Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning! We have snow and it is beautiful but very very cold outside. I love it!! How are you doing? I am okay, I had another salivary gland infection over the weekend and am now slowly recovering with the help of modern medicine. I sure do hope 2026 is a healthier year for me. This year has been a difficult year all due to Sjogren's Disease, the gift that keeps on giving. I have a few new doctors and more treatments so I am hopeful I will be healthier. In the spring, my son and daughter in law gave me a Gilmore Girls themed jigsaw puzzle. I put it together in about four days with the help of my son and my husband. I do love a jigsaw puzzle but I don't like how obsessed I become to get it done and the hunched over stance I keep while doing it. I started a pair of mittens for my sister for her birthday in January. I've knit the pattern before so it's an oldie but a goodie. I love to knit the same things repeatedly. How was your weekend? Are you ready for the holid...

  Good morning! How are you doing today? I finished the cowl!!! I loved this project and I really love how it blocked out. I like seeing the little butterflies. The bottom photo is the true color of the cowl, I have no idea what happened in the above photo, I'll blame it on winter lighting. I'm going to wear this cowl today! Thanks for the healthy well wishes in my last post. I had a video call with my ENT and I'm going to have a procedure (outpatient in hospital) on my salivary glands to dilate the ducts to hopefully improve the salivary flow and she will remove any stones along the way sometime in January. Today I see the eye doctor about the one contact lens clouding up, I believe it's a fitting issue but I'm not the expert. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you doing?  I have been doing okay. I have autoimmune symptoms that I'm battling yet again but it could be worse. Now it's dry eye and dry mouth instead of breathing issues. I am suspecting my outside walking is making my symptoms flare up, sigh. I'm staying inside this week to see if it helps me out.  My adult learning classes ended over a week ago except for one more Tai Chi class this week. I have thoroughly been enjoying the break! My knitting has blossomed. I'm trying to finish the pair of socks for my husband this week. While also spontaneously starting a Christmas scarf out of wool I received from one of my knitting pals where I used to live. The mail I get from the three of them is wonderful!!  I have a mighty to do list from here on out until the holidays. I finished wrapping all the gifts now I'm down to some selfish knitting and some last minute knitting. I love it! How was your week? How are your holiday plans?

  How are you doing? I am speedily knitting my cowl trying to finish it this week. I have less than 10 rows to go!! I hope the blocking shows the 'butterfly stitch'. I also hope I like the length and width when I am wearing it. I usually knit with fingering weight wool for around my neck. I believe this is dk weight (I can't remember!).  Also on the needles is the languishing pair of socks for my husband. I really want to put these in his Christmas stocking. I love that I can knit socks for him, in front of him and he hasn't a clue they are for him. Oblivious. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you doing? How was your week? I am knee deep in holiday preparations. I have a daily list that I refer to so I can get things done without feeling stressed out at the last minute. My memory isn't that great so I love that I write down what is on my mind, because I frequently forget! My sister and I went yarn shopping on Saturday for my belated birthday outing. It was so much fun!! I can't show you most of what I bought because Santa has already whisked it away and wrapped it up for Christmas day. I have high hopes of casting on a sweater December 25th. Above are the yarns my sister picked out for another pair of lined mittens for her birthday in January. I have a few projects to finish before I start them but I did enjoy balling up the yarn! Can you believe it's December?

  Good morning! How are you doing? I did it! I finished the two hats for the local grands and have completed my Holiday knitting (except for socks for my husband but that doesn't count). Because the hats were knit on size seven needles, I knit these up quite speedily. I have a feeling they might be a bit too big but I'd rather have that than too small. Children do grow! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you? I celebrated another birthday and it was nice! Above is a photo of all the stuff I bought while in Boston at various bookstores. These are all for me, I didn't photo the gifts I bought for others. Whenever I'm in an independent bookstore I try my best to buy something in appreciation for the existence. Part of my birthday celebrations was to decorate the house. After 27 years we replaced one of the two Christmas trees we put up. Now I have an easy tree, it's three sections and then BOOM it's up. What a game changer for me. My only complaint about the new tree is that the branches are droopy and floppy so ornaments slide right off unless you precariously place and balance them. These are the 'hefty' ornaments. One of the neighborhood boys was selling homemade wreaths for the fundraiser for some sport, sadly my husband knows and I do not remember. However, the wreath is beautiful!! It's been two weeks since I started the second inh...

  Good morning! How are you doing? Sorry for the slightly blurry photo, the popcorn is in focus though... Here's the hat I started for the oldest grandson. I am so close to the crown shaping. I found another purl soho pattern to knit up, they have some great free patterns!! I really didn't knit while I was in Boston, however, last night I sat and worked on the hat. I was thrilled to be back to my regular routines. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning from Cambridge Massachusetts!!  We are heading home after visiting our new baby grandson and witnessing his baptism. Immediate family from both sides gathered to celebrate. Of course I had the best time ever! I love the amount of independent bookstores here and managed to shop at four of them. I also love the paper and pen stores! I was in heaven!! I finished all the respiratory testing with the pulmonologist last week and had my follow up appointment. Overall I passed the tests. I’m doing a trial steroid inhaler for the next few months and taking a break from additional testing hoping this helps with my symptoms. I am beyond thrilled to not see a doctor for eight weeks! I’ve changed my rheumatologist and my pcp in the last few weeks to have fresh perspectives on my complicate autoimmune disease. I feel good about these changes. How have you been? What have you been up to? 

  Good morning! How are you? I'm so excited to share these WEE little socks  that I worked on this past week.  My daughter requested some newborn socks because our little grandson can kick all the store bought ones off. I used deep leftover sock yarn stash and had a blast knitting them up. I used size 2 needles instead of size 1 and therefore knit a little less length in the cuff and the foot, doing my guestimating. I think they turned out so nice. What are you working on this week? What are you working on this week?

  Hello! How are you doing?  Well now, I've been under the weather with a rotten virus most of this past week, but yesterday morning I went to urgent care and now with modern medicine I am starting to feel better. 2025 is not the year of great health for me but I am confident that 2026 will be new and improved. I've changed two doctors also added a new specialist and feel like we will get to the bottom of my medical woes. Even though I felt crummy I still was busy! We went to the local park with the grands. The colors of fall have been beautiful this week, I love them so much!! I did take some short slow walks and enjoyed the foliage. Can you believe we are almost through mid November. Time flies. We have been very busy with the grandkids this past week due to scheduling issues with the parents, we are always happy to help them out. I did make one more hat for the new grandson, photo below, but I'll just add that photo to the existing project page. I thoroughly enjoyed knit...

  Good morning! How are you doing and what have you been working on this week? I finished two baby hats for the newborn. The top photo is a newborn size and the bottom photo is a 3-6 month size. I plan to make another one in the larger size after I finish knitting little baby socks.  I used left over super wash dk weight yarn from deep stash. I love when I have the wool available to knit up little gifts. Also I enjoy striping the scrap yarns, yarn doodling is joyful! The pattern was quite easy however, I didn't like the rolled edge from the first hat (a personal preference) so I switched to a little ribbing edge and it still rolls however it will not roll once it is on a little head.

  Good morning! How are you?  Well we had the time change this weekend, the nights are super cosy now. I love it. I get so much more knitting done in the fall and winter compared to spring and summer and I give the time change the credit. We had chilly weather and I even wore a winter coat one morning. Holly found the perfect sunspot and I was able to document it. She doesn't like her photo taken usually, she finds the behavior suspicious. Over the weekend we hosted our daughter in law's birthday party and local family attended as well as her mom. The gathering was wonderful however, I was tired after all the setting up and putting away. My sister helped in the kitchen and that made my work easier. I do not remember how loud kids were when mine were little. I love how my memory is warped because you know they were loud sometimes, right? Despite my fatigue I did walk outside over the weekend and enjoyed the fall views. I have the rest of my tests for the pulmonary doctor this w...

  Hello! How are you doing today? I secretly knitted up eight wee stars to give as little presents to my family. Last year I made the same pattern in a different color and enjoyed the knitting process. Yet again, I have completed something on my knitting holiday to do list! What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you doing? I've been doing okay, I haven't been feeling the greatest but I could feel worse. My schedule is busy and maybe I don't get enough downtime to recharge my batteries. It's going to be busy with grandkids, adult learning classes and many doctor appointments in the next 2 1/2 weeks.  I still have a few tests for the pulmonary doctor to complete before I see her mid-November for a follow up visit. I have only myself to blame for the scheduling!  I found out that there is emergency knitting to be had! My daughter informed me that the baby desperately needs hats and socks for his tiny body. All the gifts she received are for 6 months and bigger. Well you know what I was doing yesterday, a deep dive into my yarn stash! I cast on a little hat yesterday afternoon. Bliss knitting! I've been walking outside and enjoying being in nature after more than six months of doing cardio in my house. There is nothing like fresh air and I believe na...

  This post title should say 'non-knitting news' because I haven't picked up my knitting in 48 hours. I promise today I will knit. Mondays and Tuesdays are busy for me so by the time I sit down I am exhausted and don't feel like knitting.  How are you? How are your projects?  I thought a close up shot of the cowl pattern would be interesting. I love this project and maybe I will be wearing this cowl by November? I have high hopes of finishing my holiday knitting list as well, then if I am motivated I want to knit up some quick hats for the grandkids from the leftover yarns from their holiday sweaters. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you doing these days? Around here, it's the same old stuff. I pick up the kids at daycare 2-3 times a week depending on the schedule. This week my adult classes start back up after a lovely one week break.  Thankfully we had some much needed rain yesterday and through the night. Also the temperature is reflecting October vibes, finally. I love to be cold. the rain and wind brought down tons of oak leaves! The awning on the back patio was taken down for the season.  Friday afternoon we went to the conservatory to see their fall flower show. I was excited to see my first turtle ever at their pond. Sometimes we see frogs, but never a turtle. He was sunbathing and wasn't thrilled we were walking by him/her. After the conservatory, we were supposed to go out for dinner but I was too tired to do so. We went home instead and had some soup. Yum! I am nearly done with the second Christmas stocking. I make two for each grandchild. One for their home and one ...

  Good morning! How are you doing? I have been completely engrossed in this knit for ME. It as been a delightful diversion and something that is completely for me. I will go back to knitting the last Christmas stocking  (I'm making two of them) and the Holiday Ornaments soon enough. What are you working on?

  Good morning! How are you doing? Even though I have lots more to knit for the holidays, I took a wonderful detour and decided to cast on a cowl for myself while on a car ride to visit my dad and my stepmom. I know, crazy! Hopefully I will update the ravelry page soon. The weather has been delightful and a big sigh of relief, I feel like I can breathe fresh clean air! I put the winter bedding on my bed. Below is a photo of some mums at my dad's house, they are so pretty! Autumn is my second favorite season, my first is winter.  The grandkids have been keeping me busy as always. Saturday was the last soccer practice which is nice now that the weather is getting chilly in the mornings. This week I only have one adult learning class because the rest of the week is a break between sessions. This gives me a chance to catch up on my reading. What have you been up to?

  Good morning to you! I finished the Christmas Stocking for the newest grandson. I have yet to stitch his name on the top. I don't know about you, but I dislike duplicate stitching. I find no matter how careful I am I think it looks sloppy while I am doing it. But when I take a break from it, it looks lovely. I guess I am too critical. I will make one more stocking for my house just in case they are ever here for the holidays in the coming years. What are you working on this week?