Dear Friends,
I’m trying to find my way back to this space. I really am. Summers are hard for so many reasons and I just haven’t been able to settle in the way I’d hoped. We are busy – and I don’t believe in being busy in the summer! So I am trying to find a way to share a few things before I run out of time this morning.
It’s been so long that I’m having a hard time using WordPress. They’ve made so many changes this summer and I almost couldn’t figure out how to write a new post. But I’m in editor and have managed to upload a few pictures, so here’s what things are like around here:
- Flowers, flowers, flowers! Not nearly as many as I’d hoped and I don’t have pictures of all of them but I’m clipping flowers and brining them inside almost every day.
- We have spotted several monarch butterflies this season and plenty of monarch caterpillars.
- A wren built a nest in the flower box outside of our kitchen window. She deposited four eggs into it over as many days and now they’ve hatched! Now Jenny Wrenny is busy bringing food back constantly and I feel so bad for her.
- We have a ton of tomatoes out in the garden but none ripe yet.
I have been knitting! The top two pictures are my current project: a Cloudesley sweater (Ravelry link). I’m not exaggerating when I say that this project has made me fall in love with knitting all over again. This is my third pattern by Isabell Kraemer and all three have been challenging and engaging. The construction on this sweater (tee?) is so clever and, once I got past my initial confusion, I’ve enjoyed it so much.
I finished knitting my Traveler Cowl (Ravelry link) in mid-June. Sadly, I ran out of the beautiful main yarn that Sarah spun and gifted me but substituted some leftovers to finish it up. Now I just need to block and seam it and it will be ready for fall. (Speaking of fall: I’m ready for it. Just saying.)
And now that I’ve broken the ice, I will try to show up more regularly again. My fingers are crossed for a stormy weekend and plenty of time to watch the Women & Men compete in the individual gymnastics events over the weekend. And track and field is starting too! I love the Olympics.
I hope you have a great weekend that is full of exactly what you need!
The Cozy Burrow 
Lovely to hear from you again. Glad you are back into knitting. Perfect to go with Olympic watching.
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Thanks, Cathy! You’re so right that knitting + Olympics = perfection!
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Summertime…and the living is…??? Glad to ‘see’ you! 😉
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NOT EASY!! 😉 But we’re all still alive and doing our best. Take care!
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So glad to hear from you again. I had been thinking of you and your family. But with your young family and your homeschooling, it’s certainly understandable how busy you are. Sometimes blogging breaks are necessary. I took one myself not long ago. Anyway, as always, I enjoyed this post. And I, too, am ready for fall.
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Thanks, Laurie! It’s so good to reconnect with you. I hope you’re able to enjoy parts of this muggy summer!
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Our summer has been busy as well — I think that’s just what happens when you have kids and there are things to do! I am jealous of your flowers; the rabbits here have been eating everything, including the one sunflower I managed to get to grow past seedling stage and frequently the blooms on my impatiens. Fortunately they have been uninterested in my cherry tomatoes.
I am delighted that you managed to use up all the handspun! The additional contrast yarn looks great.
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That is so disappointing about your flowers. I’d be furious! But what a relief that your cherry tomatoes are safe. I hope you get a lot of those to enjoy!
I know I’ve told you a lot, but that yarn was perfect for this project. It was a delightful combination! Thank you again for the gift – I can’t wait to wear it in the fall!
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Oh, that baby wren! What a photo! And a front row seat for you…
I love those Cloudesley stitches… I see why that’s been your gateway back to knitting love!
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Watching the wrens has been so much fun! And the cloudesley is just lovely – highly recommend to anyone looking for a tee to knit up!
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Nice to hear you have found your knitting MOJO. I watch my daughter and wonder how she does it because their summer time seems so busy. Take care and enjoy those flowers and that lovely yarn
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Thank you, Juliann! Finding those little comforts is the only way to survive this heat!
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Happy to see you post again! I enjoy your blog so much ❤ I adore the color of yarn for your sweater!!
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Thank you for your kind words, Autumn! And I love the yarn color too – I wish I was a better photographer and could really show off the tweedy bits, but that’s okay.
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It has been a long hot summer and I get very little done these day and thus am so ready not just for fall but for winter. I am reading, doing some walking, tending to a few plants, and little cooking. No travelling this summer just my favorite which is home. It is always good to hear from you and to see what you are doing. You are one amazing woman and I say thanks for sharing.
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I’m glad you’re enjoying your time at home, Linda. It sounds like the perfect way to spend the summer! Thank you for your kind words ❤️
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I’m so happy you have a wren! We had some in a potted plant on our porch, but sadly our cat found them. I did learn that, at least for Carolina Wrens, both of the parents are taking care of the babies. So while they are quite busy providing food, at least they are sharing the load!
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And just after you responded to this, I saw BOTH birds in the nest and feeding the babies. What a relief!!
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rd not to wish August away with dreams of September, but there you have it… I am doing lots of wishing in these first few days!
I have had Cloudesley on my radar for years… what yarn are you using, that pale grey is just gorgeous!
Your flowers look so beautiful… and monarchs!! Wow! (and welcome back, my friend!!)
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August is SO difficult. September is coming! I would vote for you to move Cloudesley up in your queue – it’s a delight! I’m using yarn I got from the NH Sheep and Wool this year – Green Mountain Spinnery Bahia in Lana (https://www.spinnery.com/product-category/yarn/sock-art-lana/). It’s so pretty!
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Lovely to hear from you (here!) … summer + kiddos can be exhausting … glad you’ve found time for reading, knitting, and enjoying the outside. Isabell Kraemer is one of my desert island designers. Cloudesley is not one I’ve knit, but it looks like trademark IK – fun to knit and fun to wear!
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Thanks, Mary! And Cloudesley is so much fun. I’ve just joined the fronts so it’s starting to look like a sweater. 🙂
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It’s nice to hear from you again. Summer with young children can be busy and stressful. Your flowers look great. That sweater is going to be gorgeous. I’ve knit two of Isabel Kramer’s patterns and enjoyed both of them. Take care Katie and enjoy the sunflower.
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Thanks so much, Jane! I’m glad there are so many Isabell Kraemer fans around here 🙂 Stay cool!
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I love seeing your flowers and fauna! It’s so wonderful to witness the butterflies and birds that visit our yards. I’ve been reveling in some butterflies and goldfinches in my yard lately – although no monarchs that I’ve seen.
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All butterflies are so fun to watch! The birds and butterflies really help make the summer survivable!
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Three weeks to go until school starts, and I cannot WAIT for that structure! Summer is all over the place and we’re all exhausted. Lovely flowers! Have you been having the insane heat waves up there too? I hope not, it’s really been uncomfortable. Great to see you in this space again!
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