Saturday, January 12, 2013

Winter Swans

Tundra Swans spend time every winter in the pond below Rooster Rock.  Every year I kick myself for not getting a photo of them.  SO.. yesterday was a beautiful icy cold winter day and hubby and I had some errands, so we headed first to try to get some photos of the wondrous birds.  I was awestruck by the frosty trees on Larch Mountain.. looming behind Rooster Rock.
I had to pull over on the side of the freeway and Dayle got these shots out of the window.  
Unfortunately, my little camera did not capture the swans well.  But it was so cool as about 10 of the big beauties came in for a landing and Dayle missed the bigger picture in the camera lens, but it was very cool to see them flare and land.. you can see a bit of it in this photo.
The Columbia River Gorge - Washington on the left and Oregon on the right.  Rooster rock and up on the bluff to the far right, Vista House at Crown Point State Park. 
We ran our errands, picking up our repaired generator and having lunch in town - then returned home, but drove on up to Portland Women's Forum Scenic Viewpoint and got this shot of Vista House and the gorge in the late afternoon light. 
I zoomed up to the frosty trees on top of Larch Mountain.  Love the blue sky, clouds and cloud shadows in this shot. 
Back a ways.. 
I love where I live. :-) 
Once home, I collected the eggs while Dayle unloaded the generator.  I think Lacey may have started laying as this is a pretty white egg!  Not to complete my egg color spectrum, I need to find a green egg laying hen! :-)
Love the different colors of eggs!
After such an invigorating day of a frigid photo safari, I settled in my cozy chair to do some crocheting.  People - if you love softness and organically beautiful unbleached cotton, you simply must order some of this yarn.  The feel of it is absolute tactile nirvana!  Soft and real.. so nice.
My blog friend Shari (click Lauren's Closet) loves pastel cottons and got me inspired to do a quick wash cloth.  I love working with my sterling silver crochet hook.
A close-up of this luscious cotton - it's made in Peru.
I recently ordered some of their colored cotton and selected this wonderful sea glass aqua for the edging.
All done!  This is the ridged pattern.. 

TEXTURED WASH CLOTH PATTERN

Finished size approx 8"x8"
With size H crochet hook and any kitchen cotton yarn, ch 30

Row 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook, sk 1, * sc and dc in next ch, sk 1 * - repeat from * to * to end of row, ending with sc in last stitch. Ch 2, turn.

Rows 2-21 are worked in back loop only except for first and last stitch.

Row 2 - 20: dc in first st, sk 1, * working in back loop only, sc and dc in next space, sk 1 *, repeat from * to * to end of row, ending with sc in last st. Ch 2, turn.

Finishing: After completing last st in row 20, sc/ch 1/sc in that corner space, continue to sc around all sides of piece, with sc/ch 1/sc in corners. Join with sl st to first sc in first corner worked. Bind off and work in ends.
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I was looking at my Shamrock plant and enjoying how the leaves were seeking the light and noticed that there were two stems of blooms in the back.. sweet.


And lastly.. we're trying to eat healthier and this is the meal that Dayle put together for us while I crocheted.  Yum!  Chicken, ham, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, snow peas, bleu cheese crumbles, cheddar cheese, sliced olives, dried cranberries with a small amount of ranch dressing.
So... our lovely, sunny Saturday is still morning.. I plan to do some work in my office.  Oh my.. it needs a professional organizer, or 2, or 10.  Wish me luck.  If you don't hear from me in a week, call the cops.  :-)  What fun plans do YOU have this weekend?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

26 comments:

  1. Teresa,
    Your photos are so stunning! Have you ever entered any of them in a contest? If not, I feel you should.
    Your area is indeed, so very lovely!! Reminds me some of our beloved Big Bear.
    I keep saying i need to place an order with that yarn company, and now I think i shall. I love a nice soft cotton. Thanks for including the dishcloth pattern too. I have been grumbling over trying to decipher the heart pattern that Lucy listed. Pammy did some. I can NOT make heads or tails out of that pattern.
    Feeling really dumb here!
    Love,
    Kris
    PS Your meal looks fabulous!!!

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  2. Thanks TEresa..stunning pictures of a sunning place...a real cheer up thanks x

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  3. Teresa...you live in heaven!!! It is truly beautiful....you have captured some amazing images. Thanks so much for mentioning me today...don't you just love your new dishcloths....they are the only ones I seem to use these days and they last and get softer and softer each time I wash them.
    Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
    xoxo, Shari

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  4. Magnificent pictures Teresa!! That cloth pattern is just the same as my favourite
    one and use them ALL the time. Great looking meal.

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  5. I approve....of both your beautiful land and of course that yummy lunch. Good job joining the Eat Healthy in 2013 wagon train....we have left the depot....

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  6. Your photos are stunning! What an awe inspiring state we live in. We used to live in the Willamette Valley and drove through the gorge regularly on our way home to central Washington to visit family. Now we rarely drive the section from Portland to The Dalles and I sorely miss the rugged views. The Columbia offers an ever changing palette of colors. Thanks for sharing your day with us!!

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  7. Happy Saturday Teresa! Beautiful pictures today. I love going up to the Vista House and taking in the beauty of the Gorge. If you like a little frost and snow on the tree tops you should come visit me!!!

    I made some dishcloths from Knit Picks Dishie cotton and they have become my favorites. No fading of color at all and so, so soft!
    Hubby bought me a Keurig coffee maker while we were in Portland, (no sales tax yippee!). Today we went shopping and bought a carousel for the little cups and LOTS of different teas, coffee and hot chocolate. Fun times. After a lunch at Panda Express, I'm home in front of the fire with my crocheting in my lap and a fire going. It's only 12 F here this afternoon. Quite chilly.

    Have a lovely weekend my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  8. Such beautiful pictures! You do live in a beautiful area! Sounds like you really had a nice day. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  9. Where you live is amazing. The pictures are breathtaking. Love the dishcloth ... thanks for the pattern. The yarn looks great too, may have to try some. Have a nice weekend.

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  10. Too bad that you could get better pics of the swans. That would have been neat. I love where you live too! Your salad looks terrific! That's something I could have. Weigh in day is tomorrow. I hope I'm not disappointed. I have not cheated one iota!

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  11. I love the Women's Forum State Park - one of my favorite places to take photographs in the Gorge. Didn't know there were swans at Rooster Rock.

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  12. Thanks for the fabulous photos, Teresa, and for introducing me to all sorts of interesting information! I looked up Larch Mountain on a map recently, but was having difficulty envisioning what the area actually looked like, and now I have a better idea thanks to this post. I did not know about Rooster Rock or the Tundra Swans either, and enjoyed seeing both. Once on the west bank of the Hudson River in NY a swan flew over my head and I was amazed by how large it was and how as it flapped its wings it sounded rather like an accordian. The cotton and dishcloth are really lovely. I am making progress on my hood cowl. Your last sentences made me LOL...if I don't hear from you soon I will know what to do. : ) xx from Gracie

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  13. Oh my, you do live in a beautiful area! The photo's are spectacular and thanks for the wash cloth pattern. I will have to give it a try with some of that luscious cotton. Love that crochet hook too!!

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  14. I just love your photos of your local landscape. I have been to the Adirondacks and Yosemite and I have to say I'm itching to cross the pond again. I don't think it will be this year sadly, but 2014 is looking very likely. Probably to see Mt Rushmore - ooh even thinking about it is exciting.
    Daffy x

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  15. What a stunningly beautiful part of the world you live in Teresa, bless you for sharing your photos.

    That yarn looks fantastic, I love what you have made with it. Did you order it from the internet?
    Helenxx

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  16. Gorgeous... Just gorgeous pictures Teresa.
    Love the yarn also. I made a wash cloth just this morning. A little smaller, but a fun project. You can finish so quickly, it's fun to have such instant gratification. Great job with eating well. It's a great new year resolution. :)

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  17. Your photos literally took my breath away Teresa, I've pinned one of them to remind me that I must visit your area one day. Is that OK? Let me know if it isn't and I'll remove it straight away X

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  18. Oh my Teresa, the pictures of your breathtaking surroundings are stunning!! Love the wash cloth, such a pretty texture. Thank you for sharing! :-) xxxx

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  19. You certainly live in a beautiful part of your country - spectacular photos again. The Rooster Rocks reminded me of our Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. That cotton looks gorgeous and your washcloth is very nice. Must give that pattern a try as I love textured patterns. Have a nice week. xoxox ps. Don't work too hard !!

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  20. What breathtaking views! What a privilege to have such beauty on your doorstep. Mmmm your salad looks really tasty :)

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  21. You live in such a beautiful part of the world, I am always totally seduced by the beauty of it all! I love your wash cloths, just lovely.

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  22. Stunning scenery! Wonderful washcloth - thanks will try! Fabulous food! That aqua colour is one of my favourites. x

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  23. Can I come live wit h you and Dayle? I want to drive around and see that beautiful scenery everyday, and I want to sit by the fire and chat. The eggs would be a bonus.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  24. Beautiful. Those frosted trees are so amazing! Congrats on the eggs. I know you're happy to have them again.

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  25. So beautiful! I am getting "homesicker and homesicker"!

    Thanks for the crochet pattern. It looks like it goes pretty quickly. I lose patience after awhile and tend to put larger projects aside!

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  26. You do live in a very beautiful area! Love that textured washcloth. We can't get worsted weight cotton here. Very few choices so I just have to work with what I can get. Love the colors you chose for yours. Have a great week. Tammy

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