There are so many things that I am grateful for.  Obviously, the really big things like my children, our health, my parents, my sisters, our health, the rest of the family, the roof over our heads, our health, my friends, you, my jobs.   But then, there are those things that fill me with joy on a daily basis.  Things I get excited about and pass the thoughts on to my children.  HOW AWESOME IS THIS! I just made coffee!  And i get to DRINK it!
A few other things:
the amazing morning skies  the autumn leaves thrown around on the ground  borrowed socks  trying out new perfumes  charlie's hair the smell of pumpkin spice coffee  the way trouble lifts her head to see me walk by  my green tea  new yarn the november issue of family fun...the place mats! putting on my jammies early andrews obsession with shoes coconut oil as moisturizer pumpkin cheesecake for breakfast the chatter at the kitchen table  making waffles  libbys braids  the evening skies  flannel sheets 

How about you?  I'd love to hear what's making you happy right now.

 My girl, Libby, turned 16.  Sarah asked how that was possible.  I know!  Yes, I was just knitting her knee socks.  We had her bestie, Molly, over for dinner and ate Panera's Cream of Broccoli Soup.  Again.
It's Libby's all time favorite.  I bought it this year cause I was out of time.  I usually make it.
 Andrew turned 14 on the 12th.  I know!
 Chicken parmesan was requested along with a blue cake.  I aim to please.
This birthday really DID count.  How cool was that?!

Well, I wish I was talking about my crochet hook. That hat is giving me troubles. (Insert bug-eyed emoji here. -I use my emoji's so much that I miss them in this space!)
I think they would make a perfect Christmas gift, also.

Pattern:  Drop Stitch Cowl
Yarn:  Lion Brand Wool-Ease 

I really MUST finish that project that I started 2 years ago.  Wow.  I feel terrible for the recipient.  You heard it here.  I WILL finish that this upcoming week.

The winner of Great Little Gifts to Knit is number 85, Barbara.  Please email me (address in side bar) with your address and the book will be on the way to you!

Happy Saturday!

His offers socks, a hat, a head wrap, a guitar strap, a belt, a scarf, and a smart cover phone.
And for the Home, there are cushion covers, seat covers, place mats, napkin rings, a doggie jacket, tea cozies, and a celebratory toran.

The entire fun and beautiful project gallery is here.

If interested in a copy of great little gifts to knit, please leave me a comment between now and Tuesday the 24th, 5pm EST and the random number generator will choose a name.

Read previous blog posts from other bloggers plus the rest of the tour inerary for another chance to win!

Mon 2  Sep      Wendy Knits  Wendy Johnson
Wed 4 Sep       WEBS  Kathy Elkins
Fri 6 Sep          Getting Stitched on the Farm Kristin Nicholas
Mon 9 Sep       Stolen Stitches Carol Feller
Tues 10 Sep     Knittedbliss  Julie crawford
Wed 11 Sep     Black Bunny Fibers  Carol Sulcoski
Thur 12 sep      Rhythm of the Needles  Joanne Conklin
Frid 13 Sep      Tiny Owls Knits  Stephanie Dosen
Mon 16 Sep     Just Call me Ruby  Susan Crawford
Tues 17 Sep     Zeneedle Margene Smith
Wed 18 Sep      Redshirt Knitting Erika Barcott
Thur 19 Sep     A friend to knit with  ME!
Fri 20 Sep        Craft Sanity Jennifer Ackerman Haywood
Mon 23 Sep      Connieleneknits  Connie Lene
TUes 24 Sep     Knitsofacto  Annie Cholewa
Wed 25 Sep      Ulla Bella  Anita Tormoen
Thur 26 Sep     A Really Good Yarn  Julie Schilthuis
Fri 27 Sep        Urban Yarns  Alexa Ludeman
Sat 28 Sep        Linda Marveng  Linda Marveng
Mon 30 Sep     Yarnings  Jen
Tues 1 Oct       Tentenknits  Margaux Hufnagel

Have a beautiful weekend.

And this year,  I did something a little different.  And a little special.  And dug deep in my heart for the top 18 things I love about Charlie.  (It took me about 18 seconds.)

Love these days.

Well, I haven't been baking cookies, but I did feel the urge to take a few minutes to whip up some coconut scrub today.  A few shriveled lemons and a jar that needed to be refilled.  I read about this stuff on Crunchy Peas Blog.  It's awesome.  (Follow this link.)
Shave your legs with coconut oil, use the coconut scrub, re-shave your legs... results in super soft legs!  And then, use it on your entire body!

Combine 1 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup coconut oil, 3 Tbls fresh lemon or lime juice.  Mix until blended.  Store in a mason jar in your shower!  (In the warmer temps it melts.  So, over the summer, I stored mine in the refrigerator. It feels great cold!)  I buy my coconut oil at Costco.  A big tub for a lot less.

The random number generator chose #27, Priscilla.  Please email me with your address so that Fashion Crochet can end up in your mailbox.

Okay "my friend to crochet with"! Please teach me! I have a hat on the hook that I started back in July. So far, I stink at learning. I'm gonna get it though. Yep. I am.
There is a wide variety of techniques including lace, granny smith squares, intarsia and hairpin crochet.  (Don't be fooled.  I have no idea what hairpin crochet is.  But, hey!  I'm willing to learn.)
Each project also has the inspiration photo from the runway from designers as diverse as Christopher Kane, Marc Jacobs, Gucci and Missoni.  (Those photos are fun to look at, too.)

If you are interested in receiving a copy of Fashion Crochet, please leave a comment between now and Monday, September 16, 5pm EST and the random generator number will choose a winner.

Have a great weekend!

My awesome grandfather made this at least 35 years ago.  Super special.  I imagine it's pretty easy to make one.  Just need a piece of wood, some nails and a hammer.  Mine measures 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 square.  He nailed 25 nails in each side, pretty evenly spaced.  From the looks of it, he didn't get it right the first time around. (I think the holes from his first attempt add a lot of character.)  Along with the loom, I had a stash of the loops in a bag from 1976!  I did a little research and you can purchase that same kind here.  I have the original little directions which suggests leaving the loops on a while (the longer the better) which will make it easier to finish off and will result in a larger potholder.  And, if you don't feel like making a loom, you can always buy a metal one.  But, believe me, there is something SO special about making a potholder on a handmade loom.

Back tomorrow with another book giveaway!

There are shrugs, throws, hats, scarves and other projects designed to showcase their reversibility.  And six key techniques to show you how.  Iris Schreier didn't leave out a detail.  Right down to fixing those darn mistakes.  (THAT was my biggest problem when I was first learning how to knit.)

Sterling publishing would like to give away a copy of Reversible Knits to TWO of my readers.   If interested, please leave a comment here before Monday, September 9 at 5pm EST and I will have the random generator choose TWO names!

Have a really great weekend.

Today I made a quick, delicious zucchini potato soup and a couple of stuffed peppers with the vegetables from my CSA share.

Saute: 1 diced medium onion , 6-8 diced small potatoes until tender.  Add 3 diced zucchini, 1 diced summer squash and cook until those are tender.  Add 4 cups of vegetable broth, 1/2 cup white wine, 1/2 cup of milk, 1 tsp tarragon, 1 tsp pepper.  Simmer for a couple of hours.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and enjoy.

And with the peppers?  I cooked 1 cup of quinoa with 1 cup of homemade tomato sauce and 1 cup of vegetable broth.  Stirred in peas and feta cheese and a dash of red peppers and stuffed that into the green peppers.  Baked the peppers for about an hour at 350˚ until the pepper was tender.

The winner of the first weeks book giveaway, knitologie,  is number 56, Sandra.  Please email me with your address and I'll make sure the book lands in your hands.

See you tomorrow!

There is nothing like having a well stocked library of some of the handiest, most useful and beautiful knitting/crocheting books around. For the next four Thursday's, I am going to review and give away a book.
First up:: Knitologie by Lucy Main Tweet "Creating personal heirloom knits as simply as casting on and casting off."
I love how the author wants you to knit with your own personal style and challenges you to do so.
The letter grids can be worked into a variety of patterns.  None of them are that complicated and all are very practical.  Items for the home... blankets and pillows.  Items to wear... scarves, hats, neck warmers and mitts.

If you would be interested in a copy of this book, please leave a comment before Monday, September 2, 5pm EST and I will have the random number generator draw a name.

Have a beautiful weekend.
I'm gonna spend some time knitting.  Hope you are, too!

Resulted in one pair of toast.
I had bigger plans.  4 projects in all packed away in my rather large suitcase.  But all I knit was a pair of toast.  I'll take it though.  And those were popped in the mail today to keep some special wrists warm.

What also happened today?
Back to school happened today.  SO hard to believe.

Hi.   I left for a vacation and took these photos before I left.
I've been wanting to let you know that I finished a knit.  Yippee! That in itself is a pretty exciting moment in my life right now.
And a few chinese frog closures for interest and practicality.  Sew them on opposite sides and voila! You have yourself an asymmetrical wrap.

I'm casting on for another while here and writing down every step so that I can share with those that like it.

Hope your July days have been awesome!