YARN ALONG AND A BABY SHOWER INVITATION

If I am thinking correctly, said Pooh,
a new baby is probably, undoubtedly
the grandest gift that could ever be.

~ Winnie the Pooh

It's hard to believe as we are just
entering pollen season, but before
we know it the Christmas season
will be upon us and I want to be
ready. This year I am planning on
socks for all those on my gift giving
list so I needed to start early.  One
of the great things about sock knitting
is how portable they are so I have
several pairs on the needles and
am carrying one with me at all times.

I am reading The Book Club for my
book club and while I know many
others like romance books, I do not,
but I am determined to finish this
book before the next meeting.  And
no, I don't recommend it.

As many of you know our Yarn Along
founder and hostess Ginny is expecting
a baby girl this summer and I thought it
would be nice to give back to someone
who gives us all a chance to gather each
week and share our love of knitting and
reading.

While it is not possible to have everyone
here in my home, although that would be
so much fun,  we can do a virtual baby
shower and I am writing to let you know
each of you is invited!!!

The shower will be held on April 20th
so this gives you plenty of time if you
wish to hand make a gift.

On the 20th I will post on my blog to
begin the shower and then you can link
in so we can visit your space, just like
Yarn Along only this time with baby items.
I think we should also have a game or two
with prizes, but more on that later.  For now
I just wanted to let you know about the
shower so you can mark your calender's.
I hope you will join me !

Linking with Ginny

WEEKENDING

My To Do List For Today:

~  Count my blessings
~ Practice Kindness
~ Let go what I can't control
~ Listen to my heart
~ Be Productive yet calm
~ Just breathe

~ommmm.com

 

Thank you all so very much for your

well wishes concerning the passing

of my Pappaw. I am doing much

better and while I will miss him, I

will remember him and to me that is

very important.

My weekend has been filled with
shopping along side a sweet daughter
in love. We spent Saturday visiting
local shops and doing a little Christmas
buying. I discovered a new to me
shop Olive the Above that carries
flavored olive oils and balsamic
vinegars.; I could drink the honey
ginger vinegar by the mug! I might
have bought a few bottles to keep
in my kitchen ;)

I have been knitting away on my
Christmas gifts, finishing a pair of
socks and a pair of mittens.  I did
visit the LYS while in town and
brought home a few new yarns,
but they won't be cast on until
I finish what I've already started,
maybe ;) Is it the yarn fumes that
makes knitting so addictive? What
ever the cause I am thankful to
have learned this life skill.

I wanted to introduce you to the newest
member of the farm,  Lannister, a Bantam
rooster to keep Daenerys and Arya
company. He has the sweetest little
crow that has been bringing a smile
to my face all week.

My daughter, Erin, along with her love,
John and sweet little Emerson brought
me a tree today and even helped put the
lights on. I have started to pull out the
ornaments, many belonging to my Mike's
grandmother, and will slowly get the
tree decorated this week. I am in no
hurry, I am just going to enjoy each
activity the season brings and hold all
the memory making close to my heart.

Weekending with Karen

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE

THE SOUTH

The place where...

sweet tea and accents are sweeter.
Summer starts in April.
Macaroni and Cheese is a vegetable.
Front porches are wide and words are long.
Pecan pie is a staple.
Y'all is the only proper noun
Chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy.
Everything is Darlin'.
Someone's heart is always being blessed.

Darlin',
It was a beautiful [although
warm and rainy ] Christmas
here in the south and I am
Exhausted and a little sad.
It happens every year... I get
up extra early and stay up
way too late; I make and bake;
I decorate and wrap; I gift
to all I know and some I don't,
it is what I do during and
for the season.
Now?
Now I feel a little lost, not
quite sure what to do with
myself and sad that another
Christmas has come and gone.
I have spent the day napping, knitting
and reading. I learned how to
use my swift and ball winder.
[they are a lot of fun].
I have worked on finishing up
the fudge and the last of the
pecan pie.
Tomorrow the decoration will
come down, bags will be started
for Goodwill donations, the juicer
will provide my meals and life
will slowly return to its normal
pace. I hope y'all had a wonderful
Christmas and I am looking
forward to a wonderful new
year with all of you. 
xx

CHRISTMAS TIME

Our hearts grow tender with
 childhood memories and love
 of kindred, and we are better
throughout the year for having,
in spirit, become a child again
at Christmas-time. 

 ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

There are quite a bit of Christmas
memories being made here in my
home so I'll be back to this space
next week.
I wish each and every one of you
a holiday filled with love and
happiness.
xx

A SPARK

Without inspiration the best

 powers of the mind remain dormant.

There is a fuel in us which needs to be

ignited with sparks.

~Johann Gottfried Von Herder

Not long ago I was introduced

to a very creative woman when

I won a prize from Rhythm of the Home

winter edition giveaway. Chris,

of Mamaroots posted a wonderful

tutorial on making walnut boxes

and I was so inspired to try them

myself.

I didn't bake my

walnuts and I drilled my holes

a wee bit different, but I do love

the way they turned out. They

really were not hard to do at

all. My only recommendation is

to be prepared for broken

shells as walnut shells are

very thin. I learned to drill

the holes first and then sand

with the Dremel so I wasn't

wasting time on something I

would break as soon as I

started to drill. Sanding the

shells smooth can take a little

time, but it really is worth

the step.

It has been a lot of fun trying

to decide what special gift

should go inside and I can't wait

to hand them out.

Now that I own a Dremel,

thank you son I love it,
all of my own [!] I see

many more projects in my

future. 

My husband even got into

the act and made little

walnut baskets...too cute.

xx

Christmas in the Air

"It is Christmas
 in the heart that
 puts Christmas in
 the air."

~ W.T. Ellis

There is definitely

Christmas in the

air here:

in my heart and

in my kitchen.

Holiday baking

begins today:

candies

cookies

fudge

Have a great weekend

and enjoy the season.xx

A Fish Bag

"There is certainly
 something in angling
 that tends to  produce
 a serenity of the mind."

~Washington Irving

 ...and there is something
about painting that produces
a serenity of the mind too.

A fishing bag for a son-in-law
who always brings me fresh fish.

It still needs to be lined with
vinyl and a fishing journal added,
but the major part is complete.

Now, to bring out the sewing
machine and start on the next
project on my list...
the sewing machine,
hum...
there goes my serenity.xx

Toast

"...the noise from good
 toast should reverberate
 in the head like thunder
 of July."

~ E.V. Lucas

toast has been feeding my

creative hunger on these

cold mornings.

knitting in the warmth of

my home with the sunlight

peeking through the blinds

i can pretend it is july and

not 25 days until christmas.

yes, the noise i hear is thunder

and not jingle bells, right?

why, i even  have time to

lounge around and read a

magazine. xx