Winter Weather

Oh my, we are trapped at home because of the weather. Our vehicle has 4-wheel drive so we can get around when necessary. It feels very "Christmassy". I am getting a lot of knitting done but not my Christmas shopping. Wednesday will be a sad day for me so I think I will lift my spirits by getting some baking accomplished. I could also get some gift sewing done. I got my on-line shopping done for my siblings and hopefully their gifts will arrive in time. This weather is effecting many parts of the country. Because of the cold weather I am itching to cast on a nice warm sweater. I must stick to my gift knitting or I won't make it. Speaking of that, I'd better get back to it.

Green tomatoes

I really like fall, it is a busy time of year though. I planted a lovely garden this year which is over-run with tomatoes!!! Unfortunately, they ripened late and I have lots and lots and lots of green tomatoes. I searched through my canning books and found a nice recipe for a green tomato relish. I'll have to give that a try. I am going to do pickles out of the lemon cucumbers and then make salsa out of the peppers and red tomatoes. That should keep my busy for a few days.

What, it's over!!!

Oh wow, what happened to the summer??? I guess I blinked and it passed by like one of those small towns in the middle of 'nowhere'. What I like about September is that quite often it feels like an extension of summer. I really like fall, all the colors and the smells....

Hot, hot, hot

Today is a hot day, almost too hot to knit (almost). I have a knitted vase to felt and numerous quilt projects that need quilting. We are getting ready to go on vacation and I must plan my projects. I will take some knitting as well as some embroidery. The flowers in the yard are beautiful and my veggies are growing like weeds (tasty weeds!) I hope to have some tomatoes soon and I really must pick some lettuce. So much to do, better get busy.

Chocolate

I thought I'd take a moment to mention my other obsession, chocolate. Not just any chocolate but the good stuff. One of my favorite places to get the stuff is Cacao in Portland. That shop is wonderful. I have only been a few times but I visit often in my memory. They serve authentic drinking chocolate and "WOW" is it amazing. They also sell chocolate from around the world. My idea of the perfect day would be to sit and sip while knitting some cool sock at Cacao. The only other perfect day would be to sit and sip and knit in beautiful Venice, Italy along the Grande Canal.

Ravelry!!!!

I joined Ravelry, "Wahoo!" That place sure is fun. I put some books on my shelf , that is all I've done so far. I needs to fill out all my other stuff like my stash and my WIPs and other things. I've also just learned about 'twitter' and 'plurk' . I've looked at both of them and I'm not real sure how they work just yet. I think I should give them a try. The PDX knitbloggers are all atwitter (hee hee) about these two sites. I am working on an experimental sock project for work. I have almost finished the prototype and then I can get started on the model. I just found out that the socks that I worked so hard on and so fast because of the ad shoot deadline won't even appear in the ad copy. Oh well, it was fun and I got paid.

The lazy days of Summer?

I thought summer was supposed to be a time of relaxing and a not so hectic schedule. Not!!!
I seem to be as busy as ever. I am enjoying a different schedule which is nice.
I did get some projects done or near done. The baby sweater just needs to be sewn up and the other sock needs to be worked on. I don't actually have to entirely finish it because it will be for display and I want a SIP to demonstrate the process.
I can't wait to start another sock project and I must get going on another baby sweater, I have 2 or 3 more to do.

WWKIP

Today was World Wide Knit in Public day. All over the world, knitters got out and knitted in full view of others. There were events planned in cities all around. As for me, I joined two of my knitting friends at a local coffee shop and enjoyed a beverage (I had an Italian Soda) and some much needed knitting fellowship. It was a wonderful time.

Okay, my husband is home and he brought back the camera. Now I can prove I have progressed. I wish I had pictures of the 2 socks on one needle. It looked so cool. I had to turn that project in as it had a deadline. So, now I can turn my attention to other things. I had gotten further on my other socks for work that felt I could indulged in starting a new project. I have been dying to make a baby Surprise Jacket (Elizabeth Zimmermann). I actually need to make 3 of them as three of my friends are going to have babies. The baby jacket is very intriguing. I will have to track my progress photographically. Gotta go.

Progress?

Is there progress? Well, yes and no. I had to set aside those purple socks and start on a two socks on one needle project for work and there is a deadline to be met. Also, my husband took the digital camera with him and he is out of town until Sunday. I am enjoying the new project but I am suffering a case of 'startitis'. I want so badly to start a sweater and some socks for ME! But I am a responsible adult and deadlines matter so I must resist and I must go knit before the day gets away from me.
Bye

Charting progress

I have many projects going at once, as usual. I thought I would post a picture of one of my projects and keep a photo log of my progress, then I might be inspired to get it done in a timely manner and then I would feel good about myself. Do you think it will work? Hope so.

Still learning.....

Now I'm learning how to use Photobucket. My daughter seems to know all about this stuff. How did she learn about it? Anyway, I have about 6 or 7 photos. I haven't gotten a picture of myself yet but then I'm not that photogenic so I'm in no hurry. Now I have to figure out how to get my pictures on this blog. Wish me luck

Finishing that Thought

Well, that movie was fun....(not). They were watching The Golden Compass. I didn't find it very good. Also, they wouldn't let me knit during the movie!!!! What torture. I find it very hard to sit still if my hands do not have something to do.

I miss my dad today. He hasn't been gone that long but I still "see" him everywhere. I will see someone from behind and think it is my dad and then remember that it can not be him. Little things remind me and the memories really do hurt right now.

Today is Memorial Day, a day for remembering. But that hurts too much right now, it is too fresh. Someday the remembering will be a good thing, now it is not.

Okay, what's next...

Here it is, a holiday weekend and the weather is awful. So, I did what comes natural, I sewed a new bag for my knitting projects :). My family is yelling at me to come and watch a movie with them so I gotta finish my thoughts later.

Mother's Day

Oh my what a wonderful Mother's Day. My own mum came down from Spokane for a short visit. We had a very nice Friday evening, I showed her my new garden and talked about what to do next. I had to work on Saturday, unfortunately. Sunday, we drove down to Mt. Angel and had dinner at the Glockenspiel restaurant. Then we strolled around the Abbey. After that we had planned to go to the Oregon Gardens but the weather was so iffy so we went to Silver Falls St. park instead. We enjoyed a lovely hike around the area. I hadn't been hiking in so long and I do so enjoy hiking :) My mum couldn't stay any longer than the weekend. She headed up to Olympia Monday morning. She will get to stay longer when we (my husband and I) go to Germany this fall. She will come down and take care of the kids. That will be wonderful for my peace of mind.

Gotta go pick up a kid.....

spring?

I think spring is finally making some in-roads into the current weather situation. I feel my spirits beginning to lift. I finished my green socks made from Cascade Fixation. That is a really interesting yarn. It is cotton and spandex and very springy. I have another color way called mushroom and I want to start another pair soon but I have to finish up my entrelac shrug first, maybe. We'll see how long I can hold out.
The PDX Knitbloggers are putting together a walking group for the Hood to Coast. I have ran in that race two years in a row, a long time ago and it was lots of fun. I would like to join but I don't think we will be in town.
Bye

what a lovely day

Today was a lovely day up until I had to go to work. I don't really mind my job, I get to work in the "quilt shop" part of a craft store and that is really neat. It is just hard to go in when it is so nice outside. It has been terrible weather for so long. I did get out a little bit to plant some cilantro and basil in my herb pot on the deck.
I think I will go knit on my sock project. I will have to take pictures to mark my progress. It is a unique process. I am knitting 2 socks at the same time and I do mean 'at the same time'. One sock is inside the other. It is really fun. I have so many projects going. I should make a list and then cross them off as I get them completed.

gotta go

I like today, it is Friday and I don't have to go to work. There is a bunch of things I should be doing but I am doing this instead. The sun is finally shining and it is warming up a bit. Maybe I could go for a walk. I really should listen to a Russian lesson as well. I could probably do both but I might look and sound silly if I am walking around repeating my Russian. I will have to learn how to put pictures on this site of all the places I have been to.

Gotta go

Joining the frey

Well,
I guess when one is in Rome.......

I recently joined a group of bloggers only I didn't have a blog. So now I do. As the title suggests, I enjoy travel, chocolate and knitting and not in that particular order, working gets in the way.

Gotta run, I really (really) have to do some laundry, either that or run out and buy the kids some underwear ;).