The Thirteenth Tale Square Pattern

The Thirteenth Tale Square by Tuppence

Design inspired by The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

The description of the design components (and what parts of the book inspired them) includes possible spoilers, so I won't include that description and explanation here. It is available in a post on the Ravelry Book Club group page on Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/ravelry-book-club/109328/1-25#6

You need to be a member of Ravelry to access the page. If you're not yet a member, join us!

Size: Approximately 8 x 8 inches

Materials used:

Red Heart Super Saver yarn (or any worsted-weight yarn) in Black and Light Grey.

Size 8 knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Gauge: 17 stitches and 23 rows = 4" x 4" in stockinette stitch

Cast on 34 stitches with Black. (Odd-numbered rows are the right side.)

Then commence chart. Each row is how it appears as it is on your needles. (The cast-on stitches are row 1).

The border (first 4 rows, last 4 rows and first 2 stitches and last 2 stitches of every row) is knitted in garter stitch.

The rest of the chart is knitted in stockinette stitch (knit right-side rows, purl wrong-side rows).

When changing colors, be sure to wrap the new color around the old color to prevent gaps.

The last row (46) is the binding-off row. Bind off as if to knit. Weave in all yarn ends.

46 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 46
45 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 45
44 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 44
43 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 43
42 GGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBBBBBBBBGG 42
41 GGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBBBBBBBBGG 41
40 GGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBBBBBBBBGG 40
39 GGLLLBBBBLLLLLLBBBBLLLBBBLLLLBBBGG 39
38 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 38
37 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 37
36 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 36
35 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 35
34 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 34
33 GGLLLBBBBLLLLLLBBBBLLLBBBLLLLBBBGG 33
32 GGLLLBBBBLLLLLLBBBBLLLBBBLLLLBBBGG 32
31 GGLLBLBBLBLLLLBLBBLBLLBBLBLLBLBBGG 31
30 GGLBLLBBLLBLLBLLBBLLBLBLBBLLBBLBGG 30
29 GGLLLBBBBLLLLLLBBBBLLLBBBLLLLBBBGG 29
28 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 28
27 GGLBBBBBBBBLLBBBBBBBBLBLLLLLLLLBGG 27
26 GGBBLBBBBLBBBBLBBBBLBBLLBLLLLBLLGG 26
25 GGBLLBBBBLLBBLLBBBBLLBLBBLLLLBBLGG 25
24 GGLLLBBBBLLLLLLBBBBLLLBBBLLLLBBBGG 24
23 GGLLLBBBBLLLLLLBBBBLLLBBBLLLLBBBGG 23
22 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 22
21 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 21
20 GGLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLBBLLLLLLBBGG 20
19 GGLBBBBBBBBLLBBBBBBBBLBLLLLLLLLBGG 19
18 GGLBBBBBBBBLLBBBBBBBBLBLLLLLLLLBGG 18
17 GGLBBBBBBBBLLBBBBBBBBLBLLLLLLLLBGG 17
16 GGBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLLGG 16
15 GGBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLLGG 15
14 GGLLBBLLBBLLLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBGG 14
13 GGLLBBLLBBLLLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBGG 13
12 GGLLBBLLBBLLLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBGG 12
11 GGLLBBLLBBLLLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBLLBBGG 11
10 GGLBBBLLBBBLLBBBLLBBBLBLLLBBLLLBGG 10
09 GGBBBLLLLBBBBBBLLLLBBBLLLBBBBLLLGG 09
08 GGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBBBBBBBBGG 08
07 GGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBBBBBBBBGG 07
06 GGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBBBBBBBBGG 06
05 GGLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLBBBBBBBBBBGG 05
04 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 04
03 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 03
02 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 02
01 GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 01

Key:

G = Black in garter stitch for border (knit each row)

B = Black in stockinette stitch (knit right-side rows, purl wrong-side rows)

L = Light Grey in stockinette stitch (knit right-side rows, purl wrong-side rows)

Parah (Cow)

(Yesterday was a special Shabbat called Shabbat Parah. I wrote and posted this in my previous blog on 03/11/2007.)

TORAH: Bemidbar (Numbers) 19:1-22

HAFTARAH: Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 36:16-38

Shabbat Parah is the third of five special Shabbats (Sabbaths) before Pesach (Passover) for which there are additional Torah and Haftarah readings.

The instruction about the red heifer is known as a chok in Hebrew. A chok is a commandment or instruction which is mysterious and doesn't seem to make any sense, but we do it anyway because Abba YHWH says so. But those who are familiar with Yeshua Messiah are able to see the Messianic significance of the red heifer procedure.

The ashes of the red heifer were used for purification after contact with a dead human being. The heifer had to be red. Yeshua wears a red robe:

Rev 19:13 and having been dressed in a robe dipped in blood – and His Name is called: The Word of YHWH.

The red heifer is perfect, without blemish. Yeshua is perfect, unblemished and spotless:

1Pe 1:19 but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless,

The red heifer had to be slaughtered outside the camp. Yeshua was taken outside of the city to be slaughtered:

Mar 15:22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.

Included in the red heifer procedure was cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet. Yeshua was crucified on wood, and hyssop was used to lift a sponge up to His mouth just before He died:

Joh 19:29 A bowl of sour wine stood there, and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and held it to His mouth.

After His death, a ribbon of scarlet was manifest:

Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and instantly blood and water came out.

Even though the gathering of the ashes of the red heifer made one unclean, the paradox is that the sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer in living water cleanses one from death. When Yeshua touches the unclean, He does not become unclean, but instead the unclean are made clean. When Yeshua touches the dead, He is not defiled, but instead raises the dead to newness of life.

The portion from Yehezqel (Ezekiel) points to the red heifer and the promise of Messiah:

Eze 36:24 "And I shall take you from among the gentiles, and I shall gather you out of all lands, and I shall bring you into your own land.

Eze 36:25 "And I shall sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean – from all your filthiness and from all your idols I cleanse you.

Eze 36:26 "And I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I shall give you a heart of flesh,

Eze 36:27 and put My Spirit within you. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.

Eze 36:28 "And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be My people, and I shall be your Elohim.

The red heifer sprinkling was to take place on the 3rd and the 7th days:

Num 19:19 'And the clean one shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day. And on the seventh day he shall cleanse himself, and shall wash his garments and bathe in water, and shall be clean in the evening.

There are seven moedim (appointed times) or High Shabbats in the Scriptural calendar every year:

1. The first day of HaMatzot (Unleavened Bread).

2. The seventh day of HaMatzot (Unleavened Bread).

3. Shavuot (Weeks), also known as Pentecost.

4. Yom Teruah (Day of Blowing/Shouting/Trumpets).

5. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).

6. The first day of Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths).

7. Shemini Atzeret (Eighth-Day Assembly).

The third of these High Holidays, Shavuot/Pentecost, is when the Torah was given on Mt. Sinai and also when the Ruach HaKodesh (Set-Apart Spirit) was poured out on the disciples some 1500 years later.

In the first case, 3000 died because of the sin of the golden calf, but in the second case, 3000 were saved:

Exo 32:28 And the sons of Lewi did according to the word of Mosheh. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.

Act 2:41 Then those, indeed, who gladly received his word, were immersed. And on that day about three thousand beings were added to them.

The seventh of these appointed times is Shemini Atzeret. The meaning of this day is like that of a King who invites His people to a week-long feast (Sukkot), but He is enjoying their fellowship so much that He wants the people to continue to abide with Him. This eighth day is representative of abiding in eternity with Him.

Shemini (Eighth)

(Today's Torah portion is Shemini. I wrote this post about Shemini in my previous blog 04/19/2007.)

TORAH: Vayikra (Leviticus) 9:1-11:47
HAFTARAH: Shemu'el Bet (2 Samuel) 6:1-7:17
KETUVIM NETZARIM: Ivrim (Hebrews) 7:1-19; 8:1-6

The seven days of the ordination of Aharon and his sons were completed, and on the eighth day, they began offering atoning sacrifices for themselves and the people. After all the slaughtering was completed and the offerings laid out as commanded, YHWH showed His approval by consuming the offerings with fire.

Lev 9:23 And Mosheh and Aharon went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out and blessed the people. And the esteem of YHWH appeared to all the people,
Lev 9:24 and fire came out from before YHWH and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and cried aloud and fell on their faces.

All of us can probably imagine ourselves doing exactly the same--crying out and falling on our faces--upon seeing the esteem of YHWH and fire coming out from before Him!

It was during this episode of the fire coming out from before YHWH that Nadab and Abihu decided to bring "strange fire" before YHWH.

Lev 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aharon, each took his fire holder and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and brought strange fire before YHWH, which He had not commanded them.
Lev 10:2 And fire came out from YHWH and consumed them, and they died before YHWH.

These newly ordained priests should have followed the example of the people and remained humble with their faces in the ground before YHWH. Apparently they thought it was a fireworks show that they were worthy of participating in and decided to do things their way instead of waiting upon YHWH. It reminds me of the old saying, "If you play with fire, you WILL get burned."

We cannot play around and do things for YHWH that we think He will like. He has given us His Word and spells out exactly what is pleasing to Him and what is not. Leaning on our own understanding is deadly.

Yeshua Messiah tells us that we need to be like little children to be able to enter into His Kingdom.

Mat 18:3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become as little children, you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens.

He wants our childlike trust that He knows best so that we will live according to every word from His mouth instead of doing what we think or feel is best. This is because He wants us to live with Him forever.

Vayikra (Leviticus) 11 is where YHWH teaches us what animals are food for us and which are not. YHWH is our Creator, and He knows how His creation is to be fueled and maintained. We are foolish if we do not heed what He says. When we buy a car, we are careful to put in the fuel the manufacturer recommends, so why is it so difficult to follow what YHWH says in this area?

Lest we be tempted to underestimate the importance of heeding and obeying YHWH's Word regarding what to eat and what not to eat, we need to remember that the entire journey mankind has been on since Adam is because he and his wife ate something YHWH told them not to. Why would we think our fate would be any different than theirs if we do exactly the same as they did (eat something YHWH said not to eat)?

In YeshaYahu (Isaiah) 66, YHWH has told us what is to come:

Isa 66:15 "For look, YHWH comes with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His displeasure with burning, and His rebuke with flames of fire.
Isa 66:16 "For by fire and by His sword YHWH shall judge all flesh, and the slain of YHWH shall be many –
Isa 66:17 those who set themselves apart and cleanse themselves at the gardens after 'One' in the midst, eating flesh of pigs and the abomination and the mouse, are snatched away, together," declares YHWH.

This has not happened yet, but because YHWH said it, we can be assured that it will. If we continue to eat the abominations that YHWH said not to eat, we will end up exactly as Nadab and Abihu.

Yeshua Messiah and the Apostles never taught that we could eat whatever we want. The first key to knowing the Truth is that such a teaching is in direct contradiction to:

Mal 3:6 "For I am YHWH, I shall not change, and you, O sons of Ya'aqob, shall not come to an end.

Heb 13:8 Yeshua Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Jam 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of turning.

If something is an abomination to Him yesterday, we can be sure it is an abomination to Him today and forever because He doesn't change. Why would we ever want to worship a variable changeable god?

The key to knowing the Truth about what the 'New Testament' says about foods is to use the Creator's definition of what foods are. Unclean animals have never been food for us and never will be. He created them, just as He created everything, so obviously He knows what He created to be food for us and what He created for a different purpose, and it is because He loves us that He instructs us so well about this along with everything else that we need to know.

Just one little item as 'food for thought' about this: If Yeshua Messiah had taught His disciples that the instructions in His Torah (Yochanan/John 1:1-3) about what to eat and what not to eat were no longer in effect, then why did Kefa (Peter) three times insist that he had never eaten anything unclean during his vision of the unclean animals? (Acts 10:9-16) Hint: Kefa reveals what his vision was about in Acts 10:28, and it wasn't about animals at all, but Kefa's response to the voice telling him to eat unclean animals tells us a lot about what Yeshua taught His disciples about what to eat and what not to eat.

---------------------------------------------------------------

In the Haftarah portion, we learn about the fate of poor Uzzah:

2Sa 6:6 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of Elohim and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
2Sa 6:7 And the wrath of YHWH burned against Uzzah, and Elohim smote him there for the fault. And he died there by the ark of Elohim.

The first problem in this situation is that YHWH specifically instructed how His ark was to be transported, but David failed to follow those instructions:

Num 4:5 "At the breaking of camp, Aharon and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Witness with it,
Num 4:6 and shall put on it a covering of fine leather, and spread over that an all-blue wrapper, and shall insert its poles.
Num 4:15 "And when Aharon and his sons have finished covering the set-apart objects and all the furnishings of the Set-apart Place at the breaking of camp, then the sons of Qehath shall come to lift them, but let them not touch that which is set-apart, lest they die. These matters are the burden of the sons of Qehath in the Tent of Meeting.

The Qehathite clan of the Levites were to be the ones conveying the ark by the poles in their hands after it had been properly covered by the sons of Aharon--the Kohenim.

Sadly, because the ark was on an ox-cart, it was susceptible to toppling, and even though Uzzah was probably only trying to keep the ark from falling off of the cart, he still suffered the fate YHWH warned of hundreds of years earlier.

The lesson of Uzzah is excellent for teaching us that even if we think we're doing something good, we simply cannot lean on our own understanding nor trust in our own deceitful heart. We need to put all of our trust in YHWH and listen to His voice and simply obey.

----------------------------------------------------

Heb 7:11 Truly, then, if perfection were through the Lewitical priesthood – for under it the people were given the Torah – why was there still need for another priest to arise according to the order of Malkitsedeq, and not be called according to the order of Aharon?
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

Malkitsedeq preceded Aharon. The earthly is a shadow of the heavenly. Yeshua, a priest according to the order of Malkitsedeq, has always been. Unlike the earthly Aharonic priests who had to present offerings day by day for their own sins and for those of the people, Yeshua offered Himself up once for all of us who hope in Him from the beginning of time, so that now the law of sin and death no longer has any power over us. How blessed is our Messiah, who bought us with His own shed blood. May we always praise and honor Him.

The Book Thief Square Pattern

The Book Thief Square by Tuppence

Design inspired by The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The description of the design components (and what parts of the book inspired them) includes possible spoilers, so I won't include that description and explanation here. It is available in a post on the Ravelry Book Club group page on Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/ravelry-book-club/73411/1-25#11

You need to be a member of Ravelry to access the page. If you're not yet a member, join us!

Size: Approximately 8 x 8 inches

Materials used:

Red Heart Super Saver yarn (or any worsted-weight yarn) in Coffee, Shaded Browns and Bright Yellow

Size 8 knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Yarn needle

Gauge: 17 stitches and 23 rows = 4" x 4" in stockinette stitch

Cast on 34 stitches with Coffee. (Odd-numbered rows are the right side.)

Then commence chart. Each row is how it appears as it is on your needles.

When changing colors, be sure to wrap the new color around the old color to prevent gaps.

The last row (48) is the binding-off row. Bind off as if to knit.

The Bright Yellow stars are added in duplicate stitch after all the knitting is completed. Weave in all yarn ends.

48 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 48
47 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 47
46 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 46
45 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 45
44 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 44
43 CC------------------------------CC 43
42 CC------------------------------CC 42
41 CC------------------------------CC 41
40 CC--------------B---------------CC 40
39 CC--------------B---------------CC 39
38 CC------------BBBBB-------------CC 38
37 CC-------------BBB--------------CC 37
36 CC-------------BBB--------------CC 36
35 CC------------BBBBB-------------CC 35
34 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 34
33 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 33
32 CC---BBBBB-------------BBBBB----CC 32
31 CC----BBB---------------BBB-----CC 31
30 CC----BBB---------------BBB-----CC 30
29 CC---BBBBB-------------BBBBB----CC 29
28 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 28
27 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 27
26 CC------------BBBBB-------------CC 26
25 CC-------------BBB--------------CC 25
24 CC-------------BBB--------------CC 24
23 CC------------BBBBB-------------CC 23
22 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 22
21 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 21
20 CC---BBBBB-------------BBBBB----CC 20
19 CC----BBB---------------BBB-----CC 19
18 CC----BBB---------------BBB-----CC 18
17 CC---BBBBB-------------BBBBB----CC 17
16 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 16
15 CC-----B--------B--------B------CC 15
14 CC------------BBBBB-------------CC 14
13 CC-------------BBB--------------CC 13
12 CC-------------BBB--------------CC 12
11 CC------------BBBBB-------------CC 11
10 CC--------------B---------------CC 10
09 CC--------------B---------------CC 09
08 CC------------------------------CC 08
07 CC------------------------------CC 07
06 CC------------------------------CC 06
05 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 05
04 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 04
03 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 03
02 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 02
01 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 01

Key:

C = Coffee in garter stitch--knit each row.

- = Shaded Browns in stockinette stitch--knit right-side rows, purl wrong-side rows.

B = Bright Yellow in duplicate stitch over Shaded Browns previously knitted in stockinette stitch.

Precious Promise

(This was originally posted in my previous blog 02/19/2007.)

Reading: YirmeYahu (Jeremiah) 28-30

This reading includes a precious promise that is often quoted--

Jer 29:11 'For I know the plans I am planning for you,' declares YHWH, 'plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and an expectancy.
Jer 29:12 'Then you shall call on Me, and shall come and pray to Me, and I shall listen to you.
Jer 29:13 'And you shall seek Me, and shall find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

YHWH gives this promise as He is telling Judah that they will be in exile for 70 years. Even as Judah is being punished for her unfaithfulness, He also gives her this hope and promise because He loves her so.

This promise is also for us today. It reminds me of playing hide and seek with Daddy and how much fun it was to find him. He always hid where I could find him because he wanted me to find him, and then we would laugh and hug and then play again.

Our Abba wants us to search for Him with all of our heart because He wants us to find Him so we can be with Him forever.

My Butterfly Is On A Short List!

I was contacted by the managing editor of Schmap Guides (http://www.schmap.com/), who told me that one of my photos on Flickr was on a short list being considered for use in their guide for Houston, Texas, specifically for the page about the Holocaust Museum Houston.

I gave my permission to use the photo they selected (above) and also uploaded a couple more they may want to consider as well (below).

The new photos I uploaded include the same butterfly in its completed state, and the other is of all three butterflies I've made so far for The Butterfly Project for the Holocaust Museum Houston.

It was so exciting for anyone to even notice one of my pictures on Flickr, not to mention what an honor it would be if one of them were chosen to represent the Holocaust Museum!

Even if none of my pictures is selected for the Schmap Guide, I'm still looking forward to visiting the Museum when they have The Butterfly Project on display so I can see my butterflies among all the others representing the children who were killed during the Holocaust. It's a privilege to honor them in this way.

To learn more about The Butterfly Project and how you can participate, go to:

http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/index.html

The Handmaid's Tale Square Pattern

The Handmaid's Tale Square by Tuppence

Design inspired by The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The description of the design components (and what parts of the book inspired them) includes possible spoilers, so I won't include that description and explanation here. It is available in a post on the Ravelry Book Club group page on Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/ravelry-book-club/73444/1-25#4

You need to be a member of Ravelry to access the page. If you're not yet a member, join us!

Size: Approximately 8" x 8"

Materials used--

Red Heart Super Saver yarn (or any worsted-weight yarn) in White, Burgundy, Black, Royal, Cherry Red, Paddy Green and Grey Heather

Size 8 knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Yarn needle

Gauge: 17 stitches and 23 rows = 4" x 4" in stockinette stitch

Cast on 34 stitches with White. (Odd-numbered rows are the right side.)

Knit 4 rows in garter stitch (knit each row).

Then commence chart, counting the stitches currently on needles as row 1 on chart. The chart is worked on the center 30 stitches in stockinette stitch, odd-numbers rows being the right side and even-numbered rows being the wrong side. The first 2 stitches and the last 2 stitches of every row (both right-side rows and wrong-side rows) are knitted in garter stitch and not included in the stockinette stitch chart. The chart is worked for 38 rows.

The stitches of rows 1 and 2 and the stitches of rows 37 and 38 of the chart are all White.

The Burgundy bricks are knitted in stockinette stitch at the same time along with the White, alternating colors along those rows as you knit.

The letters of the word 'FAITH' are embroidered in duplicate stitch after the knitted chart is completed. The stitches in rows 14 through 25 should be knit in stockinette stitch with White during the knitting phase and then the duplicate stitches in each color added later.

Once the knitting of the chart is completed, knit 4 more rows in garter stitch (knit each row) in White across all 34 stitches, binding off on the last row as if to knit.

After all knitting is completed, add duplicate stitches for the letters of the word 'FAITH' according to the chart. Weave in all ends.

38 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 38

37 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 37

36 WWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBW 36

35 WWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBW 35

34 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 34

33 WBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBW 33

32 WBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBW 32

31 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 31

30 WWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBW 30

29 WWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBW 29

28 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 28

27 WBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBW 27

26 WBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBW 26

25 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 25

24 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 24

23 WFFFFFWWWAWWWIIIWTTTTTWHWWWHWW 23

22 WFWWWWWWWAWWWWIWWWWTWWWHWWWHWW 22

21 WFWWWWWWAWAWWWIWWWWTWWWHWWWHWW 21

20 WFFFFFWWAWAWWWIWWWWTWWWHHHHHWW 20

19 WFWWWWWWAAAWWWIWWWWTWWWHWWWHWW 19

18 WFWWWWWAWWWAWWIWWWWTWWWHWWWHWW 18

17 WFWWWWWAWWWAWWIWWWWTWWWHWWWHWW 17

16 WFWWWWWAWWWAWIIIWWWTWWWHWWWHWW 16

15 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 15

14 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 14

13 WBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBW 13

12 WBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBW 12

11 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 11

10 WBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWW 10

09 WBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWW 09

08 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 08

07 WBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBW 07

06 WBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBW 06

05 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 05

04 WBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWW 04

03 WBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWBBBWW 03

02 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 02

01 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 01

Key:

W=White

B=Burgundy

F=Black

A=Royal

I=Cherry Red

T=Paddy Green

H=Grey Heather

Mishpatim (Judgments)

(This commentary on Torah portion Mishpatim was originally posted in my previous blog on 02/18/2007.)

TORAH: Shemot (Exodus) 21:1-24:18

HAFTARAH: YirmeYahu (Jeremiah) 34:8-22; 33:25-26

KETUVIM NETZARIM: MattithYahu (Matthew) 5:38-42; 17:1-11

This Torah portion is right after chapter 20, where the Ten Commandments are given. It begins with the instructions regarding Hebrew servants (21:2-6). A servant who is a fellow Hebrew is to be set free during the seventh year, but if he doesn't want to go free, his ear is to be thrust through to the doorpost with an awl. Upon first glance, this seems to be an odd 'reward' for a loyal servant who loves his master so much.

What helped me to better understand this was first looking at the corresponding instruction in Debarim (Deuteronomy) 15:12-17. This verse is significant because YHWH gives the reason for the instruction:

Deu 15:15 "And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Mitsrayim, and YHWH your Elohim redeemed you. Therefore I am commanding you this word today.

He wants both master and servant to remember that He is their Redeemer, and so He instructs that the servant is to go free in the seventh year, and the servant who refuses His redemption is to be given a permanent reminder.

Also helpful was reading the Haftarah for Parsha Mishpatim. This section reveals how YHWH was displeased with Judah because of their failure to listen to and obey His voice in regard to slavery.

Jer 34:13 "Thus said YHWH the Elohim of Yisra'el, 'I Myself made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage, saying,

Jer 34:14 "At the end of seven years each one should set free his Hebrew brother, who has been sold to him. And when he has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you." But your fathers did not obey Me nor incline their ear.

He does not want His people enslaved. He set us free from the house of bondage so that we could serve Him only and not another master. He is our Redeemer, and He does not want us to reject His redemption.

The symbolism of this instruction is important--

The ear is thrust through with an awl to the doorpost because it failed to hear YHWH when He said:

Exo 20:2 "I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery.

Exo 20:3 "You have no other mighty ones against My face.

The doorpost is where we are to write His Word:

Deu 6:4 "Hear, O Yisra'el: YHWH our Elohim, YHWH is one!

Deu 6:5 "And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.

Deu 6:6 "And these Words which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart,

Deu 6:9 "And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The doorpost is also where the blood of the Passover lamb goes:

Exo 12:23 "And YHWH shall pass on to smite the Mitsrites, and shall see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, and YHWH shall pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.

Yeshua Messiah is the Passover Lamb that was slain, and it is His blood that redeems us from the house of bondage.

Even more understanding came from my reading for today, which was MattithYahu/Matthew 9-12. Yeshua Messiah makes it clear what our priorities are to be:

Mat 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Mat 10:38 "And he who does not take up his stake and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

The slave who loved his human master, his wife and his children more than YHWH and His redemption was not worthy of His redemption and so remained a slave in bondage forever.

May we remember to thank Him every day for redeeming us from the house of bondage, and may we follow Him and never look back.

Ravelry CAL Afghan 8

This afghan was originally named Ravelry CAL Afghan 3, but I've changed it to 8 because I found another colorway I'm using for Afghan 3, which I think is perfect for the recipient of Afghan 3. I ended up adding two more recipients, thus two more afghans using these squares, for a total of nine Ravelry CAL Afghans now in progress.

So far, I only have three out of the nine all caught up with two January squares, two February squares and two March squares all completed.

I'm currently working on the new Afghan 3, for which I have to crochet all six squares to get caught up. I'm alternating working on those squares (one Dreamcatcher square finished so far!) and the squares for the Pineapple Square Afghan. Everything else is on the back burner for now.

I decided to make a new section in my left-hand column--Mini Book Reviews. I wasn't too keen on writing detailed reviews of the books I've read. The dread was somewhat like it used to be in school having to write book reports. But I do want to at least share a thumbs up/down for the books I read in case anyone wants to give them a try. I especially like sharing about books I enjoyed reading and a little bit about why I liked them to encourage others to read them.

Speaking of reading, I'm currently slogging my way through Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I got a volume from the library--The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll, and in this volume, Alice is the first selection and is only 132 pages long, but I have had to force myself to get through those measly 132 pages. I think I'm on 120-something, and I still loathe the thought of getting through those final few pages.

I don't know how this book became such a classic. I don't find Alice endearing and don't like any of the other characters, either. The whole thing is terribly boring. It reminds me of some of the reality TV shows lately--no one to root for and wearying nothing-really-happening episodes.

This is the selection for one of the reading groups I joined on Ravelry called "Knitting 19th Century Novels". For me, the 19th century evokes thoughts of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, among my favorite authors, but I'm all about trying new authors and books, so I thought it would be fun to read Alice. It's just not my cup of tea, though.

On the positive side, I do already have my knitting design for this book pictured in my head, and it will be fun translating it into a knitted block for what I'm now going to call my "Reading Afghan", since I now belong to more than one reading group.

I'm still awaiting the arrival of the copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns I purchased on eBay so I can get started reading that for my other reading group. The waiting list at the library was way too long! After that, the next 19th century novel selection is Around the World in 80 Days, and I'm hoping that will be a big improvement over Alice.

A kid funny: There was a Book Fair at the kids' school, and I asked them to look to see if they had A Thousand Splendid Suns there and for how much. One day, my 8 year old told me he had looked for that book I wanted--"Seven Thousand Rainbows"--and wasn't able to find it.

Tzav (Command)

(This was originally posted in my previous blog on 04/01/2007. Tzav is also the Torah portion for today. We read the Torah in a yearly cycle.)

TORAH: Vayikra/Leviticus 6:1-8:36
HAFTARAH: YirmeYahu/Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:23-24
KETUVIM NETZARIM: Ivrim/Hebrews 7:24-8:6; 9:11-28

Lev 8:36 And Aharon and his sons did all the words that YHWH had commanded by the hand of Mosheh.

This Torah portion gives instructions for carrying out various sacrifices and offerings, and then it describes the consecration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle/Tent of Meeting) and its contents as well as the consecration of Aharon and his sons as priests. At the end of the portion, we are told that "Aharon and his sons did all the words that YHWH had commanded".

YHWH commanded, and Aharon and his sons did ALL that He commanded. They didn't pick and choose which commands they would obey; they just simply obeyed ALL.

The first and greatest commandment also contains the word "all":

Mar 12:29 And Yeshua answered him, "The first of all the commands is, 'Hear, O Yisra'el, YHWH our Elohim, YHWH is one.
Mar 12:30 'And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first command.

If we are loving Him with ALL of our heart, ALL of our being, ALL of our mind and ALL of our strength, will we not be doing "ALL the words that YHWH commanded"?

Mat 4:4 But He answering, said, "It has been written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of YHWH.' "

Yeshua told HaSatan that man shall live by "EVERY word that comes from the mouth of YHWH". That is what Yeshua did, and that is what He wants us to do. We are not to live by some of His words, but by EVERY word that comes from His mouth.

Jer 7:23 "But this word I did command them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I shall be your Elohim, and you be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, so that it be well with you.'

YHWH wants us to be His people, so He wants us to obey His voice so that it will be well with us. If we want to be His, we will walk in ALL the ways He has commanded us.

Why We Need A Savior

(This was originally posted to my previous blog on 02/16/2007.)

So many times we fail to tell people what they really need to know. While we should praise our Master Yeshua Messiah and tell how He has changed our lives, the basic message of why we need Him is so important and sometimes gets lost when we focus on encouraging people to accept Him because He can improve their lives. What they most need to know is that they are dead without Him.

Reading YirmeYahu (Jeremiah) 25-27 was a stark reminder of this. The day of YHWH will come like a consuming fire, and as this passage shows, the shepherds need to teach their flocks the Truth:

Jer 25:30 "And you shall prophesy against them all these words, and say to them, 'YHWH roars from on high, and utters His voice from His set-apart dwelling place. He roars mightily over His fold, a shout as those who tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
Jer 25:31 "Tumult shall come to the ends of the earth, for YHWH has a controversy with the nations. He shall enter into judgment with all flesh. The wrong He shall give to the sword,' declares YHWH."
Jer 25:32 Thus said YHWH of hosts, "See, evil is going forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind is raised up from the farthest parts of the earth.
Jer 25:33 "And in that day the slain of YHWH shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried, for they are dung on the face of the ground.
Jer 25:34 "Howl, you shepherds, and cry! And roll yourselves in the ashes, you leaders of the flock! For the days of your slaughter and your scatterings are completed, and you shall fall like a choice vessel.
Jer 25:35 "And a place of refuge shall perish from the shepherds, and escape from the leaders of the flock.
Jer 25:36 "Hear the cry of the shepherds, and a wailing of the leaders of the flock, for YHWH is ravaging their pasture!
Jer 25:37 "And the pastures of peace shall be cut down because of the burning displeasure of YHWH.
Jer 25:38 "Like a lion He shall leave His hiding place, for their land shall become a waste because of the sword of oppressors, and because of His burning displeasure."

Praying Scripture

(This was originally posted to my previous blog on 02/15/2007.)

Today I read Iyob (Job) 33-36, and within that reading there is a passage I used to pray:

Job 33:14 For El does speak once, or twice - though one does not notice it -
Job 33:15 in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on a bed,
Job 33:16 then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
Job 33:17 to turn man from his deed, and conceal pride from man.
Job 33:18 He keeps back his being from the Pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.

A few years ago, I started praying these Scriptures for someone who had wandered far from YHWH by inserting him by name into the passage. After a couple of weeks of praying this passage nightly without his knowledge, he told me that during the night he was feeling "a ghost" walking up from the foot of the bed to his head. It took my breath away to hear that, and I determined to keep praying these Scriptures. About a year and a half ago, he was restored to the faith, and then I showed him my prayer journal and what I had been praying during the time when he was experiencing that "ghost".

What You Need To Know Before You Buy A House With A Septic Tank

• Septic tank location.


• Accessibility of the septic tank.


• The location of the 'clean-out'.


• The location of the leach field.


• Whether there was/is a septic tank permit (and you need to have and keep a copy).


• Date of septic tank installation (should be on permit).


• Name, address and phone number of septic tank installer.


• Type of septic tank--concrete? fiberglass? home-made on site? manufactured and brought to site? if concrete, with or without rebar?


• Size of septic tank in gallons.


• Configuration of septic tank--where are the lids?


• Date septic tank was last cleaned.


• Whether the last cleaning included removal of the solids or not.


• How often the septic tank has been cleaned.


• Whether there have been problems with the septic tank or problems with cleaning the septic tank in the past.


• Names, addresses and phone numbers of companies who have serviced the septic tank in the past.

What you need to know if you are building a house or adding any type of structures to or near a house that depends upon a septic tank for sewage handling:

• DO NOT CONSTRUCT ANYTHING ON TOP OF THE SEPTIC TANK!!!!!

One thing you do not want to experience in this world is a sewage backup and/or a lack of drainage in your home. This is NOT a pleasant experience, and you should go out of your way to ensure it never happens.

I have learned more about this than I ever wanted to know, and after living for 3 (count 'em--3!!!) weeks without a working drainage system, I never want to go through such a thing again.

We did not know anything about septic tanks when we bought our home and therefore took the previous owner's word that the little 3 or 4-inch cap in the concrete driveway was all that was needed should the septic tank ever need cleaning. Oh, how wrong that was!

I have since learned that NOTHING should ever be built on top of a septic tank and cars should NOT be driven over a septic tank. Also, in order to properly clean the tank, the lid needs to be accessible so that it can be removed in order for the solids to be evacuated from the tank.

We now have 3 big holes in our driveway, 2 in the concrete and 1 in the dirt right next to the concrete (all in an effort to find the septic tank lid so the tank could be cleaned), but at least we now know where the septic tank lid is, and if we ever have enough money to repair the holes, we'll know to keep the septic tank lid accessible in case of future need.

If I had it to do over again, I would have required the previous owners to provide that access as it should have been as part of the contract/offer to buy the house. What you don't know CAN hurt you.

Moral of the story: Do not buy a house with a septic tank unless you are able to see the actual septic tank lid with your own eyes.

Some more things I've learned from this experience:

• If I ever have a house built, the septic tank will not be under the driveway or any other structure.
  
• If I ever have a house built and a septic tank installed, I will make sure gray water does not drain into the septic tank and that the septic tank is for sewage only.


• Do not put bleach down drains that drain into a septic tank. It destroys the bacterial process that breaks down the solids in the septic tank.


• Avoid drain cleaners and other chemicals that can inhibit or destroy the bacterial process that breaks down the solids in the septic tank.


• Use Rid-X or similar compound regularly to maintain the bacterial process that breaks down the solids in the septic tank.


• Make sure that any company that cleans out the septic tank cleans out the solids as well as any liquid.


• Do not take having a working drainage system for granted, but express thanksgiving in prayer every day that the toilets flush and the drains drain.

Ravelry CAL Afghan 2

Ravelry CAL Afghan 2: I've managed to get caught up on this afghan now with 2 January 'Dreamcatcher' blocks, 2 February 'Cross My Heart' blocks and 2 March 'Cygnus' blocks all completed.

At the rate this is going, it will probably take the rest of March and all of April as well to get caught up on these blocks for all seven afghans.

I sure do like the way they're all turning out, though. And I like seeing the stack of blocks grow.

Big Brother 9: James' obsession with and vengeance on people not keeping their word is an interesting double standard since he didn't keep his word not to put Matt and Natalie up for eviction when he was previously HoH. I'm sure his reasons for not keeping his word are justifiable and honorable, though, as compared to others.

America's Next Top Model: After watching this show for a couple of seasons, I'm convinced that anyone can be a (print) model because the makeup job they do on these girls for photo shoots is so transforming. The makeup artists can actually make unattractive girls look at least striking, if not actually attractive. On the other hand, runway modeling appears to require some skill, and it's really obvious when the girl is lacking that skill. For instance, that Fatima's walk was really strange looking, like she was uncomfortable in her own skin and bones.

I want to talk about something that is not unique to this show, but is very prevalent on this show--the screaming! What on earth is that about? Everything that happens, the girls scream. Someone is introduced, the girls scream. TyraMail shows up, the girls scream. A taxi or limo shows up, the girls scream. Any kind of announcement is made, the girls scream. It's so unladylike.

This is also very prevalent on The Bachelor. I can't imagine any man finding all that screaming over every little thing attractive.

When did this whole screaming thing get started? I mean, I remember girls in the audience screaming when Elvis or the The Beatles were on stage, but that was a pretty big deal. This screaming over the pouring of champagne or a date invitation arriving or any number of other trivialities is a relatively new phenomenon, though. And it's very irritating, especially when grown women are doing it.

Snow!: Yesterday we woke up to everything being covered in snow. It was quite an unexpected sight this far into March.

By the time I got around to taking pictures, it was close to noon, so a lot had melted off by that time. Still enough left to take pictures of, though.

Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket Completed

I finally finished the Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket. As noted in a previous post, this yarn was originally used to knit a Prayer Shawl that got close to being finished, but then I decided it would be better to frog that and make a baby blanket instead.

The idea to make a baby blanket was encouraged by a post in the Afghans & Blankets group on Ravelry by wickedsplitty, where she said, "For baby blankets I’m a huge fan of (please don’t yell at me!) Red Heart Baby Clouds. For one thing, it’s machine washable and dryable. For another, babies love it. They just love it! I’ve made quite a few for the babies and grandbabies of friends and it always becomes the 'blankie of choice.' It’s super soft, pretty much hypoallergenic, and there’s just something about it that appeals to the babies."

Once finished, this blanket was sent to my youngest granddaughter for her first birthday. I hope she likes it as much as the recipients of wickedsplitty's blankets liked theirs.

As much as I liked the finished product, I did not like knitting with this Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn at all, and I imagine crocheting with it would be even worse. Maybe it's the way I knit or something, but it was always catching and splitting and binding up and sticking as I'd do a stitch, so it made the knitting pretty slow-going, and I like to go fast.

I have the same problem with Lion Brand Homespun, the yarn I'm using for the Homespun Leafy Border Afghan, which is one of the reasons why I don't like working on that afghan for long periods of time. These yarns are really nice and soft to the touch, but I doubt I'll be buying any more of them or looking to use any of them in the future.

I do have six skeins of Baby Clouds in my stash (really pretty colors, too!) that I will be using to make another baby blanket, this time in a striped mitered square pattern from Lion called Happy Baby Blanket ( http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-happyBabyBlanket.html ), but after struggling through that, I'll probably be done with Baby Clouds forever.

Directions for the Diagonal Pattern Baby Blanket may be found here: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-diagonalBabyBlanket.html?noImages=

Instead of the Homespun and size 11 needles called for in the pattern, I used Red Heart Baby Clouds in 9008 Cotton Candy on size 15 needles. I also had to modify the pattern because I only had 4 skeins of this yarn, and I got to the end of the second skein (half of my yarn supply) when I only had 116 stitches on the needles. The pattern calls for increasing until there are 126 stitches on the needles and then start decreasing, but since that was half of my yarn already used up, that had to be the halfway point of the blanket, too, so I started decreasing at 116 instead of 126. That's one of the nice things about this pattern--being able to gauge the halfway point and make adjustment, if necessary, and the blanket still turns out properly proportioned.