Tag

I've been tagged with:

Find the nearest book of 123 pages or more: Frommer's Oregon

Find the first 5 sentences.

Post the next 3 sentences.

Despite the many hardships, families were willing to walk 2,000 miles across the continent for a chance at starting a new life in the Willamette Valley. The valley very quickly became the breadbasket of the Oregon country, and today, it still produces an agricultural bounty unequaled in its diversity. Throughout the year you can sample the produce of this region at farms, produce stands, and wineries.

This tells you where we are planning to go for the next vacation. We're already booked on the Coastal Starlight train that runs from L.A. to Portland. We'll stay a couple of days there and then take another train to Seattle.

I can hardly wait to escape heat and wind and the ups and downs we have experienced this winter. Today is predicted to be a high of 70, but Friday is supposed to be a high of 30 with blowing snow.

Blogs I Read

I read Panhandle Jane's list of 10 blogs she reads and was surprised to see mine listed. I find it hard to believe that anyone would read this beyond family.

Anyway, here is the list of my favorites:

Panhandle Portals: This is written by a teacher and knitter in a small town close to mine. She does beautiful work for herself and her grandchildren. She also has great comments on books.

The Pioneer Woman: Another blogger sent me to this one. She is a rancher, photographer and cook who is very entertaining.

Addicted to Knitting: This is written by a knitter in Oklahoma City. I get to vicariously visit yarn stores through this blog.

Backstage Stitches: I found this blog through Knitters Review. The blogger works in theater in California, is a knitter, and takes classes in martial arts. Very interesting!

ChappysMom: This blogger knits and reads. She periodically posts lists of books she has read with reviews. I find several I want to read each time.

Knitting Fisher: My husband found this blog when searching for a picture of Sitka, Alaska after we returned from a cruise. She is a teacher, knitter, and lives in a beautiful part of Alaska.

Looking Glass Knits: This blogger has such beautiful patterns that she has created. She designed a baby sweater with a field of lambs for the yoke that I really want to try.

I Can Has Cheezburger?: This is not a blog, but people post pictures of animals, primarily cats, with appropriate captions. These make me laugh out loud every time I look! This is also the home of the walrus with the bucket pictures. If you haven't seen this, you should google walrus with bucket and take a look.

I know I haven't listed 10, but these are the ones I read every time they post. I also appreciate Kay of Addicted to Knitting who let me in on Bloglines, so I can subscribe to blogs and then they let me know when there is a new post.

The Baby Sweaters Keep Coming

I thought I was through with baby sweaters for awhile, but they just keep coming - babies that is. This one is for a friend and colleague's new granddaughter. I have another one OTN for my M-I-L's caregiver, and, as soon as Amanda knows the gender, I will start some for her newest.

This one was fun to do, although weaving in the ends from the stripes was not great. I like the feel of Cotton Ease, but I find it to be hard on my hands. I found perfect pale pink ladybug buttons which made the sweater.

On the list to do: Socks for MIL, brother, and finally, two pair for me! I had all my socks out drying the other day, and I realized they are all muted dark colors. So, I looked at the Loopy Ewe and found some in a bright pink, lime green colorway - those won't be dark socks!

It Has Been a Long Time

I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted on this blog. I have been knitting, but I have also been busy with school and traveling. My daughter is now working in retail which means that she has no time off around the holidays, so we made the 500 mile trip to Missouri for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I finished two pair of socks, am working down the foot of the second sock of another pair, and am working down the sleeves of yet another baby sweater. I have no pictures right now, but will try to get some later.

We came back from Thanksgiving to a pond in the back yard as we had a pipe break. As we dug giant holes trying to find the break, this came out of the woodpile, squeaking and purring.

We are the biggest suckers ever for kittens, so Kate has joined the household. We lost a cat we had had for 13 years in November, so it is nice to be back up to four cats! Kate keeps the other, older cats running.

I wonder if other parts of the country are having the weird weather we are. We have had snow and ice, but lately we have been having 60's and today this is what I saw from my back window. I sure don't remember having thunderstorms in January - however these rainbows were absolutely amazing.

My Other First Swap

I have been participating in the Hogwarts Sock Swap as well as the football a long, and my package arrived from my pal all the way from Wales.

She sent me a teapot, cup and saucer with a tea cozy and tea, sherbet lemon drops, mint humbugs, dragon souvenirs of Wales, bamboo needles, 4 knitted beanies for my former student in Iraq, a whole box of stitch markers, and some great socks.

I had to laugh when I saw the socks. You can see in the picture, I had started the same pattern! And, what great luck, the symbol for Wales is a dragon, and I collect dragons.

My quality control supervisor checked out the box and all the contents; he gave it all his approval.

Thank you Rowena Acromantula (Sandra).

From My Morning Commute

This was the view from my school last Thursday morning.

I really love some parts of teaching in a semi-rural school. The sunrises are definitely a major perk!

My First Swap

How much fun is this??

OU crimson and cream wool, so I can make a felted bag or some slippers. Crimson and cream stitch markers, a Cowboys lanyard, great coffee, and an ESPN paperweight. My pal outdid herself! And a dip recipe - it calls for Rotel and cream cheese - it has to be good!

Thanks Robin; you made my first swap great!

Knitpicks new Harmony needles

I have been following the thread on Knitters Review regarding these needles and was surprised at how many said they hated the colors. I didn't hesitate to order as soon as I saw them because I loved the colors.

Anyway, they arrived today and I had to cast on and try them. One of the concerns expressed was how they would be with varigated yarn. I am using Seacoast yarn in the Acorn colorway, which is a pretty bland varigation, but I see no problems.

I know the image is sort of dark, but it is clear that the colors are not blinding. One thing though is that these are US size 2. The colors certainly could be more obvious in larger sizes.

The needles are smooth and light, the joins are smooth, and the tips are sharp. I really like these needles! I will be ordering more soon.

I had a question about the pattern for one of these baby sweaters, so I thought I would repost them all. I made all of these over the last 6 months or so from the Knitting Pure and Simple Top Down Baby Cardigan pattern.

The brown in from Knitpicks washable merino, the blue is a mercerized cotton that I can't remember, the yellow is from Cotton Ease, the multi-color stripe is Plymouth Encore, and the pink-red stripe is Patons SWS.

I really love this pattern because it has been so easy to do and so easy to create different looks. Although I do hope I can take a break from baby sweaters for a couple of months at least.

Hogwarts Sock Swap Meme

What type of pet do you choose as your companion at Hogwarts?

Since I have four at home, of course I would choose a cat! Although I would really like an owl, but birds and my cats just do not mix well.

While shopping in Hogsmeade you stop by Honeydukes for some sweets. What treats do you purchase for yourself?

I love chocolate and usually have something chocolate every day. I also really like peppermint.

A potion you are preparing needs an ingredient available only at muggle shops. You don't want to stand out in your wizards robes, so you resort to traditional muggle clothing. Describe your outfit in detail.

If I'm coming from work, it's usually khakis and a solid colored shirt; if it's a weekend, I'm in jeans. Whatever time, I'm always in something casual and comfortable - usually browns or greens (my husband says I dress in swamp colors).

What is your favorite subject to study at Hogwarts and why?

Care of Magical Creatures because I really love most animals.

Likewise, what subject is your least favorite and why?

I would not like Defense Against the Dark Arts or Divination. It all sounds creepy to me; I really don't like horror stuff.

Back to the potion you were shopping for ingredients for, what type of potion are you making, what color is it, what are the ingredients, and precisely what does the potion do?

I would make a form of a love potion except that I would use great pieces of writing to infuse a love of reading into my students.

And, isn't this the classic cat expression? Such disdain for this thing I brought home!

Yet Another Knitalong

After watching from the sidelines and reading all the great stories, I decided to join the Hogwarts Sock Swap. While it's not finished, it has been great fun, and then someone on KR wrote about a football based knitalong.

What fun - a combination of two things I love!

So, I have joined footballalong. The first project was to knit a teddy bear outfit for the Cubs for Kids charity in your favorite team's colors. Of course, I went out immediately looking for crimson and cream - hard to find in Texas! I found something close, so here is the result.

I am still finishing the scarf, but I wanted to get this posted before school starts tomorrow.

And, the first OU game is next Saturday! Knitting may have to wait a bit.

I've Learned Something New!!

. . .but I'm not going to say what it is until the Hogwarts Sock Swap is over.

Look What's Cooking

I can't say exactly what's cooking since my sock swap pal knows my blog address - but it's not spaghetti! I have used pineapple, lemon, tamarind, and mango.

KPS Cardigan Number 5

This is the last for awhile, I hope, of the baby cardigans. I started this one for my niece's new son, but wasn't happy with how it was looking, so I made the blue one instead. I was cleaning out a drawer however and found the buttons, and I thought they would improve the sweater, so I finished it today. The buttons are wooden acorns and leaves. My husband says it looks like a druid's sweater.

Now I'm going back to UFO's. I have nearly finished the front of the Rowan Audrey that I started nearly two years ago. When I get that done, it's back to the Rogue Hoody.

Of course, I also joined my first swap, so I have socks to do for that. I have had a terrible time finding yarn that I liked since I need Hufflepuff colors and I want to avoid the bumblebee look. However, I think I have figured that out and just need to get started.

I go back to school August 17th though, so my free time will soon be limited.

Booking Through Thursday

I just saw this on another blog.


Booking Through Thursday
Okay, love him or loathe him, you’d have to live under a rock not to know that J.K. Rowling’s final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comes out on Saturday… Are you going to read it?
If so, right away? Or just, you know, eventually, when you get around to it? Are you attending any of the midnight parties?
If you’re not going to read it, why not?
And, for the record… what do you think? Will Harry survive the series? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, I am anxiously waiting for midnight Friday. We are traveling to see our daughter and her husband. Marley and I will be at the midnight sale, get our books and get home as fast as possible. We have both planned snacks for our marathon read and will finish the book early Saturday morning.

This is what we did with the last book, although Marley was in Chicago and I was in Texas. We talked by cell phone as we waited in line, got the book, and read through it. She reads faster than I do; she was through by 4 am and I finished around 4:30 am.

If JKR follows archetypal writing, Harry should survive although probably with some sort of major loss. I am afraid at least one Weasley will die, although I hope not Ron, and I am sort of worried about Neville. I think Remus Lupin might be a possibility also.

I'm
a Ravenclaw!


Hoorah! I've joined my first swap!

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. I was sorted into Ravenclaw.
2. I wear shoe size 8.5
3. My foot length is 9.5"
4. Foot circumference is 8.5"
5. Favorite DPN: a. Bryspun Size 2 US, 4" length
b. Any other wood or plastic - metal needles hurt my hands.
6. I'm always open to trying new needles. I generally make all socks with size 2 US.
7. I am a Ravenclaw, but I have no strong preferences as to color.
8. I am asthmatic, so any strong odors can make me wheeze. There is no smoking in my house, but I do have 3 cats and 2 dogs, so there is generally animal hair in anything I knit.
9. I am in the US, but I am willing to have an international Pal.


This is really exciting, but somewhat scary - I have never knitted for someone I didn't know. I've already started looking in the stitch library books because I really want to make some great socks.

KPS Baby Cardigan #4

One more KPS cardigan. This one is mercerized cotton. I thought it seemed kind of plain, so I tried embroidery. I haven't tried embroidery on my knitted things before - it was a challenge! I finally printed star patterns from Word, cut them out, pinned them on and stitched around them. The tail on the shooting star sort of droops because I don't think I pinned it enough.

Anyway, my niece had her second son last Friday (the day before her scheduled shower!), so this is ready for him.

I really love this pattern; it is so basic and it is easy to customize. I don't have another baby to knit for on the horizon, but I already have some ideas for different looks.

One More Project Completed

This wasn't a UFO, but one I needed to complete. This is a baby cardigan in Cotton Ease from the Knitting Pure and Simple top down pattern. One of my daughter's college friends is having a baby boy next month, and my daughter requested a sweater.

This pattern is so quick and easy to do. The sweater seemed sort of plain until I added train buttons, so I hope the new mom likes it.

I bought a bag of three skeins of Cotton Ease at Tuesday Morning on clearance, and I have enough to do another cardigan like this and probably a hat or two.

Alaska - More About the Cruise

I have had a lot of questions about the cruise. We went on Holland America, on the Amsterdamm. This was our first cruise, so I don't have any comparisons, but we were very happy with this ship. As you can tell from the picture on the bow, I am not altogether comfortable on a ship. In fact, I normallly really hate being on water, but this was a very pleasant experience. This picture was taken the first time I went out on the bow. After this, the bow became one of our favorite places unless we were at speed, because we could see so much. It was really great to be out there when we were coming into a harbor because it was quiet and we could see so much of the places we were going.

This ship was one of the smaller ones, holding around 1300 passengers. This is what we were looking for - we didn't want to be with hordes, and we didn't want to be in a perpetual party. This cruise tends to attract older people (older than we are!), so we thought it would be more sedate, which it was. That doesn't mean there weren't things to do on the ship, but there wasn't a rock wall, wave pool, no big bar/dance places. They had games, competitions, some sports things, shows, etc., but the second picture shows our favorite place which was the library although I didn't get a lot of reading done because I was watching the scenery go by and watching for whales most of the time.

Our room was very comfortable, the food was good, and the crew was great. We really had the trip mojo going because we got an upgrade which put us about two cabins from the stairs/elevators; our dinner table assignment was right by the stern windows so we had an amazing view, and our tablemates were interesting and great to talk to. Even though it's not something I would normally do, I went to the casino a couple of times; trip mojo again because I hit a nickle slot for $180!! The only time I felt crowded on the ship was the first meal when we were all put in the buffet area while the rooms were finished. There were just so many public areas that we never had a problem finding a place to sit and stare out the windows.

Finally, I would go again in a minute. I have already started looking at cruise/land travel packages. A big part of that is Alaska itself - I really want to see more, but I would choose Holland America again also.

Alaska!!

My husband and I just got back from a seven day cruise to the Inside Passage of Alaska. We left from Seattle, went to Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan, Victoria and then back to Seattle.

It was absolutely amazing. We went on a couple of excursions and saw humpback whales, a gray while, sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, porpoises, a grizzly bear, bald eagles, and lots of birds I couldn't identify.

I took lots of whale pictures. I think seeing whales was the best thing for me. Coming from landlocked Texas Panhandle, I was just taken aback at how beautiful they were.






We also saw a grizzly bear, sitting on a small island eating grass. The naturalist on the boat told us he was probably not long out of hibernation and was trying to get his system restarted. The waterfall in the background is coming from Redoubt Lake feeding into Redoubt Bay outside of Sitka.


We saw a lot of bald eagles and some nests. Wow, those nests are huge. We saw one eagle down in the water, evidently fighting to get a fish out and saw a lot just soaring. It was hard to get a picture of those; this was was easier to catch.





We saw several glaciers, although we had to miss the Johns Hopkins glacier because of fog. We stood out on the bow of the ship and we could hear the ice popping and cracking. We even saw one glacier calve, losing a chunk of ice that we think was about the size of a Suburban. It truly sounded like thunder! And, arent' the colors amazing??





And, of course, I bought yarn. Thanks to nice ladies at Knitters Review, I had an address for Skeins in Juneau where I found some DK wt. for socks from Rabbit Ridge in Anchorage. In Sitka, we went to an Arts and Crafts center where I found yarn that had been dyed in Sitka, Raven-Frog Fiber Arts. I bought some merino/silk to make a stole in a colorway called Kelp. This seemed appropriate - we went out to kelp beds to look for sea otters in Sitka. Then in Ketchikan I found a store that had both yarn and beads - Alaska Bead Shop. I found some Lorna's Laces in a colorway called Baltic Sea - of course, I wasn't in the Baltic, but I saw all those colors in the seas we were in. And, I met some really nice people. It is so nice to travel for thousands of miles and still find something in common with the people you meet. The ladies in Alaska Bead Shop were especially knowledgable about the different yarns, and they had a lot of yarn!

So, now I have to get back to the real world, but I am determined to get back to Alaska again.