TGIF | 11.16.18

TGIF | 11.16.18

Happy Friday, everyone! Another week done and despite my desire to slow down and enjoy these last weeks of 2018 – the calendar seems to have a different agenda!

So, I guess that means I need to actually figure out what Steve and I are going to have for Thanksgiving, so I can get to the store this weekend to avoid the utter insanity that next week will be!

I did one huge happy dance yesterday when I finished plying up my singles. This yarn is EXACTLY what I was hoping for and it seems my planning worked out very well! It needs a nice hot bath and some finishing but, skein one is done!

Thinking about – Christmas!! Yes, I have some shopping to do but what I am really thinking about is how much I want to decorate the house. Crazy ideas are swirling through my head… do we want to put up the tree this year? Lights outside? If we don’t put up the tree, what will that look like…and maybe more importantly, what will that feel like?

Grateful for – Steve’s saved vacation days…he has a 6-day weekend next week, starting on Wednesday and ending on Monday. And, yes, there will even be gratitude when he goes back to work on Tuesday!

Inspired by –
All the things in Making No. 6 / Black & White. This might be my favorite issue thus far and I am especially loving all the sewing patterns! I am going to put this little stack of fat quarters to use and soon! I have some Christmas-y plans for these cute little zippered bags! And, there is the most beautiful apron pattern with a patchwork pocket!

Fun, fun, fun – Last weekend felt a bit “non-stop” and so this weekend I am really looking forward to a more relaxed pace… time at home… and today I am going to spend some time creating a couple of Christmas play lists on Spotify to celebrate the season! And, that leads me to this burning question…. what is your “must have” song for your Christmas play list?

Happy weekend everyone! See you all back here on Monday!

Three on Thursday | 11.15.18

Three on Thursday | 11.15.18

Today is all about very good things…right now good things!

Thing One:

Steel Cut Oat season has returned! My favorite is this recipe for Baked Pumpkin Steel Cut Oatmeal.

Thing Two:

Our snowfall of the season has fizzled. Cue the rain (which is still miserable, but at least you don’t have to shovel it!)

Thing Three:

Motrin™ for which my elbow is profoundly grateful!

There you have my somewhat lame list (although, the oats are most noteworthy!!) Want to see more lists (and probably much better ones)?? Head on over to Carole’s!

TGIF | 11.9.18

TGIF | 11.9.18

It has most certainly been a week and I am so glad for the arrival of the weekend. Steve has today off (as well as Monday!) and a long weekend sounds just perfect. S-N-O-W is in the forecast which seems odd since all the leaves are not down from the trees. It seems odd to be thinking about snow, since it was in the 60’s on Tuesday! But there you have it…

Gratitude Week might be my favorite week of the entire year and this week it has been an especially profound experience. If you have been participating, I hope it has been for your as well.

Thinking About –
This post from Bacon on the Bookshelf – life in the cross roads in a starkly divided nation. More books, less strife – and yes, more quiet moments. Living in this perverted version of America is a daily struggle. (Oh, and This is How It Always Is is an excellent book!! I really loved it!) On Tuesday, I sent each voter off with a heartfelt “Thanks for voting!” and it warmed my heart that so many came to vote and, at least at my precinct, they voted with no hindrances. I met new “neighbors” on Tuesday and I was profoundly struck on how we talk to those directly next to us, but those around the corner…not so much. But, spending 14+ hours with people allows you to find things in common and new friendships are formed! There are even beginning talks of forming a neighborhood book club and, my up-the-street and around the corner neighbor dropped off a book for me yesterday!

Grateful For – The help of Mary this week. (Although, I am sure she thinks she did nothing!) I have spent the better part of a week struggling with the lace chart on my Blaer. Very long story short – the charts are to be worked concurrently, rather than one at a time as I was doing. And, yes… I am feeling profoundly stupid! All has been ripped back and I finished the lace charts, the short rows, and the first set of increases last night. It seems I am back to “smooth sailing” knitting…and happily! Thank you, Mary for your help and insight!

Inspired By –
This. Oh my. I am generally not a fan of Stephen West designs, and usually because I can’t get beyond the outrageous color combinations. Thank you, Lene for showing me to look beyond color!

Fun, fun, fun – I am dragging Steve (kicking and screaming) out this weekend to the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer! It will be our first time there and I am so excited to go and see this fascinating event! I hope to have lots to share with you on Monday about our inaugural visit!

I hope you have a fun weekend! See you back here on Monday!

P.S. My friend Sarah has the most beautiful kippah pattern up on Ravelry. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Tree of Life. And, if you are planning on attending Indie Knit and Spin on Sunday, be sure to stop by to see Lisa at Fybernymph Dye Works to get a mini-skein or two!

Three on Thursday | Gratitude Edition

Three on Thursday | Gratitude Edition

I feel a bit like this week of Gratitude Week got off to a bit of a rocky start – I found Monday’s prompt to be so comfortable – like slipping on my favorite pair of well-work and super comfortable jeans. Easy, happy, feel good gratitude!

Breathe in, breathe out…

Tuesday, I did not even think about gratitude – not how it sounds, or how it feels, or tastes, or even what it looks like. MIA Gratitude? Or does gratitude surround us when we are busy and overwhelmed?

Breathe in, breathe out…

And, then Wednesday’s post arrived like a shot through my heart. When disappointment strikes, can you find gratitude? Is there gratitude in pain? In failure? In setbacks? Tough questions, yet perfectly timed – Michelle has an uncanny knack to send impactful prompts that are not always comfortable. I especially loved her quote: “Some days you might be grateful for ten things. Some days it might be one.” Oh, my. How true is that? Maybe even more true for me to ask are there days where there is not even one? Perhaps. And, then I realized that even on the not one day, I still have my voice…I can be kind, I can speak out, I can speak up. Perhaps the true gratitude is in discerning which voice to use.

Breathe in, breathe out…

Thank you, Michelle, for yesterday… for the tears, and the frustration, and yes… the not one thing but my voice. (and imagine my surprise when I looked at today’s prompt about breathing!)

Oh, and please make sure you stop by Carole’s to see what everyone else has to say today!

Sometimes Monday | 11.5.18

Sometimes Monday | 11.5.18

Are filled with persistence….like the last roses from my garden. These blooms have persisted despite few frosts! And, they are a good reminder to me… don’t give up – persistence wins!

P.S. I won’t be here tomorrow – I am putting in a 14.5-hour stint as a poll worker! PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE!! Really! Go say hello to your local poll worker! Maybe bring them a nice hot cuppa! I hope they will be way busier than they imagined, and they will appreciate it!

And, in case you need a few words of wisdom… Captain Sully has spoken! Yeah! Smile at everyone when you are at polls… people may be voting in unexpected ways!

Happy Monday everyone! See you all back here for Unraveled Wednesday!

TGIF | 11.2.18

TGIF | 11.2.18

It has been one of those weeks, Gentle Reader. One in which you realize just how vital small pieces of technology are… This week, the watchOS update bricked my (brand new!!) Apple Watch and my naked wrist is a constant reminder of something not quite right. I miss its gentle reminders to get up when I have been sitting too long and I really miss its inspiration as I walk. Hopefully, Apple has it repaired and back to me soon. Honestly, I know this is a first world problem that seems kind of shallow in light of all that is going on in the world today. But, there you have it… I am having  watch withdrawals!

Thinking About – Some words said by Rabbi Diamond this week following the attack on the Tree of Life synagogue: “…some of the things going on…go against our principals as Americans, things that we’ve stood for – for years. All Jews and **many Americans** were immigrants at some point. I’m thinking we shouldn’t be sending soldiers down to the border, we should be going down to the border to welcome these people with open arms. And, perhaps that’s where the wall could be built, a wall of people to stand between the soldiers and these poor refugees and to protect them and welcome them into our country.” These words have filled my heart, my mind, and my meditations this week. May we somehow find our way back to being that welcoming, unified America…and soon.

Grateful For – So many things, but especially the incredibly mild weather we have had over the past couple of days – open windows this time of year are a wonderful treat! And, as I sit this morning sipping my coffee, feeling the gentle breeze float in the open window, listening to the occasional bird chatter – I am overflowing with gratitude at these simple things!

Inspired By – This writing. When I grow up, perhaps my writing will be this wonderful. Thank you, Jane for sharing such an incredibly lovely slice of your day! The words, so full of evocative beauty, have stayed with me since reading them.

Fun, fun, fun! Yesterday, AVFKW debuted their first Look Book and it is full of so many good things, but I am especially enamored with the Ebbetts cardigan! (Anyone working on a “make list” for 2019??)

One additional fun thing…I managed to knit through the first lace chart on my Blaer yesterday. One down, two to go! And, then… short rows! LOL Ahhh… SweMo is providing much more joy than PoMo ever did!

That is all I have for this week! I will see you back here on Monday and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

Pin It on Pinterest