Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning! How are you? The sun has been shining for most of the week. Frodo and I walked and soaked up the sunbeams. I am amazed at the instant mood lifter a bit of sunshine can do after weeks of cloudy days. We are heading back into some rain and clouds but that's okay for now. I am so close to finishing the baby sweater, I have less than eight rows to go. I will be glad when that is off my needles and I can work on the baby blanket once more. The acrylic yarn is beating up my hands (not too badly but I don't like working with it). Every day the past week, I was either attending classes or attending routine appointments. I am looking forward to next week where my schedule will be relaxed. Now of course with a relaxed schedule, I'll squander the extra time!  Have a wonderful weekend!

  Good morning!  Once again, here I am giving you a weekly update on my knitting. This week I'm busy with my classes and various appointments, so I'm knitting a little less. I've been working on this baby sweater in the evenings trying to finish it by the weekend. This is a doable goal!  Since returning home from our weekend trip to Indiana, I haven't touched the baby blanket  because the baby sweater has to be completed and wrapped for a baby shower next weekend while the blanket has an open-ended deadline. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are you?  We had a super quick weekend getaway to Indiana to celebrate our grandson's second birthday! Both sets of grandparents were in attendance to spend time with the grands and we had fun at the little birthday party with our children's friends.  I cannot believe he is TWO!  I have to confess, I do love two year olds when everything is NO. (I can say that with joy because I am a grandparent and not a parent). He says 'no' to everything, adorable and funny.  I did a lot of car knitting. I am now on the friend's baby blanket for her first grandchild. I'm making lots of progress! I hope to catch up with all of your spaces in the next day or so!!

  Good morning! How are all of you on this fine cloudy Wednesday morning? I hope the sun is shining where you are! I finished the baby blanket over the weekend and Mother Nature let in enough light on a cloudy day for me to take some photos. I love this blanket pattern and using the cotton yarn is just perfect for wash and go and the drape is wonderful. I have started another baby blanket for a friend who just had their first grandchild. The needles are always busy, aren't they? What are you working on this week?

  Good morning, how was your weekend? We stayed home and did nothing which is the best kind of weekend because I did all the knitting and reading I could possibly do. The rainy weather persisted and Frodo shivered. He was recently groomed and even though we leave his coat a little longer the poor old man cannot take damp weather. Isn't it funny how damp cold seeps into your bones? I did finish that baby blanket and started another one. I also started a baby sweater for the grand nephew to be. I'm reading The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths which is the eleventh book in the series. I'm gobbling them all up! 

  Good morning!  I have been working daily on this baby blanket making steady progress in the hopes of finishing it by the weekend. Having said that, I'm sure I've jinxed myself and will not finish it. But that is okay, the baby shower for my grand-nephew-to-be isn't for a few weeks. I'd also like to knit a little sweater as well which I haven't started yet. What have you been working on this week?

  As I sit at the kitchen table typing this post, the snow is gently falling down. I guess we are getting 3-5 inches of snow today, maybe. You never know if they are guessing right or not. I am so grateful to have a warm house and lots of knitting to keep me busy. I've been mainly working on the baby blanket in the evenings. During the day when I am free, I tend to work on a shawl. I love my January knitting! I have no deadlines (self imposed but still freeing). My Tai Chi class started up this past week! Oh my, I missed the class while we were on break and it was so nice to be once again moving my body not remembering the sequence and being at peace with the not knowing. Delightful! As you can see, I did some watercolor painting the other day. I resist pulling out my paints but when I do take them out and paint I enjoy myself and wonder why I resist? A mystery.  I hope you have a lovely weekend and are warm inside if you are getting the same storm.

  Well hello there! How have you been?  I keep telling you my knitting has been such a solace while I recover and it's been prolific. What a great way to be during the January days. Over the weekend I finished two hats that I originally wanted to knit and complete for Christmas presents but was unable to do so. I made a car hat for our grandson and a cat hat for our granddaughter. I've knit both patterns before and I do love to repeat a pattern.  I am feeling so much better and I feel like myself if that makes any sense.  I'm back to exercising and walking when the weather allows me and that helps me be the best version of myself. What are you working on this week?

  Frodo wants you to know it is too cold outside! How are you guys? Life around here has been nice. After weeks and weeks, I finally started to feel better over the weekend. (YAY) On Saturday I made dinner for my sister and brother in law. What was supposed to be nine people attending, dwindled down to just the four of us. This is what happens with winter gatherings and viruses. We had a great time and did play a board game as well. I've been knitting up a storm, still! I am just going with it until the knitting fever ends sort of like Forrest Gump and his running.  Sunday morning was lots of snow, crazy winds and the roads were a mess, so we stayed home and stayed warm inside. I did my Sunday chores and relaxed. How was your weekend?

  Good morning! How are you doing on this fine January day? Can you believe we are closing in on mid January? Sadly, we are expecting rain later today after a crazy amount of rain on Tuesday. I'm hoping to get out and walk with Frodo before the rain shows up. I started a new creative journal for 2024 and it will last for two years like the previous one. I do memory keeping and some journaling prompts and whatever sparks my interest. There is something about a new notebook or journal that just inspires me. Many of my journaling prompts come from whatever I see on the internet while I'm toodling about. I like to write about what I am noticing on my walks, what I am looking forward to doing in the coming weeks. There is always a gratitude page and sometimes just write about what I did during the day. Whenever we are gathered with family, I will print some photos of the grands and document the visit. Of course I write about our museum outings as well and any other day trips or week

  Good morning! How are all of you?  I'm still recovering. I know what a sad sentence to write. Early on Friday morning, 7:40 am, I snagged a doctor's appointment for my sinus infection that is now an ear infection in both ears and my hearing is compromised in one ear. I'm on a different antibiotic and a round of prednisone.  I'm still trying to schedule an ENT appointment, wish me luck! I have been knitting up a STORM people!! I don't know what's got into me. I think it's because the company has left, I'm not in classes at the university at the moment and I am motivated to cast on all the new shiny things. It's a wonderful feeling. The top photo is a shawl with changing colors that is thoroughly addicting. I chose a Helen Stewart pattern that I have knit before so it's like being with a best buddy. I won't tell you how I had to unknit twice four rows of knitting because I wasn't paying attention. Below is a baby blanket for my nephew&

  Good morning! How is your January going so far?  I am getting better but not fast enough for my liking. I need to work on that state of mind, I meditate daily but need to accept my reality. Yesterday,  my iphone alerted me that I am not as active as I usually am. Boy did I get angry at my phone. Doesn't it know I'm ill? (I did change the settings so that the phone doesn't alert me to any 'trends' in exercising and minds its own business). Part of the reason I took it so personally is because I am itching to get back to my exercise routine, I miss it so!! My plan is for Monday morning easing back as long as I feel up to it. We are supposed to get snow, my husband is hoping it's a little bit and I am hoping it's many inches. He had his summer season of glory, I need to have my own season. My physical body might be in recovery mode but my creativity is bursting. I have cast on a new shawl will that color changing yarn in the photo above. Frodo approves of the

  Good morning! How are all you lovely people?  My knitting this week has been slow. I am feeling better and because of that I am knitting once more. On the left is a simple cowl of my own design that I call knit doodling. The pattern is two rows of knit one purl one, one knit row then one purl row. That's it, then I go on repeat.  To be honest the hat on the right hasn't been touched until I took the project out of my bag for this photograph! I ended up going to express care on Monday for some modern magical medicine to treat a nasty sinus infection. I would love to tell you all about my resolutions and plans for the new year. Sadly the extended family visit and nearly three weeks of feeling awful have waylaid any intentions. Sitting upright was my goal yesterday, ha ha ha. I am eager to get back to my regular exercise routine and of course knit something new. Non-credit courses start back up again in a few weeks as well. What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! I'm briefly here to say 'hi' and I miss you guys! I am knee-deep with two grandbabies and their parents until the weekend (an ENTIRE week!). Sometime early next week, I'll be able to visit your spaces and catch up with your news. I finished the stockings and even stitched their names on them before Christmas day, I felt so accomplished. I am still experiencing lingering virus symptoms but over all I am feeling so much better. What are you working on this week? Happy New Year my friends, I am thankful for our little community and the spaces we visit and share. Thank you for reading and visiting this space. May your 2024 be a year filled with blessings and grace!!

  Good morning! How are you doing? Are you ready for the holidays?  I'm pleased to report that Frodo has been doing really well! He was barking so much yesterday that I have gratitude that he was back to his old self plus some annoyance mixed in with the gratitude. What a wonderful place to be. I am still battling my virus, but each day I see progress and that makes me happy (today is my first day to not be under a blanket!) and luckily my husband is fully recovered. Onward and upward. Yesterday I did lots of knitting and have mad scheming plans to finish these stockings for the grands for Christmas day. Completely doable if I set my mind to it! The worst part is the duplicate stitching of their names.  May you all have a Merry Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year. 

  I started wrapping gifts this week and I'm almost done with the task. Yesterday, my husband and I went out for a little shopping and walking around a tiny town nearby. I bought some yarn (from Santa, how does he know what I want??). We had an early lunch at a tiny cafe and I ordered FANCY avocado toast. Honestly it's made me rethink how I make my plain avocado toast at home. I am also surprised at the price I paid for this simple yet delicious food. However, when you eat out you are paying for the luxury of sitting in a dining space to relax and enjoy your food, while people watching. The endless blue skies and sunshine on our outing brought me such joy in my heart.  My son and his family return to us on Christmas day for almost a week. I'm excited to see the kids again and I hope this visit that no one is ill and I get to sleep. What brings me comfort and joy: - the Advent season - Frodo's haircut - easing back into knitting cautiously - avocado toast amplified - det

  Good morning! How are you doing on this fine morning?  I've been happily knitting on two projects. I started a Christmas stocking for my grandson for my house a few days ago. It's wonderful to be knitting again without pain, but I am still limiting the amount of time I am knitting to make sure I don't return to any arthritis flare ups. The other project is a simple rib hat for me.  What are you working on this week?

  How was your weekend? Mine was so great that I only have one photo. The best news of the day is that I can knit and my hands are healed. I know, you are wondering if I learned my lesson. Yes I have. I will not marathon knit gnomes while having an arthritis flare up. Over the weekend I was able to knit and enjoy my knitting. I started a Christmas stocking for my house for our grandson. I'd like to knit one for our granddaughter but I am taking the knitting slow and easy. I've been reading mostly if I'm not knitting. My current read is Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano which is so good I cannot stop reading. I will be sad when this book is finished.  The rest of the weekend was socializing with my family, doing the laundry and weekly cleaning like I always do. I have a lofty goal of being 'done done' with the holiday shopping by the end of the week. I need to start wrapping gifts soon.

  Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I started an easy cowl  project for a Christmas gift and one that was gentle on my sore hands (my hands are mostly recovered from the manic gnome knitting). This simple, yet elegant cowl was perfect! My hands are happiest with circular needles and wool yarn. The wool is from deep stash and I am lucky to have another skein of this pretty yellow colorway to knit something for myself if I choose to do so.  What are you working on this week?

  Good morning! How are all of you doing on this fine Monday morning? I'm back after having family here for nine nights (!). Our little granddaughter went back to ER this past Thursday for some oxygen monitoring and was successfully discharged the same day. She sees her doctor this afternoon in her hometown, so far she is feeling better. The miracle is that no one else came down with the virus. (maybe her dad but it was barely 48 hours of a mild cough). It's all about me and I'm glad that I didn't catch it. Our company left Friday morning. My husband and I blitzed the house like madmen. We put away all the toys, playpens, the highchair and compressed our kitchen table down from seating six to seating four people. I completed four loads of laundry that day. (let me tell you that little baby and grandson generated a load of laundry per day - and both kids generated a bag of garbage daily - I do not remember any of this when my kids were little). We strategically went thro