Pumpkin Sunrise

  Good morning! How are all of you? The weather has been snowy and so I've been knitting up a storm. First off is my fair isle hat that I have not worked on lately. I wanted to document with a photo and maybe it will spur me on to picking it up and working on it. Next project is my lovely cowl . I love working on this because the wool is squishy and soft. The color is one of my favorites to wear and I'm eager to get this done. However, I am enjoying the savoring of each delightful stitch. Last but not least is my new fair isle sweater that took four cast ons to get right. I am loving how the colors play together and every evening I am knitting away thinking 'just one more row'. It's a delightful headspace to be in. What are you working on?

  Good morning! How was your weekend? I'm sitting here in the family room as the day begins with Frodo sleeping by my side. He is a faithful companion and I love him so. My weekend was nice, we didn't do anything exciting. However 3-4 more inches of snow fell on Sunday and the new snow has whitened up the landscape. I believe we are in for a snowy week ahead. It's a good thing I like to sit inside and knit. I did some art journaling and continued to do my daily haiku challenge. Of course there was knitting, isn't there always?  I baked cookies and wished I hadn't because now I eat them and sleep terribly at night. Today is a new day to resist. I might put them in the freezer (but my husband might want them on the counter...). I started reading Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. I've had this book on my Kindle for years and thought it was about time I read the Indian history of the American west. It is a must read if you ask me. Last year I read Grant

  Around here there is a lot of snow - I love it so! Today there is a fresh dusting to soften all of the landscape. We managed to go for a walk yesterday after almost a week of not walking due to the weather. It was either too cold or a snow event was happening. On the days I cannot walk, I try to exercise in the house, it's not the same but it's better than not exercising at all. Around here the haiku challenge is chugging along. I've been having fun thinking and writing. I decided to do some sketching or artwork on each entry. My sister is doing this haiku-a-day challenge with me as well, it's nice to have company. Around here whenever my husband or I have a zoom meeting in the studio room, Miss Holly loves to attend as well. I don't think she knows there are real people on the zoom. She doesn't like people and yet she gets so excited when the voices are talking. She either sits and stares (like the photo below) or she struts in front of the the computer just

  I finished a pair of mittens for my husband a few days ago. I loved working with worsted weight and how speedy the knitting was for me. What a delight! These are based on the Bernie Mitts pattern - I changed the ribbing to a rolled knitted edge then a 1x1 instead of 2x2 and I did a simplified decrease at the top. I also did not do any color work on the thumbs because I was a lazy knitter. I started a new sweater three times. The first time, the ribbing was loose, the second and third time I was casting on while the electricity was out for about an hour last night for no particular reason. I couldn't see (even with a flashlight) so my counting of cast on stitches was wrong. Once the electricity came back on in about an hour, I cast on successfully with smaller needles. Phew. I have knit this sweater once before , I wear it all the time! What are you working on this week?

  We are getting pounded by a double snow event and I, for one, am super excited. Right now we have about 5 inches with yet a whole day to go for snowfall. The vistas are beautiful. This weekend I fell down the rabbit hole of thinking what kind of challenge I would like to do during February. I decided that I would write a haiku a day. When I told my sister about the challenge, she said she would join me in crafting haikus. One of my Christmas presents from her was a handmade notebook. (I forgot to photo it..) So in the above crafted planner with a myriad of stickers I purchased from Michaels, I will jot down my poems then transfer them NEATLY into the notebook and do some kind of illustration. I'm not sure if the paper can hold paint, I need to ask her so maybe it will be inking only. My knitting has been wonderful, slow and easy with this heartwarmer cowl . I love spending time on this project. Yesterday my husband made a curry dinner and so I had the luxury of not cooking dinner

  Just like the Catholic Church, I'm in Ordinary Days. We are truly in the winter season and the wind is cold. I am wearing my wool socks and wool sweaters daily. Whenever I'm outside I have a hat, shawl/cowl and knitted mittens. I'm not complaining at all, I would rather freeze to death than sweat to death. My husband is withering away though, he loves summer and hotness. Have you noticed the days are getting lighter and lighter? Truly one of the blessings of January and February. It might be cold out but the daylight lengthens and brings hope. This week I've been focusing on lots of journaling and reflections. I find comfort in putting thoughts down to paper and mulling over all of my wispy threads on life and happenings. Along with daily writings, I've been meditating twice a day using the Insight Timer App , which I highly recommend. There is plenty to do that is free. I chose a year subscription to get to the courses. I'm sleeping so much better these days.

  I finished another project this weekend, I'm telling you - I am riding a knitting wave during these January days. This shawl was a fun knit and the kit was gifted to me by a knitting friend. The wool was delightful to knit with and because it is DK weight, the project was a fast knit. I loved the squishy wool and the speed of the knitting. The kit pattern mentioned that a few of the colors would be used up completely so of course I ran out of yarn in those two colors.  I just used other colors and solved my yarn shortage problem. I ran out of the gray and the indigo. I still think it looks pretty good and no one would know.  What are you working on this week?