Do Not Leave Home Without It

By that I mean "knowing how to connect to the internet while in a Starbucks while you are away from home"! Bruce just asked me if I'm on yet. Yes, but it took me an hour and I JUST GOT ON. Whew. Now that our trip is just about over I can go to any Starbucks and get on-line and use their connection for two hours for free. (I wonder if my first hour trying to log on counts? They kept saying I was logged on to AT&T but I just couldn't get on-line.)Well, I guess it will be a short work day today.

We came from Scranton/Montrose Conference this AM. It was great! Not as small as I thought it would be and I knew a lot more people than I knew in St. John. It was good to see so many familiar faces and make connections with new ones.

We're going back to Vestal tonight for dinner at Mark and Marion's and then meeting Then we leave from there to go home on Tuesday. I'll have pics by then. You'll see a lot that you know.

Massachusetts

I think I'm in Massachusetts. At least that's what all the signs seem to say. It was so late last night when we got in to the motel that we just didn't really know. We are on our way to New York and are on the 90 going west. That's another story--when you travel in the east bring a bag full of change for the turnpikes and then once you get on don't expect to get off in a mile or two--try 30. We got off the turn-pike to check out a (too expensive) hotel and got back on the pike to check out the next exit. Wrong move. We were already beyond tired and couldn't get off the turnpike even if we wanted to. Thirty miles later we drove up to this dive where I now sit (at least they have Internet connection!). All we wanted to do was sleep. Good thing. It's not a place you want to write home about. Why am I?

Just to let you know where we are. And where we are going. We should be in Scranton/Montrose by Friday. But today we plan on getting a real cup of coffee in Albany, NY. We're hoping for a Starbucks there but I don't know if Starbucks is as serious about these Easterners as they are about us there in the West. We'll see. I'll keep you informed. Definitely.

Pearls and Pearls

Hmm. I'm a month behind on my posting for birthstone projects. I've down at the warehouse where we have had only one computer until recently. Yes, I managed to convince the boss that we needed another computer for the office. I don't want to make it a habit of using it for personal use, though. That is until it pays for itself! So the first five and a half hours of today I've slaving away at the website. (You would think that I would be done with that by now...there's always something to fix.)

I hesitated to start a new project just because June's birthstone is a pearl. But I did. In fact I started at least three new projects!

The first is a wallaby for a new baby. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it before the month is over. Caelen was born earlier this month. I actually got to meet him when he was two days old. We were attending a shower for Cate and her mom when-surprise, surprise - in walks Chris and her THREE boys!

NO PICTURE TODAY!!!

The second is a neck-down Aran sweater. I 've had this yarn for some time and have had many different ideas for it. Since I've been itching to do an Aran I thought this would be a good time as any.

And the third is really a "maybe" and will probably not get done. The magic raglan has been intriguing for a long time but I think I'll put it off for another month.

The Unfinished Wallaby for Kate (Now finished and delivered). The color is really off on this one. It really is a very pretty heathery purple. I wouldn't mind a sweater for myself out of it!

Born Free and Christian the Lion

Does anyone remember the film from the sixties called "Born Free"? Basically, it's the story of George and Joy Adamson who tamed some lions and then set them free in Africa. Well, some Britons did the same thing only in the heart of London! Actually, they set him free in Africa as well, but did raise him for one year in London. This is one incredible story! It brought chills to my spine! Perhaps this is what the Millennium will be like. Enjoy.

Christian the Lion

Coffee Slide Show for Chuggy

Let's have coffee.

For the Feet--But Not Socks

Forgive me for not posting this sooner. I wanted these slippers to get to the recipient before I posted. Even so, they probably will not, because of the Memorial Day holiday. Then again, if she made it to "the Sticks" this week-end she probably already has them!

Below is a finished pair of socks I told Heidi would be good for the barn. She replied that they would be good around the house, too! Who am I to complain? I'm just glad she's thrilled with 100% wool socks--even though summer is on the way.

Because our basement is so much cooler - (you can go from the top floor to the basement and feel the air cooling as you go) than the rest of the house I walked outside from the basement and got in the car wearing my 100% wool sweater and my
boots. I thought it was a little warm and then checked

the thermometer we have in the car.

See that little 'c' after the 27? That means it's not cold enough for 100% wool sweater or boots!

I would say this is California weather--beautiful warm and sunny.
Even Mo complained in his own way. Imagine a coat like this in the heat. And, no we don't shave him because his fur would grow in funny. Thankfully, we only have a few days a year that are this hot. Besides, if he was smart enough he would stay in the basement.If only it had stayed that way. Bruce and I took off on Sunday afternoon for the Oregon Coast. As we got closer to the shore the wind picked up, the sky darken and finally dropped wetness. Actually, the first day there we had no rain. It was cool but not too bad. By the evening of the second day it had started to rain. Have you ever walked in the rain on the beach at night? On your 25th wedding anniversary?
Our view from the resort (thanks J and H!) where we stayed.

I don't really care what the weather is like on the Oregon Coast. As I said before I really like going there. If the weather is warm and sunny, it's a bonus. If not, that's okay. One hearty singer who didn't mind the wind and the rain.

"Spicy" Quesadillas

Long ago I use to babysit Bren. She would stay for dinner and I would give her my favorite treat to eat.

I thought I was giving her mild taco sauce, but from her reation you would have thought I was giving her habanero!

This, from a California girl who should have been enjoying the hottest of hot chili peppers by then.

Perhaps her heritage (pot roast and potatoes) and the fact that her dad had ulcers prevented her from enjoying or even tasting such delicacies!

Then again, she was only six.

Burgundy and Emeralds

There are other things to do with yarn besides knit.

Kedge made me a Bible case a number of years ago that held up really well. Except for the handles, it's in very good shape. I had contemplated having her make me another until I remembered my burgundy yarn and the "blanket stitch". Worked well. You have my recommendation for repairing handles on a Bible Case.


You knew this was coming, didn't you? As you know the birthstone for May is emerald. There will be two of these and so far one is done. Guess. And they're not socks.

A Little Update

Some may be wondering where I am. I think my wheels are spinning and like my knitting, my life has been "tinking" or knitting backwards. If not in reverse, at least put on hold. You see I had oodles of time yesterday where I had nothing to do but wait and, of course, took my knitting with me. What a wonderful opportunity to knit and not feel guilty! I had nothing to do. But by the time I came home I realized my project had not progressed even though I knit for hours. When you make a mistake in knitting it is sometimes better to knit backwards and take the stitches out one at a time. If you don't and just rip it out by pulling free all the needles you can lose the pattern and then are in a big mess. So "I tinked" But the problem loomed large and I did eventually pull the needles out and just ripped.

Some may understand the metaphor and how it applies to our lives here. If not, forgive me for not explaining. Let's just say things can only get better.

The Last Snow ?

View from the back porch:


Yes, it's still possible. We got snow on Friday, March 28 and as you can see by the last picture the flakes were enormous. Needless to say, it did not last long...about two minutes.

Besides that I was hoping to coerce Jailgy to come to visit once she saw the pics. My backyard desperately needs some kind loving care in the way of gardening. So does the front yard, for that matter. As for my thumb, by now you must know it's purple.

Done Socks

Purples and blues are some of my favorite colors to work with. If I really believed what they say about color I may be worried. If your favorite color is purple, so they say, you are probably a 14 year old girl and living in a fantasy. Blue? I'm not quite sure but Navy Blue is a color that you can hide behind. Maybe it means you're dignified and regal? A combination of the two probably means I want to hide and be a princess in a fantasy life. Hmm. I don't think so.


After that I like pastels. Then I like deep rich colors. Now, is there any color I left out? To tell the truth, I really like to work with all colors.

And since April's birthstone is a diamond it's appropriate to have an "all color" project. Diamonds, as you know, refract all colors. At least my diamond ring does. I enjoy holding it up to the light and watching the colors swirl and sparkle. I have no idea what my ring is worth but just because it refracts all those colors I think it the best. I don't know what makes a diamond valuable and I really don't care; I like mine.


This scarf is a project from the past and I only show it to let you see what inspired me to change my pattern for Chuggy's surprise-which is no longer a surprise. (I figured that I would rather make something that someone liked rather than surprise her with something that she didn't like. Besides, surprises are over rated.)


I started out making a cardigan sweater in a straight stockinette stitch. Since I knew I wouldn't want a sweater that accented "broadness" in the wrong place, I didn't think she would either. Off it came from the needles. Next, I thought maybe a shawl would be better and thus tried my hand at this pattern stitch which is the same in the scarf above as well as in my Jaywalker socks from yesterday.


Yes, I liked it much better but would she wear or even need a shawl in a sunny California desert? There was only one way to find out. After a call to the desert I found out a shawl she would like but I could tell that a cardigan sweater would be much more appreciated.

Hmm. Now to see if I can find a pattern that works with this design. Dare I make one up? Kind of a leap in the dark and into unknown territory. I like a challenge. What do you think?

Aquamarine is for March

Aquamarine is such a pretty stone. It so much reminds me of the ocean and because of that, my childhood. The browny sand and the blue, blue sea. I've often lived by the ocean. Seven and a half years in Hawaii. Four years in Japan. Even when we lived in Maryland for a year and a half we took time to go to the ocean--Rahobath Beach, the Chesapeake Bay. While visiting Gramma in Pennsylvania on vacations I remember going to the Boardwalk by the Jersey shores. Perhaps these socks reflect those colors a little.



These socks are certainly ubiquitious! They have been with me since my very first post back in 2006.

There's a reason for that. Even though they look like they would be fun to knit, I'm not so smart to figure things out.
I've had a real bear of a time with these socks. I put them down for awhile and lost my way. I forgot what to do next. Then when I finally figured it out I realized I lost a stitch somewhere back about 20 rows. Have you ever "tinked" for 20 rows? Takes about two hours and makes your already bad eyes go "badder" (Thanks Jailgy, for that liberty!) Whew! I'm glad that's over. Now I'm on my way again and will try to finish these socks shortly...but not for March.

Three Down, One to Go!

Yep, she passed. Heidi has her driver's licence. Now my days to chauffeur my girls to the barn are all but over. There may be times when I need to help out but they will be few and far between. It's already been a relief. Just this morning they were up, out and off to the barn with only a phone call to figure out which van to take. Next week should be easier since the plan is to import their already bought VW Rabbit.


There's a progressive program here for getting your driver's licence. First, as in every other place, you have to pass a written test. That allows you to display a huge "L" on the back of your vehicle. A lot of kids have a word they use to say what it stands for but the DMV says it stands for "Learner". And for the next little while, is it two years? you practice driving. Sounds like what most DMVs require. Next you take the road test and if you pass you get to display an "N" which stands for "Novice". (Most kids have another name for that too.) This is where Moms everywhere start to sweat. That's because your child now has the power to drive without you calling out directions from the front passenger seat. If you're a praying mom, you start to pray even more.


A Little fortification before the actual test.











One more try at parallel parking. Yes, I mean parallel parking. We do that in a parking lot here. The examiners don't even want you to attempt getting between two parked cars and on the test will have you parallel park behind one parked car.
The coveted "N" sign.



The police don't really care how you display the "N". They just want it displayed.

You have no idea how great this is for me. It seemed such a big hurdle for her to get over and now that's done, I feel such a relief.

LJ is next.