Slow Days and Quiet Evenings


The days are creeping closer and closer to the time change, we have been eking out as many walks as possible after dinner knowing that they are numbered.  Yesterday was rainy, damp and cold.  I cannot remember a drizzly all day event for quite a while and I think our area needed that kind of rain.  My house was dark and cozy while I sunk into furiously knitting on my current projects.


I have two more hats to make and two sets of mitts.  That is the least amount of holiday knitting, there are more people on my list and I need to come up with some quick knits.  If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I knit lots and lots of projects.  I have a confession to make.  During the spring and summer I knit and finish each project then promptly put them in a knitting box and forget about them.


When the weather turns cooler and I approach the holiday gift giving weeks, I dig through that box and decide what I will give as gifts to those awesome people in my life that are totally knit worthy.  I also pick out some finished items for myself (of course!).  I am lucky that I have a whole year to knit and conduct my knitting generosity.  My crazy system works!


Along with my holiday gift giving thinking, I'm excited about seeing my daughter and son in law over the Thanksgiving holiday.  We haven't seen them since our visit to Santa Barbara in May so it's been quite a while.  I have adjusted to the long distance chatting but seeing each other face to face is a blessing.


I'm grateful for the slow days and quiet evenings, where nothing is pressing or urgent.  These are the times I wish I could bottle all of those positive thoughts and feeling up and save them for when life is turbulent.  Ah.  If only!  But for now, I'm happy and grateful and ever so present in my day to day life.



I walked about yesterday with my camera catching the last bits of color.  Autumn truly is glorious and breathtaking.  I am glad I use photography to frame and capture moments of it's beauty.


I hope you have a wonderful weekend!


Comments

  1. JuliannOctober 28, 2016 at 9:38 AM

    I am so excited for you to see your daughter. Our daughter and son-in-law lived far away their first year of marriage and while it was very good for them, it was hard for us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:12 PM

      I talk to her often and I am keeping busy in between visits, I find that helps :)

      Delete
  2. BonnyOctober 28, 2016 at 9:43 AM

    I don't think your system is crazy at all; it sounds brilliant to me! I also love slow days and quiet evenings and am counting down to mid-November when I can hopefully have some of them. And seeing your daughter and son-in-law at Thanksgiving is wonderful; May to November is far too long! Happy knitting, happy weekend, and happy fall!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:16 PM

      I hope your mid November is super slow and relaxing :)

      Delete
  3. GeertrudeOctober 28, 2016 at 9:46 AM

    I think you have a great system! Mine is to ignore the whole idea of holiday knitting until I suddenly get excited about something and then knitting furiously and finishing just in time ;-) I started early this year, but I'm not convinced those potholders will be my final plan...
    So happy for you that you will see your daughter soon. My girls all live close by and I see them often, but one of them lived in the UK for a year a while ago. I was thankful for skype and we talked a lot, but it's not the same as talking face to face.
    I love those pictures. Such beautiful colors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:15 PM

      You are right it is not the same as face to face, but it's better than nothing at all!

      Delete
  4. SueOctober 28, 2016 at 10:26 AM

    I love your holiday knit system! I always find myself in high speed knitting this time of year, although not this year. I actually haven't picked up my needles in quite a while. Autumn is the best time (for me) to get outside. I love the cooler temperatures and nature's rapidly changing landscape. I'm so glad you're going to get to see your daughter and new son-in-law for Thanksgiving! Now that is something special to look forward to!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:15 PM

      I adore the cooler temps! I can feel like I can breathe and not break into a sweat..

      Delete
  5. mamasmercantileOctober 28, 2016 at 10:44 AM

    It doesn't sound like a crazy system to me, it works and that is all that matters. I am thrilled that you will be able to spend quality time with your daughter and son in law, something to be thankful for. Have a great weekend. Stunning photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:14 PM

      I know you are quite busy year round with your gift making!

      Delete
  6. DiannaOctober 28, 2016 at 12:08 PM

    Hello Karen,

    I really like your idea of knitting all year long and storing them in a knitting box until the holidays come around. What a wonderful way to give such a thoughtful gift to those you find on your list. It is like giving a piece of yourself!

    I enjoyed all of your pictures...both of the inside of your lovely home, as well as those last signs of autumn in the out of doors!

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Dianna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:13 PM

      so lovely to see you Dianna! I hope you are well and keeping busy with your grands :) Also I hope you are in good health.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousOctober 28, 2016 at 1:46 PM

    That is smart to have a box of knitting projects for gifts. When I knit something, it's usually for me, a swap, or a gift. I told my husband this year that I'm done with knitting gifts for the adults. It took a toll on me this year so next year I'm just knitting for my brother's kids which I'm looking forward to. I love seeing Frodo. I want to hug him.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AsKatKnitsOctober 28, 2016 at 2:25 PM

    Stunning photos, Karen and thank you for the time change reminder! I am looking forward to what November will bring though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:14 PM

      WE get an hour! This is my favorite time change.

      Delete
  9. Kim October 28, 2016 at 5:54 PM

    I love you Christmas knitting system :) Have the most wonderful weekend Karen.

    ReplyDelete
  10. kathy bOctober 28, 2016 at 9:41 PM

    I just looked through my year of knits too for gifts. I gave my Cat's breeder a gift today. She loved it. I have some cowls to give and darling hats. I love the fall. we are expecting a warmish weekend and I'm so glad.
    I intend to watch the CUBS and relax all weekend

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:16 PM

      Ah, someone like me who has a knits to sift through :)

      Delete
  11. kristieinbcOctober 29, 2016 at 10:10 AM

    Your pictures of fall are lovely. I've been going around doing the same thing - trying to capture the last, glorious moments of the season in photos. I like your system for gift knitting. I have three sweaters to knit for grandchildren between now and Christmas and I'm starting to feel the pressure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:17 PM

      You can do it! The kids are little enough :)

      Delete
  12. GraceOctober 29, 2016 at 10:23 AM

    Like you, I am relishing the early nights and the coziness it brings. You would be proud of me, I am knitting a hat for my brother and am making good progress!😊 Have a lovely weekend, Karen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:17 PM

      Grace I am very proud of you and your brother will love the hat and all the love it holds in each and every stitch.

      Delete
  13. Jeannie Gray KnitsOctober 29, 2016 at 1:02 PM

    Such gorgeous photos! I love the idea of saving up a year's worth of knits to 'shop' from. That would definitely help the holiday madness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:18 PM

      It helps! If you have the year to do it...some people are quite busier than me.

      Delete
  14. Amy at love made my homeOctober 29, 2016 at 1:56 PM

    You are very organised with your knitting and gifts!

    ReplyDelete
  15. CathieJOctober 29, 2016 at 9:30 PM

    It is so hard when your children do not live close by. We saw our son briefly a couple of weeks ago, but he will be here for an extended visit at Thanksgiving and I am so looking forward to it. I bet you feel the same way. Your photos are very pretty. Your house looks quite cozy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenOctober 30, 2016 at 6:18 PM

      You are going to have a fabulous Thanksgiving :)

      Delete
  16. Judy S.October 30, 2016 at 7:42 PM

    Nice photos! The Interrupted Cowl is a fun and fast project; try it, you'll like it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Andrea @ This Knitted LifeOctober 31, 2016 at 5:48 PM

    I just realized last night that Reed will move out in a mere 14 years. Already I am devastated. How do you survive?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. karenNovember 1, 2016 at 8:44 AM

      day by day ;) Actually you slowly get used to the idea of them leaving as they grow older each year.

      Delete

Post a Comment


Your comments are welcome as long as they are relevant to the post and spread joy, thank you for visiting and sharing your ideas.

Popular posts from this blog

Weekends

Image
My weekend happily contained: -wearing the above woolens all at the same time without being hot -so many walks and taking in the changing leaves. -a leaf shower on Saturday-the wind swirled the leaves off the trees up in the air to float down -changing screen savers to autumn themes! -a craft fair where my husband and I say "we could make that", but we don't. -french fries at the craft fair -scrambled eggs and toast for dinner because we were lazy. -football season has descended in my house. he was in the front room watching whatever is on today -I sat in the family room and watched A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .   Now I want to read it again. -Oh! I finished the socks!! So I wound up about six skeins of yarn and have three projects ready -started a cowl for me in fall colors (I hope to finish before fall ends) -enjoying Spirits of Joy .  Hannah graciously had a one day free sign up for her birthday at the end of September which I luckily saw on Twitter.  Than...
Read more

Happy List

Image
  - neighborhood pumpkins - my oak trees showing off - new friends at 'school' - Tai Chi hour - lunch out with my husband - cold morning walks - an unexpected warm up - all the fall knitting (imagined and real) - wearing wool - browsing knitting patterns - sister outings - dark chocolate - blue skies - neighborhood dogs - the kids coming to visit next weekend - the to-do lists that I am creating - afternoon reading (possible snooze) - apples! - soups! - hearing the breeze whisper through the trees - setting intentions - giving myself grace when I need it the most - solitude - grandchildren laughing - Holly being Holly - Blue skies - phone calls from family and friends - the kindness of others - assuming everyone is doing their best - drinking water and staying hydrated - hot decaf green tea in a BIG mug - first sip of coffee - geese flying in V formation and honking all the way (delightful!!) - Focusing on gratitude - focusing on joy  What would make your happy list?
Read more

Knitting News

Image
  Good morning to you! How are you? I'm excited about my hat that I've been knitting enjoying the sea of stockinette stitches. When I first started the hat I thought it would be too small, now I wonder if it will be too big. Gah. I will find out soon I guess. I wish the photo about showed how beautiful the colors are in real life, you'll have to trust me on this! Below is my next knitting project, the habitation throw . I will definitely use the pink and gray, I'm still not sure about that purple, I might have a look-see in my stash and do another ponder about that color. I chose this pattern because I can use up some of my stash and I adore Helen Stewart's patterns. What are you working on this week? Also: I will probably not be posting this Friday and the following Monday because of my family visiting. I hope to be back next Wednesday (unless I change my mind).
Read more