A bit of an update

I haven’t written in a while, I see. I was busy reading and commenting and deleting old or redundant photos. So I have room for a few more.

First news, Mom loved the sweater and it fit as is – yea! No photos as it still needs buttons, etc. I will try to get one someday.

Last weekend was spent with Mom and her two sisters and all of their daughters. That made 8 of us. My aunt found an air bnb that was midway between her house and mine, so it was way down in southern Maine, in Biddeford Pool. The house was perfect for what we wanted, enough beds and bathrooms, good gathering space, and a great kitchen. And near the beach, so we went for walks, and sat around gabbing and knitting a lot, too. And eating. There was plenty of food on hand, I will be eating leftovers for a month!

I started my Alaska hat as a reward for finishing big brown. 😉

And I finished a pair of socks

So it was a very good weekend!

Seriously though, it was nice to spend enough time with my family to get to talk to people and hear how they are. It’s been ages since we had time like that.

What did you do last weekend?

Whadya mean, December?

A moment of panic here as I realize how little time there is before Christmas, and how many gifts are not even thought of! I had thoughts of lovely handknits for many, not sure that is possible now!

Also learned that one niece sometimes reads here, so I have to be careful what I post! Niece C the younger, if you are reading this, pop me a text so I know!

Work has been crazy… the people who have left and not been replaced grows… the impact is starting to show. All we can do is our best, and communicate upwards that there are problems building. Not sure it is doing any good. Meanwhile, the overwhelmed feelings grow. And the hours worked also grow.

But here at home, life is good! A and I are good at relaxing and getting things done. A was home Friday and got a good head start on weekend chores and errands. OMG, she did the grocery shopping!!! And started the laundry!

This weekend we will start the Christmas decorating in earnest, after a quick trip to Ellsworth. The Christmas parade is today and I need to get photos of the float for work, so we are doing that before the parade and then clearing out of town after breakfast. Two women at work have busted butt to make this float happen, I saw the pieces, it is going to look amazing! I will share the photos so you can see what can be done with paint and cardboard!

Then there will be whorls and purls this afternoon, and a local christmas bizarre to visit tomorrow. And in between, some candles will get put in windows and the christmas angel mobile will get hung. And maybe a little Christmas knitting. ‘Tis the season!

Not so busy!

Yesterday went just as planned, and was lots of fun! A’s friend cancelled for today, though, due to the death of a close friend. 😢

So we have an off day. I plan to put my loom together, and A brought a ton of pellets in yesterday BY HER SELF while I was at whorls and purls, so today we stack them.

I did take a few photos for you of the finished objects:

So now I need to think of some new things to make!

Busy weekend ahead!

This promises to be a crazy weekend! Tomorrow we go to Ellsworth for breakfast, followed by a visit to the craft fair I am not selling at this year. Then we come home and I head off to knitting, where I will pick up my loom!!!! Can’t wait!

Then to the grocery store on the way home. It will be a big week because I have to get the turkey and all the trimmings for next week.

Sunday a woman A knows is coming over to meet me and watch me knit and spin, from what I can tell. A has told her about the fiber stuff and she is curious to learn more. I have fiber covered!

I expect I will be engrossed with the weaving, but if I find time for knitting, I hope to work on some mitts and boot toppers, the Durrow and who knows what else? I have a test knit I can’t share yet, and some Christmas presents to knit by Saturday… good thing I finished the blue scarf and the dangling conversation! I’ll try to get photos for you this weekend.

And I suppose we should do a bit of shoveling, since we got our first real snow of the season. But not our last, I am sure!

As I said, a busy weekend!

Will you have a busy or quiet weekend?

Time is racing!

Only posting once a week doesn’t feel right but it keeps happening. I do read all your comments and keep up with my reader, but don’t seem to find time to actually write. Tsk tsk.

This past week has been a blur. One night I said to A “I sure am glad THIS week is over!” Very sad does not begin to describe how I felt when she told me it was Wednesday!

Work had the crazy ramped up when a huge RFP came out with a deadline less than a month away, and smack in the middle of my vacation. Boss says we are going for it but he has some details to hammer out. Including possibly hiring someone to write it. Can we meet next week? That gives me an effective time line of 2 weeks. I can’t see it happening unless hammered out details are really good. Or he really does hire someone. Time will tell.

Last weekend we had a dry day, I started painting the shelves!! Of course then the humidity came back and so it wasn’t until last night that I could work on them again. Progress is being made, although the snails are leaving me in the dust.

I made lots of progress on the baby sweater, but then realized the baby would be three before it fit, so ripped it back and started over on smaller needles, down two sizes. It will likely be too small now, but heck, it’s quick, I can knit it again.

This weekend I really have to get out in the yard, and I think Sunday afternoon I will be able to. Tonight and Saturday I will paint, do some light housework, bake some treats for knitting. Sunday morning we go to my SIL to celebrate her birthday in the morning, I hope to have the afternoon clear for chores.

Getting excited about the vacation that seems so close yet so far! Three online knitting friends are coming to Maine and we will all go to Knit Maine (www.knittingandyoga.com), then they have an air bnb for a couple of days so I can show them all about, and take them yarn shopping. 😉 We are going to have a blast!

But first, I have to write a big grant, support our strategic plan consultants (ie take all their notes and schedule all their interviews), write the content for our new website, and make the program for a fundraising event that will happen before I return but for which the organizers don’t have all the sponsors’ ads yet. At least I remembered to order the paper and ask for the copier to be serviced.

So close and yet so far.

Three day weekend, with a Friday list

“Today is my Friday!” is what one of A’s former coworkers liked to say at the end of a short week. It always makes me laugh. And today IS my Friday, tomorrow is a holiday. I am so excited for this time to get our house cleaned and put back together, and to spend time with A and the cats.

SIL got a great report at the doctor yesterday. Cast is gone, she has a referral for PT, clearance to drive, and go to work next week. A got her moved back home and settled in yesterday afternoon. 

I put some of our living room furniture back where it belongs, since we don’t need wheel chair clearance. Allie Cat came out of seclusion and was very active. We all had a nice evening.

Today I have a relatively normal day so should get out before dark- yeah!

Here’s what I have planned for tomorrow:

Deep cleaning our bedroom (except for vacuuming, I leave that to the pros) and bathroom.

Change over my closet and get out the winter clothes. And I mean it this time. Been putting it off for weeks but now it is cold out!

Laundry

Grocery shopping

PO

A trip over to the Purple Fleece to pick up the fiber for the ornaments. I want to do that ahead of Saturday W and P so I can stuff a few and get a feel for how much is needed, then get more Saturday if I need to. I also want to get more of the white yarn so I can do more colors, lol. And a jar of a gold dye. I have yellow and should be able to mix gold but I can’t seem to get it how I picture it.

That actually should exhaust me completely so that I spend the evening knitting. 😂

Also this weekend I need to set up my display table, tag my things, make some cards to sell, and create my table signs for next Saturday’s craft fair. 

And I am going to make sure we run over to see SIL and return her trundle bed. Then I can work on getting the guest room back in order.

A busy weekend! Good thing it is a long one!

Three day weekend, with a Friday list

“Today is my Friday!” is what one of A’s former coworkers liked to say at the end of a short week. It always makes me laugh. And today IS my Friday, tomorrow is a holiday. I am so excited for this time to get our house cleaned and put back together, and to spend time with A and the cats.

SIL got a great report at the doctor yesterday. Cast is gone, she has a referral for PT, clearance to drive, and go to work next week. A got her moved back home and settled in yesterday afternoon. 

I put some of our living room furniture back where it belongs, since we don’t need wheel chair clearance. Allie Cat came out of seclusion and was very active. We all had a nice evening.

Today I have a relatively normal day so should get out before dark- yeah!

Here’s what I have planned for tomorrow:

Deep cleaning our bedroom (except for vacuuming, I leave that to the pros) and bathroom.

Change over my closet and get out the winter clothes. And I mean it this time. Been putting it off for weeks but now it is cold out!

Laundry

Grocery shopping

PO

A trip over to the Purple Fleece to pick up the fiber for the ornaments. I want to do that ahead of Saturday W and P so I can stuff a few and get a feel for how much is needed, then get more Saturday if I need to. I also want to get more of the white yarn so I can do more colors, lol. And a jar of a gold dye. I have yellow and should be able to mix gold but I can’t seem to get it how I picture it.

That actually should exhaust me completely so that I spend the evening knitting. 😂

Also this weekend I need to set up my display table, tag my things, make some cards to sell, and create my table signs for next Saturday’s craft fair. 

And I am going to make sure we run over to see SIL and return her trundle bed. Then I can work on getting the guest room back in order.

A busy weekend! Good thing it is a long one!

Longest weekend and no real plans!

This is my favorite weekend of the year. Although I don’t love the end result of rolling the clocks back, I do love the long Sunday!

We have no real plans this weekend, and due to the power still being out in the area, no Whorls and Purls today.  That makes me sad but means I will get some other chores done. 

On the agenda:

Laundry, of course. 

Make jelly with all the thawed berries. And maybe a cranberry duff because I have loads of cranberries thawed now, too and don’t need more cranberry sauce.

Bring in some of the three tons of pellets and bio bricks that are in the driveway.

Dye some bits of yarn different colors for knitting ornaments.

Knit some ornaments.

Clean the bathrooms

Mop the kitchen floor (AFTER I make the jelly!)
That seems enough to do for one weekend, even of it is a long one!

I already have the blackberries dripping for jelly, and some red yarn in the dyepot.  And A and her sister are off to Belfast to go the “big” grocery store to replenish the freezer and fridge. That gives me a quiet hour or two to relax and putter at my own speed. 😉

I think it will be a good weekend!

Longest weekend and no real plans!

This is my favorite weekend of the year. Although I don’t love the end result of rolling the clocks back, I do love the long Sunday!

We have no real plans this weekend, and due to the power still being out in the area, no Whorls and Purls today.  That makes me sad but means I will get some other chores done. 

On the agenda:

Laundry, of course. 

Make jelly with all the thawed berries. And maybe a cranberry duff because I have loads of cranberries thawed now, too and don’t need more cranberry sauce.

Bring in some of the three tons of pellets and bio bricks that are in the driveway.

Dye some bits of yarn different colors for knitting ornaments.

Knit some ornaments.

Clean the bathrooms

Mop the kitchen floor (AFTER I make the jelly!)
That seems enough to do for one weekend, even of it is a long one!

I already have the blackberries dripping for jelly, and some red yarn in the dyepot.  And A and her sister are off to Belfast to go the “big” grocery store to replenish the freezer and fridge. That gives me a quiet hour or two to relax and putter at my own speed. 😉

I think it will be a good weekend!

Longest weekend and no real plans!

This is my favorite weekend of the year. Although I don’t love the end result of rolling the clocks back, I do love the long Sunday!

We have no real plans this weekend, and due to the power still being out in the area, no Whorls and Purls today.  That makes me sad but means I will get some other chores done. 

On the agenda:

Laundry, of course. 

Make jelly with all the thawed berries. And maybe a cranberry duff because I have loads of cranberries thawed now, too and don’t need more cranberry sauce.

Bring in some of the three tons of pellets and bio bricks that are in the driveway.

Dye some bits of yarn different colors for knitting ornaments.

Knit some ornaments.

Clean the bathrooms

Mop the kitchen floor (AFTER I make the jelly!)
That seems enough to do for one weekend, even of it is a long one!

I already have the blackberries dripping for jelly, and some red yarn in the dyepot.  And A and her sister are off to Belfast to go the “big” grocery store to replenish the freezer and fridge. That gives me a quiet hour or two to relax and putter at my own speed. 😉

I think it will be a good weekend!