This Moment

Picnic tea party/lunch outside

Linking up with Amanda at SouleMama

Yarn Along

Well a little more knitting took place this week then last!

I'm almost finished with the pattern repeats on yet another Miranda Hat.

And I've finished everything but the stuffing and sewing up of one of my Rainbow Gnomes. Only 6 more of those to go! The sewing is the part that I'm not going to like. I think I may just knit them all up then sew them together at a later date.

Right now I'm in the middle of Another Piece of my Heart by Jane Green.

Weekending

The weekend began with pizza & a walk around the yard.

Saturday consisted of a little bit of knitting; cleaning a bit; lots of laundry; and an afternoon trip to the local art museum. The museum was a lot of fun but it meant that Ree missed her nap. Ree still needs her nap. So last night was a little rocky.

We were saddened to hear about the death of Neil Armstrong. So in his honor we got out the telescope and all took turns looking at the Moon. It was very interesting (I've never done this before!) and we've kept the telescope out to keep looking this week as the full Moon gets closer.

I've also decided to teach myself a little bit more about photography using our "big" Canon camera. I need more practice because most of the pictures I took this weekend all came out blurry!

Today has been Church; relaxing; baking brownies for tonights ice cream sundae dessert; some more knitting; and watching an episode or two of Gilmore Girls. 

Linking up with Amanda at The Habit of Being!

In our yard

We took a walk around our yard last night looking at all the changes that are happening. We've had some rain in the past few weeks and that has really helped! I also spent some time this week weeding all the gardens so they look prettier too!

We have MANY eggplant blossoms coming and that makes me very excited! We also have a ton of green peppers. The seeds were a mix so I'm not sure if we'll have all green peppers or if the red ones start out green too. Although they look like they are green-green so we'll see in the next few weeks.

We also have one pepper plant that is producing different looking yellow peppers. They look like hot peppers except we didn't plant hot peppers. Again we'll have to wait and see.

The tomatoes are growing like crazy. We had to get bigger stakes last weekend because the plants kept falling over. There are many, many green tomatoes which I suspect will all redden at the same time. I see a bunch of roasted tomatoes in our future! Depending on how many ripen at once I may make pasta sauce.

Our lettuce and carrots are also growing strong. We harvested our first lettuce this past week and there is already enough to harvest more. It's so satisfying to bring in food that we've grown to feed my little family.

The gladiolas are also growing strong. Just tonight I spotted the first red buds and was so excited! We also were surprised when we came around the corner of the house and saw that there are tons of white roses blooming. I may have to go clip a few tomorrow for the house.

It was very refreshing to get outside. The heat & humidity have finally broken so we've been spending some much needed time outside. The gardens seem to be enjoying it as well!

I'm linking up with Ginny for her Saturday Garden Journal

This Moment

Late summer cousins picnic!

Joining Amanda at Soulemama

I've lost my mojo

Sheesh when I decided to participate in the August Break I wasn't thinking that it would be a break from pretty much everything!!

I seem to have set down my knitting, sewing, crocheting, photography & blogging mojo somewhere and can't find it again!

I spend way too much time on the computer doing mindless things. Although I have been gathering ideas for an alphabet unit to do with Ree this Fall. But that hasn't taken up all the hours wasted at this computer with nothing to share! I've contemplated stopping visiting facebook, twitter and basically all computer in the hours when Ree is awake. I've gotten BETTER at it this week but still could do more. I think my next step is to shut the computer off totally. Then the temptation isn't there.

My knitting hasn't been happening all that much. I've picked out yarn for a rainbow family of gnomes for Ree for Christmas. I've got the first one almost complete. They are so quick & easy I could finish all seven of them in just days. Except that I'm finding I don't really enjoy knitting toys. But I REALLY want her to have them. So I haven't been knitting.

I haven't been inspired by the granny square along lately either. The squares I'm behind on aren't really speaking to me. I guess I could just crochet up other squares to add to it.

So what HAVE we been doing? I've checked almost all the big cleaning projects off my list. I've been reading a lot. Ree & I have gone to the library a few times. We've built countless lego & block towers. She had a little friend over to play this week. We've gone to the playground. Tomorrow another little friend is coming over. We've spent time with my sister, niece & nephew and will be seeing them in just a few hours again. We saw a praying mantis the other day and Ree is STILL talking about it.

So while my creative mojo seems to have taken a back seat and I feel so very lazy my child is happy. The horrible tantrums she had a few weeks ago have finally stopped (for the most part. She is still 2 after all!) She's gotten some very productive Momma time lately. Even if it is just me sitting on the floor with my book while she plays next to me. Whenever she wants I'm there to talk to or interact with. We've gone in the backyard and weeded & started a little nature shelf in the kitchen with all the treasures she brings in.

This post has been very productive as well! When I started out I was feeling a tad guilty about not doing much of anything lately and kind of down in the dumps that I've been lazy. I see I've been anything but that! Ree is content and happy. We have been doing things. Just different things then I may have had in mind.

Weekending

 Saturday consisted of pouring rain; early morning puzzle making; a little embroidery; a trip to the library; afternoon naps & reading while it continued to pour.

 Just as I was worrying that all the rain was going to ruin our evening plans of heading to Providence & WaterFire the rain stopped. We were able to walk around the Mall & then downtown to our hearts content. It was a beautiful evening & just chilly enough to need sweaters. Perfect!

This morning started out gorgeous. Makes me even more eager for Fall days! A load of laundry; a trip to Church; donuts & coffee after; more puzzle making at home. Ree is now sleeping, I am puttering around the house and my husband is working in the yard. Soon we'll pack up and head north to my sister-in-laws for our weekly visit. A perfect end to a very nice weekend!

This Moment

We harvested our first tomato this week! I was so excited!

Linking up with Amanda at SouleMama!

February Toddler Tunic

I finished Ree's February Toddler Tunic the other night. She loves it! So do I. The pattern is so easy and sweet. I made it a little longer then the pattern called for since the last time I made a sweater for her it was too short. This time it's a little long! But that's ok. With a long sleeve shirt and over leggings it'll be a great fall/winter outfit for her!

It's so nice to knit for her because she loves everything I make. She's already asking for a "pink and yellow sweater" because those are "my favorite colors". She didn't want to take this one off until she kept saying "I'm so sweaty Momma!" The heat & humidity aren't cooperating with her right now!

Ravellenic Knitting

I had grand plans for my Ravellenic knitting. I am happy to say I (almost) completed my goals.

 The Team USA socks are finished! I knit them in a week and one day. A personal record for me for sock knitting. And that is with a camping trip where hardly any knitting took place and a head cold for both Ree & I.

 I also finished one of the Miranda Hats. I had wanted to knit two but that didn't work out. I'm happy that I got at least one finished!

Ree's February Toddler Tunic was started during the Olympics but not finished. That's ok started works! (I'm typing this post to go live in the morning. I completed it just 5 minutes ago. I'll do a post in a few days showing it off!)

All in all I am very happy with the results of my Olympic knitting! I even managed to crochet a few granny squares too. Not too shabby!!

Morning::Night {August 13}

 Morning:: Today is a holiday in Rhode Island so Ree was excited that Daddy was home again! He worked outside & she helped; I cleaned out the breezeway & washed the floor; weeded a little bit and spotted the first red tomato!

Night:: A beautiful evening. We ate supper outside; cloud watched; I did the dishes; Ree & Daddy are still outside. Baths for everyone in just a little bit!

Weekending

We made a mess of the house with all Ree's toys; we worked in the yard; I knit outside on the deck until it was too hot; (I'm working on a February Toddler tunic for Ree); we went to walk around the mall yesterday to take advantage of the air conditioning; weeds were picked; tomatoes were looked at (there are a few turning red!); iced coffee was had both days; a nap or two may have been taken; and a load of laundry was finished. Not a very exciting, nor particularly productive weekend. But it was still very enjoyable!

Linking up with Amanda at The Habit of Being

Morning::Night {August 10}

 Morning:: list making and crochet

Night:: a huge storm popped up with torrential downpours, a little thunder and a tornado watch. A few hours later and the sun was shinning and everything had pretty rain drops on them. 

I hope everyone is having a great August Break if you are participating! 

This Moment

Building "bird houses"!

Linking up with Amanda at Soulemama!

Sunset {August 7}

Last night while I was doing the dishes & my husband was giving Ree a bath he called for me to come upstairs & bring my camera.

This is what we captured from the upstairs window. A gorgeous August sunset. They have been beautiful each night of this month. This is the first time I've been able to capture it though!

August break is going well so far! I've also been using this time to step back from the computer as a whole too. Not as much as I'd like but we still have almost the month left! Hence the very infrequent commenting on everyone else's posts. I'll try to get better at that!

Today is also yarn along day and I HAVE been knitting but didn't have any pictures yet and the whole point of the August break is to have no worries so I'll take pictures in the next few days to show. Or maybe wait until the Olympics are over (sniff!!) and do a recap of my ravellenic goals. (Its going ok...not as great as I'd hoped but Ree & I getting sick weren't in those plans!)

Morning::Night {August 6}

Morning::Night {Weekending}

 Saturday was spent blowing noses; knitting and reading. Both Ree & I got miserable colds. After supper we spent a little bit on the deck. The high heat and humidity plus colds are not fun.

 Sunday was spent the same as Saturday. Except we were able to watch this grasshopper on the outside window for a bit. Other then that more hanging around, trying to stay cool and trying to kick our colds. Now we're waiting for the storm to come in to hopefully take away a bit of humidity.

Linking up with Amanda at The Habit of Being

Morning::Night {August 3}

Joining the August Break!

This Moment

Husking corn while camping!

Joining Amanda at SouleMama!

Morning::Night {August 1}

*Camping was lots of fun! The weather wasn't the best but we still enjoyed ourselves!

*I'm joining the August Break for the month. Being out in nature for 3 days away from the computer was nice. I'm going to try to do that for the month of August. And take more pictures. And really enjoy these last weeks of summer with Ree!

*So the plan is for a Morning & Night picture each day. A few words here or there (maybe). Always a weekending post as I really enjoy those as well as a This Moment post!