Right now . . .

This week's prompt is a reminder of lots of good things I'm looking forward to.

10.  Spring, so Sophie and I can enjoy more days in the back yard like the one when this photo was taken!
  9.  A 4 day weekend-which comes at the end of a 2 day work week-which was preceded by a 3 day weekend!
  8.  A full day of sewing on Thursday AND lunch with Brenda.
  7.  Knitting tonight AND Sunday.
  6.  Nothing on my calendar for Saturday-nowhere to go- just being at the house.
  5.  A college graduation, a wedding and an annual family trip in May.
  4.  Making another batch of Hudson Bay cocktails featured by Baby Cocktails.
  3.  Organizing my sewing/knitting area in the basement.
  2.  Friday night pizza and watching Justified with Steve (Walking Dead) is Sundays :-)
  1.  Swatching and blocking for new projects.

Lots of little things, but they add up to a whole bunch of happy.

WIP Wednesday

The beginnings of the 2-tone twill scarf by Churchmouse Yarns & Tea-LOVE!.  This is for the 1st quarter KAL at Cast on Cottage.  I'm using Claudia's Hand Paint Addiction in stormy days (variegated) and rock (solid).  I'm sorta getting into the groove of the linen stitch, and have learned a couple tricks to keep me on track: 1) I keep the color I'm not using in the bag if I am not somewhere where I have a table or big chair/sofa to sit on.  The colors are so similar I found myself getting confused a couple times. And 2) that once you complete a RS and WS of each color all the stitches are the same yarn, cause you've either purled or knitted the slipped stitches on each row.  I think this is going to be a great piece for my spring wardrobe.

I'm on Week 3 of the Kaffe Fassett Rowan Pure Wool Worsted KAL.  I'm 3 squares in and have 4 to go.  I've seen a photo of a completed afghan, and I'm pretty excited to see this finished.

My only other WIP right now is the sommer sleeveless top which is now beginning to seem like the never ending project.  I'm at a "at the same time" place in the pattern, so I'm waiting til I can sit and focus on what comes next.  I'm really happy with my knitting right now, and hope to be swatching for something new real soon.

Love Sweet Love

Valentine's is just a few days away, so thinking about what we love seems appropriate.  I love . . .
10.  my husband and boys
 9.   my in-laws-all of them from the 5 month old to the 76'ers!  Great people
 8.  knitting-duh
 7.  quilting-when things work out
 6.  reading
 5.  fresh bread
 4.  pasta
 3.  red wine
 2.  exercise-walking or cycling
 1. my book club

This just a few of the things/people I love and enjoy.  I also am enjoying this bottle of wine I got last week at Trader Joe's.  Project Happiness-what's not to love?!

Time for a Block(ing) Party

Finally, some FOs to blog about.  2 pairs of socks, 2 hats and drum roll please! Aperture! Hope to get these pieces blocked this weekend.  So that leaves my  sommer sleeveless tank and my Kaffe Fassett afghan KAL as the only WIPs in my bag.  I have some projects in mind, I just need to get the materials together and cast on.  I also have a couple quilts that just need the binding, so I may focus on the tank and the quilts for the next couple weeks.  I have several off days in February and I think that would be a great time to get some projects lined up.  I'm participating in the Stash and Burn 15 hats in 15.  I've completed 4 to date, and the Yarniacs are also doing quarterly challenges for stash busting.  I'm hoping these podcasters will keep me focused on my stash busting goals.

Indulgencies

For this week's prompt I like to think more in terms of things I do for myself, to make me feel special, or that I consider a special treat rather than a guilty pleasure.

10.  Silk Almond milk-dark chocolate-while watching the Tour de France  they touted the benefits of chocolate milk as a post ride recovery drink-so being a cycling this is what I came up with and it's delish!
 9.  A bubble bath-especially after a day of serious cooking or cleaning like prepping for Thanksgiving dinner
 8.  Starbucks Flat White-I am slowly becoming addicted to these especially in the afternoon as a pick me up
 7.  Verve Clicquot-I will be indulging in a bottle of real champagne for Valentine's Day-I want to see if it's really all that.
 6.  Pedicures-love how my feet feel afterwards
 5.  Morning coffee or evening cocktails or wine on the deck
 4.  Knitting with a cashmere blend
 3.  Rosewood knitting needles
 2.  High count Egyptian cotton sheets
 1.  Rich moist chocolate cake

I plan to report back on the bottle of champagne-what are you savoring?

Weekend Follies

Saturday morning featured ice skating with Kate's Club, and honestly I don't think I've had ice skates on my feet in about 15 years.  Not since the boys were smaller, and were considering ice skating or hockey as an activity they'd like to learn.  I was surprised that 1) I didn't fall and 2) that it came back to me pretty easily.  Not that I was ever an exceptional ice skater, but I could make my way around the rink without clinging to the wall. I thought about doing a short video on my phone, but figured I'd better not push my luck with the whole not falling down thing!    This was literally an all day outing, and when I got home at 5:30, it was nice knowing that dinner was ready in the crock pot, and a glass of wine not far away.  I was asleep by 8:45-who knew ice skating could be so exhausting?!  There were approximately 94 kids and almost 25 chaperones; the kids did great and seemed to have a good time.  Looking forward to the one in spring as long as it's not in May!

I'm thinking 2015 may really be the year of the hat, I cast this on during the Super Bowl.  I knit during the game, so I could watch the commercials.  There were some pretty good ones this year, and even a few that tugged at my heart, and made me cry.  I'm using some stashed yarn that I bought at Purl Soho a while back.  I'm loving the yarn, Alchemy Temple, so soft, squisshy, and great stitch definition, perfect for a hat.  I realized after I purchased the yarn, that it wasn't enough to make much of anything-or so I thought!  On a return trip to NYC, I purchased another skein of the same color, and when I got home from this trip realized that I purchased fingering weight instead of sport weight-ugh! So finally after this yarn has sat in my stash I did a search on Ravelry and well-duh, I had plenty of yarn to knit a hat!  I can be sooooo pretty and smart sometimes.  Anyway, I have plans to use the fingering for a hat, wristers, or mitts.  We'll see, and this photo really doesn't do the yarn justice-it's bright pink- but not this garish. 

It's sorta making me smile on this dreary-blustery Monday morning!  Anything making you smile today?

Is it spring?

Possibly-other than Monday, the weather here has been pretty nice.  I've been able to spend 30 minutes or so with Sophie in the backyard after work.  Fun for us both, me with a glass of wine, and she get's to run around chasing the tennis ball.  Yesterday I only had to wear a fleece jacket to stay warm, and I grilled chicken for our dinner.  This time last year we were under a blanket of snow, or at least by Atlanta standards it was a blanket!  Am making the most of days like this cause I know February, March and April can be pretty unpredictable in our area.  The next couple weekends will be jammed packed, so I'm trying to use my days during the work to do the un-fun things like cleaning and laundry.  How're things in your neck of the woods?