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Sunday, May 26, 2013

On the Needles and More

The past ten days have been pretty busy here, mostly due to a choir concert  which involved several rehearsals before the final performance on the 18th.  If you click on the choir link on the sidebar, you can listen to some of the selections from the Brahms Requiem and Vaughn Williams' Five Mystical Songs that we sang during various church services prior to the concert.  Interspersed between the rehearsals and the other activities of our week, I did find time to work on a few smaller projects.  I am also working on a couple of sweaters that won't be done for a while.


This is a "bead stew" bracelet from a kit purchased from Earthfaire.  It's fun and very different from my usual knitting.  It will be a gift.



I finished these Raggedy Ann booties after adapting the pattern.  Two patterns were combined because I wanted the booties to be smaller than they are with the normal pattern.




A few times each week I try to pick up my stitching needle and do some embroidery.  This sampler was started a LONG time ago, and I'm hoping this is the year it will be finished.

The next several weeks are promising to be just as busy.  There's a 50th college reunion and a high school graduation on the horizon, so don't be surprised if this blog is a bit silent.  Things should settle down by the end of June. See you then!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Fun in the Sun!!!

We've had a very busy week! The sun's been out, and my sister and BIL were visiting. (During their stay, they missed TWO snow storms back home in MN!) We headed north to Whistler, BC, for a couple of days, and it was sunny there also, so we did lots of walking.


First, though we stopped to see the  RoozenGaarde tulips near Mount Vernon.  Their gardens were beautiful, but the acres fields of tulips and daffodils in the area were all done blooming.  That white peak is Mount Baker.


These tulips were a sight to see!


These snowy peaks are north of Whistler.


This little gray jay couldn't resist the kettle corn in my hand and sampled it several times before flying off.


Isn't this wood duck beautiful? His mate was nearby but not nearly as colorful.


Nairn Falls is worth the hike!


The dogwood trees and other wildflowers are blooming even though the peaks are still full of snow.


We tried to drive north of Whistler past Pemberton but were turned back because of avalanche control.  If you look carefully or enlarge this photo, you can see the red helicopter that was dropping charges into the snow. The road ahead was blocked by 60 feet of snow thanks to its success.


Heading back wasn't so bad as we got to see Shannon Falls which is off the road on the way to Whistler.  It was fuller than we've ever seen it.


The day after we got home from Whistler, we decided to ride Seattle's newest tourist attraction, the  Great Wheel.  It opened almost a year ago at the end of June.


Looking one way, you could see a ferry and the baseball and football stadiums.


In the other direction  you can see the city and the Space Needle.


We ended our time together with a backyard BBQ with our son and this little guy's family. Catch anyone?  (My sister phoned from the airport after they got back home yesterday with the news that it was 50 degrees and grey.  But at least it wasn't snowing, right?)

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Infrequent Pleasures


Mother's Day comes but once a year, but gift plants like this Azalea "tree" just get prettier every spring.

Bleeding Hearts are so beautiful, but I've not had great luck with them.  So, I was delighted to see this one return, and hopefully this will happen again next year.



The chicken wire keeps out the rabbits, and the deer hasn't yet discovered this delicacy. Thank goodness!

The Orchid sale at the UW is a semi-annual affair, and I succumbed once again even though my success rate with these beauties is poor.  The end flower was a bud and has since opened, so I am taking that as a good sign. Normally the buds are the first to go!  I am keeping my fingers crossed.


Max Is not a cuddler, but last Saturday he was in the mood.  What fun for Oma!  That cuddle kept me going all week!  Not much crafting happening here at the moment as my sister and her hubbie are in town, and that's fun, too.