hum ..randomly interesting

With the main bread/toast eater in the house away, its been awhile between making loaves and it’s showing. I made a man, a freaky man face made of bread, aka bread troll. I hope this never happens again!

Honestly challenging, but still somehow really easy, maybe not so much challenging, but just required more of my concentration (which is still scarily absent) it turned out more gorgeous than I ever expected my mental focusing skills would allow.

My burly sweater makes me look like a boohbah.

I am still mystified at the construction of the Frost On Leaves hat by Midori Hirose, you are never working with more than one color per row and yet magically get this super pretty, two color leafy brioche!

In the midst of trying to unclutter my upstairs crap (well it started with deciding to container all of Alexa’s sheet sets in the linen/soap closet and accidentally stumbling onto a tub of random craft stuff). I somehow became completely swallowed up in a dusty art room overhaul. Still stuck in the middle of it (slightly stalled) but several hauls have been made to the recycling center and charity shops. I have so many ex-hobbies and supplies that are just not getting used, it’s time to clear out some of that old cluster and make my space more inspiring.

Well I can never make a drop off at the charity shop without making a run in (this is probably most of my clutter problem :)  I burst into laughter when I stumbled across these, a smack in the face right at eye level! YIKES ..two great things that DO NOT go great together! Admittedly this shop has in the past had some questionable things for sale, it’s not unusual to see a single roll of unwrapped T.P tagged or a baggie stuffed with 7 maxi pads ..anyone in need of a half used box of press on nails for your toes? ..I never even knew these existed!

warmer things

The soap is warmer, now that it has a bity apron dress to wear! I’m kind of ridiculously infatuated with these little dishcloth dresses.

(I absolutely love the tiny little bath off our bedroom upstairs, it’s old porcelain and crazy crooked and wonderfully perfect.)

My neck is warmer (for the moment completely Swallowed up in gorgeousness) I am only modeling this, it is actually a purpley snuggley infinty hug I made for my mom.

I am so romanced by all things Cabernet.

My mouth is warmer with hot cider and crisp salted apple slices ..no mini cider doughnuts, no buttery popcorn, no handmade caramel dip, not even any crab apples (well we would have gotten these if they had any!) it was not normal for us to be leaving the orchard with only our 2 sacks of apples, we must still be sorting out the offness of just being a cute couple again. We did grab one hand dipped taffy apple to be boxed up and shipped out to Lex (we didn’t forget you!)

Warmer hands and more leaves, acorns and walnuts than ever (go go squirrles!) I love making cute mittens but totally hate raking leaves!

Atwater Mittens in candy colored malabrigo ..oh my goodness the pretty cuffery and beautifully romantic thumb increases these have.

I should have kept these warmer (we actually had our first few snowflakes on Tuesday!) beautiful mums from my beautiful sister, sadly I may have already killed them, I tired not to, really I did.

My heart is warmer knowing our lovely girl is doing everything we could have ever wished for her to do with her life, adjusting fearlessly to a big bustling city (low flying fighter jets rumbling overhead on their way to Fenway Park to commence the opening of the world series just a few blocks away!) loving her first job working with children in Boston’s jumpstart program, busy school filled days & heavy homework filled nights, dive-in-theatres (late night swims in the school pool, while they project a movie on the wall, they watched JAWS!) spending a lazy Saturday in Salem walking in some of our nations oldest cemeteries, enjoying street fairs, witch trials, wax figures and deep-fried veggies!

Saturday (2 weeks in)

Taking long pauses with lots of cuddles, we are still trying to find our usefulness, and slowly get into the grove of life with one less  ..but in reality nothing is the same, the room is dark, the door is closed (because we all know bijou kitty is never sorry for barfing on your bed :) our girl of 18 years is off making her own way, having a whole bunch of amazing firsts, far away from our quite little house. We get peeks into her new world through video chat, texts and phone calls, it makes it less heartbreaky all around when we know we can talk anytime.

This was our first stop after leaving Lex on campus. Jason and I had never been to a Dunkin’ Doughnuts and out east they seem to be on every corner, so we had our very own first! The counter girl seemed slightly annoyed with our giddy indecision when ordering.

Doughnuts not pictured, boston cream and coconut!

Cheers Lex (XOXO)

I didn’t do any knitting or crocheting on the trip and not even that much complaining about the tolls, road food or my swollen ankles from the long car ride! I think I was just focused on the 3 of us having a fantastic time together, spending these last few days of Alexa’s childhood as a family trio. ♥

It wasn’t until we were back home and several days later that I even had the desire to pick up a hook. Obviously winter (wooly hat!) and Lex coming back are filling my mind, she is my main hat & cowl recipient. The La Mar Hat pattern by Yuliya Tkacheva (aka Ms. Weaver) brought me back, with its unique beauty, sturdy structure and it should be absolutely perfect for those harsh nor’easters!

I’m still working on not being so somber, I will admit I got a little emotional at seeing only 2 toothbrushes in the stand, but she’ll be back in no time, taking the train home for Christmas. What a beautiful snowy scenic postcard trip by rail that will be!