Nerdify-ing charity.

Well, back home from Seaside.  Sorry, no pictures, we were there for a much shorter time, and I kept forgetting to get my camera out.  Besides, it was HOT, even at the coast (which is unusual), and the beach-people.  The stores-people.  Lewis and Clark-more people!  I don't know if I could have taken a picture without it looking as if they were in a flash mob! Yoiks and a half!

So, the charity part?  I have been reading through the journals of Lewis and Clark, and there was a part where they talk about Christmas gifts.  (In fact, it's where I got the idea of socks to show by the statue, they commented about giving socks as presents.)  Well, my inner Nerd started going into overdrive.  So, how many actually were there... I first thought it was 59, (60 if you count the dog), but the folks that actually came to the ocean (O, the joy!), were 32 or so, if I read correctly.

I like to do something charitable for Christmas, and this just made me think.  I should do a present for each member of the crew.  NOT handmade, necessarily, but I was thinking, something...  Oh, like, if one was a hunter, a warm hat.  One did scouting, socks.  Then we have the baby, I will have to see how old he was during the winter at the coast, but a coat or bunting.  A nice scarf for York.  A blanket, or shawl for Sacagawea.  And, for the pup, some dog food?

So, after putting this all together, then what?  Well, a donation, or maybe more than one.  I know that there are several local charities that could use these kind of donations, even my local vet accepts dog food, for low income folks that have pets.

Therefore, I think I will put up a Corps of Charity widget on the side of my blog, and see if I can fill it by Christmas.  Or even before.  But, it will be kind of neat to read up on some of the folks. I've trod in some of the same places they have, and now I can see if I can repay them, in a manner of speaking, for opening history to me.

(But, reality is reality, not all the Corps are getting hand made goodies...  A few, but not all.  All will get gifts, however.  More in future blogs.  Yes, I am crazy, why do you keep asking that?)

Travelling 'n hot weather... And marriage.

Short blog, but I will be heading out tomorrow on my yearly trip to Seaside.  I won't be working on socks this time, but will get some pics of the project I am working on.

Husband will be staying home to care for the animals and garden, (which is growing pretty well right now, but I need to add some amendments to the tomatoes, don't want blossom end rot!), so the poor guy is going to get the brunt of a heat wave that is coming in... It's supposed to be near 100, and so I have admonished him to drink lots of liquids, please work early in the morning, and keep an eye on the animals.  He has assured me he will.

On other topics, Husband and I will be celebrating 25 years married near the end of the month, and we still surprise each other occasionally.  He'd mentioned that he wanted me to do a task, and I said, "Fine, write it down."
"Uh. Like a honey do list?"
"Exactly."

He seemed mildly flummoxed, but did so.  I don't know why that confounded him, I make lists all the time for what I need to do, if I don't, it has the very common fate of being totally forgotten.  Mom and I even have a saying for it:

If it's not on the list, it don't exist.

Husband and I get along very well, and this is one of the reasons, we are pretty willing to work with, and learn from each other.

We're still working on my higher mathematics skills, but hey, nobody's perfect.

Back again, this time it's not the computer...

I haven't blogged for a few days, because I have been wandering.  I couldn't find a cafe' or some such where I was, lots of hot spots for wifi, but I didn't have my computer with me, so no dice.  I should write to the chamber of commerce in Seaside and ask... Hmmm. 

So, since I know all of you are just waiting, with popcorn in hand, for my latest exploits in Ham Fair Land...  Except I didn't take any pictures INSIDE, of the HAM stuff!  So, you get to see the knitting and seascape exploits, instead.  (I will probably put a few more of the seascape stuff up later, just a few today...)

Lewis and Clark used to be the big stand outs (literally and figuratively) at the Turnaround (there is a street that circles the statue, so you can go up and look at it), but now with all the high rise buildings, they sort of look... lost. 

"Lewis, where was the fudge place again?"

"Uh...  Ask Sacajawea, I have no clue..."

The dog at their feet even looks depressed.

So, I decided to brighten the day with hand knits for Clark's feet. (Least I think that was Clark...)  Mom said that a woman was watching me intently.

I have that "Spook the Muggles" effect when I do this each year.  Oh, well.  I have started a silly little tradition, and I get a kick out of it. 

(Which probably doesn't take all that much, come to think of it...)

The hand to the side is my sock holder model, aka Mom.  The sock was NOT going to stay put, otherwise. 

Next year, tape. 

Proof that Oregon does get sunny weather!  Of course, it was one day, but lots of people were making the most they could out of it. (Some pretty vicious volleyball games!)

And after a hard day of making sandcastles, walking on the beach, and seeing what the tide brought in, one has to clean up properly... (Husband and I have to put Rudee in a headlock to accomplish this... Kids seem a lot less problematic, in this respect.)

Dad realized this 'finial' wasn't a design element, but a resting spot.  We just hoped the flag was okay, after take off... Eeeeeewwww...

This is my favorite critter on the merry go round, for any of you that read I can has cheezburger, I have nick- named him "Basement Cat".

Basement Cat has had a very hard life.  I keep thinking I should bring a knitted something, like a baby cap up and take a photo.  Have to hurry, though, they buzz people in and out of the thing to get as many rides in as possible in a day...

And I don't know how many of you read the signs at rest stops, but they have these readers at most of the rest stops in Oregon.  I thought they were interesting, I hope you do, too.  (Enlarge pics, if you can't read them well...)

So, that is it for today's picture-y blog, hopefully I will get a blog or two more this week (with chicks!)