It must have been a " moon " thing, some strange phase of it that would cause the weirdness that went on all around me today. I just had to shake my head and finally roll with it as little quirky things continued to happen to me, around me, of me! What oddness so just to continue this with this space-time continuum; I leave you with a little odd comic. Good night all!

Greetings tonight from my beautiful Port Townsend where the seagulls are plentiful, noisy and coating the town in their white splatters! We need rain yo wash it all away and soon. For me, after a very big seagull christened my new white linen shirt last night, I am washable and hopefully have salvaged my shirt! I could not believe I got hit with their fishy smelling gift. They say a bird doo dooing on you is good luck. Well, last night I got a BIG share of good luck! HAHA!

Our Anniversary - 15 years!

Jacob set his phone's alarm for us this morning so we would wake up plenty early for his anniversary event for us.He was up at 3 am and spent last evening also preparing while we were occupied somewhere else. He stretched a handmade " Happy Anniversary " banner across the living room, made us a video for " clues " to his event and baked us brownies and made us toast. He even fixed the video camera so we could watch old film of Vermont, Maia and Jacob's seventh birthday party and school Christmas play. I have to hand it to Jake and say that all in all it was very loving and creative! He even selected a song for us, No Ordinary Love. I am still smiling and smiling and smiling.....

How I Look on the Evening of Good NEWS

Today was the day that I gathered my knitting, Phil and Lita ( my peeps ) and trekked on over to Seattle for another CT scan and a consult with my neurologist. There were some surprises. I learned in surprise number one; how much it hurt to have an IV miss a vein and have saline solution injected to who knows where, in your arm. I also learned that no damage from my TSI stroke showed on any of my CT scans or MRI's, thank God, but what the neurologist was REALLY worried about was the aneurysm that was behind my eye in the ophthalmic region of my brain. No one told me anyone was worried about this until today when by a mysterious miracle; it did not show on this more detailed CT scan. I guess not knowing saved me from the worry of knowing. I will be on medication for the rest of my life and yes, diet and exercise will become very important but with grace I should not ever see the neurologist again. With grace, I will never need another MRI or CT scan with that most foul iodine solution fed to me in an IV. I have learned so much in such a short time. Who my friends are,the love I have for my family, the meaning of patience, the acceptance of what can't be changed or undone, the love I have for this life of which I am entirely and most graciously thankful and blessed. It is a strange and wondrous thing; how the universe shows us answers and guidance to questions we did not even know we had.

Lita and Dahti, pictured here, had some Henna so we decided to meet in my studio and tattoo each other. Or rather, I tattooed them and did not even give them a choice as to who would do the drawing on each of us! I loved doing it, all free hand and from my illustrated mind. What fun! I can hardly wait until we do it again!

All of this served to distract me from my neurologist appointment tomorrow and helped me not feel the stress I know is building because I HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR in SEATTLE! Gulp!






This is Lita with her new Henna tattoo. She was laughing so hard in the studio, that it was hard to catch her in a still moment.

Flowers from Sam, Sue and Lisa! sam picked them out and thought they would match my house. Nice and bright and they do match. I love flowers and think these are spectacular. Fuschia is such a rich, deep color.




Before our journey into Seattle began this bug in all its black and white splendor was found on a tire at a friend's local farm.It was quite large, slow moving and the head appeared top heavy with those big long antenna! I found out that it is an alder borer beetle
found on the west coast from California to Alaska. Funny, I have not really seen them before. Maybe they are noticeable because it has been so dry around here. Pretty though.


How did I miss Friday? I went to the gem show in Seattle ( awful selection - no vendors really ! ),walked around had a sweet lunch at Racha Thai and then headed for the ferry home. The boat was running 25 minutes late and by the time we were settled on it; I had to take a little snooze! I was just beat! Tonight, I am heading into the shop to actually work WITH THE PUBLIC for two hours. It will be my first time back in the shop dealing with customers, which I do love, for over 2 weeks! We'll see how it goes but I am kind of excited at the prospect.

My latest knitting project, one that has traveled with me to shows since it is such simple knitting. The colors in Noro worsted weight just sing in their exuberance! No one does color like Noro yarns!



Just when I think that Jacob is nearly grown up and is entering his challenging teenage years; he drags out all his Bionicle Legos and spends a couple of days building figures. Changing them around. Looking at them and creating stories for them. This makes me smile and give a sigh of relief that he is still my little boy. ( He would melt of embarrassment if he knew I was posting this. )

Don't these flowers, a gift from Mark & Marie & Rachael look beautiful against my kitchen counter? What a treat!



Ah, today was sweet! I almost felt 100% normal or rather whatever normal is for me! I had energy and my brain felt well, normal! Maybe I am coming back,conquering the fear and beginning the process of not remembering or thinking about " it ". The first medical bills arrived today and as expected, they were applied to my deductible. Now, to try not to feel anxiety over Tuesday's appointment.

Late summer reminds me of the hot romances I had when I was young and still in high school and college. How you would meet someone, share the summer and end it by the time school started in the fall. What better to go with a summer fling than a cool car? I saw this car on the way to Portland in the parking lot of the Denny's in Chehalis. The colors were so bright that they leapt from the surface of the car even on this misty day. I could ride in that car, baby!



Already it is Monday and August is half over. I think this is my least favorite month. No holidays, the weather is often hot and dry, dry, dry and town is taken over by visitors. I usually look for all the familiar signs that summer is ending and what the winter will bring. I make these great and often memorable predictions.A prediction that is still formulating in my head for winter 09.

I worked in my shop tonight after it was closed. Phil went with me as I am still hesitant to drive or be alone for too long. I worked for nearly two and a half hours and it felt great! My shop is my favorite place to be, a friend that is my constant if needy companion. I put new things out, made lists of what needs to be done, cleaned, tidied and just played. I have certainly missed being there! I am maybe more tired than usual and my leg aches but I am so glad I had the chance to be there!

I wanted to open this blog with something quiet and thoughtful. Something from my observations of daily life. Then I remembered this picture I took last Wednesday morning of the swallows gathering in the mist for their annual migration south for the winter. Such a pretty voice they made! It is a few weeks early Greg said. They have been gathering over the years on the power lines outside his barn and now they are fat, fluffed and ready for their long journey back.



Lita has come and gone and for the first time since my TIA ( what a sweet name for a stroke ); I am alone. I am not afraid anymore of walking although I am a bit unsteady and wobbly. I am rapidly getting tired of being at home, of feeling fragile of questioning every ache and pain and twinge that I have. I am appreciative I am still me. I do not want to change although I will be more careful in my diet and take the pills that the neurologist says I must. I think that I am fine and then I read in today's local paper of a woman just 45 who has died of a stroke! Oh my gosh! I feel lucky! To be here, to be loved by family and friends, to feel so blessed in doing what I love, to trust the people who work with and for me .... may I never forget this wonderful feeling!

A special treat are these glass " needlepoint " buttons from the Czech Republic. Very pretty and nicely detailed. Really you should visit Phil and friends at the PT bead show this weekend. The teeney but treasured bead market! Poor man has to run it without me!


Just because I do not feel quite like my usual self; does not mean that I could not go shopping for button for my yarn shop. The button man came to my house to present all his treasures and I managed to go over my budget but get great pieces! I am really in love with the giant african abalone shell buttons which Phil has at the PT bead show today. There are glass, vintage, wood, rhinestone, akoya and clam shell buttons! Yummy!

My little porch frog resting on top of my front door. That door can get hot, very hot in the sun so I was worried that he would turn into cooked frog legs. I picked him up and put him back in the ivy by the door. Silly, adventurous frog!



Today I have 2 concrete goals: one, to remove all adhesive tape residue. I told them I was allergic but ....
and two, to actually call the neurologist and make the appointment for a CT scan, MRI and a follow up. I don't know which bothers me the most, knowing or not knowing. Poor Phil, now doing all my work and his plus household stuff. Jacob said though as long as I was sitting around; I could mend some of his clothes starting with his favorite sweatshirt. That boy is always thinking and planning around things and events.

A Fine Kettle of Stinking Fish!

I can't think of anything more gross than rotting, stinking fish so that is the image I am applying to the posting on my blog today. All was well at Sock Summit, a long uneventful journey home and an evening of unpacking the suitcase and catching up on things when BLAM! at 11:30 I had a stroke! A mini stroke and now life at least for now is altered. I won't post a lot today because I do not know a lot. I spent Sunday night in the PT ER and then at 2 am was transferred to Swedish Hospital in Seattle in the longest, most miserable ride of my life. The Jefferson County Fire Department guys were great but ambulances ride like they are on ball bearings on potholed roads. I came home last night after a zillion tests, and I am still not diagnosed or cured and more tests loom on the horizon. Now, I have a neurologist that I need to see in 10 days or less plus another CT scan and another MRI. All this and one crappy insurance policy leaves me a bit stressed out. No one said to avoid stress at least. I am trying to view all of this as adventure and opportunity but it is trying. I will keep you posted on my blog, the pretty, the not so pretty, the triumphs and the tribulations of my journey. Right now, I would be happy to walk without assistance again!

Sock Summit Portland! Here I am! I have decided that sock knitters are pretty cool people and I have met some very interesting yarn dyers here. I am buying TONS of yarn for my Diva yarn shop and I think everyone from the staff to the customers will be surprised and pleased! So far, what I like best about Portland is that the days have been overcast and cool and I can sleep with the air conditioner on to minus Alaska in the winter! Brrr, baby, I like it cold! I will post more pictures when I get home. I will be back next month for the Bead Fest held here in the same location and I will be staying in the same hotel. Hmmmm, sounds like deja vu!

Ah, Superman and his Lois. Sort of looks like Phil and I don't you think? Anyhow I am heading off to Sock Summit in Portland. An entire show devoted to the knitting of socks! Now that floats my boat! ( www.socksummit. com )








This is a picture of Jacob with the look we see often on his face these days. Sort of a I can not believe what you dinosaurs masquerading as parents are saying to me! He turns 13 in September and I can not believe I will have yet another teenager in this house. How can I do it again? That smart ass mouth, those cynical looks? Those big deep sighs!

Okay, so I need to update here! I have been so busy, my feet have barely touched the ground and my head has barely rested on my pillow at night! This is my tourist season and show season and it keeps me running! I will be back with pictures on another day. For tonight my thought is sleep and maybe a pedicure tomorrow after dealing with some icky issues. Sleep well, my friends!