- We already had our first snow of the season. It wasn’t a lot (we don’t ever get a lot) but it was enough to build a lopsided snow creature.
- I am nearing the completion of my first pair of socks. I chose to do an afterthought heel and only have the heel and toe to complete on the second sock. I can’t wait to wear them!
- We found ourselves with an overload of apples so I made an apple crisp (recipe from Minimalist Baker). We don’t do nuts so I just added more oats instead of the almond meal. I also used 1/4 cup of oil for the crumb topping instead of the 1/3 cup vegan butter. Served with a generous scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream and I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
- I am almost done with Christmas shopping.
- I bought an inkle loom 2 months ago and am having so much fun fiddling around with it.
Five Happy Things
- Spent last weekend enjoying the woods and the blossoming Trillium.
- Enjoyed some time on the water rowing. There were beautiful birds and swarms of jelly fish to see.
- Cast off second doll dress and just need to weave in ends and sew on button.
- Overripe bananas meant some baking *had* to be done.
- Spent some time getting my hands dirty in the garden with my kids. We planted carrots and snap peas and pulled a mountain of weeds.
Five Happy Things
- We put up a basketball net in our driveway and we are having daily games. We are all having a lot of fun with it and the weather is beautiful right now.
- Late last night (well, early if you are 20-ish, late if you are nearly 40-ish) I fulfilled a promise to make gingerbread scones. Lovely to wake up to a delicious breakfast treat this morning.
- I finished knitting a pair of slippers and they were quickly absconded with; they literally walked off. I immediately cast on for another pair for charity.
- The Easter Bunny brought Susan B. Anderson’s latest book Kids’ Knitting Workshop to our house and I love looking at all of the great projects.
- I made Vegan Brunch’s East Coast Coffee Cake for Easter and it reminded me of many a happy Easter spent with my grandparents. For years I thought they ate coffee cake for breakfast every morning.
Five Happy Things
Photo by Bowside Knits
- We explored a local park we had not visited before and enjoyed a lovely walk with friends.
- We celebrated a family birthday with homemade chocolate cake with enough leftover for tomorrow. Monday’s are always better with chocolate cake!
- Homemade spring rolls for dinner. They are easy but time consuming. With homemade peanut sauce they taste just like take out!
- I only need to cast off the slipper I have been working on and then seam it.
- The doll dress is almost complete. One more round to knit, cast off, weave in ends, sew on button, done!!
Five Happy Things
Photo by Bowside Knits
- I figured out how to waffle weave on my loom and completed another hand towel.
- I am almost done knitting the doll dress and have cast on a pair of slippers for charity.
- We had two days of downpours. As we had no plans we were able to stay snug and dry inside and occasionally relax with some knitting.
- I already have some ideas for Christmas knitting. Now I just need to find the knitting time.
- I am enjoying the beautiful flowers popping up around the neighborhood.
Five Happy Things
- I played my flute for the first time in ages. It felt so good to play again and my kids enjoyed listening and thought I was so good … nice words to hear for this rusty player.
- We have been enjoying walks through our local wooded park. It feels like an escape from the city life, even if just for 30 minutes.
- The doll dress I knit for a birthday gift fit the doll and was a success!
- It’s pancake night. I love not having to think about what is for dinner because it is Friday and Friday is pancake night!
- I have plans to warp my loom this weekend. I am still a complete novice so even just having it warped feels like an accomplishment.
Five Happy Things
- I wound yarn, with my expert helper, to make more slippers.
- I made lavender sachets for Valentine’s Day gifts with leftover bits of fabric and they were a hit. I love how just a little effort can make someone else happy.
- Still working on the doll dress but it is progressing, which is making me happy.
- I started reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. A copy has been sitting on my shelf forever and I finally picked it up. The full-color illustrations are pure Grace Lin beauty and make the book feel extra special.
- We are big fans of hot pretzels and so we decided to make our own pretzel bites. Tasty!!
Five Happy Things
I’m not gonna lie, it’s been a difficult week. Nothing earth shattering or even a little serious, just the type of week where a glue bottle explodes and the soap dispenser ends up in the trash can and you end up running around out in the rain with your kids because you all can’t stay in the house one more minute. But then the mud …
A week like this one is the very reason I started writing down what makes me happy; focusing on the happy things in life can only make me happier. Right?
- Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies You don’t have to be vegan to love the recipes that come from Isa Chandra Moskowitz, especially when they taste like this!
- Crocus I love seeing these little flowers pop up in my garden. Walking around my neighborhood I spotted an entire yard full of them; it’s magical.
- Knitting I am still knitting away on the second doll dress. The first dress is wrapped, packaged, and on it’s way to a birthday celebration.
- Listening I listened to a tape recording from a family event that took place ages ago, heard voices I haven’t heard in years, and it made me laugh.
- Reading I usually have at least two books going, one fiction and one non-fiction. On the fiction front I am enjoying the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich; perfect bedtime reading as long as I don’t get laughing too hard.
What is making your week a bit happier?
Best stitches~
KJ
Five Happy Things
- Embroidery scissors. I have loved these little bird scissors ever since I was small, watching my mom use them to snip threads after doing repairs on my stuffed animals. They were her Gram’s before that. I smile every time I use them!
- Beginning again. I cast on another doll dress in a different color combination. Fun pattern but even more fun making someone else happy.
- Acceptance. I have come to accept that my goal of 400 charity knits by the time I turn 40 is not realistically going to happen. Of course I will continue working toward my goal of 400 charity knits and be happy that I am doing what I can to keep others warm … it just may not happen until I have been 40 for a bit, or even 41.
- Tasty reminder. Elderberry jam on toast. A special treat that reminds me of a recent trip to see family.
- Vacation planning. We just made plans for a vacation later in the year. I can’t wait! Now what knitting will I pack?
What is on your happy list this week?
Best stitches~
KJ
Weekend Knitting
Photo by Bowside Knits
The Flower Knitted Dress pattern was easy to follow and knit up fairly quickly. I used three colors of Louisa Harding Kashmir DK I had bought on sale years ago and have enough leftover for a second doll dress with a different color configuration. I still need to add buttons and weave in ends … and cast on the second dress.
Happy weekend knitting!
Best stitches~
KJ
Bowside Knits 