Is it wrong that I want this sofa? Austin Powers could get lost on this...
This sushi tastes funny...
I found these trailers at EW...they are for Jerry Seinfeld's "Bee Movie" (from the book of the same name) and they are actually FUNNY trailers...go watch...
With not much exciting to say, I guess I've hit a bit of a daily routine (rut)...not that its a bad thing, I'm actually quite happy, but there's just not much to report at this time...I've been knitting and felting and reading and watching Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars (fast becoming my favorite show on television, it makes us laugh every week we watch it)...
I hear that the butterflies are starting to hatch/migrate North from Mexico...there are reports coming from Houston that they are on their way...I havne't seen any yet and my butterfly plants are hammered from the ice and not in any shape to accept migrating bugs, but I'd love to see them...
I can tell things are changing, while we have a few finches, they are not in the yard en masse as before...our feeders are nearly full...now we are getting crows and doves devouring the sunflower seeds...too big and noisy...I prefer the cardinals and woodpeckers...
I'm in the mood for a nice hot bubble bath...
Why is it that even tho I vacuum on Monday, by Monday afternoon I can already see the cat hair redepositing itself on the floor? By Sunday it looks like we've had a heard of 100 cats stomp thru..(maybe technically we have)...
The weather dude says we don't expect any rain anytime soon...not a good sign...but we did see the pecan trees are starting to sprout their pollen and leaves...maybe we'll get some pecans this year...we need rain, tho...
Apparently the Cadbury Mini Eggs that I dearly love are MUCH better in Canada than here in the US....it just backs up our philosophy - 'everything is better in Canada'...
You know what? Not much is going on here...I'm hunkered down working...I vacuumed and changed litter boxes yesterday...I made some beads...and filled the bird feeders...It was 87 here yesterday...whaaa???...I'm glad ya'll are getting the snow and ice you want for skating and skiing and snowmobiling...I used to love to skate and snowmobile...we'd skate on the lake where the adults would be ice fishing...or we'd skate on the tennis courts that the city would water down before a big freeze...I could go backwards and do a little spin, nothing fancy...but it was winter and it was good...
Brian got my memory card reader to work..turns out it wasn't all my fault, there were lots of weird things going on and he figured it all out...so I'm gonna try to shoot pics w/ the new camera again this morning...don't hold your breath, tho...I love the camera, there's just always a learning curve that its a drag to get thru...gah...
We picked up some iPod accessories the other day..I can plug in an FM tuner and turn it into a radio, and we got a car/charger/player so I can plug it into my lighter in the car and play the iPod on my car radio...pretty groovy...I also got a little leather carrier to protect it and some new earbuds cause the originals were painful...the iPod is about half full and all in all its been a load of fun to play with...I do love technical gadgets, I'm just not gadget-literate...
Oh, my favorite dress from the Oscsrs - Cate Blanchett..I liked the arm cover with all the studs and hematite looking metal blobs on it...I also thought Nicole Kidman looked good, the the bow was bothersome..but the red and clingyness was great...I won't mention who I thought was 'bad', since its all a matter of taste...some dresses were nice, but the people wearing them were 'ehhhh'...Overall, I still like that chartreuse John Galliano dress that Nicole Kidman wore way back in 1997...its still my fave...so groovy...
Yeah, I was excited to hunker down with popcorn (forgot to pop some, duh) and pizza (too lazy to go get one) and some knitting and kitties (check and check) to watch Ellen host the Oscars...I used to LOVE the Oscars as a kid, and even not too long ago I'd still watch, but once Harvey Weinstein bought Shakespeare in Love the Oscar for best pic over Saving Private Ryan, and buying Gwynneth Fishsticks her Oscar over Cate Blanchett for her role as Elizabeth I, all the air went out of the fun and I gave up...I know that the Oscars have been a bit of a 'favoritism' award, its not always about who did the best, but who do the Academy like and who do they not...(Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, don't bother to show up)...
So, I was all excited again this year and was SORELY disappointed...so much so that I found myself surfing over to Family Guy and watching a re-run of that...What happened? Ellen, who I think is always gold, was flat and boring...monotonous (yes, we get it, its a diverse group of nominees...we get it...oh, say it some more? ok...keep talking about it...keep going...we get it...now shut up!)...I had heard a rumour that they weren't going to give ANY of the major awards until the final hour of the telecast, and that almost happened...I thought the winners were great, I was very happy to see Jennifer Hudson win - I mean, even veteran actors like Kate Winslet have been nominated 5 times and have never won...so you don't know what might happen next year, Jennifer might become the next Marisa Tomei or Mira Sorvino - never to be heard from again...I hope she has a long and wonderful career...I want to go see the movies that won, I haven't seen a one of them...I did think those shadow-people making images of penguins, the 007 gun, the Prada shoe, etc. were pretty groovy, in a weird Blue-Man Group way...Anyway, I'm glad for the winners and I hope you enjoyed the show...I still love Ellen, but I hope she doesn't host again anytime soon...or bring better writers...
We spent the weekend shopping for furniture...and that can wear you out! We gave away our old living room set, after the cats had completely destroyed the arms of the sofa, loveseat and chair...Thank god we don't have to shop for furniture every 10 years or so...we did find a sofa/loveseat and that'll be delivered the middle of next month...and I'll be on the lookout for a nice recliner and some accent tables and lamps...its a slow process and best spread out over time so I don't implode with information overload...
So this morning is time to do housework catchup...I've already done some laundry, vacuumed the downstairs and caught up on some bills...the beds are made, the recycling is outside and I'm ready to get some more work done before the beads get made...I have some new ideas and saw some cool color combos from my warddrobe of all places...we'll see how it goes...
10:31am - Is it really just 10:30 in the morning? It feels like 2 in the afternoon to me...I've got the whole day ahead of me! Time to get something done...
Ha, WendyKnits just got a new green iPod Mini and posted it on her site as well...we are geeks...(I am a geek who cannot control her iPod)...
My tech support chose to eat pizza and watch CSI instead of fixing my camera woes, and I can't blame him...pics will be shot today using the old school camera...maybe I can coerce him this weekend to fix the memory reader...I'm sure it'll take him 5 min to solve what took me hours to struggle with...
The cats are fighting...the dog was barking outside at 7:30 this morning...I am hiding upstairs until they all get their act together and shut up...(the dog is inside so as not to bother any neighbors trying to get some sleep...nothing like a barking dog to drive you crazy)...I'm a considerate neighbor, even if I am a bit of a hermit...
Yesterday a nice high schooler knocked on my door w/ a vase of flowers and a balloon...she was looking for a neighbor, but since I don't know anyone out here yet, I didn't know where to point her...I saw her car cross the street, so I think she found her friend...sorry...
I visited a yarn shop yesterday only to find they don't have any more fuchsia Cascade 220 that I need to finish my inprogress clogs (I thought 1 skein would be enough for the sole/cuff, but apparently I'm wrong)...looks like online ordering will have to come to the rescue...one of the things I do like about living out here in the stix is ordering stuff and waiting for it to arrive...love seeing new boxes on the porch...
9:10am Ok, I'm giving up before things get ugly...Brian can help me with this tonight..He had to bail me out of the iTunes thing, when I had trouble getting that stuff hooked up...sure, I can plug things in, but then they don't work and I install the CD and fill out the forms and nothing happens...he's the master of computers, that's why I keep him around...I'm washing the car...I can do that w/out any help...soap, water, sponge...how hard is that?
I am knee-deep in camera hell...I've taken loads of pics to see whats the best, but now getting this stupid little memory card to read is nuts...I have TWO Scan Disk readers, NEITHER of which is working...at all...the CD is in, some things have been installed, and yet...nada...so bear with me, it might be awhile before anything is posted here...something might break before its all done...I miss my old technology that worked so well...upgrading sux...and you have to pay so much money to do it and then you're left with a big pile of wires and plastic bits that won't work...argh...
Well, no...I forgot to practice the new beads, but I made some more of another style, so its all good...I have errands and places to go today, up early to get ready and hit the road...the dog will stay outside tho, last week I left her in because it was cold out and when I came home, she heard me on the porch and set off the alarm...and its VERY loud...she got scared and was dancing in the hallway, blocking my passage to turn off the alarm...cats flying everywhere, scared dog that's almost as big as me, me with stuff in my hands tripping over the dog, a screaming loud alarm going off - good times...the alarm company called like 20 seconds later to make sure everything is ok...I'll prob have a false alarm charge on my next bill...today, dog stays outside...
Oh yeah, Happy Mardi Gras!
Its the best way to make beads...keep at it...keep trying new things...keep doing the right things over and over till its second nature...Last night I was trying to bring an idea to life, but my attempts weren't what I was looking for...Ironically, in the light of this morning, they don't look as bad as I thought last night...I'll keep working at them till I get exactly what I want tho...Lets hope it doesn't take TOO long, but I expect to have some more failure before I hit on what I want...
As much as I enjoyed '24' last season, this year has bored me...Too much running around, too much family issues, too much boring weasels around a boring president...blah...I hope next week is more interesting with the old Prez coming back (for only a few eps from what I've heard), but I don't know that I'll be watching...I think I'll leave this season to do whatever its gonna do without me...
HGTV has stopped running its craft shows, so now I have nothing to watch while upstairs on the computer...and the shows that DIY runs contain quilting and scrapbooking that I don't watch much of...SO, my tv watching has been cut down quite a bit...and filled with doing my OWN crafts..yesterday I made my own lip balm! Yeehaw...it was fun and messy and I am looking for good recipes...the first one I made was lemon, and its a pretty color, but too waxy for my taste...so I added more olive and avocado oil and the next batchs are smoother...the essential oils don't taste like anything to me..maybe its my lack of smell, I dunno, but the lemon doesn't taste like lemon, the spearmint, nope...sigh...its all new to me, tho so I'll keep at it...and I'm sure you might see a few of them available here for very reasonable prices...very reasonable...
Anissa reminded me what its like to be low tech...what I want to know is, what happens when I drop the book and all the words fall out?
I'm also working on some new knitting projects as well as working on a new pair of clogs...lots of plates spinning, and its rather nice...that's what happens when you don't watch so much tv!
I've slept funny on my right arm and now my fingers are twitching from a pinched nerve...its kinda amusing, but I can't hold a glass of milk for long...I'm sure it'll settle after awhile...
I guess that's my update for now...I do have some new beads and am working on more, so I'll have some things to offer later this week...yeehaw...80 today..its already HUMID outside...ugh...I guess it could be worse...
The days are getting warmer..its gonna be in the 70's many times this week, starting today...I've filled all the bird feeders and added water to the bird bath (the drinking fountain as they use it)...seems my very groovy purple nozzle hasn't fared well in the freezing temps, and isn't working properly...looks like a road trip to Our Favorite Nursery will be in order...Did I get any plants planted over the weekend? No...we DID manage to hit IKEA early yesterday, the crowds were light and the parking was easy...Brian picked up another bookcase for his collection and I snagged a funky $10 light that you can change the plastic squares on, a different color to suit your mood...I think there are light 6 different colors in the box...sweet...
And once we got home, I had to do laundry and package up everything (no mail today, it all goes out tomorrow!)...and THEN, I made some cool new things (not beads, but still cool) that I'll unveil once I get them complete...and I worked on my new pair of clogs some more...so, no planting quite yet...eventually...maybe today?
I must vacuum this house, its driving me bananas...and I seem to be missing one of the cats, I can't find her, but I suppose she's found a closet and is stuck inside...they tend to do that...as long as she hasn't gotten out, I'm not too worried...
The new fan is working great...we can turn the lights/fan on and off from INSIDE the house using the remote...pretty groovy...
That's the name of someone who collects coins...I'm not a REAL coin collector, I only collect the State Quarter series...I see a new gold $1 coin is coming on the market...but unfortunately they aren't discontinuing the paper $1bill...so why will anyone want to use the coin when they can use the paper? I like the pound coin of Britian, its big, its heavy and you don't want to keep them in your pocket - so you spend them...keep them in circulation...will this new gold $1 Geo Wash coin do better than Susan B. or Sacagewea? I'd like to think so, but I don't expect it...I'm still collecting the state quarters, I think I'm all caught up at the moment, waiting for Montana and Wash to hit the streets...
My camera is now working...around 9:00pm my batteries were fully charged, so I fired it up, learning the menu, how to delete shots, how to prevent the dreaded 'red-eye'...its a nice, lightweight camera compared to my old F717, which I still like a lot...Brian will take that one over and I'll use this new one exclusively for my business - so if something screws up, I'll know that it was ME who did it...and not wonder what button was pushed and how to fix it...
Sour Patch Kids are tasty and delicious...
And with that thought, I'm off to get work done...its gonna be near 70 today - perfect for moving compost and planting my very sad and frost bitten plants....woooo!
5:05 Beads are now posted...unfortunately I wasn't able to take the pics w/ my new camera because it requires the batteries to be charged before it'll work...But I DID get a new camera and so far, what little I've touched it, I'm madly in love with it...lets hope it WORKS properly so that I can love it even more...
We just finished installing a fan for our porch...some pics of that coming up...!
I see...I see...a new camera in my future...probably another Sony...am not sure which model, I've got my eye on one, but who knows, maybe something else will look better when I get to the store...I don't like to be too rigid in my life, I like to go with the flow...
And I DID make new beads last night that I will use as my models for the new camera this afternoon...so if I get everything done in time, I'll post them later today...if not, it'll be tomorrow...I'll update here and letcha know the deal...
Have you seen Britney Spears with her new shaved head? Awesome...I feel sorry for her, she's obviously in a spiral out of control...she's kicked out all her handlers and is trying to live her life on her own, but she's too STOOPID to know how...because she's had handlers her whole life...and when you grow up in the entertainment world, you NEED that...look at Harrison Ford- he got rid of his agents and manager, and look at the brilliant movies he's put out lately...um, yeah...and Tom Cruise got rid of his bulldog agent and let his SISTER take over his life look at the mess it became...idiots...I wouldn't want to live that life for the world, but man, you gotta do it right if you're gonna do it at all...
Alrighty then, I haveta get some things ready and hit the road...back later babies!
I haven't had any of the ubiquitously named 'rounds' in awhile and thought the Felted Clog colors of Teal/Lime would make a good choice for experimentation...and thus, here are a few strands for you to choose from...
I also hope that today is the last day you have to suffer thru the inferior pictures...I can't wait to get a new camera tomorrow and give it a good try out...I need to make some beads today so I can have something to test it with tomorrow...
I'm watching my favorite show B.Original- she's making saw horses...I could use a pair of those...I need a miter saw, tho...she has the best power tools...drum sanders, belt sanders, drill presses, air staplers and nail guns...sigh...
Who watched The Office last night? LOVED the bat flying around, Dwight shot a werewolf once...and Jim was turning into a vampire..did you notice that Joss Whedon, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the director of last night's ep? So funny...
Brian came home and rescued my iPod...I tried to setup an account and I did manage to get PayPal to setup an account with it, but then I couldn't log in and I couldn't get the software to recognize the iPod OR my CD's...so I made beads instead...and he managed to slog thru it all and get me up and going...I bought the Steely Dan Essentials and loaded all 45 songs on the thing...along w/ some Seal and Incubus and Cat Stevens, I'm groovin' along...I'm ready to buy the accessory that turns the iPod into a radio, as well as the little speaker box and maybe a car plug thingy...but that's all for another day...
Yesterday was a blast...Brian surprised me with a rockin' groovy green tote/purse from Banana Republic that I had been eyeing,(in apple green!) but didn't think he'd actually purchase...so that was a nice surprise...and then he wrapped up some coloring books and crayons, because I love to color and all my old supply seems to be gone (now that we've unpacked upstairs, we can confirm that)...and inside that big box was a little box - with an Apple Green Apple iPod Nano...cool! That was another surprise...I've got it plugged in and will move some of my CD's over onto it...its so neato...For Valentines day, he bought me rockers for our front porch which will be fun to stain and enjoy over the summer...
The movie last night was a hoot...the food was great, they kept bringing us wonderful plates to stuff our face and small glasses of wine that Brian took care of...I was driving, so he did all the drinking (and while he'll tell you he was 'tired', I know there was more to it than that - it was a lot of wine)...I played my Cat Stevens CD on the way home and thoroughly enjoyed the entire day...
Its COLD here today, the water bowl that we keep outside for the animals to drink from has completely frozen over...a squirrel was literally sitting on the ice, wondering how to get water...It was 75 here the other day, whats with the 20's? Its ok, I've seen the rest of the country and know ya'll have it worse than I do...that's why I haven't said anything until today...we've had it pretty good...its gonna be in the 60's this weekend, and maybe we'll FINALLY get the roses and plants in the ground...assuming they haven't frozen thru overnight...
I did manage to sign in and take the VH-1 Pop Culture Quiz online last night...the 6:00pm registration was a nightmare, but the 9:00pm was smooth...the questions were HARD, man, I don't think I did well at all, so I don't expect a phone call..but it was worthwhile...I'll keep ya posted if anything comes of it..and I'll still watch the show, its quite fun...!
Check out these cute prints I found thru CuteOverload...Kinda like those big eyed animals from the 70's, only a lot cuter...
And here we go again...another VD full of candy and flowers...I stomped around Austin yesterday and the Hallmark shops were packed with people...so I came back home, went to our little grocery and found flowers (pretty peach roses), a balloon (Spider-Man!), candy, chocolate covered strawberries and a card in only a few minutes...it was perfect..I picked up a present for Brian in Austin, and tonight we are doing the 'Harold and Maude' feast at Alamo Village...
PLUS, I want to try to enter the VH-1 Pop Quiz contest, but the entry time is 6:00pm (or 9:00pm) which are just before and after the movie...I hope I can squeeze it in...
Beads are now posted...dig it...Ok, I PROMISE I posted those beads, and someone musta been waiting in the wings for them cause they pounced and bought them all in a matter of SECONDS...therefore, I will fire up the torch and get more made...today...
7:00pm - I've been trying since 4:00pm to post the beads and clog photos, but my internet server has taken a nose dive...its still kinda tricky, its running VERY slowly, so I'll just watch some Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars tonight and will post EVERYTHING tomorrow...when I turn another year older and yet not any wiser...See ya'll tomorrow...
No wonder MOnday is the day when most heart attacks occur...my Monday was trecherous, but I survived...while I was changing the cat litter boxes, my shoe slipped and I thought 'with my luck, I'll fall and break my leg and won't be able to get to the phone for help...I'll just lay here all day till Brian gets home'...but thankfully, that didn't happen...I'm not a drama-queen, although I do sound like one...instead of curling up and ignoring the day, I marched right through it...AND, I made some beads that I will post this afternoon...I have to head into Austin for a hair cut and probably a sushi lunch, maybe not...I ought to buy a Valentine or two as well...so it'll be later in the day before anything gets posted...
I've scored some more of the cocoa glass, its on its way, so I'll be able to get back to those colors again soon...sweet...
Here's a list of some of the things we unpacked upstairs, that I've been looking for for six months...my felted bowls, all my framed sampler needlework, my sewing machine and serger, loads of beads from classes, grinders, vices and big tools, my 6 drawers of frits, the PMC that I bought years ago along w/ the TWO sets of PMC tools, lots and lots of yarn, purses and tote bags, tools I brought back from Italy, jewelry and various rings and bracelets, rubber stamps, torches and hoses from when I taught at home, eyeglasses, toys and trinkets...plus more that I can't even think of...its great to see all this stuff again..what's even more amazing is how much we donated/gave away before we moved...we aren't really big consumers, I'd rather spend my money on plants and garden tools...I'm thankful my house isn't like the ones on HGTV where they can barely move around due to all the stuff everywhere...next, I'm gonna pull stuff outta my studio and make some more room there...
Ok, its getting late and I gotta go get ready to hit the road...back later babies...
1:00pm...the day isn't getting any better for me...the dog slipped on the back steps (but she's ok, just spooked) and then while playing frisbee with her, I tossed it over the fence into the neighbor's backyard...not easily accessible...geez...
I just lost a whole lotta info that I typed here, and I'm frustrated and sad...that takes a lot of energy to then watch it disappear...here are the highlights...
Beads will be later in the week...
I had a list of all the stuff I've unpacked upstairs, but I'll have to come back to that later...
Westminster starts tonight...keep an eye out on these pups...cute...ah well, now my link feature isn't working so I can't link to this story...
I think I should slowly back away from the computer...before I smash it into a MEEELION pieces...argh!
Working upstairs yesterday was worth every minute...there are only a few boxes left to be unpacked..Brian thinks we emptied 10 or so...of course the stuff is just in 'areas' - all the yarn is in one spot, all my heavy duty tools (grinders, vices, drills) are in another, the sewing machine/serger area is getting setup...there's still a bit of work to do, but its coming along...I looked thru IKEA last night and the only thing that jumped at me was a red/pink sofa that would look groovy up here...so Brian is going to design my storage solution for me...he's better at that than I am anyway...I'd just buy a bunch of bins at Target and be done with it..not very attractive...we'd like the upstairs to look pleasant, not like a garage, so we need pretty shelves and tables...its definitely a work in progress..
Speaking of...the clogs are felted...the first trip thru the machine, they came out great...except they needed more aggitation to really felt the material down..if it was a bag, I'd probably have just left it as is, but seeing as how I'll be stepping on these, I didn't want the soles to wear out quicker than needed...so thru the machine again they went...and this time, they came out much tighter - however, they also came out a tad small...the left clog was actually perfect, but the right clog is probably a size 9..I stretched my foot into it while it was still pliable and I think its back to about a 9.5, which is actually my shoe size (but I rarely find 9.5s so I just buy 10s)...pics prob tomorrow, as we are heading out to run some errands, hit a yarn shop or two and Brian has some work he needs to do across Austin which will take awhile...we were going to work in the yard, but its grey and chilly and might rain...every weekend we want to work, something keeps us from it...we must get these roses in the ground soon...they are all blooming and putting on new growth...I need to haul out my tiller and get to work...its gonna be icky all week, tho...bah...
Brian is playing the soundtrack to Napoleon Dynamite...cool...
Remember a few weeks back I mentioned that we were gonna spend time upstairs, unpacking and organizing...and then I blew it off? Well, that time is here again, although today I'm in the mood to really DO it...I think part of that comes from being sick and tired of the upstairs being in total chaos, and after a trip to IKEA, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel...with some simple storage solutions, my upstairs will look so much better...I don't like messy homes, its just that I have no where to put the stuff...it all came from my previous studio, which had loads of shelves and cabinets...now, I have nothing...so I need to sort into piles, toss/sell/donate whatever and store the rest...
Right now the pair of clogs is in the washing machine, felting as we speak...pics later..hopefully they won't come out a size 6...I can always felt smaller, but not stretch larger...I think it'll be ok...I accidentally set the water level one level too high (I didn't see the lowest button on the dial), so I wonder what that means...I'm ready to start on my next pair...I'm hauling Brian to the store so he can pick out the colors for his pair...
I am not the smartest or best disposer of dead animals, so when I scooped up Rocky the Dead Squirrel the other day, I put him in the garbage can outside...no problem, right? Brian just lifted the lid and had a heart attack...he didn't realize I didn't wrap it up in a death shroud, in a towel, in a plastic bag and in a box...nope, I just put him in the can..surprise! I thought he was gonna tell me it had come back to life...Pet Sematary indeed...
S'mores? Is there a kit for s'mores? I make them the old fashioned way - put a marshmallow on my mandrel and heat it at the end of my torch...then smash it on the cracker/chocolate bar...awesome!!
What does that mean? I dunno...but isn't Friday the most popular day of the week? Its better than Monday, right? That's all I'm sayin'...
My other clog is almost complete, I was trying to knit it last night, but the cats had other plans...so I'm almost done w/ attaching the sole and then...then...its felting time! Pics of the finished clogs will be posted...
And, i've been making beads, but am not ready to post those quite yet...more to make...look for them early next week, assuming I don't spend the weekend working in the garden which is the plan...gotta get those roses in the ground, and soon!
So, I forgot to post the pic of my finished scarf the other day, so here it is now...I've worn it a few times, and it works...it keeps my neck warm, which is its purpose...maybe i'll make some matching wrist warmers to go with it...I'm not into the whole 'thumb gusset' thing cause it scares me...I need to just jump in and try one, I hear they are easy...or i'm being lied to...
I ordered a new kit yesterday, not knitting or beadmaking stuff, tho...it'll be a surprise...its something I've been wanting to try for ages...it involves fire and melting things, tho...
And so, there ya have it...a rather uneventful day here in the stix, time to eat and get to work..I'm ready to clean and string these beads and see if I like them...my crystals and Rio Grande orders are on their way, so I'll have a lot of my regular crystals again...I'm lookin' forward to getting these boxes...shiny things...
This morning is 'massive shipping' morning...I don't mind it so much, its a good way to listen to HGTV in the background and talk to the cats who like to come upstairs and hide behind the boxes...
Yesterday I found one of our friendly tree squirrels dead at the bottom of our big pecan tree...I dunno what happened, I assumed the dog got him, but there was no trauma to his body...well, it looked like his back legs were askew from his front, so he mighta fallen and broken his back...but it did not look like a dog got a hold of him at all...so I dunno, but I picked him up (using garden tools, we have a small shovel that we've designated the 'dead animal' shovel because we'd use it to clean up the animals that Bagheera left for us - birds, possums, mice, etc)...When I was scooping him up, a giant flock of birds that were in the tree making loads of noise all suddenly stopped - as if they knew I was dinking around w/ a member of their nature world...very spooky...
They are knitting jewelry on Knitty Gritty right now...funky...I'm much further on my second clog, its amazing how fast they go once you know your way around the pattern...I'm almost to the cuff after just a few hours...I'm contemplating learning how to do socks next, but I don't wear socks, so I dunno...I think they'd be fast and fun to make, but if I'm not gonna wear/use it, I hate to spend time making it and having it sit in a drawer forever...I think I need to keep making totes and bags, I DO use those..you should SEE my collection of tote bags (that I've both made and bought)...I'm contemplating how to make vinyl tote bags, they are faster than knitting them, and can be colorful and you can cut out designs in the vinyl...I found a rug hooked tote that I like, but its $300 and I'm not sure I'm ready to splurge on it...so its still in the store...and so it goes...
I saw some of those bended beads that I made and sent to BlueMoon for bending - one of the shop employees made the into jewerly and they look great...I need to get more of those things made..they were a good experiment, tho, apparently the re-heating to shape them affect any reduction already on the bead and takes away from the shine...i need to keep that in mind when I make my next batch...I know ya'll are interested in them, so lemme see what I can do...groovin'...
A few new bracelets cause I dig these colors and may have to stop making them for a few days/weeks till my new glass arrives...
I've update my Knitting page w/ pics of my completed clog...its a big deal to me cause I've never done anything as complicated as this..I'm a yarn n00b...Check out the Knitting Needle Caddy I wove in my basket class last night as well...it was quick and fun...
Why Why Why do I stay up till 3:00am watching Purple Rain? Because its got the best soundtrack ever!!! It reminds me of college when I had the cassette and would play it in my broken down old car...I need to get that on CD, I forgot how much great music is actually on that thing...So yeah, I'm awake but only barely...I've got a 9:00 appt so I need to slap myself awake...
You know, I wondered why Prince wasn't worried about getting electrocuted during his half-time performance in the rain..I thought maybe everything was just recorded and lip synched..apparently you CAN perform in pouring rain...this article in Salon 'splains it. (warning - techincal info might cause drowsiness...)
I've finished one clog...it was a lot more complicated than I thought, but I mustered through and it actually turned out great...I even started the next one while the mood still hit...I think I'll be making more of these, especially now that Brian said "where's my pair"? Now those will be big shoes!
I've even got a few surprises to post, but it'll all have to happen when I get home...there's fog outside and it looks like pea soup...still I can't complain, its not -42 and for that, I'm grateful...
I get to watch my DVR of Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars - yeehaw...I took another class last night and missed all the tv...driving home w/ the top down was rather a bit chilly, but I was prepared...i took my poncho and scarf and cranked the heat up...if its not raining, I will always drive with the top down...and even sometimes when it is raining...(oh yeah, I've been caught in the rain, that's always fun)...
Alrighty then, more later when I get back...I need some breakfast and a nap...
Highlights of the Puppy Bowl III on Animal Planet are now posted...
I played this video and Amelie came running, looking for the kitten...she was rather concerned...
Oh man...I saw this on Entertainment Weekly, and thought it was most excellent...I love to see brilliant minds at work...years ago there were stick figures who battled each other and they were so entertaining...granted, I was working at a computer game company and we found everything on a computer to be entertaining...still, this is my kinda fun...
I'm working all day, until I leave to take my class tonight...I have to factor in rush hour and driving time, so I'll leave here this afternoon for a 6:00pm class...ha!
I worked on my clog more, it took me a LONG time to figure out how to turn the cuff down and to pick up stitches and knit thru TWO stitches while doing a 3 Needle bind off...again, a first for me...I've SEEN it done on Knitty Gritty, sure...but to have to do it w/out anyone telling you that you're picking up the stitches properly, or binding off properly is a bit intimidating...I knitted 4 stitches before I rememebered I was supposed to be binding off, so I had to put all those stitches (8) back on the two needles...but I did, and the cuff is done and looks pretty stylin', I must admit...Now I'm working on the reinforcing sole, and then I have to figure out how to attach THAT...and then of course, make the SECOND clog...oh yeah...we forget that...after you make one sock or mitten, you must make its mate...On a good note, I finally finished my Mystery Ball scarf...pics to come in a bit...I need some breakfast first...
Good job to Indy...I was cheering for both teams yesterday and thought the game was pretty good...I wanted Peyton to get a ring, but I woulda been happy with Chicago winning too...We were bored with the ads, I can't remember any of them very well, although I guess we thought that Doritos ad with the dude in the car that crashes and the chick who runs into traffic and falls was pretty funny...Prince was good in my opinion, loved the Miami turquoise outfit and the songs he played...we flipped over to the Puppy Bowl III on Animal Planet and laughed at the dogs and kitties playing...
I've got some bracelets to post momentarily..need to get the pics shot, etc...
Have you noticed its staying light longer in the evening and getting light earlier in the morning? Yeehaw, I'm diggin it...they *claim* it'll be in the 70's this week...looks like I have no excuse not to work on my compost pile...
Yesterday's clog class was fun...we didn't get very far, I was the second furthest in the class and I'm no whiz at knitting...but I was doing all sorts of stuff I've never done before...the first clog isn't close to being done, I still have to finish the body and add the cuff and its not the kind of pattern I can work on while watching football...so I worked on my Mystery Ball scarf so I can finish it just in time to NOT be able to wear it this year...I'm going back into town to make another basket on Tuesday, and there are loads of other classes I wanna take, but haveta pace myself...they offer SO MANY classes that its fantastic and a little outta control...better than no classes, tho!
Time to hit the road, I'm getting a late start and need to go hose my car down...its covered in bird doo...
Yesterday's class was a lot of fun, we crammed 8 hours worth of instruction into 4 hours, so we were moving quite fast and the beads I made weren't as nice as I'd like, but I think we did ok...
My student was actually quite good at beadmaking, I don't think she really needed my help much at all, just more time at the torch, but its always cool to see how someone else works glass, and I will always advocate taking classes of any kind when you can...like my class today to learn how to knit clogs...sure, I have the pattern, sure, I have the needles and yarn and could READ the pattern, but its more FUN to have someone show me how to do with w/out pulling my hair out...I've already got the 49 stitches cast on and am ready to go...I need to go get gas too and the trip into town will take about 45 min, so I gotta run...I'll be back in time to see most of the Super Bowl and the commercials, so today is looking to be a rockin' one...its sunny out, and the top is coming down, boy howdy!!!
That groundhog knows what he's talking about...my Valentine rose has been blooming and is loaded w/ buds, ready to 'splode...and the other day, I'm walking by the front when I see a little yellow bloom...One of the fun things about moving is finding the surprises the previous resident planted...there aren't many, but the few I have are still welcome...I can't WAIT to get out in the yard and start planting...I still need to finish the front yard w/ my compost and get some of my butterfly plants in the ground that we bought in October and have been taking up residence in my kitchen from time to time this winter...
I've got beads to post, but no time today to do it...hmmm...and tomorrow I'm booked solid as well...So, I'll post them Monday...
I have become completely smitten with the television show "How Its Made"...its all about how objects are produced, from soda cans to fire trucks to hockey pucks (its produced in Canada, so there are lots of hockey items featured)...I've seen ballet shoes, steel toe boots, pianos, mirrors, snack cakes, motors, speakers and all sorts of stuff being made...I find that stuff fascinating...I remember watching crayons being made on an epsiode of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and it was fantastic...and who wouldn't want to tour Hershey's and see the kisses and candy being squished...so cool...
I'm off to Austin to teach this afternoon, which will be groovy cause I like teaching one-on-one...the students always seem pretty interested when they are learning exactly what they want to know...I can finally pick up the beads I made a few weeks ago...and maybe a few new tools and treats as well...back later w/ my loot, ya'll enjoy your day off today!
What did the Groundhog find in your home? Its overcast and ugly here, so no shadow- therefore, no more winter!!! Actually, its 34 outside, so that's cold enough for me...maybe if I throw some ice cubes on the back steps, I can slip and fall again...good times, great memories...HA!
I NEED to go into Austin and get some jewelry boxes, but I WANT to stay home and make beads...what should I do? (sushi calls me in Austin, so that's another factor, but I've been making some sweet beads of late, so should I post what I have instead?)...
Sigh...I hear that one of those Aqua Teen light boards was going for over $1250.00 on eBay yesterday...I wish I'd have gone into town and grabbed them from under the overpasses, but I dunno how I woulda grabbed them, so alas, I have none...I hear they are destroying them -nooooooo! whatever...
As the finch feeder runs out of food, all the birds start to squash one another on the lower rungs...its funny cause they are territorial and chase one another off...lots of movement...the woodpeckers are still around and I can hear them off in the distance tapping a new hole in a dead tree somewhere...
Apparently its tougher to find a grow light for my african violets than we originally thought...when we DO find them, we're gonna buy 5 so when they burn out, we have backstock...
Amelie is trying to type her input, but I've had to ask her nicely to refrain...she's a lotta cat to be crushing my little laptop...not now, Amelie...
I'm sorry to all my friends in the Boston area...Apparently the Mooninites invaded and scared everyone there...understandably...and some were even blown up...I heard Austin was getting some of those same electric signboards, I want to go steal one and hang it in my house...If you don't watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force, none of this will make any sense whatsoever...and don't click this link to listen to the sound boards, lest you be offended...but if you DO watch, the movie will be out in March (maybe not in Boston) and I'm lookin' forward to it, although it'll probably stink like the Powerpuff Girls movie did...gah...
So, guess what book is due on July 21!!!! I am in line starting today...awesome...And how about those Harry Potter naked pics? That kid is growing up, eh?
I'm workin' on some new stuff, I'll letcha know when its ready...maybe today?? I need to pull it outta the kiln and see what went on inside...
I'm taking a felted clogs class on Sunday...should be interesting to say the least...I wonder what my clog will turn out like...a size 4 maybe?
