dinner with Evva at Mario's

Hi, Everyone,

It's a cool Monday night after a rainy fall day in San Diego. I feel fine.  No music tonight. 

I'm sewing on a "sock bug", a bug shaped bag the right size to hold a sock knitting project.  Hmmm, I'll show you when I'm done.  It's cute.

Saturday night we had dinner with Evva at Mario's Fiesta Maya in Huntington Beach.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/marios-fiesta-maya-huntington-beach

Lots of fun to get everyone together.    It's nice to see Evva once in a while, she lives so far away.  Nate had to sit with Grampa, of course.  Grampa had his "World's Best Upside-down Grampa" tee shirt on.   Dare couldn't make it.

Here's Amber's new do:

We had fun, the food was good.  Mexican seafood is their specialty, I had the crab enchiladas.  Very rich and cheesy, lots of crab, yum.  Evva's Siete Mares soup was out of this world. Enough for 4 people.   Amber had a huge seafood salad, also wowsers.  Dan's steak Fajitas came on an oval plate of a size suitable for a Thanksgiving turkey.

Heather brought her new shawl, an early Christmas present from me, although it is not in the picture.  It's a variant on the swallowtail, more rows of nupps at the bottom, a different edging lace, less budding lace, a sharper rate of increase to make it wider and shorter and a panel of mirror image nupps in a central panel.  All mods to her specs.  Actually, not really much of a swallowtail at all any more, lol.  Same yarn as the swallowtail I made for Evva last spring.  For comparison, here is Evva's shawl. http://dragondotr.blogspot.com/2010/03/shawls-shawls-shawls.html

Here it is when it was finished blocking. Heather's kitty had to examine and approve it.

Here it is hanging from the rafters from a pair of hooks intended for bikes in Heather's garage.  Our new rainy day shawl drying system. Note the fan.  Her niffty little Smart car only takes up 1/4 of the garage, so there is plenty of room for both cars AND shawl drying.   And other things.  We used a big table at my house to pin it out to the bottom section of a bed sheet, then sent it home with Heather to use the rafter hooks to dry it. Since it is on the bottom section, you can reach the shawl if you need to adjust any pins.

Here is another hanging shot.

Here it is when it came inside to have it's many, many safety pins removed to release it from the bed sheet. Percy immediately took possession.  That cat understands quality.

Heather sent me this photo of her mother of the groom jacket.

Lilo is asleep on my bed, she has more sense than to be up wandering around the cold house at this hour, lol.

Ta-ta, 'til later,
Julie

Brad and Shannon's Wedding photos

Hello, Everyone,

It's a rainy Monday afternoon in San Diego.  I'm listening to Santana's Supernatural.  I'm feeling OK, a little tired after going to Anaheim yesterday in the rain and struggling to walk at the theater in the round, the Heritage Forum.  But the show was great, the kids tried hard.  There were 3 expert Taiko drummers that  knocked everyone's socks off.  The little kids were cute.  Nate loved the Jazz Bans, which was playing swing music.  My friend Leroy was on Sax, and Audrey played guitar.  They had a new drummer, a young kid, and he was super.  Nate stretched out the tail of his toy lizard and played it like a bass viol, in time to the music, so funny. 

Here are some pics of Brad and Shannon's wedding.  Heather and I went swimming to day and afterward stopped for a spot of tea and I got this file from her...   I sure hope this uploaded nicely so you all can see it.

Big sigh,...... Well, one of these days Blogger will let me post this.  Maybe it was too big.  The upload ran all night and then showed error in the morning.


Lilo is sleeping on the foot of my bed, she had a dim view of rainy days and generlly does not bother to get out of bed if it's raining!

See ya,
Julie

It was a great wedding

Hello, Everyone,

It's an early, misty Friday morning.  I'm listening to Julian Bream play guitar.   I feel ok, although my lower back hurts.  I wonder what I did to cause that? Sigh...  Well, my back woke me up and I can't get back to sleep, so I thought I'd share pics of the wedding with you. 

The wedding was lovely and the pics are starting to be posted on Facebook.

My brother-in-law, Ron, made this composite to look like a newspaper.

It was a beautiful spot with a view of the lake, hawks wheeling overhead, some small boats scooting about and others parked in the reeds fishing on the lake, and small airplanes using the lake as a landmark for their left turn toward Mexico.

Notice the hand knit lace weight shawl she is using for her veil.  Yuppers, that's the one I knit. Bead clusters on the points of the shawl and all. 

It was a fun reception.  The food was provided by a BBQ guy, the kind who rolls up with a smoker in tow.  His stuff was really good, the meats were tender and juicy and smokey. The beans were really tasty.  The slaw was good, too.  I was surprised at how good the whole meal was.  Not just a snack, a big plate of BBQ.  Whole lot of fun.  I have this crazy idea to ask the BBQ guy if he smokes turkeys for Thanksgiving...  Hm...  Easy for me.....

Lilo came out, rubbed against my legs and then went back to bed.  She thinks I'm crazy to be up this early.

Have a great day!
Love,
Julie

Welcome to fall

Hello,
It's a cool, drizzly Wednesday night.  I'm listening to flamenco on Sky.  I feel OK, now, although earlier I had an upset stomach bad enough for me to pass on knit night.  I usually love to go, but tonight I just could not quite make it. Very definitely fall weather, early this year.  Welcome to fall.

I'm knitting on Heather's pink socks (almost done) and a lavender baby set for Eri.

We went grocery shopping at Food for less, not our usual market, but it was handy.  They have these great Mexican cheeses.  Yum, this is going to be fun.

Lilo sez Hi.  She has cabin fever, since it is too cold to spend much time outside.  I put catnip on her rug.


Nite,
Julie

Dawn Patrol

Hello, Eveyone,


Well, it's early, I'm watching the misty dawn arrive, which is usually not me at all.  Friday morning, warm and overcast.  We had thunderstorms and rain yesterday and a beautiful double rainbow just at sunset. Popsicle orange sunset clouds and a double rainbow.  I wish I knew how to photograph something like that.  It was something like this...

In San Diego? In September?  The long-time locals are amazed.  More rain is expected today, so I guess that means it will be dry, LOL. 

Various aches and pains woke me up, so I thought I'd blog until the Motrin cuts in and then go back to sleep.  Listening to a pretty Vivaldi violin concerto.

I'm re-knitting my favorite  winter shawl.  The moths got into it and made big holes.  So I unraveled it and tied all the breaks together.  Now It's beginning life again. I'm think I might lightly felt it when I'm done to make it warmer. 

Lilo is keeping me company as usual.  I put catnip on her rug, so she is happy.  Blissed out. 

Her favorite spot.

Enjoy your day, I'm back to bed for an extra hour or two now.


Julie

Bowling? Maybe not!

Hello,
It's a warm Thursday barely-morning after a steamy day in San Diego. My mood is pretty good.   I'm listening to some juicy Bossa Nova on Sky.fm.   What is it about Portuguese?  They could read a grocery list to the music and it would sound sexy.

I don't usually complain much in my blog, I find it unseemly, but I guess I should clarify the bowling post from Sunday night. Turns out, Arnold I'm not.

Well, some of you that know me, know that I have a pretty serious case of Sjogrens, a form of arthritis.  So on Sunday I was not exactly bowling in the usual way.  Not being able to hold the ball in the usual way was, however, not a problem to a resourceful person like me.  I two-handed the light weight  "baby ball" the lanes folks gave us for my grandson to use, and I was able to get it down the lane. We had the "bumpers" up on the sides so that the ball can't go into the gutter, so it's more like shooting pool, with the ball careening back and forth as it staggers toward the pins, but staying in the lane.  Lots of fun.  I had a great time. World's worst score, but fun.  However, I have been paying the price for this fun the last few days.  Nothing really works right, but especially my hands, most especially the right one.  Oh, well.  I've been dipping them in the hot wax therapy.  Some years ago I had a carpal tunnel operation done and the physical therapist used the hot wax to loosen things up so that she could work on me.  So, I got a hot wax machine at her suggestion  (sold in the beauty supply store as a cosmetic item).  I use it from time to time, especially in the winter.  Well, it's been in use all right this week, LOL.  Maybe not bowling next time.  We just did one line.  Dan sat out and watched the rest of us get silly, maybe he was the smart one.

I've been making lots of fun crocheted juzu beads in bright and pretty colors.  Maybe I'll post the pattern if I can figure out how to describe what I do. I give them away as fast as I make them.  But I'm really clumsy right now with the right hand not working normally.  Sigh, soon I'm be a "happy hooker" again,  LOL.

Lilo is busy guarding the front door.  Earlier I had it open for the nice cool evening air and a big old gray tom cat tried to come into the house.  She hissed at him and puffed up as big as possible, so I shut the door.  Now she is on guard.  This afternoon I put some catnip on the little rug next to the computer where she likes to wait for me to finish using the computer or blogging.   She just loves that.  She rolls around on it and gets kitty-drunk. Poor thing, now her mood is spoiled and she is on high alert.

See ya soon,
Julie

Bowling, anyone

Hello, Everyone,

It's a very warm Indian Summer Sunday late night, following a scorching hot day, complete with triple digit temps and the hot, Easterly winds we old time San Diegans call "Santa Ana's" .  I know it's a misnomer, but that's what we call them just the same.   I'm listening to cooling guitar music from the Restful Mind.  I feel great other than being a bit hot.  Life is good!

Dan stopped by the grand opening of a new Fresh and Easy grocery store this morning and won a $25 gift card.  Way to go, Dan.


I had a fun day.  I went to a lovely Buddhist meeting at Evelyn's house and then took her with me to have Thai food with the kids for my birthday at, you guessed it, Amarin Thai.   Aey was our server and she is very nice.  She made me a special plate of home-made tasting coconut ice cream with whipped cream and a birthday candle.  We sang and it was fun.  Thank you, Dare.

Then we went bowling, LOL. 

First time I've bowled in maybe 10 years.  Great fun.  Nate was so cute.  

He bowled pretty good for a kid, beating me.  His mom skunked all the rest of us.  She was in triple digits.  I bowled a 49.  With the kiddy bumpers up.   I actually did the comedy thing where the ball flies off your fingers backwards at the people in the sitting area, LOL.  I get the prize for world's worst score, but it was fun.


When it was time to go Nate was sad.  He was having a great time.

Well, we had a lot of silly fun at the bowling alley.  Thank you, Ambie.


Then, we had adventures.  When we went to leave the bowling alley, the car would not start.  There were some guys hanging out in front of the Bowling Alley who helped us push start the car - Thanks, Guys.


Then we drove to the nearby auto parts store, and Dare bought me a new battery. I really appreciate it.  Thank you.


Then the guy from the auto parts store installed it, while we sat in the shade and had cool drinks.  Thank you, Auto parts store Guy.


Then we took Dare home, then Evelyn, then home for us and a well earned nap.  All's well that ends well.


My friend Eri is expecting this winter, so I am knitting baby stuff.  I'll post pics when I get them done.  Baby stuff is so cute and so much fun to knit.  Especially for a winter baby.  Snugly little sweaters, darling booties and hats, etc.  When I finish blogging I'll get back to the cute baby sweater with a flower petal yoke I've been working on.


Lilo sez "hello" to her adoring fans, swishing back and forth, stroking my leg with her tail in a all her pristine whiteness.  She likes to help me blog and it's too hot to sleep anyway. 


Time to go and find an icy cold drink.  Dean Martin is playing now, "Ain't that a kick in the pants", so he must have suggested it to me, LOL.   With 3 maraschino cherries and maybe some gown-up beverage additions, LOL.  Hey, Dan, you tending bar tonight? 


Love,
Julie (with Lilo posing prettily and Dan tending bar)

Thai one on

Hello,
It's late Sunday night in San Diego, I'm ok and the weather was lovely all day.   I'm listening to Ottmar Liebert play "Summer of Joy" on Sky.

I enjoyed a Buddhist study meeting this afternoon. This is the material we discussed if you are interested.  http://sgi-usa.org/studyandpubs/study/2010_intro_exam_study_guide/index.php

I finished some beautiful socks, dark green with cream and multi color work, but I can't show them until I give them, as the recipient reads this blog.

This evening we went to Amarin Thai again.  Wow, are they great cooks!  We had the Tom Kha soup (creamy and flavorful), the beef salad (wonderful rare beef), chicken satay (moist and tender), Mambo Mambo Chicken curry with rice (wow! best flavor curry ever, my fav), beef pad thai (Dare loves this, but I like more egg and other adornments), garlic pepper shrimp (crunchy and garlic-ey, on a bed of sauteed shredded cabbage, more garlic than you can imagine, Dan's fav).  There was plenty left over for Dare's lunch tomorrow.  Next time maybe we'll try the tiger beef.

For a little quickie place in a Mira Mesa strip mall, the food is amazing.  The servers are nice girls, helpful and and attentive.  Good attitudes all around.  Prices excellent for the level of quality of the food.  I'd go again in a heartbeat. They play this interesting modern Bassa Nova music, very sexy sound.  Like this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ASIN/B000JJS4GE?tag=riaaradar-20 

'Way cool.

Lilo is meowing at me.  She wants to go to bed.  Ok, Lilo.  I'm coming soon.

'Night all,
Julie

New shrug and Shannon's shower

Hello, Everyone,
It's a chilly late night after a warm Tuesday, very fall-ish.  I feel ok, bit of a sinus thing going on.  It makes me want to sleep a lot during the day, then I can't sleep at night, sigh.  I was listening to Paul Schoenfield: Cafe Music on KUSC, now it's Segovia playing Schumann.


I'm crocheting a filet heart doily from www.hassdesign.com.   He has some very interesting stuff.  I want to learn his Delta crochet, it's like filet, but triangles instead of squares.  Interesting stuff.  


I finished a new shrug.  It's based on an interesting baby jacket construction.  It's a puzzle sweater in the same way the BSJ is one, you make a very odd shape with lots of increases and then seam a few short seams and , Voila, a sweater emerges.  This one is a different odd shape from the BSJ, but the puzzle concept is the same.  I took a baby sweater, removed the sleeves, upsized radically, and it's a shrug for me. 

Sunday I went to a shower with Heather for Shannon.

 It was fun.  Lots of silly shower games.

Here she is with her grandmother, Betty.  I had a great time.

We went to dinner with Dare at Amarin Thai on Mira Mesa Blvd.  Yum, yum.  We're talking about going back next Sunday.  Spicy but oh-so good.  


Lilo gave up on me and went to sleep.  I'd better get in myself.


Good night,
Julie

Heather's mother of the groom jacket

Hello, Everyone,

Well, it's good to get back online.  My computer died after a week inthe computer ER and I'm trying to get everything working on the new one now.  I went through major internet withdrawls.  Bur we're good, now, if I can only get everything set up right and working again.

It's a warm summer night after a lovely warm (but not terribly hot) summer Labor-Day-Sunday.  I feel good.  I'm listening to random music from my library via randmp3.exe.  Right now it's playing Klezmer music.  I have an eclectic library of music.  Now it's "Only the Lonely".    LOL.

I enjoyed World Peace Prayer this morning, then a nice steak on the barbie lunch with Dan, then an afternoon pool party at Larry's, then had a nice dessert with Dare since we usually do Sunday evening together and by then I was 'way too full for dinner.  

I've been doing a lot of juzu beads, but I can't show them to you, since I don't have the camera sync working yet on the new computer.  Working on it.  Tech support says I need to buy a new $40 adapter, Sigh.

Heather finished her jacket for her son's wedding in Oct.

Circular construction with fou-fou yarn and sparkle yarn at the outer edge and the sleeve edges.  Really cute on her.  Right now she is closing it with a shawl pin.  She could add a button if she wanted, but she is still thinking about that. 

She had a really great benefit last Tuesday.  She and Ron were at the hospital for a routine doctor's visit in the same building, when they decided to walk downstairs and have breakfast in the cafeteria.  As they passed the ER, Ron began experiencing chest pains.  The staff whisked him right in and he got instant care.  One stent later they released him to go home and today, Sunday, he came out to World Peace Prayer!!! Talk about a speedy recovery.   If you have to have a heart attack, that's the place to do it!  A few feet from the ER...

Here's the piece he sent family and friends.

Talk about protection....

Lilo is helping me blog and sends hugs and kisses to her adoring fans... silly kitty.  She knows she is so pretty and white and oops, not so clean tonight.  I wonder what she was doing.  No collar again.  She is the darndest cat for losing her collar when out on adventures.  I always get her the breakaway kind.  This last time she also lost the nice name and phone number tag Amber got her.  Sigh.  Have to get her a membership in the Collar-of-the-month Club, LOL.

Nite, All,
Julie and Lilo