Not Standing Still

My list of things to do is growing ever longer with each new project I see out in Internet world. It's so exciting to see all the spring colors popping up on every one's blogs.

I bought new fabric this weekend to make a few more totes. I think cutting out the fabric pieces takes longer than the actual sewing.

I continued to work on my Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery. This lace pattern appeals to me. It's just enough so I don't end up in a confused mess! What is even better is that I'm using yarn from my stash (Schaefer Anne) that I bought many, many years ago. I got it when I first started to knit socks. It has subtle shades of blue and really makes the whole scarf.

I decided to participate in the series Still this week. Hopefully, I can keep up with it. Today's entry is my chair. I love to sit on the front porch early in the morning and drink my coffee. I watch the runners and bikers out for their early morning exercise and slowly the neighborhood comes alive without even knowing that I'm watching. Then the boys get up and all hell breaks loose!

Lastly, this little guy was sitting outside my family room window the other day. He looked cold and confused as the wind and snow swirled around him. We all know the feeling Mr. Sparrow!

An Early April Fool's Joke

Will this ever end? What a messy day. The boy's were delayed two hours, our driveway is a mess, and the birds are confused. It would be very lovely to look at.if.it.wasn't.the.end.of. March!!

Not sure if this is good news yet because I haven't had time to play that much. Finally, Adobe Photoshop has created online editing and storage (and it's free!). It doesn't look like pictures can be uploaded to Flickr though. Let me know what you think after you have time to play. The jury is still out at Upper Pond.

photo from The Sartorialist

If the weather continues to stay cold...I'm putting this outfit together. Love It!

Dreaming of our vacation that is approaching very soon!

New Threads

I love skirts in the summer! Nothing beats throwing on a cotton skirt, flip flops and relaxing! Last summer I couldn't find any skirts that I liked. The mini was back and I am way past my prime for a mini! I've been looking at this pattern for a long time and finally decided to make it. I'm so glad I did. It took about an hour from start to finish and is so easy and comfortable. Many more will be made in the coming weeks!

Last week was a girlfriend's birthday. I whipped up this springy bag as a gift. It didn't come out as planned but still worked well as a gift bag for the daffodils. Again, this bag should be quick to make, but my brain wasn't on correctly that day. I have a few more of these to create. Hopefully, they will go quicker this time!

Yesterday our school district had its second bomb threat of the spring season. The high school and middle school went into lockdown. It's a sad commentary of our times when our school children have to sit in a corner of their classroom, doors and windows locked, anticipating what might come next. I asked my son if he was scared (as he should be). He told me that his legs felt like rubber until his teacher told them that it was another threat. I asked him why that changed things for him and he responded that he was glad that it wasn't a man with a gun. Homeschooling is looking better and better everyday.

He went off to school today grumbling that it better not happen again. He had a project that he wanted to present and the new ocean unit was starting in science.

My lilac is showing signs of life. Spring may just come when we're not looking!

Vintage Car Coat

I have internet access! Not sure how long it will last so I guess I better type fast.

I finally finished this little sweater. It was an easy knit, but I'm glad it's finished. I didn't care for the yarn as it was really splitty and didn't block well. Also, I have never knit a Sublime pattern before. They are sweet little patterns but weirdly written. This pattern had me knit the button band separate and then sew it to the body.

If I were to make this again I would use the equivalent of this yarn by Debbie Bliss. Not sure why I didn't do that this time! and I would knit the button band as I go.

The basic facts:

The Little Sublime hank knit book

baby cashmere merino silk dk

size 5 needles

3-6 months

I added this last picture because it includes one of my all-time favorite pictures of Ryan. I went away for a weekend when the boys were little and Andy had their pictures taken by a professional photographer. This is a snapshot that Andy took while waiting to go to the photographer's. It reminds me of a picture taken of John Kennedy when he was little.

hope SPRINGS eternal

on many fronts! I do have pictures of springtime daffodils popping out of the ground, the boys playing baseball and being goofy and of projects that I have finished. BUT, my connection to the internet is sporadic at best and it's very difficult to upload any pictures. The cable guy tells me that I have water in the lines (and it's raining here today so it makes it worse) and a new cable needs to be connected to the house. That's not happening without my husband here, so I have to wait until the weekend.

So in the meantime you can check out this new site (to me) that I have been enjoying and make this goulash. I made it for the boys last night and they actually ate it! It reminded me of the goulash that my mom use to make.

Now let's see if I can upload this!

New Socks

I set a goal this week to finish the three projects that I have on the needles. First project is completed! I LOVE sKNITches sock yarn. It's squishy, soft and knits up really quickly. It's superwash merino and washes up nicely. I made a pair of socks out of this yarn before and wore them all through hockey season. Sadly, I blew a hole in the heel the day of our last hockey game of the season :(

This pair is to be gifted. Hopefully, she will enjoy them!

The Scoop:

sKNITches bebop sock yarn

Morning Haze

3x1 rib

size 2 needles

On a lighter side, I made these meatballs this week. Didn't tell anyone they were made with turkey. Ryan proclaimed them to be the "best meatballs he has ever eaten." and I have to agree. They were moist and tasty. Try them...your family will never know!

Random Thoughts

Picture from The Sartorialist website

Okay, if I wasn't stuck in the carpool lane of life this is what I would wear. Usually, I just look at The Sartorialist's website and think to myself..WT.... and move on. But this outfit I love! Yep, a turtleneck, wool (?) skirt, tights and chic shoes! It doesn't get any better than this! Talk about conservative!

Speaking of fashion, which I'm not too good at, I was disappointed to see Christian win Project Runway. Again, I'm not going to be wearing any of his fashions anytime soon. Jillian on the other hand, was my favorite. She even included knitwear! I wonder if she was/is a knitter before her work at Ralph Lauren? I would wear her designs in a minute(well maybe not every single one, but most of them), even in the carpool lane!

This week I'm making lists and cleaning house. I have many knitting projects that I hope to finish up soon. Stay tune for updates!

Re-entry!

Hockey is over for the season! Thank you very much. We have slowly been reentering the world of the normal people. Homework at predictable times, good homemade meals, normal bedtime routines, stories in the evening have all been part of this week's activities. Things that have fallen toward the wayside for me have been my knitting and reading. Those were activities that I was able to accomplish while the boys were on the ice.

As I was reading this month's Real Simple I noticed a whole list of wonderful new blogs that were new to me. I made these cookies from the Smitten Kitchen. They are yummy to have with your tea or coffee. This time I just rolled them in sugar, but next time I would add something more to them.

It's green week over at Shining Egg. Not much around here to photograph that's green...I might have to reach into my archives to find some green from the summer!

Something new that I am enjoying is Mango Lemonade from Bolthouse Farms. Yummy stuff!

I can just imagine alittle bit of vodka added in to make a wonderful summer drink!