I haz Firday burgers.

HAPPY FIRDAY!!! Or, as we call it in humanland, FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, what a lovely Friday it is. No rain. That is what makes it lovely. The sky was bluish/grayish last night and the rain moved out (FINALLY!). Life is worth living again.
So, I haven’t been knitting this week. I have been in the blues or had a case of the dumps(hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!) I am so easy to amuse, but of course, we established that eons ago.  So, last night, I just sat and drank tea and knit.  It was warm and snuggy and so very enjoyable.  Still, not much to show, though.  That, and I feel the need to return to gift knitting.  Probably, a bit this weekend.

My coming weekend will not involve doctors, veterinarians or dentists.  Not this particular one, anyway.  I still need oral surgery, but will do it after Thanksgiving.  I want to enjoy myself.  Grover has had his flu shot and his booster flu shot, so he’s set until April.  Esau Marie, who still insists on coming in and trying to lay with the dog every single night, needs a check up, but she’ll have to wait.  I do not feel up to running her down and smooshing her upside down into her carrier.  For some unknown reason, she is completely uncooperative.

It is so nice to have my 5 year old car back.  I didn’t appreciate the old thang until I had to drive the little deathmobile.   If I didn’t need to be on the highway every blessed day, I would love a small car, but with the big boy, Grover, I don’t think I could go quite as small as the Versa.  He wouldn’t fit.

Here is the soundtrack of my day.  I heard it yesterday and, although I have used it before, I feel the need to repeat.  Here’s the Spencer Davis Group and “Gimme Some Lovin”

Have a great weekend!!

Random Wednesday and ramdon quesitons?

The most random thing I know.  Miss Esau Marie.  She is my random girl.  Affectionate, but bizarre.     And, here is a beautiful bouquet of fall flowers that is currently gracing my dining room table.

My car had a continuous “Service Engine Soon” light, so night before last I took it into the car place and had a rental car.  My car was fixed on Tuesday and I drove a Nissan “Versa” all day.  It is a four cylinder tiny little bitty baby car.  Cute as a button in the city.  Terrifying  on the highway.  I learned very early Tuesday that rain and semi-tractor trailers and a tiny itty bitty baby car are not compatible.   I really love my own car.   It only gets 7 mpg less than this Nissan I drove and it has 6 cylinders and pick up and is safe on the highway.  If semis were limited to their own lane on Missouri highways, smaller cars would be more prevalent.  The fear factor weighs large.  I prayed (at 60-65mph) that I wouldn’t get hit by a big pick up or semi.    Did I say I love my own car?

I leave you with my soundtrack……Tracy Chapman and a completely hopeless, but fabulous song “Fast Car”  One of my all-time favorites.

Have a good one!!!

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.

Yup. Me and the Carpenters. I refuse to make that ear worm my soundtrack for the day. I really don’t care for it, but once I hear it I sing it all damn day long. We are experiencing more rain. 2-4″ in the next 3 days. Yeehaw! Grover and I were walking up at our neighborhood park on Friday and walked through a bog. It was ucky. I thought we had had enough dry weather to dry it out, but I was mistaken. And, damp.  It just promises to get wetter.

Here is the wad o’ FLS that is easily mistaken for the rug mat in Friday’s post.   Tell me I’m wrong.  I dare you!!!

I do love how the cotton slub is knitting up.  It’s pretty and soft.  Two big pluses in a sweater.  I’m close to being done with the yoke.  Three more rows.

So, I had a good weekend.  Did you?  This next weekend, I’m taking the weekend offish.  I don’t ever really take it off completely, but I don’t plan on going to a doctor or dentist or church.  I will be seeing my BB and BSIL.  They’ve invited me for dinner next Saturday.  Grover shan’t be going because he’s big and slobbery and they’ve re-carpeted their entire house.  Obviously, he’s not welcome.  If we were outside, he would be.  I don’t want you to think they aren’t fond of my big ole slobbery boy.  I just would feel really awful if anything happened to their new rug while Grover was there.  So, I’ll just let him stay home and snuggle in and when I get home I will completely overcompensate for my not taking him.  Typical behavior for me.  I’m so predictable;-D

Now, to get you boogeying into your Monday with some rock and roll………….Traffic and “Light Up or Leave Me Alone”

Have a good one!!!!!!!!

Friday the 13th. Look out behind you!

Did you hear it creeping up from behind???  Well,  did you?  I knew it was coming because I am ever vigilant.  Just for you. You betcha!

So, today is Friday (YAY!!).  Friday the 13th.  One of three this year.  There will be only one next year.  Fascinating, no?  Right.  No.

I have been knitting a bit, here and there, hither and yon.  I am almost done with the yoke of the February Lady Sweater.  Here is a picture.

No.  I’m sorry.  This is a bath mat for sale at the Rug Market.  My apologies.  It looks so much like the FLS that I couldn’t tell the difference.  They are virtually interchangeable.  To be fair, my FLS is a bit more used Kl**n*x looking.

And, since it is Friday, I want you to dance into your weekend.  Here is the late great Jimi Hendrix and his fabulous “Fire”.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What just flew by???

I know. I know. It was my weekend. And, now, it’s Wednesday.  I have Veteran’s Day off this year.  First time in many years.  I plan on using it wisely by raking.  I know.  I’m making you jealous.

The weekend was wonderful.  Having Ellen all to myself (mostly, kinda) was terrific.  I realized we really really do have so much in common.  Plus, she’s so easy to love!  We had dinner Friday night when she got in and talked for over 2 hours.  Then, Saturday, I picked her up and we met other cousins and my BB and BSIL at a cool historic restaurant in Old Town St. Charles…..Lewis & Clark’s.  We wandered Main Street St. Charles for a bit and then headed back.  BSIL picked us up and we went to the Central West End(way cool place in St. Louis)to The West End Bar & Grill on Boyle.  WOW!!!!  Good food.  Great service.  And, it’s on the edge of the area that made up the old Gaslight Square.  So cool.  After dinner, we went to the Fabulous Fox for the concert.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I feel really great that I got to see one of my all-time favorite lyricists (for grown up lyrics) in person.  Here is the review.

I did knit a bit, but not as much as I thought I would.  For Friday, I hope to have some pics of my February Lady Sweater for you.

And, here’s something we saw on Saturday night at the .  Sharon Robinson (who collaborates with Leonard Cohen) and “Boogey Street.”

Have a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND NOW, HEEEERRRRRRRRRRE’S

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am quite involved this weekend.  YAY, IT’S THE WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I’m quite involved and will be away from the computer for most of the weekend.  My cousin Ellen is coming in from Iowa and we’re going to see Leonard Cohen and mess around and do stuff.

Everyone please have a fabulous weekend.  I’ll report back Monday or so!!

Here’s the soundtrack for my weekend.  “Sisters of Mercy” by Leonard Cohen.  The video is from McCabe and Mrs. Miller.  Enjoy

Have a wonderful weekend all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a long talk with myself

and I do believe we’re getting along much better today than yesterday.  Monday night I came home all hot and bothered about the condition of my home.  I am not a super-tidy human being.  I do not like filth.  I love clutter.  I don’t need alot of clutter, but some clutter is very comforting to me.  Books and knitting and spinning stuff are my clutter of choice.  But, when my Mom’s health was failing, I chose her over a clean house, and, I would do it again in a heartbeat.  But, the house looks messy and I have been  getting mad at myself for not diving in.  So, Monday night I came home and looked around and thought, “Damn”.  Then, I had a long talk with me and I  realized I was stressing and I didn’t need to be stressing.  A little bit at a time and the house will get done.  I think it’s all part of my grieving process, but it got all muddled together.

So, the knitting thing?  Still working on FLS.  I am over half way on the yoke.  I forget that when you increase the stitches, it takes longer to knit a row.  Simple logic, but a much simpler brain.  I still love it.  It’s just slow going right now.  When it has a pattern or some sort of shape that looks right (like a sweater), I will take a picture for you.  And, it is very very pink.  I am finding that I love color in my knitting.  I have noticed the more I knit, the more color I crave.  I wonder if it is part of the growth of a knitter?  Maybe, it’s jut that my love of color is finally coming out.  I love color.  Adore it!  I have a lithograph by Marcia Bank that I simply fell in love with and had to have at an auction.  Here it is.

Not a good photo, but you get the general idea, don’t you?

Well, it’s time for me to toddle along to work and stuff.  I am going to leave you with something mellow.   Here are the melodious wanderings of The Who and “Baba O’Riley”.  Enjoy

Have a great one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone see a weekend go by?

I seem to have misplaced mine. I have three days each weekend and I still kinda lost one (or two). If you see it, would you please send it home? I miss it.
Dinner for the homeless, not the homeless dinner per Becky(she’s such a smartass;-P), went very well.  I do it because it brings me out of my basic comfort zone.  I am basically shy.  I have to force myself to be friendly when I am thrown in new situations.  It’s hard, but I work at it all the time.  Friends and family would be stunned to hear this.  I give the appearance of being quite sure of myself, but it’s all baloney.  I’m a big fake.  So, to get me out of my own little world, I volunteer and interact with other human beings who have lost their homes.  The single women break my heart because I can see myself in that situation.  They are ashamed and I can understand that, but work so hard to make them understand that I don’t believe it’s because they are bad or stupid.  We are not in control of every aspect of our being.  So, they finished my 13×9 pan of lasagna and proclaimed it good (bless their hearts) and took the little gift bags of Halloween candy to enjoy during the coming week.  I left feeling like I had spent a wonderful evening with some lovely people.  It is not always pleasant.  Sometimes the anger is very strong and we (the hosts) are the closest thing so we get the brunt of that anger.   I’ve been there for that and it’s very hard to deal with, so Saturday was great.

I have been knitting on my February Lady Sweater.  She is pink and growing.  No picture today because she looks about the same only a little bigger.  I will share when she grows a tad more.

This dianthus is still blooming on my deck.  We have not yet had a killing frost.  Rain?  Yup.  Cool?  Yup.  Frost?  Yup.  Freeze?  Nope.  Still waiting.  It could happen any time now.

Grover and I had a misunderstanding.  The language barrier is hard to overcome.  He got into a barking binge on Sunday afternoon.  He was outside and barked continually.  He’s normally the strong silent type, but he would not shut up.  I told him to come inside and he continued to bark.  I finally shushed him and told him to lie down.  He did, but he wouldn’t take his eyes off me.  I do not speak dog.  I understand a basic conversational wag, but barking I don’t understand.  It could be his accent is from a different part of the country.  I don’t know.  I do know that I finally had to comfort him and snuggle with him and sing (I’m pretty sure that was what did it) for him to calm down and relax.  We’re ok now, but sheesh.  It’s so frustrating.

Now.  It’s Monday.  So, you all need a song to sing in your heads all day long.  Well, I have the perfect song for you.  “The Seeker” from The Who.

Have a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU A … FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s that day once again! It is FRIDAY!!  Ms. Stinky McFartbutt wants to be the first to wish you a happy Friday (up close and personal).  This is for Sophanne/Becky. Esau Marie’s nickname amuses her, so this one’s for you!!  Doesn’t she (Esau) look just stunning on her matching night-night bed?  Yes.  I do talk like that to my animals.  Not in baby voice, but I use the same words I used when my nieces were about 1.  At least THEY have grown out of it.  Shortly after I took this darling picture we got into a bitchslap fight.  She won, but only because she has claws.

So, remember when I decided I was being too much of a perfectionist with the February Lady Sweater?  I ripped it.  And, this is why.

See those holes?  I am not entirely sure what I did, but it was a tad too much.  So, I ripped and restarted and I am much much happier.

It’s moving along nicely now.  I’ll just spend as much time as I can knitting this weekend, but I do have a few things going.  They have promised the rain will stop, but after 10+ inches for the month (already over 2″ over the old record)I’m not sure I believe anybody anymore.  Here’s my deck.

We regain the hour of sleep we lost last spring this Saturday night.  Remember to set your clocks BACK and put new batteries in your smoke detectors and most importantly, have a cocktail to help you get your tasks complete.  Also Happy Halloween to all and happy birthday to my little brother, Todd.  He would have turned 50 this year.

Have a wonderful wonderful wonderful weekend (can you tell I’m into repeating myself?).  Here’s my soundtrack to send you on your way.  “Start Me Up” by Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones;

Have a good one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oops. Random again.

It appears that my lack of focus has lost me my post, so here we go again. My lack of focus can be brought upon the broad shoulders of Mother Nature and her seriously pissy weather here in Middle Earth. I fear Mother Nature’s wrath. I do. But she has not tried me like this in a long time. We slog. We smell. Wet. Wet human. Wet dog. Wet Esau Marie from the wet dog.  Mildew smells and moldy smells.  It has rained and rained and rained.  And it continues to rain.  I think we are getting a day or two this week without rain.  Nobody, but nobody is talking about the end to this.  If you are in drought, come on by.  We have plenty to spare.  It hasn’t been raining hard enough this past week for the basement to actually leak.  No.  Now, it seeps.  The ground is so saturated that the water is seeping into my basement.  Meh.

Enough.

So.  Whaddya want to talk about?  I’m still working on my FLS.  She is in about the same place she was Monday, but just a few rows bigger.  I have been in such a foul mood (I just typed fowl and that made me smile.  There is hope) that I just knit a bit in the evening, go to bed and read.  Whoop.  But, until the weather breaks and gives us all some reason to smile again, I think that’s where I’m gonna be.  In bed.  Reading.  I know what EZ said, but sometimes knitting isn’t the answer.  I find when I feel this foul, the best thing is to avoid my knitting to avoid a huge disappointment.  I can screw up my knitting on a good day.  On bad days, it’s easier and faster and more damning.

Is anyone having a party or going to a party for Halloween this year?  I am making dinner for the homeless that evening.  I’m helping out a friend and dinner will be more fun than the breakfast I originally signed up for.  Honestly?  I’m looking forward to it.  I bought little black and orange gift bags and will put candy in them and decorate them with stickers and serve them as dessert.  Dinner will be a salad (lettuce in a bag) and home made lasagna.  It’s the least I can do and it is less expensive than buying it.  I also happen to believe it tastes much much better.  So that’s my plan.  What’s yours?

And, to leave you with something less pissy than my mood, here’s Poco and “Keep on Tryin’”.  The video sucks, but I do so love the music.

Have a great Hump Day!!!!