Not Quite Speechless Saturday

Nothing super clever to say today, but lots going on! Cupcake baking...

Remembering last weekend's road trip to see my granddaughter in Annie Jr:

And another granddaughter on the soccer field:

Walks around their neighborhood, and to the playground:

Knitting...

Sewing (because those toys need a place to live)...

More knitting (colors don't have enough contrast for fair-aisle, but I still like it!)...

And even more knitting!

It's been a fun-and-busy week, and there's more to come! Those cupcakes mean it's a birthday weekend,  after all!

How has your week been? I hope good, or at least not bad...in any case, thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you find something here to smile about!

Knit in Good Health! 

Coming Up...Purple?

Everything is not exactly coming up purple, but I have much planned knitting that will incorporate purple in the very near future, because guess what??? No, I mean it...really, you guys! 

GUESS WHAT?!?!?

Sweetie got me tickets to see DONNY OSMOND for my birthday!!!

Gahhh! So excited that I am having Deep Purple dreams and planning to knit purple, sparkle socks to celebrate! I may even get myself a purple jumpsuit to wear to the concert (which isn't until July, so maybe a swimsuit instead?)...but first, socks for sure...

 

Then perhaps I'll knit socks for Donny, too! I mean, he was known for his purple socks back in the 70s, so why not now, too? I could not be more excited for this concert, it was a great surprise! Thank you, Sweetie!

Another surprise was this fairly spectacular
travel mug and cake from Jess! Wow!

It was a good birthday, and in other Knitting Knews, the scarf finally arrived at its destination in Kansas! The Girlie loves it, yay!

I am also knitting away on a very involved birthday gift for a cute grandson who will soon be two! Here's a progress shot, 7 of 9 blocks complete, ready for arms, legs, faces, fins and tails...

See the purple block there? That's going to be a cat! The last two blocks are more complicated, involving colorwork and texture, and all nine will be  the animals from Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? I am currently working on the body of the goldfish, then the sheep will be last. Super fun!

After that, PURPLE SOCKS AHOY! 

The other yarn in my "happy mail" photo from Leading Men Fiber Arts (one of my fave dyers!)  is for a Christmas vest or colorwork sweater. I have not decided which yet, but this fairly neutral green, the color is called "The Grouch," is pretty spectacular!

So many possibilities, and the 5-year-old is still asking about the Super Mario Bros.U Deluxe sweater he would like me to knit him next...but first, purple!

Oh, and did I tell you that I'm going to see Donny Osmond in July??? Gah!!!! And super yay!

What's bringing you joy today? Whatever it is, even if it doesn't include purple, I hope you have lots of it in your immediate future!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

It's Been Everywhere, Man

On March 21st, I mailed a box to my son and granddaughter. There is a birthday gift (it's silly, not valuable) and a Taylor Swift inspired scarf (handknit, priceless) in the box. 

Let's say that the box is headed for somewhere in Kansas...which it still is, by the way. I realize that Kansas is far from Cleveland, and I probably didn't mail it early enough, but the original estimate of arrival was March 25...just 1 day late for the birthday. Oh, well.

Except for the fact that the actual travel itinerary for this box, priority mail and so far, has been Cleveland to Akron; Akron to St Louis, Missouri; St Louis to Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City to destination? No, Kansas City back to Columbia, then St Louis, MO; St Louis to Hebron, Kentucky (!?What?!); Hebron to St Louis again; St Louis to Kansas City, KS again...and, although the estimate says that the box will be delivered today by 9pm, I am not confident. So, cross you fingers and say a prayer (if you are the praying kind) that the box will, in fact, arrive today.

I guess I have to laugh, although I am frustrated. This is a first for me, and it is more angering to watch it travel back-and-forth in my notifications... But maybe I should just be glad that this scarf has had an adventure? 20 years ago, I would have simply wondered where it had gone...today, I know a part of its story. Yes, it has had quite the adventure!

To keep calm, I have carried on with the knitting (shocker, right?!?), working on some giftie things. A few dish cloths, here and there, and gifts for a soon-to-be birthday boy! 

This guy will be 2 next month, and he loves Brown Bear, Brown Bear...can you start to see the characters in these blocks?

I've knit 4 bases in a week, and there are 9 animals, so I'm going to have to hustle to get them all done, but I think I am up to the task! 

Before I can keep knitting today, I'll need to get the bread and potatoes going for tomorrow's Easter dinner. Dough is currently rising, and I'll cook potatoes as soon as I sign off...

Whether you are observing a holiday or not, I hope that you are able to enjoy some time with family this weekend. I'm looking forward to celebrating that Jesus is alive with my family and church tomorrow! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Slowing Down?

Advent.

A time to wait.

A time to look forward to good things.

A time to slow down and enjoy the Christmas season...

Unless you knit. 

Unless you have grandkids who know you knit.

Unless said grandchildren have birthdays in October, November and January, isolating Christmas knitting to mostly December.

Lol...

4 years old. Where has the time gone?

Throw in working at a church that has Big! Christmas! Events! every weekend in December, and an active social life, and Advent is not what I might dream it could be. 

So, in an effort to slow myself down, I've decided to do an Advent devotional every morning. But rather than starting one, I've started 4. Four 25-day devotionals with Bible verses, to see which one slows me down the best.

Oh. Okay. I see the flaw. But here I am, in the heart of this season full of family, baking and creative making, just barely treading water in this ocean of activity. I'd ask God to slow me down, but He might send me a case of Covid..

Which might work...but I'd rather not go that route again this Christmas.

Instead, I'll pick a devotional, just one. 

I'll plan my knitting intentionally, just one project at a time.

I won't freak out if I can't fit everything in. (In theory, I won't freak out. In reality, I'll probably have a moment or two...)

So, what are your December plans? 

Any stress in your life? Any good ideas on how to manage said stress? 

I'm all ears...and hands...there's still so much knitting and baking and candy making to do!

Now!, if not sooner!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health (if it keeps you from going insane!)

Two Novembers, one October. 
Also an April and July...phew!

Two Januarys, two in March.
No rest for weary knitting fingers...lol!

Last Saturday

As I look back through the blog, reflecting a bit on the past year, I notice that I usually blog last Saturday (or last week) a LOT! Today is no exception, because there was another party last Saturday! Our big boy turned 3 a few days ago, and the big celebration was so much fun! From cake (c'mon! it's a 20 second video, full of joy! you have 20 seconds!)

to presents (he loved the Spiderman blanket, but scrunched up his little face to ask, "Where his head, Gramma?" I guess I'll be knitting a head and arms to add, just like on the little lovey!)

to monster trucks from faraway cousins

it was a great day! By the way, for his real birthday (just a few days after the party) I had to make a little cake

and some cupcakes. 

I just couldn't help myself! You know what else I couldn't keep myself from doing (or asking Sweetie to do for me)? 

Yep, tree is up! Not decorated, easing into all the everything, but thanks to Sweetie, it is up and poised for decorations! My favorite is looking at the lights with my coffee each morning. To be honest, that's good enough for me most days, but I do have a plan for daylight decorations as well. <wink!>

And I am still knitting (even beyond the requested Spidey head)

This is a test knit for a friend, and it is coming right along. I am enjoying the knitting and the resulting fabric as it all comes together, and I can't wait to wear it! 

But first, Thanksgiving is right around the corner here in the US, and I am getting ready!

To be honest, I wasn't sure a turkey would fit into this refrigerator for thawing, but I have photo evidence now that it does, and I am excited to be hosting all of our turkeys here next Thursday! 

Not sure what the week holds for all of you, but I am thankful that you stopped by today. I hope your day is a good one, and that you find time to Knit in Good Health!

If I Knew You Were Coming...

Remember the old song that goes, "If I knew you were coming, I'd've baked a cake..."? Well, this song has been on my mind ever since my birthday, 10 days ago. I had intended to bake myself a cake, but I never really got the chance.

Fast forward to yesterday, while I was video chatting with my granddaughter, who suddenly burst into tears. "Why are you so sad?," asked the Grandma.

"Because I'm just sooooo hungry!," she answered through her tears. Yeah, we have all been there, kiddo, but it still broke my heart!

Once we talked through the solution to that particular problem, I joined her in the dining room for a snack, virtually of course.

Later, texting with Mommy, I learned that my extroverted Sweet Pea is having a really hard time not being able to go to school, play with friends or visit grandparents in person. It is really wearing on her...and on her Grandma too, to tell the truth.

This morning, I messaged Mommy when I had an idea. "Let's bake a cake together!" Mommy said they would have what they needed, so I set up the phone to video chat from the pouf of dry cake mix into the bowl to the final flourish of frosting! 

(We did take a 2-hour break to bake and cool our cakes.) At the end of the call, Sweet Pea announced that their cake would be an Easter cake, and we should have a group chat for Easter!

We know they are coming (virtually anyhow), so we baked a cake! Yay!

I am so glad that we did this! It was such fun, and now we all have cake for Easter tomorrow. The group chat with everyone is set up (Sweet Pea added Dollface, Pop Pop, and Gramma to her group as soon as we hung up). Hmmm, I wonder if Dollface has dessert?

These times have forced us to be creative in our care for one another, have they not? I cannot say that I am a fan of Stay-at-Home/Shelter-in-Place orders and social distancing, or the virus that has made these measures necessary, but I am so glad that we have the technology to still connect. 

Easter is coming, and I am looking forward to celebrating the Resurrection! If you have ever considered church but were too nervous to step into that building, you have a golden opportunity right now, my friends! You can attend multiple churches from the comfort of your living room, at a time that is convenient for you on the biggest holiday of the Christian calendar this weekend! Check the end of this post for some links.

Now off I go to knit on something to help me keep my mind off my birthday/Easter cake until tomorrow! If you "go" to church tomorrow, I would love to hear which one you went to and what you loved about it!

Thanks for stopping by, Knit in Good Health, and HAPPY EASTER!!!

As a bonus, I made homemade
buttercream...soooo yummy!

Links to three churches:

Avon United Methodist Church (where I work)

Christ Church (where I attend)

White Flag Christian Church (in St. Louis, I know the pastor)