I've been knitting, really I have!

It's the beginning of the gifting season, and once again i'll be trying to make some things.

Thanks to "Knitting on the Edge" by Nicky Epstein, i've learned to make these cool corkscrews!



This was just a test, but they will appear in a future X-mas gift! They are really easy, but make sure you cast on with two needles and keep that tension LOOSE! Otherwise your fingers will hate you!

I spent some of the money I got for my birthday back in October on more yarn to make into gifts! Yummy stuff....

Knit Picks Comfy in Lilac Mist...soft with a little shine!



This is all for one project....
Knit Picks Cadena-Peat
Knit Picks Telemark-Cream
Louet Gems-Crabapple



And finally......Fatty by Dream in Color



the project i have in mind for this yarn is so cute and simple and this yarn is soooo pretty...i think that after the holidays i may be purchasing a few more skeins in different colors and making a couple for myself!

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!

Some day i will have a dog. Not anytime soon, little Miss Goo will not tolerate a canine, but someday. If you are looking for a pooch October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Many shelters are having special promotions to help their pooches find new homes.

Here are a couple of things i think you should consider....

Adopt and older dog. Training will be less intensive than with a puppy. Just think..no potty training! They tend to be more laid back...that means less destruction and chaos. Finally, unless they are housed at a no kill shelter, they are more likely to be euthanized.

You say you want a pure breed pooch? No problem! May shelters will alert you if the breed of dog you are looking for comes into their shelter. Got something specific in mind? Almost every breed you can think of has a rescue group out there. Just search (insert dog breed here)rescue. I am a fan of some of the smooshy face dogs and I constantly check in with the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue Group and the French Bulldog Rescue Network. Many times these shelter groups have already dealt with the animal's major medical or behavioral issues. These good people also, many times, are the ones who care for animals rescued from puppy mills. (Don't get me started....just this....if you feel the absolute need to spend money on an animal, any animal, and the breeder will not let you come for a visit, take your money and RUN.)

This is going to sound strange coming from a future crazy cat lady, who has two rescued cats that run her life....but it seems to me that a dog KNOWS it has been rescued, and love you all the more for it. It seems to come from that part of them, their soul, that wants to please their owner. (Cats...believe me...do not have owners....servants more like)

So if you are ready....go save a life!

What? An actual post?

Yes! It's true, and it's even knitting related! Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne are Mason-Dixon Knitting. They wrote one fantastic book and have just released another. I love the first book because, as someone with limited knitting skills, they really show that something does not have to be complicated to be beautiful. They are smart, witty, sassy and apparently Old-School County Music Divas!

In the Dark

The crazy winds on Sunday knocked out our power at about 7 pm. Actually, on our street only about 8 houses have no power. So we are a low priority. Last word was maybe we'd get power back on Friday.

As you can see Gibson is unaffected....

Checking In...

Has the Super Collider destroyed the world yet?

Will they cover the concussion i give myself by banging my head against the desk?

So, the yearly email goes out that we have to take a "Health Assessment" in order to qualify for the "Choice Plan" for our health insurance. (Yeah...i don't know what that means either) BUT...this year we also have to "do 2 Healthy Lifestyle Activities" and find some way to prove that we have done them, or be dropped from the "Choice Plan". What? Sounds kind of scary right? If i do the wrong thing am i going to lose my health insurance? The only instructions we were given other than how to access the health assessment, was to email the Benefits department directly with any questions. So in a slight panic, i send as brief and, more importantly, simple request. Please explain what this means and what i need to do. What do i get back? A vague and useless explanation? (What i was expecting) A repeat of the original email? (Also very likely)

Nope...I got this....

Fail

This was not a good year for us as far as growning things to eat. None of the herbs i planted made it beyond an inch or so tall. Our veggies in the little garden in the back are still chugging along, just VERY slowly. A couple of green beans have shown up, one Habanero, a small eggplant. There is promise of one tomato, a Roma I think one one plant, but i'm seeing more and more flowers.

The sunflowers have been the heartbreaker.

I planted four originally, All four sprouted and two were dug out of the ground by some little beastie. So two grew up big and strong. The smaller of the two, maybe six feet tall showed it's face first. I notice one morning some yellow petals starting to open up. That night Sam called me before i came home from work to tell me the flower had been butchered. Sure enough, the poor thing had been decapitated. That leaves the big one. Best guess at least 8 feet tall, far enough away from the garage that it would be out of reach for a small animal.

Then this morining...this....




FAIL

Oh noes!!!!!

Come back Ravelry! Come Back!!!

One of Those Days....

more cat pictures

What did you do at work today?

I never know what's going to happen when i walk into this building. I arrive shortly before 5 am. Before 5:15 AM our news anchor lost a tooth, and and two HORSES (!!?!!) escaped from a junk yard on the near east side (Cleveland mind you, not Geauga County)! Sunshine and Boomer were returned safely. Before 8 am...a highway in Akron was shut down because a Krispy Kream truck was on fire.


I wonder what will happen this afternoon...

My New Favorite Website

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Sew What?

So, WAY back in October, for my birthday Mom and Dad took Dad's sewing machine in got it a tune up, and gave it to me as my present. It's been a LONG time since i used one, and found I didn't remember much. Then i made the mistake of being unskilled and trying to sew felted sweaters. So i was more than a little frustrated with myself, and the machine.
When we got the glass block installed in the bathroom, Sam was less than thrilled with the amount of mortar used along the sides. I promised i'd use the sewing machine to make some curtains to hide the offensive mortar!

Not really knowing what i wanted to use as far as fabirc went, i looked a few times and couldn't come up with anything to my liking. I drag Sam into JoAnns one time around Christmas and BOOM....he finds the perfect stuff in about 30 seconds....IN THE BARGIN BIN!!!!

I measure...I cut...I scream at the cats to leave me alone. I sew seams, rip seams, sew and rip again...then i break the needle.

Walk Away...for months....

Then on Saturday it was just too damn hot to go outside. So i load in a new needle and start again. Again the cats are an issue....my pin cushion ends up across the room several times. Gibson carries my seam ripper away. Then...a flash of near brilliance....UNDERCOVER MOUSE!



With the kitties occupied...i actually managed to finish. It's a pretty crappy job, especially if you look at the back. I think i need to adjust the bobbin tension, but i'm really not sure. But they are done and look OK from across the room!



I'm looking into taking a class at Stitch Cleveland

Happy 4th!

Make sure you end the day with as many body parts as you started out with!

Happy Birthday Goo!!

Three years of shiny goo-ness!

Goodbye George....

Shit
Piss
Fuck
Cunt
Cocksucker
Motherfucker
Tits



(for the record....when i first started working in radio i did receive an official email outlining these exact 7 words as no-no's on the air. i have it saved somewhere)

Random Friday Posting

Have i ever told you how much i love the Flaming Lips? They are making christmas happen in June!
Do i have time to get to Oklahoma City...they will be having a 4 am screening....hmmmm

you're kidding me right?

everyone in the office got one of these....i would have rather had a check for $27.95

Random Friday Thoughts

when i was coming back into work this afternoon, the weather was sunny and bright. the perfect situation for pop music. and since i was going back into work the perfect record, of course, would be 'Welcome Interstate Managers' by Fountains of Wayne. So roll down your window, make sure you have your sunglasses on and sing this line as loudly as you can:
"i'm gonna get my shit together, cuz i can't live like this forever"



Also on that same record...'Hey, Julie'...one of those pop songs that is so close to perfect that it almost breaks your heart.

Poor Bosch....

over the memorial day holdiay weekend (along with LOTS of yard work) we moved Bosch back outside for the summer. Talk about a happy creature! And clevealnd weather being cleveland weather, we had to bring him in yesterday because it got so cold and looks like it's not getting any better in the next few days. in fact...there is a frost warning for tonight!
Here's a little video of a very happy Bosch on sunday afternoon.

Vacation!

Way back when it was cold and miserable, we braved a blizzard to go to Sam's family Chrismas party. One of their traditions is a raffle to help pay for the hall, with the grand prize being a week at Uncle Bob's condo in Myrtle Beach.....WE WON!!!
We knew we had to plan the trip around Bosch's move from the basement to the back yard, so we decided to go before we moved him outside, and chose the week of May 5th. This was a great choice for a couple of reasons...first, the weather! High 70's to low 80's the whole week, with a nice breeze off the ocean! Second, since school was still in session it was not very crowded anywhere, at the condo, at the beach or anywhere we went.
Here are a few highlights....if you want to see more photos go here

Leaving the ocean....i briefly considered going in, but then saw the dinner plate sized dead jellyfish that had washed up on the beach, and quickly lost interest.




We picked out a few tourist-y things we wanted to do....

Alligator Adventure!
Lots of reptiles....alligators, crocs and lots of tortoises!


Then the Ripley's Aquarium, where i FINALLY got to touch a ray!

BTW...i did notice that all the rays in the large tank had their barbs removed.

Mostly we just wanted to relax...

Sam brought a guitar


and did some fishing in the pond that was behind the condo...


...and eventually caught something!


I tracked down a yarn shop!


And was able to knit in peace (and by peace i mean no kitties trying to attack my needles, steal my yarn, or take up every bit of space on my lap!)


We ate good food, our favorite being a tiny little hamburger joint called 'Hamburger Heaven'...and boy was it...plus look how cute!


All and all we had a fabulous time!

Friday....

I'll post soon about our vacation....actually working is seriouly kicking my butt....so for now...try to figure out what the heck is going on here:

Insanity!

I'm on a HUGE number of yarn shop/companies email lists mostly to collect free patterns and lust over yarn i can't afford. Also i do not crochet. i've made a single chain border on a blanket, but the set of hooks i own really only get used when i drop a stitch.
I opened my Berroco weekly email and WOW!!!!! They've had patterns for some crazy things before, but takes the...well....


According to the pattern, "the “layers” may be used for storing and protecting china dishware"

WOW!

Trouble With Short Rows

WOW! A post about knitting!
So i'm trying to make something for my niece, Sadie.

This project involves short rows, and i've been having a hard time with them. I went to a little gathering of knitters last week, swallowed my self taught pride and asked for some help. I thought i had it. Nope!



See those bumps...they shouldn't be there. So back to the intersnet i went....and i found this!

Then i did this! WOO HOO!!! no bumps!


So i'll be starting the shebang over again. So much for getting it done on time!

Bring on the Meat!

WOOHOO!!! We have a grill!

Random Friday posting...

I LOVE Wallace and Gromit.
I LOVE Queen.

My sweetie ROCKS

how bout yers?

Tax Return Time!

i ALWAYS do my taxes as soon as possible...and since we bought the house, there is always something to spend large chunks of money on. So remember way back at the beginning of this blog the bedroom we fixed up? A new and bigger bed was purchased (along with some drapes for the living room, but those just arrived today and i haven't even opened the package yet!).
Unfortunatly, or better yet, as you would expect, the kittehs think it is strictly for their benefit.


although i haven't snapped a picture of it yet, they seem to not mind sharing, so that's a good thing!

More Handmade stuff!

Finally was able to give Stef her Xmas gifts during an evening of fun and yummy rum laden drinks...so here are the final products...

A Recycled Sweater Bag:


A "Kitty" Dishcloth:

the pattern for the dishcloth is from Lisa Millan and TONS of patterns (both free and cheap) can be found at her blog DigKnitty Designs

mmmmmmm....Pizza

i like to cook. unfortunatly, i don't get to do it to any fancy extent very often...no time...no money...BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. but every once in a while one of the recipies i obsessivly horde screams out to be made. behold the Buffalo Chicken Pizza!

RIP Roy

Free Cat Toys!

i don't know about you, but my cats LOVE cardboard. They play on or in it, scratch it and chew on it. I found a site that sells some swanky cardboard scratchers, but they've got some DIY templates for cardboard cat toys! These should be fun!
Linkage

Conan ROCKS!!!!!

i love Conan O'Brian....always have. I don't get to see the show much any more, but i happened to fall asleep Friday night on the couch and woke up to see this!


He needs to tour with the band...I would SO be there....LOVE the strike beard BTW

Happy Holidays!

Hope that you and yours had a wonderful holiday! Things were action packed here at the Bunker!
Decorating had to be done...behold the kitteh proof tree!


Next came a wonedrful new addition to the family...my niece..Sadie was born on December 18th. Seen here with big bro Spencer!

Projects needed to be finished...
A scarf for Pete...my own design. Simply a 2x2 rib with the stripes made to look like tube socks.


Ear warmers for Dad. These are designed to be worn under a bicycle helmet. The pattern can be found here.

I worked on a few other projects, but they haven't been given out yet, so i want to wait to post them.

Santa was good to me,

and even brought me a gallon of paint for the kitchen. Sherwin Williams Duration Interior, which by the way i'm going to highly recommend. It costs alot, but the coverage is amazing and barely smelled. Anyhoo...the color is called Slick Blue...a close match to a 56 Bel Air....it's more turquoise than this photo shows, and BRIGHT!!!! and i LOVE it!!!

I think i'm still recovering from it all, what with going back to work and all, so it was nice to have a quiet New Year's Eve....Happy New Year Everyone!