Thinking??

So much is going on around here and then it seems like nothing is happening to move things forward one little bit. Have you ever felt that way? I still have yet to get the paper work together for our 2007 taxes (partly because I didn't do a good job keeping track of our bank statements last year). I am going to suck it up today and look at the office to see where the statements may be hiding, although, Geoff & Chris have both looked and minimal finding has happened. UGH! I hope we can file another extension, sheesh! I wish it was due to the fact that we earned so much money last year, but alas, it is just laziness, or denial, or probably both!




On the knitting front I have cast off my Undulating Scarf/Shawl, but have decided to go back and add as many more repeats as the little bit of yarn and beads I have will allow.

I am looking forward to having this one done, but it has been a fun knit and very quick.




We did get a chance to go camping last weekend and we didn't have to go far to find some amazing country! Geoff and I had done a 250 mile ride a couple of days before, through Hope Valley, so I said let's pack it up and GO!! We had a GREAT time and the dogs loved it too.


Many years ago, I had mentioned to my too stressed out husband, Geoff, that he needed to stop and smell the flowers. He has done a terrific job and here is one of his lovely collections!

So with that I will take my leave and wish everyone wonderful moments, because isn't that all life is? Just a collection of moments?

Life...

This Monday, the 14th of July our family said goodbye to an old friend. Pooh Bear came to us as a puppy with her sister Piglet and was one of the gentlest creature I have had the pleasure to know. The two puppies helped our dog Junior get over the loss of his brother Wolfie and helped all of us when Junior passed on. Of course having to let go of a good friend is always difficult and this was no exception.


We will miss Pooh Bear, but are of course glad that she is not suffering from her bodily failures any longer. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes and this dog was a real gift in our lives.

Thank you Pooh Bear for letting us know you for almost 12 years.

Quiet...

It's quiet as I sit here thinking of what to say. I close my eyes and hear the birds and smell the soft morning coolness as it wafts in from the open door. Should I say that I am me and that is unclear as something defined. Confused and yet accepting of that state of mind, I like me today. I even liked me yesterday and that is a good thing. I have decided that I will never truly 'find' myself because I am not actually lost. I am living and full of the beauty of my life. I am just as I should be at this moment in time. I am...

Nature is...

Nature is,

harsh, yet soft,

it is cruel, yet kind,

it is calm, yet violent,


it is beauty personified,

it is the question,

it is the answer.





Ask the question and look out the window to see the answer.

Nature is...

I am a bit SOCKY...

Well, I am excited because I took 2nd place in the Lorna's Laces sock contest! I have won 3 copies of my patterns and 4 hanks of Lorna's luscious sock yarn! That's enough to make 2 pairs and I chose 2 of my favorite colors; Edgewater & Baltic Sea! You can see the colors here at my favorite yarn shop Jimmy Beans Wool

I named the socks 'Herringbone Lace' and the wonderful Lorna's folks are taking their knit up version to The National NeedleArts Association where lots and lots of people will see them. I can't wait to see which colors they choose to knit them in.

Now this may all seem a bit silly to anyone who may be reading this, BUT my wonderful friend and knitting mentor, Allison Judge, and I started 2 Askew Designs late last year and this is priceless publicity!

Thank you to all the wonderful people at Lorna's Laces
whose infinite dabbling in the paint pots is the inspiration for these socks and many of my other creations. I am currently working on an elegant shawl in one of the Limited Edition colorways (Becca's Last Day) in Lion and Lamb. OOOOhhhhhhh yummy silk blend, in a worsted weight yarn.




Anyway, I am a bit excited, and humbled. I am new to design and well, to be recognized by such amazing artists is quite nice. Thanks you Lorna's!

Beauty!

It's 6:15 in the morning and instead of turning over and going back to sleep, I got up when the birds started chirping (5:15). I am sipping my coffee and my sweet gentle cat is nudging my wrist to pet her. Ahhhhhh, purrrr, she says! I am purring too!

Yesterday, we absolutely kept the television off! Wow, the difference it made in the tone around the house. AMAZING! It's not like I don't know the effect that infernal chatter box has on us, but we read, cleaned, and worked on our earthquake proofing of the stuff in the house. It was such a lovely day! I am going to take the blasted thing out of my bedroom and that's that! Maybe I will just throw it out the window!


I have truly had the most gifted days since Friday morning! I have been a complete dimwit of late and am trying to figure that out, and my only conclusion is that I think I should be a dimwit, so I am! Clearly this is an internal problem, but awareness is the first step to change. Oh, gosh there was a point to the side track on Dimwitteness and it was that on Friday I began the task of rehanging paintings with sturdy earthquake approved hooks (focusing and trying to chase the Dim Wits out of my head) and then my honey, Geoffy, called me and suggested we play hooky on the bikes! Well, gee you don't have to drop a Harley on me; I'm there! Let's ride......well, one of our routines is to check each other's tires for sharp things that are stuck in them, and well, bloody hell, I had a nail in my rear tire. Now, the truly interesting portion of the nail story is that while most riders NEVER have a flat; Geoff and I have both had one AND this is the second one for my bike! Holy cow am I glad I have an extended warranty on my bike! Sheesh there goes our ride, or at least mine....ahhhhh, but wait, I have a free rental coupon from the good folks a Reno Harley (because I spend sooooooo much money there, UGH) and well, why not? They have a Heritage Softail and I jump at the chance to ride that bad boy for the next 24 hours. So we are back on for a GREAT ride up Mt. Rose HWY and all the way around Lake Tahoe!

Beauuuuutifulll ride! Well, I need another want like a hole in the head, but that Heritage is the most amazing machine! The difference is like a VW Bug (which I have) and a Cadillac. I rode like the wind and my butt wasn't numb and well, of course I would LOVE to have one of my own. However, for now, I will stick with Mariah (she's a truly amazing machine too!) and just look with a wanting eye at all the Heritages on the road.

Rockin' and Rollin'

Well, I am awake and it is 5:27 am, and actually I have been awake for most of the night. My sweet little Sierra has been on edge and then of course we had a 4.0 earthquake at 4:33 this morning. It's hard to imagine that the 4.7 we had Friday night was so much more than that, but it was! Geoff, my brainiack says that as the numbers go up the severity goes up by a factor of 10. Now, I am no math wiz (as anyone who knows me will attest) but, I do know that when the shakin' started on Friday night it was much more severe than this morning. So, the way I understand it is that is a factor of 70. I just can't imagine what bigger is like? All the California earthquakes that have done such damage and taken lives are becoming quite real to me.

This really hits home to me, the fact that the Human race is so powerless over our environment. Sure, we can build to help with damage in lots of situations, but the bottom line is we need to have more humility for the awesome power that is Mother Earth. I have always worked hard to live in the moment and yesterday I had some GREAT moments! We went for a ride with two of our new motorcycle buddies and it was beautiful! We rode up to Lake Tahoe and had lunch at Garwoods. It was warm and the lake was like a still pond. As we came back down, we rode through Truckee on Glenshire and I thought of Dannette bobette! I know she lives around there somewhere. Then we rode around Boca and along the rode by the river. Boy was it beautiful! Earthquakes and all, I am so grateful for my life at this very moment. Have lots of great moments today and don't let the stupid stuff get to you; it's just not worth it.