Still knitting for me...

People who know me well like to ask, "So have you already knit a ton of stuff for the baby?" No, I'm still knitting for me thankyouverymuch.

Sunny December

We've had some really nice days this month. Yesterday was one of them. Never mind about the rain today.

Who'da thought?

When every last pair of regular jeans stopped cooperating around my midriff I moved to stretchy topped maternity pants; it has been about a week now. When, a couple of days ago, a goddess mascaraing as a yarn peddler came into my work and asked me if I'd ever heard of this genius idea...



...and voila my jean collection has magically gone from two back up to ... well a lot more than two. I don't know how may jeans I own. You can see from the tight stretch of the hairband I don't have too much longer to play with this, but hey, fun while it lasts.

Henry is ready for Xmas

But then again he doesn't really do presents, so don't feel bad if you're not ready yet.

Woodstove

Recently Pop has been working like crazy on our wee extension. For a while it looked like this...


Though, in my usual fashion this isn't a really good 'before' picture. More of a midway picture. Before there was nothing there... no little room, just a wall and French doors to nowhere. Then there was a frame, and a porch and little by little did we come along.

Then last week our neighbor, Dave, helped move Scott and Fran's old woodstove into our place.


Then with the stovepipe and chimney all ready, Pop let Linton and me do the ceremonial lighting. What a sweetheart!


The fire has been blazing for a couple of nights and even Henry approves, imagine that!

The Henry reward

Where our reward is always a restaurant, Henry's is a long off leash walk.

Out at Tweets

Yesterday Linton and I tackled one of the old piles of construction left overs next to our house. I didn't take any pictures, but you can imagine - hauling off junk is very satisfying. Afterward we congratulated ourselves by eating at Tweets in Edison. I'd checked out this little restaurant before, but never eaten. You see, it's counter service and the meals are in the 12-16 dollar range. Those two things seem mutually exclusive to me. Sixteen bucks for a meal, yes, but you get your order taken. Counter service sure, but that's an 8 dollar sandwich. Anyway I had a serious hanker to try it out yesterday. Here is what we found...





My polenta, poblano pepper, cheese and red sauce was so, so good. Really toe curling. The atmosphere was sweet and warm. In other words I think I'm over my aversion to a pricey counter service meal. I'd go back. Linton? Hmmm, I wonder.

Christmas tree

It has been a couple of years since we've done a tree, having opted for garland instead. But this year we had to go whole hog. A wee bit nesty? Maybe.


Even Henry got into the spirit of it (read crammed into the back seat with the tree).

Lemony lovelies

From this month's Bon Appetit magazine. Yum, yum.

Happy birthday, Pop!

Candles and everything. Nicely done, Nell Thorn.



(my amazing beets)

Happy birthday, Pop!

Gratitude

That one's easy.

Yes sparkling juice; no champagne. Because, as you may have heard, Linton and I are expecting a baby in May.

Farm visit

I didn't get too many pictures at the farm, but fortunatly I did have my camera out for this entertaining pig feed. Here's what you do.

Pick a pumpkin from the pile.


Toss it high in the air, so when it hits the ground it cracks.


Watch and be entertained.




Do you see the dark wood cabin in the background of the first two piggy pictures? That's Kyle's wee house - it is so pretty inside lots of rough cut wood and a little sleeping loft. Neat!

Visit to Olympia

I visited Kyle in Oly last weekend. We started out with a farm visit, then went out to breakfast at Sage's.


Then a walk through the woods to the Evergreen beach.

Cup o noodles

Henry and I were walking today when we passed a raccoon ravaged old package of cup o noodles. Eminently suggestible, I suddenly had to have some. I schemed up a recipe all the way home. It's just unbelievable yum to get exactly what you want.

Spooky bowling

I thought my work party, Spooky Bowling, would be an eight on the fun scale. I was prepared for an eight, but you know what? It was totally a ten.

Anadama bread

This is Fran's Anadama bread made, and damn-a is it good. I don't know what recipe she used, but there are oodles online. You should try one out; it is truly delicious. Also, I'm sure you don't have anything better to do than bake bread. Riiiight.

Autumn loveliness

This autumn has been so bright and lovely. (I had to write that before it starts raining tomorrow - no joke) People continue to eat outside at Mount Bakery, always a good barometer of our weather. And walkies with Henry continue to be lovely. A few days ago Fran and I heard then saw two spotted owls, and today we heard the coyote baying to each other. Naturally I didn't have my camera with me on the owl day, so here's one of sky, a much easier target.

Breakfast in bed

I recently gave up my Sunday shift so that Linton and I could have our whole weekend together. I enjoy the mornings most of all when there's so little to do that quick oats in bed feels like an accomplishment. Ahhhh.

Raccoon fight

Henry loves to chase raccoon. They always climb up the nearest tree before he can get to them. I say always but take a look at this boys nose...



Ouch! Poor pooch. Of course he didn't think he was a poor pooch; he came out of the woods very pleased with himself.

Wedding prep