Shawl of Your Dreams

This past Friday night, I attended Knit in the Pit at the Asbury Hotel. Once a month, local knitters and crocheters gather in "the pit" at the hotel to spend time together, knit and socialize. This month was a very special meeting! The owner of a local yarn shop, Balzac Yarns, hosted a "Shawl of Your Dreams" contest inspired by Stevie Nicks. Stevie Nicks is a crocheter and will be performing at the Asbury music festival this upcoming weekend. Knitter and crocheters made so many beautiful shawls and I was asked to be a guest judge! I was honored to be a part of this! The shawls will all be auctioned off and proceeds will go directly to 180NJ.org. 

180 Turning Lives Around Mission: 

180 Turning Lives Around provides survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their families with free and confidential programs and resources to process and heal from their experiences.

A representative from the organization was there (and it was a childhood friend of my sister!) She was so touched to see the turn out. I hope they raise lots and lots of money!

I had the VERY hard job of picking a winner. There were so many amazing shawls. Three of the four judges all picked the same (and it was the one I picked). After a runway show, the winner was announced. The photo above of the woman wearing the blue gray shawl was the winner. It was an amazing shawl with beads all hand strung throughout. The vibe was Stevie and the color reminded me of the sea and sky of Asbury. I was impressed with the work on all the shawls.

You can see some of the details in the last photo.

I love being a part of this community!

Magnolia Bloom

 I casted on my Magnolia Bloom Cardigan on Saturday night sitting fireside with my youngest kiddo.

I am thrilled with the yarn! It is a merino cashmere blend by Lana Grossa. The color is Pine Green. It's not a color I usually work with but it was a closeout deal, so that's how I pick my colors these days!

I think it will be perfect for the holidays. The leaves and bobbles in the sweater even remind me of poinsettia flowers. I should have this done in time for Rhinebeck too so maybe you'll see me wearing it there! I plan on making it a shorter cardigan that I can wear over dresses and tunics. I decided not to make button holes because I rarely close a cardigan and I didn't feel like fiddling with that part. I noticed a lot of people on Ravelry also left off the buttons. This sweater is  bulky weight on 10.5 US needles so it goes super fast! 

Just keep knitting...

Well, my oldest is settled back at school for his final year. I miss him but my mind is focused on the middle guy as he prepares to head out to UMass for his freshman year. My house is full of "stuff" for him to take. All the dorm room gear, clothes in bins, pillows, bedding, etc, etc...it's everywhere! The day is almost here and my nerves are getting the better of me. It's weird because I'm not nervous for him. I know he'll do fine. He's ready. But that bit of unknown has been keeping me up at night. I find myself up at 3 am, tossing and turning. I'm usually a very good sleeper. So I know this new stage of life is messing with my mom brain! It's going to be so different in the house but we'll still be so busy with my youngest, sports, him starting middle school, my work, my husband's work. I know we won't be bored! Just going to be different. 

So what do I do when I'm super stressed???? KNIT! Knit, knit, knit. I mean, I knit all the time anyway but I REALLY knit when I'm stressed. This sweater has flown on my needles and I'm almost done. I'll be wearing this sweater at Rhinebeck this year. It will be done soon so I thought I would have some time to knit another one before Rhinebeck. 

(photo and knitting by Kate Salomon)

When Kate Salomon from Green Mountain Spinnery posted her finished  Magnolia Cardigan, I knew this was the one. I would have loved to get yarn from Green Mountain (I LOVE THEIR YARN) but I had to be mindful of my budget. So I hopped on Webs and found this pretty wool, cashmere blend that was on close-out. I couldn't decide on a color. So I ended up with this Pine Green yarn. I thought it would be great for Christmas and holiday times. Hopefully I'll have it done in time to wear to Rhinebeck too!

Two more days and I'll be on the road to move our boy into college. How does time go so fast????!

And as soon as we get home I'll be putting my little guy on the bus to middle school. 

And I'll be knitting.....and knitting....and knitting!

A Fossil Hunting We Will Go....

Over the weekend, we loaded up our cars with the cousins and three of Wade's friends to go fossil hunting. Wade turns 10 soon and my sister wanted to get the bday party in while it was still nice and warm around here. What a fun morning of walking in the creek, finding lots of shark teeth and even a few frogs! 

We went to Ramanessin Brook Greenway Nature Trail in Holmdel, NJ. We have been in this creek before, but not this part. It's amazing! We were looking for fossils from the Cretaceous period, a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and NJ was submerged beneath the ocean. It's wild to think the shark teeth we found are millions of years old! Every kid and adult found some teeth. It was a great day. Happy 10th Birthday Wade!

When I looked up some info on the creek, I came across an article that talks about an event coming up in September where a guide will be with you. 

Wings, Roots and Happy Feet

 My mom says it all the time..."Alpacas were put on this earth so we could all have alpaca socks".

My older boys are heading to college. My oldest left this morning (yes...I cried. No...it doesn't get easier!). My middle guy leaves next week. Mommom made sure their feet won't be cold!

Wings, and roots...(and happy feet)

Fall on the brain

Happy Monday!

 I've been soaking up the end of summer but I'm so ready for fall!

I've started knitting to sell things in the farm store. Basically, what ever money I make in the store is what I use for Christmas shopping. So I better get knitting! So far I have a little baby sweater made that will then get a little teddy bear face embroidered on the front. I plan on making a bunch in different colors and sizes. They're adorable and always a huge hit. I'm also going to knit a few cowls. They usually sell too.

That's it for today...nothing too interesting but wanted to say hi. Have a great week!

Are you ready for some football?

After a few weeks of practice, Chase and his team had a scrimmage last night. We went over to watch and I was happy to be back on the sidelines knitting and cheering him on. Last night's weather was perfect. Crisp and cool, just right for knitting and football. I'm working on a baby sweater to see in the farm store. I'm knitting the Flax sweater (without the garter panel on the sleeves). This is my go-to sweater pattern for knitting in the coop. I can make variations to it, add color work, a little lace, whatever I feel like doing. For this one, I'm knitting it using a pretty pink alpaca yarn and I'll go back and embroider a little bear face on the front. (Like this one I made last year.) As soon as I put them out for sale, people buy them. So, baby bear sweaters will be on my needles for a while!

We have one more week with the biggest brother in the house before he heads back to college. It has been so nice to have him home all summer. We're going to miss him so much. He's the best brother. He was busy all day yesterday but made sure to get over to the field for a bit so he could see Chase play. Carried his gear back to the car and drove him home just the two of them. 

I finished reading Flying Solo. I read her previous book, Evvie Drake Starts Over and really liked it.

I liked Flying Solo too. Definitely a quick easy read. Had some cute story lines that I enjoyed.

I've read so many books like this over this summer. It's all my brain could handle. But I'm ready for a meatier book. I say that...but I bet if I start reading a more serious book I'll complain!

 

I'm so happy fall is getting closer. I'm ready!