Fires, Crops, Knitting and Guess Who

We all have been suffering from smoke here along with the heat. In the past month we have seen very few clear blue sky's. Some days we see some blue if we look directly up. But the horizon is grey with smoke. You can look directly at the sun as it sets, the smoke has so filtered it. The only thing worse is those who are losing homes and living in evacuation centers only to return to where their homes were to find their lives changed. The above photo was taken by a newspaper and shows the down town area where I use to live. Can you imagine seeing that huge fire storm and being able to close your eyes that night? This is down town Grass Valley.
For those of you that worry we may not have food, these 2 fields show a very green rice field along with a field of sunflowers. Both of these fields are close to where I currently live. Yes I drove north to Mothers again for a very busy week. I visited the most beautiful Lavender Farm but was unable to take photo's as it was shrouded in smoke. I did not in 7 days lay eyes on Mt. Shasta. Sad to say it was also covered in smoke and hard to believe not visible once time during my visit.

I also got a very fast trip to Ashland, Oregon and a small shopping trip to Web-sters. I managed to find 2 kinds of yarns that are not sold at the yarn shop I am currently working at a couple days of the week. One was Noro Sock Yarn. I got two grey/brown/tan skeins, thinking they would make a nice light weight shawl. Have no pattern in mind.

The second purchase was 600 yards of Schaefers Nancy. This is completed as you can see by the photo below. I do have to block it yet. But it is off the needles and ends woven in. I like this pattern and the casual shawl with a ruffle around the edges. It was a fast knit.

While at Mothers I finished up my cotton top. I like this sweater, but it turned out to be just a little to heavy to wear in 100 degree weather. I will be wearing it this fall when the world outside cools down somewhat. I spent last Sunday sewing it together.

And for my final picture of the day it is the Guess Who child. He took his second airplane trip down to the Outter Banks to someones wedding. He also had new outfits to travel with. One being his dress up outfit for the wedding, but the cutest one is his "surfer dude" swim suit. I do have pictures to show later where his father took him in the water. He was not fond of it and the wind that kept blowing in his face. Remember how it takes baby's breath away when the wind blows on them? Here he is being rescused by his Mother.

Some friend has been nagging for me to update blog. I know I have been slow but have been working some extra afternoons a week and my body and mind are numb when I return home. I have much more to post about my trip north and my mini reunion with friends. I will get photo's together and have a little 'friend' post soon.

Keep those needles moving!!!

Perfect Man

I can only say I have found the perfect man. He knits, he acts...... and oh yeah he is easy on the eyes!!!! It must be love.

So much yarn so little time

Am still knitting stuff for the small one and have a sweater on the needles for daughter in law. But I am dreaming of knitting the above bag from Tracy Ullman's book Knit 2 Together. Its called the Doctors Bag. I also had scored enough Malabrigo Yarn in the above color way to do it in. I think this was purchased for a sweater but turns out to be perfect for this bag. Piled on top of yarn is handles that I had bought at Knitterly's in Petaluma. You know a girl can never have enough bags. Also Bags always fit no matter what you eat or don't eat. Another plus for bags. On an emergency road trip last Friday, to a yarn sale in Elk Grove at Knitique. I bought a Namaste bag. Very nice and a great color. I have so many ideas to knit the rest of my life would be needles in hand.

In 2 weeks I will be going on another road trip north to Mothers. As it stands at this time, son will be flying out and driving me up and back. And that means 10 hours of free knitting time. That will get me some serious stitchin done. Plus the time at Mom's when we are just sitting around.

Today was a great day. Grandson is back working with us 3 days a week. It means Grammie gets to take him home at noon and we have commute time together. Next week is birthday shopping day and a trip to the theater with Granddaughter to see Nancy Drew. She is reading the books now I read as a child. My has Nancy grown up. She nows drives a fancier car, has a cell phone and uses a computer. So unlike the Nancy I remembered that just relied on Ned and Bes to help her solve the best mysteries. I am so proud of this Granddaughter. At 8 years old she and 2 of her friends had their long long hair cut off to donate for wigs for cancer patients. Pretty good for a small group of small girls. Granddaughter on east coast is playing soccer like a champ. You go girls.... love it!!! Sad to say only one of the two knits though.

Day Off

This is going to be a busy week, with a past weekend also busy. Cleaning up yard and patio seem to be Saturday job. I filled my large garbage can and will reload it after today's pick up. Yesterday was tearing down some old mini blinds that were hanging in kitchen over glass door. I thought I could live with them till I redid the kitchen in this house. Decided I was sick of looking at blue mini blinds. Yuck!!!!! So down they came and off to the dumpster this morn.

I have done very little knitting since Friday. So the back of my sweater is moving slowly along. I guess this will be a sweater for next fall by the time I get it done. I spent some time yesterday going through my Grandmothers Button Box looking for 4 large buttons. No such luck. Two weeks ago daughter dear was snowed in up in the Sierra's. Interstate 80 was closed. We were having one of the most intense rainstorms of winter here. Yesterday my grandkids were in the swimming pool along with the dog. Two weeks of weather heating up to 85 today. Al Gore, you are right !!!!! I am glad to have the good weather as I leave this Friday Morning to go back north to see Mother. I always worry about snow around Mt. Shasta. I will be ok this trip.

I am off to get the most out of my day off. I am in hopes I can even make great progress on sweater.

Life Repeating Its Self

Its true. Life does repeat. During the 1960's and early 70's I had a framed print hanging in my home. It looked just like what you see to the left. There was a war called Vietnam. It was the first war ever to be televised. It was scary as I had a son that was moving closer to the age to registar for the draft. I wanted peace. It saddened me each night to see Walter Cronkite give the total of lives lost each day. Imagine the families suffering those losses. Once again we are in a war. Once again we are losing lives and families are suffering. Is there ever an end? 33 Americans died this week in the war.

Stitches West is this weekend. Help me out here. Do I want to get up at 5 am and take the train to the Bay Area? Shop Shop Shop, and take the train back arriving home at 9 PM? Please feel free to vote in the comment section. Today I will REALLY talk about knitting. I am up to the heel on my Jay Walker sock and am impressed how it lets the colors strip. I think I will be doing this pattern again with other sock yarn that I currently have in stash. I have managed to take a photo of some of my sock yarn stash, and wish I could remember where I 'stashed' the other!!! This weekend we are looking at stormy weather so it will be a wonderful pajama/knitting weekend. I need to get these UFO's finished so I feel like I actually accomplish something with sticks and string.

What Happened To Winter?

I am wondering what happened to winter? Is this the false spring we sometimes have? Driving home from work today I noticed trees all over in full bloom. Convertibles with the top down. People in flip flops and shorts. I fear if this is all the winter we get, we are going to be having some major water problems before July is over. I am not sure my yard will live through the no water, then the big freeze of January. It is very brown looking. I'll spray paint it green if I have to. Think of the mowing I won't have to do. I am including pictures I have seen of the train yard in Roseville, and the rice fields that start about a 1/2 mile from my house and are all over the northern part of the state.

On Friday I drive north, searching, again, for Mt. Shasta on my way to Mom's.

On the knitting side of life. I just keep plugging away on the Clapotis. I think I must be the last soul in the world still knitting on this 'hot' pattern of 2 years ago. I have always been behind somewhat. I took tap lessons when I was four and half. I got lessons free cuz I was cute and they used me in posters for dance reviews. But Dad always told me I was called half step. Not because I was shorter or little. Because I was always a half step behind the others in my dance group. A few dozen years later I seem to be doing the same with knitting. My knitting is packed for this weekend. I have an idea what clothes to pack, and I need to pack up all Mothers paperwork for the Tax Man. It will be a busy 4 days this weekend.