Responses. Decisions. Blather. We got it all, folks.

I was out of the house and on the go a lot this week, so I didn't get the chance to respond when I put up the answers to my last blog.  So:

Sharon:  I found out, via Wikipedia, trust at your own risk, that Grape Nuts have no grapes, nor nuts.  They, in fact, have barley and wheat in them.  The reason given for the moniker was that Mr. Kellogg, the guy making the stuff, thought sucrose was made during the process, which he called "grape sugar".  Then he ground the cereal in a grinder, calling the end products "nuts".  Hence, Grape-Nuts. 

Louise:  :)

messymimi:  Yes, Rudee is quite astounding on what he does when highly animated.  Even more so on ice! 
And thank you!

Judy's Corner: Might try that, as well, but I tend to have a pen and paper at nearly all times, where I don't always have the computer.  (This never ceases to amaze my "boss", who rarely writes anything.  If she can't type it, it usually doesn't get written down...)  But I will have to find out what form of 'saving' I will use.  Right now, all I have is my poor little broken down computer in the back I use for a typewriter, that uses 3" floppy disks...    Composting?  Yes, I would know about that.  The neighbors wondered why it snowed just on my garden one year, after I'd put all the miscellaneous paper I had shredded on there!  LOL

John Gray:  YES! You are lucky.  Our hen house is shaded, and I have to cover the windows during winter.  Even with the windows having clear plastic, it's gloomy within.  I think that makes the gals less inclined to lay for a bit.  But they are back to nearly full production now!  And chicks are coming up for sale soon, so I am going to get more feathers, for Fur 'n Feathers Farm!  (But, I do envy you about mid December...)

So.  Decisions. 

I took the 'write everyday for a month' pledge.  And now, after saying I would go back to only Wednesdays and Sundays...  I find I think I want to write more than that.  Probably not everyday, (definitely not much on Mondays, that's my one "busy" day), but I hope to write (and comment on other's) blogs more than I have been since January started... 

I have also decided not to do the country fried 5K. 

Yet. 

I said I would this spring.  I am up to a mile, but after this week, where I was walking a lot, I found I don't feel in shape enough yet.  Husband has been sort of my sounding board, sometimes he registers that I am overdoing it before I do.  For example, he has been encouraging me to use my cane when I go out and have to be on the go. 

I have had selective hearing about this...  To my deficit. 

Well, he took me out for an early Valentine's day treat, (it was to a Sportsman's Show.  I asked.  He didn't care if he went or not.  Yes, I am crazy.  Yes, he is wonderful), and he suggested that I really needed to use the cane. 

Grumble. 

It's really annoying when he's right.  I went through the whole day, and was TIRED.  I was not, however, in PAIN.  This is an astoundingly big difference, folks!  Especially when we thought it was 3 large buildings.  Nope, it was FOUR large buildings.  Walking all the way, most of the day.  I didn't really do much the next day, let me tell you!  But I am finding that that stupid a$$ cane is a relief. 

Now if I could just tolerate having the stupid thing as a companion.  (Maybe I should get this one. Or this one?  Perhaps this one?  But I would not abide this girly girl one...  Just so NOT me.)  The cane I have needs some repair.  I have been getting slivers from it, so sanding and repainting are in order.  Husband rolled his eyes when I suggested painting it white with a curling red stripe to make a 'candy cane'.  But if I used it, not him, I don't know that he would care.  But, I would probably be only inclined to use that during Christmas.  So, we shall see where I go with it.  If anywhere.  I find it annoying to be 43 and need to worry about a cane.  Blurble.  Guess it could be much, much worse.  (And it was supposed to be, but I had some fantastic doctors...)

Finished two projects.  Messymimi, I finally have your Christmas stocking finished, so I will email soon for some info.  (Just roaring right along, hurrying, yes?  Only took me HOW MANY months to finish the project?)  Finished a pair of socks for myself.  That part's sort of funny, everyone lurves them the color of the socks, but when I looked it up, the color isn't there.  Whether it's discontinued, not made this time of year, what, but it's well known yarn company, so I assume it's just been discontinued.  Oh, well.  Guess that makes them rare and collectable, right? 

Right now, I am trying to get a baby blanket or two ahead. 

And my "boss" has asked that I knit more hats for the Christmas party this year.  She said that the kids liked the ones I had made.  Eeep.  I think I hear a call for hats that I might make into something here on the blog, but I will have to see what my boss says.  Let's just say, 50 hats was a lot for me to knit, and I really have a few other projects I should finish.  Like baby blankets for my charity, since I promised them first. 

I really need 12 more hands for knitting.  Or several pairs of Mrs. Weasley's magic knitting needles from Harry Potter...

Winners, copshop-tic tales, and three for five?

Ok, it is Friday!  What does that mean? 

Well, it could mean a whole lot of things, obviously, but it means, I have gone to the highly complex system of deciding winners of the comments!   (Which amounted to picking names from a bowl.)  I just love seeing what people have to say, and decided to get an unbiased pick of the winners. 

To wit:  Husband drew the names, blame him!

:)

So.  The first one picked is Chai Chai.  She mentioned she wanted to see a  picture of a flax spike on my wheel.  Ahem.  This isn't MY wheel, but doing a bit of research, I found out there IS one available for my wheel.   So, a picture of what mine would look like, adorned for Sleeping Beauty fans...



This is from the Ashford Spinning Wheel Website...

The item that looks like an antenna is said flax spike.  (I have called it a flax spike right along, but if you want to look it up, it's actually called a distaff...)  So, I might start hunting, find a used one, and then have it for fairs and demos, so the general public can see the thing up close and personal.  This particular picture also has a different way to hold the fiber you spin, a spindle.  It looks like it would be just as likely to be the culprit of her sleeping as the other. 

Just keep away from children, I suppose.  And narcoleptic princesses.

And, because I am in a mood, the second winner is messymimi .  I am sure with as many kittens as you have around, yarn could be either a very good, or a very BAD choice... 

So, if the two of you would email me at rencatus at yahoo dot com  (replacing the obvious... Dang spammers...)  and tell me if you want fluff, string, or clothing stuff, and I will see what I can do.  (and an address to send said fluff, string, or stuff to would help.)

And if you didn't win, I kinda decided I like this, and might have another blog contest.  (I think sooner than my 800th post, however...)

****

So, I was working at the Substation, and kept hearing the deputies talking about an emu.  I perked up, and the person I relieved mentioned, yep, there is a wild emu that a Neighborhood Watch group reported. 

Huh.  I know not much about emus, but figured that it was well in hand.  That's when I got the tap on the shoulder. 

Oh, dear...

"Don't I remember you were the one helping the deputies with the llama call?"  This was one of my bosses. 

"Yes, I heard there was an emu out, didn't hear anything about a llama..."

"No, but we need a place to put the emu.  You take care of animals, isn't an emu just like a big chicken?"

Ahem.  Yes.  SURE it is, in pretty much the same way taking care of a Siamese cat is just like caring for a Siberian tiger. 

I decided to nip this one in the bud.  I explained that emus could jump our fences, they are nearly as tall, or taller than I was, and liked to peck shiny things, LIKE GLASSES AND EYEBALLS, (I am partial to both being unpecked), and I really had no interest in caring for a bird, or any animal that I was both a little wary of, and didn't know a lot about.  (I would shy from accepting a horse for the same reason...)  Said boss was very surprised. 

"I am going to see about catching it, I have a horse trailer..."  She stood, looking at me with sad puppy eyes, I just KNEW that I was being silently asked to relent.  I have learned, however that silence can be the best response.

The silence became noticeable, then she sighed, and played her last card. "Do you think you could come and help us catch it?"

"Uh.  I have no clue how to catch one.  I really, really don't know anything about big birds..."  This said with an apologetic look, and a looooong reach down to pick up my information to do some typing for a newsletter.

"Oh.  Well, maybe I can find someone else..." 

Yes.  Yes, you can. 

I kinda stayed out of it, as much as I'd like to know what happened to the bird, I really do not want show any interest, so that I don't become Mrs. Noah!  I do so want some more animals, but not quite ready for Chicken On Steroids!  

****

I keep reading in other blogs about a Couch to 5K run, (C25K), and I had no idea how many what's in a K.  I was reading Jack Sh*t's blog, and he mentioned he had not finished a 5K, he'd only made it 3.1 miles. 

Huh?  Quick look up and conversion.  3.1 miles = 5K.  Oh.  Ha!  Ok.  

I am not sure I want to do a formal 5K.  But my parents house is just about that far from mine.  For a first time, this sounds a tiny bit more my speed.  I won't get lost, there is no cheating (well, other than someone driving me there.  Or, I do get the emu, and ride it?  Now THAT would make a blog post.  And possibly the police blotter for public nuisance, but I digress.)   And I am also of the mind, I don't need to worry about time, and if my walking sticks would be allowed.  So, I think my personal C25K will be to the folk's house.  I think if I set my goal for late spring, that would give me more than enough time to train, don't you? 

Since I am already walking regularly, and with both cell phone and radio, I would be able to let any worried folk at either end of the K's know what house I am near, (let's face it, I am in a rural area, most of the places I would be passing are neighbors, went to school with their kids, and so on...), and I could just go at my own pace.  I would probably be a weenie, and ask for a ride home, though. Or walk TO my house.  I don't want to do a 10K yet.   

No Rudee Run, however... Rudee + road + deer = complete disaster...

Now I just have to convince Rudee that barking continually, at the top of his doggie lungs, will not convince me to take him on the road.  Earplugs?  Or just sticking my fingers in my ears and saying "LALALALALALALALALA, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"  But then how do I hang on to my walking sticks?

This might be harder than it looks... Further contemplation of same in future blogs.