Pumpkin Sunrise

Over the weekend, I finished this delightful shawl, then came the job of waiting for a semi nice day to take photos.  These cloudy days are a challenge since my house is on the dark side.  Yesterday, I went outside for a few shots - the first of the season. I'm please with how this shawl turned out.  The surf shawl  is a fun pattern that has some memorizable repeats. A great pattern for an intermediate to advanced knitter who is knowledgeable in chart reading.  The pattern is in three sizes for versatility of yardage needs (mine is large). Lately, I gravitate to shawls that are knit from tip to tip instead of the traditional top down triangle shape increasing from the middle.  The tip to tip design adds a bit of excitement to the knitting.  Also the shawl tends to be shallow in depth and easier to wear wrapped around my neck like a scarf. I received the artyarns milano fade kit  as Christmas gift (yay!).  I loved the sheen of the wool and the beautiful hand while

the beginnings of the whiteout shawl  Hello!  Would you believe that I'm sitting here with the heat on (but it's not turning on because of the in between weather) and I'm wearing two sweatshirts.  The weather people got the forecast all wrong. spindrift shawl  Saturday was glorious - truly a picture perfect day.  The sun was out along with a gentle breeze.  I sat outside on the swing reading my book enjoying the day.  When the weather is perfect like that, Frodo doesn't want to come inside.  He sits facing the breeze, occasionally sniffing the air.  I guess I was doing the same. Yesterday, I started the whiteout shawl early in the morning.  I was delighted the directions are easy for me and memorizable.  Score! Now I'm back to having three projects on the needles - the maximum amount for me.  I am tempted to add one more project that was just released though, I'm in the thinking stages. My weekend: - drizzle and rain - mushroom and black ol

My yarn order arrived yesterday from Eat Sleep Knit  - the best kind of mail ever.  I ordered silky alpaca and for my next knit, Whiteout .  Depending on my babysitting hours today, I hope to cast on. How has your week been? The daisies are blooming along my roadside walks and they're delightful.  I remember making daisy crowns as a child and wearing them all over the place.  Also, as children we had a great digging spot for creativity under a large white pine at our grandparent's summer cottage.  I would make mud pies, adorned with daisies, dandelions and various stones from the graveled road. My gram was skilled at making all four of us children feel special without playing the favorite game.  She would 'taste' each mud pie slice and give each child a prize.  Best texture, best flavor, best decorated.  Everyone was a winner. As I walk with Frodo, I can crisply remember the sun on my shoulders in the early days of June during childhood.  The humidity

I give you "the perfect sweater".  That is my name for this delightful cardigan that fits perfectly for me.  I can easily wear a long sleeve shirt under this in the winter and be comfortable.  The secret sauce is the superwash wool that gives a little when you block the sweater. Even though it's late spring, I've worn this. Oh and I cast on another one in a pretty light green-blue wool (mad tosh again). Do you like the photos?  This is me in the kitchen with a camera on timer mode.  Sometimes you have to do all the jobs around here.  Oh how I wish you could see this sweater in person.  I'd have you come over for some tea and knitting on the back patio. We could listen to the birds sing and talk knitting, wouldn't that be fun? Ravelry notes are here tapered shaping at the waist slight curved edge at the neckline

Happy Memorial Day!  Today we had lots of chicken and vegetables on the grill and it was fabulous.  There was corn on the cob too - that is what makes it a summertime celebration.  My friend came over earlier in the afternoon and we sat and knit outside by the pool while Frodo tried his best to put his frisbee into the pool. Oh yeah, hey - the pool liner did have a leak and some young pool guy donned on a wet suit, went into our pool that is about 50 degrees and fixed it for us.  Now to put in six inches of water...slowly since we have well water.  We run the water hose for one hour three times a day. Yesterday, my husband and I went to garage sales, driving on back roads we've never been on.  I saw some beautiful houses, lovely gardens and enjoyed being out in the fresh air.  I found tons of yarn at one house for only $8 (well worth around $100).  That was quite the find!  There's a photo of it on my instagram  account if you want to see it. We've got some m

Today is beautiful, the sun has returned once again and I opened the kitchen window to let in some fresh air.  I don't mind rainy days if they lead to sunny days.  This week was quite nice, Frodo spent oodles of time outside sitting in the sun. The above sweater is soaking waiting for me to block it out.  I'm excited to see how it looks when it drys.  I'm down to two projects on the needles.  I guess I'll be starting a new project shortly, I've had my eye on a few shawls on Ravelry. Our son passed his qualifying exams and his applied test portion was "best in show".  He was pleased since he thought he did a thorough complete explanation.  So, over the summer he'll be working as a research assistant and won't have to retake anything in August.  Phew! Of course some presents to celebrate are in order, but I cannot say what since I don't know if he reads this blog or not... I'm on the second to last blurry crossword puzzle.  M

This past week, I was a teeny tiny bit worried I would not have enough yarn for the cardigan .  Every time I picked it up to knit, I imagined how I would solve my problem.  If I had a problem.  Would I shorten the sleeves?  Buy more yarn?  Would the yarn match? I did take out two inches from the first sleeve but really I didn't have to do that.  I had enough yarn, barely.  I might have 3-5 yards left over!  So all those imagination scenarios were unnecessary.  However, I do like how as knitters, we have ways of solving the yarn shortage problem. Today, I'll sew some buttons on and take more photos.  Right now I'm breathing a sigh of relief! The sun is trying desperately to shine while those pesky clouds try to stop those glorious sunbeams.  I am putting my bets on the sun winning over. I hope I am right :)

Hello!  How was your weekend?  Did you have a massive heat wave only to have the weather change abruptly to some chilly temps.  I've been switching the house from heat - AC - heat -  AC.  Crazy but true. I had a delightful weekend and truthfully, it's still going strong.  Our son is still here, he leaves tomorrow morning.  On Friday we did some serious clothes shopping and I picked up a few more tees and a couple of capri pants (so comfy and so forgiving).   I happened to also be in two (TWO) bicycle shops and the key to not being bored out of my mind is to have a novel. I finished my book, The Handmaid's Tale, and I highly recommend it.  Sure, it's thought provoking just like 1984 by George Orwell but in a good kind of way (if there is a good way??).  I thought about how would I survive, would I resist or would I submit?  I'm kind of wimpy so I think I would just do what I had to do to survive.  Maybe I'd be friends with the resistance and wistfully wish

morning sunbeams Good morning!  The sun is shining today and it is a glorious day.  We had quite the mini heat wave since Wednesday and while I did walk the first day, poor Frodo thought it was too hot for him.  So yesterday we stayed inside.  I guess since he is approaching eight years old, he has his limits.  I'm not a huge fan of heat waves so any excuse to sit inside and knit is fine by me. For a mini health update, I am excited to tell you that I resumed my morning yoga routine and so far I've had no back issues.  Thanks to the awesome physical therapist that gave me a take home back exercising program that I've faithfully completed for the past month.  I feel stronger and much better.  The yoga routine for now is gentle stretching and I'm extremely careful about being aware of my posture at all times. I've missed doing yoga, for me it's a great stress releaser and it's one of the few areas of exercise that I feel empowered even with my RA limi

Yesterday, I officially started knitting for Christmas.  Seriously - I did!  I wanted to knit an asymmetrical shawl but I knew my intended recipient would love a crescent shaped shawl better.  I believe Curious Handmade is spectacular at designing this shawl shape.  I dug deep into my stash and unearthed a cotton yarn that will be lovely to wear in transitional weather. I'm still toodling along with my surf shawl , this is such a comforting knit.  I might just keep going to make it as big as possible.  I'm still thinking about the mathematical consequences if I do that and will I need to rejigger the pattern.  Oh the thinking I'll be doing. A sleeve!!!  Isn't is sweet :)  I worked on this last night and have merely an inch to go on the cuff.  Boom, ready for the second sleeve, as quick as you blink.  Sleeves and button bands are simply the best part of knitting a cardigan .  Closer and closer I'm getting to finishing my sweater and wearing it.