Cowboys and Angels

 I knit A LOT. Like A LOT, A LOT. I've knit hundreds of projects over the past 13 years. Out of those projects I have a few favorites. I think this one is way at the top of that list.

This is the Cowboys and Angels Shawl designed by Isabell Kraemer.

I had mentioned in an early post that my Rhinebeck house crew all picked the same yarn but making a project of our choice. I chose this one and two other girls are also going to be knitting it.

The first part of the shawl was tricky and took a lot of brain power! Then I got into a rhythm and it was much easier the more I went. Then you hit the garter stitch section. Ah, easy breezy. And then when you're just about tired of the garter section you head back into the bobble row, then back to the trellis pattern. I love a pattern that has some easy parts and some challenging parts. This project had that!

And the yarn was squishy and lovely and made me happy as I thought about our weekend together in October. I have wrapped myself in it since it came off the blocking mats. I LOVE IT.

So then I'm left with a knitting hangover....what to knit next?!!?!?!

I posted this question over on our Patreon page and I'm excited to read everyone's comments on what knits are in their favorites.

Oh and that reminds me...if you would like to be a Patron all the info can be found on our Patreon site. It's been so much fun connecting on a different level with people! We have had fun on our virtual zoom nights and our chatter is great. We all learn and are inspired by each other. 

Cheers! - Leanne

Our Purple Yarn

For the past few years, a group of my friends and family rent a house and attend the NY Sheep & Wool Festival. Most commonly known to knitters as "Rhinebeck". I look forward to that weekend more than any weekend of the year. It takes place the third weekend in October in Rhinebeck, NY, peak fall season when everything is pretty and colorful. I just love it.

Our group (15 of us!) decided to all use the same yarn and make a project of our choice. We have a mix of knitters and crocheters in the group so we thought a common yarn would link our projects together. Coming up with a color everyone would like was hard! But this purple yarn fit the bill.

I decided to knit the Cowboys and Angels Shawl by Isabell Kraemer. I started it on January 3 and I have one row to go (as of this morning). I have loved every stitch of this project. Partly for the wonderful pattern and more importantly, because I thought about our weekend together this October. 

I can't wait to see what everyone else makes :)

Winter Walks

 I'll take a winter walk over a summer walk any day! I like the crisp air, the quiet of the surroundings and the blue sky. I bundle up and head out when I can to get some steps in and fresh air.

I've been listening to some new podcasts and a this new audiobook.

My friend, Carrie, and I have started back to our 52 Hike Challenge for 2022. We started late last year and got 26 hikes in. Aiming for more this year! We have one under our belt and hopefully meeting again this weekend for Hike #2. We love it and I'm glad we are doing it again this year.

Have a great weekend! I'll be taking my son back to college (insert very sad mom face!!!)

It's been so nice to have him home and we got a bonus week because of Covid precautions at school. They spaced out move-ins and he was pushed back a week. I'm going to miss him. (although my grocery bill will be much lower!!!)

Lunch Hours

Over the past two years (can you believe Covid-19 has been part of our lives for almost two years now?)..anyway...for almost the past two years I have been working from home most days. Before our lives were turned upside down, I would always leave my office and go out. Usually home to walk the dog, make lunch, watch some tv, knit a bit, run an errand, what ever I could fit into an hour. It was always rushed and a little crazy but I would walk back into my office for the afternoon refreshed and ready to work. Everyone I worked with agreed that I was more productive and creative when I left for a bit. My creative brain always needs a little break to refresh. My boss used to laugh and say, go out and come back!!! It's kind of like when you have to turn off and turn back on an electronic device to get it to work again.

But what has slowly happened over the past two years is that I haven't been taking a lunch break. I make some lunch, maybe get something prepped for dinner, run a quick errand and right back to my desk. I hardly ever take that hour anymore. And I think it's been a bad thing for me. Burnout is a real thing and boy oh boy I've been feeling it the past few months. My dog is too old to go for walks anymore. Isn't that sad??? He's almost completely blind and going for walks scares him and he stays upset after we come back inside. So we don't do that anymore. But I have promised myself in 2022 that I will get back to my lunch breaks. It might be running errands but I promised myself to take some time to disconnect for a bit during the middle of the day. 

So today...I made a list of what I want to do over my lunch hour. 

-Take a walk to the mailbox and as far as I can before I freeze! (it's really cold here today!)

-Marinate chicken for tonight's dinner (grilled chicken burrito bowls)

-Make a New to You MAL post on instagram and browse our # to see what people are making

-Cast on for a new brioche hat to share with our patrons while watching a quick episode of Ghosts (the British version on HBO Max)

That should fill my hour!

p.s. every time I come back to blogging I remember how much I like it. Even if no one reads it. 

Inspiration - January

Hi! I've been meaning to post here FOREVER!!!!!! Work has been crazy bananas and I tend to just post on Instagram and our YouTube channel. Liz and I have been super busy with our new Patreon account. It's turned into a third job for me but it's been great! We are having fun connecting with other people all around the world. We have a patron from Holland! How cool is that?! 

We started the Patreon page in December and kicked it off with a Christmas Party. That was so much fun. We just hosted our first monthly live virtual knit/crochet night last week and that too was a hit. I love learning and connecting, laughing and chatting with other fiber folks. We get each other, right? I learn from listening and it's inspiring to see what everyone else is working on. If you are interested in joining our group, we have many different levels. You can see more here.

I have a strangely odd calm moment in my work day right now, so I went where I usually go on-line....Pinterest. Which usually leads me to Ravelry...down the rabbit hole of all the things I would like to make if I had the time. Ahhh if I had the time...and funds to buy all the yarn! One thing leads me to another and then I want to create, read, cook, create and connect. 

Here are a few things I came across today and wanted to share with you....hope you enjoy and are also inspired!

I thought this sweater and color combo were so striking!!!! I would love to make this in the exact some colors. Community Tunic

I just learned Brioche for my New to You MAL 2022. This Garter Snake hat looks like fun to try. 

ELBOW PATCHES!!!!!! I am a sucker for elbow patches. This Madewell sweater looks like it has to happen for me. 

I picked up four patterns during Jennifer Steingass's last sale. I'm excited to make all of these!

Anaashah

Avena

Gardengate

Vintersol

Can you tell I love yoke sweaters?!

And for all non-knitting inspiration...

This looks good for a winter dinner night.

I really need new pillowcases. Maybe I'll sew some like this one...

My favorite salad dressings:I really need to make some!

Ok...just got a bunch of emails for work...so better go! Oh man. Now I want to go make all the things.

What are you working on or inspired by these days?

Monday Inspiration

Oh hey! Remember me? I haven't blogged in months! My work has been so busy and my free time is spent at a sports field lately. Today I found a few minutes to hop onto Pinterest to get some ideas of things to knit for the farm store and I thought....well, maybe it's a good time to visit the blog and post a new Monday Inspiration post.

So here I am. Posting and sharing some things I found that inspired me and maybe it will do the same for you. For links, you can see all my Monday Inspiration pins here.

Cheers!

Wool & Honey

I am in love with this sweater pattern. The Wool & Honey sweater has been in my favorites for a while now. I am using yarn that is new to me, Holst Garn from Denmark. I got the cone of Sweet Pea color in their Supersoft Yarn base. It's a toothy, very wooly yarn that plumps up and blooms after it's washed. I knitted a 4x4 swatch and was very happy to see the result after washing. It's not soft at all...but I don't mind that. It's light and airy, similar to Brooklyn Tweed Loft yarn. I am loving it. 

The weather is getting warmer and the snow is all melted. But I loved this photo of the sunset after a long rainy day this past week. I love winter but I am looking to some warmer weather and sunshine.