Laowai

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  • THE END OF SUMMER

    It’s only the middle of August so it’s not really the end of summer but to Claire it is since she goes back to school tomorrow. It’s been a very different summer. Lots of kitties but almost no Brian and Bea around here. I miss having Brian around and enjoying summer meals outside. But I have been sick of the hot humid weather. I really don’t have patience for it and I am longing for a crisp windy day and some cool nights.

    My morning glories are blooming.

    Bea sent me these two images and we decided they are so very Swiss they could be posters. Show me you’re in Switzerland without saying you’re in Switzerland.

    I’ve been working on a sweater made out of some free yarn that I got at my teacher’s yarn swap. When the yarn is free I feel like I can experiment a little. Or maybe I should say I don’t feel pressure to get it exactly right but I can still build on my skills. I don’t know – somehow it feels different when the yarn doesn’t cost anything and its good. I find that, just like with sewing garments, getting the fit right is the most difficult part. I guess using free yarn feels like a low stakes challenge.

    The sweater got a bath before moving on to the next step.

    I’ve been enjoying my zinnias.

    In kitty news our dear Edgar has moved onto his forever home. Yay.

    My good friend took care of him while Claire and I were doing our road trip. As we were driving and almost home we talked on the phone and she surprised us by saying she and her husband and daughter wanted to adopt him. I was overwhelmed with happiness when she told me how he charmed them and they decided to keep him. So not only has he found his people but he’s just a couple blocks away so we can visit him.

    His name is now Snoopy!

    We had to wait almost a week before we received our newest batch of kittens. We have three little girls – Pauline, Petra and Posy. Claire is happy to have some furry friends around the house again. They are a bit of a handful literally and figuratively (ha!) but I enjoy them.

    Some more stuff from Bea – she has done a lot of traveling this summer and she often makes sketches of the things she sees.

    This sketch is of Brian’s apartment kitchen.

    And one final photo – more zinnias.

  • OUR BIG ROAD TRIP

    Claire and I got home yesterday from a big big road trip. We wanted to see some colleges that Claire might be interested in and also just take a look at the Northeast part of our country.

    So eight nights, seven hotels, five universities, and ten states!

    According to Google we drove 36 hours and 2,142 miles going through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    Brian flew into Syracuse and met us and then we dropped him at the Newark airport at the end of the week.

    It was quite a trip! And even though we were super sick of driving by the end I’m left with surprisingly good feelings about this corner of our country. I think that feeling comes from seeing the rolling hills and the beautiful university campuses with their interesting architecture and big mature trees.

    So here are a bunch of random photos. Just like our trip they begin and end with just Claire and I and there are lots of brick and stone buildings in the middle.

    So before you ask, no, Claire has not decided where she wants to go to college. She’s only going into her junior year of high school so she has plenty of time. She was just taking everything in during this trip. We visited Syracuse University, University of Vermont, University of Massachusetts, University of Connecticut and Penn State. Oh and Brian and I took a nice walk through lovely Smith College but that’s not on the list.

    And a final note about driving an EV across the country. It is not as convenient as gas but it is cheaper. We learned that we can trust the app we used (ABRP) but you cannot trust every brand of charging machine to work properly. We had a couple hairy moments dealing with bad bad machines – yikes. I hope it gets better.

    Happy to be home.

  • TWO TOAD TOUR

    I haven’t been to the Chicago Botanic Garden lately.

    So it felt good to go last week. I had a nice walk through the prairie, a slow walk. Pausing to look closely at all the details.

    There were butterflies and every kind of bee and two toads and so much bird song. The redwing blackbirds have thankfully been replaced by gold finches. And I was finally able to notice that the compass plant does arrange its leaves in a mostly north and south direction.

    There are these big bubbles throughout the gardens this summer but I head straight for the prairie. I don’t need gimmicks – the beauty of nature is far more interesting to me.

  • LATELY IN SUMMER

    Lately it has been too hot and humid to enjoy the summer outside. We also had two days with the air full of smoke from Canadian fires. That feels disturbing and I’m looking forward to the weather moderating.

    A list of things I’ve enjoyed lately –
    – a native plants focused garden walk
    – a sweaty night at Ravinia
    – swimming in Lake Michingan
    – a very interesting percusion concert featuring a friend’s daughter
    – watching The Tour de France
    – getting back to my regular ballet and knitting classes

    I’ve also done some sewing. I finished the blue and red bag below – it’s a knitting project bag – the third one I’ve made. I modified the pattern that I started with and quilted the fabric with some light batting. I like the way the quilting gives the bag structure so it stays open when you want it to. The fabric below is an old apron. I have a weakness for bits of vintage fabric and I’m pleased when I find a way to make them useful. For the drawstrings I discovered that my local L.L. Bean store sells boot laces in a bunch of colors. You can have your specific length cut and they put the little metal ends on to finish them.

    This is my latest knitting project that I happily put into the new drawstring bag. It’s a simple cardigan – I’m checking it’s size against another sweater below and Edgar is supervising.

    I’m getting to know Edgar more each day.

    He found the courage to jump up on the sewing room desk and so now he can keep an eye on me from the doll bed.

    It’s a pleasure to watch him get more comfortable and confident around the house. I love to watch him discover favorite spots – like this patch of sunshine that comes in the afternoon. He’s so happy stretching and getting all roly-poly.

    He has also been helping us plan an end of summer road trip to the Northeast part of the US. So very helpful!

    I miss Brian and Bea but I do get some nice photos from both of them. They sent this goofy photo of my train pass that came in the mail.

    And here are a bunch of other photos from the two of them. Including one that Brian took at the Tour de France on his birthday.

    Lastly, I try to make progress on my windows. Here’s a close-up of some finished glazing that needs to cure for a couple weeks before I paint.

  • A HIKE WITH BEA

    On my last day in Switzerland Brian was working and Bea took me for a hike. We went to another not too far from Zurich destination called Flumserberg. Everyone in Zurich goes skiing there and they call it Flums.

    We had a beautiful day and even though the hike was about two-thirds longer than I was prepared for and Bea had to deal with a couple moments of her mother being a little grumpy while out of breath it was wonderful. For me, being way up there and the feeling of the fresh mountain breeze is uplifting and soothing like nothing else.

    There’s the lake where we were swimming and paddle boarding a few days before.

    Bea is such a strong hiker these days. The tables have turned and she urges her mother on. Seems like the hiking has helped her to deal with her stressful year. She sets her sights on some very difficult destinations lately.

    I’ll finish this series of posts with a series of selfies from our hike. You can tell I was very happy to be with my daughter.

  • INTO THE WATER

    More photos from my trip to Switzerland. These photos show the fun we had getting into the water on a couple hot days.

    First up Bea introduced us to something I’ve long wanted to do – a river float. It’s a really popular way for Swiss people to relax and cool off. We went to Basel and floated down the Rhine for a few kilometers. Everyone has a dry bag to put their shoes and clothes and towel in and there are lots of places to get in and get out of the water along the city center.

    There’s Bea with her dry bag below. We didn’t have room for all our stuff in her bag so I got in the water first and Brian took some photos of us as he walked along the shore with my clothes. Then he did his float with Bea after I got out.

    There were lots of swimmers – we are some of the little specks you can see in the water.

    There were four bridges we went under along our route. And there were lots of boats but they mark the swimming area clearly and there is plenty of room for everyone to use the river.

    There’s Bea getting out above. All along the river there were places to sit and places to buy drinks and food. Even some cool public grills that people were using. Such a nice atmosphere!

    I didn’t get as many photos of Brian and Bea in the water but they are in the photo below – more little specks.

    We went and had a drink (a delicious cold champagne cocktail for me) and a snack and then headed to the train station. What a fun day!

    The next day we got to enjoy more time in the water.

    We went to a beautiful lake called Wallensee – not too far from Zurich.

    As I mentioned I brought Bea’s paddle board from the US so she was eager to use it.

    I don’t think you could find a more beautiful place to paddle board – with the mountain coming right out of the beautiful turquoise water – it’s wonderful.

    Bea paddle boarded all the way across the lake and then she came back and gave me a ride.

    And here’s a photo of Brian – he had biked to the lake to meet us and then after our day of swimming and paddle boarding he biked home while Bea and I rode the train.

    I appreciate that the Swiss make enjoying the water so easy. There was no fee for these fantastic experiences. They were not exclusive and only available for wealthy people or locals. There was no regulation or registration for paddle boarding. Nothing of the ridiculous frustration Bea had simply putting her paddle board into Lake Michigan around here. And yet they make it safe – there are posted signs about safety measures that everyone respects and the swimming areas are well marked. And there are always amenities nearby – clean restrooms and little businesses right there where you can get an ice cream treat or a cold beer.

    They know how to make summer a pleasure!

  • SWISS ESCAPE

    I’ve just returned from a trip to Switzerland. I spent a great week visiting with Brian and Bea.

    I felt bad leaving Claire home – she couldn’t come since she is taking a summer school class plus she is working. But luckily she had a companion.

    I arrived in the morning and within a couple hours Bea and I were enjoying a refreshing swim in Lake Zurich. I brought her paddleboard from Wilmette – she bought me a Brezelkönig. A fair trade.

    The next day they took me to the mountains. To the Brunni area and the popular Grosser Mythen peak.

    I haven’t walked up a hill with elevation more than a meter in a very long time. So I decided to do only part of the hike. I sat in a restaurant and ate plum tart and knitted and gazed at the beautiful view. Brian and Bea did a classic hike to the top of that big rock below.

    Here’s the restaurant where they ate at the top.

    Here’s their snack.

    Here’s their view. I’m down there in that building below.

    Then we all hiked back down to the bus stop.

    More refreshments along the way.

    I think I took a photo of this girl or her relative back in 2020 (at the bottom of this post).

    Meanwhile I got updates from Claire – Edgar was settling in.

  • BYE BYE BYE

    We had to say good-by to our Itty Bitty Kitty Committee (Nellie, Sylvia and Boris). They are off to the shelter and I think someone is going to snatch them right up.

    And here’s our new kitty – Edgar.

    We hardly know him yet but he’s big and he’s sweet. Stay tuned for more Edgar content.

  • THREE MAKES

    I’ve finished three projects lately.

    First up a new-to-me dress pattern. It’s the Friday Pattern Company Hughes Dress.

    Here’s the description from Friday Pattern Company: It features Viennese seams, gathered sleeves, and a gorgeous scoop neckline. The bodice is lined and the skirt has an a-line sweep. It buttons up the front and has an adjustable lace-up tie in the back. The tie can be cinched in or loosened depending on desired fit.

    I wanted a basic dress that I will actually wear. I chose a sturdy blue Tumbled Non Stretch Cotton from Core Fabrics (love them!). I should be able to pair it with lots of different cardigans or scarves. I skipped the patch pockets and added pockets into the side seams instead. And I used a completely different sleeve pattern because I did not like how the original sleeve hung. I used my Cashmerette Upton dress sleeve and it worked much better.

    I think I will add a hidden snap or two between buttons at the top to prevent gaping. Overall – very happy with this dress. And I’m looking forward to taking it to Zurich soon.

    Next – something completely new – a hat.

    I took a hat making class at a local millinery shop called Brim and Dash. The woman (also named Kathy) who owns the shop and teaches the class was great – she talked to me about millinery stuff the whole time and I found it all fascinating. She also offers felt hat workshops – ooh – I really want to do that too.

    Her hat blocks were just beautiful to look at.

    The class ran from 10 am to 4 pm and it took the whole time to make my raffia hat. Shaping and hand sewing and more shaping and then choosing my finishing ribbon – it was so fun. She was a great teacher and she told me my stitching and my bow were good.

    Lastly – I finished my summer sweater.

    This is the Tolsta Tee pattern that I’ve made a couple times before.

    It seems the same thing happens every year – Summer comes and I feel I must make a cotton sweater and as I make it I am reminded that I don’t really like knitting with cotton. It has no spring, no life and as you wear it it gets saggy. I really should stick to just sewing with cotton.

    And yet, I do like my sweater. I wanted some texture added to this basic and reliable pattern so, with lots of help from my knitting teacher, I figured out how to add this cable pattern.

    So what’s next on the crafty agenda? I always have ideas swirling in my head and I have yarn waiting to be used. But I really should focus on my windows and going swimming.

  • GROWING

    When they greet us at the door we call them our kitty comittee and they are growing like weeds.

    Here they are on May 14.

    And here they are in the window again on June 18.

    It’s very difficult to get good photos of the girls – the black ones. We adore them all and they show us their big little personalities more each day.

    And, we got great news – our previous fosters (Steve and Avery) finally got adopted.