Deb on the Web

Billy

I love nostalgia!  I just spent the evening with my oldest friend, another highschool friend and her niece.  We had others that came with us but were spread out.  For what you ask?  Billy Joel (my 3rd concert)!  I really don't listen to him much anymore, but all his great lyrics came flooding back tonight!  We sang and danced (much to the disapproval of the people behind us) and yelled.  Two of our group arrived early and were asked if they wanted to sit in the front row!  Yes we did curse them most of the concert.
It was a great night!  It was so fun to hang out with my old concert going friends:)  And Billy still is a great entertainer!
I wish I could figure out how to send myself my photos from my camera...

Oh the agony!

I can't find my camera!  I asked my niece to take photos yesterday...bet it's still in the restaurant.
And here I am with my package of Raven yarns!!  Links will have to do (and will probably show it better).  Peru in "Valkerie", Seduction in "Korppi" and Silkie in Haida.  All slated for holiday knits.  I do this you know.  Don't plan on any knitting in August or September, but right before Thanksgiving I'm ready to dive in with a panic to finish by Solstice and Christmas.  shaking my head...
I don't feel like I can say what these will become just yet.  You never know who's reading this blog;)  But I'll show some teasers as I begin progress (and when I find that camera).

No lunch service at Nostrana today.  A much needed morning of recovery was appreciated!  Not that I drank much.  I just forget how much work goes into a big holiday meal.  I didn't want to ask for much help yesterday, but today I want to take that back;)
Gotta go exercise out the cobwebs cause the coffee didn't do it.

Is coplover one word?

And is anyone at the scrabble game going to let it go?  Yes a competitive game was had.  And no I did not win.  Oh, no that wasn't one of my words (although I really wanted an "e" the whole darn game).  All is now cleaned up and the rest of the night will be relaxing and knit worthy as I listen to some podcasts I have been wanting to catch up on (both knitting and book loving podcasts).

Thanks giving

Happy Thanksgiving all!!
I am thankful for the beautiful sunny day (even a cold one) we have today.  For my family and friends.  For the ability to be able to feed all these people;)  And for the financial ability to help a few others.  Donate locally this weekend!! And globally too!  Don't wait until that last week of the year. 

Do I need a title?

When there are several different subjects what title do you put on?   It is a hat of sorts.

Edited:

Saturday was a big hit.  We had about 15 ladies (and a couple husbands).  Everyone had projects out for the holidays. I decided it was time to think in that direction and chose some Hip Knits silk for a couple of scarves.  You know if you are knitting thin scarves you can knit them at the same time;)  We did have a gift basket to grab from.  We hadn't really thought of an organized way to do it so we grabbed what we wanted:)  I think everyone got something they were happy with.  I got some of Bobbie's handspun.  I look forward to adding this to some gloves.  As it is natural I may save it for a while to dye it.  Oh and we ate! 

We headed up the hill on Sunday and spent a glorious weekend in the snow.  I couldn't believe we had big flakes all day Monday at our lower elevation.  It was a spinning weekend for me.  I finished two holiday gifts for knitters.  One of these days I will get that list out of my head and onto paper.
Also did some cooking.  I have been wanting to use spaghetti squash lately.  So I baked one next to my chicken and vegetables (that were roasting quite nicely together).  After I took the chicken out of the pot I poured in the juices from the squash to give a little gravy to the other vegetables (it was a lean chicken) and then tossed the "spaghetti"  with the other vegetables (kale, carrots and onion).  Boy was it good!
What was left was added to a soup the next day and pureed to keep the flavor but lose the stringy "spaghetti".  I didn't want it in a thick soup.

Here are a couple photos of the studio (I'll be making some changes by Spring).

Thursday is obviously Thanksgiving.  We are now up to 30 for dinner.  And hopefully some scrabble action after.  I think I will have to spend some of the evening at work.  In the restaurant biz a closed day is a repair day.  blah!

I Won!

I won, I won, I won!!!
More life updates after the Holiday Knit-in.  Drop by if you're in the area.  We are totally casual today.

The holidays cometh

Well the holidays are coming.  Never can stop them can we?  I wasn't sure if I'd have time for gift knitting this year, but I thought I'd work up a couple of things.  This Saturday I'll be hosting a Holiday Knit-in.  The PDX Knit Bloggers will be gathering from 10-3p to work on our projects, get to know each other (outside of our blogs), eat some goodies and have a little yarn swap (Thanks --Deb).  I'm planning on a baby hat and a couple of scarves this year.  Maybe not all on Saturday;)
I really want to simplify the holidays, but it is always hard.  Thanksgiving is so much easier.  Lots of food, family and games.  No worrying about getting the right gift for each person.
I'm trying to think of other hand made gifts that aren't knit.  We'll see what I come up with.

Being mom

My sis is off in Hawaii (so jealous and cold here) and I'm staying with her girls.  We live pretty close to each other so I'm able to go to work, exercise and conjugal visits;)  I haven't played mom for a few years.  I just realized that I started dinner much earlier than I would have so that the smell of food would meet the girls at the door.  It's funny I hadn't thought about that before, but I used to do that for Gino too.
I wonder if the husband misses those days.  Of course he can walk down the stairs and open the door to Gino's Restaurant any time.  I know, I know it's not the same.
And yes, there will be apple pie tonight...

Choices

I am feeling lately that I am having to make choices of importance during the week and the day.  I felt like there for a while I had time to get everything done I wanted to.  Knit, blog, websurf, see a friend during the week...  Somehow it is all getting squished into running around and trying to get a little time for myself every so often.  Needless to say blogging (heck the computer) is getting the least bit of attention.
Yes, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it;)
I do have a few fabulous yarn photos to share today though.  Yesterday was a terrific mail day!  Three packages I expected, but not all at once.  First off my Movie Night Special Swap package!  Sue was very generous--A fun movie, popcorn, tea and a beautiful mug, sock yarn to knit with, a needle holder and there was some chocolate (it has been moved to a quiet place for now.
Here are some other goodies that came The November Woolgirl sock club!  Ireland was the theme this time around.  I love that she got the magnet card in Ireland!  Spunky Eclectic yarn is going to be fun to knit up too.  And finally another club offering from Middle Earth yarn's lace club We had an address mix up so I received two months together.  I have ordered a couple of patterns from KnitSpot for these. 
Gotta go!  Husband is in the car...

Okay, back for a little bit.  You will notice above that I finally figured out how to copy and paste on a Mac.  Yes I really am that dense.

We are in town this weekend as I am staying with my nieces for a few days while their mom is in Hawaii.  I have already grown attached to those weekends at the mountains though.  It is so quiet up there especially in the mornings.  I missed that as I woke to a bus going by this morning.

I didn't get the photos taken of my studio space last week.  I want to take some photos soon though.  I did a general clean up in there (lots of people have been using it over the last few years).  I want to move stuff out and really make it useful for all stages of the spinning process and dyeing next Spring.  Who knows what will come out of those experiments!  I am already starting to gather dye goods (herbs and mushrooms) so that I will be ready when it warms up next year.  I didn't want to rush into things now when the weather up there is changing by the week.

Here is a photo I took of the turkey house before all the leaves blew away.

A beautiful day at the mountains!

I feel like that is a total tease as I have no photos to show (I'm not on my computer). But it is amazingly warm with the beautiful colors of Autumn floating everywhere.
This has definitely been a week of missed photos. I think I have 7 times this week "why don't I have my camera right now". At one point yesterday I was thinking maybe I should just keep it around my neck;)
We are now spending most weekends up here at the in-laws. Our house is starting to resemble us a bit and I will have photos of my studio later this week. I enjoyed spinning earlier today while the leavesblew around outside.
I wanted to share a tasty salad we had for lunch today. We spent yesterday emptying out the orchard and have tons of apples. So we slivered up 3 kinds and added shredded jerusealem artichokes, toasted walnuts, blue cheese with a touch of white wine vinegar to keep the apples from browning and enough olive oil to keep everything together. It was sooooo good. And jerusalem artichokes are the best veggie a diabetic can eat. They help the body process insulin.
I have picked up Marc's Aran again and he may have a sweater by Winter at this rate. Our lovely mountain is very rocky still!
Just some reminders to Portlanders for the coming weekend--Blue Moon Barn Sale on Saturday!!!! Wordstock all weekend!! And I have found a new favorite cafe--the Bakery Bar. It is accross from Clark Lewis on Water ave.
Off to enjoy the outdoors....