The EYES Have It

Today is May 1st!  The Lusty Month of May--according to Lerner & Lowe in their Camelot play and movie.  Had to watch the part where Lancelot shows up and the picnic is in full swing.  A bit dated but still has a spot in my heart.  It was the first movie Murray and I went to way back...1968 or so.

He is my Lancelot and King Arthur and today he has two eyes that see clearly.  He had his cataracts removed and can't believe how much brighter everything is.  Who knew?  It was more or less painless although the right eye which was the one done last and on April 29th was a bit painful but only the first night.  Now his vision is almost perfect.  So, while he recovered and couldn't work outside he worked on the movie he is making of our Cruise Up The Rhine River in June 2018.  Keeps him out of trouble.  It is very complicated making movies but he seems to enjoy the challenge.  Me, I stay frustrated with frogging my latest crochet project which didn't work out. 

Made a wrap using some beautiful yarn that turned out to be difficult, 4 strands unplied so they separate at the blink of an eye or the slip of a hook.  Anyway, I made the first project using a pattern from Red Heart--turned out the length is 114 inches and the width is 23 inches.  It would make a nice decoration on a long window.  So...I decided I would frog it and start over.  Well, I am a very good maker of knots and tucks of loose ends so they will not unravel.  In this one I was exceptionally good.  I never intended to unravel it so I even separated the 4 strands and tied them in different locations.  What a mess.  So now I'm unraveling them and cutting where I can't untie.  Sigh.  My work is cut out for me.  No pun intended.  Here is the project. 

While I was trying to decided what to do with the four other skeins of yarn I had, I found a tried and true pattern that works with any weight and any amount of yarn.  You can stop when you need to so I made two shawls using 2 skeins of the Sea Glass.  They are lovely.

Morpho Shawlette - 72x36 inches

Morphy Shawlette - 70x33 inches

The difference in size is due to yarn remaining.  The first one was larger nd I had to use some of the yellow-green from 2nd skein to finish it.  So, I had to make the 2nd shawl a bit smaller so as to not run out of yarn.  Tricky but worked out.  Now I have two skeins of a different color mix to make up.  May use the same pattern.

Keeps me out of trouble.  Shaunti on the other hand is almost 9 and we got some pictures of her a week early fresh from the groomer.

Shaunti with Mom and Dad.  She's a lucky dog.

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LOTS OF YARN AND SO LITTLE TIME--BUT I'M TRYING

Today is a cloudy day but it may not rain.  I'm looking for patterns that I used years ago and finally found it.  A very pretty Vintage Shawl

pattern that I only used for one shawl.  Turned out very pretty but was a tedious project.  Today I am making two shawls for my sister-in-law and niece.  Had to find a pattern that would match with the bulky yarn.  Found one and will be crocheting tonight on the first shawl.  It is a pattern that can be adapted to any weight yarn.  How nice!!!

Shaunti is almost 9 years old.  She came home from the groomer on Saturday, looking very spiffy.  She goes every 3 weeks.  I expect she gets better treatment than most children.  Her annual exam was last week and I have been trying to get her to pee in a flat dish ever since.  It got so bad that when I opened the door for her to go out, she backed up instead.  Finally after this happened several days, I decided to give up.  It wasn't going to work and I didn't want to totally intimidate her.  So, today was the day.  I carried her out to her favorite 'spot' and eureka, was able to capture the specimen.  Then we had to put it in the container provided by the vet and take it to the vet while it was 'fresh.'  I swear most people wouldn't bother but we are responsible paw-rents. 

Now it is time to make brownies for dessert.  Yum!

Life continues to bring good things our way. 

FURNACE QUIT -- COULD NOT RESTART--NEW ONE BEING INSTALLED

Well, today is December 4th, 2018, and the installation of the new furnace is today.  YEA!!!  We have been wrapped up like skiers (thank goodness for ski outfits from our distant past), using space heaters and the oven to keep us warm.  I now know why central heat was such a wonderful advancement.  When you have to move your heat from room to room, you are never warm.  Fortunately, the last 3 weeks have not been very cold or we would have been miserable. 

The good news is that I made lots of hats and scarves for the Yarns 4 Warmth project at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.  Shipped off 23 hats and 22 scarves yesterday.  So I'm ready to start anew.  Glad to be able to make my hobby useful for those in need.

Bad news is that my left hip is causing considerable pain and discomfort.  The chiropractor said his fix would be temporary and that a replacement was the only cure.  He was right.  I had 3 months with no problems and then WHAM!  it became very uncomfortable.  I have an appointment to get it checked and to find an orthopedic surgeon.  Guess I've been living a charmed life to get this far with no joint issues.  (Knocking on wood to hope this is the only problem.)

Waiting for pizza to share with the installers.  2 large extravaganzas!  Yum!!!

First is me wearing Murray's U of Oregon sweatshirt with one my the hats I donated.  It matches the letters.  And, it is warm.

 

Next is Shaunti in her bed under Murray's desk in her sweater.

And last are the scarves and hats recently. donated.  Life is good.

HOTTEST DAY OF YEAR --- SO FAR! 99+

Whew, today was hot.  Even the air felt hot when the breeze blew.  And, of course, Shaunti had to play Frisbee.  Since I was already sweaty from walking, I spoiled her and took her out.  After about five throws and catches I decided she must be hot and called it quits.  She turned around and carried the Frisbee into the house.  It felt good to get inside again.  Hard to believe she is now 6 years old.  She is just like a little fur person.

Murray has been finishing up the ceiling in our livingroom with stained panels inserted into the coffers.  It is beautiful.  Today he finished it up so onward to another project.  I hope he decides to work inside since it is much too hot to do anything outside.  He isn't a spring chicken anymore....well, to be honest, not for some time.  

I've been crocheting rectangles again for the HAPpy Project in Ohio which took up where HAP here in Maryland ended.  After over 10,000 afghans and several years of coordination, Deborah decided to call it quits.  Two sisters from Ohio decided to sponsor a much smaller endeavor but has still mnaged to send many afghans to wounded warriors.  I am just happy to contribute yarn and rectangles.

Other than these small efforts, I have done nothing word blogging about.  You might say that this wasn't worth it either but I made a commitment to try to post something more than once a year so....this is what you get.

Here is a picture of the ceiling.  Stay Cool!

The New Year Arrived

Happy New Year Everyone!

Well, we are now in a new year with a clean slate.  We have only ourselves to blame if the slate get messed up by our actions.  I plan to keep my year upbeat and hassle free.  So...that means I will need to get to crocheting on my yarn in my closet.  It's been 5+ years now since I retired with the purpose of emptying my yarn closet.  We know how that has gone.  I haven't increased the yardage much but I haven't reduced it by much either.  The yarn gets more expensive and in smaller skeins...it looks like less but it isn't.  Anyway, it keeps me out of trouble.  When you have a crochet hook in one hand and yarn in the other hand, you can't get into much trouble.  I hope to make some scarves to donate to a charity this month and then make some shawls.  The days are getting longer and that always cheers me.   Now I must take down the Christmas flags and put up the winter flags.  Here's our New Year's Eve toast to 2013.

Cheers!

Another Shawl for Charity

I love making shawls.  They have no specified size and don't require sleeves to be inserted into impossibly smaller or larger holes.  In general they let you choose any kind of yarn and any hook as long as you like the effect.  They are the perfect item for using up yarn and that usually results in beautiful but useful items.  Here is one I just finished.  I am already hard at work on another one.  I am gradually reducing my yarn closet and can now see the back wall.  Yea!

Yarn is Lion Brand's DK Bamboo Cotton in Snapdragon

Pattern is Have A Heart Designed by Joyce Nordstrom at Red Heart

Below is a picture of the latest garden asset.  Shaunti thinks its her garden and we don't tell her otherwise but we call it Ichabod's Garden.  Some of you will recall the movie with Johnny Depp while others may recall the story about the headless horseman.  The crane was just too beautiful for us not to add to our yard.  Then we had to have plants to surround the feet and then, and then, well you get the picture.  We think we are finished planting for now.  All are growing nicely

January Feels Springlike

Today is another sunny and bright blue sky day.  Shaunti is begging us to go play Frisbee with her but if we do it too early, she just begs later in the day so we are getting smart now and putting her off until later in the afternoon.  Of course, it would be good for all of us to get outside in the fresh air and get moving.  But, if I did the Frisbee thing I wouldn't be able to listen to my audible books and crochet on my projects.  Such a dilemma!  Which fun thing do I do next?  So much to do and so little time.  I swear that in retirement I have less available time than when I was working.  I'm not complaining but just stating a fact.  Maybe I'll get inspired to take on a Tunisian crochet project or make another knitted shrug or start knitting socks.  Hmmm.  Not today.  Today I'm going to 'read' and crochet.  Check out Shaunti with her Frisbee return.  She is now bringing it right back to me.  I hated to have to chase her down in order to throw it.  I have to admit though that it was poodlepapa who taught her to bring it back.  Something about his more commanding voice.

Getting Ready to Chase

Bringing it Back

SHAUNTI IS HERE!!!

We took Shaunti outside for the first time on Sunday and just happened to be near Lexe's remembrance stone.  When my husband was editing this picture of Shaunti, he said she had such a quizzical look on her face it was as though she was seeing something so he inserted the photo of Lexe as a ghost image and entitled it 'Welcome Shaunti.' We thought it made a nice transition from one loved poodle to the new one taking her place.  Shaunti is such a delight.  She weighs 2-1/2 pounds and is not quite as big as my tennis shoe.  She is 9 weeks old and has already turned our house into a nursery.  Right now she is sitting on my lap sound asleep but knowing that she is loved beyond imagination.  The game now is to take her outside so she can do her 'toilette' before she decides to use the rug.  So far she has been very good about going outside.  We must remember she is only 9 weeks old and all of this is new to her.  We picked her up Saturday afternoon after 6 hours driving through pouring rain.  It was to have been almost 4 hours but that was without the rain or the 4 accidents along the way.  But, it was all worth it.  When we saw the little fur bundle we forgot all about the drive.   She is perfect.  This last picture is entitled 'Wow, it's  big world out here but I know I'm safe.'  You can expect to hear lots more about Shaunti.  She will become my model of my yarn products and will grow up to be silver just like Lexe.