Happy Dance!....Happy Dance!......Happy Dance!

Oh yeah, baby!!!  We're gonna have Spring this weekend!!  Today I went outside at 8:45 am and started taking down the mini lights and the brownish garland on the deck.  AND.....no jacket!!  no sweater!!  no sweatshirt!!  short sleeves!

Also took 2 storm windows down....the bathroom and the kitchen.  I wish they all could come down, but as I was futzing with the kitchen window, BH calls..."here's the weather forecast for next week".  And like a fool, I go and look.  Wellll.......from Monday through next weekend, we're supposed to have high's only in the 40's.

"How the hell did that happen?  What happened to the extended forecast yesterday that called for high 50's, low 60's next week?"

"I don't know", he says.  "But there it is".   Son...of....a....b......

So, needless to say, there won't be anymore storm windows coming down lest we get a major blizzard the first week in May.

Leaving for daughter's today.  She called yesterday to inform me that her legs have been going numb and her feet tingle.  Apparently this has been going on for a couple of months.  "Mom, there's something I have to ask you about....."  so I told her to schedule a doctor's appointment that morning.  The appointment is today.  She asked if I wanted to spend the night.  I didn't really.  I hate being away from home.  But....seeing that we haven't spent any time together since Christmas, I said sure.

Anyway, the weather is supposed to be gorgeous...mid 60's/high 60's through Sunday.  Maybe she and I will take a little ride...find a little mall, do a little window shopping; go out for breakfast or lunch tomorrow.  It sure beats washing windows, blinds and curtains, which is what we should be doing in her apartment.  But, geezzz, it's gonna be cold again next week. 

So Spring isn't really here, right?

Hope you all are blessed with beautiful weather this weekend and get to do something really fun!

Two Things........

First, I've been eyeing the Fair Isle sweater sitting in the basket, as I work on the pair of socks.  Something just doesn't feel right.  The other day, all the paraphernalia was gathered in anticipation of working on the steeks and cutting them.  I keep looking at the sweater. I'm. not. sure.

Just doesn't seem right.  One thing or another came up over the next few days, putting the sweater on hold.  I keep looking at it.  Picking it up; straightening it out; it just doesn't seem right.

Love the colors, love the pattern.  However, I did discover that it is highly doubtful there's enough charcoal Shetland to do the sleeves.  This is a problem.  The project was not intended to be a vest.  The neckline is all wrong.

Well, by this morning after examining it again, checking my stash box to see if I didn't miss a couple balls of charcoal (I've already checked 3 times)....and I didn't.  Nada.  The decision had to be made.....Frog It!!  The last thing I want is to cut the yarn, hate the sweater/vest and have dozens of wound-up teensy little balls of yarn.  No sir.  No way.  Not good.

It's in the process of being ripped.....1/2 done.  And I feel much better.   Crap.

I think I'll just stick to Fair Isle ear flap hats for a while.

Ok.  The second thing........
So....BH has remarked to me over the past month or so how we haven't seen evidence of any critters in the house.  "Mickey", to be precise.   "I think those sonar thingies we bought in the summer have been doing the trick", says I.  He readily agrees.

He made the same comment to me just last week.  Well.......while walking through the utility room this morning, I find the bag of dog treats (for the neighbor's dog) laying on the floor.  Hmmmm...how did that get there.  I pick it up, put it back on the bookshelf......and now I notice little pieces of the bag on the floor.

Yep.  It seems Mickey has found a way in.  And the sonar thingies be damned!!

There's a footnote to this story.  Last week while housecleaning, I run the dust mop behind the entertainment center.  Whoa....what's that.  A small dark blob on the floor.  Further inspection reveals that it's the piece of steel wool that was plugging up the hole where the TV cable comes in from under the house.   Hmmm.....I must have pulled it loose with the dust mop.

Now I think the real cause was Mickey.  That little bugger pushed the ball of steel wool out of the hole.  Not so unbelieveable when we think of all the times the mouse traps haven't been sprung, but the cheese is gone.  Or when we heard the "snap" of the trap late at night.....only to discover the next morning that the varmint had wrangled himself loose and is gone.

So today, we will re-insert the steel wool, maybe seal it with duct tape, and see what happens next.

I just hope he found his way out of the house this morning so he doesn't have to search for another escape route.

Something Old......Something New........

Noooo....no wedding here.  It's (gulp) the weather.  Again.  That's the "old".

Update:  12" of snow fell between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.  Accompanied by strong - very strong - winds.  BH went out to shovel and said some of the drifts were up to his thighs.

ooohhhhh, le sad.

Anwho, Thursday I decided to make a Blueberry Sourcream coffee cake.  Had the blueberries in the freezer; had the sour cream, which was getting near it's expiration date (how do you know when sour cream goes bad??)  So I looked for a recipe on the internet.  Found one quick and easy.  It turned out deeelicious!

Then I've had this hankerin' for Peanut Butter cookies.  I'm not one to make cookies other than the obligatory Christmas baking, especially since there's no one here anymore to eat them except BH and me (emphasis on "me").  But, mmmmmm, I love Peanut Butter cookies.  It's my grandmother's recipe.  I've had it since she passed away 50 years ago.  And it is hands down the best!  My hands, anyway.

So yesterday was another baking day.  A double batch, thank you very much.  Because if you're going to go through all that trouble, and if you have a freezer, always bake double.  Your cravings will thank you in the long run.  Mmmmmmm.......deeeelicious!!

Oh, something new........

Well, I took pictures!!  

See....I wasn't foolin'.  And just to think, last week most of the snow was gone and we could see ground.  Ground that was beginning to green up.  Geezzzzz.

Ok, so there's the Blueberry Sourcream coffee cake; Yummy.

Then the Fair Isle sweater in progress.  Finished knitting; now get up the courage to cut the steeks.  Gulp.

The tube socks.  I really kinda like these.  Started another pair; first one on the needles.  Plus, because there's no fiddlin' with the heel and gussets, it goes really, really fast.   I'm partial to things I can get done really.....really fast.  I'm getting old; time is running out!

Oh, I think I forgot to tell you about the robins.  Yep.  We had 4 of them in the yard last week....before the return of winter.  And they were very plump!  Beautiful big red breasts.  However.  They're gone now.  Maybe never to be seen in these parts again. 

Hey, if you could fly off to warmer climates anytime you flapped your arms.......would you?

Yep. Same Ol'......Same Ol'.........

There's about 3" of fresh snow on the ground.  Another 3" expected by the time this is over tomorrow.  The winds are supposed to be 30 mph, gusting to 50-60 mph tomorrow.

Paint and wallpaper are sitting idly by.  Waiting.  Waiting for sunshine.  Waiting for warmth.

The storm windows are still up (thank God); and the once-fresh pine garland and mini lights still adorn the deck railing outside.

It's April 18th.  2 more weeks and our town has its "Clean-Up Day".  You can bring anything that's not household garbage, toxic chemicals, tires and some appliances.  The city will dispose of it for free!  This is done every other year.  How fortunate that this is the year.......the year we're planning on moving.   And we have tons of crap to get rid of.

My granddaughter posted a picture of herself in her Army uniform.  I wish she had her hat on to complete the outfit.  I love this kid.....I mean, beautiful young lady.  She leaves for basic training at the end of July.  She'll be gone for 9 months; being sent to Tech School right after basic.  I'm going to miss her terribly.

 

 

 

Anywho, I'm keeping myself busy.  Still knitting the Fair Isle sweater.  Just about ready to decrease for the front neck opening.

 

A little apprehensive, but I'll approach it slowly.  It'll work out.

 

Hope you all are comfortable;  a little sunshine?  a little warmth?  Some green on the ground?  Little shoots of flora popping up here and there?   Ahhhhhhh........some day.  Some.  Day.

 

 

 

And On and On It Goes..........

Did I tell you this already?  Can't remember.  Brain frozen.  Last Thursday and Friday, a total of 7" snow.  Very windy.  Very cold.

Saturday.....beautiful day.  Later in the day.  High was about 38.  Took daughter out to Olive Garden for her birthday dinner.  Birthday was actually a week ago.  The weather. 

So......yesterday, cold, grey, damp and heavy winds.  Last night, heavier winds, snow and sleet.  Lots of sleet.  Pounding on the windows with the heavier winds. 

Today..... cold, grey, damp and more snow.  High's in the low 30's.  Tonight....more snow

Tomorrow.....sunshine!

Wednesday, Thursday......more snow.  And cold.  Always cold.

Yeah.  Just wanted to put it out there.

2 steps forward........5 steps back.  And on and on it goes.

Exactly.......

HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa.............

 Yes....laughing and laughing.  Why?  Because it's the only way to keep my sanity, or what's left of it.

A major snowstorm moved in yesterday morning.  Snowed all through the night and is still snowing now.  It looks like about 8" of the crap at this moment.  Don't know how much longer it's going to snow.  All I know is that last week most of it was melted.  Driveways, sidewalks and roads were dry.  A couple of days, temps got into the mid 50's and I had a couple of windows open.

But.....that's gone.

Then BH informs me that Tuesday next will be the only decent day for the week.  More snow coming in through the weekend next week. 

Thank you.  Thank you, dear, for that weather update. (Said through clenched teeth)

"Hey, I'm only telling you what I read" is his response.

Yes.  Thank you.  Very much.

 

Ok. This is Getting Monotonous.........

Snow.  Sleet.  Rain.  More snow.  Are you friggin' kidding me??!! (I scream at the weatherman on TV).

Whadayagonnado.  It is what it is.  Crap.

Anywho,  we had a very nice Easter.  Quiet.  Peaceful.  Just the 2 of us.  So we did what we planned......went to the casino for the day and then had dinner in their restaurant.  Casino food is excellent....and reasonably priced.

Took a nice leisurely ride home, got in my pajamas, watched the PBS movie and had Pineapple Upside Down cake with whipped cream for dessert.  BH and I, that is.  Don't want you to think I left him at the casino!

I'm ashamed to say the pine garland and lights are still adorning the deck railing and the soffet along the wall, above the door.  Not totally my fault.  Everytime I think it can be taken down.....we get this.....snow and freezing temps.  Next year, if we're still here, I may consider going with pink and purple lights instead of white.  That way they'll double as Easter decorations!

Well,  Thursday we were supposed to go into the city to get some supplies for sprucing up the house, then take daughter to dinner for her birthday.  But I've been fighting a problem for almost 2 weeks now. We had to cancel all plans. Went to the doctor yesterday.  From past experiences with daughter and son, I am fearing a bout with "H-pylori".  A very nasty bacteria that attacks the whole intestinal tract and requires dosing with 3 different, powerful, medications, taken together, for 10 or 14 days, I forget.  So I had the blood test done.  Trouble is....it'll take a week for the results!  A week!  My daughter had the results of her test by the end of the day and was on medication that evening!

That's what you get for living in a small, very small town.  Another reason why I'll be so glad to get into the 'burbs again!

All of this, of course, puts our sprucing, fixing and cleaning plans on hold.  And time is getting short.  Egads.

Son in NY called Thursday.  Tells me our grandson was in a car accident.  He's ok but his car was totaled.  A 1997 Mustang in mint condition; his pride and joy.  A man was coming out of a supermarket parking lot, making a right turn on red, as grandson was going past with the green light.  The guy never stopped at the red and plowed into him.  Smashing the back end in, causing the car to do a "360" across the oncoming lane and smashing into the curb.  The kid was so lucky there wasn't heavy traffic coming his way.

Then same son tells me his wife will be losing her job in another month.  She was informed in January that the company is eliminating her position.  They offered her possible part-time work, her old position when she first started there, crawling into cargo planes, loading and unloading the merchandise (can you guess who the company is?? No. Not UPS. The other one.)...over 20 years ago....at that rate of pay (little more than minimum).  Or she can take the "buyout", which amounts to 6 months pay.

She's been going to college for 4 or 5 years now to get a Bachelor's degree.  Her tuition might have been paid partially by the company.  I'm not sure about that.  But she has just 4 more credits to go.  And she might have to drop out.  In the meantime, their younger son just started college this past Fall.  I don't even want to think what this means for him.  Our daughter-in-law is a real stickler for everyone needing and getting a college education!  She almost disowned the older son when, after 3 attempts, he decided college was not for him.

And so this political, financial, ridiculous mess is coming closer and sometimes hitting home.  Chin up;  salley forth;  God does not close a door without opening a window.........right?............it's been our experience that a lot of our windows are nailed shut.  Murphy's Law. 

So, on the Fair Isle sweater.....the armhole steeks are about 1" now.  I sat down the other day and drew out the steps I think should be taken to make this thing a reality.  And wrote out the instructions as they appear in my own head.  We shall see.  But it all sounds plausible.

And another pair of "tube" socks (the first sock) is on the needles.  I need a diversion when colorwork knitting is not really the best idea at the time.  I think I'm really liking this tube sock thing.  The Spiral Rib pattern is easy.  No brain power needed.

And there's always those times when I'm running on reduced power....if not a complete power outage.  Perfect!

A laugh for the day:

Wait for It.....Wait for It.....

Indeed.....we are still waiting for Spring to arrive full force....and stay for it's nominal season!

Snow is melting very, very slowly; still quite a bit on the ground.  Temps are back in the low 30's for the daytime and some single digit nights.

Meanwhile, BH and I are chomping at the bit to get things going around here.  This Thursday we will take a ride into the city to pick up paint and wallpaper. Cleaning, fixing and freshening will commence next Tuesday, as I have an appointment in the city on Monday.
It's daughter's 43rd birthday on Thursday, also.  And we have 2 gift cards for Olive Garden.  Soooo......we'll take her out for and early dinner.

I finished a pair of socks.  First time I ever knitted "tube" socks.  The pattern is a spiral rib.  Turned out pretty good and I'm going to start another pair.  A little concerned about how tube socks will hold up.  At least  it won't be the same wear and tear that a heel gets.  You can turn the sock any which way to avoid constant abuse of a certain area.  Has anyone ever knit "tube" socks?

I got super brave a couple weeks ago and started a sweater (or maybe it'll be a vest depending on how frayed my nerves get!).  Not just any old sweater.....but a colorwork, Fair Isle sweater.  What is wrong with me!!!?

I've always dreamed of making one.  I know exactly how I want it to look...in my mind.  And, of course, with Fair Isle comes....steeks.  I've never done steeks before.  This should be very interesting.  Very interesting.

But now I've got a problem.  I don't have a knitting-in-the-round, steeked, colorwork sweater pattern.  I'm, as you might say, "winging it".  Yep. Again.  I have a picture in my mind as to how this should be accomplished.  My mind is a very busy place!

So, one more pattern repeat and it should be ready for steek stitches where the armholes will be cut.  That shouldn't be too difficult (laughing maniacly)!  But when I get to the neckline, what then??  How do I decrease for the front neckline while continuing to knit in the round?  Or do I stop at this point, cut the front open and finish off the steeks, and then continue with the decreasing as I knit for the collar?  Which will be the background, solid color.

And what about the back?  Do I knit "x" amount of rows in patterning to bring it up to the neck a bit before continuing with the collar? Or just continue the collar from the front?

And are the shoulders an "automatic"?  I mean, they're just there after the front neckline decreases?  No shoulder seams to mess with?

Any hints or know-how is greatly appreciated.  Otherwise,  I will salley forth.

The thoughts of frogging the whole thing.....ripping out row after row of colors intertwined with each other.......OMG!!  I can't think about that now...I'll think about it tomorrow....afterall.....tomorrow is......another day!
(I live by these words....thank you, Scarlett O'Hara!)

On the "plus" side, the color pattern is working out very well.  Love the colors together.  Charcoal for the background, off-white and raspberry for the patterning.

I just hope this doesn't turn into a woolen "tube top" !!!  Maybe a woolen tote bag??  Just sayin'..........

Well, wish me luck.....I'm diving back into the yarn river!

A laugh for the day: