Fingerless.. woo-hoo!!

Meet the Project of The Month -

"Throw Down The Gauntlets" fingerless gloves! Pattern by Gabi Bolland at Posh Knits. I purchased the pattern last week at my knitting class and with thanks to Linda and Carol... I am off! Above is the cuff on the second glove that I started this morning...

This would be what I call the Hula Hoop scarf. A lesson learned in how NOT to "gauge" a circular scarf pattern. Took this baby off the circular needles and I swear it could be a hula hoop cover! Gave up after about six loop around my neck.. I like the yarn (called beeswax, although I think it looks a bit more like corn-off-the-cob), so I may take it apart and start over.

TA - DA!!

One fingerless glove down and one to go! Hope to have the second one finished today. The double pointed needles weren't as bad as I thought they were going to be sooooo...

BRING ON THE SOCKS!!

I'm ready!

Lunch

So I get this phone call from my mom..

"Don't let the chickens out, your father saw the hawk."

Next thing I know...

Dad is at the back door whispering.. "Come here..."

Sure enough, perched in the tree next to the garage..

Mr. Hawk - heavily eyeing up the coop for lunch-du-jour.

When he saw us watching him, looks could kill. No chicken salad for you today mister. I am leaving the ladies in! I think he is a Sharp-Shinned Hawk? He took off shortly after he learned his lunch plans were spoiled.

Hooray for Pumpkins..

PS- Chickens love pumpkin goop... Just in case you were wondering... : )

Cabin No. 23

You'll know when you have reached Cabin Number 23.

There will be a smile waiting for you at the window.

Where little houses grow from the camp table.

There is a seat for you and me by the river.

Where we can knit and watch the water roll by.

Hiking deep through prehistoric woods will take us down to the beautiful Clarion River.

My heart shall rest when the day is done.

And I'll welcome the time of my setting sun,

If I only can that woodland goal

Where the fragrance of pine is good for the soul

On the banks of the beautiful Clarion

~ Irene Furman Rodgers

From On The Banks of The Beautiful Clarion

Silent Sunday

Just call us the Gehrke's...

We took a special little trip to Colorado this past week.

The date stamped in my Park Passport Book couldn't be any closer to my heart.

It was our 15th wedding anniversary!

West Horseshoe Park with Alluvial Fan, RMNP.

Once we made it to Rocky Mountain National Park I could think of was Margaret and Edward Gehrke (More here from the National Park series). A childless couple from Nebraska who began traveling together to the national parks in 1915. Rocky Mountain National Park was their favorite. I had to choke back the tears. How could we be in this amazing place on our anniversary?

We did some hiking on the trails that were not already closed with snow.

It was blowing snow sideways when we arrived. So much for Pikes Peak.

That's okay. It was Colorado snow..

View across Bear Lake, RMNP.

My most favorite view: Moraine Park, RMNP.

We saw Elk, Mountain Goats, Mule Deer, beautiful Trout, and a pack of Coyotes. It was all I could do to get back in the car. I found myself thinking of this passage from Margaret Gehrke's diary:

Diary entry June 24, 1934: Sunday at Rose Den. The twilight hour is here: I look out to dark clouds on the mountain sides... Towards evening we have gotten our things together for quick packing in the morning. Our stay here in Rose-Den comes to an end. Will we come back again? I wonder.

I hope we get to go back again.

Today Outside

Sun!

What was that? Sun? Hooray!

Forgive me. Really. I just needed some sun today.

So did the bees.. who were quite busy and happy to be out.

So did the chicks - who were also happy to have a long run in the yard while I changed out the sand in the coop. This is our little A-Frame Woodland Coop. Forgive us. We had no idea what we were doing. The chickens were coming and they needed a coop. The run detaches and can be pulled around the yard (wheels at another time...) and the top comes off the base, if we would need to move it. Built it out of left over garage lumber. Painted the tar paper green so it would blend in.. maybe? Mission control to pine tree..

Voila! The back opens.. to get the eggs... and scoop. There is door on the bottom below where I can put in the food and water.

Fannie was worried I was messing with her nest. Decided she'd better keep an eye on me.

Just in case...