Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning! How are you doing?  Oh my, I've been busy. I saw the eye doctor on Friday and I see her again today. She is getting close to the final fittings of the custom made contact lenses to protect my severe dry eye due to Sjogren's Syndrome. I am getting used to putting them in and taking out, better than I thought I would! We went to the art museum a few days ago and then went out to lunch for our 'first' outdoor patio eating of the season. It was wonderful to be outside and to look at the pond. I wish I could photograph the frogs singing, but I guess you'll have to imagine that. They were delightful. I've been spending all my free time working on the christening blanket and have added the second skein yesterday. I've quit timing myself because the rows get longer and longer. I have 90 rows to go! If I run out of this yarn I have yet another 500 yards of a third back up yarn for the edging. I love the not knowing. I also love to knit with small siz...

  Yesterday, my husband and I went to the Phipps Conservatory to see their spring flower show. The traffic was insane and it took us quite some time to get there because of heavy construction and possibly a traffic accident (we will never know). Once there, we had so much fun seeing the flowers. I wish I could photograph the scents! I believe this year's spring show was better than last year's show. We have a membership and go four or five times a year whenever they change the exhibits. I snapped so many photos and maybe I will paint some of them. I felt the creative urge to do so. Spring is filled with hopefulness and new beginnings, I like early spring but do not like late spring when the weather gets too hot. However, I don't have to think about hot weather right now, the forecast is saying snow next week, I hope it is incorrect. Afterwards, we went out for lunch at a ramen noodle restaurant. It was so good and I love the noodles! I have yet to come across a recipe that...

  Yesterday we went to the local conservator y to see their orchid and bonsai exhibit. We had fun being indoors looking at flowers while outside was a dreary drippy, damp day. After our visit, we went out to lunch for ramen and then did a tiny bit of shopping that amounted to nothing being bought.  My adult non-credit classes started up this week and I eased into a new routine and schedule. I love seeing friends I've made and I continue to make new ones. Joining the adult learning program has been a good decision. Of course my favorite class is Tai Chi.  Can you believe we are over a third of the way through winter? Yikes! Time flies. I've been watching the weather and I see snow in the forecast for the next week off and on. I don't mind the snow. Currently, I'm reading a short story collection, The Wonder Garden, by Lauren Acampora. It's been a long time since I've read short stories and I'm enjoying the switch up. This book has been languishing on my '...

  Hello! How are you? I am doing fine on the super chilly day. Earlier this week, we went to the art museum to see the holiday displays that they do every year. I find routine comforting, I'm sure you already know that. It was a wet drippy start to the museum. We enjoyed their permanent art gallery and love to find the odd picture that was swapped in for another. They rotate some of the art to make it fun. Of course, I love seeing old friends hanging there like they always do. This was the day that started out as light rain and then it turned over to snow. That switch over was very very wet. And let me tell you there was SNOW.  The driving conditions were absolutely fine so that made the snowfall all the more beautiful. After the museum, we went out for lunch then walked around the city a bit. We ducked into the Cathedral of Learning to warm up before going back outside to walk some more.  I am lucky to live near a city and have opportunities to go to the museums. We try ...

  I celebrated my birthday this week! What a great time to be alive, I am so grateful. I received many calls from my family. While yesterday was not my birthday, it snowed! I felt like that was a gift from Mother Nature since I love winter so much. We went to see the holiday lights at the conservatory and they were lovely. I had a difficult time being thoroughly immersed in the displays because right before we walked into the foyer we were pummeled by high winds and drenching rains. My husband and I were soaked through and were so cold down to our bones. Glass houses are not heated, lol. All I thought about was getting home and changing my clothes and drinking hot tea. Yesterday was a delicious day at home. I got caught up on the computer with 'stuff' and did my readings for the week for two classes. Below is a photo of a hat for the my grandson. I am not sure I have enough yarn so I am winging it. My years of experience say there is enough yarn but the pattern I chose says the...

  Good morning to you all, how are you? How has your week been? Mine has been great, my school schedule is winding down for a break then I start back up with some classes in a few weeks but I will be less busy (at least it looks less busy on paper, I will find out if I feel less busy).  Yesterday the back patio awning was taken down for the winter season. A sign of winter approaching!  I continue to take daily walks but now they are in the middle of the day instead of early in the morning. I love the rhythms of the seasons and adapting to the weather. My husband and I went to the conservatory in Pittsburgh to see their fall flower show yesterday. We had a great time and enjoyed the myriad of mums on display. Some of my favorite sections were closed off which was a bummer but hopefully they will be done renovating those spaces soon. I'm sure it's difficult to renovate while trying to keep the conservatory open to visitors. I'm still knitting daily and enjoying my time with...

  Good morning! How are you doing? Life has been quite nice around here.  First of all, thank you for the well wishes, they worked! I am gingerly knitting and have minimal wrist pain. Slow and steady wins the race, so they say. I am learning to have patience. Yesterday, my husband and I went to the science museum early in the morning to see the titanic exhibit. The exhibit was nice and informative but the crowd was not nice. I am not a fan of crowds and I especially do not like being near people who are sneezing (and NOT covering their mouths....). Goodness! We toured the exhibit and quickly left. The science museum is our least favorite because of this reason. I did not have the patience I clearly needed. Once we were home, I snuggled with Frodo and did a few rows of knitting. I also enjoyed reading my book. I am on the 13th book (out of 15) of the Ruth Galloway mysteries by Elly Griffiths. I read number 14 first over a year ago and will probably read it again before the last...

  Around here, I've been going to my non-credit classes and keeping up with various appointments. Yesterday, we went to the Carnegie Museum of Art and walked around the galleries. We love going there every month or so. After a lunch out, we headed home so I could take Frodo out for his daily walk. We continue to have daily sunshine and now I'm focused on the singing birds on my daily walks. Sometimes I remember to pull out my merlin app to identify the birds but frequently I'm not fast enough to catch the recording. Tonight we might have some snow, we will see about that. Around here, I'm knee deep in baby blanket knitting mode, trying to make steady progress so I can finish the project. I've been reading a graphic novel, Grass by  Keum Suk Gendry-Kim. My non-fiction read is Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson. Both are really good, I'm sure the non-fiction book will take months to read. Holly has been quite social and says 'hi'.

  How are you? Well this week was kind of slow but kind of busy. Every day there is something on the calendar which chops up the rhythm of knitting like a madwoman. I have knitting goals! After finishing the baby blanket I'm starting a baby sweater and hat as soon as the yarn arrives in the mail today. All the trees are leafed out and spring is fully spring. Frodo and I are enjoying sitting outside for a bit to soak up some fresh air. He can't hear too well but he still can see. He loves to bark at people walking the neighborhood.  Yesterday, my husband and I went to the Art museum and then out to lunch. There was an exhibit that was ending next week that we 'had' to see. That whole time my dad was in 'ICU - hospital - rehab' stopped us from exploring our museum memberships. My dad is doing well! He is discharged from all the specialists that saved his life.  After all the traveling and then hosting company, my body is yearning for lots of exercise and eating at...

  Hello friends! How are you doing? How was your weekend? My brother in law and sister in law from Ottawa, Ontario visited us from Wednesday afternoon through Sunday morning. We haven't seen them since September 2019 and we were grateful they drove down here to visit us after visiting my mother in law. On Thursday, we took them to the Phipps Conservatory . (I know I was there just last Sunday!) My husband and I enjoyed the second pass through the greenhouses.  On Friday morning we went to the Strip district  and walked around dropping into some stores then having lunch at a local pizza shop. On Saturday, we visited the Carnegie Science Center so they could see the miniature train display. Each day we went out for lunch and then I cooked dinner at home. The weather was spectacular so dinner was outside on the patio. We had the best time ever.  We did lots and lots of talking, laughing and catching up. I did little to no knitting!  How was your weekend?

  How was your weekend? Yesterday we went to the P hipps Conservatory with my sister and brother in law and had a fabulous time. This is our second year of having memberships and the displays are wonderful. We go right when it opens so that the plants are abundant and the people are few. I had a restorative weekend. Lots and lots of downtime while slowly taking care of tasks around the house. We have company coming and staying with us starting on Wednesday so every day I clean a little bit more of the house. I remember the days when I could clean the whole house in a single day with babies. I guess I could do it in a single day but I'm not motivated, where is the fun in that?! I'm feeling so much better now that I am home and resting after our trip. Today I'm starting up my strength training/yoga practice after a whole week off.  How was your weekend?

  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.

  Isn't Holly just the sweetest? She's been sneaking into the 'Frodo' zones undetected. She has a swing in her step because she is successful. Frodo has got to know she is there and just doesn't care. If only they could talk to us. It's raining today and that makes it a wonderful day to read and knit. Yesterday we drove to the Westmoreland Museum of American Art for the morning to see their exhibit on Gate Crashers (self-made artists). The paintings were excellent and I learned about some interesting facts on the various artists showcased. The rest of the museum was just as informative and inspiring.  After a quick lunch at a local cafe we drove to the south part of Pittsburgh to return a purchased item no longer needed and we avoided 'highways' due to a major traffic jam. Let me tell you, I saw a lot of towns that I probably never have been to in person. It was fun! I hope the museum inspires me to dust off the paints and start exploring with technique...

  Yikes! Our weekend was full on busy fun.  My daughter and son in law are leaving sometime this morning and later on I am getting my second shingles shot. I am fully prepared for a horrible reaction and have nothing pressing on my schedule for three days. Wish me luck! We had such a nice visit. On Saturday, we were at the strip district . We walked about and breezed in and out of shops. We also had lunch but had to wait an hour for our food - I'm assuming someone didn't show up for work or they have a shortage of workers just like every other business these days. Yesterday we went to the Andy Warhol museum which I have never seen. We thoroughly enjoyed that experience. After the museum, we walked across the bridge to have a 'look see' up a street and then walked back over the same bridge to where the car was parked and drove home to the suburbs. I had fun in the city but now I am ready to hibernated in the suburbs for an entire week. I enjoyed our visit with our famil...