Is it winter?

I can't believe how much I love being away from snow and cold weather. Friends are talking about below freezing temperatures and I'm running around in a tank top. This is my idea of winter!

Have decided to not do the knitting frenzy for Christmas this year....just making a few small gifts for the gals at the club where we work out. Hopefully Jack can get back to some walking on the treadmill next week. Everyone at the club misses him and he's been hampered by his bum hip for way too long. I must say it's a brutal surgery and I really hope I never have to have it done. All the PT gals at the hospital said that Jack's doctor would be the one if they needed to have a hip or knee redone. We're lucky to have so many good doctors down here in Tucson.

Have a few summer tops on the needles....one of my friends was giving me a hard time about that....guess I better get going on more wooly items. Azzu's shawl was a lifesaver for hours of knitting at the hospital, and I really like the way it turned out.

Rip-O-Rama

It's been a week of backwards knitting. Sometimes you just need to have projects go away and get on with the new. First we had the sweater that was almost finished, but the yarn was unraveling, then the shawl where I absolutely could not find my place. I may just rip out a few more things while I'm at it.

I'll need some easy projects for the near future anyway, as Jack goes in next week for his hip resurface. It's pretty close to getting a new hip, all the same recovery, a lovely 12 inch incision, and all the same physical therapy afterward. Guess I'll be playing nurse for a bit. It will be so good to not see Jack in pain. We were on a run in June and he just said he had to stop as his hip was really hurting. Turns out his joint was almost bone to bone. I was glad when the doctor said it wasn't caused by running since we both used to run marathons. It was great that they squeezed his surgery in so he can get healed up and back to his normal active life....just no more running for him.

Terrific Tucson

It's always fun in Wisconsin, but I'm really happy to be back to our new home in Tucson. My friend Meggan did the drive across the country with me as Jack is having a lot of problems with his hip. Meggan and I did the leisurely trip with stops in Denver, Santa Fe and Sedona. I was home for two days and then off to Hawaii. September was a whirlwind, but I'm getting settled back into my normal exercise and knitting, spinning routine. Finally getting around to finishing some knitting projects. I had quite a few neglected projects that deserved some attention. I can't believe the end of the year is closing in.

Friends from Down Under

I'm still a click off for sleeping, but hey...what's new. It was a fast and fun filled two weeks with my sisters , nieces and great niece in Australia. It seems that I always inspire people to rekindle their knitting or begin knitting. Must have something to do with my not being able to just sit without doing something. Have a couple of new "Cowgirl Knitters" in the family and also made some new animal friends. The pig is actually the grown up piglet from Charlottes Web and all the kangaroos and sheep etc. are from Clare's sister's house. The baby kangaroo was just taken in the day before to be housed for the next few years while it rehabilitates.

I 'm so glad we'll all be together again in a few months....I have soooo much fun with my sisters!

Finally Warming Up

After a cool month in the Northwoods it's finally getting to be comfortable. Guess I shouldn't complain as everyone in Tucson is cooking. We're very busy up here...playing in the lake, running, canoeing, biking, and of course our Thursday night pontoon get togethers in the middle of the lake. Have been enjoying the change in wildlife viewing.....people here don't even know what Javelina are. A change of scenery is a good thing. It makes you appreciate everything.

The Eagles nest is the tree picture and the little brown thing is a toad house....and yes, I put it down near a toad and it hopped right in!

Wisconsin

Well, we made it to the Northwoods....our butts are a bit more flat from the 2000 plus mile trip, but we're running and walking the kinks out. We didn't come to Wisconsin last year as we were busy finishing up the Tucson house, so it is especially great being back here. We have a cute baby Pileated Woodpecker living in a tree right by the house, and we can always rely on the Bald Eagles that have had a nest for years on the other side of the house. Looking forward to a busy and fun filled summer.

Fiber Fiber Everywhere

Today while I was swimming, doing the backstroke, I was looking up at the clouds and started thinking that they looked like some really nicely drafted wool. Then I glanced at a woman relaxing by the pool and thought, wow... her hair looks like a lovely blend of silk and merino, and what a wonderful golden color it would spin into. Guess I'm starting to look at things a little differently now that I've started spinning.

Spinning...as in fiber

I am now the proud owner of a Kromski Fantasia Spinning Wheel. For the last month, whenever I've told someone that I was taking a spinning class, I always have to say "as in fiber". Most everyone thinks it's on the bike. I'm still trying to get my feet to slow down a bit, they just like to go fast. I'm having a great time learning and now that I have my wheel I'll be able to practice every day.

Spring in the Desert

I need to go on a hike with my camera. We had so much rain last month that it's going to be an amazing spring of wild flowers and blooming cactus. All the cactus that we transplanted last spring are finally having massive new growth. The best part is that the blooming is stretched out for so long....it goes on for months. And some people think the desert is just a bunch of sand .....

My Feathered Friend

This morning I just happened to be in my office when my feathered friend, the Roadrunner, just happened to start pecking at my window. I also just happened to have my camera sitting beside me. I slowly picked it up and started taking some pictures. After clicking off about six I realized he really wasn't too bothered by me. He was jumping around so much that most were a bit blurry. Since he really likes hanging around our house I should have a few more chances for some better pics.

Florida Frenzy

Just back from 8 days in sunny Florida and yes in deed, it's definitely spring break. The beaches were pretty crazy and also a little cool. Nothing like walking down the beach in a turtleneck while everyone else is in bathing suits. We were able to do some up close gator viewing...glad they're not like the crocs in Australia...and had some great seafood and fish. Good to be back to the normal exercise routine.

The Critters are Active

Spring has hit the desert and all the critters are out and about. We've seen quite a few coyote, this morning I saw a Javelina and her baby, and a few days ago our resident Roadrunner was sitting on the ledge to my office pecking at the window. Quail are scurrying about off the west patio and some mischievous critter keeps stealing my flip flops. I was able to find the first one out in the shrubbery, but the one they stole this morning from the other side of the house is yet to be located. I'm thinking it's a Packrat that has hauled it off . We'll see if I ever find this one.

Warm Water

Hooray, they've started heating the pool at the club again. I've really missed swimming laps and my body really needed to start up again. They keep it at a wonderful temperature between 82-84 degrees. Just heavenly. I was actually using the pool to ice my right calf after runs as it's been acting up. It was so cold that it was just as good as an ice pack. It took about 3 days to get it to the current temp.

Christmas

It's strange to think of Christmas plans when it's only March, but I spent half the day arranging our travel. It's a "my side of the family" get together this year with the 8 from Australia and the 12 from the USA all meeting in Hawaii. It was amazing to think that I booked 2 of the last 3 seats on our flights....glad I didn't procrastinate. Many more flights were available, but more expensive and with much worse flight times. When December rolls around I'll be glad to escape all the heavy traffic and know that I'll be able to spend 10 days with my sisters and all the extended offspring. We'll even have a relatively new baby to celebrate. Meanwhile I'm knitting up a storm and turning into a shawl nut. I'm also knitting socks where I have to provide the pattern instead of the yarn. I think my fingers are in really good shape!

The 9th Hole

We went to our first pro golf event today. The Accenture Match Play tournament is being held almost in our backyard. A friend at the club gave us tickets for two days so we thought we should check it out. When I got back home today I found out that our tickets for two days with parking and admittance to one of the club tents were worth $500. Sure glad we decided to go. We do play golf when we're in Wisconsin and could probably be pretty decent if we played with any regularity, but we're petty sporadic at this point. If they show the 9th hold grandstand on TV tonight...I'll be the person sitting up there knitting.

Japanese Fun

While unboxing books yesterday I found a couple items that I had purchased in Japan a few years ago. I immediately opened the package with the wooden tool and hand/ foot diagram and began prodding my palm. It sure felt like I found all the pressure points, although my hands are usually a little sore from so much knitting. Maybe tonight I'll attempt the foot diagram. I could have used the other little gizmo with what looks like a golf ball on the end (it's softer rubber fortunately) at the gym this morning to pound out those sore muscles at the back of my neck. It might be a new me in a couple days. My lovely shawl is probably the cause of my funky neck and achy hands, but it's worth it.

Hidden Treasures

Today our built in shelving was completed. I finally have a place for all my books along with some other odd ball items. It was great to eliminate more boxes from the garage and do a little rearranging. Also came across a few hidden treasures. When you box up a house and put it in storage for almost two years it's almost like Christmas when you can start unpacking. We added six areas for storage and shelves...what a difference!

Tour of Arizona

We have friends visiting from Wisconsin...here to thaw out for a bit. Their visit has inspired us to branch out and hit the road. We visited Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon....and today we headed down to Nogales Mexico and Tubac Arizona for some shopping and wandering. Made a few fun purchases and have gotten in a lot of car knitting. They're really enjoying our mild weather. Milwaukee is supposed to get 16 inches of snow tonight so they've just changed their flights home. Glad I don't have to fly home to that weather.

Very pretty, but.....

I'm happy to say I missed out on all the beautiful snow up in Flagstaff. Sooooo much snow. It's great if you're inside by a nice warm crackling fire and okay to go out and play a bit, but when you have to spend days digging out....that's a bit much.

Dusting

We've had a lovely dusting of snow on the mountains to the east of Tucson. It looks like someone sprinkled powdered sugar on them and they're quite spectacular with the sun shining. Jack is up in Flagstaff helping a friend dig out from the 5 to 6 feet of snow that buried them. I opted to stay down here in sunny Tucson and just enjoy gazing at the snow from a distance.

The Lonely Houses

One day we'll have neighbors. I keep telling my husband we should just enjoy the peace and quiet. Before we know it we'll probably hear nail guns at the crack of dawn. In the mean time there are some great houses just sitting empty on our street. I took my camera along for a walk the other day and also spotted a neat old saguaro. They're really interesting even when they're dead.