Wyoming Breezes

Sumiko-san Receptionist at Robert D. Edgren High School Misawa AFB, Japan 1979 Sumiko-san was the first person to greet me when I entered the main school building every morning: "Ohayou gozaimasu, Nancy-san!" It was from Sumiko-san that I learned the basic Japanese greetings: "Ohayou gozaimasu" - good morning "Sumi masen" - excuse me (to get attention) "Gomen nasai" - pardon me "Domo - Arigato" - thank you very much "Arigato" - thank you "Domo" - informal thank you "Konnichiwa" - good afternoon "Konbanwa" - good evening Sumiko-san is a part of my first quilt Memories of Sumiko-san are lovingly stitched into  my first quilt . Sumiko-san and many others made my two years at Edgren and Japan a pleasant and memorable adventure. "Domo - Arigato, Sumiko-san!"

From previous posts, it should not come as a surprise that I love to work on jigsaw puzzles. Before storing the folding table in the garage for the summer, I worked on one final puzzle, a 500-piece image of nothing but crayons. It was challenging and a lot of fun. I don't remember how it got started, but whenever I work on puzzles with Marilyn (my sister) and Brenda (my niece), it is common to softly (or sometimes, not so softly) tap the pieces as they fit into the puzzle. Sometimes we even say, "Tap, tap, tap!" as the piece slips into its rightful position. Before I finished the crayon puzzle, I sent Brenda a text: Are we the only ones who "tap, tap, tap" the puzzle pieces, or does your family do it, too?

Noro scarf turned cowl I loved the the Fall Swap Scarf  knit from the Noro yarn so much that I adapted the pattern to knit a cowl. Things did not turn out as I planned, but I can live with the result. My original intent was to use a provisional cast-on and graft the stitches when finished; thus, creating a cowl. It sounded feasible, so I cast on and knit, using the Noro Striped Scarf pattern from Ravelry. As I neared the end of the two balls of Noro, I researched grafting a 1 x 1 rib. Hmmm, not as easy as I thought, as it is considerably different than the kitchner stitch I use to graft sock toes. No matter how much I tried, I could not wrap my mind around grafting for the ribbing. Finally in frustration, I used the three-needle bind off. The seam is visible on one side, but it should not be a problem when worn around the neck. Spring is nearly here, and the days of wearing a thick, wool cowl have hopefully passed for the year. This cowl's debut must, therefore, be dela...

I pass this house frequently on my morning walks and recently noticed a realtor's sign in the front yard. Admittedly, this area does not get a lot of rain, but snow melt also needs to be routed away from houses via gutters and downspouts. In my opinion, this house's gutter configuration looks like an accident waiting to happen. The walk, shown in the photo, curves toward the front door along the wall of the garage. The gutter downspout can be fastened to the corner of the garage where the house number is visible, but how convenient would it be to dash out and lower it when it rains or to have the downspout blocking the walkway for months on end. Clearly, the architect did not consider the garage runoff and the gutters necessary to deal with it when designing the house. Would you purchase a house with this design quirk? Would you think to assess such items when house hunting?

Special Delivery - It's a Boy West Coast Oddball Baby Blanket started February 2014 Special Delivery - It's a Girl West Coast Oddball Baby Blanket started February 2014 I think the group coordinator did a great job of naming the blankets that I started in February. Both of these blankets will be knit in stockinette with a garter border with alternating grey stripes alternating with either pink or blue stripes. The group hasn't knit a blanket like this before, so I am anxious to see the result. Update : August 31, 2014

Lee Nelson Robert D. Edgren High School Misawa AFB, Japan 1979 When I was teaching, I learned quickly that the two individuals who make things happen in ANY school are the secretary and the custodian - befriend those individuals and life is much easier. Lee's smile and personality always brightened my day. Note Lee's IBM Selectric typewriter . Those machines were wonderful. I remember typing on red, blue, green, and beige ones. Do you remember other colors?

Between my appointments in Lander and after my walk ( see yesterday's post ), I went to the library to knit. These socks are now finished. This addition to Lander library is less than ten years old. It is well designed with lots of windows for natural light. The ceiling in the center section is elevated and has painted murals of local areas and events. Some of the murals are partially visible in this photo.

Walking Path Bridge Lander, WY March 2014 I was in Lander last week for two appointments and took advantage of the gorgeous weather to walk along the river. It is too early for the spring run-off, so the river was not very high, but the water was crystal-clear. I'd estimate the water was about 14 - 20 inches deep in this area, but every stone on the river bed is visible. The water was extremely cold and icy in shady places. Lander has some beautiful places to explore on foot.

I've visited and knit with Susan S. several times in the last two years. At every visit, I admired her beautiful, crocheted doilies and her knit blankets. My readers may remember the pattern that Susan agreed to share with me and with you. Sheila mentioned recently that her mother was willing to sell some of her work: I was thrilled at the opportunity to own some of Susan's works of art. I wanted larger, white doilies for the center of my kitchen and living room tables. Sheila selected a couple of doilies she thought I might like but also suggested I look through the entire box of doilies. Oh my, I was in heaven! From that box, I selected three other doilies and came home with these five beauties: The doilies range in size from 20 - 22 inches in diameter. Thank you, Susan and Sheila for allowing me to become the guardian of these works of art!

Party Girl Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started March 2014 One of the four blankets I started and sent to the Oddball coordinator to release when she saw fit. Party Girl will be a garter stitch blanket. Update: July 27, 2014

Cherry Blossoms " Sakura " Misawa, AFB, Japan Spring 1980

Maria, Rosa, Oscar approximately 1919 or 1920 Edgemont, SD I love this image of my mother and her younger brother and sister: it makes me smile because they seem so carefree. I think the rabbits were raised for food as well as to sell.

Saturday snowflakes drifted to the ground, and I didn't feel like doing anything too taxing, so I worked on a puzzle my niece gave me. The 1,000 piece puzzle features the license plates for each state. Even though some of the plates are now different (Wyoming for one), I learned a bit as I assembled the puzzle. On this puzzle, the plates for two states (California and South Dakota) have a cursive font. Nebraska's plate featured Sandhill cranes in flight. I was pleased when Wyoming ditched the image of Devil's Tower (shown on this puzzle) and replaced it with the Grand Tetons. What do you like/dislike about your State's license plate(s)?

Be Mine Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started January 2014 It has been ages since I worked on an Oddball blanket. The once prolific group has slowed down considerably since one member stalled several blankets for over six months. Since I have now finished the blankets for which I volunteered to knit, I am going to take a break from the group because I need to rekindle my passion for the project. Several weeks ago, I sent the group coordinator four blankets I started on donated needles as well as group needles from blankets I had finished. As the coordinator releases the blankets to the group, I will post photos. Update : April 20, 2014

Temple Singapore December 1979

Marilyn, Evelyn, Brenda, Aunt Marie, Mom Brenda's graduation Aurora, CO 1983 My niece, Brenda graduated from Gateway High School in 1983. Her graduation was memorable because of a near tragedy - she was very lucky; some of her classmates were not. Because Gateway did not have a football field, the commencement was held on an neighboring high school's (Hinkley High) football field. Over 600 graduates' chairs were arranged on the field, and the gathering crowd of family and friends waited in the bleachers for the appointed starting time. The day was cloudless, and the sun beat down mercilessly on the anxious crowd. No one knew why the ceremony was delayed for what seemed like hours. None of us knew what happened in the gymnasium during the long delay. None of us knew the terror that the graduates were experiencing as we grumbled about the scorching sun. Finally, a school official came out and asked specific parents to go into the building. The crowd was told ther...