Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Summer

Summer has finally arrived for flatlanders and mountain folk. I spent labor day weekend alone, no teenager, no husband, banished the dog to the outdoors. No dog hair in the house for 3 days. The dog has made a bed for himself in my newly watered flowerbeds. The flowers are crushed but the dog stayed cool. The temperature has been over 100 for a week now. It's too hot to knit. I finished a hemp bag I was making, but it's to hot to work with wool. Lots of time spent in the garden and reading on the couch. I have been getting to know my way around "ravelry" and trying to learn to take photos to post pics of my work. Anyone can tell you, I am no photographer. Still, I opened a flickr account and am gamely trying. The diva is back in school now, she has a good attitude about it and has joined the tennis team. She must keep up her grades to do this, so she has incentive. Park bench has moved in close to where I work, so I tend to see her more frequently. The blond has been to busy to visit us, what with being in Nanny hell and all.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Ravelry

I was surprised and happy the other day to recieve my invitation to Ravelry
I have been perusing it, and have been delighted with this website. It has so much to offer a fibre addict like myself, and is quite intuitive.
I have joined a few groups, and was amazed to find that a gal in Hollister has named me as one of her friends. Thanks, Ravelry, for such a wonderful tool.
I need to ask the diva and parkbench to teach me how to take and post photos so I can add more pictures of my work.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Pretty in Pink







Picnic Table finally posted the lace shawl (and is writing this in the third person to maintain the continuity of her momma's blog). She says her favorite thing about it, besides the exquisite detail of the knitting and the vibrant color, is the smell.

She's so weird.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

My tea swap buddy recieved her package. I think she liked it.

I want to knit Flicca with This. I think I will use the dark green color. It looks cozy for winter.

We are having a slow day today at work.. It is cold and grey out. Typical for this area.Everyone else is buying little summer frocks, and I am digging out the cashmere. It's hard to believe that summer is right around the corner. The diva is almost out of school. Her summer vacation will be filled with rehersals. It should keep her busy.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

I mailed my tea swap buddy her package yesterday. I had a lot of fun searching for things that I think she will like. She seems to be a lot like me. I spent the weekend indulging in some retail therapy in the Big City. They have great thrift stores there. I scored a 3 ply cashmere in a nice rasberry color for $20.00. Yummm.
We went to DeYoung Museum and saw the Vivian Westwood Exibit. It was amazing. The construction, tailoring, use of fabric, and the sheer size of the clothing. Then we wandered over to look at some 3000 year old Mayan art. The museum has been remodeled since I have been there. The stone lions near the front door remain. I remember these from my childhood.
I don't have any knitting on my needles at the moment. I injured my thumb a month ago and I am waiting for it to heal. I get a lot of kidding at work about having a "knitting" injury.
The neighbors having a party on Saturday, all of the girls will be there. Their eldest son, who is the cutest boy in the world, has just graduated from high school. He is off to college to study how to be a winemaker like his daddy. Support this family, buy a couple of cases of their most excellent wine.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Lloyd Alexander

Lloyd Alexander died today. Before this becomes a blog of recently deceased authors, I just want to say that "The Chronicles of Prydain" are some of my favorite books. Who cannot love an assistant pig keeper and a cranky princess, not to mention an oracular pig.
When I first started working at the library, I felt like an alcoholic in a liqueur store. So many books, so little time. These days, I rarely read a book, but I do listen to them in audio form. I love to listen to books as I knit. I have been hearing some wonderful childrens books.
The series by Cornelia Funke, "Inkheart ,Inkspell are terrific. Also wonderful are the books by Jonathan Stroud, "The Bartimaeus Trilogy".If yoy haven't read any Christopher Moore yet, I encourage you to do so."The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove" is a personal favorite, as is "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal", and "Coyote Blue".
I am also quite fond of Barbara Kingsolver, and would love for her to write more about Turtle and her Mom. "The Bean Trees", "Pigs in Heaven". I wish I had more time to read.

I have met my Tea Swap partner and am having fun trying to figure out what to spoil her with. She sounds like a kindred spirit, I think we have a great deal in common, except she doesn't like Maple or Marzipan. Weird! I haven't mentioned to her my penchant for really stale Peeps . I have to buy them, poke holes in the plastic, and let them get really hard and chewy before I eat them. I am not the only one, people! I have met other people who do this also.

I will be going to The Big City tonight to see the Blond and engage in a little retail therapy. We also plan on having manicures and pedicures. I am having a birthday on Monday, and feel like pampering myself. We old farts have so little to look foward to these days.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

I just signed up for the knitters teaswap 3. I am so exited. The last time was fun, and I was able to meet a very nice lady. It was like Christmas to wait for a secret gift to arrive. She sent me some great black tea and sage green cotton yarn that was a treat, This time we have to send something local. I live in the most productive area of the country. I wonder if she (he?) would like a bottle of homemade wine? I wonder If it will be legal to ship it? Birthday boy makes the most amazing Cabernet.
The Diva was chosen to sing in the Carmel Bach Festival youth choir. It will be a good experience for her.
Iam working at the library this weekend, so no great plans for Mothers Day. I did firm up the reservations for Memorial Day weekend, we will stay in Big Sur and Birthday boy has a gig at the River Inn on Sunday, so it should be a nice restfull weekend.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

malabrigo shawl finished

I finished the shocking pink Malabrigo lace shawl. It turned out very nicely. I just wish I knew what to do with it. It is so soft, like butter.I need picnic table to post some pictures of it for me.
The diva has tried out to sing in the Carmel Bach Festival.
www.bachfestival.org
If she gets in it will take up most of her summer and all of my free time.
Birthday boy seems to be feeling better.
My flowers are coming up in the yard, and the landlord is working on improvements to the road and the water.
Easter brunch was a success with lots of tequila gifted to me.
Picnic table has done a heroic amount of tutoring to help the diva with her education. Many accolades to her.
I need to try to get together w/my girls for a weekend on the coast, but life(or something like it) keeps getting in the way.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Kurt Vonnegut

A sad day here when we heard that Kurt Vonnegut had passed away. The Cretins that I work with had never heard of Billy Pilgrim, or Tralfamador. We will miss you...Rest In Peace

Monday, March 19, 2007

the S*%T hits the fan.

It's been a busy week, with a great deal of emotional turmoil.Birthday Boy has been behaving badly, and needs to do some soul searching about what he truly wants from his life. Park Bench, The Blond and the Diva have been very supportive through this awful time. The Diva said that she had the time of her life when she was in the big city last week, singing her little heart out. The Blond wants us to visit her, and Park bench is doing whatever she can to help. I have been knitting a large lace shawl from the Malabrigo Laceweight I got at stitches west. Very yummy yarn, hot pink. It has been fun working on it. Birthday boy has said he will mention his depression to the Doc when he has his appt. tomorrow. I hope he can get get some help and get back to the happy place he used to be in.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Thank God it's friday. Birthday boy is on his way to a local hot springs to take a workshop, play music and gaze at lovely naked women (I suppose) I am stuck in town because the diva is singing in a talent show, and then on to a rehearsal for a fund raiser for girls trapped in the sex trade in a third world country. Worthy cause, so I am being a good sport about all the driving I have to do. Park bench is working late, and has been wonderful about tutoring the diva so she can pass her classes. The blond is at home in the big city and I hope to visit her soon. I have been knitting a mindlessly boring tube scarf from some beautiful ombre wool I got at "Stitches West" a couple of weeks ago. That was a fun day. I spent it with She Likes Oranges and had a lot of fun. I got some Malabrigo Laceweight in a Shocking Pink color and can't wait to start a new lace shawl. I am just waiting for inspiration. I am hosting the stitch and bitch at my house tomorrow afternoon. The weatherman predicts that we will have temps in the 80s. It should be a nice afternoon. I can't wait to put my feet up and knit for a few hours.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

ramen and beyond

In order to keep up with the events of the day, and to participate in random blogging adventures, I have started a blog. Most of you who stumble across will be bored out of your skulls. I like to cook, eat, drink, knit and read. It works for me.