OH Knit!

Well well well...I apologize, as I meant to post yesterday, but Rozzie was ill with the throw-up/fever/sore throat/sneezy kind of thing on Sunday night - Monday morning, so I was "called" in to work on Monday, and never really caught up (good excuse huh?) Rozzilyn seems to be feeling better, and looked down at herself and told my mom she felt like a prisoner tonight...In her black and white striped pj's she hasn't been out of in 2 days! Needless to say, my mom made her change out of them before I left to come home.

As you can see...I'm taking yet another mini break from the trip...I swear, it's taking me longer to post the trip than it was for me to actually take the trip!

Tonight I watched my mom rip her knitting apart to find a dropped stitch...Funny, she was doing that last time she was knitting...Well, probably not funny to her at any rate, as her project keeps ending up shorter than when she started out! I think she's attempting to make a sweater for Rozzilyn...Who informed her that she wanted to wear it for Thanksgiving...Mom cringed because she's not too sure that she will be done with it by then (she's in the part of the project where she mutters a lot and says things like "I hate this!" under her breath) So, we may indeed end up with a vest instead of a sweater...

We had some wonderful rain today, and I even got to walk home in it (much to the dismay of my Birkenstocks) and tonight after knitting (and eating, of course) I rushed home and jumped into some nice cotton long sleeved pj's...I was actually wanting to get some supplies for a project I'm working on, but didn't feel like I have the energy. And I really need to get a new vacuum cleaner, as I killed mine dead dead dead on Saturday night (poor thing)...And am paranoid about not being able to clean the floors (yeah, right!) So, I am home enjoying the yummy Prescott rain smell...And feeling happy to feel a little chilled tonight, as the 90 degree weather is a little much, and I'm starting to really question my living in an area that is so hot during the summer. The rain is really helping my mother's flowers grow too...walking into her house is wonderful...Like a decorator magazine, as there are roses everywhere...And it smells so amazing! I asked her if she ever envisioned living in a house where she would have fresh flowers every day? Again...this garden was just as neglected as the house, and she's worked so hard learning about the flowers and then organically fertilizing everything...and pruning and releasing lady bugs...Some of these roses have never bloomed for her in the 2 summers she's been there...some have had only one or two bloom...they're all covered with buds and the irisis we thinned and replanted have bloomed incredibly as well!

And this is the mini project (part of a larger "thing" I am working on) that I have been knitting for the past few times we've gotten together....

Knit Roses!


I did not actually knit the greenery as much as I pulled it out of one of the many flower arrangements I have hanging around my house...Thanks to Mother's day.


So, more on the trip tomorrow...I'm off to see if I am still a depressed insomniac...I've been having problems sleeping (and being happy...just kidding, I do feel better than I did before I left on the trip, and when I came back) I'm just needing a good night's sleep, or a massage...or a beer (ick!)...maybe just a good cry and some therapy...I'll let you know!

Happy Mama's Day!

Happy mother's day to all you mama's out there! And every woman who has ever been in touch with that within her that nurtures others..people/animal/their dollies when they were little...Because even if we don't have kids yet...We are still mommies! Which also goes for the queen mother at my house Meena the kitty...Who spent quite a bit of time today grooming my grandmother's head!

We spent the day at my house and had a double party...a mother's day celebration for all of us, and a birthday party for our dear friend Kelli! I know, it's really just another excuse to eat...Till we almost burst! MMMMM...My mom and Kelli both eat raw foods, so we had a salad (quickly becoming a staple at every meal) with home made miso dressing, guacamole and corn chips and raw cashew hummus and ezekiel raw tortilla chips...And for dessert, I made a deep dish strawberry and rhubarb pie (and yes, I did make my own crust finally...So the pie was no dairy or wheat or refined sugar!) with cashew whipped cream (made by my mom) vegan spice cake...And the best...Made by Kelli...a please cake. This is a raw cheese cake with dates, coconut, Macadamia nuts, lemon...And who knows what else, covered by raspberry sauce. This thing is so outrageously good...No sugar...All raw, it's like eating a protein yummy sweet rich pie! I should talk Kelli into doing a tutorial for the blog...Kelli???

So...Look what I finally got~

Yes, my beautiful new sewing machine! This thing rocks...I had to unpack it early this morning to get started on sewing...However, with everything else going on, I hardly had time!!! But, I did manage to sew some things up real quick!

The first thing I made was this birthday card for Kelli out of a piece of Hawaiian material, because Kelli loves anything Hawaiian...It has a palm tree attatching all the strips of fabric together...The new machine has an 80 stitch function including a one step button holer and a hard carrying case...And a zipper foot, button sewing foot, blind hem foot, overlock foot, satin stitch foot, darning/embroidery foot, cording foot, quilting foot, gathering foot, roll hemming foot, and a walking foot. It has a quilting table...And I'm thinking not only can I sew, but quilt, put in a zipper...a button hole, and then stitch on a button, make upholstery for my furniture, and I believe I saw embroidery and monograms on the box...And who knows what else really, most of that stuff up there I don't even know what it is! I am busily reading the 94 page booklet!

I also made these 2 card for my mom and grandmother (yes, we had 4 generations together today!) We unfortunately didn't take pictures as Rozzie was feeling really under the weather because of her allergies...She laid around and watched the Disney channel all day...And for anyone who knows her, for her to lie still must only mean one thing...She doesn't feel well!

And I have to post this wonderful card Rozzie made for Kelli for her birthday...

A little hula ALOHA...

Followed by a "splash" into the ocean and a lovely birthday sentiment (don't you think?)

And this is the name of her card company... EVA Q
Which was "printed" on the back of her card...

Because really...Every good card has to have a good company backing it!!! And she may be taking card orders soon...We'll let you know, because her custom work is really quite incredible!

( I love this girl!)

The Trip-Day 11

Well...here we find ourselves in Prague...finally, and for too short of a time indeed! (notice all the details on the buildings...I was just fascinated with all of the decoration! The first set of pictures all show buildings where the decorations are painted on)

We started out pretty early with guidebooks in hand...searching out the great resale places that were hidden in this beautiful city. We found one that I really liked, where I bought a lighter jacket than the one I shleped all the way over there! Yes...I brought my wonderful new waterproof down jacket with me...For no apparent reason, as the weather was actually nicer there than it was when I got back to Arizona! Go figure...Anywho, I bought a great lighter black jacket for myself, 2 wonderful vintage Czech slips and a little pile of wonderful square pillow cases made from vintage material...flowers and such! Can you imagine owning a business in a neighborhood where you can look out your windows and see this view????

Or you could get your own franchise for a Kentucky Fried Chicken or a McDonalds...Seriously, they are on almost every block, and if you can't find one easy...Then look up and around, for a sign telling you where one is (sad, I know) it would almost be worth it to be such an amazing setting...

I guess when the iron curtain fell, Kmart went in and bought one of their local department stores and was amazed because they had to "teach" the people there about merchandising (gasp) and the only way they could get people to shop was to offer really cheap potatoes in all the basements of the new stores that were cropping up...but not to worry...the people caught on, and eventually figured out that they were supposed to spend their weekends and free time shopping (I actually read that on a website...Sad that the western world introduce that isn't it?)

These are pictures of one of the main squares...

(the last picture on the left is Joan of Arc!)




There's also this really great Astronomical Clock in the square...Amazing, although, we never got to see all the little bishops dancing around or whatever it is that happens...But just looking at the clockwork and reading about it is really amazing! I mean, 1490...How amazing is that???

And to finish up this day, we went to a museum which was amazing....clocks and costumes, jewelry, advertising, porcelain, furniture...And a great view of the Jewish graveyard that we wanted to go to, but it was very expensive to get in, and we didn't have time for the whole tour...So we did not go! Buy the gravestones were set really close together...And were incredible to see from the window of the museum! Please, please look at these pictures to see what we saw! I guess there is a tradition that you wrap up a wish that you've written on a piece of paper around a coin and leave it on the gravestone of the rabbi who invented golems...and the wish will come true! So, I am sad that we did not get to do that! I guess there are all sorts of famous rabbis buired there!

We found a really great botanical shop with all organic products...soap and lotions...where we bought quite a bit of our souvenirs! AND we stopped to have some pastries (which are everywhere...and amazingly beautiful and tasty...yes, that is the word tiramisu printed on a piece of white chocolate!)

Corners of my...

This is supposed to be Corners of my Home...But the word Nightmare is pushing it's way to the front of my mind instead. (although, I'm thinking that Amanda didn't have this in mind when she started this!)

So, this is what my entry way has looked like for a little while now...I'm not sure if it's me trying to adjust to being back from my vacation (although, as the days are speeding by, I'm wondering if I can continue to use that as an excuse?) Or, perhaps it's the divorce, and not being able to bring myself to pick up after me (although with the year that sped by on that one, I don't think that is it either!) Or, perhaps it's the evenings that are finding me just sitting down and reading, or walking, or gardening (but not accomplishing anything there either)...Or staring off into space day dreaming about what I need to do in the house...All the things I want to do to "feather my nest", as Marianne calls it! (that's where the 2 page list comes in!)
So, what is really going on here...In the front is the new phone book that belongs across the room, my electric sander...which I need to sand off some paint on the front of the house and primer it, 2 bags of clothes and plastic bags to go to the shop, oh, and on the left in front of the doll house is the ever growing pile of fabric and crafting supplies oozing onto the floor and surrounding areas (yes, it is eagerly awaiting it's own home in the new craft room I am busily dreaming about)...AND, we are having a mother's day celebration/birthday party for Kelli over here on Sunday... I'd better get with it so people don't think I live like this! (oh wait, yes I do!) Although, that is one advantage of living alone, I really don't have to answer to anyone other than myself!

OK...Let's at least concentrate on the positive. Here's one corner of my home that I adore -



This is the right hand corner of my "eating area" (silly house, everything is long the wrong way here) I love the color red that I painted the walls, it actually matches the red Formica on the counter tops. When I moved in here, I was like "red Formica???" but, as the previous owner painted the whole house white with grey trim...It was a little out of place! I painted the kitchen part (the front part of the kitchen) a light yellow, and the back part (the part in this picture)...Red, and all with white trim and cabinets...a white fridge and white vintage stove! SO...This picture also shows the roman shades...First attempt, thank you...I made out of some of my favorite fabric and a little peek at a vintage wine poster...And the bestest part is the little guy made out of cans! I bought him on one of my mother and I's early Saturday yard sale jaunts! I love him...He makes me smile hugely...the woman I bought him from said that her husband would be happy because someone liked him...Seriously, what's not to like? You can even see that he has a little ear ring hanging from his right ear!

OK...I'm of to clean up some of this mess...

The Trip-Day 10

PRAHA
(That's what they call Prague in the Czech republic!)

Oh man...What an amazing city...Truly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, if not the most beautiful city ever! I do not know how people get anything done here. If I lived in this city, I would be constantly looking around...There's so much to see! We were in a great hotel, not far from the city center, and it seemed really clean and safe...And the people seemed really nice (although I have no idea how to speak Czech...So who knows?) Luckily most people speak English well, so it is pretty easy to communicate. We had a full breakfast at our hotel every morning and the guy who served us was super nice, as I was down there earlier than the rest of the family checking my email (yes, it took my mom a while to remember to send me one as she thought it would go to my house...ahem) and we struck up several conversations...he helped us pronounce Thank You right. It sounds like Da-koo-ee...really, this language is not based in latin at all, so it is a challenge...kind of sounds like a cross between russian and French!
(and I'd like to take a moment to mention all the yummy foreign men...who boy! Beautiful people the Czech!)

This is the first view in the main corridor of the "new" part of the city that we saw after stepping off the metro here...Prague apparently is the most intact European city as it was not bombed during any of the world wars...And my question is...We were also building during this time period in the US...So WHY don't we have any thing like this?????

Most of the rest of this vacation...I was snapping a thousand pictures of building details...soooo amazing! We got in to Praha in the early afternoon and we had time to go to the Mucha museum and saw some really great art and history there! Then went on a small jaunt trying to find a great vegetarian restaurant we had read about, and walked by the opera house and the river (yes, we all wonder if Sadira is ever going to see an opera in Europe). We finally found it, and not only was the food amazing...a great and varied selection (of which we tried most of), and fresh squeezed juices to boot...But the atmosphere was great too! They had painted the ceiling with blue paint and put in twinkling "starlight" to dine by, plus the tables were Plexiglas that looked like wood, but were light up from the inside. This is a truly magical city! (did I say that already?)

All the cobblestones looked in the sidewalks were even really neat! The whole city is just really well preserved and so artistic!

These are some views of the metro (dad going up...Thais going down)...You descend into what seems like an endless tunnel down...down...down! (luckily the elevator only broke once...And we were near the top getting out at our destination) Plus, the traveling system is really easy to use. You can buy a 3 day pass that allows you to use the metro and any of the various trams around town during that period...for about $7! And it is extremely clean...and well marked...Plus it was great because as you're standing at the platform waiting for the train, a small breeze will start blowing...Then it gets stronger and stronger...And poof...There's the train!
















I would like to mention too...that Prague is not as cheap as we were lead to believe...maybe we were about a year too late. Although they are switching over to the Euro in 2010, it is still quite pricey...we did not, however, have a hard time spending money!!