Signing off for a few days.....

Just wanted to let everyone know that the PCs will be unplugged later today and I'm not sure when they'll be up and running again. Just so y'all know...when they get back up I'll do my best to catch up with everyone....blogs and emails.

The closing time was changed from 10:00am to 2:30pm, I have 'only' the kitchen to pack...good grief.... like that's not a never ending packing job...but I'm nearly 'there'.

Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts, encouraging words, and sympathizing for all this packing business, they've helped enormously. kept me giggling.

Update on the family gathering....the reason we were having it in Stillwater was because of my uncle who is disabled and unable to make the journey to Tulsa, well Mom called me yesterday morning to let me know his health had made a nose dive and was admitted to hospital there, they then flew him to a Tulsa hospital, the last I heard 'they' were thinking it's possibly psneumonia.

Then Roy, who was like a son to Uncle Albert, started having major issues with his back (auto accident) and is having tests today and depending on the results may have surgery....so...the gathering is cancelled for the time being and hopefully everyone will recover and we can have it at some point in early Fall.

Just know I'll be thinking about each and every one of you, and missing you. BIG TIME!

It's a beautiful morning in the neighborhood...heh..was trying to capture that double ruffle on the datura.

These should open up tonight, must remember to take photos...must remember...hopefully I will and have photos of Moonflowers to show for it.


And because we love the little red flowers.


Happy Knitting to all and continue making good times.

Life is Grand...even if my head is threatening to explode...

(Datura)

Just another fly by...I am earnestly packing over here. Although we don't have to empty the house 100% I figure everything that gets packed and moved..via a moving company..NEXT FRIDAY...is just that much less I have to move later myself,eh? Dudes, for such a little place there sure is a lot of stuff being packed.
(brightness amongst the faded)

I started with the stash. Packed and packed, thought I had it all, it's laughable where I'm finding little pockets of stash here and there...makes you wander about those skeins, do they go skipping through the house at night? playing hide and seek? I certainly don't recall putting that yarn there..... Of course, panic set in....I did keep a couple of WIPs out...just in case, but now I'm laughing at myself, as if I'll have time for knitting...not. But still the panic...so I threw some balls of cotton 'warshrag' yarn into 'the basket' that will remain unpacked throughout the whole moving..just in case...they're great stress busters.
(this baby is 8 inches across)

I know I've not been the most frequent blogger around but I do try...to do my best...but from here on out, probably a couple of weeks I doubt seriously I'll have much time to spend on the pc...as in posting to my blog.

I will, however, try and stay current in reading your posts, and I'll do my best to leave comments... just bear with me, it's not just one household I'm going to be moving in the next month or two.
(a touch of blue)

Conor and Gracie were here Thursday and I had picked up an already roasted chicken at the market Wednesday evening and needed to make some chicken salad with the leftovers...Gracie wanted to help. I got the big bowl out, cut the chicken up, tossed that in the bowl while listening to her go on and on how she hates chicken...ok...next I got out the green onions, chopped them up and put them in a little bowl (she loves emptying the little bowl-fuls into the big bowl) and listening to her go on and on about how she hates onions...ok. Next I got the grapes out, oh, she LOVES grapes...I chopped them up, putting them in the little bowl for her to dump in with the chicken and onions...next came the walnuts..'ewwww, I hate walnuts'...yep, apparently she doesn't like most of the ingredients going into the chicken salad. I got the mayo out...again with the 'ewwww'...(I'd like to add here that if the salad were to be for me only I'd be dicing up some celery, but sadly...) so I did some tossing and a bit of stirring...Gracie sticks her nose in the bowl and smells...'MMMMM, that smells GOOD!'...'can I have a taste?', heh. Sure..so I made certain that her little biteful had a bit of everything...she got it in her mouth...her eyes lit up.....she chewed and swallowed...and with a huge smile announced to the world that she loved my chicken salad and could she please have some more?

Ain't life grand?
(moonflower vine, can you see the little buds?)

Happy Knitting to all and continue making good times.

Sure, it'll let me put the title in easy but guess what? No title...

It's been a Crazy on Wheels this past week...We're still getting lots of rain...so I just had to listen to this, some of you may recognize/remember this tune, here are the words....

"Hey man, take a look out the window 'n' see what's happ'nin'
Hey man, it's rainin'
It's rainin' outside man
Aw, don't worry 'bout that
Everything's gonna be alright
We'll get into somethin' real nice you know
Sit back and groove on a rainy day Yeah Yeah
I see what you mean brother, lay back and groove.

Rainy day, dream away
Ah let the sun take a holiday
Flowers bathe an' ah see the children play
Lay back and groove on a rainy day.

Well I can see a bunch of wet creatures, look at them on the run
The carnival traffic noise it sings the tune splashing up 'n'
Even the ducks can groove rain bathin' in the park side pool
And I'm leanin' out my window sill diggin' ev'rything
And ah and you too.

Rainy day, rain all day
Ain't no use in gettin' uptight
Just let it groove its own way
Let it drain your worries away yeah
Lay back and groove on a rainy day hey
Lay back and dream on a rainy day"

From Electric Ladyland 1968

Ahh, Jimi.

One very rockin'dude,eh? But there was so much more to his music, you folks out there who got into it more than what they played on the radio waves know what I'm talking about, the above tune is an example of that. Blues, most definitely, but also mellow, jazzy little tunes...yep, he did those too.



I've been awarded this

which has tickled me no end...but what had me knocked out of my chair was the fact that FIVE seriously Rockin' 'girls' gave it to me. THANK YOU x5! and they would be...
(forewarning here, I AM quite fond of the word 'sweetheart', ok?)


Julie she's just too cool for words...seriously, AND she's expecting her very first Grandchild, Clover Grace......!!! Julie is a sweetheart.
Charity the very.sweetest.soul.ever. and always touching my heart.
Hege ...she's amazing, absolutely so, plus we share that love of elephants.. her knitting brings tears to my eyes, it is just that beautiful
Kittymommy (seriously, do I not know your first name?) I have such a great time reading her blog, her little ones are so cute, and I'm just amazed at all she accomplishes, did I mention how funny she is? yep.
Nikki sweet and so very generous, what is it with the Sweethearts in Virginia?

And these ladies indeed Rock, they Rock hard!

Now Hege claims she's too old to say someone 'rocks' with a straight face, which made me giggle, so I suggested she'd just have to say it with a big smile on her face, works for me.

But 'Rock'...most folks think of the style of music, and well, so do I (I also think of rocks...you know, the kind on the ground? 'cause I love rocks...yes, Stephanie, I DO collect rocks!) er.. back to the 'Rock'...I do believe there's a finer definition that has evolved that goes waaay beyond ....Joan Jett...ya know?

Anyway, now I get to make some picks, heh, and the way I see it (always with the 'knotminding') since I've been awarded this title 5 times...I should be able to pick 5x5...right?

Because let's face it, ya'll rock. That's right. And you know what else? I'm sending it right back to Julie, Hege, Charity, Kittymommy, and Nikki in case they'd like to spread the 'Rockin' goodness some more...you don't 'have' to, of course, but the opportunity is here for the taking.

There's no reason or rhyme to the order...just seriously know that I think you are ALL Rockin' Women!(we need a Rockin' Dude award...for Eric and Tony!)



Ms.K You already know how I feel about her...
Monica Outrageous (in such a good way) and ALWAYS up to something!
Marti So very Earthy, I love this about her
Wanda....check it out, she has a new blog addy! Wanda is a most beautiful soul, she's always touching my heart.
Ryan & TMK (Dulaan Dudettes!) Funny, amazing and exceptional at everything they do.
Susan Incredibly nice and have you seen her designs?!?
Dana A sweetheart...such a generous soul, Queen of Felted Clogs, Bowls, Socks and soon Spinning...and to think I would've missed her if I hadn't read comments that day....
Dianne What a sweet, kindhearted, generous, funny lady, she's a good friend, she's also my hero.
Robin Yet another incredibly talented lady, she keeps me on my toes with her little guessing games
Pat for one, she has the very best dressed feet around, inspirational
Glenna Funny woman, and so much more...another one with that kind of brain for amazing design
Martha Glenna's twin sister, her photos will amaze you, her knitting will astound you
Kelly Such a sweetheart, gifted knitter and dudes, she has a wee bitty hedgehog, for real!
Peg This lady cranks out some amazing knits, all beautiful and she can swim 67 laps!
Norma mercy...where to begin? rose petal jam perhaps? Her heart is as big as a Kansas sky.
Paula fabulous knits, designs and she's soon to be off on her wondeful Birthday Trip!
UK Jo Sweetheart deluxe...her spinning? Leaves me in a swoon each and every time
Sarah Another sweetheart and I'd love to be able to have dinner with you too
Angie Her mind is amazing. Her heart and soul...exceptional.
Holly (she has two blogs, here's the other one) She has an incredible imagination, love her!
UK Marianne Domestic Goddess and so much more, always inspiring me
Amber Have you seen her Elemental Dolls? Beautiful
Celtic Jo Always and forever up to something new and exciting
Mary Ann (Nonizamboni) Incredibly insightful in her writing and always thoughtful
Emma she's too cool for words, seriously, she's a great neighbor and always knitting the most incredible projects
Kit very funny and beautiful knitting!
Saisquoi? Discovered her not too long ago, she's 'next door' in the Magic 28 circle and she does indeed rock!
Amy Besides always cracking me up with her humour she's a sweetheart, generous and kind, she's also quite the 'bag lady'
Faren So glad she finally got a blog where we could leave comments! Very generous soul
Sue Librarian extraordinaire...that goes for her knitting too, incredibly inspiring
Kathy She's also Librarian extraordinaire..she hasn't been knitting terribly long but dudes, she can KNIT...and her quilts are not at all shabby (they're beautiful)
Dee This lady does it all, knits, stitches, takes great photos and shows some pretty tasty meals.


and of course.....Gretchen, Rockin' Guest Blogger! (you also already know how I feel about Gretchen, this life is indeed grand)

That's quite the whack of Rockin' folks! I have been inspired by each and every one of you, no doubt about it...believe me, you are each very special, incredibly exceptional human beings...(of course, go ahead and count them...you really thought I'd stop at 25?..what can I say? my bad? my not minding?)


All you fine folks grab that award and whap it on your blogs.


Onward and upward....the closing date is fast approaching...ack...it's on a Thursday (not this week but the next), Bobby says to me yesterday morning...'hey, we close on Thursday, we can have a moving truck here the next day and move!'.....thump...then my brain exploded...just a little. Now as crazy as that might sound, and maybe it doesn't crazy to you at all but hold on, the thing is my Mother and a cousin of mine have gotten their heads together and set up a 'family gathering' for the following Sunday. yep.


Bobby and I had a bout of verbal duking...and then we each went to our own corners for awhile...I thought it out over the next couple of hours after which time we had bout #2...then back to our separate 'corners' and I spent a few more hours thinking it out...it just might be 'do-able' but it involves baking either this week or early in the next week and putting those goods in the freezer..and oh yeah, having Grandchildren here during the day....yep..I'll keep you posted.





If my head doesn't explode.

A friend sent this photo in an email this week, 'Sunset at the North Pole' I don't know who took this, I certainly didn't....so I'm not trying to take any credit here....I did send it out to a few friends, I know that some folks were able to view it, others not so that's why I'm including it in the post. Outstanding.

Happy Rockin', and Knitting to all and continue to make good times.

Wow....it's not been a week? Hey...it won't let me put a 'title' in now....what's with that I wonder....well, that's alright, we don't need no stinkin' title anyway...

I wanted you to see Ray and Chris though, these two have been close friends of mine...well, forever. Chris and I have had businesses together, raised 3 children each around each other, we were pregnant with our last children together (we even breast-fed them both)....Ray and I have had so many laughs, cooked meals, we've even made a bit of music together, that was back when I had a piano living with me, he plays guitar and we played and sang some Leonard Cohen tunes...we've made good times. I should add here, Ray is a musician/songwriter/singer extraordinaire....he does have a website and I'd put a link here but he asked that I wait...when he's ready you can trust me to include it in my sidebar. He loves handknit socks. (who doesn't?) He pretty much considers them sacred. He now has two pair but then he saw the felted clogs that Dana made me, now he wants some of those, heh.

Ray, socks, Peacock Blue guitar strings, cream puffs and a dish of cherries.

I made a creamy salsa chicken enchilada casserole, had black beans and lime slices...(kept it simple).. and the cream puffs. Chris licking her plate, I couldn't resist.

Ray couldn't get over how 'pretty' the puffs were.


I showed him the recipe, he'll probably make them one of these days.Then we all kicked back and watched 'V for Vendetta' which is a favourite film of his.

The candy-assed inspectors did manage to crawl under the new place yesterday, there are a few minor issues that will be addressed and tended to, either by them or us...we'd rather the price come down and take care of it ourselves...Bobby's a bit particular (such an understatement) about how things are repaired....but it looks like everything will be going forward.

There's been some goodies lately,

a few weeks ago Bobby had to go to DC, business, and he called me, middle of the day..he was in a yarn store! Stitch DC as a matter of fact, asking me what I'd like...you'd think it would be easy but it wasn't...anyway, the sock yarn there (Scarlett Fleece...gorgeous yarn!) and then he saw that red lace weight and he couldn't leave the store without it...he's got a thing for red on me...this yarn is incredibly soft and the colour is such an outstanding red. I'm definitely seeing red lacey shawl!

Angie sent me the book, about Queen Henrietta Maria married to Charles I of England...I have read the first little chapter but I need to finish '1632' first, nearly there, and I'm very much looking forward to reading about Angie's beloved Queen...Thank you so much Angie!

LOOK! Socks! for me!

Some of you folks have probably already seen these socks...over at Ms.K's...bless her. In a recent email she asked how big my feet were and had made some comment that with all my charity knitting and holiday knitting for others that perhaps the only way I was getting socks for myself....and I had forgotten all about it...when I checked the mail yesterday I found this little package and saw who sent it...I love these socks beyond all reason and there's a list a few miles long of reasons...so...(as she put it) not only are we soul sisters but sole sisters also...they fit her perfectly..they fit me perfectly...the colours are beautiful, the knitting is gorgeous, and I love the scallop at the top...

THANK YOU, Sis!

Flowers? Would you care to see some flowers?

Happy Knitting to all and continue making good times.

KA BUK BUK KA BUK BUK BUK KA BUK KA BUK BUK.......

I'm practicing...you know...that headless chicken running around thing (ewwww, yeah, I know)...things are starting to get a wee bit crazy around here, not much mind you, it's just starting but I figured to get in some practice time, be good and ready for the BIG craziness.

We actually had a 24 hour period of NO RAIN...that would be the 3rd to 4th July, I mowed our yard on the 3rd then got up and mowed Mom's the next morning. Just when I thought we'd have more than 'a' day of no rain we had this incredible T-storm hit, right over head, no kidding, big bolts of lightening then KA-BOOM, hardly any wait time at all. I'm really not one to jump but....there was one...not only did it make me jump, but I also ducked...and came back in the house.

'They' say we'll be having a dry weekend but I've gotta tell you...the temps are getting high, the dewpoint is high, the ground is saturated, the grass is so full of moisture..I have a feeling we may be experiencing 'reverse mist', you know? Super Steamy.

This coming Monday morning we're hoping those 'must be made of sugar' inspectors will crawl under the house so the inspections can be complete. Get on with this event.

Precious little knitting has been going on...I was working on a 'pretty' project but then our friend, Ray,(he who dubbed Chris and I 'Crusty Old Bitches' 'COBs') had a birthday last Sunday, they were to come over for dinner last Saturday but Bobby was sick and we postponed it until tomorrow evening. I'm now on the second sock, (yes, Ray must receive birthday socks) knitting my way down the foot...I'm hoping to finish it tonight and I promise I'll have photo/s of the socks, possibly on his feet. Oh, (my brain is in 'scatter deluxe' mode) so yes, got side tracked by the birthday socks...but I have to tell you, he loves his handknit socks, he feels pretty much the same as Dana when it comes to handknit socks...I'll be very happy to get back to the 'pretty' knitting project...and no, I can't be blogging about it either....shhhhh.

Hey, check this out. This is what I call Fancy Pants.

It's a pot-filler. I've seen these in older, large (historical type) homes and they're making a come back, is that cool or what? (I took this photo the other day while inspections were going on so no, not my kettle or coffee maker)

Oh yeah......Monica tagged me...and of course, I'm not going to 'tag' anyone but it was kind of fun and different so I accepted the tag and if anyone out there wants to do this, please, go for it.

Here's what you do:

"Go into Wikipedia and find things that happened on your birthday. You're supposed to list three events, two births, and one holiday".

Of course, I don't mind very well, right?

The events I thought were interesting: (I know, more than 3)

475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople.
1528 - Gustav I of Sweden crowned king of Sweden.
1915 - United States House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women the right to vote.
1969- Led Zeppelin releases their first album
2007 - Comet McNaught reached perihelion becoming the brightest comet in more than 40 years.

The births: (yep, definitely more than 2)

1628 - Charles Perrault, French folklorist (d. 1703)

1729 - Edmund Burke, Irish statesman (d. 1797)

1849 - Jean Béraud, French painter (d. 1935)

1856 - John Singer Sargent, American artist (d. 1925)

1876 - Jack London, American author (d. 1916)

1930 - Tim Horton, Canadian hockey player (d. 1974) (DUDE!)

1935 - Kreskin, mentalist

1907 - Sergei Korolev, Russian rocket scientist (d. 1966) (YES, a Rocket Scientist!)

The holidays...(again, yes, more than 1)

Saint Tatiana

Tanzania - Zanzibar Revolution Day

I'll go cruise through the drafts, see what's there for a little fun and games.

There's this.....

Mingle² - Online Dating

and this...

You Are: 30% Dog, 70% Cat

You and cats have a lot in common. You're both smart and in charge - with a good amount of attitude. However, you do have a very playful side that occasionally comes out!

Are You More Cat or Dog?

and this.......

Your Inner Color is Blue

Your Personality: Your natural warmth and intuition nurtures those around you. You are accepting and always follow your heart. You in Love: Relationships are your top priority, and this includes love. You are most happy when you are serious with someone. Your Career: You need to help others in your job to feel satistifed. You would be a great nurse, psychologist, or counselor.

What's Your Inner Color?

I seriously would NOT be a great nurse.

and this one.....

What Your Hands Say About You

You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills. Flexible and broad minded, you can fit in to any situation. There's no telling where your life will take you. Consistent and reliable, you like to count on structure and routine in your life. Your emotions tend to be relaxed and uncomplicated. You don't read too much into things.

What Do Your Hands Say About You?

Mustn't forget this one....it's really making the rounds...

37%

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

Have fun with all that.....heh.


Happy Knitting to all, and continue making good times.

Another week gone by?!?

Oh dear...it's been another week gone by...

We've had so much rain here, a bit of rain every single day, from the several hours of showers to the 1-2 hours of serious toad stranglers...the yards are saturated...no mowing...and the forecast is more of the same for the rest of the week...this has been going on for a month now, ...sigh. How I'd love to see some dry weather blow in, with nice dry breezes...clear all this out for a while, it's very warm and very humid.

The news on the house...inspections went well except they refused to go under the house, there's a crawl space and it needs inspecting under there but due to all the rain...there's just a bit of standing water just inside the crawl space door. Bobby, being the 'chomping at the bit' kind of man that he is, went under there himself, you see it was going to be a major deciding point, if there had been standing water under the whole house...well, it wasn't going to be our home, simple as that. Fortunately that wasn't the case. The inspectors, however, still haven't gone under...hopefully we'll have more on that at some point soon.

I have garden phlox blooming like crazy...I even had one little gorgeous red-orange nasturtium bloom but I didn't get her photo...there will be more, right? Both flowers smell so divine.

Knitting? I'm knitting a pair of mansocks for my friend Ray (he's the one responsible for the 'COB' title)....no, don't have a photo of them, well, the first one is complete and I have the second one on the needles...when I finish them I'll take photos...

That's it, it's been busy around here, but I can't think of much else to write about....so, get back to your knitting...heh....

Happy Knitting to all and continue making good times.