Boy, that was a REALLY long time to not write

Dear readers,

Sorry it has been so long since I wrote last.  This job is really keeping me busy.  Unfortunately, lots of people want a piece of my time and I just don't have much extra left when I'm done with work and outside of work activities.  I have found time to do a lot of knitting, though.  :)

I will try to keep up better now.  Sorry about that.

Really, I'm still alive

I transferred to a different job in June, therefore I haven't had time to post.  Many projects have been knit.  Elections have been worked on.  My latest finished project is Madli's shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia:

It's made from Suri alpaca lace yarn.  So silky and soft!

I am currently working on a pair of black lace socks:

These are the Embossed leaves socks from the Favorite socks book.  I'm using Dream in Color Smooshy in the Black parade colorway.  I am working on the heel flap for sock #2, so they should be done soon.  Goody.  I am wearing out some of my handknit socks and need to get knitting more!  My next project will also be a pair of socks and also a stealth project for a gift.

Here's what greeted me on the way to my car this morning:

Sorry it's blurry.  I was laughing.  Our vegetable garden is next to the pussy willow bush in our backyard.  the birds had a nest in there that you can now see with the leaves all gone.  Some industrious squirrel carried a tomato left in the garden up to the nest, and is storing it there I guess.  What will the wildlife in my yard do next?



Long time no talk

Well, it has been a really long time since I last updated this.  Let's see, where were we?

The robin's nest in the back yard is now gone.  There were babies:

The mother robin was really mad at me for taking this picture.  She chased Paulette all the way up our driveway to the front of the house.

I transferred to a new job.  I am now the coordinator of Interlibrary Loan in Polk Library.  I worked in Polk for a long time before transferring around at the University.  I feel like I am home now.  I missed the library.

I went to the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention early in June.  Here's me knitting there:

I finished the tank top I was knitting:

It turned out really nice, but it was a very boring knit.

I have started a new shawl:

It's the Crocus Pocus shawl, which has really a lot of beads.  I am using Sea silk yarn and size 8 hex beads.  I am about 40 percent done right now.

We've really done a lot of work in the yard.

We planted a flowering crab tree to replace the ugly box elder.

Paulette made a hosta garden.

The garden in front of the house is getting really lovely now.

My birthday was last week Tuesday.  It was fun.  Paulette and I went to Madison shopping and out to lunch.  I bought yarn at the Sow's Ear in Verona.

Here are pictures from Independence Day weekend:

Here is my family waiting for the parade in Sheboygan to start.

Here is a picture of me, with my niece and my sister making faces in the background.  Gotta love your family.

Here is a nice picture of my sister Lora and my niece Melissa/

Here's me using Scott Walker literature as firestarter:

More firestarter, in the form of a Republican Party sign up form:

Yet more firestarter.  This is Tea Party literature:

Paulette burning a marshmallow:

Beth roasting a marshmallow:

S'more made with a strawberry marshmallow and a fudge stripe cookie:

And last, but not least, here's a picture of me and my sweet Churchill:

Peep peep

May 28, 2010.  Robin's nest in the rose bush next to our back door.  Guess our back yard is still wild kingdom:

Mrs. Robin flies out of the nest and looks mad every time we go past to get in and out of the door. 

Oh joy, it's Harry Potter weekend on Family HD!

Full moon

May 27, 2010.  The full moon this month is called the flower moon.

Bonus round

My goodness, it's been a week or so since I posted.  We have a lot of photos to catch up on!

First, the back of my sweater is finished and perhaps, 1/5th of the front. 

I have been knitting on this seemingly forever (yes, I am whining now).  I'm sure it will be a nice sweater to wear, but I am ready to knit something else now.

Paulette and I were busy yesterday.  We both took vacation (Paulette only in the morning) to protest one of the candidates for governor.  He is riding his Harley motorcycle around the state, supposedly to promote tourism.  We're not buying that.  Anyhow, here are some pictures:

My creation to help protest.  The dollar store was my friend for this occasion.

I had a pleasant afternoon yesterday.  It was 80 degrees outside, so I sat in one of the adirondack chairs in our yard and knit for about an hour.  I also finally put my turtlenecks away and got my summer clothing out.  It's about time too, since it's supposed to be 87 degrees on Sunday.  Time to crank up the A/C!

I took pictures of the flowers in our yard:

One of the peonies in the front garden.

Iris along the fence.

Anemones along the fence.  Please ignore the grass.  Yes, we need to weed here.  It's a never-ending job.

And, finally we end with a picture of Churchill taking a nap:

Nummy

May 13, 2010.  Pretzel M & Ms.  Way. Too. Good.