by Kat | Jan 27, 2017 | General
They say the first thing to go is your mind… and apparently, mine is well on its way.
Truth #1:
Yesterday, I confessed to being 57. However, as Steve so kindly reminded me yesterday:
Okay but, really – how the hell do you forget your own age. Well, because I do not have any issues admitting when I make mistakes – it is true, I am only 56. And, I really feel so much younger today because of it! LOL
Truth #2:
After a week of temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s – winter has decided to return…albeit gently which is greatly appreciated.
Truth #3:
My chives are very confused as to what season it is! (as are all the singing birds!)
This was taken this morning…
Truth #4:
I am so insanely glad that it is Friday – it seems like this has been the longest week ever – the cocktail hour cannot get here fast enough! I am thinking Margarita’s today to toast President Peña Nieto – that is if I can convince Steve to make them!
Truth #5:
Next week clue numero uno of Kirsten Kapur’s Sock MKAL arrives (on Wednesday, in case you still want to join in!!) My yarn is ready and I am eager to begin. Yarn choice? Deep stash diving (see above!) I am not sure who the brown yarn is from, but the lovely golden-yellow is some very vintage Kim Kaslow aka The Woolen Rabbit sock yarn in the Tupelo Honey colorway. Now, are you wondering how I can remember that tidbit but not my age – I am giving you some real insight into what is important in my life – yarn is obviously taking up LOTS of brain space! Haha!
Truth #6:
The LINKS are back! The LINKS! The LINKS!
That is all I have for this week – have a truth-filled weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Dec 16, 2016 | General
The arrival of Friday always brings a sigh of relief, but some weeks that sigh is more of a groan.
This is one of those weeks.
Yesterday, the furnace gave up the ghost. Quit. On the coldest of days.
Three cheers for the world’s most perfect timing. Ever. And, ever. And, FOREVER even!!
Because really, ten days before Christmas replacing the furnace is what everyone really wants to do! Somehow, my inner child belief in Santa does not equate to him delivering and installing furnace systems – or I would have put that sucker on my Christmas Wish List – and then hoped for an early Christmas!!
All joking aside, I am so thankful that we have the means to replace the furnace (which does not diminish the pain at all, just in case you were wondering!!)
This will put some things on the back burner for a bit, but that is alright too but, sometimes adulting sucks and sucks royally!
Peace knitting was again my saving grace. First, having wool in your hands when the temperature is 13-freaking-degrees out is a blessing as is the peace knitting process – I am jubilantly happy to report that the meditative knitting worked!!
Add to that Sherman is a superior foot warmer, which is balancing out the fact that he is refusing to go outside in this weather, to well – do his business. Yep, Poop Strike Season has begun! I am sorry if this is TMI. But, I am finding it comical – and really, laughing is so much better than crying!!
Now, for those of us who are living in the Land of Delusion – thinking that we are going to accomplish more Christmas knitting – there are only NINE days until Christmas!! So, if you have not cast on yet – what are you waiting for????
Here are some links that may or may not be of help (okay, really, they won’t – but you can start now for next Christmas and have wild success!!):
First up, I do not understand this phenomenon at all, that is until I saw this. Knitting Sarcasm FTW!!
Sunflower Mittens are delightful!
I love Short Rose – almost as much as I love the play on words!
Truly Myrtle has published a trio of lovely things – there is a hat, a shawl, and a sweater!!
End-less Squares Blanket by my friend Simone is so lovely. And, it is designed with no ends and no sewing together of squares. Yeah. Plus, scraps of yarn!! We should all get on this ASAP!
Socks with holiday names like Frasier Fir and Mistletoe are fitting. However, they won’t be available for purchase until January – but, would be perfect for next year’s gift knitting extravaganza!!
This just cracked me up! I just love the dog, the cat, and the lamb, but the Pig is the BEST!! And, if you come from Holland Michigan where the saucijzenbroodjes are the be all, end all – and so good to boot! This is absolutely going on my knit list.
Now to finish off with two final links that just might work for last minute gift knitting for THIS CHRISTMAS!! My Mini Mitts and (appropriately named) Homestretch Hat.
Have a fantastic weekend! See you back here on Monday!! Oh, and stay warm will you?
P.S. Of course this could not have happened on Saturday where temps are forecast to be in the 50’s. Yes, you read that right from 13 to 50 in 24 hours! Only in Pittsburgh!
P.P.S. For any Holland Michigan Pig in the Blanket connoisseurs – IMO Hempel’s Pastries on 13th and Maple made the best. Period.
by Kat | Oct 13, 2016 | General, Words
First there was 10 On Tuesday:
I am sad to say that I was late to the 10 on Tuesday party, although I had been reading Carole’s blog for a long time I was an infrequent (ok, maybe less than infrequent) commenter and it was not until last November when she inspired me to join her in NaBloPoMo that I finally began actively participating.
Once I started I loved it!! I eagerly awaited the arrival of the weekly email! I was a such religious 10 on Tuesday poster that on weeks that Carole was on vacation, I made up my own Ten on Tuesday posts (here) (and here)!
That being said, every week was not always an easy list of 10 things to write about, however, if I wanted to participate, I needed to get creative! And those bits of writing about something I really did not like taught me to stretch my writing muscle!
When Carole made the decision that 10 on Tuesday had perhaps run its course, a big part of me was so sad! And, I shared those sentiments on her post and imagine my surprise when she and I began a discussion around those thoughts!
A new idea was born:
Welcome to Think…Write…Thursday!
It will be similar to Ten on Tuesday in that you sign up for the weekly emails right here and in return for signing up, you will receive an email prompt (Just like Ten on Tuesday) with a topic for you to write about. Are you ready to have some fun with us? Expand your creative writing muscle? Write about a topic however the creative flow strikes you? (I mean, there are no writing police for blogs and there are no minimum or maximum word counts!)
PLUS, there is this amazing, incredibly loyal, and kind blogging community that Carole has built around her Ten on Tuesday posts.
Won’t you join in and write creatively with us? I really hope you do!
by Kat | Sep 20, 2016 | General, Words
Hello Tuesday! And, you know what that means! Carole wants to know something!! This week she asks:
We’re going to shake things up a little bit this week and do two lists of 5 things. First, I want you to write about the 5 best things you did this summer. And then I want you to share 5 things you are looking forward to doing this fall.
Summer bests, there were quite a few of them!
- My Summer Knit Along takes first place – for me it was really just the motivation I needed to clean up a plethora of languishing knits. Best thing about it – absolutely no requirements, no pressure, just go at whatever pace you desired. A win-win for all! I managed to get a good number of things done too!
- My vegetable garden had some tremendous successes. Tomatoes, beans, peppers, and raspberries were all in that category. I am still picking about a pint of raspberries every other day and tomatoes – what can I say – we have them in abundance!
- A couple of new flower beds that really added some lovely oomph to the back yard – including their being a huge draw for bees of all sorts!
- The new pergola which precipitated
- Some really nice extra-long weekend staycations. (although the summer ended on a very warm noted, it did get some use in May!)
Now, on to what autumn has in store! (Besides the cessation of AC usage – I am so over it!)
- Cooler days that will afford the use of the pergola well into the fall and
- Using our new re-purposed fire pit a number of times more before the bitter cold sets in
- A trip to Michigan to visit family – this is on the schedule currently and I am so eager for it!
- A trip to a Hops Festival (with my son and perhaps my daughter!!) and perhaps a winery or two while in Michigan. (Also, a stop at the Grand Traverse Distillery!) (After all that, you’d think a 12 step program would be on my list…)
- Some home improvement things in the house – not a super fun thing on the list, but some fresh paint will absolutely spark joy!
There you have it – the best of summer and some autumnal anticipation! What are you looking forward to?
