Another Memory-filled Memorial Weekend

This week's prompt from Carole is very easy.  My husband's family have been gathering on Memorial Weekend for a loooong time-close to 20 years-maybe?!  In the beginning all the grandkids were pretty small, toddler through elementary aged.  Now we've got all adult kids and a wee one who was with us for his first Memorial Weekend get together.  For the first few years we stayed at Calloway Gardens and then we began staying at the chalet's at Dillard-both in Georgia.  This year we were at a new place Big Canoe (Jasper, GA).  Everyone as able to attend even the 2 nieces who live out of state.  While the location has changed the great times together have not.  Here's some what we did -

10.  Wine and and special cocktails were drunk along with eating some fabulous food.
  9.  Knitting-lots!  Of course, I brought way more than I'd every hope to finish.

8.  Celebrated a special birthday-Steve's Big 50!

7.  Play time with Charlie-you can just see his head near the table.  Such a sweet boy.

6.  There was some pool AND ping pong

5.  Time spent with the folks-although there isn't an individual group photo there were plenty taken, and I think if all share them everyone will be represented. 

4.  Reading-I started Get Shorty, but didn't make as much progress as I've had liked.
3.  Played games-I mostly stuck to the easy dice games like Zilch and Yahtzee so I could knit and not think too much.
2.  Big Canoe Bingo which my Sister in law created for us.  I got at least 1 Bingo and had I done a little yoga I would have had more!
1.  Talked and laughed-ALOT.

This weekend is always a special time for us, and we hope it continues for a very, very long time.

As you travel down the road before you

Carole's prompt is timely since my oldest graduated from Georgia Southern 2 weeks ago (wow doesn't seem like it!).  The commencement speaker was an student at GS 20+ years ago, and he gave a very good speech.  Short and to the point, but full of good advice.

10.  Well done-in 4 years PJ earned 2 Bachelor degrees in International Trade and French.
  9.  Never give up
  8.  Life's road will have speed bumps and detours; keep both hands on the steering wheel and don't get distracted.
  7.  Do what makes you happy and brings you joy.
  6.  Be a person of integrity.
  5.  Your first job doesn't have to be your career.
  4. Take care of yourself-mind, body and soul.
  3.  Take advise from people who are successful.
  2.  Take responsibility for your own actions and choices.
  1.  Always be willing to learn

I wish someone had given me some advise like this when I got out of high school.  I might have gone to college a lot sooner!

Thanks Carole for a timely and reflective prompt.

Reality is setting in

now that the landscaping is in place, 60 bales of pine straw yet to be delivered, our downsizing plans are taking shape.  There is LOTS to do before the first phase of moving takes place on 5/29.  When Steve told me we'd received our welcome letter from the complex and that he'd scheduled utilities to be turned on-it was like whoa we're really doing this!

The tags are my first real step in getting the inside organized tagging/boxing/packing.  I've done some of this in my head already.  Fortunately we don't have to empty the house on the 29th, just get the essentials to the apartment which will be our primary residence, so the work inside the house can be completed more easily before the for sale sign goes in the yard.  

This whole process seems a bit surreal and exciting at the same time.  What I'm looking forward to the most is having my commute distance cut by more than half whoot!  I'm hoping that will mean more knitting time-we shall see.  Hopefully I'll do a better job of documenting this journey -more to come . . . .

Putting it off.

I don't typically procrastinate.  I like to get things done, and delight in having a "to do" list that has everything ticked off.  I missed Carole's last 2 prompts even though I did have stuff to contribute.  I'll blame Instagram!

10.  Blogging-there's been traveling, boot buying, good food, and lots of knitting.
  9.  Packing up stuff in our house that we won't need for a while
  8.  Tagging items throughout the house that either will be moved, stored, or left until the house sells.
  7.  Washing and storing all my winter-y hand knits-I see the pile and think "next year"!
  6.  Game plan for the Books on the Nightstand Read Harder Challenge.  I'm making great headway with the reading, just not on the final list of books.
  5.  Cleaning off the back deck
  4.  Cleaning out the planters that will either be tossed or planted with flowers for curb appeal
  3.  Bike tune ups-can't go for a ride til this is done.
  2.  Car emissions-can't wait much longer for that though!
  1.  Finishing some sewing projects-I hate being inside when the weather is nice-I'd rather been on the desk with wine, tunes and knitting.

We can get in the habit of rushing to get things done, and we might miss out on the small moments that make big memories.  I try to have a balance, and just have a steady flow of things that are getting done-how do you approach those "to do" lists?

From the bookshelf

This week's prompt about the last 10 books we've read shows me that I haven't read much since September.  Most of these are either for book club or part of my Books on the Night Stand read harder challenge.  My list includes some winners and losers.  I always check Good Reads after I've read a book to see if my final thoughts are similar to others, and most often if I liked/disliked a book the majority of other reads felt the same way.

 So here you go with the most recently completed at #10

10.  The Girl on the Train-LOVED it.
  9.  Daughter of Fortune-another good one.
  8.  The Widow Clicquot-I decided to read this micro-history because I'm a HUGE fan of champagne/sparkling wine.
  7.  The Mysteries of Pitttsburg-part of the read harder challenge-I didn't get much out of this one.
  6.  Olive Kitteridge-same as #7, but after watching the HBO miniseries the book probably deserves another star.
  5.  The Light Between the Oceans-LOVED this one too.
  4.  Saving Grace- way to predictable and pretty boring characters.  Sorta reminded me of the Shelley Long, Ryan O'Neal and Drew Barrymore movie Irreconcilable Differences. 
  3.  Dear Life Stories-a book club read-just felt kinda -meh about this one.
  2.  The Storied Life of AJ Filby-I liked the story well enough, I listened to this on my way to Florida in October, so don't know if I read the book-book I'd feel differently about it.
  1.  Language of Flowers-LOVED!  This was my book club recommendation, and I enjoyed reading it the second time around and having someone to talk to about it.

What's left your book shelf recently? 

A tisket a tasket guess what's in my knitting basket---

On Sunday afternoon I completed my Easy Folded Poncho and my Sommer Sleevless Top which meant I officially had empty needles! I'm not counting the Kaffe Fassett Alghan squares cause I'm not even finished with 1/2 of the 54 squares. That will be an ongoing project that I hope will be finished by the fall, but I'm not giving myself any deadlines at this point.  So after a visit to Cast on Cottage I got the yarn for 2 of the 3 Shibui spring/summer patterns that I'm planning to knit.  I had yarn leftover from another project that I'll use for one of the patterns.  I figured now is a good time to do my initial documentation.  I still need to set up the tripod so that I can get photos of my FOs, of which there are several-that'll be another blog post soon I hope!

After tiding my craft area I wound some yarn, gathered together project bags, patterns and needles and headed back out to the deck-where I pretty much spent the ENTIRE day after church-to begin the swatching process.

First up, Hayward shawlette which will be knit with Infinite Twist Helix- this is part of the prize pack from the 2 Knit Lit Chicks Podcast.  Everything I needed for this project was included even the 3 circular needles!  No plans to swatch unless I'm not happy with the fabric, but think it'll just be fine.

Next, Apex, a super cute tunic and I'll use Elsbeth Lavolds Hempathy that had previously been the aran necklace tunic.  I really liked that pattern, but for some reason the finished product was not up to snuff.  I'll definitely re-knit it at some point.  Swatching still to be completed .

Here is Lithos, yarn is Debbie Bliss donegal tweed-gifted to me by Mary yea free yarn! the photo does not show off the color very well-brown with bits of tan and blue-very pretty.  This is a heavy sweater that might not get much knitting once it starts getting really hot, but I wanted to at least get it going.  Have already done the swatch, and the gauge is spot on-whoot!

Square-another Shibui, I'm using pebble and linen in tar.  I had 2 skeins of linen leftover from Aperture I have NO idea how that happened!  I've done the swatch, just need to wash and block before starting the project.  So far needle size and fabric seem to be dead on with gauge.

A hat, so that I can stay on pace with the Stash and Burn 15 hats in 2015 challenge.  Yarn is Berroco Vintage DK and pattern is Beret de Printemps-sort of appropriate for spring knitting right? 

Last but not least Axis by Shibui, will be doing this in pebble and kavo- in the caffeine colorway.  I had 3 skeins of Kavo that I had tried to use in 2 other projects that just didn't work out.  I think it works much better being held with another yarn.  I've done the swatch-just need to wash and block.

I think these projects will keep me busy for a few months which is why I'm getting everything organized now.  This means I'll be on a bit of a yarn diet for a while, and I'm going to do my best to not get distracted until I have a couple of these items off the needles.  I feel like I'm in a good knitting place right now which is great since it's nice enough to enjoy the outdoors for a while when I get home from work.

So what's in your basket?

Spring cleaning

Friday's are for spring cleaning around my work space.  I should blog about our weekend to Savannah and Statesboro, but most of the photos are on my DSL camera, and I didn't take near as many photos as I'd have liked.  I might still do that blog post.  Since I knew today would be pretty laid back it seemed like the perfect day to dust-disenfect-purge.  I not only did the physical cleaning which I try to do frequently anyway, I purged lots of files on my desk top.  I have 2 systems that I work between, and the lesser used one had documents going back to 2008!  Yep, those can go for sure.  Lots of deleted emails and an empty recycle bin are sure to make the hard drive zip-zip along now that all the stuff is gone.  I have some purging and organizing at home that I'd still like to complete, and my knitting bag well that has certainly been purged with FOs-yea!

Now there's something to blog about-right?  Well in just a few I'll be taking my lunchtime walk around midtown-it's a gorgeous day out.  Then heading to Cast on Cottage where I hope they haven't already boxed up their Shibui trunk show.  I'm getting pretty excited about warm weather knits.  I love the fresh and re-freshing of spring, and how appropriate for this Good Friday!

Happy Friday-hope spring weather is shining down on you.