Additions

Once again, I am late in getting things uploaded. I forgot there were photos of Gramma on my 35mm.

I think these shots are better anyway because they show off the heathered yarn color much better.

The shell buttons were one heck of a find (thank, Mom!) and made the final touch.

This one was just for fun I tried to get a good profile shot. We have a similar one of her mother, Great Gramma Polly.

This child's quilt was an experiement with my industrial straight stitch machine. Lots of fun, and really had a great time teaching myself free-motion quilting!

Just a close-up of the stitching. It took quite a few swatches to get the hang of the continuous motion and not hesitating.

My label! My oldest daughter sewed it on for me. (for $3!) 

Update on Mole Repelling 101: Abandoned all hope of getting it done (this year). 240' of shoveling sounds great when you look at it on paper. There is no time. period. Maybe this fall when everything is torn down. I think we'll trap the little buggers this year.

I am so ready for the sun to be out. Continuously. Like more than an hour at a time. Like, is 8 hours too much to ask? They get that all the time in California.. pleeeasse?? Mother Nature, just a little help here?

Thank You.

My new ride

Meet Winnie. My new Schwinn bike. Isn't she pretty? Of course, pink is not my first choice in a bike color, but I couldn't help it. It rained for 10 days straight the day after I took this picture. Anyway, I intend to put quite a few miles on her. Maybe reduce the size of my butt. :)
Happy Spring!

Mole repelling 101

Here's the plan. I dig a ditch all around the garden, fill it with gravel, and voila! No moles can get in. We trap the ones that are enclosed within the perimeter, and Bam! no more moles in the garden. Sounds pretty easy, right? Well, take a closer look at the monster I created for myself.

I've dug about 20" so far. I have to go all the way around there, 

all the way around there,

and back around to my little pathetic start. Sigh. You can see Joe was having fun while I dug.

These are my trusty tools.

I like them, Yah?

I put a mark on the shovel to get an easy reference to how deep I am . Much faster than a tape measure or a stick.

I will defeat the mole! muwahahahaha!  We will have an awesome vegetable garden this year!

I just have to keep digging. And digging, and digging...Anybody want to help?

How to move a mattress

This is my new mattress. It's a Queen. Did you know memory foam could smash up into a box?



This is how I got the old mattress out. The walls were creaking from the pressure of the mattress wanting to open up flat.


This is how I got it out the door. I was sweating by this time. (No extra help happened to be around.. hmm)



Aaand, This is how I got it outside. What a pain in the arse! I swear they built the trailer around the mattress.



This is what the new mattress looked like right out of the box. I had to get it back into the bedroom and cut open the plastic bag around it and- voila! popped right open! It took about 45 minutes to fully open, but OH how comfy it is!!


Aaand, This is what happens when a knitter is sick, and has full access to the internet, and some Tax Return money to spend! The yarn is Knit Picks Alpaca/wool/silk blend, and the pattern is an Entrelac beret and matching mittens. I will probably just make Mitts though. So Soft! and my camera didn't do the colors justice.

I'm wishing more and more I had more time to knit and make things, but college has got me sooo swamped. I love blogging, so I will update when I can. Thanks to any and all who read, but I would enjoy a comment or two.
Enjoy the sunshine!

Of things there and about

For Spring Break, I took the girls to meet up with their dad in Hood River, Oregon. Luckily enough, the weather was miraculous. So, we sorta took the "long way" (historic hwy 30) and stopped when we could (there were a LOT of cars out that day) and too photos. This one is looking east up the Gorge. The wind was blowing pretty hard, you can see the whitecaps on the Columbia in the right side of the picture.

This is my tribe! Sadie in the red scarf, Emily in the pink, and little big man Joe. They are my life. 

This is Joe and I. Sadie took the picture. She has become pretty good with the camera. 

we stopped here,

and hiked down to there,

where Emily took a wonderful picture. She didn't even clown around.

This was a few days later after Joe and I got home. I was getting a look at the garden, seeing about how I was going to plant this year, as well as get rid of the pesky moles, and Took a couple of pics. 

This is our barnyard Prince. He's no spring chicken, but he knows how to work the ladies. :)

He posed for me after I tossed him some bread. The chickens are pretty tame. I love them!

I saved the best picture for last though. This is Joni, a Hospice RN. We met her at Rose and Ram in Independence, Oregon. She is spinning up some wool with a portable wheel she called "Joy". It's available at this site.  I am fascinated with the spinning process. It's probably the next most coolest thing that I want to learn. 

She answered all our questions, and was very friendly and loved talking about her craft. I recommend this yarn shop to anyone looking for a friendly atmosphere. All are welcome to come in and work on projects. They are right on the main street of Independence.

I have been very ill the last 5 days with Walking Pneumonia. I wonder why they call it that? I sure have been to sick to be 'walking'.. feeling better now since the Doctor gave me some Zithromax and Albuterol. I can breathe. I think I broke some ribs from coughing tho. My friends have been really kind and have sent lots of get well wishes and I do so appreciate it. I think I relapsed from the last illness because I haven't been this sick in almost 10 years!

School started the 29th, so I missed a few classes. Thank God I have an online class. A week behind means certain doom in some classes. (I'm not taking those classes)

Sooner or later, I will get to start the garden. I might have to lay siege to the sunny days and dig as fast as I can.

Happy Easter!

Rules

I broke my own rule. #444: Don't start a totally different wave of projects from the ones you already have started. (Unless it's Christmas).

I found these beads at the local craft shop. They were just too cool to pass up. My co-worker G, fell in love with this one. She just wants it as a Solitare with black cord. I tried Crochet Nylon. It's too flimsy. So, will switch to black Silk cord and it should turn out really pretty. Especially wearing black. Her skin tone is Olive, and will be stunning on her. Focal beads are pretty popular right now.

I don't know why I think it's cool to post pictures of myself all of a sudden, because I tend to shy away from being in front of the camera. But with a friend like Jill, I lose all inhibitions. I figure this is one more step towards total self-acceptance with me as I am now, knowing I will not be the same me later. (make sense? if not, just think- "weight loss")..  anyhooo... Jill is my Newest Best Friend Forever. She is my confidante, I can tell her anything. She knows me better than I know myself. She's helped me be a better me. I love that. I love her. This pic is from our workplace First Annual Training session. I was hoping for a bonus, but you know, the economy and all...

This is what happens when you get too busy to pay attention to your car. I was cleaning my car, (which hadn't been done in a LONG time..ew! I found a million french fries around Joe's car seat. they were neatly stuffed to maximum capacity around the seat belt slots..ew!) and getting ready to go to Tribal Night, (Tribal bellydancing. My exercise du Jour) meet my girlfriends, have a few locally made beers, and enjoy a  well-deserved evening. BUT NO. Of all days in the days of my car's wonderfully reliable history, this is the day it chooses to not be reliable.  Dead battery. It's like- I start getting texts- "where are you? " and I have to tell them "car" and they are like, "sure, right. flake!" I wanted to call a taxi. But living 15 miles out of town can put a dent in the beer drinking money. So, I decided to back up my story with this post. See, you guys? I was telling the truth!

By Saturday morning, the battery was charged. I sped down to Les Schwabs. New battery: $109. Peace of mind: Priceless.

Happy First Official Day of Spring! (well it was yesterday, actually but I didn't blog yesterday..I was having a Do Nothing day..(sigh of joy)

Sunny Sunday

Here's my "I'm sicker than a mangy kennel cough dog- but have to study and pass this effing final" look.

This is my little Big Man, Joseph. He will be turning 4 on St. Patrick's day. We did a little early birthday because all his cousins are only here this weekend. Not that he cares. Presents and Cake are always a good thing to get. I actually let him pick out his toys, bought them and had his sister Emily (there on the right) wrap them. His other sister, Sadie baked the cake. That's Sean on the left, my brother's boy, having a good time.

Oldest sister, Sadie did a very good job on the cake. Rich, chocolate. We had to re-light the candles (recycled from my sister's 40th birthday cake- they switched it to 04..haha!) because he kept blowing them out before I could get a picture.

Funny how I still look like I just had him.. wait. I think I still have 'baby fat' from my almost 15 year old!! Holy Mother of the weight gain process! I need to get with it! Never know who might wanna go out with me! hahahahahaha!

The kids and I were driving down to do laundry and saw this. I was laughing because my daughter kept asking if they were dead. I was wishing I could be there with 'em! The sun hasn't been out too much, and oh were those kids enjoying El Sol!

     I was trying to sneak up and get a closer shot of the nappers, but there was a little calf that spooked away so they sat up and gave me that "oh come ON, lady! We were sleeping!" look. Sleepy kids!

     I think I like my new camera. I bought a Kodak easy share camera. Just something easy to work with. I promised myself I would make time to take pictures instead of being in such a hurry.

Now, for the knitting update: There is none. Sock #1 Is not quite to the heel yet. pretty much looks like it did, only longer. My math final is Tuesday, and I plan on getting them done by Sunday.

     Craiglist update: Hm. Well, I have met, in person, Bachelor #1, and #2. Meeting #3 next Sunday. #4, haven't met him in person, not sure if I want to.  Having good conversation with text and email. Otherwise, I'm taking it slow. Not going to make the same mistakes. Of course, I'm older, much more self-confident, and definitely not wanting to get married. I think that takes pressure off.

Good: Meeting and making new guy friends.

Bad: Trying to keep all their information organized.

Wish me luck. It sure is nice knowing that I'm still interesting..