Nonny's This and That

A new Year a New attitude.

2011-12-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

Whoa boy, I have really just let this blog go. I have been knitting so much, and reading and having another health problem for the year that it hasn't much been on my mind to actually blog here.

My main focus for this coming year is a big weight loss and we are taking a cruise for our 40th anniversary in Sept. Actually, we are going over my birthday as our anniversary is in November, but this was the last date of "cheap" cruise tickets so we took them and decided to do our anniversary early.

I am going to post a bunch of pics of stuff I have been knitting next time I get in here so be patient with me, I promise to get better.

Everyone have a wonderful Christmas this year!!!!

2010-04-30T04:26:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I have been seriously neglecting my blog, but we have had health issues that have kept me busy for the past year.

I learned to make socks since my last posting and am pretty proficient with just plain socks though I do like the self striping and such.

I promise to try and download some more pictures and get in here more often. The boys are growing up so fast now that seems like time is slipping away.

Where has the time gone?

2009-04-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

I am getting seriously bad about not keeping my blog updated. I think it is old age and I forget about it sometimes.

As far as knitting goes, I am currently making placemats for my son and dil's anniversary. I bought cloth napkins that blend with the fiber colors so they look nice. I am down to knitting my last two and can't wait to finish them. Then I can go back to knitting my boys their sweaters for Christmas. They have yet to be blocked so they are kind of the rough stage.

Thomas is going to be in a little mermaid play this weekend and we are looking forward to seeing that. Won't be long and he will be having his spring recital. I missed his last recital as I was violently ill that day and Jack didn't go because he didn't want to leave me alone. Don't know why as he can't hold the bowl over me... :)

I bought the cutest things for the boys easter baskets this year from Swiss Colony. I have an account with them and I bought these little round quarter sized chickens and bunnies that have a peanut butter filling (for T only as Jackson can't have peanut butter yet) and then got some cute green frogs that are chocolate truffles. I also bought these tiny slivers of cake that look like itty bitty ice cream cones I thought they might like. Thomas gets at least three baskets so I try and do a bit different for him. I got him a Wii card and a cute Webkinz turtle, which he collects. Jackson is potty training age and his mom requested stuff like that so I did a search and found the top rated book for kids on potty training (not for the parent but for the kid to read with the parent) It is a small book he can hold in his hand and I got a set of potty training stickers and bought him a box of "big boy" underpants.

I will try to do better about keeping up with things, but until next time...

Thanksgiving/Christmas

2008-12-02T06:08:00.000-08:00

The kids were able to come down for Thanksgiving so we combined it with a Christmas celebration. We will go to dd's house on Christmas Eve and have dinner with her family, but for all intensive purposes, we are done with Christmas for this year. Jack and I were both sick up to the time of the holiday, which made it hard to get things done. Somehow I got all the decorating and cooking done in time.

I bought the boys matching outfits and they wore them for their picture with Santa. Jackson wasn't too thrilled with Santa this year but they got him to quit crying so they could take the picture.

He and Thomas had such a good time together. Thomas was patient and kind with Jackson and Jackson hero worshipped Thomas, following him everywhere and emulating anything Thomas didn.

We got a kick out of Jackson. His parents have a Wii and Jackson would play Wii with Thomas though he had no idea he wasn't really playing. He would swing the controller like he was playing baseball or tennis then point at the tv. He was a hoot. We bought him an Elmo live for Christmas and it is an adorable toy. He sings and dances and tells stories. He has a little plastic stool that he squats on and sits to tell stories. Well, Jackson came over, pushed Elmo over, took the stool and sat on it. Now this thing is plastic and not made for a toddler's butt, but Jackson didn't care! lol

The kids loved their gifts and the adults had fun exchanging their silly children's gifts. The little ones then took all the kids gifts the adults exchanged to the Salvation Army and gave them away.

I developed either food poisoning or the flu on Friday and was sick through the rest of the holiday. I didn't get to enjoy Saturday with them at all as I had to stay home all day. Jay and Alicia went home on Sunday and all is now quiet again at our house. I am cleaning up Thanksgiving leftovers, sent all the junk food with Jack to work and am putting things back to normal except for the decorations. We will leave them up until Christmas then take them down and pack them away again.

I am making another apple hat for my dil's niece in a bigger size, then 3 more hats for the little girl with cancer. These are the patterns I chose and will start on them when I finish with the apple hat. I also have a felted newsboy bag I have to make for my niece to hold her school books and am waiting for that yarn before I can begin it.

Hope everyone who peeks in is doing well. TTFN! Donna

Halloween has come and gone...

2008-11-05T03:05:00.000-08:00

The kids both had a fun time trick or treating this year. Jay said Jackson helped hand out candy, but wanted to eat it more than anything! lol Here he is in his little doggy costume. I was flabbergasted at how he had grown! He looks like a 3 year old instead of less than 18 months. His dad says he is the youngest in his group at day care, but is bigger than all of them. He is going to be his daddy for sure.

I forgot my camera and didn't get a picture of Thomas in his Futurama costume. The brain slug was hard to keep on as it was top heavy, but with a little wrangling we got it to stay. I don't think I said that after the Wall Street Journal article he was invited onto Good Morning America and here is the link to his national debut on television. He is now a star at school!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6113801

I am still trudging along with the candy cane hats. I just can't seem to get into a knitting mode. I have a friend who wants me to teach a knitting class to little kids and moms at St Judes. She is trying to arrange something. That should be interesting considering I knit left handed. Not continental, left handed.

Voting is done and we have a soon to be new president. If the white supremicists don't get him in the first year. They seem to be trying, that is for sure the scum. They have killed for a lot less. I am not impressed with him and could care less about his color. I think he will raise taxes for the very people he promises tax breaks to so he can fund his inflated welfare and social programs. Someone has to pay for it and the middle class always take the brunt of anything the government wants to do.

I seem to be destined to screw up the plumbing in this place. In the last year I broke off both spouts on both tubs and day before yesterday the shower head came off in my hand. Nice thing is I have a nice handheld now that I have always been wanting and all new fixtures on the tub since the plumber came in and replaced them all. They are original fixtures so thirty + years old so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that stuff has happened, but why can't it happen to Jack???

I have been doing some spring cleaning before the kids get here at Thanksgiving and boy it poops me out. I push myself too much, but stuff has to get done and I am the only one to do it the way I want it. I have made a lot of progress over the last couple days.

Guess I will sign off and get some breakfast fixed for Jack.

2008-10-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Our grandson has made the Wall Street Journal! They did an article on kids in politics and Thomas was one of the kids. Part of his "election" speech for a Student Council position he ran for and won is in the article along with info on him and his picture. Check it out:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122472869877161477.html?mod=todays_us_nonsub_page_one

I am currently working on candy cane hats for the family Christmas picture, red with white for my dd's family and white with red for my son's. I will do something different then for Jack and I. If they don't want them, we will donate them to charity afterwards.

I have lots of yarn and knitting I can do, but am having some pain in the joint and muscle of my elbow so it makes it painful to knit sometimes. Nothing is on a time frame though so I don't feel pressed except to get the hats done and they go pretty fast.

Jackson, Alicia and Jay will be down here for Thanksgiving and we are celebrating Christmas at the same time. We decided to do something fun and charitable this year. We are buying gifts for the adults, but they are to be toys or games that fit the personality of the person. We are then going to donate them all to Toys for Tots. I bought my son a stuffed Spongebob Squarepants in a Karate Gi because he does jujitsu, my daughter-in-law an Alchemy game because she is a pharmacist, a Rubik's Cube for my son-in-law because he is a puzzle that takes time to figure out and my dd I bought the card game Mad Gab because she is a talker. It was fun thinking of what to buy. My dil was the hardest and I overspent on our $10 budget for each, but I couldn't find anything.

Next time, I hope to have more knitting pics to post. Until then, have a great one!

A brain Slug????????

2008-10-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

Kelly emailed me and ask if I would make a brain slug for Thomas to wear for Halloween. He is going to be some character from the Futurama cartoon and needed me to knit him a brain slug. I guess this is what a brain slug looks like!

Thomas won his seat on the Student Council
by unanimous school vote. Someone at Wall Street
Journal saw his UTube and wants to interview him
for the newspaper. My 8 year old grandson the famous politician!

Well tonight starts the baseball playoffs. Cubs and Dodgers start at 5:00 I guess. Sure hope the ole Cubbies are on top of their game. Maybe they can go all the way this year. I get so emotional about the game, which is kind of stupid.

Guess I better get back to knitting and doing chores. They just don't seem to want to do themselves.

Back to Normal

2008-09-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a long time since I updated my blog, but I have been recovering from my second surgery then have been trying to get everything back to normal. I still have some ongoing issues that will likely last forever, but after two surgeries in one year, I feel pretty darn good basically. I celebrated my 55th birthday yesterday with Kelly, Tom and Thomas and we missed having Jay, Alicia, and Jackson there, but the kids live 600 miles apart so we aren't going to be able to have most things together. We are looking forward to a Thanksgiving/Christmas time together this year.

I just started back to knitting and have completed a couple things since then.

I made three hats for a little girl with cancer that my dd knows.

I got this notion to have a candy cane themed Christmas so am making candy cane striped hats for the whole family. These don't have their candy cane buttons on the front yet. One of the kid's families will have red with white stripes and the other white with red stripes.

Here is a new picture of Jackson. He celebrated his first birthday in June and is now walking up a storm. Jay called last night to wish me a happy birthday and told me "Alicia had to work all weekend so I have been babysitting Piglet." I guess he runs them ragged now.

Our Thomas, who is in third grade and is now a big 8 years old, is now class president and has a seat on the student council. He is running for the Sergeant at Arms position and below is the link to his campaign speech. He wrote every word himself! He is such a great and funny kid.

http://twurl.nl/ieu7is

Jack is always the same, my very best friend and a great husband. He is doing well, no more heart problems, recently had an ekg and an electrocardiogram to make sure and all is well.

Since we didn't get our Vegas trip this year because of my surgeries, we were supposed to go to Houston the Friday-Monday, Sept 12-15 to see the Cubs play the Houston Astros. Yep, you guessed it, that was the weekend of the hurricane. Luckily, we were able to get enough info on Thursday to not make the trip. It was disappointing as we had no vacation this year, but we had paid for the pet hotel so we loaded up Fortune and took him then since the car was packed to go to Houston, just headed to St Louis for a few days. Hung out at a very nice hotel, visited the casinos and no we didn't win any money, and went shopping at one of their nice malls. Got a bargain at Macy's found a $120 handbag, and you know me and handbags, marked down to $50. I loved it so went to pay for it and they were having a weekend sale and I ended up getting if for less than $30!!!! Woohoo! Can't beat that.

I promise to try better to get in here and keep my blog updated. I know a couple of you keep an eye on it.

Barely Less Than a Week

2008-04-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

My surgery is scheduled for Monday the 21st and I have been rushing around getting cleaning, grocery shopping and other chores done before I go in. My husband's sister is coming for the week I am in the hospital as well as my son coming down for a couple days. All in all, I am fairly ready to get this over with no matter the outcome.

We went up north to visit our son, dil and grandson the first of April and brought back some adorable pictures of Jackson. He now has 6 teeth and is almost walking as you can see from the pictures. His granddad brought him back the Japanese headband from Wrigley field when he and our son went to a game. They have a new right fielder who is Japanese.

Here is the horseshoe lace sweater that I did for my sister's birthday and she loved it.

I then decided to start something for myself. I have the back finished which is all in the dot stitch and here is what I have finished so far of the front. It will be a tunic length with side slits.

We won't be going to Vegas this year because of my surgery, but we are planning on a trip to see the Cubs in Houston in September so I look forward to that.

Until next time friends....

Surgery finally Scheduled!

2008-02-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

I have a good report back on my tests and they have now scheduled my re-connection surgery for April 21. At least it won't blow my whole summer and I will be well and strong for our baseball trip to see the Cubs play in Houston in Sept. I have to say I am anxious just to get it all over with. I feel well and want to get my whole life back.

I have been knitting a lot. I finished all the baby projects for the shower.

I am now working on a horseshoe lace sweater for my friend Becky for her birthday. I have a good part of the back done already.

We are looking forward to going up and see our son, dil and grandson the first weekend in April before I have my surgery. Jack and Jay will be heading off to see a CUBS game on Saturday and I will be attending the baby shower in the afternoon though I am planning on begging off early and going and seeing my best friend and taking her birthday present to her a bit early. We then only have Sunday together and back on the road for home. Short trip, but at least we get to see the kids and our grandson.

I guess it is back to knitting for me and finishing up the new Stuart Woods book, Beverly Hills Dead. Almost finished with it.

What a month!

2008-02-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

We have been having a run of bad luck lately. We had the cat issue, then our whole upstairs was blacked out and it included the furnace so it was freezing in the house until the electrician got to the house the following day. So much for emergency service. On this last Sunday, I was running errands, turned into the Walmart drive and I heard a popping like I ran over a paper bag or something then the car started vroom, putt, putt, putt, sort of like the sound of a blown head gasket. It wasn't blowing smoke out the back, nor dumping oil and I could restart it over and over so I didn't think it was anything engine trouble wise. (It ended up being a spark plug came out of its hole and when it did, it tore up the threads) Unless you have the whole thing taken out and the holes redrilled, which costs between 2-3 thousand $$$$, the only thing they can do is basically stick some kind of coil in it and it doesn't hold indefinitely. The mechanic says he did one that lasted 12,000 miles and another guy that works there has one that has lasted 2 years. That cost us nearly $700. On top of that, this weekend is the weekend I have to purge than next Monday I have my tests so all in all it has been a stressful few weeks.

Knitting keeps me focused and calm so here goes with my current projects that are finished. The red sweater is a present for my sister for her birthday.

The little green and white sweater and hat and the yellow carseat blanket, goes with the little apple hat for the baby shower for my dil's sister. I am in the beginnings of making little khaki bell bottoms to go with the sweater and hat.

I am now facing surgery in a couple months and am anxious to just get it over with. We have had to postpone our trip to Indiana so I am going to have to mail out the gifts to my best friend and for the baby shower and then mail my sister's presents too. Hopefully, we will be able to go and visit the baby in July. I am hoping this test shows all things look good to go ahead with the surgery again.

Everyone have a great February!

Knitting Til the Sun Goes Down

2008-01-28T15:47:00.000-08:00

I have been knitting a lot these days again. Trying to get things done before I go back into the hospital. I have the yellow sweater done for my girlfriend's May birthday and have all but one short sleeve done on my sister's sweater for her April birthday. I also whipped this little newborn hat up over the weekend. My daughter-in-law Alicia's sister is expecting a baby in May and my dil is having her shower the Saturday we are up there visiting. She invited me so I feel obligated to go and am working on some projects for gifts, this being one of them. I have a felted bag I have to do for my friend's other daughter and take it with me in April as she lives in Indiana.

I am going to make a little striped hat and matching sweater for the baby in a 9 months since he or she is due in May. She only wants bright colors so I am making a crimson and white striped sweater and hat combo. After that, I will have everything caught up so may start on the grandson's Christmas sweaters.

We were expecting Jack's sister and brother-in-law this weekend, but she called and it may be postponed. They live in Lubbock, TX and are driving to North Caroline to pick up their son, who is in the army and coming home from Afghanistan. He was supposed to be home this weekend, but they haven't heard from him so they doubt he will be back in the states by then. We spent all day yesterday shampooing carpets so they were nice and fresh and we had just finished putting the furniture back when she called!

Our weather here has been pleasant for the most part. It did get cold for about a week, but it warmed up nicely today. We even got a bit of sleet on Friday, but that didn't last long. Too bad the morons that live here can't seem to understand the concept of slowing down on wet and slick roads because there were accidents everywhere and it wasn't even that bad out.

Hope everyone out there in cyber land has a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Donna

A Truly Sad Day

2008-01-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

We had to put our beautiful cat Butterscotch to sleep yesterday. He had total kidney failure and there was nothing we could do to save him. It broke my heart to have to do this, but he had lost a lot of weight and quit eating and drinking as of Thursday. He was such a sweet little guy, but totally my cat so it is especially hard on me.

As far as my surgery goes, they are looking at the middle of April to go back in and reattach everything. I will be glad when it is all over and I can have a normal life back. I am hoping my recovery is fairly quick so I can get out and walk again. I am feeling pretty good now, my incision is completely healed and no ostomy problems, but I do have a lot of problems with my back now. I have to sleep on my back totally and that is tough for me so I don't usually sleep very well. I end up taking a sleep aid after about 5 days of little sleep to catch up.

My knitting is going well. I have finished two handbags and a sweater. The two bags are for a friend's daughter and sister and the sweater is a birthday present for my longest and best friend of 41 years, Vicki.

Other than that, it is quiet at our house. Here is a new picture of my little dumpling! He was 7 months old January 10.

I am Back to Being my Old Self

2007-12-17T06:12:00.000-08:00

After several months without posts, I am back and feeling well again. I had to have emergency surgery October 20th then will have to have the process reversed next summer, but I am feeling stronger everyday.

I just started back knitting and finished this for my grandson Thomas for Christmas. He knows I have a rodent phobia and likes to tease me so I made this as a joke between us.

You will not believe what Jackson looks like. He just turned 6 months old, has two teeth now and weighs almost 30 lbs. He is one big boy and is such a sweet baby.

I am currently working on a beautiful yellow sweater for a gift and will be starting another as soon as I finish this one.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Merry Christmas to you all!

Donna

2007-12-17T06:05:00.000-08:00

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can't imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!

Finishing up birthday and Christmas knitting...

2007-09-28T02:43:00.001-07:00

Well, today is my 54th birthday. Life is well over half over, but that's ok. Who wants to live forever? Nothing exciting going on. My daughter is in the middle of a big merger and my son lives 10 hours away. They paid for me to take a trip to Indiana next month to see the baby and that is the best present every. I am really looking forward to it. I told Jack I didn't want a gift. We spent gobs on vacation and that was enough for me.

This is for my youngest grandson, Jackson. It is a 24 months and he will only be 6 months old at Christmas, but he is wearing 9-12 month clothing so I figured he would need something next fall. I love it and can't wait to give it to him for Christmas.

This is the completed set for my son for his birthday. It doesn't look like Indiana is going to get cold enough to wear it before the end of the baseball season, but I sent it to him early anyway.

I have now started a long sweater vest for my sister for her birthday the day after Christmas (see a picture of the pattern below.) She works for the school system and I found the cutest one room schoolhouse button for the vest. It is a bit bigger than what is recommended so instead of a buttonhole on the vest, I am going to do an i-cord or crocheted chain stitch loop to use on it.

Hope everyone is enjoying their fall. Until next time.....

Back to knitting....

2007-09-17T04:59:00.000-07:00

Now that the vacation is over and done with, I have to get back to my knitting. I have several things to accomplish a couple are here. The sweater is for my daughter, Kelly for her birthday in November. I still have to purchase the organza ribbon and sew it on for the belt. I also made my son a CUBS scarf for his birthday in Oct. I am making him a hat to match with duplicate stitch on it, but am waiting for the yarn for it.

I am also finishing up my grandson's little sweater to go with his hat for Christmas and am well on my way with it.

I am now started my push to Christmas getting projects finished and starting to get the grandson's their gifts. I am also getting our Christmas trip to Indiana arranged and I am going to be going to Indiana next month as a gift from the two kids for my birthday to see my new grandson, Jackson. He is really growing.
I am going to have to set my sights on learning sock knitting next I think.

Back from Vegas!

2007-09-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Takeoff and here we go:

This is how my husband spends the time flying:

This is what we saw getting off the plane as we walked to get our baggage.

We finally got there after months of planning. I am setting up a site just for the trip report and pictures. It should be available next week sometime and I will post it here. We had a spectacular time, I am not sure how much rest we actually got, but we had loads of fun. Check back next week to see the link to the report and more great pics of our trip!

The Start of the Christmas Rush.....

2007-08-06T04:56:00.001-07:00

I have finally finished one set of Christmas sweaters and hats. This is for the elder grandson, Thomas. I don't think I enjoy doing stripes like this much. They aren't difficult, but you have to take care with the colors a lot, especially when seaming and such because you don't want the white to show on blue or vice versa. All in all, I wasn't pleased with the way the pattern designer wrote the instructions for finishing.

We only have a little over 3 weeks until vacation now and it will start to become busy fairly soon. With pets and all, you have to make a lot of preparations and I always over prepare with regards to having our wills and information readily available in our home should something happen. Nothing is worse that grieving and having to deal with all that it involves then not being able to find the insurance, requests, wills and such of the person involved. I always make sure that stuff is right on the kitchen counter with all the instructions just in case.

We are really looking forward to getting away for a week. It is very hot there this year, but we are renting a car so won't have to walk in it much. All in all, it should be a really good and relaxing time for us.

Donna

The Hats are done, the sweaters coming...

2007-07-31T06:06:00.000-07:00

I have Thomas's and Jackson's hats for Christmas finished and Thomas's sweater almost done. I will be starting Jackson's sweater and leaving it to work on the plane while we are on vacation.
I am also going to be making my son a CUBS striped scarf for his birthday in October. I have to buy the yarn and the patches for it still. I will probably get to doing that today.

We are less than a month now until Vegas. Each day seems a little longer than the one before. I dislocated my knee a week and a half ago so am trying to get it strong enough to go back to swimming so I can really strengthen it. I find that walking a lot on it seems to make it more susceptible to popping out again. This isn't the first time this has happened and I know what to do when it does, but I thought since it hasn't happened in around 2 years now, that maybe it was healed completely, but I guess it never will be.

We finished the Harry Potter book the day it came out and I am on a second reading. I always read it fast the first time then go back and read it slowly every other time so I get all the little tidbits I missed. She sure did kill off a lot in this book. I cried for some of the deaths.

I have got to find more projects to line up as I am almost out of knitting projects. I have a sweater for my dd's birthday (November) to do, but am starting it after I come back from vacation. Other than that, I will probably have nothing. I will probably take the scarf and the baby sweater with me to Vegas as I have bamboo needles for both so I shouldn't have a problem in the airport security.

It is cleaning day for me, so I best get started.
When all else fails....
Donna

Just more birthday stuff...

2007-07-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

This bag is for one of my best friend's for her birthday next month. I used Paton SWS in Regency and bought the button from the Button Drawer online. It is my favorite place to get cool buttons.

My sweet boy is sure growing. Looks like it won't be long until this sleeper won't fit. Guess Nonny is going to have to get Jackson some CUBS gear! His daddy sent me this last night after the CUBS kicked the Arizona Diamondbacks' behinds for them. We are all big Cubs fans including Jackson!

We are still biding our time waiting for vacation. We are just 5 1/2 weeks out. I have never wanted to go on vacation more. After last year with Jack's open heart surgery, we need a nice break, just the two of us. I was scared to death I was going to lose him last year and to have him healthy again and ready to go on a trip is the best of news. Since we have a pool here at the condos, we have been swimming in the evenings and he has gotten used to being around people without a shirt now. He will get stares of course, but what can you do, they cut open his chest from neck to near naval for heaven's sake? He isn't Frankenstein. He doesn't even notice anymore and I am so glad.

I have several projects still going. I am still working on my grandson's blue and white striped sweater, then will do a matching hat, have a hat and sweater for the little guy in the works and a beautiful hyacinth bluish purple colored wrap sweater I want to do for my dd's birthday in November. Right now I am hurrying around and knitting a shawl that matches a top I made for Vegas. It is blue ribbon yarn all glittery, just perfect for the bright lights of Vegas and the shawl is the same yarn. It was a spur of the moment idea as I have 6 skeins of the stuff left.

I am waiting none to patiently for later morning to get here so that UPS will deliver my Harry Potter book. I saw a streaming video this morning of her reading the book and quit watching as I want to read it for myself.

Hope everyone that peeks in here has a good summer!

Donna

Birthday presents, etc.

2007-07-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

This is a cashmere scarf for my dil for her birthday this Saturday. I was disappointed the bead color didn't come out in the picture. They are really gorgeous, an irredescent blue, purple and aqua. She isn't much of a sweater person, but she wears scarves constantly in the wintertime outdoors and in so I thought a nice soft cashmere would be nice.

I am hard at work on another booga bag for a friend's birthday in August and have about 2/3 of Thomas's sweater finished for Christmas. I want to make him a matching stocking cap to go with it and then get on the baby's stuff.

We only have 6 weeks left until vacation and the days seem to be plodding along. We have already planned out when we want to go next year and where we want to stay. We hope to do a winter trip next year when it is cheap and stay at a fancier hotel for less days and just mainly gamble and take in one show.

Lots to do so TTFN....

Donna

"As the Sweater Begins....."

2007-07-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have the back finished and am working on the front of this sweater for Thomas for Christmas. I will be making him a matching stocking cap to go with it and mittens if I can find the time. It has kind of a stand up mock turtleneck, which Kelly doesn't think he will like so I am just going to make it shorter more like a regular neckline. I love the color and since blue is Thomas's favorite color I think it will be a hit.

I now only have 1 thing OTN so I need to get something else going so I have stuff to switch off since I get bored. I am going to begin my dil's cashmere scarf I think because it will be an easy knit. It is just a simple open purse stitch.

It has been horrible hot and montrously humid here for weeks now. I go over about 7:45 to the pool every morning to swim laps and it is hot and sticky even that early. I guess we are just in for a long hot summer so to speak. I rarely leave the house when it is so awfully hot. I get nauseous going in and out of the AC buildings and car into the heat.

We have 7 weeks from today and we leave on vacation. I guess Las Vegas is having record heat sometimes near 120 degrees getting only into the 90's overnight. Glad we are renting a car! I am not about to walk in that kind of heat. Their humidity is running only 3% and I got a nosebleed going there in April 2004 and walking around so I know I would have trouble in that kind of heat with no moisture in the air. We are really looking forward to getting away and spending some good old romance time together. I booked us a reservation at Stacks in the Mirage on the night we go to see "Love" so we can have a nice romantic dinner then go to the Cirque show. Most of the time we eat buffets or cheapo stuff. One of our favorites is DerWeinerschnitzel! We like their chili cheese dogs and they don't have one of those here. When we lived out west we used to go there all the time because it is cheap eats and we really miss them. Everyone raves about In and Out burger, which is ok, but nothing to write home about. It is a hamburger just like a lot of other places. The one good thing is the stuff is fresh there. They have one not too far from the hotel, so I imagine that will be a lunch sometime too. We also are planning on going to Nora's, which is a small family owned Italian restaurant everyone raves about. We tried Maggianos when we were there in 2005, but weren't really that inpressed with it so want to try something different.

I have our Harry Potter tickets for Friday night clenched in my fat little hands. We are looking forward to seeing the newest movie. I bought them a week early as the shows sell out for several weeks here. I am sure most places do.

Well, back to my knitting. Keep everyone!

Donna

My Two Boys

2007-07-07T04:49:00.001-07:00

Thomas and Jackson went to the zoo together this week and though T looks like he is having fun, Jackson seems a bit bored by it all!

Finally finished the sweater for my son-in-law for his birthday. It is graciously modeled by my hunk of burnin' love. He made me promise to at least not show his lounge pants so I had to crop part of the sleeve! lol Saturday's are his slob out day and I didn't force him to get all cleaned up just for a picture of the sweater.

I am coming along nicely with the baby's hat. I have about a 1/3 of it finished now. I want to get it done then I can work on Thomas's sweater and finish it up and get his hat done so they are both finished for Christmas.

Have a good weekend everyone and keep safe in this heat!

Donna

Working hard at gifts....

2007-07-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

I have a bunch of projects all on my plate right now. I have half a sleeve yet to complete my sil's birthday present and will post when it is finished. I did a yarn shop at knitpicks and got some lovely silk blend yarn for my dd's sweater for her birthday in November (see previous post pic) then bought some cashmere to make my dil a scarf. It is called night sky and I think she will like it. I want to make this scarf for her. She wears scarves all fall and winter all the time.

I am also going to get a booga bag done for dd for Christmas and a hat and sweater made for Jackson and a sweater and match hat for Thomas (see previous picture of blue and white striped sweater start) I decided to make Jackson a sweater and hat in 24 months so he could wear it next year as he has 4 sweaters I made him already plus assorted jackets and such to keep him warm this fall and winter. I am going to get him some little corduroys in olive or tan and a turtleneck to go under the sweater. I didn't go with the same colors because I have a huge amount of leftover yarn from Tom's sweater. I bought it on a sale where it couldn't be returned and changed my mind about the pattern when I saw how bulky the sweater would be and knew Tom would never wear it. I have something like 8 skeins left so am using two for the baby's stuff along with the rust and olive. Here is the pattern, the buttons and the start on the hat.
We are now under 8 weeks until vacation and each day seems to stretch on forever. Glad I have to much knitting to do so it keeps me occupied.

Until next time....
the newest movie comes out in less than a week!

Donna

More about Jackson

2007-07-02T04:34:00.000-07:00

He is growing and becoming quite the sweet baby. It is hard to believe he is almost a month old. His mom says he is sleeping all night now and they just took a trip to Chicago for a friend's baby shower and it went very well. He got his first trip to a hotel, his first baby shower, and his first experience in a swimming pool, which as you can see didn't thrill him!

As for my knitting, I have the front and back finished on my sil's sweater for his birthday and am starting the sleeves today. This looks kind of orangy, but is a really nice honey color. I look forward to finishing it and getting back to my grandson's sweater and hat for Christmas. I picked out some lovely yarn for my dd's birthday sweater. She is a redhead and so some colors just won't work for her. I think this deep bluish purple will look great. Here is a pic of the sweater pattern she wanted.

The most exciting thing going on at our house is that we only have 8 weeks until we leave for Vegas. It sure can't come soon enough in my opinion. We are pretty much all ready to go except to pack. We are really looking forward to a little "us" time after last year and the new baby this year and all.

Hope everyone is having a fine summer!

Donna

More Boogas!

2007-06-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here are two more. The blue and purple one is for the other granddaughter of my best friend and the cool big one in rainbow colors is mine all MINE!!!! I think I am going to use maybe a velcro closer at the top of my bag, or snaps or something to keep it closed but I just love it!

Newest project finished!

2007-06-20T06:10:00.001-07:00

I just finished the booga bag for my best friend's granddaughter and started one for the other granddaughter. They are only 6 months apart (biological and other one is step) so they pretty much like the same things. I had leftover yarn so whipped this up driving to Indiana. I think it turned out really great and I think kids that age will love the charms and the fact they can change them out as they wish because I attached them with a lobster clasp. It is smaller than it looks about 8 inches across and down. The one for Lindsay is blue, green brown colorways and I think she will like it. Her favorite colors are blue and green and it was the best combo I could find.
Here is a pic of the stuff all together. The lion yarn is for Lindsay with the angel charms and the Noro is for me to eventually make a bag when I get time. Tom's yarn should be in tomorrow so I can start on his birthday sweater. I need to get Lindsay's bag done too because I promised to send it to them before the start school in August so lots of knitting for me. I will have to put aside T's sweater until these other two are done then start his mom's sweater for her birthday, which is in November and her handbag for Christmas.

Donna

It's good to be the king, well queen....

2007-06-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

Since it is my blog, I can bore you all to death with more photos! Thought I would show you some comparison shots. One of our older grandson Thomas as a baby, one of Jackson's dad at two weeks old and Jackson.

This is Thomas at about a year old:
This is a picture of my son Jay and he was two weeks old in this pic: This is Jackson at 3 days old
I am knitting up a storm. I have a pink and white striped booga almost done, one I have to start, a sweater for my son in law I have to have done before August 16 for his birthday, Thomas's sweater and hat for Christmas, a booga for my dd and a sweater for her birthday. I also bought some Noro to make myself a bag, but who knows when that will happen. Not until all the assorted gifts are done, that is for sure.

Donna

More pictures of Jackson

2007-06-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

He got ahold of his thumb and sucked for a couple seconds, but preferred sucking nonny's finger instead.

We have a new grandson!

2007-06-12T00:31:00.000-07:00

Jackson Nolan Wilkinson IV made his appearance on Sunday at 1:41 PM. He weighed 10 lbs 10 ounces and is 23 1/2 inches long. He is a really beautiful little guy, but judge for yourself!

We put him in the hoodie I made and it sure won't be long before it fits him!

THIS IS IT!!!!!

2007-06-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

Looks like he is finally on his way. As soon as our son calls back to confirm he is definitely on his way we will be leaving. I will post pics asap and thanks for all your good wishes!

Same o' Same o'

2007-06-09T05:09:00.001-07:00

Still here in Elvis land and not in Notre Dame country like we would like to be. We are going to be proactive though and take Fortune to the kennel today so that if she goes and it is at night we don't have to take him. We are keeping our fingers crossed. I guess worst case is she doesn't go this weekend or the first of the week and we go get him again and just have wasted the money.

Here is the completed booga bag. I think it turned out really well and I hope my greatniece likes it. Her open house is today, but we aren't going to make that so I am just going to get things and put it together and take it to her when we go to Indiana whenever that is (she lives the same town as my son and dil) This is my newest project, a sweater for Thomas for Christmas. I have never done striping before, but it is coming along great! I love the colors.

Everyone have a grand weekend.

Donna

Jackson plans on waiting until college to emerge from the womb....

2007-06-08T05:51:00.000-07:00

We are still waiting of course. I cannot imagine what the poor thing must be feeling at this moment. I am planning on calling her later this morning to see how she is doing and to find out what they are going to do by the end of next week for sure if she hasn't delivered.

I just finished my first booga bag and here is a picture of it on its box drying. This was one of the easiest things I have ever knit up and I can't wait to try it with Noro yarns as they are so beautiful.

This is going to be a graduation gift for my grandniece for graduating from high school. Her open house is tomorrow in the same town as my son and dil, but at this point we are going to miss it I imagine. We can't spare the vacation time to go up there early. I am going to fill it with Bath and Body goodies and gift certificates like a spa one etc.

I have begun the next project. It is going to be a sweater for Thomas for Christmas. It is this yarn and this pattern. Being a redhead, red would not be good and his favorite color is blue and blue looks fabulous on him so I think this will do well.

I guess I should get back to knitting. I am keeping one eye on the phone and that isn't good. Thank goodness I have knitting to keep me occupied!

Until next time,

Donna

We haven't given up Hope....

2007-06-06T01:43:00.000-07:00

That baby sure is giving everyone a run around. We are still waiting for news to take the trip up north. I know my poor dil has to be just fit to be tied. She is tired, swollen, and is wanting to give birth. She is now 2 days past her due date and he is still hanging on.

I finished up the baby's hooded sweater. I am including a picture of the buttons I used because I think they are so cute. This was a fast knit, but seaming was a pain because of the tiny stitches and the baby yarn. I think it turned out cute though I am not sure I can keep it until Christmas. I am afraid he might not fit into it so I am going to just take it to Indiana when we go and give it to her. He will be able to wear it this fall anyway. This was yarn I received in a yarn swap with people at the knitting site I belong to. The woman who had my name knew I had a new grandson coming and bought this yarn for me. It is Bernat Baby Softee.

We are now exactly three months until we go to Vegas. I have pretty much everything either paid for or arranged now, airline tickets bought, show tickets bought, car reserved, hotel reservation made and deposit paid for, everything else is just cash for food, souvenirs, etc that we take with us. We sure could use the vacation. This baby business has taken its toll on us old folks. Maybe if we lived closer to them it wouldn't be such an issue, but with a 600 mile drive ahead of us, it is a bit stressful.

Nothing else much going on. I haven't gotten to get into the pool once this season because I don't like leaving the phone unattended with the baby business and all. I haven't even been walking because I am not sure they would call my cell phone or Jack's for that matter if they can't get us at home. So, I guess I will just start swimming after we get back, whenever that might be. He has to come sooner or later!

Until next time, TTFN....

Donna

Still doing the Waiting Game...

2007-05-31T06:02:00.000-07:00

No yet! She had a doctor appt yesterday, but haven't heard how that went. She was dialated 2 cm last week so I would think it should be anytime. Her original due date is Monday so it has to come soon. They don't let you wait it out like they used to.

WooHoo I finally bought the last show tickets for Vegas. We will now be going to see the Cirque show "Love" and the impersonator Danny Ganns. I haven't been able to get the magician tickets as they haven't been available and I got tired of waiting so I went ahead and bought the other tickets for the impersonator, who is supposedly very good. We have less than 13 weeks before we leave now!

I am now down 35 lbs with WW. I have had a bit of a slip and slide since I caught this horrible cold and ate whatever was fast and easy, which was usually junk.

Here is my latest FO's. It is for Thomas's birthday the end of June. I am now finished with his blanket to go with this stuff. I made it all for him to use Cub Scout camping.

Everyone have a good week and weekend! Hopefully I will have baby pictures to post in the near future!

Donna

The Things we do for Love!

2007-05-20T03:12:00.000-07:00

We are supposed to be nice and sunny again today. It started cool yesterday morning, but warmed up a lot by afternoon. I got the shopping all done, Jack got a haircut, we had lunch at Macaroni Grill as a special treat (we had never been there before) and today we will pack and then wait for the call.

Do you remember the Lucy episode when she was pregnant and Ricky, Ethel, and Fred all had a game plan and kept practicing calmly until she said, "This is it!?" They then fell all over each other and dropped her suitcase, etc. Well, the little smart aleck I gave birth to and is going to be my new grandson's dubious father... called here yesterday. When Jack answered the phone he heard a siren sound and a voice saying, "This is a drill, this is a drill!" Jack started laughing and I yelled over him that I was going to slap that boy when I got to Indiana.

Today I am going to clean the downstairs, Jack is going to get an oil change in the car to be ready for the trip, then tomorrow Fortune goes to the groomer so he is all pretty in case we have to take him. I actually expect her to go into labor sometime the week of Memorial Day, but we shall see. I know she shouldn't have problems until then, but you never know. Best to be prepared at any rate.

Since the hat was a whiz bang to do, (just took me a about 3 hours actually,) I have an easy pattern for a hooded sweater I am going to start him to finish out his Cub Scout stuff for his birthday. I am going to work between it and the blanket. I only have 4 blocks of color to finish on the blanket then a round of SCrochet around the edge and it will be done.

Everyone have a good Sunday!

Donna

I have a New Digital Camera....YEAH!

2007-05-19T02:53:00.000-07:00

I found a great deal on a Nikon at Target of all places then went to Walmart and got a spectacular deal on the memory cards a 2 for one thing so now we are all set to take loads of new baby and Vegas pictures! Besides that, I can show you what I have been doing all this time with yarn.

First off, there aren't many patterns out there for people my size in the knitting world so I have to adapt and I am not any where near an expert knitter so sometimes they aren't as perfect as they should be. Take the peach sleeveless shell and the cardigan. These are two different patterns and the cardigan sleeves are way too big, but I had to do an estimation from the largest size they had how much to increase everything. I push up my sleeves on long sleeve anything anyway so... It is a nice comfortable sweater and can be very warm for me. It is made with Caron Simply Soft in Soft Country Peach.

The blue shell is made with Estelle Dazzle in Caribbean Surf and it has this sparkle too it, which now lies all over my carpets, my furniture, my bed, our bodies, etc. Even the cat and dog sparkle!

This is Thomas's Cub Scout earflap hat for his campouts that will match the blanket I made him for Cub Scouts for his birthday. The ice tea pot was in love with it and wanted it for himself, but I refused!

This is the yarn bag my dd bought me for Mother's Day. Isn't it the coolest thing. I just love it.

I am almost finished with his blanket, am working on a hoodie jacket for the new baby for Christmas and want to make this sweater for my dd for her birthday she wants badly, but I am having a real problem with the instructions. I may have to come to you ladies and have help figuring it all out.

Oh and PS: I had been shopping all day and had taken all my makeup off and my messed up my hair before I started the picture takes so I know I look awful!

Everyone have a great weekend!

Donna

It won't be long now....

2007-05-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

I hope to have nice sunny weather to run errands today. I am going to get that blasted gift mailed back to my sil. I still have not heard from her and it is closing in on 2 weeks now. She told Jack she is sending my son and dil a gift card for the baby, but I will believe it when I see it. If they don't have the money, then just send a card. Jay certainly won't care as they just keep getting more and more gifts and she pretty much has everything they need and more. She never sent Kelly even a card for Thomas nor did she send even cards for either of the girl's wedding or baby showers or their weddings for that matter. I have begged her several times to send me her son's address, who is in Afghanistan in the Army so that I can send him a nice fat care package, but I haven't gotten that either. Her olded dd is getting married in August and I don't know if we will get an invite or even information so I can send them a gift. I don't even know Michelle's fiancee's name. I do know she has major problems in her home, but still how much time does it take to email someone.

I started and finished the earflap hat yesterday and it turned out just adorable. I sure do miss my digital camera at this time. I have a knitting online friend who told me how to make a pompom and for the first time, mine actually turned out. They usually come out like tassels instead, but she doesn't use the cardboard technique and the way she does it worked. the hat is the Cub Scout blue with a 2 inch gold stripe in the middle. I did a double crochet all the way around the hat in the gold, the pompom is half gold, half blue and the ties are gold and blue braided with short tassels on the ends. It was super easy to do and I even ripped 3/4 of the hat completely out and started over when I saw it was going to be too big with the needles I was using. It was a pattern my dd sent me from the diy show on tv called Knitty Gritty. The hat was knit in one piece, well actually two pieces, as I knit the first earflap and put it on holders, knit the second one, then left it on the needle, cast on stitches, knit the second earflap onto the needle then cast on stitches for the front of the hat. It was knit in the round on circs, but I have found that I have much better time if I start the project on straight then transfer to the circs and my stitches never get twisted this way.

We are going to pack this weekend to go to Indiana and be as ready as possible when Jay calls us. We sure would like to beat the stork if we can so I am going to email him with instructions on when to call, if her water breaks, call, if she is steady and having contractions 10 minutes apart, call, etc. I can see him calling us when she is already at the hospital pushing and I at least want a fighting chance to get up there.

Well, I am going to do morning chores and knit until Jack gets up. He has blood work that has to be done this morning so he is going into work late.

"The Queen"........

2007-05-17T02:22:00.000-07:00

I finally got a chance to watch "The Queen." Helen Mirren does a spot on job with Elizabeth, doesn't she? The woman is a bit on the cold hearted side, but then again she was raised that way. They sure made Prince Charles a big wimp. Wonder if he really is?

Good morning all! It is supposed to be a beautiful sunny day in our neighborhood and in the 80's today. The pool opens a week from Monday and I am looking forward to that.

I got a call from our dil last night and she said she is officially on maternity leave. When I spoke to her on Monday, she said she was going to work through the weekend so that her partner doesn't have to do it since he is going to be covering for her while she is on maternity leave, but she had a dr appt and she may have told her no go. I know she measured at 38 instead of 37 weeks so they think around Memorial Day would be the day. That would be good for us as Jack wouldn't have to burn a vacation day that day. Bad part would be the kennel isn't open on a holiday so we wouldn't be able to get Fortune over there and would have to take him with. He isn't a problem except their dogs are so rambunctious and Fortune isn't. Our friend's have a huge brown lab, but he is an angel and wouldn't bother Fortune at all except Fortune is afraid of him. So, we shall see what happens when the time comes.

We were going to go see Pirates of the Caribbean this weekend, but it doesn't come out until next weekend. Bummer! Johnny Depp does a great job and they are pretty funny movies. Oh well, Jack isn't feeling that great anyway so it will give him a chance to really rest this weekend.

You all have a great Thursday and catch you on the flip side!

Donna

It is Raining to beat the band here!

2007-05-16T02:18:00.000-07:00

I had a very early night last night and when I got up to go to the bathroom at 3 just didn't feel like going back to bed. Jack thought he had disturbed me, which he hadn't. He sounds awful, but says it is just his throat.

Fortune is standing at the door wanting to go out, but it is raining hard and when I let him out, he went about 4 steps out and right back in so there isn't any reason to try it again. I think he went in and used the puppy pads, at least I hope he did that and not the carpeting.

Do you know that my sil has never even answered my email about what to do with her birthday package? I mean, how rude is that? I am just going to mail her gift card in an envelope then send her handbag out once more separately in a box, if it comes back than I am keeping it. It is ridiculous I can't even get a response to what she wants me to do with it. It has been sitting here for over a week now as I have been waiting to hear from her.

I peeked at the scales and it looks like I am down another lb though my "weigh in" isn't until Friday's. I think I told you I quit WW and am just doing it myself. I liked the place I changed to, but I don't get a lot out of the meetings and I don't seem to need the others in the group to spur me on. I have Jack to do that, plus trying to lose weight for vacation or whatever I make as a goal. I can't see spending all that money on it.

I sure wish I could hurry up and get the blanket done. It is the most boring knitting and I sure get tired of it pretty quickly. I have to finish the fourth strip and start on the fifth today. I can't keep avoiding it. I only have about 15 rows to finish the 4th strip and I am only making two more so I am making progress.

I saw yesterday that Jerry Falwell died. Kelly went to college there. Not for long, just one semester because of problems she encountered with a dishonest debate coach, but it is a beautiful campus up in the hills of Lynchburg. It is always a shock to family when a person goes off to work, even has breakfast with staff and then is found a little while later with no pulse. I can't say I agree with everything he said or did, but I applaud him for having the courage of his convictions.

Well, I guess I will do some morning chores and then sit and knit until Jack gets up for work. More cleaning to do today upstairs and I would like to get it done early.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!
Donna

Oooh, got my new knitpicks catalogue!

2007-05-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

Good almost afternoon gals! I had a rough night and Jack is sick so I finally gave up and brought Fortune downstairs about 2 AM. I read until 5 AM when Jack got up for work then I crashed until 9 this morning. Jack feels he can't take time off so he went to work feeling sort of crappy. He has a sore throat and is pretty hoarse, but otherwise is ok. You know when you have a sore throat you always feel a bit off.

I have to get upstairs in a minute and clean the bathrooms. I haven't made the bed yet because Butterscotch is refusing to stay off the bed long enough for me to make it. I have put him out of the bedroom and closed the door, but our door doesn't latch really tight and the little bugger shoves his body up against it to open it and back on the bed he jumps! I have to trick him and wait until he goes downstairs.

I got my knitpicks catalogue yesterday and they have a knitting book I want to get. It is called "Charmed Knits." It is projects for fans of Harry Potter. There are 30 different patterns including sweaters, invisibility cloaks, Christmas ornaments, all kinds of things. I also saw a knitting software program I want for Christmas. It allows me to take any pattern and adapt it to any size. It allows you to take a straight needle knitting pattern and convert it to circular needles too, which would be a god send. I could have a whole list of stuff for Christmas for myself just from this one catalogue. One of the things I have wanted for a long long time from this site is an "options interchangeable needle set." I don't have nearly the number of circs I would like to have and this would be a great way of having a whole set. I am sure many of you probably have this set.

Well, I guess I should get myself up and get to cleaning. I really need to do a lot of knitting on the blanket today as I got a new book from my book club and sat and read it instead of knitting yesterday and this morning.

Have a great Tuesday!

Could it Get any Worse?????

2007-05-14T02:44:00.000-07:00

I went to breakfast with my dd and Thomas yesterday morning. Boy, Cracker Barrel has the best turkey sausage! We had a nice visit, Thomas gave me this cute little, for lack of better words, sand painting in a jar thing that is very pretty and they both gave me this cool handmade straw handbag that is shaped sort of like an African jug. She said she didn't know if I would like it as a handbag because of the sort of irritating way you have to undo the latch. A long woven piece snakes through the front like belt loops and goes over the top of these protrusions and fastens down on them so it is kind of irksome. She bought it to carry my knitting in, which is great. I can carry one set of whatever when I go somewhere and not have to carry everything I am doing. It was really a very thoughtful gift. Since T didn't have anything to give to his mom, I made up a gift for him of a "chick lit" book that I bought for her for her birthday, a handbag I bought in a sale for her and votive candles that I always keep on hand. I went to the store yesterday morning and got him a card to sign so he had something to give her. His dad is in Toronto and didn't do anything with him ahead of time. My son called around noon and we had a nice visit.

Today is housecleaning day and I of course, have to walk this morning so it is a full morning. I finally got out to Michael's and got more blanket yarn so I can work on getting it finished. I hope I might be able to get a hat in there too, but I don't know if I can squeeze it in before his birthday. I don't have the proper needles and would have to get them along with yarn and such.

I hope everyone had a really nice Mother's Day in whatever way you wanted to spend it. I am going to put yesterday's in the trash bin and leave it there.

Have a good one!

Donna

Fur Elise it was...

2007-05-13T03:37:00.000-07:00

The recital was a huge success even if my behind didn't think so. We had to sit on metal folding chairs and everyone was pretty miserable sitting in them for over 2 hours. Thomas played fourth, had "mastered" his Fur Elise, and did a marvelous job. I saw one of the dad's about 2 rows up from us look at his wife and mouth, "He's pretty good isn't he?" so of course that made Nonny's chest puff up! I felt so sorry for their little girl, who played her violin. She was about 3/4 way through and I think lost her place then got confused and finally recovered, but when she came back to her parents to sit down, she was sobbing like her little heart would break. She did a really good job and I wanted to catch her before they left to tell her so but I didn't get to them in time.

We came home, Jack took a nap, I ran a bunch of errands including getting more yarn so I can get that durn blanket finished, then back out to go to his crossover ceremony for Cub Scouts. They had it out in the heat and it was horrible. Jack and I moved into the shade of the corner of the church and pretty soon there was a whole group of us up there. Thomas is now officially out of Tiger scouts and is a Wolf. He even won one of the door prizes, they call early birds, though all the kids get a ticket and the cubmaster was half an hour late! My sil is going to be cubmaster next year and that seems so unlike him. He is not a very gregarious person and you kind of have to be for that job. I know he will be great at it though.

Today, I am going to breakfast with my dd for mother's day, then back to the house, change into work clothes and clean the downstairs while Jack watches NASCAR and listens to the CUBS game at the same time, more than likely.

I didn't get my box for mother's day from my son and dil yet. I know that Jay will call today and will be miffed that it didn't get here. I am sure it will be here the first of the week.

To you all!

Coming along fine!

2007-05-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Today was in day and I am down 5 lbs so I am thrilled about that. I am in for stormy seas though with Mother's Day, going to Indiana for the baby's birth then Vacation. Vacation is the only time I am absolutely not going to worry about dieting. I imagine I will put back on 5 lbs or a little more, but I can work to get it back off. I am going to thoroughly enjoy myself on vacation.

I finished putting the front two panels on the sweater and they are now all sewed together. I have to measure to set in the sleeves then sew them and the side seams, put on a button loop and the button and I am finished. I may decide not to put a button on at all, we shall see.

I am coming along on the baby's sweater also. It is unusual for me to knit with such fine yarn as I have never done so before. I love the colorwise of the yarn. It makes a beautiful pattern. I am going to hunt for hat and mittens pattern to go with in case I decide not to knit and sew on the hood. I may hunt around for one with a hood that is knit on and see if I can adapt it to this pattern.

I have become addicted to an online video game called Magic Academy. I don't play video games much, I have an online free casino site that I play sometimes, but I am not much of a video game player. I really enjoy this. It takes concentration and memory skills. I think it is good for the old brain of mine to sharpen it up.

Uh-oh, the lady next door is concocting the nasty food again. I don't know why we get the smells from her condo when she cooks something foul, but it sure stinks up the whole house. I am surmising it is some kind of soul food. Which reminds me that I have to put on a loaf of italian bread in the bread machine to get started. We are having spaghetti for dinner tonight and instead of bought bread, I make my own, add minced garlic into the flour dough then after it is baked, slice it, spray butter on it and brown it. Cuts a lot of the calories and fat out.

Jack and I have decided to go outside our comfort zone and eat at some restaurant types we haven't tried while on vacation. I am going to make reservations at Mon Ami Gabi, which is a french steakhouse. We want to be a little adventurous. Of course, Jack eats very few veggies and hates fish so we shall see about a french restaurant. Since I can read french a bit, I pulled up the menu and told him what things like pomme frites (french fries) harcort vert (green beans) etc were so he knows what he can order and not get into trouble. I told him to concentrate on boeuf (beef) and he would probably be safe! They actually have a good looking menu and at the Las Vegas forum I haunt everyone raves about it. We are staying at the hotel right next to the Paris so we can walk to it without even going outdoors as they are attached. I will probably wear my sparkly blue top with some nice dress pants. I have a ton of the ribbon yarn left and if I can find the time may make myself a simple wrap to wear with it.

I am so miffed at my sil, (Jack's sister.) I sent her birthday present priority mail, cost me $9 back the middle of March and when they couldn't deliver, (I wanted delivery confirmation so someone had to be home to take the package) well she never went and picked it up. Jack talked to her two weeks ago and she promised to go and get it and it came back unclaimed yesterday. I sent her an email, which she hasn't bothered to answer and if I don't hear from her, I am going to keep the handbag and just mail her gift card in an envelope. I am not spending a bunch of money on it again. I know she has a full time job and is busy, but the dang post office is opened on Saturday and she is a supervisor in cardiac care unit at a hospital so I know she doesn't work on Saturday's. Besides, she has a grown dd that lives with them that could go get it. Well, I told Jack if I don't hear from her by the first of the week, I am just going to mail the gift card to her and be done with it.

I just got off the phone with the sister I went to see in Little Rock and poor thing is having a real bad time with her leg. She is on blood thinner and high blood pressure meds because of the clots and headaches, but she still has clots in her legs. She can only work part time and her law firm has no disability policy so she doesn't get paid when she doesn't work. I feel so sorry for her and what she seems to be always going through with medical issues.

Well, I need to fold my load of laundry, get back to knitting and get upstairs and vacuumin the upstairs. I didn't walk today because it is really dark and overcast and I would hate to get a ways away from home and it come a downpour. I may do some weights or if I feel I really need to get on the UGH

Donna

No I did not fall off the end of the world!

2007-05-10T04:36:00.000-07:00

Not only have I been hugely busy, I can't post pictures because of my camera catastrophe so I haven't been posting. That is unforgivable I know.

Let's see since March, I finished both ribbon tops, am halfway done with a Cub Scout blanket for my grandson's birthday, am just a smidge away from completing my cardigan ( just need to do the sewing up basically), have started a hoodie jacket for Jackson for Christmas and probably several other things I can't think of. I knit pretty much everyday so I know I have finished more than this! lol

The baby's date has been moved up to May 26th so we only have a little over two weeks until the new one is here. My dil is doing well. She has problems with her feet swelling and she says she is miserable trying to sleep, but other than that she is doing well. We are so anxious for it all to happen.

You should see the paper chain for Vegas now. We have less than 16 weeks to go. I have the airline tickets (first class ) paid for, the hotel reservation and deposit paid for, we are staying on the strip this time at Bally's, I have bought the Cirque tickets to see "Love" and they are front row seats! I still have the Lance Burton magic show tickets to get, but can't purchase those until June as they aren't available yet. I have the car reserved, though with gas prices outrageous we are going to try and walk most places. We are pretty set to go and really really can't wait to leave.

My trip to visit my sister was a bust. First off, I had hemmoroids really bad, which is unusual, because I rarely have problems with them. The two hour drive was excruciating. We did some shopping, but I couldn't find anything I wanted except a jacket, which I passed up as not necessary. We did go and see Wild Hogs (I had already been with Jack and found it hilarious) ! She was having a problem with her leg being in pain and after she got home found out she had blood clots in her legs and little ones in her lungs. She is still in bad shape over those. It just wasn't the fun time I had hoped. We didn't even go to the pool because she left at 7 AM the next morning because of a family thing so I just went home too. I figure she felt the same way. Too old ladies falling apart.

The shower was great and she loved everything I bought and made. My little overalls were a big hit for some reason. I fell in love! One of her friends has a baby that is 6 months old and he and I got on very well. Everyone is always amazed at how well baby's take to me, but it must be the When my kids were little my dd called them fluffy pillows! She got everything and anything so she is pretty set. The baby's room is adorable done in yellow and green and just charming. Something not so themed. She got this cool thing that throws the constellations onto the ceiling and it is really neat. She also has some neat lighting in there.

Oh, WW is coming along fine. I am down over 30 lbs now and still working it. I have a couple backward slides with traveling and such, but nothing I didn't remedy right away.

Until the next time.....

Donna

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...

2007-03-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

It is gorgeous here, warm and sunny. I think we are to get some rain starting tonight though. Just as long as it isn't pouring and I can get my walks in, I don't care about the rain.

I got an email from my niece this morning. She her husband and dd will be here on Friday for a soccer tournament my grandniece is in. We are all going to get together on Friday night at Corky's (a famous BBQ place here in Memphis) for dinner. My dd, sil and my little scooter pie are coming too. It will nice though fattening. Jack and I will have to work hard the rest of the week following especially since we leave on Thursday the 28th for Indina. Luckily, Jack gets to take comp time for some weekend work he did a couple weekends ago so we get to leave at 9 AM instead of 3 PM. The afternoon would be driving all night and at our age, that ain't fun. This way, we should be at my son's house around 9 PM their time with any stopping. We are taking sandwiches and snacks so we can keep to our points instead of doing restaurants.

Jack is going to have funny time off. He will have Thur-Monday off, work Tues, off Wed (memorial holiday for MLK's death the city employees get the day off,) work Thur, off Friday for Good Friday. We are going to go out and have breakfast Easter morning with dd, sil and grandson then go back to their house and let T hunt for eggs and I will give him his Easter basket from us. I bought him this cool, green plastic popcorn basket with movie size boxes of Reeses pieces, Smarties, a huge can of Doritos, a big chocolate bar and a big Crunch bar, 2 things of popcorn, a lamb Pez despenser, an M and M cylinder with the Red M and M key chain on top, the movies Flushed Away and Barnyard and $10 in movie certificates. I like to get him stuff other than regular Easter stuff as he gets three other baskets of that kind of junk.

The following Tuesday I leave for Little Rock to meet my sister that lives in California. Her inlaws live near Fort Smith and they are flying in for vacation to see them. She is going to drive to Little Rock for her birthday and we are going to hang out all day, shop, swim at the hotel pool etc. spend the night than go our separate ways again. I am going to buy her a little cake and we will have our own birthday celebration. Years ago we worked for the same law firm and used to go to Chinese buffets for lunch at least twice a week so we are going to go to a Chinese buffet for lunch that is only a mile or so from the hotel. Like old times. I do miss her. I haven't seen her in 18 months. It will be nice to just be us girls.

I am about halfway done with the front panel on my cardigan. I had trouble with understanding the directions, then felt stupid when I ask at KH what I was doing wrong. The directions aren't very clear and it is supposed to be an easy pattern so it should have had clearer directions about the V-neck decreases.

I guess I better sign off for now. I have more knitting I need to get done and other stuff I could be doing.

Donna

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder???

2007-03-18T03:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted for over a week, but I accidently dropped my digital camera in the washer with a load of clothes (I had put it in the clothes basket to carry it downstairs with me and forgot it was in there) and now it is more than likely kaputs! I am sending it to Atlanta to a camera store there to get an estimate as to whether it can be repaired, but we aren't holding out hope. This is a bad time for my camera to go belly up with the shower in less than two weeks and the baby's birth in less than 3 months. Ah well, just have to go back to using the film camera for now I guess.

Hope all is well with all my other blogging buddies! Jack and I are going great guns at WW. He has lost 16 and I am down 18 as of Friday. I changed WW centers and really like this one much much more. I enjoy going to the meetings here and didn't at the other. It was basically all one ethnic group of which I was not one of them so they ignored me and only visited amongst themselves even when I tried to be friendly. Made me mad and I left and didn't go back.

So our favorites, Texas Tech, New Mexico State (Jack's alma mater), and Indiana have now lost their NCAA games. We have Tennessee and Memphis (my school) still in it and playing today so I sure hope at least Memphis wins. I would love Memphis to go all the way and show the big boys how it is done!

I finished the ribbon top, but without the digital can't take a pic of it right now. I also have the back of my matching cardigan finished and half the left front so am going to town on it. I still have the fancy blue ribbon top for vacation to start yet, but I am going to wait until I finish the cardigan. I am going to my favorite LYS in Indiana while I am there and see if I can find yarn for the sweater I am making T for Christmas. I want to do maybe navy and white striped or a hunter green and white. Both would look good with that red hair.

Everyone have a great Sunday!

Donna

Countin' Down the Weeks...

2007-03-08T02:51:00.000-08:00

I now have less than three months until the baby gets here and only 24 1/2 weeks until vacation and we leave for Vegas. I am back in the watch anything on TV that shows the strip mode so I can get all excited about it. I checked on rental cars and can get a fair deal, but am waiting until their weekly coupon special comes out for that period of time. I would love to rent a convertible, but all they have is a PT cruiser and I would feel ridiculous in that car. They used to rent Sebring convertibles. So we will just get what we always get a Pontiac G6. I love driving the strip late at night. It is so cool! Earlier in the evening it is always bumper to bumper traffic all along the strip with people hanging off of trucks or out of car or SUV windows, but late it is just enough traffic not to be bothersome, all those hangers are in the clubs getting soused so you can just enjoy the palm trees, the lights and what the strip makes you feel like. We don't stay on the strip and always rent a car so we have more freedom to go places. It would cost more in cab fees than to rent a car for the week even with valet parking. I am also waiting to get a deal on the car park where we leave our car here at home. It is hard to get a cab in the middle of the night here and we will have to be at the airport by 4 am so it is easier and more convenient to just park the car at the car park and ride the shuttle to the airport. They usually have prepaid deals but again they don't have them posted that far in advance yet. We do have our hotel reservation and have our first class tickets (our real splurge and why we stay at off strip hotels.) I can buy our show tickets the first of May, which I will do, then little by little get these other things taken care of. I have already bought a portable dvd player (we have one for the car that hangs on the seat etc, but it is too big to take) for us, Jack has his I-Pod and I have a cd player to keep us busy. I always take at least two books too. It is a 5 hour flight from Atlanta, which seems ridiculous to fly from Memphis to Atlanta, like we are going backwards, but that is their hub so to Atlanta we go. Five hours even for a thin person is a long time to sit.

I ran out of ribbon for my top so had to order one more ball. I have like 16 rows and would have been finished. Isn't that the way it always is. I am coming along on my peach cardigan while I wait for the new ribbon to come in.

I ordered some muffins from a company called Vitalicious. Comments were really good about the chocolate ones and though they are a bit pricy, over a $1 apiece, they are a 2 pt muffin and WW users seem to love them. I will let you know when they come in and I have tasted them. Hope I didn't waste $30!

I saw on AOL that John Inman died sometime today. They said he had been ill with Hepatitis A for a long time. He was the hilarious Mr. Humphries on the British comedy, "Are You Being Served." He was a very funny man but they said he was suffering a lot from the disease.

Donna's Chocolate Raspberry Muffins Makes 6 muffins (2.5 ww points each)
1/8 c egg beaters
1 C Heart Smart Bisquick
1/2 c skim (fat free) milk
1/3 c Splenda
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon oil (you can cut the fat by using unsweetened applesauce, but I didn't have any)
1/2 C Raspberries (if using frozen, thaw the slightly first and then pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess water)

Heat oven to 400 degrees, fill 6 muffin cups with paper cups, mix all but raspberries together well with a whisk then gently add raspberries. Fill cups 2/3 full, bake for 9-11 minutes, let cool 5 minutes! Enjoy with a dollop of cool whip free.

Well, I hear Jack upstairs showering so time to go up and make the bed, shower and get dressed for the day!

Everyone have a super day!

Donna

Money Just Seems to Fly Out the Window...

2007-03-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

Sheesh, there is so much going on and of course it all costs $$$$. I have bought my sil's leather handbag for her birthday, but still have to get her a gift card at the request of her brother. Bless her heart, she has terrible taste in clothes, dresses like she is 70 years old. I took her to buy some clothes when she was here for her brother's surgery. I picked out this gorgeous wine colored sweater set and a broomstick skirt with grays, blacks and wines in it. She wore it to the hospital the next day...with Rheeboks! Then, there is Easter and I have to get an Easter basket for Thomas and talk to dd about what she wants to do about Easter as we will be gone the weekend before to go to the baby shower. I have my son and dil's anniversary on April 10th and I am going out of town to Little Rock that day to meet my sister for her birthday and have a girl's day and night. I have to rent a car to go and am paying for the hotel room for us. I haven't seen her in a year and a half as she lives in California so I am anxious to see her just the two of us. When we are alone, we have such fun.

I am now almost finished with the ribbon top. I have about 4 inches and then I can sew up the shoulders and see if it is a total mess. I am hoping I don't run out of ribbon before I finish it. I also cast on and started a cardigan to go with the peach sleeveless sweater. I haven't even started the other ribbon top for Vegas. I am still deciding what I want to do with it and how. It is a beautiful ribbon and will make a gorgeous top once I decide what I want to do.

I got a short walk in this morning and will do some weights this morning for a few minutes I guess. My diet plan is coming along ok having a disaster of a weekend. I paid for it with horrible heartburn on Saturday night that kept me awake most of the night.

If you like movies, ignore the critics and go see "Wild Hogs." It is hilarious and I loved it. You even get to see William H Macy's butt! lol I don't know why the critics hated it other than the fact it is pure entertainment, not moronic like some comedies that get accolades like stupid Jack Black films and you don't learn some higher social value unless it is that friends stick together. I would go see it again.

Don't forget to turn your forward on Saturday night. I can't believe the government did this, but when did any of them have any brains to begin with. I hear it could cause some real technical problems with computers and such and some payroll systems.

Everyone have a wonderful Tuesday. It is going to be today for us almost 70!

Donna

The Tiger Cub....

2007-03-05T04:24:00.000-08:00

Here is my little Tiger Scout getting his badge pinned on by his dad and then one of he and his parents. He is growing up so fast. He is going to be in second grade already next year. We are hoping to take his family and my son's family to Disneyworld in 2009. They have a military hotel there that is top notch and the prices are great. You get reduced prices on the tickets to everything too! I think it will be a great vacation for everyone.

If you get a chance, go see "Wild Hogs." It is hilarious. Jack and I laughed ourselves silly. William H Macy should get the Oscar just for all the stunts, poor thing and showing his butt in public!

I am almost done with one side of my ribbon top, then will finish the other and sew up the shoulders and see how it does. It was an experiment so we shall see. I hope it comes out because the ribbon yarn wasn't cheap.

I have the downstairs to clean today. I did absolutely nothing but laundry the whole weekend so I have to get on the ball. I need to get my New Balance on and get out and walk too.

With that being said, hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Donna

And the sweater is done!

2007-03-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

Here is my peach sweater. I cut off me cause who wants to look at me. The sweater is nice and comfortable, though shorter than I usually like it. I am going to wear it tomorrow to Thomas's Cub Scout Banquet. I can wear it with something under it also like a turtleneck or something as long as it isn't too thick so it could be worn in the fall too.

I was only down .4 this week at WW. I have to say I am a little discouraged to have a 2.6 gain one week and only a .4 loss the next when I stick to the program and exercise everyday. I did measure myself and have lost inches though and I noticed the ole tummy doesn't rub the steering wheel and there is actual light between it and the tummy so I am losing. I just hope next week shows a better loss.

My sister and her husband are coming to Arkansas in April and I am meeting her in Little Rock for her birthday and we are going to have an all girl's day and spend the night then she will go back to her in-laws and I will go home. I am looking forward to it. I haven't seen her since August of 2005 as she lives in California.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and hope you have good weather where you are at!

Donna

One side done...

2007-02-28T04:20:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-27T02:56:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-26T04:09:00.000-08:00

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.....

2007-02-23T02:23:00.000-08:00

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......

2007-02-22T02:07:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

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????

2007-02-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-02-18T03:31:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-02-17T05:07:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-02-16T02:50:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-02-15T00:38:00.000-08:00

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....

2007-02-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-02-13T02:33:00.000-08:00

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....

2007-02-12T02:33:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-11T00:47:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-02-10T03:42:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-02-09T05:41:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-02-08T02:41:00.000-08:00

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?????

2007-02-07T01:30:00.000-08:00

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

Slowly but Surely...

2007-02-06T04:22:00.000-08:00

I now have the front and back of dd's sweater finished and will start on the sleeves today. I sure hope I can do a good job on seaming. If anyone has a trick to making sure the sweater is seamed evenly, I am all for it. I am thinking about getting some plastic clothes pins, doll clothes pins, if I can find them and putting the seams together so I don't get them off kilter. Anyway, here is the front and back finished.

I never did get out and walk yesterday. I did a very few minutes of weights but that is it. By the time I got going it had gotten fairly late and I cannot walk later in the morning. My body just does not want to do it. I am going to have to get out in just a few and get it done today.

Another lowfat recipe to try:

Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits, lowfat style (WW pts 2 per biscuit)

3/4 c Heart Smart Biscuick

2 tablespoon margarine (make sure it is cold)

1/2 c fat free cheddar cheese grated

3/8 c skim milk

1/8 tsp garlic powder

topping on biscuits: when they come out of the oven and are hot, spray I Can't Believe it's not Butter spray on each and shake a little garlic powder over the top alternate method, melt tablespoon lowfat margarine and sprinkle 1/4 tsp garlic powder than brush on top of biscuits

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

mix butter and biscuick together so that it looks like peas or chunky cornmeal, add cheese, milk and garlic powder mixing gently. Don't mix too well.

drop by 1/4 cup of mix onto ungreased cookie sheet (an ice cream scoop is perfect for this) and bake 15-17 minutes until the tops are light brown. Don't bake too long.

When removed, follow the rest of the directions for topping biscuits and serve hot.

Tonight is Fish and lowfat mac and cheese night with the biscuits. Jack hates fish so I try and get at least one serving in every other week for him. He will eat shrimp and salmon and that is it. I found these salmon pieces by Gortons that are lemon pepper and he likes then so I make one of those. I don't care much for salmon except made as patties so I am having an individual can of tuna mixed into my mac and cheese for dinner.

I have started my sweater and I love the color. I am fair skinned and my hair is turning white now and since I have quit coloring it to see if it will be all white, the color will look really good on me. I have a great pair of white sail cloth pants that I am hoping my behind will fit into before vacation so I can wear this sweater with it.

Other than that, my world is rather boring. Have a good Tuesday to you all!

Anxiously waiting for my tax refund to be in the bank... Donna

2007-02-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

I have a blogging friend who is a superior artist and I promised her a surprise. I felt it appropriate to honor her drawing "Violin" with my own rendition. I call it "Clare in Net."

This, Mardi, is the extent of my artistic talent!!! I hope I made you laugh!

I am finishing up the armhole decreases than can start the sleeves of dd's sweater. I have also started my sleeveless top, but just barely. Did you all watch any of the Knitty Gritty knit-in last night? No, I suppose not as everyone seemed to be glued to the tv watching THE game.

Congratulations to our Indianapolis Colts and to Payton Manning. Way to go, honey, you showed 'em you could do it! I only watched a few minutes while knitting then went upstairs and watched the knit-in. I only watched a couple episodes then switched it off, but saw a cute halter top that I would love to make for dd and dil. I am not sure I would want the sushi bathroom decor though!

Boy am I late getting started today. I should be out walking and almost done by now. Ahh well, all I have is time I suppose. I cleaned the downstairs yesterday so have the vacuuming and dusting upstairs to do today and the bathrooms tomorrow then the house is done again for the week.

Oh and congratulations to my husband Jack for losing 5 lbs on his first week on WW! I am so glad he likes the program that the sting of the little lb loss is way gone by now.

My dd called last night and wanted to know if we wanted to go to Thomas's Blue and Gold banquet. For those not in the know or those who only have girls, the Blue and Gold banquet is for Cub Scouts. He is going to get his Tiger Cub badge. So of course, we won't miss it. As usual, he will have a cheering throng as my sil's parents will go as well as his sister and Jack and I. We will take lots of pictures to send to Uncle Jay and Aunt Alicia since they won't be here. I can't believe he is growing up so fast. I was talking to him about his piano lessons and he said he is now playing two page music. That's my boy! He does say he prefers violin over piano though and Jack says violin is more difficult. Jack took violin in school. I bet he never told Thomas that.

I have got to get out and get to Unfortunately, I can't let my feet go out alone, they would get into trouble for sure!

We have 119 days to
Donna

Hallelujah, it is Finished!!!

2007-02-03T22:44:00.000-08:00

We ended up picking up Thomas at his other grandma's around 8:45 and then took him to Walmart's as it was pretty much the only thing open. We let him pick a video game, then we got gas and headed downtown to Jillian's. I figured it opened at 10 but when we got there it didn't open until 11 so we got some Starbucks and sat and waited for a few minutes than walked down out the mall and down the street to Big Foot Lodge. We had a nice time at lunch culminating with making smores at the table, which is always fun. Our little guy tears up when he laughs, everytime and he got a piece of melted marshmallow string down his chip and a larger piece on his upper lip that he kept trying to drag off with his teeth and tongue. The harder he tried the worse it got and mostly because we got to laughing about it. He finally stuck his finger up there and pulled it off etc, but by that time his little eyes were streaming from laughing so hard. We then went back to Jillians and they played games and I had taken my bag of knitting so I started knitting and finished my blanket except for binding off. Thomas and Granddad had a grand time and I accomplished getting the blanket finished. We came home around 2:30 and played games until his mom and dad picked him up at 4. I had bought Scrabble Junior and we played that and he may be smart as a whip, but he is a typical 6 year old acting silly about words. We did another laughing/crying thing when he was acting silly and ask us if E-P made a word and I told him it was the word for going to the bathroom backwards, EEE-PEE instead of PEE PEE. Oh my gosh, the child laughed and laughed. It was a wonderful time and the only thing that marred it was this. His mom sent $30 along to use for him. Everytime we would go to buy something he would ask it if was his money and we would tell him no that it was Granddad's money we were spending. I told him we would save his money to play video games, which seemed ok with him. When we got to Jillians and we were going to use his money to buy a game card, he started to cry so I told Jack just to pay for it and I told him that we would just save his money. When they got finished, Granddad told him, "Put the two game cards in your pocket with your money and next time you come down here with your mom and dad you have money on them to play and just keep your money with it." Well, we were going to tell his mom that he had game card time left on both his and Granddad's card and the money he "had left" in his coat pocket, but when they were getting ready to leave, he pulled it out. She looked at me and I said he had cried when we wanted to use it and she got mad and said, "Uh-uh, that isn't your money, give it to Nonny. I gave it to Nana to give to her." Of course, he started crying that it was his and she said no it wasn't it was hers and took it away from him. He kept saying it was his that she had given it to him and she was saying no that she gave it to Nana to give to me, etc, etc. I cannot stand to see him cry and I got upset but she told me to "Stop it." Anyway, it became a big issue, and she still gave the money to me, which of course, I didn't want. I adore that baby so much and it kills me to see him cry. I do understand that she thinks he uses tears to get what he wants, but anytime I see him cry, it is because it really is that he is upset about whatever the situation is. He had a tender heart and things easily upset him, bless his heart. I am not mad at my dd as she did what she thought was best, but I am still upset this all made him cry when I didn't want the money back. I do think that because he is so incredibly intelligent that she forgets she is dealing with the way a 6 year old thinks. He is an adorable child and extremely well behaved, but he is still a 6 year old little boy with 6 year old antics.

I have no clue as to why I am up at 1 in the morning. I went to bed around 9 or so last night as I had been up since three yesterday morning. I woke up around 12:30 went to the bathroom and was awake so decided to come downstairs for a bit. I don't want to sleep in because I missed exercise on Friday with WW and then on Saturday because we were supposed to have T at around 7 but that got goofed up and instead of dropping him off, we ended up having to go and get him later because he had stayed all night at his other grandparents. So, with the junk we had yesterday and the fact I didn't walk for two days, I need to get out and get a good walk in this morning before I start cleaning house and such. We are going to tackle those upstairs carpets and Jack does that, but he needs help moving the furniture in the bedroom. Anyway, I don't want to be sleeping at 9 o'clock so I can't stay up very long and hope I can go back to sleep.

I guess I should go back to bed and try to go back to only I think my dream would be

I will have to talk to you ladies sometime about how you knit a blanket on circs and make the pattern come out ok since using the garter stitch makes a stockinette stitch on circs and I guess I can't get my mind around how you knit on circs and have a flat blanket instead of a tube.

Donna

All's Well that End's Well...

2007-02-03T02:57:00.000-08:00

The snow went as quickly as it came. It was melted and gone by midmorning and the streets were dry. We didn't have anymore precipitation so everything dried out and is back to just being chilly.

My WW weigh in wasn't spectacular, just a lb, but I am trying to get my program tweaked to be the best for me, so it will get better I am sure. I am not sure how long I am going to keep up the meetings, though. It is stuff I have heard over and over and stuff I have communicated to others about losing weight so there hasn't been anything new for me to take in. I guess I could change leaders, but it isn't that I don't like her, it is just stuff like, you have to exercise to make your program work for you and what you should be doing with exercise, yesterday was about not eating comfort foods just because it is winter, which I never do anyway. I am going to give it about 6-8 weeks and if I find they aren't being a big help, I will just go to weigh in. I always lose weight the first month, quickly, so this was a disappointment to me to tell you the truth. It will all come out ok in the end, though.

Today we have Thomas all day so who knows what the eating will be like. I am going to encourage him to go see a movie and then to Jillians to play video games after lunch, but he may want to go back to Chuck E Cheese. I kind of hate that place. I think it is a huge rip off in money, there aren't nearly enough games for kids to play and they overbook parties so much that they are in and out, in and out all day long.

I have the border then I am done with the blanket and you can see the finished product. I will be so glad when the thing is done. I am about halfway done with the front of dd's sweater too so maybe by the end of next week I can get to knitting stuff for vacation for me.

Have a good weekend everyone and stay safe and warm out there!

Donna

I Spoke too Soon....

2007-02-02T01:51:00.000-08:00

Looks like we got a couple inches of snow last night. I am going to have to get shoes on and go out and test the waters so to speak to see if I can walk around ok without slipping. Since I dislocated my knee several years ago, I have to be really careful of slipping because it will pop out and then I have a real mess. If it is just snow and not ice, I should be ok and it is supposed to warm up later in the day so maybe by my weigh in time the snow will have melted anyway and it will be just wet. I really don't want to miss weigh in today.

I have gone into my last skein of yarn for the blanket and am not going to buy more so I only have a half and one more full pattern than the seed stitch border and I am finished. Maybe by the first of the week. I doubt I get anything done tomorrow with Thomas being here all day and we will be away from the house most of the day with him.

Jack liked the Fiesta Steak, me, not so much. It was ok with salsa and lowfat sour cream on it though. It had too much lime taste and none of the spices came out in it at all. I make tweak the recipe if I fix it again and tone down the lime and up the cumin and cayenne a bit. You didn't notice the tequila at all. Tonight is Hungarian Goulash with no yolk noodles for dinner. Jack is on a beef kick lately, but sooner or late he is going to have to eat the chicken, turkey breast and fish that is in the freezer!

I have about 4 inches done on the front of my dd's sweater. I don't know what I did wrong as I went back over the pattern a zillion times, but in the picture it shows the faux buttonhole band as on her right side, but knitted up the pattern makes it come out on the left side. No biggy as it doesn't change any of the pattern results, but it is weird. I checked my garter stitch bottom and it is right number of rows, then the pattern with the buttonband starts the next row, which is the right side and it starts with a knit row. I also checked to make sure I wasn't supposed to put the band at the beginning of the row, but it says to knit to last 6 stitches, place marker then knit to the end so??????? I have still got a long way to go on it. I have the rest of the front, then both sleeves to knit, the sewing up and then picking up and knitting the neckline then sewing on the buttons.

Well, I should be able to buy my airline tickets for our vacation by next week this time. We always feel our vacation is truly on its way when we have the airline tickets. Since we fly first class, I have to wait for the tax refund to buy the tickets. I cleaned out our savings when Jack was on medical leave with his heart operation and have to start over with that. I am just glad the money was there to pay the bills and our living expenses for 3 months while he went without pay. Anyway, we are excited about getting out air tickets. I have to wait until the end of April to buy the show tickets. We are going to go see the Beatles' inspired Cirque du Soleil show, Love and then the terrific impersonator, Danny Ganns. I would like to go to a concert, but there is no one I want to see going to be in town. I could care less about Celine Dion, Manilow's tickets are too expensive as are Elton John's if he is still there. We talked about going and seeing Phantom, which has a new theater at the Venetian built especially for it, but I don't know that we will. Lots to squeeze into one week and we go about 3-4 days longer than most people do.

I am off to finish up morning chores than knit until Jack gets up for work.

Ahh, the weekend......Donna

Take This Snow and Shovel it....

2007-02-01T03:03:00.000-08:00

Well, that isn't exactly true, it is more like sleet here and there, but it is still icky weather. I waited for Jack to get to work and call me and tell me how the streets and such are so I could either go out and walk or do the treadmill. WooHoo! He said the streets were a little wet but not slippery or icy so I should be ok. Unless it gets bad tonight, I have weigh in tomorrow, which I am excited about. Back in a few.... Ok, I got back from my walk and it isn't bad out at all. A little wet, but no slippery or icy spots that I could see. This town sure does panic when there is a threat of any cold precipitation. They had all the possible school closing boxes up last night talking about how school would probably be closed and businesses etc. Sheesh! I walk past a group of junior high kids pretty much every morning and we always say hi to each other. This morning I said to them, "Well, I guess you didn't get to get out of school today, huh? Weather not bad enough." They are nice kids not ugly acting.

I have the back of my dd's sweater finally finished. I think it came out ok.

I have started on front and am about at the end of a skein so I went ahead and rolled it and about 3 feet from where my stitch was is a big area about 4-5 inches long where the yarn didn't spin correctly and it is just lumps of fuzz. Luckily, I was able to finish a row then cut and tie back on again. I would like to get it finished so I can work on my vacation tops. I only got 4 rows done yesterday on the blanket so have to make up for it today. I worked a lot on the sweater to finish the back side. I think I am going to be putting 13 patterns on the blanket to finish. I say that because I counted the horizontal hearts and there are 9 so I am going to go 1 1/2 for the vertical hearts. I really want this more as a crib blanket not one to wrap him in as it is pretty heavy.

We are having Fiesta Steak tonight. I have never made this so we shall see. It has garlic, cumin, cayenne, lime juice and TEQUILA in the marinade...... I will let you know how it tastes! I am going to make some spanish rice to go with it. We should have had fish or chicken tonight, but Jack didn't want either so beef it is.

I had these women at the WW site all ragging on me because I have made myself a lbs goal. I want to lose 60 lbs by the time we go on vacation the end of August. That is only 2 lbs a week plus a smidge more. That is not unreasonable or way out there but they said you shouldn't make weight loss goals just work day to day and I say bologna!!! If you don't make a goal, you won't work hard enough to reach it is my way of thinking. I definitely am not going to post at that thread anymore. Phooey on them!

When you wish upon a star.....you should get all the Malabrigo you want!

Donna (sorry about it all being run together. I can't get it to paragraph again.)

Great Way to Begin the Day...

2007-01-31T04:05:00.000-08:00

With a joke or cartoon so here is your laugh for the day:
I love this one!

For those of you who peek in and like to cook, you have to make this recipe. It is really delicious. You can serve it over noodles or rice or even mashed potatoes. It is low in fat and calories and super yummy. I am planning on putting a can of chinese vegetables in it next time and making chop suey. It tastes just like the beef gravy in the canned chop suey mix from Chun King.

Braised Sirloin Tips (I used sirloin kabobs, but if you can't find either, a cut up sirloin steak would work just as well)

1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp meat tenderizer
2 lbs beef tips, lean
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 c finely chopped onion
1 1/4 c beef broth (I use low sodium canned)
1/3 red wine (I used burgundy and I imagine this could be omitted if you prefer)
1 TBL light soy sauce
2 TBL cornstarch
1/4 c water

Using a skillet with a lid, prepare pan by spraying with Pam over medium high heat. sprinkle meat with tenderizer and pepper (I just put the meat in a ziploc bag and sprinkled stuff over it and mixed it that way,) brown in pan than add garlic and onions and cook until onions are transparent, mix beef broth, wine, and soy sauce together than pour over meat. Bring up to boil, reduce to simmer and cook 1 1/2 hours or until meat is fork tender. Mix cornstarch with water, stir into sauce and thicken. Serve over rice. Serves 8
177 calories, 5 g fat, no fiber 4 WW pts per 4 oz serving

Tonight is a treat for us even if it is lower fat. I am making sloppy joes and hash browns. It fits fine into our points and is something a little out of the ordinary dinner fare I guess.

Jack did what he called his "half week weigh in" and has lost 4 lbs so he is all jazzed about it. I am glad he lost as he will stay on it that way. I told him not to stress if he didn't lose as it happens sometimes. He has his cardiology appt the end of February and so I hope he is about 8 lbs or so down, which will make the cardiologist happy. He doesn't say a word to Jack about his weight (Jack is about 30 lbs overweight and carries it all in his belly area) but he probably would if Jack got to be much heavier. I will let my weight loss be a surprise. Check in on Saturday as my weigh in is on Friday.

We get to have Thomas the WHOLE day on Saturday. I am so excited. They are dropping him off at around 7:30 and picking him up around 4 PM. We rarely get him at all let alone the whole day. I hope this can continue because I love it and we have a lot of fun. I think I am going out and buying a kid's Scrabble game for us to play here at the house. He is such a smart little boy and he loves to play board games. I have checkers, dominoes and such here at the house, but not too many board games to play. Jack likes scrabble so he would participate in it too I think.

It is cold again this morning so I think I will stick to my regular walking route. It is tough to hit the hill right off the bat, but then I go downhill for a city block so it makes up for it. I get too cold to walk the mile when the weather is like this and end up having to go pee before I get home so for now I am going to keep at the .8 routine.

I am finally at the arm decreases for my dd's sweater. In all the things I have made, I have never done a ssk and boy is that tricky for me. I imagine it is for a lot of knitters since they basically are knitting with the opposite hand, but I have to do some crazy stuff to do it properly. Glad no one sees!!! I am still on track with the blanket. I did my 6 rows yesterday though the last row last night was tough. I have arthritis in my hands and it flared up in my left pinky (my yarn holding hand) and when it does, my pinky doesn't want to bend so keeping the yarn around it is tough.

I guess I better get the ole New Balance on, hat, gloves and my Glenn Miller CD and get out and get the walk in.

Go out and make this a great day!

Donna

When all else fails....

2007-01-30T05:07:00.000-08:00

Walk anyway! It is cold here again this morning and I decided like an idiot to take a different and longer walking route this morning. Boy, do my gluts hurt! I guess that is a good thing, but oh my aching . There are a lot of unused muscles in that mass and they are complaining because I am now trying to get them into working order. It will all pay off in the long run so I just have to keep at it until pool time!

I am so excited that Jack has really taken to the WW program. He really really likes it and even plans out his points in the evening for the next day. I decide what we will have for dinner then we do points for the meal then he sets his up for the whole following day. I decided to peek at the this morning and looks like I am 5 lbs down so we shall see. My day to is on Friday.

I have been working on the camel sweater for my dd this morning before walking. I watched Knitty Gritty yesterday and she had this great technique for putting on buttons without having to sew them on so I am going to find it online and put it in my favorites so I always have the instructions then try them out when I am knitting the front of the sweater and ready to put buttons on. The placket for the buttons is fake and they are just for decoration.

My T-baby made all A's on his report card again. He is one smart little cookie. So, Nonny and Granddad owe him another trip to Chuck E Cheese or wherever he wants to go. I haven't heard from my dd yet as to whether we will be going on Saturday or not. That is when she wanted us to take him but I will get with her on Thursday if I haven't heard from her. She is so busy with her company's aquisition that she might have even forgot she asked me.

When I talked to her last time she said she had washed the sweater I made him for Christmas and it seems to be ok. I think she thought it would fall apart! I guess it kind of surprised me too!

Time to get to . This guy is doing it backwards (I am left handed) but looks like he has some nice yarn!

Onward and upward! Donna

What is with this Cold Weather???

2007-01-29T04:03:00.000-08:00

It is way too cold for my liking here in land. I have to go out and walk in a few minutes, brrrrrr! I just get betting exercise if I walk outside than on the treadmill. It is easier for me outdoors for some reason and I can walk farther.

WW is coming along just fine though I am so afraid I am eating too much. Nutty to say for someone losing weight, but right now with my size I have a lot of points to use and I find that towards the end of the day I have several I have to use up. They state that it is imperative that you eat all your points everyday, but yesterday it was hard. I actually had two dessert style snacks before bedtime to use them up.

I truly hope this program works for both Jack and I. He is really enthusiastic about it and he hasn't been about anything else he has tried. This is the man that 14 years ago quit smoking cold turkey.

I think I am going to frog my dd's whole sweater and start with a smaller size. I think that the size I chose is one size too big. The sweater is to fit snug and I don't think it will. I am going to check the gauge again and maybe use smaller needles also. This yarn is stretchy so I want to be sure it is the best fit possible.

Other than that, not much news in my world! I am off to freeze my off outdoors!

Donna

Progress for Progress Sake...

2007-01-28T03:09:00.000-08:00

I am making progress on the baby blanket. I have committed to doing 6 rows a day and that should finish it in about 2 weeks. I did 6 rows yesterday and am about ready to sit down and do 2-3 rows when I get finished here. I am also making progress on my dd's sweater and it is going to be very nice. I really like the yarn I am using. The Bernat Satin is nice and soft and has a beautiful sheen to it.

Granddad wanted to go shopping for his grandson yesterday so here is what he bought. It looks huge in the picture, but is actually a 3-6 months size and the shoes are tiny little things. My son said the baby is going to be really big so he is afraid newborns will fit for "about 2 hours." He was a very big boy though (9 1/2 lbs and 23 inches long) so he has his dad's genes in that sense. I want to go back and get him a pair of OshKosh overalls and this little white tshirt that has an anchor on it so she can change out the shirts between the two.

WW is going fine and Jack is even giving it a try. We are writing pts on boxes and such so we don't have to figure every time and I am also writing down pts for stuff we use the same, like my favorite yogurt brand, cereal and such. I am figuring out points for my recipes and putting them straight on the sheets so we can have the pts readily available for those too. It makes it so much easier. I guess we are just a pts family now.

Today is the dreaded day at the you know where. Jack is gong with me today so maybe we can get finished faster. Seems the last few months, everytime I go it rains to beat the band so it will probably stay stone dry since Jack is gong. This little guy seems to be a lot faster than I am at the job!

On to morning chores and my walk.

When was anything you ever really wanted really easy!

Donna

We have Sadness at our House...

2007-01-27T02:54:00.000-08:00

We received very sad news last night. We called Jack's favorite aunt and uncle (his dad's sister) last night to tell them we will have a Jack the IV. His aunt has really missed her brother even though he has been dead over 30 years now. She was thrilled when we named our son Jack, and we wanted to share the news with them that there would be another Jack in just a few months. We tried their phone and got no answer, tried their son and left a message, then called the other aunt and she told Jack that Aunt Liz passed away two months ago. She said Uncle Buddy was living with his dd now and their son was living in the house. She gave Jack Betty Carol's phone # and he called and talked to her. We couldn't have gone to the funeral as Jack was still recovering from open heart surgery, but we could have sent flowers as a family. I guess she wrote our phone number down wrong and they couldn't get ahold of us and didn't have Jack's sister's number. My poor husband cried on the phone he was so upset he hadn't been able to be contacted. She and her husband were wonderful people and whenever we would go through Mineral Wells, Tx we would stay with them. The last time we saw them, we flew out there with Kelly and Thomas and I think he was around 3. She was in her late 80's so had a long life. It was such a shock though as we usually called them each Christmas and didn't this year because of Jack's stuff going on. We just forgot. Life does go on, but it won't be the same without feisty Aunt Liz.

Well, we have filed our taxes so we will get our refund in a couple weeks and I can buy the airline tickets for our vacation. We are going to have a bunch of regular maintenance done on the car too, like brakes, shocks, etc, etc. We have to have some possible major work done on the blower for the heat/ac. It has quit working. It may be some fuse Jack can't find or total replacement or wiring problem, we just don't know at this point. We will have it looked at after the refund comes back so we have plenty of money.

Jack has decided to go with me to Indiana for the baby shower so I am glad about that. I don't mind going alone, but it is a 10 hour hard drive, 12 if you stop and so it is nice not having to go alone since my dd can't go. My dd has offered to give her what is called a blessingsway shower, where important women in the mother's life get together to give blessings to the new baby. They do some kind of bead ceremony where each one provides a bead and a written blessing from her that is strung on a a necklace for the mother. They then wash the new mother to be's feet. They also a lot of times bring meals that are frozen to give the family easy meals for a few days after returning home. I think it is a nice idea actually. It sounds kind of hokey, but it was a generous and sweet thing for my dd to do and there have been a lot of hard feelings with regards to her and her brother and stuff so I applaud her for trying. She feels really really badly she can't go to the shower, but it is the same weekend as the aquisition of her company and she is having to work 3 weeks straight 7 days a week to go through this I guess.

I am now an official WW member and think I will like the program. I know I will stick with it since I have to get on that scales every week and though they don't say out loud what you weigh (though I could care less) they do say stuff like, "You're one lb up" or "You lost two this week," stuff like that. I can stand people knowing my weight but I don't want anyone to hear, "You've gained 3 lbs this week!" It takes some effort, but is a pretty easy program to follow. I am doing pts versus the core thing. That I am not sure I would stay on. You get extra pts for exercising and 35 weekly pts extra to use as you choose, but I am going to try hard not to use any of those. The only manditory pts are the daily ones and you are to use up all of those.

I am so mad at NBC! They shower a RERUN of Las Vegas again last night. I do not know what is going on with programming this year. They don't show reruns of that American Idol or some of those other lame reality things, but the one show I look forward to each week seems to be reruns all the time.

Time to get up and Well in my case, something a bit more sedate, but I need to get the day started.

Everyone!!! Donna

Now the Wait is on...

2007-01-26T02:56:00.000-08:00

Waiting for a new baby is always hard, I think. You are anxious for it to get here. She has set the shower date so I can prepare for that. My dd is not going to be able to go because her company is going through a huge aquisition at that time and she would get fired if she tried to take time off. They have already been warned that there will be no time off starting in March up until June. She and her brother and sil have a very rocky relationship and she is afraid this isn't going to help. She is his only sibling, didn't go to his wedding, didn't go to her bridal shower and now can't go to this. I try to stay out of it, but always get stuck in the middle and I hate it. I am again and I am upset about it. I guess I dropped the ball on something that I didn't understand I was supposed to do etc etc. Anyway, my husband is going to call his son and tell him in this case he needs to give his sister a break because she can't do anything about this.

Today I sign up for WW. I was a WW member over 30 years ago back when the program was really rigid. I couldn't afford it back then and didn't last long. I guess now I wish I had.

I am coming along on both my ribbon top and my dd's sweater. I really like the camel color. This yarn has a nice sheen and gives it a slight golden color to it. I hope she likes it. My ribbon top is just a funky fun thing that I will enjoy wearing I hope. I am not sure how comfortable wearing ribbon is though! Alas, I have made no progress on the blanket. My left pinky finger was swollen at the joint yesterday and I couldn't keep the yarn wrapped. It wouldn't bend much so I knew that knitting on the blanket would just not go.

The weekend is upon us and I hope to get a lot done.

Donna

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails...

2007-01-25T04:39:00.000-08:00

That's right, ! He will be named after his father, grandfather and great grandfather, Jack Nolan Wilkinson IV. His great grandfather, who is deceased was Jack, my husband was Jackie, our son is Jay so we have to find something for the new Jack. I like LJ for little Jack. We will have to see what his parents come up with. His dad called me yesterday afternoon and said I was the first one he called. He said he looks perfect that they could clearly see his head, hands, feet, legs and arms etc. I could hear Alicia in the car on her cell phone busily telling her family. My husband called her like 3 times yesterday so see if they had called.

We are taking a trip to Nashville in 3 weeks to Opry Mills to go baby clothes shopping. They have a bunch of children's shops, one of which is Oshkosh b' Gosh and I want to get him some little overalls. His daddy had a pair and was so adorable in them. Actually, his daddy was a beautiful baby and little boy, blond with little curls in the back. Such a sweet child.

I got the yarn for my dd's sweate and this time it is a nice color. I have started her sweater. I am reposting the picture of the pattern with the yarn and buttons for it. Unfortunately, the yarn called for in the pattern was discontinued so I had to find a substitute that I thought would look good on a redhead. I really like the peach yarn and I have made some baby stuff with the brand and style so I know how it works up. It is a really soft yarn and I think it will make a great sleeveless sweater for Vegas.

I better get going Donna

TODAY'S THE DAY....

2007-01-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

Like the old joke, today I find out if I am going to be a grandmother or a grandfather... Even Jack can't wait. He told me that if they call while he is at work to call and page him. He thinks it is going to be a girl and I am totally with a boy so we shall see. I just hope the baby is in good health etc.

I had to sit and pay bills this morning! UGH! It isn't as much a chore anymore since so many of my bills can be paid online, which I love. No writing a bunch of checks, envelopes etc, just click and my bank account is smaller!

I finished the last baby layette last night and had about 3 yards of yarn left! I wasn't looking forward to having to go and buy another skein of yarn for just a couple rows to finish it. Now all I have to do is sew my knitting labels in the inside of the sweater and they are ready to be boxed up and wrapped. I want to get the one going to Chicago out this weekend, but have to get baby paper and a card first.

Seemed a bit warmer this morning than it has been when I took out the trash. I sure hope so, I am sick of cold weather. Actually, I want hot weather so I can start swimming. I love to go over every morning and swim for an hour all by myself. It is wonderful. Our condo complex is right in the airport landing zone and with FEDEX having their main hub in Memphis, there are planes flying overhead all the time. I can go and swim and see the planes go past dreaming of the morning I will be on one winging my way to sin city! We are now just a little over 7 months until vacation. I should be able to get the airline tickets in 2 weeks when we get our tax refund back.

Speaking of airline tickets, we fly business/first class on Airtran from Memphis, to Atlanta then to Vegas. Jack hates to have to take this really early flight at 6 AM, but the other flights get there at night so it wastes a whole day of vacation that way. This way we are there before noon their time. Anyway, he told me to check Northwest, which has a hub here in Memphis to see what first class tickets cost. Good grief! They want $4030 for business class tickets! I checked American Airlines and they want $3400 I think it was. Our tickets are $1641! Now, in my opinion the only thing different is you get a meal with the other airlines, but darn, I think $500 for a meal each way is kind of steep!!!! With Airtran, we get treated like first class passengers, our cabin has its own flight attendent, she continally comes up and asks if you want anything, the booze is free, etc. The prices went up from 2005 by a total of about $300, but I think most of that was fuel costs. My question is, if the cut rate airlines can fly for that amount and be in the black, why are airlines lik NWA and AA in bankruptcy reorganization all the time???

I need to get out and get to My feet aren't going to do it by themselves!

Have a good day! Donna

Knittin' to pass the time...

2007-01-23T02:53:00.000-08:00

Jack is concerned that I am in the house too much so we talked about it last night. I told him that knitting keeps me busy and I don't get bored and I enjoy it since I have mastered some of the techniques a little more and can knit stuff other than simple scarves or whatever if I want to. He says he worries about me being in the house alone all the time. Bless his heart. So, because of that AND other reasons I am seriously considering joining WW. I think I need accountability and I know me and if I have to go to a meeting and weigh every week, I am surely going to stick to a diet program and not bounce around. Besides, I like the program, it is nutritionally sound and I can do basically what I am doing now except instead of figuring fat and calories, I just do the point system. Though I will stay for meetings, I have a pretty good handle on why I eat, the triggers and such. I have done this for a long time on and off and realize it is not a quick fix that I have to fix emotional, physical and other issues along with just overeating. I have two things that make me jump off the wagon, boredom eating, which knitting really takes care of and I love food, plain and simple.

I am almost done with the third baby set. I have about half of the sweater complete. I had more problems with this sweater than the other two combined. I kept goofing up and having to frog it back. I would get lost because of so many patterns in this sweater and end up tearing out the whole thing and starting over. I think I did that 3 or 4 times. For one thing, this pattern has some mistakes in it, though they can be easily ignored if you pay attention to what you are doing. For some reason this lady cast on 34 instead of 33 stitches and would end up with one side have a k4 border and the other a k3. Anyway, it is coming along, though I can't say the same for the blanket, which I haven't touched in several days. Mardi, let's trade and I will finish your scarf for you and you can do my blanket. I need it back by the middle of March though!

They have finally shipped out the yarn for my dd's sweater so I need to hop to it and get some of this stuff done. I have about 1/3 of one side of my ribbon top finished, haven't gotten any of the sparkle top started and would if I would stop making baby stuff!

I am now past 5 AM and Jack will be up for work in just a few so I need to get going.

All is well in my world today.

I am in a knitting hamster wheel...

2007-01-22T04:29:00.000-08:00

I'm knitting and I can't get up!!!!! I am on my third and very last layette set. I talked to my dil yesterday, who doesn't know I made one for her and ask for a friend of her's address so I could send her a baby gift. She is due a couple months after Alicia and Jack and I became friendly with her when my son and dil started dating. I think she went to college with Alicia. She is a tv commercial producer in Chicago. Anyway, Alicia told me yesterday she was going to call Jorie and tell her someone was sending her a present so I figured I better get it going. I have one bootie to finish up this morning then start and finish the sweater and I am done with it. I am trying to get time constraint stuff done first, except for the blanket, which is of course frustrating that I haven't finished it.

We kind of lazed around yesterday except I did clean the downstairs late yesterday afternoon. Watched the movie, "The Black Dahlia" which except for a great butt shot of Josh Harnett, wasn't a particularly great movie. It focused too much on the two cops and not enough on the murder itself in my opinion. It was interesting enough to watch all the way through though. Last weekend Jack and I sat down to watch "Talledaga Nights" and found it so foul we turned it off after about 15 minutes in. I don't find obnoxious children funny and they had this dinner table scene where the kids are just awful so we turned it off and sent it back pronto.

We are still trying to get my poor husband his referral to go to his cardiologist on the 14th. You can't do anything but leave a message and Jack has been trying for like 2 weeks. He now is going to have to make a dr appt so he can get one, which is a pain, because we shouldn't have to pay for an office visit for him just to get a darn piece of paper. Lord, I do hate our medical practice. Hopefully, he can get somewhere with it all today.

We should know sometime on Wednesday whether we are going to have another grandson or a granddaughter. Alicia has her ultrasound on Wed. I am keeping my fingers, toes and eyes crossed for a boy, but we shall see. We are excited waiting to hear then I can go and buy the shower outfits I want to get from Ralph Lauren. I am dying to buy them, but want to buy gender stuff.

It is off to do some cleaning upstairs.
Have a delicious day everyone and I am out of here for now!

Donna

When you can't sleep...Type

2007-01-21T00:23:00.000-08:00

I am soooo sick of menopause and all the crap that comes with it. I just want this to be over and done with. I have been going through this stage of cramping for a few hours then it goes away until the next month or the month after that or whatever. I mean, I am glad it is all changing and I can tell it am getting towards the end, but enough already! I woke up not feeling too great so I had to take Advil and wait for them to work so here I sit setting up my blog for Sunday morning.

Jack had movie passes he got for Christmas so we went to see "Letters from Iwo Jima" directed by Clint Eastwood. If he doesn't get the Oscar next year there is no justice. I am not a military/war movie kind of gal, but this was a superb movie. Incredibly sad, but he did a terrific job of it. He filmed it in black and white, just a little fuzzy like 1940's newsreels and used subtitles. You had to read fast though! It is about a true story where archaeologists doing a dig in some tunnels in Mt Suribachi on Iwo Jima, found buried letters from Japanese soldiers. I cried through half the thing.

I hear it is still raining out. Well no walking outside for me later on I guess. I may just take the day off. I guess there will be no shampooing the upstairs rugs either as they would never dry. Guess I will just have to knit!

I finished the baby layette I made for our grandbaby. Came out really nice I think. This pattern is so incredibly easy to do. I am making one more set for some friends of my son and dil's that we got close to when Jay and Alicia got married and are expecting a baby in August.

I think I am going to try and head back to bed and see if I can go back to sleep for a few hours.

see you soon! Donna

Why is Reading such a Dirty Word to People?...

2007-01-20T05:17:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe more people don't read. I love to read and have a bazillion books to prove it. When I get overloaded with books, I take them to the local library and donate them and start over. Thank heaven's my dd gave my grandson the love of reading. It just starts your life out right. I am so surprized when I hear adults say they never read or they hate to read. Reading takes you places you could never go, gives you experiences you could never have, discoveries you will never make. It provides solace when you are sad or mad, joy when you've had a bad day. You can actually LEARN things by reading that you didn't know before, for heaven's sake. I pretty much read purely for pleasure, but as you can see from my author list, I read a lot and those are just a few authors that I read anything they write. There is so much crap on the tv, that I rarely watch it. The tv sometimes doesn't get turned on at all. I read or knit and sometimes do both when I put in an audio book. I love to travel with those things. It makes time pass and you get to enjoy a book while you are driving. I always try and take one. I remember once when we were going to Indiana to visit, (it is a 11 hour trip at least) we got stuck in Chicago because it was the middle of the night and they were removing an overhead bridge from atop the road we were on. We had to sit in traffic for about 90 minutes, but we had brought along the new Harry Potter book, whichever one was out at the moment and sat and listened to it while we waited. Made the wait a whole lot less irritating.

Look at the ribbon yarn I got yesterday. Isn't it kicky???? I think it will make a great summer top for vacation. I just had to knit some up to see how hard it was going to be to deal with and what it looked like. I am short about 7 skeins as I bought all they had because it was on sale, so I am going to watch for it to go on sale somewhere and try and get the rest of it. For now, I just had to see it knit up.

Man, it is getting late and I need to get out and walk this morning. I am not too much in the mood to do that so maybe I will fudge for today. I really need to because we had take out sandwiches last night, which is a big no no right now, but I plain didn't want to cook last night.

I got the sweetest email from my niece. She helped me pick out her mom's yarn for her mom's birthday present and I had sent her a pic of what the sweater looked like. She said she had given her sil all her son's baby clothes because they are having a boy. She said she kept his coming home from the hospital outfit and my baby blanket. She said she would never let anyone have it. She said it was so soft and fuzzy and her son loved it. I was so touched by the fact she wanted it kept safe and wouldn't let someone else use it.

Well my blogging friends, I need to get my day up and going. I hear the ole is finished with it's load so I guess I need to get it in the dryer and get out and walk even if I don't want to.

Enjoy a book this weekend! Donna (for some reason it isn't letting me make paragraphs so I apologize the bottom half is all shoved together. I tried 6 or 7 times to edit and make the paragraphs, but it kept shoving them back together so I give up this morning)

Is it Spring yet, because I am Cleaning...

2007-01-19T04:38:00.000-08:00

We are shampooing the upstairs carpets this weekend and Jack picked up my comforter from the cleaners so I can put it and my bedskirt back on the bed. I am already ready for spring to get here. I want to be in the instead of walking uphill all the time. We live right where all four directions go uphill. It is great for the heart, but hard on the ole knees sometimes. That is why I go and exercise so early because I know I wouldn't do it if it gets later in the day. Besides, I am a total morning person and feel much better early in the morning than I do later in the day.

I have the booties and hat finished for our baby and hope to get the sweater on the needles and done today if I can. Depends on interruptions and what other stuff I need to do. I probably should start my downstairs weekly cleaning today, but I may just veg and knit all day.

I have been given the terms, professional knitter, that I do amazing work, etc., but I consider myself maybe an advanced beginner. I don't do very hard things, and still have issues with seaming etc, which I think just takes time to work the kinks out of. My knitting seems to be better on some days than others, straighter, neater, etc depending on how my hands feel so I am no expert, that is for sure. I just really enjoy it now that I do it all the time. I never thought I would enjoy it so much, but since I did so much last year for Christmas and such, I really have gotten into it. Besides it has a big plus, it keeps my hands busy so I don't want to snack. It also makes my hands skinny. I wonder if you can knit with you whole body??? I wish it were that easy.

The diet is coming along fine. I have decided to go back to journaling calories and fat calories to keep myself in line. I am still getting out and walking everyday so I get my exercise in. I just keep thinking about losing enough to get into all those nice capris for summer and vacation. I bought my first vacation piece of clothing, a pair of white sandals. I have a pair of Clark's (which I absolutely swear by) sandals in an off white sort of color, but wanted the white to take to Vegas and found a pair on sale so snapped them up as they only had 3 pairs left in white. We will start little by little getting clothing needs bought, shows booked and next month the airline tickets purchased, which makes the vacation real for both of us.

When Jack was in the Navy, the kids and I would make construction paper chains that they would cut one link off every day so they could keep track of how long it was until dad would be home. I hung it up right in the front entrance so people would come in and ask about it and it gave the kids a way of talking about their dad. Well, Jack got the bright idea we should do it for our trip so the other night we sat and made a paper chain for vacation! Nutty, for over 50's, I know, but it was fun doing it together.

Everyone have a great Friday and a great weekend! I am off to get in my walking.

Donna

To Frog or not to Frog, that is the ????

2007-01-18T04:04:00.000-08:00

I had to frog my whole top and am going to start over. I discovered that I had gotten some of the stitches under each other on the needles and ended up knitting them together so I was way short on stitches when I counted them. So back to square one. I am going to lay it aside for now and work on the baby shower stuff. I got the yarn for it yesterday so have started the bonnet for it. The color matches the blanket really well even though it is a different brand and style.

Sometimes I hate offices. We have Tricare Prime and have to get referrals. My husband has a cardiologist appt in February and has been trying to get his referral for almost two weeks. You can only leave a message and don't talk to anyone human so he is getting pretty fed up about it. Unfortunately, our only recourse is to change practices and the only ones available in this area are big ones what would be the same way. GRRRRR! We have never had problems before, but Jack has called them 4 times already. I wonder if the woman is on vacation and they didn't replace her with anyone while she was gone. It is ridiculous, really. It is so easy to do and since he has been going to the same cardiologist for over 3 years, they know he is on the network.

I have the whole layette set finished now. I think it turned out rather well if I do say so myself!

I sent a pic to my sister as that is who I did it for, but as usual, got no response as to whether she like it or not. It is for her stepson and his wife's new baby. I decided to give them the sunsuit too and just make another one for our baby.

I watched this program yesterday afternoon about how rich people spend their money. There is this dry cleaners in Manhattan, NY that caters to the rich. They charge $16 to launder a man's dress shirt, and they were working on cleaning a bridal gown, which was going to cost $50,000 to clean! They said some items can cost as much at $300,000 to clean. Wouldn't it be cheaper to throw it away and buy new???? They also had bullfighting lessons for like $5000 a lesson, yeah let me sign up for that right away. What idiot would want to face a bull after having shelled out about $50,000? It was interesting to see how the very rich waste their money. I saw on AOL recently that the idiot guy who won the largest Powerball ever, something like $381 million is dead broke and owes a casino something like $50,000 in bad checks! In the old days, they would have broke the guys legs or worse. Now, the lawyers fight it out. How do you go through that kind of money? I mean, if he took the quick payout it would have been around $152 million and after taxes he would have gotten around 75 million dollars. I saw a picture of him and he looks like a bowery bum. I know he got robbed several times but the dope used to carry briefcases full of cash with him everywhere he went.

I see it is close to 6:30 so I better get out in the cold and get my walk in. I missed it yesterday not feeling well so I need to be extra special good today!

Have a day everyone!

Donna

Elvis's hair would be stiff today....

2007-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

It is still cold here in Memphis. The temp right now is 26 degrees, which is cold for here. I am hoping it will warm up today though. It was really cold all day yesterday and I couldn't get warm for anything.

I started my Estelle Dazzle top yesterday on circs. I decided the top was so simple it could easily be done on circs. After consulting my knitting expert, we agreed so I went ahead and cast it on circs. We shall see how that is going to pan out. We had to do some math regarding gauge and such and I got tickled at her. She told me to knit until I had a good length then compare it to a piece of clothing that currently fits and if it is smaller or larger we know we flunked math class!

My diet is coming along. I have to get in more water though. I am eating a lot of fiber and it needs water to pass through. I have some cramping this morning and that is why I am up so early and I think it is from gas, etc from not getting enough water. It isn't that I don't like water, and I am drinking water for meals, but I get a glass and sit and knit and forget it is there instead of drinking it.

I bought some tape style yarn to make another bright and colorful top for vacation. Only problem is Joann.com didn't have enough and it was on sale so I bought all they had and will get the rest somewhere else. I am just going to watch and see if it goes on sale somewhere else. I love the colors and it will go with so many summer capris I already own.

I guess I should try and head back to bed. Five AM gets her pretty quickly.

Adieu, Adieu, parting is such sweet sorrow.... Donna

Tropical to Frigid in one easy motion....

2007-01-16T04:04:00.000-08:00

I a freezing my off! I cannot believe it went from the high 50's and it is 28 degrees right now! The temps started to plummet early in the evening and by about 6 PM it was only around 35 degrees. Thank goodness the wind was blowing and dried up all the rain so the walks and roads aren't slippery. I will just have to bundle up to walk this morning. It is hard to believe I grew up in cold weather country and loved it as a kid. Must be old age. The bones just can't take it anymore. No wonder all the social security set move to Florida!

My baby came back from his doctor and hair appt and doesn't he look so pretty? Underneath his sweater he is completely "blue" as the breeders call Yorkies. Just means he is dark gray. He got a good report from the doctor except he has to go and get his teeth cleaned. You know, when Jack bought him for me from a breeder he named him Fortune because he said that is what he would cost him and I guess he was right. With shots and boosters, teeth extractions when some of his puppy teeth never fell out, heartworm and flea and tick stuff, grooming once a month or so to the tune of $35, food and treats, toys and clothes he cost more than the kids!

I am again making progress with the heart blanket. It is slow going, but it will be finished to be wrapped before I leave for the shower in March. I got attitude from a woman I know on a non knitting website that I should use circs. I told her I can't use circs on this and she acted like I was stupid. If I could have used circs, I probably would have.

Since I am waiting for the replacement yarn for my dd's sweater (I sent the original stuff back as it turned out to be like a velour and she would NEVER wear it) and bought this instead: It is Bernat Satin so I know it will be soft for her. She is a redhead so I think it will look good on her too! I tend to buy her a lot of green stuff so thought I would go with something else this time. Anyway, while I am waiting for it to come in, I am going to start on my sparkly top for vacation. I can knit inbetween working on the blanket.

I see by the ole that it is 6:30 which means time to pull on the and brave the and get out and walk!

As Tony the would say....."You are all GGGGRRRREEEAAATTT!!!"

stage left for me.....Donna

From Singing to Cussing at the rain...

2007-01-15T03:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, enough is enough. Three days of and I am sick of it. I can hear it outside and am contemplating walking in it anyway, but will probably just do the treadmill or maybe go to the mall and walk, but who wants to get all spruced up to that early in the morning? I know you working ladies have to get up and get beautiful but us stay at home slugs don't!

I am almost finished with the sweater and it is soooo adorable. I love making newborn stuff because it is so tiny. I used up the leftover yarn my my dd's shrug and just had to start on the sweater, but I ran out with about 10 rows to go so now I sit and wait for my order from Joan to get her. In it though is some soft yellow to make a set for our grandbaby. I have to get serious about the stupid blanket though. I have a ways to go on it and dread even picking it up. I will work on it today some and try and get at least 1 full pattern finished. I never realized how hard it is to knit blankets in all one piece. I did a couple diagonal ones, but they were on larger needles and though they got heavy and would sometimes make my hands hurt it was nothing like this. I sure hope this blanket lasts through all their baby's because I am never knitting another one like it.

No outside walking for me this morning I guess. It is still pouring down rain here and supposed to rain all day. I have early morning stuff I have to do so I am going to have to go out in it anyway. The dog has to go to the vets/groomers and I need to take our comforter to the cleaners to be laundered. Luckily, the vet's is a block from her and the cleaners only about half a mile and I don't even have to get out of the car at the cleaners.

We got the downstairs rugs shampooed yesterday and I set up fans to dry them because of the rain. I also finally got the downstairs all cleaned so it is the upstairs shampooing and cleaning today I guess. We are supposed to go and get haircuts too sometime this morning. Jack and I both look pretty shaggy.

I guess I better get off my behind and get my morning chores finished so at 7 I can take the dog and drop him at the groomers/vet's.

Looking for the Donna

Singin' in the Rain....

2007-01-14T05:50:00.000-08:00

Good morning all! I had a nice time at the luncheon. I know I am not going to be buddies with any of these ladies, but to have a lunch once a month with them is ok. I enjoyed it and won the first bingo prize so I posted a pic of what I got. Cute, huh? I am going to save it and put a pic of Jack and I on vacation in it. I have to say they do the lunches up big. I also got this cute snow man votive lamp that was at each place setting. They have an auction every month to raise money for the coffers for flowers for sick, funeral, stuff like that. I get my hat pin next month for joining and I want to buy a regular stiff brimmed straw hat for that. I need purple CLOTHES though. I have a 2 piece slinky knit pant suit thing, and 2 purple sweaters and that is it. You MUST wear purple and red only and I think I have a pair of red knit pants upstairs but I know nothing else. I don't want to be buying clothes and losing weight, though. I also got some little book as did everyone. All in all it was a nice time and that is all I expected from it.

The commissary was another thing! I got out of the luncheon at 2:30 and even then left before the auction, but I didn't want the stuff anyway as it was lotions and hair products and I am picky about that stuff, you know? I would rather just give a donation to the kitty. Anyway, it was pouring rain, foggy, as the devil and I found out we need new wind shield wipers on top of that. I know why Jack has been dragging his feet. Our windshield wipers for this car cost like $40!!!!! That's what we get for buying a grand marquis I guess, but oohlala the butt room! Anway, it is about 30 miles away, accidents every turn, traffic a nightmare and I get out there and it is PACKED! It was awful. I was tired and the shelves were half empty (I forgot military got paid on Friday and probably cleaned them out then and they get deliveries on Thursdays so either had had time to restock or ran out) Anyway, I couldn't find this or that and I had one woman that me off big time. Anyway, then I had to walk in the rain to my car and drive home in the horrible rain all wet and unload and put all the crap away. Jack told me in no uncertain terms he knew I was trying hard to lose weight but I was not cooking and we were going out to eat. We ended up at our favorite mexican restaurant and I didn't do well with the tortilla chips and cheese dip as this dip is to dye for and Jack won't eat it, BUT I didn't eat all the cheese or anything it was more the tortilla chips, I order the 2 cheese enchiladas with rice and beans, ate half an enchilada a forkful of the beans and more of the rice than anything. I brought it home and threw it out! YEAH FOR ME!!!!! I was going to sit and eat it at home, but I got home and thought, NOPE! I also didn't eat any of the lowfat desserts I bought or snacks or anything, just went upstairs and watched tv until I went to bed. For lunch that day I did really well. I got a grilled chicken wrap in a spinach tortilla with ff ranch dressing and cottage cheese. I ate the wrap and 2 forks of cottage cheese but didn't order dessert or anything. I really really want this and that is why I am trying so hard, I think. It is obviously paying off.

I have a bazillion things to accomplish today! Blogging short and sweet today! Oh, I did start the green baby sweater and it is going to be so adorable. Can't wait to make our baby one.

for now! Donna

On a cloud and not coming down....

2007-01-13T03:02:00.000-08:00

I got up and weighed this morning and I am now down 22 lbs! I usually weigh on Tuesdays, but was anxious to see if I had any damage from Chili's the other night. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least.

I have luncheon today so I have already picked out a couple things from the restaurant's online site so I know what to get at the restaurant. They have mostly really fatty foods so anything I get is going to be outside good nutrition because they basically don't have it, but I am going to get the Ranch Chicken Wrap :A spinach tortilla wrapped around grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and our homemade ranch dressing. Served with salsa and one side item, skip the side and light dressing. I am trying to adapt to choices rather than make strict ones where I come home and eat some more. Rather than getting a small salad and not eating much of it then coming home and gorging on something, for me it is better to get something as tasty and reasonable as I can. I usually only eat half of sandwiches anyway so I will try and eat just half of this and no dessert of any kind period!

I am following the luncheon up with at the commissary, which is always fun, especially late in the day. I usually try and be out there right at 9 AM when they open so I can get it over with.

I didn't get any housework done yesterday at all, but then I am having one of those cramping, spotting menstrual months. I am in peri menopause and never know when or if I will have anything. I can't say I have periods anymore because when anything happens it is just spotting, but I have noticed I can have big time cramping and I was like that yesterday. It is really weird actually. I will just be glad when the whole thing is over forever. I am almost 53 1/2 for heaven's sake and started my period when I was 10 so I am more than ready!

I am going to shoot my pets. The dog brings his food one piece at a time into the living room to eat, then leaves it for us to step on and darn it, it hurts. The cat is a total pig slinging food all over the kitchen floor for me to constantly clean up. The cat food is almost like pellets and boy what a mess they make. I think I clean the mess up 4 or 5 times a day.

Time to hit the knitting trail for awhile until I can go out and walk. I am slowly getting the blanket done, but it sure does hurt the hands to do it for very long. I didn't think I was going to get my one pattern goal done last night, but I finally finished it after Las Vegas was over.

Everyone who peeks in, have a great weekend and:

Donna (I look just like this except with blond hair and blue eyes! )

Here Comes the Red Hatter...

2007-01-12T04:07:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the darn red hat. It isn't exactly what I wanted as the brim is floppy instead of stiff because of the eye lash yarn, but it looks a little better than the one I call the "bell cap's hat." That one, though unique looks awful on me. I may make one more solid red one with the same pattern so the brim will be stiff like a sun hat. I did get an inspiration and formed it by using a hat I liked as the form and a bowl under the straw hat to keep it's form. Worked great, actually. I had to do some pulling and had skinned knuckles, but it came out fine.

We went out to dinner last night and had a great time. Chilis has 2 for 1 drinks at happy hour so Jack enjoyed his two Margaritas on the rocks, which I took a couple swallows of. I am your basic phoo phoo drink gal though, daquiris, pina coladas, sex on the beach, fuzzy navels, that sort of thing. All high in sugar of course! I had too much fat with what I ended up ordering, but that was our eating out for the month (we used to eat out a lot, but I have cut that wayyyyy back) so it doesn't bother me. Besides, I am getting ready to go with the old CD player. Yes, I am still back in the semi electronic dark ages as I use a walkman and not a mp3 player of some kind. I imagine I will have one eventually, but for now, I am perfectly happy with the CD player.

I just bought green and yellow yarn and 3 pr of dpn's this morning. I bought the green yarn to finish up the baby set and the yellow to make a set for our grandbaby to match the heart blanket I am trying to get finished. I commited to kniting one full 12 row pattern everyday until it is done. It does hurt my hands so with the blanket to the size it has become heavy, a lot of stitches on the needle and a more intricate pattern to deal with too. I have 12 more patterns and 10 rows of seed stitch to finish it up so I should be able to have it done in a about 2-3 weeks max, which is great because the baby shower is the last Saturday in March or the next day. In between times I can work on my dd's sweater, which I have just started and get the yellow sweater, hat and booties done. I am not going to worry too much about the green sweater as she doesn't need it until June so I can make it after the baby shower and send it to her if need be. I am going to go ahead and give her the sunsuit because it matches instead of giving it to Alicia for our grandbaby. I can always whip up another one as it was pretty easy.

I better hit the streets and get the exercise in. I have housecleaning I want to get done today along with work up menus for 2 weeks and shopping list.

Have a good one and a nice long weekend if you get Monday off!

Donna

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

2007-01-11T02:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I am guessing on that because I haven't been outside yet, but I don't hear any wind or rain and the temp says it is 43, but it also says rain, so I better finish this quick before my heading is no longer correct!

I am bound and determined to get my red hat finished today. I didn't get my noodles made last night either because I looked at the clock and it was already after 8 PM and I didn't want to have to clean up the mess that late so I am going to have to jump on them this morning or Jack is going to have to get no yolks. I am not too fond of store bought noodles except the German or Amish type. Chalk it up to growing up German and living only about 30 miles from an Amish community when I was growing up.

Today is bill paying day, oh joy! Then the weekend is going to be packed with stuff I have to do, Red Hat lunch, haircuts for Jack and I, Vet appt for Fortune on Monday, carpets to shampoo this weekend, commissary to go to (of course that is my favorite chore )and on and on. Most of it can't be done until the weekend either. So, I need to get some of the housecleaning I do at the end of the week started today again. Seems housecleaning day comes around faster and faster, but then the faster it comes around the closer to I will be. Oh to be that little smiley and win the jackpot!

I just noticed my felted purse is shedding! I have an I Love Lucy wallet and she is covered in Frenzy thread. May have to give her a shave!

I hope everyone has a great day and a great weekend!

for now!

Donna

Our grandbaby is growing...

2007-01-10T02:53:00.000-08:00

I talked to my dil yesterday and she said she is finally getting a tummy. Her ultrasound appt is the end of January so we should know then what we are having. I will be excited to know so I can buy gender stuff. I am finishing up the blanket, but that is all I am knitting for him. I picked out some adorable stuff at Ralph Lauren online and they gift box for free so I can have the stuff already boxed and only thing I have to do is wrap it and get a card. We are going to give them $500 to buy baby furniture or whatnot that they need and that is really our gift to them. I am not doing that at the shower, we will do that in private, but we couldn't do it with Thomas because Jack's job back then paid so poorly, but we want to help out as we can. They hardly need the money as she is a pharmacist and he is a salesman for a big manufacturing distributor, in fact, when I talked to her yesterday, he had just sold a $250,000 piece of machinery so he was pretty stoked. That gives him 25% of his sales for this year already. Her is going to be either March 31 or April 1 so I am planning on going to that. They live about 10 hours from here and Jack can't go so I will just rent a car and leave early on Friday morning and come back either Monday or Tuesday. My dd said something about going, but most of the time she doesn't get to because of work.

For those of you who need a real belly laugh this morning, I graciously allow myself to be the butt of this joke:

You'll get a kick out of this. I sat and laughed my head off here at the computer after it was all said and done. I went out walking at 6:30 this morning and was coming back down the street towards the condo and the older (late 60's) man that has been staying across the street was sort of pacing out on the street. He was taking out the trash when I left to walk and said good morning to me and I responded back etc. Anyhow, I didn't say anything to him when I came back and when I got up about halfway to the back gate, he started walking across the drive and said, "Miss?" I turned around and he was pulling money out of his wallet and said, "Could you give me a little sugar?" Oh my God, a masher! lol I was about ready to give him what for when he said, "I don't have any sugar for my coffee and can't leave right now!" lololololololololol I am still sitting here laughing about it. He was very nice. I told him sure, just a minute and came in and got a disposable cup and filled it with sugar and took it out to him. He introduced himself and pulled out all kinds of ID so I wouldn't be afraid of him (I never was in the first place) and just talked on and on about being separated from his wife and living with his daughter in the condo until his son graduates from high school in June etc etc. Only I would think the guy wanted you know what, but he was pulling out money! I should have figured it wasn't sex though, cause I am worth more than a dollar!

I am doing great on my diet, except for the icky Chuck E Cheese haven't had food off my program. I have exercised everyday too so I am thrilled the lbs are coming off. I am not one of those fat ladies who gives a fig newton about my size, but I would like to be able to do things that others take for granted.

My sister emailed me (not the one I made the sweater for but my other sister) and ask if I could knit a baby sweater and hat for her new grandbaby that is due in June as well. I told her I wasn't sure I could get it done because I had a bunch of projects going at the moment, but I would try. So, stupid me, sat down at the computer and hunted up a pattern and this is what I did this afternoon instead of the knitting I wanted to get done. Cute, isn't it and I used my leftover Caron Simply Soft that I bought for my dd's shrug. It is really a soft yarn and has a nice sheen, I think. Looks like that red hat is not going to get worn on Saturday as it won't get dry even finishing it tomorrow.

I guess I better get to making homemade noodles for dinner tomorrow night. They need overnight to dry well.

Toodle Loo!

Donna

Another project finished!

2007-01-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

I finished the top for my sister and I sure hope she likes it. It will be nice and cool to wear in Southern CA where they live, yet the armholes and neckline are big enough she can stick a turtleneck underneath if she likes. I bought these beads and thought they would look nice with it.

Later Donna