New Beginnings

Franconia Graduation

A bunch of us went to Franconia for a picnic to celebrate Girl-child's graduation (which was last December, but who wants to picnic in December?)

Odds and Ends

I feel like my life is so busy and yet so boring these days; I have nothing to blog about, or so it seems.

It's been raining since last night, so I dug this Chicago fountain pic up out of the archives.

This is from a while ago.  Forgive me if I posted it already.  Seriously though, of all the delivery jobs possible, wouldn't driving an Icee truck be amazing?  All that delicious, cool sweetness.

I've probably already blogged this one, but it's so me this week I had to post it.

This was one of my favorites from Boy-child's collection in his room.  It makes me giggle every time I see it. I need giggles this week (see above).

We went to Art-a-Whirl last weekend.  The art was nice, but the Legos were incredible.  These Brickmania people are fanatics.  I love Legos.

I've been listening to and reading some good books. Knitting a little. Working.  The big push will be to get the house on the market after July 4th. Wish me luck.

Knitting

I finished a scarf that had been marinating in a UFO pile for over a year. It's quite nice if I may say so myself.

I also am working on some socks for Boy-child,

a summer weight cardigan (not pictured here) and a baby gift - this is the hat; it will have socks to match.

So much to knit...so little time.

May Day Parade

May Day Parade by Heart of the Beast Theater was delayed a week because of rain last weekend.

It made for kind of a weird Mothers' Day.

I was supposed to be in it, but instead, only watched because of my duty to Ask A Librarian email.

A lot of very cool masks and some bands and some very amazing Aztec dancers were there.

I also ran into my father's cousin, whom I have seen all of a half-dozen times in my life.

They got a beautiful day today.

I have to say the HotB folks make me feel like a reactionary suburbanite, which is saying something.

Girl-child could not have imagined in her wildest dreams when she was little that she was going to become this when she grew up:

I haven't done Ask A Librarian emails on a Sunday before today (I'm covering for a co-worker). I see now that it doesn't get busy until after dinner, since the online classes have homework due at midnight on Sunday.

My approach will be that of a helpful, but not particularly sympathetic librarian.

A miracle worker I am not.

Happy Mothers' Day.

Little Free Library

As was to be expected, Little Free Libraries in Edina are ... fancier than they are in the city.

Airport Shoes

When I was traveling in March and April, I tried to capture some shoes in the airport. I believe that shoes tell us a lot about the people who wear them.

This was a hipster who is not a trustafarian, or at least it looks like he uses his shoes..

These are pretty common. Not a style I care for.

I will never understand traveling in flip flops.  Or wearing them in winter.

This is detestable.  It should be illegal to wear a combination like this.

Nice boots.  I think this was in Salt Lake City, so it even makes sense.

This woman was absolutely not dressed appropriate to age.  It's not like I think we need to be frumpy when we get older, but dreadlocks to the waist is a bit much.  I guess I don't care about the shoes, and this is supposed to be a shoe post, but whatever.

This guy had been traveling a lot, you can be sure.  Nice shoes.  Lace-ups are good for traveling too.

This is a newish style that a lot of men seem to be wearing.  They look super comfy.

Just for the record, I tried getting more women's shoes, but they were moving too fast; the pictures didn't turn out.

More YO and Knitting

I have a few more shots of stuff from Yarnover. I would also like to make it clear that I did not purchase anything at Yarnover this year, given that I am trying to declutter, downsize and simplify as I prepare to move. What this means is, I am not virtuous in any way; it is a practical matter.

There is a shop called Lila and Claudine's, which I have never been to, but would like to visit. Apparently, the shop is named after the owners' grandmothers. One knit and the other ... sewed? Anyway, they have lovely yarns, silk scarves and bags (many of the shots I took were from the Lila and Claudine booth at Yarnover). These felted effigies of the grandmothers were on display:

I do have this to show - cardigan in progress, although I have not worked on it for a week, mostly because picking up stitches for the band is going to be awful: