Knit one, yarn-over, purl across...

Well, my knitting obsession has taken over. The annual "Rose City Yarn Crawl" takes place February 27 - March 2, and to gin up excitement, they sponsor a "Mystery-Knit-a-long." This year's is a shawl (the first clue has just come out, and that's apparent). I've finished the first clue (ok, I've finished it twice - once with beads, one without). Now I have to wait until next Friday for the next clue! I guess I'll just have to find something else to knit to pass the time.

Because we weren't here for Halloween - I didn't get my chili fix. Mr. Hinkelgruber took care of my jones by preparing white bean and chicken chili for dinner. Ahhh....hog heaven!

50-degrees…in January?!?

As I let the puppy out this morning, I realized how warm it was! It's January, the east coast just got out of something they're calling a "Polar Vortex," and it felt more like April at 7:00 am in Portland! Oh, I'm not complaining, mind you - merely observing.

Mr. Hinkelgruber has started a photography class and his first homework assignment was to take five photographs. The most fun today was watching him try to get to the park between rain showers to take the photos. Trip one - over before he got to the corner. Trip two - he made it to the corner across from the park. Trip three - finally he made it. He was gone about 30-minutes before the next shower. And, he got some really wonderful photos.

January…the longest month...

Did you ever notice how January is really the longest month of the year, followed by February as a close second? I think it's the grey days, the cold and threat of colder weather, and even though the days are getting longer, it's really hard to notice them lengthening. But, this year, we're going to try to make these weeks go a little quicker by spending a weekend in Las Vegas! Woohoo! I can hardly wait.

We tried a new place to eat, the Italian Kitchen, right behind Belmont Station Brew Pub. I've heard it said that the real reason you can't get a decent Philly Cheesesteak on the west coast is because you can't get the right bread. All I know is that the Italian Kitchen makes its sandwiches using some of the best bread I've ever eaten! I had a roast beef and Mr. Hinkelgruber had a pork, and they were both outstanding!

It's beginning to look a lot like 2014...

So, lots has happened since I last posted:

• We saw London, 
• We saw France, 
• We saw David with no underpants!

There's really no excuse other than no inspiration for the lack of blog posts, but in breaking with my "no New Year's Resolutions" belief, I've decided to resolve to post at least three times a month in 2014. (That gives me the opportunity to be out of town once a month and let off the hook!)

So, back to the top: we really did see those places, as well as Perugia (oh, the chocolate), Venice (oh, the mussels), Munich (oh, the beer), and Berlin and Stuttgart (oh, the Ritter Sport chocolate)! Honestly, we bought so much chocolate to bring home we had to buy another suit case! Imagine the look on the customs officer's face when I was asked what I had to declare and said, "Just chocolate!" 

The plan is to return to Florence (David's home) in three years. I'll be taking a suitcase with only six changes of underwear so I can bring back leather shoes, boots and purses. Florence is the leather capitol of Italy, perhaps all of Europe. I can hardly wait!

It's really August?!?

So, it seems that not only did June fly by, but July as well! It's been a lovely summer, with Mr. Hinkelgruber and I visiting Alaska and Glacier Bay via a cruise ship (highly recommended!), several visits to local vineyards (also, highly recommended!) and awaiting a long planned trip to Italy this fall.

The boys are all awaiting football season which makes me lament that baseball season will come to an end. And, again, the Cubbies are breaking my heart (but, it's a rebuilding year....)...

Wow...June is flying by!

I'm stunned that it's the last week of June already. At this rate, October and our big trip to "the Continent" will be here sooner than I can believe!

Mr. Hinkelgruber and I will be cruising to Alaska at the end of July, then it's the 'dog-days' until 30-years of marriage. And, they said it wouldn't last! (Oh, no one said that, it just seems to be what everyone expects you to say.)

This will probably be the last week to bake for a while, since I refuse to turn the AC on just so I can bake in the summer.

This is Rose Festival Season?!?

Six days of beautiful, sunny, summer like weather - really? During the first two weeks of June? Here? No time to complain! We had a raucous high-school graduation party, complete with piñata and waaayyy too much food. We may be eating potato salad and cole slaw for the rest of the month!

It's the last week with our Australian pseudo-son - he will be missed. It's berry season - strawberries are fully ripe, and I'm certain raspberries are not far behind. Mr. Hinkelgruber has a new camera toy (a fancy flash do-hickie) and it must be challenging because he's studying the manual. Me? I was given some brown eggs, so that means I get to blow them out and make little choir children Christmas ornaments.

How I love summer!