There Has Been Crafting

In the midst of all this chaos, there has been crafting.  Not a lot, but there has been crafting.  I finished another charity hat.

It's Red Heart, something or other.  I don't remember.  Green.  That's all I know.  I already put the yarn back into the closet, and don't want to go...wait a minute...Light Sage.  

I'll be casting on another hat soon, but here lately, I've been working on my Zoom Loom squares.  Since sock yarn varies greatly in thickness, I decided to separate the squares out.  I put the ones woven with thicker yarn in one stack, and the thinner ones in the other. 

Then, I thought, "Might as well go the whole nine yards."  I dumped out all my balls of sock yarn and separated it, too.  I'll be weaving two different blankets.  If I get one of them done in time, I might send it to my sister and her husband for Christmas.  Weaving is the fun part.  It's sewing them together that I'm struggling with.  Sigh...

Since Walmart doesn't carry deer corn this time of year, when I was there yesterday, I picked up some of this berry and nut blend.  

The plan was to put it into my squirrel feeder, but when I saw the price, I said, "Nope."  I guess I'll have to go into Tractor Supply Tuesday after work, and see if they have deer corn.  I'll mix this in with that, and that ought to give them a treat.  

By the way, when I opened it up to fill my feeders this morning, it smelled so good, I could almost eat it myself.  

I gotta go now.  The National Memorial Day Concert is on, and I must watch it.  Laters...

Well, Poop

Yesterday, I was at work, just a working away, when the dispatcher came into the brazing department and gestured me over.  He tossed a piece of paper in my general direction and took off the other way as fast as he could.  Once I saw what was on that paper, I understood.  It said Tubing department is scheduled to work Saturday.  

Immediate outcry ensued.  "What??? We gotta work Saturday???  I can't believe they're making us work Saturday!!!"  And I'm just over here thinking, "Why are you acting like you've never worked here before?"  Buuuut.....Just before we got off today, Group Leader Shark came and said brazers would be off.  

They're putting in a new system, and it's going to take a bit to get it all up and running and organized.  However, until they do, we've had precious few orders to braze up.  I can't recall a time when I've been so bored at work.  Wait, yes I can.  Back when I was on second shift, I spent a bit of time as a quality auditor -- which involved mostly standing and looking all night.  I'd get so bored, I'd put my auditing tools down and work on the lines.  I hated that job.  

Anyway, today, I only brazed 90 parts.  Normal is 250-300.  I'll be glad when they get this all figured out.  I know some of those people can stand around all day talking, but me, I've got to have me some work to do.  

Well, we've had our first positive COVID diagnosis in the plant.  It's a girl on second shift.  He called her name in the meeting, but I'd never heard of her, and didn't know who she is.  They sent her home, and everyone in her department has been quarantined.  I'm wondering how she made it into the plant to begin with, since they're taking everyone's temperature at the door.  Obviously, that doesn't work, so they can stop anytime.  But they won't.  It makes them feel better.  Unearned Moral Superiority, is why Bill Whittle calls it. 

The Big Man Up Front -- and New Boss will heretofore be known on this blog -- has decided to make wearing masks mandatory.  He's just waiting on corporate headquarters to approve it.  He's been trying to do it for weeks, but hasn't gotten approval.  But now, he probably will.  Sigh...It won't stop the virus from spreading, but it will make him feel better.  And only him...

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate my job?  

Let's talk about something more pleasant, shall we?  Small businesses are hurting right now.  Lots of them have gone under.  I said I was going to use my stimulus to help some of them out, since I'm still working.  I can't help much, but I can place an order every now and again.  This time, it was my friend Leann.  You've met her before. Several times.  

This is her newest yarn set, dyed strictly for the pandemic.  It's called We The People.  

Here's a better picture of the mini skeins.  Aren't they pretty?  I love the red, white and blue ones.   

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this yarn yet, but I wanted to help her out.  I can't afford to buy all of her stuff that I want, but I couldn't pass this one up.  Here is a link to her shop:  Forbidden Fiber.  Do go and check her out.  She's got some truly gorgeous stuff there. 

Oh, and here's how the Zoom Loom squares are going.  

My, Becky, you certainly wove a lot in the last two days!  No, I didn't.  I cheated.  I found the strip I'd already started sewing together weeks ago, and simply joined it to the new squares.  I'm not sure how big I'm going to make this thing.  I'll figure it out as I go.  

Finally, I received this beautiful card from Cyndye.  

Her cousin is painting them to earn a little extra cash.  I might just have to put in an order, mighten I?  

Quiet Weekend

After Friday's shenanigans in Walmart, the rest of the weekend has been really quiet.  I haven't gone anywhere.  I haven't done anything except watch football and cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies.  Oh, and I split a bit more wood.  That is a workout, I'm telling ya. 

Something else I'm telling ya, these little squares are a lot more fun to weave than to sew together.

Yes, that is as far as I've gotten.  I'd planned on doing a bunch this weekend, but it didn't work out that way.  Especially after I discovered how not fun it is. 

In order to avoid sewing any more, I finished a hat.

Then I cast on another one.

And just for variety, I cast on a scarf.

This is some of that old Scarfie yarn I'd bought a couple of years ago.  I think this is the last skein I have.  Poor yarn has been knit and frogged so many times it was beginning to look a bit bedraggled.  I just cast on a plain old garter stitch scarf.  It's bugging me that it's so wide, but the styles have gone to wider, shorter scarves here lately.  Me, I still like the mile long, skinny scarves. 

Not that I ever have a chance to wear one...Maybe I would if I ever, you know, left the house and all. 

Speaking of leaving the house, I was looking on the Bed, Bath, & Beyond website, and they have some promising looking Christmas trees.  I might just head on up to Southaven this weekend.  Or down to Jackson...On the other hand, it is supposed to be raining this weekend, so maybe not. 

Since we're talking about weather, this afternoon, I was watching a moving on Lifetime, Christmas In Mississippi.  It was set down in Gulfport.  They kept talking about a massive hurricane that devastated the town five years before.  I'm such a dork, I looked up what year the movie was released, then thought back five years.  "Huh, I don't remember any hurricanes hitting Mississippi that year."  How much of a dork am I?  I'll tell you how much of a dork I am.  I got online and looked it up.  Sure enough, I was right.  No hurricanes that year.

Sigh, is it any wonder I can't find a husband? 

And finally, I got my newest Yes.Fit medal in the mail yesterday.

I was a bit surprised that they'd sent it already, since the event doesn't even start until after Thanksgiving.  But look, all the little charms are hung on lobster claws.  My first thought was new stitch markers!!

Which is really funny, because I don't even use stitch markers.  Not even all those I bought at Fiber Fun In The 'Sip in September.  I just use scrap yarn tied into loops.  Cheap.  Easy.  And I always have plenty on hand. 

Shenanigans

I was in Wal-mart today.  There were shenanigans.

They didn't have an E.  I looked at every single stocking in the display, but there was no E.  So, you're going to have to settle for Jeffery Didn't Kill Himself.

But we all know who that is...

Other than that, I got the majority of my Thanksgiving shopping done.  Cody is the only one of us who actually likes cranberry sauce, and this year, he's said I can make it myself!  He's always preferred the canned stuff.  The fresh sauce from whole berries is so easy to make and tastes so much better.  Me, I like hearing the berries pop while it's cooking.

I'm weird, I know.

Just before I left, I scanned the ice cream section and found this!

You pretty much have to grab it the day it's put out, or you won't get any.  I never did find it last year, but got some the year before -- or was it three years ago?  I don't remember.  I just know it's been a while.

I still haven't found a new Christmas tree, though.  I looked on the Michael's website and found some that look promising.  I'd have to see them in person, though.  But the closest Michael's is 80 miles away in Columbus.  It has recently been pointed out that Columbus has a Christi.  Madison has an Amy, but it's 100 miles away.

And I'm just over here like, "Wow, people are fighting over me!  When did I get to be so popular?"

In other news, I'm pleased to report that the wax melter Cody got me last year works like a charm.  It takes a while for the wax to melt, so it wouldn't be good for just one or two stamps.  However, when you have a whole passel of Christmas cards to do, it works great.  Just toss some wax into the melter, let it liquefy, and scoop out the requisite amount.  Stamp and go...

I now have a whole passel of Christmas cards done -- addressed, stamped, and wax sealed -- all ready to mail.

The hard part is going to be sitting on them until after Thanksgiving.  I could make them early, but I know how apoplectic some of you get when anyone even thinks about Christmas before Thanksgiving. 

And lastly, I finished three more squares on my Zoom Loom.

Then I started sewing them together.  Well, I got three of them sewn together.

As promised, I'm reaching blindly into the bag and whatever square I grab is what I add next. 

Because I like living on the edge like that. 

Change Of Plans

The plan was to get up this morning and go up to Lowe's in the next town up the road, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. 

See, I've been wanting to get a new Christmas tree for a couple of years now.  Beverly and James gave me theirs when they moved back to Texas in 2015, and it's just too big for my little living room.  Which, ironically enough, is the reason they gave it to me in the first place.  Not that it's too big for my living room, but that it was too big for theirs in their new house. 

It's a gorgeous tree, but I've always had to do some pretty serious furniture rearranging to get it into the corner there.  With my keyboard taking up a huge chunk of space in my living room now, I just don't see how it's going to fit at all.  I still want one that is 7 1/2 feet tall, just not as wide at the base.  I don't like any of the ones I've seen at Walmart.  Thus, the trip to Lowe's. 

However, last last night, my weather apps began sending me warnings that the expected rain would get here much sooner than I'd thought.  A couple of them were even saying the rain would start as early as 9:00 AM.  Most were saying it would get here about noon.  I decided eh, I'd just stay home rather than get out in it.

Wait, what?  Doesn't everybody have 23 weather apps on their phones?  They don't?  Sheesh, no wonder I can't find a husband.  Well, that and the whole not wanting one thing...

Turns out, I could have gone, because it only sprinkled for most of the day.  The rain -- the real rain-- didn't start until around 4:00 PM.  I would have been home long before then.  Oh, well.  It'll give me something to look forward to next weekend.  Which, by the way, due to judicious scheduling of my vacation time, will take place two days from tomorrow.  He he he...I just love two day work weeks!

By the way, look what they have in the forecast for us tonight. 

Snow!  In Mississippi!  In November!  If this global warming keeps up, I might have to break down and buy a parka. 

So, what did I do with my day off, since I didn't go to Lowe's?  Well, I'll tell you.  I wove a bunch more squares.

In the interest of full disclosure, I didn't do all of those today.  I did some yesterday and Saturday while watching football.  Speaking of football, how about that LSU/Alabama game?  Texas won on a last second field goal as well.  Who needs to work out?  I get my heart rate up just watching these games!

Back to today...

I watched cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies and addressed my Christmas cards.   I still have to do the wax stamps, but other than that, they are all ready to be mailed.

I'm really on the ball this year, even though I don't plan on actually mailing them for a couple of weeks.  Some years, I don't get them sent at all.  Having the stamps and sealing wax has made sending cards so much more appealing.  I'm debating on also sending cards to my overseas pen pals.  They've all stopped writing to me, so I don't know if they'd want one or not.  I probably will send them anyway.

Finally, I have heard from a much more reliable source that we are going back to 8 hour shifts when we get back to work after the New Year.  I hope and pray it's true.  Maybe then I won't be feeling so run down all the time, and the blog will get more interesting.

Until then, thank you to my three readers who still visit regularly.  You have no idea how much I appreciate you. 

I Finally Did It!

It was a bit nippy this morning when I woke up.

It was so nippy, my heater was running!  See, the space heater in the snake room isn't working right.  I think the thermostat has gone bad.  It warms up, but doesn't shut off when it gets to the set temperature, and just keeps getting hotter and hotter.  I don't trust the thing, and having no wish to burn my house down, I've unplugged it.  Until I can get a replacement, I'm keeping the central heat set at 65'.  Oh, the snakes will be OK, as long as it doesn't get below freezing in the house, but I want them to be somewhat comfortable.  Yes, I spoil my snakes. 

Speaking of snakes, I came home from work Wednesday, and there was a rather large box sitting in my car port. I got all excited for a moment, thinking someone had sent me a birthday present.  Then I remembered.  I'd ordered more snake food.  Sigh...

But I digress....

Knowing it was going to be cold this weekend, I got out yesterday and and split a bunch of firewood.  Well, not a bunch, but enough to last a few days.  Look what they're predicting for Tuesday! Kind of makes me wish I had another day off on the books.  But no, I've got to go back to work. 

Ever since I started taking all these days off this fall, I've been saying I'm going to get up and go get new glasses.  However, when my day off would roll around, I found I just couldn't get moving in the mornings.  Maybe next week, I'd tell myself.  And so it went for the last two months. 

This week rolled around, and same thing -- I had already said maybe next week, and settled in to watch cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies.  However, found myself getting bored and restless.  I couldn't watch TV.  I couldn't knit.  I couldn't play any of my instruments.  I just couldn't sit down. I figured it was God's way of telling me to go get my glasses.  And that's exactly what I did.

I went to the eye clinic next to Wal-mart, because they take walk-ins, and you know how I hate making phone calls.  I went inside and started filling out the forms.  The receptionist asks me what insurance I have, and I tell her VSP -- which is what we've had for years.  She looks me up in the system and can't find me.  I tell her I'd better be in there, because they're taking money out of my paycheck for it.  She asks where I work, and I tell her.  "Oh, they switched to EyeMed, and we don't take that insurance."  And that's how I discovered my work had changed insurance companies.  They used to have meetings to explain these things, but they don't any more.  Thanks a lot, place of employment. 

I briefly considered just having my eyes checked and paying for it, but quickly decided against it.  I'm paying all this money for vision insurance, and by golly, I'm going to use it.  I went back to my car, and while I was sitting there stewing, I figured if I'm going to have to make an appointment, I might as well go to my regular eye doctor.  They were able to get me in for yesterday (Friday) morning. 

Even though it's been five years, my eyes haven't changed that much.  I told the doctor (Dr. Kevin Braswell, for you local folks) I was having trouble seeing my piano music, and he made a slight alteration to my prescription which should help with that. 

When I went to pick out my frames, these are the ones that jumped right out at me.

I don't know how well you can see, but the top of the frames are purple.  I decided against them, however, as I couldn't see myself wearing them every day.  I chose a much more subdued pair, and they should be here in about a week.

By the way, that's what you get when you ask an INTJ to smile.  I'm convinced Mona List was also an INTJ  -- or at least an I.  Well, and the lighting in there was pretty harsh, as well. 

Now for a bit of good news:  Cody is going to get to come for Thanksgiving.  I can at least plan the meals ahead of time!  While I was sitting there in the Walmart parking lot Thursday, stewing over my insurance troubles, I said to myself, "Self, while you're here, might as well go in and get the shopping done." And that's exactly what I did. 

Y'all would be proud of me.  I walked down the Christmas candy aisle, and --get this-- I didn't buy anything!!  I was sorely tempted by the cherry cordial kisses, but I managed to resist.  I did start picking up the stuff I'll need for Thanksgiving dinner, so I won't have to buy it all at once.  I'll have two more paychecks to get the rest. 

The plant is giving us a turkey again, but I'm going to cook the one that's still in my deep freeze from last year -- you know, when I thought Cody wouldn't be able to come, so I just cooked some chicken.  I was going to save it for Christmas, but then Cody wanted to cook gumbo.  I kept saying I was going to thaw and cook it sometime during the year, but I never did.  Anyway.... I'm going be slow cooking it again this year.  I did it last year, and the turkey turned out so tender.  I'll never go back to hot cooking it.

In knitting knews --he he, see what I did there?  I finally got all my new yarn knit into my sock yarn blanket, and as promised, here is the updated photo.

Cody's bed is a double, so you can kind of get an idea of the size of it.  The original plan was to make it 12 squares by 24 squares, but laying it out like this makes me think I won't need to make it quite that big.  It's only supposed to be a throw, after all. 

In the midst of all that knitting, I made a few more Zoom Loom squares.

I reckon I'd better stop for now, before this post becomes a full length novel. 

Laters....

You'd Think I'd Learn

I woke up this morning to a world shimmering with with tiny diamonds on every blade of grass.

Back in the day, we'd say Jack Frost had visited during the night.  Folks don't say that much any more.  I think they should.

The world is a much better place when we add poetry to it.

Unfortunately, the frost -- while pretty to look at -- was tough on what was left of my flower bed.

Tomorrow, I'm going to get out there and pull it all up.

At least that's the plan.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Remember last week when I bought that Peppermint Bark coffee that didn't taste anything like peppermint?  Today when I was in town, I saw this:

You'd think I'd have learned from the last time, but noooo.  I had to give them a second chance.  I shouldn't have.  I made a cup as soon as I got home, and once again, it's just plain coffee.  Not a hint of peppermint flavor.

I don't understand why they'd label it as if it were flavored coffee when it's clearly not.  I also don't understand why they can't flavor it correctly.  Their Caramel Macchiato and French Vanilla flavors are delicious.  In fact, if you make the French Vanilla and add your pumpkin spice creamer to it, it's soooo good.   The vanilla makes the pumpkin spice so much richer. 

So, yesterday, I baited my little live trap and set it out near one of the chipmunk holes.  I checked it when I got up, and it hadn't been tripped.  I checked it again, a couple more times, but still nothing.  Buuuut, when I got home from running my errands in town, I let the dogs out into the back yard.  I noticed they suddenly became very interested in said trap.

Especially Rylea.  She's part hound, so she has those hunting instincts.  I had to physically pull her away from it. 

I chased them off and sure enough...there he was!

This is what has been tearing up my yard!  And my flower beds, and my old Jimmy, and everything else around here.  Kind of makes you wonder how something so cute can be so destructive, but that's what the little buggers are.  I carried the trap out into the woods, and sent the rodent to a land far, far away.  I'll re-set it in the morning, because I'm sure there is more than one. 

Speaking of being in town, I picked up a new pair of leggings on clearance.

And lastly, I'm absolutely addicted to weaving these little squares.

They are so fun and easy to do, but I've got to figure out something to do with them pretty quickly.  They're starting to take over my house. 

I've got to run, now, because Navy plays UConn tonight.  That reminds me, it's a good thing I've been setting my DVR, because last night, I completely forgot about Hallmark's new movie.  I'll be recording tonight's premier as well, because Navy. 

Laters...

And Just Like That

Just like that, we're all back to hating Port Isaac.

This morning was the coldest yet, and tomorrow is supposed to be even colder.  I'm still resisting turning on my central heat, but I've got wood up in the wood box to start a fire in the morning.  I'd planned on going in to town and getting new glasses, but all I ended up doing was knitting on the blanket.

I went out and filled up my bird feeders and the squirrel feeder.  By the time I got back into the house, I couldn't feel my toes.

Your PSA for today:  rubber boots have no insulation.  You might as well be barefoot.

Oh, and my latest Yes.Fit medal arrived today.

This one is the Headless Horseman, from the Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.  Kind of appropriate that it arrived on Halloween.  If you ever decide to do any of these races, that is a good one.  Very pretty scenery, and interesting land marks.  I haven't signed up for any more races at the moment.  I'm considering doing the Loch Ness one next, but will probably wait until after the New Year before I start another one.

Kind of no point in dieting until after all these holidays are over.

Speaking of holidays, another Halloween has come and gone, and I didn't get one single trick or treater.  I guess I'll have to eat all this candy myself. 

Hey, it's a tough job but somebody's got to do it. 

And with that, I will leave you with my traditional Halloween prayer:

And bid you good night. 

Countdown To Christmas

Yesterday at work, I mentioned to my coworker how badly my eyes have been burning lately.  I said, "I hope this rain coming through settles down whatever it is that's got my eyes burning."  She said she and another coworker had just been talking about the same thing.  They'd thought they were getting sick.  I still hope the rain settles down whatever it is that's got me going, but so far it hasn't.

It was raining when I got up this morning, and has been raining all day long.  Not hard enough that I couldn't go run my errands if I'd had any, but hard enough to make me not want to.  So, what have I done while sitting at home all day? 

Well, I'll tell you.  First thing I did was to re-pot one of my Christmas cacti. 

When the chipmunk had dug it all up, I wasn't sure how long the pieces had been laying out on the ground, so I just hurriedly shoved them into the dirt.  It wasn't very attractive of an arrangement, so this morning, I carefully pulled it all out and replanted them.  I even put the piece I'd had in the cup into the big pot.  It looks a lot better now.  I just hope at least some of the cuttings take.

Then I pulled a long piece off another cactus and planted it into the cup.  By the way, the one in the terra cotta pot on the left is the original Christmas cactus that Cody got me for my birthday 19 years ago. 

Today is when Hallmark channel starts their Countdown to Christmas.  I've been looking forward to it all year.  Yes, the movies are cheesy and formulaic, but I still watch them.  And by the way, you're not going to get snow like that in ...wait, it snowed in Amarillo Texas this morning, so maybe you can get snow like that in Memphis at Christmas.

Anyway, the first premier comes on tonight, so I opened my ATT TV app, and headed to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel to make sure my DVR was set...only to discover ATT TV had dropped that channel.  What?????

That's the only reason I even subscribe to that app in the first place, and now I'm going to miss half the movies?  No way!  Naturally, I did what any red blooded American would do.  I dropped them like a hot rock.  I did a little research and signed up for a streaming service called Philo.  It's only $20 per month and has all three Hallmark channels.  I didn't even know there were three.  Did you know there were three?

The third one is Hallmark Drama.  So far, so good, and Philo even has DVR.  What's more, when you click on the channel, OK, say you're looking through the guide and you see a show you want to watch, only it started an hour ago, so you've missed half of it.  With Philo, you can start from the beginning if you want to.  Or you can jump to the live broadcast.  You couldn't do that with ATT TV. 

Of course, it won't replace my Hulu, as it doesn't have local affiliates, and  it doesn't have any sports channels, but until Hulu gets Hallmark channels, I'll be turning it on at Christmas. 

Since the new movie is about to start here in a few minutes, I'll just show you the latest batch of Zoom Loom squares, and say good night for now.

Goodnight for now.

We Have Deer!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned they'd turned off the turnstiles at work?  Today, I found out why.  Seems that they'd done a fire alarm test just before they turned them off.  Now, what is supposed to happen is that when the fire alarm goes off, everything is supposed to unlock.  All the turnstiles, emergency exits, everything.  In actuality, everything was locking. 

They called the security company, who said they weren't coming back out there again.  They told the plant it was supposed to be that way.   I'm not sure if I believe that or not, but it's what the rumor is saying.  It doesn't make any sense to lock all the employees inside a burning building. 

Anyway, they got it fixed now, and the turnstiles are back on.  I still don't feel safe there, though.  If someone is determined to get in there and shoot the place up, those pathetic things aren't going to stop him.

In other news, I was standing by my window yesterday afternoon, about to wash some dishes, when I looked out and saw this. 

This is the fawn of the doe that looks so poorly.  He was by himself, but I did see the doe later -- also by herself.  I didn't get a picture of the doe, because Jesse scared her off before I could get my camera out.  She's still looking drawn down, though. 

I hope now that she's weaned, she'll put on some weight.  Of course, she's probably pregnant again -- or will be soon.

The little baby came back a while later,  and I got an even better picture of him. 

The only other thing I did was to weave, yes, even more Zoom Loom squares. 

And watch football. Lots and lots of football.

Let's see, Navy won.  Texas won on a last second field goal by Dicker the Kicker.  LSU won -- and didn't cramp up one single time.  And the Cowboys won.  I watched a few other games just to pass the time, but those were the ones I was really interested in.

By the way, how in the heck to you get into a fight in Victory Formation?  Then, after the refs break you up, how in the heck to you do it again?????  Seriously, dudes...


Oh, and I watched baseball. I got there in plenty of time to see Jose Altuve slam a two run walk off homer to send the Astros back to the World Series.  I'm not normally much of a baseball fan, but that one had me hollering as loud as anybody.

Next season, I might have to check the schedule and see if I can get any Astros games in this market.  If I can,  I might just watch more baseball.

Don't Envy Me

Don't envy me my exciting life.

Seriously, don't.

You know you live a dull life when the highlight of your day is buying a new Dustbuster.

You'll become even more envious when I tell you that this is the first Dustbuster I've ever owned.  I mainly bought it because I got tired of trying to wipe the dead bugs out of the window sills with a damp paper towel.  It doesn't work too well.  And since it's been cool enough to open said windows lately, the presence of dead bugs has become even more noticeable.  Plus, it'll be handy for little spills and such as well.

Look at me, telling you the benefits of owning a Dustbuster when I'm probably the last person on the face of the earth to get one.  But at least my window sills are now dead bug free.

All right then...moving right along...

Let's see... what have I done this weekend?  This morning, I got up and put my Fall application of Weed & Feed on the grass.  The dogs weren't happy that I had to keep them inside afterwards, but they got over it.  I didn't do it last year, and I think that's why the weeds took over my back yard.

Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas starts next weekend, so I got online and turned on my DirecTV Now account.  Only now, it's AT&T TV.  The bad news is, they no longer have the $35 per month plan I used to get.  They've included HBO at "no extra charge" and raised the price to $50 per month.  And they still don't have my local network affiliates, so I will drop them again right after the New Year. If they keep raising the price, I might not get them again next year.  I get Lifetime with my HULU, and they have some pretty good Christmas movies. So, there.

I also wove some Zoom Loom squares.

Then I wove some more.

On a whim, I got out all the ones I've done so far and counted them.  I've currently got 60.  Pretty soon, I'll have to figure out how I want to sew them all together.  I'm thinking I might make a true crazy quilt type and just reach blindly into the bag and whichever square I pull out is what I add next.

Whatcha think, Christi?  Think that'll make your friend Amy C. scream?  I'm still giggling over that, by the way.

A while back, I mentioned that someone needed to make a Dan Crenshaw action figure.  I've searched and searched, and haven't found one.  So, a Captain America doll,

and a homemade eye patch, and I made my own!

The patch isn't sticking too well.  I made it out of a printer sticker.  I've got some electrical tape around here somewhere that I think will work better. If I can find it, I'll try it out.

Finally, I found a violin lesson series on YouTube.  She even has links to PDF printouts that go with the lessons.  She seems to have a really good lesson plan.  For starters, she talks about the parts of the violin, and how to hold the bow, how to rosin the bow, and all that.  I've finally started the first real playing lesson.  It's just how to play the notes on the open strings, but that's where you need to start.

I've been playing sitting at my keyboard, so I can use the music stand on it.  It's not working out too well.  I'm not sure what the problem is, but I can't see the music.   I think my next investment needs to be a regular music stand so I can adjust the height to where I can see out of my bifocal spot.

And a new pair of glasses.  I was looking through my Facebook memories, and it's been 5 years since I've had new glasses.  That may be why I can't see anything.

Probably ought to get that taken care of, huh?

Short Post

This is going to be a short post, because, well, frankly, I just don't have anything to talk about.  About the only thing I can do is show you my new fingerboard thing I ordered for my violin.

I still have to learn how to play it, though.  The company that makes the decal -- well, it isn't a decal, it's more of a vinyl cling, but it clings to itself, not the violin -- has a website with instructional videos.  I'll look it up tomorrow evening when I get home from work.

Speaking of work, I'm a little aggravated with my place of employment right now.  We've got inventory coming up soon.  Back at the beginning of the year, when I was scheduling my vacation days,  I went by the calendar the company puts out every January, as I always do.  I made sure not to schedule a vacation day on inventory day, because I always work that day.  I found out yesterday that they rescheduled inventory.

To a day I have a vacation day scheduled.  Oh well.  I'm not changing my day.  They'll just have to find someone else to work in my place this year. 

That's about all I have for today, so I'll just leave you with the latest batch of Zoom Loom squares.

Maybe tomorrow will be more exciting.

I Forgot

I got up this morning, and forgot today was a holiday, and I put some letters in the mailbox. I was already at work when I remembered.  No mail.  Duh...that's not the worst of it, either.  On the way home, I stopped at the mailbox -- with the flag still up-- and checked the mail...

I slept pretty good last night, so I can't even blame sleep deprivation.

Still, I think I'll go to bed early tonight anyway.  Because I did stay up late watching Lone Star Law.  Morgan Inman was on last night's episode.  And that's all I have to say about that.

Well, it appears I'm shortly going to have one less snake.  Oh, no, they're all OK.  But Cody has agreed to take Slider the ball python up to Memphis and give him a home.  I hate to sound ugly, but I never liked that snake anyway, and never really wanted him.  I was only supposed to have him a short time...see, I had this coworker who'd recently been kicked out by his roommate, and had to move in with his sister for a time, until he found a new place.   His sister wouldn't allow the snake in her house, so I agreed to foster him -- temporarily.  Or so I thought.

That was in 2007.  I still have him. 

Yesterday, Cody and I were chatting, and I asked him if he wanted Slider.  I said I'd keep him if he didn't, but I felt he'd enjoy having the snake more than I was.  He agreed to take him in, which makes me feel a whole lot better about things. At least Slider will be where he is wanted.

And I'll have one less mouth to feed.  OK, he only eats 4 times a year, but still...And I'll still have my colubrids, which I like a lot better than pythons anyway.

Speaking of feeding, Mama Doe showed up this evening to see how sloppy the squirrels have been lately.   I managed to get a fairly decent photo of her, and you can see why I'm worried.

She is so drawn down.  She wasn't like this last year, and she had twins then.  She's only got a single this time around, so it shouldn't be that rough on her.  I hope it's just age doing this, or parasites, and not CWD.  She's been here longer than I have, so she's at least 4 or 5 years old.  That's on up there for a wild deer. 

On a more pleasant note, I got several more Zoom Loom squares done over the weekend.

And lastly, 26 years ago today, this little bug was making his entrance into the world at U.S. Naval Hospital, Naples Italy.

Sigh...where does the time go?