Pumpkin Sunrise

This weekend was filled with: -going to a local fair and not riding this ride :) -eating not very good for you food -enjoying every single glorious bite, especially funnel cake -being thrilled with the cooler temps even if it does rain a little -company!  my brother in law and sister in law are visiting for a long weekend -talking and talking -my sis in law DOES knit so we talk about knitting and we do knitting -brief chats with each kid because everyone is busy-I'm amazed at how quickly we can catch up in a five minute phone call! -apple crisp how was your weekend? Joining Amanda

What I love about fall: -crisp cool morning air -mitts -apple season -pumpkins!! -shorter days, longer nights -seeing my breath outside -leaves in many colors falling -first frost-goodbye ragweed :) -hot tea (in a favorite mug) -chili and cornbread -woolen scarves -woolen socks -the silence of the woods -baked chicken and mashed potatoes -deer roaming through the yard and staying a bit -anything orange -being cold which is so much better than being hot -Frodo wants to snuggle more -winter squash eating (acorn squash the most) -slipper wearing -longer walks with beautiful scenery -knitting with wool and feeling warm What do you like about fall?

My needles have been on fire this week, or at least it feels like it.  I finished the mitts  and am quite pleased with them.  Now all I need is some very brisk cold air to go along with them.  I am thrilled that they match many of my other accessories in my closet.  So what am I knitting?  I finished the one sock up there in the photo.  The socks are for my dad for Christmas and I have only to knit the second sock to match, easy peasy.  I've cast on and believe me I am motivated to get these socks out of the knitting bag. My pink cardigan has seen some knitting as well.  I am knitting on dpns for a variety of reasons, one because I do not own a circular needle small enough (too cheap to buy) and I really do not like magic loop or two circulars....I know.  I am being stubborn and opinionated, but these dpns work for me and I get the job done.  It is only fiddly for about three rows then my mind and hands accept the fiddliness ...

I finished these mitts last weekend and now I am just waiting for some cold weather to wear them.  A knitting friend gave me two skeins of lovely wool from England andI knew right away that I would be making something for my hands.  This pattern  has been in my library for quite some time waiting for the perfect yarn to arrive.  I highly recommend this pattern.  The directions are easy to follow and the results are quite lovely.  Dare I say it would make a fantastic Christmas gift?? I had lots of fun with the timer setting of my camera and no one at home thought I was a little crazy.  What we do for photography and a blog post.  Notice the awesome pottery mug--love! The wool is very tweed"y" and I know it's going to be super warm when I wear them. Today was the first morning I turned on the heat.  Yesterday I wore another scarf and it was pure bliss. I am positive in a matter of weeks that these mitts will be worn :)

This is a view from my back yard, it seems like only yesterday it was hot and humid and sticky.  Oh so rapidly has the weather changed to fall and today was my first day to wear a jacket AND a wool shawl.  My my, I have been anticipating this season forever and now I'm afraid it will go whizzing past.  So every day I stop, think, savor and let all my senses be filled with autumn. My weekend went by in a blur of activity.  The kids came home Friday at different times and Frodo was extremely happy and extra wiggly to see each of them.  I love how dogs are expressive and give fully of themselves to the moment.  Lots of talking and laughing.  I have heard about many new friends and my kids are quick to pull up Facebook for faces to match names I've heard during phone calls. With the kids came the backpacks, suitcases, books and various items strewn about my house.  I have found out that I can ignore most of the visual clutter for 48 hours. ...

I thought maybe my photo today should be the essence of summer.  I am thrilled that fall surrounds me and there's a chill in the early morning and late evening.  So many leaves are on the ground in different colors.  By my driveway there is a large oak tree that has been dropping acorns like crazy.  Many times a day I walk down the drive and try to crunch as many acorn tops as I can, it reminds me of being a kid. I grew up in Pittsburgh in a row house.  There was one street in particular that was lined with oak trees. My sister and I would walk through all the fallen leaves kicking and giggling and enjoying the crunch because in the city numerous trees in one area are scarce.  She does not remember these moments but I do.   I have quickly returned to my usual routines and our trip last weekend seems so long ago.  Every day this week I have had appreciation for my coffeemaker who never fails to make a good cup of coffee.  Hotel visits b...

On one of our days in New Hampshire we drove up to Portland ME to the Knitwit Yarn Shop .  There is something about entering a yarn store and feeling like you are home :)  This shop was lovely and the people were so very nice and friendly!  As you can see wall to wall yarn (we should all decorate our houses like this).  The top photo is a wall of Quince and Co  which I love.  I enjoyed seeing all of their yarn in person and getting to feel each skein. How is it that in a yarn store you can strike up a conversation with a stranger and then be friends upon leaving?  That is what my experience was like in this little store.  Knitting as a hobby brings so many people together in the strangest ways.  I think it helps that I will talk to just about anybody-this used to drive my mother up a wall. The above photo is a little crooked but it's the only one.  Right before I snapped this I ALMOST dropped my camera.  It was like a n...

My knitting has been quite challenging this past week, but only because I am making rookie mistakes.  I did the icord bind off of the body of the pink cardigan THEN tried the sweater on and wanted two more inches in length.  I have no idea why I didn't try it on before the bind off.  So it took quite some time to undo the icord bind off and put the stitches back on the needles, added the two inches in length and then did the icord bind off again.  Currently I am on the neck bind off.  Once that is done I will be working on the sleeves.  My shortest needles are in another project so I am trying to decide do I knit the other project and release the needles or just slip the stitches on a spare?  Decisions...  I also finished the mitt that is in the photo last night. Only one more to go!!  I think the mitt knitting hurts my hands because of the tight gauge I am getting, so I knit the mitts in spurts. I finished The House at Tyneford  a...

The first full day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire my husband and I visited Strawberry Banke Museum . It was very interesting and fun.  This museum is an area of town that has been preserved and they also relocated a few historical houses including recreating gardens.  What I thought was neat was that it spanned four centuries. Funny though, I thought my favorite places would be the oldest places.  They were eye catching and informative.  However, the 1950's house was my favorite and the little grocery store (that I did not take a photo of!) was great!  It had the prices of merchandise and the ration numbers. Isn't it funny that when you are out and about you seemed to feel like you are taking too many photos.  Always snapping or stopping.  Then I get home upload and think "this is it?".  I need to just keep snapping so I have way too many to choose from.  I love the old stoneware in the above photo that is on the floor. Unfort...

My weekend was full of traveling to Portsmouth, New Hampshire!  Yep.  That was the spot that we picked for our 25th wedding anniversary trip.  Why did we pick it?  Well, when the kids were little (8 and 5 yrs old) we were traveling north to visit his brother who lived in New Brunswick.  We stopped in Portsmouth but I cannot remember why.  I only remember being very angry with one of the kids (probably hungry and tired) and thinking someday, I would love to explore this little town.  So let's forget how many years it took to get there.  We were there and it was so much fun! I have more photos to share and of course there was a yarn shop exploration.  And, my husband was lucky to have TWO vinyl record used CD stores to shop. On our way up we listened to primarily The Talking Heads channel on Pandora which is by far the best channel yet.  Did you know that whatever channel we pick, if you listen long enough a Beatles s...

I had a lovely week with cooler temps, falling leaves and a slightly slower pace.  I have been successful in eating from the freezer and pantry which made going to the grocery store a breeze. It also is amazing at how little my husband and I eat compared to young adults. A sign of age? I will stick with a sign of selectiveness. We closed the pool. Now when I say we, I mean he. All I did was help with the cover, it helps when there are two people instead of one. And you know what else? All the rabbits have relocated! Honestly I never thought they would go away. All week Frodo either was blissfully laying on the grass or on his stoop relaxing.  My fingers are crossed that he forgets his love of the hunt by next spring. As you can imagine my thoughts are turning to fall projects. I am cheating on my current projects by thinking of future projects and what to make next.  But first I will finish a few.  I really cannot have over four projects going at once. One day...

I have so many projects going on that the progress of each one is slowing down.  Above is my pink cardigan  which I love working on.  I am sure by this afternoon the body will be finished and a sleeve will take shape.  How exciting!!  I know I will be making another sweater with this pattern assuming I like the fit (fingers crossed).   My dad's Christmas socks  are very neglected in my knitting bag as well as the fingerless mitts .  Since three projects are not enough on the needles, I started a very long term project-a circular lace shawl.  I have not made up a ravelry page as of yet.  Maybe today I will get that done. My book.  It is good!  Seriously, I do not know why they had to advertise "Downton Abbey" as a lure.  The only thing that is common with DA is she is a servant and times are changing.  I think what makes this book intriguing is the story line keeps me wanting to read to see what happens.  So ...

On Saturday, I was at the Endless Mountain Fiber Festival  and it was nice to see more vendors than last year when we had record flooding that damaged roads and towns.  This year it seemed to have more spinning fiber than hanks of wool to knit.  But maybe that was just me.  I really was hoping to find some hand crafted buttons and I did not find any that caught my fancy. I loved being with my knitting friends and perusing the displays.  It was also nice to see knitters wearing their hand knits proudly.  Sadly I did not.  I was afraid I would get too hot (not fun). These two little fellas were moaning the entire time because they were stressed out by the people visiting.  I apologized to them and then snapped a photo.  May they forgive me. I would buy a wheel only to decorate my home.  Would you believe I still have no interest in spinning? I know!  Surprise surprise.  But my gram always said "never say never"....

I LOVE THIS MUG!   Okay, I feel so much better now that I got that out of my system.  My weekend was fabulous, and it was filled with: -going to a fiber festival in northern PA -going with my knitting friends -seeing this locally made mug and having to buy it-my tea tastes even better than ever in it! -ideas for my next post to share all the fun photos I snapped -going to church and embracing the silence and calmness that happens -starting a new project (not with yarn I bought) -loving the signs of fall-everywhere I look I see leaves falling, turning colors :) -a walk with Frodo -talks with closing the pool this very week How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

Do you see it??  That one golden leaf?  Yep, I think fall is here.  It will be quite some time before I can wear my woolens but this golden leaf holds the promises of sights and sounds to come.  As I entered the grocery store this week I distinctly smelled cinnamon from the scented pine cones they sell.  Ah, what a way to celebrate the fall season!!  So even though it's still hot, I'm excited for chilly days, numb fingers and seeing my breath in the early morning while walking Frodo about the yard. For all of you early Christmas planners out there, my sister has seven felted Christmas ornaments for sale on Ravelry for a low price.  All of the patterns have been test knitted and each comes with her felting instructions.  Head on over to here to check it out!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend :)

As I sit and type this post early in the morning I am thankful that the lightening has not zapped the electricity, so far.  Our house is all electric and when it goes, my happiness goes :)  I think today is our last day of experiencing the remnants of hurricane Isaac which for the most part is overcast skies and occasional rain. So my knitting keeps changing.  I started a pair of mitts that my knitting friends have knitted but I was not having fun with the pattern and fiddling with a cable needle and keeping track of where I was in the pattern.  I ripped that one right out and started a new pattern  .  It is too early to tell but I do believe I am liking this pattern a bit better.  I am still working on my dad's socks and my pink cardigan . I have started a new book!  Yes, I finished The Flight of Gemma Hardy  and enjoyed it.  I loved how it echoed Jane Eyre  but also had different plots.  It is worth the read.  Th...

I was gifted this lovely yarn by a knitting friend last Christmas.  It has sat patiently in my knitting basket waiting for me to create a perfect knitting project.  I love all the colors in the yarn and I knew it was going to be difficult to think of a pattern that lets the yarn do all the work. I decided on a simple garter stitch and rib design and just went with it.  And now I have a lovely long infinity scarf (or cowl) that can be doubled around the neck! The pattern can be found here .

This weekend was a relaxing one filled with: -rosemary olive oil bread (bought and so good!) -dinner with friends -shrimp on the grill with roasted vegetables -cupcakes! -lazy slow mornings and phone calls with the kids -knitting knitting and more knitting -finishing up watching Hatfields and McCoys  which was good. -watching most of it through my fingers-remember I'm a PG rated girl and violence is not fun for me. -looking forward to watching Pride and Prejudice  knowing it will be a war of witty words :) -very overcast days because the remnants of Isaac are arriving how was your weekend? Joining Amanda