Happy Birthday and Other Things

I had a birthday at the beginning of March. We hardly got home from Stitches when it was time to head up to Grand Forks to celebrate my birthday on the 5th and Melanie’s on the 7th.

Blane and Melanie have moved into the cutest house--

Here’s Blane and me on the front porch. The people who lived there before were sort of slobs and there has been lots of cleaning up but the house is adorable. AND huge. With a fenced back yard for their 3 dogs!

There are also 3 cats but I couldn’t get the greatest pictures of them--

 

Blane and Kitten

 

I think that’s everyone. But I didn’t get a picture of Melanie—what??? How did that even happen.

We got to GF late on Friday, leaving after work. It wasn’t a bad drive. We were looking forward to warmer temps after hearing about the big warm up that was coming this way.

But when we got there—not so much. We went out to the Red River which is close to Blane’s house and it was cold……really cold. The dogs didn’t seem to mind too much.

 

There’s a little part of Melanie on the left—the only picture I got of her all weekend.

We also brought up some of the chairs that have been in the family for years and years and years----

They looked fab in the office.

We got home and went shopping (I also did a bunch of homework—ugh). We stopped at the meat store and got the best brauts I ever had. We also had some cake that evening for our birthday-

It was as delicious as it looked.

We had a great day. We watched a movie-Everest-which was pretty good too. I think it was one of my better birthdays.

We left on Sunday and it was warm and sunny—of course.

I got a parting shot of Blane and me—Where’s Melanie???

 

Like I say, it was really a great birthday and I can’t wait to go back this summer.

Two weeks later was the Downton Abbey Tea Party and Trunk Show. Always a success—Thanks to help from my friend and co-tea party hostess Lois.

Again, no pictures of us—wait, maybe I can steal one….

Stole it right offa Instagram. But since it’s me and Lois I think that’s ok.

We set up the tables with Mother’s tea cup collection, the Ainslie/Dieck’s silver settings and table cloths, a few miscellaneous pieces, and a tea party was had. Oh, did I mention the delicious Daube’s?

Let’s start with the most important—Daubes….

Silver on table cloth

 

We had costumes too--

Love it when the people dress up!!

For my work (you call that work) I traded for a kit and made one of my coworkers a little blanket--

With a sheep on it!

We had a foot of snow last week. Well, 10.5 inches but it seemed like a foot. The buses didn’t run even thought we stood outside in a blizzard hoping for a bus. Jeepers.

To make us feel better we went to a party at Ilan’s brewery—Insight Brewing. It was pretty crowded.

But our names are on the wall--

 

Ilan and Pam

Because we couldn’t quite get enough beer—we stopped at LTS in Rochester

All in all, I am really liking my new job, had a great birthday, and got to drink great beer!!

Then—the sun set and we thought—it’s been a good March.

One Job Down and…Stitches West 2016

I made it out to Tacoma the 3rd week in February to take my equipment back to work and finish out my final two days. (The Monday I was there was a holiday…yay me).

I spent Saturday and Sunday watching Hallmark movies with Nina, drinking wine and wrapped up with the cat. Did a bit of knitting too but mostly I just supervised Nina’s puzzle work and critiqued the movies.

Cat sitting on my lap-He didn’t like the fact I had to get up several times to refill the wine glass.

I met up with a coworker who isn’t really working there anymore and her baby--

that is one cute baby. And he was sooo good while we had lunch. At the bagel place in Lakewood by the old apartment. Sigh.

We also had a group dinner which I didn’t get one picture of. WTH? I’m so slipping as a blogger, but my mind is really elsewhere.

(I am posting this well into March and just finishing my 3rd week of the new job. Today I thought I was on the 6th floor when I was on the 4th floor and took the elevator down to get to the 5th floor. THEN, coming back, the guy in the elevator pushed 3, I pushed 5, and I got off with him on 3. So, it’s sort of the accumulation of two months of going crazy. I think I’ve peaked though)

Anyway—the bottom line is I left NPN and on Thursday really, really early I went to the airport, met up with Martha and our adopted sister Julie, and flew to California to go to Stitches.

Of course, as soon as I arrived the weather took a turn for the colder. Because where ever I go the temperature drops a good 15 degrees below normal. So in Santa Clara this year we had 40-50 degree weather and rain…..Except for one sunny day over Levi Stadium

We were very tired after a day of flying, teacher lunch, AND a class. But being the fearless knitters that we are we managed a spin around the market….

I saw this at the market too--

It was a blast. Classes were great, we had fun, we took a walk….

Foggy selfie

We also ate some delicious pizza AND had some delicious wine----

For Martha, the Middle Sister

We went to the fashion show and I saw this shawl on a model

I was super good on the shopping front until then--

Well that was over---

Bought the book and the yarn….

Our fun group at the fashion show where I saw the beautiful shawl!!!

Really good seats…..

The head of Stitches…..Benjamin Levisay—yay for him for sure.

The whole trip was great fun—except for this on the return flight from Seattle--

 

Can you see that herd of about 150 people between me and the far wall all wanting to get through Security? Exactly the the reason I am a two hour before flight time person.

I made my flight. The girls on their way to Mexico?? Not so much..

During the whole trip on 4 planes not one precheck. So in April I’ll be buying the TSA Precheck ticket good for 5 years…And then I won’t be travelling nearly as much. But when I do—none of this for me.

So, I’m back and living AND working in my own town and I love that. Started back to school and working through spring.

I do miss my little dog though, and I found a picture that made me happy and sad all at the same time--

Stay tuned for birthday updates……