Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning! How are all of you on this fine cloudy Wednesday morning? I hope the sun is shining where you are! I finished the baby blanket over the weekend and Mother Nature let in enough light on a cloudy day for me to take some photos. I love this blanket pattern and using the cotton yarn is just perfect for wash and go and the drape is wonderful. I have started another baby blanket for a friend who just had their first grandchild. The needles are always busy, aren't they? What are you working on this week?

  Good morning, how was your weekend? We stayed home and did nothing which is the best kind of weekend because I did all the knitting and reading I could possibly do. The rainy weather persisted and Frodo shivered. He was recently groomed and even though we leave his coat a little longer the poor old man cannot take damp weather. Isn't it funny how damp cold seeps into your bones? I did finish that baby blanket and started another one. I also started a baby sweater for the grand nephew to be. I'm reading The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths which is the eleventh book in the series. I'm gobbling them all up! 

  Good morning! How are you? Around here, we have had warmer weather that has melted the snow away and so we have a muddy backyard. It's nice to wear regular winter weather but damp weather sometimes feels colder. This week once again, I pulled out the paints and started on my Valentine cards. They are not finished but it was fun to sit and paint hearts in various pinks. I hope to work on them later on this afternoon. The baby blanket is so close to being finished! I'm already plotting away the future baby sweater to cast on. I usually use the Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern 'two needle baby sweater' which as you might guess is mostly memorized in my head. I'm excited for non-credit classes to start up once again. I'm taking more history classes (who am I? I didn't like history in high school.) and of course Tai Chi, which is my favorite class ever.

  Good morning!  I have been working daily on this baby blanket making steady progress in the hopes of finishing it by the weekend. Having said that, I'm sure I've jinxed myself and will not finish it. But that is okay, the baby shower for my grand-nephew-to-be isn't for a few weeks. I'd also like to knit a little sweater as well which I haven't started yet. What have you been working on this week?

  Good morning! How was your weekend?  On Friday, we received about five inches of snow and so I stayed home snug inside watching it all unfold outside. Frodo and I are in a routine where I bundle him up in his winter coat then I proceed to bundle myself up. We are outside for a few minutes then we undo all the bundling once we are back inside a warm house.  On Saturday, we went to the local library and I checked out a few more graphic novels for fun. I do love admiring the artwork and the visual storytelling.  Sunday morning we attended Mass after a month or so of lingering illnesses, maybe the walls shook maybe not. It was nice to be back, to feel healthy and to be grateful for everything. We attended our grand-nephew's 3rd birthday party. What a fun age! He was a delight to watch as he opened his gifts and he loved everything. We should all be so joyful! Over the weekend, I did lots of knitting and reading. We might be above freezing today!

  As I sit at the kitchen table typing this post, the snow is gently falling down. I guess we are getting 3-5 inches of snow today, maybe. You never know if they are guessing right or not. I am so grateful to have a warm house and lots of knitting to keep me busy. I've been mainly working on the baby blanket in the evenings. During the day when I am free, I tend to work on a shawl. I love my January knitting! I have no deadlines (self imposed but still freeing). My Tai Chi class started up this past week! Oh my, I missed the class while we were on break and it was so nice to be once again moving my body not remembering the sequence and being at peace with the not knowing. Delightful! As you can see, I did some watercolor painting the other day. I resist pulling out my paints but when I do take them out and paint I enjoy myself and wonder why I resist? A mystery.  I hope you have a lovely weekend and are warm inside if you are getting the same storm.

  Well hello there! How have you been?  I keep telling you my knitting has been such a solace while I recover and it's been prolific. What a great way to be during the January days. Over the weekend I finished two hats that I originally wanted to knit and complete for Christmas presents but was unable to do so. I made a car hat for our grandson and a cat hat for our granddaughter. I've knit both patterns before and I do love to repeat a pattern.  I am feeling so much better and I feel like myself if that makes any sense.  I'm back to exercising and walking when the weather allows me and that helps me be the best version of myself. What are you working on this week?

  Frodo wants you to know it is too cold outside! How are you guys? Life around here has been nice. After weeks and weeks, I finally started to feel better over the weekend. (YAY) On Saturday I made dinner for my sister and brother in law. What was supposed to be nine people attending, dwindled down to just the four of us. This is what happens with winter gatherings and viruses. We had a great time and did play a board game as well. I've been knitting up a storm, still! I am just going with it until the knitting fever ends sort of like Forrest Gump and his running.  Sunday morning was lots of snow, crazy winds and the roads were a mess, so we stayed home and stayed warm inside. I did my Sunday chores and relaxed. How was your weekend?

  Good morning! How are you doing on this fine January day? Can you believe we are closing in on mid January? Sadly, we are expecting rain later today after a crazy amount of rain on Tuesday. I'm hoping to get out and walk with Frodo before the rain shows up. I started a new creative journal for 2024 and it will last for two years like the previous one. I do memory keeping and some journaling prompts and whatever sparks my interest. There is something about a new notebook or journal that just inspires me. Many of my journaling prompts come from whatever I see on the internet while I'm toodling about. I like to write about what I am noticing on my walks, what I am looking forward to doing in the coming weeks. There is always a gratitude page and sometimes just write about what I did during the day. Whenever we are gathered with family, I will print some photos of the grands and document the visit. Of course I write about our museum outings as well and any other day trips or week...

  Good morning! How are all of you?  I'm still recovering. I know what a sad sentence to write. Early on Friday morning, 7:40 am, I snagged a doctor's appointment for my sinus infection that is now an ear infection in both ears and my hearing is compromised in one ear. I'm on a different antibiotic and a round of prednisone.  I'm still trying to schedule an ENT appointment, wish me luck! I have been knitting up a STORM people!! I don't know what's got into me. I think it's because the company has left, I'm not in classes at the university at the moment and I am motivated to cast on all the new shiny things. It's a wonderful feeling. The top photo is a shawl with changing colors that is thoroughly addicting. I chose a Helen Stewart pattern that I have knit before so it's like being with a best buddy. I won't tell you how I had to unknit twice four rows of knitting because I wasn't paying attention. Below is a baby blanket for my nephew...

  Good morning! How is your January going so far?  I am getting better but not fast enough for my liking. I need to work on that state of mind, I meditate daily but need to accept my reality. Yesterday,  my iphone alerted me that I am not as active as I usually am. Boy did I get angry at my phone. Doesn't it know I'm ill? (I did change the settings so that the phone doesn't alert me to any 'trends' in exercising and minds its own business). Part of the reason I took it so personally is because I am itching to get back to my exercise routine, I miss it so!! My plan is for Monday morning easing back as long as I feel up to it. We are supposed to get snow, my husband is hoping it's a little bit and I am hoping it's many inches. He had his summer season of glory, I need to have my own season. My physical body might be in recovery mode but my creativity is bursting. I have cast on a new shawl will that color changing yarn in the photo above. Frodo approves of the...

  Good morning! How are all you lovely people?  My knitting this week has been slow. I am feeling better and because of that I am knitting once more. On the left is a simple cowl of my own design that I call knit doodling. The pattern is two rows of knit one purl one, one knit row then one purl row. That's it, then I go on repeat.  To be honest the hat on the right hasn't been touched until I took the project out of my bag for this photograph! I ended up going to express care on Monday for some modern magical medicine to treat a nasty sinus infection. I would love to tell you all about my resolutions and plans for the new year. Sadly the extended family visit and nearly three weeks of feeling awful have waylaid any intentions. Sitting upright was my goal yesterday, ha ha ha. I am eager to get back to my regular exercise routine and of course knit something new. Non-credit courses start back up again in a few weeks as well. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you? Happy New Year, may this year be full of blessings to all of you. Well now, I finally have an empty home after having our son, daughter in law, grandson and granddaughter here for six nights.  I am still experiencing fatigue and symptoms from the virus even though I am feeling better. It was a challenge hosting family while recovering. Also we babysat the kids overnight (!!) while my son and daughter in law went for little getaway. I am thankful and grateful my Aunt came over both days to help out with the granddaughter who never sleeps during the day. (snack-naps do not count!). They all left early in the morning, and while I was tired, sleep deprived and fatigued, I put away Christmas plus all the toys and doodads you need for babies. Today I am looking at a squeaky clean house. I am planning on reading books and falling asleep while doing so! My exercise routine is on hold as I slowly get better. Maybe next week I can muster up some energy for s...