Solstice/Yule/Christmas

Time seems to have a knack for speeding along faster than I recall it doing. Perhaps it just seems that way though.
My granddaughter, once a emotionless bundle is now a lively little girl with very definite ideas of what she likes and dislikes.  On top of all that, she is starting to take some steps.  So, just when I figure it is safe to put out some things and leave cupboards unlocked, along come the granddaughter.

 The mobile monster-es

I started knitting a double knit lap blanket which, initially was to be ready in time for a certain fall wedding, although not as a wedding gift. When it became obvious that there was no chance of completion before that date, I set a new goal of completion by Solstice. I did not count on errors (all mine) or other obligations (Outdoor Club of Victoria, of which I'm on the board as chair of publications). Of course the error was noted after I just passed the halfway mark and it meant ripping nearly 3/4 of the completed blanket out. This all at 330 stitches per row.

Kelmscott Throw

In order to complete in time I would have to do 11 rows per day. I'm learning to relax and accept that it will get done when it is done, as long as I'm not still working on it in mid-summer.
Christmas/Yule/Solstice is coming up somewhat quickly so I decided to get my shopping done early. Hubby is done as is my daughter and son-in-law, and my mom. I still have to find clothes for the grand kids, a gift for my MIL, something for son and daughter-in-law, and stuff for my little nephews, niece, and grand niece. As far as my SILs, I'm stuck. I've been knocking myself out on creating gifts for them including home baking, crafts (weaving/knitting) in exchange for a box of chocolates which hubby then takes the chocolates to work since we don't eat them.
Question: what would you do? Buy chocolates/wine in exchange and shut up or ask them to not give chocolates and continue with the handcrafted/handmade gifts?

How we spent our summer vacation

It has certainly been a very long time and, as usual there is no excuse.
P and I did spent 10 wonderful days in Kananaskis with the OCV.  We hiked most days other than the Wednesday which we spent restocking groceries in Canmore and going for a shortened hike part way around Upper Kananaskis Lake.

Upper Kananaskis Lake

One other day P went to Rossum Lake with a group of hikers while I went horseback riding with some friends at Boundary Ranch.  I hadn't been on a horse for years but it came back fairly quickly.  My horse was a lazy girl.  When I tried to show her who was boss, and that I didn't plan to plod along slowly on the back of her, she tried to scrape me off of her by edging close to trees growing along the trail.  I was bossier.  

Another day P and I went to Chester Lakes with another couple from the OCV.  Not only did we see a momma moose with her baby and another adult moose, we also saw a grizzly bear.  

Chester Lake grizzly 

We had been heading back to the vehicle when we met up with a couple from Florida.  We stopped near the only outhouse in the park when a group of about 7 people came by warning us about a bear near the meadow in the direction we were heading for.  They continued on in the direction we had been going only to come running back yelling that the bear was swimming across the lake in our direction.  

Needless to say P, B, and I went running toward the bear who seemed to be fixated only on digging up some tasty ground squirrels.  S strongly suggested that we leave since she wasn't too comfortable with the bear.  We figure that Mr(s) Bear was about 100 meters or so from us.  (Yes, I know that they can out run us). 

The couple from Florida asked if they would be able to walk out with us, as did the group of 7 who had originally spotted the bear.  We agreed and headed off.  Unfortunately we hiked along at our usual hiking pace and left the others in our dirt.  

After leaving Kananaskis our group parted, some to head directly back home, some to visit friends and relatives.  

We had planned to visit our son and daughter-in-law in Edmonton.  On the way we stopped at Drumheller to visit the Royal Tyrell Museum.  P was thrilled and both he and I could have spent longer there but I was eager to see my son.  (Unfortunately my DIL was babysitting her brother's children in Hawaii while his wife visited her dying father).

E had made some plans to show us around Elk Island National Park which is a 45 minute drive away from his house.  We were going to do a 16 km loop hike, hopefully with some bison sightings.  

We saw lots of bison on the road into the park but none on the soggy trail.  There were billions of mosquitoes, a few coyotes, and some birds though. 

Coyotes

 The bottoms of my pants after trekking through foot deep marshes.  

Despite the mosquitoes and the wet hike, we had a great time.  Thank you again E.

E had to work on the day after the bison hike so P and I sat in the backyard and contemplated whether we wanted to walk around the area where E lived or do some sightseeing in Edmonton.  Before we could decide, E and A's neighbour peeked in and insisted on showing us around kidnapped us.  Don't get me wrong, she was very friendly.  She fed us lunch and then took us to Fort Edmonton, Edmonton's oldest schoolhouse, and the MacKay Avenue School.  By then it was long past dinner time and I had to contact my son to say that we'd been kidnapped and we would be late for dinner.
After we finally escaped the MacKay Avenue School our host insisted that we walk around the Alberta Legislative Building while she waited in the car.  We had just reached the front steps when, wouldn't ya know, it started to rain, so gosh darn it, we had to head back to the car without making the trek all the way around the building.
We figured that we were done but no, we then had to have a drive through town to see where not to go (too many druggies, etc.).
Well, enough for one day.  I'll try my best to be good and post more soon.

Time for an update

Well, things have been happening since my last posting.  I fell madly in love with yoga to the point that I got an unlimited pass and tend to attend about 4 sessions per week.
My dear father-in-law passed away suddenly on February 2nd at 88 years of age.  He and his wife were watching the news on television.  He stood up, adjusted the television, sat down in his rocker and very quietly died.  When we arrived he was still on the floor while the paramedics waited for the coroner to arrive, which is a normal thing in a sudden death.  I know that he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

My father-in-law getting ready for a boat ride

The good part was that my son and his wife came home for a few days, and then stayed a bit longer when I ended up getting sick with what turned out to be influenza. 

Now that life has returned to normal, I'm obsessed with sock knitting, or so it seems.  I joined a "Sock of the Month" club where I receive a yummy skein (or two) of yarn plus two patterns every two months.  On top of all that I purchased several sock knitting books including Cookie A's two books: "Sock Innovation", and "Knit, Sock, Love".

My grandson helped me in my obsession by requesting socks..... and mitts. 

After my trip to the emergency department I figured it was time to start working out again on my exercise bike.  We do hike a lot still but that generally happens about once a week due to yoga classes. 

On the grandchild front, my granddaughter is growing like a weed and my grandson is becoming quite a little chatterbox.  He's also figuring out stalling tactics to prevent mom from taking him home.  "Hug Grandma", run to doorway to go home, turn back to Grandma, "Kiss Grandma", repeat.  

Last week I went to Vancouver with my daughter and the grandkids in order to shop at Ikea.  My little grandson loved the "Boat" and enjoyed seeing the ocean outside the window.  My granddaughter didn't care where she was as long as she could use my fingers as teething toys. 

Yesterday my daughter and I together with the kids visited GGrandma.  While she was doing some chores in town with Uncle M, we went for a walk with my nephew, his wife, and their baby daughter. 

On returning to GGrandma's house and finding that Mom wanted to go home instead of visiting some more, Grandson announce that he wanted to see GGrandma.  We figured he wanted to give her a hug or to say goodbye but no, he ran in and announced that his stuffed bunny named Hop needed to have a bath (a variation on "Hop goes poop"). 

This morning my daughter phoned to say that my grandson had our evening planned.  Grandma and Grandpa were to take him to the pool.  Later on he planned on spending the weekend with Great Grandma.... and her piano.

Pictures of grandchildren and socks to follow soon. 

A new year

Happy New Year everyone! Here's hoping that the holiday was good to you.
The holiday was quite good to me.  I got a "woolee winder" to fit on my spinning wheel.  It is a gadget that allows your spun fibre to wind evenly onto your bobbin as you spin it.  I'd heard of this thing but wasn't sure if it was worth it.  After talking to some other spinners who'd either tried or had the woolee winder, I decided to go for it.  DH would have ordered it but, as he said, he has no idea about things like spinning wheels (He did build me another wheel about 30 years ago though).
The winder arrived shortly before Christmas and I did put it to use to ply some of my yarn.

It was great to see my daughter and her family over the holiday.  They are only an hour drive away from us so it isn't as if we rarely see them.  My son had talked about coming to visit but, at the last minute they changed their minds.  He/they is talking about coming for a visit in the Spring which could be a "mommy-appeasement" thing.  I guess we'll find out.

My daughter had mentioned that they wanted to get an easel for our grandson.  They couldn't find one so I got one for him instead.  They set it up for him once their Christmas tree was gone and he loves it.

Did Rembrandt start out like this?

After day after day of rains it was really nice for the weather to change to where you could trade the umbrella for mittens and toques.  The sunsets have been quite lovely.

It's chilly but clear out.  

Pat got a MEC gift certificate toward getting snowshoes.  He carefully researched them and then ordered them shortly after Christmas.  They arrived a few days ago and then he researched tire chains for when we go to Mt. Washington to snow shoe.  We bought the chains earlier today and tried them on the car.
We'll possibly try both chains and snowshoes some time next weekend, weather depending.

I loathe New Year's resolutions since, IMHO they are just meant to be broken so why make them but, I'm really hoping to be a bit more consistent with my blogging this year.  Then again this could just be another resolution meant to be broken. :-)