Showing posts with label Central Oregon Symphony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Central Oregon Symphony. Show all posts

Monday, May 18, 2026

Projects and Performances

Knitting update: The Women's Cardigan by Lea Petäjä is coming along. This is the cardigan for which I bought yarn at Fitting Knit Shop in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, when we were visiting Karen. I bought two skeins, just as a souvenir, when we were there in December, although I didn't know what I was going to do with it. I liked the yarn, and after I got home, I found the pattern. I called them and asked them if they could get me more of the same dye lot. They were willing to ship it to me, but I had other things I could work on and was going to be there again in April, so I arranged to stop in and pick it up. Peter and I stopped there while we were out running errands on our first day there.


I'm now beginning the pockets. The pattern doesn't have them, but I like pockets in cardigans. I made the top ribbing for the pockets and when I got to the point where I wanted them to be, I worked across the stitches at the top of the pocket, put those stitches on a waste yarn, put the pocket ribbing onto the needle, worked across to the other pocket, repeated that and then worked to the end. When I get to the bottom ribbing, I'll pick up the stitches on one of the holders and knit down to where the ribbing starts, combine the live stitches and repeat with the other side. Then I'll make the bottom ribbing.



We are having an election this week, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19. Some of the items on the ballot are candidates running in primary elections (one Senate seat, one House seat), and some are candidates for local positions. We had one ballot measure to vote for and a bunch of judges, who were all unopposed. I love that we get our ballots in the mail ahead of time, and we can study the information provided by candidates and people in favor of the ballot measures in the relaxed atmosphere of my own home, discuss anything we're unsure about, give it some thought and then fill out our ballots. We took our ballots to the drop box nearest to us when we were done.



While we were filling out our ballots this past Tuesday, we had dinner. We had lasagne, a tossed salad and some of Trader Joe's Fougasse Olive Bread. What's in my wine glass? That's a Madroña Vineyards 2023 Grenache. Delightful!


This reminds me, I need to check and see if my ballot was received.

Dusty and Sandy were groomed a little over a week ago, but that doesn't stop them from rolling in the dirt. I think something must have died at this spot. They instinctively roll in something smelly (to them) to hide their own scent. I've read that they did this in the wild so they could sneak up on their prey without being detected. That squeaky toy in front of Dusty won't even expect an attack, when Dusty is getting through rolling in the dirt.


I asked Charlie to get some regular tofu––the kind that comes refrigerated––awhile back, and he came home with a big Costco package with four blocks of tofu in it. I told him that I hoped he liked tofu. Fortunately, tofu freezes well and freezing even improves in texture. I squeezed the moisture out of one of the packages of tofu, marinated it in a mixture of soy sauce, oil and garlic, then cooked it in the air fryer. It was great with stir-fried vegetables and brown rice.


I still think it's Jupiter that we see in the evening. This photo was about 15 minutes earlier in the evening from last week's photo, but I think the position has changed anyway, because planets are always on the move.


Saturday we went to the last concert of the season by Central Oregon Symphony.


Here's a look at the program. The music was familiar to me, and  "The Dance of the Hours" was familiar to many in the audience. They either knew it from Disney's "Fantasia" or from watching the many cartoons we used to watch in the movie theater before the feature.



I took my knitting and got a few rows done before the concert started and during intermission. However, I discovered that I had apparently stopped in the middle of a row, put my knitting down while attending to something, and then started back across the row in the wrong direction. I haven't done that in years. I can't believe I made that mistake. I had to tink (knit backwards) for about three rows to get to where my mistake was. Then I got to have all that fun again. (Ha-ha!)


I didn't look at the manuscript of the new book this week. I really like to take a break from my own writing to give it some time to seem like something new to me. I find that it's easier to edit if it seems like someone else wrote it.

Speaking of writing, Johan wrote this poem for school. I thought it was interesting. He's going to be 12 in July, and I think he already has the 12-year-old thing nailed down.



I was able to get some photos from the Wisconsin grands' dance competition. Daphne and Zachary are both on the far left in this shot.


Have a good week!


I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry, BlueSky or Spoutible if you need information.


If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon or B&N and search for Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah, Classic Tales RetoldOur Favorite Verses, More Classic Tales Retold or Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.

Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Still working on the Summer Sorrel top and the Women's Cardigan by Lea Petäjä.

What's on my iPhone: Still listening to The Friend of the Family by Dean Koontz on the BookPlayer app. It has been a pleasant story, up until things start to go wrong. That's where I am now, but there are only a couple of hours to go, and I'm sure it will resolve somehow. Koontz's novels always do.

What's on my sewing machine: Put away until the next project.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: Billy and Charlotte come back from walking their dogs. They had to go out early, because it's supposed to rain. They know we need rain, but they don't understand why, if the earth is mostly covered with water. Mandy explains by using a laboratory exercise.


What's my tip of the week: Wrapping cucumber in a paper towel keeps the outside from getting slimy. I change the towel if it gets too damp.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog, and they are reproduced in print with a few changes.

The stories in Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Talking About Boys, ChangesShhhhh!, Staying After and Money in a Jar.

The stories in More Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Welcoming a StrangerThe RescueUnmaskedFuzzy Town––A Play and Sky Blue.

Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook. Poems included are Valentine's DayKeeping PetsBack to School, Victor the VultureThe Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green GreatcoatThe Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

The stories in Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Best BudsGetting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The stories in Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Being LittleBesties, and Distraction.

Book #7 is in the works.

If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less, only 8%, because the vendor gets a cut. My author's page at Book Baby is here. Scroll down and click on any of the books that interest you. Find my books at Barbara's Bookstore as well, or ask your local library to order the books.

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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Monday, October 27, 2025

Performances

I think I've been working on the whole-cloth quilt, off and on, for at least ten years. Well, it's finally finished. I put it on the bed to get a photo, but it couldn't stay there. We have free-range poodles, and the bed is one of their favorite places.


Someone asked me what a whole-cloth quilt was. It's easy to describe. The top isn't pieced, but is made from one whole piece of cloth. The decorative part comes with the quilting. This quilt top came pre-printed with wash-out "ink" showing the quilter where to quilt, sort of like paint by numbers or coloring inside the lines. This one was made by Benartex and came from Keepsake Quilting. The pattern name is "Welsh Beauty." It was a Christmas present from Charlie. I don't remember which year, but we were still in Utah. It came with the backing. Here's looking down on it from above.



I washed it first in cold water and then in hot water with a bit of bleach, as it was pretty dirty after being handled so much and for so long. The pattern marking came out with no probIem. I made the mistake of folding it up after it came out of the dryer. The fold down the middle is very obvious, and there are other wrinkles. I think before I hang it (if I can find a place to put it), I will have to wash and dry it again and then put it right up on the wall without folding, perhaps while still a it damp. It will have to go somewhere where sticky fingers can't reach it. Here's a look at the side.


I've had the pre-clue for the Rose City Yarn Crawl Mystery Knit Along for a while, having bought the pattern the first day we could do so. On Monday I started fishing around in my stash for suitable yarn and found these two. The multi-pink was a gift in 2023 from our daughter-in-law (and the rest of the family, but she picked it out). The magenta (MC) yarn was purchased during the Yarn Crawl in 2022. I ordered he second one when I decided to use it for the MKAL and realized one skein of the MC wasn't enough.


I caked up the yarn, so it would be ready to use. Then the second skein of the magenta yarn arrived on Saturday. I'll have that that wound up soon, too. It looks like a good match, although I couldn't read the dye lot on the first one, so I didn't bother about it when I ordered the second one. I should be OK with the pink multi yarn mixed in.


We had another Madroña pop-up meeting on Tuesday. Our supper was a quiche, salad and Dutch-oven bread, but we started out with crackers and olives. (That's my stove cover on the table. I always take it off when I've using the oven.



Our wine was a Madroña Zinfandel from 2020. Someone else participating in the pop-up meeting had the exact same wine. It's a great one!


I've had a problem feeding the dogs, because Dusty likes to graze slowly, and we had always left the kibble out for the dogs. I can't do that anymore because Sandy seems to think it's his job to just finish off whatever kibble is in the dish, which meant he was gaining weight and Dusty was losing. Fortunately, we realized what was happening and started measuring their food and feeding them in separate bowls. Sandy gobbles his up dutifully, while I have to stay by Dusty until he finishes. Sandy is a good weight now, but Dusty still needs to gain a bit back. It's a struggle, because Dusty doesn't always finish. Sometimes he eats a few bites and then walks off, and when he does eat, he eats very slowly. If he isn't hungry, he just turns up his nose. Sandy hovers around, waiting for Dusty to leave his food. Then he eats it if I don't pick it up. Lately I've been showing them that I have treats, and telling Dusty to eat and Sandy to wait. Here's Dusty eating his breakfast. Sandy had finished his breakfast already; that's his empty bowl.


And here's Sandy waiting. He knows I have a treat.



Sunday morning I followed this procedure. I was amazed when Sandy ate and then walked away. He went into the family room to lie down in the bean-bag chair. Dusty kept eating until he was finished. Both dogs got their treats. I hope this keeps up.


The Gentle Spirit Tee is coming along. I was working on the bottom border during the first two games of the World Series. Both teams seem fairly evenly matched and mostly performed well. I think it's going to be a great Series.


I also worked on it during the Central Oregon Symphony's performance on Saturday afternoon.


The concert was great. We heard (and watched) Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major and then Dvorak's New World Symphony (Number 9), which I was familiar with.


So with all that knitting time, I finished the body of the sweater. Nothing left to do but knit the neck band and the two sleeve bands. I'll probably finish it this week.


Saturday and Sunday the Wisconsin grands performed in Ballet La Crosse's production of Cinderella. Here are Zachary and Daphne with their proud mother. I expect to be able to watch the production before long by video.


For some cuteness, here's our son Peter with our grandcat Mango, watching the second game of the World Series. I think Mango is going to be big. His sister, Olive, is much smaller.


Today my personal copies of the new book are due to arrive. Tracking says, "Out for delivery!" I'll have photos of the unboxing next week. 


I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry, BlueSky or Spoutible if you need information.


If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for More Classic Tales Retold or Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah, Classic Tales RetoldOur Favorite Verses or More Classic Tales Retold, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.

Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Still continuing with Gentle Spirit Tee. Making progress.

What's on my iPhone: Now listening to The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang on the AudiobooksNow app. Almost finished

What's on my sewing machine: Put away.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: Emil has a letter from his friend Holly, who has been camping with her family by the ocean. He doesn't understand something in the letter, but he thinks Mandy will know. Here's Dangerous Waves, an all-new story.



What's my tip of the week: If I'm adding canned tomatoes (or other canned or bottled vegetable or sauce) to a soup of stew that also calls for water, I pour the water into the can I've just emptied into the pot to rinse it out and then pour it from the can into a measuring cup. It cleans the can, so it's ready for recycling, and it gets any little bits that were left behind in the can, so you don't waste anything.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog, and they are reproduced in print with a few changes.


The stories in More Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Welcoming a StrangerThe RescueUnmaskedFuzzy Town––A Play and Sky Blue.

Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook. Poems included are Valentine's DayKeeping PetsBack to School, Victor the VultureThe Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green GreatcoatThe Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

The stories in Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Best BudsGetting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The stories in Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Being LittleBesties, and Distraction.

The stories in Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Talking About Boys, ChangesShhhhh!, Staying After and Money in a Jar.


If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less only 8%, because the vendor gets a cut. My author's page at Book Baby is here. Scroll down and click on any of the books that interest you. Find my books at Barbara's Bookstore as well, or ask your local library to order the books.

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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