Wyoming Breezes

Hangar at Misawa AFB Misawa, Japan 1979 The planes outside the hangar are F-4 Phantoms, about which I have posted  earlier . These aircrafts were very common on the base, and after awhile, I grew accustomed to the sound of their engines. Two weeks ago about 6:30 AM, I heard that distinctive sound above my sister's home when several, low-flying planes buzzed the house a couple of times. Hearing them, brought back some vivid memories of the Misawa AFB flight-line. In an instant, I was transported back in time on the backwash of an F-4 fly-by.

The Western Region Oddball Knitters have been busy. Below are the blankets that have been finished since March on which I had the honor to knit a section. Old MacDonald's Farm started February 2013 Jelly Beans started January 2013 Four-leaf Clover started February 2013 Apple of My Eye started December 2012 Wee Willie Wonka started December 2012 Sugar and Spice started January 2013 Cherry Blossoms started January 2013 Ribbon Candy started November 2012 Indian Summer started  November 2012

56 stitches - knit on size 2 circulars REGIA yarn (unknown color) 75% superwash new wool - 25% polyamid Intentional fraternal-twin socks started in Denver and finished at home. I loved working with this yarn - nice even stitches and no splitting. I hope it wears and launders as well as it knit.  Manufactured in Italy and Germany, REGIA is marketed in the US by Coats Crafts. I was surprised to find a guarantee on the label:  the durability of REGIA is 4-fold • dimensionally stable • hard-wearing • machine washable up to 40 degrees C, no felting • dryer proof with 10 years REGIA - Garantie Have you noticed a guarantee on any yarn label(s) in your stash? The original sock yarn stash is decreasing slowly; however, yarn for two pairs of socks jumped into my shopping cart while I was in Denver. Sigh!

Band Gazebo Edgemont, SD June 2011 Nothing says "Summer" to me more than sitting in the park and listening to a live musical performance. source Next week, the "Hot Notes, Cool Nights" concerts will begin at Riverton and Lander's city parks: I can hardly wait. The community band opens the evening concerts, and guest performers bring the evening to a close. On those nights, I grab my knitting bag and my folding chair and head to the park.

Lucky Stripe Socks  56 stitches - knit on size 2 circular needles This "pattern" has been in my Ravelry queue for a couple of years. Before I went to Denver, I grabbed two skeins of sock yarn from my stash and divided each skein into two balls. Before I started, I determined that the heels and toes would be knit with whichever yarn I was using at that point. I didn't use the actual Lucky Stripe Socks pattern: I used my old stand-by and tossed the die to determine the number of rows to knit with each yarn. Even though one of the skeins was already a self-striping yarn, the stripes were clearly visible. Someday, I'll knit the socks with two solid or semi-solid yarns. These Lucky Stripes Socks are going to be as much fun to wear as they were to knit. Not a sock knitter? This method of striping can also be used for hats, sweaters, etc. I recommend grabbing a die to "shake up" your knitting. It's fun and unpredictable.

Urakami Cathedral  pillar left standing at epicenter of 1945 atomic bomb Nagasaki, Japan April 1980 According to Wikipedia, this area looks much different today.

June 2013 Maria (nephew's wife), Christian, Stephanie (great nephew and  niece), Harold (brother-in-law), Marilyn (sister), Dwight (nephew), Brenda (niece), Sabid (niece's husband).  Nephew, his wife and son live in WY; his daughter, in NE. Niece, her husband, sister and brother-in-law live in CO. June 2013 Bruce (nephew from ND), Evelyn (sister), Paul (brother-in-law) from ND,  Becky (niece from MN). My nephew's wife and daughter, and my niece's daughter and son were unable to attend the celebration.  Three sisters: Evelyn, Marilyn, Nancy June 2013 It was wonderful that the family gathered to celebrate a happy occasion - Marilyn and Harold's 50th Anniversary.

Mini Cupcakes  50th Anniversary Party June 2013  I admit to trying every flavor - they were yummy. My favorite: Sweet and Salty. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Evelyn and Paul M. June 18, 1961 Riverton, WY Recently, my family gathered to celebrate a Golden Anniversary ; however, my oldest sister and her husband actually reached that milestone two years ago.  Today, Evelyn and Paul have been married 52 years. Since exchanging their vows, they have lived in Wyoming, Missouri, and North Dakota. They have two children and three grandchildren.  Interesting facts (some shared two weeks ago) :    •  my sisters chose blue and white for their wedding colors    •  rice was thrown at both couples as they left the church    •  my sisters married brothers    •  my sisters wore the same wedding gown and veil    •  my sisters' bouquets were Bibles covered with red roses     •  both weddings were in the same church - Trinity Lutheran    •  both receptions were held in the church basement    •  ...

Nancy, Marilyn, and Diane Rockies game at Coors Field June 2013 Yes, I took my knitting bag to the Rockies' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and added some ribbing to a pair of socks while waiting for the game to begin. It was a great game with several home runs - stitching and pitching went well together.

Nancy Stearns and Judith Kravetz Southern Japan April 1980 April 1980, I toured Southern Japan with a group of teachers from Misawa. Judith (from Atlanta, GA) was also an English teacher at Robert D. Edgren High School: her classroom was next to mine. She taught me military lingo and acronyms and how to jump through the hoops of military regulations. You see, I was actually in two foreign areas at the time: Japan AND the military.

Denver suburb June 2013 Now, I've seen everything: someone who cleans up after the family dog. Everyone with a pet know that it can be a nasty chore to keep the yard clean. My sister said this pickup appears in her neighborhood on a weekly basis. I was curious and checked the website:  Poop911  has branches in many cities.

My first Hole-in-One June 2013 I'm not a golfer, but I do enjoy putt-putt. Before leaving Denver, I played a round with my sister and her daughter. On hole number 8, I surprised everyone by hitting a hole-in-one. Brenda Hole-in-one June 2013 Five holes later, my niece had an impressive hole-in-one through a water hazard.

My niece and nephew rented a photo booth for their parents' 50th anniversary party. Oh my, did we have fun being silly and serious. Strip # 1 - party hosts (Dwight and Brenda) Strip #2 - my brother-in-law and sister (Paul and Evelyn) Strip #3 - my niece and me (Nancy and Brenda) Strip #4 - my niece and me (Nancy and Becky) (click any strip to enlarge) A copy of the strips were mounted in a book for guests to leave their good wishes to Marilyn and Harold. Here's a link to  Traveling Photo Booth .

Kismet blocks started June 2013 Marilyn and I saw a sample of this quilt in a Nebraska shop last May and decided to make one. Further down the road (in Fremont, NE), we found a great sale on Jenny Beyer fabric: it was kismet. Rotogravure designed by Joe Wood ThimbleCreek Quilts Marilyn and I made the pumpkin blocks the week before her anniversary party. She is using the checkerboard sashing (shown in the photo from the ThimbleCreek Quilts site) for her quilt, but mine will have plain sashing with cornerstones.

Cherry Blossoms Southern Japan April 1980