Purling Oaks

Some actual knitting...

I have been knitting and here's some evidence.     I've been working on increasing my speed but, of course, for me with speed (I use that term loosely) comes .......... a hole.  I found it yesterday just as my plane reached cruising speed to Madison; a short flight so not that much of a loss.    I think I have a spare yarn-over there but I'm not sure.  I've been researching my Knit Fix book for a solution to that and all Lisa Kartus says is to tink.  /sigh.  Is it possible to just "drop down" and fix it?  I've got errands to run this morning so I won't be playing with it too soon.  I will be seeing my DSIL Anne tomorrow, I think, and she will probably know how to fix it....besides tinking, I hope.  *g*

I walked around outside early this morning and found some things to share with you.  Here's a blue flag iris growing in the stream, which is still flowing but the volume of water is much reduced.

The thyme is blooming...... 

I've been walking a lot lately and feeling really good.  I've even been feeling skinny-er but when I step on the scale it says "so what if you've been walking.....walk more!"  So, I'll take the mood improvement and hope for more as I keep walking.  I've found a place to stay about two blocks from the office in DC so I'll be able to avoid the "sweaties" in the morning.  I plan to walk to and on the "Mall" in the evenings so I can keep up the walking and walk in a place where there will be a lot to see.  I'll have to walk a few blocks to get to the Washington Monument end.   I'll be able to gauge my progress by how far I get on the Mall.

Happy Friday!

A Bluebird and Enchiladas

Mr. Bluebird - Saturday Morning

I had a pretty good week overall, despite completely forgetting about the humidity levels in DC and having the worse "hair" week of the last decade.  This was my first week of a year-long detail in DC and I'm having the opportunity of experiencing what it is like to have my own office....with a door.  No exterior window, so don't get too excited for me.  Normally, for work I get to sit at a folding or conference room table in chairs ranging from folding chairs to kitchen chairs to pretty decent office chairs, so a "real" office is a treat.  My hotel is about 12 blocks from the office so I did get a lot of walking in....and also more showers.  I'm going to have to strategize (is *so* a word!) my day so I don't feel like a wrung-out rag when I arrive for work in the morning.  I am such a walking wimp since I really hate being sweaty in work clothes.  *whine*  On the other hand, I am happy with the exercise I got this week.  I've found there is a work-out room in the building so I may be able to include it in my campaign quest to be more fit.

I definitely got behind in personal email answering and blog reading and commenting this week on the road.  When flying, I can't carry everything I would normally just chuck into the Jeep, so I'm minus my MacBook.   I may be in the market for one of those little net books things but I'm really waiting for the rumored Apple netbook of early 2010.  My telephone and some blog comment applications like those for Joan's and Carrie's blogs, to name just a couple, do not play together at all.  On top of that I just don't like typing long sentences on a micro-keyboard.  Access to blogs via work is just not the thing to do with my employer.  So, I'm working on it.  Please don't forget about me.  :D 

Wilson and I don't really have the "yard beautiful" thing going on but sometimes stuff just needs to be trimmed.  A new gardening tool arrived this week that I ordered from Amazon and I'm very pleased with it.  It is a cordless Black & Decker 18V string trimmer.  It is light enough for me to use easily in the yard compared to the stinky gas models.  Wilson charged the batteries for me during the week so I could play with it Saturday.  I trimmed just about everything using the first battery (it comes with two rechargeables) yesterday afternoon.  It also is far less noisy than the gas model.  We have an electric model but an extension cord only goes so far around here.  On top of it all, this is going to be an excellent upper-body strength builder based on the way my arms feel this morning.  Ouch.  (I am such a weakling.) 

Besides trimming, laundry, and errands, I also cooked!  Really.  I was browsing in the cookbook bookcase and came across Jane Butel's book and decided pork and green chile enchiladas, New Mexico style sounded great.  The recipe was inspired by Jane but isn't in the book, exactly. 

Now, I'm just taking Jane's word that this are really New Mexico-style enchiladas since I didn't research them the one time I visited in Roswell.  (I'm hoping to amend that this October in Taos.)  However, these were yummy even if they were just Angie-style.  I also made some tomatillo salsa from last summer's frozen tomatillos.  I collapsed in my armchair the rest of the evening.  :D

Some goals, before I forget

I mentioned, a few weeks ago, that I planned to make some resolutions goals for 2009.  I've been pondering and here's my list.  Some goals have no real measureable targets but most do. 

• Make more efficient use of my herb garden.  In 2008, I dried some basil and oregano but not much, nor did I jar them up.  Yup, I have a dried leaves in ziplock bags in my spice cabinet.  I didn't dry any thyme at all, which is SO unusual since I love it and we use it often in the kitchen.  So, I would like to harvest herbs regularly this  summer, dry them, and store them in jars, to keep or give away.
• Finish Icarus and Forest Canopy.  Stacey and I have set a first interim goal of February 14 to complete Chart 1 of the Icarus pattern.  I have made a far amount of progress on Forest Canopy but I'm glad I've decided to finish Icarus first.
• Send birthday greetings and presents so they arrive on time.  The earth may cease to turn if I achieve this goal this year......
• Exercise more.  I've fallen off the Curves wagon.  (Darkness, cold and ice, 40-50 minutes travel time, annoyance with the management....not good reasons, just reasons) I have a treadmill at home, I need to get on it more this winter.  I had a good 40-minute walk each day when I was in DC last week (hotel-office-hotel) and it felt good.  I want to feel that good when I'm home.  Exercise is a challenge for me with my ever changing work location/schedule....I need to get past that since I probably won't be changing my job anytime soon.
• Not take on too many extra commitments (like KALs).   I haven't been able to "keep up" with, most recently, Knitting with Nora due to various circumstances and personal tendencies.  I'm working on finding ways to "keep up" but I have to realize that my work schedule does not lend itself to keeping up.  Which is okay.   I want to participate with friends but I have to remember I've got some limitations.

Okay, that's enough of the goal stuff.  Here's what I've been doing the past couple of days...

First, there's been more bread.  This is rye bread from the 5-minute Artisan Bread book.  I substituted 1.5 cups of bread flour for the all-purpose flour because I ran out of AP flour due to all the recent bread baking.  This loaf was/is yummy.  The bread is "lighter" than the basic recipe but still a pretty sturdy bread.  I'm looking forward to some ham on rye sandwiches this week. 

I also spent a bit of time in my studio.  I added (and assembled) a new chair from ShopKo that is a swivel/glider chair (on sale).  I'm still working on where to put everything but here's a current progress photo or three. 

No where as nicely organized as some but at least I've emptied all the boxes and everything is installed somewhere.  I will be re-arranging as I spend more time in the studio and find better places for different things to live.  I'm finding pleasant surprises each time I take a good look at a shelf.  Sometimes I'll find a skein of yarn I've forgotten about or I'll pick up a book I haven't opened in a long time.  The stash is hiding in the closet.  I'll save that for a future post.

Last Sunday's blue sky

This photo was taken on a lovely breezy Sunday afternoon (last weekend).  It was a lovely day and I actually took time to sit on the grass in the backyard and watch clouds between loads of laundry.  This weekend is a bit wet signalling the beginning of autumn to me.  But it was a nice weekend, as was the last one.

Saturday was a fun and full day.  My friend, (blogless) Charlynn, drove up from Springfield (on Friday) and my mother drove down from the Fox Valley and we all went to the Quilt Expo in Madison.  Mom was searching for fabric for a class project so we scoured the vendors and finally found the right combination for her second quilting project.  We were all so overloaded we didn't even get to see the regular quilts and just went to lunch at the Wah Kee which is one of my favorites. 

Mom shared tomatoes, plums, and pumpkins from her garden with me and Charlynn and then took her fabric back home with her.  Thanks for coming down, Mom!

It was really nice to see my mom and Charlynn, even if only for a short time.  As Stacey knows, the dust this weekend really was getting to me.   I know Charlynn's my friend because she put up with all the dust and mess of the construction and even slept on the couch since all the guest beds were in storage.  Thanks for visiting, Charlynn!  Sorry about White Dot yodeling at 4 AM! 

*e* status

I've continued going to Curves even though I didn't post my progress last Sunday.  I've worked out three times each week.  I've lost 4.25 inches since I've started.  It seems like slow progress but it is progress.  I think I need to add more aerobic exercise into the mix.  

Construction update

The basement is all drywalled and all the surfaces were primed on Saturday.  Monday is the final paint for the basement with the flooring being installed Tuesday through Friday.  The addition is getting flooring on Wednesday and sometime will have the drywalling finished and painting completed.  I think the house will look very different on Friday!  Coming up yet are the lighting and lots of woodwork, doors, and finish work.  Plus, the woodstove!  The house hasn't been in order since early June.  DH and I are both very ready to have a quiet, clean, and finished home to live in.  I'm crossing my fingers for no major hold-ups.

Holiday recap and a F.O.

What I did over my summer vacation Labor Day Weekend:

DH and I had a very nice four-day weekend.  On Friday, we both got haircuts, ate at the Indian buffet (YUM!!!), and shopped for ceiling fans and lights for the new construction and re-construction.     

On Saturday, I worked out, did a few productive things, then read for the rest of the afternoon.  Bliss with a book that required no brain cell bending.  I love to read and will read just about anything but this was perfect for the afternoon.

Sunday, the electricians showed up at a pretty early hour to start their part of the construction.  Sigh.  So, after a bit of breakfast and blog-reading, I took the Jeep down to Madison to do some grocery shopping and obtain things we cannot find at our local Piggly Wiggly.  Once I was back home, I started a new project and completed it today. 

The fabric is a dark red tencel that was 20% off at Gayfeather Fabrics a few weeks ago.  A simple top and a straight skirt were pretty basic to sew.  I pulled out my Featherweight sewing machine and tried to remember where I put my sewing skills.  *g*  No formal pattern but I copied an outfit I paid quite a bit for then had one of those V-8 moments.  *Hey*  I can make this myself!  And I did.  It will look great with a black jacket or the red shawl Stacey and I plan to knit together sometime. 

Today I also worked on the garden and divided the Florentine Iris.  For those of you who put your name in the hat earlier this summer for some rhizomes...expect a package within the next week or so.  For those of you who were too shy to speak up, let me know if you are up for some iris to add to your garden. 

For the week's *e* recap, I visited Curves three times this week, once in Ladysmith and twice at my "home" Curves. 

August scenes

To me, this scene illustrates late August.  The lawn is a bit crunchy under your feet, the sky is clear and blue, and if you look long enough, the humidity can make you feel cranky.  Okay, that last part isn't true about the photo, but it certainly is true about late August.  The weather, actually, has been quite nice for August since it has not been scorching hot and the plagues of bugs (box-elder) haven't started yet.  We could use a bit more rain, maybe an inch or two a week.  I'm trying to be careful in my request after June's record wetness and the results we are still recovering from. 

Speaking of, here is a recent photo of the outside construction.  The framing is finished and waiting for approval from the inspector.  After that, the electrician can start the wiring and the chimney for the wood stove can be installed.  I imagine some drywall should be starting soon, too.  The jack-o-lantern effect isn't quite so strong in person.  *g*  I'm thinking a tall trellis with a vine up the left side would be nice.  What do you think?

One of our apple trees didn't flower at all this year.  It was distressed last year and dropped lots of leaves.  This year the leaves look great but no flowers, so no apples.  That's okay, though, there's another apple tree in the orchard.  We don't spray nor did I remember to put out containers of my mother's recipe of vinegar and water in spring to catch the bugs before they found the apple blossoms.  However, there are a few good apples for us and plenty for the wildlife.

This week has been a bit much for me, physically and mentally.  I haven't been feeling 100%, I traveled to DC and back, and work has been piling on.  On the bright side, I did work out yesterday at Curves and I think I'll be caught up with the majority of the excess work by the end of the day on Monday.  I also made it through three rows of Forest Canopy on the plane Thursday before I fell asleep. 

Today we are heading east over to Pleasant Prairie for a brat fry with DH's side of our family.  I'll have some knitting time and it will be great to catch up with family.  Happy Sunday!

Quick update and a tummy

Just a quick post on the construction, etc.  Here's the view just a few minutes ago. 

There were a few cats hiding under the bed this morning with the saws started cutting into the roof.  DH and I considered joining them. 

Here's a gratuitous tummy shot:

Blue's tummy.  He's such a sweetie.

Exercise-wise, I went to Curves three times last week and on Saturday was certified for my little card key that will be my personal coach.  It will tell me if I'm working too hard or not hard enough and store all the information so I can compare my workouts over time.  Very cool.  I think.  (just kidding....it is cool but there can't be any loafing around with no accounting for it.)

I want to be like her!

The family reunion/Christmas in August was fun and too short.  There was so much good food and not nearly enough time to talk to family and catch up.  My Great Aunt Madolyn is an inspiration.  She's 93, looks great, is physically active, mentally sharp and active and I want to be like her at her age.  One family fact I find a bit fascinating is that Madolyn and her sister/my grandmother, Ruby Angeline, married cousins, both Joneses.  The first time I met Madolyn's daughter, Cathy, in Tulsa, probably about 1988 I knew she was family.  She looked so much like my Aunt Suzie, my father's youngest sister!  Cathy and I had a nice time talking about weaving on Saturday and we exchanged email addresses so the discussion can continue.  Here's a photo of me and Cathy.

Another photo I really like from Saturday is one of Great Aunt Madolyn with my Uncle David. 

I have other more "traditional" photos of these two, but this one captures some of the essence of my uncle.  Family reunions can be stressful and this one was a little bittersweet for me since a part of me expected to walk into a room and see my father having an indepth conversion with someone at one of the dining tables.  Some habits die hard.

This week I worked out three times at Curves, all at the West Bend location.  Today was a work-out, too, with additional stair-climbing and box-hauling in our continued effort to empty the basement.   One more day of carrying will do it and that day will be the two-person stuff and a little bit of packing.  Really, it isn't *all* my stash.  However, I did take a peek in some of my plastic bins.  I really could stand to make a quilt or five.  Anyway, no evidence at the scale of any progress but I feel it in my muscles and there is a hint of ease in my waistband, I think. 

Here's a hollyhock from my Aunt Virginia's garden after a brief but enthusiastic shower. 

And I should have a finished object to share if I can take a modeled photo tomorrow!

Basement packing and a summer Sunday dinner

Thank goodness for meals that require very little effort!  This afternoon, DH and I started the packing and hauling of our basement stuff to our garage.  We need to do this to give the construction guys room to work in the basement and to keep our "stuff" relatively clean and dust-free.  Yes, Artemesia's fleece is safe and sound.  We'll be working on cleaning out the basement for a few more weekend days.  I hope we have enough room in garage for everything!

Dinner was Willy Street Co-op spinach dip with corn chips as an appetizer/vegetable course.  Then we had smoked salmon with vinegar cucumbers (the first recipe at Amy's) The smoked salmon meal is an assemble it yourself dish.  I placed some salmon on a sesame cracker with a squeeze of lemon and a bit of sour cream and horseradish mixed together.  We like it a bit heavy on the horseradish.  Yum.  We first had this appetizer/course at a bar in Houghton, Michigan (in the Upper Peninsula.)  DH asked me to point out that freshly smoked lake trout is especially outstanding for this dish but this salmon was very good.  The cucumbers are very crisp, simple, and delicious, as well as a very nice compliment to the smoked fish.

Our third and last course will be was beef filet chunks sauteed with whole garlic cloves and fino.  The last recipe is from Penelope Casas.  All of the servings are relatively small for each course.  (I had to mention that since I'm going to talk about exercise in the next paragraph.)

I'm going to summarize my exercise efforts every Sunday and spare you all the rest of the week.  This week, I worked out at Curves every week day (skipping the weekend).  Two workouts were at my "home" Curves in a nearby small town and the other three workouts were in West Bend which has a larger Curves facility and is a bit more professionally decorated.  On Friday I heard that the "home" facility has been sold to a new owner.  I'm hoping the overall atmosphere will improve.  Of course, the atmosphere really shouldn't matter, should it?  I'm there for the workout.  Just for the workout.  I have to remember that and not let other matters interfere with my goal. 

Ack.  I said goal.  It is a reasonable goal but not an easy one either.  It is also an interim goal.  I won't be devastated if I don't reach it by my birthday but I hope I am relatively near it by the time November shows up.   I would be quite happy to weigh what I weighed when I was married a bit over eight years and two dress sizes ago.

Thursday's status

It turns out there *is* a frost wall after all.  Progress is paused for a day or two to wait for the building permit to arrive.  Yes, my eyebrows are raised.  However, this is the country and I'm not yet in tune with the flow of administrative documents. Overall, things are going well and we are ahead of schedule.  ::knocks on wood::

Passing clouds.  I thought some rain might appear but so far, no wetness.  I'll have to water the garden tomorrow after I pick the beans.  Speaking of vegetable gardens.....my tomatillo plant is not setting fruit.  Do I need two plants or am I just being impatient?  The little Fairy Tale eggplant plants are working hard.  I plucked one lovely little fruit and there looks to be many more in my dinner future.

I was a bit on the crabby side this evening but playing in the garden helped relieve the mood.  I did work out before driving home.  I'm beginning to feel some fatigue but that is okay.  I think the fatigue is more work/mental rather than physical.