whackadoodle coconut

actually, I did and decided to take twice as much water and stop to turn around before I was dead. so technically I did learn and just made sure to prevent as much trouble as the first time.  I just really like hanging out with my friend and couldn't let a play date pass me by.  plus, I need to get out and exercise and she likes to too. I had planned to photograph the trail, but I only got this one pic and it immediately said Ninja Training. it's actually a good photo I think and the colors and contrasts stand out nicely.  especially for a snapshot with my little camera.  you didn't think I lugged my big one for a 3 mile walk did you?  I have and I will, but not today.

last week I spent some time in SLO with my photo friend and we hiked up in the Irish Hills connecting from Johnson Ranch.  it was a LONG hike and I literally thought I would die.  I almost didn't make it.  really.  that might sound like an exaggeration, but we were hiking for 4 hours.  when it was all over, we got frozen yogurt and that almost made it better.  I had been taking pictures until I was so pooped I just put my camera in my backpack and said phooey.  when I got home however, I realized I only took about 15 pics and there were 4 that just wowed me.  the best is saved for last.

Sitting here in an unnamed coffee shop in the center of town amongst the downtown snobbery, I realize two things. First, I am happy with who I am. Secondly, I am out of place. As each high society grouping files in I watch them and while I appear to be doing just what you 'do' in this situation I am also clearly different.

I like rewards.  you do too, so don't say you don't! I actually really, really like rewards.  it's like getting a balloon after a good dentist app or a sticker after voting.  it doesn't have to be huge, just something that tells me good job, you did it. in this case, I've had two really good rewards.  after all those monkey's I needed to get back to spinning and doing what I really love.  and my projects have been stacking up and I get overwhelmed when there is too much on the plate and I can't see myself eating it all.  I had the monkeys, some unplied singles, a vest that I've been mentally designing and on paper designing for probably a year, a new set of carders just waiting to get used and two quilts that need quilting.  see what I mean? so one of my great rewards was to ply those singles.  they turned out really good and I was eager and anxious to get them done and enjoy the yarn.  here's the final product. then I got really hap...

I now have four monkeys, with faces, packed and ready to send off to their new homes.  I'll admit it's a little bitter sweet.  I am really glad that I did it, but I'm also glad that it's over.  that was a lot of monkey in one month.  I had wanted to make a few more little animals and then I decided not too.  I'm a little burned out on toys.  I have several other garment projects that I'd like to make to "relax". just before I packed them we did a little silly photo shoot in my living room table.  take a look! I think it's funny that every family has a shy one, a ham, a weird one and a happy one.  I think (strangely enough) this family has them too.       We also took some silly photos too -   

my average monkey making time has been perfected to about 3 days a piece.  this is taking my time and steadily working.  it takes a week if you get right down to it, since I need a bit of time between monkeys to rest my hands from the furious knitting.  it also helps to reduce monkey fatigue. here are three of the four needed to finish the set.  I will have some leftover yarn and I'm thinking about making some other animals to use it all up, but I'm not really sure what to make yet.  I'll have to look in the book and see what else strikes my fancy.  there's always buns to make!

this last week Ari and I took the early morning and shot some great landscapes in Arroyo Grande.  several of our favorites are follows -