Happy 4th of July

As the temperatures drop....

...my "to-do" list gets longer. That's the only problem with vacation, must-do's wait for you to return. And so I've spent this week taking down Christmas decorations and taking family members to various doctor appointments. But I did it (mostly) with a smile as I remember the last two weeks of 2009.

We started our vacation with family. A joyous Christmas with my Mother, sister and her family. Chatting, eating, and playing with toys....what a great Christmas!



From East Texas, we took the RV to San Antonio for a little fun. For the first time since our move to Oklahoma, the 3 of us had some fun!!

We went to seaworld...


took a boat ride on the San Antonio Riverwalk....


went to the Alamo (of course)...


and ate out every night. I had a chance to work on Shipwreck and get it to the point of adding beads as well as watch a little of Lost season 5 (a Christmas present) to get ready for Feb 2nd. ;D


I also started a pair of gloves for hubby. He told me he has never had a pair of gloves that fit right. Well, he will soon. I am designing this pattern specifically to fit his sausage fingers (his words).


At the end of two weeks, we came home to this....



...the remains of the Christmas Eve blizzard in OK City. It's now ice as the temperatures hover in the 20's during the day...and single digits at night. Cold and slippery.

But it's OK...I don't live in North Dakota were the temperatures have a minus sign in front of them. Nice positive note to end this post on as Elvis says he needs to go out.

Dear 2010

Welcome....a little late but better late then....

I am so very happy to greet you! You came just when I thought 2009 would never leave (good riddance!)

I believe you have potential. You are young yet but I see huge things for you. Just stay away from fire(s) unless it's in the fireplace, and please keep the wet to a minimum (or at least keep it outside).

Here is to a continued "knit from stash" year!

Happy Holidays

As we pack up the motor home for our Christmas trip, I wanted to wish you all the joys of the season.

Norman Rockwell

Happy Holidays from our home to yours.

3 weeks later

My intentions are good with regard to blogging...really. But for the past 3 weeks, I haven't been near the computer except to respond to email if needed.

My Mother was here for the first two weeks. We had so much to say to each other. She hasn't been able to stay at my house in many years as a trip to California was difficult for her (she is 86). Oklahoma is a much easier trip from Texas where she lives.

It was a wonderful visit. She had Thanksgiving meal with us. Helped us decorate for Christmas.




She even considered bowling with us on league night but decided to watch instead as the logistics of walking cane and sending the ball down the lane was daunting. :)

She and my mother-in-law met for the first time. Gary and I have been married for 27 years but never managed to get the two together before. Very special. (And did I remember to get pictures? Of course not! geesh)

We also managed to get together with her younger brother and his wife (my uncle and aunt) whom she hasn't seen in probably 10 years. We had to meet at the hospital as their younger son (my cousin) had a heart attack and was admitted for observation and testing. (He's out and doing well now)


I drove her home last weekend. But no need to feel sad! We will be visiting her for Christmas. There is something to love about the move to Oklahoma...family!

While she was here, I found a little time to knit in the evenings. And it's for me! The Shipwreck Shawl on Knitty. ummm...yeah....I'm thinking about the last season of Lost. Is it February 2nd yet??



For the past few days, I have had last minute knitting to do for my to-be-released Leisure Arts publication. A couple of additional projects to round out the booklet. Yarn and looms have taken over my dining room table...



...but should be cleaned up (finished!) by the weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing the end results!

So...did you even miss me? ;)

I wondered what that sound was

Earthquake Rattles Choctaw Homes

Having been through a few quakes in So. California, this one was more like like a sonic boom. It wasn't recognizable as an earthquake to me.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thinking About Thanksgiving

As I mentioned in my last post, I need to think about Thanksgiving. It will be a busy time for me as my Mother will be here for 2 weeks. That's in addition to having my Mother-in-law, and of course, my daughter. So I think this will be the last post until December.

A friend did a meme about Thanksgiving and it seems appropriate for here since I have nothing to mention regarding knitting.

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving is as special as our's will be.

1. Which do you like better: Cooking at your house, or going elsewhere?
While I prefer cooking at my house, visiting family/friends is good also.

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird?
Typically frozen turkey breast. Any other part is wasted in our house.

3. What kind of stuffing?
I'm from the south. Cornbread dressing with loads of sage. ;)

4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie?
Normally neither. We always do a sweet potato dish that doesn't include crust. However, my daughter has discovered a love of pumpkin pies so I am making one. My Mother, however, wants sweet potato pie and she can taste the difference in the two. I'll probably buy one since I have never made one before - or Mom has to coach me. :)

5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing?
That's the point!! After all that work, there should be something left to show for it. haha

6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu?
Green beans. I have no idea why that is a tradition for my husband's family but he makes a point of mentioning it if I forget to do them. And deviled eggs. That's a must have for him too.

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock?
I don't buy the whole turkey so no carcass.

8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier?
Talent for cooking! That would make it much easier. I mean, I'm a fine cook but I have no "sixth sense" for it. Luckily I have a husband who does and can "fix" anything I mess up. :)

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour?
I do not like "crack of dawn" for anything! But I do if I have to. Normally I try to get some of the work started the night before. But I do like having dinner ready early afternoon that way there's plenty of time for a 2nd helping before bed.

10. If you go to somebody else's house, what's your favorite dish to bring?
In the past, I have made cheese cakes to take to friend's house in California. I know, not traditional. But we're the folks who have been known to BBQ ribs for Thanksgiving so our tradition changes year-to-year. haha

11. What do you wish one of your guests wouldn't bring to your house?
That darn green bean casserole. It's been overdone IMO.

12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you're happy to see?
When either my or my husband's family gets together, there drama of some sort. Sad really. But this year, it should be Mothers only. Small and intimate gathering of elderly where the worse problem should be lack of hearing aids. haha

13. What's your absolute favorite thing on the menu?
Pecan pie! I don't care if we're having sweet potato and pumpkin....I want pecan pie!! And I'm the chief cook....so there.

14. What are you thankful for this year?
This year, I will count all my blessings from 2009 - looking on the bright side and not necessarily in order...

• Husband and daughter top my list of blessings always.
  
• No surgery was needed for my broken ankle
• Our house survived the April wildfire
• Mother-in-law is healthier now that she is in assisted living
• I met the deadline for my next publication
• We've reconnected with extended family now that we live closer
• My Mother is coming to stay with us for two weeks during Thanksgiving
• Many things I haven't thought of yet.
  

I am especially grateful to all the men and women who serve our Country. They have been on my mind a great deal with the news of Ft Hood shootings. Being a veteran, I know how stressful it is to serve overseas but that was during peace times. I can't imagine the stress of serving during war/conflict. Thank you.

Norman Rockwell

Monster's bash

Last week was a week of Halloween parties. The first on Tuesday night where bowlers are invited to bowl in costume. And even though bowling in costume isn't easy, I managed one game of 191. Angela got tired of trying to bowl with her hat on...

...so finished the 3 games sans hat. Candy and cookies were had by all (nice little sugar high hehe)

Then there was the Goodwill party which was a blast! Friends, pizza...

..and dancing. Her job coach did the twist with her. Fun to watch.

Hope your trick or treat was a blast too.

Let freedom ring

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. :)

Happy Mother's Day

Earth Day

Everyday should be Earth Day.

Happy Pi Day

Today is Pi Day.

Math geeks celebrate this...




Needle knitter's think of this...



...and Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi Shawl.

Loom knitter's might think of this Pi...



...found in this book. Hey, I had to mention it since it's my design. ;)

And I also have to mention my husband's favorite Pi saying...


I'm planning to celebrate by knitting since I'm feeling so much better.

2009 - Bring it on!

As I am an infrequent blogger, it shouldn't surprise anyone that my first post of the new year is 6 days into it. I won't make excuses.

2008 went out with a huge black cloud hovering over us. As ya'll (that's my Texan showing) know I broke my ankle the week before Christmas...which was the week before my MIL had eye surgery (3 days before Christmas).

As DH had promised we would be in Dallas to "help", we thought we would make it a family Christmas and enjoy time with my Mother too. But I still had to get the motor home ready for the trip - broken ankle or not. Thanks to DH and DD, I managed and off we went with high hopes that the ankle wouldn't ruin the trip for us. Stupid, eh? You would think that I would have acknowledged that this little mishap was "fate's" way of telling me to just stay home. But as we hadn't been able to spend a holiday with our elderly Mothers in many years, it seemed the right thing to do.

So I took pain pills and smiled in a medicated haze...
1. through MIL surgery
2. through the transmission problems of my car (repaired Christmas Eve)
3. through the freezing temperatures while the motor home furnace (thank goodness for sleeping bags)
4. through the ignition coil of the car going out...

All that from Dec 20 to Dec 27. Too much in a week even though the time spent with family was wonderful. We kissed the Mom's and came home before anything else happened.

After finally finding an ignition coil for my Cruiser, DH managed to put the new one in on Jan 2nd. It seemed to be fine...finally. Famous last words. It broke down again yesterday while DH was driving it to work. He has given up and left it at the mechanics all the while muttering "l.e.m.o.n."

Obviously the dark cloud hasn't left yet. Stay tuned.

Ringin' in the new year

We're home after a wonderful Christmas with our mothers. The first time in many, many years we've been able to spend the holiday with them.

Our plans for New Year's Eve? A quiet evening at home with DD playing the new Wii game "Santa" brought. ;)

Happy 2009 to everyone!

Happy Holidays plus Winter 2008 LKC is live

We are visiting family for Christmas. I hope your Christmas is a joyous one!

My 2008 Christmas ornament (love him!)

Oh! And Winter 2008 Loom Knitter's Circle is live. Enjoy!

P.S. Thank you for all of the notes wishing me a speedy recovery.

Holiday lights spectacular last weekend

We drove through the holiday lights spectacular this past weekend (at night of course). Wow. It really is spectacular! It's at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park in Midwest City, OK (the soccer fields). If you are local, go. If you're not - enjoy the pictures I took with the cell phone. These are just some of the light displays that are there.

Santa in his sleigh over the world.

Two bears having a snowball fight (the light in the middle is the snowball moving).

Santa and his reindeer

A few displays here. The Christmas tree in the background is huge!
The display on the right is a chimney with Santa's feet dangling.

My favorite. The carousel ponies "move" up and down. Wonderful light illusion.

A bear standing on the shoulders of another bear (who is standing on Christmas presents) putting the star on the Christmas tree. The bears tilt inward toward the tree

Santa's candy cane factory. It was close to the road and so very bright!

Santa at his computer. Reading Christmas letters I suppose. ;)

The Nativity. Beautiful.

Truly amazing that these are done with frames, lights, and electronics. No real reindeer, bears, or santas were harmed in the making of the displays. hehe

The weekend

Doc really knows what he's talking about when it comes to Boniva. The 2nd dose didn't cause the horrendous side effects from last month. Just a little muscle aches. Go figure.

So instead of the terrible weekend I was expecting, we had a great family weekend complete with decorating the Christmas tree.

And playing with the dogs.


Elvis has really grown! He's starting to look like a Dachshund.


We also managed to drive through the local park where there is a display of Christmas lights. More about that later complete with pictures.

And knitting....I have knitting!! Yay! Great weekend!!

Being thankful

With our move to Oklahoma, we now live closer to family (they live in Texas). This Thanksgiving, we have family visiting so I won't be online much (is that a surprise?)

I want to take this opportunity to say how thankful I am for the friends I've made on the internet (even though you don't post often to the blog...I forgive you haha).

I hope everyone has as much to be thankful for this season as we do - health, love, and friendship.

On a lighter note....