Pumpkin Sunrise

  How was your weekend? I'm on a roll with having quiet weekends and this one was really restive. The only event that caused some hiccups was the crazy windy rainy weather that knocked out power for moments at a time. We held our breath waiting to see if it was permanent and luckily it was not. Phew. On Saturday we went for a country drive north of us and did a little bit of shopping (one was a grocery store so that wasn't exciting but they carry things I cannot get locally). We enjoyed seeing the greening trees and spring bursting everywhere. Sunday morning, we attended Mass and then the rest of the day was laundry.  All weekend long I was either reading or knitting. What a great way to spend a weekend. The top photo is a scarf and the bottom photo is a never ending hat in K1 P1 ribbing. How was your weekend?

  Good morning! How are you? How's your crafting projects coming along? I finished this shawl last week and blocked it a few days later. I am pleased with how it turned out. I've knit this pattern once before and enjoyed knitting it a second time around. Now that this shawl is finished I can start something new!! What are you working on this week?

  There has been so much rain this week. There are times when I am out on my daily walk with Frodo and I wonder why I'm happy, then decide it's because the sun is out. This week, I'm wondering why I feel blue, well - it's because of the endless gloomy skies. Sure the sun comes out at the end of the day and I do appreciate it but I like some sunshine sprinkled in with the rain, please. This week the trees have been sprouting and the green sheen can be seen wherever you go. I like this part of springtime - the newness and the green-ness, it pairs perfectly with Easter and rebirth. How are you? How's your week been?  I continue to work on his socks for no more than one hour at a time. This approach seems to be the sweet spot of knitting without any wrist pain. Earlier in the week, I pulled out my sketchbook and did some abstract sketching and painting. I really enjoyed myself. I mostly read when I'm not knitting. I have a shawl blocking in the laundry room and I pl

  I continue to take it easy when it comes to knitting. Most evenings I work on these socks for my husband. I am on the second one! I'm excited about that. I limit myself to one hour a day on double pointed needles just to be extra cautious in babying my wrists. I believe this is working for me since I continue to improve. What are you working on?

  Good morning!  My knitting has been progressing nicely. Two days ago though, I had to UNKNIT 385 stitches while working on this shawl because there was a mistake. I decided to change the pattern from 'make one left or right' to a yarn over because I could not see the pattern well and lace-weight yarn is oh so fiddly. I am happy with my decision but the unknitting took forever! (well it felt like forever but maybe it was an hour...) I am on the border and that is so close to a finish! What are you working on this week?

 Good morning! How was your weekend? I'm sitting in my kitchen watching the sun try its best to shine among the clouds. Today is going to be a beautiful day and I am going to be outside in it. My weekend was great. I cannot believe its Holy Week already and yet I am ever so ready for Easter. I mailed the kids their packages last week and the only thing left to do this week is make a rice salad on Saturday for dinner at my sister's house on Sunday.  My wrists are greatly improved and my knitting is back as usual (with me being careful). I forgot about my wrists yesterday morning while plunging a plugged drain and irritated the right wrist. Lesson has been learned!! Besides going to Mass on Sunday, nothing exciting happened which is the way I love my weekends.

  Good morning! How are you doing? Life has been quite nice around here.  First of all, thank you for the well wishes, they worked! I am gingerly knitting and have minimal wrist pain. Slow and steady wins the race, so they say. I am learning to have patience. Yesterday, my husband and I went to the science museum early in the morning to see the titanic exhibit. The exhibit was nice and informative but the crowd was not nice. I am not a fan of crowds and I especially do not like being near people who are sneezing (and NOT covering their mouths....). Goodness! We toured the exhibit and quickly left. The science museum is our least favorite because of this reason. I did not have the patience I clearly needed. Once we were home, I snuggled with Frodo and did a few rows of knitting. I also enjoyed reading my book. I am on the 13th book (out of 15) of the Ruth Galloway mysteries by Elly Griffiths. I read number 14 first over a year ago and will probably read it again before the last book, ju

  My knitting news is minimal! The arthritis flare in my wrists has greatly improved but it's because I've significantly decreased the amount of time I've been knitting. I started these pair of socks over the weekend but then switched my limited knitting attention to some simple dishcloths for Easter gifts. I keep my knitting time to about one hour a day, sometimes a little more with lots of stretches and breaks. I am grateful that I am getting better each and every single day! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you all doing? I finished the socks on Monday night and already started another pair of socks the same evening. He is proudly wearing these socks which makes me happy. I do not know how much knitting I will be getting done because I'm in the middle of an arthritis flare in my wrists. I wish I could be patient but alas, I am not.  I'm doing my best to knit briefly and then take a rest.  What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How was your weekend? On Saturday morning, I had a sister outing that was so much fun. We went to various stores then ended up with a smoothie and yarn shopping. That is the perfect outing. I bought three more skeins of sock wool for my husband. I completely forgot about shopping for myself.  Later that evening, my sister and brother in law came over for dinner and game night. It seems that game nights are seldom since our schedules are busy. I'm glad we squeezed one in before my sister's second grandson is born this month. We are all excited about a new baby! I worked more on the second sock, I haven't bought any new knitting needles yet. I'm still thinking about it. I am resting and stretching my wrists and avoiding the marathon knitting that I can easily do.  On Sunday, we had the craziest weather. It was snowing so much that you could not see across the road at times and yet the snow would melt, well mostly melt. Frodo and I were not happy about how

  Along with sock knitting mania comes some lovely time sitting and enjoying the afternoons. I didn't have classroom classes this week but still had Tai Chi. Next week we have a break from all classes then I start back up the following week for the second half of the spring semester. One of the best decisions I've ever made is doing these classes. I've met lovely people and I do enjoy absorbing knowledge. Spring is in full force here. The birds are singing away and this weekend the clocks go forward one hour. My body has already done the time change, I've been getting up at 4:30 a.m. like a crazy person. I just go with it. Frodo is ready to go to bed at 7:30 p.m. at night. Holly doesn't do time changes, I guess. I'm on the second sock and of course with my sock knitting mania I have some wrist pain from my arthritis condition. I guess I have to ease up a bit? Double pointed needles have that way about them for me, and I am going to look into flexi-flips and see

  Good morning! I have been focusing on these socks because we have a 'hand-knitted sock crisis' going on in this house. I threw away another pair of my husband's socks. They were threadbare! What is going on here? What forces are descending on this humble home? My husband has four pairs left in his drawer. Can I darn the worn out socks? No, I cannot - the holes are over an inch big at the soles where he wears them out. And so my knitting epiphany is to always have a pair of socks on the needles from here on out. I really do not want deadlines (I'm still recovering from the blanket deadline I created for myself) so I'm just going to have a pair on the needles. Slow and steady wins the race! (as a side note, I am thrilled he wears my socks threadbare and loves them so much, what a knit worthy person!!) What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How was your weekend? My weekend was swell, we celebrated my husband's birthday all weekend long. On Saturday, we did a few errands, stopped at the local library for a look-see, then dropped into Whole Foods for some special cupcakes. Later in the evening we ordered pizza.  On Sunday we continued celebrating and eating those cupcakes but thankfully they are gone today. Phew! We talked to our kids and some family members who called to say 'Happy Birthday'. I haven't been knitting much but I am knitting and enjoying my projects. Below is the colorful shawl, I'm making steady progress and love how each row gets longer and longer. 

  Good morning! How are you on this first day of March? March!, can you believe it? Time just fly by sometimes and sometimes it moves at a snail's pace. I love winter but I have to confess, I'm excited about spring jacket wearing weather.  With a new season so close to arriving, I'm thinking of goals. Personal goals, menu planning goals and what I want to focus on.  Whenever the summer schedule is released at school, I might do more exercise classes, maybe. I enjoy Tai Chi so much, maybe I would like the others and the only way to know is to try one out. What I choose depends on what class it is and when it is offered. I try to bundle my classes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I like Thursdays and Fridays free for my regular life and other commitments. My knitting goals are to not have knitting goals. I am thoroughly enjoying my free and easy knitting time. Below is a shawl I started early in January. After a month long break from it, I have returned to leisurely knit

  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 all?  I finished the baby cardigan for my great grand nephew before the weekend even started (yay!). I love the the finished project, love the neutral color, but didn't care for the yarn. I did knit at a tight gauge which made the hand pain worse, completely my fault. I have found over the years that I prefer to knit with wool or washable wool for optimal knitting joy.  What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you? The sun has been shining for most of the week. Frodo and I walked and soaked up the sunbeams. I am amazed at the instant mood lifter a bit of sunshine can do after weeks of cloudy days. We are heading back into some rain and clouds but that's okay for now. I am so close to finishing the baby sweater, I have less than eight rows to go. I will be glad when that is off my needles and I can work on the baby blanket once more. The acrylic yarn is beating up my hands (not too badly but I don't like working with it). Every day the past week, I was either attending classes or attending routine appointments. I am looking forward to next week where my schedule will be relaxed. Now of course with a relaxed schedule, I'll squander the extra time!  Have a wonderful weekend!

  Good morning!  Once again, here I am giving you a weekly update on my knitting. This week I'm busy with my classes and various appointments, so I'm knitting a little less. I've been working on this baby sweater in the evenings trying to finish it by the weekend. This is a doable goal!  Since returning home from our weekend trip to Indiana, I haven't touched the baby blanket  because the baby sweater has to be completed and wrapped for a baby shower next weekend while the blanket has an open-ended deadline. 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!!