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Currently on the Needles

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Oh my needles are flying, well, at least to me they are flying.  I finished my table runner , thank you for all the lovely compliments.  I have returned to my gloves and as you can see, I've completed the thumb gusset and two fingers.  I believe I'll be casting on the other hand tonight.  Finger knitting goes very fast. I'm nearly finished with Between, Georgia and I'm loving every minute I'm reading it.  The story is fast pace and I have no idea what will happen and that makes me want to read a bit more.  The book is an easy light read and I recommend it.  I also have my Mary Oliver book that was a gift from my daughter over Christmas.  Since it's poetry month, I've been reading bits here and there. Deborah over at Square Grannie  gave a wonderful review of David Copperfield  so I've downloaded the book on my ipad that that will be my read during the day.  I'm assuming that this book will take me quite a while, and that's fine.  I have on

Fresh and New

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Over the weekend, I finished my table runner and when I tucked in that last bit of yarn, I knew that this runner would grace my loved coffee table in the family room.  Oh this table has seen so much life!  I've talked about this table and how when the kids are home you can barely see the surface. This is the table that has numerous nicks due to a baby son hammering away along the edges with his toys many years ago. This table has seen cities built with pokemon figures, lego men, and my little ponies made by two children and lots of imagination.  I just can't part with this table-too many memories.  So I have accessorized it!  I love how this runner looks.  No soaking and blocking this time, just plain old steam iron. Ravelry notes are here

Weekends

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The weekend was warm, sunny and bright filled with two walks a day.  Sure there were chores like laundry to start and finish and frantic list of what needs to be completed by next weekend.  But tucked in the frenzy were numerous quiet moments. -blue toe nail polish and sandals -back porch swing and cushions dusted off and in place -drinking in the daylight, sunlight and fresh air -iced tea!  (decaf of course) -quickly knitting up a few small presents for Easter -a rice salad and cooking the salmon for me (yum!) and the steak for him on the outside grill -seeing the lawn turning green a little more each day how was your weekend? Joining Amanda

Salads, Habits and Health

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And then suddenly the weather turned to spring, it has felt wonderful!  Each day I've walked once or twice with Frodo enjoying the mild temperatures, feeling free with just a jacket and yesterday without at jacket!  I am thrilled with the sunlight and breezes that have graced this week. Three weeks ago I decided to get "healthy".  My definition is quite fluid on what healthy is.  When I was younger, the definition would have been to be skinnier, in a smaller size oh and whatever the trend would have been in the fashion magazines.  When I was 25 years old, I'd longingly look at photos of my 17 year old self wishing for that body shape and size.  Same as when I was 33 years old looking back to the past and measuring my physical present.  Why as women we are never happy with the here and now?  I wonder. So three weeks ago, my definition of healthy changed to internally healthy.  I wanted to eat fruits and vegetables, gain more flexibility and strength in my bod

Currently on the Needles

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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

A Table Runner

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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

Weekends

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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

Sunlight, Walks, and Windows

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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

Lace Weight Color Affection Shawl Complete

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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.

Currently on the Needles

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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

On My Walk

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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!