Pumpkin Sunrise

I've been knitting away on a new project that I started on Easter Sunday with my sister.  You see, we were yarn shopping during a Thanksgiving visit and bought the same yarn Juniper Moon Tenzing  with the grand idea of doing a sisterly knitalong.  We only just started our projects a mere two weeks ago.  We are having fun asking "what row are you on?". My other knit that has had some attention is this striped scarf .  I have every intention of gifting this to my husband who loves greens.  I hope I have enough yarn or I might just be blocking this aggressively once I'm finished. I love that feeling of not knowing :) Check out yesterday's post about my gloves and scarf !! My reading is the same as last week-  Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt is a compelling read and each character is someone you empathize with deeply.  The main character is a 14 year old girl who is grieving over the loss of her beloved Uncle Finn, who died...

As you can see, I finished a few projects and I am thrilled to have them completed and out of my knitting bag.  The gloves  are tucked away for when the fall cool weather arrives-just think I have something new to wear! This scarf was truly a labor of love.  The knitting was a bit fiddly because of the sleek yarn.  The entire time I was knitting, I was thinking and worrying about whether I would have enough yarn.  Oh my, what a waste of time.  Once again, the magic of blocking cured all of the worries!!  This knit blocked out beautifully and you know, I have one other skein in a light gray and might subject myself to more knitting torture to have another scarf :)

The weekend was wonderful but not exactly as planned.  I was lucky to see both kids last Easter weekend and on Tuesday our son called to report his computer screen on his laptop stopped.  So plans were adjusted and rearranged for all of us and he came home. He now has a new computer that works and over the summer we will repair the computer screen-my husband is talented in resurrecting computers from the dead.  He has replaced many keyboards and screens. So my plans of attending a street fair were cancelled for spending time with my husband and son.  I soaked in the sunshine and even knit on the swing-so refreshing!  They had steak and I had salmon on the grill with roasted vegetables and a salad.  We chatted, walked the dog, and yes, spent many hours talking tech stuff. The weekend was full and good! How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

I chuckle to myself that the first photo is always the best photo when I go through the series of shots.  Above is my dad's pond.  I wish I could capture the quiet and peace that goes along with the still waters. The rest of the photos are at my sister's house.  I am recovered from the sweets and treats that goes along with Easter.  The sugar detox takes a few days, oh how I remember in my twenties eating anything and not a pound was gained.  Where are those days?? Yesterday I was thinking about how I motivate myself with my various knitting projects and completing them in a "timely" manner.  I'm sure we all have one that is just difficult to knit through.  When that happens, I think WHY.  Why is it difficult? Why am I not thrilled with the project? I am currently working on a lace weight scarf and the wool is an alpaca silk blend.  I'm finding it quite tiresome.  If I ask myself the questions my answers would be--the yarn...

As of this morning, I am faced with knitting the thumb! I am so excited to be nearing the end of this fun knit :)  I believe that knitting a glove is just as easy as knitting a sock.  All you need is two sets of dpns and the best part is you can fit the glove to your hand to know how long each finger is to be!  If you haven't knit gloves before I highly suggest this pattern.  Ravelry notes are here . Can you believe I'm on another book?  I know, there must be something wrong with me.  I finished Mary Oliver's A Thousand Mornings poetry collection over the holiday weekend.  I loved the poems and the way she sees the world.  This collection is a great way to dip your toes into the poetry waters. I continue to read David Copperfield  on my Ipad and have been enjoying the story. The book in the photo is really captivating even though I'm in the beginnings.  Again, I shamelessly chose this book initially from the cover art but the blur...

my sister baked this glorious cake! Oh my goodness!  This weekend was filled with: -car rides, sunshine and family -seeing the kids and their significant others -seeing my sister and her family -seeing my dad and my step mom -eating too much good food and that cake!  it was delicious :) -spending time with my sister and a lunch out just the two of us -walking and enjoying the views and nice weather -Easter vigil Mass with my family -more car rides and knitting and vowing to get back to the healthy food ;) -returning to a long list of chores and errands to run today -enjoying a three day break from obligations how was your weekend? Joining Amanda

Each day that comes and goes feels more like spring and less like winter.  I've noticed some grape hyacinth are starting to bloom along the roadside on my walks.  Little tiny volunteers on the wood's edge that just reflect happiness. As a child, I loved Christmas for the presents, and Easter for the candy.  I remember sitting outside in a spring jacket with my sister eating chocolate bunnies and plotting various ways to sneak an extra piece out of my basket without my mother knowing.  I never did execute that plan successfully, but the childlike thinking and scheming was such fun.  I remember scratchy dresses, crocheted ponchos to wear to Easter Mass and the smell of spring flowers in massive bloom outside in gardens and inside the church. Easter was and is:  ham, hard boiled eggs, jelly beans, chocolate, family gathering, itchy clothes, long Masses, jello, potato salad, wicker Easter baskets, loose Easter grass Everywhere!, perfumed ladies at church...

Oh my needles are flying, well, at least to me they are flying.  I finished my table runner , thank you for all the lovely compliments.  I have returned to my gloves and as you can see, I've completed the thumb gusset and two fingers.  I believe I'll be casting on the other hand tonight.  Finger knitting goes very fast. I'm nearly finished with Between, Georgia and I'm loving every minute I'm reading it.  The story is fast pace and I have no idea what will happen and that makes me want to read a bit more.  The book is an easy light read and I recommend it.  I also have my Mary Oliver book that was a gift from my daughter over Christmas.  Since it's poetry month, I've been reading bits here and there. Deborah over at Square Grannie  gave a wonderful review of David Copperfield  so I've downloaded the book on my ipad that that will be my read during the day.  I'm assuming that this book will take me quite a while, and that's fi...

Over the weekend, I finished my table runner and when I tucked in that last bit of yarn, I knew that this runner would grace my loved coffee table in the family room.  Oh this table has seen so much life!  I've talked about this table and how when the kids are home you can barely see the surface. This is the table that has numerous nicks due to a baby son hammering away along the edges with his toys many years ago. This table has seen cities built with pokemon figures, lego men, and my little ponies made by two children and lots of imagination.  I just can't part with this table-too many memories.  So I have accessorized it!  I love how this runner looks.  No soaking and blocking this time, just plain old steam iron. Ravelry notes are here

The weekend was warm, sunny and bright filled with two walks a day.  Sure there were chores like laundry to start and finish and frantic list of what needs to be completed by next weekend.  But tucked in the frenzy were numerous quiet moments. -blue toe nail polish and sandals -back porch swing and cushions dusted off and in place -drinking in the daylight, sunlight and fresh air -iced tea!  (decaf of course) -quickly knitting up a few small presents for Easter -a rice salad and cooking the salmon for me (yum!) and the steak for him on the outside grill -seeing the lawn turning green a little more each day how was your weekend? Joining Amanda

And then suddenly the weather turned to spring, it has felt wonderful!  Each day I've walked once or twice with Frodo enjoying the mild temperatures, feeling free with just a jacket and yesterday without at jacket!  I am thrilled with the sunlight and breezes that have graced this week. Three weeks ago I decided to get "healthy".  My definition is quite fluid on what healthy is.  When I was younger, the definition would have been to be skinnier, in a smaller size oh and whatever the trend would have been in the fashion magazines.  When I was 25 years old, I'd longingly look at photos of my 17 year old self wishing for that body shape and size.  Same as when I was 33 years old looking back to the past and measuring my physical present.  Why as women we are never happy with the here and now?  I wonder. So three weeks ago, my definition of healthy changed to internally healthy.  I wanted to eat fruits and vegetables, gain more flexibil...

I think I might have stunned you!  Not only is there a new book but two new projects on the needles as well.  I seem to have a case of cast on fever.  I love when that happens.  First off the green project is a scarf for my husband.  He loves green and I have two skeins of dark green and one skein of light green of Frog Tree  from deep deep deep stash.  Before ravelry stash, I'm guessing :) Next up is my cotton linen blend project- A Table Runner  and I posted yesterday all about it. I'm on the second skein which is the last skein and I predict this knit will be done quickly. For reading, I am onto a light book titled Between, Georgia  by Joshilyn Jackson.  So far so good-the plot is moving quickly and I care about each character and wonder what will happen next, all the important ingredients to a lovely read. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Over the weekend I dug through my collection of yarns, with the idea to make a table runner for the kitchen table.  I knew I had some cotton linen blend yarns and was delighted to discover two skeins of Maggi Knits Irish MK collection-Maggi's Linen .  I bought these skeins many years ago. I cast on 54 stitches and started a seed stitch border for six rows.  Once the six rows were completed I switched to having six stitches on each edge remaining in seed stitch while the middle in stockinette stitch.  Extremely easy!  I will make the runner as long as the yarn lasts. Ravelry notes are here

This weekend I walked daily and noticed some green in my surroundings.  Sure it's algae and moss and weeds but it's green and beautiful to behold!  Also some stray spring bulbs are blooming on the hillside, crocuses to be exact, but too far to photo. My weekend was uneventful and yet full.  Yesterday we had homemade wings for dinner and what made them special was not sharing them with others.  Sounds silly but it was fun just the two of us digging in.  To offset the wings, we had a healthy vegetable platter.  Oh and sugar cookies :) Today after Mass and lunch at home, we headed out for another walkabout.  Dinner is "breakfast for dinner" theme.  Eggs, asparagus and toast and if I'm lucky in my freezer search some turkey breakfast sausages. Oh and some more sugar cookies :) There was: knitting, reading, writing, talking, laughing, playing with Frodo, list making and goal setting. How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

I've been enjoying the sun light that streams through the kitchen window during the day.  When the sun is shining, of course.  The week has been a bit cloudy and bleak but around noon or so the sun likes to say 'hello'.  I've been taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine with daily walks with Frodo.  After this winter season of hibernating, I feel good getting outside, breathing some fresh air and moving my body. The yoga practice in the morning helps me immensely as well.  Why is something that is so good for you so hard to initiate?  I wonder.... I haven't seen a rabbit yet in the yard but I know the day is coming.  For now, Frodo has been barking at the deer who like to stare right back at him and wonder what his problem is.  Poor Frodo so misunderstood. The ceramic rabbit in the photo is actually a salt shaker, unfortunately I broke the pepper shaker and now it's widowed. The Christmas cactus on the left has been trimmed since t...

Last night I feverishly finished the color affection shawl in lace weight yarn.  I love this version so much more than the fingering weight one I knit a few years ago.  The lace weight version is so light and airy and so so very soft. The photos are unblocked and I'm not sure I will block this shawl.  I like how it looks as is and I do not want to stretch out the garter stitch rows.  I love how the ends curl as well :) I have at least 1/3 to a 1/2 skein of yarn in each color left over and already my mind is mulling over a triangle scrappy version of boneyard shawl or something similar. At least that was my thought last night.  Now that a new day has dawned, I'm rethinking that idea.  Oh well, the yarn will be there whenever I decide.

I'm nearly finished with the book Where'd You Go Bernadette?  by Maria Semple.  I've enjoyed the story immensely and although I was skeptical of how the novel was written by memos, letters, and documents, I quickly adjusted and found the format entertaining.  I have no idea what I'll be reading after this, still mulling my options. My knotty gloves  are making slow but happy progress.  I've nearly completed the first cuff cabling pattern and will be knitting the hand and thumb gusset soon.  My color affection shawl  is one inch away from casting off.  Each row takes quite a bit of time-I love that the most about shawl knitting!! What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

The weather was warm enough over the weekend to resume walking the dirt road that is near my house. This walk is a restive walk, quietness descends with each step and you hear trees rustling and birds singing.  I love this walk because of the solitude. As you can see, brown brown brown is everywhere you look.  However in a mere few weeks we will be witnessing some fresh spring green sprouting.  In my youth, I rarely appreciated early spring but now I do.  I love the anticipate early spring provides.  I know that one day I will set out for a walk and see signs everywhere I turn that spring has arrived. P.S.  The three inches of snow from yesterday morning is nearly melted and today will be almost 60 degrees!