The Best Month of the Year!!

Actually I like all the months.  But as this is my birthday month and when we have Thanksgiving it definitely is a favorite!  I used the above picture last year and decided to put it up until we have a big snow and I can get a winter picture.  I believe the card is by Lisi and they are always some of my favorites.

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one and you were with family and friends:)

(I'm trying to make a Christmas ornament that I can take a picture of and post soon)!

Fall is Coming

All of a sudden the days are shorter and it's time to pick pumpkins! We made a quick trip to the farm to ready things for the first frost and pick some fall produce.   I want to start and finish some projects so I'm hoping to also have some new ideas for my blog.  May you be enjoying some sunny days! (The scenic picture is the Half Dome in Yosemite.  My daughter and son-in-law were backpacking  there).

Every Day is a Blessing

As you can see by the dates summer is here and going fast.  It has been a different summer due to the small cherry crop, family member illness, and hot dry weather.  My daughter and I got to go camping and that was a very fun trip.  Projects this summer have included a small garden, painting the dining room and stairway, lots of cleaning and reading. Besides walking, exercise has included biking which has me thinking about a new bicycle.  Of course one of the best parts of summer is spending some time with friends we don't get to see as much during the school year. I'm still hoping to get a couple of sewing/knitting projects started.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Apples

  Beautiful flowers and hopefully some apples in the fall!   

Days of May

It was a very warm feels like summer day today.  Very nice.  Here are some pictures I have taken since my last post.

The cherries in bloom.  (These are not our best trees but this was the only pic I had).

Apples in bloom.

Trillium time.

Very pretty:)

A Mother's Day Gift! (I like Apple!) I also had a wonderful breakfast but my pictures for it didn't turn out.

May your days be lovely!

From Mild Winter to Summer?

Here in Michigan one can usually count on spring coming in early May.  After a very mild winter we are experiencing, in the middle of March, very summer-like temperatures!   I am (as a regular person) enjoying this no coat needed weather (except for the allergy problems!).  However, as a cherry farmer I'm wondering whether there will be a very early harvest or will a late freeze damage the crop.   Whatever the future weather might bring, right now there are beautiful flowers beginning to bloom.

(I actually wrote this in the middle of March and planned to add some flower pictures.   For a number of reasons that didn't happen but the weather has become more normal and everything is in bloom earlier than usual.  We shall see what happens with the cherry crop!  And I still hope to get some spring pics posted.)

Knitting a Cable

I have been knitting a "cowl" from a pattern I found in Knit Simple magazine (I believe it was on the cover of the winter issue).  The yarn is Sheep(ish) by Stitch.Rock.Love/Caron International and was purchased at JoAnn Fabrics.  This is my second project with a cable and due to not reading my directions closely enough I was knitting pleats instead of a cable.  I decided to undo my hard but wrong work and figure out how to do it right.  I am glad I did!  It was great practice on putting stitches back on the needle:)  So I'm learning you can make mistakes and take them out and redo them and keep knitting!

I am also experimenting with Instagram ( a free photo ap) to take my pictures.

New Books

On Valentine's Day we made a quick trip into Barnes and Noble and I was happy to find two interesting books on the bargain shelf.

I have seen several interesting projects in this book and am looking forward to trying them.  Maybe I can at least make a those bright felt balls!

This book was recommended in a blog (can't remember which one) I read recently.  Written by Heather Ross it has some cute ideas and includes paper patterns plus lots of info that would be especially helpful for beginners.  (Both were a great price!)

Remembering 2011

I was inspired by other blogs that had a "summary" or "reflection" on the past year mainly through pictures.  So although we are well into 2012 I am posting some of my favorite pictures/events of 2011.

March --  Aaron and Mary's wedding!

May --Annalissa graduates with a BS in Biology!

May -- Annika graduates from high school!

June -- Annalissa and Michael's wedding!

Sisters!

Harvest July 2011 -- Probably the last year using the old truck.

Fall 2001-- Beautiful northern Michigan!

October --  Very excited to knit a cable for the first time.

November --This represents trying something new.

December -- These two photos represent a trip to CA.  Flying and not driving!!

Happy New Year

Although January is two-thirds gone I decided it is not to late to say Happy New Year!  I was looking at some blogs and saw several that highlighted a picture/project for each month of 2011.  If I can figure out how to do that with pictures on my blog you might see that on mine:)  2011 was a very busy and special year for me and I am very grateful for its many blessings.

The picture above was taken (by me!) over Lake Michigan as we approached Chicago.   I had not flown for many years and sometimes still can't believe I was up in the sky.  I'm very thankful for answered prayer!

I'm hoping to get back to working on some knitting projects, painting some furniture, and other interesting things.  (Pictures too!)

Have a happy day!