My Big Adventure

Well, my biggish adventure, I guess.  If going to Batesville could be considered that.   I'd been looking forward to it all week, and today was finally the day.  

I hit the road bright and early this morning right after breakfast and headed north.  The road trip passed without incident and my first stop was Walmart.  I debated on even going there, but decided to check and see if they had some of the things my local store doesn't carry any more. 

They didn't, so I went to the garden center to get some of the garden soil that is on clearance, only it isn't on clearance at the Batesville store.  Just at the local one.  Weird. I passed on paying full price, then headed to Lowe's.

Except that I somehow got stuck in the wrong lane and ended up back on the highway.  No problem, I'd planned on going to the Mounds anyway, so I made that my second stop instead of my last.  I was very excited to see that the pavilion is finished, 

but the museum wasn't open yet.  

I got close enough to peek through the windows and there wasn't even anything inside yet.  I hope they get it fixed up soon.  I'd love to know more about the history of the area.  For example, there is a sign on one of the trails that says South Village.  

OK, but what is it?  What did they find there that made them think there had been a village in that spot?  Pottery shards?  Remnants of fires?  Shelters?  What else?  What did they know about the people who lived there back in the day?  All they have now is that one little sign by the parking lot, but it doesn't say much. 

Anyway, I was only mildly disappointed, but had a nice walk around the trails, stopping only briefly to take a photo of the Tallahatchie River.  

By that time, I had already worked up a pretty good sweat, so I headed back to the car and back to Batesville I went.  I stopped by Lowe's to use their facilities and look at dishwashers.  I've been wanting a new one ever since I moved into this house, and a couple of years ago the hose that goes to the top rack came loose so it's not useable.  The motor still works, but from everything I've read, it would cost nearly as much to get it reattached as it would to buy a new one.  But since it's just me, I didn't see the need.   I only use a few dishes and it's no trouble at all to wash them by hand.  Still, it would be nice to have a working dishwasher again -- especially one that the previous owner's grandkids didn't pick all of the icons off so I actually know what the buttons do.  

I found a couple that I liked, but didn't buy them.  I'm thinking I might order one off the website so I can make sure they'll deliver it on a day I can be home.  

A quick trip through their garden center, and finally I was off to Hobby Lobby!  It was the only store that was open in that new shopping center, and it was pretty crowded.  The good news is, everything was on sale for the grand opening.  I was so tempted, but I was good in the end.  I only bought a new Thanksgiving platter, 

which is plastic, so I can't break it.  Probably.  Maybe...

Heh, when I went to the dentist, I was showing her photos in my phone of some of the hats I'd knit and ran across the one where I'd tried to cut my arm off with the chainsaw.  She laughed and said, "You sound just like me!"  The point is, never underestimate how clumsy I can be. 

I also bought five skeins of yarn for charity hats, and that was all.  

In case you can't read the labels, they are from left to right:  Kaleidoscope, Green/Turquoise/Red, 

Sunset, Plums, and Painted Canyon.  I can't wait to cast on with them!  I think Kaleidoscope will be first.  Or Painted Canyon.  Or maybe I'll find some extra needles and cast on both. 

The only other thing I did today was to get out and scrap some of that red clay garbage off of my spider lilies.  I'd noticed that in some spots, it was so thick that the leaves were struggling to break through. 

 I think that -- combined with an extremely dry summer -- may be why they did so poorly this year.  So, I got the clay scraped back to what appears to be regular dirt, so maybe they'll come on here in a bit.  I probably ought to water them a bit, too, since we've hardly gotten any rain here lately.   They're pretty tough, though so they'll be OK in the end. 

And if not, I can always thin some of the bulbs from the back end of the yard and transplant them.  They probably need it anyway. 

But for now, I've got to get off of here and knit like the wind!

Weekend Mode

The plant had a good day today.  A really good day -- as far as production goes, I mean.  

At the end of shift, group leaders and supervisors all over were getting onto the intercom and giving shoutouts to their departments.  Congratulations.  Great Job.  All except for one....

Someone turned around and told Inspector Gadget that we deserved a shout out, too, but he said no.  "That's unprofessional," he sneeringly informed us.  

Oh, come on!  We tried to persuade him.  We ran 2760 headers today -- 660 more than our daily goal.  That deserves some recognition.   Nope, he insisted.  It's unprofessional.  

"It's not unprofessional to recognize your employees when they do an outstanding job!"  I told him, but still he refused us any sort of accolade.  

And he wonders why no one respects him...

After work, I had to go to the dentist for my 6 month cleaning and check up, and for once, I had a good report.  I'd have gotten out of there faster, but the hygienist and I only see each other twice a year.  We had a lot of catching up to do.  She's about to become a first time grandma, and I showed her the hat and sweater set I'd made for my nephew's baby.  

She mentioned that she wanted to learn to knit, and I gave her some tips -- she's envious of my upcoming trip to Hobby Lobby, and I said that when she makes it up there, she could ask and see if they have knitting classes.  Long story slightly less long, we finally stopped yapping long enough to finish the appointment, and I decided since I was in town already, I might as well go by Walmart and get my shopping done. 

That chore completed, I came home and told the cat "Weekend mode has been activated!"  and I promptly sat down in front of the TV and cast on a hat using my new interchangeable needle set. 

Some weekend, huh?  

OK, the needles are really nice and knit very smoothly.  The only problem I have with them is that the shortest cable is about 6" longer than the Knit Picks fixed circular needles I'm accustomed to knitting hats with.  I think it'll be OK.  It'll just take some getting used to. 

Meanwhile, here is a progress photo of my Demeter sock yarn hat. 

 But now, I'm going to bed, because I've got a busy day tomorrow.  

I'm going to Hobby Lobby!!!

Respect

Well, here it is, October 1 and haven't gotten anything done off of my to do list.  Except for getting the scrap metal picked up, that is, and I did call a plumber and a tree guy, neither of whom called me back.

I've been trying since then to work up the gumption to call another plumber and another tree guy.   And someone to break up that old slab where the dog kennel was.  Of course, it doesn't help that we're in the just kidding here's some more summer season of the year, and it's back up into the 90s outside.  

Right now, I'm so ready for fall and cooler weather, I don't even want to be out in it.  The heat, I mean.  Which means, the yard.  I did get out and piddle a little bit this afternoon, but didn't stay out long.  I didn't want my hair to get all sweaty. 

Apropos of nothing, I got onto FB this morning while I was eating my breakfast and the first thing I saw was a post from one of my friends.  Then I had to  scroll through twenty three -- twenty three-- ads to get to another post from a friend, or even a page I liked.  This is why FB is a dying platform.  It used to be fun, but I hardly ever post there any more except links to the blog.  

So, I piddled in the yard a bit, then came inside and finished the latest charity hat. 

 The next one I cast on will be with my new needles, because I've had the things for...I don't even know how long, and I haven't used them yet.  I really need to.  I paid too much for them to sit around collecting dust. 

And finally, before I go, let's talk a little bit about respect.  

Respect is something that must be earned, not demanded of others -- especially not from those to whom you show no respect.   It has to go both ways.

So if you insist on talking to your employees like they're children, and treating them like they're stupid, and nit-picking through their work like you don't think they know how to do their jobs, then you have no right to expect anyone to respect you.  

Treat your employees like you think they are worthy of respect, and you may just find you'll earn the respect you so desperately crave.