Special Weekend

We in the midst of a grand celebration this weekend - Angela's birthday!
It started today with her choice of a restaurant. She choose Joe's Crab Shack (good choice!).

Gary got to do most of the work on the king crab legs.

Tomorrow we bake a cake - triple chocolate with fudge icing (can you feel the calories just in reading the name?)

Sunday is "the day". There will be a little get-together in the afternoon complete with buffalo burgers on the grill and swimming in the pool. Yes, you read that correctly...BUFFALO burgers. She loves them.

Plus we're making homemade ice cream to go with the cake. (I'll be spending a lot of time doing laps next week as well as extra time on the bike.)

Stop by if you're in the area!

Fortunately I got the Pokemon plushies finished in time to give her on Sunday because her *real* present didn't arrive yet. (Why does tracking now come with a date it was scanned in but doesn't bother with where it was scanned at???)

Anyway, Torchic and Jiggypuff are done. Thanks again to Wolfdreamer for her terrific patterns. :)

Just knittin'

Nothing exciting around here...just knittin' - on the loom and the needles. Hope to have some pictures to show as soon as I get the pictures downloaded. (lazy)

I plan to cast on for a Sensational Socks book KAL on Ravelry...trying to pacify sock knitting addiction (maybe it will help me to keep my hands out of the chocolate).

For fun -

In pursuing a friend's blog, I saw this blogthing. While I'm not always up at sunrise (ok, rarely), the remaining description is fairly accurate IMO. I do love life as it is since I'm really lucky to have the family and friends that I have. They are really tolerate of me (lol that's lucky!!)

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Family Sunday

Lovely day spent in the company of my two most favorite people - husband and daughter. We enjoyed an afternoon movie -




- Monsters Vs Aliens. Yes, we are kids-at-heart but still weren't the only adult-types in the audience without "little people" in tow.

After the movie, we had a scrumptious meal at Zio's Italian Kitchen in Bricktown (downtown Oklahoma City). Delectable Artichoke Spinach Dip and a Caesar salad - yum!

Must do again soon.

What's next?

This past weekend, we had an early Spring. And in Oklahoma, Spring brings tornado weather. Thus, the weather happenings yesterday. We were lucky...missed us totally. But did make me thankful we had the storm cellar added to the property last fall. And it reminded me that we need to put a few basic emergency items in it, just in case.

Over the past month, there has been the ice storm, an earthquake, grass fires and now tornadoes.

What's next? Flood? A shortage of wool?

My computer is dead...

...at least temporarily. Norton found a virus Sunday...which morphed into 7 different bugs. My computer geek (aka husband) attempted to revive it from backup CD's. But the CD player is acting goofy and is most likely a piece of crap broken.

I'm now sharing the family computer and subject to being booted off because that's the meaning of SHARE. Can anyone please remind me why I taught "share" to my daughter...only to have it thrown in my face? sigh...

Ice...just ice

We had our welcome to winter in the plains this week. Ice storm. Perhaps a little snow but primarily ice and sleet. You know the kind? Where you slip and slide on the sidewalks? The grass is frozen and it crunches if you step on it?

Tuesday morning -




It's just ice. Solid and slippery.

This morning (Thursday) on my first outing after the ice storm. This is our little neighborhood in a rural part of Oklahoma City.




There is a road under there. All I had to do was find it.

This is the "melts-during-the-day, freezes-again-in-the-night, watch-your-step" stuff - ice! At least the main roads are clear once we get out of the neighborhood.

I really do not mean to complain. Several states got it far worse. And we never lost electricity. I guess I just lived in Southern California for so long that I had forgotten how winters could be.

Note to self - need firewood.

Monday Musings

"A room without books is like a body without a soul."
— Marcus Tullius Cicero

Very true for us. We shipped about 15 boxes of books that are still unpacked as the new house had no bookshelves. That doesn't count the few boxes we unpacked and have scattered around the house in portable bookshelves.

Since the house has a den, we had a place for putting in built-in bookshelves. It's been a work in process for a month. And it's almost completed. Here's a peek.



The side moldings and trim should be finished this weekend. The crafts person doing the work is fantastic. He has worked with us to put our vision for the room into reality. We're really excited to be able to unpack the remaining boxes and have the house complete.

Currently reading Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber checked out from the library.

On the knitting loom - a sweater of my own design
On the needles - a sweater that is on the back burner simmering while I finish some loom knit projects

Shoes!

For the first time in 5 weeks, I'm wearing shoes on both feet! yay! It took some hunting through old pairs to find one with a foot opening large enough to accommodate the ankle brace. Luckily the oldest pair did the trick!



Ankle is still a little swollen...which means that the bone is still mending (at least that's what I'm told). And it aches a bit. I guess that's OK since there is still 3 weeks to go before it's considered "done".

And how is your week shaping up? hmmmm?

Slowly mending

The ankle is mending and the bone has not shifted. Really good news for someone over 50 and diagnosed with osteopenia (that would be me on both). I confess that I was concerned the recovery would go more slowly because of both.

I have another 3 weeks of transitioning from boot cast into an ankle brace while working the muscles to accept weight again (somewhat painful). Then 2 weeks in the ankle brace.

I am knitting but have nothing finished. I suppose that is the knitter's ADD I sometimes suffer from. I have 5 projects I'm working on all at once. And that doesn't include this sweater. oh well.

Fractured Fibular

That pop I heard when I stumbled (not very gracefully) last night was the crack of a bone. The extreme swelling, pain, and bruising was a good hint that I needed to see the doctor today. So I did. The left side of ankle is broken (fractured fibular). At least the "cast" is this boot thing that I can remove for showers.



And I can still knit.

It's a total waste of time but...

...it's just as entertaining as popping bubble wrap online. Perfect for when your brain needs something to do other then think. hehe

Here, click on the link and have fun! Holiday Snowglobe Be sure to watch the house on the left of the screen for the old man.

One Classy Mom

Good friend and talented knit designer, Denise Layman, has "Wii" request. Vote for her at the Classy Mommy Site . Just click on the link, look for Denise Layman (Sorka), and vote for her. It only takes a moment of your time and will make her family a "Wii" bit happier this Christmas!

Trust me. She really is a Classy Mommy!

And if you haven't guest it yet, she will win a Wii console.

B-cause I'm B-ing lazy

After being sick for a few days, I feel the need to be lazy. So today's post is a meme brought to you by the letter "B".

A few days ago, Janet did a letter meme. To play, you leave a comment on the blog and ask for a letter. Then you post 10 things you love that start with that letter on your blog. I posted to Janet's blog, asked, and received the letter B.

1. I love to browse bookstores. Used bookstores are my favorite. Such treasure!

2. Which means that books must be my second B love! I consider reading as food for the soul.

3. Beading is another passion of mine. Especially beadweaving.

4. Bamboo yarn! Who knew it would be so soft!? Oh, and bamboo knitting needles. I've had most of mine for about 25 years.

5. Chocolate brownies. The more nuts the better!

6. Buttered popcorn. A big bucket for the family to share at the movies. (I'm getting hungry)

7. Bubble baths. A long soak with a good book after a busy day.

8. Bowling has become a love since we go as a family every Tuesday night. It's a special friends league that has become a joy for us all.

9. Backgammon. Gary taught me to play when we were first dating. He may have married me for my luck with dice.

10. Brussel sprouts are one of my favorite vegetables. Yes, I know I'm strange.

If you want to play, post here asking for a letter. I'll send one to you.

Have you exercised your right to vote?

Perhaps the reason I'm so adamant about this right is because I lived 2 1/2 years in a country without democracy (a dictatorship) where it's citizens were afraid to speak out against the leaders. I was in the Air Force at the time. And I realized just what a privilege it is to be able to vote for leaders, as well as to verbally criticize government without fear.

So if you haven't voted yet, tomorrow is the day. Remember this is a privilege of living in a democracy and something to be proud of. You have a say....so say it with a vote!

And if you're wondering....I will vote for McCain. I believe we need experience in the White House...not a good orator.

A chocolate'ty update

Absent from blog-dom yet again. I just haven't had enough uninterrupted time to spend on the computer to upload pictures for blog. Too busy with house and settling into community stuff. No wonder really...it's only been 2 months since we closed on the property (yet seems so much longer). So just to let you know I am still trying to blog, here's a quizz-thing...

What Your Taste in Chocolate Says About You

You are sweet, mellow, and easily satisfied. You don't like anything too intense and dramatic. Deep down, you're a kid at heart... and you're nostalgic for the past. You are a whimsical person prone to daydreaming. Artistic and creative, you're always in the middle of a project. While you are an inspiration to others, you can come off as flaky. You love to be the center of attention. You enjoy entertaining your friends. You feel lost when no one is interested in you... You're too interesting to be ignored.

The Chocolate Oracle

I am still able to knit a little in the evening while family watches a little TV (love Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs - really missing LOST). OTN: A sample project for Knit Picks and a simple rib stitch scarf for Special Olympics). On the loom - nada, nothing as I just finished another pattern for upcoming issue of LKC...but I'm planning a project! ;-)

Welcome to Oklahoma

Did you notice I've been away? A little over two weeks ago, a thunderstorm moved through Oklahoma City. What a welcome to Oklahoma show it was! I had forgotten what real thunderstorms were like.


One of the lightening strikes was close enough to shake the motor home and it took out some piece of equipment that downed the RV park's wifi. So for two weeks we've been without internet connection except when I could find a wifi hot spot (not as easy here as it was in Southern California).

We close on the house today and move in next week after household goods are delivered.

Have a safe and fun Labor Day!

E.V.I.L.?

How evil am I? Here's a little blog thing I saw on Isela's blog and Denise's blog.

It would appear I'm not as evil as my daughter thinks I am. And what is the "C" word anyway? I know what the "F" word is but "C"???

You Are 20% Evil

You are good. So good, that you make evil people squirm. Just remember, you may need to turn to the dark side to get what you want!

How Evil Are You?

hahaha

RIP George Carlin

We'll miss your wicked sense of humor.

George Carlin

More bad luck and my kind of logic (ha!)

More bad luck
I now have a reason why I have only completed projects that have deadlines ("have to" projects). I need (and have started) vision therapy.

Over the past few months, I've had problems with close range vision blurring. Typically only happens in afternoon. I've blamed it on allergies. Wrong...sigh. During an eye exam Thursday, it was pointed out to me that I am (once again) seeing double at close range. It stems from Duane's Retraction Syndrome which I've suffered with all my life due to an undeveloped eye muscle (birth defect). Basically my eyes are not working together as a team.

Wish me luck on getting it under control in a month. I need it back in order before the move. I have a fantastic doctor. And won't be able to go to her unless she's willing to move with us.

__________________________________________


My kind of logic