the whole way home

Yesterday Kev called to ask if he could use the car today. Thursdays are my yoga day, but he assured me he'd be home with plenty of time before I had to go. I told him no problem (I feel guilty that I have it all the time) that I would ride my bike to the office and catch a bus downtown to send off some holiday gifts.

I am home now, with plenty of time. The exciting thing?! I did NOT get off my bike once. I only stopped at the signs/lights. I rode up the whole hill that is towards the end of my journey. It's the first time I've made it up without having to stop. OH YEAH!!!

So I will go pick up Jill and we will head to yoga and we will celebrate tomorrow, the shortest day of the year (yeah, we're a day early).

Happy days to you all! Retail may kill me.

posts are fleeting

Last night in bed I was thinking of a great idea for a post. It would be grand. It would be the best post ever. It was fleeting because now it is gone. I even said to myself last night, "well, another post that won't get written, nor remembered in the morning."

Things are shaping up here at the homestead. Kev keeps wandering around saying, "I really love this house" to me. I keep saying, "I do too!"

The only thing I don't like? The fact that there are boxes still. I know, it's not even been a week since we moved in. However, I lived among boxes the last month at the old house. I can't stand cardboard right now. It dries out my hands, makes my nose twitch, and really is not doing anything esthetically for the decor.

My parents get here in three days. The bed is almost made (sorry Mom, I know you said you had sheets to bring but I found our blue sheets in one of the boxes and can't have you coming into a room with an unmade bed) in their room. Furniture is arranged, but nothing on the walls or any decorative touches. The way I am thinking, we can do a bit of work on the garden (between the rains) and when it is raining, decorate my house! I know that my mom will love this idea!

My favorite thing, right now? The fact that I am sitting at my writing desk in the living room upstairs while writing here. The router is downstairs in the new cave and my connection isn't dreadfully slow...sigh...it IS comcastic. Damn! ;)

Okay, must go finish getting ready for work. Even though work is pesky and gets in the way of organizing things, it's a nice break from said things.

the bird is the word

PICTURE TIME!!!

This is what used to be the side door into the garage (which is now a functioning cave)

The threshold into our home had been worn and rough. Now freshly painted.

The front of our home. The flowers planted a couple of weeks ago in the boxes have really taken off! The trim of the window (behind them) was painted just this morning. The eaves painted on Friday...

A trio of grasses.

This getting the house ready to list has been fun at times. Kev is still not 100% excited about the idea, but is starting to come around a bit more every day. I think as I continue to do more things around the house, to the house, he will really see what I'm so excited about. The unknown is scary and the whole selling of one house while trying to find and buy our next freaks him out. Normally it would freak me out as well but for some reason having Alia work for us has calmed my nerves. She's been doing this job for 10 years (this July) and LOVES it. I trust her and know she'll make everything happen.

I get to go squish on my favorite baby today. Henry is nearing 5 months old. I can hardly believe it! They do grow up really fast, even when they aren't your own.

look mom, something got done!

You can't really see, but there are two colors of pansies planted (purple and red) along the potato vine in each box. My sister and I got this done this morning, after making the boxes not look as though they are falling off the house. I realize as I write this they do kind of still look like that in the photo, but not in real life. The plants are perky now after a full day of sunshine.

The three pots to the left of the bushes got planted on Saturday by my dear Mom. She enjoys getting her hands dirty every once in a while.

Today was spent planting flowers and knitting things. A perfect day one might say. After a full day of making beautiful things out of yarn we headed over to my friends house for Mah Jong Monday. I was told to bring my set. I love my set! It plays well and is comfortable to use. I even one a hand!

Tomorrow Adrianne and I plan on going to my favorite yarn store, walking up and down Hawthorne, and out do dinner with some of our friends (Kev opens tomorrow so he'll be joining us for dinner...yea!).

Well, off to surf the web a bit before turning in. Just wanted to share with Mom that we did in fact do what we said we'd do! :)

there are times

On Tuesday this week my coworker and I were talking about when I could cover for her (she's working Saturday for me so I can hang with the 'rents). She asked if I could possibly work this Thursday (today) but she also said she knew it was last minute, but she was just tired. She works two jobs, and doesn't normally have one full day off from both at the same time.

I had originally told her that I needed to get ready for the family who are coming to visit. I started thinking about this yesterday and realized that I was being selfish. I can clean in the evenings. I'm not exhausted like she is. I don't have to work two jobs. I get days off where I can do nothing at all if I like.

I called Chas yesterday to tell him I'd be working the floor today at our new store. Of course he answered the phone "Aren't you supposed to be off today?!" And when I told him of my plan he said no problem.

When I called my coworker yesterday to tell her she was absolutely surprised. She was so happy. I could feel the weight lift off her shoulders.

doing well

-I have been good. I've not obsessively looked at/for houses all day long or even once again since that first foray into the world of rmls.com after we got back from our meeting with Debbie. I know, it's only been one day, but I still think that I've been good.

-I have a mini knit night tonight with my friend Jenn. Our pal Amy was hopefully going to join us but she's going on a blind date. Here's to hoping we don't hear from her saying it was horrible.

-The temp is supposed to get up to 70 today. Bring out the new green skirt and flip flops! Okay, maybe not the flips, but the skirt is a go!

-My boss is quite possibly the kindest person alive. I was at TJ Maxx getting some things for the new store (baskets for trash, a nice vase) and I found a great bag. Now those who know me know I'm somewhat of a bag whore. I am always on the lookout for "the perfect bag" for any occasion. This bag will be my Vegas bag! It is big enough to hold my laptop, a small dog, a sweater, my date book, etc. Yet it doesn't look the size. It's a Mary Poppins bag! Anyway, back to the boss thing...I get into the office and start telling him of my amazing find and how it's going to be great for Vegas and all those catalogs I will inevitably be picking up and he says, "How much was it?" I tell him $25. He pulls out cash, plops it on his desk and says, "Give me the receipt. Since you are using it for work and especially Vegas...you deserve to be treated every once in a while." HUH? I stuttered and thanked him and told him he really didn't have to do it...etc.

-My parents will be here in about two weeks. They're only here for a couple days before heading to Canada, then they are back in a couple weeks for a couple more days. My sister from Phoenix will also be here for a few days in a couple of weeks as well (their days somewhat overlap a bit). I'm jazzed!

-Kev's first two games of basketball were so much fun to watch! He did great, aside from the possibility he may lose a toenail (not the first time for that to ever happen). He had a blast though, but is a bit sore. Next Wednesday myself and another wife will be bringing bottles of water, orange slices... we're such good moms!

So there you have it, we're doing well.

letting the eyes down?

You read posts at other blogs saying what terrible bloggers they are...haven't posted in a long time...promise not to do it again...or at least try.

Yeah, here's the thing. I try not to let guilt set in because then, I don't want to write. Writing when one feels guilty because x, y, and z doesn't seem to make for interesting writing (shush now, this is NOT a guilt written post it's about to become the most enthralling post ever...yeah, right).

We had two glorious days of sunshine in the Pac NW and it looks like we are heading back into a bit of rain this weekend. (heh? enthralling weather) I am only hoping it does not result in a slow day at the store. Saturdays are the only days I work directly with the customers. Thankfully it's at our new location and I like new.

Went out with Jill and Mark for drinks and BBQ last night. Man, Clay's is the best BBQ in town! Their ribs...the meat falls off the bones. I even had enough left to make lunch for today (yeah, food is always a great topic, too).

We're coming up on our 7th anniversary on May 6. Any ideas? The traditional gift is: well blow me away...WOOL (or copper, but who really cares about that?). The modern gift is a desk set but we don't care about desk sets when WOOL (!) is an option. Someone, please someone, tell Kevin that a great gift for me would be a gift certificate to Close Knit! I've linked to it so you can also tell him exactly where it is. Tell him the wool I buy will be for his anniversary gift (a new winter hat since I usurped his...he wasn't wearing it, it was "too thin."). If someone here loves me, and knows how to get ahold of Kev...

The clog blog has been lacking lately. It'd be easier to write about the store if I could post it while there. The energy there is great and creative and I come up with things, but then the brain shuts down when I am home. I suppose I could use Word to write it and then print it out to bring home and punch in. It'd be better if we had internet there though. Everything is better with internet.

(aside: not only does blogger not understand the word blogger in their spell check program, but also internet ain't there either)

And so there you have it, the non guilt written post. It had its ups and its downs. Its moments of boring and the excitement of WOOL! What more could you ask for?

sweetness abound

Seriously, does it get any sweeter than this?

It's a cold and rainy Thursday in Portland. We both have off work. Kev's getting ready to go shoot some hoops with one of the guys who works for him. I'm steadily pressing on through the laundry. Josie is confused and is not sure what is going on and if she gets to go with him. She is hopeful. I hate to break it to her. Had it been not so cold out and not all that rainy I would have joined the guys, taking Josie with to jog around the large park. As it is, I am still sore from yoga on Tuesday night and the laundry was starting to take over the bedroom. If I want to have anything to wear tomorrow, must stay home and wash clothes.

Thankfully, the smell is gone in the laundry room/closet. Thank goddess!

The photo was taken the other night. They are just the funniest duo.

addiction

Sometimes that word is bad. I mean, sometimes people get addicted to things that are harmful to them, their bodies, and all others around them. Fortunately google analytics isn't harmful for anyone. Thanks to Monika I was drawn in. She simply mentioned checking it out to see her stats(her blog just turned a year old). I instantly wanted to see what she was talking about. Now, I check in every morning, noon, and night to see where people are reading from. I also check clog blog's status. I'm pretty impressed that people are going there. Thanks!

Yesterday was a quiet day for me. I got up, mowed the lawn (and am thankful I did because it started raining yesterday afternoon and still hasn't stopped), went to our friends house for amazing food and great company. I even took some knitting! I was left so depleted after finishing the sweater I really didn't know what to do. So, I decided to use some of the left over sweater yarn to make a cowl. Not a sweater, just the neck. Kind of a scarf that doesn't hang down, if you will.

Today is a day full of a doctors appointment (nothing bad), figuring out what is on order for the kids store (and what to cancel), and sending in the new design for our business cards. I'm sure there will be more lumped on me, but I'm not going to think about that. So, that's it...for today.

nothing like the smell of death

...in the morning.

We occasionally have a mouse in our house (I know many now are saying "If you have one you have hundreds"). Anyway, a couple of times we've come home to our huntress (aka Chloe) playing with her catch (thankfully death has always overcome the mouse...and I always thank the mouse for giving its life while entertaining my cat). Twice we've found them simply dead of natural causes in our laundry closet. One we knew because of the stench (did I mention this post is not for the faint of heart?). The other we had no clue because it was winter and cold in there and without the heat of summer...you get the picture.

So this morning, it's back. Someone has died in our house. I'm pretty sure natural causes because Chloe would have brought us her prize had she had anything to do with it. I just don't want to be the one to find the corpse.

ready for sunday

This week has been exhausting, to say the least. I've spent the past two mornings at the Deep Hole getting things to construct the window display at our new location. It's really coming together. Today I had a ton of MDF cut to size so I can make pedestals. The guy who cut it all was very sweet. Supposedly they are only allowed to make 7 cuts per customer for free and then charge. Ronnie didn't charge me. :)

I was hoping I was getting to use a real! live! nail gun. You know, with the compressor, etc. Yeah, not happening. I will be using a regular hammer. At least I am getting to make choices when it comes to layout of the new store.

Okay, going to go sit and stare at the television intermittently with the computer.

blah blah and a little more blah

I am nearing the end of the knitting of my very first sweater. Something has taken over me and made me not feel like knitting. I am beginning to think that my subconscious does not want me to finish because I'll never have another first sweater. I suppose I will have a first sweater knit in the round (all non knitters just smile and nod, knowing that is something different than what I am doing now). I still have to seam everything up, which people tell me is a pain.

Or it could simply be now that it's near 60 outside I don't feel like sitting with lovely baby alpaca in my lap? Yeah, doubt that too.

I am going to make myself knit tonight. Actually, the thought of sitting at home and just knitting sounds lovely right about now. I'm covering the store downtown for the woman who normally works Monday. She's not feeling well (I swear I didn't come into contact with anyone while sick!!!).

Okay, this is a thrilling post...bah.

randomness

~ I got a call from our vet today just to check on Josie and to tell me about her labs. Wow. I really like our vet quite a bit. I told her she is the reason we keep going back to the office. She and the office staff. She was blushing on the other end of the phone.

~ As the day progresses my stomach has been feeling less and less happy. I keep getting told to drink tea, put on my scarf, take it easy, _________ (fill in the blank). My throat is also feeling a bit nasty, that lovely postnasal drip crap.

~ The thought of sitting and knitting sounds so yummy right now. Although when I get home just sitting might be happening. Sometimes, when I'm not feeling grand, knitting takes too much energy.

~ It has been raining nonstop today. Normally we have a bit of a break here and there, but not today. It's been just ugly out. Of course it is Portland in the winter...so I shouldn't complain.

~ I can hardly believe this is my third post of the day. Funny thing, none have been stellar. All have been boring and random. Which is to say my life is rather boring and random these days?

~ Celery is the best thing on the face of the planet right now. I actually am wanting some right now, but with the lack of a good grocery store downtown and none in my fridge...probably won't be having any today. Ah well.

~ Josie's pills almost cost $80.00 until the pharmacist at Rite Aide told me they would price match if I wanted to take all the time to call around...I did and it cost not even $15.00! Oh yeah, always call around!

~ Time has flown today. I'm nearing the last two hours of my day at work. This brings me joy.

hack hack sniffle

I am NOT getting sick. There, I said it. I may be coughing this morning and having to blow my nose, but I am NOT getting sick. I refuse! It used to be I could convince my body to not get sick simply by saying those words (or at least it seemed like that was what happened since I felt sick, I said those words with conviction, I stopped feeling sick). Lucky for me, I am only on the floor today and Saturday. Although I'd really prefer to not get sick since this week will be filled with much work on window displays and just general running around. I am thinking on Thursday, after yoga, Jill and I will run to the hardware store to get some things I need for the first display at the new store. I want to run her by the shop so she can see what we are working with (I say we and I when talking with her about the displays as well...she's helping, which I appreciate so very much).

So, I can't get sick. I have too much crap to do.

I drank an Emergen-C this morning so I hope that helps...

I am NOT getting sick.

one pooped pup

Josie's appointment went well. She has a skin irritation/allergy and was put on antibiotics. I will get the script filled tomorrow since I didn't have a chance to today. She's been zonked ever since I got home this evening. Curled up on the couch next to me while I...you guessed it...knit.

Second sleeve is underway.

I went to talk with the boys at Documart today with my artist friend. It went well. I can hardly wait to see the business cards, earring cards, and small hang tags printed out. I also talked about Diana's cards too. She gave me the go ahead and we'll be getting them printed, too.

gotta give him credit

Last week we made an appointment to take Josie to the vet. It's her yearly check to talk about the "peep" pills she takes and redo the prescription. It's refills are good for a year. We also want to talk about the mysterious bald spots that are cropping back up on her right side. The last time we had a different vet look at her and he simply put her on Benadryl. No talks of scrapings. He did blood work, but that came back with no information.

Anyway, I made the appointment with Kev so that we both could go. It's at 10:00, so a little less than an hour now. I wake Kev up at 9:10 to let him know it's time to start getting ready. He says to me, after laying there for a while, "Would you be upset if I didn't go?" To which I replied, "Yes, yes I would. I arranged the time with your input so we could both go."

Hey, he tried, right? I'm just glad he didn't just come out with, "I am not going." He's now in the shower getting himself ready to head to see Dr. Horlings. Josie is excited because there is movement in the house and she thinks she's getting to go somewhere fabulous. Yeah, she might be sad in a few...

rains have returned

I know it's been quite some time since I posted what some might call a "real" post. I've been going on and on about all this knitting. I'm sure it's enough to make some of our friends roll their eyes (if not poke them out).

Well, there hasn't been a whole lot going on here, other than the knitting. Dog is great. Cats are fabulous. Kev is sleeping. I'm training two new people. Today is the first day on the floor for both of them. It should be interesting. I hope that we get customers in today since it's rather cold and rainy out.

It's hard to get up and be up during the rainy season. Normally I am fine and have no problems with it, but this winter (even though it's been the driest we've had in years) has been different. Right now I could close my eyes and fall back asleep. And before you start saying I get to bed too late, I was back there reading by 9:30 with lights out an hour after.

I remember having an odd dream right before I woke. Kev and I moved into an apartment that had a huge bathroom. It was an older bathroom, but had some crazy shower head that was the predecessor to the nozzles that shoot at the abdomen. But in the dream these would swivel and I'd end up with water up my nose.

I woke to Josie needing to go out, into the rain. Perhaps the rain lead me down the dream path of feeling like I was being drowned.

So you see, other than the knitting, nothing exciting is happening here. Sorry to bore. :)

baaaaahhhhhhhhhh

We got a card from my parents today. It was our valentine. They bought us a sheep. I laughed when I opened the envelope and saw this sheep looking at me. I know it's not THE sheep they bought us, but I am going to pretend it is.

Thank you for our sheep. I think I am going to name her Delia. I just hope she brings the family who gets her as much joy as she does me.

In other news, I am working. I'm working on designs for a local artist's business cards and other tags for her jewelry. I am meeting with Denise on Monday. I have one design done but wanted to have at least two for her to look at to make sure I am going down the path she was thinking. All the while, London is Calling!

My friend (the one who hasn't ever knit a sweater in her life either and who is traveling down this road with me) told me to start if I felt like it. Her life was busy and she wasn't sure when (other than knit night next week) when she'd have time. I cast on, and that is it. I don't know why I didn't continue on and knit the first bit. Nerves? Awe? Compete and utter fear? Yeah, I'm guessing that last one.

Assuming I get anything done for Denise tonight, I may just force myself to start knitting on it. I suppose I could use the excuse of not getting the other two projects (well the two that are for other people) done is what is holding me back, but that would be lying.

one dog yacking

The time is 1:00 AM and I am awakened by the sound of Josie expelling dinner on the floor in the hallway. She does not like getting sick (who does) and occasionally she will go slipping and sliding all over the floor because she tips herself up onto her toe nails and attempts to walk. I'm not sure what she is trying to do by walking (slipping) this way (other than freak herself out sufficiently), but when she does, I try to be there to hold her. Thankfully she did not do that this morning because as she is freaking herself out, when I am woken from a deep sleep to that sight I get freaked out too...I always fear and think (and still wonder about) seizure.

Usually she will come to my side of the bed and she'll be smacking her lips (it's her tell). She did not do that last night (that I recall) and instead I woke to the sound of one dog yacking in the hall. New alarm tone? It is a sound that would get anyone out of bed quickly so they can assess the damage and make sure the animal in question is leaning over the hardwoods.

She seems fine this morning and is currently tucked in bed with Kev and Simon. Not sure where Chloe is (although she just had her yacking turn a second ago).

A "mothers" work is never done, from what I hear. I am just wondering when Simon is going to yack so I can clean that up too.

whole lotta nothin'

Yesterday was exactly what I needed after walking for almost four days straight. I woke around 7:30 to feed everyone and then came out to the cave and sat. I sat all day. I sat and watched dumb television. I sat as I ate. I sat sat sat.

I'm ready to get to work today. I've got to call a few people to set up a few interviews. I have to write up the interview questions and print them out for note taking. I've got a clean store to see (the entire time we were gone when we'd speak with Drew he'd have a new something to tell us about...like shelves he made for outgoing transfers).

Mainly, I have work to do. I am ready. I am thankful. I am glad I got to sit yesterday. It allowed me to re-energize and get prepared for the next six months (this show happens every six months). I had a blast and would do it all again, exactly the same.

Oh and B- roulette was how I won the "big" money I did. :) I liked it best on the first day we were there (Wednesday) because the min bets were only $5.00. :)

As for the Super Bowl...halftime was the best halftime EVER!!! Prince, oh do not get me going...he was amazing!