If you have been coming to my blog for a while, you know that I am a big fan of Classic Elite yarn. It has been a true constant in my knitting life. To me, their yarn is always reliable. Always yummy.
Arietta is Classic Elite's latest fall yarn and is knit on US size 5-6 needles with a gauge of 5-51/2 stitches to the inch.
The book includes a couple of sweater patterns, hats, scarves, and my personal favorite above, Avera.   I honestly LOVE that thing.  Avera is a scarf, and a wrap, and a sweater all in one.  Super cool!

If interested, please leave a comment here before Sunday, October 2, 5pm EST.  I'll have the random generator choose a name.  And as always, thanks for visiting!  xx

Hiya Friends!

Can you believe this little blog is 10 years old today!  I know!  It's so hard to believe that today, marks a friend to knit with's 10 year anniversary!  I remember this day ten years ago so clearly.  Our computer (our "office") was in the basement.  Andrew, my youngest,  had just started kindergarten and I felt as though I now had some to dive into a blog.  Right after I put the kids on the bus, I headed down to the basement, coffee in hand,  and started this blog.  I was super nervous to hit publish.  (I actually still get a little nervous!)   I didn't have a laptop. I didn't have a DSLR.  Just a little point and shoot camera and a big 'ol desktop in the basement. And, it became the beginning of my little space on the internet.

I can't even express what this blog has meant to me.  And I can't even express how much I appreciate each and every visitor and comment I have received.  Finding like minded people with the same interests and passions is a true gift. Blogging in the knitting community has been a complete honor.
These past few months, I have become very emotional about the passing of time.  I have been so grateful that I have my blog to go back in time.  If you are ever on the fence about blogging, I say DO IT!

To celebrate ten years, I'd like to offer $10.00 off your purchase of Chalk Lots Placemats.  Use coupon code AFTKWis10 at checkout.  And please, feel free to pass along to your friends.  Chalk Lots make great holiday gifts for those who like to plan ahead! :)

I'll be back tomorrow with one of my best giveaways.  Yarn, of course.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

xx, leslie

 I love fall.  So so much!  My heart gets a little happier with the cooler mornings.  Makes me want to knit and bake.   All. Day. Long.
I made these cookies a couple of weeks ago to ship to Charlie and Libby.  They were a huge hit. Not too sweet and hold up well in the mail.  I think it's the tablespoon of vanilla that makes these extra delicious.  I definitely think they will be a new favorite.
Feeling the halloween, fall vibe, I decided to add orange sugar crystals this time around.  I almost always roll the dough into a log when I can.  I roll the dough in the crystals and then pop them into the freezer for about an hour before cutting and baking.
I thought this was so funny.  Libby face timed me when I was photographing the cookies.  So she joined me in the photo shoot. :)

Happy Monday, Friends!

And that yummy cake up there?  Its absolutely the easiest, quickest little cake.  I usually make it with strawberries, but we have had an abundance of pears from our CSA, so pears it was.  My mom is a huge fan, and we are trying to pack a few extra pounds on her, so this was made twice this week.  It's really delicious with coffee!

Happy Friday, Friends.
Have a wonderful weekend!

My sweet mom is in town for a couple of weeks and when that happens, all we want to do is sit and knit!  I have been in the mood to make mitts (my mitt stash is low!). I also just cast on for my latest Wool and the Gang project.
I just loved this Pop Life Cardigan.  Although, I wish it would have been finished for those cool summer evenings, it will be perfect for early autumn.
Wool and the Gang makes it so easy with every thing needed in one bag.  I just love that.
 This Billie Jean yarn is really great.  Upcycled denim + Cotton.  A truly, lovely blend.

Happy weekend!

 We took a quick trip to Northern California last weekend to celebrate Steve's mom's 90th birthday.  We had a 5 hour drive on both ends through the magical Humboldt Redwoods, so I was able to get the body of the sweater finished.  Knit in the round, so round and round I went.  I just love the cute, little pocket.
I have had a bit of an issue with the dye lots.  However,  some more yarn is on its way, so it should be alright. I just hope I can wait until it arrives.  Once I'm on a roll, I just want to keep going.  I may just knit the sleeves using both lots, alternating rows.  Hmmmm.  Decisions!

Hope you have a wonderful, long weekend.

So... Summer is over?! Say it isn't so. I just can't believe it. I just can't believe that the new school year is here, already.

Yesterday, after I took Andrew to school, I came home and stood in the kitchen.  Feeling an overwhelming amount of sadness.  Although, extremely grateful, I just can't believe that I am left with only one child at home.  I decided to blast some music like I have in the past.  I chose the Brett Dennen station on Pandora and the first song was "Nothing Lasts Forever".  Really?!  I know this!  But, Please!  You don't have to rub it in!

So, I turned off the music and read my old "back to school" blog posts.
Cried a bunch of tears. (Pure torture.)
Made my annual back to school brownies.
Wandered around the house.
Tried for 45 minutes to get contacts into my eyes.  (New to me.)
Wandered around the house.
Sat on our new sofa.
Tried for 20 minutes to get the contacts out of my eyes.
Wandered around the house.
Finally, I knit a few rows.
And, all of a sudden, all felt good in the world.

Remember this sweater?  I started it back in April.  Then ripped it out back in June.  (Remember our friends who like yarn, too?)  And, finally finished it at the beginning of August.
I love the high/low aspect of this sweater. Anything that covers my behind is always a welcome piece of clothing!

Pattern:  Elen
Yarn:  Sanibel, color #1320, horizon
Needles:  US 7
Size: medium

So, I spent the last week getting two of my three settled into college.  Yes, college!  I still have to say it a few times.  I just can't believe it.

Charlie will be a Junior returning to The Ohio State University.  And, Libby is starting her first year at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

It was a tough week, but seeing them happy makes it so much easier.

Now, I get to put all my focus on Andrew.  :)

 Thank you so much for all of your comments and emails regarding out sweet Trouble.  Your kind words, thoughts and prayers are so appreciated.  There really is so much love and goodness in the world.  I am forever grateful.
(Can you believe this heart tomato!)

Also, I had quite a response to the pin stitch markers.  (Over 300 requests!)  My goal is to make sure everyone who has emailed me, gets a set.  It might take some time, but eventually, they will land in your mailbox.  ;)

Happy weekend, friends!

I can't believe how hard this post is to write.  I have wanted to come to this space, but just couldn't bring myself.

A week ago today, on August 1, our sweet Trouble died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Four days earlier I had her at the vet because of a weird cough.  The vet thought perhaps she was developing asthma or that maybe she had a tumor resting on her lung.
Then, last Sunday she didn't want to eat.  (Except for the few bites of alaskan king salmon Andrew fed her right before the photo was taken.)  She didn't sleep all night.  In the morning I called the vet for something to help her breathe.  At 9am, I was on the phone with Charlie (also had my mother on the other line) when Trouble brought herself downstairs.  Her breathing was labored.  I went to get Andrew out of bed to help me get her to the vet.  She died 30 seconds later.   Her sweet heart just stopped beating.

It truly is heartbreaking to lose a pet.  We are forever grateful to have been blessed by this sweet girl.  She brought so much joy into our lives and taught us so much.  This last year, since her return, we felt as if we were on extra, special, bonus time with her.  What a gift.

Please go hug your pets,  give them a treat and take lots and lots of photos.  You truly can never have enough.

 Oh, these little pins.
Well, they are seriously my new favorite stitch markers.
I work in a beautiful clothing store on Fridays and Saturdays.  And, when the new merchandise arrives, most clothing lines use these pins to attach their tag.  We remove the tag and these pins.
 I've seen stitch markers that look like this sold before and I thought, Hey,  I'm going to recycle these and use them for my stitch markers.  And then I thought,  Hey!  I have a bunch of friends who might want some, too!  So, I told the incredible girls I work with and they all started saving them for you, too!  I giggle when I hear one of them say,  "Put Leslie's knitting friend's pins in this cup."  Seriously, my heart skips a beat.
I wear it on my wrist and take it with me most places.  And it still will work as a hair tie.  Bonus.

So, the pins have either a silver or a black finish.   I've bagged 10 pins together with one different finish in each bag so that you would have a beginning of round marker.  (9 black, 1 silver and visa versa.)  I have about 15 sets bagged.   If you would like a package of 10, please email me.  lesliemfriend at gmail dot com.
Just say, "Hey!  I want some!" or "YES", or "Yes, please"  or "Would love them" or "Awesome!" or "I need those stitch markers!" or "Mail me some!" or anything your sweet heart desires.  Just let me know that you would like some and include your address in the email.    I'll pop them into the mail and you will receive them in no time!  And, the supply doesn't look like it is going to end, so don't worry.  If you don't get them on this round, there will always be more!

Have a super awesome weekend, friends!

 Have you seen the fall issue of knitscene magazine?
Well, you have "a friend to knit with" in this issue!  :)  AND it is full of some really great patterns.  Check it out if you happen to pass it.  I'm completely honored to have been featured.

The winner of the Rise Fressko flask is number #101 Teechpe.  Congrats!  Please email me with your address and I'll make sure you will be drinking a strong brew out of it in no time!

 And then Libby went to work on the mixing and it reminded me of the times she had her cooking channel in middle school.  She would close the kitchen doors and start talking and baking away.  It was the cutest.  (Did I mention she is going to College in a few short weeks?  AGH!)
 Libby used to make sure no one came in the kitchen, getting upset when the boys would torment her.  
I highly recommend keeping an emergency box in your kitchen. (I purchased this box from Target.) They didn't look exactly like the photo on the box, Libby's were way cuter. ;)  And, they were delicious!

Have you seen the really cool flasks from Fressko?  A double walled glass container for either infusing fruit into your drinks or brewing tea.  It will hold coffee, too!  I love the bamboo lid and quite honestly the entire look of it.  AND that it will be a wonderful companion to my knitting!
Well, the nice peeps over at Fressko have given me a Rise for one of my readers!
Leave a comment before Tuesday,  July 26, 5pm EST and I'll have the random generator choose a number.

Happy weekend to you!

So, I'm thinking I haven't even mention where Libby will be headed in the fall.  The University of Colorado.  It's so hard for me to believe that when I started writing this blog, Libby was 8 years old and in second grade.  To all the young young mamas out there... the days are long but the years are fast.  Try really hard to settle in and enjoy every minute.  Even when there are dirty dishes and piles of laundry.  It truly can all wait.
Libby's core group of friends are going to be spread out all over the United States.  I'm so excited for their next Chapter.

Oh!  Of course those are our beloved Chalk Lots.  :)

My CSA box that I picked up on Tuesday.  I'm trying not to make a grocery run this week.  Eating fish and vegetables.  Fingers crossed.
And the flowers in my garden.  Although they have been thirsty lately as it is hot!

I'm going to try to ignore the fact that Libby will be headed to college in about a month.  Trying desperately to slow down time.  Getting ready to snuggle in and watch Jaws 2 with Libby.  Girls night here as Steve is at a function, Charlie is driving a U-haul to a camp in Michigan (where he is working as a program director) and Andrew is still playing golf.

Hi Friends!

Then we flew North to Gustavus to stay at Glacier National Lodge.  Incredible views from the plane.
Gustavus is my favorite new small town.  Super friendly, super cute.  We spent the Fourth of July watching their parade.  Those people know how to do it!  Then there was a reading of the Declaration of Independence with many locals taking a turn reading.  It was so wonderful to see the closeness and realness in this community.  I loved that my children were able to experience it all.
The view of the Fairweather Mountains from Glacier Bay Lodge our last morning.  Can't you just smell the crispness!

I'll see you next week!  Happy weekend!

Hey Friends!
We've packed the bags and most of the kids, and are headed to Alaska!  Airplane knitting here I come!
I'm going to try to post pics, daily, on Instagram if I can find WiFi. (Except for the painful 24 hours I told the kids they couldn't have their phones!)  I'm also going to take a Chalk Lots List along for the adventure, too, if you would like to follow along here.
See you soon!
xx,
leslie

 So, last night when I returned, I had a need to make something light and refreshing.  So, I pureed the strawberries that were in the refrigerator, added about a tablespoon of honey and poured it into half of the mold.  Then popped the mold into the freezer.
Absolutely the best.  And definitely feels so good in a chocolate laden stomach.
Popsicle recipes are popping up all over the internet.  I can't wait to try something a little more creative.