Pumpkin Sunrise

Oh I've got lots to share with you.  First up is my big old pile of books that I received as gifts.  I am looking forward to starting the new year with some reading and more reading.  I'm not making a resolution to read a certain number of books in 2014. I'm toying with reading three or four books before purchasing another one.  I have so many books in my personal library that need my attention. I started this shawl some time before Christmas day. I've named it Tea and Jam  since I was watching Sound of Music with Julie Andrews (there can be no other).  It's a simple knit and quite addictive.  The yarn is from deep stash, I think three or four years old.  I bought it from a fiber festival and let's say the wool is rustic in it's feel.  I love the springiness but boy I sure do hope it softens up when it's soaked. I finished this hat before Christmas and so far I think my husband will be wearing it. The design is my own and it w...

My weekend days between holidays was full of: -sunrises captured with the big camera, oh how Frodo leaps when I grab the camera! -slowness and mindfulness as we near the end of the year -some lists created for the upcoming days -the thinning out of sweets, my waist is thanking me :) -rain, rain, rain -wistful longing of decluttering and organizing but having to wait -a curry dinner made by my husband giving me a wee bit more of knitting time -finishing a book and starting two, yes two books.  So decadent :) -knitting a hat, socks, and a shawl but mainly the shawl how was your weekend? Joining Amanda

Good morning!  Have you all survived the holiday?  We are still in the midst of celebrating, tonight we have good friends coming to our house to share a meal together.  I'm looking forward to the evening.  However, there is more kitchen work to be done.  I feel like I've been away from this space for weeks and it's only been a few days.  I'm hoping to catch up with all of your posts in the next few days. Christmas Eve dinner is usually appetizers because Mass is at 5 p.m. and the thought of not eating until 8 p.m. is just crazy.  Don't forget I'm on the senior citizen eating schedule (even though I'm not a senior yet!).  So appetizers fit the necessity and for after Mass we had pumpkin pie with whipped cream piled high.  Yum! My son received this board game Go!  I played on Christmas day, and I lost.  I have to be honest but I am fantastic at games with words.  This game was like connect the dots but more complex ...

Merry Christmas!!  Wishing all of you lots of love, luck, health and happiness during this magical season :)  May the spirit of giving and joy be with you always.

Can you believe that Christmas is only two days away?  Seems like Advent flew by, well at least for me.  My weekend was kind of slow and yet felt busy.  I think it's because I'm cooking every day.  Don't forget that I do an early morning tidy of the coffee table that isn't too bad right now.  Christmas day will be at it's worse. Every day we have watched a holiday movie as a family.  Last minute shopping has been finished, all the presents are wrapped.  The baking has been completed on an as needed basis.  That system is working for me and avoiding weight gain.  I'm knitting small projects for a small attention span.  Yesterday it was warm for a walk with a spring jacket-unheard of! In the above photo on the table is an origami   menger sponge  that my son is building for the fun of it out of post it notes. I think he is 1/3 done?  Not sure.  There are a LOT of post it notes going into this! How was your ...

yesterday while out with Frodo  I'm in a list making kind of mood and so I give you the Santa List: Nice: -hot tea in my Christmas mug every single day in December -my chocolate chip cookies -having both children home -the new dog groomer that Frodo LOVES (and so do I) -Amanda's writing prompts-you can find them here , every morning I write one page in my notebook. -real life friends and friends I've met through this blog -wrapped and ready for the big day -my simple lace knitting-I can easily pick it up and put it down and it's lace weight -Christmas movie time -cooking for four people -being excited about a few surprise gifts for my family -Brussel Sprouts and green beans, not together but both delicious -my morning time alone in the quiet Naughty: -washing dishes for four people -doing lots and lots of laundry -the mess on the coffee table -those cookies that I love, restraint is so difficult. -where are the left overs???  having to cook ...

You would imagine that my knitting is from a pattern in this book, but it is not.  I have been starting and ripping out some lace designs for the past few days, I believe I am happy with what I am knitting now.  It's a 12 row lace repeat that is easily memorized from Barbara Walker's book (not shown) with a garter stitch edging.  Simple, easy, and knitting with oh so divine silkpaca yarn that my sister gifted me last year. As we near the holidays I am motivated to explore my collection of yarns, to use what is at hand.  There is a list growing of projects I'd like to cast on, yarns I want to "knit doodle" with, and now that we are nearing the big holiday, there were will be spans of time to be in my happy place. The book is a present from my sister.  She knows what I like to knit and I have been thrilled to flip through the book, trying not to drool over could be would be lace projects!  I like that the lace designs are in different weights of yarn....

With one child home this is what the coffee table looks like (and that is just in 24 hours).  This morning I tidied up and I know that my work will be disassembled and rearranged.  I'm okay with that, if the mess is not here neither are my children :) My goal is to make one batch of cookies a day, so far so good!  My knitting is sort of in a stand still, I'm working on a hat and a pair of socks.  Yesterday I started a lace scarf about three different times because I just couldn't decide on whether I liked the lace design.  When I quit last night I was settled on a pattern, let's hope I still love it this morning. You know, I love iceberg lettuce, I know it's not very green and there are other healthy choices but the crunch that you get from iceberg is perfection.  Three salads made per special order to go along with the home made turkey rice soup I made yesterday because I felt just a bit under the weather.  A tiny wee bug that I'm sure ...

My weekend: -found me rearranging, frantically, my son's travel day to avoid the snow storm -sitting inside watching the snow fall all day Saturday -starting the baking, it's official Christmas can arrive now -wrapping presents while listening to holiday music -welcoming home one child and preparing another trip for the other one -knitting on small projects while thinking of possible large projects-soon! How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

blocked and ready to be wrapped For being mid December, I am chugging away at what I'd like to accomplish before Christmas day.  Years ago, dare I say decades? I discovered that I am at my happiest when I'm not stressed out.  I do not thrive on procrastination, I am not exhilarated, that feeling is dread and panic.  I perceive the flight instead of fight in any case of stress and sadly I get worse as I age. son's socks that are wash and dryer safe!!  So I accepted who I am and have found what works for me.  I'm sure you know where this is going..yep, I make lists.  I have a notebook where my central list making occurs.  For the holidays, I aim to be finished with outside family members by the end of November, I ship all the boxes the first week of December.  For my dear family, I finish by December 15th.  I take advantage of on line shopping and FREE shipping.  Keep in mind I have children who give me Amazon wish lists and t...

Isn't this frantic time of year thrilling?  I love how secretive we are during this month. I finished the bulky cowl , which was a labor of love, but I haven't done a photo shoot yet, I'm waiting until my daughter opens the present.  But trust me the cowl is off the needles and this knitter has never been happier. In my photo is fingering weight yarn and I'm mulling over a lace weight project to cast on as soon as I'm tired of the stocking ornament knitting .  That will be happening any day most likely when the red and white yarn runs out!  I continue to relish the sockhead hat knitting and last night I cast on a pair of socks for my son.  I am thrilled he doesn't want a bulky cowl ;)  I knit so much faster with thin yarn. My reading has been sparse and continues to be the same, Dear Life  by Alice Munro.  I am savoring each story and after a long day of holiday preparations I snuggle into her stories.  I highly recommend her writing....

Can you see her?  She's hiding at the edge of our woods.  Frodo and I were walking about when I spied her.  We had the ultimate stare down - even when I snapped the photo. Oh how I wish I had my big camera!!  As soon as hunting season starts the deer find sanctuary in our woods :) My weekend: -exchanging gifts with dear dear friends-I'm never too old for that giddy anticipation! -casting off and blocking that bulky cowl, look out fingering weight here I come -simple soup and grilled cheese dinner that reminded us of our newlywed days and limited cooking skills -watching The Help  and wanting to reread the book -chatting with my kids Saturday and Sunday -starting the Master Menu Plan for when the family is all together, I even took inventory of the freezer and cupboards-I feel organized :) -both my husband and I were belting out "here comes Santa Claus" with our Elvis Presley voices ALL day yesterday after hearing the song on the radio.  I don't...

I love how Frodo turns his head when I have the big camera, so modest.  This is after he has done three or four twirls because he thinks we are taking a walk outside.  A whole week of Advent has past and I'm wondering where it has gone!  I decorated the house last weekend and once again, I enjoyed my walk down memory lane.  Where I purchased an ornament, who gave me one to hang on my tree.  Of course all the ones my mother and grandmother made are treasured the most. The cowl is growing stitch by stitch.  Perhaps it will be finished this weekend?  My hands, wrists, forearms and shoulders would be ever so grateful.  I have to take mini breaks to give my body a rest.  I know my daughter will love the finished cowl and I will love to be finished with the cowl.  A win win situation. Did you see my NEW red Moleskine mini notebook?  It replaces the tattered one I carry in my purse for over two years.  Another birthday gi...

I finished my October Shawl  on the first of December.  The Nae pattern  was a delight to knit up.  My sister questioned whether all that stockinette would be boring, well I found it captivating (as long as I was watching TV or talking to someone).  I might knit this pattern up again with a tonal yarn. It seems that my yarn purchasing habits have changed over the years and short color changes are not what I am interested in anymore, maybe big chunks of color changes. I wore this all day yesterday and the bamboo content is wonderful.  There's a bit of sheen and a lovely soft drape-iness that is perfection. This shawl can easily be a multi seasonal wear.  Love that. My only modifications were to not increase to 100 stitches in the stockinette area for fear of not having enough yarn and doubling the seed stitch area in the middle.

This week I'm working on a cowl that I posted about here , it's with bulky wool and the knitting is not going as fast as one would expect.  I think it's because the wool is so thick :)  Anyways, it's my night time mindless knitting project and my daughter is going to love the finished project.  To offset the bulky wool I cast on another sockhead hat with leftover sock yarns I found in my basket while I was rearranging my wools.  I hope I'm not the only one that rearranges wool and see the bits and ends of previous projects. I love strolling down knitting memory lane.  So while I am knitting my cowl, I am having a torrent  emotional affair with the fingering weight wool project.  Keeps me quite happy! I continue to read Dear Life  by Alice Munro.  The short stories are perfect for this month.  Nice sized pieces for a wondering mind with too much to do during the holidays.  Her stories are unexpected and her characters are deli...

I hope you all are sitting down because I've something shocking to reveal.....I'm knitting a project on size THIRTEEN needles with BULKY wool.  I know, I know, you are wondering if I've lost my mind. Over the long weekend, my daughter requested a chunky cowl specifically the gaptastic cowl . This cowl has been knit by everyone but me.  So while I was shopping with my sister, I added bulky wool on my list of needed yarns.  I also wanted to make this an affordable cowl, so  I bought three skeins of Paton's Roving Wool  in a light gray. Would you believe I've picked out veg matter-delightful!! Let's just say I am enjoying the experience of super fast immediate gratification knitting.  Yesterday in order to continue knitting with grace, I cast on a fingering weight project.  You see, my heart belongs to thin yarn and thin needles. Have you knit the gaptastic cowl?  What is your favorite needle size?

Frodo requests a drum roll please.....The winner of the night sky hat pattern  by Karinamaza  is........ Peacefully Knitting  " Such a lovely hat Karen and I love your blog :) Ravelry: TinaSanders" I will forward your name to Karina over on Ravelry :) Thanks for playing everyone!!

Oh, this weekend was extra special, but it was ordinary to me while the hours sped by.  We visited my family for our Thanksgiving feast, full of turkey and too many side dishes.  Pumpkin pie (yum) was eaten gleefully because it will be next year until it's made one more time. Friday morning. my sister and I had our outing.  Of course there was a yarn shop and not only did I have birthday money to spend but a gift certificate as well.  We had fun looking and contemplating what would be the purchase.  I left with a bag of wool and endless ideas of what I want to create. Friday night usually is a gingerbread house making night, but this year it was a surprise birthday party for me surrounded by my family.  What I loved the most about the party is that I was SURPRISED.  I think I'm getting old, I'm not as sharp as I used to be ;) My sister and brother in law created a slide show with music from some old photos.  For me my childhood was yesterda...