Pumpkin Sunrise

Joining Amanda at Soulemama

I have been quite scattered in my thoughts this week.  I have lots of lists floating around my mind of things I would like to accomplish.  Mainly it is Christmas knitting ideas.  Once my shawl is complete, I am thinking of making cowls....unless I change my mind-AGAIN. What has not helped me is when I went to my local yarn store this past week, I bought more yarn!  I am super excited to make my husband a sweater (not for a surprise gift) and I have been browsing Ravelry looking at patterns.  My only stipulation is that I want the construction top down.  Guess what?  There appears to be little to no top down sweaters in worsted weight yarn.  I did find one great pattern that is aran weight.  So it looks like I might be altering the pattern. I sat for 30 minutes yesterday thinking and calculating, then took a long break.  I like to sleep on my knitting ideas and problems and sometimes a solution comes to mind by morning.  ...

Good morning to all of you!  I am so excited to participate this week in the yarn along because ..... drumroll ....I have a different book in the photo!  I know, I know, you are all just shocked that I finally finished Rainbow Valley  from the Anne series.  It was good and I did read it a very very long time ago.  The plot kept feeling vaguely familiar.  The ending jarred my memory and when I finished it I thought "I read that before!!!" So I am taking a break from the Anne series, I only have one more to read and my only version is on my ipod touch :(  I am not in any real hurry to read the eighth book in the series anyways.  My book, The Distant Hours  is by Kate Morton who wrote The Forgotten Garden  which I read earlier in the year and enjoyed it from beginning to end.  So when I saw this book a month ago I had to buy it.  I just started it so I cannot opine as of yet. My knitting is also moving along.  I blogg...

How about these self portraits?  I think I am getting more creative in my old age.  As you can see by the buttons some of these photos were taken in the mirror.  Took me a bit to realize the image would be reversed   (snicker) Well I am super pleased as punch with the sweater !!  These photos are before blocking because I was too darn excited to wait another couple of days while it dried.  So I am 100% sure that the button bands will lay nicely because I will block it into obedience.. I am so glad that I did rip out the first attempt because the fit is absolutely perfect.  I think if you are interested in a top down cardigan that is relatively easy to knit in worsted weight yarn you should give the Tea Leaves Cardigan a try

(my sister made this fall table runner for me, isn't it great?) My weekend contained: - driving three hours to pick up our son from school -driving almost two hours to then pick up our daughter from school -driving one and a half hours home :D -a wonderful 48 hours together as a family -a revisited cluttery family room and a messy kitchen counter -a full day Saturday doing some serious shopping with my daughter and having lunch at Panera -buying a new book and wishing I finished the other one.... -dinner out at our favorite Italian restaurant that was not affected by the flood -going to Mass, saying goodbye to the kiddos, and my husband doing all the driving to get them back to their schools -cleaning the house and doing the laundry -knitting with friends!!!  (finishing a sweater that I hope to blog about tomorrow) -joy and happiness just being in the present

linking with Amanda at Soulemama

I am thoroughly loving this project!  The yarn  is so soft and springy~a dream to knit with.  I think I might just go back to my LYS and buy some more.  I also love how it is dyed.  The purple hues have depth and are subtle.(doesn't the word 'subtle' look weird today?) The pattern is the Live Oak Shawlette .  I really like how the increasing is being done.  Instead of the traditional triangle it is a semi circular design with the increases evenly spaced.  Nice.  Now I have to chant what I am doing on the increasing row so I do not make a mistake.  But I am alone most of the time so who cares if I am chanting??  Maybe some meditation is going on... The fun part is the chart which I will be starting today :) The only sadness I am feeling is that I will be giving this gift to my Aunt for Christmas.  I so badly would love to keep it but I know she will love it more.  And it is a surprise :D

Let's start with the positive.  I am on the second sleeve!!!  I tell you I love top down construction because the bulk of the knitting is in the yoke and that is when I am most motivated to crank out a sweater.  Remember this is my second attempt as well.  I am not tired of this pattern.  I love it!  Anyways, the first sleeve was super fast and yesterday I started the second sleeve and I am half way done.  All that is left to knit are the button bands....and burying some threads-definitely not a big deal! Now onto the reading.  I am still reading  Rainbow Valley  from the Anne of Green Gables series.  I know, I should have been done by now BUT I was traveling and very busy socializing this past weekend.  So that is the excuse and I am sticking with it!!  I have not purchased the eighth book in the series yet so I might be reading a little of something else. I am thinking of asking for the book for Christmas, sin...

When we were in Ottawa on Saturday visiting our family, we were very lucky to spend some time in the ByWard Market area.  I did not eat any of the desserts in the case, but my husband did have a black forest cake danish. Inside the building are lots of tiny restaurants and I wish a camera could capture the delicious meals being cooked.  I do love the tiny town we live in. but boy would I love to have a market like this one near by!  I think you could do all of your grocery shopping and get the freshest ingredients! I thought the prices were quite reasonable and again the quality of the produce was fantastic! The fish shop reminded me of the shore and our summer vacation at Cape May, NJ. Are you lucky to have a market like this one where you live?  And more importantly do you shop there?

I need to address the eternal question right now.....Yes!  I did eat one of those cookies from yesterday's post, are you nuts?  We also ate lunch there and it was quite tasty!!  My cookie was a maple leaf and every single bite was sugary delicious.  I knew I was going to have one of those cookies because I never make sugar cookies with icing.... On Friday, my husband and I drove up to Ottawa Canada to visit his brother and wife and their family.  We had the best time ever!  It was so relaxing to catch up on everyone's news and to just be together. On Saturday, we received a private tour of  Parliament Hill , how convenient that my brother and sister in law work in the downtown area!  It was a picture perfect weather day.  Sunny but chilly at the same time.  Fall is definitely in the air. We just walked around and enjoyed the company, took in the sights and snapped many many photos.  Some were taken by me an...

This weekend contained: A trip to Canada to visit family :) A long time in the car on Friday and Sunday going up and back home. The PERFECT weather for a lovely visit. A delicious home cooked meal shared with family. A walk through the downtown market and taking in the sights and sounds. A super excited dog, when he was picked up from the kennel. I will share where I was in Canada once I go through all the photos! Joining Amanda at the habit of being

Joining Amanda at Soulemama

This is my knitting box.  I just love how worn and old it looks.  It used to be my mother's, so it is another treasure I inherited.  She kept her knitting "stuff" inside.  I think my dad picked it up at an antique store but that is me purely guessing.  I know my mother did not shop in antique stores. So as you can guess, I have no idea who Jack and Estelle were, but they were in love and that is what matters.  Also I am assuming one of them dabbled in the arts.  Too bad Jack and Estelle did not date the box then we would know how old it is. Would it not be cool if Estelle kept her knitting supplies in it as well?  Well we can only dream of some idyllic scenario... I keep all of the needles and tools that I do not use often but do not want to get rid of or give away in this box. I bet you already guessed that most of the needles and tools were owned by my mom.  Yep, pretty neat! I consider myself a lucky gal.  That is an...

Do you recognize the sweater?  Yep, you are seeing the teas leaves cardigan reconstructed again!!  I am eighteen rows from having the body complete.  And yes, it is fitting much better!!  I went down a size and went down a needle size.  I am so glad that I ripped it out two weeks ago.  It was a sad but necessary process.  Just think maybe, just maybe I might be done with this sweater by the end of the month.  The sleeves look super fast and easy and button bands are nothing......my fingers are crossed. I am reading book number 7 in the Anne of Green Gables series entitled Rainbow Valley .  This book is all about Anne's children and friends.  Of course there is adventure involved.  I must say when I started the book it had a whole story feeling to it.   Anne of Windy Poplars and  Anne of Ingleside  had more of a short story feel to them. I was not fond of those books because of that.  However, I am glad tha...

I just fell in love with this colorway as soon as I saw it.  I think this sock weight wool made by Unplanned Peacock Studio would make an excellent pair of socks for my husband.  My only concern is that I usually make his socks with yarn that has at least 25% nylon for durability.  I think I will just take my chances and see how this yarn holds up. From another vendor, I picked up these two little bars of soap made by Silvara Valley Farm because they looked super cute.  There really isn't a strong scent which I kind of like.  Sometimes home made soaps are too strong and set off my allergies.

Doesn't she have the dreamiest eyes?  Just too cute!  On Saturday, my husband and I took a long drive up to the PA Endless Mountain Fiber Festival . I do believe it is my fourth year attending.  I was thrilled to learn that they were still having it even though we have had terrible flooding in northeastern PA and NY. However, many of the vendors could not attend because of the flooding.  So my usual purchase of some alpaca sportweight yarn from a favorite vendor did not happen.   I did buy some homemade soap and a skein of sock yarn in a blue color way.  So I did not leave empty handed :)  This visit was all about the animal attendance.  The alpacas were very nervous and were crying from their distress.  Poor babies.  Maybe they are camera shy? The llamas were okay with their surroundings.  All of the above photos are courtesy of my dear husband who just did not know what to do with himself while I looked abou...