Pumpkin Sunrise

Can you see her?  She's hiding at the edge of our woods.  Frodo and I were walking about when I spied her.  We had the ultimate stare down - even when I snapped the photo. Oh how I wish I had my big camera!!  As soon as hunting season starts the deer find sanctuary in our woods :) My weekend: -exchanging gifts with dear dear friends-I'm never too old for that giddy anticipation! -casting off and blocking that bulky cowl, look out fingering weight here I come -simple soup and grilled cheese dinner that reminded us of our newlywed days and limited cooking skills -watching The Help  and wanting to reread the book -chatting with my kids Saturday and Sunday -starting the Master Menu Plan for when the family is all together, I even took inventory of the freezer and cupboards-I feel organized :) -both my husband and I were belting out "here comes Santa Claus" with our Elvis Presley voices ALL day yesterday after hearing the song on the radio.  I don't think

I love how Frodo turns his head when I have the big camera, so modest.  This is after he has done three or four twirls because he thinks we are taking a walk outside.  A whole week of Advent has past and I'm wondering where it has gone!  I decorated the house last weekend and once again, I enjoyed my walk down memory lane.  Where I purchased an ornament, who gave me one to hang on my tree.  Of course all the ones my mother and grandmother made are treasured the most. The cowl is growing stitch by stitch.  Perhaps it will be finished this weekend?  My hands, wrists, forearms and shoulders would be ever so grateful.  I have to take mini breaks to give my body a rest.  I know my daughter will love the finished cowl and I will love to be finished with the cowl.  A win win situation. Did you see my NEW red Moleskine mini notebook?  It replaces the tattered one I carry in my purse for over two years.  Another birthday gift.  I write my lists in there, and whatever I want to

I finished my October Shawl  on the first of December.  The Nae pattern  was a delight to knit up.  My sister questioned whether all that stockinette would be boring, well I found it captivating (as long as I was watching TV or talking to someone).  I might knit this pattern up again with a tonal yarn. It seems that my yarn purchasing habits have changed over the years and short color changes are not what I am interested in anymore, maybe big chunks of color changes. I wore this all day yesterday and the bamboo content is wonderful.  There's a bit of sheen and a lovely soft drape-iness that is perfection. This shawl can easily be a multi seasonal wear.  Love that. My only modifications were to not increase to 100 stitches in the stockinette area for fear of not having enough yarn and doubling the seed stitch area in the middle.

This week I'm working on a cowl that I posted about here , it's with bulky wool and the knitting is not going as fast as one would expect.  I think it's because the wool is so thick :)  Anyways, it's my night time mindless knitting project and my daughter is going to love the finished project.  To offset the bulky wool I cast on another sockhead hat with leftover sock yarns I found in my basket while I was rearranging my wools.  I hope I'm not the only one that rearranges wool and see the bits and ends of previous projects. I love strolling down knitting memory lane.  So while I am knitting my cowl, I am having a torrent  emotional affair with the fingering weight wool project.  Keeps me quite happy! I continue to read Dear Life  by Alice Munro.  The short stories are perfect for this month.  Nice sized pieces for a wondering mind with too much to do during the holidays.  Her stories are unexpected and her characters are delightful. What are you knitting an

I hope you all are sitting down because I've something shocking to reveal.....I'm knitting a project on size THIRTEEN needles with BULKY wool.  I know, I know, you are wondering if I've lost my mind. Over the long weekend, my daughter requested a chunky cowl specifically the gaptastic cowl . This cowl has been knit by everyone but me.  So while I was shopping with my sister, I added bulky wool on my list of needed yarns.  I also wanted to make this an affordable cowl, so  I bought three skeins of Paton's Roving Wool  in a light gray. Would you believe I've picked out veg matter-delightful!! Let's just say I am enjoying the experience of super fast immediate gratification knitting.  Yesterday in order to continue knitting with grace, I cast on a fingering weight project.  You see, my heart belongs to thin yarn and thin needles. Have you knit the gaptastic cowl?  What is your favorite needle size?

Frodo requests a drum roll please.....The winner of the night sky hat pattern  by Karinamaza  is........ Peacefully Knitting  " Such a lovely hat Karen and I love your blog :) Ravelry: TinaSanders" I will forward your name to Karina over on Ravelry :) Thanks for playing everyone!!

Oh, this weekend was extra special, but it was ordinary to me while the hours sped by.  We visited my family for our Thanksgiving feast, full of turkey and too many side dishes.  Pumpkin pie (yum) was eaten gleefully because it will be next year until it's made one more time. Friday morning. my sister and I had our outing.  Of course there was a yarn shop and not only did I have birthday money to spend but a gift certificate as well.  We had fun looking and contemplating what would be the purchase.  I left with a bag of wool and endless ideas of what I want to create. Friday night usually is a gingerbread house making night, but this year it was a surprise birthday party for me surrounded by my family.  What I loved the most about the party is that I was SURPRISED.  I think I'm getting old, I'm not as sharp as I used to be ;) My sister and brother in law created a slide show with music from some old photos.  For me my childhood was yesterday not as long ago as it rea

Thankful for: Snowfall  My family Starting new knitting projects Black olives, perfect avocados, pickles (not together) Coffee at the break of dawn The silence you can hear when the day is peaceful Hand written letters Wool Winding wool Knitting wool Writing Outings with my husband And my sister And my kids Friendships Conversations Happiness I hope all of you had a wonderful thanksgiving if you celebrated  What are you thankful for? Have a lovely weekend!

Yes, I've taken the knitting plunge and have started a little bit of ornament knitting.  I'm between projects and I wanted a project that was little and would eat up some bits and ends of my fingering weight yarn.  So I'm knitting my ornament pattern  which is also on Ravelry .  I also have some light blue yarn that I think would make a great stocking color.  Knitting these little stockings puts me into the holiday spirit :) I am nearly finished with Oh My Stars  and can I say "oh my stars" this book has captured my attention.  I must admit there was a bit of dragging going on with the plot then Boom! something happened that I didn't suspect at all.  I tend to guess endings which makes me a sad reader most of the time, but not now.  So now I am happily reading along and devouring the book.  I have a mere chapter to read and that will be done before lunchtime today. My next book is Dear Life  by Alice Monro, you know, she won the Nobel Prize in Literatur

Remember this hat I knit up? Well the designer, Karina  is kindly offering a pattern to one lucky winner on my blog!  Isn't that exciting??  I know that this hat would be the perfect hat to whip up when there is a time crunch with the approaching holidays.  All you need is some fingering weight wool and a happy knitting spirit. Here is Karina's  project page of the Night Sky Hat .  The pattern will be live within the week I and I will insert the pattern link here as soon as it is available. How do you win?  Just leave a comment on this post WITH your ravelry user name.  You will be contacted by Karina with your ravelry user name only.  Comments will close on December 1st, Sunday night 9 p.m. and I will use a random number generator to choose a lucky winner.  I will announce the winner on Monday's post. Good luck everyone :)

My weekend was a productive weekend.  I've made my list and checked it twice, just like Santa.  I've wrapped and packaged all the gifts for my side of the family and even worked a bit on his side of the family. On Saturday, we squeezed in a walk before the frigid air arrived.  Our walk was still cold and brisk but oh so nice to be out!  I've given up walking after dinner, it's too dark.  At the duck pond it appears to have been visited by wild ducks and the domesticated ducks are all fine about the invasion. Sunday after Mass, I did some laundry and final preparations for both the kids, who will be arriving home today and tomorrow.  In the afternoon,  I met with some knitting friends to knit and chat.  Since I've abandoned the sweater, my knitting has been small and simple-carefree and relaxing. This weekend was quiet and joyful and full of holiday preparations.  How was your weekend? Joining Amanda