tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36117152729077961042011-07-31T04:17:16.588-05:00Taenzer, Timber, yarn, and other things irresistible to a GeminiT-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.comBlogger6731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-65094039926385228002010-06-11T17:17:00.003-05:002010-06-11T18:19:08.173-05:00

I don't need knee surgery!! While I'm a bit sorry to lose my air-tight excuse for lying on the couch and knitting for a week, I'm really relieved. I have a prescription for physical therapy, which I can do here in town, so I'll have to get that set up next week.The doctor was running very late, but I had taken knitting with me, and managed to get clear to the heel, so time was not wasted. I

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-25828186907571660432010-06-04T19:13:00.002-05:002010-06-04T19:46:17.640-05:00

It looks like for the moment the worst of the weather is off to our northeast, but it's been an evening of severe storm warnings and tornado watches, and radar shows another batch on its way across the river. Every time I think about taking the dogs out for a little exercise, it starts raining. We're under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 tonight I think, and there's supposed to be rain

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-84068134834515147152010-06-03T18:52:00.003-05:002010-06-03T19:11:23.523-05:00

Honestly. I discouraged the squirrel with safflower seed, nyger, and a generous coating of vegetable oil spray on the pole. I discouraged the strlings with safflower seed and by not putting out fruit.NOW I have this mourning dove that's learned to sit on the ledge of the safflower feeder. Mourning doves are supposed to be ground feeders right? Well, this guy has been studying up, and while

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-82700489780601695452010-06-01T20:01:00.002-05:002010-06-01T20:14:31.908-05:00

They make us change our passwords at work every 90 days, which is stupid--several studies have shown that changing passwords compulsively does nothing to prevent identity theft or hacking. At any rate, I changed it late last week, and upon returning to the office after 4 days, I couldn't remember what it was and succeeded in locking myself out. To reset it, it turns out I have to have my

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-75841265951122942902010-05-31T18:48:00.002-05:002010-05-31T19:20:06.326-05:00

Or past it...It rained most of the morning. There was some sun when I first got up, but it got darker and darker, until it was more like 8:30 p.m. than 8:30 a.m., and I had to turn on the light. Then it started to rain. Gently but steadily. Okay--it's been dry and we needed it. (After all that rain we had, I can't believe I'm saying, "it's been dry and we need rain"!) It rained most of the

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-10259916556699548302010-05-30T09:35:00.003-05:002010-05-30T10:35:30.555-05:00

Yesterday was a pretty nice day, and although Weather Underground says today is supposed to be like yesterday, I beg to differ. I was just out with the dogs, and I'd say it's hotter and more humid. I foresee a lot of lying on the couch, reading. I've got the shades drawn against the sun this morning.Visitors to the feeders have fallen off. I'm guessing this is because there's more natural food

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-60456869206209952172010-05-28T17:36:00.003-05:002010-05-28T18:05:49.159-05:00

Well, it seems I have a high-grade ACL tear in my right knee and may need surgery. The nearest specialist is a 2-hour drive, which distresses me, since it means I'll have to ask someone to drive me two hours, hang around for however long it takes to fix things (it's usually outpatient surgery, I read online), and then drive me two hours home. It seems like a lot to ask of someone who isn't family

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-48596978120440857512010-05-23T07:29:00.002-05:002010-05-23T07:38:41.712-05:00

Timber, jolly ball firmly in mouth, stalking butterflies, pouncing with both front feet, and trying to bash the butterflies with his ball. Beautiful and adorable.Newly-fledged baby house sparrow, sitting in the grass at the foot of the feeder pole, complete ball of fluff and feathers, looking befuddled and clueless. From time to time one of the parents dropped down from the feeder to stuff a seed

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-38266730923136932442010-05-21T17:32:00.002-05:002010-05-22T10:43:04.026-05:00

But it was a near thing. They did put me in feet first, but one more inch and I'd have been out of there. If I ever need an MRI on the top half of me, they're going to have to drug me. As it was, I spent 45 minutes reminding myself to breathe and consciously relaxing all the muscles I'd tightened up. "BREATHE." "You're not going to die." "Just a few minutes longer." "BREATHE."It kind of helped

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-14906334936885403812010-05-19T17:48:00.002-05:002010-05-19T18:03:09.965-05:00

There's a catbird in the neighborhood--I know, I keep hearing it--and I'm trying to lure it to the feeders with offerings of fruit, but so far, all I see eating the fruit is starlings. Since I'm also trying to discourage the starlings, I'm about to stop putting out the fruit. Although starlings aren't supposed to like nyger or safflower, and I see them at both feeders. I'm not sure they

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-67975092095701791872010-05-16T10:20:00.002-05:002010-05-16T10:48:53.427-05:00

I notice that I currently have blue columbines, blue bearded iris, blue spiderwort, blue Siberian iris, and blue veronica blooming. My bedroom is painted robin's-egg blue. Most of my sock yarn is some shade of blue. I LOVE blue.So you can imagine that I was completely THRILLED this morning to see a blue bird at the feeders. !!!! It was an indigo bunting, I think. I've never seen one live before.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-86338576163115158352010-05-15T08:16:00.003-05:002010-05-15T09:51:59.817-05:00

The "partly sunny" forecast for the day so far equals completely overcast, and I'm thinking of trading my cotton sweater for wool. It's a bit chilly.My poor sister broke her ankle last week. She thought it was a bad sprain, but the doctor sent her in for x-rays, and there it was, broken. Apparently not enough to need a cast, but she's hobbling around with one of those support boots on. And of

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-81110110515798356262010-05-14T11:59:00.003-05:002010-05-14T12:04:11.999-05:00

I have the day off.It's payday.The sun was shining when I got up this morning.I had SEVEN purple finches at the feeders, 5 eating safflower and 2 at the nyjer feeder.Add a cup of Good Earth Chai latte made with honey, and a snuggly Taenzer, and color me happy.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-192876269765366332010-05-09T09:41:00.003-05:002010-05-09T10:15:02.830-05:00

I went to Menard's with a friend yesterday, actually to look at a refrigerator, but while we were there, we looked at bird stuff. They didn't have an upside down suet feeder, but they did have safflower seed, which starlings aren't supposed to like, so I got some.The squirrel climbed up, nibbled a bit, then sat up with this "what the hell?" look on his face--it was pretty funny. Nibbled a little

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-49748428421494418982010-05-07T17:46:00.004-05:002010-05-07T17:59:45.393-05:00

When I took the dogs out this morning, one of the baby robins was sitting on the porch ledge. I had about 2 seconds to admire him before Timber spotted him and charged, and he bailed out into the front yard. Timber went after him, and god bless the boy, he stopped, turned around, and came back to me when I hollered "TIMBER NO! Timber, come 'ere!"It looked like he was out of range, and the Ts had

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-84751787654096016022010-05-06T18:14:00.002-05:002010-05-06T19:01:39.396-05:00

Well, the battle of the bird feeders continues.The squirrel seems to be fairly well under control, at least for the time being, but now it's starlings. I'm not fond of starlings to start with, and they're both bullies that scare other birds away and awful feeder hogs. I've been looking around for advice on line, and it seems to run to "don't put out things they like to eat," with a sidebar of "

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-31102036665291095032010-05-05T17:39:00.001-05:002010-05-05T17:43:28.616-05:00

Here they are. Cute, aren't they? It's a better picture of the nest, too. Be sure to click on it to get the bigger size.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-6817570075200653922010-05-04T21:12:00.003-05:002010-05-04T21:27:08.300-05:00

I have two baby robins!!!I saw them this evening when some guy came to the door. He's trying to talk to me about something or other and I'm gazing rapturously over his head at the two fuzzy babies poking their heads over the top of the nest and cautiously opening their beaks to beg, just in case Mom-Robin came back. Beady little black eyes. They look about half-grown--they're not all fuzzy-fluffy

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-49653045692610759732010-05-02T09:03:00.002-05:002010-05-02T09:32:35.334-05:00

My current project. This is the Serendipty pattern from the book Sock Club, using Apple Laine Apple Pie yarn, colorway Blueberry. This is the original yarn with 20% silk, and it's one of my favorite sock yarns. Using US 1s, and I'm a bit worried that the sock may be too large, but I don't mind a slightly baggy leg, and I can reduce the number of stitches to tighten up the foot a bit.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-49134614384167589732010-05-01T16:04:00.003-05:002010-05-01T16:08:57.579-05:00

I saw the feeder pole swaying back and forth. Looked out, there's the squirrel on the ground, nibbling at the sunflower seed I scattered for him and the cardinals. From time to time he'd look longingly up at the feeder above his head. Finally he made a running jump, hit the pole about 30 inches up--and slid down to the ground.Heehee! I sprayed it with Pam this morning. It's not toxic to the

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-43783844369761436762010-05-01T08:38:00.002-05:002010-05-01T09:43:29.322-05:00

I've been noticing the past couple of days that the birds using the feeders are starting to use the top sections. This means they have to cling to the wires and mesh. It occured to me that when I first put the feeders up, they all wanted to sit on the lip of the trays, and when they tried to grip the cage or the mesh, they seemed really awkward and uncomfortable, with a lot of wing-fluttering and

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-49336113421188927682010-04-24T12:53:00.006-05:002010-04-24T20:18:33.554-05:00

I'm sitting here trying to decide whether to get a new laptop. I really hate to put anything on the Visa card. I'm trying so hard to pay it off! But there are several good reasons to get a laptop.It's been raining hard off and on since this afternoon. I took Timber for a walk this morning, and he was very good! He pulled just a little bit, but when he did, I would stop, and he would glance over

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-38555711695359346392010-04-22T17:53:00.004-05:002010-04-22T18:00:08.657-05:00

First, I must retract--apparently downy woodpeckers do eat seeds. There was one at the feeder again today at noon. Cool!Now. First the microwave died. Tuesday the laptop motherboard went toes up. Last night just before bed the arm thing that raises the plunger in the toilet broke, AND I discovered that it's leaking from somewhere (damp floor). Today on the way home, the Check Light came on in the

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-44339096637757011072010-04-21T19:11:00.003-05:002010-04-21T19:24:24.337-05:00

I have a good eek and two bad eeks.The good eek: I saw a woodpecker at my sunflower seed feeder tonight. A downy, I think. Dumb bird--woodpeckers don't eat seeds! But he sat there on the perch and pecked away. That does it: I have to get another pole and a suet feeder. And suet impregnated with hot peppers, to try to keep the squirrel out of it.Bad eek #1: Remember I was so proud about

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-89378940284045954082010-04-19T18:18:00.004-05:002010-04-19T18:27:41.953-05:00

Literally and figuratively. The temps dropped from an overly-warm upper 80s last week to a very comfortable 60s over the weekend, with overnight lows in the upper 30s--delicious sleeping weather!Figuratively cool because I've just identified a couple of chipping sparrows at my feeders. Okay, they're a common little bird, but I've never seen them to identify them before. I have some cardinals, at

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-48704657737713565752010-04-14T18:28:00.012-05:002010-04-14T19:32:53.127-05:00

When I took the dogs out for last call last night, I turned on the porch light, which I don't ordinarily do. I don't know why, but I glanced to my right, and found a robin had built a nest on the shelf of the porch ceiling support.I don't know how long she's been there. I presume she's noticed that the dogs and I use the door several times a day. I hope that if she's laid eggs she's going to stay

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-87763656204194732122010-04-13T17:58:00.002-05:002010-04-13T18:15:32.386-05:00

Bleah, it's hot. Going to be hot the rest of the week. I hope this is not a glimpse of the rest of the summer. I liked last summer!I read about a girl who read that squirrels don't like peppermint oil. She didn't have peppermint oil, but she did have candy canes (it being around Christmas), so she taped candy canes to the outsides of her bird feeders and voila, no squirrels. I don't have

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-85551972615054877702010-04-11T18:06:00.003-05:002010-04-11T18:12:20.613-05:00

Timber and I have chased him off about 7 times in an hour. He's chasing off the birds. I'm going to come home tomorrow to empty bird feeders and I'm not filling them again until I have a pole with a big honkin' baffle and expensive squirrel-proof feeders. And maybe a BB gun.I hate squirrels.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-35604645729657101662010-04-11T15:58:00.002-05:002010-04-11T17:03:27.398-05:00

Sorry it's so dark and fuzzy--I took it through the windowscreen. But I'm so thrilled!

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-84631205057184166942010-04-11T08:43:00.002-05:002010-04-11T08:59:54.248-05:00

A friend gave me a birdfeeder for Christmas. Last week I got a 2-armed shepherd's crook--the kind you can hang flower baskets from--and put it in the yard, right where I can see it from the couch in the living room. Yesterday I hung the bird feeder up, and this morning I've seen the same pair of cardinals alight three times on the arms of the shepherd's crook and give the feeder the once over.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-10525301910714660772010-04-09T19:58:00.002-05:002010-04-09T20:02:48.601-05:00

You must check this out. I always thought I was a pretty tolerant dog-mom, but I believe Monika has me beat by a country mile. It just cracks me up that instead of going "EEEEEEEEEEK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" she went and got her camera.It's been such a joy watching Happy grow up--he seems to really live up to his name!

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-79082598153004138382010-04-09T18:37:00.007-05:002010-04-09T19:46:42.559-05:00

I don't have any knitting to share because I haven't been doing much--the time change and the weather between them seem to have knocked me out. I'm hoping to get some work done on the 2009 Calendar Scarf this weekend, since I have only 4 more patterns to go. Also I'm working on some pink angora bed socks. I thought I had a complete pair, but I seem to have managed to lose the first one.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-38060685296235073922010-04-04T18:48:00.005-05:002010-04-04T20:39:02.561-05:00

A pretty spring day for Easter this year, although the day is ending with a thunderstorm and tornado watch. I was out with the dogs when the storm started--not much rain, but so much lightning and thunder that I thought we'd better come in. Now the fireworks have died off but there's more rain. So I thought I would load some pictures of the garden. Please click to get the large versions.Okay,

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-41106980924317998312010-04-03T15:54:00.004-05:002010-04-03T16:02:02.215-05:00

And stands in her mommy's lap while the doctor gives her an exam. The big baby. But all things considered, she was good. I took treats and the clicker, and had her touching things and fetching things while we waited, and she was never so stressed that she couldn't take treats (a good sign), although she got a little snatchy (not so good). Then the vet came in and Taenzer tried to hide behind

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-72720512993423880752010-04-02T08:38:00.003-05:002010-04-02T11:54:27.163-05:00

I have the day off, and I have SO much to do--and I'm sitting here blinking like an owl in the sun because I didn't sleep well last night--too much noise from outside and too warm--plus my darling Mr. T woke me up at 6:30 this morning because he REALLY had to go. I had sort of expected it--he drank a lot of water last night because it was so warm and they really haven't had time to acclimate--

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-61531228839504228932010-03-28T08:21:00.003-05:002010-03-28T09:53:20.920-05:00

Okay, I've been working on it longer than 20 days! But that's the pattern I'm currently working on. This past week I turned to Barbara Walker to replace a couple of patterns--one I didn't like and one I couldn't figure out. It was interesting to do, because in looking over what I'd done so far I realized there's a kind of "theme" in that the patterns are based on either verticals or /\ shapes. I

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-78551430316290160322010-03-22T17:27:00.003-05:002010-03-22T17:36:30.510-05:00

So I got to poking around today, and I found pictures of Timber's brother Rocket! Go here to read about Rocket, now living with Debbie and Bob Fratini of Naperville, and see some great pictures. I confess, I got all choked up. He's a big handsome boy--not as beautiful as my Timber, of course, but very handsome. Apparently he flips over on his back for tummy-rubs just like Timber does (but I never

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-14513776458459134192010-03-21T10:19:00.009-05:002010-03-21T11:20:35.410-05:00

Monika mentioned in a comment that she thought I didn't know where the Ts had come from. This gives me a perfect excuse to post about Timber's mystery, which I've been breaking my brain over since I first read his story.Now, I got Taenzer from the breeder of my previous GSD, Stella: Kathy Watson of Valiantdale Kennels. Stella is, in fact, (or was) Taenzer's great-great-aunt--Taenzer's

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-31607335455711181552010-03-20T09:55:00.008-05:002010-03-20T11:55:33.822-05:00

Today, the first day of spring, it's windy, cold, and snowing, but last week when it was warm and sunny, I took the camera out into the garden and got some pictures. I love the buds and first leaves! And also my beautiful babies. Do click to see the larger versions!I was surprised to see so many crocus. Then I remembered that I used bulb food on everything last spring and on as many bulb things

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-70295351983416003122010-03-16T17:52:00.002-05:002010-03-16T18:03:06.133-05:00

I took Taenzer out walking Sunday afternoon, and I must say, she was VERY good. I was SO proud of her. She was excited and pull-y the first couple of blocks, but I kept turning away and when she'd come up into position, I'd click and treat. So the next 4 or 5 blocks she was out in front of me but not pulling, and the last 2 blocks she walked at my side with a loose leash!!! I was very happy and

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-81499205492356462462010-03-14T08:29:00.004-05:002010-03-14T09:42:41.074-05:00

What daylight savings time means to me:Disrupted sleep.Going back to getting up in the dark, at least for the next couple of weeks. Another hour to look out at the gray, dreary, soggy landscape.It's been overcast with at least a little rain every day for a week, and they're forecasting another week of clouds and rain. I think my house is going to sink slowly into the mud and I'll have to build

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-73227100126143867272010-03-12T19:49:00.003-06:002010-03-12T20:38:09.501-06:00

Who of course is famous for his beautiful Adagio for Strings.I have a pretty good musical background, but, oddly, I'd never heard this piece until very recently--3 or 4 years ago, on NPR.I played violin in grade school and high school, and had the privilege of attending a school with a superb music program. We played a lot of wonderful music, but I regret never having had a chance to be part of a

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-34026205149902142122010-03-10T18:07:00.004-06:002010-03-10T18:28:31.451-06:00

Last night just before bed, Timber started licking his nose and gulping, as if he was going to throw up. It started very gently, but picked up, and he started getting restless, so I took him outside. He pooped, but didn't throw up, so we came back inside.I wound up sitting up with him until 3 this morning. I'm still not sure what was going on. He had some of the symptoms of incipient bloat:

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-84009920210355566792010-03-08T18:00:00.003-06:002010-03-08T18:14:11.022-06:00

It might take a while, but it does work.It's WET here. All that snow is melting, and we're supposed to get rain all week. Yay, water in my basement, can't wait. But it's been too wet to let the Ts into the puppy pen, so I got out their collars and leashes and started walking them.Timber is a star! It took a few reminders when we started out, but he's doing so well--I let him walk in front of me,

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-67303784466779108822010-03-05T18:16:00.002-06:002010-03-05T18:24:45.245-06:00

I wish I could afford a different camera! And here's why:That's Taenzer with a milkshake cup stuck on her nose. When I aimed the camera for the shot, she was lying down, licking the bottom and just starting to realize she was stuck. It took way too long for the crummy thing to focus, flash, and trip the shutter. This camera is SOOOOOO slow, it just makes me crazy. It actually has a

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-83107551621765216542010-02-28T09:24:00.002-06:002010-02-28T09:44:37.943-06:00

I have to thank whoever created the Knit Visualizer program and made a free demo version available, because it's saving me with this scarf.Apparently I'm more of a visual knitter than I realized. I get terribly confused with lines of written instructions because I get lost (okay, micro-mini attention span), and since I don't know what the knitting is supposed to look like, I don't know how to

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-64378733896039238412010-02-27T09:55:00.006-06:002010-02-28T09:50:19.538-06:00

I'm not progressing as quickly as I'd like to with this scarf, but I am progressing. Not quite half way, but getting there. In the picture below it's (from the top down) qiviut, yak down, a cashmere/merino blend, buffalo down, and alpaca/silk. I'll have to do a picture without the light behind it so you can see the yarns better--but hanging lace in the window does bring out the patterns!It's

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-89808079060336153702010-02-22T19:05:00.014-06:002010-02-22T20:44:14.231-06:00

There's a LOT of snow out there-- --but the dogs are thrilled. Of course, it's easy for them--they don't have to do the shoveling! I'm running out of places to put the snow!Some of the vegetation isn't too thrilled either, like this blue spruce. The poor box bush up by the garage is positively buried.Meanwhile, at good ol' Forgottonia U, the grounds people and the building services people are

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-5524100011237749742010-02-21T09:50:00.006-06:002010-02-21T10:09:02.970-06:00

I don't usually do three posts in one morning, but--As I was shoveling the sidewalk, I happened to notice a glimpse of green along the side of the house. !!! Flowers! Green things growing!! Yahooooo!!! Then I ran in to get my camera so I could share.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-33132710299598860512010-02-21T08:29:00.005-06:002010-02-21T12:39:52.848-06:00

I'm stuck on my scarf. I've got a problem with the Day 9 pattern in row 3--I keep losing stitches somewhere. It must be something I'm doing, because I haven't seen anything on Ravelry mentioning an error in the pattern.Row 1 reads: ESk4 (4 Edge Stitches), k2tog, yo, k2, yo k2, x-yo, s1 k2tog psso, yo, k2, yo, k2-x, rep. from x-x until end of row and end after the last x-x with yo, s1 k1 psso,

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-17406670249446073632010-02-20T21:30:00.003-06:002010-02-21T08:14:24.981-06:00

We have more snow this morning. Wet, heavy snow. The good thing about wet snow is that it sticks to everything and makes everything look beautiful. The tartarian honeysuckles all look like they're covered with cherry blossom.The bad thing about wet snow is that it weighs a ton to shovel. Fortunately there's not much of it out there, and I think it's stopped, at least for now.However, when I was

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-55363467889443840262010-02-18T18:04:00.002-06:002010-02-19T15:10:35.647-06:00

This morning Timber got his revenge on Taenzer: I've been working on shaping "heel" with him for several months now, and he's really nailing it--he sits nice and straight (no butt out) and has progressed to doing 4 or 5 steps in a straight line and a nice right-hand U-turn. (We'd be doing more except my house is so crowded there's no room *sigh*) Anyway, he was waiting for his duck jerky treat

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-73577005138372113662010-02-16T18:10:00.005-06:002010-02-16T18:37:36.960-06:00

As I've probably said before, Taenzer is of the opinion that bringing me things is Her Job. She was a mouthy little puppy, so I started working with her early, teaching her that if she brought me something instead of taking it off somewhere to chew on it, she would get a treat. As she got a little older, I taught her to bring me things I actually wanted, on cue. So now if I drop something or want

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-14266927694424524962010-02-14T10:10:00.004-06:002010-02-14T11:18:44.954-06:00

Ack. It's snowing again. Not a lot, but I'll have to go shovel again. I'm getting tired of shoveling snow. Despite the fact that it's only an inch or so, rather than a foot, I'm still tired of it. I've been shoveling snow off and on since Christmas!I thought I might update my progress on the 2009 Calendar Scarf. I'm really enjoying it. I like the simple lace patterns, and I love the beautiful

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-67756609964330614852010-02-11T13:07:00.003-06:002010-02-14T10:16:42.744-06:00

Okay. I have to make these. Must go through the stash this weekend and see if I have anything that's suitable!

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-90317100410910530422010-02-06T09:32:00.004-06:002010-02-06T10:21:38.649-06:00

We got some snow yesterday--not a lot, and nothing compared to what DC is getting right now! But enough to cover the grass that was starting to show. Wet heavy stuff that I'll have to go out and shovel this morning.It's windy, too, and all last night and into this morning I keep hearing bangs and booms around the house. Another thing I'll have to do this morning: go see what's happening on the

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-82226380129484290892010-02-03T17:08:00.003-06:002010-02-03T18:54:16.113-06:00

I took the car in for an oil change today, and asked them if they could fish out the dpn I'd managed to lodge between the central console and the passenger seat--it's a very tight fit, and I hadn't been able to find anything long enough, thin enough, and strong enough to winkle it out. They did. I'm happy; now I can work on my car-sock again.There was a guy in the office when I went to pick it up

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-38228794676978054562010-01-30T09:45:00.002-06:002010-01-30T09:52:24.001-06:00

I think I'm getting either a cold or a sinus infection--either way, my head is all full of cotton instead of brains, and I have no thinking processes worth mentioning. I haven't done any knitting in days because it just takes more concentration to move my fingers the right way than I can seem to muster. (And I hate feeling like this--just think of all the hours of possible knitting I'm wasting!

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-56038362572836169402010-01-28T18:21:00.002-06:002010-01-28T18:36:57.225-06:00

It's been such a zoo at work--we've had two position applicants for on-campus visits, plus 4 people who are applying for promotion/tenure and have tons of paperwork to do, some of which involves me, plus it's the last week for program changes by permission only, which means handing out forms, directing students to professors, and putting them into the classes when the come back with the forms,

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-60061469959341412092010-01-23T20:18:00.003-06:002010-01-23T20:55:06.225-06:00

She did it! She did it! She did it!!Tonight Taenzer simply stepped back with one back foot into the pizza box (substitute for the cookie sheet, to get Timber to lift a bit higher) instead of circling around, stomping it with her front feet and waiting for the click, then when it didn't come moving forward to stand with her back feet in.She did it several times in a row. I'm not actually

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-79632291233214462742010-01-21T20:04:00.003-06:002010-01-21T21:06:42.714-06:00

Well, tonight Timber had never heard the words "back foot" or lifted his foot to put it on a cookie sheet before, and Taenzer's brain was completely gone away to Miami or somewhere. It was okay with Timber--I just had him do some sits and downs and front foot targeting and we left it at that. He's fine, I'm fine. Training goes that way sometimes, and he'll probably be back on top of it next

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-72786289945746535912010-01-20T20:31:00.002-06:002010-01-20T20:58:45.842-06:00

Timber's been deliberately lifting his back feet to touch the cookie sheet. It is SO unbelievably COOL to see him think about it and one foot goes up--awkwardly and deliberately, sort of as if I were trying to write my name with my left hand. AND, he's doing it when I give him a verbal cue (the oh-so-imaginative "back foot"). I was so excited when I realized he was getting it I about died. I

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-61264938123001657812010-01-19T19:47:00.006-06:002010-02-28T09:56:49.864-06:00

Yes, I decided I just didn't want to take the chance with the camel-hair yarn, and that I could afford 3 skeins of Elann's alpaca/silk yarn. So I'm waiting for the yarn to come, and meanwhile I decided to do s omething fairly quick--socks, of course.Well, this turned out a bit too quick--two socks, two days. I've made this particular pattern before--Brigid from Goddess Knits--and from a different

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-79130111582165784852010-01-16T11:07:00.004-06:002010-02-28T09:55:33.364-06:00

By the way, if you catch a cold, try drinking Gypsy Cold Care tea. It's a herbal tea put together with a lot of herbs traditionally used for treating colds, it tastes really good (esp. with a spoonful of honey), and makes you feel better. At least, it makes me feel better. I found it in the grocery store.I finally finished this first camel-hair yarn section of the scarf and started the next

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-20634042837744589452010-01-14T19:36:00.004-06:002010-02-28T09:53:44.325-06:00

A virus, I guess. Just kinda mildly headachey, mildly upset stomach, tired, can't focus even to read or knit (that's how I know I'm really sick!). Living on hot soup and hot milk with vanilla and honey. :-PDid I mention I got my laptop running? I can't figure out how to reload the address book to my e-mail or the favorites to IE, but it's running a lot better than it was. (knock on wood)I haven't

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-57295173807541485542010-01-10T08:47:00.005-06:002010-02-28T09:49:43.069-06:00

I was feeling like I needed a break from the aran sweater I'm working on, and I had so much fun making the 2008 Calendar Scarf, that I really wanted to start the 2009 Calendar Scarf. Problem--I didn't have enough yarn, and I'm still pretty much on a "yarn diet," trying to use only yarn from my stash for new projects.I was looking at pictures of 2007 and 2008 calendar scarves people have posted on

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-91003277953918229712010-01-09T07:55:00.006-06:002010-01-09T08:33:50.840-06:00

According to the Weather Channel online, it's 11 below zero this morning. According to the thermometer in the kitchen, it's 6 below. That's not as bad as South Dakota (see Kathleen Taylor's blog), but I think there comes a point when cold is just COLD. What's worse is that I have to go out to buy groceries and run a couple of errands. The dogs will want to come, but I think I'm going to leave

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-64783729754665703102010-01-08T08:06:00.003-06:002010-01-08T08:14:05.131-06:00

I haven't seen any figures, but judging from what I shoveled off the sidewalks and driveway yesterday, I think we must have gotten another 6 inches, on top of what we already had. I think I'm getting tired of snow. It wasn't so bad last week, when I could sit inside, sip hot drinks, knit, read, watch DVDs, and snuggle with the dogs, but now that I have to go outside and go to work and navigate

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-57498875884103908262010-01-05T18:43:00.002-06:002010-01-05T19:41:34.623-06:00

The windchill was 24 below zero this morning. Tomorrow it's only supposed to be 10 below. When I went out to lunch, I thought, "hm, it's not nearly as cold as it was." Sheesh.We're under a winter storm watch--they're predicting another 4-6 inches by Thursday evening. Oh yay. It's bad enough shoveling snow, but it's absolutely worse when I have to work it in at lunch or after work. However,

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-60600061025275079202010-01-03T14:08:00.003-06:002010-01-03T14:24:39.964-06:00

Well, I think I've got Timber fixed up. I remembered that a couple of years ago I bought them some winter boots, so I found Timber's and put them on--with much giggling, since it's a lot like trying to put mittens on a toddler--his foot just goes limp and his toes bend and mash all up, so it takes some engineering to get them on. Plus these were a bit stiff from not having been used for a while.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-64737338216994888932010-01-02T14:25:00.002-06:002010-01-02T15:21:53.871-06:00

German Shepherds generally like cold weather much better than they like hot weather, but I expect there does need to be a certain amount of acclimating when it's really cold, esp. if they're inside most of the time in the winter, as mine are.It's really cold here--single digits during the day, below zero at night. Thank goodness there's not much wind. At any rate, we haven't been going out much

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-10294446561493221922009-12-30T18:09:00.003-06:002009-12-30T20:14:14.783-06:00

So, are you going to call next year two-thousand-ten or twenty-ten?(And btw, I say tomayto. ;-)My dogs are really strange. The past couple of nights I've had pork roast (pre-roasted, from the store), sauerkraut, and potatoes, with a little applesauce to temper the sauerkraut a bit, for dinner. Such a good meal; I love the contrast of the rich pork and the tang of the kraut and the earthiness of

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-81468074410817763352009-12-25T09:02:00.011-06:002009-12-26T09:57:31.619-06:00

I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas, and are enjoying your day in a sea of wrapping paper.I gave the dogs chews for Christmas. Taenzer finished hers first, so I asked her to "help" me unwrap prezzies by scattering the light and/or small ones on the floor and asking her to bring them to me. I think she enjoyed it. I got some lovely things. There are a beautiful bowl and cup that are

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-81610000257048540102009-12-24T15:40:00.003-06:002009-12-24T16:02:15.271-06:00

'Twas the night before ChristmasOutside it was rainingInside the Ts nappedSad but not complaining.It is SO wet outside. I suppose it's better than 16" of snow--and it's definitely better than ice in any amount! But really. I think we have enough rain for the time being; we really don't need any more.Taenzer particularly is unhappy. She's such a physical dog that not getting time to run really

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-84535442177149102332009-12-20T18:14:00.004-06:002010-02-28T09:47:15.027-06:00

I'm going to tote my laptop in to work tomorrow to see if I can get it working. If not, I guess I'll use my cat-sitting money to take it to a professional, or to get a new hard drive--or maybe both--so I can finally download pictures again.This afternoon, I got a big Santa hat for Timber, and wrapped Taenzer in the calendar scarf, which I finished this morning. Timber was awfully good about

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-56379425117789033992009-12-18T18:01:00.002-06:002009-12-18T18:28:27.139-06:00

I think I'm going to finish the 2008 calendar scarf this weekend. I had to omit another pattern, as I won't have enough yarn, but it's still going to be very lovely. I can't get over how soft the yarn is! I'm sorting of thinking about getting blocking wires to block it with--Elann has a set for $20. That's pretty affordable. The pattern for Day 21 is the Frostflower pattern, which I think is

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-46807303877349480532009-12-12T18:27:00.003-06:002009-12-12T18:46:14.425-06:00

Having triumphed over Day 17, I decided I didn't like Day 18 and substituted another pattern for it. It reads as extra-big holes, so I decided to use the Crown of Glory pattern from Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns, which gives much the same effect. Took me a while to get it worked out, and now that I have I realize it's going to be upside down to the onlooker, but it's still

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-19150479368153109192009-12-10T17:56:00.002-06:002009-12-10T18:22:43.322-06:00

I got past the bumpy part on Day 17. Yay! I had to write down each row separately and read from that, to keep from reading from Row 17 instead of Row 16 or whatever. I also used my trial version of Knit Visualizer and typed the instructions in to get a chart, so I had something to look at, which helped enormously. Then I worked v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y and counted compulsively and finally made it

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-78460968230423528112009-12-08T18:34:00.003-06:002009-12-08T18:43:16.075-06:00

So here I am on Day 17 of the 2008 calendar scarf, and I'm stuck. I'm one of those people who much prefers to work off a chart--a line of k2 yo sl1 k2 psso yo etc. makes me go cross-eyed, and when it's a LONG line and I don't have a picture to compare my work to, it's just awful. I lose my place and get terribly confused. Worse, this is a real knitted lace pattern--I think that's the right

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-14975291574239757682009-12-04T17:59:00.003-06:002009-12-04T18:27:28.560-06:00

I can never think up really snappy titles for these things; sorry.Tonight I broke out the humidifiers--it suddenly got cold, which sucked all the moisture out of the air, not to mention me. The humidity was down to 46% in the living room at noon. Currently it's at 51%, which is better.Years ago a very kind friend gave me a humongous humidifier that worked but was really noisy. Last year I

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-12928281876324273062009-12-03T09:31:00.003-06:002009-12-03T09:46:03.709-06:00

I went to the vet right after work and then sat there for 2 hours while she took care of emergencies and late appts. *sigh* Fortunately, I keep knitting in the car, so I went out and got it, and turned a heel while I was waiting. :) It's a fuzzy pink 60% angora bedsock.Good hips! Hurray! They look real good and clear (no arthritic changes). If he was registered, I'd OFA him and some breeder

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-89181852145210700592009-11-29T09:30:00.002-06:002009-11-29T10:08:18.459-06:00

I've completed Day 7 of the 2008 Calendar Scarf and had planned to post a picture of it this morning, but my laptop has managed to pick up a virus. Yes, I had an anti-virus program installed, and yes, it was running in the background (at least so it told me), and yes, I had updated it, but it's still got a virus. I've got the program running a scan now, but I won't be surprised--though I'll be

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-87886472332762845622009-11-26T08:15:00.004-06:002009-11-26T09:00:05.976-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! I hope you have wonderful food and a congenial day.For the first time in I don't know how long--years--I don't have a cat-sitting gig for the holidays. Obviously I need to give some thought to rebuilding my clientele.Meanwhile, I've been invited to dinner with some friends. Amy says she LOVES to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Our menu is turkey, dressing,

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-15427956606400942252009-11-21T13:10:00.004-06:002009-11-21T13:55:10.745-06:00

Ah, at last, things seem to be working. Well, first, here are a couple of 5-hour baby sweaters I made for a friend who's expecting twins. This is the first time I've made the 5-hour sweater, and it really actually only took me about 5-1/2 or 6 hours. I think it's cute, and you could do a lot of tweaking (like, erm, adding buttonholes (*koff*)), and I love the idea that if I have the yarn and a

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-36160111307792349822009-11-21T10:26:00.003-06:002009-11-21T10:39:18.217-06:00

I've got my laptop back, so I can upload pictures, so here you go, pictures of what I've been working on lately:(pause)Or not. I can't get the upload feature to work. Okay, we'll close down and try this again later.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-60111672685326698402009-11-07T19:43:00.003-06:002009-11-07T20:06:12.047-06:00

Tonight each dog individually walked on a loose leash clear down to the end of the block and back! Yahoo! I'm so PROUD of them!With Taenzer the trick was to keep talking to her and hand out treats fairly frequently.With Timber the trick was getting him to remember I'm there by asking him at intervals to sit, make eye contact, and wait to be released with "Okay! Let's go!" We only had to do

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-73651802630581541722009-11-07T08:35:00.002-06:002009-11-07T12:56:24.466-06:00

Apple Lane Apple Pie, Winter Dawn colorway, 3x2 ribbing. (picture here as soon as I get my laptop back, which I hope to goodness will be next week!)This is one of my favorite yarns. I happen to have it in the original mix of 50% wool, 20% mohair, 20% silk, and 10% nylon (the current mix is 65/20/5/10), and it is sooooo soft, with that lovely silk sheen and just a hit of halo. I've made several

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-65355851043658430942009-11-04T18:18:00.002-06:002009-11-04T18:23:47.271-06:00

This afternoon I sent off my nephew's sweater to his parents for a try-on. I'd finished one sleeve and decided not to do the other one until I know how it's fitting. I took pictures, and will post as soon as I get my laptop back (which will hopefully be soon...).At any rate, that means that I can now take a break and sit back and make myself a new pair of socks.Only I'm not ready! I haven't

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-11302458963374180482009-11-03T10:00:00.002-06:002009-11-03T10:03:51.292-06:00

If he was human I'd marry him.NPR was talking about the revival of Finian's Rainbow, which got me thinking about the songs, which are wonderful--so this morning I was singing Old Devil Moon. Singing it. Full out. Selling it to the balcony. Looked over and there's Timber, sitting there with his eyes glued to me and a look of adoring anticipation on his face. I'm singing "I look at you and

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-75536716175815967022009-11-02T20:23:00.003-06:002009-11-02T20:40:58.535-06:00

Usually I deal with the fall time change better than the spring time change, but not this year. I remember I was thrilled with the extra hour in the evening this past April--or March--whenever. And yesterday was awful--I never did really know what time it was and the dogs and I got so confused about our schedules. It's not much better today. Am I hungry? Is it bed time? The other secretary

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-37983492148701167162009-10-31T08:50:00.003-05:002009-10-31T09:26:43.962-05:00

It's been raining here. Lots of rain. Lots and lots of rain. It stopped yesterday, thank goodness, but the sump pump has been working about 24 hours--not constantly, but it kicks on every 4 or 5 or 10 minutes. And the wind picked up. Yesterday was a pretty nasty day. Today the sun is out, a pleasant sight, but it's still windy. Brrr. Poor little trick-or-treaters!I didn't sleep well last

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-24161732392628615542009-10-29T17:53:00.003-05:002009-10-29T18:26:05.000-05:00

Very. Rainy.As in Pouring.At least it's not 3 feet of snow, like Colorado.I was going to go meet my sister tomorrow, and we were going to just hang out and do sister things--show each other our knitting, go to a yarn store (or two), go to Barnes & Noble. But she e-mailed me today to say she couldn't make it. I'm really disappointed. I was really looking forward to it. Also to getting out and

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-33908630107445665682009-10-27T17:39:00.002-05:002009-10-27T18:36:04.480-05:00

When I lost weight last spring my blood pressure went down and I stopped taking my bp meds. I monitored it daily, thanks to a kind friend (thanks, Jennifer!), and it would get a bit high-ish--138/80, for instance--but I learned that knitting and loving on the dogs would bring it down--one time I brought it down to 112/80. So I felt like I was doing okay, and so did my doctor.Well--I've regained

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-35010005005413314902009-10-24T20:54:00.002-05:002009-10-24T21:37:47.923-05:00

Well, at least today was gorgeous. They're predicting a possibility of rain for tomorrow.My laptop is off getting its power jack replaced. I'm hopeful I'll get it back next week, so I can start putting pictures on the blog again. The sky was so, so, so blue today. Deep, sunny blue, with gold leaves shining against it--just beautiful. I went out to buy a few groceries and get my hair cut, but

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-40644838395812871752009-10-17T15:42:00.002-05:002009-10-17T17:52:16.218-05:00

I wish I could post a picture of what a beautiful day it is here, but this stupid desktop won't read anything I plug into any of its USB ports. But it's sunny, breezy, and cool but not cold--a picture-perfect autumn day.The dogs and I have been outside for most of it. They got to run around and play. I distributed part of the compost pile. Ran into a small problem: it's full of maple tree

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-55194514858338872712009-10-15T14:41:00.002-05:002009-10-15T16:03:33.609-05:00

My laptop has blown its power jack. I'm trying to decide whether to spend $150 to get it fixed or get an off-lease/refurbished one for about $325 from Tiger Direct. Meanwhile I'm making do with the desktop, which refuses to read anything I plug into the USB ports, including the camera, so no pictures for a while.It has come to my attention that my dogs require further training in order for the 3

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-29784940756044131752009-10-10T11:59:00.003-05:002009-10-10T12:39:04.055-05:00

It was Bark int he Park downtown today. I decided to walk the Ts down, though we went very late and despite the website saying activities would take place "all day," things were pretty much over by 11:30.Nevertheless. They were pretty good, esp. considering that we haven't been leash-walking for a very long time. Yes, they did get out at the end of the leash, but they're getting the idea--they

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-84639775316319642162009-10-10T10:04:00.005-05:002009-10-10T10:47:22.402-05:00

I got this month's Elann samples knit up last night. Well, all but one, which is a laceweight/very fine fingering that is too hard to deal with on metal needles and I was too lazy to get up and dig out some birch ones.They're all kind of odd, in one way or another, this month. This first one is sorta-kinda-semi-neat, sorta--it's Needful Yarns Disco which is 70% nylon, 20% mohair, 10% acrylic.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-71304051989346915912009-10-08T20:43:00.004-05:002009-10-08T20:47:54.915-05:00

Tada! Finished the Polperro Gansey cardigan from Classic British Knits by Madeline Weston. Yarn used: Austermann Naturwolle, color no. 2, double-stranded. I still need 10 buttons, but basically I'm very happy with this sweater and I think I'll wear it a lot.

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611715272907796104.post-24100202847652989542009-10-08T15:57:00.005-05:002009-10-08T16:15:55.007-05:00

You know what would be fun, if one had time and money? Doing things with the dogs. There are so many cool things a person can do with a dog, and some of the breed-specific things are open to other breeds "at the discretion of the hosting club." Of course, there are all the AKC events, like obedience, rally, agility, and tracking. There's also herding, and the classic GSD sport,

T-Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09598655128676657203noreply@blogger.com0