One Clear Day

A film of ice encased my car this morning. Once the car thawed out I drove to church and after church  I drove toward Mt. Hood.  I HAD to! It was sooooo Brrrrreautiful :)  I wanted to share it with you, and show you the film of ice on the front pond and the last bloom of our 2012 garden, a red hollyhock.  Will the scarlet buds on the geraniums in my window box survive the last day of 2012 and be my first blooms of 2013?

I am off to start a pot of tea, to warm up and curl up to knit some more on my merino blanket :)

***Happy New Year***

        xx from Gracie

Ins and Outs Around Portland

Last night I got out my Harrisville Metal Potholder Loom and started weaving loops to form a potholder with Harrisville cotton loops.  I haven't checked recently, but the last time I did, I could not find any Harrisville wool loops to buy:(  but I love the rich colors Harrisville uses for their loops!

This morning we had a beautiful pinky sunrise which I didn't get a photo of, but I was able to get some views from one of the nearby high points in the area, the Willamette National Cemetery.  I recognized Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens [with its flat top], but I am not sure of the names of other mountains around us.

From there I made it over to Elmer's Restaurant to meet some fellow bloggers for lunch. From left to right: Taci, Teresa, Betsy and Me :) We had a "working" lunch, with Teresa showing us some  ins and outs of blogging from our iPhones and how to share our posts on FaceBook if that is something we are interested in doing.  And we gabbed LOTS about past, current, and future crafting projects!

Taci brought us some heavenly smelling Holiday Roast coffee her husband and she are crafting and selling at sales@cafezinhoroasting.  Teresa brought each us a little Lion Brand skein of yarn which could be used as a very cute  ornament for a crafter.  Betsy gave us each an ornament she made using Lucy's pattern from Attic 24.  And I made snowflakes to share using Matt's pattern.

Sarah, did you notice I am wearing the scarf you sent me?  I love Sarah's work!  Sooo beautiful!

What are the ins and outs of your life as 2012 races to the finish line?

xx from Gracie