Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 30/31: Crocheting With Cats

For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 30/31: 

Crocheting With Cats

"Herbert! I'm trying to crochet!" Herbert's paw pounced on my yarn. I gently pushed Herbert out of the way. Within moments, Herbert was back on my lap.

"Herbert! Stop it!" Herbert batted at the green yarn and ignored my scolding. His paws grabbed at my yarn. I pushed Herbert out of the way for the second time. 

I adjusted how I held my yarn and attempted to focus on my pattern. Herbert jumped up again - this time he was on his back, the yarn between his paws. He tried to catch the yarn between his teeth.  

"HERBERT! That yarn is mine!" His eyes taunted me. I retrieved my yarn and re-positioned my grip on the yarn. 

"HERBERT! COME ON! Let me get this row done." I pulled the yarn away from Herbert. He grabbed at my yarn again, causing an entire row of stitches to unravel. This time Herbert clutched onto the yarn so tightly that I needed to pry it from his two paws. 

Why was I even trying to reason with a cat? They always win. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 1/31 Since Last March

For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 1/31

Since Last March

Since last March, I've done some traveling

Traveling to Kentucky on a youth mission trip

Traveling to Hayward and Door County to be with family

Traveling to new and familiar places.

Since last March, I've been strengthening my skills in crocheting

Crocheting with color changes

Crocheting a small handbag

Crocheting amigurumi creatures.

Since last March, I've been working on letting go

Letting go of unhealthy relationships

Letting go of the drive for constant production 

Letting go of unhealthy work and home balance. 

Since last March, I've realized unexpected blessings

Blessings from neighbors who helped me with snow removal

Blessings from students who make me laugh

Blessings from loving and being loved. 

I used this format to begin my SOLC challenge last year. You can read this slice here. For me, this is a wonderful way to reflect on this past year.  

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #23: Crochet to Calm

For the last three years, I've intentionally spent time writing and sharing a Haiku-A-Day for the month of December. The first two years I exchanged a daily Haiku privately with willing friends, mostly through text and email. Last year I wrote and shared each Haiku on my blog. Throughout this process, I've discovered that the practice of noticing and reflecting through writing a Haiku grounds me, provides with with a certain kind of peace, assists me with better practicing gratitude, and helps me better navigate this "hurry up" world. This year my goal is the same as last year: to pen and publish a daily Haiku on my blog throughout December. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #23: 
Crochet to Calm

I've been doing a lot of crocheting lately. Recently, I discovered that I like to put my hands to work. How could have something that was first so challenging become soothing? Crocheting helps me wind down. I'm grateful I have kept up with this. 

Finger weaves through my/

fingers. I sit. Hook. Rhythm/

of the yarn settles. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #12: Technology Interruption

For the last three years, I've intentionally spent time writing and sharing a Haiku-A-Day for the month of December. The first two years I exchanged a daily Haiku privately with willing friends, mostly through text and email. Last year I wrote and shared each Haiku on my blog. Throughout this process, I've discovered that the practice of noticing and reflecting through writing a Haiku grounds me, provides with with a certain kind of peace, assists me with better practicing gratitude, and helps me better navigate this "hurry up" world. This year my goal is the same as last year: to pen and publish a daily Haiku on my blog throughout December. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #12: 
Technology Interruption

When I moved a few months ago, I was fortunate to have my big brother nearby to help me set up my technology. He even loaned me an Apple TV so I wouldn't need to purchase something extra on my limited budget.

Readers, my technology expertise is limited. It takes me a while to figure out how to navigate technology. I'm happy to allow my students to assist me with problem solving or asking one of my children to help me figure out something, especially technology-related.

So imagine my anxiety when I sat down to crochet and watch Mindhunter last night and I got an error message that the Apple TV wasn't hooked up with the Internet. As one of my only go-to's for when technology doesn't work, I restarted the Apple TV, but no luck. 

No connection. 

Of course my son and daughter are with their dad for the next few days. I knew my brother was in the midst of assessing student work. I was on my own. 

After a long exchange of texts from my thirteen-year-old son, including photos and a series of instructions, I finally got the Apple TV connected. (Seriously, when did my kid get so savvy with this?)  

Whew. 

Breathe, Trina.

It's fixed. 

I guess I now know a little bit more about how the Apple TV is set up.

No Network Error:/

Frustration level rises/

son texts instruction. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #10 Slice of Life Mash-Up: New Stitches

For the last three years, I've intentionally spent time writing and sharing a Haiku-A-Day for the month of December. The first two years I exchanged a daily Haiku privately with willing friends, mostly through text and email. Last year I wrote and shared each Haiku on my blog. Throughout this process, I've discovered that the practice of noticing and reflecting through writing a Haiku grounds me, provides with with a certain kind of peace, assists me with better practicing gratitude, and helps me better navigate this "hurry up" world. This year my goal is the same as last year: to pen and publish a daily Haiku on my blog throughout December. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #10
Slice of Life Mash-Up: 

New Stitches

"Oh! Look at the progress you have made!" Ellen, my longtime friend, exclaimed, fingering the stitches on a blanket I recently started. 

The single stitch blanket I am currently working on.

"Well, I have had a good teacher," I responded, thinking about how far I had come since I learned from Ellen in October. 

"Now it's time to learn a double stitch. Let's get you started." 

I gulped. I was just feeling comfortable with a single crochet stitch. Could I move beyond this?

"Just watch. Then try. I'll be here to help."

I began my slip stitch and moved onto chain a row of stitches. Hesitant, I began my first double stitch.

Within the first few minutes, I had to pull out and redo several double stitches, but eventually I got it.

Time to move beyond/

Watch. Listen. Watch again. Try/

Stumbling through new.  

My first attempt at double crochet.

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? Consider sharing a slice of your life with Two Writing Teachers. All writers are welcome! 

Haiku-A-Day Challenge #4: Crochet Journey

For the last three years, I've intentionally spent time writing and sharing a Haiku-A-Day for the month of December. The first two years I exchanged a daily Haiku privately with willing friends, mostly through text and email. Last year I wrote and shared each Haiku on my blog. Throughout this process, I've discovered that the practice of noticing and reflecting through writing a Haiku grounds me, provides with with a certain kind of peace, assists me with better practicing gratitude, and helps me better navigate this "hurry up" world. This year my goal is the same as last year: to pen and publish a daily Haiku on my blog throughout December. 

Haiku-A-Day December Challenge #4: 

Crochet Journey

I first learned how to crochet sometime in my childhood, most likely instructed by my mom or godmother. A few years ago, my neighbor Kelly also took time to try to teach me.

Each time I tried to learn how to crochet, I encountered roadblocks; I put my crochet aside (out of sight) and abandoned it. Recently, I reached out to my longtime family friend, Ellen. She's been teaching me how to crochet again - beginning with the very basics. I have had to restart a few times, untangle yarn, observe her, refer to directions and online tutorials. My stitches began sloppy or tight. I had to redo my stitches so many times and ask for help to get out of my mess. I had to begin again and again. But I'm starting to get it.

Crocheting has given me something to do when I'm by myself. It's been a welcome, needed distraction. It's been a good challenge. 

Recently, I realized that my crochet journey is a good metaphor for my current life events - returning to something that I was never very good at, relearning skills, asking for help along the way, reading and observing when I am stuck, connecting with old friends. 

I am not where I want to be yet, but I am growing.

Create slip knot. Mess.

Work slip stitch. Single crochet.

Restart. Try again. 

My crochet efforts in early November

My crochet efforts now

*Disclaimer: I wrote and "published" part of this post on Instagram last month (with a few edits). BUT the Haiku is new and the second photo is new.