Wyoming Breezes

Blue Hawaii is a West Coast Oddball Baby Blanket. I had hoped to use some blue for my section, but I didn't have anything that matched the turquoise that the other knitters used. I decided to add some white foam to the waves. Needle size: 8 Stitch count: 111 Yarn: Worsted (I used Caron Simply Soft) Update: January 20, 2012 Started in December 2010, this blanket became hopelessly stalled with one knitter for over nine months. It was a struggle to get Blue Hawaii back into circulation. I am glad this beautiful blanket is finished and ready for a baby.

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. IHS and Pomegranate windows The use of monograms to represent Jesus Christ our Lord is of very early origin. The monogram IHS stands for for the name Jesus: they are the first three letters of the word Jesus written in Greek capitals. The monogram IHS should remind each of us of Jesus, and when we are reminded of the name Jesus, we are also reminded of the reason He came to be born of a virgin. The angel said it to Joseph when told to call His name Jesus - "for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) The pomegranate is a popular symbol of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and also of the resurrection of His faithful followers. It, theref...

Sapporo Snow Festival Sapporo, Japan February 1981 Cinderella was one of my favorite snow sculptures. Notice the slide on the right side of the sculpture. You can see a close-up in last week's Foreign Friday . Isn't the detail on this carriage wonderful?  Even Cinderella's lost, ice slipper is on the step. 

I practically need ice skates cross the street and retrieve my mail. My mailbox (by the pine trees in this photo) is at the end of the dead-end street. Earlier this week, I thought I'd be smart and drive to the mailbox instead of attempting to cross the street. Well, that was a BIG mistake, as I nearly landed on my keister just trying to get out of the car. Yesterday, I sprinkled de-icer on the street near the mailbox so it will be a bit safer for me and others. I might do another application today. Residential streets aren't plowed, and residents must fend for themselves until the thaw. Because my street doesn't get a lot of traffic, fluctuating temperatures have turned my street to a sheet of ice. It's even more treacherous at night. Does anyone have ice skates or ice cleats that I can borrow?

Dental Office Building Lander, WY January 21, 2011 Last week I went to this office to have my teeth cleaned. Can you imagine sitting in a dental chair on the other side of those long vertical windows and looking out at this river scene? The view is calming in any season: the river, the trees, the birds, and the gorgeous blue sky make dental appointments more delightful than dreadful.  

I'll admit that I was wary of eating at this establishment . How was I to know it was one of Hawaii's best kept secrets? After all, it was only a van parked in front of a covered eating area, but my brother-in-law thought we should eat there before we left the island. My sister and I waited at the table while her son and husband picked up our order from the van. As you can see, it was a busy place. I later learned that Giovanni's is the oldest and best known shrimp truck businesses in the area. (We saw other vans that sold shrimp, but based on appearances only, I would refuse to eat there.) Giovanni's Shrimp is delicious! I ate every morsel of the garlic shrimp plate. I even licked my fingers!

As of last night, I have a hat to wear with my scarf and mittens . This is one of my favorite hat patterns because the garter ridges allow the hat to vertically stretch and create a thick band to keep my ears warm. Hat Pattern Update: I didn't have a pattern for this hat, but here is how you can make one. Find an existing hat pattern that you like. I knit my hat on a size 8 - (16-inch circular needle) Cast on the desired number of stitches. Join in the round and begin the garter ridges/rings: Purl five rounds Knit five rounds (Repeat as often as you like to achieve the number of ridges/rings you want. I repeated these rounds four times (resulting in four garter ridges) for the hat in the post, but three on one I made several years ago.) Once you have the number of ridges/rings you want, then continue working on the hat with only knit rounds. The hat in the picture above measures 6 or 6.5 inches from the cast-on edge. (Measure without stretching out the ridges) Once you hav...

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Cross in Eternity  and Fish The symbol of the cross and circle, also known as the Cross in Eternity, depicts the suffering and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. The circle symbolizes eternity since its circumference is an endless line. The cross in eternity gives the concept of the completeness and the everlasting nature of Christ's work and Kingdom. The cross is always a reminder of our Lord's saving work of redeeming mankind through His sacrifice for our sins, thereby bringing forgiveness and salvation. The fish is one of the earliest and most complex symbols employed by Christians to represent the Savior. Reading the initial of the Gr...

Sapporo Snow Festival Sapporo, Japan February 1981 Every year Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, hosts a seven day Snow Festival . If you ever have the chance to attend, do not hesitate. Dress for the cold and plan to be awed by the detail of the nearly 400 snow sculptures. I don't know how many people viewed the sculptures the year I attended, but it is estimated over 2 million people attended in 2007. The larger sculptures like the one shown in the photo had attached ice slides. The kids were having a ball. Soldiers offered assistance to the children and kept the lines moving efficiently. Everyone in my group tried the slides and discovered the reason why the children were able to zip down so easily: their snow suits. Trust me, blue jeans and wool pants do not work well for sliding. In front of every sculpture is an area for photos. My friends and I stopped for a Kodak moment. Shown are fellow teachers Margo Harper, Rae White, me, and Wendy Barry. More Snow Festiv...

When you see a cattle or horse drive approaching on the highway, the best thing to do is stop in your lane and wait for the animals to pass. The animals will move around a stopped vehicle, but if the vehicle is moving, they may bump into it and cause damage, so save yourself some frustration, but just stopping and admiring the animals that pass. If you are behind this kind of drive, you can inch along with the animals or attempt to clear the animals from your path by "pushing" them aside. This technique will not earn you much cooperation with the hands working the drive and could result in damage to your vehicle if an animal is spooked. Sometimes, the riders at the rear of the herd may assist by moving the animals to one side of the road when the terrain allows, but don't count on their assistance if you have already spooked the herd by honking, etc.

Winter has taken up residence, and new mittens were needed to keep my hands warm. These mittens were knit on size 2 needles, using 100% wool. The yarn is close to a DK weight and created a nice dense knit. I used this pattern (Midge)  from Berroco . The mitten has a long cuff, extending 3 or 4 inches past the wrist, so it will prevent cold or snow from slipping down the coat sleeve. Does the yarn look familiar? It should: my Eternity Scarf was also knit from this yarn. Now, I have a matching set of Winter Wear.

I've admired the windows in my church for years and decided to share them with my readers on Sunday. Each Sunday I will feature two stained-glass windows along with an explanation of each window. Previous windows can be viewed by typing "Windows of Faith" in the search box in the top left corner. Cross and Interlocking Rings and  Crown, Palms, and Stars windows The symbol for Holy Matrimony is the cross with the two interlocking rings. The cross, which is a symbol of the Savior, signifies God's blessing on the couple and the promise of His everlasting presence through Jesus Christ, His Son. The interlocking rings tell of man and woman made one in Him, a union living under the promise and the power of Almighty God. Blessed indeed is the Christian husband and wife whose marriage is centered in Jesus Christ as depicted by the symbol for Holy Matrimony. The heavenly Zion, the final abode of the Redeemed in heaven promised to all of God's children through faith ...

Marble Temple  roof tops Bangkok, Thailand December 1979 I loved the tips on the roof tops. They look like the long fingertips of traditional Thai dancers .

Last Friday, Sue and I picked up Ribbons of Hope from the machine quilter, and on Saturday, I added a hanging sleeve and label, before tacking down the binding. Sue is donating the finished quilt/wall hanging to the oncology clinic in town. The machine quilter ( Quilting from Sheep Camp ) used an awareness ribbon pantograph over the entire quilt. You can see previous post about the quilt here and here . What the colors mean: Pink                    Breast Cancer White                  Lung Cancer Gold                    All Childhood Cancers Teal                     Lymphedema/Ovarian Cancer Orange         ...

To eliminate some small balls of yarn, I knit garter-stitch squares for Sandy's  Give a Square project.  Bridge and Beyond  is where she documents all of the donations received for the homeless. Sandy accepts: hats, scarves, mittens, and squares. My squares are 7-inches, knit on size 8 needles, using 30 stitches.

Turtle Bay, Hawaii Originally uploaded by pinnut3200 During these cold, cold days of January, I wish I was still in Hawaii, watching the never-ending waves rush to shore. Feel free to join me . . .

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, and for me it is a special event because I was born in 1951, also the Year of the Rabbit. In addition, 1951 and 2011 were both Metal Rabbits (based on the elemental signs of the Chinese Zodiac ), so this could be a significant year for me.  I purchased a small book, Japanese Fortune Calendar , by Reiko Chiba when I was in Japan in 1979-80. The description of those born in the Year of the Rabbit is pretty close to my personality, albeit good and bad.  THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT  by Reiko Chiba People born in the year of the rabbit are the most fortunate. They are smooth talkers, talented, and ambitious. Virtuous and reserved, they have exceedingly fine tastes, and other people regard them with admiration and deeply trust them. (Hmmm, the jury is still out on this one.) Rabbit people are always financially lucky. (Really?) They have a fondness for mild gossip, (Yes, I do) but they are tactful and do not speak out willingly if they have t...

Named for its moss stitch border, Mossy Delight , a preemie blanket is nearly finished. It is being knit on size 8 needles. I used the single chevron stitch and Caron Simply Soft (Soft Sage) for my section. Update: February 5, 2011 Mossy Delight is finished and ready for a newborn.