Pumpkin Sunrise

The Kuura Shawl  is a fun knit and the pattern is quite easy to memorize with only brief glances just to make sure.  I highly recommend this pattern. On the right is my same same cardigan  and I consider it my hearty knitting project.  Currently I'm on the body keeping track of button hole placement, pleating, and waist shaping.  So as you can guess, there's a lot going on and sweeps away any boredom that could possibly descend when doing stockinette stitch with fingering weight yarn. The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin is turning out to be a fantastic read.  The beginning chapter was distracting for me because of her great love of the semicolon.  Seriously-they are in almost every other sentence in the first chapter.  But then something wonderful happened, the plot jumped out grabbed my attention and now the semicolon dispair has taken a back seat in my mind. The characters are distinctly interesting and what's best is I have no clue where this story is going, so I read s

What a weekend it was -packing up the son for his summer research program -driving to the place, seeing his new room-collaborators in research --saying goodbye -saying "hello!" to:  my kitchen counter and my coffee table-I've had THREE weeks of his stuff littering it.  Drives me nuts -a quite Sunday evening will an eerie silence now that he's gone -meeting with a friend for knitting and missing two friends who were busy How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

I am lucky to to be surrounded by trees and woods. I have wild roses blooming and they're beautiful.  The fragrance is mild and sometimes I catch a whiff of loveliness.  The wild blackberries are nearly finished blooming and in a month it will be picking time. Unfortunately the berries are quite bitter and need lots of sugar, well maybe that isn't so bad. A couple years ago my son and husband made ink out of them.  It worked but it was a faded ink.  I think the fun was all about the gathering. Yesterday the rain arrived and it was a drippy drizzly day.  The plants and flowers needed the moisture so I enjoyed the change of weather.  This spring for me has been a cool low humidity one-my hair loves it!  Unfortunately my husband has not been in the pool yet because it has been too cold. I am sure the hot weather will be here in no time at all.  I'll wilt and he will bask. Our vegetable garden is in.  We scaled back on the tomato and pepper plants this year.  We

I had an overwhelming desire to cast on something different.  So I did.  The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy with cashmere -so very soft! and the colorway is "cranberry melt".  It immediately makes me think of fall and Thanksgiving so I'm happy while I knit.  The pattern is a triangle shaped shawl and it's an easy to follow lace pattern, if you're a confident beginner give it a look.  I'm going to knit until the yarn is gone. Not only is there new knitting but I've started a new book, I'm on a roll people :)  This book was purchased for the cover art and the rough edges of the paper.  It is a visual and tactile experience.   The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin is also a best seller so hopefully it will be a captivating read.  I only started reading last night so it's much to early to form an opinion. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny

This is the third time I've knit up the Sockhead hat , if you haven't you should.  It's very simple and the yarn does all the work.  My son (that's him in the photo) wanted a "loud" hat.  His words not mine.  This was the loudest hank I could fine since I wanted to knit from the stash.  As you know I buy muted shades for my stash building activities.  I must think outside the muted box.  L-O-U-D. The hat is not loud but I think it looks great. I love how the brim could be folded up for extra warmth on those chilly windy winter days.  Ravelry notes are here . (sadly the little bunny did not make it through the afternoon as feared, I'm hopeful all the little brothers and sister bunnies caught wind of his demise and have relocated)

Do you see him?  He has no fear!  I am a mere three feet away as I took the photo.  An hour later he went off into the woods.  The squirrel on the left is not real, just in case you think the animals are living harmoniously together where I live. Yesterday we found a wild baby bunny nest, my son counted five!!  Today, sadly one was caught by Frodo-not sure if he'll make it but we are hoping for a miracle.  Why do these animals insist on entering the fenced in back yard-home of my mighty warrior hunter?? My weekend was: -relaxing with knitting (what else?)  -some podcast listening -reading and doing puzzles -purchasing a new journal book and nifty pen to go with it -outings with my son who will be leaving in one week -welcoming home my husband who was away at a conference -eating yummy tossed salads How was your weekend?   Joining Amanda

After my joyous return to home and bathing in its lovely comfort, I wrote up a few things that needed to be done.  I tend to put off menu planning because it's a challenge for me.  Now that I'm doing the 30 Day Vegan workshop offered by Heather at Beauty that Moves , I'm motivated to meet what I consider stumbling blocks. First and foremost I am the only one doing the vegan challenge.  My husband loves new dishes but also love to eat meat a few times a week.  For quite some time I've cooked separate dishes for that reason.  The other reason is because of my lactose intolerance.  Our son is home only one more week and he has many meals that are his favorites that I want to cook for him and alas, many are not vegan either.  So you see my dilemma! Yesterday I sat down and wrote out some meals that I know could be flexible for everyone.  Here's what I came up with: -burgers and fries -chili with cornbread or bread -curry -lentil soup (yum!!) -Black beans an

We had an active weekend so my reading time was sparse.  I continue to enjoy this book, The Midwife,  and find her career fascinating. She is very frank about her experiences and frequently describes them with many senses.  I get quite the chuckle when she mentions how nauseated she gets by overwhelming smells.  Glad I'm not the only one ;) I am on the body of my same same cardigan .  What time I lacked in reading over the weekend was spent knitting.  I love that you can knit with a group of people and it's socially acceptable.  Lucky for me, my knitting did not require any great thinking on my part.  Now that the sleeves are set aside, each row is a breeze to knit.  The body knitting will not be boring because I have to remember three details:  1) the button holes!!! 2) waist shaping and 3) the pleats along the side seams.  If you are an advanced knitter or an adventurous intermediate knitter, who is comfortable with instruction reading, check out the pattern , it's l

I thought you would like to see Frodo's enemies.  There they are basking in the sun while Frodo was still at the kennel.  Unfortunately for the rabbits he is now safely home and this afternoon he will once again bark and disturb their zen life.  This weekend was spent in the car, a lot.  I find I'm getting tired of long car rides and traveling.  But this sacred place is not where I want to whine so....onto the happy! This is our garden.  We have spinach and lettuce sprouting-both my favorites.  We have rabbit proofed one raised bed so our produce is safe from those pesky nibblers.  I'm dreaming of salads to be once we can harvest! Remember my rotting tree stump that I think is beautiful?  Well....someone has been at it.  Look at the whole that is on the side of it!!  We are thinking it was a bear-the stump has been active with ants since last autumn.  The wood chips are at least 1 inch big so I'm doubting it was a woodpecker.  I wish I knew but I don't

At the beginning of this week, I started a 30 day vegan workshop offered by Heather at Beauty that Moves .  My intention is to be open minded and to try new dishes along with being mindful of how I feel during the day.  I participated last year and felt like I "failed" because I was only 100% vegan for four days.  My approach is completely different this time around.  I'm facing each meal as it presents itself and making choices.  I'm being flexible and kind.  So far I've been successful.  I love the retreat feeling of the workshop and eagerly await the daily postings.  It would be lovely if this new plant based diet would have a positive impact on my arthritis. My days have been fluid almost suspended with peacefulness.  My son is home for a few weeks before he starts his summer research program, so we've fallen into a quite easy routine-just the three of us.  It's nice having him home for a bit.  The dorm room messes have been tucked into vari

A week ago, shortly after finishing this shawl , I decided to cast on another shawl.  If you know me, you know I love tiny needles and lace weight yarn and I tend to have a project on the needles at all times to satisfy my knitting desires.  When I saw this shawl in the "hot right now" category while noodling around Ravelry, I knew I had to cast on.  It's simple and it grows and it's a half circle, a perfect summer project! My ravelry page is here . The Midwife  by Jennifer Worth is an excellent memoir and a lovely read.   Call the Midwife TV series  is based on this book. (you really should be watching the show as well).  As I read this book I feel like she is personally talking to me face to face maybe over a cup of tea.  I am getting a history lesson without knowing I am and that's the kind of history lessons I like.  It's interesting to read how the tenement housing conditions were in the mid 1950's also with lifestyle choices and her long work