life.hanging.by.a.thread.crocheting@gmail.com

Natural easter egg coloring

2008-03-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Barbara, from back `home' in the Chicago area sent this to me. Its from the Chicago Tribune.

If you want to go natural when dying eggs this Easter, browse your refrigerator and spice cabinet for dyes from plants. That's how peasants in medieval Europe used to color eggs.Simmer the spices or plant matter in water until you have a strong color; then add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar and clean, hard-boiled eggs. It may take several hours of soaking in the refrigerator to get a satisfying color, and tints still will tend to be pastel.For deeper tints you can simmer the eggs right in the dye solution, but don't plan to eat those eggs.Warning: Results will vary, and the color of the dyed egg may not even turn out to be the color of the plant or the simmered solution.It's wise to spread newspaper over the table and for everyone to wear old clothes, because there will be lots of splashes and drips. For the simmering, use stainless-steel pans that won't be discolored; for the soaking, use glass or ceramic dishes.1. Yellow: Simmer 2 to 3 tablespoons of turmeric or cumin in a saucepan of water for 20 to 30 minutes. For pale orange, try paprika. For a deeper brownish-orange, simmer several handfuls of yellow onion skins.2. Blue: Simmer 4 cups of chopped red cabbage in a saucepan of water for an hour. For a light purple, the possibilities include frozen blueberries, grape juice concentrate and hibiscus tea.3. Green: Simmer 4 cups of spinach in water in a saucepan. Or try parsley.4. Pink: Simmer beets in water in a saucepan, or use the juice from a can of beets or jar of pickled beets.5. Red: This is a difficult color, but try simmering lots of red onion skins. Don't add vinegar, which makes the onion dye turn brown. Or try pomegranate juice or simmered crushed cranberries (bottled cranberry juice has little effect). Or red wine.---------- Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune

the story of a rag rug

2008-03-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

This is the story of the `rag rug'.
I have been working on this on & off for months.It has been quite the odyssey for me, I had been taught by my granny on the farm, when I was but a wee girl. But it has been several decades & my `memory' is not quite the same as it was even a few years back. I got involved Thru a crochet friend who volunteer's as docent at a historical mountain cabin that was built in 1901. They are trying to replicate the furnishings to what it was back around 1930-1940. The lady who lived in the cabin, did so every summer for 69 years ~yikes~. She braided rag rugs from worn out clothing probably wool trousers and shirts from the lumber mill workers. This is where I come in. There is 1 photo of the interior cabin with her in the cabin. She has 1 foot on the rug & she is sitting on a rocker. Alas, this 1 photo is what I am working from. ughhhh.Well, Did not seem like this would be so challenging, I mean I had done this before -not on this scale...well actually it had been decades,now that I really think about it. The real last rag rug activity I did ended up being favorite flannel sheets that I did not want to get rid of but had become work thin. I began braiding them & made a bunch of coasters.

SO, I began by taking the wee photo to store after store looking for fabrics that appeared to be similar to what I could see in the picture. Then, the question`How much to get?' geeeezz. O gut got yards & yards. It was under 50.00. I took photos at 1st to share the progress. Then it turned out to be a quest to create modern `How to' ~ kind of a dossier for me. My mom found it brought back memories from her childhood on the farm. Her mom made rag rugs & all the 6 kids had to help with everything on the farm. Ripping the clothes for rag rugs & ironing was something she remembered, along with burning fingers on the iron & the fuzz floating in the air from ripping the fabrics & making piles. Mom called me many many times with things she remembered. I also had my memories from gran showing me & watching her. Gran always had a basket at the side of her chair, filled with rags. Being raised a `city girl' compared to the relatives up north-well, it took me YEARS for figure out what the basket of rags was about. That's when gran invited me to bring a box of rags with me next visit & she would teach me to make rag rugs.
~~~~~~~~the pictures are as follows: 1-iron fabric & fold measure & cut strips
(thank the Lord for modern tools~this being the Rotary cutter & large Lucite rulers)
I played with this for a while to get as much cut as quick as possible. I found 8 layers of these fabrics worked for the large rotary cutter to successfully to thru. This took me HOURS.
photo 2 is checking to see what width fits the metal braiders I had. Photo 3 is a pile half cut.
After all the fabrics were cut-I put them all in separate large ziploc bags & then in a tote bag.
~~~Now for the next step~~~~~~~to set this up in an area where I can work on this.~~
I will keep you posted
`k'

January snow in the Carolinas

2008-03-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was jan 18 2008
I was strolling thru the house at about 4am, so I guess it was actually jan 19 at this time. What do I find???? SNOW!!!!! In the South!!! So what does a good ol midwestern girl, born & raised on the shores of the mighty Lake Michigan, in the surburbs north of Chicago DO???? I run & wake the entire family up!! We get out our `northern' winter gear & get outside in that snow !!! YIPEE!! we drop onto our backs & make snow angels 1st. Then we begin that wee but important snowball that is the start of any good snowman. We had several inches of the white, wet snow. We had a crystal clear morning-still dark. Not a light on in any house in the neighborhood. Oh, the wonderful Quiet of snow. Sounds of the lightly pelting snow turning to sleet Our dogs looking at us, having nothing to do with this. The oldest was raised in the snow-10 inches was nothing for him, but the last few years he has been a southern dog, used to the sweltering heat towards 100. Oh well. We explored-we tore up the snow-footprints & snow men tracks all over the front & back yard ~ leaving snow men in the front & out back. This the child will remember.. We came in took off all the soaking heavy cloths & our fabulous Eddie Bauer boots & had steaming Hot cocoa in bathrobes. Ahhhhhhh what a life.
(((HUGS)))
k

We are swimming

2008-03-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
our newest swimmer

Ok..it has beeen toooooo long since I last `visited'. I will just document the positive for now. DH had another trip to Richmond Va- this was the end of Feb & we went with. So..surprise** I have pictures readily available...(my dearest love has developed a habit of taking ALL the digital cameras cards & formating to disc.. and i mean the minute a camera seems to be put down --he seizes them...like an elf in the night-when I take a quiet bath, it seems...off to his office he goes & using his assorted equipment he takes my little camera disc cards & does `whatever' to make them all appear on a disc. THis is suppossed to be easier for `ME'. BUT, alas- I can NEVER seem to locate anything unless I go thru hundreds & hundreds of photos ~ sitting at a computer..well...hmmmm one would say`why not label them?' hahhaha Please remember, we are talking about the habits of a man.....need I say more? The mere fact he has developed a random habit he feels is useful to me-well , you know. We must pick our batttles. He has gone back & attempted to label, but `flowers' or` butterflies' can cover almost any month almost any year-so thus far the labeling has yet to be in my language. So I will simply applaud his attempt. Oh, I should probally say, in his defense, we have now 5 or 6 digital cameras and more cards than we can count, most hold upwards of 300 photos & I use them all & fill them...heehee THis is why he `thought' if would be easier to transfer to disc & have cards ready & waiting for me. His is quicker than I. Now if I can just get him to print them......heehee

The photos of our little man and his FIRST swimming all on his own. Both recent trips to Richmond were a `swim trip' for him. When I locate the `other' photos I will post the train ride & excursion to the DC Zoo back a few months ago. It was COLD but spectacular...we had a glorious time watching the pandas. DC has a great zoo and across the street at the entrance is a most welcome Starbucks~with yummies for cold tummies.

~~~~~~~~~as for my `blackout' since writings...for now I will say writers block...? well, kinda dealing with -crummy-but not life threatening medical glitchs. Staying positive. (I hate to whine-so I really had writers block in how to not drone on complaining. Really, who wants to hear another round of it?) facts I had a ton of tests and several unusual & unexpected discoveries. I have pretty much been coping & dealing with it and trying to `adapt' .
I have compression fractures in the lower back -painful most of the time. Just a real drag. I have been in bed days at a time-with pain from it & the neck probem. Interesting discovery - movement of the head to the left causes dizziness-floaters & nausa. I had a traction thing that held the head/neck in place and that felt oddly good. I still have not found a soultion for the extensive heart calification that the mammogram found. I had a heart thing done and I am taking a break from Dr's & hospitals for the moment. I am `slower' if that is possible..hahaha ..every so often I find a position that is not so bad and I go with it. Usually I take my wonderful hot bath & fall in bed with my cushy pillows & quilts. Crochet bag at my side. I am late finishing a relpica rag rug for a crochet friends historical society. But I see the end & will post the proccess.
If you are reading this -you must be a dear beloved friend. I have sat to do this after I read several emails from dear friends that have been in my life for decades and say they enjoy my writing. So I will get back to sharing my silly insights to my days.
(((HUGS))) k

merry christmas

2007-12-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas...I dont celebrate this just 1 day a year-so I may be tardy sending out greetings. I outwardy celebrate this the second Thanksgiving is done. Bring out the decorations & continue until the New Year when the dreaded taking down of decorations & lights takes place. I do put this off as long as possible.
~~~~~~~
I have not been available for a few weeks, so I wil explain. DH was out of town most of the last 6 weeks. We took a long trip to Richmond to spend a long weekend with him at the beginning of the month. That was fun. A long drive-but we had on Christmas music the entire way & it was delightful.I will share that later when I have time. Upon return I had many trips taking my dad to the dr. He had some new problems that they felt needed immediate attention. That was exhausting & draining. Then I had my usual yearly tests-cat scan for pitutary-mammograms & body scan..my dr added a series of neck x-rays. A few days later I got calls that i need to go back ???hmmm rather than do the initial freak out I tossed it up to blurry pictures. I get calls from my 2 drs that they found some `odd' results & want more indepth studies...so i begin with the ultrasounds for the next step after mammograms. They did that kept me on the table to check results. The dr comes in & they do more while he watches. Then he says that he will talk to me after I dress. ughhh well they found a few things that I will need further studies on. So I have to see my Dr's. ughhhh I see my normal dr 1st & he has me scheduled 1st for some cardio workup. I have to have the dye shot for them to watch & it will help decide what next. I have another dr this fri. Oh the neck tests found 2 disc's bulged back...? I ceased hearing what was said after possible heart attack..so I cant really say more at this time. Pretty much my leg & back pain is not just `complaining about getting older' well kinda hehee. I have so many tests & drs that I hontestly have ceased dealing with it. I just go wher ethey point me. I have a heart thing Mon so my folks are coming over to watch things here while DH & I go to the hospital for this. So... all is just `confusing' right now & i have not been at the computer or phone. I have just been doing the basics. I apologize for my absence. I adore my friends & family, but I have been `off' and not even reading the computer. I hope to catch up soon but I reliaze that I am saying this too often & I have to make choices for my time. I will get thru this challenge....things could be worse.

so on the lighter side I will write about the fun we have been having:

We had a few excursions planned while we were in Richmond . First was a trip to the swimming pool in the hotel. Then dinner at a `big city' restaurant. Living in rural NC all we really have avail is fried food-(they will fry anything if its not fried its BBQed :( uck ) but we dont partake in that tyoe of food. Even the big chain restaurant serve the rural NC spin on the dinners. BUT in Richmond food was wonderful. We got a good nights sleep & woke up to no chores. (not having to make the bed or clean up--heeheee... hotel living has a plus). We took off for the DC Zoo..1st we drove about an hour then took the train another 45 min-well several trains. The trains are really quite nice-not dirty etc..we had to make a few transfers then we walked to Starbucks for a warm latte and across the street was the Zoo. It was a COLD day-while back in NC it was in the 80's? OH well. I will post some pictures later & chat more about it. but the time together was delicious.
HOLIDAY LOVE TO YOU ALL
k

Snowflakes & icicles

2007-11-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

So far this is the theme of our tree..it has more coming this is the 1st layer..as you can see I have a helper who is busy going thru the Christmas box-spinning tops mostly. The colored glass german ornaments are going on as we speak. Then we will wait until DH comes home for the finish.
K

snowflakes & snowmen

2007-11-29T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here are some of our Christmas Stockings--I LOVE making Christmas Stockings. I have made all of these. I have more in the works...but alas they are in a sweet bag in my studio ..waiting..
((hugs))
k

dancing & singing snowmen & dogs

2007-11-29T14:54:00.000-08:00

Decorating

2007-11-29T14:19:00.000-08:00

These are a few of the holiday decorations we have up..I will add a few more to give you a feel of our home this season. It is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE time of year. The love the Lord had for us embraces this season as we prepare for the Birthday of our Beloved Savior.
My beloved has been out of town for a week & will not be back until late next Friday.
He was in GA for weeks then home a week then RIchmond Va 2 weeks then home for a week for Thanksgiving then he left Sunday--The BUSIEST travel day of the year???
so what do we do?---drive him to the Charlotte airport for a flight to Richmond. Well.. it was beautiful weather until the Minute we parted(an act of God at our parting?) maybe? a nice thought..as I pulled away from the airport the rains beagn..here in our severe drought ridden part of the South East any rian is wecomed..but this day?? so I drove on the tristate & highways in a wonderful heavy rain. Stoping to do the usual errands ont he way home..drive thru dinner for the child- pick up the usual round of prescriptions & milk etc. I think he got thru airport security & boarded & landed before I got home. HEHEE..(I found some great sales at Walgreens & Food Lion & it kind of consumed some time) But we got some holiday funs things....a musical dancing snowman --adorable, the child discovered a singing dog whos head & mouth moves as he sings. Ordinarlythese would be silly expenses BUT with DH being gone & the holidays are for fun AND I have been a tad overloaded holding things up at home alone...I relented & tossed them in the cart.
Back home, in the rain-after unloading the van we got the new holiday team members out & called over Jollimon. He came tail wagging UNTIL we pressed the button them them & then the SINGING dog & musical singing snowman who was scooting about the kitchen overtook Jolli's sense abilities and he got wide eye & FREAKED & hurled himself into the kitchen cabinets..then tore thu the house in terror. Well it was entertaining for us. He now keeps a watche on these newest attractions in case they have the need to attack him I guess.
So apologies for the time I am missng - by the time everything is done at the end of a log day I manage to have a nice tun then fall into bed..I cant put words & fingers to the keyboard with out some energy & brain. So I am crocheting some Christmas angels in bed - if only a row a night. I have them in my latest travel bag with baggies of beautiful balls of yarn to make foo-foo squares for Heartmade Blessings.
Thanks for hanging in there as I hang by my usual thread....

comfort ghan teddy

2007-11-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

this is what dear Ghost made. Golly I think it was last year or morensometime around when he broke his arm in 2 places. It has given much comfort to the little man. He loves it.

sad jollimon

2007-11-20T16:48:00.000-08:00

THis is a sad Jollimon, the `guys' are going out for their `guys night out' and left him....AND he found out that he beloved is going away for another 2 weeks...so he is sad & going into depression. This will be lifted on Turkey Day when grandma & poppy come over. He adores them.
I still have a few squares to trim & prepare for an ghan assembly with Heartmade Blessings. So thats what is in my basket for tinoghts crocheting. I wont be able to assemble probally until DH leaves so I will keep trimming squares for ghans until then. There is always OPH (Operation Purple Hearts) ghans to make-so I make squares & assemble those when all esle is done. I have been doing 7 in squares for a friendship granny sq exchange but I have them all made & off in the mail. Thats fun- `meeting' other crocheters. I LOVE the surprises the mail man brings-another crochet sq to add to the box for assembling into an ol traditional granny ghan. I plan to trim them all in black & assemble... Plus everyone puts little goodies in the package-patterns-crochet things etc & a letter telling about themselves. I LOVE fiding out new crochet things. Also I make so much but never for myself, so it been fun getting sq's that I dont have to assemble & send out. I probally will make something for over the long sofa. I was watching late nite TV & caught the Roseanne show on Nick at night. Well she has the ol traditional granny ghan over the sofa. It was sooo funny to see. It reminded me of the old days when we would go to a grandmas house & she would bring out the old ghan on a cool night. Too much changes with time-we have to recapture some of what gets lost-so I will try to make one. It takes longer to collect 7 in squares- I make squares all the time so I am trying to send some to my box...when you do charity croceht as mnuch as I do it is hard to keep things here. You feel that someone else somewhere needs it more, so off it goes. Hmm I wonder how many crocheters even have nice ghans? or do we send them all off to others?? hmmm My dear friends Ghost made a wonderful Teddy ghan for my litte guy. He adores it. I will get a picture & you will see what a wonderful crocheter she is as wellas a kidn & loving heart.
I have the windows open as it has been spring like weather lately & gets COLD at night- I am sitting in front of the window & my feet are now freezing ao it is perfect time to get in a hot tub. While the sad dog ponders his life
((((HUGS)))
k

just another few days

2007-11-20T16:18:00.001-08:00

Busy getting things ready for Thanksgiving.This is the 1st chance at computer in almost a week. Our outing went well.
I crocheted alot while the little man had his dental-he had a super check up & cleaning. My how we dread these appts huh? He had no probolems-no cavieties..yeah..he had never had any.thank the Lord & tooth brushing. I frantically went thru the house & got laundry & chores done before DH came home.

Husband came home Friday & we had tons to do. THe little man got his flu shot-We had to bribe him with something BIG-he has a HUGE fear of needles & simply screams...around the corner from the Dr office is --Chuckie cheese--uughhhh I do not like that place..but..it was just after noon & no one was there---phew..so he had pizza & soda & loved the big tunnel best. That out of the way, we got all the errands-shopping etc done. We got a movie-and had a quiet evening.
I just got out the Holiday table cloth & decorattions for Turkey day. Wednesday DH is taking off so we can run the last errands (He has to leave for another 2 weeks training on SUnday)so we stock up and get as much done before he leaves -so I dont have to go out & do much while he is gone..(haha Lord knows things can `happen' around me so the less I have to go out & do..well the better...) I have a 2pm dr appt to go over blood work uck..then to mom & dads to pick up the food mom has been making for Turkey Day at our house.
I am off to a HOT tub while the guys go out for a guys dinner & I hope top be in jammies & bed crocheting & watch the results of Dancing with the Stars.. I voted for Marie & Helio.
Cheers to all until I can get back
k

going out w/Dooney & Burke

2007-11-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

I must trudge out into the carolina countryside Wed-SO here is my purse ready & waiting. I love the hearts & the multicolored zipper that Dooney & Burke use. I worked at Lord & Taylor in Jewerly~handbags & hoisery. As an employee I was fortunate to havea nice discount~but this was a lovelty Christmas gift from my beloved a few years ago, He is sweet. At 1st I put my crochet in it ~HEHEE~ & toted around the house- I loved that-but that is quite an expensive crochet bag-HAHHA & it cant hold all that much as far as crochet goes. So I eventually broke down & use it as it was intended~my purse.
~~~~My venture out this week will be Dads Dr and then the little mans 6 mo dental cleaning & I must have yarn and assorted other life neccessities--like milk.~~~
My mom decided to do most of the cooking for this coming Thanksgiving. This is ALWAYS something my dear Husband appreciates, Not necessarily because I cant cook-I learned from her-BUT she just is a professional, Actually, since birth I think. I do believe that when she was born she had a complete set of pot-pans & bake ware with her. SHe had her own catering buisness & I was her trusted helper as a young girl. WE cook different. I dont eat: dairy-eggs-cheese-NO RED MEAT, little fats. I will eat fish & poultry occassionaly...I love potatoes & vegetables & soda crackers & sourdough breads & friut juices. My DH on the other grew up in a very Jewish house - yes, Kosher foods and MEAT & more MEAT & Bagels galore. My mom adores him, she can cook pretty much anything and HE eats it & loves it. ( He NEVER had real homecooking B4 he met us) She cooks & he praises. It is a wonderful relationship. So I figure since all my arm operations in the last few years, I have trouble & cant navigate the kitchen as well as I used to, so I give mom the cooking platform. She has commissioned me to gather storage containers & bakeware & bring to her & she will fill them up..hehee..SHe will. Actually I have to meet them in town this Wed at 9am for dads dr appt-he had profuse bleeding last week & has been having trouble with his legs?he is not really forthcoming about it-except that he has allowed a dr appt & I take him & go in with him-DR had blood tests done & they came back his coumiden level is very low so he is on larger dose & we go in for to see what Dr says this week. Then, since DH will still be out of town I have to take the little man to the dentist a few hrs later, AND most important I NEED WHITE YARN...and milk. heehee. So I must wander out in the world to accomplish these tasks. I will go back to moms next WEd & pick up all the food & bring to our house & mom & dad will come here for Thanksgiving day. We have more comforts like big TV's & DVD movies & computers & things for the child to do here & Ahh BUT she did request a few of my freshly dried herbs mostly ROsemary & Basil...HAHA. Beyond my oven drama I do know my way around herbs.
heres to Dooney & Burke escorting me out.
k

days rewards~crochet & a cordial of Remy Red

2007-11-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

Ahh.. the day is done. The hot tubby is waiting & as the photo shows I have my trusted basket of crochet ready to drop at my bedside. I am treating myself to a small cordial of Remy Red. I slid in the picture a photo of my beloved angel bunny Prof Baby...he slept in a hammock as you can see * stood most of each day at his `podium'. He always made me smile so I thought I'd share his spirit with you.
May God Bless us all & keep you well thru the night
(((((HUGS))))
k

dancing w/the stars

2007-11-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

I loved tonights Dancing W/the Stars show.. I even voted on line-under several sign in's--shhh heehee.I had to vote for Marie- I LOVED the Oprah show-I had tears in my eyes the entire Oprah show. What a wonderful family & a testament to those extrodinary parents to have raised such an amazing wholesome family. (Not like the Hilton-Spears bimbo's & their embarrassing behavior & antics)--Can we discuss Social Graces? ok another time. I digress... I dont often get to sit down & watch tv...but w/DH out of town, I seem to be able to get the house cleaning done & all the other household chores-like polishing & laundry, floors, bathrooms & dogs & children-schooling & meals & I seem to have `time'...HMMMM this isfacinating .....
I thought I would be busier being alone--and I was the 1st week. Well I must admit much of my `problems' were dervied by me..the burning of herbs--I thought could be `looked at' as an old biblical sacrifice...??no??American Indian smudging? Tho I do partake in the ritual of smudging it is not with Rosemary-hahah-but we will leave my tails of smudging for another time. Now a week later my `herbal burning'story has passed thru my family with much amusement. My dad, a fireman for most of his life-discussed with my DH that he was a tad surprised that I did not KNOW to CLOSE THE OVEN DOOR.
(NOTE for future: this smothers the fire) BUT in my defense & after much discussion & the many variables I had that raced thru my mind in the immediate 1st seconds-like where am I living? How is this oven powered?gas-propane-electric? (Note:inthe last 12 years we have lived in 5 states in 6 different new homes with very different OVENS)..and this fancy oven now has all these push buttons & special grill & DOWN DRAFT VENT..which was ON & accelerated the fire )..so the `closing the door' is now questionable. So many modern advances cause us to need to REthink what we were raised knowing.
BTW I will share a little known fact about me- I had a career as a dancer-yes-this is true-- after my son died I held 2 full-time jobs & many more part time jobs to pay for the birth-delivery & funeral & divorce expenses -I was a costumed dancer in a upscale Chicago nightclub..this is true..(they had a photographer who took hundreds of pictures)2 handsome gay men were my parnters & we danced center stage to prepared dances & then danced on platforms on the edge of the dance floor-a little know secret to make patrons more comfortable & encourage danceing-then they drink more & thats where the club makes money. We had multi-colored flashing lights,smoke machines-& great DJ that was the top hotmixer in the city. I was paid & got free drinks so it was a paycheck & a way to `party' and not get in trouble. SO I understand dancing & preparation. I have great admiration for all the stars & their dance partners. I voted for Marie & Helio... I gave more votes to Marie. Come on-a mother, a sweet person, excellent entertainer and she is my age. Helio is just FUN to watch--what a zest he has. Thats my voting. Because they are fun & deserving and I just like them best.
I had an enjoyable time-crocehting. Tho I got about 20 minutes b4 my `interruptions' dogs in & out-the child drawing pictures & telling the matching stories....

Heres to our favorite Stars winning...
K
Jane was darling also-what a wonderful display of a `lady'.

Crochet-Cappuccino & Comfy socks

2007-11-11T20:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday-This is a day to pretty much relax...I think I might need to BLOW up this photo in the center-labeling it `my favorite things'...haha 1st I began Sunday as usual-`boots on the ground' as they say in the military when they need to get to business...Get up & let the dogs out. As you can see it starts with Jolli-can you see his attirude as he looks at me...He clearly is saying under his breath to me " I am tired & its cold out so leave me alone you wacko" Sun is shining, air is fresh & cold-slight frost on the ground. Peanut refuses to go out-he would rather sleep in his warm house. I guess if someone came - woke me out of a sound sleep & yelled `OUT-OUT-OUT' I might tend to have an attitude too. Well so I am not in`full command' of my troops this morning...I saunter to the kitchen to put water on & prepare the dogs meal...hmm.. Child is still sleeping & DH out of town for the rest of the week. YIKES - I have almost peace & calm.

Well, we all know this landscape will not last long. So I shall brew the best Cappuccino in the world - in my favorite 1 of a kind snowman mug(my beloved bought to nuture my love of Snowmen.) Ahhhhh .What a wonderful, wonderful way to begin a Sunday. THis is me...on a soft blanket, on my bed with my crochet-cappuccino & wearing my warm comfy socks --with my favorit re snowman mug. Adding to Gods color palette- I crochet flowers today- this square I will add to a blue ghan I am making. At least I got this far this morning as I await the troops-in hope the day gently unfolds.

Gods paintings

2007-11-11T19:06:00.000-08:00

this was what it looks like outside ..the `woodsy' picture is just around the corner from the house-the road I take to get into town. I LOVE the palette outside -as all the trees change colors. Since I was a child I have been aware needing to be near water. Fortunately I grew up with Lake Michigan practically in our backyard, and every house we have lived in has been located close to some body of water. It is calming-spiritual-quiet-peaceful and being pretty introverted-& claustrophobic living near large bodies of water was helpful as it meant that there are less people around..heehee.. cant have houses & people in the water...hahaha I adore the `mirror' images reflected in the lake & rivers. I have taken rolls & rolls & rolls of film of `trees & leaves' on our journeys. Kayaking the Delaware river & Mountian hiking to the tops of the hightest points in PA & NJ yeilded many spectacular photos of the rolling hills & river-rows of photos framed line the stairway in my house allowing me an everlasting reminder of the treasure hunt that is my life.

I grew up thinking that God stayed up at night painting the skies - so when we woke, the next days' colors burst forth to greet us. I began sketching & painting as a child pretty much `copying' Gods paintings. I was lucky to grow up with woods & forests on all sides of our house, the only neighbor was my dear grandma. She had an apple orchard in her backyard-all kinds of berry bushes-my mom & grandma together had the most glorious flowers & gardens galore. The colors & smell of nature were always all around me... How fortunate I was. I never to tire of the changing seasons & what wonderful `Gifts' The Lord leaves for us was we welcome each new day. I have everlasting thanks for the life my parents gave me & the ability to understand & appreciate all the gifts of nature that surrounded me.

& the most spectacular `paintings' are the leaves changing colors

greek Oregano ~ Varigated pineapple mint & sweet Marjoram

2007-11-08T19:39:00.001-08:00

This is the last of harvesting Herbs for a few days, I hope. After my flames & smoke I made sure to transfer to tin foil. In fact I wrapped layers & put it right on the oven racks. In the sink is variegated pineapple mint-it has to be soaked & rinsed several times -see the twigs &leaves in my hand as I scoop it out?
At this time almost 10:30 pm they are mostly dried. To do a fast dry-I turn the oven on high then turn it off & set the racks back in & close door. I go over every half hour to hour and repeat. I still have tons of Rosemary out side- I covered aot of herbs with newspaper to see if that's helps we had a freeze he last 2 night. SO far all I have lost is Basil.
Now off to tubby & if I can stay awake I will crochet. (I was up late cleaning all the smoke & soot that flur thru the air last nihgt.
all is well & dramas were few today
`K'

Life's a Dream w/ comforts :Bed ~ Bath & Robes

2007-11-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

YES..this is what I work towards every day..Ok I admit I am not the best at digital photos

too dark - too light-up-down -left - right.. what mode?I kinda switch to them all.. :O(

#1 Start with a hot tub. with some aromatherapy..have to have at least Vaseline crystals in-- they make wonderful soft water.

bonus: a candle & a CD are extra treats-they are far & few between.

#2 Warm comfy fun bath robe ( the blue & yellow robes on the ends are thick terry cloth

the red-blue plaid is a Lord & Taylor-delicious thick- Cotton-Flannel & the camel says it is 100%cotton 100% algodon ( what is that?) It is thinner & wonderfully soft)

Bonus is matching slippers but comfy socks are what I normally use

#3 a warm comfortable bed~

Bonus is the energy to crochet ~see basket at bedside.

That's dreamy. We have collectible Gund bears all over --DH & I have been giving them to each other since we 1st met. Kinda dating with bears instead of candy. Later that year we found out that this was Gunds new line of once a year bear collectibles. We have them all the the very 1st one. Every so often we surf around the Internet-1day we'll find it.

but.. being surrounded by little fuzzy bears smiling at you day & night is enchanting.

`K'

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS-CROCHET HOOKS

2007-11-08T12:08:00.000-08:00

These are somethings I can NOT be with out.. my crochet hook case & hooks !! well yarn too.
MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE -the white hook-gifted to me by a dear friend & angel Sandie Petit. You cant see, but is is an Angel hook, the end-it has a bead heart topped with a
sweet wire beaded angel..Since I have gotten it no matter what I do I seem to always go back to it. It fits my hand like a glove, ( I am able to adjust my crocheting to make my stitch size on it down to ` H ' when needed. It was specially made for me~ :o) ~thanks forever to Sandie~ hand made by A.J.Brislin of Tn, the hook itself is 7 in long & made of Corian size `J' hook. ( A.J. & his wife lost their young son on 9/30/07 to T-cell lymphoma) I am hoping DH gets me some for any or all Holiday's--I have been in touch with AJ to get the info needed to DH to contact him heehee (HHMM well that B4 last Christmas...hmmmmm need to work on this again)
A.J.s email - Fastlane@aol.com he also sells on Ebay but he only makes them a certian times.

The wooded ones are from ~g3studios.net~handmade with unique woods. From lower to top they are- an I-J & K . They have an unique carving -if you can see-they have a unique carving comfort with thumb rest & finger flats~this is what intrigued me, plus all natural woods-no stains -I contacted their studio about hook size--I like Boye the best-for my arm/hand problem I need a deep groove because I am not able to rotate my hand~well it works for me, anyway this is what they wrote back:
Gregg’s main intent of his hooks are comfort, the beauty comes from using the different natural color woods. He makes a couple different styles of hooks. One style of his hooks is what we refer to as thumb rest and finger flats. The other is what we refer to as a comfort grip which is a flatter wider handle and is the last photo. I have heard people that have arthritis like the comfort grip because the handle is easier for them to hold. All of our hooks are exactly 6 inches in length. The sizes we make are 3.25 mm thru 11.5 mm including the G+ or size 7 or 4.5 mm.
They sell on Ebay- otherwise you have to buy then at their studio or a dealer in NY but either way they cost $42-45 --BUT you can get them on Ebay for 19.99 or whatever you bid..I have gotten them at 19.99
the rest of my hooks are all Boye in every size and 1 lighted hooks & extra batteries.. Actually I have every size X4. never know when you will lose 1...need to be prepared
yarn ~ eyeglasses ~ hooks ~
`K'

God Whispers

2007-11-08T03:17:00.000-08:00

I was` chatting' with my friend bunny about listening to our inner voice..I call it ` God Whispers'

I was sharing back when I 1st remember this clearly. It was a `few' years back when I was just 20 ys old..I had a very good & bad year...1978 I gave birth 1 month after I turned 20, to my 1st child a son-`tweeter' (I call him this as he wore fuzzy yellow sleeper' s and looked like a tweety bird. I had a nice job working at a hi end womans clothing store on the North SHore of Chicago catering to the very wealthy North Shore ladies...I took the train to work every day stumbling over the homeless & drunks that slept at the train station.I did get to know what vodka the day after smells like.& a person not bathing regularly.These can be helpful tools in life....Plus when you are 7-8-9-mo pregnat these smells affect your highly tuned senses--heehee. Then my life took a tragic turn The Lord called my son home suddenly ..I got 2 full time jobs to pay the funeral bills & my marriage ended soon after that ( that was a good thing)...I went into what I like to call `Gods Anesthesia' for probally several years, as I now look back & review it all. I saw `Gods Anesthesia' because thats what shock is..It must be a gift from God..He hold you in this `shock' until He feels that you can handle it all...When your heart is BROKEN ...well parts never heal..it is a pain like a scab on a wound --it can be ripped off at any time and bleed with a pain unknown to many. The Lord clearly Held my hands thru this time of emotions that many will never go thru. I found out my ex had not paid any bills for several months b4 he left...and I then had my wages garnished..a horrifying embarrasment to me as I worked at a very respectible job in a hospital where my dear Aunt was asst dir of nursing for like all of my life. uughhhhh.... I got 2 house cleaning jobs & worked for 2 dr's part time & I waitressed at a country club for weddings...Oh he also took the car when he left along with my paycheck. its like a country music song. Hmm maybe I should write it up & send it off to nashville...hehee I was in shock `again'. not at losing the husband but the finances..When out of the blue I get a new neighbor.Nevlyn..a dear sweet old widow. we lived on the North Shore of a Chicago suburb & it was winter with tons of snow every day-sp we chatted while shoveling our drives morning & night. Dad lent me money to get an old used VW bug a 5 speed. Not a great car in 9 inches of chicago snow but it got me to work. One day this dear woman brought me a gift-the bible in the picture. I had never heard of this bible before & thought maybe she was with some weird religion or something..but she was kind and not pushy. (I had a strict Catholic upbringing-generations of dads family all went to the same Catholic school-so it was not like I was a stranger to religion) In fact Religion was a foundation of my life. I planned on being a nun all thru childhood until I learned I could be a nurse like my Aunt. The 2nd photo is the page she inscribed. I told Bunny about this as she has just gone thru a difficult time and I believe she has found her footing thru her God Whispers...along with a happier heart & more comfortable job.

Bringing this story full circle..This `angel' lady I know was sent by God to `help' me find my way back to Jesus...with all the pain & loss I had been living life by working & never feeling again..I had not reliazed that when I NEEDED the LORD ..I did not seek HIM..I just got another job. Lessons learned? MANY..1st:to STOP and be still...really be still. I actually have a wee child chair in my master bathroom and I go in for `bathroom time' , filling the tub, brushing my teeth etc..it can be hours.well not really but DH say so..it is my `be still' time..when the nosie of the world STOPS and I can `hear' the God WHispers' with out influence from anyone or anything..the aromatherapy in the hot tub fills the air & scented candles...sitting on my little yellow plastic playschool chair....I have learned in the almost 30 years since Angel Nevelyn gave me the bible to `hear' listen to your instincts--(Oh THis woman told me after mu marriage ended-she said`God is trying to get your attention' She scared the bazookas out of me with this....BUT left me thinking ..at all that had happened that eventfilled year...I was running...never stopped for God..ACtually Iwas mad..mad at losing my beautiful boy--made that the Catholic church refused to do his fnueral because I was not married in the Catholic church-therefor they did not recognize the marriage & could not recognize his death..I had friends even contact the Catholic Bishop..well that can be another story..Life is filled with stories....But I believe that The LOrd sent this Angel to vring me back to Him..and she did & then as suddenly as she appeared she was gone...no forwarding address...I knew she had a son & met hin - never found him???

-God is talking to you-your heart tells you this is good or your heart gives your that `bad' feeling--that is GOD--HE carved the commandments in your heart--thats why we get that `icky' feeling --listen to your heart--to God... Bunny did & I believe she will of happier heart. I am aware all the time of this..I try to STOP every night-when I finally climb into bed...I sort thu the day---you know hit the rewind button and see what I can do better....then thank the Lord for all the Blessings i have...YES I thank Him for the spilled Dr Pepper in the spiderman cup & for the smoking Rosemary & the broken footed vacum & lamp that ended its life.... NOTE:No one has ever been hurt in my escapades. Incredible as that is..only me.I have many..that has always been my way..hahahah ..the hard way. kidding..Actually I was called accident prone as a child --(I never understood what the words meant) HAHAHA it was just the way I was and thses things HEEHEEE Oh no one was hurt in the Smoking Rosemary drama EXCEPT Peanut. I believe he suffered emotional stress...he ran out the open back door & stood in the back yard shaking.....and he is deaf???I guess the smoke alarms have a vibrational tone....heehee I have him a dentabone..and he stayed in his house all night. Other lessons: God send Angels to us to cross our path when we least except it & they are who you least expect. Be kind to all who enter your life--actually I think you know that you all have Angels already in your lives...some come & stay a while...some come & quiclky go...BUT all leave footprints on our hearts.....thats something I have had it written on the front page of all my bibles for decades...not sure of author...

more lessons

well that enough soul searching for now

Harry Potter & fantastic beasts

2007-11-08T02:48:00.000-08:00

This is the Harry Potter books I was read.

It is cute-they are like his actual school books with kids scribble in and drawings of all the beasts...my 8 yr old likes this.

Rosemary-Fire-freaked out dog & spiderman

2007-11-08T00:09:00.000-08:00

Ok I thought I would have a lovely day to share--I got `it' together by noon crawled out of bed...did homeschooling with the little man--reading-math & then he got excited with a new toy catalog & asked me to draw a picture of something he wanted in the catalog....I told him I rather draw our own version of it and we proceeded to develop a new line of toys..heehe (who knows..he might have his own company) anyway that made me crawl out of bed to the drawing table -he got out colored paper & scissors & we began an adventure thru art...(we will share our new line of toys when they get further developed) I left him in the living room-I only let him watch PBS but the tv was all fuzzy--CABLE out again....I went out the front door & saw the cable guy & his truck down the street-so I can figure that they` took out' the neighborhood) ..heehee as I came back in the house I noticed that my Herb garden needed to be harvested.. Ok I am way behind on my gardening..but we were house hunting & doing all that reloc buisness in Atlanta.. SO I got the shears & began the `harvest' ..heres where something so simple as harvesting Rosemary can go so `very wrong' The herb garden is off the front porch so~~ 1st put on plastic gloves, Rosemary had a sap that smells POWERFUL like evergreens & is sticky & hard to wash off...trust me on this, I have Never remembered to do this before & every thing you touch has a sticky evergreen sap --trust me.. I cut a load & ran thru thr house to the kitchen sink- ( run thru the house, remember my vacume has suffered a terrible `break in its foot') so I run thru so as not to leave any trail...DO I think that I can run soooo fast that no debris can fall in my super sonic speed???? hmmm could this be an actual thought? I load it in the sink...fill it with water to clean any bugs-spiders-leaves or dirt.I have SOO much ROsemary I fill both sinks..then get paper towels & layer them on the over rack & lay out the Rosemary after I rinse it several times. THE PHOTOS are the 1st few racks. I have 4or 5 sink fulls. Thinking this is going good I decide to harvest my sweet marjoriam...I use it in my sleep pillow herb mix. it is a smaller herb so a sink full is ALOT. now I have paper towels layered all over to drain the moisture. I take everthing out of the overn & set it on the counters & floor & turn the overnon to 450..I get it hot-then turn it off -olace the rack back it & let it begin the drying process. OOOHH my dad calls to check on meremember DH is out of town so Dad like sto call every day & chat & see that all is ok. Dad calls in the late afternoon-he likes to chat then...I dont :o) He tells me that the news says it will freeze tonight so `Do I haev the outside hoses off the faucets?' of course I dont...hehee ..I did tell DH to do it B4 he left....HAHAaHAHaa ..we all know how that goes... SO I am taking to dad-he loves to tell me the latest Bush blunder-& tellme the minute total of the war & then breakdown minute by minute and what could be done with all that money instead of it helping to kill our soldiers-he loves it when the news & comedians rip the President apart-Dad thinks he is a `goof & running the country into hell'..He suspects that Bush is the Antichrist. ..heehee thats another story.....so I undo the front faucet~easy enough..then I toodle back thru the house to the back--but it is already getting dark & it is really cold & the hose will not come undone...My hands are freezing & dad says I need a hachet or something.... as I scamper thru the house to the garage I pause at the oven -turning it on to warm my hands (THIS will later be a mistake) I scramble to the garage to look for this device...assuring my dad I can do this. Or he WILL come right over. I get him off the phone assuring him I am on this... as I have to look thru the 450kabillion tool boxes & drawers that my DH has..Can I find what I need of course not..I figure I will take the freakin hammer if need be...I get a wrench thing & by now my hands & feet are freezing..duh shoes-jacket would have been an idea....but I WAS doing herbs quietly in the kitchen until that phone began ringing..maybe its a device from Satan? hmmm The the phone is ringing again & it is DH to chat about his day...The child answers & I can hear the conversation...`mommy is outside complaning about a hammer and the hose' ...I am on the way in after successfully attacking the hose & faucet..MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ! TADA ... when I remember the oven...HOLY MOTHER OF GOD...I open the oven ..when I was talking to dad I beeped it on...I forgot to take out the racks of the oven ( I can get sidetracked & I am not a big phone person plus I am going to be 50 - and I am having my dad talk me thru freezing faucet s & what can hapen-like he does every year) I am sure every year I `think' of it BUT until dad reminds me of cracked faucets...well I digress... as I open the oven door I am greeted by a ~~~POOOOOFFFF~~~of smoke & as I grab the rack to take it out ~~~POOF~~~~FIRE ~FOLLOWED by ~~ FLAMES~~~I try to find cancel on the dam oven so it dosent explode..(as things swirl thru my head I am thinking do we have gas or electric?) - its all push button things & I dont have my glasses on, so I cant really see...I end up turning it higher-not off but i dont know this till later--I grab the rack & take to the sink -as smoke & flames get higer with each step-the oxygen acts as an accelerant I am sure I have fired all the hair on my arms & face ...I wonder if my dress will melt on me??? I am keenly & oddly aware of each thought....(suddenly my entire childhood of living with a father & family of firemen runs thru my brain-ALL THE post fire storiesAll the fire safety --all runnning thru my head at sonic speed-- I think its like file system in my brain looking for the right fire story to `walk me thru what to do'.. O GOD.I hear the child telling daddy that mommy cant talk she is in the fire...oh geezzzzz CAN this get worse? DO I close the oven door or leave it open??? I know that the fire deot in my area is rural & all volunteer & will never make it in time ( remind me to tell about the 1st time I called them-A fire next door not me.but a funny tale) so I KNOW I HAVE NO CHOICE but to do this......I wet a rag and put out the sink & turn to the oven which is in flames...oh GOD I am in really deep here I am thinking..I whomp the flames with the wet rags...and little black things fly thru the air.well big & little black things--geezz its the dam paper towels that I `forgot' to switch..OK herb drying #101-DONT put paper towels in an oven & turn it on. Maybe I should write a book...I reliaze that the black chunks flying thru the air are because THE OVEN IS ON HIGH. ALL TEH SMOKE ALARMS ARE GOING OFF 4 in this art of the house --I opent he back door & kitcen window & run to the front door-- Peanut runs out in terror and he is deaf..The child runs to his room to escape the ringing handing me the phone....I find the cancel button as the child hands me the phone...I tell DH that I will call him back ..and drop the phone. The faucet is running & smoke billows from the sink and the oven sits in smoke with very krispy Rosemary........I sink to the floor & get my bearings..I get my 12in square crochet ruler and begin fanning the smoke alarms as cold air blows thru the house. The smoke alarms dont stop I am too short so I get a bar stool chair & drag trhu the house to stand on & fan the alarms..Do you puch the buttons to make it stop? we have lived in so many different houses I forget...so I hit the buttons & they all stop. I see crossiants on the counter & 2 tomatos~~ For some reason at this moment I think I need to make some turkey bacon ..so I stick it in the microwave and call DH..Now he is used to `things' happening to me in the most unsual ways..and after about hte 1st 20 years he learned to STOP asking `How did this happen?'..with me it just does. I dont remember the call but get him off the line..I have alot to clean up..S-H- -T..I just super cleaned the dang house -top to BOTTOM. ughhhhhh..I make the child dinner & set him up in the living room to watch Clifford & curious George on PBS. Now thehouse is really really cold & I need to close doors & windows. S-H--T the vacume has a broken foot...this mess is like out of a scary movie. after a few hours get things wiped then re polished & the rugs & floor done ..I had a load of dog bed sheets inthe wash I had forgotten about..I finish the Rosemary and have it all almost dryed & forgot the bacon...lucky I dont have another fire BUT 1 SIDE OF THE KICHEN SICKS IS CLOGGED withall the fire debris...I go tot he garage But cant navigate my way thru DH's piles..I call him in Richmons VA to ask where the plunger is...He begins to ask `why' but stopped ---YES after ALMOST 30 years of marriage to me he KNOWS their will be no good nanswer ..well hi is already sleeping in his hotel suite....& has no good clue where the plunger is....so that fuels my temper a tad more..I stomp back in the house & storm around the kitchen to figure something else out--I tromp back tothe garage iiin the freezing cold & tear thru his thigs & FINALLY find teh plunger...WHERE you might ask? in the red wagon....where else would a DH put it? ughhhhhhh..It is now about 10 PM and I am smokey & tired & have not eaten since Sunday..so I take my over done turkey bacom-grey poupon-tomato & crossiant & a diet Dr Pepper into the living room...oh I vacumed on my hands & knees with the snozzle of the vacume..then got thre small hepa out and finished..(The ceiling fans had black flakes of smokey debris on them)
so again I have a super clean house, laundry done..herbs done..house has a `refreshing smell'
pungent Rosemary....I sit down & turn lamp on and it goes blitz-blitz ...and shorts out in a scary way..so I trudge to the garage with the lamp & get a tall torch lamp that I dont like & clean it off at the sink knocking over a spiderman cup with my Dr Pepper....there goes my clean counter-down the front of the dishwasher & al over the floor...CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? I get back on track but I drug in garage gup & have to redo the sink & floor ove there too...Lord my hands are tired & my fngers are in pain from all the polishing & wiping. HAHAHAHA ..HMMMM what is the point of eating now? I guess stress eating is reason enough. The child was playing with legos under the treadle table ( an old treadle sewing machine of my granmothers-we took apart years ago & put a thick table top on -the child loves to play under it )-building a game & creatures in level 4 he says & he finds all the HarryPotter books on a shelf next to the fire place & take them out he comes & sits next to me on the sofa & proceeds to read the books to me as I type. He eats my turkey bacon. So I am hearing read J.K.Rowlings ``fantastic Beasts & where to find them'' a 2 book special she wrote for Scolastic with 20% of all proceeds going to the `Harry's Books fund' to help needy children on the poorest countries in the world. ..to improve & save the lives of children around the world-which means the dollars & galleons you exchange will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard. So what can be better than ending a day like this hearing an 8 yr old boy reclinging next to you on a love set recliner & read you the replica school book harry potter `used' to learn about fantastic beasts & where I can find them?? AHHH life is good.
K

flu or not the flu & whirlpoolling dog

2007-11-06T23:10:00.000-08:00

I did manage Tuesday to get up early & amble over to my Dr office for a flu shot & blood work. Need an updated prolactin level for monitoring the pitutary adenoma that decided if I need another CAT scan or MRI, plus the usual thryoid level & whatever else they can do with the blood work. I was diagnosed just a year ago or so for very very low level of throid & the meds have been adjusted up every few months. Perhaps thats part of why I am tired & achy? I felt the same a few years back - Spent a year too exhausted to get out of bed-I would have like 3 hours of enough energy to get up & do chores& meals --so no one really `grasped' that I was really ill . I found out when I had pre op testing for the arm operation to repair things after lump was removed. But the same symptoms are for flu..hehee
-re op testing back then found severe anemia-`life threatening level' immediately had ahysterectomy. Arm operation on a monday the wednesday had the total hysterectomy.Anesthesia barely wore off between. This was just after Chrostmas-actually Iwas in the hosp as the new year came in.I am pretty sure I am not anemic-the same tiredness & things are low thryoid.. maybe I am just needing a day off or meds tweaked again. Today,I came right home after the flu shot. Then got in my nitie & back in bed.I had to saddle up to go back out to the pharmacy about 5:30.
Oh here is a Photo of Jolimon the bischon having a whirlpool bath. DH was assigned to bathe him before he left. Now Joll does NOT enjoy his bath. Can you see he is literally shaking? But alas he is clean. SO the house is clean & polished-laundry done-fresh bed sheets & towels...I can `spring cleaned'. I did have an event last night that I have yet to chat about with DH.... vacume accident.... we have a beautiful electro lux or we did..... I was simply going over the house before I got in the tub last night..I mean I wiped the stairs & kitchen floor & counters & wizzed over everything with the orange oil polish...( I felt so acky-body ache/pain that I thought if I zoipped over everything I could have a good few more days `off'..so I got out the vacume and I am not really sure what happened..but as I was leaving the childs room something flew thru the air??? was it a bird or a plane...not superman for sure ...as I went to re do the hall way--suddenly I lifted to turn & I had the hose in my had BUT the foot of the vacume was NOT moving with us......
I am out of duck tape -all I could find was the tape I use to ship boxes for ghans Yes I went around & around the vacume then proceeded to finish the task.......well let me say that at 1am tape seemd like the thing to use...but it did little...I dont think I will explain further at this time. I am sure others will say~~wackadoodle~ Lord I cannot imaine what this will cost.I did secure it in the closet to promptly forgot about the incident. out of sight out of mind
Luckily I have a hepa so I am not with out...just another fray to the thread that is my life...the cure--to crochet...these are the squares for 2 comfortghans-trimmed & looped for assembly. Iam assembling in the lattice method for these 2.
K

2007-11-06T23:09:00.000-08:00

The way I keep all my marbles in place
k

I am baaccckkkk

2007-11-06T22:08:00.000-08:00

I am back-we had a storm & lost our DSL signal around Oct 26.
That may sound like no big deal HAHAHA we live in an area that locals call `rural'
and for the few years we have been here, I have learned that they use a different `language & dictionary' than the ones I grew up with in the midwest. Alas, higher learning continues. I pretty much see that `living rural' here means that services are not readily provided...police-fire (that is another amusing story I will tell later) cable...We call and report a cable problem & wait....and wait..and wait.
Then we go try & log on to a computer-then you try the other 2 computers then you sit with a laptop...and try to get signal. I actually move the laptop all around in hopes of `finding' a signal. Like it is an invisible beam I must try to catch. When the family strolls thru a room seeing me `dancing' with my laptop, Well I guess they chaulk it iup to my being an `eccentric wackadoodle' and they continue on their way.
After 1 week of no signal - the DH intervenes. I think that means a stern call to the cable guy. I believe the Lord took pity on me & caused me to begin flu like symptoms, achy body & joint-dizzy headachey-tired. That pretty much just kept me from zoming out to the library to get internet connection. HMMM
I did manage to crochet non stop during this `loss of commnication' . I trimmed & prepares 17 squares for 2 comfortghans for Heartmade Blessings. I got my crochet pattern books out & made several patterns I have not made before. I crochet my squares for the comfortghans & made totes for them. Then We got signal...TADA
I am baaaackkk.
Golly that is kinda a 2 week diary. I did also super clean the house-from ceiling fans to the lighted lefton lighthouses we have over 42, so thats no small feat. The real reason that this mas cleaning is a big deal is that we took everything off most walls & I spackled & repainted before we had the teams of house appraisers in for the relocation process. Then all the pictures & pphotos that we on the walls we put in big rubbermade bins--that sat here & there. So much out of place, creating disorder. We were house hunting in Atlanta & found several that are really close to what we want-2 story with full basement-new construction with full daylight walkout baseent. THEN the VP `mentioned' to DH that they had hi in ind for Charleston SC next year??????I am NOT going to relocate then inn a year again to SC....SO we HALTED everything. The mid Dec move out date for this house--HAULTED. Dh is in Richmond VA for 2 weeks then back for a few days then back for another 2 weeks of training. At this moment I am not certian what is going on-he is not & the co is not. Does that give you an idea of the situation. We have relocated with work 6 times, the lngest was over 3000 miles to the east end of Long Island. We are easily `professionsl' relocaters. I can organize & get the family moved & unpacked & settled in days. Within the 1st week you would not know we had just moved. I am not a few years older...I figure I need all the brain power & time to relocate And if the company is flakie about dates & locations I need to have all my marbles in place.

Life hanging by a thread crocheting

2007-10-25T01:36:00.000-07:00

No need to explain the title. Life cant be controlled.
life hanging by a thread & crocheting. This describes me pretty well.
I have many thing in abundance. Not always what I want but I have learned to accept what is presented before me ....thats Gods funny little way.
Example this summer we had a pool up. I wrangled the thing out of a box-off a shelf in the garage, thru the house onto the deck. That itself was a real feat one might think.But then the manual...uughhhh. pages & pages of directions,this goes here &then plug that in there & in 2 minutes it is suppossed to be set UP??
well...not so. Now I was doing this while DH was at work. He insisted that I could not do it alone "SO DONT TRY" he says...hmmm :) well...perhaps I dont listen well. I am getting older & often ahve trouble hearing-tho I thinik it is just him mumbling. BUT,I did get it all done...it is one of those aero pools. I measured & it should fit on the half of the deck according to all my calculations. Then the table,chairs & umbrealla will all be ok. It worked out ok, kinda. I turned on the hose but the water was the same temp as Lake Michigan in the winter.(This might be a clue that I am a born & raised Midwesterner) So I got out buckets & pots,pans anything to ttransport water in. I thought it was a good idea to turn the kitchen faucet on hot & fill all the Metal buckets and yes, tote them thru the house to fill the pool. That idea was better in my head. After many, many , many trips with small buckets and pots filled to the brim with scalding hot water well, the pool did get filled with a nice blend of freezing and hot water....eventually.
~lets review the `hanging with a thread' thing here.....You might say "did you think that `maybe' you might MELT the pool?" hmmm.. OR you might think " arent 3rd degreee burns a clue to DH that I did not think this thru?" and so on....
I did have my crochet things waiting on the table under the umbrealla...heehee yes, sitting there waiting for me to sit & relax the afternoon away. did not happen that way. Well. We did eventually say "this is nice" & hoped for a summer of sunshine & little rain.
SO what do we get? the most unbelievable heat the Carolinas have had in decades. 103-105-107 for several weeks & I am pretty sure that was the temp in the shade. AND NO RAIN. The Worst drought in decades. Life altering Drought. But we did enjoy the pool and guess what else? great tans...and fired frizzled bleached hair.The falling out of head fried hair. oh the price we pay for a good idea. I will find a picture of the guys in the pool.
This brings me back to ~ Life hanging by a thread..crocheting ~ thats me...
I have bags packed, filled with yarn-hooks & patterns,sitting on the stairs, hanging on doorknobs, on hooks the inside of doors. Ready to go at a moments notice. I can be found walking the halls of the hospital with hook in hand & yarn under my arm. As I did for days while my dad was in the CCU after his strokes this year. I can be found in the van crocheting--hey, now I even have the Lighted crochet hook so darkness is NOT a problem. No matter what life brings my way, I figure I can crochet my way thru it, or around it.

Another little funny from God sent my way...as I enter this voyage with words. I sit on the loveseat in the living room by the large windows overlooking the backyard. I opened the windows for some fresh air earlier and it has been raining steady for about 8 hours. This fact made the local news & they are actually reporting how many gallons of water every hour. With the drought & water restrictions here it is welcomed but they say too much too fast will not help the drought.
I get it - the ground has been so dry it has literally cracked open all over. Lakes are simply dried up vanished, the boats sit on dry earth at the end of docks. I wonder what happpened to all the fish & things in the lakes? Is this how things went extinct? Well, we do have kayaks, we can get them out of the shed and I do have my crochet bag packed & ready to go. Hmmm, perhaps I better go & prepare a few backpacks & stash them in the kayaks. That reminds me-I better go find the paddles too.
Funny how things come full circle. drought-rain.
Everything can be a blessing, some blessing are harder to see at first.
I will say a prayer that some of this rain & cool air finds its way to help the firefighters fight the fires in California.
K

taking flight

2007-10-24T23:05:00.000-07:00

it has been `suggested' that I do a blog....why you ask? I can be hard to keep track of at times, busy with at least a kabillion things. But, I am a devoted & loyal friend doing my best to keep in touch with the many Angels that the Lord sends across my path...some are family, some are friends BUT ALL, I know are sent to cross my path for some reason on this life journey. Often I get sidetracked & quite simply, time runs out on the day.

Except in my case TIME runs out every day & I am left wanting to do half a kabillion more things.

So I undertake this in hopes of being able to cross paths more frequently & spend a wee bit of time with the Angels that grace my life. (if your reading this-it means you)

taking flight ..This is my motto for many things..

taking flight can mean a variety of things from me:

***it can mean ~ I have keys in the van & I am on the road (or in the driveway, perhaps even still in the

garage but seriously `in the process' of getting going) :o)

***it can mean ~ I have a package ready & taking flight means that from my wee spot in the

world `it is taking flight' on its way somewhere. This occurs many times thru out each week.

***taking flight ~ thoughts abound and I am gaining ground for action on any number of things to tackle

For now it represents this this voyage of words.

Enjoy my Butterlfy.

He was sent to grace my day during the summer. I tend to grab a camera & dash outside when I see a Gift from God cross my path. Tho, I am sure my neighbors think I am a wackadoodle---at any time of the day I can be seen clicking the `air' as I dance around the yard photographing birds, butterflies, leaves, trees, even bugs...

(1 day my little guy found a bug upside down on the driveway & we laid on our tummies for ages taking his picture as it wiggled to right itself.) but I digress.

Actually the butterlfy is appropriate for several reasons.

A butterfly is the sign of Hope & change. We can ALL us an abundance of this.

A butterfly takes flight on its way to many more beautiful things.

Thus begins my journey and if you are reading this I welcome you to come along.

Oct 2007

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~