Venting

 I want to start of by explaining....that I feel so very very lucky that we never experienced a miscarriage or a fetal demise. We were too young and dumb to even worry about it as much as I would knowing what I know now!

I have taken care of many women who have lost babies at all stages of their pregnancy. And I have many friends who have lost pregnancies.

So I am not without empathy or understanding.

But to see celebrities SUCK THIS SUBJECT dry in order to keep their name in the news just irritates me no end!

I am sure most people will be able to figure out who I am talking about.

I get it - it is devastating. I even get wanting photos. Shoot we took photos of the baby and held onto them for a year in case the mother/family ever wanted them. We put together memory boxes for them to take home with them, or come back and get.

But know this - there is not one woman I have ever met that needs/has to have photos to remember the experience of losing a baby....it is burned into her heart and soul forever. Every minute of the process - from moment of conception until delivery and beyond. 

But you know - not everyone in this world is privileged enough to LIVE OFF of this for how long now?

And really - a month out and you still need a nurse at home to care for you?
WHY?

And what does this tell the average woman? Her loss wasnt as important and earth shaking as yours?

That maybe she shoulda/woulda/coulda had a nurse if she made more money? Had better insurance?

Just because you have never been as talented and famous as your husband, doesnt mean that you have to milk every second you can to make sure your photo is in front of everyone everyday.

Give it a rest.

My heart goes out to everyone else who has experienced these losses.

Garage Sales

 A friend asked today - why do you go to garage sales? Don't you have enough junk?

So on our way to our first garage sale today, hubby and I were discussing these questions; and we cam up with these answers:

    1. We get to explore the area. We get to see neighborhoods we have never had reason to drive through before. Several weeks ago we found that block that has I don't know how many free libraries! That was a thrill! And because we found those, we have already been back to give a book/take a book....

    2. We have gotten to see some very very interesting houses. In all the ways you can translate "interesting"!

    3. We have gotten to "meet" - meaning hear about - some very interesting people.. Whether it is actually hearing about the people, or interpreting our ideas of the people from the things that are being sold

    4. We get to walk down memory lane - hey, we have that! We used to have that....my parents had that!

    5. And sometimes we actually find things that we want/need/planning to buy! We have been wanting to buy a firepit - waited until the backyard was done - then more discussion about what we wanted in one and how much we wanted to spend - and then a week or so ago we found one in GREAT condition at a garage sale for $5!!!!

    6. Last week we found one that was someone cleaning out her antiques. I guess she use to own a store. And there were so many things I "wanted" but I didn't need them or have room for them.....but I did come home with one thing - only because it made me smile!!

    7. Today we went to 2 "estate sales" in Pebble Beach. First of all - going to them gets you into this compound for free - and it is a lovely place - whether it is nature or the houses. The first one we went to was a lovely house - filled with lots of art, Asian art, Hawaiian art.....I found 2 placemats that I bought because I have been looking for more placemats (and these were cheaper then the store and in brand new condition) but mostly because they had a photo of Shakespeare & CO on them - a perfect souvenir of our Paris trip! And two brand new Christmas hand towels.....now I did give into a lovely pashmina shawl which I don't need but.....The second one was probably built as a I don't know, a vacation place way way way back before Pebble Beach became the compound it is now. Old, added on. Interesting. We left without buying anything. That was because although they had some things I loved there was nothing that we needed or had room for. And things were oddly priced - an older plant stake they wanted $5 for - about what you would pay for brand new....or more! They had lovely vintage quilts for $60!! BARGAINS! A beautiful Navajo woven wall hanging for $300 - a steal! An iron twin bedstead for ~$200 and a lovely wicker trundle bed for $200. But then they had tchotchkes from Target priced at, or more than their brand new price! 

So honestly, it is about the hunt. And no we have never found the publish-worthy finds, but we have found things we enjoy. And we go in with an idea of how much we will spend on things and rarely go above it. It is a rare day garage sale-ing that we spend much more than $20!

June?!!

I have no idea how many weeks we have been on quarantine, but things are starting to open up. Which in many ways is nice - and in many ways, scary as all get out.

This months has been a very busy month. I swear, if my husband tells me he is "bored" this month, I might have to, I don't know what, cause bodily harm I guess!

1. The house has been repainted AND I AM THRILLED with how it looks!

2. Husband has:

    1. repainted the lamp post, cleaned the glass inserts, replaced the lightbulb

    2. repainted the sorry looking mailbox

    3. dug out the other two plants that he hated so much

    4. replaced the front door light (which of course ended up in not 1, not 2, but THREE trips to Home depot and a hardware store

    5. replaced the 2 ancient and falling off lights on the patio

    6. replaced the house numbers on the garage

We also got new gutters - we did not replace any because they were still good, but added to the 3 sides of the back of the house that badly needed them.

And tomorrow or Saturday we are having the horribly overgrown oak trees trimmed, and the 2 dead palm trees (dead because of the oak trees probably) removed.

He is working on getting a shed put into the back yard. His idea of the size he needs, and mine greatly differ. It feels like the shed he is looking at is going to be taller than the house! And since we have so much house paint left over, he will paint the shed to match the house.

We took a last minute trip to Gilroy to look at and discuss sheds. Missed out on an online class I really wanted to take. But most importantly - I did not have time to change clothes and boy it was warm in Gilroy! Only mid 80's but I was dressed for the foggy/sunny day here!

BEST NEWS EVER - I got to go to Barnes & Noble! I wanted to go to the needlework shop too but he didn't give me time or notice to plan for that

So these are the new lights on the patio. We both really love them

The oaks (there are FOUR of them) will be trimmed - and you can barely see the palms that will be removed

The new house numbers are on the post area between the garage doors. And we also got a new screen door. But I love this serene color! So much better than the faded yellow, and peeling green trim!

I found a photo of our very first trailer - before the axle broke!

So now we have this empty space to fill right under the living room window. Hubby wants rose bushes - which I remind him will also need to be trimmed, and which will (hopefully) attract bees - which he hates!

Our first squash - which is long gone! So tender and good. There are 4 more on the plant - lots of tomatoes - a couple of cucumbers - and I have already had to put a second layer of dirt over my potatoes. The carrots and lettuce were total failures, who knows why. The beans are growing, but slowly. And the artichoke is growing. We will hopefully get an artichoke or two from it next year!

My regrown celery is growing, and I have a 2d one planted. One avocado put out roots and looks like a stem is slowly making its way out. I have 2 more pits in water - 1 is starting  to split, so I am hopeful for it!

End of 7th Week

We started Stay At Home on the evening of March 6. Before it became mandatory. It feels like so long ago....but like parents of toddlers, the days are long but the weeks are short.

As retirees, is anything different? Yes and no. What is different you say? Our camping trips, in April and in May (and realistically in June) have been cancelled. My husband is no longer doing his volunteer work, and no longer able to play golf. He is BORED.....me? Not so much. I miss not being able to go to my favorite 2d hand stores. but since there is a dearth of book stores down here, I have been missing going to them since last June.

Oh yes - we have learned to Zoom! Have been having a weekly Zoom meeting with the girls - with flyby glimpses of the grandkids!

Today I was wishing I had kept count of all the books I have read in this time. I went through my donation bag, but I am not sure that there weren't books in that bag prior to this. I came up with the number 28. Plus there may be a couple of kindle books to add in there.

I have finished stitching several UFOs. And started and finished 2 new projects.

When I figure out how to finish these, they will go in the trailer!

I knit 3 sweaters (photos posted in previous posts), a pair of socks (and misplaced a pair of socks in progress), started several other projects.

Joined the "Ramp Up To Camp" challenge at The Loopy Ewe. We have one month to finish a project that is a minimum of 400 yards.

We have planted tomatoes, radishes, a zuchinni, a cucumber, an artichoke; now we have added carrots, lettuce, and bush beans, and a few sunflowers. 

Today we got to watch one dog who desperately wanted to get the gophers he was able to hear under the ground - under the weed block and the bark. I just dearly would like to know what he would do if he was able to catch one!

Oh, and cant forget the other one - whose job was apparently to look pretty!

And also vaccuumed, dusted, did 3 loads of laundry, vaccuum, stripped and remade bed, and vaccuumed. 

Now wonder what is on the schedule for tomorrow???

Masks

I don't sew well enough, or enjoy sewing enough, to attempt to sew a mask.
Plus I gave away most of my material before we moved ….

So I have resisted jumping on the mask bandwagon.

Until someone posted a knitted mask today that she has been making for her son-in-law, a doctor.
And I, surprisingly, have time on my hands and a brand new skein of cotton yarn sitting right in front of me.

https://pearlofcivilization.net/2006/09/25/paging-a-doctor-of-some-kind/?fbclid=IwAR0mHrXBxKx2Nc_zNXKkjOFPBfl-tvCcFd9BOfXRwXHZ3r23Q7UB6TeQIjo

so why not? It does not take long at all. Very easy...the most difficult part was trying to determine how long to make the ear loops.

So I made one. And I am not thrilled. I went down a needle size, but the cotton did not make a dense enough fabric to make it useful, in my opinion. I must say, it is far more comfortable than the Home Depot type masks we have been using when we are out shopping! And I could see using this as a 2d layer over the procedure masks. Maybe a different type yarn would be better. Not sure I am going to experiment with that right now...but who knows? I might....

And yes, I am desperate for a haircut!

2d Semester Grad School at TLE Academy Completed!

So I have finished my 3 projects for the Sweater Major for the Grad School at TLE (The Loopy Ewe Academy).

 This is my "adult sweater". Which totally did challenge me! I think it is maybe the 3d adult sweater I have ever made. The first sleeve was too loose and wide; so I had to "re write" the pattern for me....tried it out with the 2d sleeve and liked it. So then had to rip out the first sleeve and reknit it.

Then I did the most stupid thing I have ever done - and that was cut my woven in ends BEFORE I washed it. So I ended up with 3 holes. I darned 2 in the center back (and yes, I can see them in the photo). But to fix the gigantic one in the back lace section, I had to rip out the front/neck band, and rip out the bottom all the way to above the lace. This time around I changed the very bottom to match the sleeve cuffs and the neck band, which made me happier

 This was the "sweater with pockets". It will go into a winter box for Pine Ridge Reservation

And this is the "summer sweater". IF there is a county fair this year, it will be entered. And then sometime or other it will probably be donated to charity too.

I am thrilled that I was able to finish 3 sweaters in LESS than the time allotted! Of course, 2 of them being kids sweaters helped a lot. But even so - essentially knitting my sweater twice (it went into time out for several weeks until I was able to handle the stupid mistake I made and continue from there).

I think I have the confidence that now, with retirement and all, I can actually attempt a sweater, and actually complete it in a timely manner!

Holy? Moly Saturday

It started out nice.
Not as sunny as I expected, but not windy.
So we went for our walk early this morning which was nice.
And yay - then we showered!!!

After a break, and after lunch decided to bake the cake husband requested for Easter.
Remember those words - husband requested!

It is the Cracker Barrel Carrot Cake.

So I got out the raisins - oh my, we are almost out of raisins! - and put them to soak.

Went to the freezer to get the walnuts. Hmmm, no walnuts. Apparently said husband has used them all and failed to mention.....even though every time we go to the grocery store he has to comment on the price....ok, I can make it with pecans. I have a bag and 1/2 of them....

Then went to get the pineapple. I specifically remember buying it. I look on the shelves outside, cant find it, come in and look through each and every cabinet, cant find it. Go back outside, cant find it.

So I ask husband - where is it? I dunno, did you look?
Getting close to that last nerve are we?????

So he went outside and looked. And came inside and looked. And went back outside and looked. And was looking through 3 grocery bags he had never unpacked. Nope, not there. So I said, did we forget to bring a bag in from the car?

Supposedly he went out and checked the car and the truck.

So I went outside and started going through those 3 bags, complaining (of course) about them not being emptied. So I emptied them as I went....and lo and behold - there was the can of pineapple.

But wait!!! There's more!!

The cabinets in the kitchen are so high that I cannot even get anything from the second shelf without a stool - and can only get from the 3d shelf if something is right on the edge. He had put the bag of sugar (because of course you cant fill up the sugar container when you empty it....) on the 3d shelf. So I asked him to come get it down for me......which he did along with a box of Rice Krispies.

A box he had opened. A box he had put up on the shelf. A box which then opened and spewed Rice Krispies everywhere - including in the 1.5 cups of oil in the mixing bowl......yep. In the oil. During quarantine time when you cant just pop out to get any more....

I have now swept the floor 4 times and there are still Rice Krispies appearing from places. Including the 2d shelf on the cabinet when I went to get the flour....

And then I had to ask him to get down the chopper because of course the pecans were pecan halves. And he "couldn't find it". He looked everywhere. In every cabinet and drawer. And then I said, well never mind, give me the hand chopper. Turns out he was looking for the hand chopper (which is still MIA) and ignoring the 2 electric ones on the 3d shelf in the cabinet....

Oh my. If this cake turns out edible it will be a miracle!

PS. Apparently all this trouble I caused for him has made him tired, because he is now napping.....while I am still cleaning up Rice Krispies.....

I'm Tired

Did not sleep well last night, wide awake way too early this morning.
Why? Who knows... once I am awake enough that my mind starts working, it is hard to turn it off again.

After a few days of lovely sunshine - and wicked winds - it is a dreary weekend with more rain forecast.

So dragging my butt around today, I have done 2 loads of laundry. And did my daily Doggie Doody hunt (always successful!). And now I am too restless just to sit and watch TV - and if I sit and read I know I will fall asleep. So I feel a little like the ball in a pinball machine....bouncing around and not getting much of anything accomplished.

Went out to the trailer yesterday to put the 2020 tags on it - before we lost them! And then we decided to take a drive to Carmel - through the town and along the beach. I have NEVER in my life seen so many empty parking spaces! LOL

And the beach was pretty empty too - mainly singles and couples walking their dogs, with a couple of family groups thrown into the mix. Carmel River Beach was very empty - with the parking lot closed off.

But so much construction going on. New Stay-At-Home orders came out this week with guidelines about no construction. Apparently no one policing it yet. I could understand one new house - it looked as though they were trying to get a roof on. But another one had maybe 6 or more guys walking up the driveway together to get to work....an no, they were not 6' apart. And neither was a landscaping crew taking a break. Now, I get it, there really wasnt a lot of room to spread out around their truck - but they could have done a little better!

And here is the long suffering Ralph putting up with Bella who is not so subtly trying to push him off "her" couch!

Your Mind Can Do You In

I have thought I have been very calm about all of this. But yesterday proved that I can be as stressed as everyone else...It is amazing how your mind can fight itself and try to bring you down.

Wednesday we spoke to the people at CVS and went to get our second shingles shot.
And this one HURT so much more than the first one did. It really did. First of all, he placed it higher on my arm than I was ever taught to do. And his procedure is probably text book but so painful. First of all he does not let the alcohol dry before he gives it...and then he placed the end of the needle against the skin and oh so very very slowly pushed it in, very very slowly. And injected the fluid in slowly which made it feel thick and viscous, whether it is or not. I was taught quick and smooth, not slow....but that is me. I was also taught 2 - 3 finger below the shoulder - my finger is a little fat, so he placed it slightly less than one finger breadth below.

Went home, kept moving that arm as I have been taught. And it didn't hurt, and I had full movement.

Then Friday when I woke up I rolled over and OH MY did it hurt - it felt like someone had socked me really really hard. But still did not hurt moving it.

So we went out to the trailer to check on it - took some items out - did a mouse hunt (apparently our friend Mitch keeps the mice away from our trailer by having them all visit his trailer!!!!). Came home - it was sunny out - went for our walk.

Later in the afternoon hubby started watching TV and so I went into the bedroom to try and catch up with Call the Midwife - after hearing that the new season starts Sunday! I just got into Season 7. And laying there, I started feeling just not good.

And one side of the mind wants to go immediately to - I HAVE THE VIRUS! And the other side is saying, calm down, it is most likely just a reaction to the vaccine. So you lay there going through the symptoms

• Ok, slight headache - wait, I get a headache when I get a fever - but it isn't a bad headache, just a slight one...
• I feel a little shivery - could be a fever building? Could be because we keep the room cold?
• My hands are really cold which makes my face feel really warm

So what is it?? I decided to try and distract myself. Then I needed to go out to make the corn muffins for dinner and husband looks at me and says - I am starting to not feel good.

So of course my mind immediately jumps back to - WE HAVE THE VIRUS!

Take a deep breath - stop - tell husband to get the thermometer (hmm, I am hungry - isn't one of the symptoms lack of appetite, loss of taste and smell?). So we take our temperatures - his is 97.6 and mine 98.1. Ok, so I asked husband and he said, well, I used my inhaler but it hasn't helped as much as I thought. So I told him to go take an allergy pill. Yes, people, that allergy pill removed all of his symptoms and he felt, and still feels fine.

After dinner I decided to put ice on my arm. It was warm and red, I figured the ice couldn't hurt

So I left the ice on for about 1/2 hour. And it felt better.

By the time we went to bed, it looked and felt much better. And I felt better - I didnt feel like I was coming down with anything at all!

Although last night when I turned over and laid right on my arm it still hurt a bit - but even this morning I feel a lot better!

And I did allow 1/2 of my mind blow a raspberry at the other half!!!

So it is easy to understand how people panic because of everything we see and hear  and semi-learn about.

Life Is Just A Roller Coaster

I don't like roller coasters - do you?
I especially don't like them when they are messing with my life - physical, emotional, etc.
But we are all in this together - so the only thing we can do is grab on, hold on tight, and make the best of it.

We found an overhead storage in the garage we had never noticed before! Don't know how we missed it but we did! Hubs and I were outside in the garage and I guess I was just in the right place - I glanced up - and said "What is that up there?". Neither one of us could guess.

So the next morning there we were - hubs up on a ladder! And we found the old wooden, interior shutters my mom put up on several of the windows! And in surprisingly good condition from something that was from the 1960 - 1970s!

But right next to it we found about 6, Rubbermaid type container lids, along with a baggie full of the metal inserts that would attach them to the containers! And they were surprisingly clean and new! So the only thing we can think is the last of our tenants left them behind.

I have been going through things, and as I find UFO's (unfinished objects) I decide whether or not to finish them.....some are completely stitched and just need framed....some had very little stitching to complete on them!

So to date, I have completed 2 needlepoint Christmas Presents, another project that needed only 1 area stitched. I have made a Peace Pals kit I ordered from https://www.knitting4peace.org 
in the not so distant past. But it turned out so ugly - mostly because of the yarn in the kit - that I don't even know if I can mail it to them!

I have found 6 single socks - 2 of which have the yarn needed to make another - none of them with patterns! 2 un matched slippers, that need felting - so they might become an unmatched pair of slippers once I felt them!

I found a little stocking stuffer I had started for the grandkids - just needed to knit one more (done!) and now need to felt them and embroider on them....ready for Christmas this year!

And I found 2 baby shearling hatbands that you just knit the top of the cap for. Already have started one...

I have gone through 1 bin of yarn - sorted out what I don't want to keep (husband tells me that the bag is much too small!) and entered it all in a spreadsheet. That was the only bin I could reach.

Rainy all weekend - which we so need. But that made us even more stuck in the house! LOL. The plants loved the rain - and when I pulled out some more weeds in the planter, I found more new growth on my blueberry bush!!!!!

Husband went out today for his PT appt. Still haven't heard if his volunteer job is still going on; we are kind of surprised that hasn't shut. Cruise ships have been cancelled until April - maybe! Schools are closed so no school trips....

 This Noah's ark - just had to finish off the ark....and it is done. So need to figure out about framing it

 I don't know what caused this - all of a sudden the little guy, Ralph, jumped down off the couch and ran over and laid down with Bella. Have no idea - maybe he had a bad dream?

 I am thinking of just stitching this onto an already premade pillow.

This is the car I learned to drive on! I think I made this for my dad, which means it was stitched sometime before 1997. It will get framed too

My oldest daughter, and her husband, have all 3 boys at home. Their schools are closed. And now their county has been put on "shelter-in-place" which means they literally cannot leave the house except for to/from work, groceries, healthcare....meanwhile her MIL is adjusting to living on her own; and daughter and SIL had been having her over to dinner frequently. Well, Gloria if over 65 and has health issues, so she isn't supposed to leave the house....and middle grandson is trying to figure out if he has a cold or allergies, so they don't want to go over there. And meanwhile the assisted living where her husband is, is not allowing any visitors in. I am sure that is weighing heavily on Gloria's mind too.

Havent heard any update from middle daughter - as of the weekend her kids' schools were still open. But now the Feds say no congregations of more than 10 people - so I am sure they will be closing. Luckily she already worked from home 3 of the 5 days/week.

Yes, the problem is - how long is this going to last? What about the hair cut I need? What about our appt to have our taxes done on Wednesday? (We don't have a problem going - but what about on their end?). What about the camping trips we have planned - the first one is the end of April and the governor has closed restaurants and wineries....is it even worth going?  May was camping at Jackson Rancheria - will the casino be open then? If not, I am sure the RV park will be closed. And besides - all the restaurants, wineries, stores, would potentially still be closed.

And our big trip is in June - 2 weeks into OR. Not even thinking about our trip to Hawaii in September - that is far enough away I don't need to think about that yet....it is jus the sooner ones.

And probably will have to postpone our family Easter dinner....but there are no answers about all that - and that is what drives me crazy! LOL

Daylight Savings Time - pooey!

So we drove up to daughter's house yesterday - hardly any rain at our house - but we did drive through a couple of downpours and saw a pretty significant accident (didn't look like any injuries thank goodness).

Husband made ribs to take up to his boys. And we ate an early dinner, and then of to see youngest grandson in his school musical - the last one we will have to go to! And it was one of the best - might be because we had front row seats though....

So first photo is the oldest grandson in the same play - in the same role - 6 years ago

 And here is the youngest - same musical, same role 6 years later!

Then a rough night on the air mattress - because husband has to open the window - which blows right on me and I WAS FREEZING ALL NIGHT LONG! Finally gave up at 0543, put a sweater on, and started reading.

Headed off to Palo Alto HS to watch youngest play waterpolo.  His team won their first game, and we left. The next game wasn't until over an hour later. Heard from daughter that they won that one too.

Came home and we are both dragging. Dogs were glad to see us (we were gone one night! LOL). Hubby already took a nap. I am determined to stay awake so I can sleep really well ….I know the dogs don't sleep as well when we are not here, and sure enough, we ran out to the drugstore came back, and Ralph had already taken a nap on our bed. See, even dogs don't sleep as well as they do in their "own" bed!

Now my complaint. I had lab work done early February. MD finally saw the results and gave me a referral to a rheumatologist on 2/25. So have been waiting for the MD office to call. Accompanied husband to his MD appt and asked the MD if I could ask one question - and that was what the name of the MD he referred me to - because on the letter it was just a group name. So he told me, and was surprised I hadn't heard from them. And he explained why he was sending me to Salinas.

So Friday morning I called - left a message - and hit the button to have the message made "priority". Of course, the first number I called wasn't correct, so they had to give me another number to call.
I got the call back at 4:45 PM and they had no idea what I was talking about. Because they had never gotten the referral!

So they asked me for my doctor's office number so that they can call and get the referral, and they would get back to me as soon as they receive it. So if I don't hear from them by Monday afternoon I will call them again....

I have a feeling that if my MD gave me the wrong office phone number, they probably had the wrong fax number too. Just glad this is not a life/death situation!

A friend of mine took a cruise to Hawaii. Yep, THAT cruise ship! The one that has been circling SF for days - poor thing. But luckily she and her husband had a cabin with a balcony! And she says they are both feeling fine. Latest news have them docking tomorrow in Oakland. Who knows what will really happen then. Information from the news varies - and what we are getting from the news is more than they are getting on the ship!

Have You Ever....

….had a panic attack in the dressing room?

No - not because you couldn't fit into something or you just saw the price tag.

Because you tried something on and COULD.NOT.GET.IT.OFF!

Yes, it has happened before but today it happened trying on a jogging bra.
I managed to get it on - I should be able to get it off, right?

Well, my shoulder has been bothering me and to raise it up high enough was just not going to happen.

And to twist my hand around and get my thumb and all underneath - way too much pain.

So I had to calm myself down, take some slow deep breaths and remind myself - you got it on. It will come off. And hopefully without calling for help (although there wasn't anyone around the dressing rooms at all...)

And yes, I got it off.

But - I cannot imagine this happening to men, but maybe it does, but ladies - this is the most awful feeling isn't it?

No, I did not buy that jogging bra, and not even in a different size.

I found another type of bra I could get instead.

Tomorrow for my bone density test I have been told to wear NO METAL whatsoever - jewelry or any metal on clothes. All my other bras, if they are not underwires (yes, the girls need support), they have metal clasps or metal hooks and eyes. And these girls just don't get the support they feel they need without all of that!

And the Winner Is.....

Chrispyofoz!!!

I wrote the names down - put them in a little purse - shook it up like crazy - and had my husband draw the name!

Chris - I will be emailing your for your mailing information!

Happy Leap Day!

And to celebrate I am having a GIVEAWAY!
Open until midnight (PST) tonight - and tomorrow I will pull the name of the winner!

So that means you have to reply on this blog to be entered!

It is just the pattern for this California "license plate" pouch

Good luck!

If you are not into sewing - tell your friends who are!

Lovely Day For A Picnic!

So we went to Troia's - got our sandwich to share, some guac chips, drinks, and dessert....and had a picnic:

 And my sweater, which I completed yesterday, finally finished drying so I could photograph it. This is Briki by Cristina Ghirlanda on Ravelry. This is the 2d of my 3 sweaters made for The Loopy Ewe Grad program. This will most likely go to the Pine Ridge Reservation - maybe at Christmas time - or for fall school time. I used Cascade 220 Superwash in the navy and orange; and Cascade 220 Wave Superwash in the green and yellow. Hubby talked me out of the 4th color (and I think he was right!)

Great pattern - lovely sweater - still some issues I need to work out but I will likely make this one again for gifting

I Feel Old...Oh So Old...

Not so pretty - witty - or gay! I understand that song have been left out of the new stage production of West Side Story...I guess I can see why it isn't PC, but it is such a pretty, perky song!

Doctors....doctors....doctors.....I HATE going to doctors. But I am getting it all over with - and it is funny, I find myself more patient during the interminable wait involved with doctor visits. Maybe because I don't feels as though I am wasting one of my valuable days off?

So I went to see an old person's doctor today. And he himself was old. But very nice, and funny. Took my ugly toenail in....got most of it cut off and sent off for biopsy. After which time we will decide if we try treatment again, or permanent removal. ICK!

I have a relatively high tolerance to pain, and grossness, but a very low tolerance to ICK. And today was ICK.

But I got to see some Xrays of my foot - and saw where the break was decades ago - and what is now probably some arthritis in that toe. And he told me I have/had a "near miss" for club feet!

Next up in bone scan and mammogram. Both on the same day, right after each other. Thank goodness. Oh crap, I just realized that is next week. Well, at least I am getting these over and done with....

And now I am awaiting the rheumatologist's office to call me and schedule an appt for me. I don't know that I am happy for this (answers?) or scared to death (mostly this - reiterate: I hate doctors!).

Yes, I know I let things go too long and this is payback....and I should stop whining since I have insurance that makes all these visits workable.

Before During and After

I usually remember that I should have taken a "before" photo when I am actually taking the "finished" photo. Although I do not have a good photo of before, here are some photos of the backyard ….we have been working on it for a week, and finally finished the majority of it yesterday morning (before it got really windy and chilly) thanks to help from some very good friends.

All the well we kept saying - a few years ago and we would have finished this in a weekend.....so maybe we have come to our senses and learned to pace ourselves?? No, we have gotten OLD.

BEFORE:

 DURING:

 AFTER:

We have one little area at the very back of the house that we need to rototill, so that we can level the dirt, and then put down the tarp )AKA weed barrier) and we have what we are hoping as just enough bark left to do it all. Then we want to fill in some areas with a little bit more of the small rocks.

Then we have to decide what to do with the side of the house - a bit of the back - and we need to fill in more bark on the front yarn.

But today? Today we ran errands, replaced some light switches (INSIDE) and switch plates and outlet covers. I planted a second crop of radish seeds since the first ones are coming up, and made a trial recipe of pecan pie muffins I found on FB.

And now I am going to go and knit.....We. Are. Tired.

Physical Labor is Good For You - Right?

So it has been a sunny, but chilly, weekend. So of course it is a good time to work outside!

We got the weed barrier spread on 2 sections of the backyard (only one huge section left, and a smaller section). And the oval part was a royal pain.

Today we bought and covered it all with bark. 1 cubic yard of bark does not seem like that much....until  you are filling wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow with it, dumping it and starting all over!

But it covered more than we expected!

Also dug out an old, ugly, neglected hibiscus. Need to dig out the unknown fruit tree that doesn't bear fruit - or many leaves either! Still having our ongoing argument about one of the trees that I WANT GONE! And hubby says no - so it is either that one goes (and I think I am allergic to it when it blooms in early summer) or the two palm trees that look like hell because they get no sun at all because of it).

Husband also put a temporary gate into the fencing around the largest part of the garden - to make it easier for us to work in - but we also want to put a couple of chairs under the oak tree(s) and be able to enjoy the shade. Oh, and if you are wondering why the fencing? The answer is one simple word: dogs!

The miner's lettuce and the sour grass is blooming - signs that spring is coming! And several of the succulents have beautiful blooms too!

Weekend Highs and Lows

So this weekend we drove down to Irvine to see 2 of our grandsons participate in the KAP7 Waterpolo Tournament.

Watching the weather forecast - gonna be sunny and in the 70's.....ok, now mid 60's and sunny....

Got down there Friday and the weather was lovely. Then listening to the news - what?? Rain??? There was no rain in the forecast!!! Do we have umbrellas? Nope, because we took the truck and they are in the car. Do we have ponchos? No.....luckily they have Walmarts down there....

Lets back up a bit. Hubby decided we would go down 101.
Remember, it has been a long time since we drove down there - now we usually hop Southwest and go.....So we went 101 just cruising along. Stopped at CRACKER BARREL!!!!!!!!!!! Have been looking forward to that ever since we knew we were going down. And it did not disappoint....until we found out they. did. not. have. the. carrot.cake. THE MAIN REASON WE STOPPED THERE!

And it went down hill from there....we were supposed to meet up with daughter/family at Disneyland to spend Friday afternoon/evening there. Well, we were still stopped in traffic when the closest we could figure is we MIGHT get to the parking lot by 5:30 PM - and they had been there since 4 PM.
Tired. Cranky. Needing to pee. We told them - enjoy yourself! We are just heading to the hotel. Which we finally got to closer to 6 PM.

So priorities - checked in - headed to room to pee - and then to the bar for the complimentary Manager's Happy Hour! 2 (mini sized) glasses of wine/beer, and a couple of bowls of snacks later, we got our things out of the car and went back to the room.....watched a little TV, and went to bed.

Saturday Luke wanted us to go to his favorite place for breakfast down there. They had had a late night so they slept in a bit. We drove over with them to this place called Stacks (http://stackspancakehouse.com/) and the line was literally out the door and across the patio seating. But he really really wanted to eat there. I think we were actually there a couple of hours, between standing in line, waiting for food, and eating. And it was alright. Not really worth the wait - and the meal Luke was so looking forward to? He didn't even really like it.....but we left and went to Walmart and got rain ponchos, umbrellas, and snacks cause their games didn't start until later in the afternoon. Way later.

Husband and daughter went to Jack's games (which they lost). SIL and I went to Lukes games, which they won. The first game was awesome. There was about an hour and a half between games so we went back to the hotel (yay - time to pee again! LOL) (and scarf down some snacks). The rest of the team all went out to dinner. We got back and just as the game started husband, daughter, and Jack showed up - they had gone to hotel first because by now it was COLD! The most beautiful full moon though! They were winning this game but ended up tied. So they had to participate in a shootout. That means the first team that has two goals in a row, wins. So 1 person from one team gets up and shoots; then a person from the other team; then back to the first team....you get the picture.  I think they went through their whole line up (they chose 4 players) twice - and on the 3d time through the other team won. These kids were tired.

On the way back to hotel they drove to Chik-Fil-A so we got a chicken sandwich, ate it about 9:45 and went to bed.....

Woke up to rain. And cold. And to find out that Jacks first game was at 2:40 and Luke's wasn't until somewhere around 5. The coach tried to get Luke's games changed because people were planning to leave - driving or with plane reservations. But they wouldn't change the times. So they told the coach Luke was not going to be there.

My biggest complaint - and daughter said this was new this year - they had the older boys playing in the mornings - and the younger ones in the afternoons and evenings. Now we all know teenaged boys like to sleep late, and they know how to chill with video games etc.....and younger boys don't really know how to chill....so this was just plain stupid. And it seemed like the SO CA teams got the best time slots while those who had a long long drive home, or flights to catch had the worst....

Great lunch at BKs Brewhouse (whoever thought up that name?) and then we got to watch Jack's team win. FOR THER FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!!!!! And after watching his team play a couple of games, I have to say, this was the first time I saw them actually play like a team.

And yes it rained - and drizzled - and poured - and rained throughout the game. So after talking it over with the parents - explaining that if things went well, the 2d game might - MIGHT - be around 6 PM , the coach scratched the 2d game.

Daughter and family left from there to drive home. We headed back to the hotel. Hubby too wet and cold to want to even go to Downtown Disney like he planned - and we were both still too full from lunch to even think about going to Knott's Berry Farm for chicken dinner.....so after 3 (mini sized) glasses of wine/beer and some snacks we got to go back to the room and watch - my favorite! NOT! - the Academy Awards.

Got up Monday and had breakfast - finished packing and left. Beautiful clear, sunny, and warm day!
And this time we went home on I5 - cut over to 101 at Paso Robles - got to eat at the wonderful Cowgirl Café (http://stackspancakehouse.com/) and we were home just after 3:30 PM.

The side of the Highway 46 was lined with these piles of tumbleweeds, which they were coming along and burning

So my funny story is I took 3 knitting projects with me. One was a pair of socks that I just needed to finish the toe and graft said toe on the 2d of the pair....which I did before we even got out of the county and I am so glad......got back to the room that cold and wet Sunday afternoon and immediately put them on! The other project was another prayer shawl for www.alicesembrace.org - I thought I had a lot more to go on that one.....finished it about the time we hit the traffic in LA area. Luckily, I am still working on the 3d project - I would have really been miserable if I had finished them all!

I cannot believe that people actually live and drive in the mess that is considered LA area. The traffic in the Bay Area is bad - but usually just during rush hours. And only in certain areas. Down there, it feels as though it is a 100 mile radius of parked cars on the freeways (probably only 50 mile radius) and it goes on and on and on and on. And people do that every freaking day of the week....twice a day. How??????? WHY?????????????

Foggy Day

Supposed to be a warm day today but I don't think that is happening.
Very very foggy out - to the point you can feel and see the mist!

Got our errands done - gas at Safeway - more pellets from Lowe's....mailed a book to a friend. Finally took something back to Pet Smart.

And although we probably really should go to the gym I really don't want to go outside again! LOL

Oh yes - and we found Toms coarse chili ground meat for his chili Sunday. Went to the big Hispanic grocery store - Santa Fe - and they had hardly anyone that (supposedly) spoke English. But apparently could not grind the meat for us.

So then we went to the smaller one a few blocks away - and the had a grinder - able to grind it - spoke English! - and we got the meat!

So in addition to commercials - the best part of the day will be the traditional chili!

So, I am in Grad School - again! This time a knitting Grad school. There is this great shop that is now in (well, has been for a few years) called https://www.theloopyewe.com/. They started out with a virtual summer camp - and then progressed into Loopy Academy - and now we are in Grad School.

This is the 2d semester. The first semester I made socks - 2 pair for me, and a pair for hubby. This semester I am making sweaters. I have a cardigan on the needles for me - yay! it really will get done and will be the 3d adult sweater I have ever finished! - and I took a break and made a child summer/spring (isn't the color perfect for spring!!) sweater in this yummy soft light yarn called Bamboo Pop. Next up I need to order my yarn for sweater #3 which will be a unisex child's pullover.

Not a pretty day for photographs but the light was good to show the true color of this yarn!

Thoughts - On My Soap Box Again

We belong to DVC (Disney Vacation Club). Have since a fateful moment in 1998 while at WDW. When I thought husband had really gone nutso. And let me just say this, I have come to appreciate the decision he made that day!

Anyway, one of the many trips we take is to Aulani, on Oahu in Hawaii. And so I have joined a couple of FB pages.

Now when you belong to DVC the places you stay are not like typical hotel rooms, they are suites, or mini apartments! (I could literally move in and live in the Grand Villas at the Boardwalk in WDW).

Because of that they have nice kitchens (except for the studios). Which is great because there really is limited affordable eating at Aulani or the immediate surrounding area.

So we have learned when we leave the airport, we get lunch, and then hit the grocery store. One time we went to Costco and that was the time we went with both daughters, a SIL, and 5 grandkids. Otherwise we just go to Safeway.

And we plan our meals/shopping before hand, knowing we are still going to eat out some.

Well, people are posting about leftover food when they are leaving to go home. And nicely, they are putting the items up for others to grab.

but MY GOD people - did you think ALL you were going to do in Hawaii is sit in your room and eat?????

First  of all, I get it. It is usually only the 2 of us. But - no matter where we are going - I always throw sandwich sized and gallon sized zip lock bags in my suitcase. They come in handy for so many things - and that means you don't have to buy them when you are on vacation!

If we have an opened box of cereal? Pop it into a zip lock bag - cereal doesn't weigh much and doesn't take much room (don't need to take THAT many clothes people - the rooms have washers and dryers!). Speaking of which - pack a couple of packets of travel laundry soap and pop a couple of dryer sheets into a zip lock bag - now you don't have to buy the HUGE sizes of both that I see people leaving behind!

And there is a cafeteria style place there - out in front of it are all the condiments you should need - help yourself!

Now the hints we have is, except for one dinner at Ama Ama (because the setting is so nice, and yes the food is good) we typically eat a large meal out at lunch time - and we bring the leftovers back with us - and the last dinner there is usually a whopping big salad with everything left in the refrigerator!

And I have even hard boiled the leftover eggs and brought them with us to the airport and on the plane!

Because I have a husband who definitely gets hangry - we never travel without snacks. And I plan enough for plane there and back - and while we are there - so we don't get suckered into buying loads of snacks while there (except for caramacs…..gotta have my caramacs), And you know you are going to give in to some snacks while at Aulani anyway....

But really - the amount of food I see up for grabs could probably feed the whole staff of Aulani (just a very light exaggeration). But I want to know why I have never been there when people have left snorkel supplies, and water toys up for grabs.....

Rainy Days and ....Thursdays...

Thought it was going to rain and be windy through the night. Then it turned out to be coming this morning. Well, woke up to this....and no rain or wind!!

But then husband left for day #2 of orientation for volunteer work. And I started watching a new (to me) show on Netflix called YOU. Determined to get to a certain point in my sweater.....the next thing I know, hours after the photo was taken, the house was being shaken by wind, the dogs were staring at me big eyed, and then the down pours started!

Eventually I remembered the bedroom window was open - it is always open - and the wind was blowing the rain against that side of the house....

About noon time I turned off the 3d or 4th episode, put my knitting down, and decided I better get dressed.

The wind has died down a little but it is still pouring outside.

We have some ponds forming in the backyard. Luckily our soil is a good mix of sand so they will drain away once the rains stop. Here are our waterfalls and ponds!

Husband said something about going to the gym this afternoon.....not sure I want to swim there!