Another road

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

- The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

Can you sense me slowing down? Coming to a critical juncture?  Deciding what step to take next? 

For me, November is a month that represents just those feelings. Where do I go next? So many activities to chose from . . .

It's NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month, so I'm writing as much as I can. When I can. And let me tell you, I'm not on the downward slope yet.

It's the pre-Christmas rush. Like most knitters, I have some holiday knitting to finish up. Actually, I'd need to start it first.

It's the start of hockey season for Youngest Child - lots of hoiking gear from house to car to rink, etc. This isn't as much fun as you might expect.

I'm doing a Knit-a-long - the 2 Knit Lit Chicks gradient shawl Knit-a-long. Goodness knows why but I'm inching my way to the bind off. I'm thinking this shawl might make a two-fer as a holiday knitting project.

And there is that *&%$#@ blue sweater hanging over everything. I can only knit on it when Oldest Daughter is around to try it on. Those sleeves are killing me!

But there is the bright side of November as well:

Yarn! 

I bought some Roubaix Wool sock yarn from Winterwind Farm in a lovely heather cream color - which I have now dyed purple for Youngest Child's second pair of requested socks. The boy's on a purple kick, what can I say?

Soap!

I've been experimenting with using herbs from my garden in home made glycerin-based soap. So far, I've produced a lovely fresh Lemon Basil soap.

Marmelade!

 I am a big fan of using things up and when I discovered the bag of oranges I'd bought was none too sweet, I used them to make marmalade. Yum! (And please, please set up!)

Quilts!

 I've been hacking along on my Craftsy.com Quilt Block of the Month project and I'm practically done. The last two in fact, are on my cutting table right now. 

Special Dates! 

Yes, November is my Blog-a-versery and my birthday month. Yes, this blog started way back on November 14, 2005. Some things never change - the first problem project profiled?

The first blue sweater for Oldest Daughter!

Happy November!

Cool Wednesday not a bust. I just forgot.

I knew there was something I was supposed to do last night before I went to bed. But I went anyway. So this morning, my computer was still on and there was no Cool Wednesday. So, let's do this again. (with addendum.)

Knitting is occuring but photos are not. I'm on another Cotton Chenille face cloth and hope to finish this this evening. (I didn't)

I have been having fun! (and I've been sleeping.)



Good Friend Melissa lent me her Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker (table top, easy to use!) and I made Cherry Frozen Yoghurt. I used non-fat Greek Yohurt so it is very tangy - not too sweet - and destined for the dinner table. I recommend one of these! (It was very tangy - good with chocolate syrup.)

One Cool Wednesday item is this neat (and easy) tutorial for making Batman-themed soap. Since I'm making washcloths for gifts, I may have to branch into soap. Lesley over at The Pink Toque has a lot to share - check her out! (I especially like her Knitting Under the Desk blog!)

And just for fun - Youngest Daughter recomends this:



This made me laugh out loud! (And it made me a little hungry!)

Slowing down on the knitting, gearing up for the graduation!

Only two of the three besties were hanging out in my kitchen today. They dashed in after graduation practice, dirtied up a sink full of dishes and then dashed out. Tonight is their school's graduation dinner where they have a tradition of a speech being given by a teacher about each student! Who the teacher is and what pictures they use is a big secret - we can't wait. Middle Daughter is planning on buying waterproof mascara today . . .

Any way, I'm on my way to GF Melissa's house to MAKE SOAP! I'm hoping to not be the Mom at graduation with lye burns but she's got a lot of experience (ask her about her Bacon Soap!) and I think we'll have a good time.

Next week, anticipate more face cloths and possibly the end of the Swallowtail Shawl. Also, I'll be live and in person at the Manitou Triathlon in White Bear Lake on June 14 so stop by, I'll let you run my leg!

In the spirit of graduaton, whether it is Middle Daughter's high school ceremony this weekend or Youngest Boy's kindergarden graduation on Monday, I thought this would make you smile. It's no one that I know but I'm sure the laughs and tears are the same all over.