Happy Birthday-versary

 

This weekend I celebrated my birthday with wonderful things - lots of cake and ice cream, knitting, and time with family and friends.  

I use my birthday as a way to look back on the events and growth I've experienced in the course of the past year, and to make plans, set goals and look forward to what the next year will bring.  For me, a 'birthday-versary' is like a personal new year's day, a celebration of the unique individual each person is and the special place only they can fill on this earth.

None of us is guaranteed another moment so making the most of each one is important to me.  This includes spending time with those I love and, of course, yarn!  

My birthday yarn treat was some Alchemy Haiku mohair silk blend, and a skein of Koigu KPPM, both in Autumn tones of greens, browns, golds and rust. 

For the knitting part of my birthday weekend, I finally blocked a project I started and finished during my trip to New Mexico, my Ishbel shawl by designer Ysolda Teague.  

 

I don't often have time to knit other people's designs these days, so I like to use vacation time to enjoy the benefits of some other designer's patterns.  This little shawlette is a nice scarf size and the pattern was easy to use.  I'll post more when I have FO photos to share. 

In addition to a little knitting on a cardigan (not of my design), and some current patterns-in-progress, I also began work on a hat to match my Lavande neckwarmer design. 

More birthday swag included flowers from both my mom and my husband, and some  favorite super dark chocolate!

And oh yeah, the treats. This little pumpkin patch cheesecake from Whole Foods was so cute and yummy too.  

And no birthday of mine would be complete without one of my favorite treats, an ice cream sundae!  

Those of you who come to Columbus for TNNA or Knitter's Connection might be familiar with Jeni's Ice Cream and their unusual, incredibly delicious flavors.  

We had a terrible time choosing, but settled on Brown Butter Almond Brittle ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream and a chocolate-covered cherry (we shared).  Swoon...

So, another year has come and gone and although there are some regrets, as usual, I am also very thankful for the good times, the blessings, the love of people and animals in my life, and the ability to do the things I enjoy most, like knitting!