Pumpkin Sunrise

This week I've been working on my husband's second pair of socks .  Slow and easy knitting, and nice to pick up and put down since the pattern is memorized. I have other projects on the needles that I posted about yesterday . My house will be empty by the second of January and that is when I can resume some projects that are challenging. I started a new book this week, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. So far it is captivating and I'm knee deep in the plot. I looked over all the books I read in 2014 and was surprised at how many I thought were just "okay".  I'm hoping 2015 brings me better book choices and riveting story lines. I wish I could show you all the gifts I knit for Christmas this year, but all of my recipients are out of town and I didn't get a photo of them.  I made many cowls and a few shawls that were given to knit worthy people. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

I thought I'd share a finished project and some new projects in the works today Noble Cowl Joining Girls in sheep clothing....and a few boys too blog  for a fun knit along starting the new year.  I've picked the pattern Stonecrop from the Brooklyn Tweed choices.  I've had this hank of cashmere in my stash waiting for the perfect knit.  So hopefully I will have enough yarn, if not I'll switch out to something else from my stash.  If all goes well, this might be the shawl for me for the wedding! I started this sweater before the kids came home and I have no idea where I am, but once the weekend arrives, I'll be figuring all that nifty stuff out and resume my project. Frodo wanted in on the action so he is displaying my scrap blanket in all of its glory.  Gosh, I do love knitting it.  I have no idea how big I will make it and I really don't think about that, I just enjoy the stitching and the warmth.

Weekends are for memory making,  relaxing and enjoying quiet moments of our days.   If you would like, please share your weekend moments    in the comment section with a link to your blog.   This weekend there was abundant sunshine, so much so that I wore sunglasses on our walk.  Since we've had quite the streak of cloudy days, I had to document the weather.  Are your days blurring and swirling together?  Yesterday I thought it was Friday but it was Saturday.  Part of the problem I think is that we went to church on Tuesday night for Mass and that felt like a Sunday.  Anyways, onto the weekend: -Friday our daughter found a wedding dress!  Cross that off the list of things to do :) The whole process was less that two hours and I for one loved each moment.  And we were home in time for lunch! -lots of walking with Frodo and enjoying the mild weather, wishing for a bit of snow of course -eating left overs (which translates to no cooking) -dinner with friends and

Good morning!  Did you have a good Christmas?  I hope so.  As always is my tradition, I like to take a photo of my coffee table in all of its messy glory.  This year the mess seems less but that doesn't change how I feel when I look at it.  I want to tidy it up, straighten the piles, move the piles.  This morning I did move a few items.  But then, they get moved back to where they were. Books galore are scattered about, some left opened to a page, some have a bookmark.  After every package was opened, each of us had our noses in a book.  I love that my family is a reading family, I could not imagine not having that!! My knitting has been hit or miss since a dinner had to be made,  helping hands made the preparation faster and the clean up speedy but still, I'm the one in charge. Last night we watched "It's a Wonderful Life".  I love George Bailey and his ordinary yet extraordinary life.  I wonder how each of us un-seemingly touches the destiny of

Merry Christmas Eve!  I am the only one up this morning as of yet, I'm playing Christmas music and thought I'd do a quick post.  The past few days I've finished the preparations and the plannings, and while I sat during breaks, I cast on many projects. The socks in the photo below and a cowl and a sweater and there is more in my head floating around.... There is nothing like new projects on the needles to make your heart sing.  I'm soaking up a full house, yes, it is very messy.  Baking is happening once a day, which leads to sampling throughout the day as well.  Oh well, soon enough January 1st will be here, the sweets will be gone and so will the kids.  My husband and I will return to "healthy eating" (non sweets except a bite of chocolate and lots of salads!). If you are celebrating, I hope your holiday season is merry and bright, filled with family and friends!! Joining Frontier Dreams

Weekends are for memory making,  relaxing and enjoying quiet moments of our days.   If you would like, please share your weekend moments    in the comment section with a link to your blog.   The weekend before Christmas has been a filled one. Friday night, we traveled to our daughter's town to her swearing in ceremony to the County Bar Association and then we were off to dinner that included some french fries (yum).  Once home, I snuggled under my scrap sock blanket and added a few more rows. Yesterday, I waited and waited while our son traveled by train for the first time.  Nothing ever changes.  First day of kindergarten, first day of high school, first day of leaving them at a university and now using trains for the first time, I never change with the worrying.  Anyways, he arrived at the station where my husband picked him up.  I stayed with Frodo and knit some more. This morning, I wrote the menu for the week and the grocery list.  I made some gingersnap c

Are you ready?  Almost ready?  I've finished the wrapping and only have some baking to do.  The problem with baking goodies is the temptation to eat the baked goodies. My Happy list: -two cups of hot tea instead of one a day, feels decadent -Christmas tree lights, houses decorated for the season -the Advent calendar my mom made when we were first married -nearing the shortest day of the year this weekend -daily walks in mild late fall weather as we approach winter -the hoot of the owl in the woods in the morning -the deer that greet me every day -quiet mornings full of promise -the rare avocado that is good inside -finishing off projects making room for some new knits -the kindness of others -the anticipation of my children home for the holidays -a clean kitchen at the end of the day what would make your happy list? Have a great weekend :)

I have finished knitting that second sock up there in my photo.  I only have to weave in the ends today and snap a few photos.  Done!  I spent most of last night knitting from the gusset to the toes.  I do love that part of the sock and now I need to rest my hands and switch to relaxed knitting, for some reason I tend to knit aggressively on sock projects.  Switching to wooden needles has helped immensely but I guess six-seven hours in one go is a bit much for the hand and arm muscles... I'm about half way through the short story collection by Alice Munro, much darker than I thought it would be based on the title of the book.  However, as with all stories, some are good, some are weird and some are in between.  Also in the spirit of Christmas, I've decided to re read A Christmas Story the best story of redemption and human kindness. How about you?  What are you reading and knitting? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

I thought I'd share with the you the progress of the eternal blanket .  The progress seems to be slower and slower as I round another corner, but I love sitting under the now lap blanket and adding a few rows here and there each evening.  I daydream about when I will be done, how big will it be.  Have I run out of sock yarn.....nope, not yet. As a knitter I think we all have odds and ends tucked here and there.  I remember starting this blanket in the middle and thinking there is no way this will be a pretty blanket.  Oh how wrong.  I love the way this looks!  Each yarn I pick up to add has a memory-a pair of socks for me, my husband, or one of the kids.  Maybe a shawl, or a scarf.  I remember each and every one! To my delight, Andi from My Sister's Knitter blog sent me some of her odds and ends to add to the cause.  As you know, presents in the mail are simply the best.  I love the array of colors and the sweet little stitch marker along with some tea.  Thank you Andi!

Weekends are for memory making,  relaxing and enjoying quiet moments of our days.   If you would like, please share your weekend moments    in the comment section with a link to your blog.   My weekend started with a dinner out on Friday night with my husband.  We have a few restaurants that we cycle through and one has changed the menu.  Oh.  I'm not sure that I like the new menu but I definitely sounded like a non adventurous person as I lamented what used to be.  Keep in mind I eat the same breakfast every day (cheerios) and if I eat something else it's because I'm traveling.  We also finished most (really all) of the shopping.....I think. I found Frodo a new bed for his Christmas present and every day he goes into the studio to sniff around.  He knows something in there is for him.  The power of a dog's nose! Saturday was a lazy day until the afternoon when we prepared a meal for our friends who came over for a visit.  I taught her how to knit in

The predicted snow never arrived however, an unpredicted snowfall arrived 24 hours later.  I think waking up to a snow surprise will never get tiring for me.  Plans were altered and changed, and a few hours were found that could be used wisely.  A few minutes more of reading and knitting. Are you ready for the holidays?  How is the planning going for you?  A preliminary check of my shopping list says I'm done shopping for the kids and only Frodo and my husband remain.  Frodo is the easier one of course.  I'm looking for a new washable bed for him (Frodo) at local stores.  I have yet been struck with the perfect gift for my husband. Since the children were little, I start the shopping in October and paced myself.  I dislike feeling rushed or pressured and above all, I avoid crowds!  December for me is a time of relaxing and baking, wrapping gifts, and getting together with friends.  The tradition to slow down is firmly planted and one that will not alter much as life chan

This week I've mainly focused on my husband's socks .  I'm still on the first one but today I'll be shaping the toe and casting on the second sock.  When I'm not knitting on the socks, I'm knitting on the cowl enjoying the color progressions. I finished my book from two weeks ago, Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.  Some of the essays were laugh out loud, some were amusing and some I didn't find so funny.  I'm glad I read the book though.  This week, I'm delving into some short stories by Alice Munro- Too Much Happiness .  So far so good, I love her writing style and her main characters. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Yesterday once I was home from errands, I whisked Frodo out the door for a walk.  The air felt still and quiet.  Dampness mixed with frosty air and I felt, knew that a storm was coming.  As you know, I'm hoping for snow but the predictors are indicating rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow.  Each newscast was altered and changed.  So I wait and see exactly what will be arriving. I wait for so many events.  I wait for my husband to come home for dinner, I wait for the kids to call, I wait for news of family health issues.  Waiting is a time to focus and be present, to perfect the mindset of enjoying that single moment before it scatters away never to be felt again. Advent is a waiting and preparing season.  I'm preparing for our family celebrations and menu plans, but also planning my personal goals to be present in the every day.  I struggle with this goal.  However, each day is a new day to be present.  Frodo and I walk and during my time outside, I let go of

Weekends are for memory making,  relaxing and enjoying quiet moments of our days.   If you would like, please share your weekend moments    in the comment section with a link to your blog.   I've got the Christmas spirit pulsing through my veins.  The tree is up and the lights are on when I wake up in the wee hours of the morning when I journal, with coffee of course.  This weekend was good.  Really good.  I spent time with my husband toodling about the town shopping on Friday afternoon then picking up Chinese food for dinner. On Saturday we watched the rain that lasted all day.  Frodo would look lovingly out the window but when you opened the door, he hung his head in sadness -  he prefers to be a dry dog.  I prefer to be a dry human. Today was Mass, then chats with both kids at different times. We are plotting out when they come home for the holidays.   I've written and addressed some cards that will go into the mail tomorrow.  This afternoon, I met with so

Potato Leek Kale Soup 1-2 tbs olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 leeks, chopped 4 cups of broth 6 small potatoes, peeled and cubed 3-4 cups of chopped kale 1 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp pepper 1 tsp nutritional yeast lightly saute the onion and the leeks until slightly translucent, add the broth and the potatoes, bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes, add the kale and the seasonings and boil another five minutes. enjoy! I had this soup yesterday and my oh my did it taste good!  My husband is battling a sinus infection and an asthma cough, I thought some soup would make him feel better and the vitamins from all the greens would be an extra boost.  Also, I am trying not to catch this little bug. The house is decorated and daily I sit in the evening knitting and enjoying the view. I've been busy with knitting and reading, somewhat recovering from all the busy that happened last week.  Before you know it, Christmas will be here so I'm slowing down and savoring the m

My reading this week continues to be the David Sedaris book that I photoed last Wednesday.  I am overall enjoying the read, some chapters (essays) are funnier than others.  I am amused most of the time.  While visiting my family, my sister and I shopped in Barnes and Nobles and to my delight I saw this magazine displayed.  I've seen this new publication on instagram feeds and once I did a quick flip through, the magazine had to be mine.   Bella Grace  is filled with poetry, essays and lovely photography that evokes personal reflections. My knitting is the same as last week as well.  I am knitting the cowl , the blanket , and my husband's socks .  So why not start something else?  Yep, I cast on these little holiday stockings that are my own pattern.  I am into the holiday spirit! What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Guess what my sister gave me for my birthday and for Christmas?  Yep..... A SWIFT-Can you believe it?  Apparently, she grew weary of my posts lamenting the absence of a swift.  How cool is that?  I am beyond thrilled and today I will be setting the swift up in my studio. Also she stitched me up a rabbit from Posie Gets Cozy .  I love her so and her name is Stella in case you were wondering, she just looks like a Stella to me.  I'll be whipping up a little sweater once the holidays are over. Thank you sister!! Among other stuff, my dad and step mom gave us a basket stuffed with food and I saw a knitting basket!  I spent most of Sunday rearranging yarns upstairs and downstairs, fussing about.  I came to the realization that I have a lot of yarn.  That is a very good problem. Lastly, here is the yarn that I bought while visiting family.  I've added the skeins to my ravelry stash.  I have plans for more socks and shawls, and cowls, and who knows what else!