Pumpkin Sunrise

As you might have guessed, we are the kind of people that hardly ever take serious photos and this is one of them.  I'd like to think it's because I'm pouting about my horrible hair, but I was being silly.  Pulling one of many faces.  The fact is my hair was awful up in Lake Placid because it was drizzly every day.  I pulled it back and ignored it for most of the time. Thank goodness there aren't mirrors in the wilderness. While we were at Lake Placid, we did a "touristy" outing, who can resist?  This place is High Falls Gorge  and it was worth the admittance price.  The trails and bridges and walkways were perfectly maintained and we had fun.  Stairs going up, stairs going down, lots of landing porches for photography and signs explaining the gorge making process and some botany lessons. All of the photos were taken by my husband.  He was using his iphone but I had a fear of him dropping his iphone in the falls (I know I have to quit with the nega

My weekend: -I walked daily, well almost daily-embracing the change in the air.  You can feel fall just around the corner -we (meaning he) closed the pool-you know what that means....heat wave is coming! -Frodo is happy to have the pool cover on so he can walk across water :) -I caught up on laundry and tidied up the pile of papers on the counter -I've flipped through magazines and cookbooks getting hungry from all the ideas I've found. -favorite tastes this weekend:  avocado with radishes and apple cake-not together. -knitting with friends and knitting in silence in the morning. -being unplugged for the weekend and finding it very therapeutic for my soul How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

I'm thinking that summer is at its end.  Brown leaves are abundant on the sides of the road and sprinkled in are red and golden yellow leaves.  The wind sounds different when it breezes through the trees, have you noticed?  The weatherman mentioned a five letter word- F R O S T.  Not for my area but boy, the weather is changing.  I wouldn't mind a wee bit of frost to kill the weed pollen. We walked yesterday just the three of us, lots of talking and sharing our daily events.  Frodo is quite happy leading us and exploring.  Our new rhythm is to eat dinner, walk and then have our dessert if there is one.  I promise you, there is one! I am slowly going through a few cookbooks, pulling different recipes out to try and hopefully incorporate into our weekly menus.  We both are committed to whole food plant based and it's a journey that ebbs and flows.  Since I participated in  Heather's 30 day vegan course  in the spring, I have continued to be vegan for two out of thr

Finally, finally I am posting about this shawl.  I must say that I'm in love with it and it was worth the crazy stitch patterns.  I confess I wasn't a fan of the first stitch pattern because it was unreadable.  I find I dislike writing down which row I'm on so I don't do it, and my locking stitch marker system didn't help so it was guess work on my part.  I think I guessed correctly. I will wear the shawl like the above photo. Oh so cozy warm and so so soft :) The pattern is Laminaria , the yarn is Manos Lace  and my project page is here .  Modifications were six repeats of the star pattern and a full eight repeats of the blossom chart.  I squeaked by with enough yarn....barely-eliminating the last purl row before bind off. Oh and the knitting surgery went well.  It was a dropped stitch and I fixed it as best as I could.  Only I know where it is and I have a difficult time finding it.  It saddens me that it exists but well....we can't all be pe

There is something with the change of seasons that inspires me to try new recipes.  I went grocery shopping yesterday and picked up a few magazines and now I want to cook some new dishes.  The fallish kind that warms your insides.  Anyways, I finished the Picoult book Sing You Home and it was okay.  That is all I'll say about the book.  Lamott's book never fails to make me laugh and think at the same time so she's all good reading for me. My knitting is coming along.  The socks for my son are going and I do believe I will run out of yarn, but no worries.  I'll just dig through that massive odds and ends of sock yarns in my basket to complete each sock.  This shawl  is my savoring knitting, I am enjoying each blessed stitch.  I love the short row shaping and the two colors paired together are growing on me! What are you knitting and reading this week?? Joining Ginny

Last Friday we left to have a long weekend getaway in Lake Placid, New York.  The ride was about seven hours with a few stops and a lunch.  Traffic was heavy until we past the exits for Lake George.  Then civilization was sparse, so was cell phone service and it was fantastic.  The views were incredible, majestic mountains, large boulders and not many people-so beautiful. The first two photos were taken from our balcony at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort , we had a lovely suite with a sitting area besides the bed and a lake view right about the private beach area.  I highly recommend the hotel.  We received a complimentary bottle of wine and a goody bag upon check in.  I love those sweet touches, seldom found while traveling. Our lake was Mirror Lake, adjacent to Lake Placid.  No motorized crafts are allowed on Mirror Lake so that means when you are swimming, or canoeing or boating or kayaking you will not be pummeled by a wake formed by speedboats, how thoughtful :)

Hello! We were on a weekend adventure and just got back this afternoon.  This photo from my phone is a quick sneak peek at our getaway.  I'll give you much more details and photos tomorrow hopefully.  We drove to Lake Placid to celebrate our anniversary and to squeeze in a vacation. -I did not fix my knitting yet, that's tonight hopefully -I was unplugged from social media and many blogs that I've missed -I ate too much -I walked too much (hopefully that negated the "ate too much") -I am exhausted and yet renewed....a funny paradox but needed. -I bought another notebook and because I have a notebook buying addiction convinced my husband to buy one as well.  It worked! -I read but did not finish a book -I people watched-which is by far my favorite activity on vacation -almost every meal was with a lake view!- I could do that for every single meal for the rest of my life. See you tomorrow my friends with lots of photos to share. 

Guess what?  I had enough yarn-phew!  Dodged that little bullet but of course I now face another challenge.  While I was blocking this beauty yesterday, I came across a dropped stitch!  I quickly put a blocking pin in it and now I'm waiting for it to be dry and when I have all my wits about me to tackle that problem. My stitch count never wavered so I'm wondering when I was rinsing and wringing-yes wringing-I might have broken the fiber.  Who knows, I'll see when I do knitting surgery.  Either way I can fix it. My week has been quiet, unusually quiet and eerily quiet.  I find it funny that when the house is bursting with noise and commotion I dream of quiet and then when I actually do get what I want I'm at a loss at what to do with myself.  Don't you worry, I have made lists a mile long in times like these and I refer to them. I believe I made the worst dinner ever the other night.  I followed a recipe, sort of, and then became creative and it was just not g

I'm loving every single minute of my shawl.  The pattern is laminaria , many knitters have made it and now I can be included in the many.  I'm on the last chart and have about six rows to knit, they take forever now over 20 minutes.  And yes, I am still wondering if I'll have enough yarn or will I have to improvise the ending?  Stay tuned...I'm sure I'll think of something if there's a need. Still reading Sing You Home  by Jodi Picoult and it's okay.  It's predictable and it seems the author threw in every controversial topic into the plot.  Yesterday I picked up another Anne Lamott book who I simply adore reading.  She never disappoints and this book I'm sure will entertain me and move me spiritually. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny

This morning I am greeted with silence, the good kind.  There's the hum of the refrigerator, me striking the keyboard and I'm slowly getting ready for what I want to accomplish today.  Boring stuff like paying bills.  Soon there will be phone calls from my sister and my daughter.  Maybe even one from my son. This morning even though it is still humid the air feels different, you know fall like. Whispers of seasonal change-I am more than ready for another season.  I want to be cold, see my breath outside and wear a jacket with a scarf and mitts. On one of our walks down the dirt road we spied this massive wasp nest.  It's quite impressive!  My husband took that photo, I was busy staring with my jaw dropped. Every few weeks I take a puddle reflection photo for no reason. This is the shawl that with every single stitch I am savoring.  Each row is taking over 15 minutes so I know it's going to be a while before it's off the needles.

My weekend: -I have a clean house-clutter is managed, laundry is caught up -said goodbye to our son, who made the clutter free house possible -homemade pizzas with mushroom red pepper and black olives -many walks with THE perfect balance of humidity -starting the lace edging on my mammoth lace shawl -teeny tiny voice questioning if there is enough yarn-ssh don't ruin the knitting moment -Frodo after a beauty session with the groomer-so handsome! how was your weekend? joining Amanda