Pumpkin Sunrise

These past days have been planning days.  Making lists kind of days.  This weekend our daughter goes back to her apartment to start a new law school year.  In another two weeks we take our son to his dorm room and then--poof--it's just the two of us again. I have been adding and subtracting money to budget paying for schools, supplies and last minute items.  I've also been writing out a menu plan for three people instead of four people for the next two weeks.  Don't tell anyone but I'm working on the two people one as well.  Nothing wrong with looking ahead. One of my silly goals is to eat through this over stuffed pantry of ours.  I have a bad habit of impulse buying when the kids are home.  Even worse, I forget why I bought it and it lingers in the cupboards.  I'll start in September.  Also there is the freezer.  God knows what is in it, but I will inventory it and menu plan away. Summer is fun without having schedules, menus or budgets.  But when the sc

Based on my quick search, this is a black and yellow garden spider but I could be wrong, I am not checking his underbelly to see if it is white to confirm the identification process.  I only observe! I love how he looks like he has only four legs instead of eight.  Is he possibly loving some new yoga pose? I love his messy web, every speck, dot or line is of his own doing.

My second citron shawl  is coming along nicely.  I am on the fifth tier and have my fingers crossed that I can get at least two more tiers out of my skein.  Three would be ideal but who knows!!  I enjoy this pattern so much and already think of more I would love to make.  Maybe gifts?  Well, I'll finish this one first then daydream about the future ones later.  That lovely pink yarn is turning into a cardigan .  It is not my usual color to knit with but I am trying to branch out of my usual color scheme.  This cardigan pattern  has interesting construction.  It's top down but instead of a raglan sleeve or a rounded yoke, the designer has incorporated a set in sleeve!!  Yep. I find this very exciting.  So far my only problem has been the button bands-I just cannot wrap my brain around the slip stitches and when they occur.  Maybe by the time the body is done I will conquer them. My reading this week is the same as last week.   When God was a Rabbit  has been my night time r

My sister was very excited for this past weekend.  You see, I was griping a lot on the phone (who me?).  You know the stuff that happens in life that can be a tiny drain on a peaceful existence.  I never complain on my blog-it is my haven and refuge.  Plus I save it all for my sister and my husband, lucky them.  Anyways, she planned a day trip to cheer me up.  And it did!  Anything to do with yarn shopping is a very happy moment. We drove to  Ligonier, PA  and spent a lovely few hours in a quaint little town that has two yarn shops.  First we went to  Kathy's Kreations  and then proceeded to  Bo Peep Fine Yarns .  Both yarn stores were lovely and oh so friendly.  Yes, that is my sister, "hi sis!" and see that little bag-that one is mine.  And that big old bag is hers-retail therapy does wonders! We had lunch  here .  Below are my spoils.  Starting from the left (at least I think it's my left)  Dream in Color Smooshy, Dale of Norwary Ull, Socka 50 and

I finished my socks over the weekend and felt so very liberated!! My son was nice enough to donate his feet for the photo shoot.  It did not take very long and it is the middle of summer.  I did not want any unnecessary suffering to occur, you know, being to hot with wool socks!  There is never any suffering with wearing hand knits!! Best of all, I wrote up the pattern as a pdf download that you can find here . Or you can click on the patterns page above and find it there.  Or you can download it on Ravelry .  It is FREE.  Have fun knitting away-maybe a holiday gift for someone special??

These are so gosh darn hot and we have no idea what to do with them.......

Weekends with -my side of the family for a two day getaway to Pittsburgh -macaroni salad, roasted sweet potatoes, grilled chicken -peanut butter cookies and cinnamon muffins with walnuts and apples(?) -hot "oh so, I am tired of it" hot hot humid weather -yarn crawl to different yarn stores (more on that later) with my sister -more food:  gluten free pizza**with homegrown tomatoes, basil, oregano and mozzarella cheese (phew spell checker did not like how I was spelling that cheese-geez) -car knitting, project finishing, book reading -talking talking talking with family-laughing, smiling and reminiscing childhood days -outdoor deck sitting, cold drinks in hand, enjoying a summer early evening before goodbyes -easy peasy car ride home, opening the house, reading the mail and starting the lists for the week ** Gluten Free pizza crust recipe can be found in Easy Gluten Free Baking  by Elizabeth Barbone. How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

This little bird is fresh out of a nest, free and yet still staying close to his home.  This was as close as I could get and then he hopped away into the very tall weeds.  He made me smile.  Wasn't he so loving to stay exactly where he was while I ran inside, grabbed the camera and captured this moment of happiness? Have a wonderful weekend!!

I am participating in August Break .  However I love to talk (or is it type?) so my words will still be here.  I will be posting more photos and fewer words on some days. Care to join in?  Click the link above and check it out :)

I have been thoroughly enjoying my second citron shawl this past week.  It is slowly growing as each day passes.  The yarn  is lovely to hold and it has the tiniest fuzzy halo that I am enjoying so much!  The only other project on the needles are the socks .  I am near the heel flap of the second sock.  Last week I finished the hat  and the finished photos are in yesterday's post .  I have some ideas of what I would like to start knitting next but for now they are only ideas. I finished The Language of Flowers  and it was oh so good!  It is a great book filled with different kinds of love, defining motherhood, wishing for hope and embracing disappointment.  The book is perfectly balanced with sadness and happiness.  My new book is When God was a Rabbit and I only just started it a few days ago.  So far it is interesting.  I am still reading An Everlasting Meal  which I find filled with bits of knowledge.  Just the first chapter had me believing that my cooking could be revolu

My fruit basket on the island decided to help me with the photo shoot of this hat .  The pattern  is fantastic because it uses fingerweight yarn which I love and it is so versatile.  I was one inch short in the body and it doesn't really matter because hat knitting is oh so forgivable and flexible.  I'm thrilled that I can use up all the left over sock yarn bits and ends to make a scrappy hat  like last time. This lovely orange yarn is left over from this project .  So far I think it is my hat.  For now.  This morning I mused over how to photo the hat without doing my gymnastic feats of self portraits.  I don't know about you but I find hats and socks hard to photograph.  Even when they are on a body.  Something for me to think about I guess. So guess who was wearing the above hat? Why a lovely ceramic chicken "helped" with the photo shoot.  I LOVE his beady eye :)