Pleased As Punch

Here is a pic of my KnitMas knit in action.  It goes so well with a top that I have in the closet AND it doubles as a neck warmer while having to in the elements.  And we've got elements this week.

Keep warm and be safe driving and walking.

It's Snowing Again!

Are you tired of the weather reports from Central Illinois yet?  Eh, it is what it is.  Cold and Snowy.  But, the fun part is waking up to bunny hops on our front porch.  The little bunny that is around our house likes to sit on our front porch and get out of the weather, so it is always fun to see the prints in the snow.

With it snowing again today like it is Christmas, it is so appropriate that my KnitMas box came today from Anita in Kentucky.  It was just like Christmas opening each and every one of the gifts.  She was spot on with everything, and it totally made my day!

The package contained a warning to not open the card before the packages, which I took to heart to do.

A Snoopy stocking -

contained these goodies, Madtosh Stargazing, a notions pouch, hand cream, a dip mix and espresso beans that are gone now, I dug into them like I'd never had one before.

And Snoopy wrapping paper!!!

In the Snoopy packages, was my shawl, some dessert coffee that I know I will love and microwave bowl holders to keep me from burning my knitting fingers and can you see in Snoopy fabric?!!

The shawl is Bad Nut by Josh Ryks and is out of the softest of yarns.  I am totally wearing it on Monday to work!

And everything together!

I love doing Knitmas and am totally doing it again next year with the lupineabout group on Ravelry.

Hope you are all having a great weekend, no matter the weather to come!!

Lets Try This Again

So, a week ago or more, I came home on a Thursday, packing and planning on heading to Iowa for the weekend.  Then, Friday came, and it became obvious that we should stay home.  I, once again, had picked up a virus, this time in my head and chest.  The virus is still with me, but at least for now, it seems like it is doing better and is just a nuisance headache, stuffy nose, cough.  I missed a week of work, which has to be major for me and most of all, I really didn't want to knit at all.

But, enough of that.  Lets talk snow.  This was last weekend.  Another good reason we are now glad we stayed home from Iowa.

Fast forward this weekend.  We were supposed to get 4-6 inches, but at last weather report, it looks like an inch or two and nothing more, but wind later today.  We are ready to just kick back this weekend and stay in.

I'm feeling like knitting, so I am working on Ground Pepper.  Unfortunately, it is all stockinette for now, in finger weight, so it is a bit boring, and my mind keeps wandering off to what I could be casting on.

But, I am reminded that I still have my 12 Days of Knitting Cowl to finish, and I really should be knitting and finishing it up this weekend.  Perhaps that will calm my inner knitter and keep her from casting on something new.

Have a great weekend, stay warm, and enjoy some knitting!

Again

In a month's time, I have had bronchitis, laryngitis and now another virus affecting my head and chest.  Seriously, work is so full of germs, I think I may need to retire or take a knitting vacation.

Haha!

I'll be back to blogging when this all clears, until then, stay warm, bundle up from the snow, wash your hands often and knit as much as you possibly can.

Catch you on the purl side!

Episode 20 Knitting New Year 2019

The latest pjknits you tube podcast is up.  You can watch it by clicking here

Hope you will join me.  Show notes to follow soon.

What? Is This Winter?

Can you believe these past few days?  60 degrees today?  Yesterday's 50's gave me a chance to go out and take a pic of what has been consuming my knitting since the 26th.

I've been knitting on a mystery lace sampler cowl with Irocknits.  The last clue came out Sunday, and I am about 4 days behind.  Mostly, because during the first 3/4 of the KAL, I was off of work, and could devote most of my afternoons and evenings to each clue.  When I went back to work, it was much harder to knit as much as I wanted to on it.

And then reality set in, and I felt like I should be knitting on my Knitmas present that is due to be shipped by the first of February.  I am anxious to get it done, so I can get back the cowl and be ready for knitting on some sweaters for 2019.  

There is so much knitting that I want to be doing for me right now, that I really need to finish these two up post haste and enjoy some sweater knitting.

Catch you on the purl side!

Life and Knitting

My motto for 2019 is feeling good, looking great and knitting sweaters that are fashionable that fit me and my lifestyle.

In the next year, in the Ravelry Group - pjknits, here on the blog and on You Tube, I'll be talking and posting about this journey.  Weight loss, exercise and choosing the right styles and feeling fabulous in my 60's and trying to not act and look like I am in my 60's.  There is so much out there to explore, I hope you will come along with me on this journey.

This is my link to where this all started in 2014 and in 2019, I believe it is still relevant for me.
https://www.pinterest.com/pennyh/knit/


And these are just some of my plans for 2019:

Knit from stash and patterns I have, whenever possible - I've got a lot of both and they are super cool

Knit sweaters for me, that fit and are fashionable.   I love taking a RTW look and knocking it off, because well lets just say, I can't always put the look together by myself, so that is part of my 2019 plan!

Fish or cut bait on WIPS.  Now, the question is, what I am going to do with all the project bags I empty??

And It's 2019

So, lets look back for just a bit.  

Personally - 

I went to Florida  and spent time in the sun, with friends, food, drink, shopping and laughter, lots of laughter.

Baby Boy B got engaged to a lovely young woman and they will be married this August.  We love her and are so glad that they found each other.

We have a new granddaughter who was born in December.  What a blessing she is.

I got a new boss at work.  It is interesting and there have been changes, but hopefully for the good.

On the Knitting front - 

I started a You Tube channel.  And although, it has been slow going for the subscribers and the views, I am hopeful that 2019 will bring more numbers.  I am not sure exactly what I am hoping for, but lets see where it takes us.

I got to attend Sun Valley Fiber's January Thaw, Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp, Zombie Knitpocalypse, and Stitches Midwest, all with knitting friends that are the best around.

My knitting journal tells me that I completed:

8 Sweaters

2 Stockings

5 Prayer Shawls and Blankets

2 Shawls

1 Cowl

2 Scarves

My version of the knitting planner

has my knitting want to projects ready for the new year.  What can I say, I am a bit of a planner, not that this list is a hard fast list, it gives me some goals to set for knitting, otherwise, I'd be squirrel --

This past 10 days off have been so very nice, I've knit a lot and started the 12 Days of Knitting MKAL, put on by irocknits and yarn by Leading Men Fiberarts.  It has been 6 days of intense knitting the clues every day, I just hope I can do a bit every day, when I have to go back to W-O-R-K.

I have all kinds of knitting plans and adventures for 2019, and am looking forward to the new year, making some modifications in my life just like in knitting, but I'll save those for future blog posts.  Thank you for staying with me and reading this amateur blog.  The Happiest of New Year for you all and may you all be healthy and happy in 2019!!