WWKIP 2009!

I went somewhere where there were other knitters! I sat and knitted while other knitters knitted! Okay I don't get to do that here...

Finally got up to Bakersfield to meet up w/the once a month Saturday gathering normally at DoubleTree. It was the Kings-Tulare-Kern group of Ravelry and Suzanne did a lovely job organizing the outing including personalized nametags!

She also brought this community blanket-everyone and anyone can knit on it and as you can see 4 people knit on it at the same time-pretty cool.... It will be donated once its completed.... There are more pics of the gathering at the group's Flickr page

Trip to the beach....

BF & I decided to go to the beach on Sunday... He went into the water, I only dipped my footsies (54 degrees is too gosh darn cold!). Actually I am quite happy just to sit and watch the waves....


Timmy about to get ready to Boogie Board....

Wind Surfing is quite popular... fun to watch...

whispers "I bought a car!"....

See?

Front....

Back....

2005 Subaru Outback.... In pretty darn good condition... Should serve me well for awhile.....

Not so exciting update...

Free vacation became a laid off notice but that didn't last long. So I've been back at work since mid-April.... So back to that routine.... And less knitting time.... But did get some stuffs done...

Finished one pair of socks.... and are being modeled very nicely by Timothy who wore them to work the very next day and made sure to show them off to my co-worker and point out what a talented co-worker she has.... Yes this is why he gets knitted socks...

Did finish the first jaywalker sock-used up the whole little skein-yarn is too fun not too....


And started these socks-from last year's Spring Fling sock club...


Baby project for this gal started up again now that I have the yarn...but no posting pics of that yet

Not much else been going on.... Torrance couple weekends ago for Armed Forces Day (working wknd). Memorial wknd was pretty quiet well 'cept Sat since the BF decided to a last minute trip down the hill but it was a fun day....
Right now Dad is visiting so we shall visit family in the LA area and hopefully find me a small SUV I can afford....
Hmmmm.... not sure what else there is....

And the free vacation continues....

My scoot is legal! DMV thought they could break me but HA! I won! Thank goodness for knitting....

Got a LOT of knitting done.... two pair of socks have been completed.... another pair were started... made progress on the quilt wrap... would have more progress on Tim's socks but uhm there was an incident at Starbucks and a needle broke.... Replacement is on its way though...

Mirrored Nutkins that I actually started a year ago but finally got the mate knitted

First installment of the Keegan sock club for all seasons-Swirling Bluebirds


And the start of some very bright Jaywalkers....

I found this nite stand in the undeveloped land near my apt 2 years ago w/the plans of painting it. Well had the time now... so there it is after I initially cleaned and sanded it down some... and then primed and now a spring green.

Post prime and paint...

Primed....

And all painted and springy green....

Also spent the day with my Timothy in the Big Bear area.... Its an hour away from here but worlds away from the desert we live in. Totally forgot my camera so no pics of the actual area. Its a tourist area-sking then boating. And when we went Tim got to see a wee bit of snow so he was happy and I was happy cause I found a yarn store.... and got me yarn. Actually it was a lovely day-we hiked, wandered, had lunch, played pool....

Socrates sock yarn...

And this really cool color change yarn by Ironstone Yarns...

Okay hopefully w/in the next two weeks I will be back to work cause not sure how much more stuffs I can work on....

What I've been doing on my free vacation...

Some contract issues at work (further up the food chain issues) so on admin leave for the moment (been a week so far...). Can't really go anywhere in case we get called in.

So what have I done? Well lets see....

Hung artwork


Finished a book and started another

Framed artwork


Visited my Godmother

Made artwork

Scrapped baked on film of my co-worker/friends windows in her home

Insurance & registration for my scooter

Knitting....


Went shopping...

Wrapped a wedding present w/matching note card
(going to the wedding on Sat w/the BF-I'm his date)

And some type of adventure w/above mentioned co-worker/friend...not planned yet

Amazing the little things one can get done when you have all this time on your hands...

2nd installment or Playing for work!

Couple weekends ago I took a class called Art and Science of Flintknapping. Ie learn how tools were made by prehistoric people before European contact. I and a new co-worker both took the class along w/two of our seasonal workers (a married couple). Another seasonal/specialist that works for us was there as well. Anyway-Angela (the new co-worker) took pics of the actual flintknapping and some awesome scenic pics.... The class took place called Desert Studies Center, Zzyzx Springs

That would be me trying to figure out where I should hit next.... I did create some halfway decent things....called 'bifaces'..... Angela did much better.

Anyway pic of what I produced--all are obsidian cept the white one of course-that one is chert.


the the 2nd photo is my 'best' biface....

This is the coolest pic that Angela took...


And one of mine-like the textural elements of this picture...



And right after this weekend (which btw was super exhausting.... wacking at stones takes a lot out of you....) we had someone that our seasonals knew to show us how pottery was tradionally made here in the desert. He's figuring some of these things out by trial and error based on the ceramic sherds prehistorics have left behind. Once again Angela took a bunch of pics so I can share here....

Yes I was attempting to work on a pot..... (the scruffy dude is one of the seasonals--and despite the scruffiness-a top notch man-he and his wife-all of us enjoyed the time they worked w/us and can't wait for them to return)

And here is how you really are supposed to do it.... That is the actual potter--Tony Soares who does sell his wares at Joshua Tree....


And here was the absolute favor.... Angela bought it for her parents wedding anniversery. Those swirls of colors is due to the firing in a pit--un even temps causes whats called fire clouding.

My job can be very entertaining.... And next weekend it will be off to Modesto for the Annual CA archaeology conference.... Sleep in.... wander in and out of talks.... eat some good food.... and of course hanging out w/archaeologists at the bars.... They always gravitate towards the bar....

And I'm back.....

This time w/the answer to my Sis's tag.... (and then some knitting progress)

I was given this award by my big sis w/some very kind words.... Rules are to nominate other creative types w/in the blogging world.... But like sis--going to bend the rules a bit. I think for me as it was for her-this is a way for us to show our appreciation for those unique people in our lives.... And w/that I will start w/her.... I have no idea how I could possibly function w/o my sis... I know life would be a hell of a lot harder w/o her. She's the one that knows me best and can help me figure out what I need to do

I am double tagging one of hers cause thru this gal I have seen what me mum did for me. And she has an even more uphill battle than mom did. But G-d love those mom's that will do anything for their child and not listen to what the so called experts tell them. Mom was told that I would only be a C/D student.... but she refused to settle for that (and thank goodness she didn't!). So yes Apryl-that boy monster of yours is destined for more than the bare minimum those so called experts say...
And yes that was a double tag of mom too.... Sis summed up mom pretty darn good on her blog... my only addition is that its her fault that I have so many projects all over.... ;-D

This knittery gal inspires me--Not only does she create beautiful colorways in her hand dyed yarn (that I have waaay too much of....darn that Lotus yarn!) but I admire her political convictions and activism. The goals she's set for herself, the projects she and her sweetie work on....

And for my non-knitter or crafter and non-blogger nominee.... My current beau.... He has been one of the dearest friends I have had in my life. The man makes me laugh pretty much everyday.... His humor may not be understood by the masses but its an unique one.... And it takes a one of a kind brain to think the way he does (and often keeps him up at night....).

Okay there are really only two of you that keep this going, Apryl and Melanie... so here are your rules.....

1. Copy the award to your site.
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate other bloggers (initially it was 8 but yeah sis didn't nominate 8 and I certainly didn't....)
4. Link to those on your blog.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.

And now for some knittery related news....

Finished the first sock from the first installment a Club for all Seasons which is part of Keegan Lane yarns. Sock is named Swirling Bluebirds....



Next is the start of a sock for the BF... Textural socks w/Italian racing stripes.... He has a Ducati--red one ie Italian red....



And only providing a Ravelry link for this project since a certain someone can't see what I'm knittin for her baby boy.....

Oh and for Cami--here is my quilt wrap--actually got a bit more done since the pic--not quite halfway....


So there we have it.... Plan on two seperate posts after this one--first a work related one where we got to play more than work.... Then some pics of race cars....

First the tag by Cami...

Cause it will be easier and quicker....

For this tag--5th folder and then the 5th photo... Well not a very exciting picture really but it will show what the desert is supposed to look like around me... (I took this photo soon after I moved out here in 2007-its kinda crappy lookin cause the transfer to CD from normal film wasn't done very well by the lab...man digital cameras are awesome....)


And now what it looked like before Christmas...yeah that would be snow in the MOJAVE DESERT..... We got 4". Now I know for y'all in the midwestern states-big whoop and I would agree but since I live in a land where the natives freak out over rain I got trapped at work because of this stuff.... Yep got to spend the nite up at the military base-I lucked out staying at a co-workers since she lives on base....got a shower and everything....

So there ya go Cami--no scary desert creatures (who might I add post pics of creepy spiders 'shudders') and I think I will tag Apryl, Sis, and Melissa..... And I'm going to add a new gal to the mix-my old college roommate just started a blog for her and her hubbies baby that's due in June! (not posting that knitting-ravelry only....sorry Jaimi)

Okay stay tuned--Yes I will be posting very soon-have to answer Sis's tag.... (very touching one I might add)