Photographs of the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. The cafe is located in the basement of the building as serves desserts, wine, cocktails, espresso and is stunning. I love how the exterior is up lit at night and the stage and theater is so ornate and elegant. This is one of my favorite SF buildings.

hopes realized and dreams come true....

not everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the arts. it is an expensive luxury. everyone should be able to take in an opera, a ballet, the symphony and these days, it is something that is enjoyed by the affluent. I am the benefactor of a very, very generous friend and have been able to enjoy this gift twice a year for the past four years. this is something that I could not afford to treat myself to. half of the fun is people watching at the San Francisco Opera. everyone looks so beautiful...jewelry, furs, tuxedos, gowns, up-dos. the opera house itself is a San Francisco jewel. you walk through the giant doors and slip into another world...no war, no crime, no poverty. it harkens of a different era. it is not the real world, but is beautiful just the same.

Richard and me

one of the dearest people on the planet...thank you Richard.

La Fanciulla Del West

Anna, Richard, Inez and me at The Hayes Street Grill. Richard treated us to Puccini's The Girl of the Golden West. I loved every minute. I loved this show so much....I loved this night. We all dressed somewhat western...I donned my 25 year old cowboy boots, which have seen better days. Richard always gives me my "home work" before the opera, which includes a synopsis of the show, a CD of the opera and a gift- this time a bandana! When Richard's longtime partner Domenic was alive, they always considered their friends as their family and were always very generous with their "family". After Richard lost Domi, about three years ago, he began to host a night out at the opera for his friends...fifty of his friends. Old neighbors, old co-workers of his and Domi, his dog Sheltie breeder, parents and children of his former patients, people that they met while on vacation. Half of the fun is talking about "how do you know Richard and Domi?". He always decides who sits where at restaurant, so each time, you meet someone new. Young, old and in between. All walks of life. All of us with one thing in common- we LOVE Richard and feel very blessed to have him as a friend. Richard and Domi loved opera so much and always have shared this love by introducing it to their friends, their "family".

love me some cables

this yarn is like a bright, dark, cranberry red color....my camera just does not capture is very accurately. it may just look really aweful against the terra cotta color of my blog background.

CPH WIP

WIP (work in progress) this is my Central Park Hoodie. I have the perfect yarn, now I need to get her done. The back always takes the longest. I am still undecided on weather or not my hoodie will have a hood or not....I may do a nice big 2x2 collar. Hmmmmm. This is a nice, easy basic-cable. It does not take nearly as much focus and concentration as other projects, but is slow-going secondary to being kind of boreing. I have been told that the Kilcarra Donegal Tweed really softens up after being washed. I sure hope so, or this is going to be itchy and scratchy.

ma vie en hoodie

This is a picture of the Central Park Hoodie pattern. I am making mine in a gorgeous red Kilcarra Donegal Tweed....would have love it in this pretty green tweed (pictured) but green is the WORST color on me and this cardigan is for moi! I learned the hard way, after almost completeing a cardigan in the color then trying it on and wanting to hurl. I made this CPH cardigan a few years back for my sis in a deep, dark brown which was a pretty color, but the cables got completely lost in the darkness.

Hoodie or big, wide ribbed collar? What do you think?

grateful

Recently I discovered a lime-size lump in my dog's flank/waist area. I got in touch with my vet. We got in right away- a Saturday morning appointment, so we did not have to wait long. A biopsy revealed a lipoma....a fatty tumor. That's all. I was really feeling a high level of anxiety before we got the good news. I love this guy so much. I want him to be healthy and happy and that he is. Sweetheart the Dog.

nice backside!

knitting fun!

now that I have this pattern pretty much memorized, it is beginning to come along nicely. I am really enjoying this project. Usually I want to be finished as soon as I begin, but I really am having fun with this am loving the process. By far the most complicated thing I have taken on to date, I am pleased with how this is going so far. I feel so smart...so cleaver!! I think I've got it!!

done!

a pair of "Pretty in Pink" cardigans. again, I will not knit another project with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn. Totally overrated AND overpriced. these are pretty cute and very soft, so I am happy.

it was not my intention to have my nails match my project....

cabliscious

Blue Ribbon Helena?

This is my 2010 SoCo Fair entry. The judging is actually done by professional judges for each specific category employed by the fair. The knitting judges are master knitters, the quilting judges are master quilters.....so, the projects are thoroughly scrutinized. A blue ribbon winner has been examined and deconstructed by the judges and they look at every detail, including the "wrong" side for finishing. Wish me luck!

2010 Sonoma County Fair

My project is complete and I have registered it in this years fair. Come check out my baby cardigan and some of the other great arts and crafts on display at Grace Pavillion July 27th through August 8th. I am hoping they will have the "Diving Dog" competition this year, too! My dog won't be competeing, however. He is affraid to jump into the water off of a pier...Kozmo prefers to wade in from the shore. A nice benefit to entering something in the competetive exhibits is a free admission to the fair.

Alchemy Sock....deconsructed

knit from 100% superfine Merino wool from Alchemy Yarns- a superior merino wool yarn from my hometown Sebastopol, CA. one sock down, one to go. Alchemy is one of my favorites ...the stuff costs a small fortune, so I reserve it for small projects. Each skein of the sock yarn is $16 and it takes almost two skeins to make a pair of socks. I like supporting a local business, but wonder how long they will survive selling grossly overpriced yarn. Oh well....this sock looks and feels amazing. I need to finish #2 and will add it to my "Christmas Gift" stash. I already know who my worthy recipient is!

a perfectly turned heel....nice gussett!

the grafted toe....Kitchner stitch be damned. when I am grafting, the tv is turned off, the dog is banished outside and nobody is allowed to talk to me. it is an agonizing process that takes about 15 minutes and it is always gratifying when it is finished.

Fiber Trends Sock Blocker

these are really cool. sold in pairs (S,M,L) this is how one dries their hand-knit, hand-washed wool socks. when the sock is completely dry it is perfectly blocked.

salt and pepper dog

hello puppy

a fine mess

this is why I photocopy my patterns. this also ensures that I don't loose my place.

a fine mess

a fine mess

this is what I mean when I say that by the time I am done with my patterns, they look a mess. highlighting, Post-Its, notes to self. this is the pattern for my MHC which has a complex network of cable stitches and moss stitch.

pInK mUsT hAvE cArDiGan

I cast on yesterday for my MHC. I have started this project with other yarns and was not thrilled with the stitch definition. I finally found the right yarn....Malabrigo Worsted. I wish my camera would capture just how loud and bright this yarn is. I wanted to do this cardigan in something spectacular, and that is what I am getting. This yarn also is very smooshy and soft.

Dillon Beach

throw my stick! throw my stick! throw my stick!

sand between the toes