Age--bah humbug!!

Yesterday I worked "move in" day (6-count 'em, six! hours) at the huge Friends of the Library Booksale. Boy was that a mistake! I discovered what I already suspected--I'm waaay too old to do that kind of physical labor anymore---not that I'm that old, just too old for that work....what was I thinking???? Moving thousands of (heavy) boxes of books into the Made in Oklahoma Building seemed like a good idea when I volunteered for it but....I guess that's what I get for thinking. However, there is a pay-off. Because I busted my buns trying to carry boxes most of the day, I get to go to the pre-sale, a 2-hour preview where we're restricted to just a few books but it sure is fun to look at them all. It was all I could do to restrain myself from ripping open the boxes labeled "crafts" and look for knitting books! But I behaved. Besides I was injured 3 times--no surprise right? My boob got smushed by a box sliding rapidly down the rollers (I didn't realise they stuck out that far), I was whacked on the arm by something-who knows what-and someone dropped a box of books on my foot and at first I thought I had a broken toe but it wasn't.

Regardless, I suggest you visit the Booksale this coming weekend. Saturday and Sunday are free, Friday night you have to join the Friends ($10) to get in. Books are very inexpensive, magazines almost free, lots of dvd's and cd's--it's a great bargain. and did I mention that it's fun!

I'm finally working on the Baby Alpaca Grande Vest by Plymouth in pink and I like it. It's a pretty quick and easy knit but alpaca seems to get in my throat and make me cough. Does it bother anyone else?

I was on TV today-not that anyone besides my mother saw me. Not that I even wanted them to! I was interviewed on Channel 9 about the Winter Readfest Reading program for senior citizens. I wasn't scared but my body sure isn't tv camera friendly.

If you missed the Knitter's Guild meeting, you missed a good time. Linda P. taught us 4 cast-ons. She's a very good teacher and explains techniques quite well. A change of officers is always interesting. Each new year presents a bunch of new ideas, I hope they pan out and no one gets discouraged.

Well, I think it's time to rescue my knitting from the baby (grandson) and work on it some. He is such a busy little body but so cute!

toodles....Anita

Age--bah humbug!!

I was tagged by Emily

Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (I could pretend that I am reading something intellectual or spiritual or maybe self help but the honest truth is right here):
Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs, page 123

Find the first 5 sentences. found

Post the next 3 sentences. Here we are:
When Ryan knocked, Purviance again asked that he identify himself.
He did. A million locks rattled.

Tag 5 people. Let's see:
Margaret
Terri
Rosemary
Barbara
Sue

Out of my mind......

My grandson Carter has been sick. He made it all the way to one full year and two weeks before he got an ear infection, but he's got one in both ears! And both eyes are practically swollen shut. Poor little guy...but the Amoxycillan kicked butt and took names (so to speak) and he's so much better tonight. (I've never really quite understood that expression but for some reason I've always like it? go figure)

I read in a friends blog about the loss of a new life and I feel so sad for her and her family. Sometimes things can seem nearly unbearable. I know that for a fact as I'm sure most of us do.

I really love my mysteries, Janet Evanovich is a hoot. I try to read things that make me laugh--I know mysteries and laughter seem mutually exclusive but some of them are funny. Have you ever read the Southern Sisters series by Anne George? They are laugh-out-loud hilarious. Sadly she passed away after only 7 books. I belong to the OK. State Literacy Coalition and am chairing the "cookbook" committee. It's tougher than pulling hen's teeth to drag recipes from everyone. They want to share them it just seems tough to do it. I understand. If I have to I'll just put in all my favorites and make up names of contributors to go along with them! So if you see your name in a cookbook, think nothing of it.....Billie Letts (Where the Heart Is and more) says she gets all her characters by studying strangers.

Knitting: finally finished the comfort shawl and hope to deliver it tomorrow night. Bought my Noro Silk Garden for the Lady Eleanor. Remembered today that I bought yarn for a Ms. Greenjeans, and still want to make a rounb washcloth which I never have. Got two multidirectional scarves going. And the ever faithful (same) pair of socks! And I've got to stop knitting from time to time and work on my Sudoku puzzle. Is anyone else hooked on those? In my opinion it takes a rocket scientist to do a crossword but I can do sudokus.

There was something I really wanted to talk about tonight, but it seems to have left me....

About a month ago, my husband (the one with with Alzeimer's) (well actually my only husband) was stopped for running a stop sign and his driver's license is being revoked. To add insult to injury the ticket cost $172, those stop signs are expensive. Anyhow, it's been a rough few weeks. He's very angry but the funny part is he knows his truck isn't working (hmmmm imagine that) but he forgets he doesn't have a license. This is such a strange disease. I hate it.

I think I'll post a picture. This is on the ship our last night at sea headed home from Alaska. The moon was so pretty shining on the water that I tried to capture it.

toodles....

Noticing

Wow! Where does the time go. It's been two whole weeks since I've posted. Life is just too fast, has anybody else noticed that?


speaking of noticing, I've been noticing something about my stash. It's inadequate. I have lots of yarn but I don't seem to have enough of anything to make more than a scarf. I'm not sure why this is. Used to be that I couldn't afford to buy large amounts of nicer yarns (I can now if I want to) so I'd just buy 1-2-3 skeins or hanks of something for--probably a scarf! Another variation of my problem was that I'd buy enough but never could find a pattern that fit the yarn so I began only buying larger amounts when I already had a pattern selected. But that doesn't seem to have worked either. Either I lose interest in the pattern or lose the pattern itself! So now I can't decide whether to keep all these 1-2 skeins or get rid of them. I do like to make scarves and lots of them will work for mittens too, but still.... I know Linda keeps a store--I mean stash--so when she finds something she wants to make, she's ready. That rarely happens for me. What are your buying habits? Tell me what you think I should do with all my bits and pieces. I might add that I've grown quite attached to some of them. ;)

On the needles: I've got about 3 more rows and bind off, then block my comfort shawl. I think that it's just warm and cozy enough. I'm going to put some buttons on it so it can be worn over the shoulders without falling off.
I'm back to working on my socks that I've had going since August I think, maybe longer. Time to finish. I only have 3 pair of socks that I've made and I'm wearing them out.
I finally started the Baby Alpaca Grande Vest but of course I bought the wrong yarn so I'm having to adjust the pattern. I think it will work out. If not...there's always the frog pond!

I'm reading Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs. If you like CSI or those types of shows, she's perfect for you. I just finished Tell-Tale Horse by Rita Mae Brown, another good author.

Singing: I've lost my picks so I can't play my autoharp. They've got to be around here somewhere. Sometimes I think I live next door to a black hole the way things seem to vanish.
So choir is my current singing outlet. good training.

Clog: well clogging has definitely taken a back burner. I'm planning to go to a workshop in Texas in March if I can get away. There are just sooo many things to do and not enough time to do them all! I'm definitely going to have to be re-incarnated eventually.

toodles, Anita

Party Hearty--All Fall Down

Whoa I completely forgot about the parties when I posted last night. It's been a party filled weekend. First, we celebrated Carter's first birthday with what turned out to be quite a gathering of folks including three babies. One could hardly turn around in our not-so-big-but-warm-and-loving house, but gosh did we have fun. The house now looks like a day care with all the toys and Grandpa tripped over something and nearly fell on Carter (sitting on the floor) but recovered nicely with no injuries just lots of whoops!

Sunday, I was invited to lunch with a group of fiber fanatics Christmas Party (slightly delayed by the ice storm). They were so much fun and so funny and I'm just thrilled to be a part of this laughing group. I really look for opportunities to laugh...sometimes it's easy to forget.

Today I accomplished a fall that was pretty spectacular even for me. (I do all my own stunts) I was climbing into the library (3/4 ton) van. I have to step on the running board, grab the steering wheel to balance myself, then finish climbing in as it's very high off the ground and I'm not. Well something happened--I have no idea what--and I began tumbling backwards. I recall thinking uh-oh I'm going to hit my head as down I went. When everything stopped moving (that would be me) I was lying on the ground with one foot stuck under the seat of the van, (up in the air I might add thank heavens I wear britches most of the time) which was something of a stretch for me being five foot tall and the rest of me sort of hanging upside down and on the ground. As I looked under the door across the parking lot I saw one of the maintenance guys who hollered are you okay?” Yes I answered when I could catch my breath from laughing. And again yes when he came dashing over to help me up. I once told people that I fall down so often that it doesn't even embarrass me anymore, but this one was a trick. I sort of wish I had a picture....or maybe not.

not so easy but workable

Well, having a blog is about as hard as I thought it would be. Seems as if there's never anything cheer-y to write about. It's been a busy week in Lake Woebegone--oops that's a different group! (and probably under copywrite protection) But it's still been a busy two weeks.

My husband, who has Alzheimer's was stopped for running a stop sign and as a result his driver's license has been revoked. Hell hath no fury like a man who isn't allowed to drive. And guess who he's been taking it out on?? The Dr. add Naminda to his meds and I think it's staring to kick in, his mood has improved a little bit. But it's heart-breaking to watch this disease do it's dirty work. The good news is: Safe Return works! The policeman called them who called me and I went and picked him up instead of him being taken to a hospital or the jail. I highly recommend it if you are in this situation. And I feel pretty good that if he wanders off that he'll be returned to me. Okay on to other things...

Like knitting. I'm working on a comfort shawl of Berocco Foliage for a friend with cancer. In the interest of speed I'm using a drop stitch pattern but it's turning out much better than I thought it would with that pattern, and size 13 needles.

Here's my finished Multi Directional Scarf of Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn and size 5 needles. Pattern from Simpatico Yarn in Texas. I love it and have received many compliments.

Okay next are the socks I've been working on for quite some time. They are of Regia Kaffee Fassett. I plan to finish them someday. Pattern is knit2, purl1 all the way down. Something simple, dare I say boring? which might be why they're going so slow. who knows?

Moving right along is the Heartbeat Sweater from Just One More Row made of Schaefer Laurel colorway Henen Hays. I'm finding this patterna bit of a challenge but think it will be worth it.

Hopefully soon I'll figure out how to place pictures and text so that they aren't so far apart!

And last but not least is another multi directional scarf of Shaefer Miss Priss Clara Barton.

Okay, maybe one more picture of the birthday boy-Carter.

Good way to close an entry. See you later!