Knitting and reading

    That's me, knitting and reading. I am working on the super secret project, getting close to 25% along.  And when I'm not doing that, I'm reading. I read through all the books I got for my nook, and I don't want to buy any more at this time, so I'm rereading the whole Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, from the beginning. All twenty two books. I started book 1 yesterday.


    Tomorrow I get to hang with my granddaughter for a while, while her mom takes her little brother to the dentist. I'm looking forward to that. Can't wait to see what she'll want to do.


    When my son and his girlfriend went on their cruise, they brought mama back a bottle of Vaanilla Rum from St. Maarten. I broke into it last evening, and it's really good! I just poured a shot over ice and filled the glass up with Seagrams Ginger Ale. My usual treatment for alcohol, usually vanilla vodka.


    I've been buying those little cans of my soda, because they are just the right size for my drinks. I was highly disappointed to discover that they are part of that whole "controlled serving size" thing that is so popular these days. But I'll buy them anyway, because they are the perfect size for my drinks without wasting the rest of the bigger can.


    So that's what's keeping me busy, knitting and reading, and a little drink or two in the evening...

Knitting report and other news

    I have begun another super secret knitting project. I won't say what it is, but I will say it's from Elizabeth Zimmermann. The yarn I bought is working out well. I thought I wouldn't have nearly enough, but it looks like I'll only need a couple more skeins. Not too bad at all.


     I hope to go to Michaels tomorrow and get it. But not until after the birthday party Hubs and I will be attending. That'll be fun! You gotta love it when birthday parties are held in bars.


    Today our son Jesse stopped by on his way through and dropped off the bottle of rum he got for me when they were on their cruise. It's Vaanilla flavored, made in St. Maartin. MMMMMM. Can't wait to break into that!  I'll try and check back with you all on how it is.....

A day with the grandkids

    I spent the day today watching my grandbabies. It was awesome. I give my son and his awesome wife tons of credit. They are doing an extremely good job with these two. They listen to you when you talk to them and do what you ask of them, including putting away their toys! It's been quite an eye opening experience.


    I have one more day with them, then their regular babysitter will be all recovered. I sure hope they call me to sit with the kids when they decide to have a date night! It would be my pleasure!


    Now I am completely exhausted, since they are very active. And Mason needs to be reminded that G-ma is not a jungle gym. But he is so sweet and eventually he gets it. Chloe couldn't wait until Mason went down for his nap, so she and I could crochet together. I tried to teach her, but I'm a lousy teacher, and I think she might be a little young yet. But she did try. We will wait until she gets a little more manual dexterity under her belt. And Goddess love her, she was willing!

And at long last...

    Today I had my Hubs take photos of the arm warmers, which came off the needles last week. I finally crocheted the seams a few days ago. And without further ado, here they are!!

    In other news, I am thrilled to report that I am getting to spend time with my grandchildren this week! I sat with them this morning for about three hours, and tomorrow and Friday, it will be all day. Well, until about 2:30 or so, when their dad gets home from work. This opportunity makes me very happy.

Adventure in futility?

    A while ago, Hubs borrowed a metal detector from a friend. Today between thunderstorms he went down to the backyard by the creek and tried it out. I heard lots of beeping, but no cries of "Eureka!".


    When it looked like another storm was getting ready to let loose, I went down and got him to come back up. He proudly showed me what he had found...

    Truly valuable treasures, every last one. The rabies dog tag was from 2005, we figure it's from our former neighbors deceased Chihuahua, Chynna.


    I can't wait to see what else he can find! He wants to try closer to the creek bed next time. I hope he eventually finds something worthwhile.

Knitting report

     This morning, I finished knitting my arm warmers. I was binding them off as Kim arrived home from work. So YAY!! Although they still need to be either sewn or crocheted up, and I still need to take a photo.


    I am so very tired, I really need to go to bed. I was up at 5:30 this morning, and will be again tomorrow. The rest of the week I also need to get up early, just not as early.
I also had trouble sleeping last night. I believe I was still awake at 1 am. And I didn't get a nap today.


    So I'm gonna say goodnight, and go to bed. There could be some exciting news in our future, but I can't say anything yet.

   

I stand corrected

    I had a nice visit with my expectant daughter yesterday, she came over to swim. We spent a good part of the day together. It was good to see her! Of course, we talked a lot. And it seems I was premature in stating that the baby is a boy. The doctors are saying that "so far, it looks like a boy." So they aren't truly sure yet. What you can be sure of is that when we are positive, I will shout it from the rooftops!

   
    The pool water has cooled off a little bit, it was 84 yesterday, and is still 84 again today. Believe it or not it still felt refreshing when the air temp was over 90!

   
    As far as the knitting goes, I'm still working on the arm warmers. They are coming along slowly but surely. It's just been too darn hot to think about knitting. I have been reading, however! I'm so thankful for my nook! I also have a kindle fire HD, I use that for playing games, although I do have several book in it as well.

record broken again!

   With this current heat wave, we broke the pool temp record again!! The water in our 44,000+ gallon, only in the sun 6 hrs/day max, in ground swimming pool is now 86 degrees. In a way it sucks, it's almost too warm to swim in.


    In other news, we held out as long as we could, but today we put in the air conditioners. There's one each in our bedroom, the living room, and the kitchen window. I think we picked a good day for it, as the news on the radio said it could hit 100 degrees today. It didn't take that long to install them, either. Maybe 15 minutes.


    Of course, the one in the kitchen is refusing to work. That one is the oldest, we got it from my mom when she moved out of her house 8 years ago. And who knows how long she had it before we got it?


    The one in the living room is really cool, it's a huge one that sits on the floor, and vents out the window. It's pretty powerful too. It's good to finally be cool.


   


   

In which records are set, then broken

    This has been one hell of a summer. We set a record for pool temp last week, when the water reached 83 degrees. You need to understand that our pool has NEVER gotten that warm. In fact it's famous for being cold all summer.


    For most of the years we've lived here, our pool was only in full sun for maybe 5 or 6 hours a day, from around 10 am to 4 pm, maximum. We have a wooded lot on one side, and the trees block the afternoon sun. We petitioned the owner of the property to cut down some of the trees, and they agreed. We got a little more sun, a little later in the day.


    Last year, we got more time when the trees blocking the morning sun had to come down. Super Storm Sandy undermined the trees roots, and they  started leaning pretty badly. Taking those two trees down seems to have really helped our pool sun time.


    Until this year, the warmest our pool ever got was 82 degrees. it usually hovered around 76 or 78. It only got warmer if it was really hot out and didn't cool off at night. Well, since taking the trees extended our morning sun, we hit the previously mentioned 83 last week. Then rained some and the temp cooled off to 78. but we were soon back up to 82, then 83. And then yesterday, we hit a new high of 84!!


    Unfortunately, I preferred the pool cooler. I swim to cool off, not to feel like I'm in a bathtub. Anyway, it was a proud moment. If you'll excuse me, it's time to put my suit on and go down to the pool. I'll be taking my nook, as well as my knitting and crocheting projects. I like to mix it up.

a bunch of stuff, some of it random

    1. I did the long hot drive down to Fishkill this morning, and hung out with my mom. We were going to do lunch, but she didn't feel up to it. So we hung out and talked and ate ice cream cones. In air conditioning.


    2. On the way home I stopped to visit friends, who showed off their adorable new kitteh. He's a Munchkin, a breed I'd never heard of before. Absolutely adorable. I want one. They are smaller than regular cats, and have little wiener dog legs. How cute is that? I really, really, really want one now. They plan to breed theirs, and maybe we can get one of the kittens. These cats are the cutest thing I have ever seen.


    3. After that visit, I proceeded to drive home, stopping at predetermined points to run errands. I was headed north after the first of these when my brakes started acting funny. It was like the right front brake wouldn't let go completely. After a short think, I stopped at a shopping plaza and called the Hubs. He had warned me it could happen. He couldn't leave work, but advised me to let it sit for a while and cool off. Maybe it would let go enough for me to drive some more. I did that, although how much can it cool off when it's nearly 100 degrees outside and there's nowhere shady to park?


    3.5. I finally got home, three hours after I left mom's. I had to stop three times all together. Not too bad. The last time was pretty close to home, so I didn't have to stay too long at the cigar store.


    4. As soon as I got home, I put on my bathing suit, and headed to the pool. I was dying to get cool. I finally got there! It took a while, but I'm cooled off now.


    Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Before I went to mom's I stopped Michaels for YARN. They didn't have the yarns I wanted either. I was unhappy. And of course there's no one around to ask about it. So I bought substitute yarns. And while I was at mom's I cast on both arm warmers on the same circular needle, and knit a few rows.


   While I was down at the pool, I was thinking about a former LYS we had in Poughkeepise, it was called Yarns Needles and Hooks. Now to me, that "S" on the end of the word YARN is unnecessary. I believe that like the word Deer, Yarn is plural as well as singular. Think about it, and let me know if you agree.

    P.S. I am happy to be knitting again, even if it's not with Jiffy. I got me some Loops and Threads Charisma, a nice bulky weight acrylic yarn. It's knitting up nicely.  I'll get some photos posted soon.

Day at the pool

    It is going to be another hot one today. I think it would be a good thing to spend it by the pool. I'll slather myself with my Dark Tanning Oil, especially my head and ears. I won't be nuts about sitting in the sun, I will alternate time in the sun and in the shade.


    I have been wondering for a long time why my hair hasn't grown back yet. Originally when I saw the Dermatologist, he took a biopsy and the results were that this is the Alopecia that is temporary. It's been more than four years, and I'm ready for my hair to come back.


    Lately though, I've had a revelation. There is one thing I haven't done yet. I haven't had the courage to go out in public without my head covered, whether with a scarf or a hat. It occurs to me that perhaps if I have the courage to breach that final taboo, the Goddess will be convinced that I have learned the lesson I needed to learn, and will allow my hair to grow back.


    At one point, I tried to make a deal with the Goddess, that if she let my hair grow back, I would never cut it again. That one didn't work, clearly.


     Getting back to the point: if I can get my head tanned enough at least enough to match the rest of me, I might consider a public appearance sans hat. Right now, my head skin is white, with a capital W. There is a woman here in town who is also bald. I've seen her a few times in public always without her head covered. I've often wished I was that brave. Hang on, it could be on the way...

The highs and the lows

    All weekend, I was really looking forward to going to Kingston with Hubs. We were going to hit Walmart, Sam's Club, Gander Mt., and Michaels. I wanted to hit that Michaels in particular because the last time I was there, They had the yarn I want to use to make a baby thing for the new grandbaby. I didn't buy it then because we didn't know the sex of the baby yet and I wanted to wait until we knew for sure.


    So now we know it's a boy, and I'm ready to start knitting. We go to Walmart first, Hubs needs new jeans. Then at long last I get to go to Michaels, while he's in Gander Mt. I search the whole fracking store. Not only do they not have the yarn they had for the baby stuff, they don't even have any JIFFY that I want for my arm warmers. I walk over to Gander Mt, practically in tears. I tell Hubs I'll be waiting in the truck. He is outta there in less than a minute. (that was the low...)


    We finally get to Sam's Club. We got the most awesome Rib Eye steaks from there last time, they were the best steaks I've ever made at home. We were there for more of those, as well as a few other things. As we wandered through the store, I spy with my little eye the most awesomely colorful display. I go over to it, and it's a display of brightly colored coffee makers and toasters. They come in red, blue, bright pink, yellow, orange, purple and more!


    Hubs actually let me get a coffee maker! I am so happy that I now have a purple coffee maker. I took a couple of photos of it, on my counter, which is not cleaned off, so don't pay attention to anything but the awesome coffee maker...

    Isn't that cool? Behind it is my red rice cooker that my son Jesse got me for Christmas a few years ago. He really likes sticky rice. I don't think I've used it since he moved out last year.


    I can't wait to get the coffee maker all clean and use it. I have to read the manual yet....


    As for the yarn, I will be making a trip to my local Michaels to look for the yarn I wanted. Maybe even tomorrow. If I can find some gas money....

Knitting News

    I have good news, and bad news. The good news is that the 1st arm warmer is off the needles. I am not going to sew it up because of the bad news, which is that it's too small for my arm.


    As I knitted along, I checked it, and it went around then. I tried to bind off as loosely as possible, but with Homespun I have a problem because of the multitude fibers that get all tangled up. Anyway it's now too small. I think I might buy some of the original recommended yarn, Jiffy, and try again. This time I will do more increases towards the end of it.


    Look for more updates in the future. And I hope I can find a longer needle than 16", so I can do them both at the same time! That's also the best way to do sweater sleeves too, by the way! That way you are sure they are the same length.

A Dream

    This morning after Hubs left for work, I fell back asleep and had the weirdest dream. Now, I'm known for my detailed dreams. At least, it amazes my Hubs when I tell them to him.


    I was in my "grandmother's" house. I use the quotes, because it wasn't really. It was actually a house I've never seen before. Anyway, she had passed away, and I was there to clean it out, and apparently I was going to live there. I wasn't alone, either. A younger woman was with me, and a child. They were "family", but not anyone I recognized.


    The house was on a small road off the main road in whatever town it was. I had parked my truck in the middle of the road, the road was so narrow there wasn't anywhere else to park, and there were only a couple of houses on the road. Next thing I know, the girl comes in and tells me my truck is being towed. I run around trying to find my flip flops so I can go out and talk to these guys, and stop them from taking my truck.


    But I can't find my flip flops anywhere. I run outside in my bare feet. They have my truck loaded on a flatbed. I look up the road to the main street, and see it's blocked off. It's like they are closing the entrance to the road, and making you come from the other direction. For some reason they leave my truck, and go.


    The young lady and I get back to packing up the things in the house, making great headway. Now, things are blending in from my mother-in-law's passing. The "grandmother" left me tons of jewelry, and I was telling the younger woman about some diamond rings and earrings that I got all excited about, but weren't real.


    We were nearly done inside the house, and even commented about having the stained floors refinished. There was a knock at the door, and people started coming from all over. They tell me that I'm the new "Mee-maw", or head of the family. They came to pay their respects, and these were people I'd never seen before.


    The little girl was poking around and found a hidden closet, which we pried open. It hadn't been opened in so long, it was hard to work the knob. Inside we found a bunch of fancy baby outfits, like from Christenings. Some were old and some were newer. It's like after the Christenings, these outfits were given to the Mee-maw to save.


    I'm sure there were more details, but most are gone now. Like the little girl was blonde, and somehow all the stuff we got rid of was just gone. The house was pretty empty, except for some of the furniture we were keeping.


    It was a really cool house, I wish it was real. It was strange dreaming about a house I've never personally been in. I usually dream about things happening in my mom's old house. I have even dreamed that Hubs and I lived in her house.


   If anyone cares to analyze this dream, have at it. I'd love to hear what you think!

Maiden, Mother, Crone and Other Thoughts

    All women go through these three phases of our lives. Maiden means youth, inexperience, naivete. The joys of discovering the world, falling in love, and eventually becoming an adult.


    Motherhood is perhaps the most challenging of the phases. It certainly lasts the longest, at least it did for me. Being a mom is the best and hardest job we can ever do. To teach your children what they need to know about the world, without sheltering them from it too much. They have to experience some things for themselves. We can't keep them protected, but we make sure we are close enough to pick them up when they fall, kiss their boo boos and tell them it's all gonna be OK. And even then, they need the space to grow into themselves. It's all about balance.


    I knew when my youngest moved out just over a year ago that my time as an active mother was at an end. We raised him well, with good values, and he has one hell of a work ethic. We let him loose on the world, and he seems to be thriving.


    But I was in denial about becoming a Crone. It suddenly dawned on me yesterday as I was at the Police station that the young officer I was speaking to probably viewed me as  < gasp >  a senior citizen..... after all, I'm nearly 60 now. And about to be a grandmother for the third time.


    That was a hard realization. I mean, I always had a hard time being taken seriously or even heard, but now I think it's going to get worse.  I just don't see myself as "old" or even "older".


    On another front, however, I have great news! It has been officially confirmed that my new grandbaby will be a boy!! No need to trim anything in pink that's already finished. I can't wait to go shopping for masculine colored yarn!!


   I'm making slow progress on the hand/arm warmers. It was so humid yesterday it felt like I was breathing water when I went outside. The air was very heavy. No wonder I got so tired. It sucks getting exhausted just from the effort to breathe.

   


   

I'm Knitting Again!

    Yesterday, my friend Kim and her Cherub came over so Cherub could swim in my pool. Kim was complaining she had nothing planned to make. I brought down my two giant crochet pattern notebooks for her to look at.


    I didn't bother with the small knitting pattern notebook, as she's way more advanced than I am, and wouldn't be challenged by any pattern I had saved. Besides, she's really into Granny Squares right now, and I am not fond of them. AT ALL.


    So she looked through my pattern books, and found one she was interested in. This inspired me to look again through my knitting notebook, and see if there was something in there I would want to make.


    Lo and behold, I found something!  It's a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn's web site, called Greenwich Gauntlets. The pattern calls for Jiffy yarn, and I couldn't find any in my stash. Which totally surprised me, as my stash used to almost exclusively Jiffy, since it was my very favorite yarn for a long time.


   The pattern called for a bulky weight yarn, so I substituted Homespun for the Jiffy. It works. I made a small swatch, and the needle size called for was too big, so I went down to a size 9 needle. I'm gonna make the longest gauntlets in the pattern, since I want my arms warm too.


    The best thing about this project is it's done flat. I am not co-ordinated enough to manage double pointed needles. I have tried more than once and failed miserably, so I'm perfectly happy to knit this flat.

 

 

    There is also a really cool sweater in my knitting pattern notebook, which I would really like if someone wanted to knit it for me for my birthday, or Festivus.... I read the pattern and there are some things in there that I don't understand or I would have tried to knit it by now.


   The colorway of this yarn is called Tudor. I had some purple also, and a few other colors, but this one called to me. It wanted to be gauntlets. As you all know, you can't argue with the yarn.


   

Swimming with frogs

     In all the years we've lived in this house and dealt with the pool, we have had uncountable numbers of frogs in the pool. We've had snakes in there, and a few dead baby rabbits, moles and mice. One year we even rescued a small possum who was still alive. We did what we could, he wouldn't really let us handle him, but we left him in the sun to dry and hopefully wander off safe and sound.


   But it's frogs we usually deal with most. I love swimming with the frogs. We amuse ourselves by trying to rescue them, because they will get tired and drown eventually. Until this year, I would have said that the frogs always try to get away from us when we try to rescue them. I speak for both of us when I say we'd rather rescue a live frog than find a dead one floating in the skimmer basket.


    This year seems to be different. I have rescued only two frog so far, but one of them I rescued three times! And what astounds me is that he actually swam right up to me, and didn't try to get away. He let me rescue him, and put him gently on the pool surround facing the lawn.


    The second one I rescued was today, and he also let me take him out of the water. He didn't swim right to me, but he didn't swim frantically away either. The first frog was pretty big, and I knew it was the same one three times. I recognized him. I even asked him why he jumped in our pool again. The one today was smaller.


    It makes me think the big one was the Frog King, and when I saved him not once, but three times, he told the other frogs not to fear me, that I wouldn't hurt them. Or is just my imagination? ? ?

Taking a break

    I feel the need for a (hopefully) short break. For amusement, feel free to go back and re-read some old posts. Thank you for your understanding.

The Circle of Life, The Circle of Knitting

    We have a birds nest outside the gates to the pool. It's up on the back of our bedroom, under the little balcony. It was made at the top of the thermometer we have up there. There have been a few nests up there over the years.


    This time I see the parents, who are little brown birds, swoop in and out of the nest, feeding the babies. It's amusing that when Hubs and I are down there sitting at the table and chairs on the patio which is under our bedroom, the parents are very reluctant to feed their babies. They swoop from one side of the pool to the other, resting on the fence. Eventually they swoop to the nest and feed the kids.


    I have seen two little heads peeking out of the nest. What amazes me is that they make no sounds. You would expect baby birds to chirp constantly to mom and dad to hurry up and feed us! But these babies are silent.


    I snuck out there earlier and took a few photos. In the first one you can see the
thermometer.

    Then I got a little closer... I don't know if there are three babies in there or two. If those are the babies, they are getting big enough to leave soon. I worry about that, being so close to the pool. I hope they don't crash land in the pool while learning to fly and drown.....

 

 

 I haven't been knitting, it's been too fracking hot. And we don't have any air conditioners installed yet. Waiting for Hubs on that one. Although we did knit at the parade, as we usually sit under a nice shady tree and we were much, much cooler than those poor people who had to march in the hot sun.  

Huzzah!

    I think I'm saved! Yesterday whilst digging through a stash pile, I found a WIP that I haven't seen in a good, long time. "Perfect!" I thought. "Now I have something to knit at the parade tomorrow!"


    It's a shawl, made with Lion Brand's now-discontinued Moonlight Mohair. I even have someone to give it to when it's done. One of the other karate moms wanted it, way back when I working on it at the karate school. It's a long rectangle wrap type shawl. And it's almost finished, as I was on the last skein of yarn that I had.
   

 

    This yarn is so pretty, with sparkles. But it's a bit too scratchy for my taste. I can't wait to see how it looks and feels after I wash it.

 

 

    P.S. My fellow Stitch n Bitchers Jan and Kim as well as myself, always knit as we watch the local parades every year. This will be the last parade for Jan, however, as she is moving this weekend to Portland, Oregon. I envy her so much! I spent time there with Hubs a few years ago, and it was awesome. I would love to go back. Now we know someone who lives there, and it gives Kim and me an excuse to go.

 

Hoisted!

    OK, I'm still reading Lasher by Anne Rice. At least I'm more than half done now. BUT in the meantime, the newest Iron Druid book is downloaded to my nook. And driving me even more insane, the newest Anita Blake book is also!! They are both there, taunting me to hurry and finish.


    I just want this book to be done already!! Since I've made the commitment to read it, I'm going to finish it, but I'm finding myself skipping paragraphs, even skimming and sometimes skipping whole pages in an effort to be done with it quicker.


    And I still can't find that stupid ribbon yarn. Dag nabbit. Just so you know, the title refers to "hoisted by own petard".

Arthritis, another non crafting story

    A long time ago, perhaps as long as 15 years, I tore my rotator cuff. In my sleep. That's right, I went to bed just fine, and woke up the next morning in pain. I managed to ignore it for about 6 months before I nearly lost all use of my arm, and the pain could no longer be ignored.


    I had surgery to fix it. Fast forward about 6 or so years. Surprise! I developed Arthritis in my shoulder joint. They tell me it's common after joint surgery. They didn't tell me that little fact before I had the surgery, however.


    I learned that I must move the joint to avoid the stiffness and pain. For a long time it worked. Then abruptly it stopped working. If I sit for long periods, like when I'm knitting or crocheting, it really starts to hurt. The pain has even been disturbing my sleep. I'm a side sleeper. I start out on my right side, then move to my left side. I stay there until the pain wakes me up and I have to go back to the other side.


    Lately it's been so bad, I can't even sleep on my left side. I end up laying on my back, leaning to the left a little. However, I now have some help. A few days ago, my Hubs found one of the hand weights I had purchased for P.T. after my shoulder surgery. I cleaned it up, and I've been using it to exercise my left arm. It has really been helping. I am keeping it in the bathroom, and about every other time I go in there, I use the weight to exercise my arm, and move the joint.


    I hope to build the strength back up in that arm. I would be happy if it just quit hurting so much all the time. It is better already, however.


   

The Tale of the Yucky Pool

    We have lived in this house for almost 23 years. This coming week marks our 23rd anniversary. Anyway, I mentioned in an earlier post that we moved into this house because of the pool. Every year, Hubs and I learned more about the pool and how to care for it.


    This year was different. Trust Karma to throw you a curve ball when you think you know and have seen it all. As usual, the water was such a dark green that it appeared black. We've seen this before.


    I should mention here that we usually don't get the pool open before July 4th. This year, we had it open the first week of June. Anyway, back to the algae. This year, we had a carpet of yucky, slimy dark green algae on the bottom of the whole pool. As we ran the filter, It was floating up to the surface looking like jellyfish. And the green wouldn't go away.


    For two weeks we battled the green slime. Hubs bought gallons of a liquid shock. and a couple gallons of a liquid algaecide. Nothing worked. All it did was create a gross foam in the skimmer basket. I was afraid to reach in there, I thought something would grab me back. Poor Hubs, we went through perhaps three 25lb bags of earth. He vacuumed. He took the filter apart and cleaned out the green slime. Over and over again.


    Eventually, he decided to go and get our usual shock, Power Powder from Leslies Pool Supplies. That evening, he sprinkled the pool with all six bags that he had bought. A few hours later, we went down and turned the filter off for the night.


    The next morning, I looked out the bedroom window, and LO the pool was no longer green! It was still a bit cloudy, but there was no more green. I went down and completely back washed the old earth out of the filter, then recoated it through the skimmer. Ever since then, it's been fine. YAY!! I actually swam in it a couple of days ago, and yesterday too.


    I still have to be careful, my sunburn has turned brown on my torso, but the new skin on my head is still sensitive. I am swimming once the sun is off the pool, in the late afternoon. And I promise, I will never again forget my Dark Tanning Oil.


    It was so cool. Saturday, my daughter Sara was here, her dad was fixing her car. She sat down by the pool with me, and peeled the dead skin off my head. It really felt weird. Some of it came off in big pieces, but some did not. I am well on the way to being healed now.   

The lost ribbon yarn

    A few years ago, someone gave me a bunch of balls of a ribbon yarn. I put it away in a really good place. Once in a while, I would see it in it's bag, while moving it to get to something else.


    This past week, while not crafting, I've had the urge to find this ribbon yarn and knit it up with big needles. Just so I can say I'm making something. So far, I have been so far unsuccessful in my quest. But after Hubs goes back to work on Tuesday, I will have time once again to actually look.


    I find that I'm getting a bit excited about this possible project. I will take a photo or two once I find it and get going.


    Today it rained, after being hot and very humid. Thank the Goddess that it cooled off. During a lull in the down pouring, I went to the supermarket to pick up a few things. While I was in there, it started raining really hard again. I could hear it on the roof of the store. After I checked out, I joined the crowd of people who didn't want to run to their cars in the really heavy rain.


    After a while it let up, so I made my way to the Jeep. Just as I was a step or two away from the passenger door, it started raining really hard again!  So I got wet. Oh well, it had to happen. I don't mind me getting wet, I just didn't want my groceries to get wet. In fact, earlier in the day, I was swimming in the rain. Of course there was no thunder at that time. It was just plain rain.


    We've had so much rain today that the extra water has filled up our pool to the top of the skimmer. My friend Bonny's pool was threatening to overflow, and they had to pump off quite a bit of water. Maybe tomorrow I'll tell you all about the pool trauma we had this year.

What I'm Doing Instead, and Why

    Since I have confessed that I haven't been crafting, I must state that I haven't just been sitting around watching TV like a zombie. I've been reading. Now, it's been my habit for many, many years to keep a book in the bathroom. When I will be in there for an extended period of time, I pass the time by reading.


    For the past few years, the bathroom has been the home for my nook. It's like having an entire library in there. I read all the Game of Thrones books, and discovered a new series, The Iron Druid, by Kevin Hearne.


    While waiting impatiently for the latest Iron Druid book to come out, I decided to reread one of my favorite books. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. She used to be my very favorite author, but then she went and got all religious on me. But even though I liked her vampire books, I have always thought that the books about the Mayfair Witches were better. And The Witching Hour, I consider her master work.


    One day before the anxiously awaited new book came out, I finished The Witching Hour. Unfortunately I didn't know that. So I decided to reread the second Mayfair Witches book, Lasher. I was hoping I would like it better the second time around, since many years have passed since I first read it.


    So now I'm trying to rush through Lasher, so I can read the newest Iron Druid book. But I'm savoring the waiting too.


    It's like with my all time favorite series, Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter by my very favorite author, Laurell K. Hamilton. I have all of the series in hardcover as well as on my nook. The twenty second book is due out soon. I can't wait! So she's getting twice the money from me. In fact, when I first got my nook, my goal was to buy all the Anita Blake ebooks. And I did, a few at a time, and reread them all. It took all of that summer, but I got them all.


    Ms. Hamilton writes another series about Merry Gentry, a fairy princess. I have read most of them also, but the Anita Blake ones remain my favorite. I recommend these books to anyone who will listen.


    As to why I've been reading and not knitting or crocheting, it all has to do with this future grandbaby. I swore I wasn't going to make anything else until we knew for sure the sex of this child. And my daughter and son-in-law want to know before the actual birth. So I'm anxiously waiting, crochet hooks and knitting needles at the ready. I'm even planning on making something on one of those round knitting looms.

Still not crafting

    That's right, I'm hanging my head in shame. I just don't feel like it. Although I was on Ravelry this morning, looking at crocheted sweater patterns. My good friend Kim is crocheting a granny square shawl, and she's kind of inspired me to crochet something with sock or lace weight yarn, and not a too small hook.


    Anyone who knows me knows I prefer the bigger hooks. The bigger the better, really. I detest using any hook smaller than maybe a G or H.  And these days, I'm wanting to crochet a sweater. Or maybe a shawl. Who knows? But either way, I'll keep you updated!

The Cicada's Bad Day

    This morning, as we were driving to New Jersey, my Hubs happened to mention that he noticed that I have a cicada stuck to the bumper of my Jeep. After we got home this afternoon, I went and looked, and darn if he wasn't right!


    And just like he said, it looks like his head is stuck in a hole in my bumper, and the rest of him is just hanging there. Of course, I took a few photos.

    Looks like this cicada had a really bad day. And yes, we made it back from New Jersey in one piece.

what I'm not doing today

    There are a few things I won't be doing today. Knitting or crocheting are just the first two. I also won't be going outside. At all, if I can help it.


    You see, a few days ago, I went to my friend's house and went swimming. That's all fine and good, until I got home and saw how red I was. This wasn't a problem, since in my entire life I have gotten burned maybe 4 or 5 times. And it has never been painful. I smear on some Noxzema, and voila, the next day I'm brown.


    Well. This time it's two days later, and I'm still red. In fact, my scalp is painful. I have been without hair for at least four summers now, and I have never gotten burned on my head. Of course, I usually have my SPF 4 or 8 Dark Tanning Oil. This time I forgot it. Even with my house hat on, when I went outside to help Hubs start up the vacuum for the pool, my head hurt. Just from standing in the sun, even with the hat on.


    I am also starting to not feel well. A bit queasy. I had to go out this morning and get more half and half for our coffee, so I picked up some Aloe Vera stuff for my head. When I put it on, it burned. After a little while, it felt better, but still. Burning? And it has no alcohol in it, according to the label.


    This morning, I ended up getting up because the pillowcase rubbing on my head, hurt. How much does that suck? At least if you get burned on your back or stomach you can turn over to the unburned side. What can you do when your racking head is burned??


    So I am a little cranky today. I want to go lay down, but it will hurt. Maybe I'll just stay here in my recliner. Put my feet up, and lay back. I could sleep like that.....

Family. It can be very complicated.

   Something happened in my family. I'm fuming, and I've been trying for days to figure out how to say what needs saying without offending anyone in my family.


    I don't think it can be done. I tried already, and it got nasty. Let me just say to everyone that there are two sides to every story, and when you hear negative stories about people in your family, please don't judge. Investigate on your own. Ask questions of the people involved. I'm sure they will be happy to talk to you. Just don't wait too long. Older people aren't going to be around forever, much as we can't imagine them not always being there.


     Piece of advice #2. What happened in the past is over. Holding a grudge is like poison in your system. No good can come of holding on to negativity.


    Piece of advice #3. Your parents are human. They make mistakes. Your grandparents too. Everyone makes mistakes. We are not always proud of what we have done, but it's in the past. Let's be nice to each other, before it's too late. See #2.


    I think I have made my point. Don't go verbally attacking your elderly relatives. ASK them questions, nicely. There is no need to be abusive.

Pool dilema part II

    I feel that I need to further explain myself about the whole pool thing. I grew up on a little lake in Putnam County, NY. The apartment (bottom half of a house, really) my parents rented was literally on the water. We walked down through the yard, and there were the wide steps that went down to a private dock. It even had a tiny private beach. We moved away the summer I turned thirteen. I had never been away from the water. Shortly after moving into our first house, my parents bought an above ground pool. They missed the lake as much as my brother and I did.


     So a pool was important to me, and Hubs was willing to do all the work. And really, once you get it up and running at the beginning of the season, it doesn't take that much work. I get in every morning, and skim from the inside. I straddle a couple of noodles, and with the skimmer head in my hand, I go back and forth, working my way out to the deep end, skimming. I also test the water every morning, and empty the skimmer basket when needed. Hubs has to vacuum. It's too hard for me. He finds it relaxing, it's a nice quiet evening activity. That only needs to be done maybe once a week or so.


    I have a wicker chair I keep in one corner to sit in. It's the corner that the shade gets to first.

    I call it my Queen Chair, since I'm the Queen of the pool. Some of you may recognize it as the same chair that Morticia Adams had in The Adams Family...  Do you have any idea how hard it is to find these chairs around here? The first one I had came from the neighbors across the street, years ago when they were having a yard sale. This one I found at the Goodwill store in Kingston. We had a Hell of a time getting it home in my Jeep! But I had to buy it. I had had friends scouting yard and garage sales for me for about two years with no luck before I randomly came across this one.


     We also have a table and two chairs that we put out at the far end of the pool. Hubs and I sit there, and have our coffee some mornings. And that's where we play backgammon. The table is tall, with the chairs barstool height.


     Anyway, if we were to fill in the pool, I see perhaps another, much smaller pool out at the far end of that fenced in space. I've even seen a good replacement on TV. It's a lap pool, where you swim and the flow of the water is so great that you don't really move. This one has a little treadmill in the bottom of it, which would be perfect for me to get some much needed exercise. And at the one end, it's like a spa, with bubbles and seats!


    I also see a play area for the grandkids. You know, a castle, or swings, or a big sandbox. And all safely enclosed by the current chain link fence. You gotta keep the precious little ones safe.


    Another thing I discovered about our pool. Many years ago, before there was a pool at Hackett Hill Park, our pool was being used as the town pool. Kids were given swimming lessons here.

The Blanket Conundrum

     The other day, I was searching through a closet looking for a shawl I had made. It was in there, but I also found a bag of my favorite baby blanket yarn. And inside the bag? A nearly complete Pastel Rainbow Baby Blanket.


     I've been making this blanket for years. So many years that I don't need the pattern for reference any more. I've changed it a little bit over the years, usually in the last round. Originally, the last round had the holes that are in the rest of the rounds.

    So the one I found, almost complete, was one I remember starting. I wondered where it was! It was different that all the others. I did the color sequence in reverse. Usually it starts with white, and ends with green. I made this one starting with the green and ending with white.

 

    Yesterday, I finished it. There were only three rounds left to go. Well, four including the one that was partway done. It took me all day, as my shoulder would start hurting from the crochet position. But I eventually got it done. Today I took some photos of the both of them, so you can see the difference.

    I will present them both to Sara and let her choose which one she prefers. I'd like to know what you all think.  Here are the photos of close ups of each of them.

 

 

    It's funny, I looked at the blankets in person, but it wasn't until I saw the photos that I decided I like the original one better.  Looking forward to some input!

to pool or not to pool?

    When Hubs and I first looked at this house, we weren't that impressed. To me, it's laid out similarly to our old apartment, but it has three bedrooms instead of two. The deciding factor for us was the pool.


    It is enormous! 20' x 40', in ground, shallow end is 3.5' with a straight slope down to 8'. It even had a diving board. It was in deplorable shape, but we brought it back. We even kept the old liner for many years. We just kept patching it up. Over the years, we've replaced the filter, from those god-awful fingers, to a very powerful earth filter. We put the return line back underground where it belongs. We've even replaced the underground lines.


    In the beginning, the electricity to the pool was literally strung from the house to the pump house through the tree branches. Totally illegal. We had that fixed. We had to have the entire pool grounded too.


     More recently we replaced the old liner, and the extremely old and very loud pump. Now that liner needs to be replaced. It wasn't quite the right size, and none of the top corners stayed in. Now the sides are coming out too. Hubs started pouring a new surround to the pool. We have three sections done. He hasn't had the time to do the whole thing. He's been doing it himself because to pay someone to come with a truck and pour it all at once would be extremely expensive, and they'd have to take down some of the chain link fence. Not to mention the damage to the back yard.


    Over the years, the pool has gotten lots of use. When Jesse was small, all his friends would come to swim. Hubs and his fellow mechanics would come on their lunch break to swim on hot days. All our friends knew they were always welcome at any time to come and swim. They didn't even have to ask, just come and enjoy. I can't even count the days that I would go down there and find Shannon Fitzgerald already lounging on a raft, or napping on the couch on the patio under our bedroom. He was lots of fun. Jesse loved him.


    These past few years, Hubs and I have discussed filling in the pool. He knows it's getting harder and harder for me to help him take care of it, and this year is the first year I've actually considered it. At this time, I'm the only one who's using it. It's really almost a waste of time. Now Hubs tells me he's concerned I won't be able to get in and out of it, using the ladder.


    So we either close it and fill in the yard, or he can get a new liner, finish the surround, and if he does so, he wants to get one of those fancy covers that an elephant can stand on. I am getting close to telling him it's too much work for him. But then he says that maybe the grandkids would come to swim. So we'll keep it open this year, and then decide. It's been that way for a couple of years now.


    If we were to fill it in, I would want to keep the fence up, and have a beautiful fenced yard for the grandkids to come and play. He insists the fence will come down. We'll see.


    Any comments are welcome, I'm so confused and I could use help deciding. Thanks for listening.

Craft Report and more!

    This week I haven't even picked up any needles or hooks. I am, however, lusting after these really cute baby booties.

    They are so adorable. They are crocheted in the  > shudder <  Crocodile stitch. Up until these booties, I have not liked a single thing I have ever seen done in this stitch. In general, I think most of the items are hideous. This pattern is for sale on Ravelry, and I am going to purchase it. Right now, I'm biding my time, looking for the right yarn.


     In other news, today I attended a 5th grade moving up ceremony. The last one I attended was my youngest child's, about 13 years ago. Cherub looked adorable in her pink dress. Luckily we were able to get out of there before the buses left, as poor Kim was so tired that she was ready to pass out.


     After I got home, I took care of the pool as best I could. I turned on the filter, and backwashed it. I emptied the skimmer basket. And I added some earth to the filter through the skimmer. The water level looked a little low, so I put the hose in.


    Then I came upstairs and harvested my crops in Farmville. You gotta have priorities. Finally, I was ready to wash some of those dishes that have been piling up in the kitchen. Even now that it's just Hubs and me, there are still so many dishes. I am getting tired. It takes a lot out of me to go up and down those stairs to take care of the pool every few hours.


    Hubs will be home late tonight, so I'll probably be sleeping when he gets in. I've had my new phone for two days now, and he was the first to call me since I got it. I've been texting everyone, but he was the first call.


    Speaking of my phone, I mentioned I got my ringtones back from a free website I have used before. I went back in and got a few more. I now have the theme song from The Big Bang Theory as my ringtone. Happy dance! I also downloaded another bit from the show, where Sheldon does the knock knock knock  "Penny", and before he can do it again, Penny knocks three times and says "Sheldon". It goes back and forth a few times, more insistent each time. That one is now my text message tone. I'm loving it!


    On my old phone I had a special ringtone for my Hubs, he now has the Stone Cold Steve Austin Theme from the WWE. I used to love Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The Saga of the Cell Phone

    Yesterday Hubs and I were sitting together after completing the pool cover removal. As we sat there, my cell phone lit up, as it does when an incoming message is received. Well, no message came. Instead, it started freaking out. Dialing the numbers 852 0852 852 0852 over and over. I kept ending it, but it still kept dialing the numbers. The phone even attempted to call that number. More than once.


    I tried to send a text message, but it kept instantly flicking back to the home screen. It did other things too, but it's too complicated to try and explain it all. I turned the phone off, and then back on. Still acting funky. I took the battery out. after I put it back in, it was still freaking out.


    After about an hour, I decided I had better go visit our local cell carrier store. I have had this phone a long time, and I like it! The original phone like this was in my bosom when I jumped into a pool in Texas, so the one that freaked out was the replacement that they sent to me. (Rice didn't work to dry it out)


    I wanted Hubs to go with me, as he's the main person on the account. And if I needed to get a new phone, I wanted him to be there to approve. After all, he's the one paying for it. I have already given up on ever getting a smart phone. Not gonna happen. But I like my phone, it slides and has the QWERTY keyboard. I text a lot.

And it was red.

    So they couldn't fix it. I kind of knew that. There was one new phone on display that I really liked, but they didn't have any in stock. So I got the newest version of the phone I had. The last one was the original version, the new one is version III.

    I doesn't come in any other color but this steel grey. At this point I would like to add that through this whole process, Hubs was unpleasant. He wasn't happy that I needed a new phone. He was pissed that we had to use my mom's upgrade for me to get a new phone. He wanted to get rid of my mom's line. She never uses her phone. At one point, he actually got up and left the store. I thought he might leave me there to walk home. He just needed a few minutes to cool off. I didn't really believe he would make me walk home, he knows what that would do me.


    This man is so considerate that he won't leave me in the dark in our bedroom. He waits until I leave before turning off the light. He knows I'm really afraid of the dark. He's allowed a tantrum once in a while.


    So the new phone cost about $55, and she gave us a form to get a $50 rebate. That made Hubs a little happier. I have since then gotten all my ringtones back from a free website, and now have it set up just like the old one was. The new phone is even slimmer than the old one. The screen is a little bigger too, as they scrunched the number buttons to the bottom a little. I guess I will have to live with the grey. I can't wait for the day that you can get a cell phone that you can program the outer skin to be any color or texture you want.

Man Tools, Who Knew?

    Today, Hubs decided it's time to take the cover off of the pool. I volunteered to help, even though I can't do much to be really helpful. I am there primarily for moral support. I skimmed yucky stuff off the cover, which took a lot out of me. I had to stop and catch my breath quite a bit. But every little bit helps.


    Once we got the cover off the pool, Hubs asked me to take the broom and sweep the leaves and pine needles away from the edge of the pool. He only needed them 6 - 12 inches away. Again, it took me a while, but he was in no hurry. After I was done and resting, he went into the garage and got out a lawn mower looking thing.


    Seriously, this thing vacuumed up the leaves and pine needles from the walkway around the pool. I watched him perform this task with my mouth hanging open. And when he was all done, I said to him "So that thing is a vacuum cleaner for men, and looks like a lawn mower so they don't feel girly!" He wasn't happy, but he agreed with me. I just chuckled.


    He's gone off to price the chemicals we need for the pool, and I'm back upstairs in my chair. I'm exhausted. I think I will need a nap later, especially since I didn't sleep well last night.


    I haven't been crafting much lately, I really want to wait until we are absolutely sure of the sex of the baby. Right now, it seems it's a boy, but it's not 100% certain.

Strawberry Fields....

    Well, actually it's strawberry hillside. It turns out that there are wild strawberries growing on the entire hillside next to our driveway. Hubs called this to my attention after taking his truck down there to vacuum it out and wash the windows.


    I went out to take a look for myself, and there they were! All peeking out from in between all the green leaves. I went back inside and grabbed a bowl, and we started picking.

Here are the ones we picked, all rinsed off and shiny.

 

 

    If I could stay bending over for a longer period, I would have picked more. But I can go out again later, or tomorrow.

Doin' the Happy Dance

    Weeks and weeks ago, my eldest child and only daughter Sara sent me picture message. It was pretty early in the morning, and I was still in bed. The photo was of a pregnancy test stick, showing a positive result. The text read "Holy crap!"


    She and her husband Mike have been very happily married for almost three years now. They have an awesome house, with a gorgeous front porch, complete with the proverbial white picket fence around the little front yard. This is my favorite photo of them together:

   And now they are finally going to have a baby. I do have two grandchildren already, from my elder son, but there is just something special about your only daughter having a baby. She and I have such a connection. She has been through a lot with me. My first disastrous marriage, and the years of her living with my parents. She was so happy when I finally found my soul mate and current Hubs.


    As you can imagine, I was itching to start crocheting and knitting baby things. I am very proud of the fact that I held out for eight hours until I started the first crocheted blanket. Here is a photo of what it looks like. This one's not a secret.

    The colors don't show up on this photo, but it's a pastel rainbow 12 pointed star. All her friends have gotten them, and that was the one that she requested. Well, all  except for the one friend that, for some reason, I decided to do hers round with no points. I must have had a flash of the future, because that baby got a round bassinet!


    To end today's tirade, just know that I have been working on baby things, but they are secret projects, as I'm saving them for the baby shower. And she reads this blog. I don't want to give anything away! Excuse me while I do the Happy Dance again!!

Now for something completely different

   That was one of my favorite quotes from Monty Python. So this post will be about something different. Let's talk about crocheting first. I have finished the 2nd cat bed, after adding another row to the walls. My Hubs thought it was too short. I added the row, and he was right. Again.

    I am currently working on the 3rd and last of the cat beds. It will be just like the 2nd one, but a different color, and bigger. See, the last one I intend for the smallest of Sara's cats, Nermal. The biggest bed, the felted one, I see The Dude claiming. So that makes the newest one for Lemmy. He's bigger than Nermal, and smaller than The Dude. But really, they can sleep in whichever one they want to.


    Yesterday, I didn't post because I was not feeling very well at all. I just couldn't put any words together that I thought you might want to read. I spent most of the day on bed, with a worried Hubs hovering over me. I feel much better today, thankfully.


    This morning, I went to Stich n Bitch, then I went to the karate school to keep my good friend company while her Cherub tests for her 2nd degree black belt. During the actual testing a few months ago, she couldn't participate due to a broken bone in her wrist, and she was wearing a cast. She did take the written test which she passed. This weekend has been set aside for her to complete the physical portion of the test, along with the 3rd degree candidates. So in actuality, it's probably more intense than the original testing. I'm sure she will do very well.


    So I went to keep my friend company for a while, then went and ran some errands, then went back to keeping company again. Now I'm home, because I have my own chores to take care of. But if I have time later, I will go back again. Poor Kim is all alone, sitting on those hard bleachers, by herself.


    I do have something else to talk about, but I'm going to hold off for now. It's very exciting, and I'm thrilled to death about it. You will just have to wait!


   

An open mind?

     I like to think that I have an open mind about most things. I realize that I do not know everything in the universe, and I am willing to learn about most things. Sometimes I watch a show on TV called Ancient Aliens. It's about these people who believe that the Earth was visited in ancient times by aliens, and that the aliens influenced, and aided  our ancient ancestors. They have all done research, some have written books about the subject.


     Most of the time, what these self professed "ancient alien theorists" have to say is interesting. But recently one of these characters crossed the line, as far as I'm concerned. His name is Giorgio Tsoukalos, I'm not sure if I spelled his name correctly. He is the publisher of some fancy alien theorist magazine.


    All this time, I've been listening to this man and his cohorts spout all these crazy explanations for things. In one episode, he was talking about this particular ancient civilization, I don't remember exactly which one it was, but he stated that these people believed in "magic water". He looked at the camera with a straight face, and actually said these words - "Now, we all know that there's no such thing as magic water!"


    In an episode more recently, he was talking about a man who walked into a cave and didn't come out for two years. TWO YEARS. His opinion on this? Well, to him it was perfectly obvious that the man walked into the cave and directly into a time vortex, where he got transported to another world or time, for the two years that he was gone. He actually used the words "PERFECTLY OBVIOUS". But yet, we all know that there's no such thing as magic water.... Seriously??


    Since I saw that particular episode, I can't take him seriously. I always wondered who styled his hair, which sticks out in all directions, in a halo around his head. I wondered if he knew he looked ridiculous. And now, every time he speaks about anything, I always say, "We all know there's no such thing as magic water!"


    It just blows me away that the concept of "magic water" is too much for him to believe in, but a man can walk into a cave and directly into a time vortex. This guy has lost what little credibility he had with me. He just pushed me too far. The other "theorists" who appear on the program I have no problem with. I wish the shows producers would get rid of that one guy. But I don't even know if that show is still in production, making new shows.


    And my mind is still open, really it is. Thanks for letting me vent, this has been on my mind for weeks. It feels good to get it out of my system.


   

A couple of thoughts...

   First, I am making progress on the second of the three cat beds for Sara's cats. It's been very different for me. It took me a while to figure out how to make the sides stand up without crocheting wire into it. So far, it's working.

   The second thought has to do with the weather. It rained all day yesterday, and all night last night. It was still raining a little bit this morning. As of right now, we've only had about 4 hours of the sun shining. Not long enough to dry the wetness of the grass.


    Which beings me to the point. I was sitting here, having my coffee when I heard a lawnmower running. I sat here, thinking about all the rain we had. I wasn't surprised to hear the mower keep cutting out, restarting, then cutting out again. It's very clear to me that this man and his family aren't from around here, they are city folks. Hopefully he figured out that it's counterproductive to try to mow wet grass.


    It reminds me of the time when a couple from New York City moved in next door to my ex in-laws. After the husband mowed the back yard, he took the cut grass an spread it all over the front yard. He thought it would sprout roots and grow there.


    And another couple who moved into the neighborhood that put their garbage out, and wondered why it didn't get picked up. They didn't know that outside of NYC, you have to pay for that service. When my family moved into our house in Wappingers Falls, in 1969, there was a thing called the Welcome Wagon. A person came to your house to welcome you to the town or neighborhood. They had all kinds of information you needed, such as the garbage thing, and coupons for local stores, They gave us all kinds of neat stuff.


    Doesn't this organization exist any more? These days, it's needed more than ever, in my opinion.

an ungrateful cat I have

    And talk like Yoda, I do. That's right, Ozzy won't go near his custom made felted cat bed. So I'm going to take it to daughter Sara's and let one of her cats claim it as their own. In the meantime, I'm crocheting two more, so no kitteh will feel left out. The new ones aren't to be felted, I'm making them out of Lion Brand's Homespun, which I know her cats like to sleep on. She has an afghan I made for her from that yarn, and they love it.


    This morning, I was actually busy. I did some laundry, and went to the store. That was necessary, since we were nearly out of half and half, which is an intolerable state to be in. After I got home and unpacked and put away, I went over to visit my good bud Bonny. We hung out for a while, then decided to go to Michaels. I bought some more Homespun for the aforementioned cat beds.


     After that, we decided to look around in our local consignment shop. They have some awesome stuff in there! But the cast iron cauldron I had my eye on was gone. I guess it was a good thing, because I can't afford it anyway.  I'd better get back to it, or the cat beds will never get done!

Finally Done!

 Friday:  
    That's right, the cat bed is finally done! This time I remembered to measure it before felting. It was 20" across the round base, and the walls were 6.5" tall. Here is a before photo:

    Now, in the photo, the walls curled in, and when I take the after felting photo, they should stand up. As I write this, the cat bed is in the washer, felting. After it comes out of the dryer, I will take the after photos, and add them to this post. I will also take the after measurements.


    After felting, the sides wouldn't stand up, so I took a needle and more yarn and kind of puckered it, and now they stand up. Of course, the stupid cat wants nothing to do with it, even though I told him not to get in it, it's not for him. If you have cats, you know that they don't do what you want, preferring to do what you don't want them to do. So I told him NOT to get in the bed, it's NOT for him, it's another basket for my yarn. I even put some yarn in it.

    Of course, he still won't go in it. But I have hope for the future.  The after felting measurements are: 13" across, and the walls are 3.5" tall.


Saturday:
    So far, Ozzy has shown little interest in the bed. He has stepped with front paws into it, but not all the way. Yet. I just put some yarn in it, and told him to stay out of it. That might work.

First Impressions

    Last month was my Hubs' birthday. I am friends with some of his friends from childhood on facebook.  One of them contacted me, and said she had birthday gift for him, and to keep it a surprise.


    We arranged to meet. Thankfully it was on a day that Hubs was working; I might have had trouble explaining exactly why I needed to go to Stewarts at a certain time that day. It was very exciting for me to finally meet someone who knew Hubs when he was a child. His mom wouldn't talk about it. She had no stories for me of any cute things he did, or trouble he got into.


    I'm afraid I was a little over excited when I met up with her that day. Sometimes I tend to do that. I might have come off as a little hyper. But I was so excited. I realized shortly afterwards that that was how I had appeared. And I feel bad that I made a non-favorable first impression. I would like to become friends with this woman, and possibly meet other people from Hubs' past. She was very nice, after all. And if she's reading this, I hope she sends me another personal message and gives me another chance.

Success

    I got my watch back, and it works! I'm so happy. The jeweler said that it had gotten super magnetized somehow. So the spring inside stayed wound when I wound it. That's what was wrong with it. And there was no charge.


    The jeweler told my Hubs that it needs to be kept away from electronic devices. Hmmm. That might be harder than it sounds. We have cell phones, laptops, and tablets. Heck, even the cable boxes and DVD players have magnets in them these days. So it may be rather difficult to do. I guess I can only wear it occasionally.


    I must say, it makes my heart sing to hear it ticking. And to think it was on the wrist of my Great Grandmother when she came to help my mom after I was born. Mom is pleased too, that it's working again. She told Sara and me that she was going to throw it away! It makes me wonder what else she has stashed away in that old jewelry box of hers.....

Updates

    Well, it never did storm. We had some rain overnight, but no thunderboomers. I took a two day rest from the blog, I just didn't have anything to say. It was too fracking hot to knit, so I haven't finished up the cat bed for Ozzy yet. This morning it was too fracking cold to have to get up and move, but I went and hung out with the Cherub.


    It was even more awesome that she was still asleep when I got there. I woke her up at the prescribed time, to get ready for school. In the entire year and a half that I've been keeping her company, this is the first morning that she's been asleep when I got there. It was actually wonderful, I got to sit and read in the peace and quiet for a while. I had brought my kindle fire with me, since I had gotten a couple of new games that I thought she might like. Maybe next week she'll be awake.


     Remember when I told you all about my great grandmother's watch? That I had taken it to be fixed and cleaned up? I don't remember if I told you about the aftermath. It was cleaned up, but it still didn't work. So Hubs and I took it back to the guy in Fishkill. This was about three weeks ago, maybe more. Well, he just called me a little while ago, and said it was ready. I immediately called Hubs, since he's in Fishkill. I thought maybe he would have enough time left on his lunch break to go and get it.


     He said he would try, but if not today, he would make a special trip just to get it. Now, we have already paid this guy a chunk of change to do the work he already did. And the watch still didn't work. That's why I want him to get it, I wouldn't have the guts to call the guy on it. My Hubs is like his mom that way. She never took any bullshit from anyone. The Sears home repair crew all cringed at the mention of her name. I believe she put the fear of God into each and every one of them at one time or another.


     I look forward to reporting to you on the condition of my 100+ year old watch. I also am looking forward to wearing it!

To storm or not to storm...

    All day, I've been waiting for these "severe" storms to hit our area. I love me a good thunderstorm. The energy is absolutely invigorating. When I went out earlier, I saw dark clouds to the north, I figured Staatsburg and Rhinebeck were getting stormed on.


    So I came home and waited some more. There was a nice breeze blowing, so I pulled the curtains back from our front windows. It actually got kind of dark for a while, and I heard one rather loud, ominous thunder boom. But that was all we got.


    It's now just after 6 pm, and although it did thunder again, it still hasn't let loose on my quaint little town. Every once on a while my Weather Channel app on my laptop lets out a thunder boom, just to let me know that it's possible for a storm to hit us.
You will forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

A Karate Tournament

    Today was my son's Karate school tournament. I believe it was the 2013 New York State Championships. I got a phone call the other night, requesting my help at the front table. Just like last year, I got to take care of the spectators. You know, "You want to watch your kid compete? It'll cost you a modest sum."


    Don't get me wrong, it's fun. I get to meet all these people, and very few give me a hard time. Julie took care of the people who had pre-registered, and Jen Jackson handled the walk ins. That is one job I would not want to do. But they all come in knowing how much it's gonna cost.


    I got to watch my son compete. I enjoy that very much. Truly, the only time I see him smiling at these events is when he's in the ring, ready to spar. Anyway, here are a few photos I took today. My son has had that "Karate face" since he was 10.

    The final results for forms, Jess got 1st in that one:

    In this last one, that's my Hubs on the left, behind him is son-in-law Mike, daughter Sara, and Miss Julie is sitting on the floor. Believe me, it was cooler down there!