Busy, Busy, Busy

We have a wedding coming up this weekend.  Our oldest son, Frank, is marrying a wonderful young lady named Rachel.  We are thrilled to have Rachel joining our family.  I was speaking to a lady the other day whose son had recently gotten married.  We were talking about the women they have chosen and she said "sounds like you are gaining a daughter-in-love just like I did."  I thought "daughter-in-love" instead of daughter-in-law is perfect and so appropriate for Rachel. 

We have been busy, busy, busy, getting ready for our trip to Portland this week for the wedding, and trying to get in some gardening at Edgar's Acres.  It's been so cold and wet, however, that it's been a struggle to get a move on the garden.  We did plant the potatoes however. 

This is an aged compost pile that we spread out and planted the potatoes in.  I keep reading how much potatoes love growing in compost so there they are.  We will see.  I love the experimentation of gardening, the idea of trying new ideas, and seeing what works and what doesn't. 

The asparagus are starting to show their little heads.  We haven't picked any yet.  They are hesitating on coming out of their nice warm beds and are waiting for sun and warmer weather (can't blame them). 

In the meantime I am knitting doggie blankets and such.  So far I have done 14 doggie blankets and will continue with them until it is warm enough to get outside and garden.  It is seriously just too, too cold and wet to get outside and do anything.  I also have had a @*(^*&^ time with my allergies this year.  The weather has been perfect for the proliferation of moss and man, it's driving me and my nose crazy. 

(Picture from the Seattle Times)

These pretty little spores open up and send the pollen everywhere.  This is usually a February problem, but the February weather has continued into late April.  I will admit that the green everywhere is beautiful, it looks like green velvet.  However, enough is enough. 

Meanwhile, our Operation Holiday Stockings serial knitter, Susan M. is still at it.  Here's March.

Well, I'm off to take care of the last minute details I need to get done before we head off for the nuptials.  I am hoping we have sun on Saturday for the wedding.  I am hoping everyone has sun on Saturday.  This has been a nasty winter/spring.

Hopefully it will warm enough for all of us to start wearing something besides scarves and hand knit socks.  Something like these crochet flip flops.  Again, another amazingly clever crocheter.

The pattern for these flip flops is located here.  I love those who know how to think out of the box. 

TTFN

Sue

Showers, Gardens and Blankies

The past three weeks have been busy and full of good times.  We've planted onions, attended Rachel's bridal shower, and I've been knitting doggie blankets.  Throughout all of this fun activity I had to get sick and put up with seasonal allergies.  Fun times.

During the weekend of the last full moon, we planted six types of onions, Walla Walla, Cobra, Red Torpedo, Leeks, Chippolini, and Red Zeppelen.  Yum. 

Last weekend, Susan, Pat and I got on a train to Portland to attend Rachel's bridal shower.  What a great time.  Of course, the minute I stepped off of the train I started sneezing.  It wasn't too bad, lots of facial tissue and Benedryl and I managed.  Friday, after we had dinner, we caught up with Frank at the Rouge Brewery to "test" beers.  We ended up trying 12 different types.  The most interesting was the fig beer.  The worse was the "dark & scary."  My personal favorite was the chocolate beer.  Not sure what Pat's personal favorite was.

The next day Susan and I spent the morning at the Lancome Counter in Nordstrom getting all dolled up and had a blast.  Thanks to Sandie, et al. for helping me deal with old skin and an updated look. We caught up with Pat, and then on to the Bridal Shower. 

We had such a good time and it was such a pleasure to meet Rachel's mom Leslea, and the rest of her family and friends. 

Doesn't Leslea look just like Rachel?  Beautiful Ladies.

What a lovely group of women.



On date night this past week we celebrated the marriage of two wonderful friends, Cindy & Steve.  What a great couple they are and what dear friends.  Congratulations you two.

In the meantime, I am still collecting stockings for Operation Holiday Stockings.  This beautiful group is from Betty from the knitting guild.  Love the colors.

I also collected some leftover and cast off yarn for the doggie blankets.  This should keep be in yarn for a while anyway.

I've done ten so far and continue to do fancy knitting here.  As you can see, the blankets continue to receive doggie approval.

These blankets continue to be fun to do.  I'm not sure why, but mindless knitting seems to be my thing right now and I'm not fighting it.  Maybe my brain is just tired and looking forward to the sabbatical planned for this summer. 

Well, on to plant potatoes in the sunshine.

TTFN

Sue

Spring is in the Air

Here is a link to a pattern for those of you who don't have slugs and want slugs.  This little slug is too cute, and isn't hungry.  This little slug is the type of slugs we want.  They don't EAT off the baby leaves of new plants.  This little slug also isn't slimy, which is a big plus.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could turn all of our spring slugs into something like these above?  Oh well. 

The weather is beginning to feel like Spring, and my seed potatoes are on their way for planting. 

Enjoy the full moon this weekend.  Get your spring peas planted.

TTFN

Sue

Ducks and Such

Meet Richard the duck.  Yesterday we went up to Safeway to grab a few items.  When I was getting out of the car I thought I heard a duck making tiny quacking sounds.  I looked in the car nex to us, and there was a duck sitting on the front passenger seat.

This charming lady rolled a shopping cart next to the car so I was able to ask her about the duck.  He is a pet duck (she has three) and his name is Richard.  When I asked if I could see Richard closer she was thrilled.  She put him on the trunk of the car so I could pet and visit with Richard.

I am sorry to say I didn't get this lady's name, she was delightful and had fun telling me about Richard and her other two ducks.  I was so surprised how soft Richard's feathers were, and darn if he wasn't talking back to me when I was talking to him.  I swear he was smiling at me too.  I was totally charmed by him.

This weekend has been a lovely respite for me after a crappy week at work.  Edgar's Acres is therapeutic and I need to make a point to get over here more often than once a month.

We had a window of opportunity yesterday so I mowed the lawn for the first time this year (which tells me winter is on it's way out), and did some clean up.  We decided to barbeque since it was so nice out.  David set up the grill and was getting ready to add the briquettes when he remembered the chimney for starting the grill was in Bellevue, and no we didn't have any lighter fluid.  Well, thank goodness we drink Yuban ...

It was very slow, and in the end we ended up with kindling and a couple of small logs to really get the show on the road.

In the meantime, Susan M. and Diana continue to knit stockings for Operation Holiday Stockings.  These two women are amazing. 

Diana sent another 42 stockings.  She has had a LOT of snow, and knitting helps to pass the time when your stuck in the house.

Susan has completed February and sent me this picture. 

Thank you ladies!!!!!

My charity knitting for 2011 (in addition to the OHS stockings I'll knit this summer) are doggie blankets.  So far I've knit five, and am on number six.  If anyone has yarn you want to pass on I'll take it.  Any amount will work.  I just need it to be washable and dryable.  I've pretty much used up all of my "unwanted" yarn. 

As a refresher, here's Louie showing off the blanket for a pound puppy.

These blankies are a nice knitting project because I really don't need to think when knitting them.  We have been so busy at work and I end up with a burned out brain at the end of the day.  This type of project is perfect for reawaking the brain and bringing things back into proper perspective.  Makes good TV knitting two.  Gotta love the garter stitch. 

Well, it's time to get lunch going so will sign off for now.  Remember when you are saying your prayers to include everyone in Japan.  Their lives will never be the same, and the daily struggle for them right now is so overwhelming.

TTFN

Sue

Ten Days ...

Since I last posted I've been to Madrona and back, did jury duty, got snowed in, ran errands, paid bills, wrote letters, and got Louie through his knee surgery. 

Madrona as always was wonderful.  It's so nice to take four days of my year and spend it doing what I love ... knitting.  I took three classes, spent a lot of time in the lobby bar drinking appropriate beverages (coffee in the a.m, sodas in the afternoon, wine in the evenings, etc.), catching up with old friends, and making new friends.  One of the fun things about Madrona is the plethora of Susans.  There are a lot of Susans.  In the first class I took, Emergency Measures with Sally Melville, there were 5 Susans in that class.  In our knitting guild, the Eastside Knitting Guild, there are 7 Susans.  I love Susans.  I understand Susans.  One of the things I love about Susans is their willingness to help, and while helping, their willingness to laugh about it.  Case in point ... how many Susans does it take to roll up a skein of yarn?

In this case, three.  The skein of yarn was tangled so Susan M held the skein, Susan B untangled, and Susan R (me) rolled the yarn on the ball.  By the way, please note the vest Susan B is wearing.

Susan knit her houndstooth vest with yarn from Toots LeBlanc & Co., a regular vendor at Madrona. 

The other Susan, Susan M, is our fearless leader for the Eastside Knitting Guild and when she came to Madrona, she was ready for anything and everything. 

Which was primarly knitting for Operation Holiday Stockings.  You will recall this Susan is the Susan that knit stockings for each day of 2010.  Here's what she's done so far for 2011.  Susan is awesome.

After four wonderful days at Madrona, I rested up on the holiday (President's Day), and then went to sign in for jury duty at the District Court in Bellevue.  For the first day, we sat around for about three hours to be sent home, and to report back in on Wednesday.  Checked in on Wednesday, to be excused due to snow.  The trial we were going to be polled for was continued due to an impending snow storm.  Thursday, I worked from home because we had that snow storm and getting off of my hill that day wasn't an option.  We ended up getting 7 inches of snow in about 5 hours. 

Now it's true the snow can stop us from driving anywhere, but it won't stop the two Grill Masters, David and John, from grilling steaks. 

You just position the grill in the right place on the deck ...

bundle up to light it ...

Then pour a stiff drink so you can stand outside in the frigid temperatures to watch the charcoal burn.  It was worth it, however, the steaks were marvelous.

Yesterday, I picked up Louie.  He had to have knee surgery this week because he sustained the same injury that Edgar had.  The vet told me no more basketball for my dogs. 

The surgery went well, and Louie is resting comfortably.  He also likes having special food and special treatment.  He deserves to be spoiled a bit. 

Well, it has been a challenge trying to get this posting done since the internet connection is on and off.  I love Comcast, and the way Comcast makes me feel so angry.  GRRRRRR. 

Take care everyone.

TTFN

Sue

What Dogs Do in Winter

In Winter dogs don't do much.  Actually, what they do best during winter is sleep.  If there's a couch, the dog will get comfortable and sleep.  If there is a lap, the dog will get comfy and sleep.  In fact, they are so in tuned to sleeping that it's a given that winter life revolves around sleep. 

Last weekend I was working on cleaning out, and organizing my yarn stash (still), and had a pile of leftover yarn. 

I wasn't sure what to do with it so I asked for ideas.  Since the dogs were the only living beings around at the time, the responses were something like this.

"What?  I'm sleeping here.  You want to discuss what?  Yarn?  Check with me in the Spring."

"What did you say?  Yarn?  Let me think."

"I'm thinking here."

"Thinking ..... thinking ..... thinking ....."

"ZZZZZZZ."

However, Louie was listening ...

"Duh ... I think it's quite evident what to do with the pile of yarn.  KNIT A DOGGIE BLANKET."  (Louie is so wise.)

That's what I did.  I used double strands of the worsted weight yarn and knit with size 13 needles.  This is the basic blanket that I found on the Lion Brand website many years ago. 

As you can see ...

it's been doggie tested ...

and doggie approved. 

In the meantime, Edgar is still sleeping through winter.

Off to Madrona and good times.

TTFN

Sue

It's Official.

It's been seven years in the making and in waiting, seven years to prepare for the move.  Our move to Edgar's Acres is now officially taking place.  It will be over several months' time, but it's has officially started.  The Stash has now been moved to it's new address in Sequim.

This past week I packed up my yarn stash.  For seven years I've had yarn in Bellevue, and yarn in Sequim.  For seven years I've had needles scattered between the two locations.  Moving the entire stash and accompanying tools and accessories to Edgar's Acres is a big step.  It denote the final decision to FINALLY make the move.  Knitters will agree that when a knitter moves their stash, then the knitter is serious about moving.

The "shelving" is temporary until we get the white shelving we want in this room.  The dogs are fine with sharing their room with my stash.  Yarn is a good insulator both for warmth and for noise.  My yarn is happy to be freed of all of the stuffy plastic bags.

My first thought when I got all of my stash put in place was I don't need anymore yarn.  David's response to that ... "Yeah, right!"  At least now I know what I have.  I also went through and pulled the yarn I'll never knit up and it will go to the charity knitting group in Bellevue. 

I also found the camo yarn for OHS.  Several weeks ago Susan presented me with an official Operation Holiday Stockings knitting bag. 

Pretty nice isn't it?  I think it is awesome, and what a nice thing to do.  This bag holds a lot of yarn so I can also carry along other knitting projects besides stockings (one does need a bit of variety you know).

Meanwhile, my cousin Laura,  and first contributor in 2005 Diana have been busy.

Laurie's stockings were the first batch for 2011.  The yarn is sparkly but doesn't really show up in this picture.  They are so pretty.

Then Diana sent in her first bunch of stockings.  Our total now for 2011 is 56.  I've been knitting as well but not sure how many.  The nice thing about these stockings is they are so portable and a quick knit. 

Well, now that I have unearthed all of my yarn, I need to get to knitting. 

TTFN

Sue