Vans & Roses

On Monday, the Hubs will take possession of this.  And it's about time!  His current van is a 2002 that he bought when we  moved here in 2003.  He has put over 200,000 miles on it.  It's time to retire the beast before it costs us any more $$ to keep going. 

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

Chuck picked my 1st roses for me yesterday AM.  My favorites bloomed beautifully and the bush id LOADED with buds! This is not a great picture.  These are actually a salmon color, with tinges of deep pink.  Ya' know!  The camera on this iPhone4 that I have really sucks compared to my 3GS.  I'll be so glad when I can upgrade in November!

What a dork I am.  Here is a MUCH better shot taken with my 'real' camera.  Nikon to the rescue!  This shows the true colors.

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!!

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:

• 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.

I'm not convinced that it's a keeper.  Maybe I jumped into it too soon without checking more models,  but it was hard to resist it when the Sug retail was $475 and HSN had it for $199.00.  I found it on eBay for both prices and everything in between, so I'm comfortable with the price.  I just need Poolie, or a handful of my grands to show me the wonders of it all.  If I didn't already have my beloved Nook, I would be much more enamored of it.  Geez......I sound like an old Geezer trying to make sense of modern technology!!  AGHHHH!!!  Just shoot me now!

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!

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!!!

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!

Holy Cow!

Another week, another post.  Can't keep up the daily thing, although I regret it because I like having a reference to things and after so many days have passed, I forget most of what I wanted to write.  I even made some notes......they're around here somewhere....... LOL

My last post was  in regard to trying to de-clutter and reorganize "My Room".  Well, some of it is done and some is not.  No big deal.  It will happen.  Actually the knitting bug that bit me back in May has been taking over and I've been a knitting fool, with some occasional reading tossed in the mix.  Why I've even been in the kitchen more and much to Chuck's delight he has recently consumed 2 batches of cookies and a cake! He's been like a kid, so excited that I have felt like baking again.  LOL

During that time frame my PC was in the hospital.  A bad storm and power outage zapped my network adapter and the  apparently my battery back up was dead and I didn't know it and the abrupt shut down corrupted my OS and blah, blah, yada, yada.  The poor battery backup is about 12 years old and was located in an out of the way place so that I never noticed that the lights were off and that it was simply functioning as a $150 power strip!  Got a shiny new one, and it's placed right where I can see it!  I found a great local repair shop and at first I was not pleased with them because they 'missed something' but they went above and beyond to make it up to me, so all is well.  I had my laptop, but am rather limited with what I can do on it (with my photos, bookwork, etc.) thus I had more knitting time.

I have several knitting projects I want to complete before December and a sewing project or 2 as well, but I am just not as enchanted with sewing as I once was.  Once I get a table cleared off and my Embroidery Machine stuff put away, I can get working on a couple quilts as well.  Chuck keeps reminding me to not be so hard on myself for the things that I can't do around the house and do just relax and let myself DO and ENJOY the things I want to do, because for all intents and purposes I am 'retired'.  I think it's beginning to sink in.  I have spent far too much time simply lost in thought trying to come to terms with all the changes in my life and wasting too much energy on the negative.  I think I'm on the way back up the hill out of my black hole.

*************************
Well, heck!  I started this like, Wednesday I think, and never finished or posted it.  Duh.  I was just about to start a new post, but will toss this out there and write one later.  I'm off to get ready to go shopping with Victoria!  My 1st outing of it's kind.  Let's hope I hold up.  My Vicodin is going into my purse as soon as I hit the Publish button :)