SpaceTricot

This weekend was the first weekend where M and I didnt have the girls. It had been with the high holidays almost a month since the newlyweds got some time on their own.

I love our kids, but I also love just spending time with M. Simple stuff.

After a whole week of watching Ken Burns National Parks, I set off trying to find a National Park in Northern MD. I soon discovered that there are lots of monuments, battlefields, and assorted other treasures, but the National Park...well that is the Shenendoah Skyline Drive. We did that one this summer.

We decided to take a day trip to Lancaster County PA.
Home of the Amish and Mennonnites.
Or as they like to call themselves...The Plain People.

This would also be the first time I left Gus for more than a couple hours in his crate.
Our Fingers were crossed!

I really did try not to be a tourist, snapping pictures as we drive - more like hiding in the car and taking them.

This soon grew old and difficult, and I started doing this. SUBTLE...H....Subtle.

The old tried and true method of holding the camera out of the window worked pretty well for me.

The scenery was really beautiful, and the day couldn't have been more beautiful. Although more than once I asked M if he'd stepped in poo. I had this fragrance of "country" more than once hit me straight in the face. whew!

We ate pretzels at three places and this place Ummergut Pretzels (trans: always good) was the best!

Sometimes you can't take M anywhere.

Me, well I am a wash and go kinda gal.

I got to go to a yarn store...
Lancaster yarn store, Intercourse, PA
These ladies were fabulous!

I am going to make my girls fingerless gloves asap!

Here are some of the treats we picked up

Notice there are no pretzels. We ate them.

On our way home, we saw this sign...

which prompted M to stop off at a local farm on our way home...

to get some fresh items for dinner....

ha!

It was a wonderful day...and Gus did great the 6 hours we left him home...

I love MY dog. Like a love I have never experienced before.

The love of a dog is different than a love of a child, husband or friend.
It's adoration. plain and simple.
I'm his human.

He is always around me. at my feet, looking at me, if I go outside, he is upset that he can't come and will attempt by any means possible to come with me. In the morning, he stands by the door expecting me to take him along for a ride. He prefers me. I love this!

Wherever I am...he is.

he plays fetch. FETCH!! love it!
Outside in the backyard...he chases me and I'm always IT.

He's not perfect, he pulls so hard on the leash that I feel like his little chest will cave in.
Pugs have to have harnesses because of their delicate necks.
He is obsessed with cars. he is DYING to chase them.
We have a no pull harness to try this week.
I hope it works.

Things Gus likes to eat...
food of all kinds - Veggies too
cat hair (gross)
cat food
cat poops (gross)
cigarette butts on the side of the road - (attempted. I have gotten them all out of his mouth)
sticks
mowed grass clippings
hairties (he carries these to me)
underpants
socks (he carries these to me)
one eyeball from a stuffie

The list grows.

One of my favorite times is at about 8:30pm...and he climbs up - spins around twice and flops down...then lets out this large nasal grunt and closes his eyes - feet tucked into my side and falls asleep. We cover up, and settle in.

This is what I had for dinner last night.

I haven't always been a fan of salmon.
Until my husband made it for me.

Another Home Run M!
mmm.

PS when the tweenie eats SALMON you know it's good.

Finally a post for my republican friends...
Free Speech is alive, and it rests on the windows and bumpers of the Metro DC area!

This continued on every surface of every window of this car. I think his point was made. he had quite impressive moustaches too.

"Obamunism"
How Cute.
And our great leader...Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.
So did the Dalai Lama and Al Gore.
I can only imagine what other Car=Politik this controversy is going to give me in the weeks to come!

I have gotten quite adept at taking pics from the car on the road, I must say.

FYI..
This is not involation of Maryland's recent no texty no drivey or you pay 500 bucksies law.

When there is a lap that needs filling...
He'll be there.

When there are cold feet to be warmed...
He'll be there.

When there are crumbs to be sniffled out...
He'll be there.

if if not...there is always homemade apple pie.

look at that thumb gusset!

Gus for halloween...

When I put the hat on him...he refused to get in the car. He hates the hat.
Can you tell?
It's not a manly hat.
he was offended.
He came to work with me for our halloween party. I was the beekeeper.

Keepin' Watch for lunchtime passersby...

he manages to keep his Joe Cool mojo rockin...

Gus Looking for crumbs..

Snoozing Smushface Style...

Gus says...keep it real...and only wear your hat when Mum makes you wear it!

G-man out.

I'm into the gusset shaping on the second... keeping true to the sorta colorwork on this one.

Here I am with my little lapwarmer...GusMan

This is a gift for the holidays.
I'm way behind. Everyone wants socks. and they all have big feets.

I'm forecasting stash busting at it's best. The TUBE SOCK.

Just because I live someplace beautiful...

Happy Fall from Northern Baltimore Country.

Casa K's Paella...

and our secksy in house resident chef, M

He is the BEST cook...I NEVER cook. SERIOUSLY.. packaged box/frozen dinners have taken a financial hit in the last year...hamburger helper is so 2008.
Sorry, Betty C. and Chef Boyardee.

Our resident obstacle courses... always underfoot when M is whipping something up in Kitchen Stadium.

M...who also knows how to keep the romances alive...

after all what is better than roses on your piano?
heh. heh. heh.

Zombies aren't really crazy about the knitting...but they sure do love BRAINS!!!

here is the beginning of my latest pair of fingerless mitts.
I knitted a pair for Jenna...Cast on 60 - *k2p2*
so these are Em's...Cast on 54 - *k2,p2,c2,p2,k2*
'
Same but different. I am addicted to this Whorled Peace yarn. I got this on my recent trip to Lancaster PA. I think I can get a pair of baby socks and a hat out of it too! This yarn I can't get tired of...look at this color!

Yowsza!
Nasturtium.. is a flower. I had to google it.
here is a picture of the real flower...I think the dyer got really close.

This halloween Jen is with her dad...so I will be going it alone. Which means no new zombie costume. I love being a zombie for halloween.
Staying true to our traditions...We watched It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Good Times.
Happy Halloween!