It Wasn't Even Thor's Day

Yesterday at work, I was just a working away when the very first order I got -- well, the second after I finished the order that was already on my stand -- had the tap fitting in the wrong place on the headers.  

I took them over to show Group Leader Shark, and she uttered a word I can't post here on the blog and maintain my PG rating, then told me to set that order aside and get another one because we were going to have to wait until the guys up in the front office got in and decided whether they could still be used or we would have to scrap them and have the whole order re-done.  The tap fittings were only about an inch out of place, but that could be enough that they wouldn't fit inside the cabinet. 

So, I did just that.  I set that order aside, got the next one and started working on it.  Shortly afterwards, I heard a commotion to my right and Group Leader Shark was over there talking the brazer who works on that stand.  Seems some headers she and another brazer had done an order and the headers wouldn't fit onto the coils.  

They went back to the line to check them, and some of them fit, but some of them didn't.  They had to bring them back up to brazing and pound them down into the jigs.  As I was walking by, on the way to get some more ice in my cup, I said to GLS, "I want to go back to bed and start this day over."  

"I don't want to start this day over!" she replied.

"Right!"  I agreed.  "Let's just skip to tomorrow." 

Only today wasn't much better.  

Before I'd even gotten started, I noticed something odd.  I walked around to the desk and told Group Leader Shark, "I've got a problem."  Then I explained what I'd seen -- the guy on second shift was putting my brazer number on his headers.  She said that they had told them to.  We all use our station number as our brazer number, and I had told Cuz a year ago that this would be a problem, because how are they supposed to know if it's my header or the person on second shift. 

GLS said that they can look the order up in the computer, and I said, "Are they really going to do that, though?  I doubt it, just like they don't read those papers Uncle Supervisor makes us fill out."  

Then I though of another problem.  "What if we're doing the same order?  Even if they look it up in the computer, it'll have both of our clock numbers on it, so how do we know which header is day shift 7 and which is second shift 7?"  

That is what had happened to bring up the whole question.  I had started the order before we left yesterday, and the guy on second shift finished it up.  So, if there is a problem with the header, they're not going to know if it's my fault or his. GLS said I'd have to ask Cuz, who is finally back from his broken leg.  He's still limping a bit, so he must have really done a number on himself.  

As soon as he got there, I explained to him what was going on, and after a bit of discussion, I suggested that second shift put a 2 on their headers before the station number.  So, the brazer on station 1 second shift would have the number 21, and the one on station 7 would put 27 on his.  Cuz liked that idea, and even wrote it down, so maybe that's one problem that would be solved. 

All righty, then, back to work I went and the next order I got had one of the adapter tubes bent wrong.  

All this mayhem, and it wasn't even Thor's Day.  

But once I got those tubes re-done, the rest of the day passed pretty smoothly except for the fact that I had the theme from JAG stuck in my head all day.  

At long last, the day finally ended and I came home to more daffodils opening up.  

On a whim, after filling the bird feeder and scattering some corn for the squirrels and other corn eating creatures, I grabbed my bucket of daffodil bulbs and planted a few more. 

I still have this many left to plant.  

They are wanting to grow, so I need to get them into the ground pretty soon, but I don't know where I'm going to put them.  I'll probably just stick them near the others until I get my fences replaced and my yard fixed up.  Then I'll move them to a permanent home.  

I also need to finish digging up all these day lilies, 

and a whole passel of spider lilies.  If I ever get ahold of a landscaper, I may have him do that while he's here.  That way, he can fill in the spots when he builds up my low spots in the yard.  Oh, and I'm going to get him to dig up that old rose that I've been trying to kill for years, too. 

Look at this!  My bluebonnets are germinating!

I hope they can keep them alive, and if I do, I think I'm going to settle them into pots and see if they do better there.  

Look what else is blooming -- my Whatever Cactus. 

It's funny, I'm here posting flowers and stuff, and my friend Marcy has snow photos up on her blog.  She told me she was a bit envious of me being able to sit outside in my chair when she's still covered in snow.   And I'm a bit envious of her greenhouse, so I guess we're even. 

And finally, a bit of humor to finish off this post.  It's funny because it's true.  

Remember

 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.  -- Joel 1 : 3

So that we may never forget.

Mystery Solved, Maybe

They posted it today.  The weekend work schedule.

Yep, unless they cancel it at the last minute, we will be working Saturday, and when they posted, oh you should have heard the hooting and hollering and weeping and wailing from the people acting like they'd never worked there before. 

And I was like, "Y'all stop acting like you've never worked here before!"

Truth is, even in the best of times, we're usually working six days a week as soon as we get back in January, so this has been a nice little break.  As much as I've been enjoying my weekends, I'll be glad of some overtime.  I'd like to pay for this work I need done on my house without having to dip into my 401(k), at least as much as possible, and I sure don't want to re-finance.   Not if I can help it. 

In better news, I think I may have solved a mystery with my blood sugar.  I'd been frustrated here lately, because I'd been trying to eat so well, but when I'd check my fasting glucose in the mornings, it was always high.  Not dangerously high, but higher than I'd like for it to be. 

Well, Sunday morning when I checked it, I fully expected it to be high because of the two marshmallows I'd eaten Saturday.  Much to my surprise, it was only 96.   So, all day Sunday, I tried to be careful, and I woke up Monday expecting my glucose to be pretty low.   But it wasn't.  

I couldn't understand why...then it hit me.  It was my vitamins!  For some reason, I'd started taking them right after I got up -- about 15 minutes before I checked my blood sugar.   I ran in and checked the ingredients, and sure enough, of the ones I take (calcium, a multivitamin, and CoQ-10), the very first ingredient in all three was some form of sugar.  Not a lot, but just enough to skew the results. 

Since then, I've been making sure not to take my vitamins until after I'd checked my fasting glucose, and it's been below 100 these last two mornings.   Let's just hope that trend continues. 

And finally, even though I just started a book, I've set it aside to read the fourth book in the Whimbrel House series, which I'd forgotten I'd preordered.  

I've really enjoyed this series, and I might have to check out some more of this author's work, especially if this last book is as good as the first three were. 

I'll be sure and let you know.

Drama Galore

First, a bit of good news.  The worst of the severe weather missed us, but we did get a bit of wind and some rain.  OK, a lot of rain, and this thing is not happy about it. 

She keeps asking to go outside, then when I open the door, she yells at me, as if I had something to do with all that water falling from the sky.  She finally settled in her bed and is sulking, but at least she's quiet.  

In other news, I finished reading 48 Liberal Lies About American History.  It was OK, but could have been so much better.  Now, I'm reading In The Heart Of The Sea, by Nathaniel Philbrick.  I only just started, but I'm enjoying it so far. 

Yesterday, when I got home, I took the precaution of moving the fire pit and chairs into the shed.  I'm not sure it was necessary, but better safe than sorry.  I'm telling you, if I'd know beforehand how much I'd enjoy sitting out in those Adirondack chairs, I'd have bought some years ago.  I can see myself spending a lot of time in my yard, once I finally get it fixed up.  If I can get someone to come out and do some landscaping for me, that is.  

But that's not going to happen today.  Maybe tomorrow.

OK, OK, I know I've been teasing you about work drama for a while now, and it's about time I clue you in to at least some of what's going on.  

Last week, some guy on second shift cut his arm, so they took him up to first aid and got him bandaged up.  No big deal, right?  Wrong.  After work, he decided to go to the emergency room and get stitches --which made it a recordable incident, which ruined their perfect safety record, which made them mad. 

So, in typical toxic environment fashion, instead of dealing with the problem, they took it out on the rest of us.  You know what I mean -- yelling, and screaming, and threatening those of us who didn't get cut.  That type of thing.   Now, we asked Uncle Supervisor specifically whether we had to wear our PPE to go to the bathroom or to the breakroom at lunch, and he said no we did not. 

However, there is this one particular supervisor...the guy wants to be a boss so bad.  In fact, when I had first started working there, someone pointed him out to me -- he drove a forklift back then -- and said, "That guy wants to be a boss so bad."  

Well, now he is a boss, and by golly, he's going to make sure everyone knows he's the boss.  So, he's telling his people that he's going to write them up if he ever catches them without complete PPE, even walking to the bathroom or break area.  

BUT, a couple of the ladies over in tubing told me that they had talked to the HR director, and she said we did not have to wear gloves and arm guards to the bathroom, break areas, or walking up and down the main aisle at the beginning/end of shift.  I said she needs to get with all of these supervisors and get them all on the same page, because one guy can't just make up his own rules like that. 

I had planned on talking about some more stuff, but I've been yawning my head off all day, and I just don't have it in me. 

Maybe I'll sleep better tonight, and tell you the rest tomorrow.  

Hint:  It's about my Stalker. 

OK, that's it for me.  Laters. 

Hats And Independence

Sundays can be a difficult day for me, because I was raised that Sunday is the Lord's Day and we don't work on the Lord's Day.  So I try to rest, as he commanded us to do, but I can't relax when there is so much I need to be doing.  Like, I've got so many phone calls to make -- which is difficult enough for an introvert such as myself, and I don't feel right disturbing other people on the weekends, since I don't like being disturbed on the weekends myself. 

What calls do I need to make?  

I need to call a contractor.

I need to call a landscaper.

I need to call a surveyor.

I need to call a tree guy.

I need to call a chimney sweep.

I need to call an eye doctor.

I usually end up just calling the whole thing off.   Then it eats at me that I still need to get all of this stuff done, and sometimes I wish I had someone to take care of me, but then I remember that every single man I've ever had a relationship with has tried to change who I am and it just isn't worth it. 

Therein lies the rub.  Contractors, plumbers, etc...they all treat single women like we're too dumb to realize when we're getting ripped off, so they do it with impunity.  At least the ones around here do.  That's one of the things I need to get done.  The guy I hired a few years ago to paint my house was supposed to replace all the rotten wood he found, but he didn't.  He just smeared a layer of wood putty over those boards, then painted that.  

It bought me a little time, but now it's getting to the point where I can't put it off any more, so I need to call a contractor to fix that.  Only I don't trust anyone any more.   Then there is the fact that so many of them have made me feel like I'm bothering or inconveniencing them by trying to hire them.  And there is the one who got mad and quit when I told him I wasn't allowed to have a phone at work, so I wouldn't be able to answer when he called, but if he left a message I'd get back to him as soon as I could...

Plus the whole introvert/phone call conundrum.  And the fact that I just can't seem to get my act together.  I need a personal organizer, but I can't even get my act together enough to ask if there are any in the area who could help me out. 

So I procrastinate...and knit.  Look!  I finished a hat!

This is only the second charity hat I've finished this year.  I need to get on the ball, or I won't even have enough to be worth mailing off in the fall.  The reason for that is all of these Sockhead hats I've been working on.  

I've been switching back and forth between these two, and am slowly making progress on both.  

And finally, today is Texas Independence Day, so happy day my fellow Texans!

To honor the day, I went and found this candle my older brother's family gave me for Christmas back in 2019.  

 I'd only lit it once, because I wanted to save it.  Because Texas.  But, it doesn't do anybody any good sitting back in a cabinet, so it's happily burning in my living room even as I type this. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I found a video on YouTube about the Easter Outbreak of 2020.  That's the one that knocked my power out for 4 days.  Imma head on over there and watch it. 

By the way, we're expecting severe weather on Tuesday.  

Welcome to springtime in the South.  

Spring!

As my Old Dad would say, "spring is busting out all over."  Which was actually from a song, I think.  Hang on, let me research...

Yep, it was originally June Is Busting Out All Over, from the musical Carousel.  

Be that as it may, spring is busting out all over, fitting that today is the first day of Meteorological Spring.  Yesterday, on the way home from work, I saw someone plowing up the corn fields on the back side of Riverdale Road, and all the newborn calves in the pastures.  The jonquils are all over the place, and look at this:  

I've got daffodils in my yard!  It's been so warm, I put all of my plants back outside for some fresh air.  I'll have to bring them back in this evening, because we'll be flirting with frost tonight, but I think I might leave Marty Mac out in his little cage. 

Venus Fly Traps can handle a frost or two, so he's out for good unless we are expecting a hard freeze -- which I don't expect this late in the year.  But you never know.  

That being said, it was a bit chilly when I got up this morning, but after sunrise, it warmed up and became one of those Robert Spaulding's Wife days.  I took full advantage of it and put a little fire into the fire pit, then sat outside and started a letter on my new stationery. 

Not to my Australian pen pal.  No, this one is for a friend who's been having a rough time of it lately.  I thought a letter might brighten her day.  I hope...

I had to move my chair to the other side of the pit, because the wind was blowing the smoke right into my face.  In fact, the wind picked up so much I let the fire die down because I was worried about it blowing sparks or something -- even before the EMA sent out the notice that open burning is discouraged.  

Not before I'd roasted a weenie and made myself a hot dog, but with a slice of bread instead of a hot dog bun.  Because I didn't have any hot dog buns, and didn't want to go buy any.  I kind of prefer them on regular bread anyway.  I definitely prefer hamburgers on regular bread.  

Then I roasted a marshmallow.  I had planned on buying some of those sugar free, high dollar marshmallows, but they were out of them.  They had the burnt caramel flavor, but I didn't want those, so I settled for the stuffed ones and a lot of jogging in place afterwards. 

By the way, those stuffed marshmallows don't work as well as they say because the chocolate doesn't melt.  I supposed if you like yours blackened it would, but I don't.  I like my marshmallows a nice, toasty brown.  

After the fire died down, I moved to the other chair so I could watch the birds at the feeder. 

It's times like this I really wish I still had a SLR with a zoom lens, because there are a bunch of birds in that photo, but they're really hard to see.  Today's tally was cardinal, Towhee, sparrow, Junco, collared dove, and brown headed cowbird. 

Alas, it wasn't long before the wind became so strong it wasn't comfortable to stay outside, so I came in and watched some TV -- in the midst of my normal Saturday chores, that is.  I know I'd said I was going to paint the fence, but I felt the wind was just too strong to be using a paint sprayer, and I wasn't up to doing it with a brush, so it didn't get done.  

By the way, I started watching that new House Of David series on Prime.  Eh, it's OK and I'm enjoying watching it, but it's a bit too melodramatic to my taste.  Especially the background music.  You'd think you were at a funeral the whole time.  

Also by the way, the downside of leaving your French doors open on a windy day is that you get a house full of leaves. 

Pretty much the only other thing I got accomplished today was to finally get my bluebonnet seeds started, which involved dragging that old sewing machine out and setting it up.  

I've got to find a better option than that... on the other hand, I don't really expect the snakes to live much longer given how ancient they are.  Let's put it this way, in human years, Elon Musk would be cutting off their social security checks. 

Once they go to that great herpetarium in the sky, I can set my little seed starter up in a corner of that room.  Anyway, I got one pack of bluebonnet seeds started and a few of the Bachelor's Button seeds I saved from last year. 

Speaking of, I bumped into Supervisor Greenjeans yesterday and asked him what he does with all the stuff he plants.  He said he sells some and cans some...I asked him if he sells in the Farmer's Market on the square, and he said, "There's a Farmer's Market?"  

He didn't even know there's a Farmer's Market here.  He does now.  

While we're on the subject of work, there's been lots of drama going on out at the plant.  Some of it I can't talk about, but some of it I can.  Not in this post, though.  It's already long enough. 

And finally, if you didn't see Thursday's post, you might want to go back and read it.  For some reason, neither FB nor Threads published a thumbnail, so it just looked like a link.  I hope this one acts right. 

I guess we'll see. 

Just A L'il

"I'm only painting a little bit," I said.

"I don't need to drag out the paint sprayer for this," I said.

"I'll just use a brush, since it's such a small amount," I said.

Why oh why did I listen to myself?  I'm feeling it today, I'm telling ya.  I'm definitely going to dig out the paint sprayer to do the rest, but first I'll have to buy a longer extension cord.  I've got a 50', but it won't be long enough to get that back corner, so I'll get a 100' cord when I go shopping Friday.  That ought to reach.  

They let us go home at 1:00 again today, and as I was clocking out, I told my coworker, "I could get used to this.  Working 5:00 to 1:00-- we get an full 8 hour shift, then we get off early enough to still feel like we have a day."  I actually feel like I have time to do stuff this way.  Except that I didn't. 

Not today.  

I sat out in my chair for a little bit, then came inside and put the other one together.  Chair, I mean. 

Now I'm all ready for a weenie roast.  I might even splurge on some of those really expensive sugar free marshmallows and roast one.  I've been hitting the sugar a bit too hard lately, so I need to cut back for a while -- or exercise a lot more, one.  Today was one of the brazers' birthday, and another coworker brought cupcakes.  She offered me one, and I said, "I really should say no, but I do want one."  They were small cupcakes...

Sharp eyed readers may notice I moved the firepit and chairs over a bit.  I got worried having it right under that big oak tree, because it's got a lot of dead limbs and I'd hate for one to drop on my new stuff and ruin it.  Eventually, I want to put my little patio -- along with the firepit and two chairs -- back in that corner in the right side of the photo, but I'm going to need to get someone to bring some fill dirt, because it's pretty low right there.  It gets super spongy every time it rains. 

Or maybe I'll just leave it where it sets, and build my patio there.  Either way, I'm probably going to pay someone to level the ground and put the stones in.  I'm getting too old to be manhandling all this stuff.  

By the way, I bumped into Supervisor Greenjeans today, and he told me he'd put in 318 tomato plants.  My first thought was, what does he do with all of those tomatoes?  But I didn't say anything...but, "Dude!  Bring me some 'maters!"  

I think I've mentioned before that I was thinking about trying some tomatoes myself this year, now that I don't have a dog to pee all over the plants. Or if we keep getting Saturdays off, maybe I can go to the Farmer's Market on the square -- but that's not as fun as growing them yourself.  

So, SG has planted tomatoes and potatoes so far, and my friend Marcy has already started some 400 seeds...and I'm just sitting here thinking I ought to do something...but haven't yet.  I haven't even planted those bluebonnet seeds I found in the freezer.  

Maybe I'll get to that this weekend, too...

And finally, I got up bright and early this morning and was walking down the hall to the kitchen when I saw something that in the dim light and without my glasses looked suspiciously like a dog poop.  How can that be, when I no longer have a dog?

I turned on the light, bent way over, and saw it was a dead vole.  The Incarnation of Evil brought another vole into the house.  You'd think as many as she's killed, they'd be nearly gone, but no.  There are still tunnels all over my back yard. 

The Incarnation of Evil and I are now having a long talk about her job performance.  

I Had Planned

I had planned on coming home this afternoon and doing exactly what I did yesterday-- sit in my Adirondack chair in front of my fire pit.  I didn't think I'd light a fire, though, just sit there enjoying the outside.  It was a gorgeous day for it, too.  Sunny and warm, but not too hot.  

I'd planned on contacting a contractor about the rotten wood I need replaced.  I'd thought maybe I'd put together that other chair.  I'd even thought I might write a letter on my new stationery, but when I got home, all of that changed. 

It was so nice and warm, on impulse, I grabbed my can of stain and a paintbrush and finished staining the front part of my fence.  

It looks so much better, if I do say so myself.  If the weather holds, this weekend I might find my paint sprayer and get the rest of it done.  If I can remember where I put the sprayer, that is.  

In other news, I'm still getting house plans showing up in my FB feed, and this one is pretty cool.  

 I love that huge wrap-around porch.  

I guess that's about all I have for today.  Maybe tomorrow something interesting will happen.  More interesting than painting my fence, I mean. 

Don't envy me my exciting life. 

I Don't Know

There I was at work, just a working away.  I finished my order and went to the computer to confirm my work.  I was standing there, patiently waiting my turn, when one of the people in front of me stepped to the side and said, "You go ahead, Becky.  I don't want to be holding you up."  

"Oh, you're all right,"  I replied.  "I'm here until.......................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I don't even know how to answer that.  We come in at 4:00 and stay until they say we can go, and we never know when that's going to be." 

Not only that, we don't really know from day to day what time we are supposed to go in in the mornings, either.  It's been 4:00, and tomorrow we're coming in at 5:00.  The day after, it might be 4:00 again.  We never know...

I just wish they'd pick a time and stick with it.  This constant flip flopping back and forth is exhausting. 

So, anyway, it was 1:00 when they let us off today and I finally was able to light a little fire in my fire pit. 

Then I sat down in my Adirondack chair and did pretty much nothing for about two hours.  

I read a bit in my book, did my French lessons, played some games on my Kindle -- which amazingly enough gets signal in the back yard -- and just relaxed in the sunshine.  I even heated up my leftover stroganoff and ate by the fire.  

Then I came inside and ripped my charity hat out and started completely over -- using the Chinese Waitress this time.  I didn't like the way the other one was looking. 

Now, I'm going to go get something to eat before bed.  Oh, and I need to remember to re-set my alarm .... again...

Laters.

Hats Galore

First of all, I'm sure you will all be pleased to know I got the hat transferred from the broken needle to one of my spares, and I'm back to knitting away at it. 

I'm going back and forth between that one and this one, and am making good progress on both. 

As if that weren't enough, while I was FFITS yesterday, after Amy had left I was eating my hamburger and chatting with someone I'd met there.  In the course of the conversation, I mentioned that I pretty much only knit hats any more. She said she doesn't wear hats enough to justify knitting them, so I told her I found a charity to donate mine to.  

She gestured to my hat -- the one pictured above -- and said, "You knit hats for charity out of high end yarn?"

"Oh, no!"  I replied.  "That one is for someone in my family.  It's going to be a Christmas gift.  I make charity hats out of Red Heart or Lion Brand, or something."  

I was remembering that conversation this afternoon, and realized I'd only knit one hat so far this year for the Seaman's Church Institute, so naturally, I cast one on real quick.  

I did go back to my knit-on cast on, instead of doing the Chinese Waitress.  It's so much easier, and for charity...well, I got lazy.  I'll do better next time.  

In other news, I don't recall if I told you that I'd finished the Song Of Albion trilogy or not, but I did.  Then I started reading the Ship Of Brides, and also this one:  48 Liberal Lies About American History.  

It's pretty interesting, but the title is a bit misleading.  A lot of them are liberal lies, but a good many are also far right conspiracy theories -- which he debunks as well.  I kind of wish he were a bit more detailed with some of them, but they're all well researched and annotated.  

That's about all I have for today.  I'd planned on building a little fire in my fire pit and sitting out in my Adirondack chair reading for a good bit of the day, but it has also rained for a good bit of the day, off and on.  Instead, I sat inside and read, then finished my letter to my one and only pen pal, then watched TV and knit a bit. 

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.  

Fiber Fun

Last month, when I went to the fiber festival in Oxford, I forgot to bring Suzette.  She has not let me live that down, so I made doubly sure to bring her with me today. 

And where were we going this chilly February morning?  To Vicksburg, to Fiber Fun In The 'Sip!  

We had a bit of a rough start, though.  To begin with, when I was programming the route into my GPS, it wouldn't let me get onto the Natchez Trace at Ridgeland.  Well, at least I couldn't figure out how to get it to do that.  What I had to do was to end the route when I got to Ridgeland, then start a new route, choosing the Trace from Ridgeland to Clinton.  

That way, I could avoid Jackson.  I'll avoid Jackson any way I can.

So, finally I made it to Vicksburg -- and truth be told, I knew how to get there.  I still like using my GPS so I'll know how much longer the trip is going to be.  But anyway, I finally made it there and the first thing I noticed is that she did not have enough tables and chairs set up in the Sit 'n Stitch area.

I saw one empty table, but there were a couple of coats draped over some of the chairs, so I walked around the vendor area a bit.  When I got back to the table, there was still no one there, so I sat down anyway.  Without thinking, I set my project bag in the chair next to me, and the entire chair collapsed, dumping my bag and spilling all of the water from my cup -- which for some reason I'd put into my bag.  

Everything in my bag was soaked, along with the chair and a good bit of the floor.  I got some paper towels from the bathroom and cleaned it up as best I could, then pulled out my hat to begin knitting while waiting to see if any of the gang would show up. 

That's when I discovered that my brand spanking new needle had snapped in half. 

It was at this point, I wanted to throw in the towel and just go home, but I didn't.   The only thing I can figure is that when the bag fell, my cup landed on the needle and broke it.   Luckily, I had packed two projects, so I just pulled the other one out.  

After a few moments, I got up and took another turn about the room, and when I got back, someone else was sitting in the chair I'd recently vacated.  I sat down in the chair next to her and said, "Do you mind if I crash your party?"  She said no, we introduced ourselves-- her name is Elaine --, and were soon joined by her friend Jo and I had some people to talk to until Amy got there.  

We knew Christi wasn't coming, because for some strange reason, she'd rather spend the day at her grandkids' birthday party than with us.  What's up with that?  I mean, really!  

I wasn't sure if Leann was planning on coming, though.  When I saw her in Oxford, she'd said she wanted to, but I guess she wasn't able to make it.  I sure hope she didn't drive all the way down from Memphis only to arrive after we'd left!  

So, after visiting a moment, Amy and I got up and visited the vendor booths, and she bought a couple of things, but I didn't buy anything.  I think it's because I'd just bought a bunch of yarn in Oxford, plus  putting all that yarn into the boxes yesterday made me realize how much I already had.  I just couldn't bring myself to spend any more money.   In the end, I only came home with the shopping bag they hand out at the door, 

and two mini sheep one booth was giving away for free. 

They had a 3-D printer going, and it was pretty nifty to watch.  When we got back to the table, Elaine and Jo were gone, and two more people were sitting at the table, so we joined them.  All too soon, Amy said she had to leave and run some errands, and I left soon after she did.  

Just about the time we left, Other Amy and Christi's friends Jane and Kate -- whom I'd met in Oxford -- arrived, so we said hi and bye and just like that, it was over for another year.   To be honest, I haven't missed a single one since they started doing FFITS back in 2018, but this might be my last time going.  

Every year, there are fewer and fewer vendors, and the classes...well, it seems like there are fewer of them as well.  And I'm not sure going in February will work out for me.  I'd much rather have it in September.  I don't know...I mean, it's not like I have a lot of festivals to compare it with, since Vicksburg and Oxford are the only ones I've ever been to.  I know she works hard at getting it all organized, but it just feels like something is missing. 

In other news, Houston, we have a problem.  Yes, Brennan did just give me a huge pack of stationery for Christmas, but when this came back in stock, I couldn't pass it up. 

I even bought a matching wax stamp. 

So, what's the problem?  What am I going to do with all that stationery?  All the pen pals I used to have have quit writing, except one from Australia.  I need more pen pals!  

And finally, I moved my fire pit back out of the shed, and put my Adirondack chair and table out there by it.  

 Maybe tomorrow, I'll light me a fire, sit out there and write a letter to my Australian pen pal.  

A Little Part Of Me

I'd taken a day off today just to make sure I'd have tomorrow off so I can go to Fiber Fun In The 'Sip.  So, yesterday, as I was getting some scrap tickets signed, I asked Uncle Supervisor,  "Are we going to be working tomorrow?"  

He said, "Tomorrow?  Tomorrow is Friday!"  

I laughed and said, "I meant Saturday."  

See, I'm so tired, I don't even know what day it is.  

He said no, so I told him, "You know, I have a vacation day in for tomorrow (meaning today as I write this), but I only need Saturday off, so there is a chance I might cancel it."  

He replied, "If you want to cancel, come on!"  

"Yeah," I said, "But there is a little part of me that wants to stay up in the bed!"

I debated all day long about whether to cancel my vacation day or not.  If I take the day, will I regret it later on and wish I had just one more?  On the other hand, I'm tired and could use a day of doing nothing.  And I do still have three unscheduled days, plus my earned time off....

At the end of the day, I'd made up my mind and stopped by Uncle Supervisor's desk and told him, "I decided not to cancel, so I won't be here tomorrow."   He seemed disappointed, but he'll get over it. 

As per my usual, I told myself I was going to be so productive, and made up a long list of things I wanted to get accomplished.  As per my usual, I got none of them done.   Except laundry.  I did laundry.  

That's pretty much it. 

In knitting news, as most of you know, I'd cast on a new hat with some of the yarn I bought in Oxford last month.  You may also remember I'd mentioned that the yarn was so thin it felt more like lace weight than fingering weight, even though I double checked the ball band and sure enough, it said fingering.  

Knowing my hands would need a break from it, last night I got out another hank from the closet and caked it up.  This one is from Leann's shop Forbidden Fiber Co, and the colorway is Toasted Marshmallow, which was limited edition so it's no longer available.  

Alas, when I caked it up, I ended up with two balls. 

I'm thinking this one might have been my fault, because I don't see any other sign of moths.  I'd cut the ties shortly after I bought it so I could add a square to my blanket, and I'm thinking I might have accidentally cut the yarn when I did that.  Oh, well, the bigger ball should be enough to get a complete hat out of.  If not, I'm pretty good at joining yarn by now. 

For what it's worth, here is a progress photo of both hats. 

Then, just in case it was moths, I got some plastic boxes I had just laying around -- for an organizing project I never got around to doing -- and put as much of my sock and lace weight yarn into them as I could fit.  Those on the shelves to the left of this photo. 

That closet needs a lot more organizing, I'll admit, but it's a start.  Truth is, I need to get rid of a lot of that yarn. So much of it was given to me, and a lot of it was Suzie's, but I doubt I'll ever use it, and I'm sure Sue would rather it go to a good home than just sit collecting dust in my closet. 

Even those big tubs of fiber on the top shelves.  Suzie sent me a lot of it when I was dabbling in spinning, and at this point, I don't think I'll ever get around to using it.  It needs to go to someone who will love it -- and that's not to say I don't love the fiber.  If I had time to breathe much less to spin my own fiber, maybe I'd spin it up, but I haven't even touched my wheel in over a decade, and the spindles only get used sporadically.  

So, if any of my friends who spin want some fiber, just let me know and I'll send you some.  

And finally, I don't know what's going on out at work.  Usually this time of year, we're rolling, but we haven't worked a single Saturday -- and I mean the plant as a whole, some of the component areas have worked --and they've been sending us home early lately.  

Yesterday, they came around and sent us home at noon.  I went ahead and did my shopping so I wouldn't have to get out today, but the only notable thing I found was these air fresheners on clearance for half price. 

 I've put them back for next fall and winter. 

And finally, the season 5 Chosen trailer dropped yesterday.  It looks awesome!  

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go ignore the rest of my to-do list.  

Laters.

Still No Snow

My coworker came in after break and said, "It's so cold out there, my snot is freezing to my face as fast as it can run out my nose!"  Which was even more hilarious, because I thought that particular coworker didn't even have a sense of humor.  She's always been so serious about everything.  Here lately, however, she's loosening up a bit, and it's nice to see.

But anyway, she was right.  We got cold, but again, we didn't get any snow.  Just this sleety mess and freezing rain.   I tried to take a photo around 3:30 this morning, but it didn't turn out too well. 

The good news is --or the bad news, depending on your perspective-- the roads were clear, both going to work, and coming home.  Part of me was hoping I'd wake up to a text telling me the plant would be closed for the day, and I could stay home in my nice, warm bed, but no such luck.  

So out of bed I got and into the cold I went.  Where my coworker uttered the now famous line above. 

When I got home, I was able to get some better photos, both of the sleety mess

and the little icicles hanging from my roof. 

After filling the bird feeder and building a nice little fire, I sat down with a mug of hot chocolate and wanted to smack that little rodent up North. 

 

Monday Moanday

It's Monday again.  Back to work, and I didn't get anything done that I'd said I was going to get done over the weekend.  I didn't do my taxes.  I didn't fit my new bite guard.  I didn't finish my letter to my Australian pen pal.  I didn't even get my chicken salad made...although I did that when I got home this evening, so I guess it counts. 

The good news is, my side table arrived today.  

I was pleasantly surprised, because I didn't think the mail would run today -- it being President's Day and all.  But apparently, it did.  

The side table was a lot easier to put together than the chair was, and in just a few moments, I had it done and it's ready to go out into the back yard. 

Another thing I'd ordered also arrived.  I got this advent calendar to put back for Cody and Brennan.  

It looked like something fun for them to do together.  Actually, it looks like something I'd want to do, so they might not get it.  But they probably will.   I'll just get me another chocolate advent calendar.  

In other news, I know I said the house plan I posted yesterday was the one, but today, I found this one.  

It's got a garden room and a garage!  I spent 20 years living in a trailer house, slopping through the rain and mud to get to my car.  Dadgum it, I want a garage!  Or at least a car port.  On the other hand, it shouldn't be too difficult to add a car port to the other plan.  Not that it matters anyway.  It's all just a pipe dream right now. 

In knitting news, I got my next project cast on, but right now there isn't enough done to even show you a picture.  So, I'll just show you the yarn.  

It's some I bought in Oxford, from Holly Dyeworks, and the colorway is Folk School Engagement.  It's supposed to be fingering weight, but it's on the smaller side of fingering.  It's almost a heavy laceweight.  Still, I love the color, and it's knitting up pretty. 

Pretty soon, the hat will be long enough to show you, but not today.  I'm tired, and I'm going to bed. 

Goodnight.