Weekending

October 16, 2019 By Carole

I know it’s hump day and all but with the Monday holiday and the book club posting yesterday I’m just now able to catch you up on my weekend. It’s not like it was a particularly epic weekend or anything, but it’s Wednesday and I’ve got to post about something so it might as well be the weekend.

Okay, so.

Friday. It was rainy and icky and I pretty much chilled at home other than a dash to the grocery store. I had to get stuff for snacks, of course, plus enough to carry us through until next week. I really make it a point to only grocery shop once a week.

The snacks were delicious and we had our first fire in the wood stove that night. It was great for ambiance and it took away the chill from all that cold rain, too.

Saturday. I went shopping at Home Goods with Jessica and Jackie. I’ve been on the look out for pillows and such to make our bedroom Christmas-y. I found a great red throw, as well as a new pillow, a Christmas shower curtain, a truck for Jackie, some napkins, placemats and a bunch of other stuff I probably didn’t need.

Dale and I went to see Downton Abbey in the late afternoon. The scenery was beautiful and I loved the set and costumes on the big screen. The story itself . . . it wasn’t disappointing but it wasn’t really a great movie, either. Honestly, it was more like watching a really long episode of the show. After the movie we went out for drinks, apps and music and had an all around nice evening.

Sunday. And Monday. I hibernated. I mean, did you see that I went out among the people almost all day Saturday? I earned two days of not leaving the house. Dale was working with the band both afternoons at a local farm for a fall festival and I hung out at home. I did some knitting. I listened to a book. I made quahog chowder and I baked chocolate chip cookies.

I did some crafting with the Cricut and I turned a plain white tray (that I got on the clearance rack at Home Goods) into this one personalized with our last name.

And I made a onesie for a friend to give as a gift.

Each day when Dale got home we were able to sit outside on the deck and have a cocktail before coming in to twinkle lights and snuggles on the couch.

It was a very good weekend.

A Month in Photos & Video: September 2019

October 8, 2019 By Carole

Now that we’re a week into October, let’s take a look back at September.

Here’s the photo mosaic:

And here’s the 1SE video:

It was a month full of all the things and people I love. Pulling this together, though, was not without it’s challenges this time. I got a new laptop and there’s been a learning curve (I’m looking at you, Windows 10) plus some photos were on my old laptop and some were on here and I haven’t figured out yet what I want to do about Photoshop (do I just buy the downloadable version and be done or do I buy the subscription version and pay every month?) so it just took a little longer this time around. Kind of like a lot of things when there’s change, right?

Speaking of change, I think October will look much different than September!

P.S. Be sure and check in with Kym today for the latest post on our Read With Us online book club. Our book is Just Mercy and you’ve got plenty of time to read it before we start our discussion next month.

Hello, October

October 1, 2019 By Carole

October is cool mornings, warm afternoons, and cold, clear nights
October is the end of outdoor living, the putting away of the furniture, the bringing in of the houseplants
October is boots and sweaters
October is the first wood stove fire of the season
October is planting spring bulbs
October is a cozy house with twinkle lights to keep the dark away
October is knitting and reading indoors under a patchwork quilt
October is accepting that summer is really over and winter is truly coming
October is pumpkins and mums, plaids and flannels in red and orange and brown
October is hot cider, beef stew, and warm apple pie
October is scary movies and costumes and candy
October is homecoming and football and friends

October is here.

October is also the start of our new Read With Us book club and Bonny is posting about our book, Just Mercy, today, be sure and visit her to find out what she has to say.

Weekending

September 30, 2019 By Carole

Happy Monday, friends! It was a busy weekend of socializing here at Carole Knits and I’m happy to share it with you today.

There was the usual Friday Night Snacks.

We’re so grateful to still be enjoying at least part of our evening on the deck. The heaters are invaluable now and make it cozy and inviting and do a good job of keeping the chill away.

On Saturday morning I met a friend for coffee. She’s establishing a photography business and killing it and we talked about pricing guidelines, local politics, juggling work, family & motherhood and more. It was a great visit.

Dale’s class reunion was in Plymouth and, since he had a band job in the afternoon that was closer to Plymouth than home, I had a friend bring me to the hotel and then Dale met me there later. I had a wonderful few hours to myself in the afternoon in that hotel room, knitting and gazing out the window and just generally enjoying some time with nothing I had to do.

The reunion was delightful. Dale’s class is small and I know many of his classmates from other gatherings over the years. I enjoyed catching up with friends and particularly loved hearing from so many of them about what a kind person Dale was in high school – and still is.

On Sunday morning we had brunch with everyone and then stopped at the beach before heading home.

I do love that portrait setting on the iPhone. I took a photo of Dale.

And Dale took a photo of me.

We spent the rest of the day catching up on football (Yay for another Pats win!) and even managed to enjoy some more time on the deck before heading in to watch the season premiere of This Is Us. I can’t say yet how I feel about these new characters but I’m hoping it will all come together in a good way that only that show seems to be able to pull off.

And that was my weekend. What did you do?

Birthday Weekending

September 23, 2019 By Carole

I’m going to make a bold statement. If I ran the world all birthdays would be on Saturdays. Logistically, I’m not entirely sure how that would work. But if I ran the world I’d have someone super smart to figure that part out.

My point, in case you aren’t getting it, is that when your birthday falls on a Saturday is it simply.the.best.

Case in point:

Friday Night Snacks on Birthday Eve. What? It’s a thing.

A whole lovely day of doing whatever you want because it’s Saturday. And your birthday. Doing what I wanted included hanging around the house, going for a great walk with Dale (and having two people come out of their houses to greet me and wish me a happy birthday, I love living in a small town), taking the Mustang out for a top down ride, and having a very small dinner party with friends.

There were great apps. I took this photo before Rose got here with her delicious stuffed mushrooms but you get the idea.

It was warm enough to enjoy dinner under the pergola.

I made lasagna, which I must say was terrific, Sean brought roasted vegetables, there was wine and laughter and it was completely perfect.

Speaking of perfect, check out that cake! Sean made it and it’s a 4 layer cake that’s a lot of work, a true labor of love. And really, what says I love you more than baking a birthday cake?

Sunday, my first day of my 55th year and the last day of summer, was a lazy day. There was football. I finished a book that made me cry in a very good way. And there was a beautiful pink and purple sky. It was the perfect way to end a really perfect birthday weekend.