Spring Break 2014

Spring Break started this year on April 12. I found myself in Gold Country with my 2 kids so we decided to stop by the Gold Bug Mine. My son wanted to "mine for gems and gold" so I paid a whopping $6 for all three of us to pan for riches.

On Sunday, our family went on the Wildflower Walk at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. I enjoyed the soft sun on my skin and the soothing breeze on my skin as our guide, Rachael, took us around the park and introduced us to many of the plants that were finally making their appearance. 

Lupine

Douglas Irises, near the front of the museum

Miner's lettuce

One of the many trees that call the EYNC home

Wild Turkeys showing off

Filaree

and this little guy enjoying the shade. 

Today, I took the kids to the Hinkle Creek Nature Trail. Once we stepped onto the trail, the sounds of chirps, bird calls, and the gobbles of wild turkeys filled the air, and the sounds of civilization floated away. It was an easy, well shaded hike with just enough hilly terrain to keep things fun and interesting for the kids. 

I can't tell you how many times they ran up and down this part of the trail. My son declared, "I LOVE trails like this, mom!"

TONS of yellow and purple wildflowers carpeted the fields:

My husband said that this looks like something out of "Little House on the Prairie"

and although we didn't see a lot of wildlife, we did spot these:

Wild Turkeys - must be turkey season!

and a black lizard that my kids spotted. Can you see him on the log?

Not starstruck

I met Tabra Tunoa today at Rainbow Bridge Jewelers, a fantastic jewelry store and gallery where you will find many limited edition and one of a kind jewelry. I love it - I almost feel like I shouldn't share this delicious local gem (pun intended) in Folsom, but I want them to stay in business. Just don't buy any pieces that I want!

Seriously though...I had a lot more fun talking to her than I thought I would. Tabra is so nice and affable. She currently lives in Bali and owns land in Costa Rica, intending to build an artist colony there. After I mentioned that I was born in the Philippines, we talked about her adventures in Cebu, where she used to visit alot, and has purchased a lot of cowri and other shells. She also mentioned that she bought a lot of bones there that she still uses for her jewelry. She only uses material that is farmed responsibly and ethically and never uses materials from endangered animals. I left after 2 hours (!) before realizing that I should've had my picture taken with her. I returned before the store closed and luckily it wasn't busy so Erin took this picture:

Well, this is my excitement for the year. This was the first time that I've ever met someone that I have only heard about and whose art I've admired. Starstruck? Not me - Tabra is too grounded for that. I am just glad that I took the chance to get to meet a really incredible person.

Graham Cracker Houses

My son's class made Gingerbread Houses out of graham crackers today. They turned out so CUTE. I will post the pictures as soon as I am done with my Christmas knitting......

Finally, the picture! Didn't it turn out so cute? He was so proud =)

Rainbow Elf

Rainbow Elf

A hat designed by Gryffngurl

All rights reserved for the hat design and photos

I LOVE to make hats for the holidays. This year, I wanted to knit something different from what I usually make. This pattern incorporates something that I didn't think I would enjoy - making stripes (with all the weaving in!) and a design element that I love - lots of floppiness.


This is just a formula. You will notice in the instructions that I did not include details for when to change stripes. I made several versions of this hat; all of them have stripes with different widths and different colors. My favorite washable yarn is Plymouth Encore. If your LYS carries this brand and has the neon colors I suggest using the neon yellow, green, and orange. For the red and blue, I suggest finding the brightest that you can find.

Notes:
If you want less of a "tail", you can increase on every 4th row (instead of on the 7th row).
If you want more of a "tail" knit the 12 stitches after the first increase row for more than 6 rows.**

Abbreviations:K=Knit
M1=Make one increase. Here is a link if you are not familiar with this increase, please look at this link: http://tutorials.knitpicks.com/wptutorials/make-1-increase/
PM=Place a stitchmarker
SM=Slip marker from left to right needle

Supplies used:
Size 9 circular needles (or any size that gives you gauge)
Worsted weight yarn in whatever colors you would like. I used Plymouth Encore.
6 stitchmarkers (one different from the others )

Gauge: 4.5 stitches/inch

PATTERN:

Cast on 6 stitches (I used Judy's Magic Cast On). However you can use any circular cast on. PM the stitchmarker that is different from the others to indicate beginning of round.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: *K1, M1, PM repeat from * to end (12 stitches)

Knit 6 rows even **

Next row: *K2, M1, SM, repeat from * to end (18 stitches)

Knit 6 rows even

Next row: *K3, M1, SM, repeat from * to end (24 stitches)

Continue in this manner, increasing 6 stitches on every 7th row until you have 84 stitches.

Knit even until hat measures 14 inches from the top.

Next row, change to K1, P1 rib pattern.

Knit even for about 3 inches.

Bind off (I use Jeny's Stretchy Bind Off)
Voilà! Your hat is done! 

Please let me know if you have any questions. =) Happy Holidays!

It's not you, it's me

I love this post from Momastery:

http://momastery.com/blog/2013/11/26/somebody-help-figure-good-friend-others/

I've often felt that being an introvert is a social stigma - kind of like you need to be an extrovert in order to succeed in life. I know this to be false but knowing this doesn't make feel better. I don't hide from the knock on the door, but I can definitely empathize with the struggle of "maintaining friendships". I am not the friend that enjoys daily phone calls. However, this doesn't mean that I don't think about you and wonder how you are doing. I think about you often, actually, and often look at the phone and think, hmmmm I wonder what she is doing. But then I justify not calling you because I think that you have more important things to do than talk to me on the phone - most of you have families, after all. In fact, I think that I am pretty low maintenance as far as a friends are concerned, and am happy with the occasional email that means that you are thinking about me. An occasional morning for coffee or breakfast would be nice too, but not necessary. 

Also, I don't like to discuss personal things that I am struggling with, unless it is something that I can realistically do something about. Case in point, I will complain about my lack of warm winter clothing. I can do something about this - just went shopping yesterday and found a new consignment store that I like (woohoo!). But I will not complain about the leaves in the backyard, because frankly, it will all decompose anyway and give me dirt for the spring. I have high hopes for a garden in 2014. Wish me good luck =) 

Also, in case you would rather see what it is like to be me in pictures:

http://themetapicture.com/how-to-interact-with-the-introverted/

I love this. 

Anyway, I hope this makes you understand me a little better. It's not you, it's me...

Water Park Day

© 2014 Claire Toney

Water Park Day today! This is my favorite shot of the 200+ that I took this morning of the kids playing. My patience paid off =)

A hero in the making...

What a great day to be at the park! While playing and socializing with friends, a firetruck showed up. We meandered over and the firefighters allowed the children to shoot the hose. My son is at that age where heroes such as these make him starstruck. I know that it won't always be this way, but I can wish all the same...