OH BOY!!!

All of my love, all of my kissin, you don't know what you've been missin, oh boy.......

If you haven't seen the live production of the Buddy Holly story, then you truly don't know what you've been missin!

We went Sunday afternoon to the Seattle production and it was fabulous! There were 22 numbers performed by VERY talented musicians. The lead in the Seattle production was Billy Joe Huels and he was so much like Buddy Holly in voice and appearance that it was almost eerie. I can't say enough about his musical talent. Equally great performances were given by the "Ritchie Valens" and "The Big Bopper"characters. If the run continues in Seattle, it is a must to see because this is a great night out. If you're not in the Seattle area, and this production comes to a city close to you, treat yourself and go see this production. It has been three days and I just can't quit humming Buddy Holly's songs. What a loss when his plane went down but what a gift that his legacy still lives on.

Tonights The Night

What a week. I feel as though I am going in thirty different directions and not accomplishing a thing, except getting rattled. If I had made time for myself to sit and knit a little each day I would only be feeling rattled a portion of the time, that is, when I goof up something and need Lilly to fix it for me. Most of the time knitting provides a calming effect, not only to me, but my family as well. Or at least the kids. I don't think my husband gets a warm, cozy feeling inside when he see's me sitting there with my needles clicking away. Rather, he's probably happy I'm doing something fun for myself, and since he's been married to me for 25 years he knows if I'm having fun I'm in a fine mood, and when I'm in a fine mood I'm not asking him to do any "honey-do's", which, come to think of it, might make him feel a little warm and cozy.

A few years back, my son who was about 8 or 9 at the time, asked me if I was going to knit that evening. I wasn't sure why he was asking so I asked him why he was asking, which is what you do if you don't know the reason someone is asking a question. Well, his reply made me pause. He had noticed that when I sat in my chair at night, with my dogs on my lap, knitting needles in hand, a fire glowing in the fireplace, the television on, (because the rest of the family wouldn't be sitting around doing a jigsaw puzzle or that would be a scene from Leave it to Beaver and my family doesn't qualify for the "peaches and cream" pureness of such a perfect family), a calmness would fall upon the room. A little homey and a little old fashioned, perhaps, but it would set the tone for the evening. All that was missing was a Yankee "Apple Pie" scented candle glowing from the kitchen.

Looking through the eyes of a child will make you see things you never see. Unfortunately, as we age and have life experiences our thoughts and views become much more complicated and we miss the simple beauty surrounding us. I couldn't believe I had never took notice. I knew I was calm and content, knitting away on a project caught up in the rythym, the beauty of the colors and the feel of the yarn, but I failed to see the rest of the family was being affected by this as well. Although I am often referred to as a "Jr. Psychologist" by my husband I can't say why this happens. Is it possible the kids feel my sense of contentedness and peace as I sit and knit and, therefore, they feel it too? Or is it the ambience of the room, a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting, that we all crave from time to time? Whatever the reason, my family has been 'off center' as a result of my absence from knitting this past week. And dare I say I have been 'off center' as well? I've been going in too many directions, trying to do too many things and it isn't working. I know this as well as my family does. So, tonight's the night. I'm going to sit in my chair and knit for the sake of my family!

Swan Song

The drive to Anacortes every week has been very interesting. Mt Baker is covered with snow and looks so amazing, but this was the other sight that was a nice surprise. I have seen swans before, but usually in a park on a pond, or in a zoo. I have never seen them in the wild like this and in such large numbers. Last week, there was probably three times the amount shown in the photo. In fact, there was so many that I wasn't sure they could be swans. This week, the numbers had gone down quite a bit. If you click on the photo with the smallest images, it will enlarge and you can see more flocks in the background. Since these birds migrate from Ontario, Canada in the winter, my guess is that maybe they are returning back to Canada. After this wonderful sighting, I decided to educate myself a "little" bit about Trumpeter Swans.
1. They mate for life. Ahhhh If one of them dies, they will find another mate, but will still mate in the original mating grounds.
2. A female swan is called a pen.
3. A male swan is called a cob.
4. A swan under the age of one year is called a cygnet.
There are many websites about Trumpeter Swans if you want to learn more. Enjoy!

I don't just stare at my manure pile and dream of colors and textures and lovely projects. I put my inspiration to good use. This one must have been thought up while looking at the little red worms. This hat was a very fun project. It has cables, and bobbles, and ribs and garter stitches. The pattern is called Braid & Bobble Hat by Carolyn Doc. I had so much fun making it that I offered to make one for my husband in black with a little orange so he could wear it while riding his Harley. I can just see him now one bitter cold day as he pulls off his helmet at the Harley store for a hog meeting, that little orange braid would be swinging away. I know Lily's husband, also a member of the Harley family, would be so envious that he would beg Lily to make him one too. Well... My husband said "no.....you have got to be kidding!". So OK , that's the end of that little day dream, I'm sure tomorrow well supply me with something new to think about.