Let's Take a Walk

We had a huge storm that lasted all day on Monday of this week. Winds and rain kept us cooped up in the house and we missed our lunchtime walk. When the sun came out after dinner, Chase and I headed out for some fresh air. Here are some pictures of our walk.

Chase was very excited about the giant worm he found and carried all the way back to feed to the chickens. Andee would have died! LOL!

Thankful for Knitting!

During days like we are living through makes me even happier that I have hobbies. I can only work, clean and cook so much!!! Knitting keeps me calm, sane and happy. Stitch by stitch, I relax. 

I wanted to share some photos of my latest knit. This is the Ninilchik Swoncho by Caitlin Hunter.

I love her patterns. They are fun to knit and fun to wear! I went through my stash yarn for this one. As a knitter, I tend to buy yarn per project. I don't have much of a stash. But I was able to use half used skeins that I saved for this one. I also had some of the off-white yarn from my mom.

This was a quick knit...just two weeks. That's what happens when you can't leave the house!

I hope you are all keeping busy and are healthy. 

-Leanne

Easter Sunrise

For the past few years I have gone to Sunrise Service at the Manasquan Inlet. Several local churches gather to welcome Easter Sunday while the sun rises over the ocean. For obvious reasons, the annual service was cancelled. Our boardwalks are closed but there are a few openings to the beach and I decided that I would try to get down there in time to watch the sunrise. 

I took these pictures at Belmar Fishing Club beach. It was a perfect sunrise to start this Easter.

And I found two pieces of seaglass :)

Wishing you all a Happy Easter. -Leanne

Happy Siblings Day

Happy Siblings Day to my sisters, Andee and Lizzie!

This picture was from 1990, taken on our month long cross-country camping trip. 

We were headed out to the rodeo after our fancy dinner of tomato soup and Hawaiian Punch! 

Thankful for these two more than words can ever explain.

Another Day....

Hi friends. Another day....they're all starting to feel the same around here. Wake up, get dressed, watch Good Morning America, drink some coffee, then get to work. Take a lunch break. Take the dog (and any kid that wants to join) for a walk down to the bridge and back. Say hello to the alpacas, chickens and spot all the signs of spring popping up. Then back to work. Dinner, gather around to watch some tv, knitting and bed. Then we do it all again! Sound familiar??!!!

I have a friend that owns a business and she asked for some crocheted mask holders for her staff. I went right to my sister Liz for some help. She whipped these up this morning and I sewed the buttons on. They are supposed to help with the elastic pain around your ears from wearing a mask. The pattern popped up on facebook and Liz followed that. 

Here is the info from that link:

Can’t sew but *can* crochet? These are hugely needed. Healthcare providers are getting open wounds behind their ears from the constant mask usage. Pattern from one of my groups:

“I am using cotton worsted weight yarn so they can be washed and bleached. 5mm hook...chain 20, hdc into the 3rd ch, then in each ch to 2nd last. 3hdc into last chain, 1hdc into the opposite side of the chain and 3hdc into the start. Finish off and weave in ends. Like making a sole for a bootie. Sew on 3/4” or 1” buttons.” Pattern/photo courtesy of Vicki Leverre Duncan. She’s a genius!

Nice to be able to help out even if it's just a little bit.

Pennsylvania announced earlier today that their schools will be closed until the end of the year. It's only a matter of time until NJ does too. I'm trying not to get sad about it. But it does sting thinking about my son not having high school graduation. My husband was a vice principal and high school principal for 15 years. I went to every graduation. And every time I was there I would think to myself, someday our boys will be graduating. But that might not happen. Hopefully the schools will come up with a creative way to hold a ceremony and honor the hard work of our kids. But...that's for another day. 

Hope you're all safe and healthy.

This and That....Week 4 of Quarantine

We are entering our fourth week of quarantine. My boys are on spring break but my husband and I are still working. We spent a very lazy Sunday getting "ready" for the week. I didn't do much more than finish a book and make sourdough bread. I finished The Nickel Boys. It was hard to read part of it but it was eye opening and I would recommend it.

I was making my dough and it was time to score the bread. As I was about to cut into it, my oldest walked into the kitchen and asked if I could do the Steelers football logo. Ok! Will do. It didn't show up well once it cooked but it was so delicious. We enjoyed it with dinner.

I use this recipe for my sourdough bread. It's so good!!!!!!

I have been knitting as much as I can during these past weeks. I am almost done with my 

Ninilchik Swoncho. I used all stash yarn and I love how it's coming together.

I needed to get out for a few minutes today so I drove over to a local marina and just sat for about 20 minutes. I watched a couple put their boat in the water. Makes me excited for summer. Hopefully we can go to the beach this summer!!!!!!! I saw online that Belmar cancelled all events through July 1st. :(

I put the kids to work in the yard today. Lots to do while they are on spring break. I came out to check on them and Garrett was in a tree and Chase was in the chicken coop.

Then Garrett locked Chase in the chicken coop. Boys...

I got this pretty jade plant today when I was at the grocery store. I couldn't pass it up.

I tried a new recipe today and it was a huge hit with the family. It was One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta.

I didn't add the bell pepper because my kids don't like them and I added some turkey sausage just to add more protein to it. I have three very hungry boys and this hit the spot for everyone. 

My brother-in-law is a state trooper and they were told that they had to wear masks on their shifts and they have run out of supplies. So I went to work and sewed up a few tonight. My sister had girly fabric and we figured he would't love wearing that!!! I had some fabric left over form my son's college quilt. I want to find another pattern that would let him put a filter in through the back. Right now I have a slot that it can go in the top. Thank you to everyone that is working in the world right now! I am lucky and get to work from home. 

How are you all doing? We are lucky to be safe and healthy. My neighbor just came home today after being in the hospital for 15 days. I saw the photo of him being hugged by his kids and it made me cry. It could be the poster for "Stay at Home". So thankful see him come home with his family. 

Hang in there everyone! Day by day....we got this.