A-okay

Ok, a quickie update.
Well Jazz is better today. Things are smooth. The sun(and heat) returned. The little bear sweaters arrived at my brother's (minor adjustments but they like them)... and here's my new t-shirt(it's chocolate brown too):

I think it's cute.

How about you?

A crash and a smash

My day started at 5 am with a crash coming from the laundry room where the dogs sleep. My beloved Jazz had failed to clear the gate she jumped and sent it crashing to the floor. I went to put her back in the room and my bare feet slipped on a small area where she got sick.... okay, I can deal with that. But then I turn around to start the clean up when I spy a second spill........much larger........ YIKES. Not how I wanted to start the day. About an hour later, she had another incident and then when there was a sudden downpour of rain, she had a little panic attack and so I had to put her in her kennel. Enough said.

Later today, I'm working at the computer when - SMASH - I hear a horrible sound including breaking glass, my first thought was my fish tank, but quickly discovered it came from a different end of the house. Sadly, a shelf holding a collection of vintage ashtrays hit the ground and shattered 2 of our favourites and one not so favourite. We had 77, now we're back to 74. Besides losing them, I just got the brown metal Reno roulette wheel on MONDAY!

Here's the (cleaned up) damage, 3 broken, one completely shattered - the one we both loved, from Trader Vics:


Is it better to have a couple bad things happen in the same day, or better to have them spaced out over a couple of days? Why do they have to happen at all? Well, I guess both could be my fault because I feed the dogs, and I hung the shelf..... boo hoo for me. I think I'm going to take a nap, I just hope the bed doesn't collapse.

Weird Homes

Last spring I saw an episode of Weird Homes about a Vancouver tattoo artist called Thomas Lockhart. You can read out him here and here. After watching the show, I mentioned to JP that I liked this guy. So a few weeks later I arrive at my computer and find this picture of Thomas and his Chihuahua, Chili and note stuck to it:

It says " Hello Darlin'. Haven't seen you for while, where ya been?"

It was funny and it's been on my monitor ever since. Then suddenly the other day this appeared on my monitor:

The note says " Jeez, um... oh hi... ummm, uh, this is awkward, uh, have you met my girlfriend?"

Where will he turn up next?

32 inches

We were out of lots of things on the weekend, can you tell? Here's our grocery receipt, it's 32" long:

And then, JP wants to go out for dinner on Monday night... I think there are lots of things we can eat after this grocery shop, don't you?

We should be able to stay in and survive for several days with that stash!

Got a new bear sweater idea in mind, even found an ornament to add to it. I'll show you when it's done....

We had no rain in 17 days, now it's a bit cloudy, heard it was even spitting a bit in some areas, (sigh) I guess I can't expect Arizona whether now can I? Beside drought isn't good either, I'm sure my garden is breathing a sigh of relief.

A Sweater and a Spoon

I finished another little bear sweater - see below for the story . I've packaged them all up and am putting them in today's mail. It's definitely the best one as the little details were worked out. I'll see how they fit before I send more. And I'll wait to see what ideas my brother comes up with - he's super creative.

This is the November sweater, it's in olive green with a poppy on the front. But I suppose the poppy could just be an artsy blob and the bear can wear it all year round. The poppy is knitted in to the sweater, not embroidered on top. I wanted to do an Army bear but I could not put the adornments together fast enough. Also, I want to make a really girly sweater. But first I'm mailing them to him .

Also, a girl who works for one of our sub- contractor sent me a treat today in the mail - it's a kiwi spoon, how cool is that? To eat Kiwi fruit. This summer the buzz is all about the yellow kiwi. It has been described to me as 'tropical tasting'. It also has a smooth skin.

Interesting how EVERYTHING must be updated and hyper-marketed, including fresh produce.

And that we need a special tool to go with everything.

Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin...Sweater

My s-i-l has a bear that came with 12 sweaters for the year; my brilliant, creative brother thought it would be good fun to add a few to the wardrobe and surprise her with the additions. While she was out of town, he snuck one in the mail to me for sizing. His first idea was a Charlie Brown sweater. Below are my first efforts. The green one with the apple (for August) on it is the original (of course):
I decided to make him a Halloween one too - so now the bear can look like a pumpkin. I'm just using yarn I have in my stash so they are varying a bit from one to another, at least a stuffed teddy won't have major issues with sizing. I have some other ideas and I'm sure he does too, but first I'll send these back and see what he thinks and how they fit, and then we'll go from there. Any suggestions?

Tree spinners

This is a picture of my pear tree. I decided to put lots and lots of decorations in it because from the seating area, you sort of look right at the tree. So it has several windchimes and spinners etc. I see that they disappeared in the photo, so see below. Here's a close up:

These disks spin around in the wind and send light shimmers across the yard, it's like having a pool without needing the room or the maintenance. They are espcially nice in the morning as the sun just manages to hit the tree. It's a very good pear tree. Too bad my doggie has eaten 50% of the pears so far. I think I've had one, because they're not quite ripe yet. And when I went to make JP a pear pie he said "yeah.... I'm not much of a pear guy." To make it worse, the kid heard his dad say that and he says it too. Great. I can't eat all the pears myself, my family doesn't live close to me and the neighbours don't want any. Might as well let my omnivorous dog enjoy them!

I'm so looking forward to the weekend.

The dogs are happily chewing on some bones:

(okay, Maxx is actually done his. Pictures with his mouth full are not flattering. )

Some days are harder than others

Don't read if you don't like grumpy work stories....... So on Monday a guy at work wanted a report as he was coming to Vancouver on Wednesday for meetings. The one report would be over 400 pages. So I told him I couldn't print and collate and courier the reports all in time for his meeting on Wednesday. He said he was flying into a local airport, so I said I would meet him there on Wednesday and hand him the reports. So yesterday I arrive at the airport, pay for parking and then walk around with 2 reports/500 pages (which are heavy) looking for this guy. I check the Arrival's monitor, yup, his flight has arrived, but he's nowhere to be found. I call his office and his cell. No luck. I return to my car and drive around all the little hangars etc at the airport. Nothing. I drive through the area of rental cars. Nothing. I phone again. I leave 4 messages and 1 page. I wait an hour and then leave. As I'm driving home, he calls and says 'No! It's tomorrow. I'm sorry if you thought it was Wedneday, but it's tomorrow. I couldn't get any flights on Wednesday, so it was changed to Thursday. Sorry about that." I didn't say too much because I was pissed and knew that what I wanted to come out of my mouth wouldn't be nice or businesslike or professional. He wants me to do it again the next day. I look at my schedule and tell him I can't. I got back to the office and promptly arranged for the courier to pick up the reports, sending them to each client. If he had told me earlier that it was Thursday, I could have couriered the report on Tuesday to this guy to arrive at his office on Wednesday so he could take it with him! And I wouldn't have had to take so much time out of my regularly scheduled day. I know he never said Thursday!

GRR. I send him an email and tell him I've couriered the reports to his clients and I've emailed the zipped database and pdf of the report so he can have it on his laptop or print it himself. He tells me he must have one report in his hand for the meeting and I must print another copy. GRR. So I print another copy and drive back to the airport to drop it off at his airline's counter.

While I'm driving he leaves me two messages. One says that if I can't drop it off at the airline's counter, drop it off at Avis because that's where he's renting a car. In his second message, he tell me to drop it off at Visa. There is no VISA kiosk at that airport. He's confused the words AVIS and VISA, just like he confused WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY. And he ended up pissing away my whole Wednesday.

At least I know he'll be flying and in meeting's today and so I probably won't hear from him today, which will be a nice break. And maybe I can get back on track, although I'm still 4 days behind on emails and about 4 or 5 reports behind on data entry. Sigh, the fun and thrill of a working girl

We had a lovely summer day yesterday, so I took the dogs for a walk in the morning and then sat outside and talked on the phone and knitted and read. In the late afternoon the evil neighbour behind us had to play loud (weird) music which was very annoying and basically chased us out of the backyard. Also, the loud and annoying music didn't allow me to read, so I went and sat on the front step to continue my book. After a while, JP came looking for me and I shared my discovery - sometimes the front of the house is the quietest place to be outside. He sat out there for a while, played with some stuff from the trunk of his car (you know, boys and tools), brought me a drink and kept me company, until it was time to cook dinner.

I finished the little purse yesterday, here are the two sides:

And here are some loverly flowers from my garden:

A Zinnia and a California Poppy. I love the California Poppy because we had a large grouping along the driveway and front walk/retaining wall of my childhood home. My dad really liked them and so do I. The flowers close up and night which I also like. The Zinnia is a nice stong plant with strong coloured flowers. Only a few seeds turned out this year, but next year I think I'll plant lots more. Plus Asters. I love the asters, but I let them get too dry and they're gone now. Next year, I will also plant more asters. I will plant Zinnia, Asters and California Poppies. Yes, I will.

Later in the day, we headed to Coquitlam to take a look at the VW Car Rally. Our friend had his car in the show-and-shine and he won first place for people's choice. Here's a quick look at the crowd:

See? Not much to see, lots of cars, car parts and people. All on a parking lot. But some people did have cute little retro displays with their old Bugs and Bunnies. I was surprised that no one dressed in costume to match the age of their 50's or 60's vehicle. Especially the Bus'. It was interesting to see and fun to hang out with someone in the know.

I wanted to drive my old Rabbit to the show, but JP wouldn't have any part of it. He just hates being a passenger and doesn't drive stick.

Attention Race Fans

Last night JP and I went to the Mission drag strip (1/4 mile flat track). They had a "street legal" night and he had a friend who was there to see a show-and-shine of Volkswagens and to put his bike on the track. It was fun and even JP said he'd consider going again. We met up with his friend and talked cars and bikes - it was all right.

The track is a bit more fun for me because years ago I had dated a guy who worked at a Harley bike shop, he worked his way up to being able to drive the shops' drag bike. He even broke a Canadian Record. I travelled with him and the team to other BC drag strips including Mission, Ashcroft and Prince George. Spending a weekend with the drag team and in the pits was fun and interesting. And seeing someone you know race is even more exciting. He was even featured in a bike magazine. So I knew the track well and seeing the lights and hearing the sounds brought back those memories. I tried to contain my giddiness.

JP made plans to go to a car rally on Sunday. So I'll let you know (and I'll take photos)

I finished the front and sides of my purse. Now I'm just going to take the dogs for a walk before it gets too hot, and then I'm going to sew it up. Then I'll figure out how I'm going to do the handles. I think it'll be an i-cord and I'll keep them short for a handbag because any longer and I think they'll stretch too much.

Is it Friday already?

I just don't know where the time goes. I work and then I cook dinner and then I clean up and then it's over for the night. Yesterday I went to the dentist. That was 1/2 an hour in the chair and 3 1/2 hours of driving. Plus I'm always nauseous for the rest of the day after I go there -so not much was accomplished yesterday.

Here's a peek at a purse I'm making. It will be a square bottomed purse, for which I'll make two side panels. The handle will most likely be i-cord. I received the pink/blue/brown/green yarn from my sil's mum when she cleared out her stash. There was just a bit of it left. But I liked that it had the colour options, so I had been playing with it with various colours. Then while thrifting on Tuesday night I came across 2 skeins of this brown and then I knew what I wanted to do.

Detail of the yarns/colours:



This weekend we're supposed to meet a friend at the track, he's going to race his bike in it. And a nature-walk for Sunday - that's a big deal because JP doesn't like outdoorsy things and I do!

Summertime, and the living is easy

Hey! It's summer. I'm a summer baby and love being outside. So after work is over, I'm gone baby, out there puttering in the yard. But here are some other things that I've been working on:

1. Word searches. JP cuts out all the crosswords in the Province. On the other half of the paper is the Word Search. He can do the crossword in 5-10 minutes and flips the paper over to me... I waste time on the word search. It's justified because I do learn new words and occasionally even look up the word to learn the meaning. Right?

2. Knitting. I'm working on a sweater for my mom. She bought all the supplies years ago, and then decided she really wasn't a knitter. I offered to finish it for her. It's in Sugar and Cream cotton, which I really like to work with. The front is done, I've just finished the bottom rib of the back. One sleeve will be white, one will be black.

3. Miscellaneous projects such as these little crochet circles from the first issue of Adorn. Say, what happened to Adorn? They were supposed to have their second issue out on August 6th, but it looks like they didn't make it. Too bad it was an incredible magazine. Did you get a copy? Update me on their story if you know.

4. Sunday is my night to water. Oh you want to see a woman curse? Follow me around the yard. We don't have a hose spigot in the front yard so I must hook up two hoses from the back to around the side of the house and then run back and forth to set the sprinkler position. I won't even continue with the details because it just gets me all fired up (grrr, grr)

5. And the big number five (I feel like this is a David Letterman sketch). Is my dog Jazz. Meet the little darling. Jazz is nine years old. She was given to me at 8months old. I wasn't given much of a choice. She was a rescue. She was allegedly very badly neglected and abused. Besides a lack of confidence the first few years, she's been a pretty good dog. But a year after I moved way out here (had to throw that in), I found out she was afraid of firecrackers. Well, with noise phobia, it apparently gets worse as she gets older. I live in a town with a drag racing track - so next the neightbour's dragster engine freaked her. Now it's the wood pecker and the neighbours nail gun (he's building a fence) and some motorcycles and oh yeah - the Air Show has some big rumbly planes in the sky.

We went to the vet on Friday for their annual shots (there's another dog - but I'll tell his long story another day). The vet said I've done more than any other pet owner she knows and if I chose to euthanize Jazz then she wouldn't be opposed to it. Man! That's a tough decision. Yes, I've tried Tellington TTTouch, accupuncture, naturopathic remedies plus Clomacalm, Pheromone diffuser, Diazapam, Clonazapam, Valium and even Paxil. Well, now we're on Prozac. It's $1/day. Hmmm. Jazz's charm is wearing thin.... I've tried to send her to someone who maybe doesn't live in such a noisy town. I've posted ads at the vet and on web forums, but nothing. Would you like a doggie?

There, now you know. That's what I spend my time doing in the summer.

Long Weekend Update

Yesterday, we walked Commercial Drive and had dinner at Nick's- it was yummy as usual. Jim Pattison had dinner while we were there. I didn't talk to him. I had a white shirt on and the waitress asked if I wanted a bib. I've never spilled on myself as an adult and couldn't bear the thought of wearing a bib, so I said 'no thank you' She gave me the 'I told you so look'. Shortly after spaghetti sauce landed on my shirt. The waitress brought a Tide-to-Go pen and JP got me a bib. I tried to clean my top but it wasn't really coming out. I tried to eat with the bib but that was difficult too. Then suddenly some spaghetti sauce was launched into space - I saw it fly! and it went up and over my bib and landed on my shirt anyway. That was it. I quite eating.I tried more of the Tide-to-Go pen but there was still stuff on my shirt. I went to the tiny bathroom and took my shirt off risking someone else coming in and others seeing me in my bra at the sink, which is right next to the door..... and tried to wash my top. I left the bathroom with a partially wet, stained shirt, with my purse strap covering the offending area.... sigh. Next time I shall wear red - or black!

Yesterday I picked up a knitting magazine because it had a pattern for a throw with a doggie theme. I liked it for that reason, but more because I could use bits and pieces of yarns that I've accumulated. But yesterday I found some great yarn that would be perfect for the background of several of the blocks - and so now I am buying things just for the project - oops! that wasn't supposed to happen.... I've got to get the sweater for my mum finished before it gets cold, but I like working on little projects too....so I alternate. Alternate between work(paid) , housework, yardwork, doggie duties, man and child duties and then what I want. Not really alternating is it? Why do women do that to themselves?

Check out my loverly lilies:

(I'll have to lighten that photo up....)

Well it's a long weekend here and it's wonderful weather too - so I'm off to play in the yard and the sunshine - and do nothing for the day. For me! Of course as I go, I pull a weed here, and sweep a floor there, and straighten that pillow..... it's never ending. I wish I still lived with my parents sometimes. Their house was always neat and tidy and clean and someone else worried about the bills and the maintenance and the grocery lists.

Before I go, yesterday a courier arrived for me and it was from a girl who works at a company my company works with - like a subcontractor for my employer. I've never met her in person but we have fun emails and phone calls - maybe too much information for a work relationship (that's what JP tells me). Anyway, yesterday I received this package:

Two CDs, a glass ladybug that sits on the edge of your glass and a packet of tea. For no reason she said.... just because. Isn't that sweet? What do you make of it? Men are always more suspicious than women, maybe for the right reasons though.

Dog Days of Summer?

Okay, I don't really know how the 'dog days' should feel.... but it felt like a good title. I'm crazy busy at work catching up from being away. Yesterday, I was so spent after working, I took an hour and read - but I was outside and the dogs interrupted me a bunch of times, and then the neighbour was hanging over the fence and wanted to talk until her dog threw up. It was like a scene in a Zooey Deschanel movie.... oh well, that's life I guess. JP came home with the August Bust magazine. It's nice that he does that for me, because there aren't any magazine stores where I live and it's never carried in the usual grocery or drug store, and nice that he doesn't mind buying a feminist type magazine.

I finished the front of my mum's sweater and started on the back - four inches of 2 knit 2 purl.... ho hum. I'll have to post a photo of the front.

I took the garbage bag full of awesome yarn bits and balls and put them in fresh ziplock baggies so I could squirrel them in the cubicles of my new bookcases. It worked! I have floor space again. I wish inspiration would hit me with a fantabulous idea to use them all up, but, as they say, all things come to those who wait. I must be patient.

We picked up my birthday BBQ on the weekend :

Isn't she beautiful? Now we need a nicer house to go with such a pretty unit. It's hard to believe it is so practical and so pretty all at once. Bring on the food, I gots me a cooker! Isn't my brother the best guy in the world? (I had to say that, he reads my blog... tee hee, I think he's the only person that reads my blog - so that makes him even better than best!)