state fair knitalong update

I think I *may* enter these fingerless gloves in the state fair knit along. They do look a bit funky with the abrupt ends when not actually on my lovely farm girl hands . . . I might need to submit them with a "form" of faux hands - though that could tip the creepy scale . . . anyway . . . a closeup of the pretty cable that runs up the back of the hands.

minor celeb sighting

I finally got the picture of Lester Holt to load - I was very Nancy Drew in how I took the photo - look out Veronica Mars!

new orleans crawl

I am back from ALA and New Orleans . . . here is a brief picture diary:

When Marfie and I were conference roomates at ALA, we'd workout in the early morning and then hit Cafe Du Monde for iced coffee and beignets . . .

Marfie stayed home this ALA so I slept in (lazy daisy) and hit the poor man's version - at the Riverwalk. Not as good without Marfie but still, pretty good. I think there was a whole pound of powdered sugar in my bag.
My committee (Notable Children's Books) in action. Someone came into the room and stole our chocolate covered espresso beans and after ten hours of discussion and debate over our boks, I could have used them!

I sat with Russell Freedman - THE - greatest nonfiction writer for children alive today (I truly don't exagerate - he is the best!). I was too shy to ask for a picture but I captured our seating cards together. This is actually the second banquet I've gotten to sit next to him -0ut of total good fortune.

My boss presided over the entire evening (and conference) and looked absolutely stunning that night.

And finally, on my way home, I looked up from my table to see Lester Holt from the Today show sitting at the next table. As it is my lifelong dream to get to cover the Thanksgiving morning airport traffic report for the Today show, I was thrilled and called Marfie right away to whisper my big sighting - I have a covert picture but am having trouble loading it - maybe tomorrow.

I am so happy to be home. Jonesie is back for another work visit and even though it is awful hot . . . I am back with my boys!

pish posh

Even though I call this blog pish posh, I am lucky enough in my life to rarely get stressed enough to have to utter it . . . but . . . I thought I would veer off from my usual family diary and share some news. Most of you who read this know that we've been trying to have another baby for a couple of months . . . I was pregnant last month - for a sweet three weeks. I hate to even call it a miscarriage because what I went through seems minor in comparison to someone who might lose their child at 12/16/20 weeks or more . . . but there it is. I had already started to make plans . . . like I usually do and was feeling very happy and smug. I had been very stressed about getting pregnant at just the right time to fit into work and vacation plans - that all seems ridiculous now.

As soon as I really knew it was happening, I just let go all of those feelings of trying to control this. The average, rational person knows there is no way to control pregnancy - keeping or losing - but a mama determined not to have an only child can get a little type A about it all.

A couple of days ago, E asked me, "Why you can't have a baby?" He said this totally out of the blue - we never told him I was pregnant and didn't say anything about what happened - but he listens and he hears us and he wants to be a big brother so badly. My stomach dropped and I felt utterly ill and defensive (hello - I CAN!) - for just a second - and then I took a breath and told him it will happen eventually. And to quote a very important movie, "We'll just buy 'em if we have to." (Steel Magnolias).

So there. I was. I am now not. We are still trying. pish posh.

a swift visit

Jonesie made a quick trip to Portland for one night - we managed to get quite a bit of playtime in and of course, a stop at Burgerville. Here are the two mugsies with their shakes. E told me that when he grows up he wants to be a "pipe climber," an astronaut, and a "Jonesie". Highest praise!

belated father's day

Happy Belated Father's Day to Tall House, Double Cup - what a great dad you are! Big E is so lucky to have such a patient, loving, and fun papa. I am continually amazed at how natural good parenting is for you - you really are great!

state fair along

Larissa is hosting a State Fair Along and I am excited to join. I think I'll enter either my Flowery Jumper or my cabled gloves - both are taking so long that we'll see which gets finished first. Even more exciting to me is the fact that I can competitively table set in the Oregon State Fair! All of you 4-H'ers out there already knew this I am sure - but I can't believe it's taken me 35 years to figure it out - competitive table setting - this was MADE for me!

I did a cursory bit of searching and just found this image from the 2000 Benton County Fair. If this is my competition - ha! - look out #$%^&'s!

Knitting update: It's been slow going on my two projects - they are both so challenging. With the start of the new summer crap reality tv season, I have made some progress. Here are a few pictures of the pretty girlie girl flower sweater . . .

who loves a parade

E and I did the Rose Festival Parade for the first time on Saturday. I've been in the Junior
Parade for five years now as part of the library - it's fun but not exactly something I look forward to. We usually mock all Rose Festival actitives - which is unfair since I've rarely gone to any. Since it was just the two of us, E and I slipped in at 9:45am and got front row seats. The parade is LONG and there was a huge 20 minute gap and of course, no special cuts to Broadway shows doing a number in front of Macys - this was real parade time. We made it halfway through. I think E's favorite part by far was getting this Spidey. He talked a lot about the princesses too . . .

mr. showtime

E had another performance at this school for his Teeny Tiny Storytelling Troupe. In this show he was a rainbow, a teapot, and the sun (for itsy, bitsy spider). I get such a kick out of watching him perform as he is a natural ham. He likes to take a bow with a bit of a flourish - one arm extending to the sky and also likes to be in front of everyone else. I was very proud of him and feeling very mushy. He had his shorts on backwards (they dress themselves after using the bathroom) which was extra funny because his pants were on backwards at his last performance - must be his own personal theater superstition.

After searching, hemming/hawing, investigating, requesting, deciding and finally f'ing ordering . . . my new kitchen table has arrived.









If you know pdx, then most likely you've been to Burgerville - this is the same table they have there. I know having the same table as a fast food joint (albeit a moderately "healthy" fast food joint) doesn't sound like something desireable, to see it in person is to know it's the perfect fit for our 50's kitchen.
As you can see, E was a big help to Tall House, Double Cup in putting it together.

birthday flowers

My birthday was full of flowers . . . and now my house is too.

let the birthday rumpus begin

The birthday rumpus started yesterday with a lovely lunch with my co-workers. Chop Chop salad with grilled chicken. Lots of ice tea and lots of marveling at how much I like the people I work with.

This morning my co-worker suprised me with cupcakes! She gave me a whole basket of delicious yum-yums and I got to call around the building and invite people up to our office for cupcakes at 10! What could beat that! Thanks so much, Kecia!
The birthday rumpus will continue with matchy-matchy pedicures with Marfie this afternoon and hopefully a trip to the drive-in movie theater tonight with E and Tall House, Double Cup. Let the rain hold off! Happy Day!