A crowd, a host of daffodils!

I went for an early walk this morning, and as I approached the levee I saw a city parks truck spraying the weeds in the sidewalk. So I crossed the street to avoid the wet spots and discovered this stand of daffodils in someone's front yard! Daffodils are usually the first flowers to boom en masse in the spring, so, despite the cold, I know spring is arriving!

The "pillars" are now the "pillars and platform" - the platform being about a foot above water this morning. Didn't think to take a picture. And I discovered that what I thought, for the past couple of months, was a section of fence is in reality a picnic table with attached benches! It must have been swept away from someone's back yard by the high water and is now snagged in some fallen trees and other debris on the bank of the levee.

Winter's Work

Two winters ago, I re-discovered knitting. Until then, the only item I had ever knitted in my life was a ribbed hat, way back in the early '80s. But a couple of years ago, there was a group of library staff who met once a month after work to knit, and I picked it up again. Now I have discovered the world of novelty yarns!

The scarves above are my work over the last two years - think I have enough? I'm ready for a bigger challenge now, so I'm tapping into the yarns I won at the library's Christmas raffle, and will be attempting a vest as soon as I finish my current project: a short, lacy eyelet scarf.

There is a nice yarn shop called Rumplestiltskin at 10th and R Streets in Sacramento, where I discovered I can buy more of the same yarns that were in the gift basket. I've been requesting all the new knitting books I can find at the library, looking for that perfect vest - and when I find it, I'll buy enough additional yarn yarn to make it.

Arizona's Gun Turret

Of all the photos I took this trip, this one captured my imagination. The disconnect between the rusty turret and the beautiful harbor and hills, and the striking colors "made" this picture. I guess our visit to the Arizona made a bigger imression on me this time because of the film they showed before our ride to the memorial. It was composed entirely of footage shot before, during, and after the Japanese attack. The morning light and peaceful water made the picture more poignant after that.

Licensed to ...

Patrick passed his road test on Tuesday, becoming a newly-licensed menace - I mean, driver - on the streets of Sacramento. The phone calls came almost immediately: do you think I could borrow your car to move my stuff from the apartment to my new place?

After six months of sharing with a couple (who got married on New Year's Day in Reno), Patrick finally admitted the rental arrangement wasn't working as planned. By good fortune, he was out of town visiting his grandparents when Tony signed the lease, so he was not a primary renter and was able to walk away from the apartment with no financial penalty. As of yesterday, he's now sharing a 3-bedroom house for less than he was paying for his share of the 2-bedroom apartment. It's still in the neighborhood and close to a bus route, but it's no longer in walking distance of our place.

So, how long will it be before he gets a car? And will he be able to afford the insurance? Stay tuned ...