Booties Plus

Not too much knitting happened this past week because we were off to California's wilderness with no phone and no Internet! Crazy, eh?  I did finish a pair of booties though for a choir friend's first grandchild though.

I had to shorten the cuff because for the first time ever with this angora yarn I ran short.

We spent four days with Dick's brother and his wife.  Our small abode is behind us with its great view of Silver Lake and not too far from Lake Tahoe.

Sunset on Silver Lake

Dick and Bob went on a 6 mile hike to Carson Pass.

I joined the two brothers for a "short" hike the next day.  It involved lots of scrambling over huge rocks!

I was sure glad to get past this giant and back on a "real" trail!

Here's the only wildlife we encountered.

The lupine was pretty much past its prime on this trail, but we did see some other flowers.

Meanwhile, while we were gone, my older daughter sent me this photo of our oldest grand daughter who is learning to sew. Isn't her apron beautiful?  I am very proud of her, too!

My Not-So-Colorful Socks

Well, I finally finished something other than a dishcloth and had a big surprise. This wild and crazy yarn faded more that any other yarn I've ever used.  The water was dark purple!!

Ans the wild and crazy socks aren't aren't nearly as bright and pretty as they were.  I am wondering whether they will continue to fade with more washings, too.  Sigh!

We saw these Crocosmia on the way home from Newport.  I know a deer that would have loved them, too.

Happily that same critter left us a few day lilies.

Have a great weekend!

A Nice Get Away and Surprises on Our Return ~

We got back late yesterday afternoon from a short get away to Portland for a night and then two nights at Little Creek Cove, which is just north of Newport, Oregon.

The view from our deck

We stayed in one of the lower buildings, a short walk from the sandy beach.

Lots of sand dunes here and so different from the beaches further north.  Note the jacket!  It was very windy and only in the low sixties during the days while the East Coast was sweltering!

I finished my July dishcloth.

We hiked near the Yaquina Head lighthouse.

The trail took us down to Quarry Cove where we saw lots of cormorants and a few people.

Instead of heading all of the way east, we turned off Highway 20 and went back home to Bellevue and found two surprises, a good one and a not so good one.

While we were gone, this wonderful package from from Caffeine Girl arrived.  Don't you just love those earrings?  And the yarn, and the yummy vegetable?  (Oh, you didn't know that chocolate is a vegetable?  I saw that on a pillow once, so it must be true, right?)  Thank you, Deb, I can't wait to make something with this yarn!

As for the not so good surprise, it happened in the dark of night while we were gone....my crocosmia plant flowers, that were finally about to bloom, were devoured by a deer.  All of the flowers and buds were neatly snipped off, and the rascal didn't stop there.  It visited the roses in the side yard and pruned them along with the heuchera out back.  At least we got this photo of the plant about to bloom and also enjoyed a few cut roses before we left. Sigh.......sometimes the wildlife around here can be so annoying!

Have a lovely weekend!