Yarn Along: More Pachyderms!

I'm aware that if I continue to knit nothing but small elephants, those beloved people in my life who know me and love me (and humor me) as the obsessed knitter that I am, may eventually begin to question whether or not I may be just a wee bit crazy in the head after all and start to ever so carefully suggest that maybe I should consider knitting something other than an elephant.

But I mean, I ask you honestly, what could be cuter than this?

Well - I'll tell you what could be cuter.

The answer is - 2 more!!!

And Ysolda Teague, the designer, is an absolute genius at writing a clear, simple, straight-forward pattern.  I have so much to learn from her!

Now - I promise to knit something other than an elephant.

I promise to try.

I promise to consider thinking about trying.

And as for books - Johann and I are now reading Charlotte's Web.   We are in the chapter where Wilbur is very lonely, having just left Charlotte to go and live at uncle Zuckerman's farm.  So it's a bit sad, where we left off, but there are good things coming for little Wilbur (I made sure to emphasize this when I was closing the book last night - due to the very troubled look on my son's face) .

What are you reading/working on this week?

Posted as a join along with Ginny over at Small Things.  Happy Wednesday to you! 

Hello Hello!

Hello dear readers - Just checking in.  Yes - I'm still here.  No - I know, I haven't been writing much lately.

We're just trying very hard to enjoy the last few drops of Summer as a family, before they slip through our fingers, I guess.

We have lots of plans in the coming weeks for fun, maybe some camping, a small road trip, more park picnics definitely, a backyard bbq, and of course, a couple more trips to the pool and possibly the beach too.  And in the near future, it looks like a Hurricane may be headed our way this weekend.    So - in the midst of all of this - and also while I try
desperately to adjust to this crazy night-work schedule I've now found myself on...

I think I'll take an announced break from this space for a few more weeks.  I'll be back on September 1st, if I'm not back before.
and we'll resume our regularly scheduled posts then, OK?

Until then - I hope you are enjoying the last of YOUR warm Summer days, and getting out to enjoy them as much as you can, even though Autumn and the new Fall schedules are knocking at the door (or are they already in full swing?  School seems to start earlier every year!)  

See you all soon!

:: this moment ::

A Friday ritual, inspired by Soulemama.

A single photo - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Elijah-along anyone?

Well - little Elijah is almost done.  He still needs his eyes, and I'm making him a little coat too... for the Fall.

I am so smitten with this little elephant!  The project took me 2 weeks - because I have very little time to knit right now - and every step was fun.   The pattern is written so clearly, and the fact that it's knit in the round, and stuffed, and ends are sewn in as you go, makes for a finished project that requires - well - almost no finishing.  So when you're done, you're done.  Unless you look at him, and feel he might require a small coat.  Like I did.  And then - you're not quite done after all.

So -

Anyone interested in doing an Elijah-along with me?  I have enough yarn left to make 2 more, and since I have 2 little boys around here who keep asking me if this one is for them (it's not), I figured I might at as well make a couple more of these guys!

We could start next Wednesday... and I'd be happy to email you the pattern for his little coat if you want to knit an Elijah along with me.  Just leave me a comment and let me know if you're interested.

The only thing I've been reading this week are some poems here and there.  I always think - it would be neat to memorize some of my favorites.  So far, I've not done that.  But it's on my list.

In other book news, Mike and I went on a "date" night last weekend, and on his suggestion, we decided what  we would do was just get some dinner and coffee and go hang out at the bookstore for a while.  He wanted to read some electronics books, and I wanted - to knit.
We were SO disappointed.   I remember bookstores (this one was that big one, you know, the only one that's left anymore) that had big comfortable chairs, good coffee, and a pleasant atmosphere.  This one was freezing, stuffed and disorganized, was playing current hits from the radio (not at a volume that was conducive to reading either), there was NO where to sit down, and the building was FREEZING!
I got my coffee anyway, and managed to find a little table to sit down.  Mike finally found me, only to tell me that he had found 2 aisles called "Teenage Paranormal Romance" and absolutely NO books on electronics whatsoever.

So we left.

and we're not going back.

Bleh.

But anyway -

Let's make some more Elijahs!  Want to?

(Posted as part of the weekly Yarn along over at Small Things)

Monday: Simple Gratitude

Well - that time of year is here when the mood is noticeably starting to shift... and the days are feeling less streched-out and more compact and busier.  Schedules are being made for the Fall, rooms and clutter and junk is being cleaned out (slowly), and Summer projects are getting checked off of our list.  Still a lot of swimming, and out door fun to be had this Summer, even as these lovely, warm and sunny days get shorter and shorter.  But as things inevitably speed up at the end of my favorite season, I'm taking a small moment to count more blessings from this week that whizzed by me in a flash...

(in no particular order)

* Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band on vinyl, and crazy dancing (and some singing too) by both the younger AND the older set of this small family, on a lazy Sunday at home.

* thunderstorms that water all the plants for me while I'm sleeping.

* a boy who likes to pull the plants from the garden, and is always finding little creatures at the same time.  Lots of small frogs in the little swimming pool this weekend (no no!  not in the house!), and a really pretty (but unfortunately - really hungry) caterpillar found on a carrot in the garden.

* date night - at the hardware store - followed by chinese food.  :)

*  lots more vegetables from the CSA, and this year, a small amount from our garden too!  First batch of everything is bagged up and frozen for later.  And the refrigerator is still filled to capacity for our eating this week and next.  How fortunate to have so much good food!  I am super thankful for this.

* A dream about my great-grandmother last night,  and her tableful of ripening peaches on the covered porch.  It was so good to visit with her again (even though I was only dreaming it).

In my memory that table was filled with peaches every time I went over to visit.  And I remember that smell.  I get all teary when I smell ripe peaches, and almost even just thinking about the smell of ripe peaches.  I wonder how many cans of peaches she put up each summer?  I wonder, where did she get those peaches?  I was much too small to ask these questions at the time, but not too small to appreciate the end result - delicious peaches to eat all year round, and not least of all the delicious smell!

* a good hot cup of coffee.

* a quick dip in a cold pool, followed by popsicles on the picnic table.

* sleeping in

:: this moment ::

A Friday ritual. inspired by Soulemama

A single photo  – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Yarn Along: Elijah and Dorothy

It's Wednesday, and time to post something yarn-related.

It's also 5:30 a.m.  Those are some digits on the clock I haven't seen lately (thank goodness).  Not really much of a morning person.  I can function at a most primitive of levels.  I start to become a human being around 8 a.m. and that's about as early as I can push that.

But I'm up because today is my first day of new-job training.  Thankfully - this will NOT be my usual schedule, because it causes me stress to wake up to an alarm clock.  I like to wake up either by a snuggling child, or with the light coming in the window.  Doesn't everyone?

Anyway - I'm surprised I'm doing so well writing this right now actually.  Haven't even had a cup of coffee yet.
OK.

My finished and still-on-the-needles projects right now are:

- an Elijah well on it's way.  I'm knitting with Debbie Bliss ecobaby fairtrade collection 100% organic cotton.  It's splitty BUT super soft, and I love the colors that are available, they're perfect for Elijah.   And the gauge for Elijah is purposefully worked tightly, so the splitting hasn't been much of an issue (plus I'm being super careful).  The fabric is tight, and soft, and I think it's going to be perfect for a baby toy.  The head and body took about 4 hours, and the yarn ends and stuffing are worked in as you go along.  It's been quick and fun so far.
Last week we finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and then moved on to the Wizard of Oz.  Our library has a really really really old edition.   Dorothy is much younger in the book, and the shoes are silver... not ruby.   Also the good witch is really old.  :)   It's fun to read, after seeing the movie version maybe a hundred times.  (I had sort of a Wizard of Oz addiction as a young kid)

Other finished objects around here:  a crocheted dishcloth (I know - not super exciting) but super useful... and the socks-of-many-colors are finished.

Posted as part of Ginny's Yarn Along over at Small Things, because books and knitting go together like peanut butter and apple slices.  yummy.

Now - What are you working on this week?  Any completed or uncompleted projects going on in your life?


** Also, I posted earlier this week a small request that if you visit here often (or even not often) would you please consider clicking "follow" over there on my left sidebar?  It would make me so happy!    I have a small goal in mind for my blog anniversary.

Hope you're all having a great week!

Monday: Good Stuff

So much to eat around here.  First tomatoes (finally), peas, and Kale chips - These are so darn good I am kicking myself for not trying this recipe last year.   Who knew?

Beautiful flower bouquets, plucked on a whim from the side of the road.  Set on top of a nice fresh tablecloth.  It takes so little to truly please me :)

The pumpkin patch is spreading fast!  and far!  And the blossoms are absolutely gorgeous first thing in the morning, I had to take a picture today.

A crazy-delicious Sunday breakfast, made for me, eaten by me while it was still hot, and while the children were still sleeping.  And it was 8:00 a.m!   A strange and wonderful Sunday morning indeed!

A deadline pattern submission emailed to the editor with only moments to spare.  Years and years after high school, and I'm still sticking with that "at the last possible moment" time frame that I operated under as a teen.   I work best under pressure.  That's what I tell myself anyway.

First day of my new job is this morning.  (!)  So excited/nervous I'm having an upset stomach.  Trying to keep it cool.  But I'm failing.

It looks like I don't have all that much to say this morning.  I'm sort of pre-occupied, I guess.

Perhaps I'll be more chatty tomorrow.

Before I go today though, I have a request.  If you stop here and read (frequently or infrequently) I would be so tickled if you would click "follow" over there on my left sidebar.  You don't have to if you don't want to, but I would love it if you did!   And Mom - you have to.  And so do you Mike.   Everyone else has an option.