Sunday Show and Tell

Today I have iris blooming...I am excited...and I have photos.

Fair warning!




Another whose name escapes...and I know this one... [Edited to add: Dearest Sister reminds me this is Yes. Of course it is.]


Millennium Sunrise...



..of which I may have planted several rhizomes...I count at least four clumps of blooms, two of which are seen here. But that's okay. Orange if Wonderful Guy's favorite color. (Kate of High Altitude Gardening heard that 'orange is the color of insanity'. Hmmmm.....)

See how well the utility box is now concealed? Also, if one observes closely, one can see my peony buds! I have six or seven!







Hemstitched.

My stack of dishclothes needing seaming...

and the quilt, in process...

It's coming along, and looking swell, I think.

So now I am all caught up.

Except for yesterday's hike to Horsetooth Falls, and the marvelous wildflowers (photos!)...

And the remainder of the day spent in the yard finishing up odds and ends (more photos!)...

There is a busy week ahead, full of lots of stuff. I have knitters coming over on Tuesday for the first time in a several weeks. (Yea!) Also working some long days to make up time off on Friday for some medical follow-up stuff. (Aging=so not fun, and also...the downside of working without benefits and paid time off...) Work is busy busy busy, which is great great great, but also a little crazy crazy crazy with yet another short week. I am striving hard to prove myself worthy of both benefits and paid time off! Wonderful Guy and I are going on vacation in a couple of weeks, too. Heading to south Colorado for a week of playing the touristas. But get this...I told him I would like to leave after I had a chance to visit the Estes Park Wool Market that Saturday morning!

Of course, he agreed. He's Wonderful Guy!

Don't even know where to start, or where to go with this.

I am at the computer, working on a few loose ends before heading out for the day, and thought I have to get a post up. Why? I am not sure. Perhaps because I am under the delusion that I have readers waiting on tenter hooks to find out what is going on in my life.

I am very good at delusion. Ask Dearest Sister. Or Wisest Sister. Don't ask Only Brother. Can't anyway. He has no blog, and doesn't even read this one. Regularly.

Anyway. I am going out shortly and check on iris. As of last night, no new blooms. Might have a few this morning, but haven't checked, so no new pix. Sorry.

No new knitting. I have five (or maybe six?) dishclothes from the trip that I have yet to seam. Nothing but dishclothes. I have been quilting since the return, and there is nothing there to photograph yet.

That quilting. It is slow going. I like finishing things, see. That's one of the reasons I don't have 400 hundred knitting WIPs laying around languishing on the needles (of iron). I like finishing! Well. I have a ways to go with the quilt.

But not so far as when I started.

I have already ridden 150 miles on Trekkie, my bike this month. And recent sitings include the heron (again), baby prairie dogs, and all four baby geesees (foxies haven't got them yet!). Again, no photos. But hey...150 miles. And it's only the end of May.

And it's only the end of May. The yard is taking off. I am amazed how some of the corners of our yard have taken on their own personality. And mostly on its own. I sometimes have somewhat of a plan. But sometimes, I pick and plant...because I like the name of the plant. Bloodroot (does not do well in Colorado), Jupiters Beard (does very well...), Soapwort. Sometimes I plant because I love the plant. Soapwort (again), lilies of the valley, or Lavendar. By the gods, I will have lavendar in my yard. It took several tries to figure out where it was going to grow but it finally is!

Anyway. Again. No photos. Yet. I am such a tease.

So that's that. Wonderful Guy and I are going hiking today. Thanks for checking in and for reading in spite of my change in routine. My new job is wonderful and challenging and giving me opportunities to learn and grow in rewarding ways.

But it is kicking my middle aged rear end.

While I Was Gone

Apparently it rained and rained and rained. Where I was the sun shone and shone and shone.

That was sweet...except for the top of my feet, which got sunburned. But I am not complaining.

Just saying.

Anyway.

Because of the cloudy rainy cool-ish weather, my iris bloomage was put on hold, or at least scaled way back.

Which again...is sweet. I didn't miss much.

This morning, I finally had some time for some look-see.

This one is missing a standard. I don't know if the freeze thaw did in the bud, or if the storms beat it down. Also, I don't believe Dearest Sister and I figured out it's name.

Not coming up with this one's name this morning...

Blurry, but still 'Horatio', I believe.

I am off to work on my bike, hoping for rides the rest of the week. Looks like the weather may have turned, both for riding and for blooms. I expect alot of buds will just be popping open like crazy here on out.

Oboy!

Home Again Home Again

Wonderful Guy and I spent our anniversary on the road. We traveled to my hometown of Greensburg, Kansas for a bit of a family reunion. The Greensburg High School holds their class reunions, all of them, on Memorial Day weekend. That was what brought the big brother to town. Wisest Sister had planned on being there, too, but her plans changed. (We missed you!)

I had a great time. I saw Dear Aunt, my mother's only surviving sister. We surprised her (as everyone does...her short-term memory being nigh on nil), and she was grieved that we caught her with the bed unmade. Well...look what we found. My grandmother's friendship quilt, gifted to her recently by another cousin.

I saw my BFF, Tish. We had a photo opportunity at the parade (it lasted 15 minutes!), and yes, once again, Dearest Sister and I are all matchey matchey...and totally unplanned, believe it or not...

at the Big Well Park, on the merry go round, otherwise known as the 'wheel of death',

and on the steps of the church where we all were baptized and where we terrorized Sunday school teachers, one and all (steps are all that remain of the old church. The new church was built, and now rebuilt, elsewhere).

Lest one might think it was only photo taking for the men folk, not so! They had many chances to meet a wide variety of local color.

It feels good to see so much of the residential part of the town rebuilding. There are good starts to the business sector, including the hospital and the schools. I left feeling like there will be a town there for a good while longer. Won't be the same, but it won't be completely different, either.

Some things just don't change. I met a couple of my old school chums, but ran mostly into those who knew my older siblings, and once again, spent most of my time being recognized as one of
their little sisters...as one of 'the little girls'...

The Entrelac Shawl (Or Why I Knit)

A week ago Friday, when the Daughters surprised me with Middle Daughter’s arrival, I had planned a meal, which I fixed, but then suggested we go out for ice cream for a dessert.

Which we did, because I am the momma, and I wanted ice cream.

With the sun setting, the temperature dropped, and Bebe Momma wanted something to wrap around Grandbebe Girl. The Entrelac Shawl had been living in the front room, tossed over an antique rocker…just in case I was sitting there and needed something over my shoulders.

I grabbed it and we wrapped that around her little two year old legs. So cute they are!

And Grandbebe Girl did not let it go. She held on to it while eating ice cream. She held onto it walking back to the cars.

She didn’t want to give it back to Grandmama, which of course, Grandmama didn’t make her do.

Apparently, she slept with that night, and when she got out of bed the next morning, grabbed it, then, too.

The Entrelac Shawl has become Grandbebe Girl’s new best friend.

Or, as Dearest Sister believes, Grandbebe Girl has discovered the awesome‘power of wool’.

And that is why I knit.

On The Trail

I was thinking about changing my subtitle on my header. I was thinking maybe it was getting a little stale. I was thinking I could come up with something more apt, more descriptive of what I was doing with this blog a year and a half down the road from first launching this effort.

Then I rode my bike to work this week.

(What I see, what I've been taught, what I've learned, what amazes me...)

I saw four deer in the middle of the road (that moved off without incident).

I saw two geese in the middle of the bike path (that did not move) (even when I rang my bike bell) (I love ringing my bike bell!). I had to weave between them like a slalom skier! Luckily they didn’t charge me…which I have learned they can…and do!

I saw ducks sound asleep next to the bike path…at 7:30 in the morning. Sleepy heads.

I saw a woodpecker fly up and land on a young tree, right next to the sidewalk, where I could easily see, and recognize it for what it was. Would have totally missed that just driving by. I don’t see many woodpeckers around these parts.

I have smelled lilacs in bloom, which they are…blooming…all over town…every bush but mine. I have also caught the fragrance of another flowering tree, but have yet to identify it by name.

I have learned to breathe through my nose. The Spring Creek Path is a wonderful ride, and also has gnats, midges, and other buggies, hovering especially where the trail passes under the cross streets. Fortunately, I ride both ways into the sun, and can usually spot the swarms. Mostly.

I saw a momma fox, with her two kits, right. On. The. Trail! In front of me! I had to slow down. They crossed over to what I believe is their den. It was very exciting!

Then I saw geese just down the path, not a quarter of a mile…yes, there are always geese, but these had four baby geesees! They were little bitty. I bet maybe two days hatched.

I have learned there is a good chance one or two might become fox food. Ahh. Nature.

And I have seen the blue heron more than once.

I have learned that I can ride when it is windy. Really windy. That I can ride a goodly distance a three, maybe four times a week, and rack up some mileage, and that isn’t too shabby for an old lady.

Mostly I have learned that I really enjoy the ride.

And all of that just amazes me.

(I am not going to be changing the subtitle.)

What Time Is It?

Iris time!

I have more tall beardeds opening.

Silverado
This was newly dug, split, and replanted just last year. This bloom is a gift!

Mount Sinai Aflame
About as red of an iris as it gets.

Liger (like my favorite flower ever. gosh.) And it’s first bloom for me.
Been in the ground for two years, so I was hoping for a bloom. This was a birthday gift from the girls.

Almost Heaven.And it pretty much is!

Our Anniversary

Six years ago, Wonderful Guy and I married each other.

We began our lives together as friends, growing through, and recovering from the break-up of our first marriage relationships. One could say (and we often do) that we came to know each other our worst and lowest times.

We came out of those times stronger and more aware of what life is about. We shared those lessons, and in that sharing, we came to love each other.

And to accept other. I must say I feel accepted by Wonderful Guy just for me, in a way I haven't felt before. (Except with my own sisters and brother, who let me know all the time exactly where I stand). That is a gift indeed.

One of our promises to each other is openess and honesty. While that may sound obvious to some, I came to understand it was not a given in my previous relationship. It is an ongoing effort to speak my truth kindly, currently, and to take credit for my own feelings.

And it is another gift from Wonderful Guy to let me have my feelings for my own. Without needing to fix me, thank you very much, I am fine the way I am!

We each bring individual gifts and talents to the table, and we each appreciate what the other contributes, neither believing one has it up on the other. (Because, of course, if one did, I would have to set that one straight!)

When my the X left me, I was really truly convinced that was it. I would never ever ever never have another chance. No one would ever love me again, and why would they. I would be alone forever and that was that.

Well. I was wrong.

And I sure am glad I was.

Happy Anniversary, Wonderful Guy.

The Party’s Over

The visitors are gone, the birthday over, the surprises all done. At least, I think the surprises are done. Those sneaky petes got me good this time. Twice.

And the dishcloth drawer is empty. Not only did Dearest Sister pump the girlies full with hers, they drained me of mine, as well.

Not so much a problem. I have travel knitting time coming up, and nothing else on the Needles of Iron. I will be seeing Dearest Sister this weekend in our fair, if windblown, hometown of Greensburg for a bit of a family reunion. Only Brother will be there, too, but Wisest Sister cannot make it. We will miss her, and have less fun for her not being there.

I will be taking along some yarn for Mason-Dixons baby kimono, and a BSJ by EZ, maybe two. It will be an eight hour trip, more or less, one way. That’s too much time with only dishcloth cotton…for me, anyway. Ya know, I will probably take about 4 balls of cotton which amounts to 8 dishclothes...that's 16 hours right there. Now I start thinking about time knitting while visiting, and driving back and forth from Pratt...and I will through in a couple of more. That doesn't even count the sweaters. Like there wouldn't be a place to buy dishcloth cotton there? Well...maybe not...and I better not count on it!

I have been quilting, quilting, quilting since completing the alpaca fleece. While Dearest Sister was visiting, we washed, marked, cut, and coordinated the material into nine-patches for Grandbebe Bean’s quilt. Oh, it’s going to be mah-vah-lous!

Middle Daughter has also requested some homemade gowns for the hospital. She found the pattern on these here innerwebs, and it is basically just like a hospital gown, with ties and snaps, but made from our own, and therefore, more fun fabric. And with a matchey matchey hair tie. Really a simple enough pattern, and I am thinking I have fabric on hand. (But probably not enough. No, really. It will take a lot of yardage…) So, yeah, looks like I will be making enough for both bebe mommas.


Whatever. I can’t say no to those girls when they want me to make/sew/knit them something.

Such a pushover.

If I Don’t Laugh…

I will cry.

I have a prescription I take daily to help decrease the number, and diminish the intensity, of migraines. And it does a good enough job for me that I want to take it without fail.

When my previous employer switched insurance plans about a year and a half ago to a high deductible plan, I took the opportunity to max out my refills of all my daily meds. For this particular script I happen to take half the prescribed dosage so it lasts me twice as long. Therefore, I didn’t need to refill it until early this year.

Now I knew it would be expensive. I had worked the little price estimator on the mail-in pharmacy website…and thought I had a ball park number.

Well. Wrong. After sending in my new prescription, the credit card fraud department called and asked about an OUTRAGEOUS amount being charged to an online pharmacy, using the company initials which Wonderful Guy didn’t recognize, and who was not expecting an OUTRAGEOUS charge, thereby prompting the canceling and reissuing of our charge card.

And prompting phone calls by me to the pharmacy. And questions. Like WTH?! (And they are like...well, we can use another card, and I am all so if I am going to spend this OUTRAGEOUS amount you can darn well bet I am going to get my cash back, baby cakes!)

But guess what. I need this stuff. So we paid for it and I keep taking it. (Let’s not go to that place about a basically healthy, employed, insured woman ending up paying this OUTRAGEOUS amount, and the crazy upsidedown health care system.)

Now we know. Now we budget for it.

As fate would have, we had to sign me up on Wonderful Guy’s insurance when I change jobs (I am now working without benefits…except for the singular benefit of being paid regularly and on time…). So we have a chance to plan ahead.

We upgrade to the prescription co-pay! See how smart!

Well. I require change in another one of my daily meds, so before sending in the script to the new mail order service, I was familiarizing myself with the process, checking out the price estimator, and thought ‘hmmm…wonder if this service will charge me as OUTRAGEOUS a price for 'the other' as my previous service.’

Oh. My.

They offer a generic of this med for 3% of what we paid. That is not a typo. 3%. And the name brand is less than half of what we paid.

I wanted to throw up. Because we are talking an OUTRAGEOUS amount here that I am feeling pretty much squandered at this point.

I am wondering what is going on. Was the generic box not checked on the script? Was the other company just a price gouger? Was the generic not available?

Well, I checked on that last question. Guess what.

One week after my script was filled…the FDA approved the generic. (I am in the business. I know how to look things up….way after the fact, but still!)

One freakin’ week.

Yep.

Timing is everything.

J is for…

jelly, and enjoying every last bit of it!

How Much Fun?

This much fun...


An attempt to get a self portrait...


Eldest Daughter, the impertinent young miss, gets hold of the camera and switches to movie mode...


The result...





Happy Birthday to me!

Life is good.

Wonder What Today Will Bring...

...I mean, besides what I am expecting, and that being the arrival of Dearest Sister.

And Galaxie Guy, of course.

See. Yesterday brought more Unexpected.

I spoke of feeding the masses last night. I biked home from work, and an extraordinary ride it was, too. Little wind, and from the east. A tail wind for once. I cruised!

Shortly after arriving at home, so did Eldest, Youngest, and Grandbebe Girl. Come to find out Eldest was keeping Grandbebe this morning, so my schedule was lightened considerable in visit preparations for Dearest Sister.

So anyway, the four of us are enjoying the pergola, and Bebe Momma says to me, 'I'm tired...go get me a glass of water...' and I am all, sure why not, and Eldest says 'hey fix me some tea, while you are at it...' and I am thinking...hey, who's been working?! but whatever...

And when I take them their gosh darn drinks, Middle Daughter is sitting out there, under my new pergola with those sneaky petes!

Yep. I had the three of 'em around my dinner table last night. Can it get any sweeter? Only if Lovely Step-daughter and Only Step-son had been there, too.

Wonderful Guy said I actually had six of my girls around the table...counting the grandbebes! He's such an engineer...and so right.

What’s Going On

I have dishclothes with matchey matchey tribbles (for some). I have figured out the smaller skeins of Sugar and Cream (2.5 oz) have enough for a cloth and a trib. The larger ‘super saver’ skeins have enough for 2 cloths, but no tribs. But they still need sewing up...

Alpaca fleece update. Done spinning! Done Plying! I have ‘wanna be’ yarn. Four and half more skeins, for a total of 10 and half. Yardage: approx.(still uncalculated) (and not all left as I have already knitted 2 pr of socks.) All that remains is the twist to be set. Not yet finished...

I have a quilt for Granbebe Girl Two waiting patiently for my fleece to be finished. (I am coming, Quilty Two….soon, I promise!) Upon Dearest Sister’s visit (This weekend! Sister is coming this weekend!!!!) there will be cutting on Quilt Three. Agh. Further and further behind she falls…

I have made graduation cards, a wedding card, birthday cards, and two ‘thinking of you card’ in the past couple of weeks. Checked out the price of cards lately? Ka-ching! More money for fiber. Which is good, because I zoned on the need for Mother’s Day cards…

A quick trip to one lys which is having their semi-annual sale this (birthday) weekend provided some sock yarn, and the Estes Park Wool Market is coming up in June. I know, I know…blah blah blah…goals, knitting/spinning up stash....

The yard in shape, finally, little by little after dragging home from work. Still transitioning, I guess. Progress has been made there, and I am ready for some sitting, visiting and sipping of cool drinks while Dearest Sister is here.

Anyway, now the yard clean up is complete, and lookin’ good. Tomatoes are planted!

Pots are planted!

Other than the yard, I have a whole lotta’ of’near dones’, and that is trying for me. I like accomplishment! I like seeing something for my time! I am trying to be patient and cut myself some slack as I ease into this new place, new job, new routine, but ya know…the older I get, the longer it takes.

Seriously! Then, Bam! Eldest Daughter shows up! What a great surprise, and what schedule breaker…she may have to help me vacuum…

We are having everyone over for dinner tonight...

This is my happy month and it’s going before my very eyes, too swiftly for me to enjoy nary a moment, hardly at all. Woe is me.

So the long and short of it…the unread posts in my Reader pile up, and my own posts are fewer and further between. One might hope there would be more substance in the latter instance. One would be warned to not hold one’s breath.

Have I covered all the bases…unfinished goals, progress on the yard, smooth sailing at work, and a raggedy edged transition…and upcoming excitement with Dearest Sister’s visit.

PS I was reminded by Grandbebe Girl’s people at Mother’s Day breakfast, that Dearest Sister is traveling with Galaxie Guy. I am looking forward to seeing him, too. And they are not coming to just visit me. They are visiting Wonderful Guy, as well.

PPS Yeah right.

I is for…

Iris.

Again. Yeah. I know. Can’t help myself, though. They are such a part of my life and history.

And I love them besides, because they are the real harbinger of spring in my yard. When the iris bloom, I know Spring is Finally HERE! And I am so glad that spring is finally here this year. It has taken forevah…or at least seems like it.

About as long as it has taken me to get this ‘I’ post up. First one late, I think, since I started abc-ing last year…

How I hate being late.

This one we call Ruth Raymond Blue. It is one that ‘figured itself out’ in my grandmother’s garden, and not my Aunt Ruth’s garden, as I told the story incorrectly for many years…until Dearest Sister set me straight. Go figure. Ruth Raymond Blue, Aunt Ruth…why not her garden? Seems we might have called it Birdie Kruse Blue if it came from the other one….just sayin’…no wonder I was confused…

How I hate being wrong.

Anyway, unlike last year’s I-post, these are all this year’s blooms. I have iris planted all around my house, in all parts of my yard. That extends my bloom time to a month or more for my tall beardeds. The first blooms were last week, and the last will probably happen mid-June or so. I don’t even have buds on some plants on the north side of the house.

I spoke of my new ‘old’ job? I’ve come back to work...again…with the spouse of a former co-worker (convoluted enough for you?). When I stopped by his office to say ‘hi, good to see you again!’, he said…

‘Hey, I have iris from you growing in my yard!’

Yep.

And She’s Off!

Yeah, baby! I started commuting to work on my old friend, Trekkie, this week! This will be my fourth summer of riding.

I laughed in the face of the 23 mph wind w/ gusts of 35 mph…from the WSW!

Guess which direction my ride home is?

The morning rides are glorious! The afternoon rides have been….windy.

Whatever.

Yesterday was particularly interesting. I saw, as I rounded the corner, that Grandbebe Girl and her Momma, were at the house. Which was a nice surprise. I had expected her to make a trip up to bring me her Pampered Chef handy dandy super sweet pineapple slicer upper, but didn't know they would be there when I got home. So Surprise!!

I got parked in the garage and doffed my gear, huffing and puffing, opened the door...and was met by Wonderful Guy, who asked 'Didn't I meet them? They were where the bike path opens at the subdivision...' Well, I ride in 'the other way'. So he tells me to hurry! go find them! shoves my water bottle in my hand and me back out the door.

WTF?

I am halfway there, on shaking legs, I might add, having ridden seven and a half miles into a 22 mph headwind, and find myself walking another 3 blocks...thinking why couldn't we have called her on her cell????

Whatever.

I round the last corner and see them, my sweetie-pie baby girl...and what the heck...who else? Is that...Eldest? It IS! Those sneaky petes!

The day before, Eldest Daughter is all emailing me about taking a personal day, not being around so don't email her, maybe doing some gardening, how should she be making a new flower bed...but don't worry, she would be txting me. Then late yesterday I finally get some txt from her...hey how's your day going...after she's landed apparently!

So. How about that!

Happy mother's day and happy birthday to me!

Along The Trail

I suggested a bike ride yesterday to Wonderful Guy. I wanted to ‘test ride’ my commute, to test ride my bike after getting it tuned up in February, and to get out for some exercise. I was afraid the weather was not going to be friendly, but other than a bit of a breeze, we were okay with jackets.

I think my commute will be ridden easily along a bike path, a certain Spring Creek Trail, by the way, without any need for shortcuts. I don’t see how I could do any better than how the path does it. That is suh-weet! No cars, no traffic lights…and therefore no rest stops…well…one has to deal.

So. On our ‘test ride’ we saw lots of things, of which I stopped to take photos.

Cutie pie little boys racing their ittle bitty cutie pie bikes. The littlest ones had moms and dads help them up over the hills!

Pelicans (and ducks)

A heron. There were geese, too, but there are always geese.

The Spring Creek Gardens plant sale. I bought stuff.

The Drake Road Farmers Market. I didn’t buy stuff.

Not everybodies lilacs got bit.

In fact, my neighbor brought me these last night, because she heard me say at Bunko (where I won NOTHING!) that I had exactly one half bloom on my bush.

I put them in water, and when we got back from dinner last night, oh my, the whole kitchen smelled so wonderfully!

Where I Hail From

…as recorded by collected recipe books.


A family collection, gathered, sorted, grouped, typed, and bound before the advent of word processors and email. Truly a labor of love by a cousin. There are no recipes donated by me. The window of opportunity occurred during toddler-dom, nursing, pregnancies, and the tyrannical reign of diapers. I considered myself too busy to write out and mail off what surely would be duplicated by others. The contributors are passing, though. As in ‘away’. Dearest Sister and I have always been amused at the diversity of recipes and skills of the family cooks. One starts with ‘take a whole chicken’, while another begins with ‘a box of cake mix’. The first cook, I am sure, never baked anything except from scratch, and the second probably never cut up a chicken in her life.

Published in my hometown, and purchased just a few years before the Big Tornado. It is a collection of recipes contributed by local cooks. (Greensburg, KS)

Some are from churches, or groups within churches, or local women’s auxiliary’s, usually for fund raisers. These are great resources for the recipes for the dishes shares at the covered dish dinners or potlucks. Names of the event depended on what part of the country one lives in. (Eldon, MO, Lexington, KY, Loveland and Fort Collins, CO, Asbury College in Wilmore KY, and Perryville KY.) 'I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere...'



This one I ‘inherited’ from my mother. I lived there(and attended here), but it was really her book. One would think well used, too, but I think just a weak cover. The pages aren’t worn or stained…which as everyone knows…marks the well used recipe book!



This one is by a health food manufacturer located where the Daughters Three were born. Not used. Binding not cracked. Health foods? Ick.



These three are fun. One is a gift from Wonderful Guy’s mother during a visit her (OK). Another (KS) was picked when visiting the Guy’s father. The third I picked up at Shakertown close to Harrodsburg, when living in Kentucky. It is a fascinating place if you ever chance to visit…and eat there.

This one? I have no idea. I have know where Tahlequah, OK is, and feel like I have driven through it. I don’t know who Cleo is, though, or where this book came from. Maybe one of the box of Mom’s that when sorting through I thought to have merit. I mean, she’s a retired extension home economist. I bet there is some excellent resources in there, if I ever need them!

In other news...
There were questions about 'the car' Dearest Sister and I are having some fun in last post. Always there are questions about the Isetta! The Isetta is my sister's car. She bought on Ebay, at which point I was believing she had been taken over by pod people. Seriously. But no. It was still Dearest. I know there have been points in my life when she has believed the same about me. There are a few posts on her blog where she shares about 'the car', but this one gives the down-low.


Also, while cooler than the last couple of gorgeous days, it is still clear and bright and windless, so I am dragging Wonderful out for a test trip from home to new work on the bike, in anticipation of starting up the commuting as soon as possible.


Thanks for hanging in with me during this recent lull. I have lots to say. My time and energy have just taken a hit.

Still Here

Just treading water. Not so terrible bad, really. Still transitioning, I suppose. The older I get, the longer making a change takes.

Shuddup. Does too. Seriously!

I got alot going right now, and not alot finishing. That's an icky place for me. I like getting things accomplished! Having something to show for my time!

Right now I am just in the middle.

In the middle of my favorite month Ever! and it's getting away from me.

Finally really getting the yard cleaned up. Finally! I have color showing on some tall bearded iris, and just today had a chance for clean up. Between weather, time, and energy...

Whatever. That chore is almost done, and with mother's day this weekend, I should get the outside finished up, and ready....because....

Dearest Sister is coming! Dearest Sister is coming next weekend!!

She will be here for one day, but we will make the very most of that day. Oh yes we will. Trust me. That day will be my birthday. Remember this picture?

Well, there won't be any party dresses. And we won't be sharing our treats with any friends. Nosirree. Just her and me...and our favorite people.

Each other!

Yard Clean Up Begins!

Today the sun shone (mostly), the temperature was warm (er), and I put on a long sleeved tee, a sweatshirt, and a fleece, grabbed my basket of implements of destruction and my 'yardman' (a collapsible bag for which to collect debris so I don't leave piles for Wonderful Guy to pick up after me...he's wonderful...but with limits...) and headed out. The fleece came off in short order.

I got alot done in the backyard. Almost all the backyard is cleaned up.

Then I started hurting in all the 'out of gardening shape from wintering over' places. So I took a break, and saved some for tomorrow.

And the next day.

And the day after.

Can't have all my good stuff in one day!

It was sweet getting my fingernails dirty. And it is really sweet to see what the beds are looking like with their spring dresses on. And it is super sweet to see how they are developing their own personalities, like what is thriving where, what has seeded out and ended up where (actually fascinating...how did that end up here?), what is working and what is not growing(sometimes I just have to give up!).

Anyway. Now my allergies are making me sneeze, but that okay. My jeans are dirty, but so what. I might have a bit of sunburn on my neck and that is nothing but fun.

I am going to make Wonderful Guy take me out for BBQ. With dirty jeans. There's a new place in town that has decent, really better than decent BBQ. Finally... somewhere I can get some good BBQ in this state besides Steamboat Springs...

Settling In

…but still feeling behind.

Behind in the yard, on projects home, craft or otherwise, on blogging and other computer work, on outside activities.

This new job is kicking my butt. It’s been a while since I have been so challenged, and worked at this level. I am loving it, and it’s kicking my butt.

I have lots to write about. I even had to delete part of the next to last post for not being able to post photos of the most recent yarn purchase. I wanted to get the post up and not wait until Blogger was happy.

So here is that. For two Baby Surprise Jackets (EZimmerman). I will be making them with cuffs and collar, which is illustrated further down in the article and here.

Rowan Cashsoft DK

Crystal Palace Crème

For who I now know to be both Grandbebe Girls. Yep. Both girls.

Opal and Bean. Bean is just the current reference...not the name. Please...no freaking out!

I. Am. Thrilled!

With the fact they are girls.

And that the chosen name is not Bean. At least to my present knowledge....

Moving on.

Speaking of the joy that daughters can bring…Lovely Step Daughter called a few days ago from her home in Desert Crazy Town telling me of several days off in a row, and a spontaneous trip back to the Rockies. Wonderful Guy not being home, we decided to let it be a surprise. When she showed up day before yesterday, he was! Surprised, that is. We went to where Only Step Son runs a local eating establishment and had dinner.

It is a gift to be able to observe this family in action, and to be included.

The Yard

She is calling to me.

And I hear her, but I am a wimp. It has been chilly and damp on the weekends, and I have been tired or busy in the evenings after work, when the weather has been nice.

She tempts me with color…

And with fragrance…

And with form extraordinaire…



With surprises unlooked for and unseen until…well…seen…

I might just bundle up in warm clothes, no matter the temperature, and get out there this weekend. If she can do all that through the debris of last winter, I should do my part.

But, alas, I might be too much a wimp.