Pumpkin Sunrise

On Thursday evening I thought it would be great if I focused on knitting the blanket and have it done.  Is it done?  Nope.  The weather was too nice for blanket knitting even with the AC on.  However, today isn't over yet.  How are you?  How was your weekend?  Mine was stuffed with busy goodness.  Friday we had friends over for dinner which is always a great time.  Yesterday I did some watercolor painting in the afternoon after doing not much in the morning (I cannot remember).  Once Saturday evening Mass was over, we went to dinner at a local bar and grill.  Today I rejiggered some yarn stash around.  I unearthed some half skeins and left overs of fingering weight yarns and plotted out a way to make the 3 color cowl .  If you're guessing I'm thinking of Christmas presents you are guessing correctly.  And I wanted to thin out the left overs.  Now the fun part will see if I have enough yarn to make three cowls.  I believe that pattern is forgiving and I'll be

Holly watching the birds Thank you all for you comments and suggestions on my Stormy cardigan .  Being a perfectionist isn't that great when your expectations aren't met.  I loved how each of you had a trick I didn't think of to ease in that odd dye lot.  The sweater is tucked away for the fall and I'm predicting that the color change doesn't bother me.  I really appreciated all of you who would embrace the nuance. When I'm babysitting and doing sidewalk chalk (love!) I tell the preschooler after every artwork created what a great job she did.  She is so proud of herself when she draws a smiley face, a fish or whatever is on her mind.  I'm smart in that I ask 'what are you drawing?' because sometimes I just can't tell what it is.  However, the process is the fun part and the learning.  I learn so much from her as she learns and navigates the big world. pay attention to me I want to embrace imperfections to an extent just so I can

If only I could read into the foreshadowing in my cardigan 's name.  Stormy indeed is how I felt about this project running out of yarn.  Can you see the dye lot change?  Oh yes, I can.  Honestly I'm trying not to let it bother me, but it does bother me a bit.  But not enough to rip out the entire sweater. I will occasionally check Ravelry to see if anyone has a lone skein in my dye lot....maybe.  I could also rip out the sleeves and stripe in a contrasting color to ease in the odd dye lot skein, but I think the yoke is the main detail and a striped sleeve would make the garment 'busy'. Part of me is embracing the imperfect, may I say design element  that was forced upon this perfectionist! The sweater pattern was fun to knit and of course you know I love Quince and Co yarns.  Running out of yarn could be from various reasons: 1.  I didn't get gauge (who does gauge???)  (however the sweater fits so I think I was awfully close) 2. the yarn company

How was your weekend?  Mine was a tad chilly - the temperatures dropped enough to turn on the heat.  Poor Frodo, he was groomed on Thursday and we switched to a 'summer' cut.  So yesterday was a trembling cold dog.  That wool blanket I knitted came in handy to make him toasty warm! Our daughter and son in law were visiting this weekend and we had fun.  We went out for dinner on Saturday night along with some quick runs into local stores. Yesterday on Mother's day we attended morning Mass.  Once home I made a brunch then said goodbye to our visitors as they headed back to Delaware.  The afternoon was quiet and I finished my sweater (hurray!!). It is finished finished.  The stray ends are woven in and buttons are sewn on.  I even soaked and blocked last night as well.  I was quite productive yesterday and hope to take some photos tomorrow once it dries. Miss Holly is getting braver and braver when it comes to people visiting for weekends.  The first 24 hours s

Only four more babysitting weeks!  I'm giddy just thinking about the two whole days I will be reclaiming as my own.  I do love to babysit the preschooler but...I do like having time as my own.  That's what makes a summer break so sweet.  I catch myself wondering how I will eke out the very best of those days.  I'd like to go to the gym five times a week instead of three, adding in some much needed treadmill time.  I'll have more time to read, knit, watercolor and squeeze in some day trips with my husband. My husband bought mulch and will be spreading it in our flower beds when it stops raining and he has the time.  This week not one day was good enough for mulching.  I cannot help because garden work flares my RA (yay!).  I never liked gardening so I'm not sad about the physical restriction. The residential deer have 'mowed' down our bushes so much that we are probably removing them this summer (we meaning him).  Any suggestions on what to plant th

Since my sweater is temporarily in time out due to yarn shortage (and the skein I ordered should be here on Thursday!).  I've been working diligently on my Holly Inspired Shawl in the evenings.  Believe me, it's getting bigger and I'm getting closer to the edging.  Now for the exciting news ( drumroll....) I started a hitchhiker !  So many of you are making beautiful Hitchhikers and I had to join the group.  I dove into deep deep stash and unearthed a skein of malabrigo sock yarn that will make a lovely shawl.  I think I might have 1/3 of a left over skein in the same dye lot somewhere as well to make the hitchhiker a bit bigger.  I haven't started looking yet. What are you working on this week?

Another weekend has come and gone once again.  This past weekend my favorite (only) sister and brother in law come for a visit.  We had great fun!  Friday night we had dinner at home then my sister and I went out to do a bit of shopping.  Once home we relaxed.  I did my knitting and she did her crocheting.  Saturday morning we all headed out for a neighboring town's street festival.  I found some gifts to give for family and enjoyed strolling about looking at the creative pursuits of other people.  There were quite a few wood turners, pottery, and jewelry.  We did not eat any of the food but headed back home for lunch. My sister and I spent the afternoon painting having the best time ever.  I am tentative and cautious in my watercoloring and she is bold and adventurous.  We made a big mess! The above picture is a collaborative effort.  She did the watercoloring and said it needed something, so I took a pen and inked away.  My sister gave me a wee little fram

I want to bottle up the beginnings of spring.  Every flower that blooms, the greenest grass ever and all the birds who are singing the mornings away.  Such sweetness!  Can you believe it's May already?  Golly time does fly by. I've had a countdown to when my babysitting job has a summer break.  I truly do not want to wish away a month or so, but then again, I'm excited to reclaim two days a week as my very own!  I have been spending tons of time daydreaming on how to use my summer break.  I'm tempted to make a detailed list of what I'd like to achieve during my free time as well.  The best part is thinking about thinking about it.  Do you know what I mean? The anticipation is nearly the best part of hopes and dreams.  It's like anticipating Christmas day, imagining everyone opening up their surprises, day dreaming about how decadent the day will unfold.  My summer break will be sweet regardless of a crafted detailed list. Five more weeks! My y