Happy for the Valentines!

I am at a stage in my life where I don't look for Valentines, I make them.

I surround myself mostly with things that bring me joy, sometimes holiday-themed and sometimes not. This year, I am finding Valentine's day joy in getting things back to normal after our big paint job! That means hanging things back on the walls and the curtain rods, now that it's been a couple of weeks,

and even reconfiguring some spaces, like adding a tiny, corner desk to the dining room. 

These are small things, for sure...but along with the colorful knitting,

they make even mundane days feel light and airy in my heart, and help to ac-cen-tuate the positive in my life, which cannot be a bad thing! After all, there are so many places in this world to find offense and negativity. Heck! Sometimes it even seems to seek me out, but ain't nobody got time for that! So I'll keep holding onto the love in my heart for those around me, and I will do my best to live with abiding joy, while I start looking for clover and leprechauns to help me celebrate the next holiday! None in here...yet!

As for Valentines, I have a few that I celebrate with all year long, whether we see each other daily or not. No need for special cards or events over here, because I know that I am loved. There is deep contentment in love that doesn't need to shout, even though it sometimes makes mistakes. 

I hope your life is surrounded by folks who see you, who get you and who love you. If it is not, it might be time to seek some new relationships...or refresh some old ones. Either way, I'm glad you are a part of my world. Happy Valentine's Day to you, my blog family!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Time to...

Time to what...make the donuts? No.

...go to school? No.

...eat a cookie? No. Well, yes, but they're not baked yet!

...bake cookies? While I do like that idea, and cookie-baking is on my list for the weekend, 

there is one thing that comes first...

It's time to put up the tree! Because that window-spot is mighty empty, and because we decorate the tree on Thanksgiving (after dinner), I really need to put down my knitting and hop to it on the tree. 

Trees are typically the first Christmas decor to show up at the Pretty House...then cookies and caramels to hang on the tree. Batch 2 of chewy goodness is ready and waiting!

I had thought about starting this process a little early, but last weekend was full of birthday fun,

Board games,

And bubble baths!

This week has been busy as well, and I'm happy to report that the turkey has landed...

...squarely in the fridge for defrosting! Today, I'm enjoying an after-lunch, second cup of coffee while I blog...

...and, while I haven't transitioned yet to Christmas socks,

I know that the holidays are now squarely upon us! We'll have 12 on Thanksgiving, and there may be a photo (or two...hundred...) in next week's blog...but right now, I'm going to tackle that tree!

What are your plans for Turkey Day this year? I hope the holiday season finds you in a stable state of mind, and wearing your stretchy pants for the food parade!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Contemplating Christmas

While some of my friends and family have already started decorating for Christmas, 

With sofa decor, 

and shelf decor,

and wall decor...

I'm just not there yet. Well, perhaps that's not quite true...I mean, I did recently abandon gift knitting in favor of selfishly stitching and steeking a sweater for meeeee! 

I have wanted to knit a colorwork, Christmas cardigan for years, but selfish knitting is for January, and my motivation is usually gone by then. It's been a struggle since I started knitting sweaters, and it's just never come to pass... until now. This is apparently my year!

So, now that I have my handknit holiday sweater, I am seriously starting to contemplate Christmas, with all the decor and fun! I may even move some furniture this afternoon! But Birthday Cupcakes for my dear daughter are just about ready to decorate, so I'll sign off here and see you next week! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

It's still fall, y'all!

No Secret Knitting

For the first time in a long time, there has been no secret knitting for Christmas. There was knitting for Christmas, to be sure, but it wasn't a secret. This knitter needed input for cardigans and pullovers, requested by granddaughters who wanted something just so. The hoodie is so far behind schedule, that it has become a birthday gift! (It will also be late for this deadline, but I have sent pics to the nearly-nine-year-old, and she knows how close it is!) Tonight, I am down to the "duck details" on this Psyduck hoodie...wish me luck!

Oh!, and the after-Christmas, rainbow Yoshi is well underway...

The other thing I thought I might tackle in the new year is a closet declutter. There was a group to join on FB, and I joined the parade straightaway, as though I were one of the little people at our grandsons' house...

It sounded like a really good idea, until I got in there and realized that I had just done this last February! 

So, the closet looks pretty good. My apologies. Lol.

The yarn room, could use some work, but I'm not ready for that...still creating the collection in there! Instead of the yarn, we tackled the taking down of all things Christmas over the long weekend. Well, most things Christmas...the gnomes 

and my light-up snowman still stand, but the tree is gone, and we have moved the furniture around a bit. I like it!

But, as with any rearrangement, there are things you find that just aren't necessary anymore. Like this.

This is the bouquet from our wedding. It has survived multiple moves, vicious vacuums, and curious cats through the years...and I could hold onto it for the next 13 years, until our golden anniversary...or I could save myself from my pack-rat tendencies and toss it this year. I think I'll go for the latter. It's dusty, the ribbons are yellowed, and some of the flowers are just...gone. It may be time. 

As sad as it can be to let go of things, the memories these flowers invoke are still strong. Two crazy kids, who barely knew what life was about, diving into the weird adventure that marriage is some 37 years ago. It's been a wild ride...sometimes better, sometimes worse, most times unpredictable...but we are still buckled in, so yay!

So, Happy New Year to you and yours! As you can see, I don't have many resolutions, I wonder if you have? Yes or no, take a moment to say hello in the comments, if you like! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

And watch football with your Pop Pop, if you can.

Time to Start Christmas!

Thanksgiving is over, 

the carcass is bare -

But we enjoyed turkey 

while it was there! 

Now the tree is up, 

Christmas socks on my feet,

but no cookies are baked... 

we decorate with sweets!

So this post will be short, 

and I'll be in the kitchen -

Gotta Christmas this place up

without any...

Oops! Family friendly blog! I'll leave you to fill in the blank, if you like...maybe Blitzen could help you out? I hear he's a whiz at Christmas rhymes and decorating. 🎄 

Is your tree up yet? I'd love to see a pic!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Need a Little Christmas?

As I looked back at pictures from Thanksgiving, a mere two days ago, 

I think back to last year's holiday season, when the house looked much the same. Cookies and lights on the tree,

Friends and relatives visiting,

lots of smiles!

Smiling faces are the best decorations! Still, I'd really like to add a few more Christmassy little touches around the kitchen and dining room. I've started with some Wee Evergreens for the counter...and I may add in some gnomes, but I'll have to finish the trees first!

A festive table dressing...I wonder what goes on the runner? Hmmmm, surely I have something. 

New for this year, maybe some greenery on the cabinets? I think I'd like to land somewhere between silly Christmas movie and "No, just a tree, thanks anyway!," (where I lived for 26 years...lol!) Pinterest, here I come...!

How do you decorate for the winter Holidays? Does your house look like a Hallmark Movie, or do you live with Grinches? Lol...

In the meantime, I'll just dump the rest of our Thanksgiving fun here, and get back to the knitting...because those little trees won't knit themselves! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! (Only 29 days until Christmas!)

Mmmmm! Dessert first!

Almost a teenager...all the attitude!

Baby's first bite of holiday rolls...

Stop the meltdown! Take him ouside. 😉 

Rocket balloons...

...with Cousins!

All the cousins (on this side of the family)!

Baby in a Bumbo!