Yarn Along

I am joining in with Ginny of "Small Things" again this week  to share what I am knitting.   

I have so much to share!!! Which means I am a very happy knitter! 

The week of Christmas I finished up my 6 hour afghan. Again, I knit it with two strands of Paton's Roving held together on size 50 needles. This is probably my 5 or 6th afghan using this pattern and I have never hit the 6 hour mark but have always been happy with results. This blanket is CO-ZY!!! I made it for the living room but I keep dragging it into the family room to watch TV and knit with. It is so deliciously warm and snug!

On Christmas Eve while at my sister's house enjoying my sweet family and "yarning" with my mom and sister while Shane and my brother in law discussed "manly things" I started (okay, restarted) and finished a simple cowl. I cast on 50 stitches with Paton's Roving (size 19 circs) and alternated rows of garter and purl until I got to about 10 inches  to make a nice chunky (and warm!) cowl.  Again, this is my 4th or 5th cowl using this formula and it never fails to make a wonderful finished piece! 

I am currently (still) working here and there on my Nati sweater. I had hoped to finish it on our planned road trip to Cincy but as we had a tree come down (more about that later), we ended up staying home and working on some projects here including splitting said logs. I also started another single row lace scarf for myself which is coming along wonderfully! 

In semi related news, it seems many of my friends are having new babies in 2013 so it looks like I will have lots of baby knitting to share in the coming months! 

Oh, and Macabean wanted me to tell you he has been helping me. Love this cat! :) 

What are you working on this week? 

Happy New Year!!!

I love the new year! Maybe it's because I love winter and there is a certain calm that comes over everything when the world is blanketed in snow and the year is new. Maybe it's because things slow down a bit in the winter so that you can collect yourself (or at least I try to...). Perhaps it's because as humans we like new starts and the hope of something wonderful yet to come. I have no earthly idea but this always seems like such a special time of year to me. 

I am not much of a resolution maker but tend to use the new year as a time to be more mindful and to focus on things that I would like to be more aware of in the new year.... this year I would like to work on; 

- Being more mindful in general. I have a tendency to not focus as much as I should on the present. This is something that I began to really focus on in 2012 and I will continue to make a part of my life moving forward. When I am able to focus and be mindful I am a much happier and healthier me and I like it! 

- I am looking forward to continuing the process of removing wheat from my diet. I feel so much better when I don't have it and it has freed me from my acid reflux medication which is outstanding! I much prefer a prevention based approach to health and this is an example as to why! 

- On a totally selfish note I would FINALLY like to start and finish a February Lady Sweater in 2013! I love the sweater but am completely petrified of the pattern. Silly I know but it's true. This however, WILL be the year! (On a side note, any knitters out there that have knit it and have advice for a fellow knitter in my state?) :) 

What are you looking forward to in the new year?! 

Merry Christmas!

A very merry Christmas to you all!

We are home safely after a wonderful visit with family up north and are preparing for the coming blizzard and   return to work tomorrow... 

Love and Peace to you all! 

A Few Little Things...

One of my local yarn shops, Nomad Yarns be exact, posted on their facebook page that the standard candy cane was a US knitting needle size 11. So last night before knitting group I decided to knit a few rows with the candy canes I was taking to share with my group. It was actually a smoother knit than I was expecting and I got a few more rows done on my morning break at work... totally silly and totally fun!

I also shared a few Lion Brand bon bon's with my group last night. I wanted to do something a tad more pinterest-worthy but alas my creativity seems to be lacking. Thankfully, my dear sweet friends knew they came with lots of love! 

Tonight we are getting a wee bit of snow... I hope I can capture a few pictures of it to share tomorrow! 

A Snug Friday Night In

My sister and I have played a bit of phone tag the last day and tonight we were able to connect up. I was a smidge cold so I decided to curl up next to the tree and start on a cozy and mindless knitting project during our chat. I have had the yarn to make a variation of the 6 Hour Afghan so I cast on, grabbed my phone and snuggled in for a chat with my lovely sister! It was pure perfection! 

Since we wrapped up our chat I've made myself a cup of tea, clicked on "Love Actually", and as soon as I hit the publish button it's back to my knitting! :) 

Oh, and in case you are a tad curious (or not...) I cast on 50 stitches instead of 43, I am holding together two strands of Patons Roving, and I added/will add 4 rows of knit stitch at each end for a border. Yep, "variation" is the right word for it! :) 

I hope you also enjoying a wonderful night and have a peaceful weekend! 

Lovely Little Christmas Things

Our home feels just a little warmer with the love of family and friends visiting here and there, the Christmas trees lights twinkling, the nativity watching over us, and of course the smell of cloves and oranges wafting through the house!

We were even visited by the fat (and hopefully happy) squirrel that ate my tomatoes all summer. Even I have to admit he was pretty cute hanging out on the deck rail.

My hope is to finish my Christmas shopping and gift making this weekend before I start teaching a new class on Tuesday (if not, I suppose that is what Christmas break is for? :)

What things are you doing to celebrate the holiday season in your home?