In My Garden

This years garden went in a little late for my taste considering we were moving and all. We got a great variety from Luke's Aunt Kerry. The tomatoes we already have are a result of her handiwork! They are tasty, I can attest!

I also celebrated my first Zinnia bloom! Yay! I've got one on each of the other zinnia plants just itching to burst forth! 

I think we have a cucumber and I know we have a zucchini plant. Those two are going to burst forth over providing us with goodness soon! I was a bit worried for the zucchini as something nibbled off all the first round blossoms! We have new survivors and I cant wait! 

That's the really great thing about taking trips (and having automatic sprinklers.)

When you come back, all kinds of exciting things are happening in the yard! 

Luke got to mow. That's his turf now. (Pun intended.)

Finish it Up Friday- Cancun Boxy Lace Top

I finished binding this one off in the midst of a light rain this afternoon, and then Luke humored me and we tromped off to take pictures so I could get it in the books! 

The pattern is Cancun Boxy Lace Top, by Erin Kate Archer on Ravelry. As usual, I took the pattern as more of "guidelines." I knit it in the round because I despised seaming. I added length as to not create a busty tent. I three needle bound off the shoulders because, once again, I hate seaming. (If I wanted to sew at that minute I'd be working on a quilt.)

I followed the stitch sections as given. The one kicker was when I tried to to knit "Part D" in the round it twisted my fabric so I had to knit a second section inside out to balance it and make it even. Section D worked great when I was knitting back and forth to create arm holes. Anyway, Luke was super good natured and took many lovely photos for your viewing pleasure. 

Getting in the Groove

Okay. So. We have an apartment that will suffice until July (lease terms here are from August to July) and we find something more permanent. I have a job as an aid at a school that was built in 1884. Its a 3rd-5th grade school. Because the school is old, it doesn't have the capacity for teams of grade level teachers which promotes collaboration and better differentiation.  The other one story older school is K-2 and feeds into ours. I cover recess duty and then work in classrooms. I'm liking how this is giving me an opportunity to get to know teachers and teaching styles. I'm definitely ready to have a class again. My chances to use my creative teaching energy are limited. Luke was home every day during the work week before 6 and on one of the days he was able to come home at 4:30 so we could try a tandem bike. It was great!

I am loving that aspect to no end. 

Luke needed an eye appointment and one of my headlights went out ON the last day drive from Boise to Moscow. Since new beetles only like to be worked on by dealers and Luke needed eyewear ASAP we tromped up to Spokane and then got to crash my cousin Jacquie's daughters birthday party before they move out of state!

 Aunt Grace and Jacquie

 Katie, Jacquie, Me

 Katie and Faith

 Doesn't Luke look happy?

 Gracie is pretty hard core about the chap-stick application!

 Uncle Doug and Benjamin

 Luke got to transfer his lego skills to princess castle building. 

 I got to have some cousin snuggle love!

 Aunt Grace and Me

 Brandon, Benjamin, Grandma Darlene

So yeah. Things are different here in Idaho. Some great, some good, some meh. I haven't found a knitting group yet. That's next on my agenda!

Happy...Anniversary!

Let me remind everyone that I am not, nor have I ever been, good with dates. So when my dreamboat husband showed up on the last day of school toting beautiful flowers why wouldn't I thank him for the last day of school flowers. Then. When he smirkingly asked me if I remembered what the day was I scrunched my face, smacked my forehead and remembered it was our anniversary. There's one for the books folks. 

Then that chivalrous guy told me that he had help as a couple with our same anniversary had been out to eat dinner at the club the night before so he had help. I felt better. He went on to tell me of the triumph of winning a stem if hydrangea (my favorite) from the florist as they had all been designated for the next days wedding. What a guy. I should marry him.

Oh wait.  I did. On May 21st. Someone please remind me next year. Let pray it's not on the last day of school again. 

Oregon Ducks Linen Stitch Scarf

Here it is. All 400 stitches in length of it. 

 My first knit item for my husband Luke the Human Heater. 

In his very favorite Oregon Ducks colors. 

 It is also in, my now, very least favorite stitch to knit, linen stitch....

 Though the stitch is so unique, and the fabric it makes is so light!

 It really is the perfect stitch for a man scarf. 

 I took it to the football field to take pictures of it, then to the park where I realized just how bizarre people thought I was taking pictures of this scarf like it was my child. Let me tell you, a gazillion rows of 400 stitches of linen stitch. It may as well have been.

Here is the front where you can really see how it gives the woven linen look.

 Here is the back. It still has the woven look but also as someone said "looks more like a plaid."

After two re-starts of this scarf ("oh I've done this scarf before, I don't need to pay too much attention to the pattern") I finally got it going correctly. I'm glad I did. 

Even if it meant frogging two inches. 

And another two inches.

 And casting on 400 stitches...3 times. 

Alas, it was on this scarf that I discovered the beauty of Addi knitting needles. It was this scarf that has been with me to Grand Junction as I helped John and Neola pack, Olton,Texas as I visit with my family, Denver for another family adventure, Dallas, Texas  to a Rangers Baseball game and more!

Now it will be ready to go on adventures with Luke (when it gets cold enough) and bring some green and yellow to this region of blue, red, and purple.

Dallas- Sports Edition

On Sunday we hit up a couple sports stadiums, starting with the Dallas Cowboy's stadium. While none of us are fans, the stadium was quite the sight to behold!

 I took the combative press approach.

 Imagine meeting us on the field!

 Our best attempt at the Heisman trophy pose.

 Then we went across the way to a Texas Rangers vs Huston Astros baseball game. It was hot but there was a perk to getting the $7 tickets...we were second from the back with a breeze! (Sort of. It was still hot.)

 Keeping up with tradition, I took my knitting and made great progress on Luke's Oregon Ducks scarf!

They gave away bears to kids 13 and under. Val, a lover of soft stuffed animals, was green with envy! Especially of this little guy in front of us who was playing with not only his, but all of his siblings' bears! 

 She just about melted when they did a bear dance and all the kids were waving around their bears and dancing with them! Matt came to her rescue and procured a bear for her. (Shhhh. It's a secret!)

 This is my last post from our quick Dallas trip. It allowed for lots of talking time in the car, some delicious eating as Val and Matt are in the middle of everything in Uptown, a couple driving tours through neighborhoods and visiting schools (yeah I like to see schools from other areas) and lots of golf for Luke and Matt. Especially nice for Luke, was that it gave him some time to debrief and do some interacting with other similarly minded young professionals.