Okay. The story behind the smiley shirt.
This photo was taken in order to try to recreate this:
My sister Lisa, sister Michelle, my Mother and myself.  Nags Head, North Carolina.  

On Tuesday, I read about Molly's new weekly commitment called one good loaf. 
And shortly after I was in the kitchen making a bread that I have wanted to try since I saw it on Rachel's blog this summer.  I have thought about this bread.  And that photo.  No less than 100 times.  Finally, I had the push I needed to go make it.
It was so good, that I made it again today.
Because truly, is there anything better than the smell of bread baking?
The only thing that may be better is, eating it warm, topped with the jam that you made in the summer, after reading this post.  I love how it was all inspired by blogs.  

Our weekend was spent in New York, visiting my sister and her family. And the drive there couldn't have been more beautiful.
Although, this tree photo was actually taken at Rhinebeck. Yep, just a quick hour and a half drive, and we were there. Meeting Jane (so mad we didn't get a photo) Tracy, Kim, Rachel, Tammi, Scout, and Caro!   Checking out the sheep, llama's, bunnies, yarn, food, yarn, more yarn, knitters, bloggers, and a lot of knit wear.  I think almost everyone was wearing something they made. Except for me.  And believe me, I felt a little left out.  I wished that I could run home and get something. Something that says, "I knit!  Look!  I made this!" 

I'm having a hard time staying focused over here.  Maybe it is the falling leaves.  I'm not really sure.  But I jump from project to project without making much progress on anything.  I'm doing things like making dessert at 5:30 p.m. without an inclination of what is for dinner. (Thank you, Erin.)
I made Acorn cookies yesterday for our cookie of the week.  The whole time I envisioned them as heads.  With little knit caps.  I wanted to get out a sharpie and draw faces on them.  Seriously. When I asked the kids, what they thought,  they thought they looked like acorns.  "Funny faces?  Ha.  Your funny, mom. " ( They were looking at me like I lost my mind.)
I packed this morning for a long weekend, as we are leaving in a couple of hours.  Pretty much threw some clothes into a bag.  A seven hour drive.  With a lot of beautiful leaves along the way.   Now that is something to focus on.

So, you know those boots?  Over in my sidebar?  Well, I get a lot of e-mails asking what kind they are.   They are Frye boots, but unfortunately have been discontinued.
I have a friend that also has them.  She is looking for a little extra cash and wanted to put them on E-bay.  I thought I would offer them here first.  
They are Frye boots, size 8.  Unlike me, she has worn hers only a handful of times, and they are in great condition.  She would like to get $100.00.  No need to comment here.  Please e-mail her directly at michelle.f.smith1@gmail.com.  ***sold--thank you!

For toast.
And toasty.

I have always known that I have been obsessed and addicted to knitting. But jeez. Now waiting for Wednesday, is all I will be able to think about. I read how Kristen was going to post the next "clue" to the mystery sock at midnight. Last night. I wanted to stay up and wait. Seriously. But then thought I best not. Because then I would just want to stay up and knit. Which wouldn't be good.  However, I should have stayed up. Because I spent half the night awake wondering what the new clue was.  Seriously.
I printed the new "clue" early this morning.  But now I am just too tired to even work on it.  

First of all, I would like to thank you all for your wonderful comments about the"libby" sweater. They all meant so much. I will try my hardest to get the pattern written up quickly.
I have never heard of Saigon Cinnamon.  Wow.  Was I missing out.  Stefani over at blue yonder, mailed me some (thank you, Stefani!) along with a recipe for Cinnamon Cookies.  I should have just doubled the recipe. The five of us flew through the first batch.  I immediately made another batch.  
These won't last through the weekend.  What am I talking about.  They won't last through the rest of the day.

Here it is. And since I don't know what to call it, I am going with the Libby sweater.
I truly couldn't be happier with how it turned out.  Pretty much exactly what I had in mind.
A shot of the back.
Sure, just climb over the fence to let me get a shot of the front.  (yikes!)
I do think that I would like this best without the contrasting colors.  But since I am tying all three sweaters together, I had to use a bit of their colors.  
Pattern:  My own.  I am going to write it up soon, if anyone is interested.

A while ago, I posted about the pay it forward exchange.  And the gifts that I received were unbelievable!  The kind where it really makes your day when you receive something so wonderful, right on your doorstep. 
Jeni, from magnusmog, mailed me her very own hand dyed, hand spun beautiful yarn.  All the way from the other side of the world.  I absolutely love it, and can't wait to create something with it.  She also included a felted broach, (that Libby is fighting me for) and a little journal.  Thank you Jeni!  I love it all!
Then came the box from Melana, from sheepish one.  Can you believe that she knit me this beautiful scarf?  I am in love with it, and wore it yesterday.  I can't remember how long it has been since someone knit me something!  Seriously.  Well, my mom used to knit for me a lot. However,  once I learned how to knit, that was the end of that.  It felt so good to receive something so beautiful. The time and effort are SO much appreciated  Melana.  Thank you!
                                                                      circa 1972

I have mentioned before how much I love Toast.  And this latest catalog was fantastic.  Of course, there were a couple of photos that really caught my eye.
Ahhh...I love this photo.  And what cool knit is she wearing on her arms?
And then there was this photo.  And look at her gloves.  I loved those, too.  But why buy them, when we can all whip them up ourselves?!

Can you feel it? Oh, I can, and I am so happy. Happy to have the crisp air. The extra blankets on beds. The pumpkins at the markets. The treasures from nature.
I found these little gumdrops placed on a table by one of my children.  Definitely not Charlie. Maybe Andrew.  Probably Libby.  Those made me happy too.

Geez. You all are the best. Thank you so much for Charlie's birthday wishes. We appreciate each and every one of them. So much. Thirteen really does seem big. I am still trying to digest the fact that I have a thirteen year old.
I have made some progress on Libby's sweater.  Keep in mind this is being modeled on my adult dress form that oddly enough has the same shoulder width as my ten year old.  I sure hope you all didn't think that I was going to add all of the cables like the mini Boden sweater.  Nope. Way too much thought would have had to go into that.  But I think that I accomplished the swing design that I was going for.  I think.
I have fiddled with the sleeves so much.  Hopefully I am on track now.

Thirteen balloons,
thirteen candles,
with thirteen stripes (completely coincidental),
placed on a chocolate cake,
for a very special boy, who turned 13 yesterday. 

Hi there. I'm back.
                                flowers courtesy of noreen

So yesterday it was all about the linens.  Organizing and folding them.  I was so happy to see a sheet that we don't use.  With a cute top.  Well you know, that sort of put me back on the sidetrack trail. 
Next thing you know, I was gathering the necessary materials to make another pair of lounge pants.   Because everyone needs a new pair for the fall. 

This is my "go to" mitt pattern.  This pattern is totally unisex so feel free to make them for your man and let him know you are going to borrow them!  I have made them for my sisters and made them for friends. I sometimes put a stripe of a contrasting color in the ribbing.  But a super easy pattern that requires little brain power.  I like that.  Sometimes that is exactly the project I need.