My Monday afternoon Methods professor, the eminently esteem-able Dr. Eric Engdahl, gave me and my art cohorts an assignment last week – to create a work inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy. I hadn’t even heard of Andy Goldsworthy before last week but I’m so glad I know who he is now. I’m also grateful that Dr. E. set us loose to create. It felt sooooo good to be doing something other than writing lesson plans. My brain and my hands and my heart and my soul honestly needed the break.

Kind of odd this morning that I happened to be driving down Valley View when I spotted hundreds of goats on the hill next to the road. Well it *looked* like hundreds but was probably less than a hundred all munching peacefully on the dried grass. I guesstimate that there must have been at least 75. In any case made me long for a longer lens to really give you the full impact of the phenomenon.

Another passerby, also snapping photos, told me in a hushed voice that they had been brought in by Goats R Us, a local company that specializes in the removal of unwanted plants by goats.

The variety of goats was astonishing. I’ve grown a new respect for the beauty of these animals that I had never really noticed before. Ain’t nature grand?

I actually finished this scarf quite some time ago – on May 24 say my Ravelry records -  but only recently found a model whose neck was worthy of this cotton/bamboo blend. Special thanks to Maria for wearing the scarf in what turned out to be a chilly summer day in Concord, California – it only got up to 82 degrees!

I started the Twin-Leaf Scarf from Vogue Knitting a few months ago but finished it quickly. It was hard to put down! This scarf is versatile and surprisingly easy. No kidding. Try it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I’m almost finished with  my fourth week of the seven week summer session at CSUEB and everything’s moving swiftly. Mountains of homework and reading still to be done. I’ll be back to knitting and the dog days of summer soon.

Homework, homework, homework! That’s all I do these days. It’s pretty dull, I tell ‘ya, and the knitting has been next to nil. Hang in there folks. There’s only four more weeks to go (of the summer session) and then I should have more time for the things I love most. Summer is the slow season for knitting anyway, right?

Before I forget, I just wanted to leave you with a pic from the Oakland Art Murmur. Good times, good times…and there wasn’t a riot after all. Hope to see you there next month!

Yes folks. I’m having a little sale. I’ll be at the Oakland Art Murmur this Friday, July 2, with a table of my hand knitted goodness. If you recall, it was almost one year ago that I checked out the OAM for the first time. My exact location will be on 23rd Street at Telegraph (next to Rock Paper Scissors) in beautiful downtown Oakland. I’m selling some hats, some scarves, some sweaters and even some socks. So if you have nothing better on Friday night, stop by and say “hello”. Hope to see you there!

Summer’s not complete for me unless it includes berry picking – that’s how much of a summer ritual it’s become. I was overjoyed when my friends, Paul and Marie, agreed to accompany me to the coast south of San Francisco for some olallieberry picking at Phipps Farm and Country Store.

I got enough berries for two pies, I think, and I’ll probably return later this summer for boysenberries.

The overcast light made for some wonderful photographic opportunities.

In addition to the country store, there are also birds, including a peacock and some ugly looking turkeys. I can’t really describe it. You’ll just have to drive down there and see for yourself.

My old friends from San Jose, Pat and Peter, met us at Phipps. It was great to see them. After berry picking, we drove a couple of miles north to San Gregorio for coffee.

The San Gregorio General Store had live music – on a Saturday afternoon no less. How wonderful! It’s a terific venue and they have a great selection of hats too.

All in all, it was another spectacular day on the California coast.

Well it’s not the surprise you might think it is but I’m excited to be knitting for a baby again. My brother and his longtime partner, Maggie, are expecting a baby in September. The shower is August 1 and hopefully neither one of them is reading this blog.

Mums the word, k?

BTW: You might recognize the wool which has been surprisingly hard to come by lately. Does anyone know where to get Jitterbug these days?

Ever since I took Nancy on the East Bay LYS tour back in April and we visited Article Pract, I have been dying to make a scarf that I saw on display there. The narrow Sailing Sea Scarf was made from Tilli Tomas Demi Plié and, as it turns out, the pattern comes with purchase – a mini, business-sized pattern.

Now I ask you, how cool is that? I wish that all patterns were as portable.

As soon as I free up my size 2 needle, I will cast on.

The other cool thing about Article Pract is visiting Bakesale Betty’s which is only steps away. I finally had a chance to sample their strawberry shortcake *and* apricot pie. Wow! Best pie I’ve ever tasted, hands down. But as you know, with dessert comes pounds so I’m off to work on my bike again. I’m trying to ride off another ten pounds. It’s a beautiful day for it anyway. Have a good one!

Nuff said.

Yesterday I returned from Ashland where I spent a long weekend and had the extreme pleasure of seeing The Merchant of Venice outdoors, on the Elizabethan stage – a first for me. It was wonderful and the weather was perfect. While strictly verboten, I was able to quickly snap a photo of the stage just prior to the production. I hope to return in the Fall and see Hamlet.