Dohne Shawl...

So a couple of weeks ago we visited Vancouver B.C. for a few days and of course I had to stop at Baaad Anna's yarn store.  I really wanted to buy some local yarn and ended up getting two skeins of  West Coast Color in DK weight.

I didn't have a particular project in mind and it took me over two days to finally decide on the Dohne Shawl  designed by Gretha Mensen. 

I was looking for a large shawl with lots of texture. I really don't enjoy working with a cable needle so this shawl was perfect: lots of textures (using sssk's and k3tog's for those in the know) but no cable needle in sight. I even loved how the garter stitch sections came out. (I'm not usually a big fan of the garter stitch)
All in all it took me a little less than 2 weeks to make it and I absolutely love it! The longest end measures 85 inches / 215 cm.

I knew I wouldn't have enough grey for the whole wrap so when Ritual Dyes came to Tolt Yarn & Wool last weekend for the Holiday Makers Market, I quickly snagged up a lovely skein called  Borage / Starflower in the softest of pinks. 

Extensive ribbing has my heart so I made sure to use the entire skein until the end. Here are some final pictures for you to enjoy...  {smile}

___ *** ___

The Fall That Was...

December 5th, a big day ('Sinterklaas') in The Netherlands. A regular, albeit it very cold, day here in the Pacific Northwest: 21 F /  -6 C!  Brrrr, but so incredibly pretty. I ventured out in my robe and slippers around 7:45 am and took a few pictures in the yard...

I haven't been on the old blog here for quite a while. Not that I haven't had anything to share, I might have had too much to share and just didn't know where to start. This Fall has been the busiest in a long time, filled with lots of fun encounters and activities. So much so that I'm now having a quiet two weeks before the Holiday season starts over here.

It all started venturing out to Crystal Mountain for a few days early October to help a friend paint parts of her cabin...

Upon my return we had wonderful visitors from Berlin over with the most beautiful Fall weather ever...

Mid October it was time for our now regular knit retreat at Port Townsend where I even had to buy sunscreen, because of all the wonderful sunshine...

Then my Dutch cousin spent a few days with us and we spoke 'Denglish' (a strange combination of Dutch and English) the whole time. Lots of laughter as well of course...

Early November we celebrated Tolt's 5th year Anniversary! Can I just say that this shop and especially this community has Changed My Life! 'Nuff said...  {smile}

Our daughter came home for Thanksgiving . She needed a new Dutch passport and since our nearest Dutch consulate is in Vancouver B.C.  we spent our Thanksgiving there. She had found us the most perfect Airbnb with the most beautiful views...

I think I have posted more than enough for now. We're looking forward to spending a lot of time with our most loved ones, our children, in the next few weeks. Can't wait!  {smile}

- - - * * * - - - Cheers! - - - * * *  - - - 

To Be With You Again...

"To be with you again" by Level 42...

On the  beach...
Scheveningen,The Netherlands
July 25 2018

This morning our daughter moved back to L.A. for her final year at university there. This day also sort of signifies the end of summer for me:  the kids are back in school / work,  the husband is back at work / school and my life will slowly have to find itself again...

I cleaned the kitchen counters, did some laundry and walked around the house sort of aimlessly. After some therapeutic knitting I decided to watch "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" on Netflix. That was just the ticket. I enjoyed,  then I cried (a little for myself as well) and I enjoyed some more...

   

I've purchased quite a bit of fabric over the past two months and I've also bought some new patterns so plenty to look forward to. And knitting of course, always the knitting!  {smile}

Summer really will keep on going for a little while longer
and I'm ready to enjoy some quieter days ahead...

--  **  --  **  --

Rocky Re-Entry...

Wijk bij Duurstede...

And we're back!  We have returned from three fabulous weeks in my home country, The Netherlands. Unfortunately  a nasty cold bug hitched a ride with us and both Master C. and myself succumbed to it. Now we are two weeks later and I'm finally off the cold meds and have slept two consecutive nights in a row without waking up: progress. I can feel the energy returning...

New cut & color by myself this morning...

For those of you who haven't seen all my Instagram posts: we spent a week with my dad and his wife in Muiden (just outside of Amsterdam).  We were extremely lucky to have been able to borrow somebody's house in Amersfoort for two weeks following that at walking distance from my sister's house. It was was just wonderful to have our own home base for a good amount of time and to do our day trips from there. And to spend so much time with her and her men of course... {smile}

My sister and myself...

All four of us bicycled both into town and into the fields. We went shopping (lots!), rented multiple 'whisper' boats (e-boats) around the canals, met with lots of friends and ate way too many french fries. (and Dutch candy) It was so much fun to show Master C.'s fiancee Miss K. (who is American) around our old stomping grounds.

Miss K. and Master C. at the Zaanse Schans...

The weather was insanely hot, up to 100 F/ 38+C several times with no a/c, no fans and no mosquito netting. It was quite brutal at times to be honest...

But beer helped... (a lot!)

--  **  --  **  --

Now we're back in the States, but normal life hasn't quite resumed quite yet. The engaged couple (wedding next year!) moved to Denver, Colorado last week where she will be spending time on her Masters degree and where he has just landed himself his first big job after grad school with a big accounting firm. We are so excited for them!

Miss M. is home for  two and a half weeks before her senior year at  uni starts. She is looking to start a Masters/ PHD program in Natural Resources in 2019, curious to see where she'll end up. She is always wonderful to have around the house, bringing so much warmth and happiness. 

Mr. G. unfortunately started work as soon as we landed and he is in the middle of preparing for another school year. New teachers have arrived and the 'old' ones will return next week with school starting on the 27th.

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last weekend, can you believe it?!

From left to right: Miss K.'s mom, Miss M., Me, Miss K., Mr G., Master C.

It was wonderful to spend so much time with family and friends this summer. 

I will miss them so...

Neverwhere...

Although I'm currently working on both a fabulously over-sized sweater (Teru by Junko Okamoto) and another  hat (Geo Point by Dallas Ann Prentice)(my fifth!), I felt a very strong urge ("cast-on-iritis") to cast on yet another project: the Neverwhere Shawl by Melanie Berg.

For the main color I'm using Madeline Tosh BFL in  the colorway 'Found Pottery'.  It reminds me of those sprinkles called  'hundreds and thousands'... This was probably not the best choice for the first section of cables so after one repeat I decided to use up some of my grey stash yarn, can't remember the name of it.  I'm just enjoying all the different colors and textures So Much! 

It makes me Happy!  {smile}

This will be just a fun project to take along to different places, especially to The Netherlands in July. Yes, Mr. G., Master C and his fiancee and myself of course will be visiting my family and friends for three weeks. 

The best part is that we have a house that we can borrow for two weeks right behind my sister's house in Amersfoort! Now we don't have to sleep in all these different beds and places all the time and have a little home away from home of sorts, can't wait!