The weather continues to mystify me.  Heavy rains and severe storms have rolled through the area, and to see tornado destruction in AL and AR in January is mind boggling.  I cannot bear the thought of a repeat of last spring – and we’re still in the middle of what is supposed to be winter.

Rain or not, I needed to get out today.  It was gusty but warm, and I revisited a road I hadn’t ridden in quite a while.  Cows, barns, creeks (overflowing) and plenty of mud. But I still have fun riding through puddles…

Getting out, wandering around, same old, same old  … it may be cold, but it sure doesn’t feel like winter.

Arriving home today, I found a marble in my pocket …  My tiny silly world.

Even on a trip to the store, biking there always erases the “un” from unremarkable.

It’s been a rather dismal week, weather-wise – rain, thunderstorms, hail and and even a brief showing of snow.  All of which make me want to hole up inside with books, knitting, tea and a fire, rather than riding around looking at cows.  My (brief) trips out were basically camera-less this week;  I just wanted to get where I needed to go and be done with it.

Today the sun appeared – which is a good thing, because I had run out of milk and orange juice, having put off riding to the store during the past few days.  So we set off on a quick trip to the store, along with a couple of errands. It was nice to be out on together on dry roads with the sun shining.  Unremarkable (minus the “un”).

It was lovely to spend the week in Chicago, altho sadly without any snow this year.  I love the city during the holidays – the lights, the decorations, the window displays.  While it is a heavy dose of opulence and extravagance, it feels somehow acceptable in is own way – at least on a temporary basis during the holidays.

We walked and walked, took in a movie and a play, shopped and ate  … the foods I remember from my childhood, growing up near the city. It brought back dear memories of Christmastimes past, and it is sweet to be able to share it and make new memories with my own boys who have come to love this city.

We saw plenty of bikes, a number of cyclists, but once again, my attempt to capture a bike messenger in flight never happened.  One of these days …

Tonight we will ring in the New Year at home with friends, and look forward to adventures on the road ahead in 2012 – and wish you all the same.  Cheers!

I just wanted to let you know that I am currently doing a “renovation” of my blog (perfect timing, eh?); hoping to bring a fresh format, better for photo viewing, and an expanded menu.  I am hoping that the “fresh face” will offer some needed improvements, and a better viewing experience for you.   I am afraid that the learning curve for some of the changes I intend to make may cause a slight headache for those of you receiving email updates.  Please forgive me if you receive several photo post updates – these are being published to enable several galleries within the site.  Sorry.

Some of the format-related changes appear to be a little “twitchy” during the conversion, and for this I apologize; it’s largely due to migrating old content.   New material and posts shouldn’t have as much of a problem.  You may see some changes if viewing on an iPad or mobile device … unfortunately, it’s part of the trade-off to moving into an expanded theme.

So please bear with me for the next few days as I work through this.  If I make the entire thing crash and burn, well … at least I warned you(?).  I hope you will enjoy the new things to come  (keep your fingers crossed).

Cheers!

The packages are wrapped, the cookies are baked … boys, family, friends (and bicycles) make the season bright.  Wishing all of my friends, near and far, a Christmas abundant with peace, and surrounded with love.  Cheers!

the recycled Pendleton shirt cap

And just when I said I wanted to be brief….

Well, this is simply a shout-out to a bunch of my cyber-cycling pals, and especially to my twitter friend from Seattle, @SognRider, who started a great campaign to encourage cycling and showcase cool cycling caps.  Every Tuesday has officially become #CyclingCapTuesday.  And I look forward to it each week (even though I wear my caps on other days as well).  But I loved the idea – a fun and creative way to promote cycling – and I always enjoy seeing some of the fine cycling “millinery” being worn by my friends.  You can too … just visit the Tumblr site, or follow the hashtag on Twitter.  And put your cap on!

I really like wearing cycling caps.  They’re light and comfortable, they offer a non-obstructive little sun visor, they can provide a little extra warmth on cool days (especially with earflaps), or rain protection (if you have a waterproof cap), and of course you can’t help feeling a little bit “jaunty” while wearing one (lol).

today's #CyclingCapTuesday ... in pink

While I have some really great caps that I’ve acquired over the past several years, I recently decided to try an make one of my own.  I just happen to have a ridiculous accumulation of “salvaged” wool from … well, let’s just say another “pastime”.  (My friends LP and MaryLou know of what I speak – because they will end up inheriting the excess someday.  ;) )  The pattern came from one of the best cap-makers out there, Little Package.  It’s a simple sewing project; you can easily make one in less than an afternoon with average sewing skills.  And what better way to up-cycle that old wool shirt with a hole in the sleeve?

So @SognRider, thanks for the fun each week (and also for helping me make a dent in my wool stash) – I applaud you!  :)

yeah, I have an obnoxious amount of reclaimed wool ... as is, and overdyed

another Pendleton shirt ready for cap-making & the Little Package Cap pattern

the pieces

the sewing

finished!

and finally the best part ... the wearing! (altho a pretty sorry shot; I apologize)