Pumpkin Sunrise

  How are you! I'm doing pretty good. I've been enjoying the weather up until yesterday when we were hit with heat and humidity. I wilt completely. Sigh. I was enjoying my walks outside but now I will exercise in my art room instead. We attended our nephew's son's tee ball game, such delight! Little wigglers out in the field are adorable. Now for a mini health update  -- I had extensive heart and lung testing over the past few months, I'm hoping that's the end of it. My heart is completely fine! My lungs show so mild involvement of my autoimmune disease (Sjogren's Disease) which my inhalers are controlling . The pulmonologist believes my shortness of breath is due to neuromuscular weakness from the autoimmune disease and has started me on an immunosuppressant. I am now navigating the side effects and the timing of the medicine during my day. I am thankful the medical testing odyssey is over (hopefully). I am thankful for a doctor who has taken the time to fi...

  Good morning! How are you? I'm writing this early Sunday morning instead of early Monday morning, since tomorrow is really busy. Since I last posted, I have made significant progress on my shawl and hope to cast off today. Right now the sun is shining brightly which is nice considering they are calling for rain next week. In the above photo, my daughter, son in law and grandson sent me a 'just because' care package. I love it! I was so surprised when it arrived. They are excellent at knowing what I like but my daughter says I'm easy to buy for. Below is a photo of my early Mother's Day gift from my son, daughter in law and grandchildren. I cannot wait to do the puzzle and dive deep into writing answers about my life. How I wish there was something like that for my mom when she was alive. That would be a treasure.  My adult classes have ended before the summer session begins. I like having these breaks to catch up on other stuff that I neglect (dusting!).  What hav...

  Good morning to you! Spring has definitely sprung here. We had unusually warm weather yesterday and thankfully today will be back to regular cool weather. I don't like the hot weather but I do like the sunshine and the flowers blooming. My second session of adult learning classes started up last week, so I am busy driving to and from campus attending lectures and making new friends. Of course I continue to take Tai Chi, it's my favorite class. I don't like to cook, which is no surprise to you readers who have been here awhile. But I do like to make salads. I made the best one ever a few days ago that had lettuce, spinach, kale, parsley, red pepper, cucumber, mozzarella cheese and pepitas. Of course the shrimp too. It was delicious. I like to use a tiny bit of oil and vinegar as my dressing. I could eat salad for dinner every single day. I also did some knitting and reading over the weekend. And most importantly I started to do tiny sketches in hopes to rekindling my love ...

  Good morning! How are you? I'm doing okay. I have an early morning appointment with the ENT today. The week I do not have a doctor's appointment will be a miracle! However, I am grateful I like all of my doctors who help me out. This weekend was crazy weather! This tree that fell over into our neighbor's yard and knocked out their power is NOT our tree but is close to the property line and it did NOT knock our power out, thank God. On Friday evening our lights flickered so many times during a horrific wind storm. My husband and I ran around the house, filling water bottles (I like cold water) and charging our phones and flashlights. We were lucky and our electricity stayed on! My sister's did not and she lives very close to me. Yesterday after Mass, my daughter in law and the two grands came to stay at our house for a few days while my son is traveling for work. Party! The grands love having a sleep over here and we love helping out whenever we can. I knit very minima...

  Good morning! How are you doing today? I've been enjoying the spring time weather (it was a little too warm for me on Saturday, but it was nice enough). Thankfully we are not as warm today and therefore I am not as hot in my house. As you know, I love winter and I love to be cold. I do not like to be hot. My one lonely snowdrop is blooming. I guess when my husband redid the garden bed he disrupted the batch of them. Hopefully this one will multiply over the years. Also the crocuses!! Gah! I am so excited to see them as well. A true sign that spring is heading our way. On Saturday the kids and grandkids came over in the morning to visit and stay for lunch. We were outside sitting on the patio while the grandkids did outside chalk. We all had a really nice time together. On Sunday after church and lunch, my sister invited me to go with her to the local yarn store. I had no plans to buy anything. I came home with a new project bag! I haven't bought a new project bag in over 10 y...

  Good morning! How are you? Thank you so much for the health well wishes, they finally worked! I ended up calling the ENT on call Wednesday night because of the pain and happened to get my own ENT, what luck. She phoned in a high dose of prednisone (again) and double booked me an office visit on Thursday instead of Friday. Once I saw here she ordered antibiotics (again) and on Saturday night during my family party dinner I hosted at my house, I ate pain free after nearly 10 days of painful eating. It was glorious!!(I would not wish this on an enemy) I have another follow up with her on Wednesday morning, she is so very kind. Our daughter, son in law and youngest grandson are visiting over the weekend and unfortunately their flight was cancelled today to go back to Boston because of the blizzard warning. They are here until Wednesday. We have been soaking up a ton of family time together and the cousins are all seeing each other. I have done minimal knitting between not feeling wel...

  Good morning! How are you today? I am doing much better. I am on another round of antibiotics for a stubborn ear infection but I think this time it is really really working. My fingers are crossed. Let's just say, I'm not thinking about my ear and that is a very good sign. All week last week the daycare was closed due to frigid temperatures so we were the back up to the daycare. Saturday was still busy and we celebrated our grandson's fourth birthday (4!!!!) with family. We had fun seeing everyone, then went to Saturday night Mass. Yesterday was bliss. We stayed home the entire day. Besides doing laundry, I did some knitting and reading. My adult classes start up this week, I'm excited to get back into a learning groove. Also, the sun came out yesterday and we were in the double digits! It's funny when you think of 20 degrees as a heat wave. Since I am a winter lover, I am in my seasonal heaven.

  Good morning from a very snowy place! I love it so much, I know I am the odd one out but it's always a fun day when there's a snow day. Of course, it's fun as long as I have utilities. The whole town and near-by city shut down yesterday while the snow fell. Today I think there's one more inch to arrive then they will be clearing all the main and side roads. I did my laundry and chores yesterday then sat and started two knitting projects, a cowl and as hat both for me. The cowl yarn is a birthday gift from my sister back in November. The hat was an impulse yarn buy this weekend (why not!). My son asked me how much yarn do I have in my closet...um... a lot. This week is my last week off for winter break and my adult classes start up again next Monday. I am excited to get back into seeing my friends and of course learning new things.  How was your weekend? Did you get any snow? I hope all you all are safe and warm in your houses. 

  Good morning! How are you? Are you in the deep freeze like me? Today the temps will feel like 15 degrees below zero by the end of the day. That is quite cold! I like winter and I love snow but I am not a fan of extreme cold. Since posting last Wednesday, my symptoms yet again got worse and I ran a very high fever on Friday. I went to urgent care and was finally given antibiotics which I felt should have been given to me a week ago. Health care is completely nuts these days. However the nurse practitioner was wonderful. After 48 hours of modern medicine I am fever free and  I am starting to feel much better. My whole weekend was lying around wallowing in self pity (I always have enough energy for self pity). My cousins and Aunt gave me flowers which Holly wants to eat so badly. During the day they are on the mantle and at night they go into the stationary tub in the laundry room with the door closed. I don't think she can jump to the mantle but I know cats and they do crazy ...

  Good morning! How are you? I have had quite the week. I am battling RSV and it's quite nasty. So I've been sitting around and staring at this view most of my days coughing my head off. I've been reading a ton and knitting just as much. Sometimes I nap and that is nice. I've been to the doctor's twice and not much can be done, sigh. So stay safe and don't catch it!!

  Good morning! How are you doing? I'm good, all of our plans changed for the weekend and we had a ton of free time. I am not complaining at all. I have been knitting up a storm and doodling in journals. I love the lull of January. And even though you are supposed to leave all the Christmas decorations up until the Epiphany, I put everything away on New Year's Eve so I could wake up on January 1st with a tidy looking house.  I finished the Christmas Scarf and have tucked that away for next year. Also I started a sweater for myself! It is in fingering weight wool which is just crazy. I'm sure it will take forever to knit but for now I am thoroughly enjoying the project. And it's for me!

  Good morning! We have snow and it is beautiful but very very cold outside. I love it!! How are you doing? I am okay, I had another salivary gland infection over the weekend and am now slowly recovering with the help of modern medicine. I sure do hope 2026 is a healthier year for me. This year has been a difficult year all due to Sjogren's Disease, the gift that keeps on giving. I have a few new doctors and more treatments so I am hopeful I will be healthier. In the spring, my son and daughter in law gave me a Gilmore Girls themed jigsaw puzzle. I put it together in about four days with the help of my son and my husband. I do love a jigsaw puzzle but I don't like how obsessed I become to get it done and the hunched over stance I keep while doing it. I started a pair of mittens for my sister for her birthday in January. I've knit the pattern before so it's an oldie but a goodie. I love to knit the same things repeatedly. How was your weekend? Are you ready for the holid...

  Good morning! How are you doing?  I have been doing okay. I have autoimmune symptoms that I'm battling yet again but it could be worse. Now it's dry eye and dry mouth instead of breathing issues. I am suspecting my outside walking is making my symptoms flare up, sigh. I'm staying inside this week to see if it helps me out.  My adult learning classes ended over a week ago except for one more Tai Chi class this week. I have thoroughly been enjoying the break! My knitting has blossomed. I'm trying to finish the pair of socks for my husband this week. While also spontaneously starting a Christmas scarf out of wool I received from one of my knitting pals where I used to live. The mail I get from the three of them is wonderful!!  I have a mighty to do list from here on out until the holidays. I finished wrapping all the gifts now I'm down to some selfish knitting and some last minute knitting. I love it! How was your week? How are your holiday plans?

  Good morning! How are you? I celebrated another birthday and it was nice! Above is a photo of all the stuff I bought while in Boston at various bookstores. These are all for me, I didn't photo the gifts I bought for others. Whenever I'm in an independent bookstore I try my best to buy something in appreciation for the existence. Part of my birthday celebrations was to decorate the house. After 27 years we replaced one of the two Christmas trees we put up. Now I have an easy tree, it's three sections and then BOOM it's up. What a game changer for me. My only complaint about the new tree is that the branches are droopy and floppy so ornaments slide right off unless you precariously place and balance them. These are the 'hefty' ornaments. One of the neighborhood boys was selling homemade wreaths for the fundraiser for some sport, sadly my husband knows and I do not remember. However, the wreath is beautiful!! It's been two weeks since I started the second inh...

  Good morning from Cambridge Massachusetts!!  We are heading home after visiting our new baby grandson and witnessing his baptism. Immediate family from both sides gathered to celebrate. Of course I had the best time ever! I love the amount of independent bookstores here and managed to shop at four of them. I also love the paper and pen stores! I was in heaven!! I finished all the respiratory testing with the pulmonologist last week and had my follow up appointment. Overall I passed the tests. I’m doing a trial steroid inhaler for the next few months and taking a break from additional testing hoping this helps with my symptoms. I am beyond thrilled to not see a doctor for eight weeks! I’ve changed my rheumatologist and my pcp in the last few weeks to have fresh perspectives on my complicate autoimmune disease. I feel good about these changes. How have you been? What have you been up to? 

  Good morning! How are you doing these days? Around here, it's the same old stuff. I pick up the kids at daycare 2-3 times a week depending on the schedule. This week my adult classes start back up after a lovely one week break.  Thankfully we had some much needed rain yesterday and through the night. Also the temperature is reflecting October vibes, finally. I love to be cold. the rain and wind brought down tons of oak leaves! The awning on the back patio was taken down for the season.  Friday afternoon we went to the conservatory to see their fall flower show. I was excited to see my first turtle ever at their pond. Sometimes we see frogs, but never a turtle. He was sunbathing and wasn't thrilled we were walking by him/her. After the conservatory, we were supposed to go out for dinner but I was too tired to do so. We went home instead and had some soup. Yum! I am nearly done with the second Christmas stocking. I make two for each grandchild. One for their home and one ...

  Good morning! How are you doing? Even though I have lots more to knit for the holidays, I took a wonderful detour and decided to cast on a cowl for myself while on a car ride to visit my dad and my stepmom. I know, crazy! Hopefully I will update the ravelry page soon. The weather has been delightful and a big sigh of relief, I feel like I can breathe fresh clean air! I put the winter bedding on my bed. Below is a photo of some mums at my dad's house, they are so pretty! Autumn is my second favorite season, my first is winter.  The grandkids have been keeping me busy as always. Saturday was the last soccer practice which is nice now that the weather is getting chilly in the mornings. This week I only have one adult learning class because the rest of the week is a break between sessions. This gives me a chance to catch up on my reading. What have you been up to?

  Good morning! How are you?  Around here it's the same old happenings. I am completely over the summer weather and want the cold weather. My fingers are crossed the cold weather comes this week like it's supposed to arrive. Regardless of the temperatures, it looks like fall. I placed my winter bird feeder out and put the thistle feeder away. In less than an hour, woodpeckers and chickadees arrived! We bring in this bird feeder every single night because of our resident raccoon. The trick is to remember to bring it in at sunset. I've knitted each night this past week and finished one of the Christmas stockings for our new grandson, three weeks old already! I'm eager to meet him. I also started knitting star Christmas ornaments. I have to be careful with my hands and not create a flare up, so I only knit for an hour on this project. Holly loves to look outside and chirp at the chipmunks and birds. I wonder what she is thinking? I have a digital library book that is due i...

  Hello! How are you? I've had a 'busy' week and this week is another doozy. But I'm ready. I have a long list of to do's and I'm going to get them all done. Anyways, I met with a Pulmonologist last week and now I'm getting more testing done to see if the lovely autoimmune disorder is getting into mischief with my lungs (or is it asthma?). I won't know for two months since the various testing appointments are scattered throughout the eight weeks. Also I had my routine colonoscopy last week and since then I am eating everything in sight to make up for the fasting and prepping. All food is delicious now! Will it ever end??  Even though the outside looks like fall, the temperatures are still reflecting summer and I am so over it. I want to be cold. I want the heat on in the house and not the AC. Supposedly next week will be cooler, I cannot wait and I hope it doesn't change. I finished my grandson's sweater, yay. And I made a typo in my last post wh...