Sarah's Day

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Quit Your Relentless Nagging

You know who you are—both of you. (And that would probably be my total readership-all two of them)

So, yes, I KNOW. It’s been a month. But again, in my defense, I’m busy. And, the thing is, I sit in my office for many, many hours a day because I work from home. So when the end of the day comes I am not really wanting to stay in my office and blog. I need to get away from the office. I suppose I could set up another office in the house so I could do my personal biz, but that seem like it would take oh so much effort for the both of you. So, I will try my best to keep up. Again.

Where did I leave off? Oh yeah, the Superbowl. Sigh. Must I go back through those painful days?

Well, actually, there was some fun that weekend I must say.

On Saturday Pine Needles had a Downton Abby trunk show that featured me and my friend Lois as upstairs and downstairs. Gosh, it was sooo fun.

Oh yeah. It took me two dresses and countless accessories to look like this. Not to mention 36 bobby pins….

That was so fun. We served tea and cakes (ok donuts) and Connie T did a little spiel on the new fabrics and patterns, which you can see behind me a little bit. The ladies loved it.

The next day, Superbowl Sunday, I taught a superbowl mystery quilt class that was done with Downton Fabrics.

Can you see the groupers holding up their squares? It was the best bunch of people you could ask for a class.

You know how there’s always one in every crowd? Not with this group. They were all fabulous. Loved them.

Then there was the Superbowl. We were so deflated from the Packer Loss (capital letters, loss in the last 3 damn minutes-then in OT-Gawd) that we were sort of “whatev”. My sister was at the game though. It was a beautiful Arizona day-

They are obviously novices at the selfie. I told them they need to take from above—Tom says Martha is too short. That could be true but still.

I was dressed up a little--

And as we all know-Seattle had a problem winning that game. We already had practice being deflated so we knew how to take it.

Losing game and drinking beer-still stinging over Packer loss….

Jack, however, enjoyed the game to no end.

WINNING!

What just happened?

Jack does not like Tom Brady. Just saying.

It wasn’t long after that I left for Seattle to spend a few days in Tacoma and then off to Stitches West. Sigh.

I flew first class. It was heavenly. It’s all about the first class experience. It’s like you’re not even flying.

I boarded the plane and at my seat were these leftover bottles of water. I’m like-wuuut? They didn’t clean up after the last trip?? Then I realized those bottles were for us. In first class. Such an amateur.

Check out the leg room.

Those are my legs fully extended and not even under the seat. Lord.

They then handed out the little iPad things that you can watch films and TV shows on. I declined because I didn’t want to pay the 8 bucks. But wait, I’m in first class. It’s free. Jeepers. Seriously out of my realm.

I saw all the mountains down the way when we were close to Seattle

You can’t see them here but there’s St Helen’s, Adams, Washington, Jefferson, and even down to the Three Sisters. It was crazy. And if you are reading this and you know those mountains you will understand the total craziness of that. But if not, then skip this part which is too bad because you already read it.

In Tacoma I did a few things--

Went walking at Chambers Bay

Saw some crows-

Worked a little and then took off for Stitches with my sister Martha!

Levi Stadium from our hotel. At the stadium they were making a big outdoor hockey rink. I don’t know why they had to make an outdoor one. Here, in MN, where hockey is played by real men, it’s all indoor because it 17 below out there. This outdoor stuff in 65-70 degree weather is not real hockey. Just saying.

We had a great time at Stitches with other knitters and the huge market place. OMG times 10.

A few of our purchases with some champers and sushi. Seriously. What more could a knitter ask for?

Knitting with our peeps--

Except for my sister, these are girls I met online at Ravelry. Right? They are the most wonderful people you could ever meet. We spent a lot of time with our good friend Julie-you’ll see her in a few more of our pics.

I took a bad selfie with Ben Levisay, CEO of XRX, Sponsor of Stitches

I said it was bad-I need longer arms.

We went to a fashion show and I won a sweater kit. It’s so cool but I don’t have a picture-yet.

We went walking too-where I took better selfies-

That’s a Knit Swirl Martha has on. She had to knit it twice after an unfortunate miscalculation of stitches. Don’t dwell. Too soon.

We had a knit outside too-pleasant Cali air

Dirty phone cover makes cloudy picture…..

If you are on FB, Yarn Garden did a little film on Stitches. It’s pretty good and kinda funny and shows what the market has to offer. Well, a little piece of it anyway. I ate one of their brownies BTW.

We left later this day. Sadly, because Stitches is the best. The. Best.

Good Bye San Jose Airport…..

And the next day, Sunday, I flew back to Minnesota and home.

See ya next time Seattle…

Saw mountains on the other side of the plane.

Mount Baker

North Cascades

It was a super busy trip and I was glad to be home.

Because when you come right down to it home is the best. Even if it’s cold and snowy. It’s quiet and not crowded and I am not fighting traffic and I have everything I need.

Beautiful Sunset out the back door.

And last, but not least,

Abby, so graciously participating in a play on words.

Well, maybe not that graciously.

Off to photograph some Finished Objects and other stuff so I will have blog fodder in a more timely manner. Oh, and go up to the cities for Prairie Home with guest star Brandi Carlile. And start a new knitting class. And finish a quilt. And go to Grand Forks next weekend, and start the next dance class.

Um, about that timely manner statement……

Monday, January 26, 2015

Little of this, Little of that, Not much of anything

So, it’s been a pretty quiet January, hence the lack of Blogging.

It’s been nice to be quiet. We got back on our diets, back to the gym, quit drinking beer and wine for a while. Although watching the collapse of the Packers to the Seahawks drove us back to the bottle for the duration of the evening. However, we are cheering for the Seahawks and looking forward to next football season. It’s all we have now.

Damn you Jordy Nelson. OK, still little fan crush…..and still my favorite Wisconsin commercial ever.

Jack is super disappointed.

Abby has settled in and much to our surprise came into heat around the beginning of January. That was exciting. Beta didn’t know what to think.

Here she is looking all sweet-

She has broken 3 cat dishes getting up on the table.

Me and Abby takin’ a selfie

The secret to Abby is a looong walk. Which is hard for Beta. So yesterday I took Abby on a walk and Dave took Beta in the car so his feelings wouldn’t get hurt. Because they are dogs and think that way…right? Yeah.

Dave and I have been taking dance lessons. We are learning the nightclub two step at the Blue Moon. We are almost done with Level 1 and moving on to Level 2. Hopefully we don’t have to go to remedial classes. Slow, quick quick, slooow, quick quick, turn, walk walk, laugh, stop. Try again.

Had dinner with the girls this month and didn’t take one picture. What? Hopefully next month or so we get at least one picture. Dave wasn’t home at the time so we didn’t have the photographer. I blame him.

Oh, I have been going to Hank and Purl’s every Tuesday for the Downton Abbey knit along. We are knitting a scarf with special colors of the characters of Downton. We discuss the episode we watched on Sunday and speculate what it all means. Love that.

And speaking of knitting, I am going in Feb to Stitches West with my sister for year two. Can’t wait for that. In addition to flying to and from Seattle first class. I am almost looking forward to flying! That is going to be here before I know it. I might think about getting my yarn and supplies ready….

Next weekend is the Downton events at the quilt shop. I will be dressing up as one of the nobility. My friend Lois will be the kitchen help. It is going to be soooo fun. That’s Saturday for the trunk show. Sunday is the annual SuperBowl Mystery quilt which I am also in charge of. That will also be a blast. I hope.

March I am off to Tucson for my nephew’s wedding. You can pick some music here—We are also going to Grand Forks to visit with Blane on my birthday weekend. Whoop Whoop!

I’ve signed up for several races now. I’ve got the St. Paul Human Race in March, Hot Chocolate in April, Med City in May, Chester Woods and Seattle Rock n Roll in June. (We won’t run straight on this RnR, run walk maybe and Dave is going too this time!). Then in July my friend Tiffani and I have signed up for Ragnar NW passage in Washington. What am I thinking? I don’t know. All I know is that it shouldn’t be that boiling hot hell that is Ragnar Great River from Winona to Mpls. Could be rainy and wet but I’ll take that over 90 hot humid degrees!! August should be Chatfield and then in October another RnR in St. Louis. Then I’ll probably be in Physical Therapy for months.

We made reservations for our June vacation in the PNW. Dave’s son in graduating from UDub on June 13th. So we decided to take Grampa on a little vacay to the coast before hand. We are staying at Peggy’s place. I hope Peggy treats us well. I guess we need to bring our own wine glasses. That was a big deal in the reviews. Jeesh people. Put a straw in the bottle.

I think that might be it. Mostly I have been making plans to go other places. Work and plan to travel. I hardly even used up my vacation time-yet.

So, here’s to February and spring coming soon.