Pumpkin Sunrise

I thought I would share with you some photos of our beach vacation.  We were in North Myrtle Beach, SC.  When I gathered everyone's schedule to plan a vacation it was immediately clear that the only week available was in May! That means if you want to swim in the ocean and not become an ice cube you must travel south.  We wanted a family atmosphere (read that as:  quiet, clean, and less crowded).  That is how we picked North Myrtle beach.  It was lovely to have oceanfront accommodations, the balcony view was perfect. I believe that I am fully recovered from the eternal ride coming home from the vacation.  Long car rides do me in mentally and physically.  My house is mostly tidy.  The laundry is caught up. I am now in the "summer" time of the year with both kids home.  It's nice to have a full house again. Another great way to kick off the summer is trying some new recipes.  My sister and I are both participating in the 30 Day Vegan workshop which st

We drove ALL day on Friday leaving the beach vacation and arrived to home sweet home at 9:10 p.m.  We lost so much driving time around the DC area.  But that is the past.  So is my whining like a 3 year old in the car.  I know, you are shocked that I whine.  I do and it's heard by all and I get cranky.....and like a 3 year old, if you stop and feed me I settle down. When I did get home to the greatest place on earth, I had two lovely packages waiting for me from some giveaways.  I won.  Twice!!  The top photo is a pair of lovely mugs from MJ at wander wonder discover blog.  Thanks MJ!!!  I love them better in person :) My other giveaway win is from Sylvia and Simona from artsy ants blog, they are a truly artistic sister duo and you need to check out their blog.  Their lovely jewelry ensemble was created by indieandchic .  I am amazed at the intricate detail of the jewelry!  Beautiful and thank you :) So I am on the 7th or 8th load of laundry and as each load gets done,

goodbye vacation Joining Amanda

The weekend that my sister and brother in law were visiting us, there was an afternoon that the guys went on their merry way and my sister and I went out and about the town. We passed a thrift store that begged us to stop in.  That's when I saw this glass box and left it on the shelf.  (why?  who knows!)  I browse faster than my sister and we parted ways. When we met again she had the glass box in her hands....in that moment I really wanted it.  I was also kicking myself for not picking it up first. She said to me "don't you want this?  It's your style."..........Love her!  Now I can have the perfect-to-me green box and still love my sister for being so thoughtful.  I did find her a wooden shelf for her rubber stamp collection.  Why is it easier sometimes to find items for someone else? So my question is, do you think this is an old refrigerator container?  Any ideas if it has an interesting past? There are no markings.  It's sitting now on my kitchen

Oh the projects are many but the my time is limited this week to knit, so my progress is slow.  On the left is my citron shawl  it has taken up the majority of my time.  I have romantic visions of completing this soon. I cannot wait to see what it looks like all blocked.  Also the yarn is a little rough and I am hoping that the wool soak will made it softer. On the right is a new shawl that I've started while on vacation.  The pattern is Cinnamon Grace .  I love the look of the edged ruffle.  I wanted something easy to remember and I wanted the colors of the yarn of the yarn to stand out.  The yarn is the beautiful skein that I won on a giveaway ! The Orchid House  is still my read this week,  the beginning was a little slow for me.  Now that I am into the story and the time period has changed to the beginning of WWII my interested is renewed. I have been reading in tiny spurts, that does not help me enjoy a book.  I need a span of time sufficient to be wrapped up in the sto

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?

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