3TT: Random

October 31, 2019 Vicki9 Comments

Joining Carole & friends for Three Things on Thursday…

1 — HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's snowing! I don't know what that's going to mean tonight… but I don't have any candy, anyway! That's what happens when Halloween candy is promoted on the heels of "back to school," and I think I have all the time in the world. I don't want to buy too soon because, y'know…

There was a collaborative effort in making the Halloween decorations for the coffee shop this year. I just love that smiley pumpkin. And that's a preschool Kate as Raggedy Ann!

2 — RE-PURPOSING.

The plants have all been moved inside, including the ones that were on the porch of the apartment. Airbnb guests really seem to enjoy the plants! (See the snow on the porch roof? You can see just a bit of the kids' playhouse, and the lights on the pergola, too.)

Among the amenities we provide are tiny jars of Bonne Maman preserves (to go with the English muffins). When I remember, as I'm cleaning up, I pull them from the recycling bin and… lookie there, they're the perfect size for a couple of tablespoons of the Alabama Chanin Silver Fox beads+sequins mix to go a'travelin'! I forgot that I had that mix and I think I want to use some of those elements (probably not the gold) on my Car Jacket.

3 — READY, SET…

I can't believe it's only going to be 77F tomorrow when we arrive in Arizona. Hahahahaha!

I may or may not be blogging while we're away… we'll see! If not, I'll be back on track a week from today for another 3 Things on Thursday.

Unraveled Wednesday / Knit & Read

Unraveled Wednesday: What’s up

October 30, 2019 Vicki10 Comments

Joining Kat & the Unravelers today, sharing what I'm knitting and reading.

KNITTING:

Without photographic evidence, I have finished a pair of Maize Mittens for Junah… that fit Ginny! He actually wanted fingerless mitts (as he reminded me), so I've begun again… sized up this time!

That kid has paws, so these are Adult S! I added a few rows between the ribbing and the start of the thumb gusset on this pair… I think they'll fit the hand better.

I'll get at least another couple of pair of these from the hank I'm working on… it'll be my travel knitting!

SEWING:

The beading has begun…

Every once in a while, I realize the enormity of this project… and, before I'm paralyzed by that thought, I quickly shift my focus to THE.THING.I'M.WORKING.ON.RIGHT.NOW. In this case, one of the back pieces. This will not be travel sewing. For that, I've grabbed the pockets, pocket flaps, and collar.

READING:

Still somewhat stalled, partly because of getting a new phone! I've finally downloaded The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II by Svetlana Alexievich (audio), and really need to reacquaint myself with my Audible queue! I hope to have some listening time while on vacation.

I like to bring an actual book along, too. I'm about 20 pages from the end of The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs and, even if I don't finish before departure, I'll want to bring something else along… and it'll be this:

I became aware of Allison Moorer because of mutual friends & interests… namely: Kay Gardiner, Alabama Chanin, and music. I followed on IG for quite a while before I realized there was much more to her story… so heartbreakingly inconceivably much more. Kay wrote a wonderful post about Allison and her new book & music the other day, and there was a lovely story yesterday on CBS This Morning. Anyway, Blood: A Memoir landed in my mailbox yesterday and will be coming to Arizona. (TBH, it was all I could do to NOT start it yesterday.)

Uncategorized

Signs of the times

October 29, 2019 Vicki9 Comments

A favorite picturesque tree, located across the street from work… in a very non-picturesque location. I can see it from my desk, and sometimes it GLOWS.

One of my hostas… I love that plant at every stage!

Heavy wet snow overnight was stuck to everything this morning.

Weekending

October 28, 2019 Vicki8 Comments

It was long and late and the kids got restless, but for the most part, THEY LOVED SWAN LAKE! Ginny fell asleep just minutes before the ballet ended.

And did swan dances (on tippy-toes) all weekend. Junah seemed very intrigued by the sets, the crossbow, Baron Von Rothbart (who reminded me of a former tenant)… the costumes were incredible! We were in the second and third rows, Right Front Orchestra, so the kids really had a pretty good view. And they would go to a ballet again (Ginny said that she wanted to go "every morning")!

Our high school is doing Peter Pan this year, and we'll go to that for sure!

The kids (and their mama & papa) were over quite a bit this weekend. I had an abundance of celery & leeks from our CSA, so Ali helped me slice & dice and we made a double batch of homemade Cream of Celery Soup. Mmm, it was SO GOOD! The kids even ate it… after some cajoling. 🙂

I'm just waiting for Ginny to decide that she doesn't want her picture taken anymore (like her brother). Malina is wearing a pullover that I made almost 8 years ago! She's the third to wear it and it's held up pretty well, considering that the yarn was fairly inexpensive — but washable and that's my priority for kid stuff!

She also modeled some mitts that I made a while back, but I guess I never added them to Ravelry. I'm sure I made them for Junah or Gin…

I was surprised — and delighted — to notice my little "holiday cactus" is all of a sudden loaded with buds! I'm not even sure where this one came from. There's another upstairs that's healthy but there's not even a glimmer of a bud… I'm so excited!

Especially since it sounds like the scene in this photo will be whitewashed this evening… snow is on the way. yuck.

Four more sleeps and we'll be on our way to Arizona… 80F and sunshine!! I know we'll have to come back, but… lalalalala… I'm not thinking about that right now.

Grandmothering

Making memories

October 25, 2019 Vicki8 Comments

My earliest memory — it's not even a complete memory, just little blips — is from when I was about 3, on a train with my mom, going to see a ballet. Swan Lake, I think. Or possibly The Nutcracker. But I really think it was Swan Lake.

Tonight, along with their mother, I'm taking my 3yo granddaughter and 5yo grandson to the ballet… SWAN LAKE! I hope they will hold on to some memory of it… little blips would be just fine.

We were talking to them about it the other night, and Junah (a little worried?) declared:

WELL, I'M NOT DANCING!!