Pumpkin Sunrise

If you knew me well, you'd know that me being on my phone is a frequent sight :)  Oh my, I love this cardigan  for my sister.  Based on Ravelry data, this is the fifth time I've knit this particular design from Ann Budd's book Top Down Raglan Sweaters  a must-have book in a well developed knitting library, in my opinion. And yes, I could knit this again and again.  Love it!  When I finished my last sweater - Silverleaf  - my sister was visiting and she tried it on.  She loved it! At that moment, I knew I was going to knit one for her.  I didn't keep it a surprise because I wanted her to choose her own yarn in a color she would like.  Madelinetosh Sock yarn is my go to yarn for this sweater because the superwash wool relaxes the garment to the perfect size. I've sewn in my custom labels from Dutch Label Shop  (I posted about them here )  I forgot to photo!! But there is a hint of the labels in this post . Ravelry notes are here

My grandmother loved to say 'haste makes waste' and on Friday that was truth!  I am relaxed and calm and I quickly solved a tiny issue with my photos, easy peasy.  So maybe I need to slow down and take my time..  Maybe.  (Gram stole that saying from Ben Franklin) My grandmother also loved to say 'a watched pot never boils' ( again she lifted that from Franklin as well).  Every time I make a cup of tea, the pot boils way faster when I am not standing there waiting for it.  Go figure! Look at that Holly lying in front of the sliding door acting like a true lioness.  Yes, Frodo is under his ottoman and yes, he is leaving her alone.  Shall we say that there is progress?  Yes.  But it's not fast enough for me!  There are still some crazy chases going on around here.  So Friday started frazzled as I said in my last post, but then the events became even crazier.  You see, my son was at a conference for the week in Banff, Alberta.  My husband was at a conference

I am having one of those days where nothing goes as I expect or plan and I feel behind schedule and it's not even nine a.m.  When this happens, I feel stressed out and out of sorts.  But then, who doesn't feel like that?  I had some technical difficulties on my computer (I think I solved them).   Also an appointment for early this morning was woefully late not due to me, however, all is well.  For now.  Gee whiz! Can you see spring time in my photos?  Ah, not only are there blooms everywhere I turn, we had two days in the 90s.  What the hell?  I had my AC going and sadly could not even bare to crack a window open because the fresh spring air was absent.  Starting today, the temps will go down and we will once again revert back to regularly expected seasonal weather. This week I've really felt the benefits of six months of gym going.  I feel stronger and my back has been the best it's ever been.  Truly, a miracle!  I can lift that toddler and squat and well

I've just realized that all of my knitting projects are big knitting projects, does this mean that I should cast on a small project?  Hmm.  I wonder.  My Holey shawl is a fun knit.  I already have the pattern memorized, which is truly one of the wonderful facets of knitting. I'm on the second sleeve of my sister's cardigan !  Drum roll, trumpets blaring, all the fanfare that a sweater close to being done deserves.  I love knitting this sweater and especially for the bestest sister I could ever have in the whole wide world!  Yep.  She reads this blog and she knows how special she is. I predict this sweater will be done in a week.  Phew. I haven't been knitting much on my last project, Dusk at Elk River Shawl .  However, last night I did about six rows and am nearing to the lacy portion of the pattern.  I'm excited to get to the intricate part and I also think I need switch over to some longer knitting needles. I started The Brothers Karamazov  yeste

Hello!  Once again I'm wrapping up another weekend.  Last weekend was all about traveling and this weekend was staying home sweet predictable home.  Sigh.  I love being home.  My photos are sparse since I read a ton on Saturday finishing up Never Let You Go  and I can definitely let that book go - I didn't enjoy it and kept waiting for the big 'ta-da' moment that never came in my point of view.  Ah well, I've read way worse and when you read the really, really good books that makes life all better.  I'm trying to clear up my current reads for the big behemoth of a book,  The Brothers Karamazov.  You and I both know this classic novel will not be my night time reading.  I'm carving out an hour or two a day for this beauty.  Today, I organized my little notebook with color coded washi tape tabs for the babysitting hour pages and the gym session pages.  I love seeing the pages fill up with dates.  Now with the washi tape I can easily flip to the frequ

I've been reflecting on my resistance to change.  Why am I?  I confess, I am a creature of habit, I wake nearly at the same time, I eat the same breakfast, and try my best to adhere to a similar schedule of sorts on a weekday basis.  As you know, I'm a repeat offender eating a Cheerio breakfast.  This repetitive process helps me maintain a level of contentment.  I thrive on sameness. In nature, nothing stays stagnant.  Each day the sun shines differently as it cycles through seasons.  The trees, flowers and wild animals change with the seasons and with their respective life cycle.  I love to observe nature changing.  I'll walk around with my camera in a state of wonder.  This earth is beautiful.  I am lucky to witness these seasonal changes.  Whether I want to admit it or not, change is a fact of life.  We are all aging.  We seek change in our life and  sometimes we are handed some unpleasant changes -- maybe ill health, or challenging relationships or job/no

Since arriving home on Sunday,  I've been relishing my 'homebody' state of mind.  Traveling is difficult for me at times - I crave the sameness of my everyday.  Yet I want to see places and do things!  That is why a weekend getaway is the best. My knitting has been the same.  I'm on the first sleeve of my sister's cardigan .  I'm confident this sweater will be off the needles within two weeks, okay, maybe three weeks if I'm busy.  green sheen!  The Holey Rectangle shawl is zipping along.  In a few more inches, I'll be deciding if the rectangle is wide enough.  I know blocking will make it wider but still, nothing wrong in reassessing.  I have a feeling all will be well. My daughter invited me to participate in a read along with her for a classic novel during the month of May.  We discussed reading a classic novel together but could not decide on which classic novel.  She chose The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.  I know, I know, i

We had a full weekend, I'm only just home barely an hour but I wanted to write this post.  We left yesterday morning to visit our daughter and son in law in Newark Delaware to celebrate our daughter's birthday.  The weather was spectacular!  Blue skies and warmish air with NO jacket.  Yikes!  This was weather that was due to all of us. We went to Wilmington to walk the river walk .  We had a little bit of a hiccup with the gps and navigating there but eventually with human help (store clerk), we found a place to park and walk. We had dinner out and then some frozen treats.  Everyone had a great time! We stayed in Newark for the evening so that we could drive to Brooklyn early in the morning for The Brooklyn Museum  for their special exhibit Bowie Is.  My husband is a huge fan of David Bowie and being married 30 years has me quite knowledgeable about his music.  I adored his 80's hits since I was a teen/young adult. The exhibit was more than I ex

What a week it's been, I've had a wee bit of stress and the opportunity to manage my stress.  Poor Miss Holly is on a strong antibiotic as a preventative measure since her suture site has slight fluid build up.  Hopefully the ten days will go quickly as I don't think this medicine is making her that happy.  I managed to get a same day vet appointment on Wednesday and then stressed out until I got there.  Once Holly was thoroughly examined, I breathed a sigh of relief.  I worried that I wasn't diligent enough with keeping Holly inactive (as if).  The vet reassured me that I went above and beyond and this happens frequently.  Phew. My husband and I go back and forth on which is better a dog or a cat.  I will defend dear sweet Frodo and his crazy idea of becoming friends with his nemesis in all the inefficient ways.  A dog is trainable .  I can catch a dog way faster than a cat.  Giving a dog medicine is so much easier than a cat.  I love how he adores me and is eager