The aftermath-

I got home last Tuesday.

There is something about a trip like this that always makes me take stock. I remember years ago, Dean and I went to London for the weekend. From California. It was right after we'd gone toe to toe with the wicked witch of the north for the kids. We lost, and it was brutal. Going to London reminded me that Anchorage Alaska was not the center of the world.



It IS very good to see other things, just to get another viewpoint.

Coincidentally, this morning I threw out 30 bottles of nail polish. Don't worry, I still have two dozen left. Our nail polish consumption has gone WAY down since the kids aren't here, and aren't coming back. What a huge fucking waste of time THAT's been, eh? There, I've said it.

I've been taking stock on a lot of things-I need more exercise, I need to take more care with my appearance, I need to work on quite a bit. I worked 70 hours a week for three years at the coffee shop. I need to direct that effort to myself now.



This morning, I assessed my shoe wardrobe, and bought five pairs. I threw out seven, yay me! I bought several pairs of expensive shoes (all marked down, of course), the kind I don't buy myself because I cheap myself out of things. I bought a pair of killer pumps. And these:



I just found my size (at another e-tailer) in silver. And BLUE. These might have to go back. BLUE!!!

Note to all: I can SEE that they are brown. This was the only color offered at the first site I shopped, and explains why these were 20.00-I guess the original retail was 85.00? BLUE ones are 10.00 more, but I plan to hold off on the blue ones until I see how these fit. There is a strong chance that these will go back. They also come in BLACK, and according to this person, also came in pink at one time.


The other central truths I learned while I was out this time?

We are no longer a super-power. Learn Mandarin now. If you argue about THAT, you are acting like the French.

The best post office on the planet is the Mongkok branch in Kowloon, Hong Kong. I know my post offices; they were GREAT with everyone in the parcel line, and the patrons represented several countries.



I don't shop drunk-but my little brother will. I coined a new phrase "Drunkle" Dean, a little play on one of his childhood nicknames that is a conglomeration of drunk and uncle. Drunkle Dean bought a cute backpack for his niece, and a cute train case too. I veto'd the train case, because that is going to his new nephew. (We're out-guessing karma, here. What are the odds that the baby will be a boy?) I have to mail that to Phoenix.



I have taxes to do. ick.

More of the Sevens

First we walked around.



Then, we yelled for Canada. Sorry, it didn't work.

We drank Pimm's cup, a drink so blokish, I am surprised I never have tasted it. I found a recipe here
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5541978

Blogger here is not co-operating, so just cut and paste. I KNOW I am making a pitcher this summer.

New Zealand won!

Saw THESE, and took a picture for knit inspiration.

Sevens

Suddenly, Hong Kong's a lot more fun.


Wow. More fun than I ever expected to have. Seven players per side, seven minutes per side, that's sevens. Love it. Also love Pimm's, I think. We have GREAT seats.




Our obligatory streakers.

The night market

I had a forgettable dinner. I woke up my little brother about 7, and said "Hey, I'm thinking about getting some take-out." "Get me some too" he said. So I went across the street, and studied the pictures on the menus very carefully. I had my choice of many menu 'sets', which is the same as a value meal at McDonalds, and if you choose badly, which I did, you get a complete bag of yuck. I am slowly working my way thru the fast food menus of Asia.

I finished, and we bagged up the survivors (you know, I wasn't eating bait or anything, just REALLY gristly beef that was mostly fat), and I perused a local tourism book.

"Hey, you can get Red Army stuff at the nightmarket!"

"Yeah Bets. Ya wanna go? I'll take you!"

As it turns out, this was my brother's excuse to put on a clean shirt and get ready to go out drinking. Whatever. So we walk the six blocks down to the nightmarket, which should be called tourist CRAP R US. On the way, we pass a guy with bleached hair that eyed him, and Dean noticed. We walk around the market, and buy a little of this and that. Midway thru, he jets. (Eye rolling, but hey, he lived here, and there are parties all over this weekend. But now I gotta walk back by myself .... yikes!)

Something about Hong Kong doesn't feel as safe as Shanghai. Dean says "Ignorance is bliss" and maybe that's so. But it WAS only six blocks.

So I finished buying shiny trinkets (I would insert a photo here if the hotel computer had the appropriate port, but it doesn't) and started hoofing it back to the hotel. Four blocks from the hotel, I notice a woman with a really short skirt, and she's no spring chicken. Three blocks from the hotel, I pass a vacant lot ringed by chainlink. I notice a girl in a short skirt and boots leaned up against it. And another. And two more. And a small cluster around the corner.

Then I notice the guy with the bleached hair, and suddenly I understand that he's the pimp. Oh.

The good news and the bad news-

I went to the bookstore in Shanghai, and found plenty of knitting books. I bought as many as I thought I needed....and that was the problem. My suitcase was about a dried leaf away from being overweight.

So....my little brother introduced me to the Hong Kong subway....not so different from The Tube, and certainly manageable.

You can tell when the announcements switch from Cantonese to Mandarin, which I heard all last week. Mandarin sounds of swishes and dimples, and vowels that sound like Air and Loo. Lu actually means street or road. So Tai Caing Lu means Tai Cang Road. Before I left Shanghai, I was to the point of going to Cindi Lu Hu. HAHAHAH-I AM a dork.

Yesterday, I ventured out to see the nice people at DHL about shipping my books.

I got to the Central Station ok, and wandered about looking for the DHL kiosk. I stopped a woman in the concourse, asking her "Where is DHL?" She gave me a "I don't know what the fuck you are talking about" look, which you might expect, except that she was wearing a DHL uniform and carrying a DHL bag. Bitch. I made up my mind to pack a BIG HEAVY box.

So fine-I picked up my packaging materials and hopped the subway back to Mongkok. I thought about it a little. If empty, folded boxes were a pain in the ass, what would a box of BOOKS be like? Yes, I think more ass-pain.

I got back to the hotel, and looked up the local post office. Bingo! Just a few blocks away, a short cab ride. (It looks a little sketchy around here!)

So the good news is I ditched seven kilos of printed matter on the Hong Kong postal system. The bad news is I chose the surface option. Secretly, I struggled with that in my mind. DHL sends things FAST, but it would be triple the price I paid for the magazines. My cheapness won't allow it. Hong Kong slow boat really IS a slow boat. My package should get there in about two months. Ohhhhhhhhhh-Kay. It was 50 bucks (US) which was about the cost of the periodicals. Sigh

If it's Thursday

it must be Hong Kong.

We left Shanghai for Hong Kong last night. We are staying in a GREAT place in Kowloon. You'll notice I can blog again; that's because the Chinese government blocks Blogger's IP. It is refreshing to watch real, unfiltered news again (even tho this has a decidedly British slant, it's ok, it was the ABSENCE of real news that was unsettling.) Shui Kuen sent me links to news of Tibet, and I could never read beyond the first page!

We are here for the Sevens, an international rugby 'thing' (OK, I don't KNOW a lot about rugby, but plan to learn this week). I am happy I get a chance to blog-photos later!

I'm a teensy bit excited

I'll be back shortly, just going out for a bit. Knit quietly among yourselves.

Obviously I can't use this

For my Ravatar or any bio pic.  The Eurodrama-angst look has been done.  Many times.  I just kind of liked the picture.

I'm deluded.

I like to pretend I am very cosmopolitan, but every so often, something utterly East Cupcakian happens, and there's no denying that I live in BFE. On Sunday, we were going to go fire at the range. We drove out to the range, unlocked the gate, drove in, locked it back up. We drove down the rutted dirt road, got to the tables and.....Oh, I guess not! They looked insulted by the very idea!

We met another truck as we were leaving. We told them about the obstacles on the range. They invited us to a (eye twinkling) barbecue.

On the knitting front-still slugging the damned albatross. Did a little easy knitting-another pumpkin hat and a 160 yard scarf.

It always turns out a little differently than you expect

It must have been about 1989. I was looking at a map of Africa (you know the country names and geography change frequently) and spied Djibouti on the map. I decided right then and there that I REALLY wanted a T-shirt from Djibouti, just because it was so much fun to say!

It took 18 years to get that shirt. Matt sent it. Actually, he sent two, and I am very excited just to have ONE!!! Here is the front and back of my favorite!

In other news, I went to the doctor's today. Things are a little whacky. More after I give more blood. Gerr-rate.

It's not that I am a slut or anything-

At DH's request, I went thru some yarn bins in the garage. There was at least 15 sweaters worth out there. Some of the yarns are from way back when, too. Take, for example, the Scheepswool Fiamme-I bought it in Enkenbach-Alsenborn in about 1988, and it was a holiday like Labor Day or something. The Sumatra was purchased the first time I went to Britain-in April 1987 we were walking down the street and passed a shop. It was one of the little towns surrounding RAF Bentwaters. The white stuff-my ex and I were driving thru the South and stopped in Pickens South Carolina at the Brunswick factory in 1986. It's tough for me to ditch those yarns.

I remember buying MOST of the yarn. Ebay yarn is an exception. Ebay yarn is the stuff tend to get rid of-it usually disappoints. In my stash dive yesterday, I found some Reynold's Coco and some Mondial Tangeeri that are exceptions, except the Coco is peppermint chip green! These are nice and should become things. Most of my yarns are not wooly one night stands. They have fond spots in my heart.

Oh my!

I went to the mail box and found this from a certain birthday pal. Oh my! My birthday fairies conspired, and now I am so totally overwhelmed because the pressure is ON! Whatever I make from this slew of fabulosity and generosity has got to be G-orgeous! I need a stunning project for these guys!

(swearing)

Remember that I wrote about buying a new, ungodly expensive repeater for my new iphone that I bought from the evil Apple store? The phone that wouldn't work at the house UNTIL I bought the repeater? The phone receipt is still on my fridge, dated Feb 3.

Dh called me while I was at the store yesterday afternoon about 3, and that was the last call I took. My phone's had a "no service" message on it since about 7. I spent a whopping 45 minutes on the phone with lovely Angela from ATT, and hopefully, someone will work on it today. I R-E-A-L-L-Y don't want to drive 70 miles to the Apple store, aka "hellonearth". So I am pissy about that.

I stash organized yesterday. I found this be-yootiful wool and silk in an abandoned project, so I frogged it, and tested it. It's Mystical Creations-my last wool and silk yarn turned from brilliant kelly and lime to um, sage and lime. The kelly green kept bleeding and bleeding and bleeding. I finally decided (at the third washing, when the water in the basin was DARK green) that it wasn't my fault! Apparently, this is a pretty common problem, and many of their yarns are poorly set. I wrote the company, and she replaced the yarn, but once you knit a garment that goes to hell like THAT, you are kind of careful.


I figured I should test this. The purple bled. A lot! I took pictures, but THEY ARE TRAPPED ON MY IPHONE. Hmmmph! Anyhow, look at the deep dark wavy purple. Notice how everything on the washed part doesn't look quiet as dark? I will probably bite the bullet and pitch this.



Note: Called Apple, phone ok, here's bleeding yarn photo. Water is from about 3 yards of yarn-soak one and soak 2.

Vote early, vote often!!

When DH wandered in he asked me if I wanted to go with him to pick up new pants. "Honey, don't you wanna go vote?" "Oh yeah!" I handed him a small bowl of spinach lasagna, and we discussed our strategy. "Hmmm-I was thinking about voting Democrat for Hillary-if..." I broke in "That's what Chris was saying! McCain can take Hillary, Obama, I am not so sure about!" We discussed the local scoundrels we wanted to ditch.

The place was packed. The little church was busier at 5:15 on a Tuesday evening than it is on Sunday morning. And it wasn't potluck dinner night, either! We waited in line. It's not the first time we've waited in line, but usually, it's 6:50 in the morning, and we wait for the polls to open. The line swelled after we arrived, and I counted more than 30 people behind me before we made it to the front door!

Once inside, I waved at people I knew. It was packed! Election officials were scurrying back and forth. "Do you know how I do a first time voter?" I heard one woman say. The Democrat line was LONG. I just watched the evening news, and the Democrats are still almost equally divided.

DH got his ballot before I did, and I was really puzzled why it took him so long to finish his ballot. When we left, I asked him what took him so long. "Who the hell is Ho Tranh?" What? "He's a Republican presidential candidate." I quit reading the list after Fred Thompson. He dropped out weeks ago. I admitted I hadn't read the whole list, but told DH "Honey, he's born in the US, and over 35." DH was a little concerned about his own qualifications to run for president. He was born at a military hospital overseas. "I think you count because it is a US hospital. Like being born at an embassy. But Arnold can't run." He felt a little better then.

We got to the store, and I noticed how smokey the air smelled. There was a large brown cloud to the southeast, and one to the southwest. "I saw two really big fires on the way home," DH said. We stopped and got a snack, and DH peered over my shoulder. "What are you looking at?"

Another fire. To the north. We need rain.

Yay, my phone works!

We had to buy a repeater so my phone would work at home. The wildly expensive yellow box contained a short whip antenna (18"), a clamp, a lot of cable, a box with a light on it, and another antenna the size of a pencil. You gotta be kidding, right? But my phone works at home now, and I am happy once again.

I had to go for bloodwork this morning, which involves a 50 mile trip to the VA. With no coffee. I cannot stand getting blood drawn. It's the look the tech gives me when she tourniquets me up, thumps my veins, rubs the inside of my elbow, thumps, and frowns. "I'm sorry, I forgot to drink a lot of water last night," I apologize. Stick one-got a vial, but she's wiggled the needle and the flow stopped. She rubs my arm. Checks my wrist. Goes for my other arm. Sticks. Zilch.

"Hey Anthony!" she yells. "Ya busy?" Anthony toddles over. Checks my wrist-the main vein, then the ancillary one on the side. Goes for my "I ain't EVER gonna commit suicide by slitting HERE" wrist, and coaxes some blood out. I spring a leak. Barely. I don't donate well, either. Three sticks and I am taking a cookie, whether they get any blood or not.

Since I have to drive forever to get to my blood taken, I shop on the way home. I stop by Dillards and visit the boobologist, and buy a new bra. Then I stop at the bookstore on the way home. I beat feet to the magazine section, and see this:

I am not sure if that's funny or sad, but I'd like to talk to the guy that does the merchandise plan. He's a smartass. (The photo was taken with my phone. And sent at home! Yay!)

I was really happy to see this on the shelf. I've become a much better cook recently. Tonight we had chicken with buttered lime and caper sauce, and it was REALLY good. And freakin' easy.

Field Trip!!! Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) simplified.

You've probably heard about Cochineal, the red dye developed by native Mexican people from little insects. It's hard to picture the whole process of making that dye, isn't it?

I went to visit Scullyknits today. We were walking out to my car, trying to isolate a particularly fragrant plant, when she suddenly stopped short. "Do you know what this is? It's cochineal," pointing to a webby white little knot on a large, smooth cactus. I looked, and saw several clusters of little white knots. They resembled Kleenex that's been through the dryer and colonized onto your favorite black fleece top.

"The one that's spelled like you'd pronounce it as co-chenille?"

"Yes, that's it."

She grabbed a bit of twig, and smashed one of the little linty white knots. "You have to scrape them all together and use a mordant and everything, but I really want to try dyeing something."

The linty spot burst, and released a brilliant, raspberry goo. I can't wait to try THIS!! We both hope more beetles move in.

Tangerine Rolls for Tawnya Rivera and her dad

A few weeks ago, I was going thru a bookshelf and weeding through old cook books, the recipe piles I've been meaning to try, and clutter. I found an old Nordic Ware recipe book (price .25) that advertised Bundt Pans for 3.25 in exciting colors like Avocado and Harvest Gold (which, for some reason, is harder to bring to temperature, and requires an extra 5 minutes of baking time.) Leafing thru, I noticed a recipe for Easter Lamb cake, the kind my mom used to make, with cocoanut frosting and raisin eyes. I scanned a copy, and mailed it to my x-SIL, who has my mom's pan. She called me up later, laughing about it. (She's not that great of a cook.)

I sat down with that same leaflet this evening. As I looked, I realized that my MIL probably bought this booklet when they lived in Minnesota in the early 70s, and Nordic Ware was a booming local business. I wonder what caught her eye?

I glanced down at the recipe for Mandarin Coffee Bread, and realized it was not the first time I heard of that unusual recipe. I skimmed back thru a stack of old Cook's Country magazines, and there it was-a request from Tawnya Rivera, from September 2005. I emailed the magazine, but just in case, I am putting this out. Maybe she still needs it? I realize the gentleman described tangerine rolls, but I can see where mandarin and tangerine could get confused.

GARRRRRRR!

I started my latest knitting project over. While I was at it, I timed my self knitting one row. It took me 15 minutes, and I fear I am in deep trouble.

The new term shall be Leaple

I did some more research, and found that Leapling was a term made up by some 1992 baby's mom for her book. Ah, how existential.

I am gunning for the term Leaple. It's a French surname, but is not an English word. It is a contraction of Leap and People-our birthdays make us special, but we are just people. Leaple works for me! Here's to getting it in Wikipedia.

WTF are Leaplings??

Today's my birthday. People I share my birthday with-Tony Robbins (Banana Hands in Shallow Hal), Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker) and Aileen Wuornos (portrayed in the movie Monster). Great. A small percentage of the population is born on my birthday (1:1,500), but what a preponderance of weirdos.


I read in my local paper that people born on February 29th are known as Leaplings. I've been around for 12 birthdays and never heard that term until yesterday. Sputter grumble.... Leapling!!! Why not Leapette, or Leaper, or Leapster, or a niner? I think someone's making crap up and putting it in Wikipedia. I have to think about this a little, then I am going to make something up...it will be good, I promise. Leapling, my ass. That's LAME.


I am pretty excited that Google managed to make a cute little icon for MY birthday. You'll have to excuse me, I don't get real birthdays all that often, and I relish them. Birthday absence is difficult in the formative years, that is-any year before your 30th. I have a lot of pent-up glee!


I also found out about the Leap Year Capital of the World. I am going for my next birthday. That's not lame at all.


There was a nummy little bit of yarny goodness, courtesy of the mailman. TWO matching hanks of sea silk, which is enough to make a BIG DEAL garment. Yummo!!!!

One really annoying thing about my birthday is that you only get a birthday horoscope once every four years. So let's stock up-

Responsibilities weigh on you. Much might be going on behind the scenes or in your mind. Start clearing out some of these thoughts, and you will have reason to smile. Listen to your inner voice about a boss, parent or older individual. Tonight: Could be late.

and then there is-

Born February 29 Your leadership skills are elevated, and you are likely to engage in teamwork and group projects with success. Your charm is strong, and others warm up to your ideas readily. However, there are times when you might come on too strong, attempting to push your agenda on others--something that can only cause problems. You can also be more temperamental, and sparks can fly in your love life! You are goal-oriented and capable of accomplishing pretty much anything you desire. You simply have to be patient and not expect too much at once. more

and then the Aussies say-

Friday 29th February Birthdays – this year sees you with plenty of desire but you may not quite have what you need for the carry through. Make sure your plans are based in reality if you want success.

Born on This Day– 1976 Jeff "Ja Rule" Atkins, 1972 Antonio Sabato, Jr., 1960 Tony Robbins, 1956 Jonathan Coleman, 1936 Jack Lousma, 1916 Dinah Shore, 1904 Jimmy Dorsey, 1896 William Wellman, 1860 Herman Hollerith

Babies born today will be dynamic little people, who will enjoy starting new projects. They may need help with carrying them out to the end though. There can be clashes with those in authority, beginning with parents and teachers. Once they learn to take responsibility they can move mountains

And then THIS caught my eye-but this one took the prize. I don't think the mom had hoops of pain....I think they meant whoops of pain. Because basketball would suck if you were in labor.

Why I am the coolest Grandma EVER-

I already know DD will buy chocolate for Easter. DGD goes thru shoes like a hot knife thru butter. These are pearl white with a silver swoosh, and she will LUURRRVVVV them.

PS-I loved them so much I paid full price. !

Life at Six

I just watched a Morning Show clip on Ernest Hemingway and the six word novel. He made a bet that he could tell a story in six words.

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

That's pretty straight up, isn't it? There's a new book of six word bios out. That's a challenge. What would I say?

Knitting, suitcase, ikimasho.

Then what happens?

Ikimasho is Japanese for Let's Go. Let's Go is the name of a series of travel books. I think I could just take the first line and be happy. But then I remember the last line of my life's mission statement-

I shall not live in vain.

That might be even better. From here, it kind of goes downhill. In a funny sort of way-

I came, I saw, I conquered.

Operators standing by. Have payment ready.

You can't fast-forward. Pass the popcorn.

Sew, Laugh, Grow. Play nice. Smile.

Who farted? My mouth was open!!

This is fun-like eating potato chips. Your turn. What's your Life at Six?

Hands

Sometimes it's kind of hard to keep symbology straight. If you are in Texas, you know the first symbol. If you are in Hawaii, you know the one on the right. If you have deaf family members, you know the center one. And when you all pile out of the house to wave good-bye to the family, neighbors think you are either Red-neck (Hook 'em horns!) or Surfer (chaka, bra-surf's up!). The center sign is ASL for "I love you."

We got a phone call Saturday; DH's Uncle Tony passed away. I ordered these today. I browsed 1-800 Flowers, FTD, Teleflora-everything I wanted was either pink or absurdly expensive, and I spent at least an hour looking. Finally, I got mad, and just called a random florist in Spring Hill Florida. As it turned out, DH's cousin is her regular customer. Our transaction went really well until she asked "What shall I put on the card?"

I only met Uncle Tony once, when my father-in-law died. No one could sit in Dad's recliner, we all just looked at it, and cut a wide path to avoid it. Tony got comfortable in his little brother's chair. We were all fine with that. Nice man. He was very impressed with the flags I put on Dad's arrangement. I wish I had one for his.

When the florist asked the question, my eyes filled up and my lip trembled. He was the last of the three brothers from Brooklyn, only Aunt Ninni is left. The stories are winding down. I am so glad that in the last sight he had of my family, we were waving like maniacs.

Do ya think you're soxy?

There's one

HUGEmongous sock contest

afoot. I don't even think they need instructions, so pattern-writing shouldn't be a problem. Several companies are sponsoring different categories, so you might not have to buy yarn!!!

Y'all have til the end of December.

Tales and Tails

'Member this photo from back in October? I talked as if it were a swatch. It wasn't a swatch at all, it was a square for a blanket. A friend of ours was sick, and we all pitched in and worked blanket squares for her. The blanket itself came out BEAUTIFULLY, but there's something special about that blanket that I want to talk about.

I knitted up a companion square to this, frogging it several times, and finally settling on a simple basketweave stitch. I wanted to catch up, so I took it with me when we went to supper. DH and I were sitting in the bar at Chilis, and some guy proposed to his girlfriend. THAT gave me an idea!

EVERYONE did something else while they were knitting their squares! Why not collect the stories?? So along with a gorgeous blanket that Libby and Trish assembled, I did up a little table, and included a photo of each square, and the knitter's story behind it. For example, my square went to work with me and made a lot of caramel lattes. Other squares went on airplanes, to football games, to doctor's offices and dance class. Some sat outside, and some stayed in. I called it Blankie Tales, and it set a new standard for group projects.

We've done quite a few group blankies recently. Some of the things we learned?

1) Always pick a color scheme-it can be bold and wild, or monochromatic....but whatever you do, set a scheme. One of the very first projects we did DIDN'T have a color scheme, and it was TERRIBLE. There was no way to arrange that blanket to have ANY cohesion. I worked like a crazy woman to knit neutral sashings for it, and it was finished right before mama delivered.

2) Establish tension. State it. Expect it. Meet it. The portion that doesn't will be a total pain in the ass.

3) Don't rely on a hard and fast color chart/seating plan. Even if you make out a chart, someone will goof up. You will end up with an extra blue that needed to be pink, or something like that. If you've done your color homework right, it will all be ok, and might even be better than the original plan, but DO be flexible and gracious. We laid all the squares out, took pictures, cut them up, and made jigsaw puzzles out of them, just to get the layout right!

4) Pick the yarn and stick to it. Washing instructions ARE important.

5) Now I add-have everyone write down a line or two about their contribution. Trust me, the compilation of stories makes the blanket 10X more special.

Suggy came home from the vet an hour ago. It was really weird to be in this house without a dog. I hated it. Her heel tumor was just bumps, her booby tumor was malignant. She's ok for now, and on puppy-drugs.

Another damned hat-

Yeah, ok, I got an armload of new circs in from Discontinued Brand Name Yarn, and I picked up a few balls of Karoke (on sale) while I was there. More on the needles later this week.

I'm not sure what I think about Karoke. It can't make up its mind-you can spit splice it like wool, but it hangs like a cotton. I was just messing around with this, and made a hat for DGD. I used one ball, and I yanked some of the yellow out, just to make it easier to mix into her wardrobe. Just a fun little something.

A little worried about the little old lady....

The little old lady has to go to the vet's tomorrow. She's had a lump at her Achilles tendon for years, and it's suddenly gotten larger. They also found a booby lump, so they are going to do a lot of snipping while she's knocked out. I've spent a lot of time with her lately, and just from watching her, I think she won't be with us for too much longer.

Ok, I am dead now

I have officially died. Today, about 10 minutes ago, my Hat Attack hat arrived. It's SHORT. It is way too small to go to anyone but DGD. It barely comes to my ears! That is not my assassin's fault. The hat was written row by row, and most hats are written to the measurement. But if you tweak your needles for stitch gauge, you very easily may miss ROW gauge. I think our arms dealer was a little inexperienced with pattern writing, and that tripped her up.

Come out and Play-yay

DH and I went on a wine tasting tour today. It was fun. Texas is the second largest wine tourist destination in the country. (I can't believe the Columbia River Valley let that one slip by.) I don't know that wine tourism is that much FUN (I tasted both good and ungood today), but it helps that the country's top waterpark AND one of the top shopping destinations in the country are both nearby. The outlet malls ARE this state's number one tourist destination.....but I digress. These days, there are dozens of wineries throughout the state.


I bought the tickets for Valentines. We'd heard there were a lot of wineries in the Hill Country (north of San Antonio, west of Austin, south of Waco) but we've never been. Mind you, we've been in the state for 13 years, and the oldest winery we visited was 20 years old. As we found out, it wasn't necessary to have a tasting ticket for the wineries, but toting the ticket got us a little "extra" at every stop. If we hadn't bought the tickets, we probably wouldn't have gone, so I think that was money well spent. We went to the Fredricksburg Winery (downtown Fredricksburg), Grape Creek Vinyards and Torre de Pietro (right next to each other on Hwy 90) and Sister Creek Vinyards in Sisterdale.

I am not a HUGE fan of reds. I'm not wild about the tannic taste. I found it VERY helpful to taste and smell back-to-back-to-back. It helped me winnow out what I liked and what I didn't. (I had a NASTY Pinot Noir-tasted like vinegar to me!) My pick? Grape Creek and Torre de Pietro are right next to each other, and Grape Creek's wines were very enjoyable. Torre de Pietro kind of set me back on my heels, pricewise. They were pretty proud of their Petit Shiraz. It was 100.00 a bottle. I am sure I am not qualified to drive THAT snob bus. At any rate, if I was only going to make one stop, it would be Grape Creek. We picked up a port, and a sweet white that I thought would be a perfect little "prezzie" wine to have on hand. I just looked at wine awards, and hey, that little 12.50 bottle won a Silver medal in recent competition. I can be the 12.50 snob, ok?


We stopped at Sisterdale because it was kind of in the homeward direction, and they specialize in reds, which DH thinks are wunnerful. DH loved their self-tour (it's in an old cotton gin), and he loved their flavors. (It also helped that there was a large farm of rusting Chevies right next door.) He pointed out the big plastic cork tapped into the side of each barrel. "They call that a bunghole," he announced gleefully and not too quietly. See what I mean about licenses to drive the wine snob bus??


I finished a "punkinhead" hat this weekend. I first made this Ann Norling hat about 5 years ago, and decided I needed a few for baby presents. I am shocked at how easy it was to do this hat-much easier than it was 5 years ago!! So it's done. I need to do several more, because there are a lot of women expecting. EVERYONE loves the pumpkins.

If I hand knit a hat, I can just throw it in a wine bag, right? I am so NOT kidding about that!

Undeniable attraction

We started seeing this unlikely pair about two months ago. The slim green Anole lizards always snuggle up to our bathroom window, and sandwich themselves between the glass and the screen on cold nights. I have been known to stick a heating pad (one of those pain patch disposables) on the window in sympathy. The Texas Spiney Lizard was a newcomer, tho.


Yesterday, they spotted each other. I got worried, because I didn't know if they would fight each other for territory. An anole fighting another anole is a funny thing-the males puff up and show little pink "gills". Often times, the winner will end up with the loser's head in his mouth. The loser's legs flail, and his body writhes. I never stick around to see what happens next.


These two decided to make formal introduction yesterday. I ran to get the camera.



Would it be lizard carnage? Would I have to go outside and fix the screen? Would one of them stuff the other's head in his mouth? See how the light changes in the background? There was a long, deliberate sizing up. They considered slowly, and moved very quickly. Heads tilted. And then it happened!!! The anole turned its back on the other lizard and.................

I think she was flirting with him. Who'da thunk? Happy Valentines Day!

My archeological findings-

I've been cleaning. I accidentally nudged this bowl, and all my Czech handpainted eggs inside tumbled to the floor. Judy bought them for me in 1990, when we were in Germany. The eggs made it from Germany, to Alaska, to here-and survived almost 20 years.

But the bowl-I hadn't really looked at it in those same 20 years. It is a salt/pepper bowl, and is a souvenir from a shrine in Loreto, Italy. (I looked it up last night.) It commemorates the 400th anniversary of the shrine's transport (by angels, no less) from Croatia across the Adriatic to Italy. Once again, despite growing up Baptist, I find I've bought another Catholic thing. Musta been so my future husband would feel at home.

I've been sorting thru and trying to straighten some knitting stuff this week. There's a lot of it. I need those angels to stop by and help me move stuff around.