So apparently this cold and I are fighting over who will win.  Last night it tried to choke me.   Tonight I'm prepared.  I'm also tired, have a fever and cranky.   DH and DS have it too.   DS asked if I would fix him eggs  for dinner tonight.   In my mean mommy way, I said nope.  I'm sick too and my gift to the family while I'm sick is to not bite anybody's head off, but everyone is on their own.   And the house better not be trashed.

Got some great roving in the mail today.  FreckleFaceFibers out of California colorway Peony.   Mmmmmmmmmmmm, I'm spinning that up this weekend for sure.    I also got some three irish girls Edelweiss in a blue and green.   I may see if I can get either another skein or something that will go with it, it would make nice socks.  The box was waiting for me tonight and I opened it between work and going back out to school. 

And as a bonus for my day, CAP is extending her book club for two more weeks.   I got the book, started it but haven't gotten far along.   Gotta get busy here.

Not So Lazy Saturday

Okay, so got no knitting done yesterday, that's a bummer and something that will need to change today.

However, I did rake leaves.   Yipeeee.   And I got the gutters on the garage roof cleaned out, that hasn't been done for awhile and I'm not sure why.   Then I raked out the front garden.   Yesterday's high was about 50 degrees F.  The wind was blowing.   Our days of warm and balmy fall have been over for a few weeks.

I found this

Poor little flower is confused all warm under the leaves.  

Today it's a visit to the zoo.  Gotta stop and see the pandas for a ravelry friend.   I don't usually go over to that side, too crowded, but they've been doing a lot of construction since the last time I was there so it will be interesting to see what has changed in the last few years.  Sure wish the lion cubs were out but I hear they are still being kept out of the public eye.

Surviving Black Friday

Why/How do people  do it?   Why in the world would you get in line at 2 am in the freezing cold to save a couple of bucks?   Nope.  Not.  Interested.

I met an old friend for breakfast at IHOP, first time I think I've been to one of those in 2 years.   Then we went to Oak Barrel Winery in Delaplane, VA for a wine tasting and visit.   And score!   they had some crafters and vendors there for a mini shopping experience.   Jo bought some jewelry, I got another stone pan from Pampered Chef.  I don't "do" those home parties and had been wondering how to get another one, so I was sure to keep her card and now I can order directly from Darlene.   Can't wait for that to come, she said about a week to deliver. 

I've decided that I really don't like wine tastings.  The flavors all merge together and I feel rushed.   From now on, I'm just going to tell them what I like and then try a glass of what they recommend.   And really.   I'm cheap.  I'll admit that right off.   So it goes against most of what I believe in to spend over $25 for a bottle of wine.   There are just a lot of wines I like for way less.   And why do I feel pressured to buy a bottle of wine I really didn't love?   For $33?  

Anyway, I heard all about Jo's trip to Russia, now I want to go, and then all the family/kid issues, becuase we just don't get together that often anymore.  and she's become a runner.  She looks fantastic!   Makes me want to get off my lazy behind and get back into shape.   Since I've got to change my diet, I might as well start exercising again.  

So, with that in mind, I'm off to the back yard to rake leaves.  Should get 20 bags out of there today and then will be done for the season.  

Happy Thanksgiving

May you have a peaceful and relaxing day.   HAHAHAHA

Well, mine will be.   I looked at all the hundreds of sale ads and for a brief minute started plotting my shopping stragety.  Huh?    There isn't anything I really need.  Yea Me!  Well, I would like the WII board that is on sale for a rediculus price, but I think I'll see if I can get it on line for the same  price.   If not, then I'll pay an extra little bit and not deal with the crazyness of the stores tomorrow.   Or today.   It is cloudy and a little rainy here right now, but suppose to clear up around noon.    My sister and her family are arriving about 12 for lunch which I'm not stressed about.   I need to think about starting the bird though.   Why do I make turkey?  I don't particularly like turkey.   Tradition.  

Well, my tradition is to watch the parade and drink mimosas.    And knit.   Stanley doesn't have to sit on my lap anymore to have his colar off, he is suppose to keep wearing it for another few weeks until his cuts finish healing, but I take it off when I can watch him, and yep, he still messes with it, and the scab is kinda gone, but hey, he's a cat, and the vet said eventually he'll leave it alone.   My poor boy, but he is fine now, and we are all thankful.

Tomorrow it's breakfast with an old friend then we're off to a local vineyard for wine tasting.   I've never heard of this place before, so have high hopes.

Have a relaxing day. 

Miscellaneous Monday

And a fine day it is too.  I took care of a couple of pesky things at work.   Have more to take care of tomorrow.

I took an on line biology quiz I totally forgot about.   You get two tries, the first try I was at work without my books.   I got three answers right out of Eleven.   I came home, went to class, came back home, grabbed my notes, and aced the quiz.  Shame on me for delaying it.  I have started on the next paper, due in 3 weeks.   Get to go to the zoo for that one, hope the baby lions are out now :)

The Yarn Harlot wrote about the magic and therapudic properties of tea in the afternoon.   I'm wondering if that will help center me in my days more.   Think I will try starting tomorrow.  3:00 p.m. one hot cup of tea.   I have tea at work, I have tea at home.   I like hot tea at night, but for some reason never thought about trying a cup in the afternoon.  Will track my progress.

On the knitting front, I'm working on a pair of fingerless gloves should be done by the weekend, I finally found a colar I liked to finish off the central park hoodie I started last spring but decided I didn't want a hood on it.   Which I guess doesn't make it a central park hoodie anymore does it?   Will search for  the pattern with the colar I want on it (hope it's free) and maybe I can get that done too.

Secret  knitting still going on.

Keep your fingers crossed that Stanley's stitches come out tomorrow (or the few that are left) and he can quit wearing that colar around his neck.   We are ALL done with it.

Determination

Stanley is one determined kitty.  Monday I took him to the vet to have the drain tub removed from his let.   He got an extra antiobotic shot cuz the vet wasn't happy with how his leg was looking.   Said it would probably be fine, but you never can be sure.    She said he didn't have to wear the cone thingy on his heat anymore since the drain was gone, but as we were talking she said maybe it would be better to keep it on when no one was home.  

Apparently he has figured out how to stretch his leg enough to get at the stitches and most of them are gone.  Ewwwww

Now I have to cal tomorrow and see if they want to try again, or just leave it.  Next Tuesday he is suppose to go back to get this stitches out.   There's only two left.  Danm cat. 

New Sock Project

I'm working on a secret project to be revealed by end of year (maybe).

Tomorrow before I go to bed, I'm going to start socks for me out of this, just a plain vanilla pair since it's got the sparkly going on.

Stanley is feeling very sorry for himself and lets us all know.  I feel very sorry for him too.  Vet on Monday to take the tube out of his leg.   Then I hope we can take the stupid cone off his neck. 

Jack's nose is so out of joint it is almost up his butt. 

Stanley

I'm squemish.    I freely admit it.   I couldn't be in the same room when my kids got their shots.   They stepped on a piece of glass, dad had to get it out, or the neighbor (who fortunately was a nurse).  Splinter?   My theory is that it will work it's way out eventually.

My poor kitty got attacked by something yesterday.   We suspect the tom in the neighborhood finally got the best of them.  They hiss and spit at each other often.   The vet said she wasn't sure.   Stanley  has long hair, he is colored like a simese and has the trademark blue eyes that will cross.   He is a pretty boy.

Now he has no hair on his back right hindquarter.   He has a bunch of stitched, don't know how many cuz I can't look, but it's about 2 inches long, and he has a drainage tube.   That is gross.    And it comes out Monday.   So for the next four days he has to be confied to my son's room for the most part.   We let him out to eat and visit, and I take that stupid edwardian colar off so he can eat drink and get some love.   The rest of the time it has to stay on because I don't want any complications.

We'll not discuss the emergency room bill, but let me assure you that unil Wednesday, I would swear that I never would pay that much for my cat.

Santa

There has been a lot of talk in the last couple of days about Santa on Ravelry.   Believe or not believe.   Let the kids enjoy the fantasy or pop their little bubbles. 

This subject seems to bring out really angry people, complaining about commercialism, lying to children, santa brings expensive presents to rich kids and crap to poor kids because he doesn't care, etc. etc. etc.

People.   Really?  

What happened to the love and giving spirit of santa?   You can separate the religion an santa quite easily without being . . . well I'd best not say because surely that will really bring the wrath of someone pissed off person.



I always let the kids believe.   Apparently the pretended to believe because they though it made me happy.  Sigh.

Sock Knit Along

Shamless plug:

If you are a member of Ravelry, check out the Misty Mountain Farm group.   We are starting a KAL on January 1, 2011 to run the entire year.    One sock a month out of the Knitting More Circles Around Socks Book.   This book coincidently has 12 sock patterns in it.   It also features for one sock Blue Ridge Yarns.   For those unfamiliar with BBY, this dyer is the daughter of the owner of Misty Mountain Farm, who by the way has her own wonderful yarns.   Something different for the new year, prizes, yarn suggestions and of course you can use any yarn you want, even stash dive if necessary.    Because lets be honest, we've all got stash yarn, and some people have enough sock yarn to start their own shop.

So check the group out, tell all your friends, and join us on January 1st to make a it rockin good sock year!


And by the way, chaning time twice a year is such a silly idea.    What I find even more sillier is how people react to it.   In the fall it is all oh yea!   I get to sleep another hour.   Really?   Your body is gonna wake up when it wakes up, and for me, this morining it was 4:30 a.m.  That's okay cuz I love early morning when it is quiet and my brain works better.  I get quality knitting/spinning time in and can concentrate on things that I need to.

In the spring people seem to be freaked that they are losing an hour of sleep.   Really?   You're never gonna get that sleep again?   It's an hour.   And like the fall, you will pretty much sleep however much you need to.  And Benjamin Franklin kindly picked a Saturday/SUnday time switch so it isn't as if (for the most part) you have to be to work on Sunday at 6 am.   Unless of course you work at a restaurant or other establishment that opens bright and early to take care of those of us who are also up.    To those workers, I will give you my sympathy if you want it.    But since I'm up, why isn't everyone else? 

Oh yeah, cuz I like the peace and quiet.  

Of course none of this applies if you are a teenager.   They sleep all the time and don't care what the clock says.

Okay, so Jack's not up yet, but he is a teenager in cat years.

Happy Sunday!

Random Saturday

I actually slept in this morning.   Guess I was tired, and apparently Jack wasn't hungry becuase he was still curled up in my neck when I finally woke up.   7:22 a.m.   Unheard of.   So I had my coffee and checked the ads for sunday sales - it's DH's birthday tomorrow and of course I forgot so I'll need to get him something and make a cake.   

I got the yard raked front and back in two hours, by myself, 12 bags, score!    Of course DH pointed out that I did the middle and not all the edges but it looks way better and as soon as the rest of the leaves drop and we have to clean the gutters, and then do the edges.    Oh, Thanksgiving weekend will be so busy.    Yarn work and painting the diningroom ceiling.   FUN! 

And We'll Just Start Again

So, It's the beginning of another month, and how in the heck can it be November already?   Doesn't seem like November, but that could be because until last weekend, it was summer weather.  I think CAP has a great idea going about "checking in" the beginning of every month to assess how her last month went and what is in the plans for the next month.

Well, I don't want to copy her completely, but I was thinking about the past year just the other day.   This time last year, tomorrow to be exact, I quit my job.   A job I had had for 7 years.   A job I could no longer stand working with a woman who, well lets just say that I didn't understand her.   Or to be more precise I did actually understand her, I was just tired of being her wife.   By that I mean the one who made sure that her life ran smoothly 24/7.  

It was a scarry thing, quitting without another job to go to.   I temped for awhile.   I didn't work for awhile.   I temped some more, then I decided to maybe really look for a job.   It took about 4 months and I wasn't stressed/serious about it, would just send my resume to anything that looked interesting, and was close to home, and paid more than minimum wage.   And while I wasn't working I was learning to take back my own life.   I made sure to get up and dress every day, and I didn't watch TV all day, but I finally got the house in some semblance of order, laundry was done all the time, we ate good meals for dinner, and I wasn't crazed.   And shockingly, my phone did not ring night and day, day and night, and weekends too.   I could actually get a pedicure and not have my phone ring - score!

I started a full time job again in June, it was a bit of an adjustment, but I like it.   It is close to home, the people are nice - and for me that's sayng a lot because I don't really like people.  And I have benefits.   Including sick leave, personal leave and vacation.   Something I hadn't had in 7 years. 

Last weekend my husband and I were going somewhere and as I looked out the window I said "I'm happy"  just a random thought that came out of my mouth, but upon reflection quite true.   WHile yes, I work a regualar job, I have a regular income, I can knit when I want, I can go out with friends when I want, I can spend all night on the computer if that is what floats my boat.  I've found balance in my life again.  

I'm happy and life is good.