4-11-2011 Record Broken

5-10-2011 90*F+

Today temps soared over 90*F

so we turned on the fans...

I refuse to turn on the AC yet!!!

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DH put out some more green beans today.

Thanks sweetie!!!

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I made a trip to the Metro Lab today...

fun, fun...

5-9-2011 Another Great Mother!

Her 3 eaglets are getting soooooooo big!!!

Check it out...

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

5-8-2011 Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

from one mom to another...

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DH took me out for lunch

along the Mississippi River...

We saw pelicans, bald eagles

and barges on the river.  :*)

5-7-2011 First Day of Spring-like Weather!!!

 So DH took advantage of our first warm day

and replaced the pump on my water fountain.

 Now it works like a charm! Thanks, Sweetie!

 I am hoping that we've had our final frost

and went ahead and planted my flower pots!

 ...and while working outdoors this weekend

I saw some horses walking down the street...

not something I see every day!



5-6-2011 No Hair Day 'Hairy Hat'

I finished knitting

the hairy 'chemo hat'

for my friend E this morning...

plan to deliver it

the next time she comes in to work...

and let her know she if free to 're-gift it'

if it doesn't fit, or she doesn't like the color.

(I chose this because she wears alot of denim.)

5-5-2011 ¡Feliz Cinco de mayo!

Celebrated el cinco de mayo

with corn chip, salsa and homemade guacamole

on the side of my veggie burger!

5-4-2011 A Stitch in Time

...saves nine!

My 37 year old Sears sewing machine

has seized up and stopped running,

so yesterday I bought this new sewing machine

at a 'going out of business' sale

for a great price!

5-3-2011 Chemo Cap

Last night I started knitting a Chemo Cap

(Head Huggers-Knitted-Pattern#10)

using eyelash/fake fur yarn.

It's the first time I've ever tried knitting

with this type of shaggy yarn

and may I say, it is a bit of a challenge!!!

But, it seems to be going well

and the resulting fabric is super soft! 

I'm knitting it for a lady who works with my DH

and has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer

and is not looking forward to chemo 

and losing her hair!

Hope this helps in some small way!  :*) 

5-2-2011 Macaroons

Chef Monika's recipe...

delish!!!

Mmmmm....

5-1-2011 Sun Lovers

This morning DH picked out these gorgeous

Supercascade Blue Petunias

at the "Big Brothers and Sisters Plant Sale"

...to be planted in the flower pots

on our back deck.

I think he picked them because he knows  

my favorite color is purple... hee, hee.

He's sweet that way.  :*)

4-30-2011 JDRF "Walk for the Cure"

My DD was in town for just a few hours this morning

volunteering at the JDRF "Walk for the Cure"

held at the Niabi Zoo.

She graciously let me tag along and help

so I could spend a few hours with her!

Thanks sweetie! It was fun!

4-26-2011 What a Difference 2 Weeks Can Make!

4-13-2011:

eaglets with the mother...

 4-26-2011:

eaglets with the father..

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Pink FG update:

FINISHED TODAY!!! YAY!!!

I loved knitting with this yarn. 

It reminded me of cotton candy and bubble gum! :*)

They go in the mail tomorrow morning!

5-25-2011 Uprising

The mighty Mississippi River

declared an uprising

against the shores

and levees

and confines

and won.

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My tulips by my front door are ready to bloom!

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Pink FG update:

finished the top... have only the thumbs left to do!

4-24-2011 In The Garden

Hope everyone has a blessed Easter!

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finished the thumb gussett...

4-22-2011 The Color Red

Christ's blood, shed for me.

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 Pink Fingerless Gloves update:

wrist cuffs are done...

ready to start the thumb gussett!

4-21-2011 Date Night

Martinis at the IMAX...

3D movie about the International Space Station!

Far out!!! 



4-20-2011 M'orange

Trying to embrace
a more healthy vegetarian/vegan lifestyle,
I got a new vegan cookbook

based on the colors of the rainbow...

tonight's dish came from the 'orange' section:

butternut squash, carrots, yams, orange peppers,

orange spices and brown rice.  YUM!
One friend calls me an idiot for going vegan.

4-17-2011 River Run 5K

Our DD invited us to participate with her

in the River Run 5K in Iowa City this morning...

the above pix was taken minutes before the start of the race.

38*F and 10-15 mph winds...

at least it was sunny...

Yesterday it was snowing!

Some bongo drums encourage runners

at the 2 mile mark...

DH & DD at the finish line...

I'm behind the camera

but I made it too.  :*)

Thanks for inviting us to join you, DD!

It was fun.

Now I plan to put my feet up for the rest of the day and knit!

I just started this pair of fingerless gloves

for the dear lady who lives in a pink condo!

(You know who you are!!!)

4-16-2011 A Sip of Midori

World renowned Violinist, Midori...

performed at the QC Symphony

tonight.

AWESOME!!!

Her performance was intoxicating!

4-15-2011 Letting Go

... by 'Spring Cleaning' my closet...

...letting go...

of items to which I have sentimental attachment

but have not worn in years

...letting go...

of the dream that

'someday'

I will be able to fit into this again

...letting go...
of my parents' frugality values

from 'the great depression' era

that taught me to use things up

and wear them out completely

before getting rid of them

It's a start.

...letting go...

to make room for what comes next.

4-14-2011 Hazelnut Ale

with Chef Monika's

Chickpea/pepper salad for supper tonight...

YUM!!!!!!

4-13-2011 Super Hero...

...in the parking lot of the grocery store...

4-12-2011 Vegetarian

Vegetarian cooking class today at Bettendorf Hy-Vee with Chef Monika: Egyptian Red Lentil Soup, Roasted Pepper Preserved Lemon Chickpea and Feta Salad, Quinoa Cakes with Remoulade Sauce, Poached Pears with Mascarpone Cream. Mmmm.

4-11-2011 Vibram Five Finger "Barefoot' Running Shoes

I love them...

training to run a 5K this coming weekend...

There is one almost every weekend 

during the spring and  summer

here in the QC!!!

4-10-2011 Pushing 80

Temps were pushing 80*F today

so DH planted a few more rows in our garden:

onions, beets, swiss chard and spinach!

Yummm!!!

Thanks for all your hard work, sweetie!

4-9-2011 Thumb Gussett

Starting the thumb gussett

on my fourth pair

of fingerless gloves...

4-8-2011 Decorah Iowa Eagles

...you can watch them too...

at:

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

4-3-11 What A Difference..

... a few days makes!!!

(see 3/28/2011 post)

DH & I went to Chef Monika's cooking class this afternoon

for a Passover cooking demonstration:

 Her Matza Ball Soup was heavenly...

...as was everything else on the menu!

Thanks for a great class, Chef M...

and thanks for the recipes!

Now I need to google "schmaltz..."

4-2-2011 Dirty

DH decided to get down and dirty today

and started planting our garden...

onions and spinach went in today.  :*)

4-1-2011 One more time

~~ ARGH!!!