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.

Tit for Tat

So many nice comments on the pergola. Thank you thank you. And some that need answers, too.



I might plant a vine, I might not. See. My recent success with tomato growing at this altitude with this growing season has been because of that there cement patio! I plant my 'maters smack up next to it on the east side, where they are nice and toasty at night from the heat absorbed during the day. Also, they get...got...full sun all day. Probably not so much of that anymore, and I will have to see what effect that will have.



In reviewing the photos, I recognized how barren the place looks. Welcome to springtime in Colorado. We don't get off the ground until late May really. The patio will be surrounded by...stuff...green stuff...blooming stuff....come June. Just wait and see!



We had it built. And this is version 2. Initially...well...there was some blips in the communication apparently between the contractor and the laborer, but it was all put to right, and we got our decorative ends. I didn't get any photos of version 1, and we will still recommend the contractor. He got it all straightened out straight away.



Our house stands out in our sub-division because of the color. When we repainted about 4 years ago, we chose something besides the bland and tepid colors initially used by the builders. There is no mistaking which house is ours, and yes, we had approval from the HOA!



Liz...and anyone else...come over anytime to sit a spell for some spinning, knitting, glass of tea, or talking garden. There are chairs to go around.