Eddy's Dead

My computer at home died this weekend. I am so miserable that I am actually cleaning house. Please send chocolate, books, and earplugs as soon as possible! And Pepsi, I could really use some Pepsi. And chocolate chip cookies. With or without milk for dunking (in spite of my college past, I refuse to dunk my cookies in Pepsi).

Other than that, Alanda turns 18 this week; providing we all live that long.... raging hormones and a full moon, graduation stress, all combine to make people more crazy than usual. And then Eddy the computer dies. And here I finally found a photo I had been looking for, of Dusty, from MSU; and I can't scan it and I can't add it to my screensaver. THIS SUCKS!!!

I was looking for something to read while eating the other day (I know it is bad to read while eating, but I don't care) and I picked up a copy of She Walks These Hills by Sharyn McCrumb that was sitting there innocently on my bookshelf. Hadn't read it in awhile. Twelve chapters later I realized it was almost time to get the kids up for school! This woman is so darned good, and she even answers her fan mail! Really!

If you get the opportunity to read any of her Ballad novels, clear your schedule because these books are very hard to put down. Sharyn and Rett MacPherson, my two published idols. (Dusty is going to be added to the short list as soon as she sends me a copy of her published novel).

OK, now it is time to hit the library shelves and grab a few copies of her other novels, that I don't have at home. Don't expect to hear from me for a couple of days!

Duh Attack and Spring Fever

Well, duh. I just discovered that I never posted the pix of Tricia's pink baby blanket! So here are some shots of the blanket to go with the picture of the booties that I made to go with the blanket. (Tired yet? I can get you a road map to help follow along.... this IS called "Ramblings" for a reason!)

Got spring fever this weekend, and fixed up the ugly white mailbox. These photos are a little off because of the sunlight hitting just right, the mailbox is NOT striped. Just plain bright yellow! And the flag is definitely a contrasting color! Gorgeous shade of green, my friend Randy calls it "Froot Loop Green" but I love it anyway. {grin} I also painted the driveway posts, since my mom always has trouble seeing them at night. If you look closely in the first photo, you can see the first post to the left of the mailbox. George woke up from his nap, and asked "Who went yellow crazy?" Damn it, they are pretty now! Sometimes I think that I can't do a thing without a smarmy comment from him . This was one of those times. Oh well, buckos, my mailbox is now PRETTY and *I* like it. So there!!!

Another Accomplishment, and Life in a Small Town

Not the best photo, but they are so cute and warm! These are the pink baby booties I made to go with the baby blanket I made for Tricia from FrankTalk fame.

Just dropped them and the blanket off at the local dimestore, for her dad to pick up tomorrow when he delivers the magazine. I just love living in a small town! Couldn't do that at your local WalMart!!! Although there are many times I can think of things I DON'T love about living in a small town, the good stuff outweighs the bad. Although I would still rather live in the countryside of the small town, rather than smack in the center, but without a car this is the best spot for us. I can walk to the grocery store, and the laundrymat, and the post office, and the library, and the schools, and sometimes I even get really lucky and someone stops and gives me a ride. Not going to happen in New York City, I bet!

What really gets me, is that Alanda wants so much to live in New York City, second choice is Chicago; but she is adamant that she won't move to Battle Creek because it is too dangerous! Now, I won't say that the town isn't dangerous, ANY town can be; but I would be more afraid to have her live in Coldwater (smaller and "safer") because of certain conditions there. Won't go into details, just say that there are people in that town that she is safer being far away from. Since we never know when he is in or out of jail, I figure it's just best to stay away from there whenever possible. Still, afraid of Battle Creek but not of NYC. I give up figuring this kid out!

Not that she is much of a kid anymore. She went to the prom, after much debating on whether she wanted to or not, and ended up having the best time of her life. Considering what a fiasco the other school dances end up, I was relieved to say the least. We figured it out, though: the prom wasn't held at the high school! She had one anxiety attack, but her friends helped her through it with the co-operation of a teacher who let them break rules by leaving the building and coming back in. Teacher stayed with them, of course. So since they were chaperoned, *I* don't consider it breaking the rules. So there! Thanks, teach...

Another One Done!

Yay me! I finished the baby blanket for Dylon, and he is only three months old! LOL

This isn't the best photo, but the batteries in my beloved digital camera were on their last positrons. I put it over Liam while he was sleeping, thus proving that YES it is big enough for a growing baby (I had my doubts at one point). The mommy has promised to send me a photo of baby and blankie, when she does it will be posted for posterity. Stop laughing, I'm serious here...

Have started the pink baby blanket for Tricia, the Mommy's Day columnist for FrankTalk. Little Luci Lyn is due around Ruthi's birthday, so I am fairly confident that I will get it done in time. It is looking *so* good, if I say so myself. The center of the MAM strip is hot pink, with borders of white and pastel pink. There will be two panels with dark pink centers instead of hot pink centers; in my mind's eye it is delightfully pretty. Even though it's pink... I can't help it that pink is not my favorite color (although an awesome singer!!), but I gotta admit that this one is an exception to the rule. (The hot pink helps, it really "shouts" and offsets the sleepiness of the white and pastel.)

Am thinking about making a maroon and gray one for Alanda for her graduation. That's this June, too, so if I do it needs to be started soon. If I use two strands at once and a P hook, I could get it done in no time (if the arthritis doesn't flare up too badly). The finger I tried to break (by falling on the ice) is a little better, I can use it to type on the computer now. But still have a LOT of pain when bending it or straightening it. Not to mention the swelling, which is hard to notice because my fingers are so chunky in the first place... Yes, my life sucks. Get over it! If I can put up with the bu--sh-- that is my life, so can you!!!

Want to make a blanket for my best bud, Diana, but since she is going through Cleaning Mode, I hate to give her something else to be put away for the summer. Besides that, she is a much better and more prolific crafter than I am; it would be like cooking for Martha Stewart. Except that I like Diana, and I don't like Martha. I used to make her lap quilts every year for Christmas, until I finally got to see some of her quilting. The woman did impossibly tiny stitches! I am nowhere near that skilled, in spite of all the years of practice. But I keep trying, and need to get to work on the baby quilt mom wants me to make for Baby James (my sister's step-daughter's new baby). But it is so much more fun to write! I wrote a "ghost column" for Ruthi, in case she doesn't get her column done in time this week. I must say, it is pretty good-- although nowhere near her talent! Will post it on my website Just Call Me F7 later tonight, I think...

Well, time to read this week's FrankTalk online and get my website updated! Check out the website, and write something in my new guestbook!

Another one done in time!

Got the teacher's baby blanket finished and delivered before she delivered! (LOL)

Mrs. Wattie, the art teacher at the high school, had a boy Monday. His name is Vincent, and this blankie should last him into high school. The granny squares are the "fancy" ones, with interlocking loops at the corners. The rows alternate squares of red/yellow/blue (primary colors) with white borders, with squares of purple/orange/green (secondary colors) with white borders. Then each row is bordered, top to bottom: red, orange, yellow,green, blue, purple (rainbow order). Finally, the whole blanket is bordered with white, red, yellow, blue, white, purple, orange, green and white, with picoted scallops along the final border. That's Alanda in the photo, holding the blanket upside down. RED AT THE TOP, I told her. Well, we were all a little upside-down that weekend...

Now I am working on one for Liam's counselor at the elementary. She had a boy back in December, his name is Dylan. This one is a new pattern that I finally learned, the mile-a-minute. The strips are variegated blue, with borders of medium blue and red. Looks pretty good so far; have one more strip to make, then sew together the last three strips, and I can take photos. This one is a bit smaller than I usually like to make, because in adapting the original afghan pattern I shortened it a bit more than I thought. Still plenty big for a baby blanket, though. I just like to make blankies that can be used for a LOOOOONG time. Figure if I put that much work into it, the recipient better get lots of use out of it!

I've also started a baby blanket for Tricia, who writes for Frank Talk Magazine (see the link to Ruthi's column at the right). Tricia writes the column, All in a M0mmy's Day; she has a ten-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, and little Luci is due in late May/early June. (We all know that the doctor says one thing, but the babies never listen to THEM!) I told her to hold out for June 5th, Ruthi's birthday. This one is another MAM pattern, in pink and white. I got even more creative with this one; playing with the pattern, adding licks and tricks here and there... I have a vision, and it will turn out that way come heck or high water!!! (HA!) Watch this space for further updates and photos of work-in-progress!

I was going to do a whole post about the dead elmo in front of Ben's house, but he still hasn't emailed me the photo he took of it and I never got one done myself before the thaw. Once the ice melted this week (for a few days) someone wasted no time in getting rid of the elmo body... before that it was frozen to the sidewalk. When Ben tried to pull it out of the ice it made very bad sounds, so it was left until warmer days. I made a comment about salting the ice so it would melt faster, and of course then I walked home singing about salted dead elmos and kentucky fried big birds with a helping of mashed snufflalumpalous. I have no idea how to spell snufflalumpalous, and really don't care; I may write the post even without the photo, but it wouldn't be the same. Ben, send me that photo!!! I have so many plans for that picture... photoshop is a wonderful program! {evil giggle}

Baby's growing up!

Can you believe, when I brought this dog home I smuggled her into the house inside my coat?! My SHORT coat!

Now she just needs a saddle, and I would never need a car again.

Being Lab mix, she is very friendly. As in, "Oh boy somebody new to PLAY with and give me LOVIN'!!!!!" If you are under 5'3" tall, or weigh less than 175 pounds, you probably shouldn't visit, because she will take you DOWN. Not to hurt you, just to lick your face and break your leg wagging her tail.

Every time I see "Over the Hedge" I think of her, when the little Rott puppy comes on. (Nakeyta is also part Rottweiller, but it doesn't show; with her ears, I think she might have some Shepherd or Chihuahua somewhere in the DNA as well). If you have seen the movie, you know what I mean when I yell "Play! Play!" If you haven't seen the movie, go to the library and rent it, it is hilarious. When you see the puppy, picture it all grown up to Pony size, and you have 'Keyta!

One more interesting tidbit, she is Italian by osmosis. As if it weren't weird enough that my cats will eat chip-dip, my dog eats spaghetti. And goulash. If I buy a brand of hard dog food that she doesn't like, all I have to do is pour olive oil over it, or pour some spaghetti sauce on it. And no, it isn't meat-flavored sauce; remember Ruthi is a vegetarian and won't eat anything even flavored with meat. Not even ramen noodles. Great, it is officially easier to feed my fur-kins than to feed my skin-kins...

Typical!

Jimmy

From the Chattanoogan:

James Brooks, 48, of Hixson, died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007.

He was a native of Burlington, Mi. He was known for his hard work and dedication as product manager with Sierra Solutions.Jim loved music, football, photography and a good laugh. He enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States with Sierra Solutions, where he had the opportunity to make many friends. He will be greatly missed.

A beloved son, brother, father and uncle, he is survived by his mother, Carol Coffey, of Hixson; a son, Josh Brooks, of Chattanooga; siblings, John Brooks, of Reno, Nev., Sherry Parris, of Hixson, Linda Fuller, of Reno, and Shane Brooks, of Harrison; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Services were held Sunday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. Entombment will be at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.Please share your thoughts and memories at Mem.com or here in the comments section. Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.

Jimmy was my cousin on my sister's side, the oldest of Aunt Carol's kids. I am so tired of the only family reunions being ones where the "guest of honor" is passed on! Worse yet, I didn't even get to attend this one, because I had no way to get clear down to Tennessee from here! {make crying sad face}. So, to all my family and friends: come up here now and visit me while I can still enjoy your visit! If the trip is too much, at least email me. I miss everyone so much...

OK, now I have to go and cry because I've started thinking of all the people that have gone on before me that I miss. Shirley, Mamaw, Papaw, Grandpa Ted, Danny, Timmy, Grandma Thelma, Grandpa Clyde, Mike, Stan, Leo, Crystal, Uncle Leon... and all the ones that I never got to meet: Grandpa Ben, Grandma Edith, Grandma Weeks...

My neighbor's son, the artist

Promised Sherideth, Angel of the Block (grin) that I would post a picture of her son Jaymz. He did these in his morning graphic arts class at the Calhoun Vo-Ed Center (or whatever fancy name they have this year...). Not only is he a hottie (for a kid), he is an excellent artist. Even though he hates to have his photo taken. And to really stun the world, he is a good driver! A teenage male that actually drives well: yet another sign of the Apocalypse... Hopefully will be able to get some non-graphicked (new word;

don't bother looking it up in Webster's, it isn't there yet) photos of him sometime, even if only on the morning bus to school while he is

napping. Catching the bus at 6:30 in the morning should be considered cruel and inhuman punishment... One thing worse than catching the bus that early: trying to get a kid up in time to catch it... oh well, I love ya Ruthi!!! (grin!)

Snocoming—how prophetic

I love my digital camera! Here is a photo of Alanda on Extreme Maroon and Grey Day, wearing a purple sweatshirt from our arch-rival school, Athens. I borrowed it from a friend, because Al is a little rebel…

...and here are Alanda and Savanna getting ready to go to the Snocoming Dance. Beautiful dresses, beautiful girls… And then the prophecy hit.

Why do they have to call it Snocoming? Because that is exactly what happened after the dance! YUCK!!!

Thankfully, by the time I got over the 24-hour bug I had yesterday and was able to get here to the library to post this, it is up to 40 degrees and the river has melted, so Spring might actually be on its way.... please!!!!!

Quickie

Have about one minute to post, so here is my quickie for the day:

Have added Ross-the-Intern's blogsite to my list of links at the right; also added a link to FrankTalk, so you can pop over and read Ruthi's column every week. New editions are online every Monday.

This is my neighbor's daughter, Belle. Ain't she a cutiepie!!! Alanda took this picture with my beloved cheapie digital camera; we have entirely too much fun with that camera! THANK YOU CAROLE!!! (Sorry if you are tired of being appreciated, Carole!) Later I will post a pic of the blanket I made for Belle when her sister Beth was born (didn't want a jealous big sister!) and the one I made for Beth.

Now it turns out that Alanda's friend's mom is pregnant. Definitely must be something in the water... so one more blankie to start crocheting. Add to the list of BABIES EVERYWHERE. Shaner, if you are reading this, PLEASE tell me that YOU don't have another on the way!

Tonight is Snocoming at the High School. Yippee. Will hopefully have pix to post next week.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Groundhog Day and Other I Told You Sos

Well, the famous Puxatawny Phil didn’t see his shadow, so according to folklore we will have an early spring. Guess what folks, it is so early that it was last year! Remember all that fabulous weather last December and this January? That was our early spring!!!

And remember how, while I was reveling in the nice warm weather, I kept saying that real winter would eventually hit and it would hit hard. Look outside your windows; I was right. Boy, when I am right, I am right with a vengeance! Would have been nice to have been wrong just this once. I really am not a fan of the white Goddess Dandruff. Give me sunny beaches any day! (Actually, I prefer the woods to the beach, but you get my drift…) Might not be so bad, if I had been able to get a wood burner for the house, this year. Our furnace is older than I am, and with a messed-up thing that makes it run: it blows hot air for so long, then blows COLD air for even longer. The temperature on the thermostat and on the thermometer are vaguely close to each other… have to set it at 60 to get it to go to 70. Or something like that, either way it is mucked up…

Am giving serious consideration to packing a suitcase (wish that Eddy the Computer was a notebook!) and hitch-hiking to Florida. Hey, Darrell, do you ever head south when you’re driving that pretty purple rig all over the country? If so, you need a co-pilot! You know where I live, haul your *** over here! We even have a real coffeepot now, so you don’t have to settle for instant coffee before we leave. (Ooh, I hear air brakes in the distance!) Be careful out there, the roads are slicker than a New York politician…

I am so proud of my mommy. She actually got to read her own email and send messages this weekend! With just a little help!

Here is my future fur coat.... Just kidding!

And see, I really *DO* wash my dishes!!!

Happy Imbolc! And Other Fun Stuff...

To all my pagan pals, Happy Imbolc! Officially the last day to have Yule decorations up; since I never actually put mine on display this (past) year, I guess I was safe, but finally got them all back into the basement until December today. Soon I will be able to sit in my chair again in the living room! (More likely, soon it will be moved onto the porch...) The ancient belief, according to my book Seasons of the Witch, (thanks again, Dusty!) is that any decorations left up after today become a hiding place for goblins. I have enough problems already, goblins I DON'T need!


Got the rest of the pix uploaded from my previous post, except the one of Sarah the Llama. Maybe I will get that one up tomorrow. OK, realistically it will be next week; tomorrow is Saturday and the library is only open from 9 AM to noon, and everyone knows that I am *NOT* a morning person! So, here are the pix of Alanda and her shirt (it is so shiney!!!) and of Nakeyta, that Ruthi thinks I spell wrong. Hey, it's the Irish spelling.... OK, I'll tell the truth: every time I see "Nakita" (the way Ruthi thinks it should be spelled), I think of "Akita", which is a breed of dog. This would be like naming the neighbor's chihuahua "Malamute." Just doesn't work for me!

I am so happy, Ruthi's column this week in FrankTalk is about stupid people, and she never mentioned my name once! This column is a showcase of her acerbic wit; I just wish she had asked me for some examples, I have some real goodies. Like the girl at the cash register at the grocery store, that gave me Canadian coins in my change. She started to take them back, and give me "real" money (first "duh" award). Then, I told her that it was okay, that I was saving all my Canadian change in case I ever went back to visit Canada. Her answer? I swear to God and Goddess, she honestly said, "Oh! You can use it there?" in total surprise. At least she had counted the change right....

Which brings me to the next Duh Recipient: another cash register story. At a certain fast-food take-out drive-through (rhymes with Locko Hell), when the girl gave me my change for a twenty, I told her, "But I gave you a thirty." This poor kid actually looked through the cash drawer to find the thirty dollar bill I said I had given her. I let her look for a minute, then pointed out to her that there is no such thing as a thirty dollar bill. Thankfully, she had a sense of humor! She even went up front and told her co-worker what I had done to her, and they both laughed.

Sadly, in a later incident I was relating the story to my friend's fifteen-year-old daughter, and had to EXPLAIN to her why this was funny.
As in, "Kara, there is no such thing as a thirty dollar bill."
"Yes, really; I was just joking with the cashier."
"Seriously, NO there are NO thirty dollar bills, and if someone gives you one it is FAKE."
"NO! THERE IS NO THIRTY DOLLAR BILL!!! YES, I AM SURE!!! "
Some teenagers are just so stubborn.

But, bless their little hearts! They are so much fun to pick on! (I won't even go into poor Darcy at Jack's Grocery, who turns twelve shades of red when I ask her which aisle the Twinkies are in.)

And to prove that I am an equal-opportunity smart-aleck, I also pranked people when *I* was a cashier. Working third shift, it's pretty easy. Once, I told a group of men (at three in the morning) that I couldn't sell them cigarettes because the city council had recently passed a bill banning tobacco sales after 2 AM. After they bitched and moaned for a few minutes about politicians and government, I asked them if they believe everything they hear. And sold them the cigarettes, while we all laughed at their gullibility.

Then there was the teenager who came in to buy a bottle of Mountain Dew, and I told him he had to prove that he was over eighteen. He was quite distraught to learn that a new state law banned the sale of caffeine to minors, because it is an addictive substance. I let him pout for a minute, then sold him the pop under the condition that he not tell anyone that I did because I didn't want to lose my job for selling it to him. Bet that kid carries his ID all the time, now... (Hey, caffeine is an addictive substance, and I am honestly surprised that its sale hasn't been banned for minors! Give California a month or two after this is posted, someone will send this to the Terminator and then all California teens will be burning me in effigy!)

So, everybody watch your change, and get your holiday decorations put away so the goblins don't get you (and give you Twinkies, Darcy...)!

Really Rambling Around

So many things to write about today! I had to catch Nakeyta today, she somehow slipped off her chain again… we are pretty sure that she is getting help, because if the chain isn’t broken and her collar is still on, how does she get the chain unhooked from the collar? She’s smart, but not * that * smart! Or at least, not that coordinated! The good part is that all I did was walk outside, call her name, and she came running right to me. Usually she runs right to me and PAST me because she wants to play “catch me!” So this was a nice change. Right now as I write this, she is on a chair pad by the computer (writing at home to post later at the library), being the sweetest, quietest puppy ever seen. She is so cute! Yep, proud mommy here…

Also found a photo of Mom with her coleus this summer. She has Grandma’s green thumb; I have a purple thumb. Her flower garden is gorgeous! Even in the winter she has it pretty; she put fake flowers out! Wish I had been there last week when the ice storm hit, to take photos; she said that the flowers were covered with so much ice that they were three times their original size. Bet that would have been quite a sight! Even though I missed it, I did get this picture in September; this huge coleus is actually planted in a coffee can! Root-bound much???!!! Also got a photo of Sarah the Llama. I really want to make a sign for mom’s house that says “Mama’s Llamas,” it just sounds SO cute!!!

Then, thanks to the beloved digi-cam, I finally got photos of the shirt I made for Alanda, and her cloak. I used the sewing machine for the shirt, but the cloak I made before I borrowed the machine, so it is sewn entirely by hand. And amazingly, not a single bloodstain on it! Stunned that my fingers were still attached by the time I was done…

OK, got the word that I only have five minutes left, so better get this uploaded….

I weigh HOW much???

Basically, this is the expression on Alanda's face when she read the scales at the doctor's office this week. Then I took my foot off the scale....

My bruises should be gone in a month or two! {LOL}

Actually, in this photo she was reacting to my joking around with my buddy John. Chick has no sense of humor! Of course, she had had a long day that day, school and 4H and little sleep. Excuses, excuses...

New semester starts next Monday. What a way to start something new, with a MONDAY. Oh well, thank the gods that * I * am done with all that!

A Thousand Words

Yes, I actually took a photo to prove that I cleaned and organized my cupboard! Isn’t it pretty? Now if I could only get the rest of the cupboards looking this good… time, give me time, it will happen… even this year! I promise!

Now why did I make a stupid promise like that?

Put twelve things on my to-do list for today. If I actually make it to town and get this posted, that will be one item I can cross off. Wow, there is a total of eight things that require me to go to town. So naturally it is snowing like a bee-jee-suss…look on the positive side, at least the flakes are gently falling and not blowing in a big old blizzard. Ugh, what a depressing thought! Would be much prettier to look at if I didn’t have to walk with Liam tomorrow to the dentist after school. And I know the white stuff isn’t going to go away before then…

Items in progress in the yarn department of my life: cabled scarf for me, baby blanket for the art teacher. Things to make by the end of next month: baby blanket for the counselor at the elementary, hat for Ben, apples for Ben and John, cabled wrist-warmers to match my scarf, new hat with cables (hopefully a little more snug than the one I wear now, beautiful colors and fun pattern to knit, but has been stretched out a lot since I first made it). Things to make within the next four months: baby blanket for new step-nephew, baby blanket for Mom’s friend at work, baby blanket for friend’s new grandson. Things to make during the rest of my lifetime: no, don’t think I’ll list those, there isn’t enough room on the Internet!

Randy Travis Concert, and other Pix

Went to see Randy Travis in concert at Hillsdale County Fair back in September of 2006. This was Alanda's second concert; her first was Randy Travis in Hillsdale in September of 1989! Not that she remembered it, being only four months old at the time. But this one she will remember for a long time, especially as I got to take photos this time. And FINALLY got the film developed this month for my late birthday present!!!
This is the best one, I had to share it with everyone. Randy Travis is so cool, even if he does sing that twangy stuff...

And of course, had to add a picture of the kids, from the digital camera that I don't have to wait for developing! I love this option! Especially since I have Eddy the Computer at home! If I had to go to the library to download, it could be a problem. BUT who cares! I can do pictures!!! Me so happy.... thank you, Carole, again! And again and again and again....

Babies, babies, everywhere!

Either there is something in the water (good thing I drink Pepsi!) or there was a party I wasn’t invited to (wouldn’t have gone anyway; I’m in hermit mode until spring). Whichever, there are new babies all over in my life!

In no particular order…

Marie has a new grandson, named Ethan, isn’t he an absolute doll! Grandkids are great; spoil them and send them home! (No, I don’t have any of my own, and it better stay that way for a *long* time!)

My sister’s stepdaughter had a baby boy last week, his name is James, and I don’t have any photos yet. Big surprise, since I don’t even have any photos of the stepdaughter! Shoot, I’m lucky to get photos of my sister! Found a bunch from when we were little, but recent ones are few and far between…

The counselor at my son’s elementary school had a baby boy during the Christmas Break (December 22, to be exact). She should be back to work next month, so I have time to make a blanket; I didn’t know ahead of time, because I only got to see her a few times at the beginning of the school year and she was really NOT showing. I didn’t get his name yet…

The art teacher at the high school is currently pregnant; my oldest daughter has her for art and last semester my youngest daughter had her for Spanish. My mom has a friend at work that is pregnant, not due for quite awhile yet (but boy -- how time flies). And finally, George’s niece Cherish is pregnant. If there is anyone else in the family that is in the family way, nobody has bothered to tell us yet… I think that six babies/babies-in-progress is enough for now! My fingers are starting to hurt already, thinking of all the blankets to be made…. Oh yes, let’s not forget that I have a friend with a pregnant friend. So I guess that makes seven; I probably won’t be asked to make a blanket for the friend’s friend, but one never knows! Maybe if I don’t mention it to the friend, and stop knitting or crocheting or sewing whenever he is around so that maybe he will forget that I do that…. Nope, *that* ain’t going to happen! After all, this is the friend that I knitted a six-foot scarf for one year, and he still has the crocheted octopus that I made him for Christmas about, let me see, twenty-one years ago. Oh lord, now I am really depressed, it can’t have been that long!!! But my oldest is almost eighteen, and we were friends about four years before she was conceived (NO, not by this male friend!!!)… Jeez, time really does fly by! Seems like only last week that we met at the library…

Yep, I got some good, long-time friends! And so far, none of them are pregnant this month…

Blankies

This is a photo of the very first blanket/bedspread that I ever crocheted. Granny squares, 48 of the little stinkers, made from whatever scrap yarn I could find or beg from Grandma. I gave it to my sister for her birthday that year, I don't even know what year it was now. That's how long I have been doing these things. Rumor has it that my mother still has the blanket safely tucked away. (Knowing her house, and the field mice that sneak in when the cats are watching satellite TV, I don't know if "safely" is the most accurate term...)

I like making granny squares, they are portable and second-nature. I used to make them during my breaks at work, sitting in the cafeteria with my eyes closed, crocheting away at 50 miles per hour. Once, I made a bedspread for a friend's graduation, and in the time crunch I was actually working on it in the car at stop lights. And sometimes at go lights... but I got it done in time!

I'm making a granny square baby blanket for one of the high school teachers. Or I was until I got sidetracked into making Christmas gifts. Now that THAT is over, I can get back to the baby blankie. It's about two-thirds done, so no worries mate...

Here is the bedspread I spent about two years making for my friend Rick. Notice that this one is NOT granny squares, hence the lengthy work-time. When it's a huge (full-size bed) one-piece, the blanket gets pretty heavy after a point, and in the summer heat you do NOT want to be working on a fifty-pound blanket! Plus, couldn't tote the pieces around in a little tote bag to work on in odd moments. But, after all that and then some, I did get it finished and even delivered to Rick. I was even fortunate enough to get there on a day when he had film in his Polaroid, so I was able to get this picture of him with the blanket on his bed. Have more on the film in my Real Camera, to be developed in 50 or so years when I get the film used. The yarns used in this are Mexicana Variegated, Royal Blue, Purple, Emerald Green, and Black. All Red Heart brand. All bought brand new just for this project, an event that doesn't occur very often!

So, keep an eye out here for more pix, thanks to Wonderful Carole and my digie cam!

SNOWDROPS IN JANUARY

Here's another example of why I'm glad I got that digital camera for Christmas! These snowdrops were blooming just last week; if I had taken a photo with the Real Camera, the film *might* get developed before NEXT January. But thanks to the miracles of modern technology, and Carole, I can share this photo with you now, even though two days later the white stuff decided to cover our lawn and kill off the pretty flowers.

As I sit here at home typing this for the library, I glanced out the window and see that the Goddess needs some Selsun Blue Shampoo; Her dandruff is all over the place and more wafting down as I write. How sad. I just don't care for the cold, I would probably see the prettiness easier if it were warm. If that makes no sense, sorry. *I* know what I mean! I never did like the snow-in-the-poppyfield scene in Wizard of Oz, snow belongs in pretty little jars with scenery... safely enclosed where it can do no harm. Brrr....

Have been working on my cabled scarf while watching Rachael Ray. Nowhere near as close to done as I would like to be, but it's getting there. I took a photo to show the pretty colors and plain cables, and in my infinite creativity (LOL) I wanted to share my discovery of the latest Cable Needle Replacement. Ah, the advantages of using large needles and double yarn; a pencil works so well to make cables with! Judging from the walk to the library, I better get the fingers flying and get the scarf finished...COLD!!!

Have accomplished one goal for the New Year: 51 weeks to go! I got my kitchen drawers cleaned out and organized. Well, the ones by the sink, at least. The ones in the huge-ass cupboard are PIPs: Projects In Progress. I plan to move around the "furniture" in the kitchen, my microwave cart and the cupboards and the hutch, THEN I can clean the cupboard drawers and cupboards. That's a scary thought; if I don't post for a while, send the Marines to do Search & Rescue! What's the current reward for finding Jimmy Hoffa? I could use a few bucks, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to find him in the back of one of these cupboards. I *have* to get the cupboards re-organized, as I got some boxes of pans and dishes and other kitcheny miscellanea. I am the Queen of Hand-me-downs; unlike some people, I have absolutely no problem accepting someone's cast-offs. Just don't tell me that you have dishpan hands from washing everything before you brought it to me, when it is obvious even to my poor eyesight that these pans haven't seen the inside of a sink since Reagan's presidency! OK, I'm done venting now... I don't mind cleaning the stuff, after all it's not like I paid a fortune for it (my favorite four-letter "F" word: FREE!). I just hate the recovery from scrubbing, stupid arthritis anyway.

Finished re-reading Delores Stewart Riccio's Circle of Five, Charmed Circle, The Divine Circle of Ladies Making Mischief, and am now re-reading The Divine Circle of Ladies Courting Trouble. Don't you just love books that you can re-read and enjoy as much the second (third, fourth...) time as you did the first time! The Tory O'Shea mysteries by Rett MacPherson are another series I can read repeatedly. And of course the Appalachian mysteries by Sharyn McCrumb. Recently re-read If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him, was just as good this time around. (With a title like that, how could it be anything BUT fabulous!)

OK, time to finish this posting, go read Ross the Intern's blog and Dusty's blog, and check today's free pattern from Annie's Attic. Then sneak over to FrankTalk and read Ruthi's column instead of waiting for the published copy to be delivered tomorrow. Ah, the advantages of the Internet!!!

Happy birthday to me!

Got my package of books from DiTro yesterday. Just in time for my birthday tomorrow! And not a minute too soon, as I just finished reading the fourth book in the Charmed Circle series by Delores Stewart Riccio. Which unfortunately is a library book so must be returned, but I have it for a whole month; so might just go back and read the whole series over again before I send it back to Cassopolis.

Need new batteries for the digital camera already. Why am I actually surprised by this? But at least I found the power-off switch for the electronic keyboard, so it doesn't start playing itself every time it gets barely bumped. Whew, that was getting just a *little* annoying!

Had to frog about four inches of my big cable scarf, couldn't figure out why the cable looked wrong. Then I realized, it WAS wrong. So frogged and re-knit, thrill of my life. Got the freaking cables right this time, though! Will be beautiful if it ever gets finished...

Still don't have the new stove/oven hooked up yet. But Mom baked a ham at her house and brought it over for Christmas, microwaves are wonderful.

Time to sign off already, story of my life. Final words: IT'S NOT A PERSON HANGING IN THE WIZARD OF OZ, IT'S A FREAKING BIRD! Ok, I feel better now!