Adam's Nanny

Different Lines Shawl

Sunday afternoon during the Super Bowl, I pulled out the little bit of stash that I had and cleaned out all the odds and ends that had accumulated at the bottom of my yarn basket.  Now I have a neatly organized basket of workable yarn.  I wound the two skeins of Forbidden Woolery yarn that I had purchased last year, opened up the Different Lines   pattern on my iPad and began my shawl.  (When I went to post the yarn on my Ravelry projects page, I was happily surprised by the name on each skein.  There it was, a perfect combination,  Ruby Red Slippers and Yellow Brick Road.)

The shawl is a simple garter stitch and short rows pattern so I expect it should be a pretty easy knit.  I'm looking foward to having something bright and new for the Spring.   This is how it should look when it is complete.

And now that I have joined Jenny Craig and I'm seeing results, I went ahead and purchased the Churchmouse Yarn and Tea Easy Fold Poncho pattern and the Rowan Felted Tweed, one of the recommended yarns.   I am anxiously waiting for the yarn to arrive from Webs. 

I couldn't face another visit to Weight Watchers.  Living in a town where everyone knows each other, I felt like the minute I walked in, the woman at the desk (who has been there for years), was going to say, "here she comes again."  So I opted for Jenny Craig, which is in another town.  I had to get a grip on my eating habits since I had been spiralling out of control. Between working full time and watching over my Mom, I was reaching for lots of cookies, candies and cake.  It was a milestone for me to be up until 2:00 a.m. with my Mom and not reach for that box of cookies.  It seems to have made her sprits soar a bit seeing that I am now taking care of myself too. 

And now, even with a dusting of snow on the ground this morning, I want to think that Spring is right around the corner.  I'm looking foward to seeing the tulips and daffodils come alive. 

 

Moss & Bluebell Pocket Scarf

It's a very rainy Friday in New Jersey but at least it is still unseasonably warm.  The fog this morning was incredible and as I drove past the old cemetary,which looked like a scene out of a movie.  I wish there had been an opportunity to stop and take a picture.

I'm still working on my Beekeeper's quilt.  I finished another hexie puff  last night.  Hope to get a lot more done over the weekend.

I also purchased the Moss & Bluebell Pocket Scarf Pattern  this morning... another pattern from Tiny Owl Knits.  Of course, I have nothing in my stash that will work so I'm going to order the The Fibre Company Acadia that was mentioned with the pattern.  I was so happy to find new designs that I loved.  Maybe because they are a little different and each one has a little story.

 I usually give away most of the things that I knit but I think my Little Owl Knits are going to be keepers.

 

 

Adam's Garter Stitch Scarf

I finally finished the scarf for my son.  Nothing complicated.   It was simple enough just garter stitch with stripes created by adding a very fine yarn to the white.  I'm not sure what weight the colored yarn is; it was almost like a thread.  But he's please and that's all that matters.

I'm still working on my Beekeeper's Quilt.  Here are the first three hexie puffs.  It is very addictive.  I was going to do a color theme but now I have decided to make it with all the small ball of yarn I have sitting in my basket.  I tried making one with the magic loop method but I found it easier working with 5 inch double pointed needles.

It's be a great project to work on during the summer too.  Something easy to just tote around in my bag.

I just finished reading The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater.  I was in Patricia's shop in Hoboken to buy some Koigu yarn on Saturday and couldn't resist buying her book.  It was a nice story, centering around all the places I know and the best part is that it comes with the five wonderful patterns referred to in the story.  I originally was going to make my hexie puffs out of Koigu but after reading the book and seeing the blanket pattern, I decided to use the yarn for the baby blanket.

 So I guess I have enough yarn and projects to keep me busy for awhile... or at least until Spring. 

 

 

 

A New Year of Knitting - The Beekeeper's Quilt

I put down my knitting needles before Christmas and couldn't gather together the enthusiasm for a new project.  That is until I found a new Blog, Tiny Owl Knits   I was drawn in by her pattern, The Beekeeper's Quilt.  I immediately purchased the pattern and have my first hexi puff completed.  I think the site is magical and there are also free patterns.  I just downloaded Amy March's slippers, which I plan to make for myself and if you visit her blog, there is a wonderful valentine ring pattern. And I already have plans to make her Moss and Bluebell scarf. 

But with all this excitement over new patterns.  I am finally finishing a scarf for my son.  It has been sitting in my knitting basket because I ran out of wool.  So when I was in New York two weeks ago I realized I was right by Lion Brand and so I picked up two more skeins and I  promised him I would finish it this weekend.  (Or at least before Spring arrives.)

The Lion Brand window was amazing.     Sorry for the reflections; wish it could have been clearer.  I couldn't believe everything was knitted.

Well, they are predicting snow tonight so I'm looking forward to a weekend of knitting and a pot roast dinner.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my house to yours.

Catching up

Well, here I am back to blogging after having suffered through a variety of ailments the past month or so.  I am now just recovering from the flu.  (That's what I get for saying I never get the flu and failing to get the flu shot.)  I am now going to think positive and get myself to the gym and try to keep a healthy diet.

I haven't forsaken my knitting through all this and have tried my hand at crafting once again.  I saw this tree on Martha Stewart's website and since I work for a newspaper, I thought it would be the best thing in the world to put have on my desk during the holidays.

I also finished my GAP-tastic  cowl.   This is it wrapped twice around.  It is very long and very easy to knit. 

And here is one of the hand made Christmas cards I made as part of the Just Because Greeting Card Group on Ravelry.  I'm not that great at card making but I'm starting to get the hang of it. 

I've also discovered lots of new blogs that I love and will post there names once I get a bit more organzied.  They are responsible for getting me back to crafting.

And for those of you have read about my Mom in my blog.  Here she is finally consenting to have a photo taken of her right after we celebrated her 92nd birthday in November.  I wish the two picture behind her had come out clearer.  They are counted cross stitch petit point flowers she made years ago. 

And now with just two weeks to go before Christmas, I will be busy decorating the house, baking and of course putting up the tree.  I can't wait!

 

 

 

One Sunday in October

Did you ever have one of those Sundays when all the planets seemed to be aligned just perfectly and you had an outstanding day.  That's what this past Sunday was like.  I was enjoying my first cup of coffee and some cinnamn raisin toast when a friend called to ask if I wanted to go walking in the park (because it was just too nice to sit inside).  So we quickly met up and started out for the local park.  The leaves were just starting to turn and the park was just beautiful. 

There are so many beautiful birds in the park that it must have inspired someone to design this area for birdfeeders. 

where we found that someone hung this windchime it in one of the nearby trees.

At the end of our walk, we noticed  the trees that were similar to the ones we climbed as kids.  I wasn't a great tree climber and always favored one or two that had low branches and easy to climb.  Pretty much like this one.

So after walking about 3 miles, we headed back towards home, past all  neighborhood houses  that were decorated for Halloween.

When I got home, and ready to collapse, my son asked if I would like to go into the City  to the New Amsterdam Market.  So that's what we did.   We got lucky with a parking space but had to walk a bit to get to the market

On the way, at the intersection of Duane and Reade, we came upon the African Burial Ground National Monument.  It is so moving and so peaceful.

My photos do not do justice to this beautiful memorial.  So I encourange you  to go to the link to read more.  These photos are from the site.

I have to admit I got hungrier and hungrier as we got closer to the market.  But I did stop to photograph the new Frank Gehry building and my favorite, the Woolworth building.   It was beautiful in the sunlight.

The first thing we stopped for was coffee from the Blue Bottle Coffee stall.  Their coffee is perfect and made just the way I do it at home with a ceramic dripper. (I don't know why I ever invested in that Keurig machine.)

And although we could have made healthier choices,

we opted for the 18NY stall and ordered a Bloody Mary BLT. 

This is the pork on the grill which is then put under a fire.

 


And this is the finished sandwich.  Words can't describe how delicious it was.

And we couldn't leave without some dessert.  So we stopped at the Bent Spoon's stall for some Bourbon Caramel ice cream. 

On the way to the car we passed Zuccotti Park the unofficial headquarters  for Occupy Wall Street.  It was very peaceful demonstration with  lots of tourists talking to demonstrators, who were more than happy to explain their agenda while surrounded by an overwhelming police presence.   

These are just some of the photos I took Sunday afternoon. 

Everyone may not agree with this demonstration and the protestors, but I give them a lot of credit for getting out there and standing up for what they believe and trying to make major changes in the world.   Maybe it takes youth to bring about change.  I know I have become complacent...happy and grateful to have a job to go to and coming home each night to knit for one charity or another.  Visiting Zuccotti Park caused me to stop and reflect about what I could have done to make this world a better place, which led me to think, given the opportunity, would I have had the courage to do it. 

I'll end here with the last of my photos ... the World Trade Center coming to life again.

 

 

 

 

 

Socks and Scarves

 
 
The last of my hats were mailed off yesterday and I have one scarf completed and another on the needles for the October challenge for Outreach to Appalachia group.   My stash is just about depleted and with the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck just a week away, I won't have to feel any guilt about buying yarn.  Not going to make Stitches East year, but

Last night I joined Weight Watchers with the hope, once again, of taking off some weight.  It seems that all my hard work in the Spring came right back over the summer.    I just have to keep in my head that by losing weight, I'll be saving a lot on the yarn required to knit a sweater.

I pulled out my pattern for the Light House socks that I purchased from Peace Fleece. 

 
Hopefully, I will get them started soon.  They remind me of all the happy summers  in Maine and I am sure they will be worth all the effort at the end of the day.  I am not quite sure now if I should have just ordered the kit instead of the pattern alone but  I'll give it a try and see what happens.  I've never knitted socks with a pattern so this should be interesting.

 

 

 

 

Lunchtime in the Park

 
 
It is just too nice to be sitting in the office all day.  So lunchtime I drove to Liberty State Park with my knitting. 

It was definitely a day to stop and smell the roses...but in this case, the sunflowers.

 
 

The only problem was that there were so many bees buzzing around the sunflowers that they finally won out and drove me away.
 

 
Then I discovered this beautiful weeping willow.
 

 

 
 And Morning Glories growing around the fence and on the rocks

 

So I settled on a bench near the water's edge and watched the fisherman on the pier, the passing boats and ships on the water and happily knitted another of my hats.  It's perfect knitting weather and a perfect way to spend a lunch hour.  And best of all...no calories involved.

 
 
 

 

Hats, Hats, Hats

 
 
 

I spent a lot of the weekend knitting more hats and watching English mysteries (Midsomer Murders).  One of my favorite ways to spend Sunday afternoon.

 
 
 
 
I mailed the hats off today and I'll just keep on going to see how many more I can finish by the 30th.  I think I knitted so many hats over the weekend because I was a bit stressed watching the 9/11 memorials and all the talk of a terror threat. 

After work on Friday, I went to see the memorial, Empty Sky, at Liberty State Park.  The name comes from the Bruce Springsteen song, Empty Sky, on his album, The Rising.   Since they were just finishing the arrangements for Saturday's dedication, I was lucky that I could spend some quiet time looking at the memorial. 

 

On a lighter note, I came across this photo that I had posted years ago when my Mom first started knitting scarves for charity. (She's 92 now and still knitting away.)  I remember taking the photo at Liberty State Park on a Fall afternoon with the park rangers watching.  I am sure they were thinking I was little bit crazy hanging scarves over the fence to photograph.  But I'm so happy now that I did.

This year the scarves are off to Appalachia.