Bad Blogger

I am such a bad, bad blogger.
In my defense, it has been busy.

We'll start with last Monday, which actually was fairly uneventful but I HAD just posted...and you know me....I don't think I've EVER posted two days in a row, but the 'nickel had dropped' nevertheless.

You see, Avery came back to our little neck of the woods, he had appointments to make and he rode the bus from Hampton, Virginia to Tulsa and arrived at 4am, yep, 4am. He called, I got up and drove downtown and picked him up, I actually did go back to bed thinking I'd get a bit more sleep but it didn't happen, I just got up, that was 5am. Midday I took Avery for his appointments, got back home, we changed into our 'crap' clothes and went over to Mom's to mow her yard, came back here and mowed and trimmed this yard (isn't that what you get to do...put them to work when they come home?)...Avery is such a sweet guy, no kidding, no moaning or groaning, just got to it.
Afterward we got cleaned up, here he is, my 2nd born bouncing baby boy, all grown up...

I've got to tell you, Dana and Dianne, (they threatened to kidnap Avery and hold him ransom so I'd have to go out there and 'rescue' him) he was just a little sorry the kidnapping caper didn't get pulled off, he does enjoy good food and you should've seen his eyes light up at 'handknit socks', he does love his handknit socks!
Bobby got home from work and we all visited for a bit but Avery was wanting to get out to Okmulgee, see his dogfaced boy...see what was what...so they took off, they stopped somewhere for some dinner together, good times being made.

Which brings us to Wednesday.....my SIL had a medical procedure and needed someone with her, you know, she got the good drugs to see her through the ordeal and was therefore too loopy to be able to drive...we're talking 4.5 hours though...I did take a bit of knitting with me (as I had on Tuesday also)...so of course it was just fine... er...you're probably wondering...that was only 4.5 hours, what about the rest of those hours in the day? Heh, I'm wondering about all those hours too. Except that going back to Monday morning, I woke up with a horrible sore throat, and a bit of sneezing...but just thought 'allergies'...you'll hear more about this in a bit.

Thursday was a Conor and Gracie day, we pretty much just hung around here, it may have even rained, pretty good chance in that we've been getting quite a bit of rain for several weeks now. (I know, I'm blathering).....it's raining now, as I type...I'm beginning to think the good people of Washington and Oregon have sent their weather here..if so..THANK YOU.

Seriously, I love the rain and we're lucky, we haven't had any flooding. We've had drought conditions for years so this rain just has to be healing for the trees and plants. Did you know that Tulsa is part of an area of Oklahoma that's called 'Green Country'? Yep.

Have we gotten to Friday yet? Almost.
What you all don't know is that Bobby and I have been looking for a new home, we've been looking for a couple of years but we kept waiting, listening to news reports about how it would get better for home buyers and all that. Well, it may be true for the rest of the country but NOT in Tulsa. In fact, there are plenty of folks moving here from all over the place, moving here! WTF?
But they are, and they're snapping up homes like you wouldn't believe. We also have had our 'comfort zone' as far as area that we would even consider wanting to live in, most folks do. We have criteria.... We've had a realtor emailing me listings meeting this 'criteria' plus we'd go out driving around in our 'chosen' areas, plus I'd go out some mornings driving around, looking for signs, writing down addresses...not my idea of a good time.
Thursday evening we got an email with a listing, we looked at the photo of the house, looked at the other photos they whacked in there..(a few interior shots)...we liked it. BUT. Yep, the big BUT, it was 1.5 miles East and .5 miles south out of our comfort zone..but we decided to look at it anyway. We called the lady asking for a time to get in (people living in it) and set it up for Friday morning. Of course, in the meantime we decided to drive by and see it, at least from the street.

We really like it. You need to understand we have looked at hundreds...yes...and this is the second one we've liked, we're very picky in our own ways...
It went on the market on Wednesday, they got an offer on it Thursday (which fell through), we wanted back in to see it again at which point we found out they had 2 more offers on the table...so we also tossed one into the mix... (we really do like this house).....yesterday afternoon we got the call saying ours was accepted. Did you hear that 'sound'? Certainly not a nickel dropping this time, that was the sound of something much larger but yes, the fun and games have begun. Inspections are scheduled for tomorrow. YIKES.

Our Master Plan has been to find a home, and then move my Mom into this house, which will suit her perfectly, all on one level, appliances that she doesn't currently have, utility room in the house, easier for her to manage...and if/when she ever gets to that 'point', you know the one, we'll have room for her to stay with us.
I'm really glad she's going to be living here because these are old stomping grounds, I love this little house, and the convenient area...I do. I'll be over here quite a bit, mowing the yard, doing the cleaning she's not able to do...and hanging out.
I call this the best of both worlds.

Knitting? Mostly stress-busting little projects, washcloths (2 of which went to Rabbitch for shelters, and 2 of which went to Barb as part of a midwife project, this will take you to Rabbitch's post about both projects, it's a long post but you'll find the projects I'm referring to) and 3 blankie squares for the Greensburg Project, I've already posted these off, no photos, partly due to the fact that it wasn't allergies after all, a nasty cold that's been kicking ass... sorry. Thank you to everyone who went from my blog to hers and joined in with the blankie knitting, you are some truly wonderful people, you know who you are..thank you thank you thank you!

I'll do my best to keep everyone posted, I'll try harder, I will... mostly at the moment though, I'm torn between giddy and throwing up. You know?

Happy knitting to all, and continue to make.good.time.

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Happy Birthday Ms. K!

Yes, today is Ms. K's birthday and I'm pretty sure most of my readers know who she is, and if you don't? please, by all means, go introduce yourself and wish her a happy birthday.

I hardly know where to begin....she is so very dear to me, I will tell you this though, she is my soul sister. Since we 'met' there hasn't been a day go by that we've not emailed each other...(OK, I take that back, remember when they had those high winds and their power was out? yep. it was every other day during that time) we began our emails in... August last year...that's an enormous amount of emailing, sharing of our lives, past, present, future.

She is an exceptional human being. Brilliant, we are talking s.m.a.r.t! Funny....begging for mercy kind of funny. Sweet and so very kindhearted. I'm also delighted and so very proud to say she is a great COB (Crusty Old Bitch) when the occasion arises (and it has).

I could go on and on....but I know you folks out there who read her blog know.....already...all the wonderful things that make up her Being.


I'll tell you this...
We both love elephants. I had seen a documentary on some elephants that had been rescued and were living in a sanctuary...but the two that really grabbed my heart, Jenny and Shirley...they had known each other when they were just 'youngsters', well, actually one was very young, the other several years older and took to taking care of the younger one... and due to human 'intervention' (I have my own word for this and it's 'X' rated) had been separated for years and years, I can't remember exactly how..but I believe (and I may have the names mixed up, sorry if I do) Shirley lived in the sanctuary already and they brought Jenny in one night...late...and put her in a holding pen for the rest of the night. The other one came in at some point after that...but what they found in the morning...Jenny and Shirley had found each other and in trying to get as close as they could to one another they had bent the bars on the gate separating the two areas. Seriously. They had bent the bars. Those were not small bars. Those were meant to be elephant proof bars. They BENT the bars. They (the humans) had to really work at getting those bars unbent enough to even open the gate. I remember watching that, and although it had been the second time I'd seen this, I sat there...with emotions welling up in my being, tears streaming down my face, because on a very deep level I understood. Bending the bars. Soul to Soul. Yep.

Flowers and games?













Ms. K's Birthdate.....June 17th.....

Ms.K's Birthdate: June 17

You tend to find yourself lucky - both in business and in life. And while being wealthy is nice, you enjoy sharing your abundance with others. You put your luck to good use: you are very ambitious and goal oriented. Often times, you get over excited and take on more than you can manage. Your strength: Your ability to make your own luck Your weakness: Thinking you can do it all Your power color: Bronze Your power symbol: Half Moon Your power month: August

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

I typed in 'Florence' for this one.....

Your 1920's Name is:

Isabella George

What's Your 1920's Name?

And this one is mine....

Your 1920's Name is:

Zella Georgette

What's Your 1920's Name?

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist. People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you. You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words. Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What Flower Are You?

She really is a Lily, isn't she........

Happy knitting to all and continue to make.good.time.

Rebuilding Greensburg, Kansas....block by block...

Just a quick fly by today because there's just not that much going on....

I did want to let everyone in this neck of the woods (blogwoods) know about a project going on, has been going on...I got an email from Faren, who finally got herself a 'blogspot' (yay), she has had a website but you couldn't leave comments....now you can, anyway I decided to just paste a copy of her email, it has all the information...

Hello, Marianne

I was wondering if I could bug you to promote Rebuilding Greensburg: block by block, that Laura of Sugar Bunny Boulevard is organizing. She is tryingto get afghan blocks together for the victums of the Greensburg, KS tornado.

Here is her main post about it: HERE

And I made a small post about it too here: HERE
(Faren also has links to photos)


Thanks so much! Faren


I will be making some squares and sending them off, Laura has gotten an amazing number of squares already but she's not quite at her goal yet, so any of you good folk out there wanting to join in...those squares don't take long to make and it's a good cause.

Thank you!

Happy Knitting to all and continue to make.good.times.

Happy Birthday, Angie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANGIE!!!


(I know the date up there reads Thursday but I'm needing to write this out tonight and post it because Angie lives across that big pond and I want her to see this when she gets up in the morning, tomorrow is her birthday...8 June....)

I didn't start reading a lot of blogs until about a year ago, (always late to the party) but I noticed Angie's comments left at various blogs....and I thought...who IS this woman...then I found her blog and started reading.

Angie, what an angel...so bright, intelligent, witty, funny, sensitive, and so very kind hearted. She's a wonderfully loving woman, wife and Mum. She has such a broad range of interests but she has a passion for history, and...ahem,.. Roo...among other things....and, oh yeah, the knitting, at which she's quite the artist. She's made some incredible FI sweaters...and goodness knows what all else she's accomplished but mostly, while I've known her, she's been knitting shawls. Nor are they any ordinary shawls either....her stash is her palette, picking and choosing just the right colours, textures and combining together to make her masterpieces...

Angie, sending you birthday wishes, hope today is the greatest and wishing you many many more happy and love filled days. (flowers...for you) These are from my garden...

I'm on 'plant watering' duty for a dear friend, and these next few photos are from her patio garden, taken today....she was born and raised in the UK and talk about a very green thumb! This is just a small corner...






All you fine knitterly folks, please go wish Angie a happy birthday...

***************THIS JUST IN.......and it is a 'must see'! Knit-night cupcakes. Go...now....you won't regret it. ***************

Happy knitting to all and continue making good times.

Q & A

A few days ago I was reading Glenna's blog and she had volunteered for a meme which was a bit different and turned out to be interesting and she offered it up to anyone who would like to give it go and I thought...ok....so here are the questions she sent me and my answers, such as they are. If anyone out there wants to join in, well, remember...Marianne's Knotminding....so you can either go with these questions or ask me for different ones...


1. What's the knitted item that you are most proud of making, and why?

Hmmmmm, Oh gosh, that's really a tougher question than what you'd think, or at least it is for me. Having knitted things off and on since I was a girl, certainly nothing special when I was a girl, then when the kids were little I made them sweaters that they got to 'design' as far as colours,etc, but that was a long time ago...I had just a few dollars more than a church mouse at the time and could only afford acrylics...then the occasional scarves, hats,...and what, a year and a half ago I started knitting socks and I have to tell you, there have been some beauties but I think I'm going to go with the Swallowtail that is a more recent project...it's the most beautiful thing I think I've knit so far, I do love knitting lace....and seeing the look on Jo Lynn's face when I gave it to her, watching her really look at the yarn and marveling at the colours and form...and she 'got it'...yep. Have I answered the question?

2. Do you have any knitting-related goals?

Oh yeah. For sure. To knit a few EZ patterns, at least 1 Starmore pattern, Elsebeth Lavold certainly has designed patterns I want to knit, just have to decide which ones. I really want to knit the Clock Vest in the Folk Vests book, I have a burning desire for that one.


3. If you were to live somewhere else, where would you choose?

I don't know the name of this place..that it is 'somewhere else' is obvious...a place where there is peace, understanding, compassion, acceptance, love, and respect between and for each other...and the creatures we share this 'somewhere else' place with...I know, I'm terribly idealistic, but I do believe it counts for 'somewhere else' to live and that's where I would choose. NOW...having said all that.....There are many places I would love to visit, long visits....but I don't know about the 'living' bit. Hmm, short term living? Scotland, Ireland, England's countryside, Hawaii, Canada, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, France's countryside,Australia, most of the states in this country (US)... see, that list would go on and on. I could see myself staying in a country for anywhere from a month to a year just tromping around, exploring, experiencing the country and the people who live there. Looking for and finding the fibre and yarn, knitterly and spinning folks.


4. Are there any celebrities you would like to meet, and what would you talk to them about if you did meet?

Well, you didn't state whether the celebrity was alive or not...of a more contemporary I'll go with Kate Hepburn, probably more in her later years, and since she did knit I would love to just hang with her for a day, doing whatever, talking about whatever came up, nothing really too specific...just let the conversation go where it will and I'm thinking it would end up covering a broad range of topics. As far as other celebrities go, yes, there are a few but I'm really a shy person and I have a hard time imagining I could be that comfortable to actually relax and talk about anything to them, never mind specific questions. (remember? INTROVERTED person here)


5. What has been your favourite birthday so far?

Birthdays. Birthdays were all very quiet affairs in my family, a gift or perhaps two at the table at breakfast, Mom, Dad and brother Stephen wishing me Happy Birthday, getting to request a special cake (which would be baked at home), maybe my Grandmother joining us for a simple dinner with BD cake... and never once did I feel I was missing out on anything. One year, I was 30something, I did plan a birthday party for myself, it was fun, friends meeting up at our neighborhood dive with some dancing and food thrown in, that was a great birthday. Nowadays I enjoy a quiet day for my birthday, although I do have to say I like it when friends call to wish me a happy day....really, no favourites, they've all been great.

For a bit of fun....I saw this little thing at Rabbitch's the other day and had a bit of fun with it.

First there was this

Marianne -- [adjective]: Sexually stunning 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Well......so I tried it again, and got this one.....

Marianne -- [noun]: A dance involving little to no clothing 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Heh, are we seeing a little theme going here? So, I tried it again....and got this one. I thought to quit while I was ahead.......

Marianne -- [noun]: A real life terminator 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Seriously......? Pretty crazy.

Happy Knitting to all and continue making the good times.

Run run run.....

This will be a quick one, and just for fun.

I've been tagged (that random thing), and have actually asked for a tag (get back in your chairs), no kidding, Glenna had a 'meme' and I told her I'd give it a shot and to send me some questions..there are 5 questions....and I'm still working on them, so soon I'll be posting again.



For the past couple of days I've been opening blogs (Robin's just to name one, she who tagged me) and seeing photos of the contents of purses/bags which I find incredibly interesting. Don't you? The reason I find it so interesting is this.....

I usually use the small bag and I carry everything you see there EXCEPT that notebook, on Sundays when I go to market with Mom I take the big bag and everything you see there including the notebook, that notebook has 'the' list...otherwise I'd just bring home fruits, veggies and ice cream...oh yeah, and coffee, maybe tea if I'm running low....yeah, that's it, and for your information the fruits and veggies would be for me, Bobby would live on ice cream if I brought home enough of it, well, that and chocolate pudding. Get this though, physically...he's a little dude. He can eat an enormous amount of food in a day and top it all off with a huge honkin' bowl of pudding or ice cream.....seriously, it's made me cry a couple of times. not.fair.not.fair. and no, he doesn't do 'manual labour'.....not.fair.not.fair.NOT.FAIR.

So, what's in the bag? (click on the photo for better view) that would be mints (Indictmints, hee)(they have Impeachmints which I would love to find but sadly I haven't), pen, keys, little tube of sunblock 30, my handy dandy needle inventory, the little red bag holds the 'big bucks' (yeah, roll your eyes), change, driver's license, and one piece of 'plastic'....that other mint case, well it's empty right now but I carry my tobacco and fire in that, yes, I stuff my own filtered tubes with American Spirit tobacco, they're quite laughable as far as cigarettes go (about 3/4 the size and very loose, not much in them) but there you have it, I don't smoke much, as a rule, and never, ever in a house/home, always outside in the yard or on the porch. It is my nasty little vice.

Did I get it all?

I've been suffering a bit from SSS....yes, on the Jaywalker and the Monkey, hmmm, well come to think of it, I haven't finished the first Monkey sock, so never mind, just the Jaywalker...but I've been making these.....

I've been trying to find the Peaches and Cream #33 Persimmon colour, as far as I know there's only one place in town that carries PaC, the other stores have the SaC and they don't make that kind of colour.....I guess when I want it bad enough I'll order it on-line.

Gretchen and I decided they really could be smaller than what the official pattern calls for....so these are cast on 33 stitches, carry on as usual, get your 7 groups of garter, finish it up, there ya go, they were fast knits before with the OFFICIAL pattern but these babies...you get done with one of these about 15 minutes after you've cast on...ok...I exaggerated, but they're faster than fast.

I will be back soon......

Happy Knitting to all and continue making the good times.