A Day in the Life of.....

OH NO......

3590
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

Don't look now but there is knitting going on. Actually I have been doing quite a bit of knitting. I just keep forgetting to take pictures of it. This is a project that I finished this summer - stole back from Mel and Olivia and just realized I hadn't posted it. Very cute hat, made for a two year old - so doesn't fit just yet but fun to do, fun to pratice a little bit of color work and extremely easy. Could be for a girl or boy, just remove the flower on top.

What you get to see when you work in the woods....

 

It was interesting to see these on Friday on the way home and have one for dinner yesterday.

Lucia's Socks

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Originally uploaded by ADITLO

These are the socks that I made for Lucia for our silly sock swap. They are again my own design done in Seacoast yarn. Great color, not great yarn at least this ball. Lots of split strands and breaks in the yarn and at least one large knot. But it was great to knit with. The name of this pattern is snakes and lattice, as the solid parts of the leg look like snakes and the open work is absolutely lattice like. Easy pattern.

Ithaca

Ithaca
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

There is a very good possibility that this is where Kelsie is going to be spending the next 4 or 5 years of her life. We went to visit there 2 weeks ago and she felt so at home and could see herself going there that she has decided to apply for early decision. So we will know before Christmas if this is where she is going to go to school. It is far enough away (about 6 hours) but close enough. The city is not huge but not a village either. My friend Christine says it has lots of wineries so we will have to check them out.

Important Stuff

OK, I have some things for you all to do today.  First is this great chance to help a hometown boy whose mom is a knitter continue to fight his good fight (see information here http://minisoup.blogspot.com/2009/09/true-survivor.html).

The second is something that is very near and dear to my heart.  As many of you know, back in May I lost a colleague to breast cancer.  Jen was a lovely woman with a huge heart and a brave soul.  This year our department as a whole is participating in the Making Strides against Breast Cancer walk that is taking place in Boston on October 4^th.  I am unfortunately not able to walk but am doing other things like donating and showing my support other ways.  I am hoping that you will want to join me and support Team Jen Too by making a donating toward the team goal.  Please take a minute and read the information below and then if you would like follow the link and make a quick donation.  No amount is too small to help fight this disease that robs the world of wonderful women like Jen.  Thanks.

Welcome to Team Jen - too!

Please join us in supporting the Making Strides against Breast Cancer in memory of our dear friend and co-worker, Jennifer McConnell who, after years of heroically battling breast cancer, was taken at the young age of 43 from her young daughter and husband and family members, and many friends and colleagues in May of 2009, and for all the women who have survived or are currently battling this disease.

Making Strides against Breast Cancer is more than just the name of a walk; it describes the progress we're making in the fight against breast cancer. Nothing can describe the hope that is inspired by walking with others who share a passion for ending this disease. Because nearly everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way, hope for a world without the disease starts with us. We've decided to show our support and make a difference by walking as a team in the American Cancer Society Making Strides against Breast Cancer.

Hope starts with one walker and one dollar at a time.

Hope starts with our team.

Team Jen - Too

P.S.  Leave me a comment that you donated and I will use the reliable cat method and pick a couple of winners for some lovely gifts.

 

Camp complete with sunset

Sunset at camp
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

This weekend was great at camp despite the weather. Damp and drizzly days didn’t put a damper on the good times that we had. A pot luck 60th birthday party for a great guy, good food, good conversations and best of all we were able to share it all with Mary’s dad. He came up to camp, stayed in one of the cabins, had Chinese food with us, two great fires, pot luck food, awesome breakfasts courtesy of Kathy and some fun teasing a kitten. He relaxed in the sun, laughed, told stories, drank some wine and I think thoroughly enjoyed himself. I was so glad he asked to come back and that he is thinking of coming up maybe one more time before we close. It is good to see him and to know that he is having a good time just doing nothing but doing it out side of the four walls of his house. Thanks dad for entertaining us with your great stories and for spending time with us at our home away from home.

What we did on our summer vacation....

Well it was an interesting summer at the Blouin/Houlihan/Carmo residence.  I took the summer off and only worked one job, Cheryl took two college classes and did well on both, David had 2 really cool adventures with Boy Scouts, my mom made the decision to retire this fall (for sure this time), Jared made some hard decisions regarding school/GED/training program and is back at school this fall, Mary continued her job search and worked through some health issues (nothing serious), and Kelsie looked at some colleges, loved some, hated others and narrowed down her school choices to 8 colleges/universities. 

 

We also adopted not one but two bunnies that will be making appearances here at the blog for your viewing pleasure.  Y’all have met one already, Bela LaBunny, and the newest member is Gizmo, little bunny with big ears.  We built them a cage, and they are getting comfy on our sun porch.  As you all know, we have 4 cats as well and everyone of them is afraid of the buns.  It is too funny to see the big cats back up away from the 3 pound buns. 

 

Extended family has had an interesting summer as well.  Mary’s nephew/godson left for the Marines in August, 2 of Mary’s nieces got engaged, and Mary’s dad has been up to visit camp not once but twice already and is coming up for a third visit this weekend.  My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are adjusting to being empty nesters, my brother-in-law Alan is getting ready to go back to Iraq in January.

 

I think this is enough today.  More later.

Bela LaBunny

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Originally uploaded by ADITLO

Please meet the newest memeber of our household, Bela LaBunny. I believe that he is a Jersey Wooley, but am not 100% possitive. If anyone knows for sure I would love to know. He is from a litter that was born at camp in June and came to live with us this past weekend. NONE of us have any bunny experience so any helpful suggestions, comments are more than welcome.

His funny name came from the fact that I thought he was a girl and we were going to name him after Mary's cousin AnnaBella and when we discovered that he was a boy, we just kept the Bela and added LaBunny. Pretty sure he is getting a roommate this weekend. Will keep you posted.

On the Survey Wagon

Lifted from knitagator:

1. What time did you get up this morning?  5:49 a.m..
2. How do you like your steak?  Medium-rare 
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?   "The DaVinci Code"
4. What is your favorite TV show?  "CSI"
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?  Some where it is warm but not hot, cool but not cold.
6. What did you have for breakfast?  Choc Chip muffin
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Chinese
8. What foods do you dislike?  Don't like super hot (spicy) food
9. Favorite Place to Eat?  I don't have one favorite!
10. Favorite dressing?  Thousand Island
11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?  Hyndi Santa Fe
12. What are your favorite clothes?  Jeans,  and tees
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?  Ireland, Most of the US
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?  Depends on the day 
15. Where would you want to retire?  retire? what is that.
16. Favorite time of day?  whenever I am not at work
17. Where were you born?  Chelsea, Massachusetts
18. What is your favorite sport to watch?  football
19. Bird watcher?  yes
20. Are you a morning person or a night person?  middle of the day 
21. Do you have any pets?  yup - 4 cats
22. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share?  I am getting a bunny
23. What is your favorite childhood memory?  Going out to lunch for my birthdays with my Grandmother
24. Always wear your seat belt?  Yes, always now!
25. Been in a car accident?  Yes, two times.  Both times I was hit by another car. 
26. Any pet peeves?  People who sing in the cube at work
    Favorite pizza toppings?  mushroom
27. Favorite Flower?  Lilies of the valley, violets 
28. Favorite ice cream?  Mocha chip 
29. Favorite fast food restaurant? Dunkin Donuts
30. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?  Once. 
31. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?  what credit card?  None here
32. Do anything spontaneous lately?  Decided to get a bunny 
33. Broccoli?  Yes!
    What was your favorite vacation? Florida.
34. Last person you went out to dinner with?  Mary.
35. What are you listening to right now?  Machines, people typing, talking, coughing.
36. What is your favorite color?  purple. 
37. How many tattoos do you have?  one.
38. Coffee Drinker?  Yes, cream 2 sugars, hot or cold.

Fire Cracker Begonia

Fire Cracker Begonia
Originally uploaded by ADITLO

This is another of the plants that we bought this past weekend. I have never seen anything as beautiful as this is. It is hanging at the end of our site on a large pole with the cute cermanic birdhouse that my sister gave Mary as a Christmas gift. Makes me feel cheery everytime I see it.