Pumpkin Sunrise

As promised here are a few photos of our trip to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.  We stayed at Villamare Villas  and enjoyed our time at the beach.  We walked the beach twice a day and looked for shells. We drove to a marina (above) and walked about there.  We ate lots of good food and we walked some more. We drove to this lighthouse and walked around some more and ate more food.  Really I think vacations are all about walking and eating....well maybe for me! All over the island are bike paths that wind throughout different plantations and each evening my husband and I went out with cameras and peeked at homes and villas. This is a lagoon near where we stayed (above photo) and each time I walked passed I looked for the alligator that I wasn't permitted to touch or feed.  Never saw him :(  I was hoping! More beach views and all the umbrellas that are for rent which we did not rent, we prefer to lug our own umbrella and be different. The next

Weekends are for memory making,  relaxing and enjoying quiet moments of our days.   If you would like, please share your weekend moments  in the comment section with a link to your blog. This weekend I -said "goodbye" to Hilton Head, the beach, sun and sand -said "hello" to my house (love being home!!) -road in the car forever because we live a very far way from Hilton Head -wasn't cranky in the car because I was going home :) (yes, I was cranky on the way down....) -avoided some mysterious bug or food illness that happened to my husband-phew! -told him what to eat when recovering-switching seamlessly into mother mode -face a pile of bills, receipts, and laundry -will be grocery shopping and going to Mass -will be enjoying the last day of the family being all together -will start sifting through the photos to share  How was your weekend? Please share your weekend link in the comments and if you can visit the other

I've been writing here on this blog for almost four years. I write for myself mostly but I also want to share with others my knitting, my entry into the empty nest lifestyle gracefully, the nature that surrounds me and savoring the every day moments. I think I would have loved the internet when my children were small while I was a stay at home mom, but it wasn't invented just yet.  I've made so many friends here on this blog, some I've known for years and some just a few weeks. I read all sorts of blog posts and have gained valuable information of beekeeping, chickens, small business start ups, and childrearing. I've traveled around the world while staying home and for this homebody that is just perfect for me. Each day I visit with you and catch one more glimpse of your lives as you do mine. This past week I've been in hilton head with my family for a vacation (yup).  A few months back I messaged Tracey from clover to see if we could possibly meet up

I've been furiously knitting the scrap blanket that I started last week. I'll start off by declaring that this is quite the addictive knitting project. I love picking out the next color and seeing how it looks to the adjacent color. So far so good. My son asked what I was knitting, then announced that he would like the blanket when it's done. A few days later my husband walked by and asked if it was his blanket. Um....I'm sorry but the blanket is mine :) Guess what?? I'm still, yes still, reading David Copperfield. I find it quite humorous and will chuckle at his descriptions of his first time being drunk and in love (not together).   Joining Ginny  and frontier dreams

                                                    Weekends are for memory making,  relaxing and enjoying quiet moments of our days.   If you would like, please share your weekend moments  in the comment section with a link to your blog.                                                                                                              Oh this weekend has been chock full of goodness. Over this weekend we celebrated our son's 21st birthday! I cannot believe he is 21, seems like yesterday (two decades ago) I went into labor on a memorial weekend.  At the time, we lived in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The daffodils were just starting to bloom and yes, there was snow on the ground-a wee bit, but still there. My first child was a four hour labor and he was a five hour labor, what a slowpoke :) He had donuts for his birthday cake since he's not a fan of mile high icing (!?!?). Luckily donuts come in a variety of ways and everyone had their fav

Noticing this week: -birds singing and singing, the woodpecker busy in the woods-two days ago, I saw his silhouette. -did not have a camera for that moment, so I've memorized the photo -warmer days-short sleeve wearing-and shorts! -freshly mulched beds that have that earthy smell and look beautiful -eating a perfect watermelon    -and avocado    -but not together -the sun rising early and the nights taking longer to arrive -daily walks occurring early or late, never midday -friendly neighbors and passerby people who give a wave -Frodo with a new haircut :) -wild raspberries, strawberries and roses blooming along the roadside with the phlox What have you noticed? Have a lovely weekend :)

Currently I have two projects on the needles, with another three projects swirling around in my head but not on the needles....yet.  First off on the left is a ten stitch blanket , I have oodles and oodles of left over yarn and have been attracted to Steph's blankets that she has made with scraps.  I thought that this pattern would be easier, but I'm not too sure, I also think that placing the colors might be easier for me as one big square.  I have a huge range of colors.  So far I am pleased! My second project is the red rock canyon shawl  that I started yesterday, I am already madly in love with the pattern, chart heavy (but there is written instructions!).  I saw Andee's   shawl  and knew that I needed to have one of my own. I finished my orchid shawl and posted all about it yesterday. My reading is the same.  (I believe I'll be typing that sentence for at least a week or two).  David Copperfield is a long book and I only read in short bursts.  I'll

I finished this shawl a few days ago, gosh!  I wish it was cold enough to wear :)  How exciting to have a new shawl to wear when the weather is cold once again.  I've tucked it away for later. Ravelry notes are here .  This pattern was a little challenging and very chart heavy.  So this knit is not for a beginner, I'd say an intermediate level with experience with charts.  For some reason I had trouble on one chart, truly believing there was a typo......as always, it was user error on my part. The pattern is perfect, clear and many hours went into writing the charts and test knitting.  I'm still amazed that this was a free pattern! I'm thrilled with the beads that are sprinkled at the end of the knitting.  Only two rows of bead placement so the beading ended up being fun and quick!!

Weekends are for memory making,  relaxing and enjoying quiet moments of our days.   If you would like, please share your weekend moments  in the comment section with a link to your blog. I love long weekends and this one will still be going for another two days :)  Yesterday, friends of ours came over to share a meal and celebrate my friend's retirement.  She now can knit whenever she wants.  For a surprise I bought a bakery cake.....you know the kind-it's knee deep in icing and totally not healthy at all to eat.  Just thinking about this cake makes me love it so.  Everyone said that the cake was too sweet, too rich but not a crumb was to be found. We had fun catching up, laughing and picking up where we left off-just like we always do.  Today after Mass I've got tons of laundry to do and a master menu list to make.  Grilling season is upon us so my meals have shifted towards salads of all sorts.  One can never ever have too many salads in their life.

My daughter returned to her apartment to start studying for the bar exam which she takes in July.  We had a fun visit and now as a mother I am going through some growing pains.  She has to find a place to rent where she will be working in the fall, luckily it's only a little over an hour.  The transitioning, the coordinating and the planning cause me mental stress. My son will be attending school in the fall in Boston for his Math PhD.  Again, apartment hunting, planning, packing and moving.  Deep breaths.  This is when I am most thankful for my hobby. I don't know about you, but knitting soothes me and places me in a calm state.  I immediately become in the moment and feel relaxed.  So between now and mid August my growing pains will be there.  I know that once again both kids will be in their new places starting new chapters and I will be letting go a little more (frantically knitting!). Above is my Mother's day gift from my daughter.  I find that more now

I have focused mainly on knitting this shawl  and have a mere four rows left before the project is off my needles!  I am placing beads and find the task fun and relaxing.  I haven't had much time to knit since both kids are home visiting but I manage to carve an hour each day to make some progress. My reading is the same.....I picked a very large book and my reading time is slim.   However, I am enjoying this read and the characters and the twisty plot.  I believe you cannot go wrong with reading a classic novel. Do you have a favorite? What are you knitting and reading? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams