December 31

The dogs and I walked, this morning to a colorful sunrise.  Last night's walk, there were some stars, a crescent shaped moon and a very bright star or planet.

Completed Knitting

 baby hat

fingerless gloves

I have had the week off work and completed a couple more knitting projects

Meggen

I think Meggen is feeling guilty.  who knows why?  She decided to have a timeout in her kennel.

Flock of Geese

Yesterday's drive to town, I saw a huge flock of birds flying.  I think I was several hundred Canadian geese, they were flying high.  It was an interesting sight to watch, as they changed formations.

Nicole

Merry Christmas

Morning

My drive to work, clear sky, tiny moon sliver and pinkish sunrise.
Tonight was the office party,  home safe and sound.

Solstice

Winter Solstice arrived about 30 minutes ago.  We are on the up side of gaining day light.

2 more

I have two more work days, this year.  I am ready for a break, even it will seem short.

Dog Walk

It is a lovely evening for a dog walk, the sky is full of stars.

Sock Class

Yesterday, at sock class two people completed their socks.  I pulled out Julie's socks and had a pile of yarn.  The rest of the class are plugging away on their socks.

Habit

Left Leg

Baby Hat

Since Julie's sock is on a time-out, I finished this baby hat.

Frogging

I am almost to the toes of Julie's sock, knitting away, kind of concerned that the sock is looking smallish.  I put it on my foot and it is snug on my foot, a little more denial, Julie's sock is getting ripped out, frogged, ripit, ripit, ripit.  Not really a big deal, just backward progress.  I have had suggestions to give someone with a smaller foot the sock.  I could, but the color is really for Julie.  All knitting is not perfect.  My sock class may chuckle that the teacher has frogged her sock.

Sunny Sunday

We went to Seattle to visit Gary's father, who is recovering from a fractured hip.  It was a nice visit, but nice to get back home, too.

Cow

Last night's drive home, a cow was standing on the center line of the road.  I didn't hit the cow. 

Today

Today started very frosty, then turned into a lovely sunny day.

Sunset

Driving home, this evening with the light of sunset in the distance, I saw a lots of birds flying.  There were some ducks and some smaller birds.  There were lots of birds, it was interesting sight.

Nicole and Meggen

Nicole and Meggen hanging on the couch..

Toe-up sock

Some progress on the KAL

Starting at the toe.



Black Friday

Today, I spent the afternoon at my favorite yarn shop.  The shop is starting a sock KAL (knitalong), so I was to help with their socks.  It is a pattern that has challenged me. I did start the sock, yesterday and then took it out and restarted it.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving.
Dogs and I have gone for a walk on this breezy morning.  The back yard trail is not soggy with the rains of the last few days.

Dogs

 Patches

Meggen, Gary  and Patches

Meggen has been very good with sharing her toys.

New Socks

Colorful Socks just finished

A bit of snow

A bit of snow, this morning and a bit of sunshine, this afternoon.

Frosty Morning

On my drive to work, the grass in the fields were crisp and white with frost.  My car thermometer went as low as 29 degrees, as the sun rose.

Meggen

It seems I am changing up on my blogging.  Meggen has a new room mate, Patches.  Patches is a big black lab, Gary's father's dog.  Meggen and Patches are getting along fine, but Patches seems like a small horse in our house. 
So, Meggen had her vet check and current shot update, today. 
Patches will probably get her vet check, next week.  Gary's father, Lew, fractured his hip and is in a re-hab facility.  So, Patches is living with us for now.

Thursday

Thursday evening was the memorial service for people in Hospice, which included dad.  It would have taken a lot of juggling for me to get to the service, but other members of the family attended.  I heard it was a nice service.

Nicole

Just went to my flickr account to find and picture of Nicole to share.  Because I have not posted one in a while.
Here is Nicole with her smile in transition of baby teeth to adult teeth.  Adorable!

Rainy Day

Wednesday evening, as I drove east to a meeting the almost full moon was at the correct angle to make a glittery reflection in the Bay.  the beauty of nature.

Friday, I have a day at home, going to lay low and rest.  I have a cold, cough, not sure what octave my voice will range from moment to moment.  And it is raining, after a few nice November days.

New Ink

Today!

This Morning

We had a deer stop by for some apples in the yard.
I saw a hawk swoop down in the back yard, then flew off with a field mouse in his talon.

Yesterday

On the way to town, I spotted some Trumpeter Swans.  They spend the winter in the farm fields.

Boo

Happy Boo Day

Sunrise

sunrise, yesterday

Sunday Outing

Pam and I went to the Skagit Opera performance of Tosca, this afternoon.  It had a great combination of rich, beautiful singing voices.

Socks

Finished, today!

October

We are back to the rainy season, after several crisp, clear October days.

Bummer

Weed whacker threw a rock, shattering the sliding glass door.

weekend

It is my weekend!  I am ready for a break from the office.  It has been a little crazy.  My week end to do is not even massive, or at least not yet.  I will keep my fingers crossed. 
I woke up at 5: and have been knitting and drinking tea, this morning.

Today.

Columbus Day, Canadian Thanksgiving.  I worked 1/2 day, then had a massage. 
Full moon, tomorrow.  I am hoping for a mellow full moon.

Smiles

Jennifer and Sarah, all smiles, at the flash mob at Sock Summit.

Goofy Grin

Me at the flash mob at Sock Summit

J & J

Happy Anniversary to Jeff and Julie!

Milestone

On the way to sock class, my car turned over 200,000 miles. 

Mountain Colors Yarn

 Dyeing in process, then it is cooked to set.

Yarn to dry.

Mountain Colors Yarn Studio is south of Missoula in Corvallis, Montana.

Who Knew?

I put gas in my rental car, and it doesn't have a gas cap. I didn't know about this change, you just put the gas filler into the slot and it works. Pictures from Montana posted, when I get home.

Montana

I am in Montana, my cell phone has no service ( or at least I have not figured out how to make the roam work ). I have my laptop in my room is really slow, seems to be dial up ( holy cow ). I am currently typing from the lobby computer, so far it seems a little faster, not great. all part of the adventure!

Oyster Run 2011

Anacortes, Wa

9/25/2011

Equinox

Equinox arrives at 2:04 a.m., Friday, September 23.

baseball part 3

Dad and Nicole at a baseball game in Pasco.  Dad loved baseball and most sports.

Baseball part 2

Last night, the middle of the ninth inning, Mariners are down by 1, on the big screen is how to make your ball hat into a rally hat.  Basically, turn your hat inside out and wear it.  Well, it looks a like goofy, with the bill of the hat curved the wrong way, and feels a little strange.  Donna and I had our hats on inside out, chuckled at the silliness.  Unfortunately, the rally hats did not help the team score.

Baseball

It is a tradition, fan appreciation game, which Donna and I go to the game.  So, we had a photo with the new Dave statue.  We didn't win any prizes, 3 years ago, I won a $ 250 team store gift certificate.

At the game, we heard Rick "the Peanut Guy" passed away.  I talked to Rick at the game in June, he asked if I would knit him some socks.  Rick was a character, as some one would order a bag of warm peanuts and he would toss the bag across the rows.  He was a part of the game.  Just as Dave was the Mariner announcer for many years, too.

Geese

On the drive to work, this morning, I saw a flock of Canadian Geese in a field.  Migration? Weather change?

Tuesday

Work is slow at my office.  Hours may be cut.  We shall see in the future.

Knitting Update

 Spectra Finished

 Mystery Knit Along in Progress

Yarn for sock mystery knit along

10 years later

Ten years ago, a major tragedy hit in the USA.  It dominated the media for days, then and now.  I would think some of the families, that suffered losses would prefer a private memorial.  Peace to the families!

another sunny weekend

We are still in the sunny warm weather. Today, my cousin Yvette and I had a nice visit over lunch.

My scarf is closer to completion. a photo soon???

Weekend Goals

So, how did I fair in the weekend goal list? Yes, special memorial for Nicole. Yes, first the book on my Kindle, have barely started the next one. No, did not finish the scarf, made good progress.

Filled the wheelbarrow with weeds, twice. Went on an aid call and a fire call. Sock Sunday was yesterday. Back to work, tomorrow. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

yellowstone 2008

yellowstone 023, a photo by jlwboo on Flickr.

To Nicole

We got a mixed bouquet of of spider mums, white, lavender, pink and purple. We donated the Skagit Humane Society. We "had" to have a sugar cookie frosted with pink icing topped with sprinkles. We miss you and hope you are showing Dad around the place.

September

I have a 5 day week end.

Three goals: 1. finish a book on my Kindle, have 20% to read,

2. finish knitting Spectra scarf ( a Stephan West pattern) 50 % to knit,

3. a special memorial for Nicole. I will know it, when I find it.

Published

My Nickel sock pattern has been published. It can be found here http://wildfibers.net

Then look for free patterns, and then nickel socks.

Had to

I just had to go to my favorite yarn shop, today. Sarah called, did I have a sock knit of a particular brand of yarn, if so could she borrow it. I went to the shop with the pair of socks, and to hang out and knit. She is entering a display contest with the yarn company.

PS to sock summit

I had an opportunity to thank Stephanie (one of co-founders) for opening up positions for "new" teachers in the knitting world. She recognized my name, I said I was pleased to be in the group with the "big guns" of the knitting world. Stephanie and Tina put on the greatest knitting event. Statistics, I have heard attendance 6000, flash-mob 600 and another 100 or more with cameras.

Post Sock Summit

It has been a month, since sock summit. I have been knitting with my new "signature" knitting needles, very nice. The flash-mob seems like it just happened. I have a new technique to test out, before my next sock class. I have not started knitting with any of my new yarn. In fact, I have been knitting a two different scarf projects. The one I started before sock summit and the mystery knit along, that I started earlier, this month.

Summer Rain

It is raining, a nice summer rain. We have new gravel in the driveway, so I am hoping for enough rain to settle the dust. The plants, trees, grass would be happy with a good soaking, too.

Odd

At 12:48 this morning, our phone rang. I looked at the caller ID as I answered. It was my office's fax line. strange! The response to my hello was a series of beeps. I hope this doesn't happen again.

Saturn

Last week at work, some of the conversations has been about summer vacations. My patient asked the dentist about his vacation, which including boating. Doc told him they were on an island, where later in the evening, there was a lecture about star gazing. He went back to listen, then they had telescopes set up. One was looking at Saturn, so doc said he could see the rings and it was pretty neat. I said did you see any of the moons? In the 80's, in the winter, I saw the rings and moons of Saturn in the Alaska sky with a friends telescope. After work, I asked Gary if he had seen the rings of Saturn, and yes, at a observatory in California.

Knit Along

Mystery KAL (knit along), clue # 3 came out, last evening. I have not finished clue # 2. I had better get knitting.

A new Knitting thing for me

It is a mystery shawl knit along. The yardage for 3 colors is given, then last Monday was clue #1, clue #2, today.

sock display

How else would you display socks in the yarn shop window?

Two of the socks knit by me.

back to work

My last work day was July 21 and it is back to work tomorrow. I have had a nice long vacation. 18 days! The office is closed for a week in September, that is fairly soon.

Meggen

Meggen stayed at dog camp, when we went to the Beach Boys concert. She must have had lots of fun, her tail is sore from wagging. She was checked at the vet, this morning and she picked a toy off the shelf, too. I think she is a spoiled girl with her new Hippo.

Nicole

I was looking for sock photos and came across this very cute photo of Nicole, last night taken in 1999.

Beach Boys

Gary and I went to a Beach boys concert, last night. Gary is a big Beach Boy fan, I will admit to being more of a Beatles fan in that time frame. Gary knew most of the words to all the songs, I knew some. It was a good concert, good sound for an outdoor concert, a small venue. I think it was the surfing song, when the beach balls starting bouncing around in the crowd. The lead guitarist "rockin" Scott from Canada could play some hot licks on the guitar.

Back to School

I have my fall sock knitting classes schedules set. so, back to school for me, starting Sept. 24.

Returning

I have returned from sock summit in Portland. I had a grand time. I learned more sock knitting techniques. I participated in the sock summit flash mob, which was way too fun. The best video, I have seen to catch a peak at myself is jchant26 u-tube sock summit flashmob. I am close to a woman in a bright green t-shirt, who is a couple inches taller than me. I did visit the vendors in the marketplace, too.

Sock Summit 2011

Tomorrow, I am heading to Portland, Oregon and Sock Summit 2011.

slow Motion.

Today, I was in a parking lot, stopped at an intersection, waiting to make a turn and this car drove into the side of car. It seemed to happen in slow motion, he made his turn wide and wasn't going to make the corner without hitting my car. But he kept coming, hit my passenger door, driver's side. Then, he stopped, if that wasn't good enough, after he stopped, his solution was to hit the gas, so he really dent in the door to get past my car. I sat there, stunned in disbelief, as it seemed to happen in slow motion.

Summer Weather

We are having a mild summer. Yesterday and Today were more summer like days. Upper 70's.

Knitting Mojo

This is a start of a crescent shape scarf. There are 86 repeats of the grey wedge shape. I am loving the color combination. I knit last Friday at the baseball game and then didn't knit until Friday ( a whole week later ) on this scarf. I think I have my knitting mojo back.

vacation

I am vacation for the next two weeks. yipeeeeeee!

Nicole and Meggen

Couch Time
Spring Vacation 2008

soccer

We did watch some of the final game of woman's soccer game. Tough lost for the USA. Great win for the Japanese woman.

Baseball

I went to a baseball game, last night. In the crowd, they was a duck, a chicken and a shark. When I was walking around, I saw 2 ladies dressing in Japanese Kimonos, but didn't have my camera with me. I am sure, they were Ichiro fans.

Clouds

Blue Sky with Fluffy clouds at the farm

Grandparents

Dad's parents, about 1950.

Contrast

I drove diagonally across the state, yesterday, 300 miles, 25 degrees temperatures change.

I did take some flowers to Mom and Dad, deep red carnations for Dad, lighter red for Mom. It was shady, so I hope they last a little while in the hot weather.

Meggen

Meggen with some red, white and blue for the 4th. She doesn't care for the fireworks.