Mews

http://icanhascheezburger.com/


So TRUE!!!! I love the purries!

morning

Busy busy busy! There's always so much to do! Tomorrow at the bookstore, we've got a genuine STAR coming to read her latest children's book (Patricia Polacco) and we're all kinda freaking out about it. The volume of people will probably drown us. AND we didn't order enough books. Ah, well. It'll all be over by Monday.

I'm babysitting The Blonde's pets for the next week+. That'll be nice, 'cause they're nice animals. I just hope Claire (14 year old husky mix with many health issues) doesn't weaken while I'm babysitting her!

One of my best friends is moving back to here after living in NYNY for the last, I dunno, 15(?) years. I'm sooooo glad! I've missed him!

Just a quickie post today, 'cause I've got to get to work.

knitting

I really enjoy knitting. I mean, I REALLY enjoy knitting! It's wonderful to be creating something, doing something, clicky-clicky-clicky (I have aluminum needles, for the most part) that you can then share and/or USE! But the whole process is just fun! I'm not sure why, exactly. I can't knit in the round (circular knitting) , I can't make anything except squares/rectangles, I can't do cables or lace or anything but knit and purl... but I just love to knit. The softness of the yarn, the colors expanding between my hands, dripping down to my lap, the quietness, the busyness, the focus, the sociableness.... I just love it.

California Girl wants me to make her something, but she says she won't use it! "I'll put it away to keep it nice," she said. But NOOOO!!!!! I want her to USE it and think of me each time (or at least occasionally when) she uses it! Dead Girl said she'd love to have something and would definitely use it, so I AM working on a project for her right now (shhhhh! Don't tell!). I have to admit, I'm a bit ashamed to give someone a humble washcloth, dishcloth, dishtowel, or scarf, but that's all I can make. Hometown Girl is a talented crocheter herself, so I've never even offered! What I SHOULD do is ask for crochet lessons!

Sis, I was going to make you legwarmers, I really was, I even found a way to make them without having to knit in the round (see crazy video above - HARD!) but I chickened out. I made you a scarf, but then you said you didn't LIKE scarves! So, I'd love to make you something, but WHAT?!? Ok, I'll go back to the legwarmer idea... or maybe writst/arm warmers? A shawl? Lemme know! :)

This is my latest project, actually finished now, but no picture of it finished, sorry. There are two of them! I was going to give them away, but then Bubba cacked up a chihuahua-sized hairball on them. Seriously! It was a HUGE hairball! I'm sure he feels much better, and I washed them and everything (you can't tell he ever cacked-up on them), but I just don't feel right giving away something Mr. Bubbles vomited on, y'know?

Right now, I'm finishing up a long, blue, really soft scarf and I'm making some washcloths that look cabled, but it's really just alternating knitting and purling (thank you, Crazy Aunt Purl!). It looks GREAT though! I'm using a VERY bright yellow, 100% cotton yarn. It's a super-cheery yellow, not retina-burning. It's SUNNY FUN!

It's not about Summertime

Memorial Day. For most of us, including me, really, it's been a day that means a three-day weekend; picnics, getting the boat or pool or cottage ready for Summer.



Maybe not all fallen soldiers are heroes, but they certainly made the greatest sacrifice for our country, to ensure we can continue to enjoy our picnics, etc. President Obama said it better than I can.
















Just a little reminder to honor our fallen soldiers, from all conflicts.

George!

George can do no wrong. I love him.

I wonder why we never hear about Shannyn? She's gorgeous and she was GREAT in Knight's Tale.

Anyway, this video made me laugh. Hope it did you, too!

eek

I've had this whole week off. I was SUPPOSED (my emphasis, my expectations) to paint the dining room and organize (muck out) the spare bedroom. I've done neither. I've read a lot, ate a lot, watched a lot of videos... basically, I just hung out and had a vacation.

Today, I went out for breakfast with my neighbor and we talked about losing weight, beauty, health, getting older, that type of thing. Then I babysat some kitties and went shopping for summer tops at Goodwill. I used to wear a small or XS. Today, the MEDIUMS didn't even fit! I am into a large now.

There's no ignoring when your clothes don't fit. I realized I'm sick of talking about losing weight. I'm tired of saying "I should (fill in the health goal blank)." I've let myself down a lot of times. It's boring, even to me, to listen to myself.
























I looked at this blog (Relax, Refresh, and Rejuvenate). This post makes sense, every single point on it. SO! We walked to and from breakfast (1 mile), I did some strength exercises and I finally took my weight for real (which I'm not gonna share just now. Suffice it to say, I was saddened). Here's to trying again! And getting up and trying again if I fail.

Hobby House

We got to the Hobby House (HH) and there was a LOT of cleaning to do, just so we could move around. We did a very cursory job, 'cause, geez-oh-peets, we could've spent all day cleaning. No point in making it perfect, when so much messy work is still to be done, such as bashing out and replacing the walls, replacing the entire electric system, adding heat vents, etc. and etc. And that's not even including the disaster zone that is the kitchen. Yikes. It's really gross in there. The ceiling is crumbling due to roof leakage, the floor is spongy and there's a strong mold smell. ew.

I won't even talk about the bathroom. But Mr. Handsome did rig up a shower! He's so clever!











Anyhoo, I swept and mopped and cleaned the sinks, toilet and tub. Handsome vacuumed and barricaded the holes in the walls and floors so the kitties wouldn't get dirty, stuck, sick from ingesting poison. While we were cleaning, we kept them trapped out in the porch. Cleo was growling and hissing and prowling the whole time. Poor Bubbles! He had to keep his distance! She's not a very nice cat, in her old age. When we were done with the initial cleaning, we let the kitties out so they could explore the living room and kitchen. We kept the bedroom door shut the whole time we were there; that's were all the junk was!

We went out for a burger and a beer and went back to see how the kitties had settled in. They were ok, actually. We brought Cleo's nest and heating pad, so she had her "safe place," though she continued hissing and growling the whole time we were there. Bubba did ok, not too anxious.








We fed the mews and set up house. Put our snacks and drinks away, did more cleaning, set up the air mattress. Pretty soon it was dinner time (vacation is all about the food, isn't it?). We were filthy and I didn't bring a separate pair of jeans or a skirt or anything but the jeans I wore, 'cause I didn't realize how much dirt there was there, didn't realize how dirty I'd get doing "a little cleaning" as Handsome put it. But we went anyway, to a VERY nice restaurant called Arboreal Inn. It lists itself as casual, but I wish I'd worn a skirt, instead of jeans. Most men were wearing a tie and most women were kinda dressy, too. No biggie. It's a tourist town, after all; I'm sure they didn't care we were wearing jeans! It's kind of off the beaten track, but in a lovely setting and just a charming, old-fashioned place. Our waitress was young, inexperienced and nervous, but did an ok job and was very sweet. The food was yummy!

We came back and played cards on the porch, listening to Drew Nelson's new CD Dusty Road to Beulah Land. Great album! We played Crazy Eights and I won 4 out of 6. YAY! I hardly EVER beat Mr Handsome! We were able to watch the remants of the sunset from the porch. It was nice!

The next day we slept in and I IMed with my sibs and Spymaster, thanks to a "borrowed" unsecured 'net connection. I had to stay all snugged up next to an open window, but it worked!

I felt guilty every time a neighbor walked by, mere feet from my IM window!







Bubba loved how much attention he got while we were there. We both played with him a LOT.

He's so easy to play with. Just pull a string along the ground and you've caught him! We call it "fishing for Bubba."








We had time to play with him, because of the lousy internet connection. We knew we were Internet Addicts, but didn't realized just how much. Sheee-it. We are both lost to the addiction. * sigh * We'll work on that. Anyway, Bubs loved all the play time. Cleo just enjoyed her warm nest. She even stopped growling and hissing at every glance or touch!
















Speaking of nests, Bubba found a HUGE nest of flying ants making condos and shopping districts in the kitchen ceiling. YUCK! YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!! I didn't get a picture of the ant nest before Handsome destroyed it; just a pic of some straggler ants being sucked up by the utility vacuum.

ew ew ew ew ew ew.










We went out for lunch in Grand Haven and then walked over to a very pretty park. It had mature trees, rolling dunes, nice trails. Right in the town! Nice place! We'll visit it again.










The beaches were crowded with folks watching a kite festival and competition. It was VERY windy and also pretty chilly, so we didn't hang around too long. (I didn't have my camera with me, so the pic is from the Great Lakes Kite Festival flikr set.) It all felt very small-town-goodnessey!

Time Travel

So, we're going back in time a bit today.

Mr Handsome and I went for a little hike and a picnic at a local park on May 3rd, to celebrate how GORGEOUS this Spring is.

The view from our front door.






How pretty are the flowering trees?























Bubba loves to look out the front door.




















Cleo loves to terrorize Bubba.















After negotiating a truce between the mews, we went out for our hike and picnic.














He brought a delicious salad, I had a sandwich and brought a book to read. We both enjoyed a tasty local brew.



































We sat under a very tall pine and admired the view, including my gold, sparkly toes.








































Back home, Handsome worked in the garden.











Bubba and I lounged around on the airing porch deck, sunning ourselves.






























Handsome kept working.
















Then he came up for a well-earned rest and refreshment.

Anniversary

Mr Handsome and I were married eleven years ago today. It does NOT seem that long ago! It was a gorgeous day, we were lucky; not cold, not overcast, no rain. It still means so very much to me that we had the ceremony right here in our garden, surrounded by people we love. It is a warm place in my heart.
We're going to the Hobby House for the weekend and bringing the kitties with us. It'll be like camping, 'cause there's no hot water, no furniture, no ANYTHING! Should be an adventure!

Update:
Weird. This post disappeared. How odd.
Anyhoo, now it's Sunday, 9:45 p.m. and we're home. Cleo cried the whole way there and the whole way back, hissed and growled at us and Bubba pretty much the whole time we were there, but since we brought her bed AND her heating pad she was definitely comfy. Just crabby!
Bubba had fun, 'cause without reliable internet, no DVDs, we played with him a LOT! :) It was a nice time, but the Hobby House is DEFINITELY not ready for humans yet, though Mr. Handsome did McGyver-up a shower!

More (with pics!) in a future post....

Lucky

Friends: what would we do without them....




PS: did you notice I face-replaced those who prefer to not be on the web? Am I good or what? If I were going to face-replace me, this is what I'd look like:

Friends

This is California Girl (face-replaced 'cause she REALLY doesn't want to be on the 'net). When we first met, I thought she was a preppy. She thought I was a loser. We became best friends, finishing each other's sentences, staying out WAAAAY too late, adventuring to Florida. She was there for me when no one else knew I was alone. She is my heart-sister.

Friends

This is Hometown Girl (face-replaced, since she doesn't want her pic on the 'net). Her mom was like my mom. Her house was like my house. We sat in her front room, each in our own comfy chair, and read so many books (The Lord of the Rings comes to mind) together, almost competing to see who'd finish first. So much tragedy in such a short time for both of us. But we made it through.

Friends

This is Dead Girl (I've done a face-replace on her actual face, 'cause I don't know if she wants her mug all over the 'net). She's been a devotée of the Grateful Dead for decades. She and I go waaaaay back. My father and her Grandfather were associates. Our familes knew each other before we were born. She and I became friends in 7th Grade. We'd write notes to each other and had these little characters we drew and wrote stories about. Later on, as tragedy fell and life continued and we grew up, we also grew apart. But we reconnected a few years ago and I'm SO glad!

Scoot scoot!

I bought an electric scooter! It's a toy, really, sold through a major retailer that has trouble aligning its central letter properly, but I got it through an internet classifieds site.

I know I look BEYOND ridiculous on it. I should really get a real scooter or better yet a motorcycle. But, what the hey! This is fun, too! Even if it's NOT street legal.

I really do look silly on it.
But, golly, it is fun.