A Black and White Baby Blanket

While knitting a baby blanket using a lavender, pink, and blue variegated yarn, I suddenly remembered back to a year ago, when our neighbor was having her first baby. On her registry was a request for a black and white baby toy. That is when I learned that babies see black and white before they begin to see colors. I, like most knitters, have been creating baby blankets from pale pastel shades. The idea of a black and white baby blanket intrigued me. I quickly looked through my stash of yarn, but no black, and certainly not enough white. I could not get the black and white blanket out of my head, even though my current project was only half finished. Before I knew it, I was on my way to my favorite craft store to buy the needed yarn. I also purchased a new set of circular needles. I prefer to knit with circular needles, finding them more comfortable to work with and less likely to slide from the stitches.

111 width=

Shortly after returning home with my purchase, I cast on 111 stitches using the black yarn. I liked the idea of a black border for the blanket.

knit3

Next it was time to change over to white and begin a new pattern. I liked the look of the black and white combination. I was not sure if I should have changed the pattern, but I wanted to keep going before I made my decision.

Cosseette and blanket

Our Senegal parrot, Cossette is inspecting my work. She wasn’t sure she liked black and white at first, but seemed ok with it as her curiosity got the better of her.

Black and White blanket Several weeks have passed, and the blanket is finished. I tend to be a slow knitter and friends tell me I should learn to crochet, because it is faster. I will have to think about that.

I like the contrast of the black and white, but it does not seem quite right for a new born. I have a feeling that I’ll be going back to my pastel shades. In case you are wondering, Cossette was asleep for the night when I took this photo, so I had to find some stand ins.

 

 

Mom and Daughter Day

surf shot

Good afternoon! I planned to post this last evening, but was so tired from all of the fresh air and walking, it had to wait until today.

Early last week, my mom and I decided to make Monday a mom and daughter day, so I headed out early yesterday morning for Seal Beach, where Mom lives. It is about a forty minute drive from our house, if the freeway co-operates, and it did. The weather was gorgeous and a perfect day for a trip to the ocean. Above is the amazing view from the Seal Beach pier. You can see we were not the only ones enjoying the view.

Two pigeons

fan shop

Main Street, Seal Beach is delightfully lined with colorful little shops and restaurants. There are just so many interesting places to browse and shop. We were enticed by the constant aroma drifting from a cinnamon roll bakery, but didn’t give in to temptation. Today, I am thinking perhaps we should have.

One of my favorite stores, that is a must see, is the California Sea Shell Co. at 125 Main Street. It has every kind of shell you can imagine and many other wonderful items.

shell shop

Our last stop was to a small nursery, also on Main Street. Walking around the many plants and flowers, I was reminded of a recent trip to Carmel,California. I loved exploring while Mom made her choice and purchased a few flowering plants to take home to her garden.

It really was amazing to see all that was available on that wonderful little street that is the heart of Seal Beach.

nursery 2

It was a perfect day, and we promised each other we would do it again, soon.  Who knows, maybe the next time we will dip our toes in the Pacific.

 

 

 

Post Vacation Projects

prettiest roses

Today was a day spent catching up on projects left undone while we were on vacation. I found these beautiful roses blooming in the back yard, picked them and brought them inside to enjoy.

African violet

Next I repotted and separated several african violet plants. I love african violets and was wanting to do this project for quite some time. By the end of the day my plants were already looking much perkier.Annika bath

My last big challenge was to give Annika a bath. She always knows what I am planning and makes herself scarce when she sees me with the dog shampoo and towels. Once in the tub she is fairly co-operative. Here is a photo of her taken after she was  dried off and brushed. Not quite as perfect as the groomer would do, but she looks much cleaner than at the end of our camping trip. She is sleeping at my feet as I write this, so I think she has finally forgiven me.

 

 

Revisiting Los Laureles Lodge in Carmel Valley, California

los lauralesLos Laureles

My husband, Martin and I celebrated our wedding anniversary while away on vacation. It wasn’t planned that way, but it so happened we were in Carmel, California on August 1st. We thought it would be fun to drive to the Carmel Valley and look for Los Laureles Lodge where we’d spent part of our honeymoon 44 years ago. We didn’t know if it still existed. Well, it does and it’s thriving. It has several more buildings now, including a restaurant and wedding chapel. We met a couple who were newly married and holding their reception at the lodge. It was a wonderful day and although Los Laureles Lodge has changed, it brought back many happy memories of a wonderful honeymoon spent in Carmel Valley 44 years ago.