Stitch by stitch

We have settled into our new normal. I'm doing much better being home. We all are. I go out just to buy groceries now. I was taking rides to get out of the house but I found myself getting upset when I saw the empty parking lots and closed stores. So many people are out of work and struggling right now. Small businesses are being hit so hard. I work as a graphic designer for a senior living community. We have several communities around the state and I am seeing photos of the healthcare workers, nurses, cooks, sales team, maintenance workers, and more. So many positive stories come out every day from our communities. We made signs that say Heroes Work Here in big GIANT letters that greet the workers. They are on the front lines of this and working so hard. I am fortunate to have a job and work from the safety of my house.

I have my moments that it all hits me...this is a time in history and the entire world is experiencing it. It's surreal at times, isn't it? I worry about the future, specifically the next few months. Will my son have a graduation? Will he go to college on time? Will sports ever come back on? So many unknowns. We watched a special on tv last night, Jersey 4 Jersey. It featured musicians and celebrities from NJ. It also showed people at work, local restaurants that are struggling, nurses, doctors, teachers and families. It was sad!!!! My oldest was sitting next to me on the couch and said, "this is just an hour of sadness!...with good music). It really was. Living in our house in our little bubble has isolated us from a lot. Made me very thankful that Rick and I are able to have a job that keeps us home with our kids.

I have been knitting like a maniac. The top I am knitting has taken me less than a week. I am almost done. Stockinette stitch in the round is my friend right now. Mindless and easy to keep my hands busy. It also lets me watch tv, read my kindle and talk to my crew while I knit away, stitch by stitch.

Hope you are all well.

Bread Obsessed!

Back in December I made a sourdough starter. This little jar of bubbly goodness has brought me so much happiness. Who knew a mixture of flour and water could do this?!

Making loaves of sourdough bread has brought me so much joy. I don't know why. It's silly I guess. But the act of mixing the ingredients, checking on it over a few hours, planning on what design I'll create on the top, putting it in the oven, and waiting to see what it will look like, then sharing it with my family is so calming AND delicious! My kids look forward to it. They love it. It's so good!

It took me a few tries and recipes to get the perfect loaf. I had success when I followed the directions found here. I follow it exactly and it always comes out well. I also add rosemary into the loaves depending on what we are having for dinner. The loaf in this post was one I made for my sister, Liz and her family. She reported that it was SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!! 

So there's that....my bread obsession!

Week 6 of Quarantine

We just started week 6 of quarantine and week 5 of online learning for the boys.

I think we've all settled into our new routines and it's getting easier. My youngest is the hardest with schooling but the teacher and school are doing a GREAT job of making it work for the kids. They are making it better every week. It's not ideal of course but it's working for now. I am thankful to have a job that allows me to work from home. Many people in my company are healthcare workers and they are on the frontlines every day. I am safe at my dining room table on my computer. For that I am thankful. I am hoping that my oldest can have some kind of high school graduation. More than that, we all hope he can start college in the fall. But all we can do is stay home and healthy.

I have been knitting a lot. I casted on a quick knit, the Ankers Summer Shirt by Petite Knits. I'm using Marianated Yarn. It's her Playtime DK weight yarn in the Honeycomb color. It was from my stash and I'm enjoying the knit. I think it will be fun to wear under a jean jacket and navy blue linen pants this summer. 

Cooking and baking has been happening A LOT. One bonus of being home is the ability to start dinner earlier and not rush home from work and start dinner. We also don't have baseball. Wow. What a difference our life is without baseball! We haven't had a spring without it since our oldest was 4 years old. I miss seeing the boys on the field and cheering them on next to friends on the bleachers. I am enjoying the slower pace of dinner time this spring.

I still go for a walk every day at lunchtime if weather permits. I bundle up and my little guy walks around like it's summer. We're a sight! I am in a winter coat and hat most days and he is in shorts and a t-shirt. Kids.....

I am trying to take lots of pictures during this time so I don't forget all of the little things. Like birthday parades.....who would have thought. Chase made a sign for his friend, Alex's 9th birthday and we drove by with his classmates to wish him a happy birthday. It's so sweet to see their faces as they wave to each other. Made me cry! Shocker...I cry at everything!

So as we head into week 6, we are all doing a little better than the beginning. 

How are all of you?

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.