2010

We hardly knew ya!

I missed my blog anniversary, yet again.

I always think it is New Year's Eve, but it's a few days before.

Thank you to all of you that stop and take a moment out of your day to come see what's up here at Upper Pond. Your comments and support make my day. My best to you and your families for a wonderful 2011!

Happy New Year!

5 things...

It's finally quiet here at Upper Pond. We celebrated our second Christmas today and are done with presents and eating. I don't want to cook for a long while. My boys may not see another cookie in their lunch until February, seeing as if that is how long it will get my baking mojo back.

We are busy enjoying the holiday week off of school. Skiing has been our favorite activity, followed by the new xBox and accompanying games. Not sure if books have been picked up as a go-to activity around here.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

1. It's called a Snow Angel...and believe me that name is pure deception. With seven shots of alcohol, it's the devil in disguise.

2. We are lucky to have grandparents close by. It helped make the celebration that much more special.

3. Buddy ate the gravy, which led to some gas, which led to Matt having fun. Poor Buddy.

On a sidenote: one of the most favorite things to happen on Christmas was catching Matt singing in church. I had to peek out of the corner of my eye to catch it. But he was there and it was good.

4. Ryan leaned over to me at church and told me how wonderful if all was (favorite thing #2). Maybe we should show up more often. We have, regrettably, fallen into the Lily and pointsettia club.

5. This was a transition year for us. We still honored many of our old Santa traditions, without much spirit. We are all trying to find our way in the new traditions. I think this might take a few years. Growing pains for all of us.

Merry Christmas!

Merry
Christmas!

Hoping to catch up with you all soon.

Enjoy your family and friends

and I will see you all in the New Year.

enjoy!

5 Things...Which I Love

It's almost here. Less than two weeks away. I had to take several deep breaths today, to remind myself that it always gets done. Still...crazy times. I have to admit, I don't miss the school parties at the elementary school. That just added a whole new level of craziness into the mix. Enjoy the last days of preparation!

1. The boys. They are having fun this holiday. Both boys are making extra special gifts to give, having decided that Christmas can be quite expensive and that their wallets are a bit empty. Both projects fit the boys' personality to at T.

2. Our tree. It's big and fat and there won't be a needle left by Christmas day. That's okay...it's beautiful. Oh, and a string of lights has already died on it.

3. Shopping. Believe it or not, I really enjoyed the whole process this year. I like what I bought everyone and each gift fits each individual perfectly!

4. The snow. It has fallen a lot this December. It's light and fluffy and easy to move. The bone chilling temperatures makes the snow sparkle and crunch. We have skied and sledded more than any other December that I can remember.

5. The lights. I love driving around looking at all the lights. We live in a town where most of the lights are white. But, it's fun to drive to different parts of the city and view the extravaganza! So fun, so bright and so creative!

Snow Day!

Lake Effect snow has set up over our part of the country. It has been snowing for 90+ hours. We have about three feet of snow in our yard. The weather forecast says more for tonight and a possibility of a Nor'easter for Sunday.

Bring it on!

5 things...

I'm here...just busy. Like we all are. The lake effect snow machine has settled right on top of our house (or so it seems) and we've been getting dumped on for the last few days. We still have school, and the roads are drivable, which is a good thing.

1. My camera charger has been missing for the last few days. Enjoy the Christmases of years'past.

2. Our tree is up, and mostly decorated. But there is much more to do. Hopefully, it will be finished tonight.

3. I'm slowly listening to more Christmas music. It's like chocolate...too much of a good thing, can be too much.

4. I loved this red coat. I know, a totally random thought. But, as I look at this picture, I remember all the great places I wore it while skiing. Memories made!

Check out the face on Matt...fast forward to today and it's still pretty much the same :)

5. Remember to have fun with your little ones. It's different this year.

Cobblestone: Fini!

Made with love for our fifteenth wedding anniversary.

Cobblestone is a great pattern. I love that there are only two underarm seams to stitch up.

The short rows are well thought out. However, I am not a short row fan. I don't know why, but they caused me hours of frustration, leading me to rip out the garter stitch yoke more than once. If you look closely (please don't) you will see where I just finally just let it go.

I love it and so does Andy.

Details:

Cobblestone by Jared Flood

Lamb's Pride Worsted

M-03 Grey Heather

size six needles

Happy Birthday!

Matt discovered a picture of me yesterday. It was taken when I was in college. At the ripe old age of nineteen. Nineteen! I had just pledged into my sorority and I was about a month away from meeting Andy. I had long hair, which was pulled back in barrettes and wore a turtleneck and sweater combo. I told Matt that his father knew me when I looked liked that. "Really?" was all I got out of him. I have to sorta agree with Matt...I needed a fashion make-over bad! But, all and all it worked for both of us and tonight, almost thirty years later we are celebrating Andy's last year in his forties!

Happy Birthday Andy! We are going to have one heck of a party next year!

5 things...

I'm enjoying the quiet today after a wonderful holiday and long weekend. Ryan and his father spent the weekend away at a hockey tournament, while Matt stayed home with me. Both Andy and I spent great one on one time with our kids. Hopefully, they feel the same. We are easing slowly into the holiday season. The weather has been warmer than usual, making it hard to get into the spirit of things. It is supposed to turn colder through the week and snow by week's end. Perfect timing for our town's tree lighting ceremony!

1. I discovered that my son still has that dry sense of humor that he had as a little boy. He makes me laugh when he's not complaining about something.

2. Lots of knitting in the early hours. Easy stuff, with no pressure.

3. Many fires in the fireplace. I've found myself asleep with the cat curled next to me. It's a good feeling.

4. Advent is here, and in a round about way, we are preparing.

5.There are many geese gathered on the lake and in the fields, eating and waiting until it's time to fly south. I wonder if they know something that we don't. We, on the other hand, are all waiting anxiously for the first sizable snowfall.

Have a good week everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you to all that stop by to read about our daily adventures. It means much to me that you take time out of your day to see what we are up to.

Enjoy your family and friends today and always.

As I searched and searched for this picture(I had another in mind, but couldn't find it. Man, do I have a lot of pictures on Kodak CD's.) I realized that I'm quite blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. We certainly have had some fun times together!

And to the three important men in my life, thank you for making my life as sweet as it can be.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone~

Hey There Handsome!

As I was searching for a picture of Matt with a turkey ( I know it's here somewhere) I came across this picture. I've been wanting to write about this sweater for a long time, but it's packed away for Ryan's kids (may that be far, far away).

I started this right before Ryan was born and knit on it during our first Adirondack vacation. It's probably one of my most favorite knits that I've ever made.

Ryan has always been good about wearing the sweaters I made for him. In fact he's running around the house now in a pair of handknit socks.

I have long since forgotten all the specs of the sweater, but if someone really wants the pattern, I think I may still have it somewhere.

Ry's always been a handful...but does it so gracefully in handknits from me.

New Socks!

I've been knitting everyday.

It's kept me calm over the last few weeks.

These have been finished just in time, as we received snow last night.

Sknitches

colorway: Handsome Devil

size 1 needles

60 stitches

Next up: a Christmas present! Shhhh...don't tell.

5 things....

It was gray for most of the day today and I was feeling rather uninspired. But now that I look at these pictures, I'm sorta happy that it was gray today.

1. Spoke with this man the last night. He's my neighbor and the nicest guy. He took the time to help me with a few photog questions that I had. He never once talked down to me...only encouraged my growth in photography.

2. I've been playing with the presets in Lightroom. Can't you tell?

3. I've decided to grow my hair to my shoulders. I haven't had it this long since the beginning of college (and you don't want to know how long that was!). I'm not sure I will last.

4. I have pumpkins rotting on my front porch...and dead mums. I'd rather knit, then clean them up, but I suppose I should do that tomorrow.

5. We finally got the Netflix streaming on our Wii. (have I mentioned that already?) I'm obsessed with Say Yes to the Dress and the boys have discovered Cake Boss. It's the simple things people.

Have a good week!