A Family Tradition...

Author: Liz / Labels: , , ,

The 4th of July has long been an outstanding family tradition at my parents' house.

Here's just a few reasons:

1. It's a very old tradition. We moved into the house when I was in 5th grade and the tradition was created because that house sits about halfway through the parade route. That would mean that we have been watching the parade and having a picnic there since 1988. (Wow. I justrealized -- that's 22 years!)
Here's the hazy view as we waited for it to start this morning.

2. It's created out of family both by blood and by choice. My brothers and I are there but it's also old friends who are family just the same. It just so happens that my best friend's parents and my parents are friends as well so they have always joined us for the day. Even though new people are always coming, this year's gathering was small and many people were missed.

3. Because of #2, when my best friend and I were in high school and had to march the parade, we would do the whole parade and THEN walk halfway back to the house. (Those memories aren't that fun!) We've also had (at times) as many band alumni in our front yard as were marching in the parade!

4. There has been, since about 1990 or so, a little one there to capture the excitement of the parade. Some years we have lined up 15 kids or so in the middle of the street for pictures. This year, there were only 2 -- Lily and Charlie. Showing the difference between boys and girls, as the fire trucks went by Lily (with earplugs in) went running for the house to get away from the noise. Charlie, in full excitement mode, wouldn't even let mom cover his ears!

5. There's always one thing thrown from the floats that wins the day. Candy is omnipresent (as are the races to get it off the street!) but this year the winner came from the Little Tykes float in the form of a teddy bear that made a little girl's morning!

6. After the parade, the picnic commences and much food and fun is to be had by all...at least until naptime!

7. My dad's yard is, as it was put today, better than a lot of parks. There's usually something really cool happening too. One year, it was a baby hawk. This year it was cactus flowers
and twin fawns.
I scared off the fawns before I could snap a pic of both together...but I still managed to capture one Bambi.

The day is tiring but in a very fulfilling way.
Good food, good friends, good times.


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The Unbearable Cuteness

Author: Liz / Labels: , ,

Unless you have grown up with me or spent a lot of time at my house, you might not know that I am a huge teddy bear freak! As I sit here and think about it, I believe the only room in my house that doesn't have a teddy bear in it is the bathroom.


I started as a little girl always asking for a bear for birthdays, christmas, any holiday really. In fact, I remember many birthdays as I got older that mom said (kinda like a can-we-please-do-something-different statement) "don't you want anything else?"

I had huge bears, tiny bears, bears that squeaked, figurine bears, posable bears, etc. etc. etc. I even threatened to have a small one (appropriately named Baldwin) on the piano when I did my recital in college.

So today I was downtown at Knitter's Connection shopping for some fun new yarn. I was peeking at about the 3rd alpaca booth when I turned around and, lo and behold, this guy was staring back at me.
So cute and when I reached to pick him up and my hand disappeared into his fur...'cuz this bear is made from Alpaca so he is incredibly soft and squishy!
And...he hugs well, a very important thing for a teddy bear to do!

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Summer's Bounty

Author: Liz / Labels: , ,

I know, I know...I haven't been around for a while...

There is more to come - Very Soon!

But tonight I wanted to quickly share with you just how much difference a year makes.
Last year, the first fruiting year for my blackberry bush, this was about half the blackberries:


This year, they have exploded. A week ago, I picked the same amount as last year knowing that there were still tons left on the plant needing to ripen. Tonight, I went out to collect the berries and had to come back into the house for another bowl.
YUM!!!!!!I stuck the bowl I used last year in front just for size comparison.

Now, if I can only get the mosquitos to not pester me when I'm outside. I'm still itching!!

3 comments

Yay!!

Author: Liz / Labels: , , ,

So lately I've been spending all of my free time (what little I have) either knitting or trying to tame the jungle that is my front flower/herb bed.

It's really hard to tell what's all there in this picture but here's a few things I'm excited about:

1. The peonies I thought made not have even made the transfer from Dad's house not only made it but actually bloomed -- 3 flowers. And more new growth is still coming!

2. My herbs are finally starting to reach their full growth. The sage (the purple in this pic) smells wonderful, the mint makes VERY refreshing mojitos, and potatoes are awesome with the thyme and oregano.

3. Finally managed to get catnip growing...sort of. Now I just need to rig a way for the neighborhood kittehs not to eat until it gets established.

4. I can't wait for my rose to bloom. I'm not much of a rose person but this rose has a special connection for me. My grandpa was a grower for the rose society for a while when I was little. I remember searching his yard for the flower that had my name attached and the many family parties where we were totally enveloped by the smell of roses. So I ordered the rose that he put my name on. Maybe this is my way of welcoming my grandpa (a constant gardener) into my garden.


In other more craftier news, I have finished Knitting Challenge #4. The lace shawl actually went really fast. I had a few days where the weather was rainy and yucky so I knit away. Here's the finished project:
All in all, not a bad project. Simple enough to not make me frustrated, lacy enough for me to feel girly.
After this and having my knee socks (Challenge #1) still irking me a bit [why oh why did I have to get gauge on a size 0 needle?] I was craving to do a simple basic sock. It feels like I haven't done one yet this year. So here ya go: This little sock was came into being in just a matter or 3 days. It flew off the needles but sadly, it's mate is not so lucky. That one is mostly done but is struggling through the leg. (It may be because it's been very summer-y outside :) )

The next big knitting project is on the needles and some have seen it but that's another story...

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Spring Cleaning

Author: Liz / Labels: ,

Let's just say right now that I'm not a winter person -- really not. Cold and dark does not equal fun in my book. One thing that I always crave during winter is being outside. I enjoy the warm sun, not having to have 14 layers on, and things being green. I love the smell of things growing, the look when the yard is shaped up and the taste of fresh herbs.


But with time flying by at the speed of light, the yard has gotten a little out of hand. At least until this past weekend...

This is the back flower bed which is getting a little revamp as far as design. I was going to put my rose back here but I decided that there just is not enough sun for a rose to do its best. So I enlarged it -- just a little and have decided to make it a bed of color and cut flowers.

After 1(yep, only 1 -- I was proud of myself) trip to Lowe's,
a few hours, and 1 very dirty and sweaty Lizzard, this was the cleaned up bed.
It's still a work in progress -- i.e. the ferns will be moved to what will become the shade garden on the side of the house. So far, I've got dianthus, a Lenten Rose, Asters, columbine, Coreopsis, Lambs ear, stokesia and an azalea. If anyone has any ideas as to pretty flowers/plants that are preferably perennials, I'm open for suggestions!


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Just in time for winter (I mean, summer!)

Author: Liz / Labels: , , ,

...or knitting challenge #3.


It seems very weird to finish up a pair of VERY warm, VERY woolly mittens right when the temperature is starting to hit the 70s. But who could resist...

I've never done any kind of colorwork and these mittens seemed the perfect first project. Not in ultra skinny yarn, only changing 1 color(although, 5 times), an awesome pattern, and a small project in case it didn't go well. Fortunately, they went very well indeed. A few little first-timer foibles but who cares...they're pretty and warm! You can't see it from these pictures but they also have a lining so they're doubly warm. And doubly soft -- I wish that the internet had touch-o-vision.

It's a good thing that I need a new winter coat next year.
My old one doesn't match!


Now onto the next challenge...

These lovely pinks are yearning to become a beautiful shawl. Challenge #4 = lace. True lace. No easy rows. One day soon...

3 comments

Falling behind...Springing ahead

Author: Liz / Labels: , , ,

It seems that I've not quite kept to my once a week blogging goal. Bleh. Life has again snuck itself in between the blog and me. Silly life.


So to catch up...
1. The final season of Solo & Ensemble is approaching this weekend. This has been part of my craziness. Although, I do have a little bit of a light load for this last one. Here's hoping I won't have to be there at 8 in the morning! (or still there at 4!)

2. Spring has officially sprung in Columbus. That means on top of everything else I am itching to get outside! The yard looks good, plants are coming up that I thought were lost (I might have peony flowers this year!), one plant is ordered (the one and only rose plant that I want - one that my grandpa had my name on in his garden when I was little) and I'm still searching to find a place where I can buy 1 (and 1 only) plant of actual catnip (if anyone knows of any place in Columbus, please let me know).

3. I have one FO -- my vest. Just in time for the weather to get too warm for me to wear it.
This was not part of my knitting challenges for the year but just a sweater I could wear to work. Testing it out today. So far I love it -- the way it fits, the way it looks, the color, and so far the warmth.

I have started on knitting challenge #3 for the year but that's a different story. Challenge #1 is still under construction (see the blue socks to the right) and I hope to have them done shortly. I know I'm a bit out of sequence but that's a little normal for me!

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