Back to School....

Ready for another school year....7th Grade!

Busy at work and no complaints....yeah!

Why he's doing his school work on my bedroom floor is beyond me?

Fuji likes helping him!

Concentrating and finding the answers....

Weekend Fun...

Jimmy with his fishing pole on August 28...

In Bishop, CA with his Daddy and Papa!

Can you keep a fish out of water?

and yes...he had to get wet up to his knees.

Told him he's supposed to be catching fish not being a fish!:)

August 29....he caught a fish, hopefully they throw it back after the picture so it could grow up and be caught the next time they go fishing!



Jimmy found this treasure while garage selling!
Yeah, another Nerf gun!

When they went to breakfast at the casino there was a car show...I bet he took a picture of every car there! :) They're having a great time and will be back tomorrow!:)

Jimmy and Papa at dinner...

They went back to the casino for a BBQ dinner....tri-tip, salad and chocolate cake. Jimmy wore his first piece of cake but enjoyed his second piece much better!:) Missing my guys!

Dogs on Thursdays...DOT!

Gypsy is wagging her tail so hard over her new bone you can't even see it in the photo!:)

She got this bone on her birthday, August 5...and she hasn't touched it! Usually a normal size bone she devours in minutes!

Maybe we should let Fuji lick on it and then maybe she'd eat it?

Happy DOT!

James, Jimmy and my Dad are all going fishing this weekend....knittin' time for me!:) My Mom's birthday is tomorrow...Happy Birthday Mom....then my Dad's is Monday...Happy Birthday Dad!

Beach Ball Monkey's

My monkey socks that have been marinating in my purse are now finished! whoo hoo!

The yarn was a Woolgirl kit colorway called Beach Ball...think it was Madelintosh but can't find the band. Think this pattern would look better on a semi solid but still love them. I'm thinking on getting those clear converse tennis shoes so they'll show my socks good. I hate the clear clogs I have because its a sauna on the feet. I've even drilled holes in them and they still steam up! I wish Crocs would make a clear pair...love me some Crocs!:)

Went to the knitting meeting yesterday and had a great time. I worked on my drop stitch scarf, love this pattern, so relaxing and a non thinker! Finally got to meet Lorena in person...we've only talked on twitter or ravelry and always miss each other at meets! Came home from the meet and made carrot cake, cinnamon spice, and cafe vienna soap...they smell sooo good! One more week before we start school.....

Shreddin' & Readin'

On Twitter there are five of us who started the Couch to 5K a couple of weeks ago...then one of them found this DVD and got us talked into doing it too. OMG....this is a butt kicker workout plus it has 3 levels! We're only on Level 1...haven't even looked at any of the other levels, can't even imagine the pain on those ones! The first couple of days I could barely walk...we have a sunk in family/living room and trying to step up or down on those to make it to the other side was a killer. Then trying to use the bathroom was a whole other story, had to ease on to the toilet just to go potty! Really wanted James to install those handrails in the bathroom area so I'd having something to grip onto!:) Took a day off and then did it again and it has eased up a bit...still a rough workout but no pain no gain right!:) Haven't been doing my C25K because I couldn't function after this workout but might try to add it back with this this coming week! Its fun that were keeping each other accountable on twitter too!

Ordered these books from amazon the other day..maybe my Jillian workout will get me in shape to knit a wild bikini...haha

Barknknit Review...

Just got done listening to Episode 29 of my Barknknit podcast and Natalie did an awesome review of my soaps! I sent her some Cinnamon Spice and some Lavender....one of her fur babies helped open the package too!:) She's been using the Lavender and likes how it cleans and doesn't dry your skin out. It's also not a loud smell so even her hubby, Kenny liked it. I was worried that the lavender would turn out old ladyish but it turned out fantastic. I will be adding some new scents soon but am also revving up for the Cogknitive retreat in October! Check out her podcast she's even having a Harry Potter contest with some great prizes!

Dogs on Thursdays...DOT!

Playing ball...

Still playing ball....

Back to beggin' with Daddy...

Glasses for Jimmy...

Jimmy in the Wolfe Den....doing Club Penguin!

Modeling his new glasses for me so I can put it on my blog!:)
At least he's smiling because he didn't want me to do a blog post!

These are his prescription dark shades for outside!

Ordered some prescription swim goggles too and hopefully they'll come in the mail soon!

He did all the picking for his glasses and think he did a great job! We knew he'd end up needing glasses because James and I both are/were nearsighted. I had the rk surgery done in 1993 and have had wonderful vision since. They said Jimmy can have contacts next year and when he's 19 he can have the laser surgery to correct his vision.

FO: Landscape Shawl

Finished my Landscape shawl....it's so soft and cuddly!

Now I need to finish the monkey socks that have been marinating and the drop stitch scarf. Casted on the Mr. Greenjeans sweater too....I keep wanting to cast on for things!:)

This is the handspun yarn that I made for Dawn for her birthday. I snagged the pic from her blog because I forgot to take a picture of it when I finished because I was in such a hurry to get it to her! Can't wait to see what she makes out of it!

Memorial "Richard" Tree

Planted a tree yesterday after the funeral services in memoriam of my Uncle Richard. We chose this spot because actually every Saturday morning when he'd come over with my Dad (his twin) to pick up James to go garage selling and breakfast he would relieve himself right there... so in a way he marked his spot!:) Also it is where the road grader and backhoe are parked which he taught us to use and did a lot of work on our property for us. We chose a pine to signify his love for the outdoors, working outdoors, playing/camping up at the property in Tehachapi, fishing, walking his beloved Jack Russel "Jack", shooting guns....

A living tribute to Richard....as our memories grow so will the tree.

Richard...

YOUNG, Richard “Rick” Born Aug. 31, 1945. He passed suddenly and quietly into the arms of the Lord on Aug. 7, 2009. He had been battling COPD and heart problems for the past few years. He and his twin brother Robert were born in Greene, New York, to Archie and Wilma Young. At age 12 the family moved to the Antelope Valley where he attended Quartz Hill elementary School and graduated from AVHS in 1963. He served in the National Guard. Worked for GTE as a lineman, then became a self-employed contractor for Edison for many years. Rick was a long time devoted supporter of Alcoholic Anonymous at the Grange in Quartz Hill. He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tehachapi, Calif. He was a avid antique collector. Rick enjoyed going to garage sales and breakfast with his brother. In his spare time he worked on dog grooming equipment for local shops. Rick was preceded in death by his father Archie Young in 2002. His memory will be cherished and missed by his mother Wilma Young of Quartz Hill, Calif., his son Russell (Stephanie) Young, grandchildren Ryan, Emily, Ethan and Rebecca Young all of Helix, Ore., daughter Trudy (Dave) Johnston, grandchildren Jason and Michele Johnston all of Rancho Mirage, Calif., twin brother Robert (Dolores) Young of Lancaster, niece Dawn (James) Wolfe and great- nephew Jimmy of Lancaster, Calif., his beloved pet “Jack”, and many extended family and friends. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 13, 2009, at Halley-Olsen-Murphy, Lancaster. Interment to follow at Joshua Memorial Park, Lancaster. http://www.halleyolsenmurphychapels.com/

Uncle Richard...

My Dad and his twin brother Richard.

Helping us build our house three years ago...

Richard Young

August 31, 1945 - August 7, 2009

Sweater Babe!

Fuji is soooo glad this sweater is being donated to a good cause....

In Los Angeles County, we have lots of local animal shelters with TONS of adorable animals in need of a loving home. Namaste, Inc. will donate all dog sweaters that they receive to our local animal shelters, in the hopes that these sweaters will bring the lonely creatures some comfort and perhaps “doll them up” enough to make them more appealing to their potential new owners. Look what a fashion diva Fuji is...haha!
So here’s the contest- each handmade dog sweater you send Namaste, Inc. will earn you a raffle ticket to win one of 3 prizes. 3rd place raffle winner gets a Mini Clutch in your color choice, 2nd place raffle winner gets a brand new Hermosa bag in your color choice, and the grand prize raffle winner gets a brand new Hermosa bag, as well as a Mini Clutch to match.We know these things take time, so the deadline for the contest is September 30th.. You can submit as many sweaters as you like (please include contact info per submission), this will only earn you better chances to win the prize. Please let us know if you have any questions and the animals of Namaste say “thanks” for playing :).
Submit your awesome dog sweaters to:
Namaste Inc. 9025 Eton Ave. Suite A Canoga Park, CA 91304

Works in Progress....

My Landscape shawl is still on the needles...

Started the Drop Stitch scarf (which is an awesome, easy fun pattern)....Fuji sees me grab the project bag its in and she goes running for the back door because I've been working on it outside rocking in my chair! She's so funny! Also have my Monkey socks hibernating in my purse...and crocheting washcloths every week.

Started the Couch to 5K program yesterday. It's a really cool iphone ap that tells you when to run, when to walk, cool down....I did it on my eliptical because I have really bad ankles that I don't know would survive real running. I have bones that wrap around my tendons/muscles and when I stomp down it pulls them like a rubber band...plus I've broken them a few times too. I'm supposed to always where ankle braces but well I don't.:) Might try it around my backyard, we'll see, but I figure I'm still doing it even though its on a machine..it should still count! The sweat is pouring so that's a good thing right?:)

Today my mom is having a colonoscopy/endoscopy because she's having bad tummy problems, even had an allergic reaction to the preparation drink for the procedure...please say a prayer for her that everything will go well and that they don't find anything seriously wrong.

MMMMMalabrigo....

Look what James found in Santa Fe, NM.....a yarn store...:)

Looking Glass Yarns

and looky what he bought...

yummy, scrumptious, lovely MMMMMalabrigo in the colorway Hummingbird. It's so pretty...think I'm going to make a Mr. Greenjeans sweater with it. What do you think? Any other suggestions for this lovely yarn? Was also thinking the Liesl by Ysolda but think that would look better in a plain color...

So happy to have hubby home...Fuji did lots of howling all night for him and he got lots of loving from all of us. Having a great day with him home today!:)

Homeward Bound....

Yeah, James is on his way home from NM!!!

He had a wonderful time learning new things, seeing different demos, and also got to spend some time with his brother too!

This is a camera!!! Notice how big it is compared to the man gazing at it!
Of course James is already planning on how to make one!


This is a mobile darkroom!
I think this is the same guy that has that huge camera above so he can develop the print right from the whopper of a camera!

One of the presenters prints platinum prints for publishers that produce hand made books of photographers work. Each print in the book is hand made and there are 14 prints book. The price tag is a mere $17,000. I don't think I have enough amazon points for that!!!

Can't wait to see him and give him a big hug and kiss....lots of hugs and kisses!


It's also my TN buddies birthday today...Happy Birthday Dawn!