home again, home again

jiggity jig!

I wanted to post a few pictures from the beach....
sunrise

























sunset




























quickly fly the days.... the vacation went by so quickly.


Sad to say goodbye, perhaps only auf wiedersehen!

walking with whales

Yesterday while I was sitting on the beach, 2 whales came in close enough to see. Their acrobatic display was glorious. We could see the spray from their blow hole and tails and occasionally their entire body out of the water. My guess is that they were humpbacks because they were sighted in June off the coast and this YouTube video is almost exactly what we saw I'll post more later

oooo

Sunrise to a beautiful day at the beach. Just experimenting to see if this works

summer sun

It's perfect beach weather. Sunny, breezy, warm. The water was a great temp and the waves ere rockin. The kids LOVE their boogie boards. Can't say as I blame them. I rode a few waves in myself. I had my big sunglasses on. Wish I could show you the tan lines bt I cant figure out how to do that on the phone. Poo

delivered

clapotis #2

I took some photos with SIL and the clapotis... want to do more after the beach. (maybe we should take it to the beach!) Everything about this one is the same as the last except it's a bit bigger... I think I did more repeats on the increase (and henceforth decrease)


now to decide on beach knitting. We went to the library today and I took out 4 books Nicky Epstein Knitting a Kiss in Every Stitch, Melissa Leapmans' Knitting Beyond Scarves, Vogues Knitting on the go Felting and one I may have to buy... Sweater Renewal by Sharon Franco Rothschild... great for decreasing the felted stash from the thrift store :-D

I'll be quiet for a week.. have to finish packing... making empanadas and alfajores for the trip tmrw.... DH is making banana bread

as if....

I had all the time in the world. I add more stress to my life. I decided to go for something that I'll divulge later, but it's a quick deadline with lots to accomplish. Crazy, I am!

I finished the clapotis yesterday, but haven't taken pictures yet... it looks like the other one except a tad larger.

I walked alone today. 4.3 miles.. around and about town. The only interesting thing was the sound of a woodpecker, but I didn't stop to try to spy it.

Pool this afternoon with the kids. It was so humid today... I hate to think of seeing our electric bill with running the A/C and the deregulation. I have friends that told me theirs tripled this month... ugh!

hoping for pictures tmrw....amidst the craziness I create

bronx zoological park

was the 'fun' thing to do yesterday. That was after the 5 mile walk in the morning to which I saw a kingfisher and some whitetail deer!
I'm posting a few pictures but if you want to see more, surf on over to my Bronx zoo album on facebook... there are some decent shots in there as well :-)


this Andean condor didn't like when I said she had an ugly face. There was a lady that visits weekly and when she calls to the bird it comes running over to her. She tells it how pretty it is and I guess the bird really likes her. The woman said every time someone says that the bird is ugly she runs away or squacks... too funny.



The snowy owl IS beautiful I think. This reminded me of the owls in Where the Wild Things Are. Snowy owls hunt by day and night, unlike other owls, because of the length of the summer day in the arctic.





We saw the elephants were on the monorail. Unfortunately for us our fellow passengers were little boys from the boys club whose chaperone was as rude as they were and it was very difficult to hear the commentary. But I did learn that an elephant has 40,000 muscles in its trunk. It can pick up an egg without breaking it and they flap their ears to keep cool. I think this elephant looks happy.... (stop anthropomorphizing, right?)




They had camel rides, which we didn't do, but I went over to say hello. This one started to sing to me. You can see his lips in a perfect [u] formation.






VV is here so I may be shy on the posts (or not).

Working on the decreases of clapotis #2!

what are we doing fun today?

If I had a nickel for each time I've beard that.....

Watched the tour. Poor Lance. If it wasn't for bad luck he'd have had none at all today. But the last kilometer was very exciting! Andy is showing that he's something to be considered.

During lunch, we watched the Phils sweep the series with the Reds. Today's game only took 8.5 innings though. The shortest of the series. Between innings were filled with the world cup final. Congrats to Spain!! DH was happy (as much as he could be, that is).

Then miniature golf. Followed by dinner at the oasis diner. Home for a short spell and the movie at friendship park presented by north by northwest. The movie tonight Where the Wild Things Are based on the book by Maurice Sendak. I have to say, I didn't get it. They had a hula hoop contest before the movie and DD and her friend each won a huge hula hoop :)


Home for showers and bed 6 am date for a 4 mile walk then off to the Bronx zoo and meet VV in Manhattan. Look for wild thing pictures tmrw.

klp

that's key lime pie..I made one for DH on MOnday. He replaced my garbage disposal so needed a well deserved treat. This time I used plain greek yogurt with some powdered sugar added for the topping.It is really too tasty....and even better a day later.

battle of the sexes and the big apple

the boys went to the Statue of Liberty (well it was more than boys but the immediate ones at least) and the girls to Manhattan (mostly to the American Girl store... nuff said, right?) We had fun but everyone is beat.

The girl and I went to the AG store and stayed for lunch. Forgot to snap a picture of the cinnamon buns but here's the rest.
appetizer

My entree (DD had pizza)

dessert

I couldn't finish my meal... neither could DD.

Then we traveled to Rockafeller Center and took in the Lego store Notice a theme in these 2 pictures?



Then we were headed uptown to the Disney store... completely passed where it should have been according to the Google app on my iPhone and decided to detour into FAO Schwarz Meandered around in there a bit oogling all the cool toys. They had a HUGE Chewbacca on display made of Legos

Headed uptown a bit more into Central Park. Try as I might, I could NOT convince the girl to go into the Zoo at Central Park with me, nor walk through much of the park. She was getting tired already. (well we had been walking/shopping for about 5 hours minus an hour for lunch) But I did catch a glimpse of Bruiser from outside. He was swimming around and showing off for the crowd. All the artists in the park were freaking her out cuz they all kept coming up to her to ask to do her portrait. I have to admit, she looked really beautiful today. I french braided her hair on the bus on the way into the city.

Then we went back to search for the disney store only to find that in it's place is the Coca Cola building. Disney closed the store in the beginning of the year and are opening around Thanksgiving at a new location according to the guy working at the coca cola building.

She was so bummed by this... but we went to the Gap they were having a sale on shirts. Buy one get one free. So I got her 2, to wear with a pair of capris that she was complaining last night she had nothing that matched.

She kept bugging me when were the boys picking us up.... we walked a bit and were just about to go to the MOMA but I got the brilliant idea of going into St. Thomas' so we could sit and be quiet, not much noise from the city (which she hates) AND a big bonus for the day AC. We got in as the organist was practicing All Creatures of Our God and King! Gave me chills.. we had this hymn at our wedding....took all the strength I had not to start belting it out. Boy, she would have KILLED me for that move! I believe the tune is Lasst Uns Erfreuen


well we got a text to meet them at 9th and 57th so off we went again. We got up to about 8th and they found us. All in all we trekked about 4 miles not to mention all the walking in the stores..my dogs are dog tired!

Dinner at Cracker Barrel on the way home... I had the wholesome morning sampler minus the meat. YUM!

The day was topped off by the Phils pulling out a win at the last inning...well tied in the ninth, won in the 10th with a walk off home by Ryan Howard. I wasn't watching until the 10th cuz I was so depresesed they were back 6-1 in the 5th or so.

And of course I knit on the way in and out of the city. Gotta love not driving!!!!

humidity..........

it's really really humid.. which makes it feel even hotter. Just wish it would rain already.

Just got back from a 4 mile walk... and along the towpath, we met Yertle

the snapping turtle. Eventually we backtracked and he had meandered off to the river... you could see the trail from his tail.

almost finished the increases on the clapotis... this one is going faster and I really love this knit!

Happy Thursday.

heat wave

Today wasn't AS bad as yesterday. There was at least a breeze at the pool. I walked 4 miles alone this morning. It was a lovely walk!

I started another clapotis today in the same yarn, same color, for a friend who was loving the first as I was knitting it. DD and I are headed to the city on Friday on a bus, so I'm hoping to get a bunch done then!

Nothing else much to speak of... lots of work drama, but I rather not dirty up the blog with that!

two in one day?

While reading Kristyn's blog,I was reminded of 10 on Tuesday, which I haven't done in forever. Yanowhatimean isn't doing it anymore but I found one here

1. If given the oppotunity, would you choose a mediocre job that paid well or your dream job that paid poorly?
Ideally, the latter.... realistically probably the former. Having 3 kids makes you change priorities.....

2. What is your favorite thing about the 4th of July? (For the foreigners: What is your impression of the 4th of July?)
Fireworks.. although the memory of making homemade vanilla icecream at my grandma's house ranks at the top... with freshly picked raspberries from her garden... ah!

3. What’s the most random fact you know about American history?
George Washington liked to dance. Learned it on the history channel last week while sitting in the dentist's office.

4. What is the best fireworks display you’ve ever seen?
Probably right here in my town. They do a bang up job! (pun intended)

5. Who taught you how to put on makeup?
Who said I know how now?

6. Have you ever gone through a financial planning process? Tell us about it.
Hmmmm not really

7. What was your favorite outfit as a kid? Bonus points for pictures.
I made this pink gauzy top and embroidered a rose on the front... really loved that thing.

8. Do you prefer a beach, lake, swimming pool, or no water?
beach hands down

9. Do you recycle? If not, why?
I wear the queen of recycling crown TYVM!

10. What are your thoughts and feelings about the Twilight Saga?
Not interested, except to impress my soon new to be JHS students LOL

hoT hOT HOT

I would pick the hottest day of the year to be working on the last stitches of this:


Pattern: Lizard Ridge by Laura Aylor
Yarn: blocks Noro Kureyon, seaming and attached i-cord recycled Abercrombie & Fitch sweater
Colors: 40U, 52P2, 95, 102Y, 116D, 134C, 147A, 148A, 149F, 153A, 157A, 156B, 163D, 164E, 165C, 170, 172E, 175C, 178C, 182D, 184E, 185D, 188D, 194C and charcoal
Needle: US8 and US10
Modifications: I made it 6x5 instead of 6x4 in order to wrap my body in it.
Recipient: Why ME of course!

I skipped walking yesterday and opted for sleep... today i walked 6 miles... and it's super hot.. I probably had a slight case of heat stroke while waiting for the kids at swimming lessons.

DH replaced the garbage disposal... I promised him a key lime pie, so now that I've recuperated from the heat, I guess I best get moving on that... squeezing all those little limes... jeesh!

Have to look for cording to either cover or head out to Joanns to buy some covered so I can make the window seat pillow.. want that done b4 the SIL comes.

last night we had a decadent life. Watched the Phils win, put the kids to bed then took the laptop in bed and watched Must Love Dogs.. that movie is really to cute..we laughed so hard!

I decided not to go in to work this week. No one cares and frankly, it's too bloody hot to be there with no A/C.. I'll start plans from home.

Stay cool!

these feet were made for walking

today was 7 miles... yesterday 6. the rest of the week 4 a day.

I've spent far too much time at school and there's no end in sight. So much for summer break.

Phils...well we won't go there.

I've decided on attached I cord for the lizard ridge. I've rounded one corner and nearing a second.

Occasional spinning outdoors.

Kids to swim lessons.

kind of boring, no?

Oh I can add this:

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Knitting Fever King Tut
Color: Green
Needle: US9
Recipient: SIL