Tiny Needle Tuesday 3/16/21

 Good Morning!

Last night (finally) was a good night sleep-wise and I feel as though I am beginning to catch up.  I'll head in to Chesterbrook (where my office is) in a little bit.  First I need to consume some coffee and wake up.

I'm happy to say (and show) that I finished the motif at the bottom of the sampler that I had started last week.  My gosh!  That single motif seemed to take FOREVER.  But I finished it up, stitched another letter (the U), a little fox and a cluster of leaves.  First up a close up:

The little fox is just so darn cute!  Still an open space there - one more letter and another creature will go in there...and after that the left hand side of the sampler will be finished!!

Here's an overall shot of where things stand:

It's coming along.  Still quite a bit to stitch on this one, but I'm beginning to feel as though I am closing in on it.  Still definitely enjoying it, but I admit I will be happy to be working on something else (eventually).

There is not a lot I need to do at the office today - mostly some printing of spreadsheets for Bill (and printing a couple of patterns for moi).  I also need to scan some documents - got word yesterday from our accountant that our taxes are finished, so I have the E-file authorization forms that Fletch and I have signed to scan and send so that taxes can be filed.  Guess I need to head up there and pay the bill as well.  Glad to have that pesky part of life over with!

Still pretty chilly here.  I don't think I'll be walking today unless things warm up significantly.  And, I can't tell yet what the wind situation is.  It was still pretty blustery yesterday.

Hope everyone's week is going well.  See you tomorrow for Unraveled Wednesday!

And Another Week Begins

 Good Morning!

How are you?  How was your weekend?

I'm sleepy.  That seems to be my mantra more and more, but it's true.  I woke at 2:15 this morning hearing Tyg crying on the patio roof (again).  I came down, opened the door, called to him and a minute or two later he was off the roof and coming in the back door.  I didn't fall back asleep though until after 4 a.m.!  And yesterday, I guess due to the time change, Fletch and I were both walking around like zombies.  Normally changing our clocks doesn't really impact me very much, but this time it has.

Oh well, the weekend was nice.  Saturday when I got up the first thing I did was make Cuban Bread.

This is a nice, easy bread to make and the house smelled wonderful!  Colin and Mailing came over for dinner and, since they are still vegan for another couple of weeks, dinner was vegan (and delicious!).  I made the enchilada stuffed mushrooms (no picture - I forgot) and a huge bowl of fresh guacamole.  Mailing brought over some roasted potatoes that were delicious.  I never got around to making a dessert, but it turned out to be just as well since we were all stuffed with the main course.  Fletch got a fire going outside in the fire pit and we sat around out back for a few hours just talking and laughing.  Such a nice evening.

Sunday was a blur.  We did a little grocery shopping and that was about it.  I managed to knit a little.

Working my way down the foot of the sock.  It did not fly off the needles as I thought it might, but the heel flap and turn are finished and I'm partway down the foot now.  This yarn looks so different in plain knitting rather than the pattern that is on the leg.  But, no matter, I like the way it is coming together and I think the intended recipient will like these.

So, it's mid-March already!  Wednesday is St. Patrick's Day and Saturday is the first day of Spring!  Our temps have dropped some and the winds have picked up again (March Lion).  I will be working out inside this week rather than walking.  I also think some rain is in our forecast later in the week.  I had thought I'd go to the office today, but now think I will wait until tomorrow.

Wishing you all a great start to the week and hoping for those of you in the path of the Spring snowstorm that you are not getting dumped on too much!  Stay warm!!

A Walk by the Canal

 Hello!

Yesterday was another beautiful day in Eastern PA and work cooperated nicely (meaning nothing was going on) that I could get out for another walk.  This time I decided to walk the path that I love with the canal on one side and the Schuylkill River on the other.  There were folks out running and biking and some walking dogs, but again it was not terribly crowded.  I even saw a kayaker on the canal and another on the river.  This time my round trip walk was just over 3 miles.  My biggest surprise was seeing ice on the canal!

I had not expected that at all.  There were clumps of snow in the woods, but parts of the trail were covered in ice as well.  Our weather has been so warm it really surprised me.  The trail was also pretty muddy in places.  Even the ice could not keep the turtles away!

It was good to see them basking in the sun.  Also my old friend:

Still no mask on the dear fellow.  

There were a lot of clumps of pretty yellow flowers.  I believe these are cinquefoil.

It was so nice to be back along that trail.  Last year there were several trees that had fallen across the canal, making it interesting for those kayaking or canoeing.  I noticed yesterday that they have all been cleared out.

I did make curried vegetables for dinner (onions, pepper, ginger, garlic, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini) along with jasmine rice.  It was good, but not great.  I can't seem to find a really good curried vegetable recipe.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  Later, Fletch lit a fire and we sat outside for almost two hours - it was delightful!

Another wonderful day.  I am hoping to get out for another walk today, but first I have my usual Thursday financial reports I need to run and distribute.  Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

Unraveled Wednesday 3/10/21

 Good Morning!

I loved reading about hints of Spring you have all seen.  Truly I love all seasons, but I have to say that I am really, really looking forward to Spring this year.  Whether it's due to the quarantine and being home all the time, or the fact that our Winter was colder and snowier than it has been in some time, I don't know.  Whatever the reason, I am happy that Spring is right around the corner.  Nancy in Wyoming said that she had a few patio days, but now two (!!) winter storms are forecast which is not unusual for March, but still...  My little brother in Boulder, CO said that someone told him Boulder is expecting feet (that's multiple!) of snow this weekend, but this week has been nice enough that he has been riding his bike to work.  Spring - any and all kind of weather can happen!

Yesterday I did manage to get out for a walk after lunch.  I walked at Oaks which is a paved trail and I did use my trekking poles.  While walking I was thinking "what's the big deal?" but later last night, I could feel it in my shoulders and across my upper back.  Nordic Pole Walking CAN be a workout!  I walked to where the Perkiomen spills into the Schuylkill and it was so nice to be back on the trail.  I walked just under an hour and just under 3 miles.  Enough for a start.  I saw a gorgeous red tail hawk soaring above me and there were numerous clumps of snowdrops alongside the trail.

There were people out running, walking, riding bikes - some in shorts and tank tops!  It wasn't mobbed though - not as crowded as last year at the beginning of the pandemic.  Fortunately I saw no snakes.  Unfortunately I saw no blue herons either.

With the nice weather, Fletch grilled out last night.  He grilled lambchops and acorn squash.  Yum!  We also had sugar snap peas.  Tonight we plan to have a fire in the fire pit.  I can't wait.

Meanwhile, it is Unraveled Wednesday, and I am linking up with Kat to talk about making and reading.  Monday's post included finished pictures of my Heart Warmer cowl.  I have not knit anymore on the Guernsey Wrap, but progress is being made on the first Northern Lights sock.

Just love the way this yarn is knitting up (Stroll by KnitPicks in the Northern Lights colorway).  No pooling.  The pattern I'm knitting (Twinkleberry) is an easy one to memorize.  I'm making these a little longer than I usually do, so my normal 15 rows of ribbing for the cuff and then the leg is up to 96 rows.  I think I'll continue on with the heel flap and turn and then down the foot.  I don't intend to knit the pattern on the foot, so they should fly off the needles in no time (should being the operative word here).

Here is Tyg last night keeping me annoyed company while I knit.  He wasn't fooling with my yarn, but wanted to play with a cable needle and then stuck his head in my project bag to see if there were any shiny objects he could grab in there!

Silly cat!  He has been enjoying the warmer weather - rolling around on the patio, running across the yard, searching out mice and other edibles.

On the reading front, I mentioned the other day that I finished Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley.  This is not a book for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it just charming.  Over the weekend I read two mysteries I had gotten from the library - both in series that I am reading.  One by Linda Castello (they all take place in an Ohio Amish community) and the other by Deborah Crombie.  Both were easy and enjoyable reads.  Now I have started The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop but am only about 35 pages into it, so no decision yet.

I'm hoping today will be another easy work day and that I can get out for another walk.  I'm debating whether to head to the River Trail or the Canal Trail.  But first, the morning has a few chores (in addition to work) for me.  Wishing you all a wonderful day - enjoy!

Tiny Needle Tuesday

 Hello and Good Morning!!

Yesterday at this time it was in the teens.  This morning?  36.  That's above freezing and lends hope.  According to the radio guy, today is supposed to hit 63.  The hope/plan is to get out for a walk either late morning or early afternoon.  Time will tell.  I want to get into some (or give it a try anyway) Nordic Pole Walking so I'd best look for my poles - I think they are in the back of my car.

But first:  Tiny Needle Tuesday.  You would think/guess that with two weeks since I last posted about stitching I would have a lot to show.  That is not the case!  All I managed to do in those two weeks is the start of another motif at the bottom of the sampler.

The little bit of red is the beginning of another motif.  It is not even halfway finished!  Honestly, I felt more like knitting (and thus, managed to finish heart Warmer which I posted about yesterday).  I'm not bored with this project or tired of it, I just felt like doing something different.  So I did.  Maybe next week there will be more progress to show.

Fletch and I did see some hints of Spring yesterday.  In the morning before I left for the office, I looked out back and there had to be at least 10 Red Winged Blackbirds in the yard - under our sunflower seed feeder.  I love Red Winged Blackbirds - always makes me think of getting to the lake in Vermont as we would always see them along the roadway leading to the lake.  Around here, we usually just see them for a little bit in the Spring.  We often hear them, but don't always see them.  But to have 10+ in the yard was a wonderful gift!

Later in the afternoon Fletch came in and told me a small patch of crocus had finally appeared in our bed alongside the driveway.  Another welcome sight for sure!

Looks like that bed could use some cleaning!  Now I need to see if our snowdrops are coming up.

Colin texted that he saw deer in the backyards around him as well as a little rabbit running along the fence and a disappointed fox skulking off in the opposite direction.  YAY for the rabbit's escape!

Wishing you all a Spring-like day wherever you are.  Do let me know what signs of Spring you see.

Catching Up

 Good Morning!

I had not intended to be gone for an entire week, but sometimes that happens.  The days got away from me and all of a sudden a week had slipped by.  It was busy!

And winter has not lost its grip yet.  It is in the teens here this a.m.  Hard to believe it is supposed to be in the low 60's a little later in the week.  We are planning to grill out and have a fire in our firepit which is (finally) snow-free!

So how have you all been?  I've read blogs here and there, but I did not do a lot of commenting.  I will try to catch up this week.

My vacation day last Tuesday was so nice.  Carole did (finally) make it up to my house.  I was worried for awhile as she was stuck in heavy, non-moving traffic for about 45 minutes.  She love the Antler hat and mitts that I made for her, as well as other gifts and we just laughed and laughed.  By the time she left I was completely exhausted!

Not very much knitting or stitching was done in the past week.  I did, however, finish my Heart Warmer Cowl and I love it!  Here it is in its (obviously) unblocked glory:

I haven't even gotten around to soaking and blocking it yet...and then I wonder why bother since it will just be squished up around my neck!

(Barely awake Friday morning...no make up, hair a mess - a pandemic life!!  LOL)  I love the way the green in the top and bottom ribbing (that color is "Mistletoe") matches so well the specks of green in the varigated yarn.  The main body is Manos Del Uruguay Alegria 75/25 in the colorway Ghostbusters.  The Mistletoe ribbing is Wildfoote 75/25 by Brown Sheep Company.  The Wildfoote is a little thinner than the Alegria, but it all works together.

One more finish for the books:  I finished reading Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley and I loved it!  Thanks for the recommendation Kym - it was a good change of pace from what I had been reading.

Today I'm heading back in to my office.  Originally I had a 10 a.m. conference call, but when I checked email this morning I found it had been cancelled.  Still, I have spreadsheets I need to print (BIG paper) and some other stuff to do.  I just won't be there as long which is nice.  I need to drop a book off at the library and probably will stop to pick up wine after my office visit.  This afternoon I hope to do a little stitching or work on some socks I started knitting.  Later this week, when the temps have elevated a bit, I plan to get out for a walk...or two...or three.

Wishing you all a great week ahead!

Weekending

Good Morning!

It's March!!!  Just a few weeks till the first day of Spring (and my Mom's birthday - March 20th - she would have been 102 this year!!).

How was your weekend?  Mine was pretty full.  I was out and about Saturday morning and geeze it was foggy!  It got progressively worse as the morning wore on.  But, later in the day the sun came out.  Fletch and I headed over to Colin & Mailing's and took a nice 1/2 hour walk in their neighborhood before the sun went down.  There were plenty of folks out walking (everyone keeping their distance, of course) and we passed one house where folks were sitting around a fire in the back yard.  The wood smoke smelled wonderful.

Getting back to the kids' home, we lazed around and watched a few episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway?  with Drew Carey - hysterical!!  I laughed so hard.  Then we had dinner which (naturally) was delicious.  The kids are vegan right now (Lent) so dinner was vegan.  We had French Lentil Soup that they made and some home made bread (regular, whole wheat and rye flour combination).

The soup was different than Lentil soup I have made - this version has turnips, onions, carrots, potatoes, rice, spinach.  Very filling and very tasty.  The bread was dense, but so good.  They even had some butter in the frig (left from pre-vegan days) that Fletch could use on the bread!

After dinner Colin got a fire started in their fire pit in the back yard.  Luckily I had brought my wellies over so I could walk through the snow.  It was a gorgeous full moon night for a fire.

Colin had started to clear snow away from the pit, but then thought better of it.  Better to have some snow than a mucky, muddy mess!

Sunday was a rainy day.  Fletch and I did some grocery shopping, some napping and just general lazing around.  A little (very little) knitting was accomplished, but not a whole lot.

I may not be back to this space till Thursday.  Tomorrow I'm taking a vacation day because my friend Carol (have not seen her in almost a year) is coming up to celebrate Christmas and her birthday.  We've tried to get together several times and each time our plans have fallen through.  I'm really looking forward to seeing her again.  And Wednesday I need to get in to the office, fairly early.  My boss, Kevin, is flying in from Atlanta today and his new VP will be on site for some orientation as well.  

I'm hoping today is quiet work-wise as I plan to bake a Blueberry Gateau and also a batch of oatmeal cookies.

Wishing everyone a great start to the week!