I'm off to Maine today for my Grandfather's funeral. He died of a stroke early Wednesday morning. Really, there's not much to be sad about. He was 90 years old and maintained mental capacity and a good quality of life up to the end. When he died, he was outside painting the house and working in his garden. That's how he would have wanted it- he valued hard work and loved his vegetables.

I have these two jars of pickles in my cupboard that Grandpa made about a month ago. They were kind of his signature thing- classic German dill pickles made from cucumbers that he grew himself. And they're the best pickles you could imagine. Nothing commercial can compare. Now I don't know if I can ever bring myself to eat them.

From 1-3-2008

^ Grandpa shoveling his driveway last winter.

Bears!

Not much on the knitting front, but I went to Shenandoah National Park and saw a black bear!

From Shenandoah