she's just saying...

Chillin'

School's cancelled due to the cold. Brrr.
Yes, that says 5 1/2 degrees.

Must. Knit.

I decided this year to make ALL my Christmas presents (with the exception of the necessary plastic electronic junk I'm giving Henry). It's fun, actually - I feel I'm really making Christmas happen instead of buying it. It's a little weird not to be shopping right now, but it's also pretty cool.

The present-finishing countdown has begun in earnest. I have three projects left to complete, so I'm juggling them based on shipping dates, how late I can knit on Christmas Eve, who I won't see til after Christmas (gaining a precious day or two), and so forth, bouncing back and forth between projects. I'm going to be knitting morning, lunchtime and night to accomplish it all. Barring a possible carpal tunnel attack, I should be in good shape.

I'm also cooking up some food and drink items that cannot be revealed until they're gifted. Christmas Day (or shortly thereafter) I'll share the projects and recipes here. Til then, blogging may be limited as it takes away precious needle time.

Life around here is very focused these days. No time for parties, working out, meeting friends for drinks, watching movies, walking the dog, reading the paper, making dinner. Must. Keep. Knitting.

Smells like Christmas Spirit

Christmas snow, originally uploaded by Meltrier.

Now we're talking. I've been trying to find the Christmas spirit this month. The scent of the tree, cheesy music, wrapping presents, making gifts, none of it was working.

Til last night. I guess all it takes is some Christmas lights in the snow. This is the view from my front porch, courtesy of my neighbors.

OK! I'm in the spirit! Lots to do! Or maybe I'll just sit and knit and enjoy the snow...

"Amaryllis by Morning..."

Poetic license there. More like amaryllis by end of December, if I'm lucky.

Brrr! It was cold last year!

I love amaryllis. (I think the singular and plural are the same here). However, the better ones are absurdly expensive. Most years, I scrounge around trying to find bulbs on sale, but by that time, it's too late to have flowers by Christmas. I've also bought the "reject" started bulbs at our local garden centers - that works, but they come with pots and are pricey even on sale. And I always attempt to resurrect a few bulbs or plants from previous years, though normally I get tired of taking care of them by August and they wither away.

This year I found an amaryllis site on line (yes, this is how I spend my valuable free time) that had an assortment of 10 bulbs for a very reasonable cost. I prepped the potsand awaited the shipment, and they arrived Wed.

Very exciting. I'll post photos as they progress.

It's all about pie

Tgiving pies, originally uploaded by Meltrier.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Pumpkin/Muffin

© 2004 Melissa Hochschild

Short fall

What was it I was saying about getting the gardens and deck ready before snow fell? Oops, too late.

I left work tonight after an exhibit opening in a snow flurry, and it was accumulating on the ground. This was 5 miles south of town; it was dry at my house. But it was real, legitimate, heavy falling snow. This may be the earliest I've seen it here. Wow. Button up and hunker down: winter is inevitable.

I really don't like being cold.

" 'Neath the cover of October skies..."

Perfect weather for the hot tub last night. Fall has definitely fallen on us here in the high desert. Not easy to tell sometimes, as we're known for erratic weather throughout the summer. (Typical: 85 degree days and 25 degree nights. Perfect!)  But the leaves are changing, the geese are leaving and the flannel sheet sets have arrived at Costco.

At work, the badgers are packing on their winter weight as they head into torpor (semi-hibernation). I'm right there with them. (By the way, you've got to check out our badger-cam here.)

As a mountain town, there's a feeling of anticipation and excitement around here waiting for the snow to start. I hardly ski anymore and I still feel it. It's not far off - I recall a few Halloweens of zero degrees and snowy sidewalks. Pretty soon we'll put on the snow tires and start our seasonal ritual of tracking down lost snowboard gloves. Last year I gave in and bought a bunch of pairs at Costco. All that remain are two left hands.

Eventually I need to prepare the gardens and deck for winter.  My sister once remarked that she enjoyed hacking the perennial beds down in the fall - it was sort of a relief after a summer of continuous gardening. Not yet though, as the asters, autumn joy, and hollyhocks are in their glory right now. It's about time for my annual bulb-buying spree. I've planted hundreds of bulbs in my garden for the last eleven years -- where the hell are they all?

Mowing

Dad and Henry, North Carolina 2003

I felt a little like my dad yesterday afternoon. Got all sweaty mowing the lawn, came inside, opened a beer and watched the ballgame.  Except I started knitting.

The Knit-Up has started a knit-along on fingerless mitts. These are very hot right now in the knitting world. I can't tell whether it's because they're so easy and gratifying to knit or whether people actually want to wear them, but they're fun. (Like socks, without the heel stuff.) They also make perfect little gifts, say, for 20-something nieces. (They don't read my blog so this won't spoil the surprise.)

I'm starting out easy on Noro mitts, then moving on to Fetching. a free pattern on Knitty.com. If you haven't been to Knitty (and you're a knitter), you're missing out. It's a young, hip, on-line knitting magazine with tons of free patterns and great writing. Check it out. Even if you don't knit.

Top 10 Summer edition

Around here, we measure the summer in daycamp weeks. First Multisport, then Gymnastics, Bike Week at the club, British Soccer Camp, Flag Football, etc. We're on Island Week now, so that puts us halfway through the summer. Hence the list:

Things I planned to do this summer but haven't*
      *plus the likelihood of them happening

1. Clean out the garage                                  Unlikely.
2. Go camping at the lakes                             Fairly unlikely.
3. Lose the last 5 pounds                                Fat chance.
4. Go to a Mariners game with my boyfriend    Problematic as we've broken up.
5. Take Henry to Universal City                      Could still happen.
6. Work out regularly                                     As of tomorrow. Really.
7. Build the water feature                               Still digging.
8. Practice math problems with Henry            We're starting tonight.
9. Get a job                                                  Still have 6 weeks-don't rush me!
10. Hang out at the pool                                Headed there right now.

first of the season

Caging the peonies

(And it's pronounced PEE'-uh-nee, not pee-OH'-nee, by the way.)

So, the reluctant gardener became the active gardener, of course. Just as inevitably the plants and flowers begin to awaken each spring, so does the urge to mess with them.

I did a little preventive maintenance this week (unlike me - normally I wait until things are completely out of control).

I bought and installed peony cages. Seems cruel, I know, but it's for their own good.

I'm also messing around with the irrigation now before the grass is all burnt in July and it's too late.

I've ended up with way too many garden beds and zones to deal with. The front beds, the street strip, the rhody glen, the side garden and path, the back 40, the vegetable plot and the xeroscape area. Not to mention the porch and patio pots, the water feature and the rock garden in back. And the herb boxes. Each year I start the season by saying this is the year I'm not going to do anything and let it all go wild, and each year I find myself at Schillings with a $150 bill in early May.

I'm not complaining, just observing the natural and inevitable change of seasons, both outside and within.

Labels: Central Oregon, garden, seasons

The Reluctant Gardener

I'm just not feeling ready to tackle gardening yet this year.

I can feel stirrings of needing to be out in the dirt again, but I'm reluctant to start. Once things get underway, I constantly feel the pull to be working. Weeding, cutting back, replanting, vegetable plot preparation, setting up the greenhouse, hassling with irrigation, purchasing endless supplies, reseeding the lawn, composting, etc. etc.

I love it but it weighs on me. It's my puritan work ethic colliding with my basic indolence - true for every aspect of my life.

Labels: Bend, garden, seasons

Ah, Spring in Central Oregon!

Every C.O. blog is probably posting a similar thought today.

Labels: Bend, Central Oregon, garden, seasons

It's snowing. In April. Again.

So glad I raked up all the needles on my garden beds. Hey, if a plant can't hang in a typical Central Oregon spring, it's better to die now before I start to count on it. May the toughest plants bloom, or something.

I have got to finish the himalayan recycled silk ponchette/wrap thing before I fly out on Thursday, and hem a dress. So here I am writing about it rather than doing it all. Maybe by putting these words in print I'll shame myself into getting going.

The Knit-Up last night ended up at my house due to last minute mixups, but it was great. Instant party! I turned on every light in the room and it seemed to work. We had wonderful cheese and wine. Oh, and we knit some too. Everyone enjoyed it and I'm leaning perilously toward offering my house regularly. At least it will get me to vacuum occasionally. . .

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Labels: Bend, Central Oregon, garden, Knit-Up, seasons