Pumpkin Sunrise

I did it, I finished the shawl.  I was utterly delighted with the colorway and with the fingering  wool that I purchased at a fiber festival a few years ago.  The skein is a single ply but easy to knit with and has a wonderful hand.   The  kindness shawl pattern  would be a perfect pattern to try if you are a beginning-intermediate knitter who knows all the basic stitches in knitting and can follow patterns. I will definitely make this shawl again since it uses up 400 yards of fingering weight indie-dyed wool - you know the ones that knitters collect, I have them and you might have them in your stash as well. My ravelry notes are here

After a chaotic morning (involving a dog and a cat, ahem...) and after completing the weekly housecleaning chores, I was gleefully sitting with knitting friends and venting.  Ah... How does unloading the complaints make the day better?  I love my friends and I love the slightly relaxed feeling I have whenever I head home.  I should have a knitting meeting daily!  How was your weekend? We've had rain, rain and more rain.  The backyard is soggy and squishy when I take Frodo outside.  Along with the rain has been gray skies - perfect for staying inside and knitting. I decorated for Easter and mindfully thought of how to keep the decorations 'kitten proof'.  I stuffed all the felt eggs and little chicks in a big vase and so far, Holly hasn't discovered them yet.  I feel like I'm winning and have outsmarted a cat.  I finished one project and nearing the end of another project, so as knitters do, I was in my studio winding up all t...

A few days ago, the weather warmed up considerably and I scrambled outside for a walk in the sunshine without a coat or jacket.  The spring-like day quickly faded to a wintry rainy storm by nightfall and now I'm back with the winter days.  The warmth was refreshing, hinting of days to come.  Can you feel the change in the days? The daylight is lasting longer, the sun when it does peek out, feels warmer at a different angle.  I've announced I'm a winter lover on this space, but maybe I am a lover of all seasons as they emerge.  My stress levels were high this week.  My husband's work stress seeped into my brain and I absorbed it as my own stress.  The beginning of the week was just awful.  Maybe these animals pick up on the negative state of mind and misbehave more. Thank goodness yesterday was a stellar day.  I babysat, decompressed while watching Disney Jr and chatting with a toddler that is emerging with two word sentences (yay!...

All of my knitting projects, two of them are nearly completed.  Usually I have up to four projects going at the same time, so it's unprecedented to have a mere two...I'm enjoying the focus of two projects right now.  The shawl in the above photo is approaching the end.  I'm on the last repeat of the horseshoe lace section.  If I have enough yarn (simply by looking and guessing) I might change the edging and incorporate a ruffle edge, if not, well I'll just do the edging as per the instructions. My cowl should be finished by the weekend.  I'm on the last repeat of the simple design.  As of yet, I haven't had a chance to dive into my stash to start something new.  I'd like to always have a shawl on the needles to boost up my gift pile for the holidays.  I have my sister's sweater to cast on soon - I'm planning sometime in March, maybe or April.  What are you working on this week?

Isn't that sunrise beautiful?  I captured that moment yesterday morning before the snow arrived.  This weekend was another slow weekend with nothing going on.  I'm getting good at that kind of weekend!  Between babysitting, gym sessions and taking care of daily life chores during the weekdays, I'm thrilled to have a slow weekend doing nothing. My news today is the daily walks have resumed! Yesterday and today, my husband, Frodo and I walked the neighborhood, saying 'hi' to neighbors (who were walking as well).  Seems to be the time people crawl out of their hibernation, stretch their legs and see the world.  Both walks were messy and damp but even with a slightly wet miniature schnauzer, it was worth it.  Also I'm hoping the walks will take some steam out of Frodo and make him 'mellow' around Holly (ha!).  this morning and it's all melted now  Today I've been reading and knitting at the same time most of the afternoon while do...

Earlier this week I had the chance to walk around outside with my camera to document the snow before the rain arrived and washed it all away.  Winter holds a special place in my heart, I love it so but signs of spring are arriving and my, that feels refreshing!  Each day more birds are singing and the sun when it is shining feels so nice on my face.  There's been a little bit of a warm up every day and later tonight some snow is forecasted.  All good. Last week, my stress levels were higher than usual worrying about various things that quickly were resolved by the end of the week.  My daily walks have been hit and miss since Christmas, mainly due to the weather or darkness or bear fear (has he left? dare I hope?).   Frodo and I walked with balmy temperatures in the mid thirties.  He was thrilled to be sniffing the neighborhood and I thought all about the pockets of happiness I enjoy that makes life wonderful.  Being in the mome...

Happy Valentine's Day,  I hope you receive lots of love!  Yesterday I cast on something new, I went into my deep stash and unearthed a skein of wool I bought at a fiber festival a few years ago.  So far, I'm loving the color way.  I present to you:  the Kindness Shawl . My cowl is making slow progress this week.  However, yesterday afternoon I blissfully read my Kindle and added a few more rows while hitting my joy.  Today I intend to do more of the same.  Ravelry notes are here . What have you been crafting up these days?

deer hoof print that looks like a valentine :)  Hello!  Another weekend come and gone, was yours good?  Ours was a busy Friday driving to Delaware to see our daughter and son in law for the day.  We were lucky to have good weather and smooth driving.  Although on the highway a rogue rock happened to ding my windshield. No worries though, the windshield ding will be repaired on Monday afternoon.  Did I take any photos on Friday while visiting?  Nope.  I was in the 'moment' - we had a good visit and soon we were driving back home to sleep in our own beds.  There was a bit of knitting in the car and while sitting and chatting with my daughter. Yesterday was relaxing and calm.  I read and knit a bunch, this increased my happiness factor two-fold.  The weather was rainy and gloomy all day long.  After Saturday night Mass, we picked up a pizza and watched another episode of The Handmaid's Tale.  I read the book last ...

We've been having all the weather events this week.  Snow, sleet and rain.  Luckily, I like winter so I'm totally okay with the cold and the craziness.  My cold is still here, but it's nearly all gone.  Everyday I think, today is the day without any symptoms - I'm a positive thinker over all.  Seriously though, I feel fine during the day.  I had one gym session this week and my trainer said he was 'easing me in'.  Nothing felt easy at all, however, it was so good to be exercising. Frodo and Holly are both dazed and confused.  Neither one knows what to think and what to do with each other.  The humans (us) don't know what to do either.  Sometimes we leash him, sometimes we don't.  Here is the truth:  Holly seeks him out after he is done torturing (barking at) her.  He will finally go under that ottoman to nap, we breathe a sigh of relief and then she goes and pokes at him, starting it all over again.  Kids! ...

As you can see, my son in law's sweater is off the needles, blocked and ready to be gifted.  Ah, finishing up a large project is so satisfying.  I really enjoyed this pattern.  I haven't knit a bottom up sweater in years, truth be told, I prefer top down.  However, this did knit up quickly once the body of the sweater was finished. My husband modeled for me since I didn't have my son in law.  Hopefully I'll get a photo of him wearing it since we will be seeing them soon. Instead of the garter stitch ribbing, I opted for 2 x 2 ribbing and I added a collar as well in the same ribbing.  I'm thrilled with the way the sweater turned out.  And, I had buttons in my button jar that went perfectly with the henley front.  Score! Ravelry notes are here Pattern is Guston

Super early post for Super Bowl Sunday.  I'm not a fan of football or any sport if I'm truthful but I'm married to someone who does love sports.  So tonight I'll be passively watching the game.  I toyed with writing tomorrow morning but I'm babysitting and that would be a time crunch.  So here I am. Thank you for all the well wishes on my cold and remedies.   I sat almost 48 hours trying my best to stay hydrated and quarantined myself.  So how am I?  I guess a bit better - however, my back is hurting from all the sitting!  Drat.  Being inactive is a hazard to my physical well being.  That and a couch and love seat set that probably needs to be replaced.  I'm not in the mood to shop for a new set. During the daytime, I drank many cups of Sweet Dreams by Bigalow, funny - it never makes me drowsy I just love the flavor.  In the evening I had my usual cup of green decaf tea.  Throughout the weekend I crave...