Goodbye Summer

Well, the sun only lasted for 3 days. During those three days in only got up in the 70's once. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. It's been raining since yesterday and the forecast indicates that it'll last until next week. The fireweed is pretty much all bloomed out as well. What a short, cool summer we had. I am so thankful for the trip we took in June to warmer climates. It may have been in the 100's in Cali, but it was nice to not be cold.

Other than that, Hannah has been sick but is much better today. I've been working on Christmas gifts, and they'll be done soon so that's a few items knocked off the list. It would be nice to start knitting a sweater for myself and I have one in mind, but that requires yarn shopping so I should probably look in my stash for something to do a different project. We do need mittens for winter, well, Hannah needs them. I think I may start my second Baudelaire sock so I have a matching pair.

SUN!!

It has been nice here for the past 3 days! Today it's warming up nicely. Perhaps we'll have a late summer, but better late than never.

proof that it broke 65 degrees

My hubby and I, well mostly my hubby, have been taking advantage of the sunny weather to finish painting the exterior of our house. This is what it looked like when we bought it.

um, pink, I don't care for pink

The door is new. We started painting it 3 summers ago, got it mostly done, but haven't had the weather or the time or the incentive to get it done. Currently we have all 3 of those and have been making the push to finish. The fence we put in last summer and the roof will hopefully be replaced soon, but here's what it looks like today from the street:

blue with dark grey trim, much better methinks

and a closer picture from our front yard, that door is also new and will be painted

There is still some blue paint that needs to be done on one side of the house and some trim work to be painted in the back and on the rental side, but then it'll be done. Yeah! Please pray that God will keep the weather nice and in the 60's or warmer to get this done, and praise Him for the nice weather we're currently having so that this can be done.

In preparation for the cooler weather I finished the yoke sweater for Hannah. It's not perfect, but it is functional.

It's a finished sweater,

and a close-up of the detail.

I sort of made up the design myself, following EZ's instructions for a yoke sweater, and her percentage system. I probably should have made the yoke deeper, because it doesn't fit as well as I'd like it to. Oh well, this was definitely a learning experience. I would definitely use the pattern again. I used Lamb's Pride worsted from my stash, on size 8 addi turbos.

Picked some Nagoonberries yesterday on a rather long walk. What does a person do with a cup of Nagoonberries? I'm hoping to go pick some thimbleberries today after Hannah wakes up from her nap and gets some lunch. Perhaps thimbleberries will go well with Nagoonberries in some jam/jelly. That is, if I get enough. We'll just have to see now won't we.

Discovered: Dirt!

This last week, on our one somewhat sunny and warm day, Hannah discovered dirt. After playing with it for a while, she decided she wanted to taste it.

mmm, dirt

Then she examined it for a while, wondering what in the world this stuff on her hand is.

huh, how did that get there?

Hannah wasn't too dirty at first, but she proceeded to get the dirt all over herself. She had to make sure that I was watching, of course.

see mommy?

She also spent a great deal of time trying to get the stuff off of her hands, without much success.

see the sun?

Then she tasted it again, while standing I might add. So with the help of the pot of dirt, I finally got a picture of Hannah standing.


She stands for longer and longer stretches, but isn't ready to walk yet.

In other news:

I'm almost finished with my sweater for Hannah, just need to cast off and finish sewing in the ends.

Also, over the next few months you'll be hearing more about a big adventure that will be happening in March. This is going to take a lot of preparation and we're thankful that this is going to occur in March rather than earlier like it should have. No, I'm not pregnant.

Quick update

I guess it's been a few weeks so thought I should make a quick update. Went to Anchorage the first weekend of August to surprise my MIL for her birthday that was the week before. She was quite surprised. While up there we went and visited my mom and Leela and T-rex and their girls. Unfortunately the older of the Giessel girls was asleep, but that's okay; I got to hold the baby!! During our visit Hannah decided that she wanted to try standing. She did this successfully for brief moments. Since then she has tried many more times and stands for increasingly longer periods of time. Sadly, every time I try to take a picture she plops down and just gives me a strange look, "what, were you trying to take a picture or something?" Totally uncooperative. One of these days I will be successful and post a picture. Possibly in Hannah's sweater that I am trying to finish. I had to frog the neck and redo it because it was too tight.

Anyways, I'm hoping the weather will be decent on Thursday so I can go pick a load of blueberries.