Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning! First and foremost, these are NOT my daffodils. I spied them in the neighborhood and was thrilled to snap a photo for you so you could see that spring is around the corner. I love February and how it slowly changes into hints of spring while clinging to winter weather. On my walk yesterday, I started with drizzle, that then turned to sleet (painful), that then turned to flakes, that then turned to drizzle. What a walk!  I felt like I went through all the emotions but I was invigorated! After some errand running yesterday, I worked on my hat and the blanket while chilling out reading my kindle. I'm reading Digital Minimalism and am enjoying it. For my real book reading, I'm still reading the short story collection The Wonder Garden, I love it. The author sprinkles in various characters from previous short stories and it is fun to see the different side of characters and their motivations through the different stories.  Holly is being majestic and owning her...

  Good morning! How was your weekend? My weekend was relaxing and calm, just the way a weekend should be. I didn't do much of anything but I did knit and read and doodled. Now that the deep freeze is over, I've been enjoying my daily walks and even hear some birds singing. I like to believe it's a sign of very very early spring. Yesterday we went over to my sister's house for an early dinner. It was nice to be with them and to spend time with them. My sister and I knitted our sweaters together. I'm making steady progress on the baby blanket . I try to spend at least one hour a day working on it. I also worked on my sweater each day this weekend.

  Good morning! After a crazy weekend, I am fully restored to my default settings. I have been mainly knitting on two projects. The first is my lovely pullover , working slowly on the body of the sweater, this is my TV knitting later in the evenings because I cannot make a mistake. I've also been steadily working on the baby blanket as well. I enjoy this pattern because I've knit it so much (this is the eighth time) and it is memorized.  What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How was your weekend? My weekend was nice enough. I went out shopping with my sister briefly on both days and also started doing pesky house cleaning tasks. I used the self cleaning function of a VERY old oven and it worked...I was concerned since it is ancient. My fears were unnecessary - my oven is squeaky clean! My next task is moving furniture to vacuum under them, I need my husband's help with that one, but the task is on the list and that is half the battle. Our weather is finally above freezing and on my walk yesterday, I took off my mitts because I was warm. What luxury! I've been wearing double layers on my walks for so long that I felt light with just regular layers.  I started yet again another knitting project. This one is a baby blanket for a relative who is expecting sometime this year. I'm now up to five projects on the needles, that is my maximum. Anything more and nothing will be finished in a timely manner. How was your weekend?

  Hello! How was your weekend? My weekend was wonderful! On Saturday, my sister and I went out shopping to craft stores and spent some quality time together. In the afternoon, my husband and I went out as well to do a bit of shopping for 'boring' stuff. He needed some new rain boots for when he works outside. But it was quality time together! I was woefully behind on laundry and got all caught up this weekend. That is a satisfying feeling and it's so nice to have shirts I want to wear as opposed to having to wear. It's a mindset. After months of not painting, I pulled out my supplies and dabbled a bit. I also worked on my throw that is evolving on its own. I've added more colors since the photo. Now I'm trying to use up all of my scraps if that is possible. I do like the challenge. Sunday morning we attended Mass, afterwards I rested by knitting and reading. It was a great day! What did you do this weekend?

  Good morning! How are you?  My oh my, did I have a busy long weekend but more about that later on in the week. My knitting halted when my kids and grandkids were visiting. As soon as everyone left on Monday morning, I was digging in my knitting bag returning once again to my newly cast-on  throw that I decided to do with three skeins of yarn from stash. I have since changed my mind and am using scraps as much as possible for the throw with the light pink skein as a base. I'll let you know what I think as I go along. The uncertainty of wool amounts have me questioning this decision but I'm up for the mystery and the challenge I guess. What are you working on this week?

  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).

  Good morning! How are all of you?  I finished that blanket ! Not only did I finish it on Friday night, I mailed it on Saturday morning. I've knit this pattern many times and have it memorized. That's what makes it a comforting knit. Even better news, I started a pair of simple socks for my husband and there is no knitting deadline. It's nice to pick up and put down a mindless knit. I am also enjoying the absence of a self imposed deadline. What are you working on this week?

 Good morning! I have been working on this blanket (for a friend's first grand) exclusively since last week and am so close to being done. Sadly, it is not done for today but that's okay, I'm confident I will be casting off by the weekend or on Saturday at the latest. Once this blanket is done, I am free and clear of knitting for other people. However, my husband has worn through two more (!) pairs of hand knit socks. If the sock yarn is regia or trekking xl, they last 2+ years. Malabrigo sock yarn lasted 13 months. So you know I will be knitting socks for him. Sock knitting will be a lovely switch after the blanket knitting mania.  What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you?  We had a super quick weekend getaway to Indiana to celebrate our grandson's second birthday! Both sets of grandparents were in attendance to spend time with the grands and we had fun at the little birthday party with our children's friends.  I cannot believe he is TWO!  I have to confess, I do love two year olds when everything is NO. (I can say that with joy because I am a grandparent and not a parent). He says 'no' to everything, adorable and funny.  I did a lot of car knitting. I am now on the friend's baby blanket for her first grandchild. I'm making lots of progress! I hope to catch up with all of your spaces in the next day or so!!

  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!  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 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...

  How are all of you? Around here everything is great. I finished the little baby blanket and didn't have enough yarn to make the small size that I chose. But fear not! I just did what I could with the yarn that I did have and the blanket is still a nice little size to through over a baby carrier. I have officially finished baby knitting for now! I will resume baby knitting and little boy knitting near the end of summer early fall.  What are you working on this week?

  Hello! How was your weekend? Mine is still going strong since today is a national holiday. Over the weekend I finished the baby sweater and hat knitting (yay!) and started a little baby blanket. We are hosting a baby shower in less than two weeks and maybe, just maybe I'll reach my knitting goals. I'm over half way with the Agatha Christie book which is interesting. It's funny how some of the content is dated and doesn't reflect the current times. Overall it's an enjoyable book. On Saturday, we went to a garden center to buy more flowers for the front beds. Of course we are with the challenge of buying deer resistant plants. Those pesky creatures love to snip off fresh growth or blossoms. Grr.  Sunday was relaxing and today I hope to do the same. Lots of knitting and reading. I'll try to get my walk in before the day heats up!

  Miracle of miracles! I finished the baby blanket yesterday afternoon. I am so pleased with how the blanket turned out. However, knitting with cotton yarn is problematic for my arthritic hands. I have to pace my knitting and not do too much at one sitting. My hands prefer wool.  I wrote a long list of what I'd like to knit for the granddaughter-to-be and the grandson from now until the end of the year. I need to focus and knit! I ordered more yarn that should be here by the end of the week to make a baby sweater and hat. Also I want to make a smaller blanket that is perfect for the baby carrier in the car.  What are you working on this week?

  This past week I've been working on the baby blanket and am so very close to the last repeat section then of course I will be doing the edging. Maybe I'll finish this within a week but then again maybe not. We have company arriving today and staying with us until Sunday.  What are you working on this week? 

  Don't you love the candid photos of Holly, she always looks like she's feeling guilty of something. This photo was taken around 5:30 in the morning and I have never seen her sleep on that chair. Amazing! How are you? How was your weekend? My weekend was wet. I feel like we are in the rainy season. Today I have all the lights on to make me feel like there is brightness somewhere in my world. Friday night we went over to my sister and brother in law's house for dinner and game night. Our game nights have been on hiatus due to my dad doing his ICU thing. (he's doing well at home!!). So we are easing back into our regular habits. Saturday I didn't do much except read or knit. I kind of wallowed in rainy day despair. Sunday is different, I'm completely ignoring the weather to the best of my ability and making my on sunny day. I painted a bit and did the laundry.  I'm getting excited about the baby blanket progress. I dug through deep deep stash and unearthed so...

  I love when Frodo gives me that look that says 'you're in my space'. Too funny! How are you? How has your crafting been this week? Mine has been slow going but I'm enjoying my slow going progress. I'm savoring the knitting process. The above photo is my lavender cowl that I pick up in the afternoons for a few rows sometimes I read my kindle or sometimes I listen to a podcast.  The bottom photo is the baby blanket that makes steady progress each and every single evening if we are watching a show on TV. I love the repetitive pattern and how easy it is to pick up and knit. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you doing? How was your weekend? This weekend was quiet and, well, regular. After a crazy couple of months with my dad in the hospital (he is at home and making fantastic progress!) this weekend my sister and brother in law came over for dinner and game night. It has been a long time since we did that.  The weather, of course, is cold again. Frodo and I are having none of it. We huddled under a blanket together yesterday evening.  Even though the weather is cold, the spring-time views are delightful. Besides doing all the weekly household chores, I intensely worked on the baby blanket. I'm delighted with the color and my progress!