Pumpkin Sunrise

I am loving this shift of light and even though I am dragging in the morning I appreciate the time change as well.  These photos were taken in the morning!  Yes-morning, with lightness and brightness.  While I am full busy with my daughter with shopping and such.  We have resumed the after dinner walk.  Just the way Frodo and I like it. Our dining room is really the piano room but the morning light is beautiful. I distinctly remember moving into this house placing boxes in this area and feeling the sun beams.  The room felt so homey and welcoming.  Funny though that now that we've lived here many years we only eat at the dining table for holidays or company.  Taking food from the kitchen seems so "far" to go. The socks are slowly finishing up.  I sort of made a mini resolution to always have a pair on the needles without a dead line or time frame and so far I'm enjoying that resolution. This cowl  is one I wear in the springtime-not too hot and not t

This past weekend was full.  Saturday I was busy getting together a dinner for my daughter and her boyfriend.  Desert making, salad tossing and yes chicken grilling outside!  Truly a sign of the weather changing.  We still have snow on the ground but it's melting quickly. Also there was: -walking every single day with the sun shining -taking a photo of a mama deer early in the morning who was quite stubborn and refused to run -watching the mama deer stomp her front hoof to scare me off -church going -lots and lots of knitting -more All Creatures Great and Small viewing -meeting friends for knitting-laughing, supporting one another, a good time -writing lists for the week, so much to do!! how was your weekend? Joining Amanda

Outside yesterday I thought I'd better take photos of the snow because we will be above freezing and I'm sure the big melt will occur.  Good bye snow, I've loved you so.  This week I've been a fickle girl, you know I love snow and winter but there were moments when I wistfully wished for a light jacket, a pair of shoes instead of boots.  The thoughts were fleeting but yes, I thought longingly of some early spring like weather. My days of cooking for two are over temporarily because spring breaks start for each kid.  My daughter comes home tomorrow for a week and next weekend both kids will be home with an overlap of three days (cooking for four!  full house!).    I'm looking forward to their visits :) Have you noticed how the light has changed?  Daybreak is early, and the sunset is later.  Around five oclock in the evening (afternoon?) the sun hits my one window and casts shadows on the wall-just lovely. Little promises from the spring season. Have a good w

I have three projects currently on the needles:  a scarf , a sweater and a pair of socks .  So naturally I cast on something new!  You know to chase away the end of winter blues.  I've been wanting to make another color affection shawl since I knit my first one . I loved the pattern, but the shawl felt too heavy to wear with nearly three skeins of fingering-it's a tad heavy, so I "lent" the shawl to my daughter who has a young strong neck :) Anyways, this shawl is a lace weight version and I'm kind of excited about the process.  Already it feel light and airy! Last night I added the second color and who knew miles and miles of garter stitch could be so compelling of a knit.  The older I get the more I love garter stitch. There is sweater progress of course and I posted about it yesterday here .  I am enjoying that knit process as well. For my reading, well, it's the same and really I have nothing new to add to my critique.  The book is good and I

I completed the body of the Kelp sweater  over the weekend.  I originally went straight to an icord bind off but it just didn't look pleasing.  I decided to rip out the icord bind off adding three garter stitch ribs before an icord bind off.  I think it looks much better.  I'm hoping blocking will tame the edging from curling.   I started the first sleeve and my oh my the progress that can be made in mere minutes on a sleeve compared to the body of the sweater.  So speedy so fast so much gratification :)  When I arrive at the cuff I think I'll do the same as the body edging.  This sweater has been fun to design and knit, using Ann Budd's book . If you are feeling adventurous in branching out and trying your hand at designing, all the math is complete in this book.  You just do a swatch, take some measurements and choose.  Easy peasy :) I recommend for the best fit, measure a beloved sweater in your closet.  If you love the fit of that garment, you can

This weekend, I listened to the birds singing to me, well at least I think to me.  Each morning they serenaded and whispered about the changing season.  Yesterday, I walked in the afternoon drinking in the fresh air, witnessing the melting snow.  A huge snow storm is now predicted to be a dusting.  I'm guessing friends south of me will be experiencing shoveling. Saturday was dinner at a friend's house, laughing, talking and eating-all good ingredients for a happy life.  I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing piped on top in a decorative swirl.  We talked of our children, house projects, vacations and animals. Over the weekend, I helped my husband with some paperwork that needed to be done.  I was the figure checker-with my trusty calculator I am invincible!  Since I was working, dinner was a simple soup and sandwiches. We started watching All Creatures Great and Small on netflix.  Ah, the simpler life :) We used to watch this program religiously when we were f

I'm having technical difficulties today, sigh.  This is the runner up photo instead of a photo that I'd love to share but because of whatever reason, you just cannot see it today :) What makes me happy: -the sun has been shining more often than not this week -the snow is so melted and condensed I can walk on it without sinking -the birds are singing joyfully today not knowing cold -I still have one bar of "good" chocolate left -finally I'm casting of the body of the sweater, it's been a long time coming -getting mail and sending mail -my haircut -friendships forged through the blogging community -the rabbit hole of ravelry :) -stretching grilled chicken into three separate meals-(read that as not cooking!) -discovering that chicken salad is fabulous with sweet red peppers as well as celery -dried apricots -crossing items off of my to do list Have a lovely weekend :)

Yesterday was an excellent wonderful fun mail day.  I received not one but two packages-how fantastic is that??  First off is my swap partner's package.  I was ever so lucky to have Jen pull my name.  Look at the wonderful gifts, wash clothes and yes there is an image of a chicken.  Lovely lace weight yarn so pink and soft.  The best present was the one her daughter insisted on tucking inside the box. Two brightly colored balls for Frodo!!  So here are some blurry poor action shots of my little Frodo enjoy the presents :) Did you know he loves to take a ball and toss it up into the air?  I think in his past life he might have been a circus performer.  Thank you Jen for your thoughtfulness.  Thank you Amanda from Sweet potato claire  blog for organizing this wonderful swap. Also in the mail, I received a skein of Loft from Andee who blogs at Match the Pictures .  Thank you for the lovely skein in such a beautiful neutral shade.

I honestly haven't much progress to show this week on my sweater .  I have an inch or two to go before I do the edging.  The edging will be an icord bind off, unless I change my mind again.  Next up will be the sleeves.  Oh and I did finish my shawl which you can read all about on this post .  I wore it two days ago and I just love it-so warm and bright! I'm reading The Lavender Garden  by Lucinda Riley and the start was so so.  However after a few chapters the plot has developed and I've been devouring the story.  I love books that go back in time to solve a family mystery and since I've been in a WW II mood, this one is heading back for some espionage in France. very exciting :) What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

I do love winter, honest!  But somehow over the weekend, we were gifted with fifty degrees and when I walked with only a fleece jacket it felt good.  Yesterday I had all my hair cut off, well how about seven inches?  I usually do drastic hairdos at the end of February.  I chuckled to myself because I went in for a wee trim.  Anyways, shampooing has become a breeze and I'm thrilled with my impulse decision. I've noticed also how my knitting shades change towards a more spring-like theme.  My socks are just so cheerful and bright.  Same with the purple scarf-reminds me of my lilac bush.  So for now, I will snuggle into the end of winter.  The winds are blowing, I am cold while standing outside but the reality is we are slowly waving goodbye to a favorite season of mine.  All too soon, trees will be budding, flowers will bloom and all the woolen knits will be tucked away for deep fall.  Savoring each season as it enters and exits is a delight.  Being in the moment is a gi

I had another relaxing weekend and I'm grateful for it.  I did a bit of shopping and a lunch out with my husband on Saturday.  The weather was springlike, we shrugged the winter wear and donned the spring jackets!  I rather enjoyed it-but I still like winter.  We walked with our dog through melting streams of snow banks and breathed in that earthy scent that is the cusp of seasonal change.  No hats, no shawls, but I did wear a cowl. My meals reflected the warmer weather, big salads with perfect avocados and lots of crunchy vegetables.  I think salad season will remain as the temperatures drop once again and winter revisits.   There was chocolate, in bars, and in cookies. I spent time with friends as we knit together, sharing our projects, laughing, talking and enjoying the company. I watched more Dr. Who while knitting on simple socks.  Chats with the kids-spring breaks are merely two weeks away, with an overlap weekend when we will all be together. how was you