When you live on rock

When you live on rock, doing anything takes longer and more creativity to accomplish it. I had this uploaded in order, but blogger shuffled things.

This is a picture of the finished iron plate bolted to the rock. This happened when Kim decided to put an extension on the carport to house his pickup and welder. He and his dad dug and dug and found edges of this boulder. But when they tried to move the boulder, it didn't.....but the boulder next to it moved. Seeing a hopeless situation, he decided to drill holes in the rock and bolt the pipe post to the rock.

This is the finished extension. The post with the ladder in front of it is the one bolted to the boulder. You can see the surface boulder that moved when they tried to pry up the one under the post. It is the light colored spot on the ground. The rock on the surface is huge, so it astounds me how big the one under the post must be.

This is a closer shot of the iron plate bolted to the boulder. I guess if a tornado came for me, I should hide under the carport and tie myself to this post....cuz it ain't going anywhere!

This pic shows the bolted on plate, and part of the rock that moved when they pried at the other boulder. Told you it was big.

Imagine me trying to garden on this stuff. There are plenty of spots where I have dug for hours, trying to find the end of a rock, hoping to be able to remove it. Only to find it the size of a Volkswagon and trying to figure out how to garden around it or on top of it. In my world, there is no such thing as just digging a flower bed and sticking a plant in.
Also, my house is anchored in this stuff.....don't expect it to go anywhere.
Yesterday I put the flannel sheets and big quilted spread on my bed. Cold weather is officially here now. This weekend I will be dragging out all my winter clothes that is in storage and packing away my warm weather gear.

oops, forgot

I meant to post a pic proving that there really was a dog under the afghan pile on the sofa. Here it is....yep, there was a Beanie Weanie under there. She doesn't just burrow under blankets....she is also burrowing into the family quite snuggly.




I have been busy trying to weed out my sewing room. I have thrown out over 8 bags of stuff and still have a ways to go. I had bought some storage drawers from Target. I put them together the other day, only to find one of them had been packaged with 4 left drawer sides. So, I am waiting for the replacements to be shipped to me so I can get on with the major organization. Right now I am using them to store my yarn stash. If they work out well, I may get more and use them to store other things. I like the clean look of them.
I rummaged through a tote of wool fabrics I had gathered the past few years. I want to use them for felted wool applique projects. Last week I went through them, tossing out any that had had a label saying they weren't wool since most were old skirts and pants. The remainded I put through a hot wash and dry. I tossed out any that didn't show signs of felting. That thinned the herd down a bit. There is a more managable stash now. I have a lot of things like that to go through. Projects that I just stored until I could get to them. Now is the time I am getting to them.
When not doing that, I am knitting away on gifts I hope to have done for Christmas. I get bored easily, so have a lot of things started. Some I can work on while waiting for pages to load up on my slow dial up connection, or while reading mail or blogs. Some I work on in my chair watching tv, one is easier done at the sunroom table in the morning so I can keep the pattern in front of me, and others are easily toted around and get worked on anywhere. I could be dangerous.....I discovered I could knit while driving. This is only possible because I live in a part of the world that has extremely boring, straight roads. I just finished a row I was working on while at the doctor's office and it was just straight stockinette stitch. I wouldn't try a big project or complicated stitches. But it was an intriguing experiment.

This and That

While visiting a friend this summer, I noticed she had a birdcage hanging from a tree in the front yard and birds clustering around and in it. Turns out, she had snipped some bars off the cage, put seed inside, and made it into a birdfeeder. Bingo! I had access to a couple of cages and needed a way to keep the birdseed off the ground where it kept sprouting and making a lot of work. So, the two cages have been a hit. One on the front porch, one on the patio.
Well, a week ago, a cactus wren decided it would make a bang up house. She has been steadily working on the nest since. This pic was taken last week. I need to take another pic this week because she seems determined to fill the cage up with nest!


Before the frost last night, I snipped the last of the roses that were blooming. There were 4 big Belinda's Dreeam and one red Oklahoma. I am enjoying them opening up on my kitchen sink.

It was 30 degrees when the sun peeked enough for me to see the thermometer this morning. It is supposed to get lower tonight.
Lost took an interesting turn tonight. Don't worry Kim....I taped it. Also called Matt to let him know it was coming on. It should prove quite interesting with the new people and story lines. Can't figure out how this just keeps getting better.

First Freeze

We had a cold front blow down today. At 10pm it was still up to 40 degrees, but the wind was much colder. I spent the day bringing in tender plants and trying to find places to put them. The plants I left outside were moved to the backyard against the rock south facing part of the house and covered with blankets.
The cold caused the pets to seek warm spots. The Beanie Weanie picked the afghan on the sofa. I promise, there is a dog under that mound.


Mimi chose the trunk in the south window with the sun shining in. Mouse picked a sunbeam on the floor. Luv was on the rug in the dining room.

Jack chose Kim's recliner.

Missy says......I found a pillow on the floor....and chose to block the door.

Tigger parked on the bed, curled up in a furry wad. I looked, but never found Lucy. Guess she picked a warm hidey hole somewhere. I have a feeling I may have a full bed tonight.

Catching Up

I have had Halloween pictures of the grandies for a couple of weeks and keep forgetting to put them up to show everyone. I had them in order of age, but blogspot decided to shuffle them differently. So, on with the show.
First is Brooklyn, the strawberry. I knit the little cap which Casey and Chris attached leaves to. She looks yummy enough to eat.


Next is Princess Autumn. I am sure she is a certain princess...but I wasn't told which one.

Then there is Hannah Cat in the Hat. Notice the missing front tooth. They had lots of fun and got lots of goodies.


Today I went to visit Dr Di for the results of my bloodtests. My liver panel is back to normal now. I don't want to go on cholesterol meds to mess things up again. One time in the hospital for that was more than enough for me. Di didn't like the high cholesterol numbers until I had her compare it to the ones taken in August. Then she understood my happiness that it had gone down. It is still high, but so much better than it was. I have been getting a suppliment from my chiropractor that has factored tremendously in the numbers being down. But Di talked me into a med that doesn't go through the liver to eliminate cholesterol. It is supposed to bind it in the intestines before it makes it into your bloodstream and into the liver. I am going to try it for a month or so and see what happens. I have blood work done again in January. So we'll see.
After the doc visit, I went to my chiropractor to pick up the suppliments I take that has turned my world around with FMS. He found out that if he ordered it at a professional discount, he could pass it on to me. So now I order from him and it is cheaper. While there, I told him about my headaches that start at my neck and split my head. He adjusted my neck, then went on down my spine while he was there. It was like wrangling a wad of the popping packaging. But I can't tell you how much better I feel this evening.
While at Dr Di's, I got a pneumonia shot. That along with the flu shot I got last week should keep me on my feet this winter.
Okay, meds are hitting and it is 1am....so off to bed.

Trash to Treasure

I promised a friend months ago that I would post a picture of my chicken feeders. Sorry it took so long, Sam. I dug around in the Saddlehouse one afternoon and found some old chicken feeders. The short one was perfect for holding spices. So, I spray painted it blue, then hit it with a spritz of cream and screwed it to the wall. It has worked out wonderfully and goes nicely with my kitchen chickens.


Then there was the very long feeder. It had a screening on top of it that really didn't work, so I took it off. I spray painted this one almond and mounted it beside my bathroom sink.. It works great for perfumes, nail polishes, lotions and potions. Below it is some cute painted tin containers I bought at our local rodeo/craft days. I painted an old wood tray, decopaged some pretty fabric on the bottom and it corrals my most used things. The hatbox on the far right holds scented soaps.

This isn't a trash to treasure. It is a little cardigan I knitted for Brooklyn. It is the Haiku pattern from knitty.com. I used regular old Lily Sugar and Cream cotton yarn. It was a quick knit. I used some buttons from my late grandmothers stash. Casey said it fits just fine. When I finished it, I tossed it in the washer and dryer to make sure it was wash and wear. Turned out great.

It wanted to throttle a dog this evening. Jack cornered Arnie the armadillo under the Truck Farm. The constant barking was driving me nuts. I could tell by his bark that it was Arnie. I grabbed my flashlight and headed out in the backyard. On the way by the faucet, I grabbed the hose and turned the water on. Jack got a good spraying and quit for a while. But as soon as I came back in the house, he started back up. So I went back out. This time I chased him around a bit to let him know I meant business. Well that did the trick, except that he came in and plopped down under my chair to lick the water off of himself. He needs a bath badly as it is.....but wet dog was very unpleasant. Guess dog baths needs to be added to the long list.
Tomorrow I have to start getting plants inside, and the rest of them ready for the possiblity of our first killing frost. This means that my new cart will get a good workout. I am so very pleased with my new cart. Thanks Cheree!!!!!
Okay, off to bed. Have to get going early tomorrow. Have an appointment with Dr. Di to get my bloodwork results.

Meet the new girl

Meet Miss Beanie Weanie. Her real name is Roxie, but she doesn't seem to respond well to that name. When I came up with Beanie Weanie, she acts like she likes it. Since he is part dachsie and part chihuahua....and the color of red beans, the name just came to me one day. She is quite affectionate and gets along well with the other dogs. She supposedly lives with Mimi, but they really live at my house. She has one bad habit, besides housebreaking....when she gets cold, she burrows. Most of the time, that is under the afghan on the sofa. But at night, she jumps on a bed and burrows under the covers. It amazes me that she can jump up on my high bed that none of the other dogs can. Maybe I should knit her a little sweater. She also likes to talk. I already have a dog that talks, so it can get quite vocal around here when something exciting happens and everyone has something to say about it.

Sounds like me

Your Birthdate: January 4

You have an extraordinary character - moral, responsible, and disciplined.Your sincerely and honesty shine through in almost every situation.Driven and focused, you rarely let your emotions get the better of you.You're level headed and rational. People count on your to look at things objectively. Your strength: Your unwavering loyalty and ethics Your weakness: Your rock solid stubbornness Your power color: Navy blue Your power symbol: Shield Your power month: April

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

I guess being a January 4th baby ain't so bad!

Not for the weak of stomach

Consider yourself warned! The following picture could cause moans of stomach upset, or uncontrollable gails of laughter (Chris). This is the picture of me in my pink kitty hat and riding goggles. Now if Kim doesn't like the goggles....then maybe he will gift me with Lasik surgery. My sincere apologies for the Permian Panther sweatshirt. I bought it as a joke and never meant for it to be for public viewing.
And no....I didn't go out riding in that get up. My dear husband's total embarrassment is cause for me to be sweet and not humiliate him in public.
So, there you have it.....the ultimate riding gear. And don't say you weren't warned!

Finally an update

My apologies to my readers. There has been so much going on and my brain is drained by evening, so haven't had the energy to post. But had to put up a pic or two of last weekend. Kim finally got to meet Casey and Brooklyn. This is a picture of Kim and Brooklyn in my Mom's backyard, hunting flowers. They got along quite well. But then, Kim gets along with babies anytime.
And here is Casey and Chris after they realized Mom was taking pictures of them smooching in the backyard. The girls also got to meet Matt and be regaled with stories from the oilfield by Kim. I think everyone had a good time and we are all looking forward to Casey and Brooklyn joining the family. In fact, Chris just got a job in San Antonio and will be moving in with Casey in a couple of weeks.
In other news....we had a warm spell. It is supposed to be fall, but we have been nearly 90 for the past week. A cool front blew in last night and made it pleasant today. I have two vases of mums that I brought in the house. A couple of years ago, I planted a purple mum plant. It hides behind the Mexican Petunia's, so I have to remember to hunt for them when bloom time comes. But as a result of competing for sun....they end up with nice long stems.
I have been weeding through my sewing room the past week. I think there has been over 8 sacks of stuff thrown out. I am starting to see some order taking place in there. It's going to get rough going when it gets down to having to finish some projects to get the room clean.
Kim won't be going to Russia after all. He needs to stay where he can be gotten hold of at least by cell phone and there is no phone or internet access on the job site there. So on Sunday he heads to a job in East Texas.
Meanwhile, I have been knitting away. Working on a couple of gifts, so can't detail them out here. Just hope they work out as it is something I have never done before. I have been really expanding my knowledge in knitting lately.
I haven't been sleeping very well lately,so I am off for a nap. Maybe I will post some pet pictures later. We have a new neighbor dog that I call Beanie Weanie. I got a picture of her the other day so will put that one up.

What a Weekend! Meet Casey and Brooklyn

Two delightful ladies spent the weekend at my house. My oldest son's fiance and her daughter met my son here on friday. This was our first meeting and I think it went very well. I just wish Kim could have been here. He was working up in the panhandle. He would have been enchanted by Brooklyn.
We sat out on the patio friday night. Watching stars, talking and laughing. We didn't go to bed till about 1am, so we slept in saturday morning. Saturday afternoon we went up to Angelo to Mom's house and to do some shopping. On Sunday, we got out a couple of handguns and did practice shooting. Casey hit more targets than I did. In fact, I don't think I hit the mark once. Everyone took off for home late in the afternoon. It was a wonderful weekend that I think went very well. I can hardly wait for Kim to meet the girls. Casey....come back soon!!!
I was surprised when Kim called monday afternoon and said he was on his way home. The job didn't go well, so they racked up the equipment and headed home. He got here before 8pm. I didn't sleep too well last night. It wasn't because I let Jack in bed with us. It was when I woke up for the upteenth time and discovered that my pillow was half off the bed and I couldn't get it back on. That was at 4:30 and it made for a long morning. I told Kim that tonight I would shove him back on his side of the bed rather than lose anymore sleep. The man has had queen sized beds in motel rooms to himself way too long!
We fired up Betty Lou this afternoon. I took pity on Kim and didn't wear the pink kitty cap I had knitted. But Kim took a picture of me in it with my goggles on. I promise to post it when he sends it to me....no matter how horrid. We rode into town for mail, cigs, and stopped of at the steakhouse for dinner. Then we took the long way home. It was a wonderful evening for a ride. It had warmed up enough for the air to be brisk but not cold. I have to drive into town tomorrow morning for dog food. It would have been difficult to haul a big bag of dog crunchies home on the bike.
I am worn out from not sleeping well last night and would go to bed early, but the Astro's are playing their first World Series home game. Now I don't care a rat's patootie for baseball, but can't help but get caught up in their first bid. Ninth inning and they are 5 and 5. So no bedtime till I know how it ends.

Pictures later

I thought I had a couple of days to get myself together after this last weekend and get this updated with news and pictures of the Meet 'n Greet. But, hubby just called and is on his way home. So....gotta get kitchen cleaned up and me cleaned up and things generally picked up. Maybe if I have time later............

Butterflies in the garden

I thought I would share some butterfly pictures. My rosemary bushes are quivering with yellow and orange butterflies and bees. Also, with the rain and cooler temps lately, the rosemary bushes are blooming again. They will do that all winter. Really need to plant more of them.

The latest projects

Okay, promise not to laugh! I finished knitting Kim a riding hood, then put it on to get a good picture of it. That picture is bad enough, I sure ain't gonna post the one with the bottom of it down. Ick!
The hat on Garfield is the one I knitted for Brooklyn. Her mommy is dressing her as a Strawberry for Halloween. It even has a little stem on top. If it fits big Garfield, then it should fit a 9month old, right?
I finished a cap for me also. Kim says he doesn't want me wearing it when we ride as it might ruin Betty Lou's reputation. It is a rose pink with kitty ears on top. I would post a pic of it, but it is drying right now. I guess I could cut the kitty ears off of it, but I think Kim is missing the whole fun of a pink kitty riding behind him.
Gotta run into town with FIL. He has been feeling under the weather for a couple of weeks now, so I got him an appointment with our doc. I will show him how to get to the office, then have him take me to get Kim's truck that is in town.
See ya!

This Week

Blogger isn't allowing me to upload pictures this evening. Guess I will have to wait till tomorrow to show the hood I finished knitting Kim. I worked on it for about two weeks off and on. Learned some new tricks while working on it.
Since I last posted, we got rain on two different days, resulting in over 2 inches total. It has been cool enough that I haven't had to have the a/c on. My windows are open and fresh breezes are clearing the air in the house. It was funny watching the birds on the front porch while it was raining. They caught my attention with the noise. I watched them cheering happily as they splashed about in puddles.
With all the rain, I haven't gotten to play with my new cart yet. Things get a bit mucky around here when the clay is wet.
Kim didn't get to come home from Wyoming. Another string of jobs came up, so he had to fly from there to Shreveport, Louisiana. This next week he is supposed to be in Wetherford, then Canadian....clear across the state from where he is. I have a feeling these jobs aren't going to go on schedule. I am sure missing him.
Chris went to San Antonio again this weekend. He called a couple of times while there today. First time was to tell me that next weekend, he and Casey will meet up at my house. Argh! I haven't cleaned house in two weeks, with 5 dogs traipsing though and two days of rain, the house is a mess of tracked in dirt and dog hair. Then he calls back to ask if I can make a green cap for Brooklyn so she can be a strawberry for Halloween. As of this evening, I already have the pattern worked out, I cords made and knitted right into the edge of the cap and on my way. I will probably finish it tomorrow or at least by monday. It will be lightweight enough for our warm Halloween nights. Definately have to have a picture of baby in it!
Jack pulled a funny this evening. We had taken a late nap, so soon after I got up, it was time to feed. But Jack didn't show up. I thought he was outside until I heard a whining. I went looking for him and found him in my bed......wrapped up in the blanket and couldn't get out. What a clown!
Well, that's it for tonight. Pictures tomorrow if Blogger will allow it.

Good Saturday

This is my new garden cart. I have been wanting one for years, but not willing to shell out $200 for one. Cheree and I went to the city to pick up her truck yesterday. I was a little miffed that we didn't get up there until the yarn shop I wanted to go to was closed. But the trip more than made up for that when she called me on my cell just as I finished checking out at Wallyworld. She was next door at Lowe's, having a cart loaded in her truck and said there was one more. I told her to guard it as I was out the door. This little beauty only cost $70!!! It now lives at my house and I can hardly wait to drag it down to the draw and load up on those wonderful flat rocks down there.
I bought Kim a DVD/VCR to replace the one that went belly up on him. Got it for the same price as the cart, so we got equal gifts. Of course, he had to catch an early flight to Wyoming this morning, so hasn't gotten to set his player up. But,it will be here when he gets home next week. Then he can catch up on the SciFi programs, ER and Lost episodes he missed while in Russia.
The weather is perfect today but should turn off chilly again in the next day or two, so I am going to go open all the windows and enjoy it while I can.

Anniversary

Twenty-nine years ago today, two fresh faced 19 year olds tied the knot. Amazingly, they are celebrating their anniversary today.
I love you, studmuffin!

Home from Russia

Kim landed about 11pm on Monday. Poor guy is having a bad case of jet lag. He finally got a few hours sleep last night. I am hoping he can get back on track soon. He sure is happy to be home.

He didn't know how or where to shop before the left Russia, so the pickings are slim as far presents go. Knowing I have a nice collection of foreign money, he was able to satisfy me with Russian Rubles. He had 300 rubles left in his wallet.....roughly equivelent to $30. He had coins, but they were stolen out of his bag in the Russian airport, along with a package of AA batteries.

He also brought home a big bar of Russian chocolate. Since this thing survived the long trip without melting, it definately isn't milk chocolate. He brought home a bottle of Pantene shampoo too. He needed shampoo there, went into the store to get some and just picked one off the shelf, without much help from the rude clerk. We have no idea what variety it is and the clerk treated him like some kind of moron for not reading Russian.

I will post how the chocolate tastes after we finally dig into it. It may go just right with a slow cooked roast that I have going for tonights supper.

Happy Birthday David

Real bummer that you are spending it busted up like another birthday I remember.
Kim and I love you so very much!
Look at the cool picture I dug up! I think you two were in your early 30's then. Good think I didn't dig any deeper.....might have found something embarrassing....teehee

Oh Joy

I got an email from my dear heart this afternoon.....he is coming home Monday! I am so excited. I haven't heard from him since sunday and now will get to call him this evening. It is going to be so wonderful hearing his voice. I can hardly wait for him to get home.
Sadly, I had to cancel the weekend plans. Casey was coming to meet us, but I have come down with something. My father in law has been sick with a cold or something this week, and it looks like I have it too. My throat is sore, sinus's starting to cause problems, cough is coming on, and so is temperature. After working so hard this week to get ready, I am so disappointed to have to cancel it. But I absolutely don't want to pass this on to the baby. Oh well, maybe when we finally get to do this, Kim will be home.

Feeder pictures

I finally got blogger to upload my pictures. The round cage is on the patio and the square one is on the front porch. Though both pictures show finches in the cages, the round one is usually dominated by the cactus wrens....quite a bit bigger than finches.
The only problem I have with them is the poop everywhere. But that is better than seeds and hulls all over the ground, along with poop.

Best Birdfeeders

A neighbor of my mothers' was cleaning out her house and garage. She had birdcages she was tossing. When mom told me about them, I said for her to go get them for me. Before I got up to her house to get them, I visited my friend, Judy, and saw that she was using birdcages as feeders. This is a picture of my cages. I will try to upload the results later, but Blogger isn't uploading right now. I tried twice and it took over half an hour to reject the upload.
What you do is take the extra stuff out, if any is in, then drill a couple of small holes in the tray for drainage. Snip a few cage wires here and there for access for the birds, fill the bottom tray with seed, and hang out somewhere. The round feeder is on my patio, the square one is on the front porch. It took about a week for anyone to get the idea, but since then they have hosted finches, cactus wrens, and a few birds that I don't know the names of. These feeders allow me to enjoy the birds, the cats to enjoy the birds while the birds remain unmolested, the seed stays put and isn't scattered everywhere, and the doves aren't a pain in the tush. I empty out the spent seed on the ground out in the yard for the doves. The small openings I cut keep out the marauding Scrub Jays and Mockingbirds. I am anxious to see if the cardinals find them. But mainly the finches are in hog heaven.

Yarn Mania

I have had an affair with yarn long before I had one with fabric. Though the fabric seems out of control, right now it's because I have been working on the yarn. My mom and grandma taught me to crochet at an early age. I can do anything in crochet. But I taught myself to knit and it is still a challenge to me.
Every couple of years I get a need to knit. What triggered this years mania was the current knitting rage. The yarns are lucious, the patterns are fun, and I am having a blast. I even intend to get around to socks. I never used double pointed needles before.
Top picture is a tote bag I just finished. It was in a new book I got named Chunky Knits. I use it to stash my latest knit project. The other picture is the cradle I got years ago for my granddaughters. This weekend we will be meeting another little one who may become our new granddaughter, so I got out the cradle and got it ready for her. Then, in cleaning up the guest room closet and organizing it, I came across a skein and half of a nice fluffy yarn. Being a yarn maniac, I sat down and cast on. It only took me a day of quick knitting to make the little soft blanket for the cradle. When our second grand, Hannah, was born, she was put in the cradle on her first day home.
The basket is one I crocheted. I don't recall where I got the pattern, but it is nice and sturdy and is holding a purse I am crocheting from the lastest Vogue Knitting magazine.
Also, having finished a few things, I started on another tote. I will post that pic when it is done. Going real quick on circular 10's, but I need to get a new set of sticks. The ones I am using are old and beat up. So badly so, that they cut my finger and I have to use a bandage on my index finger now. I have been knitting on it while I check my email and read blogs.
More later, but it takes half an hour to upload pics to this site.

Busy Lately

I haven't updated here lately because of a lot of things going on in my world. First, my carcass has been parked in front of this computer, checking email regularly for messages from dear hubby in Siberia. He left the 14th and we have already talked on the phone 3 times. Luckily he gave me his phone card number so we don't have to pay the high phone charges. I am here now because he is on the job site and no communication available. Life is good though, as he may be flying home saturday. Blows me away that he would get on the plane saturday in Russia and land in Texas on saturday. Unless he has another monster layover in Houston. He sat there for 6 hours on the way out.
Second thing was the little storm that threatened Houston and Galveston. I worried about my sister and bro in law in Katy and have group list friends all over the area. Happily, everyone came through okay. Sis only had some branches blown off their trees, but barely any dampness on the ground. My brother came through okay too but didn't have electricity.
Then my oldest son came for the weekend. We had a great visit. But I found out that a communication breakdown had happened. I thought I had until the weekend of Oct 8th to prepare for his girlfriend and daughter to visit. Wrong! It is this coming weekend! I have less than a week to prepare my house for a 9 month old! Today I did some work on the kitchen, such as moving cleaning supplies from under the sink to the pantry, and got the guest room ready. Tomorrow I have to work on the living room and dining room. That room will be the challenge because I have so much going on in here. I am hoping to get to the patio cleanup by thursday when the heat wave is supposed to break.
Yeah, we have had a horrendous heat wave the past week. It has consistantly hit 105-106 degrees this weekend and today. Oops, it is after midnight, so it is already tuesday. A cool front is supposed to be here thursday, bringing a chance of rain with it. This is wonderful news! I won't go outside unless I have to when it gets in the 100's. The patio has got to be cleaned up before company comes. We have piled stuff everywhere and the debris has blown in all summer, making piles of compost fodder in every nook and cranny.
So...with all this to do, what do I do? I knit a blanky. I got out the little wood cradle for the little one to play with and decided it needed a blanky. While I was clearing out some stuff from the closet, I came across some bulky, fluffy yarn. So I grabbed my size 17 Turbo's and got to work. I finished it this evening too! So, that stash is used up and the little cradle has a blanky. Now I need to come up with a little pillow for a mattress and buy a little doll for it. I hope Brooklyn likes it.
Okay, just took my night meds. Now I will shut down and go read till my eyes cross. Good Night

Watching Rita

Since I have friends and family in the hurricane path, I have been watching things closely. Last night when I went to bed, she was only a catagory 2, just a couple of mph away from being a 3. Blew me away when I got up this monring and she was a Cat 4!
Emails have been flying between sis and I all morning. She works near downtown. On her route to work, she passes a National Guard Armory....about 4 miles from her house. This morning they were on duty, suited up and active. They had about 15-20 busses at the ready. Moments ago, sis emailed that the procession of busses just drove by her office on their way to the surge area. It warms my heart to know that Texas knows how to handle a disaster. If anyone is left behind to deal with the distruction.....it will only be by their choice.
My bro in law has been in Mobile Alabama this past week or so, working on repairs. He is a certified welder and deep sea diver. They were cut loose to go home to Houston to prepare, so he should be coming home this evening.
If things get too dicey, they will load up and head to my house. I just hope I get some rain out of all this. It is so dry here, and has been for so long, that even my allergy med doesn't do me any good. The sneezing, itchy eyes, snot, and nose blowing is getting old. I need rain to clean out the pollens!

Picture of Kim

So I had a case of head-up-a** disease today. I burned a cd of Kim's pictures, took them to his dad, and when he looked at them full sized....I realize one of the pictures was of Kim in front of Albert House. D'oh! So...that is him standing on the steps. Maybe I will start looking at pictures at a bigger size than I have.
Dad was easy to instruct on how to use the cd....so he is teachable, no matter what he says. When Kim sends some more pictures, I will burn them onto the cd, then walk dad through making a folder on his computer to download the pictures to.
Now, maybe that will be my last post for today. I don't post for a week, then I go at it like a maniac. Well....that is life in ADD-land, I suppose.

oops and smiles

I forgot to mention that the guy on the steps of the Alberta House....is NOT Kim. I will have to find out from him who it is.
So I leave you with smiles from me and Jack.

Alberta House

This is pictures of Alberta House, where Kim is staying in Nizhnezartovsk, Russia. It was built by Canadians, thus the name. I tried to put pictures from him in my webshots album, but it got cranky after I got them put up and tried to upload them. I will try again soon.
I have been trying to get my kitchen under control. I took out some dishes I didn't need. I don't need glasses with tiny bases that will tip over, don't need a dozen juice glasses, nor 13 soup mugs. I am also tossing out teas I will never use. I am going one cupboard at a time, trying to get real with myself. Really dread the baking pans. Maybe I can decorate some up to use in the yard.
I should have watered the plants in the front. It has been so hot and dry that I haven't wanted to go outside. The poor babies are suffering out there while I laze about under the a/c.

Kim in Siberia

Yep, you read it right. My one and only is in Siberia. My butt has been parked at this durn computer since he landed friday. We have emailed back and forth and generally acted like a couple of newlyweds instead of 29 year seasoned veterans.
Tonight I finally figured out.....or remembered...how to call internationally. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the call through, so laid down and read a book. This cleared my frustrated head so that it dawned on me when I got back to it. Even looked up Matt's old number in Germany to confirm what I was doing wrong. When I heard his voice, it was like coming home. I am sure he felt the same way. We are both so pitiful. He goes halfway around the world and we end up acting like we are being separated for months. Oh, and the picture....that is the view from his room. Inspiring, eh? He says those stacks to the right are from the steam plant. Apparently the whole town is steam heated. Kim says pipes run everywhere. I guess he should be glad that he isn't there in January.
We are both hoping they get the job done quickly and he can get the heck out of Russia and back home to Texas, where that homesick homeboy belongs.

Knitted Jacket

The first of this week, I finished knitting a jacket for myself. It is made from a pattern in Tahki Yarns Fall/Winter 04 collection. Instead of the expensive Tahki yarn, I used 5 balls of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick. It is nice and cozy in Lambswool and Acrylic....which means I can throw it in the washer and dryer. I picked the nice Wheat color so it will go with anything and used size 17 Addi Turbo circular needles. I must get more Turbo's....they are wonderful to use. So smooth and quiet!
Now I have started on a shrug found in a knitting magazine...couldn't tell you which one right now. Hancocks had a coupon for 20% off balls of yarn up to 6 balls. I was able to get the knitting ribbon for the shrug at a good price. This ribbon is fun to knit with.
Maybe with someone home eventually, I can get a pic of me wearing the jacket.
Come on Winter!!!

Happy Birthday Matt

Wedding...Brides Family....sept 3, 2005....Midland/Odessa, Tx
Aaron (grandpa), Jared(bro), Martha(grandma), Kirby(dad),Penny(mom), Bride Jana, Groom Keith, Kim(uncle), Cyndye (aunt), Matt(cousin), Kathy(aunt), Kathy's daughter, who I can't recall her name. Chris, our oldest son,took the picture, so isn't in it.
Today is Matt's 22nd birthday. Kim called him this morning and invited him down for grilled steak, strawberries and cake (his favorite), an oil change, and parts put on his car door. Tomorrow I will take him to lunch after I see Kim off at the airport. He begins his long flights to Russia in the morning. Technically....he is going to Siberia. We don't know how long he will be gone, but his return flight is for Oct. 14th. The jobs are lined up to the end of october. We'll see.
I will have more time to update after he leaves.