Hello there, readers, followers & lurkers. I have moved my blog again :) Well, I haven't actually 'moved', but rather, I have started a new blog. Just felt like the thing to do. So.....if you wish to read, follow or lurk, just go here
Yankee Chick 2
Everyone is welcome to read my blog. I would prefer not to have any lurkers that read so they can report in to those that want to know what is happening, but don't want me to see their visit in my stats. That can never be avoided, however, so I'm just not going to give a flying fig! There will always be lurkers. Knock yourself out! Hee hee
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Yankee Chick~ Tales of a Yankee Lost in the Ozarks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Vans & Roses
It made us realize that I have had my Tahoe for 5 years, this month. I don't know what the deal is, but I absolutely LOVE my 'Ho! I love the looks of it and totally love the way it drives and handles. My last couple of vehicles in Alaska were Chevy S-10 Blazers and I loved them as well. I can only imagine how awesome it would have been to have had a Tahoe in Alaska! The 'Ho is an '03 and I only have 128,000 miles on it. I am hoping it will last a very long time. I don't particularly care for the looks of the newer models and it's a good thing! Chuck checked the prices on them, just out of curiosity, while he was looking for his van, and they are like $50-$60,000. I'm not even sure if that was the Z-71 model. Yikes! How do people afford payments??? If I recall, for mine, we financed about $30,000 for 5 years and my payments are $468 a month. It must be that a person buying a brand new one has to decide between a house payment or a truck payment! LOL
Anyway, the roses have started blooming early this year. Last year they bloomed after I went to Alaska and I'm pretty sure it was sometime in May. This will start my summer of fresh roses by my computer every day. Chuck will pick me fresh ones, every couple of days :) He has his moments. Wonder who he'll pick them for whilst I'm gone?? Susie & Dixie, mayhaps :)
I'm getting down to the serious stuff in getting ready for my trip I was commiserating last night with Terri (lovely daughter) as to what knitting projects I should bring. I have so many projects lined up, it's hard to decide, but I did narrow it down to "the less complicated, the better". I've only been serious about knitting for a year, and I really don't have a lot of experience or confidence going for me yet. I'm so easily distracted, that if I can't focus entirely on what I'm doing, I make mistakes. If I don't catch it right away, it's difficult to fix and often I have had to rip something all out and start over. But as I was about to say, there will be a LOT of distractions in that house while I'm there. I can't wait :)
Back to the knitting thing. For some reason, I am having the WORST time with a baby blanket I am trying to knit! Its ridiculous. I'm making it for the gal that works for Chuck. She is due next week (in fact they are inducing her on Tues.) I have known abut her pregnancy since the 1st moment she found out. She helped me pick out the yarn & I got it right away. I already had a pattern I wanted to try. So, yeah.....this was about 8 months ago. I didn't start it right away because I had several Christmas gifts I was making, figured I would start it after the New Year and have it finished in plenty of time. I was so wrong!
This was when I learned how dangerous distractions can be. I "thought" I was comfortable with the pattern. I "thought" I could knit on it while watching TV. I "thought" wrong! Twice I found mistakes and had to undo a few rows, stitch by stitch and redo them. (very slow process) The 3rd time I screwed up, I took it as a sign that this wasn't the pattern for me! I found a new pattern that I liked even better and I seemed to get along alot better with it. In fact, I was zipping right along and had the blanket about 2/3 completed when I went to San Diego. When I came home, however, that had all changed. Murphy had pulled the needles out of the knitting, she chewed on the needles making them worthless and she chewed up and pulled out a bunch of the yarn! It was a mess. So.....I had to start over.
I've been working on it every chance I get, but have had a couple of set backs. A couple of those opportunities happened to be in the middle of the night, when my hip & leg are hurting and I can't sleep. That's when I get up and take a couple of pain pills. Yep, you guessed it. I shouldn't be knitting during those times. It took 2 screw ups before I finally got the hint. I do believe I will be taking this project to Alaska to finish & will mail it to her. The baby will never know the difference. But I've gotta tell ya'. It's great yarn and I DID love it, but I am so damn sick of it it's not even funny!!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Packing and Nimrods
A week from today, at this very time, I will be on board Alaska Airlines Fight #189 for the last leg of my trip, preparing for take-off from Anchorage to Fairbanks!!! YAY!!!! This is the very 1st time, out of all the times I have flown up there, that I will be arriving in the afternoon!
I get in at 4:18. Unheard of! Of course, in order to do that, my flight leaves here at 6:00 AM. It was originally 7 AM, but they changed it. That means I need to be there at 5 AM and we live 45 minutes from the airport, so we need to leave the house at 4 AM, which means I need to get up.....O.M.G.......2:30 or 2:45ish. UGGG! I can't even begin to function without at least 2 cups of coffee, and don't rush me with that! Then there will be the last minute items to go in the suitcase, but I think I can avoid any of that. That way Mr. Hustle-Bustle won't have to be chomping at the bit to load my suitcases.
Some members of our amazing Derby Family have arranged for a little get together, upon my arrival :-). It's going to be at River City Cafe, where my dearest Riley works! Next to the fare at my daughter's home, this is the best food in the Fairbanks North Star Borough!! I already know what I'm going to have. I'll start with an X-Large Cinnamon Latte with extra cinnamon (to help keep me alert) and then I will have a Roast Beef Croissant sandwich, with cheddar, sprouts, avocado, tomato and horseradish. Oh, Lordy! I can just taste it now. To go along with that will be a fresh Raspberry Lemonade. Yummm! I sure hope Riley doesn't have to work so she can meet me at the airport with her Mama and the rest of my sweeties! Gads!! I just can't wait to get HOME!!
And have I been packing! Well, gathering, actually. 1 huge suitcase on the bed, 1 huge suitcase beside the bed, and the bed is piled with stuff and clothes and stuff....I need lots of clothes for this time of year up there. There will be chilly days, then very warm days during which I will sweat like a pig 'neath that big Alaskan sun! That will turn into just chilly mornings & evenings and very warm afternoons. Shorts, sweaters, sneakers, sandals....they are all required. And God forbid I don't take all my favorite clothes! What would happen if I went to get dressed and there was nothing there that I felt like wearing?!? That's pretty bad, but I've always been that way. I wish I could just love all of my clothes unconditionally and be able to wear any of them any time......but I don't.
Well, the Nimrod did the front door thing again last night, and I was having one of those days where I could barely put any weight on my left leg without it feeling like I was going to self-destruct. It was about 5:30. Chuck wasn't home yet. I was in the kitchen working on supper and I saw him pull in behind the barn, then turn around and leave. Next thing I knew....bang, bang, bang on the freaking front door. I went, opened the door and he said "So, Pops isn't home yet?" F*** me!! No, Nimrod!! If his van isn't behind the barn, there's no place else for him to hide it! ARGGG. Really, all I said was "no" and he turned and bounded down the steps and left. I slammed the door so hard the windows rattled all over the house. About 5 minutes later, Chuck came in the back door and Nimrod was right behind him. I waited a few minutes and then I asked him if he could do me a big favor, and explained the whole thing to him. Nicely. Calmly. Diplomatically. He said, sure. No problem. Chuck piped up and said to him, what the hell do you do that for?? He said, "hell, I didn't want to walk to the house from there!" Chuck said, "well you better! Don't be expecting her to have to run around letting your lazy ass in!" Hee hee. I loved it! But we'll see how long it lasts. Ya know, he could have just called me. Didn't even have to come to the door to verify the obvious.
I get in at 4:18. Unheard of! Of course, in order to do that, my flight leaves here at 6:00 AM. It was originally 7 AM, but they changed it. That means I need to be there at 5 AM and we live 45 minutes from the airport, so we need to leave the house at 4 AM, which means I need to get up.....O.M.G.......2:30 or 2:45ish. UGGG! I can't even begin to function without at least 2 cups of coffee, and don't rush me with that! Then there will be the last minute items to go in the suitcase, but I think I can avoid any of that. That way Mr. Hustle-Bustle won't have to be chomping at the bit to load my suitcases.
Some members of our amazing Derby Family have arranged for a little get together, upon my arrival :-). It's going to be at River City Cafe, where my dearest Riley works! Next to the fare at my daughter's home, this is the best food in the Fairbanks North Star Borough!! I already know what I'm going to have. I'll start with an X-Large Cinnamon Latte with extra cinnamon (to help keep me alert) and then I will have a Roast Beef Croissant sandwich, with cheddar, sprouts, avocado, tomato and horseradish. Oh, Lordy! I can just taste it now. To go along with that will be a fresh Raspberry Lemonade. Yummm! I sure hope Riley doesn't have to work so she can meet me at the airport with her Mama and the rest of my sweeties! Gads!! I just can't wait to get HOME!!
And have I been packing! Well, gathering, actually. 1 huge suitcase on the bed, 1 huge suitcase beside the bed, and the bed is piled with stuff and clothes and stuff....I need lots of clothes for this time of year up there. There will be chilly days, then very warm days during which I will sweat like a pig 'neath that big Alaskan sun! That will turn into just chilly mornings & evenings and very warm afternoons. Shorts, sweaters, sneakers, sandals....they are all required. And God forbid I don't take all my favorite clothes! What would happen if I went to get dressed and there was nothing there that I felt like wearing?!? That's pretty bad, but I've always been that way. I wish I could just love all of my clothes unconditionally and be able to wear any of them any time......but I don't.
Well, the Nimrod did the front door thing again last night, and I was having one of those days where I could barely put any weight on my left leg without it feeling like I was going to self-destruct. It was about 5:30. Chuck wasn't home yet. I was in the kitchen working on supper and I saw him pull in behind the barn, then turn around and leave. Next thing I knew....bang, bang, bang on the freaking front door. I went, opened the door and he said "So, Pops isn't home yet?" F*** me!! No, Nimrod!! If his van isn't behind the barn, there's no place else for him to hide it! ARGGG. Really, all I said was "no" and he turned and bounded down the steps and left. I slammed the door so hard the windows rattled all over the house. About 5 minutes later, Chuck came in the back door and Nimrod was right behind him. I waited a few minutes and then I asked him if he could do me a big favor, and explained the whole thing to him. Nicely. Calmly. Diplomatically. He said, sure. No problem. Chuck piped up and said to him, what the hell do you do that for?? He said, "hell, I didn't want to walk to the house from there!" Chuck said, "well you better! Don't be expecting her to have to run around letting your lazy ass in!" Hee hee. I loved it! But we'll see how long it lasts. Ya know, he could have just called me. Didn't even have to come to the door to verify the obvious.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Garden Planted
Chuck got most of the garden planted last night. We don't usually have a whole lot of luck with our gardens, especially since we moved to Arkansas. We did much better in Alaska. But then, I was the sole gardener in Alaska and Chuck is the sole gardener here. Hmmm.....
I love planting and harvesting. All that other stuff, not so much. I like watering and fertilizing, and I like 'tending' things, like tomato plants, but I hate weeding. And I'm not real crazy about 'preparing' some of our bounty, when things DO produce. Trimming ends and cutting up green beans. Boring! Washing beet greens or spinach to get every bug & speck of dirt off. Tedious!!! I love cukes & tomatoes and all that stuff that requires little care once harvested.
Chuck worked hard to beef up our soil this year. He had it so screwed up a few years ago. Someone told him that horse manure was excellent for your garden, and to till in mulched up leaves. WRONG! Horse poop is the worst thing to put in your garden. To make matters worse, since we had an abundant supply, he figured 'if a little is good, a lot will be better'. What didn't burn up' from whatever chemical process took place, grew into unrecognizable vegetables. We had round cucumbers that looked like golf balls. The yellow squash & zucchini had skin about 1/4 inch thick that resembled Armadillo armor. No amount of steaming, boiling or beating with a mallet would make it edible!
The past couple of years, he has continued planting and has only tilled in a bit of fresh dirt each year, waiting for all the horse poop to just 'go away'. Last year he did add some "dirt" that he acquired from the Water Treatment Plant. I don't EVEN wanna talk about my feelings on that!! This year he decided to get serious and it seems to me that just maybe he got it right, but only time will tell. He brought home a load of GOOD top soil, a load of sand and bought copious quantities of Steer Manure (which is what I always used in Alaska, btw). He got it all mixed in and tilled and re-tilled and finally got started planting. We decided not to plant too much stuff, but I might just sneak a few plants home to add to the mix. We only bought tomatoes, although we got several varieties, and green bell peppers, Serrano peppers, zucchini and onion sets. We use all the onions at the Scallion stage. For seeds we got lots of beets....for the greens. OMG, how we both love beet greens! I like beets real well, but he doesn't so they never get to grow up and be real beets. LOL Also got spinach (not sure why, as it always bolts before we can eat it), swiss chard and green beans. Oh, and a couple more strawberry plants to add to the 3 I got last year, that actually survived! I know that within the week I will be bringing home some cucumber plants because I simply must!! The only thing better than a sun warm, freshly picked tomato is a fresh picked cucumber! Ahhhhh......TASTY!!!!!!
Tonight he will transform the dirt in my flower beds and we will plant my flowers and hope they do much better as well. Last year, I bought a lot of my flowers before I left for Alaska and he intended to plant them for me, but never did get around to it. Many of them died in their little containers. This year, we'll get them planted before I leave! He's very good about watering every day, so they should be safe:)
Hopefully we've got our shit together (sorry, I couldn't resist) and our gardening endeavors will work out marvelously!!!
I love planting and harvesting. All that other stuff, not so much. I like watering and fertilizing, and I like 'tending' things, like tomato plants, but I hate weeding. And I'm not real crazy about 'preparing' some of our bounty, when things DO produce. Trimming ends and cutting up green beans. Boring! Washing beet greens or spinach to get every bug & speck of dirt off. Tedious!!! I love cukes & tomatoes and all that stuff that requires little care once harvested.
Chuck worked hard to beef up our soil this year. He had it so screwed up a few years ago. Someone told him that horse manure was excellent for your garden, and to till in mulched up leaves. WRONG! Horse poop is the worst thing to put in your garden. To make matters worse, since we had an abundant supply, he figured 'if a little is good, a lot will be better'. What didn't burn up' from whatever chemical process took place, grew into unrecognizable vegetables. We had round cucumbers that looked like golf balls. The yellow squash & zucchini had skin about 1/4 inch thick that resembled Armadillo armor. No amount of steaming, boiling or beating with a mallet would make it edible!
The past couple of years, he has continued planting and has only tilled in a bit of fresh dirt each year, waiting for all the horse poop to just 'go away'. Last year he did add some "dirt" that he acquired from the Water Treatment Plant. I don't EVEN wanna talk about my feelings on that!! This year he decided to get serious and it seems to me that just maybe he got it right, but only time will tell. He brought home a load of GOOD top soil, a load of sand and bought copious quantities of Steer Manure (which is what I always used in Alaska, btw). He got it all mixed in and tilled and re-tilled and finally got started planting. We decided not to plant too much stuff, but I might just sneak a few plants home to add to the mix. We only bought tomatoes, although we got several varieties, and green bell peppers, Serrano peppers, zucchini and onion sets. We use all the onions at the Scallion stage. For seeds we got lots of beets....for the greens. OMG, how we both love beet greens! I like beets real well, but he doesn't so they never get to grow up and be real beets. LOL Also got spinach (not sure why, as it always bolts before we can eat it), swiss chard and green beans. Oh, and a couple more strawberry plants to add to the 3 I got last year, that actually survived! I know that within the week I will be bringing home some cucumber plants because I simply must!! The only thing better than a sun warm, freshly picked tomato is a fresh picked cucumber! Ahhhhh......TASTY!!!!!!
Tonight he will transform the dirt in my flower beds and we will plant my flowers and hope they do much better as well. Last year, I bought a lot of my flowers before I left for Alaska and he intended to plant them for me, but never did get around to it. Many of them died in their little containers. This year, we'll get them planted before I leave! He's very good about watering every day, so they should be safe:)
Hopefully we've got our shit together (sorry, I couldn't resist) and our gardening endeavors will work out marvelously!!!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Beware.....Pure Bitching
A couple of days ago I started a rant and wrote out a big bitch post and then deleted it. My friend, Terri was disappointed that I deleted it. She enjoys my rants. LOL I will attempt to recreate it.
Everyone that comes to our house, on an almost daily basis, knows:
My previous post was better, cuz I was freshly pissed off. This one will have to do. It still pisses me off. In FACT.....employee did it just this AM when she knows better than most that I am always hurting in the morning for awhile after I get up. She drives out behind the barn to unload some posts from her truck and then drives around front and makes me answer the freakin' door, when she intends to come to the kitchen and have coffee. Now I ask you???? She is more easily forgiven than her sad sack, redneck spouse.....but still. GRRRRR
One of the reasons I deleted the original post is because I felt that I was doing nothing more than putting an "Oh, poor me" moment out there. Maybe it is. And just maybe, every once in awhile, I am entitled to "Oh, poor me" moments! I've been pretty damn tough for over 3 years (almost 4) dealing with all this bullshit in the various stages. So, I feel entitled....as long as I don't over-do it. Right????? It IS okay, isn't it???????? If not, then buzz off.......but please come back later ♥
And THEN...........get this! He is SO brain dead that when they stopped in the night before the front door incident......he started bitching about Wal*Mart and his hour long shopping experience. Totally ranting about how crowded it was, and how rude people are and how loud and noisy everyone's kids are and how people are inconsiderate and get in his way! For an hour of his life, he was THE most miserable person to ever set foot in a W*M store! O.M.G. I kept trying to remind him that I used to spend 40 hours a week there, as a cashier, on the front lines. Totally exposed to ALL the fun and games that the W*M experience has to offer. He would have none of it. Totally, repeatedly insisting that I had absolutely no idea how bad it was. Holy shit! The trauma! And drama!
I am surrounded by people like this. The positive energy just FLOWS around my little corner of BFA! ARGGGGG..............
On a lighter note, I saw my 1st Hummingbird of the season a short while ago. I love it! :-)
Everyone that comes to our house, on an almost daily basis, knows:
- I hurt. I need surgery. Have needed it for eons, and as time goes by, I hurt more and more. Some days, much more so than others. It's just a fact of life.
- Our front door is always locked. If someone goes to the front door, I have to trudge thru the freakin house to answer the door and let them in.
- Our back door is always open, if we are home. The people that come here the most often, (oh, let's say an employee's spouse for example) come to the back door, knock, holler a greeting and come on in. (not my favorite scenario, but then I don't make all the rules).
- Why the F*** would said person, come to the front door when all they intended to do was to walk thru the house...to the BACK door and on outside to see Hubby who was in the back yard (and CLEARLY visible from the front driveway!!)
- Same person was here the night before, seemingly 'quite concerned' because I was having an extra painful day. Yeah, right.
- And even if he wasn't going to just pass on thru, the 'gathering spot' at our house is the kitchen, which is just inside the fooking BACK DOOR! I have fairly large house, people. My walking is limited. I don't like "wasting" it by doing a lot of unnecessary running around! Duh!
My previous post was better, cuz I was freshly pissed off. This one will have to do. It still pisses me off. In FACT.....employee did it just this AM when she knows better than most that I am always hurting in the morning for awhile after I get up. She drives out behind the barn to unload some posts from her truck and then drives around front and makes me answer the freakin' door, when she intends to come to the kitchen and have coffee. Now I ask you???? She is more easily forgiven than her sad sack, redneck spouse.....but still. GRRRRR
One of the reasons I deleted the original post is because I felt that I was doing nothing more than putting an "Oh, poor me" moment out there. Maybe it is. And just maybe, every once in awhile, I am entitled to "Oh, poor me" moments! I've been pretty damn tough for over 3 years (almost 4) dealing with all this bullshit in the various stages. So, I feel entitled....as long as I don't over-do it. Right????? It IS okay, isn't it???????? If not, then buzz off.......but please come back later ♥
And THEN...........get this! He is SO brain dead that when they stopped in the night before the front door incident......he started bitching about Wal*Mart and his hour long shopping experience. Totally ranting about how crowded it was, and how rude people are and how loud and noisy everyone's kids are and how people are inconsiderate and get in his way! For an hour of his life, he was THE most miserable person to ever set foot in a W*M store! O.M.G. I kept trying to remind him that I used to spend 40 hours a week there, as a cashier, on the front lines. Totally exposed to ALL the fun and games that the W*M experience has to offer. He would have none of it. Totally, repeatedly insisting that I had absolutely no idea how bad it was. Holy shit! The trauma! And drama!
I am surrounded by people like this. The positive energy just FLOWS around my little corner of BFA! ARGGGGG..............
On a lighter note, I saw my 1st Hummingbird of the season a short while ago. I love it! :-)
Monday, April 9, 2012
Floral Tax News
Allow me to start off this entry bitching.
Okay.....so I wrote my bitch session all out and then deleted it like a good girl.Now I don't know what to write about.......
How about my roses? Here's a shot of their progress thus far. I sure wish we had known what we had when we planted them. As you can see, they are all different types and look rather odd because they are all different sizes and growth patterns...or whatever. But we got them from a neighbor that was moving a couple of years ago and she had cut them all down to the nubs, so we didn't have a clue. Oh well. No big deal. It will fill out better soon enough.
I have one pink one that has opened and the others are loaded with buds! I hope I get to enjoy them before the Japanese Beetles move in!
We did go and get plants for the garden and some of my flowers, yesterday. I got 3 of my new favorites, Mandevilla. I love them and the Hummingbirds love them. It's a Win-Win for me!! The plants get huge and trail down with clingy vines.......gorgeous!!
Then I found some of these! The 1st time I ever saw them, was last year in Alaska. Terri & I found some at a greenhouse up there. Purply magenta with green edges. They are SO pretty and I was thrilled to see them at the Depot of Home yesterday!
I got really radical with my Azaleas last fall and trimmed them WAY back, cutting off most of what they had going for them. They haven't been flowering that well, so I didn't figure I had much to lose by trying it. It worked out very well! They are full and beautiful. I just wish they kept blooming all summer.
I would write more, but the day is wasting away and I must go pick up our taxes. Yes, they are done and my finding of various deductions that I had overlooked saved our butts! Put us in the 'black', thank God!! Whew!!! Another severe screwing averted.
Okay.....so I wrote my bitch session all out and then deleted it like a good girl.Now I don't know what to write about.......
How about my roses? Here's a shot of their progress thus far. I sure wish we had known what we had when we planted them. As you can see, they are all different types and look rather odd because they are all different sizes and growth patterns...or whatever. But we got them from a neighbor that was moving a couple of years ago and she had cut them all down to the nubs, so we didn't have a clue. Oh well. No big deal. It will fill out better soon enough.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
All About Horses
My husband can be a bit trying at times. People really close to me, know exactly how kindly I am phrasing that. But I have been sitting here watching him out my window, as he works with Dixie in the round pen. He has a way with animals. At least with dogs & horses. I don't approve of all of his 'methods', but he is pretty good.
He's been standing in the middle, and has her running the perimeter. He will point and say 'turn' and she stops and heads in the opposite direction. He'll sit on the milk can in the middle of the ring and say 'stop, Dixie' and she does. 'Come Dixie' and she walks to him. 'Kiss' and her nose is in his face. It amazes me how well he has trained her. How well he works with her, and she's almost as dedicated to him as Gus is! In reality, I think the part he likes best is pointing his finger at her and having her respond. We learned 2 things about each other early on. I know not to slap him in the face (only happened once) and he knows not to point his finger at me for any reason!
Anyway, here is Dixie when we first got her. (March '09) She was 19 months old at the time. We had already bought her Mama, Susie, a year prior. When our friend decided he also wanted to sell Susie's 'kid', we jumped on it! I promptly registered her as Sweet Sue's Little Dixie, ( as Susie's registered name is Jack's Sweet Sue and Susie's mama had Dixie in her name, so I liked the combo). Dixie had been running free with J's other horses most of her life, and no one had ever worked with her much at all. There was much to be done, as she was a wild, crazy little sh**!
This is Dixie last fall, getting trained on pulling the buggy. She took to it right away, pretty much like everything else Chuck has tried to teach her. She will pretty much do anything for him. Totally unlike Susie, who was 17 when we got her and extremely set in her ways!! I was worried about how they'd get along when we reunited them. Wondered if they'd remember each other. It was amazing! If horses could hug, they'd have been hugging for days! Sadly, they are now inseparable, which can be a BIG problem at times! But that's another story.
Chuck is working with Dixie to get her ready to go on a Cattle Round-up in Wyoming. He was at the ranch last year with our BIL for a hunting trip and became good friends with the owner of the ranch. He's been invited back to participate in their Spring Cattle Round-up for branding season. It will be a dream come true for this old cowboy. I sure wish he could have done it while I could still ride. How I would love to go with him and spend a couple weeks at the ranch, riding Susie on all the trails on that beautiful ranch of theirs! Anyway, he's been working with her everyday, to get her 'exercised up' and in shape, as well as training her on 'herding'. That means that they have been herding Susie around the pasture and she doesn't like that one little bit!! Susie is usually the one that is herding Dixie around! It's hysterical and I must get a video to share!
So, I will return from Alaska on May 23rd and he will load up the horses and head out on May 26th. Uggg.....the thought of returning home after that long flight and having to jump right into getting his laundry done and getting him packed and ready in 2 days blows my mind right now, but once he's gone, I can kick back for 2 weeks and prepare for my surgery. He'll return on June 8th or 9th and I go under the knife on June 11th. It all sounded good when we planned it, but now that it's getting close, it seems like we could have/should have done something different, but it'll all work out.
He's been standing in the middle, and has her running the perimeter. He will point and say 'turn' and she stops and heads in the opposite direction. He'll sit on the milk can in the middle of the ring and say 'stop, Dixie' and she does. 'Come Dixie' and she walks to him. 'Kiss' and her nose is in his face. It amazes me how well he has trained her. How well he works with her, and she's almost as dedicated to him as Gus is! In reality, I think the part he likes best is pointing his finger at her and having her respond. We learned 2 things about each other early on. I know not to slap him in the face (only happened once) and he knows not to point his finger at me for any reason!
Chuck is working with Dixie to get her ready to go on a Cattle Round-up in Wyoming. He was at the ranch last year with our BIL for a hunting trip and became good friends with the owner of the ranch. He's been invited back to participate in their Spring Cattle Round-up for branding season. It will be a dream come true for this old cowboy. I sure wish he could have done it while I could still ride. How I would love to go with him and spend a couple weeks at the ranch, riding Susie on all the trails on that beautiful ranch of theirs! Anyway, he's been working with her everyday, to get her 'exercised up' and in shape, as well as training her on 'herding'. That means that they have been herding Susie around the pasture and she doesn't like that one little bit!! Susie is usually the one that is herding Dixie around! It's hysterical and I must get a video to share!
So, I will return from Alaska on May 23rd and he will load up the horses and head out on May 26th. Uggg.....the thought of returning home after that long flight and having to jump right into getting his laundry done and getting him packed and ready in 2 days blows my mind right now, but once he's gone, I can kick back for 2 weeks and prepare for my surgery. He'll return on June 8th or 9th and I go under the knife on June 11th. It all sounded good when we planned it, but now that it's getting close, it seems like we could have/should have done something different, but it'll all work out.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
What the Cat Dragged In
I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I missed a couple days of writing here, but I'm sure I'll get over it. Over the weekend I had a couple of those 'speed bumps' that life throws your way on occasion. I did however get enough cooperation from the "speed bump" creator, that I got my booth moved at the antique store.
Here are a couple of shots of it, although I still have work to do. I need to spruce it up a bit and find some more goodies to sell. It's nice having all the space. I next big thing will be to find a large hutch or something similar to replace the table with.
I'm all ready to give my crazy cat away again. Today she brought a baby snake in the house. All I can say is, thank God I saw her messing with something and checked to see what she had! And thank God I managed to chase her down and capture it....with a butt load of paper towels, with which I rolled, squeezed, twisted and smooshed and threw outside! When Chuck got home and I sent him to investigate, the paper towel had been moved around to the front of the house and there was no snake in it. There was, however, some blood and squishy stuff on the paper towels so that was a good thing. There were several Blue Jays in the yard today, so I suspect one of them carted off the paper towel and most likely feasted on the nasty little corpse. Ewwwww.
Here are a couple of shots of it, although I still have work to do. I need to spruce it up a bit and find some more goodies to sell. It's nice having all the space. I next big thing will be to find a large hutch or something similar to replace the table with.
I'm all ready to give my crazy cat away again. Today she brought a baby snake in the house. All I can say is, thank God I saw her messing with something and checked to see what she had! And thank God I managed to chase her down and capture it....with a butt load of paper towels, with which I rolled, squeezed, twisted and smooshed and threw outside! When Chuck got home and I sent him to investigate, the paper towel had been moved around to the front of the house and there was no snake in it. There was, however, some blood and squishy stuff on the paper towels so that was a good thing. There were several Blue Jays in the yard today, so I suspect one of them carted off the paper towel and most likely feasted on the nasty little corpse. Ewwwww.
Friday, March 30, 2012
New Booth and Smooth Sailing??
While I was in San Diego, Chuck called to tell me that his son and new GF were coming to visit us, so we could meet her, the first week of April. I already knew that his sister and her hubby were planning to come the 2nd week in April for a few days. Add to that my plans to leave for Alaska on April 20th and the result was that he set me in a bit of a tail-spin! As much as I LOVE to see all of these people, and am anxious to meet Rob's new lady, I really only wanted to have to get ready for my Alaska trip after I returned home. sigh. The thought of getting my house ready for company, much less a new 'family member' was daunting to say the least.
As slow as I am these days and with so many things that I simply can't do (for now!) I could think of nothing more than wanting to have my suitcases on the bed in the guest bedroom, filling them at my leisure in preparation for my departure. I know my wonderful friend and neighbor, Deb, would help me clean, but there's only so much I can ask her to do. The thought of grocery shopping and meals for company for 2 weeks, as well as stocking up for Chuck was overwhelming! BAH!!! However.....that has all changed now.
Rob has decided to wait to come and visit this fall, after I have recouped from my June surgery, so that we'll be able to do more and enjoy each others company more. Bless his little heart! And Chuck's sister and her hubby have had something come up with his grandson and need to head straight back to PA the 1st of April......so, it's clear sailing from here on. Whew! I feel bad to be so relieved, but damn! I am just not up to all this right now! I had visions of getting to Alaska and collapsing from sheer exhaustion with suitcases full of God-knows-what. LOL Which is still a possibility, but less likely.
On a brighter note, I went to my Antique Mall yesterday and rented the larger space. I also bought a baker's rack from one of the gals there, to use for display purposes in my new booth. Yay! I also had the best month I've ever had for March and am jazzed about that :-). I do believe I am now in 'the black' with this little venture of mine. And on Sunday, Chuck will once again help me move my stuff. I'm glad he doesn't mind and he is so fast while doing ANYthing, that I'll just let him 'do it' and I'll 'fix it' afterwards. Hee hee. Works for me! Now all I have to do is decide exactly how I want it situated before he starts moving the cabinet and table and putting up my shelves. This booth has electricity, so I can have lamps and such, as well as lights at the holidays and all. Now I need to think of some cute decorating ideas to spruce up my booth. I can only get Chuck's help with stuff on Sundays and I know that this week, if the weather is nice, he'll want to go riding Sunday. The shop is only open from 12-5 Sundays so I'm sure hoping I'll get my time in! And come up with some "high-up" stuff for him to do for me while I've got him! Heh Photos will be forthcoming :)
As slow as I am these days and with so many things that I simply can't do (for now!) I could think of nothing more than wanting to have my suitcases on the bed in the guest bedroom, filling them at my leisure in preparation for my departure. I know my wonderful friend and neighbor, Deb, would help me clean, but there's only so much I can ask her to do. The thought of grocery shopping and meals for company for 2 weeks, as well as stocking up for Chuck was overwhelming! BAH!!! However.....that has all changed now.
Rob has decided to wait to come and visit this fall, after I have recouped from my June surgery, so that we'll be able to do more and enjoy each others company more. Bless his little heart! And Chuck's sister and her hubby have had something come up with his grandson and need to head straight back to PA the 1st of April......so, it's clear sailing from here on. Whew! I feel bad to be so relieved, but damn! I am just not up to all this right now! I had visions of getting to Alaska and collapsing from sheer exhaustion with suitcases full of God-knows-what. LOL Which is still a possibility, but less likely.
On a brighter note, I went to my Antique Mall yesterday and rented the larger space. I also bought a baker's rack from one of the gals there, to use for display purposes in my new booth. Yay! I also had the best month I've ever had for March and am jazzed about that :-). I do believe I am now in 'the black' with this little venture of mine. And on Sunday, Chuck will once again help me move my stuff. I'm glad he doesn't mind and he is so fast while doing ANYthing, that I'll just let him 'do it' and I'll 'fix it' afterwards. Hee hee. Works for me! Now all I have to do is decide exactly how I want it situated before he starts moving the cabinet and table and putting up my shelves. This booth has electricity, so I can have lamps and such, as well as lights at the holidays and all. Now I need to think of some cute decorating ideas to spruce up my booth. I can only get Chuck's help with stuff on Sundays and I know that this week, if the weather is nice, he'll want to go riding Sunday. The shop is only open from 12-5 Sundays so I'm sure hoping I'll get my time in! And come up with some "high-up" stuff for him to do for me while I've got him! Heh Photos will be forthcoming :)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Skylights and Google Reader
I just realized that I didn't even enter a title for yesterdays post. That's okay.....the 3 or 4 of you that read me don't mind, now do you?!
I just did a sad thing and went thru my Google Reader and deleted all the old blogs that I used to read, but for what ever reason the bloggers have quit writing. I really miss a lot of these people and wonder what is happening in their lives these days. Many of them are on FaceBook, so I keep in touch there. I do love FaceBook, but it's no substitute for a blog. I mean, it IS if you have a very busy life and trying to blog was just too much to keep up with. I have let that happen a whole lot the past year or two and the bad thing about that is that ones readership drops off. Funnily (neener) enough, I have 26 people 'following' me on Reader, but I sure don't have that many people show up in my stats! Most of them are probably some of the same ones that I just deleted. LOL
My trip to San Diego was such a delightful change from my usual dreary and relatively isolated life, that I will probably be writing tid bits about my adventures for quite some time! Last night while I was replying to a comment that Indiana Terri left, I had made mention of trying to photograph Poolie's posters without the glare from the skylights. Later I got thinking about our 2nd day there, when I finally decided to ask Poolie what I was doing wrong with the bathroom lights. I asked her to go in with me and show me the mystery of why it seems so bright in there sometimes and other times, it is pretty dim. She took me in, showed me the light switch, flicked it on and with a flourish of her hand, showed me that the lights over the sink did, indeed, come on. I pointed to the ceiling and asked (like the dumb ass Yankee that I am) "what about that light? it was much brighter earlier!" As she burst into that delightful laugh that I (usually) love so much, the 'light bulb' in my wee leedle brain went on......and we simultaneously announced that it was a skylight! O.M.G!!!
That pretty much sums it up as to why they keep me around, doesn't it?!? They are the "Larrys" and I am "my brother Darryl and my other brother, Darryl". And if all y'all are too young to remember the Bob Newhart Show and have no idea what I'm talking about....well......just let Carlton the Doorman show you out! This Yankee isn't the brightest bulb in the box (especially under a skylight, at night) but by God, we won the fookin' war!!! So there!
And for those of you that would like a bit of a longer trip down memory lane
I almost forgot! My visit to the Cardio Vascular Center at the hospital here in Rogers yesterday was the usual fiasco. Yet another reminder of why I drive an hour each way to doctors and the hospital in Fayetteville! Anyway, once I FINALLY got to the place I needed to be and got signed in, I had the prettiest, bitchiest twit do the tests that my foot doctor ordered. Holy Crap! This chick was something else. The tests were simple enough. I had to lay on a table and she wrapped the calves of my legs with mondo blood pressure cuff type things and then stuck electrode thingys on my arms and feet and ankles....all whilst 'listening' to my legs. (Yeah. That's what I thought!) Okay, this went on for several minutes while the machine I was connected to was emitting all sorts of bizarre sounds (that were apparently coming from my legs). Since my spinal fusion, I can't lay flat on my bad very long without becoming extremely uncomfortable. One of the ways of relieving the discomfort is to bend one,or both, of my legs up. While she was getting out some more apparatus to attach to my toes, I bent my left leg up just a little, for a moment of relief. Holy crap! She turned around and SLAMMED my leg back down on the table and in a very ugly tone told me that I had to keep my legs flat! Whoa there girly girl!! I rose up off that table and told her that she better not do THAT again! Told her that leg is attached to a hip that desperately needs replacing and that in the past 2 years I have had a spinal fusion and the other hip replaced and it's pretty damn hard to lay flat on her stupid table while she dicks around! (yes, I said that) And I told her that is she doesn't finish soon, that my left leg will begin spasming and there's nothing I can do about it!. She backed down and was all apologetic. Asked me what happened and if I'd been in an accident or something. She had me so po'd that I lied.....but it sounded great. I told her that my horse threw me about 3 years ago. Hahahaha. Heck, that's what most people assume happened and it sure sounds better than the truth of falling off my NoridTrac ski machine and landing on a paint can! Anywho......I should find out in a few days if my toes are gonna fall off or not. I sure hope not, cuz I'm clumsy enough as it is!
I just did a sad thing and went thru my Google Reader and deleted all the old blogs that I used to read, but for what ever reason the bloggers have quit writing. I really miss a lot of these people and wonder what is happening in their lives these days. Many of them are on FaceBook, so I keep in touch there. I do love FaceBook, but it's no substitute for a blog. I mean, it IS if you have a very busy life and trying to blog was just too much to keep up with. I have let that happen a whole lot the past year or two and the bad thing about that is that ones readership drops off. Funnily (neener) enough, I have 26 people 'following' me on Reader, but I sure don't have that many people show up in my stats! Most of them are probably some of the same ones that I just deleted. LOL
My trip to San Diego was such a delightful change from my usual dreary and relatively isolated life, that I will probably be writing tid bits about my adventures for quite some time! Last night while I was replying to a comment that Indiana Terri left, I had made mention of trying to photograph Poolie's posters without the glare from the skylights. Later I got thinking about our 2nd day there, when I finally decided to ask Poolie what I was doing wrong with the bathroom lights. I asked her to go in with me and show me the mystery of why it seems so bright in there sometimes and other times, it is pretty dim. She took me in, showed me the light switch, flicked it on and with a flourish of her hand, showed me that the lights over the sink did, indeed, come on. I pointed to the ceiling and asked (like the dumb ass Yankee that I am) "what about that light? it was much brighter earlier!" As she burst into that delightful laugh that I (usually) love so much, the 'light bulb' in my wee leedle brain went on......and we simultaneously announced that it was a skylight! O.M.G!!!
That pretty much sums it up as to why they keep me around, doesn't it?!? They are the "Larrys" and I am "my brother Darryl and my other brother, Darryl". And if all y'all are too young to remember the Bob Newhart Show and have no idea what I'm talking about....well......just let Carlton the Doorman show you out! This Yankee isn't the brightest bulb in the box (especially under a skylight, at night) but by God, we won the fookin' war!!! So there!
And for those of you that would like a bit of a longer trip down memory lane
I almost forgot! My visit to the Cardio Vascular Center at the hospital here in Rogers yesterday was the usual fiasco. Yet another reminder of why I drive an hour each way to doctors and the hospital in Fayetteville! Anyway, once I FINALLY got to the place I needed to be and got signed in, I had the prettiest, bitchiest twit do the tests that my foot doctor ordered. Holy Crap! This chick was something else. The tests were simple enough. I had to lay on a table and she wrapped the calves of my legs with mondo blood pressure cuff type things and then stuck electrode thingys on my arms and feet and ankles....all whilst 'listening' to my legs. (Yeah. That's what I thought!) Okay, this went on for several minutes while the machine I was connected to was emitting all sorts of bizarre sounds (that were apparently coming from my legs). Since my spinal fusion, I can't lay flat on my bad very long without becoming extremely uncomfortable. One of the ways of relieving the discomfort is to bend one,or both, of my legs up. While she was getting out some more apparatus to attach to my toes, I bent my left leg up just a little, for a moment of relief. Holy crap! She turned around and SLAMMED my leg back down on the table and in a very ugly tone told me that I had to keep my legs flat! Whoa there girly girl!! I rose up off that table and told her that she better not do THAT again! Told her that leg is attached to a hip that desperately needs replacing and that in the past 2 years I have had a spinal fusion and the other hip replaced and it's pretty damn hard to lay flat on her stupid table while she dicks around! (yes, I said that) And I told her that is she doesn't finish soon, that my left leg will begin spasming and there's nothing I can do about it!. She backed down and was all apologetic. Asked me what happened and if I'd been in an accident or something. She had me so po'd that I lied.....but it sounded great. I told her that my horse threw me about 3 years ago. Hahahaha. Heck, that's what most people assume happened and it sure sounds better than the truth of falling off my NoridTrac ski machine and landing on a paint can! Anywho......I should find out in a few days if my toes are gonna fall off or not. I sure hope not, cuz I'm clumsy enough as it is!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
I ordered my Nextbook on Sunday and chose free shipping to save a few bucks. That usually takes awhile and they did give me a delivery date of April 5th. I knew it would show up before then, but didn't expect it as soon as yesterday! Needless to say, I stashed the box until Chuck went to bed and then spent 3 hours trying to make sense of it and downloading Apps. The 1st App??? Why, Angry Birds, of course! I can see several things:
Speaking of old geezers, this afternoon I get to go for a vascular screening of my feet. How funny is that? Because of my "toe issue" (which I'm not sure I ever blogged about, but wrote about on FB) the foot Dr wants to make sure that the circulation in my legs, feet and toes is okay before she confirms my problem to be from many years of frozen Alaska toes. I sure hope that's all it is, but it could be directly related to all the damn cigarettes that I have, will and do smoke. F*&%ing cigarettes, anyway!
I have to say that while I was in San Diego and my smoking was extremely limited, I felt a whole lot better. But I'm not smart enough to cut back when I don't have to. If I could just make myself go outside to smoke and not sit here at my computer puffing away, it would be such a big help. And every night when I go to bed I say to myself, "Margaret! Tomorrow is the day! You will NOT smoke in the house anymore!!" But that stupid Margaret won't listen. I told my friend, D, the other day that I'll quit after my surgery and I get all healed up. Then I won't have all the extra frustrations (the pain and limitations, blah blah, yada yada) to deal with. Should be easier, right? Yeah....right. I doesn't matter what the circumstances are. Smoking doesn't make it better at all, but it sure is comforting to reach for that pack of cigarettes and light one up. Oh, well. It won't be today cuz I just bought a carton yesterday. Can't waste $48 now can I????? Doh!
I must take my camera with me today and try to get some good shots of Spring Things in BFA. There are pretty things blooming everywhere, and I need to take some pictures before it gets too damn hot for me to give a crap.
My beautiful girls are losing their winter hair and will soon be gorgeous and shiny equine beauties! I wish I could be out there brushing them each day, but I can't. Chuck does a little each night when he gets home, but I miss being able to do it. Next year! I'll be back at it next year! And the grass is growing nicely in their pasture, so that Susie is munching happily while Dixie looks longingly over the fence, watching her Mama eat fresh green yummies. Dixie is on a diet again. Poor horse is forever on a diet. They need extra food in the winter to help keep up their body heat and Susie never gains, but Dixie blows up like a balloon. She's on her annual spring time diet of hay and water....no grass, no grain, no treats......other than her morning carrots.
There is a baby update, of sorts. Jin's contractions are too sporadic to amount to anything other than being annoying, so her Dr told her she could work if she wanted to. That was her plan for today. We'll see how long she lasts. I'm making pretty good progress on the blanket. I'm using a different pattern than I was originally and I like working on it much better. That will make a difference! Why? Cuz that's how I roll! LOL
For now, I feel a wee cleaning spree coming on and shall knit a bit each time I need to sit down for a few. Catch ya later!
- Gonna take awhile to get used to it
- I haven't fallen totally in love with it yet (this isn't a good thing. meh)
- I need a screen protector
- I really need a case, but can only find black for this new model and I really want red! Or green, like my Nook
- Not sure about the Android OS, although it shouldn't matter
- I'm bummed that although I could install Firefox as my browser, I can't use my Yahoo toolbar. which has all my bookmarks and I've used it for EONS. I'm sure I can move them.
Speaking of old geezers, this afternoon I get to go for a vascular screening of my feet. How funny is that? Because of my "toe issue" (which I'm not sure I ever blogged about, but wrote about on FB) the foot Dr wants to make sure that the circulation in my legs, feet and toes is okay before she confirms my problem to be from many years of frozen Alaska toes. I sure hope that's all it is, but it could be directly related to all the damn cigarettes that I have, will and do smoke. F*&%ing cigarettes, anyway!
I have to say that while I was in San Diego and my smoking was extremely limited, I felt a whole lot better. But I'm not smart enough to cut back when I don't have to. If I could just make myself go outside to smoke and not sit here at my computer puffing away, it would be such a big help. And every night when I go to bed I say to myself, "Margaret! Tomorrow is the day! You will NOT smoke in the house anymore!!" But that stupid Margaret won't listen. I told my friend, D, the other day that I'll quit after my surgery and I get all healed up. Then I won't have all the extra frustrations (the pain and limitations, blah blah, yada yada) to deal with. Should be easier, right? Yeah....right. I doesn't matter what the circumstances are. Smoking doesn't make it better at all, but it sure is comforting to reach for that pack of cigarettes and light one up. Oh, well. It won't be today cuz I just bought a carton yesterday. Can't waste $48 now can I????? Doh!
I must take my camera with me today and try to get some good shots of Spring Things in BFA. There are pretty things blooming everywhere, and I need to take some pictures before it gets too damn hot for me to give a crap.
My beautiful girls are losing their winter hair and will soon be gorgeous and shiny equine beauties! I wish I could be out there brushing them each day, but I can't. Chuck does a little each night when he gets home, but I miss being able to do it. Next year! I'll be back at it next year! And the grass is growing nicely in their pasture, so that Susie is munching happily while Dixie looks longingly over the fence, watching her Mama eat fresh green yummies. Dixie is on a diet again. Poor horse is forever on a diet. They need extra food in the winter to help keep up their body heat and Susie never gains, but Dixie blows up like a balloon. She's on her annual spring time diet of hay and water....no grass, no grain, no treats......other than her morning carrots.
There is a baby update, of sorts. Jin's contractions are too sporadic to amount to anything other than being annoying, so her Dr told her she could work if she wanted to. That was her plan for today. We'll see how long she lasts. I'm making pretty good progress on the blanket. I'm using a different pattern than I was originally and I like working on it much better. That will make a difference! Why? Cuz that's how I roll! LOL
For now, I feel a wee cleaning spree coming on and shall knit a bit each time I need to sit down for a few. Catch ya later!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Plays, Knitting & Babies.....Oh My!
One of the major highlights of the San Diego trip was the opportunity to see the videos of 2 plays that Poolie wrote and directed. They were amazing fun!
One of them was The Wizard of Ahhhhs
This one was SO funny and had some amazing characters with exceptional people playing the parts!
The other one was Peter Pan
Another excellent production and had many of the same cast members. I loved that I could finally see these plays. The results of something that my dear friend is so passionate about and that clearly shows how very talented she is at creating and pulling together such a magnificent project, just warmed my heart. I am so proud of her and wish she could pursue this passion of hers more fully.
As for me, my current form of production is knitting. My most recent project is a baby blanket for Jin (the gal that works for Chuck). The baby's due date is April 25th and for what reason I am not sure, the doctor was going to induce her. Since I leave for Alaska on April 20th, she asked the Dr to induce her on the 18th so that she would have the baby before I leave. Well........ Murphy decided to 'work' on the baby blanket whilst I was in San Diego. I had it in a project tote and I really thought it was 'kitty proof', but I was wrong. She managed to get my 32" circular needles pulled out of this blanket (that was 3/4 finished, btw); she chewed the cable, extensively, ruining a $25 set of needles, AND she chewed on the yarn! Both on a ball of yarn and also on the edges of the blanket itself. So on Saturday, I ripped it all out and started over. Of course I was thinking that I had almost a month and that if I worked really hard and put a lot of time in it, I could finish it before little Lilly is born! Well, yesterday Jin was spotting and having a lot of mucus discharge, along with much pressure. She saw the Dr and he said she was still well "intact" and to take it easy yesterday and it was okay to return to work today. Apparently Lilly has other ideas. Jin called Chuck this AM and told us that she is having contractions, which as we all know, may or may not amount to anything. Regardless.....I have a feeling that Lilly will be here before her blanket is ready! I also have a feeling that I need a lock box for my knitting!
Anyone want a crazy cat??? Free shipping!!!
One of them was The Wizard of Ahhhhs
The other one was Peter Pan
As for me, my current form of production is knitting. My most recent project is a baby blanket for Jin (the gal that works for Chuck). The baby's due date is April 25th and for what reason I am not sure, the doctor was going to induce her. Since I leave for Alaska on April 20th, she asked the Dr to induce her on the 18th so that she would have the baby before I leave. Well........ Murphy decided to 'work' on the baby blanket whilst I was in San Diego. I had it in a project tote and I really thought it was 'kitty proof', but I was wrong. She managed to get my 32" circular needles pulled out of this blanket (that was 3/4 finished, btw); she chewed the cable, extensively, ruining a $25 set of needles, AND she chewed on the yarn! Both on a ball of yarn and also on the edges of the blanket itself. So on Saturday, I ripped it all out and started over. Of course I was thinking that I had almost a month and that if I worked really hard and put a lot of time in it, I could finish it before little Lilly is born! Well, yesterday Jin was spotting and having a lot of mucus discharge, along with much pressure. She saw the Dr and he said she was still well "intact" and to take it easy yesterday and it was okay to return to work today. Apparently Lilly has other ideas. Jin called Chuck this AM and told us that she is having contractions, which as we all know, may or may not amount to anything. Regardless.....I have a feeling that Lilly will be here before her blanket is ready! I also have a feeling that I need a lock box for my knitting!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Spring Cleanup & New Toys!
It was a beautiful sunny day here yesterday and Chuck got lots of yard work done. Flower beds cleaned up, strawberry bed cleaned up and the garden tilled. He also got a couple of leaf piles that had accumulated cleaned up so that I wouldn't have to worry about what may be lurking in them. Copperheads tends to blend in very well with leaves on the ground.......Eeeep!
It IS my favorite time of year here in BF Arkansas. I got back just in time to see the Dogwoods leaf out and they are starting to bloom. The woods behind the house are just enchanting when all the Dogwoods are in bloom!
It would have been a perfect day for riding, and oh how I wish I could have hopped on my Susie and gone with him!! He did have a 'victim' lined up to go riding with him, but he crapped out at the last minute. It seems his wife had a honey do list that she insisted on being taken care of. It's hard for Chuck to find 'victims' to go riding with him and that's a damn shame. I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I'll never ride again, but some days it's a real downer.
I got all my San Diego photos transferred to Flickr yesterday and actually got them all labeled, too! I'm not always very good about that, in fact I haven't been very good about uploading my photos to Flickr lately. I need to stay on top of that! I didn't take near as many pictures as I intended to whilst in SD because of all of my careful packing, and remembering to pack my chargers for 3 other devices, I forgot my camera charger and extra battery. Doh! I will get it packed in one of my bags for my Alaska trip today! 25 days!! Woo Hoo!!
Poor Gus puppy is depressed this AM. He had to stay home with me for a trip to the vet. He hates not going to work with his dear ol' dad! But his allergies are acting up. His eyes are running and he's got an itchy bare spot by his tail, so I wanna nip it in the bud early. He'll snap out of it once he realizes that he will be going with me in the 'Ho and can guard it while I make a couple stops :-)
I was a bad girl yesterday and gave in to my desire for a new toy. I've been wanting an iPad (or tablet of some sort) for quite some time now, but just couldn't justify spending that much on something that I could live without. After seeing and playing with Poolie's, the desire to possess one increased tremendously! And what did I find in my email when I got home, but a notice of a great deal on one at HSN......so.......I ordered this
If I find I'm not totally enchanted with it, I can always send it back......somehow I doubt that will happen. When Poolie made the comment that since she got that, she never takes her laptop on trips with her anymore, I was 'sold'. Between the tablet and her iPhone, everything is covered. And every time I travel, especially by air, I find I want less and less to drag around with me. I used to carry on all that I could and I just have no desire to do that anymore.
It IS my favorite time of year here in BF Arkansas. I got back just in time to see the Dogwoods leaf out and they are starting to bloom. The woods behind the house are just enchanting when all the Dogwoods are in bloom!
It would have been a perfect day for riding, and oh how I wish I could have hopped on my Susie and gone with him!! He did have a 'victim' lined up to go riding with him, but he crapped out at the last minute. It seems his wife had a honey do list that she insisted on being taken care of. It's hard for Chuck to find 'victims' to go riding with him and that's a damn shame. I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I'll never ride again, but some days it's a real downer.
I got all my San Diego photos transferred to Flickr yesterday and actually got them all labeled, too! I'm not always very good about that, in fact I haven't been very good about uploading my photos to Flickr lately. I need to stay on top of that! I didn't take near as many pictures as I intended to whilst in SD because of all of my careful packing, and remembering to pack my chargers for 3 other devices, I forgot my camera charger and extra battery. Doh! I will get it packed in one of my bags for my Alaska trip today! 25 days!! Woo Hoo!!
Poor Gus puppy is depressed this AM. He had to stay home with me for a trip to the vet. He hates not going to work with his dear ol' dad! But his allergies are acting up. His eyes are running and he's got an itchy bare spot by his tail, so I wanna nip it in the bud early. He'll snap out of it once he realizes that he will be going with me in the 'Ho and can guard it while I make a couple stops :-)
I was a bad girl yesterday and gave in to my desire for a new toy. I've been wanting an iPad (or tablet of some sort) for quite some time now, but just couldn't justify spending that much on something that I could live without. After seeing and playing with Poolie's, the desire to possess one increased tremendously! And what did I find in my email when I got home, but a notice of a great deal on one at HSN......so.......I ordered this
Saturday, March 24, 2012
More San Diego
I'm kinda bored with the look of my blog and have been playing with finding a new background, instead of writing. I'm not sure if this one is a keeper, but I'm pretty sure that the 3 or 4 of you who read me won't mind if I change it a few times before I settle on one. LOL
Our 2nd day in San Diego was terrific, except for the fact that Poolie had to work that day. Important meetings beckoned her. But dear Pam (Poolie's Roomie) took off work early and took Terri and I to lunch. She had her heart set on taking us to a terrific seafood place, but when we got there it was closed! Pam was crushed, particularly since she didn't have a 'plan b'. She recovered quickly tho' and off we went to Anthony's, which had awesome food and a wonderful staff. Great view, too!
That night, Poolie took us to La Pinata for some amazing Mexican food!
The portions were HUGE and it was ever so delicious! Best Mexican food I have ever had. And of course we had great fun with it!
My Fajita salad. Delightfully delicious and ENORMOUS!!
Terri and her Chimichanga. We were perplexed (neener) at the huge knife they gave her. If nothing else, it was a great source of amusement for us! (Like we need any incentive....Ha!)
Well, I just took a break from writing and read Terri's new post and I guess we went for the awesome pizza that night! I am easily confused and stand corrected! LMAO
One of the highlights for the trip was the opportunity to eat out several times. Neither Terri nor I get to do that very often and Poolie had some primo places lined up for us, that's for sure!!
We enjoyed breakfasts like this:
And Vegetarian meals like this!
And......I keep getting interrupted and I'm trying to do too many things at once, so.......I'm outta here! For now. Sooooo much more to write about!!
Our 2nd day in San Diego was terrific, except for the fact that Poolie had to work that day. Important meetings beckoned her. But dear Pam (Poolie's Roomie) took off work early and took Terri and I to lunch. She had her heart set on taking us to a terrific seafood place, but when we got there it was closed! Pam was crushed, particularly since she didn't have a 'plan b'. She recovered quickly tho' and off we went to Anthony's, which had awesome food and a wonderful staff. Great view, too!
That night, Poolie took us to La Pinata for some amazing Mexican food!
Well, I just took a break from writing and read Terri's new post and I guess we went for the awesome pizza that night! I am easily confused and stand corrected! LMAO
One of the highlights for the trip was the opportunity to eat out several times. Neither Terri nor I get to do that very often and Poolie had some primo places lined up for us, that's for sure!!
We enjoyed breakfasts like this:
Friday, March 23, 2012
San Diego!
I should have been posting everyday during my San Diego adventure, but truthfully....we were too busy 'adventuring'! CHA!!! I hauled my laptop along and barely looked at it the whole time. An occasional look at FaceBook and a comment or two, to make sure I didn't miss anything in Alaska and that was about it. I think my next toy needs to be an iPad or something similar. Much easier to transport and it will do pretty much all I need it to do whilst on a trip....I think....must investigate.
It was truly a delightful week, spending time with my 2 BFFs. Such a unique trio and we have ever so much fun together. And it was so fantastic to be able to meet some of Poolie's fabulous friends. Any of you that know Poolie can certainly imagine what wonderful people she has in her life!
Terri and I had coordinated our flights so that we would arrive approximately the same time and also leave at the same time. Funnily enough (neener) we actually arrived within about 5 minutes of each other and our gates and baggage claim area were right across from each other. We had tried to call each other on our cell phones, which didn't work out, but we just sort of stumbled across each other a few minutes after collecting our luggage! It was perfect :) Poolie did a 'Drive By Pick Up' and we were off!
First stop was at the grocery store to pick up a couple of items for supper. I had been DYING for a Pepsi! There was no Pepsi to be found at the Chicago airport and American Airlines serves Coke (patooee). I did my fair share of complaining, and even tho' I never thought to ask them to get me one, you can see that from the get-go, I was well taken care of.
See what sweet Terri has in her hand?? It was truly an "Ahhhhh moment"
I just went to post this and realized that the above picture was missing, and now that I've added that, I see that several paragraphs of my entry that followed the picture are missing. ARGGG!!!! I put this post off long enough and now that I have finally written it, it has been swallowed up by some Blog Gremlin! Damn those Blog Gremlins!! Well, it's like this. I have places to go and things to do, so......I'll write more later......Really! I will!!
It was truly a delightful week, spending time with my 2 BFFs. Such a unique trio and we have ever so much fun together. And it was so fantastic to be able to meet some of Poolie's fabulous friends. Any of you that know Poolie can certainly imagine what wonderful people she has in her life!
Terri and I had coordinated our flights so that we would arrive approximately the same time and also leave at the same time. Funnily enough (neener) we actually arrived within about 5 minutes of each other and our gates and baggage claim area were right across from each other. We had tried to call each other on our cell phones, which didn't work out, but we just sort of stumbled across each other a few minutes after collecting our luggage! It was perfect :) Poolie did a 'Drive By Pick Up' and we were off!
First stop was at the grocery store to pick up a couple of items for supper. I had been DYING for a Pepsi! There was no Pepsi to be found at the Chicago airport and American Airlines serves Coke (patooee). I did my fair share of complaining, and even tho' I never thought to ask them to get me one, you can see that from the get-go, I was well taken care of.
I just went to post this and realized that the above picture was missing, and now that I've added that, I see that several paragraphs of my entry that followed the picture are missing. ARGGG!!!! I put this post off long enough and now that I have finally written it, it has been swallowed up by some Blog Gremlin! Damn those Blog Gremlins!! Well, it's like this. I have places to go and things to do, so......I'll write more later......Really! I will!!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Booth Update
Well, we got my pretty new red bench down to my booth today, and I got things displayed on it fairly well, I think.
Here's a new front shot, where you can see the curtains I hung above the top shelf to cover some of the ugly pegboard. There's a light right above it, so the picture didn't turn out real well, but you get the idea.....I hope. :)
The next 2 photos are of a couple of booths across from mine, that the ladies have decorated up really nice. In the 1st one, that gals husband makes all her cabinets for her. They are so nice! My husband would be great at making cabinets for me, but since he's not retired (like he should be) he just doesn't have time. That booth is going to become available in April, as she is moving to an even larger booth at the front of the shop. Susan offered to hold the booth for me if I want to move into it after I get back from Alaska. It is a lot bigger, and much wider and not as deep. I like that. Plus it has electricity and mine doesn't. Makes it nice if you have lamps for sale or to enhance displays. I think I'll take it. It's only $10 more a month.
I love doing this! And will really be able to get into it more and enjoy it more, when I can get around better. I have already sold a lot of stuff for the month. Much more than I ever have, and I think it's partly to do with having a better display area. Also, it's been quite a bit of my jewelry that I have taken in to sell in the display case. It's encouraging and I'm very pleased!
It was very warm and sunny the past couple of days....in the high 60s. This AM we awoke to pouring rain and whenever the weather changes so quickly, I hurt. All over. Big time. I read up on it and it's all to do with the barometric pressure and such. Makes sense, but oh how I hate it! I would have been a day I would have stayed home and done nothing, but it's the only day Chuck can help me with stuff and I just had to get my new bench set up! I hope I make it thru my San Diego adventure without any unexpected debilitating weather fronts!. The girls will just have to roll me around....hahahaha
The next 2 photos are of a couple of booths across from mine, that the ladies have decorated up really nice. In the 1st one, that gals husband makes all her cabinets for her. They are so nice! My husband would be great at making cabinets for me, but since he's not retired (like he should be) he just doesn't have time. That booth is going to become available in April, as she is moving to an even larger booth at the front of the shop. Susan offered to hold the booth for me if I want to move into it after I get back from Alaska. It is a lot bigger, and much wider and not as deep. I like that. Plus it has electricity and mine doesn't. Makes it nice if you have lamps for sale or to enhance displays. I think I'll take it. It's only $10 more a month.
I love doing this! And will really be able to get into it more and enjoy it more, when I can get around better. I have already sold a lot of stuff for the month. Much more than I ever have, and I think it's partly to do with having a better display area. Also, it's been quite a bit of my jewelry that I have taken in to sell in the display case. It's encouraging and I'm very pleased!
It was very warm and sunny the past couple of days....in the high 60s. This AM we awoke to pouring rain and whenever the weather changes so quickly, I hurt. All over. Big time. I read up on it and it's all to do with the barometric pressure and such. Makes sense, but oh how I hate it! I would have been a day I would have stayed home and done nothing, but it's the only day Chuck can help me with stuff and I just had to get my new bench set up! I hope I make it thru my San Diego adventure without any unexpected debilitating weather fronts!. The girls will just have to roll me around....hahahaha
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Sneak Peek
I just had to post a sneak peek of my bench. This is just after one coat of paint. One of us will do another today and we will set it up tomorrow! Yay!!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Progress!
I've been looking for a vintage hutch or some sort of antique table/shelf to use in my booth at the Antique Mall so That I can better display some of my stuff. Haven't had much luck finding the perfect thing...yet...but I will eventually. In the meanwhile I saw this bench a week or so ago and decided that I would buy it, paint it red and use it until something better shows up. This is a picture of it that i had taken from across the road one day, so that I could show Chuck. LOL I went and bought it today and then stopped and bought some Cherry Red paint> Weeeeeeee.......I didn't get to take a 'before' picture, before Chuck dove in and started painting it for me. And he threatened me with my life if I took a picture of him painting. Thus, the picture from across the road.
He hates painting, with a passion, and typically refuses to do it, which is why he didn't want any photographic proof that he actually COULD do it :-). I'll take a picture when it's done, and then again on Sunday when we take it to my booth. I can drape my vintage table linens over the back of it, set baskets of doilies and towels and other small vintage linens on the seat, along with some other things. And will be able to set things under it, as well! I think it will be kewl!!
I am getting so excited for the San Diego trip! I can't wait to see everyone and enjoy some more of that beautiful city. And go to Trader Joes! And go to the desert! But, oh Lord, how I wish I could drive there. I LOVE road trips and positively HATE flying. It's not the actually flying part that I hate, but rather the changing of flights and planes and layovers.....but it's always worth it when it's over :)
That's it for now. I'll post more tomorrow or Sunday when I get my bench in place in my booth!
He hates painting, with a passion, and typically refuses to do it, which is why he didn't want any photographic proof that he actually COULD do it :-). I'll take a picture when it's done, and then again on Sunday when we take it to my booth. I can drape my vintage table linens over the back of it, set baskets of doilies and towels and other small vintage linens on the seat, along with some other things. And will be able to set things under it, as well! I think it will be kewl!!
I am getting so excited for the San Diego trip! I can't wait to see everyone and enjoy some more of that beautiful city. And go to Trader Joes! And go to the desert! But, oh Lord, how I wish I could drive there. I LOVE road trips and positively HATE flying. It's not the actually flying part that I hate, but rather the changing of flights and planes and layovers.....but it's always worth it when it's over :)
That's it for now. I'll post more tomorrow or Sunday when I get my bench in place in my booth!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Russian Federation & Antiquities
I had a visit to my blog from the Russian Federation! WTH?? I wish they were trying to contact me to tell me that I had won a trip to Russia or something exciting, but they didn't even leave a comment. Sigh.
I've been keeping very busy acquiring things to sell in my Antique/Flea Market booth. A couple of weeks ago, Chuck went with me to my booth, to measure and see if his gun cabinet would fit. I suppose I should back up here. I'm getting ahead of myself.
Back in December, Chuck bought a gun safe for his rather ample gun collection. That left the gun cabinet that I bought him, oh so many years ago, empty. He suggested that he could put shelves in it and I could use it to display things in my booth. Particularly things that need to be locked up to prevent being stolen! So, a couple Sundays ago he went down to Betty's Attic with me to see what rearranging we might have to do if we brought the gun cabinet in. While we were there, we found that there was a larger booth for rent, so I decided to take it. So instead of $40 a month, I'm paying $55 for almost double the space. It allows me to better display things, to a point, anyway. And presentation means a lot. I felt like I was trying to cram too much stuff into a too small space.
Okay, from the pictures you can see that I have quite a bit more room and was able to put more items out for sale. I also rented an available shelf in their big display cases up front, where I can sell some of my rings and jewelry that I no longer wear, and it can be kept safe under lock and key!
The gun cabinet works quite well, but I need more furniture type items to better display things. That is only a table up against the back wall, and I really want to get some sort of a hutch to put there, so that I can better display dishes, etc. For now, I am looking at a bench I found, that has a back and arms. I want to put that along the right side and lay table clothes over the back of it, and put baskets holding assorted linens on the seat. There will also be room for some things to set on the floor underneath it. The shelves Chuck made me are fine, for a start, but I'd rather have hutches and such for my displays.
I actually have spruced up my booth a bit since I took these pictures, but forgot to take more. Chuck hung a curtain rod for me, up high on the back wall, and we put up some old fashioned lace curtains I had. Looks much better than that ugly old peg board. I also have a new rug that needs to go down, to cover the ratty carpet.
I've been busy buying vintage linens (doilies, table clothes, guest towels, dresser scarves, etc.) to resell and have acquired some terrific items for next to nothing. I do the whole stain removal, starch and iron thing....and yes, I actually enjoy doing that :-)
I have also gotten a huge batch of vintage knitting needles, that I was very excited about! Some of them I am keeping for myself, but most I am selling. Also, have any of you heard about the new fad of making bridal bouquets out of vintage brooches? It's quite the thing, and I invested in several 'lots' of those to resell, as well. I really enjoy doing all this. I just wish things would sell faster! Things have been picking up quite a bit the past month, tho'. Hopefully it will stay that way. This fall, once I get all healed up from my surgery as all, I should be able to go scouring the country side for great finds to resell. It's really what I want to do!
I've been keeping very busy acquiring things to sell in my Antique/Flea Market booth. A couple of weeks ago, Chuck went with me to my booth, to measure and see if his gun cabinet would fit. I suppose I should back up here. I'm getting ahead of myself.
Back in December, Chuck bought a gun safe for his rather ample gun collection. That left the gun cabinet that I bought him, oh so many years ago, empty. He suggested that he could put shelves in it and I could use it to display things in my booth. Particularly things that need to be locked up to prevent being stolen! So, a couple Sundays ago he went down to Betty's Attic with me to see what rearranging we might have to do if we brought the gun cabinet in. While we were there, we found that there was a larger booth for rent, so I decided to take it. So instead of $40 a month, I'm paying $55 for almost double the space. It allows me to better display things, to a point, anyway. And presentation means a lot. I felt like I was trying to cram too much stuff into a too small space.
 |
| Old Booth before I moved |
 | |
| Gun Cabinet full of treasures |
 |
| New space |
 |
| New Space |
 | ||||
| My shelf in the Display Case (top left) |
The gun cabinet works quite well, but I need more furniture type items to better display things. That is only a table up against the back wall, and I really want to get some sort of a hutch to put there, so that I can better display dishes, etc. For now, I am looking at a bench I found, that has a back and arms. I want to put that along the right side and lay table clothes over the back of it, and put baskets holding assorted linens on the seat. There will also be room for some things to set on the floor underneath it. The shelves Chuck made me are fine, for a start, but I'd rather have hutches and such for my displays.
I actually have spruced up my booth a bit since I took these pictures, but forgot to take more. Chuck hung a curtain rod for me, up high on the back wall, and we put up some old fashioned lace curtains I had. Looks much better than that ugly old peg board. I also have a new rug that needs to go down, to cover the ratty carpet.
I've been busy buying vintage linens (doilies, table clothes, guest towels, dresser scarves, etc.) to resell and have acquired some terrific items for next to nothing. I do the whole stain removal, starch and iron thing....and yes, I actually enjoy doing that :-)
I have also gotten a huge batch of vintage knitting needles, that I was very excited about! Some of them I am keeping for myself, but most I am selling. Also, have any of you heard about the new fad of making bridal bouquets out of vintage brooches? It's quite the thing, and I invested in several 'lots' of those to resell, as well. I really enjoy doing all this. I just wish things would sell faster! Things have been picking up quite a bit the past month, tho'. Hopefully it will stay that way. This fall, once I get all healed up from my surgery as all, I should be able to go scouring the country side for great finds to resell. It's really what I want to do!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wanna Give Someone the Finger!
The first thing I want to talk about today is my ring finger on my right hand. Or, should I say, my 'Former' ring finger....since I can no longer wear any of my dozens of rings on it! The knuckle on this finger has taken on a life of it's own, and I really, REALLY don't like it! Today it hurts. A lot! So I'm gonna share. About a year ago I noticed that my knuckle was swelling and it was becoming hard to get my rings on and off. I figured, okay. I've got arthritis in various parts of my body, including both thumbs, so it stands to reason that my fingers will eventually be affected. Problem is, it just kept getting bigger and was hurting quite a bit. I mean, I already take meds for my arthritis (which doesn't take care of all of the associated pain and/or discomfort, but helps a great deal) so why was it hurting so much? I went to see my Doc so he could determine if mayhaps it was a cyst or a chipped bone or something, and he deemed it good old arthritis. Crap. So, deal with it. It was about that time that I took the 1st picture here, back in September.
It quit bothering me and didn't seem to be metamorphosing, so I decided to have some of my favorite rings resized. At the going price of gold and silver, it is a little pricey these days to go up 2 full ring sizes, but Chuck agreed that it was fine so I did about 8 or 9 rings. Now, my ring finger WAS a size 9, but this knuckle now required a size 11 for clearance. My middle finger is size 11, so I figured that if my ring finger decided to have another growth spurt, I could always wear these rings on my middle finger.
This second picture was taken this AM, and you can see that it has, in fact, started metamorphosing again. This AM the whole thing is just throbbing and hurts the entire length of it, not just the knuckle. Guess that's what prompted me to finally write about it.That had been my intention when I took the 1st picture, but I never got around to it. That's just a really big change in 5 months time. I think maybe I'll let Dr. H take another look and see if I can inspire him to snap a little x-ray of it....just for peace of mind....or something.
The sad thing is, that I have a massive jewelry collection. Well over 100 rings. Seriously. All gold and silver and gemstone. A lot of them can't be resized 2 sizes, because of their settings. And the only finger they will fit on is my left ring finger, which houses my wedding ring. Lots of $$ tied up and just sitting there, but worst of all is the fact that I dearly love most of those abandoned rings and it gives me a huge sad to not be able to wear them. Ah, hell...enough sniveling.
Yesterday I went for my 'annual' eye exam. It's been 2 years :-). When we 1st moved here I went to Fayetteville Mall, to Sears Optical cuz they had a great sale on glasses happening. What I found was an awesome eye Doctor! She's amazing and SO thorough and just plain adorable. So I continue to go there. Yesterday, glasses were 50% off and because I am a repeat customer, I got an extra 10%.....sooooo.....when I was having trouble deciding between the purple or the cranberry, I decided to get both :). I'm really sick of my current glasses (except when I want to read something) so it'll be fun to have 2 new and cool ones to wear. (life's simple pleasures).
But, I do have to snivel a wee bit more. The trek from the parking lot, through half of Sears, to get to the Optical shop, just about did me in. And the trek BACK to the parking lot DID do me in. Holy Crap! I sat in the truck thinking, what the hell do I think I'm doing??? Going to San Diego in 3 weeks. Going to Alaska in 7 1/2 weeks. I should be doing these things after my surgery! Well.....I WILL be doing them then, too. But still.....I need to see my friends. I can't wait to be together with Poolie and Terri T again! And God knows, I desperately NEED to see Terri and Riley and Maggie and Emily and Timmy and Xander and....yes, even my SIL, Michael :-). I just SO hate to be an inconvenience or imposition because of my freaking limitations. I feel like such a wuss. But the reality is, not one of them will make me feel that way. In fact, ALL of them will make me feel like I'm the same old Yankee Chick and the same old Mom and the same old Grammy and it'll all be good! Damn good!! So what the hell am I whining about?!?!? It's just been over 3 years of this shit and I'm so sick of it!!!
It's been exactly 3 years this month since I last rode my Susie, so I guess that makes it 3 1/2 years. I first went to see the Doc about my severe hip pain whilst riding back in September of '08. (but I wasn't giving up on riding yet!) Holy cow! Holy Moly! Holy Crap!!!
Now I want to write about Susie and I want to write about my antique booth, but this is long enough! Hopefully I will get my butt back here and write about that stuff tomorrow! In case anyone decides to come and read. :-)
It quit bothering me and didn't seem to be metamorphosing, so I decided to have some of my favorite rings resized. At the going price of gold and silver, it is a little pricey these days to go up 2 full ring sizes, but Chuck agreed that it was fine so I did about 8 or 9 rings. Now, my ring finger WAS a size 9, but this knuckle now required a size 11 for clearance. My middle finger is size 11, so I figured that if my ring finger decided to have another growth spurt, I could always wear these rings on my middle finger.
The sad thing is, that I have a massive jewelry collection. Well over 100 rings. Seriously. All gold and silver and gemstone. A lot of them can't be resized 2 sizes, because of their settings. And the only finger they will fit on is my left ring finger, which houses my wedding ring. Lots of $$ tied up and just sitting there, but worst of all is the fact that I dearly love most of those abandoned rings and it gives me a huge sad to not be able to wear them. Ah, hell...enough sniveling.
Yesterday I went for my 'annual' eye exam. It's been 2 years :-). When we 1st moved here I went to Fayetteville Mall, to Sears Optical cuz they had a great sale on glasses happening. What I found was an awesome eye Doctor! She's amazing and SO thorough and just plain adorable. So I continue to go there. Yesterday, glasses were 50% off and because I am a repeat customer, I got an extra 10%.....sooooo.....when I was having trouble deciding between the purple or the cranberry, I decided to get both :). I'm really sick of my current glasses (except when I want to read something) so it'll be fun to have 2 new and cool ones to wear. (life's simple pleasures).
But, I do have to snivel a wee bit more. The trek from the parking lot, through half of Sears, to get to the Optical shop, just about did me in. And the trek BACK to the parking lot DID do me in. Holy Crap! I sat in the truck thinking, what the hell do I think I'm doing??? Going to San Diego in 3 weeks. Going to Alaska in 7 1/2 weeks. I should be doing these things after my surgery! Well.....I WILL be doing them then, too. But still.....I need to see my friends. I can't wait to be together with Poolie and Terri T again! And God knows, I desperately NEED to see Terri and Riley and Maggie and Emily and Timmy and Xander and....yes, even my SIL, Michael :-). I just SO hate to be an inconvenience or imposition because of my freaking limitations. I feel like such a wuss. But the reality is, not one of them will make me feel that way. In fact, ALL of them will make me feel like I'm the same old Yankee Chick and the same old Mom and the same old Grammy and it'll all be good! Damn good!! So what the hell am I whining about?!?!? It's just been over 3 years of this shit and I'm so sick of it!!!
It's been exactly 3 years this month since I last rode my Susie, so I guess that makes it 3 1/2 years. I first went to see the Doc about my severe hip pain whilst riding back in September of '08. (but I wasn't giving up on riding yet!) Holy cow! Holy Moly! Holy Crap!!!
Now I want to write about Susie and I want to write about my antique booth, but this is long enough! Hopefully I will get my butt back here and write about that stuff tomorrow! In case anyone decides to come and read. :-)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wild Horses.....
Great start to this day! Sitting here, still in my jammies, drinking coffee, playing around online......and suddenly crazy horse activity catches my eye, out the window. Dixie had managed to get out and was running the fence line. Susie couldn't get out and was having an absolute horsey conniption fit! Mass chaos ensues! Well, if one person can actually create mass chaos, that is. I rushed upstairs to get dressed, got my shoes on, grabbed my phone and a bag of carrots and off I went!
OMG, was Dixie ever having fun! By the time I got out the door, she was tearing thru the neighbors yard, kicking and bucking, having a grand time of it. Sadly, since it snowed the other day, everything is very wet, so when I say she was "tearing" thru the neighbors yard, I mean that quite literally. There is now a multitude of hoof prints and skid marks in their lawn. Personally, I say we're even for the fact that their German Sheppard takes a big old dump in our yard everyday, but I'm thinking they won't agree with that. LOL
Anyway, I gimped and limped as quickly as I could and was just about to come out from behind the barn and around the corner when I heard her galloping, hell bent for leather, right in my direction. Luckily, she skidded to a stop when she saw me as opposed to running over top of me (which was very possible and highly likely!). We were right by the back gate, from which she had made her escape. I waved the bag of carrots in her face, pointed to the barnyard and told her to get her big ass in there, NOW!! Thankfully, she did just that! It was part good luck and part good training and a whole lot of influence from a bag of carrots! If Susie had been out.......no way in hell could I have gotten her back until she was damn good and ready. But Dixie will do anything for food.....ANYthing! I made her wait tho', until I walked back around the barn so that I could get to Susie and give HER some carrots as well. After all, she was the one that was all worked up in a lather (literally) and needed some attention. Not the bad kid!
It's fortunate for me that Dixie is on a diet again, which means she spends her time in the barnyard and Susie is out in the pasture. Ya have to feed them more in the winter, when it's cold, to help keep their body heat up. Well, Susie will still lose a little weight but not Dixie! She has gained again. Horses are just like people. Dixie can and will eat anything edible, but also gains weight just looking at food!
I have no idea how the gate got open. We had company last night and they were all out there, so I suspect Chuck was distracted and it got left unchained. Dixie is pretty darn good at opening a variety of latches and closures, but I don't think she could have gotten this one by herself.
Okay, so now I can get undressed, take my shower and get on with the days activities! Hopefully that was my 'excitement' for the day :-)
OMG, was Dixie ever having fun! By the time I got out the door, she was tearing thru the neighbors yard, kicking and bucking, having a grand time of it. Sadly, since it snowed the other day, everything is very wet, so when I say she was "tearing" thru the neighbors yard, I mean that quite literally. There is now a multitude of hoof prints and skid marks in their lawn. Personally, I say we're even for the fact that their German Sheppard takes a big old dump in our yard everyday, but I'm thinking they won't agree with that. LOL
Anyway, I gimped and limped as quickly as I could and was just about to come out from behind the barn and around the corner when I heard her galloping, hell bent for leather, right in my direction. Luckily, she skidded to a stop when she saw me as opposed to running over top of me (which was very possible and highly likely!). We were right by the back gate, from which she had made her escape. I waved the bag of carrots in her face, pointed to the barnyard and told her to get her big ass in there, NOW!! Thankfully, she did just that! It was part good luck and part good training and a whole lot of influence from a bag of carrots! If Susie had been out.......no way in hell could I have gotten her back until she was damn good and ready. But Dixie will do anything for food.....ANYthing! I made her wait tho', until I walked back around the barn so that I could get to Susie and give HER some carrots as well. After all, she was the one that was all worked up in a lather (literally) and needed some attention. Not the bad kid!
It's fortunate for me that Dixie is on a diet again, which means she spends her time in the barnyard and Susie is out in the pasture. Ya have to feed them more in the winter, when it's cold, to help keep their body heat up. Well, Susie will still lose a little weight but not Dixie! She has gained again. Horses are just like people. Dixie can and will eat anything edible, but also gains weight just looking at food!
I have no idea how the gate got open. We had company last night and they were all out there, so I suspect Chuck was distracted and it got left unchained. Dixie is pretty darn good at opening a variety of latches and closures, but I don't think she could have gotten this one by herself.
Okay, so now I can get undressed, take my shower and get on with the days activities! Hopefully that was my 'excitement' for the day :-)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Time Slips Away
Nothing real special going on.....just a bazillion things that need to be done and I actually feel like doing them today! As soon as I get off the computer. Ha! Which was just about to happen, when I remembered that I started blogging again and needed to get with it. Ahem!
Some of you know that I have started knitting. Terri got me into it back in May on my last visit to Alaska. Those of you that know me really, really well, also know that when I get hooked on something, it becomes an addiction. All consuming obsession. At least for awhile. Until the next addiction comes along. Anyway, I have about 5 WIPs {Works in Progress} and at least 20 lined up. Seriously! Probably more. I have been buying delightful and delicious and beautiful yarn like it is going out of style! I TRY to be sensible about it. I TRY to only buy yarn if I have a project in mind and the pattern in hand. That works most of the time. Sometimes the yarn is too amazing and/or the price is too amazing and I just can't resist. The problem with that is, I'm not real sure how much to buy so.........you got it! I tend to 'over buy'. Damn, but it's fun! Only problem is, knitting goes kinda slow. Many years ago, I used to crochet and that is a lot faster, but knitting is much more satisfying, somehow. Plus most knitted items are much nicer than crocheted items. I know I'll get faster at it, as time goes by, but I'll never be able to keep up with the buying!
To add to my 5 WIPs, I am starting another one today. Bernat yarn company has what they call a Mystery Afghan Knit-A-Long {KAL} that started today. They tel you how many skeins of yarn and how many colors you will need, and even suggest several color ways for you. Each Wednesday morning they give you a "Clue" which gives you the instructions for making squares for the afghan. This morning we got instructions to make 8 squares. No picture or anything, so it will be a mystery until one is finished....which is the whole point. In fact, the whole look of the afghan will be a mystery until it is completed. I shouldn't be doing it because I already have so many other things going, but I couldn't resist! So, once I get off here and do a little housework, I will get started on it and see what I come up with :)
In other news, my booth at the antique mall is doing good AND bad. Sounds crazy, and it is. Things have been selling lately, which is good......and 2 more high priced items got stolen, which is bad. These 2 items were big enough that I thought they were safe from being stuck in a pocket or purse, but I guess I was wrong. Then again, it COULD always be another vendor, who is free to come and go with big boxes and bags. That has been known to happen before, as well. This past weekend, Chuck went with me to my booth cuz I wanted his input on doing some rearranging in my limited space. A couple of good things came out of that. They finally had a space available in their big display cases where people display jewelry and small items. So I finally got to rent a shelf in that for $10 a month. That will be available on the 1st of March. In addition to that, Chuck discovered that a larger booth was available to rent and rented it for me, so we will be moving into a space about 3 times the size of what I have. I will have room for a large cabinet that locks and some other display options that will improve sales and allow me to put more things out for sale. I'm excited. I was feeling like the whole scenario was a fizzle and about to just pack it in, when suddenly things are looking up!! My "new" cabinet will be Chuck's gun cabinet. He finally bought a gun safe a couple of months ago for his extensive gun collection, thank God! I was always so worried about so many people knowing about his guns, and the potential of someone breaking in and stealing them, and God knows what else! Anyway, that leaves the gun cabinet that I bought him back in 1976, all sad and empty. I had thought to fill it with yarn, LOL. His idea of putting shelves in it for me to use in my booth is most excellent! Plus! I could even sell that, if I'm of a mind to! I remember scrimping and saving up the $100 to buy that for him, way back then and now it is valued at about $450. Sweet!! I guess getting old has it's advantages! Hahahaha {did I say that?}
Okay.....I've babbled on enough for today. Off to do a bit of tidying up before I start that new knitting project!
Some of you know that I have started knitting. Terri got me into it back in May on my last visit to Alaska. Those of you that know me really, really well, also know that when I get hooked on something, it becomes an addiction. All consuming obsession. At least for awhile. Until the next addiction comes along. Anyway, I have about 5 WIPs {Works in Progress} and at least 20 lined up. Seriously! Probably more. I have been buying delightful and delicious and beautiful yarn like it is going out of style! I TRY to be sensible about it. I TRY to only buy yarn if I have a project in mind and the pattern in hand. That works most of the time. Sometimes the yarn is too amazing and/or the price is too amazing and I just can't resist. The problem with that is, I'm not real sure how much to buy so.........you got it! I tend to 'over buy'. Damn, but it's fun! Only problem is, knitting goes kinda slow. Many years ago, I used to crochet and that is a lot faster, but knitting is much more satisfying, somehow. Plus most knitted items are much nicer than crocheted items. I know I'll get faster at it, as time goes by, but I'll never be able to keep up with the buying!
To add to my 5 WIPs, I am starting another one today. Bernat yarn company has what they call a Mystery Afghan Knit-A-Long {KAL} that started today. They tel you how many skeins of yarn and how many colors you will need, and even suggest several color ways for you. Each Wednesday morning they give you a "Clue" which gives you the instructions for making squares for the afghan. This morning we got instructions to make 8 squares. No picture or anything, so it will be a mystery until one is finished....which is the whole point. In fact, the whole look of the afghan will be a mystery until it is completed. I shouldn't be doing it because I already have so many other things going, but I couldn't resist! So, once I get off here and do a little housework, I will get started on it and see what I come up with :)
In other news, my booth at the antique mall is doing good AND bad. Sounds crazy, and it is. Things have been selling lately, which is good......and 2 more high priced items got stolen, which is bad. These 2 items were big enough that I thought they were safe from being stuck in a pocket or purse, but I guess I was wrong. Then again, it COULD always be another vendor, who is free to come and go with big boxes and bags. That has been known to happen before, as well. This past weekend, Chuck went with me to my booth cuz I wanted his input on doing some rearranging in my limited space. A couple of good things came out of that. They finally had a space available in their big display cases where people display jewelry and small items. So I finally got to rent a shelf in that for $10 a month. That will be available on the 1st of March. In addition to that, Chuck discovered that a larger booth was available to rent and rented it for me, so we will be moving into a space about 3 times the size of what I have. I will have room for a large cabinet that locks and some other display options that will improve sales and allow me to put more things out for sale. I'm excited. I was feeling like the whole scenario was a fizzle and about to just pack it in, when suddenly things are looking up!! My "new" cabinet will be Chuck's gun cabinet. He finally bought a gun safe a couple of months ago for his extensive gun collection, thank God! I was always so worried about so many people knowing about his guns, and the potential of someone breaking in and stealing them, and God knows what else! Anyway, that leaves the gun cabinet that I bought him back in 1976, all sad and empty. I had thought to fill it with yarn, LOL. His idea of putting shelves in it for me to use in my booth is most excellent! Plus! I could even sell that, if I'm of a mind to! I remember scrimping and saving up the $100 to buy that for him, way back then and now it is valued at about $450. Sweet!! I guess getting old has it's advantages! Hahahaha {did I say that?}
Okay.....I've babbled on enough for today. Off to do a bit of tidying up before I start that new knitting project!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Yankee Chick is back!
I will probably spend this evening making some changes to my page, just to freshen it up a bit. I almost decided to go back to WordPress, but decided to stay here. But then, what did I discover but they have changed everything here since I last posted. So much for sticking with current familiarity! Eeeep!
One of the things I wanted to do, was to import my posts from Mama Monroe so that I could just delete that. However! The instructions they give you to do that, apply to the old version and not the new andunimproved version. Geez, Google! Get your poop in a group!! I won't fuss with that just now, but will work on updating my Pages and pictures and 'stuff'. I'll get back to that another time.
One of the things I wanted to do, was to import my posts from Mama Monroe so that I could just delete that. However! The instructions they give you to do that, apply to the old version and not the new and
MOVED!
Okay.....I am moving. Yankee-Chick is alive and well and you can find her here:
Yankee-Chick
So delete Mama Monroe from your Google Reader of what ever method you use to follow, and add Yankee Chick back. :)
Yankee-Chick
So delete Mama Monroe from your Google Reader of what ever method you use to follow, and add Yankee Chick back. :)
Friday, February 10, 2012
Here's the Deal
I think I need to change my identity. I need to revert back to the whole Yankee Chick scenario. I was trying to start fresh a few months ago by blending my Mama Monroe persona with the blog thing, and it's just not right. It doesn't work for me. Mama Monroe is my Roller Derby name and Roller Derby is all about my family and Alaska friends. I will always be Yankee Chick and in the World of Blog, I need to return to that.
Not that there won't be much ado in my blog regarding Roller Derby....there certainly will!! And although there will be much redundancy between FaceBook and my blog, the bulk of my FB friends and posts revolve around Derby and Mama Monroe type stuff. It's hard to explain, so I'll stop trying. Suffice to say, Yankee Chick is back....and it might involve a move, to either a new blog or back to my old one. I'll probably figure that out tonight, and steer y'all in the right direction.
In fact, now that I've informed you of this decision....I think I'll go play around and will let you know what I decide :-)
Not that there won't be much ado in my blog regarding Roller Derby....there certainly will!! And although there will be much redundancy between FaceBook and my blog, the bulk of my FB friends and posts revolve around Derby and Mama Monroe type stuff. It's hard to explain, so I'll stop trying. Suffice to say, Yankee Chick is back....and it might involve a move, to either a new blog or back to my old one. I'll probably figure that out tonight, and steer y'all in the right direction.
In fact, now that I've informed you of this decision....I think I'll go play around and will let you know what I decide :-)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Poolie Sent Me
Yes she did, indeed. I'd pretty much given up on this whole blog thing, but it does still haunt me I mean, the urge is still there.......is there a Viagra for blogging??? Hahahaha Maybe now that I'm getting close to the end of some rough times, I can find more upbeat things to write about. I felt that all my posts have become negative, but my life has been pretty damn negative for quite some time. That is simply the way of it!
I do have some upcoming events that will certainly put a positive spin on things and I do need to write about them, right??
First up is my trip to San Diego next month, to spend a week with Poolie and Terri T. It's been 2 years since we were last together and it's high time to meet up again!
After that, I will be going to Alaska for a month. Leaving April 20th and returning May 23rd. I totally can't wait for that!!! There will be love and hugs and roller derby and fun and movies and fun food and roller derby and hugs and more love and more roller derby and exciting stuff!!!!!!!!
And THEN, on June 11th, I will have my long awaited surgery. Bionic hip #2 and after my recovery from that, I am hoping and praying and wishing for a far better quality of life than I have had in 3 years! Or has it been 4??? Too freakin long, that's for damn sure!
So, this is a start.......I will elaborate more on those things and other stuff as well, in the days to come. I have lots of Roller Derby news and pictures to share.....and I'm sure I'll come up with other things.....I just know it. And I need to do some new pictures and some tidying up around this here blog page, too. See ya soon!
I do have some upcoming events that will certainly put a positive spin on things and I do need to write about them, right??
First up is my trip to San Diego next month, to spend a week with Poolie and Terri T. It's been 2 years since we were last together and it's high time to meet up again!
After that, I will be going to Alaska for a month. Leaving April 20th and returning May 23rd. I totally can't wait for that!!! There will be love and hugs and roller derby and fun and movies and fun food and roller derby and hugs and more love and more roller derby and exciting stuff!!!!!!!!
And THEN, on June 11th, I will have my long awaited surgery. Bionic hip #2 and after my recovery from that, I am hoping and praying and wishing for a far better quality of life than I have had in 3 years! Or has it been 4??? Too freakin long, that's for damn sure!
So, this is a start.......I will elaborate more on those things and other stuff as well, in the days to come. I have lots of Roller Derby news and pictures to share.....and I'm sure I'll come up with other things.....I just know it. And I need to do some new pictures and some tidying up around this here blog page, too. See ya soon!
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