Pumpkin Sunrise

The chicks are out, not real chicks!  The chicks my sister made for me.  I've lined them up on the window sill right where I can see them while I sit and knit.  Decorating my house for spring has slowly evolved into a fun activity.  Thanks to my sister, I have many new items to display here and there. Have you read Bella Grace ?  If not, maybe the next time you are in a Barnes and Noble you can flip through the magazine and see if it's for you.  I love the photography and the inspirational words that are held within the pages. My nephew is expecting a baby (you know what I mean, he and his girlfriend!).  I usually knit blankets, but I am leaning towards a baby sweater, the top down one from Elizabeth Zimmermann.  I've knit it before here and here .  I'll do a swatch...wait a minute...who am I kidding, I'll start the sweater with this blue yarn and see if I like the way it knits up.  If not, I'll dig through my stash once again. Swatching for an adu

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, my oh my, was it good.  Today the sun is shining away and we walked twice!  Yep, the snow is melting and for my second walk, I wore my light jacket.  I've heard robins singing to each other but haven't seen one as of yet.  But knowing they are here is quite thrilling.  A few trees are just about to sprout in our neighborhood.   While walking this afternoon, we saw an older couple sitting outside on their front steps wearing winter coats just absorbing the sun's rays.  Hello waves were exchanged and I think we communicated to each other "how nice the weather!". After an afternoon knitting with dear friends, I'm back home facing the laundry, some reading and sinking into an evening that will stay light.  Daylight savings time is g

Ever do slowly does this blanket grow.  One day I shall be finished with it.  When I started this blanket, first my son claimed ownership, then my daughter and my husband.  I declared "it's mine!" but really let's be honest, the blanket belongs to Frodo.  He sees me working on it and jumps up and sits beside me on the sofa. He gives me upside down spiderman glares (reference to the first spiderman movie where there is an upside down kiss) until I place the blanket on him.  If Frodo could speak he woulds say "ahh, finally she understood me".  He sleeps in his woolen cocoon until I leave the sofa. The vet called and Frodo does not have Lyme disease, phew.  He is just taking his time getting over his teeth cleaning.  Maybe he was a little disgruntled about the whole process.  I also think he is  tired of winter.  Whatever his reason, he has perked up and it will be quite a while before he needs to have his teeth cleaned again. We celebrated my hu

This past week, I've been making progress on my gray cowl (for me) and I started another pair of socks for me.  I'm having fun alternating between the two projects and hopefully I'll have one of the them finished next week, I hope. For reading, I'm thoroughly enjoying this book A Tale for the Time Being .  A ziplock bag containing a hello kitty lunch box and a diary written by a young girl washes up on shore and is found by Ruth who starts reading the diary.  The story so far is bittersweet and I'm pulled to each of the main characters, Ruth and Nao.  I simply savor a book that has a strong beginning and draws my interest and empathy right into the plot. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

I find myself wanting more and more cowls to wear this winter.  They are warm and easy to loop for extra warmth.  Yet I only own a few compared to the endless shawls I own, I'm not complaining, I'm stating a fact.  I'm in a cowl wearing mood this winter. This pattern  is a delight to knit.  Just keep in mind you need about 320 yards, 300 yards is quite skimpy.  This is the second time I've knit this pattern.  I decided to go up one needle size and bought lots of yarn.  I love the way this cowl feels and drapes. Ravelry notes are here

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.  The snow has been falling all day long.  This is the snow that was supposed to start late afternoon early evening.  This is the snow that was to be one to three inches.  I woke up ready to go to Mass and when I took Frodo outside found the snow steadily falling and more than three inches is likely.  Plans were scrapped.  New plans formulated. I spent the day sitting, reading and changing out the laundry from washer to dryer.  Walking today was out (again).  Frodo had a dental cleaning last Thursday and I think he is still a little blah from it.  I worry that he has lyme again, but luckily I was smart enough to have the blood work drawn and will hear whether he needs some medicine early next week.  Since he is a tick magnet, I have the test done twice a year.   My wee

I find myself walking through these days looking for signs of spring.  Finally after a deep freeze, Frodo and I were able to get out and walk, oh my, it was refreshing to be outside, breathing fresh abundant air.  Can you believe March is upon us?  March is a birthday month for many of my family.  I see more cakes in my future. I furiously reviewed our cell phone plan, making a detailed analysis and comparing notes.  I rarely change plans and so when it's been six + years, I have six years worth of catching up understanding their new catch phrases. I've been savoring the light that I see every day in my home.  Late winter light might just be my favorite light of all.  Have you noticed that after dinner there is daylight?  I see in my future the after dinner walks resuming.  Frodo will be thrilled. So I sit here at my computer dreaming of walks where I am wearing a thin fleece jacket and mitten free hands.  I predict my dream will come true sometime in March.  Whi

I know I stated previously that I was finished knitting this cowl series.  I made three of them that I gave as Christmas presents.  I wanted one for myself but was tired of the pattern.  Yesterday, I recovered from that feeling and cast on one for myself.  I want my March to be "finish all of the wintry items so I can focus on bright colors".  This lofty goal is not set in stone, as a knitter you can always change your mind on what you want to knit.  Right? Oh and I did finish that super fast aran weight cowl ! I finished The Peach Keeper  and overall the novel was a light and easy read which I enjoyed.  For lent, I've been reading a chapter of this book, Linking Your Beads every day or every other day.  While at the religious store with my daughter before lent began this book caught my eye.  It's filled to the brim with the history of the rosary and explains prayer beads in other cultures and religions before the practice of the rosary that we know today.  I l

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.  My weekend - -our daughter was home for the weekend along with her fiance -pizza one night, a home cooked dinner of chicken and roasted potatoes the other -waiting for an epic snow storm and getting about 2 inches, 3 inches if you are wishing for lots -wedding cake samples (not what is in that photo) -cupcakes, chocolate chip muffins, sugar cookies- oh my! -seriously thinking of giving up the sweets any day now (once those two lonely cupcakes are gone) -missing my daily walks, the weather is not cooperating these days -cups of tea and watching tv and knitting, a perfect recipe for a relaxing weekend -we are tired!  My husband and I are going to sink being two -leftovers for dinner and a quiet evening ahead how was your weekend? I'd love to hear!

Just a few happenings this week that I noticed while bracing the frigid temperatures a second time around.  On Tuesday Frodo and I did our walk in 24 degrees and I considered that "warm".  My how perception changes when you are facing zero degrees.  Early mornings and late evenings are staying lighter longer and with those hours stretching comes more activity.  Gone is my hibernation feeling, I am ready for more outdoor activities! This week our sparrow who lives in the little tree beside our house has been sunning herself and leaving tiny foot prints in the snow.  She is ready for spring - I predict there will be little babies once again.  The deer continue to hang out at the wood's edge, we've seen up to eight and frequently they are sleeping under the trees, content and secure. On our walk, Frodo and I discovered large animal prints in the snow, he went mad following the scent and I wondered, bear?  (nope, hibernating most likely) large cat?  (doubt it) and

I started a cowl with some lovely aran weight wool.  Yup, I'm on size nine needles which is unheard of for me.  I love how quick this knit is going.  Super fast :)  I chose the reversatile cowl  for my pattern and the only modification so far is eliminating the double wrap on one of the purl rows. Oh and if you haven't see the sweater I finished, I posted about it here . I finished Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore and loved it.  I highly recommend this read if you like a fast paced plot, solving puzzles, books, computers, and nerdy stuff.  Earlier this week, I started to read The Peach Keeper  so far, I'm enjoying the story.  Nice and easy read. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams