mmm, what's that intoxicating scent?

The Dracunculus vulgaris aka the Dragon Arum is an interesting flower indeed. The deep purple leaf like structure is quite a unique bloom. It draws you in, making you want to take a closer look.

PEEEUUWWWWW!

And with the breeze flowing so wonderfully today...don't stand down wind! I kid you not.

Bret (the neighbor) told me that was what it was, before the flower even bloomed. I text messaged him as soon as I figured out it was not a dead creature in my flower bed that had Josie all kinds of worked up, rather it was a flower. MMMM, rotting flesh. Blech!



Not planted all that far from the Dragon flower are the plants our dinner came from, and two of it's flowers are waiting on our counter. Perhaps not 100% dinner, but part of our meal this evening. I should probably harvest some romaine as well, since there is much that is ready.

I also got four volunteer tomato plants from my friend, Jenn. We'll see how they grow for me. The four starts she'd given me didn't do very well. Three are goners for sure, one (which Kev calls Wimpy) is still kind of hanging on. It will be fun to see what kinds of tomatoes we get from them. I'll be sure to post photos as they produce fruit.

some tidbits

Last night:

Jess and Erik (who have the Wii Fit I played last week) tell me my Mii is sleeping. Because I haven't been over to their house to play...Shanniqua is taking a nap. That bitch.

We had Jess and Erik over for dinner last night. We took the backyard tour and got to this bush. Erik promptly took a photo with his phone and sent it to his dad. We'll see. They tell us his dad will know the scientific name of it, so we may have to google it to find the common name. I just want to know what it is. Jess does, too. She wants to plant one in their yard. I don't blame her. I want to take a bush out that is blocking it from our line of sight when we are on the patio.

I mean, look at its amazing flower. It came off that bush and we have no clue as to what type it is. The flowers are these fantastic architectural structures. When they are closed they look like little tents almost. And then they pop open and it's magic. I really hope Erik's dad pulls through with the name.

Today:

I am going to a Strawberry Festival in the Mountain Grange my friend, Jenn, grew up near. We've gone a couple of times, but had to miss out last year. This year I almost had to work, but then the girl I was covering for told me it was not this Sunday, but next. Huzzah! Sadly Kev has to work, but he's got stuff he needs to work on so it almost is for the best. Hopefully it will be quiet and he can get much done. I will be buying a flat (or splitting a flat with Jenn) this year because I loves me some strawberries!

Tomorrow:

I will spend the majority of the day cleaning the house in preparation for Wednesday's Knit Night. Since there are more women coming, we will probably hang out upstairs. Plus with it being so pretty now (please, continue being lovely outside...) it will be nice to have some natural light to knit by.

Now:

I am going to finish my toast and drink my coffee before heading over to get Jenn and Dugan. I'm excited to spend the day with them.

mii? not so fit...

So last night I was going to go to Mahjong. It was in my plans. I was going to go. Then, I got done with work crazy early and the host of Mahjong Monday (Dugan) was not home. So he and I chatted and I told him I was starting to become on the fence about coming, but I'd let him know. I used dumb excuses as to why I was on the fence and then I drove to North Portland (MM is in NE, which is a bit closer to home).

I got tempted, you see. And that carrot dangling in front of me? Wii Fit. Jessica and I were both planning on just hanging out for a bit and then going to MM, but then we ended up just bbq'ing some chicken and eating dinner at her house because we were too lame and lazy to go to MM.

However, I decided last night, Wii are getting Wii Fit. I woke up this morning with calf muscles and shoulders that are a bit tender. I loved it!!! It is really quite amazing. It tracks your progress of weight loss, BMI (still not sure how it figures that number out), length of time you "play"...everything. I'm thinking it would be the perfect routine to do in the winter especially. There is yoga, which it doesn't have you do sequences, but it does have you hold poses for quite a while. There is a balance section, a strength section, aerobic section, and yoga. I did pretty good running for two minutes (in place, of course). And I was great at the yoga poses, keeping my balance. However, trying to hit soccer balls with my head...not so much. Step aerobics also gave me some problems (my timing was a smidge off).

Anyway, Wii are going to get Fit...are you?

on a curch marquee

Driving home last night I saw a sign at a church that obviously stuck with me. Most of the time I don't pay attention to the messages on church marquees because they are all too preachy (IMO) and I don't go for that. However, it's message was simple:

"being kind is more important than being right"

Normally my brain is like a sieve. Thoughts, ideas, names, phrases, etc all drip out. Some are gone in an instant, others take a little longer to disappear. Thankfully, this one stuck with me until this morning at least so I could write it down and remember it.

Any favorite phrases you've seen driving by a church, or anywhere that has a marquee? Something that really speaks to you?

a little something like this

Yesterday I came home from work to find Kevin working on the laundry. This made me extremely happy as I am normally the laundry doer. It also made me nervous as all hell. There are a few things he dried that I never dry, so we'll see if I have to go shopping Sunday...I've yet to investigate the basket of folded clothing (he "folded" things, too!). It was at this time, we started talking about dinner and what to make. Kev announced he was hungry for mac-n-cheese.

Anyway, I was home, doing a boat load of dishes that are still covered in dust (hell, the dog is still covered in dust it seems) and was still trying to think about what to make for dinner. When dishes were done I opted to put on my lounge pants. Kev says, "And how is that going to help us on the quest for Mac and Cheese?" I informed him I was not going to go to the store that if he'd wanted me to get something he could have called while I was at work and asked me to stop on my way home. Gas conservation at its best...lump all errands together!

I jumped online to search for a pasta and cheese dish using Parmesan cheese (since he'd gotten a lovely block of it for our Caesar salads the other night). JACKPOT! We opted for penne pasta instead of shells (working with what we have, people) and it turned out fabulous!!! I also decided that we couldn't simply eat mac-n-cheese for dinner, we needed protein and a little vegetation. I cooked up some chicken tenders in a pan with some olive oil, seasoned with kosher salt, white pepper and a dash of paprika. I sent Kev out to the garden to get some romaine for a simple lettuce salad.

We sat down to eat and Kev said, "who knew we had all this food in this house?" I'm proud when I can pull together a meal without having to leave my house (other than popping out to the garden...which is so damn cool!!). Especially when we both think we really don't have that much food in the house. I realized I could have taken a photo of one of our plates, but it was too late when that thought occurred...both plates were empty.

So, another dish to put into regular rotation. Next time, however, I will use more white pepper. Dad, I expect you to say you look forward to having some of this when you are in town in November. I think the family would enjoy it.

poppy

The plumber was here and has gone (which is good since he was here yesterday). Ken was great and so was his apprentice. They were reasonably priced, too! Happy surprise, indeed. However, even though we have running water and a disposal that works, the dishwasher is not running now. I opened the water valve that runs to it, nothing. So today Kev will call Ken and have him back out to fix it.

I could take a picture of water shooting out of the faucet, but didn't want to bore you all. Instead I took a photo of my friend poppy. She's a vibrant red head and is truly beautiful. What? I've never mentioned her before? Well, she's a springtime friend I didn't know I had until this year.

I love me some poppies! Especially the orange ones! The color is so vibrant and alive. We've only got the one poppy plant, but I am thinking I need more next year! Or course I know the saying of variety being the spice and all that, but sometimes you are allowed to over indulge in something so lovely, aren't you?!

Speaking of that...I'm going to go look at my kitchen again. If you don't see me for a while, just imagine me standing in front of the sink petting the counters and playing in the water.

and we have counters

They are in! They are stunning! They are...

Now we await the plumber tomorrow and arrival of our tile for the backsplash and we will officially be done with the first major project in this house. I'm smitten...

half hour

So there are studies that show people should get up to half an hour of exercise a day, roughly four days a week (or something like that). Got mine in today.

Yesterday I told Mr. Lee that I'd let him into the store at 9:00 (he is our repairman and doesn't have the code to the alarm). Well, 8:50 comes and Kev takes off to go to work in the car. I mean, I didn't need it to wait for the counter installers, right? At 9:00 the phone rings. Mr. Lee! SHOOT!

I hop on my bike and blast my way to the store. I really don't know how long it took me to get there, but somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 minutes. I meandered my way home. However I did make it up the stupid 51st street hill that I despise, without having to get off my bike and walk up any of it!!

So, now I'm home again waiting for the installers. The cabinets have been wiped out with warm soapy water (easier to do when you have all that light flooding in helping you see all the nooks and crannies).

After the guys are done installing I will wash all the pots and pans in the bathtub before putting them away. I could wait until tomorrow to wash them in the sink, but honestly, I don't want to live with pots, pans, and all our stuff all over the house any longer than I have to.

I'm going to go get some more water and just sit for a little bit.

pitter patter (not that kind)

I'm sitting downstairs, watching television, relaxing. I have a round orange cat sitting on me. The dog is upstairs. All of a sudden I hear something upstairs. I go up to investigate. Josie is playing with Ms. Mousie. All by herself.

That dog makes me smile. Each and every day.

Thanks for the words of encouragement and excitement. I will post pictures tomorrow after the counter and sink are installed. The woman from Precision Countertops called to confirm our install tomorrow and I mentioned that I had the plumber coming shortly after they left and she told me that I had to wait 24 hours for the sink to become completely adhered before we put in the disposal and faucet. I'm glad I said something. I called Ken The Plumber of KTP Plumbing and postponed the work until Wednesday. I'm still really excited. :)

I bet you couldn't guess that though, huh?

ordered

This is our tile. We ordered it today. It should be here in about a week. I am really excited. The color of the Silestone is in the gold family, the sink is white, the faucet it a brushed nickel. The cabinets are a golden/orange knotty pine. My kitchen is going to be beautiful. I can hardly wait.

We're getting ready to head over to the last meal at a friends house (well, for the two of us). Tomorrow I will go to Mahjong Monday at Jenn and Dugan's where there is normally food. Kevin will be working.

Only two more nights without a kitchen left.

I am serious about making chicken caesar salads. I suppose this means I need to get some dressing and a few other things to put in the salad, but that can happen tomorrow. Oh tomorrow, a real! live! grocery shopping trip!

I can hardly believe that it's been since the 16th that I've had a functioning kitchen. It really has flown by quite quickly. It's amazing when you have friends asking about dinner plans for almost every night. Believe me, I know that I am truly blessed with an amazing group of friends.

We both are.

a funny

So the post titled "artie knows how to party"...every single comment went directly to my spam folder.

Just gave me a giggle.

Off to order tile, buy a disposal and all accoutrement that we need for the sink (except the pipes, which Ken The Plumber of KTP Plumbing will have).

To steal something from my dear Kerri...

Smile, the world is around you.

but i don't like peas

Okay, maybe just enough for one person, but our first handful of snow peas got picked tonight (and a few promptly eaten out in the yard by yours truly and Kevin).

So darn good. There, I said it. I liked the peas. Brett was right, home grown peas are different. Now we'll see how I like the Mr. Big peas, which are shelling peas. Since he gave us the plants to sew, he will get to enjoy the splendor.

I am thinking for the first dinner in the "new" kitchen we will be making chicken caeser salads.

Just look at my romaine!


I can hardly wait until Tuesday!

We're going to get our disposal tomorrow, after Kev goes into work for a bit, but possibly before we get Josie out on a hike. Although Sunday hikes are never my favorite since there are more people out on the trails. Maybe we'll take her on a Mt. Tabor walk, she likes those just fine.

Okay, off to have dinner at yet another amazing friend's house. Thanks again, everyone, for making this not such a hard two and a half weeks without a kitchen!

done-diddly-une flanders!

I think I may be one of the only people in Portland who is really happy that it is a chilly day today! I'm sure the picture tells you why. I finished it this morning with the addition of the i-cord ties. The pattern had called for buttons, but me and the "girls" don't really do buttons all that well. You know, with all the pulling.

I can not even begin to tell you all how much I LOVE this sweater. I mean it fits me perfectly. It ended up with 3/4 length sleeves and that is 100% okay by me. I generally push sleeves up on sweaters anyway AND alpaca is crazy hot!

I obviously took this shot and it's dark and slightly grainy. I will get more shots tonight, I'll have Kevin take them. He's really impressed with it, as are the few friends who've seen it. Brett, my neighbor, LOVES it too. He kept going on about how wonderful it is. Another reason to love my neighbor.

Okay, going to get my things together to head into the store downtown soon. I'm scheduled to be there at 3, but honestly, I really dislike half days when I close. I'd prefer opening, but since Julia needs the second half of the day off to get ready for the art walk she's part of, I am being nice.

artie knows how to party

I was outside with Josie yesterday evening and saw something that made my heart skip a beat. It was a baby artichoke! Several, actually. I've never seen them in this phase. I've seen the spent flowers and the artichokes in the grocery store, but never when they were young and on their way to being a snack! :)

One of my coworkers has told me I should just let them flower, since they are really cool flowers. I say, let's eat! I love artichokes. Why would I waste them? Of course if I get sick of the flavor and there are any left on the plant, they will be able to flower fully.

The peas are really taking off, too. I just constructed the lattice out of some cotton yarn for them to climb yesterday and today, they already are! I have a feeling we are going to have a bumper crop of peas!

I planted our greenie beanies yesterday as well as zucchini. We are awaiting a few more tomato plants that our friend started in her house (the last besser tomatoes we had from her starts were amazing!!). The three tomato plants we put in the ground a few weeks ago are doing really well. Then we have one plot of garden we don't know what to plant. I'm thinking we could do more lettuce as our arugula when to seed so it got ripped out. We do have a few carrots trying to make it and one of the edamame plants actually is growing. I never claimed to have the greenest of thumbs, but I'm excited that vegetables are growing in our garden.

I had this post all posted and stuff but then when I was looking through the images I had taken this morning I saw this one and realized the world needed to see this peony with my dear Josie stopping to smell it. Okay, she wasn't really stopping to smell it for it's scent, but more of a sniff because I found it interesting so she felt compelled to investigate.

Anyway...

blockage

Not THAT kind of blockage, sick-os!

The sweater has been wet, pinned and locked in the guest room so that no cat will sit on it. I am hoping to get it seamed up this week sometime, although I'm not sure when. Perhaps tomorrow, if it is dry by then. I didn't soak it, just wet it slightly, so it should be. And the window it is sitting in front of is open.

I am so happy to have the next couple of days off. Work has been busy! Covering for employees, working at a different store everyday, not getting any office time in. I actually don't mind it, though. It makes for interesting days.

So now that I'm done with the sweater (knitting it at least) I'm deciding what to do next. I'm thinking with the leftover skeins from several projects I may make a lap blanket. It's all alpaca, too, so it will be soft and I am guaranteed to have a cat in my lap every time I use it. But we'll see. I also have my eye on a little black dress (in my queue on Ravelry, users).

Today Kev doesn't go in until later (5pm) to do inventory. So we have the entire day to hang out, weed the garden some, go grab lunch, take the dog on a walk. Tomorrow he is off and we are planning on hiking in the gorge. Nothing too strenuous as it's been a while since any of us have really gotten out there. Far too long!

Okay, he's done with his shower and we're off to grab lunch.

Here's to hoping that the sweater gets all seamed up tomorrow and I can share those photos soon!!!

getting my sweat on

So the sweater is all done being knit up! However, it now needs to block (be wet down, stretched flat, and pinned) before I seam it up. Of course now is when the weather is WARM again. Ah well, it will be a good plane sweater for our trip to Vegas in July (work related, not me and Kev). I sometimes get cold on planes.

Of course this allows me to dream up the next fabulous project to start. I am not sure what it should be, but perhaps I will dive into my wee stash and figure something out today.

Life without a kitchen hasn't been too bad, although it's not been super comfortable. Thankfully we have amazing friends who we've shared dinners with. Tonight we head to Jill and Mark's for a bbq. I will be taking ingredients for pasta salad as well as a can of baked beans. I couldn't resist them. Kev could get off work as early as 4:00 today, but when we spoke he thought it'd be more like 5:30. I just sent him a text message telling him that we (myself and the trio) miss him so he should totally try to get out of there earlier.

Then we can take Josie on a walk before hopping on our bikes to head to J & M's house. I'm so glad we moved closer to them! It's really going to save $$ on gas.

Okay, off to dive.

to all my ladies...

Okay, first things first...my cat Chloe, you know the quite refined one? She just had a small spider hanging in her whiskers, did she notice? NO!! This cat may be a mouser, but a spiderer she is not. At least when they are right in front of her face she's not. She can see them from across the room, but in her own whiskers?

Anyway, had to get that out.

Last night was fabulous. What great and amazing women I surround myself with. Only four of the 9 invited ended up being able to make it, which turned out to be okay since we ended up knitting downstairs where the dust hasn't infiltrated and seating is not abundant down there.

Nibblies were brought and promptly left because, "you and Kev need easy stuff to eat so you don't have to dirty dishes!" Thanks girls! We really appreciate it.

The trio did fabulously, and everyone adored Simon. Chloe was a bit scarce, but would flit in and out of the room as she felt the need. Josie laid down next to me on the floor and slept almost the entire time. The thing I love most about that dog is the fact that a mere one foot above her head sat all kinds of food. She didn't even pay any of it attention. Everyone kept saying what a good girl she was being. Smitten!

I'm now nearing the end of the actual knitting of the sweater. I've just got the decreases for shoulders on both sleeves and then I must block before seaming together. I can hardly believe it!! And it's actually gotten chilly again so if I would just hurry up and finish I could wear it in the mornings to work!

Speaking of work, I should probably get going soon since I have to go in today. Although since I've worked every other day this week, except Tuesday, I really have only gotten one day off (and I'm working the floor tomorrow and Sunday with Saturday being an office day). So in theory I should have today off as well...Maybe I'll call it a short day?

So a shout out to the ladies. Kaarin, Jenn, Liz, and Kate! Thanks for coming over, drinking beer and knitting up a storm with me and my trio! It was a blast. Next time, there will be counters!

and we have a template

The template makers just took off about 15 minutes ago. There were no issues that came up, no problems. This makes my heart SOAR! I am so thrilled that it is all really coming together and happening as lovely as it is.

I asked the guys if I could take a photo of the template before they removed it to take it back to the shop. You know, because of all my blog readers demanding photos.

So here it is, our template:

The green dot you see on the counter, next to the sink hole, will be where the faucet is installed. The guys looked at me like I was nuts, but I showed them the other two options and informed them since Kev and I always reached with our left hands to turn on the water, to the left of the sink actually makes the most sense for us. This way, I can also set a pot on the counter and fill it without getting the bottom all wet from sitting down in the sink...the really deep sink.

I had hoped to do a long slit cut to the left of the stove, along the wall, for my knives, but one of the guys said that he was nervous it wouldn't be a straight cut because they have to do it here on site, free handing it. So, we are going to play that one by ear and decide on the install day how lucky we are feeling. :) I'm hopeful, but not counting on it.

So with this last step done before installation of the counters done, I am feeling content and happy with everything. Life is good. Simple as that.

just call me dusty

Man, the thin dust that covers everything when you work with drywall is unlike any dust I've met before. It coats everything it touches in a fine film that is gritty, but almost invisible to the eye.

I've cleaned the cabinets and dusted our pots and pans (will really clean them when I have a working sink and dishwasher prior to using them, of course). I have washed the floors. I still have to clean my desk in the front room (trust me, we have a curtain over the door and everything). I also must pick up the lounge as since I'm hosting knit night tomorrow night...I need a dust free environment.

That room didn't get dusted by the drywall, so it will be the room for the get together. Not as conducive to chatting since the giant tv is in there, but it will work just fine. I'm looking forward to it, even.

Okay, must go shower and deep condition my hair before the template makers get here!!!

Dusty, out.

progress

roosters, RIP

Well, phase one of the deconstruction has come and gone. I am now clean and tired.

Jill came over as planned, at 9:00. We got straight to work since I'd prepared the area last night. She is an amazing friend. It was not as easy as we'd hoped, but it wasn't too hard. We do have a couple of rather major/minor patch jobs to have done before Tuesday, when the template makers are coming. I am amazed by what is going on in my kitchen right now.

We had a slight mis-judgment on the sink and I had to take it back for it's little brother. I'm a little sad, but the lines are the same, just smaller. And they didn't have the same color so we ended up having to go with white. It was not my first choice, but desperate times. And honestly, against the Beige Olimpo Silestone counters...and with the back splash tile...It will be beautiful. (I was trying to link to the tiles for you all, but it's being dumb and their site is really annoying to navigate)

Is it Tuesday the 3rd of June yet?

We could save some of the hand painted vegetable tiles, but sadly the roosters did not make it. Jill felt terribly and she tried her best. Those ladies used industrial strength adhesive or something. I also did save some of the counter top tiles. I got enough to do some cool table for outside or something. That makes me happier than I thought.

Okay, must retire to the basement until it's time to go to our friends for a cookout. Friends are amazing. When they become like family, it's even better.

what lies ahead?

Tomorrow morning after my dear Kevin goes to work, my friend Jill will arrive to help me remove the kitchen counters. I just can no longer deal with grout. We've had tile counters in the past and I've never been a fan. I do love the color, however. We found a great Silestone that is very similar. But we'll talk about that later.



You can't see it in the first picture, but there are two tiles that I am hoping Jill and I can salvage.

They are from the city where one of the women who used to live here grew up in Italy.

I will hopefully get some shots throughout the process (or at least after our hard day of work tomorrow). Speaking of that work, I should get to bed. Must get some good rest before the excitement begins.

Wish us luck.

isn't she refined?

The one we hardly speak about...

Chloe is really our dignified kitten, can't you tell? She sits so prim and proper on top of an old magazine bearing the picture of a black lab. Alia gave it to me because she felt I was creative and it reminded her of Josie.

But I digress.

Chloe just had her 11th birthday, well we celebrate it on May Day. To witness her at times, you wouldn't think she was the elder of the house. She flits about, chirping at the birds, us, the other two.

She loves the mantel. It's her perch. The highest spot in the house she can get to. It brings her joy to sit up there and get scratches on her head. When we try to lean down to pet her, she will run and flee to the mantel where she allows us the pleasure of giving her some scratches on her head.

Isn't she so pretty?

What's that? Is she standing on her tail?

Why yes, I dare say she is...

We see her do this often, but this is the first time I've actually gotten it on "film" to share. I think this would be a sweet image to print and put in a frame. It's very much her. Although, perhaps the first one where you can see her beautiful face as well as her silly self would be better.

Chloe, our matriarch of the family...

hello?

Where is my phone?

Have you seen it?

The last time I used it I was downstairs calling you to figure out how to make the dvd player work, I mean you know, it's a bit confusing with all the things plugged in...

I must have turned it off since it's going straight to voice mail when you call.

Damn!

Wait, what was that sound when I moved the pillow?

HOLY CRAP!!!

We're renaming Simon, Vortex. It seems as though he nudged it off the nightstand and into the pillow that I leave standing in front of the night stand in hopes of keeping him from going under and bugging me in the mornings.

Yeah, damn cat. :)

He looks upset about it all, doesn't he?

Ah, life with cats....

what you think?

before:

after:

every single day

I get to look out my kitchen window and see this:

I'm the luckiest girl in the world. It seems to have filled out even more since I took this just a few days ago.

We have a few more things to plant, but so far we have:

edamame
peas (mr. big and sugar snap)
garlic (which will be ready soon)
tomatoes (brandywine, beefsteak, oregon spring)
lettuce (romaine, arugula)
baby carrots

We still have to plant beans and zucchinis. I'm pretty excited about it all, really. The tomatoes are the only things I am worried about right now. It's not dropping to freezing, but it is getting cold and it's not been really sunny here yet. The one day we did get some amazing sun, we saw growth. I am not too expectant of the bessers my friend is growing from seed. She isn't too hopeful, at least the last time we spoke. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though!

Well, Alia is coming over soon to see the house and then we're all going out to dinner. I can hardly wait. I can hear her voice already. :)

dinner...it was amazing

What a truly lovely evening we shared last night. Kev took me to Ruth's Chris Steak House, downtown. The food was amazing.

Our evening started when we were given a glass of champagne shortly after we sat down. They all wanted to know how long it'd been. One guy kept saying, "amazing! wonderful! amazing!" Although I'm not sure what was that amazing about us hitting year 8, I do agree that it's wonderful.

Anyway, I had the most amazing, succulent petite filet mignon I've ever eaten in my life. It was topped with a blue cheese that had been broiled a bit to make it a crust. Kevin had the same, only not the petite. We shared steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes.

I, knowing I wanted to have dessert, did not eat my whole meal (fabulous lunch today, btw!) and was going to ask for the menu when the waitress came by with my decaf and spoons for us. It seems as though she ordered a creme brulee for us.

Perfection. Absolute perfection.

eight

Today is the day Kevin and I got married, eight years ago. It's been an amazing ride. We're really pretty happy, without much conflict. We genuinely like each other (which I personally think is the key).

He's surprising me with dinner out tonight. All I know is that our reservations are for 8:00.

I'm hoping steaks are involved. I'll let you know.

ahhh, the power of sleep

Okay, sleep was lovely and I feel rejuvenated. Kevin was wonderful this morning and fed the crew before Simon had time to really get into his whole song and dance. Then Kev went and fed our friends cats, allowing me a quiet morning of sleeping in and surfing the net.

I've got two other windows open and to see them you would laugh...

1. a tutorial on how to demo your kitchen counters

2. various knitting blogs

The dual life I lead. :)

I will try to remember to get before photos of the kitchen (and perhaps during, but that would mean setting down the hammer). I will for sure get after photos...

Well, off to get ready for working at the kids store today. It should be fun. It's with the newest employee and I really like Jamie. So here we go, another day in my life.

Oh, anyone want to come help me demolish? :) Nah, didn't think so. I already have Jill at the ready with her goggles and crowbar (at least that was what her email said).

wanting to tap out

Today has been quite the day already. Actually, as I told Kevin this morning, I was already tired by my day before it had even started.

This morning I got up and went to our friends house to feed their cats as they are currently out of town. That was lovely, Vincent only attempted to eat my hand once. Stella hid the whole time.

After that I zipped over to our other friends house to help load up a Uhaul and move them to their new house. I am a nerd and love packing the truck. Everyone kept asking me if they could help me and I kept saying just to bring me things. As I was telling one woman where to put something in the truck (it was all already mapped out in my mind) she said to me, "Oh, you're going to micro manage where I put things in the truck?" Passive aggressive much? I responded with "Yes."

At 1:15 I had to leave that fun (the second round of packing up the truck of the heavy furniture) and head into the office to do some paperwork for Ahmed. He's not going to be in on Monday and he had a few things I needed to take care of before then. Around 2:30 he ran me downtown to the store so I can close for Rita. She has a niece's birthday party today. Her sister just told her what time it was (and it ended up not being an evening party, as she'd thought it would be). So I am closing for her and working 3-6.

When I am done here I hop on a bus to our shop on Hawthorne, where I left my car. I get the car, go home, relax for a minute before we go to a birthday party. I honestly don't know how I'm still going at this point.

The real sucky thing is, I don't have off tomorrow. I have to go open the kids store with our newbie and stay until ?

I don't think I am going to have a day off until the weekend, depending on when I set up the template appointment with the counter people.

I just really want to tap out of this day though, call it quits. But I won't. Not until I pass out in my bed tonight.

Wanna change days with me?

waiting for my card in the mail

It's official. I am an adult. I don't know when it happened, but the signs are all there.

1. I have started to enjoy gardening. It calms me and makes me smile.
2. The idea of chips and dip for dinner (or popcorn) no longer make sense to me.
3. I will have the occasional after dinner cup of coffee when out (decaf of course) to dinner.
4. An evening of sitting and knitting is the perfect evening in my opinion.

and the final, omg(!), moment:

5. We went to the Home Depot and order counters...I was excited.


So, story about counters and ordering them (it's a good one).

On Monday I got a call from Todd, the guy who works at Precision Counters who'd come out and measured for us. He said that the Deep Hole was having a 10% sale and if our color was part of the group that was an additional 10% we would save 20%!!! So I did what any sane woman does, I text messaged my husband (or did I call him). I then called the Deep Hole to find out the details but the woman on the other end said that they only had a free sink deal going on. We decided to go check out the sinks (cuz those things are expensive) and went on Tuesday night (cuz the sale ended on Wednesday). Well, sinks, not big enough...but we decided to go ahead and open a Home Deep Hole credit card (not to worry parents, it's already paid off) and get their 10% or up to $200 off deal. Super! That's like getting the other sale, that wasn't running. So now we've ordered our counters and have to start seriously thinking about how and when we are going to demo the current counters and backsplash. I'm thinking next weekend baby!! Of course it depends on when they want to set up coming out to make the template. Anyway (breathe) I was running around with my friend yesterday (who's getting married tonight) and I got a call while looking for some inexpensive yarn at JoAnn's to make a bigger version of my knit bag for Chloe (another story for another time). Kim from the Deep Hole saying she'd had egg on her face and yes there was indeed a 10% sale on Silestone (she'd been off when the promo went into affect so didn't know about it and it did end Wednesday as Todd said). She had already taken care of getting our credit to our new Deep Hole account and we didn't need to do anything except save another $200+! The real beauty, are you ready for it?!?! Kevin called with his quarterly bonus...a smidge more than what the counters ended up costing us (with all the discounts).

So yeah, I'm just waiting for the card that says I'm an official adult in the mail.

better now

Hey thanks. I needed to vent. I feel much better now (of course the two beers I've had probably help a little bit, too).

Monday night means mahjong night at our friends house. Dugan and I are just hanging out waiting for everyone else to get here. I tend to come earlier than everyone else since I work close by and instead of going home and turning around shortly after arriving home and coming to their house. It just makes sense.

Jenn and Dugan are amazing people. I met Jenn when I worked downtown. She would come in, we would chat and we would feel that connection. I always wondered how to ask her to hang out (you know, without coming off like I wanted to date her). And then one day it just happened. I'm sure glad it did. One of my favorite memories of Dugan is shortly after I received the news about the spot the doctors found on my mom's lung (which turned out to be just some scar tissue) I came over to their house for dinner. I got up and was taking my bowl into the house (we were eating in their backyard watching a movie) he grabbed my bowl, handed it to Jenn and bear hugged me. I cried like never before.

The four of us (Kev, me and the two of them) get along really well. We couldn't have asked for better friends.

I love looking back to when we first moved here and thinking about how we had four people we knew. Now we have quite a family of friends.

Jenn, Dugan...thanks. Much love my friends. And that's me speaking, NOT the beer. :)

a rant

I have heard from friends that they like the direction my "voice" has gone when writing here. I used to be much more negative? Anyway, I'm going to revert for just a moment because if I don't get this out it will eat away at me and that's no good.

We at work are switching DSL providers. When the sales rep was here I was being booted off the wireless in the office. We had a lengthy conversation about it. It ended with her saying, "well, that won't be a problem when we make the switch."

Fast forward selector:

Today, the tech came out to do the switch. Well, it seems as though they do NOT have modems that are wireless, we have to provide our own wireless router. Now, I wish the rep would have TOLD me that I'd have to go out and buy one myself because you know what, I WOULD HAVE prior to today had I flipping known.

Instead, we have to go buy one, set up a new time for the tech to come back out and I refuse to make it at 8:00 AM again because you know when he showed? 8:30! That honestly is about half of my annoyance.

You see, the phone lines all converge into a building at the end of the block (the guy owns the whole block). So we have to be able to get into the toy store to access the phone lines to make the switch. The manager told me last week she'd be here at 8:00 today to let us in. Was she? NO. Not that it ended up mattering in the end. But still! What happened to doing the things you say you are going to do?!?!?

And now, I am going to drink my iced latte, listen to some soothing music and work on an ad that is due Friday.

Oh, and KC called this morning to ask if we could open the store as she had a rough night last night. Charles is my hero and said he'd take care of it. I should have bought him coffee this morning, but he said he was going to get his downtown (where we both agree, the coffee is better).

Yes, latte is calling.

good thing i didn't unpack

Normally when I get home from work I unpack my bag of the things I won't need on my day off, if we were to go anywhere. This would include my apron (I wear an apron at work, which the other employees laugh at, so that everything I might need is within reach at all times- phone, business cards, pen, etc), my large jar I use for water, the little container of almonds, you get the picture.

Last night, I did not unpack. Instead I came right in and started getting things ready for grilling. We had our friend, Shannon, over for bratwurst and the works. So good!

On Friday I spoke with one of the employees and she was saying she was happy she had Saturday off because she was starting to not feel great. She stayed in bed all day yesterday, but wasn't convinced she'd be able to work this morning...if I could just go in and open she would try her best to come in and close. In my mind, I'm working 11-5 today. This allows me a different day off this week, but I'm not sure what day that can be.

The bummer is that I was going to go to see Henry today (and visit with other girls). Now I have to text message Jessica saying that I am not going to be able to make it since I have someone down for the count today at work...man, love being a manager.

So, I've gotten out and pulled many weeds already, thinned the lettuce, dug out some stupid dandelions and am now drinking my coffee in anticipation of going in. Must add a few things to my bag (lunch, etc) and finish getting ready for my day.

keep fingers crossed that K-C comes in today around 1:00. :) I'm not holding my breath, though.

after

Would you like some fuzz with that lunch?

I was going to use this as my lunch bag, but instead I think I am going to shave it (yes, it feels weird typing that) and use it for my knitting bag.

Kevin wants to call it Simon Jr because it's so fuzzy.

You can see compared to the photo in the previous post how much it shrank. I knew it would shrink, hoped it would shrink to the size it did, but feared it wouldn't. So YEA for one thing.

It does stand up on it's own, too. So that's cool.

As for Flight of the Conchords, I already knew of them, but Kev just brought home the cd they just released and it's rekindled my love of them. Gail, I'm sad to say that Matt's favorite song is not on this cd and it makes me sad...he must have the ep. :) Tell him, good choice! I love that song.

Dinner calls.

they may be the end of me

Go now and find Flight of the Conchords! Trust me. You will check out their HBO show, laugh, and buy the cd. I swear, trust me.

Okay, I must focus. This is supposed to be a post about the bag I just finished knitting and have placed lovingly in the washing machine to felt the hell out of. (yeah, ending with a preposition)

It's going to be rad! I just know it. Of course the only thing I worry about is the handle opening being so damn small. (man, i failed to re-read the pattern right before casting off for it)

Check out the colors together. Pretty wonderful, if I do say so myself. I will post after felting photos at some point in the near future, when it's all said and done. Meanwhile, keep those fingers crossed that it shrinks considerably. I didn't take measurements, but it's probably about 20" in width and near 25" in length. The handle is pathetic. I may end up cutting it wider if it felts up nicely...

orts here, get your orts here

I know that writing about a Pass over tradition within an ort post is possibly not the most appropriate...however, when one has a little time and so many things that have happened since the last post...orts it is.

• Saturday I worked all day at the kids store. It was a fun day. We were busy and Amal was happy I was there (even though I don't know as much about kids shoes, she is an amazing teacher and would listen to me, allowing me to work with customers and helping when she would see me struggling). I had a great time! After I picked up Kev and we fed the crew we went do dinner before offering to come help with some prep for the dinner we were attending Sunday. Aaron told us, "STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS PLACE AS YOU CAN TONIGHT, THERE'S LIKE 14 PEOPLE HERE...AND THEY'RE CRAZY!" Rachel said, "COME!!! THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE YOU WOULD LOVE!!!" We ended up not going because we were both extremely tired after a long day at work. They forgave us. :)
  

• Sunday night we drove to our friends house for Sedar dinner. There were about 40 people under a beautifully decorated tent in their backyard. The heaters were pumping and the wine was flowing easily. What an amazing and warm group of people we got to share the evening with. I was especially in love with Grandma Joan. I walked by her and heard her say, "who was that stunning beauty?!" And yes, she WAS talking about me. She told me later that was what she said to her daughter as I passed by. It was a beautiful night spent with amazing friends and family.

• Monday was nothing special, just tired from all the wine they MADE us drink the night before. Thankfully it was over many, many hours so I did not feel like something the cat dragged in. I was just exhausted from a dinner that lasted until 10:30 the previous night.
  

• Tuesday I worked downtown with one of our newest employees. I got some great feedback about her. She's doing exactly what we'd hoped she would! Boosting the energy in that store and the sales. We all are really happy that Julia joined our family. :) At about 4:30 I met up with a girl I'd never met before in person, but we share a mutual friend. Myself and 4 other women decided to go listen to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee speak at the Forestry Center. She was funny and insightful and informational. We knitters, are smart people who are like monks! When she posts the photos from the talk, you might be able to see me and my friends. We got rock star seating. Two of us (myself and Kaarin) got front row, right in front of the podium. The other three were in the second row a few seats over from us. We had a blast. Three of us, Jenn, Heather and myself, went out for happy hour burgers on our way through town ($1.95...for a cheeseburger and fries! Hells yeah!). Allison stayed on the train and headed home. Kaarin had headed home from the event because she lives in the opposite direction we all were traveling.
  

So that is the past few days. Today is a day off! I am making the oven fried chicken (not to be confused with my oven friend chicken, Dad) for our neighbor, Ian. Kev agreed to hit the grocery store on his way home because I offered to clean the whole house in return. I love the working out of the chores. I dislike the grocery store...I didn't look forward to going at all. I love Kev. :)

today

It started with having to dig out the roots. Kevin is a maniac and did an amazing job. I have convinced our neighbor, Ian, to haul it all away for the small price of an oven *fried chicken dinner next week.

The roots you saw above, were where these four lovely trees now live. I clipped down the two overgrown butterfly bushes and when I went to purchase the trees, Kev dug the roots out. When I got home, the area was ready for planting.
Since we had one tree of the five I bought left over, we opted to plant him by the garage. It really has added something. And it's got a friend. A Hebe. I love Hebes! They are such pretty little plants and will flower.
I love Hebes so much I bought one to put in the pot that my parents sent us for our Anniversary that is coming up on May 6th. It's the pottery anniversary. I love that my parents do the traditional gifts. It is so much fun.

So yeah, that's what we've done with our day...how 'bout you?

*Yeah, thanks Dad. :) I guess I just got so excited of our friend doing this for us that friend came out of my fingers instead of fried. :) Love you!!!

the never ending story of weeds

So along with a backyard that is a garden comes fighting the weeds. I pulled two and a half five gallon buckets this evening alone. There are more out there taunting me. Josie was quite the helper, trying to lick my face, chasing invisible critters, pooping twice. It was lovely. I hooked up the ol' wireless speakers and cranked Arthur Dodge and the Horsefeathers and weeded like a maniac.

I enjoyed myself. I realized why my parents always worked out in the yard when I was growing up. It's lovely and relaxing and you get to see pretty instant results. The only downside is my back doesn't care for it. I try to go back and forth between forward bends and kneeling, but even with that my back feels a little knotted up after I've been out there for a little while.

I came home today to find a large box on my front porch. Above it, on the door was a note from FedEx stating they'd left a package, on the porch. Um, cuz I might miss the large box?

I'm hoping for a lovely day off tomorrow with Kevin. If it's nice out we'll do more weeding and hopefully get Josie out for a hike. It's been far too long.

go there, buy things

I got Gnorman McGnomerson in the mail a couple of days ago. We finally sat down and had his first photo shoot. The camera really loved him. He's such an excellent subject! Well, I think so, you decide though.

If you love him and want one of your very own (although each are handmade and one of a kind) go here!

Gnorman is the handle for my first and only crochet hook. A knitter sometimes needs such tools when stitches decide to be bitches and run. Now, I have my Gnorman to help me when that happens.

My friend has made some amazing ones, right now she's got a robot up at her blog. You really should go see him and his friend the robot sheep. I kid you not!!! Go. NOW!

Meanwhile, I've been a busy girl on my cardigan. I've got the back and both of the front pieces done. I only have the sleeves to do before the seaming party commences. I'm pretty jazzed.

Thanks for all the sweet comments about my Goofy Girl's hat. She's an easy one to knit for!!!

goofy girl!!!

With Zoe's permission, I give you...AUGUSTA!!!

She received her hat yesterday in the mail and it seems as though she instantly put it on her beautiful head. I'm so thrilled that she loves it as much as I loved making it. She's been the only child who I've made something for who has requested another, but bigger! I think the smile says it all. I love you Gusta, enjoy your new hat baby girl!!!

~Aunt Shanny

farewell

I got the call yesterday from my Mom. Grandma Sam passed away. She was a hard person to get close to, but I loved her none the less. She had great stories of times past. From her days as a traveling sales person (when women did NOT do that kind of job) to talking of flying up on her broomstick to see me so we could have champagne and caviar. I will miss her.

It's hard to imagine that she's not there anymore. That constant. I can still hear her voice in my ears. I can still see that vibrant red hair. I can still feel her with me.

the life of simon

I sat down with my knitting this morning. Remember that fast post yesterday when Josie demanded I play with her (and since she plays so infrequently I normally drop everything when she asks/demands)?

Anyway, I set it down to poke around online a little while ago. After answering several emails, getting lost on Ravelry, posting to my animal group...I decided I would like to sit down again and knit more. You know, get a little bit further before my friend Jenn comes over tonight. So she can be wowed again. :)

Yeah, Simon just makes it hard for me to do anything:

I hate to move him, but I think I may just have to. I know when I wear this sweater, I can always expect to have a cat on me whenever I sit down. This is a good thing!!

need i say more?

Storm, no she is NOT the devil.


Oh! Mah! Gawd! FOOOOD!

how many times?

I have been knitting an amazing sweater. I've started and re-started the back three times (it's now done). I've started and re-started the left front twice (it's still on the needles). Anyone want to guess how many times I'll start and re-start the right front and each arm? Wagers?

It will be perfect, though. At least I'm saying that now. I hope it will be perfect. It will be warm, that's for sure! Alpaca is the yarn.

I'd write more, but Josie is demanding I spend some time with her (she just brought me one of Kev's socks)...

blank

today we did this:


soon we'll do this...

and this...

I'm such a tease.

the excitement of being me

Today I worked for a few hours at the outlet store before heading to the office to get bills ready to send out on Monday. I was done by around 4:00 and with Ahmed's blessing came home to the three yards of mulch that was delivered this morning. It was raining. I got a few paths between the garden plots covered, but then the rain came down harder.

Note to self: get wheelbarrow!

In a few minutes I will leave the house to get Kev and go to the grocery store to get food before friends come over to watch the KU/UNC game tonight.

an aside: Firefox recognizes KU but not UNC in its dictionary :)

I am off...sweater is zipping along well, for those knitters who may be wondering.

stormy weather

We have some friends (I know, get out!) who have two dogs. Ahi's birthday was Friday and his wife, Michelle, threw him a party on Saturday. It'd been a while since I saw their dogs and I was excited to see both of them.

There is little Vegas, the chihuahua. He's a riot! He does not have little dog syndrome at all. He is a big dog in a little dog body and loves loves loves people! No nipping and growling like most little rat dogs. He's even cuter in a hoodie (normally not a fan of dogs in clothes, but chihuahuas have really thin skin and it's cold here).

Then there is Storm. She is a rescue. She's a mix of wolf and we're not sure what else. Although I see her looking more like a small white shepherd than a wolf. She had a hard life prior to living with Michelle and Ahimsa. The first time I "met" her was through a window and that even had her darting under their deck when she saw me. I had high hopes that she'd be doing better since it'd been a long time since we'd been to their house. I walked in and was surprised to see Storm walking around the house that was full of people, rowdy people. She was walking cautiously, not really letting anyone near. I ignored her. Hardest thing for me to do!!! I would catch her watching me and following every so often. I refused eye contact or touch. MAN! I just wanted to sit down on the floor and snuggle (which would have been too much for her).

So after this dance we did, she came up and sniffed my hand. The sign I was waiting for. I reached down and scritched her ears. The next thing I knew I was sitting on the floor and she was rolled over on her back letting me rub her belly. I would stop and she would lick my hand!!! I paused and she nudged me to continue. My heart melted Saturday night.

Now here we are on Monday morning and I have even more news and words to write about Storm.

I got a text message yesterday (Sunday) from Michelle asking if we would want to come over again since we didn't have much of a time to chat and visit Saturday. Kev and I said yes, but after the KU game...heart stopping game.

Storm was under the coffee table when we arrived and I ignored her. She stayed there for the first 10-15 minutes we were there and then I think she realized who was at the house. By the end of the night, while the boys were playing Rock Band and Michelle and I were watching silly tv, Storm was sitting on the couch, draped over my lap. My hands, neck and face were damp from all her kisses. I swear, next time I'm taking the camera!!!

in which i have a memory

I was reading through an old message from Plaza Jen at Ravelry (siren of a site). She'd been asking about "Diggity J" and how she was doing. First my thoughts were, wow! I have a great friend back in the midwest who is wonderful, warm and truly amazing (so glad we met!!). Then I realized I'd not shared the latest and greatest of dear Diggity J.

She has not had a seizure (knock on wood) since she started the Phenobarbital. However, we opted to decrease her to one pill a day (given after supper) to see if that helped decrease (or eliminate) her leaking. She has not leaked since the night I got home from Vegas (right around the time we had started her on one pill a day). She's not drinking as much (YEA). She's normal and nutty. The other great thing (again with the knocking of wood) she's not had a break through seizure, either!

We are hoping she continues and is a one Phenobarbital dog. Dr. H says that she has a few patients who are, and even though the levels, when looking at their lab results, indicate they are not in the "safety zone" they are not having seizures. So we decided to see if she could possibly be one of those dogs. For all the crap she's gone through, we're hoping she really, truly is.

Thank you for all the support and kind words and queries. It really makes me feel good.

gone knitting

I swear, sometimes just reading through directions for knitted things to someone who knits makes everything click. Jenn, thanks!

I went to my dear friend's house last night for an impromptu night of dinner, knitting and a movie. The dinner was amazing, thrown together on the fly. Sauteed chicken, penne pasta with homemade pesto (best I've ever had), and steamed broccoli. In two words: so good!

After we chatted and ate we retired to the family room and started knitting away. She was working on her amazing socks (knitting both at the same time) while I made tassels for a certain someone's hat (I swear Zoe, it will be sent out soon!). I then decided that since I was with an incredible knitting friend I should pull out the sweater and dive in. It was great, it all made sense (well at least the little bit of the pattern that had me stumped).

So I have more than half of the back piece done. Then I have the left and right fronts and both arms...man, shouldn't have listed out all that I have left on the sweater because it's not really anywhere near completion. LOL

Today's plan?

Go to Close Knit for some fun things for a friend's baby shower.

Come home and work on laundry.

Knit.

Watch KU basketball this evening.

Nice. day. off.

the sound of one dog peeping

The time is 4:00 am, the Digs starts walking to the back door. I get up to let her out. She loves going out in the early morning (she does, me not so much) and sniffing around the backyard. She takes her own sweet time, making sure she finds THE place to go peep. She starts to wander towards the back left corner of our lot.

JOSIE! I say in a soft yet forceful voice.

Nothing.

*snap snap snap*

She perks her head and turns towards me before walking back up to her spot.

Finally I hear the sound that you can only really hear at that time of morning. Yep, she's going. Thank goodness the birds had yet to start chirping, otherwise I'd have to have gone on faith that when she came to the stairs she'd really done her business and not want to turn around and be let out again (hey, it's happened).

Man, today could potentially feel like many many days all strewn together to create one really long day.

whirlwind of orts

• Working at the kids store yesterday was exhausting. Fun, but very tiring. The ladies I worked with are so amazing and fabulous. We had a great time and worked well together. I look forward to next Saturday (the final day of the big spring sale) although one of the ladies won't be there and instead the part timer will be. It will change the dynamic completely, but we'll make it through.

• Okay, knitting question for all my knittahs! I'm getting ready to decrease for the arms on the back of this sweater. It tells me all decreases are done on the RS. Does this mean on the left arm hole I will have to cut the yarn? I am not able to visualize this and it's driving me crazy. Go look at the pattern and tell me what you think of the decrease directions (PlazaJen, I'm looking at you!). :)

• I just got off the phone with my parents. My Grandma Sam has leukemia. She is not going to have treatment. This is her way of controlling the way she dies. I must say, I respect that because of who she was the entire time I was growing up. I love her dearly, but am always conscious of loving those around me and letting them know I do. Don't get me wrong, she has always told me she loves me, but...

• We are having friends over to see the house. We've not seen them in a really long time. This means I have to clean the house. I mean, WE have to clean the house. I think I am going to start with the lounge...you know, get it JUST right. So this means? I'm done here...

Hoppy Keister everybody!

mimosas and college basketball

The NCAA tournament starts today! Actually, it's already started. We're watching our Alma Mater, the University of Kansas, play against Portland State right now. We have NO problem cheering on KU while living here!

This is KU's year. It is. There will be six games. Thankfully my dear co-manager at work offered to work the floor today at the store I was supposed to work 10-1 at so I could stay home and watch the game. I love Charles.

So yeah, some knitting has happened (I've got about 12 inches done so far of the back piece) and more training at work has happened.

Now, some basketball and mimosas are happening, so I am out!

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!! KU

knitting?

I have started knitting my second sweater. It's going to be beautiful AND it's going to look good on me. My first sweater, not so much. It was a sad thing. I followed the directions, instead of listening to that ever pesky inner guide and making it longer, and it's too short. It's also not the right neck line for me and makes me look even chestier (if that is possible). So it has become my winter cycling sweater. I still love the yarn, which is why I went with an alpaca for the second sweater (it was what it called for, really).

I have only about an inch of the back made. It's pretty darned exciting for me, though. I'm off work today and besides laundry, I am planning on knitting. If it were going to be sunnier out, I'd also work in a bit of gardening. We've turned under the first bed of crimson clover (green mulch) and got quite the workout yesterday. But it's cold, rainy, and just plain glum outside. So I will make a pot of french press coffee, a bagel, and I will sit and knit.

Pictures to come shortly (camera is upstairs, knitting down).

UPDATED: Obviously you see two images have been uploaded. The second, the skein of yarn with Ben, is more accurate of the color. The first is just how far I've gotten as of this very minute.

oh yeah

When I rule the world, people will NOT be allowed to bathe in their perfume/cologne before getting on a plane. This little woman who wore Elizabeth Taylor's *White Diamonds sat right next to me, knocking into my arm...which was NOT using the mutual arm rest, but was tucked next to my side.




*My very first roommate in college wore this perfume. Now, in my opinion, it is a perfume that was made for a more mature woman, not a young 18 year old. Waking for an entire year to a cloud of this, along with the sound of her ripping a brush through her wet hair, made me ill. Whenever I smell that smell, I throw up a little bit.

oh baby i'm so tired

Wow, even though I am only having to work 3-6 on the floor today (I did start in the office) I am exhausted. I feel as though the wind has just been removed from my sails.

Our travel yesterday was fine. Nothing too crazy, although note to self: remember to take more than one small knitting project on next plane ride. We did crosswords together in a book that has both hard and medium puzzles, but we never know which we are starting because they aren't in any kind of order. We worked well together. Each knowing most of what the other didn't.

We had a blast with Kev's dad and step-mom. Too many desserts, though! Must eat like a rabbit this weekend.

We had our friends pick us up at the airport and we took them out to dinner after dropping our stuff at the house. They had gone and gotten Josie at the vet's office, too (where we boarded her). She was thrilled to A. see us and B. be back in her home. I think the next trip we take together, we'll have a friend come stay at the house. Especially since she hasn't been leaking for quite some time now. My friend has already said she'd be down with the idea.

I only have an hour and a half left at work, but it might as well be two days. I will have Sunday off, before working the floor for five days. It will be fine, though. None are 8 hour shifts.

So yeah, we were off in a sunny place visiting people we love and eating too many sweets.

why so quiet?

Well, the reason for the silence is we are visiting Kev's father and step-mother. We flew in on Monday and are flying home tomorrow. Quick visit. It's been lovely to see them, and Kev's sister.

There is so much going on back home, though. I just learned that a friend of mine (she was my rep from Ellington) has decided to stop treatment for her aggressive cancer (her doctors told her that it was the most aggressive he'd ever seen). This will mean later today, I expect to receive and update that she has passed. She was an amazing woman. Vibrant, full of life. I adored working with her. I loved her the first time I met her. I have posted to her guestbook, where I am sure her family will read the posts to her, and told her how much I loved her.

My Grandma Sam is showing more signs of a dementia we never knew was looming (well, I never knew). Dad put a post up at his site...I'd link to it, but just go to my sidebar and click on One Man's View from Lansing, Kansas. The computer here is a bit slow.

If I've learned anything from these two amazing women, it is this:

Live life to the fullest. Don't take anything for granted. Don't hold grudges. Be joyful.

saying goodbye

How do you say goodbye to a person you haven't seen in more years than you can remember? How do you make it so you don't feel the guilt of not going to visit?

My Grandma Sam is going through some major life changes. She is a woman who does not take to change very well. She lives to be in control of her own life. She is about to have to give up that control because her body is tapping out, saying it's done. Dad and Keith take her to a nursing home on Monday. I never thought I'd see the day. She's going rather willingly at this point. Who knows what Monday will hold.

the power of pie

The past few days have been beautiful. And luckily for me I got to get out of work a bit earlier yesterday and enjoy some of it.

I love when it starts to get warm again. Even if we know it will be a little burst of beauty before heading down the drain to the world of cold soon again (we get about two weeks of teaser weather before it plummets into cold and rain again for another month). The neighborhood starts to come to life. Not only in the pretty daffodils and crocuses that are blooming, but the humans come out, too.

Anyway, yesterday I was out chatting with my neighbor Brett while he was out cleaning up his yard. Ian, his tenant, was helping with his chainsaw. Seriously what is it about chainsaws?! Anyway, Brett tells me I should ask Ian to give me a quote on taking out four (what turned out to be five) red thorn bushes. Ian has his own landscape business. He's rarely home before dark.

Ian walks over and takes a look at them. He looks up and asks, "Do you ever bake cookies?" I tell him not only do I bake cookies, but I bake pies. His eyebrows raise as he says, "I like pies." I ask him what kind he would like and he said, "any." So for the price of an apple pie, those bushes were removed.

kicky summer doo

I know it's not summer yet, but I'm ready for it!!!