Since my last blog entry, so much has happened.   I became a Grandmother for the fourth time with the birth of Annabel Katherine on June 18, 2008.   I feel very blessed by this and for all of my Grandchildren (2 boys and 2 girls).  Annabel has a two year old sister, Mia.   Mia can't decide whether she likes Elmo or books better.   I love it when a child is thrilled with books.  

My Grandsons, Jack and Hayden, are wonderful little boys and complete my Grandmother status.   They are growing up so fast.   Now that Hayden (almost 6) is in public school his once beloved and enormous Thomas The Tank collection is not "cool"." He's started saying, Thomas Sucks" (sigh) and Jack (age 7) is loving playing tag football which brings much joy to his Grandfather.  And for all of this I truly am grateful.

This is all I can talk about right now.   Sometime, perhaps I can talk about how I will never be the same.  Until then, have a  peaceful Holiday everyone.

 

Bubbly Weekend

We went away for the weekend to visit my daughter, Anne,  and our two grandsons, Jack and Hayden who live in San Diego.  On saturday we all drove up to Lawrence Welk Resort to visit with SIL, Melody and family who were staying there for the weekend.   Melody has a timeshare there that was originally owned by my mother and father in-law and it's a great place for both of our families to meet at.    Not only is the 2 bedroom condo a delight, but there is a fantastic pool with slide area for the kids to frolic in.   Going to a Lawrence Welk Villa now somehow makes up for those countless hours my husband and I had to spend as kids when there was only one TV in the whole house, watching the Lawrence Welk Show with our parents and having to listen to his "Champagne Music".   Remember that borefest? 

 Anne was especially happy to hold baby Dylan who is only 6 weeks old when we arrived there.  Dylan Brian Bingham is the son of my niece, Amy and her husband, Ron.   He is Melody's only grandson, which makes him extra special.   He is a beautiful baby boy with a full head of hair as you can see from the picture. He actually slept 99% of saturDAY, which probably meant he didn't sleep as much as his parents would like saturNIGHT.   Seeing Baby Dylan really brings home the fact that my daughter, Helen, will be delivering a baby in about 2 weeks.   I'm scrambling to get as many loose ends in my life tied up before I leave for San Francisco next weekend to be there for her delivery.

I was happy to see that the baby blanket I had knit for Dylan was in use and I was able to take a picture of it.  I like to photograph finished items or else I forget about them.   I was in such a rush to finish the blanket in time that I had neglected to take a picture of it.   The blanket was in use when we arrived and already had some breast milk spilled on it.     

I knit this with Berocco Cotton 100.   It's my favorite yarn for baby blankets because it is so soft and can be machine washed and dried repeatedly.    Too bad it's no longer made, but I have quite a stash of it.   Mission Falls 1846 cotton yarn is a perfect substitute for anyone interested.  This is my standard baby blanket.   I  try to customize them with the baby's name whenever I can.  It's a subtle touch to make it more personal.     Isn't it the best, when a knitted gift is appreciated and used?   

Benjamin's Back!

Yes!   Benjamin Sofa is back.  He's been repaired and looks as good as new.  I am so happy to have something other than two chairs to sit in.  And only one of those chairs was really comfortable.  Of course, the driver that picked Benjamin up for repairs last week made sure he didn't come back to deliver the repaired Benjamin.  He DID mention that he never wanted to come back here.  The poor crew that came this time said their truck was even bigger than his.   They ended up parking down at the end of my 1/4 mile driveway and walking Benjamin uphill on a dolly!  I would love to hear the conversation they have with the driver who made sure he didn't come back.  There are only two delivery crews so they are sure to see each other.

 Wouldn't you know it, but my wonderful sister-in-law, Melody, came last weekend right after Benjamin Sofa left so she never got to meet him.   It had been over a year since she'd been here and she came the one weekend in my married  life that I had no sofa in my living room.    Melody is not only my sister-in-law but she is my best friend.   I've known Melody since she was 8 years old.   Ours is a unique and very special friendship.   I'm sharing a picture of Benjamin sofa enjoying his proper place in our cabin/home with you.  He was so surprised to have two new end tables and a new coffee table surrounding him.  What's this?   Well, the tables were an Anniversary present brought by Melody.  Aren't they perfect for Benjamin?  Isn't she something?!   

Thanks, Mel!

Anniversary

Yesterday, June 2nd, was my/our 41st  Anniversary.  This is a picture of us cutting the wedding cake made by my mother in-law.  I apologize for it's poor quality, but it's actually a polaroid (remember those?) picture taken by a family friend. All my wedding photos were polaroids.  We had a very simple, low cost wedding.  I wore my best friend in high school's prom dress that I paid $25. for. She was my matron of honor, having preceded me as a bride due to the Vietnam War.  I borrowed my wedding veil.  I was only 19.  So was my husband, who had to take two finals at Riverside City College before we were married that day.  We were married in St. Christopher Catholic church in then Sunnymead, CA.   We had to get special permission to be married on a Friday evening because my husband wasn't/isn't Roman Catholic. We were married by an alcoholic priest who wouldn't allow the playing of "Here Comes The Bride" because he said it wasn't "fit" church music.   I was walked down the isle by a friend of my parents because my parents were stationed in Okinawa at the time and couldn't afford to attend my wedding.   It's hard to believe now that there once was a time when the average American couldn't just book an International flight to anywhere.  We couldn't even talk on the phone back then to Okinawa.  Well, maybe some people could, but it was cost prohibitive for my family at the time.  Still, it was a happy day for me even though I would never put up with the conditions laid out by that priest now.   But that was then.....

I can't believe how life goes by so fast.   Life is sneaky.   It just keeps happening whether you like it or not.   I wish you could stop it every now and then, especially in the good parts.   I wish, I wish!

Ernie

Fushia's on steps.  I take them for granted.
 No Cars - so much nicer!



I woke up at the crack of dawn and decided to take advantage of no cars parked in front of  our cabin.  Our cat, Ernie, decided to join me.   He could almost be mistaken for a bobcat considering that bobcats are frequent visitors here in the mountains.   We don't have a pedigree for Ernie, but he sure looks like a Maine Coon to us.    He's as steady as a rock.   The only cat not frazzled by visitors.   Everyone loves Ernie.

Nature is amazing.   For example, I have not planted one plant this year.  I have done nothing, yet my perennials didn't care and planted themselves.   I've decided that I really love columbines.

There are some really nice things about living so isolated.

Thomasville just came and took away my Benjamin sofa.  I bought this sofa last April and during a visit earlier last month I was playing with my Granddaughter, Mia, on the floor and just happened to look at Benjamin sofa and noticed that he was lopsided.   His  frame had broken!  I immediately went on-line and found out that there was a warranty for one year from the date he was delivered.   There was less than one month left on my warranty. Yikes!  So, I called the saleswoman who sold me Benjamin to tell her he was broken.  "What do you mean it's broken?"

blah, blah, blah.   The good news was that Thomasville sent out a repairman to check it out, fully expecting it to be repaired on site.  I was there when he revealed Benjamin's inside parts.

Benjamin was not assembled as carefully as he should have been and thus sustained a break.

An unfixable break.   He had to be rebuilt and so off he went today to an upholstery shop.  All I'm left with are his cushions.   I really liked Benjamin.   I sat on him everyday.  I already miss him.   The good news is that he is supposed to come back in a week, hopefully better than he was the first time.  Of course, the driver for Thomasville had to come in a big ole' truck and predictably hated  the drive to where I live. He told me that he hopes he doesn't have to come

back.  My house is not very typical for the area.   I bet now they understand why I was so concerned about how big their trucks are.   At least I was their last stop before the weekend.  I  bet at least one of the guys who came will be lifting a cerveza tonight while he tells a story about where he went today.

Get well, Benjamin.    (I just can't help myself.   My only son is named Benjamin, too!)

Bolero

Sometimes you knit a winner.   And this bolero I knit for my youngest daughter is one.  

I LEFT MY HEART

left to right: Helen, Mia, Mark & Ben

Yes, in San Francisco!  It may be late, but I've developed an absolute love for this city. Sometimes I think it's because it resembles architecturally and weather-wise the East Coast, where I mostly lived in my early childhood.   This fondness is helped, of course by the fact that three of my four children live there.   My oldest child, Ben, lives and works in the Sunset District of SF and my middle daughter, Helen, lives with her husband and daughter in the Castro District of SF.   My youngest daughter, Jane, actually lives in Mountain View (south of SF) with her boyfriend, James, but in my mind Mountain View is close enough to qualify.   

I Make as many trips to the Bay area as I can, either with or without my husband.   I would go there exclusively if it weren't for the fact that my oldest daughter, Anne, lives in San Diego. Living in Santa Barbara means that I'm in between the two most important cities in my life.

Did I mention that I have grandchildren to visit with whichever place I go?  No? Well, even though I love my children, I adore my grandchildren.   I have two wonderful grandsons, Jack and Hayden, who live in San Diego and one incredible granddaughter, Mia, who lives in San Francisco.   Mia will soon have a sister who is due in the latter part of June.   Obviously, I will be in San Francisco, too, searching for that heart of mine! 

Mia modeling purple sweater and 'Lola' kitty sweater

Helen in Green Scarf

Even though it's hard to really see the scarf in this photo, my daughter, Helen, looks great. The scarf is handspun/handknit merino. It comes in handy for Northern California winters.

Square Neck Baby Cardigan

I knit this sweater for my Granddaughter, Mia, with Schaefer "Anne" yarn. The pattern was from the book, Little Badger Knitwear. I love the yarn. It's a kid mohair/wool blend that is machine washable. I tossed it in the dryer, too. It's a size 6-12 month so Mia hasn't actually worn it but she will soon enough. I've discovered that I enjoy knitting baby clothes with fingering weight yarn and small needles. Fingering weight suits baby wear and the small sizes make for fairly quick projects. I had to decide between pink and wooden buttons. I finally chose the wood ones.

Red Hooded Baby Pullover

This sweater was knit for my Grandson's Jack and Hayden. It's way to small for them now so hopefully Mia will get some use of it. It's a Debbie Bliss pattern and the stitch is double moss. I can't remember the name of the yarn but I do remember that it is an acrylic/wool blend for easy care.

Blue Wool Hat

My daughter, Helen, is modeling a wool hat that she still wears even though it was knit many years ago. Wool wears well, doesn't it?

Jane Wearing Mohair Scarf

My youngest daughter, Jane, is wearing a kid mohair scarf I knit. It's wonderful having daughters who make my knit items look good!

Helen in Red Scarf

This red scarf is exactly like the green one above. It's handspun/handknit merino.

Helen with Funky Brown Metalic Scarf

I can't remember where I got this yarn. It's a novelty woven/ribbon yarn with metalic threads in it that was a strange knit project because the yarn felt like pantyhose/stockings. It's got a lot of stretch to it, too.

Kitty sweater

I knit this Intarsia kitty sweater for my first granddaughter, Mia! It's knit with Brown Sheep Wildfoote yarn. Who says sock yarn is just for feet?! It's warm and machine washable. Kitty is knit to resemble Mia's real kitty, Lola.

Cotton "Scooter" Sweater

Cotton Sweater with Scooter buttons. Mia will have to grow a bit for this one!

Hats for Mia

I found some great stretchy yarn for hats at Imagiknit Yarn shop in San Francisco.
It's Needful Dubai Stretch yarn. This and some double point needles made for some fun and easily knit hats.

Infant socks

All that leftover sock yarn I had was perfect for tiny socks. The red/white/grey striped ones are just like Mia's mommy's socks. Awwwww!