Joy and Beauty and Knitting

When we moved from our old house to this condo, one of the things I lamented leaving behind was our front porch. 

With red brick risers and concrete steps, outdoor photos in daylight were full of texture and background color that was neutral enough to show off hand knits pretty spectacularly...

...especially tiny things and toys.

Since moving here, I have learned to appreciate the airy, openness and natural light of our many windows for bright and beautiful photos...

...and our white countertops have been the background for many photos of smaller items.

But I think the item I enjoy the most in the backdrops of my knitting photos is my chunky coffee table...you know, where the pig lives! 

As a matter of fact, that pig and his sweater show up a LOT in the pictures, lol! But this isn't about the pig. 

This is about blooming where one is planted. There are plenty of things I did not like about the old house: dark corners, small rooms, weird layout. And there are plenty of things I'm still not really used to in this condo: nowhere to "hide," overly bright light fixtures, and a little too much "road noise" from the highway.

Yet there is beauty and joy to be found wherever I am. Not because everywhere I go is beautiful, but because I want to find the beauty wherever I am. Finding beauty in the mundane brings me joy, so I will keep looking. 

What small things bring you joy? Whatever they are, I hope that you are finding that joy, savoring it and storing up a bit for the days and nights that are a little more "dark and stormy." Maybe you've even found some joy in this post, and if you have, I'm so glad. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Snow A-Plenty

Well, they said it would happen. We know that living in Northeast Ohio pretty much guarantees that we will see snow in winter, so we were prepared, pretty much planning to just stay home on Thursday. Still, when Wednesday wandered in, I wondered if the predicted snow had been blown out of proportion, as it sometimes is.

But I had a significant project to work on, and that kept my mind off the snow. Access to almost endless hot cocoa, paired with mindless garter stitches, kept me calm and carefree as the snow approached.

And even though it was calm and cozy inside from sunrise (top) to sunset (bottom),

the predicted snow came. It came, and it kept coming,

and coming, 

and coming, 

and coming!

We even got a little fresh powder overnight last night! It sure is pretty out there!

So pretty, and so cold! Good thing I have a fresh shipment of yarn, in all the colors, to keep me busy indoors! 

How are you staying warm today? If you are Pat and Don, you are just living your life...in Florida! (Hi Pat and Don!) But for those of you who live a little more north, like me, I hope you have yarn and warm treats to keep you toasty and occupied!

Before I go, may I share a bit of wisdom from a friend? Franklin posted this as part of a longer post, and I see so much wisdom in it that I wanted to pass it along (with his permission, of course): 

"Let people enjoy their moments of happiness, y'all. Let them have their little victories.

If they don't ask for notes, don't give them any. Don't suggest how they can do it better next time. Just let them have the moment." 

I share this, having been on both the advice giving and receiving end of those notes. I tend to always think that my advice is helpful...but when I get unsolicited, "helpful and corrective" advice after achieving a small victory, that's just annoying. I'm going to try hard to be better at not giving advice like that, and I am NOT going to tell you the best way to shovel your driveway, or knit your sweater, or cook your dinner today. I'm just going to be glad that you've cleared the drive for my visit, so we can knit and break bread together, and I hope that you will do the same. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

PS - Franklin and I are social media friends only. He lives faraway, I've never known him in a face-to-face way, and I am sure our opinions differ on many things. Still, I like him a bunch, and I think he is one cool cat! As with many of my online friends, I am glad that we are friends, even though I can't call him to borrow a cup of sugar. Shipping that sugar would surely be cost prohibitive anyway!

Transitions Are Hard!

Look at me, living in a new and beautiful home...everything is falling together, but I still feel so unsettled. I mean, we all know that Pretty is a creature of habit, and I've talked here before about how it takes me a minute to make changes. The older I get, the longer it seems to take. So, while this is a good move for Pretty and Sweetie, it has been a hard transition. 

Where are the spoons?

With all the silverware...which drawer did I put that in?

 

Where did you put the (name any item in my house that is not in plain view...and some that ARE in plain view)?

I have no idea...I think I've put it away, but I'm not sure where...?

Where does this go?

Your guess is as good as mine...

This last question has perplexed me most, because I have reached the point of NEEDING to hang my pictures on the walls. I need to do that so it feels like home to me...I know it's an OCD thing, and it doesn't really need to be done, but I need to do it. I spend countless moments staring at photos, stacked against the wall, trying to decide...

That's my bridal bouquet in front of my grandmother's picture, but I still haven't hung our wedding photo, and that's held a prominent place in all of our homes so far. I need to put it up...but where?

As I contemplate how to keep my past in front of me, I am reminded that sometimes I need to put it behind me...so I can live in this moment. Thank you to my daughter and her boys for bringing me back into the present with a visit yesterday.

They are watching Cocomelon as the big guy "tickle tickles" his little brother...so cute!

And Pop Pop decides that our new stairs are a great place to drop paper "whirley-bird" airplanes for catching or aiming into a basket at the bottom. He's not wrong, but they needed to look up a video to refresh Pop Pop's memory on the making...

Looks like they've found a good one...

...aaand, yes! They are having snacks and fun while they figure it out! 

We did have a great visit yesterday, and I am pretty sure the boys slept well last night...we did our best to wear them out anyway (and we wore ourselves out in the process...lol)!

So, despite my stress-face and tough-with-transition disposition, I am blessed beyond what I deserve, for sure! Don't let me tell you otherwise.

I am thankful for my new, beautiful home. I am thankful for a big, open space to enjoy my family when they visit (for the first time in 26 years). I am thankful the cats and I seem to be adjusting, and I am thankful for a Sweetie to share it with...so I will do my best to process and mitigate the silly stress of transitions that are a part of who I am. 

How do you handle change and stress? A bit of exercise? A tall glass of (insert adult beverage of choice here)? Perhaps a cookie? Prayer? Please send suggestions...

All that to say that I am doing well, and I am so glad that you have popped into the blog today. As things open up, if you are local, I hope you will stop by our new place for a visit, too! Now, it's time for me to hang some more pictures and do a little Saturday knitting. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Keys

Keys. We have keys. Not car keys, or train keys...

Not the keys to this little guys heart (though we have those, too...)

But the keys to our new place! We have the keys!

So the next couple weeks are going to be full of moving all the things! We have a good start, with some very nice gifts from our Realtor (thank you, Chad!)...

...and as you read this, I am either hanging curtains or putting things away in one of my many new cupboards or bathrooms, so I'm not going to write too long today. More pictures will be coming soon! 

Even though my time is limited this weekend, I did want to stop in to say hello and Happy Saturday to all of you! I hope that you have something to celebrate. Springtime. Sunshine. Kittens and puppies, or new yarn, perhaps!  

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

A Tale of Two Kitchens

So, last week I broke the news, with a little trepidation. This week, I am going to wander out on the ice a bit farther to tell you my tale of two kitchens. For the last 26 years, this has been my kitchen, and I kinda love it...at times.

It is a tiny kitchen, so small that for some years we did not even have a tall fridge in that space. We got by with a counter-height fridge for the basics (milk, eggs, butter, lunchmeats), and we had our full-size fridge in the basement. It wasn't that bad, actually, and I was in better shape for running up and down those stairs every time I cooked...or baked...or did anything involving food in the kitchen (like, yanno, feeding people).

These days, we are back to a larger fridge, one that fits into the space provided, and this kitchen has served me well for years of regular days, holidays, candy and cookie making, and gingerbreading. I will miss it...a little bit. This week, I joked that I am going to have it made into a locket as a remembrance. Well, that may be taking it a bit far...but look at the progress in my soon-to-be-finished new kitchen!

I know! OMGosh! I was going to count the cabinets in both kitchens, for comparison sake, but I keep losing count in the new kitchen...lol! So many cabinets and counters...I will no longer need to clear the tiny kitchen table in the corner to roll out a pie crust or decorate gingerbread, relegating the cookie jar, napkins and placemats to the basement craft table. I will just do what I need to do, then wipe down my counter and move on. (Cue songs of angels in my new kitchen.)

As a bonus, if I go into the kitchen to make a cup of tea for a friend (or for me) I will no longer have to miss out on everything going on in the other room. Our next season of holiday treats is going to be so much fun to put together! I can even lay all the cookies out to dry on the counters, if I want...without having to stow them in the basement, or a bedroom, or the garage! (Disclaimer: I have never stowed homemade goodies in the garage to keep them out of the way and away from the cats...no, never. It might have been a good idea some years, but the icy walk to the garage would likely have done me in!)

Ok, one more photo, then I think I'm done for today. This one is a photo of our actual unit! (There are 4 condos in this grouping.) Still waiting on siding, and some other outdoor details, but isn't it lovely?

Yes, it is safe to say that I am getting excited! Still hoping that I am not jinxing us, and enjoying the parts of the process that I can as we continue to pack up the starter home. I have finally taken down most of the photos that were on our walls, so here's a new one that I have not yet framed. Look at these boys grow!

Now it's time for me to go find something to knit. Lately, I am crushing the neutral dish-/facecloths! Between projects, between homes, I hardly know what to do with myself! Lol...so I just keep knitting!

Whatever you are in the middle of, thanks for stopping by today! Oh!, and Knit in Good Health!

Cleanup Update!

The cats are super stressed out by The Great Cleanout of 2021. Or not...

They weren't even bothered when Bernie joined them!

We are making progress, and today the Mister got involved, cleaning off the shelves that used to be over the bar...you know, the one we tore out when Allen was 9 or 10... He also cleaned off the window sills down there. Busy morning!

This box now holds most of the bar paraphernalia, and a couple more things, that were gifted today to a guy who still has a bar! Perhaps we will visit The Blue Room to see our stuff sometime...and perhaps not. We gave him permission to toss what he doesn't want...lol!

Getting rid of stuff is stressful, but also freeing. I feel somehow lighter! I am not somehow lighter...not at all...but I feel lighter, and that is something!

I think I'll go sit in the sunshine with the cats and knit something. Make it a good day, friends!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Lost Naps Found

Sooo, last week I lamented about lost naps. I think I have found them. Here are two examples, right off the top:

As they were napping, I decided to take advantage of the cooler weather, and I did some baking.  With Shaun Cassidy Radio blaring on Pandora, I mixed up some Peanut Butter Banana Muffins 

and Oatmeal Scotchies, and boy! 

Our house smells wonderful! I was eager to grab my kindle and tell you about it, but the nappers were guarding it...lol! 

Now that I have wrestled my electronics away from the cats and blogged, it's time to sit and knit a bit! What a beautiful day!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (and Bake) in Good Health this fall!

Today is the Day!

One of my favorite worship songs is Today is the Day, by Lincoln Brewster. Whenever I hear the opening chords in church, I know that the day will be good. (In truth, any Sunday that I can get to church and sing to the Lord with my brothers and sisters is a pretty good day, but I do like that song!) Anyhoo...even without church, I know that today is a good day! Today is the day of the annual Knitters' Christmas Party!!! By the time this post goes live, I'll likely be working on seconds from the amazing pot-luck style food, and we should be in the third hour of eating, laughing and knitting! It's an event that I look forward to just as much as the annual excursion to Woolapalooza (which I missed this year, making this party even more anticipated for me)!

Before 9am this morning, I had made the treats I will contribute, prepared the bags we will all take home our haul of gifties in and wrapped up the goodies that I will give as "stocking stuffers" to my besties! Here's a sneak peek at one of the items I've made:

Little snowman ornaments, with a mirror where the face should be! Each comes with a poem that goes a little something like this:

A snowman for you –

Well, it’s for your tree.

Look at its face,

What do you see?

I see someone special

In just the right ways–

I see love and kindness

In a beautiful face!

I hope the girls like them! I know that I can't wait to see what creative gifts await me at the party! The stocking stuffers are typically some of my favorite gifts of the Christmas season! Actually, by looking at my house today, you wouldn't even know it was the Christmas season...you see, we had new windows and doors put in this week, and I have not had the chance to do much decorating, aside from the wreath on our new front door (but where will I hang the house numbers now???).

Universal Windows Direct did a great job with everything from the sales pitch to the clean-up! We had a very efficient install crew (they did all the windows and doors in one day!)...I couldn't be more impressed! I'm not being paid to say this, but if you need windows/doors, check them out. They are terrific, and I love my new windows and doors!

Maybe I'll get the tree up tomorrow...and maybe not. The grandkids will be visiting at Christmas time, but not before next weekend, so I still have time. It does make me twitch to not have it all going on in December, but it's been a year, so I'm letting myself off the hook just a bit on this one. :^)

Well, I think that's it. Today is the Day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it with my besties at the Christmas party! I hope you have some fun things planned for your today as well! Whatever you've got going on, thanks you for stopping by, and I hope you will Knit in Good Health!

30 Years Later

Last Saturday morning, I posted about my 30th high school class reunion, and I was nervous about it...like really nervous. I wasn't nervous about seeing the school, or standing in that gym where I so often claimed cramps so that I would not have to face that kickball to the face again (yes, that happened. I was that girl, with masking tape on my nose piece after gym class...lol!)

I was mostly nervous about crowds, because I generally am. Even though I don't usually have trouble talking to people, the thought of being in a crowded situation makes my stomach turn. As it turned out, I did have moments of feeling totally overwhelmed. There were more classmates who came out to this neighborhood bar and grill to catch up than I had imagined there would be. (I hear they stopped counting at 120-something...or 150-something...in the evening, and about 50 came out for the morning tour.)

Would people remember me? Would I be able to recognize old friends? 30 years is a really long time, and not many of us still look like our senior picture!

Heck, I think I didn't look like my senior picture by the time I graduated! I did let that perm grow out, and I stopped wearing shoulder-padded blazers a short time later! lol! But it was super helpful to have those photos on our shoulders as we approached classmates. As it turns out, a lot of people knew who I was right away, something about living in a house right in front of the school made me a bit infamous...either that or the kickball incident! Some I remembered only by name, and some only by face, and there were even some that I barely recognized at all! Still, I slapped on that name tag, stepped out of my shell and just started talking.

After all, one thing we know about Pretty is that she has LOTS of words!

I didn't take too many photos, I was having too good a time to think about that, and I am pretty awful at the art of selphies... But there were many who did, and thanks to them all, I have had about a week of constant Facebook updates with photos and memories.

What a nice change from the news and all the icky that is in the world right now. Photos of old friends and new, and some new memories to file away until I see some of these wonderful folks again. 

I didn't realize how many still live in or near the town I graduated in! My goal for the next couple years is to try to connect with more of those wonderful folks in person when I can. :) Of course, just this past Wednesday, the girls showed up for another visit, so there isn't much time for socializing outside the family for the next couple of weeks...but I am not complaining! I love these sandwich-swiping,

show-stealing, girlies so much!

It's good to have them back in town! It cuts down on the knitting a bit, but even that is ok. There is still knitting, including that black-and-white, black-and-white sweater, requested by Peanut and currently on my needles. (As I tried to figure out how to jazz up the black and white a little, the illusion became less elusive!)

Thanks for stopping by, friends! Be ready for more pictures of the cutest grandkids I ever did have, and Knit in Good Health!