Remember this blog?  I had said I was going to put up a photo of the finished product, when all the chaos generally, and specifically occurred. Well, the stars have aligned, and I present: Mardi Gras socks!

These silly things were quite a challenge to knit on the cuff, for me.  I think they are quite pretty, personally, however.  They click and rattle when I walk, I can't help but think of the nursery rhyme about "rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, so she shall have music wherever she goes."

Um.  Mine is more in the percussion section, that doesn't seem to rhyme as well.  But, as long as I don't have to sneak up on someone, they're fine. 

I will have to hand wash them, I shudder to think what a washer would do to them, even in a laundry pouch!

So, next blog, lava!

Seaside, Part 2. Finally...

Well, the Sunday went well, but still didn't win anything, I seem to be the Susan Lucci of the Radio winnings world. But, there were some friends I saw, got a few little goodies, and then we went out to conquer Seaside... Where I got the bright idea, oh, I will just carry my camera ON, so I can catch 'spontaneous' shots...




This is a 'spontaneous' shot where my knee hit the button. It's the seawall, if you can't figure it out from the goofy angle...

I much prefer this spontaneous, however INTENTIONAL shot, of a volleyball game.

It was about 68 or so on the coast, so we were actually seeing not too many coats, and even shorts on one or two people. Lots of digging by little ones, but surprisingly, very few kites this time. Sometimes there are kites that, I kid you not, look like huge butterflies, or dragons, and have multiple strings, and rigging for the kite flyer to wear.

Dad even had to rescue one, about 2 years ago, as it was a, oh, I would guess, 90 lb. kid, and the wind picked up, he was yodeling for help, and being dragged forward by the force of the wind. Dad is NOT 90 lbs., and was able to stop him, so the kid could land the kite. I began to wonder if said kid would have ended up in Washington somewhere, as fast as he was going! But there were lots of games, a few picnics, and the occasional sand castle.

We went to the Turnaround, and I decided to take a picture of Lewis and Clark for Posterity... I took this, while about 8 or so bikers looked on, saying, HURRY UP! We want to take a picture! That was followed by, What ARE you doing? (Dad, the tall person of the family, obliged putting sock on the arm. I was the artistic direction, and camera operator.)

Who, me? Just thought Lewis might want something stylish for his wardrobe. Heck, it IS wool... I know, it is also a sock, and unfinished, but hey, you can't have everything. And they didn't have TV or a warm hotel room to pass the winter in, so they might have appreciated a nice pair of wool socks.

(Considering all the walking they had to do, and I read they had to throw away some of their clothing after the winter was over because it had molded, I think they could have USED some new socks...)

Then we walked past the shops. I had to take this picture of cooling fudge. I was very, very, VERY hard pressed to keep walking. It wouldn't have take much of a tracker to figure out where I'd gone, just follow the saliva trail...

I wanted to take a picture of the taffy machine working at one of the other stores, it has been pulling taffy since around 1930, but wouldn't you know, they had it off that day. I was a good kid, I didn't get anything much.

Uh.

Except for a few things at the aptly named "The Buzz" candy store, where you can get all sorts of little things from childhood. I have a soft spot for Flicks chocolate drops, Chocolate Sixes, and Chicken Bones. All of which I bought. Plus a few other things. Hey it only filled a half gallon jar, and I didn't eat it... All...

Last thing we do before we leave Seaside, is ride the carousel. We keep waiting for the operator to shoo us away, (neither Dad nor I are svelt...), but they just laugh, and offer me a step stool. I can't imagine why, I just look like I am trying to use a slip 'n slide off a sheer cliff. I get on one animal, usually the kitty, Dad gets on the other aside me, and off we go. I don't know how many little ones are really confused about these great big people riding with no little ones around, but we do. The animal survives, again, (the poor kitty I rode this year had a chipped ear, though... NOT my fault!) and so, we bid a fond farewell to Seaside.

Until next year.

Semi-decompress for a minute...

Well, I have been busy! One of my friends had a stroke, and is now in the hospital, fighting with the therapists (he has never been known for his demure manner), one of my other friends is in surgery today for prostate cancer, Mom will be going in for surgery this week for a knee replacement, (not the standard one, she has lots of 'stuff' going on in her leg, struts, wiring, screws, that the doctor will have to work around), and in-laws are here, working on a party boat that they want to sell.

(Re-reading the above paragraph, did I just make my Mom's leg sound like a 50's Oldsmobile?)

I on the other hand, have just been on the go, went to Seaside, went to give blood, just on the go, and I am TIRED. This is the first day, (so far, anywho), that I don't have to jump and run to go somewhere! I have wanted to work on the garden. Well, I finally got a chance today, I worked on it, oh, about a week or two ago, and got about half of the rows worked on, today, I finished the rows, and planted corn. (We shall see, I suppose getting them in June, will sort of put it in the close call catagory, I don't know if it will do the "knee high by Fourth of July", but we can hope. If not, there's always the Farmer's Market...) I also planted watermelon, and eggplant. They are close together, I keep wondering if I will end up with eggmelon, or waterplant... I have all of my tomatoes, (14 Brandywines, 4 Beefsteak, and 2 cherry tomatoes), in the ground, so what did I hear on the news this morning? Hail.

Oh, joy...

I also have been trying to do myself damage, right before Seaside, I dropped a full container of peanut butter on my foot. Bruised up just like when the llama stepped on it. So, I have managed TODAY, to drop boiling water on the same foot. Husband has suggested I need steel-toed house slippers... I am not so sure he isn't right! I am doing ok, there was only a minor first degree burn, so I am not going to worry about it, but I sure wish I could figure out why the universe is against my foot being healthy.

I have lots of pictures and stories from Seaside, both in and out of the hamfair. But, I think I will quit while I am ahead, and work on it later. In fact, probably will split it into a couple blogs. I will have pictures, too. Here's a nice teaser. YES, rode on it, NO, won't have a picture for you here.

I think I am going to go work on a cup of tea. And perhaps a cookie. And hopefully not drop either on my foot. L*rd help me, I might even tempt fate with some knitting.

Spring? April Fools!!!

I woke up this morning. This is April the first. Not January, or February the first. APRIL. Spring. Or at least it's SUPPOSED to be spring. I think someone forgot to tell Mother Nature. I went out to feed, I am guessing, it must have been about 30. Why do I guess this? Frost Thrusts. At least, I believe that is what they are called...

They look like little crystal villages a pixie might live in. Husband says they look like ice flowers. Yes, I can see that, as well.



But the topper was Rama. She came down the hill, hungry as always, and I realized, she was covered with frost, the length of her back. As were the rest. They seemed to appriciate having NOT frozen hay. She didn't seem to mind the frost on her back, (it is going to be wonderfully warm fiber to spin, I suspect...), but none of the group appriciate the ground, and grass, being frozen.



Can't blame them, I guess. I know my flowers are not enjoying the weather. I walked out to look at my tulips, stumbled, hit one, it shattered! EEEP!!

So. Could someone update the weather for us? PLEASE???

(On the up side, I do have several of my pre planted goodies sprouting. More as I get pictures...)

CSI: Needle case...

Well, Mom went to the doctor yesterday, and we arrived rather early, (read: about an hour...), so I was muttering about needing a Chibi. Mom asked, what's a Chibi? I told her it was a needle case, basically a small plastic container for storing needles. I needed one for my purse, as I tended to have the needle find the lowest corner, or deepest wrinkle in said purse, and so would dissapear when I would have need of it. (Yes, I realize carrying needles in my purse sounds goofy. Eh. It's better than the coffee stirrer I commandeered to use as a cable needle!)

(Want to know what a Chibi looks like? http://www.yarn-store.com/tapestry-needles.html )

She had to go in for an EKG strip. I was musing about going to a local shop to pick up a Chibi, when she came out of the lab with a big grin on her face. She then hands me two test tubes! These are brand new, unused test tubes... So, here's your Chibi, she said. I think this is a cool idea. I am calling it a "faux chibi", and was chatting with her about it, and then Mom mentioned that I would need to take the fingerprints off the tube, so tape would stick. I blurted out, "CSI: Chibi!" And it stuck.

(Had to make it all technical looking, now, didn't I???)

I know a lot of knitters want a particular color of Chibi, (for some reason, pink is popular in this area, and I don't care for pink), but I have seen lots of different needle cases, but I think this one is maybe rather unique!

Funny thing, in the "learn something new every day" department, "chibi" is also involved with Japanese Manga. Let's just say, I wasn't expecting little cartoons when I looked up chibi...

Rudee is relaaaaaaaaaaaaxed...

Well, he's not on the roof of his doghouse, but I can see Schroder playing his piano, while Lucy cons Charlie Brown once again to kick a football. Ahh, spring.

Picture Heavy Post... Cat photos...

The following is an explanation why I don't take more pictures of my cats. At least, pictures that I put on line... I decided, Oh, I should take some pictures of Mama Cat, she just looks especially nice today. Yeah. Right.

So, I start with a "Please look here, Mama Cat." Note hand that I put in pic, since I was multi tasking, which for me is not a good thing. Didn't work, either.




So, the photograph experts say, get down on the level of your pet. Ok, so I do, and she wants to love the camera...


I compensate for her bumping the camera, just a liiitle too much...


And here is Mama Cat's extreeeeeeeeme closeup, as she is bound and determined to have her chin scratched.


Gee, I find chicks MUCH more interesting than a dork with a camera...


Husband picks this moment to call her, and I was just a bit too late with the shot.


So, I get up, walk away, she sits down, and I take a distant shot. So much for photography expterts, they haven't met Miss Loveball of 2007!

OSHA approved cat naps, and a new project.

The 4 cone method, when parking long term...




The 2 cone method for short breaks.

And for something actually semi-serious... I am starting a sort of simple fisherman's sweater for myself. Basic sweater pattern, stitch patterns I like, and tinkering. Haven't decided whether to make it a pullover or cardigan. See what it tells me when I get to the front. Knowing my knitting, that will be a while.



They released the picture of the cover "Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollows" today. My Dad is waiting with unabashed impatience. I am looking forward to it, but at the same time, I am sort of not in a hurry... I mean, it's the last book. No more. Win or Lose, Harry goes bye bye. Meanwhile, Dad and I continue our argument on whether Snape is evil, or just good gone deep cover. (I take the side that Snape is deep cover, a good guy, just hides it exteeeeemly well, Dad thinks he's just one up from Valdemort... Mom doesn't care, hasn't read the books, and wonders what the heck we are talking about from time to time. Poor Muggle...)

I might be getting the hang of spinning!

Top 'O The Mornin' To Ye!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Cat and my new photo pal Buc the Cat, who you can see loves Blarney... (Like I don't...) Why is his name Buc? Aye, Begosh and Begorrah, it's short for Butt Ugly Cat! He is willing to adorn my blog, so expect to see his smiling face occasionally. Doesn't he remind you of a keystone cop with that hat?

(And if you noticed it, yes I changed the blog format, I though this one was a bit clearer, and more in tune with my theme. What ever that is...)

Husband and I went for a quick trip on the water yesterday. He was upset with a rattle the boat was making, and fixed it with a wood shim. And because the sun was shining, and it was a terrific day And because he just wanted to check that there was no more rattle, we went out...



There are several of these little waterfalls, I missed getting them when we went out in the winter, they were covered in icicles. The spring weather makes them just burst from the rocks. We found several of them on our "just checking the rattle" trip, took several similar pictures, but the camera started to die. Darn batteries... You just get the hang of taking pictures without dumping yourself overboard, and then they give up the ghost... But there was one more I will add,

The mountains were out yesterday!

Mile Post 207

Somewhere between Ontario and Burns, Oregon. I think. After several too many hours on the road, I remember the Mile Post... That's it.

Slow day in the Country.

So slow, in fact, I haven't written anything, and half the day is gone! I went to eat at a Chinese restaurant that I like, and the fortune cookie said, "Work on ideas that are creative and can bring fine results." Sound like a push to do blogging! Or my newest knit hat. I will have a picture later, it's green with yellow and Burgundy red. Since it's to be donated to Dulaan, I decided it's going to be called "Mongolian Rastafarian". Sounds like a rock group. Eh, I think it will be pretty.

Rabbitch had, and I think Ryan, as well, this "meme" on their websites, I liked it, decided it was good, so took a "tag, you're it" for my item today.

Without further ado: Six weird things about me (God is that limiting...)

In no particular order....

1. When I am checking my email, and want to leave MS Office, I have to go back to the inbox. I don't know why, I know that you can be anywhere, in any file, but I don't. I go back to the inbox. I think it's because I was taught that when I first learned on someone else's computer, and he was... Anal-retentive to where I think he pooped once a year... Ahem. Anyway, that's what he taught me to do, and I am almost compulsive about it. Doesn't bother me when others quit in a different folder, however. Go Figure.

2. I have trained my chickens to move to a 'backup beep'. You know, when a truck backs up, it drones on with 'beeep, beeep, beeep'? I do that when I open the gate to the chicken yard, and they all move back, knowing the gate is moving. I didn't realize quite how well I'd taught them, until yesterday. We had a delivery of rock, and I was outside. The truck backed up, and dutifully, all the chickens moved back from the gate, then looked highly confused when the gate didn't open. (I don't have any idea how to take a picture of this, or it might be put on You Tube... Ah, the joys of being a computer dork...)

3. I hate trying to spell weird, and one, and a few other words. I end up spelling 'wired' more often than not, and I continually try to put "won" for "one". That's why I am pretty adept at spell checking (with my eyeballs, I don't always trust Unca Billy's dictionary.)

4. When I knit with two needles, I tend to put one against my chest or arm, and knit with the other. I didn't know this was unusual until I went to a knitting class to get some help, and one of the other students commented on it. LOUDLY. I couldn't figure out what she kept yipping about, asking "what ARE you doing? What ARE you doing?"

I answered, completely confused at this point, "uh, knitting?"

Whereupon she said, "NO, you are STABBING yourself!"

I actually looked around, to see where I had something sticking out of my person, she was that hyped up about it... Turns out, I knit sort of my own way a bit, but this kind of knitting is more common in Eastern European countries. I just do it because I learned on long needles, and needed a bit more control of same. So, I guess by common American standards, I do knit unusually. Eh. Still gets the hats out.

5. I like to give tips to waitresses and waiters directly. I have twice left money on the table, and had it taken before the waitress got back. (Once by a FAMILY member, sheesh!) So, I figure if I give the money directly, she has it, and I don't have to worry about her (or him) being stiffed monetarily. And they seem pleased, so, it's good.

6. I like 'guy' stuff. I like Three Stooges, working on cars, (or at least helping), I love steaks, I think makeup and nail paint is fru-fru, and don't use it much. And don't get me started about "chick flicks". But I like 'girl' stuff, too. I have a largeish collection of stuffed animals, I love flowers, and I do occasionally like to dress up with (LOW) heels, and a dress, perfume and the like. I guess I have androgynous interests.

So, there you have it, Cat's offical foray into "memes". I will have to find some more so I have more blogging content. Or, just start putting up some of my pictures.
Like this one, of a porta potty in the middle of the lake we were boating on. I guess, when ya gotta go...

Have a Beary Icy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Well, I make no resolutions for New Years. In fact, the only one I have made the last few years was to tick off a particular anal-retentive family member that demanded I make a resolution. So, to wit:

I resolve to make no New Year’s Resolutions.

Said family member had near hysterics, and demanded to know if I realized that by making that resolution I had already broken it. I said, um. Yes, that’s why I phrased it that way. She doesn’t ask me about my resolutions much any more, thank goodness…

I have about half the sweater sleeves knit, hoping to get them finished in the next few days… I am desperately trying to be a “process” knitter, and finish a few of the projects I have started. Let’s put it this way, right now I have a six foot shelf, and it is just UFO’s. Not good. Of course, I am not sure if one project counted on the shelf, as it was just the yarn and needles, I hadn’t even started it. Even more so, I have a shawl hidden away, that I have been working on occasionally, and I don’t have that anywhere near the UFO shelf. (I have seriously thought about putting little UFO stickers on that shelf… Hmmm.)



The bear on the left is a project I have finished. The bear on the right is one that I had finished earlier. This is for a project where the bears go to kids in places like South Africa, and other areas where the kids have real problems. Mother Bear Project (Look it up, Blogger isn't letting me put links on), is where you can see what everyone else is doing. I want to make girl bears, for the simple reason, I can make skirts. I figure, I have a lot of knitting patterns I’d like to try. This way, I can try them, see if I like them, and if I do, the bear has a long skirt. If not, the skirt is knee length. That would give me a chance to try some patterns on a smaller scale, and find out if I like them. It also gives some little child (probably a girl) a sort of unique bear.



This was the lovely window picture I’d tried to get the other day. I think that the neat part is the bit of background behind the frost, giving it some depth. Heavens, am I getting philosophical? Ewwww…

Have a New Year!