Pumpkin Sunrise

  Don't you love the candid photos of Holly, she always looks like she's feeling guilty of something. This photo was taken around 5:30 in the morning and I have never seen her sleep on that chair. Amazing! How are you? How was your weekend? My weekend was wet. I feel like we are in the rainy season. Today I have all the lights on to make me feel like there is brightness somewhere in my world. Friday night we went over to my sister and brother in law's house for dinner and game night. Our game nights have been on hiatus due to my dad doing his ICU thing. (he's doing well at home!!). So we are easing back into our regular habits. Saturday I didn't do much except read or knit. I kind of wallowed in rainy day despair. Sunday is different, I'm completely ignoring the weather to the best of my ability and making my on sunny day. I painted a bit and did the laundry.  I'm getting excited about the baby blanket progress. I dug through deep deep stash and unearthed so

  Currently I'm enjoying the spring weather. One day it's cold the next day it's hot. Regardless of whether it's cold or hot, the flowers still bloom and the sun still shines. Yesterday my husband and I sat on the back patio in the afternoon and it felt like summertime. I'm dressing in layers so I am ready for whatever the weather might be.  Currently I'm feeling the urge to paint and sketch. There are no goals, I'm just doing whatever I want on a whim. Doodles are calling me and exploring abstract composition also is inviting. No matter the inspiration, I'm excited to finally be exploring with my art supplies.  Currently Holly is being a bold cat, sneaking in while Frodo sleeps. To her advantage, he cannot hear well so she has more liberty in her movements. She loves to bring toy mice to my husband and there are usually four or five toy mice in areas where he is sitting. So cute.

  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

  Good morning, this post is brought to you today from the glorious moon shot I snapped yesterday morning. I wish you were there because it is better in real person. How are you? My weekend was pretty okay.  Yesterday, Miss Holly the cat who likes to create mayhem decided to bite her way into the bottom of our loveseat (we blocked her a month or so ago from the 'burrow' she made in the couch). So after Mass, we drove to Joann Fabrics to buy cloth that is densely woven. Apparently this is a cat 'thing'. The cashier and the fabric cutter have heard stories of cats doing this.... I bet this behavior keeps Joann Fabrics in business. After lunch we staple-gunned the new fabric over the old and now she has been thwarted once again. ha ha. I am satisfied I out smart a cat. Frodo has been doing really well since it's been a week after his teeth cleaning and a week of preventative antibiotic which I believe upsets his stomach a tiny bit. He and I are thrilled the medicine is

  Hello! How was your weekend? Don't you love the look Holly is giving? She is half asleep and half alert to Frodo's rustlings. My weekend was great because I celebrated my birthday over the weekend! I had a lovely time with my family and received some really nice gifts. My husband bought me a new fountain pen (TWSBI ECO medium nib) and it's divine. I received some journaling supplies and of course more books to read. My sister made us dinner and a delicious apple cake for dessert. I'll be visiting a yarn store this week to supplement my knitting stash. I also decided to start decorating the house. Yesterday, I managed to put out all the knick knacks. Today I hope to do the little tree. Each year it takes me longer to do the task, but it's fun!  How was your weekend?

  This weekend was pretty chill except for the manic cross stitching that I did Saturday and Sunday. I'm pleased to report that not only did I finish the cross stitching, back stitching and personalizing the ornament with our grandson's name, I made it into an ornament as well. It feels so good to have another gift finished and ready to be wrapped up.  As usual, Holly was snooping around looking for Frodo in the family room yesterday, I love her 'innocent' look. Shortly after looking for Frodo, who she knew was outside with  my husband, she scampered back up stairs to do some buffalo stampede running back and forth in the hallway. She can sound loud if she wants!! How was your weekend?

  Maybe, just maybe I have regained my energy levels after the trip to Cambridge MA last weekend. I've been knitting furiously both Saturday and Sunday thoroughly enjoying a burst of creative energy from the cold weather we are having and will continue to have this week. Saturday morning I wore wool on my walk, first time of the season!  Holly have been a little devil over the weekend. She keeps sneaking up on Frodo. Most of the time he is asleep but she thinks it's great fun! She is living her best life. Frodo is too.  I started knitting Christmas gifts for my grandson and my grand nephew. Almost done!! My weekend contained: -homemade chicken noodle soup - lunch out with my dad and step mom - daily walks with Frodo in the chilly air - lots of reading - lots of knitting - a phone call from our son - watching PBS.org 'the US and the Holocaust' documentary by Ken Burns (highly recommend!) - four loads of laundry - a squeaky clean kitchen floor - apple cake -  How was your

  How was your weekend? My weekend was blessedly calm and somewhat productive. I've been working on the grandson's first Christmas cross stitch ornament a little bit each day. I can see it so that makes the stitching all the more enjoyable. (14 count!) I also did the laundry and cleaning for the week. Fall is creeping in slowly, the leaves are changing, the days are shorter. I had my first cup of hot green tea in the afternoon yesterday. I'll be surprised if it gets super hot again, but then you never know with the weather. Frodo and Holly have been at it after weeks of keeping their distance from each other. Holly found a new snuggly sleeping place in the family room and Frodo found her. There was a ton of hissing and barking. I thought after that encounter Holly would be tired of Frodo and just stay out of the family room. No such luck!! The next two photos are Holly slinking in and staring at a sleeping Frodo! Then she decided to perch on the window sill and watch the ch

  Good morning! I'm hoping you have this day off like we do here in the states. It's Labor Day! How was your weekend? Well... because we saw our son, daughter in law and grandson earlier than planned, we decided to drive up to see my mother in law in London, Ontario this weekend since we had a kennel stay already booked and pre-paid.  It was a super quick trip leaving on Friday and coming home on Sunday. We had a lovely time seeing her and some other family members. Now we are home sweet blessed home.  Holly loves when Frodo is not here, so sad but true. I did a ton of knitting in the car and while sitting and talking on our trip, I finished the sweater body and am now on the first sleeve! I'm enjoying being home (a home body deep down inside) How was your weekend?

  There is nothing really going on around here - true blessings! It's hot and humid so we are all hiding in the air conditioning and only going outside if it's a must. Frodo and I walk daily in the early mornings and that's enough outside for me. I'm trying really hard not to romanticize about fall and all its goodness. The cicadas started up this week and joyfully I thought 'yay, one step closer to fall'. Next up will be the acorn drop in a couple of weeks. My husband is a summer lover so I keep all these thoughts bottled up. I also try not to complain about the weather. But you and I know, fall is coming and it's going to be glorious! I bought a humidifier for our bedroom after being gently told by the RA doctor numerous times (four visits?)  it would help with dry eye and dry mouth. (Sjogren's Syndrome). The photo below is Holly giving the humidifier the stink eye. She cracks me up. And if you are wondering, YES the humidifier helps. The tattered tan

  Good morning! Boy do I have a lot of catching up to do so grab your tea or coffee and let's begin! Last Wednesday our son, daughter in law and GRANDSON arrived for a three day visit! We haven't seen them since March and the visit was fantastic. Our little guy was friendly and full of smiles after a brief 'who the heck are you' look that was priceless. I fed him many bottles and changed very few diapers. (that is a great visit) They left on Saturday morning and I miss all of them already. I forgot how tiring babies can be and cannot remember where I had the energy to keep up with them. It took me 48 hours to recover from their stay. During their visit we went to the zoo and we had a family get together at our house. The other set of grandparents were able to attend and we had a grand time doting on the baby. Holly does NOT like babies. She hid under our bed until they were all asleep each day then came out begrudgingly.  Poor Holly!! Frodo thought the baby was here to

  How was your weekend? Mine was SNOWY. Goodness, just when I'm easing into springtime and blossoms and a feeling of renewal, Mother Nature gives her attitude adjustment. The views of beautiful! Frodo is back to shivering instead of strutting around with confidence knowing his coat-wearing days are over and I am begrudgingly wearing a winter coat.  My weekend wonderfully ordinary. Lots of knitting and reading, what could be better?  (BTW Holly is not really as angry as she appears in the photo. She is wondering why I am taking a photo of her!)

  Good morning! How was your weekend? Mine was really nice. Each day that comes and goes I feel more like myself. Thanks for all the well wishes on feeling better. Nothing like a virus bug to make you appreciate feeling as your regular self. This weekend was snow, then melting snow, then crazy winds. I managed to do a walk both on Saturday and Sunday. While winter keeps showing itself with snow dustings, the birds are singing away heralding in SPRING. Yesterday was the weekly chores which tired me out a bit. I love the result of a clean house so it was worth the physical exertion. My knitting continues to be minimal and I'm hoping now that I feel better I can start ramping up my knitting progress. How was your weekend?

  How was your weekend? Well over here we got, you guessed it, more snow. Our driveway is a big mess and that is with my husband snow blowing it several times. How are you? Before I begin with my weekend I wanted to say thank you for all the congratulatory messages over our sweet little grandson. We cannot wait to meet him in person. My weekend was pretty good. The days were mostly quiet with lots of reading. Miraculously my wrists stopped hurting so it was an arthritis flare, thank goodness. Now I am working on the blanket with less animosity towards it.  My new cross stitch project is over two threads of linen (32 count) and I CANNOT SEE IT clearly. I hope the new glasses help if and went they come in. I do not want to use a magnifying glass contraption (stubborn lady). If by the end of this project I'm still frustrated I will go back to Aida cloth for projects. This is my very first project over two threads and I'm hoping I hit a rhythm to the stitching over a period of time