Train Ride

We took a train ride a few weeks ago with some good friends up in the Adirondacks. The train was supposed to give us a great view of the newly emerging fall color (now it is in full swing, possibly even past peak in a lot of areas), but kind of hard to do when the windows of the train were not air-tight, which resulted in foggy, ucky windows!!

The train was kind of neat though, and who does not like a little train ride every now and then?

Really though, it was a bit of a snoozer! Great idea, but they just are not quite there yet! I do hear that one region (the Utica train?) offers a dinner train tour. I think i could get on board with that idea.

Please send a good thought/prayer/white light or whatever it is that works for you to my good friend at Purlin' Goldens. Her heart dog is going through surgery this morning on what the vet fears may be the "C" word.

I hate when my dear friends go through any kind of stress with their pups. We finally have Miss G's Beau back onto the road to recovery, and now sweet Sunny is having problems. So hard when they are not perfect, they give us so much.

Some knitting, and Fred's Halloween costume

I guess Fred has decided what he wants to go as for Halloween! I walked into the living room the other day, and this is what greeted me. Such a clown hound! I told him to "stay", as i ran and grabbed the camera.

And look! Knitting!! I have had this Lornas Laces Black Watch Shepherd Sock yarn for ages now. I bought it when i thought i would like thick yarn socks. I knit one pair, and realized that i did not like the way the thicker yarn felt on my footsies. But it sure is great scarf yarn!! I have a knit a couple of scarves with this yarn, and it is uber soft. The multidirectional scarf is kind of vanilla, i know...but, i love the way the edges of it never curl. The pattern also is a great way to show off the multicolored yarn. I have knit up this pattern with Noro Kochoran, and Berroco something or other...i cannot remember the name of the yarn, and several others. In fact...Miss G has a scarf that i knit her in this pattern a loooong time ago! I guess this could be considered my go-to scarf pattern. Excellent car knitting, which i plan on doing this weekend as we head into the Adirondacks for a little fall color!

Know Your Boobs!!

Well, October came barreling in with some sad news for me. A life long family friend, and one of my favorite childhood babysitters, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Specifically, invasive lobular carcinoma. I am completely shocked, and saddened, but hopeful that she will become one of the survivors. I was talking with my dad on the phone last night, and crying a little, and he said "boy, it takes a strong woman to fight this, and she is one." I could not have said it better myself, because she really is a strong woman. She is a few years older than me, and someone that everyone looked up to in our neighborhood. Seriously, that girl who just was a ray of sunshine to be around, and could do ANYTHING. She was Homecoming Queen, and a cheerleader in high school, and is now a local news anchor/reporter in my home city.
Kind of fitting that i heard this news on the first day of October, which just so happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One thing that my friend said (in an article that is published on her news channels website) is to "know your boobs". Something that ALL women need to be reminded of. We all KNOW we are supposed to do our monthly self-exams, but how many of us actually do? I know i rarely even think about it. My friend did them so infrequently that she did not even feel her tumor...she SAW it. Scary. It had been there for long enough to be visible, before she ever even felt it.
So, the message this month is to spread the word. KNOW YOUR BOOBS. Save The Ta-Tas!!
Empower yourselves, and protect yourselves.

Help!! Need a shawl for a formal!!

Ok...this idea is kind of hijacked from Chan's post, and since i have TWO readers, :o), i probably will not get much advice here...but my two readers ARE wonderful...so i am betting they can steer me in the right direction.

We have a formal coming up in December, and i cannot find my trusty black pashmina shawl that I usually wear to the formals. Have turned the house practically upside down looking for this stinking thing, and all i can come up with is that it got left at a restaurant or movie theatre.

So, my dress is black. always black...i just do not deviate from that, as i have all the necessary accessories for black dresses. When you have three to four of these things to go to a year, you learn to economize!
The spouse is an Engineer, so that means Engineer RED. So...the shawl can be red, or black. Preferably black though. I live in a FRIGID climate, so it needs to be warm...but not crazy warm. They do heat the buildings here. And, it needs to be formal, so nothing too chunky.
Oh, and i have never knit lace before, but i am not scared to knit it either.

Mesmerized by the Spinning, among other things

A couple of weeks ago we went to the State Fair. As far as State Fairs go, in my humble opinion i do not think that ANY fair can beat the Western Washington Fair at Puyallup. Aside from the fact that MY MOTHERS Norwegian sweater that she knit for my niece won a BLUE RIBBON (yay Mom!!!) this year, the fair has EVERYTHING that a fair should have. Scones (my personal fave, and a necessity for a successful fair), rides, cows, cow pies (big cookies), hottubs, saunas, camping trailers, food (ribs, yum!), amazing flower, and vegetable displays...and i mean AMAZING. If you want to see some cool stuff done with veg, DO THE PUYALLUP!!
Ok, but back to the New York State Fair. It is the first fair that i have been to outside of my home state that can come close to being half as good. We try to visit all the state fairs, of the states that we have lived in, but they usually fall pretty miserably flat, and leave us deeply disappointed.
New York is big on dairy, and let me tell you, there were some CUTE cows at this fair. Guernseys are my personal fave, and these ones did not disappoint. There was a newborn calf that i just wanted to pick up and snug. So sweet.
Ok...on to the spinning. In one of the pioneer houses, i spotted a gal in the corner working away at the spinning wheel. Being a knitter, it was like a drug addict being drawn in by a crack display. So mesmerizing to just sit and watch her work. And i just love to talk to fellow knitters. She told me all about her little fiber farm, and her sheepies. One of my dreams for the far off future is to retire away to a little hobby fiber farm, and spend the day with my alpacas, sheep, and goats...and of course dogs!

Gotta Love It....

....when people come to my house, and then tell me how to properly train dogs, how dogs SHOULD behave, and how to feed them properly so that they do not beg.
We had a dinner party on Sunday, and two of my guests did just this. How sweet, no? And so totally helpful. i REALLY appreciated it!
I just smile and nod, and secretly laugh to myself. Funny how all the people who do this, do NOT, nor have they EVER....been owned by Vizlsas! usually...they own, or have owned a Labrador. You know...America's most popular, and pretty much most easily trainable dog. Well, aside from the need to eat anything not strapped down. Nothing against labs, i love them. Had two of them when i was younger, and they are wonderful. But they are not exactly brain-busters to train.
The thing about my dogs...i train them to the point that "I" want them trained. I do not mind when Fred jumps on me. I actually train him to do it. I like it, and it is a very "Vizsla" thing to do...and besides, if he did not jump on me, how else would he give chin nibbies? He learned that one from his mama, so it is pretty much in his blood!
My dogs got into a spat at one point when the first people (among them, the advice-givers) were arriving. Anyone who lives in a multiple dog household knows that SOMETIMES, despite their excellent behavior most of the time, dogs will act like, well....dogs. Animals, you know? Well, apparently, that is just not acceptable behavior, as my friend pointed out! It is NEVER ok for them to act like that.
Ok....smile and nod. Give him a glass of wine, and talk about the weather.
:o)

No knitting going on, which is beginning to bother me. It is in the air though....

Football

Well, the Husband is home this year, as opposed to being in a desert land, far far away...so, that means, Football will be ON in this house, four to five days per week. That is fine with me. I enjoy it for the most part, but it also allows me to sit on my tush and KNIT!! Best thing about football. Well, that and Peyton Manning! Yes, i am a shameless Peyton fan.
We had our fantasy football draft this year. I got my man. I picked 12th, so since all the first tier Running Backs were gone, i took the plunge and picked WR Larry Fitzgerald. I then had 1st choice for the second round, and since i knew my main football man would be picked up by someone, rather than get a solid RB, i picked Manning. It is just no fun for me to watch, if he is not my QB!!

No knitting happened this weekend, and no sewing...other than sewing up the ripped out tush of my jammies! pretty sad....but they are my FAVES...with margaritas, mojitas, and other delish drinks all over them. Had to fix them, rather than toss them!

Oh...i had a sappy moment this weekend. I was rolling into town just as the town fire alarm sounded. I was rounding the corner in front of the fire house, and the men were really moving into high gear. I pulled over, as all the volunteers started jetting down the hill towards the station. The road cleared, but i just stayed parked and watched them for a minute, it was so exciting to see them kick it into high gear. Then i just got real sappy, thinking about the bravery of them. Running towards the disasters, with the intent to HELP and SAVE. So selfless, i just think they are wonderful.
And they look pretty damn fine in their gear, too.

I did some sewing finally!

This is an old pic, but it is one of my favorites of the dogs. This was almost three years ago, in Yosemite, and Fred was too intrigued with the view, and the critters on the other side of the rock wall, to bother looking at the camera. Not Henry though!

Yesterday was so rainy here, i decided that it was time to get busy with sewing up the curtains for the main bath. We are having a fantasy football draft party here on Sunday, and i guess people kind of like privacy in a bathroom! Pics later...when i take some. I have a pattern for the curtains, but really...curtains are pretty darn basic, and patterns can be so boring and time consuming, i winged it. They turned out just fine. Not polished, but workable. They are lined, too.

It is chilly this morning, so i guess that means i can knit again!

Jam Packed Weekend

What a great weekend. We went into with just a few plans, and ended up having more to do than we could have hoped for.
Friday night found us out at the speedway, watching races. Something we never, ever do. Every time i go to the races (all two times), i really REALLY want to be a race car driver.
Saturday we went up to the 1000 Islands region, for a Craft Fair. Found a couple of really cool vendors, including one who makes bears and such out of wood with a chainsaw. I have wanted a chainsawed bear forEVER, and i think that The Husband is finally getting it, and maybe i will have a bear soon. Not until he commissions the guy to make a beaver though. Soon, we will have a giant, chainsawed beaver in our backyard. Something to look forward to, right?
Anywhoot...our friends texted us from their boat, and ended up cruising over to the restuarant that we were eating at, and picked us up for a little 3-hour tour of the region. Very fun! I was non-compliant boater though, with my jeans on. I rolled them up as high as i could. Got them past my knees, which likely caused a little DVT, but whatever.
Sunday found us up in the Adirondacks, on a little hike. Just a two mile hike, up the mountain and back down again, but i feel like i hiked 10! The view from the top was gorgeous, and the hounds had a blast. We will do this hike again on a less muggy day. It was not even hot, but with the muggy air, it felt like my face was going to burst into flames a few times. Not my favorite feeling.
I brought some knitting along, and it sat under the car seat for the entire trip. I think it is still there.

LYS didn't happen....

boo. I guess i understand though, it can get tiring to shop, and eat lunch, all while constantly chatting/texting, etc on your iPhone. Can i just say ANNOYING??? Who does that? I guess I have not been out with my friend in a while, and i had forgotten how OCD she is about that thing, but yesterday she was in rare form. I don't get it. I LOVE the moments when i can go radio silent, and pretend that i do not hear my cell phone ringing, that i can turn off my computer, and just unhook a little bit. I am SO not a gadget girl...probably why i like to play with yarn and do crossword puzzles. The Husband and i finally bought an iPod, and a fancy little docking station for it last spring. I think we have used it once. I sort of learned how to use it, and then promptly forgot i had the thing.
Anywhoot....my friend was too worn out after shopping yesterday to hit the LYS. I was actually ok with it at the time. It was hot and muggy out, and i was pretty beat, too. I would not have put up a fight though if she had still wanted to go! Oh well...i will likely make a side trip down there in the next couple of weeks.
Wondering though...am i alone on the iPhone thing? At one point we were at lunch and chatting, and i was in the middle of telling her a story, and she kept checking her phone. I just stopped talking, and she did not even notice! I was more amused than annoyed, and not really sure it is anything i will ever bring up to her, because I really think she would get the shakes if she could not check her phone! Just one of those little faults that makes someone human, i guess.
Funny sidenote though. I was watching the news the other day, and they had a report on that claimed that if you did not participate in social networking of some type, you run the risk of becoming obsolete and unimportant. REALLY? What happens when you become obsolete to someone sitting right in front of you because you cannot STOP social networking, and no longer know how to carry on a conversation with a LIVE person!?

knitting just sitting

That sort of seems an apporpriate title for right now! At least, concerning my sweater! it is TOO hot and steamy to have an alpaca/wool blend sitting on my lap right now! Summer has evidently arrived in my neck of the woods, and in the land of no AC...my knitting can sit and wait a bit for me!
I have done a washcloth though, so i have not been a total knitting loser! I have so much washcloth yarn, and i am in dire need of replacements, as the ones i have been using really just need to be replaced!

I am taking a trip south tomorrow for a little shopping excursion with a non-knitting friend. I wanted to suggest a side-trip to my CLOSEST LYS, which sadly is 50 miles away, but i did not think that the muggle would be up for it. Imagine my delight when she suggested that we swing by the shop? This shop...it is a stitcher and quilters delight. It is a combo yarn and quilt shop! The fabrics are FAB, too!! Oh....my heart is singing with excitement, knowing that i will be there tomorrow. It does not take much to make a knitter/quilter/sewer happy, does it? I am on a budget though, as The Husband has returned from the deployment (thank goodness), and that extra hazardous duty pay has dried up! We both get so used to that extra cash, it always is a bit of a shock the first few months after a deployment. Oh well...i DID vow to work from the stash this year...but really...what will a couple of skeins here and there hurt? They won't. They will not hurt at all. And neither will a pattern. or maybe two? And some notions? And maybe a few yards of a delish fabric? I am giddy with excitement!! squee!!!

I have bought a great hiking guide for the Adirondacks. We plan on getting the hounds out and getting some hiking in once the heat dissipates a bit. There are so many great trails out there, and we really need to take advantage of them while we are living in this region. We have a great trip planned to Lake Placid this fall, and i am sooooo excited about that!! With the houndies, of COURSE.

OK, so....one more go at it?

Remember when i wrote that i had given up on the Oat Couture cardigan? Wellllllll, i am back at it again. The Feb Lady Sweater was just not working out. I realized i made a big goof somewhere, but i have NO clue where. I had about a million extra stitches on the needles, and the pattern was getting all wonky. Then i tried it on, and did NOT like the way the neckline looked on my broadish shoulders. So....rip. I was pretty down on knitting for a few hours there. And then i remembered that i had NOT ripped out most of the Celtic Cardigan. I picked it up, did my best to pick up the live stitches at the top, and started on it again. I am PRETTY sure i know where i was in the pattern, but a few rows of the back of it will likely look a bit funkay. Good thing i have long hair, right? I feel kind of excited to be working on it again. Winters are long here, i will likely need something time consuming like this. I am just going to keep telling myself that!

Chores

Today we are sanding down the deck, and re-staining it. Cannot be put off any longer, or the boards will warp during next seasons deluge of snow. The dogs are helping.
Yesterday we went and saw that new Harry Potter, which was wonderful. I am actually reading the book this time. While we were on our extended road trip, we listened to Book Five in the series, and realized that you miss SO MUCH if you do not read the book.

My sweater is coming along nicely. I remembered how to the increases, and last night i did one more buttonhole (the last one for the sweater) and i did it correctly! SO hard to get back into the pattern after setting it down for months on end. I will try not to that again! yeah right!

OK...i am cardboard, and this update is putting me to sleep!

Poor Henry Hooty

Today Henry and i were swimming in the pool, and he got stung by a bee. He was so upset, he left his toy floating in the deep end, and swam over to me. He was shaking, and hurting. The bugger got him on his lower lip. I ran inside to get a benadryl, as he is allergic to bees. Looks like it is keeping the swelling down, and Henry is now resting comfortably, under the Husbands sweatshirt. Poor Henry, he is such a sensitive, sweet sweet dog. He runs (or paddles) over to me for comfort whenever he gets hurt. He just needs a quick reassuring hug, and a smooch on the snout, and off he goes...all better.

I picked up my Feb Lady Sweater today and started working on it. I think this is the first time i have touched it since March? Big mistake, as i totally forgot how i was making the increases. I think i have it figured out though, although it took a bit of work. I am sure it is going to look a bit wonky in a few places, but whatever...it is homemade, and not supposed to be perfect, right? We'll see how badly it bothers me, once i get a few more rows worked into it.
The yarn i am using is Ultra Alpaca, Pea Soup Mix. I bought this yarn a few years ago, with the intent of knitting it into the Celtic Cardigan by Oat Couture. I LOVE this sweater. My Aunt knit it, and i COVET it.....but wow, i hated working that pattern. It is all twists, and they take FOREVER to manipulate, and although i had the back of the thing almost done, i knew i would NEVER finish it, because i HATED working on it. It does not matter how much you will love the finished product, if it sits in your knitting bag for a one year untouched because you hate working it THAT MUCH, you should just rip the thing out, and find a new pattern. So i did. And then a little while ago i saw a pic of my aunt wearing her sweater, and i wanted to cry. I still have part of it unfrogged. One day i will get the nerve to frog the rest of it...probably soon, because the skein i am using is just about gone.

Ok G, i hear ya!!

That break lasted longer than i intended it to. Everyone says that though, and then we feel the urge to explain why the absence. Well, i am lazy. That is pretty much all there is to it. That, and The Husband came home from Iraq, so my computer time dwindled a bit, and school was REALLY REALLY hard spring quarter, and my brain was totally fried ALL the time.
Now we are back from our month-long drive cross country. Went to Seattle to see the whole fam, and to Colorado to see the rest of the fam, and then home.

Slowly but surely getting life back in order, and trying to keep the house from imploding, or exploding, or being completely consumed by cobwebs. It kind of started to happen (the cobwebs) when we were away for a month. Ewww.

The garden is intact again finally. The flower garden went totally feral while we were away. My poor flowers were just attacked by vermin and weeds. We have since cleared the weeds, and Fred is slowly but surely clearing the vermin.

We will have some veg any day now, and thanks to Fred and his vermin-clearing mission, i have fresh "cut" flowers on the table in the dining room. Pulled out from the root. How does a dog with no opposable thumbs manage that? He is good, let me tell you.

Have been watching repeats of Meerkat Manor in the house this past week. How did we miss it before? Oh yeah...that pesky war. Anyways, that and Le Tour have us glued to the tv in the evenings. We are LOVING having Lance in it again this year. It has just been a thrill to watch the machine in action, once again. He is kicking ass. Looks like Contador is going to win it all...and THAT is thrilling to watch, too!! The best part though? That 25 year olds biggest competition is 37 years old!! I freaking LOVE that!!!

I have been on a knitting hiaitus since The man returned home. Again, laziness/brainfry. Today i went in seach of my WIP (yeah right, like there is only ONE wip), Feb Lady Sweater, and pitched a complete FIT (thankfully husband was at work, but let me tell you, the Vizslas stayed clear the frick out of my way...poor things) when i could not find it ANYWHERE. Seriously, where the HECK did my husband stick my knitting? Doesn't he KNOW he is not allowed to TOUCH IT???? After tearing the house clean apart for the better part of an hour, i decided to look into last winters purse. There it was. WHY DID HE PUT IT IN THERE?????
Oh...maybe i did.
Whatevs.....

One of these days i will update a little!

I keep putting off writing on the blog, simply because i feel like i am in such a hurry to get off the computer all of a sudden! Why? Well, my soldier is home from the war!!!! WOOOOWHOOOOO! Let me tell you, there is NO better feeling than getting the one you love the most home, and out of a hot, sweaty, stinky, bomby, all-around sheisse-hole of a place.

J is slowly re-claiming the house a bit. Poor guy, he only lived in this house for four months before he shipped out. I do not have to tell you how nice it is to have my personal lawn mower home again. You can refer back to pics from last summer, of that beeeyotch of a lawn mower. yesterday we were at Ace, and i was eyeing the new beauties. The one that really caught my eye had a "key-start". last years pull-cord on the mower almost made me chuck the thing into the pool. but that would have gotten the water all oily and gassy.

Ok...time to skedaddle. I have a Basic Wireworking class today at the local bead shop.
Will try and post some pics soon, Miss G.

spring is here!

Well, the long winter is over. It is officially spring! I know, we will probably get more snow, but it is NO LONGER winter, and that makes me VERY happy! After living in southern regions of the US for the past 8 years, i had forgotten how much i enjoyed four seasons, and the anticipation of them all. Spring has always been a favorite of mine, and the only thing i find myself REALLY missing is having any crocus or other spring bulbs planted. I forgot to order mine last fall. that will not happen this year...i will get my catalog from Roozengaarde soon, and will place my order NOW! they will ship according to the planting schedule for my zone.

I just bought some new fabric for curtains, and will post pics as soon as i get them up. JoAnn's has some cute new stuff, and i was happy to see that all patterns were $1.99 over the weekend.

I am still not totally ok with the BSG ending. I thought i was, i was happy with how everyones storyline was tied up, but the more i think about the ending with Apollo and Starbuck, the more annoyed i get. it is like they could not think of anything, so they just went with a half-arsed easy ending.

I just finished an AMAZING book, Skeletons at the Feast, by Chris Bohjalian. The story of an aristocratic German family in the last days of WWII, and their journey to the west, along with a POW, and jewish man. I have not read a book this good in a VERY long time, and it was a welcome change from some of the mind-numbing reading i have subjected myself to lately!

Such a bad blogger!

Oh boy...the longer you go without posting, the harder it is to get back to it. And then there is the pressure that Miss G puts on me to post pics! well...i am going to be lazy and not post a pic for this post. But, i will try and get some downloaded tomorrow of all the SNOW GEESE that have been migrating north for the past two weeks. It has been awesome to see them. The best thing they signify? the passing of winter!

Tonite is the final episode of BSG. Boo Hoo! Hoping for a final, wonderful Apollo-Starbuck moment.

Fun Stuff!

I got a fun package in the mail from Miss Gaylen while Jason was home on leave. She sent me two pairs of jammies, a book, a fun knitting mag, candy (for Jason...she knows he is a candy freak!), and the BEST mug. The mug is from Waechtersbach, which is a German company. We lived about an hour from their factory when we were there, and i went as often as i could, and stocked up! I knew the mug was from there before i even flipped it over and saw the distinctive Waechtersbach stamp! Thanks G, i love it all!!

Cute little Pointers

I love the look on Fred's face in this picture! Sometimes he can look like such an innocent little sweetpea! Ha, right!!

How cool is the statue of the Pointer? Of course we had to pose in front of it with our own pointers.

This photo was taken last March, and it is my sincere hope that it looks like that around here THIS March...as in.....little snow, and you can actually see the ground.

Snowy day

Just another snowy day in the north country. Today i had the BEST intentions, i was going to study all day long, log onto my school account and take my mid-term. But, my neighbor called, and wanted company as she ran her errands around town, so i HAD to be a good neighbor and go with her. hey, being a good neighbor is one of the priorities in my life. We are under a Winter Storm Warning. Now, i am not going to downplay the significance of a good dumping on of snow. 6-8 inches is a LOT of snow. But really? this is lake effect country. 6-8 inches of good, cold powder falling at a reasonable rate is nothing to stay inside and whine about. Lake effect, falling at an insane rate, and causing a white out is something to stay home, curl up in the fetal position and suck your thumb about. Believe me, been there, done that. Monday night in fact. And there was not so much thumb sucking going on, as there was wine drinking going on, but whatever. you get the idea.



Today i am posting a picture from last years visit by our dear friends Gaylen, JB, and Krystle. We had such a great time with them, and seriously, there are no better folks to vacation with, and we cannot wait to vacation with them again. JB is a riot, and never fails to crack me up with his wry and dry sense of humor, and uncanny knack for finding the funny in the obscure. Gaylen, well, i cannot say enough good things about Gaylen. I adore her to no end. She has the brightest, sunniest voice, is ALWAYS is a cheerful mood, even if she is NOT in a cheerful mood! Krstyle, well, she really IS a ray of sunshine, and a joy to be around. We love them all, and cannot wait to see them all again!

Me So Happy

I know that this may not look like much, and most people would question the fact that THIS makes me very very happy...but let me put it into perspective for you. That snow bank has been knocked down, and pushed back about 8 feet...that means it is no longer threatening to keep me housebound for the remainder of winter. And speaking of winter, that little friggin groundhog, you know the one i speak of, the INSANELY cute Punxatawney Phil? Well, Phil...you better just plan RIGHT now on NOT seeing your shadow next week or i am going to FLIP OUT, but i digress.

Anywhoot, yesterday i was heading out to the grocery store with my neighbor, and as we were pulling out of her driveway, a backhoe pulled up into mine. I almost cryed. It was my plowguy, coming to finally move the snowbank. I have been trying to get him to move that mofo back since December! Several times it has blocked the second garage door. With The Husband coming home next week, that is just not acceptable. He is GOING to want to drive his truck! I tried to move that bank myself, but with nothing but a shovel, that was like trying move Mount Everest.

Today, the plan is to do some homework. Really. I mean it this time. Fringe is on tonite. Does anyone watch Fringe? Love it. I like it when they bounce across the nation from place to place, and they make the place name script a part of the scene. yeah, simple minds are EASILY charmed and entertained.

Knittin' a hat

I do not have a hat. I usually just wear ear bands, and I did buy myself a ninjaclava for the super extreme days, but i recently realized just how silly it was that I was a knitter without a hat of my own. I have made PLENTY, but i never seem to make them for myself. As this is the year of the stash for many of us, i decided it was time to look into my own stash. I have this yarn, and it is my FAVORITE yarn. I seem to say that about all the yarns i really love, but i REALLY love this yarn. It is Cascade Pastaza, and i cannot remember the colorway right now...but it is brown with some silver/gray mixed in for good measure. I have made a hat for my mom with this yarn, and even felted a bag with it. I do not recommend it for felted projects. It emerged from the felting process looking like a poor, unfortunate, deflated victim of roadkill. It sure does knit into a lovely hat though!

I am knitting this on 9's, and using my very vanilla hat pattern. Cast on 78 stitches, work in garter for approximately one to two inches, and then switch to stockinette. Approximately one inch up from beginning of stockinette line, i throw in a garter stitch, to give it a little shape. Work for 6(?) inches or so (i need to refer to my notes here!), and begin decreasing, switch to dpn's, and cast off. yep, pretty vanilla...but hey, i love vanilla!

So, friday nights episode of BSG was kind of a letdown. I really cannot stand Gaeta this days, or Zarek for that matter. And how gross are Six and Tigh together? eww. And would someone please council Apollo, and let him know that the suit and that hair do NOT look good on him? I almost prefer fat Apollo to politician Apollo. Am i right, or am i right? Or am i right? And how about that zinger with Poor Chief Tyrol? Hotdog, of all people? Poor Chief....he has always been one of my favorite characters.

Lost premiered last week, and can i just say that i LOVE Ben?! He is just THE most entertaining person to watch on that show...well, him and Miles, one of the newbies. Miles did not have any good snarky comments last week that i could remember, but i have to say that during the hiatus i had forgotten about him, and was delighted when he made an appearance last week, as he completely cracks me up.

I am not writing about the weather today. It is snowy. Really snowy...more snowy than most people could envision, with an arse-load more predicted.

And for todays Dogs on Thursday post...

...we have A Handsome Dude and his Two Dogs!
This is one of my favorite pics, from our Tour of the West vacation, a year and a half ago. This was a random stop, somewhere southwest of The Tetons, in Wyoming. I would have to look on the map to figure out where exactly this was, but it was listed as a "scenic drive" on the Wyoming map. It was AMAZING. We saw wild horses, and random cattle grazing on the rangeland. The cattle were so funny, just trucking along the little two lane road, having a grand ole time. Wild and free. ish. Henry thought they were pretty neat. Fred...well, not so much.
The rocks were pretty amazing here, sandstone cliffs, if memory serves me correctly. Look at how happy Henry looks? That dog was BORN to travel. He has traveled more than most people. He has been to at least nine European countries, and well over 30 US states, and Canada. He LOVES LOVES LOVES to "Go With". He is European, too. Henry was born in the Netherlands, and lived the first year of his life in Germany. He is very cultured, but not a snob about it. ;o)

It's snowing again.....

....and i cannot bear to post another photo of snow, so i am reaching into the photo folder, and here is a lovely photo that The Husband took of the dogs in the summer of '07, during out Glacier Nat'l Park vacation.

Today, we are under a Lake Effect Snow Warning. And let me tell you, you do NOT want to be out driving in lake effect. it is NO joke. I decided it was time to get the snow tires balanced (they are vibrating, and just NOISY, and i think they need a little tinkering), so i headed out to Sears. I foolishly believed the weather report that the snow was going to taper off a bit, and it seemed to be tapering a bit, so off i went. I slid UP the on ramp to the interstate, and knew right then that i would be getting off at the next exit, turning around and heading home. I was floating along, and then traffic was stopped, due to a semi break-down. As i was stopped, i happened to glance in my rear-view mirror as a semi was coming up behind me, jackknifing. yikes. He finally got control, and pulled off to the shoulder. Probably to change out of his soiled clothing. I finally made it to the next exit, and got off the interstate to go home. Wow...i slid and slid all the way home. This is WITH snow tires, front wheel drive, and a Winter Driving Mode in my car. There was just sooo much snow. Other than that....the car drove great...and of course it did not vibrate a single time.

So...lesson learned. No more driving in the lake effect for me. No way. I have plenty of hobbies and chores and school work to do at home on days like this!

Oh, the weather report had said we were going to get another couple of inches of snow. We have EASILY gotten another 6-8 inches today. That maze i made in the snow for the dogs? It is all filled in. All i can do is laugh about it! And cry, a little!!! This is why we have wine, folks!!

Tonite i will be watching my new FAVORITE TV show, The Big Bang Theory. I am not sure why i have not watched this show before, but it is hilarious. I read about it all the time in Pop Candy's blog, and love how she refers to Sheldon as a "Southern Gentlenerd". He is adorable, and the actor is a comic genious.

Like i REALLY needed another show to watch.

Snow....lots of snow.....

SOOO worth the frakkin' wait

First off, kudos to myself for accurately guessing who the final 5th cylon was. I threw this person out as a guess last season, and woowhoo for me, i was correct! I remember thinking "how ironic will it be is he/she turns out to be the 5th cylon.
So now i am just wondering, WHAT THE FRAK IS STARBUCK ANYWAYS???
This show has a very Carl Sagan-esque feel to it, with the nuked civilizations. I remember Sagan stating that he did think there was intelligent life out there, but feared that civilizations would self-destruct once they increased their technology. Or something like that. Anyone who used to watch Cosmos (ahem, husband) knows what i am trying to say here.

We got some snow last night, and it is still snowing this morning. Anyone who thinks "awww, you are so lucky! i love snow!" has never dealt with waking up to over a foot of snow that has fallen in less than 12 hours, and is still falling. It would not be such an ordeal if this were the first time it had happened this season. I am running out of space to put the snow. My plow guy is going to have to get a backhoe to move my snow bank. At least it is feather light and powdery. Will be fun to go out and snowshoe at some point, and as soon as a snowmobiler puts down some tracks for me, it will be nice to get out and ski!

I am so Frakkin Excited!!!!

Woooowhooooo.....tonites the night!
The final episodes of Battlestar Galactica begin airing tonite!!!
The Husband suggested that i tivo it, and wait for him to come home on leave before i watch it. Um, no. I love you babe.....but, that ain't gonna happen!!

Homework

Today i am attempting to do my homework. I say "attempting" because i am having a very hard time getting excited about my latest course, which is Rangeland Ecology and Managment. I thought the class sounded SO interesting, but so far the reading has been pretty dense, and dull. We have a big assignment due in a couple of weeks, and we need to classify all of the Rangelands in the US, and list their characteristics, and where they are located. Hopefully the research process will be a little interesting. I will learn quite a lot, that is a given.

Can anyone guess what type of rangeland this is in my photo?

The pic was taken a few years ago, in Rainbow Basin, outside of Fort Irwin, CA. That is my dad, and his dog Maddie, who has since passed :o(, and of course Fred and Henry.

If it weren't around ZERO out, we would be doing this:

Or i should say that Fred and Henry would be doing this! The photo perfectly captures their favorite outdoor activity....digging for things. They could be digging for grass, critters, or critter doo. They love it all. Henry actually has a fabulous imagination, and pounces on ANYTHING, looking for critters.

It is beyond cold outside though, so the dogs have been going out in short intervals. Yesterday the sun came out for a bit, so they were out for about ten minutes. Looks like we are due a little more sun today, so we will try and enjoy it while we can.

Other than shoveling snow, i will be inside either doing homework (reading about Rangeland Management), or working on The Husbands' Aran Knit Pullover from Men In Knits. I am still on the sleeves, and i REALLY need to hustle to get this puppy completed in time for the man to wear it in a couple of weeks.

Happy Birthday Frederick!

Today Frederick turns 6!! I cannot believe it has been 6 years already since i got him. I went to South Carolina to pick him up, back when we were stationed at Fort Bragg, and The Husband was deployed to Iraq. My dear friends, Michelle and Connie, came along for the ride, as did Henry. Henry was the least enthused of the bunch! He has grown to love Fred though, and he has the tolerance of a saint!

I still keep in touch with the other puppy owners, we did the dog show circuits with each other until i moved away to California...oh how cute...as i am typing up this post, i just got an E-card from Fred's breeder! She is a wonderful friend still, and to this day, i can turn to her for advice with Fred. In fact, i just emailed her two days ago for advice on dealing with the doo eating. Anyways, the group shot above is the Santorini bunch. Fred's breeders' kennel name is Santorini Vizslas. From left to right we have Fred, Koios, Bella and Forrest. Small group, but they make up for it in personality. That shot is from the Asheville, NC shows back in '04.

Fred has been a challenge, but he has been SO worth it. He is full of personality, and i just love him to bits. He is a great little hunter, tons of drive and he is ALL ABOUT fur, feather and fin! If you have never seen a dog point fish, you have never seen Fred hang out at the beach. It is almost impossible to tire Fred out, he loves to go on long runs with The Husband, and probably puts in twice as many miles. All in all, he is just a great dog!

And today's winter activity is....

snowshoeing!! My parents surprised the heck out of me this year with a new pair of snowshoes for Christmas. What a great surprise, i felt like a kid again on Christmas morning! They knew that i was buying The Husband a pair, and they did not want me to get left behind. They lugged these things across country on The Great Train Ordeal of 2008. Bless them!!

The other photo is one taken two or three mornings ago. It was super cold, but so beautiful! There was frost on all the trees, and a trace of fresh snow.

The is Fred in the background, you can barely see Henry on the extreme right side of the photo. Fred is doing his new thing...digging around for frozen poo. This is his new winter time activity, and it just delights the heck out of me to no end. Ugh. I am not sure what to do about it, i cannot seem to call him off of it. The idea of E-collars is being tossed around, and i am waiting on word back from his breeder to get her two cents. Now, normally dogs will do this becuase of some kind of deficiency in their diet. Anyone who knows me, and knows about the dogs diet KNOW that this is NO WAY the issue with Fred. He is just disgusting. Good thing he is cute. Tomorrow is his birthday.

Gaylen said that i need to include a photo

with every blog entry. Well, after awhile, i am sure everyone will tire of snow pics. So, here is one from the stash. This is from a trip two years ago to Yosemite. Fred was fascinated with the view...or maybe the critters running around? Henry...he is just happy to be there! Of all the National Parks, Yosemite is probably the most dog-friendly. Dogs are only allowed on the paved areas, and luckily most of the areas are paved! We had a wonderful time, and it was so amazing. There are no words for Yosemite. It is something that you need to see for yourself. Preferably in the early spring or fall months, when the place is not sick with tourists. We went in October, and it was perfect.

Not much on the agenda today. Bill paying, which is always fun, and maybe a little quality time with my sewing machine. I have some amazing Amy Butler stuff that is really wanting to be made into SOMETHING. I am just not sure what. I have made a few swing bags, so i am swing bagged-out for the time being. i think maybe a few pillow cases? Maybe an apron? I bought a really cool apron pattern the last time i was in my fabric store...which, i hate to say it, but that was last summer. My checking account is happy to hear that though. As is The Husband, i am sure.

I will try and get in some skiing time, and possibly snow-shoe time...and inevitably, snow shovelling time. In three weeks, The Husband gets to take over......WOOOOOWHOOOOOOO!!!!

Just some random handsome dudes....

Actually, they aren't that random. One of them is my better half, and the other four are dear friends. See the book the one in the middle is holding? That is HIM on the cover!! That photo was taken during the very beginning of the war, and he is in his full battle rattle...a VERY cool shot, and we were all SO proud that the writer, Karl Zinsmeister, put Sean on the cover.

I was just browsing through my photos today, trying to decide what to write about, and came across this photo. I figured everyone (all three of my readers) would like a little eye candy...with the exception maybe of ONE of my readers, and he is in the photo. At the very least though, the photo will make him smile!

Sun Bunnies on Thursday

I have two little sun bunnies. Fred is only a sun-bunny in the winter time though. In the summer, he is a shade-seeker. Henry though, is a TRUE sun bunny. When we lived in the desert, he would lay out on our cement slab off of the patio, and soak up the rays. He cannot get enough of it.

Cooking for the husband

I cooked this a little bit ago, and then again for my parents on Christmas Eve. I cannot wait to try it out on the husband. Super thick Chops (dare i call them Iowa Chops???) with spaetzle and sauerkraut. I have made spaetzle from scratch with the family recipe, but i actually KILLED my KitchenAid the last time i made it. My poor Grandmother was probably spinning in her grave, because not only was the recipe HER family recipe, but SHE bought me the KitchenAid! Ugh, it was a shameful moment for several reasons. Number one, i used the WRONG attachment. The dough hook would have been the correct one. Number two, Grandma always did it by hand. The KitchenAid has since been sent to a repair shop, but it has never been the same. I think it is holding a grudge?

Anyways, the nice thing about being able to shop at the commissary (aside from the low prices!)is that they usually have very good international food sections, and get a TON of German grocery items that you really cannot find easily outside of Germany. I found some really great spaetzle, so i just use that now. Sorry, Grandma. I also found a great jarred Sauerkraut. I do not think Grandma would fault me for not making my kraut from scratch. I add lots of goodness to it, though...apples, brown sugar, bay leaves, paprika, beer.

My poor parents really needed a GOOD dinner after their train ordeal. We were going to have chili on Christmas Eve, but i thought this would warm them up a little bit better. They were not disappointed.

The Le Creuset pot was a great find. I have an obsession with Le Creuset, and have amassed a nice little collection, thanks to the VERY generous Husband. Last year we were in a Williams-Sonoma, and found this on a discount rack, for the shock-and-awe price of $80!! I think they were mistakenly put there? I should have bought all three of them they had, but i exclaimed so loudly that another lady dashed over, and grabbed one up, called her friend and grabbed one up for her, too. I clutched mine to my chest and moved away from her before she could rip it out of my hands.

I have made a couple of things....

...in the last couple of days.

First up is the Swing Bag from Amy Butler. The bag was made with Surf and Sand by Michele D'Amore on the inside, and the outside is Chocolate Lollipops. I bought this fabric, and tons more, while shopping with my mom this past summer, at my "local" yarn and fabric shop. I say "local", because i do not really consider a shop that is 60 miles away to be local. Sadly, it is the closest thing, other than JoAnns! I do a LOT of online shopping!

So, with that said, up next we have the scarf. This is from the Scarves to Throws pattern collection at Jimmy Beans Wool, my favorite online yarn shop. My scarf is Month 6 (every month of this past year, JBW put out a new pattern), but i am using a different colored yarn than the one used in the pattern. Mine is Tuscany. I absolutely love the Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted. If i had to pick only ONE yarn that i could use for the rest of my life, hands down this yarn would be the one. I love the colorways, i love the softness, i absolutely love EVERYTHING about this yarn. I am also kind of a sucker for a named colorway. I detest colorways that are strictly identified by a number!

Next up, i am in dire need of some new cotton fabric pajama bottoms. My two favorite pairs have split in the tushie. In the winter time (really, any time) i change into my jammies early, usually as soon as dinner has been eaten and cleaned up. So...that means that my jammies see a lot of couch time, which means that the tushies get worn out rather fast! I bought a ton of Amy Butler fabric last summer, in the hopes that they would be made into purses or skirts. Well, one of the problems of buying online is trying to guage colorways and tone. I like the eyelash fabric from the Belle line, but not enough to wear it around town. They will make perfect pajama bottoms though. So, if anyone knows of a great pattern for capri (or full-length, i can just chop off the leg wherever i want, right?) pajama bottoms, please do enlighten me.

Presents!

My dear friend, The Princess, sent me a box of goodies! She sent me some yarny goodness, some toys and treats for the pups, and my FAVE coffee, Starbucks Yukon Blend. The poopy-pants at Starbucks have made the poor decision to DISCONTINUE Yukon Blend. I cannot figure it out. There is a bear on the logo, and the taste is OUT of this world. I guess they just want to sell things that STINK!

So, after these two bags are gone, i think i will be switching to Seattle's Best Coffee. I LOVE their Henry's Blend...and not just because of the name. Ok, well MAYBE it is partly because of the name.

Back to the box of goodies though...The Princess included a green stretchy Froggie in the box, and Fred has FLIPPED for this frog. This delights me to no end, as Fred is not really all that into toys. He prefers his toys to be alive, and rodenty. It is so cute to see him running through the house with this frog, shaking it. So what if he is pretending that it is the bunny from under the pool deck?

More pics!

First off, a pic of the flooding for The Husband:

The whole lower part of the field was flooded, and then down by the highway, the river was about one foot from the roadway. Down by Holmans, his corn field that sits across the street from his farm was totally flooded, as the river went over the banks down there, too. High-temp thaws in the middle of winter are not usually welcome things...especially with the amount of snow that we had!

Here are some Fred pics. Keeping a close eye on the Prime Rib, which is slightly (and i use that term loosely) protected from his jaws by tin foil.

And then a pic of my Fred-cat.

Christmas

Fred REALLY loves to help open presents. ANY presents. They do not even have to be for him. On Christmas Eve, he was snagging presents from under the tree, and bringing them downstairs to open, or just carry around. He has a special love of tubes, and chapsticks. He scored doubly this year, as he was able to snag a tube of hand lotion that was wrapped WITH a chapstick. He managed to puncture the lotion, and enjoyed a little snack before i snatched it away from him. Here he is opening a present that was not for him. You really need to watch him...i turned around and there he was, ripping presents open before anyone noticed.

Here is Fred and Henry, looking out the window. Waiting for Santa to come back and bring more toys? Henry got a Kong and jingle ball, and Fred got some wrapped toys from their toy box. I know....kind of cheap of me, but whatever. For Fred, the GIFT is the wrapping paper!!

After all the present opening, you can tell the dogs were worn out, as evidenced by the fact that they are SHARING SPACE!

We had a bit of snow....

This pic is from about 2-3 weeks ago.

About a week later it COMPLETELY melted and we had some flooding!

Nana and Papa showed up, after their pleasurable cross-country train trip turned into a nightmare. They finally rolled into town on Christmas Eve, and they were EXHAUSTED. Henry was a little excited, and REALLY wanted Papa to wake up and play with him!

Fred? Well, Fred was Fred.