I'm Free

My mini vacation has begun! 

I'm off work until next Friday.  

Group Leader Fernando wasn't too happy about it.  He said he knows where I live and was going to make life very unpleasant for me.  I retorted that he already made life very unpleasant and that's why I needed a whole week off.  So there.

I wasn't going to tell him at all.  I was going to let it be a surprise, but he came and asked me if I was going to come to work tomorrow.  I said that I hadn't decided yet.  See, when you have vacation on either Monday or Friday, you get the corresponding Saturday off with no absence counted against you.  So really, it was my choice to go in tomorrow or not. 

But I hadn't decided yet. 

Like I said, I wasn't going to tell Fernando.  I'd told my shift supervisor, because he had to approve my days off, but I was going to let Fernando be surprised.  But Vanessa popped up and said, "You know she'd got vacation Monday, don't you?" 

This being a G rated blog, I can't repeat what Fernando said. 

Let's just say he wasn't happy.  That's when I decided to come clean and tell him that I would be off through Thursday.  That's when he said he was going to make life very unpleasant. That's when... well, you know the rest.

He said he was going to do TP one day, paint one day, eggs...I told him to make sure he got the right house, because he's liable to get shot.  What with all the rednecks in my neighborhood (including yours truly), yeah, that's a real possibility.

And that's when I decided to go ahead and stay home tomorrow. 

I won't just be laying around all week, though.  I've got doctors appointments Monday and Tuesday, and I want to go to the zoo Wednesday or Thursday, but they're predicting rain.  I'll have to keep an eye on the weather. 

And of course, there will be knitting

And there will be Dr. Who,

And probably some Sherlock, as well. 

And all too soon, I'll be getting up and going back to work.  Maybe by then, Fernando will appreciate me a little bit more, and maybe he'll have figured out that I'm not quite the incompetent idiot he seems to think I am. 

But knowing him, probably not. 

Blankie Progress

I've got the second layer of blocks done on Kyle's blankie.  Here it is stretched-- well not quite stretched-- across my couch. 

I think once it's off the needles where I can really stretch it out, it'll be plenty big enough.

Here's a close up of the squares, all scrunched up on the needles. 

That's about it for tonight.  I've got a real blog post coming soon, but I'm still getting used to these 9 hour days. 

You were lucky to get this much. 

Chats On The Farmhouse Porch

1. Do you have any fun plans for the summer?
   
   No. Summer is our busy season at work, so I'll be working 6 days a week. That doesn't leave a lot of time for fun. I am going to go up to the zoo one day next week, though. That's about it.
   
   
2. Are you currently dieting or following a specific eating plan?
   
   Not right now. I was watching what I eat, but this medicine they've got me on for the RMSF makes me so hungry. I decided to just wait until I'm done with it to go back on my diet.
   
   
3. How often do you wear blue jeans (or any other color of denim)?
   
   Every day except Sunday. I wear jeans to work, but when I get home, I change into shorts-- or flannel pants/sweats in the winter time.
   
   
4. Who is your favorite singer?
   
   King George, of course! Um, that's George Strait, for those of you who may not be fans of country music.
   
   
5. Have you cooked anything interesting lately?
   
   Not really. I did try an egg free white cake recipe Sunday. It tasted OK, but has a very dense texture.  Almost like a pound cake.  If anyone knows of a light and fluffy egg free white cake, I'd love to have the recipe.  I've got a good chocolate cake recipe, but can't find a white cake recipe to save my life.   Today I made chicken and sausage gumbo. One of these days I'm going to figure out how to make decent gumbo.
   
   

Thanks for joining me for this week's chat.  I hope you enjoyed the cake and coffee.  Be sure and come back next week for another chat.

Stay safe, friends.

A Couple Of PSAs

Lesson for the day #1:  When resetting your alarm because you have to be at work an hour earlier than usual, make sure said alarm is turned ON before going to bed.

Lesson for the day #2:  Heed the warning in this video BEFORE getting Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever because you didn't check yourself for ticks.




You're welcome.

Seedlings

I've got lots of little stuffs coming up in my flower bed.

I can't wait to see what they become.

Yes, I know there are weeds in there, too.  I'm not going to pull them, though.  I did that last year and ended up pulling up stuff I wanted to keep.  So, I'll leave the weeds.

They're flowers, too, once you get to know them.

A New Strategy

I've come up with a new strategy for coping with men.

When a man starts getting on my nerves, I just imagine him wearing a kilt.  

When I do,  one of two things happens.

Either he looks so sexy I can't stay mad at him,

Or he looks so ridiculous, I dissolve into gigglefits.  And who can stay mad when you're dissolving into gigglefits? 

Either way, I feel a whole lot better. 

So, what'cha think?  Will it work? 

Bad News

Ever have one of those days when you wish you were a little kid again, and you could crawl up into your daddy's lap and just know that no matter what, everything was going to be OK?  I seem to be having a lot of those here lately.

I got my lab results back from the doctor today.  I have Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. 

Yeah.  No wonder I felt so bad. 

I have to keep taking my Doxycycline and go back to see Dr. Lee in two weeks.   I also have to go down to Jackson to see the infectious disease guy.  The lady at the doctor's office is going to set that one up for me.  I'm kind of irked, because she didn't even ask what day would be good for me to go.  I sure hope she doesn't set it up on the day when I already have several appointments scheduled.

That could really throw a wrench into my works. 

Sigh...

Updates

Despite the nausea which typically accompanies Doxycycline,  I am feeling much better now.  The fever is gone, and the soreness in my neck is nearly gone.  The rash is still stubbornly hanging on, but it's starting to fade just a little bit.  They still haven't gotten the blood test results back, but he said it'd take 4 to 5 days to get them.  No matter, as long as I'm getting well.

Since I didn't really feel like doing anything for several days, I watched a lot of Dr. Who, and did a lot of knitting.   The sock is coming along. 

I'm almost to the heel flap.  Just a couple more inches to go.

I also cast on a new hat with one of the yarns I bought the day Christi and I went shooting and shopping.

I didn't really think it would be making a spiral stripe like this.  I was hoping for a more variegated look.  This color is called Lotus.  Hmmm, I would have called it Fall Foliage, myself.  But they didn't ask me.

And the blanket is coming along, as well.

Kindly ignore my foot.  Thank you.

In better news, I'm taking 4 days off work week after next-- May 20-23.  That's a Monday through a Thursday.  I couldn't get the Friday off, or I would have taken the whole week.  Anyway, I've got my eye appointment and mammogram scheduled for Monday.  The rest of the week, I'm going to take a vacation. 

Well, it'll have to be a staycation, since I can't really afford to go anywhere.  I want to go up to the zoo on one of those days, and I want to try to get together with Christi and/or Amy another one of those days.  The third day, I don't know yet.  I'm sure I'll think of something.

I'm open to suggestions. 

Chats On The Farmhouse Porch

1. How many load of laundry do you do each week (about)?   Well, it's just me, so I only do three to four loads per week.  I'm not complaining.   2. Where do your household pets sleep? If you have no pets, please skip to the next question.   Rylea sleeps on either the couch or the love seat.  Jesse sleeps on my bed during the day.  I don't let him in the bed with me at night, so he sleeps right beside me on the floor.  The cat sleeps wherever she wants to.   3. What is your favorite thing to listen to while you drive?   Music.  I recently found a real country station, that plays music from the mid 90's and earlier.  I don't like today's country.  It isn't country any more.   4. Do you have to do a big clean-up when you have company, or are you always ready for guests?   I don't have guests.  I'm a pretty extreme introvert, and I can't stand having people in my house.   On the rare occasion that I do have guests, they just have to take my house as it is.  I keep it pretty clean, though, so it's not too big of a deal.    5. What's your favorite breakfast food?   Eggs!  Fried, especially, but I do like them scrambled, too.  Unfortunately, I'm allergic to eggs, so my favorite breakfast food that I can actually eat is cream of wheat.  The cooked kind, not instant.   
That's it for this week's chat.  Thanks for joining us here on the porch.  Be sure to come back next week for another chat.

I've Been Sick

It was Wednesday when I pulled the tick out of my head. 

I didn't think too much of it.  When you spend any time out of doors, and when you have dogs, you run into the occasional tick.  So, I just pulled it out and flushed it, like I'd done dozens of times before.

Thursday, I noticed a little tenderness behind my left ear.  By Friday evening, both sides of my neck and ears were swollen and tender, and I was running a fever.  It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before, and I finally began to wonder if it was related to that tick bite.

Saturday morning the rash appeared and I knew, so today I went to the doctor.

He gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, and drew blood to test for Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  The treatment will still be the same, but I expect if it's one of those, he'll have to report it to the CDC.

He told me to keep taking the antibiotic even if it wasn't one of those, because there's no telling what a tick could be carrying. 

So, that's where I've been the last few days. 

What's new with you?

Presents!

Yep, I got presents in the mail!

Real presents, too, not ones I ordered myself.  I opened my mail box, and inside was a package from my friend Bobbie Jo.  And inside that package were these:

How funny are they?  The one on the left is a sticker book, with a three ring circus background, and lots of stickers.

And they're not just picking on Democrats.  Here's a whole page of Republican stickers, too.

There's Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich, and Herman Cain, among others.

The book on the right is a book of paper dolls, with clothes and everything.

 There's Obama,

And Romney

And look! My own governor Rick Perry!

OK, OK, he's not really my governor.  But he is the governor of Texas, and you know what they say:

You can take the girl out of  Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the girl.

Yes, I know who the governor of Mississippi is.  It's Phil Bryant.  You're welcome.

Anyway, thanks Bobbie Jo.  This was just the little pick me up I needed after a rough week at work.

Who says internet friends aren't real?

Wet Wednesday

The rain started sometime during the night last night. I know this because the thunder woke me up. The rain continued for most of the day-- and is expected to continue through Friday. Then it is going to get cold again. Some say down into the 30s. It's MAY, people! MAY!

Since I couldn't get outside and shoot, I stayed inside and knit.

I started the gold row on Kyle's blanket.  Yes, I know the picture is sideways.  No, I don't know why.  No, I'm not going to fix it. 

I did put on my archery glove-- which I finally found after weeks of diligently searching.  OK, OK, I was trying to get something out of the back of the closet and I looked down and there it was, in a box I'd already looked in at least three times. 

Um, where was I?  Oh, yeah, I put on my archery glove and pulled my bow a few times, just so I wouldn't lose my strength.  Didn't dry fire it.  You never dry fire a bow. 

I just pulled it to give my muscles a work out. 

And that, friends was the highlight of my day. 

Yeah, I know you envy me my exciting life. 

Word. 

Chats On The Farmhouse Porch

Before I begin this week's chat, I'd like to tell my fellow chatters that if your blog is linked on Patrice's post, I do visit it.  I try to leave comments, but even if I don't, I still read your answers and enjoy everyone's posts.

I say this because I don't think I left any comments last week.  I was just so tired and my brain wasn't working.  My apologies.

1. When it's time to cut the grass (mow the lawn), who does it?
   
   Let me preface this by telling you a little story. When I went to the allergist a few years back to get tested, after they'd poked the stuff into my back and the proscribed time had elapsed, the allergist came in to check my results. As soon as he opened the door, he laughed and said, "I'll bet you can tell when someone is mowing the grass!" My response: "Within a 10 mile radius" Yes, I'm very, very allergic to grass, and if I try to mow, my eyes swell and I gasp for breath for days afterward. Heck, that happens even when someone else mows. In fact, my eyes are telling me that someone, somewhere has mowed sometime today. Needless to say, my cousin James and my son Cody usually mow the grass, but what with Cody grown and gone now, James mostly does it by himself. I'd love to help, but the need to keep breathing is stronger than my desire to mow.
   
   
2. If someone gave you $500 dollars and you could not spend it on yourself, who would you spend it on?
   
   Does paying bills count as spending it on myself? Hmm, in that case, I'd send it to Cody. Poor college students always seem to need money.
   
3. Have you ever taken a blogging break or considered one?
   
   I consider taking a blogging break all the time. It's what happens when nobody reads your blog. It's easy to get discouraged when you feel like you're talking to empty air. In reality, I've never taken more than 3 or 4 days off at a time. I feel like if I stop, I'll never start again.
   
4. Are you bothered by spring allergies or hay fever? If not spring, any other time of the year?
   
   Yes, yes, and yes! I was laughing at the Claritin commercial the other day. The line that says to continue to take Claritin as long as your triggers remain. Yeah, I take it all year round. My list is long, sweetheart.
   
   
5. What's new with you?
   
   Well, I've got a couple of different plants in my flower beds this year. That's about it. Everything else is same old same old.
   
   

 I hope you enjoyed our little chat this week.  Thanks for stopping by.  See you next Tuesday.

It's Monday, Again

I went by Wal-mart after work because I need a new garden hose.  My old hose just broke right in two.  It had gotten stiff and brittle, and when I stretched it out to water the seedlings I was planting, it just snapped clean in two. But it was pushing 20 years old, so I definitely got my money's worth out of it..

Anyway, I needed a new hose, so I went to Wal-mart to get one.  While I was there, I went outside to the nursery area to see if they had any purple coneflowers, but they didn't.

So I got something else.

The one on the right is a new chupacabra.  I'm going to put it into one of my pots.  I just don't think I'm going to fool with the petunias this year.  I may get one later on.  I don't know.  Petunias just aren't thrilling me this year.  I'm not sure why, but I'm not going to buy a plant I'm not totally thrilled with, because then I'd end up neglecting it, and I don't want that.

The one on the left will go somewhere in my flower bed.  It's an Agamemnon.  You spell that A-r-g-y-r-a-n-t-h-e-m-u-m.  It's something I had never heard of, but I'm guessing it's in the chrysanthemum family.  Alls I know is that I like the way it looks.

You spell chupacabra C-a-l-i-b-r-a-c-h-o-a, by the way...

I didn't get them planted, though.  The Bones season finale was tonight, and it was a Palant episode.  He's the best, creepiest serial killer they've had since The Gravedigger.  Nothing worth watching comes on on Tuesdays, though, so I can get my plants into the ground tomorrow.

In Knitting Knews, I'm making progress on the sock.

Since nobody correctly guessed what the pattern was, I'll tell you.  It's a Jaywalker, by Grumperina.  I got the pattern off of the old Magknits website, before they shut it down.  I've heard you can get it somewhere else now.  The yarn is Paton's Kroy Brown Marle.  Jaywalker is a great pattern for striping yarn.

I tried to get out and shoot my bow a little bit today, but Jake wouldn't get out of the way.  I swear, he's like the pesky neighbor kid who never goes home.  In fact, I'll lay odds he's out on my back porch even as I type...BRB...

Yep, he's there alright.

Still, it wouldn't be so bad if he didn't sit right in front of the target.  He thinks he's going to fetch the arrows.

Yeah, I'm tempted to see how well that works out for him.

Not really.  I wouldn't shoot Jake.

Maybe...

Stickers 'N Stuff

I've noticed

several people posting photos of their new car stickers on FB, so I thought I'd share mine:

Yeah, kindly ignore the huge honking reflection of my hand holding the phone.  I tried photographing it from several angles so that wouldn't be in there, but this turned out to be the best picture. 

Hey, at least I didn't post the one that had me in it.  I did you that kindness.  I hope you appreciate it.

Let's change the subject, shall we?

See, I started a new sock.

I'll give a hearty Atta-Boy to anyone who can tell me what the pattern is.

And I finished the first row of Kyle's blanket. 

It's kind of hard to see the pattern, what with it being all scrunched up on the needles like that, but it is going to be an entrelac afghan.  Not quite sure how big it will be either, because, you know, that whole being scrunched up on the needles thing.

I looked at several afghan patterns and they were all in the 130-150 stitch cast on range.  I cast on 200, so it ought to be big enough.  If it's not, tough nuts. 

I'm not starting over. 

An Unexpected Day

We got an unexpected Saturday off work today.  I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself.

So what did I do?

Well, I finished planting my flower beds for one.

On this side, I've got marigolds, zinnias and four o'clocks.

I looked all over for the double profusion zinnias I had wanted.  I even drove up to Batesville to see if they had any at Lowes, but no dice.  So, I settled for profusion zinnias instead.

The four o'clocks are ones I started from seeds I saved from last year's plants, so I have no idea what color they're going to be.  I had about 5 different colors blooming, so I hope I get a good variety.  BTW, I've still got quite a few leftover seeds if anyone wants some.  Just let me know.

Here in the middle, I've got dahlias.  They're new to me, but I liked the way they looked.

They're right in front of my purple coneflower bed, of which it looks like four of the six I'd planted last year are going to come back.

I haven't seen any coneflowers in any of the stores.  I hope they get some later on.  Oh, the green stringy things on the left are daffodils.  I didn't realize I'd planted any that far over.  But no matter.  They'll die back soon, then I'll cut the dead leaves off and no one will be the wiser.

Finally, on this end, I put a border of marigolds and planted my wildflower mix.

And there are two violets in there as well.

This is just a close up of my strongest looking coneflower.  Not sure why I'm putting it here, but I took the picture.  So I'm posting it.

That's about it for my Saturday.  I did some other sundry things, like laundry and housecleaning, but I'm sure you don't really want to hear about that.

Do you?

Tuckered

I spent the entire night last night running from zombies and serial killers.  I'm plumb tuckered.  The lesson here is that I've either got to A) get a man in the bed with me, or B) stop watching TV. 

Neither option seems all that appealing. 

I was already tired, and I stayed up to watch the draft.  The Cowboys had the 18th pick.  Not too bad, but they traded all the way down to the 31st pick.  I can't stay up that late.  I'll check the results in the morning.

And your PSA for the day:  The windshield wiper switch will not turn off your car's engine.  It will, however, start your day with a delightful little heart attack when your wiper blades unexpectedly scrape across the dry grass. 

You're welcome. 

Too Much Walking Dead

I've been watching too much Walking Dead here lately.  It's made me want to dig out the ol' compound bow and sharpen up my archery skillz. 

So, Sunday afternoon, that's exactly what I did. 

Not too shabby for not having shot in mfmfnfnfmf years. 

Then I shot again Monday, and Tuesday.  I didn't shoot today, though, because the wind is really strong out there.

Anyway, I was at work yesterday and I noticed some tender spots on my stomach.  I couldn't figure out where they'd come from until.... I got home and shot my bow.  Apparently, when I was nocking my arrows, I was sticking my stabilizer right into my stomach.

Yeah, we had to adjust my technique a little.  


Since it was too windy to shoot today, I stayed inside and finally cast on my friend Kyle's blanket.

Yes, this is as far as I've gotten.  I've decided to do entrelac.  No, I don't have a pattern.  I'm just winging it.

A couple of days ago, someone posted a recipe on Facebook for infused water.  Basically, it's just a grapefruit, a tangerine, a cucumber all sliced up and put into a pitcher of water, along with a couple of mint leaves.  It was touted as a miracle weight loss thing that flushes the fat out of you.

I don't believe in all that faddish stuff, but I thought it'd make a refreshing summer drink, so I made some. 

It's definitely an acquired taste.  The first time I tried it, I was like "blech", but the more I drank, the more I wanted.  It must have some health benefits as well, because I'm starting to feel better.  I'm not so tired and draggy. 

Of course, getting out in the sun every day instead of sitting in front of the TV may have something to do with that, too. 

Anyway, I've found another one that I want to try this week.   It calls for watermelon, lemon and mint. 

I'll let you know how it turns out. 

Chats On The Farmhouse Porch

It seems that spring has finally sprung here in the Fine Martial Homestead. I've managed to get a few marigolds and Dahlias planted, but still haven't found the zinnias I want. I may have to drive up to Lowe's Saturday after work and see if they have any.

But no matter. It's sunny and warm and time to join me on the porch.

1. Do you prefer to drive or be driven?
   
   Hmmm, well, since I've been doing the driving myself for so long, it kind of seems awkward to be in the passenger seat. On the other hand, if someone else drives, I can knit on the way, so that's a plus. I guess I can honestly say I'm OK with either way.
2. What's your favorite kind of jam, jelly, or preserve?
   
   My sister makes this really good jelly from Alaskan Fireweed, but other than that, I normally use grape.
3. Do you have any special plans for this spring or summer?
   
   No, not really. Summer is the busy season in the air conditioning business, so I normally work 6 days a week all summer long. Not much time for anything else. I do intend to get my flower beds going, and sharpen up my archery and shooting skills.
   
   
4. Lots of folks are becoming aware of issues with food. There are many articles, books, and movies on topics like allergies, GMO, pesticide use, bad or no labeling, over processed foods, foods from other countries that may not have high standards, and many more topics. What concerns you the most? If nothing concerns you, have a cookie and skip to the next question.
   
   My biggest concern is that because of some of these "anti everything" whackos, people will end up starving because there won't be enough food to go around. Face it, it's all about money and fame anyway. For example, the whole red-meat-is-bad-for-you craze was started by people trying to promote pork sales. In the same way, the dairy-is-bad-for-you movement was started by soy farmers trying to capture a greater share of the market. And much like the anti-vaccine craze, the anti GMO craze was started by someone with no facts and no evidence trying to claim his 15 minutes of fame. In fact, he has recently come out and expressed regret for having stirred the pot in the first place. And face it, pretty much everything we eat has been genetically modified from its original form, whether in the lab, or by trial and error. From domesticated animals to tomatoes, to potatoes, they bear little resemblance to their wild ancestors. So, just eat what you want to, and stop listening to the whackos.
5. Do you use nail polish often? Finger nails, piggies, or both?
   
   I usually try to keep up with my toes in the summer. I don't worry about my fingernails, because I don't have enough fingernails to worry about anyway. I can't stand having them long, because I don't feel like my hands are clean if they are long-- no matter how much I wash them.

Thanks for joining me on the porch.  Put your mugs in the sink, and be sure and come back anytime for a visit.

I love having visitors on the blog!

In my house, not so much.

Such is the life of a hermit.

Socks!

We have a completed pair of socks!

The bad news is, they've put us back on 9 hours.   I wish they'd just pick a time and stick with it.  This going back and forth every couple of weeks is wreaking havoc on my sleeping patterns. 

I got some marigolds and dahlias planted in my flower beds.  Soon, I'll get a photo of them. 

Right now, I'm going to bed. 

I'm one pooped puppy. 

Goodnight.

A Difficult Week

Normally, I'm not one for crying or getting all emotional, but this has been a difficult week.

Between the Gosnell murder trials,
the Boston Marathon Bombing,
the poisoned letters,
the battle to preserve our Constitutional rights,
the terrorist manhunt,
and the explosion in Texas...

I think I now know what the old hymnwriter was talking about when he spoke of the whelming flood. 

There has been more than one moment these last few days that I've wanted to curl up in the fetal position and suck my thumb.  Yet through it all, one thought has sustained me:

When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. 

He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid rock I stand. 

No matter how bad things get, I know everything will turn out in the end.  You see, I've read the last chapter of The Book.

We win. 

When all is said and done, we win.

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

Let It Begin Here

April 19, 1775

British forces marched on the towns of Concord and Lexington.  Their goal was to confiscate the colonists arms and ammunition.

They failed.

And a new nation was born.

A Fun Day

Despite my earlier concerns about the weather, this morning dawned bright and clear, albeit windy.  I checked the forecast, and the storms weren't supposed to get here until late this evening, so Christi and I headed out for a fun filled day of shooting and shopping.

First stop was Mitch's Gun Shop in Hamilton-- just north of Columbus.  I love that place.  Such a nice man.  He told us stories of coming to Grenada when he was a kid to fish in the lake.  He admired my French braid in my hair.  Asked why I didn't put it into two.


Said, "Oh don't cut it all off" when I mentioned that sometimes I was tempted...


I liked him.

Christi told him I'd driven all the way from Grenada to come shoot with her, and he said, "Since you drove all that way, I'm going to let you shoot for free."  And he didn't charge me a range fee!  Granted, it wasn't very expensive to begin with, but it was so nice of him to do that. 

Christi and I went to the pistol range and we had the whole place to ourselves. 

Me and Buddy

Christi reloading

Christi and Cricket killing her target.

This is my target.  I killed him a lot.

Christi and I traded guns for a few shots.  She's got a Walther .22LR.  It was sure fun to shoot.  I want a little .22 for plinking.  She shot Buddy and said it's got some oomph to it.

After I shot up all my ammo (I only took two boxes-- I hope now that the gun control measures in the Senate have gone down in flames, people will stop hoarding and ammo will once again become available), we went to Tupelo.

We ate first, because by then I was hungry.  Then we went to JoAnn's.  I hadn't planned on buying any yarn, since I'm trying to save money.  But you know how that goes...

Christi enabled me. 

Christi enabled me a lot.

This yarn isn't superwash, so I'm thinking of trying to make some felted hats out of it.  I said, "I hate to donate hats to a charity only to have someone toss them into the washer and ruin them.  But I can make felted hats.  That way, they'll be pre-ruined." 

Then we walked around the mall for a bit, but the only store we actually went in to was the book store.

I came on home after that, because I wanted to beat the storms here, which I did.  

We had so much fun!  We are going to do it again sometime, and this time, we will be sure to include Amy. 

Who promptly chastised us for not inviting her this time. 

We won't make that mistake again. 

But alas, all good things must come to an end, so it's back to work tomorrow. I sure needed this break, though.  As I told Christi, "Sometimes you just need to take a day and shoot stuff." 

Sometime,  yeah, you need to do just that.

Updates

The second sock is coming along right nicely.

Of course, it might come along faster if I would stay off FB and work on it. 

I took tomorrow off of work.  The plan was to drive to Columbus and Christi and I would go shooting then shopping. 

Sounds like a great plan, doesn't it?  Yeah...

Well, it may be that the weather wreaks havoc on our plans.  They're predicting strong storms, hail, and tornadoes, but the guy on TV says they aren't expected to get here until 5 PM.  I'm going to check the weather in the morning, and decide then if I think I can get there, shoot, shop, and get back safely. 

If I decide it's too big of a risk, then I'll stay home, watch movies and knit.  

In the meantime, here are my plants.  And a bottle of nail polish. 

Aren't they getting big?  It's almost time to put them into the ground.  Won't be long now until I get my flower beds going again.

I can't wait!

Chats On The Farmhouse Porch

QUESTIONS

1. From Suzanne at p.s. Annie!: Are you part of the back to nature/ecological group or are you more of the mindset of "I'll do what I want and everything will work out in the end"?
   
   I'm sort of in the middle. I do believe that God has called us to be good stewards of this earth he has made, but in no way do I think snails, bugs, or weeds are more important than people are. I do common sense stuff, like not littering. I take my Wal-mart bags back to the store and keep lights off when I'm not using them. However, I'm totally not into this green nonsense, since much of it does more harm than good. Electric cars, for example. It takes MORE fossil fuels creating MORE carbon emissions to generate the electricity to charge one of the dumb things than it would if you just drove a gasoline powered car. And compact fluorescent light bulbs-- anything that requires a hazmat team for proper disposal is NOT good for the environment.
   
2. From Stacey at Happy Bride to be: What's a favorite dinner dish to make?
   
   I don't really have a favorite dish to make, since I'm not much of a cook. Well, I can cook, but since it's just me, I tend to eat simple stuff-- sandwiches, frozen dinners, and the like.
   
   
3. From Melanie at Melanie at A Year of Jubilee Reviews: What animals have you seen give live birth?
   
   I saw one of my uncle's goats give birth once, but that's the only one. I kept trying to catch the cats giving birth, but they always seemed to do it in the middle of the night.
   
4. From Anne at Homeschool on the Croft: If you had the opportunity to teach something, what would you teach?
   
   Nothing. I don't like to teach at all. People always told me I should have been a teacher, but no. If I had, I'd likely be in prison by now for killing someone's kid.
   
5. From Madonna at Butterfly Acres: What did you love most about school?
   
   My 5th grade teacher would read to us every day after lunch. She'd turn out the lights, let us put our heads down on our desks, and she'd read for about 30 minutes. After all these years, that's the one thing that stands out to me. I guess because I learned to read so young (I was reading at a first grade level by the time I was 4), my mother never felt the need to read to me. So, having that teacher read to us like that is something I'll always treasure.