Crochet Diaries: Real Life, Real Yarn, and a Whole Lot of Pizza

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Join me in this Crochet Diaries update as I share my sister’s visit to the Finger Lakes, pizza feuds, cozy cabin life, and my Woodland Bloom progress.

Between my son’s recovery, family time in the Finger Lakes, and a few long crochet sessions by the wood stove, life has felt busy in the best way. This is: crochet diaries in real life.

A Special Visit in the Finger Lakes

My sister has been staying for an extended visit here in the Finger Lakes, and it’s been amazing! Usually, her trips are quick and packed with trying to fit everything into just a few days, so having this much time together has felt like such a gift.

Of course, our time together included lots of cycling. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but my sister is also a cyclist! Between the cold, windy days, we still managed to take advantage of several mild ones and got some great rides in.

Exploring the Finger Lakes

We made sure to do a few fun things while she was here. One of the highlights was visiting the Honeybee Embassy in Trumansburg, New York. It’s such a unique little spot! They sell all different types of their own honey and tea, and you can even do a full honey tasting.

And of course, no trip to the Finger Lakes is complete without seeing the waterfalls — they’re absolutely beautiful this time of year with the changing colors.

We also enjoyed dinner at the marina one evening, with a gorgeous view of the lake as the sun set. Afterwards, we stopped by the Alley Cat Café, an adorable little coffee shop with adoptable cats. I mean, is there a better place than this?

The Great Pizza Debate

And… no trip to New York is complete without pizza! My sister misses good New York pizza out there in the Midwest (and no, Chicago deep dish is not the same!). We’ve got this ongoing playful feud with her husband, my brother-in-law, over whose pizza reigns supreme.

While she was here, we went out for some wood-fired pizza that was so freaking good. Naturally, I sent him a photo of it — and he fired back with a picture of the Tombstone pizza (🙄) he made in the oven that same night. Somehow, he still thinks his is better. So I’m gonna need your help settling this once and for all… my pizza (left) or his pizza (right)? 🍕

Finishing the Woodland Bloom Blanket

I feel like I’ve been talking about this Woodland Bloom Blanket forever, but I’m finally filming the final part today — woo hoo! Between my son’s recovery after surgery, an impromptu ER visit for my husband, and helping my friend Debbie prep for our Christmas event, I’ve been struggling to finish this pattern.

By the time this blog post goes live, the pattern may already be out — fingers crossed!

Behind the Scenes of Filming

The photo I shared in this post gives you a real look at my filming setup — and let’s just say it’s not always picture-perfect. Since we live in such a small space, my filming area tends to become a bit of a catch-all on the days I’m not recording. Yarn, props, random husband droppings (lol)… you name it, it ends up there!

Someday, when the cabin is finished, I like to imagine having a filming space that doesn’t have to double as a storage zone (a girl can dream, right?). But for now, I make it work — and honestly, there’s something kind of charming about creating in the middle of real life.

A Woodland Bloom Scarf in the Works

Speaking of the Woodland Bloom design, I’ve started working on a matching scarf! I’m only a few squares in, but since it uses the same design as the blanket, I’m hoping it comes together a lot faster. Honestly, the slowest part will just be crocheting and assembling all the squares. But I can already tell — this scarf is going to be absolutely stunning.

Winter Has Arrived

We got our first snow last night, and I’ll be honest… I’m not impressed. Winter is here whether I like it or not. Our cabin sits almost a half mile off the road, and as I type this, I can hear the plow trucks working up there.

Thankfully, our little wood stove keeps us nice and toasty. Sometimes it works too well — we’ve had it hit 90° in here before! I’ve even had to sleep without covers some nights. But honestly, I’d rather be too warm in the winter than too cold.

Finding Joy in the Everyday

As I look back over these past few weeks — from my sister’s visit and all our little adventures, to finishing up the Woodland Bloom Blanket and cozying up inside as the snow starts to fall — I’m reminded how much joy there is in life’s small moments. Whether it’s a good laugh over pizza debates, quiet time with yarn and a crochet hook, or simply staying warm by the fire, these are the things that make the season feel full and meaningful.

Thanks for catching up with me in this little corner of the internet. I’d love to know — what cozy projects are you working on this winter?

:) Christine