iMagiNe cReAtiVe nAme hERe

Happy 2012!

A new year makes me feel reflective and hopeful...a time of renewal. What do I want to change/start/do in 2012? Well, one thing I am doing is challenging myself to read more. I met my 2011 reading goal by reading 63 books (goal was 50) so this year I am challenging myself to go for 75 books. I love using Goodreads! One of the reasons I started blogging was to keep track of the books I was reading each year. If your ever on Goodreads look me up and friend me. 

friday love...

Got the idea for this post from Lisa Leonard-thx Lisa! 

Scenes from this week...

1...Santa Lukas!

2...true adoration!

3...tried a new brew & loved it!

4...Santa Timothy!

5...garter square mitts-love them!

6...spied the cutest baby legwarmers ever!

thinking...

I'm sitting here huddled up with a hot mug of coffee. Just back from waiting for the school bus and then a quick walk around the block with the dog. It is truly feeling like winter now. So cold out there this morning. I need to unearth my gloves and mittens cause these fingerless mitts aren't doing it for me now. Inside, yes, they work great since our heat is set quite low. Enjoying the silence that follows everyone leaving in the morning. Ahh... Thinking about the day before me and the weekend ahead. There will be knitting for certain. A party, a dance (for the middle schooler), time for "elfing" about, and gumbo making...but the silence has me right now...enjoy.

blogiversary month...

I've been blogging here since Nov. 2003!!! Woot! Happy 8th  blogiversary to me! :) To celebrate I will try to come up with 8 *new* things about me (thx, Elle!)...

1. I finally gave up sugar in my coffee this past summer. Go me!
2. I put Frank's hot sauce in my grits.
3. My current favorite beer is a local one: Victory Headwaters!
4. I think the movie Elf is hysterical.
5. This BBC version of Sense & Sensibility is sublime & haunts me (music, scenery...ah).
6. I believe that dust bunnies should roam in peace... (I may have mentioned that one before...)
7. I now have two dishwashers. Their names are Lydia & Frances.
8. I am learning to play the ukulele. Yes, really.
9. BONUS: I like to knit at the roller derby.

family...

How Lukas sees his family...

The real deal taken the Friday after Thanksgiving...

so much better than squid...

I love Great Harvest bread! Right after my husband and I were married we lived a couple blocks from a GH bakery. I have such fond memories of wheeling a baby stroller down there for a free slice and a chat. So happy to find another one not too far from me that just opened this past summer. The best part? It's right next to a wonderful yarn shop!!! It's the little things in life...

:: wordless Wednesday ::

Autumn: when the knitting is easy...

Finally starting to feel like autumn & the knitting needles are flying around here! I tend to knit like I read: many varied books/projects to suit every reading/knitting occassion. Must have a simple project to carry around to various kid functions & appointments and right now that's a simple garter stitch scarf using Blue Moon sock yarn & #3 circulars. I call it my School Store Scarf cause I get the most done on it when I work the school store each Friday. I have lots of kids stopping by just to see how long the scarf has grown each week. It's accompanied me to the Roller Derby too!

My current favorite project is my Autmnal Lacey Baktus (pictured below) knitted up in Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball Stärke 6. It's been such fun watching all the different colors emerge. I am finally to the halfway decreasing part. This project is my on the couch watching tv project requiring slightly more attention.

Several other projects in the works but since some are going to be gifted then I must keep them under wraps for now. Hey,  today happens to be a monumental day too since I am wearing my first pair of WOOL socks of the season - - -woot! In case you're wondering which ones, here they are!

roasted chickpea love...

What I've been up to...

Loving life...