Pumpkin Sunrise

How was your weekend?  Mine was a tad chilly - the temperatures dropped enough to turn on the heat.  Poor Frodo, he was groomed on Thursday and we switched to a 'summer' cut.  So yesterday was a trembling cold dog.  That wool blanket I knitted came in handy to make him toasty warm! Our daughter and son in law were visiting this weekend and we had fun.  We went out for dinner on Saturday night along with some quick runs into local stores. Yesterday on Mother's day we attended morning Mass.  Once home I made a brunch then said goodbye to our visitors as they headed back to Delaware.  The afternoon was quiet and I finished my sweater (hurray!!). It is finished finished.  The stray ends are woven in and buttons are sewn on.  I even soaked and blocked last night as well.  I was quite productive yesterday and hope to take some photos tomorrow once it dries. Miss Holly is getting braver and braver when it comes to people visiting for weekends.  The first 24 hours s

Only four more babysitting weeks!  I'm giddy just thinking about the two whole days I will be reclaiming as my own.  I do love to babysit the preschooler but...I do like having time as my own.  That's what makes a summer break so sweet.  I catch myself wondering how I will eke out the very best of those days.  I'd like to go to the gym five times a week instead of three, adding in some much needed treadmill time.  I'll have more time to read, knit, watercolor and squeeze in some day trips with my husband. My husband bought mulch and will be spreading it in our flower beds when it stops raining and he has the time.  This week not one day was good enough for mulching.  I cannot help because garden work flares my RA (yay!).  I never liked gardening so I'm not sad about the physical restriction. The residential deer have 'mowed' down our bushes so much that we are probably removing them this summer (we meaning him).  Any suggestions on what to plant th

Since my sweater is temporarily in time out due to yarn shortage (and the skein I ordered should be here on Thursday!).  I've been working diligently on my Holly Inspired Shawl in the evenings.  Believe me, it's getting bigger and I'm getting closer to the edging.  Now for the exciting news ( drumroll....) I started a hitchhiker !  So many of you are making beautiful Hitchhikers and I had to join the group.  I dove into deep deep stash and unearthed a skein of malabrigo sock yarn that will make a lovely shawl.  I think I might have 1/3 of a left over skein in the same dye lot somewhere as well to make the hitchhiker a bit bigger.  I haven't started looking yet. What are you working on this week?

Another weekend has come and gone once again.  This past weekend my favorite (only) sister and brother in law come for a visit.  We had great fun!  Friday night we had dinner at home then my sister and I went out to do a bit of shopping.  Once home we relaxed.  I did my knitting and she did her crocheting.  Saturday morning we all headed out for a neighboring town's street festival.  I found some gifts to give for family and enjoyed strolling about looking at the creative pursuits of other people.  There were quite a few wood turners, pottery, and jewelry.  We did not eat any of the food but headed back home for lunch. My sister and I spent the afternoon painting having the best time ever.  I am tentative and cautious in my watercoloring and she is bold and adventurous.  We made a big mess! The above picture is a collaborative effort.  She did the watercoloring and said it needed something, so I took a pen and inked away.  My sister gave me a wee little fram

I want to bottle up the beginnings of spring.  Every flower that blooms, the greenest grass ever and all the birds who are singing the mornings away.  Such sweetness!  Can you believe it's May already?  Golly time does fly by. I've had a countdown to when my babysitting job has a summer break.  I truly do not want to wish away a month or so, but then again, I'm excited to reclaim two days a week as my very own!  I have been spending tons of time daydreaming on how to use my summer break.  I'm tempted to make a detailed list of what I'd like to achieve during my free time as well.  The best part is thinking about thinking about it.  Do you know what I mean? The anticipation is nearly the best part of hopes and dreams.  It's like anticipating Christmas day, imagining everyone opening up their surprises, day dreaming about how decadent the day will unfold.  My summer break will be sweet regardless of a crafted detailed list. Five more weeks! My y

I grabbed some cotton kitchen yarn on my way out the door to babysitting and was delighted when the pops of color appeared when I started knitting.  You can never ever have too many dishcloths  if you ask me.  I picked up this skein at a Hobby Lobby when I was out and about with my sister over the Easter weekend.  I've never been in a Hobby Lobby and loved exploring, if I was feeling better, I probably would have spent way more money there. I know you all are asking, 'but Karen!  Where is your sweater?'.  The sweater is waiting for a skein of yarn to be delivered.  I'm kind of okay with the break from the sweater dilemma and the yarn shortage. I also added some inches to my Holly inspired shawl  at work as well. I started a new book a week or so ago, Summer at the Lake, so far I find the characters interesting and it's a slowly evolving romance but not overly romance.  My kindle book is Code Name Verity.  This is my treadmill book that entertains me.

Yesterday's sunrise was glorious!  I was lucky enough to have my phone with me to snap a photo to share the beauty.  Even though the weekend was 'brisk' (that word is being kind, the wind was brutal!) the vistas are screaming SPRING.  We drove to a neighboring town for a street festival and the rolling hills speckled with farms and houses was delightful. The street festival was too windy to really enjoy.  Vendors were trying to hold onto their gazebo tents and I was trying to keep my hood up and avoid the wind.  Also, there didn't seem to be as many vendors as last year.  We quickly walked about then had lunch at a restaurant to get warm. For months our house has been peaceful and quiet with Holly the cat and Frodo the dog minding their manners.  All of the sudden, both animals decided to switch it up.  Holly is out and Frodo is whining to chase her (or bark at her).  He barked quite a bit at her last night but when I looked at her she was sitting between the