Hubby got a bad cold and coughed his head off for days.  I had a sleepless night and was worth nothing for a whole day.  We were just kind of bummed out that we didn’t do anything fun…but then, I guess there wasn’t much we could do about it.

We did have a fun 4th….the little imp for the first time in his life actually enjoyed the fireworks.  We went over to big sis’s house and played Wii for awhile.  They actually got me to drive race cars with them.  I used to be really good at video games but no more.  I came in last every time, but I had fun.

He’s actually pretty good!  He plays against the good competition and holds his own. 

They’ve been getting the baby room ready, I just love it.

And look what I saw on the changing table.

We actually could see the neighborhood fireworks better than the city ones because a hill is in the way, but we didn’t feel like going closer and getting caught in traffic, especially if the little imp can’t stand it, been there, done that.

The parents-to-be have a great deack overlooking everything so  we stood outside watching the whole city go nuts.

This picture cracks me up.  He’s talking to his brother-in-law….he drags his name waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy out when he talks to him and I caught him in the middle of it.

Even though he did better with the fireworks than he’s ever done, there came a point where he was DONE…so his BIL got him some headphones.

Have I said lately how great my son-in-law is?

I did get knitting done during the day of doing nothing but sitting on a chair after watching the sun come up once again.  I think I better not have any more of those Starbucks doubleshots even in late afternoon! 

Anyway, this is not for me.  I was going to make it all one color until I decided to do it for a gift. 

Today the new bride, the imp and I decided to go to the beach.  I wanted to play tourist like a friend of mine did.  I forgot to take any pictures but we had fun.  The little imp hates shopping but I got him a little present so he was a little happier.  I could just choke sometimes, though.  He showed me the “claw” and I told him if he’d be good, we could get it.  Well, he suddenly turned and ran away.  I chased after him and asked him where he was going because the deal was to stick with us.  “My phone, Mom!” he answers.  He’d left it laying on the display.  ugh.

We had ice cream before we drove home and then made a quick trip down onto the beach.

I’m not sure if they were feeding these seagulls or what, but they were flying in place when we drove by

I was excited when I got home that the flowers on my new rosebush had finally started to open, there are LOTS of them to come

it is exactly what I hoped it would be!

And now we know it is summer because the ice cream truck was driving around our neighborhood today!  Amazingly, it was not that obnoxious music it has been in years past.

Back to watching the Mariner’s, we’re actually on the board in the 2nd inning!  Things seem to be turning around for us.  I’m watching the game until hubby gets home and fixes the computer for me.  I had to bring my work computer home (from my real job) because our home computer quit…and now this one must not be hooked up right.  I discovered today that I must have overwritten some files and I am missing a week’s worth of bookkeeping.  Tonight I get to do it all over before I get the data to our programmer.  bummer.

We went carseat shopping but I forgot to post a picture.

In a few short months, that kickin’, dancin’ little sweet pea will be hanging out here!  After daddy-to-be got the seat installed in the car, he took it to work the next day to show it off.  Yep, he’s excited and so was everyone at the church to see it. 

We also had a fun lunch.

Wednesday was my birthday.  One little imp loves when my birthday comes because that means he is next.  He is more than eager for this day to be over so he becomes the next birthday person.

We were actually discussing that in this picture.  He’s been awake for about 2 minutes.  It was a great day.  The kids all came minus the newlywed groom, he had to work, but the rest of us had a great breakfast of dutchbabies and tons of fresh fruit. 

I went to work and was greeted with these…

I couldn’t get a good picture but you get the idea.  I love the green flowers.

I had nice visits from friends (and lunch from one…)

Here are a few things that made my day bright

I don’t know if you can read the frame but it says, “Children are born, traditions are passed, the love continues on”  Love it!  The soy candle has a sheep on the lid, which makes it a double gift because when the candle is gone, the jar will be very useful!

My sister gave me a grandma gift

When she became a grandma, I bought her a cup and saucer that says “When a child is born, so is a grandmother” and she wanted to get me one.  They don’t make the cup any more but I already had it.  She cried when she gave me the pillow because she remembered that cup and wanted to do something for me the same.  :) 

Even though I wasn’t a grandma when I got the cup, it’s been one of my favorites and now I will think of her gesture when I use it.  I have never used this one myself because it hasn’t applied, but I’ve let those qualified use it.

I have a lot of trouble drinking water so I got this.

It’s kind of a joke with my family and friends that I am always on the quest to find the perfect water bottle in hopes it will help.  I would have bought this one for sure!

Moving along, yesterday morning I got to go out of town with a friend to a yarn store that carries yarns we don’t have here.  We had so much fun.  I loved the good company as much as I did yarn shopping.

When we got back to town, I had a surprise waiting for me. 

A gift for sweet pea from Hasbu!  I called mama-to-be and asked her to come see me as soon as she could.

She was very blessed!

Everything about the package was fun.

And I am way more than excited about this:

A book of Finnish mitten patterns!!!!   I am Finnish and since I met Hasbu and her sister I have had so much fun getting to know them and asking them questions about the customs and ways in Finland. I joined the Ravelry KAL for this book and after baby is born, I plan to knit some!

This morning, we were invited to breakfast at the newlyweds’ home.

We had crepes and they were great!  Of course, the picky eater didn’t get the full enjoyement of it but he was happy.

He squirt the whipping cream himself.

Have a happy 4th!  I know my little imp and daddy are enjoying their treats!

Even though it may look like it, I am not copying my friend Shanda.  I have really wanted to try Rowan Denim or the Rowan cotton yarns.  I may venture out of town tomorrow to see if I can find some. 
2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

That is an easy answer.  Any kind of sock yarn.  I am happy if I can grab up a new skein and start a pair of socks, I can do that anywhere I happen to be!  It’s saved me many times either of boredom or once when we went to a concert and our seats were in the top of the stadium…if I wouldn’t have had sock yarn and needles, I’d have had to be carried out of there in a straight jacket.  (terrified of heights!)

When it started getting breezy and clouding over, I thought I’d better get outside and get my knitting and I had to just stop and laugh at the sight.

My jumbled mess of yarn, my melted ice from my coffee and the birthday gift a friend gave me today at church…all exactly as I had left it.

I got the gift early because my friend is leaving this week for the east coast.  She wasn’t sure it was something I’d like but she kept getting drawn back to it.  She didn’t know about my “100 things about me” list, but one of the things was that I love to laugh but that I don’t do it enough.  What a great reminder.  I plan to put it where I’ll see it often!

Later both girls and their hubbies showed up.  #1 son-in-law bought cherries for me from the fruit stand and brought them over to share.  What a guy.  The newlyweds were out riding bikes and stopped in.  I love it.

The day was beautiful but this evening the fog rolled in and it got cold and windy.  We may get some thundershowers tonight and then another nice day tomorrow.  Hubby had to hurry out and put the roof up on the Jeep.

The dog thinks he was helping.

We were scheduled for the imp’s therapy session tomorrow but the OT is sick so the mama-to-be and the little imp and I are all headed out of town anyway to look at baby car seats.  We just won’t have a schedule to meet now.  We’ll meet back up with the OT probably in September because the only day she had open to re-schedule us was our anniversary…no can-do.

And now I am headed to Ravelry to figure out some baby knitting since I can’t get this bag right today.

To start the day, I got a call from the new bride, she wanted to go for a walk.  It was pleasant…but she’s in better shape than I am.  I don’t think I held her back too much, though.

Hubby and I went to the funeral today.  I am most impressed with the legacy this lady left…she has a fine family following her and she was much loved and seemed to have great influence for the good on her family.  We got some of the fruit of that with our wonderful son-in-law.

On the way back to the shop, I had to make a little stop.

This could be called “I am bored at the stoplight that seems to be taking forever.”

People have asked how big this bag really is.  Instead of measuring, I’ll give you a visual.

It’s trying to hang off both ends.

That’s the last time you’ll see this bag here.

I had a great dinner date tonight.

We had his favorite, french toast.  He was good company, too.

Then flat loopy had to join us.

For those of you who don’t know about him, he came from Loopy Ewe and they want to see his summer ventures.  I really want to get one of the woolpet kits made exclusively for them.

I had a good friend stop over tonight with something fun.

Isn’t that cute?  The is the gift bag from Last Minute Gifts.  She figures it took about 6 hours to make by the time it was finished.  I love it!  I’ll take it to the shop for a sample, that’s why she did it.

And now that I have finished this post, hubby decides to go for a walk.  I’ve been talking to him and typing….now I am done, he is gone.  lol 

I got the sweetest gift yesterday and I forgot to show it!  Out of sight, out of mind these days….it was in my Ravelry bag.  This is a friend that I will have fun when I get to wait for a grandbaby with her, too.  She has been gracious and fun waiting with me for mine.

The What if There Were No Grandma’s book is sooooo cute.  I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what kind of Grammy I will be and I hope to live up to some of the sweetest ideas of Grandma’s from children’s point of view.  We had a good time reading it together.  The Hugs for Grandma book is like all of those books are, wonderful and thought provoking.  Of course, anyone who knows me knows that chocolate is right in any circumstance….but I will really need it on the big day so I will see if I can keep it that long!

Thanks, Bunni!!!!

The exciting thing is that I am finishing one thing and starting another, not bored. 

It’s hard to get a good picture when they’re on the needles.  This time I’m using Cascade Sierra cotton.

We’ve had a pleasant few days.  The breeze is really almost cold, but the sun is shining. 

Tomorrow we go to SIL’s grandma’s funeral.  He’s to be a pallbearer.  He’s such a great guy and I’m proud of him.

Ok, the bag is calling me.

I have started another one.  I got finished with the bottom of the bag and realized I forgot to do the increases and decreases so the bottom won’t be shaped, but it didn’t bother me enough to rip it all out.  I am going to make this one a little bit smaller even though I think this one is a great size.  I am just thinking about window shopping and carrying the bigger bag.  Great pattern!

The SP12 question for week #3 is:

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash? 

How in the world do you answer that?  I think the perfect amount of stash is when you are satisfied with it.  I think the answer might be never, so I plan never to feel like I’ve achieved the perfect stash and just build and use to my heart’s content.  :)  Is that even an answer?   lol

It’s a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be but that’s nice when you consider it’s supposed to hold groceries.  I like the handles and I like the method the designer uses to attach them..it’s all short rows.

I’m, already considering what colors to do next.  My only complaint with the yarn is that every skein has had knots.  Some of them have fallen in good places, but some will be a pain to weave in.

Yesterday we had 2 events to attend…the chili feed fundraiser for the youth mission trip.  Son-in-law did a great job making the chili and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Then we had a graduation party to attend.  We knew the kiddo before he was born so it was fun to see all his accomplishments…he’s a great kid from a great family.

Today I had an early birthday party.  A friend takes another friend and I to lunch every year for our birthdays, which are 5 days apart.  I think my birthday is still about a week and a half away but Mondays are the only day we could do it and next week I have therapy for little imp.

We went to an Italian restaurant that started serving lunches today.  It was really good!  I had a chicken salad with raspberry vinegarette, my favorite.  The garlic bread with it was one of the best I’ve ever had, super garlicky.  We also had strawberry, key lime, and raspberry tortes.  Yum!

Our waitress was a young girl I’ve known for a long time and she was great.  I think they got a lot of their first-day bugs worked out on us.

We got really fun gifts.

It was really hard to photograph it, but it’s a little stand with a cute plate on it. She thought cookies would be cute on it..but the waitress brought out a torte and put it on it and that was really cool.  The plate is easily lifted off for serving.  I thought it would look really, really cool with little yarn cakes stacked on it…they laughed when I said it.

I have work to do tonight, I wish I’d been doing it instead of the handles on my bag…maybe I wouldn’t have made the mistake. 

It was also a sad day, today, though….papa-to-be lost his grandma today and it was pretty unexpected.  I heard he was handling it ok, but he was probably a little bit in shock.  They were not able to revive her when the paramedics were called to her house and when the family gathered at the hospital there was a social worker there to meet them.  The kids are getting away for their first anniversary over the next few days, so the family said they should just go and enjoy themselves.  They can’t do anything here and there won’t be a service for a few days so they need the chance to celebrate.  As mama said to me, they were concerned she might hang on for a few days and they would never have left if that was the case.  Our kids are very sensitive and it’s nice that the family said they should go with their blessing because they need the opportunity to honor  their anniversary.  They have to cook for a chili feed fundraiser tonight so it will be ready after church tomorrow so he has things to keep himself busy.  It makes me realize the depth of love I have for my new kids and I’ve been concerned for him all day but they’ve had a lot going on so I haven’t been able to talk to him.

I saw the mama today.  I had the cutest book to give her.  

She was pretty tickled.

Ok…I wanted to show you what I won!

Frieda was asking for donations for her cancer walk in Canada.  She was walking in memory of her mother and mother-in-law and she was offering the shawl as a prize.  I won!  I didn’t donate because of the prize, but I am sure thrilled to be the winner. However, she was so incredibly generous because that isn’t all she sent me!

I had a really hard time capturing how beautiful this yarn is.  The amazing thing is I have been looking at this very yarn in this very colorway online. I could not be more thrilled.  She did such a beautiful job of knitting on the shawl, too, and I will really enjoy it.

I’m making good progress on my BYOB. 

I was only going to make this 3 colors but last night as I was knitting on the way to Olympia on our date, I decided it needed some more pop so I got the light blue.  What’s weird is, that color of blue may be my least favorite color, but it really seemed to make a difference in the whole thing.  I hope to get lots farther tonight on my knitting but I wanted to make sure to get pictures while it is still light out.  It’s on the needles and I couldn’t get it to lay flat (and of course about 10 stitches popped off the needles) but I’ll be working on it tonight and hope to have better pictures to show you soon.

Yesterday was the first day of summer and we had about our 3rd nice day of the year.  It was warm and beautiful but by the time I got off work, the fog was rolling in.  We were pleasantly surprised when we got out of town that it was actually very warm.  We love to eat at i.talia and never knew until last night that they have outdoor seating across the way from the restaurant so we ate outside.  I haven’t used my phone much for taking pictures but I thought it did a decent job.

And my knitting came with me:

The waitress was really interested in the bag. 

And now, back to knitting!