Life is Busy

I cannot recall a week that I have not been on my blog to at least visit you my friends.  Unless I am on vacation somewhere, I do not believe I have ever missed this much blog time.  This week has been so busy.  My work load got all mixed up and on top of that I have been getting my house ready for a party here this evening, for my husband's work.  And I have to ask why is it usually up to the wife to get all this done? I am just saying I am exhausted already and we haven't even had the party yet.  My husband, who has done just a tiny fraction of the work will be full of energy tonight and I will be dragging around limp as a rag.  You know how one thing leads to another when you are having a gathering of people you don't really know.  You have to clean all the furniture outside, and everything inside.  Oh wait I need new plants out front.  Ooops, is the front door and walkway clean?  Hmmmm, what about all the mold and mildew on the fireplace outside?  Oh no the windows are dirty!  Yikes, when was the last time I cleaned the front of the kitchen cabinets and polished the counterpoints?  So this has been a week of cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning, and let me just say I like a clean house but this is ridiculous. 

There has been minimal knitting time.  By the time I can sit down I have actually fallen asleep on the sofa in front of the TV.  And don't even put a book in my hands right before bed, not a page has been turned.  So early mornings, lots of work and now an almost clean house have done me in this week.  I can't wait for a rest day tomorrow.  I plan on knitting, watching football, reading blogs, and having a great, big, relaxing day.

My latest leaf scarf based on the Vite Cowl got finished early this week.  I am still so in love with this pattern.  It is easy and fun, and I have plans for many, many more.  This scarf is for my SIL who lives in Wisconsin.  Made from Mesa, from Ironstone Yarns, stash yarn I have had for years.

I used two skeins at the same time, to make it more bulky.  This is going to be a sturdy scarf, for the cold Wisconsin Winter.  My SIL is such a lovely person, she is a great Mother, Grandmother, and a full time caregiver to my husband's brother, who has a very advanced case of Parkinson's Disease.  One of the things she loves to do is walk outside.  She is of sturdy stock and walks no matter what the weather.  I hope this scarf will help her to stay nice and cozy on those cold, wet, and chilly Wisconsin days.

I also tried my first attempt at mitts, this basic pattern can be found at  Wildflower Wool Knits, on the October 31, 2013 post.  I added a couple of leaves, which of course do not show up clearly in this picture.  You could embellish these mitts in all sorts of fun ways, needle felting, crochet flowers, embroidery, you name it.

This will be packed up and shipped out early next week.  My SIL does not celebrate Christmas with presents, so every year I try to make a little something to send  her, just to celebrate the great person she is.

Max and I finished another nesting ball last weekend.  I hung this one  where I can see it easier than the last one.  It is funny how during the fall he sheds less when I brush him, but appears to shed more in my house.  Or maybe I have just noticed more dog hair in my house due to my cleaning spree.

I have missed all of you so much.  It is funny how you take the easy exchange between your blog friends for granted.  I miss taking a peek into your lives, seeing how you and your families are, and seeing what you have been up to.  So I am hoping to get a chance to visit you all tomorrow.  I can't promise to catch up with a whole week of happenings, but I am sure going to try.

Hope you have a blessed day and wish me luck tonight when I have a house full of people I do not know.  I am pretty shy by nature, so this is not easy for me.  I wish I drank alcohol, that would help a bit I think.

Okay, back to cleaning and party prep work.  Have a great day and hope you are all well.