Happy New Year!

Will and I went to Merced (Jay and Lori's-LouAnn Mora's sister/bro-in-law from Wisconsin)California for the coming in of the New Year. Saw Marisa Mora as well as Ed and LouAnn Mora @ Jay and Lori's. Also, saw Lori's niece (we met her and her husband @ Marisa's wedding 2 years ago). Not sure why I did not take photos. We had a short, wonderful visit. Ate lots of yummy foods and of course drank fine wines! And Will got to play Dihimen(however you spell it!).
On Friday we drove out of the fog to sunny Pismo. Well, by the time we got there it was dark. But, we saw stars on our night hike thru the dunes. Walking on the beach there is taking chances with your life! Cars are allowed on the beach. And although the speed limit is 15--Many drive like it is a freeway! Crazy...The Snowy Plover were very busy (probably moving their eggs away from the traffic--only to find more traffic! And in Northern Ca they don't want you to walk your dogs on the beach???) Anyways, we had a terrific sunny Saturday! We walked to the pier and in town. Pema and Will walked together. Pema did not loose it once! We even sat in a outdoor restaurant and had lunch! We all enjoyed fish and chips. Not as good as North Coast Brewery in Ft Bragg. But, nice atmosphere. We walked back in misty conditions. Had a nice weekend. Traffic was not to bad on the way back to Nevada City.

Another Birthday another scarf

Benjamin, my son, turned 20 years old.
WOW! I knit him a special scarf.
It is mostly seed stitch with alittle design using alternating purl and knit.
It matches a hat I made last year.
And most of his wardrobe is black and white.

Finished my Mud Room

The Great Room is looking completed.
Still have a bunch of details in entire house-base board and paint.

Finished the tile in Mud room and laundry.
Premier Tile was more than a helpful resource of information.
http://www.premierfloors-gv.com/
I got a small amount of tile on Craigs List and decided to do a bigger space.
Loren (@ Premier) matched tile so I could do the laundry room and the mud room. ( Bobby was always smiling helpful too! --everyone there is so friendly).
Abbey @ Sons and Development was helpful with color.
http://www.sonsdevelopment.com/
It turned out the colors are reminiscent of our trip to New Mexico...just as she had suggested(the colors were of Sante Fe flair).
Get ahold of these names--Court Magician and Log Jam. We brought handmade tiles home from a Sante Fe artist. Decided to hang on the wall--as opposed to permanent on the floor.

Finished knit project

I gave a scarf to my bro for his B day.
He is modeling it in the photos.
I used two new stitched--the seed stitch and "my man stitch".

http://www.scarlet-zebra.com/free-patterns/patterns/

Fun and easy!

Giving Thanks

I give Thanks for my family!

Pathway

I felt like Cinderella on steroids the last few days.
Lots of scrubbing when you mortar and grout with small stones/ceramics.
Yvonne Dockter finished the tiles we commissioned her to create.
They are perfect! Colorful-yet sutle enough to tie into our designs.

The madrone leaves are glowing as if you are walking thru a forest of madrone trees.
I wish I had her do more of these.
I will seal the finished pathway sometime this week.

November fourth two thousand and eight

Sierra voted for the first time.
As you remember she turned 18 in August.
We had many conversations about how important it was to take advantage of our 'Right to Vote'.
It's hard to understand the importance.
When I was 18--I did not vote--I was excited as a teen and then got caught up in life when it came to voting.
Think it was the year Reagan got into office for his second term.
I heard them say on the news that the 27 years gone bye has been a Republican looking (even though there have been democrats also). That would be when I could cast my first vote--24 years ago. I could have changed something with my vote!




Afterwards, we gave my Niece a charm bracelet that we made for her. She loved it! Here we are with my other niece and nephew.