summer hopefuls!

This weekend marks our first camping trip of the year. And of course the majority of Vancouver Island is under a fire ban. Luckily, we'll be camping at a private camp-ground, and as of right now there are no fire bans there. We'll see by the weekend though. At any rate, we'll still have a good time.

this is from last year, but we're going to the same spot!

The reason for my absence here is actually just the normal busy life of balancing work and summer life with a kiddo. You know, you'd think that summer is a slower season for us knitters, but this year I am keeping very busy! I am also needing to plan and knit for the one winter market that I like to sell at. So then I am left to wonder when I'll do some selfish knitting?

Though I may need to be patient as to when these items can be on my needles, I thought I'd share a few of what's at the top of my queue. Just because it's summer, and hot as all get out around here, it never means it's too hot to knit (not for me, anyway) ;) 

so here is what's hopefully up soon for me. (in no particular order)

1.    boxy. by joji locatelli. - this one has been in my queue for ever. I even had the yarn all picked out and set aside for this last year... so far I haven't changed my mind on the pairing. It's a daring one!! wollmeise Pure 100% merino superwash in wasabi.  

2.    oatmeal pullover. by jane richmond. - though I have already knit this one several times, I'm putting it up here because I know it will be on the needles soon. As soon as the sskal starts up, I'll be casting on for this in knit picks wool of the andes bulky in crush. Because who doesn't need a hot pink sweater?!

3.    something by martina behm. ha. ok so I've actually never knit any of her patterns yet, and she's always been on my radar... along with several of her patterns being in my queue. I have several options that I already have yarn for.... naiada, brickless, viajante, nuvem, lintilla, & hitchhiker just to name a few. HA!
This woman is so incredibly talented, and I am frankly surprised I haven't knit anything yet. Time to change that for sure. :)

My queue is pages and pages long, seriously. There are so many items I wish I could just cast on. Though it seems I actually need to feed my family, keep on top of the household duties, care for my child, and you know.... be a grown up. So in the meantime, I consider myself very lucky to be able to do what I love. And hopefully one day soon, we'll see more selfish knits popping up in the blogger feed. yes?

Tell me, what are your summer hopeful knits? I'd love to hear about them! Have you gone camping this year yet? What are your fave knits to bring? xo

yarn goodness...

it's the last day of march! huzzah!
i feel like this has been a harsh winter for so many! i know that here in victoria, bc we've had some springy weather lately (sorry!) but i feel for the rest of the country! i just hope things thaw out for you soon. xoxoxo

and so to look forward to spring, i think we should look at some pretty yarn, no?? that always makes me feel better :)

as i had mentioned before, seattle was such a fun trip for me! and of course, i indulged a bit :)

one of the things i had promised myself this year was to knit more socks. and though i'm not really on the biggest roll with them, i am trying to always have one on my needles.... so when i had the opportunity to buy some socks that rock yarn, i was stoked! i snagged these two lovely skeins.

and i'm hoping to be working with them this summer.... i'd also like to be knitting more shawls. i just like them, so i figure i need more of them. that's probably why my stash is mostly single skeins of fingering weight :) lol!
that being said... i do think a girl needs a good camping wrap! so look what i got just for that purpose!!!

when em aka. emmaknits decided to close her yarn dying doors, i was uber sad. though i did snag some lovelies to have in my stash! these colours just make me smile! and with any of her designs coming out, i've got some lovely yarn to work with!! xo

do you have some special skeins of yarn staring at you what are you hoping to have on your needles this spring? let's chat. tea's on... and i plan on getting some tulips this week ;) xo

bliss

this past weekend flew by! and we packed so much fun and yarn into it! please bear with me as i recollect my thoughts and try to organize my life for the week :) my kiddo is officially on spring break this week, so it should be an interesting juggle.

seattle was so much fun! i tried to instagram what i could. have you been following me? after a super long day of travel, and little sleep i was happy to be home, staring at my sweet goods and enjoying a glass.

one of the huge highlights of the trip for me was to spend time at TOLT. this is the most beautiful yarn shop!! I was in awe, and had to keep pinching myself. i've been dreaming of going there ever since it opened up! and then having susan b. anderson walk in was pretty awesome too!! a total bonus is that there seems to be a campground close by! hello summer camping trip! i will most definitely be back! xo

i promise to show you pics of "the haul" soon! and give you all a proper catch up.... 
xoxo

fireside... almost!

can i get a hip hip hurrah for the weekend! yeah, i can.  :) it's been a productive week for me! i got heaps of knitting done, and my list is looking more in control! we switched rooms for owen... and the yarn room is really getting there! i'll be able to show you soon! also, we've been getting a hole repaired in our kitchen. the plumber had to make a hole to get to the valve to lower our water pressure. it's been a bit of a headache... and a lot of drywall dust. but the painting will be done next week, and it will be like nothing ever happened there. (hopefully). haha.
but we're excited to be packing up and going camping this weekend! we could use a bit of quiet i think! i'm so excited to be camping on the west coast too. i just love it here. we are so very lucky and blessed to live here.

this is from last summer's camping trip up island in salmon point.

i'm looking forward to selfish knitting! hello summer sweater kal! tell me, are you joining in? what will you be knitting?
i've got some ambitious plans, but i'll divulge them in another post. i'm such a tease, i know ;)
tell me, what are you up to this weekend? i've got some campfire marshmallows to roast, and lots of knitting to do, and a 5 year old to chase around....

wishing you a wonderful, restful weekend.. hopefully full of yarn and fresh air! xo

home!

and i'm back!!!! oh my goodness, it feels as though i've been gone FOREVER! i don't think i've ever gone this long without posting since i've started this blog. it feels strange... and so so good to be back! we actually got back on wednesday.. but yesterday was a big catch up in laundry, and cleaning, and grocery shopping. today i'll be spending some time on the balcony tending to my plants, and getting some knitting in!

this was taken at around 10pm!!

speaking of knitting.... you bet i've been a busy one while we were away! i have to admit, i was feeling pretty frustrated with sock knitting. not because i hadn't found a pattern i liked, but more because of the pair i was working on... i really wasn't digging the yarn... :( so it sits at just one sock at the moment. i was knitting with knit picks chroma. and i just find it to be too thick and too fuzzy for me. who knows, i might change my mind come fall and winter... but in the warmer weather, i just didn't want to knit with it... so i ended up ordering more yarn from knit picks (always a happy package!) and my husband spotted the felici in building blocks.(it seems they are discontinuing that colour too!)... i kind of bought it for socks for me... but he immediately thought they were awesome and wanted them for his feet. hahah. of course, any excuse to knit for him, i take... so i cast on at the airport, and instantly became addicted to socks once again! hurrah!

though i had work knitting that needed my attention, i had a hard time putting these socks down! i just wanted to see one more stripe! i am just about finished the first sock now... the heel had to be redone a few times... as i had to change some numbers in the pattern... (i promise to give a full review and post once the socks are completed and we have some fun photos to boot) .... but i'm really pleased with my progress, considering i did in fact work on my other knitting that needed to be done.

and with temperatures sitting at around 34 degrees i'm amazed i was still knitting (well no... not really, we all know i would probably knit in any circumstance. any weather, any situation.... i actually feel a sense of anxiety if i don't have some knitting with me now... totally normal behavior though, for a hard core knitter... no?)

as for the running? sadly, i didn't get any runs in. but come this weekend, that will change. i've had to take a few days to recoup... and get this house in order... you know how it is.

we had a lovely canada day celebration while we were out camping with my husband's family, it was nice to sit by the fire, knitting in hand...  the only thing i could do without was the bugs... all of the rain alberta has been getting has made those mosquitoes and horseflies vicious. but i'm quick like a ninja... most of the time... unfortunately my little man had many itchy bites... we are sure happy to be back on the island where we don't have to worry about that now :) and have some milder temperatures too...

it's always nice to go away, but it's so nice to come home again, isn't it? 
tell me, what are your plans this weekend? i'd love to hear from you! what are you working on? any f.o's to share? anything new on your needles, and hooks? i'm itching to start another shawl i think! come chat... i've missed you so!!! xoxoxo

summer planning!!

monday already? this weekend definitely went by quickly. but it was a fantastic weekend! heaps of outdoor time, my hubby came home, and we had a grand father's day! (of course he was spoiled) ;) owen made daddy a book. it's one of the arts and crafts he tends to actually sit down and follow through with. haha. he draws all of the pictures and then tells me exactly what to write. easy peasy, but the outcome is so darling. and definitely a treasure to hang on to :) how did you celebrate your weekend?
though i wish i had gotten more selfish knitting done, i was pretty productive. our first vacation this summer begins next week so i have to make sure i'm all caught up with work stuff.... though i'm happy to say i've made some great progress on a little something i'll be sharing with you hopefully before too long!

as for today, it's time to get back into the swing of things. beginning of a new week, and basically the beginning of summer here... it's always tricky coming up with a new "routine" but i think this summer will definitely be a fun one for us! (we have 2 trips planned!!! but more on that later)....

Source: inspireddecorating.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

i have heaps of knitting planned (of course) as i'm hoping to partake in a winter market or two... (sooooo crazy that i'm thinking that far ahead... eeks!)

how about you? how was your weekend? any exciting things planned for this week? are you feeling organized and ready for your summer routine? come chat! coffee's on and  my needles are clicking away! xoxo

just what i needed....

hiya! how was your weekend?? i have to say i am feeling really refreshed, despite having to rush around while camping :)

we had a t-ball game early saturday morning. and even though my very energetic 5 year old had huge plans of going to the park, riding his bike, playing uno, and playing with his water gun, we still managed to catch a few moments of rest.

we go to this campground a lot... and this time, i think has been my favourite spot. i loved camping right on the river. and the weather couldn't have been better.

i am pleased that i got lots of knitting done, and a chance to re-evaluate how my weeks will play out. it's no secret that we're pretty busy, and we've only got one kid! but i've needed a swift kick in the .. ahem... to try to get back into shape. this is the only body i've got... and i'd like to keep it. and enjoy hikes when i'm older, runs, camping adventures etc etc.

the best way for me to do that, is to register for a race. it gives me the incentive to get out there. and that's what i've done. i did really well with my running last year, but then life kind of got in the way, and my runs eventually stopped. i don't want life to get in the way of them... not this time... so i've decided to do something crazy. i'm just trying this out here, so i might change my mind. but i'm getting up at 5:30 to go for a run before my man has to go to work. i tried it this morning, and i feel pretty good!

honestly, it's going to start getting too hot to run, and i'm sure my motivation will be pretty low in the late afternoon most days... so first thing in the morning is good for me. of course this means i need to give myself a for real bedtime. lol! let's see if i listen to myself. (as my evenings and late nights are great knitting times)...

so i'm hoping to find time for it all. to fit in all of the knitting i can, to spend time with my little man, and my hubby, and get those fitness goals reached. i don't think it will be really easy. (these things never are), but now that i've put it out there, i feel like i've got some accountability now.. you know? 

of course, i'll still be knitting like a crazy woman. (when do i ever not do that?) i've made great progress on both of the kals, and i'm dreaming of casting on more projects :)  i've been keeping nice and busy with other knitting as well... of course, i think the knitting will be hitting full force in the fall... and i'll be able to take on more when my little man is in kindergarten (gasp, where has the time gone!!) but for now, i think i'm finding the right balance... and we sure are looking forward to this summer.

if you follow me on instagram you've probably already seen these pictures.. ;) but looking at them again reminds me of the importance of resting... and how much i'm looking forward to this summer :)

tell me, do you have some fitness goals that you need to reaffirm? how has your knitting been going? did you have a nice weekend? come chat! i always love your company. xo

marshmallows and knitting

it's friday already! hurrah!!! let's all do a happy dance, m'kay? yes.

want to know what i have planned for the weekend? camping!! that's right. it's gonna be amazing too because i think the weather is supposed to be up in the 20's . (that's good)

so as i rush about this morning, trying to pack, tidy up the house, and not forget my knitting... i'm seriously looking forward to putting up my feet this evening and getting a huge chunk of knitting done over the weekend. for real. i only realized yesterday that the ttt kal was over at the end of the month. hahah i have to seriously get my knit on! .. and i most definitely can't forget my headlamp :)

what do you have planned? i'd love to hear about it! any celebrations for may 5th? there might be a corona in my hand in the weekend... ;)  xo

and we're back!

camping was so much fun!! and i feel so blessed that we were able to camp... in march!

 though now we have heaps of laundry to do, and a meal plan to figure out. and i feel like the time is already slipping away from me. lol.

this is because i'm going to vogue knitting live this weekend!! and i'm crazy excited about it! because it's going to be awesome. ;) i have lots to do in that time... and my knitting list is huge. but i'll get it done.. right?

Source: society6.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

gack!
i'm here, chugging back the coffee, throwing laundry into the machine... wishing it would fold itself, and my needles are on fire... thankfully my little man is super excited to play with his toys he hasn't seen over the long weekend... here's hoping for a productive day! lol. 
tell me, what are you working on? xox