Friday, December 26, 2008

A White Birthday! A White Christmas! A White New Year?

We were all excited a week ago when it snowed on my birthday (Dec 18), closing schools and making for a wonderful winter scene.
But then it kept snowing and soon we had A LOT of snow(and as I sit writing this, there is more coming down.)

Grandma and Grandpa make it safely here from California between storms. They had a slippery drive up but made it in one piece and with smiles on their faces.




So we've been snowed in for several days but it's been a wonderful Christmas with a little less of the hustle and bustle (several gifts are still not here because of lack of delivery vehicles making it to our neighborhood.) But who knows? Maybe 2009 will start out white too!



Hope you and yours are safe and warm and enjoying Mother Nature!

Compare the tabletops!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

And the day comes...

When your daughter tells you she's been invited to the Winter Ball!

It starts with the 'asking' - which these days is much more creative than when I was in high school. Instead of merely inquiring if AB would like to go to the dance, our thoughtful guy (a friend of AB's from school and drama) spelled out her name in Post-It notes on one of the school's white boards (the Post-Its were significant because of the play AB had been the director for - see earlier blog post of Nov 20). He then wrote a small note asking her to the dance, including a check box for YES and NO!

Well, she checked YES and then the hunt began for a dress, shoes and finally, a boutonniere for the lucky guy! While my parents were visiting, we found a strapless dress and while it looked beautiful, I felt it needed a shawl. So I decided to knit one...in a week...out of KidSilk Haze and Baby Alpaca Grande! I found some of the yarn in my stash but I had to send my folks out for more (thanks, Grandma!) I think it came out pretty well and it did keep AB (somewhat) warm.

They had a great time with dinner at TGI Friday's and snow falling to finish off the magical evening!











Cookie Baking!

My folks visited a few weeks ago and we had fun shopping, cooking and just visiting. AB and Grandma had fun making cookies for the school's "Taste of ICS". Here they are making Greek Holiday Cookies.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Beast is a Beaut...!

And it's done!!! The best four-letter words in knitting!!

After 8 colors, lots of black yarn and many hours by many hands (thank you beastie friends!), the Beast is complete and handed off! What started as a gift for my oldest nephew for his college graduation became a legacy unto itself. In fact, all the nephews kept asking how they get one and I said they had to graduate from college!

But if I ever say, "I'm just gonna use up my acrylic scraps" - someone slap me, please! On the other hand, my husband has asked for an afghan (he's already graduated from college!) but you can bet if I start another one it will be in something luscious and not acrylic!



Look - I'm still smiling!





Sunday, November 23, 2008

By the bay...

Here we are in San Francisco. We've been doing fun things just like regular tourists!
Yesterday after we got in and checked into our hotel, we went exploring and hiked up to a bookstore on Russian Hill where AB bought a book about Edgar Allen Poe. Finding our way back, we came upon Lombard Street and climbed down it in the dark!Eventually, we got to Ghirardelli Square and rewarded ourselves with hot fudge sundaes all the way around.

Today, we got up and had breakfast of yummy French toast (with sourdough bread) at the Boudin bakery. Then, we went for a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge! It was very scenic (the weather has been beautiful) and we not only got our exercise but learned some history when we stopped at Fort Point under the bridge. The ride across the bridge was windy and uphill but the downhill on the other side was worth all the huffing and puffing.

We stopped for lunch in Sausalito and had sandwiches (on sourdough bread) and enjoyed the view from the other side of the bay while we fended off the seagulls and pigeons! After looking around, we boarded a ferry back to San Francisco and rode along the Embarcadero back to the bicycle rental place.
We got back around 3 pm and loaded everyone in the car because the yarn store I wanted to visit closed at 4 pm. To my husband’s credit, he got us there in San Francisco traffic at about quarter to four. So while I didn’t have a lot of time to look around, Imagiknit was definitely worth the trip (lots and lots of the good stuff) and I plan to return to the next time we’re here. EB came in at one point in my frantic 15 minutes and reminded me to take some photos – I handed him the camera and he took these.





Finally, after visiting a very upscale mall in downtown (we were looking for an Apple store – a bribe for visiting the yarn store – and we found many fun windows to ogle as well as the Virgin Superstore - with lots of music and movies), we drove through Chinatown on our way back to the hotel. We were all exhausted but still needed a little something for dinner. We went back to the bakery where we had breakfast and had clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl!

Now, we’re back in the hotel ready to collapse but I just wanted to chronicle our day, count how many carbs we ate and let you know – vacation is wonderful!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A Place to Hang Your Hat

AB's directorial debut was a complete success!

Her one-act play was the last of seven last night and while there were ones with more hilarity, hers was the most poignant and showed she had worked hard with her actors.

The play is called "Post-Its" and is a story of a married couple told through their notes to each other. The comments after the show showed that everyone loved this play!

Overall, the evening was great and I think AB has found a new way to be involved in theatre! She does miss being on stage but she's got two auditions lined up when we get back from vacation so the show goes on!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

From Cat B*rf to Candy Canes!

My daughter is often one to encourage me to push through with creativity. Over the weekend, I started going through my yarn and the more I played with it, the more I wanted to MAKE something. She sat down with me and started arranging red yarns (mostly novelty) in a color scheme. I grabbed some white yarn and began knitting. About 3 yarns into it, I was describing it as something the cat hacked up, but daughter insisted it looked 'cool', so I proceeded. About 6 yarns into it, I still wasn't sure but AB kept pushing...well, you be the judge. AB says it reminds her of candy canes!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Shaken not stirred...

Halloween was odd this year. The kids didn't have school so they spent the day at home decorating the front porch, making blood and basically having a good time preparing for the nightly ghouls. BUT then they left! Each had a party elsewhere so the adults were left home to answer the door! Here is a photo of my conductor (or James Bond or waiter or usher or penguin...he seemed to have lots of ideas for what you could be if you just wear a tux!) Needless to say, he looked very handsome and yes, the girls are still calling and he's asking to purchase a suit!

Friday, November 7, 2008

EB's First Junior High Band Concert

Here are some pictures from EB's first band concert of the new school year.











He is very excited to be playing alto saxophone in
the jazz band as well the cadet band (7th grade-photo above).












He surprised his mom by conducting the cadet band for one of their songs! He does like to be in charge! :)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Soccer, soccer, soccer!

As the end of the season approaches (as well as the rain), we look fondly back on the games in the fall sunshine. Here are some pics.

EB saves another goal!












Some games are more exciting than others...




AB on the throw in.




Great team!


Monday, October 27, 2008

The Burlingames are Bloggin'!


After much thought and a search for an appropriate blog name, I came to the conclusion that simplicity is best. So, welcome to The Burlingame Blog. My attempt to chronicle our life at warp speed!



This weekend was full of soccer games with 2 wins and 1 loss. AB scored a goal in yesterday's contest and came home very happy!