Clickety Clack (softly)

I love the sound my knitting needles make when I am working on a project. I use wooden needles so it is a soft rhythmic clickety clack.  

I find my breathing falls in sync with the sound and the project becomes quite meditative. 

Tension and time fall away. It seems like in no time at all, I look up at the clock and hours have passed. 

Watching the pattern unfold is a delight. The joy of a finished project is only surpased by the excitement of casting on another. 

This is the addiction of knitting🧶

I love the start of the New Year. New slate, fresh start, everyone likes something brand new right?

I know a lot of people don't give much credence to new years resolutions, but i think reviewing where you have been and outlining some basic goals is healthy.

One of mine this year is ridding out (PA slang for sure!), minimizing and getting organized by cleaning out one drawer, cubby, cupboard or closet a day. Starting with the Christmas decoration bins. We successfully completed that one this morning!

Then I rewarded the pups and I with some fresh air. It has been down around 0 and the single digits most days but today it got to 19*. We were so happy to take advantage of the sunshine and out we went!

Loved the fresh air!

Going on around here...

Curly Joe got his spring look working for him (my son thinks I could do this professionally, um thanks but no thanks!).

Progress is made on a hoodie forbourblittle man "O". Pattern is by Debbie Bliss called "ultimate Pullover".

Lots of dodging raindrops and puddles. No complaints here as daffadils are blooming everywhere and as soon as the rain quits I am going to gather a bouquet for my table and bring some sunshine in here!

DH took me for fish at Grantham's Landing in Sandy Lake. Great dinner! We had some interesting guests at dinner...

Loving the spring and retirement! Have a great weekend you all!

Just fun!

I love days like today! Other than one appointment, I or we, did not have to be anywhere, do anything at any specific time.

This has been one of my challenges because I have been a schedule person for the last...oh....thirty five years or something!

Since retirement, I have been trying to get us on some type of schedule. As my DH said yesterday, "babe that is the joy of retirement, no schedule!" It has been fun ever since :)

Some snaps from today...

70* in February?

It has put me in the mood for flowers, which of course is ridiculous considering the temps will plunge down into the 30's and snow is in the forecast.

But where there is a will, there is a way...and a sale!

I have never had much success with orchids and was just talking with my sister about this the other day. She hasn't either. But as I was out shopping today, I saw this miniature orchid that was so beautiful and springy, I couldn't pass by. Oh, especially as it was on a clearance sale!

My other bargains of the day was yarn for a new hoodie for my grandson "O" or as I like to call him, The Little Man!

I think he will look pretty cool in it when the weather warms up this spring for good! 

Ok back out the door to enjoy the warm breezes for a little while longer!

Overcast

...but still beautiful. So time to take the pups to the lake and wear their butts out.

We saw early, and I mean really early, wild leeks,  geese and seagalls flying overhead, a lone duck gliding across the lake and heard the birds singing their evening songs.

It looks chilly but it wasn't as the temps were in the 50's. A glorious day to take advantage of this long warm break and spend some time there.

If you zoom in you might see one of the closest ducks to us.

Some cattails managing to hold on despite wind, snow, and storms.

Just beautiful.

This is an accurate shot of Sweet Pea as she was in constant motion not wanting to miss a smell or movement. She's a hot mess!

All good times must end so now time to go home and make dinner for hubby and the pups!

In February...

Do you believe it?

I'll take it! Hope everyone enjoys their Saturday!

Love me some Joe!

How can I possibly say "no"?

February Snow Moon

Last night was the night of the "Snow" moon. We lucked out as the clouds parted and the snow stopped to allow the full moon to glow down on the blanket of fresh snow. It was beautiful!

Interestingly, many of the women of my family were up and admiring it in various parts of the country at exactly the same time. PA, GA, MI, AZ are states in which some of us currently call home.

Given the lore of the moons pull, babies being born, crazies coming out, etc. makes you wonder if there isn't something to it. Not to worry though. No werewolves or bigfoots were spotted!

Open your heart to a little love..

You may remember that after our basset boy Sampson passed away, Curly Joe came to visit for awhile. He was the guest who never left! We knew he had found his home with us, for good.

When our basset girl Honeydew passed on, she left a void in all our hearts. Not only did we miss her, we did not want to replace her. After a few weeks of moping, Joe finally bounced back. However, as both my husband and I both worked, we felt guilty leaving him home alone during the day.

In October of 2015, I was viewing rescue sites for a friend and came across this litter of springer spaniel mix puppies. Well the friend really wanted a poodle mix so that wasn't going to work.

But the puppies stayed on my mind. Over the next several days and weeks I would go back to see if any of the six had been spoken for and to follow their story (their rescue from an animal hoarder was pretty horrific).

Now you all know Bassets are my breed, and remain my favorites to this day. But due to health issues my husband and I were no longer able to lift or care for a heavier breed of dog.

Now I had never adopted from a shelter and figured I would not meet the requirements to do so, as I do not have a fenced yard although we do have almost two acres.

But, those puppies were calling my name. So I filled out the application. In two days my references were checked, my vet history was stellar and pending a home inspection , we would be the proud parents of the smallest and most laid back sweet pea of the litter!

It was love at first sight. It had to be because I tell you, she almost killed me in the first two weeks!!!!

Going from a 12 year old basset to a 10 week old springer is a real experience.  "Laid back" is very subjective terminology. She was laid back alright. Right up until 5 minutes after the shelter placement personnel left.

I am so glad we stuck with it. Sweet Pea is the dearest girl. Sensitive. Theraputic. Funny. An adventure. Curly Joe loves her dearly, they are best buddies.

Even the cat tolerates her and has never once, even when being deviled mercilessly,  ever bared her claws and put little Miss Sweet Pea in her place.

So while we still miss Honey Dew and Sampson, and cherish the memories made with them, it is never too late for more love...

Another move home and then gone again!

After graduation my middle son moved home for just a bit. It was so great to have him with us, even for a little while before he started his new job and moved into his new place.

We really didn't exciting things, just day to day. But you know that just made it even more bittersweet. One of my most favorite pictures was of him and his dad sitting out under the shade tree after they had finished planting the garden.

A walk on the bike trail...

enjoying the visit to the lake...

Treasured memories for sure.

A Dew with 'Tude...

 

HoneyDew letting me know what she thinks of the word "No".

The Hounds still Abound

Sometimes it takes awhile for an old dog to learn a new trick. In this case I am not speaking of HoneyDew but of myself.

Honeydew will be 9 years old this fall. She has never been what one would call a speed demon. I think that you have heard me refer to her gait as schnufflin. Something between sniffing and shuffling, you get the picture. In any case she really is at the point where she lallygags, no hurry at all, unless a piece of food is dropped, a stranger is approaching to whom she would like to be introduced, or some type of new smell has her on the trail.

Sampson on the other hand is more of the lets go hurry up, lets see what is around the next bend,  "Are you coming mom? Huh? Huh? What's taking so long!" variety.

Now the other dilemma. My time (especially in the summer) is very limited, so I like to multi-task. And I really need to shed a few pounds...ok, a lot of pounds. I love walking the dogs and up until now never would think of not taking both the dogs at the same time as well as get my exercise in. I wouldn't want to play favorites, or leave one out plus I want to spend as much time with both of them as I can.

This year especially with the hotter then normal weather, and everything else going on (another post, another time), our outings have not been very enjoyable, and really I think quite frustrating for us all, (unless the walk has been an off lead walk then everyone is happy!).

This week I finally hit upon a solution which seemed like quite a revelation to me but you all probably have already figured out the obvious (hence the old dog comment). I really want to just relax and enjoy my time with my hounds. It finally came to me that I should appreciate the uniqueness of both dogs' character while getting my need for exercise towards a goal of weight loss met.

I decided to give each dog their own time with me, and utilize their style. So first Sampson and I go for a power walk in our neighborhood, talking and stopping for pats and rewards, with Sampson getting my undivided attention. Then I bring him back to the house and Honey Dew and I set off in the opposite direction, but at a slower pace which is my cool down. As she schnuffles along I do lunges, yoga poses, or stretches. I don't rush her, she enjoys herself sniffing every step along the way and again, talking to her the whole time, stopping for scratches behind her ears, with lots of petting and praises.

They love it! They are satisfied, happy and relaxed. And so am I. I love the power walks with my energy dog as well as my cool down with HoneyDew savoring the scents along the way.

I even had a chuckle as the first night we tried this my husband was not aware of what I had come up with and he had come home to find HoneyDew home alone, Sampson and I gone. He went to take a shower and in the mean time I had come home and switched dogs. He came downstairs and found Sampson waiting for him but not me and now HoneyDew was gone! He was confused because he thought he had mistaken which dog was there when he came home, and what in the world was going on? Too funny!

Of course we will still do the majority of activities all together, but I think we will make this a priority everyday. I will keep you posted as I hit some goal markers on my journey of health and wellness.

Sunday's Walk in the Park

Compared to Friday and Saturday, yesterday's weather could be considered "balmy"! The temperature got up over 40, the sun was shining and the snow was starting to melt. It melted enough by the river that the hounds and I were able to take a nice leisurely stroll in the afternoon.

I still had to wear my winter coat but I could feel the sun's warmth through it and the Bassets must have enjoyed it too, even plunging in the deeper snow for some scent or other that attracted them.

If you look at the top of the picture you can see that I couldn't let them follow the scent or they would be going over the bank into the river!

With the sun's warmth came the sound of giant icicles crashing down all along the rock face. You can make out some smaller ones still hanging there.

After our walk, the hounds waited in the car while I got a few groceries, and for being so patient I treated them to a bag of beef basted biscuits and the little treats that look like t-bones steaks (not all at once!). And then we came home and snuggled.

I love Sunday's like this!

Valentine's Day

From my DH...

...and inside said "No wonder we're so good together. Happy Valentines Day!" plus a personal note ;-)

Our gift to each other?

FISHING LICENSES!!!

So that we can spend even more time together! Spring is coming!

Happy Valentines you all!

My latest knitting projects...

I have been working on this doll for my little neice Maddy for a while now as time and schedule would permit. It was a lot of fun to make and I will, at some point in the future, make another for my grandbaby hope chest. I was really tickled with how well it turned out!

While doing this project I learned some new techniques like the curly q hair, a new style of increase, an interesting way to embroider the eyes, and how to make knees! 

I loved knitting the button nose,

her little toes,

and she even has a little outie belly button!

Not to mentione the outfit of clothes and a matching hat for dolly and Maddy!

I don't think Maddy quite new what to think of her at first. She also did not want to wear her hat (she doesn't like hats but her momma says she has to wear one!) But with encouragement from her big sisters Morgan, Sammy and Amanda, she was soon wearing it with a smile!

Anyone who knows me, knows I always have a pair of socks on the needle. This pair was made while my mom was in surgery, during visiting hours at the hospital, and when Mom and I knitted together during Mom's recovery before I returned to PA.

They were made for my office mate Amy who held down the office while I was away.

As you can see, she has happy feet!

Next up, an overdue high school graduation present for another neice, a pair of socks for my son Tim, and finishing my son & daughter~n~laws afghan. Yes Samantha, I will finish yours first!!!

What do you have on the needles?