Sorry for the extended absence, but I am in such a crochet rut! I haven't been able to joyfully pick up the hook for a few weeks now. I hope I snap out of this soon! I'm hoping it's just the result of going in too many directions at the same time and just need to settle down a bit. I'll let you know how that goes...
On a non-crochet related note, we finally named the mutant dog. We're calling her Yoda and if I had my wits about me, I'd have a pic of her to post. This weekend for sure. She earned that name cuz of her big ears! She has settled in quite nicely with Jose. They play a lot. She has more energy than he does (hard to believe), so he gets a little snippy with her on occasion. But all in all, it's working out well. She's a sweetie.
Other than that, it's pretty much same-o, same-o around here. The weather last week was gorgeous in the high 80s, this week it's threatening rain and in the mid-60s. It's typical for this time of year, but I so much want it to be in the mid-70s and sunny!
A chuckle for ya... last night hubby was watching Eragon whilst I was surfing the net. I could hear the dialog and they were talking about what it meant to be a dragon rider. Very serious stuff. Then I hear hubby say in his 'talking to Jose voice', "I'm going to be a chihuahua rider!". I peeked around the corner and there they were - hubby on the couch, Jose sitting up on his lap facing the TV and hubby was 'driving' him with his fingertips by the ears. I busted a gut. I married him for humor 16 years ago and he still cracks me up! LOL
Well, that's all the inanity for now. More later, I promise!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Weekends
Weekends are for resting and doing whatever you feel like doing. That's my philosophy anyway. However, it never seems to work out that way does it? So I'm stealing some time from my "adult" life to play on the net this morning.
In those few minutes I can squeeze some time with the hook and yarn, I've been making wildlife rescue nests for teeny critters. I've been ordering patterns and yarn on the net as I wake up in the morning with my coffee before work and the boxes are starting to come in, so that's always fun!
The LOTR madness continues ~ my Sideshow exlusive Boromir figure arrived yesterday! He'll be taking up residence next to Aragorn:
Faramir and Legolas are on order of course!
I think they did a particularly good job on Faramir :o) Of course, the husband is all crabby about it, but he'll get over it. All I have to do is remind him of his kayak/lobster adventure and all the money that went into that short-lived hobby and I'm home free! LOL
I really do need to catalog my LOTR collectibles, but it will be such a large job that I keep putting it off. I have 4 large curio cabinets filled with Sideshow sculptures, a jewelry box filled with LOTR jewelry, 5 swords, Gimli's axe, 27 autographed pics, 8 collectors editions of the books (includes The Hobbit and The Silmarillion - one of which is autographed by the illustrator) framed stills from the movie, an autographed letter from Peter Jackson, CD sets of the BBC plays, framed movie posters... and that's just the stuff within my immediate vision. Cataloging will happen someday I suppose when the mood strikes me, I'm sure.
Other than that, I had a few successes at work this week that I won't bore you with, but it made leaving on Friday a happy event instead of the normal trudging back to the car for the voyage home.
But today, it's more moving-related activities with my mom. Just helping her continue to unpack and settle in. Hopefully, this will be the absolute last of it!
More later~
In those few minutes I can squeeze some time with the hook and yarn, I've been making wildlife rescue nests for teeny critters. I've been ordering patterns and yarn on the net as I wake up in the morning with my coffee before work and the boxes are starting to come in, so that's always fun!
The LOTR madness continues ~ my Sideshow exlusive Boromir figure arrived yesterday! He'll be taking up residence next to Aragorn:
Faramir and Legolas are on order of course!
I think they did a particularly good job on Faramir :o) Of course, the husband is all crabby about it, but he'll get over it. All I have to do is remind him of his kayak/lobster adventure and all the money that went into that short-lived hobby and I'm home free! LOL
I really do need to catalog my LOTR collectibles, but it will be such a large job that I keep putting it off. I have 4 large curio cabinets filled with Sideshow sculptures, a jewelry box filled with LOTR jewelry, 5 swords, Gimli's axe, 27 autographed pics, 8 collectors editions of the books (includes The Hobbit and The Silmarillion - one of which is autographed by the illustrator) framed stills from the movie, an autographed letter from Peter Jackson, CD sets of the BBC plays, framed movie posters... and that's just the stuff within my immediate vision. Cataloging will happen someday I suppose when the mood strikes me, I'm sure.
Other than that, I had a few successes at work this week that I won't bore you with, but it made leaving on Friday a happy event instead of the normal trudging back to the car for the voyage home.
But today, it's more moving-related activities with my mom. Just helping her continue to unpack and settle in. Hopefully, this will be the absolute last of it!
More later~
Monday, February 19, 2007
Just A Few Pics
I've been so lazy about taking pics of my projects lately. I know I've made more stuff than what I've taken pics of today, but we'll chalk it up to my brain not quite working up to par.
This is a beaded bag that I made up for my hairdresser for a Christmas gift. Sadly, I never got around to lining it, so I guess she'll get it for her birthday instead :oP The bag is made with 2 strands of Opera size 5 crochet cotton and some neat swirly painted glass beads that don't show up well here. What also doesn't show up well are the three rows of shells above each bead. The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Crochet Bags on the Go. Here's the pic from the book where you can see the stitches a bit better:
The pattern called for using 'hollowed out' coffee can lids for the handles. I thought that was a bit cheesy ~ especially for a Vogue pattern. So I just used some purchased rattan wrapped handles instead.
A couple of washcloths made with Lion Cotton. I have another two in progress in natural, but lost interest for the time-being.
This is the sweater clutch pattern I found at Crochetme. I had a major brainfart when stitching the hhdc, so it came out a wee bit taller than intended. I still think it's cute and I'll get some use out of it. Made with Paton's Decor for the body and Paton's Merino Wool for the collar.
A few motifs for a friend at CFL that I mentioned below.
I'll post more later once I am reminded of what I've worked on recently :oP
This is a beaded bag that I made up for my hairdresser for a Christmas gift. Sadly, I never got around to lining it, so I guess she'll get it for her birthday instead :oP The bag is made with 2 strands of Opera size 5 crochet cotton and some neat swirly painted glass beads that don't show up well here. What also doesn't show up well are the three rows of shells above each bead. The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Crochet Bags on the Go. Here's the pic from the book where you can see the stitches a bit better:
The pattern called for using 'hollowed out' coffee can lids for the handles. I thought that was a bit cheesy ~ especially for a Vogue pattern. So I just used some purchased rattan wrapped handles instead.
A couple of washcloths made with Lion Cotton. I have another two in progress in natural, but lost interest for the time-being.
This is the sweater clutch pattern I found at Crochetme. I had a major brainfart when stitching the hhdc, so it came out a wee bit taller than intended. I still think it's cute and I'll get some use out of it. Made with Paton's Decor for the body and Paton's Merino Wool for the collar.
A few motifs for a friend at CFL that I mentioned below.
I'll post more later once I am reminded of what I've worked on recently :oP
Sunday, February 18, 2007
You Can't Say No To The Beauty and The Beast... Dahling...
Remember this guy?
Back in the late 70s, I used to think this guy ~ er, lion-man-creature-god ~ was hot! I don't know what Linda Hamilton's problem was, I'd have kissed him! But then again, if she had, there probably wouldn't have been much of a show.
So while I've been convalescing with the most severe creeping crud that has hit me in many a year, I've been watching the first season of this show on DVD ~ or should I say dozing on and off to it? All I know is that each time I become conscious for a bit, there's Vincent's face ~ pissed off, growling, baring his teeth and breaking the neck of someone who has put his precious Catherine in peril. Yep! My kind of stuff Maynard!
Makes me want to go slap my husband silly as he was slightly bitching earlier today about having to bring me cough syrup and cold medicine because I couldn't make my wobbly legs work all that well to make it to the freakin' kitchen :o\ Such the gentleman...
In other news, we have finished moving all the stuff my mom intends to keep into her new trailer. Our relationship is hanging by a thread. It might be a good thing that I got sick. It gives me an excuse to stay away for a few days or so.
On the crochet side of life, not much going on there. I've been working up some small motifs for a lady at CFL whose granddaughter's friend has been seriously injured by a hit and run driver. Very sad. Bet they were drunk. But let's ban smoking cuz that's much more dangerous...
Can you tell I'm a wee bit crabby?
Well, I've been away from the bathroom for over 10 minutes now, so I better get back to my perch. Take care and we'll talk more soon!
I'll leave you with this note ~ scroll down and hear a snippet of David Bowie's Beauty & the Beast
Back in the late 70s, I used to think this guy ~ er, lion-man-creature-god ~ was hot! I don't know what Linda Hamilton's problem was, I'd have kissed him! But then again, if she had, there probably wouldn't have been much of a show.
So while I've been convalescing with the most severe creeping crud that has hit me in many a year, I've been watching the first season of this show on DVD ~ or should I say dozing on and off to it? All I know is that each time I become conscious for a bit, there's Vincent's face ~ pissed off, growling, baring his teeth and breaking the neck of someone who has put his precious Catherine in peril. Yep! My kind of stuff Maynard!
Makes me want to go slap my husband silly as he was slightly bitching earlier today about having to bring me cough syrup and cold medicine because I couldn't make my wobbly legs work all that well to make it to the freakin' kitchen :o\ Such the gentleman...
In other news, we have finished moving all the stuff my mom intends to keep into her new trailer. Our relationship is hanging by a thread. It might be a good thing that I got sick. It gives me an excuse to stay away for a few days or so.
On the crochet side of life, not much going on there. I've been working up some small motifs for a lady at CFL whose granddaughter's friend has been seriously injured by a hit and run driver. Very sad. Bet they were drunk. But let's ban smoking cuz that's much more dangerous...
Can you tell I'm a wee bit crabby?
Well, I've been away from the bathroom for over 10 minutes now, so I better get back to my perch. Take care and we'll talk more soon!
I'll leave you with this note ~ scroll down and hear a snippet of David Bowie's Beauty & the Beast
Monday, February 12, 2007
AWOL
Yep, I've been AWOL. But with good reason ~ we have finally gotten mom's new trailer ready for her to move into, so the moving fun has begun. Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, the move will be completed next weekend.
Which brings up the subject of stuff. Why do we accumulate it and how do we manage to stuff it into the most remote and teeniest of spaces to guarantee that it will never, ever be used? And once it's brought to our attention after being invisible for years, do we insist that we absolutely can't live without it? This has been a major ponderance of mine this past weekend as I was helping my mom pack up her stuff. After all, just how many frying pans, fuzzy toilet seat covers, half-empty bottles of shampoo or partially used rolls of Christmas wrapping paper and used squished bows does it take to properly run and maintain a household?
How many singing canaries does it take before their song isn't pretty anymore, but has been elevated to an eardrum piercing resonance as they scream to Jimi Hendrix on the radio? I would say it's less than 7 which is the number of canaries my mom currently has in her keep.
Just how many square inches do you need to allow for a 8" long kissing gourami? Considering she has 4 of those and 2 equally sized tin-foil barbs, her 50 gallon tank is not big enough. Could explain why they spend the majority of their time with their mouths at the top of the tank.
I have managed to convince her to pare down the bird farm to 4 birds, the fish are on their own to fend for their survival. She has managed to find homes for 2 of her 4 dogs (I provided one of those homes), but there are still 2 cats for which a new residence is needed. Somehow, I think my mom thought she was in a lost episode of Little House on the Prairie, but instead of farm animals that have the potential for earning their keep, she chose domesticated animals. Oy!!
But such as it is and we'll get through it. The secret will be to get through it and still retain something resembling a relationship. So far, so good.
Needless to say, anything crochet-related has taken a major backseat until this move is complete. I hope to be back in the yarn and back in blogland in a couple of weeks on the outside.
Until then, may all your projects be frog-free!
Which brings up the subject of stuff. Why do we accumulate it and how do we manage to stuff it into the most remote and teeniest of spaces to guarantee that it will never, ever be used? And once it's brought to our attention after being invisible for years, do we insist that we absolutely can't live without it? This has been a major ponderance of mine this past weekend as I was helping my mom pack up her stuff. After all, just how many frying pans, fuzzy toilet seat covers, half-empty bottles of shampoo or partially used rolls of Christmas wrapping paper and used squished bows does it take to properly run and maintain a household?
How many singing canaries does it take before their song isn't pretty anymore, but has been elevated to an eardrum piercing resonance as they scream to Jimi Hendrix on the radio? I would say it's less than 7 which is the number of canaries my mom currently has in her keep.
Just how many square inches do you need to allow for a 8" long kissing gourami? Considering she has 4 of those and 2 equally sized tin-foil barbs, her 50 gallon tank is not big enough. Could explain why they spend the majority of their time with their mouths at the top of the tank.
I have managed to convince her to pare down the bird farm to 4 birds, the fish are on their own to fend for their survival. She has managed to find homes for 2 of her 4 dogs (I provided one of those homes), but there are still 2 cats for which a new residence is needed. Somehow, I think my mom thought she was in a lost episode of Little House on the Prairie, but instead of farm animals that have the potential for earning their keep, she chose domesticated animals. Oy!!
But such as it is and we'll get through it. The secret will be to get through it and still retain something resembling a relationship. So far, so good.
Needless to say, anything crochet-related has taken a major backseat until this move is complete. I hope to be back in the yarn and back in blogland in a couple of weeks on the outside.
Until then, may all your projects be frog-free!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Tag!
I've been tagged. Remind me to thank my buddy later ~ LOL
HERE BE THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
Here are my 6 things:
#6: Toilet paper and paper towels must always come off the roll from the top. I will change them around if they come off from the bottom ~ no matter where I am!
#5: I will not eat blue M&Ms. I have never recognized blue as an acceptable color. (It matters not that all the colors taste the same.) Green and orange are my favorites.
#4: I have a crippling fear of reptiles. My cat dragged a small lizard into the house once and I locked myself in the bedroom all day until my husband came home. I go to long lengths avoid the reptile aisle at pet stores. However, for some reason, Iguanas and frogs don't put me into the same decline ~ but you won't catch me touching one and I will walk waaaay around them!
#3: If I handwrite a To Do list, it must be neat and orderly. If it is not, I will rewrite it. Therefore, I save myself a lot of time by printing it from the computer LOL!
#2: I find it highly annoying that the black and color print cartridges do not run out at the same time.
#1: I will not eat at salad bars or potlucks. I read a study once that showed food left in the open ~ salad bars, candy dishes in restaurants, etc., have a high percentage of urine contamination because people just don't wash their hands after going to the privvies. That aside, you don't know what snotty brat kid played in it before you got there or which moronic person didn't cover their mouth when they coughed or sneezed. I will not eat at nor participate in potlucks because of the same reasons plus I don't trust that people have clean kitchens or know how to properly clean, prepare and store food.
There. That's my weirdo list :oD As folks I would have tagged have been tagged already, I am only tagging the 2 people below:
Naida
Debbie
~ Mini
HERE BE THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
Here are my 6 things:
#6: Toilet paper and paper towels must always come off the roll from the top. I will change them around if they come off from the bottom ~ no matter where I am!
#5: I will not eat blue M&Ms. I have never recognized blue as an acceptable color. (It matters not that all the colors taste the same.) Green and orange are my favorites.
#4: I have a crippling fear of reptiles. My cat dragged a small lizard into the house once and I locked myself in the bedroom all day until my husband came home. I go to long lengths avoid the reptile aisle at pet stores. However, for some reason, Iguanas and frogs don't put me into the same decline ~ but you won't catch me touching one and I will walk waaaay around them!
#3: If I handwrite a To Do list, it must be neat and orderly. If it is not, I will rewrite it. Therefore, I save myself a lot of time by printing it from the computer LOL!
#2: I find it highly annoying that the black and color print cartridges do not run out at the same time.
#1: I will not eat at salad bars or potlucks. I read a study once that showed food left in the open ~ salad bars, candy dishes in restaurants, etc., have a high percentage of urine contamination because people just don't wash their hands after going to the privvies. That aside, you don't know what snotty brat kid played in it before you got there or which moronic person didn't cover their mouth when they coughed or sneezed. I will not eat at nor participate in potlucks because of the same reasons plus I don't trust that people have clean kitchens or know how to properly clean, prepare and store food.
There. That's my weirdo list :oD As folks I would have tagged have been tagged already, I am only tagging the 2 people below:
Naida
Debbie
~ Mini
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Taking A Day Off
I think I will never book a flight that connects through LAX ever again. What a nightmare! After a foiled trip, I'm back home and wiped out beyond the beyond. So, I decided to take a day off and just veg.
I started testing a doily pattern for my buddy Cris while I was held hostage at the gate, so I'm going to work at finishing that today. So far, it's coming out real cute (way to go Cris!) And Moe will be happy to learn that I crocheted yet another scarf on the 2 short flights to and from LAX - (I told her I was sick of scarves and wouldn't make another one :P)
Speaking of short flights, I cannot believe that the airlines are so destitute that they are now resorting to prop planes. I was on a puddle-jumper so small, that the mild winds were batting the thing around like it was made out of cotton balls. Very scary. Plus, they're not sized for humans. Hobbits must be designing these things. Skinny hobbits. Very skinny hobbits.
Still working on getting mom moved. She needs to find homes for 2 of her 4 dogs plus her 2 cats and Lord knows how many canaries, cockatiels and love birds. These have been joyous conversations to have with her. As much as I love my dear Jose, I understand her sadness, but by the same token they are dogs, cats and birds and she will eventually be ok. I just hope I don't have to resort to finding homes for them, as I won't be so picky and that will just instigate more joyous conversation :o\
The tables truly do turn between you and your parents as you get older. I find I'm making comments that she used to make to me when I was a bratty prepubescent teenager. It's a very weird postion to be in for certain. And considering she turned 89 last December - God bless her - it appears it will be a position I'll be in for a while.
So much for that topic. Now for some serious vegging...
I started testing a doily pattern for my buddy Cris while I was held hostage at the gate, so I'm going to work at finishing that today. So far, it's coming out real cute (way to go Cris!) And Moe will be happy to learn that I crocheted yet another scarf on the 2 short flights to and from LAX - (I told her I was sick of scarves and wouldn't make another one :P)
Speaking of short flights, I cannot believe that the airlines are so destitute that they are now resorting to prop planes. I was on a puddle-jumper so small, that the mild winds were batting the thing around like it was made out of cotton balls. Very scary. Plus, they're not sized for humans. Hobbits must be designing these things. Skinny hobbits. Very skinny hobbits.
Still working on getting mom moved. She needs to find homes for 2 of her 4 dogs plus her 2 cats and Lord knows how many canaries, cockatiels and love birds. These have been joyous conversations to have with her. As much as I love my dear Jose, I understand her sadness, but by the same token they are dogs, cats and birds and she will eventually be ok. I just hope I don't have to resort to finding homes for them, as I won't be so picky and that will just instigate more joyous conversation :o\
The tables truly do turn between you and your parents as you get older. I find I'm making comments that she used to make to me when I was a bratty prepubescent teenager. It's a very weird postion to be in for certain. And considering she turned 89 last December - God bless her - it appears it will be a position I'll be in for a while.
So much for that topic. Now for some serious vegging...
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Happy Cows Meet Unhappy Sheep
The code from YouTube for some reason wouldn't let me embed this one. Click on the here for Braveheart-like chuckles :D
I've Been AWOL
Bet you thought I dropped off the planet (or moved to Pluto.) Alas, neither ~ work has been keeping me busier than a one-armed paper hanger. I walked in ~ after 3 glorious weeks off ~ to hideous issues while I was also trying to get a global labeling system project off the ground. Then, in the midst of the insanity, my boss decides to send me to Chicago. He confessed that he was originally going to go, but decided to send me and the package engineer instead. So I see how it is, it's nasty cold in Chicago right now, so we'll stay here in southern CA where it's warm and we'll send the old arthritic lady. Yeah, let's do that!
Work has been so stressful, that I haven't done much crocheting outside of a few washcloths. Usually, crocheting is a great stress-reliever, but this much stress just puts me into "stare and drool" mode. But I'll be picking up the ol' hook again on the plane.
I did manage to clear out my craft room before going back to work ~ you can actually walk into the room now! 3 large boxes of yarn and assorted goodies ended up with a friend, who may have been excited to first receive it all, but who is sure to be cursing me now that it's taking up precious space in her house :D
So far, I haven't renigged on any of my New Year's resolutions, but I'll tell ya that I DID place orders up to and including New Year's Day LOL. I bought a mitten flex-loom set (they're like Knifty Knitters, only much smaller for making mittens), another set of purse handles for yet another purse WIP, and 5 more balls of Cebelia in camel (because I just might live until 203). I think there was an online pattern download here and there too, but couldn't really tell you for what (hence the resolutions.)
On a family note, the trailer park that my mom is currently living in will be closed down. So that put me into major panic mode as well. I love my mom dearly, but my house is small and we get on each other's nerves in less than an hour. So there's no way she could live here and still maintain any kind of mother/daughter relationship. Plus she's got these horrible poodles with major underbites that I totally can't stand. But as luck would have it ~ as it always does when it comes to sucking out money from our savings account ~ my husband's weird friend told us of a trailer in his park that was for sale. We jumped on it and I'm now the proud owner. So yesterday was spent going through it and identifying what needed to be fixed, redone, etc. Then there was the running back and forth to Home Depot and (ick) Wal-Mart. However, we lucked out again as very little needs to be done ~ at least compared to the last one we bought for her :\ One more weekend should have this place ready for her to move in. Then comes the task of purging her old place, packing her up and moving her.
So there it is. That's what I've been up to while I've been AWOL from blogland. Didja miss me? :D
Work has been so stressful, that I haven't done much crocheting outside of a few washcloths. Usually, crocheting is a great stress-reliever, but this much stress just puts me into "stare and drool" mode. But I'll be picking up the ol' hook again on the plane.
I did manage to clear out my craft room before going back to work ~ you can actually walk into the room now! 3 large boxes of yarn and assorted goodies ended up with a friend, who may have been excited to first receive it all, but who is sure to be cursing me now that it's taking up precious space in her house :D
So far, I haven't renigged on any of my New Year's resolutions, but I'll tell ya that I DID place orders up to and including New Year's Day LOL. I bought a mitten flex-loom set (they're like Knifty Knitters, only much smaller for making mittens), another set of purse handles for yet another purse WIP, and 5 more balls of Cebelia in camel (because I just might live until 203). I think there was an online pattern download here and there too, but couldn't really tell you for what (hence the resolutions.)
On a family note, the trailer park that my mom is currently living in will be closed down. So that put me into major panic mode as well. I love my mom dearly, but my house is small and we get on each other's nerves in less than an hour. So there's no way she could live here and still maintain any kind of mother/daughter relationship. Plus she's got these horrible poodles with major underbites that I totally can't stand. But as luck would have it ~ as it always does when it comes to sucking out money from our savings account ~ my husband's weird friend told us of a trailer in his park that was for sale. We jumped on it and I'm now the proud owner. So yesterday was spent going through it and identifying what needed to be fixed, redone, etc. Then there was the running back and forth to Home Depot and (ick) Wal-Mart. However, we lucked out again as very little needs to be done ~ at least compared to the last one we bought for her :\ One more weekend should have this place ready for her to move in. Then comes the task of purging her old place, packing her up and moving her.
So there it is. That's what I've been up to while I've been AWOL from blogland. Didja miss me? :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)