I've been reading....

What little time I seem to have (worked 13 days straight) I've spent reading - see my book bar on the right. Summer seems to be my reading time, and winter is for knitting. Although I have been knitting on my bag and occasionally going to my knitting group.
I also have been working on my third Forest Canopy Shawl...I was hoping I could finish it to wear at my High School reunion (Roxie, are you coming?) but don't know if I'll make it...I'm not trying that hard. I'm really looking forward to the reunion - my best friend from High School who now lives in Southern California is coming up with her husband to stay with me. I'm excited to have them here and have a great visit.
Family life has been hectic as usual. College girl is wanting to by a new car (Since she is making good money at new catering job) so have been cruising the used car lots - one has this HUGE HUGE flag - the picture doesn't do it justice I'm afraid. She hasn't found the right car yet - the reality of how much they cost is setting in! But I have no doubt she'll find what she needs.
REI girl is gearing up for Tanzania - if anyone wants to knit children's sweaters - she is taking donations ...she plans on three extra bags on the flight over!! The Geek and REI girl are doing a couple of fun adventures this summer - camping with the cousins and a backpack trip into the Sawthooths in Idaho (College girl can't get the time off ): ).
My garden is suffering this year - I swear it's a month behind schedule. And the three new roses I planted last summer died - started to bloom and then just died. I am so disappointed! The very hot weather we've had isn't helping - although I've been diligent about watering...oh well there is always next year. Oh I did have a few raspberries last night - they seem to have thrived in this heat!!
Work is going well - I am so glad to be there - but this time of year is really hectic - we are into our selling season which today presents additional challenges considering the economic situation. We keep thinking we're not affected, our product is so high end - but the market is affecting everyone.
Well back to reading and staying cool. Best to all!!

No Photos - Just Hello!

Oh my gosh - after complaining for weeks about the terrible weather - summer is here and it is way too hot - be careful what you wish for! We've had a Red Flag fire alert because of lightening expected this afternoon - it's thundering now! It will be a good exciting evening to stay in an air conditioned house - it's just too hot outside - 97 now I think!
Have not been knitting much - but some on my bag. It is growing...pictures to come.
My sister and family were here this weekend and we hung out at the lake trying to stay cool. I'd run out of books so dashed to the local (small box) book store and picked up the Friday Night Knitting Group.....finished this afternoon. Cute story and so true about how friendships knit us together....I am going to knitting group this week!
College Girl has a new job - working for the busiest caterer in town - loving it! (Yea!!) Making good money (Double Yea) and they seem to be thrilled with her too. This is the job that will get her through college - she can work occasional weekends when they have big jobs, work during Christmas break and have a job next summer etc. We are all thrilled.
REI Girl is busy getting stuff ready for Africa - only four more months. She will be more than ready for a break. She is having a frustrating time at work dealing with too much work and unhappy customers because there isn't enough staff. But she's doing a good job of sticking it out. REI staff has been wonderful to her - donating items to take to the Orphanage, supporting all her efforts. It's a great place to work - but they need more staff!
The Geek is looking into buying a motorcycle - I've just added another item to worry about. I know he'll be extra careful - it's the other driver I worry about.
Me - working lots and still happy as a clam - if I can just stay cool!
I promise pictures of my bag soon.
Knit Peace

Dead Heading

Around mid-summer I always say - nope, ever again. No more flowers that I have to constantly dead head....but alas they get me every year. The lovely bright colors of the petunias, the huge overflowing baskets. I'm a sucker. Luckily my kids know this...and now I'm graced with beautiful hanging baskets...There aren't too many petunias in the second basket - so I think I might be safe! And the first one - all white and pink and Victorian looking doesn't have a single one! But all the other pots of flowers on the patio are only petunias....my own fault.
Last night while driving home from Book Club (we're going to read "Big Russ and Me") I was treated to a beautiful sight - on my left was Tumalo (Small farming community) in it's finest hour - acres of green pastures and hay fields with the incredible Cascade mountains looking down - the mountains were black but just rimmed with the highlight of the setting sun. They stand out like sentinels. The light was magic. It was spectacular. And then - at the same time - on my right was a HUGE pumpkin moon rising. I was surrounded by what makes Central Oregon the BEST! I am so fortunate to live here!

WW Knit in Public

What a great way to spend a birthday! Sitting in the park knitting with friends! I can't believe we actually have sunshine that Central Oregon is known for...it was gorgeous! Drake Park is Bend's signature park - on all the visitor brochures you see. It really is lovely. Today filled with people out enjoying the lovely day. We got a big kick out of the man who asked us who was the best knitter....we figured it had something to do with the biggest needles....We decided next time to all point to each other! I've really enjoyed getting to know these ladies, I've been so busy these past years getting to know my kids - now it's my time and I'm thrilled to be part of this group!

Since the knitting group has been doing an Entralec together there were a lot of those being worked on - some even finished. They are beautiful. Mine is coming along slowly (I've been reading a lot recently). I'm hoping I have enough yarn to make it the size I want - I got 11 skeins...we'll just have to see.

Well I'm off to work in the garden - hurray! Happy Birthday to the Yarn Harlot - it's her day too!!

A mess

Well College Girl is home and settled in – oh my gosh what a mess one extra person can make!! How on earth did she get all this stuff into her dorm room? And where are we going to put it here…there is already half empty boxes belonging to REI Girl still stacked in the garage and extra bedroom. And she is moving too – from her own little apartment into a house with other girls that already have couches and dishes and stuff. What we moms put up with!!

On the knitting front I’ve got a mess too. My knitting group is doing an Entrelac bag knit–a-long – This is their progress...but naturally I choose a different pattern (wanted my bag much bigger) and since I don’t go to the meetings often (too much gas these days) I started on my own. After fiddling with the math and the pattern to ensure a bigger bag – off I went. So far so good – except it seems when I go around and pick up the stitches down the side of the first triangles – there aren’t enough unless I force a new stitch into the last stitch of the previous square – and they aren’t square – more rectangular. I’m counting on the fact that felting will forgive all my sins, and that maybe the next round of squares will bring everything into line. We’ll see. This is my progress.

Tomorrow marks the last round of graduations – the last of the cousins. Two great girls – two different locations across the state! Along with the family parties for each (different sides of the family too). So there will be lots of driving while the kids (Oh I guess they’re not that anymore) sleep both ways!

The usual spring garden activities have ground to a total halt…..it’s more like fall around here. Even fresh snow on the mountains this morning – I think summer forgot us this year. This is crazy. But they always say – “if you don’t like the weather in Central Oregon – wait 5 minutes!!

Knit Peace

Bad Blogger - again!

Sorry it's been so long....but I've been super busy. You know, the usual stuff of life. Work has been good but exhausting and I've come home to nap every evening it seems. I'm still having a blast and loving every minute of it! Yahoo!
Consequently I haven't been knitting much - just slowly working on the Forest Canopy Shawl. Only a few more repeats and into the gift stash it will go. Since I haven't been to knitting group in a few weeks (Gas is just to expensive) I haven't worked on the plain jane pink socks either. But am planning on going this week.
The gas budget is shot this week anyway. (I made two weeks on a tank of gas!) I've got to drive over to the Valley to haul home the possessions of the College Girl. It's finals week coming up and then she's done - hurray! One year down. She got her financial aid package for next year - 100%. I am soooo thankful! She is home this weekend for her birthday, a doctors appointment and to start work on her summer job. So it's hectic around here. The next weekend is the high school graduations of two of my nieces - different families - different sides of Oregon - luckily different days. So there will be more driving - very early in the morning to get there in time. But these are the last ones - so we'll have a break for a few years! Oh my - they grew up too fast!
Last weekend we had record breaking high temps - it was in the 90's - so got lots of gardening done. Planted a few veggies - good thing I didn't do more because now winter is back. It's rained and been cold since last Monday. Short summer we had! The weather has been so weird everywhere.
I've started my summer reading blitz - finished The Namesake and if you lived here. Both wonderful - good book club reads! Tonight I've got nothing to read - so I think it might be a movie and knitting! Sounds good to me...as tomorrow I cook the Birthday feast for the family! It's the Ex's birthday too and he's coming with his lady friend - so have to put out the best. Truly I'm not trying to impress her -but it's College Girls big day!
Enjoy the long weekend with your families and remember those loved ones who aren't with us!

The End

Actually - Finishing!! I've decided that I'm not going to the Black Sheep Gathering or the Oregon Flock and Fiber - I'm going to The Knitting Guild of American Fall show instead and I'm taking a "Finishing" class from Nancy Wiseman!!! I am so excited to do this - finishing is the thing I need to do better - really better - and this will be the perfect class for me. The show will be fun because all the usual vendors will be there (but I don't see Blue Moon listed yet). So instead of saving my fiber dollars for stash enhancement - it's going to technique enhancement - a good investment I figure. Since each of these Fiber extravaganzas is a $75 drive - only one is reasonable!!

I actually have 'finished' something - the hat to this set. Into the gift stash it goes - actually I'm planning on giving to my niece who will be going to college in Minnesota next fall. Her birthday is the first day of classes - so this is perfect!!

Mother's Day with kids was wonderful (of course!), job is great, weather is improving (90 this weekend), garden will be planted! Life is good.