150. Today I shopped

My first stop was Seed Stitch Fine yarn to buy needles for the project ala tangled yarn of the previous post. SOMEDAY I will get the yarn wound and be ready to start. I am an optimist. Please. PLEASE do not rain on my parade!
:)
I did not buy yarn but this yarn store has wonderful stock! If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop in. The best part? They had a fully stocked needle wall. I appreciate that as many stores have slim pickings for needles. The people there were welcoming and friendly. What more could a knitter ask for? A knit night. That's right. They have one on Thursdays. Maybe someday I will go but for the next 6 Thursday evenings, I will be across the street:

BF Goodstitch where I will be taking a crewel class. This beautiful street, that Margene knew about way before me, by the way (All the way in Utah and me? In the next town. Go figure) has it all. Yarn store, Crewel/embroidery/needlepoint store, chocolate/ice cream store/, plant store, pastry shop, sandwich shop, quilt shop and bead shop. Something for everyone or Everything for someone.
Then I stopped for lunch at Polonus European Deli for some Pierogi

I then walked up to the Salem Witch Trial burial ground (Had to work off the pierogis, didn't I?)

I was going to do a gravestone rubbing for you but....

Shucks. Against the rules. (I wasn't, just so you know. )
I then drove to Burlington to stock up on my Philosophy skin care items at the new Nordstroms. (Giveaway of Philosophy products coming up in the blog soon, be on the lookout) I thought about banging on Claudia's door but thought better of it when I remembered that it is rude to show up unannounced and out of the blue. So I did not.
And on my way home, happy and my debit card smoking, I spotted this guy and felt a bit sad and very lucky indeed.

How was your Saturday?

149. Bad Yarma?

Too many knots may mean Bad Yarma.
Trying to wind yarn for my Philosopher's wool Diamond Eyes Jacket. And just being a little knotty.

148. I was attacked (unprovoked) by Pam and a radish discussion

Pam did it, in the kitchen with a finger wound.
Yesterday I was reaching in my way too high for me cabinet to get the rice and the Pam can fell. And due to a mystery chain of events that most likely had something to do with my hand reaching up to "catch" it (Like I've ever been able to "catch" anything in my life: read, NOT ATHLETIC) making more of a forceful impact, I now have myself an injured index finger on my left hand. Top knuckle to tip of the finger is a bruise that hurts more than I would have ever believed. I would have said something like "Suck it up, Buttercup" to one of my kids if it had been them. (That's our favorite family phrase) Small injury. Big pain. At least it's my left hand.
But? The letters T, R, G, V, B and F are killers. It ~ow~ g~ow~es somet~ow~hing~ow like t~ow~his.
Now, about Radishes:
It's true. I have never, as far as I remember eaten a radish. I have never had the urge if I'm to be truthful. I never knew anyone to rave over the radish like Norma. She makes it seem positively heavenly! So I will be heading to my local farm stand and buying a radish. Can you buy one radish?
Do you like them?

Radish mug shot snitched from Norma's blog, No permission given. Saved to my own server.
~~
Radishes for me
taste buds will get a tickle
Norma's favorite veg.
~~
It's a special day when I can haiku a radish.
~~~
Regarding the Pecker plant? (I know! I keep saying it!)
Here it is.

Mother's are always right.

147. Green Day

I thought I would do a bit of a check with the green members of the household, some of them anyway!

Little Douglas Fir, started from seed or cone or whatever it's called, growing a second layer. This little plant makes me so happy, it's almost sad, really.
Then there is the amaryllis:

That has not grown one iota in months. Not in a hurry, this little guy!
That's okay, I've got time!
And if you'd all bow your heads for a moment of silence:

RIP, cactus. We hardly knew you. It is surrounded by a tumbleweedy type thing and dish garden rocks. It was the last survivor of the dish garden massacre. He held out for 4 years. I thought he had a chance.
And the Avocado plant?

Taken with a Fig in the photo for scale. Avocado is the tallest one in the bunch. He's going well and thinks he is growing into a tree. Men, honestly. And the smaller fan type of plant to it's left is called a Clivia, which I know sounds vaguely dirty so we'll just call her...um...Cynthia. I'm awaiting it's blooming time. And behind her to the right is some kind of mystery plant with big leaves that blooms every now and then surprising me with it's pink flower. Well, my MOTHER calls it a pecker plant. She does. Which, I'm not going to lie, shocked me a bit! I mean, hearing your Mom utter a word like pecker without any warning is quite disturbing, I don't care who you are.
And to top off My Green Day?

Green Day, of course!

146. Sometimes? You just need a cheeseburger!

I couldn't help myself. I made a cheeseburger for supper and the bun was so tiny, so teensy weensy that I had to take a picture of it before eating it. Which promted some eye rolling but I am willing to take it for the sake of the blog. It's always for the blog!
~VEGETARIANS, AVERT YOUR EYES! QUICK, Veggies, CLICK HERE <-------

That is the most ridiculously small bun I've ever seen. That is a normal sized cheeseburger, with onions and mushrooms, thank you very much. It made for an amusing meal.
~~~
I really wanted to watch Andromeda Strain last night and tonight but did not watch either. Thank goodness for DVR. Did anyone watch it? I am hopeless for those kind of movies. Any disaster flick, I'm watching. I remember sitting in the movie theater with my Mom watching The Poseidon Adventure or The Towering Inferno or Airport or Earthquake, we saw them all!
Yes, disasters hold a warm spot in my heart, as odd as that may sound! :)
~~
We had one taker on the meme of yesterday. Please, mob on over to Mary's place and read about herher. Finish here first please, though. Please. Read my words carefully and leave a witty, heartfelt comment and then go harass Mary for a bit. Go ahead. It will be fun!
Hi Mary!
~~~
Song of my day: Sing with me? I'd hate to be the only one!


~~~
P.S.
My shower is clean. Thank you.

145. Me, it's about me.

Toni in Florida tagged me for a meme. Huh. I hardly do them, but here goes. Thanks, Toni!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago, I started the job I am currently in. That is the short answer.
The long answer?
10 years ago and a little bit more was one of the darkest times in my life. I had been suddenly laid off from my job as a physical therapist at a chiropractor's office. I had not known how much I wrapped up my identity of WHO I am with WHAT I do. I cried in bed for 2 days. Then started 6 months of unemployment which was not a great time for me. If I have too much time on my hands none of it is used constructively. Who knew? Very dark times indeed. I was not happy. I then found a "job". It fell into my lap and I took it on a lark even though I did not know anything about the manufacturing field. 10 years later, I still work there and do enjoy it. But more than that? I can leave it behind and go home and enjoy being myself. The job is not WHO I am. It's just a job. I love that.
10 years ago, my kids were 10 and 11 (of course, he would have said 11 and 3/4!!). Having kids that age was very busy with friends, activities, sports and more friends. Life was busy and a blur.
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today?
Well, today is almost over but being Memorial Day and a day off from work and also the unofficial first day of summer, I feel compelled to cook on the grill.
So, 1. I made a potato salad and also a pasta salad for the non potato lovers in the family. Done.
2. I must scrub the lab experiment that is doubling as our shower. Ew.
3. I plan to conquer some of the clutter in the living room. I want to get it to "Unembarrassed" status when someone comes in unannounced.
4. Sit outside to enjoy a bit of the wonderful weather we are having!
See?

5. Get every one of the dishes washed before today is over. Cooking sure makes lots of dirty dishes. Stacks and stacks even though my hands are pruney from washing stacks and stacks already, it seems.
3. Snacks I enjoy:
almonds, guacamole and chips, cheese with crackers or without, pistachios, cheese, diet coke and did I mention cheese? Yeah. I don't want to forget cheese.
4. Places I’ve lived:
Massachusetts, Massachusetts and Massachusetts. Oh, and then there was Massachusetts.
Gardner, Middleton, Danvers and Beverly to be specific.
5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I would pay off my kids exorbidant student loans. I would go back to school myself to be an English major, I would start an organization that would supply books to children and schools, I would fund the music and arts programs at our local schools to keep them going, I would get a windmill and solar panels and I'd buy my whole family fuel alternative cars.
Tag 6 people: says the Rules. I am a rule breaker from way back. I am also usually not a meme-er as various people who have tagged me have found out (sorry) but this one was fun and well, I needed a post idea for today.
You want to do it? DO IT! Life is short! Meme it up! (leave me a comment so we can all mob over to your blog and see your answers!)
~~
Time to clean the shower. Don't try to stop me. I'm going in.

144. I can embroider but don't ask me to ride a bike. Please for the love of humanity~

Gnome tea towel embroidery is done. I had a lot of fun revisiting embroidery. I have not done any since I was a teen. It's kind of like riding a bike, I guess. One does not forget.
And speaking of riding bikes, I'd like to clarify my comment on not being able to ride a bike. It's not that I never learned. I did. And I rode as a kid but I never rode well. I was always unsafely wobbling around. But I did not care back then. As a newly married young woman, Andy got me a bike and I rode it. I did. And hated every minute of it. I had to push up every incline and I wobbled my way around town still but this time imagining my death at every turn of the bicycle. Squashed by every moving vehicle including other bikes was the theme of my rides. Andy did not want to ride with me because I was so pokey about it. It was awful. So now? I choose not to ever ride a bike again. For my safety and yours. "Yours" meaning every other driver and pedestrian on public streets in the US. And elsewhere.
Also? I remember renting mopeds on Nantucket Island one time and that wasn't much better so the Vespa idea doesn't seem too promising for me.
Have I ever told you how uncoordinated and unsporty I am? Nothing could be more true. But I'm okay with that.
Now you know. I hope you are over it! Will you respect me in the morning?
:)

And on the back, an itty bitty freehand mushroom that caused Bethany and Andy to break out into fits of laughter. I'm sure it's because it's so cute and original.

143. Saturday musing

Saturdays are wonderful days for me. So full of promise to do what has been nagging at me all week long. Today was an especially fruitful one.
I started the day by sleeping in. I slept late for me~! Almost 10:00 am! The good thing was that I got up feeling rested and ready to go, which does not happen very often lately!
When I got to the kitchen it looked as if a bomb had gone off. Not only had I let clutter build up to intolerable levels, but a literal pizza sauce bomb had obviously exploded sometime during the night. Apparently Derek had a bit of a fight with the pizza sauce and he lost. He "thought" he had cleaned it up but there were sauce splatters all over the place including Fig's dish. I won't even mention the sauce puddles in the refrigerator!
Instead of being mad at him I am a bit grateful for that sparked a cleaning jag.
I spent a good portion of the day cleaning and scrubbing and de cluttering and more decluttering and laundry. I'm happily tired tonight with the feeling of accomplishment which honestly does not happen around here every weekend.
I then made my way to a wonderful store in Salem called BF Goodstitch where I signed up for a crewel class starting June 7th. I am super excited. My mom always did crewel and while I knew she was talented I never was very interested. One day I wake up and my thoughts are on crewel. Go figure. Perhaps that is what the embroidery phase's purpose was.
~~~
BONUS STORY: Not really called for but getting it anyway!!!
My Mom made the most gorgeous crewel owl when I was a teenager. I have always loved it. It was super special and tons of work stitched in shades of cream and brown and had about a jillion and a half french knots that made up the owl's front. I loved that little guy. He stood about a foot tall, not little really. I badgered and teased my Mom about that owl from day one. I wanted it. I teased and teased over the years and she finally gave it to me, probably about 10 years ago or so. When I got it home, I noticed how stained it was from years and years of living in a smoking home and I could not allow it to hang in my non smoking home looking yellowed and dingy. So I took it out of it's frame and brought it to many cleaners, none of whom would touch it. I took it home and stood it in a corner, forgetting about it. A couple of weeks ago I asked Andy if he knew where it was and he told me that it had gotten wet in one of the basement floods that we had and he had to throw it away. THROW IT AWAY!!! It was ruined! I get chills just thinking about that. How awful that I allowed it to get ruined. All of my mother's hard work.
I don't expect to ever do any crewel piece as spectacular as that one.
~~
I gave Fig his first subcutaneous fluid treatment and it went fairly well for the first try. I am pleased. The only glitch in the process was when I was trying to take the used needle off the IV bag and instead of the needle set up coming off, the cover came off and stabbed me in the finger. I bled an alarming rate, making Fig smile, I'm sure. Served me right and all. I'm hoping that I do not get some kind of cat disease from a dirty needle. If I start craving catnip, I'll let you know.
I then made a delicious turkey barley soup, finished my gnome embroidered towel (pictures tomorrow if you are interested) and am now listening in on the hockey game enjoying my cough:third:cough glass of wine.
The weather was gorgeous with the temps in the high 60's and lower 70's, perfect cloud dotted sky with some dramatic dark clouds floating through every now and then.
It was a great day!

142. I can't drive 55~

I've been thinking of Norma trying to save gas by driving 55 and how hard that has become in our fast world. (The US world, anyway and specifically the Northeast US but perhaps in your corner too?). With gas prices soaring through the roof, we are all thinking how saving pennies can quickly turn into many dollars.
I remember seeing a video that I wanted to revisit.
CLICK FOR MOVIE <-------
A fascinating look at driving 55 mph and it's impact on a highway and it's drivers. Now? I picture Norma holding up irate Vermont drivers.
The video is almost 5 minutes long but be sure to watch it to the end. The end is where it gets good.
If only I could ride a bike, I could commit to Claudia's bike riding errand running. (I can't, ride a bike. And have no desire to at this point in my life)
Are you driving 55?

141. TGIT ( I thought it was Friday all day)

Hybrids are popping up all over the place nowadays. Even on my lilac bush.

Click to embiggen and see it big in it's glory!
All of a sudden, 2 blooms show up with hybrid blooms. Light pink leaning towards white.
I kind of like them!

140. I am

I am: drinking water.
I am: eating watermelon.
I am: not knitting so much.
I am: embroidering.

(he's not done yet)
I do: hate the gnome's nose.
I can't: help myself.
I can't: get it right.
I tried: 3 times.
I can't: try anymore (there are permanent holes in the towel)
I am: waiting for the winner to be announced on American Idol.
I am: annoyed that the show is 2 hours long when it could be 10 minutes long.
I am: glad that a long weekend is coming up.
I am: lost on the internet lately.
I sit: staring at the screen wondering why I'm not ____________ (fill in the blank)
I'm wondering: if anyone is still reading The Book Thief anymore.
I bought: a floor steamer.
I'm wondering: If I should have.
I hate: washing my kitchen floor.
My floor: is very dirty.
Please don't: eat off of the floor.
But maybe: I could eat off it if I steam clean it.
Not that: I would.
I am: going to have to take my suet feeder off of my new porch.
The birds: are slobs.
Which is: for the birds.
I am: done now.

139, Tuesday, ten things

I always love when Cookie puts up the Ten things. And I could go and search for the ten things subject for today but:
1. I have lasagna started for dinner; a sauce bubbling on the stove and noodles boiling
2. Yesterday Andy and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. I got a dozen long stem roses. The longest most wonderful smelling roses I have ever seen/smelled. And lots of baby's breath. I love baby's breath and florists try to skimp out by not giving it lately. I hate that. (Hmm. Maybe this one was 2 items of the 10, but who is counting?)

They were so long that I had no vase that would accommodate the length and weight. I had to cut (GASP) about 4 inches off of them. Tsk.
3. 24 years of marriage. I realize that when I was young I thought my parents were REALLY REALLY old when they were married that long.
4. I don't feel really really old.
5. I finally found the man's equivalent of flowers after many years of searching. Ice Cream cake. The reaction could not have been better if I had bought gold or diamonds. There is a new tradition in our house. Flowers for her, ice cream cake for him. Win. Win.
6. We always go out to eat with friends on our anniversary. It is their anniversary too, same day, same year. We did not know each other then but for the last 18 years we go out as a foursome. We realized last night that perhaps sometimes the wait staff would be confused as to who is married to who. (Or is that Whom is married to whom? anyone?) Everyone should have friends like that. Those kind of friends are really like family though.
8. Yes, I purposely skipped 7 because I realize that by saying that those kind of friends are like family I used up 7.
9. Don't you agree?
10. I had a visitor this morning when I was having my morning computer time.

Ew.

138. G is for Grandmother (thanks Norma for nagging me about it!)

My grandmother or Memere as we called her, Simone holding Derek, 1986. She was my biggest supplier of Barbie dolls, Barbie, Skipper, Midge, Ken and a Julia the nurse doll. She taught me my multiplication tables when I stayed with her for 2 weeks when my parents took a trip to Florida when I was in 4th grade. Believe me when I say that she was quite saintlike because along with the "learning" came lots of tears and tantrums. (I still don't know them very well, I'm afraid, but it's not Memere's fault). She was always crocheting blankets, keeping a big bag next to her chair for all of the sale yarn that she bought at super discounts may I add, picking colors at random whether they matched or not. You can see one of her afghans on the chair she is sitting on although the color scheme on that one is quite tame. I have a couple of her wonderful crazy color afghans and I love them!
When I was about 8 years old, Memere got in a bad car accident where the other car crossed the center line smashing head on into her car. Unfortunately a little boy was killed in the other car and Memere never drove again. She had multiple broken bones and a horribly bruised face and a broken heart.
When I was little, she lived in trailer park which I thought was the coolest thing ever back then and we used to catch frogs in the woods and she would cook them for dinner. The legs anyway. They were delicious!
She had 2 lifelong friends, Olive and Hazel. The 3 of them were a hoot together. Memere would routinely get mad at one of them for some mystery reason (always trivial, like not paying for coffee one time or some such thing) and she would not speak to that friend for at least a year. If she saw them in the store, they would pointedly ignore each other and then I'd have to hear of how insensitive and boorish Olive/Hazel was. Until forgiveness day. That would be a day that they would bump into each other and one would say hello to the other and they would act as if nothing happened. No apologies. No discussions. Just carried on as if it were a year earlier. I never got it, but that's the way they were.
Memere died in 1988, a week after Bethany was born. 20 years have gone by and I still miss her!
My memere, Simone. G is for Grandmother.

Me and Memere, circa 1968 in front of the trailer

137. Positive dialogue (if it kills me)

Mystery photos revealed
Mystery 1 is the pages of the Joy of Cooking cookbook, well loved. I am quite the slob with my cookbooks I'm afraid.
Mystery 2 is a cotton dish towel. My favorite even though the color doesn't match anything anywhere.
Mystery 3 is a small Waterford vase with the lilac bush showing through it. I got that vase when I had my 5 year anniversary at work, 5 years ago.
Mystery 4 is a cork from a bottle of a fine red wine, specifically a Cabernet called Carr.
Mystery 5 was not so mysterious at all, my Fig's fur. Fig had his first Subcutaneous fluid treatment on Friday. All survived the ordeal no worse for the wear. This week will bring on a new role for me as pet owner: Nursemaid. Please send good vibes directly to Fig that he WILL sit still for 5 minutes and like it.
~~~
I have been quite out of sorts all day. Moping around with not a spot of energy to be had. Usually my inner dialogue is very positive with the exception of lately. I'm feeling down on myself and not very kind to me. In my head. Which is the worst place of all to mean to oneself, you know?
Nora has spoken about having a positive self image for our daughters and I believe this is the most important thing that a mother can do for her daughter is to teach self esteem not by words but by showing her HOW to love herself by loving yourself. (How's that for a run on sentence) And I feel I've done a good job with that over the years and lately I fake it. But I'm not feeling the positive for myself. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with life and blah. This too shall pass and I know that.
So, let's all say kind things to ourselves, right? Sit around and mope if we need to, get up and do things when we need to as well.
Are you with me?

136. I know I'm repeating myself but it needs to be said again sometimes

135. Mystery game Friday

Care to play another round of CAN YOU GUESS IT?
(No prizes this time even though I have not yet picked a winner from last time. I will. Today it's just for fun)
Mystery 1:

~~~~~
Mystery 2

~~~~~
Mystery 3

~~~~~
Mystery 4

~~~~~
Mystery 5

~~~~~
Can you guess?
(Answers tomorrow)

135. Flowers for you, haikus for Norma (and you)

( I had some trouble getting the size right on this photo)

lilac perfumed air
breeze lifting the heady scent
I fall under their spell

(I have taken liberty and made it a 5-7-6 haiku. No complaining, sorry)

fig likes eating grass
cats cannot add ranch dressing
to their blade salad

I am having a haiku week. Join me?

134. My daughter opened the mailbox....

and got chlamydia*. It's true.

I laughed so hard I thought I would split a seam. The envelope was from Giant Microbes and I could see the listing on the sales slip as chlamydia and syphilis pox. I do believe I said, "Um, why is someone mailing you chlamydia?" If I'm not too nosy in asking. She answered: "Oh, my friend Kate *name changed to protect the disease ridden* must have sent it to me".
Well. Silly me.
You must go to the website and peruse all the microbes. Bethany and I laughed until we cried. That is some great stuff.
*No actual diseases were contracted at the mailbox.

133. Wee bits of random

Randomly:
~Behind me in line at AC Moore (Where I was buying embroidery floss, I'm hooked) (I need another past time like I need less time) was a woman who was so impatient. She kept clucking and dramatically sighing while waiting her turn. This makes me boil. People polluting my waiting time with their impatience, you know? I could have stomped her toes (she was wearing ugly sandals. And her boobs were hanging out. She thought she was all that, I guess. She wasn't. But who am I to say?)
~ As I left the grocery store I realized that I was hungry and the package of deli Virginia ham looked awfully tasty. All of a sudden needing ham very much, I put the ham in my purse to munch a couple of slices on the ride home. I reasoned that it was better than a candy bar or chips. Right? Okay, not as good as an apple but it certainly is protein and that was good. Can we just agree on that? :) So, I stuffed the ham package in my purse so I would not be self consciously carrying a, well, package of ham. And then as I drove away I thought that if I now got in a car accident all the EMT's and ER workers would be wondering WHY I had ham in my purse. It would be the mystery of the day, wouldn't it? I'd be known as the ham lady! There was no car accident by the way and I am safe from another embarrassing nickname.
~ On the drive home (Same drive) I saw a homeless man pushing a shopping cart full of possesions. Sad. Mostly clothes, I'm hoping some food in there but who knows. But on the top was a floor lamp. Huge with the cord hanging down off his carriage. Is it just me wondering if that will come in handy for him? Seems like it's bulky and heavy for not much use. But then again, I'm not a homeless man.
Thank god.
~Today was a glorious day. After the gale winds stopped blowing this afternoon it was a pleasant spring day. Just right for my wool sweater, window down (eating ham, of course) and I see a teen girl wearing short shorts and a halter top. It wasn't THAT nice. What is it with some kids? Is she an eternal optimist? Is she listening to some freak meteorologist? Is she just plain stupid? I wonder.
~That was on the same ride home just so you know.
~ I wrote a blog entry in my head while driving home, stir fry fixings in a bag and munching ham.
It was a good day. How was yours?

132. still wishing I went to NH S&W

My weekend was so busy with the running around beginning Friday night and ending Sunday night that I woke up extra pooped today. Which makes the sink ful of dishes extra annoying. Guess I'll pawn that off on someone!

My mother's day gift from Baaathany er, Bethany. The girl knows her mother! But this isn't any old sheep, no sirree bob. Think of the softest thing you've ever touched. Got it? THE softest? Yeah, now make it SOFTER in your blog reading imagination. That is how soft this sheep is. Now? Add a pleasant lavender smell.
See? What a nice gift this was! Like your sheep in a pale pink hue? They've got you covered.

I can't stop taking photos of my Fig.

131. Mother –noun - a female parent

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine
Little one when you play
Don't you mind what you say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine
If they knew sweet little you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The right to hold you
From your head to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine

130. The sky above me on a Saturday

Huh. Look at that. It's Saturday and I took a picture of the sky!
Heywood Wakefield Smoke Stack, Gardner, Massachusetts. My hometown.
I spent the day with my Mom, being Mother's day weekend and all!

129. Things: this and that: What I'm working on

The dragon scales scarf grows. Despite being thought of as LACE, I am enjoying the knitting very much. It is an easy pattern: Sandy-fied.
The process of finding a new interest is one that has always fascinated me. I wonder why all of a sudden an idea is in your head. Well, nowadays it's easy to know. You read blogs and you click here and read there and soon as you know it you are seeing something new and fascinating. But why does it grab hold in your brain? Why now?
For instance:

Embroidery. I don't know how it happened but all of a sudden, I'm embroidering a gnome on a tea towel. It's a mystery, but it is what it is. A gnome on a tea towel.

Gnome 'shrooms.
~~~
Fig says thank you!

"I hate the vets"

128. Mystery solved

Here ya go! The answers, but not the winner. I have to take the time to go through the answers and figure that out. Today? I have spent a bit of time at the vet's office. Fig's yearly yanno. He's not doing that great and I'm more than upset right now. And to add insult to injury, when he came home he was frantically running up and down the stairs (seems like hundreds of times) and drooling so badly that the front of him was sopping wet. He is better now, sleeping it off, poor baby. Me? I'll just gaze at him for a bit. And if you have any good thoughts for some little healthy cat kidneys please send them Fig's way. Please.
Okay. Ready? Most of you were right on!
Number 1:
Banana
Number 2: onion (vidalia just so you know)
Number 3:
Birthday candles
Number 4:
Sliced lemon
Number 5:
Salt shaker top.

Mystery photos on the left, revealed photo on right.
Here's another view of the salt shaker too:

~~
That was loads of fun! Please feel free to snitch the idea for your blog. I think we'll do that again soon, without prizes. Well, of course there's always the personal satisfaction of whooping everyone's butt. Or is that just me?
~~~
Healthy Fig kidneys
Healthy Fig kidneys.
or
Perhaps a miracle. Or something.

127. Money, schmoney: a public service Wednesday edition

Do some good with your money, help people! We don't need no stinkin yarn! We don't need more groceries! The bills will wait!
Please head over to Claudia's and donate to her virtual MS bike ride. She'll be riding this year at home while waiting on hubby who has some new ankle hardware, poor baby. But one does not have to get on a bike to do some good in this blogland version of the World! (And really? You could win so many great yarny prizes there. See? Not buying any yarn, giving your money away may bring yarn INTO the home! Not a bad gig, really)
Go. Stampede over there.
Then? Come back and play the mystery pictures game in yesterday's entry. I was going to end it today but I'll do it tomorrow. That is the deadline. Tomorrow. Whenever I end it.
Seems fair to me.

126. Contest, wanna play?

Can you guess what these pictures are? For every correct guess, I'll put your name in a hat (or something) and draw a name or two for a prize. Some kind of prize as yet undiscovered. Most likely yarny, of course. Don't want a prize? Play along anyway.
These photos were taken by me with my macro lens and are common household items. At least in my house. No comments from the peanut gallery, please. The photos were cropped where needed to make it more challenging. Maybe. Who knows? Most of the photos are good, clear photos. One isn't. You can't get your money back, sorry.
Ready?
Can you guess it?
Mystery #1:

~~~~~~
Mystery #2

~~~~~
Mystery #3

~~~~~
Mystery #4

~~~~~
Mystery #5

~~~~~
Some people have knitting blogs and show knitting. But it's fun to play a game sometimes, right?

125. I snuck out on my porch this morning to take this picture

This is my neighbor tilling his soil getting ready to plant his wonderful dahlias. This, my friends means SPRING is here, despite the cold ocean winds that blow and the heat that keeps kicking on and the frost in the mornings that won't quit. S.P.R.I.N.G.
My neighbor, Mr. Connelly is in his 80's and suffers greatly from arthritis. He manages somehow to plant hundreds and hundreds of dahlias each spring and pick them up each fall storing them in his basement. The man is an inspiration.
Don't remember the dahlias? Look here. And here.
And while I was taking pictures, I share these:


And in the WHAT THE HECK Category:
When I opened the door this afternoon, I smelled tuna. Which would have been fine if someone had eaten tuna for lunch but no one had. Fig? I'm looking at you..

124. Just because I knit lace on occasion does not mean I'm a lace knitter.

Cashmere sitting on cat hair to get some of the gasping light of the day.
I have successfully piddled the day away. I have gotten nothing accomplished with the exception of this knitting and a sinkful of dishes washed. That is it. Not too much to be proud of today. I can see more planting roots on the couch in my immediate future too.
Today, I am a slug. And happy for it.

123. Birthday in review

The birthday ice cream cake. Andy and Bethany are the ice cream People in our house. I made the biggest faux pas when I baked a carrot cake (GASP) for Andy's birthday. I had no idea that the ice cream cake was so important to them both. I have been set straight and raised my right hand in promise that I will, as long as I live PLEDGE to get them each and ice cream cake for every single birthday that I am alive. Promise, hope to die stick a needle in my eye. And conversely, they promised NOT to buy an ice cream cake for Derek and I, the traditional cake lovers of the bunch.
What I've learned? The birthday cake is a sacred event, not to be messed with ever ever. Ever.
Learn from my mistakes and your life will be easier.
And the birthday girl?

Thanks all of you for your wonderful birthday wishes. She loved them all. Especially Norma's, and she is wondering (with Norma's goading) WHERE indeed her car keys are! (When asked what she wanted for her b-day she always replied "a car". Being the Non-Rockefellers that we are a car was not in the running. Then Norma so innocently asks if the package contained car keys. Bethany's a bit bitter about it. Maybe Norma will give her a car?) (Probably not) and the comment that made her laugh with truthful understanding was Nora's (Happy Birthday to Bethany - a fellow Taurus, which indeed means a good pinch of pessimism, a huge dose of stubborn, and loyal as the day is long.) Truer words about Bethany have never been spoken! Nora, you couldn't have been more right if you lived here with her.
The package? Did not contain car keys. It did contain a purse seen here behind Fig and the birthday hamster. The hamster is stuffed, not real which perhaps is obvious by it not being Fig lunch.

We had a great day which spilled over to today when I brought her shopping for some clothes. Doesn't everyone deserve a birthday weekend? Can I get a YES. My kids birthdays are very special days for me, not only because they are a year older but because it is Special and dear for me. My day of birth. I fondly remember that little baby I held in my arms and marvel into the person they have grown into. When they are babies you try to imagine them as their future self. It's kind of nice to remember the baby and see the adult now. Very satisfying indeed!
Well, happy Saturday to all 5 of you not at the Maryland Sheep and wool!

122. May 2nd, 20 years ago I held a baby girl in my arms for the first time

I am no longer the mother of teenagers. Bethany is 20 years old today! 20 years goes by awfully fast contrary to what I used to think when I was a young whippersnapper!
She is such a beautiful young woman, I am so proud of who she has become. She is a caring, funny, warm, no nonsense kind of girl. She is a raging pessimist just like her father which balances out the eternal optimism of Derek and I. If we were all standing on the seesaw of life, it would balance.

Happy 20th Birthday, Bethany! (Bethany on the right, picture in Austria from her Germany trip last year)
~~~
P.S. It was mentioned that the dragon scale scarf looks an awful lot like lace. Now, I might agree in the sense that it does indeed have holes which is the definition of lace. BUT. Always. A. But. The repeat is super easy peasy and repeated over and over. I think I can handle it with markers in between the repeats. Of course, I am saying that already having taken it apart after 6 rows. But, I am ever the optimist. Don't get the idea that I am a lace knitter. I am not. Pfft.
I am the anti lace knitter.
Back to the birthday celebration complete with ice cream cake!

121. Green

How many balls of yarn have you wound up? Too many to count most likely. (Or none if you're not a knitter). Whether you have a handy dandy rolling machine or if you do it my way, around and around my knees we've done hundreds if not thousands of them.
This one was a stinker. Knots and tangles galore. Lucky for me I settled in to watch the season finale of Celebrity Fit Club which just so happened to be the exact length of the rolling time. 1 1/2 hours. Ordinarily, I'd proclaim UGH! What a pain! However I had the time, I was enjoying the tv watching (I'm hopelessly enamored with that show) and life could be much worse than sitting playing with cashmere yarn that was gifted to me by a dear friend. Really, this IS the life, isn't it?
Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere, colorway Blue Spruce, a Christmas gift from my Norma being cast on as I finish these words into the Dragon Scale Scarf pattern that arrived with the yarn.