girl at large

prelude

It's been raining for two days straight---grey skies, continuous rainfall---today's Portland weather is much the same. Am I being told something???

two days and counting...

Suitcases packed. Artwork packed and posted (mostly). Dog vaccinated. Closet emptied. Lease signed. Minivan rented. All systems go. Full-freakout time!

Waiting for Guffmann meets The Office meets Homeland Security meets Wisconsin

This I just have to share. Wait for the download, it's worth it. Thanks H. p.s. It's not Wahkeeesha, it's Waukesha---"Walk-a-shaw", but we'll just have to forgive them that.

where's my boy scout?

Seven more days until I leave for the States. Then, only a few more days after that I leave for Portland. Everything is arranged; flight, apartment, rental car, dog travel, etc. Only I'm begining to realize it's the little things that I have yet to prepare for---I don't even own a winter coat. And oh yeah, I need to get a job. Little things like that.

bon anniversaire

It's Mom's 60th birthday today. No big fanfare, at her request, but a few small celebatory touches to the day are planned. Like taking cover everytime she starts ranting. Cheered up when she realized there were FIFTEEN well-wishing family members on this ONE phone call!

bye bye inheritance

Mom and Bert are back from their journey through Spain---I got the call before they arrived: "Have dinner ready!" Spanish food didn't agree with them. The Palmer Johnson boat didn't work out, but on their last day in Barcelona a strong contender for the bigger-boat contest was discovered. A 40ft Island Packet, designed with the retired, gentle cruiser in mind. In addition to being quite heavy, solid and simple to sail (everything is controlled from the cockpit), the interior details have been designed with comfort in mind, for example, all the hatches and stowage bins have pneumatic hinges and interior lights---perfect. Seems she's finally found her personal Winnebago! Mom's got some new claw-ended stick thingy, just arrived in this morning's mail, another thingmabob she bought for the boat. It scares me: the wierd claw-stick and the propensity for purchasing boat equipment both.

spell check

Merriam-Webster has come out with it's newest dictionary, including some interesting new additions. My favorite new 'official' word: pleather.

missing

getting free drinking glasses just for buying pickles baguettes, baguettes, baguettes air-dried laundry smoking anywhere, anytime shutters

quelle surprise?

This was meant to be a surprise Christmas present for Grace (well, the surprise was intended mostly for Maria, as I had to have Grace try on the hat in secret to make sure it fit right before I finished it off), but the little one dug it out of the box in my room the other day, prancing out into the living room in it, where Maria and I were having coffee---the little bugger! So, no surprise, but at least I know she loves them and I get to share them early---I think they turned out really great, especially as I designed the patterns myself as well. Love, love working that ultra-yummy, super-chunky Rowan's Big Wool (left overs from one of mom's projects for the coming grandbaby) with the Big Hook--can't wait to start another project like it. Anyone else need a hat and scarf set???

oh yeah, i'm gonna be a great auntie

Gracie got a little gift at the pharmacie the other day--a keychain with a stuffed raccoon attached---rather cute. My reply when she showed it to me: "Oh, look! A raccoon! How cute! They eat garbage and carry rabies!" oops.

fleur

I think I managed to save most of the plants from the Mighty Mite infestation---I only lost one Floweringthingymabob and two small Pointyleafedjobbies. woo-hoo!

no siesta for the bigger boat search

Update from Mom and Bert, somewhere in Spain: The visit to see Pilgrim (I almost said the pilgrimage, but that's just unforgiveable) was not successful. They did manage to find it, to see it, but it didn't come up to expectations--as Mom said in our short phone conversation 'Nothing worked on it." Good call to pass it by if you ask me! So, they're stopping at a few more marinas on their way back, expect to see them here again early next week.

dog: what do you mean i'm not the center of the universe?

No sooner did I finish the big blanket than Miss Ruby thought it was for her!

snippets

I can't divulge complete photos of these finished projects as they are all intended to be Christmas gifts...but I did want to share glimpses. I'm having a bit too much fun with the yarn and hook (and the BIG HOOK is a dream to work up fast with) these days. Why didn't I stick with fiber arts???? p.s. Anyone else seeing these pics as yarn landscapes? I can imagine them blown up to something like 40 x50 and mounted....

three wheels are better than two

The super-duper tricycle Grace received for her birthday yesterday got me thinking about this adult trike I've always wanted. I'm quite jealous really.

bon anniversare!

Today was Grace's birthday party---she's two years old! After Grace realized that I wasn't there because her mom and dad were leaving (I watch her so regularly, she always associates me with mom and dad leaving), she enjoyed her party and all the presents. The sweater Mom made her for her first birthday is still too big (!) but the poncho I made her this year---the perfect wieght for the area's mild winters--was a hit, she found it particularly fun to swing it around and wap things with it. Thatta girl.

crazy is as crazy does

Last night at Paul and Gemma's (our lovely downstairs nieghbors who have been away far too long!) engagement party: Paul, highly-qualified sailing yacht captain and frequent audience to Mom's bigger boat quest ramblings: "You know your Mom is crazy, right?" Oh, I know, I know.

off their rocks

Mom and Bert are driving down through southern France and most of Spain to Gibraltar (a rock the inhabitants share with mean monkeys), determined to see the Pilgrim, a 48ft re-fitted aluminum cruiser originally built for racing by Palmer Johnson in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin back in '71. Bert swears he saw it being launched back in the day. I have a good feeling about this boat, this could be the one. Will the 'bigger boat' quest ever be over?

this isn't in the brochure

Trouble at Mt. St. Helens.

leaving, on a jet plane....

...I can't get that song out of my head, now that I've finally been able to book a flight. Budgetary considerations mean a later departure than hoped for, but, October 31st, Halloween!, is as good a day to arrive as any. I'll be in Savannah for a few days, to see friends and (bad pun warning) old haunts and then to pack up my belongings out of storage and into a rented minivan. Then, Miss Ruby and I are off to Portland! I've been hemming and hawing about this decision, going to Savannah first (rather than later in the year) and driving across country was a last minute choice, but after a good think, I'm very happy with this arrangement---everything done in one fell swoop, a few creature comforts (like my melon baller) for starting out in Portland, and the chance for one last local hurray with friends I've really been missing. And I'm never one to pass up the chance for a road trip! Girl and dog meet open road--woo-hoo!! An added bonus---the drive path takes me within a stone's throw of my Grandparent's home in Nebraska, I'll be stopping by for a visit. If I can find them past all that corn.

give me the biggest you got

Visiting the notions stall at the market this morning, in search of a very large, fat crochet hook: -Yes, Madame, what are you looking for? -I need a big hook please. -Like this? -No, I like it much bigger. Like this. (hand gesture, you can imagine it) pause. -Will this do Madame? ("like"? why, why did I use the verb for 'like" when I meant 'want?', ok, 'want' doesn't sound much better.)