Pumpkin Sunrise

We visited our son over the weekend in State College.  He'll be applying for academic jobs during this fall for next fall if he lands a position.  Who knows where he will be (!!) so I'm taking advantage to his proximity to us while we can.  I dislike uncertainty and change with a passion, but if he is happy then I will be happy. I told him to accept the job that has the MOST yarn stores near him... I have priorities. On the drive in to seeing him I started these mitts in a size small, knitting about 2-3 inches then deciding that a large would be a better fit so I ripped all that out and casted on again.  I ended up changing my mind on the mitt pattern for this yarn because the previous pattern I selected did not have charts and there were a lot of words to read... Charts are the way to go for my brain, I glance and boom, I'm off and knitting! Yesterday I knitted with my friends and came home to a lovely home cooked curry dinner.  I love when my husband coo

I have to be honest with you, I've been on a knitting creativity surge.  For many months my knitting has been sparse, I'll blame it on the summer season.  In the summer I knit the least amount.  Maybe because I'm busy being outside, or maybe because knitting with wool isn't as much fun when I'm hot.  Or maybe there is no reason.  I'm learning that my creativity ebbs and flows.  I am floating at the edge of a wave enjoying where ever the wave takes me.  Right now, the knitting urge is rampant.  'Strike while the iron is hot' is my mentality. I've never been one to be upset when I start a bunch of projects.  How lovely to see an array of project choices when I sit down to knit.  My maximum amount of projects on the needles is five.  Over five and then the fun seems to end in my mind. I saw a lovely mitt pattern trending on Ravelry and quickly dug through my minimally processed, hand spun wools to make ME a pair of fingerless mitts.  The ea

oink oink  I am in love with the piggy mitts !  Who knew that knitting a teeny tiny mitten in the shape of a pig could give me endless joy.  I learn something new about myself every day.  These mitts were supposed to be a Christmas gift but I already gave them to her today.  Sadly, the toddler is a 2 year old and refused to put them on her hands when I gave them to her.  She did keep looking at them though.  I am sure when it's freezing cold outside, she will be wearing them faithfully.  Oh and I also found mitt clips on amazon so that they stay with her! oink oink I knit up this alpaca cowl using a pattern from my head, it's another Christmas gift.  For some reason, everyone is getting a cowl this year - and I have four more to make!  Gah! Do not be fooled - I love knitting cowls and I want to make one for me as well.  It's the perfect accessory for chilly weather. What are you crafting up today?

Around here the autumn colors are fading on the trees, most are bare except some lagging oak and maple trees.  In one day, my two oaks dropped a ton of leaves on the driveway - I love it.  We do not rake leaves here, the property is too big,  my husband rides the tractor and blows them into the woods as best as possible.  I've been diligently attacking a long list of tasks and errands this week.  So much so, I am feeling in control, confident and quite pleased with myself.  I don't know about you, but I try to do all the tasks in the morning if possible.  If I'm babysitting, I try to do a few after work on my way home.  Working a few days a week and going to the gym has made me more efficient.  Go figure!  I've hit the sweet spot of balancing my time.  Earlier this week, I celebrated my one year anniversary of going to the gym!  I remember clearly the anxiety and dread every time I went to my personal training session when I started and that dread lasted

This weekend was special because of the pesky time change.  I do love the time change that gives me an extra hour but I waste a ton of time thinking about what time it was yesterday compared to today.  Apparently. I've done the time change already since I've been getting up super early for no reason at all.  Phew! We stayed home this weekend and maximized the wonderfulness by doing nothing important.  Saturday was delightfully spent in my studio for many hours.  I organized knitting patterns in my binder.  I also assessed the fingering weight wool stash and moved many pens around.  I had a grand time in there and so did Holly.  The studio is also called her play room.  She sleeps in there during the day in baskets that are now empty of yarn.  I worked a bit on the cream cowl and prepared to start two knitting projects both for the babysitting toddler for her Christmas presents.  She loves Peppa Pig , so piggy mitts seem to be in order.  Also I'll be making th

My mitts, oh my - I do love them so.  That pop of hot pink brings me endless joy every single time I look at them.  I'm telling you, my knitting productivity is going at great speed making up for lost time in December. In December, I rescued a kitten and had family staying off and on for three weeks.  So all that knitting time lost in December was regained in January. One of the best reasons January exists, besides for welcoming in more daylight and sunshine, is to knit all the knits. The snowfling mitts are from a kit by Tanis Fiber Arts  that my husband ordered (well I ordered from him..) for Christmas.  The wools were delightful to knit with and the pattern was easy to follow for an intermediate knitter. Ravelry notes are here . PS:  See my cowl that I am wearing in the photos?  I wear this all the time, I can double or triple the wrap around my neck and I love it.  I am going to knit another one for me in the same fiber but a different color.  The patte

I am making great progress on the mitts !  I am confident that the first mitt will be finished today.  I have thoroughly enjoyed knitting this mitten kit up by Tanis Fiber Arts .  The perfect present for a knitter during these January days.  Guess what?  I'm on the second sleeve of my son in law's  sweater .  The second sleeve will go quicker because I've done it already.  Easy peasy.  Once this sleeve is done, I have the neckband to knit.  I'm confident that this will be done by mid February, if not sooner.  My knitting time has been reduced this week due to extra babysitting hours.  I find myself having difficulty transitioning from work to relaxation.  I'm wasting precious knitting time during the transition hours.  Also my reading time has been squashed as well.  This morning, I'm writing everything down on paper so I streamline my brain and focus on what I really want to do!  What are you working on this week?

My weekend was THE best weekend ever.  I sat and knitted away on all of my projects on the needles.  Honestly, it was soothing and calming, doctors should write prescriptions for this kind of wonderful mental medicine. Do you see that above photo?  That is Little Miss Holly seeking out Frodo under his ottoman.  Usually she is afraid of him and hissing at him (he is just existing...).  Last night, she crept up to the ottoman and ever so gently put her paw under the skirt.  In and then out, repeatedly.  Frodo was a saint but could only take so much out of the usually mean kitten, so he scurried away afraid!   Holly then crawled under the ottoman to check out his 'thoughtful spot'.  He does all of his great thinking under there. nearing the end of the first sleeve ! So I know you're thinking that all is well and Holly and Frodo are besties.  Nope.  Today, she was upstairs on the landing and I frightened her by going up the stairs.  She ran downstairs, sa

This week the weather finally gave me some serious snow fall.  Around six inches fell over Tuesday and Wednesday and disrupted many of my plans.  All the disruptions were welcomed because I was knitting instead.  See?  There's a benefit to snow, besides the beauty of white scenery and chilly wool wearing weather. The days are getting longer and January continues to be a quiet serene month for me, I am happy.  Yesterday, my babysitting time was cancelled and the gym was cancelled.  I sat and knit for a few hours on my second mitt.  My mantra was  'just one more row'.  One of the benefits of knitting for me is that while I am concentrating on the chart and all the knitting, my mind is empty of potential worries.  I never get tired of being grateful for the calming craft.  The rhythm of knitting empties my wrinkled thoughts and allows my mental vision to positive feelings. This week, I've been analyzing the grocery budget and tweaking it a bit.  I confess dur