10 On Tuesday

I find it funny that today's 10 On Tuesday is "10 Mittens/Mitts You Want To Knit".  Nicole just finished knitting a hat over the weekend and said her next project is going to be mittens.  I have never really followed a pattern for the mittens I have made. I always just make them up as I go along.  So I checked on Ravelry to see what patterns there are, if I actually decide to follow one.  And wow, there is a bunch!  Here are a few:

1.  Mittens in Color.  I have always wanted to try color work like this and mittens would be great to get my feet wet, so to speak.
2.  Warm In Here Mittens.  I made one pair of thrummed mittens before for Nicole and you can't get any warmer than that.
3.  Sideways Mystery Mittens. I love Elizabeth Zimmerman.  These look like they would be fun.
4.  Mitered Mittens.  Again - more Elizabeth.
5.  Two Needle Cabled Mittens.  I love the cuff on these.  They look like they are tight and there is no chance of snow getting in there.
6.  Felted Mittens.  Imagine how warm those would be?
7.  Fiddlehead Mittens.  Simply gorgeous!
8.  Spiral Mittens.  I love the little bit of texture.
9.  All Mittens On Deck. Another great way to use up some more of my sock yarn stash.
10.  Meta Mittens.  Sheep mittens?  Say no more.....

Can't wait to see what everyone else has on their list!

Long Weekending

Thanksgiving was wonderful.  Lots of good food, family, friends, and fun.  With a lot of thanks for all we have.  Hubby was thrilled to be able to use his gadgets to fry his turkey.  As always, it was delicious.

We did some black Friday shopping
Lots of knitting
Went to a farm with horses
Were amazed how cold it got
Even more amazed at how little traffic there was on the roads Wednesday evening
Ate till we couldn't eat anymore
And a whole lot of relaxing and just being

How was your weekend?

Thanksgiving

I'm skipping Yarn Along this week.  Mainly because I totally forgot to take pictures of my knitting in process and also because I have been preoccupied with the holiday.  And it got me thinking about how we spend it. This meme had been sent to me years ago and I don't think I ever did it on the blog.  So here you go.....

1. Where do you go for Thanksgiving dinner?  We stay home and cook.  

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird? Hubby is the master of bargain shopping and he is best buddies with the local butcher.  He goes in a week ahead, picks out which frozen bird he wants and they hold it for us until we need it.  

3. What kind of stuffing? Moms home made sausage stuffing.

4. Favorite kind of pie?  Pumpkin pie - without a doubt .

5. How do you prepare your bird? Again - hubby is the cook.  He marinates it the day before in beer, apple cider, spices, and a whole bunch of yummy stuff.  He injects into the meat too.  On Turkey Day he fries it.  There are never any left overs.  None.  

6. Favorite side dish? My onion shortbread.  

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock? No.  I'm not a fan of turkey soup.

8. What new dish are you trying this year? I found a recipe for creme brulee pie so I'm trying it.  Also, pumpkin martinis!  

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour? I get up early to get set up, but most of my cooking has been done beforehand.  I leave the kitchen for hubby and I watch the parade and clean up behind him.  

10. If you go to somebody else’s house, what’s your favorite dish to bring? I have always eaten at home, but if I were to go out I would probably bring the desserts (especially the pumpkin pie).

11. What do you wish one of your guests wouldn’t bring to your house? Appetizers.  I'm not big on prepping all that stuff so I like when others bring.

12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you’re happy to see? No drama.  It's not allowed.  My divorced parents both come with their spouses and we all get along and have a great time.  There are also friend that drop in and out throughout the day.  It's all good

13. What’s your absolute favorite thing on the menu? Probably the turkey because it's the only time of year that we get to have it since it's a lot of work!

However you spend your Thanksgiving, please have a happy, healthy and thankful one.

10 On Tuesday

Thank you Carole for coming up with something so perfect for Thanksgiving week! 10 Things I Am Grateful For.

The obvious:

1.  My family.  What am I without them?
2.  Good health. The older we get the more we start to appreciate that.
3.  My home.  To be able to have a roof over your head these days is something that a lot of people struggle with.
4.  My friends.  They are right there with the family.

Then I had to think a bit:

5.  My fiber life.  When I sit back and reflect on my life over the last few years so much of it involves knitting and spinning.  My life would be so different (and boring!) without it.
6.  Technology.  How great is it that we can turn on our computer and be connected to everyone?  I love that I can text people, that I can watch movies on my Nook (not to mention keep thousands of books in there), or just watch podcasts.
7.  My job.  I love my job.  It gets very stressful and hectic but I don't dread going to my office everyday.
8.  Loving to cook.  I don't do it that often because my hubby gets such joy out of it (and who am I to deprive him?), but I do love to cook.  And I love this time of the year because I actually get to do it!
9.  Challenges.  How else would we grow without them?
10.  Perspective.  I am a "glass half full" type of person by nature.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

What's on your list?

Weekending

Before you ask - the weekend was NOT spent getting a puppy.  We just happened to pass by this pet store and found a little cutie.  Besides that, we enjoyed our weekend

-finally finalizing the Thanksgiving Day menu
-dealing with a broken clothes dryer
-lunch and shopping with my bestie
-knitting
-checking out a new craft shop, which of course lead to buying some yarn
-catching up on some knitting podcasts
-realizing that the Holiday season is REALLY upon us

How was your weekend?

Affectionately Known

It's finished.  And I kinda like it!

The colors are wild!  Nice and bright.  It makes me happy that most of it was dyed by me.  It makes me even happier that I used up a bunch of stash sock yarn.

Like I said  before - it is huge.  Very wide.  Almost too wide.  I can really wrap it around me though and it's very snuggly.

It felt like it took forever but when I looked at Ravelry I realized that it took just a bit over 3 months so I guess it's not to bad.  I think the miles of garter stitch got to me.  It was a great no-think knit.

I already started poking through the stash to see if I had any other good color combinations.

Thankful Thursday

While I was doing a little photo shoot with my Color Affection yesterday (you will have to wait till tomorrow for it) I looked around.  I was surrounded by beauty.  To my right were beautiful trees with orange leaves.

To the left was the water.

I'm thankful for my beautiful surroundings.  And the reminder to stop and enjoy them whenever possible during the hectic days ahead.

What are you thankful for today?

Yarn Along

Well I am finally done with Color Affection.  You will have to wait for photos - it's so long it's impossible to get a good shot of it!  I will have to schedule a special photo shoot.  Sorry bout that!

In the meantime I cast on another sock.  It will be a Christmas present.

I'm using some Lion Brand sock that I had in my stash.  I have to tell you - I have knit a few pairs with this yarn before and it is durable!  It's not the softest in the world, but boy does it wear well.

As far as reading..... does Pinterest count as reading?  I have been on it constantly lately looking for Turkey Day recipes and Christmas gift ideas.

So what are doing with wool lately?  See what others are doing at Yarn Along.

10 On Tuesday

Tis the season.  As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach we are reminded to help others that are less fortunate.  It's something we should remember year round, but this weeks 10 On Tuesday is 10 Items Your Local Food Pantry Can Use.   Now I will be the first to say that we don't donate as often as we can.  We did think of them a couple of weeks ago after the hurricane when we lost our electricity.  We were one day away from throwing our food out, and my husband refused.  He vowed if our power didn't return he was going to empty the meat in the freezer (and any of you who know my husband, knows there was definitely  a lot of meat in there), have the towns largest barbecue and donate it to the local soup kitchen.  We never had to do it, but it reminded me that we do need to donate.  And here is a list of what they might like.

1.  Soup.  With the cold weather there is nothing better than some soup to warm you up.
2.  Nuts.  Canned are great. It's a good source of protein too.
3.  Canned Veggies.  Not quite as good as fresh, but it works.
4.  Rice.  Brown is best, but white works well too.
5.  Oatmeal.  Very filling.
6.  Pasta.  I know I can't live without it.
7.  Tuna.  Again, more protein.  And healthy too.
8.  Bisquick.  So versatile.
9.  Pet food.  Can't forget those little guys.
10.  Money.  It's always welcome and sometimes easier to give.

Most of all, when donating, watch the expiration dates.  Don't give anything you wouldn't want to eat yourself.

Weekending

First and most important - Happy Veterans Day to all who have served and are currently serving in the military.  Thank you for your service.

We spent our weekend
loving the weather and finding it hard to believe that there are still flowers in bloom
of course there was knitting
making Christmas lists
going to a piano recital
a trip to Patriot Place
watching movies
date night and a concert
and a late night dinner, which never happens anymore because we are usually asleep by 10

How was your weekend?

Thankful Thursday

Wow - it's Thursday again?  Time flies.  And that is kind of what my thankfulness is about today.

A couple of weeks ago Nicole and I went shopping to get shoes for her Homecoming Dance.  Her last Homecoming Dance in high school.  Sigh.....  We looked at all the options and she found a pair she really liked.  Right next to it was a little black toddler-sized shoe.  And it got me thinking - how did we go from buying those tiny black shoes to these silver heels?

Like how did this happen overnight?  I know it hasn't been an overnight change.  It has been happening gradually.  Over the last 17 years.  And I have to say, although the time has flown by, I have enjoyed every minute of it and don't feel like I missed anything.  I don't have any "what ifs" now that she is almost an adult.  Every year that passed I thought "Oh, this is the funnest age yet", and the following year it got better.  Now don't get me wrong - the teenage years have been "interesting", to say the least.  But very fun at the same time.

I am thankful that I haven't missed any of her growing up and enjoyed the process.  Don't blink - it goes by before you know it!

Yarn Along

Happy Wednesday to ya!  I'm joining in with Ginny for the weekly Yarn Along.  I'm still reading my 50 Shades but reading time, as little as it was, is becoming smaller since basketball season begun.  I loved reading just before I went to sleep years ago but these days I find that within minutes the words become blurry and then zzzz....  I am asleep.  But I am knitting right along on Color Affection.  I'm stitches away from the border.

With over 400 stitches a row takes forever.  I thought all the garter stitch would have become boring for me by now but I'm still loving it.  

And how about that bag?  I scored it for $2 at the end of the summer.  Works great to pack a decent size project in.

And that makes me happy.

So what are you knitting and reading lately?

10 On Tuesday

Thanks for this one Carole.  I love it.  And so simple!  10 Things On My Mind Right Now.  

1.  I voted.  First thing this morning.  Nicole is bummed out that she can't vote in this really important election this year.  She's 10 months too young.
2.  My aunt's best friends.  They lost their 34 year old daughter suddenly on Sunday. She fell in the bathtub. It's one of those things you never think will happen.  But it did.  And they are devastated.
3.  It's cold!  29 degrees was not acceptable this morning.
4.  I need to see if there are any basketball games on tonight.  I don't think the Celtics are playing.  Basketball leads to great knitting time for me.
5.  The cable guy better show up today.  My DVR has been slowing failing and we finally decided it was time for it to retire.  Unfortunately, the young and "not too bright" repair "man" with pants his hanging off his butt and his boxers sticking out did not deliver the correct DVR.  He gave us something totally different.  When I called to have him come back, I was told he would be returning.  2 hours later, no cable guy and the office said "Too Bad".  We await his return today.
6.  I need to get on Pinterest for some Thanksgiving recipes.  They never fail me.
7.  Work stuff.  Lots of work stuff.  Especially because it's year-end for me.
8.  My car needs to be cleaned.  I wanted to do it this past weekend before it got cold, but it never happened.  Anybody know if Fall is returning anytime soon?  If not the inside may be pretty dirty till May.
9.  College.  For Nicole.  We started the application process and even though she is staying home, it's still very overwhelming for me.  I'm not ready for this.
10.  Spinning night is tomorrow and I can't wait.  Who cares if there is a Nor'easter coming?

Weekending

We spent the weekend
Cooking new recipes
In crockpots and the breadmaker
Celebrating hubby's birthday
Enjoying family
Hearing stories of our extended family in NY dealing with the hurricane aftermath
Watching football and basketball (squeeee!)
Knitting (double squeeeee!)
Realizing that the holidays are now upon us
And planning Thanksgiving
And even did some online Christmas shopping

How was our weekend?

This Moment

The calm after the storm.  And my amazement that there were actually leaves left on the trees afterwards.  Sending good thoughts out to the people in NY/NJ that are really struggling.

Thankful Thursday

Since it's November and it is the month that we celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate Thursdays to being thankful.  When I think of thankful I think of the obvious - my family, health, friends.  I'm trying to go beyond that a bit.  With all that has happened this week there is a lot to be thankful for.  I watch on the news how devastated NY and NJ are because of the hurricane and I can't help but be thankful that we were really only inconvenienced a little bit.  It could have been so much worse.

The first thing that came to my mind was electricity (try going without that for a couple of days and it kind of gives you a different perspective).  Then I got to thinking about what I was thankful for while I didn't have electricity.

I know I have said it before but I just love my Nook.  It was great to have all my magazines, books, games, even movies all in one small space.  Had we gone longer than a couple of days without electric I would have had a problem with charging it (I should probably invest in a car charger).  Beyond my Nook was my iPhone, which I have gushed about on more than one occasion.  And did I mention how much I love the iPhone 5?  So far no glitches that I can see.  It was definitely worth waiting for.

What are you thankful for these days?