Pumpkin Sunrise

I finished this shawl last week for my mother in law's Christmas present.  She loves to receive hand knitted gifts, in fact she used to be an avid knitter before her eyesight started to fail.  I know she will love this bright pink shawl. I chose a pattern I've knit before because I wanted 'comfort' knitting.  You know what I mean, just easy to follow, easy to execute because you've knitted it again and again.  I repeated the first chart four times instead of twice,  then spent lots of time on the last chart wondering if I had enough yarn. Call me crazy, but I love when I'm not sure I have enough yarn (but think I do...). The wool, Ella Rae Lace Marino , was wonderful!  This skein was soft and squishy when I bought it and was a pleasure to knit up.  As you can see, the blocking did its magic and the wool blossomed. Ravelry notes are here

My weekend was a somber one.  My kids arrived on Wednesday night to join us on our trip on Thursday to see our family in London Ontario for my father in law's grave site private service on Friday afternoon.  Lots of schedules were juggled around and plans were made.  On Saturday afternoon, we were out with my mother in law for some shopping and for lunch.  We love to stop in at the Coventry Garden Market in downtown London, Ontario.  I wish I had something like this in my little wee town. daughter, me and mom-in-law Of course I managed to buy some yarn :) How was your weekend? PS:  It's going to take me a while to get caught up reading your blogs - I'll do my very best.

Sure it's been another hot week, sure summer is going strong.  But for me, I'm all eyes for the seasonal changes.  September is a hopeful month. I like my drive to the new location for my babysitting gig. They moved to a bigger house last month and I was feeling all the sadness over the changes.   I drive through corn fields and farmlands and the views are stunning.  Everywhere I look while I am there is endless hills and quiet.  I took the toddler girl for a walk and all I could hear were my feet crunching on the gravel road and cicadas in the distance. This week has been topsy turvy with stresses ebbing and receding.  However, life is settling down again.  Before I know it, we will be going to fall festivals and pumpkin festivals and fairs.  I'm ready! I'm anticipating:  soups, cinnamon everything, apples, cold breezes, wearing a touch of wool, hot beverages, more falling leaves, cozy evenings, sweatshirts, socks....oh I could go on.

Yet again another week of chatting about knitting.  I've been focusing on cowl knitting - yes, I'm crazy to be knitting with 100% wool during a heat wave.  My secret is simple, I have AC and I have decorated for fall in my house.  So in my mind, there is not a heat wave!  You can trick yourself into any season. Currently I'm reading The Bat by Jo Nesbo.  Someone recommended this author to me, but I have to start at the beginning of a series.  Have To.  So while this book isn't as good as further along books, I'm excited to be with a new detective. I am nearly finished the The Long Way Home by Louise Penny.  I'm a hard core lover of Three Pines and Chief Inspector Gamache.  As soon as this book is finished, I'll start another one. What are you knitting, crafting and reading this week? Joining Ginny

Look!  That is the most beautiful acorn ever seen by me - the promises of fall arriving are right there.  I'm giddy just thinking about it.  How was your weekend? Mine was quite emotional, my father in law passed away Saturday night after nearly a full week in a trauma unit after a fall down the stairs.  Thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts.  He lived a long full happy life. Today, my husband and I drove to State College to see our son for lunch, and the afternoon outing was a perfect diversion after a stressful week.  We ate at a ramen place and I slurped my messy soup with gusto.  I cannot manage my chopsticks like my husband or son, but I did my best and I was grateful for the ramen spoon to help me along.  They put fresh greens on my soup and I liked it!  Gave me some ideas for home cooking. In the knitting front, I am one to two rows away from finishing the searing pink shawl (yay!).  I love knitting shawls, they might be my favorite item to knit. 

Hello!  This was my first week back to babysitting and while I was excited to get back into my schedule, the newness of the schedule along with my anxiety exhausted me.  I am glad to be back to work.  The Toddler Girl and her family moved further away so my drive has changed.  Look at the view above outside the living room - what brilliance!  She is exercising her terrible two-ness, I do not miss that developmental age at all. The Toddler Girl calls me Miss Karen (unless she's mad then it's just Karen).  Her non-stop talking is delightful and most of the times I understand what she is talking about, other times I just pretend to know what she is talking about.  She was afraid of the grasshopper (I don't blame her) so I snapped a photo for her to look at closely without being close.  She likes to ride her tricycle and collect sticks.  She doesn't know what she wants when she is tired. On my drive to work, I pass a gorgeous sunflower field.  So much beaut

I finished my top and guess what!  It fits pretty okay.  I swear to you I was fretting all the way to the end when I measured and remeasured again and again.  Now the best part is I haven't blocked the top yet so maybe I'll smooth out another 1/2 of wiggle room, maybe. I need to block out that yoke :) This pattern, night sky, was a ton of fun to knit.  I'd say you would have to have lots of experience to knit this sweater.  I also liked the nettle yarn - it was soft enough and I'm assuming once the top is soaked and washed there will be more softening. In other news, I am currently babysitting full days Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will be posting my knitting news on Tuesday late afternoons (unless I forget).  I worked today and I'm exhausted!! Ravelry notes are here

searing pink is delightful Hello! How was your weekend?  Mine was pretty good.  Thank you all for the well wishes you sent my way.  Just knowing there is a community out there thinking of me makes me feel better.  I am a feeling a tad bit better. yarn glorious yarn! One of the tricks I use for when I'm obsessing over a worry that I am not in control of is to create a contest of sorts.  So today, I dug through the yarn stash and have decided that many of my family and friends will receive a hand-knitted cowl for Christmas.  I have a lot of cowls to knit! I'm excited to be casting on something new.  I'm excited to be productive while I worry.  At least I'll get something done. this is a good book Besides knitting and reading, I've been back at solving sudokus (I always do crossword puzzles).  I only to the hard ones and my they take my full concentration and I relax.  I do love that. the only chickens I'll ever own Friday we went out

Can it be?  Are there some serious signs of the fall season arriving.  August is a month of changes, usually the weather stays hot and humid but the leaves start to fall as well as the acorns.  All little promises of a lovely season. In the afternoons while I sit in my knitting spot, the sunlight angles just so and gives off a wonderful fall-like feel to the day. The beginning of my week was blissfully ordinary.  Oh how I wish I could pocket the ordinary-ness of those moments.  I love when my mind is mostly blank and my stress levels are low to non existent.  Bliss beyond bliss! Right now my anxiety is high. I don't want to go into details just yet and write about it because writing about it makes it more real.  I'm filled with worries about what if this happens. I'd appreciate any and all prayers you could send my way.  (although I am writing about it in a way....hmm)  I wish I could be one of those people who are 'chill' no matter what.  This is

I am swirling with doubts about the above sweater.   My gauge is off (and yes I did gauge before starting).  I am just not sure about how this will fit.  I think I'll be okay but ....what if?  I just keep going as I think about this knit.  So while I was excited to knit and make progress, I'm now doubting my decision. I'll be remeasuring again today.  Sigh.  This is why I prefer top down construction of a sweater.  Bottom up has all the knitting done by the time you get to the armholes.  (and yes, I should have thought of this sooner but you know experts do make rookie decisions it's the spice of life) Worst case scenario --- I rip it out.  I'm not there as of yet. My other knit which is new and not contingent upon gauge is a Christmas gift for my mother in law who has vision impairments.  This bright pink can be seen anywhere and I thought she would love it.  She does like pink but I'm not sure how bright a pink she will favor.  I'm excited abo

I mentioned on Friday's post that my family was arriving.  This weekend was full of fun and socializing.  I remembered to take photos of people!  Seriously -  I frequently forget to get my camera out and this time I did.  I probably remembered because my aunt was walking around taking photos to share with her family back home. So my aunt and sister arrived Friday afternoon and we sat by the pool chatting (my sister was in it).  My husband was focusing on fixing that darn bear fence.  My son arrived just in time for dinner and dessert. My daughter and son in law arrived in the evening completing the family gathering. Saturday after dinner of turkey burgers and corn on the cob, we celebrated our son in law's birthday!  Yay!!  We sang, ate cake and of course there were presents. selfie madness and 'where is the button....'  Just like the way they arrived, my family staggered their leavings.  I've been doing all the laundry and making beds.  Putting