[Deleted my rant about the "2-3 days" the PO said the parcel would take.]
My sister finally got the socks I mailed to her 10 days ago. She likes them, too!
When I found out that I would not be able to go down to the Carolinas for her surprise birthday party, I decided to gift her with the Blue Stripes. Had to keep all that a secret, of course. She Was surprised about the party - and the socks. :-)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Still waiting
I thought I'd have something to blog about - oh, say, last Thursday or Friday at the latest. The clerk at the PO said "two to three days." Right. And now tomorrow's a holiday, so maybe Tuesday...which will be Eight Days. Since it's a surprise, I will still have to wait.
Meanwhile -
1. I'm nearly finished reading "Knitting Rules!" Loads of fun!
2. I'm working on the heel flap for the second Embossed Leaves sock [for mother.] I took the finished first sock along when I visited her several days ago and it fit Perfectly!
3. It was DD1's bd yesterday. Our tradition is that we all go out to a movie and meal together. This time it was Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and then to Olive Garden.
4. I've had 23 radiation treatments - 5 to go.
5. I'm officially on vacation until June 5th. I know the time will go Much Too Quickly.
6. DD3 is transfering back to the local university for fall semester, and she can move into an apt. on campus on Tuesday. So, tomorrow I'm taking a road trip down there to load up as many boxes that will fit into my Protege. Just to get them out of the way. Her boyfriend has a trailer, so they'll do the rest of the moving on Tuesday- and estimate they'll have to make two trips. Luckily she lives less than 100 miles away.
7. While I'm down at DD3's current digs tomorrow, I'll see if at least one of the 2 LYSs is open - and then stop by :-)
Meanwhile -
1. I'm nearly finished reading "Knitting Rules!" Loads of fun!
2. I'm working on the heel flap for the second Embossed Leaves sock [for mother.] I took the finished first sock along when I visited her several days ago and it fit Perfectly!
3. It was DD1's bd yesterday. Our tradition is that we all go out to a movie and meal together. This time it was Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and then to Olive Garden.
4. I've had 23 radiation treatments - 5 to go.
5. I'm officially on vacation until June 5th. I know the time will go Much Too Quickly.
6. DD3 is transfering back to the local university for fall semester, and she can move into an apt. on campus on Tuesday. So, tomorrow I'm taking a road trip down there to load up as many boxes that will fit into my Protege. Just to get them out of the way. Her boyfriend has a trailer, so they'll do the rest of the moving on Tuesday- and estimate they'll have to make two trips. Luckily she lives less than 100 miles away.
7. While I'm down at DD3's current digs tomorrow, I'll see if at least one of the 2 LYSs is open - and then stop by :-)
Sunday, May 20, 2007
May Socks Completed
Sitting here with a big grin on my face ... The May Socks are finished! And here's the first photo I've taken with my new digital camera!Specs
Pattern: leg - k4, p1 rib - continued on top of sock down to the toes
Yarn: Opal Feelings #1703
Needles: 5 dpns [US 1.5 bamboo] for the legs and then US size 1 for the rest
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Green River [and I don't mean the soda]
Another item in my meme talked about one of my rafting trips. I got all nostalgic & dug out my photos. Here are some of them. Oh, if you've never been white water rafting - try it. I love it!!
1. Here's the loaded raft and my brother-in-law. There were four of us on the trip. [We weren't on a guided excursion. It was just us.] The raft held all of our food, water, camping gear, etc. for the week long trip. On this stretch of the Green River in Utah, you have to have a permit. They only give two permits per day. The river looks calm there, but the rapids aren't. A week before we set out, another group lost someone whose kayak flipped and the fellow got caught under the rocks.
3. Some of the canyon rims are 5000 feet above the river. 
4.This is Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid territory. These wild horses have lived in this canyon for decades. There's an old log cabin near this spot - still with pots & pans, glass bottles etc. 
5. Wash day 
6. One day we got off the river and hiked to some petroglyphs. That's me.
7. Recently, someone asked me, "When you are riding on the big raft, do you get splashed by the water?" --- Yes. 
8. I'm paddling as fast as I can! 
9. On our last night on the river, we camped across from Nefertiti rock. 
Wonderful experience!
1. Here's the loaded raft and my brother-in-law. There were four of us on the trip. [We weren't on a guided excursion. It was just us.] The raft held all of our food, water, camping gear, etc. for the week long trip. On this stretch of the Green River in Utah, you have to have a permit. They only give two permits per day. The river looks calm there, but the rapids aren't. A week before we set out, another group lost someone whose kayak flipped and the fellow got caught under the rocks.2. Awesome scenery.
3. Some of the canyon rims are 5000 feet above the river. 
4.This is Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid territory. These wild horses have lived in this canyon for decades. There's an old log cabin near this spot - still with pots & pans, glass bottles etc. 
5. Wash day 
6. One day we got off the river and hiked to some petroglyphs. That's me.
7. Recently, someone asked me, "When you are riding on the big raft, do you get splashed by the water?" --- Yes. 
8. I'm paddling as fast as I can! 
9. On our last night on the river, we camped across from Nefertiti rock. 
Wonderful experience!The Queen and I, and a Beatle
I figured if anyone read my meme [previous post] and got to #2, they'd say, "Yeah, right." Here's my proof. This was taken... um, a long time ago... as you can tell by the much younger Queen. There's Prince Philip next to her. And you can recognize Prince Charles' ear, I'm sure. Where am I? Well, look closely in the bottom right corner. You'll see an arm sticking out of a blue sleeve - you can't see my face, but it's behind the camera and both of my hands. 
After seeing the royal family, my friends & I walked over to Paul's house. Paul McCartney, of course. That's me ringing the bell. The maid said he wasn't home. She didn't lie - 'cos he & Linda drove by us while we were walking over to Abbey Road studios. Paul must have known we were stalkers because two minutes later they drove by again--Thanks, Paul, it Was a Thrill!!Tagged
I've been tagged by Kathy. [That's OK, we can still be friends :-)
Here's how to play...
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names
1. My weekend: In order to get ready for the next Harry Potter movie AND book 7, I’m going to watch [again] the four DVDs this weekend. I haven’t read book five, but will listen to it on cd while I knit next week!
2. I have a photo of myself with Queen Elizabeth.
3. I haven’t bought soap in several years. Not since I started making my own.
4. I’ve watched the original 14 videos [I think that’s the number] of the Sharpe’s Rifles series three times – and several of them four or five times. Love that Richard Sharpe.
5. One of my favorite vacations was a week-long rafting trip down the Green River in Utah through Desolation Canyon. Out of cell phone & radio range. WooHoo!
6. The first time I saw Gone With the Wind was in a theater [where smoking was allowed] in Wrexham, Wales.
7. I grew up living next door to my maternal grandparents – who lived next door to Grandma’s parents. Grandma often left a plate of cookies on her table and us kids would sneak in the house, grab a cookie & run back out to play in the big back yards. We thought she wouldn't know….
8. I can make pretty good fry bread. The dough MUST be fried in lard over a roaring fire. This works best outdoors! One of my kids’ favorite meals = Indian tacos.
Now I am supposed to tag 8 people. The only problem is that I don't think there are 8 people who check my blog with any regularity. So I looked back at comments on previous posts and came up with these bloggers: Rahime, Beth, Holly, Shelley, N. Maria, Becca. So, If you stop by again and haven't done one of these memes lately -- You're It! [There were a few other commenters, but I couldn't find their blog addresses.]
Here's how to play...
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names
1. My weekend: In order to get ready for the next Harry Potter movie AND book 7, I’m going to watch [again] the four DVDs this weekend. I haven’t read book five, but will listen to it on cd while I knit next week!
2. I have a photo of myself with Queen Elizabeth.
3. I haven’t bought soap in several years. Not since I started making my own.
4. I’ve watched the original 14 videos [I think that’s the number] of the Sharpe’s Rifles series three times – and several of them four or five times. Love that Richard Sharpe.
5. One of my favorite vacations was a week-long rafting trip down the Green River in Utah through Desolation Canyon. Out of cell phone & radio range. WooHoo!
6. The first time I saw Gone With the Wind was in a theater [where smoking was allowed] in Wrexham, Wales.
7. I grew up living next door to my maternal grandparents – who lived next door to Grandma’s parents. Grandma often left a plate of cookies on her table and us kids would sneak in the house, grab a cookie & run back out to play in the big back yards. We thought she wouldn't know….
8. I can make pretty good fry bread. The dough MUST be fried in lard over a roaring fire. This works best outdoors! One of my kids’ favorite meals = Indian tacos.
Now I am supposed to tag 8 people. The only problem is that I don't think there are 8 people who check my blog with any regularity. So I looked back at comments on previous posts and came up with these bloggers: Rahime, Beth, Holly, Shelley, N. Maria, Becca. So, If you stop by again and haven't done one of these memes lately -- You're It! [There were a few other commenters, but I couldn't find their blog addresses.]
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Half Done
1. with radiation - yippee! had #15 today, 13 remaining
2. with the Blue Stripes - I've completed about 4" of the leg on the second sock, but...I think I'm going to miss my "goal" of finishing the pair by tomorrow evening. Oh, well. Deadline is now moved to Saturday!
Gotta go knit!
2. with the Blue Stripes - I've completed about 4" of the leg on the second sock, but...I think I'm going to miss my "goal" of finishing the pair by tomorrow evening. Oh, well. Deadline is now moved to Saturday!
Gotta go knit!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Harry Potter (and knitting)
When DD1 [a Harry Potter fan from day 1] came home from work, she had me open her Mother's Day gift to me: Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter ! Great book -- loads of sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens, wizards' robes, and more!
Thanks, DD1!!! Great addition to my knitting library!
Thanks, DD1!!! Great addition to my knitting library!
Saturday morning miscellaneous
I'm nearly half finished reading Knitting Rules! Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is great!! She'll probably never be in my area...but I'd luv to hear her in person!
I went to a surprise 60th bd party for one of Buster & Sport's great-aunts last evening - at Carlos O'Kelly's. They sure don't have much on the menu for people who need bland, low-fiber food. I ordered El Pollo Asado. Didn't eat the "salad" [lettuce/tomato] and ate only half the Mexican rice since it's a bit spicy. The grilled chicken, tho., was moist & tender. [No problems afterward, if you get my meaning.] Great-aunt was totally surprised by the 30 people who broke into "Happy Birthday to you..." when she walked in the door. :-)
When I got home last evening, I watched the last period of the hockey match. Since the Avalanche aren't in the running, I really don't care who wins the Stanley cup. But, it's a long time till October, so I'll watch whatever game is on while I can.
During the hockey I finished Blue Stripes #1 [except for closing the toe - that will wait till I have two to Kitchener.] I'll do a little housework this a.m. and then CO for sock #2. Won't get as much done today as I'd hoped. I'll be picking up Buster about 3 p.m. His people are going camping again and he's not allowed. He's a risk-taking 23.5 month old who loves to run....
I went to a surprise 60th bd party for one of Buster & Sport's great-aunts last evening - at Carlos O'Kelly's. They sure don't have much on the menu for people who need bland, low-fiber food. I ordered El Pollo Asado. Didn't eat the "salad" [lettuce/tomato] and ate only half the Mexican rice since it's a bit spicy. The grilled chicken, tho., was moist & tender. [No problems afterward, if you get my meaning.] Great-aunt was totally surprised by the 30 people who broke into "Happy Birthday to you..." when she walked in the door. :-)
When I got home last evening, I watched the last period of the hockey match. Since the Avalanche aren't in the running, I really don't care who wins the Stanley cup. But, it's a long time till October, so I'll watch whatever game is on while I can.
During the hockey I finished Blue Stripes #1 [except for closing the toe - that will wait till I have two to Kitchener.] I'll do a little housework this a.m. and then CO for sock #2. Won't get as much done today as I'd hoped. I'll be picking up Buster about 3 p.m. His people are going camping again and he's not allowed. He's a risk-taking 23.5 month old who loves to run....
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Blue Stripes update
Slow going... working-for-pay and sleeping seem to get in the way of knitting. Darn. But, since this sock has been on the needle for ever so long [before surgery], I've taken a vow to Finish the pair in a week. [I think I can, I think I can....]
Scanned this -- the leg really isn't odd shaped - just squished under the lid. And that bit of rose colored yarn -- just a marker/reminder for when I finally get to sock #2.
Details posted on April 29. Addendum: switched to size 1 [US] after leg.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Knitting Rules!
The book by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot Unravels the Mysteries of Swatching, Stashing, Ribbing & Rolling to Free Your Inner Knitter, arrived! A gift from my BFF Joanne.
I've read the first chapter so far. Luv it!
I've read the first chapter so far. Luv it!
Red Sox and Blue Socks
Last evening, just as I finished cooking supper [egg & potato scramble...no onions], DD1 phoned. She got off work early & ask if I wanted to go out to eat. Of course! [Last night's supper immediately became today's lunch.]
DD1 wanted to go to a sports bar...with her mother yet! There had been one only 1.5 miles away - we kept talking about stopping in there. But it closed several months ago. So we went to one about 8 miles away [next town west.] Oh. Right. It's Friday night. That's why there's no parking spot within five blocks. The sign outside flashed "Immediate Seating," but that seemed very doubtful. Drove to a smaller sports bar up the road and across the freeway. The parking lot was full...except for one spot where a car was backing up. Yippee!! Inside...smoky bar atmosphere. I don't do "bars" and I don't do "smoke." The hostess said the non-smoking section had a 30-45 minute wait, but she could get us in the smoking section immediately. Sure. I'm hungry.
DD1 used to work in sports bar in NC. That's where she became a baseball fan. A Red Sox fan to be precise. I didn't count all the TV screens, but the Yankees were on about 20 of them. [Why?] Other TVs were showing the Rockies [I'm so out of touch with them - they're strangers now!], Oakland, and another baseball game. About five screens had basketball. And one [a big one] had Hockey :-) DD1 checked the schedules on her cell phone and when the Red Sox-Twins game didn't come on, she asked that it be put on the TV closest to us. She was happy! I'm sure she would have rather stayed to watch the end of the Red Sox game, but when I got tired she drove me home.
So who did the Blue Socks play? Well, they are battling it out with each other for first place. Knit me, Knit me they yell from the bag. Earlier this week I decided to schedule the Blue Socks: Mother's Embossed Leaves [see April 29 post] on even days and the Blue Striped OPALs on odd days. That worked for about two days. It was an odd day - and I realized that I had frogged the heel flap on the Blue Stripes about five times -- and after the leg, switched from size 1.5 US to 1 US needles. I'm feeling like I'll never get this first sock done, let alone the second. SO... I'm going to go the distance, extra innings, [over time], whatever ...till I get the pair finished!
DD1 wanted to go to a sports bar...with her mother yet! There had been one only 1.5 miles away - we kept talking about stopping in there. But it closed several months ago. So we went to one about 8 miles away [next town west.] Oh. Right. It's Friday night. That's why there's no parking spot within five blocks. The sign outside flashed "Immediate Seating," but that seemed very doubtful. Drove to a smaller sports bar up the road and across the freeway. The parking lot was full...except for one spot where a car was backing up. Yippee!! Inside...smoky bar atmosphere. I don't do "bars" and I don't do "smoke." The hostess said the non-smoking section had a 30-45 minute wait, but she could get us in the smoking section immediately. Sure. I'm hungry.
DD1 used to work in sports bar in NC. That's where she became a baseball fan. A Red Sox fan to be precise. I didn't count all the TV screens, but the Yankees were on about 20 of them. [Why?] Other TVs were showing the Rockies [I'm so out of touch with them - they're strangers now!], Oakland, and another baseball game. About five screens had basketball. And one [a big one] had Hockey :-) DD1 checked the schedules on her cell phone and when the Red Sox-Twins game didn't come on, she asked that it be put on the TV closest to us. She was happy! I'm sure she would have rather stayed to watch the end of the Red Sox game, but when I got tired she drove me home.
So who did the Blue Socks play? Well, they are battling it out with each other for first place. Knit me, Knit me they yell from the bag. Earlier this week I decided to schedule the Blue Socks: Mother's Embossed Leaves [see April 29 post] on even days and the Blue Striped OPALs on odd days. That worked for about two days. It was an odd day - and I realized that I had frogged the heel flap on the Blue Stripes about five times -- and after the leg, switched from size 1.5 US to 1 US needles. I'm feeling like I'll never get this first sock done, let alone the second. SO... I'm going to go the distance, extra innings, [over time], whatever ...till I get the pair finished!
Thursday Off
I took a "personal day" off from work on Thursday and it was a very productive day. For two days I had worked on a list of errands I needed/wanted done on Thursday...and I was amazed I got ALL 15 [count 'em: fifteen] things on my list done!
One of the reasons it took me two days to do the list is that I tried to write the list in order for the most fuel-efficient route. By the time I left the house about 10 a.m., I was quite pleased with the result. No back-tracking. Used the shortest routes between two points [not my favorite roads, and definitely not the smoothest - but the shortest driving distances.]
Half way through the list, I picked up Mother. We had lunch at her favorite Chinese restaurant. I usually order one of the spicy/hot dishes, but chose a milder one this time - Beef Mushroom. Also had the egg drop soup. Wow. Hadn't had EDS there in a long time as I usually have the Hot Sour Soup. I forgot how GOOD their egg drop soup is. DD1 says its the best she's ever had. I think so too!
After lunch we got our hair cut. Mother has been paying [still, after 40 years] $2.00 for a hair cut. But, the lady lives 45 miles away. Mother doesn't drive anymore, so she asked me to take a day off and take her up to Ruth's for a hair cut. I agreed to take the day off, but I was not driving 90 miles for a $2.00 hair cut. We went to my hair stylist and I paid for Mother's cut/style. A heck of a lot more than $2.00, but she was VERY pleased with the result.
More errands and I was back home by 4:10 p.m. - all missions accomplished. Also pleased with myself that between #14 and #15 [radiation] on my list - even though I had a half hour and *could* have gone home for a few minutes [it's only a mile away] - I sat in the CTC parking lot [with engine off] and balanced my checkbook. And cleaned out my purse. I had knitting with me, but figured I'd better not start or I'd loose track of the time. So I went inside and they were ready for me. Yippee!
It was also a good day because I finished the last two assignments for my grad class and got them emailed off at 9 a.m. -- one day before the deadline. Another Yippee!!!
One of the reasons it took me two days to do the list is that I tried to write the list in order for the most fuel-efficient route. By the time I left the house about 10 a.m., I was quite pleased with the result. No back-tracking. Used the shortest routes between two points [not my favorite roads, and definitely not the smoothest - but the shortest driving distances.]
Half way through the list, I picked up Mother. We had lunch at her favorite Chinese restaurant. I usually order one of the spicy/hot dishes, but chose a milder one this time - Beef Mushroom. Also had the egg drop soup. Wow. Hadn't had EDS there in a long time as I usually have the Hot Sour Soup. I forgot how GOOD their egg drop soup is. DD1 says its the best she's ever had. I think so too!
After lunch we got our hair cut. Mother has been paying [still, after 40 years] $2.00 for a hair cut. But, the lady lives 45 miles away. Mother doesn't drive anymore, so she asked me to take a day off and take her up to Ruth's for a hair cut. I agreed to take the day off, but I was not driving 90 miles for a $2.00 hair cut. We went to my hair stylist and I paid for Mother's cut/style. A heck of a lot more than $2.00, but she was VERY pleased with the result.
More errands and I was back home by 4:10 p.m. - all missions accomplished. Also pleased with myself that between #14 and #15 [radiation] on my list - even though I had a half hour and *could* have gone home for a few minutes [it's only a mile away] - I sat in the CTC parking lot [with engine off] and balanced my checkbook. And cleaned out my purse. I had knitting with me, but figured I'd better not start or I'd loose track of the time. So I went inside and they were ready for me. Yippee!
It was also a good day because I finished the last two assignments for my grad class and got them emailed off at 9 a.m. -- one day before the deadline. Another Yippee!!!
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