MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is the aware,
balanced acceptance of
the present experience.
It isn't more complicated
than that.
Practice mindfulness.

2016!

My word for the year...
mindfulness....
and I am more than
determined to make
sure I am aware and
paying attention to all
the moments that come
my way.

The first weekend of the
new year I have hiked,
and been awed at my world.
I seem to have developed a
love all of things fungi and
can't help but notice them
when I am out.

There has been knitting, always
knitting...a sock, a wrap. Making
lists of future projects. Maybe just
knitting from my stash? Well, after
I use my Christmas gift cards, but
we'll see, although truth be told
I have more than enough yarn to
last me awhile.

Cooking collards and blackeyed peas
to eat on the first day of the new year.
Do you eat a special dish to bring in
a new year?

Babysitting granddogs for the weekend
and getting to visit with son and
grandson for a few hours.

Talking with my Emerson and hearing
all about her Christmas break. She is
getting so big and is now a skateboarder.

I am looking forward to seeing what this
year brings for all of us...Happy New Year
my dear friends!

Joining Karen

WEEKENDING IN DECEMBER

Awakened souls strengthen and encourage
Each other by their friendships and interchange
of thoughts. They create a network of light
over the planet And spin threads of mutual
upliftment and inspiration.

~ Vida Reed Stone

Oh this December is turning out
to be quite strange, it feels more
like April than December!

I have spent time hiking around the
property and sitting in the sun knitting.

I took a trip to Charleston, SC to do
a little Christmas shopping and was
pleasantly surprised to hear my name
being called in Barnes and Nobles; a
long time friend I was in high school
with recognized my voice and stopped
to chit chat for a few moments. I do
love happy moments shared with friends!

I picked up a few skeins of huge yarn
and a pair of size 50 needles to knit a
few chunky cowls. What a workout these
needles give you, hand me size 2 anytime.
While I finished the cowl in no time, it was
not the relaxing knitting I love at all.

My oldest son and his family surprised me
with a visit so I had some baby loving time,
made my heart happy.

I received a photo of Emerson in her Olie knit
hat. They were visiting an animal manger festival
that include not only goats, but reindeer! .

Tammy on  Instagram {I'm traceyclover}
posted that she had a coloring book on order,
a knitting coloring book, and I was so
intrigued that I was off to Amazon to take
a look, my copy will be here in a few days.
I wanted to let you know incase like me
you had no idea this existed.

Weekending with Karen

WEEKENDING IN OCTOBER

Live neither in the past nor
in the future, but let each
days work absorb your
entire energies, and satisfy
your wildest ambition.

~ William Osler

Time seems to have gotten away

from me and my poor blog has

been gathering a little dust. I love

my little space here and really 

need to do better at taking care 

of it. 

I have been spending my time 

outdoors as much as possible,

exploring, walking, dreaming and

over all just enjoying the cooler

temperatures, Karen, I can't help 

but think of you when my I look

in the mirror and I'm having a 

good hair day...hooray for the

lower humidity.

Knitting is always apart of my days,

I finished a lace cowl and have a few

other [secret] projects that are seeing

some love.

I've been canning...pickled sausages

to be exact. As most of you know I

am the only vegetarian in my home

so this was a project I struggled with,

but my guys are thrilled.

The best part of the weekend? Getting

to spend some time with my grandson,

Porter, such a sweet and happy little

baby. I am enjoying reading him the

same books I read to his daddy, and

just sitting and holding him. Time

goes by very fast!

Weekending with Karen

PEACE

Peace.
It does not mean to be in
a place where there is no
noise, trouble or hard work.
It means to be in the mist
of those things and still be
calm in your heart.

~ Unknown

Thank you are all the emails and
calls checking to make sure we
are okay , yes, thank goodness,
although there are others in my
state who are still dealing with
all the flooding South Carolina
has endured, and it looks like more
rain is headed our way this weekend,
sigh. I have decided to take the Scarlett
O'Hara approach and not worry about
the rain today, I'll think about that tomorrow.
Today I am at peace and just enjoying
this life.

I have taken advantage of the sunshine
and much cooler temperatures to spend
as much time outdoors as I can. To be
honest if it wasn't for the mosquito's I
would sleep outdoors, but oh my, they
are huge and fierce!

I have enjoyed watching the birds, the
insects, butterflies and moths as they
gather nourishment for the colder months
that are not far off.

I have been knitting, but you knew that right?
Hats, lots of hats, so easy,but so appreciated.
Did you see the newest pattern release from
Quince & Co.?  These wicked cute boots will
be on my needles just as soon as I get my kit,
they are so stinking cute I can't stand it!

Do you have fun plans this weekend? My Mike
and Alex have to work and with the rain I
plan on staying in, my studio could use a declutter
and I have some much needed home loving that
needs to be attended to.  Enjoy your weekend.

Much love,
Tracey
XO

DOING MY THING

Do your thing,
Do it unapologetically.
Don't be discouraged
by criticism. You probably
know what they are going
to say. Pay no mind to
the fear of failure.  It's far
more valuable that success.
Take ownership, take chances,
and have fun. And no matter
what, don't ever stop doing
your thing.

~ Asher Roth

Have you enjoyed your weekend?

Mine has been very quiet. I finally

blocked my blanket and then took

it for a quick photo shoot before

the rain fell again and the mosquito's

carried me away.

I am so pleased with how this project

turned out and now it is stored away

in the cedar chest until it is wrapped

up to be given away at Christmas.

I started my new knit project Follow Me,

but I made a mistake on one stitch when

I added the contrasting cream stripe. I knit

on it for a few hours more before I knew

I needed to start over, it was really driving

me nuts, it's all I could focus on when I 

looked at the shawl,  so I ripped back to

the beginning, and now am much happier,

no mistake. I should have just ripped back

as soon as I saw the error, but sometimes

I must learn the hard way. Sigh.

I've watched old movies, The Quiet Man

and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, finished one

Audible book, A Man Called Ove [which

I loved] and began another, . I've gotten

my steps in and just enjoyed peace-filled

days.

Weekending with Karen