there's no place like home

Dang. Just when I was set to spend a little quality time with my computer, giving the vacation report, complete with pictures, blog city has my photo album unavailable. Maybe later,eh?

We departed on our vacation in a rented car, a hyundai sonata, white in color, in case you are wondering, on Monday morning of the 4th of August. It took us about 10 hours to get there, complete with junk food stops on the way. Niagara falls was breathtakingly beautiful. The rush of the water was awe inspiring. We did the usual touristy type things, the Maid of the Mist, the Journey behind the Falls, all on the Canadian side of the falls. Our goal was to leave the US for this vacation. Never mind that we could see the Us the whole 3 days we were there. We won a little, lost a little more in the Casino Niagara. We did not abandon the kids outside the casino while we gambled, they did their own gambling....at the arcade. If you have never seen kids playing the game Dance dance Revolution, or (in teen speak) DDR, for the cool amongst us, you should make a point to watch. It is a mothers dream come true. A video game that gives the kids some exercise. They dance the foot motions on the pad of the game while the screen instructs them what to do. Now, just so you know, I have seen the screen and would not know where to put the feet. But maybe that's just me. When you get to watch somone who plays the game often, it is like poetry in motion. Very entertaining. Yes, so my kids did that. While hubby and I sat on our butts at the slot machines in the casino. I mean, you don't even have to pull the lever anymore, just push a button. Gambling has gotten lazy. Ouch. Hurts the wallet though.

We ate out every meal, and I was never so happy to come home to a home cooked meal. If I see one more french fry, I may scream! Give me veggies or give me death! Literally.

I personally liked the nature of Niagara Falls better than the circus-y type atmosphere surrounding the falls. But that was only me. The rest of the family got a lot more joy out of the boardwalk than I. It was loud, bright, and extremely touristy. Give me the falls anyday. The gardens around there are beautful. I was quite literally speechless when I first laid eyes on the falls. And then Bethany pipes up and says, " Eh, it's just water!". Oh, teenagers. You can't live with em and you can't strangle em!

It was a short ride to Toronto, which was my favorite part of the trip. The city is vibrant, clean and wonderful! We only had 2 days there, which was not enough. We took a tour of the Skydome, went to a Blue Jays baseball game, went up the CN tower, did the Hockey Hall of Fame, walked around like a tourist with my camera dangling around my neck, pointing and looking up at all the big, tall buildings. Kind of embarassing now that I think of it. One of the favorite places that we ate was the Movenpick. It was like what I would imagine a European cafe to be. Very enjoyable. And not a french fry in sight! Derek got to meet with a boy that he games with on line. He has talked with him for about 4 or 5 years and it was nice for them to meet and spend time together.

Pictures later.....

There's no place like home

Finding the happy place within

I am restless in knitting and in life in general. My mind has been whirling around things that I really don't want to be facing. In the momentum of life, it is important to see the beauty around us.

Here are some Columbine in my "garden". The term "garden" is generous right now as it is mostly growing violets gone wild and weeds. But there in the chaos, is this beautiful flower. So determined that it will show it's beauty. Hmmmm...is there a lesson for life in there? I'm sure. I planted these flowers shortly after the Columbine School shooting. I was so moved and upset by the whole turn of events, I planted these in their memory.

Bring it on, trick or treaters!

The Jack-o-lanterns are carved and lit..

the candy awaits the trick or treaters. Hopefully, they will accept the treat and not do any tricks....

And I've got knitting to keep my occupied and happy. And away from the candy bowl!

The beginnings of Tasha, with the Debbie bliss cotton denim aran. I love the yarn so far.

Trick or Treat! Oh, gotta go!

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't!

My life is on the repeat schedule of the "lather, rinse, repeat" schedule. There is a whole lot of taking care of everyone else going on all of a sudden, with me being too tired at the end of the day to take care of myself. And, of course, by "taking care of myself" I mean, KNITTING! What else? Life all of a sudden gets crazy, but happy and then things settle down. Is it the change of season? We are like the squirrels frantically gathering nuts? Or maybe we just feel like the nut. Being carried around crazily.

Knitting mistake, pure and simple!

Here is my easy knitting project, coming right along. It's the knitting pure and simple neckdown pullover. I love the yarn, cascade 220 in ranier heather. I love the pattern. I can knit it anywhere. (oh, I'm sounding like the knitter in the hat again!) I just got to where the sleeves are seperated and kept aside.....but wait! Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Grrrrrrrrr....This sweater has you place markers and then "make one" before and after the marker. Which makes the great lines you can see in the first picture. You (and by "you", I mean ME) are not supposed to increase at the beginning of the round marker. Something was funky in this spot, so I decided to take back the knitting and fix it. I fiddled and fiddled and then realized that I had to take one more row out. Then it hit me! I had done one set of increases on the beginning marker. So instead of really having 4 stitches that I started with, I only had 2! (Cry with me, please) Which of couse means, that there is too much yarn here to only put 2 stitches here! I must tink/frog 4 rows! GASP! I hope to do the damage tonight! Get it over with. I tend to let the mistakes languish a little too long and then they all start ganging up on me!

Birth announcements!

I'd like to announce a new addition to our family! I have a new nephew! His name is Calvin! He's so cute! Check out his picture!

Isn't he adorable? Do you think I should knit him some booties? Or a sweater set? I can't wait to see him!

And here's another new arrival at the Hurley home!

This is my FIRST handspun! A bouncing baby single ply skein! AWwwwww! so cute! Fiber courtesy of Claudia, the wonder enabler!

Let's not forget the other enabler....Leigh. She sent me some of this purely wonderful wool named Apple blossom. It is so soft! Like, well, a baby's bottom (to keep the theme). I had lots of fun spinning these, but still haven't figured out how to get the thick and thin spots regulated.

Go spin/knit something!

Every Spring needs some bumblebees

As I have said before, I saw the opal bumblebee socks on other people's blogs and they did not thrill me. But everyone raved so much about them, I decided to give them a try. And because I needed mindless knitting last night, here they are so far...

It's okay if it doesn't thrill you either, because the picture just does not do it justice. The shades of yellow are really great. A fun spring sock to be working on.....and if you think you need to prove the bumblebee to yourself, I happen to know a store (online) that is still carrying it. (while it lasts). Let me know if you want to know where! I'll share!

Isn't it a miracle that Ellizabeth Smart was found alive? Wow! I couldn't believe it when I heard it. I imagine this gives hope to all the other parents suffering out there not knowing....I think she'll need years of therapy to ever even approach being "normal" (whatever that is...) again.

We seem to have a revolution on the blogs of exposing your 80's self. It seems that people were really kinda outrageous during that time. Well, people, I was boring. I was still the jeans and turtleneck kinda girl I am today. Only thinner. Oh, much thinner! And much less wiser! No pictures for now. You'll just have to keep imagining what a beauty I am (cough, cough..) Okay, maybe beauty on the inside.

Oh goodie, it's supposed to snow today.(please read with much, much sarcasm) All I have to say is....."Go bumblebee!"