Crap on my shoes, egg in my pocket (and yarn on the needles)

Llama day...

2012-01-26T17:44:00.000-08:00

So, I couldn't think of any great topics to blog about. So, instead is a few snaps of the fuzzy four leggers.

Dolly (right), Lorenzo, (center) and Toni, (left)

Have been waiting impatiently for me to feed them.

At least as impatient as they get, anyway...

Llama. Guess who found the muddiest spot on the whole place to roll in?

Sigh...

Annie, who insists on tipping over any bucket,

to make ABSOLUTELY sure there isn't one scrap of grain

she might have missed. Not ONE! Looks like she might

have gotten into some mud, too.

Swell...

Good thing I love these little monsters! ; )

Finger lickin' good? Um...

2012-01-24T12:34:00.000-08:00

Went to feed this morning again. I don't know what was going on, but I seemed to be on the menu!

I took the hay out, and the llamas met me at the gate. I put the hay in the bins close by, and Llama walked up. I patted her, then said I didn't have anything for her, holding up my hand. She then walked over, and started sucking my fingers like a calf! This was odd. I carefully removed my hand, and she just walked over and started on the OTHER hand. Okay...

After removing my now somewhat gooey digits from her mouth, I started for the gate. I looked down to see Toni reaching for my fingers, too! But, she smelled Llama on my hands, and quickly backed off, with a disgusted look. I quickly let myself out, locked the gate, and put my hands down...

Whereupon, Rudee decided that I needed my fingers washed!

I have not a clue why the llamas would be interested in my fingers... Rudee is always licking me, so that wasn't a big surprise, but it was sure unique having a llama nibble. (For any worried about my being bitten, llamas don't have upper teeth, just a hard, gum covered plate. They have long, horse like bottom teeth, but again, they aren't particularly sharp.)

So, I guess I was tasty this morning!

Is it July yet? Must be...

2012-01-23T13:22:00.000-08:00

In one of my earlier posts, I said it was going to be July before I fed... Must be July 1st today! I was able, with a bit of thought beforehand, get all the animals fed. I couldn't go out in the field, so I got out the wagon and fed them from the gravel side of the fence, using the wagon to haul things. The llamas didn't care, but Rudee was checking out the wagon a lot. I am wondering if our visiting kitty had slept, (or worse) in it. That's usually why he's interested in things like that.

The chickens, well, they just figure if it's food, they are good. So, I didn't trip, I wore shoes that didn't leak, (I found out that the garden clogs that I was using have a bit of a hole, so when you walk in the mud, there is a definite squish factor involved with socks...), and I was able to get the animals all fed and checked. About the only thing that happened was when I tried to exit the chicken house, Annie and Toni decided that I must have grain for them, I was in the chicken house, right?

I showed them my hands. They sniffed. They looked at me. I raised my hands, giving them the "all gone" sign. They looked at me some more. I finally said, "SHOO! I don't have anything..." They continued to glance at me, as if I was going to do some fancy magic trick, until I just walked carefully forward, and went out the gate.

And nearly had two llamas in the yard. They know who gives them the good stuff!

In the weather news, it didn't rain today, (part of the reason I could feed...), but the weather folk are talking another 2 inches of rain soon. We have done pretty well here, locally, we had one road out with about 2 inches of water, but that has receded, so we are able to get out. Everyone around is nervous about wind, since we had so much water, so fast.

Eeep. I know we needed rain, but it was juuuust a smidge on the the generous side!

Quack! And water skiing?

2012-01-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

Made it out okay so far with the rain, no power outages, and only a few places around this area underwater. Husband had to drain out some water that seeped into the shop, but it wasn't excessive. We have half a moat around the house, the drain is flowing so we have what looks like a small creek behind our house.

And the water has receded. Some. That being said, the weather people are all showing the lovely videos of the rain that we are going to continue to get... All week long. I am sure hoping this doesn't create problems later. The rain is a pain inna tookus...

BUT...

If we get wind, or if it gets down to freezing... We're in trouble.

In other news, I can't decide if this is idiotic, unlawful, crazy, or just creative. Probably all of them...

See what the day brings...

2012-01-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

I keep listening to the weather, and they are talking storms with high winds for this area. (Oh, joy...) I am on shift, right when they are supposed to pick up. Husband decided I shouldn't drive, (big surprise...), and so he will take me in. We have firewood put up, and some fuel for the generator, the emergency supplies, so we are set if the power should quit. I sincerely hope it doesn't, but we shall see...

Or not see, if the house is dark.

Heh...

On the bright side, I will also be getting my first haircut since... Uh... Well before Thanksgiving! I don't quite look this bad yet, but I think that my creative methods of keeping the hair out of my eyes are getting more and more limited. I haven't quite come to the point of rubber banding the bangs over my eyes like my MIL did to her shihtzus, but close.

Husband asked, well, why don't you just grow out the bangs to the length of the rest of your hair. Which, I suppose, I could do. But I had that hair style, and it is really limiting on what you can do. Pony tails continuously, at least to keep the stuff out of my face. And I have heavy, thick, hair, which gives me neck and head aches if I let it grow too long. So, no. Plus, it's starting to look 'ratty', some growing a bit faster, so it's uneven. All things being equal, it is so time to get this taken care of...

The Case of the Scale Stuff.

On my scale stuff to the side. I am going to make a change. It is getting so ponderously long, I am only going to show my last ten weeks. It will still 'keep me honest' to the fact I need to lose weight, but won't take so much of the side space. I will put the short goal up top (i.e., I am aiming for 220 at this point), that way it's obvious what is happening... I am even being honest that I gained 2 pounds this week. Not getting enough exercise and eating more, yep. Fairly one to one correlation there... *sigh* So, I go on, work on dropping it... Rag on me folks, I have been letting this slide. I know that, even though I can't get out much, I should be able to get the weight going DOWN... Hmph.

So, I hope to be reading blogs and possibly writing more blogs, but we shall see what Mama Nature has up her sleeve. the animals are as ready as I, uh, well, Husband, can make them, so we shall see what transpires... I don't know if it's an improvement for Buzz, she had never been around snow, that I can remember, she HATED that stuff, it was falling, and she'd run on the porch and glare at it, then lick her coat like crazy to get rid of the snow. She does fine with rain (she is a cat from Oregon, after all), but the snow threw her a complete curve ball!

Time for travelin', where's my wings?

2012-01-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

So.

I was going to be a good kid and knit on my Mom's socks. And I did. But I finished the other Travelling Fairy sock. This is the finished pair, upon my delicate tootsies... (Ahem...) I hope to wear them to spinning, to drive the "identical twin socks" people nuts. Heh. I made a real effort to make these different in look, but enough similar, that they are a pair.

It snowed.

Okay, it made a little tiny fluffy, powdered sugar cover on the lawn. (Cordova, Alaska this ain't...) It did this yesterday, and this morning. I could tell that at least two of the llamas either slept in the open, or they were snowed on early in the morning, as they had the same little powdered sugar fluff along the line of their backs. I must say, I can tell my "white" llamas are more Aran-y during this weather, the snow is white. The llamas... Not so much. Especially the "all white" Llama, who has found a wallow of iron rich dirt, so right now she is reddish pink-brownishy. I will have to clean her fiber a lot before I can use it.

The biggest problem this morning, making me think twice about going outside, is that it melted during the day yesterday, and refroze during the night. I don't want to slip again, so I am staying housebound for the time being. Bless Husband, he is just fine with this, fed YET AGAIN this morning. At this rate, I will be able to go feed, oh, about JULY... Hmph.

To do list for today: knitting, reading, some house cleaning. (Yes, it's thrill packed here at Fur 'n Feathers Farm, folks...) I think I will work on my charity knitting today. I have a pink baby blanket for a charity group I send to. I have to get that blanket finished sooner or later, and well, it's a day of volunteering, so this is my volunteer knitting, right?

Then of course, back to Mom's sock. I am getting close to the "complicated" part of the sock, so I will see if the gal's statement that this pattern will not send me to the corner, into the fetal position, will come true. It has been a good pattern, so far, so I am hoping that will continue...

Pictures of sock and blanket soon, promise!

Odd little funnies...

2012-01-11T18:32:00.000-08:00

Dateline, New Year's:

Woke to gunshots, lights from fireworks, dogs barking, crackle of noisemakers. We'd celebrated by kissing about 9 or so, and had gone to bed. So I listened to the cacophony, then heard Husband mumble something. I figured he was awake, so I leaned over and said "Happy New Year, Honey", and gave him a kiss.

He opened his eyes, looked completely confused, smiled, then said, "I love you, too, honey, but what did I do to deserve that?"

It was then that I realized he'd been talking in his sleep, and he hadn't heard a thing...

Dateline, yesterday:

I still have to have a little help with my bath, I have a "shower seat". I have Husband stay in the house, in case something untoward would happen. I undressed, took my glasses off, (I have horrid vision without my glasses), and got in the shower. I started to turn on the shower, when I realized there was a spider on the floor of the shower. I am nearly phobic of spiders, and had nothing handy to vaporize said spider, so I started screaming my lungs out for Husband to get something to kill it. I think it went something on the order of "GETITKILLITGETITGETITOMGGEEEETIIIIT!" He ran in, grabbed a shampoo bottle and smacked it on the spider.

It went pif. He hit it again. Pif... He then leaned down close, and then picked up the "spider", while I recoiled in unmitigated horror.

"Honey, you were screaming about a rouge yarn ball." He then showed me the little black ball of felted fluff, that had scared the living daylights out of me... Husband laughed for at least a few minutes as he threw away said rouge yarn ball...

So much for the big, strong woman...

Eep... : /

My sock... And Twits...

2012-01-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

Since I forgot to put my photo of my Travelling Fairy sock up yesterday, I put it up today, both up, and folded down.

I will post the other when I finish it, with this one, mostly to show how goofy I am... Let's just say I like scrap socks...

In other things, I have enjoyed Twitter, though I mostly am reading it, off and on, not ~~twitting~~ tweeting much, just occasionally as I think of something. But I must say, people are... well... You decide.

I had about 3 or 4 followers, other book writers. I noticed that all the sudden I was getting LOTS of followers (for me), I think it had gone up to ten or so, in a day. I just had my account open, who ever wanted to join, could. Then I actually started looking at the folk joining. Other book folk? Ahem.

No.

Every last one had to do with p*rn. Specifically websites that were on the header of each. I was rather rattled, so I checked on the Twitter site for information on how to block them, and quickly changed my status to private... Well, at least people need approval before becoming a follower. I also blocked the ones already following me that were doing that.

Sorta made me want to wash my hands after dealing with it, but hopefully it won't happen again, or at least as easily. The odd thing? That's why I made my comments section on this blog "after approval", I was getting responses with websites of the same quality.

Ew. Just... Ew... I can't figure why a blog about me, or my Twitter feed would interest someone like that.

I state again...

Ew.

Zoooooom... Later.

2012-01-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

Went to the Doctor this last week, and he gave me the all clear to drive, with the proviso that I need to practice some, and that I don't, say, plan a 6 hour drive somewhere immediately. I am pleased that my leg is recovering well, I am walking with the cane still, I suppose I don't REALLY need it, the doctor actually said it doesn't matter one way or another, and that it... Um...

Ok, he said that his Grandpa used a cane, and when asked why, as he didn't have problems, he said it was to move annoying children and dogs. Doctor said that gives me license to use it accordingly as well. (Needless to say, I cracked up...) Our next door neighbor, who is also a doctor, mentioned that it could give me a false sense of security if I was out feeding, as it wouldn't prevent falling on ice or poo. I told him that generally, I don't go out if it's icy, and well, I knew about the poo, since I was carrying TWO walking sticks when that happened. He then suggested I use a walker to feed.

Um. No. I will have husband help me, but I can't begin to figure out how to walk around with a bucket of feed, a walker, and have 5 eager llamas bouncing around me... And hay flakes? Not happening! Husband thought I might try using my wagon again, to pull the stuff around. I have no idea how that might work, since two of the llamas are rather piggy... We'll work it out...

I can't say I might not be up, weight wise, this week, since I have been a bit more gluttonous, but I have been able to keep the weight from going too nuts. Haven't lost much, but haven't gained much. Both docs say I now can get back to walking, and it will make the bone heal faster. Just have to figure out where to walk (more) safely.

And I finished one of my socks. I call it (just because) the "Travelling Fairy Socks". I will be knitting another eventually, that will be as long, but totally different looking, (for one thing, I am using white as the contrast color). I think I made the leg 16 inches, folding down to 8. It's just a scrap-tastic sock I had been thinking about, and wanted to try. I have a feeling that my spinning class will have hysterics, since they want socks to match... That isn't going to happen with more than a few of my upcoming socks, to be named "Port and Starboard", "Cop Car", and some Dobby socks. What's the use of doing knitting for yourself if you can't have some fun?

I am still knitting on Mom's socks, I will post up a picture when I get one finished, it's a very involved pattern to what I normally do, that's why it's taking so long...

If you are counting, I am down to 3 sock pairs, and one blanket I am knitting on... I'm slipping! Quick, I need something to cast on! HAHAHA!!!

Neighbors visiting... And back to the "shop".

2012-01-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

Had a few visitors the other day...

We have avoided scaring these birds, they seem to keep the bug level down. They seem to realize this, they will watch us, and make little nervous sounds when Rudee is out, but except when I have opened the door and they are on the porch (!), they don't scatter or fly, as a rule. They just keep doing what they do.

(Which, fortune would have it, hasn't included much doo, at least in the walkways...)

I was worried they would get into my garden, as one year they completely destroyed my shade garden, tore it to bits. Turns out, they were going after seed dropped from the bird feeder. I moved the feeder, no more problems. And they never went into my vegetable garden, Husband and I kept track, but never found evidence of it.

They seemed a bit shy when I came out with the camera and started taking photos, but once they figured out I wasn't going to walk to them, they settled a lot, and I think I took some fairly nice pics. I don't know if they were wet, or if that is normal, but they looked glossy. Almost as if they had oil on their feathers... I think some of the old men birds are gone, we have looked, the males in the group are just starting to get blue wattles and beards. One of our neighbors does not like turkeys, and calls Fish and Wildlife to have them moved. I don't know if these birds have figured it out, (she lets her dogs roam "to keep the birds out"), or she just hasn't called yet. We, as well as the neighbor across from us, would like the birds to stay, both for the enjoyment factor, as well as "bug patrol".

Ah, life in the megalopolis... (HA!)

In other news, I was finally, after about a month and a half, able to go back to the substation (or, as informally known, the "cop shop") yesterday. It was nice getting back, I started a newsletter, so I was busy most of the afternoon. One of the deputies realized I was back, and I heard the broadcast radio click on to a country station. (He's not a big Petty fan...) I played some Junior Brown, Asleep at the Wheel, and Doc Watson, just for fun, and he looked rather oddly at the computer when he went by...

Ah, and had a "regular" come in. She comes in about once every month or two. She complains about the same thing, I explain that it is a job for the State Police, because of where it's located. I give her the phone for the State Police. She thanks me, then leaves. I am so curious if she ever actually CALLS the State Police... I would guess not, since I see her so regularly. At least she's polite, I guess. Better than a lot of them I deal with. I am not even sure if I am the only one that has dealt with her. Somehow, it wouldn't surprise me if the whole lot of our volunteers have probably met her at some point...

I picked one of the deputies brains about a story point, and I forget how often they have to deal with people's questions. I started with "I hope this question makes sense". He responded, "I'll work with what I get..." with a big smile. As it turned out, I was on the right track, and will be able to use the information he gave me in the story, which pleases me immensely. We also swapped some personal stories about families, law, and less than legal doings in the community.

It is nice to be back!

First sock o' the new year...

2012-01-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

I did get a sock finished. ONE sock. It is the glow in the dark sock, and other than it is rather thick, (I used two strands of yarn, the glow in the dark one was very thin), I think it came out pretty well... I am going to sew a leather footie on it and make it a slipper.

I am going to make the other sock later, but this one was so close to being finished, I just had to get it off the needles. I want to work on my Mom's Bridge of Roses socks, I chose dark, earthy brown as the sock color. The roses will be yellow. I am going to try and work on it today and tomorrow a lot, as I will be going to the Doctor for my latest checkup on the leg (pleasepleaseplease no more boot!) and the one tech is just absolutely enthralled with my knitting. It would be nice to show her a more advanced pattern, she has been impressed with my basic knit sock, I want to show her the super stuff! Heh.

I actually was brave today. I have been really nervous about going out and handling Rudee again, he is a big dog, and doesn't always clue in that he needs to sit. (We have trained him, but he has enough alpha in him, that he will "forget" his training occasionally...) I went out, and let him do the potty thing, and walked him for about 10 minutes. He got a tiny bit rambunctious at first, but when I told him to sit, and he did. I think he's just so happy to have me out with him that he's not going to screw it up...

Or something...

Mom got him a new toy for Christmas, he loves "Hedgehog Balls", and now he has one and a spare. Bright danger orange, so we can hopefully find them... It is the one thing that he is not fond of sharing. He isn't aggressive, but if you ask him to drop it, he conveniently becomes deaf. Then, if you try to take it from him, he turns his head away, (busily wagging his tail, he knows what he's doing...), but he let me have his toy today, I just dropped it back to him, but I know he was happy to see me if he was willing to share HIS toy. We shall see how long that lasts.

I walked out to the llamas, and just stood for a little bit. Dolly walked up, and I just held still. She came so close I could feel her breath on my face. (Um. Breath mint?)

I stayed still, and she checked me out, as did the others, they just stood nearby, waiting... I didn't have any food for them, and soon they wandered away to graze, but it was nice to be out near them again.

The chickens didn't care. Somehow, I think chicken's memory consists of "Food?" "Run!" "Food!" and "Tired." (Males seem to have "SEX!" as well. Females with chicks have "Food is here.") If you aren't directly involved with the food, the memory fades...

Yep, that's about it for chickens. I really wasn't expecting much from them, but it's nice to see them, anyway.

I have been out petting Buzz every once in a while, but have to leave the cane indoors. It freaks her out a LOT. I have no clue why, unless one of our neighbors has been after her. I certainly haven't, in fact, I used to play with her with a fishing pole... Strange.

So, hope is returning that I will be able to go out and do things again. I don't know when, but this is a step or two in the right direction!

Two faces of Janus...

2012-01-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

So, one of the old superstitions of New Year's is that you will do all year what you do today.

So far that has consisted of watching Sunday Morning, getting dressed, doing dishes, and setting up a new photo for my blog. (This month I stuck with BTK, just a slightly different effect.)

Um. Loose translation, guess I won't be doing a whole lot different from last year. Meh.

I was watching some of the events from 2011, and I was talking with Husband a bit. I am at the age where "I can remember..." creeps into the conversation, on occasion.

2011 was the year the last Space Shuttle went up. I remember the first one going up. I actually got up and watched on it on TV. (On a black and white 10 inch TV, which probably didn't give me the full effect, but I digress...)

(Do they even MAKE black and white TV's anymore???)

Prince William and Kate were married. I remember when Prince Charles and Lady Diana were wed. (And all the other things after...)

I remember the US getting into countries that we are now leaving.

I remember this dorky computer that didn't seem worth the effort to get, (anyone remember the OLD Macs?), that now seem ubiquitous to our society as a whole.

Ok, I think I will stop this, as it is making me feel like I should be checking for my AARP card. (Which I teased Husband about getting last year...)

Do I have any resolutions? No. I only jokingly make one, to not make any resolutions, so I can break it and be done with it. I guess I don't have the whole clean sweep of the new year thing going. Again, meh.

So, I will get better, the leg will heal, hopefully I will get the llama fiber made into yarn THIS year, (ahem), write on the book, and garden, and volunteer for the Sheriff's Office some more.

The rest is gravy...

Quiet day.

2011-12-27T14:36:00.000-08:00

It's raining here. It hasn't rained in some time, so it's not a bad thing. Nice to listen to, at any rate. I have been knitting, reading, and some house cleaning. The leg, well, it's improving, I guess, at least it's getting enough better that I keep forgetting where I left my cane from one room to the next!

I am still not stable enough to go feed by myself. (Some of that has to do with the dang boot I have to wear, it's ROUNDED on the bottom, and meant for floors and level concrete, not 'dances with chickens and llamas' on gravel...) I am not real pleased by this, but at least I know that "He Who Doesn't Care About Llamas" is doing okay:

That is my husband, giving a back scratch to Lorenzo. He also gives back scratches to Llama, but the others don't want it. (The others still need some work...) Husband has been feeding the animals faithfully, and I will hopefully be able to take over soon. I have an appointment on January 5th to see if I have improved to the doctor's liking. Then I will find out how soon I can feed, drive, things like that. I know I shouldn't be in a rush, but it would be nice to be able to do some things by myself again...

So, not much on this blog, but hopefully something new and interesting soon. (I have to reknit one sock, or I would have a photo by now. It came out WAY too big... I want a wearing sock, not a Christmas stocking!)

Special blog today, for Dad!

2011-12-25T06:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday!

Yep, Happy Birthday!

To the restorer of Model A's, and T's,

To the one who has replacement knees,

There should be another rhyme here, but can't think what it should be...

(HA!)

Happy Birthday!

Love ya, Dad!

(And Merry Christmas to all!)

Just for fun, enjoy!

2011-12-24T08:54:00.000-08:00

I saw this the other day, and thought I would share. Happy Holidays to all! May you have warmth and happiness in the coming days, and joy in the New Year.

Can he handle the excitement?

2011-12-22T15:10:00.000-08:00

So. I told Husband that I had a gift planned for him.

"Uh huh?" (Well, he was driving...)

I told him that I was going to get him a dog. First he looked confused, then after I explained the word DOG, as he didn't hear it, (L*rd knows what he actually heard...), I said I would get him one in the spring, he could pick out "his" dog, as the last one, Rudee, was my choice.

His response?

"Oh. Okay." Small smile. Nod.

Uh. I didn't expect handsprings, but geez. He has never been real demonstrative, but sometimes I really think the man needs a bit more caffeine.

And we played with my half finished sock last night, it DOES glow, so when I finish it, I will put a lighted and dark photo on of the effect. (They should give my feet that healthy green glow! Heh!)

So, Husband, if you are reading, I love you, even if you don't get real excited about 'stuff', and Happy Birthday!

Finished socks, boring birthdays, and odd projects.

2011-12-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

This was Rudee waiting for me to come outside the other day. Husband was calling him, and he would look over, then stare through the glass at me. I tried to get more pictures, but Rudee would turn his head each time, and so it came out a smear. But he still wants me out with him. Let's just say, I am getting tired of not being able to walk with him, and he's tired of me not walking with him... (sigh)...

I have been knitting, I finished my "Cop Socks". So called, because I have to wear black with my 'uniform' for either job, ambassador, or receptionist. I made these for the receptionist job, one of my bosses likes to have the air conditioning on when she is in the building. I am sitting right under the vent. On a concrete floor. Any extra "layers" make it much more tolerable...

I know it's been cold on occasion, when the deputies, with bullet proof vests, heavy denim shirt and occasionally rain coats come in... And shiver. Or when it's about 90+ in the summer, (30+ for my Celsius readers), and I have to go outside to warm up. Literally. But if that's the worst I have to complain about, I'm good. Besides, it gives me a reason to knit.

Oh, and the heels? My eyes were crossing, knitting all that black. I decided, no one is going to see the heel. So, I took a break and knit a nice red... (A little leftover Mojo sock yarn. Thought that was appropriate...)

Well, Husband's birthday is tomorrow. I don't have a thing for him. I am going to have to dig, to see if I can scare up a birthday card. I kept trying to get into town, with less than no luck, so I guess happy birthday will have to do. I have one 'in the spring' gift I will tell him about, to do with pets, but in case he happens to look at the blog today, I will wait on giving out the specifics. But it sure would be nice to do something for him.

The odd, and possibly good thing, though, is this guy doesn't do "big" celebrations. I love to decorate for Christmas, I think parties are fun, him? Meh. If you say "Happy Christmas", he's fine. He isn't a Scrooge, or a Grinch, he just thinks a gift is a gift, and you don't need some special thing for celebrating. Which is fine. He doesn't have a problem with my decorating, even though some years it looks like Santa Claus barfed in the house, but he knows that's MY thing, and so he just humors me.

With my leg, this year's decorating? One Christmas rose, gift from Mom. A small figurine of "It's a Wonderful Life" I found in the Christmas card box (no, I don't know why it was in there), and the card basket, that is festooned with painted candy canes.

Boy, we are just power Ho-Ho-Ho-ing here! I am trying to keep in mind, I will have to put BACK everything I get out, and right now, I can't get all that much out, without an avalanche. Guess where all the stuff was put, so I could get around the house? Yes, boys and girls, right in front, and on top of, the Christmas stuff. So, I am trying to not get annoyed with all the lack of Christmassy "stuff" that is out, or not out, in this case, and am trying to remember the important things. I have healthy family, my animals are doing well, the fox the neighbor saw hasn't disturbed my chickens, I haven't managed to fall on the cat (but she is majorly freaked by my cane...), and Rudee is still waiting (im)patiently for me to get better.

So, what are my doings right now? A Santa style hat with verigated yarn. I am not sure I like it. I will probably finish it, but if my opinion of it doesn't improve soon, it will be a member of the frog pond (non knitters, frog, when you rip-it, rip-it...) I have some glow in the dark yarn, that I am considering for a pair of socks. Why? 'Cuz I have a LOT of it, and thought it would be a fun thing. Have to knit up a bit, it does feel a bit on the scratchy side, so I might or might not do it...

I name my sock creations, I have Cop Socks (above), and Can't Be Done Socks, (because someone in my group said you could NOT knit spun singles into a sock, and I did), Harmonic Rainbow socks, (Dad named these, because of the colors), and so on. Well, if I get the glow in the dark socks knit, I need a name. Obvious names would include ghost, I suppose. Ghost Walker, Ghost Socks. I was trying to put it in with Dickens, because of the season, Ghost of Christmas Socks Past or some such. I just don't know what I will call them. Any thoughts on the subject?

Phantom of the Sock-ra? (Ok, yuk. That's bad, even for me... Besides, I don't think he was a ghost...)

It's Christmas, and the fruitcakes are in bloom...

2011-12-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

I couldn't decide if this was funny, or just mental. Or, possibly, both.

In Jantzen Beach Center, in Portland, OR, there was a man attacking people that were Christmas shopping...

With a Star Wars Light Saber.

I have this image of the guy making the "whoosh" sounds as he conks someone... Fortune had it, no one was hurt. However, if you click on the above link, there are some really funny comments about Jedi, Star Wars, et al.

Here's hoping your Holiday Shopping is much less eventful.

(And if you are a total Star Wars geek, he used a Rebel Alliance blue, not the Dark Side's red saber. Like that makes a difference, in this case...)

Leave it to "my" deputies...

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Went to the substation for a little bit yesterday, to deliver some things, and one of the deputies saw me with my big ol' boot on. He glanced down...

"That doesn't look good..."

I replied, "Beware llama poop."

He looked up, and in mock seriousness replied, "Good to know."

Then chuckled all the way out to his car...

Slow days, and "guy" thing?

2011-12-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

I wish I could tell you all the exciting stuff going on 'round here.

Uh. I have three different socks on needles, 2 sets for me, one is a Christmas present. The Christmas one is a completely different, toe up, complex sock, which I had never tried before. The selling point for it, was another customer, who told me "I love this sock, and with the directions, you don't end up in the fetal position in the corner halfway through..." Good enough for me. Let's just say, I have HAD that problem with some patterns. Especially since I have managed to get a pattern or two with typos. GAH!

The weather has been freezing or below, so Husband is doing a little extra feeding of the animals for me, I think. I can't get out there, he could be playing Pinochle with the llamas, for all I know. But they seem happy, what I can see from the house. Rudee isn't, since I can't come out and walk him. I didn't think I would miss that so much, but out of all the things I can't do right now, that's pretty much top. That and going to the substation for my shift. (And, truth be told, that's mostly for the cop gossip... grin.)

I went to the doctor, and he is pleased with the way the leg is healing up, and has giving me the rules for doing 'stuff', to wit: indoors, I can walk without the boot. Outdoors, or if I am carrying something (indoors or out), always wear the boot. The boot is a support, so I can't say I don't like it, but it is a BEAR to get on and off. It has about 6 big Velcro straps that want to catch on everything. And if I am not paying attention, I get stuck on the blanket, try to walk, and one of two things happen, the blanket comes with me, or more likely, I am stuck in place, and have to unstick the darn thing!

Ok, I know not ALL guys have this attitude, (actually, Husband doesn't...), but what IS it about guys and farts? I had to take Percocet. I started having SEVERE problems with flatulence. I mean, I was very glad we didn't have visitors, or open flame, (not in that order...) I finally have been able to get to 'normal' and not have to take meds. No more gas.

So, doctor asks if I have had any problems with the leg. I said no, but I did with the meds, I had gas like crazy. THE DOCTOR LAUGHS! He laughs like I told a joke! It reminded me of an 8 year old, with about the same level of sophistication...

And farting seems to be the comedy du jour of lots of the male species. Doctor then said, well, you said you were oblivious, the farts shouldn't have bothered you... I then reminded him that Husband was NOT taking said meds, and it was bothering him a LOT. This was greeted with even more merriment. He did then settle down enough to tell me that it is one of the side effects, and should be fine when I stop taking the stuff. And it is... But...

What am I missing? What is the thing of farting being a laugh riot for some of the XY group?

Oh, what a loooooong day.

2011-12-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

I gave the new rod in my leg a workout today!

I had a doctor's appointment for a leg check in the morning. I also had a mammogram (oh, yay...) in the afternoon. Husband said, well, we are going to be in town, what else do we have to do?

We ended up going to the post office, (fortunately he did that, or I would have had to stand in line for about 20 minutes, right off the bat), Christmas shopping at about 3 stores, a quick trip to the grocery store, a lunch out, (this was Husband's idea, and he treated me to a really nice lunch. I think he's a keeper... grin), and then after all the appointments, Husband received a phone call from a friend of his about a machine that wasn't working right. Husband went over and gave him some pointers, and then we went home.

As happy as I am that my leg is on the mend, I am TIRED.

(Fair warning, the next couple paragraphs are somewhat medically graphic.)

Poor Husband. I am reading a book, "The Horse and Buggy Doctor" by Arthur E. Hertzler, and it talks about the quality of health care when he was a child in the late 1800's. (He was a doctor in the 20's and 30's.) One thing that (big surprise) got my attention was the fact that a broken leg wasn't cast. It was amputated. In fact, a good surgeon was one that could remove a leg in less than 40 seconds. They also mentioned the fact doctors were wont to put silk threaded needles into collars, so they would be ready as they needed them for stitching wounds, and it was unusual for a doctor to remove his coat between patients (or wash hands), and it was even mentioned that doctors would hold a knife in the teeth if they needed both hands for stitching.

Weeellll, I was talking to my doctor about this, and he lit up, and was commenting about the fact that I would have had about a 20 percent chance of survival in that time period, and that sepsis was rampant during that period even in 'clean' areas, because of the sanitation and just plain gangrene. I was really enjoying the discussion, (doctor was actually checking my leg, we weren't just jawboning...), when I happened to glance over at my poor Husband. He was positively GREEN. I decided that as much as I would have liked to find out more about the subject, a barfing Husband might not be the best choice. Poor man, he normally can tolerate a lot, but when it relates to me directly, he gets all protective, and a bit on the soft and mushy side.

So, if you happen to go to the doctor, and start a conversation, you might give a quick check to the person who drove you there, if it wasn't you. Having them ready to horf up breakfast might not be the best repayment...

If you can get video...

2011-12-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

This is just... awesome. I have been several of the places in the video, but never have seen them in quite this way...

Oregon. <--- Click here, please.

Hope you like it. (Watching the stars is hypnotizing...)

So. Catching up on other's blogs. And avatar-ing.

2011-12-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

I am trying to catch up on blog reading, since I am... rather limited on what I can do, at the moment.

So, when all of you read blogs, how do you go about it? I try and read as many as I can, (which you can see on the right, I try and read most all of them, even if I don't always put a note in...), and I usually do so by reading the most recent 'additions' when I log on. I don't ALWAYS do this, when I was so busy recently with running about, I mostly jotted my blog, and skimmed, but I try to check...

How about leaving comments? I tend to leave comments if there isn't a lot (hey, after fifty or sixty comments, I figure the topic is pretty well covered...), and if I am not going to leave just a "yes, I agree" type comment. It's probably just me, but I feel silly if that's all I can say.

Yeah, it's probably just me.

I love reading other's blogs on... well, I guess it would be just 'everyday' things. Finding out that one of you had a bobcat in the yard. Another had ice during the night, and was not too worried because they have prepared. One was commenting on the generation gap. Yet another is getting ready for a funeral.

Life. It is not always the grand, glorious things... Sometimes, just the everyday, where you realize that we have so much in common, and it makes me feel good that I can be part of it. To enjoy, to share, to send a virtual hug in grief.

And of course, everyone can share the wonders of Hobble Bum the Broken Legged here... (I could try out for Tiny Tim this year! Well, if I was a "Tim", not Timothina... And was actually tiny... Meh. Details...)

********************

So, on to the Avatar. BTK won, but I received an interesting idea from Mom (see, I do listen, every once in a while...) that I change the avatar occasionally. Like, BTK for Christmas, but February might have Lupe holding a Valentine. I thought this might be fun, so you will see both of this feline front men (front cats?) this year...

Which might mean that I am creative, and want a unique outlet.

Or that I just have way too much time on my hands.

No need to comment on that... Heh...

Z. (Finally...)

2011-12-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

Z was supposed to be on the last day of last month. However, I also wasn't supposed to get a broken leg, either. Oh, well.

Snif...

Z can take many forms:

Z, as in snoring, from finding out that the meds the doctor gave me are very strong. (I will be off them soon! HOORAY!!!)

Z, as in shapes. We've been having a lot of little branches fall from the Oak trees, they look like little lightning bolts. I am hoping to go out and pick them up when I am feeling a bit better. Rudee loves to gnaw on them, and I put them out in the field for the wildlife to use for shelter. (One of the tree loses quite a few...)

Z as in running around, zip and zoom. Husband is taking Rudee out for runs, and I swear that dog isn't running fast, he's flying low! He loves to be out, but since I still can't take him out, it is up to Husband, and he is working, so Rudee isn't getting out quite as much.

Z is also for animals. My Goddaughter likes a toy by the name of "Littlest Pet Shop" (I think that's the name), and I believe she really should become a science fiction writer when she gets a bit older. She was introducing me to her zebra, Secretariat, (Goddaughter's Mom is a real heavy duty horse person), and she told me it was a waiting for the veterinarian.

Playing along, I asked why, was it sick?

Her reply?

Oh, yes, it was bitten by a vampire, and the veterinarian has to do surgery to pull the fang out of his neck. (She also mentioned that it was a horse that had bitten the zebra, so it would not become a vampire. I really didn't know vampirism was species specific. Or that vampire horses had fangs. The things you learn from preschoolers!)

Ok, that is all I can think of for z, at the moment. I will probably not blog absolutely every day, but I will try and keep up on it. And now that I am getting off the meds, (YAAAAAYYYY!!!), I will hopefully be able to read and respond to OTHER people's blogs, with some coherency...

Let's just say, I know that if any of my family was into blackmail, I believe I would be in deep trouble by this point...

Y. With apologies to I can has cheezburger.

2011-12-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

Today's Y.

Y you no come out and play? Pbbbbbbt!!!

Feel free to caption your own response in the comments today, I just thought his expression was cute.

(Actually, I think he would be in Hot Dog, not Cheezburger, but... Meh.)

X. Blurry, but...

2011-11-30T14:48:00.000-08:00

These are very blurry, but it was the best I could do today...

Before:

After:

Somehow I got them upside down of one another, but the idea is there. That is the lower right leg.

The next is the pin and screws that were put in. I have a Titanium rod with screws in there now, and Husband is as impressed as all get out that it is 1 1/2 times stronger than my bone was. (Yay? I have no plans of replacing all my bones with Ti, any time soon, thank you much...)

Yeah, x was pretty much a 'gimme', I think.

W. Whatta day!

2011-11-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

Had a doctor's appointment today. This was great, except we didn't know we HAD one, until I called this morning, to schedule one! So, we got going, I cleaned up to almost presentable, and we went over to the doc. I am now using the walker pretty well, and Husband didn't have to wheel me, I walked to the office myself. (Thank goodness it wasn't too far, but I did get a workout!)

He thought I was doing well, recommended some things, one of which was that I need to exercise my ankles, flexing them. I said I did yarn spinning with a wheel, is that what he meant? He grinned, and said, that is PERFECT. Just don't over do, if you can only do "three spins", don't try for a half hour. Me? Overdo? Cough... Where would he get that idea?

So, I will try and set up a chance to spin tomorrow sometime, just to see what it does.

I now have a boot that is forcing my foot into the correct position to heal, it looks like an open toed snow boot, if that makes any sense. I am to wear it when I am walking and such, 16-20 hours a day, but I will remove it for exercises of the ankle, because it locks the ol' foot in place otherwise!

We went to lunch, and poor Husband was mortified when we came home that he left the half a lunch I took with me, on top of the car. So it's on the road someplace between the restauraunt and home.

So, we arrived home, Husband put the stuff away, I called family to give updates. We both sat down on the couch, and next thing we knew...

We'd slept for almost 2 hours!

I think we both needed it.

Tomorrow, Mom is coming over to help with some more housework, Husband hopefully will get a chance to catch up on his neglected jobs, (we have to pay the bills somehow...), and possibly I will be able to go out and see Rudee, so he doesn't think I have thrown him to the wilds of... wherever a dog would think wild.

V. Very strange, of late.

2011-11-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

Having a broken leg can lead to some interesting changes in one's life. I have not had to rush about to any meetings or service items of late. Of course, "rush" is pretty much a zero probability feat anyway, it takes me several minutes to get to the bathroom!

I am trying to be as laid back as I can about everything, Husband keeps telling me he's sorry about how the kitchen looks (it's a bit cluttered at the moment, what with the stupid fridge dying, and needing to find things in the kitchen), and I want to bawl, making him have to do it. I am perfectly capable, I just CAN'T, because I can't carry anything to speak of, or stand.

Finally got to go outside on my own, my poor dog Rudee was nearly doing backflips in the kennel, and was nearly apoplectic when he wasn't allowed out to see me, reaching through the bars did NOT do it for him, he wanted some personal face time with me, so to speak!

I am getting dressed, which is ok, except that everything is slow. I have to have Husband help with goofy things, like putting on socks, and making sure the shirt actually goes down in the back. Trying to dress yourself while holding yourself upright on a walker is a challenge. But, I am getting dressed.

Our next door neighbor friend, who is a doctor, came over to check on me, (he helped get me to the house the day I broke my leg, and may have even gotten Husband to go get me to the hospital, that was a bit... hazy, I was trying to direct traffic on what was going on IN the house), which lead to me finding out information about my fracture that I either didn't hear, or didn't get in the hospital. (Or the dang drugs just pushed it out of my head...)

But, I had what is called a spiral fracture, if you look at the X-ray, it looks like a spear point where it broke. He went on to explain some of the details of what I should be doing, how best to exercise the muscles so I will not lose mobility (an important fact, since this is break two or three for that leg...), and just making sure that I am comfortable. I then asked him about Kohlrabi, a veggie he dearly loves. Next year's garden is going to have a lot more of those, let me tell you. We also found out he is still somehow connected to the military, he is not active, but if some major event would happen, he would be a doctor on call for burn victims and general doctoring. Things you learn about people. I had also thought he was really smart about arthritis, he was always giving me ideas and thoughts on how to make it easier for me to do things. Turns out, he has arthritis, too, in his shoulders. That, frankly amazed me.

I know that I have been fielding calls and emails to a) let everyone know how it's going and b) make sure people know what I do and don't need. However, if any of you break a leg, you will probably take narcotics. These tend to bind you up. Be aware, your poo becomes a major topic of conversation with lots of people! I think I have talked more about poo in the last week or so, than I believe I have in several months! And ya know, that isn't really my first choice topic of conversation, but I'll deal.

But other than falling asleep at random intervals, and needing to have everyone help with simple stuff, things haven't been too bad. It is a strange perspective, to slow down like this. I don't like the reason why, but you know, learning about how this works and how much I can, and can't do, has been good.

Now if I could just learn more patience...

(Insert laughter here...)

U. Unbelievable...

2011-11-25T10:20:00.000-08:00

So, I am home, I am doing pretty well. Husband decided that I should call it a day, and I took some meds. I was really groggy foggy, and was about half asleep, when I smelled something. I woke him, and said, I don't think it's smoke, but does something smell odd to you?

He jumped up, went into the other room, and found our fridge was smoking. The compressor died.

Soooo, we are doing our part for the economy, my poor husband had to go buy a refrigerator today. Then he'll have to go to Mom and Dad's to pick up the food we had in the fridge and freezer, to put in the new one.

And I can't do a dam* thing about it.

There was a blurb I read once, "God never gives you anything you can't handle. I wish he wouldn't be quite so confident in me..."

I think I can relate today...

T. Thanksgiving day, at home!

2011-11-24T16:21:00.000-08:00

Well, my blog will be a day off, so the November Blog Writer's thing is kaput, but I think I will just continue, I will only have one day missing...

Yesterday, I was scheduled for surgery, at 1. Things were going as smoothly as it could for that kind of thing. Mom had helped by packing me a go bag, Husband had grabbed one or two things I had forgotten, and I was chatting with Mom on the phone.

Received a phone call from the hospital. Can you come in early?

We got things together fairly quickly, and arrived only a few minutes later than what they wanted, (they asked us to be there in 30 minutes. IF we'd been in the car as they called, this MIGHT have been doable), and so I was brought in, and Husband had to go find a footrest for the wheelchair they had. Next thing I know, this lady be bops up, oh, we need you in prep, your husband can wait in the waiting room. Let's just say, my good foot went to the ground, and stayed there, until I saw Husband again. The lady was okay about it, but I wasn't, I was scared, and wasn't about to have to have him wait without me. Moreover, not know where I was.

We were taken to the get ready room, and they let Husband stay. I was less scared. Mom and Dad were allowed to see me before I was wheeled in for surgery. Then surgery.

I awoke to a ceiling with little holes... Acoustical tiling is rather bland, don't you think? Finally got my bearings enough they could take me to my room. Husband, Mom, and Dad stayed for a bit, then I took some meds. It was foggy after that. I remember groggily seeing Mom and Dad leave, and the nurse wanting to know if I was going to stay for observation. Husband finally convinced me that would be best, since I was barely coherent, and we didn't know how I would do at the house if the surgery "stuff" wore off, as the hospital could care for any problems, Husband might, or might not, be able to.

So I stayed overnight. I was dopey roggy foggy headed most of the time, but it wasn't too bad, if you don't count the incredible noise that was there, all night. A compressor under the bed rattled. The blower for the heating unit would go on and off. Dings, and clicks, and beeps. The nurses, fortune would have it, managed to come in to check on me when I was awake anyway, so waking me was sort of a moot point... Then about 3.30 am, someone went into cardiac arrest. First the alarm, the announcement, then several running feet. Directions from nurses and doctors, and running feet the OTHER way. That was enough to keep me awake for a bit. Finally drowsed again, until the lady came to take blood samples. I watched the sun rise, wrote part of a letter, and then Husband showed up, and the staff worked on getting me ready to go home. After a couple false starts we were able to leave.

I was able to walk into my own house, on my own power, with a walker, and Husband hanging on to my back, just in case. I then sat down on the couch and slept for about 2 hours.

Husband has brought me juices, the computer, and some HEALTHY snacks, he says we are both going to work on doing better with eating. (Says the man who can't stay out of the cookie jar, grin....) So, I am typing this while snacking on some Hummus and carrots Mom sent over, (Husband keeps wondering what dirt has to do with it, I keep trying to explain it is HUMMUS, not HUMUS. I still am not sure he's convinced), and I think there will be a small bit of dinner with the folks later.

I am home, the surgery went well, and I am not in much pain, and can walk again. I also have lots and lots, and LOTS of caring friends and family.

I am truly blessed this Thanksgiving Day.

S. That would be surgery, and stoopid.

2011-11-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

Got the news from the doctor, and I will be having a pin put in my leg. Which means, oh, joy, I get to have surgery. I cannot put into words how thrilled this makes me. On the bright side, the doctor seems to think that it should be fairly cut and dried, so to speak. He was a doctor at a trauma center for some time, and said that he did like two of these a week for several years, so I feel a... bit... more confident. Now if I could just find that blasted time machine and go back to Sunday Morning, and skip this whole mess, I would feel even better. But, somehow, I don't believe that will happen.

I hope this short blog is legible. The stoopid part? The doctor prescribed the lowest dose of a "narcotic" (Vicodin, I think, just the generic version kind), but I still feel like someone stuck a wad of cotton in my brain. Everything is slow, and takes about as much time to think what I need to say, as to say it. I also feel like I am going to doze off at any minute. The doctor kept saying, oh, you need to take two of these, at the ER. I finally negotiated him down to one. When he saw how utterly goofy I was getting, he recommended to Husband that I take... a half a pill.

I told him I didn't do meds much... He figured it out, I think. As did the nurse, and at least one billing person that called. I don't think it's particularly fair to have to do hard thinking when you have half your mind floating somewhere above your head.

And if this blog seems good and makes sense, I thank spell check, and Mom who pre read it for coherency.

So.

Tomorrow WILL be interesting.

R. Realizing the importance of friends.

2011-11-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

I found out that I am going to have to have surgery for my broken leg bone this Wednesday. There may, or may not be a blog that day, or the next... So, to all of my blog friends, I am so happy for your comments, and it makes my heart glad to know that people care, both online, and off.

To wit:

At least three offers of dinner for Thanksgiving (I might be in the hospital, I might not, at that point...)
Several offers of rides.
Offers of shopping for me, or taking me shopping.
Offers of... I guess I can best describe it as, whaddya need, point me. Guys tend to be more general in the offer department, I suppose.
A few offers of time, or delivering things, or making phone calls. Fortune would have it, I think I have the phone part mostly covered.

One family of friends even offered, in no particular order, Happy Feet from the toddler sized daughter, Dr. Who videos from the husband, and "cleaning a mean bathroom" from the wife. This tickles me more than I can say...

My bosses from the substation have both checked in with me, have told me they will cover my shifts as long as I need, and one offered to come over and make dinner for my family. She then said if I just wanted a drive to McD's to get out of the house, she would be happy to do so. Of course, they wanted all the details, as I guess I am numero uno in the gossip department there, but hey, it's probably more fun to talk about me than SOME of the crapitz that goes on, so I don't mind...

One of my friends even offered to feed my animals!

I mean, really, it lets you know who you can count on, yes?

And Mom has offered to come 'babysit' me, so Husband can get back out and catch up on work. I somehow think Husband was the instigator, but still.

Dad has offered to drive me about, if need be.

I think I have a great bunch here, don't you?

(Oh, the one funny thing, the poor llamas aren't quite sure about Husband feeding them. He goes out, puts out the food, and they keep looking around, wondering where I am. Doesn't stop them from EATING, they just look very confused while they do so.)

Breaking News Alert...

2011-11-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

I went walking this morning, doing really well, I was coming back down after a good round of exercise.

I fell, twisted, and I have broken both bones in my right leg (fibula and tibia). Spent most of the day at the hospital, came home, will go back tomorrow, and we will see what happens.

If I don't get my blogs out, that would be why.

Wish me luck.

Q. My future quilt. When I get time... HA!

2011-11-19T19:24:00.000-08:00

In the great scheme of things, I do really, some day, want to make some quilts. Now, this is a project I have had in my head for some time.

Two quilts, actually, one that is a fabric quilt, one that is a knitted quilt. (Yes, I know, knitted usually means afghan, but I will explain in a minute, I really do mean quilt.)

The first is the fabric quilt. I like hankies. The kind with the paisleys printed on them, and I have thought that they would be perfect for a "flying geese" pattern quilt. (Pattern idea shown here... The 13th picture down!) This is about the easiest quilt pattern that I have found (short, of course, of just sewing the squares together), and I have been saving hankies that I don't use for normal every day nasal concerns for the quilt. I am also considering a few shirts that are the same material, from my husband's shirts, but the shirts sure take up some space! Anyway, it will be on a very old blanket, that I will use as the "innards" of the quilt. The FG pattern will be on both sides, and knotted at the points, like one of the quilts I saw of my... Great Grandma's, I think.

This will actually be the harder of the two, as I do not sew, much. So I have to work out the little details, like how to hem the edges without it falling apart, not making little pucker spots where the points meet, and so on. (And sew on? Heh...)

This might not sound like much, but when you know next to nothing about sewing, it can be a challenge. I managed to sew up some drapes for Husband's shop. Let's just say, I really was 'winging' it, and I don't to this day think there is a straight edge on any one of the curtains... So, one of these days, I will have to take inventory of hankies, and shirts, and see what I will do.

The other quilt. I want to make one side out of samples of knitting. Lace probably be left out, only because it would tend to not be 'tough' enough, but any solid type knitting that I'd like to try, will probably become a square or rectangle. The other side (which I actually have made a prototype of part of a, well, a triangle...) is going to be a slow moving vehicle sign, alternating with black, and and tractor icons (think John Deere and such.) The idea is fine, but I have found I need to work on getting the edging right. The orange triangle is no problem to knit, but the red 'sides' are somewhat tinkery, in fact, I crocheted the first ones. I don't know if I will do more that way, or try a different method of putting together the sign.

Once I have the two sides, I want to put them together with a sheet in the center. I am not sure if I would put knots in between, or just stitch it shut, or what. Haven't really gotten that far. Just a thing I would like to try, to make a really thick, warm quilt.

I think this could sort of be like fantasy football, though. I will think about it alot, but really getting it done... Well, I did start something. Kinda. But it is great fun to think about.

But I don't think there will ever be a quilt #3.

Actually, at the rate I am going, quilt #1 will be a major accomplishment. Hopefully, not a sign of the apocalypse...

But you never know...

P. please forgive me...

2011-11-18T17:04:00.000-08:00

I have had a long, exhausting day, got lost TWICE, once going to, and once coming from the event, (equalling about 6 hours on the road, performance about hour and a half), and I didn't sleep real well last night. So...

Uh.

Ta da. This is your very short P blog.

Thanks for your understanding...

(Although I thought I would put at least one item starting with P here. Grin...)

O. Ocean

2011-11-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

Just some pictures I took of the ocean when I was there with family. Enjoy.

N. Names and Nibbles.

2011-11-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

I am bad at names. I don't know if anyone else does this, but I can meet someone, and if you ask me a few days later about it, I can tell you all we talked about, I can tell you what they wore, if they were carrying something, all SORTS of details.

Except, usually, the name. Unless it's something odd. Which is, from what I understand, unusual, if it's "John", it's normally more easily remembered than "Agamemnon".

Go figure. Leave it to me to be different.

I think it's inherited, however. I remember, (pre-Internet), Dad was trying to remember the name of a restaurant in Portland. We could all put our two cents in about the restaurant. What kind of food, where it was, the service, you name it. EXCEPT the name. Discussion and debate ensued, and someone, I believe Dad, said it had to start with a S. So we tried to come up with every S name in Portland, some weren't even restaurants.

Finally, Mom dug out a Portland phone book from some lost corner of the house, and looked under Restaurants. We found out the name was something like Burtelli's. (Fortune would have it, we did this during the day. Both Dad and my husband seem to have a great habit of thinking of something like that right before bed, and I don't know about Mom, but it drives me nuts until I think of it...) Also shows you how much it made an impression, can't think of the proper name right now! But it has led to a standing joke in our family, you can't remember the name, welllll, "it definitely starts with an S!"

This was absolutely hilarious when I was in a knitting class. I would try and ask the teacher about someone, could NOT remember the name. She learned to ask what the person was working on... Oh, that would be the Aran colored panel afghan. She wold think, and a half second later, oh, you mean Rose Mary...

(I did find out I was not the only one in the class doing this, since we had a fair amount of turn over occasionally, this was actually a fairly easy way for us to GET names...)

So, if I ever meet any of you in person, and see you again later, please know I will appreciate you, think you are a neat person, and probably have lots to talk about.

But your name? Ummm...

*****************************************

On a different note, someone had mentioned they would like the recipe for the cookies I made for the potluck I spoke of a few days ago. I make these only at Christmas, and only to take somewhere, as I can't stay out of them. I have few things that I say this about, but these things are death to my waistline.

So:

Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 bag (11.5 oz) Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips

6 Tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 bag (12 oz.) Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1 cup (4 oz.) chopped walnuts

In double boiler over hot water, melt the bittersweet chocolate chips and butter. In large bowl with mixer, beat eggs and sugar until thick; stir in chocolate mixture. In small bowl, stir flour and baking powder; stir into chocolate mixture. Gently mix in semi sweet chocolate chips and walnuts.

Using a sheet of plastic wrap, form dough into two logs, each 2 inches in diameter, and about 8 inches long. As dough will be very soft, use plastic to hold dough in log shape. Wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375*. Unwrap dough, with sharp knife, cut into 3/4 inch slices. Place slices 1 1/2 inches apart on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet (non stick will also work). Bake 12 minutes or unti shiny crust forms on top and interior is still soft.

Cool on baking sheet. Enjoy!

M. Meh...

2011-11-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

I had a long day. Just not gonna be a wowzer blog, sorry.

One funny incident, though:

I was the photographer for the graduation of the Citizen's Academy. I left home early, so I would be able to get there and help with set up.

I hit every red light from the house to the Sheriff's Office.

Ok, still going to be there 5 minutes early.

Turned the last corner before the SO, and there was a truck almost jackknifed in the street. It was trying to get into one of the local businesses, but the truck entrance is for a smaller trucks. This was a biiiig truck. I watched, and he went back, and forth, over the curb, back, up over the curb, tried to back up, nearly nailed a truck that went around WHILE HE WAS BACKING, and so on.

I watched. There was no safe way to turn around. I was stuck.

Finally, he was able to back up, and I arrived about 10 minutes late. First boss saw me, "Did you bring your camera?"

Yep.

The second boss, looking concerned, "Did you bring a camera, I didn't."

Yep, have it...

The Sheriff saw me walking in, and piped up, "Okay, we can start, the paparazzi is here!"

Heh...

L. Lists.

2011-11-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

The Dean's List, I think I was on that one in college, once or twice.

The (Ahem) List. I know I have been on that one, more than once or twice.

Christmas List. Why is it that it's a very hard list for the ones you love the most?

Wish List. A fun way to daydream. Or to set goals.

Garden List. Let's me know what grew. Or didn't...

Reading List. For every book I read, I seem to get 4 or 5 more that look good TO read... Which might be why Husband got me a new bookshelf...

Wine List. Uh. I don't drink, so I guess it doesn't apply. Meh.

Grocery List. Usually I manage to get things on there that really stretch the meaning of "grocery". I mean, come on, Flock Block and Ivomectin?

Mailing List. Christmas card one is long, but I enjoy getting caught up with friends that aren't close by.
Every day mailing list is shorter, and usually... Grandma.

To Do List. I don't know if I will ever start one and end it on the same day. I add, and add, and then forget where I sat the list down at. *sigh*

Bucket List... Has anyone ever made one of these? Is it supposed to be private? I know "See Tom Petty Concert" can be crossed off... : D

Projects List. Try to not put any items on this list any later than August or September, if it is for Christmas presents. Until, of course, I find that "perfect" thing that someone would just LOVE, and cast on... Usually two weeks before Christmas. Yes, I am crazy, thank you for noticing...

Friend List. This is a strange one, for me, it has varied by age, and location. People who I was 'besties' with when I was in grade school, I don't know where are now. People I'd met in college, went on to other places, and I have lost touch with.

So, what lists do you keep?

Sunday Supplement. A finished blanket.

2011-11-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, there it is. Lots 'o stitches... Hopefully some baby will have a warm 'bum'.

(Along with the rest of it, of course...)

K. Kodak morning... (picture heavy)

2011-11-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

Decided to take my camera with me, and show what a morning is like at my house... (I promise, I *will* figure out how the video works, thus far, it lasts about 20 seconds and shuts off...)

Anyway:

This is the last of the Halloween pumpkins and crookneck, they are 'chicken chow', I cut them in sections, and put them out for the birds. Llamas, they will sniff at them, but seem to think they aren't edible. The reason these aren't already in the coop, is that the chickens haven't finished the last batch yet!

We are waiting!

Uh, hello, we aren't walking the hill yet, what gives???

And besides, I smelled bbq on my dog food...

Give us breakfast or we will poop on your shoes.

Oh, wait...

Never mind, just feed us.

Ahem.

Yep, still have someone remembering what the nest box is for...

Nom, nom, nom. This one is low on the pecking order,

so the poor thing hides a lot...

Breakfast...

Is...

Served!

Wait a minute, weren't we just here a few minutes ago???

Climbing the hill, to go exercise, if you enlarge,

you can see Rudee does NOT wait up for me.

Loop around the pasture. Repeat 6 times.

(More times as I build up again...)

I thought I smelled bbq. Crunch, crunch, crunch, brp...

Just...

2011-11-11T18:16:00.000-08:00

a thank you to the veterans who have kept this country safe, and the troops that are doing so now.

Happy Veteran's Day!

(Yes, you, too, Dad!)

And in honor of this, I have nearly finished another baby blanket for the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. (Pics when I finish...)

I. Uuuuhhh...

2011-11-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

I.

I am trying to think of something for a blog here.

I sentences would work, I suppose.

I know what the word "idiopathic" means, which really annoys most doctors.*

I am back up to 6 laps around the pasture in the morning (well, most mornings, last week, I had to shift to a couple afternoon walks, but did it!)

I worked on my craft room today. I found out that I have almost 4 bins of spinning fiber. One bin usually is about enough for a year. There is way lots of sock yarn. And there is I have NO idea how much worsted acrylic. I am sorting through all of this. With luck, I will have lots for my various charity groups, and enough to share with some other gals and guys that knit down at the senior center. (They drooled a lot at the last haul I made...)

I am making progress with my llamas, Dolly and Toni seem pretty good with me touching them, if there is food involved. Annie, well, she is very skittish, but is doing better. She will just need more time. And except for the occasional spit fest at breakfast, they seem to be getting along okay with Lorenzo and Llama.

I am watching most of my television on line. (Computervision?) This is nice, because since the change to digital, I can't get most of the channels. I don't watch a LOT of TV, but it is nice to be able to sit down to a show of an evening.

I don't know what else to say, so I guess I will say...

I am finished!

* Cause unknown...

H. Hairballs...

2011-11-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

Today was sort of strange. Remember the test I told you about yesterday? Didn't hear it in Oregon. So, I guess that translates to... back to the drawing board?

I was running behind today to get into the substation. Murphy would have it, I was on a rural road, in a town that the speed limit is 25? I was behind a guy that, top end, went 15. *sigh* I was only about 10 minutes late...

I ate way too much, but I found out I like curry. Someone brought a dish with curry, and I tried it. I was surprised, but pleased to find a new flavor (to me). I brought chocolate cookies I make ONLY for Christmas, and ONLY when I take them somewhere else.

The reason? Can't stay out of them.

Hence the title. I use "Hairballs" as a catch all word when I want to swear, but it is more... socially acceptable. (Occasionally I even say Fried Hairballs with Gopher Gravy, but after grossing out two DHS workers, I try to be careful when I say that. The deputies thought it hilarious, however. Go figure.)

I found out the cookies were a hit. To wit: One of the gals said she didn't really like chocolate, (really, she is a salt person, chips and such), but that she would try a cookie. Three cookies later, she asked for the recipe. I put the rest of the cookies in the back for the deputies, when we finished with lunch. I also put some "men's" magazines, sport and shooting, as well.

First time I go back to tell the deputy something, one of the deputies has a chocolate bit on his mouth. The second time I had to go to the back, the deputy on lunch break had several cookies and the magazines. The third time I went to the back, the first deputy had some MORE cookies! So, I think they won't go away hungry today...

I am just happy I didn't take them home! (Full disclosure, I ate about... 5...) : (

G. Go Directly to Jail. (Just Visiting)

2011-11-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

(Before I go into my blog, if you are in the US, we will be having a test of the Emergency Alert System, all television stations, and radio stations will be participating. It will occur at 11 a.m. PST, so adjust for where you live. No "War of the Worlds" scenarios, please, this is just a test...)

Headed off to the Sheriff's Office to do my Ambassador bit today. I like to think of it as enabling coffee addicts. Let's just say that several of the people must have very little blood in their caffeine system, they are drinking coffee from the time they come in, until they leave. Some even show UP with coffee, and refill when I bring the coffee pot in! Anyway, we had a representative from Search and Rescue, then had Forest Patrol, and ended with Livestock Investigation.

The Search and Rescue (SAR) was fun, if for no other reason there was one of the 'kids' there. Why is this fun? Watching a gal stand at parade rest for an hour, and not so much as scratch her nose the whole time. (Our search and rescue is made up of volunteers from the high schools, age 14 to 21. They are rated one of the best SAR groups in the state, and it shows...) Lots of videos of the training. One of the trainers is a former marine, so it's not exactly sitting on one's tush eating bon bons. In fact, one of the videos shows the group sloshing through a culvert, and coming out about the consistency and color of cow plop. Others show them climbing walls, carrying a log (the deputy said they carry it about a mile), wake up time, which consisted of several deputies setting off M-80 type firecrackers outside the tents of the trainees. Let's just say, if they make it through, they are tough. There is training on tracking, using a compass, things like that. They are a great group.

The second class was Forest Patrol, which was held in the jail, in a meeting room. This was because the SWAT team was using the room for a meeting where we were. We told them we'd be happy to stay and watch, but they said no. They filed in with battering rams and shields. We went out to the jail.

This was interesting for yours truly, the doors open one, then it closes, then the next opens, so that if there was a problem, it is contained. What I didn't know, is that if I am next to the door, and it closes, it will continue to close, even if my tookus is in the way. I moved rather quickly, not wanting to be one with the wall...

I had to stay near the back of the group, to make sure that everyone got to the meeting room. What I didn't know, was that the inmates were in the kitchen, and had a good view of me. I was in no danger, but I haven't had so many wolf whistles, and comments for a long time. I put it on high ignore, and then the deputy in the kitchen walked in front of the window, and all comments and whistles stopped, thank goodness...

The Forest Patrol is the best smelling class... They bring samples of things that are cash crops they have to monitor, such as Fir, Cedar, Bear Grass, and Salal. It smells sorta like Christmas! Lots of pictures of marijuana grows, (no, no samples of that, that's for the class with the dogs), and the last two pictures were an accidental comedy. One showed a young elk, surrounded by opium poppies, and the next showed 4 kit foxes, all looking intently at the camera. One wag pipes up, elk eats poppies, the foxes just wait for it to get stoned so they can have lunch! The whole place cracked up!

The last was the Livestock Investigation Team. Sadly, this group was formed because there was a LOT of animal abuse in this area, especially with horses. It has improved, some, but with the economy, there are people that figure, well, the animal can fend for itself. This means that a woman with 116 horses on 12 acres gets a visit from the Sheriff's Office. This means that a man that had 6 dogs inside a single wide mobile, that never let them outside, got a visit. This means a woman with 40 dogs, who had so many that they were dying, and to keep them from stinking, she was storing them in the freezer, with her food, got a visit.

I always find it amazing that the deputies can do some of these jobs, I was just looking at pictures and was physically ill. They have to deal with going into places where it's not just filthy, it's so filthy they have to use breathing gear! But it does make me give them a lot of respect.

Next week is the final class, the graduation, if you will. The deputies really, really enjoy this one. I can't imagine why.

Oh, right, potluck. Food is involved, yep, that is always a draw.

I will be there, and last time I took photos of the graduates. I might do the same thing this time. Please, pray that the %$#@ camera works this time... Telling the Sheriff that none of the pictures came out after a half hour of photographing doesn't do well. For anyone.

But there will be food!

F. Flying in the morning.

2011-11-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

The silly things that can happen around here.

We have wild turkeys that roost in the trees next to our house. We watch them regularly, and now that I have stopped feeding birds near my rock garden, they are no longer a nuisance, and are actually fun to watch. They are also 'gathering together' as a bigger flock for winter. I didn't know that they would do that, but they have gone from a group of about 12 to almost 20 at this point!

Anywho, we opened the blinds this morning, and the turkeys were just coming out of the trees. They glide down into the neighbor's horse pasture, and land just on the other side of the fence.

I admit, I started it. The first one went by, and I called out, PILOT TO BOMBADEER!

Next thing, husband starts, LANDING GEAR ENGAGED, CLEAR TO LAND!

I piped up, OBSTACLE ON THE RUNWAY, ABORT, ABORT!! (One of the turkeys had nearly landed on one of the others...)

This went on for about a minute or two, we used probably every cliche' from war movies, airplane disaster flicks, and just jargon we could come up with as each one landed. We were chuckling a lot by the time the whole group was actually out in the pasture.

Somehow, I don't think the turkeys really would have appreciated the "control tower" comments...

But we had fun!

(I will try and get pictures, if I can, the camera is acting up, I think I might need to replace the batteries...)

Sunday Supplement. Pen vs. Computer

2011-11-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

(Heard that Andy Rooney died. God speed, you enjoyable old grump...)

When you are writing, do you prefer to use a pen or a computer?

This is a writing prompt from Blogher, and I thought it was interesting. I write in pen most of the time. I actually have been teased at the substation by one of my bosses, as she thinks it is a slow and clunky way of writing. So be it, that is the way I grew up with, and am comfortable with. I actually type very quickly, I have even had occasions where the computer and I catch typos at the same time. Problem is, the computer with auto correct, and me with eyeball correct, tend to then both try and do correcting!

This usually doesn't end well...

I write letters to my Grandma in pen about half the time, and on the computer about half the time. I find it more a matter of time, if I want to write her quickly, I generally write with the computer. If I want to write, and I know I will be running around a lot, I write with pen and clipboard. I find it funny, she comments about how I use the computer to type letters, and sort of chides me about it, why don't I write instead of using "that machine".

Her letters? Type written on a typewriter... Meh.

I like typing, now that I can do it. While I still fumble at the keyboard occasionally, (I don't know how many times a contraction gets " instead of ' in it...), I find it makes a nice, clean result for reading. But when I am writing my novel, or planning, I really am not as concerned with legibility. I do want to be able to read it, obviously, but I do have no aspirations to be a doctor, so my handwriting is pretty read-able, unless I am tired, or I manage to get bumped while writing. (Writing while in the car takes it to a whole new level of legibility, I might add...) When I was learning to type, though, oh, my, word! I could take an innocent page and utterly annihilate the thing I was trying to type. Just the simple stuff, "The big red fox jumped over the lazy dog" type things, would somehow often end up with a number (or more than one!) in it... But I finally found out with practice and ignoring a few "rules" the typing teacher taught me, (I have found that if I hold my hands up while typing like a pianist does, I type lousy. If I type with my hands actually resting on the keyboard, I type faster, with fewer mistakes. Go figure...)

So. In the pen vs. computer debate, I say pens win by a roller ball. I like working with the computer, I am good at it, but for me, I like the tactile paper and pen writing style. I don't have a smart phone/computer, so portability of my laptop is less than the clipboard. And I tend to be a bit snarky, I can use a pen with the power out. And pens are waaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than computers when replacements are needed!

E. Everyone, thanks for reading!

2011-11-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

Every one who reads my blog is appricated.

I can't thank them enough, especially on a day like today when I didn't get around to blogging until late in the day, didn't take any pictures, and generally don't have a topic for E at the moment, that I want to spend several dozen words on.

Ahem. So. Everyone, thank you! (And, of course, please vote, if you haven't...) ---->

Eeep!

D. Delights.

2011-11-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

(Please vote!) ----->

Hot cocoa.

Reading on the porch, and the cat deigns to give you purr time, sans claws.

Having deer nearby, without the garden being sacrificed.

Hot tea while watching the turkeys land in the morning, from the tree they roosted at.

Watching the neighbor's young calves play king of the hill.

The smell of hay bales.

Looking in the freezer, and seeing it nearly full of most of the things grown in the summer.

Waking up to realize you don't have to hurry, you can just get up slowly.

Waking up and WANTING to hurry, because you know it's going to be a great day!

Walking outside after a snowfall, and finding tracks... That you don't recognize, and follow.

Finding out the tracks are a black bird against the white snow.

Watching your animals breathe out steam in the cold, but knowing they are safe, fed, and okay.

Hearing one of the hens announce an egg.

Hearing everyone else announce... The same egg!

Looking at quilts.

Wearing my ugly sweater, because I knit it, and it's comfortable.

Talking to the mail lady.

Sitting out in the sunshine on a summer day. With something cold to drink.

Just having a good day.

C. Caps, Christmas 'closet', and cat poll. (Pollcats?)

2011-11-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been knitting caps for Christmas charity giving. The green and brown ones are for soldiers, (there would be 2 brown ones, but Husband tried on one, and said, I like this one, it's mine. Cool! Sure! And to add to that, it's my homespun, so it's sort of Sheep to Chapeau...) The smaller one is the lone starter cap for the local Shop with a Cop thing we do at the Office, they give out gift bags, and I am one of the "knitter elves". I guess I have an "in", I know both Santa and Mrs. Claus personally! (They are two other of the volunteers... Man, oh man, do they have to pad Santa's belly, tho...)

I have a place for my Christmas gifts, (it's an advantage when you don't have kids, you don't have to work as hard to hide things), and as you can see-

It's not too full. In fact, the one tin on the left is just that. A tin, I put it there so I could use it for a gift box. There is actually ONE gift in there, I just covered it up in case the recipient happened to look at the blog today. Which also gives you an idea it's not exactly huge... I have really liked having this little closet, I can get things as I find them, and have them all in one place at Christmas. Only problem, I have to remember NOT to put the gift wrap or tape in there. Occasionally, I go screaming like a mad woman into the room, DON'T OPEN THAT!!! Husband gets this deer in headlights expression as I swoop by and slam the door shut. That's why I generally leave the tape and such on the table from December 1 on... Meh...

And lastly, a poll. I am trying to decide for next year, stay with BTK the Cougar, or go with Lupe the Lion as my avatar? My goal is to (try to) have it decorated for each month, holiday wise... This could be sort of interesting, and at least make some fun for you who visit... So, see the pictures below, and decide, cougar or lion? (They are both pretty photogenic, I think.)

Please note, I have right of capriciousness, if I really decide I want one or the other...

So, please feel free to vote to the right... Vote early, vote often! (Sorry, couldn't resist!) ----->

B. Bowls

2011-11-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

The 4 on the left are a set of bowls that my Grandma used, and was given to me after she died. The red bowl on the right is one I picked up at a garage sale, it had hardly been used, so you can see the difference in color...

The Yellow bowl is our potato salad bowl. Grandma used it for that, and now I do. It holds a LOT of apples when I am making applesauce, as well.

The Green bowl is the oddball bowl. I used it for apple peelings this year, but it's nearly pristine. I think it's because it's too big for most jobs, but not big enough for things like... potato salad. It is a pretty bowl, however.

The Red bowl is the do-all bowl. Leftovers, mixing cornbread, holding messy food, some soup makings, it runs the gamut. I know Grandma used to make her chicken flour mixture in this bowl. (Can you tell what kind of food our family does? Cornbread, fried chicken, potato salad? Heh...)

The Blue bowl didn't seem to get a lot of use, but I have found it's terrific for making sandwich spread. Eggs, mayo, relish, ta da, lunch fixin's. (Or tuna. Husband likes tuna a lot...)

And here is the "nesting" picture of the bowls. I found out you can't put two bowls of the same size in the nest, they want to stick when you try to get them back out! OOPS! So, the other little red bowl sits beside.

I have no idea if these bowls are even very valuable, I wouldn't sell them, anyway, there is too much family history for me in them. But I thought they would be a simple, pretty blog for today.

(Oh, and when you are writing your blog list ideas, the word is "BOWLS", not "BOWELS". Husband was really curious what I was going to blog about on THAT topic...) sheesh...

A. Book for All Saints Day.

2011-11-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

I was going to have A be Autumn, with a lovely photo of a tree just going into its golden glory.

Then it rained, and blew, and the tree looks like it was beaten severely with an ugly stick. Sort of reminds me of my chickens in the middle of a molt...

SO.

I ~~panicked~~, decided to go with a plan B. I have been reading a total fluffy mind candy book, "Saint Vidicon to the Rescue" by Christopher Stasheff. The story line is more or less, a computer tech meets up with Saint Vidicon of Cathode, who protects people from problems relating more or less to computers, via Murphy's law. The tech is also trying to woo a girl, with some help and suggestions from the good saint. I haven't finished it yet, but it is a light, fun read. I must say, some of the problems the tech comes up with read like logic puzzles, which I guess, for someone that works with computers all the time, seems appropriate.

About the biggest problem I had was realizing the Saint's name was Vidicon, NOT Vicodin. Somehow, I don't think that they name saints after pain relievers. Although, if they send help, I suppose, in a very loose way, there is a similarity. Hmmm.

Nah.

Anyway, here's a blurb on Amazon if you would like to read more about it.
http://www.amazon.com/Saint-Vidicon-Rescue-Christopher-Stasheff/dp/044101271X

I will have to let you know later if I liked the ending...

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, Harry Potter he is not...

Anyway, Have a Happy Halloween!

(Did you dress up? I was a hippie this year...)

A Halloween Story, in 4 parts... Ok, maybe 5...

2011-10-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

This little fly, he was number one. He cried, "Oh, no! What have I done?"

This little fly, he was number two. He looked at the web, and into it he flew. (He wasn't real bright...)

"Oh, me, oh, my, what shall I do?"

Fly number three, flew away, with a scream! She flew off into the sky, yelling, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"

Then the flies looked with terror at a big old fat spider, (Number 2 thought, oh, crap, we're dead... Maybe we can hide... Er...)

Then the spider smiled, a questionable feat, then said, Hi, I'm Boris, Wanna trick or treat?

The flies were scared, but they couldn't say no, but Boris was a charmer.

He let them go. He smiled, and handed them packages to get candy,

And they all went Trick or Treating, it was really quite dandy.

(Until Boris got hungry. Then he ate them, 'cuz spiders don't eat candy.

They didn't really think too much of that...)

Gotcha!

This is the set up out front.

Happy Halloween, folks!

(Extra points if anyone catches the rock reference in my poem!)

Motivation for next month's blogging... 26 days worth, anyway.

2011-10-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

I did last year an "A through Z" blog. I think I will try that again for next month. It works out that you basically blog each day except Sunday. I might have to work hard to do this, as next month sounds a little busy, but I need to really commit to writing again.

Blog, book, what have you, I have not... Not good.

Especially now with Baby Hal, it is much easier to do (most) things. I still have some strange moments, like when B. Hal decided to increase the magnification on the screen to G*d knows how big (there was one or two HUGE letters on the screen, from a web page full of writing...), and also locking up the mouse once or twice, but that seems to have stopped for the most part. I found out my rubber bracelet drives Hal nuts occasionally, the mouse reacts to the band much like my finger, for whatever reason, leading me to desperate clicks to find what I have accidentally brought up or removed. Other than removing said band, I haven't quite found a cure for that one.

I have finally pulled all the tomatoes out of the garden. I felt like it wasn't a complete waste, but I felt bad taking the stuff out. It wasn't going to grow much more, and I was afraid that if I left them in, I would lose track of the cages, and we would have a repeat of Husband nearly impaling himself on one when he rototilled.
(Husband was fine. The cage was terminal...)

I am so horribly disappointed with the cages I bought this year. I was sold cages that were supposed to be heavy duty, and galvanized. Well, they were galvanized. That much was true. Heavy duty, my fat fanny! Heavy duty tinfoil, maybe. EVERY ONE fell over, all of them warped and bent, and several lost the prongs on the bottom that drive them into the ground. I am going to give them away to the first person that I can pawn them off on. Next year, I will go back to using T posts... Or hog fencing with ties. Hmph.

In other news, I have a family member not doing so well, she is in one of those elder apartments, and became very ill. Turns out, she has been having problems remembering to take pills, and some other 'stuff' going on, so the family has finally sat her down for a talk that she needs to go to the assisted side of the apartments. She is not really happy about this, but she is getting to the point she needs more help than the occasional look-see by family members. It will work out, but she is in her 90's, and rather... proud of her mental strength, so she is sort of taking this a bit hard. We all are trying to let her know it's not a failing, it's just to keep her healthy and safe. (I think maybe she is starting to agree, but time will tell).

I am going to be taking an online class, this should be interesting. It's a class on chronic pain management. I have been doing okay, in that area, but I still have times when I am not able to do, or cope well, and I hope to maybe get some perspective that I might not have thought of. Besides, then I can tell my gripes and complaints to someone who hasn't heard it several times before! (wink)

And lastly, on a funny note:
I think Rudee understands English better than I give him credit for!

I was walking, and for some odd reason, right after I had gotten a good pace going, and built up a good head of steam, Rudee walks right in front of me. And stops. I walk around him, start up again, then he does it again! The third time, he wanders slowly, blocking me. I was getting rather annoyed by this point, and told him, "Move, or I am going to stick this pole up your a**!"

Next thing I know, he's turned, looked at me with wide eyes, and gets out of my way, walking waaay over to the left, and not daring to walk in front of me.

Smart dog...

Cop shop stories...

2011-10-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

The last couple weeks at the substation have been quiet, with a few interesting moments.

Last week, a guy came in, and asked a question about getting boxes to a family member, who was under a restraining order. I didn't have a clue about what was needed for that, and knew a deputy was in the back, so I walked back to ask him...

He was on the phone, and as I walked up I heard, "Poison?? And you know this how?"

This sounded... unique. The deputy scowled, then continued, sounding rather nonplussed, "It does that, huh. Yes, I am lis-... No, but how do you think they are getting in?"

I wrote a note that at his convenience, could he come up and talk to the man in front. (But, man, did I want to eavesdrop on that conversation!) So, I went back up front, and let the gent know that the deputy would be up front soon to help him, and we had a bit of a conversation about rock hounding, and I tried to stay out of the man's "personal space".

I have come to find out, I can be polite, I can get information for almost anyone, but two things stop me short. Body odor, and heavy smoke smell. This guy had just enough of both for me to go into "polite secretary" mode, where I talk from my desk while typing. (They don't have to know what the typing is, and in most cases, it is actual 'work', I write the newsletter for the Seniors And Law enforcement Together {SALT} group.) Most of the deputies don't even seem fazed by it, but it doesn't seem to get any better for me. I had to work with one person a while ago, that I ended up excusing myself, and putting some menthol grease up my nose. This gent was sort of mild, comparatively, but still more than my nose, or stomach, particularly wanted to deal with.

The deputy finished with his call, then came up front and asked how he could help. The gent then replied, "You need to keep some boxes to give to this relative, I've got a restraining order against him." The deputy said that the Sheriff's Office (SO) didn't keep items to send from one person to another, and besides he didn't know who the man was talking about.

"Well, of COURSE you do! It's my relative John Doeazz, you guys check up on him all the time!" Calmly, the deputy explained that first, he wasn't with Parole and Probation, so he wouldn't know him, again, that the SO isn't a storage area for transfer of items, and did the man have a current address. They could help, after the man had contacted the relative.

"Hell, no, I don't know where he lives, that's what the restraining order is about." The deputy continued to calmly explain that unless the man had an idea where said relative lived, and could contact him, preferably by letter, that there wasn't much that any one could do. The deputy encouraged him to possibly contact friends of the relative, but by that point, the man was just... upset, and saying that he had all this 'stuff', and he wanted the room in his shop back, and how was he going to get it back to him if THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE didn't do something.

The deputy asked if he knew the relative's Parole Officer. That lead to the man snorting, and saying he didn't know or care, that was the Sheriff's Office's problem, not his. The deputy looked slightly bemused, and said, well, you have to be able to contact John Doeazz in some manner, and that would either be through a letter, or his parole officer.

This went on for no less than 40 minutes, when finally the man shook his head, mumbled "all I was trying to do was get the stuff back to him NICELY", then walked out. I commented that the 'stuff' was in 4 boxes, and he'd had it for two years, somehow I don't think he was that serious about getting it back to the rightful owner. The deputy responded, "Might or might not, but we aren't a storage facility. He has to find out if the guy wants the stuff back."

You have to deal with some interesting folks, I quipped. He got a half-grin, and said, at least this one was mostly normal. He then told me about the phone call I had overheard. A lady had called to report that she was being poisoned by a neighbor that snuck in. She didn't know what the poison was, but it made her forgetful, and then when she was asleep, the same neighbor would sneak in and steal her appliances, and replace them with broken ones.

Quite honestly, I had no clue what to say to that.

I said, gee, it's not even... We both finished, "the full moon yet!" He looked slightly chagrined, and said, "well, I am on duty, so I am going to go have a strong... coffee."

The fun never ends...

This last Wednesday, I was sitting quietly at the desk, and the Sargeant was there. He is a stout man, sort of laid back, and rather joking. (The man referred to me as Rookie for at least 6 months when I started volunteering.) I hadn't seen much going on, and had the radio on low. I heard a deputy on the radio call for assistance with a falling victim. He was first on scene. She was fine, he said, concious, yada, yada, yada, but she was 450 pounds.

Dispatch called for assistance for him.

I sort of zoned out after that, it was the usual, I am going here, I am checking this, I have arrived here communications that make up probably about 75 percent or more of what is on the "public" channel. The interesting thing, I can also hear at least one or two of the "private" channels that the deputies use. (If you watch cop shows, it's sometimes referred to as TAC 1, or whatever number. It's just usually a frequency that they don't release to the general public...)

Anyway, I had heard the radio in the back, that was on the other frequency, come to life, but didn't hear what was said, except for "code 3". This had an instantaneous effect on the Sargeant. I hear this crash and thumping, and realize it's the sargeant at a dead run to his car outside. (I later figured out the crash was his rolling office chair hitting the wall...) I turned up the radio I had, and heard one, then another, and another deputy showing up at a particular place, then quiet for a bit. Soon, I heard them clear, and a few minutes later, the Sargeant shows up again, along with another deputy. (Code 3, by the way, means that lights and siren can be used, i.e., it's important...)

Uh, everything okay?

The sargeant, in his usual laid back fashion, nods, yeah, just a couple guys in a screaming match in front of a bar. But when 4 officers show up to 'encourage' them to settle down, they decided to leave. I told them to go home. I saw the guy's bike at another house, but if we don't get any more calls like that, I will be happy.

About then, my parents showed up to let me know about my Grandma. Grandma has been ill, and they wanted to give me an update. After a bit of conversation, Mom had to go to the nearby post office, and I saw the deputy slip out.

Another person came by, and I was busy trying to get her some information, when Mom came back. I was on the phone with dispatch, and saw the deputy walk up by me. He saw that I had the one person well in hand, and then went and talked to my Mom and Dad, unaware that they'd been talking to me.

According to what Mom said, he asked if they need help. Mom said no, that they were just relaying some information about my grandmother. From what Mom described, the deputy suddenly got rather intense, asking if it was serious, did he need to be there, was everything okay. Mom assured him that it was okay, and that it was just a routine thing. He then relaxed, and went back to his desk.

It's nice to know that "my guys" are concerned about me as much as I am about them!

I was thinking of Steve Jobs, I guess.

2011-10-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

No, I don't know if they were Macintosh Apples. But, for today, let's just say they were.

A Breast Cancer Awareness Post. Please don't laugh. Or do... (blush)

2011-10-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

Have to get back in the habit of blogging again! Ok, for quick here, I have been making applesauce, zucchini bread with apples, I cleaned out our freezer as I had run out of room, I have picked apples to make MORE applesauce, or some such. And I just checked the garden, it needs to be picked over and cleaned out.

Did I hear glutton for punishment?

Yes. What, may I ask, is your point? (grin)

So. I realized it was October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I decided to share a story about it.

It's a story with a happy ending! Really!!

I was in my first year of college where I was out "on my own", in my little apartment, doing my college-y things, and one thing I wanted to do was take karate. There is a family story that when I was a toddler sized carpet rodent, I had used some karate skills, taught to me by my babysitter, to kick another kid off the stage when my Dad was being installed as Sargent of Arms in a lodge meeting.

I guess I never got over it, because I still like karate. Thusly, I wander into my class, and start with running. Lots and lots of running. (And I was given the nickname Duck by one of the others, as I have feet as flat as flat can be, and it sounded like I was slapping the floor, not running...) After what seemed like MILES of running, we would then go on to practice punches. Over and over, and over, and over again, with the teacher pausing by certain students to correct arm placement or stance. After all this we'd usually actually get to spar a bit. (I usually managed to get put with someone who was several belts ahead and at least 10 inches taller than me. But it was fun. Most of the time.)

So, this went on for about 2 months, and I thought nothing of it. I was losing a little weight, I was getting some shape in my legs, and looking pretty good.

Then I did a breast exam. I was horrified to realize I had not one, but two big lumps under my breasts! I was freaked out, to say the least. I also knew that I had a family history of breast cancer. I called my OBGYN, and made an appointment. Fortune would have it, I was due for the yearly "fun" anyway, so I just shined everyone on that I was just 'getting the girls checked'. I figured there was no sense borrowing trouble and freaking everyone else out, 'til I knew what I was dealing with.

After a few nervous days of wondering what the problem was, I finally had my appointment. I nearly bawled at the doctor, saying I had these lumps and I had a family history and omg what was I going to do if it IS cancer... He calmed me down, and very seriously said, maybe we should check what it is that you are feeling first.

So, I pointed out the area. With a stern expression he then did a breast exam. Then he looked confused. Is this the lump? He gently prodded a spot.

Yes.

And you say there is one on the opposite side?

Yes... (Of course, by then I had images of surgery, hair loss, all the lovely things that run through the imagination.)

He stood up, and said, managing to keep a straight face. You haven't maybe been exercising a lot lately, by chance?

Well, yeah. I told him about my class, and he asked me to dress. He also asked if I would tell him about the regular exercises I did in class. I told him, and said that I did them nearly every day out of class, so I could keep up with the other students.

That's when he put a hand on my shoulder, and trying desperately not to laugh, told me that he was quite happy to let me know that what I had was not cancer. It was not even bad. In fact, it made his day to let me know I had proof the exercises were working, because that was new muscle growth under my breasts! He then got out a silicone model of a breast that had "lumps", so I could have a better idea what I was trying to look for. I just figured that any change was bad, up to that point.

He gave me a much better idea of what was good and bad when checking, and seemed pleased when I said he'd made my day. I left with a much better frame of mind, knowledge, and a very good idea of what my doctor's laugh sounded like from behind his office door!

So, please be sure and check things out, but know for what you are checking. I will do my PSA here and say, do the monthly check, and have a check by a doc, too.

You never know when you will have a muscle sneak up on you!

(Oh, and messymimi, if you'd called the posse, they probably would have just handed the phone to my boss, to hand to me! That was most of what my volunteer work was last month!)

Returning. In which I compose a blog. Or compost one...

2011-10-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

I actually had written "compost" to begin with. Not exactly an auspicious start, I would say.

Eh.

So, what have I been doing? Well, faire, obviously, since that's what the last (long, LOONG, LOOOONG ago) blog was about.

I finally took a make up class for the one day I had missed in the Citizens academy (cough2008coughcough), and then have been an Ambassador for a class. Which means that I make GALLONS of coffee, for a lot of very intense young (mostly male) people. Where I have seen several of the classes, people are chatting, interacting, and generally seem to be enjoying themselves, this group takes copious notes, and looks like there will be a pop quiz that is half their grade at the end. (One detective even commented on it during class. Only the other deputies laughed, and me. The class took more notes. Strange...)

I went to a fiber fest. Husband would probably have been upset had I brought these home... Actually, I think my ride might have too, since we were in a Prius, with a baby in the back... (But, Honey, it's yarn on the hoof!)

I also saw several llamas. I was surprised, there were some babies, but the only llamas for sale, were adult males. This cutie kept flirting with me, I suspect he thought I had food in my carry bag. Or he has a thing for plump gals making goo goo eyes at him...

My usual shift at the substation. We had the computer melt down, so this month has been re-writing the newsletter from scratch, which includes digging up logos and such. That has been a bit of a challenge. One of the days I was there, I had a woman nearly demand I look up a license plate, because...

She wanted to buy the vehicle in question. (No, the Sheriff's Office, Police Department, etc. do not do this.)

I have picked quite a few vegetables, found out the kohlrabi is a hit with a friend of mine, so much so, that one day when I was gone, Husband offered several of the remaining ones to him. Uh, Husband, THOSE WERE MINE... Sheesh. There is a couple left, so I at least will get a little try of them... However, I do have several cups of vegetable soup from my garden that I have frozen for winter. Quasi-recipe, for any that want it:

Lazy Gardener's Veggie Soup.

5 cups water.

Vegetable Soup Mix (I used Knox)

Tomatoes.

Beans (I used Navy and Pinto)

Onions

Zucchini

Crookneck squash

Carrots

Cook beans until tender. Remove skins from tomatoes and chop. Chop all other veggies from garden. Put in pot, simmer until tender. Add beans, mix. Freeze. Add Garlic powder if Husband doesn't catch you.

Like I said, lazy. There may even have been more stuff than that, but that's what I can remember.

I finished an Edwardian Cape and matching hat for a new baby and her older sister (pictures to come.)

Finally got some blackberries picked and, for lack of a better term, mashed. I now have several cups of juice that Husband loves dearly on ice cream. I now only wish I had picked more...

I also picked apples...

(Tea box for scale.) I have most of this batch made into applesauce, and then I have some more to pick and sauce-ify. Then I can work on my Walnut trees, if I can beat the deer, squirrels, and turkeys.

And the rainy season is starting here, just in time for it to warm up, figuratively speaking, for Halloween. Most costumes match the raincoats, around here... Halloween falls on a Monday this year, I have decided if I get my act together, I might go as a hippie this year. We shall see.

Baby Hal has been (frantically knocking wood), doing quite well. There seems to be some problems behind the keyboard, but it has been improving, and it certainly does much better than our TV. Our news has almost entirely been from the computer of late, which tells you the quality of our reception here...

I also started a Twitter account, but it looks like it will probably be as hit and miss as the regular blog. I guess I have to realize that I have to actually WRITE something for it to show up, since I can't blog or tweet by telekinesis. Pity, that.

I am also knitting... A scarf or two, and a blanket, for my charities. Some socks for myself. A present for Mom. A baby blanket for a different charity. A new sweater for me.

And I am still working off and on on my book. Right now more in my head than on paper, but it's still in the queue, at any rate.

That doesn't take into account the normal I have to get groceries, my spinning days, and just running around when we need something.

Still exercising, too, Rudee is getting arthritis, so I am doing some things to supplement, as we can't walk as much. Well, he can't anyway.

So, I guess, perhaps I should shut up, and check some other blogs... Certainly been away long enough!

SHHEEEESH!

And just 'cuz, more pictures of veggies.

The Faire, mostly in pictures.

2011-09-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

Feeling lazy, so I will share faire pictures with you. I am nearly recovered... (It was nearly 100 degrees the first day, and even though I wear cotton peasant wear, I was really wiped out. And that's not counting the set up, tear down, wear and tear, and general PITA stress.)

This gent was about 10 or so feet from the ground, and his tankard could easily have held a gallon or more. He was fun to see walking around.

This sweet young gal is quite inventive, she has a bubble blower nose! (Click to enlarge.)

Kiddo is enjoying her piggy back ride. Dad is earning his "Daddy's Cool" stripes. (This was on the aforementioned 100 degree day.)

Mary had a little... goat? A gal from my spinning group, that brings goats and sheep to faire, she was watching the joust. The livestock seemed unimpressed...

Just a general view of folke and visitors at faire. The building with the steeple? That is where I 'work', doing information, lost and found, and selling T-shirts and souvenirs. (And yes, I do believe that is bird doo on the steeple...)

Goat rides given to children at faire. The gent in the coat? Yon Pooper Scooper. (We found people weren't particularly excited about goat leavings on shoes. Especially folks that come to faire not WEARING shoes...)

Some of the Nobles gracing a peasant with time and a kind word.

Strangely, at the end of faire, there were sudden,

highly localized ice storms right by the food vendors areas. Strange...

Ok, this was just one of those "couldn't happen if I had tried it a dozen times" thing.

I tossed my staff to the side, by our camp table.

It landed in such a way as to perfectly balance!

(And if anyone is interested, I am now a Twit. I have a Twitter account, but don't expect a lot. I will still be writing my majority of blogging here. I mostly did it because I read two or three peoples "tweets", and decided to see what the fuss was about. I still think if it is Twitter, I must be a Twit... Eh... And with any luck, I will soon be blogging, and commenting on blogs, with a bit more regularity.)

Heading out, some pics.

2011-09-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Grumble. I gained 2 pounds. Okay, I need to deal with that this week. Grr.

On to other topics. I am going to my yearly Ren Faire biz, and I wear gloves, because construction is as much of the duties as walking about in funny clothes (so says Husband...). I keep having a problem with people thinking my gloves are theirs, or vice versa, as plain white leather gloves seem very popular there.

So, I decided to jazz mine up a bit. I have the sneaking suspicion they will be easier to track down now. Husband and Mom both suggested paw prints on the back, but I haven't done so yet. But I believe they will still work...

I put in a bunch of carrot seed, and I think the name of the one was Carnival. I was thinning, and I think I remember why...

I guess there is also white and purple colored ones, but I have only come up with these. The red is much, much more vibrant than shown. More fire engine than beet.

Wanted to take a picture of Rudee. He looked away just as I snapped the photo. So, set up again... (With his ears like that, I keep thinking... SUUUUPER DOOOG!)

And then he decided that he wanted to see what was in my hand, a treat, perhaps? (You'd think after this many photos, he'd figure out the camera wasn't edible...) Along with bumping my leg, which seemed to unfocus the situation...

But finally, I managed to get him to stay still, and a sharp whistle to get him to look, and ta da! A good pic of the dog. (Do need to edit it a smidge, I really don't think the trash bin does him justice, but oh, well...) I sort of chuckle though, he has an odd expression, like he's expecting the cat to attack him or some such... Maybe it's just me.

So, hope my blog friends are all ok, I will hopefully be back blogging early next week.

Ahem...

2011-09-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday

to my

Mom!

I forgot to get your birthday on TV, so I put it on my blog, instead...

Hope you had a good one!

Love,

Your Kid.

(Please feel free to wish my Mom happy returns of the day, as she reads my blog.)

Pictures of mutants... And just strangeness.

2011-09-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is the pumpkin that I was telling you about, see, just a long ol' pumpkin vine...

This is a pumpkin growing on it, it's the "Big Max" type pumpkin. I won't get any award winners for size, but I didn't try, either...

THIS is where it gets odd. See the big crooknecks? These are the base of the same plant that has the lovely pumpkin. And these are about a size 9 (US) women's shoe, so they are getting a bit large...

And these, well, I just added for fun. I guess that some people don't realize that you can scratch a picture on a pumpkin (these are a different batch than the Big Maxes), and the picture will 'scab over' making it show rather pronouncedly. I decided to play with a few I had for some kids I know, if they want them, if not, heck, I have a front porch...

Mrs. Happyface

Mr. Boo

This one I might keep. Senyour Funnyface

(Yes, I know I spelled that wrong, can't make the n squiggle...)

So, I hope that gives you a laugh today, and you can see the strange doings with my pumpkins. I have one more 'carved' pumpkin, but I have to cut it a bit deeper, it's barely visible... More pics when things "show".

Computers, Karma, and really strange doings in the garden...

2011-08-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

So. I was sitting quietly, reading a magazine, when the phone rang. Husband was expecting a call, and launched for the phone. I continued reading, until he looked at the i.d.er.

He never will answer when the reader says "COUNTY SHERIFF". Well, actually, there aren't enough spaces, so it says "COUNTY SHE". None the less, he will hand me the phone without clicking on. So, hoping it didn't already go to the "Sorry we missed your call...".

It turned out to be my boss, who was not quite frantic. She told me the computer that I use had died. Not only had it died, it had died in a quite showy way, with smoke, attempted immolation, and generally trying to make its demise really noticeable.

Why is this important?

Because the newsletter they hand out all over the county, which I type up... Was on that computer. She was asking if I had time to type it up again. I told her I didn't think it would be a big deal. I guess I didn't sound properly panic-stricken, as she remarked, you do realize we have lost ALL the information, right?

I said, no, for once, I am ahead of the game. I have several of the bit 'n blurbs we use on MY computer, at least two of the people send me stuff "old school" (i.e. pen and paper version), and the only thing we might need to redo is a picture on the front page that hadn't been sent to me yet. Then I had a thought. My boss tends to be... Um... very specific about her wants. She'd had me print out the newsletter the week before.

I mentioned this.

There was a pause, where I swear I heard angels singing...

She said, yes, and I think I can even find it on my desk! Little longer, some noise of paper being rapidly shuffled, and she piped up, hey, all we need is... (pause) Xville's blurb, and YTown's blurb, and we should have it.

Ok, said I, who is the person I need to get on about that?

Pause...

Uh. It's coming to your inbox, now...

I was pleased. My karma must have been paid up for the week, or something. I am now trying to convince the printer to print out the now finished documents, and after some Old School Cut and Paste, (now with real paste!), I will have it ready to give to the various Senior And Law enforcement Together (SALT) groups tomorrow. (And the one printer is indeed cooperating. It took a little longer for the copier, but now it is FINISHED, and in my boss' hand! Yaaaay!!!)

So. I asked about the computer they were going to replace the old one with. I am just now getting sorta maybe kinda possibly the hang of Windows 7, a little. The boss replied they will be updating, and I am getting worried. I didn't even recognize the program she mentioned.

I think I will talk about my garden now, so I don't start curling up in fetal position and whimpering...

I noticed that some of my crookneck was getting real large in a very short time. Hmm. (Oh, I was going to put a picture here of the crookneck "tree", but it fell over before I could take my picture. Sorry.) So, I look at the crooknecks, and then I look over at my pumpkins.

Oh. Uh, oh, crap. I forgot and planted the two way too close together. I had bees that were very industriously combining the two, and I was ending up with ginormous lumpy yellow crookneck. And I was ending up with some oddball mutated pumpkins.

Again, hmm.

So I pondered. Threw some of the monsters to the chickens, after cutting them open. The chickens LOVE 'em! So does one of the llamas. Great! Then I thought about the pumpkins. Well, they are Big Max. The kind that win big pumpkin awards? I am going to let a couple two or three of the mutants grow, and I intend to use the crookneck as a face, the "neck" will be a lumpy ol' witch's nose, and I will get to have some fun seeing what else I can come up with for the other one.

Oh, and if anyone is interested, my new computer, I have named Baby Hal.

Just so you know. Sharon mentioned another name, but I am actually getting along with it, for now, and I already named my cell phone something close to her moniker. (We both seem to have some problems with our respective machines...)

The conversation.

2011-08-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

I was sitting at the desk for my shift, reading a book, as the computer died. (You know, if I was more superstitious, I might be worried about this. Fortune would have it, the person before said it was acting up for her...) I heard the bing, bing, bing of the front door, and looked up, standing and putting on my "professional attitude".

May I help you?

The man smiled, almost shyly, and then piped up, showing me a flyer. I am wanting to learn how to get the book for the boating class. I smiled. This was going to be easy. I reached below the desk and pulled out one of the manuals we hand out.

He wiped his cottony hair from his forehead, and then looked a bit befuddled. Can I take a class? Or is it online? I would like to take it online. I told him about the different methods he could use, and pointed out the phone number on the flyer where he could call the State Marine Board if he need more information.

He fiddled with a shirt button. Opened the book. Then he looked at me, and said, you know, I haven't ridden in a boat for years. My wife has been sick for almost 8 years. She just passed away.

I murmured my condolences. He nodded, sniffed a bit, wiped his hair back again, then said, you know, she was a wonderful woman, even if she did say I had rocks in my head. I chuckled. He started looking through the book. He asked how to find the test. I explained it had a review in the book, not a test, and showed him the pages. He glanced at it and saw the question, "Port is the _____ side of the boat." He harrumphed, and said, never could remember which is which. I piped up, port left red.

Hmm?

The short ones are together, so it's port left red. The other is starboard right green. He nodded, smiling. My wife did memory things like that. His eyes were filled with tears. I said, well, that wasn't my idea, my Daddy taught me that one, Navy man. He nodded, then started talking about some other things in the book.

Then he would drift back to his wife. Things she'd said, (encouraging him to go to a group, rather than stay home all the time), pictures, (from a picture when they were wed, to one a short time before she died), and the fact he was just lost without her.

My professional manner was starting to get a bit sniffly here, folks. I told him that he was getting out, if he was going to go boating, and he agreed, and asked a few more boating questions. Then he drifted back to his wife, and telling about a simple dessert he'd made of a muffin with jelly he had made for her, and then he was short of crying again.

I didn't know what to add, so I just listened. He talked, seeming to look... Lighter than he had. This went on for some time, until another person came in, and I very carefully touched the old man's hand. Sir, I am more than willing to talk more if you'd like, but I need to help this other gentleman. He looked surprised, Oh! I will just go, then.

But he didn't. I helped the other gentleman with a problem, which was quickly solved with a phone call to dispatch, and the young man left.

The older man stepped back, and sighed. You know, I started a sentence, and my wife would finish it. We had 66 years and 9 months together. I winked, and said, well, that makes me a puppy, I've only been married 20 years. He looked surprised, then smiled. Yep.

Then he talked some more, about living through good times and bad, and how he missed her. I told him that of course he did, no one could be together that long and not hurt. He told me he had some male friends that he would talk to that had lost wives as well, and that they told him it would take a while. I agreed.

He then started talking a bit about the book again. Then with a final wipe of his hair, he smiled, and said, Thank you so much miss, I needed some help. Thanks for this, holding up the book. Then he walked out, wishing me a good day. I looked at the clock, and realized he'd been there for 2 1/2 hours, talking.

I hope I helped him have a good day, too.

Husband got a big hug when I got home. And I am still a bit sniffly. Stupid allergies... Ahem.

I am getting there. Slowly.

2011-08-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

Finally figured out how to upload a picture. Why, you ask? Not because I couldn't do it on the computer, this computer has the little spot for the flash/thumb/jump/whatever drive nearly hidden! But, I found it, and so I can show you a collection of goodies I picked a couple days ago.

I have been picking fairly steadily, and in the case of the crookneck, I am now going to have to get on the stick and either eat, or preserve them. And I am getting quite a few. This is a great thing, to my mind, I adore crookneck. I planted... I think... six plants, and babied them. They are now turning into Crookneck trees! I will have to get a picture of the one crazy plant that grew a vine straight up from the plant, and it now looks like a mutant banana tree or something. Rather than the fruiting part on the ground, no, it's showing off, putting the stuff waaay up there! (Which, I might add, makes it much nicer to pick!)

The tomatoes are finally starting to grow, without cracking... It's dry enough here, finally, just horribly humid, to my mind. Urg...

These are some walnuts. I am seeing LOTS of walnuts this year, at least on one of the trees. I hope desperately to have some for ME this year, (most years they are deer and squirrel food, not much bearing), and it looks promising. The blackberries are luscious this year, I want to pick some for jam, juice, whatever. Hey, it's a weed, and if I get some benefit, I will take it. Rudee might disagree vociferously, however. Poor dog, I threw him a RIPE blackberry once, thought he'd enjoy it.

If a dog could spit, he would had launched that thing...

In other news...

I hope all my blog friends on the other side of the US are okay.

I was in an earthquake, in 1993, woke up to the central beam in our house swaying. Husband? Slept through it, until my nearly punching him senseless woke him up. (I believe there was some screeching involved, as well. Mostly mine.)

His response? Bad dream, go back to sleep. I did.

The next morning, we turned on the news to find out there was a huge (for us) earthquake, and they were giving info on things to check.

Bad dream, huh? Hmph.

This is now a standing joke between the two of us.

*******

I gave blood today, I am up to 6 gallons... And a quart. (No comments on being a quart low, thanks...)

;)

Saw most of the usual donors, but it was so cool, there was about 5 or 6 people that were 17ish, that showed up to give. Nice to have new ones! It took quite a while, as they were short handed today, I knit about not quite an inch on a sock, (generally I knit an inch an hour), while waiting to donate, normally it is NOT that much. One poor man kept looking like I was going to impale him with my DPN's, geez, you'd wouldn't think it was such a big deal, we are going to donate blood... I don't even have that much "wing" motion when I knit, so I think he was just paranoid, personally.

Muggles. Pfft.

Good things... And feeling really newbie.

2011-08-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

The old computer has nearly had it. I have tried my best to get all the 'glitches' out of it, but I suspect, between operator error and just plain it-was-bought-used, it was sort of on borrowed time. I was borrowing Husband's computer to check my email, and otherwise, not doing much. It would overheat, I think it may have some hardware problems, definitely had some software problems, and absolutely had operator problems. (Just ask Husband...)

So, Husband had been doing some of his horse trading, and came up with some funds. He told me to get a computer THAT WORKED... I will have to save up for a couple things I would like (MS Office, that sort of thing), but it works! I also know that I better run the wheels off this thing, so to speak, this wasn't a planned expense, and while he didn't begrudge me getting it, I think he would have liked to do something else with the money. But, I have the computer, and it works.

Now I just have to figure out how to use it. It has Windows 7, and I don't quite know where anything is, or how to access it if I want something, and setting up the email has been interesting. I know that I probably could do brain surgery as easily as I did putting in the email. (Let's just say, I finally handed Husband the computer, and sat quietly. He figured out I made no major mistakes, but I did, as usual, make enough to make the thing not work. Of course...)

And. Hmm. I suppose I won't divulge names.

I have 2 members of my family going through some medical 'stuff'. If I could have good thoughts for them, I would most truly appreciate it. And for my parents and myself, who are in "hurry up and wait" mode.

So, if any of you get messages from me, it will be a sign that I am starting to make friends with my computer.

I am planning to name the thing, so I will have to figure out some fun thing for that on the blog.

(The name Hal need not apply...)

Time. Zoooooom, there it goes!

2011-08-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

I thought it had been about 4 days since my last blog. Ahem.

Not.

So, Just to let you know that I am among the land of the living... Yon update on Le Doings.

I read all the comments. Then tried to use my computer, which promptly committed some random blast of poo, rendering it useless for such things as GOING ONLINE. (I am writing this at the cop shop, and Husband has said that I can use his computer when he's out in his shop. And since he has a big order from the company he works for, I should be able to get some computer time...) I still get emails. That is something, I guess. I just can't convince the computer that google.com is NOT a virus. I have narrowed it down to my Norton program, I think, so with any luck, I hopefully shall get some sort of solution after running a restart.

Again...

I want to say that on the comments, La Shaune, your comment that there should be a knitting bag in the shape of a Tardis has given me an idea, which I hope to work on soon, and will post in the (hopefully) near future.

Sharon, you should email me and I would see what I could do about the bag... If you don't mind a wait. :)

messymimi and Danielle, the even more annoying part, I exercised all week, and he didn't! Bah!!

Rain and Dreaming, this is the first time I have ever had dealings with a GPS, it was beginning to make me wonder what the fuss was about. But in the city, it was a huge help, especially when I missed a turnoff...

bon bon, yes, I have found that knitting and sci-fi seem to go together. Guess it's all that string theory, heh heh heh...

So, I have been helping at the Ren Faire site, cutting grass and weeding, putting off my garden, where I would be... cutting grass and weeding. Life can be interesting that way, sometimes.

My llamas... Have been very friendly with one another, all except Llama. She just walks away from the fray, grunts, and just watches the antics. If I don't get a cria* out of this, it won't be for lack of (Lorenzo's) trying!

I have now had cucumbers, a few zucchinis, and 2 crookneck squash from my garden.

I have had a few tomatoes, but every one of them so far have been cracked because of all the rain we have had. I keep thinking we could trade, give a few days of rain to some of the other states that are roasting, and they could give us about a 5 or ten degree up in temp to help with growing. Right now, we are having weather more suited to April in this area, then August. One bright spot, the fire danger is relatively low...

I was watching a movie, just getting into it, and our lovely digital programming got me, the signal went out. (Insert various non-lady like words here). I had a little bit of time before I went to the cop shop today, and went to the library. I remembered they had videos. I started snooping, and TA DA! The movie that I had been watching was there. I snapped it up, and most likely will watch it tonight or tomorrow. Hey, I have the card, might as well use it, right?

I was reading that if you just do the same exercising, that your body can adjust to it, and you don't lose weight as quickly. So I have added a daily set of sit ups. I started at 100, and am now up to 300. It seems to take forever. But this week I lost about 1 1/2 pounds. So we shall see. I keep trying to figure out how to add push ups, but so far my knee won't cooperate. (I have no kneecap on one side, so pressing on it for long periods doesn't work.) I might a "knee pillow" of some sort, and start with like, oh, 10 push ups, see if I go into paroxysms of agony, if not, increase. It's one of those things that I just have to go slow.

And I am up to the 8th handwritten page on my book. It's a start! Few hundred to go...
Heh.

Wishing all my readers GOOD computer time,
Cat

* cria is the term for a baby llama.

Knitting overcomes fear. But not geekness...

2011-08-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

I hate driving in large cities. I just do. I could almost honestly say I am a little afraid of same. Then a friend of mine asked about going to Sock Summit in Portland. Loonng drive from our houses, and it was in Portland.

Ugh. But I really wanted to go, if no other reason, it sounded like a great deal of fun. (There was even a flash mob of yarn dancers. I really wanted to join in, but when I started thinking about going home in the evening, after being on my feet all day, in rush hour traffic... No.) So, after convincing my friend to be NavCom, we headed out with only minor fear and trepidation.

She had a GPS. That helped some, after it decided that we were, in fact, on I-5, and not in Dallas, Oregon, going to her church.

"Turn left here. Now."

"Turn left here. Now"

"You will be arriving at the church in .8 miles."

(Uhhh, computer? We are on a major highway, and there isn't a church, or a turn off for a church anywhere.)

After she fiddled with the battery and re-animated it, it finally decided we were indeed going to Portland, and then was actually helpful, if a little quick on the info on where turns were. We missed where to go for parking, and had to backtrack. This was a little strange, they had a lot for $9, we went about a block the other way, and there was one, closer, and it was $6. Strange.

So, we went in, and were greeted with this:

For those who don't watch sci-fi much, this is the portal from Stargate, but the "writing" on it has been modified to be charted knitting stitches, and renamed Sockgate. My nerd antenna went up immediately. I found several such items. I was going to take a picture of a Doctor Who knitting bag, but it was snapped up by a (slightly scary) knitter with a squee that nearly deafened me... So, imagine if you will a bag, with a snap style top, that is green, with blue police call boxes printed across it. There were some mentions of Harry Potter, Battlestar Galactica, and I believe one or two mentions of Star Trek.

Yep, they are my people. Knitting, and Sci-fi.

Better yet, no one looked askance at having pointy sticks in my hand.

The funny one tho, my friend saw a guy, loaded up with yarn, bags at his side, and a very grumpy wife, saying something to the effect, "Haven't you got enough yarn? Can't we go now?"

I was greatly amused.

I just had to include this, Husband is always commenting that I call anything and everything, well, a thingy. Well, obviously, I am not the only one... And I have proof!

This was a temporary tattoo I received while I was there on Saturday. I write this blog on Wednesday, I have washed a few times since, and the tattoo is still there. I have since found out, that to remove it, I need to use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. Since it still looks fine, I am not going to worry about it.

I bought a couple things, one I won't say what is, as the person it's for reads my blog. (Hi, Mom!) I bought some yarn that I had been ~~coveting~~ looking forward to trying, it's black wool with silver in it. Yes, silver, like the stuff a ring would be made of. I think it looks wonderful, I have read reviews from several people that say it wears beautifully, too, so if I can find the pattern I want to use for it, I will make myself some silver shot socks! Foot bling?

In other news, the llamas have been released to our back pasture, (more or less 10+ acres), and are finding it a llama buffet. They sort of showed up for breakfast today, but it's been the first day they've even paid attention to me of late. I am not too worried, they have plenty to eat, (and will have more when the blackberries ripen), and I will feed them when they need it, but I figure, they can go munch down some stuff out there.

I was a good kid, Husband was a good kid. We have laid off the sweets, we have been eating better, I have added 150 sit ups to my routine.

Husband has lost an inch on his waistline.

I gained two pounds this week.

I am going to force feed him donuts next week... Snort...

; )

Shearing and panicking

2011-07-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

So, wanted to show you a photo of Lorenzo, sans fiber. (It was almost criminal to have to bunch the fiber, rather than to use it for spinning, but when you have 2 people who are learning... It ain't pretty, folks.)

We have him shorn so he doesn't overheat, and that's about the best I can say for it. I think I am forgiven, however. For all of those asking, YES, llamas spit. Lorenzo was frustrated, and spat at me after 40 some minutes. Think of an extremely obnoxious 2 year old with good aim and a mouth full of half chewed peas. Not dangerous, just gross.

Anyway, I tried to take a photo of him the next day, and he must have decided I was giving out treats...

Let me tell you, this looks reeeeally close in the viewfinder!

But I finally was able to move far enough away from him to get a 'decent' photo. So, here is Lorenzo, sans fluff. He looks TINY without the long locks he had! (And unfortunately, sorta gangly, too.)

But, it went as well as I guess I could hope for, except I found out, I need to make some adjustments, as I can't hold a llama leg up on my knee (No kneecap, so I couldn't support the leg, without my leg buckling). I will have to make a device I saw a farrier use, a jack with a v shaped top to hold the leg while I am trimming. Husband, bless him, got that duty. He didn't mind that a bit.

Shearing, not so much. I didn't mind shearing, except that Lorenzo's hair was so thick, I had a hard time getting a good start. (His butt has several different shear directions, because of this. Not classy, at all...)

In other news...

Last Wednesday, I did my usual shift at the substation. I sat down, turned up the scanner, and was just about to ~~blog and play on the computer~~ get to work, when I heard one of the deputies give an address.

OF MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR!!!

I listened, and, of course, Murphy's Law went into effect, meaning that they were busy, and stopped talking. All I had caught was "runner". I called husband, who, also true to Murphy's Law, didn't answer his phone. I told him something was happening at the neighbor's, please please please, don't go outside.

And I waited. No more on the incident. Stew. Fret. Worry.

More stewing.

What is going ON??!?!?!!

Sgt. came in for lunch. I thought about asking him, but knew he generally worked in a different area. Then another deputy came in, and I tried to be real casual, hey, did you happen to be working at XXX address?

He said yeah, why?

I pounced. That's my neighbor, and I didn't hear what happened, just that there was a runner?

He got a slight smile, indicative that some bad guy pulled an extraordinary dumb. Yeah, you know the kids clearing brush at your neighbor's house are Juvenile Delinquents, right?

Yes...

Well, one bright boy, (Sgt. comes in, grinning), decides to make a break for it. He runs from our road, to the next road behind our place. Now, this isn't all that far, as the crow flies, but there is a lot of brush.

Blackberry vines, to be exact. I guess the deputy just followed the broken branches, and blood trail from the kid going in a nearly straight line to the next road.

Sgt. then picks up the story with a nearly feral grin...

Yeah, the kid was standing at the edge of the road, and trying to get one of his buddies to come pick him up. I decided to give him a ride, after all, he did deserve it!

I cracked up, the Sgt. looked like he was just about to rub his hands together in glee.

So, the neighbor is fine? (She is elderly.)

Oh, yeah, I don't think the kid even slowed down past her house.

(Thank G*d...)

So, I went home, and Husband asked me about the phone call. I told him, and he said, yeah, I got your phone call, and walked around the house to see if there was someone outside, since you didn't leave a lot of detail in your message.

Not a lot of detail. "Please, please, please, do not go outside."

He walked around the house to check if there was someone outside.

Excuse me, my mental gears have stripped... AIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH!!!

But, all's well that end's well... But I know that one kid isn't going to be on work crew anymore!

Casanova's haircut and pedicure, transgender chickens, and guessing games.

2011-07-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day. I had to re-arrange the schedule a bit, since Husband has been swamped with work, but he and I will be doing toenail trims on all the llamas, and shearing Lorenzo. The new girls don't have long enough hair for it to be worth shearing, and I am not shearing Llama, as she is getting quite old, and seems to need her hair for keeping HER warm. And I also don't want to stress her any more than I have to.

Oh, why did I mention Casanova?

Wellll, we were in the garage, and Husband heard this noise. I suspected what it was, but we walked out and looked out in the pasture. Annie and Lorenzo were enjoying each other's company, in the biblical sense. (Poor Lorenzo, Toni was having a fit, and spitting at him vehemently, so he was being heavily chastised for enjoying himself. He just turned away from Toni and went back to enjoying himself. Annie seemed to have no opinion on the matter.) This went on randomly for a day or so, then Annie decided she'd had enough, and ran him off.

The next day, we heard Lorenzo again. Looking out the window, we realized, he was enjoying himself with Dolly! (And Toni still didn't approve. Toni seems to be a bit of a prude...) So, we have been having random llama p0rn the last few days. I wonder if it's giving the roosters ideas...

Speaking of roosters, we also have been having 3 birds crowing in the morning. We have 2 roosters. One little black hen has decided she is going to crow, and no one is going to stop her. (If I can get my camera to do the record thing, I will try and put it on the blog later.) She started a few weeks ago. Now, if there is no rooster around, one hen will sometimes crow, and sort of take over as a lead bird. I reiterate, I have TWO roosters. And they didn't like her deciding to crow. They pounced on her, hit her with wings and feet, plucked feathers, what ever those little shelled pea sized brains could come up with to get her to stop.

She just got mad, fought back, and crowed as she ran away.

The roosters have now come to the conclusion that she is not going to stop crowing. They have now switched to the method of dealing with her that my family refers to as "high ignore". If they don't pay attention to her, she isn't a problem. And she just walks around, clucking happily, catching the occasional bug, laying the occasional egg.

And crowing.

(You go girl!) :)

My birthday is Sunday. I don't know what to wish for with the old birthday cake, but I will think of something, I am sure. I have had a few people ask me how old I am. I will say to all of you that are curious, I was born in '67. You do the math.

This isn't to be rude, quite frankly, more often than not, I have to do the math myself, because I can't remember. This is why, unlike a friend or two of mine, the big 4-0 was a big woo-pee. When I wake up some days feeling like I'm 17, and others like I am 89, the actual number doesn't mean all that much.

So, everyone gets a slice of virtual birthday cake from me, and may you all have a wonderful day. I will probably be recovering from dealing with 20 llama toes. And one horny llama haircut. (Photos only if I can manage it...)

And listening to 3 crowing birds...

(Oh, and since a few people asked, the stuff I take now is Aleve. I have found it works great for me, however YMMV...)

Pictures, feelin' good, and just... on the go.

2011-07-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

I have felt good, for a change. The bright, shiny new doctor listened to me, made some suggestions, and I am taking a different over-the-counter med... And it works. I have taken several meds, including several expensive prescription things, that didn't work. My former doctor, (Husband has begged me to stop calling him Dr. Horse's Ass...), ahem, my FORMER doctor just would say I was fat, and write up something, I think just to be rid of me. I know at least two of them didn't work at all. Expensively didn't work at all.

But now, it's a... would it be an upward spiral? I am feeling better, so I am able to do more, which helps me lose weight (more about that in a minute), and so I am feeling better yet. Is this not a great thing?

For example, I could barely keep up with the weeding the last few years in my garden. (Well, okay, it wasn't too hard to weed the year I had to have everything in planter pots, but that doesn't count...) This year, since I have put the garden in, I have been able to get all the weeding done in about 2 days. It's not perfect, and there is the occasional missed weed, and some grasses sneaking in after I am finished, but compared to years before, it's like a different person is dealing with it! See???

I also was looking at my window boxes, I am trying to make them more year to year, I will add little bits as time goes on, to replace the things that die back, or that I bought that are just one year plants, but I thought that it seems to be doing well. I did sort of expect the sweet potato vine to be a bit more... Well, vine-y... But I think it's filling in and looking pretty nice... Even if the snapdragons decided they were finished well before I thought they should be. Poops.

The llamas are getting settled in, I am still not able to touch Annie without her getting panicky, which will be so fun soon, as we are getting ready to give everyone toe trims, and Lorenzo gets a shear... But they are settling in.

Boy, for some strange reason, they like me so much in the mornings when I am handing out food. (They are finally putting on some weight. They were very skinny when I received them, the only one not 'bulking up' is Annie, and I am giving her extra food. She doesn't mind, and it keeps her out of everyone else's feed. Annie and Lama are continuing the battle for Llama Alpha Female, so far Lama is the winner, ears down! And the occasional spitball...)

It's hard to see, but this is Annie and Toni. Dolly wasn't close enough to photograph under the tree.

I have been recording my weight every week, but haven't put it over to the right. I just need to catch up, part of it was the computer having its 19th nervous breakdown. (hee)

But part of it, I had it on a paper, when I was at the 'cop shop', I didn't have the paper, and most of the time, when I was home, the computer didn't work. So, as of Wednesday, I am down to 229.4. I want to get back to where I was there at 226, but considering I have wavered as high as 234 one week (!!!!), I won't be too upset. So, I am still working on losing the lard, just haven't been as blogity about it of late.

So, knock wood, the computer has been holding, I am going to start with a more regular blog, and maybe, perhaps, by some stroke of luck, the computer will keep the rubber on the road, so to speak...

Here's hoping for continued 'go' in computers, me, and life in general!

2011-07-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

The computer is holding... (frantically knocking on wood...) So, what have I been up to?

Of late:

I quit one of my volunteer jobs, I am still in the group, just not in a leadership role. I was finding it, sadly, a waste of time, doing studying and work for no good reason that I could see, and there was a very pointed personality conflict between myself and another person, so I decided, enough is more than enough, and left. This also lead to my finally deleting my Facebook page, which on a scale of importance, I placed about two degrees above absolute zero.

Well, maybe one...

But I am still there, but in a support position. We shall see if this alleviates some of the antagonism between the two of us. I figure, I still want to help, so if I am a "grunt", I can just show up, do, and leave, I don't have to argue about every little thing. Might be a cop-out, but at least I won't be grinding my teeth to the roots... Adding to that, a lot of the things I have to do for this group include computer work, and my computer chooses when to work...

It wasn't going well.

I haven't taken a picture of it yet, but I have a fairly nice garden growing. With the exception of a mole/gopher that is going through the pumpkin area. I am getting ready to do something highly lethal to this creature if it doesn't leave my plants alone. On the bright side, I planted, and after some discussion with Husband (read: I am doing it this way, dammit), I just water the plants, not using a sprinkler, but the hose, and I am pleased to report at this time, I have very few weeds. It's supposed to rain tonight or tomorrow, so I will probably have a sudden infestation, but at least I am holding my own, for now.

I lucked out and got some fresh hay for this season. The hay that I had was getting a bit... old and losing the seed, and had mice in it, and and and... So I had planned on getting some new hay. Well, Mom and Dad negotiated with a neighbor that wanted the hay they had standing, and they "sold" it for 20 bales for me. I got fresh hay, they got hay for their horses (I think), and we all seem to be happy about it. I have one old bale left, and it will be put in the chicken house temporarily, as I have run out of cedar shavings. It works, in a pinch...

I am going to be trimming llama hooves this week, hopefully. This could be an experience. I haven't done this before, so, erk. We shall see. First time for everything I guess. If it gets too extreme, I still have the name and phone number of the guy that sheared and trimmed for me last year. (I will be shearing, too, but it might just be for the relief of the llama overheating. I only have done a very little shearing, so getting nice fiber for my spinning might be a long shot for me...) For the obvious reason I can't take pictures and shear, this will probably be a before and after deal. Blogs as events warrant.

I have a lot to do around the house and place tomorrow, if I keep my brain somewhere close to actually being in the "on" position, maybe I will take the camera with me and get some pictures for the blog. Hope springs ever eternal. And maybe be able to peruse/comment on other blogs, for a change.

Where have you heard THAT before???

Hang on just a little longer...

2011-07-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

Well, now that I have the cure for being able to write on my blog, and write comments on others' blogs...

My computer died.

I believe this computer must be Hindu. It keeps dying and coming back in a slightly different form each time. (sigh) So, right now, I have nursed it back to working again, for this short period, and will hopefully be able to get back on track for read/posting on blogs, as well as actually sitting down and writing my own! I mean, I haven't written about the garden, about stepping down from one of my volunteer jobs, about... nothin'! I really need to get going here on writing.

I have two cute things I will put down before I forget:

In the "I am so glad I am not the only one that does this" department, I was at the substation, and we happened to be talking about gardening, and what people had planted, how late the planting season was, and so on. I mentioned that I had raised several plants from seed, and mentioned one of them being eggplant.

My boss piped up with "Oh? You grew an eggplant from an egg?"

(She did quickly correct herself, but we all assured her that that phrasing was just hilarious. I am sorely tempted to get an eggplant, and put it in an eggshell for her sometime! )

Next incident, we had 4th of July dinner at Mom and Dad's. Mom had several beverages at the table, including raspberry lemonade, and tea. Dad looked at the tea, and the lemonade, and said, wonder what that would taste like? Poured it about half and half, and I told him that would be an "Arnold Palmer" if it was regular lemonade. I then thought about the pinkish color of the drink, and added, "I think that, however, might be 'Arnold Palmer in a Tutu'...

I have been reading several books, (TV is on the fritz, computer isn't far behind. And people wonder why I don't care much for technology on occasion...), if you want to have a pretty good mystery read, I recommend Sue Henry. I just read Murder on the Yukon Quest, and, like her other books, it was a story that goes from sedate to thrill ride in short order. I wouldn't recommend this as a first book, although the books can be read as stand alone, she has a lot of character background that would make more sense if you read them in order.

These aren't 'cozy' books, she has her main characters get hurt, and blood and gore, but not to the point of ridiculousness, but if someone is shot, she doesn't hide it under the rug, so to speak. So, there is my 2 cent review. I did read some others, but except for a cookie recipe that I want to try, I can't even remember the title at the moment, so I guess that I wouldn't call it a gripping novel... Cookie Murders, or something like that, it was definitely a 'cozy'. Not that I don't like cozies, just some are... Not as thought provoking.

So, hopefully, I will be blogging and commenting more tomorrow! Or soon, anyway...

(I hope...)

Writing, old school style

2011-07-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to present part of my blog entry a bit differently today, because of comments that were given me recently...
While my writing should be legible, my photography... Well, I hope it is okay...

In other blogging:

I have FINALLY planted my garden, pics up soon, (Husband deserves an award this year, the stuff was a grassy mess, and while we were out there, he churned up a six inch square iron plate! (We have found lots of odd stuff, in fact, the previous owner gave us a "welcome" gift of two bottles that I have sitting on my kitchen window sill, that HE found while gardening.)

The bees in the aforementioned blog are doing nicely, so says our friend, they have built up comb and are starting to make honey. (Yay!)

I took time off last week, it was Husband and my 20th anniversary. We decided to have some "us" time. He told the people he worked for that he was going "on vacation" and wouldn't be available to work, I told my volunteer groups that I wasn't going to be there, and found subs where I needed to, and...

We just stayed home! We even sort of curtailed computer use (hence not a lot o' blogging). We read books, we did chores around the house with and for each other, we worked on setting up the garden... And Husband decided we needed new bookshelves. I truly believe this was self defense. I have a lot of books. Let me rephrase that. I have a big, honking, huge pile of books that really needed someplace to be other than the side of the hall, stacked like an avalanche hazard... So he bought 2 new bookshelves, which he said were "mine", and he claimed the old one as "his".

Of course, you realize this meant I had to remove all of my books and load them up on the new shelves, and getting them in some semblance of order. And Husband wanted all the "nice" books closest to the front room, where people could see them. (Meaning all my paperbacks were relegated to the second bookshelf, hidden away from general viewing...)

Okay, there are some movies and DVD's too, but that's only like ONE shelf... Well, and he wanted to have the Polish vase, and a red glass float, and this... picture of me... Everyone likes this picture... EXCEPT me... on the shelves, but it still held all my books, with a smidgen of space left. I have to start reading faster!!!

But, we had a quiet dinner out for our anniversary, and we read, I knit, Husband worked on the boat, I gardened, we walked, we chatted, I cooked, we cleaned stuff...

In short, we decided to just be together for awhile, without distractions.

It was sooo cool! We might just have to do it again!!

(And on another note, I think that I will be able to comment on other's blogs, and respond on my own blog now, I have tested it a couple times, it seems to be working. It was the suggestion of using Google Chrome that did it, and darn if I can find which of my blog buddies suggested it. But if you did, thank you! If you didn't, thank you for putting up with my griping!!)

Bzzzzzzz...

2011-07-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

I am catching up on my blogging 'stuff'. Told you the next blog was about bees. Well, see the little hole where the rag is?

What you can't see (I couldn't take a picture fast enough), was all the bees that suddenly swarmed into the hole. This wouldn't have been too big of problem, except that we have a shop on the other side of that hole! And poor Husband walked in, and just saw hundreds of bees all over.

We have a friend that is a bee keeper, and called him right away. He came over, took out a "super" (the bee box), and stuffed it behind the hole. Then discovered, even with a ladder, some tape, and a half dozen other jury riggings, it wouldn't stay close enough to the hole to get the bees to go in. Soo, Husband, being the good person he is, (and wanting the bees gone), sawed out some of the boards, so they could fit the super in the hole snugly.

I decided that staying in the house was probably the better idea after taking this picture. I was standing still, and it looked like someone was throwing gravel past my face.

I left.

So, the next day, we went outside, and the bees didn't seem to like the accommodations, as they had left the super, and went to our big Sequoia tree in the yard, looking like a big ball of bees. Our friend came over, carefully took down the super, walked it over to the tree, and just dumped the bees in all over again!

After that, he took the bees home. He put them in the back of his truck, and I guess that the super has a door, or something, that keeps the bees from getting out temporarily, but I could just imagine if he had to open the back of the truck for some reason, this wave of bees exploding out. But... They are now at the new place where our friend took it, and they seem to have settled down and decided to be in the super.

Now Husband just has to fix the wall...

Finally, time to get the pics up, and Blogger agrees!

2011-06-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

So, I wanted to put up the pictures of the State Free Fishing Day, (I didn't get any pictures of the day I caught salamanders, more's the pity...), but I thought I would share these.

A fishing group has this huge fish set up as a combination fun house/teaching aid. Inside, the fish life cycle is painted on the walls. I didn't get in there, as I was really supposed to be helping out at a different area, but had to take at least ONE pic!

This was a view at the edge of the lake, not the best view, but there was a line up all the way around the fishing areas, usually with a kid fishing, and an adult either behind or beside them. Nice day for a family outing!

Smokey was the guest of honor, and he had an escort. I didn't register why until I saw several small kids going missile directly at knee level, escort encouraged them with a blocking motion, and encouragement that while Smokey liked hugs, he really wanted them to be careful! (And just a note, Smokey really needs to lay off the honey, he had a MAJOR muffin top going there...)

This was the wooden fishing pool, the kids caught the fish by putting magnet "hooks" in the water, which tagged the bolt on the front of the fish. Some were catching several at once. One girl had to be convinced that she couldn't take those fish home, however!

And coming soon, Beeeees!

This? Oh, that? Wait... What? Hold it!!

2011-06-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Went to the lake where I was going to fish with a kid (or two). So, my ride and I arrived early enough to see the arrival of the group. The motorcycle cops led, lights flashing, followed by a city car with lights, then a truck (no lights, might have been Child Services), then the bus with... the kids!

They scrambled out of the bus, and were more or less lined up for us to take out. We were handed one or two kids, and were to put life jackets on. I should have figured what the day was going to be like when the little guy (he said he was JUST 8 years old) zipped right past me, ran down to the lake, and then couldn't understand why he wasn't fishing. I managed to get him in a life jacket, grab a pole, and get him back to the lake.

Whereupon I had to remind him to watch out for people casting, and not to walk in FRONT of people fishing. Dodging at least three casts myself, trying to keep up with him, we made it to a tiny dock, far from the others... And the fish, oh, there must have been at least a dozen or more. It was a nice shaded area, and the fish were just lazing about! I picked up the bait cup... And there were 2 eggs left. Where did they-? That's when I noticed the little guy was studiously taking each egg out and squishing it between his fingers.

Why are you mushing the eggs?

What's in 'em?

They are fishing eggs. It's just a... Could I have that egg before you squish it? We need it for bait.

I don't like fishing. I am hungry. Is there baby fish in a fish egg?

About that time one of the 'cooks' came by with cookies. He took three, pocketed at least two more, while I managed to finagle the egg onto the hook and get it in the water.

Where it fell off.

So much for my fishing prowess. (Sorry, Grandpa.) I grabbed the last egg, while the kid was still munching cookies, and baited, cast, explaining that no, there wasn't a baby fish in the egg, and told him he could fish now. He took the pole, looked at it, asked, what does this do? Then pushed all the levers and buttons, which made the line pay out, fast.

And, of course, that was the exact SECOND that a fish bit. He handed the pole back to me, and said, I don't want to fish. I grabbed the line, and tried to stop it. Not being familiar with the pole, I was trying to lift the bail (which stops the line), with what I thought was the right button. Turns out, that was a protruding gear, which did nothing but put a tiny bit of grease on my fingertip. I managed to get the right lever, and stop the payout. Reeling back in, I don't know what I caught the line on, but it broke. The kid is watching this, eating yet another cookie. I am NOT going to lose that fish, and grabbed the line. And the darn fish managed to loose itself.

Can I go catch salamanders?

I look at the disheveled wad of line, in a hairball that would impress a large cat, and sighed.

Sure. Let's go get a cup.

Another child gave him a salamander, which was promptly named Nickolaus, and he proceeded to introduce him as Nickolaus the Sea Urchin.

Hon, it's a salamander. Sea Urchins are spiny, and I think, purple colored.

(To the officer busy reeling in a fish) Hi! See my sea urchin? I call him Nickolaus!

(Yeaaah... Got that one through, all right...)

Several shades of wet shoes (his), and ducking interesting casts (me) later, he went over to a smaller boy, and showed him his "sea urchin". The officer looked up, and said, are you going to be with your brother?

Sure! Can I catch salamanders, too?

!!?!

I couldn't blame the officer, he had his hands full with three kids under ten, and I had just one, (now two), that weren't. I proceeded to chase a just eight year old, and his four year old brother allll over the place.

The boys discovered:

When you are in the bathroom, yelling WHOOO-HOOOO makes an echo. Repeating it makes the walls ring. I had to remind them that we only had one bathroom, hurry (WHHOOOOO!) up.

Salamanders that are grey don't move much, but are really easy to catch. (I had to explain that it was also, very, VERY dead...)

Maple bars and Mountain Dew makes your butt sticky when you wipe your pants, and then you get this really cool camo look from the dirt when you sit down. (I am so sure the bus driver loved this observation, let alone foster Mom.)

Even though everyone wore a badge of some sort, we weren't all allowed to sit on the motorcycles. They were surprised to find this out, even more so when I told them that they weren't allowed either, unless they knew which officer to talk to. (Fortune would have it, some one came up with more salamanders, and they lost interest in the bikes.)

If you run up real fast and say please, you can get lots of cookies, maple bars, and at least two sodas before the gal trying to keep tabs on you can say no.

My discoveries:

If I have these kids for any events again, I will absolutely have NO need to exercise, because I will certainly get my fast walking in...

I need to ask about the pole we used, and try it a few times BEFORE going fishing next year, so I am not learning, while doing. On the job training with kids isn't the best learning period when doing this activity.

I thought boys became walking stomachs at the teenage years. This young boy was proof positive that endless gut must start early.

"BUTTERFLY!" is a good way to stop two little boys long enough to catch up to them, (they were fascinated with the Monarchs by the lake), when used in moderation.

Giving an explanation of why you have to wash your hands after handling salamanders, stringer lines, at least one deputy's pant leg and shoe, and a large rock, just isn't worth it. Just let them know they wash, or don't eat. Explaining why they have to get out of the bathroom, between WHOOO-HOOO's, doesn't accomplish a lot more, but does mean I will use the word "Potty" more times than I think I have in the last several months, including talking to my dog, who was trained to the word!

So, that was the great 2 1/2 minute fishing extravaganza... I had fun, I think the boys did, too. I was sort of surprised at how much the DHS gal kept fretting that they were so hyper.

I guess I figured: little boys + outside + mondo sugar= running around having fun.

They kept coming up with hyper. I told them not to worry so much. Most of the officers and deputies looked highly relieved that I was with these little guys. Maybe there was something to it, when guys that at random times have to run down and catch people, are just as happy to pass on the duty...

I do know that the just 8 year old will make a great fisherman when he grows up. He heard we were getting ready to go, and picked up a stringer in the lake with about 7 fish, and would show it to all concerned with a lusty,

"I caught all these fish!"

This is a test. Sigh... Fishy biz.

2011-06-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

See the picture of the fish?

That means, I suspect, the trouble I am having getting things to work, is in my computer. I will check on Husband's computer, later, but I figured this would give me the "for sure" check, that it wasn't Blogger's fault (this time), because now, on top of not being able to write on all of your comments, not being able to respond to MY comments, now... I can't download pictures. At least not on my computer. I can UPload them, they just won't go on the blog! I tried this at the computer at the substation, all is well.

Snif...

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

So, I will check on Husband's computer later. If it is the case that my computer ~~is dying~~ has some technical problems, I will have to bum off his. I really don't want to do that. His computer is for business, and it makes for some interesting dances when we share. I learned really quickly to hit the save now after nearly every sentence, in case he needed to check emails or get a file download. He's very nice about it, but still, I am selfish enough to enjoy having my own computer... Eh.

So, I will regale you with non-picturfied stories of Ambassador's doings. Now that I have actually BEEN an Ambassador... Ironically, both were my 'fishing' trips, and I did get to fish.

About 2 1/2 minutes...

The first event I didn't do any fishing, and didn't really think I was going to. We had a game for the kids during the state's "free fishing day", where you can fish without a license.

There were lots of kids, and they had some NEAT displays and interactive things for them, (which I would love to show you pictures of, maybe later... sniffle...), they had a 50 some odd foot fiberglass fish the kids (and adults, if so inclined) could climb in, with the life cycle of salmon painted on the inside. Outside it was a mondo huge salmon, on a trailer. Others included how to tie knots for fishing, which I should really learn.

There is a limit to how many times you can substitute an overhand knot for all the others...

A fishing game for little ones, where they had a fish pole with a magnet "hook" on it, and they caught wooden 'fish' that had a bolt on the top. This led to some figuring out you could catch more than one if you swung the pole around just right. One or two of the older ones were coming up with stringers in one catch!

The Fish and Wildlife people had a question and answer session and showed off a self-inflating life jacket, sort of like this one. I referred to it as a "Mae West", (which comes from her... er... notable attributes...), and the Fish and Wildlife guy was impressed. He said I was the first one he'd heard call it that that was under 60. I suspect that females might be a tad less likely to call it that, as well, but I don't know.

But they inflated the things about 3 or 4 times. I thought it was fun, and wondered why they didn't do it several times, as it got a big crowd, and they were able to give out a lot of information. He told me the canisters were about 80$ to replace, and the only reason they could do it at events like this, they saved 'expired' canisters, because they couldn't be safely used (I guess there's a chance they won't work after a certain period), and they need to dispose of them. They just chose a flashy method of disposal, is all!

One neat thing from the Fish and Wildlife guy... I had found a feather while walking on the place, have it on my hat, and he asked me if I knew what it was from. I told him that no, I joked that it was an Aardvark feather, because I had been asked so many times. He told me it was a flight feather from a great horned owl.

He then asked if I had taken it from roadkill. I was rather shocked by this, and said, nooo, it was from my property. He then explained, owls are symbols of wisdom, but they are really kind of stupid. The great horned owl is prone to chase small vermin, especially when they are in good light. That is, sadly, when said vermin is running in front of a vehicle's lights. The vermin gets by, but the owl... Usually doesn't. And then folks take the feathers.

Oh.

Urk.

Please let me be clear, all of the feathers I have had on my hat have been found on my place, from when I have been walking. Just so you know...

Our thing was for younger kids, we asked safety questions, and then they could toss a ring into a bucket for a prize, being a Junior Deputy star sticker, a pen or pencil, balloon, or mints. The kids seemed to enjoy it, and we found out that some kids in this area have a dang fine pitching arm! I think my favorite question of the whole day, though...

Little girl, 3 years, according to her fingers, and we asked a safety question.

"Do you listen to your Mommy and Daddy?"

Beautiful, big green eyes, and she very seriously responds, "No..."

Dad pipes up, "Dam*, Truth hurts!", while nearly busting a seam laughing. She also tossed pretty well! We all had a good laugh with it, and she seemed to gather she was not in trouble, so it worked out...

*********************************************************

I will put up the great 2 and 1/2 minute fishing adventure tomorrow.

Llama names, haircuts, and demos.

2011-06-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

So, I know it hasn't been that long, but it seems like forever since I last blogged. Lots of "on the go", lots of being away from the computer, and when I finally got TO the computer, the internet went out! (insert eye roll here)

I still haven't been able to comment on other's blogs, I can't even "comment" on my OWN blog, to respond to those who comment. This is really beginning to bug me. I like commenting! I cleaned out the cache, like several of you have mentioned... I am wondering if it's something on my computer. Or if I have screwed up a setting I didn't notice on Blogger. Or... Something! But I think I might have to comment on my own blog by mentioning it in the NEXT blog. At least that's all I can think of...

(Husband has suggested using the computer for target practice might be a tad extreme. While I agree, it has gone from curious event to extreme annoyance, and I can NOT fathom what I have done, or not done, to make it happen!)

Blah, blah, blah.

I know, you wanna hear about the llamas. We have them all together, it reminds me of a middle school dance, the 2 on one side, the new 3 on the other, and they just all look at each other. They had just a minor bit of fuss and spit when they met, but just very 'I am a llama, I spit' thing, not the potential war that could have come about. They are all a little skittish when I feed, (which has the old ones curious, I don't normally feed in the summer, as there is lots of food, read: chest high grass, but the new ones are a bit underweight), but there was no food fights or big problems. Llama, the old female, doesn't seem to like having them around, but she isn't fighting, she just ducks away and glares, so I figure she'll just have to get used to them.

And they all have names now. The chocolate colored one is Dolly. The one with "eyeliner" is Annie (name courtesy Husband), and I finally got a pun for the last one. Toni. (If you don't get the pun, here is what I based it on, Tony Lama.) Husband groaned appropriately when I told him, then said, but Tony is a boy's name.

Tony with an i, honey.

But, Tony is a boy's name!

An i on the end makes it a girl's name, hon.

???

So, even though he is still under the impression I have given my girl llama a boy's name, all is well. They seem to be paying attention to it, but it will take a bit before they start reacting to each name personally.

I also finally carved some time out to get a haircut. My neck was starting to hurt, my hair had become so long! In fact, I told my hairdresser, I needed to invest in tags and a flea dip, or get my hair cut. I kid you not, when she finished, it looked like she had a puppy in the dustpan.

That can't be all MY hair!

You are the first customer, it's ALLLL your hair!

(Yikes!)

Right now I feel like I should be staring at my belly button, so much weight is off my neck. So, now, hopefully, I can drive with the window open a little again, without blinding myself with random hairflap!

I did a performance for a 7th grade class. I had a partner, he had brought all sorts of period weaponry (which really suprised me, most schools have heart failure when I forget and leave my Leatherman visible. This school, on the other hand, thought it was wonderful that we could show them "real" period items.) Most of the groups were male, with just enough girls that there was the, ew, I don't wan't to muss my hair vibe, as well. I had planned to do things a bit differently, but with the high testostrone levels, (teacher's included), we went heavy on the "look at the cutlery" stuff. It went well, if a bit annoying to find that the school didn't tell us until we got there that our "Elizabethan" group was in classes that had studied to about, oh, 1140 AD. (The Elizabethan era started in the 1500's. Tiny bit of gap, that...) I had to do some bits of "this came after", hence the 'look at the cutlery' backup. One fun thing that came out of it, we had a "full dress" practice outfit, with padded coat and hood, gorget (neck protector), helmet (about 8-10 pounds, the kids kept wanting to know why it was so heavy. We reminded them it was to protect the head from being cleaved by a sword... Oh...), then let them HOLD a sword, and they could have a photo taken. NO girls wanted to be sullied with all that 'stuff'. There was a near battle for the boys. So, I suggested the girls try on the Queen's velvet riding coat. Eww.

Can't win 'em all. They seem to enjoy most of my tale telling, and were (mostly) pretty good sports about the dancing we did, so I think it went fairly well. I just wish I could convince the teachers around this area that Middle Ages and Elizabethan were different periods. (It would be like saying that Obama and George Washington were contemporaries, basically...)

Eh. Kids liked it, my partner had a blast, no one became chop suey, all is well in the land of school demos. Even if everything before 1995 is "ooooold", according to the kids. (And stuff after is questionable.)

(insert second eye roll here...)

Aminaly thingies!

2011-06-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

So, I have been promising chick photos. Heeere they are! Taurus is still not liking the camera, but the chicks have been getting rather blaze' about the whole thing, they don't even look when the camera flashes now...

A baby by Mom, the others have snuck out of the caged area.

This is the best one of them zipping around outside the cage...

And Husband and I are celebrating an anniversary at the end of the month. So, I have been trying to get some llamas. What does one have to do with the other? Well, let me show you my anniversary present from Husband... I haven't given them official names yet, so for now it's one, two, and three...

One...

Two...

THREE!!!

They have decided the chicken house (where the food is), needs to be properly watched over.

I have some names... One will be called Dolly (Dali). (Yes, I continue the puns...) Husband said he gets to name one, and since it's our anniversary, they are all girls, so he wants one named Annie.

So, I just need to think of one other ~~pun-filled~~ unique name, and we will have something to call all three.

I have them blocked from visiting the other llamas presently, they can look at each other over the fence, but not have any contact. I am sort of wondering what will happen when Lorenzo gets a load of all these cuties... Lama will probably not care, just scoot them over so she can get what she wants, and life goes on.

We shall see...

Back again, this time it's not the computer...

2011-06-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for a few days, because I have been wandering. I couldn't find a cafe' or some such where I was, lots of hot spots for wifi, but I didn't have my computer with me, so no dice. I should write to the chamber of commerce in Seaside and ask... Hmmm.

So, since I know all of you are just waiting, with popcorn in hand, for my latest exploits in Ham Fair Land... Except I didn't take any pictures INSIDE, of the HAM stuff! So, you get to see the knitting and seascape exploits, instead. (I will probably put a few more of the seascape stuff up later, just a few today...)

Lewis and Clark used to be the big stand outs (literally and figuratively) at the Turnaround (there is a street that circles the statue, so you can go up and look at it), but now with all the high rise buildings, they sort of look... lost.

"Lewis, where was the fudge place again?"

"Uh... Ask Sacajawea, I have no clue..."

The dog at their feet even looks depressed.

So, I decided to brighten the day with hand knits for Clark's feet. (Least I think that was Clark...) Mom said that a woman was watching me intently.

I have that "Spook the Muggles" effect when I do this each year. Oh, well. I have started a silly little tradition, and I get a kick out of it.

(Which probably doesn't take all that much, come to think of it...)

The hand to the side is my sock holder model, aka Mom. The sock was NOT going to stay put, otherwise.

Next year, tape.

Proof that Oregon does get sunny weather! Of course, it was one day, but lots of people were making the most they could out of it. (Some pretty vicious volleyball games!)

And after a hard day of making sandcastles, walking on the beach, and seeing what the tide brought in, one has to clean up properly... (Husband and I have to put Rudee in a headlock to accomplish this... Kids seem a lot less problematic, in this respect.)

Dad realized this 'finial' wasn't a design element, but a resting spot. We just hoped the flag was okay, after take off... Eeeeeewwww...

This is my favorite critter on the merry go round, for any of you that read I can has cheezburger, I have nick- named him "Basement Cat".

Basement Cat has had a very hard life. I keep thinking I should bring a knitted something, like a baby cap up and take a photo. Have to hurry, though, they buzz people in and out of the thing to get as many rides in as possible in a day...

And I don't know how many of you read the signs at rest stops, but they have these readers at most of the rest stops in Oregon. I thought they were interesting, I hope you do, too. (Enlarge pics, if you can't read them well...)

So, that is it for today's picture-y blog, hopefully I will get a blog or two more this week (with chicks!)

Grrroooooaaaan! What did I do NOW???

2011-05-31T19:08:00.001-07:00

So, perhaps you have noticed I haven't been on of late much. Read, no blogs for a while. Well, I took the advice of all of you that said I should "empty my cache", and I asked Husband how to do that. (Right after I asked him what it was, but I digress...) So, he explained, and I emptied.

I think I emptied the whole d*** computer! I don't know what happened after I did that, but NOTHING would work right, I couldn't get my email, I couldn't log in to my own Blogger account, I had a horrible time getting on the Internet (unless I used Google Chrome... ??? And that was iffy), so I was busy the last little bit trying to get my poor bucket o' bits back to (some sort of) normal. I have my mail back up, I am now working on Blogger, so if you are reading this, I hopefully solved part of the problem, at any rate, I was able to sign in and save my blog.

Then I will hopefully be able to comment on everyone's blog again, which was the POINT of the exercise! (eye roll inserted here!)

Unfortunately, this is where Husband's starting to make noises about me getting a new computer. I am hoping that isn't going to be the case. I like this computer, and what I am saving for at the moment is for a shelter for critters, not bits and bites storage. But, as we all know, we make plans and the Universe holds its sides laughing...

The chicks are doing well, Husband put a big ol' block in front of the door of the hen house, so they won't run outside without Mom. We have a stray cat here now... I seem to have the Devil's own luck with felines around here. However, said feline hasn't strayed into the hen house, and I have a feeling, if Taurus would get a hold of him, he would be short one tail, and maybe 2 lives, so I am not really concerned.

Yet.

I got out the scythe, and cut some of the ~~jungle~~ tall grass in the garden area. It's down enough that maybe I can get out the weed burner and take care of the rest of it... Right now though, I don't think even THAT super torch will do too much, it is June 1st tomorrow, and it is 50-60's, and raining. This area, that is SPRING weather. Early spring. I still have all of my plants in the greenhouse. I am afraid if I plant them, they will just rot! Weather is amazing...

I have been getting set up with what things I will be doing as a Sheriff's Office Ambassador, and I think I mentioned one will be fishing. I guess they have a group thing called Cast with a Cop. Children who are in foster care, and have never fished, get to go out and have a fishing day. We help with the worm insertion on the hook (or whatever they will use), and we get to clean fish for the kids. (Or, I suppose, release, if they don't want to keep said fish.) So, I am wondering, I am supposed to be in "uniform" for this. Do you think they will supply an apron or some such so I won't manage to get fishy goo on my clothes? Let's just say, I would like to have my outfit not have Ode du Fishgut as the leading smell...

I thought I would be fishing twice (!), the second, however, would be more on the order of handing out safety info to people. That seems like it would be fun in its own way. People watching is a cool sport, in and of itself. And I guess there is several other events that I might be helping with, as time goes on. So, I guess I will tell you more... As time goes on!

Have to share, I was at the substation, and one of the deputies, a Sgt., who always tries to be big ol' cop guy, had a visitor. It was his 2 year old grandson. I told him who was there, and he walks out all big ol' cop, then sees grandson.

He leans way over, makes a big kissy face, and says, "How's my Booboo?!!??!?" He then scoops up said grandson for the 'grand tour' of the office, which for some strange reason, stopped immediately upon sighting of cookies... After a cookie break, Grandpa gave grandson a whistle. Mom decided whistle was going into HER pocket, so there would be no surprise blasts in the car.

Meanwhile, Grandpa was chatting away, holding grandson up on his chest. Grandson discovered Grandpa's microphone on his shoulder. This lead to some exceedinly dextorous moves by Grandpa to nearly simultaniously: turn off the radio, take the mike from grandson, and scoot him out of arm's reach of same, all while asking if he'd give Grandpa a kiss. (Grandson did...)

After they'd left, I noticed that Sgt. was sort of a cross between big ol' cop and goofy Grandpa. (But he did remember to turn his radio back on...) It's fun to see when the guys there can slip into just "people" mode.

Especially when there are little ones involved, since it usually makes the biggest and baddest into the fluffiest and goofiest!

The Case of the Poultry Paparazzi...

2011-05-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't been able to comment on anyone else's blog, I am wondering if people are having problems with commenting on mine, as well. I honestly have tried, several times, on several blogs, and it has me sign in, then it says I am writing anonymously, and then has me sign in again. Over, and over, and OVER again... So, I will keep trying. *sigh* I miss being a blabber mouth!

***

But, on to the main event. I told you I would try and get some pics of the chicks. Success! Taurus was a very unhappy Mama while I was doing this, I think the flash was spooking her. The babies just looked around, they didn't seem like they were quite as bothered by the light. But I never could get all six. There ARE six. I counted, Husband counted, there are six. So, we shall see in the future how many are what sex, but right now, we have healthy baby birds. And one majorly protective Mom.

Sorry about the chain link, keeps the other chickens out...

They look like reddish cotton balls with feet,

and move like they are on wheels!

So, as time goes on, I will regale you with more chickeny stuff, but that's what I could get that was in focus, and didn't have Taurus trying to attack the camera (!)...

Birds, brush, and buzzing about.

2011-05-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

We have new chicks! I want to show you them... But this is Taurus. She is not going to give way to let me take any pictures.

And since Husband and I have nearly lost parts of our persons trying to transfer her to the 'new digs', I decided that she can sit there, I will take a picture of the chicks later. If we counted right, there are 6. I will confirm that later. When I won't lose a finger...

I thought we had some new birds over at the neighbors. It had been raining, and I kept seeing orange 'birds' in the the trees. I could NOT figure out what kind of bird 'round here would be orange. And they never went to ground.

Huh.

Then I got out the binoculars. And realized there was a logging clean up crew next door. So, now my neighbor is delighted to know she has "Orange Headed Timber Trimmers" in her trees... Yeesh. (And I just bought some glasses, folks!)

Orange Headed Timber Trimmers in their natural habitat...

In other news, I do not have gooseberries. I have Wild Hawthorn. And I was told that it needs to be treated like Scotch broom, or it will spread and be as obnoxious. Groan...

I am half tempted to see if I can get a burn permit! (That won't happen, Oregon has all but outlawed field burning. Sigh...) So, I guess I will be getting more upper body workouts, because I will be doing a lot of cutting brush.

Unless Husband decides to help.

I love my husband, but he can be the largest pain in the... ahem. He is really having problems with his eyes, he is highly allergic to pollen from whatever that is blooming right now. I came back to get a saw to cut brush, as some of the stuff was larger than my wrist. Some bigger than my upper arm. So what did he do? AFTER I ASKED HIM NOT TO, he goes up the hill with a chain saw and cuts down the stuff. It was a help, I admit, but he then paid for it for several hours with swollen eyes, and needing to put a washcloth over his face to keep the swelling to a minimum. He doesn't want ME to use the blasted saw, though, I could hurt myself.

(He has this @#$%@ pink and blue job thing, and while I love the man, this drives me up and back down the proverbial tree!)

I also found out I am the slightly surprised new owner of a (sorta) new washer. He'd traded the in-laws out of a dryer (that WORKS! HAPPY DAYS! I can dry a load of pants in less than 3 hours!!!) So, he says he wants to look at getting a matching washer. Uh. My washer is fine. I can look around if you want, but just need a new faucet for the cold water. Oh, no, no, no, we must get a new, MATCHING washer.

Uh.

Yes, folks, that is my Husband's attitude. He wants them to be the same age (which sort of makes sense, I guess), and that they MATCH, (which makes no sense at all to me, dang it, the washer isn't the PROBLEM!!)

So the next day, I told Mom we'd to to some places to look at washers. I called that afternoon, letting Husband know I was shopping, and did we need anything?

Oh, yeah, some milk, and by the way, we will be getting the washer Wednesday.

What washer???

I found one at Xityx's Shop through Craig's List.

Oh. Well, I guess we don't have to go look for washers... (I've noticed I have been getting a strange tic of late, I have no idea where it's come from...)

I will be having some Ambassador duties coming up soon, so I will be able to tell you about the great and mystic secrets of people watching as a Law Enforcement Representative. (And get this, I get to go fishing! More on that later...)

I am also going to be doing a presentation for my Renaissance group for another school. I am not overly looking forward to it, only because it's a year end thing, so I know the kids will be as focused as a broken projector lens. But, I will get paid, so that's a plus.

And I get to watch the Indianapolis 500 with Dad, that's cool. Our one big sporting day together. We compare drivers, stats, strategies, eat breakfast, and I knit. This works until the last few laps. I have painfully learned to put down my knitting, or I either stab myself with a needle, or manage to pull out looots of stitches when I yell at the television...

So, posts will show up a bit later, but if I am not on as often, I am still thinking of my blog friends. (A note on that, I have been trying to write responses on people's posts, but Blogger won't let me put them on. I will keep trying, though!)

Here for a bit, anyway...

2011-05-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

I have been on the go a bit, so I just have had time to check in, yep, it's still a computer, then run off to the next bit of goofiness that defines my life. Some good, some annoying, the usual.

I decided to treat myself. I spent a little more than I should have, (that's not hard, when I am around flowers), but I made a plan this year. I planted perennials in the window boxes. Here's the little project in the window, and one that I will probably put on the porch. With some luck, I will have them grow back, and I won't be replacing them so often (not all are perennials, but enough that it will fill in some.)

(Please ignore the fact that the boxes all need washed, I started this in the evening, and didn't really look too closely.)

In other news, I am having the worst luck in the llama addition department. I saw an ad on Craig's List, emailed, got a response with a phone number.

Called, left a message. Zip. Then emailed, double checking. Zip, again.

I am not going to beg to go buy something! So, I continue looking. And yes, I do want to "increase the herd", for those who were asking. So, I will just go back to looking at news ads, and see what's available in the farm ads... I know there is a local auction nearby, too. Haven't been to an auction in a while...

I managed to get the front pasture relatively weeded. (Much, much more to go.) I will have to work on it little bit more as I can get up the hill. I saw the neatest looking tool, it's called a weed wrench, and I do so want one. When you have Scotch Broom TREES, this looks like the tool to have. But, I have loppers, and a saw, and so, the battle continues. (messymimi: where I used to live, the 2 major exports were said to be poison ivy and rocks... I have found two tiny sprigs on the top of the place, so they will be summarily executed when I get up there with my loppers...)

I am pleased, most of the seeds I started are actual little plants now! I re planted some peppers, and put in some more tomatoes, so those are needing to get caught up, so to speak. (I even planted a HOT pepper, I guess to share, 'cuz neither Husband or I eat them, I just wanted to see what it looked like. But we have enough neighbors and friends, it shouldn't be a big problem.)

Taurus is still sitting! If I figured it right, she should be having chicks about the 22nd. This will be nice. I have a place all set up for her. Now I just need to get her and the babies to be convinced that is the place to be! This might be easier at night. Let's just say, Taurus bites, and hangs on. I usually want to wear gloves when I am working with her, and now it will be even more so!

And lastly, I think I forgot to weigh last week. That was when we were taking Auntie G back to catch the plane, and so I spaced. Soo, I weighed today, and lost .4. Works for me! I am not entirely sure how, other than I think I weeded so much that I hurt my eating muscles! (grin) Or at least the pick-up-to-eat-stuff muscles!

So, there is today's gumbo of little short blurbs.

Catch as Cat can...

2011-05-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

Just checked on some llamas. Husband asked when we might be getting them.

Um. Well, of course, the first part is getting the person to call back. After that, how about...

Well, how about Monday... No, that won't work for me. Tuesday? Husband had something then. I have Substation duties on Wednesday and Thursday...

Well, do you think they will think I am a flake, for needing to wait almost a work week? This goes for Blogging, too, since if I am gone, I can't access the ol' computer...

Yoiks. But, on the bright side, I have been downloading information from the local extension agency, and hopefully will find out tomorrow (or soon, at any rate), what the spike-ity bushes are. I suspect gooseberry.

I am recovering from... Yes, from overdoing it.

Again.

And now, reading the information on Scotch Broom, it might be for naught, because they can recover if you cut them down when it's wet. And well, it's raining again... And the ground was soggy to begin with. I may just start marking the little stinkers with lumber tape, and wait until it gets good and hot, then take them down!

Hot. Oh. Yuck... But it needs to be done. Wonder if I can find some kids desperate for summer money.

Hmmm.

But not until next week. So, if I am not blogging much, I will, however, be trying to stop by and say hi to my blogger buddies!

Wellll, THAT was odd.

2011-05-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Oh, and Happy Friday the 13th, everyone! I am a confirmed triskadekaphile, a somewhat rare species...

For some strange reason, my last blog entry went away... (Don't blame 13, it happened 2 days ago.)

So, I will try this again.

First the good news:

Taurus is still sitting. The roosters are annoyed. Taurus doesn't care. (Large grin...)

The bad:

This is Scotch Broom, (at least that's what I know it as), and it is a VERY invasive plant in this area. I have spent the better part of the last two days trying to get the stuff out, as I just ignored it last year. Not the best plan... (Aspirin. Need many aspirin... Owww...) We need to do this mostly mechanically, as we have an extremely high water table, and everything flows DOWN to the pump. Plus, I really don't want to use poisons around the animals.

And the HUH???

This is, I think, gooseberry. I will go to the extension agent later, and see if I can get a confirmation... I certainly hope it is. Gooseberries are a native, so I wouldn't have to get rid of all those. For some reason, they all showed up this year. Birds, I suppose. Thorny little things, those plants. Below is a close up of one of the branches.

So, just another day in the "gee, what's this thing?" area of my life...

Hoping for the best! Stayonstayonstayon...

2011-05-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

If you will note, I haven't blogged since Sunday. I have had some computer problems since then. Scratch that, it technically wasn't my computer, but the Internet provider thingy. Let's just say, I would get on the 'net, start to do something, ka-WHOMP, no speed. I mean, dial up would have SMOKED the thing. Which of course, when trying to put large files like pictures on, just don't work. So, other than a couple light hearted instant messaging chats with a friend a day or two ago, for the 20 minutes it was working, pbbt. I came back, though, oh, I will do x and x, and blog... And couldn't even get on my homepage!

Now I realize that not everyone is waiting breathlessly for every missive I jot down (Hi, Mom...), but it's still nice when I can actually write the missives, and read OTHER PEOPLE'S missives! Which I wasn't able to do either... So, in short, I am hoping that they have solved the slug slime slow computer speeds, and I can start to catch up on my blogatating...

I didn't go to the substation for my usual dose of deputy chat 'n stuff. My Auntie G, who was here for 2 weeks, was flying home today, and so I took the day off to go and see her off and away. I think it was nice of her new husband to give her a trip up here to see her sis, and I was able to see some of her hobbies. She makes jewelry (try and get a pic up soon of a bracelet she made me).

She came over and saw the place, Rudee let me know he wanted to be her best friend. I think most of the county probably suspected he wanted out, to be her best friend. I hope she's able to come back to visit soon. (Hey, Auntie G, if I put Mountain Dew in the fridge, you will visit, right???)

In other news, the good, the bad, and the huh?

The good news, Taurus is still setting. The boys aren't happy with this. Taurus does not give a fig what the boys think... (Good for Taurus!)

My nest. My eggs. Leave me alone!

The bad news, I have a lot of weed cutting to do. See these lovely yellow flowers? They are on the plant called Scotch Broom here. This is an extremely invasive plant, and we had let it go last year.

NOT a good plan.

I am hoping to get out and start cutting down these this week, as it is much easier to find with all the little yellow beacons, and it's supposed to be dry, more or less, the next few days. (I really wish I had goats...)

This next item is the huh? I took a picture of one that is by the fence line. I thought, oh, no, another invasive. But, after doing some looking, I am thinking, hoping, (and going to check at the extension office)...

It might be gooseberry! I found out that gooseberries are native, so that's a plus.

This is a close up of the leaves. It is sure a thorny old thing, though. I had wondered why such a succulent looking plant wasn't eaten by deer/cows/horses, but don't think they want to mess with the long spikes on it. I have read that gooseberries have lots of thorns, like blackberry bushes, so I will have to find out if I am on the right track. It would be nice to have a little variety in the berries 'round here!

So, another day in the never ending cycle of hmmm, what's that thing in the backyard?