Yopping Update #52 - It's a wrap in rhyme

Year number eight is over and done
50 projects and most of them fun.

I posted every week not missing one
and kept up on the other yoppers'  fun.

Two blankets were finished, a crochet and a knit
Quite a feat to make all the squares fit!

Four shawls made this year, one while away
This Hitchhiker made with pride I'd say

Two of the shawls with vintage yarn  given to me
and the first with found yarn from a store that was free.

Onto the zodiac, a rat, dog and ox
All made as gifts, wrapped up in a box

Three basket weave dish cloths - one made with a hook
and two little scrubbies to clean up after the cook.

One emerald green sweater was made just for me
and three little ornaments to hang on our tree

Of course dear little grand-daughter received many hand knits
All made from my stash or from magazine kits.

Some soakers, a onesie and a cross over top
 A hoodie, some booties, I just couldn't stop.

There was one pair of socks and two pairs of mittens
(did I mention in Croatia I saw lots of kittens?)

A hedgehog, some sheep, and rocky raccoon
and Christmas tree ornaments not a moment too soon.

Elephants and owls and one noel mouse
plus a tape measure cover for my dear daughter's house

A sunflower bookmark to keep one's place
And one more little flower to brighten the space

Of course I knit socks 'cause that's what I do
One pair for me and my dear husband too

Then there were these taxi socks made for my son
I designed them myself, my very first one

One amigurumi monkey, I had planned to do
but he was so cute, I had to make two

 I knit and felt slippers, a first time for me
They fit like a glove, so I am happy you see.


This year while dealing with a very sore arm
I couldn't knit for months to save me more harm

Now that diagnosis could have spelled doom
But look, I made curtains for my bedroom!


So that is my wrap up - all done in rhyme
No rest for me, there just isn't time.

Tomorrow Year Nine starts - my list is all done
Things to knit and fibre to be spun!

One more thing I have to shout out loud
As a grandmother I am so very proud.

To catch other wrap up posts go here
These yopping friends of mine are all very dear.

Knitting for Peace - 'Twas four nights before Christmas

The Healthy Knitter asked knitters the world over to gather last night to knit for peace.

Here is something I wrote about our Knitting Group Peace Knit event last night.



'Twas four nights before Christmas and amid all the books
Some creatures were stirring and reading in nooks.

The lights were all hung In the Library square
In hopes that some knitters soon would be there.

Their projects were nestled all snug in their bags
and some of them soon would be wearing gift tags.

With some knitting shawls and some knitting caps
It was too close to Christmas for any long naps.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
Readers sprang from their chairs to see what was the matter

The twinkling lights on Tuesday’s snowfall
Gave some light to this solstice
This dark night of all.

When what to their wondering eyes should appear
But Elise with her suitcase (was she moving in here)?

With Joan in a sweater so lively and quick
With a picture of Santa, also known as Saint Nick.

There's Belinda and Marlie, and Judy and Liz
and Mary-Anne and Marjorie (the gluten-free kids)

More rapid than eagles the finished objects  they came
And we whistled and shouted and we called them by name.

Izzies, and sweaters and cowls so many
Socks, shawls and skeins  worth more than a  penny.

With shortbread and rumballs, and cookies - such pleasure
Timbits of course, A Canadian treasure!

To the top of the square, through the door to the hall
Come in, come in, come in one and all.

Our eyes how they twinkled, the candles they flickered
They were battery-run  candles, but nobody snickered.

We knitted and chatted and laughed all the same
We looked at our projects, and called them by name.

We oohed and we aahed and tried some things on
And Mary-Anne even got her Peace shawl done.

We spoke lots of words, our voices not hushed
We were surprised, in the library, not to be shushed.

This night of the year we knit for peace more than ever
Because knitters knit peace - we are really quite clever.

The time flew by fast, it was oh so much fun
But the eight forty-five warning  bell said it was done.

We packed up our things and put away chairs
Wishing each a good Christmas without any cares.

And I heard us exclaim as we moved out of sight.
Happy Solstice to all, And to all a good night.


(With apologies to Clement C. Moore)

Two of the group - with a shot of our candles!

Rhythm

I am pleased to participate in another drawing (artistic) challenge.  Since I don't draw  very well these dear artists let me draw with my words.  Veronica threw down this challenge - Rhythm. Go to her blog to check out the other entrants.  They are all incredible artists in every sense of the word.

Rhythm

The Rhythm of my breath
as I lie in Shavasana
as I mimic the dead
a breathing corpse.

The Rhythm of your breath
as you sleep beside me
my fear that I will awake
and the rhythm will no longer be there.

The Rhythm of my strokes
as I swim for my life
as I kick in rhythm
to the beating of my heart.

The Rhythm of the rain
drumming on the roof
of a camper that shields me
from the storms outside.

The Rhythm of the music
resounding in my heart
the songs you once sang for me
echoing in the silence.

The Rhythm of my walk
through the cedars and the ferns
reminding me of this journey
I will see through to the end.

Nanowrimo - Poetry

Here is today's excerpt.  The poem was written by me on November 13, 2001 - So eerie that was the date of the Paris terrorist attacks.

Her coffee was cold, and as she reheated it she leafed through the tattered journal and found this written for K on her twelfth birthday, November 13th, 2001

Peaceful Wish

If I could wish
for just one thing
On a clear November sky,
I wish for peace for all
who see the stars go
sailing by.

I wish a child’s laughter
was the only cause for
mother’s tears,

I wish a father’s arms
could put to rest a
child’s fears.

Yes, I could wish for
emeralds and gold
and jewels to fill the sky,

But all I want is peace
for those who watch
the stars sail by.

She remembered back to that year, two months after 9/11.  On the morning of 9/11 she had been camping with her class in the local mountains, her son had been hiking with his class on a four day trek, her daughter had been in school, her husband had been at work.  Her greatest fear had been realized that when disaster struck she was not with her family, and her family wasn’t with each other. 

As a teacher she had tried to allay the fears of her Grade Six students, but this particular student’s father had arrived to take her away to bunker down in their cabin in the interior. 

That had frightened the class more than anything – the removal of this one child.

As she looked at the birth date of K, she realized it was November 13.  The same day, when this year, the Paris attacks had taken place.  

She didn’t believe in coincidences. Clearly she had hope fourteen years ago.  Where had it gone?

Tiny

Tiny

As in those nagging thoughts that bounce against my astral body

Annoying mosquitoes

Trying to get in

Trying to taste blood

Sometimes succeeding

Tiny thoughts requiring vigilance and resolve.

Tiny

As in those moments of pure bliss

Eating warm apple pie

In the sun

A good book on my lap

Tiny moments of gratitude

Tiny

As in the little people

That hide things just out of sight

Or tease me with their fleeting shadows

Reminding me that all that there is

Is not all visible

Tiny people creating magic and mischief.

Tiny

As in me

Alone in this big sky

This universe

This dust mote of an existence

Tiny for this briefest of lives.



To view other bloggers/artists who have been inspired by the word tiny go here.

Limerick Contest

Go check out the original blog for all the entries here.

Here is mine:

There once was a very fast knitter
Who suddenly became very bitter
The sweater was pink
But when washed in the sink
The darn thing it no longer fit 'er.

Quiet

It's quiet
the sun is out
the wind is still
only the sound
of my breathing
beating
heart.

The plants
have waited
all winter
for this moment
this day
to start to
leaf.

A windowsill
full of
succulents
awaking from
dormancy
to strive
and thrive.

Reaching for this
quiet
winter sun
a still reminder
of faith
and hope.

Mary-Anne Taylor
February 21, 2015

26 Years ago today - Part Two

A Friday in January
The thirteenth don't you know
You were four days early
And the forecast was snow.

The date seemed auspicious
The labour was ok
We managed despite the weather
The hospital the next day.

So two days later
You finally made your way
3:20 in the morning
On your grandfather's birthday.

You were Mommy's girl
No other arms would do
My little Velcro baby
Carried like little Roo.

You sing with all your heart
And write your point of view
You strive to make better
what others failed to do.

Tarot, horoscopes and books
Have helped you find your way
Sharing ideas with me
Hearing what you have to say.

Twenty six years ago
I was afraid to say
How much it was I wanted
A daughter to light my way.

Whether doing errands
or endless cups of tea
Time we spend together
means everything to me.

Happy Birthday baby girl
May peace come to you most
And know that now and always
You are loved from coast to coast.