Pumpkin Sunrise

This weekend was filled with: -going to a local fair and not riding this ride :) -eating not very good for you food -enjoying every single glorious bite, especially funnel cake -being thrilled with the cooler temps even if it does rain a little -company!  my brother in law and sister in law are visiting for a long weekend -talking and talking -my sis in law DOES knit so we talk about knitting and we do knitting -brief chats with each kid because everyone is busy-I'm amazed at how quickly we can catch up in a five minute phone call! -apple crisp how was your weekend? Joining Amanda

What I love about fall: -crisp cool morning air -mitts -apple season -pumpkins!! -shorter days, longer nights -seeing my breath outside -leaves in many colors falling -first frost-goodbye ragweed :) -hot tea (in a favorite mug) -chili and cornbread -woolen scarves -woolen socks -the silence of the woods -baked chicken and mashed potatoes -deer roaming through the yard and staying a bit -anything orange -being cold which is so much better than being hot -Frodo wants to snuggle more -winter squash eating (acorn squash the most) -slipper wearing -longer walks with beautiful scenery -knitting with wool and feeling warm What do you like about fall?

My needles have been on fire this week, or at least it feels like it.  I finished the mitts  and am quite pleased with them.  Now all I need is some very brisk cold air to go along with them.  I am thrilled that they match many of my other accessories in my closet.  So what am I knitting?  I finished the one sock up there in the photo.  The socks are for my dad for Christmas and I have only to knit the second sock to match, easy peasy.  I've cast on and believe me I am motivated to get these socks out of the knitting bag. My pink cardigan has seen some knitting as well.  I am knitting on dpns for a variety of reasons, one because I do not own a circular needle small enough (too cheap to buy) and I really do not like magic loop or two circulars....I know.  I am being stubborn and opinionated, but these dpns work for me and I get the job done.  It is only fiddly for about three rows then my mind and hands accept the fiddliness and the knitting becomes even and smooth and happy

I finished these mitts last weekend and now I am just waiting for some cold weather to wear them.  A knitting friend gave me two skeins of lovely wool from England andI knew right away that I would be making something for my hands.  This pattern  has been in my library for quite some time waiting for the perfect yarn to arrive.  I highly recommend this pattern.  The directions are easy to follow and the results are quite lovely.  Dare I say it would make a fantastic Christmas gift?? I had lots of fun with the timer setting of my camera and no one at home thought I was a little crazy.  What we do for photography and a blog post.  Notice the awesome pottery mug--love! The wool is very tweed"y" and I know it's going to be super warm when I wear them. Today was the first morning I turned on the heat.  Yesterday I wore another scarf and it was pure bliss. I am positive in a matter of weeks that these mitts will be worn :)

This is a view from my back yard, it seems like only yesterday it was hot and humid and sticky.  Oh so rapidly has the weather changed to fall and today was my first day to wear a jacket AND a wool shawl.  My my, I have been anticipating this season forever and now I'm afraid it will go whizzing past.  So every day I stop, think, savor and let all my senses be filled with autumn. My weekend went by in a blur of activity.  The kids came home Friday at different times and Frodo was extremely happy and extra wiggly to see each of them.  I love how dogs are expressive and give fully of themselves to the moment.  Lots of talking and laughing.  I have heard about many new friends and my kids are quick to pull up Facebook for faces to match names I've heard during phone calls. With the kids came the backpacks, suitcases, books and various items strewn about my house.  I have found out that I can ignore most of the visual clutter for 48 hours.  (practice makes perfect)  Hand m

I thought maybe my photo today should be the essence of summer.  I am thrilled that fall surrounds me and there's a chill in the early morning and late evening.  So many leaves are on the ground in different colors.  By my driveway there is a large oak tree that has been dropping acorns like crazy.  Many times a day I walk down the drive and try to crunch as many acorn tops as I can, it reminds me of being a kid. I grew up in Pittsburgh in a row house.  There was one street in particular that was lined with oak trees. My sister and I would walk through all the fallen leaves kicking and giggling and enjoying the crunch because in the city numerous trees in one area are scarce.  She does not remember these moments but I do.   I have quickly returned to my usual routines and our trip last weekend seems so long ago.  Every day this week I have had appreciation for my coffeemaker who never fails to make a good cup of coffee.  Hotel visits bring out gratitude. Today the kids are c

On one of our days in New Hampshire we drove up to Portland ME to the Knitwit Yarn Shop .  There is something about entering a yarn store and feeling like you are home :)  This shop was lovely and the people were so very nice and friendly!  As you can see wall to wall yarn (we should all decorate our houses like this).  The top photo is a wall of Quince and Co  which I love.  I enjoyed seeing all of their yarn in person and getting to feel each skein. How is it that in a yarn store you can strike up a conversation with a stranger and then be friends upon leaving?  That is what my experience was like in this little store.  Knitting as a hobby brings so many people together in the strangest ways.  I think it helps that I will talk to just about anybody-this used to drive my mother up a wall. The above photo is a little crooked but it's the only one.  Right before I snapped this I ALMOST dropped my camera.  It was like a near death experience.  I was so flustered that I s