Sunday, December 31, 2006

LOOSE ENDS

For New Year's Eve, I thought I'd tie up a few loose ends.

Remember the shawl exchange at Shakertown? I received Carol's woven shawl and I just love it! We were supposed to stretch ourselves and Carol worked very hard to make this one just right.


Nancy wanted a shot of the sheet metal palm tree. No extra charge for the flamingo and whirlygig.


Murgie and Lucy have taken up housekeeping and are in the living room. They are so cute together. I think Murgie has missed being with his own kind.

And, I bought myself a guitar the other day. Now I know what John Lennon meant when he screamed "I got blisters on my fingers!" I mean, ow. It's harder than I thought.



Tomorrow I will prepare turnip greens, black eyed peas and corn bread to bring luck and money in 2007.

Like my friend Judy in Atlanta wrote me: We all look forward to: pray for: meditate: march for: PEACE in 2007

Saturday, December 30, 2006

LONG HAIR


Sweetie finally hooked up the old scanner to the newer computer. Yippee!

My first image I scanned is of me at half the age I am now. Don't you dig those ca-razy glasses?! This was taken in 1983 and I got my hair cut mad short soon thereafter.

My hair is now just as long and I feel the same age inside. It still startles me that I am almost fifty. Doesn't seem possible. How did it happen that I am almost fifty???

p.s. I deleted the previous blog because Holly got some of mom's long hair wrapped around his neck yesterday. The more it struggled, the tighter it got. DamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamnDamn

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

GIFTIES AND THINGS



In the fall of 1968, our black and white television set blew a tube. Remember black and white? Remember tubes? I guess we couldn't afford to have it repaired, so we waited two months for Oldest Brother to return from school so he could fix it. Two months without television - how in the world did we pass the time?

We played card games and a lot of Aggravation. This is not a board game that can be easily found anymore, but it's a lot of fun and if you can roll dice and count, you can play it. That game board saw a lot of action and not just then, either; I seem to remember playing a lot.

Fast forward to maybe ten years ago. Little Brother made an Aggravation board and gathered the necessary dice and marbles and the play resumed at family gatherings. We were vicious and mean and yielded no quarter and we always laughed like crazy.

This year, Oldest Brother made the board for Sweetie and me, and he found the dice and marbles. I was so touched - I think it is the nicest gift I've ever received from him. (Last year, Next Oldest Brother gave me a five foot tall steel palm tree that he made which indeed the is nicest thing he ever gave me.)

Sweetie doesn't have the attention span or interest in card games and I beat the pants off him at Trivial Pursuit, but we played two games last night and had a blast. Thank you, Oldest Brother!

This is what I've been spinning. An interesting blend, created on the drumcarder. The usual - wool, angora, silk.


This is what I've been reading. Sweetie's gift to me.

This is what I've been baking. The bunnies helped.

Friday, December 22, 2006

PROGRESS!

I had another of my anxiety dreams last night. (I haven't been remembering my dreams for months. I use to dream, and remember, the most exciting and interesting dreams. Like movies they were. Science fiction, starring me and Tom Cruise. I'm serious! We have to save or rescue someone, with the bad guys chasing us, and we're flying cool jet-type things through a swarming future mega-city. That was one. Another was Tom and I were rebels in a totalitarian society in which common people were forced to work in an underground complex and we were trying to escape with the bad guys chasing us. We stole a rocket and burst through the earth's crust into sunshine. There are more and not all of them contain Tom Cruise, but you get the gist.)

Last night's dream involved costumes for a movie and the Los Angeles designer kept adding more detail, more costumes and the deadline kept being moving up. Everyone was intimidated by the designer but I said, "I've dealt with these people before and I am not intimidated. Their panties are always in a bunch. It ain't gonna happen. They'll have to wait!" I was trying to find a bathroom, then I woke up.

I take these type of dreams to be anxiety dreams, but I don't get freaked out in the dream but rather, I deal and cope.

Yesterday, I worked at excavating my studio. With the big ass loom gone, I have some room to maneuver. Photos show one month ago versus now.
I was ruthless about placing stuff either in the Goodwill box or the trash. I have boxes of sewing supplies that I haven't touched in twelve years. A box of pea coat buttons. Drapery weights. I kept the pile of velcro. I have saved picture calendars since '97, for inspiration dontcha know. Off they went to the recyclers. The score was two bags of trash and three boxes for charity and a half box of keepers. I'm not done but I have made serious progress. I'd love to have the entire house dejunked by New Year's day - but it would take a Hercules for that to happen.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

I NEED A PEDICURE

Possessions are a burden. Stupid possessions. It is so easy to accumulate stuff. I have way too much stuff and I'm tired of caring for it, mending it, storing it, and looking at it. But it is hard to throw away or give away some things; I'm not quite ready to take that step yet.

So. I have taken all the extra decor, doodads, whatnots, and crap from the front living room that I can't quite throw away and I have put it in storage. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. I plan to buy some office storage boxes and label them neatly. Junk from west wall of front living room, December 2006. It's a plan anyway. Not having the boxes isn't stopping me.

I don't have a before picture, but here is the after. I like it! And I like not having to decide whether to throw away or give away all these "treasures."

Knitting content: I have almosy finished knitting these socks. They are in Fun and Stripes from Lana Grossa. I tried Elizabeth Zimmermann's afterthought heel. The heel is constructed just like a regular toe and she says it can easily be taken out and reknit if a hole happens. I like the way it looks. It's a little fiddley, removing the waste yarn and placing the live stitches on four needles. Size 1. But I hate the yarn over type heel decrease (which I somehow screw up every single time by losing stitches) and I am bored with the traditional-heel-flap-and-pick-up-along-the-sides method.

I also knit these mitts for a neighbor. The light color is an alpaca/wool blend and the purple is angora, spun into a lofty two ply. I used Joan's Wristers pattern, but of course I tweaked it. I put the thumb on mine and kept the entire hand in ribbing. I am waiting to finish the socks before I do another project. Although I do have a skein of Trekking XXL in green staring at me...

Friday, December 15, 2006

HERE'S A CONCEPT - A PHOTO!

I love Laurie's blog, Crazy Aunt Purl. She is funny, clever, voluable, vulnerable and she puts all of it on virtual paper with skill. Makes me not want to compete.

So. You may have noticed that I haven't blogged much lately. Cecelia has left me - I'm hoping for only a short while.

But I am feeling great! I haven't felt so good physically or mentally in ages (thank you, St. Pharmacutica) and I have been catching up on a number of things. Sold and moved out the huge ass loom that has dominated my studio for over three years. Had some art framed. I've been cooking! You know, all those normal type things that have been beyond my abilities for so long. I am having creative-type art ideas.

Valerie suggested a PHOTO of the cravat pattern. What a good idea! I am so retarded. By the way, you may print and use the pattern - just don't say that you wrote it, okay?

Neither of these fun fur (remember that stuff??) cravats are exactly like the pattern, but should give you a general idea of what it looks like.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

BACK TO KNITTING!


Here is a little pattern that I (yes, me, who is not a fast knitter) knit in less than two hours.
LADY'S CRAVAT

You will need about an ounce of some soft and yummy yarn and either straight or circular needles that are the appropriate size for your yarn.

Cast on 25 stitches, loosely.
Row 1) Knit 11, knit 3 together, knit 11.
Row 2) Knit 23.
Row 3) Knit 10, knit 3 together, knit 10.
Row 4) Knit 21.
Row 5) Knit 9, knit 3 together, knit 9.
Row 6) Knit 19.

Continue in this manner, decreasing by knitting 3 together every odd numbered row and knitting every even numbered row until there are 9 stitches left. (It may help to mark the odd row side with a safety pin.)

Knit every row until work measures at least 22”. You can make it longer if you wish.

Begin increases:
Row 1) Knit 4, knit 3 stitches in next stitch, knit 4.
Row 2) Knit 11.
Row 3) Knit 5, knit 3 stitches in next stitch, knit 5.
Row 4) Knit 13.
Row 5)Knit 6, knit 3 stitches in next stitch, knit 6.
Row 6) Knit 15.

Continue in this manner, increasing in the center stitch every odd row and knitting every even row, until there are 25 stitches. Bind off loosely. Weave in ends and steam lightly to block, if desired.

Now, make another one using a different, delicious yarn!

Sunday, December 10, 2006

WINTER IS HERE!

It was a real mess around here Wednesday & Thursday. DOT sprayed some de-icer on exit ramps of the Interstate, but it was more like oil.
There were several accidents at almost every exit.
Then I had this dick pull out in front of me.

Friday, December 08, 2006

OVERHEARD...

I have felt like being around people, but only virtually. Here is what I have "heard" recently. Oh, yes, there's a Murgatroyd photo. (Unfortunately, the baby didn't make it.)



The English Model

Little girl: Mommy, where do people go when they're bad?
Mother: Australia, sweetie, with all the snakes.

--Central Park

Overheard by: Girl from Australia


via Overheard in New York, Dec 7, 2006

Girl on cell: Look, Peter, I'm not saying that I hate you. It's just that you f*cking annoy me so much that I'd rather eat my own spleen than go out with you again.

--Starbucks, 45th & 6th

Bright-purple-mohawk guy to shaved-head girl with multiple nose piercings: Your best friend is so weird!

--12th St & University Pl

1PM Playing with an Extra-Full Deck

Coworker #1: I can get news from all 52 states!
Coworker #2: Uh... there are only 50 states.
Coworker #1: Duh -- Alaska and Hawaii!

Chelmsford, Massachusetts

4PM Being the Truth Fairy Is Less Fun than I Thought It Would Be

Bearded man in green pixie wig, pink feather boa, and fairy wings: I think about death every day.

577 Western Avenue
Westfield, Massachusetts


"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people… On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." ~ H. L. Mencken, Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920

Thursday, November 30, 2006

THE CRONES ARE COMING!

Every first weekend in December, my spinning guild gathers in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky at a restored Shaker community for spinning, fun and friendship. And food. Don't forget the food. Everyone in the group tries to come, so we have forty to fifty women and some men there. I have been going for 6 or 7 years.

Three years ago, in the summer, whilst mowing the lawn, Sandy had a thought. We should honor and celebrate these older women in the group for all they have done for us tadpoles. Thus was born the Crowning of the Crones and the Crone Procession. Every member of the guild votes, and this year it is a landslide - but I can't tell you who it is, it's a secret until tomorrow night! The Old Crones and a few of us planners call out the name(s) of the new inductees, who are then garbed in purple capes, a sterling silver spinning wheel charm necklace, a hat and scepter (a drop spindle with a thyroid condition.) Then all the Crones parade around the room (last year, Martha played Pomp and Circumstance on the hammer dulcimer) three times.

The first inductee of this select group was Vivian. She was surprised and speechless when she was dragged to the center of the room and then bedecked in her cape and hat and all. Sandy gave a heart felt speech, everyone screamed, hollered, and clapped and thought it was over.

Apparently Norma Jean thought it was over, too, as she confided to Martha, "I am so glad that wasn't me!" Ha ha! Her expression was priceless when her name was called as the second Crone inductee! She received the same honors as Vivian. I thought I was going to die, I laughed so hard!

What is my part in this spectacle? I don't write the songs, I make the costumes. And I wait until the last minute to buy all the fabric and stuff, because nothing brings out creativity more than a lack of options. That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it. I'm mostly done with the capes, but still have the hats and scepters to finish. I leave tomorrow around 1:00. Plenty of time! (For those of you that don't know, I used to make costumes for the theatre, movies and TV way back when.)

Here is baby bunny, still alive. When I checked on him tonight, though, his body temperature was cool to the touch and he had a bite from mom on his little head. Not a bad bite, but no bite from mom is a good bite. I neatened up the nest and held him for awhile to warm him. Maybe Bambi missed Percival, who I had caged this morning, so I turned him loose again. He generally hangs out at her cage, sometimes jumping on top of it. I'll check on baby again tonight, maybe put some cardboard under him so he can't just lie on the cage floor.


Life... is like a grapefruit. It's orange and squishy, and has a few pips in it, and some folks have half a one for breakfast.
  - Douglas Adams

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Have we met?

The neonate is thriving, (touch wood) and looks brown like mom, Bambi.

Clipt Griselda this evening.
I find it hard to capture the bunny essence in my photos, except for Murgie. He doesn't take a bad picture. But tonight, it is Griselda's turn to be featured.

Caution!! Bad Words Ahead

Essence Of NYC: A Play in One Act

Bimbo tourist #1: Anyway, so when he pulled it out of me it made this farting noise, and I know it wasn't a fart because it didn't smell, and... It was just really embarrassing.
Bimbo tourist #2: Quip.
Bimbo tourist #1: What?
Bimbo tourist #2: A quip. The farting noise, it's called a 'quip.'
Bimbo tourist #1: Oh, they have a name for it? Wow.
Bimbo tourist #2: Oh, totally. It happens to a lot of people.
Stranger: Um, that's not right.
Bimbo tourist #2: Excuse me, sir?
Stranger: No, it's 'queef.'
Bimbo tourist #2: Wait, what?
Bimbo tourist #1: I think he's saying his name is 'Queef' or something.
Bimbo tourist #2: Oh, sorry. Excuse me, Queef?
Stranger: No... Oh, lord. The sound, it's 'queef.'
Bimbo tourist #2: Who's a 'queef?' What's going on?
Bimbo tourist #1: I think he's one of those crazy subway guys you hear about. I think he's telling us he's gay.
Stranger: I can hear you, and I'm not... What? That's 'queer,' you ingrate!
Bimbo tourist #1: Here's some money for you, sir. Buy your boyfriend a nice grocery cart or something.
Stranger: What?! Does it look like I'm homeless to you? I'm wearing fucking YSL over here... I ain't queer and I ain't homeless. You ignorant, you skinny, Paris Hilton-wannabe whores. All I was saying to you was that when your sleazy-ass friend over here pulled her boyfriend's dick out of her STD-ridden pussy, the word...
Bimbo tourist #1: I'm not following... Is he speaking Cockney or something?
Bimbo tourist #2: I don't know. Are you allowed to mace crazy hobos?
Stranger: ...I'm not fucking crazy!
Bimbo tourist #2: Of course you aren't, sir.
Passenger: Oh, shut your mouth, both of ya, or I'm gonna whoop both your scrawny asses, you hear?
Stranger: Thank you. All I was saying was...
Old lady: Ah, hell no! Can't you see this conversation has gone past anyone in this damn subway's comprehension? Know when to drop it, brother. Know when to drop it.
Bimbo tourist #2: [Mouthing] Oh my god.
Bimbo tourist #1: I know. That was intense.
Stranger, muttering to himself: ... Last time I ever take a subway... Unbelievable shit I put up with... Fucking Civics... Unreliable fuckers...

--L train


via Overheard in New York, Nov 28, 2006

Monday, November 27, 2006

Scattered thoughts today. One holiday down, two to go.

The weather has been extremely nice for the past several days. Highs in the 60s, lows in the 40s.

Maybe that is why I saw so many dead creatures on my drive to town and back. Raccoons, possums, red squirrels, gray squirrels, cats, rabbits, deer. Maybe they are disoriented by the warmer than usual temps, I don't know, but it made me sad to see them all. At least today, they were dead dead and not suffering, not just injured - that hurts to see. Death is one thing; suffering is another thing altogether.

I guess that Percival isn't shooting all blanks as Bambi, the brown short hair, had kits this morning. I didn't even know she was pregnant. (Backstory - Bambi is one of the two ground pounders. Short hair rescues. I have let both of them roam freely in the loft until last week when everybody got caged for the winter.) Bambi has been nest building for months and months and has had no babies. So I was surprised this morning to see three dead babies on the wire cage floor. She seems to forgotten all about nest building. The fourth one was cold but still breathing so I did my best to warm him up. Gave him a drop or two of orphan kitten liquid. I placed some of Bambi's old nest material into the cage and put the baby back. I can't raise it - not that young, anyway. He is still alive 8 hours later.

My immediate reaction was to blame myself. If only I had gone to the barn earlier I might have been able to save them all. If only I this and if only I that. Guys don't do that, do they? - most guys anyway. So I said to myself that if Bambi had been a better mother, all of her kits might have lived. I cannot take on guilt anymore for things I cannot control.

But still, that and the road kill made me very sad today.

Since I don't want to depress you all totally, I will end with a shot of Murgatroyd waiting at the door to be let out. It seems like every time I open the door, either a cat or a dog goes in or out. He figured out the door thing on his own, most likely after seeing said cats and dog coming and going.

Friday, November 24, 2006

I GIVE THANKS

Any holiday is a good holiday when nobody ends up in tears of distress. Sweetie and I had a simple pork roast with baked potatoes and a waldorf salad sort of, I think. Apple, raisins, shredded carrots and cabbage, sour cream and I-talian dressing (my secret ingredient in many a dish, let me tell ya.) No celery. (Hi, Larry!) It was really nice, just the two of us.

He went shopping today. I was shocked! Shocked, I tell you! He asked if I wanted to go and I said, "Not no, but hell no." Said he saw all the Kingsley women, all of them, at the mall. I, being the psycho anti-social freak that I am, would have run in the opposite direction, but Sweetie is not misnamed. He chit-chatted with them and listened to their stories and a good time was had by all.

Later, we went to Marengo to visit Sharon's AlterKnit Universe. Very clever name, yes? The Universe is still being renovated, but is a way cool space. I am so glad it is not me involved.

The shawl is complete! I wore it today. Here is detail of the ruffle. I wanted a deeper ruffle but in the end, I got tired and quit. It weighs 15 ounces.

Yeah, round is nice, but I think I like my square ones better. They fit my shoulders more gracefully. And also every other row is plain. But the whole point of this shawl was to be a sampler of Fuzzarelly Fibers

Murgie had his way with Lucy yesterday. Bunny porn - I mean, I did feel like a voyeur. We'll just see. Here he is resting.

Whir at you from?

What American accent do you have?
Your Result: The Midland
 

"You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.

Philadelphia
 
The South
 
The Inland North
 
The Northeast
 
The West
 
Boston
 
North Central
 
What American accent do you have?
Take More Quizzes

Monday, November 20, 2006

MORE BUNNY TAILS

Hello kids! I have another Murgatroyd story to tell.

Murgie went missing the other night. Where was that little dickens? I found him and here is his route.

From the kitchen, he traversed the pantry, the laundry room and bathroom, went down a hall a bit, nibbled the edges of the back living room and ended up in my studio aka junk room. He was under my big ass loom, playing with Millie.

I snagged the little shit and held him close, and I felt him stiffen with pique. Taking him back to his place, I could tell he was pissed because his little adventure had been cut short. He even nibbled my arm just a bit to let me know how unhappy he was. Here he is hiding behind the cabinet in the kitchen.

I wish I could let him go wherever he pleased, but until he is litter trained, I just can't. Bunny pee is awful. It reeks. It can remove paint. However, his potty training is going well, and he uses the paper almost exclusively. By removing the rug by the couch, I limited his mobility and therefore, his ability to pee on same. (Hardwood floors are not easy for crippled bunnies to navigate.) I have begun to leave him out of his cage all the time. I still love that little guy so much! (Even with his sometimes grumpy behavior.)

Late at night, he and Millie play and roam as far as they can. I shut the bathroom door so they can't get to the studio.

Hi, remember the studio? I have made more progress by moving all wool and fiber upstairs in what we cleverly call the basement. Wow. What a difference. It is now a room in which a person can move.

The shawl is almost done! There are about 700 stitches on the 36" circulars and it is crowded. I want a ruffle around the edge which means big increases. I should have a photo of some sort this week.

Are you as surprised as I am that it is almost Thanksgiving? I haven't heard boo from my three brothers as to family plans, (maybe I wouldn't go but it is nice to be asked,) but I have several invites from friends. I don't know what Sweetie and I will do.

And to end, a drawing by friend Haleigh.

Monday, November 13, 2006

MURGATROYD AND MILLIE




Milly the Barn Cat (now also Indoor!) had her comeuppance today. She was raised with bunnies, and must think of them as her slow siblings. She loves to chase the two ground pounders in the barn. She also loves to torment Murgie in the house. I always thought it was funplaying, even though the cat has real claws and teeth. Well, Murgie also has teeth, and after a particularly vicious ambush by Millie, nipped her hard enough that Millie "yeeeowwed" and disappeared for several hours. Every body is fine! And I am glad to know that Murgie has at least some defense against bad guys.

Right now, the couch cushion covers are in the wash. Ah, the sweet stench of bunny pee, takes me back to ole Virginiee. Also had to take the area rug out, as that is another favorite marking area. He does use his cage for his business, and is getting real good at using the paper, too. I just have to break him from peeing on the couch. Murgie is very sneaky and knows that I don't like it, but it's as though he is addicted and can't help himself. On the bright side, he doesn't pee anywhere else.

The new medz are working quite well, thank you very much. That pesky inner dead feeling is gone, the force of gravity has been cut in half (at least) and I have the energy to DO STUFF. And a good thing, too, as the weather here in not the cheeriest. Grey skies, spits of drizzle, about 45 degrees.

My knitting has been focused on the shawl, as I am about 80 rows from home. Well - there is a border - but still, an end is in sight. I look longingly at the sock yarn that like a siren, calls my name. I put wax in my ears (is that what that is?) and continue to knit the shawl.

Here is a picture of a local cat, age about 6 months, grey and white, no tail (just a bloody stump.) A stray. If you need or just want another feline in your household, drop me a line.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

O Frabjous Day, Halloo Hallay!

By now, the giddiness of the election has worn off and one has to live with the reality. And the hope.

Hope that the poor, sick and needy will be helped.

Hope that the evangels will read their bibles and return to a more christ-like behavior.

Hope that diplomacy, not arms, can cure the morass in Iraq.

And Hope, the hope that springs eternal, for better days.

Fiber content: Work is continuing apace on the new and improved angora blend shawl. I am almost to the end of the yarn from the first, lamented attempt. I am so happy with the new one! I reckon that I have another 120 rounds to finish, and I am spinning more yarn and that is fun. With spinning, unless it is silk, one sees one's progress right away, and that can be a good thing.

The weather here is quite nice for November in almost Kentucky. But everyone that I speak to says that it will be a bad winter. Cold and snowy. Yippee!!! More spinning and knitting time!!!

The medz seem to be working. Preventafit has pretty much ended the Hot Flashes from Hell. Wow and Wow. It has also helped lighten the gravity that has been dragging me down. The Enthusiastimine has made me feel human again!! Less marsupial. I have even been cleaning the house! (Alert the media!)

The Bitch is Back!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

more MURGATROYD!

So, anyway. Let's start with a Murgie picture, to set a happy mood.

But here's the news. I have started additional medz this past week.

(backstory)I never had kids, but if I had, I would have tried for natural childbirth. There I was, suffering through hot flashes From Hell for two years. But I give up. The doc prescribed Preventafit. Also am taking an additional happy-type pill, Enthusiastimene.

Physically, I am feeling much better, thank you. That shellfish reaction was so unexpected - it whopped me up side the head when I wasn't looking! Whop! The medz were severe, too. It has taken the last month to get all the toxins out of my system.

Remember my latest shawl that I was so proud of, made from handspun angora blends in a variety of colors? When I had it off the needles and I could see it laid out flat, I decided that it was much too dense. Also, the colors and the pattern were at odds - it was too much. I chose to rip. It didn't take very long. Here is the ball of yarn. I am past the lime green yarn in my new shawl. It is Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi shawl, mostly. I'll have a picture of it later because right now, it is a mere sack on 24" circulars. I am using size 8s this time; I used 6s on the first one. I am very happy with drape and hand of this one.

Let's end, shall we, with another Murgie picture. Here he is, lounging in Helena Handbasket's arms. Helena paid an all-too brief visit to lovely Laconia the other day. (Hi!) (See, you guys, I DO too have friends!)

All the buns are just fine. I like being close, real close, to each of them. I like getting to know each one. Today, I clipt Percival and Stewart (aka Stew Pot.) Both of them started off okay, sitting still and being quiet - but then they'd get feisty and they were both big ass pains.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

LOCAL NEWS

Went to a party last night at the VFW to celebrate Scottie T turning 50. Scott is our across-the-street neighbor and he really is the best neighbor in the world. I have never known him to be anything other that a friend and a gentleman, and that is high praise in this world. Yes, maybe he drinks and has drunk too much over the years. However, let me share a little story with you.

Back in 1974, Scott was a senior in high school and a very good basketball player on the school team. (I understand that he was a good player from the git-go in first grade.) In January of that year, a new kid came to the school named Dennis. He was a freshman, and he played basketball, too. He told me last night that Scottie T befriended him and helped him on the court and off, and even though he doesn't live around here anymore, he came last night to be with his friend. (Sounds like a story from cable tv, don't it? Or an After School Special?)

That year, the South Central Rebels won the sectional championship against the big city team, much to the surprise of everyone except the Rebels and their supporters. Scott, Eddie, Dennis, John and others gained immortal fame in Boone Township for that win and they are still revered, 32 years on. (Everyone sing Glory Days.)

I thought it was a great story that Dennis told me because it confirmed that everyone likes Scottie T. I know that Sweetie and I do.

In other news, my friend Helena Handbasket has asked for a story to confirm that bunnies have more than just a brain stem. I told her that they must have a bit of a brain because they can be deceitful, malicious and clever. Sometimes all at once.

I know that they sulk because Fuzzarelly's brother, FuzzyBob, is mad about something (or depressed) because he turns his back on me when I fill his feeder and water bottle. I figger it is depression. I got him from Jean when she went out of the bunny-raising business a few months ago, and his housing is no different now than then. I can only assume he is sad for the move and misses her.

Then there is the story of Larry. He must have been a pet turned loose, and he took to hanging around the garage of Sweetie's workmate, Larry. He was captured and brought to me, the crazy bunny lady.) He was beautiful! He loved me so much and hated Sweetie, trying to bite him at every opportunity. Actually, he would try to bite any man that came around, even the police. That was actually rather funny because as the officer was returning to his vehicle, Larry jumped off the porch and was after him like a shot. When I hollered, "Larry, NO!!" the policeman turned around in an alarmed way.

Much hilarity ensued.

Larry was my special bunny at that time and received special attention. He loved getting in my lap of a morning, whilst I sat on the porch. He'd love and love and love on me. Then Sweetie would come out and Larry would go berserk. Another Male! Attack! Attack! It was funny really, even though he did bite Sweetie on more than one occasion. He bit Scottie once, too! He did not like having another male anywhere near me and would chase them down the sidewalk and out of the yard.

When Larry came into my life, I had no information at all about his history and age. So I hoped he was just old and tired when he took off one night and didn't come home. We found him the next morning, dead in the field next door, but positioned like he had died running. Maybe a bad heart. I'm hoping.

Sweetie and I still miss him, even after more than a year. Even Lamar told me, "I miss that rabbit you had. Larry he was. Bit me once. He was something."

Yes he was.

And lastly, our own little Murgatroyd has this thing about pissing on the couch. (Which is ruined now because of him. But still, I try to modify his behavior.) I have been trying to break him of this little habit, and I have curtailed it somewhat. But no matter how scrupulous I am about caging him when I leave the house, he still awaits the opportunity, when I am absent, to get up there and wizz. Won't do it when I'm around anymore. But let me leave the front living room for two minutes and I return to find pooties and a wet spot on the couch - his love note to me, I guess.

Friday, October 27, 2006

MORE LOOSE ENDS...


This is a view of the kids at rest. Often, I am among them.

The round shawl is at a standstill as I try to figure out what course to take. I posted a picture of it on a string and flat - mostly. Unfortunately, the very center is so dense that it pooks up and I fear it will never drape correctly. I am also not thrilled with my choice of pattern for such an array of colors. It won't bother me to rip it all out and begin again with another, simpler pattern.

At the moment, I am knitting socks again. I am still having problems with the short row heel and toe. One problem is that I think it looks inelegant. At least in my hands. I use the "knit to next to last stitch, slip and wrap that stitch and work to other side. On the increase side, both the wrap and that stitch are worked as one." The row of increases and decreases looks sloppy. I also seem to drop stitches on the purl side at that point. (Some of you know that I knit backwards on the purl rows in order for the right side to always face me. This is great for intarsia and also if one does not like to purl. I can purl. I just choose not to whenever possible.) One could say that I purl from the wrong side. Whatever.

So I Googled sock+tutorials and found a few hints. I am approaching the toes on this latest pair and I will try this: first part is the same, but on the increase part, one picks up the wrap stitch, knits the next stitch and passes the wrap over. Is this at all clear? I am hoping this works. If others can point me to other techniques, I would appreciate it.

I have been regularly reading a blog that makes me feel inadequate. (Valerie, it's okay. I'm feeling fairly inadequate in many parts of my life.) It's called The Further Adventures of the Secret Yarninator. Go there and read.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

TYING UP LOOSE ENDS...

Firstly, my studio is still a mess. Things get moved around, but no real cleanage had happened. I am working on it. Really! It isn't the emotional attachment to my old store things; rather it is my slug butt. I seriously just need to eBay or Goodwill the things. After my spinning guild's market day in November.

The latest cat, the black and white long hair that I named Buddha, went missing the day before we left for vacation. Searches have been futile. I am not sure whether Millie ran her off or whether she was kidnapped by he so-called "owners." The term white trash was invented to describe these folks. The dad is a biker guy (not in itself a bad thing) known to pull knives on family members. That is not cool. Mom has given up her two youngest children to state protective services. The older kids are a mess. There are two dogs, tied up in the yard of the house that they once lived in, which the neighbors feed. The house is no longer livable, I think - no one is living there now. And rumor says there are 10 cats there.

Yes, I know. It's awful. The town has no ordinances. And no enforcement, either. The county animal control is overwhelmed but have been contacted. I'm disgusted.

The vacation. We spent two days in Madison and had a great enough time visiting the numerous brew pubs downtown. Love love love that place! Liberal! A college town! A lake! The Capitol! Northern! What's not to like?

Well, the weather. It was snowy and windy and we turned tail and ran home. And I hate Illinois and their dang toll roads!

And yes, I skipped off the wagon about a month ago. Sigh. But I don't feel bad about it. Live is short. One makes choices. Beer is good.

So if I want some beer, then I have good reasons!
1) menopause and hot flashes
2) allergies
3) depression
4) aging (I shall be 50 in a few months)
5) did I mention allergies and hot flashes?

So that is where I am right now. I can not see where I am going.

But it's okay.

Here is a shot of Anna Nicole. Today was haircut day. And here is Murgie trying his best.

And here are my things with bunny ears that normally don't have bunny ears.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Just a brief note to say how well the Fall Fiber Festival & Market went! Kudos to all the organizers, especially to Queen Victoria who's hard work made it go so smoothly.

I made money. I think all the vendors did well. I was alone in my booth, and from the opening at 9 until noon, I don't think I sat down or quit talking! (Queen Vic said that by noon, the crowd had surpassed last year's total attendance.) Thank goodness Sweetie arrived and thank goodness he knows something about bunnies, because that allowed me to grab a sheepburger, coke and cookies.

I took three bunnies to sell and sold 2. Also took one to clip as a demonstration and of course I had to bring the world famous Murgatroyd the WonderBun. The bunnies proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Why am I surprised? ( And how many times was I asked "How often do you clip them?", "Why do they sit so still in your lap?", and "What kind of rabbit is that?" I think I need to print a little fact sheet called The ABCs of Angora Bunny Care in order for my voice to get a rest.) I also sold some bunny-blend spinning fiber and several other things. A good day, as I said, so please mark your calendar for the third Saturday in October, 2007 and plan to attend the Third Annual FFF&M!

Today is football (Go Colts!), knitting and beer. Yes, I have snuck off the wagon. That is why I enjoyed Madison, Wisconsin so much. Those folks love their brew pubs and beer in general. And so do I.

Here is Murgie caught in the act of messing with several bags of clipt bunny wool. He was so excited he had an accident.
The little shit. And here is a glamour shot of Millie the cat, so named because I got her at the feed mill after she was fished out of the corn chute a year ago.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

THIS WEEKEND

is the Fiber Exchange Guild's Fall Fiber Festival and Market.

Victoria and others have done a super job! There are about 30 vendors coming, and there will be fiber animals, music, workshops (sock knitting by Nancy R!) and all kinds of fiber and stuff. Please attend if you can.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Back home

“Why don't Republicans use bookmarks? It's easier to bend over the page”

“It's a good thing I had a bag of marijuana instead of a bag of spinach. I'd be dead by now.” ~ Willie Nelson, on being busted for pot.

FOUR JOBS I HAVE HAD
*cashier at Long John Silver's (where I gained twenty pounds in two months)
*traveling maid
*quick-change dresser (in the theatre, ripping clothes off actors and shoving actors into clothes)
*costume technician for NBC's I'll Fly Away (circa 1991 and 1992. I made, altered and repaired costumes clothing for the actors. I saw several of them in their underwear.)

So. I am back from the vacation. Actually we got back Saturday evening. So much for our plans to go and do and go and do some more. Sweetie and I are under the delusion that 1) we are twenty years younger and 2) I like change. Ha!

We headed west along Interstate 64 and stopped briefly in New Harmony, Indiana. Listen, if you get the chance, go here. I want to go back when it isn't cold and windy.

From there, we paid a toll to cross the Wabash River on a rickety, built in 1939 bridge that took us to Illinois. We started drifting northwards through some not very interesting land. Southern Illinois didn't look prosperous or at all familiar. Spent the night in the Mercedes at a camping spot while the cold front came through. We nearly froze.

Stopped in Normal the next day, which was a pretty neat town, and found a superb thrift store. Which was needed since I hadn't brought along any warm clothes and that darn cold front was settling in.

North, north we went. Near Rockford, the landscape changed from no shit flat to gently rolling hills. Actually, the no shit flat was interesting in that one could see for miles in all directions! There was lots of weather to see.

We made it to Madison, Wisconsin by Thursday. I want to go back there to live!

to be continued.....

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

MEDZ, MERCEDES AND MURGATROYD

I am mostly recovered from the shellfish allergy episode, which took a lot out of me. The steroid treatment is nasty and does a number on one's system. Sorry not to have written, but Sweetie has been off from work and I can't think or write with him floating around.

He is, in fact, on vacation.

And we are leaving today on a road trip and I can't wait to load up the car, grab the bunny and go. No destination in mind, just a desire to put many miles between us and here for a week. Everyone seems to be aware of and complaining about the "crap in the air" - pollen and soybean harvest dust among other small things. I am tired of my respiratory distress and want relief.

I don't have the means to blog from the road, so go read other stuff and come back next week. Crazy Aunt Purl makes it look easy, all that wordsmithing, but let me tell you, it's hard.

Friday, October 06, 2006

WHAT I LEARNED YESTERDAY

I learned that I have become, apparently, allergic to shellfish.

And I learned it the hard way.

Didn't have to go to the emergency room, but I did go to the doctor yesterday morning since the neck swelling and tightness, and the shortness of pants, I mean, breath hadn't gone away overnight. Thank goodness I took those two Benydryl that night! I received three shots in the gluteus area from the nurse and I'm doing the prednizone routine and I have my own epipen now in case of anaphylaxis.

I'm doing much better now. The worst part of this is that I am being forced to rest and take it easy for the next few days. Damn!

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Here's the current knitting. The doily shawl. It measures about 45 inches and I want it to be at least 60".

And here are the latest Murgatroyd shots. I love him so much! Even though he pees and poops on the couch. And he loves Fuzzarelly, who got a clip the other day. Bless his heart, he has no front claws and it's mighty hard to hang on.

Visited the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store today, the one on Eastern Blvd. in Clarksville. New t shirts, fifty cents. One reads "Stewart/Colbert in '08." Excellent! And the Hospice thrift store had a Spongepants Squarebob plush toy with BUNNY EARS. It joins the chick with bunny ears and the troll doll in the bunny costume with - yes, bunny ears. I need to put some bunny ears on the hula girl and the sheep.

And, thank you Precious Wen!