A Sweater, A Rose and A Hamburger

If you have recently participated in a neurological exam you know just what test the title of this post refers to - I take it as a good sign that 15 days after returning home from my delightful 4-day stay at Hotel Holy Cross I can still remember those three words! Also, to whom it may concern, I was never very good at subtracting 7 from 100 - even on a good day. 100 - 93 - 86 -79 -72 ... you get the idea. Don't judge :)

Pocket Wish Fun!

So much excitement over our shout-out on Cathe Holden's blog. So many sweet comments from readers who really seemed to get what our little Pocket Wishes venture is all about! It was fun to read the comments, send the give-away packages and fill some orders as well!

We were also thrilled to have Jen at Tatertots and Jello (one of Cristin's college floormates) do a little give-away as well. Again sweet comments and wonderful readers -- so many stories and an overwhelming sense that wonderful things are happening in our world as people give, share and act on their innate sense of goodness and kindness. Thanks Jen!

My Post is to Link to Two Other Posts

(Photo by Cathe Holden & www.justsomethingimade.com)

Exciting things have been happening with our little creative venture - Wishes In My Pocket . The graphic designer that we worked with, Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made just wrote a post about our idea/website/dreams - she is amazing and really understood what we wanted to do with this idea!

Additionally, my sister - who I always allow to have the last word wrote a great post - seen here!

I95 Got the Best of Us

We were so excited to head to Philadelphia to see Cara perform in a class project at HPI. Unfortunately, we hit traffic (on a Friday night during rush hour) first in

Baltimore

then at the toll plaza in Delaware

in spite of my EZPass

then near Wilmington

the Philly bridge traffic was a foregone conclusion

I had to call and tell her that we weren't going to make it :( her group was performing first so there was no way it was going to happen - I thought we had added in enough time for rush hour, etc. but no - at that point it made the most sense to turn around and go back home. The only upside is that Cara is now home for the week for fall break!!

Bottom line: We drove 186 miles and didn't actually get anywhere....

Wishes in My Pocket Dot Com

My sister and I have a little project that we have been working on for a while!

It went down something like this:

We...

talked about some experiences

dared to dream

took a couple of ideas

spent some time googling

talked to some friends

played with some graphics

figured out how to create a website

connected with a great company

talked on the phone a lot

realized we make a pretty good partnership

laughed about our strengths/weaknesses

expressed gratitude for supportive spouses

Check it out...

Pocket Wishes

Blogging Consistency and The Lack Thereof...

I know I will not be receiving any blogging awards - certainly not for consistency! I still have a camera full of pictures of our summer on my camera as well as fun things to blog/remember. Here are just a few so I don't forget...



Cabin Time

50th Anniversary Party

Emily - YASE, EFY

Alicia and Tyler

Family Pics

Zion Hiking

Fun and Family at the Cabin

and more



...after that I should blog the beginning of school (Em), and moving Cara into an amazing little (actually very generously-sized) studio apt. in Philadelphia. Her building is an oasis in the middle of an "um, interesting neighborhood". A previous Philadelphia resident upon hearing her address commented..."hmm, a neighborhood in transition". Exactly!



... then I should blog about SPARK --- AMAZING :) so much fun with Cristin, Alicia, Elisa and Jen.



...then I should blog about seminary, Em (ccw, school play auditions/cast list (awesome part - more to follow)!



...then I should blog a little something about a project my sis and I have been working on (for quite awhile... maybe I will do that first :)

Mitchell - Monaco - Marvelous

You've gotta love a hotel that offers you a goldfish for the evening!

Cara named "her" fish Mitchell and quite enjoyed his visit!

Just another reason that we love staying at the SLC Monaco...

I Love Small Towns

Not every day you see a cow in the front yard! I love driving through small towns -
this year included:

Scipio

Salina

Joseph

Elsinore

Marysvale

Junction

Circleville

Panguitch

Hatch

Beaver

Fillmore

Glendale

Orderville

and more...

Lots and lots and lots of driving this year.

Too much driving?!

The reasons why there was so much driving to follow...

Murdock Movers

There is good news and bad news:

The bad news is there are constantly people moving out of our church congregation.

The good news is that the Murdocks will put 2 boxes of art work and 2 Turkish rugs in their truck and deliver it to points west.


The art is not yet hung but will be perfect at the cabin (great Jerry Fuhriman petroglyph pics and some cruise art Craig fell in love with...).

So happy to have the rugs here - although I will miss seeing them everyday...

The bonus was getting to visit with the Murdock's when we picked up the boxes/rugs. Craig and the girls had a bonus-bonus when they went out to dinner together a few days later. I was in the midst of Pre Anniversary Party Prepping and missed out on dinner :(

Gotta love those True Aggie friendships!

Thanks Paul, Natalie and girls :)

Back at the Cabin

I have yet to figure out my blogging personality...

hot/cold

happening/not happening

existent/non-existent

I know that much of my blogging/not blogging has to do with what else

is going on in my life - not so much how busy I am but my

general state of mind - not wanting to blog only the happy stuff

but not wanting to blog the unhappy/hard stuff?! And definitely not wanting

to blog happy stuff when I'm in the middle of the hard stuff...

Whoa, is this a blog or a therapist's couch? Ouch -haha

It is "Just a Glimpse" after all, right?

At the moment my Glimpse is

Heavenly...

Cabin Time

Beautiful Scenery

Amazing Sunsets

Highlights

Highlights:

The Governor's Palace

Revolutionary City

Beautiful Weather

The Randolph House

Craig being acquitted after being taken to court

for allowing a woman's tobacco crop to fall into the river

The Capitol Building

Costumed Reenactors

Shopping:

The Cheese Shop

General Browsing

Candied Apples

Biggest Surprise

Running into Friends from MD



HUZZAH!

Ghost Walk

After arriving, we took the shuttle bus into Colonial Williamsburg for dinner and a Ghost Tour. I know that the orbs in my picture are probably just Natural Enviromental Orbs (dust, pollen and humidity) but really, who knows! I'm pretty sure the ghost in the upper-left hand corner is for real :)

The tour was fun, informative and great overview of Colonial Williamsburg and it storied past.

Guess Where We Went?

Can you guess where else we spent time during Spring Break?

It was our first visit to Colonial Williamsburg!

We totally enjoyed ourselves - I think it was our first "vacation"

with only the three of us. I spent a lot of time watching families with small

children and had to stop myself from putting my arms around exasperated young

moms to tell them - love this time, it will pass too quickly. I realize that nobody

really wants to hear that when they are in the middle of a tour with a toddler who has

had more than enough but it is true!

Unsolicited Advice: Savor whatever stage you are in...

Trip Over...

The sand in the trunk was all we left behind - and perhaps a bit of ourselves...

Memories...

Before heading to the airport we made a quick drive-by to take a picture of our old house. The only change we spotted were possibly new windows(?). I wanted to jump the fence and check out our pool and outdoor kitchen, or ask if I could have a fresh lemon or two- but was afraid it might alert the neighborhood watch and I would spend the afternoon in the police station rather than multiple airports/airplanes - come to think of it - it might have been just as comfortable...

We talked to our Elvira neighbor (yes, he of the Mistress of the Dark) - couldn't believe Alicia all grown-up. He updated us on housing values - most conversations in this part of CA get around to property values at some point or another.

Additional Highlight: Attending church, lunch and lots of catching up with dear friends from our Cali days. Good times :)

Do Not Feed the Animals

Click on pic to enlarge as necessary...

He should consider the picture below a cautionary tale...

(Zion Summer 2009)

Salt Water

Alicia shared this quote with me by Isak Dinesen:

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.

I experienced all three during my weekend get-away

and I returned relaxed, renewed and restored.

I am blessed to have lifelong friends.

PG Anyone?

Note to self/everyone:

If anyone ever sends you an email along the lines of....

Would you like to meet us in Pacific Grove?

Do not hesitate - begin packing your $25 checked luggage immediately!

If you do, you just might be able to see Mont and Kristy and Alicia all during the same extra-long weekend. You also might be able to:

• eat at Johnny Rockets (hard to eat there without thinking of Em and multiple vomitous episodes ... we missed Em not the vomiting)

• have your picture taken in front of a ginormous artichoke in Castroville (The Artichoke Center of the World)

• and eat at Central Texas Barbecue (also in Castroville - The Best Barbecue Outside of Texas Center of the World)

If you do, you will also need to thank a friend for subbing for Early AM Seminary and Craig for manning the homefront.

Goodies to Go

I'm blogging out of order but that is better than never blogging... right?! Loved this picture from Easter Sunday. It is always a little painful as a mom when your child gets ready to return to school and they announce that they are "headed home".... I always think/say, "but I thought this was home"?! I'm always glad that they are enjoying where they are, but if I had my choice I would have opted for home-college-ing!

Fun to be together - enough time for

Sushi,

Conference,

our traditional Easter Dinner

(sorry you missed the Ham, Alicia - we missed you)!

and two major late nights.

We sent her "home" with

candy/snacks,

a yummy homemade apple tart

(made just for her by Craig)

and clean clothes.

I think that might be a trifecta in college terms :)

Wednesday Morning Quest (Quiz/Test)

A little quiz for your reading enjoyment...

I can't tell you

how much

this means to me....

was heard

A. During a baby-shower on Saturday (I provided the house - others brought the decorations, food and fun), and AGTWHBA (a good time was had by all).

B. After an especially inspiring early-morning seminary class.

C. After the van returned from being gone for a week - practically brand new - if the time/$$ mean anything. Possibly enough material there for another post...

D. None of the above

If you chose D, you are correct. The above phrase was actually uttered by a delightful Girl Scout who brought the cookies we ordered last month. As I was writing out the check she quietly said, "I can't tell you how much this means to me". As I was wondering what brought on this sweet sentiment she grinned and said, "You are my biggest customer"!

Well, we do what we can :)

and I have the cookies to prove it!

I do {heart} Girls Scouts.

All of my girls participated

in the program -

in three different states.

As did I (but only in one state and only for 1 year - maybe two?).

Favorite memories...

TX - watching one of the co-leaders slip out for smoke breaks while they were meeting in the community room of the local volunteer fire department as they worked on the Eat Right, Stay Healthy Try-It.

CA - sweet pictures of Cara and her bff Ashley at all of the award ceremonies.

MD - helping make swaps, swaps and more swaps.

Best memory - being the cookie mom for all three troops.

Nothing like having your living room full of Thin Mints.

Blizzard '10 Baby Blanket

It has been fun* to curl up on the couch under a blanket while working on this little blanket. I picked up the yarn a couple of weeks ago here and started it during the Super Bowl. The Yarn is Celtic Lace (sooo soft). I made up the crocheted edge - kind of. I didn't follow the pattern exactly on the edging - but honestly couldn't tell exactly what it called for in the pattern.

*fun but a little boring - 15 stitch x 15 row alternating stockinette rectangles. Planning some lace next... see here

S'now Kidding - Forecast: More Snow

A View From The Back....

Shoveling duties happily handed over to my sweetheart - glad he's home...

UFO's

Have you ever seen a

UFO?

Area 51

Flying Saucers

Alien Creatures

?

No!

UnFinished Objects

Nothing like the new year and some snow-filled downtime

to finish up some projects. A little embarrassing to say the least

but also an accomplishment (of sorts?)!

Most items just needed a little finishing - sewing in the ends, blocking

(fancy knitting term involving water, pins and drying time), etc.

I really prefer to start new projects and my basket(s) full of almost finished items really gave me much to think about. For example, what other areas of my life am I leaving unfinished, where else do I stop at 95%, etc. Possible fodder for another post....

Life - Knitting connections ...

this is what too much snow/cabin fever

does to a generally rational/sane person. :)

Bias Cable Jacket and Sleeve Detail

Mohair and Merino (Tess Designer Yarns)

Clockwise from Upper Left: 1) Scarf from the Cashmere Scarf Pattern Collection (JoJoLand) using Malabrigo Sock Yarn 2) Beaded Scarf - SO Original Pattern/Class shout-out to Tam! 3) Two scarves - JoJoLand Magic Moment Pattern with two different variegated colorways of Melody Superwash Yarn (JoJoLand) and 4) Lace Ribbon Scarf (knitty.com) from Malabrigo Sock Yarn.

Random finger-less gloves and socks from random yarns...

Glove pattern and yarn on left found here...
at my favorite yarn shop and sheep farm!

Falling Leaves Scarf/Shawl from a Pattern found here knit with yes, more Malabrigo Yarn (I love it!) The pics don't do justice to the variegated yarn colors... there is actually a beautiful purple that didn't get picked up.




I love this kind of knitting...

Interweave Knits 2006 - Swallowtail Shawl
using Cascade Silk - Sea Foam Green (Tess Designer Yarns)

This is about a years worth of knitting minus a few things that I gave away and does not include the three Caps for Cancer hats that I have finished and a lacy shawl from another JoJoLand pattern/yarn that is finished except for fringe and blocking (more of my 95% "issue"). ..

.... and yes, this is what I do when I should be cleaning my house :)

Snowmageddon Continued...

Em measured last night after the snow stopped falling and came up with 22-and-a-little-bit inches - add that to the 2/3 inches (unmeasured) that we shoveled on Friday night and I am going to call it 25 inches...

As I shoveled again this morning I thought (and believe me there is a lot of time to think while shoveling) that I would try to come up with...

25 things I am grateful for this weekend...

1) If he is home, my sweetheart takes care of most of the shoveling.

2) Em was pretty good about helping me shovel (she is actually better for entertainment purposes than actual snow removal - but sometimes the role of entertainer is vastly underrated). She was a great shoveling buddy.

3) Electric power - many nearby neighborhoods were without.

4) Hot showers.

5) A fully stocked fridge.

6) A full cache of Diet Coke.

7) Value-size bottles of Advil.

8) Home Church (2nd week in a row).

9) A fully-stocked pantry.

10) Kindle full of reading material.

11) Knitting basket full of knitting projects.

12) Having excellent backing-up and backing-out skills (thanks, Dad), which means that my shoveling consists of a narrow lane from the garage to the road that barely exceeds the width dimensions of my van.

13) Having room in our garage to park the car (no need to dig out a vehicle in addition to general shoveling).

14) The sight of the sun today.

15) The aroma of dinners in the crockpot. (see #5 and #9)

16) The phone calls expressing guilt from my sweetheart. I'm not sure how guilty he felt however while watching the Ag's school the Wolf Pack in person.

17) A call from my sis and a friend to see how we were doing.

18) Em "forcing" me to watch Little Women - can you believe I have never seen the '94 version? She recognized that Laurie was played by a young Christian Bale who she recognized as Batman. I don't know how people do that?? I have no recall for movie stars or singers/groups (ask me about my faux pas regarding Stevie Nicks some day if you are looking for a laugh at my expense).

19) The Post delivered the Washington Magazine on Friday so I was able to enjoy the crossword puzzle at my leisure in spite of no newspaper delivery on Saturday.

20) Area newscasters on snow patrol - (you have to live here).

21) Knowing that there is no way there will be school tomorrow - even though it hasn't been officially announced.


22) Having no where that we need to go - hence the pajama pants (when I'm not outside shoveling).

23) Almost-too-warm hand knitted stockings and hat.


24) The mailman brought my recently ordered lace-blocking wires on Friday before the storm hit and I have been blocking up a storm (pun intended) ever since.

25) Knowing that we are safe and sound :)

SNOWMAGEDDON

Thought you might enjoy seeing what I woke up to this morning. I actually saw it at 4:30 am when my ever reliable Seminary body-clock woke me up. With our main shoveler out-of-town I looked outside and nearly cried...

Yes that is snow up to the bottom branches of our

Japanese Maple tree in the front yard.

This is the beginning of my shoveling efforts...

We have 20 inches on the ground - that doesn't count the 2-3 inches that Em and I shoveled last night. We thought it was a good idea to try to keep ahead of the storm????

Saddest news of all is that we expect another 5-10 inches today... :(

Did I mention the power went off twice during the night...

I think I will cozy up with some knitting and

try to forget about everything else :)

Highlights

Highlight

(hahy-layht)

Verb:

1) to emphasize or make prominent

2) to create highlights in

Noun:

3) also highlight, an important, conspicuous, memorable or enjoyable event, scene, part or the like

4) the area of most light on a represented form

.....

Since it is January

and I have a lot of catching up to do

I am going with the

Highlights approach...

with thanks to dictionary.com

NOVEMBER

Cara's 19th B'day

and

Turkey Palooza '09

We were Grateful for...

Cara

Food

Friends

and

Fun

Cara: almost not a teen - continues to be gracious about sharing her birthday with all of our Thanksgiving festivities as long as there is a CostCo cake :)

Food: Angelo's, Five Guys, Sushi, Leb Tav, Angelo's, New Mandarin, Maggiano's, Angelo's and Thanksgiving Dinner, and Angelo's

Friends: Dec. '84 - amazing car, Texas Tumbleweed, sleeping baby, need I say more?

Fun: Nertz, Food, Conversation, Word on the Street (might not fit in "fun" category), Little Z, Karaoke (Craig {Sweet Caroline}, Adrian {He's Not that Innocent}).