Rather than making excuses for over a month of radio silence, I will just say – HEY! Thanks for the messages and emails. LollyKnitting Around is not down or on an extended hiatus. 
Of course, I have a lot to catch you up on, so, I’ll let the photos – and a few words – tell the story:
Late October: lots of apples – mom and dad and I did a little daytrip over to West Virginia where we bought a couple of bushels. I did a lot of canning and baking – like these apple cider cupcakes, for instance.
More floor + painting! The entire second floor of the house is done: Kris’s office, my office/craft room, the master bedroom and closet, the hallway, and half the stairway to the first floor. Lots of work and lots of reward. It feels like a whole new place, even though we moved in 9 years ago this month.
Mimi + Baby V came to town! It was such a joy to see them both – Baby V turned one at the end of September. She’s the belle of the ball and seeing my sister and her was an absolutely wonderful treat. I had a Baby Owlet sweater waiting for her arrival. Full details about the pullover are on my Ravelry notebook page.
I turned 30. It wasn’t all that bad.
Thanksgiving with the W family – wonderful times! We were rocking the red this year
Haircut (bangs are back!) and a new tweedy vertical stripe scarf. Ravelry Notebook Page for the scarf here!
House is decorated for the holidays and while still under renovation, things are pretty ordered. More renos to come – first floor flooring, and some kitchen upgrades… but that can probably wait till 2011.
~ More knitting to share next time ~
Thanks as always for reading
Glad it was a happy time away from the blog : ) The owlet sweater is adorable–I look forward to seeing more knits!
Love the bangs! You look fab!
You look beautiful, and it was nice to see an update. Good luck with your holiday season!
Yay! Welcome back. Love your ruffle shirt… do you remember where you got it???
GREAT update (though I knew most of this from following you on Twitter!).
So glad all is well in your world. I am in the midst of a 21-day vegan + no-sugar/gluten/caffeine/alcohol cleanse — of course, I am thinking of you a lot! As you might expect, it is surprisingly easy to go vegan — it’s the no sugar that’s killing me! 
Happy holidays! Leslie
Great update. Glad to hear all is well. Love the bangs.
Oooh, you really have had quite the busy month!
Great to read your post! Your hair looks great- love the bangs. Looks like you have been having some good family fun. Looking forward to seeing your new knits.
Happy birthday! (Wait, you’re younger than I am? But you have it so much more together!)
Candles-in-cherries, what a great idea. I stuck birthday candles in a warm pumpkin pie two nights ago… oops. (At least the wax stayed in one spot per candle, so was easy to remove when cool!).
It’s wonderful to have you back! Happy belated birthday, and congratulations on the canning, the home improvements, and your fabulous new haircut!
Yay, glad you see you back blogging – love your haircut too, super cute!
You look happy enough for what I’m sure is a titch stressful my dear! 30 is not bad at all. Neither is 40. 50? A little dicey!
Happy belated birthday! Enjoy the season!
Good to see you Lolly! Looks like you had busy, fun month
I have been waiting for you upgrade pictures and missing your blog. Glad you have been busy and you had a Wonderful Thanksgiving!! Bet you are enjoying your home now with all the redo’s.
Happy Holidays!!
Missed you – and your wonderful inspirational photos. As always, you are glowing! : )
I have to know–how are the dogs handling the remodeling? Are you doing anything special with them?
So good to hear from you!
Hi Lolly! Glad to hear things are still going well for you. Happy belated 30th!!
Loved seeing and reading about all your recent doings, and so glad to have you back in my round of ‘read-before-bed nightly blogs’! You’ve always been a favorite and I’ve missed you. Happy Holidays!
totes adorbs!
So glad to hear it! Happy belated 30th
You’ve been busy with lots of good stuff! The Baby Owlet sweater you made for Baby V is just as adorable as she is!
Love your haircut! So cute! I have a question for you … we are about to rip out our carpet and refinish the hardwoods underneath. I remember you mentioned FLOR tiles a while back, and I’ve been thinking about getting some once our hardwoods are done. Like you, I have dogs (two lab-mutts) so many of the FLOR tiles “pros” are quite appealing to me. I was wondering though, how well do the tiles stick to one another? If for example, the lab-mutts were to chase each other around the couch/coffee table and take tight corners on the edges of the carpet tiles, do you think they would still hold together, or would the corner/edge tiles separate from the rest? Thanks so much!
Yeay! So happy to see a post from you! Glad to hear things are going well and you’ve been busy with good things. We replaced our flooring in much of the house this year…doesn’t it make a world of difference? Amazing! Love the bangs, and happy birthday! The 30s are great years! Enjoy!
Great catching up with you.
Happy Birthday
Great photos and knits!
Looks like a fun fall! The bangs look great and I LOVE your scarf! So much so that I will probably copy you shamelessly if I can sleuth out the matching colors in my stash… Thanks!
Love your new “look”. I know how busy you’ve been and I just get tired thinking about it! XXOO
Awww, owlies! Adorable sweater for an adorable babe!! Happy belated birthday and I love your bangs!
You seem to be very much alive and looking great
Ded?
Hooray, you’re back! And, of course, better than ever
You’ve had a very busy fall/winter, my friend. I can’t believe how big Baby V is! She looks like a real little person! She is adorable and, of course, the sweater only makes her look more so. Once again, happy belated 30th! I love the top you’re wearing in the picture of your bangs. Much love to you, lady, as always. xoxo
Great to “see” you again. I love to read you as always. Your niece is sooooo cute. I am glad you had them over. Congrats on all the remodeling.
Good to hear from you. You look good and you look happy, so what more could we ask of your absence? Hope you’re planning a tour of the house remodeling.
I’m late to the party, but hope the birthday was wonderful! I love your haircut and that ruffled top is adorable, too.
Belated Happy Birthday! I also like my 30th, great night out with family and friends! you always get great haircuts, I always aim for that kind of side swept fringe but don’t have as much hair as you!
Love the owl jumper, if only I had an ounce of creative energy left, I could start one, 4 weeks to go, but all my energy seems to go on sustaining this active little bundle at the moment…
I will have to try Dale of Norway yarn sometime….it looks like it would be great for the vintage sweater patterns I like to do.