Pumpkin Sunrise

I think I might have stunned you!  Not only is there a new book but two new projects on the needles as well.  I seem to have a case of cast on fever.  I love when that happens.  First off the green project is a scarf for my husband.  He loves green and I have two skeins of dark green and one skein of light green of Frog Tree  from deep deep deep stash.  Before ravelry stash, I'm guessing :) Next up is my cotton linen blend project- A Table Runner  and I posted yesterday all about it. I'm on the second skein which is the last skein and I predict this knit will be done quickly. For reading, I am onto a light book titled Between, Georgia  by Joshilyn Jackson.  So far so good-the plot is moving quickly and I care about each character and wonder what will happen next, all the important ingredients to a lovely read. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Over the weekend I dug through my collection of yarns, with the idea to make a table runner for the kitchen table.  I knew I had some cotton linen blend yarns and was delighted to discover two skeins of Maggi Knits Irish MK collection-Maggi's Linen .  I bought these skeins many years ago. I cast on 54 stitches and started a seed stitch border for six rows.  Once the six rows were completed I switched to having six stitches on each edge remaining in seed stitch while the middle in stockinette stitch.  Extremely easy!  I will make the runner as long as the yarn lasts. Ravelry notes are here

This weekend I walked daily and noticed some green in my surroundings.  Sure it's algae and moss and weeds but it's green and beautiful to behold!  Also some stray spring bulbs are blooming on the hillside, crocuses to be exact, but too far to photo. My weekend was uneventful and yet full.  Yesterday we had homemade wings for dinner and what made them special was not sharing them with others.  Sounds silly but it was fun just the two of us digging in.  To offset the wings, we had a healthy vegetable platter.  Oh and sugar cookies :) Today after Mass and lunch at home, we headed out for another walkabout.  Dinner is "breakfast for dinner" theme.  Eggs, asparagus and toast and if I'm lucky in my freezer search some turkey breakfast sausages. Oh and some more sugar cookies :) There was: knitting, reading, writing, talking, laughing, playing with Frodo, list making and goal setting. How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

I've been enjoying the sun light that streams through the kitchen window during the day.  When the sun is shining, of course.  The week has been a bit cloudy and bleak but around noon or so the sun likes to say 'hello'.  I've been taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine with daily walks with Frodo.  After this winter season of hibernating, I feel good getting outside, breathing some fresh air and moving my body. The yoga practice in the morning helps me immensely as well.  Why is something that is so good for you so hard to initiate?  I wonder.... I haven't seen a rabbit yet in the yard but I know the day is coming.  For now, Frodo has been barking at the deer who like to stare right back at him and wonder what his problem is.  Poor Frodo so misunderstood. The ceramic rabbit in the photo is actually a salt shaker, unfortunately I broke the pepper shaker and now it's widowed. The Christmas cactus on the left has been trimmed since this photo.  The

Last night I feverishly finished the color affection shawl in lace weight yarn.  I love this version so much more than the fingering weight one I knit a few years ago.  The lace weight version is so light and airy and so so very soft. The photos are unblocked and I'm not sure I will block this shawl.  I like how it looks as is and I do not want to stretch out the garter stitch rows.  I love how the ends curl as well :) I have at least 1/3 to a 1/2 skein of yarn in each color left over and already my mind is mulling over a triangle scrappy version of boneyard shawl or something similar. At least that was my thought last night.  Now that a new day has dawned, I'm rethinking that idea.  Oh well, the yarn will be there whenever I decide.

I'm nearly finished with the book Where'd You Go Bernadette?  by Maria Semple.  I've enjoyed the story immensely and although I was skeptical of how the novel was written by memos, letters, and documents, I quickly adjusted and found the format entertaining.  I have no idea what I'll be reading after this, still mulling my options. My knotty gloves  are making slow but happy progress.  I've nearly completed the first cuff cabling pattern and will be knitting the hand and thumb gusset soon.  My color affection shawl  is one inch away from casting off.  Each row takes quite a bit of time-I love that the most about shawl knitting!! What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

The weather was warm enough over the weekend to resume walking the dirt road that is near my house. This walk is a restive walk, quietness descends with each step and you hear trees rustling and birds singing.  I love this walk because of the solitude. As you can see, brown brown brown is everywhere you look.  However in a mere few weeks we will be witnessing some fresh spring green sprouting.  In my youth, I rarely appreciated early spring but now I do.  I love the anticipate early spring provides.  I know that one day I will set out for a walk and see signs everywhere I turn that spring has arrived. P.S.  The three inches of snow from yesterday morning is nearly melted and today will be almost 60 degrees!

Well will you look at that.....it has snowed once again.  Unpredicted by the experts!  Rain forecast quickly turned into a sleet forecast followed by snow, accumulating snow.  All happening in a span of an afternoon and evening. My weekend was quiet and relaxing.  We ate through the week's left overs so I did not cook one meal-always a plus when you are just a couple. There was: -reading-books and online articles -no walks because of the rainy (ahem and snowy) weather -knitting with friends and catching up -finishing two journals and cracking open new ones-heavenly!! -daydreaming of projects to be.....still mulling over the possibilities How was your weekend? Joining Amanda

my sister made the bunny! The Happy List -loving my prescription sunglasses, I can walk and see and have shaded eyes!  Now I know why my mom loved hers so :) -having a three in a row good avocado day -yoga in the morning and after a week, I can feel results -daily walks with Frodo -chickpeas on my daily salad-yum! -my color affection shawl -extremely addictive knitting -the robin who is building a nest outside my window -almonds -overall happy days What makes your happy list?

Last Wednesday, many of you informed me through commenting that the book I'm reading is good.  Well so far you are right-I'm enjoying the way this book is written and I continue to wonder what will happen next.  I can understand the clique attitude of women that the author portrays clearly, however I'm at a loss in understanding the corporate environment, not my lifestyle.  However, this is a fantastic book, the author is witty and creative. My knitting....oh I have been so busy these days.  I finished my cardigan and posted about it here .  I've added the third color to my color affection shawl -love the garter stitch and moseying about the rows.  If you haven't knit this shawl you should.  If you've knit it once, you should knit it twice.  I am loving how the shawl is growing in the lace weight yarn :)  My other knitting is the scarf that I started quite a bit ago. The pattern is committed to memory and it's comforting to pick up and knit then put do

 I'm thrilled to have this sweater off the needles!  I found buttons in my button jar that matched perfectly.  Whenever I'm out and about shopping, if I see buttons I like I buy them not knowing their sweater future.  Most of the time this works out for me! I created some waist shaping a third away from the side seam, added a little lace detail along the button band edges. The edging of the body and the sleeve cuffs are four garter ridges then an i cord bind off.  This gives the edge a polished look.  For the button bands, I only did four ridges of garter stitch and bound off regularly.  The neck edge was complete using one garter stitch ridge before an i cord bind off. Ravelry notes are here