Pumpkin Sunrise

I find myself walking through these days looking for signs of spring.  Finally after a deep freeze, Frodo and I were able to get out and walk, oh my, it was refreshing to be outside, breathing fresh abundant air.  Can you believe March is upon us?  March is a birthday month for many of my family.  I see more cakes in my future. I furiously reviewed our cell phone plan, making a detailed analysis and comparing notes.  I rarely change plans and so when it's been six + years, I have six years worth of catching up understanding their new catch phrases. I've been savoring the light that I see every day in my home.  Late winter light might just be my favorite light of all.  Have you noticed that after dinner there is daylight?  I see in my future the after dinner walks resuming.  Frodo will be thrilled. So I sit here at my computer dreaming of walks where I am wearing a thin fleece jacket and mitten free hands.  I predict my dre...

I know I stated previously that I was finished knitting this cowl series.  I made three of them that I gave as Christmas presents.  I wanted one for myself but was tired of the pattern.  Yesterday, I recovered from that feeling and cast on one for myself.  I want my March to be "finish all of the wintry items so I can focus on bright colors".  This lofty goal is not set in stone, as a knitter you can always change your mind on what you want to knit.  Right? Oh and I did finish that super fast aran weight cowl ! I finished The Peach Keeper  and overall the novel was a light and easy read which I enjoyed.  For lent, I've been reading a chapter of this book, Linking Your Beads every day or every other day.  While at the religious store with my daughter before lent began this book caught my eye.  It's filled to the brim with the history of the rosary and explains prayer beads in other cultures and religions before the practice of the ...

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 - -our daughter was home for the weekend along with her fiance -pizza one night, a home cooked dinner of chicken and roasted potatoes the other -waiting for an epic snow storm and getting about 2 inches, 3 inches if you are wishing for lots -wedding cake samples (not what is in that photo) -cupcakes, chocolate chip muffins, sugar cookies- oh my! -seriously thinking of giving up the sweets any day now (once those two lonely cupcakes are gone) -missing my daily walks, the weather is not cooperating these days -cups of tea and watching tv and knitting, a perfect recipe for a relaxing weekend -we are tired!  My husband and I are going to sink being two -leftovers for dinner and a quiet evening ahead how was your weekend? ...

Just a few happenings this week that I noticed while bracing the frigid temperatures a second time around.  On Tuesday Frodo and I did our walk in 24 degrees and I considered that "warm".  My how perception changes when you are facing zero degrees.  Early mornings and late evenings are staying lighter longer and with those hours stretching comes more activity.  Gone is my hibernation feeling, I am ready for more outdoor activities! This week our sparrow who lives in the little tree beside our house has been sunning herself and leaving tiny foot prints in the snow.  She is ready for spring - I predict there will be little babies once again.  The deer continue to hang out at the wood's edge, we've seen up to eight and frequently they are sleeping under the trees, content and secure. On our walk, Frodo and I discovered large animal prints in the snow, he went mad following the scent and I wondered, bear?  (nope, hibernating most likely) large cat?...

I started a cowl with some lovely aran weight wool.  Yup, I'm on size nine needles which is unheard of for me.  I love how quick this knit is going.  Super fast :)  I chose the reversatile cowl  for my pattern and the only modification so far is eliminating the double wrap on one of the purl rows. Oh and if you haven't see the sweater I finished, I posted about it here . I finished Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore and loved it.  I highly recommend this read if you like a fast paced plot, solving puzzles, books, computers, and nerdy stuff.  Earlier this week, I started to read The Peach Keeper  so far, I'm enjoying the story.  Nice and easy read. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

This is a photo heavy post.  Can I tell you how much I love this sweater ?  My oh my, the fit is wonderful and the color is cheerful.  I wore it all yesterday and was toasty warm. I made the sleeves and the body of the sweater an inch longer than called for and decided to do the garter stitch detail on both sides of the cardigan since I'm a symmetrical girl. I highly recommend this pattern if you are in the mood for a top down worsted weight cardigan.  The blocking did wonders and as you know I'm a big fan of Cascade 220 . Ravelry notes are here .

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.  Another weekend where my days were slow and my were they ever cold.  Poor, poor Frodo, I've never seen him be lightening quick outside like he has been today.  It is frigid out there!  As you know I love winter, but I'm missing my daily walks!  Today, I felt antsy and edgy and wishing for a walk.  Hopefully tomorrow?  We will see the windchill. My weekend: -six (six!!) deer laying in the sunshine all Saturday morning outside my window -photoing the brave deer who stays and stares at me -dinner out, talking and people watching while eating-all favorite past times -knitting that never ending scrap blanket and slowly making progress -lentil soup and crusty toasty bread -Valentine mini cupcakes, eating two feels like lots...

My sister made those heart puffs last year for me, aren't they cute?  That sheep, whose name is Gertie, was a lovely gift from a knitting friend.  She celebrates how many years we all have been knitting together in our knitting group.  I love my little sheep and she looks grand on my table. This weekend we will be experiencing another arctic air mass, poor Frodo I just don't think he can tremble any more than he already does.  He's longing for those summer days of rabbit chasing and sunbathing.  So far, I'm good with the weather.  When we get to the sloppiness of April well then I might be grumbling a bit. February sunshine and longer days make for a happy home.  I walk into the family room or the living room and notice the brightness of the day, sunbeams playing across a sofa or end table.  In a few short weeks, snow storms will melt as quickly as the arrive and birds will be busy singing and nest building.  All Good. The orange s...

Do you see how close I am to being done with that orange sweater ? I am getting a little giddy about that.  I did undo the bottom edging a few days ago, I didn't care for the knitted off edge in garter stitch-the edge was too stiff and I just knew that after blocking it would still curl.  A simple garter stitch edging in the same needle size did the trick.  I'm quick pleased with that decision.  Today I will, yes will have that second sleeve done. Since my daughter was in town over the weekend and I rejiggered the body of the sweater, I haven't knit much on my cowl .  But I did get a few rows in.  That tiny wee bit of yak fiber makes this a wonderful knitting project! I'm reading the same books so I did not photograph them again.  I'm nearing the end of Mr Penumbra's 24 hour Bookstore   which I love.  It has geekiness and book love, a perfect combination.   Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a walk down memory lane for me.  Each s...

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: -our daughter was home for a three day visit -we shopped and went out for dinner -there was a viewing of Annie (1982) lots of singing and humming along -running out of coffee each morning even with a full pot -mini cupcakes with icing and heart sprinkles! -deciding to rip out the bottom of my orange sweater, I'm not liking how it looks -Dr. Who and Gilmore Girls was in the mix as well -walking and hearing the birds, they think it's spring, silly little ones. -more snow is coming! -laundry, reading, phone calls with relatives and menu planning How was your weekend?  

The light has shifted, have you noticed?  The days are longer and the sun shines brighter.  On cold cold sunny days while sitting inside, it looks like a warm day.  Even Frodo is lured into a sense of warmth.  He sees that sunlight playing in the backyard and want to be outside.  After a few minutes outside, he is shivering and pulling to go back into the house.   The week passed by quickly and I noticed that I was content and happy.  Not a care in the world.  I wish I could bottle up those "nothing" days and bank them for when something creeps into my worrying mind.  I love being content and relaxed and in the moment.  Oh life, you challenge me as I learn to focus on the positive and remain present in my daily life.  The daily salad has returned to my diet as I think more towards spring.  I've been on a chickpea kick.  Lately I've been making chickpea salad with mayo and chopped celery served on toasty bread ...

I wonder if you thought I'd be showing my orange cardigan yet another week?  Well, I'm still plugging along with the knitting and just bound off the body of the sweater. Yesterday, I posted about finishing my shawl .  This week, I was craving a new project on the needles so I cast on another circumnavigate cowl .  This time around I have plenty of yarn and went up a needle size to make the cowl super squishy and slightly larger.  The tiny bit of yak fiber in the yarn makes this a decadent knit. I am almost half way through my book, over all I'm liking the story so far.  The writing is quick to read and easy to pick up and put down.  Perfect for a busy week where my reading time has been limited.  On my kindle, I'm reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm  which I read as a teen oh so long ago.  I honestly do not remember much of this book except that I wanted to be Rebecca.  But then every book I devoured as a teen, I wished to be the he...

Last week I finished the shawl and quickly soaked it in wool wash and fingered it out to block.  I decided against pinning out the shawl because it's cashmere and cashmere is fragile.  I do love how soft the yarn is, but I think aplaca and wool silk blends are just as soft. The pattern was interesting to knit, there were three main charts, two for the edgings and one main central panel.  I had a time of it remembering where I was on the charts since they do not align.  Kept me on my toes!! Of course, if I would have used a tool such as a sticky note or a pad of paper then that would have solved my problem, but where is the fun in that??  and life lines??? no way, I like to live on the edge.  Luckily I did not have to unknit much if at all. I love laceweight shawls to wear because they are light and airy.  This shawl does match the dress I will most likely be wearing to the wedding.  I might be wearing this shawl to the wedding as...

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 my wireless mouse dying.  It was a good mouse, I've replaced it but it's just not the same...funny how certain little unassuming things make a huge impact on our days.  Oh and another event, my favorite tea drinking pottery mug has a chip in the lip. Can that be fixed?  I'm guessing not.  Luckily the chip is on the opposite side of where I drink but still now the mug is not perfectly perfect.  sigh. So with those two little sadnesses out of the way let's talk about a fun weekend! -helping my husband on Saturday afternoon clean his office, I just say "throw it away" every five seconds and the job was finished four hours later :) -big salad for dinner yesterday and the simpleness was delicious -Superb...