Where Did the Month Go?

I just realized it's been over a month since my last update. And I don't know where the month went, it just all disappeared. As some of you know already, we're moving in about a month, so while not blogging (or knitting), we have taken care of some moving business. Our German wonders, the two V-dubs we have, have already begun their journey. Our furniture (and some wool) will follow in a few weeks. This, of course, means that the blog will remain quiet for some time.

In the past few weeks, not a lot has happened except for the moving business. I had my sister and my brother-in-law here for a week, which was fun. We went to pick up some wool Gretchen washed for me (of that later), and we went to the zoo, to Snoqualmie Falls (which fans of Twin Peaks will recognize) and Mt Rainier. No pics of Rainier, it was as it was last year when MrHairyFeet and I drove there. So was the parade on 4th, which we went to see.

But Gretchen's Farm was the most amazing place. I love everything about it, it's so beautiful and serene. And the animals seem very, very happy!
gretchens farm laughing sheep
Some of her sheep were more of the dignified kind. They couldn't be seen fooling around.
gretchens farm sheep
(Aren't her eyes so pretty?)

The young ones were still practising the cute routine, which, as we know, is essential in becoming a full adult sheep.
gretchens farm little ram
Practising teh cute must be taken very seriously.
gretchens farm little ram 2

On Gretchen's Farm lives a very special chicken. Her name is Tuulia. She got her name on the day I took the fleeces to Gretchen, she had escaped and returned while Gretchen and I were fondling some wool. She has stayed on the farm ever since, though.
gretchens farm tuulia
She's the brown one. I'm told she is a Buff Plymouth Rock kind of chicken, and is about 10 weeks old in the picture. She's very pretty, her feathers are almost entirely brown but there are small black specs on the tips. She's a feisty one. She'll keep the other chicks on their toes. They're appalled by her independent behaviour!
gretchens farm chicken

But even Tuulia is not a match for the ducks. They look like they mean business.
gretchens farm ducks
Do not be fooled by their innocent looks. They're downright mean birds. They're the sheriffs of the farm.
gretchens farm duck

After visiting Gretchen, we drove to the Snoqualmie Falls. It was a beautiful, hot summer day.
snoqualmie falls 3

snoqualmie falls 2

snoqualmie falls 1

The wild flowers on the mountains are probably the prettiest kind of wild flowers.
snoqualmie falls 4

The nice weather continued the next day, when we went to the zoo in Seattle. The wolves and wild bald eagles were keeping a keen eye on the visitors.
zoo wolves

zoo wild eagles

In the zoo, the animals practice teh cute on a daily basis. I think this artic fox has just about mastered it.
zoo arctic fox

The penguins are getting close, too.
zoo penguins 2

Very, very close.
zoo penguins

Some practised the menacing look, instead of the cute. Not very successfully, I can say.
zoo monkeys

The lizards, however, seem to have the menacing look without even really practising.
zoo lizards 2

See what I mean?
zoo lizards

Others thought the day too hot for practising the cute. Or anything else.
zoo bears

zoo leopard

The hippos were merely enjoying the day.
zoo hippos

I'd like to be a hippo. They have it made. Nothing better than enjoying the sun in a pool of warm water.
zoo hippos 2

The orangutang thought the sun was a bit too much. He needed a blankie.
zoo orangutang

The snakes didn't have blankets. They had to just hang in there.
zoo green mamba

The spiders sought comfy little lairs caves for themselves.
zoo spiders 2

Or wove cosy hammocks for chilling later in the afternoon. They might have enjoyed some drinks too.
zoo spiders 1

The gorillas had already found the booze, though.
zoo gorilla

At the flamingo pool, the swan found things were getting out of hand.
zoo swan

So he took off.
zoo swan 2

The giraffe found out about the flamingoes' orgy. The smell gave it away.
zoo giraffe head

He did not approve. At all.
zoo giraffe head 2

But in the end, he couldn't be bothered.
zoo giraffe

So that's the daily life of animals in the Woodland Park Zoo! Next post, I promise, will happen sooner than a month and it consist mostly of purdy fibers and yarns. And art!
lankaläjä
(This is not art. This is yarn.)

Till then!

13 comments:

Villasukka said...

Ihania kuvia ja veikeä tarina! Ja kyllä, ne on lankaa JA taidetta :)

Charisa said...

Hi-LAIR-ious!

Muriska said...

Ooh miten upeita kuvia!! :) mun lemppari on tietty ehkä noi kärmekset! :) ankat oli vähän pelottavia :D

Dave said...

Beautiful photographs! And yarn is so art. :-)

Anonymous said...

What an enchanting children's book your zoo photo essay would make (aside from the reference to the orgiastic flamingos, perhaps). Gorgeous pictures and charming text.

Chloe

Celestial said...

Great shots. I don't think I've ever been to Snoqualmie falls and resisted the hike to the bottom.

Agnes said...

I had the exact same feeling when July started ... and now July is half gone!

Niina said...

Hei ja tervetuloa Suomeen vain. Täällä jo odottelen, milloin voidaan treffit sopia ;)
Ps. Jälleen ihania lankoja sinulla, odotas vain, kohta alkaa puhelin soimaan, et mitäs sitten tehdään, kun puikot putos ja neule sytty palamaan *grin*

pirle said...

Mikä maailma, mikä kamera ja kameran käyttäjä! Langat - nam!

Anonymous said...

hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....

knittingdragonflies said...

Thanks for that, I needed a laugh, you are a great story teller.
Vicki
Hope your moving goes well!

Gisella said...

Your Black Widow lace cardigan is beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous. I am so jealous! I would love to know how you did the sleeves, seeing as you said the garment was done seamless. Did you pick up the armhole stitches and knit the sleeves down to their hems? I have never seen sleeves done like this and I really like them.
Thanks so much for the lovely photos!

Regards, Giselle

Tuulia said...

Giselle - I knitted the Black Widow cardigan using my Tailored Sweater method, where the sleeves are knitted simultaneously with the body. You'll find more info at
http://tuulia.blogspot.com/2009/03/tailored-sweater.html