A Cosmic Experience. Nope... And warm chickens.

I am looking forward to a new apple.  I had hoped to grow one, as well, but I guess that isn't to be, for a while.

Let me explain.

Washington State University has produced an apple that they call Cosmic.  It is a good keeper, it's pretty, and it tastes good, for all that I have read the reviews.  Great, huh?

Well, I want to get a tree!  Would be a neat new apple to have!  Hmm.  Well, let's just look this up...

Uh, Washington... Only?  Um.  What?  I start reading, they are keeping it JUST in Washington State for 10 years, to support state industries. 

Poo. 

Well, I guess I will have to just see what other trees I can plant.  Or vines. Or whatever. 

But it was still kind of cool to know there is a brand new apple around... 

In other news, I think Salt and Pepper are going to be girls.  Salt has figured out how to jump up on the feed barrel, which leads to incessant peeping when I am getting feed.  Pepper just waits, and then nabs food as soon as it's down.  Neither are very aggressive, which I am happy about.  I just wish they weren't quite so quick to run under my feet when I feed.  I have to be very aware where they are, they are as like to run under my foot as I step, as to run beside me! 

The group has FINALLY finished molt, and are looking good again.  They are not unhealthy when they molt, but it does nothing for the general glamour of the place.  Plus, there are feathers EVERYWHERE.  It looks like a pillow fight went terribly wrong...  But, making sure they have some extra feed, and kept warm, they pull through like little troopers.

Oh, and to the end of keeping them warm.  Husband, bless and thank him, went and bought me some covers for the windows.  I had been using plastic 'fabric' for a bit, and then feed bags, but neither really did the job.  I was grousing, because we needed to cover the windows again, and it was going to be really cold.  I thought that there should be something better for what we were doing.  That's when he came up with the window covers.  They are like tin roofing, but clear acrylic. He put several screw holes set in on the edges, and put up the panels on both sides of the chicken house.  When I went in the next morning, it wasn't balmy, by any stretch, but the roof panels, now window panels, had kept enough heat in to have the water in the chicken's waterer thawed.  And the chickens were happy and lively, until they ran outside.

They seem to like being inside, now!  At least until the sun is well and full on the chicken house...

Blurble. And being punished. Sort of.

I thought I'd better write up a blog before I doze off.  I am excusing myself from a couple items that I have been asked to do today, I wasn't feeling really up to them, and decided...

You know what?  I don't have to!

I am not trying to be snippy, but I am beginning to think that I need to say no a bit more often, as I enjoy doing a lot of the things, but am also finding myself tired out.

And that makes it less enjoyable.

And there's that whole 'taken for granted' thing.

But mostly, I just feel blah.  Not ill, exactly, but it's teetering on the very narrow edge of
something-isn't-quite-there in the energy department.  Therefore, I am giving myself permission to just say skip it...

Hence the blurble.  I am waiting for the dryer to buzz, typing my blog, and that's just about the most energetic I've been today.  I think I am probably needing to catch up on sleep from the cat/Husband battle.

Oh, didn't I mention that?

Ding has taken to "playing bongos" with the bathroom door.  This is loud, and occurs roughly 2 to 3 in the morning, which makes it hard for me to return to sleep.  It also drives Husband bats.  So, Husband decided to put the squirt bottle by the bed, to let her know he doesn't like bongos in the wee hours.

BUT...

He couldn't see her, and managed to miss each time, which Ding took as a fun challenge, she would wait, then sneak back when he put the bottle down. THUMP, THUMP, squizzz, gallop, repeat.

So, Husband now has a nightlight by the bed, (which surprisingly does not bother me, light wise) so he can aim at Ding with accuracy.  He has also released his inner Dirty Harry, whereby, it now goes something like, THUMP, THUM-sqiuzsquizsquizz TAKE THAT SUCKER!!! gallop. Repeat in 10 minutes.

This makes for a very... Um... unique wake up call!  I think the squirt bottle is finally getting through to her, she didn't attack the door last night.  Knocked some books over, and carried a washcloth from the bathroom out to the hall, but no bongos.

I will take what I can get, at least she was quiet. (The books were paperbacks, so weren't noisy.)

Ok, as for the being punished.  (Mom, yes, you have heard this from both Dad and I...)  I have a popcorn maker.  One of the parts is cracked.  It still allows me to make popcorn, but I thought perhaps it is time to get a replacement, in case the part breaks, especially since it's plastic.  I have taken care of it, and it's lasted, oh... um... At least 2, maybe 3 decades.

And they don't make parts for it anymore.  I finally looked online, Husband suggested eBay, and they had the whole machine, but the part I want is only available as part of the whole.  I can't find it as a stand alone.  Add to that, it is now something that is popular as a "hack" device for roasting coffee.  I guess I will just keep being careful, and hope it doesn't break.

I just had this same problem with my bread maker, the pan had become messed up, the machine was fine.  We did manage to find a new pan.

But it just irks me, I seem to be punished for caring for my things.  When something does happen, I can't easily find a replacement.  I really don't want to have to buy 2 of each thing, and store one, but I am beginning to wonder what I should do!

Oh, well, I still can make bread and popcorn, and carb loading is important...

At least on blurble days...

(Oh, and I still haven't put Windows 10 on the computer, updates as events congeal...)

Aw, nuts.

I was at a meeting, and someone brought cashews.

I love cashews, can't stay out of them.

So, I nibbled my way through the meeting.  I really should have moved them somewhere that I couldn't reach them, but, hey, they are cashews!  With the meeting over, I was told I could take the rest of the bowl home, because they were too rich for the gal that brought them.  I tried to beg off, telling her we didn't need them at home, as I didn't need them, and I was the only one who ate them at the house...

Aaaand, I was asked to take them home anyway.

Sigh. Well, okay.

I brought them in the house. Husband glances at the bowl.  "Cashews?"
"Yeah, I was told to bring them home, so I guess-"
Crunch.  Crunch. Mmm. Crunch.

Huh, ooookaaay, maybe he DOES like them.

Husband is putting a handful into his mouth, and Ding is wandering around looking at him like he has something very tasty that she isn't getting.  He downs another dozen or so, and gives her one to sniff.

She sniffs, then tries to bury it.

No accounting for taste.

So, I start to nibble.  Husband grabs another handful.  "These are really salty. I don't think I am used to this much salt..." Munch...

I made dinner, and he really had a hard time eating, said he wasn't all that hungry.

Hmmmm.  Now why would that be?  :)

Husband's wit.

So, in the great scheme of things, not a great lot has been going on.  I have been knitting on a "10 Stitch Blanket" which is pretty much exactly that.  You make a row of ten stitches, and then after making a small square, then turn a corner, knit across, then turn a corner, then knit across, and so on.  Husband decided it could also be called a NASCAR blanket...

He has been in fine form, I was talking about making a TARDIS garden shed, and a Doctor Who scarecrow for my garden.  (Yes, gonna let that ol' geek flag fly high!) I was taking to Husband about what color I needed for the TARDIS, I figured it was somewhat darker than Safety Blue, whereupon Husband piped up, "You just need to ask for Who Blue!"

Just another day at the farm, I guess!

Above and beyond.

Sometimes you just know when someone loves you.

Husband is allergic to cats.  We both have allergies, and when we were checked, the doctor made it clear that he has a big time allergic reaction to felines.  I have one to dust and hay.  (Gee, and I live in the Willamette Valley...)  I have been out and about, and on the go, and was finally home for a few days, when Husband said, look, there is a cat on Craigslist.

Um, yeah, that's sort of like saying there are leaves on a tree, in this area, so???

Just look at it.

I did.  A blue point Siamese.  It looked so much like the Jack cat I had.  I smiled, it sure is a nice one... Husband said, call on it.

HUSBAND!  You have allergies.

Call.  So I did.  And she was adopted out.

sigh...

I didn't think too much more about it, until a day or so later, when Husband snorted, then piped up, it's in there again, and grabbed the phone.  Now, "it" was a bit of a mystery, I hadn't seen what he was looking at, and what "again" he was talking about.

"So, I saw the cat is available again?...  Uh huh.  Uh huh.  Where are you at?  Oh?  Is this Sam, perhaps?  Ok, well, we know where you are, and we'll be out to get it in just a few minutes."

Turns out, the cat was called on by someone, who in typical Craigslist flake fashion, said they would take her, then called later and said no, they found one they liked closer, and didn't want that one.  So we headed over.  I thought I recognized the name, it was someone Husband had worked some contracting for some time ago, and we'd sold a tiny bit of property to.  We arrived, and Sam rather unceremoniously dumped the cat into my arms, saying, "You can name her, we just call her Cat."

Oh.

Cat wanted down, so we chatted with he and his wife for a bit, found out there was a family member that was violently allergic to cats (i.e. she would swell up and be sneezing for days...), so they had to get rid of her.

We took her home, and I slept on the couch that night, so she could get used to me. I had a cat on my feet, on my shoulder, tried to sleep on my face, on my back, and curled up by my stomach... It was a long night.  Husband decided we'd try letting her sleep outside the bedroom, that didn't work well, HE could hear the low pitched thump as she'd paw the door.  I didn't want her all over the bedroom.

What to do...

She was fine, if she could see us.  So, we compromised.  She is in a carrier, at night, facing our bed.
She can see us, we don't have to listen to yowling, or pawing all night, and everyone can sleep.

Husband said it was a "just because present".

Yeah, I know, I got a good one...

Presenting, Schrodinger, or Ding, for short~

She loves sitting in the window, and is transfixed when the turkeys go by.  We put one of those painting stepladders by the other door, so she can watch the llamas and the chickens the other direction.  Have to be a bit careful, she is declawed, so we don't want her falling off things, but she seems to fit in fine.

I will have her spoiled in no time.  Oh, wait...

The math doesn't add up...

My BIL is a trucker, and has stored a car at our house for quite some time.  Well, he finally has decided that he doesn't really want the car, and would Husband see about getting an idea of how much it would sell for.

Husband cleaned out the car, (it had been used for storage of books, clothing, and whatnot for BIL).  He then gave it a pretty good wash.  (It was stored next to the hay, behind all the other vehicles, and the cats thought it was a perch.  It was a mess...)

So, I wasn't paying much attention, Husband was looking on line, as is his wont, then he called BIL.  Husband and BIL traded bits of the day, where he was, what was going on with one and the other, then Husband started giving him an update on the car.  Letting him know that it had cleaned up well, still runs (!!!), and getting info on what and where the boxes of books and clothing were going.  Then he pipes up and says,

"The bad news is your car is worth about $500, and those are selling for a dime a dozen on Craigslist."

They both had to stop talking until I finished laughing...

And, because the car is not much to look at, here's a picture of Lorenzo...

Food?  Oh, camera... Meh.

Quiet day.

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!)

Can he handle the excitement?

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!

Birds, brush, and buzzing about.

 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!)

Messing about in boats...reverb 29

This morning the weather folk said, rain, bad day.  I walked, it was fairly nice, a little overcast. 

Had to convince the llamas we were 'friendlies', they usually don't walk UP the hill when we go DOWN.  I think the cougar has spooked them a bit more that I would like to admit.  Lorenzo is getting real skittish about body checks, I touch his hip area, and he makes to spit at me.  This part is no big deal, but then he tries to stomp.  Lorenzo has a fat, furry butt, so I have to stand fairly close.  This makes my foot in rather hazardous territory! 

But we are all doing okay so far, (I had to up Llama's feed a little, she just doesn't put on weight like she used to.  What is it about getting older and getting skinnier?)  But they are doing well.  So is Rudee, except he is getting the grumpy treatment from me, as he is finding llama beans to roll in, and smells like, well... Llama beans.  Not the worst smell, but I still don't want to pet him and smell of manure. 

Husband saw the weather, and said, well, since we can't go out if it's raining, I will go work on the boat. 

(Since we can't go out? Hmmm.)  So, he started working on the electronics.  I washed a load of clothes.  Started a second load.  Boy, it's looking nice outside.  Started cleaning the table.  It really is brightening up... Wonder if Husband will change his mind...

Door opens. "Are you doing anything this afternoon?" 

"No. Why?"

"I think I want to go out and test run  the boat."

Why was I totally not surprised one bit?  Does the fact that I already had a lunch pack put together and my knitting bag sitting ready give you a hint? 

We went out, and it was warm!  I was truly expecting it to be very cold, but I didn't wear a heavy jacket, just my sweatshirt and gloves (well, the life jacket, too), and didn't get a bit cold.  We didn't go very fast, though.  The water level was waaaay down (read:  lots of deadhead stumps and rocks), and there was lots of wash in the water, leaves and sticks and bark.  In fact, there was a lot of debris stuck in the jet intake when we got out. (Intake guards are a very good thing, Martha!)

Mud.  Lots and lots, and orange sticky gooball mud.  My shoes were coated, and so guess what little thing I have to do... (AND they are my 'good' shoes, adding insult to injury.  Couldn't find my others, and I wasn't wearing my gumboots out. Meh.)

So, it's supposed to go back to January temperatures soon, so I guess enjoy the little flings of late spring while we can, yes?  (And get my laundry done quickly!)

***

Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

Ordinary, as in not exceptional.  Walking, and observing the weather and the area.  Seeing the plants go from scraggly ice covered branches, to fat little bud covered things, to light green starts, then the fullness of oak leaves, to head back into the quiet of winter.

Watching Rudee (and Tux, till he stopped) running up the hill, and the amusing way they would claim the top.  (And seeing who would shed the most when they were in the right amount of light. Sadly, sometimes I was the winner... eeep.)

Finding out that I can go walking and not hurt after.  Or that I can walk to stop my hurting. 

Seeing birds.  Seeing some sort of lizard run by.  Rocks that are thrust up from winter's cold.  Mud, that isn't just brown.  I have found red, brown, yellow, sort of off green, and even a whitish blue! 

And finding out just how much crap dirt you can carry in on one pair of boots... : (

Guess that doesn't count on joyful.  But the fact I have a real good vacuum to clean it up does! :)

Almost Wordless Wednesday...

The one fairly good shot from the boat when we went out.  It was pretty, even if I was turning blue...

(And I lost .2 of a pound...)

I'll write, honest!

Catching this real quick at the substation.  Husband has been on the computer, (he is designing new and interesting molds for the company he works for, jewelry, and some boating 'stuff '), when I have been available to blog.  When I am home.  It's been not HARD stuff, except for one class... (I was the presenter. In a class of adults.  Most of whom knew as much OR MORE about the subject than I did.  It was... unique. I survived, thank G*d.)

I will be busy on weekends in June, but I am hoping against hope that I can catch up during the week.  I have been doing the usual sub station work, (having, through good fortune and a weak stomach) avoided cleaning buckets (which in a former life held powdered egg, were cleaned, not so well, and put away wet.  I did... 2, before I decided losing my lunch was NOT worth it.  I offered to do almost anything else, which led to a lot of cutting out of booklet material.  I can cut with the best of 'em, and so decided that would suit me much better.

I had been to an ag fair, and was spinning.  I had a young girl come up (first one!) and ask if that was the "thing that the girl did in Sleeping Beauty".  I told her yes, and I was impressed she knew about this.  She then peered at my wheel and said, what did she stick her finger on? 

*sigh*

Wouldn't ya know, that would be the ONE time, no one had brought a wheel with a flax spike.  I explained it to her as best as I could, but really wished I had a picture or something, I don't think that she quite understood my explanation.  And no one else had anything like that on their wheel, either. Poo.

I helped at the Triathalon, and the gal I mentioned was there, just as neat as always, she was getting a smidge pink when she got back, (she is fair skinned and blonde, and I don't think she used quite enough sunscreen), but she was absolutely glowing with happiness to be on the go again.  I had to leave early, or I would have sought her out.  I really think she's cool.  Even with a sunburn...

I am mulling over dropping some things I do for my ren faire.  I haven't decided if it will be permanent or not, but after 10+ years, I think I want to just have a year where I play.  Not be responsible for a bunch of artsy fartsy flakes creative volunteers, who have great ideas, but getting all coordinated has to be a reason for at least some of my grey hairs.  And I want to try out a character other than the peasant I normally use.  A crazy gypsy type... Which is probably not so far removed from me.  (But then, neither is the peasant.) 

I was encouraged to try a noble, but I keep thinking that between the fact I don't do well with layers, and I am not comfortable being a 'boss' (but people keep wanting me to be a guild leader, which in turns amazes and depresses me), so I haven't really worked on that.  I do have an idea for an outfit, however, if Lady Whatshername ever does come to fruition, if I can afford the  red and black velvet.  (Yes, velvet, or at least fake velvet, that was all the rage with the hip nobles of the 16th century.  Just because it's 90 degrees and out in a hay field, details, details...)

I am laughing, sort of, I have had noting but my 'regular' things to do, and very little on weekends.  Come June, however, I will have at least a choice of 2 (or more) every weekend!  Oh, and I was told I could go and help out at the ren faire and do some training the weekend I am going to see Petty.

HA!!!!
Don't EVEN think so!

(I promise, I will get about and read my friend's blogs, I am not ignoring all of you!  Honest!!)

Dodutdooduda doo... and Husband's helping a neighbor.

G*d help me, I heard "The Popcorn Song" by Hot Butter, and it has firmly stuck itself into my brain... AIGH! Song worm attack!

Ok, work on the blog, ignore it, and doo da doo doo doo... Uh, oh... (Click on the link if you dare!)

Anyway.

Husband has a friend that has some severe arthritis in his hands, but likes to target shoot. He has this little rifle, but the cocking mechanism was getting to the point that he couldn't pull it back without hurting his fingers. Husband kept working on this for about 3 or 4 days, just plotting and figuring how to make an adjustment to get it to work. He tried one or two ideas that didn't work because of weight, or because it wouldn't fit into the space provided. He finally came up with this little finger pull. (The normal pull is a small, button shaped piece.)

It allows said friend to pull with either an index finger or a thumb, (Husband didn't know which would be easier for him, so made it large enough to accomidate a thumb), and is made with some... Titatium, brushed to look like the metal surrounding it. (Ti makes it rustproof, and lighter. This piece being larger than the part that came off, needed to weigh the same, as it was part of the firing pin mechanism.)

This is where and how it sits on the rifle.

A different view. The rifle is a "Chipmunk". I was nearly thrown out after the fifth or sixth time I asked Husband how Alvin was doing. He does not tolerate puns all that well...

(Like he should be surprised when I named my llamas, Rama, Lama, Ding Dong, and Lorenzo???)

I know this isn't my normal 'bloggy' stuff, but I just thought it was really a nice job that my husband did, and for a neat reason, too. It's one of those goofy things that aren't really something you would have a great call for, but it's important to someone. And that's what makes it special.

Why yes, I am biased, why do you ask?

Do dut doo du do da doo... Excuse me while I go put on something else, ANYTHING else, to get this @#$% song out of my head!!!

Took three times, but I did it!

Well, I received a Lovely Blog award, and had absolutely NO clue how to show it off... Thank you Amy, the instructions made sense, and after I fought the computer, swearing every inch of the way worked out the details, it showed up, pretty as all get out! There is hope for me yet, computer wise.

In other news, In-Laws will be leaving... today? I think? I haven't heard them stir this morning, but when they do, things will be packed, and they will head to a daughter's place nearby to say bye for the season, then off to... Uh. South. Missouri? Florida? (I am soooo lost on keeping up with where, what, 'n when.)

Bless Husband, the dryer has been a thorn in my side since not very long after we bought it. So, I have endured checking clothes to make sure they aren't smoking (I am NOT joking), having it then decide to go the other direction and be barely hot enough to dry the clothes, now... It just quit. I do dry some items outside, when I can, or in front of the fire place in the winter, but with our combined allergy problems, we almost have to have the dryer. So, what now?

Thought I, yesssss, new dryer, finally, after 15+ years, I think I got the $ out of it.

But no.

Husband fixed the heating element. Which lasted exactly 4/5 of my laundry. The last load was as wet as when I put it in, and cold. Oh, Husband, ding dong the dryer's dead!

But, today, Husband is off to the appliance repair shop to get a new heating element. Ok. Let's see... I keep hearing about a cash for clunkers for appliances. Think Husband would notice if the dryer looked a little different?

Yeah. Probably. Bummer. Never thought it would be a bad thing to have a husband that can wash his own clothes!

So, let us all hope that the new element is agreeable to the dryer, and I might have clothes that are dry and do not smell as if I have been barbecuing polyester...

(Small add-on here. Finally convinced the computer to let me see Masterchief's blog, go see, it's cool! And also, check out the carnage on Enter the Blogger's page- no one was hurt, but something tells me the train conductor and the trucker probably both had to clean out some underwear!)

Shades of CSI:

Husband does contract work for a company, as an all around machinist/repair person/designer of parts/whatever they can get him to do, so he is often asked to come to the shop to work. (We both used to work there.) So, he was asked to fill a vacationing persons slot.

He was gone the normal day, and so I saw him drive up, and asked how his day went. He had the strangest expression, almost curious looking. "Well, it was different... There was a dead body at the plant today." I nearly dropped my teeth.

"A WHAT? You have GOT to be joking..."

He wasn't! From what could be parsed together, one of the guys had his license revoked, so had to walk to work. Well, guess he got to the plant, and had a massive heart attack, and dropped on the spot in the field, outside of the plant.

So, I of the 'the more gory, the more interesting' ask, so, what happened?

He said, "I really don't know all that much, I went in to work, it was so nice, everyone else was outside watching what the cops were doing."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry...

Gagets, they are a dangerous thing...

Made the mistake of showing husband CNC/lathe videos on YouTube. I have created a monster. So, while he is out pondering whether he can do some of the neat and wondrous YouTubity stuff on his machines (he does contract work for a local company), I commandeer the computer for a quick blog. (I feel like I should be wearing an eye patch and petting a parrot.)

Anyway, I have sort of figured out how to use the side bar. I think. Maybe. It looks right to me, anyway. It gives me some idea how I am doing, and I can't wiggle out if the Weekly Weigh In isn't so great. Can also be some motivation, gee, more DOWNs than UPs.

I have been rather annoyed that I haven't been able to exercise, I was grumbling about not being able to bike. (That might change, I am going to try later, using my leg brace. It ain't pretty, but if I can stop the hurting, I might be able to accomplish my goal of biking to my parents house, about 3 miles away. Right now, I have a goal of biking to the end of the road, about... Not very far away, 1/8 of a mile or so. )

Can't safely walk the hill, yellow jackets are on the warpath. Little demons. One of my friends keeps chiding me, they are God's Creatures, you shouldn't be upset with them. Um. Poison Oak is, too, but I don't have a lot of use for that, either. Oh, well.

After much consideration, I figured I would try my Tae Bo tapes. I was mortified that Husband would come in and comment, (he isn't mean, but I get heavily self-conscious sometimes), or worse, the In-Laws. (I hate jiggling and sweating, and I am as graceful as a drunk on skates doing some things that need coordination.) And I was going to use it for this winter, when it was raining. And I hadn't watched it, so would I even be able to do it? All of these thoughts kept running through my head. All the reasons I *can't* do it. Then, thankfully, my inner two year old spoke up. I WANT TO! NOW!

Smart kid.

I did want to exercise. And so what if someone saw me? Isn't it a bit better to be caught sweating and working out, than to be caught stuffing my face? And somewhere in my few braincells, something about dancing like no one is watching. Well, ok, it isn't DANCE, exactly, but it's something. For me. Something GOOD for me.

Good for me. Yeah. Hmm. So I put in the tape. I was floored. I knew this stuff! I had taken Tae Kwan Do before my accident, (and miss it a LOT) and this was familiar! I could do, well, most of the stuff. I even started counting out loud, and "Woo" ing with the tape.

Then Husband came in. I was startled. He smiled, waved and went in the back room. I swallowed, chuckled, then went back to work. I was jiggly, sweating...

And I FELT GREAT!

I still have the coordination of a lobotomized orangutan, but I am familiar enough with what he's doing for it not to be a washout. If I don't understand, I just jog in place until I either understand, or it goes to something else. I will have a few places where my lack of balance might work against me, but for now, I can do something, I don't have to worry about being stung, I don't have to worry about hurting, (much), and I enjoy it!

Pretty good for 5o cents at a used stuff store, huh?

2 year olds are quite wise, on occasion!

Nailed...

See my nails? (Sorry 'bout the slight blur.) This is becoming a problem. Husband likes them. Husband would prefer I not cut them, as they "look nice on me".

Thank you. That is lovely.

However... THESE SUCKERS ARE A PAIN!! I am not used to them. I am trying desperately to keep them nice looking when I do things like, oh, picking up eggs, cleaning the hen house, cooking, working with the llamas, closing gates - that are more than likely using bailing wire as a latch, and typing. (I also will mention, I am now completely helpless with opening a soda pop can, but considering the caffeine, possibly that isn't all bad.) Even turning pages in a book or magazine can be a bit of a challenge, if the pages are slick.

I try to type, and as like as not, I hit two keys, one with finger, one with nail. This makes blogging interesting. (Put it this way, if I kept all the mistakes I am making, this would be completely illegible.)

I try to open gates, and catch nails on wire, or scratch up my hands avoiding getting nails caught.

Maintenance. I forget how many times a day I have to file these things. You remember the Ginsu knives, the ones that were super thin, and super sharp? I believe they were based on my nails. I have thin nails, they are nasty sharp, and catch on everything. SO, filing catches and nicks are a must, or I either have snaggy looking nails, or they tear or break.

Knitting is interesting. I have noticed that I can tell the minute, nay, the SECOND a snaggy spot appears on my nails. But, surprisingly, that's about the only problem. I did mildly stab my finger with a dpn, but really, that was probably as much klutz as long nails.

Working on my carder is right out, unless I can solve the problem of the nails. Gripping and grabbing are death to these claws.

I am beginning to think a compromise is in order. Husband will have to tolerate shorter fingernails, and I won't cut them to the quick...

But, I must say, they are kinda pretty. If I didn't have to DO anything...

The Case of the Spilled Spinach...

It was such a lovely time at OFFF. I had worn some white pants, and had wandered around in the yarn areas, fiber areas (!), and even in the barns. (!!!) I decided I was hungry. It was breezy, so I opened the window behind the stove, and the door, opposite the stove. I thought, I still have some spinach left over from last night, I will heat it up and finish it! Yum!!

So, I did. Well. It was breezy that day. I had eaten most of my meal, when a gust came up. Now you have to understand, that in my trailer, the stove has a cover, that stands up when the stove is in use. The breeze went through from the window to the door... Pushing the cover down. On the spinach pot. That wasn't quite empty... ON THE FLOOR. AND MY PANTS.

After some panicked wiping, digging spinach out with sponge, towel, and even a butter knife (spinach is sort of like gold leaf, but not in a good way, it sticks and stays...) and just sort of, Oh, G*D! This is... Not going to ruin my stay!

And it didn't. Husband looked at it, and said, well, guess I know what the next pressure washer job is going to be.

So, after a heavy amount of Husband's elbow grease and pressure washing, the carpet is clean.

After my taking out almost all the stuff from around and washing it down, cleaning all the burners, wiping down the fridge (directly UNDER the stove), and mopping the bare floor, twice, it now is clean, and doesn't smell like... Rotten spinach.

And Husband hates the smell of spinach to begin with. That's why I had it at OFFF, so he wouldn't have to deal with the smell. But I guess the wind had other plans.

But the pants are OK... Mom said that perhaps I shouldn't push my luck wearing them to that event again... Perhaps she's right! I might want spinach again!!

The Rroundup...

Husband was on a Craig's List binge again... I was dutifully ignoring him, the last two or three things he'd gone after had been sold as soon as he'd called. (One thing I have learned about Craig's List, the old axiom "he who hesitates is lost" is SO true!) At any rate, I figured he had another on his list of "Hmmm, will this work on the boat/welder/car/whatever?"

Until he called for me to come look at what he'd found. Four beautiful, if unkempt, fuzzy faces looking at me from the screen. The ad said 4 llamas, free to good home, we are moving. Husband called. I, ever the optimist, figured they were long gone. He, ever the real optimist, found out not only were they NOT gone, we were first in line to get them. We made arrangements, and borrowed a friend's horse trailer, (didn't think Husband's flatbed would be really all that comfortable for them...)

We arrived at the place, after about an hour and some drive. There they were, in a BIG field, and not fenced in. Hmm. We buzzed up to the house, met the people who were very nice, but then they asked, well, have you ever caught llamas before? I shrugged, Husband shrugged, uh, no... She smiled, "well, this ought to be interesting, neither have we, and these guys are almost wild again." Uh, oh.

Husband and I walked to the llamas. They walked away. We wandered to them again, they wandered away faster. Okay... The gal's husband started to make for one of them, and after about 30 minutes of struggle, got it, snorting and blowing, and at least one spit, into the trailer. I was looking at Husband, mentally asking "Are we going to be able to DO this?" He must have passed Mind Reading 101, as he seemed to know what I had telepathied, "They got one, let's give them a chance to get the rest corralled." Uh. Ok... ?

I watched for the most part, as I am not able to run much, and that was the basic plan of the guys. Run fast after llama, then throw rope over neck, walk to trailer while feeding sweet mix, then push llama in trailer. This, surprisingly, worked rather well, except llama #1 kept wanting to LEAVE the trailer, as we were putting #2 and #3 in. This was prevented by a unique method, push nose of llama #1 back, put dog fencing on rear of llama #2 and push like holy... uh... heck. Then came the last one. #4. OY VEY and a half!

Llama #4 had a halter on. The gal said, oh, this one has a little attitude. Meanwhile, in the trailer, llama #1, male, was trying to get it on with llama #2, female, and she wasn't having any of it, HAWKSPITOOOOO!!! His face, his neck, and most of the front window of the trailer were now covered in greenish spit goo. He stopped. Quickly.

I watched as the guys ran her round and around and around, and behind the house, down to the fence, back up, behind the fence again, finally, someone blocked the fence entrance off. Llama #4 then had a rope put round her neck. That's when all hell broke loose she showed her attitude a bit. She proceeded to start snorting, grunting, and pulling on the rope. They told Husband to back the trailer up close so she could get in quickly, because they wanted to keep from being stomped to death wanted to keep her from stressing out too much. Her? Stressed? This coming from the guy that was mud brown from the knees down, and llama spit Green from the chest up? Uh, sure...

I was busy picking up straps and ropes and getting our stuff back to the truck, when I heard it. The llama is REALLY furious, and is going to bite gonads if people don't let her loose, yesterday scream. Oh, goody. We are bringing this demon from the lowest depths very self-assured animal HOME? I had visions of her vaulting across the yard, spitting to blind, and kicking to paralyze! But, they managed to get them all in the trailer. We waited a few minutes to let them calm down, while I got some information about them (the previous owners had 'dumped' them on these people, who gave them food, but not much attention, then moved from the place we were at, so needed them gone, as the new place wasn't suitable.) Husband looked in the trailer, and 2 of the 4 had sat down, and the other two were calmly sniffing the food on the floor. We took that as a good sign, and headed home.

We arrived, and after scaring up an extra gate, (we wanted to fence them out of the chicken yard, as we found out they adore grain, and we leave the door to the hen house open, where the grain is stored), we let them out. They jumped out, and looked around, incredibly confused. They had gone from half inch high, washed out grass, to belly high dark green grass. The confusion didn't seem to last to long, they figured out it was "good eats", and started munching away. The chickens on the other hand, nearly had simultaneous apoplexy when all these llamas started barrelling out of the trailer. In fact, they all fled to the hen house, and peeked out occasionally, squawking in abject terror when one was close.

They have been here about 3 days now, and the chickens are still wary of the llamas. After an intense stare session by the llamas, they just ignore the chickens now. And I have been able to feed the male. And Miss Attitude. Maybe there is hope for us yet!

So, I now introduce... (PUN ALERT! Yes these are the actual names I chose for them!)

Lorenzo, the male.


Rama...



Lama...



And she of the attitude, Ding-Dong.


So, I now have 4 furry friends for fiber fun! (Oh, good grief, that was bad, even for me. But they are my new spinning buddies. Or at least they will be after we get the matted mess cleaned up. Wish me luck!)

Craig's List addiction...

So, I haven't been too reliably regular about posting. Some is indeed my fault, wandering off to new projects, not having a clue what to write about, running off to get things done, the usual suspects.

HOWEVER... I am finding I have to compete against Husband for computer time.

Why?

The nefarious Craig's List, the bane and temptation of all who are not neat, orderly, and are nefarious collectors of 'stuff', i.e., "PACK RATS". (Yes, I know, I called Husband a pack rat. Shush.) Now, if you are desperately in need of wrought iron gates, a 10 foot boat (some work needed), or have something to give to the fine person who needs "large amounts of fill dirt or compost, clean" ( clean compost???), or need a date, a job, a house, or spinning lessons (yarn OR bike), this is the place for you. Husband reads the boat section daily. And whatever section is the mechanical 'stuff', oh, like welders and tools. Don't know that he calls on all that much stuff, but it's like getting a catalog, and looking through it. Except this 'catalog' has new pages every few hours... And Husband loves to get the occasional item, clean it up, then use it for various and sundry things. Which is fine. Except when I realize he's spent more time on the computer than I have... By HOURS. Eeep!

So, Mr. Craig Person, I am not really happy with you... Hey, what's this? Farm and Garden section? Hmm. Twisted Willow, Large. Chickens? Sheep? LLAMAS?!!???

Excuse me, I need to go, uh... Check something...