a little more baseball

Dear son has been playing a LOT of baseball.  Here is a video of him hitting a triple in Waterloo a couple days ago.  The heat index was over 100 degrees and the double headers started at 3:30 so it was a hot day for baseball but his bat was hot too. 

We are off to more baseball today, this time Cedar Falls. Another hot day, hopefully the bat is too. 

baseball!

Dear son at bat and pitching

 He ran for a double in this hit at Davenport Central.

 Here the coach is kind of scolding them but I like the flag in the background,

Love the look on dear son's face here, he is in it to win it!

What' on and off my needles

One thing about sitting in bleachers or in a car heading to bleachers, it gives me a lot of time to knit.  Unless it is 90 degrees and humid, then no knitting.  Here is a scarf I made out of mango moon silk ribbon.  I still need to block it but I love the colors and think it will be a cute early Fall scarf.

 I FINALLY mastered magic loop for socks using 1 long needle.  These little anklets came out cozy and soft.  They will be a fun sock to wear this winter on cold winter evenings.  Next sock, toe up!  Can I do it?  wellllll, I hope so. 

 This little birdy was found in my tulips!  Actually I knitted him up on Easter weekend just for fun, isn't he cute?  His beak is a bit wonky but I think it gives him character!

 I am still working on this cable cardigan.  I love this miss babs yarn and I love my signature needles but wow is this cardigan a challenge.  Do you see all the cables!?!  Yikes!  I need to really think and track this pattern. 

I found some time on Father's day to spin on the deck.  I love the way this pink roving is turning out, more details and pictures in the next post!

Iowa Sheep and Wool

 Sweet Iowa City girl friend and I drove to Adel Iowa tor the Iowa Sheep and Wool Fest this weekend.  It was a lot of fun to look at all the livestock, see friends and spend the night with IC friends wonderful hostess sister in Ankeny.  They had angora rabbits for sale.  OK, this is a public announcement to dear hubby, "there will be a rabbit in our future, deal with it and yeah, LOVE YOU!"

 The festival is the county fair grounds, spread across several buildings that host vendors, classes, fleece judging and livestock.

 This is a Jacob Sheep, one that is rare and we love spinning.

 I have no idea what this sweet goat was there, but look at hat face, seriously don't you just want to adopt her!?

After the sheep fest we hit the Jordan creek mall, the yarn shop\ and World Market.  It was so fun to have some retail therapy from stores we do not have in Eastern Iowa,

 We stayed overnight in Ankeny with Sweet IC girlfriend's wonderful sister and hubby.  They put on a meal  that rivals most restaurants.  An appetizer with grilled baguette, creme fresh, smoked salmon and fresh dill,  a main course of pork tenderloin, side of perioci which kind of a cross between a potato dumpling and pasta which pretty much melts in your mouths!

 A fabulous salad which was apple and fennel, oh my it was so refreshing, I seriously have a mandolin on my list of needs now!

 A summer evening, sipping mojito's, enjoying company and knitting is my idea of the best Saturday in the books!  Thanks Ankeny kids for a wonderful evening and IC girlfriend for a fun trip to our state capital and beyond!

One last think, bought this Popsicle maker, stay tuned for what I will make!

our house is a very very very fine house

This post is all about my backyard and our life on the little 1/2 acrea that we call home.
Our peones put on a wonderful show again this year.  I am so grateful to my baseball mom friend Shelley for sharing these with me many years ago when we were just getting to know each other in the bleachers of travel baseball.  She shared so many plants with me and our gardens now sing praise to her generousity of sharing divided plants.

 The hydrangeas are just starting to bloom.  I do think this is my favorite flowring bush.  I love the way they give all summer and then I dry them and enjoy them all year.

 The gernaniams continue to flourish and probably time to divide. Another donation from baseball mom!

 Here is Chance, Ok, seriously, who could not love this face, with the black nose and wait.....

 This expression, which is, what can I do for you mom?  I am so obdient and smart?

 Wrigley is now Chance's best friend and playmate.  He is my favorite dog in the whole world.  He is a snuggler and a sweetie. 

 OK, silly dog moment!  Sorry for those of you that don't love dogs (cough cough - wait until the next picture, hang with me.. it is fiber!)

Spinning on the deck.  I love to sit outside in the morning, drink coffee and spin while the dogs play and I can kind of take note of what the gardens look like, what I need to do next and so forth.  To me, this is living LARGE! 

Memorial Day weekend fun

We had a fun Memorial day at the "farm" in Jackson County Iowa.  Here is cute German girl with Chance, who obviously loves the German people.

The boys enjoyed tossing the football around and us girls visited while I continued to work on my cable cardigan.

The weather was perfect, a nice breeze, no bugs, just a great day to get together with dear hubby's side on the farm. 

Brother-in-Law grilled some great burgers and hot dogs.  We enjoyed the time with three veteran's which made it really special too!  My pop was a WW2 vet and I think of him daily but especially on days like veteran days when we honor those that have fought and died for our country.  My pop did not die for our country but he is gone from the earth now and it continues to be very hard for me to have him gone.   He was one heck of a Dad, a hard working single dad for me from age 12. 

puppy update

Chance is doing really well.  He already goes to the door and scratches when he needs to go out!  He is sits when requested and he gives kisses without requests. He is mellow, I think of him as "mellow yellow"! 

Short posts this week.  This weekend I am off to Iowa Sheep and Wool with sweet Iowa City girl so will post more about that next week and try to find time for "what's on my needle" and "whats for dinner Mom?"!  Baseball games have kept me off of the computer and in the bleachers, where I should be.  Before you know it we will just be the crazy dog people not the crazy parents!

baseball. baseball and more baseball.

We have had night after night of baseball games and double headers.  I am enjoying every minute that dear son plays.  He is a heck of a ball player, an excellent team player and an all around great kid.  Ok, I know, every mom says that, right?  Good for us!  Every kid needs a mom that is in their court 100%.  I am and he is perfect!  (but don't look at his bedroom floor!)