Author: marionvermazen

I am a traveler, hiker, avid reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, Spanish and French language student, knitter and genealogist. I am retired after working for almost 30 years in the Computer Industry. I live in Reno, Nevada with my husband Duke.

Knitting

On our road trip I finished a couple of knitting projects that I have been working on forever. I started this sweater at least ten years ago and it is finally finished!!
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I bought the kit for these mittens on October 13, 2002 in New Hampshire. I was visiting Allison while she was in college in Boston. The mittens are lined with fleece by knitting fleece with every sixth stitch. I am not very happy with the way they turned out. They look like oven mits!
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The fun thing is that now I get to start on a new project. I told myself I couldn't buy any new projects until I finished these two. 

My next project is a pair of socks. I've got about four inches of the cuff of the first one done. They are fun to knit so far.
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Lola Montez Lake to Upper Lola Montez Lake to Lily Pond to Buzzards Point with the Sierra Canyon Hiking Group

Thursday six of us fro the Sierra Canyon Hiking Group did an 11 mile hike. We exited interstate 80 at the Soda Springs/Norden exit and parked on the road just north at the Lola Montez trail head.
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The trail to Lower Lola Montez Lake is relatively easy and about three miles long. From there we climbed to Upper Lola Montez Lake. There isn't a trail but someone has put rock cairns along the route and climbing up through the boulders to the lake wasn't too hard.
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From Upper Lola Montez Lake we followed a jeep road and did a bit of cross country to get to Lily Pond. Half the group sat and enjoyed Lily Pond while Duke, Walt and I bushwhacked our way to the top of Buzzards Point. It was a tough slog but the view from the top was phenomenal. By the time we got back down to Lily Pond my pants were covered in thorns.
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If you would like to see all of my pictures from the hike you can see them on Flickr here.

Bear Lake Loop Hike with Sierra Canyon Hiking Group

Duke and I haven't hiked with the Sierra canyon Hiking Group since August 14 before our road  trip. Today we did a great short hikewith the group. The Bear Lake Loop is in the Gold Lakes Basin which is north of Truckee. The hike goes past Big Bear Lake, Little Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Long Lake, Round Lake and Silver Lake. The weather was cold enough for gloves but the sun was shining and I was thrilled be outside enjoying the trees, the mountains, the lakes and the trail.

If you would like to see all the pictures from the hike you can see them on Flickr here.

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A Great New Blog – The Tucson Tamale Company

I've added a new blog to my blog roll – the list on the right titled Blogs I Always Read. The new blog is about the creation of a company called the Tucson Tamale Company. The blog is written by Todd Martin, the founder of the company who also happens to be the guy who hired me at Intuit. Todd left Intuit a few months ago. He used to manage restaurants and is one of the best leaders I have ever worked for. I have great expectations for the Tucson Tamale Company. Following his blog should be fun.

Lots Going On

I haven't posted a lot lately but I have had a lot going on. My daughter and my grandson were here last week. It was really fun to have them here. Aidan is just over two and he talks and laughs a lot. Laughing with a baby is an experience of pure joy. He especially liked our new truck. Every time we turned on to our street or went outside he pointed out Papa's truck.

Friday we took Aidan and Shannon home and then went into San Francisco and joined friend to visit the new Academy of Science. It was very crowded but it is was fascinating. My favorite parts were going up on the living roof and experiencing the show at the planetarium.

We had a good rate on a hotel room at the Hyatt bought through Priceline.  I know that parking in San Francisco is expensive but having to pay $57 to park overnight at the  Hyatt was still a shock. Having to pay for internet at the Hyatt wasn't a shock but it still really bugs me.

Our friends all had dinner with us at a wonderful Basque restaurant in San Francisco. Piperade was the perfect place for us to have a long leisurely dinner with wine and lots of good talk.

On Saturday we took a leisurely drive up to Petaluma including stopping to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Duke's daughter had a crew race on the Petaluma river on Sunday morning. She was in one of the two Saint Mary's boats in her race. They came in first and second. Very cool!!

From Petaluma we headed home to Reno. The very tops of the peaks around Donner Pass had a dusting of the first snow of the year.