Mail Call Friday

 Well, the yarn buying just for Advent next year has come to an end.

I've bought some yarn for a Test Knit that I am doing and I will share it with you tomorrow, along with the project that has been so much fun for the last couple of days.

For now, here is the latest yarn purchase/mail call ( I also bought a skein for the Advent, but not showing here in case some of the participants read this).

There are some coffee socks that I want to knit for myself, and this one came across my feed on Instagram, and it is the perfect color way for coffee socks, don't cha think?

The yarn is from Arcane and so appropriately named My Happy Place.  The sock pattern is Coffee Break by Stoneknits and you can see what it looks like by clicking here

I'm not sure what brown I will use for the actual cup, but that will come, I may even have some in PYS to use.  That will come later, as I told myself, I cannot cast on a new sock til this WIP is complete.

Have a good Friday, hope it involves sunshine, ours has went MIA.

We Had Spring For A Moment

 Today is officially the first day of Spring and the sunshine did not dissappoint.  

That is just the way it is in Illinois!  Last week, we had some beautiful days where I actually got to sit out on the porch and knit for a bit.

And the buds in my yard and on the magnolia trees started to come out and are gorgeous, however, today after a couple of days of a drop in temps, the tree buds weee looking a little sorrier, but hopefully will not be done.

It's just about a month too early for them, same thing happened last year too!

On the knitting side of things, I am finally on the last sleeve of my Friday Tee and hoping to finish it up in the next couple of days and get it blocked. (I've got another new project I am itching to tell you all about and cast on for, but I have to finish the Friday one too)

I'm trying super hard to turn over a new leaf and work every morning on my hap with my coffee.  So far this week, I've made it one day.  LOL.

Happy First Day of Spring, Knitters!  Lets cheer it on!

Happy St Patrick’s Day

 

Mail Call Books!

 The last week or so has brought some special books in the mail!

Arctic Knits by The Petite  was first.

Along with some un expected goodies!

I can’t wait to delve into it and all the colorwork possibilities. Where to start? Sweater, hat, mittens?

And I learned so much about living in the Arctic.

Next up in the mail was today, Shetland Fine Lace Knitting.  

This is one I’m going to enjoy reading and taking my time with, but also, reminds me of my epic lace project that got stalled a couple of years back when our friend and fellow knit camper Heidi passed away. 

It may be time to bring the project back out and revive the art of lace knitting.

I do love a good mail call, don’t you?!

 

 

I'm Still Here

 It's been a bit since I got back from Florida, and I've spent some time babysitting my grandson, knitting, planning a retreat for Summer and trying to figure out why my r on my keyboard keeps wanting to give me double rrrrs?

In other words, there has been a whole lot of not very much worthwhile to blog about.  

Oh, I almost forgot, I did record a podcast last week with a bit of a recap of my trip to Florida along with what I have been knitting on, you can find it by clicking here

So Long Destin

 We had such a glorious time and so many memories were made.

See you next year!!

Quite Literally

 I have totally lost my voice while vacationing in Florida!  Who does that?  I think it must be a February/March thing for me, because the exact same thing seems to be happening the third year in a row.

On the vacation/knitting side, I am so glad I packed my Half + Half Triangle Wrap when I travel.  It has come in handy once again.

And if you have been following my blog, you can tell how the colors in my Triangle Wrap match the color of the Gulf of Mexico a couple days ago.

Hope you are having a nice Sunday, enjoying your knitting and a wrap.

Pool, Beach and Knitting

 This little guy was content to throw things in the pool and wait for Daddy to scoop them up, rather than actually get into the heated pool.

Then, despite wanting to go to the beach, he was not a happy camper when we got there, didn't want to get his feet in the sand, but after a walk down the beach with Mommy and Daddy, he warmed up to it a bit.

Unfortunately, the clouds kept covering up the sun, the wind was fierce and the waves were mighty today.  Along with the color of the Gulf definitely the shades of Emerald Green, rather than the teals we have been seeing.  

Not much knitting at the beach with a 2 year old, but I did get my obligatory knitting picture while they were on their walk to see if there were helicopters in the sky.

Pool Knitting, Beach and Ice Crream

 That is what yesterday was all about.

Pool knitting in the sun was the warmest part of the day in the morning.

We went to the beach, but the youngest grandchild wasn't thrilled by it.  It was very windy and even chilly despite the sun being out.  And the water, oh, the water!

And then ice cream for dinner, no really, ice cream for dinner.  Specifically, rolled ice cream!  I've never had such a thing.

This crew is leaving today, it is gonna be a bit quiet now.  :(

Chilly Doesn't Stop

 This Knitter

from knitting on the beach.

It's A Rainy Day

 So we went to a second hand bookstore  

And on the way to get ice cream, we spied this place that I heard about on You Tube.

We are saving ice cream for another day.

Pure Vacation Food and Fun on a rainy day!

I Hear There Is White Stuff

 back in Illinois.  I'm in Florida and we have white stuff too, just not the snow variety.

I'm spending a couple of weeks, with my kids and grandkids in Destin.  It is 60's, but we do have a heated pool, so at least we can swim in some warm water, or at least the grands are having a grand time, even at night.

Today, we went to the beach, the kids enjoyed the white sand and a bit of the surf, me?, I enjoyed watching the dolphins way out in the Gulf and the water.

And the seagulls.

Happy Valentines Day

 

I made it to my destination and off to pick up a few of my grandkids and daughter-in-law from the airport!

Road Trippin

PJKnits is off on an adventure - stay tuned.

 

Finally Finished Friday

 Comfy from the 52 Weeks of Easy Knits is finally finished.

It took me a bit to knit, mainly because the yarn was Malabrigos Rios in Frank Ochre and Holly Hock that I purchased from my local yarn shop, and that is pretty much the only place that I worked on it.

Also, because it was a two row repeat and a lot of rib, I mean the whole sweater is this rib pattern.

But, I love knitting it, every bit.  I was wondering of the fit as I neared the end, but after blocking , it was perfect! 

Even the sleeves, who are just a bit long and wide, but so was the model's, so I didn't rip back any.

It is the last of the 2023-2024 Winter sweaters til later in the year.  For now, I am moving onto Transitional and Spring Sweaters, but I am sure I will get some where out of this one yet this year.

The Final Mail Call For The Week

 Because I don't think I have ordered anything more

Because I'm headed out on vacay next week

Because I have put a stop on the mail til I get back

I've been coveting this bag from Buttonjar Studios for months, well, because sheep like, right?!  It is not going on vacay with me, but will stay at home and wait for a new project for Spring.

And I'm patting myself on the back, I haven't bought any yarn in 2024! That may change in the next couple of weeks, as it is on my plan to go to three yarn shops, but also on my plan is to only buy souvenir yarn for the 2024 Advent Swap that I do.

Stay tuned to see how well that goes!

Good Mail Days

 The mail the last couple of days has been fabulous, but of course, I knew it would be because I have the  USPS app that lets me track mail and packages!!  

Yesterday, my color cards for Jamieson and Smith came from Lost City Knits.

Isn't it funny how excited one can get over color cards?  These actually pieces of yarn you can touch and fondle.  They have been out of stock for awhile, so when I caught the post from Denise on Instagram I had to order!  And her shipping is lickety split for sure!

Then today, Canada Post came through and the On the Go set from Thread and Maple was in the mailbox!

They had me at Teal, but the 15% off really had me, pretty much paying for the shipping.  They will be sure going with me next week to Gilligan's Island!

But, we are not done yet, almost though.  Tomorrow, a bag that I have been wanting for several months will be in my mailbox.  Can't wait to show it to you, you are gonna think it is cute too!