Another year, another wrinkle

Oh, dear, another birthday. But like I always say, "I wasn't suppose to be here, so each year is a blessing."

Kona had her birthday on Tuesday. She is 6. What a sweetie. She got lots of special treats on her special day. (but she gets lots of treats every day!)

So, my day started early. 8am at the gym and Josh didn't give me any presents by being easy on me. Lots of leg exercises! Ouch today. Alex bought me a great lunch. Avocado sub from Mellow Mushroom. Yum! And a cannoli from Shapiro's. Then time for a nap!

We weren't sure when or if Nathaniel was coming out to dinner with us. Finally heard from him and he had a bike accident. Pretty banged up. We picked him up and off to Mama Carolla's for a wonderful dinner.

Then back to the homestead for presents!!!!! I hit the mother lode. I think they went overboard, but I am not really complaining. Look!!! The first season of Glee, Mass Ave gift card, spa certificate for my car, Baltic Bootie pattern from peace fleece and a new yellow purse!!!!!!! (there was more, but these fit in the picture!)

And now it's back to the real world, second load of laundry in, dishes etc. But I have a great family and they make everything so much easier.

It's off to Mass Ave and my gift card this weekend to take advantage of their sale!!!

Happy Knitting to everyone!!!!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who the hell is that person in the mirror???? I don't recognize that person. It is certainly not the person I see in my mind when I think of that person. I see a younger woman with a lot less wrinkles, pretty hair, less fat. Mirrors are not my friend. Unless it is my makeup mirror that I don't clean often. I find the dust covers up the wrinkles and imperfections well.

I think they get the mirrors at the gym from travelling circuses. The kind that make big heads, taller and funny looking. My gym got ones that make people short and very wide. Not a good look. I am thinking of wearing a burka to the gym so I don't see that short wide person.

I got my hair cut this week. I don't know where my hairdressers got her mirrors. I think maybe an illusionist. My hair can look fine until I get there. Then it is very mousy and every grey hair is magnified 1000x. It also makes my face very round. I'm thinking of getting the Nathaniel hair cut. Then I don't have to worry about it.

I don't really want to look as young as my high school picture (for those wondering, I graduated in 1972!!! omg). I should just accept that I am in my 50's. I tend to forget. Not that that is bad, just that sometimes I think I am younger. That can frustrate me until I remember that I am not 20 years younger and shouldn't expect others to think that too. Anyway, I really am blessed to be turning 56. I wasn't suppose to make it this long.

Knitting, knitting, knitting. Finally finished the super bowl scarf. I am not doing another one for a long time. Started Dusk, a wrap sweater for me in a luscious cranberry. A prayer shawl for church, unfortunately, there was a run on shawls there. And still working on the silk scarf

Keep clicking!!!

Celebrate, Celebrate, dance to the music!

I hope everyone is dancing to their favorite tune. We have had lots of celebrations in the past few months. Jeff and I had our 28th anniversary in April. Then a week later, Jeff turned 60!!! (I am much younger, a trophy wife) He handled the new decade quite well. Then a week later he ran the Indy 500 mini-marathon. I was so proud of him. He did a personal best. Then a week later, we had a 60th party!!! Jeff, "I have no friends", had a great time. He really enjoyed himself with his friends around him. Then two weeks later, he ran the Geist mini marathon. What a man.

Today is Nathaniel's 21st birthday!! My baby. Nathaniel wanted to make pierogies and that's what we did!! Vegan pierogis!!! Yum if you like chili powder and red pepper flakes in them. We also made lots of regular ones.

Now for what is being knitted. Did some 8" squares for the Schuyler Blanket Project. I learned not to knit two scarves at the same time. No matter what the yarn and pattern, they take tooooo long. One is for the Super Bowl, 2012. The other scarf is a luscious silk in a wonderful pattern.

Keep those needles busy!!!

Another Birthday?

Alex turned 26 last Thursday. These birthdays are having an effect on me. These guys are getting much too old. Seems like just a couple years have passed when I was making baseball, soccer ball, lego and kitty litter cakes. But who can resist a guy in a kilt towel??? He gets cuter every year. We went to India Garden for dinner. Oh, yum. It was delicious. Then back home for cake. My exercise trainer told me about Holy Cow Cupakes that had Guinness cupcakes. (Isn't that wrong for a trainer to tell me to eat cupcakes?) But OMG, her cupcakes were incredible. So, now we wait for the next birthday, Jeff's 60th!!!

I made the mistake of going out to Melly's jewelry party on Monday night. Not that I didn't enjoy my night out, I did. But when I came home, there had been some redecorating done to the first floor bathroom. Never let men do redecorating. Yes, that is a TV and DVR and reading material in the bathroom. They wanted to fill the tub with ice for the beer. They didn't see anything wrong with this. They were disappointed that I didn't need to use the room as the TV was ready to play Nathaniel in marching band. OY!

And now on to knitting. I am in knitting doldrums. I finished the Super Bowl Scarf and can't get anything done. I am trying the Ishbel scarf again. Two steps forward, one step back. Sigh. I am going to take a deep breath and knit on!

I left my cookies in San Francisco

I got back from San Francisco the other day, and my body and mind don't know if they are coming or going. It was so nice to get away even for just a couple of days. Left in snow and arrived in flowers and green. DH had a one day meeting, so I was off with credit card in hand. First stop, Imagiknits! Got there at 10:10 and it was closed (note to self--check store times before heading out!). So back to our very nice hotel to regroup. Then off to shop. Thankfully, there is a mall next door! Found a Bare Essentials store that really came in handy since I forgot to pack brushes for my make-up. Then some lunch and back to more shopping. Back to the hotel to catch my breath. Uh oh!!! Something must have been wrong with that lunch!!! Good thing dh is not going to be back for awhile! There went my cookies. ugh.

But fine by the next day. Dh and I off to sightsee. Cable car to Fisherman's Wharf. Trip on cable car much more relaxed than last time with the boys. They were hanging off the side putting their mom in fear. Lots of walking along the wharf. The sea lions were back (they had left for a long time) Stop at Giradelli square. Really nothing there. Note to tourist-- the same chocolate is $6 cheaper at Walgreens!!! And then my dh said let's go to the yarn shop! What a dear. It is filled with yarn. Two rooms. However, I couldn't figure out any organization, so it was difficult to find my way around. The staff were helpful, but were all very busy.

Then dinner with my cousin!!!! We haven't seen each other for 15 years, but it felt like we hadn't seen each other for only a week! It was so great to see and talk with her.

Next day, off to Napa Valley!! Stopped at Vistor Center. What did you say?? A yarn shop near by??? What luck! Dh didn't object. I was in heaven. Alex had recommended some wineries and we hit the first one at noon. They were all fun, but drinking all day was overwhelming!!! Plus everyone driving on that two lane road?? No wonder there were so many limos!!!

Then we found our Bed and Breakfast. The Ink House. Lovely place and more wine and cheese. whew. Had a lovely time in the parlor with the other guests. Off to dinner. I didn't think we looked bad, but the waitress said "No wine, right?" How did she know?????

Finally, back to the Inn. And our room. The Elvis room! Yes, Elvis stayed there in 1960 while making a film. It was a lovely room, no black velvet. Not even a plaque. Jeff and I looked at that bed and each other and promptly fell asleep. At 8:30!!!!

So now it is back to our reality. I just feel like napping. Knitting on my super bowl scarf on the trip. Easy to pack and carry. Now I have to get some serious knitting done. Back to the Ishbel scarf.

Keep knitting!!!!

Make a Wish!

I haven't written since October! I don't know if it is because I didn't have anything to say or I had too much to say or life got in the way. Maybe a little of everything.

Today is Bryan's birthday!!! And beside the awful sinus headache I had, it was a good day. He spent some of the day with a friend and then we went to Olive Garden for a really nice dinner. And the sun was out to make the day even better!!

Alex is back from London. It is nice having him home, sort of like having a butler. He goes to the store, gets my car gas, sometimes cooks great meals and makes me tea. And thankfully, he got his old job back at the wine store. But he is looking forward and realizes he needs a masters, so that is on the agenda now.

And of course, I have been knitting. Fiesta the hippo is modelling the drop stitch scarf or the daughter I never had scarf. It is for Elise, a friend of Nathaniel's. Really enjoyed knitting it. The yarn is mini mochi.

And then there is the infamous (ok, why do I have underlining??) "the sweater that won't be worn" It was a joy to knit even for someone who doesn't like sweaters. He actually wore it to church and to work. And looked stunning in it!!

On the needles, socks (oy, from September!) , foster child sweater, always squares for the Schuyler Blanket project and I guess that's it for now.

Keep those needles moving!!