Pumpkin Sunrise

I give you "the perfect sweater".  That is my name for this delightful cardigan that fits perfectly for me.  I can easily wear a long sleeve shirt under this in the winter and be comfortable.  The secret sauce is the superwash wool that gives a little when you block the sweater. Even though it's late spring, I've worn this. Oh and I cast on another one in a pretty light green-blue wool (mad tosh again). Do you like the photos?  This is me in the kitchen with a camera on timer mode.  Sometimes you have to do all the jobs around here.  Oh how I wish you could see this sweater in person.  I'd have you come over for some tea and knitting on the back patio. We could listen to the birds sing and talk knitting, wouldn't that be fun? Ravelry notes are here tapered shaping at the waist slight curved edge at the neckline

Happy Memorial Day!  Today we had lots of chicken and vegetables on the grill and it was fabulous.  There was corn on the cob too - that is what makes it a summertime celebration.  My friend came over earlier in the afternoon and we sat and knit outside by the pool while Frodo tried his best to put his frisbee into the pool. Oh yeah, hey - the pool liner did have a leak and some young pool guy donned on a wet suit, went into our pool that is about 50 degrees and fixed it for us.  Now to put in six inches of water...slowly since we have well water.  We run the water hose for one hour three times a day. Yesterday, my husband and I went to garage sales, driving on back roads we've never been on.  I saw some beautiful houses, lovely gardens and enjoyed being out in the fresh air.  I found tons of yarn at one house for only $8 (well worth around $100).  That was quite the find!  There's a photo of it on my instagram  account if you ...

Today is beautiful, the sun has returned once again and I opened the kitchen window to let in some fresh air.  I don't mind rainy days if they lead to sunny days.  This week was quite nice, Frodo spent oodles of time outside sitting in the sun. The above sweater is soaking waiting for me to block it out.  I'm excited to see how it looks when it drys.  I'm down to two projects on the needles.  I guess I'll be starting a new project shortly, I've had my eye on a few shawls on Ravelry. Our son passed his qualifying exams and his applied test portion was "best in show".  He was pleased since he thought he did a thorough complete explanation.  So, over the summer he'll be working as a research assistant and won't have to retake anything in August.  Phew! Of course some presents to celebrate are in order, but I cannot say what since I don't know if he reads this blog or not... I'm on the second to last blurry crossword puzzle.  M...

This past week, I was a teeny tiny bit worried I would not have enough yarn for the cardigan .  Every time I picked it up to knit, I imagined how I would solve my problem.  If I had a problem.  Would I shorten the sleeves?  Buy more yarn?  Would the yarn match? I did take out two inches from the first sleeve but really I didn't have to do that.  I had enough yarn, barely.  I might have 3-5 yards left over!  So all those imagination scenarios were unnecessary.  However, I do like how as knitters, we have ways of solving the yarn shortage problem. Today, I'll sew some buttons on and take more photos.  Right now I'm breathing a sigh of relief! The sun is trying desperately to shine while those pesky clouds try to stop those glorious sunbeams.  I am putting my bets on the sun winning over. I hope I am right :)

Hello!  How was your weekend?  Did you have a massive heat wave only to have the weather change abruptly to some chilly temps.  I've been switching the house from heat - AC - heat -  AC.  Crazy but true. I had a delightful weekend and truthfully, it's still going strong.  Our son is still here, he leaves tomorrow morning.  On Friday we did some serious clothes shopping and I picked up a few more tees and a couple of capri pants (so comfy and so forgiving).   I happened to also be in two (TWO) bicycle shops and the key to not being bored out of my mind is to have a novel. I finished my book, The Handmaid's Tale, and I highly recommend it.  Sure, it's thought provoking just like 1984 by George Orwell but in a good kind of way (if there is a good way??).  I thought about how would I survive, would I resist or would I submit?  I'm kind of wimpy so I think I would just do what I had to do to survive.  Maybe I'd be friends wit...

morning sunbeams Good morning!  The sun is shining today and it is a glorious day.  We had quite the mini heat wave since Wednesday and while I did walk the first day, poor Frodo thought it was too hot for him.  So yesterday we stayed inside.  I guess since he is approaching eight years old, he has his limits.  I'm not a huge fan of heat waves so any excuse to sit inside and knit is fine by me. For a mini health update, I am excited to tell you that I resumed my morning yoga routine and so far I've had no back issues.  Thanks to the awesome physical therapist that gave me a take home back exercising program that I've faithfully completed for the past month.  I feel stronger and much better.  The yoga routine for now is gentle stretching and I'm extremely careful about being aware of my posture at all times. I've missed doing yoga, for me it's a great stress releaser and it's one of the few areas of exercise that I feel empowered even with...

Yesterday, I officially started knitting for Christmas.  Seriously - I did!  I wanted to knit an asymmetrical shawl but I knew my intended recipient would love a crescent shaped shawl better.  I believe Curious Handmade is spectacular at designing this shawl shape.  I dug deep into my stash and unearthed a cotton yarn that will be lovely to wear in transitional weather. I'm still toodling along with my surf shawl , this is such a comforting knit.  I might just keep going to make it as big as possible.  I'm still thinking about the mathematical consequences if I do that and will I need to rejigger the pattern.  Oh the thinking I'll be doing. A sleeve!!!  Isn't is sweet :)  I worked on this last night and have merely an inch to go on the cuff.  Boom, ready for the second sleeve, as quick as you blink.  Sleeves and button bands are simply the best part of knitting a cardigan .  Closer and closer I'm getting to fi...

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope you celebrated with your mother, grandmother, sister, and/or children.  My weekend was nice.  I started celebrating my motherhood on Thursday with dinner out and since then every day has had a mini celebration of sorts. Yesterday, my husband and I went shopping where I purchased a purse that I've been thinking about for two weeks.  Yes.  I anguish on certain things- you see, I have many purses!  So of course I added to the collection. At Saturday night Mass, the Council of Catholic Women gave each woman a carnation for Mother's day.  That was an unexpected delight.  Flowers make the world a better place and can make just about anyone smile.   Today I did the laundry as early as possible so the rest of the day was my time.  I sat and read a poetry book, Blue Iris by Mary Oliver.  I thoroughly enjoyed the quick read.  I balled up some cotton yarn for a soon to be shawl probably for a Ch...

These days have been predictable and comforting.  In a few weeks my husband's job will be more flexible and that means we can go out and about and do 'things'.  Since late last August, we've been juggling a crazy stressful schedule. Can you believe we are nearly half way through May?  Where does the time go?  The past two weeks, I've focused on improving my health.  I've been walking daily unless it's raining and after a physical therapy consult, I've been doing assigned exercises for my back.  I hope in time I'll be able to return to yoga, but for now, these exercises make me feel proactive and healthy. I'm eating a salad a day every single day.  Phew.  That is quite a goal!  I have to confess, it was bumpy start.  The devil foods were calling my name over and over.  However, feeling healthy after eating a salad wins out in the end.  I feel kind of crappy if I eat garbage food.  Doesn't everyone?  And yet ...

I am savoring each stitch of my cardigan each afternoon and I'm thrilled to report that I've finished the body ribbing.  I wish you could feel the squish factor, seriously, unbelievable!  I'm on the first sleeve and I'll go as far as I can on 16 inch circular needles until I have to switch to either two circulars or double pointed needles. In the evenings, I work on my shawl that is slowly changing from dark purple to light purple.  I'm making the largest size and can't wait until I can wear this knit. Oh and I feel the need to cast something else new on the needles....so far resisting but still! Have you seen Andrea's new cowl ?  She released yet another new pattern! Also I read an interesting article about being super healthy and avoiding breast cancer in the New York Times.  It is definitely worth a read.

I finished my husband's cowl that I started during the March snowstorm .  He is thrilled to have his very own cowl after envying the one I made for my son in law over the holidays. While in NYC  the week before the snowstorm of doom, we visited a yarn store and he picked out the wool for his cowl.  I directed him to a big ole pile of Madelinetosh and said 'you choose out of these two shelves' (yes! two shelved of Madtosh!) I love when a hand knit gift is personalized and meaningful.  He will think of me, NYC and a crazy snowstorm whenever he wears his cowl. Ravelry notes are here

Another weekend almost finished, doesn't it seem like they come slowly and end too quickly?  My weekend was wonderful even though the rain was prevalent and the sunshine was mostly absent. Yesterday morning, I woke up and saw the sun briefly and thought 'this is going to be a great day'.  I dressed in capris and we went out to some garage sales.  After returning home and having a bite to eat, Frodo and I went out for daily walk.  By the time I came home and rested a bit, I changed those capris into jeans.  The temperature dropped nearly nine degrees since waking. My husband and I attended Saturday night Mass then picked up a pizza for dinner (delicious!).  Later in the evening we watched a few more episodes of Parenthood .  Family drama is entertaining when it isn't your own. Today, I spent the better part of the day doing my continuing education which I started on Thursday.  I passed all five on-line tests.  Phew.  I'm thril...