Still Cold, But Who Isn't These Days?

It's been a full week, mostly good, and capped off on Saturday with a Cork Poppers gathering. More on that one later, but we had a wonderful afternoon sampling wines and devouring terrific food from places we'd rather be!

 

   

I was ready to get out one of my undone puzzles (this one was a "Three Pines" puzzle based on Louise Penny's Gamache books) when I remembered I was hosting Cork Poppers over the weekend. The thought of moving puzzles, even carefully -- and no doubt losing dozens of pieces on the floor in the process -- put a halt to that one. So, it was back to the books and trying to figure out a knitting problem. I haven't knit in probably 20 years. I used to do sweaters, purses, hats, and of course, scarves. Like most yarnies, I once had enough yarn to start my own store! (OK, slight exaggeration. But not too slight.)  

 

Back in the day when I knit a lot of sweaters including this one!

 

So, when I was tidying up the office, I found a pattern for a Three Pines dishcloth that was basically knit and purl, no yarn changes. How hard could it be?  Needless to say, after ripping out the first four rows over and over (because I couldn't get the tiny stitches back on the little needle after ripping out the rows I messed up) I was frustrated. (OK, let's be honest -- I've ripped it out five times.) If I don't get it the next time, I'm calling my knitting friend in Colorado to talk me through it! I'll share soon. I hope!

 

 

 

I mentioned tidying the office. It was part one of a purge. It's time to let go of project materials I will not be doing and hoping to find a good home for them. That room has collected a bit of everything over the past five or six months -- art show inventory, things that ended up on the guest room bed that had to be moved for a guest, a broken phone, lots of things to file, art sale inventory, at least six rolls of Scotch tape, books, you name it. This is the before.

 

 

 

I don't really have an "after" yet, but this is the Part One. I found my desk!  Now, to weed my way through some of the stuff ON the desk and then next up, the book shelves.

 

 

 

My friend Judy, who moved out of town a few years ago, dropped in between in-town appointments with her husband Dick during the cold snap (which we are still in). It was so good to talk, even if never long enough.

 

 

 

I braved the cold to go to a tapas and wine tasting with Rick and several friends. It was at our local wine store/restaurant and great fun. There were four courses. The first was called "Risotto Milanaise" and was my favorite -- very tasty! they served it with a white Reinarea Viura ($12.00). Next was a lasagna roll up. This was good but I think my piece was at the end and the noodle a bit dry. That came with Sand Point Zinfandel ($14). The third course was a delicious Porcetta with a diced rutabega vegetable (I actually thought it was potatoes!). Oh, the blackberry/balamic vinegar on that was to die for. The wine was Marques de Caceras Rioja Reserva (and my least favorite). It was $25. And I wish I had a photo of the dessert -- or better still, a whole box of them! They were small starwberry canoli served with Les Allies Brut ($14), a terrific sparkling wine. (I bought a bottle of that with  the guest discount). They were beyond fabulous.

 

 

 

 

Rick went north to ski this week and meet up with son Greg. I'm maneuvering doc appointments. I have developed double vision, which is worse when I drive. It may be medication related, but the headaches are problematic. So, I'm either seeing or talking to just about everyone who has checked eyes, lung, heart, sinuses and the rest of me. I have a rather natty looking eye patch to wear over the  left eye when I drive, which is when it bothers me most. (Covering the left seems to help.) It's my pirate look. 

 

 

 

Rick called me from the road and said "Go out and look at the moon!" I did, but since I couldn't see it from my house, so I drove a few blocks to find it. This isn't the best photo but it is the best of what I had. It was stunning.

 

 

 

Unlike many of you, our snowfall in my part of Michigan has been relatively light so far. We did get several inches but over several days and Rick could easily shovel it, for which I was terribly grateful. We've had worse -- and I'm pretty sure that if you lived in the East or even Ohio, you were among those who did. I leave you with a photo of my grandmother shoveling snow "back in the day." 

 

 

 

I bet she wished she had jeans and long johns. Or a snow suit.