Carole Knits

october zinnia
october zinnia
martinis with a view
martinis with a view
gettysburg fence for
gettysburg fence for
germinate shawl on rocks
germinate shawl on rocks
field of flags 2
field of flags 2
color affection with edge
color affection with edge
cedar leaf shawlette 2
cedar leaf shawlette 2
3_27_2014
3_27_2014
3_18_13
3_18_13
2_24_2014
2_24_2014
1_11_13
1_11_13
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits

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Call Me Determined

February 28, 2023 By Carole

According to Gretchen Rubin, February 15th is known as Discouragement Day . . . a day by which many people have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions. She has suggested reframing this day and calling it Determination Day instead. A time to re-evaluated and do the hard work of asking ourselves, if something isn’t working, why not?

Now. I do not make New Year’s resolutions so the whole Discouragement Day concept isn’t something I’m into. Still, I was intrigued by the idea of Determination Day and I’ve done some thinking on what I might want to be determined about. And it’s this:

I am determined to knit in the presence of Fred and George.

I love those cats but I love knitting, too, and I really miss knitting while watching television in the evenings. I am going to start by using a spray bottle filled with water to squirt them (okay, it’s mostly George with the yarn fetish) in the face when they try and steal my knitting away from them. This approach worked wonders to teach them how to behave around food (we really only rarely have to use it now) so I have high hopes that it will be successful around yarn and knitting, too.

I know I’m fighting against natural instincts but I’m determined to have my cats and my knitting, too. Wish me luck!

Filed Under: Knitting, That's Life

February Vacation Recap

February 27, 2023 By Carole

And just like that . . . I’m back! It was a great week to just hang around and not think about work. We did get away to Maine for a couple of days but otherwise I poked around at home.

I did some reading. More on that later this week when I do share my February reads.

I did some cooking. A few dinners and some meal prep for the week ahead. More snacks than anything else.

I did some television watching. We finished All Creatures Great & Small, started (and finished) Kindred, and got caught up on Fantasy Island.

I made some TikToks. My following has tripled in the last few weeks, all because I made a video about literary fiction that a lot of people related to, apparently.

Did I take photos, you ask?

Why yes. Yes, I did.

Two.

One of Fred & George.

And one of my martini and kindle while I waited at the hotel bar for everyone to get ready for dinner.

How was your week?

Filed Under: That's Life, Vacations

Library Love

February 16, 2023 By Carole

It’s a week to celebrate love and today I want to remind all of you how important it is to love your local library. I know I’m mostly preaching to the choir here, since many of you have told me over the years about how important the library is to you. But, in case you need a reminder of the good work that libraries do . . . I’m gifting this New York Times article entitles, A Love Letter to Libraries, Long Overdue.

The article speaks to my heart and the photos give me so much hope. In case you don’t feel inclined to read the whole thing, I will share the two paragraphs that I love most . . .

Imagine a teacher who’s responsible for a mixed-age classroom where students are free to wander in and out as they please, all opinions are welcome and detention is not an option. This person is also the principal, the guidance counselor, the school nurse and, occasionally, the janitor. This person is your local librarian.

Best of all, you never need a reason or an invitation to go to the library. You aren’t required to make a reservation ahead of time or purchase a cup of coffee while you’re there. You can pop in when your Wi-Fi is on the fritz or you need a break from your roommates. You might go there to dry off or to cool down. To study for algebra or to read a romance novel. To stock up on thrillers or to take stock of your less-than-thrilling life. To meet a friend or to be alone. For a bit of excitement or for a moment of calm.

In a world centered on capitalism, the library is one of the only places left where you are not expected to spend money. Many people say that the library is free. And, while that’s true on some level, it’s not really free . . . it’s funded by tax dollars. So, rather than call it free, I tend to call it pre-paid. And, since you’ve already paid for it, you may as well use it.

I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone reading this to hear that libraries are under fire in more ways than ever before. The cost of books, just like everything else, is up. Revenues are down. And we are scrutinized for the materials we purchase and the programs we offer. It’s not easy being a librarian these days. So, next time you visit your local library, show them some love. Tell them you appreciate them. Thank them for fighting to protect democracy and access for everyone. If you’re inclined to take the extra step bring them a sweet treat or some flowers.

Show your library some love. You won’t regret it.

Filed Under: That's Life

Celebrate Love Today

February 14, 2023 By Carole

assorted color heart shaped candies
Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

Happy Valentine’s Day or, as we call it around here, Happy Cream Puff Day!

I hope that whatever you do today, you find and feel love . . . in whatever form it’s best for you. Romantic love is wonderful but so is the love between friends and siblings, a parent and child, and probably most overlooked but most important of all, self love.

In a world full of heartbreaking news, overwhelming sadness, and relentless fear, I wish you love. Because, in the words of Lennon and McCartney, love is all you need.

Filed Under: That's Life

Museum of Me: February 2023

February 13, 2023 By Carole

Welcome to the newest Museum of Me exhibit . . . the one where we display and discuss how I met my husband, Dale.

So, here’s the thing . . . I sort of met him many times before we became a couple. And, in case you didn’t realize it, Dale is 14 years older than I am, and that is some context that will be useful for this post.

On the day I was born, on the front page of our city paper, there was a picture of a young man doing his paper route. That young man was Jimmy and he shared his paper route with . . . wait for it . . . Dale. This was something we realized when my mother gave me a big box of memorabilia from my childhood when I married Dale. Right on top of the box was the newspaper from the day I was born (my Nana had saved it) and Dale almost fell over when he said the picture of Jimmy. I think it’s just as well that it wasn’t Dale in the photo, that would have been entirely too weird.

That’s me at 10. I never played with dolls but Holly Hobbie and I had matching outfits that summer so here we are
There’s the band playing on the steps of our high school. Quite a crowd, as you can see. And that’s Dale, circled in red.
And this is the other half of the steps at our high school

As a young girl I was always aware of Dale because of his band. They played many concerts in the park, at an annual event in our city called Summerfest, and more. Their music is classic rock and oldies and it has wide appeal and my family always made the effort to see them when they played.

There’s me and a wee Hannah at about the time I became friends with Dale

The first time I remember actually speaking to Dale was in January 1993. My friend Diane and I went to see the band play at a fundraiser and I won the door prize . . . a t-shirt and key chain and I think there was a mug, too. I went up to collect my winnings and, feeling giddy and maybe a little star struck to finally “meet” the guy in the band, I gushed how I had never won anything in my life. Dale says he remembers thinking how cute I was about it and that it was adorable (and maybe a little pathetic) how excited I was to win.

After that night, Diane and I went out to see the band frequently. And because we were such regulars, we became friendly with Dale and the other guys. Dale and Randy would see us in the crowd and wave and say to each other, “the librarians are here!” I actually hired the band to play at a dance when the library (by this time I was Library Director in the town where Dale [and now I] live) celebrated 100 years of service to the town. And Dale would visit the library occasionally and we would chat. In other words . . . we became friends.

Our first New Year’s Eve together, December 31, 1996

And when my first marriage eventually/inevitably fell apart (a story for another time) we became . . . more than friends. It was a bit of a whirlwind, frankly, and we were engaged in a matter of months, and married in less than a year. When you know, you know, right?

We celebrated 25 years of marriage last June and I love our love story.

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Filed Under: That's Life

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It’s Friday Night and we’re here for the snack It’s Friday Night and we’re here for the snacks! And Bicentennial Beer for EB! #fridaynightsnacks #thosenapkinsthough #cheeseandcrackers #martinitime #blackhatbeerworks #ebbicentennial #eastbridgewaterma
After a stressful morning of learning NOT to play After a stressful morning of learning NOT to play with momma’s knitting, these two are taking a well deserved rest. The squirt bottle is doing wonders and I can see their internal struggle of wanting the yarn so badly but also hating the spritz of water. 🤣 We’re definitely making progress and I’m so glad. #fredandgeorgethecats #siamesecatsofinstagram #siamesecats #siamesecorner
Oh hey, FriYay. #fridaynightsnacks #cheeseandcrack Oh hey, FriYay. #fridaynightsnacks #cheeseandcrackers #cheeseboard #martinitime #cocktailhourathome #happyhourathome #tgif
We’ve social obligations the last few Friday nig We’ve social obligations the last few Friday nights and that was fun … but I’ll just say this … there’s no place like home. #fridaynightsnacks #theresnoplacelikehome #martinitime #eastbridgewaterbicentennial #eastbridgewaterbeer #blackhatbrewworks #cocktailhourathome #friyay #mycozyhome
New Year’s Eve at home with music and food is pe New Year’s Eve at home with music and food is perfection. Oysters to start and a dinner of steak and baked potatoes and lobster, easy and delicious! Happy New Year to all! #happynewyear #newyearseve #justthetwoofus #steakandlobster #dinnerathome #welcome2023
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When your husband is a kid at heart you make him a When your husband is a kid at heart you make him a pancake snowman for Christmas breakfast. Merry Christmas, everyone! #christmasbreakfast #pancakesnowman #pancakes #foodcreations
When Christmas Eve eve meets Friday Night Snacks! When Christmas Eve eve meets Friday Night Snacks! #fridaynightsnacks #christmaseveeve #cheeseandcrackers #martinitime #cheeseislife #bestnightoftheweek
I may be a shiksa but I make pretty good latkes! H I may be a shiksa but I make pretty good latkes! Happy Hanukkah to all! #latkes #hanukkah
Just one week until Christmas Eve! #christmas #chr Just one week until Christmas Eve! #christmas #christmastree #jeweledchristmastree #christmastree2022
Fred & George and Santa Kitty have the right idea, Fred & George and Santa Kitty have the right idea, snuggled on the couch on this rainy Friday. #fredandgeorgethecats #siamesecatsofinstagram #siamese #siamesecorner #christmaspillow #snuggledonthecouch
The pictures you find when you look at old photo a The pictures you find when you look at old photo albums: a bunch of Wheaties from 37 years ago.
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Morning yoga is better with cats and a Christmas t Morning yoga is better with cats and a Christmas tree 🎄 #morningyoga #findwhatfeelsgood #yogawithadriene #siamesecats #yogawithcats
I dare you to resist rubbing that furry belly! #si I dare you to resist rubbing that furry belly! #siamesecat #siamesecatsofinstagram #catsofinstagram #kittybelly #siamese #siamesecorner
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Just a little snack, I’m making pizza in a bit, Just a little snack, I’m making pizza in a bit, but I wanted to show off the napkins. We’re on to Thanksgiving. #fridaynightsnacks #martinitime #pimentocheese #gobblegobblegobble #thanksgivingiscoming
There’s the potential for a hard frost tonight s There’s the potential for a hard frost tonight so I picked all the dahlias in bloom. There are still loads of buds so this might not be the end, but it very well could be. I’m so thrilled with my first season growing dahlias and I’m excited to expand next year. Stay tuned for 2023 featuring more varieties! More color! More bouquets! #dahlias #dahliaseason #dahliabouquet #octoberflowers #flowersaremagical #dahliasfordays
Friday Night Snacks with a spooky twist, we’re r Friday Night Snacks with a spooky twist, we’re ready for the last weekend before Halloween! #fridaynightsnacks #cheeseandcrackers #martinitime #charcuterieboard #halloweencharcuterieboard #friyay #helloweekend
My mystery bag from @themossyapothecary arrived to My mystery bag from @themossyapothecary arrived today and it’s full of magickal goodness. #magickalherbs #mossyapothecary #witchyvibes
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