Promiscuous Knitting Update

 If you remember, last week I mentioned that I was going to try and work on more than one knitting project at a time. It really was challenging for me. I think I've figured it out. It's too much trouble to switch back and forth. I forget where I am in the pattern, not to mention that it feels like I'm starting all over. I did manage to finish my coffee press cozy. I love how it turned out. This is some yarn that I spun a while back. I think the fiber was from the fiber club that I was in. I can't remember what is called.

 I also made a lot of progress with my little shawl. I am going to use up all of the yarn so mine will be a tad bit bigger than the actual pattern. I hate having just a little bit of yarn left over. The colors are really beautiful and I can't wait to wear it. I'll be wearing it as a scarf, since I'm not really the shawl type. My shoulders are just to big and I think they look silly on me.

I almost finished one sock. All that is left to do is the toe decreases. I'm really not sure about this yarn. The blue and grey stripes are fine, but the other colors are kind of neon and sort of shocking to the eye. I guess they will be hidden under the leg of my pants, but still.... just not sure I'll ever wear them. Who knows, you just might get them for Christmas, or your Birthday. Anyway, after this little experiment, I'm thinking I'll go back to my old monogamous knitting ways. At least I gave it a try.

Sally

Feeling A Bit Octoberish

 A chill is in the air here in Louisville, so much so that we had to turn the heater on for just a bit last night to warm up the house. Don't you just love that funky smell your furnace makes the first time you use it each year?  The trees are really starting to change and I guess we are going to be at our peek for pretty colored leaves sometime next week. Hopefully we will be able to get out and see some of them before they all fall off the trees.

 I have not taken an official "pumpkin count", but I'm guessing that right now we probably have about 15 of them scattered around the yard, and maybe about the same amount in the house. I just can't stop buying them. Big ones, little ones, it doesn't matter. I love them all.

 If you look real closely at this picture, you can see both me and Maggie reflected in the door. Actually, she is in the house barking her head off at me while I try to get a decent picture of the front of the house.

 This veiny pumpkin is my new favorite. It's just so cool. I've never seen one like this before.

I'm also loving this Trader Joe's Spiced Cider. You might remember me talking about it last year. For some crazy reason I bought way more than we could drink last fall. I stuck 2 bottles in the basement and I just checked the "use by" date. These babies don't expire until November of 2013. Wonder what they put in this stuff. Really I don't care. A mug of it heated in the microwave along with a coupe of Pumpkin Spice Kisses makes the perfect treat after a nice long walk with the dog.
Hope you are enjoying every minute of your October.

Sally

Monogamous Knitting

 It appears that I am what the knitting world calls a monogamous knitter. I usually choose to work on one project at a time. I have a difficult time switching back and forth between projects. Maybe it's my attention span. I'm not really sure. Anyway, according to the "real" or "serious" knitters out there in the cyber knitting community monogamous knitting is not the way to go. One "should" be working on multiple projects of varying difficulty, using different size needles and different weights of yarn. Doing this is supposed to help keep your fingers and wrists from cramping and aching. When my fingers and wrists start to cramp or ache, I usually just stop knitting.... I guess I've been wrong all these years. What I'm supposed to do is just switch to a different project. Genius! I can't believe I never thought of that.

This week I am attempting to not be monogamous (in my knitting) I'm going to be a bit more promiscuous.
I've got three projects going, socks, a shawl/scarf and a cozy for my french coffee press. The cozy is the easiest project and could be done in an hour if I don't pace myself. I'm not at all sure that this is going to work for me. I'll keep you posted.
Sally

Return Of The Big Red Pot

Well, you know it's really fall, when it's time to get out the big red pot. I've decided that I need to stock my freezer with more fall like foods. Last week I made a big pot of chili, and a big pot of my favorite curried butternut squash soup. If you are really interested, you can find the recipes under "I love the taste of..." at the top of my blog. You will have to scroll down to find them, but I think they are worth it. I think I'll make spaghetti sauce this week and maybe another soup. I should make that 0 points Weight Watcher's vegetable soup, since despite my almost best efforts, I seem to have fallen off the Weight Watcher's wagon. I'm not all the way off, just hanging on trying to motivate myself to stick with it. Maybe if I actually gave it my best effort I'd see progress. hmm, there's an idea....

What's cooking in your big red pot?
Sally

Busy Week

 Sorry for the week long absence. All is well, we have just been busy, busy, busy..

 I think I mentioned last time that my Dad was coming for a visit. He likes to stop here for a couple of days on his way to and from Tennessee.

 He will be back again at the end of the month on his way to one of my cousins sons weddings.I guess you would call him my Dad's grand nephew.

 He will be here for Halloween. I think he planned it that way so that he wouldn't have to be home to hand out candy. Fall horse racing at Churchill Downs starts on October 28th, so maybe he plans to do a little betting on the ponies too.

 In between his visits this time, Alan and I power washed the deck, fixed a minor plumbing issue that ended up causing an even bigger problem which Alan has now fixed nicely. We also got out ALL of the fall decorations (as you can tell from the pictures. Do you think it's too much?) I made a trip to Costco and did all of the usual cooking and cleaning. See, we have been busy getting stuff done.

Of course I did manage to fit in a little knitting and spinning too.

Tomorrow is October 1st. I'm a bit sad to see September go, but I'm happy that fall is finally in full swing.

Sally

In The Mail

Two boxes full of fiber wonderfulness arrived with the mail yesterday. I understand that some of you may be getting tired of reading about my current yarn addiction.  All I can say is I'm sorry. It is what it is, and not all of it is my fault.

The first package was actually a purchase that Grace made (using my credit card). She heard about a "great deal" on sock yarn and thought it would be an even greater deal if I paid for it and then we split the yarn. She is one smart cookie. She goes to college you know. How to pull the "wool" over your mother's eyes is what they apparently teach her there. ( man, am I funny or what today...)

I'm just kidding. It was a good deal and I'm happy to support her knitting efforts.

The next box came from the Loopy Ewe and I might have gasped in delight when I opened it.It contained  my FREE skein of Dream Smooshy with cashmere that I earned for completing all 3 Summer Camp Loopy projects on time. It is just the softest stuff I've ever felt.

Also in the box was a fiber braid and some more yarn that I was able to get using a $25.00 credit I had.

All in all, a very good mail day for me (and Grace). My Dad is coming to visit for the weekend on his way to Tennessee. I'm hoping that the weather will cooperate, but either way we will be enjoying some fun family time. Hope you have fun weekend plans made. Fall starts tomorrow!

Sally

Sweaters and Socks and Shawls Oh My

I decided to take a picture of all of my summer knitting. I felt like I accomplished quite a bit, but until you see it all piled up in one place it doesn't seem like so much. I have to say that I was pretty pleased with the way that most of the projects turned out. I've taken care of some Christmas gifts which is always a nice bonus and a sweet little baby gift as well. Click on the projects page at the top if you want to see way too many pictures of the baby stuff. I think my overall favorite project this summer was the green striped shawl. I can't wait to wear it. The weather is trying to change. Yesterday it was only 68 degrees. It will probably be back in the 80's by the weekend, but I think I'll be getting some use out of these knitted goods soon.

Sally