Sarah's Day

Hurry up Blog

2012-02-13T20:18:00.001-06:00

This is a hurry up blog. I am leaving tomorrow for Seattle and have to update my iPod. I am also training my bladder to stretch to 15 times it’s normal capacity. I have a theory that once we get into the air the cabin pressure exerts at least 5x the normal bladder psi until I can no longer stand it. And, since I sit next to the window almost exclusively, well, the two people on the outside are never happy. I usually try to wait until either the drinks come or the outside person has just fallen asleep.

Because that’s the type of flyer I am. And I’ve been doing it for way too long.

And that’s why this is a hurry up blog.

But did you watch Downton Abbey-did you? Jeesh, Mary and Matthew-come ON!

So next week I promise to have some serious news, and probably some pictures out of the crap camera.

Guaranteed to be a little blurry, and slightly off color, but pictures none the less.

Happy Flying to Me!

SuperBowl VII

2012-02-07T20:39:00.001-06:00

Or is it 8-no I think we decided that this year it was Superbowl Mystery quilt #7. I am a charter member of the Superbowl Mystery quilt club. Yes I am. I am trying to get Marcia to agree that at the 10th year anniversary of the Superbowl Mystery Quilt I should be given a loyalty gift of a new Bernina. Although, they’d be hard pressed to give me one I don’t already own. Maybe I should hold out for accessories.

Did I mention I do love a good Superbowl Mystery Quilt?

This year was no exception. The food was also delish. Just saying.

I went back into the archives to try to find some records of the previous quilts-

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

See my reflection in my shiny Bernina? I don’t have a picture of the quilt yet-it is actually a small project which I hope to finish on Sunday. Then it will be duly presented in the blog.

So I am missing a couple of years. I think, given more time, I can find them in the archives (really? I lost interest after 15 minutes-but they are there…somewhere)

It was also VIP last week. I was after the elusive picture of Marcia actually smiling or at least attempting to take a good picture.

It’s like trying to find Bigfoot. Or Nessie. It is next to impossible.

This is probably the best one. Plus I like the quilt.

This might be the best one-I have about 20 with closed eyes, frowny expressions, and blurry faces. Sigh. Maybe next time.

This is another cool thing. I think we are going to learn how to make it someday. I can’t wait.

Although, I have sort of decided to do smaller projects for a while. I have lots of big projects that need to be finished.

This week is Debbie’s and Cody’s birthdays. As I am on the way to Seattle next week, I can deliver Debbie’s, but alas Cody’s will be late. Oh well. He’ll be dining at the Wicked Spoon or some such place. So he can wait for a little present from Mommy.

I don’t have much more today. Been a long couple of weeks, with a long week coming up-but then vacation. And did I mention that I’ll be in Tacoma in time for Madrona? Can you say fiber-fest?

Will I need one suitcase? Or two?

Annie Oakley was a little confused

2012-01-31T20:33:00.001-06:00

First and foremost, happy birthday Grampa on January 27th. Hope it was happy.

Now to the business of blogging……

So, I forgot the blog yesterday. Forgot. I meant to blog, I thought about blogging, I took a picture to put on the blog, but then I didn’t blog.

And you know who asked me if I blogged? Really. You have to know. It was Laura, the blog muse. My faithful reader Laura.

I think I’ll post a picture of her, just because-

This is Laura’s Verklempt look. I think it is a suitable look for the day.

Although

this one brings back some fond memories. Being here, in this refrigerator, at this time, was NOT ok. But you can just feel her elation at the new, spotless, side by side in our soon to be break room.

But seriously, when I have little to say I can’t always fall back on Laura to save the blog. Well, I can, and I usually do, but not today. (OK, obviously I have done it again today-I can see that-don’t bring it up-it’s my blog to do with Laura as I please. And that thing about NOT being OK? Totally an inside joke. Touché blog dissenters)

I just watched a PBS thing about Annie Oakley. And she was a big advocate for woman bearing firearms. Well, not like bearing children, but she did say she believed women should keep a firearm on the nightstand. Dang. I could blast the snore right out of Dave. She would also demonstrate how to conceal a gun in your umbrella to have in case of emergency or when bending someone to your will. I am thinking that if Annie Oakley whipped a firearm out of her umbrella and was demonstrating the business end all up in your grill, you’d be agreeing with whatever she told you to do, or not do. Because that Annie, she did not miss. Ever. But Annie did not believe so much in women having the vote. Really? She’s out packing heat, and encouraging women to pack heat, but not wanting women to vote? I suppose if enough women were carrying concealed and shooting out of their umbrellas who the heck needs the vote? Ok, maybe she wasn’t confused at all.

Yesterday I had the day off which confused me so much I forgot to blog. I didn’t, however, forget to clean the stupid bird cages. I schlepped the giant cage drawer upstairs and attempted to clean it and put in clean newspaper lining. Sounds easy doesn’t it?

Well, it’s actually not. And just when you were thinking “ok she used Laura for blog filler, certainly she won’t use Jack again”, he shows up. But you didn’t expect him here, did you? DID YOU? No. You did not. Please, don’t make me get all Annie Oakley on you.

And one last thing?

Laura and the amazing moving cat picture.

Feeling better yet?

Lack of (p)interest

2012-01-23T19:41:00.001-06:00

Not much to blog about this week as I am still recovering from the girls weekend out.

Sorry, but I love this picture.

I have one thing I’d like to mention. I finished these socks, which were something like the second pair I ever cast on. About 7 pairs later, I finally finished them.

That’s Regia self striping yarn. I personally like the socks but think the fabric would be nicer on a bit of a smaller gauge needle.

Ok, all the people who just nodded off over that last sentence can now WAKE UP. Dave has discovered Pinterest. I knew of Pinterest from another blog, and then Laura came up one day to show me some fascinating thing on the site (because at work, watching paint dry is, for us, sure to be an attention getter). Then Dave got an invitation from someone he works with and the rest is history. He spent about 37 minutes finding the perfect user name-iamlegend-and off he went. It’s his new obsession for the next 20 minutes or so.

And that’s all I know. It snowed this week and we shoveled. Blane came over, Jack got into trouble. Fringe completely messed me up and Downton Abbey….sigh. In other words, same old, same old.

I’ll try to see if I can stir up more excitement for next week.

Girls Night Out

2012-01-17T19:37:00.001-06:00

Oh man, the Girls Night Out finally happened, and it happened with a vengeance.

Totally.

I wish I had more blackmail pictures to show, but the crap camera ran out of batteries and besides, it was a little too much fun to keep taking pictures.

But I did get a few.

Here’s the girls, just starting out. Lets see, starting on the right and going clockwise is Lynn, Jenna, me, Sara (the other Sara), Mary, Sue, and Betsy. No idea who the person walking around and getting into the picture is, but she’s very happy about it.

Here we are again. A little later, a little happier, a litte blurrier. Found the Spotted Cow. Gotta love Wisconsin. Again, no idea about that person lurking around the bathroom. And sorry about the blur. It was Jenna’s phone this time.

Then, because of the uncontrollable girls we are, we decided we had to go dancing. And dance we did.

Taking pictures of people dancing around in a darkened bar area has to be some sort of sobriety test, and I was failing badly. But either way I captured Lynn, Sara, and Mary until I couldn’t stand it anymore.

I let Lynn throw me around on the dance floor unmercifully. She is a pretty dang good dancer when it comes to spins and twirls. The band was fab and played songs we could all sing to. Sweet.

We ended up back at the Frog in Fountain City-the gruesome threesome.

Really?

Yes Really. I think these girls should be cut off.

(Don’t worry, we had a designated driver and a brand new van. Nothing could be sweeter. Out of the goodness of our hearts, we didn’t even throw up in it)

We stayed at the most beautiful lodge out side of Fountain City, way up on the bluffs (which could have been dangerous had we been able to wander outside after arriving, which we couldn’t. I couldn’t even figure out the radio)

Here’s our view if it were summer-

But it wasn’t

It’s winter but still fantastic. Even the morning after. Which is saying something. (Click the link above-the rest of the house was just as fab)

Staggered home and managed to get to knitting group. I felt kind of like this

Just a wee bit crispy……

and this didn’t help either-

Sigh.

But since that day I have recovered and decided that Girls Night Out was the best time I’ve had in months.

Thanks Girls!

The Paradox

2012-01-09T21:00:00.001-06:00

Dave’s birthday was last week, although it seems like several weeks ago. Although that might be the beer talking.

He was on vacation which explains the not shaving for two weeks. However, now that he’s an NFL owner-who cares?

He also got a Blu Ray player and we now have Netflix. Dang but that is a sweet deal. We watched Better Off Ted, and some Girl With….movies and the documentary Babies. We also watched all of Season One of Downton Abbey-twice. We will never be without it again.

There was cake, and I just noticed we had some difficulty with the “day” in birthday. That’s hilarious.

There were also crazy people.

Do NOT make that bigger. Somehow, every time I take a self portrait with Dave, he makes me laugh so hard I look stupid. Which I am starting to think takes the looking stupid pressure off of him.

That also could have been the beer. Or not.

A good time was had by all.

I think.

I got all sorts of pictures this week. Laura finally sent the cow pictures, some of which had to be censored. But these were cute.

Seriously, what could not be cuter than a little cow with it’s mommy? I ask you-what?

Well, perhaps not the birth of the little cow with it’s mommy-

Laura did send the actual little cow shooting out of the big cow, but I don’t want to lose the other 3 readers of my blog by showing the actual graphics. Although I may sneak them in one of these days, ‘cause that’ll teach people who don’t blog to make fun of my blog. And I have yet to see a picture of hooves coming out of a cow’s backside on any of the other blogs I admire. Touche Sassy Redhead!

My sister Martha also sent me a picture of her cat Daisy-

Come on now. That’s a cute cat eh? But, is it in the bathtub or something? Is that a common cat theme in the blog? Cats in bathtubs? Cats in sacks? Cats in prison?

Or cats in boxes?

I believe he’s alive. Or…is he?

Happy Happy New Year

2012-01-02T08:04:00.001-06:00

Hello and happiest of New Years. (Does that have an apostrophe? Like New Year’s?)

We have been a bit busy here. First of all, I have watched all of Downton Abbey, season 1, twice. Bring it Season Two. In a way, I am sort of glad I didn’t watch it last year because I would have gone ca-razy waiting for season two, which conveniently starts next week. So, please Bates, get together with Anna, Mary and Matthew-come ON, and Thomas, ohhhh, I hope you get yours. Sigh.

Cody and Blane were here all last week. This is Christmas-

(As a little preface, crap camera doesn’t have a remote, only timer which was problematic at best-)

Wait, that didn’t work (I call this one the missing man formation)

No, that’s not it either

Better. And yes, Cody has some weird Mohawk going on. Did you notice too, how Blane doesn’t change much between pictures. If I didn’t risk complete boredom, I’d post the bunch of pictures we ~~suffered through~~ took and he would look the same in every one, while the rest of us (ok, me) are all looking the other way and blurry and talking to each other. Now that I look at it, once Cody got ready, he didn’t change much either.

Moving on.

We had the slightest decoration fail.

Yeah, that’s a problem. Actually, this was the problem.

And we had a tree-

which Blane put up and decorated.

We had a sort of tree at work too-plus some other crazy decorating. Which I also didn’t do.

I fell down in the decorating dept. It was all I could do to organize myself. (Hoping to get some sort of card out by April)

During this time, while I was not not decorating, I was finishing the shop quilt

Had fun with the Jack cam.

Went to a Christmas party which the crap camera took an blurry picture of.

And finally, ended it all with Cody leaving on Saturday, New Year’s Eve.

I rocked it on the boy department.

Lastly, on New Year’s Day (using apostrophe) I ran a little race sponsored by the Running Room called the Resolution Run.

Barb and Angela and Susan and Lorna were all there too, and we totally killed it. There was a ton of ice so the goal was not so much to run fast-but to stay upright.

Barb’s big finish of her first 5K!

She was sporting a knitted cowl, representing our knitting group with good taste.

While I was at Barb’s, after the run and sipping a delicious Bloody Mary, I took a picture of her cat in a basket, which I found amusing.

Pictures I don’t have to show you-Laura was at the farm and took pictures of all the cows/calves in the barn AND a cow actually having a calf. It took all of Laura’s strength to take these pictures and I can hardly keep asking her for them because she gets that “talking about the farm look” which can be a wee bit scary. But if I had those pictures they’d totally get top billing. Except for maybe calving ones. They probably have to have a disclaimer-“these pictures may be disturbing to some viewers”.

And that, my friends, starts off a whole new year of blogging.

Here’s to 2012. Let’s see what happens now.

Merry Holidays

2011-12-26T19:26:00.001-06:00

Good Lord, I forgot it was Monday and my usual blog day. If Dave had the TV on to Monday night football I would know it’s Monday. But he doesn’t because he is playing Diablo on his computer.

Manliness 1, Dave 0.

Anyway, Happy Holidays and all that. I have a few hilarious family photos to share, which are always good for a laugh. I love the missing man formation (where I, the picture taker, am not actually in the picture) or the fact that we sat in front of the camera for up to two minutes before deciding that the timer mechanism was probably not working correctly. Good times, people, good times.

So, by this time next week I will have my pictures posted and live video of Jack on a quilt. Because that’s what everyone waits for.

In the meantime, I am going to rest my bloat on the couch and enjoy some football before Christmas vacation is over, and I start looking forward to New Years.

I hope you, dear reader(s) (in case there are more than one of you) have had a wonderful Christmas holiday.

Is there such a thing as Blogerism?

2011-12-17T19:57:00.001-06:00

Really. I am so over the top with the Blogess again. I swear it. If I could select all, copy her blog, paste it here and call it mine I would so do it.

But I somehow think that breaks at least 6 or 7 laws, or statutes or ticks off the APA nazi’s, or get’s me a ticket from Blogspot. Something.

I have to copy one thing though, because when I saw the commercial for Barbara Walter’s 10 most fascinating people (Baba Wawa) I said the exact same thing. EXACTLY-

“ I don’t like to criticize, but if your list of the ten most fascinating people includes three Kardashians then you’re doing it wrong.”

Absolutely no shit. The best part of the interviews was where Barbara says to the Kardashians “You don’t sing, you don’t dance…..um, you have no talent”. I will say that Blane likes the Kardashians. In a Friday night hooker sort of way.

We are in the final countdown to Christmas. It seems like I have hardly even seen all the Hallmark/Lifetime movies yet. Although there is an especially bad one playing tonight.

Cody took off for his cruise and called me this AM to tell me he flew the red eye. Literally. He was completely hung over and irritated fellow passengers by getting up to go to the bathroom and disturbing his sleeping seat mates. Then, in his words, making the returning veterans who were sitting around him, who have already suffered the horrors of Afghanistan, suffer through his “heinous gas”. My son is why I hate to fly.

There are a couple of convos (short for conversation, sort of in the same vein as whatev) I have to relate that actually happened in my house.

The first one just happened-JUST HAPPENED!

Dave is changing the channel (incessantly)

Sarah-(listening to bad Christmas movie with Billy Ray Cyrus and even worse child actor who I think played the childhood Shawn in Psych-and my God that was a long intro) What is this? Is this football?

Dave-Yes, this is Thursday night Football on Saturday.

Sarah-Oh, so this game has already been played.

Dave-No, it’s Thursday night football on Saturday.

Sarah-So, the game was played on Thursday and they are showing it on Saturday.

Dave-No, it’s Thursday night football on Saturday.

This is like one of those mirrors that are opposite each other where you see yourself to infinity. (And it was a new football game, being played on Saturday night but being billed as Thursday night football, and no, there is no logical explanation)

The other thing that happened happened a while ago and was so ridiculous it took me a while to even be able to blog it.

Sarah in bed reading a book-Dave picking up a shirt off the bed that we have been moving around on the bed for several days now because neither one of us wants to face the inevitable-

Dave-this is not my shirt.

Sarah-Well then it’s Blane’s, go throw it on his bed

Dave-(insert foot stomp here) I don’t want to-I want to go to bed.

Sarah-Seriously? It’s less than 15 feet away.

Next day red shirt is on dining room table which is 2 feet from the doorway where the shirt could be tossed on the bed. Really? Really Dave?

Now, I know that walking across the house was equated, by Dave, to the Bataan Death March, but I could not get behind that at all.

But, if I were Mrs. William Windsor Duke of Cambridge, I could probably understand and might even sympathize if this sort of thing went on

William-Bugger off-this is not my shirt

Kate-That’s bugger off your highness, thank you very much, and the maid’s valet probably mixed up Harry’s with yours, so go throw it on his bed.

William-What? Do you have any idea what that entails?

Kate-Seriously Wills, it’s only down the hallway.

See? That’s a convo I could jolly well see as reasonable. Because, those people live here-and it’s a long way down the hall.

Laura has a bun…

2011-12-12T19:55:00.001-06:00

Last weekend I went to Minneapolis for the long awaited yarn dyeing weekend with my friend Jill.

Jill had, long ago, ordered up a cone of fingering wt wool, bare and ready to dye.

After some thought, we decided to use a Kool Aide dyeing method. It’s non toxic, easy to do, and makes some nice colors.

I got there on Friday, knitted, watched some TV and made a list of necessities for the next day-things like tape and seran wrap, and, of course, some Kool Aide. Woo Hoo.

We decided on one more important stop-Lila and Claudines to bask in the fibery ambiance. And, I hadn’t seen the expansion, which lived up to it’s hype, and then some.

I bought some sock weight yarn to dye. It was my understanding that to do Kool Aide dyeing the fiber had to be all natural, and my sock yarn had 20% nylon. I was kinda scared.

So we set up. Jill had made some sweet little books for us to document our experimentations, and laminated some instructions.

Oh, I forgot. The other thing we bought was a scale to weigh yarn. We wanted to dye in 100 gm hanks. It was a precise operation.

Jill labeled the glasses for the dye and off we went. Here’s a little pictorial for your viewing pleasure.

See? The yarn really isn’t as shiny as it looks in the picture. It’s just the crap camera, and, well, you know. And, my yarn took up the dye, even with the nylon. Good to know.

I am planning on dyeing the rest of mine very soon.

Thanks to Jill for being the hostess with the mostess-and for making me a scarf that I don’t have a picture of yet. But I will soon, very soon.

Oh yeah, Laura and her bun. That was my teaser to make people stick with the parts that only interested Jill and me.

I figure if people got sick of reading and looking at my dyeing experience and couldn’t get to the Laura part-well, then that’s how rumors get started.

Laura came to the upper eschalon of the 2100 and this is what happened-in real time

Laura-I have a bun.

Sarah-Oh.

Laura-Here let me show you (turning around slowly). I can’t make this work.

Sarah-Well, you need to stick a pencil in it. That always makes it work.

Laura-Where’s a pencil?

Sarah-Here, let me get it good and sharp.

Laura-Ah Ha! that works! Let me show you-

Sarah-Sweet. Wait. I must have a photograph.

And, sadly my friends, that is one of the more thoughtful and intelligent of our conversations last week. It was a long week.

But when all was said and done, we did a little reveling, alien style.

I need a rider.

2011-12-05T11:33:00.001-06:00

Dear Home and Auto Owners Insurance Company:

Yesterday my husband ~~freaking lost his mind~~ pointed out that I have ~~a crazy bat-sh*t amount~~ several sewing machines in my basement.

I went over and stood in front of his bigger than any of my machines plasma flat screen TV and said “Four. I have four sewing machines. Each serving a different purpose. And you should be happy I added another one

because now you don’t have to lug the 40+ pound work horse upstairs anymore”.

He was somewhat pleased about that, but wondered what the others are for.

I told him the little one is for being here when I need it and the 4th is actually a Serger.

Although he was a little distracted by the football game so the conversation actually went something like this:

Dave-Surgeon? Like I don’t work at Mayo and we can get one of those covered by insurance?

Me-Not surgeon, SERGER. Like a cutting/finishing machine.

Dave-Cutting fish? I won’t eat a sturgeon and you can’t make me.

After that, it deteriorated to juvenile name calling and various one-up-manships that aren’t important to this communication.

What is important is that the machines are worth a chunk of change, and, as my husband ~~said quietly through gritted teeth~~ suggested I might need to tell you, sweet insurance company that fixed my new car when I hit the deer and rebuilt half my house when it burned down, I have some expensive equipment that I can’t live without. I need to know that you will happily (meaning you won’t give me any double talk and crap) replace said equipment without complaint, if I tell you honestly that I have it and it should, heaven forbid, be mortally injured by an act of God.

Thank you so much for your time, and please don’t raise my rates just because you think I’m crazy and won’t notice. Because I will, and so will my husband.

Sincerely,

Sewing Machine Lady

PS. If you are worried about me affording all this high end equipment, never fear. I work for the person who sold it to me. And to make ends meet, she has let me and a few others put some extra time in her ~~sweatshop~~ store. And next time, she said she’d even turn the heat on.

LiveJournal Tags: sewing machines,Bernina

Doin’ it better than me…..almost.

2011-11-28T19:44:00.001-06:00

So, first of all, Blane’s 27th birthday on the 17th.

This makes me officially old. Because, after all, it is all about me. Plus that’s not any cake, that’s a Daube’s cake. Oh yeah.

Earlier in the day we had another Daube’s cake at work, because it was Cathy’s birthday. (It was also Jules birthday, and my former boss Sue, and Lynette in the office-it was a crazy amount of birthdays which makes me wonder about the 9 months previous to this date-Valentine’s Day? Puhleese.)

That all happened.

So I thought I’d blog it, but then I got to reading the Blogess and I was seriously feeling bad about my own blog. Even one of my co workers, who does not blog and should not throw stones, or whatever is appropriate for dissing a blog when you don’t write one, said my blog was a dull retelling of my boring life. Really.

So the Blogess was getting me down, down, down. I mean, the woman is hilarious and she has a cat named Ferris Mewler. Ferris Mewler-She originally chose the name Bob Barker, which is about as good as Ferris Mewler. I have Cat. Which I spell in the French Chat so my obvious inability to name animals isn’t so obvious. Not only that, but this lack of talent in naming is apparently generational since Blane’s cat is named Good Kitten.

And not only is the cat named Ferris Mewler, it has 5 toes on each foot. It has EXTRA freaking toes.

Here’s our list

No tail

No eye

No brain

(Yes he’s in the bathtub and no, he doesn’t know why)

And I am sure Ferris does not stalk the dog toys, that the dogs refuse to sniff, retrieve, or even carry around to simulate normal dog activity.

Then I started reading the links to other blogs off of the Blogess’s site and I was even more down about my pathetic attempts at entertaining myself in an online forum.

But then I realized I have one thing, the one thing, that no other blog will ever have..

My ever faithful and steady blog muse Laura. And even better, she is carrying a cow. If you only knew.

Game on bloggers, game on.

**RIP Twinkles

The Northwest and Back

2011-11-21T20:35:00.001-06:00

So, when I left everyone I was in Vegas. We were there packing up and the next day off we went to the airport. Martha flying directly to Seattle, me? not so much.

It was a sunny day in Vegas at the airport.

Here’s the snow we ran into at Red Rock yesterday.

I got to Phoenix after a while.

And when I got there, I decided that I could not face steerage. I just couldn’t. I was too used to foot space. I love me some foot space. So I did the unthinkable-I upgraded to first class. My friend Julie (jchant) says they charge so much to keep the riff raff out. Like me. Because I didn’t quite know what to do with myself up there.

I took a picture of my feet. Because I could see them.

And a picture of the seat next to me (empty with biiig arm rests)

And, the stuff they gave me.

I got club soda, TWO cookie packs, a pillow AND a blanket. Draped over the huge arm rest. Seriously. The flight attendant thought I was weird taking these pictures. I thought she was very lazy. She hardly waited on me at all. She got to sit and do her crossword the whole flight. Note to self-don’t fly US Airways. Ever. Again.

Mount Baker greeted us as we got to Western Washington-

And, check out the Seattle landmarks.

Seattle docks, Safeco and Century Link Fields.

Took a picture of the mountain on the way home to Tacoma. But I didn’t take any pictures whilst I was there. Not one.

I was only here for a couple of days. Watched some football, checked out the new ovens (sweet) and did my biz. Oh, and went to Nordstrom (again) and this time I did a little retail therapy and got a new credit card. It’s time I got some rewards.

Then hopped a plane for home sweet home.

Sunrise to the south and the Cascade range. There are three mountains there (4 actually, but it’s really hard to see the 4th). I do miss the mountains.

But when I got back, the fields of Minnesota were just fine with me-

Plugged into the radio (my favorite station),

and arrived in St. Charles, all in one piece.

Except I’m still missing these clothes.

A Little Vacation, A Lotta Travel-Chapter 1

2011-11-14T20:56:00.001-06:00

So, as I said I took a little vacay last week. I think it was last week. I started out by travelling to Vegas to see Cody.

I took the early van to MSP

And while I was waiting for this, I finished this

The first of the winter Skacel/Knit Purl Hunter KAL.

I headed out of MSP and made a stop in Denver. While I was flying there, the guy next to me said he was sure relieved that the flight wasn’t cancelled because of the snow storm in Denver. Really? Snow Storm? I am mightily glad I didn’t know that before I flew.

It was a little snowy, but not bad.

See the snow didn’t stick to the ground. So I got in just in time to wait.

DIA is kind of a weird place. The Frontier lady told me it’s supposed to look like the snowy rocky mountains. Maybe.

And then to Vegas.

The purpose of going to Vegas at this time was to see Angie who went with a group for her 30th birthday. But it was also to see Cody, and to visit with Martha.

Well, I did visit with Cody and ran all over with Martha, but never got to see Angie. She was very busy celebrating on the Strip.

Meanwhile, Martha and I ran around Vegas. We went to the Old Navy and Nordstrom Rack, (that was just the first night-we returned to Old Navy the next day) followed by the Quiltique quilt store, and then to west Vegas to the yarn store. Gosh we were busy.

The weather was beautiful. For the day.

We ate lunch at the Bistro at the Arts Factory, and they had very cool palette tables.

See? Cool. We ate a vegan lunch, and I have to be honest, those Vegans sort of came back at us. We were a little queasy after lunch. It was a delish veggie sandwich with sweet potato fries. We never figured it out, but after a few Tums we felt a little better.

We decided to head towards the strip to see if we could find Angie at O’Shea’s, but instead found this-

That’s what I’m talkin’ about. And it was the half yearly sale. I didn’t buy anything, but enjoyed the sweet ambiance of the customer service known as Nordstrom.

We went out to the strip, to O’Shea’s, but we weren’t able to find Angie. And we had to go meet Cody for dinner. I complained that the strip was too crowded so Martha took this picture to prove my point.

See how disturbing those crowds are? Jeepers. We had to go.

We saw some of the lights of Vegas, and the sunset as we drove away.

The Luxor

The Lights

The Sunset

We had Sushi with Cody and his friend Maral. So sushilicious. We were over the attack of the Vegans and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

The next day we decided to go to the Ethel M chocolate factory, where they make Mars candy (you know, like M&M’s, Mars bars etc). They also make other fine candies, and have a pretty cool cactus garden. Which, by the way, was getting spruced up for Christmas.

After we toured the factory and bought some delicious chocolates, we took a turn around the cactus garden.

I took a bazillion pictures, but I have to keep going with the story.

Because after this lovely scene, we decided to go to Red Rock Canyon. (I put in this link because it has the picture gallery, where you can see there really is snow-we couldn’t make that up)

We started the drive and saw this-

Lovely sunny mountains on the right, but where we were going,

well, not so much.

We got to the canyon, which was beautiful, by the way

But it was getting pretty chilly and the weather was coming….

As we drove up the canyon,

it started to blow and to snow. My first snow of the season and it’s in Vegas.

I have been to Vegas three times now, and each time it has rained. Each time.

Anyway, by this time I had put on two extra shirts Martha had in the car, and I got out to take the above picture, and Martha got this picture of me

Crazy. Oh, and that blue sweater and coral shirt? They never made it home. Don’t know where they went, but this is the last known picture of those clothes. Sad. But true.

We left the Red Rock Canyon and went directly to the Red Rock Canyon Casino

Yep. After another trip across town to another yarn store that we thought was 5 minutes away but was actually a half hour away and closing when we got there, we met Cody here for dinner buffet. Because seriously, if in Vegas, one must have a casino buffet.

We finally got back to the hotel and packed up for travel early the next day-

And so ends the first part of the journey. Stay tuned for part two-coming soon to a blog near you.

I’m Back….

2011-11-12T18:40:00.001-06:00

Finally. And I am working on the blog. I really am.

But last week, after going to Denver, Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle, Denver and Minneapolis, then getting back on Tuesday, quilting Wednesday, going to Winona to get Blane Thursday, spinning Friday and working today, well, I’ve just been a little busy. But I did get the pictures uploaded.

So in the next day or two I shall return-with pictures.

Gettin’ Ready

2011-10-31T20:44:00.001-05:00

This is a short blog because I am getting ready for my mini vacay to Vegas and points west. Tomorrow is my last day of work for a week. Which is a good thing for me.

Last week I went to Serger School at Pine Needles with my friend, the Serger.

I made a table runner which is not quite done yet. It’s not so much the projects, but getting comfortable with the workings of the thing. Which takes some practice. Which is the whole point of Serger School.

We also had a big turnout at our little knitting group-Dunn Brothers at Two.

Actually, Kristie and Barb aren’t even in the picture because I ran out of space on the right.

This is a kind of funny picture because people were moving and turning their heads. And that girl in the background, on the left, looking at us a bit strangely, is not actually in our group. She is thinking what Stephanie Pearl-McPhee said at SS11, “what are the knitters going to to? Because knitters are very unpredictable……”. Well, we did climb up on chairs and take pictures of this

Our Skacel, Knit Purl Hunter shawls. Some done, and some very close. I think it’s really fun to see them all together, the different colors. However, we are all ready to be done, or very glad to be finished.

So. Sorry for the short post, but I have soooo much on my mind, and so much to get done. I’ll be sure to post from vacay, but remember,

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas……..

Reunions

2011-10-23T20:50:00.001-05:00

Starting Friday, I’ve been busy meeting and greeting. I attended a pints and purls knitting get together at Whistle Binkings North. I saw old friends and met some new friends and knitters. That was fun, but I had to get home early and go to bed because we had plans for the next day.

Saturday we had a little all nurse nursing reunion at Winona State University, where I graduated in 2002. Next year it will be 10 years. What do you know….

Anyway, it was a big day. Mary, my running partner in crime, and I met up at the Warrior Waddle, a homecoming event for the last 4 years. There were a LOT of runners this year-over 500. I remember the first time I ran it there were about 40 people. I think there were over 500 this year. Really. It’s a 5K around the lake and I was second in my age division. I couldn’t believe it. I think it was easier to run because 1) I started out slow and increased speed instead of starting too fast and 2) the weather was cool and dry. That makes a huge difference. Either way, I had a good race, and Mary did too.

Mary had a strong finish.

The race started about 20 minutes late because of the crowd of people.

So we were a little late getting to our reunion.

We finally arrived and found our group, Lynn, Jenna and Betsy. We looked around the nursing department, found our graduation pictures, and then went out to watch the parade.

there was a dog

and a blue grass band.

Here’s me, Betsy, Lynn and Mary watching the parade

and me and Lynnie!

After the parade, we went and had a brat at the tailgate party.

Mary, me and Lynn….

and our whole gang-Betsy, Jenna, Mary, me and Lynn.

We then got the bright idea of having a beer, since it was noon, and that started a bar crawl that lasted until about 4. Man, it’s been a very long time since I’ve done that.

I must say, a good time was had by all. We planned a winter retreat in January to relive the whole experience. We’ll see.

So today I rested up and watched the Packers beat the Vikings. The Seattle game was so boring they didn’t even show highlights of the game on the OT. Jeepers. The Packers looked bored. I was almost worried they might lose. But they weren’t that bored.

I got my swap Package from my swapner for the Starbucks Swap in Ravelry.

Sweet yarn-

A knitted cowl and felted cup cozy, some fabric, scissors, honey sticks and tea, a notebook and scissors. And, of course, a gift card for the Starbucks.

I do enjoy a swap.

So now on to the next thing, which is my vacay to Vegas and points beyond-starting in a week and a half. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, enjoy the fall.

Retreat

2011-10-18T20:06:00.001-05:00

Last weekend was retreat. I loves me a good retreat.

This is the view out our windows, which were on three sides

Look at all those machines and fabrics and everything else.

Suzie was there giving me a look.

Marcia went ca-rrraazzzy with the bags.In memory of Sheryl M’s past presence. We couldn’t believe her production in the bag department. Ardie and I found it a little bit scary-

And this is only a smattering. She was using this weird texture stuff.

I thought it looked like some sort of fungi. But it was pretty neat.

I think the final total was 9 bags. Told you it was crazy.

Suzie made this cute family portrait wall hanging. I love how clear the pictures are. They were actually clearer in real life.

There were lots of cool things made.

One of two tee shirt quilts

I wondered what Margaret found so funny-

These are the Lois and Linda quilts.

The second tee shirt quilt. Hard to see, but there are pinwheels in the sashings.

Bargello-I always think bargello is so cool.

Cheryl made this little thing, I think it’s darling.

And that’s just a few examples. Everyone was so busy. I forgot to take a picture of my mystery quilt and my mystery girls who worked on the mystery. Dang.

I almost finished this quilt. I ran out of the set-in blocks on the bottom right. I found some here so all I have to do is finish.

I made 40 of these.

And 80 of these

So I got a good start on the Cabin in the Stars. If I can ever finish this blog, I’d go sew on it.

I got out the Serger and serged some. It was stressful but I finally did it. I am all signed up for Serger School next week. It’s a good thing

Yes, that’s a little mouse sneaking up on the serged table topper.

And that’s a little bit of how retreat was in 2011. Because, where some things are concerned, what happens at retreat, have to stay at retreat. Right girls????

Sigh. I hated to leave.

Rocktober

2011-10-10T20:30:00.001-05:00

We are rockin’ the month.

This is what I am seeing outside my window at work now. The wind blew lot of the leaves off this past week, but it was very beautiful when the sun was shining in the morning.

It has been in the 80’s here last week, and now cooling off to the 70’s. Jeesh. Another reason we are rockin’ it.

Friday I went spinning at Barb’s house with Barb and Susan. And did I take one picture of their wheels or anything? No. I was likely too busy with the great food and/or the 3 glasses of wine. But I finished my purple roving and am plying it. Here’s a bad picture of my plying. It doesn’t look all that great, but it’s not too bad.

Saturday was VIP. Marsha was the star of the show this month.

She did a little demo of a table runner and super mitered borders. And we showed off a few VIP’ers projects-

This is a really cute baby design.

And look at this! Wow. And it would be even more impressive if I could take a better picture.

I hate to admit but I have my eye on this

I know, I know. But I could trade my 200 in for this one, because this is a smaller, less tricked out version of the 8 series. I could do some embroidery on it, and do my piecing on it because it is more portable than the 8, which is my go to machine at home. Sigh. Retreat is this weekend and I fear Marcia’s power over me. It’s been a year since I bought a machine…..

I could make this cute thing with it-

Of course, I could make it with my other machine too-but it wouldn’t be as much fun. I’ll just have to avoid Marcia next weekend. Of course, she could use her secret weapon, Suzie, or even worse, Connie.

I’m doomed.

I got my oil changed after leaving Racine, and man was it a nice day. The geese thought so too.

I was buying some containers for the quilting retreat (I should have saved my money for the new machine I have given up on resisting) when Cody called to tell me how well he did in his first Triathlon, The Phast. Click on the link and check out his sweet results. The kid is fast. Congrats to Cody and his 6 minute miles (making up for his back stroke in the pool!!-I told him swimming wasn’t easy)

I stopped by Coldstone on the way home and got some of the most delicious pumpkin ice cream EVER. Back for more soon. I also made an apple pie that was just as delish. Thanks Laura for the apples. (There’s the Laura mention for the week-it’s just not a blog without it)

Sunday I got so much done-check out Beta, the one-eyed Did. That’s 1/2 of Beta sitting up, and the other half on the ground. I don’t know why I wait so long to clip him. I kept asking him when he was going to cut his hair, and he just kept waiting for me to cut it.

He loves a good hair cut-when it’s over.

I finished up my swap bag and packed up my projects for next weekend. I had a bit of an issue with Jack. He was all up in my biz, so I put him down and he promptly tried to get into this box.

It’s only as long as my foot, barely as wide and about 8 inches tall-oh, and it is full of books. Not sure where he was going with that, so I distracted him with his bag.

Little did I realize Jack has been busy tricking out his crib.

He put in a ventilation/spy hole/mouse grabber slot right there on the side

It did keep him busy for about 20 minutes.

I am working on the Skacel Kal, and I have finished the first part. WooHoo.

I ran, watered, cleaned bird cages, and saw this

Yep, Packer love was happening. Actually, I still have little fan love for Aaron R, #12.

It’s true. It’s good to be a Packer fan. Today. 5-0

Even Jack is impressed. I think.

Indian Summer

2011-10-03T19:46:00.001-05:00

It has been pleasantly summery out this week. Very nice to have 74 degrees at 7:30…PM. Woo and Hoo.

Not much new in the blogosphere this week.

I finished my Squiggle Fraggle Socks, or whatever they are called.

Ok, so I sort of elongated the toe a bit. I didn’t mean to make it so big. I just sort of stopped on the foot and made a giant toe. I was tired of the pattern and felt like it got lost in the business of the sock. Sigh. Oh well. Three to do and STR sock club 2009 is wrapped up. And maybe before the end of 2011.

Dave played ~~a whole bunch of stupid~~ video games this week. He plays them and forgets everything he is supposed to do, like turn off the stove or let the dog in or anything. He looks like this.

Scary isn’t it? Very blank look. He didn’t even know I was taking a picture. Fortunately the house wasn’t on fire or anything. Yet.

When we were in Minneapolis last week I saw some yarn bombing that I forgot to show you-

I don’t know if it’s really a yarn bomb or just a dressed up fire hydrant. I do know it’s a knitted hat and that is one happy hydrant.

I finished the benefit basket and took it to Cindy’s (my coworker’s wife) benefit on Sunday. Mine was a coffee/tea theme and I was happy to see at least 3 bids on it when I got there. I went with Cathy and we were blown away by all the stuff there.

Lastly, Chat decided to munch up the catnip I brought in. Surprisingly, they haven’t destroyed this plant. Because I brought it in for them to destroy. They are using reverse psychology on me. Drat.

It’s like those two Kong toys in the back ground. Every day I fill them up and hide them before I leave for work for the dogs to find. Imagine my surprise when I got home last week and the dogs had hidden them from me.

It took two days to find them. It’s disturbing when the dogs pull one over on me like that. Very, very disturbing.

Enjoy the sunny weather while it lasts.

Wine and Races

2011-09-27T21:26:00.001-05:00

Last week was busy as usual. It seems I always say that at the beginning of every blog. But it really was. It was busy after work busy, which, being the hermit that I am, usually doesn’t happen. But it did-twice.

Wednesday night I went to embroidery club at Pine Needles, only to discover that the embroidery thread guide on my bobbin case was missing. Missing! What? How? If you could see it you’d think-what the heck too. I was just saying how much I love my machine and have never had any problems. Then, suddenly and without warning, I lost this microscopic piece of hardware. And, the way microscopic things go, it’s a very expensive piece. Sigh. Oh well. If it’s not covered under warranty, then it’ll just have to be the repair that lines up after my new tires (October) and Vegas (November) and the holidays (December). Maybe then.

So, I left my machine there (insert sad face here-although I do have two other machines at home, I am a wee bit spoilt by this one).

Thursday night was wine night at Angie’s. (I do so love me some Angie-can’t wait for Vegas…but that’s for another blog)

There were several girls over

Somehow, Angie got left out of that picture-but recognize Laura, the ever present blog muse? She has become a required element of posting. (It’s sort of like the Where’s Waldo of my blog. Hey-I just realized that. I could make a little Laura contest, like spot the Pineapple on Psych. I could hide Laura all over the place, the possibilities are endless…..

Really, what does this have to do with the story at hand? Jeesh. Ok, back to wine night)

There, Angie’s back in a blur, and Ali is being, well, Ali. Yep.

The crap camera couldn’t see the wine and blurred all the labels, or was that me? Wait, no, it was not me. I am sure I had the wrong settings on the crapster. I really have a hate-hate relationship with that sucker. But I did get a book all about Photoshop and am hoping in the next couple of months to be able to really make my pictures look good, in spite of crappy equipment.

But back to wine night (I’m whining, but not about the night). It was lots of fun and I am dying to get back to Angie’s for a little wine slumber party. That would be a blast, except knowing me I’d last until about 9:30!

We had some nice sunrise skies this week. So I ran out and took a picture of the sky.

Saturday Mary B and I took off to Minneapolis and our yearly girls weekend out. We hit the Mall of America and spent about 3 or so hours looking around. I bought some chocolate covered espresso beans because I was saving up for yarn on Sunday….

….which was race day for the Women Run the Cities 10 miler. Cathy B came up in the AM and we all had a bit of a race going. Cathy was first in line, of course, closely (I’d like to dream) followed by me, and Mary brought up the rear. It was a perfect day for a race.

Cathy and I at the finish

Nice hair, huh?

Mary finishing.

I am not sure what Mary was thinking when she finished. I am in my smart glasses-

This picture cracks me up.

And the three wonder women after 10 miles.

Interestingly, each of us is exactly 10 years apart. WooHoo for the us.

That was fun, and, as usual, can’t wait till next year.

On the way home, I stopped at What in Yarnation and picked up about a hundred bones worth of yarn. How sweet if it had all been for me. Alas, it’s for our yarn group and the next Skacel Kal. We meet on Sunday to sort it all out.

And then I returned home to rest, relax, and have a little Coldstone ice cream, just because.

Tree Schizophrenia

2011-09-19T20:58:00.001-05:00

Conversation with Dave

me: Dave, you are so lazy (I am saying this whilst he is resting himself in pillowtopia)

Dave: No I’m not.

me: Yes you are. How many times have you thought this-

Two nights later

Dave: (again in pillowtopia) Look, I don’t even have to point the remote, I have it all set up right here. Now if I only didn’t have to move my finger.

I rest my case

In other news

I took Trixie to the vet to have a lump removed on the same morning we had frost.

That’s Trixie, frost and frost in case you couldn’t tell. Trixie was pretty hyped to get her lump removed. She’s been thinking it makes her look fat for quite some time.

I worked last weekend and noticed, behind the building, that this tree is half yellow and half green-tree schizophrenia. I guess getting into the season isn’t as easy as I thought.

The knitting group finally met on Sunday at Dunn Brothers, and came up with our Ravelry Group, Dunn Brothers at Two. Aren’t we original. Come visit if you are on Ravelry. Of course, it won’t mean much if you aren’t in the group. But lots of members is a bit of a status symbol.

That’s all for tonight. I have been so busy with little time off. I am working like mad to get the Log Cabin/Stars quilt cut, we are starting a new knitting KAL, I was spinning until midnight on Saturday, I am going to the cities this weekend, I have to finish my socks this week, oh, and I work every day. I swore I’d get more pictures this week but shoot, it slipped my mind in-between thinking of all these other things.

It was my parents 61st anniversary on the 16th. Happy Anniversary!

No News

2011-09-12T20:55:00.001-05:00

Could be good news. I don’t have much news this week. Work, home, work.

I did share a little Packer love on Thursday.

I have to admit to a little fanball crush on Aaron. I wasn’t so keen on his weird mustache thing going on in the off season. And his girlfriend, just a little on the skank side, but hey, he’s young and rich and well, you know.

So, back in the slow lane known as my life, the weather has been fab, but we are on the last day of the upper 80 degree dry weather.

It’s getting less green out there, and we are on the way to a cooling off.

I got a new purse last week. It’s quite the purse. It was given to me and I actually really like it.

Gucci knock off? It’s big. I wanted to take the image off this picture and put it on another background but I just don’t know how to work my Photoshop. So I instantly went to Amazon and ordered me up a new book so I can finally figure out how to use it all. But, in the meantime, I got me a sweet purse. And big. I can easily fit some knitting in there.

This past weekend was VIP at Pine Needles so I went and I saw some pretty cool projects which Marsha and Suzie displayed.

Suzie and the bag.

I also finished the mystery quilt for retreat. But because it’s a mystery I can’t show you the whole thing-I’ll just give a little bitty hint.

It’s not too bad to put together, if you follow the instructions……don’t ask. (It was actually Dave that noticed the problem, thankfully BEFORE I put it together). I blamed the poor quality of the copy I had to work with. Certainly it wasn’t me.

Lastly, a couple of weeks ago Gramma’s got a new oven and cooktop.

You can sort of see the old, 1960 vintage ovens in this crazy picture-

Let me zoom in for you

Yea, well, the pulled them out like this

And put in these sweet Jenn Aire models. New ovens and cooktop. Maybe now when I cook there the meals won’t be either underdone or, most commonly, overdone and very chewy.

I also finished the Flow, which I made in bamboo which was a big mistake. I’ll model it for you next week.

And that’s all the news.

The End of Summer

2011-09-05T20:08:00.001-05:00

Here we are at the end of summer. It went from boilation to cool all in about a week. I love the cool dry days. Dry being a key word here.

So, I started working at Pine Needles in Racine a week ago Saturday. Maybe I mentioned it already, but I went back last Saturday and I have to say I like it a lot. It is soooo different from my regular weekday job. I get to hang around with fabric and think about fiber and it is just very nice. Besides the fact I like Marcia (the owner) and Suzie (now the manager of Racine) so much. And the rest of the staff too. I think it will be very rewarding.

Otherwise, it was a week of slowing down and easing into fall. Summer seems so busy. Going here and there, something up every weekend. Now I can relax. Although I haven’t seen the knitting group lately-they are meeting the 17th but I am working that day-sad. I have a request to meet on Sundays afternoons when the coffee shop is less busy! And a spinning night with Barb has to happen again when her house clears out.

Speaking of spinning (which reminds me of yarn) I gave Barb my Morrison from Yarn Garden for her birthday because it was the perfect gift. Then I started to really miss it so I called the Yarn Garden and had them ship me another skein, then another skein, then two other skeins. Jeesh.

Last week I got a box full of fabulous fiber.

Ooooohhhh, ahhhhh. As soon as I finish my socks and the Wrap me up, I think something is going to have to be knitted from these.

I also got my biiiig box from Nordstrom. Sweeet.

Full of new clothes. The funny thing is I get clothes from Tacoma that are for a little cooler climate than our summertime. So I end up not being able to wear some of it until now. But that’s ok, I’ll get at least 8 good months out of it. It’s not THAT hot here during most of the year.

I finished the Nobody Says No to Baby quilt and the Cuddly Kitty and sent them off to Katie, Dave’s neice.

There she is on the blanket (with Dave’s legs sticking out the other side!) I thought kitty looked a little crabby, but she is very very cuddly.

Katie says that Baby (aka Kaylee) is a little suspicious of the new blanket and kitty. We’ll see how it goes.

The garden in the front is at it’s last blooming.

These geraniums are about 3 or 4 years old. I got tired of buying new ones every year, so I just keep these in the house through the winter. I keep thinking they might not make it, but look how good they are. I do think they should be repotted this year. I hope it doesn’t kill them.

Angie called last week to say that Cora was over to visit.

She had a little candy to chew, which affected her smile. She is trying though.

Isn’t she the cutest EVER? Look at the girlie clothes. What is that about? When the boys were little, there were no such thing as cute boy clothes.

And I got my tickets for Vegas last week. It’s Angie’s 30th birthday and I have to buy her a big Vegas birthday drink. Martha is coming too for a fiber crawl and sightseeing trip. Oh, and I suppose I’ll visit Cody, since that is usually the reason for travelling there.

Week before last it was Laura’s birthday. Yes, our Laura, the ever present blog muse had a birthday. There was no Vegas (but maybe next year-although she has an Africa trip in the spring so not sure about Vegas-next year anyway), but we did get to lunch at Hunan.

Excuse the blurry picture. I had no flash that day. But there’s Mary K, Mary Pat, Rachael G, Laura, Angie and me. Aren’t we cute?

Then this weekend, besides working, I made mug rugs for my coffee gift basket.

I am not very satisfied. I don’t like my crazy circular pattern on the blocks. but I do like the idea.

We are making gift baskets for a benefit for Patrick’s wife Cindy (he works with us as a school nurse). Cindy was treated for breast cancer two years ago, and it has returned. So I am making the coffee basket, only it’s actually a bowl.

I have the to go mug and the mug rugs and the coffee and tea candles. I didn’t say, but I got those on a Sunday trip to Iowa a week ago with Mary and Laura. Laura drove and there wasn’t near the excitement we had last year with the shop hop (no, there was no ditch involved and it didn’t take 8 hours). It was a nice and pleasant trip though.

So all I have to get is the coffee and some tea to complete my basket.

We harvested our apples. They are pretty tart-I think they could have stayed on the tree just a bit longer. But the are going to become a delicious pie tomorrow.

Today is Labor Day. It’s a day we are supposed to be appreciating the laborers that came before us and paved the way for our working conditions. So thank you. I guess there are some who want to get rid of this holiday. But that would be a shame, because it is such a traditional end of summer holiday.

It was a sunny Labor Day today.

Trixie loves it.

Dave was all about it. Notice he is wearing the giant Skacel KAL socks I made last spring.

Jack had a Labor Day snack

Yeltsie enjoyed the sun too

and Beta relaxed on the couch.

I poured one more cup of coffee, and went to work on some quilt and yarn projects.

Nice hair.

Happy Labor Day, Welcome to Fall.

Ragnar Relay-Great River

2011-08-29T08:32:00.001-05:00

Weekend before last (the 19th-20th) was Ragnar 2011. Yep. 192 miles of pure running bliss. The premise of Ragnar is you take 12 people in two vans, start running in Winona and don’t stop until you get to Minneapolis.

Here we are, fresh in the morning.

This is our van

Ali, Tiffany, me, Tina, Cathy, Julie, and our driver Jim.

Yes, we had a driver which was beyond sweet. We always luck out with the driver. Our team was Divas and Dudes. We never seem to get that right. Last year we were Divas and a Dude, and we had two guys. This year we are Divas and Dudes, and we only have one guy. Hmmmm. On the back of our shirts is a picture of Paul, who passed away this spring after finishing a marathon. He was our original dude and we miss him. But we had his charming wife Shelly in van one which was great. We love us some Shelly (who, by the way, is often confused with me and vice versa because she is Shelly Melby and I am Sarah Melde. I’d rather be confused with her on a physical basis because she is very petite and cute and always really well put together. No, there is no confusion there….)

Anyway, van one started in Winona at 6:30 AM, and we drove up to Nelson Wi and waited for the runner 6 to come, so we could start. It was getting hot, but not as hot as last year.

It’s pretty in Wisconsin

and there’s our first runner, Ali, with a smile on her face, getting ready to head up the ginormous hill-the highest point in the race.

We ran and ran, waited, and ran some more.

This is our final hand off, from Tina to Tiffani, and we went to meet up with Van one again.

For some reason I didn’t take a lot of pictures, but we met up with van 2 after this, and then drove over to Ellsworth WI, grabbed a delicious cheeseburger in a great bar, and went to the next major exchange to grab a few winks. We started running again about 11 PM. I started my 9.2 mile leg at around 11:30. It was out in the country and, may I say, a bit dark. But it was a great run. It was cool, just a few sprinkles, and up hill for the first 5 miles. The last 4 were all down and it was great.

The only problems we had were not the wildlife that we thought we might run into in the country, it’s was the wildlife in the cities-namely the drunks. I guess we must have been running at bar time because Ali ran into a couple of weird looking people, but Tina was actually chased a little by an inebriate, after stopping to help another inebriate who was falling down on her front porch. Jeesh. I guess there was a fest going on in Hudson, where Tina was running at 2:30-3 AM and they had just come out of a day of celebration. I mean, they were staggering all over the streets.

We lost Tiffani in Stillwater, and she finished without the van. For the second year in a row we lost her. Briefly. Jim and I were standing by the bridge waiting for her and watching, what else, a bunch of drunks on the street. Even the two cop cars sitting there didn’t want to deal with them. We saw all that but no Tiffani. They finally called from the finish to ask us where we were, because Tiff was there and we weren’t. Sigh.

We finally got it together and went to our last major exhchange and got some sleep. Well, a couple of hours at least.

A little panorama with the shining sun.

I regret I did not get a picture of Tiffani’s Buzz Lightyear tent. It was just the thing for Ragnar.

I found Patty G though, and got our traditional race picture.

She always looks better than me. OK, so this is 24 hours from the start. I have had about 3 hours of sleep, maybe.

But time to run our last leg.

Ali mentally prepared-

And Nanci came in and started us off-again

I ran after Ali. I thought I had a good run going until the last mile. Then I hit the wall and walked between mile 5 and 6. I was very sad about that. I had to walk during the first leg around mile 5 because of the stinking hill. I need to train a little bit better. I told Cathy she had this leg next year….

So Cathy ran after me down by the Mississippi in St. Paul.

Cathy handed off to Julie

Over by the railroad tracks….

Julie handed off to Tina, but I don’t have a picture of that. I do have a picture of my lucky sports bra hanging up by the van window.

Just sayin’. This is the heart of Ragnar.

While waiting for Tina, Cathy and I posed for a minute. This is now about 30 hours in. How do we look?

Same spot last year-Ha!

We were so busy looking for Tina to finish that we missed her and off Tiffani went. I really fell down on the picture thing.

So we went to get ice while Tiff was running and we had a big fear that once again, we were going to miss the finish, and this was the big finish so we had to be there.

And we were-

There she is! Running the gauntlet and leading us to the finish-and the beer tent.

I took more pictures sitting here than the whole race!

Cathy and part of Julie-check out those giant Ragnar medals/bottle openers.

Nanci and Katrina

Nanci, Katrina, Tiffani, Shelly, and Ali trying to hide on the right.

Nanci, Bri, Tiffani, Shelly and Ali.

Don’t ask.

And so ends another year of Ragnar.

Look out 2012!

Vacation-The Final Chapter

2011-08-22T20:42:00.001-05:00

Jeepers, I gotta get this vacation done because last weekend was Ragnar and that’s a whole ‘nother post.

So, let’s see, where did I leave off. I think Blane just left and then I was up to my own devices.

I did a bit of running. I ran over the Narrows Bridge and I ran quite a few times down to Steilacoom and Sunnyside Beach-10.25 miles (when the gps on my phone was working).

This is actually the steep hill down (and up) through Steilacoom

And this is looking down at Sunnyside. It’s really very pretty.

I took several walks around the golf course

Sorry about the sun. I tried to have it be raining but, unfortunately, the entire two weeks I was there it never rained one time. Even though it rains all the time.

I cut a boat load of fabric for my sister in law’s Cabin in the Stars quilt. I got all the darks cut.

I walked in the back yard with Mother, and checked out the scenery

I peeked through the houses at American Lake

See it through there-that’s a lake.

Happy scared me a little.

I went to Martha’s and saw her awesome remodel job, and only took one picture. Seriously….

And-the picture isn’t even of the inside. Ridiculous. That is bad blogging etiquette.

And I ran a half marathon.

In 2 hours and 4 minutes. I was a little disappointed in my time but whatever.

After I did all that, and not in that particular order, it was time to go home. Oh-I forgot one thing-

I went shopping at Nordstrom with my girl Katie R. She is a personal shopper like no other. Really. Like no other.

THEN-

after I did all THAT (and not in that particular order)-I went home.

Waiting for a plane.

…and hanging out at the airport, where they have free wifi-hear that MSP???

So long Seattle….

So long mountains…

Welcome back, Minnesota.

Vacation Part 2-Blane’s week

2011-08-17T21:22:00.001-05:00

So, after a successful ascent to the Sock Summit, I returned home, to Lakewood, to spend some time vacationing with Blane.

The next day after my return was Saturday, and a trip to Seattle.

We started at the waterfront. The view was fab. And I know it rains all the time in Seattle. It really does, tourists. I just photo shopped these. You don’t need to go there on this mid 70 degree day with a light breeze and views as far as the eye can see. (While the weather is Amazonian heat and humidity where ever you are living). No tourists, you just need to stay home and avoid all the rain you are about to witness.

We saw this too

The Olympics, on the Olympic Peninsula, to the west, between Seattle and the Pacific Ocean (also photo shopped just to make it look good-it was pouring rain)

We admired the cool fountains outside the aquarium. (It was hard to make those people take off their rain coats and pose in summer wear with all that rain falling)

Little Ferry, bit Tour Ship.

We went up to the Market, but for some reason I didn’t take any pictures. Blane did. I wish I had his camera. It was packed with people getting out of all this rain.

We shopped. I bought a new bag and Blane got a hat and some shirts.

I stopped at this store to take some impressive pics for Angie, who loves her a good purse.

Blane was completely mortified that I would enter this store and start taking pictures with my phone. The staff were patient about it, but took me as a tourist and tried to ignore the riff raff coming through. I was about to leave when I saw these-

Oh my. Where is Angie when I need her? These shoes were probably incredibly expensive (if you have to ask you can’t afford them). Actually, I believe they were the Betty platform pump which are relatively cheap at 485, unless you buy the python variation, then it’s around 900. I’ll certainly take these. I’ll bet they feel like butter going on.

Ok, enough of that. We left, returned home, went to Safeway, and rested up.

Sunday Gramma and Grampa took a little valet drive to a fancy party. We were hoping for a stretch limo, but this was pretty good.

I swear.

Monday we ventured to Harstine Island to visit with my sister Debbie and to celebrate Mother’s birthday. Martha was there, and so was Jay.

The Olympics, but a little closer. Again, pouring down rain. What can I say. I have really made my photo shop work. It was in no way in the 70’s, no clouds, light breeze, no humidity. Perfect day for the water. No. No way. It rains all the time. Don’t forget.

Jay took Blane and me down for a walk on the rocky beach.

Blane served cake to mother for lunch.

We sat outside and basked in the day (not really, it was raining)

We saw a helicopter, likely from Joint Base Lewis McChord

And finally posed for some group pictures.

What a very very nice day.

We left around 4 or so and drove back over the Narrows Bridge. It was beautiful (even though it was raining).

And at 9 PM, I took Blane to the airport, because his week was over.

He played golf, watched movies, took naps, travelled around from Seattle to Olympia, and then, just like that, was gone again.

Stay tuned for the rest of Sarah’s vacation. (In the rain)

Return of the Blog:Vacation Part One

2011-08-13T20:21:00.001-05:00

Let me just say, I had two weeks of time away from home. And two weeks is a lot of adventure.

So, I have to do this in parts, and part one is our arrival and our time at Sock Summit, 2011

Blane and I left Minneapolis at almost the same time, but on different airlines. He flew Frontier and stopped in Denver. I flew Sun Country and went straight through.

There we go.

When I got on the plane I, of course, made the people already seated ahead of me get up so I could sit by the window. A standing ovation of sorts. When we all got settled the girl next to me pulled out her knitting. I said “What are you knitting” as knitterly folk will do, and she said “I am knitting a bee design wash cloth.

But actually, I am flying to Seattle and then going to Portland. I am going to this thing, you’ve probably never heard of, called Sock Summit”

To which I replied “Oh, but I have……”

So we had a nice conversation about knitting and Sock Summit which made the flight go by quickly.

And once I saw this, I knew I was close

Actually, you could see all down the line, Rainier, Adams, St. Helen’s. But alas, the crap camera and all. But I did get Mt. Rainier so I knew we were minutes from getting there.

Debbie picked me up, we had breakfast, then found Blane, and off to Gramma’s we went. She loaned me one of her cars to drive, which was really nice and incredibly helpful.

I am not, however, used to 20 mpg. But I’d take that over the price of rental anyday.

We hung around for a day, went to Safeway (and why don’t I have a picture of Safeway?) and Thursday, early AM, Martha came and off we went to SS11.

There was a huge accident on I-5 that AM, so we had to take a big detour, but we navigated with the help of an ailing Garmin, and we got to Columbia River Bridge, and into Oregon.

We were pretty early so we found a seat and worked on untangling my sock yarn. We also admired the pendulum.

And snuck into the seating area of the market place and sucked in the ambiance.

Yes, there was a sock museum.

At 1:30 or so we went to our classes. Martha had photography, and I had Spindle Spinning Basics with Denny McMillan, who, I swear, could teach an ape to spin. She was that good.

You often see her referred to in the Yarn Harlot blog. Yes, that Denny!

After our classes, which we LOVED, we went into the MarketPlace, which was packed, and staked out the things we wanted. Martha got a pottery yarn holder and some books. I got some needles to replace some of the lost needles. We decided we would return tomorrow after classes and went off to our hotel, a little dinner, and then to the opening ceremonies.

(Note the people at the next table have knitted Viking hats on. At least I think that’s what they are…..)

We met up with Nancy, Julie, Cat (from Mpls who I knew from last years knitting retreat) and some of their friends.

Julie, Nancy, Me, and Martha (I was sooo tired from travelling and lack of sleep and jet lag-I think it might show!)

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and Tina Newton gave the speech, which was hilarious.

And don’t forget the ST-2 team.

We practiced for the flash mob, which was Saturday. Martha and I weren’t there for that, but you can see it here. (As the comments say-ha ha-GO SOCK PEOPLE.

The next day I had a Mad for Plaid class (making plaid socks with Lorilee Beltman-totally fab may I say-link to her blog) and Martha had a beaded baby bootie class with Sivia Harding, who is a beaded wonder. Back to the Market (we could have spent hours and hours and dollars and dollars there). We got some yarn, books, a very swank purse, and souvenirs, then we took our pictures in the Stargate portal.

(OK the ST team are total Stargate Geeks! I have never watched it but I liked getting my picture taken in the center of SockGate)

We took a few pics of the crowd

And off we went to check out of our hotel. But on our way back, we figured out that the pile of dirt we kept passing was actually a landscape couch-

With a little stick writing on the “seat” inviting the public to “TRY ME”

Can you see it? Might have to click and make bigger!

We wound our way into Portland to have lunch here-

And check out the menu. I believe I had the Cream of the Crop. Delicious.

Garmin got us there, but gave up the ghost after that. Thank God we got to PBJ’s.

And off we went, back to home. Sunny Friday on I-5

So ends Vacation Part 1.

Hiatus

2011-07-30T09:09:00.001-05:00

The blog is on hiatus because the blogger is on “vacation”.

I went to Sock Summit 11 and boy, oh boy, did I have a great time. It was soooo much fun. I loved my classes, and the people I met, and the teachers and the market and everything. The traffic wasn’t so great to and fro, but even that was ok.

Off to Seattle with Blane today. Unsure what we are going to do, if anything. Thought about a Mariners game but didn’t want to pay the price. Will likely go to the Market (tourist!) and maybe over to Greenlake, and possibly the zoo. I just don’t know. But off to Seattle it is. Hopefully, the traffic won’t be all wonky because it’s Saturday, or maybe it will.

Anyhow-hope everyone is happy and healthy. More later.

Cora and the Princess

2011-07-25T20:08:00.001-05:00

This last weekend we had a wedding. Rachael, one of my coworkers, got married. It was a lovely wedding. The bride was stunning.

(My camera was true to form crappy.)

This is the wedding party. I wanted to zoom in but this is what happens.

It gets a bit blurry. But she was gorgeous.

At the reception, Cora got the table warmed up

I sat with Cora, Angie and Brian

(Although this is only Cora and Angie)

Chase and Ali were there too.

And of course, Laura

We had quite the time. And the bride and groom entered on a balcony-

That is so Royal Wedding. Sigh.

You do remember I love me a royal wedding, right???

So anyway, my favorite part of the whole night was the fact that Cora thought that Rachael was a princess. Like the royals. Like Disneyland. And every now and then Angie would say to Cora Look, there’s the princess.

Finally, Cora got her moment.

She made her approach……

And she met a Princess.

Thinking..What was I thinking?

2011-07-18T20:03:00.001-05:00

Last week, I somehow wore this to work.

I guess I must have been in my pastel mode. Even I was embarrassed by it once I woke up a little. I think I’ll stick to a nice white cotton shirt with my yellow pants. One person (Yolanda) said “I think you should probably lose the yellow pants” but another (Angie) said “But I like those yellow pants” I think it’s all about what you pair with it. And it won’t be this ugly blue shirt ever again.

So that being said, we had a big rain on Friday. Our street in front of the 2100 tends to flood and this was no exception. I was sure I had parked far enough up, and usually it was far enough up, however not this time.

Dang. So I waded out in my bare feet with the water almost up to my knees and the peanut gallery cheering me on.

I wondered if I was going to get the Dengue fever wading through the street, but at least I wasn’t this guy (or girl)

That is a shame. They probably LOVED the fact I was standing knee deep in the street taking their picture. The cops had to come and perform a deep water rescue later. I got in my car and drove to higher ground.

The flood heralded hot weather on Saturday, and the only cure for that was to go knitting.

Here’s our little group. From right is Yolanda, me, Susan, Lorna and Barb, and on the bottom on the end is Anita.

The crap camera was strained on this photo. I just can’t get it right.

After this, I met up with Laura and we went shopping for Rachael A’s wedding (well, I shopped for that and we looked around for other stuff since we were very early. I even killed some time at the Sprint store ~~looking stupid~~ having them help me download an app). We had several adventures and yelled at each other a bit (our normal voices, really) until we arrived here

Morgan’s Second Birthday Party.

She was a little overwhelmed by it all. But I think most of the two year olds had a pretty good time. I know Laura and I did.

Here’s our group

Cora and Morgan

Cora and Angie, Ali and Chase

Patty and a happy baby (I think a cousin of Morgan’s)

It was fun, but it sure was easier to take pictures of those babies when they didn’t move so much. I took a lot of pictures but most were blurry. Again, unless it is bright and still, my camera will take a very bad picture.

Lyndsey made a great Minnie Mouse cake. Yes, she made this herself. Talent.

Sunday I went out only long enough to pick some squash. It was hot and the air was liquid.

I worked downstairs on some projects. One of which is the “Nobody Says No to Baby” quilt for Katie-Dave’s niece who is the guardian of Baby (aka Keelee)

This is Baby (that nobody says no to)

And this is the Minke quilt

I have it sewn, I need to get the binding and back. Then it will be done.

While sitting at the desk I could hear all sorts of noise coming from here.

When I looked inside, all I saw was this

But upon closer inspection…

Jack got stuck in a box. It’s unknown how this actually happened, but when I freed him, he stayed in the box. Whatev.

Then, after he finally came out, this happened.

I think Elvin was considering a sneak attack.

Dave, meanwhile, was oblivious watching the last episode of Fringe on his computer. He asked me about Peter Bishop today, but I have no idea who he’s talking about…….

Laura asked me where his hand pillow was, but Dave says he was ridiculed enough by getting his head/neck pillow out. Plus, his hand pillow is now doubling as his ice cream bowl pillow. It’s all in a day’s work. Or not, depending on if you are Dave.

By the way, on the 6 PM news today the heat index was 115 in Rochester, but it was down from 116 so we felt lucky.

And, last, but not least, as Jon Stewart would say

Here is your moment of Zen

Baby, It’s Hot Out There

2011-07-17T14:14:00.001-05:00

Rochester, MN

Conditions as of 1:54 PM

Clear

Temperature:

90°

Wind:

SSW 17 mph

Dew point:

78°

Pressure:

29.98 in.

Heat Index:

104°

Humidity:

68%

Visibility:

9.0 miles

Observed at: Rochester, MN

It’s just not right.

Done and done

2011-07-12T20:04:00.001-05:00

WooHoo-

I finished the last of the Skacel knit a long.

So glad. I entered and am crossing my fingers and hoping to win the grand prize.

In the meantime-did you see this?

Big Bang

2011-07-11T21:03:00.001-05:00

So, the crap camera can hardly take a clear picture, but it has a fireworks setting, and it actually took pretty good pictures.

It just seems amazing to me that it can’t take regular pictures in normal light, but can take these.

I thought they were pretty good. It was Fourth of July on our front porch.

On the 5th, my friend Barbara from Ravelry, and her husband, Rowland, came by on their way back from Eugene (Black Sheep) to their home in Western MA.

It was wonderful to see them. We had an action packed day on Wednesday. I had the day off and we started out at the fair.

I saw a couple of spotted goats. Spotted. Weird.

This one is very surprised.

There were sheep and pigs too

I love the fair.

We then stopped by Pine Needles. I picked up some Minke for one of the babies from last weekend, and a kit to make for Dave’s sister’s new cabin.

(file picture-I didn’t take one last week-but there was a Serger class going one when we were there!)

We stopped at Kristen’s to see what was left over from the moving sale (pretty empty)-

Then up to What in Yarnation in Cannon Falls. I ended up picking up a little yarn project to make a soft kitty for baby, same baby that I am making the quilt for.

Then off to Northfield to the Tavern of Northfield to meet up with Jill and Lorri. Here we are after dinner. Note the yarn gifts that Barbara was giving away to us.

Aren’t we a cute bunch?

It was really a great time.

The next day, I was back to work and Barbara and Rowland were off to the east and north. To upper peninsula of Michigan, over the top and to the other side of the lake.

On the home front, Cody got ready to go back to Henderson. On Friday night, we went out to the fair, again, ate dinner, and on Saturday in the AM, we posed for the group shot before the departure.

Very squinty. So we decided to move it to the shade for a better picture.

A little better. Then we just decided to bag it and pretend like we didn’t even know each other.

Did we succeed?

And off he and Betty went.

I took a last shot of Blane

And went off to face the day.

Independence Day

2011-07-04T19:51:00.001-05:00

Hey-Happy 4th of July. Nice day here, a bit hot, but nice.

I have had an interesting week. Starting with the knocking down and loading up of my yarn/fabric display bins.

Here’s what they looked like at Kristen’s-

And today, here’s what they look like at my house-

Thanks Dave. He did all this himself whilst I was out running in the hot hot sun with Cathy. Didn’t help that I was a bit dehydrated from the weekend……

And the wooden bins that were there are now behind the desk. I think it looks pretty sharp.

Yeltsie thinks so too. (She is sitting on the cat spot that is too small for Jack to even fit his big toe on-so dainty is she).

I took the wire displays apart in a couple of days. I left a little early on Friday and I ended up knocking a little bit of it down outside where it was triple digits. Triple. The dew point must have been somewhere around 70. The air was thick and it was hot.

Late in the day…..

Thursday night we went to Thursday’s on First, and it was hot that night too. Not as hot as Friday, but hot enough to make me sweat and want to leave. I seriously debated a nice cooling Margarita, but I knew a weekend full of beer was coming and couldn’t start on Thursday.

The garden likes the weather, as long as I am out there watering.

Peppers, squash, and tomatoes.

The wildflower garden is coming along nicely too

Here’s a little daisies in the wind….

So, usually along with triple digits comes a storm, and after dark we had quite the rain and lightening, which cooled things off considerably.

Enough so that Saturday we set off to Melrose, WI for Meldefest 2011. I sort of like Meldepalooza better. But either way, we set off with days worth of supplies and the dogs, stopped for New Glarus beer, and made our way over.

This is Meldefest Central on Saturday afternoon.

We set up our tent on the hill on a nice flat spot. (That’s Dave’s rear end-sorry….)

And Dave settled in to relax.

He loves a good relaxing sit outside.

The whole time I was there I couldn’t help but think-Where is Laura when you need her-because check this out-

And that’s just a few examples-

If you ask me the adults were seriously outnumbered

I didn’t get a picture of all the tween girls-there was a gaggle of them but they were elusive.

Here’s Sophie and Scout-or is it Skeeter?

And my brother-in-law Tom, who’s property it was, having a deep conversation with Sam on Sunday AM.

Dave chaperoned a group on a “hayride”. The gaggle of girls went along. I see that Dave has a pretty fierce grip on that beer.

This is the morning view from our tent.

And Trixie taking in the new day

The view from the skylight and the window-fabulous

We took a little walk to check out the sights.

Trixie went down the road

Oh, she’s down there, the little dot in the road rut.

I tried to get Dave to take a picture of me and the baby.

First he did the 20 minute get ready to take the picture. By the time he takes it I’m like, seriously?

Then I tried to get him to take a picture of me, Sophie, the dog and the baby.

It was a bit blurry, so I had to sharpen.

Then I took my own picture of the baby. She wasn’t really interested.

And then we sat some more, ate some more, and came home. The dogs were exhausted.

And Chat was waiting patiently.

Happy Fourth of July.

As always, be sure to click on pictures to make them bigger and easier to view.

Menards is a very funny place

2011-06-27T20:33:00.001-05:00

This week was full of fun.

Actually, last weekend we took the dogs to Chester Woods. We did this Sunday but the pictures weren’t off my camera in time to blog last week.

I was cropping this picture and it looks like I have cankles. I do not! Really. I swear. I should have placed the dogs strategically hiding my legs. It’s so hard to remember all the things I have to do to disguise what I really look like. But I don’t have cankles. Just sayin’.

Monday Mary brought in the baby, Cameron. Oh, and I guess Laura was there too……shocker….

This baby was all over

Is this not the cutest boy I have blogged in quite a while?

Even I had to get into the act (he wonders who are these women, and why are they in my space?)

I got, in the mail, a little package from Pine Needles, a little something to put together. So I worked on that last weekend and during the week.

It was this table runner, made out of this years Minnesota Fabrics.

Marcia says that it is a popular item, but I wasn’t a big fan.

I thought it was tricky to sew together.

The block doesn’t lie flat, and it’s hard to iron, and I am from the “iron it until it lies flat” school.

Then again, this might have been the reason ironing was difficult.

There is no hope.

It didn’t look bad finished, so I guess I was a bigger fan at the end.

Saturday found me at the last of Kristen’s Knits knit alongs. So, so sad.

Yolanda, our leader, with all of our stuff. The yarn is pretty much gone now. I bought a walls worth of the mesh shelves for a song. All I have to do is go get them.

After this, I went and got Laura so we could got down to the big sale at Pine Needles. For some reason, I didn’t take one picture there. I did let Marcia talk me into working a couple or so Saturdays a month, after I come back from vacation. She is so persuasive.

So Laura and I bought a grab back and talked ourselves out of more fabric. (I bet I go back and buy that sweet calf fabric though-I love the farm theme). Then it was off to Menards.

You really have to experience the Laura and Sarah show. First of all, we both talk so loud that we are virtually yelling at each other, then we apologize for yelling at each other, then we yell some more. Then Laura gets all funky waving her arms around to describe some fantastic thing, meanwhile, all the cars around us think she’s waving at them so they are all waving back at us. (Sometimes I do that too, I call it “pulling a Laura”). Then we just get so worked up about nothing that we can’t help but laugh hysterically, in addition to our loud talking, and someday it is going to get us thrown out of whatever establishment we happen to be in.

Like Menards. Such a simple stop. I had to get a light and a light switch. Laura was getting a rebate thingy (I don’t know-a check? a paper? a receipt? who can keep it straight). Easy you might think. However, somewhere deep within Menards I decided I had to look at toilets and the rest is history.

Laura said-“Oh, I wonder if they have dual flush toilets” and I, not realizing what this could lead to, said “What’s that?” thinking it was a toilet with a handle on each side to flush. Right or left handed. No. Not at all. So Laura gives me the “Seriously?” look and explains, in the middle of the aisle, with hand signals and fingers and numbers that a dual flush is (and I quote) “a flush for number one (holding up one finger on one hand) and another flush for number two (holding up two fingers on the other hand)”. I was incredulous so Laura explained it about 4 more times, using the one and two with fingers and hands. It was all very Sesame street, only we were talking toilet smack right in the middle of Menards. Oh, the irony.

Personally, it started some hysteria which ended with this picture.

1 for liquids, 1.6 for solids. And now you know. There was some random thoughts about how they label the handles/buttons/levers, picture or number, but by that time we knew it was time to check out. (I tried to get Laura to pose on a toilet, but alas, she would not)

In order to calm ourselves, we went over to Rochesterfest. But I gotta say, there wasn’t much fest about it. It was raining and there were about 50 people there.

All huddled under the skywalk, and me

washing down a corndog with a chocolate shake. And why didn’t I get a picture of Laura with her catfish basket? Another missed opportunity.

Cody has returned from Europe on Saturday afternoon-with Ilan and his girlfriend Pam

A happy bunch. Cody was here all of 3 hours, then left for the night and didn’t return until the next afternoon. Oh well.

Sunday Dave and I installed the light and light switch.

Success.

Lastly, Dave put up the tent in the living room in preparation for our camping trip to his sister’s in Wisconsin next weekend.

Very roomy, but…wait……

What is that?

He is everywhere. It was especially amusing when he was UNDER the tent and Chat was in the tent swiping at him.

It was enough to exhaust them both.

Lookin’ Smarter all the Time

2011-06-20T20:01:00.001-05:00

I got new glasses last week. I got big black glasses because I am trying to look smarter.

Think it’s workin’ yet?

I realized that taking a picture of myself is not as easy as it looks.

Last weekend, I went to the Minnesota Quilt Show. I went up on Friday and stayed with my friend Jill. We had delicious Indian dinner and hung out at her place.

The next day it was off to St. Paul River Centre

(view from the Skyway) to see the show.

There’s a piece of it. And Jill, making the grand entrance. Actually, she wasn’t being that grand, I just had to capture her while she was captive because she tends to shy from the camera.

The quilts were completely AWESOME! Jeez. The creativity and imagination of these people is beyond my comprehension. As one of the other spectators said “I can execute, I just can’t think it up”. I hear ya sister.

See that? It’s this

Yo. Or this

That’s a giant quilt, not a square.

Sigh. I really like the smaller quilts this year. Like this one.

Doggy DayCare

This one reminded me of Blane

And this was one of my favorites

Is that not cool or what? Of course, my crappy camera doesn’t nearly capture it.

The River Crossing Our Borders was also a favorite. It was a group of people quilting what the river meant to them. It was then put together to form the whole. I loved it.

It really helps to click on the pictures to make it bigger.

What can I say, it was a splendiferous time.

Jill and I then headed back to her place, where our next plan is to dye the yarn she ordered the night before. Maybe when I get back from vacation. I can’t wait to try that.

So, I left her house around noon or so. I was on the way down the road when my friend Kari called, asking me if I was still in town. Well, of course, since I hadn’t seen her in about 10 months, I said I was and we had a impromptu meeting at Applebees. Gosh it was good to see her, and good to have a weekend with friends. I don’t know why I didn’t get a picture of her too. Oh well.

I drove home through the pouring rain until about 40 miles from home when it turned dry, humid and sunny.

On Sunday, after I got up, had some pancakes, cut some fabric for a shop project, I ran 8 miles with Dave on the bike, and realized that my flowers are blooming.

See, here’s my wildflower garden with the birdfeeders, but wait-what’s that in the background?

It’s Yeltsie! She’s birdwatching. And probably really impressed by my new black glasses.

I got some new pictures just today.

This is Goober. What a name. I don’t even know if it’s a boy or girl. This little cow will never be as smart as my Twinkles, but I am starting to get interested. Plus, I love those weird black eyes.

Laura’s mom is all about this cow too. Note the thumb in his/her mouth. Actually in both pictures. Twinkles would have never fallen for the thumb trick.

And look, Laura loves this cow too!

Although there is something a little forced about that smile. And is she holding onto that little cow’s neck rather tightly? I don’t see her letting this little cow suck her thumb. Hmmm.

Well, I am starting a collection of Laura and Cow pictures. I now have two priceless masterpieces.

I found this online the other day. Actually I found it on Ravelry and then online. I think it might be something to think about, and it goes like this

“Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in TARP money, spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes? Yeah, me neither.”

Just sayin’

Now-go hug a cow.

Hello out there….

2011-06-13T20:56:00.001-05:00

Well, I found out I have a couple more readers. I’m so excited I had to blog it.

The rabbits moved on. Sigh. I miss them a little. A couple didn’t make it but hopefully the rest are out there somewhere.

Aren’t they cute? I hope they’re happy, and they have the decency not to eat out of my garden.

Other news is I finished the May Skacel sock. Only one more to go.

Thank God. They are a bit large and Dave has been wearing them. Which is ok by me.

There is another new calf, Goober. I don’t like the name but I do like the little cow. AND there is a picture of Laura, my long lost blog muse, with said Goober. I will bother her for the next week to send this picture along.

Although nothing will compare with my Twinkles.

Pete is an angry bird lately. He is chasing the dogs and has turned on Dave with a vengeance.

Poor Little Dog. (By the way, he is very proud of his new haircut)

I hope Pete gets over what’s bothering him, which I think is his move to the other side of the room. He doesn’t do well with change. Not at all.

Cody called today and he is coming home 3 weeks early from Europe, because his travelling mate, Ilan, has a grandfather who is very ill. But I think his 5 weeks were well spent. He is currently relaxing in the south of France. He calls this “roughing it”.

We knit in public last weekend at Dunn brothers, but alas, I didn’t take any pictures. Seriously? What is wrong with me? I sometimes get picture phobic because of the crap camera.

But I did copy this yarn bomb shot from Lorri in Minneapolis. It is the best.

So, who can turn the world on with her smile?

Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can have a town, why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all

They’re mulitplying like Rabbits out there

2011-06-06T07:52:00.001-05:00

Hello to all! Summer is here. To the big time it’s here.

On Friday it was 96 breaking all sorts of records. I guess when I said “Bring it” at the end of the last post, Mother Nature was listening.

Last weekend, as you might recall, was a little cool and drizzly (thank you Med City Marathon Gods). When we got home from the race, Dave was outside, came in and said, We have a nest of mice in the yard? Mice? He thought he might have to dispatch them. Nooooo! I went out to take a look and there were a couple of recently born (a day or so?) mammals in yard, and a nest of them close to the house. After careful consideration-I realized they are not mice (Seriously Dave?) They are

Rabbits

See? Here’s the the nest-that bare patch on the right-

Close up it looks like this.

That’s my camera case for scale. My crap camera doesn’t capture this so well-but the nest is actually below that cap of grass, hair and little twig on the left. And if you pick that up-

Rabbits

Yep. There’s a whole lotta rabbits goin’ on. I didn’t take a picture that first day-I just put the two rabbits back in the nest, we removed one that had died, and waited for mama to come back. And apparently she has been coming back quite regularly because they are looking good. I check them everyday.We have to watch the dogs because Trixie likes to go over and take them out of the nest. I am not sure of her plan. She just likes moving them.

On Monday, “they” came and jacked up the front steps-

I was trying to find a before picture (would have been smart to think of that BEFORE-but whatev)

See that inch or more crack in the steps?

Close up-

And voila!

No more huge crack. They also did the side and back slab. Hopefully the settling is over. Hopefully.

Besides that, the flowers are starting to bloom.

Laura gave me some flowers to plant in my perennial garden, so I put them in on Monday.

These are blooming too-I think they are bridal wreath (?)

Very sunny

We moved Cody’s car into the garage

Oh and speaking of which-Cody is in Europe. Landed in Belgium about 2 weeks ago now. And the first week was eventful as he had to have a root canal. Yep. Root canal. So typical of my people. He did it though-to the tune of 180 dollars. Seriously. It costs me 120 just to get my teeth cleaned. They won’t even do a root canal if you are on medicaid-too expensive. I told him he needs to stay there and get all his teeth done.

And here’s his picture of the huge gay pride parade they ran into in France. Life is good.

And the rabbits keep growing. Here’s the middle of the week-

Growing like rabbits. Apparently mama is still coming. And she has the nest really well covered.

OK, so Friday was boiling living on the surface on the sun weather just so that Saturday AM would be very hot and humid for the Chester Woods 10 mile race. Yep. As I posted on Facebook, I am working hard on my goal of coming in dead last. It was awful. Many times I felt like laying down on the trail and napping.

I looked good at the start though-

That’s because I was blissfully ignorant of how bad I was going to be feeling.

Dave took some flower pictures while waiting for me at the 2 mile mark

I came round the bend thinking that I am too hot and this isn’t going to end well. Yep-I was pretty sure by mile 2 I was going to slow way down.

And there, behind me, is one of the many, many people who passed me throughout the race.

I did finish, not last, but close.

The reason I am smiling is because I am completely delusional. Completely.

OK-see that wonderful time? Last weekend I ran 13.1 miles in 2:00. This day I ran 10 miles in 1:55. Can you say “What the heck happened to you?” Dave said he was getting worried. I told him when I started it’d be an hour 45. I was recalculating my goal through the whole course. That was one hot and hard race. And yet almost everyone else ran faster than me…hmmmm……

I have decided next year that 1) I am going to run the trails at least once before the race and 2) I am doing the 5K, not the 10 mile. Right. I’ll do the 10, just watch me. I am blaming the heat (it was hot) and the fact I am coming off a half last weekend. That sounds good doesn’t it-because heaven forbid it would be because I am slow.

So, after resting up on Saturday, and “working” around the house on Sunday

and checking on the rabbits

I decided to give Chester Woods another chance. So we drove over, bought a pass, and checked it out-

Even though you humiliated me, I forgive you Chester Woods.