Guess Who's Back

Yesterday morning as I arrived at work, a giant fish head and skeleton greeted me on the sidewalk. What the? The lake is rather to far away for a flying fish. Oh..and what's this? A rather battered carcass of another kind.

The answer? The foxes are back! This time Mama had 8 kits! Lots of feeding to do but I would have loved to see her catch that fish, and then carry it back over the golf course to her babes. I can't positively say it's the same mother as last year but it seems right. Odd that another one would come back to the underground pathways made back then.



I wasn't able to get all of them at once. They move really fast and while one group was still, the other were zipping off in different directions. Oh what I'd give for a DSLR with a really good telephoto lens!



Later in the afternoon, one of the girls I work with announced that she (the fox..not my coworker) was stalking some Canadian geese that were over on the golf course. Now I'm aware of the food chain but I'm not one for watching it so I declined to go watch. Not to worry, those geese made short shrift of her quickly and she beat a path back across the road.

The fish head was unrecognizable by the end of the work day. Hungry babies for sure. We did do a bit of a litter pick up. One of them had been chewing on a plastic thing. Not good, baby!

It's pouring rain today so I doubt that I'll see much of them. But somehow knowing they are out there makes the work day more fun. Mainly because I don't have to worry about protecting any chickens!

Totally Addicted

to baby goats! And now Ravelry too!

Somehow I discovered there was a group on Ravelry as equally entranced as I am, and hey guess what! They're nice people. I'm sorry that was tacky, but my first experiences there were unfortunately influenced by a lot of drama. And, I seem to have outgrown that part of my life as well as many of my clothes. :) So, for me Ravelry was a place to check out yarns and patterns and keep my mouth shut. So glad to find that it's more than that.

But back to the babies. You really should spend some time with the lamb cam. Or if you need more immediate babyness, check out the blog. Lots of adorable photos and right at the top now is a wonderful video of Arno, the first born. Now there are (I think) 23 babies. And the last one was born right in front of me as I ate my supper on Sunday!

Knitting? Not a lot. Still working on that chicken which is killing my hands. So not far along. Maybe I really should use the yarn recommended instead of some crinkly cotton I found in my stash??

The laundry sock has fallen behind because........tada my washer worked this week! So laundry was done at home while I cleaned house and such. It's now become the Ravelry sock so I can knit a few rows while I visit. It's ok..supposed to be in the 80s this week. I won't need a wool sock for awhile.

So, what have y'all been up to? Probably lots of constructive things unlike me who is enjoying being a voyeur. :)

Happy Easter

But for a real Easter treat, head over to Hudson Valley/Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm and meet Arno. I was lucky enough to be watching the Lamb Cam when the birth was announced and then very soon got to see this sweetest one in real time via the cam. I must admit to spending much time this weekend just checking in.

Snow? What snow?

We maybe got a couple of inches but most of that blew right away. I got really excited in the middle of the night when I peeked outside and noted that the trunk of my car was level with the roof due to the piled up snow. Then, I realized that there was hardly any on the front and even less on the ground. So much for my snow storm. :-( I guess I should be thankful instead since in the Panhandle they got like 24 inches and roofs were collapsing. I'm certain mine wouldn't hold up in somehting like that.

The personal wedding shower was extremely fun and especially since there were women of all ages there. It was nice to be out and about and laughing so much and having such good food! I could have made a pig of myself but I behaved with great restraint.

The dishcloth was completed. It's a designer dishcloth..Debbie Bliss! But not designer yarn..simple Peaches and Cream. I think I'll give it to the bride-to-be..there is always need for a dishcloth tucked in with something a bit more exciting.



And since I don't have any snow pictures, I'll share this picture of tonight's sky about sundown. There's hail in that baby and we got some pea sized hail here. It was fun standing on the porch watching it roll in. Mother Nature surely puts on an interesting show.

Update

Good news! I still have my job. I'm happy about that but at the same time feel rather guilty because..

Bad news! A number of my friends don't. And it was done with great drama...even had the cops on hand in case there was some sort of violence? Oh please.

No snow yet. And the total projected amount has been downgraded since it's moving much slower. It's rained off and on all day and we certainly need the moisture. Bad news...since it's cold and wet we are having freezing rain instead. Fortunately it didn't start until 5 pm so coming home wasn't a problem. I just hope the snow gets in a hurry so I don't wake up to no power.

Here's a tiny frozen drop on a brand new leaf.



And now back to the dishrag

Nada

It's not that I didn't want to post..it's just that I wanted to have something to show when I posted. Alas...

The sweater is in protective custody..being protected from me. I sorta kinda messed up. It's been frogged back past the messed up part and is safely on needles in hiding until the knitter is a bit more coherent or something.

The chicken has flown the coop! I truly can't even find that lovely one.

And the baby afghan? Well after two knitted patterns I decided that I really really hate knitting with that yarn. I'm sure it's just me because I've read that others like it a lot. So, I decided to crochet. A fun easy pattern but when I spread it out to take a pic, I discovered that 4 rows in I neglected to go all the way to the end and a mitered side wasn't what I wanted. I was a bit cranky when I discovered it so I cut it to bits!!

Last night I gave in..and started a dishcloth. Even if I screw that up, it can still be used for scrubbing!

Work has been absolutely frantic. We have ANOTHER new management company to start April 1st. But before then, there will be a layoff. Our director thinks we are safe as he has not been contacted about getting rid of any of us. I know he doesn't lie..so he feels secure in saying that. I just hope they don't decide to surprise him. Today is the last day of the pay period so hopefully it will happen today and the ones that are left can breathe a bit easier this weekend.

But tomorrow I should have something to show. We're expecting snow..in some places a bunch of it. According to the weather guy's maps my town is the dividing line between 6-12 inches and 3-5 inches. We shall see. I'm supposed to go to a personal bridal shower tomorrow and I hope it comes off. The soon-to-be-bride just found out yesterday that her fiance is being laid off today. Not a good thing. They're such great young people, that sucks!

Oh hell...it's hailing! Until tomorrow when I'll at least have pictures of something, even if it's a dish rag, I wish you well.

Friday in the Big Town

Yes there was yarn! And two LYSs. One was really busy and crowded and I must admit to a bit of overload. The other one was quieter and I had fun talking with the other shoppers and staff.

Panera Bread was yummy but crowded! I did secure a seat next to a young man working on his laptop and putting together a contract for mucho dollars according to his phone call. (I'm constantly amazed that folks just assume the people near them aren't listening into their side of the convo. I knew where he'd been, who he'd talked with and how much the contract was for)I was happy for him. What a way to honor Friday the 13th and I'm sure his bosses thought so too. And the broccoli cheese soup was yummy as always. And, I brought home a cinnamon bagel which I just had as a mid-morning snack today on my Mrs. Tiggywinkle plate. Yes, I'm always about maturity!



As for the new addition to the yarn stash, I got TyDye sock yarn (it really called to me in the middle of that very gray, damp day) and some Comfort worsted for a baby blanket. For someone who damn well better not be pregnant since she's 14. But I want to make sure that when she does have a baby I'll be represented.



And now for the cardio. He basically poo-pooed the idea of unstable angina. Didn't even discuss the possibility. Apparently my blood pressure was really high when I got to the ER so he thinks it's related to that and prescribed some tabs to dissolve under my tongue if it gets high again. He asked repeatedly if I was stressed at the time. I kept telling him no, that it was actually a very nice work day and I was happy. Finally he looked at me and said something to the effect of if he worked there he'd be stressed! LOL He seemed to think I wanted surgery....NOT! And went to great pains to tell me that he thought his partners often did that too soon. He also gave me an Rx for a new bottle of Nitro which blew the budget even with the $20 off coupon his nurse gave me.

And suggested that I put it in my pocket and walk a lot because he'd be interested in chest pain related to exercise. I guess I should just blow this off as an expensive adventure and go on with my fine self. But Sheri, it's scary! He had no explanation why I was so tired and why I get more short of breath except that that could be related to my smoking history. Funny tho that everything happens at once. Susan shrugs.

And in knitting news, I'm almost to where I cast off the lower part of the neck in front. But I'm confused. It says " With right side facing, work across to the first marker; join a second ball of yarn and bind off center stitches for the front neck; work to the end, 36 stitches remain. OK...got that

Then it says " Working both sides at the same time, work even until the armhold measures the same as the back to the shoulder shaping, ending with a wrong side row.

So, I'm on circs. I knit on one side, then drop that yarn, scoot over and work the other side with the first ball of yarn? Maybe so. Or maybe I'll start the baby blanket. :-)

And, I guess hitting publish post (3 hrs after I wrote it) might be appropriate.

Weird Weather and Chicken Bellies

Last night when Zoey made her last trip outside at 10:30, it was 72 degrees and raining. This evening when I came home it was 41 and really damp and windy. We did get some rain which we really need but I don't think there was a lot because the roof didn't leak in the utility room. My laundry will be funny looking this week. The weekend was really warm and now it' really chilly so there will be cropped pants and sweatpants. And tank tops and long sleeved shirts.

And tonight I made a turquoise colored chicken belly. It's all frogged and back in the bag. I'm not sure what I did but I didn't have enough stitches around to pick up. Ya think I should have knitted a swatch?? Surely not. It's ok though, because the chicken won't be 'alive' until she has a face. So it didn't hurt her. Yeah, I'm weird but I do have a good time!

I have an appt with the cardio for Friday. Did I ever mention that there is a Panera Bread just across the road...and a mile or so back south is my LYS? Yesss my pretties, I may have a bit of fun along the way. I'm feeling ok, just more tired at the end of the day. The good part of that is that when I'm tired I get really silly so I have had some delightful times between 4 and 5 pm. My coworkers tell me I'm short of breath sometimes but it must not be very major because I haven't noticed it. And no chest pain. Yay!

I do need some weather good wishes. They're talking about maybe ice on Thursday and if that happens I'm hoping your good thoughts will make it go away by Friday. K?

Another Weekend Over

And a most welcome weekend it was although not as I had planned.

Friday morning was busy at work, lots of stuff on my desk needing my attention but in the back of my brain, I was planning on playing in the City. I really, really wanted to go to my LYS. Not that I really needed yarn...I just really needed to see yarn, and touch yarn, and sniff yarn. I had already done most of the weekend tasks, laundry was in process and it was supposed to be really nice weather. So a smile was on my face as I systematically tackled the pile of paper stacked to my right. I had just completed one phase. and thought with any luck the rest of it would be done by 5. But then...

I was taking a mental break and trying to figure out what I would have for lunch when I felt that old scary feeling. The feeling of someone creeping up on little cat feet to smash my chest. I did the deep breathing, the relaxation and that big something kept coming. Quietly I got the nitro out of my bag. One squirt under my tongue, wait 5 minutes. Second squirt, wait 5 minutes..this isn't working. OK, the 3rd and last squirt will do it. Nope..instead it just increased.

So, instead of heading over to the cafeteria for the daily special, I found myself being wheeled through the back door and into the ER. Happily, oxygen helped relieve the pain. And equally happily, they decided I hadn't had a heart attack. We decided..me, my friends and coworkers and the PA decided perhaps it was unstable angina. Lab was obtained, xrays were taken, and an echocardiogram was obtained. And then finally at 3 pm..I got some lunch! Yay. And got to come home early from work.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent gazing at my navel. Not really. I was tired..but not like the other week, so knitting continued on my tunic. I even attachted the handwarmer flap. It was making me crazy just hanging there. And I read, and studied the chicken pattern that came in the mail. And looked through stash to see what I might use to make her. (of course, it's a girl chicken..it's not a rooster) I haven't started her yet..so far I'm just having fun thinking about her.

And I was kind of "chicken" (heh)to drive into the City...a number of highway miles with nothing around me in case I was in trouble. So I yarn surfed and decided I really need some Socks That Rock yarn. I've never had any, have you? And, if so, do you like it?

Probably though, I'll order some of Regia Fasset's Mirage My first socks knitted with sock yarn that wasn't Kool Aid dyed was Regia and they are still holding up well unlike others that have bit the dust..or rather, blown out their heels.

But, there is a new addition to my little family. Yesterday I went to the local feed/seed, grain/garden/paint/gift store. Locally owned and tons of stuff to browse. All I went for were 9V batteries for the smoke detector but I came home with this little guy to add to my collection. He's the one with the stripes. I've never had a blue duck before. So welcome Mr. Stripey.




Today, it's work (maybe someone did all the stuff in my stack and I can start out clean) and a call to my cardiologist who still has not called my PCP back. I'm tired of this for sure. And more knitting, I'm sure!

What's up with you?

Weekend

What is it about the weekend? Since I was home most of last week, it wasn't like I was looking forward to not going to work. But somehow, when I woke up Saturday morning there was that feeling. The two whole days to do something besides work on Medicare stuff. I wonder when people retire do they still look forward to weekends? Is it some sort of interior clock? When I first started being a nurse, I only got every other weekend off..or was it every 3rd? Dang brain. But that was a long time ago and this weekend off stuff has been going on for a lot of years.

Today I painted the house. Well, not the actual house although it definitely needs it. Nope, instead I spent a lot of time happily entertained painting a little birdhouse that I found at Dollar Tree. I just wanted something that was bright and happy. And then rummaged around through miscellaneous craft stuff to find a new inhabitant. I think it would be fun to have a house painted like this.



And apropos of nothing, there's been a change in status around here. Now for awhile, if I came home unexpectedly, I'd often find Zoey asleep on the loveseat. Poor dear is pretty deaf, so unless I touched her rather firmly, she usually didn't even know I was here. But she never ever ever got up there in the evening when I was home. Never even looked like she wanted to be up there. But this week all that changed. I woke up from a nap thinking about how nice and warm my feet were and then discovered that she was laying on them. For a few days, it only happened if I were asleep. Now, she just hops up there like that's where she's supposed to be.

A friend said "Awwww, she knows you don't feel well and she's taking care of you."

I'm thinking Zoey thought "oh hey, she doesn't feel good...she won't notice..and by the time she does she'll think I'm taking care of her. Heh"



And doesn't that stitch holder look like an hair curler?

Hello, my name is Susan

Just in case you forgot who I am :-)

Spring is just around the corner here. This morning my vehicle was covered with dew so heavy I had to use the wipers. Daffodils are coming up, showcasing the grass that needs to be pulled around them. And the other day, I saw a big ol' fly. Oh yay!

These last months have been filled with knitting, and books and a bit of sewing and books, and work and books. Birthday and Christmas gift certificates and $$ have all been spent it seems on books..oh and a bit of yarn too.

Just look!


The most recent ones are Casting Spells (nothing like a paranormal knitting story) Debbie Bliss Home and the Baby Surprise DVD (is sort of like a book), Still Life with Chickens, and Montana Creeds:Dylan. They all arrived this week thanks to Knitpicks book sale and a nice percent off coupon from Barnes and Noble. I've read and LOVED the chicken book. Dylan is up next because my funny friend Jackie is waiting to read it too. Debbie Bliss has some really nice patterns in this book..my first of hers. And btw, I love her new magazine also. Casting Spells ... well I read a preview of it way back in the fall I think. I thought I had pre-ordered it but..nope. And by the time I realized that, I had also forgotten the title. But stumbled across it in a blog last weekend and rushed off to order it.

I've also discovered a new blog too. Cold Antler Farm. I've managed to read it clear back through the beginning and what a wonderful young woman this Jenna is. Actually I found her book first, but alas my book $$ are well used up for the time being. I think I want to BE her! There are sheep, folks.

Knitting, why yes. There's a new pair of socks. I think the yarn is some Knitpicks I bought a long time ago. And no, my legs really aren't that white. I really tried to get Picasa to fix them but they just got worse. The socks I love. New socks are such fun.



But the big knitting news is that I'm attempting something a bit larger. I'm calling it a sweater but it's really a tunic so no sleeves. Shear Spirit is one of my favorite knitting books. I wanted it for a long time before I got it, and was ever so happy to learn that once it was in my hands I truly loved it. I like the patterns but it's just such a gorgeous book of photos and I love learning about the people and their lives. Such a voyeur! I started it on inauguration day, and there certainly have been some starts and stops. Changes of needles a bazillion times it seemed before I could come up with something that didn't make my right wrist ache so much that I could only knit on it sporadically, learning to count..again and again. But finally things came together and the back is done although not blocked and the front is started. At this point in time, I'll love it even if it doesn't fit. It's my first, ya know.



I still have a job. The facility is going to hell in a handbasket so payday is truly a time for rejoicing. I was told today that the entire board resigned so I shudder to think what's next. It's not the economy although that plays a part. It's more about power plays with the facility and the employees just the pawns. Really ugly things have happened. Morale is somewhere on the floor. It makes me really sad, angry and scared.

But this week I have been away from it. Feeling really lousy and I finally got in to see my doc today. She ordered lots of lab and tests (one of the dianosis on the forms said "overwhelming exhaustion" and that about sums it up) and they all came back ok so the next step will be for her to call my cardiologist tomorrow. I'm kinda scared because I can't think of anything else he could do that would not be invasive, and I don't like invasive. I'm consoling myself that perhaps the timing of my appointment will allow me to stop by my LYS. There's always a bright side. Right? Please say yes!

Oh...and wait...there's money. Ok so I can't really spend it, but I'm sure having fun with it. My daughter sent it to me from the Spanishtown Mardi Gras festivities in Baton Rouge. When I went to Mardi Gras I enjoyed their celebrations soooo much. Such a fun bunch of people. Need some cash? I'll send you some!



Now I think I've done all the links and stuck in all the poorly lit photos and now I shall take my overwhelmingly exhausted self off to bed. See ya soon. Hopefully a bit more often

Happy Solstice

Sorry to have been gone so long. It seemed like after a day at work either ducking not-so-good situations or just being totally worn out from trying to be upbeat, I had no words left. Well, that's not true. But they weren't words worth reading :-)

While I was gone I had a birthday. I always enjoy my birthday. For one thing, it means that I'm alive and the $#*&%^ didn't get me yet. For another thing, I'm one year closer to Medicare and I'll be ever so glad when it gets here because hopefully then I can become unemployed. Maybe I'll starve, who knows. But I'm ready for a nice change in life.

I spent part of that day at the lake taking pictures and enjoying the solitude of a quiet Sunday morning that was sunny and relatively warm. And just taking some time without a lot of distractions.



I've done some knitting. Hershey helped me knit a scarf and we even finished it. Yummy, warm and soft.



Yarn: Valley Yarns Williamstown from Webs
Pattern: Ummm it was in one of those knitting a day calendars. Really easy. One side is K3, P3. The reverse is K1, P1. And it looks the same on both sides oddly enough. I do wonder how people come up with these stitch patterns.



There are some socks on the needles. I call them Monday socks. There have been a series of meetings on Mondays and I take them with me. Last Monday I got a bye on the meeting but I kept to the plan and turned a heel and did the gusset on one of them. I think the yarn is from Knitpicks. I know I've had it for a long time.



I made a winter kitchen curtain. The LQS was having their grand opening after moving, and after standing in line at one of 3 cutting tables for what seemed like hours(people were buying hundreds of dollars worth of fabric!), I came away with a piece of batik with snowflakes in it. It makes me smile.



And there was also a sale on fleece at Hancocks so I now have new shams for the loveseat pillows as well as a piece of light camel colored fleece to act as a sort of slipcover, and a piece that turned into a large throw. Lots of snuggles on that now.



I took naps. Oh, this isn't me. My hair isn't blonde.



And now, I'm a little chilly. So I think it's time to go grab that fleecy throw and knit on a mitten. Hope you're warm and snuggly where you are and that life is treating you well.

I Am Sooooo Glad

that it's Friday! It's really been one of 'those' weeks.

Monday and Tuesday were spent at home being up close and personal with a heating pad. Sunday I was on the step ladder hanging curtains back up in the living room. Stepped off the bottom step so that I could see a football replay. Oh, but oops. I was on the next step up. Big step down in which I really tried hard to drive my right hip up through the top of my head. Dang...I just can't get rid of my klutz reputation.
But once I got enough drugs in my system it wasn't all a bad thing. Lots of Cold Case Files and knitting and napping.
So I go back to work on Wednesday and discover that all sorts of bad things are happening at my place of employment. All quite complicated and probably not appropriate for blogging...and very scary. My dept. director keeps trying to give us the sense that this isn't really total disaster. But he's talking to us with tears in his eyes? We shall see. Please great employment office in the sky...I really need one more year. Please? Pretty please?
In an attempt to bring calmness and contentedness into my life, my evenings have been spent with eggnog (alcohol free) and yarn. Two of my most favorite things in the world. Apparently though, I'm somehow transmitting my inner thoughts to the animals who can't decide whether they need to race around madly or pile up on me until moving is difficult :-)


So I decided on the way home tonight that other than changing my sheets and doing laundry, I wasn't going to do anything that NEEDED to be done this weekend. Just knit and spin and nap and catch up on blogs.
Hmmm, when I booted up the computer I got this message that a problem had been discovered on my hard drive. Like I know what I'm supposed to do about that. I clicked on through and got on line without difficulty but who knows how long that will last?
Is this some sort of cosmic glitch?
I guess I'd better hurry up and look up a recipe for chai tea. So I'll have something to do if I become unemployed and without a computer.
Hopefully see you later this weekend. What have you got planned?

Weird...

Saturday after a rudimentary bit of housework, I set off for the near west side of the City with specific shopping goals in mind.
There was hopefully going to be new nail polish for my toes, possibly and MP3 player and some cotton yarn for a dishcloth.
First stop was Ulta for a little set of OPI nail polish that was in the previous Sunday paper. I love OPI but it's rather expensive for my budget so the chance to get 3 tiny bottles for $4.95 sounded like a mood brightener. I enter the bright store populated with a lot of staff, all young, thin, and dressed in black. I didn't see the product at the front of the store and when I asked, I was told they'd sold out. At which time, the associate turned back to her coworker to continue their conversation. Now, I really hate to be smothered by sales people, but I would have thought a good thing to say was something like, "I'm sorry, we've sold out. We do, however, have these whatevers that are also really cool and a good buy." Or perhaps, "Would you like to see our other OPI polishes?" But nada. I wandered around a bit, finally found a little set of red and green polish, paid and left. I felt rather invisible. Was I just not dressed appropriately for such a spiffy store? Did it not appear that I had any money to spend? Or did they just not care? Since there were very few shoppers in the store I would have thought there would have been more effort.
Next, to the Best Buy next door. I know that I can't afford an iPod. But there are other options, and I wanted to talk to someone who could tell me the differences and help me come up with a solution. I also really want a new camera, mine is sooo heavy.
There were a few more shoppers in here, but not nearly what I'm used to seeing. I first went to the camera section, zeroed in on some I'd read about. Lifted them up and played a bit. I counted...I picked up 10 different cameras, reading the info posted and peering through the view finder. After probably 15 minutes, I then went to the MP3 section. I gazed longingly at the iPods, moved on to the other kinds and tried to determine what made each special. Probably 15 minutes there too. And in that 30 minutes, NOBODY said "Can I help you?" I thought perhaps they were all busy selling Wii-s (how do you type that plural?). Or some other big gaming thing. Or the latest in computers. But the associates there are fairly visible in their blue shirts, and there just weren't any around. Well, except for the checkers (there were NO lines) and the guy at the door. As I left, he asked me if I'd found what I was looking for. And I honestly said "No, I was looking for a sales associate".
And then off to Hobby Lobby. That place was packed!! I got my yarn and got in line to check out. All the checkout lines were staffed. Most people had lots of purchases and I'm nosy. I love to see what other folks are buying. Seemed to be fabric, yarn, paint, paper, glues and beads along with some decorations. Everyone skipping Ulta and making necklaces for their girlfriends? Or skipping Best Buy and their non-existent staff and knitting iPod cozies?
On the way back to the vehicle, I did make another quick stop at Petsmart so Zoey could have a weekend treat. And once again, it was packed. Pets WILL have their treats and food.
I read all about the poor economy and how it's going to affect holiday spending. But guys, if on the off chance someone comes in to spend, it would be really nice to have a bit of help.

Can Nutmeg Make You Sleepy?

Came home from work on a blustery, damp and very cool day and once the kids were fed I made nutmeg sauce for my pound cake. Ate a bit of supper and topped it off with warmed pound cake with nutmeg sauce. Ummmmmmmmmmm yum! Granted, I ate way too much but oh how good it tasted.

Then settled down with some knitting and Keith Olbermann. I was especially interested to hear his comment on Proposition 8 in California. I wish he'd done this before the vote. But, in my experience, those who believe that gays are the spawn of Satan aren't likely to change their minds. Here in my state, I've heard all the sanctity of marraige arguments, but considering the divorce rate here I find them comical. Which doesn't win me any popularity comments.



Then it was time to watch football. I do remember reaching for the remote to change channels. Listened a bit to Maddow. And the next thing I remember was waking up at 0100 or 1:10 AM. I was halfway sitting up and halfway leaning over on the pillows at the end of the loveseat. My knitting was in my lap with a cat sleeping on top of it.

Up long enough to turn out the lights, take my PM meds and put in my eye drops. I guess I was tired? Woke up with the alarm this morning at 5 and now it's time to get all spiffed up for another day!

Hope yours goes well. Any fun things to do today?

Christmas Past

One of my holiday traditions is a trip to the mall so I can go into Williams-Sonoma and buy myself a Christmas treat. For someone who isn't all that into cooking, I am just fascinated by all the kitchen things they have and they always have mixes for something good to bake. To my budget, they're expensive but it's a once a year treat.

For some reason, last year's purchase never got made. And on Saturday, when I got the bread flour canister down, I discovered it behind hiding back there.

So on Sunday, almost a year later, I baked it. I think I'm glad it was postponed because it was just the perfect treat.



I got all involved in football and knitting yesterday, but tonight, I'll make some nutmeg sauce to go with it and have a totally calorie laden Monday night.

On the knitting front, I finished the houseshoe but it looks like crap so you aren't going to see it. I'm thinking that the ribbing is going to be completely frogged and done over. We shall see.

Yum!

Lots of scrubbing and laundry and sweeping and mopping happened here today. And, I put that fuse back in the car and now the lights work properly. A strange noise that has kept me company on the way to work and back is still there. I thought it was the antenna trying to go up, but apparently that's not it. Oh well, so far it's just annoying and everything major is working. I'll have to try and see my mechanic sometime this week.

But the highlight of the day was this..



It's been forever since I've made bread. I had a bread machine for a long time and initially I used it a lot. But when the new wore off it just gathered dust so I traded it for a dust buster and something else that I can't remember now. I really prefer doing it by hand but I wasn't sure I remembered how. Well, I can read a recipe, but the part I was concerned about was just knowing when the dough felt right. It was soooooooo good to knead that dough. And you know what was even better?

Having a warm bread/butter/honey supper. A cold glass of milk just made it perfect.

All Hail!

Wednesday afternoon my secret grins and thumbs up were temporarily suspended. I was minding my own business, standing at the copier when the most horrendous noise occured. Our building is really a metal building wrapped in brick but the metal roof was reverberating with a monstrous pounding noise. We all ran to the only view of the outside..the door. And beheld amazing pouring rain, vicious wind and a ton of hail. In places the ground was white. The road that runs by the building looked like a path through a pasture from all the leaves and dirt and such that had been carried by the rain that ran across it. All quite tremendous and exciting!

But, alas, my camera was at home. And an even greater alas....all my car windows were down! Hey, just 30 minutes before I'd been out doing work errands and the sun was shining. There were some clouds in the west but nothing looking too grim.

OMG! There was enough water on the floorboards to splash in. Hail covered the seats. A folder that had been lying quietly on the front seat was now draped across the back of a seat and the paper that had been in it was soaked and scattered about including one that was plastered to the headliner.

Using a trashbag as an underpad, I headed to the car wash to avail myself of their super vacuum. Swish, gurgle...much of it was sucked up but the car was still super wet. And the LIGHTS WERE ON. They were on when I approached the car. They were on at the carwash and they were still on when I got back to work. I turned off the delay and they stayed on. I moved the light switch and they stayed on.

I have a good battery but I don't think it's going to last through the night with the light on. So off to the gas station.

I'm sure that the guy thought I was some ditzy old woman. After all, it was overcast and my lights are supposed to come on when it gets dim. Eventually, he agreed to perhaps remove a fuse. So he sticks his arm up under the dash and his arm was immediately soaked from draining water. Uh oh.

Finally, a big fuse under the hood was removed and the lights went out. But so did the speedometer and all the other dash lights. It's odd to drive down the street and not be able to see if you're in danger of being ticketed.

He says that it should dry out in a day or two and then I can put the fuse back. :::crossing fingers::: Fortunately yesterday was quite windy so much of the upholstery is much drier and we are to have nice weather on through the weekend.

Oh, and this morning I'm thinking the wind blew out the pilot on the furnace. At least it won't turn on. Off to check on that now.

UPDATE: Just as I hit "publish", the heat turned on. Yay! It's gonna be a great day!

So, what exciting things are going on in your life??

Ooops!

This rather obscene looking project is really going to be a houseshoe. I'd finished the foot and started on the ribbing for the cuff. Alas, apparently I shouldn't knit and watch election returns at the same time. I was to pick up 44 stitches around the opening to the foot. I picked up 14 and knitted happily along, holding my breath at times as I watched the results come in. That cuff wouldn't even go over a flashlight!
Frogged that and decided that now I had these great big lumpy holes where the stitches and been pulled tight as I added the cuff yarn. So frog some more.

It's a new day. And it will be a better houseshoe.

Mystery Solved!

The strangest thing happened repeatedly last week. From Wednesday on, every morning when I got to work I'd have a piece of something in my eye. Well, not really IN it but around it. A fuzz that would just drive me crazy. Nothing I could see. I'd rub my eye, spend time looking in the mirror trying to find it all to no avail. Eventually, by mid morning, it would be gone and all was well.
Curiously, before I left for work, all would be fine. I thought of a couple of possibilites.
A cat hair that somehow found it's way to my eyes as I told everyone goodbye.
A piece of spinning fiber that somehow found it's way to my eyes as I walked out the door.
So, I quit spinning in the morning. I told the cats good bye from a distance and still....a very annoying something in my eyes.
But then, on Sunday afternoon, the mystery was solved. I'd decided to go to Sonic for a half price drink and as I approached my vehicle I saw the culprit. The sun was coming from the west and highlighting my driver's window. And gracefully arranged there were gossamer strands of a spider web. It wasn't a big beautiful web, but rather infintesimal strands going here and there. Most importantly, it reached from the front side of the window area to the seat belt bracket on the side. And the spider, a teensy weensy one. I went back in the house and got a cup and relocated her to a more appropriate area. For me anyway, she perhaps wasn't as thrilled. I guess she'd been living there for awhile and every night she practiced her weaving skills only to have me tear things up. And at work, the window was down and perhaps the wind kept her from restoring things during the day. As I cleared out the web, I was amazed at how fine it was. Not like the usual ones that I walk through and then feel all over myself. I couldn't feel it at all on my arms and hands. But when it would get to my eyes, it became an invisible annoyance.
And yesterday? No itchy, cranky eyes. Sorry spider. I hope you found a new place to spin so fine.