in it before I can enjoy the peace). So thank you for the reminder that eventually things will get better, I really needed to hear that🤗 I hope your boat sails along the river in clear calm waters under beautiful blue skies for a looong time and you get some rest after such a hectic month. You deserve it!
I don’t share your talent for knitting/sewing insanely cute things, but I can admire, right? the mammoth is adorable, and that shawl is absolutely gorgeous!! *makes grabby hands* if you sold those I would buy for sure! You have much good advice on what to do about your yarn situation, all I can offer is go shopping because there is no such thing as too much yarn, just as there is no such thing as too many books or books that are too long and need to be.. aaaah I’m sorry I can’t repeat the bad word mentioned by someone else that begins with “S” *shudder shudder*.
Hope you had a peaceful Monday (as usual I am late to the party). Thank you again for the things you share with us❤️😊
Hugs and best wishes
Welcome to the BDH! I envy you, because there are so many books from HA for you to read for the very first time – we all remember the joy of discovery with each series, all so very distinct yet with that signature House Andrews magic.
My two cents worth: the Edge series (first book “On the Edge”) introduces characters who turn out to be very important in the Innkeeper series, so I was very happy to have read them in that order.
I also love the boat metaphor, we had some much needed house work (new windows, attic insulation and gutters!) in April and I’m looking forward to coasting in May. Love the baldcypress swamp pic, they are so tranquil!
Thanks so much for the lovely welcome Evelyn😊 Where to start with the next HA series was something I was stuck on (obvs I wanna read them all!), so your book reading order advice (does that makes sense?!) came at the perfect time too! brilliant! thank you!!
Welcome to the Horde!
There’s really no wrong reading order. As it happens, I read the Innkeeper books first and eventually circled back for the Edge ones. It worked out fine for me, and I’m usually pretty strongly in favor of reading in the order things were written.
If u look a few blog posts back, HA and Mod. R posted a quiz to help new ppl decide what to read next. Might b fun, even if you’ll end up reading it all, sooner or later.
After my husband read Maggie, I gave him _The Inheritance_ next because (for now) it’s a stand alone. Ofc we all hope for more in that world, eventually. He’s currently a bit resistant to long serieses. For him, I’m thinking Kinsmen next. As an IT guy he will enjoy that aspect of it.
We all envy you the fabulous first-reads you have coming. And rejoice as the BDH gains new members!
All the quizzes, descriptions, series breakdowns etc are conveniently on the “New to our books? Start here!” link on the home page 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/start-here/
Thank you so much for the welcome and your advice too. Really appreciate it Mechcat – and for letting me know about the quiz 😊 (How did I miss the quiz post before?! *facepalm*) . Most of my real answers were ” all of them!! all of them give me allllll options” lol, but I finally narrowed it down and the quiz result was the Hidden Legacy series. So I guess I’ll hunt down those books and then work my way through everything else of course *is in book devouring mode* So exciting! 😁📚📕📗📘📙📖😋🍴Hope your husband enjoys his next book(s) too!
*It should 🤦♀️
The slice of life posts are my favorite.
Part of the enjoyment of your knitting projects is the process. Don’t over think it (too late). It is not life and death decisions. Whatever you choose will be wonderful.
When you describe your boat on the river, I am completely immersed in this vision, just like your books. I am going to use this and remember to enjoy the river.
Frank is absolutely correct! Spring Awakening it is.
The mammoth is very cute
Re : Shawl….maybe Silk ?
It means Spring Awakening. 😊
That is a darling mammoth! I would love one myself. No opinions on the shawl, tho it’s a very pretty pattern. Whatever you decide will turn out gorgeous, I’m sure. I hear you on the grass/weeds, sigh. And I’m sorry to hear about the storm damage! South Austin barely got rain, maybe half inch, while everyone else was inundated. Was hoping for more, the trees and grass could’ve used it. Ah well. Have a great week!
Thank you for the reminder that things will get done. I needed that today.
And the thing about the river is that it’s never the same as a moment ago. Thank you for this post. The shawl looks like it belongs in a museum; so gorgeous. Hope you can float for a bit, maybe with a nice drink in your hand.
And what did I focus on most? A “mammoth” Maggie 2 book!!! Yes!! 😂 🙌
I always seem to be a day late reading the blogs since I retired and don’t sit at my computer all day. I have to comment on the boat and the shawl. Drifting down a bayou is a great way to observe nature and contemplate life, but you have to be ready for the occasional alligator. For the shawl, first it must be yarn that makes you happy. You must want to put it on and snuggle. I like the idea of gradients using a solid color from the gradient for the borders. I also like the idea of using color palette of various shades of one color. Do whatever “floats your boat”😏
Spring awakening. or awakening spring. FRuehlingserwachen…
Ilona, I too am allergic to the stuff they stick on heart monitors with – it is an adhesive and maybe you could be allergic to other medical adhesives too? It seriously is not a great thing to have happen to you and I think you should spoil yourself to compensate by buying extra very expensive yarn to complete the Book Tour Shawl. I think the pattern in the image already has contrasting colours, so you could easily do the same – it will look beautiful. You go, girl!
For my job (which I’m theoretically doing right now haha) I work with heart monitors, specifically the MoMe. The patches always cause people problems, especially in hot humid places – like Texas. Couple things – not sure which brand of stickers you’re using, but sometimes theres a more sensitive version you can request. Also patients have had success using something called a Cavilon barrier wipe, which leaves a film that protects your skin from the glue. Finally, breaks also work, with hydrocortisone to help heal.
It’s amazing how many work-arounds exist, if ppl just let their nurse/tech know about issues/sensitivities. Thanks so much for posting this! I didn’t know Cavilon barrier wipes existed, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who will know to mention it in the future.
That shawl is really awesome. I’ve never made a shawl, oddly enough. I always make blankets. I think I need to try this!
That mammoth could make me try crocheting again, especially if the pattern isn’t too complicated for my brain. I don’t usually long to go back in time, but when we visited the Channel Islands, I wished desperately I could see the pygmy mammoths that used to live there.
I’m sorry about the glue allergy. I recently discovered I’m also allergic to it—when I woke up from laparoscopic surgery and a fair amount of it was performing a vital function but also giving me welts. Ugh.
You may be allergic to latex which everything they stick on you seems to be made of. My husband found that out from his heart monitor years ago, the itching and red welts that stayed for a month. Ask for latex free next time (hopefully not anytime soon)
Love the mammoth and shawl. Can’t wait to see your shawl.
And I’ve been threatening my husband with a huge dumpster for years! This is the house he grew up in and he’s a hoarder…ugh!
Thanks for sharing. Go relax, inbetween errands that is.
Frühlingserwachen means Spring Awakening. I think it is a play, but the name might not have anything to do with the play.
I think my brain stalled when I read that you normally unpack within 24 hours of getting home — there are people who actually do that? If it takes a few weeks to unpack, no judgement from this corner since my record has been 3 months.
I have lived with a half-packed suitcase since 2006. Things get washed and replaced in it for our frequent trips to my brother’s. Not everything, but a bunch of things. In 2006 things happened and my husband ended up back at our house grabbing several days of clothes for everyone. (Shudder) He’s also colorblind,so instructions like- grab the two red shirts from the dryer- tend to yield unpredictable results. Also sometimes hilarious when he shops for produce. Anyway, just having a second set of toiletries, a few basics for clothing, and random stuff that makes life easier(box of tissues, pillowcase, a couple washclothes/towels, pair of crocs, etc), means packing can b done in just a few minutes, which for a number of years was a necessity in our lives.
So I admire the 24-hrs, but know that will never be me. And I offer no judgement on 3 months, but I’m sure with a little effort you can go longer next time.😺
Ilona, you must be exhausted. I’m sure you do this all the time, but I just copy/pasted the German word into Google and up it came.
Spring Awakening, like the play and the 1929 movie. I just got the most wonderful DK yarn from Premier Yarns – Bamboo Fair ( 60% bamboo, 40% cotton). Machine wash, but feels like cashmere. I got enough for 4 sweaters along with their coordinating Trinket( a tweed-like thread).The yarn works just as well itself, so 2 will be the combo and 2 will be just the Bamboo Fair. I think it would be fabulous in afghans and shawls, too. I was so thrilled with the colors, so true to the pictures, that I opened the package and my fabulous 4Square Knit Picks interchangeable needles that arrived from Ebay in the same post and cast on right then! That shawl looks “Designer” special!What a head turner it will be! I wouldn’t be reticent to use a solid color to show off the intricacies of the pattern.
Busy makes it feel like there is never time to just breathe. I’m finding time flies faster the older I get.
I grew up in a Pennsylvania Dutch area near Reading and there was a saying I still use to remind myself to take it one step at a time: ‘The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.’ (It may not actually be Penna. Dutch specific, I just always assumed it was.)
I was also allergic to the glue on the heart monitor. I could hang the device, but the lead patches needed to be the “no, really, these are the hypoallergenic ones .”
My sister has many of the same reactions to adhesive on bandages or vetwrap ace bandages. I think it might be connected to her dairy allergy, since she has negative reactions to topical applications for two of her other allergies (do you have any idea how hard it is to find skin care products that contain neither wheat germ nor soy?)
When I read 173,000 words and not done, I was at they definitely love us!! Please and thank you that sounds perfectly lovely!
That’s a beautiful shawl! How do you find these patterns? Have you made something by this creator before?
I’d probably get another skein of the same gradient yarn, unless it would be a different dye lot. Then, I’d probably get 2 new skeins and use the current skein for something else!
I just have to say that wooly mammoth is so darn cute! If I had any talent whatsoever, I would attempt it. But sigh, I’ll just have to admire yours. Also, I love the shawl you have planned to make. Gorgeous. Can’t wait to see it once it is finished – the colors you choose, the finished product! Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
Lovely post! Thanks Ilona.
What an adorable mammoth!
I’ve been retired for a year and four months and am still looking for “all that spare time” you are supposed to have. I’ve been busier now than ever. Some of it self-inflicted as in making trips to the gardening nursery then coming home with yet another interesting plant that will look “great, right here!”
You are living my life. There are yarn stashes, and then there are plant stashes. I have about a flat and a half waiting to get in the ground – not counting the strawberries – and the major local nonprofit plant sale starts tomorrow. O_O And fertilizer and seeds need to go in today before tonight’s rain.
The yardage for that shawl (if I wasn’t going to pull different colors from my stash) would 100% be an excuse for me to go shop miss babs.
I have a giant ball of katahdin that I bought years ago for a fingering weight sweater..
Love the mammoth. I might have to show that pattern to one of my local yarn shops.
Ah, the birthday blockbuster month. My family had two of them, January and March. Me, my two sisters, my ex-BIL, and my sister’s oldest grandchild in January and both grandmothers, my dad, and my oldest nephew in March. Everyone else was born between June and October.
Fellow knitter, frequent lurker, first time commenter here! If you have your heart set on a gradient, Blue Brick has 1200 and 1800 yard gradient options.
My German husband says “Spring Awakening” which would be like that “green haze” moment when you look at the garden and see that Spring has Sprung!
“They had given me a heart monitor out of abundance of caution, and I am delighted to report that I am allergic to whatever kind of glue is on it. I broke out in hives, and the itching was ridiculous.”
Ma’am, SAME. I had to wear a Holter Monitor for 24 hours and you could see when the hives began because it gave me a straight up panic attack that registered on the output.
The sweater is lovely. It would look lovely if each stitch had its own color.
I would use one solid Color for the more solid borders and and an gradient Yarn for the lacy parts – that way the 800 yards of gradient yarn should be enough
Here in central Oklahoma and got the edge of that storm that probably hit your house. It’s been a crazy week of storms here. I had to take over 2 classes from an adjunct who couldn’t finish the last 3 weeks of the semester. That added over 30 research papers to grade on top of the 6 classes I am teaching. Ugh. But the OKC Thunder are playing excellent basketball, BTS is on tour in the US, and graduation is next week. I can get through to the blue sky!! And I’m loving the news that the book is 173K+ words!! 🙂
I squeeed when I saw that Mammoth. It is absolutely adorable.
That shawl is stunning. Beyond stunning. You even being able to start to sort out what yarns to use where, much less cataloging what you already have and could use, while having any brain space left to write books, makes my brain gears spin. No connections, just wild spinning.
We ordered a full time dumpster here. There are only 3 of us normally, but we are renovating an old church camp into our residence plus Air BnBs along a river in Kentucky. And I have a big garden. And our children and grandchildren visit us a lot. The animals belonging to our disabled daughter also produce trash. I don’t see a smaller amount of trash being produced any time soon.
All of my moms mom’s grandchildren and most of her great grandchildren were born in March or April. Three of my 6 are April 20th, no twins.
Unless you have dirty laundry in that suitcase, it is a happy place. Don’t worry about it.
LOVE the mammoth! It’s truly adorable. Great reminder about taking a moment to appreciate the things that bring joy around us every day. With how hard life can be, it’s important to remember to do that. I re-read your books often because they bring me joy and have done so for close to 20 years. I want to thank you for that!
Cotton, blue ombré. Now I want one.
Dear community. This is off topic ( please excuse, reason to follow) but I have a question and don’t know who to ask or how to go about this.
Is there somewhere on this site we can post a ” thank you note?”
I’m rereading the Kate series and a scene in book 9 really really helped me grapple with some heavy mental health stuff.( Imagine your dad was a real life Nimrod…)
I just wish I could express my gratitude, but not sure how.
Hi Jeanne,
I’m so happy the books helped 🙂.
All emails and comments get read – if you want to drop a private note to the authors you can send it to modr@ilona-andrews.com and I will make sure they get it.
Hi,
It was only mentioned here before, but then seem to be skipped. Maybe someone
would be interested, so I leave it here:
https://sqn.pl/ksiazki/to-krolestwo-mnie-nie-zabije/
Official release date is 06.05, but I preorderd it at publisher store, and already got mine yesterday 😀 It is a beauty (not mentioned on publisher site, but it even has a ribbon bookmark sewn in), and nobody should keep such a rare beauty w*iting…
Sorry, I could not resist 😉
Thank you so much for linking the Polish edition of this This Kingdom again, it’s great to know that it can already be ordered. 🙂
Do not use DK! All that lovely airy lace will get hidden in a bulky mess! Don’t ask me how I know!! *sobs quietly* It’s fine.
Fingering. Like a 1 or 2. No higher. Trust me. Not DK or worsted. Just don’t.
Maggie 1 was such a good book. Normally, my husband is as eager as I am, but in a true BDH move he’s decided to boycott Maggie until there is an Inheritance sequel. Every time I give him House Andrews news, all he says in reponse is “Is it about an Inheritance sequel? No….then I don’t care.” In thirty years, I’ve never seen him be so enamored of a book before.
Thank you and yes it all gets done in the end.
My Grandfather used to say, “Don’t worry – if tomorrow comes, you’ll have time to finish. If it doesn’t, well…..it doesn’t matter anyway.” Then he’d wink.
I needed to hear that last bit. As ever, thank you
Maggie was my river this week. it’s been a rough spring and the break was nice. I’ve never switched between kindle, phone app kindle, audible, and hardcover for a book before. the variety added to the fun. thanks! Definitely worth the wait😀
The mammoth is adorableeeeee 😍
Gorgeous needlework!
I’m catching up on the blog, so this may have been covered already. I, too, had a serious allergic reaction to the large, big sticker heart monitor. Hopefully you already informed your doctor of the reaction. The heart monitor company will tell you that they will send you a different version with five small connector electrodes that use a more gentle adhesive. I still had minor reactions to them and had to move them around a good bit to get the data. (My skin took a bit to recover, but data is important.) In the end, I think they got significantly less than a month’s worth of data, but they got at least 20 days I think. I only have palpitations, yay! Good luck to you!
Also, adorable mammoth! I have got to take the time to learn to make my fox wooble!! The shawl looks difficult & beautiful!
That shawl is beautiful.
Does the yarn have to match?
There are enough varied patterns that the slight color difference may not catch the eye.
Looking forward to the picture of it completed.