Friday again....

How'd that happen so fast? I've been meaning to update this poor blog all week. Somehow I just haven't gotten to it.  I think I'm still in recovery from all the summer company. I can't seem to get back into regular routine's. Now I'm hip deep into canning and firewood. So poor blog will probably be neglected some more.  

Why do I feel guilty about that?  The blog is inanimate. 

I've lost my mind.

Random Thought #231

When operating a riding lawn mower - keep your mouth closed.

Catching up

Seems like time is flying by at a faster rate these days. The warmer weather and near constant rain has the garden looking like a jungle. I really need to mow the lawn, we're starting to loose the bantams in it. The tomatoes are finally in the ground. Like everyone else in the county we've have a strange spring weather wise. Really hot for a week and then snow flurries. I feel like I'm playing catch up with the garden. Of course the addition of goats could be part of my problem. Dragging Nellie around (she's still not a fan of her leash) takes me away from weeding. Not that I really mind, I mean weeds vs cute goats. Yeah goats win. 

Of course Mike screwed up most of last week. Four days of him yelling from the top of a fir tree did put a crimp in things. He was retrieved on Thursday afternoon. (Thank you Mr. C and Mr. S.)  Mike, who weathered two thunder storms and constant rain, wasn't even wet. He's lost some weight and is very clingy but seems to be no worse for wear. He ever goes near that tree again I may kill him myself. The whole episode was very traumatic. 

Random Spring

We had two days of near 70 degree weather and everything in the yard popped up. It's raining now, as it has been for the last week. You can almost see the grass growing; everything is coming out so fast. I'm going to have to mow when it finally stops raining.  

 Meanwhile I'm working on bears and thinking about getting goats. They would eat weeds. Or maybe a few Icelandic sheep. Sheep from Iceland must be tough. I can't remember what Lopi yarn is like. More farm visits in my future. 

 Considering A Dairy Goat?

Rockin' Double D Dairy

Icelandic sheep

Quillisascut Farm

Farewell to February

What a crappy month it was. The Internet has been back up for a while but I  have been in such mood that I haven't been back as my gift to the world.  No one really needs to hear me complaining about winter, of gray skies and white landscapes. The irritations of sinus headaches and head colds. Compounded by the anniversary of cancer diagnosis (who's treatment is still giving my problems) and my birthday.

 So good bye February! Hello March! I'm looking forward to Spring with green things and colorful flowers.

In between my kvetching I made a sateen ensemble for a sock who's will be going to Vegas with J.

Lucy supervised. 

Small boat

Most of the country might be laid up with the flu but I was cut down by an oatmeal muffin. Too much health food just isn't good for me I guess.  While my stomach was fighting with the evil muffin; I mangled three sewing sewing projects and  lost a variety of small tools ( most of which turned up in the lettuce drawer),  Why I put random things in the lettuce drawer is beyond me. I don't recall anyone mentioned this when going over the chemo plan. "You'll be really sick and go bald for a while. Oh; and you might get dementia." I think I would remember that last bit. But then again maybe not, I can't remember what the snow plow guy's name is half the time.

So I survived the evil muffin and made a small boat.

List for Friday

•  I've been obsessively making these little knitted lambs. They are from an old Waldorf pattern similar to this one.

• Stupid War (my brother's pal since high school)
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•  Grapefruit Tequila - a quart is infusing in my 'fridge
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• What to read next?
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• Operatic Pasta Timer
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• I made this over the dinning table. (I can't seem to photograph it but it's cool.)
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• TP Tube Advent House/Calendar
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• I'm sending a rock to Little Fish Studios, you should too.
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• Vintage Vikings

Quote of the day

                                                                                     Source: joann.com via Dancing on Pinterest

This struck me as the perfect sentiment for the all the holiday shoppers this weekend. Personally, I will not be among the hordes of crazy people in stores for Black Friday. I am one of those people that am irritated that Black Friday has encroached upon Thanksgiving. I think everyone should get a real Thanksgiving before the whole country succumbs to Christmas carol induced madness.

Of course depending on your family, Nathanial could be commenting on your Thanksgiving deportment too. 

Hunting for something

 It's been raining for the last three days. Which hasn't really affected us much as we've all been laying low for the duration of deer season.  I tend to stick close to the house during hunting season, only venturing out in the middle of the day covered in red woolens.  This year the road hunters have been especially bad, making me very happy my place is set back so far. Of course that did lead to strange trucks coming up my road. As to the group I gave permission to; I had the continuing problem of how to behave. These guys aren't relatives, they're not staying at the house. Yet they're shivering up in the hay loft and out in the corners of my fields for most of a week. My years of Grandma training demand hospitality must be shown. But what is the proper etiquette? They are here to hunt.  So is offering the random cup of coffee and keeping the dog quiet the thing to do? Should I have them in for nibbles by the fire? It was 19 degrees one morning they were here. Such a foreign and strange past time to my upbringing. My Grandma's training and need to feed people won out last weekend. So Mom and I put on brunch for them. It proved a good excuse to test out a breakfast casserole, should we have relatives for the holidays.

This is just one more instance that reinforces the need for life to come with a manual. Of course with chemo brain I'd probably loose my copy or it would end up in the crisper with all my screwdrivers.

Weeds

I may have gotten overly enthusiastic in my bid to eradicate weeds this week. First I went out into a patch of thistles that had laughed in the face of Round-Up.  A week after spraying they had droopy heads but hadn't died. So like some demented golfer struck in the ruff, I hacked my way up across the hill. Unfortunately the thistles were hiding a tree stump. That stump grabbed the whacker out of my hand, bent the shaft, and knocked me down the hill. I rolled a few times and landed ungracefully in a clump of Snowberry bushes.  Deciding to retire from battle for the day I picked the leaves out of my hair and limped back to the house.

The next day I hopped on the riding mower, figuring flat ground would be safer. While mowing the center of my driveway, I veered off to get a swath of goat weed that was thriving on the edge of the hay field. Despite a few gopher holes, the mower and I returned without incident.(Unlike the week before when a blade fell off for no apparent reason.)  It wasn't until I got back to the house that I saw my eyes were red and irritated. This should have been my first clue.

The next day I woke with a runny nose and watery eyes. By the time I sneezed my way to the bathroom one eye had swollen shut. The weeds were taking their revenge.  For the next few days I looked like a survivor from Burning Man. Blood shot eyes, breathing heavily and covered in scratches and strange bruises. A few days in an antihistamine haze later and I'm mostly functional again.

Post chemo I've had problems with allergies like I never did before but this was especially nasty. Also I can't keep my eyes open and sneeze at the same time. Weird.

Pinafore problems

CAUTION  RANT AHEAD

Thing 2 is turning 4 this month and being a masochist, I'm sewing for her. Somewhere in the last couple of years I decided I would do something handmade for the kids at every holiday/birthday. Well all week I've been struggling to make a pinafore. I have a pattern for a basic one but I had a better idea. Why I can't just do the pattern as written I don't know. Mine is going to have ruffles and be reversible. Thing 2 is the queen of ruffles so that is a must. Thanks to the internet the ruffle addition isn't a problem. Making it reversible however is another matter. Getting the neck lined and then trying to turn it properly has pushed mental capabilities to the limit. Granted since I was nuked by chemo my mental abilities aren't what they used to be,  but still. It's just a small apron. It shouldn't be this hard. I've had to take several rest breaks when my brain turned into overcooked oatmeal along the way and there have been some major melt downs. Last night being the worst when a screw driver turned up in the lettuce crisper. Mom laughed and just put it away. Living with me often means a continuous game of charades while I  struggle to find the proper word, but tools in the refrigerator doesn't happen that often.  Logically I know this a minor thing. There are a lot of people who live with far more serious and debilitating problems than household items appearing in the refrigerator. A touch of chemo induced dementia (chemo brain to the support groups) is not the end of the world. But seeing that screw driver in with the asparagus made me want to throw myself on the floor like some over sugared toddler, wailing and screaming at the injustice of it all. I refrained, maintained my dignity,  poured a stiff drink and watched a comedy with the dog.
 The pinafore is moving along, I just need to attach the ties and finish off the ruffles. Hopefully I can do that without anymore brain malfunctions. And if not, Thing 2 is 4 and won't care if I go with a back up gift.

To the coast and back

walking down to Buck Bay

There's nothing quite like chest pains to bring the family together. Last week my grandfather had a emergency trip to the cardiologist and my brother and I went to stay the week on Orcas Island with him and our Dad. The prognosis isn't great. As Grandpa says "My ticker's worn out and I'm past the warranty."  We had a lovely week with the family on Orcas. The island treated us to some lovely spring sites.
Now I'm home again and wrung out. 

FYI

A chainsaw chain can be put on backwards. There will be no noticeable difference until you try to cut something.

Seen this week...

Rain Day

The last storm that came though brought lots of rain and wind. Sometimes wind and rain, the sort that comes down sideways and beats against the house. It also brought down several trees in the area, a few on top of power lines. While the power company did their thing; I huddled in front of the fireplace with the dog and fiddled with yarn. This is was came of that afternoon - 3 rather odd yarny creatures. I'm not what I'm going to do with them but here they are.

I miss color.....

It's snowed again over the weekend and there is more on the way this week. It's cold and dark; and I want Spring. I've turned into a small whiny child. I want Spring. I want flowers and color and light!

I did the same thing last year too.

I think Bucky has the right idea. It's a good day to go back to bed and stay there. I  however am trying to overcome that impulse and be somewhat productive. I've got 'A Year in Provence' on the tube and am trying to finish up a baby set. I will say this is an ideal time to work on baby things. The yarn is so soft and cheerful, it almost makes me forget that its 15 degrees outside. Almost.

Also in progress is a set of very flowery pillowslips. (Another attempt to stave off winter madness.)  The last pic is of my new pile of pom pom trims. I'm leaving it on a table in the living room. It just makes me smile to see it laying there. Such a silly thing, pom pom trim. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I love it.


Other good things I found recently include the blog Lists of Note. Found via 101 Cookbooks last week. I need to print out and frame "Things to Worry About". (Extremely good advice. Why didn't my Dad ever send me such good advice?)

Good bloggy advice here.
I do apologize too much.  I think it may be genetic. My grandmother, who was a champion pie maker, brought everything to the table with a disclaimer. The crust not being quite right or the filling being bit too runny. I do the same thing with everything. I think it may be some sort of back handed way to provoke a response from the family. (Who are not the most effusive people.) Of course now that I think of it; I'm incapable of accepting a compliment either. 

So clearly I'm nuts and descend from a long line of emotionally stunted women. 

Random Thoughts

Too much coffee and attaching gingham bias tape to 2 kid aprons has turned my brain to mush. So today's post is list of the mundane and bizarre that is leaking out of my head.

 Why is that strand of christmas lights can work perfectly one year and then die while sitting in storage? What is it about my attic?


While looking for a dropped pen under my desk I found a bolt. One day my office chair will self destruct.

Clyde likes cheese. Especially Tillamook Vintage White Medium Chedder

Why do some Christmas ornaments refuse to face forward when hung? Very annoying

Bacon makes all vegetables better.

Apparently mustache's are trendy. 'Stache-tastic

Whoever came up with glue basting is a genius!

Space Invader's Hat

The men in "The Big Valley" wore more eye make-up than the women in the early episodes. 60's westerns are a little goofy.


'El Paso' has been stuck in my head for days.

Waffle Irons, not just for waffles. Who knew?

I think Clyde is mostly deaf and completely cross- eyed.

Elk are really tall.




Okay, so it's not really a list. A list is more organization than I'm capable of right now.

nippy this morning

We had our first really hard frost last night. Today feels as though winter is rushing to get here.

A different kind of guest..

What is the proper protocol for hunting season?
Are people that are hunting on my property guests?  What are the rules of hospitality here?

For the last three years the same group of four guys and sometimes their kids have come to my corner of the world to go deer hunting. Often they want to cut down trees and add to our wood pile while they're here. (What is it with men and chainsaws?) Mostly they seem thrilled to freeze in the frosty corners of my fields. Weird.
When "normal guests" come I usually obsess over feeding them. Having come from a childhood of intensive Grandma training, where all people who come to the house must be starving. I should have coffee and nibbles. Grandma would insist on two kinds of pie and possibly a coffee cake. To do otherwise would be scandalous. But deer hunters aren't exactly house guests. They're more like pedestrians with hazardous accessories. They're here at first light and at dusk. Disappearing in between. Even when they are here, they're not really here; more like armed traffic cones scattered in the margins.


Has anyone ever really needed pie?