A Walk at Home

This was my first walk since about April. I figured if I could walk all over London and Glasgow, I could at least go out my front door. New bark mulch in the driveway, nice.
My ever-docile walking partner, Carly. I think she was excited.
We only went to the end of the street, about 15 down. I loved the smell of the ripe corn. I had missed most of the garden displays. I am usually very in touch with the black berries on the hegerows and the roses and vines. I have missed it all this year. As well, it was getting dark at 8:30 p.m. Definitely late summer. But it was great to be a part of it.
Kiri is ticking along. Pictures next time. I just about had an hour at the rink this morning, but poor coach has my cold and is off to the doctor. Perhaps I should seize the time on my deck?

Just a Start

Yesterday I went back to Weight Watchers. I know. I won't get all obsessive here every day, but it was time. After my long sleepless night in the dorm next to the seedy, noisy Glasgow pub, I made my decision.
I used to be a leader. I really liked it. I lost 40lbs for my 40th birthday and kept it off until I had surgery and complications and a new life with a new disabling syndrome.
Now that I feel that I have that under control, and 30lbs!!! later, I'm back on the writing things down life.
It took so long to lose my weight, this is just about normal. But apparently I couldn't do it on my own, no matter what measures I took.
So I have a new beginning.
Not new pencils and books, but lessons and tests.
Wish me luck.

A Walk Through the Park

This is the beauty that was always available to me in Glasgow. The Kelvingrove Museum. Free and every bit as interesting as the British Museum without the crush of tourists and the exhaustive displays.
The Partick River.
The University.
More hallowed halls of learning from the school that brought us most of the inventors of our age.

The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

This is something special.
While shopping at K1 in Glasgow, I met the owner, Kathering Walker, who happens to be the loveliest of Canadians. She's from Toronto.
Her Dream was to offer the local and special yarns that were not available in the Scottish department stores (read Rowan).
Her tiny hallway of a shop has become an entire community of knitters. Check out the K1Yarns website to see the purple walls lined with white pails of skeins.
She's also a designer. She knows the designer of my Kiri shawl.
This japanese linen tape feels like paper. But she was wearing a neat lacey sweater of it and the drape is marvelous. I bought a pattern from Habu Textiles for the Shosenshi Linen Jacket and also a pattern of Katherines with a criss cross back/front. She thinks there's enough in the 1500m to make both. But she was a bit of a tiny thing herself.
What a treat to talk knitting and purpose and how similar are the cultures of Canada and Scotland. It was my last day in Glasgow and worth the sore ankle to walk through the beautiful gardens and university.

These are some of our tickets and pamphlets. We had to go with a French guide to Edinburgh, but that doesn't bother us. The train ticket taker knew I was Canadian immediately when I said the word "out". I don't think it sounds funny, but everyone else does. There's about .69 pounds left on my Oyster card for the London transit system. I certainly prefer the bus, but to get across town, especially during a rush, you have to use the tube. Will this skill come in handy again? I did get to the Sherlock Holmes museum and took my eight year old self around. It was a special treat.

Kiri number three is coming along. I'm feeling better. Sang with a Blue Grass trio yesterday to great reception. Good thing I had the low part with this cold. But nasty cold is receding and I took the kids to the Y this morning to pretend that that's my normal way to spend a morning instead of gathering yucky kleenex.

We have to finish organising for school. Noodle starts skating tomorrow. It looks like the careless, long, warm days of summer are passing. We'll probably get even better weather in September, but that will only make her grumpy because she can't wear her new fall clothes.

Me, I'm trying to keep up with my improved health, my healing heels and slowly decreasing swelling of my Left ankle. If I work hard, I can get this birthday Kiri done before she gets back from her trip to the Okanagan.

How to Block a Shawl

Step one: put the dog outside.

Step two: Replace vacuum bag with fresh one

Step three: vacuum the living room within in inch of its pile

Step four:Scour basement for blocking wires as marked by hockey skate laces.

Step five: Hunt for blocking pins which haven't been required since the last FO several blue moons ago.

Step six: soak Rowan KSH in Eucalan until it resembles a wet cat and makes all your effort seem pointless.

Step seven: rinse gently

Step eight: squeeze out excess water in a very big but not fluffy towel

Step nine: Finally lay her out on the largest towels.

Step ten: thread wires through straight edge. These are cheap TIG wires from Al's Supply House.

Step eleven: try to evenly and gently stretch each point from each side.

And then there's more patience.

I loved knitting this enough to persevere after a most stupid mistake and Glasgow frogging.

I'm already well on my way to number 3.

Perhaps I shall make the birthday deadlines afterall.

My summer of lace just came up on me unawares.

Blues

This is one of the modern stained glass windows at the Glasgow Cathedral, St. Mungo's. I was so taken by the colours and the words which are printed on each pane. They read the first lines of Genesis.
Exciting to have modern influence with ancient wisdom.
I am having a difficult time connecting with my new Adobe Photoshop because I haven't been well enough to take the time to find my path. These two photos represent about 6 times the effort I used to take. In time all will be smooth.
Like my Kiri. All finished. Yay. In time to block and send to Vancouver Island for Aunt's 70th birthday. Keep her in your prayers as Uncle has been taken off experimental chemo. It was just a matter of time. But it is now and we are sad to be heading on that path, even if the route is clearer.
My third Kiri on the needles. What is wrong? Why don't I love it? It's Jean green and variegated. I thought it looked like, well, what do you think it looks like? Big sis said, "Camoflage". Darn, that's what I thought.
So at the sit and knit I traded it for non-variegated and will whip up another shawl with the clock ticking.
I licked my wounds by winding my forest green laceweight and finishing (finally) my Mountian Colors sock in Nancy Bush's Ribs and Cable from Interweave Fall 2005. It fits my foot so well. I was a good knitter and cast on the second sock immediately. But on to Kiri.

These are a few of the souvenirs we bought. The mug is from D. He took the kids up the Wallace Monument in Stirling when we were at the Bridge of Allen games. I didn't see the point because the rain was so heavy we could hardly see it or the castle. I wasn't up for the walk either and I'd climbed it at least two times when we were here before. He brought me back a lovely mug with sheep! Inside it says, "Isle of Ewe". Sweet.
I took myself to the Sherlock Holmes museum and enjoyed it thoroughly.
No pictures.
Don't even try to open the picture file below. I don't know what I did.

In the Pink

I'm feeling a little better. The sun is out but it's not too hot. Just the barking dog next door.
Still, I can sit and knit Kiri and listen to my ipod. I've caught up to the ripping and already I'm on the edging. I had hoped to be here weeks ago, but for some reason I was able to persevere and get on with the lovely fuscia softness.
The blurry shot reflects how I feel. I'm in the old conundrum of dizzy from sore ears and throat or groggy from cough syrup. I'm trying to balance these and still get my paperwork done, doing errands and setting out another nice dinner. BBQ Farmer sausage and a lovely pasta salad with fresh mozzerella and tomatoes from (I blush) Martha Stewart.
I stopped buying her magazines ages ago when I couldn't get over how much advertising there was. But I was feeling poorly and wanted an easy glance of pretty pictures and new ideas. I do like the recipe on p94 and the family even ate it. I would have preferred chicken breast or even pork chops, but c'est la.
More resting now. Finish Kiri and cast on another one stealthily while my friend goes on holiday. How much can I get done before she returns? Don't worry about me faking missing her.

Too Thick to Knit

I landed with a cold that is now full-blown tonsillitis. Yuck. Yesterday I was too scared to knit lace after frogging Kiri back so far.

Today, with antibiotics and more sleep, I can stay up enough to get a few things done. Those include listening to my back podcasts and catching up on my lace. If my hands start to hurt, I'll pick up the lovely novel I bought at the Oxfam store on Byres Rd, Laurie R. King's "Grave Talent"

I've read all her Bee Keeper's Apprentice books and loved them. I'm a big Sherlock Holmes fan, since I graduated from Winnie the Pooh, and I visited 221B Baker St. this time in London. Just a little city house, but full of memorabilia and fans. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

That made up for the cold and polite reception I got at Loop. I wish I had been able to travel all the way to Vauxhall for iknit, but I barely had time to walk all the way up the high street from angel station. They had mainly Rowan. Liberty's had Rowan. John Lewis has Rowan. Like the Borg. I stood around the tiny hallway of a shop before she looked up from her desk. "Do you have Briar Rose?"

I caused her confusion. She did not know it. She does not listen to Cast On, She is not my friend.

I had the opposite in Glasgow. I'll share that later.

The night before, I fell down these steps.

Want to know how to relieve the pain of plantar fasciaitis? Sprain your ankle. Such colours! We adapted pretty well to the lovely home so generously given over to us by a cousin who was away on Vancouver Island. But we couldn't get all the lightswitches to work and I missed a step in the dark. Screaming like a girl!! The kids ran to get me ice and ibuprofen. I just stayed on the bottom with my foot elevated up the stairs for about an hour. Sad, old mummy.

The back garden was a delight. Especially since we weren't gadding about too much.

And now I can sit on my chaise in the cloudy but warm light of my own back garden and Luckakuck River.

I am reluctant to re-enter the race of family and volunteering. I have lots of projects that are self-imposed: music theory (going well), sewing knitting bags (not going at all), flute and piano (I barely know where I left them), Blue Grass (I'll pick it up on Monday) writing (no, but thanks for this outlet), house work( I made pancakes for breakfast and I bathed the dog ).

I can read my novel. In Scotland I read North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is a great old novel that was a gift of my best friend in aniticipation of a movie night. BBC has just done a great version. I look forward to that.

I may have jammed out of a wedding. The youngest daughter of one of D's dairy clients is getting married and wanted a piper like her sister. I don't know them, but they were tiny little girls when he started doing their herd work. I bought her a beautiful picture frame that is both traditional and modern. Did I say I don't know her? I need to rest. Sleep even.

I also need to get something done.

Focus on using up that KSH and catching up on Brenda Dayne.

Jet Lagging

We're back!

What a great 2 weeks in Glasgow and London. That's me knitting (the same) sock on the train from Edinburgh on Monday. I took the kids while D. went to Isaly. He had plans of checking out his family's former farm, but really it was Scotch tasting.

You've never been to Scotland if you haven't been with your own pipe band.

They worked really hard and the scuttlebut on the field is they should have placed higher than eighth. Still that's pretty good in grade 3A out of 37 bands.

Last Saturday, on Glasgow Green, the rain came in torrents. We may get to see a recast on BBC on Sunday. Chilliwack & District marched in the massed bands. They really played the best I've ever heard them!

On Monday, I took the kids to Edinburgh and Boo climbed Arthur's Seat while Noodle Pie and I went to Hollyrood Palace. This is his picture.

We were a bit rushed to get back on the train before rush hour. That's the Sir Walter Scott Memorial on Princes St. One of my favourite things in the world, but this is as close as I got.

So pleased to bump into another band mom from my past on the Royal Mile. We had a great visit. Except she has a flat on Rose St. for a month, so her visit is better. Best of luck to her amazingly talented daughter in the Fraser 78ths.

I'm a bit groggy from flying backwards through time yesterday. I picked up the big black dog and bathed her right away. Our house was clean when we left, but is scattered with suitcases and laundry now.

I didn't risk taking my knitting through British security. They're famously strict. So no knitting yesterday.

I had to frog back Kiri to an inch of her existence because, somehow, the center line faded out of consciousness. Fooey!

So I knit her back almost but did not get the third one started. I have till September, but I want to have 2 done for October. The sock was my way of sulking. I'm almost done the toe. I'll take it in and show my LYS the chimney grafting from Lucy Neatby.

I did visit a very disappointing shop in London. A very long trek on my injured and newly sprained foot. Rowan is like the Borg. They totally take over a shop. Well, I'm sorry, I can get Rowan at home. Don't you have anything else? Oh and by the way, I'm from Canada and I'm a knitter. Why won't you talk to me?

The K1 store in Glasgow made up for that in spades. More to come. Home safe. Hope you are all safe and knitting forwards instead of backwards like me.

And We're Off

D. is in the middle. He won the aggregate at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games. Best is good enough for me.

Off to the wilds of Glasgow for two weeks. It's a real trip travelling with the pipe band. You can bet on lots of pints. This time I'm not drumming, so I'll be able to steal away for some knitting at K1 Yarns.
I'm only packing one book and one magazine. I'll be able to buy what catches my eye. Wool doesn't need to be heavy. Buttons and jewellery are light. Who knows.
Stay safe and keep out of the beer tent.

More Like Logging Really

This is the wheel barrow full from just one rose bush. My Queen Elizabeths are over 8 feet tall. In anticipation of our trip (and to procrastinate from packing) I am hacking them back. There are three more. And then I need to focus on the other roses. Whew. I hope Boo will truck them over the bridge to the (burm) cuttings pile.
Kiri grows as we venture deeper into Harry Potter. Unfortunately Noodle Pie daughter is swimming at auntie's and then off to the Simpsons Movie with Grandpa. Thanks Grandpa.
So I need to put down the guitar and pack. I was practicing for a piece I did today in Gurani. That's a language of Paraguay. I wouldn't know that except I crapped out last time I tried to sing this piece and I was determined to get it off my nightmare list. Get back on that horse.
I think I got back on the horse too often as witnessed by my scars. But music I can handle and I felt a rush of relief from those who were tortured through the last brain fart.
Now I'll pack my flute. I'm doing well with my music theory study, too. It is so hard to keep off my feet. When I get restless, I can only sit in a different chair. Today it was easier to live with painful feet. Not good.
If I rest aggressively, I have no guarantee of healing. But I can guarantee I will have learned something, played something and knit something. Soothe my soul.

Happy Birthday to Me

I love presents. Even when they're not for me.
But yesterday was my day.
It was sunny, my mom and my sisters took me out to lunch. D went to Enumclaw for the Pacific Northwest Highland Games, but we had cake on Thursday night at his mom's.
Noodlepie made the cake. It was so good. Cara's Vegan Chocolate Cake from Dogs Steal Yarn. She put melted marshmallows on top for frosting and it was great. I don't have pictures from my camera, darn.
This is some of my haul. Notice the Stitch N Bitch journal from my dear bestest best friend who is now knitting quite a lot. She just started the flying geese from my Mason Dixon book (bday gift last year) and has ordered her own copy.
I took the kids to Harry Potter 5 last night (plus hers). It was good to go again but it seriously cut into our reading of the last book. I don't know how it came about that Noodle and I read alternating chapters out loud and can't read ahead. This does allow lots of knitting time.
We should seriously be packing for Tuesday, but it's still my birthday (friends for lunch today). I always manage to extend it over most of a week.
This year I wanted to share it with you.
Looking forward to another good year of blogging and reading blogs. Cheers.

Kiri, Kiri, Kiri

I love knitting this shawl. It's my second time and I love that I only have to look at the chart once at the beginning of a pattern row to know what to do. I'm big on knitting off the stitches.
Also, with lace, you have such a happy sense of accomplishment at the end of every row.
"Wow, the stitches add up, I must be so smart"
I am now daunted by my list of knitting because I fell into a 40% off sale. I didn't mean to. It was an accident. But we have the Canadian supplier of Cascade here in town and it's such a good solid yarn. I bought enough to knit a nephew sweater. But not the next one. I wanted navy for that. So I bought two bags of Phildar navy for the anniversary sweater in knitty. These boys are all over 6'2" and men's large. Why not baby booties?
I felt that as a good auntie, I couldn't die before I knit my godson an aran sweater. Well, he's still growing so I'd thought I'd start at the oldest. That makes 8 plus my neice who is also 6' tall. I've done two. I tried a third but got stuck in a bad swatch that turned into a disappointment.
Now when I finish the list of shawls, I can whip up the navy cables, the charcoal Durrow from wool I bought for myself years ago, and then the blue heather. These are not necessarily for birthdays or Christmas. They are because I want these guys to know that eventhough they are grown that the love I had for their baby selves is just as strong. No matter where they travel or what they persue, they will always have their family. They will always be a welcome part of my family.

Whirlwind

Today photos are loading lickety split. So I give you the beginnings of Kiri shawl. The color is really more fuschia, but the KSH is fabulous.

I took my Noodle-Pie to the big city, Vancouver. We shopped at Lulu Lemon, Chocolate Arts, Duthies, Ming Wo. It was a great Kitsilano experience. Unfortunately it was a bit cold and wet. This is her working on a free-form stuffed animal with kind of horns or ears. I call it a Nargle, but she says I don't know what a Nargle is.

We saw Romeo and Juliet at Bard on the Beach and I was most enchanted. The actors looked so young! They really pulled it off. The costumes were modern clothes in black and white and most convincing. Romeo wore tight jeans and a leather jacket that hinted at the silhouette of tights and a doublet. The backdrop was Vanier Park.
On Saturday we took the ferry to Victoria to see our son, Boo. D. met me at the ferry and I was perfect in my timing. The only thing I have been perfect in for a wee bit.
We met at the Noodle Box in china town and had fun at Silk Road teas and the variety stores. We each bought a bag of White Rabbit candies and ended up with 4 bags!!!
I indulged in a little sac for my sock knitting, like the monkey bag I've been trying to build a pattern for. The satin tissue holder has been on my replacement list for several years as mine is disintegrating. The pin cushion is the smallest of this variety I have seen. I bought my mom a huge one years ago.
It was so good to meet up with friends. The concert was superb. He really learned a lot in 3 weeks.

Then we headed up island for a family reunion where 148 of 163 descendants attended. A bit overwhelming, but good people. D. made a marvelous powerpoint presentation of his branch of the tree which made us all cry. I miss Nana so much at these things. D.'s grandma always helped me fit in with these crowds and was fun and generous and gracious. She died when Noodle was 6 months old.

And now we do laundry and pack for Scotland. I have quite a few duties in my committees to squish into this time. The kids want to take the guitar but our charter air service is being chintzy with luggage. I will take my flute and my theory which is coming along well. Won't my teacher be surprised?

Today I try to get some fresh food in the house. I won't change out of my work out clothes till I get back from the Y. I insist. But there's so much else to do too!

Second Trip

No pics allowed by blogger today.

I'm up and away again, this time taking daughter to Vancouver for shopping and Bard on the Beach. I'm almost 44 (next week) and I don't have to wait any longer for someone to invite me. I'm going to do things that matter to me.
It's hard to find a Shakespeare buddy. Especially in the summer. I'm thinking of trailing behind my opera friends to learn about that. But I was a great Lady MacBeth in highschool (like countless others) and eventhough I dropped out of Theatre after first year, I still love it. I think if I could have done solely Shakespeare in a whole lifetime, I may have stayed in.
I read about him and read his plays and poetry out here in the wilds of the farmland. We, luckily, have a super theatre program in our own college and I'm going to go to that, too. Just watch me.

From Vancouver to Vancouver Island to meet up with piano son and then on to the dreaded D's family reunion. You don't have to tell me it will be more fun than I anticipate. There are many very nice people there who are or can be kind. But I dread these 100 plus parades of who's the most successful or the slimmest. It's a bit hard on a housewife.
On that point, I mailed off more paper work to further my cause to re-enter nursing.

Harry Potter 5 was super. It was pretty close to the spirit of the book and Noodle Pie liked it. I like going to the giant movie theatre in Mission and shopping at Black Bond Books, too.
I have a lot to thank Harry for- our film festival means Kiri is on her way and I even worked on the long lost sock.

Hope you kick back and play summer games this weekend.

Anniversary Anyway

I missed my first bloggiversary.
I started on June 30th last year. Rather by mistake and still quite in secrecy.
This has been a fun exploration.
I am so inspired by the great knitting on-line community and in my own little way I'm a part of it.
I love my little camera and I'm learning more about communicating through comments.
I still read 4 or 5 almost daily. I have had times when I've checked 4 or 5 times a day to see if Li or Stephanie or Cara have updated. In my disappointment I still checked later in the day.
I needed some knitting sisterhood.

In my non-virtual life I am now at home at my LYS and helping them with advertising and coaxing them on ordering the real goodies.

They love the on-line information that I bring to them, but I feel they still think it is not for them. Perhaps this year I'll meet a local blogger and we will wink and nod.

So much fun and party and yarn porn. Some is just escapist, but there are definite feminist and charity focus blogs that can help us be the best we can be.

I didn't knit for charity yet this year. I guess I'll jump into a jag or go back to a monthly plan.
The 5 hour baby sweater is a great gift. I love EZ's baby surprise. Years ago I cut and pasted (with scissors and glue) the Knitter's publication of it. I have made so many copies, but never a sweater from them.

Kiri has begun. This is from alltangledup.com .I wonder if I won't knit 3 of them in a row. Like Januaryone.com. I am susceptible to a knitting jag. Starting with Lucy Neatby's crocheted provisiona cast on was a dream and my hands still remember the pattern from last June. Rowan Kid Silk Haze really is the crack of wool.

So, on this Sunday, I have earned some rest, some time for practicing my music and for listening to Lime and Violet while I grow the Kiri shawl.

In a year so much has changed and so much is the same.

Clapotis Part Deux

She be done and ready for the first wiff of cool air.

None to be had today.

I do love the Koigu and the colours. I'm trying to get my LYS to carry Koigu and STR and maybe even Fleece Artist.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I ran out of yarn. Totally preventably but not redeemable. I don't know how to frog back after the stitches are already dropped. So I just did a creative cast off. Hope you don't mention it when you see it.

I do have a bit of a dream that I'm travelling around with my lovely Clapotis (blue or pink) and someone comes up to me and says, "Is that a Clapotis?" I have a hug ready for that new knit-sibling. I would feel that, eventhough I'm in Ottawa or Stirling or Yarrow, I would not be alone.

Today is the shortbread factory. I'm acutally making 8 batches. It is my speciality.

I usually make it in July for our friend and piper, Frank. He died just after we competed at the Worlds in 2001. I still take it to the annual BBQ in Bellingham because he loved it so much and we want to remember him. I didn't get to go this year.

It's also my son, Mr. Boo's favourite.

My mother-in-law asked me to bring it to their family reunion. I don't really feel like baking on a hot July day. I gave up my trip to the gym this morning (I'm not bitter) to bake in the cool part of the day. It's all cleaned up already.

I will be selfish and keep one batch for my son't piano recital and one for another aunt we'll visit on the following Sunday.

So this is a big week.

On Wednesday I'm taking Emily into Vancouver to introduce her to Kitsilano and maybe Granville Island. We stay at the Wall Centre (pretty posh) and go to Bard on the Beach Thursday night- Romeo and Juliet. I'm really looking forward to it. Though I squished it too close to the trip to Vancouver Island.

I can hardly wait to see Mr. Boo who has been at the University of Victoria since Canada Day at piano camp. It'll be 3 weeks altogether. He's getting along really well with his friends from our piano studio and I thank my best friend for being the dorm mother. Shortbread isn't much to give her but we'll enjoy it.

I will try to cast on Kiri today with purple Rowan Kid Silk Haze. It's a bit too hot for summer knitting, but we're watching all the Harry Potter movies in the cool basement. It is a 70th birthday present for my husband's aunt. She and her husband are very successful and very generous. I owe a lot to her in understanding style and grace. I've known her since I was 15 so I feel as if she's my real aunt too.

Her husband is not well. His cancer returned. He's on dreadful experimental chemo. We can't tell if he's getting sicker or just reacting to the treatment. We're worried. She is giving up her month-long trip to Tuscany to keep things gentle. She knits and will appreciate the lovely shawl and wear it with elegance. She will appreciate the shortbread, too, because people (like us) drop in to visit with her and Uncle. It is not much to help, but it is what I can do.

Lessons Learned

I've been watching Lucy Neatby's videos. I borrowed them from our library and there's a lot of information there. Some of it is repetitive or a bit out of order, but it 's fascinating.
I didn't learn knitting from any expert.
I learned by faking my way through mistakes.
Kind of like life.

But when I see Lucy teaching how to do my cast on, or seaming in the way I finally ended up with ( or so far anyway), I am so encouraged. Maybe I'm not such a pretender after all.
Maybe that's why I knit for babies because they don't complain about gauge or finishing.

And gauge. Will I ever make friends with this dragon? My last sweater was a huge failure in sizing. Literally.

Lucy says be kind to your stitches. I have been pushing my right needle too far into the stitch so that the yarn has to stretch to double width. I can knit quickly like this. But she says I'm abusing the poor stitch. Sorry.
I will try to gently and gradually move to knitting with just the tips of the needles. Maybe I'll get better gauge, maybe I'll get happy stitches.
There are so many ways of knitting. And we are never finished learning our lessons.

Like Paddling in Ripples

I love my first tast of Koigu. I find this second Clapotis to be relaxing and enjoyable. I actually had the same feeling as paddling a canoe. A pattern in a few steps to pass the marker over or complete the J stroke.
This makes sense for Canada Day.

We've been to several tests and hospitals from New Westminster to Port Moody and the Clapotis has been an excellent travelling companion to augment a tense D. through cardiology.

The end result is he does need a heart repair, but he is allowed to pipe and we are going to Scotland in August for the World Championships in Glasgow.
This is a lot different from potentially emergency open heart surgery and no piping or flying for 6 months.

Did you see him in the Vancouver Sun on Thursday last week to advertise today's BC Highland Games in Coquitlam?



I also was gifted a huge box of acrylic yarns, some cool old patterns and plenty of needles from my great neighbour when she cleaned out her mom's apartment.
I use this wool and needles to share when I teach someone or to make donated items.

I'm just getting back on the horse. I have committee work that I begged off. I played flute last Sunday but I haven't been to band in weeks. They're performing tomorrow morning but I need to be available to a guest speaker instead. I'm not sure of Thursday either. I thought the season would be over by now. I'm trying to get ready for next season.

I also have some studying to do for volunteer work in September and I'd like to get my piano theory redone. I should have written it when my little Noodle-Pie did in grade 3.

All the report cards are in. Honours for both. Gifts given (replacement ipod and rollerblades). I'm "helping" Boo pack for 3 weeks of piano camp on the Island. Whew.

I also booked hotels for Bellingham and Vancouver for shopping/shows with daughter.

Make the most of this summer in the absence of beach weather. I'm not a beach person much anyway: I don't like sand in my wool.

Overcast

The sun shines weekly

Weakly

Summer reluctant to don

The small bikini

On blanched, exposed limbs.

She procrastinates

Fails to buy tickets,

Pack her beach bag

Nostalgic for days

Of shorter duration

Longer rests

By the fireside.