Lots of Hats

My knitting group is really coming through with hats for the orphanage in China.  These are the ones I have so far.  So cute!

I finished the Lace Panel Vest from Claassic Elite knits.  The yarn is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Cherry Moon. 

Lace pattern on back.

I love the front, but next time I think I will do the back in a solid stockinette.  That would make it a quick knit.  Since I made it in cotton I was able to wear it to work today, even though it is 98 deg.!  Might make another one out of wool for later.

Duck, Duck, Goose

Our son and his family came for a weekend visit over Father's Day weekend.  On Saturday we went to the farmer's market for some vegetables and then walked down to the river walk to feed the ducks and geese. We weren't disappointed as they were out in force.

This little family came up over the hill from the highway on their way to the river.  Mom & Dad wanted the bread, but they also didn't want anyone too close.

See them squawking at B.  They never got too vicious though and we kept our distance. (Click on photo for closer view)

N wanted to feed them, but then would step back if they got too close.

Come on duckie!

Follow me.

Eye contact.

Don't you wish you had invented these Silly Bandz!  I sure do.  Someone is making a million dollars off of this silly fad.  The trick is to find something that pre-teens or teens like and you've got it made.  These are B's. 

We enjoyed having them here so much.  Our son is leaving soon for another navy cruise and will be gone for 6 months so we are trying to spend as much time with him as possible.  The girls and their mom will be down a lot while he is gone, especially this summer while school is out.  Military life is hard on the soldier, sailor, etc. but also very hard on their families.  Keep them all in your prayers.

Golden Raintree

Years ago we obtained several (maybe 10?) trees from the Arbor Society.  When they came they were just little sticks, which we planted in a bed and hoped for the best.  Only one really took off and my son planted it in the back yard.  Of course by then we had lost the codes that told you which tree was which, (and that is definitely not an area of expertise for me) so we didn't know what this one was.  It grew and grew and in a few years starting having light green - yellow growth at the end of the branches.  I tried to look up the tree by the types of leaves, but nothing looked just right.

In the past couple of years the blooms at the end of the branches really began to have more definition and color and I discovererd that it is a Golden Raintree.  It is so pretty and gets prettier each year when it blooms.  I've not noticed any others in this area, but love mine.

Does anyone remember the movie or book, Raintree County.  The movie was filmed in Danville, Kentucky back in the 50's starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Cliff.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

On the adoption front that is.  Amy finally got approval from immigration, but there was a mistake on the form, a mistake that could cause big problems in China - so she has had to contact them again and try to get it fixed.  I know she is so frustrated - this has been one challenge after another.  In the end it will be well worth all this stress, but so hard now!

I have been knitting, just not showing anything since it was for a gift.  We had a shower for a co-worker tonight having her second little boy, and since I always do better under pressure, just finished this baby blanket last night about 11pm. 

Since I had a deadline, this has been my sole knitting project for the last week, so now I can get back to knitting hats for the children at the orphanage.  I have a couple finished and will post pictures when I get more done.

We had a great weekend.  Our son, who is in the Navy just got back from a month's training cruise and will be going out again in July for 6 months.  We went up to see them Friday night and spent the night and all day Saturday.  B didn't get to spend the day with us Saturday because she had a chorus performance and then a trip to Busch Gardens with the chorus.  She was so excited.  This is her early in the morning dressed for the performance on the way to drop her off at school. 

Sorry for the glare, but it was early morning and she was in a hurry.  She sure didn't want to be late, so I took the picture as quickly as I could.  She's smiling to show off her new braces.

After we dropped her off at school we drove up to Williamsburg to an outlet mall.  I did a little shopping for my trip to China, things I couldn't find here at home and would have had to order. It was so hot though that after lunch we headed back to the car and the a/c. 

On the way home we stopped at Fort Monroe.  We  had driven past this exit many times but had never stopped.  It was a neat historical fort and worth the stop.  We enjoyed the museum and walked to the top of the fort for a view of the Chespeake Bay.  We will definitely go back on a cooler day to see more.  The temperature was 98 deg.   A few pictures -

N sitting in a window well of the museum, which was the fort prison.  I learned several things here - one that Jefferson Davis was a prisoner here after the Civil War. 

See how tall I am!

The moat surrounding the fort.

Views of the Chesapeake Bay from atop the fort.

Grandaddy, Dad and N, headed down from the top. Notice the beautiful old houses.  These are all private residences.  Such a pretty place.