Yarn store trip

Yesterday I went to Independence's double yarn store...Angelika's and Knitcraft. Two in one LARGE building. I hadn't been in awhile but JoAnn's, Michael's and Hobby Lobby didn't have what I wanted...fingering yarn (thin yarn) in great colors in wool blend and/or soft acrylics.

They have a wonderful selection of everything under the sun! Took my selections to the check out and found I had to pay each store separately!  Oh well... easy enough.

Afterwards I decided to take the long way home... back roads instead of the Interstate. It had been awhile and I was amazed at the changes that had take place but the section that goes through Burr Oak Conservation hadn't changed a twit!  My grand daughter and her husband hike the trails quite often.

Speaking of my grand daughter. She arrived in Japan yesterday for a week plus trip... meeting her unofficial uncle who is spending three months there. Lili cleared everything with her professors... getting her assignments early ( finished them). Her art teacher assigned her to take her sketch book and draw everything.. he will grade her!! She is also to take lots of photographs.

We all worried about her... she hadn't flown before and coping with airports can be a hassle. Lili told her Mother that she had told all the TSA people that this was her first trip and they walked her through everything and also made sure her camera's film was ok! Nice!!

Now we all wait for updates!!

Ceramics classes

 Another coldish day... the temps been have wonderful but then they dropped. We were supposed to have a hard frost last night but I don't think it happened. Bradford pears, red buds, daffodils are all in bloom!

Today we started our session of ceramics classes. They are held over in Johnson County ... at the parks and rec building off of 89th and Metcalf. We did pinch pots, coils and so on.. and some instruction on wheels and the clay rolling machine.

The teacher is good... classmates are all seniors like us and we enjoyed trying things.  looking forward to next Monday!

After some discussion about the eclipse the teacher arranged for us to skip that day and add a day on the end. I am looking forward it it.

It has been awhile since we traveled north from I435 to 89th street. Boy have there been loads of changes... many remembered buildings are gone and many new bigger ones have replaced them!! As usual traffic was dense... Bob used to travel that area everyday for work and was so glad he doesn't have to anymore!

just rain, thunder and a little hail

After all the weather people's warning we didn't have any tornadoes . Listened for the tornado sirens.. but nothing. We did have a few moments of hail. My daughter lives about three miles west and had some grape sized hail.

Then a warm over 70 F sunny day!

Today looks like a repeat even though my computer warns of plummeting temps... we'll see.

I have enough new bears and friends for the upcoming online show..April 12th... so sorting again has become a priority. I came across my knitting yarn and needles and directions so I have been working on knitting bear sweaters when watching TV etc.

Later .....Heard that Indiana and Ohio had the tornadoes we were supposed to get.... there were deaths in Ohio! That kind of reporting does make us pay attention when the weather people mention tornadoes around here. We have very effective tornado sirens and a plan what to do if they should go off. The sirens are tested every month on a specific schedule.

Yesterday was a typical Missouri winner

 Our day started out sunny and warm... just a nice spring day! But by early evening the sky turned black and our evening was thunder and lightening and hail!!  We were lucky .. our hailstones were the size of small marbles... though the storm lasted longer than usual.

A blogger I follow lives about 20 miles east and the hailstones around her were much bigger... some even baseball sized.

Another nice sunny morning after all that.. but this afternoon... tonight... the weather people are talking about more thunderstorm and possibly tornadoes. Leave it to Missouri..

Sunny morning... now what ?

It's sunny!! Tigger the orange cat has found a super sunny spot on the family room carpet and is fast asleep.

I think a trip to the grocery store is coming up ...

Went and returned... should be all set for a few days!

We went to the Disabled Vets Thrift store yesterday to drop off bags of stuff... back to work today on sorting  things. I now have one bag filled !! Need a few more bags before we head off for the thrift store again.

While sorting I came across some unfinished projects... finished a bear sweater last night while we watched  "Outlander"... a  freebie on Stars (streaming channel). Guess Stars will entice us with a season or two for free then no more freebies for the rest ( 8 total).

The rest of the day went slowly as usual... made spaghetti sauce and a green salad for dinner. Finally cleared off most of the dining table where I had been crafting ... cast on stitches for another bear sweater...

busy-ish day

On a foggy cold day that turns into a wet rainy one being busy is a good idea. Bob has been sorting through stuff upstairs in what had been our son's room when he was a kid. I worked through my mohair fabric stash and then through my patterns to find one that fit the piece..Then cut out the pattern! I put the pieces in a ziplock bag..label it.. add thread etc. That way I can grab a bag and get to work making a bear or a bear friend.

We are heading to one of the local thrift stores tomorrow to donate ...sorting  stuff led to bags of unwanted/needed things.

Bags of bear parts will be packed for our trip to Branson in April. Bob has a ham radio convention there and will have a sales table so I will need something to occupy my time. There is supposed to be a room for "wives" to do crafts while the hams do their thing. The last time we went the organizers said the same thing but it didn't happen. Hopefully this time it will...

The convention will have a banquet Friday night, sales tables, kit building and a raffle  Saturday and  then we will head home . 

Maybe I should take some knitting supplies as well... small sweaters for bears are an easy project.

 

Sangria plus beer

 I actually liked the combo and I am not a real beer drinker. The beer was one of their craft beers.. soft and not hoppy at all and fairly dark.

Today was a quiet one.. very foggy this morning. My teacher daughter stayed home sick... infected sinuses and lots of coughing,  She dropped by this afternoon with our grandson's tuxedo shirt. His jazz group is giving a concert  tomorrow down at UMKC and the shirt needed ironing. Our daughter couldn't find her iron so I got the job. 

It was like ironing a tent! Luckily for me a was a nice combo of cotton and polyester and very easy to iron!! Dominic is all set.. will add the pants, jacket, cummerbund and tie . The bus leaves the high school at  8 am!!

Bob baked bread again and this time he added a small amount of whole wheat. Came out great and Carolyn came just in time to try it !! Nothing like new bread , warm from the oven and butter!!

Another task he gave himself... new shower head...One with possible hand holding and change in flow.. it is up and he has tried things... tomorrow he will really give it a test run by taking a shower!! Fingers crossed..

forgot to post yesterday!!

Spring flowers

Even though today is gray and cold, we have had days of really nice warm weather!! All of a sudden daffodils are in bloom all over! Grass is getting greener and the lilac bush below my office window is covered with small green leaves.

Sunday afternoon was spent downtown KC... the four of us - daughters and Bob and me - at a Phoenix Family ( non-profit) event where we enjoyed drinks and making friendship bracelets. Our daughter's co-workers were there too.

It was held in Casual Animal Brewing Company... so we were joined by people with lots of dogs of all sizes, colors and breeds ( or mixes) !

I really liked my drink ... a combo of one of their beers and sangria! 12 oz. too much to finish!

 

 

 

Eclipse in Kansas City

We are looking forward to seeing the partial solar eclipse on April 8th.  The last eclipse was a total one  but this one is a partial one. Our neighborhood sat out on the circle on deck chairs for the whole thing!! 

When an email popped up about getting eclipse glasses I went on a hunt for the ones we used last time.  Found them!!

The eclipse ( April 8th 2024) starts at 12.37 pm.

     Hits maximum at 1.54 pm

    Ends  at 3.11pm

These times are all Central Time zone!

Dominic had his audition at UMKC's music conservatory today. He's in... Music Education dept! His Mother was a wreck just like I was when his Mother had her auditions or performances!!