Step right up

Woke up way too early this morning, for as late as I stayed up. Rooster began to crow just before 5 am, so I put the ear plugs in and fell right back to sleep but only to suffer through yet another mild anxiety dream.

I was one of six bridesmaids(!) for my friend Amanda, who is already happily married in real life, thank you very much. We were all gathered at some sort of retreat center/dormitory, where there were lots of people, lots of activity. Very happy.

Then, I started losing things, dropping things. Where is that bag of clothes I brought? Where is my knitting basket? Just, everywhere I went, I lost or misplaced one more thing or two. Then, I'd knock over the light trying to look for something, only to lose something else. Then I ripped a couch cushion. Then I couldn't find my dress. And so on.

One cute part were all these little kids going around to all the wedding party to deliver gifts that Amanda had made. Hair decorations, bracelets, and necklaces. I especially liked the Hello, Kitty necklace.

My sub-conscience is a dark and disturbing place, you all.

At some point, I was in bed, (I guess this wedding went on for three days,) with a crying toddler, bless her heart. I tried to sooth her. She wanted to nurse. What the heck, I thought, won't get any milk out if it. It calmed her, though, and we fell asleep.

Lastly, the plumbing broke, and there was no place for a dozen women to pee. Yeah, I can hear you laughing through the internets. Yes, no flushing capability, and all of a sudden, everybody had to pee. I had to go so bad that I got stomach cramps.

That's l when I woke up, and it was not yet six. I stumbled to the bathroom, still thinking my bladder was ready to burst. Didn't have to go, after all.

WTF? What a weird freakin' dream. Why do I have these dreams? Dreams bursting with details, dialogue, problems.

Do No Drink and Drive. Listen to Me!

So today, while I was driving the back roads home from Corydon, I took a few pictures. The promised front at last moved through, and after rain this morning, the sky was beautimus this afternoon.

Forecast lows for later in the week? Mid 50s. Makes me wet. I want to move to Canada.

This past week has been awful, but not terrible. Terrible was two? three? years ago when the temps were in the 100s for two weeks. I worried so much for the bunnies at that time, but they hunkered down and made it.

I am so glad that fall in coming soon. Where I live, there are four actual seasons, and I revel in them all. Just about when one cannot stand it anymore, the new season comes along, and all seems good again.

Instructions included.

So I read a blog this morning, and the post was titled Five things I hate about blogging. This guy hates Blogger and cutesy pseudonyms.

My feelings were hurt for about three minutes. Like, what have I done wrong? I love Blogger because it is free and it does everything I need it to do. For free. And I call Bill "Sweetie" because that it what he is. Not to protect his identity. Or pride. Or dignity. (See previous happy pants photo.)(And sleeping photo)(And day after St. Patrick's Day photo.)

So I got over it.

Looks like we'll get some rain today and all I can say is, Bring it on. Get this damn pollen out of the air so my sinuses can relax.

And you all should be so proud of me because, in spite of drinking way too much, again, I have managed to work in the fiber studio or stand at a dye pot most every day for weeks. I am even sending a box of 36 lovely batts to Susan at the Spinning Bunny. Here are some of them. I particularly love the grey/brown ones. The color reminds me of stones.



Plus, even though I have not started another pair of socks yet, I am knitting on a new shawl to showcase Fuzzarelly's fiber. Another Marianne Kinzel pattern called "Springtime," which is a square tea cloth. Progress is slowing as it grows ever larger, and I have had to stop to spin more yarn, but it is only moderately difficult. Actually easy if other people don't talk to me during certain rows.

Sweetie is working a casual labor job today and left at 5:30. AM. Imagine! I have been putting groceries on the credit card for weeks, now, so a bit o' cash is welcome. He worked yesterday in exchange for spare parts for our van. The judge who handles unemployment appeals has pancreatic cancer, so the system is even more backlogged than usual. Our source said that his appeal should be heard by mid-October. And he got fired at the end of April. How sucky is that?

The 401(k) rollover should finally happen today or tomorrow, so bills can be paid in full. This process should not have taken this damn long, and I am frustrated and angry. And panicked. I have let them know this, and that is why maybe the wheels are starting to move.

I have been more broke in my life than now. Way more broke. So don't pity me because there are people out there really hurting. We are still making it.

Public Burden Statement

90 degrees outside today. I stayed inside.



There are four bunnies in the house at the moment. The usual L'il Bit, Fiona (and the only reason that she is still inside is my own inertia. Also, she is low maintenance,) and Sparkle, whom I am really loving a lot.

The fourth one is Eeyore. Did I spell that right? I reference the donkey from Winnie the Pooh. I originally called him Gomer, and he is a rescue. ("We just don't know how to take care of an angora!" they said. Sigh.)

So. Are you eating? Then do not read further.

Eeyore and Heizen have been living in the back yard enclosure most of the summer, with the chickens. Seemingly in peace, for the most part. But now, the Roosters have gotten larger and more aggressive and Eeyore is an intact male and that meant trouble.

One of the roosters pecked his eye out. Really. Well, maybe not out, but the eye no longer works. He has never wanted to be held or handled, but when I discovered flies all over his little head and investigated, then picked him up - he went limp. Probably thinking, I am already dead, do with me what you will.

Oh. Ick.

Timing, not so good. I had guests (!) and was just serving dinner(!) to them. "You do not want to see this, you all," I said as I hauled his sorry ass into the bathroom/surgury. I think I could be a trauma nurse, because blood and maggots (oh, yes, lots of tiny little maggots, all over his head,) do not gross me out. His head looked like something out of a zombie movie. The eye is toast and I can only think it must have been a rooster. This all happened on Wednesday, and I figured that if he made it through the night, he might survive. And now, the little feller is still kicking and healing right up. I have been smearing super-dooper anti-robotic on the eye every day, and clearing away the icky bits. He is eating, drinking and living, so I reckon he will make it.

I am thinking of calling him Cyclops, though.

Join today!

I went to the farmer's market this morning. Found nothing there to write home about; I wanted some green beans and there were none. I am finally, maybe, getting some zucchini from my garden. I overplanted my little space, but now that the tomatoes and sunflowers are dying back, the zukes are getting sun and airflow. I have never been able to grow any sort of squash here, because of squash borer bugs, but all I am seeing now are stink bugs. Not getting so many tomatoes, just enough to keep Sweetie in sandwiches. The asian pear tree is loaded.

Princess was spayed Wednesday and was slow to recover. Yesterday, I was most worried because she was yelpy and not eating or pooping. Still very sore.




Today? Much better. Her appetite is improved and she finally did number two. She seems to be a trainable dog, as all she wants to do is please. She is also more dog-like that Bonnie or Buster ever were. She loves to ride in the car and hang her head out the window! She is also gentle and interested in her world. Easily cowed, though. I have only had to fuss at her once, when she ate some of my bunny wool. She sulked or cowered for hours afterwards, but she hasn't messed with the many bags of fur that I keep since. Next trick, to get her not to chase outdoor bunnies when they run away from her.

This is Sparkle. A friendly, sweet and social guy. A friend's kids wanted a bunny back in the spring, and I had several babies for her to choose from. The kids opted for one of the outside kits that I had brought in, over an angora. And now the kids? Not so interested and I have taken Sparkle back.

Pulse for 15 seconds.

Do you need a good laugh? Then go here.

I laughed so hard I cried!

Shake vigorously for three minutes.

Today was kitchen day. I washed the dishes first, a twice weekly chore.

Then I made butter. So easy and magical.

Then I made a banty egg dish with diced tomatoes and mushrooms with Italian sausage patties. The larger brown egg that I thought may have been laid by one of the larger girls, was indeed a banty egg with two yolks. So I had ten eggs and eleven yolks. Talk about rich - mmmmm rich.

I had gone to the Corydon farmer's market early Saturday morning and picked up tons of stuff. So today, I cooked snap green beans with new potatoes. Then, I stir fried yellow squash, shredded cabbage, mushrooms, banana peppers, green peppers, and onion, to be served with aged basmati rice.

I also made a cold vegetable salad of cucumbers, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, and left over corn off the cob mixed with my special ingredient, zesty Italian dressing.

These dishes will last us several days. I am learning to really like these cooking marathons, especially with Sweetie home, as he tends to eat too much peanut butter and crackers unless there is ready-to-eat food in the fridge.

He also has a superb fashion sense.