Posts

Garden Goodness {august break}

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basil from my garden

Yarn Along

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At the beginning of the month when I was visiting my dad he said to me "I wear the socks that you made me last Christmas all the time".  As a knitter I heard "Please please please make me another pair!!" So that green yarn up there in the photo is the yarn that I will use and yes you read correctly I am officially starting my Christmas knitting.  I was thrilled to know he wears the socks.  My dad has become "knit worthy", not many people make it to that level for me.  To be knit worthy you have to express your love of the hand knit I made and then wear it.  So simple and yet people fail the criteria. Oh and my citron shawl  is nearly complete.  I started the seventh tier with the best intentions of knitting all of the rows but I had a sinking feeling that I might not have enough yarn. I ended up doing half of the tier and am now on the ruffle edge and it will be done by the end of today.  My pink cardigan  has not been touched in a week so no news on

Growing High {august break}

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At my sister's house under her porch swing, this positive thinking sunflower is growing and nothing is stopping it!

Weekends

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my stepmother grew these! My Weekend was filled with: -dinner out with the four of us the last time until a school break -donuts (why oh why are they an evil but necessary food???) -packing packing packing up my daughter -starting my sentences with "do you have this?"  "do you want this?" -shopping the cupboards-to stock up her apartment until she can get to the store -changing all the bedclothes and beginning the laundry -seeing my end table without any clutter! -driving on Saturday to move her stuff in followed by lunch out -seeing my knitting friends today and laughing Live Is Good. How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

Random Reflections

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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

Along Came a Spider {august break}

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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.

Yarn Along

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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

Yarn Crawl

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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

Sock Pattern Update

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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??

It's Hot {august break}

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

Weekends

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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