:: forever and ever ::

hello dear friends, if anyone is out there still...thank you dearly for reading...so much catching up to do, my poor blog. but this happened last weekend!! 27 june, 2015 my youngest, my hannah rose, was married. she and matt came here, back home and said their vows at the salt marsh nature preserve, my middle son officiating, with family and closest friends in attendance. also, there were clouds and fog and wind and even a bit of rain fell. and then at dusk, a rainbow. i believe that all wanted to see the magic that was taking place. the LOVE. more photos coming soon. i hope you are all well!!
xoxo lori

manō

my son sent a text this morning: went free diving with sharks yesterday outside haleiwa {hawaii}

  sharks played an important role among the ancient hawaiians, and were considered by some as ‘aumākua, personal or family gods, and sacred guardians and protectors that should be respected and even fed.  sharks also played a role in myths and legends, as well as hawaiian history. 

the hawaiian word for shark is manō , kyle said there were eleven manō in the water, sand sharks, nurse sharks, and one tiger had been spotted earlier. but no one went in the water then. i'm so glad my son is having epic experiences and that mostly, he waits to tell me about them afterwards. ;)

on the plain

 in the california valley we camped

 we watched a loggerhead shrike on it's nest

 and took a nine mile hike

 found many different wildflowers (parry's larkspur, purple owl's clover)

snake's - head sunflower

and found ancient native american rock art

 we found also a herd of tule elk!

 they ran up a ridge to keep watch on us

 devil's lettuce and not sure which butterfly (not a monarch)

 we camped on the plain

 and knit

 and then the most amazing thing happened. we had surprise visitors.

 a herd of pronghorn antelope saw us, and slowly, curiously, tentatively

made their way across the plain to us.

 sitting still keeping quiet, the pronghorn came nearly to our tent. i wished i could go to the truck for another lens, but when we had realized they were moving towards us, we both stayed put (or they would have run). an incredible amazing moment. the following photos are from a previous trip to the carrizo...

pronghorn antelope on the carrizo plain

 snake's - head sunflower

 purple owl's clover, snake's - head

leaving the carrizo plain national monument, always with a wistful feeling, but hopeful too for the next visit, we'll be back! thank you for coming along! xxx lori

lil pip

hello dear friends! i hope you are well, it's almost spring! i have a new job! it's a very big job, but only involves one small thing. it's piper pearl! well, we didn't plan for things to go this way, but life working it's magical mysterious ways, decided i should take a leave from my work and stay home here with my three month old grandbaby for a time. my daughter had to return to her job and mine graciously understood (bless).

so here we are, hum de dum dum, wee pip and i (in baby heaven i am). will be back soon. i hope.  (how do you mama's do it all?)   :)

xxx lori

favorite things

knitting, camping, christmas

winter weather, 

piper

these are a few of my favorite things :)

(beautiful photo by carrie bostick hoge, poor upload by me)

and this! Madder anthology 2/simple pleasures

a new knitting book by Carrie Bostick Hoge,

 available for pre-order january 12th. 

all 17 patterns in the collection are on ravelry now, see them here.

i can not wait for this book, the photography, the knits, every design is stunning.

and. 

this is my girl on the cover. 

:) :) :) :) :)

xxx lori

happy new year! 

mollie

hello dear friends, above is only one reason i've been away from this space so much, the biggest reason, and perhaps i am writing to myself now, is the laptop | camera issues that began in summer. i'm trying so hard to resolve them (short of buying new equipment, which is not going to happen any time soon). it's taking time, but i'm getting there (hope hope). thank you for continuing to grace my blog with your kind sweet comments and thoughts. all really and truly treasured.

and now, i'm utterly thrilled to heaven and back to introduce my two week old granddaughter, piper. she is already becoming familiar with two of  her grandmother's passions, knitting and photograpy (i haven't told her i love to travel too, but there is time for that)  :)

her first knit is this little gown. it has a drawstring bottom and buttons at the shoulders. it's from the book 'baby collection' by kelbourne woolens, the pattern is mollie. i knit much of this while she slept in my arms. baby heaven is where i'm at. it's made with 100% mill spun merino wool, dyed with madder root by camilla fiber co. gifted by a dear friend. i added antique mother of pearl buttons and a silk ribbon to gather the bottom. to keep my hands busy, to channel joy, show my love.
xxx lori

raverly notes

piper pearl

 
it's a girl. piper pearl arrived in just under 3 hours, born at home, one of the most beautiful births i've been to. i'm so so proud of my daughter, she labored with so much grace and beauty i had tears all the way through. it was an amazing honor {tears again} to be there holding her, soothing, supporting. it was all more than any of us could hope for. we have a baby!!!!!!!! xxxxxx