Knitting Respite

     Relaxing weekend knitting gifts for family. Headbands for granddaughters and the scarf a request from Daedra... 
     Dae's color is so beautiful, had to take a close up.

Medieval ATCs

     A late reporting! Finally completed the digital processing of the photos for the ATCs our Medieval Lacebook Group sent out on November 15th.

     December 8th posting shows initial sending of my book and page spread. 

Cold Icy Trip

     Have been wanting to post photos from my trip to/from Anchorage weekend before last. Not a lot of sun and temps were well below zero, but I still had fun taking a few shots stopping both ways, either at the Kenai Ferry Lookout by the confluence of the Russian River or at Tern Lake and the Rest Stop where we view the spawning salmon in August. 
     I took note of which camera I used... hoping to figure out if I should keep the Panasonic Lumix with the telephoto... how I am leaning; and, I am still trying to adapt to the Sony Nex7.

[Remember to click on the photos for a better view.]

Panasonic Lumix

Sony Nex7

Medieval Lacebook

     A lacebook collaborative, instigated by Socrates (Sox) in Palm Springs, CA, has begun. My theme is "John Wm Waterhouse Heroines." 

     Participants are in New York, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Alaska. Our initial ATCs sent to each individually for a preview of our themes went out November 15th; and, our own cover and page spreads were due on December 1st in rotation, always to the same individual.  Anticipated completion is May, 2013, when I will receive my own book again to complete and keep. Here is what I sent to NY.

 [Remember, you can click on the photos for a larger view.] 

One Pink Scarf

     Since the return home from my trip, I at least completed one scarf for The Pink Scarf Project. 
     I did not get a photo because it would have been difficult to pose and work the camera at the same time. Instead, I took a photo of the knitting with the intention of posting it - smiles - which I didn't get done either. I put a "tag" with the scarf so the wearer would know a couple variations for draping and giving credit to the designer. 
     I am sure you can "imagine" how beautiful this looks in "pink." The yarn is super soft with thick and thin bulk and the most luscious feel. Family and friends all want one!
     My previous post, and my sidebar, has a link to Vicki at 2 Bags Full in case you would like to join in on gifting a "pink scarf" and sending love to a woman going through breast cancer treatments for next October. As many of you know, this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.

Two Special Events

     Vicki, of "2 Bags Full," has a couple of very special events... 

     ... one is Grow Your Blog - occurring the middle of January. 

     ... second is the Pink Scarf Project, a year-long event. This cause is near and dear to my heart because of my beautiful daughter Alicia who is a survivor.

     Please visit Vicki and learn more about these two activities. There will be giveaways which might peak your interest. 

     I have provided links below for easy access through this post; and, the links will also remain in my sidebar for future use.

Aunt Flora

     Tomorrow I begin a wonderful trip to my friends, Judy and Steve, who live in Montague, CA (just 60 miles south of Medford, OR). Last July I hardly had a proper visit with them since I fell within an hour of arrival and spent most of the time in ER and recovery. This year I will be extra careful so I can take the planned hike and photo shoot.

     The circuitous route will actually have me playing "musical beds" (instead of musical chairs). Another objective is to meet up with my sister Nadine and Owen who are driving from their home in Canada to spend five months in Palm Springs - I'm hitching a ride from Seattle to Montague, getting in a visit with sister Debbie and Rocco in Seattle, too. 

     An absolute highlight and thrill for me is getting to see Aunt Flora in Tacoma and some of her family while on this trek. Deb and Nadine had a visit last April. I am so excited and will get the visit with my sisters along. The last time to see Aunt Flora and cousins was perhaps when I was about 12 years old; an opportunity presented itself in 1968, but due to sad circumstances at the time, their family was traveling. Contact was lost over the ensuing years.

c. 1957-58 in Helena, Montana

top row: 2nd from left, Karen; far right, Nadine.

bottom row: Crystal, the Flora Wong cousins, with our sister Diane in purple.

     Since I am a bit late in getting ready to head out in the morning and it is now 3:00 am, I will provide a couple of links below to Aunt Flora's book Long Way Home, Journeys of a Chinese Montanan and a link to what Nadine wrote at her site. Nadine provided a detailed synopsis with photos.      

     Since reading the book three times, I believe it is an awesome legacy for the family and for historians. Aunt Flora's own story is filled with some wonderful insight of circumstances that I was unaware of - her mother was such a strong vibrant force in providing her family with a means of returning to the U.S. and made sacrifices to do so. A very warm and touching story of adapting to a different way of living, in both countries. 

     As you will read, Aunt Flora went on to become an athlete in swimming the last 30 years with a multitude of medals and accomplishments. A truly amazing woman in her own right.

Please click on the book photo or this line to link to Amazon.

Click on this line - TO LINK TO NADINE'S SYNOPSIS.

     Other visits on this trip (remember: musical beds) will be with long time friend and co-worker from my 30 years at KPC, Jean, in Portland; my beautiful lacebook collaborative super woman artist, Liz, in Eugene; and, a visit with Alaska friend and artist transplanted in Portland, Roxanne, who was here in Alaska last month and we did a couple day outings with our cameras.

Rose Hips and Spiderweb

     Have been without my computer for a few days, but still taking photos here and there! Smiles.