Monday, June 15, 2015

Beach Days are Upon Us

Let's face it, sitting down to actually write a blog post is sometimes harder then it should be. I write a blog post and then before I know it a month or more has already flown by.

Life has been busy, early summer is in full swing. The activities and work pile up and before I know it the calender is booked to the gills. Is that even a thing? Probably not. But booked full it is. This coming week I have a dentist appointment, a wedding to play for, & an open house to attend, and then I get a little breather for a bit.
But in the midst of all the craziness there has been plenty of time for enjoying the beauty of summer and making memories with friends and family. We've already made half a dozen trips to the beach this season. The first time we went everything was frozen over and grey-brown. The lack of waves made for an eerily quiet, but beautiful, beach front. Now though, life at the beach is green and golden with plenty of hot breezes and water that is quickly warming up. We've had some days where it was all hoodies, cool air, snacks, and knitting. Other days were hot sunshine, wild winds, and a little bit of painting. And the last time we visited the rain fell steadily while we took refuge under the spreading branches of a tree and read for an hour or two. Each time is different, and each time is lovely.
I've found a nest with a clutch of eggs along the side path at our favorite haunt. At this point they're unidentified, but I hope to keep an eye on them and perhaps get a glimpse of them or their momma. I'll keep you all posted if that actually happens...


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Spring for joy!

We have leaves on the trees, the grass is green & cool underfoot, everywhere there is the promise of new life, and the lilacs and apple blossoms are in bloom. Folks, it's official, Spring has arrived....and it is beautiful.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Mitten Making

Lately I have been on a slight mitten kick. I live where it's cold, and mittens are a must. But until this year I didn't even own a pair. Setting about to remedy that was easy; there's always lone skeins of handspun waiting for the perfect project. I finished up the pair of Winter Sky Slipstich Mittens out of the Spin Off Summer 2009 issue. They are a quick project, but two year ago I knit like a house afire, finished one mitten, started the next and did not notice a glaring mistake in the colorwork pattern until almost at the end of said mitten. I ruthlessly tore the mitten out and then it sat in the drawer for almost two years, a lone snarled mess next to its mate. At Thanksgiving last (2014) I finally finished that poor mitten. Now I don't know how I managed without! With bone-chilling temps that have dropped as low as -27 this winter, these mittens have been a blessing. Just recently though I decided to give them a wash. Oh, were they ever grubby. As it often happens, as soon as I couldn't use them, then I really needed them. Being outdoors sledding with the niece and trying to take pictures with frozen fingers finally convinced me that a second pair of mittens was necessary. Enter the Waiting For Winter mittens by Susan Anderson. Quick, simple, and easy to adapt, they whip up in a day or two. While I miss the double layer offered by two-stranded knitting in my other pair, I love having another pair of mittens to grab as I run out the door. And they are so sparkly! 
I continue to want to make mittens. I've started one pair that I'll probably gift to family or a friend. And Spring is right around the corner so even if I make more mittens I will have to lay them aside until next winter. But for now I'll keep knitting, and perhaps get back to my designing and sock knitting another day....