Teenagers grow like weeds!

I wasn't the shortest in the family until this summer!



I'm 5 feet 9 inches... DS#1 (who will be 17 in October) was measured this summer at 5 feet 10.25 inches... and then we have DS#2 who just turned 14 last month. He's overtaken Mom and big brother, his goal is now to make Dad the "short one".

Knitting and wine

What could be better than taking a bus with other knitters to a local vineyard for wine tasting with 35 friends? I can't think of a thing!

Hummingbirds

We have honeysuckle vines on a trellis by our deck at home... this is what we watched tonight while grilling hamburgers.

Grandpa???

Did I mention the wind was really strong at the cabin? Grandpa is up in the tree, way above the extension ladder cutting down a REALLY big branch that is over the water.

Darn storms!

The wind has blown out windows on the west side of our screen porch at the cabin again. About 3 weeks ago just the center 2 windows were blown out and now today, there are 4 blown out. Two of them were absolutely shattered, one was perfectly fine and another was just out and the frame all messed up. Thankfully Dad was able to come and help me clean up the mess since Jim had to get to class up in the cities.

This spring we also had to clean up glass due to the frost heave doing some damage. I think it's time to figure out what else we can do for this side of the porch. We need it to be removable for the winter (or flexible) for the frost heave.... and able to let in light and ventilation during the summer. Sigh.......

Meet the new High School Principal

Hubby's office is all done getting the wallpaper stripped and a new paint color applied. We are really pleased with the color we picked. The new fake and real plants look nice as well. We need one more big picture for over his desk and a couple pictures of our family and heis all set for the new school year and his next great adventure.

Anyone recognize this?

Mom got these hot pads (cotton yarn) in Germany. She would like to see if they could be duplicated - anyone recognize the pattern?

I think they are just single crochet but my crochet skills are very limited. Anyone have a hint or pattern I should try?

(as always, click the photo to make it larger)

What if?

What if you've been working on something for 2 weeks.... but when you put your hand in the mitten you notice 2 rows that are SO TIGHT that you think you may break the yarn?

Rip?

Frame and hang on the wall?

Bulldog Mittens are finished!

At Tammy's suggestion, I embroidered on crossed hockey sticks and I think they turned out GREAT!

They are ready to turn over to the committee for the silent auction tomorrow.

BYOB and White Witch Mittens

There's finally progress on the BYOB Market Bag from Knitty. I'm finished with the bottom, the lower part of the bag and have just started the lace openwork section in the center. I feel like it's really flying now.

I keep wondering how this would look in a sportweight or a laceweight... Cast on another immediately or ponder... Too many questions!


Did I tell you I accidentally signed up for the White Witch class at the LYS - aye karumba - the colorwork!

The pattern is free when you sign up at Knitting Daily.com

The yarn is Blue Sky Sport Weight Baby Alpaca in charcoal, purple, pink and teal.

Me Likey!

Knitting Update

I have finished the Bulldog Hockey colored warmest mittens.....














and started on the BYOB Market Bag from Knitty.

More vacation shots

Vacation Shots...

We are at the lake basking in the sunshine and playing in the water.... I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Cabin Landscaping

Tom gave us a wonderful gift this weekend!

The road at the cabin goes through the back of everyone's lots. Over time, the road has moved closer and closer to our cabins. Our neighbors are in the process of building a cabin (they had campers they pulled in each year) and in doing so, we have pulled together and straightened the road. In order to keep it straight now, we wanted to put some sort of boundary at the corners of our lot to make sure it was clear where the road was.

Tom has used his first full paycheck from work to landscape this old road area for us and he did it all on his own, from the planning to the actual doing of the project. He borrowed the tiller from Grandpa and tilled the entire area (50 feet x almost 30 feet), then spread a pick up load of black dirt on top and sodded the area. He also put in split rail fencing at each corner. I bought some lilac and forsythia bushes to go in the corners and it looks fantastic.

Jim and Chris were at a hockey tournament all weekend so he asked Jim to come out Sunday afternoon after they returned so he could show him his project.

We are so proud of him! (click on the pictures to see them bigger)

Nieces

On June 14th, Niece #1 married the love of her life. We were honored to be a part of their day.

Cut It OFF!

After growing my hair for over 2 years I just couldn't take it anymore.

Long hair looks gorgeous on everyone else but it just wasn't very flattering on me. I also hated to fuss with it so I wound up pulling it up all the time.

Last Tuesday a friend and I went to the local "beauty shop" with a bottle of wine and proceeded to cut our long hair. She came out with a chin length bob (gorgeous!) and a donation to Locks of Love of 10 inches of hair. My hair wasn't long enough for that but I did get rid of a huge pile of it. I love it!

Parental Supervision required

Mommy and Daddy went to the WalMart Supercenter near our cabin to get groceries for our first weekend there. I stayed home to watch "the boys" and see if I could get them to let me chase the fish near the shore.

There were 5 GROCERY items on Mommy and Daddy's list.



They came home with 5 huge bags of groceries and Mommy got this...

Daddy got this....

Mommy's fits in her pocket and takes cool pictures and videos of me - Daddy's is huge and I don't get anything from it!

Here's a video Mom took of me playing with the neighbor puppies off the dock

Here's one of me doing some morning fishing for those darn sunnies that swim around my legs teasing me

Here's some shots Mom took while she was playing with her camera. They are of Dad and my big brothers.

I better go supervise - Mom and biggest brother are putting together Dad's new grill while Dad and littlest brother are off to hockey practice.

Drake