Conference 2007

I wanted to get these pictures up without delaying any longer. So busy. So little time. You'll have to be content with short blurbs.

Technical difficulties. We blew a fuse. Has to happen at least once. (Don't ask about the food mishap. But I will say that everything worked out fine and no one the wiser. There are tricks when you cook for 250--Sort of like "Rob Peter to pay Paul"?)

A sisters' meeting.

A happy baby. (meeting is over?)

And another one.

Time out for the kids.

A very serious talk?

Time for meetin'.

Fresh air. (It must have been over 90 degrees in the meeting room!)

Break Time!

Espresso Bar

To speed up the slide show click on the + sign. Otherwise it's way too slow.

One of the perks at our conference was the espresso bar (courtesy of Wayne). These young sisters willingly offered their time and energy to provide us with exactly the coffee drink that we wanted. They were able to make us hot espressos, vanilla lattes, iced mochas or anything in between. Now that it is all over they should be pros. They think they made about 900.

Richmond Conference

You've probably noticed that all of us Canadian bloggers have not posted for over a week. Our conference is just now over and it's been a really busy week for all of us. I have been so glad that we were able to get it done with no difficulties. Everything came together really, really well. All of us work well together too which makes it a much easier job. There is so much that goes into putting on a conference and I have more appreciation now for others who have invited us to their confences. I hope I never take for granted again all the hours of preparation that it takes to do it. There are so many things to consider. I know that Shadow Hills has a list of things that they go through every year to make sure that every area is covered.. and they keep adding to it. I don't know how many items are on their list but it must be in the hundreds. I was only in on the food part but there's also the sound system, recordings, the baby room, the supplies for the bathrooms, hotel accomodations, ordering of extra chairs and tables. The list goes on and on.

On Tuesday of last week we did major grocery shopping at Costco and Superstore. And then we were in the kitchen on Wednesday cooking up a storm. We got it all done with plenty of time to spare. A break for a lunch of sandwiches from Subway energized us. And then a run to Starbucks by Gran and LeAnne in the afternoon helped to kick us into gear to get our second wind. It was nice to not have to make lunch for ourselves on top of all the cooking we had to do.

On Thursday guests were arriving and we promised them dinner. That and the marinated chicken from Wednesday was the only cooking we did on that day.

Friday morning as soon as we arrived at the meeting room the ovens were turned on and the Timbits were delivered. And we were off.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!!!!!

YOU DON'T LOOK A DAY OVER 80!!!!!!

Snow In April!

I've never seen snow in April before. Not that I can recollect. Yesterday was cold and I thought it would be nice to have snow again. But I was really thinking about next year! This morning when I got up snow was flying. Sadly, it didn't last. In fact it's sunny and warm right now. But it was cold enough to make me want to knit again.
Here's what I've been working on lately. Guess what each is going to be?

Knitting Swatches

When things get too hectic around here I pick up my knitting needles and just knit. Cast on any old number of stitches and knit til I develop a rhythm that relieves my tensions. Sometimes I'm so tense that my knitting gets tight and I have to concentrate on working a little looser. Usually, noticing the tight stitches is all it takes.
I got this yarn last spring at the open house at the winery. And I've been itchin' to knit with it ever since. It's a sturdy 100% wool, hand spun, hand dyed and 2 ply yarn called "Fundy Fog" that I thought would be too heavy to make socks.


But after knitting my swatch I think that's what it will be.

I took it to meeting last week to unwind the skein--it came in a hank. I had used some scissors to cut off the very sticky tag. Because meeting was starting soon I left my half done skein, the wound up ball and my scissors on the table knowing they would be there when I got back.

What I didn't know (and really should have remembered, being a mom) is that you don't leave scissors lying around where there are oodles of kids under the age of ten. Well, guess what happened? Yep, that's right. Those scissors proved to be too tempting for some little person and when I came back my yarn had been snipped right in between the skein and the ball! I did want the yarn cut in half eventually but not just yet.
Not until I had divided the yarn exactly in half and weighed each ball on a balance scale so that when I knit the socks I wouldn't knit too much on the first and not enough on the second. Oh, well, I can console myself with the thought that I do know how to add on in the middle of the row and not leave a hole where I switched yarns. And yes, the little one did confess (in a whisper), "I did it."

I Love My Kids

We were in Kirkland last Lord's Day for the all-day-meeting. We haven't been for such a long time. I really noticed a change in the people there. Not personality or anything like that. It just seemed like there were different people than before, that's all.

The adult bible class was very good. They were in Ephesians 5. Very, very practical advice for parents of young children. And very, very sobering for those of us whose children are grown. Four or five things to remember in raising children.

1. Do not discipline in anger (I often put my children "in ward" until I could figure out what to do with them and until I could simmer down. "In ward" was their bedroom. )

2. Don't "roast" the brethren. (Criticism of the people you really do love is deadly).

3. Be in agreement as parents. Forbid them from playing one against the other.

4. Have rules with relationship. The kids need to know that there is love behind the rules and that they are not arbitrary.

5. Let the children know that ultimately they have to do with God and are responsible to Him.

Well, that about does it for me. I feel slain.

Spring

Spring is here finally. And I think it's about time to cut the grass.

You've been tagged!

I was suppose to tag someone at the end of my last blog. Since I don't think many will read it again I decided to post anew. "For those of you in Rio Lindo" and others who have asked, it is the same as it is in the kids' game of "Tag".

You are it. You get to do what the last person did. In the case of the kids'game that would be to tag another person by running after them. In this case it means that you get to write five interesting things about yourself. Because I want to hear from my family, I tag gramma, kedj, the brother, and jailgy. You guys can tag your family members. Except Bobby. On second thought, I would like to hear interesting things about his life.

I'm having fun teaching two and three year olds...again. Poor picture but the only one LJ took that day.

Tagged!!

I've never been tagged before but this week chatty tagged me. She said to write five interesting things about myself but I don't think of my life as really interesting. Maybe unusual, but not interesting. I hesitate to write anything at all since I really can't think of much. It has taken me all week to even come up with this list.

The five "interesting" things I can think of are:

1. I use to race on a swim team and it made me a nervous wreck.
2. I lived in Japan for four years and learned to speak Japanese. My sisters and I still speak it to each other once in a while. And I yell at my kids in Japanese (nothing bad!)
3. I went to 11 different schools before I graduated from high school. And 13 schools in all.
4. I have five, not four, sisters as everyone who knows me assumes. The one I never met died before she was born. I'll see her one day.
5. I have had four C-sections in less than four years...and I think I'm sane again. (You be the judge.)

6. If I could have a sixth, you might be interested in knowing that I made a poi pounder in 2nd grade at St. Andrews Priory when living in Hawaii. (The first of three schools that year). That's it in the picture above, right next to Harvey. I don't like poi, either.

There you have it. Nothing like blabbing about yourself on the internet. You all know the quote: "He that speaketh of himself..."

Snow Again

When we woke up yesterday there was at least 8 inches of snow on the ground. Unusual for March 1. None was predicted. In fact our usually accurate weatherman said it was going to rain. I suppose it did in some parts of the lower mainland but I don't think anyone got snow like we did. Even friends who live just two miles away didn't get any.

The snow reminds me of the first time I remember visiting my grandparents in Pennsylvania. While there the snow fell. So much fell that they closed the schools. An unheard of event where I had come from in Hawaii. It was the first time I ever saw snow. I was seven and had only experienced walking barefoot in the warm rain. I thought snow was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Of course, it was novel. I had lived in Hawaii since I was a year old. But the memories that snow evokes now, bring back thoughts of that trip to PA and all it entailed: Gramma's house with its clanging radiators that gave off absolutely no heat (or so we thought until we stepped outside), Grampa's outside fire pit where he burned the weekly garbage; the hot sweet tea served after supper that was mostly milk and sugar; getting a spoon from the glass spoon holder Gramma kept in her corner cupboard; lemon candies that were super sour in the middle that Gramma kept on her entry table; my first sight of chickadees (now my favorite bird); jenny and jack wrens feeding from the bird feeders set up out side the kitchen window just for our enjoyment; feeding squirrels on the enormous front porch; watching Grampa call to the neighbor kids (from that same front porch) who had no mittens and then having them pick a pair that Gramma had knitted just for that reason; Gramma's "never spent a dime" jar where she saved and banked every dime; red boots and a red toy chest on the back porch; never realizing that the red toy chest was just for us kids (I thought it was only for the good kids); the dime cemented in the steps off the back porch just for fools to bend down to try to pick up; and making snow angels for the very first time.

Reading all the above makes me realize the tremendous influence my grandmother had on my life. I loved her dearly and even today she affects me. I still love snow and enjoy its silent falling. I suppose it reminds me of childhood innocence and carefree days.

Although I can't say, "I never spent a dime," I collect them just as she did in a tall glass vase and then take them to the bank rolled, and deposit them in my account.

I'm still searching for those lemon candies that are sour in the middle and sweet on the outside. Just two days ago I bought two different varieties hoping again that they were the ones. (They weren't.)

I knit and knit constantly. Although I haven't knit mittens in awhile (see KJ's blog for the last pair) I sit in the passenger seat of the car and pass the time knitting, just as Gramma did, on long trips.

I had Mom get me some spoon holders just like Gramma's and often use them when company comes over and I'm serving buffet style.

But I don't have a dime stuck in the cement in my back porch. I think that was actually Grampa's doings.

Having lived in super humid Hawaii I still remember the blast of cold, crisp, dry air as we walked outside to play in the snow. And inside again to warm ourselves by the scorching warmth of the crackling wood fire. We could hardly stand the static electricity in our hair as we tore off our hats and stomped the snow from our boots. What strange phenomenons flyaway hair and shocks were.

This is actually an old picture of our first snow. The snow disappeared so quickly this time, that I didn't even get a chance to take a picture. These pumpkins have long gone the way of all November pumpkins.

You Can Pass Me the Checkbook

This has been a very eventful day and it's only 11:30. Mum called this AM. Aunt Ruth had passed away. Go here for a piece on her life. It's a very nice tribute to a wonderful woman.

While I was searching for my dental office's phone number, they called. I told them to cancel tomorrow's appointment. I'm too busy--but I said there was a death in the family. We have our web designer coming tomorrow any way and I wanted to get out of going to this dental office. They were/have been really pushy. And I don't like to be pushed around.

I'm planning on leaving in about 20 minutes to pick up Teege at the airport. He said he gets in "around one". So that's when I plan on being there. "Around one". (It's an hour away.)

We've had customers in this AM and they take up so much time and space.

We've had several long distance phone calls--nothing to do with Aunt Ruth. One was a suggestion about pricing in our catalogue $US vs. $CND. Another was a question for B. The other was about a fax machine that doesn't work properly. And B and I are trying to get an order together for Aristo.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to fill some internet orders for CTP (or at least, write them up), fax Jailgy a pattern for an afghan that she asked for, work on Da's pamphlet and one for B as well (formatting). Whew!

I usually make lists of "Things to do Today". This is my list.

A Scarf and Some Beans

We were in W2 a week or so ago. While traveling I was able to work on my Irish Hiking Scarf and actually finished it while there. It sort of matches the coronet hat . The yarn is the same anyway. You wouldn't be able to tell that the difference between the patterns unless you really looked carefully. So don't.

The reason I was able to make so much progress on the scarf is because Tami and I were able to knit all Saturday afternoon. She wasn't planning on making dinner (we went to Homestead) but in between making pastries and muffins she got a few rows in too. She's more adventurous than I am because her latest project is an intricate sweater pattern that involves lots of color change. My mind can't get around that just yet. I need huge blocks of time just to figure out where I am in that kind of pattern. And she's raising four boys.

The oldest made breakfast for us on Lord's Day and helped his mom make the beans for supper that night. "More garlic, Mom?"

No double dipping, E.

Don't Throw Them Away!

If you were here earlier and wondered what I was talking about, wonder no more. Blogger was having difficulty putting up posts and uploading pictures this morning. So when I wrote and rewrote and tried to post all that would show up was the title. Aw, well, I thought. I'll just leave it. When I finish you'll know what I was talking about. You see, Kedj has a pair of socks that are worn out in the heels. On her blog I told her that another pair was coming. Then this morning as I was rummaging through my stash I came across the left over yarn from the worn out pair. I think I can knit a patch and graft it in the spot where the hole is. So I don't want her to throw the old pair away!

I was at the Abbotsford airport tonight. Teege is on his way to Calgary to meet some of his buddies from Regina. They plan on going to Banff to go snowboarding for a couple of days. We had bought him a ticket for his birthday to go where ever he wanted (within reason, now come on!) He was planning on going to St. Thomas conference and already had his ticket, but the conference was cancelled. He still needed to use the ticket because the last time he was in Regina they lost his luggage and gave him $100 when they found it (if he would pick it up at the airport instead of them delivering it). The $100 had to be used within 3 months and that time was approaching fast. So he's off. It's still hard to see any of my kids go even if only for a short time. As I write--he just called from the Calgary airport--. He was airsick and is really hungry. Thanks for calling.

Sorry I'm Late

I said I would post a pic of the last yarn on yesterday's post. We're super busy working on our catalogue. It's endless. So much info to put up. I told B that I was in the S's of the gemstones--pretty near the end of the alphabet, I thought. Well, guess what? There are quite a few gemstones that start with S! Also the title "Assessories" is driving me crazy! I can't go into the template or whatever to change it. We promised our programmer that we would call him with all the changes when we were done but this is too much. I'm going to call him on Monday with that one change if that's all we have. It really makes us look ignorant. Maybe I can chalk it up to Canadian/American differences in spelling?

A Shawl For a Friend

I'm having a really hard time figuring out what to do with this shawl/scarf dilemma. I want to make my friend a shawl or a scarf but nothing seems to be working out. I like the stitch in the one above and even though it's crocheted I don't mind. It's a nice change from knitting that I don't often do. But I don't think I have enough yarn to finish it. It might just end up being a lap robe. This one is straight knitting and also goes super fast but I like it better in a textured yarn. It's the same pattern as the one for Baby Bug. Hers turned out very well because the yarn was textured. This yarn is too smooth.
This is a shawl weight yarn and goes pretty slow but I don't like how it's working. Maybe when I block it, it will turn out better. Even still, it's taking a long time.
This is the beginning of a circular shawl using EZ's recipe for a pi shawl. Nope. Don't like how it's turning out.
Tomorrow I'll show what I did with the last bit of yarn. It's probably what I'll end up using. Now, what to do with all the other "beginnings". Maybe I'll have a frog party.

Finished Coronet

Pardon the very poor pictures but it's hard to get a good shot when you're not looking...especially when you need new glasses.

Gran and Starbucks

She's never been to Starbucks nor had one of their coffees in her life! And she's 87 years old. It's about time, we thought.

B took us there on the way home from visiting Aunt Ruth (who was in the hospital) last Lord's Day, since neither Gran nor I wanted the pizza he and LJ had. I wanted her to try the Cinnamon Dolce Latte. It's one of my favorites.

Her comment: "This is really good!"

I guess we'll be going there again. Later I found out that it kept her up part of the night.

BTW The owl eyes are because she fell and hit her head trying to lift Aunt Ruth off the floor where she slid getting out of bed.

Coronet Progress

I quit the coronet for a while because I'm not happy with how it's rolling up. The cable band is suppose to turn up at the edge but when I do roll it up the backside of the knitting shows. That would be the "wrong" side of the stockinette stitch. And I don't like it. So for now the hat sits while I contemplate the next step. Probably, I'll go back to Kate the Kitten for now since the pressure is off on that one. In case you were wondering...I thought of trying to get it done for BB's birthday but decided against putting a time limit on myself. My BP just can't take that kind of senseless and unnecessary pressure. Maybe by her second birthday? That's not too much pressure since that's almost a year away. Actually, things are moving along. I was at Michael's and picked up some soft batting to stuff her with (CRINGE!!-sorry, Mom).

Sisters

"If your sister is in a tearing hurry to go out and cannot catch your eye, she's wearing your best sweater." Pam Brown

I found this somewhere on the web and thought, "This person must know me and my sisters." I had a very similar situation happen to me on the way to school one day. I was driving and passed my sister who was walking. She wouldn't look at me. I knew she wasn't mad but as soon as I saw the top she was wearing I knew why she wouldn't look! It would have been better if she had smiled and waved. I may not have noticed at all that she was wearing my peach t-shirt with the brown trim. Imagine that. I still remember after 35 years! What I don't remember is why she was walking and I was driving.

The Great Yarn Robbery