Around Here

 

After many months taking a break away from this nearly impossible cross stitch design, I'm back at it, trying my best to stitch it correctly. I have grand plans of finishing this before spring arrives, wish me the best of luck!

How are you? 

Around here, I've been busy being 'Santa' and wrapping the gifts that needed to be mailed. Every morning I try to do at least a half hour of gift wrapping. This year, I have more holiday spirit than last Christmas season. Maybe I'm more adjusted to living in this house? I have less thoughts of what I miss from my old house, and that's progress. 

Around here, my bird feeder is a continuous delight! The raccoon has yet to be messing with my feeder and whenever I'm at the sink I watch MY birds. I love them so.

Around here, I'm closing in on finishing my fingerless mitts. I'm on the second mitt of the second pair. Today that mitt will be done. yay. After that I am done with holiday knitting! I can then revert back to knitting for me. I have a scarf, a shawl, and a pair of socks on the needles. There's also another hat I want to make for myself.

Around here, I'm plotting out my planners and journals for 2023. I'm excited for some new notebooks and some old favorites along with some fountain pen pairings with various inks. 

Around here, I'm compiling a large reading list for this month and for 2023. I have so much I want to read! We have a second hand bookstore that we visit at least once a month and I bring home a book (or more) each time. Remember when I vowed to clear out more books from my collection after moving here to this house. Yeah, that goal went astray. So maybe 2023 will be the year I read what I have, then I'll move them out of the house or shelf them permanently.


Comments

  1. JuliannDecember 2, 2022 at 8:08 AM

    That mug is really lovely. I am ready for a new morning cup

    ReplyDelete
  2. BonnyDecember 2, 2022 at 8:39 AM

    You are always inspiring when it comes to Christmas knits and being ready! I haven't done anything yet, but maybe next week I'll start a hat for John and maybe decorate a little. That cross-stitch is lovely but does look difficult. White cross-stitch looks much the same as knitting with black yarn!

    ReplyDelete
  3. VeraDecember 2, 2022 at 8:47 AM

    You DID get your stitching out!! Go you! That really is such a pretty piece. Take your time and enjoy the steady slowness of stitching - it can be a form of meditation. I was just thinking I need to get out gifts and wrap and ship some - I need/want to get that done soon because then I need to focus on packing for TX!! I, too, love standing at my sink and watching the birds. We get a pretty nice variety around here and it is fun to watch them...along with the antics of the squirrels!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AsKatKnitsDecember 2, 2022 at 9:58 AM

    Yay you on that stitching project! Vera's advice is perfect... take your time and enjoy! XO

    ReplyDelete
  5. affectioknit2December 2, 2022 at 11:03 AM

    Hi Karen,
    ...your cross-stitch home is so pretty...I also have to really focus on cross-stitch...much more so than either knitting or crocheting...we've got our first Christmas party of the season tonight...the Christmas season is so busy...
    ~Have a lovely day!

    ReplyDelete
  6. MaggieDecember 2, 2022 at 1:37 PM

    Such a pretty cross-stitch project!
    I'm thinking about planners too, but this last year I didn't really use one. I switched things around a few times and nothing really stuck. So I don't know what to do this time. We'll see I would like to be a bit more productive next year.

    ReplyDelete
  7. elizabethDecember 2, 2022 at 5:10 PM

    It does take time to adjust to a new home! Blessings on your Christmas 🎄

    ReplyDelete
  8. JaneDecember 2, 2022 at 9:23 PM

    Your stitching looks so neat and very pretty. I hope you enjoy the project. I do think it takes awhile to adjust after a move. Thankfully we haven't moved in quite awhile and for that I am grateful. I love the mug. Enjoy the weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Deb J. in UtahDecember 2, 2022 at 10:41 PM

    Hi Karen. I have that same goal of reading the books I already have. We have several used bookstores around here, in addition to a number of thrift stores with excellent book sections, so I don't but new books very much. I am trying to get presents purchased and wrapped too, and will be doing more of that over the weekend. I hope you have a good one. See you again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  10. sustainablemumDecember 4, 2022 at 3:33 PM

    Your cross stitch is lovely, I hope you can find pleasure in the process. I am glad to hear that you are feeling more settled in your house, it can take can't it especially when we have lived somewhere a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. CathieJDecember 4, 2022 at 7:35 PM

    I have vowed to wrap a little each week so that I am not doing it all at the last minute. I hope you get those mitts finished quickly so that you can return to the knitting that is just for you.

    ReplyDelete

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