Pumpkin Sunrise

 Good morning! I hope you are doing well.  I wanted to let you know that my posting here on this space will be infrequent for the time being. My dad was admitted to ICU on Wednesday night for aspirated pneumonia and a small bowel obstruction. I've been visiting there one to two times a day. This schedule has become the new normal. We have high hopes he will be stable enough for surgery on Monday morning. Any and all prayers are graciously accepted. Anyways, I'm taking a pause here posting three times a week. I hope to post when I am able.  Thanks for reading and visiting!

  This week I've been focusing on two projects that are the only projects on the needles. I've been resisting the casting on urge (the struggle is real). The first photo is a pair of socks for my husband which I mainly work on during the evenings. Last night I turned the heel and picked up the gusset. It won't be long before these socks are done. Below is a photo of the shawl that I started last May?? I've been working on this during the day for an hour or so while I catch up listening to my audio podcasts that were backlogged to December. Who knows when this will be done but I am enjoying the simplicity of knitting and purling. The shawl looks underwhelming to me so far but I'm sure blocking the daylights out of it will make is sparkle and shine. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How was your weekend? We had a restive weekend and mostly stayed home. I did a lot of podcasting-listenting-catching up (not nearly done) and I did some knitting. I'm so happy that Frodo is slowly feeling better. I wish he could talk and give me explicit details of his ailments but I guess I have to use my observational skills. He is still restricted on his daily walks, I'm assuming that might be for a few weeks?  The birds are singing and the crocuses are blooming like it is Spring time. I am holding my breath for a major snow fall. We continue to have mild temperatures and sunshine! Yesterday was beautiful, we went for a walk at the local park after Mass (without Frodo, so sad).  I hope you have a wonderful week!

  How has your week been?  I'm excited to tell you all about the crocuses that are blooming while we had an unusual warm up that is ending today. My husband was working in our little woods and shared a photo with me. Then yesterday, I was in the front yard and spotted these crocuses blooming. I hope it isn't too early for them. Sadly where the snowdrops usually bloom, the deer have been nibbling on them.  Frodo has been having a rough week. We went on two walks last Sunday and he must have strained or did something to his back, that is the best guess we can get between our observations and conversations with the vet.  Monday morning, Miss Holly had a vet checkup and we expended all our energy catching her and putting her in her carrier that she detests. Well she detests being caught as well.  So while we were there we discussed her brother's ailments. So Frodo has been on 'bedrest' -- meaning no lengthy walks and has some pain medication. He is improving and for tha

  Earlier last week, I finished this Diversion scarf  and it took a while to dry since it's winter. I was finally able to take some photos and share them with you today. Remember when I said I would NOT buy any more yarn to finish the scarf? Well, I bought more gray yarn. A whole skein of sock yarn for 81 yards. I tried to make do with another color and I didn't like the way it looked at all.  I can easily use the rest of the gray yarn for other projects. Overall I'm pleased with the way this scarf turned out! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! Can you believe we had TWO sunny days in a row? What decadence. The sunshine felt so nice as we did our daily walks and it was equally nice to look out our windows to sunbeams. I'm not sure if it is early or not but our daffodils that speckle our woods are sprouting up with confidence.  How was your weekend?  Mine was great! I managed to do a lot of sketching and painting on Saturday, dare I admit that my creativity is back again? Yesterday after Mass I took a short walk and then later on in the afternoon we drove to the local park for yet another walk. Frodo loves walks and all the smells from other dogs leaving their calling cards. This week one of my goals is to finish reading Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Overall I'm not enjoying it that much. Maybe it's because it was written long ago and the writing style is completely different than modern times. I'm glad I am reading it but golly I'll be so glad when I read that last page. In other news, I t

  Yesterday my husband and I went to the art museum and wandered about because the weather was supposed to be rainy all day long. But it just so happened that it was a warm cloudy day that could have easily been spent at a local park with a light jacket. My predictions of the weather are only as reliable as the local weather forecast.  We had such a nice time! We finished the contemporary gallery where some of the art is a temporary exhibit. We also breezed through the impressionism area (our favorite).  Afterwards, we went to a restaurant for a pizza lunch then off to the main city library to peruse books. Once home we took Frodo on a quick walk thinking the rain was surely going to start but I don't think it ever did! Maybe it rained a bit while I was sleeping, I'm not really sure. The warm weather has ended and once again I'll be wearing a winter coat.

  When in doubt, cast on a sock . I am loving this repeating striping pattern!! I know I've mentioned before that I've thrown away 3-4 pairs of my husband's hand knitted socks this winter because of unrepairable holes. He came downstairs yesterday and said yet another pair were on the brink! There is a sock imp causing mischief in this house. My goal is always to have socks on the needles for him until I catch up with the destruction. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How was your weekend? Mine was eventful as opposed to uneventful. On Saturday my sister and I picked up some smoothies and went to a local yarn store. Of course I bought more yarn - life is short. However I am very specific in what I buy and have a plan for the yarn. In my younger years I bought yarn because I liked it but didn't have a plan for it. I'm trying to be mindful in my purchasing. Sunday we all went to the conservatory to see their Orchid show and soak in all the greenery during the February brown days. I loved it and it was toasty warm in the conservatory.  Sunday afternoon I did a bit of sketching and relaxed.  How was your weekend?

  Yesterday I had a creative burst of energy. Where did it come from? Who knows but I love when it happens and I gleefully go along with it. As I've mentioned before I've had ennui when it comes to watercoloring or sketching. I do a lot of thinking about it but not actually picking up my art supplies and doing it. At the end of January I contemplated about how I enjoy writing haikus and then painting something that pairs with the words. So February first I started that art challenge. Will I do it every single day? I cannot say but I was excited to get started. The notebook I'm using is one that my sister handmade for me as a Christmas present. Isn't it beautiful? The regular evening journal (there are many journals in my life) I've been decorating with the millions of stickers I've accumulated in the past few years. I vow to not buy anymore stickers then I buy more stickers. I could say the same for yarn as well. Speaking of yarn, tomorrow I'll be at a local

  Well here is a project that is a blast from the past. According to my notes, I started this shawl on May 26th last year. I have repeatedly pushed this project aside for more important knitting. Once my scarf is completed which will be within 48 hours, I am focusing on this shawl. Of course there will be some newly cast on projects as well, I am a knitter and that is what knitters do!!  What are you working on this week?