Hanky Panky

I just did a quickie embroidery on a hanky as a test. I'll need to get a smaller hoop so I can get into the corners of the hankies. JP really likes them and they are fun images. This hanky was small and very stretchy, so the image is a bit rough, plus I'll have to iron it as well, which may improve the appearance.

A free Saturday afternoon, what would you do with it? What would you do if it was pouring rain?

It's Kerrisdale Days and JP's work is hosting a part of the street celebration. He even drove a company van in the parade. He had to leave early this morning to help his work set up their displays and was expected to be gone all day. But the weather has turned and it's raining pretty good, so he may be home in the early afternoon.

I didn't mow the lawn yesterday because the forecast had looked good for Saturday, so I procrastinated. Yes, me, I did. Not too often do I delay work - I like to get it over with.... but I did. Now I'll have to wait a couple more days until it stops raining and it' dry enough to mow. JP fixed the wheel on the lawn mower last week after if finally broke off. It was really hard to mow and hold the mower up at the same time to stop the blade from hitting the ground.

I wrote a list and completed all the errands - you know the ones: library, drycleaner, video store, Cobs bread and pet food! All done. Now I have a pile of receipts to go through and figure out the bank balances. But I can sit by the fire, or cuddle up in the bed and do what I please. (Which will probably include a hook or a set of needles.)

Can you say "mundane"?

Okay, off I go to do laundry, and sneak in some crochet flowers (just because) and whatever else I feel like, because I can....

Scallops Anyone?

I completed the scarf from Happy Hooker. I doubled the length and went through about 3 skeins of yarn. It's for a girl at JPs work. She said she wanted a long skinny black scarf. Yikes! Finished length? 10' 5". Maybe a bit too long? But when I tried it on, being thin and with the scalloped edge, just wrapping it around your neck several times, it's quite nice. I hope she likes it. Black yarn is hard to photograph, here's a quick photo of the stitching detail.
The picture above is from Happy Hooker, I hope Debbie Stoller doesn't mind.

Schnauzers and Stripes, I'm going to get me some schnauzers and stripes...

I finished the dog sweater for my mom's schnauzer. It's from SnB Nation, but I changed the colours to cream and black, that should look good on a silver dog. I'll send it to my mom with her Mother's Day presents. Too bad it's at the end of the season and he won't need it for a while. But I was fun to do none-the-less. The picture sucks because it needs to be on the dog to do it justice. All flat doesn't do it much good does it? If I'd make it again, I think I'd do the sleeves in black.

The one thing about finishing knitting projects is searching all over again for a project to start. Going through the stash to see what I have and what can be made with it can take a good day or two to complete. But I sure like finishing projects.

It's a raining west coast day today. Sometimes I secretly like rainy days because I can stay indoors and don't feel guilty about crafting. Do you know what I mean?

I think my next project will be a scarf from the Happy Hooker.

I'll let you know.

I'm back

I had a bit of a rough day yesterday, thanks to Microsoft's lousy patch, my computer had issues. Thanks Microsoft for stealing a day from me, as I fully backed up my computer and prepared for a full hard drive reset. Thank you to my brilliant brother (he really is a genius) who spotted notice of the foul patch and stopped me before I wiped my hard drive clean, and thank god I procrastinated on this one!

I haven't worked on my mom's dog sweater since I've been back because the weather has been so good. I have 1/2 of one sleeve and a 1" border on the bottom to do. I'll finish it tonight and then package it all together with her mother's day gifts.

We had super good weather for 4 days but now we're back to cloud and threatening rain. Sometimes in the summer I look forward for the rainy days because I can do crafts with less guilt.

On Monday I only did obvious weeding, which was basically just pulling just dandelions. I didn't even get dirty! Yesterday, I planted some more seeds. So sad I fried the tomatoes and mums. Something's in my greenhouse eating my seedlings - ants or earwigs, I am not sure which but the has begun!

Monday I cooked some Maui Beef Ribs and yesterday we had marinated Big Boy Pork Chops - JP loved them both and asked my to make them again. Tonight are chicken pop-ups, that's a chicken breast filled with stuffing wrapped in bacon. Can I go 3 for 3?

A trip to the Big Smoke

I'm back from Toronto and glad to be home. I went there for work and traveled with 3 other employees. It's interesting that I'm always the only woman at these meetings. But all went well and a good time was had (as far as work goes). The boys went a bit crazy with the alcohol, but I didn't; I hate that tired and hung-over feeling, who needs it?

The weather there was beautiful but our weekend turned out to be great as well. It's been sunny and getting warmer each day. Today it's supposed to be 22 degrees C! Yeah. The bad news.... I went shopping yesterday and didn't open my greenhouse door, and some of my seedlings fried! Damn, I gotta start all over again, I doubt they'll be able to recover. I have other seeds so I'll just keep trying. And I'll be home now for another month so that will be fine.

Maxx was really lonely. Did a strange howl when I got home. Jazz was so awesome at the vet's kennel that they even reduced the price. And she's so lovely, the happiest dog I've ever met plus she helps Maxx figure out what he's supposed to do (like eat). On Saturday she went flying across the yard to chase a squirrel and hurt her leg. It's not swollen or broken, just strained. When I walked her on Sunday night she forgot to limp!

I had finished one sleeve of the dog sweater for my mom's schnauzer before I left and am itching to work on the other, but with the weather being so good, I think I'll have to be on my hands and knees weeding for a few more days. Just mowing the lawn makes all the difference thought, doesn't it? I do have to pull out 100 dandelions before they all go to seed and make more.

Spring is here and it feels good. Time to switch around my closet to bring the spring summer clothes and shoes to the front and send those dark woollies to the back! It's all good!

It's that time of year again

Well I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Toronto and Jazz (the one on the left) has had a couple of noise phobia episodes, including one last night that lasted for about an hour. No idea what she heard. I guess I'm like an addict. I need to hit rock bottom first, I just can't give up on her until there's nothing more I can do. We have so many good days and good times that the good outweighs the bad and I can't bear to send her away yet.
However, I have decided to board her at the vet for the 3 days I am gone. Funny isn't it, how Maxx (my 11 year Blue Heeler with epilepsy) is the one that's no trouble. JP can leave him outside or inside all day and he won't cause any problems. His little brain's on a continuous loop anyway.

At the vet, she'll be in good hands and if she hears something then maybe they can deal with her phobia and help me out.

*Yes, it's a crazy photo. Jazz never seems to take good pictures, she seems to change her posture when a camera is pointed at her. Here they are in mid-play so they have weird poses.....

"Lil' Pink Sock, I love my lil' pink sock" - Mooch, from Mutts

I made these slippers for my mom from some inherited yarn. I just couldn't figure out what to do with it, I had 8 'balls', not enough for a sweater or top, but more than just a scarf. Plus I was looking for something a little more complex. I crocheted a test piece and knitted a test piece and felt it looked better knitted. Then, I found a super easy pattern on the internet that has you make them on straight needles in one long piece and then sew the sides together. I'm almost embarrassed, if I had know it would be so easy, I would have done the circular needle pattern. I day for a pair. I'll keep this in mind next time someone I know is convalescing because it'd make a great get-well- soon present, don't you think?

Other than that, we've got rain, so I can't work in the garden, but I'll have to get crack-a-lacking soon.

This and that

Well I've been busy working on a large project, a counted cross stitch that has taken me a long time - for numerous excuses. Then on the weekend, I went to the fabric store and bought material for 2 spring skirts. I set up my sewing machine, but first I had to go through the pile of past projects. Yuck. I can sew but I just don't like it as much as other crafts.

Then, we got a break in the weather, so yesterday I planted all the types of seeds I hd in my stash and put the little pots in my little greenhouse and I mowed the lawn. Now I just need to wait for a few days until those little ones sprout. Mowing was a bit of a chore, our lawnmower's pretty sad - our ground requires that we really should have a 4x4 lawn mower! We have a wobbly wheel and that doesn't make the job easier. It was rather tough going and I still have a sore back because of it. But I didn't prep the lawnmower before winter and all I did was add some gas and she started! I'm so happy. I'll have to get that wheel fixed and sharpen that blade. I did some cleaning of the beds, but I didn't get time to start the hard core weeding and preparation that is also deperately needed. I'll be back out in the garden tonight, crafting and sewing will have to be put on hold.

** Newsflash - This is you you prevent the bird flu: