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