Pumpkin Sunrise

How is your Friday morning?  I'm sitting at the kitchen table, listening to a bird welcome the start of the day.  Mornings are when I am at my best self.  I write out a list, I reflect and write in my journals and most of my blog writing occurs in the mornings.  My gram was a morning person as well as my dad.  Can being a morning person be genetic?  I'd like to believe so.  Each day is unblemished and ready for anything I am opened to do.

My mitts, oh my - I do love them so.  That pop of hot pink brings me endless joy every single time I look at them.  I'm telling you, my knitting productivity is going at great speed making up for lost time in December. In December, I rescued a kitten and had family staying off and on for three weeks.  So all that knitting time lost in December was regained in January. One of the best reasons January exists, besides for welcoming in more daylight and sunshine, is to knit all the knits. The snowfling mitts are from a kit by Tanis Fiber Arts  that my husband ordered (well I ordered from him..) for Christmas.  The wools were delightful to knit with and the pattern was easy to follow for an intermediate knitter. Ravelry notes are here . PS:  See my cowl that I am wearing in the photos?  I wear this all the time, I can double or triple the wrap around my neck and I love it.  I am going to knit another one for me in the same fiber but a different color.  The patte

How was your weekend?  I hope it was filled with everything you love and lots of fun.  Yesterday, we drove to Penn State to visit our son for lunch and a tiny walk about.  I had every intention to take photos and forgot.  I'll blame it on my aging brain...

This past week, I've been doing all the knitting.  The more I knit, the happier I am and funny - I am making serious knitting progress!  Who would have thought?  My mitts are done and they need a photo shoot - I decided to give you a peek of one finished mitt.  I love them so.  Now I'm focusing on the second sleeve and trying my best to get the sweater finished. Not only did I finish the mitts yesterday, but I finished a book as well.  A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny.  I love reading books written in a series format.  I enjoy joining up with the same characters and seeing their personalities evolve.  I sort of guessed who the murderer was in this novel but still there were some sufficient twists to make me want to read the next one. My bear, yes - 'my bear', has returned and busted up another fence piece.  Gah!  He frustrates me so!  The game commissioner officer told me this week that the food source by a neighbor has been put away (bird feeders)

I am making great progress on the mitts !  I am confident that the first mitt will be finished today.  I have thoroughly enjoyed knitting this mitten kit up by Tanis Fiber Arts .  The perfect present for a knitter during these January days.  Guess what?  I'm on the second sleeve of my son in law's  sweater .  The second sleeve will go quicker because I've done it already.  Easy peasy.  Once this sleeve is done, I have the neckband to knit.  I'm confident that this will be done by mid February, if not sooner.  My knitting time has been reduced this week due to extra babysitting hours.  I find myself having difficulty transitioning from work to relaxation.  I'm wasting precious knitting time during the transition hours.  Also my reading time has been squashed as well.  This morning, I'm writing everything down on paper so I streamline my brain and focus on what I really want to do!  What are you working on this week?

My weekend was THE best weekend ever.  I sat and knitted away on all of my projects on the needles.  Honestly, it was soothing and calming, doctors should write prescriptions for this kind of wonderful mental medicine. Do you see that above photo?  That is Little Miss Holly seeking out Frodo under his ottoman.  Usually she is afraid of him and hissing at him (he is just existing...).  Last night, she crept up to the ottoman and ever so gently put her paw under the skirt.  In and then out, repeatedly.  Frodo was a saint but could only take so much out of the usually mean kitten, so he scurried away afraid!   Holly then crawled under the ottoman to check out his 'thoughtful spot'.  He does all of his great thinking under there. nearing the end of the first sleeve ! So I know you're thinking that all is well and Holly and Frodo are besties.  Nope.  Today, she was upstairs on the landing and I frightened her by going up the stairs.  She ran downstairs, sa

This week the weather finally gave me some serious snow fall.  Around six inches fell over Tuesday and Wednesday and disrupted many of my plans.  All the disruptions were welcomed because I was knitting instead.  See?  There's a benefit to snow, besides the beauty of white scenery and chilly wool wearing weather. The days are getting longer and January continues to be a quiet serene month for me, I am happy.  Yesterday, my babysitting time was cancelled and the gym was cancelled.  I sat and knit for a few hours on my second mitt.  My mantra was  'just one more row'.  One of the benefits of knitting for me is that while I am concentrating on the chart and all the knitting, my mind is empty of potential worries.  I never get tired of being grateful for the calming craft.  The rhythm of knitting empties my wrinkled thoughts and allows my mental vision to positive feelings. This week, I've been analyzing the grocery budget and tweaking it a bit.  I confess dur