Pumpkin Sunrise

  Hello! Believe it or not  I have started a new project this past week. I have a few friends that in their family they are expecting some babies.  As you know I like to knit new babies a simple cardigan. (According to Ravelry this sweater is number thirteen!) I've knit this pattern so much it's sort of memorized and my print out is tattered.  What are you working on this week?

  How was your weekend? Mine was SNOWY. Goodness, just when I'm easing into springtime and blossoms and a feeling of renewal, Mother Nature gives her attitude adjustment. The views of beautiful! Frodo is back to shivering instead of strutting around with confidence knowing his coat-wearing days are over and I am begrudgingly wearing a winter coat.  My weekend wonderfully ordinary. Lots of knitting and reading, what could be better?  (BTW Holly is not really as angry as she appears in the photo. She is wondering why I am taking a photo of her!)

  We've been home for over a week and I just might be recovered from the travels. I am pleasantly back into the ordinary swing of things and doing the activities that bring me joy. Such as:   - walking daily, weather permitting - exercising - menu planning (not enjoyable but I do like to eat!) - knitting daily - easing in a bit of sketching and watercoloring - reading daily - trying my best to be PRESENT - journalling - connecting with family While it took me a week to get back into my daily groove, Frodo needed three days to recover from the kennel stay. He might have too much fun and bark more than he should. Thankfully he had a grooming appointment and looks dapper. I pulled out my little watercolor notebook and quickly sketched and painted some daffodils.  While the weather was spectacular these past few days, it looks like winter will edge back in and --gulp-- with it some snow showers. Oh March you do love to do this!! What  brings you joy?

  Last night while I was working on this cowl I discovered a dropped stitch - EEP -  so I had to squirrel that stitch back up. Thank goodness it was only four rows and it was somewhat easy to work. I have no idea how that happened, but do we ever know when we drop a stitch??  Today is a rainy dreary day so I'm hoping for extra knitting time or reading time or both! What are you working on this week?

  My weekend consisted of playing catchup from our traveling days with bill paying and my off-scheduled laundering of clothes. On Saturday morning, I received my first shingles vaccine and was thrilled that the reaction was minimal. I actually made a menu plan for the week usually I fly by the seat of my pants.  I read a lot over the weekend making up for all the time I did not read while visiting our son and his family. This weekend, I fully appreciated my bed and my coffeemaker and not sleeping in a hotel room with noisy people outside. I live in a quiet neighborhood which is wonderful! How was your weekend?

  Hello! How was your week?  My husband and I went to Indiana to visit our son, daughter-in-law and the brand new grandson. We had a wonderful time. Of course there was unending baby time. Lots and lots of holding, snuggling and soothing. We ate out way too much but it was a fun diversion to always eating at home. We walked many of their local parks to get some fresh air and to get our wiggles out. The weather was gorgeous!! We did a little bit of window shopping in town as well. The trip and visit was fantastic, but you know me. Home sweet home is the best. I was thrilled to be in my own bed last night, waking up and heading to my kitchen for the perfectly brewed cup of coffee, sitting in my kitchen. Maybe traveling makes me appreciate the little things all the more! I barely knit a stitch or read a sentence while visiting even though I brought a hefty 'activity' bag.

  I'm happy to report that I am half way through knitting this blanket  that I started in January, I love the way it is turning out. My challenge will be deciding to keep it for myself or to gift the blanket. I'm leaning towards gifting but then again I do like it. I love these kinds of decisions. What are you working on this week?

  This weekend they predicted 3-6 inches of snow, well....it was nearly a foot of snow. My husband dragged out the snow blower and once again cleared the driveway. Oh my, my backyard looks beautiful but all of us in this house including Frodo are looking forward to spring. My weekend included: knitting - reading - eating all the leftovers in the fridge - pattern searching - birdwatching - laundry - cross stitching - phone talking - list making. How was your weekend?

After some ridiculously warm weather last weekend where it felt like summertime had arrived, the wild swings of Mother Nature are now taunting us with winter weather once again. We had about three inches of snow the other day, unpredicted I might add. The snow was beautiful. Tomorrow they are forecasting 3-6 inches of snow (trying to be more accurate in the guessing). No matter what, the birds continue to sing and the daffodils continue to grow. You and I both know it will melt quickly. Besides the weather swinging wildly, my knitting mojo has ramped up to normal production. Oh how wonderful it is to be knitting and enjoying my knitting. There is nothing like it in the world. I'm on the hunt for a baby sweater pattern and will probably use an old printed pattern that my mom used for when my kids were babies. I just have to locate the pattern! I finished reading, The Girl from the Train by Irma Joubert and it was really good. I wasn't expecting to be so engaged in the plot so th...

  Good morning! How are you all doing? I'm doing just fine. After a few days (weeks) of feeling blah I am happy to report that yesterday I felt like knitting and any little aches and pains in my wrists were minimal. I saw my RA doctor last week and now am decreasing a medicine I have been on since 1997 while continuing the new medicine I started three months ago that will be fully working in another three months. I am excited for this change. Yesterday I blissfully worked on the gift cowl which is from leftovers from this cowl I made for me. I love working on this, simplicity is where my brain wants to be. I finished these socks for my husband just in time to give them for a birthday present. Originally I wanted the socks to be a birthday present but I was waylaid in my knitting!  Not only is my knitting rhythm back, I am also thinking of new projects to start, which to me is a sign of complete healing. What are you working on this week?

  Well now, our weekend was fantastic!  We met sweet baby Blaise and celebrated his Baptism with family and friends. It was a busy weekend but full of love and goodness. Today is playing catchup after a swift busy 48 hours. I did not knit or read. I did however cuddle and hold a sweet bundle of joy :)

This week we celebrated my husband's birthday by going to the Van Gogh Immersion Exhibit. We loved the experience but it was very short compared to what we thought the length would be (expectations can be brutal). Also to celebrate, we stopped at the local bakery for a treat and on the way home we picked up pizza and wings. We had a lovely time and we both were happy to be doing something cultural in Pittsburgh, one of the benefits of moving so close to the city. How have you been?  Winter keeps trying to be a big show-off but spring is edging her way in. The birds are singing, the daffodils are sprouting. We are warming up a little bit (but not today, brr). I love winter but I'm excited for spring time and some lighter clothe wearing. Even Frodo walks with a jaunt in his step when he doesn't wear his doggy coat. I am fully recovered from the stomach bug, for some reason fatigue was a huge factor for a week. Yesterday on my walk I felt like I had the energy to walk.  Can yo...

I'm chucking over my post title 'knitting news' when there is barely any news at all. Since I was ill most of last week, I managed maybe to knit a row or two each day if that. Each day my fatigue is less and my energy improves. I'm hopeful I can finish these socks for my husband by the weekend.  The first photo is a gift cowl from the generous left overs of my first cowl . I'm pretty sure I have enough yarn but we'll see as I progress. I know I can rejigger the pattern if need be to accommodate the left over yardage. What are you working on this week?