June 2007 Archives
Unbelievable Doys!
My Doily Swap partner this year shares a passion for PK doilies! We agreed to make each other a doily from PK's collection that we absolutely lust for, and I selected Doys from Victorian Spiral Doilies. My partner perfectly executed this challenging pattern with such grace and style that I think the doily actually glows! It is like she infused the doily with something special—radiance, charm, and elegance. I wish I could display it every day, but there is the feline factor that keeps my doilies in a draw until guests and special occassion presents themselves. The little beasties think a doily is a chew toy!
Not One, but Two!
Not only did my partner make Doys, she made a second super-secret doily, Pineapple Passion, also a PK design. It's in a lovely burgundy that matches what color scheme I have in my house. (This means I have burgundy colored window coverings in the dining room.)
She also included some goodies! I now have a pattern book of Elizabeth Hiddleston's designs, some DMC ecru thread, and some Turkish thread. And she included some very fine rayon thread that looks very shiny and soft. Plus, chocolate goodies! I love the Lindt chocolates!
Thank you so much my doily swap partner! I'm so thrilled to have been paired with you and to have received two extraordinary doilies from you!
Kennewick: A Tri-Cities Adventure
Over the weekend I drove over the mountains and into the desert within Washington state. After a five hour drive I arrived at my destination: Jodi's house! Jodi is a dear friend I met at LIOS. She was unable to continue in the program, but she is still seeking to become a fellow therapist. She has helped me in a multitude of ways to survive my second year. I wanted to visit with her to celebrate making it through LIOS.The Hounds
Jodi has two doggies: Charlie, the small brown Yoda-looking one, and Magni, the larger black and brown one. The girls were very well-behaved canines. They endeared themselves to me by giving me "boo-boo kitty" eyes each time I ate any food in their presence. They were consumate snarks in begging for food. I eventually caved in and gave them little bits of my left over chicken one evening. Charlie has a very distinct Yoda-like look about her when she raises and perks up her ears.
Ruff's Burgers: Local Greasy Burgery Goodness
When I saw Ruff's I knew that I had to eat there and try out their greasy goodness! I love local burger joints and this one was not disappointing. The prices were reasonable. I was only able to eat the dog and part of my small burger. Jodi said they are famous for their Giant Rurff which is a monster burger.
Columbia River
Rich People's House
Along the river was this "rich person's house" that overlooks the river. It appears that the house was added onto over and over until it became this enormous structure. I find it fun to look at such houses but could not imagine ever living in one because it would take a staff to execute the weekly cleaning!
Assorted Fun
While visiting Jodi we went to a local shop where they sold all sorts of nifty things, and we also found a newly opened metaphysical shop. For lunch one day we tried Garlic Jim's Pizza. We had a very garlicky pizza that was delicious!We also spent a lot of quality time just talking and sharing our respective life stories, getting to know each other better and more deeply. Jodi and I have been through the trials and travails that life has to offer and we've come through. I think of us as having taken the leap of faith into the volcano and it spewed us back out, just like in Joe Versus the Volcano.
I drove back through the Columbia River Gorge instead of going through the mountain pass. I love the drive along the gorge because the river there is just amazing! I was also able to stop in The Dalles, Oregon, and eat at what I call "Country Cousin East". The restaurant's real name is "Cousin's Inn" but it reminds me of our local "Country Cousin" restaurant. They have great mac n' cheese at the restaurant and an amazing sausage and bean soup. The place is always packed when I've gone there.
I'll be going back to spend 4 days with Jodi in August when I attend my first class in Theraplay® in Yakima. I'll have about a 90 minute drive from Kennewick to Yakima, but the drive is all freeway at 70 mph, so it should go quickly.
This doily comes from Patricia Kristoffersen's Masterpiece Doilies and is called Grand. I made it using Omega size 30 thread, purple and variegated shades of pink, purple, and plum. I'm not sure how wide it measures out to be.
The color scheme looked good while the thread was on the ball, but now that the doily is made, I'm not so sure about the choices. The variegated hides the details of the pattern. I would still make this doily using two different colors, but I'd not use a variegated.
