The Language of Shawls

There is something about a shawl.

The allure...

the softness,

the delicate movement against the skin,

the pure femininity,

that speaks to me.

This one is called

Avalon

The very moment my eyes beheld its beauty in the book

my soul took wings.

I knew I had to crochet it.

About a year ago I purchased two glorious skeins of

Malabrigo Silky Merino

to save for just the right shawl.

During that time I have occasionally

taken it out of the drawer to feel its softness against my face.

I was never quite certain what I would create with it but I knew that

eventually something would speak to me,

like a soft whisper.

Before I was finished with the entire shawl,

I came to the end of the lovely Malabrigo.

Therefore I added a delicate ivory border.

This was done in Berroco Folio which is a fiber blend of

65% Superfine Alpaca & 35% Rayon.

Sometimes the most beautiful things happen when we have to improvise.

There are many more shawls in this divine book I plan to make.

I started with this one thinking it would be perfect for gentle

Spring & Summer Days and Evenings.

No matter what else is on my hooks and needles,

there are times I just have to have lovely shawls in the making.

They bring comfort to my soul.

Without uttering a sound,

they have their own language.

I love the whole process of working on them

and then seeing them around the house.

Maybe I'll just do one more...

before moving on to something else.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort..."

2 Corinthians 1:3

Sunshine Through Lace

I'm just popping in for a quick 

Good Morning 

to all of you before I get on with my Friday.

I wasn't planning to do a blog post today but then I woke up to a morning full of

Beautiful

Abundant

Golden

Joyous

Sunshine.

finally.

Yesterday was cold, grey, wet, windy and even snowy.

Not the kind of snow that made a pretty blanket on the ground.

Just the kind that drizzled through the air all day and melted as soon as it landed.

But it went on all day long with not a single ray of sunshine in sight, not once.

It was however, a cozy day around here, for me.

I had my dear friend Amy for an afternoon of tea and knitting.

She comes at least once a week

{and twice if we can squeeze it in}

and spends whole lovely afternoons with me.

In the colder months we stay tucked in my warm kitchen with the kettle going,

a pot of tea always under a cozy,

my dogs napping contentedly in their bed together

and my little fireplace glowing.

Mack & Phoebe

Then as Winter finally gives up the ghost and Spring is reborn,

with my beloved Summer fresh on its heels,

we settle ourselves on my porch

{me on my swing, Amy on my vintage wicker settee}

and drink our tea and knit and crochet the afternoons away in the glorious fresh air.

On those days there's a smaller dog bed that is dragged out to the porch so the doggies 

can nap and "visit" with passersby.

I live on Main Street in a small town.

We have lots and lots of people strolling by all day long to have wonderful chats with.

When the weather is warm enough we're also joined by my song birds in their cages.

{Noah the Cockatiel and Spencer the White Dove}

 I carry them out and set them on the porch and they sing for the pure
JOY
 of it all afternoon...

and doze in the sunshine that trickles through the leaves on the big ancient maple tree shading the whole of my front lawn.

On this morning drenched in beautiful 

Sunshine 

there are so many things I am so thankful for...

Small, constant, homely, warm, every day, cozy things...

My simple yet "perfect for ME in every way" home

My Husband... Can't even say it all here.

My beautiful, wonderful children and grandchildren... God is so GOOD.

My entire whole family {you know who you are}

My dogs, birds, kitty cat and squirrels and bunnies I feed in the yard.

Mercedes

My knitting group who keeps me steady through life all through each season, rain or shine, in and out of my house every Monday night week after week, year after year.

A special friend who comes to my home to share a cup of tea and play with yarn and make the gloomy days seem cozy and the sunny days even shinier. 

The many friends, so close to my heart. I am blessed with an abundance of friends.

A very, very dear friend God brought to me right here through this blog

{you know who YOU are... we are spiritual sisters... talking, texting, praying, sharing all of life}

And finally...

I really, really am 

So thankful

for days of 

Sunshine through Lace

When I open my front door and see this sight

my heart knows Spring is just as anxious

to enjoy my front porch swing as I am.

Wishing you days filled with 

Happiness

Love

& 

Abundant Sunshine of the Heart

Danette

"Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And delight yourself in abundance."

Isaiah 55:2