Shawl Time

I love to crochet. It keeps my hands busy. I love to crochet gifts for friends. It keep my hands busy and my heart full. I found a crochet shawl pattern that I adore. I made a black prayer shawl in this pattern for a dear friend of mine who needed some extra love. I fell in love with the pattern and knew I'd do it again. I found some yarn in a wonderful purple, blue color and went to work to create another shawl (with slightly different dimensions) for my friend of many years, Danielle. 

 I'm pleased with how it turned out so much so that I bought more of the yarn to do a project for me-maybe the same pattern-maybe something else just as fun.

Ezme is always willing to Christen a completed project. After all-she spent long hours on my lap while I was crocheting it.

Look at that belly and those eyes of love.

Feed them and they will come! And a cute, 'helpful' cat.

While Josh was in Portland for Christmas we made a quick stop in at JoAnn's. A favorite and dangerous place for me. He spotted University of Florida fleece and I told him I could make him a blanket if he'd use it. He said he would so I acquired materials in the coming weeks. Yesterday was a rare and sunny winter day in Portland. I LOVE days like that and am always inspired. Yesterday I was inspired to put Josh's blanket together. It was huge, it took some time and Ezme also thought that her help was required. She was a pro at laying on the fleece in the full glory of the sunshine. 

Here's the blanket...tie together fleece blanket (UF colors and white).

Modeling how good she looks on it and sending good cuddle vibes to her feline cousin, Butter's in Brooklyn. 

Here's a later picture of Butter's modeling how good he looks on the blanket!

     

While I was working on the blanket I peeked out and saw a flock of birds having happy hour on the new suet cake feeder I'd hung a day or two before. I love watching birds and this brings many!

Look at all of them! 

Nice, fuzzy, warm blanket made for brother, lots of birds-in the sunshine. All-in-all a great Saturday!

Christmas time in Portland

This year rather than spending Christmas in sunny, warm Hawaii and rather than spending it in snowy, cold Wyoming we settled as a family on in between (both space and weather). Mom, Dad, brother Josh all joined me in Portland for Christmas this year. It was nice having them all around. The last time my brother was here was for my college graduation nearly 9 years ago. 

Ezme helped me get ready for company. Laundry was her specialty.

 When they were here Josh had a movie streaming on his computer-Ezme decided to fix that.

 She also made herself a good, soft bed guest-morphed into a pillow.

 And she napped when she was tired from watching all the excitement.

 And she even was the queen of the box mountain for a bit. Her reign didn't last long.

 And now, we can move past the cat pictures (I promise I'm not a crazy cat lady-really).

Here is Josh watching Dad cut the turkey.

 Master carver?! At least not a limb cutter-offer (this time)!

 Ah, turkey!!

 The table!

 Mom and me (me in my cute Hawaiian apron wishing we were in Hawaii again)!

 The fam!

 The fam strangling me post lots of picture attempts...

 Mom and kids!

 Dad and kids!

 Sister and brother- we coordinated our colors (on accident)- purple and orange.

 And another cat picture! Sorry, I just can't help it.

We did Christmas dinner on Christmas day as I had to work on Christmas eve. After Christmas dinner we hoped into the car to go find some lights! We went to one area in Portland called Starkwood. Beautiful lights, little crowd. Then we went to Peacock Lane. Beautiful lights, big crowd. We got out and walked because it probably took less time to walk it than drive it.

Star Wars themed: Christmas Yoda.

 Darth Vader

 Pretty lights.

 The Grinch!

 Charlie Brown themed:

 Peacock Lane sign! Since 1920.

 More Star Wars!

 Family pic!

 We then went to an area that had lights in Gladstone and saw these fun santa hatted pink flamingos!

 On the 26th we went down town. Rode the Arieal Tram. Mom and Dad had both been, but Josh hadn't gotten to see the view. Thankfully it was a clear day. The only clear day we had. It didn't rain, but it was the usual Portland overcast and grey skies and REALLY foggy while they were all here.

 Mt Hood!

 Josh and me with Mt Hood in between us. (Hard to see.)

 Josh and Mom

 We also went to Powell's Bookstore (we all loved it) and then went to Deschute's Brewery for dinner. Yummy! When John and Diane and I had been there John talked about the urinal...so I challenged my Dad to take a picture of the urinal so I could see what was so facinating. Apparently it's a "fancy" urinal.

 The last day the family was here we went to Bob's Red Mill (for breakfast but they were remodeling the kitchen so we moved on after buying some goodies). Here we are!

 After getting Mom and Dad on the plane Josh and I ran a couple errands, went to McMenamin's Kennedy School to look around and have a drink in one of the bars and then home for dinner. Ezme crashed. She loves company, but she uses all her energy entertaining- life must be rough. She didn't budge from this spot for over an hour-even with dishes crashing and photo flashes.

Merry Christmas to all!
The End!