The Season of Pumpkin Everything is Here!

Did I mention how much I LOVE pumpkin? Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin coffee (PUMPKIN COFFEE!!!) and much much more! Pumpkin is one of the most delicious and versatile items to grow on God's green earth and it's lovely!

I was a bad girl. I'm trying to cut back on sugar and caffeine (this is not going very well), and today I said "screw it" and bought a pumpkin pie donut and an iced pumpkin coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. It was totally worth it.

Seriously, that was some good stuff.

But anyway, that's actually the most exciting thing that's happened to me today.

I didn't go to mass this morning. My midweek mass will now be on Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays, though if my boss decides to have me work on Tuesday mornings it'll go back to Wednesdays. I just can't afford to go every day, no matter how much I'd like to.

Anyway, there's really nothing to say. I finally finished the blanket square I was working on and have cast on another one. It's not as wide, so hopefully it won't take too long to knit it up. I'd like to finish it tomorrow if at all possible, and move on the the next one. I have at least four more left, and I'd like to be finished by the end of the month. Then I can move on to other projects.

I think I lost one of my double points for my socks though. It's not in the bag, so I'm hoping it just fell out into the floor of my bedroom. I just had it the other day, after all. If not I'll have to buy another set, which isn't terrible, I guess, it just puts me further behind. That's part of why I'm so anxious to finish this blanket. I feel like I'm falling behind, which bothers me greatly.

Anyway, good night all.

Yours always,
Tara

THe Approach of Autumn

It's September (not that anyone didn't already know that) and autumn is here! It is, technically, a little too early to start on Halloween decorating, not that that stops people. Almost every store is drenched in orange, brown, red, and yellow in one corner, and Orange, slime green, vibrant purples, and black. There's pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns, leaves and creepy looking dead trees, empty fields and full grave-yards.

Now, I am a huge fan of Halloween. I love acting, love dressing up, and love an excuse to watch dorky kid movies (Scary Godmother! It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Spookable Pooh! The Nightmare Before Christmas!...good for two holidays, that one!) So Halloween, with costumes, candy, and a decent number of kiddie movies, is brilliant! This year, I won't be able to take part in my favorite tradition of passing out candy to trick-or-treaters. I love passing out candy to kids in costumes! So cute. Any way! Not the point!

The point is, my favorite season swiftly approaches. The annual torrential down-pour we get every winter hasn't started, the humidity has blessedly retreated. (This fact can make even hardened atheist praise God). The weather cools off and I can wear long sleeves, cardigans, sweaters, and leggings without risking heat stroke.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the beginning of the Christmas season (which, in my mind, officially begins at the end of the Thanksgiving Day parade because that's when my mother would permit Christmas carols and movies to be dusted off and brought out for our enjoyment.) all come in autumn. 

Also accompanying autumn is Christmas shopping, frantic knitting, school (SCHOOL! *sobbing*) and an over abundance of sweets that demand to be tasted.

I love food. And the foods that are best for the colder months, soups, stews, roasts, heavy pastas, and almost anything with pumpkins or potatoes are my favorites. This is why I fight year round to maintain my (fairly) slim figure. I've already mentioned my great love of Irish food, which tends, as a general rule, to be hot, heavy on potatoes, and made with (really yummy) cheap cuts of meat. Although I may argue that last point on the basis of the price of stew meat the last time I went to the store.

My point is, autumn is here! (basically) and there's a lot to love about the wonderful season we find ourselves in. There's also the impending birth of my sister, the birthdays of both my parents (within a week of each other) and plenty of time to bake as many desserts with pumpkin as I can stand.

This has been an ode to autumn from your friendly neighborhood blogger. Regular posting will resume tomorrow. Thank you for your patience.

Yours always,
Tara Hills

The Joys of (trying) to get started

I refer, dear readers, to Christmas knitting. The men in my life, whether they like it or not, are getting socks! But the other members of my family are another matter entirely. And then there are my friends to knit for as well.

So far, my list looks something like this...

Socks: H, P, Step-da, Da
Granma: Shawl (Butterflies?)
Ma:....
Sister: Toothless Dragon hat
Little Bird: Angel Dress, baby blanket, Christmas Stocking, Plush toy
Step-ma: Infinity scarf?

Cas: (Doctor Who?)
Hale: Scarf
Hale's son: Dragon toy
Hale's daughter: Sofia the first?
L: Infinity cowl?
L's son: ???

Misc.: Knitted Advent calendar, socks, shawls

My mother is particularly challenging because she's a summer person. She likes wearing shorts and tank tops and sandals. Meanwhile, I daydream about crisp Autumn breezes and pumpkin flavored everything! Hats, scarves, mittens! Cowls and shawls, leggings! Did I mention how much I LOVE being able to cover almost every inch of skin below my neck and not having anyone look at me like I've lost my mind, or dying of heat stroke? I like cardigans and long-sleeves, and jeans, and long socks! Boots, and being able to wear my hair down without over-heating.

And did I mention pumpkin flavored everything, dear readers?

Coffee, cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, butter, tea, soups, bread, scones and more!

Is it October yet? Please?

Spring is nice too, I'm especially fond of March (and St. Patrick's Day...) and the wet, but not overly frigid weather. Well, hopefully. Last year it was miserably cold! I was so grateful we didn't live up North. Just the mere thought of snow is too much.

To be fair, it usually takes me half an hour to warm up after I've gotten cold. And my feet can take up to an hour. Miserable!

I do think I'd enjoy winter a little more if we actually got snow. Not a lot, mind you, but about two inches or so. And no freezing cold rain!

I've just about finished my second sock. I'll take pictures of it when I get home, and post it tomorrow after I get home from meeting with the priest.

Did I mention I'm nervous?  Oh I am so nervous! It's irrational, and with how impatient I've been I shouldn't be nervous, but I am. That's just how life goes, isn't it?

I'm also quite pleased with my goal to cut back on sodas. So far I'm down to one a day, occasionally two. Not bad considering I used to drink four and five a day!

Anyway, I'm going to call it an evening, dear readers, and work on getting this last sock finished. After that, it's mittens, booties, and three little hats.

Yours always,
Tara