Pumpkin Sunrise

I think I have been really tired of all the rain we have had for the past week or so.  I think I have even complained about it, especially to my sister. However, on our walk down the dirt road (our favorite), my husband snapped these photos over the weekend.  I am amazed at all of the green we saw on our walk.  So I am done with any whining about the wet weather. The trees and bushes are sprouting their leaves a little more each day.  The air smells different and the sun feels warmer.  I love winter very much but I am ready for the next season.

I have only ten to twenty rows left to the armhole shaping on my Valley Cardigan and yet it is taking forever.  Maybe if I did not have two other projects that take my knitting time away from this project, I would already be there-to the arm hole shaping that is.  I remember when my kids would ask "are we there yet?" when travelling to visit relatives.  The car ride was long for them (and for me!).  So this weekend I am going to get there, I am going to knit my last twenty rows and divide for the fronts and the back.  

Can you see it?  This is not only a picture of a tea set given to me by my mother in law, it is a picture of SUNSHINE!  I am so happy about this.  Yesterday, it rained all day and I tried to chant all the good things rain does for the environment.  But it just did not work, I was miserable by the time I returned home from grocery shopping and every single bag was wet wet wet!  After a nice lunch, I felt better and resigned myself to the dreary weather.  So this morning I was thrilled to see sun and it is super super sunny and bright.  Maybe the rainy weather makes us appreciate the beautiful perfect spring days?  I also noticed that the yard did look a lot greener :)  

Good morning!  This week I am still (sigh) reading the same book,  These is my Words,  but I am nearly finished, honestly!  So the next book I will be reading is from the library titled The Mistress of Nothing .  It is another historical fiction book and it is due on the 23rd.  I am really going to try to get this book read by the due date.  Just a little personal goal of mine.  Unfortunately it has already been renewed one time.    I am working on a cowl  that is knitting up quickly. I really like the lace detail and look forward to blocking it.  Soaking and blocking is going to make the yarn bloom and the lace stand out.   I am hoping to get a walk in tonight after dinner with my husband and of course Frodo if it is not pouring rain.  It is such a nice way to unwind. I particularly like walking down the dirt road because it is very quiet and peaceful. If you would like to see what everyone is knitting and reading, check out Ginny's blog` Small Things .  I am sure you will like

Twice a month I meet three other ladies for some knitting and socializing.  This past weekend as I was enjoying the company of one other knitter, I casted on this shawl.  The yarn has been in my basket for quite some time.  Shamefully I think it might be two years or so.  I have loved it but never came up with a project for it. So while I was looking around Ravelry, I stumbled across this shawl pattern  and thought it would be perfect for this yarn. The older I get, the more I appreciate garter stitch and the main body of this shawl has it.  The edging is classic feather and fan stitch.   My daughter thinks the color resembles a mermaid's tail, I do not see it, do you? My romantic thoughts of standing at the tennis match yesterday in sunshine were thwarted by clouds, wind and intermittent rain.  I did however enjoyed the warm temperatures and watching a good tennis match.  It continues to rain today which will make it the perfect day for knitting inside.  

I started this cowl today since I really enjoyed the last cowl I a made (seen here ).  This little beauty is going to be worn close to the neck and the pattern,  A Noble Cowl , is lovely.  The yarn is Mirasol Tupa  and I think it pairs well with the pattern.   Today is beautiful!  The sun is shining and the birds are singing, what could possibly be better?  We have a tennis match to see this afternoon and I am looking forward to standing outside soaking up the sun's rays.  I think all of last week matches were postponed because of rainy weather except for one.  I am wondering if we are done with wearing winter coats, wouldn't that be great? 

Doesn't Frodo look like he was pulled backwards through a hedge?  I love his frumpy messy look, he is so cool for a little 14 pound dog.  He is getting better at keeping still while I snap a photo.  Eventually he tries to "attack" me by coming up to the camera and doing "arf" noises.  He is quite vocal and forward. Yesterday I worked on my cashmere cardigan while thinking of my next two projects.  More about the projects next week.  I did get past the waist shaping on the cardigan and am increasing the bust area.  I am seeing progress very slowly. Tonight we are going to watch a tennis match IF it is not raining. The forecasters are telling me that we are in for some beautiful weather, just not today.

I am pleased as could be with this cowl!  This was a super fast knit and I already wore it yesterday when I went out to lunch with my husband.  The yarn is so soft and thankfully it was chilly enough to wear alpaca without breaking out into a sweat.  I am really looking forward to spring but I sure was glad that it is still a little cold.  Alpaca is perfect for this cowl because of the drape and lack of elasticity.  I have the cowl wrapped twice in the above photo.  Try the pattern you will love it!

Good morning!  I finally have a different knitting project.  It is my Mojito Cowl  that I started a couple of days ago.  It is a really fun knit and the pattern is easy to memorize.  I highly recommend it.  My reading continues to be These is my Words .  I am really enjoying this book so very much.  I am actually staying awake to keep reading it and that does not happen very often.  I like the way the author has written the book as a diary.  If you like historical fiction then I highly recommend this book. I finished my Elderberry shawl which was blogged about here .  I am thrilled with it and have worn it several times this week. While I knit some quick easy projects, I am, in the back of my mind, thinking about the next big lace project.  Such fun! Tennis season this week has been rained on.  But that is okay for us, my son slightly injured (pulled) his arm while serving last week at practice, so each match that is postponed is a day his shoulder can heal.  Today he has an away ga

After my big lace shawl was finished, I wanted something easy and on much bigger needles.  I did a pattern search on Ravelry and found the Infinitude Scarf . I already knew that I wanted to use Alpaca with a Twist  in my stash.  With spring around the corner, I wanted to knit something green.  I picked this yarn up when I was in Pittsburgh.  I cannot remember when......maybe my sister will remember.  Anyways, so far it is relaxing just knitting and purling and not following a chart.  I know eventually I will want something that is complicated but for now easy knitting is just dandy. This yarn is Mirasol Tupa .  It is a wool/silk blend that I think would make a lovely cowl or hat or pair of mitts.  I have yet to find which pattern I would like, I only just started looking today. The best aspect of knitting is deciding what to make.  I always buy yarn I like with a general project in mind then afterwards I decide on the specific pattern.  Vary rarely is it the other way around.  Unle

This past weekend was so spring like and just--nice!  We were able to walk Frodo on both Saturday and Sunday.  I really liked listening to the birds singing to each other.  The lawns are looking greener. Also the air smells like spring.  Now if only the farmer's market would start in town, that would be fabulous. All of the CDs in the picture belong to my son who has yet to take them up to his room.  Just think in four months both kids will be away for higher education.  Any piles of CDs will have to be left by my husband!