Feels good to be back!

After a long hiatus and a sweet reminder from my oldest (thanks Bee!!), I feel drawn back to blog! What a whirlwind these years have been and how much life has changed. I feel the pull of reflection and the need to focus on things that bring my heart joy. I hope this finds you all well through these wild times. 

Fall is my favorite season for its colors and light, for the harvest and landscape, the warmth and rest as we transition to winter. It inspires trails full of bright foliage, mushrooms, and huckleberry and it makes me want to make soups, and bake. 

This October has to be the strangest in memory with not a raindrop in sight and 80 degree days. The leaves are crumpled on the ground and have not yet turned. It is clear that weather patterns are forever changing and to buckle up for what's to come. 

My goals this month include hiking in Indian Heaven and Bald Mountain from Top Spur. I also have a new trail to try, Tamawanas Falls. Current Knitting Projects are the Halibut Sweater by Caitlin Hunter that I'm knitting in Metamorphic and Wilder from Spincycle Yarns. I'm also planning another Guthrie Sweater in two shades of Dyed in the Wool. What projects / trails / books / recipes / adventures keep you busy? 

Summer Knits
I love our family summer adventures in the Pacific Northwest. We pack every little magical moment in with dates to the farm, forest, beach, river, and high desert. The best part is that our project bags were always close by.

Summer Starlight

Hello dear folks,
It has been a while since I've last posted. After a lovely year off with baby Henry, I found out that my old boss and friend was starting a new yarn shop in the Woodstock neighborhood, called Starlight Knitting Society. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as I was just considering getting back to work. I immediately stalked her on the instagram and let her know I was officially submitting my resume! What's more amazing then getting to go play with yarn and teach knitting at a sweet little neighborhood knit shop?
We are coming up on the shop's one year anniversary and the stars are shining even brighter then before. We are finding new gorgeous yarns to carry, more lovely designers to support, and meeting new peeps every day. I am super grateful to get to do this again at a time when knitters are knitting even more then before!

Henry Huckleberry ❤️

Meet the newest member of our tribe, sweet baby Henry! Born early November, the whole family is in love. He is a super sweet, smiley, happy little boy who loves to snuggle & be with his mom, dad, brother, & sister. We are incredibly thankful & so very happy! 

He was born a big baby of 11lbs 10ozs, which is why I love to knit. Knitting allows you to custom items to fit. Where regular socks were cutting off his little ankles, I knit him some booties. Where a regular overall pattern was to short, I was able to lengthen it. It is incredibly satisfying as a mama knitter to wrap baby up in warm cozy knits during the winter months! I've been able to use up leftover skeins for sweet hats, make him a super special forest sweater, & a beautiful tweed apple tree blanket. All of which have been put up great use. 

Woodland Baby Shower

We are thrilled to be expecting a baby boy in early November. I was inspired early on to do a woodland themed nursery from a print I purchased, "Forest Festivities" by Jahna Vashti. 

My dear friend Jen offered to throw me a shower & blew us all away with her culinary delights & decorative flare! She made Caprese toadstools, cheese & almond pine cones, & created a fairly land of woodland decor. My mom made the sweetest woodland themed cake complete with all the critters & baby riding a canoe. We decorated quilt squares & best of all, shower guests each brought a book for baby. I feel incredibly lucky & thankful for such dear friends, family, & baby boy whose on the way!

Stars and stripes

I have loved working on this cozy blanket for our home. It has been the perfect project during rainy days off. I used the Chromium Star Blanket pattern by Laura Lynn Hanks and used the yarn Sheepish.. which I love by Vicki Howell.

Vegan Lasagna.. kid tested, honey approved!

Who knew that layers of a ton of savory veg with whole wheat noodles and tofu would taste so good. I took broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, kale, carrots, bell pepper, onion, garlic and finely diced them and sauteed in a pan with some veggie broth and Italian spice. Then I took firm tofu and mixed in salt, pepper, more Italian spice, and minced garlic. I layered these between whole wheat lasagna and marinara and cooked at 375 for 45 minutes. It was delicious, cheap, filling, and the kids and meat loving hubby cleaned their plates!