Cup of Joe, Anyone?

Not a lot of knitting has been going on around these parts lately only a couple of rows here and there. Since the the Quilt Show earlier this month it seams that the needle and thread have somewhat taken hold. Not just with me but with the rest of the girls. Susan is working on a skirt, Jessica is trying to find the ultimate pattern for her Japanese fabric, Kim is Yo-Yoing herself a dog, and Nancy is working on quilts for all of her children. And our long distance friend, Heidi is pondering summer cover-ups for the afternoons at the pool. I've made an apron and a pair of pajamas (pictures to come) and we are collecting fabric. With bags and French Press Cozies in mind. It's too funny on how infectious it has turned out. While in my hunt of fabric that I must collect I came across Aunt Martha's iron on transfers. Didn't give it much thought. I had seen them before and never paid much attention. Don't ask me what happened because the other morning, like a sudden surge of energy, I decided that I must try embroidery. And try it now! So off to the craft store I went. I've cross-stitched before (which is a totally different post) but never anything without predefined holes. When I saw the coffee transfers that was all she wrote. I'd seen red work and blue work before.... decided on brown work. I figured that if I wasn't worrying about what color to use where that I could focus on creating even stitches. Plan worked well. Below is my first finished product. I loved the entire process! Now I don't know if it is because it is new and exciting or if it is something that I'm really going to enjoy.... but its got my attention right now!

On a side note - I am frustrated that the flour sacks you buy today are not even close to the quality of that actual flour sacks that were used in my Mom and Grandma's kitchens.

Busy

The past couple of weeks have been busy in my little neck of the woods. I should be showing you pictures of all of the adventures however I just couldn't get it together. For some reasons I didn't understand the concept that in order to take a picture you must have a working camera. You can't leave the battery on the charger or the memory card in your laptop and expect your camera to work. It just isn't possible. But if you figure out how to take a picture without those two key items please let me know as it appears that is my new M.O. on my trips! Towards the end of March I went to the Tri-City Annual Quilt show with Jes, Nancy, and Kim. Not only was I overwhelmed by the gorgeous quilts and handcraft but I was overwhelmed with future plans zooming in and out of my head. I'd love to show you some pictures however on this trip my memory card decided to stay home. The Quilt Show did spark up my interest in quilting again. I ended up coming home with a Jelly Roll and a variety of half yard fabrics. We did locate some fabric with a knitting print and planned a future sewing day to make bags. The first weekend in April it was announced that one of the local yarn stores was closing the end of the month! I was very good in staying away from the 40% discount temptation until I found out that no one else resisted. So a little trip with Jes and Kim was planned. Shopping with Kim is very difficult. You usually end up buying more than you intended. I was quite impressed with myself and resisting her. I ended up with 4 skeins of Silky Wool, a skein of Mtn Colors, and a skein of Manos. Although resisting Kim's enabling drew a large appetite so we all had to go to Fat Olives afterwards. I strongly suggest the ABC sandwich. Gourmet grilled cheese with Bacon and Green Apple is where its at! Our first spring hike commenced also. We went to the Petrified Forest near Vantage. I was really expecting to see large upright stone trees and was some what disappointed when they were all in the ground. You stood looking into the square grate covered cutout in the ground. A couple miles further up the road Kim showed us the Desert Violets that were blooming along with Yellow Bells and Buttercups. Of course my battery for the camera was at home on the charger. On the home front the garden is prepped and ready to be planted. DH did some pretty fancy tilling and irrigation this year. In years past we typically just do the pumpkin this. However our need for a large pumpkin patch is dwindling so we can now plant a traditional garden. Carrots, radishes, cucumbers, pumpkins, sugar snap peas, and strawberries. Our neighbors also gave us a bunch of raspberry plants promising that I will have fruit this summer! I'm more excited about the berries than anything else! So stay tuned and I promise that I will figure this whole camera needs battery and memory card thing out!

Tuesday Ten

Most knitters that I know are not monogamous in their knitting. They are also typically not monogamous in their hobbies. Not very often do you hear a knitter say I only knit. Usually it's I knit, spin, weave...........oh I do a little beading on the side.......... wondering if I buy the large print if I can knit and read at the same time...................

What are your 10 hobbies? (I know you do more than one?)
1. Knit
2. Crochet
3. Spin
4. Weave
5. Garden
6. Hike, Fish, Camp
7. Sew (that one comes and goes)
8. Read (not a regular)
9. Stamping
10. Internet (yes if you are reading this the Internet is one of your hobbies too!)

10 on Tuesday

Ten favorite things about Daylight savings (yes I look forward to it)

1. Another sign that spring is almost here.
2. Don't have to drive home from work in the dark. It's bad enough that I have to go to work in the dark and then work all day in the dark.
3. Magically I'm less tired at the end of the day. Yes even though I lost an hour.
4. Light enough outside to be able to knit on the patio in the evenings.
5. Officially okay to start verbalizing my outdoor yard plans to DH.
6. I find people to be less grumpy all around. Or maybe it just makes me less grumpy?
7. You can really start to see the days getting longer at this time of the year.
8. The very old funny joke about "where are they saving all that time at." My father use to tell me a hole in the mountain.
9. Did I mention that it meant spring is right around the corner?
10. Not changing the big clock on the wall and waiting to see how long it stays that way until DH changes it. It's a bugger to hang back up and I said that Daylight savings makes me less grumpy not less evil!

Cheers!

Cassis

I finished Cassis last weekend and have worn it three times so far! Cassis is all that I had hoped for and then some. It works great with heels and slacks just as good with my jeans! Knit from the top down I was able to get the perfect length for my shorter than normal stature.

Tuesday Ten

Top Ten Shows that Eat up my evenings

1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Two and a Half Men
3. NCIS
4. NCIS LA
5. House
6. Sons of Anarchy
7. White Collar
8. Desperate Housewives
9. Burn Notice
10. Bones

It wasn't until the past year or two that I really started paying attention to any of the series. I used to be so far behind that I didn't know that a show existed until it was cancelled and they were only playing reruns! However with these I am pretty current and of course when a rerun is on my remote freezes!

Olympic Peninsula

As promised the pictures from our trip to the Olympic Peninsula over President's Day weekend.

A very windy Kingston Ferry ride. Little man explored as much as the ferry as he could in the 30 minutes. Pausing for photos with Mom was not at the top of his list however.

In Sequim we were able to get a vacation rental right on the beach.

Amazing Sunsets near the Dungenous Spit.

Full moon weekend Our sunrise view from the deck

Tongue Point Campground

My little Captain Morgan

Shi Shi Beach Hike

I think every child should be in one of these pictures

Captain Morgan with his prizes. He got the orange one as it was coming onto the beach. Point of Arches

Mud, Mud, Mud

Cape Flattery - we all agreed that pushing dinner out another two hours was well worth it.

My men on the most northwesterly point in the Continental US