Getting Bored

I was getting mighty bored working on the on-line catalogue and thought I would clean up my photo albums a bit. Here's what I found that may or may not be of interest.

The one in europe.





"Peter, James and John": A Sunday School Favorite.

Perhaps I can finally finish these. My January 2008 project: "Jaywalker Socks". I think January is Aquamarine. Close enough then.

He works near Tom.

"Barn Shoes"

What to do with all my scrap yarn:


The unfinished hat that went to Europe with LeAnne: (finished)


Trying my hand at sepia:

An 80's sweater that I took apart: 100% wool!

Nephew antics: Aren't we clever?

My early morning "work station number one"

From our meal preparation for our last conference

One of the many kitchen helpers:

Nuts for the salad:

Cranberry Bogs near the barn:

My favorite knitting helper:

A Saturday afternoon ritual: (almost)

Gotta go get a pizza.

Leg Warmers

It's not often you see a girl wearing leg warmers these days much less a girl wearing two different colored ones. I think it was a hint to me to get going on the other leg. LJ couldn't find the other black one in the black hole that is otherwise known as her room. (How appropriate.) It's starting to get colder here. At least in the early mornings on the way to school. Afternoons are still beautifully warm and bright.

"While They're Young"

Whatever could it be to make these kids sit for close to an hour without getting off their chairs?

Listen to find out.

Four of the girls sitting in the big kids' circle are a few of the original singers. Since this tape was made about 13 years ago that makes one of them only three years old. Note: Chloe, the girl in the pink hat, is the daughter of one of the original singers.

The only disclaimer we have is that they were very young and not professional--please excuse the off-key singing. But if you want a copy of the tape let me know.

While looking for another ball to break up a fight, this very old and archaic tape was found in the meeting room closet. Our resident DJ Jonathan thought that it would be simply fabulous to play this over the PA system.

Apparently children like music, any kind of music and they flocked one by one into the main room and found chairs for the performance.

Enjoy!

PS: LK was my guest editor today.

seasons

Just a little snow.

Working on Topaz - November's Replacement

You can tell by the sense I was making on my last post just how sleep deprived I was. I don't go to sleep at night until all my kids are home. If I manage to drowse off while waiting up, I often start myself awake just listening for them. So I do like it if they all get in before midnight. I would do better just to stay in bed because once I'm on the computer there is so much that "needs" attention that it's hard to get off.



On the way to the barn last Friday Heidi needed to buy feed for her horse. I'm never one to miss a golden opportunity so took out my hank of yarn to wind into a ball. The rearview mirror, as you can see, has more than one use.

When we got to LJ's work, yet another barn, I kept Heidi busy helping me to wind it all into a ball while waiting for LJ to finish work.

I've been thinking that it seems I spend a lot of time knitting but really it is just taking (or seizing!) the opportunities I have - the spare moments - that would otherwise be wasted just waiting.

On the needles is another sock.

A little more "On the Way to Europe".

Coming up next: Turquoise.

Midnight

Since the cat got me out of bed by scatching and meowing at my door I thought I would hand deliver him to Heidi and let her take care of him. So down the stairs I came. (He just gave me the eye). The computer was on....

Tom just got home from work--the driving range closes at 11:00 or 11:30. I hear his boots upstairs. Poor kid. He's been working since 8 this morning.

My November project was a flop.

Sorry, Soup. This yarn just did not work for me. I tried to make it my November-topaz project. The yarn was just too thick for the size needles I needed to make the socks.

It's really too bad because it's such a pretty yarn. See how the strand just kind of seized up? It got worse as I knitted along. It just was not fun.

So instead I have this yarn on the needles. Believe me 100% wool is much more fun to work with.

Now, off to bed I go lest you think I spend all night on the computer ... and before Bruce comes looking for me. The cat started it!

Getting Ready For Europe

Been working on a hat for LeAnne to take to Europe. Can you believe it? All she wanted was a black hat to keep her ears warm. I almost got to the finish line and realized it was too short and too loose. The looseness I could have tightened up with elastic but the shortness needed me to rip back to where I started to increase and then add on two inches. But when I ripped back that far I decided to go the whole way back. And start again. Now the cuff is nice and stretchy - knit one, purl one for rib instead of knit one, purl one for seed stitch. Plus, I took off five stiches for the circumference. Should fit. Too bad if it doesn't. I'm not making a third hat. Out of black. It's too hard on my eyes. Especially at stop lights in the dark.

"Llamas on the Loose"

We pass a farm near our house while taking the girls to their horse barn.

Nepal Knitting

What, may I ask can one do with this "yarn" from Nepal? I bought it because it was so unusual and was so pretty. It's very uneven so will not knit up evenly, I don't think. Maybe if I double it with another yarn I can make a hat or something like that. Socks are out. Who wants to walk on ropes? It won't go very far, though. I only bought two balls.

Point Roberts

I was in Point Roberts recently to mail some books. Since our week-end was so hectic I thought I would take a little break afterwards and mosey around.

It's very peaceful here and I would love to own a house along the water. But sea storms bother me. There's too much water

He Really Does Earn His Keep or Working Together

You see, he really does work. I was not kidding when I said he did. Now you have proof. His title is "Manager".





































The Manager and the Boss:

Gardening

If I gardened this is what I would like the front of my house to look like. You can't see it very well but each of the windows has a flower box in front of it. But alas, I have a black thumb. Everything dies on me. If I have a house plant it lasts as long as a fingernail. It either dies from lack of water or else I drown it. I can never remember to water and when I do, I over do it. Oh, well.

Food, Raiment, Contentment

"With food and raiment therewith to be content."

I had been thinking on this verse ever since we moved into the warehouse in August. What are my wants? What do I really need? What do I need is not the same as what I want. If I can be content with food and raiment (coverings-wheather clothing or a roof over my head) and be content that God will provide all my needs ("My God shall supply all your needs") then I'm on my way. The Scriptures say "Godliness with contentment is great gain." I believe it. If you have a lot of stuff you worry about keeping that stuff safe. You worry about keeping it all organized and in the right spot so you can find it. Then you insure it because you don't want someone to steal it and you not have it. You make sure you can get it again by insuring it. Or at least something that is very similar. That costs money to do. Wouldn't it be less stress (and we all want less stress!) to not have to worry about things? Wouldn't it be good to have a household furnished in such a way that if thieves do "break in and steal" that they would say "Oops, someone beat us to it. There's nothing here to take."

Coffee in the Window

Sorry for leaving you hanging off the cliff but for those of you who were wondering... The Internet problem was fixed. I guess I yelled loud enough. They actually had two teams working on it over night. I'm just glad it's up and running. Maybe I could send them a box of cookies. No, maybe they should send me a box of cookies!

Our conference is over and the last of the guests are (is) leaving today. It's been a long two weeks...or was it only one week? Thankfully, things went really well. It was nice to have just a two day conference this time. I thought I would miss having that third day. But I don't. I suppose it's the stress of it all that makes us tired. Just trying to make sure everything goes smoothly. And it did. They meetings were great. A lot was said about having "stuff" in our lives. And getting rid of it. The question was raised, (in essence) "Are we living in Jericho, or just passing through?" Jericho being a type of the world in all its finery....living the good life. Do I have to have the best or is mediocre just as good? Do I have to have it at all? Searching questions. So, needless to say, I have been cleaning out my closets, cupboards and pantry all week. And making progress. Somewhat.

Anyone want a puzzle?

"Coffee in the window" refers to this guy in the picture. I think it would be kind of neat to be able to relax that way. Maybe I will today. Drink some more coffee, that is. Not sit in the window.

Yahoo!

Yes! I can't believe I did it! I actually hooked up the printer on our home computer. You may think this is a small thing (it is) but for me it was a big surprise. So easy too. After the CD wouldn't work to upload info I finally went on-line to Epson and downloaded a printer driver from them. The really surprising thing is that it was B that told me to try finding something on-line! He who knows nothing about computers! Anyway, we are off and running. Heidi will stay home today and can finally get back to her customers after a week away. Me? I get to go to work to figure out that internet access thing. Hmmm.

October's Opal Socks are almost done.

Life Goes On and On and On

I won't go there. My inbox has over 400 new messages. Where do they all come from? I don't have that many friends! If you have emailed me in the last day or two this is your answer. Yes, we need help with the conference food. Sign up and make your four dozen cookies. Sign up and make your cheesecakes. Come to the meeting room and help us cook. (You get free lunch!!!!). Yes, Christina is on her way here. At least that is the last I heard. Our conference starts next week and she's suppose to be here according to her blog and according to ioi. Yes, I will take care of the catered meal for Saturday night. I will be sure to tell them to give us EXTRA peppers and pickles. Yes, I did photocopy the cheesecake recipe. Last night as a matter of fact. I am slowly drowning in sea of "to do" lists. I don't even remember where I put the last one down. Maybe it's in my purse. I really should be invoicing a customer from this computer. The one at work will not let me access the internet. Someone hijacked our IP address (or something like that). Even though Telus told me that was not the word to use (I told them) I still cannot use the internet at work to invoice customers. The internet access has been down since the power went out on Monday. Telus assures us that it has nothing to do with the power outage. But they still cannot fix the problem. They said for me to fix it myself by 1. going out to BUY a modem or something. 2. I could access the internet and get a new Mac address. (Duh, how can you do that without internet access?) And 3. I could BUY a new card thingy to replace the one in my computer. Which would mean taking the computer down to London Drugs and having them do it. I asked if I could deduct all the costs from my next bill. They didn't answer. Why can't they just cancel the hijacker's service? Or just give me a new access address or whatever they call it? Why is this so difficult? The techy could not, for the life of him, figure it out. (He was the second one I talked to.) He told me that his manager would get back to me. Next week? I could work at home from this computer but our printer is not hooked up to this computer and refuses to be hooked up. Touchy. H needs to invoice her customers too and needs the printer. I figure this is all a lesson in patience. And I'm learning how not to complain. (I guess I still need lessons in that last one.)

BTW There are exactly 430 unread messages in my inbox.

On the fly...

Hi Mom,
Yah, been super busy. Work in the morning until noon or even one. Today was 1:30. Then to the farm market with LJ and Heid. To the barn then home. Picked up A at 4:30. At 8:30 Debbie and I went to Starbucks to plan the food for conference. Home to the computer and found over 300 new messages!!!!! Do I have time for all of that? If I don't log on to the computer will it all go away? Huh. Leanne is breathing down my neck. She thinks I've been on the computer too long -- like, all of 5 minutes. I've just gotten to your email after only deleting 10 of the 300. Oh, well. Maybe I'll do a blog tomorrow when I get home from work - after I clean up the house. We shop next week for the conference food on Tuesday. Then cook on Wednesday. Off to Tacoma for Thanksgiving on Thursday. (Picking up Robert and Jonathan B and Jesse B on Wednesday for conference but are arriving early to go to Tacoma with us.) then Friday we do the last minute cooking, ie. dinner that night. We're having shredded beef, (ie, sloppy joes - but don't tell any one- we want it fancier than all that.) with sour cream, salsa and cheese all on a toasted bun. My recipe: 1/2 C each of barbeque sauce and catsup and 1/2 pkg of onion soup mix with 1 lb. of beef.
Gotta go before leanne passes out.
Oh, and our power was out for over 12 hours yesterday so I had to go to starbucks for breakfast and we had pizza for dinner. I suffer.
Lots of love,
Katz

LadyBugs Socks (Topaz):


Emma's wallaby (Sapphire):


My splurge from Urban Yarns: