Traveling

So I had to go to California again for work. While I dislike airplanes, the scenery was beautiful all the way from Denver to Sacramento:

snow and indoor play

playing

I found a new hobby.  It's not like I really needed another one, but at least this one is relatively cheap.  I've spent $22 on stamps and $6 on sharpies and gel pens that can write on dark paper, and now I'm collecting old books, magazines, etc. to make mail art.  I can't remember when I've had so much fun just...playing.  Knitting is lovely and fills my soul, too, but it doesn't make me giddy.  So if I have your snail mail address, keep an eye on your mailbox.  Something fun will eventually come your way.

In other news, Albin gets the rest of his braces off this afternoon.  It's his last 'good' excuse for a chocolate malt for dinner. 

One of the local goodwill stores is having a half off sale, too, as they are closing to remodel next week.  People keep growing in this house, or wearing out their jeans, so I get to go shopping.  It's so much more fun to look for those kinds of things at a thrift store (and I might find another old dish or two that needs a new home).

I love the smell of wet wool in the morning

I blocked Jeanette's hat with my iron to even out the stitches and keep the brim rolled down.  I think it worked.  The wool sure had a distinctive smell to it!

Elise started a new project today.  I can't wait to see where it goes.

endings and beginnings

After a month of work, Elise finished her book report for school, on time, too.  After a year and a half, Albin's braces will be completely off next week.  They are both glad to be done.  Thus mark the endings for January.

I cut all the squares for Elise's new quilt, and now she gets to arrange them.  They are all sweets or animal motifs--perfect for her.  (Note Clover and Tiny in the background.)

We signed up for another year with our CSA.  They are selling seedlings, too, so we can plan new beginnings for our garden.  The Seed Savers catalog arrived recently, too.  Lots of dreaming in our future!

I finished a hat for my aunt (my first attempt at fair isle styled two-color knitting), and am working on the most fabulous tea cozy ever.  I only need to find a proper tea pot to fit it when I am done.  I'm getting close to finishing another shawl, too.

Karl will be home soon.  He is on a business trip in California,. Even though it's much warmer there, he is working too long to enjoy any of it.  Hope he gets to soak up a little sunshine before his return--they are forecasting -30 windchills here tomorrow!

weekend travel

As much as he doesn't care for traveling, Karl has not been home much recently.  On Wednesday, he and Elise left for a funeral in Iowa.  (I'm really glad they were able to go and be with family.)  They came home late Thursday night.  Saturday morning, Karl, Elise and I left for an overnight trip to Wausau.  While washing dishes and listening to NPR, I had heard about an exhibit at a museum there called "I Want Candy."  Can you imagine a more perfect combination for Elise--sweets and art?  Albin was very happy to keep the home fires burning while we were away, so we all had a good weekend.  We weren't allowed to take pictures of the art--and some of it was really good, but here are a few photos of the weekend.

Happy New Year

Here's some pictures from the last few weeks.  It was good seeing family at Christmas time--lots of playing dress-up (for some), games, and a great afternoon of sledding.  That side of the hill at Mom and Dad's worked better than I would have thought. 

Once we were home again, we made our New Year's pretzels.  This batch didn't turn out great, but we managed to eat them all, anyway.  We've been playing games to win the 'charity pot.'  Instead of exchanging gifts within the four of us, we are each putting $5 in a pot.  Whoever wins three games gets the money to give to their favorite charity.  I won Munchkin, and Elise cleaned us out in Risk.  Albin won most games of Muppet Uno, but that may not count as Elise was not playing at the time.  We'll get 'er done eventually.

I thought there was a loose wire in our old stereo, as one of the speakers was rather intermittent.  We pulled the back off and poked around (see Clover helping?).  Karl spent a few hours on it yesterday, and unfortunately, it now sounds a little worse than when we started.  (And the speaker still isn't working.)  I think we needed new record needles, anyway... 

Other than that, the new year is starting out lovely.  Hope it is the same with all of you!