Deb on the Web

A very busy few days

I am happy to say that there will be blogging from the mountain from now on!!  My bil to be (sis got engaged on Vday woo hoo) set us up so hopefully I'll be quite a bit more regular on my posts.  Holidays could bring unexpected delays;)  Yea that and when I got nothin!
Today I got a few somethings though.  The spinning bug bit me and how this week.  I finished what was on the wheel I finished these singles of fakland wool from Yarn Wench and plyed them on themselves for this this is now washed and ready to become a hat when the pattern that fits it turns up.  Next to jump up was this month's offering from the Spunky Club.  I've gotten a bit behind on these as I just didn't feel inspired, but this icelandic wool was calling out!  I loved spinning these long fibers, but this is a bit rough for something like a hat or gloves.  I'm now spinning this corredale/silk combo from Crosspatch creations to ply with it It has a touch of blues and greens like the icelandic, but also some yellows and all that white silk.  I think this will combine well for a pair of simple mittens.
Lest you think I didn't pick up the needles I did in fact finish up these Valentine socks They are off the needles now.  I had to find my size #3 needles to give this a looser bind off.  Yarn is Duet-Middy in cupid.  They are knit toe up with short row toes/heels on size #2 needles.  I really love knitting with this Middy yarn! This link is serious temptation as Angela uploaded lots of new colorways today;)
In other life news...bought our tickets to Europe today!!  We are flying into Barcelona on Mar 17th and just staying a few days.  We have to be up in Nantes, France for Easter with my BIL (husband's youngest) new inlaws.  We will then be heading to Reims and then the Rhone valley for some wine business and on to Italy for another 3 weeks of business.  Yes, very excited here!!
And speaking of Italy...a relative of my husband's did some geneology on the family recently.  As I was looking through the papers and doing some internet searches (I love this thing sometimes) I realized that his great grandparents never became US citizens.  This means that the husband and many of his relatives can apply for Italian citizenship.  You never know when a vacation just isn't enough;)

Back to town

It was hard to crawl out of all the snow this morning and head back down into reality.  I had figured on a little snow this weekend, but when I woke up Sunday morning I felt like I was inside a cotton ball.  Here are a few shots of the weekend   Okay, I'm getting cold!  Let's look at socks--I finished my Duet XXL "Thanksgiving" socks this weekend.  Now these are not the kneehighs I intended As I worked up the leg I realized what I really wanted was a pair of socks for my hiking boots.  So I stopped mid calf.  I also am thinking I might have enough left for footies with the coordinating toe and heel!  The beginning of a Happy V-day This is sock #1 of more Duet yarn.  "Cupid" in her middy line.  Love it!  almost finished with the foot of #2 (toe up).  And I got a little start on this yarn More read goodness for Valentine's day!  This is the January selection from RCS that I mentioned the other day.  This is not a terrific photo of it, but I wanted to wait until most people received their packages before showing something.  Hopefully, I'll be showing an actual sock soon;)
Oh and the dad has arrived!!  After 6 hours of phone calls over two days my very, very dear friend's husband picked my dad up from the hospital, filled his prescriptions and put him on a plane to Portland!  You really know who your friends are at a time like this:)  He is staying with my sis, but I spent a few hours today and will be until he is well enough to be on his own.  I told him by the end I felt like I was planning a prison break--I've been watching way too much Alias on the weekends.

Well looky here

We actually have some photos.  I should insert these into the past posts that were lacking them, but why not just have a fun photo post instead.
First, I do have to say that the husband had his surgery yesterday and it was a great success.  The Emergency room doctor did such a great job of setting his arm the surgeon was able to move the bones into place and pin them without any incisions.  He should also have a much shorter recuperation time.  I couldn't help but take this photo on our return from the hospital that first night You can tell he was thrilled I needed to document the moment.  Here are some snow pics from that night and a few others this last week Can you see how big some of those flakes are?  Here are my Spruce Sprigs socks If you scroll back a couple of posts you'll find the details about these pretties.  The recipient has declared them very wearable and warm!
Here is the current project While I love the squishiness of duet yarns this is not a project I am loving.  The self striping in the feet is turning to pooling in the legs.  I would prefer it to be the other way around.  I may just finish these at the standard length.  However, I am now in love with the knee high idea and need to do a little stash diving for the next sock project.
In the single sock area here is Lenore This and another of the RSC projects need pairs.  My February sock projects.
On the already a joiner in '08 subject Jane found this on Ravelry and has copied the description here.  This is the perfect KAL for my 2008 resolutions!  And we'll be putting ole Lenore as #1.

What a week!

Craziness all week at home and work, but I've kept good humor through all. Hey, what else are ya gonna do?
Commuting from the mountain hasn't been bad. I can now tell you anything you'd like to know about the candidates and polling practices in New Hampshire;)
In the evenings, as there is no yoga at present, we are addicted to the show Alias. It's great when you are late to the party. We are still watching season 1. I have no idea how many seasons there even are of this show. it's great for knitting! I've finished the first pair of socks for 2008 (and no this isn't my computer so no photos). Spruce Sprigs--Woolgirl's December sockclub selection. The yarn is a wool/mohair blend from the Unique Sheep. I'll definitely knit with this again. It was a dream!
I now have another pair of socks going--Lucky Lurker's November sockclub offering. These are fun! Knee highs in a falling leaves pattern. I'm not overjoyed with the colorway, but these are going to feel so great and squishy I just can't wait until they are done. I'm hoping to get some more of Angela's XXL in a Valentine colorway.
The garden ideas just keep on coming! I've figured out my basic kitchen garden which will be planted outside my kitchen window. This will be a very traditional come and cut again European idea. Mainly salad and braising greens with lots of herb plants in the ground and in pots (lemon verbena and varieties of scented geraniums). I've now been plotting to take over the main garden bed. However, I have to pull myself back as I don't know where I'll be come June. Not saying more than that right now...
In the spinning area--I have a project on the wheel that needs to get finished very soon. That will be the main weekend plan. That and working for the husband. My job is on hold for a few days as it is easiest for me to be his replacemendt. I'm looking forward to working over at Gino's tonight. I enjoyed having a break for a few years, but I do think that restaurant suits me better.

This post would be so much more exciting with photos! I'll try to get some loaded very soon.

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.

My how life changes when we're not paying attention

I can't believe how many things changed in my life over the weekend!  My father came to visit and will now be moving in with us in a couple of months.  He will be "renting" up here above the restaurant so he feels independence and we can pay the bills:)
A possible new job opportunity was mentioned that may or may not happen in the future.  But running ideas back and forth is so much fun!
Housing opportunities are in the air for us.  I can't say a whole lot more of that yet.  Only that it is very exciting and involves a perfect studio area for me!  Imagine natural dyed yarns where the dye herbs are growing right outside the window:)
My what a change 3 days can make.

I forgot that my sis had given me a gift last Christmas of a personalized natural perfume.  I had an appointment with our friend Jewlie this morning.  She had groupings of oils for me to smell and lots of questions so we could create the perfect (for me) perfume.  I loved the rose oils, spices (especially pink peppercorns), woods and citrus.  We will see which ones end up in the final product.  She makes three samples which I will wear on an every other day basis for a week and then decide (or we'll start over).  I loved the experience.  I blend food smells all day, but scent for the sake of scent is a whole new deal.  I couldn't imagine the mixing to end with a complex final product.  She also collects wonderful old containers to put the perfumes in.  I decided to go with a solid perfume even though she did have some beautiful glass bottles for dabbing beind the ear.

And let us not forget that today is the first of Socktober!!  Head on over to Lolly's to find out what's going on this month in celebration of the sock.  I have a skein of Scout's socktober yarn that I really would love to use this month.  But I am being very monogamous right now with a beautiful baby blanket.  I am determined that I will deliver this to the hospital!

I got me a bug

Well I guess the seasons they are a changing.  As I have the first flu bug of the season to prove it.  I've tried to talk myself out of it for days.  If I just take it easy I'll be fine.  No knitting guild on Thursday, no work on Friday so I could work Saturday (I didn't have anyone else to work).  I made it 6 hr and then at 7:30 when the rush hit so did my tummy.  I think it was the kitchen heat and starting to move faster than my head could take.  I yanked a busboy into the kitchen (he loves it when that happens thank goodness) and ran home.  My tummy has calmed but I got no energy. 
Not even enough to load fun pictures!  The only bonus to being home sick the other day was the arrival of 2! sock club boxes (imagine pictures here).  Both A Swell Yarn Shop and Woolgirl have jumped on the club wagon and I'm so very happy they have!  Lovely yarn, terrific patterns and goodies galore!  I really can't show the inside of these boxes yet anyway as many have not yet gotten their packages.  I wouldn't want to blow any surprises.
In other knitting news I have not finished the entrelac baby blanket for a shower-TODAY-but I have high hopes that I will beat the baby's arrival:)  I do have a darling Cowichan sweater from a class I took a couple years ago (just been waiting for some sweet someone) and a little vest made from Rowan cotton in a denim tyedye look.  I still need to do some shopping before tonight's party.  So if my energy could find me now I'd be greatly appreciative.
I also have some lovely pictures on my camera of cooks cooking great food.  I took a liite tour around my kitchen the other day to catch some "in action" shots.  It all started with a pot of fresh shell beans cooking into soup.  They are definitely my favorite part of fall.  Shell beans cooked in a meat (or veg) broth with fall greens, herbs and just dug carrots.  YUM!  I can write about food, but eating it forget about it.
Well now that I have spread my bug around the World Wide Web I will go back to lurking on other blogs and Ravelry (yes that is the reason I have been blogging less).  I'll try not to leave any germs behind;)

Here we are at Saturday

I haven't had a whole lot to blog about so there has definitely been some silence.  But then!  I had this incredible mail day (read 5 packages!)  and I was so excited I fell in with them.  I oohed and ahhhed over the packaging, ribbon ties, beads, stitch markers, 5 skeins of yarn and other fabulous odds and ends.  But guess what I didn't do.  Yep, it is all put away now with no photos.  It all did really make my week!  So here is the low down--Woolgirl Jenn makes receiving yarn in the mail like a present!  all wrapped in tissue with ribbon.  Mine also had a soak sample attached!  Here is the SHEEPAINTS sock'n go in Pumpkin I ordered I love this yarn!  I also got some Sea Coast superwash in Coal and Fire These both had Autumn written all over them. 
I will show some more stash photos on those days of no posts.  I just wanted to give a big head's up to Jenn:)  Also, I read on Ravelry that after your 7th order you become part of the Wooly woolgirl club and get a fantabulous present in the mail!  I still have a way to go, but my fantabulous present is that we live very close to each other and will be meeting in person for dinner in a couple of weeks!  One can never have enough knitty friends:)

Oh the other package I have to give a heads up to is beads arriving from Earthfaire.  She sent the beads in hard plastic containers, samples of other sizes to compare and a nifty tool to help you thread the beads on yarn.  All wrapped in ribbon of course.
I really don't remember when I became such a ribbon loving girl....well maybe it's just coming back after a several decade break;)

What did you do at Summer Camp?

That was exactly what I was thinking when I put some melon/lemon jam in the walkin refrigerator this afternoon.   Here are some of my summer work projects chutneys, pickled fruits and vegetables and a variety of jams and jellies.  I am "put up" for the Winter season.

For the Labor Day weekend we headed up to Mt Hood to visit the inlaws and just plain relax.  It was so wonderful to wake up to this .  We spent our time hiking and walking around the family property.  Here are a few shots of the weekend

And returning home wasn't a complete letdown.  This was waiting for me my picnic package from my "special swap" pal Lynne! Lynne is our hostess with the mostess--I was thrilled to be her partner for this round.  Oh you want to see inside Lynne sent me an early morning picnic with tea (and thermos and tea cup), scones (and limoges plate), socks to knit and wear to the picnic:), "fried eggs" (love it), beautiful cloth napkins oh and honey sticks.  All in that darling basket which is already holding yarn.  thank you again Lynne!!

Anyone up for Sock Wars again:)

You're such a pig!

In Portland we had Cows on Parade a few years ago.  Well Seattle now has pigs on parade.  Just a few of the guys we walked by:
oh now you knew there was going to be a chocolate pig;)

We also walked through the new Olympic Sculpture Park.  It was amazing!  Here are just a few photos.  I was so excited I couldn't stop taking photos.  This was pretty cool.  Many years ago I taught "Soil" at outdoor school.  This was like walking into my classroom;)   Okay, that's enough.  There is more but this is a lot of photos.  Let's just say it was a super trip and a great way to celebrate a belated birthday.  Oh yea--I did finishing a project too (well, besides the book) Some Fleece Artist SeaWool for an employee's birthday.  There is just one round of Monkey around the ankle.  Oh it is addicting.  I'll be making a long pair soon.
Oh, let's have just one more pig for the road. This was the perfect Seattle pig (a close up) If you are heading up to Seattle at all don't pass up a dinner at Harvest Vine (the best Spanish tapas) or lunch at Seven Spice Pepper--there is no Szeshuan in Portland so this is a fix we always have to get.

But now we are home and today there was a donation that put me over the $300 mark!!!  Tomorrow there will be a drawing for the next prize...