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Weekends

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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. Hello!  Another weekend here and I had a great one! Friday found me sitting in a bicycle shop while my husband test drove (rode?) various bikes in stock.  I said each one was nice if asked.  I behaved since I had a book to read in my lap, you know, everyone should have a novel and some knitting in their tote, just saying, it helps pass the time when you are not interested in bike shopping.  However, I have learned a lot about bikes passively.  I wonder how much he has learned passively about knitting? my santa barbara yarn buy !  Saturday found me sitting in another bike shop reading the same book...honestly I think I know how he feels when he is sitting outside a yarn shop.  Let's be honest, knitting stores are WAY more exciting than bike stores. Seriously though, it was ni

Santa Barbara Family Vacation

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Get ready, there will be a LOT of photos on this blog post edition.   On May 11th my husband and I flew from Newark to LAX airport while my son flew from Boston to LAX airport to meet up and drive up to Santa Barbara to visit our daughter and son in law.  They are there for a few years while our son in law completes a post doc at UCSB. We've been planning this trip since they moved there last September and I was hesitant to be traveling so very far away from my home (which you know I love).  Luckily I was pumped up with prednisone which made the time change negligible and my comfort levels tip top. I was lucky enough to get to visit one LYS while there (  Loop and Leaf  ).  So friendly and so full of yarn :)  I did buy one skein but that will be for different post. My husband is quite patient while waiting outside the store, I wish I was as patient with him while he is in a used record vinyl store (I'm not...). They should pair the two together! my son in l

Currently on the Needles

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Good morning!  How are all of you this fine Wednesday?  My knitting has been the same since last week. I am almost done with the Hey Now Shawl .  I love the super simple pattern and how easy it is to memorize.  I can pick it up and put it down at random.  This made the perfect travel project.  I will be writing up where I was and who I was with in a few days. Let's just say I have jet lag.... Now the book.  I am thoroughly enjoying The Border of Paradise by Esme Weijun Wang, what a compelling read! The characters are complex and I empathize with each and every one.  The Gothic tones also excite me. I am over a third of a way through the book and I'm wanting more.  (I love that wanting feeling while I read!) The other book I am reading The Nightingale    is on my Kindle.  I'm enjoying this one as well, I know many of you have read this one and it's been on my to read list. What are you knitting and reading? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams *I hope to c

Currently on the Needles

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My knitting has returned to shawl making, which as you know, I adore.  I find it soothing to focus on the soft rows and easy charts.  I'm in my happy place!! My reading is super quick and easy.  My son recommended the book above as a "must read" and I love it.  It's middle school?  age and I love the fast simple sentences and the condensed chapters. What are you knitting and reading this week? Projects:   Hey Now Shawl and Dandelion Daze Shawl Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Weekends

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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. How was your weekend?  I hope it was whatever you wanted it to be! My weekend was all about being with family and enjoying time together.  We've had good food, lots of laughing and smiling. Slow mornings where the alarm is not set.  Leisure afternoons reading a novel comparing plots amongst ourselves. Being in a book lover family has its perks!  Long walks out and about in neighboring towns, absorbing the sights and sounds of nature.  Our family time together is coming to a close tomorrow. Of course I'll be sharing some photos later this week - stay tuned. How was your weekend?

Around Here

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This week has been slow and easy.  I've been thinking about future knitting projects, all in my head, nothing written down as of yet.  Daydream knitting is just as much fun as real knitting.  The above yarns are purl soho line weight (desert blue) and madtosh - tosh merino light (vanilla bean colorway). I know they will be future shawls or cowls. I thought I'd share with you the tote bag I bought.  I purchased charcoal because my spring jacket is RED and the kiwi green bag that I really really was atracted to something fierce would make me look like a Christmas themed person. I think about these things.  As you can see there is lots of room and lots of pockets for everything :) an organizer's dream come true.  I brought both of my shamrock plants back from the brink of death this past month.  They seem to be picky about how much water they get and how much sun they get.  Go figure.  I wish I had a green thumb like my dad and my sister, but sadly I don

Weekends

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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. Well, hello! Let's just say I had to work hard at getting this post up.  Why is it when I sit in front of the computer I have technical difficulties?  Sigh.  It seems to be tiny voices saying "buy a new computer" and I keep ignoring that tiny voice. How was your weekend? Here is my summary: : clouds giving way to blue skies, then sunshine! : : a day out at a craft festival in a neighboring town over : : river watching : : relaxing and knitting : : phone calls and texts from the kids today : : knitting with a dear friend today: : reminiscing about being a mom : : thinking of my mom : : pizza on Friday night, home made of course : : dinner out with my husband to honor Mother's day :) How was your weekend? Happy Mother&

Relaxing and Resting

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Can you see three deer?  One of them is awfully shy, the other two?  They are brazen, they stand and stare me down and scoff at Frodo who desperately wants to catch one of them.  They think he is ridiculous, and I think he is a positive dog who seeing the glass half full.  A great way to think. Yesterday, I heard him barking out in the backyard and just knew there was a garter snake refusing to move.  Again, it's a stand off, so I call Frodo back inside to give the snake some peace and time to hide. Fifteen minutes usually does the trick. This past week was kind of crazy on the health front.  My theory is a simple one, my one medication for inflammation was changed (I requested it...) and that just set me up for my body going bonkers with an RA flare up. On Wednesday morning, I called my RA doctor who called me back within the hour.  I am now on a course of prednisone and back on the old tried and true anti-inflammatory drug I do well on.  What a crazy week though.  I w

Currently on the Needles

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Hello!  This is going to be a short and quick post.  I am thoroughly enjoying my book immensely, I cannot put it down :)  I shudder at the thought that I was contemplating on giving up the read when I first started.  Crazy right? My socks are slowly making progress, I am nearing the heel flap of the second sock and soon I'll have a pair of woolen socks for the fall weather. What are you knitting and reading this week? Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams

Block Scarf Complete

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Last fall my husband requested a thin purple scarf while we were exploring a fiber festival.  You know me, I was thrilled to have a quest and a project to plan.  I found some lace weight yarn ( jaggerspun ) and already knew I would create a simple block pattern, alternating purls and knits. While knitting with two strands held together on size three needles, I found the project "rustic".  I kept hoping that blocking would soften the fabric and make the stitches even.  Well my oh my!!  The blocking did wonders! Doesn't it always?? I love the way the stitches pop and how the scarf turned out exactly as I imagined.  Ravelry notes are here .

Weekends

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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 reclaimed the coffee table - you know what that means, our son left to go back up to Boston until he visits sometime in the summer (nothing planned as of yet).  He left Saturday morning so I blitzed the house, tidied up counters and corners and righted my visual world. We had a great week together but my, I'm tired! This extra-rainy drippy weekend was nice to hibernate and rest up.  I read my book off and on, and when I wasn't reading, I was knitting away. Today I went to Mass and we ran some errands together just the two of us.  We took back roads to our destination instead of the highway.  I loved seeing spring time in the rolling hills and mountains.  I wonder about the people who live in the houses, are they happy?  is it their dream home? etc... There