Pumpkin Sunrise

This week has been a tender week for me.  Twice this week, the rudeness of strangers aimed at me has left me taking their words and behaviors personally.  I wish I wasn't so sensitive!  Today is a new day, I'm gathering my mindfulness and caring kindness.  Let's hope I move through this day with grace.  Also, I am accepting myself as I am - sensitivities and all. My sister is arriving this afternoon for a girls only weekend.  We have been looking forward to this for a few months.  You know very well, we will be knitting and talking.  We have a few brief outings planned for both days.  I'm excited! The new pool liner is in place, the whole process took about 12 hours and everyone worked hard in the heat.  I made lemonade for them hoping that would help.  The exciting part was when the water was delivered, I felt like a kid in a trance by the gushing water.   My son said he was looking forward to fall which gave me license to wish for future seas

I am knee deep in knitting long term projects this summer.  Yesterday, I worked on the body shaping of my top down sweater.  No thinking involved on my part just knitting miles of stockinette with decreasing every eight rows.  I love this part of the sweater knitting. My whiteout shawl is looking lovely.  I'm completely over the doubting phase and wondering should I drop a needle size, or should I switch the yarns.  Now that there is heft to the fabric all is well and I'm extremely pleased with the pattern so far.  I'm about 17 rows away from the lace section. To be honest, I haven't done much on this lace weight shawl .  Instead, I've been working on the never ending sock blanket trying to get to the end.  Maybe I'll accomplish this goal in two weeks?  Maybe. So while I have these long term projects, I'm dreaming of other projects - mitts and socks to be specific.  For now, they'll remain in my imagination.

Before I talk about my weekend, I'd like to thank you for the lovely comments on my last post.  This little blogging community brings all of us closer together and I treasure your visits here.  I'm glad I'm not alone peeking into windows :) Today, I'm trying hard not to hate on summer.  I'm wilting before your eyes!  I took a walk with Frodo at 9:30 a.m. believing the weather was truly 70 degrees.  Well, well, well.....the humidity at the time was 85% (this is why I hate summer).  Once I returned home, I complained to my sister which I'm sure was tiring to hear. Then I cut my bangs and instantly I felt better. My liatris is blooming!  I appreciate when plants grow without any help from humans. This perennial  loves where it blooms.  I love that it attracts lots of bees and butterflies and this hummingbird moth . Yesterday on our daily walk, we saw the blue heron, you'll have to use your imagination of what he looked like because I didn't

Good morning to you all, how are you?  I'm in the kitchen at the table with my computer and the rain has stopped for now.  Yesterday, the rain arrived shortly after lunch and kept on going.  My walking goals have been set aside because of my 'valid' excuses, it's raining or it's too muggy.  Frodo, my faithful walking buddy doesn't like hot or muggy weather either. I've been thinking about motivation  and inspiration towards writing and blogging consistently since Grace mentioned this in a comment on the last post.  First and foremost, I am a talker.  I talk all the time and if there is no one to listen to me, I talk to myself. Luckily I have Frodo, so my non-stop chatting has ears to capture my string of words. My inspirations ebb and flow like many of you.  I have times when I wonder what will I write about.  Magically, when I sit at the computer and upload my photos I find the words, I find a thought to expand on or I write about what is on

Yesterday, I was itching to cast on something different.  I have plenty to keep me busy with my sweater and my long term shawl knitting and yet I felt the overwhelming urge to have another project on the needles.  As a knitter, I find that two projects isn't enough.  Three to four projects is my sweet spot.  I love to have choices and I love to pick up each one, knit a bit and then turn to another project. This knit picks lace yarn was gifted to me by a friend a few years ago and I'm thrilled to be using it this week.  Stash diving is rewarding and saves me money (to buy more yarn).   I am pretty in pink! Ravelry notes here

Frodo and I took a walk this afternoon and I heard the cicadas for the first time this summer.  Summer days are in full swing now.  By the end of this month, the tree frogs will be singing too.  So far, I've been enjoying this season.  Check back with me at the end of August and I'll be grumbling away.  For now, I'm enjoying the flowers, watching the nature changes on my walks. After Mass last night, we picked up a pizza for dinner at a local business that is our new "favorite" place.  This restaurant has been here for over 20 years and we only just discovered their delicious menu.  Where have I been? Today I was successful in not consuming news (well a little bit, but not much).  I focused on my menu plan for the week, read some magazines and chatted with both kids at some point during the day.  After I hit the publish button, I'll be knitting. I'm rested and recharged for another week.  I'm counting down the days for when my sist

I'm reading some light and easy books this week, you know, summer reading.  I love the pick it up and put it down ease and the low-thinking impact.  I know when the end of August arrives, I'll be craving some serious literary writing. I bought the victorian book on my beach vacation after a delightful old house tour.  If you ask me, we could all do with more manners -  where did they go? Last night I separated the sleeves from the body on my beloved cardigan .  The mindless stockinette is nicely paired with a murder mystery on TV or with a kindle book (kindles stay open on my lap). If you're analyzing my above photo, you will see a glimpse of a different coffee table.  The square one is going to be refinished by my husband.  I called my dad for detailed instructions (he refinished furniture professionally) and we (meaning he) are ready to go!  I hit my limit of water marks on the table even when using sturdy coasters. Sadly, there are some deep marks lovingly