Bláithín

My Bláithín sweater is true to form creeping along ever so slowly.  I did make yet another change and learned and used German Short rows which worked out great and got rid of several gaping openings form the turn and wrap method I deplore!

New fan of German Short Rows for shaping.

No loops or large stitches from turn and wrap.

Sewing in the loose ends from the color work on the yoke.

I am presently working on the cast-off edge of the lower body.  I am stuck in a thinking stage as I can not figure out why one would cast-off 232 sts. and then pick up 232 for icord.  I am going to re-read the pattern and then most likely do an icord bind off instead.  Once that is done I will be steeking the front which means cutting the front of the sweater open.  Steeking is a method I actually really like and use often.  I was hoping to have this sweater done and off the needles before the reverse migration starts.  I am doubtful this will happen! 

Song of The Summer King

Recently, I met Jess E. Owen the author of Song of The Summer King.  Jess not only wrote Song of The Summer King but set up her own publishing company and  self-published her book!  No small feat in today's publishing world.  I had to read her book.  I really enjoyed Shard and the rest of the gryfon characters.

This book is part of The Song of The Summer King Chronicles.  It is a young adult fiction and of course fantasy.  I read it with the sole purpose of being able to recommend it to older elementary students and to the Alaska Battle of the Books committee.  I fell for the main character and can hardly keep myself from starting the second in the series.

I am not a huge fantasy fan but I  really enjoyed the strong characters in her book.   I am also not a fan of the darker side of young adult fiction out there today.  This book is full of adventure, problems and challenges one faces growing up.  It is positive and not full of the darker side of life.  I would certainly recommend this book to upper elementary  and middle school  fantasy fans.  Jess won me over and I hope I can turn some of our students on to her work.

This is Jess' second book that I can barely keep from opening!   I will be mailing this up to Alaska soon to stop me from reading it now.  I will save it for a nice stormy Alaska week-end.

Summer Time

A random selection of photos.  I take a lot of flower photos from around my home in Montana in the summer.  This way I can look at them in Alaska when it -40 this coming winter.  Hang basket and honeysuckle a great combo.

Tiger Lilies are ever so bold.

I love flower pots but I hope next year to move back to hanging porch boxes.

Sadie enjoying a cool down after a mountain bike ride.

My nephew enjoying an evening on our front porch.  Porch time is critical to my R & R that is needed before returning north.  G always makes you smile!

Sadie trying her best to relax after a stressful day in a dogs life! :-)

One of my favorite areas close to Whitefish.  This is the Haskill Basin area that I LOVE!  Soon if all goes well this drain will be protected for ever.

This is not the best photo of Fire Weed.  The story is once it blooms to the top then summer is over.  Actually when it gets to the top here in Montana it is time to return north to Alaska.  When I get to Alaska it is almost done blooming and summer is over up there!

Mmmmm yum huckleberries! We have been picking and making milk shakes!  My favorite way to eat these berries is right off the bush by the handfuls!

Colorful Indian Paint Brush.

The end to another great mountain bike ride----thanks Christian!

Tally relaxing after our ride.

Nothing like a good back rub after a great ride.

Time Flies . . .

Once again time races by like a bolt of lighting. We have been far too busy!  Two family reunions. One of which we were completely responsible for . . . WORK lots of WORK!  House guests . . . and what have I learned?  I have learned, I am very selfish when it comes to my time and if I don't stay in my routine-----I am not a nice person.  Enough said!

Bliss: perfect happiness; great joy (noun)

Bliss . . . there are times that life can only be described as BLISS.  No other word describes pure happiness and joy to me than the word BLISS.  As a teacher on summer vacation my world is nothing but bliss.  The last few days here have been gray, wet, rain, drizzle, but to me bliss.  I move from one knitting project to the next, one errand to the next, drop in to a favorite cafe, stop by the library, visit my favorite yarn shoppe, and take the dogs for  endless walks.  My world is simple, easy, relaxing and blissful.  I am for ever thankful to this life I have it is wonderful!

After a school year in Alaska flowers are not an option they are a must.  I love flower pots!

Apple blossoms on an older tree from a long ago orchard that is in the park at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Trillium from a recent hike up Swede Creek a favorite spot of ours.

Sadie and I resting on our hike up Swede Creek.

2,376 Miles The Reverse Migration

The sea ice I said good by to on May 21st!  Yahooo let the migration begin!

If you are a smoker this is your lovely smoking area outside the waiting room in Unalakleet. 

Once the school year is done, we head south to a land full of green trees, colorful flowers, lakes, mountains, family and friends.  This year we drove back down and had a great trip. The drive from Anchorage to Whitefish is 2,376 miles The driving overall was easy and relaxing, the camping was great with out many campers, and the four hot springs we visited were very relaxing. The drive took us 9 days and we obviously were not in a hurry we aim for about 300-350 miles a day.  Traveling with "The Girls" we need to stop and let them stretch out their legs as well.

"The Girls" traveling in the luxury of the back seat.

A note on camping since we are still tent campers:  in several camp grounds hardly anyone is outside next to their fire pits.  They are in their RVs.  So my question is this:  Is there Wii camping?  You know you split wood, make a fire, run from smoke, swat bugs, run to the outhouse, set up your tent . . . a sad statement I think.  To go camping and then spend all your time in your RV!  It makes for nice quiet camping for us tent folks!

Camping at the Columbia Ice Fields an area I really love full of long ago climbing memories.

Our tent which we love is made by Mountian HardWear.  Our first new tent in about 15 years.

That sign says "1982" as that is where the ice/glacier was then.  I was there climbing in 1983 and 1984.  I would have been putting on my crampons at this site and heading up the glacier.

Nice glacier striations on the rock.

We of course have a good selection of photos but here are a smattering of our trip south. As we drove south we would be in places with green leaves on trees and others with no leaves at all yet due to elevation mostly.  The drive down through the Yukon and British Columbia is spectacular.

Tally enjoying a cold swim after the ever popular stick!

Pretty Sadie!

Christian enjoying a photography break.  Many of the lakes we went by where still frozen.

Animal Sighting List:

Wood Bison-you see these in southern Yukon northern BC and they are HUGE!
Black Bear-way to many to count we gave up
Grizzly Bear-one
Dale Sheep-several
Caribou-a handful
Elk-a few
Moose-a few
Stone Sheep-several

That is a Stone Sheep.

 

We bought this great tarp at REI and it is perfect!  Fits nicely over the back end of our 4-Runner and if needed we can get our tent opening under it to have dry cooking.

One of our many camp sites.

Relaxing in the morning sun before the day of driving starts.

Nothing like a nice tail rub!

 

Morning dew . . .

Spruce Grove Camp Ground is a nice privately owned campground in Fairmont, BC.  We bought some firewood and in the bag was kindling wrapped up in newspaper---what a nice touch!

 

At last we arrive home to Whitefish and can enjoy our break nothing like summer time true bliss!