Butterfly Days

I love this time of year when every day gradually slips into a new season.

One of the things I love best is that each day

holds its own beauty and element of surprise,

as the weather is all over the place.

 Late Summer and Early Autumn are dancing with one another ...

Hot, humid days followed by thick muggy nights...

Then suddenly a cool fresh morning of blue skies and fluffy white clouds I could float away on...

Some days Summer wants to leave her cares behind and

let Autumn reign and other days she stands her ground...

Then a storm wraps itself around us.

I love it all.

Only God could create such glorious wonders.

I have come to think of these days as butterfly days.

Never in the whole of my life have I ever seen so many butterflies.

From early Summer my yard has been so filled with these lovely creatures

that they've flown into me, landed on me,

lighted next to me as I've sat knitting on the porch swing

and fed from my hummingbird feeders.

While I know it has to do with their migratory habits towards Mexico,

it seems so ethereal and even magical to me.

Like tiny particles of Heaven coming down and flitting all around me.

They bring me peace and make me pause and cause me to remember

to breathe and give thanks during these hectic days of my life.

Days filled to the brim with the blessing of family and overflowing

with the ever constant work of my hands... knitting and crocheting...

This photo depicts both family and my work.

My daughter Chelsea is modeling my Happy Vibes Crocheted Shawl.

We just happened to catch that exact perfect moment

when the sun was beginning to descend westward,

slipping towards its restful time of gloaming. 

All of the elements lined up perfectly...

The softly setting sun, 

the dogwood tree that's donning her Fall foliage,

the spider web shawl with colors that entwine the seasons together

and Chelsea....

My Autumn hued beauty.

Each day finds me switching over from needles to hooks repeatedly as

I knit awhile then finish up bits of crochet.

It takes nonstop work to prepare for an upcoming event.

First I'm making shawls, then I'm covered in stuffing and surrounded by various colors of pumpkins.

Turquoise is a new addition to my line of pumpkin colors this year. 

I've been told that it symbolizes allergy safe candy and

items for children with allergen issues.

It's also the color for Ovarian Cancer and September

is the month for this dreadful disease.

I stand in support of both.

Being a lover of all soft colors, 

I always make a variety of choices to accompany

the traditional orange pumpkins.

The Soft White and Green have always been my personal favorite.

I also really love the almost black one pictured here.

The unique thing about this one is that it's made from

undyed and unprocessed virgin wool.

That's the exact color of the sheep it came from.

There are tiny specks of white throughout.

I love the raw, natural look and feel of it.

Then, of course, because Fingerless Mitts are always my cup of happy,

some of these will make an appearance at our September Sale as well.

Some have knitted cables and bobbles with tiny embroidered rosebuds.

While others have pretty meandering lacework eyelets.

Every year as Summer begins to recognize her eminent defeat,

allowing Autumn's crisp and cooling breath to blow over us,

I feel my heart being tugged to provide warmth to cold hands.

I delight in introducing a new pattern or two of mitts every year.

For some reason, they give me great joy and deep satisfaction with each stitch.

Something about knitting mitts is uniquely different for me

than any other thing I ever make.

Maybe it's because our hands are such a vital part of who we are.

They carry our whole essence.

We love with them,

We feed with them,

We talk with them,

We heal with them,

We give with them,

We receive with them,

We show the world who we are with our hands.

We can't speak of love without the mention of babies.

These Pumpkin Hats are another make of mine

that hold a special place in my heart.

They combine both of my fiber art passions with a knitted "pumpkin" 

and crocheted pumpkin leaf and vine.

The one pictured here is Newborn {0-3 month} Size. 

However I'll have a full range of sizes available as shown below.

For those who are unable to purchase something you want

from the Sale due to my being

SOLD OUT before you arrive, or your inability to be there, NO WORRIES.

I will be taking custom orders after the Sale.

Also, as much as I knit, knit, KNIT...

I am still just one person with just two hands and a whole lot of happy,

active life going on in abundance around me.

Although I am a fast knitter, and a constant one, it's not an instant job.

So...

All that being said, 

I will have as much as possible with me at our September Sale

and then you can contact me afterwards if you want something specific.

I can always make it happen.

I got up one day last week and realized I had probably worked too late

into the night before when I took a good look at this photo...

At exactly midnight the previous night,

I attached the stem to this pumpkin

then set down my work and called it a night. 

The next day I posted this photo to my Instagram and Facebook pages.

Later in the day, when responding to a comment, 

I noticed I had attached the stem to the bottom of the pumpkin!

Of course I had to remove it and reattach it to the top.

Though my days are filled with butterflies,

my nights are full of pumpkins...

And apparently at the stroke of midnight

they do their own thing.

Or maybe Cinderella just needs a bit of sleep...

Especially if she wants to dance with the butterflies.

"Take time to be a butterfly."

Gillian Duce

Magic and Mayhem - The Winning Game

"When nature moves, butterflies take flight."

Anthony T. Hincks

Make A Wish ...

As the heat and hustle of Summer have blossomed into the full bloom of August,

I find myself amazed to be looking back at my sweet friend May,

who was just here only moments ago.

After our eight months of Winter, and my longing for the breezy, sunny,

open windowed days of Springtime, and a long languid Summertime ahead,

it seems that someone hit a fast forward button.

My Summer days have been happy and busy and full...

The house has been filled with family coming and going from one generation to the next and, as always, the beautiful laughter of children dancing off the walls. We've celebrated birthday's galore and rejoiced in the blessings of being together for another year of LIFE.

My sister, Bridget, who's a Cake Artist, made this gorgeous creation for my special day. It was gluten free and filled with organic raspberry preserves between the layers. I love naked cakes, especially if they're dressed in a giant rose somewhere along the way.

And the connecting thread that's always running through the background of my life is my work with fiber. Whether it be knitting, crochet, or both,  as seen on this baby hat, my hands are busy nonstop with needles, hooks and the most sumptuous yarns I can lay hold of. Along with the love of family and friends, it's what keeps me going. Some days it keeps me grounded and others it keeps me soaring. It keeps me dreaming, rising, gentling, pondering, enjoying and even wishing.

I dream of the babies who will one day wear these hats and bonnets that I put love into with each stitch. I breathe a prayer over each one with the finishing touches. A prayer for the baby, the child, the future human she or he will grow into.

Oftentimes I rub some lavender oil into my hands { very well } while I'm working, 

so there's a faint fragrance of this lovely herb infused along with my prayers and well wishes.

Though my knitting is pretty constant these days,

as I am definitely into my extremely busy season,

I still weave it in, out and around the joy of family.

As afternoon just began to slip towards evening yesterday,

I needed a bit of a break and Parker was in want of a walk

to burn off some excess energy.

So I suggested he and Grammy take a stroll around the block.

In the full glory of his four year old energy, he quickly donned his shoes,

grabbed his Jedi Knight Lightsaber and away we went. 

"Grammy, is it OK if I run ahead of you?"'

"Yes, as long as you stay on the sidewalk and STOP when I say."

"OK."

As we started off he showed the business end of his Lightsaber 

to some ants

while they went about their day on the sidewalk.

Apparently they were living on the dark side of life.

Then...

We happened upon something quite magical.

A Dandelion.

"Grammy! GRAMMY!"

"I need to make a wish!!!"

"OK!"

After he made his wish and told me it was for a specific toy,

we walked a little farther and found a few more of these awe inspiring "flowers".

This time...

"Here Grammy, YOU make a wish."

"What did YOU wish for Grammy?"

"I wished that YOU will be Happy  forever."

"Oh I'm gonna be Grammy!"

"Where there is great love,

there are always wishes."

Willa Cather

"Wish on everything.

Pink cars are good, especially old ones.

And stars of course, first stars and shooting stars. 

Planes will do if they are the first light in the sky and look like stars.

Wish in tunnels, holding your breath and lifting your feet off the ground.

Birthday candles."

Baby teeth.

Francesca Lia Block

This Moment

'Tis the season for pumpkins...

Beautiful, glorious pumpkins are everywhere. Pumpkins of every size, shape and color. These soft creamy white ones have always been my absolute favorite with the rather dusty looking green ones coming in a close second. The stores are filled with them, front porches and steps are dotted with a variety of them and where I live we are surrounded by fields of pumpkins still growing on the vine. I also live close enough to the Libby's canning factory to smell the pumpkins being processed drifting along the Autumn breezes.

This picture of me holding the pumpkin was taken by my daughter Chelsea yesterday at a local park. She and Parker stopped by and he ran through the house looking for me. "Grammy, Grammy!!!"

"We're GOING TO THE PARK!!!"

"Do you want to go with us?!!"

Well now... how do I say NO to that?

Monday's are busy for me as they are for most people. I do extra housework to prepare for my Knit Night Girls to be here for the evening and I spend a portion of the afternoon in my kitchen baking.  Like I've mentioned already as well, I have a steady flow of knitting work to accomplish from now until Christmas. This pair of Jane Austen Mitts was a custom order that shipped this morning.

The season for fingerless mitts is in full swing too.

While Parker was running around enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, his mommy was able to snap a few photos for me to use for my Shop. It was just a sudden thought on the way out the door for me to grab these mitts just in case we had a chance for a quick picture or two. I'm so glad it worked out.

More importantly, however, I realized that the real heart of the matter was that I was so happy to be there at the park with my daughter and grandson, watching him skip along from the curly slide to the swings, then to the bouncy dinosaur and car, while the wind ruffled his hair, all the while calling over his little shoulder, "Come on Grammy, Come ON!!!"

I could have so easily told them, "No... I have way too much to do today... I really should just stay home."  But then I would have missed out on that particular moment that will be forever engrained within my heart and soul. We weren't there long and by days end I still got everything accomplished  that I needed to.

There was time to work on another custom order ...

A Crocheted Shawl in the making.

Most of my orders are in some shade of Grey these days.

I have no problem with that,
as I can never seem to get enough of the color myself.

And I had plenty of time to mix some pumpkin and spices around in the kitchen and make the house smell warm and inviting for the arrival of my knitting group...

Pumpkin Spice Bread

2/3 Cup Unsalted Butter

{softened to room temperature}

2 2/3 Cups Sugar

4 Eggs

2 Cups Pumpkin

2/3 Cup Cold Water

3 1/3 Cups All Purpose Flour

2 1/2 Teaspoons Cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon Cloves

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla

1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place Parchment Paper in the bottom two Loaf Pans and
spray with Cooking Spray

In large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together until well blended.

Add eggs and beat.

Add pumpkin and water and beat well.

Sift dry ingredients together and add to pumpkin mixture.

Pour half of batter into ONE prepared Loaf Pan.

Add walnuts to remaining batter.

Pour remaining batter into second Loaf Pan.

Bake for 60 - 70 minutes, watching closely as ovens vary.

Cool bread on wire racks for 15 minutes.

Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

Enjoy with your favorite hot drink!

"The living moment is everything."

D.H. Lawrence

(1885 - 1930)

The Beautiful Land of Life

Over the weekend we celebrated two birthdays. Our son in law Eric, who is married to our youngest daughter Chelsea, turned another year older on Saturday, while our oldest daughter Hilary, will have her birthday this coming Saturday. We enjoy having one big party when we can. It's always so much fun to get everyone together. This time Chelsea held the party at her house.

I baked Hilary's favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting and Chelsea baked Eric's request, a chocolate cake with Oreo Cookie frosting. It was a big hit with the children who were present. See Hilary blowing those candles out with all her might? Well, what she soon discovered was that her mother put some of those fun trick candles on her cake so they just kept relighting themselves.

She just kept blowing and blowing and Eric kept laughing and laughing. I think it took her a few minutes to realize what kind of candles they were because I don't usually use those. It took her by surprise. I love how something so simple can be so much fun. We didn't think they would ever go out. Eric even called for a glass of water to douse them in but before it arrived they finally went out and stayed out. There was so much laughter ringing around the table that Archer came along to climb up on his Mommy's lap and see what all the hubbub was about.

He got there just as the candles finally gave up the ghost.

I think he enjoyed the massive smoke they left behind quite a bit though.

We also had Parker and Archer at our house recently. We love every opportunity to have both of them at the same time. They are incredibly cute together.

I love to sit them next to each other at the dining room table.

Two little men, side by side.

Before they left for home they had to water Grammy's plants on the front porch.

I mean seriously, how cute can they be?

I love any event or celebration that brings any or all of my family together under one roof. Although our family is relatively small in comparison to so many others, and we all live in the same area, it is surprisingly difficult to coordinate everyone's schedules. So when it does work out it seems like even more of a celebration. Just being together is pure heaven to me. It makes my heart soar. It's one more precious memory stored up for a rainy day. The collective sound of their laughter and their voices is like music. As the clock ticks the time away when we are together, I look around and observe each one of them in turn. I see their beautiful faces, shadows of past generations in fresh, new life, and my soul rejoices with the sheer knowledge that they are mine.

I love watching my children love and care for their own children. It gives me a deep down satisfaction unlike anything else. Sometimes I feel that surely there is too much here for one heart to hold. Then suddenly I am aware that all of these things add up to an extremely beautiful life.

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life."

Albert Einstein

Sunshine Through Lace

I'm just popping in for a quick 

Good Morning 

to all of you before I get on with my Friday.

I wasn't planning to do a blog post today but then I woke up to a morning full of

Beautiful

Abundant

Golden

Joyous

Sunshine.

finally.

Yesterday was cold, grey, wet, windy and even snowy.

Not the kind of snow that made a pretty blanket on the ground.

Just the kind that drizzled through the air all day and melted as soon as it landed.

But it went on all day long with not a single ray of sunshine in sight, not once.

It was however, a cozy day around here, for me.

I had my dear friend Amy for an afternoon of tea and knitting.

She comes at least once a week

{and twice if we can squeeze it in}

and spends whole lovely afternoons with me.

In the colder months we stay tucked in my warm kitchen with the kettle going,

a pot of tea always under a cozy,

my dogs napping contentedly in their bed together

and my little fireplace glowing.

Mack & Phoebe

Then as Winter finally gives up the ghost and Spring is reborn,

with my beloved Summer fresh on its heels,

we settle ourselves on my porch

{me on my swing, Amy on my vintage wicker settee}

and drink our tea and knit and crochet the afternoons away in the glorious fresh air.

On those days there's a smaller dog bed that is dragged out to the porch so the doggies 

can nap and "visit" with passersby.

I live on Main Street in a small town.

We have lots and lots of people strolling by all day long to have wonderful chats with.

When the weather is warm enough we're also joined by my song birds in their cages.

{Noah the Cockatiel and Spencer the White Dove}

 I carry them out and set them on the porch and they sing for the pure
JOY
 of it all afternoon...

and doze in the sunshine that trickles through the leaves on the big ancient maple tree shading the whole of my front lawn.

On this morning drenched in beautiful 

Sunshine 

there are so many things I am so thankful for...

Small, constant, homely, warm, every day, cozy things...

My simple yet "perfect for ME in every way" home

My Husband... Can't even say it all here.

My beautiful, wonderful children and grandchildren... God is so GOOD.

My entire whole family {you know who you are}

My dogs, birds, kitty cat and squirrels and bunnies I feed in the yard.

Mercedes

My knitting group who keeps me steady through life all through each season, rain or shine, in and out of my house every Monday night week after week, year after year.

A special friend who comes to my home to share a cup of tea and play with yarn and make the gloomy days seem cozy and the sunny days even shinier. 

The many friends, so close to my heart. I am blessed with an abundance of friends.

A very, very dear friend God brought to me right here through this blog

{you know who YOU are... we are spiritual sisters... talking, texting, praying, sharing all of life}

And finally...

I really, really am 

So thankful

for days of 

Sunshine through Lace

When I open my front door and see this sight

my heart knows Spring is just as anxious

to enjoy my front porch swing as I am.

Wishing you days filled with 

Happiness

Love

& 

Abundant Sunshine of the Heart

Danette

"Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And delight yourself in abundance."

Isaiah 55:2

Cousin Kathy's Creativity

The very first thing I have to say is this ~

I did NOT make this.

All the credit for this absolutely 

ADORABLE

crocheted

 MONKEY HAT

 goes to my cousin Kathy.

Is it not just about THE CUTEST THING EVER?!!

She brought it for Show & Tell last night to Knit Night.

That's my favorite part of having a creative gathering here.

I LOVE

Show & Tell

{Well... then there's all the tea & cookies & chit ~ chat & laughter too :) }

Guess I LOVE IT ALL!

And Sweet Little Kathy was like Mary Poppins last night.

She just kept pulling stuff out of her bag to delight us.

She knitted these festive SANTA HATS for her Hubby and her Grandson.

The Hubby gets to wear his to play Santa for the Little Guy who is only 8 months old.

And the Little Guy already wore his when he went to have his picture taken with Santa.

{Shhh......we won't tell him that other dude isn't the Real Santa. He'll like Grandpa much better!}

Love One Another

One of my best friends gave this to me for my birthday a couple of Summer's ago. It sits on the hardwood floor in front of my fireplace in the dining room where I can see it from my new knitting chair. Just 3 simple words ~ LOVE ONE ANOTHER ~ but they really do say it all, don't they?

We had a wonderful weekend here of celebrating Scott's birthday. There were 17 of us gathered in my snug little cottage on Sunday for a family cookout. Everyone of us was very happy to be together, to have each other and well... just simply to be allowed another opportunity to "love one another".
Though I should have taken many pictures all day long, I was too busy baking cake, cooking and playing hostess. But I did capture one sweet moment between Gabby and her PaPa.

Sorry for all the snacky stuff in front of Scott. That's part of my sister's birthday gift to him. She's getting him ready for watching The Bear's!

 

Today's post is short and simple. I just wanted to mainly say this ~

Remember that time goes by quickly,

We never know what is around the next corner,

And the most important thing ALWAYS is that we

LOVE ONE ANOTHER ~

Every moment, every chance we get, no matter what.

Period.

Knitting Through the Storm

I woke up this morning to a great, glorious storm. Loud peals of thunder  rumbling through the sky, rain pelting the house and lightening crackling in the heavens. I don't know about you, but I like a good storm. And we have need of some rain. Of course I don't live in the path of a hurricane so I don't have that fear. We do get some serious tornados in our area from time to time however. That being said though, this has not been one of those years, thankfully.

On a personal note though.....it's been a stormy year. August 25th marked one year ago that we were told my husband had a "large mass" on his pancreas. On September 12th it will be one year since they surgically removed that mass, 60% of his pancreas and his spleen. Then they followed up with radiation treatments. In the midst of all that my RA took a serious turn for the worse {uh... Go Figure} and both of our daughters got married and left home within 6 months of each other.

WHEW! It's been a rough year at sea!

One of the reasons I mention all of this today is because actually,

 we have cause to celebrate on this day. Today is my husbands 52nd birthday!

 A year ago, I must admit, I wasn't sure he'd be here for this one. 

Pancreatic Cancer is one of the Big Boys.

.

We are PRAISING GOD today, and every day, that he IS here and CANCER FREE.

One of the things that remains constant for me

 {except when the RA flares to the point I have to take a break ~

 but that is even doing better lately :) }

 is that no matter what life throws at me, I just keep knitting through the storm.  

And as I knit, I pray....and pray....and pray.

I give thanks that we have made it through this year and pray we won't have to go through another one like it. I also give thanks for the family and friends who have been through the thick of it with us.

And I want to extend a special THANK YOU to all of you who take the time to chat with me here in Blogland. It has been my HAPPY PLACE. And I have needed that so much more than any of you know. You have lifted my spirits and given me something positive to focus on. You have given me a purpose to my day, kept me inspired and made me smile. And trust me ~ that is no small thing.

May you all be RICHLY BLESSED. 

I hold you all in a special place in my heart and enjoy the glimpse into your world each day.

So really ~ seriously ~ Thank each and every one of you. :)

I will see you all sometime next week.

We're going to spend the weekend CELEBRATING!

A Touch of Lace, A Sprinkle of Cinnamon

As I said in my last post, we are having a quiet holiday weekend around my house. No firing up the grill on this hot Labor Day. The resident Grill Master is taking it easy {and I am breathing down his neck making sure he does exactly that!}. While he has relaxed in the recliner, I have sat back in my new chair with my feet propped up happily knitting away! I finished this sweet baby hat just before going to bed last night. I love the soft blush pink color of this wonderful yarn. It's Pima Silk by Cascade Yarns. The fiber content is 85% pima cotton and 15% silk, making it such a heavenly choice for delicate baby skin. I usually use it for my bunny ear hats as well.

If you're interested in this darling pattern I found it on Ravelry. Here's the link ~
http://www.gsheller.com/2009/08/the-story-of-a-hat-pattern-
It was a quick knit and I love the simplicity of just a little touch of lace. Very sweet. It's done in multiples of 9 and can be easily adjusted to any size you want to make. I have one in a gorgeous shade of green on the needles now in a smaller size.  The lacework is very simple and done in only 3 rounds.

 

I did manage to put the knitting needles down momentarily and heave myself out of the chair long enough to wander into the kitchen to bake up a tiny treat {well, it IS a holiday afterall...}.

Cinnamon Rolls

Don't be too impressed. Pretty darn simple. Just make your favorite pie crust recipe {I use real butter, not Crisco}, roll it out, spread melted butter all over, sprinkle liberally with cinnamon and sugar {and chopped pecans if desired}, roll up, cut and bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Or buy ready made pie crust. Pilsbury is delicious.

As for a holiday dinner, my daughter is here cooking for her Daddy. So we do have a bit of family filling the house this evening. That's the main reason I chose the cinnamon rolls. My granddaughter LOVES them :)

What goodies are you making for Labor Day?

Happily Ever After

Though I have been under the weather the last couple of weeks I did make it to a gala event last  night with my family. The daughter of my husband's life long best friend got married, so I HAD to be there! It was beautiful and fun and it was good to be out of the house enjoying an afternoon and evening of laughter and good times with family and old friends. Just thought I would show a few photos.|

Chelsea & Eric {my youngest daughter & new Son~In~Law}

Just remember I am still looking a bit pastey! Still not up to snuff just yet. I have my daughter Hilary's bridal shower this afternoon at the local library. She is a librarian there and her coworkers are having the party for her today. It will be a lot of fun. There's always something deliciously exciting feeling about being in the library when it is closed to the public! Anyway, after that it will be back to my flannel jammies! Hope you are all have a wonderful ~ and healthy! ~ weekend!

Hilary & Brandon {my oldest daughter & soon to be Son~In~Law}

Brandon, Hilary, Chelsea, Eric, Me & Scott

And we all lived Happily Ever After!

Knit Night

As always Knit Night was SO MUCH FUN! Thanks Girls!!! We laughed, ate scones, drank tea, talked over each other, crocheted, knitted, swapped patterns, had show & tell, shared in each others lives and passed Sir Henry around all evening long until we just had no choice but to call it a night. Ahhh.... you are all so very good for my heart and soul! :) Next monday can't come soon enough.

Here's a recap of all that took place {well... at least all that can be mentioned... some things have to "stay in Vegas" so to speak}.

Mary Ann showed off her darling crocheted greyhound. I mean really ~ HOW CUTE!
Carey is almost finished crocheting that gorgeous doily baby blankie!
Erin knitted away on lovely little squares for a baby block.
Kathy got closer to the final stitches of a sweater she's knitting for Baby Weston ~ her first grandbaby who is due in March. Her daughter Renee is the cute mommy~ to~ be pictured next to Kathy.
Carey {Sir Henry's grandma} took a break to swaddle the wee little lord.
Erin & Malory worked away like busy little bee's {both of them are new mommy's for the 3rd time & enjoy some time when their busy hands are free enough for yarn!}
Grandma Brenda {my mom ~ our honorary member who is here to rock all babies} snatched Sir Henry at the first chance!
Miss Malory {Sir Henry's mommy}finished a beautiful sock. {That was sock #1 ~ NO 2nd sock syndrome. You MUST finish the other one now.}

See you all next week!