One side done...

I have the back side of the sleeveless sweater for me finished and have gotten the ribbing bottom done on the front side and am starting my stockinette. If I push myself, I just might be able to finish it and wear it to Thomas's Cub Scout banquet on Saturday night. I guess we shall see. It is a lovely soft peach color done with Caron Simply Soft yarn.


Jack has his first cardiologist appt since his surgery back in Sept. He has lost about 11 lbs since then so we shall see what the dr says about that and the fact he is now on WW. He has had a couple of those weird swellings to his tongue since December, but nothing major. He isn't taking any meds for it and it may be just something that pops up from time to time for the rest of his life or may go away all together.

I just finished two great , the new one by Robert B Parker, "High Profile" and by JD Robb, which is Nora Roberts, "Innocent in Death." Both are up to snuff with these authors! I know, I know, I need to knit instead!


I wrote a letter to the CEO of Joann.com about how they handle their returns. I told her that I would never shop in their stores or online ever again and I encourage others to boycott them too. I said she needed to revamp how her company handles returns that it shouldn't take 8 weeks to get a return for something. I am at 4 weeks now for a return that they received on Jan 29th in the early morning. It is ridiculous that it takes that long and the last email I got when I complained, which was a week ago, they said the warehouse didn't have my return yet. Where the heck is it than, Timbuktu???? As I said before, if there is any chance that what you buy from Joann.com could need to be returned think long and hard before even purchasing something from them. They're none to speeding shipping stuff out either, in my opinion.



I worked for 2 hours cleaning the deck and patio furniture and bbq grill. I got all the fall leaves left over blown out, the deck washed down, the patio furniture and grill out, set up and cleaned off so I am now ready for the summer months to get here. We have 26 weeks from today that we leave on Vacation to Vegas and I absolutely can't wait!



Well, I see by the old tick tock it is time to go out and get that walk in!

Everyone have a great Wednesday! It is going to be a beautiful day here.


Donna

I finished the baby's overalls and I think they turned out pretty cute. They were an easy knit up, though I think the directions were made harder than they needed to and I did find a mistake in them that someone who wasn't paying attention or a beginner who followed directions explicitly might miss. The only thing bad is that the straps curl because they are stockinette and the yarn is stretchy so the straps pull a bit. I included the little shoes I bought to go with the outfit.

I bought two mock turtlenecks to go with a big shirt I bought and they came yesterday. They were huge even for me, so back they go. I decided it is warming up and so I didn't reorder. Besides, I am hoping I have no idea how much weight I will have lost for next winter to waste money on them so I just decided to get a refund.

We only have a month until the baby shower and I am so excited to be able to go to Indiana and see friends and my son and dil. It is only going to be a short weekend, but we haven't seen the kids since they were here in Oct after Jack's surgery. I am looking forward to the shower. I do have to go out and shop for it on Friday though. We decided to take all the stuff I knitted and the outfit I bought and then buy a big two handle laundry basket which I will make big bows for and then fill it with all the little stuff on her registry she didn't get since the bigger stuff has been bought by people. That way we don't have to transport and since I am probably going to be taking my dd's gift to them we may need the extra room, though we have a huge trunk and backseat and we aren't taking Fortune with us. They have 2 dogs and 2 cats and with all the people, we think it will be way to hectic for him. He tends to be a nervous little thing.

On to chores this morning and a shower. I hear Jack is up and in the shower so I have to get a move on.

Donna

Another project finished

I finished the little overalls and they are so cute. I am waiting to post a picture until I get the buttons to put on them and the little shoes I bought to match. I have to find little doggie socks to go with them. On Saturday, at Walmart of all places, I found the perfect little onesie to go under it. It is baby blue and tan striped and on the left corner is a little dog and it says "puppy love." It looks really cute with the overalls. The only thing I don't like is the straps curl because they are stockinette. I pressed them with a steam iron and pressing cloth and even washed them, but they still curl. The ends of the strap curl up too. I hope the buttons are heavy enough to hold them down some.

I am back to knitting on my sweaters. I now have the back done on the peach one and am starting the front today. I want to get it done and maybe wear it to Indiana IF the weather decides it will warm up. It is very cold, snowy and icy up there at the moment.

We had a spectacular weathr weekend, getting into the 70's at one point. We took the car to get the new tires on and were there before they opened. We were the first customers of the day and after 90 minutes, Jack went to see what the holdup was as other customers that came after us were already gone! Well, first off, the idiot that was doing the job didn't read the service form and put the black temporary rims back on with the new tires even though the guy had written to put the new rims that were in the trunk on. The guy doing the job got mad at Jack when he complained! He had the service bay door open and closed it so Jack couldn't see in, so Jack promptly told the manager he wanted the door open so he could see that the guy didn't screw up again. Secondly, the tires they quoted us on the phone, they didn't have but one, then the tires they substituted for the quoted ones, they didn't have, but they never told us and put on Goodyear instead of Hercule tires, which were $20 apiece more. I was ready to go another round with a service guy like I did with the Firestone guy, but he said it was their mistake and he gave us the original quoted tire price. So, now we have new tires and all matching rims and the car looks nice again.

I had all the menopause issues last week and gained 2.6 lbs. I was so upset I didn't stay for the meeting. I had stayed on my points and walked everyday and knew it had to be hormones, but it upset me even so. I am hoping I am back to normal this week and have taken the overage off and maybe 1 more lb.

My husband's friend at work had his mil pass away this last week. It is really sad. She was only 70 years old, but she had Lou Gehrig's and had been suffering greatly over the past year. So much so, that they had to move her from her home to live with them and they had to build an addition on the house for her. I feel so sorry for Carl and Patty and for little Alex, who is 8. She is better off now, but it is still hard to lose a loved one. I don't usually send flowers in these situations. Most people send plants or flowers and there are always so many to deal with so I always send a food basket. I was glad that 1800flowers delivered it on the same day to them.

Well, my blogging friends, I hope your week has been good to you. Go out and make this one even better!

Donna

Boredom set in so.....

I found these cute baby overalls to knit and am making LJ a pair. I had 2 skeins of the camel yarn from my dd's sweater left so am using that, then went online and bought little brown bones for the straps and a bigger button of a dog's face for the bib. I searched online and found these cute little baby shoes caled Pedoodles that were dogs and bought them and will get a tshirt to match when I finish the overalls. I have one leg finished and have started the other one so it won't take long to whip it up. I got bored with both the sweaters and needed a breather from them and this was perfect.

We have decided to wait until we get to Indiana then go to the stores that have my dil's baby registry and buy all the little under $10 things left on her lists. I am going to buy a big 2 handle clothes basket, put in a bunch of tissue paper then scrunch up some new baby crib sheets over the top and fill it with all this stuff plus, the baby blanket I made, the Oshkosh outfit we bought, the sweater, hat and booties I made and this little overall set. We were going to buy them the stroller baby carseat combo, but someone beat us to it, probably her mom and sisters. I will get come pretty ribbon and make some big bows for each handle and I think that will be it.

If you ever need an extra bed, go online to Overstock.com and get one of their "air" beds. It is like an Aerobed and they are terrific. We got a queen size full bed height one for like $160 including shipping. We pumped it up last night in the living room and laid on it and it is quite comfortable, actually. We are going to be deligated to the basement to sleep, which creeps me out, but it is the only space they have. This will be fine for us to use while we are there. We only have 5 weeks until we get to go and I am very excited about seeing the kids and our friends.

If you haven't seen it yet, rent "The Lake House." What a great chick movie! I really loved it. I sat and watched it yesterday afternoon when I got tired of knitting, (I can't knit and do anything else like watch tv.) It is a terrific movie.

Also, go out and get Danielle Steel's books Sisters and read it. It is really good too.

Today is WW weigh in so we shall see if I am down a lb or not. I seem to be over the female stuff, thank goodness so I hope my hormones are back on track.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend. I will post the overalls as soon as I have them finished and the buttons on and such.

Donna

Forever in Blue Jeans......

That is an old Neil Diamond song and though I would like to say I am forever in blue jeans, fact is, I just bought the first pair I have ever owned. When I was a teenager, you didn't wear them much and because I was a size 18 you couldn't even buy them for my size back then. I haven't ever been able to find them to fit me that I could afford as our money was always tight and the kids always had to come first. Nowadays, I am so large that finding some that would fit hasn't been possible. I finally found some and got them cheap! The had them on sale from $40 down to $10 and I bought three pair. They were petite boy what an oxymoron that is, but it just meant they were shorter. I am 5'7", but have extremely short legs. They got here yesterday and fit, but as usual, the waist is huge because my butt is so big and the legs are baggy for the same reason. Neither of those is a problem, but they are shorter in the stride where I am longer so they sit low on my hips. Jack says the solution is a belt so I guess I am going to have to try and find one to fit me, maybe at a big and tall men's store. I love having jeans. It is so cool! Makes me feel more like everyone else.

Tomorrow is weigh in day. I have felt so crummy all this week that I hope I haven't gained just from hormonal stuff. I guess we shall see.

I am still making progress with my tops. I now have one side of the ribbon top on straight needles to finish it up, then will do the other side and sew it together. I am a little more than halfway done on the back for the peach sweater too. I got a book (Sister, by Danielle Steel) from my book club day before yesterday and sat and read it most of the day instead of knitting yesterday. Bad girl!

It is short and sweet today. I am still a bit under the weather. Hopefully it will get better today!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Donna

The Baby's Getting Closer

I believe we have 104 days until our new grandson's arrival. That is unless he is early or late! We talked to our son and dil yesterday and everything is going well. She said they are having trouble finding a hall to have the shower and she thought about having it at their home, but boy, I think that would be a mistake. Her bridal shower was in an apartment complex clubhouse and we were packed to the brim and their house is really not all that big. Whatever they end up doing, I know it will be fun. We are looking forward to what we call a "road trip." Because of Jack's heart problems last year we didn't go anywhere and are used to a few little trips then a vacation every year so we have been having cabin fever for quite awhile.

It sure is beautiful here. It only got into the 50's last night and I just came down and let the dog out and it is nice outside. It isn't cold or doesn't even feel the least bit chilly. I can hear the wind chimes outside though so that means the wind is up a bit.

I am almost to the point of putting half the stitches on straights to finish up the ribbon sweater. I felt so bad yesterday I didn't work on anything at all. I have to get on the stick and get the stuff done though so I have it for vacation. We only have 6 months until we go to Vegas. I do have the peach sweater about 1/4 of the way complete and am pretty much halfway with the ribbon sweater so I am doing well, I just have to keep it up so I can have enough time to get everything done I want to do.

I am hoping the clothing I bought comes in this week. I bought a cute big shirt, but they canceled my order saying it was out of stock. I had bought a mock turtleneck to go under it and now all I will have is the turtleneck, which I am not sure I want without the shirt. BUMMER!

WW is coming along ok. I am having some real hormone issues this week and everytime this happens I seem to always be hungry, but I have stayed in my points pretty much except for one day going over like 3. You have 35 extra per week to draw from, but I really don't like to use them.

Nothing much else going on here. We got the plumbing fixed, but he recommended a total rebuild of the faucets because of their age and that would be $500, which we can't afford right now after spending so much getting the car in shape. As it was, it cost us $175. I feel like this ole condo is falling down around our ears.

Everyone have a spectacular Tuesday and hopefully you are finally getting a warm up too!

Donna

Crummy Weekend, Good Week????

This was not the best weekend I have ever had. I am going through menopause and haven't had a period in months then it up and comes and comes hard on Saturday so I am miserable. That doesn't even count the fact I barely have any supplies because I haven't needed them! {{{SIGH}}} I am just tired of this. I started my periods when I was 10 and I am over 53 now so I think it is time for this to all be over with permanently.

I would just like to say to Tony Stewart, we are sorry you didn't win and had the wreck! He had gotten into the lead at the beginning of the race, had a bad pit stop, got a penalty for going to fast along pit row so had to start at the back of the pack again, worked his way from 40th back to the front and stayed there. We were sure he was going to win, then either the guy behind him tapped him a bit or something, but he slid, slowed down to right himself and the guy behind him plowed into him and it was over. Totaled the car pretty much, but he was ok. I quit watching after that as he is the only one I car about winning. I did peek in and see that a driver that is semi-retired and never won this race was in the lead, they had a huge crash, ended up with only 2 laps to go, he was still in the lead with about a half a lap and there was a crash behind him and that is supposed to end the race and he would have won, but they didn't put out the caution and a guy that had started coming around him won by a fender, literally. Poor Mark Martin got screwed on that one and Jack says there is no protest for racing finishes.

Jack is off today so hopefully after the plumber is in and out we can get the master bedroom rug shampooed. I wish a genie would provide the thousands of dollars to replace all the flooring in the condo, but alas it isn't going to happen so we will have to just plug along with the crummy carpeting and old flooring for now.

This short and sweet today. I need to get out and walk asap since the plumber will be here first thing this morning and I want a shower before he comes.

Go out and have the best Monday you can have!

Donna

Supply and Demand...

I rarely discourage people from ordering from a company unless I feel they will have the same experience as I. I have said on here before that Joann.com has problems with returns and it seems that has not improved. I am going on the 4th week of a return to them, and I still have not received a refund nor do they respond to my emails. They ask that you email only once, but when I get no response, I send another one and another and another. If you use this site really beware when or if you order from this company. It is extremely difficult to get them to answer you back and more so to get your money back. I don't care what their sales are like, I will never order from this company again. If you are a retail provider it is your duty to provide good service to your customers. This they do not do. For one thing, they are very slow about getting your order out, but the return issue is the thing that gets to me. The first thing I returned took an incredible 6 weeks to get my money back and that was after flooding them with emails and calling too. BTW, this had nothing to do with my credit card company. When I received an email from them finally saying they were refunding my credit card, the card had the money back on it within a couple days. When you do get a response it is that they will process a refund after they check with the warehouse to see if the product has been received. Well, this current refund was received by them January 29th because I sent it Priority mail and have the receipt so I can look up the tracking number. I encourage you to boycott this company and encourage others to do the same. Business is all this company seems to understand and you make a dent in that, you can force changes for the good.

Our car is a-ok. I guess cars these days have myriads of codes attached to them. When your check engine light comes on, it indicates a problem with a possible bazillion different issues, from sensor problems, to electrical to who knows what all. The electronic age, you know. Anyway, when a problem is fixed, they have to clear the codes to make the light go out. Well, they have what is called a "ghost code." This is when the problem you had causes the code to relight the check engine light even though there is nothing wrong. You have to take it back and have the codes, cleared out for lack of better words. Sometimes it only takes once, sometimes more than once. The good thing is there isn't anything wrong with the car. On the flip side, the moron at the car dealership ordered the wrong lugnut covers for my car. We went in to pick them up yesterday and they were totally wrong. The man working was terrific and had to search all over town for our covers, but finely found one at one dealership and one at another. I believe the problem was that we have an Grand Marquis LS instead of a GS and I think the LS, which is the "luxury sedan" has a more expensive cap because it is bigger and lies flat so it looks like all one piece and is a brushed metal color instead of shiny. Sheesh! The original cap is only about the size of a small jar cap and it cost $45 apiece. I dreaded what our cap was going to be, which is the size of a small dinner plate. The guy said it was more expensive, big surprise, but because they had made a mistake, he was going to give them to use for what I had already paid for them. Jack is supposed to go and pick them up on Monday.

Jack and I have already begun preparations for next year's vacation. I know, I know, we haven't even done everything for this year's vacation, but I found what I want to do so I want to get a deposit down asap. We are planning on going to St. Lucia island at a Sandals resort. One of Jack's coworkers did a Sandals vacation and said it is wonderful. It is an all inclusive thing, food, entertainment, hotel accomodations, booze, non alcoholic drinks, the works. Sort of like a cruise ship without the water, the seasickness and currently the viruses! The hotel rooms are gorgeous and the one we want to stay at has the option of getting a room with a poolside swim up to your room. That means I could step out onto my patio every morning and get straight into the pool! Isn't that cool??? For those of you who don't know, I love to swim. I go to our pool here at the condo everyday to swim, even have my own key where I am allowed to use it when it is locked up. I am not sure we would want to spend that much money, but it sure is tempting! Jack's idea of getting into the pool is bath water warm, getting in, swimming a length and getting out. They have beach parties, no kids, talent shows, no kids, Karaoke night, no kids, fashion shows, bands with dance music, all kinds of things besides, tours you can take, windsurfing, skiing, sailing, etc. It is for couples only. Ok, for those of you in the know, what the heck is a HobieCat???? I think we are going to go with a catamaran party that takes you out for the day. I should be close to goal by then so not have problems getting on and off a boat etc. I couldn't do that now that's for sure so it would be something to look forward to to keep my on my WW program.

As for knitting, I am almost to the point where I transfer half the stitches to straight needles so I can have armholes. Never done this before so we shall see how it works. In theory, it should work!

I hear the house calling me to start cleaning it! Today is DAYTONA so I have to have the house done and the lasagna in the oven before the race starts so we can sit and eat lunch and watch the race. GO !!!!!

Donna

Passing your Skill Around...

I took my knitting with me to WW yesterday. I thought after weigh in that I would knit while waiting for the meeting to start. (I lost another 2 lbs btw) I was knitting and one of the ladies struck up a conversation with me about how to knit. She crochets and has knitting needles, but can't seem to understand how to do it. I showed her a couple things, but explained that I knit lefthanded so it would be backwards for her. I recommended KH for her to watch Amy's videos to really get a grasp on it. I seemed to have been able to clear the fog some for her so for that I am glad.

I got out and walked this morning. It was chilly but made worse by the fact that parts of my walk were into the wind and it is blowing at a pretty good clip this morning. I would still rather suffer through that than the darn treadmill.

After all that $$$$ on the car, the check engine light came back on yesterday so Jack has to take it back in and have them recheck it. I told him NOT to let them charge him for another diagnostic they should do it for free as it was only a week ago it was fixed. It is always something with your house or your car, I guess.

The ribbon top is coming along great though I am going through the cards of yarn at an alarming rate. I guess I am going to have to order more, but it is a bit more expensive than other stuff I usually buy so I want to get the end of my ribbon before I order more so I can see just how much of the top it will finish. I am also working on the peach and go back and forth between the two.

I printed out a cute sweater for Thomas to knit him for Christmas this year but I am not sure of the yarn colors. I may try and look for something else. I know he likes blue and I think green, but I am going to find a color I think would look good on him like maybe an emerald green with that red hair.

I saw a post and pic of a sweater this woman did in 9 days for a gift and was actually knitting on the plane, seaming in the airport trying to get it finished. It was a patterned sweater too. It was really very nice and got finished just in time.

Everyone have a great day and do something fun today!

Donna

Sometimes, the Best Thing you can do is Knit!

Isn't it nice to have a relaxing hobby to do when you are stressed, mad or whatever? I know that I try and pick up my knitting when I am stressed. It keeps ME from eating for one thing. I am a total boredom eater too and am working hard to keep myself busy and not get bored. Knitting is the ticket there too. It keeps my mind and hands busy. If I am stressed in anyway, I knit something that is repetitive, ie my one top on circs that is just round and round without having to keep track. If I am bored, I knit something I have to keep track of because they I can't think of food and keep track of stitch patterns or whatever. I have started shying away from posting on a knitting site my pictures of finished projects. Since they are simple and not complicated, I usually get a couple comments, usually from a moderator, while those who venture into laces, entrelac, intarsia and the like get a lot more. Like I have said before, you don't ever have to be an expert knitter. You may never be an expert, may never venture much out of the box, but that is ok. Knitting is about pleasure for yourself not others and I think that is why I am not posting pictures on KH anymore. Stupid as it is, it makes me feel inadequate if there isn't much interest in what I am doing and it shouldn't ever be that way. I love the site, but there are a lot of knitting snobs on that site, which I think is sad. Those that knit simple caps, scarves or socks, should be the ones that are more encouraged about their work. Well, that is my opinion anyway, for what it is worth. Knitting is about you and no one else no matter who the project is being done for. I share my work not for praise, but to show others that they can do it too. I always try to include a note saying it is an easy pattern or whatever so that someone who would like to make a sweater for example knows that someone with the same skill level as they has done it and it isn't just the pattern's "opinion" that it is easy.

I am dong well on the top I have on circs. It is coming right along. I was knitting along this morning talking to Jack about vacation and such and didn't notice I had used up the whole card of yarn! Whoops! I was just so involved in our conversation I didn't realize I was that close to the end. No worries though. I have enough to tie into the next one.

Today is weigh in day so I hope I see another loss. Jack weighed this morning and is down another 2 lbs for the week and last weekend when we went out he finished my dessert, which I only took one bite of so hopefully I will see a lb loss anyway.

I have to go pick up those golden rim caps today too. I hope they come in this morning so I can go and pick them up then swing around to my WW meeting. I sure hope it isn't a snooze meeting again. I have to tell you it isn't all that exciting. Mainly because I have been dieting for years and know all the information like needing to exercise, body versus self image, eating proper foods etc. I didn't go to last week's meeting, but I will stay this week.

I have a funny story to tell. I have a couple pants outfits that are what they called Slinky knits. They are this stretchy knitted fabric with a shine to it. Well, I wore a pair of the pants yesterday and went to get into the car and almost slipped out of the seat! I forgot that the first of the week I had gone out and cleaned the inside of the car, washed windows, armoraled the dashboard and such and used leather cleaner on our leather seats and steering wheel! They seats and steering wheel were slick from cleaning and with the pants fabric, made them slippery.

I see it is 6:20, which means putting on and getting out into the and getting my walk in. It is supposed to warm up to 50 and then gradually warm into the 60's by next week so hopefully spring is just around the corner.

For my blogging friends, !!!

Donna

When to be Happy with the Weather you have...

I was grousing a bit yesterday when I went out to walk because it was really cold outside and I had to do part of my walk into the wind. It started a bit of snowing just as I reached home and I was chilled to the bone by the time I got inside. Well, I thanked my lucky stars when my sister called. She lives in South Bend and was out of school for the day. I guess on Tuesday they had blizzard conditions, got 3 feet of snow in one day and it is below zero windchill there. I saw on the weather that they are supposed to get more snow today. I worry about my son and dil. He works 2 hours away in Chicago, which is a mess too and with her being pregnant, I worry about her getting to work safely. She is a pharmacist for a big chain, sort of like Walmart up north and has to walk from the parking lot everyday.

We are plugging along with WW. Don't you just want to kick yourself when you haven't done something and when you do, you find it is the best thing you ever did? WW has turned out that way for us. I guess it really does help to have both of us doing it as there are not extra meals to cook and such we both eat the same thing. Tonight is homemade beef stew and corn muffins. Thought it would be good cold weather fare.

I frogged out my ribbon sweater start completely, cast it on again, knit a couple rows and transferred to circs. I think this super easy pattern will lend itself fine to circs and it is sure easier to knit with them, especially when the dog AND cat decide they need to cuddle with you on the chair. Butterscotch is so big and insists on sitting practically on my chest so I am sitting there knitting yesterday with my hands in the air. He knows he only gets one warning about chewing on the yarn/ribbon then down he goes so he has been pretty good about not fooling with it. Fortune, God love him just lays between my legs (I sit in the recliner and put up the foot rest) and sleeps. Butterscotch seems to think I need entertainment so he "talks" to me a lot, mostly because he wants me to mess with his ears. I am the only one he allows to mess with his face at all and loves for me to pet him around his face and ears.

I am not going to have enough ribbon yarn for the sweater, but I can order it online, though not at Joann.com. I am never ordering from them again. It is impossible to get your refund. It took me 6 weeks and a huge amount of threatening to finally get my refund for the first box I sent. I still haven't gotten a refund on the other stuff and it has been over a month. It is ridiculous to have to wait that long for a refund. I don't know how the warehouse is run, but it is obviously not done well. I will just pay more somewhere else. So, beware of ordering from this site and pass it on. If you aren't absolutely sure of what you are buying get it somewhere else.

These early morning wake ups have got to stop. I am waking up at 1-3 in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep. I have everything all jumbled around now because I am so tired I fall asleep really early so....


Yesterday was the anniversary of Jack's mother's death. It has been a long time, 18 years, but he really misses his parents still. They both died very young (early 50's) and my fil only saw my son until he was two and died before my dd was ever born. My son was the light of my mil's eye and she adored that boy. Luckily, he was in high school when she passed so he got to spend summers with her on and off. Today would have been my parents anniversary and the 20th is the day Jack ask me to marry him. The man carried my engagement ring around in his glove compartment for months trying to get the courage to ask me! He proposed in the middle of a driving snowstorm that was so bad, he couldn't pull to the side of the road, but sat right on the highway in the dark, with the lights of the car off no less to propose! Now that is a proposal you remember! Here we are 34 years later so I guess it stuck!

Everyone try and keep warm today! It is supposed to get into the 40's but with my luck not until late afternoon so I will freeze walking this morning again.

Donna (update 11:42 AM I just picked up my 2 rims for the car, they had been prepaid to the tune of $250 and are reconditioned not even new, though they look it. Anyway, neither one had the rim cap so I had to go to the dealership and order them and it cost me another $90!!! Now, if we had bought the rims new, they would have cost $450 apiece, so I guess it is still a better deal, but $45 just for the cap to go over the lugnuts, come on! That'll teach me to buy a big car! I decided to run by Krogers and grab me some bottles of Diet Pepsi on the way home and picked up the new Janet Evanovich book, Plum Lovin.' She does such great comedy writing in her books and I got it 25% off so at least something was cheap. Wendy's,which sits in front of Krogers kept calling to me, "Buy some Chili, Buy some Chili" so I did. I got a biggie chili, but didn't have them load it with shredded cheese as normal. I had no clue how many points, a biggie chili was but I thought, I could maybe have at least half a carton as I love their chili. I came home and sat down and looked up the points and YIPPPPEEEEE it is only 6 points so I put a slice of ff cheese in it and 2 packs of crackers with hot sauce and have a great lunch for 8 pts total. I am totally jazzed. I can now have my chili and read my book!)

The Wilkinson Home Theater Presents....

The Illusionist. Wow was that a great movie. I put it in yesterday afternoon thinking I could watch and knit on my sweater, but got so involved the sweater just lay there. You don't think of Ed Norton as some romantic figure but he did a wonderful job and I just loved the movie. I wanted to watch one of the Judi Dench films, but didn't want to search through everything and it wasn't in front like I thought it would be. Jack must have been rummaging again.

My handbag came last night and it is beautiful. A nice light tan suede. Jack has a bet going with me I will use it before vacation. He refuses to hide it because he thinks it is funny. He was teasing me about buying another handbag, like I knew he would, but I gave him what for about "gadgets." The man has a computer superstore in his office, closet and in the attic. Everytime a new gadget comes out, he has to have it. We have cordless mice, cordless keyboards, flat screen pc monitors, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. I bet if you counted the mice he has, it is at least 10-15. Sheesh and he thinks I am bad. At least I use my handbags over and over, though a couple of them rarely because the size isn't right or I have one that is an adorable bag, but it is apple green and the size of a suitcase! Even I don't need that much room! I have pinks, yellows, blues, purples, greens, reds, aqua and that is besides the browns and a couple blacks. I do not have white as I don't like white handbags. I think they look cheap for some stupid reason. I have mostly leather, but a few suedes, vinyls, cloth and on and on. I even have an adorable pink checked one with red lady bugs that has fun fur around the top. Jack bought it for me a couple years ago to take to Vegas and it got left home! That'll teach him!

I am now working on the peach sleeveless sweater for... myself! I want to make a cardigan to go with it if I have time. I still have two ribbon tops to knit for Vegas so I have to get a move on. I think I will start a sweater for T when I go to Vegas and have it to knit on the plane if I wish.

Jack loves Nascar and Tony Stewart and our son teases that we moved to the south and became rednecks, so I bought this for baby Jack.

I am an ornery mama!

Time to hit the hay and snooze a little. Five AM gets her mighty soon.

For all my blogging friends:

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Donna

Doing the Finished Sweater Happy Dance!

Yep, it is done, finally. I am posting two pictures as I couldn't get the front view to look very good.

I actually didn't have any problems setting in the sleeves, I had a horrible time with the neckline and the darn buttons. I couldn't manuever the sweater to keep the buttons in place and straight. I finally got an ispiration and I told Jack I was "Wiley E Coyote SUUPPPPEEERRR Genius." (do you remember the Roadrunner cartoons when he used to say that when he would come up with an idea for getting the roadrunner?) Anyway, I took my embroidery thread and instead of splitting it, used the whole strand, wove it through the four button holes twice to make is strong, then left a tail. I positioned the button, used a crochet hook to pull the tail through the knit stitches then secured them through the back. That way they are fairly straight. I also had a heck of a time with the neckline, but got than one all figured out too. As for the neckline, I had an unravel problem and don't you know it was in the front, but I figured out how to get it straightened out and finally got the stitches picked up and knitted. A tip for those of you sweater novices, use a crochet hook to go under the bound off, or whatever stitch, wrap you thread around the hook and pull through. Now you have your picked up and knitted stitch. Do 4-5 then transfer to the needle you are going to use. I find the crochet hook works easier than trying to get the needle underneath in tight spots.


I now can go on with getting my own stuff knitted. I will be anxious to see how the peach sleeveless comes out. It looks pretty on the needles.

Sounds like it is raining and so it is treadmill for me today. I missed Friday's, Sunday and Monday walking so I am behind and need to get my behind in gear if I want to show a loss of some kind on Friday. I have to average 2 lbs a week to be able to get in my capris and pants for vacation. Not one pair fits and I have like 10 pairs of capris, 4 of bermuda style shorts and 3-4 cotton or linen style pants. I found some gorgeous tops in a couple of the large ladies catalogues that I may get and this to die for pants set. My handbag should be here today so I am going to have Jack hide it so I won't be tempted to use it before vacation.




I have everything done on the car but the tires and I am waiting for my 2 new rims to come in before I take it to get tires. I am a little bummed because we paid $25 to get the current tire patched on Sunday. I guess when they took the tires off to look at the brakes they found a nail in the tire. It isn't surprising out where Jack works, but it is irritating to have to pay money right before they are being desposed of. Better that then a flat on the side of the road though.




Everyone have a spectacular day. I am going to hop up and do some chores before Jack gets up in just a few minutes.

Donna

When is a sweater not a sweater....

When the knitter has been stalling putting it together! I have got it pressed now so I have no excuse not to sew it up. I just want it to look really nice so I am nervous about putting in the sleeves so I have been stalling. I do have the first sleeve finished and I don't think it is too bad for a first attempt. IT has a bit of puckering, but I think I will get better with each sweater I do. I also want to make Jack's birthday present (his new I-Pod) a little case for him to put it in so it doesn't get scratched, but before I do that or knit on other stuff, I want to get the sweater finished up.

This weekend was a whirlwind of errands and car repair stuff so I did get to walk on Saturday, but never made it out yesterday. I cleaned the downstairs though and walked all over nasty Walmart to get a tv they had on sale for the guest bedroom and stuff to clean the leather and such inside the car. When I was still working, I kept the car spotless, but Jack has slobbed it all up with spilled drinks etc so it is a mess and I am going to try and get it cleaned up today. It is supposed to rain this morning so my nice car wash will go out the window. I will probably just take it back tomorrow and redo it if the rain passes out of our area.

I have to go and order the rims this morning than wait until they come in before I go and get new tires on the car, I think they said about 3 days. We will then have it in great shape to take to Indiana the end of next month for the shower. I am so glad Jack decided to go with me. It is a long drive to do by yourself, about 10 hours of straight driving not counting restroom, food, and gas breaks, etc so it usually takes about 12. I am going to make sandwiches and take the little 100 cal snacks instead of fast food stopping on the trip. It will keep up in our points. We aren't going to eat out all three meals while we are up there either. We can get a few supplies and eat at my son's house as much as we can.

I bought me some new sandals/shoes for vacation. I had bought a pair of white Clark sandals, but wanted at least one more pairs so I bought these from Land's End. I now have different styles for different outfits. The whole thing with Vegas is walking all the time so you have to have decent shoes to do so and they are all good supportive walking shoes.

I guess I better get going. Jack will be up in a minute.

Have a good start of the week everyone and keep dry and warm!

Donna

Busy, Busy, Busy

I was on the run all day yesterday. I got up and walked and it was really tough yesterday and I am not sure exactly why. My gluts hurt most of the day, but I figure they got a good workout and were just complaining!

We dropped the car off at Firestone on Friday night and they called Saturday morning to say how much it would cost. We got a quote of $900. We then had to go commissary shopping, which is always fun, but it went ok, came home, unloaded and put away then headed back out. We got a bite to eat at taco bell, staying within pts, went to Circuit City, that was a bust. I didn't want to go in so I sat in the car and listened to music. Jack was in there at least half an hour just to buy a wiring harness to replace our factory installed tape player with the CD player he had installed in our old car and took out. Well, he has to take the car in so they can look and see which harness to sell him. It is going to cost about $50 because the guy says Jack needs two! For some wires, for crying out loud.

We left there and went to Hub Cap Annies to order 2 new rims for our car, but their wholesalers are closed on Saturday so that was a bust. I will have to take it over there on Monday and order them. We were running two for two in the we can't help you department. Then it was back home to wait for them to call and say the car was fixed. At 3:30 they hadn't called so Jack called them. They had it done! Sheesh. Wonder how long it had been sitting finished. Well, we got there and the bill was $1100. Being a big mouth witch I raised cain because they originally said we only needed front shocks that we had an air system in the back (the tech never looked at the car, but went by the fact it was a Grand Marquis and I guess GM's and Lincolns have this system in them. Nope, ours has shocks, but they never called to verify that we wanted them to go ahead and replace the back ones and it would cost another $200. I hate to say it, but Jack is a big wimp. I know he doesn't like it when I interfere, but he was going to let it go and I wouldn't. I said we at least deserved a courtesy call and it was wrong of the tech to assume in the first place so the guy took $100 off the bill. Jack would have paid the whole thing and not said a word.

We took the rental back to the condo and parked it in the garage as we were going to buy a tv to replace the one we had in the guest bedroom (I gave that one to Thomas as his little tv went phlewy and hadn't been replaced) We went out to Walmart and I bought Jack a late birthday present. We had just had open heart surgery around his birthday and never got a present. He had bought me a gorgeous, diamond, ruby and sapphire ring for my birthday and he got nada because we couldn't afford anything right then. I bought him an IPOD, which he had been drooling over and we went to pick up the tv and they didn't have any at that store. I wanted this 20 incher that was on sale for $90 so we have to go and get it later because we are taking the car back to Firestone this morning and letting them do the brakes. We were going to have Midas do them, but Jack can't do it until Saturday and I don't want to sit at Midas all day on Monday so we are just going to pay the few extra bucks and have Firestone do it.

Oh, we did get the car washed and vacuumed inbetween there somewhere too.

I didn't get to knit one stitch yesterday. I need to get the house cleaned and such today so I doubt I get much knitted today either.

Time to go back to bed now as I am

Donna

All quiet on the midsouth front...

All the bad weather went away by mid morning and though it is cold, it is dry and the sun is supposed to be out today. Looks like I am going to have to go out and walk in about 30 degrees this morning so I will have to bundle up. I don't think I am going to do the "monster" as I call the street next to the condo. It is usually the way I walk, but the street goes straight up a hill and is a killer. I am going to do a longer flat walk this am.

I found a couple good articles on seaming. I am nervous about putting the sleeve seams in. Can I ask a seriously stupid question? How can you tell a raglan sleeve from a regular one? I know what a sweater looks like that is raglan sleeved, but I don't know what an unsewn sleeve will look like and how I tell the difference since the pattern doesn't say.

I just got a Judi Dench movie from netflix called Mrs Brown. I am anxious to watch it. I believe it is about Queen Victoria and her relationship with a servant while grieving for her husband over a long periond of time. I can't wait to watch it, but I have tons of stuff to do this weekend still so don't know if I will get the time. My knitting is going to suffer until then.

My poor baby. He felt so bad last night. We just laid around all evening. I am sure his little gums are sore especially having a tooth pulled. We can dope ourselves with meds they come out of their anesthesia and have to deal with the pain. The dr gave me spray to put on his gums today and then start using in a couple days to brush his teeth with.

I am going to give a big to Jack for losing another 3 lbs this week! He told me he can button his jeans without holding in his breath and tie his shoes without it cutting off his air!

On to morning chores and my walk. and Tide Waits for no Man,(John Skot) so better get a move on.

Donna (hey, they're WW chocolates!)

YIKES THE ICE!

As I left to take Jack to work we started with freezing rain/sleet. I almost slid off the road about 2 miles from home, then I couldn't get across my deck as it was solid ice. When I finally got to the back door, the heavy storm door wouldn't unlock no matter what I did so I had to try and get back across the deck, walk all the way around the building to the front door, then I couldn't get the front door open! I finally got it open and am ok, but man is it nasty out there. I hate driving in this weather and I am now stuck. We have to pick up a rental car we have reserved today, but they said by noon the temp will be up so that it will melt. Thank goodness the dog's vet is a half block away on a city street so I am getting ready to take him as the city streets aren't bad it is the interstate such that is up in the air and it freezes.

I have weigh in today but it is at noon. If it is still nasty I probably won't go, but hopefully it will move through and the temps will rise to clear it up a bit.

I have all the parts to the sweater finished so all I have to do is press it and sew it together. I am a little nervous about setting in the sleeves, but I will just have to go slow.

I bought our airline tickets last night so we have those for vacation as well as our hotel reservation. Once we get our tickets I always think the vacation is a go!

I bought myself a little present last night. I was watching tv waiting for CSI to come on (which, btw, I am mad because they killed off Mike and I liked him) Anyway, I was channel checking and saw QVC had Maxx of New York handbags on. Big mistake gals! I love handbags and own about 50. I found one almost immediately and came right downstairs and ordered it. Now to tell Jack I spent over $100 and bought a handbag. He thinks women should have one in black so it goes with everything! No Way!

Well, I am going to get Fortchy over to the vet before it gets too much worse. (11:00 AM, they just called and said Fortune would be ready at 11:30 and I ask her the total and she said $285! They are charging me $160 to pull a tooth! They quoted me $121 and I am going to read them the riot act and ask what the heck they would have done if I had gone to pick him up and I didn't have enough money? They never called and said anything about extra work needing to be done. I am furious and I plan on letting them know it.)

Everyone stay warm today!

Donna PS: 12:38 PM Because no one called me they cut $75 off the cost. The dopey girl that quoted me originally just quoted the cleaning, not the anethesia and stuff that goes with it. He also had to have an absessed tooth pulled and they didn't call me about it either. I was nice enough, but I made it clear I was unhappy. Also, I had WW weigh in at noon and I am down 7 lbs!

Here's my Fort Knox!

His favorite place to snooze is in, under, or over the sofa pillows, which I made, btw! Mardi, I am no competition for your sewing prowess, I made these using Stitch Witchery! From the comment lionspaw left, I guess I will be glad his teeth cleaning is only $121!

I am almost through 2 weeks of WW and dang I had better see some lbs down this week as I worked by off. I have a friend who is around 380 lbs and lost 8 lbs the first week and 1.5 the second and doesn't exercise. Sheesh! I am about 30 lbs lighter and walk a mile everyday and can only eek out a lb. I am not complaining exactly, just a tad frustrated. We shall see what happens tomorrow as it is weigh in. My dear sweet husband is down another 2 lbs so I am thrilled for him.

I have the rest of the sleeve to finish then I am done knitting my dd's sweater and can put it together. As this is payday week, I do all my shopping, errands and such tomorrow and Saturday then clean the downstairs on Sunday so don't know if I will get to it until Monday, but I am going to try. I want to get it done. I see that I have 2 skeins of the camel left and part of another. It looks like I am also going to have extra with my peach sleeveless sweater so I found this super easy no button cardigan and I think instead of using the pattern they have for the body of the sweater, I will do it in straight stockinette stitch and put in some camel stripes or even use bigger needles and combine one strand of camel and one of peach and make myself sort of a set for vacation. It can get a little cool in the evenings in Vegas and a sweater would be nice.

We got Flags from Iwo Jima last night and I am anxious to see if it is as good at the Letters from Iwo Jima, which was superb. I am on a long waiting list for Elizabeth I so it may be awhile before I get to see that one. I am anxious to see it though. Has anyone seen "The Queen?" I hear Helen Mirren is pretty spectacular in that too.

Jack will be up in a mo' so I better go. Have a great one today!

Donna

It Costs How Much?????

When I had Fortune get his yearly exam and his shots a month ago, the doctor wrote that he needed his teeth cleaned. I figured it would cost me about $60 or so. They had stamped on his sheet that February is Pet Dental Health month and it is 15% off dental work and cleaning so thought I would go ahead and save some money and get it done. He is 6 years old and hasn't ever had it done so I thought it best. I called the vet's office, told her who I was and what I wanted. She asked me how much Fortune weighed and I said 12 lbs. She excused herself and came back on the phone and said with the discount it was going to be $121!!!!!! Dang, I am glad I don't have a St Bernard or something I would have to sell Jack!
So, to the "dentist" he goes on Friday morning. He looks way too happy about spending my money!

I ripped out most of the sleeve for dd's sweater yesterday. I didn't feel I had the increases evenly spaced so I will try again today I guess. I just want to get it done and sewn up now. The problem is purling an increase. I am having problems with that one and may end up having to increase on a purl row so I am going to have to work on it.

I get magazine as I am an and they had a great article in there on Helen Mirren. I guess she was a pistol in her youth and did lots of roles other woman wouldn't have touched. It said she is just a bit of a rebel with a refined manner. I guess the costumes she wore for Elisabeth the I were so heavy they damaged the muscles in her back so now she is on muscle relaxers to help with that. The things you do for your craft!

Not much else going on in my world today. It IS 52 degrees out at 3:30 in the morning, but the is supposed to bottom out this morning to around 38 for a high. It is better than the below zero temps some are getting so I won't complain.

Remember a week from today! Do something special for the one you love!

Donna