Country roads

I am one tired Meema.

Mom and Dad moved to New Richland this weekend. It's only five intersections and 90 miles away.This is the middle of God's country, if said country is not near anything else. It was a long, rather straight drive; the trip was made seasonally charming by the 5 o' clock shadow of tiny plants covering the fields. That, and passing a farm with a Santa and eight tiny reindeer still suspended across the driveway.

Anyhoo, they have been doing much work on (and cleaning out of) my maternal grandparents' old home. It's a cute house with a huge yard right next to the high school. And yes, my grandfather put faces on several of his trees, much to the delight of Kidlet. Two blocks further south is - and I mean this in every literal sense - the End of Town. The road comes to an abrupt finality of pavement, a couple of trees, and corn fields. Or maybe soybeans. I'll keep you updated.

Being Memorial Day, Old Glory was hoisted in the front yard before we returned the moving truck.

Nana and Papa, I hope you're turning in early tonight.

42 years

Happy anniversary, Nana and Papa - I love you!

Slice of the Big Apple #9

(This ain't no wimpy slice of fruit - it's a huge careful-you-don't-choke-on-it-and-if-you-do-I-don't-wanna-hear-about-it chunk.)

Friday in Manhattan was just Nana, Papa and Meema. Despite getting shut out of our first two chosen activities (#1: not having the correct portions of receipts for the harbor tour, and #2: not reserving tickets ahead of time for the Tenement Museum, which had THE BEST LOO IN THE CITY - I swear I took pictures of it), we made our way uptown. Lunch was taken at an amazing Greek family-run restaurant on Madison Avenue. Then...

Ah, Le Guggenheim.

Leaving the museum, we took a really fast cab ride across Central Park to catch a train to our next destination. Good timing, to be on the Staten Island Ferry at sunset; I'd love to say we planned it that way, but we owe it to good tourist karma.

The last stop on our last night in NYC was Grand Central Station. Dang. What an impressive structure, to say nothing of the thousands of people sifting through it each day.

Anyone else a fan of The Untouchables? Couldn't help but remember the movie as we walked down those stairs. (That's red-shirted Dad, heading down them much more uneventfully than did Mr. Costner.)

Whew. Big chunk of apple, that. Thanks for playing.

Ascot 2008

Our friends the Brits are a never-ending source of entertainment... Click here to see a gallery of Ladies' Day at Ascot finery...

... and this is how my own mum showed off her refined taste in millinery a few years back.

The 'rents clean up rather nicely, don't they?

Papa knows best

Some background information is needed here to understand the culture that is my parents' marriage. My mom has been a knitter/crocheter for over 40 years, in addition to forays into many other creatively expressive outlets: oil painting, sewing, latch hook, needlepoint, cross stitch, macrame - you get the idea.

Dad is creative in his own right, but is not one with "crafty" stuff. He gets the knitting thing, though, and surprises me regularly with the knowledge he has acquired:

1. He accompanied my mom to The Yarn Harlot event in April and had a genuine appreciation for what she had to say - and did not think an auditorium full of (mostly) women knitting was strange in the slightest.

2. He appreciates knit-geeky things, like how Mom can knit socks with more control (and in a better mood) by using sharper needles, how wood needles grip better for her, and the cool concept factor of Flat Feet sock yarn.

3. This one's the corker. Last night I was at their house; all three of us were seated on the couch, my mom working a pair of socks with Maizy, me knitting the sleeve of Kidlet's bolero. Dad leans over to see my knitting and says, "What are those you're using, about a size 6?" Wha? Um, yeah they were. Exactly.

Scott and Eric, I may have another member for Men's Knit Night by the end of the year...

I'm back

Wow. Five days and 100 suggestions later, here we are. Dang, it's hard for me to keep quiet that long.

My parents are moving (relocating in same suburb), and Kidlet and I went to help out this weekend. She was so excited to "help carry Nana's baby plants." And carry she did, back and forth from house to car, over and over. She's developing more of a sense of her own capabilities and limitations, and is really is eager to help and participate whenever she can, which is fabulous in my book.

The St. Paul Craftstravaganza came and went yesterday. I had initially planned on attending, but thought twice when I considered dealing with the crowds with Kidlet - she doesn't like the stroller (too confining), is too big to be carried for hours (too heavy), and walking in crowds is awkward (grownups aren't looking out for someone her size). Next crafty event on the calendar: Crafted Together, in White Bear Lake this Saturday, 3 May.

Knit on, earth-friendly ones!

Satur-what?

This past weekend was the first non-working Saturday I've had in a long time. Squee! A gal could get used to this. Kidlet and I went to church for the Blessing of the Animals service (she brought her stuffed bear pillow and a little stuffed doggie). A variety of real dogs were also in attendance with their people, as well as one very shy toad. After all were blessed, Kidlet and I went out to lunch and shopped for Nana's birthday gift. Then it was off to Kids' Hair for a trim (for Kidlet, of course). It was a lovely day.

Pictorial knitting update!

Kidlet's sweater, which is now off-the-needles-yet-still-unblocked:

The beginning of the Elizabethan stockings for Kerry:

I've ordered yarn from Little Knits for a sweater for myself. Methinks I won't cast that on until the holiday knitting is done. (BTW, Little Knits is a great place to get some name-brand yarns at crazy sale prices - retired colors, discontinued yarns, and the like.)

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. No numbers will be mentioned. ;-) Since M&D have been busy planning a move, we combined Mom's and Ness's birthday celebrations into one. Dinner at Mom's new favorite restaurant, then back to their house for the gifting, dessert, and a round of Wii Bowling. Have I mentioned that my parents are pretty cool?

Happy birthday, Mom!

You crazy lovebirds!

On this night 41 years ago, a red-headed Norwegian farm boy and an exotic (for southern MN) Mexican-German nursing student were wed. Lucky for me.

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad. I love you.