April Fools!

Happy April Fool's day.
(enjoy the jack-a- lope
a much sought after critter
and my patronus).
even better this is an egg cozy.



as i was surfing tonight i discovered this...
meatloaf cake.
And for dessert
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

bon appetit'
and we are having normal food
here.
oh maybe another coke cake would be good though.

Strange Stuff Tuesday and Blogiversary

(above a self portrait)

realized last night that today
was my 2 year blogiversary.
And for some unknown reason
I really don't feel like celebrating.

But a big thank you
to all who have read this
and commented.


And for some of you...
this will seem wrong.
mulled beer
and interesting read
the history of
mulled beer.

please let me know if you
decide to try this one.
will be very interested in the
results.

And there I bid you
all good night.

And if the above isn't strange enough
tonight there was freezing rain and temps of 31 F.
Last week at this time it was -30 F.
Very extreme weather we are having.

Have started another set of swim lessons out at the pool. tomorrow there will be 4 sets for me to teach. And on Thursday 4 sets of lessons then water aerobics.

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Transfiguration homework:
Make something that would be found in
a wizarding household.
Must be steeked and freeform.

this is a mohair vest that I picked up at
Bishops Attic
(thrift store)

Decided to steek it.......
once down the middle
and then across the shoulders.

Felted it...
bother regular and
Shiboli
(Japenese felting by placing waterproof items
in fabric, securing with rubber bands and
tossing in washing machine)
In this case it was glass hearts held in place w/bitty hair rubber bands.
that is what makes the bubbles.

and finally restitching together to form...
a kitty sweater!

In this view you see my machine embroidery
and crochet edging.
there are also 4 buttons sewed on to
hold the straps in place.

here is a close up of the Shiboli.

And that is what the best dressed cats

wear while attending Hogwart's.

Knitting: and now to start the final project for this month's House Cup. A pair of socks- think that I will get them done before this week is over? What with working, cooking, eating and shopping?

someone that frequents the pool might have some toys to pass on to Bumpkins. That'll be nice!

The weather outside is atrocious! Very windy and snowy. In places the snow has drifted over the road to where you can't tell that you are driving over the yellow line until you are on top of it and mostly in the oncoming traffic's lane.


and because what I made wasn't strange enough how about this one? Wonder if it comes in minivan size.

Last night made an awesome sweet potato pie- but a bit to much nutmeg. One of my coworker's loved it! He locked himself in the kitchenette and wouldn't let anyone else near him. Made me feel extremely good!

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Athena does "Patty Cake"
(and she didn't like it either!)

Knitting: trying to finish a hat for DH it is 88 cast on and in the round with US 8 DPN's and K2 P2 ribbing. Hoping that it fits him! seems to be on the small side. Well if it doesn't than a youth in Russia might have a hat (it is Paton's wool).


been crazy around here. I knew that I was going to have a chopped up weekend, but was called in to work on Sat. yeah am loving 3.5 hrs of overtime! Did nothing on Sunday, then Monday Bumpkins wasn't feeling well. So stayed home until 4 then scrambled to do errands before heading out to work and DM's. Went grocery shopping but was careful about what to buy (the outside temps were 6 F and didn't want eggs, produce to freeze). Had training then home again. Made sure Bumpkins ate well, as she finally was going in for her dental work.

Bumpkins is fine! the tooth didn't have to be removed, only put a crown back on. Poor tyke- she had a thing across her nose, headphones on, sunglasses on, bp cuff on, finger monitor and then the Dr started drilling and squirting. Bumpkins cried almost the whole 1/2 hour LOUDLY! I had to sit in the corner of the room. Got a few rows done on the scarf for my secret sister. Got Bumpkins home around 9:30 am and she slept until after 1 pm. Then ate, she again went down for a nap around 7:30 until almost 9 pm. made for bedtime being late!

And there you have it. Hope everyone else is doing great.

and because I came across this thing.... thought I would share it everyone else. And yes I want 2 or 3 of them.
Chicken Tractors:

Strange Stuff Tuesday

And this is really strange....
any guesses?

it is a homemade swift that DH
manufactured for me to go w/my
new ball winder.

Knitting: finished the Hannah hat. hoping that it is acceptable for charms. This month's challenge was to knit/crochet something that opened and closed. So for those of you in Ravelry it is a free pattern.

Specifics:
Cast on Sunday November 9 2008. Used US 10 and Jiffy Mohair color Denver.
Finished Tuesday November 11 2008.
Fast knit. Unbutton buttons put over head and ponytail. Secure buttons under the pony tail. No more mussed up hair from your hat.

And who wants this one?

Still working on the Transfiguration item. not going to get done tonight.


Well I am back to work tomorrow, had an excellent mini vacation. Didn't get the bathroom re-wallpapered, or get the house cleaned up. Or even finish up this quilt. But did build another snowman today with Bumpkins (no picture as Bumpkins decided to give the poor thing a hug which resulted in the nose falling off. After not listening to me about leaving it alone, she succeeded in knocking the whole head off. After rebuilding the head, Hugo decided to knock it over.)

Bumpkins and I also made Monkey bread again. If you get the chance to try the new caramel apple pie filling do give a go. It is delish! We had it on cancakes (pancakes) and also in the monkey bread.

Have a good week folks, it is good to be back!

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Wow it has been almost forever since I last posted...
do I have any readers left?

Any ways can anyone guess what this is?
(besides a dead plant).

Hugo is keeping me very busy. Missed a cute photo op the other night- he got his head stuck in the cat door. So cute. (he now avoids the cat doors). Took him into the vet and he weighs about 15 lbs. And the reason for going to the vet... well I will not tell you the whole gruesome/nasty story, suffice to say that the poor pup has worms. Oddly the breeders didn't deworm the pups before giving them new homes, so unfortunately DM now has to Deworm her 2 dogs.

DH and I had a date night last Saturday night, DM watched Bumpkins. They had a lot of fun. DH and I went to dinner at a local Brewery, DH had an awesome steak sandwich and I had a pizza. Good food and relatively inexpensive. The place takes no reservations, and we went on Soldotna's Homecoming. Afterwards we went to Mykels to listen to Dave Unruh play, DH ended up playing a tune or two. And when we went to leave, DH left a business card. Yoo hoo! possible business coming our way. Danger Pig (the band) is no longer together, but DH is getting a lot more students.

Thing 2 has gotten his license, and tomorrow actual documentation from DMV. So he will be driving Thursday. No more pick up and delivery.

Big milestone: since getting Hugo (who sleeps for now in a laundry basket by my bed) Bumpkins is sleeping EVERY night in her little crib converted into a toddler bed.

Knitting: have finished hand sewing the lining into the purse and am now working on the handle/strap.

Crocheting: see above- made for the House Cup that I am enrolled in over in Ravelry. Any takers for who wants it for Christmas? Thinking that filled w/catnip and suspended from a pole or something it would be an ultimate cat toy.


strange stuff: Now what haven't I posted yet? A duct tape wallet.

Strange Stuff Tuesday

How warmly do you dress your child
On Memorial Day?
(mittens, hat, warm coat, knit leggings
and everyone was sitting under blankets)

Today at work, 2 of my swim lesson kids "got it". They have gone from being absolutely terrified that if I let go of them while swimming the would drown to floating on their backs w/kickboards and one is actually doggie paddling around the pool. That has made my whole summer worthwhile.


Strange Stuff: I wonder if this will keep the moose from eating my apple trees this winter. Tree Cozy.

Hugo was 7 weeks old on 8/8/8. So that makes him almost 9 weeks today.

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Just minutes later this baby jumped through the
fence to get to Mama.

Knitting: 1/2 way through the Twitterpated purse. Gathering supplies for the Ravelrylympics. Only in one event.

Went to work today, back is still very stiff. Oddly the deep end was the hardest area of the pool to be in.

Picked 1.5 qts of strawberries today- oh so very good! Sweet and full of water/juice. Delish. My currants don't look very good- kind of small. But the lowbush cranberries- better pick those at first frost. Lots of em and bigguns too. Not sure about the crowberries or serviceberries haven't seen any of those patches around.

Think there is going to be another post heading called Life w/Teenage Boys stay tuned for that one.

It is late and finally the sun is setting (another gorgeous sunset). Will try to take a photo tomorrow of the sunset.

Weather: sunny and warm 58 F.

dinner: French toast slathered in Maple Syrup and melted butter w/fresh strawberries on the side.

What I saw on Mulberry Street

Another interesting thing seen.....
(of course it was at the Parade)

what a motorcycle that has 2 wheels up front?

Knitting: nothing new.

Quilting: still working on the Round Robin Quilt- it was supposed to go out in the mail on Tuesday, well looks like another couple of days will do it. Bugger it.

Almost had to cancel lessons today, the power went out at the pool last night and shut down all the comps. that run the pool equipment (the circulation pump, the hoppers for chlorine). No one was around to reset them. So most levels were off this morning- no one was in the water at 7:30 when I got there. Thankfully all was well by 8 am so we could run lessons as scheduled- I am taking a vacation day on Friday, and that would have been a bad day for me if I had to do make ups.

well gotta run out of here early tomorrow... paperwork out at the pool needs to be done.

Strange stuff: Sometimes the recycling bug can go a bit too far- like in the case of this purse.

And to think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.......

On the way to work today....
I saw 7 Police Cars in less then a
1 mile radius!
(didn't realize there were that many
Kenai City Cops and State Troopers on at 7:15 am!)


And other things seen on Mulberry street.........

(Yes the above pic is a DeLorian
aka: Back to the Future Car)

Below is just another really old car
that doesn't even have windows.
Hmm... early A/C?

Question of the Day:
How would you wax a 120+ foot long slide?

A) Put the wax on all of it and then go back to the top and buff it out?

B) Put the wax on in sections and buff it in sections?

Answer:
If you guessed B, you were correct.

Today between Swimming lessons sets much time was spent sitting on
towels going down the slide to remove the excess wax.
Best results were achieved when hot tap water was poured down
the slide, then slide was turned on and more towel sliding commenced.

Knitting: Cast on and am a few rows into this... market bag. Not sure if I am liking it, and I am going to run out of yarn for it also. This is not a Sugar and Cream one ball knit.

Sewing/ Quilting: nothing.

Made brownies w/Bumpkins tonight. While mixing the brownish mixture, Bumpkins said "Mud". Later she asked to eat the "eyebrowns". Translation is Brownies! So her bedtime snack was fresh "Eyebrowns" and warm milk w/a drop of vanilla extract.

Strange stuff: Last night while surfing around and getting Bumpkins quieted down for sleep, I surfed across an interesting free knitting pattern site. Well Bumpkins decided she liked these- and no she isn't going to get them!

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Another quilt from the show....

A close up of a circle...
looks like a center of a flower...
but look closer
it is a FACE!

Knitting: am done with the yoke of the baby sweater- now to do the lacy body. Attempted to cast on for another Swamp Witch Scarf, that was frogged when the fun fur knotted up on itself. So wound that all into one largish ball (2 skeins of fun fur and 2 skeins of acrylic- black and white).

Quilting: discovered a way to make the quilt border... you know that you have been looking at quilt books to much when you dream about putting different quilt squares together.

The second set to swim lessons have started. Soon we will be 1/2 through the summer. Well best be off to straighten out the house for bed and then it is time to hit the sack.

Weather: sunny and 60's F.

Random website: Finally a site that shows a person the proper way to husk/shuck corn.

Strange stuff: A very scary site... the Worst Quilt Wannabes. Do you have one to enter?

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Knitting: nothing new is really calling to me... do need to cast on another pair of socks for DM for Christmas.

Sewing: unearthed an old UFO quilt square this last week. will post a pic sometime. But in the meantime I have been busy perusing the internet for a border pattern for the Round Robin quilt exchange that I am in. Did buy a wonderful piece of material to go with it. Now to definitely decide on a pattern so I can cut this out and sew it together. Bumpkins and I went to our LQS on Sunday (she did not want to leave! Bribing did nothing; ended up bodily picking her up and hauling her out of there!) Monday after training we walked over to a neighbor's and Bumpkins had a hey day playing in her batiks. Oh wow! what an amazing craft room- it took up the ENTIRE downstairs! Almost 1200 square feet!

Had training on Monday- Red Cross recerts for CPR. Did you know that the Red Cross procedures weren't on their website? You have to go elsewhere to find the official Red Cross guidelines for CPR.

Better be off to bed now... morning comes awfully early.

Strange Stuff: And this gives the term dial up computer a whole new meaning...

eta: and no it doesn't really get pitch black here at night. dusky dark yes but not deep dark. (and that was around 2:30 am. when the temps were down to 34 F again! even the grass doesn't want to grow this year)

Strange Stuff Tuesday

The quilt square...
Thank you Kazul for helping w/the background.

Bumpkin's leggings..
And she will wear them.
Last night was a little cold and she put them on.

Knitting: nothing new.
Sewing: Have cut out almost 1/2 the blocks needed for my newest quilt. After cutting last night realized that 48 blocks weren't needed.. the whole quilt was 48", so that meant 64 blocks. Hopefully I have enough print material for the last 8 squares.

I go back to work tonight. Ugg. 5 pm to 10 pm, DM is watching Bumpkins as DH has to be at work at 10 pm.

That is about all folks, laundry, quilting and work.

Strange stuff: All pets need a home including your pet rock. And if you are having trouble finding a Pet rock this link might help. Very interesting if you read the whole article all the way through.

Tuesday's Strange Stuff

The price of gas 2 weeks ago....
The price of Gas today.....

And Tesoro's Nikiski Oil Refinery
(I drive by it to go to work each day-
and the gas station is less than 1 mi away from the facility).

Knitting: couple more rows done the scarf.

More melting going on... there were swans out on the Kenai River flats when I went to work. But they were gone by the time I came home. Did take pictures of the geese but they were all blurry. The good news is the Snow Geese, ducks, Canadian Geese, and swans are back. Haven't seen any Sandhill Cranes yet.... so Spring is here!

Strange Stuff: Actually these "britches" are kind of cute.. not very strange at all.

Tuesday's Strange Stuff

Knitting: one row on DM's sock.

Long day at work. Got there at 11:30. Asked Nige if he wanted me to rotate out.. he said yes and then started to tell me the plan of attack for the afternoon. When a little girl came up and needed first aid. Welcome to Work! That took 15 min than it was time for me to suit up for lessons. Taught lessons from 12 to 12:45 then stayed in the water to guard the kiddos. More lessons at 1 to 1:45 then a fast shower (so fast the conditioner didn't get rinsed out of my hair!) and more guarding for a school group. Finally sat down at the front at 3:00. Wow the day went fast! Water Aerobics and then home at 9:45 pm. I am tired.

Lizard Birth:

If you have raised kids (or been one), and gone through the pet syndrome, including toilet flush burials for dead goldfish, the story below will have you laughing out LOUD!

Overview: I had to take my son's lizard to the vet.

Here's what happened:

Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was 'something wrong' with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room.

'He's just lying there looking sick,' he told me. 'I'm serious, Dad. Can you help?'

I put my best lizard-healer expression on my face and followed him into his bedroom. One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do.

'Honey,' I called, 'come look at the lizard!'

'Oh, my gosh!' my wife exclaimed. 'She's having babies.'

'What?' my son demanded. 'But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom !'

I was equally outraged.

'Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce,' I said accusingly to my wife.

'Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?' she inquired (I think she actually said this sarcastically!)

'No, but you were supposed to get two boys!' I reminded her, (in my most loving, calm, sweet voice, while gritting my teeth).

'Yeah, Bert and Ernie!' my son agreed.

'Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know,' she informed me (Again with the sarcasm!).

By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it.

'Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience,' I announced. 'We're about to witness the miracle of birth.'

'Oh, gross!' they shrieked

'Well, isn't THAT just great? What are we going to do with a litter of tiny little lizard babies?' my wife wanted to know.

We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later.

'We don't appear to be making much progress,' I noted.

'It's breech,' my wife whispered, horrified.

'Do something, Dad!' my son urged.

'Okay, okay.' Squeamishly, I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gentle tug. It disappeared. I tried several more times with the same results.

'Should I call 911?' my eldest daughter wanted to know.

'Maybe they could talk us through the trauma.' (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?)

'Let's get Ernie to the vet,' I said grimly. We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap.

'Breathe, Ernie, breathe,' he urged.

'I don't think lizards do Lamaze,' his mother noted to him. (Women can be so cruel to their own young. I mean what she does to me is one thing, but this boy is of her womb, for G~d's sake.).

The vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass.

'What do you think, Doc, a C-section?' I suggested scientifically.

'Oh, very interesting,' he murmured. 'Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?'

I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside.

'Is Ernie going to be okay?' my wife asked.

'Oh, perfectly,' the vet assured us. 'This lizard is not in labor. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen.
Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um . . um . . . masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back.' He blushed, glancing at my wife.

We were silent, absorbing this.

'So, Ernie's just just . . . excited,' my wife offered.

'Exactly,' the e vet replied , relieved that we understood.

More silence. Then my vicious, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly.

'What's so funny?' I demanded, knowing, but not believing that the woman I married would commit the upcoming affront to my flawless manliness.

Tears were now running down her face. 'It's just that . . I'm picturing you pulling on its . . . its. . . teeny little ' She gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more.

'That's enough,' I warned. We thanked the vet and hurriedly bundled the lizard and our son back into the car.. He was glad everything was going to be okay.

'I know Ernie's really thankful for what you did, Dad,' he told me.

'Oh, you have NO idea,' my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter.

Two lizards: $140.

One cage: $50.

Trip to the vet: $30.

Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's winkie: Priceless!

Moral of the story: Pay attention in biology class.
Lizards lay eggs!

Strange stuff: A very interesting place to hold your yarn.

Weather: Snow (enough accumulation that sweeping off my windshield was necessary.)

Strange Stuff Tuesday on Wednesday

What this isn't strange?
It is cozy in here...

Knitting: one row on DH's scarf got done (while my gas tank got filled up). Gas is now $3.79.

Work was rough on Tuesday. I pulled a 10 hr shift- noon to 10 pm. There was a group of 60 kids that were in the water from 12:30 to 3 pm. At 3 my lessons started and they got done at 5. So after cleaning- I got to work on paperwork. Then 7:30 found me getting set up for Water Aerobics. And then at 8:30 in came 80 kids for a rental that lasted until 10 pm.

argg.. I am sick again. Sore throat, tired but thankfully no cough. So off to work I go.... only 2 more days of lessons. Than a school group and that is all until June.

Anyone else tired of winter? We got another couple of inches of snow last night. Visibility was bad and the snow was slushy, wet. Hard to drive in last night.

Strange stuff: Kazul mentioned this gardening container.. a down under planter (you need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see it planted) and here is a link to make one for yourself. Think this item will be made here. Just don't plant a seed in it - some seeds will turn themselves around to find the sun.

Tuesdays strange stuff

Knitting: did another row on Bumpkin's sweater. And two more on DH's scarf.

Another long day at work... again night supervisor. I have to be careful on how I move/twist my upper body as one of my ribs likes to roll. Well I have done just that- twisted in the wrong way and now my rib is very painful. I taught water aerobics like that too. Maybe tonight it will go back the way it is supposed to be.

The book "Saxons, Vikings and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland, by Bryan Sykes" is extremely interesting. I could easily just sit and read that for quite awhile.

Strange Stuff: Now what to make w/that root beer and carrots. Seriously I kid you not! And because I like links with pictures this one seems appropriate for today... a doorstopper.


ETA: Link to the book "Saxons,Vikings and Celts".

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Bumpkin's cardigan:

And that is all the knitting that I have done.

More Easter Pictures:

Princess doing Bumpkins hair.

DH petting Obi.

The pool where I work was on National News- ABC- was either Monday or Tuesday if anyone watched it. The picture was of a couple that got marred in front of a water slide. Here is the news article from the Peninsula Clarion.

Will be another busy work week for me. Nige is away at a conference in Palm Springs, so I get his work schedule. The rest of the week is a 7 am to 5 pm shift.

Strange Stuff: A totally different kind of Easter Basket.

Random Website Monday and Strange Stuff

Knitting: Did several rounds on Bumpkin's leggings have about 2 inches left then one leg is finished!

Have been working some long hours at work again- and yes it is Spring Break! When I went to pick up Bumpkin's from Daycare tonight there was a sign posted that the facility will be closed Friday. I am glad- it is a Christian Daycare (church affiliated) DM will be watching Bumpkin's on Friday. Princess will be driving home that night.

There was no post on Monday because, I somehow scratched my eye and had to switch to glasses. Glasses haven't been worn in almost 2 yrs, so my eye hurt (so bad that the sun hurt and I couldn't take Bumpkins outside to play) and then adjusting to glasses was interesting. Imagine looking at the wavy carnival glass mirrors, now walk- that is what wearing glasses is like. Makes for very interesting stairway experiences. Hopefully Wednesday I can go back to contacts.

Random Website: Back to the wardrobe we go and how many ways could you wear one dress? This individual made it ONE year with a simple black dress.

Strange Stuff: If you checked out the Holiday Turducken at Christmas/ or Thanksgiving. Then you will definitely want to check this one out, the more intrepid readers may want to create this Easter Turducken (my family would say that this is will give you Diabetes- I know that isn't how you become Diabetic! But it will give you a good dose of Sugar overload).

Weather: today was in the 30's, Monday was in the teens in the morning and got really nice later. The snow from last week still hasn't completely melted from the drives.

Tuesdays strange stuff

I wanted to post a picture of DH's office over at the studio. But it was late when I got home and I left early today. So no pictures of the knitted fish either.

Knitting: nothing today.

Talked to my boss and another coworker and both said that Bumpkins probably did pick up a RWI. Thankfully her immune system fought it off, she still is sick only now w/a normal cough and just has clear snot.

Strange stuff: Since obviously I am still into biology items: and for your favorite OB/Midwife or anyone else that deals with delivering of babies. I give you this and this doll (not making one for Bumpkins any time soon).

Weather today: cloudy w/a snow shower, snow accumulation 1/4". Temp tonight driving home: at work 29 F with dry roads, in Kenai 31 F with Black Ice, Bridge Access 30 F with dry roads. There is a good sized ice puddle in our driveway.