Which stitch are you?

Beading that is. :D



You are: Peyote Stitch

You come across as put-together and easygoing, but the truth is you’re fairly lazy, often tread on thin ice, and like to play the horses. You don’t like to be confined to one way of doing things and would rather experiment, sometimes at the cost of showing off your inner workings.

A break from knitting...

...and playing with pictures. :D


The deadline is looming and I'm gonna make it! Yippee skippee

Wordless Wednesday (early birthday present)

Tweet Tweet

Nope, not a bird. I've taken the plunge into Twitter (or is that on to...??) While I'm not sure why I signed up, you can find me as knittingmuse if you're looking. :D

Next task....after all this knitting is done with, mailed off, etc....is to learn how to navigate the darn thing. Is there a manual anywhere?

This weeks entertainment...

...is squirrel watching.



The "boys" have discovered the joy of looking out the window. :)

RIP...

...Michael Jackson.

No matter what I thought of you as a person, your music rocked my world for many years. From Jackson 5's "ABC" to Off the Wall, I listened and danced.

I hope you find the peace now that you didn't find in life.


We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

- We Are the World, 1985

Let freedom ring

New wheels

Lemon has been turned into a cherry ;)



Cruiser was traded for a 2009 Ford Escape. It's a nice little SUV with high reliability rating (safety too). We're pleased to have an auto that shouldn't have to visit the mechanic every other month - which was the problem with the Cruiser for the past 6 months.

And I'm finding time to knit again! Life is feeling "much more better" (Captain Jack, Pirates)

When life gives you lemons...

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party

Ron White

Here's my lemon...

Anyone out there got vodka?

Stay tuned.

Sharing

I dunno about you all but I needed the laugh that showed up in my email today. So I'm sharing with you. (And it's all I have to blog about that would be remotely interesting to anyone.)






No time for knitting or much of anything else as I am the primary care-giver to my elderly MIL right now. She isn't doing well and has to live with us...at least for now. Please send patience and good thoughts my way. Thanks!

Books for summer

...after I finish a re-read of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince


so that I can fill in the blanks of what is edited out of the movie in July. ;)


Dean Koontz's Relentless
DH and my favorite author



Beth Hensperger's Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook
Looking for the perfect sour dough bread starter/recipe

I think the knitting book for the summer will be Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe Up


although that is subject to change on a whim. :)

How about you?

Crochet art

You have to see these amazing works of art through crochet. I need to hurry and finish the patterns I'm working on 'cause I want to do this!!

wow...

...it's June! May flew past in a whirl of activity.

The repair of workshop was started...

...and completed.

The pool is up and running. We are thoroughly enjoying that!


Most of the fencing that was burned has been replaced except for a small part. But we have a temporary gate up while we wait for that to be completed.


The wooded area behind our property has some green...

although some of the trees appear to have perished in the fire.

The flowers are blooming...

...thanks to all the rain in May. The flooded living room has been dried and had new carpet pad put in. The furniture is back in it's proper place.

The winter bowling league came to an end in May...

and we pick up summer league next week.

I am managing to get some of my unfinished knitting projects completed (new beret design is shown)...

and start new designs. I even have a summer goal - to use up my stash. Well, most of it anyway.

And June is one month closer to the release of next Harry Potter movie. I've started to re-read the book while I wait for that.


Wow. Everything is starting to feel good again. Monica, you were right! :)

Here is a Barnes and Nobles coupon for you

I got this info in an email. It's good for May 27th only. Just click on the link and enter the code P8R3B8C at checkout.

Memorial Day Weekend

It's been a crazy week of flood related issues - and that's all I'm saying on that subject, aren't you glad!

The Memorial Day weekend started today for us. We went to a movie - Star Trek. I think it's awesome. DH thinks is good (he's a Trekkie fan of the old shows). DD says it's ok.

BTW, the director of Star Trek is J.J. Abrams, the co-creator, director, etc. of Lost. My DD was quick to point that out since Lost is my favorite TV show.

Anyway, it was a great start to what we hope will be an uneventful and relaxing weekend at home, with a BBQ and swimming. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Special wish to my Mother for a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY (86 and counting)! Love you!!

P.S. I am behind on email. Hope to be caught up soon. :)

Earthquakes in LA, rain here....

Thinking of all my friends in Los Angeles area. While this quake wasn't the big one, I know that even the little ones rattle the nerves. Keeping you in my thoughts.

Lately I've thought longingly of the sunshine in Southern California. We've had 3 weeks of rain almost everyday. I have missed seeing the sun. And I'm tired of the problems the constant rain is causing.

• The fences that burned in April's wildfire cannot be repaired until ground dries.
• This past Wednesday night was thunderstorms plus a couple of tornadoes. ABC interrupted LOST! so often that we really didn't get to see the finale. I love this show and this was a big problem in my opinion!! (Luckily it was shown without interruptions Saturday evening. Great episode!)
  
• The ground was so saturated that the rain from Friday night's thunderstorm had no place to go - except up through the carpet in our sunken living room. Oh joy - a new disaster. But I did learn that there are companies that specialize in repairing water damage. Now my living room is full of huge fans and dehumidifiers, with carpet ripped up and a new carpet pad going in when everything is dry.
  

sigh...I don't think Oklahoma likes us.

Crocheted Coral Reef

A few minutes of reading blogs led me to this video where I learned about the crochet project to bring our attention to the disappearing coral reef of our planet. What a great project! Simply beautiful work.

Happy Mother's Day

Further attitude adjustment

Insurance and contractor woes seem to be taken care of (crossing fingers and toes) but no repairs can be started because it's been raining for a week!! lolololol <-----hysterical laughter

OK...fine...whatever!

Further attitude adjustment needed.

I bought these needle keepers from a really nice person on Etsy to hold socks-in-progress while in knitting bag (great concept!)



and Louet Gems in this color

Looks a little like sunshine don't ya think?

This run of bad luck as got to stop before I go broke.

Socks anyone? :D

Attitude adjustment

The aftermath of the fire continues to provide for unwanted entertainment in the form of a dishonest contractor. For the past two weeks, I have alternated between anger, frustration, and depression. Neither attitude bodes well for knitting.

Today, I have to frog and re-knit a project which demonstrates my moods - alternating between loose stitches, then very tight stitches. Great if I want to teach about tension in knitting, but sucks for a finished project. Dang!

What I need is an attitude adjustment. Since we can't spend a lot of money on a great vacation (nor is there time since we have to be here for the honest contractors to work), it comes in the form of an inexpensive treat. Summer knitting for me!




Thanks Denise for the reminder of this book! :)