Kindness and Color

Before I start today, I'd like to say that I'm aware of all that is going on in our country, and in the world, and it makes my heart heavy. My personal response to all-of-the-things is to work as hard as I can to be as kind as I can to as many as I can while I move through my world. I hope that you are doing the same, even as you contact your representatives and post to your social media accounts. Kindness changes people so we can all help to make our world a better place. 

I also find it helpful to my personal mental health to take breaks from the gloom to remember what I am thankful for and to engage in activities that bring me joy...like, you know, knitting!... so I've cast on a new sweater with yarn that brings me joy

and a colorwork pattern that brings me joy

while I post joyful photos to my social media accounts!

Another thing bringing me joy today is the fact that, after living here nearly 5 years, we are finally repainting! 

Please excuse This Old House on the TV, but do check out that luscious purple on our accent walls...it is lovely in any light! 

And I'm loving the new bathroom color, in all three, as well! 

I haven't put much back on the walls, 

and two of our bedrooms are still patiently waiting for their new coats, but there is so much progress, and we are loving the house once again! 

Curious about our colors? Here's what we've used and where:

One more thing that's bringing me joy is these handsome goofballs

and these pics from my granddaughters! The oldest received a varsity letter in debate for her freshman year...so proud! Her sister is still working on her squishmallow collection while she also sings in the choir and plays soccer! 

There is much joy to be found, even though we live in a fallen world, so keep looking for it everywhere...and let me know when you find it. Shared joy is multiplied, and shared grief is divided, so find your tribe and share, share, share! (If you're in the path of the current arctic blast, maybe use the internet...)

Thanks for stopping by to share my joy today, and Knit in Good Health! 

A Little Chicken?

This weekend, we took a little trip to see the military branch of our family. 

Our oldest granddaughter is in a middle school production of Alice in Wonderland, and we couldn't wait to see the play and the whole family! 

Because I am Gramma, I brought some yarny friends, one of whom was less than enthusiastic about flying! 

While the chicken was feeling pretty [c]lucky for the opportunity to fly with zero effort, Ms Rabbit was afraid to open her eyes, even during boarding. One might say I was flying with TWO chickens!

Ms Chicken was anything but chicken. She spent most of our flights looking out the windows.

Of course, they both wanted to watch Pop Pop's movie, but Ms Rabbit was still a bit fearful. She sat in Pop Pop's lap to help her feel safe!

As our second flight was approaching our final destination, the crew tod us that we'd be passing through some bumpy weather...

They were not wrong, but we landed just fine,

...and once our stomachs settled, the girls dug into a cheeseburger while we waited to be picked up from the airport. 

Back at the family's home, we noted that the dog is no longer afraid of us! (He's a very cute, very anxious pup, who has been fairly terrified of us since being adopted 2 years ago.) We don't get to see him very often, so this was a bit of a milestone!  

We filled our short visit with roller blades, 

trips to the craft store, 

lunch at school,

balls and bats and bubbles,

and (of course) Alice (and her sister, Matilda)! This girl is definitely not chicken on stage! 

She played the Dodo Bird, too...yay!

There was also the requisite screen-time,

which I will not begrudge them, as I sit blogging on my phone 😉! It's been a great visit, and as you read this, I'll be boarding the plane for home. It's always sweet to return home, but I'll miss the time with them. Thank goodness for those screens! 

I hope your week has been good, and thanks for stopping by. I'll surely be knitting in the sky as you read, and I hope your knitting isn't far from your side.

Knit in Good Health! 

Yankee Doodle Dandy

I was not born on the Fourth of July, but the party was a Yankee Doodle Dandy, for sure! Hats off to Aaron and Jess for hosting a holiday get-together filled with games, water balloons, fireworks (little ones) and family!

Check out Uncle Allen's Pretty-made shorts...lol!

Those first three collections of photos came at the hands of everyone's favorite Pappy,

Thanks, Pappy!

because I didn't take too many pictures! I was busy making festive finger jello

and running through the sprinkler! There is no photo evidence of Pretty doing this, however, but here's a shot of Aunt Jess (my inspiration) running through with the fun kids!

After that, there are these pictures of the people who changed into dry, Aunt Jess clothes! Who wore it best?

Ok, ok...the little guy is wearing his own clothes!
But he HAD to get in on these pics...lol!

There were so many fun moments, and I didn't even remember to take pictures of any of the food that was not jello (Pretty-fail!) but we all had a blast!

Water, hair chalk, posing, and secret texts...

Even when this guy was just chillin' out, taking a break from the action, he was sugared-up and living the good life!

I hope that your holiday was a fun one, if you were celebrating with us in the US! If it wasn't, I hope that your weekend will make up for any fun you might have missed. Even if you're just chillin' out, waiting for a storm to subside, I wish you all the best for the rest of the summer, friends! Maybe you can catch up on some knitting while you chill??? (There has not been much knitting for me so far this weekend...a lot of water balloons on Thursday, though! Lol!)

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Fun Times on the Road

I have not yet started my purple socks.  But I am nearly finished with all the bits of a purple cat!

If you look closely at that photo, you may see a random granddaughter...because we are visiting!  So far, we have seen the 13-year-old in a play (Annie, Jr), 

watched the 9-year-old knit,  

play Roblox and soccer,

and enjoy all the little things, 

and we've played with our slightly skittish grand-pup (who is not quite sure about us yet). 

The car ride was extensive, so (as a passenger) I was able to finish 5 animals from the Brown Bear book!

And our sweet teenager is having the time of her life in the theater! 

And taking Polaroids! 

And reading, and crocheting and being 13, with all the appropriate acoutremont...

If you're sensing that this is another "I'm-almost-too-busy-to-blog" post, you're not wrong, lol!...but boy!, are we having fun! 

This trip will be quick, and we'll be home soon,  and there will be more knitting on the ride home. There will also be sadness, when we have to say goodbye, but that will be short-lived. They'll visit our house this summer, with a brief visit from Mom and the girls in between. Yay!

Until then, I'll be knitting, and celebrating life,  and I hope you will be doing the same! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!