I'm Going Green

This is the color of springtime knitting. I want to knit some basic cardigans for a go-to wardrobe of sweaters. San Diego weather calls out for a way to stave off the evening cool down. This will be mine...

Happy Birthday Grandpa Roy

Don's Father Roy, turns 87 today!
I cannot believe that he is the last parent standing. Tenacious as a bulldog, he continues as the Patriarch of the family. His kingdom is scattered, yet he keeps us all on speed dial and weekly we debrief all activities in Sunday afternoon sessions!

Happy Birthday Roy!!!!!

Easter Joy

I dyed Easter eggs yesterday for Ryan. One of the tangible benefits of a mentally handicapped child, is that they remain childlike throughout their lifetime. With all of the childish expectations and desires. This is the good news/bad news.

Since I love the trappings of Easter as the herald of Springtime, it is the Good news we celebrate. Ryan expects his Mommy to set the table with pastels, dye eggs, serve ham with his favorite cheesy potatoes and have a selection of high quality chocolate bunnies to devour. I am happy to oblige...

Easter Bunny is Elusive

Having spent the better part of 3 weeks sicker than I care to be, Easter snuck up on me. It is the bunny in the grass, as opposed to the snake in the grass. I did not go shopping for a new outfit or snappy shoes. No more fancy dresses for my little girl, with hat and shoes to match. The boys did not need haircuts and a crease pressed into their khakis. Those days have passed.

I have dyed eggs and bought some sweets for my boys. I decided to spend the Church day in the nursery rocking babies of the visitors. Then we will try to visit friends for lunch before heading home to a quiet late dinner. God Bless you all and Happy Easter...

Ruffles and Ribs

I am back to knitting on big needles, cranking out Alpaca scarves that I love. I love the mock rib stitch and I love Alpaca. It is soft while being hypo-allergenic. I have hand dyed alpaca in various shades that I am double stranding with other stray stash yarns to create different versions of the scarf shown here. Brynn took that one back to school after Spring break. I am starting to knit items for a trunk show to coincide with fall fashion and back to school shopping. Perhaps the economy will have improved by then...

Sprintime Means Mustard Blooms

We continue to have nourishing rainfall here. When we have the rare rain with the consistent warm sunshine, the inevitable mustard blooms burst forth all around us.

The legend says that the Friars traveling along the Royal road (El Camino Real) from Mission to Mission, spread the mustard seed to show the way to fellow pilgrims. It is shoulder high and stunning.

It means springtime and Easter to me. Allergies to my husband and son...

I Want to Feel Good Enough To KNIT!

Knitting. I long for the concentration to read and follow a pattern. I want enough time before tissue usage to actually complete a row. I want to fondle some yummy yarn with out sneezing germs all over it. Yarn, needles, clear eyes, clear head. This is my prayer today!!!

On Youth Sunday we wore our proud parent faces. Instead of my knitting bag, I carried in my camera bag. No one was fazed by the spotlight or the paparazzi buzzing around the building.
Great Job Youth! The speakers and the music were stellar.

Meat Us For Dinner

I forgot to show you the best part!

Dinner 4 "8"

At our church we enjoy fellowship with a diverse community of multi-generational friends. We have a dinner club that is called "Dinner for Eight." It began several years ago and we have participated since the beginning. We have had varying degrees of success with the random groups of eight people put together by a secret selection committee. Very covert. Not beyond bribery, I have heard.

Happily, this has been one of the best groups ever! We each prepare one dish of a spontaneous menu driven by the Host home's choice of main course. We each take a turn as Host, rotating one dinner per month. This was at my house and I decided to make an Apricot stuffed Pork roast. The Chittea contribution was a corn pudding that was scraped clean from the large serving dish. Pat Dickinson has turned into the salad superstar. Geeta Antony has outdone herself with desserts. Her pineapple cheesecake was delectable. The Terhunes started us off with a shrimp platter. Sounds good doesn't it. We have fun and we just fell in love with this group!

Long Term Parking

Evan has relapsed. Home from school with sore throat, fever, and cannot swallow. Um, sounds familiar. We are going back to his Dr at 5 pm. Third trip in three weeks. I had not driven since I took myself to the Dr last week. As I approached the car, there were cobwebs around the wheel wells and tires. Seriously. Use em, or lose em!






So, I went out to buy the ingredients to make him some Mommas Chicken Soup. Very good tasting, easy on the throat, with curative properties. Recipe included:

2 chicken boneless breast or 6 boneless skinless thigh meat
2 Cartons Organic Chicken Broth
1 C diced celery
1 C diced onion
2 C sliced carrots
1/2 bag frozen spinach
1 Bag of Trader Joe cooked Brown Rice

In large stock pot, add olive oil and cook the veggies over med-high heat until the vegetables are soft. Cut up the chicken into bite size pieces and add to pot. Stir and cook for 5-8 minutes. Add spinach, rice and broth. Bring to boil and them immediately cut back the heat to low. Season with salt, pepper and red chili flakes if you like a little heat. Skim the foam if any appears and serve. Do not contaminate with germs by tasting with a used spoon!

Deforestation Continues

I extended the olive branch (or in this case the eucalyptus branch) of peace to my war mongering neighbors. Oh, they would hate to be called that. Two tall, gentle artists. Living in harmony with nature, while only wanting, what ever it is they want, in their own private Idaho.

Well, for over a year now they have wanted our trees cut down by 1/2 to 1/3. Sunday they got their wish. I found a low cost company of brave, tree swinging, rope climbing, acrobatic Mexican tree trimmers. There are roving bands of them all over San Diego County! They needed the work. The deal was struck and the deed is done. I love the sound of chainsaws in the morning. It stirs my soul.

I made nice with the mean kids in the sandbox. It will be hot around here until the trees recovery and fill in with dense leafy adornment. By September, I will have some shade I hope. Privacy has left the building with Elvis...

March Madness Recap- No Basketball Included

While our men watched the kids and basketball, the annual ladies retreat occurred in March. I have been remiss in posting anything much about it, because I had fun and did not take many pictures. We were at the "wundaful, wundaful" Lawrence Welk Resort. It was beautiful weather with "way beyond adequate" accommodations.

If you are a grown up and you have any opportunity to attend a retreat for rest, relaxation and a minimum of education, I must insist you try to go! I have few other requirements. It can be hobby based, spiritual, business oriented, physical rejuvenation... If the event does not include wine, take a bottle and do not forget a corkscrew. Maybe one for each night away from home. You will have the most popular room at the event and look forward to small group breakouts!

We ended up with one retreat that encompassed all of the above attributes. Best speakers, best yoga class, productive knitting, fab food and good times. It is like mini camp. We do not hesitate to make sure our kids have great camp experiences, do we? Remember Mom and Dad-take care of yourself first, with the goal of caring for everyone else more when you are well equipped and sound. Just like the mask on the airplane...

Knitting Graffiti

Graffiti as defined in the dictionary is: (used with a plural verb) markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public restroom, or the like: These graffiti are evidence of the neighborhood's decline.

So on a random tour of youutube looking for something else entirely, I came across the video filmed in Texas of a group of radical knitters. Search for knittasplease and you will see how this group travels around in a camper and attach knitting to bridges, signposts, handrails, signs, etc. with a lookout a getaway driver!

I then found these photos of knitters expressions of the love of their craft and perhaps a deep and meaningful political statement.

We KnitWits will be meeting secretly to discuss the application of our own "art" installation.Code word to access the meeting- April Fool's Day!