WEEKENDING

Besides the noble art of
getting things done, there
is the noble art of leaving
things undone. The wisdom
of life consists in the elimination
of non-essentials.

~ Lin Yulang

weekending, my favorite part of the week. a time to relax, live, love, just to be. if you'd like to share your weekend either with words, photographs, or both, leave a link to a weekend post in the comments. Joining with Amanda for her weekending post.


Saturday morning after finally planting
the remaining rows in the fall garden,
my guy's left for the weekend and I have
had the whole house to myself!
I eliminated all the non-essentials
from my weekend: no vacuuming,
no dusting, not one bathroom scrubbed
or window shined...nope, none of it.
Instead I have looked at a thousand
patterns on Ravelry, knit a little
[a lot] on my socks, started reading
The Hangman's Daughter, baked a
pie [pumpkin-butternut squash]
then had a piece for dinner.
Sunday has been quiet and
peaceful. I went for a great
run, read a little and worked
some on my knitting. I am so
inspired by Soulmama's family
art board I painted a huge piece
of plywood and now have it, along
with various art material, on the
table waiting for everyone to
arrive home. As much as I
would love to have pie again
for dinner, I have stuffed peppers
baking in the oven and plans to
watch I Love Lucy with no complaints! 
How is your weekend unfolding?
xx

SEVEN DAYS

Following Jacqui's lead from
last Saturday, I made sure
to take a picture each day
of this last week in October.

Saturday:: I baked rolls following
my husband's grandmother's recipe.
It is the most requested recipe
from my kitchen, especially for
those special moments.


Sunday:: Found myself outside
most of the day and am finally
beginning to see little bits of
autumn creeping in, even with
temperatures in the 80's.

Monday:: Loving all the dragonflies
that have been hanging out around
the house.

Tuesday:: Painting my yearly
Dr. Suess inspired pumpkin and
this year with a pumpkin I grew!

Wednesday:: Taking to heart
all the wonderful tips my dear
friend Lori provided and finally
getting my knitting supplies
organized.

Thursday:: Picking up pecans
with my little side-kick while
soaking up as much time with
her as I can before their big move
next summer.

Friday:: Loving the sweet surprise
my daughter brought over.

xx

THIS MOMENT

              {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. xx

YARN ALONG

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Linking with Ginny.

I bought  my very first knitting magazine,

Love of Knitting . This is the holiday issue

and it has the patterns for the cutest 

miniature sweater, scarf and mittens.

If I have time [my fingers are crossed]

I would love to do a set for advent. Well,

it's a goal anyway.I have one sweater

already done so...?  I was able to knit

a stocking cap too because I didn't follow

the directions and seamed a sleeve before

it was attached to the sweater.  I just

can't seem to do what I tell to my

children on a daily basis, always read

the direction before you start something!

I also cast on another pair of basic

socks and am ready to do the heel

flaps. I like doing two socks side by

side so I don't worry about second

sock syndrome. I can say that I am

now addicted to knitting socks!

I forgot to take a picture, but I am

reading The Last Man on the Mountain,

a book my son read and said I

needed to read it. It is not my usual

reading material, but I must say I

am enjoying it. 

It is about what happened to Dudley

Wolfe and the three Sherpas sent

to rescue him on K2 in 1939. 

The book feels like Jennifer Jordan

is sitting at the kitchen table with

you, telling you a story.

And now, what have you been up to?

xx

CANCER IS MORE THAN JUST A PINK RIBBON

Some see a hopeless end,
while others see an endless
hope. 

~Author Unknown 

I followed a link from Imene's
blog and have had the
images in my head ever since...

SCAR PROJECT

How beautiful and brave
each of these amazing
woman are!
xx

A STRAY GIFT

Pleasure is spread
 through the earth
In stray gifts to be
claimed by whoever
 shall find.

~William Wordsworth, 1806

                                                                    {Tea Plants in bloom}
Remember these?

Upon inspection today
I found flowers! A
surprise gift that filled
me with happiness.

I hope your day is filled
with wonderful gifts
that make you smile.
xx

WEEKENDING: PEACE WITH MYSELF

I want to give and take
from my children and husband,
to share with friends and
community, to carry out my
obligations to man, and to
the world, as a woman, as an
artist, as a citizen.

But I want first of all-
in fact, as an end to these
other desires-to be at peace
with myself. I want a singleness
of eye, a purity to intention,
a central core to my life that
will enable me to carry out these
obligations and activities as well
as I can.

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh, from
   Gift from the Sea

weekending, my favorite part of the week. a time to relax, live, love, just to be. if you'd like to share your weekend either with words, photographs, or both, leave a link to a weekend post in the comments. Joining with Amanda for her weekending posts.

This has been a weekend of perfect weather,
70 during the day and mid 40's at night.
Saturday, after the meal planning, house
cleaning and weekly market trip, my time
was spent outdoors. Along with the daily,
[since I don't want to tempt the squirrels],
pick up of pecans  [I say pa-khans], 
the oranges are now beginning to ripen and
must also be picked. I baked my husband's
great grandmother's rolls and wondered
why I don't bake them more often since
they really just as easy as bread? I tried
out a new recipe and other than subbing
homemade vegetable stock for the
chicken stock and adding a little [OK, a
lot] more cheese I left it alone. A copy
of the recipe now resides in my home
planner so I won't lose it.

Sunday has been a quiet day. A day for
me to sit outside and knit [more socks],
to listen to the birds and watch the
bees on the golden rod, to not have
to cook, to take a nap and just enjoy
my own company and await the
return of my family. A day of Peace.
Now, I can face the new week.

How was your weekend?
xx

.

THIS MOMENT

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. xx

YARN ALONG

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~
Joining with Ginny

Sock knitting has taken over my life!

Do you know that I even dreamed

about socks last night? I really did.

I was informed by my loving family

that it's a good thing I didn't knit

socks for a living or I would be very

hungry. That's OK, I am not giving up!

Do you see the last picture ? That

is a gusset [yes, I now know ALL

the part names of a sock] and I
am very, very proud of it! Why?
Because it is my fifth one and
I finally got it! At least on one
sock anyway. Isn't it just the
prettiest thing?  I have plans for
another little ripping party with
the other sock's gusset, but that's
not a problem anymore, I'm
now an expert ripper! Ripperest?
My reading this week
has been all about socks
and knitting too. See, I told
you, knitting has taken over
my life!
So, what have you been up
to since we last got together?
xx

NOT THIS YEAR !

As God is my witness, 

as God is my witness

they're not going to lick me.

 I'm going to live through

 this and when it's all over,

 I'll never be hungry again.

 No, nor any of my folk.

If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill.

 As God is my witness,

 I'll never be hungry again

~Scarlett O'Hara in
Gone With the Wind

Last year they

may have wiped

me out, but not

this year!

xx

WEEKENDING: PERFUMES

Perfumes are the feelings
 of flowers. 

 ~Heinrich Heine,
The Hartz Journey

weekending, my favorite part of the week. a time to relax, live, love, just to be. if you'd like to share your weekend either with words, photographs, or both, leave a link to a weekend post in the comments. Joining with Amanda for her weekending posts.

A weekend filled with

the scent of tea olives

everytime I went in

or out the back porch.

Their scent makes me

want to plant tea olives

everywhere! If they will
grow in your area Please
    ~ Plant Them! ~
You won't be sorry- Promise!

I spent more time than

I care to admit knitting

and frogging a heel.

I can now say that I

know the difference

between short rows

and a heel flap and I

can knit both! By the

time this pair of socks

is knit I think I

will have knit them

at least twenty times!

I found a new recipe

that I have prepared

twice and even put

it on my weekly menu.

It really is delightful.

Started and finished

a sweet little book

Lori Ann sent me.

If you would like to

read it and then pass

it on, leave me a comment

and I will get it in

the post to you this

week.

xx

THIS MOMENT

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. xx

I LEARNED MY LESSON

I am always ready to learn
although I do not always
like being taught. 

~Winston Churchill

I have feet that are the same
size. I am not sure why I felt
the need to cast on and knit
one sock in a size small and
one in a size medium.
I taught myself a lesson that
I won't soon forget! xx

 

YARN ALONG

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Linking with Ginny.

When I learned to knit
I had one goal in mind:
to knit socks. I did knit
a pair in January and then
moved on to other things.
When I was in Charleston,
SC a few weeks ago I found
this sock yarn, Clover. I
knew as soon as I read
the name that sock knitting
was once again in my future.
I have the ribbing and leg
of one sock completed and
am now working on the
leg of the second sock. I had
the idea if I worked on both
socks at the same time it
would be easier to remember
how to do everything. I had
a lot of trouble with the heel
last time so I am trying to
be prepared. I really do wish
someone would write left handed
knitting patterns. If this already
being done, would you please
tell me how to find them?

My reading this week
has been all about socks
too. I have been reading
Teach Yourself Visually Sock Knitting.
I do like all the pictures and
I have learned a lot about
sock parts; there are also
quite a few patterns I
would like to try. Now, if
I can knit the heels without
any tears being shed, I will
be very happy!
xx
xx

A GOAL

When you start with a portrait
and search for a pure form, a
clear volume, through successive
eliminations, you arrive inevitably
at the egg. Likewise, starting with
the egg and following the same
process in reverse, one finishes
with the portrait.

~ James Allen

There are 424 different species
of birds in South Carolina.
I have a goal of painting every
one of them on hollowed out
eggs.
Sixteen down...
408 to go!
Do you have a goal?
xx

WEEKENDING: FRIENDSHIP

But oh! the blessing it is to
 have a friend to whom one
 can speak fearlessly on any
 subject; with whom one's
 deepest as well as one's
most foolish thoughts come
 out simply and safely.  Oh,
 the comfort - the inexpressible
comfort of feeling safe with a
 person - having neither to
 weigh thoughts nor measure
 words, but pouring them all
right out, just as they are,
chaff and grain together;
certain that a faithful hand
 will take and sift them,
 keep what is worth keeping,
 and then with the breath
 of kindness blow the rest away. 

 ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

weekending, my favorite part of the week. a time to relax, live, love, just to be. if you'd like to share your weekend either with words, photographs, or both, leave a link to a weekend post in the comments. Joining with Amanda for her weekending post.

Spent another Saturday in

Charleston, this time browsing

the thrift stores with a very

dear friend who I don't see

often enough. I brought home

the cutiest pair of pink Ann Taylor

heels and a Chenille Bedspread

just like the one my Nanny always

had on her bed. I love that it is

in mint condition and I only paid

$2.99! I came home to a house

that was still clean and my

guy's had even cleaned their mess

up in the kitchen! Maybe they have

been listening to me and I won't have

 to apologize to their future wives!

Sunday was a trip to the market

which I dislike doing,but sometimes

it's necessary if I want to prepare

the dinner's I have planned for the

week. I made a fresh pumpkin pie

and will be making many more of these

in the future. I love the hint of honey

and the taste of fresh pumpkin that

isn't overpowered by spices. I managed

to get a sock cast on the needles and

am almost ready to start the heel, if

I can remember how! Rain has settled

in for the next few days so I see a lot

of knitting in my future. How was your

weekend? xx

THIS MOMENT

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. xx

GREEN JOY

Plants cry their gratitude for the sun in green joy. 

 ~Terri Guillemets

Sitting under a  pecan tree
is a wooden oyster table which
I usually load with vegetables
waiting their turn to be processed.
I have been drying seeds in
an effort to be more self-sufficent.
For the last month I have been
drying orka pods, along with the
beautiful bumper crop of gourds
I grew. Last week when I went
to check on how everything was
doing, I found all my okra had
sprouted! Guess I will be buying

okra seed next year. xx

YARN ALONG

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Joining with Ginny

 .

I only have one section

left to complete my

Infinitude Scarf and I had

hoped to have that done

before today, but a really

long Physical Science

lesson cut into my

knitting time. I love

this pattern since I can

lay it down and when

I pick it up again I

know exactly what to

do without reaching

for the pattern. I see

a lot of these being

knit for the girls I know!

I'm just about done

with Sue Grafton's

A is for Alibi and am

getting ready to start

B is for Burglar.  Since

it has been many

years since I read this

series it is just like

reading them for the

first time. Sue Grafton

is definitely one of my

favorite author's and I

am curious as to what

she will do once she

finishes Z.

What are you up to

this week? xx

PEAR COBBLER

Without ice cream,
there would be darkness
and chaos. 

~Don Kardong

A very simple recipe
given to me from a
dear woman who ran
the nursery at my church
when my children were
small. She has since passed
away, but I will always
remember her telling
me that when I served
the cobbler, I must also
put a scoop of vanilla bean
ice cream in the bowl
along side it...I always
do! It is not a healthy or
a 'fancy' dish, but it
is a tradition for me to
bake it each fall when
the pears are ripe. xx

Pear Cobbler

5 large pears
1 cup self-rising flour
[I use all purpose and add
1 teaspoon baking power
and a dash of sea salt]
1 cup juice from pears
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter[ melted]

Peel, slice thin and cook pears with a little water until tender, set aside. Mix together remaining ingredients. Put reserved pears in a 2 quart casserole dish and pour batter over the top [ do not stir]. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees until golden.

WEEKENDING:FAMILY

Family faces are magic mirrors.
  Looking at people who belong
to us, we see the past, present,
 and future. 

 ~Gail Lumet Buckley

weekending, my favorite part of the week. a time to relax, live, love, just to be. if you'd like to share your weekend either with words, photographs, or both, leave a link to a weekend post in the comments. Joining with Amanda for her weekending post.

This weekend was all
about family. The weather
was perfect with highs of
72 degrees and lows in
the high 40's. I spent
Saturday browsing around
Charleston. I think it has
to be one of my favorite
cities ever.  I came home with
some beautiful sock yarn
with names like Balloon
and Clover [how could I not
bring that home?]. Saturday
night all the children and
their partners gathered at
my home to sit around the
fire pit, eat chili, roast
marshmellows, and most
important, laugh with each
other. Lots of wonderful
memories were made and
after the past couple of weeks,
it was just what this family
needed.
Sunday was sleeping late, Finally!
I guess because I stayed up
way past my normal bedtime.
I will be so thankful when all
of these hormones that are
jumping around in my body
settle down and I can actually
sleep during the night again.
I thought after my children
were not babies I would be
able to sleep [silly me!] I
spent most of the day today
outside taking a long walk
and enjoying the fall air,
lower humidity and lower
pollen count so I could breath!
 For today only, Amazon
has The Hangman's Daughter
for only $.99 to download
on to your reading device
if you want to check it out.
I have it downloaded and
have added it to the pile of
ever growing to be read books.
Dinner is leftover's so I
have plans to relax and knit
before the week begins
again. How was your weekend?
xx