Pumpkin Sunrise

I like plain bread, you know the unhealthy kind, especially toasted!  But then there are lots of foods I love that are not the best, we will not mention french fries and chocolate chip cookies.  I'm still adjusting to cooking and meal planning for two people.  Yesterday was a "big salad" (think of Elaine's salad from Seinfield) with this delicious loaf of bread from the bakery department at the local grocery store. Other confessions that you might find interesting: -I will randomly sing Broadway show tunes out loud or in my head, today I'm stuck on Wicked- "For Good" -I am looking forward to the snow we will be getting (you might know that already) -I like the kitchen to be tidy before I sit and knit -I go through phases of which mug is my favorite -my best ideas are before lunchtime -like a toddler, I get cranky near my bedtime -I always taste my vegetables first at dinner -I have no sense of direction (zero) -to compensate I walk to the

This week my knitting has turned to simple pleasures.  Earlier in the week I finished my barnacle sweater  and wrote up a post  all about it.  Now already I am thinking of another sweater to cast on but it's too soon.  I needed a break from a long project.  So this week I'm working on a cowl with one of my patterns-the balancing act cowl  .  You see I gave my sister the last one I knit up for Christmas and I still do not own one!  My daughter adopted the first one.  This malabrigo sock yarn in the turner colorway whispered my name gently while trying to resist yarn shopping.  The yarn said "make me into a cowl".  So I obliged. My reading is the same.  I am over half way through Prayers for Sale .  It is entertaining and I like that nothing traumatic or shocking has happened (yet).  A very gentle read.  Unfortunately when I read it is near bed time and I've been exhausted lately so I keep falling asleep. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining

Guess what I wore this weekend???  Yep.  THE sweater and I'm quite pleased with it!!  It is very soft and the drape is excellent.  I heavily modified the sleeve construction and it looks pretty good to me.  I love full length sleeves to keep my entire arm warm.  There even was a half of skein left over. So all those troublesome worries of running out of yarn was mere imagination.  I do think if I'd kept the original sleeve design it would have been a concern, but now I'll never know.  This sweater is made of Tern from Quince and Co.  I love love this yarn.  It is soft and has a nice twist which makes it quite comfortable to knit with.  Give it a try!! I do love the sweater, I think I could have gone down another size with how wide the neckline ended up but maybe I'm used to smaller necklines.  The sweater is a swing style-again not my usual choice in sweater design but I think the wool/silk combination makes the sweater drape nicely. To close the sweat

My weekend included: -catching up on many podcasts that accumulated over the winter break -knitting on the citron shawl while listening -marathon watching of Pride and Prejudice  (with Colin Firth of course) -happy to see my husband get drawn into the plot, he always does... -some Downton Abbey as well, we only just viewed the season premiere -menu planning, list making, laundry tasks and photo editing -later today will be homemade hot wings YUM -watching the super bowl indirectly, you see, I married into sports :) How was your weekend? joining Amanda

I've been looking up at grey skies and blue skies and fluffy cloud skies.  The weather has changed drastically the past week.  I've captured the movement and yet I was drawn to what I saw while looking down.  I'm recovering at a steady pace, thankfully.  Although not as rapidly as I would like.  I find myself longing for a walk with my dog and husband all around the neighborhood.  But I can't.  So I did the next best thing, I walked the property.  Being ever so mindful of each step I took.  Chanting to myself that I was on steady ground and that is why I was looking down. I am thankful that moss stays green all year long.  The tufts are reminders of vibrant greens we will see in less than two months.   Because my land is wooded I have moss and lichen everywhere I look. The last photo is my favorite.  It is a deer print, perfectly defined and freshly made.  We have about five to seven deer that love to meander through the back yard.  There's evidence that t

I have been furiously knitting the barnacle cardigan  this week.  I had a brief hiccup when I realized that the design of the sleeve was using up too much yarn.  So I ripped out the sleeve and redesigned it.  Now it tapers down the whole length of my arm and I have plenty of yarn!!  One sleeve is done and the other sleeve has about four hours of knitting to go.  Today is the day it will be done.  phew.  I must say I'm excited about wearing this one.  The fit is wonderful, one of the many reasons top down construction is my favorite-I can try it on as I knit.  I'm a little giddy thinking about how it will look and feel after a wool soak.    Still thinking about how to fasten the top, either it will be hook and eye or tiny snaps, not sure yet. My reading is calm and mildly entertaining.  I bought this book at a book sale and it's been sitting on the shelves.   Prayers for Sale  is a string of short stories woven together in a long story about an older woman reminiscing

So while I was at my knitting classes last week, the shop received a partial order of Malabrigo yarns.  I tried and I tried to resist purchasing yarn.  You see, I have lots.  I do!  But I didn't own this beautiful skein of Malabrigo sock in the turner colorway.  That is how I justified the purchase.  I have a funny feeling that every time I teach, I'm coming home with yarn. My daydreams consist of new projects to knit while my current projects linger around calling my name.  This sweet little skein is destined to be a cowl.  I'm itching to cast on but so far have controlled myself and have been focusing on finishing up my sweater (I'll save that conversation for yarn along). I spent six weeks daydreaming about a clean coffee table and a clean kitchen counter and it became reality this weekend.  I love everything in its place and having order.  But I do miss the kids.  They are both getting busy and I'm not sure if there'll be a family vacation this year.

That my friends is a very bare empty coffee table!!!  As you may recall my daughter was briefly home for two weeks during the semester break but my son has been home for six long weeks.  Six weeks of neat piles of books and papers.  Funny when they are my piles I think they look fine :) So today my husband whisked him back to his campus while I went to church and prayed for an ankle miracle.  Seriously though, I am seeing improvement and the pain is tolerable but I wanted it to be better yesterday.  I am an impatient sort. Yesterday while knitting my first sleeve I came to the realization that I would not have enough yarn. So I ripped it all out.  I rejiggered the pattern so hopefully the sleeve will be long enough.  I'm optimistic and enjoying the challenge. Laundry is nearly done, the kitchen is clean and a cup of hot green decaf tea is waiting for me. How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

The list that brings me joy: -fluffy comforters and quilts during this cold snap -knitting the sweater that is near completion and dreaming of wearing it soon -an ankle brace!! -woolly socks and warm mitts -sliced cucumbers for a snack that echoes summer I had so much fun teaching my first knitting classes.  I loved seeing what colors were chosen.  If only you could have heard the thinking going on after the cast on!  I take for granted what I can do with my eyes closed.  Teaching others to knit became a moment of stillness in time to stop and observe.  As they left I wondered which ones would continue the knitting as their craft.  Some? All?  Would they be the kind that pick it up and put it down over and over until the "aha" moment, r be like me all those years ago, stubbornly determined to get it.  Pushing myself to continue and yes there were many many tears shed because that is how I get-emotional. I hope you have a lovely weekend!  We are getting a bit of s

Thought this week I'd show my progress on my citron shawl . For me it is compelling knitting, and it's not boring knitting.  I love this shawl and this mystery yarn is just as nice.  I am on the fifth ruching and I hope I have enough yarn to get to nine sections!!  It all depends on how much yarn I have, the vendor said 1000 yards.  Let's hope she was right!!  I posted yesterday about my sweater  and the sleeve is knitting up so fast compared to the never ending body. I finished my book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time and it was a very good book.  The main character is a boy with autism and he decides to investigate why his neighbor's dog was killed.  I found it fascinating to see the world through his eyes and his experiences.  It is a somewhat sad book in that he's misunderstood and yet you see how much he overcomes with life's challenges with his many coping strategies. His parents were real and even though they loved him dearly you co

Thank you for all the well wishes!  I am feeling much much better.  I woke up yesterday with significant improvement so much so that I decided to wait on the RA doctor for now.  I really do not want to take any more medicine-I am on many for my arthritis.  So it's been a lot of sitting in hard chairs and resting my foot.  I think my back and ankle when crazy over the weekend, hence the pain. Once my body settles down I am going to incorporate some gentle yoga to increase my flexibility.  Walking just isn't enough anymore. Onto the knitting! I am happy to report that I finished the body of the barnacle sweater .  I started the first sleeve and decided to use two circular needles instead of dpns.  Not my usual way but I thought why not?  Something different.  I am using a  chiaogoo needle and a knit picks needle .  The chiaogoo set is a recently acquired set and I do love them.  The ends are very pointy and the join is seamless.  I've owned the knit picks set for a co