Our Christmas this year

I was able to complete 75% of my homemade gifts. 75% of our decorations stayed in their storage boxes and for the first time in many many years I did not host a party or send out cards. Balancing work and all things I hoped to do proved to be a challenge as time seemed to slip away so quickly. Instead I chose to spend the extra time with my family and friends enjoying their company and the wonderful feeling of being blessed with the fullness of peace and gratitude.

Thank you to my blogging buddies for your friendships. They are such a gift and I appreciate that you stop by this little space of mine often. If you celebrated I hope your Christmas was wonderful and full of warmth, joy and love.

I am looking forward to the new year with much anticipation and sharing new adventures and hearing about yours.

God Bless,
Jen

Hearts

We drew hearts on our windows tonight because it's finally cold and rainy here, whoohoo! We are leaving to visit family and perhaps some snow too! My knitting bag is packed first as usual and my camera bag second. I am looking forward to some quality knitting time and finishing up the last couple gifts I have left. I wanted to drop in, say hi and wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Jen

my supervisor or helper

I think he thinks he is I tell you! He is always next to me, always. It is so funny but whenever I put something out to measure or cut he runs over and lays on it.

Here is one of the place mat tops in a set I am hoping to finish up tomorrow. I would love to hear how your homemade gift are coming along?

Here's wishing you all a lovely Wednesday.

making progress, doing what I can and I am okay with that

So the challenge this year for me is to make as many gifts as I can while working full time (and then some) and not stress out and forget the reason for this wonderful season. Normaly my house is decked out, I am hosting parties, crafting and baking like a maniac, often to the point where I am totally freaked out trying to get everything done. Running around to make everyone happy by cramming in too much stuff. I know some of you guys know what I'm talking about.

Well, this year my job has become a time vampire since summer and has not let up. My days are long and have cut into my free time for crafting, exercise, blogging and life in general. I've had no choice but to step back on my holiday busyness this year and am surprised that I actually am enjoying the slower pace, shocking for those who know me but true. In only having baked a little and have only my tree up (versus 100 santas all over, yes I love Santa) I have chosen to spend every minute I can crafting my gifts and spending time with my family. Life is so good and I am feeling very blessed and thankful.
I am happy with the progess I have made thus far and am making a definite dent in my "to do" list. I hope to be able to get everything done but now know the world wont end if I don't and I am okay with that, sigh.

Here are a few things from my list

::Comfy pants for monkey and my neice~check
::blankets for my niece and nephew~check
::fabric washed, coordinated and ready to be completed into
something special for my mom and sister~check
::Hybrid mittens for my FIL~on the needles
::Thorpe for monkey's BF~soon to be on the needles
::Enjoying these moments, this season and taking my time and putting
love and warm thoughts into each stitch~check
::making progress, doing what I can~check
::smiling a lot~check


What are some of the things you are working on these days?

Christmas Cookie fun

Life is extra busy and a bit hectic this week but I hope to back soon to share pictures, lots of good stuff going on around here.

Happy Weekending to you!
Jen

Good Bye November, Hello December

Pieces of my everyday in November

Thanksgiving weekend we hit the road and had such a good time. We spent Turkey day hiking in the Palm Springs mountains and filled our bellies with wonderful food shared with family. Friday we were back on the road and drove to the lake. Road trips are fun for me as the music man usually almost always drives so I get a lot of knitting time in.
I am working on the slouchy cardigan from Knit Cafe and I know I say this alot but this could be my new favorite (haha), I know but a girl can't have to many right.

The weather is cold and it feels more like winter than Fall these days. Funny how this California weather can be. Not to long ago it was 100 degrees out and now we are averaging in the 50's and 60's. I know not cold for most of you but us So Cal peeps really dont know what real cold is. We have been enjoying soup and home fresh breads though, yum!

The cool air has inspired me to get going on my Christmas gifts as well. I have several to finish up and much more to do. I hope to have my tree up by next weekend and am looking forward to hanging the garland and mistletoe.

Be back soon to share some of my soon to be (I hope) finished projects, until then here's wishing you a beautiful week filled with peace and joy.

Gratitude

"Gratitude is noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary and then taking a nanosecond to feel it" author unknown

I love this quote and have shared it here before but it reminded me that it's been a few months since I've done a thankful post. With Thanksgiving this week it felt like it was time for another one.

Life is busy, full, often crazy and so so good, my family and I are greatly blessed. Here are a few things that I am grateful for right now.

::faith, for the peace and grace it brings to my life
::my beautiful and healthy family who makes me laugh daily
::snuggles from a brown dog
::the smell of homemade cookies wafting through out the house
::cool weather and a warm cup of coffee
::the company of good friends old and new
::for the beginning of each day
::the quiet at the end of day where I can sit, knit and clear my mind
::for new adventures that are yet to come

I would love to hear what you are feeling grateful for?
Here's wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving week that is full joy.

Jen

Hello weekend I am so happy you are finally here

Oh my gosh work has been SO busy and stressful this week. I have to say that I am very thankful it's Friday and am so ready for a little fun! Tonight the musical handy man has a gig so we will be spending the evening with friends, music and cold beer *whoo whoo* I wanted to drop in and wish you all a Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!

brioche rib stitch floppy

This was a quick and easy knit that only took a couple hours to do. I didnt follow a pattern or have a plan when I started, I simply cast on and then I was done. I think it's perfect for good or bad hair days. It may have actually taken me longer to get a picture of it then it did to knit it up. I found that again it isn't easy getting a picture of yourself is it? My hope was to get a nice shot detailing the stitch but after many attemps I ended up with this one.

I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. It was my first time working with this lovely yarn and I found it to be soft, squishy and in bulky knits up really fast. I have been wanting to learn the brioche stitch for a while and am happy I chose it with this yarn. This is such a fun stitch thats reversable and creates a thick and cushy surface. The versatility would make it a great stitch for a scarf or throw as well.

Happy Friday! Here's wishing you a wonderful weekend full of things that make you smile.

new comfies pants

The Musical Handy Man had a gig the other night and I often go watch him, I love listening to him sing it makes my heart happy. This time though I was a bit tired after working extra hours and didnt feel like going out. Instead I enjoyed the quiet that comes with an empty house and the hum of my sewing machine. A couple hours later I had myself a new pair of comfies to lounge around in.

Last year I got Amy Butlers In Stitches. Do you have this book? If not you might want to check it out, it's awesome. There are so many great and easy patterns that are perfect for my simple sewing skills. Last year I made a dozen of the pants as gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Everyone really liked them and I have a couple peeps asking for another pair as this year gift. SO fun!

I received another knit picks order in the mailbox and have this beautiful and colorful wool rolled and ready to become something groovalicious. Here's wishing you a great week. Thanks for stopping by this place of mine and saying hi, I love that you visit!

Shalom Cardigan

.
Yep, this is definitely my new "go to" cardi. There are so many things I like about this one. The pattern is a quick and easy to follow. The big needles make you feel like you are knitting really fassssssst. The yarn is soft, gushy and of course red, yay. I couldnt decide weather to use buttons or a zipper to finish it off.

I decided to go with these buttons since I had knitted the holes alreay but because of the hang and softness of this yarn a zipper would work great to.

~Pattern is Shalom by Meghan McFarlane
~Yarn is knit picks bulky comfy color pomegranate
~Needles~ size 10 circulars

~Modifications made~

I added button holes at each pattern repeat (initally I was going to do buttons all the way down but changed my mind and went with pattern repeats)

I also converted into long sleeves. k28, place 33 sts on scrap yarn, co 10 sts, k 47, place 33 sts on scrap yarn, co 10 sts, k28.

I skipped the waste shaping

continued sleeves by picking up 10 sts under arm for a total of 46 sts. Decrease 1 sts every 6 rows until 36 sts remain. knit until desired length and BO.

Quick note~
My mods were a combination of several found on Raverly. I CO using the long tail method and my neckline is a bit looser than I would have liked. Several people have found that a cable cast on would render a tighter edge? I think I will give that a try. I am already thinking about several other colors this would be great in because a girl can't have to many cardi's right.

Have a great weekend!

This weekend

I made this for a friend who was blessed with another beautiful little girl.

Baked some witchy cookies for my family

and soaked in some sunshine.

Hello November and a happy Monday. Here's wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Shalom update

I can definitely see why this is such a popular pattern. I am really enjoying this project alot. The weather here has been very Fall like and wonderful for knitting. The yummy yarn, the way it feels on the needles and the easy pattern make this a really great knit! The large needles (size 10) and bulky yarn make it a quick knit too.

Although I am not done I can already tell this is going to be my "go to" sweater. Aren't they the best kind. I am hoping to have some quiet time tonight so I can finish up the sleeves. Be back soon to share, until then here's wishing you a great day!

cozy happiness

Its dark and rainy out today and I have long pants and socks on, whoohoo!!! Don't get me wrong I like my flippies and shorts just fine but I love love love days like this and since they don't happen often I like to take full advantage when they do. Today I took some extra time and worked on my Shalom cardigan, enjoyed a bowl of warm veggie soup and the company of my brown dog. Thanks for stopping by this space of mine. I am always so thankful for your kind words. Heres wishing you a great day!

a fall banner just for fun

Lately I have felt a pull back to my sewing machine that has sat quietly since early summer. The days and nights have cooled and we are finally experiencing fall like weather. I still have to finish this but in the meantime I wanted a project that I could start and finish quickly.

This is a fun little banner that you can whip out in a flash. I love banners as they can be used for any occassion or just for fun. The fabric or theme is really endless and they make a great little gift. I sent one to my MIL in the package with the baby cardigans, just because.

Here's what I did:.

I used 4 different fabrics (you could use scraps too)
approx 1/4 yard each was enough to make 3 banners.
I cut them into 8 inch squares
folded top of square to create hem of approx 1/2 inch and sew
I didnt sew the sides of the squares just the top to create a casing to feed the twine through.
use a saftey pin or bobby pin to feed twine through
tied ends of twine and hang.

Have fun!

done and done

Remember the baby cardi I started back in July, well both sweaters are finally done and on there way to my MIL. I would have had them done sooner but life and summer time got in the way. That's okay because I made them in 6 months sizes and both babies were born in August. I am happy with how they turned out and think there just in time for the cooling days visiting Washington State. I modified a pattern that my friend over at lap dog knits gave me a couple years ago. This pattern has become my "go to" pattern anytime I need a baby sweater. It is super easy peasy and knits up fast.

We are expecting cooler days starting today and I am already working up my next project. I will be back soon to share, until then here's wishing you a Happy Thursday!

18

We celebrated an 18th birthday Pasta Sunday style. The birthday girl, uhem young lady picked her favorite menu featuring Pizza, Pesto pasta with roasted pine nuts, fresh greens and of course a triple vanilla cake with Spamoni ice cream. Happy Birthday Monkey!

It was nice

while it lasted. We had a couple drizzly cool days this week and they were wonderful! I made a fish chowder, finished a project and wore socks, yes socks! Today the heat is back and is to be back for several days with the temps in the mid 90's. Pardon me while I wipe my brow, ugh.
October is Cancer Awareness month and I will be walking with some friends in a 5k charity walk Sunday. With the heat back I am thankful we are walking in the morning. Here's wishing you a wonderful weekend and hope you are enjoying some fall weather where you are.

again

It was so crazy hot last week that we decided last minute to sneak in one more camping trip to the beach. It was wonderful, much cooler and we were able to enjoy a beautiful walk on the bluffs. We are back home and it finally feels like fall! We have had much cooler days, fog, rain and a bit of sunshine. Simply fantastic! Be back soon with a pic of the pink baby cardi. Until then here's wishing you a lovely week.

a box of threads

We are a week into Autumn and it is apparent that Mother Nature didn't get the memo. This week we have broken all record highs, Monday we hit 113 degrees! Today it is cloudy and a bit cooler at a whopping 98 degrees.

I am dreaming of wool fibers, sweaters and busting out my boots but until then I am so thankful for air conditioning and indoor activities. This is monkey girl making friendship bracelets for her buddies. I love her sock invention to help hold the thread.

Happy Wednesday!

Falling for Fall

Since it takes a while before Southern California see's any beautiful colored falling leaves I decided to make my own.

Yep they were good, a bit to good perhaps because I enjoyed more than I should have and now I have cookie pains in my belly and a sugar headache, ugh. The musical handy man has a gig at the beach tonight and I am taking some to share with friends. If they stay here it could get really ugly, haha. I am looking forward to a cool evening tonight, as I type this it is 102 degrees outside!

Here's wishing you a Happy Weekend!

Hello Autumn,

Welcome, come on in and stay a while wont you. The Fall Equinox began at 3:09 this morning and I couldnt be happier. I really do love this time of year. I love the warm days, cool evenings, the beautiful colors, football, cassoroles, soups, pumpkin pie and the renewed anticipation of sewing and knitting after a quiet summer.


Looks like time to make some applesauce and stock up the pantry

and check out these fairytale pumpkins at the market, so neat!

I started some seedlings too. I really do love this season!

Heres wishing a Happy Autumn to you!

One down

one to go. Now that football is back so is my knitting whoohoo. I am half way through with the pink cardi set as well and I hope to be finished soon. I need to get buttons for both so there is definitely a trip to the fabric store for me as well ((smiles)). I do love this time of year!

A happy Monday

has fresh home made cookies and

time for knitting.

Wishing you a Happy day too!

This summer we...

::enjoyed a lot of time outside::soaked in the sunshine::took in the aroma of fresh flowers::ate fresh berries::BBQ's::the company of family and old friends

We also enjoyed...
a couple camping trips::the company of new friends::the beach, a lot...
::long walks::picnics at the park::campfires and s'mores::good books::warm nights::our flip flops and home ice cream.

The weather is beginning to change and my fingers are itching for extra time with my knitting needles. I am feeling a strong pull back to my sewing machine that has sat quiet all summer long. The desire and inspiration to create is growing stronger in me everyday. I have enjoyed summer greatly and am now looking forward to fall, my favorite time of year with much antisipation. I hope you had a wonderful summer too and wonder if you are also feeling the pull of Autumn?

back to the beach we went

We took off for a couple days back down to the beach to soak in the last days of this season.

It was really wonderful to be away from my work desk and enjoying my family and fresh air.





I even got some knitting time in! The first cardi is almost done. I hope to be back in a few days to share pics.

Here's wishing you a wonderful week.

seasons

Summer this year has been mild for us until this last week that is. It is so HOT! Just as the temperature has risen I received my Knit Picks catalog for fall and ((((big smiles))) I love the colors. October is my favorite month and I am feeling much anticipation for fall and all that it offers, but until then...We are enjoying this season and spending a lot of our free time outside. Monkey is learning to surf and I have had such a great time watching her and sitting quietly with my camera.

Happy Saturday to you!

this moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

I hope to be back soon with some knitting news, until then here's wishing you a wonderful weekend.

To see more moments or play along check out soulemama

pics from

our camping trip to Bass Lake. It was full of flip flops and sunscreen,
as well as...





of course no camping trip is complete without a campfire, smore's and

a group sing-a-long



We had such a great time soaking in the sunshine! The woods, the lake and the company of friends old and new. We are already looking forward to next year when we get to go and do it again!