Posts

Growing Slowly

Image
I thought it was time to show you the growth of my Harmony Shawl .  I am loving this project more and more every time I sit down to knit.  I have around 800 yards of this cobweb yarn ( jojoland harmony ) and I am going to knit until I run out of yarn. I am on the 7th tier and each row is taking around 20 minutes?  That's a guess.  I haven't timed it. This pattern is perfect for knitting while talking or not paying attention, I do both very well.  There are two increase rows on every tier, that's the only time I am chanting numbers out loud so to not make a mistake.  If I am off by one or two stitches, no big deal!  I just add them in somewhere.  This shawl is a "fudge-able" shawl :) Do you have any simple shawls that you love to knit?

Togetherness

Image
Frodo wishes you a Happy Mother's day! I have had: family togetherness, laughter, a long car ride, a much needed vacation, ice cream, knitting, rain storms, sand, cups of tea, and a new moleskine . joining Amanda

This Moment

Image
They're back!!! Joining Amanda

Random Thoughts

Image
I thought you all would love to have a quick peek at my rotting tree stump.  It is slowly being taken over by some interesting fungi and lichen.  It looks beautiful when it's rainy or misty outside, nearly iridescent.  Today it's sunny outside and looks like it will dry up after the past two wet days. Yesterday was stressful and I'm so glad it is done.  Today I see that it was not that big of a stress but while I am in the midst of living it, my mind blows every detail way out of proportion.  Car trouble?  Big deal.  Renting a van for retrieving the kids. So what.  It was not life threatening, but my response was disproportionate to the stress. That is one aspect of my personality I would like to change or accept.  I've always been like that.  I would like to think I'm getting better at it but truthfully I think I'm the same.  What is different is that I can say affirmations in my head that slightly calms me down.  ("this is not a big deal")

Yarn Along

Image
I sometimes buy books just for their cover art.  This book, The Orchid House , is one of those times.  I loved the dress and the pose.  So far it's an interesting read, not spectacular, but good enough to keep on reading.  I am at a part where there is flash back to the 1930's, so it's picked up a bit for me.  I finished The Lace Reader and would recommend it if you like to be confused on what is going on.  I liked it.  I also liked the first and third person narration.  I figured out the mystery but still enjoyed the ending. My knitting has mainly been this citron shawl .  I have been knitting it exclusively this week.  See that blue on the right--I have been knitting like a demon so I can see blue in my shawl.  I honestly cannot recall why I bought this yarn.  I have looked at it in my stash and thought it was not very pretty.  I was so wrong!  The color changes are wonderful and seamless.  They happen so gradually.  I also love the wispy-ness of the shawl.  Perfect

Yarn Talk

Image
It is raining here and it's very very gloomy.  I think it's starting to bother me.  The best way to chase away the rainy day blues is to talk about yarn.  More specifically yarn that I own.  The above photo is the luxurious yarn that I won from Twist &Twine yarns .  Camilla is so talented with colorways so you must check out her website.  I have decided to cast on the Cinnamon Grace shawl .  I wanted a very simple knit so that the yarn colorway could shine!  That little bit of sparkle helps the shine too :) I bought these three skeins when I was with my sister last weekend.  The yarn is Araucania itata solid .  I've knit with this yarn before and I love how it blocks out and the touch of silk is heavenly.  I'm thinking of a cardigan right now for this yarn but not sure of the pattern yet.  Still thinking. So today I will be knitting away while the rain continues to fall from the sky. How do you cope with the rainy day blues?

Togetherness

Image
This is my all time favorite chocolate in the whole wide world.  It has some serious salt kick to it that makes the chocolate tasty.  And I get a poem....sweet! Ah.  My weekend was splendid.  My sister and brother in law arrived Friday afternoon and it was non stop fun.  I know you know that I love my sister.  I am lucky that we enjoy each other's company and have fun together.  The husbands have a pretty good time together as well. In no particular order my weekend had: cherry cobbler, yarn buying, walking Frodo, sitting on the back porch swing, rice chex krispies, chocolate, strawberries, grilled chicken, another craft fair, buying big mixing bowls (my sis has a thing about finding the perfect mixing bowl), chocolate macaroons, homemade soaps, visiting garage sales. joining Amanda

This Moment

Image
Joining Amanda

Some Thoughts

Image
Both of my children will be home for the summer by next Thursday, can you believe it?  Honestly the time has whizzed by for me.  They both had a great year and they each like their schools.  That makes it easier for us parents while they are gone.  I spent the last 20+ years staying at home raising them and it's nice to see them happy and excited about their futures. I purposefully made sure that this past academic year was filled with weekend trips for the two of us.  My husband and I loved going away and setting a pace that was perfect for us.  Sure we missed the kids.  Sure we had the cell phones with calls and texts but it still was without them and fun. This blog has made my empty nest journey so much easier.  I truly believe hobbies of any kind are what sustains happiness. I started this blog almost two years ago because I loved reading blogs.  I kept thinking "I want to do that someday".  During my child raising years, I always maintain interest of my own, s

Yarn Along

Image
We are going to gloss over very quickly what I am reading this week.  That's because it's the same two books as last week.  I have 20 or so pages to go on The Lace Reader  which I am thoroughly enjoying.  It's a weird book but I like the way the story is written.  I just was unable to finish reading before this early a.m. post.   Bird by Bird  is a book I am savoring.  I am not in any hurry to read this book fast.  I read a few pages then do some thinking.  Love the book! Do you see that project on the left?  That is a Citron Shawl  with Jojoland's Harmony .  I have had this ball of yarn for quite some time in my stash.  I have no idea why I bought cobweb lace....It must have been a momentary lapse of judgement on my part.  I adore the colorway!!  Starting the pattern was quite fiddly but now it's manageable and I'm enjoying the knit.  On size five needles. My other project is my featherweight cardigan in silk.  Starting anything with silk yarn is crazy

Bachelor Button Sweater

Image
I did not finish this little sweater on the day I intended.  I finished it the day after. Thanks for all the cheer leading and encouragement but I am totally at peace with being one day off . It was fun romanticizing my knitting skills even if I was a little delusional.  For a change, I knit this cardigan with 100% cotton instead of wool.  I have to say that I'm not a fan of cotton because it hurts my fingers.  There is just not enough elasticity in the yarn. I do love the results of knitting with cotton.  I did not have to block this wee sweater and the stitch definition is incredible.  It is also super soft!  The sweater is wrapped and today my husband will deliver it to the new dad.  This is their third boy :)