This Moment

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Finds

While my husband and I were out and about over the weekend, I stumbled across this fabulous find.  A HUGE bread box.  The very best part was the price---three dollars!!  Can you believe it??  I know, I think they mispriced the item.  I've seen less desirable bread boxes for $20.

I washed it with just dish detergent and let it air dry.  So of course I'm not going to keep bread in it, that's just silly.  I thought it would make an excellent candy box.  (candy is a staple in this house, just one piece with put a smile on anyone's face).

Once I brought it home, I then had to think of where to put it in the kitchen because it really is large.  I rearranged the cook book nook to make room for the box.  Lovely!

What have you found on your outings?

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Yarn Along

See that?  Yep, there is some sparkle in those socks.  Sometime last year I was shopping at a yarn store with my daughter and she picked out this yarn for socks.  It is definitely not something I would pick out.  However, I have to admit it is fun to be knitting with socks that twinkle-and the striping pattern is way better than I thought it would ever be.  Ravelry notes are here.  My other knitting project is the hawthorne sweater which I started in January.  I want it out of my project bag.  I am nearly done with the body of the sweater then it's on to sleeves!!  As I knit this I pretend I am knitting something for spring...Oh and I finished my Destiny shawl, maybe a big winter storm will arrive and I will wear it?  Well there is next year, I suppose.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is my current read and it is surprisingly good.  It is not your average romance novel.  There are many subplots that keep me wanting to read more about the village that he lives in.  The first couple of chapters were slow going.  But now that I'm about half way through, I like the main characters and want to know what happens.  Always a promising sign to a good book.

What are you reading and knitting?

Joining Ginny

Destiny Shawl Complete

Saturday night, I casted off over 400 stitches, phew!  I started to time it but then forgot to check my finish time....oh well.  Trust me it was quite a while.  I am sure you recall this is the Color Affliction Shawl.  It is a fantastic knit.  The construction is all garter stitch with increases occurring at each end.  Also the designer throws in some short row shaping.

It is the short row shaping, garter stitch and three different colors that make this project FUN.  I have a deep appreciation for garter stitch.  In my youth it was the ugly stitch. Not any more, it is classy and completely under appreciated.

I used finch yarn made by Quince and Co, which by the way has incredible customer service. I received the yarn quickly and it was wrapped in tissue paper-love that! Finch is fingering weight and has a slightly higher twist than my usual array of yarns.  It has a wonderful springiness when knitting.  I love the way the color is slightly muted.  I wish I could buy all of their yarn just to see all of the colors in person.

Sunday morning before church I soaked the shawl in wool wash (everyone should do this!) I did not block the daylights out of it.  I gently shaped it on the floor without pins.  I mainly wanted the edges to lay flat but keep my garter stitch ridges.

And since I wear my shawls like scarves the above photo is how I will probably wear it.

Weekends

sunrise

This weekend was one of the best for no particular reason.

Friday, I waited for my husband to get out of work early so we could go to the library and then pick up some Chinese food, which was beyond delicious!  I also borrowed more books than I can read in my allotted time.  That's okay, I like to stretch myself. I can renew at least once :)

Saturday we had a lazy morning, I sat and read.  I am amazed that my reading comprehension improves significantly when I am awake.  Why oh why do I not do it more often?  This week I am trying to read every morning because it's good.  There was some thrift stores visited but I'm saving that news for Thursday-gotta keep everyone in suspense.

Saturday evening we made homemade pizzas that were delicious.  dough, sauce.....mmmmmmm, I always have mushrooms and olives.  Then we watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan-Fabulous!!!   My favorite quote by Kahn "He tasks me. He tasks me and I shall have him". Spoken like a true crazy person. I have a soft spot for the underdog.  It's kind of sad to see him lose, he was so confident he'd win.

Even though I enjoyed the summer-like weather the past couple of days,  I was thrilled to turn off the AC yesterday and get back to spring.  All of the bushes have sprouted new leaves up our road.  I am quite confident they are at least one month early.  Crazy weather!

How was your weekend?

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This Moment

(Frodo wishes you a wonderful weekend!)

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Finds

Today I am flashing back to the late eighties....I hope I'm not dating myself.  My husband and I used to live in Ohio, which by the way, has fantastic flea markets!  We would always go on a Saturday and spend many hours walking around.  In the building were the "regulars" and their stuff never changed much.

But outside!!  Outside was just like a garage sale all in one big opened field!  On a sunny day, you could lose yourself browsing.  My husband was always on the look out for vinyl records.  I was just looking.  I had nothing in particular in my mind.

These spice shakers were discovered by me for a whole $3 dollars :D  That is including the little shelf they sit on.  I have hung them in my kitchen in six different homes (we moved around a lot back then).

And that completes my flashback to the eighties....

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Yarn Along

I am sure the first thing you noticed is that I am reading a different book.  Yes, I finished The House at Riverton and once again Morton wrote a brilliant novel.  It was even her first novel.  She has a talent of weaving a tale and carrying the reader along with interest.  What sets her apart is she has some incredible twist to the story line and the ending leaves you shocked, sad and blown away.  Yep.  It's a good book.

I started to read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and it's too early to tell whether I like it or not.  So stay tuned in for next week's yarn along.  I'm confident I'll still be reading the book since I read at a snail's pace.

My cowl is complete and I'm thrilled with the results.  It's my own design and if you like, you can print out the pattern from my blog.  I'm continuing to love and savor the destiny shawl.  The pattern is so much fun to knit---and it's garter stitch!  Who knew different colors of garter stitch could be so entertaining?  On the left is some left over Ultra Alpaca that I've cast on for a hat.  I know I don't have enough yarn so I'll be striping with another yarn.  I'm thinking another purple right now but I might change my mind.

So far this spring season is a little crazy.  We turned the AC on last night.  I was just too hot and today it's supposed to be almost 80 degrees!

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Cinder Block Cowl

I finished this little cowl a couple of days ago.  After soaking I have been very impatient for its photo session.  The cowl took forever to air dry.  Well forever for me.

I loved knitting with Blue Sky Alpaca, it was soft and squishy!  The cowl knitted up quickly since it was on size eight needles, instant gratification-what could be better?

As a treat, I have made this pattern available for free to all of you lovely readers.

Weekends

This weekend was filled with:

-shopping again for the other child
-daily walks on the dirt road, enjoying the signs of spring
-making lists for me
-making lists for my son-"stuff" he needs to get done once back on campus
-bringing out my spring decorations.  (love my mom's salt and pepper chick set!)
-a new banner because Laura Emily mentioned it would indicate spring :)
-saying goodbye to two back to back spring breaks. I had fun but let's bring one the mundane
-almost finishing my book
-windows opened and fresh air pouring in

How was your weekend?

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This Moment

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Finds

See that pile of books?  That is what I found at the recycling center.  Yep.  People throw out just about anything.  The top four books are children's easy reader books.  The latin book I snagged for my daughter who loves languages.  Lady Cordelia is having a link up about thrifty finds on Thursdays.

The trivial pursuit game we bought at a thrift store.  We played last night just the three of us and boy is it ever hard!  And dated.....one answer was West Berlin-not there anymore!  It's still a fun game, I can't decide if I feel really smart when I know an answer or really uneducated when I haven't a clue.

I found this lovely weed in the yard and took a blurry photo of it.  Not on purpose of course, it's just how I thought it was in focus.

Sunshine through my new and improved fence that so far has kept Frodo from escaping.  Frodo is still up to getting into mischief.  Yesterday was so warm that the snakes were out.  We have many garter snakes in the back yard.  He chased one onto the pool cover and barked at it mercilessly.  Poor poor snake.  My husband rescued him (the snake not Frodo) and placed him near the woods.

Well lookie here.....it's parsley that has made it through a winter season!!  I do not believe it ever became cold enough to freeze over.  Love that green color!!

This is my heather plant in the front yard.  It has been in bloom throughout the winter.  Crazy, huh?  I love the purple against the dark green!

Yarn Along

My color affliction shawl is progressing steadily.  I can see why everyone has this as their project on ravelry because it's addictive and fun.  Who knew that knitting garter stitch in different colors could be so entertaining?  I am on the third section that adds the third color and the short row shaping.  I can easily knit this and mulit-task.  I am already dreaming of other color combos.  Now that I have the pattern and have knit it once, I have an idea of how much yarn is needed for each section so maybe I'll be using up some odds and ends?

My other project is the cowl that is of my very own design.  Since last week, I had to rip it all out and start all over.  I just wasn't very happy with it.  I think I'm on the right track now.  Yesterday I was just wondering if I have enough yarn to do enough repeats......oh well.  I don't mind ripping out again if it doesn't work out.  The weather around here is NOT cowl weather so there's no rush in knitting it up.

As I mentioned last week, the reading is very very minimal.  My daughter was home for spring break last week and now my son is home this week.  Oh and this time change has been brutal for me!  So when I read in bed, I end up sleeping in bed with a book.  Anyways, I'm reading The House at Riverton by Kate Morton.  I just love how she weaves a story together and I also enjoy how she jumps from different time periods.


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Random Thoughts

The above photo is located in the corner of my kitchen.  My sister gave me the chickens.  These chickens are special because I do not have to feed them or clean up after them, ha ha.  The little table and stool/chair were made by my father-in-law when our daughter was about a two years old.  At the time, it was the perfect size for a tiny child.  She used to sit and eat her breakfast while watching Sesame Street (free babysitter).  I would blitz through the house like a mad woman trying to clean as much as possible.  If I completed all of my morning tasks, I would be able to knit during her nap or playtime. This excellent cleaning strategy never worked with my son.

Yesterday was such a lovely day outside.  On my walk with Frodo, I soaked in the bit of sun that peaked out and took pleasure in knowing that spring is here and winter has gone (sigh).  Maybe next year we will have snowfall?  I have given up for this year-it's just too warm.  My goal this spring is to be outside- weather permitting-every day before the heat waves start.  Then I will be hibernating again.

Today I'm going to recycle and while I am there, I'll be "thrifting" for some books.  The recycling center has a huge bin of hard and soft covered books.  I find it amazing what people will throw out.  Especially classic books! Once finished, I'll be making the rounds at the thrift stores.  I don't have anything in particular in mind.  Just a bit of aimless browsing before lunch.  

What are you going to do today?

Weekends

This weekend contained:

-our son arriving on Friday for his spring break just in time for a family dinner
-our daughter leaving today to go back to school
-the piano being played after a very long time of silence.  Funny when it is played constantly with the same songs over and over it can become repetitive.  But after weeks of no kids being home, hearing it being played was kind of nice.
-being unable to tell you what music that they played....The tunes sound very familiar but the titles completely escape me.
-endless hours (I am not exaggerating) trying to plan a family vacation-I am very very close but I doubt any decisions will be made today.
-the time change!!!!  Wasn't it hard getting up today?  Gosh.  I am going to enjoy the daylight in the evening, but it's going to take me a whole week to adjust.
-walking with Frodo, my faithful companion
-knitting with friends :)

This Moment

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Pantina Shawl Complete

I finished this shawl over the past weekend and my daughter graciously modeled for a photo.  As you know, I love knitting with Madelinetosh yarn so it is no surprise that the shawl is oh so soft :)

The pattern was easy and interesting.  I think I prefer more lace in a shawl but this one was just fine.  I altered the edging increasing from knit front and back on every stitch to every other stitch.  I was afraid of running out of yarn so I had to conserve somewhere.

It's going to be 70 degrees today and that is not shawl wearing weather, is it?

Yarn Along

I've started two new knitting projects this past week.  The first one is the color affliction shawl and I posted yesterday all about it.  I am happy to report that I reached the short row section and have added the third color in the garter stitch knitting-yay!  I will definitely be making this shawl more than once.  It is very easy to knit and talk at the same time. The added bonus is I am not bored to tears with the garter stitch, my guess is the color changing makes it FUN.

My other knitting project is a cowl out of blue sky alpaca.  This pattern is my own creation and I'm not sure if I'm liking the amount of stitches I've casted on.  So, I will be deciding soon whether to keep on knitting or ripping out and casting on all over again.  It would greatly help if I knew for sure if I wanted to wrap the cowl twice around my neck or just once.  The yarn is heavenly to knit with.  Super soft and fluffy!

I continue to read The House at Riverton.  I suspect it will take me quite a while to read this book.  I am enjoying it immensely and the author is very gifted at unveiling a complicated story line with many twists.   I have my daughter home for spring break this week and next week my son will be off-I'm already a slow reader with an empty house so you can imagine that the book is just sitting there during their visits home.

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On My Needles

If this post in any way makes you buy some yarn or start a new project, then my work here is done.  I have been drooling over the Color Affliction shawl for about a week.  Okay, maybe more than a week.  I had a serious problem.  I wanted to make the shawl but did not have any yarn in my gigantic stash.  I know!  The horror!

Really and truly I did not want to buy more yarn.  I was faced with a serious problem. So I meditated about it and my solution was simple.  I needed to go yarn shopping.....again.

Lucky for me, I have been seeing many blogger buddies knitting with Quince and Co yarn. So that is where I started to look and that is where I purchased my yarn.  I have to say they were very speedy in processing and posting my order!  Makes me want to buy from them again.

My yarn arrived on Friday and I immediately casted on the project.......I've named the shawl "destiny".  Because it was meant to be.  (on a side note remember in Back to the Future when McFly says "Lorraine, my density has bought me to you."???? great movie moment)

Weekends

This weekend contained:

-dinner out for a celebration
-a birthday-my husband's- with a chocolate cake topped chocolate icing.
-accidentally icing the cake too early---oops!
-fixing the cake to the best of my ability--hence the coconut sprinkled to cover up the mess :)
-our daughter arriving home for a week
-lazy daisy days with walks and knitting and relaxing
-finishing a knitting project
-starting a knitting project
-wearing regular shoes instead of winter shoes---it's getting warmer!

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This Moment

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Random Thoughts

I am enjoying the very last bits of my rose.  As it started to wilt, I plucked each petal and decided to display them, hoping to lengthen their stay in my home. I am excited that my yarn order has already been shipped.  So I'm pretty sure I will be knitting like a mad woman to finish my current project.

I'm also thinking about socks.  Yep.  I need to cast some on and make some for my husband and for me.    I really should work on my alpaca sweater but it has been so mild and warm, I doubt I would wear it.  Technically it is not hibernating but my motivation is missing to work on it.

Tomorrow our daughter will be home.  My husband will drive to get her and of course they will go out for dinner.  It's a father-daughter tradition.  They both really enjoy spicy ethnic food.  Frodo and I will hang out here.  Maybe I'll make a "big" (non spicy) salad.  I would love to take a walk IF the rain stops.

Today I will menu plan for next week and sketch out what we are doing with the one week she is home.   Already there are some must do appointments, so around those musts we need to sprinkle fun activities.  Shopping will be one of them.  Maybe a lunch out?  Who knows!