Pumpkin Sunrise

Good morning!  How are you?  I'm doing pretty good, I am finding pockets of knitting time here and there.  I try to squeeze in a few stitches, all for my sanity.  I do at least 3 - 4 rounds on the son in law sweater each day.  I also started a pair of simple socks for my daughter.  That luscious skein in the photo (far right) will be a simple cowl for me.  I haven't had a chance to cast on as of yet.  Thank goodness for simple knits, it's what I need at this time of my life.  Christmas is just around the corner and soon the rest of my family will be arriving on Friday.  What have you been knitting or crafting?

Ah, another weekend and guess what -  I did not rescue another kitten, phew!  I am nearly getting used to the idea that we have a kitten and I have nearly struck some sort of rhythm to my days without going nuts from my self imposed anxiety stress. Frodo is doing really well.  He might just be on board one day within the year.  I'd like to think so.  I've learned to have a kitten station, let's face it, it's my knitting station that supports kitten care.  I try to hold her and play with her several times a day.  In the evenings, my husband has her loose in a confined area of the living room for her play time while Frodo is upstairs with me in the bedroom.  Everyone is settling into a routine. My favorite thing so far is when she is on my lap purring and she stares deeply into my eyes.  I'm guessing she is saying 'thank you'.  I stare back and say 'you are one VERY lucky cat'.  We agree. Today, my friends came over for our Christmas e

Thank you thank you thank you!  Thank you for your support and guidance while we adjust to our new family addition.  Holly is doing better and Frodo is being Frodo.  I cannot get a photo of him - he's too busy moving around all over the place.  I value our on line friendships and the unwavering support we give each other.  Isn't it wonderful? I take comfort knowing that people are giving us positive thoughts and well wishes.  Somehow I know everything will be okay. Our son is home and he's been playing the piano every couple of hours.  Holly lives in the room with the piano so today I moved her to the front room (formal living room? turned into a temporary cat room?) that has doors to close or use a baby gate.  After she adjusts to that new location in her cage, we will begin to let her out of the cage (doors closed - no Frodo) and be under adult supervision.  The room is decorated for Christmas and it's only a few weeks more of that business.  All too soon,

Hello!  How is your knitting or crafting going?  Mine has come to a screeching halt because of Holly the Rescue Kitten.  However, yesterday I was blissfully working on the  sweater for about an hour and my stress lessened.   That is a signal from the universe to knit more, worry less.  I hear you universe!  I finished another gift hat a few days ago.  Notice how skillfully I photoed the hat without showing the messy desk.  I need to get in that room and clean it up before all the family arrives.  I'm done with hat knitting for now.  I've started a pair of socks for my daughter but forgot to snap a photo yesterday. Holly update:  She had her first wellness visit on Monday and gained 2 oz in 48 hours.  The vet guesses she is 8 weeks old.  She did not receive any shots because she isn't fully well enough, we are scheduled to go back right before Christmas for that.  She is being de-wormed.  She had her first bath yesterday - wow!  What a difference in th

before the vet visit yesterday Well well well, I've had quite a weekend!  Yesterday while coming home from the grocery store preparing for my daughter and son in law's overnight visit to see us.  I was turning up our road and I spied a little orange ball of fluff.  I thought "God rest its soul" assuming it was dead.  Then it moved. I put my four way flashers on and picked it up and drove home.  I was on the phone with the vet off and on for a half hour trying to assess how serious the kitten's condition was in.  Eventually they said 'bring it in'. after the vet visit yesterday  While we waited at the vet hospital as they assessed and triaged her condition.  I said to my husband "Holly for a girl and Jingle for a boy"  and he said " we are keeping it???"  Call me crazy but yeah. Meet Holly. She was below body temperature and had low glucose and dehydrated, not to mention below weight.  I don't know how long she was i

It's the end of the week, again.  The days are flying by for me and I have a list crafted daily for all the tasks I'd like to achieve.  Do I get everything done?  Nope.  But I do what I can and what doesn't get done goes on the next day's list.  I'm sure all of you are doing the same thing. During Advent, I can get lost in being busy and acting frantically.  This year I'm being mindful and practicing being present in whatever activity I'm engaged in.  I'm a work in progress. Speaking of works in progress, I've got two!  Above is yet another hat to give as a gift.  Below is my son in law's sweater.  Just think, once I get to the armhole shaping that sweater is going to fly off the needles.  I'll be past the stockinette and into the juicy part of the pattern. By the way, the mom loved the tiny tea leaves cardigan .  If I get a photo of the toddler girl modeling and I have permission to share the photo, you will see it!  To be hon

Here's a fun tidbit about me, I cannot keep a secret nor could I save this sweet sweater until closer to Christmas.  On Monday, I delivered the sweater because I was too excited and really wanted the mom to have it early.  If you ask me, the buttons make the cardigan! I watch a lot of Disney Jr while babysitting, well not watch, but it's on in the background as I chase and play with the toddler I babysit. I've knit this pattern in adult form for me twice in the past.  It's well written and if you are into cardigans you have to wear buttoned at the top, this is the cardigan for you.  I knit size 2 and hopefully she'll be able to wear it for three seasons.  I will definitely knit this pattern again. Ravelry notes are here

How is your weekend?  Or should I say, how was your weekend?  Well, mine was pretty nice.  I love December and so far this weather is good, I'd like some snow but I can't have everything all at once.  I achieved a lot and marked off the many tasks that needed to be done that accumulated over the week.    Yesterday, I read blogs and became current in your lives.  I also squeezed in some time to do some book reading and relaxing.  I am reading the Hunger Games trilogy to finish off my reading year.  My son thinks I'll love them and he is usually right.  He is a good book recommender for me.  I am not a good book recommender to him.  I wonder why?  I had a lovely evening watching an episode of Dr Who and knitting away on some simple stockinette projects.  It's the only way to get through the boring knitting (except reading while knitting).  After 7:30 a.m. Mass, I went grocery shopping because I cannot figure where I can go during the week.  Even though my

My sister gave me those lovely project bags (that she made!) and the quince yarn and that wee button for my Christmas or birthday gift.  Sadly I cannot recall since we exchange our birthday gifts during the Christmas exchange.  I have been heavily hinting that I wanted some project bags.  This was the hint:  'hey sis, I really want you to sew me a project bag' .  When we were at the fiber festival, I pointed out several that I wanted her to make me.   See?  That's how you get it done.  Anyways, I put some pretty red wool in the red project bag, gearing up for casting on some socks for my daughter. My husband gets his stitches out of his hand tomorrow morning - hallelujah!  These two weeks have been challenging.  I'm ready for him to resume all previous duties that were agreed upon when we married.  I'm sure he is more than ready to take a shower without wrapping up his hand to keep dry. socks to be!  I've been playing my old Ipod nano on a old dockin

Over the Thanksgiving break, I cast on the tiny tea leaves cardigan for the toddler girl I baby sit.  Oh my goodness!  This is a fast sweater to knit up and super fun.  I am already on the second sleeve as of last night.  I forget then remember how fast knitting for a tiny person can go.  Dare I dream of finishing today? Well, maybe... My Ravelry project page and notes are here

We were with my side of the family this weekend.  What a full weekend!  We spent Thanksgiving day at my dad's house and ate too much food and exchanged our gifts since we do not travel during the Christmas break.  We were fortunate to have all of us attending this year.  As our families grow, our schedules are filled with visiting many relatives. my dad's dog Emma  My husband and I stayed at my sister's house for a couple of days and the 'kids' (grown adults now) stayed with my nephew at his house.  My sister and I had a lovely time out shopping on Black Friday at the places that have thinner crowds.  Apparently not everyone crafts.  I had the BEST salad ever when we ate out.  This wave of 'big' salads chopped or un-chopped is my kind of thing.  I'm on the left my sister is on the right  Friday evening was the annual gingerbread house making party with my aunt and cousins.  I like to sit and talk to my relatives and enjoy the company.  All