Rocky Mountain Wednesdays

| Mary Kathryn

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We celebrated our anniversary recently by taking a long scenic drive. Such a nice peaceful way to spend an entire day together.

Our route took us through Poudre Canyon up through State Forest Park and over to the little town of Walden, Colorado. After a quick stop for snacks we turned around and drove back the same way…

I hope you enjoy these (a few of) the pictures I took along the way.

I’m going to try extra hard to revive this weekly feature here on the blog. I post often over at Instagram if you’re on there, I’ve stopped using Facebook entirely.

Happy Wednesday wherever you may be!!

Camera + Garden

| Mary Kathryn

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I took my camera out to the balcony garden this afternoon. I was hoping for a butterfly but they came and went faster than my shutter finger! I’ve added a fountain this year, I used a super clearance ceramic dish I happened upon this winter and this solar water pump! It needs some adjusting to keep the water from splashing out too much but I have a plan! Go pollinators!! Happy Summer!

PS Stop by the webshop and see what’s new!!

Rocky Mountain Wednesdays

| Mary Kathryn

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Well, we finally did it! Bought a new car. The last 2 years have been a series of regular breakdowns and costly repairs, but we continued to feel it was the right option regarding my 12 year old jalopy. Then the squirrels moved in.

I’ve mentioned I had back to back flu and then strep throat earlier this year. My car didn’t get driven for about 3 weeks. Mamma squirrel built a lovely 3 room nest and had babies during that time, completely destroying the fluid and electrical system of the engine along with removing several important supporting clips and covers. We are still waiting to get a total on the damage for the insurance (thankfully we had coverage) but we also purchased a new vehicle.

Long story to say, we took my new car to Rocky Mountain National park…and I took pictures!

Happy Wednesday!

Rocky Mountain Wednesdays

| Mary Kathryn

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No, we don’t still have snow at our house, there’s still plenty in the mountains though. I took these pictures about a month ago so this snow has melted. We DO have lots, and lots, of prairie dogs around here. Bunnies too.

:0)

Candle Maker

| Mary Kathryn

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It seems like I’ve spent a big part of 2019 under the weather. Flu in February, strep throat at the end of March, then a lingering fever and fatigue with no apparent cause. I’m happy to say that I’ve been fever free for 3 days now and have a looong ‘to do’ list that I’ve started to tackle.

I did stitch and finish up the Glitter Village series from Country Cottage Needleworks during this time too. I’ve also been slowly updating the look and inventory at the webshop. My computer skills had gotten a bit rusty I admit but it’s kind of fun to figure this stuff out again, usually. I’ve also started lots of seedlings for my balcony garden, it will be another month before we can safely plant outdoors here.

Another thing I’ve been busy with is creating a line of soy tealight candles for the webshop. The first two sets are available now. They are limited editions and will go out of stock as new ones are introduced. You can see the Mother’s Day and Spring Candle Collections here! I have several other collections planned. I love making these and use them here at home for extra coziness! They smell amazing and are made from 100% American grown soy. there’s more info about the the fragrances at the webshop.

Happy Spring (about a month late) ;0)

It’s beginning!

| Mary Kathryn

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Made a quick roadside stop to enjoy the early Fall colors yesterday evening. Trees are changing fast at the higher elevations and we even have a few yellow leaves in our front yard. It’s hard to capture the real beauty of the scene but here are some unedited pictures I took to share here.

I hope you get a tiny idea of how amazing this spot is in Autumn.

Rocky Mountain Birds

| Mary Kathryn

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Also, a squirrel and pretty pine cones.

J and I spent a day in Rocky Mountain National Park recently. It’s the only time we’ve been all Summer. In the past we would go three or four times a month. The crowds have been too much this Summer, we tried a few other times but the wait to just get in was too long. We’ve even been unable to use our State Park pass a few times because the park we hoped to visit was full. Great for Colorado and the parks but not so fun for locals.

Anyhow…I took lots of pictures while we were there, here are a few with birds, I’ll share some of the others soon. Hoping to make up for the time we missed there this Fall!

summer knitting

| Mary Kathryn

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I discovered a new (to me) yarn this Summer. Are you ever influenced by instagram to shop online? I saw someone’s post about this yarn and decided to check it out. I bought 2 skeins to start out with, then 3 more, then 4 more…..The first thing I completed was another moonshadow shawl. I used 3 skeins (2 black current and 1 fig), you can see a video of it at my instagram. I’m not sure if you can view it if you aren’t already logged in….

The second completed item was a cowl pattern called Flora Cowl, which I knit as a scarf using the color Azure, from Making Flora magazine. You can also find it here on Ravelry. I was really happy with how this turned out.

The yarn is a light fingering, 50% cotton and 50% lambswool and comes in many, many colors. I ordered it here.

I currently have several other projects being knitted up in this yarn. I’ve posted the photos in this order (color & pattern name)

Marsh : Strangling Vine Lace Scarf
Petal : Cat’s Paw Scarf
Fig : Old Shale Scarf
Mushroom : Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf

I also have 2 skeins of Conker that I’m up in the air about project wise. I’ve just added a few more skeins to my shopping cart…I’m only at the ‘I might order more’ stage however.

Hope all your knitting projects are bringing you joy!!

:0)

at the lake

| Mary Kathryn

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E has been gone to Summer camp this past week. J and I took a spur of the moment trip to a state park quite a distance east of us.

There are very few beaches in Colorado. Growing up in Michigan you tend to take going to the beach for granted. I miss the waves and birds often. It was nice to sit and watch pelicans and knit the afternoon away. I got another stamp in my Colorado Start Park passport too!

I’ll blog more about my Summer kitting in a few days. I was working on a scarf in this pattern while we were there.

Summer is flying by!! Does it feel like that to you?

:0)

in the garden

| Mary Kathryn

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I’m attempting to spend August getting reacquainted with my blog and blogging, so here we go!

I spent a good part of Spring planting hundreds of little pots of herbs and flowers, in the sewing room. It’s been fun to see what blooms and grows on the balcony. This summer I’m squeezing herbs in everywhere. I love the smells and the greenery. Some I’m pinching off the flowers to keep the herbs nice for cooking others I’m allowing to bloom. I have basils, thymes, rosemary, marjoram, chervil, chives, mints, sages, and oregenos everywhere. in between I’ve scattered violas and chamomile, zinnias, hyssop, forget-me-nots, pansies, sunflowers….all grown from seed. I did buy some of my herbs but many were also started from seed.

I’m also growing two edibles I’ve never had before, cucamelons and ground cherries!

I hope you enjoy these pictures I took just a few minutes ago..except for the bird, I took that a few days ago.
:0)

Sun and Snow

| Mary Kathryn

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We had a lovely warm weekend and then a bunch of snow.

We had planned to rearrange bookcases and dressers through the house because we bought some new ones to replace things that are truly worn out. Instead we ran away to Rocky Mountain National Park to enjoy the snow there. We didn’t have any snow at our house at the time but that has changed.

I took the picture of the iridescent cloud on Sunday while enjoying coffee and the the 67 degree weather on our back deck.

Today it’s 12 and I took this picture of a bird talking to the bird feeder, through the window!

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Birthday Thank You!!

| Mary Kathryn

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Jerry’s sister came for a visit last week, the week of my birthday..it was a week long party and I’m exhausted!!

We went places every day, much shopping and consuming of food occurred. We hung out with all the kids on various occasions and drank a dangerous amount of coffee.

It was a great week! I did squeeze in a little brioche knitting which I’ve just learned. The pin is from T, he got me 5 adorable pins (with some input from his mom) and Amber got me some makeup sponges that are too pretty to use and look sweet in the snow. The bunny is from Jerry’s sister and I treated myself to some herb plants!

Thank you, thank you for all the happy birthdays over at facebook. I’ve been off facebook for more than a year now so I don’t see what’s happening there. I appreciate the thought so much!!

I’ve been trying some pretty great recipes lately. I’ll be posting a few very soon.

:0)

PS Janet gave me my first lessons in oil painting while she was here…yet another hobby???!!!