Here is the scarf I finished in time to wear at the knitting retreat this weekend. Just to prove that I can finish a project on time. If I am properly motivated.
For those of you who might be interested, this is the wakefield scarf and the pattern is free on Ravelry. I like that you can wrap it around all sorts of ways. A slightly off center tie is my favorite, but there is also the fold it in half - loop it through then twist and loop again look, as well as the ever popular just let it lay there style, and last of all just put it on and tie it in front and let it be.
This yarn is a cotton, rayon, silk blend that is not even one teeny weeny bit itchy. Perfect for Spring.
This morning I am gathering things to load in the car to take to the knitting retreat.
Over the years I have learned that in addition to taking completed projects to show, it is a good idea to bring yarn for projects that I have yet to begin. This is to remind me that I though I can buy new yarn, I should be thoughtful about it. I also like to go through my stash and bring yarn with me that I am not likely to use and give it away to someone else who may have the perfect project to use it on.
I did finish this scarf and get it blocked. Will be taking photos at the retreat of all the ways it can be worn.
Lastly, I have packed 2 bottles of wine, a nice mug, a cozy hoodie, and my tennis shoes for walking the labyrinth. Not sure if I will be able to do a blog post from the retreat, but I will be posting pictures on Instagram.
In the spirit of saving the best for last, I present Pam and Mary Ann in all their splendid glory, as rendered by yours truly, in the very last hour of our time together in Palm Springs.
I am thinking about embellishing the backgrounds, but worry that it could detract from the lovely simplicity of these compositions.
Mid-century modern is something I knew nothing about until we started going to the dessert. OK, I still don't know about it. Except that I like it. Clean, spare, bright, open. I love walking through regular neighborhoods to see what I can see.
Stuff like all manner of cactus, birds on signs, men in shtreimel's, and landscaping unlike anything we have at home. So hard not to be completely delighted.
After your walk around the neighborhoods of Palm Springs, head on over to Koffi (located at 515 North Palm Canyon drive) for an excellent coffee, tea, latte, cappuccino, etc... you name it, they make it. Then go out back and set a spell. They have cute red side tables for your coffee and a giant Don Quixote sculpture to look at.
Do these lined up palm trees remind anyone else of "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"? I swear there was a clue about where the money was buried that had to do with palm trees. Sister and Pam, lets watch that movie next year at Art Retreat #5. I'll bring shovels in case we decide we need to do any digging.
Because at some point, after a vacation in a place with palm trees, you have to get back to your "normal" life... here are some things I have seen and done since I returned. Just everyday mundane stuff like knitting, looking at the patterns of snow flakes on chairs, healing my cold with broccoli soup, and watching the gold finches attack the feeder.
I also potted one of the geraniums I was rooting. The other one died. Good reason to do 2 cuttings. Back-ups are as important in gardening as they are in electronic data storage.
Last but not least I used up the remaining pumpkin I had on hand to make Bobby Flay's pumpkin granola. I did not make the orange-cranberry jam and combine it with maple yogurt to make parfaits. That seems a bit overdone to me. Don't get me wrong, if Bobby Flay wants to make it and bring it over, I will eat some, but just for little old me this granola is good enough to eat with plain Greek yogurt.
P.S. Do not even think about leaving out the pumpkin seeds.
Last year when we went to Palm Springs, we stumbled upon Moorten Botanical Gardens and were delighted by our visit there. In keeping with that tradition, sister found an even more spectacular display this year at the Sunnylands Garden Center. By more spectacular, I mean polished, bigger, displays with multiple plantings, and well laid out walking paths with great views to the snow topped mountains of San Jacinto state park.
If you find yourself in the area, visit both places. You will not be disappointed. Bring your walking shoes and prepare to be amazed. Did I mention the garden is FREE? And that they have a "performance circle" where you can break into show-tunes if you are so inclined?
"a law was made a distant moon ago here, July and August can not be too hot, and there's a legal limit to the snow here in......"
It is hard to calculate the enormity of the satisfaction that can be derived from messing around with pens, paints, pencils, and ink. Below are some of the pages I did in Palm Springs this year.
The first one below is my favorite that my sister did, followed by my favorite that Pam did.
They make that fine balance between carefulness and carefree expression look so easy to achieve. It's not. But it's fun to try.
While Mary Ann was working last Thursday I was studying. Examining thick, fluffy, scented geranium leaves.
Calculating how it might be possible to get a self portrait in the mosaic on her patio.
Chatting with a couple of cats about hummingbirds.
And in general admiring the green-ness that has come from the rains they have been getting in the city of angels .
Sister also took me for a stroll around Lacy Park in San Marino. It's a fine park for walking.
So many beautiful trees with such interesting and varied bark on their trunks.
We saw this power ranger doing some endurance training. He stopped when I took his picture and said he would be happy to meet us each day and help us set and meet some goals. I told him I would love to but lived in Kansas. Sister said she was going to think about it and get back with him.
We wandered through paths and under arbors of roses.
Nice people and nice views in Lacy Park. If you walk there regularly and happen to see Mike (in photo above), please tell him you saw his picture on my blog. I might have mentioned something about him being the best looking guy we had seen in the park which made him smile. You can tell him that too. If you want to.
I returned to Kansas on Monday night with a cold, which I would like to blame on being in an airplane, though I am not certain it can be traced directly to that. In an effort to cure it I have consumed tomato basil soup, broccoli soup, and chicken noodle soup. If this combination works by tomorrow, rendering me healthy enough to return to work as planned, I will let you know. In the meantime, lets just go back to Palm Springs.
We rented Liberace's Pad again this year because we liked it so much for the 3rd annual art retreat. Excellent pool and hot tub. Lovely backyard. Responsive, very nice, property managers. Did I mention super clean and comfy beds?
As soon as we checked in, supplies were unloaded and spots were chosen at the table.
And of course we made sure the pool and hot tub were in working order. They were. Luckily one of us happens to be a pool maintenance expert. Just in case she might be needed. She always never is.
This probably goes without saying but below is the work of Pam followed by Mary Ann followed by me then back to Mary Ann and then Pam.
Hanging out with a couple of art rock stars is pretty fun. It is so nice to be inspired by their free flowing, seemingly effortless, talent. If you, like me, love to try your hand at painting, drawing, and sketching, flowers, you might want to have Pam come to your house at your convenience and play with you. Details for that can be found here.
It's time for more ibuprofen, ginger/lemon tea, and flannel pajamas. I am going to cross my fingers and hope that when I open my door in the morning, this is what I see.
While I usually only listen to audiobooks in the car, I had to bring the last 2 discs of this one inside the other day.
First of all, it was cold as heck outside and it made for good listening while I tried to make myself walk up and down the stairs. Secondly, it's due back and there are 3 people waiting and I feel guilty about keeping it for longer than "my turn". And finally, at the end of disc 6 or the beginning of disc 7, I think I figured out who "dunnit"and I had to know if I was right.
I am giving away nothing here. That would just be wrong. As my sister said "there are a lot of red herrings" in that book. Extremely plausible, very distracting, red herrings. Recommended! Excellent readers by the way, if you get the audio version.
Supplies have been gathered. I think 4 sketchbooks is the perfect number for an art retreat. Brushes and pens selected. Four brushes + the carbon black + 2 lamy's + my favorite brush pen. Car sketching necessities packed. I can't wait to get my car sketching palette broken in.
January is the perfect time of year for an art retreat. In Palm Springs. Where the forecast is calling for highs in the 60's and abundant sunshine. Life is good. Don't think I don't know it.
Image above created by my sister for our trip. I am going to make her drive me by the place this photo was taken so I can see exactly how the ornaments are affixed to the cacti. Postings will either be sporadic or plentiful over the next 4 days. It depends upon how much paint is flying. May be best to follow on Instagram.
It was impossible for me to walk by this book without buying it. With a cover and a title like this it might just as well have had a sticker on it that said "Carol this book is for YOU".
And while it was not one of my complete and total favorites of the last year, I did enjoy it. It's an unusual tale in an interesting setting with a premise that some may not be able to swallow. Did I mention the characters? One can float, one is super strong, one is invisible, one can control fire, and one sometimes turns into a bird. Just your average ordinary bedtime story in other words.
This coming Thursday, in the wee hours of the morning, I will leave my house in the dark and the cold, and make my way to the airport. From there I will board an aeroplane and make my way to Palm Springs for Art Retreat #4.
I will be meeting up with Pam and Mary Ann to celebrate birthdays and the launching of on-line classes. There will be sketching, swimming, sunning, sipping, stepping, and any other activities that we see fit to engage in. All in the name of feeding the creative collective.
Cloaked in good intentions, early this morning, I began the process of putting away the holiday hoo-haa.
Then I got side tracked by the poinsettia in the sunlight.
Moments of sunlight are fleeting at this time of year. That's the excuse I have selected to explain my lack of progress. This evening I remain captivated by the shadows and the light.
There will be plenty of cloudy days in the week ahead for completing chores. Today I am making hay while the sun shines, striking while the iron is hot ... in other words, sitting in the sun and thinking about the meaning of life.
Yoo Hoo Sister! I have been trying to FaceTime you and I don't know what you could possibly be doing on YOUR birthday that is more important than talking to ME. Maybe Corky Lynn and Wyatt took you out to dinner?
I thought you might like to see your first grade self looking out at you tonight on your birthday. I hope whatever you did today made you as happy as you look in this photo.
If it's been waaaaaaay too long since you've made double chocolate brownies with coconut and walnuts, WHAT are you waiting for?
Chris's mom, Eleanor, loved chocolate. Chocolate on top of chocolate actually. Way back in 1982 or 83 we used to make these awesome double chocolate brownies for her. We added coconut to them because we thought they needed to be more over the top than they already were. We have long since lost that original recipe, but this one comes close. Damn close.
Recipe we used is below. I made them in an 8x11 pan instead of a 9x13 because I like a thicker brownie. We also added about 3/4 cup of coconut. Don't leave it out. They wouldn't be Eleanor (aka Pee Wee) Mulvenon's favorite brownies if you did that.
You might have to click on the recipe and make it bigger to read it!
Last month amid the hubbub of the holidays, I stumbled upon this story about a woman who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. It touched something in me. Her honesty as she looks into a limited future, and trying to figure out what does one DO with this news. While I regularly get the opportunity to talk to people who are living each day with a prognosis of days to weeks to months, I feel like Melinda Welsh will have more to teach us all as she walks thoughtfully through her days. I hope, if she is able, and willing, she continues to tell us what she is doing. What she is learning in this precious time. What she is worried about. What gives her joy. This is a journey we are all going on. I for one, want to look at as many maps as I can so that if I get a chance to choose parts of my route, I select wisely.
I particularly like how she closed her essay... " I will take solace in the idea that, once gone, I may come to occupy a small space in the hearts of the people who loved me most. And perhaps from there, I will be a source of a few simple reminders: Time is limited. Life is miraculous. And we are beautiful."
You might conclude after looking at these photos that I like sweets. And you would be right. I come by it honestly. As soon as the Moss girls were old enough to turn on the stove, our heads were in the cook books...looking for recipes to try. Making and eating treats is something that has always given me great pleasure.
When I was looking at Instagram today I saw this quote "realizing there are certain things that will simply never work in my life is not admitting failure". Amen to that, Amen, Amen, Amen. I am now wise enough to know that for ME, life without the ritual, aroma, and taste of baked goods would not be a happy life. With that said I give you my favorite baking photos of 2015.
Today my research assistant, personal chef, and co-pilot at Tall Tales Headquarters, invented a new tool. Because some of you might be interested I am sharing it here.
You will need a wire coat hanger and some wire cutters to make it. I specifically requested an extra sharp tip on the end.
This tool is for the specific purpose of breaking up big goobery gobs of bird seed that get all clumped together and will not come out of your bird feeder. No matter how hard you shake and prod and try to get them out of that hole that goes from top to bottom. Even when you take the bottom off the feeder.
Now I can insert the tool through the small mesh of the feeder and break them up into manageable bits that easily come out. I hate it when I have had to put fresh food in a feeder with these stale, moldy, clumps.
And now I don't have to. I am pretty sure my bird friends are going to appreciate it greatly. Not these crazy starlings that devoured the juniper berries and any other berry in site the other day. They don't give a hoot about that feeder.
But Mr. Cardinal and Ms. Mourning Dove let me know they appreciated it. Along with all the goldfinches, house-finches, and chickadee's.
One final note that has nothing to do with anything, but made me happy and so I though it might make you happy too... thank you Leslie for pointing out this fabulous performance to me. It is my duty to also bring it to your attention.
This morning at 7:28am I got an email from mydirectives.com. Sometime in the last 6 months I heard about them, checked them out, and updated my advanced directive using this service. On this site, I was able to notify my physician as well as my spokespeople about my directives and make sure they are crystal clear on how I want to be cared for if I can not speak for myself. So this morning when I got the message reminding me to go and look, be sure everything was still as it should be, and no contact information had changed I was impressed. I have intended to tell you about this efficient way to complete your advanced directive, so here you go. The link is above. You can even add a video message to your loved should you so desire.
While you are doing other beginning of the year chores like cleaning out the refrigerator, you may want to get this done too. No time like the present.
When you have completed this work you should make yourself a cosmo with a big juicy slice of orange like this one. It's my favorite drink photo of 2015.
If you don't drink, when you are done you should go play with some baby goats like these. This is my favorite baby goat photo of 2015.
Did you see how I worked those photos in to a post that I had no photos for? I'm tricky like that.
For New Year's Day, since it's cold, and there's not a lot of color outside, I present a selection of my favorite flowers photos from 2015. All of these are from my garden, gardens of Lawrence, or flowers purchased from Karen Pendleton at the Farmers Market.
I think that wraps up the photo collages from 2015. Unless I decide differently and show you my favorite baking photos, drink photos, knitting photos, and sketching photos. I have trouble making up my mind about some things.
