Yes, I have been knitting...

...and actually finished a scarf.  The Hitchhiker Scarf which will be for me me me.  Because it is very soft and delicious.  

Now I'm working on a crocheted baby blanket out of a soft pink Plymouth Encore worsted yarn.  Also soft and delicious.  The recipient will be born later this month and I am assured that she will be a girl.

Autumn at Volunteer Park

Let's see...since my last post in September I've been to Spain, Portugal, seen Bob Dylan in concert in Vancouver BC and Seattle, and celebrated my MIL's 90th birthday with her in Redondo Beach CA.
I've started volunteering in my friend's 2nd grade class on Mondays, been getting to yoga classes on a regular basis and lost 20 pounds. I like retirement!!

Today I had lunch with a new friend that I met on our Spain trip.  She lives up on Capital Hill in Seattle and her 1904 built home sits on a tree lined street just bursting with autumn color.  Since the Mr. was in a seminar all day I took myself to Volunteer Park's Seattle Asian Art Museum to see an East Indian art exhibit, walk around the grounds and through the conservatory.  I should know to carry my camera with me at all times, especially on a day like today.  So all of these were taken with my iPod touch.

In the garden conservatory

Jade dragon

Looking out the windows

Celadon

A Maple tree in all of it's glory

Looking up into an old Oak tree

I'm DOOMED...!

Yikes!

I have dropped and broken two mirrors on two consecutive days. What does this mean!? The floor is tiled now and it used to be carpeted, maybe I was dropping them all along but they never broke? I was in a hurry, clumsy, am developing dropping disease, not paying attention, slippery fingers?? Really, I'm worried that I am doomed. Does this mean 7 years bad luck consecutively or collectively? I don't want 14 years of bad luck! I don't even want 7 years of it! The Mr. wants to know if this affects him by association in which case he feels like distancing himself from me. lol! Fat chance of that!

Sitting here waiting...

...for my prep to work.  Prep?  What prep is that you ask?  Well....not wanting to give out TMI, I'm having a colonoscopy tomorrow at the crack of dawn.  Enough said.  Although I might have to dash away from the computer any minute.  I know, I know...TMI.

So, I've been working like a busy little retired nurse and getting some crafting finished.  I shall regale you with all of the wonders of my finished objects henceforth referred to as FO's.

FO #1  Through the Loops Mystery Shawl

FO #2  Handspun - roving from the Yarn Pirate

FO #3  Lap quilt for my MIL's 90th birthday

Not really an FO but, some farmers market beets I boiled up and served with Feta

A cute little top called Gemini, still a WIP

FO #4  Citron shawl

Whew, I've been working hard lately.  Some FO's, some WIP's, some cooking.  I also have a pair of socks for the Mr. in process that I didn't photograph.  

Excuse me a moment.....oops, false alarm.

I think that will be all for now, I'm going to go sit nearer the bathroom.  Don't forget, colonoscopies save lives.  Have you had yours?

I shouldn't have ignored that little voice...

...telling me to follow the rules.  Because someone else in the history of quilting learned these valuable lessons the hard way before I did.  So why oh why did I think I could flaunt the 'quilting laws'?  Smugness, hubris, 'this wouldn't happen to me' attitude.  Ha!

So lessons learned (again)

• always pin or baste the heck out of the layers
• make sure they are smoothed out and have no lumps (I thought I had)
• never but never start quilting from the side...always start in the middle and work outwards (I knew that)
• listen to that little tiny voice of doubt yelling "STOP"
• be humble, pay attention to the experts
• look at the finished work (it isn't too horrible) as a learning experience and give it to my mother-in-law anyway because she loves me in spite of my many flaws
• start a new quilt immediately, kind of like getting back on the horse after it throws you, and learn from my mistakes.

Happiness is...

...the lazy days of summer, reading, enjoying the warmth of the sun, looking at the garden, having the girl over lots, going to the pool, looking at the sunsets, enjoying walks with friends, the Saturday Market, fresh produce, felling the cool breeze in the evening, smelling the salt in the air, ice water, lemonade, flowers in bloom, corn on the cob, firing up the grill, bike rides, family, the lazy days of summer...

gardening

butterfly bush

my favorite little roses

buddha in the heather

the girl

horseshoe fun

Happiness is...

• Heading up to Vancouver last week to spend time with the family
• Seeing my nephew for the first time since he came home from Halifax
• Loading our bikes on the Subaru to drive up to Whistler - in the rain - the four of us eager to spend a few relaxing days together; the sisters and their misters

the mister and the sister

• Finding sun the next day for golf
• Paying $25 to play at the Big Sky Academy Course in Pemberton - as many rounds on their par 3 as you wanted
• Walking around Whistler Village
• Having lunch at the Dublin Gate Pub outside on their patio, and eating the best corned beef sandwich  ever

Mt. Curry, Pemberton, BC

• Biking the Whistler Valley Trail in the warm sunshine
• Stopping at Rainbow Park

Rainbow Park, Alta Lake, Whistler

• Taking a long walk around Lost Lake and visiting Nana's tree

Lost Lake, Whistler, BC

Stanley Park sea wall, Vancouver, BC

• Spending a coupe of extra days in Vancouver
• Biking the sea wall
• Visiting with my nieces and nephew
• Having dinner one night at a little Greek restaurant and brunch at Subeez the next day
• Heading back home on a sunny Saturday refreshed and renewed