Last of the Season Mitts

These are another "waiting in the Doctors Office" mitts. They are for me - finally it's my turn!!

Happy Happy New Year to all!!!

It was a Happy Holiday

Happy Hat
Happy Wii Dancers
Happy Family
Happiest Cousins

The final tally:
1 Hat
1 Pair Socks
1 Lace Scarf
2 Pair Fingerless Gloves
2 Cupcakes
15 Felted Bracelets
1 Infinity Scarf

All successful!

Last Minute

Of course I just had to add a few last minute knitted gifts…while starting a pair of socks while waiting at the Doctors office last week, I decided to turn the socks into fingerless mitts for the Doctor.

Now the rush is on as I also decided to do these fingerless mitts to add to another gift. Why do I do this to myself!! After Christmas I will give a tally and the results will be on my Ravelry page too.

Oh - a Bevy of Bracelets!

Can't wait - Hope your Christmas is filled with knitterly joy!!!

Random...

We be tired!!!

Look what the mailman brought for me...next years knitting is planned. What fun!

Snow Walking

The Nomad, Kennedy and I took a snow walk today along the Deschutes! It's nice not working all the time so I can enjoy adventures. Also have obviously been knitting - but you'll have to look at my Ravelry page to see the results. Unfortunately I keep thinking of things I could knit for gifts - so the final push is on. I think I've got it under control. Some year I'll start this process much earlier...yea right!

We are enjoying a real winter with snow on the ground. Am loving it! Ruby Suby has proved to be a perfect addition - we can go any where!!

Christmas will arrive this weekend - decorate the tree, get all the old fun stuff out and up. Book Club is at my house next week so have to be all finished. Not having Christmas here so don't know why I bother, but it's fun.

Hope all is well with all and that you are enjoying the season!

Sister Knits Too

Check out my little sisters Etsy page...she does good!!

Laxin'

I'm here....
Doing this....

Very very windy last night - scary actually! Snow soon - bring it on. I've got everything I need (almost). Today I knit - tomorrow I cook. Just (re)laxin'

No Pictures

The pictures are too gross - My gallbladder... it's gone now and I'm much happier. Went to the ER at 4:30 am Thursday, surgery at 4:00 pm and now I'm home - Friday! Cool. Kids rallied and are taking care of their momma. Life is good.
On to knitting!

The Homeless at Sunrise

Poor Little Pumpkins!! They'll now go to cattle feed - that's a sight to see.

We have thousands of Robins at the Ranch right now - getting drunk on these beautiful Juniper Berries - hope they leave some for my Christmas decorations!!!

Beautiful fall days, incredible sunrises, fresh snow on the mountains. Fall in Central Oregon!

One Down

Man Socks - One gift down - way more to go. Will have lots more time as my hours at work have been cut by 60%!!! They just don't get it! But all is well as I'm fortunate that my old boss has plenty of work for me and is really flexible. Everything will be just fine!!!

Go Ducks!!! Number 1 in the Nation!!

Winter has arrived on the High Desert!

I had a great weekend. Didn’t start out so great – got a bit of food poisoning Thursday night – so slept all day Friday. The Nurse was home for a long weekend so missed a day with her, but the sleep was wonderful. Family came for dinner on Saturday – the Nurse made Chicken and Dumplings! Yum - great comfort food for a raining evening.

While listening to the rain on the roof I realized that my gutters hadn’t been cleaned…you know that little list of chores you keep back in your head? I’m great for saying “later.” Well because of my reluctance to do these chores on time (but wait – I did get most of the leaves picked up), my patio was flooded and the gutters overflowing. A little rain never hurt anyone – so Sunday I tackled the gutters. Wet and dirty work – but they now flow very nicely thank you. Who says girls can’t take care of things!

I actually spent most of the day Saturday and Sunday napping and knitting. Did something weird with the heel on the Flying Geese socks, so ripped out a bunch. Looks much better now. Juno is coming along – good mindless knitting at this point.

Am planning menus for my get-a-way, deciding what books to read and what knitting projects to bring….who am I kidding? I hope we get snowed in! Only three more weeks!

A great laugh if you missed SNL….

Hug the ones you love!

Fall at the Ranch

It was a beautiful crisp fall morning!

Production Knitting and Flannel Sheets

Yes, it's that time of year. Oh so snugly and cozy.
Production knitting is the process! Sunday afternoons, leaves falling, knitting away on Juno
and Flying Geese socks. Almost the best way to spend an afternoon!!

Three's Company

What’s on the needles? Sorry no pictures because some are gift items…

1. Red Juno
2. Brown Girl Friday
3. Green Flying Geese Socks

What’s on the reading list

1. The Lucana
2. Traveling with Pomegranates
3. Wilderness Warrior

Made a lot of progress on the Christmas items this weekend. I can’t believe I’m thinking Christmas and it isn’t even Halloween yet!

Ordered a bunch of Knit Picks Palette for another Christmas project. It will be my Road Trip take-a-long! Boy do I need this...Road trip that is.

Must get down to only one book – three is too difficult to keep track of. Three knitting projects keeps me from being bored with one. Trouble is I don’t see lots of progress on any single item.

Fall has arrived in Central Oregon – great knitting and homemade soup weather! Halibut Chowder was on the menu on Sunday – Yum!

Ha - fooled you!

It's amazing what a difference a few days make!! Tomato sandwiches are on the near horizon. Yum!!

Enough of silly vintage words – this is important stuff.

October is Breast Cancer month and as most of you are aware I am a survivor. Read about it starting here. I was lucky, I only had a bilateral mastectomy and now am Cancer free (boob free too, of course). It wasn’t all luck – I had a mammogram. One of my missions now is to encourage all my lady friends to GET A MAMMOGRAM. So tell all the ladies in your life to get one too!! I’m alive (most of the time) and knitting away because I was encouraged by others to GET A MAMMOGRAM. My mother died of Breast Cancer and my sister also had Breast Cancer – so it was a no brainer for me. Even if you don’t have a history – GET A MAMMOGRAM!

Hug the ones you love!

Vintage

I love Vintage words - my kids think I'm so weird!!

Holligans
Hanky Panky
Swell
Ballyhoo
Rambunctious
Shenanigans
Dame
Babe
Panties
Scalawag

Don't they make you smile!

Edited to add: Smooch

It's still summer

My hanging baskets are still blooming - but my tomatoes are not getting red....I've been going to the produce market to get my fix of "Home Grown Tomatoes" It's almost October and the weather is like August - hot days and warm nights - ohh that sounds juicy - too bad my tomatoes aren't!

Meet Ruby

The newest addition to the Road Warrior lineup - Red of course. All the cars in this family are Red - duh!
She has all the latest techno gadgets - oh except navigation - I wanted to wait till the iPhone reaches Verizon for that...but she loves my iPod - as do I. Loves connecting to my phone automatically etc., etc. I have to take really good care of her - my last new car! Thanks Dad, I really needed this.

Life is good

I was cruising my Ravelry page recently and have realized this has not been a productive knitting year….really – I’ve got very little to show.

Two huge projects went to the wayside after hours of work. The Shawl Collared Sweater was just not to be – even after setting it aside for awhile. My Ene Scarf was my downfall. After starting it over at least 5 times, I got my mojo going and it was progressing. Then I found the error – way down – pattern symmetry was way off…so RIP.

The Baby Sweater was design as you go – so it took longer than usual and then it was summer and I could barely get the buttons put on and the package sent away!

Summer was spent reading – I still need to get all the books listed – so knitting just wasn’t my priority.

This last weekend it rained – I mean really rained. The Man and I went to the outdoor Willie Nelson concert and got soaked to the bone. Thunder and lightening all around. I was plenty warm and we had a great time!! Saturday was football day for Oregon (Oregon State “Go Beavers!” and University of Oregon)– he watched, I knitted. Oh I like this arrangement!!! Am working on my Girl Friday, but will have to put it down to start Christmas…The Man wants more socks – Oh my gosh how did I luck out!! I needed a yarn shopping excuse.

So life is good, fall is here. REI Girl is back in school (Need new name for her – doesn’t work at REI anymore :(...). The Nurse is loving this term but can’t wait to be finished. The Geek is getting his life in order and working hard as always. I’m taking a vacation somewhere…sometime soon - taking my knitting and walking shoes. Maybe the beach? I definitely need it!

Hope all is well – knit on!

World Suicide Prevention Day

Please read this and pass it on.
Fresh snow in the mountains this morning - they say that LaNino will be bringing us a real winter with snow and cold weather.....must get ready!!!

Rats!!

Yes, I am alive. Yes, I still knit (but didn't do this), have been working on my Girl Friday. Life is treating me well. New car in garage - what a relief. Ruby is her name - 2011 Outback. (Thanks Dad!) I'm anticipating this is my last car - think I can keep it for 20 years - I hope so.

Fall is definitely here in Central Oregon - too soon for my plans. Going to an outdoor concert - Willie Nelson - next week and need it to be a warm evening! Who wants to be singing in the rain? Well that's OK too.

Have been thinking about Christmas knitting projects - just thinking. Need to have a serious look at what's in my stash and work from there. But do have a gift certificate from last Christmas I can use! Shopping!

Hope all is well with all!!

Who has time for this?

College students on vacation browsing Facebook pictures....
I've been too busy to knit - house full of family, friends, cousins, etc...lots of fun.
Too hot to knit....nothing good on TV either. So have been visiting and reading. Summer fun.
I actually have been knitting a little bit - I'll get some pictures and pass them on soon.
Happy Summer to all!!

Only in Central Oregon

Bagpipes Rock!!

Men in Kilts - what can I say but they are the best!! Portland Highland Games this weekend. Lots of fun for all us Robertson ladies!! Our clan has a reputation of being scoundrels - we fit right in! Oh Danny Boy - you now have an official fan club!

Happy 4th!!!

Well at least I got something finished this summer. Of course I started it months ago and set it aside for Ene. Big mistake - should have finished this first and then started Ene when I could think. I've found a big error and should rip it out - the pattern isn't lining up which means I have a entire repeat off by a few stitches. How did that happen?

Quiet 4th for me - dog sitting of course. Load noises and Kennedy just don't mix well. Beautiful day so will enjoy the sunshine.

Happy 4th of July to all!!!

Yes - I do knit and blog

This has been my carry with me project - bad idea. The Ene shawl has taken me for a loop - I've ripped it out way too many times. But now am moving forward and almost finished with the last repeat of the major pattern! Yea. It will be awhile before I take another shawl on. But this is proof that I still knit.

This weekend we finally had decent weather - summer is really here. So in celebration of my staying at home for a change - I read two books and didn't knit a stitch. The Highest Tide was great and True North was sad but engaging. I'm afraid I'm into my reading stage!

Life has been so busy recently. With the passing of my Dad I've been in Portland most weekends since March. First looking after him along with my sister and brother and then getting his house ready for sale and dealing with all the estate matters. My brother and sister did most of the work - it's incredible what a pack rat my Dad turned out to be. He was a computer nerd - so there were 10,000 pounds of computer parts and manuals - no kidding - we weighed it at the dump!! We found lots of fun stuff too - old movies that were taken in the 20's - we still had the projector to show them on. Lots of family documents and boxes of photographs. Wish we had known at that stuff was there - we could have asked lots of questions.

His Celebration of Life event was great. I was so honored by some of the people that came - including one of my high school teachers!! She was one of my favorites so it really was special to see her. It was fun to see many of my parents good friends - but so sad because many weren't there. We are losing them now. I always loved my parents friends - it was like having lots of moms and dads!

On my Birthday weekend I stayed home and the girls gave me a day of gardening. We got the pots planted, the weeds pulled and the lawn fertilized. Decided not to plant a veggie garden - but have a few things in pots on the patio. The big garden is just too much work. The next day we did this....It was a great day!

The best part of the past few months is the return of The Man...turns out he never left. Just trying to do the right thing. Very complicated - but wonderful!! He was a great friend over the years to my Dad and he was there for me during the past few weeks. I'm very appreciative. Hurry - we have lots of adventures!

One last question - does anyone know how to make the post editing window in Blogger bigger? It's so difficult to maneuver pictures!

Great Birthday Cards

Just had to share - the big 6 oooooh!!!

Too Busy

Sorry I haven't posted. Been too busy driving back and forth to Portland, cleaning my Dad's house, worrying about getting everything completed, planning the service and what I'm going to say, trying to keep both my jobs and somewhere in there trying to get some sleep. I'd be even more overwhelmed if it weren't for my great sister and brother. They are doing the bulk of the work and I am very grateful. Am slowly working on the Ene shawl - one of these days I'll get it done.

The Best

Dad - you are the best! Thank you for sharing your life with us. We will miss you. We'll keep going for one more cast. I hope your dancing with Mom. We love you both.

Finished

Finally - picked up today - Straps finished. The leather guy did a great job. Now I can use it. Love it!

Sorry I haven't posted recently - life is very challenging. My Dad is passing and I've been going back and forth to Portland to help look after him at home. What a journey.

Work is crazy - new owners start tomorrow - don't know if I even have a job - but I think so!

Am working on a shawl and the baby sweater - pictures one of these days.

Knit Peace

Check this out!!

Truckers pick up knitting!

Knit on!!

Lace?

Oh my gosh I finished it! I should have done the Olympics - if I had started this at the opening ceremonies instead of half way through I could have medaled!! This was much easier than I anticipated. I did put in two life lines, but didn't have to use them. I am way proud of myself!




Now on to this little project - design a Fair Isle baby sweater with stash yarn - do I have enough? That will be the big question. I'm planning on putting the Fair Isle only on the cuffs and the hem. The main color will be the light orange and the Fair Isle the rest. Have to get out my colored pencils and thinking cap!!

Please note bone stuck AROUND Jaw - behind canine teeth. This was a round bone (you know the butcher cuts big ones into little donut shaped treats. After a trip to the Vet ER and part of my tax return (No new tires for me) she is just fine. A little drunk last night - that was entertaining.

Remind me - must go back on Weight Watchers!

The Thrill of Victory!!!

I have been having major problems with my laptop for a long time...but just didn't want to deal with it. Recently I tried to install Turbo Tax (I've been using it for years) and it wouldn't install. Support couldn't help, it was so frustrating. So I borrowed The Geeks portable hard drive, copied everything I wanted to keep and reformatted my drive - scary times - but it worked!!! Whoo Hoo - everything works better, faster. Turbo Tax loaded just fine - of course now I've got to do my taxes. But this was a victory for sure!

But wait...there's more.... Adamas Shawl - I'm on the 9th repeat!! Only 6 more to go and then the edging repeat. This is my real thrill of victory!!

I've got a baby pattern to figure out next. I think I'm going to design my own. I've got tons of washable sock yarn and want to do some color work and I've got the new book...so my creative (we'll see) juices are active.

I've really enjoyed watching the Olympics - but tonight hated to see Lindsey Vonn fall, poor thing. Go Team USA!

Look What I Found...

Bombing Yarn over Bend...."Lantern Rouge" Bend is big on Bikes that's for sure.