Winner (s)

And the winner is (drum roll, please)
Ratch!
I just met Ratch online at Ravelry. She and I share the same birthday. Heck, we're almost neighbors.

We decided to have two winners just for the heck of it.

And the runner up?
Barbara from Tigers & Strawberries.
I don't remember how I stumbled upon Barbara. I've been a reader for over a year now. But ever since, we have been having the most wonderful dinners. Thank you, Barbara. If you love to cook, check her out! Every single one of her recipes are spot on. There has never been a failure at our house.
Winners, please send me your address at adair(at)kc(dot)rr(dot)com.

Happy Birthday Mom

My Mom is 88 today. But, in Real Birthdays, she's only 22. (She never gets tired of that!) I sent her 2 dozen roses. And she's celebrating all weekend long. That's good, because she's been stuck in her house all winter long.

I finished the Clown Socks. I didn't think I'd like this colourway to begin with, but I really do now.

We went to Costco to try to return my dumb cell phone. But, I've had it too long, so I have to go through Sprint. They tell me a cell phone is only supposed to last two years. Like Joni Mitchell says, nothing lasts for long. We also checked out the flooring, and it is substantially cheaper. What I thought would cost around $800 will end up at around $300. Not much selection, though. I'm not sure the wood types they had will look good. I'll paint the walls before I decide on the floor.

I got my new makeup in the mail today. Maybe I won't look like a hag for my passport photos. I also got a size 0 42" circular needle from KnitPicks.

Tonight, it's grilled tri-tip, hassleback fingerling potatoes, and a salad.

It's sunny and mild--perfect for grilling. All you gals on the East coast: this weather is coming your way. Hang on! Relief is on the way.

The drawing is tomorrow. Thanks for all the comments!

Gray, Gray Thursday

Piddles came out of her surgery well. She’s still groggy. I asked the Vet about this product, and he said it was a good one. We’ve been giving it to The Beagle for less than a week and her legs are less stiff. She’s also not as bitchy.

I got my hair cut yesterday. Next, it’s off to get the passport pictures taken and then apply for the passport.

Sears called AGAIN to report the dishwarsher part is on back order. That was it. I had to call and make a stink. To top it off some phone rep was a jerk to me. Boy, did I let him have it. “Are you smarting off to me, son? Let me speak with your manager.” The end result is I’m receiving a $100 gift card from Sears.

I think I might make Tomato Soup for dinner tonight. I love using the immersion blender. I feel like I’m on Iron Chef.

Keep the comments coming. I’ll have a drawing tomorrow and will post the winner Saturday.

Monday, Monday. Can't trust that day.

It has been one gray February. Today was a gray and windy Monday. It’s so yucky and muddy outside.

Alas! The Mailman came and brought me this:

My prize from Kim. Thank you, Kim! Note the Ocean Grove postcard. (That is where we had our most wonderful family reunion many years ago.) I will most likely make a hat from this. I’d like to pass on the good karma, so I will have a drawing from the names for a gift from anyone who posts a comment. (YES, I am encouraging comments. Come out, come out where ever you are.)

I’m going to try very hard to finish up all the projects I’ve started prior to my sabbatical. I’d just like to have a clean slate when I am on sabbatical. So, I’m going to try like hell not to cast on for anything new. Let’s see how long that lasts. It’ll be hard as I should be getting my Spunky Eclectic sock yarn any day now.

Over the weekend, I ordered a new circular knitting needle (size 0) for the Noro sock yarn. It’s mighty thin. The KnitPicks needles are the way to go. I also ordered some new make up. I haven’t bought any new makeup for a LONG time. I hope this turns out okay.

I’m making Cilantro Chicken for dinner.

What will the gift be? Oh, something knitting related. Either a skein of yarn or an Elizabeth Zimmermann book. And some little trinkets to brighten your day. Like mine was today from Kim.

Wonderful Weekend

Friday night we had the traditional Sue ‘n Sam Didn’t Get Fired dinner, which consists of steak, baked potato and Caesar salad. It was nice to have something fairly simple as this week has been trying for me at work.

When they rebuilt my computer, all the settings and macros I use were lost. It’s just been a massive pain in the ass. What normally takes me just a few minutes takes me at least three times as long. And I still don’t have all the programs I use loaded. The work computer people are telling me that it’s my internet connection. Sam says it isn’t. I really don’t know what to do about it. I’m a bit tired of the conflict. Friday, I had to go into the office and work to check if it was my internet connection and they put me at some station that was half the normal size with a giant pole in the middle of it. And I was in the middle of the call center, so I had to listen to kids take thousands of calls all day long. UGH.

I had to spend the majority of Saturday cleaning. The place really needed it. I also spent some time setting up various appointments. The Beagle goes in for a Day of Beauty today. Piddler gets fixed and chipped Thursday. I have a hair cut on Wednesday. In the afternoon, I went to the Grand Arts Gallery where I saw the film Stay the Same Never Change by Laurel Nakadate. My daughter, Tate, is in a major portion of it. She did a great job. The worst part was listening to some jack-off talk about art before the film. I felt like Woody Allen in Annie Hall. It was fascinating to watch someone make downtown Kansas City look so hauntingly beautiful. I was in a haze when I left and saw the beauty of downtown as I drove home at sunset.

I made fish tacos for dinner Saturday. Later, I fiddled around trying to make a prototype pattern for felted shoes/slippers using some of the sweaters I purchased from the thrift store. Then I picked up the long neglected Lady Eleanor stole for a bit.

Today, I hope to spend the majority of the day knitting. Though, the kitchen needs attention again. I’m going to start planning the menu for some guests we will have over for dinner in March. That should be fun. The part for the dishwarsher is still on back order. This time, they tell me it will be here by Thursday and installed on Friday.

Victoria, Here I come

I purchased my tickets for Victoria, British Columbia last night. I fly into Vancouver and take a long ferry to Victoria. It was substantially less expensive than I thought it would be. In fact, I would most likely be able to afford to go visit the girls each summer at that price.

Next, I have to get a passport, which is required. And then I need to take some time to work on my laptop so that it has everything I need. I hope to post daily during that time so that you can see how lovely Canada is.

Right now, I can’t bear to work on the laptop because my work computer shit the bed and I’ve had to spend the last few days dealing with that. UGH.

I had a particularly glorious day on Monday. I spent the morning tidying up and then took off for the thrift stores. I was in search of 100% wool sweaters. Some to felt for needle felting. And some to harvest for recycled yarn. I couldn’t believe how cheap it was. I bought 12 sweaters for the price one skein of sock yarn.

Two of the sweaters are handmade. No tags. And they are made quite well. One sweater is a blue mohair cardigan. I thought it would be great to use this yarn for a pair of fuzzy feet slippers for me. I wasn’t sure if it was a acrylic blend though. As I went to rip it apart, I saw what a nice job this woman did making this sweater and I didn’t have the heart to go through with it. So, now I’m wearing this when I have to go outside briefly. Like to the garage etc. and I don’t want to put a coat on. This sucker is warm! It will replace an old torn up cardigan of Sam’s I’ve been wearing for the last several years.

I also was in search of those awful thin acrylic scarves that your mother used to wear. People also use them to learn to juggle. Thrift shops used to be stuffed to the gills with them. But, alas. No scarves. I plan on finding some and adding snippets to my yarn as I spin for some bling. I am inspired by Ozark yarns. If you can find any, let me know.

After thrifting, I treated myself to lunch at an Indian restaurant. Delightful. Oh. I also ended up at a LYS and bought some Noro Kureon sock yarn. It is quite twisty. It was a major pain in the ass to wind into a cake.

I was thinking that I’d go to the KC Fiber Guild meeting tonight to hang out with the spinners. But, it is just too damn cold. I had to drive to the office to swap out computers today and I about froze my fingers off carrying that stoopid computer around in the cold. I know where the meeting is held, but the thought of carrying my wheel in the dark in an unfamiliar place in the freezing cold sounds unappetizing to me. I’ll wait until the weather isn’t so gross.

Next, I will be in search of laminate flooring for the family room. One of my girlfriends at work suggested going to Sam’s or Costco. BINGO. It’s much cheaper there. Thank you M8K. I’ll be checking that out tomorrow.

So, I think I WILL be able to afford the trip, the new floor and a CSA membership after all. I’m excited about the CSA membership. I hope to post a bunch about the surprises I get each week in my bag.

And what have we been cooking? I made a fabulous Chicken and Cashew stir-fry on Monday night. Last night it was crab salad with Asian dressing. Tonight? We are ordering a pizza. I am sick to death of doing dishes by hand.

Long Weekend, Part 2

Another long weekend. Aaah. Today was my second Saturday.

Yesterday, I went to Cottage Fiber for a Spinning lesson with my wheel. Another woman was there for a lesson at the same time. This is going to take lost of practice as you have to move your feet separately and your hands separately. It’s kind of like riding a bike. I’m really awful at it right now. But, if I keep practicing, I know I’ll have my Aha! moment.

We made New England Clam chowder and fish sandwiches for dinner last night. The clam chowder was wonderful. A definite repeat.

It was busier than I’d seen it at Cottage Fiber. Customers came and went. I got some needle felting supplies and doodled around with that.

I found out that Noro has a new sock yarn. I must have it. It’s crazy since I already have three socks going right now. I’m on the home stretch on the Clown socks, though. I added some embroidery to my coat. I finished the Chinese New Year beret. It is very floppy.

The puppy was up at 4:45 this morning. I hustled her off to the Exercise pen but, it was too late. I was awake. What is most annoying is that she comes to the door but won’t come in. So, I have to stand there coaxing her in with the door open several times. Hoo boy, I want to smack her.

The part for the dishwarsher is on back order. The damn thing will be another five business days. UGH.