Sunday Ramblings on Wednesday....

Christmas Eve dinner:
Lefse turned out really good- for having made it for the first time. Took about an hour to roll and fry 16 lefse. (Lefse is the Norwegian tortilla, except made w/mashed potatoes and flour).
From left to right:
Rutsu: Mashed Potatoes and turnips. Actually turned out very good.
Sweet and Sour red cabbage: Not very sweet/sour and very soggy. Prefer not to eat my cabbage cooked. Will make again as a coleslaw.
Hot Fruit Soup: very good over the Rice pudding. (Sorry no photo of the Rice pudding).
Lamb: No photo, didn't cook very well. 4 lbs. at 325 degrees for almost 2 hrs. still way to rare.
The lamb found its way into Shepard's pie the next day. (The Shepard's pie would have been a good place to put the leftover Rutsu and tater tots.)



Just some thoughts... After hearing the Nativity story twice. I was wondering why was there no room in the inn. In that part of the world there is the family bed (s) many people crowded into beds as possible. Any floor space can hold a mat to sleep on (as this was ages ago where beds where a precious item). Was it because when Joseph knocked on the door of the inn, he told the inn keeper "this chick is my girlfriend and the baby isn't mine. And she is going to have this kid any time, so can we stay here anyways? Dude". Or is it because Mary was probably in labor and there wasn't an area for her to have the baby away from anyone. (Gotta' remember that having a kid meant you went to the red tent. As per the Jewish law at the time). As I think about it- the reason was probably the latter one. And where in the Bible do the sacrifices stop? Such as having to go to the priests to perform the sacrifices for God.

The debate at work last week was why Christmas is held when it is. Is it because of the pagan holiday of Winter Solstice and the Roman Catholic Church wanted to draw people away from that tradition? Or is it because that is when Christ was born (not exact day but the winter season?)

Enjoy the 12 days of Christmas! Or the traditional Boxing Day.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!
This is what our tree looked like just before going to bed last night.
A very country breakfast. And this is what we had for brunch.



Sourdough pancakes and fried apples.



Hash browns, orange juice and link maple syrup sausages.


Fried eggs: One for each person... 2 over easy and 2 Sunny side up. And real butter for the pancakes.







Hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas! Safe travel to all.
(no random website this week).

Strange stuff Tuesday: I hope that you didn't receive this under your tree. Bacteria...... might be nice for a Science teacher though.

O is for......

OOPS!
I meant to post these on Saturday for Saturday Sky. (Even though I am not part of that Web ring). These were all taken around 3:00 pm on Saturday. Just after we dropped Thing Two off at the airport to go to his mom's.





Optical illusion?
No this is really a picture of the full moon- taken at 3:00 pm. Just before sundown.



Odd:

DH wanted to check out a local thrift store. This is what we bought for Bumpkins for $12.00. It is way to big, size 6 but so adorable. We also got a ? for Princess. Hope that she likes it. The thrift store was very impressive. You almost needed cell phones to just find each other. Each door you went through there was MORE stuff. Found a pea coat and some other clothes Princess may like. Also found a coat that had pleats like a lampshade. It was so bizarre.




Knitting: Have to finish up the drawstring bag for ?. That will actually be fast. Tomorrow during nap. Sewing: finish up jacket, slip and pjs. The dress and bonnet won't get done. I did lose a needle that was threaded somewhere in this house.

Cleaning: almost done. DH will clean Thing Two's bathroom tomorrow and dump the shop vac. I will mop floors and vacuum. Then onto making the lefse and going grocery shopping. Thinking about getting the little people house for Bumpkins (it is at DMs).

Bumpinks and I have gone cold turkey on the nursing. Tonight is the second night for not nursing (I am so full it hurts). Also this is the 3rd night she has been (stayed) in her own bed. I have had some really long nights though! Sitting next to her until she falls asleep.

Christmas menus

We are doing Norwegian foods for Christmas Eve dinner.
Norwegian Marinated Leg of Lamb
sour cream DM's is bringing over. Hopefully I didn't mess up by marinating the lamb on Thursday. It was still very frozen when I started so it should be ok.
Norwegian Red Cabbage
Red Cabbage and Red currant jelly bought.
Rutmus
Rutabega bought.
Hot Norwegian Fruit Soup
1/2 lb. of each raisins, dried prunes, dried apricots and orange juice bought (except for the OJ)
Fried Apples
8 apples (bought)
Rice pudding
raisins, milk still need to get Lactaid
Lefse
dough is setting in the fridge
Hot Spiced cranberry juice
don't think so

Christmas Day Brunch:

Sausage
I had bought 2 pkgs but have lost one somewhere. DH says we will find it in about a week, depending on temps. Actually it isn't in the house, Athena would be going nuts.
Puff Pancake

Hash Browns
Ore Ida Hash browns- if I remember to buy some t0morrow. (Sunday)
coffee
Special Ground coffee- Kona blend
Eggs
And leftover fruit from Christmas Eve's dinner.
And some kind of Sourdough pastry
Sourdough is fermenting as I write.

Christmas Memes

Here are some Christmas photos of our decorations. (The stocking one didn't turn out so well as the background is of boxes and boxes.)

Our Christmas tree- with decorations around the bottom. (yes Bumpkins does leave the Nativity Set alone).

Our advent calendar.

I found this meme over at Kaki's.
Favorite Christmas cartoon:
Frosty the snowman.

Favorite Christmas movie:
It's a Wonderful Life and Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

Favorite Christmas song (traditional):
What Child is This?

Favorite Christmas song (pop/modern):
Feed the World

Favorite Christmas cookie:
Baklava, and clove cookies
Favorite family tradition:
Going to church Christmas Eve and then driving around looking at the Christmas Lights.

I found this meme over at Sprite's.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bag?
Gift Bag and tissue paper. What could be easier?

2. Real tree or artificial?

Real!

3. When do you put up your tree?

As soon as we get the phone call that the trees are in. Early December.

4. When do you take down your tree?

Just before New Years when all the needles start to fall off (because I quit watering it).

5. Do you like eggnog?

I love hot eggnog (can't drink it as I am lactose intolerant- and the soy doesn't taste the same).

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

My tonka dumptruck.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

Two- One under the tree and an ornament in the tree.

8. Hardest person to buy for?

Thing One

9. Easiest person to buy for?

Princess and Bumpkins

10. Worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received?

Presto Pizza cooker (kids love it though).

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Christmas cards? What are those? Neither.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

It’s a Wonderful Life and Christmas Eve on Sesame Street

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

January and then watch for sales all year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas Present?

Of course. Doesn't everyone...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Fudge and Baklava

16. White or colored lights?

Colored- because that is what the family likes..... But one year I will have a white tree.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

“Feed the World"

18. Traveling for Christmas or stay home?

Stay at home- everyone else travels.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen (no google searching either).

20. Angel or Star on top of tree?

Angel ornament- looking for the perfect Angel for the top.

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Christmas morning. With one opening on Christmas Eve (pj's anyone)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

Open swim at work.

23. What I love most about Christmas?

Everything! The parties, the lights, gift finding/giving.

N is for......

I have my computer back! And can upload pictures! No pictures of finished projects- but I have been sewing and knitting like crazy! Thankfully I don't have to work late these days and can work on projects at night.

N is for ... Not again! This was in my yard- and almost made me late for work. (I don't go outside when they are around, people have been known to be trampled by angry moose).
N is for Now what?

This is the down side to a front loading washing machine. The door opened up after the machine was full of water. (second time was worse!) Thankfully we had a wet/dry shop vac to suck up all the water!
N is for Nutritious: So these aren't all that healthy- but they are delish!

Cream Cheese Sugar cookies!

Molasses Crinkles






Clove Cookies, Chocolate Chip, And Jumbo Chocolate Chip Oatmeal.
Still have to make chocolate covered raisin oatmeal cookies and whole wheat apple oatmeal cookies. Than Scones and Fudge. yumm.....


Random Website: A link to send cyber Christmas Cards- (They also have Chanukah and Kwanzaa cards, I did look for sheep but there aren't any there).

Strange Stuff: And for another odd Christmas Present- how about this. A wallet that possibly won't get stolen (no one wants another persons underwear). Also if you search around craftbits- you can find 3 kinds of seasonal poop. Happy looking!

The heating pad is on almost all day now as 1) I forgot to turn it off and 2) It is staying in the single digits. Tonight we plugged in our cars as it is COLD! Oh not so bad it is only -4. (Really thought it was in the negative double digits.) There still isn't any ice on the ice rink at work- and there is hardly any snow. We really need a lot of snow to keep the frost from going deep into the ground. When the frost goes deep people start having trouble w/septic and wells. Not to mention the plants don't have a protective covering on them (to bad the weeds don't die as well as the pretty plants).

Thank you for reading this really long post!

TGIF?

Good news! Dell called today and is sending the computer back all fixed. So by Tuesday I will be back in action. With pictures and other fun stuff. Also Kazul is slowly regaining her eyesight- no word yet on how the MRI turned out. Kazul has a cell phone! It has only taken her FOREVER to get one. And thankfully she didn't get a Razr. Had a nice chat with Thing Two- and he is "cool" with my reasoning. DH keeps leaving Bumpkins w/Thing Two. I am getting grumpy about it. I don't want to use Thing Two as a live in sitter. That isn't fair to him, occasionally is ok- Not every day.

Bad news now: Bumpkins has pinkeye. Took her to daycare and even after the director looked at her eyes (we decided that she was ok). So now all the kids have been exposed to this virus. Swimming lessons aren't over. I have 2 more days next week. The Christmas party for tonight was canceled (maybe that was good thing especially w/Bumpkins infection- she would have infected 2 other kids). And now my eyes itch. But thankfully we have medicine for eye infections.

Well off to knit- I am almost 2/3 done w/the red cross drawstring bag. But I don't like it. Do I have enough time to redo it? Tomorrow will be a stay at home day- as Bumpkins is contagious. So hopefully will get a lot done then.

To answer some comments about the litter box. The litter box is out in an entry way that isn't heated. The temps out there run about 20 or so degrees warmer than the outside temps. And since tonight it is already in the single digits. The heating pad goes back on (frozen cat poo- doesn't stink! but heated cat poo does).

Mid week update

Knitting: not much- work is so getting in the way of finishing projects. (Took my knitting w/me today and well forgot it there. Oh well- I have 4 more projects here at home). No sewing either.

No water aerobics tonight (no participants- one of my regulars was medivaced up to Anchorage with a brain tumor. Please keep her in your prayers). I want to knit but Bumpkins won't go to sleep! And it is almost 11 pm. ARRGGG!

As the temps seem to be dropping. Low teens- it is now time to turn the heating pad back on. Athena doesn't like to use a cold litter box. Something about frozen kitty litter just isn't right. Picky cat! (Someone reccommended that I sit on a heating pad for my sore hip- and they were kind of surprised when I explained where my heating pad was).

Dell called today and they have received my computer. So by New Year's I should have my computer back!

Tomorrow should be the last day of swim lessons. I am so excited! One month where I won't be swimming except by my choice!

Tuesday's Strange Stuff

I have been unable to blog all week. Due to computer problems, ie... every time I would move the laptop it would crash. So that made posting blogs and reading blogs difficult.
There will be no alphabet this week as my camera is holding pictures hostage (need a cable to retrieve pictures).

So a catch up on all that has been going on.
Sunday: Thing Two came bsck from Regions in Anchorage (it was a 5 hr bus ride- usually it is only 3 1/2 hrs by bus). The roads were bad- slick and white out conditions. I baked cookies- lots and lots of cookies. Have 2 more kinds to go and fudge and then my scones. And Christmas Baking will be done.

Monday: Picked up the tree (31 dollars shipping is so expensive) and the tree smells so good and the needles are so soft, the tree is so full (imported from Oregon). Went to Knitting group! Learned how to carry colors! Laundry (loads and loads). And baked more cookies!

Tuesday: Work- last week for water aerobics. Then I get some early nights. DH had band last night so Thing Two had to babysit. We have almost no snow- just about 1/2 an inch. Very hard to keep snow when the temps stay around 30.

Well the computer has already locked up once on me already. ARRGG!

Random Web site: These quizzes are fun! Desserts: Do you have a sweet tooth? I scored 8 out of 10 because I second guessed myself. Chocolate IQ Mine is quite low.

Strange Stuff: And for another easy (unusual Christmas gift)..... (gotta go find it) Do you know anyone who likes Pez and needs a USB drive? Well if you combine the two you get an interesting gift.

Saturday update....

M is also for Milestones. This week was a big week for Bumpkin's first she is now in pre-school. (I know she isn't even 3 yet but she is ready and loving it.) Second- last night she spent her first night away from me and her dd. She stayed at Nana's for the first time overnight. She had a blast.

This week has been kind of busy. All the senior staff at work have had the flu. First Nige, then Rod and then I went home on Thursday early. Thursday I went in at 10:00 to cover for Rod then at 1:00 I was sick. I had to wait until Amb came in at 3 before I could leave. And that night threw me off. I did little bit of knitting but no sewing.

Friday night after getting off of work at 5 (roads were bad) I got home at 5:50. Showered blowed dried my hair and was ready to go by6:10. DH and I went to a church Christmas Party. Delicious. Prime Rib and more desserts and salads than you could shake a stick at. Had the most filling dessert ever. Some kind of walnut, raisin, chocolate chip pie in a pecan pie solution.

Gotta' run as I am to be at a wrapping booth in 15 mins. And we are celebrating Christmas next weekend. YIKES!!!!! Gotta' finish shopping!

You Are a Tree

You love every part of the holidays, down to the candy canes and stockings. And you're goofy enough to put a Christmas tree ornament on your tree!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Yikes! this Advent blogging isn't going very well. Way to busy!

Monday- I will post pictures later about the cons of having a front loading washing machine. (yep- it flooded the basement not once but twice). Made some awesome cream cheese sugar cookies (they made a lot like over 80 cookies). Went to the library and 13 books later (several are cookbooks for Christmas meals). Went to a La Leche meeting (our hospital has remodeled and now I have to read the map of how to get to anywhere!) Didn't sleep well as we are attempting to move Bumpkins into her own bed.

Tuesday: Washed dishes, put away laundry, prepared for the washing machine repair guy, and went to work. Work, did 4 sets of lessons (2 of them are private ie... one on one w/a child), supervised and taught water aerobics. We have a blizzard warning in effect (so a long slow drive home tonight). Have to go into work early tomorrow 7 am so need to go to bed now.

Prayer request: There was a lifeflight helicopter that went down somewhere in the Prince William Sound Monday at 5 pm. The search was called off due to bad weather, the flight crew are members of this community. Also Agrium is laying off 80 people from the local fertilizer plant on Dec. 5.

Random website: Bible readings for the month of Advent.

Strange stuff Tuesday: And for that person who wants NOTHING for Christmas. Fast and easy!

M is for..........

M is for Music Studio. It is up and operational. (very loud neighbors now though). A yarn/quilt shop would be so much quieter.
M is for Men! DH requested sugar cookies for Christmas baking. No problem there.... he later says "I don't know what sugar cookies are -but they are buttery and have sugar on top." After I make the dough for cream cheese sugar cookies (delicious by the way- will post link after baking tomorrow) a lightbulb goes on that perhaps the cookies he wants are spritz. Yep. Spritz- so now DM gets to make them for him as I don't have a cookie press.



(Dove ornaments painted w/acrylic paint)

(do you remember these crafts- weaving plastic wreaths/candy canes through lace ribbon).



So for Advent today Bumpkins and I set out to go to church. Well after waking up at 8 am, Bumpkins fell asleep at 10:30 and slept until 12:30. So no church for us (wouldn't have been fun for anyone since Bumpkin's was crabby tired). So this afternoon, I decided to make us a Jesse tree. Good idea...... NOT! A Jesse tree is a tree branch that is anchored in a bucket w/ sand or dirt. The large branch and bucket were no problem. But the ground is frozen SOLID! There is no way that I am scraping enough dirt to fill a bucket. So we made ornaments instead. Now that was exciting. I taught preschool w/6 3 yr olds and used this paint. I never had the trouble w/those kids like I did w/ Bumpkins. Yikes! Thankfully she starts preschool this week.

Prayer request: Kazul has lost vision in one of her eyes and the doctors don't know what is wrong. She has moved to a new area and has to travel a great distance to go the specialist. Her husband can't take anymore time of off work at his new job to drive her.

Princess returned safely from Vancouver, British Columbia- her bag did not. Bag vs. baggage train. Bag lost big time. Thankfully nothing was smashed or lost.

Beginning of Advent Season

This month I will attempt to blog every day in regards to Advent. (the thoughts expressed here are mine and what I have gleaned from sources on the internet- please don't quote me but do your own research. I could be wrong about some things).
But first to explain what is Advent? Advent is the beginning of the church year for most churches in the Western tradition.
And what is the Advent season? The entire season is a celebration of the Birth of Christ. And anticipation of Christ's return.
More tomorrow.....

Knitting: Lots! more done on DH's scarf, Secret sisters scarf, finished another drawstring bag and co on for another. Frogged DM's socks again. Bumpkins is making some potholders for people for Christmas (she is knitting them w/a lot of help!).

Still no snow. Bumpkins had the flu for the last couple of days. Didn't go to work on Friday (she started throwing up around 4 am and was a couch potato most of the day). Baby Einstein is awesome! (kind of tired of baby Beethoven though after watching that 5 times in one day it got old fast). Athena got new cat food (went back to sensitive stomach- and she isn't hungry anymore.) ie... jumping up on the counters, scrounging for food, stealing food. Thing Two had a wrestling tournament today- his first. Regions are next week- he is impressed w/how well he did. Kind of sad that he spent the season ineligible. DH's studio is up and running, now to find the missing house keys. I put them somewheres last October.

Dinner: Turkey soup delicious (don't remember how I made it though!).

Wow Wednesday!

Ok it is Wednesday and I missed Random Monday and strange stuff Tuesday. My only excuse is I am tired and busy.

Monday: I spent sewing little black and white squares for DH's guitar quilt together (when at 45 degrees out I should have taken Bumpkin's and knitting outside). Yep 45 degrees- the snow is GONE! Then Bumpkin's and I went to the library where I checked out Arctic Lace a book on knitting w/qiviut. (a girl can dream can't she?) Then the grocery store and back home for a while. Bumpkin's went out to Nana's and played w/Obi while I went to work. Another thing that I did was destroy the alien lifeforms growing in my couch. ( I vacuumed the inside and found 60 cents and a pair of socks).

Tuesday: After a long night Bumpkins didn't sleep well. I went to work for one of my long days. The last set of swim lessons before Christmas started. I am in the water for 3 hrs each day- 3 different sets of beginners swimming lessons. (I no longer shower at home!). No knitting or sewing on that day.

Wednesday: 3 loads of laundry, cooked 2 turkey carcasses down for soup. Work and then church.

Knitting almost done w/another pouch. Think that there is only 5 rows left to go.

Random website: An interesting way to help others and enrich your vocabulary. Free Rice! My highest vocab level is 35. What is yours?

Strange Stuff: And because there are only 26 days until Christmas presents have to be done. For the next few weeks I will be posting fast strange gifts for someone (maybe!).
Thee first one takes a bit of work and some money and scrounging for parts. ipod Retro Radio.

L is for.......

Limits: There must be a weight limit for ironing boards. I have to reorganize the material shelves for my newest material. I can't buy anymore yarn until I use up some- there is no more room in my yarn tote.

Love: Everyone loves Athena.









Lists: I have started my cookie and candy making lists.
Cookies: chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip, monster, clove.
Candy: Fudge, Kahlua, Rum balls, Bread: Scones (oatmeal, cinnamon chocolate chip) gingerbread.
And the list of doom (what definitely won't get done for Christmas). DH scarf will get done if I do 15 inches a week. 3 sets of doll baby clothes and the main body of the jack-a-lope slippers. Also one sock for DM.


Weather: 40 and windy/ cloudy. All the snow has melted, the trees are starting to bud w/leaves and there is ice in the puddles.

Thanksgiving weekend highlights

DM came over for Thanksgiving
dinner- we had a lot of turkey. Then
later I called Kazul because I saw that on her blog that T came home for Thanksgiving. Princess and T talked awhile. They haven't talked on the phone in a long time.
Princess, CC and I got up and went to Fred Meyer's for the 5 am opening. We then went to Jo-Anns. What a long wait that one was. We got Jo-Anns around 6:30 and didn't get out of there until 8:30. Flannel was 99 cents a yard- the cutting line was long! But I got some nice flannel for DH's quilt also got some Patton's wool for $3.00 a skein. Princess still needs to pick out her fabric for her quilt. I returned home before 10:00 after a quick stop at Gottshcalks. DH then went to Home Depot. He returned almost an hr later w/lights.





DM and I went to Kenai's craft fair where I got more Alpaca yarn. Bumpkins kept saying she wanted to see animals. (Think she was remembering the fair where all the animals and wool where).



And after a nap- we took Princess to the airport and then went to the parade.





Ok kazul- sit down. Little bitty city of Kenai has a marching band again. Actually it is a Drum line... and they braved the 35 degree w/misty rain to perform. Kind of strange seeing people in the parade wearing jeans and tennis shoes. Last year it was 10 below zero. Alaska- where people are happy for global warming. (Just kidding- kind of.)











DH went to the other end of the strip w/us and then left us. There was a worship team playing at Kings Cross (a local Christian Bookstore) and they needed DH's help. So he stayed there until Late.
Bumpinks and I went to the Fireworks. She really liked the pretty lights.

Today Bumpkin's and I
went shopping for ice cream cake, and really good steaks all for Thing Two's seventeenth birthday. We also stopped in at another craft fair- a Thousand villages. That is something that needs to be added to the Friday after Thanksgiving stops. Bumpkin's found something for Princess for Christmas- now to see if she will willing to part with it.

strange stuff Tuesday

Bumpkin's has had a busy week!

And this is what I came home to last Tuesday night. A blue dresser and blue colored bathroom doors (the doors were white to start with!). It took 15 minutes of scrubbing w/soft scrub to remove the coloring on the dresser. The bathroom door will be painted.





And this is what a cat looks like after it has had a shower. Yes I know cats don't like water- but they don't like to be covered in baby shampoo even better. Bumpkin's decided that Athena needed a bath w/soap. So she put baby shampoo on her. And the last picture is of Athena stealing Bumpkins gingerbread waffle.


Breakfast: whole wheat pancakes, eggs, and sausage.

Strange stuff Tuesday: And because everyone stuffs their turkey with something, how does this sound- a turducken serves 15-25 and if that isn't big enough how about a stuffed camel serves 80 - 100.

K is for ..........

Knitting: Lots of it!

This is an enjoyable scarf cast on November 16 with size US8 needles and worked with US 7 needles.





Drawstring pouches- these are so addicting! Knitted each one in a week and w/size US 6 DPNs. Stash acrylic yarn.

Edited: The bag on left was knit w/ salmon fish egg colored acrylic yarn and off white. the bag on the right was knit w/ a mauve variegated acrylic yarn from 1988. (Stash busters!).





Finished the Sara Blanche Scarf. Knitted w/US 7 needles (does it need blocking?).


Kontests: (ok so it is Contests) and there are several! First Jane's with her 300 th post. And there is Lucy's 150 posts. And another one Dandy with 500 posts ( now that is alot of blogging!) And Dandy has links to even more contests!






Random website: I sure could have used this brush last night for Athena.

I have now joined the knitter ranks!

Knitting: Cast on for Secret Sisters scarf this morning found an awesome pattern over on (ravelry) gasp! Also did several rows on the new drawstring pouch. And now to explain this posts heading. A coworker saw me knitting during break, and said "I would so love a pair of long, soft, squishie, warm socks." I umm say "Do you want me to make you a pair?" The answer was yes! So I turned her loose on Raverlry and she found a pair that she wants me to make. Can you say easy? Think I will bring in some Lion's brand lambs wool for her to see if she likes that yarn, then find out how much will be needed and then let her go get the yarn for me to knit it up. Also a lady a church gave me several skeins of acrylic yarn (red heart) including the camo that I have been looking for.

Another long day at work. Did get trained to be supervisor next week. Got out of work late- the boys were sloooow cleaning tonight. Also I don't like winter. Not only are the roads slick, but the grit to make sidewalks less icy- is nasty to clean up. We are mopping the floors at work 3 times a day, the locker rooms have to be hosed 2X's a day. And that stuff gets EVERYWHERE!

Works in progress Wednesday

DH hooked the other laptop up to a monitor- so now we have pictures again. (I am so spoiled- the other laptop is upstairs in the music room and I am used to blogging in bed at the other end of the house).
So for Jopal and Lynn some snow. Taken this morning (if you look closely you might even see the snow falling). Winter is now here.



And this is a work in progress for DH for Christmas. I still need to outline stitch almost everything. Somehow it is already full of mistakes. First the quilt square isn't big enough- I cut it out an 1 1/2 inches to narrow. And then didn't reverse the templates. Oh well- the best thing about a quilt is almost anything goes!







And finally DM's socks- frogged for the 3rd time this am. I lost track of where I was in a K3 p1 sequence. I really like the way the colors go together. It is DM's colors. Has anyone else noticed that sockotta is kind of splitty?


Not pictured but cast on for a scarf for my secret sister at church. (I needed some bible study knitting). Also have cast on for another drawstring bag.

Strange Stuff Tuesday

Thank you all for hanging in there with me while I have no pictures. Also, I have lost some of the blogs that I read. Jopal, Tucker's mom, Quiddity, Purple is a fruit, if you have links to these or are the link please help to recover them. Also if you notice that I am not commenting on your blog, then it is more than likely that I lost that link too.

Knitting: Cast on for another drawstring pouch (man those are addicting!)

Well I am tired and hungry and Bumpkin's finally went down to sleep. Maybe I will find a way to post pictures tomorrow.

Strange Stuff Tuesday! And for all of us that will need an apron next week- how about having our kids whip this one up for us. When we are done w/dinner just throw it in the compost heap- I love the no mess idea.

Weather: Today was snowy, rainy, sleety and I did see some clear skies. Roads were Nasty! Very slick! Did I mention the wind? I was trying to convince my co-workers to do a power outage dance (no power for 20 min.- pool gets shut down!).

Random Website Monday

Knitting: Finished the Sarah Blanche Scarf-wove in all ends, found the 2 dropped stitches (surprising that there were only 2 of them what w/losing needles and what not). DH helped block it. Also finished a drawstring pouch- only 4 more to make. CO on for DM's socks and messed up the ribbing so I frogged it. After casting on again w/bigger needles, Bumpkins frogged it.

Kazul sold her house. She now needs to find one in the Pendleton area (Hopefully really soon- would be nice for her to have a new place fo for Christmas).

Princess is back from a debate meet at George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon. She said that she did pretty good- broke into semi finals. That is awesome!

Today was spent doing laundry, lots of it. Thing Two was asked twice yesterday to bring his laundry downstairs. Well he didn't do it until 9:30 and I don't do laundry that late! So today I did 3 loads of his stuff and then started on DH, Bumpkins and mine. Thing Two comes home from school and asks can you do laundry for me tonight. ARGGG! Another load. So now I am 2 loads shy of being done- which won't happen tonight. I am tired, and still have to fold the load in the dryer and have one more in the washer. On the other hand- the bread that I baked in the bread machine last night rose and wonder of wonders Thing Two liked it.

And now for my Thanksgiving Day dinner Menu:
Turkey, Mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, bread, green salad, green bean casserole, steamed carrots in honey and nutmeg, sweet potatoes, squash and apple bake. And for the dessert pies: apple, pumpkin and sweet potato with whipping cream. Drinks: eggnog, spiced cider, coffee, soda. We will be serving DH, myself, Thing Two, DM, Princess, Bumpkins and whomever Princess drags home. Now what did I forget? Princess you will be the only one the brussel sprouts.

Random Website: This is an excellent way to get through the holidays, moving, or even just cleaning your house. I LOVE HER! She has helped me soooo very much! I bring you FlyLady! Seriously give her a chance to help you- however little you do it will make a HUGE difference!

J is for .....

Jokesters:
Last Tuesday I backed my car into the brick wall at work. Then Wednesday when I went in to work, Rod said "Hey, I don't know what you did, but it was bad. Big Boss wants you in her office". Ok so I head up that way instead of going into the locker room to change. I walk by the front counter and the secretary says "I already said a prayer for you". So I knock on big bosses door. Big Boss says " Come in, have a seat and shut the door." Oh yikes, so I sit down next to Nige (who also is sitting in the office). Big Boss says " So you backed into the building last night, I spoke to Risk Management and we need a copy of your drivers license, proof of insurance." I say "ok". Then Big Boss continues "Also you are on leave without pay until the results of a UA come through. The Medicenter has an appointment available at 12:15, so if you leave now you will just make it". I reply "You are joking". Big Boss said "No" I responded with "What about lessons?" (Nige and I are the only certified WSI's in our facility). Big Boss said "Nige is working on that one". When I glanced at Nige, he turned away like he was consulting a notebook. I then say "Next time I won't tell anyone that I backed into the bldg." I started to cry realizing that I would be on unpaid leave for indefinite period of time. And kept repeating "leave w/o pay?". Finally I reached for my bag and was proceeding to head out the door when Big Boss said " Janet we are just joking! You don't have to do any of that". I was absolutely stunned in complete shock. She then asked " What was I thinking when I backed into the bldg". I backed into it because well my mind was going 20 different directions and I totally forgot that the wall was behind me until thud.

Later that night someone else put a rubberband around the sprayer at the sink. And when Rod turned the water on, water sprayed everywhere. Needless to say he is out work for a period of time. And I had to fill in for him on Friday 7-11 am. Silver lining in all of this: not sure for Rod, but for me- I now have keys and the code to enter into the bldg. and was properly shown on how to check for chlorine in the water. As I am a.m. supervisor on Tuesday.

Took Bumpkin's swimming on Friday evening- she had a blast as usual.
Had a strange experience at church today, during the message I got a high pitched buzzing in my ears than I heard voices (garbled and full of static (like a radio station not tuned in right). No one else heard it. Very odd.

Got a box from Kazul. A Happy 40th birthday box. In it were 40 cheerful stickers to keep you in smiles, 40 tiny tropical buttons to add a spot of color to the 40th year your enjoying, 40 caramel candies to keep you sweet this year, 40 chocolate truffles- abunch of tasty hugs to start off your 40th year, 40 inches of elastic- to help keep you flexible in this 40th milestone, 40 inches of fiery red velcro to help you keep things together- a definite must after you turn 40, 40 quotes (in a little box that says cheerful quotes, there a 40 in here).

Well those are my friends, family and co-workers. I hope that all of yours are nicer to you on your birthday! (I didn't tell my co-workers when my birthday was or how old I was going to be- they would have gone wild w/the black stuff!).

Weather: Rainy, snowy and icy roads

Ediditedon 10/12/07: I really liked Kazul's gift box. It was very thoughtful and delicious!

Wednesdays works in progress

Works in progress: I have pictures... but the Dell laptop died and we can't find the cables for the camera to talk to the other comps. So there will be some long posts w/o photos. Sorry!

Knitting: Bumpkins leggings 2/3 done. DH quilt square: working on the outline stitch.

And now the meme from Lynn 7 random facts about me:

1. My girls are 16 yrs apart (there is only 4 days between their birthdays).
2. I was running slightly ahead of time for work (unusual) and after pulling my shirt over my head. The pronged sequin lodged itself into my nose like a piercing. I had to have assistance to remove shirt from sequin than ask permission to go to the dr. Boss Nige thought that I was joking. My head boss asked if I had been running late- for it to be under workman's comp. No such luck- and HR didn't get that interesting incident report!
   
3. Got vinyl letters stuck in fax machine at work. (Seriously the machine ate the letters!)
   
4. I don't like water in my face/eyes.
5. My favorite nut is the Macadamia (one meme I won't be doing is the nut one!)
6. I am not allowed caffeine while at work (something about a high metabolism and getting hyper).
7. In 3 years I will have lived in Alaska for 40 years. Yes I am a bona fide Sourdough!

So there you have it 7 random things about me. If you want to play consider yourself tagged!

Tuesdays strange stuff

Bumpkins picture of horses from last night. She was very busy last night, first she drug the coffee table from the living room into the kitchen so she could stand on it. And proceeded to pull all the magnets and notes off of the fridge, then moved to the microwave where she discovered the sugar bowl. Later the high chair was pulled into the kitchen and the front of the fridge was dismantled. The paints came later and were not as destructive. So what my floor is different colors now- she was entertained.



Knitting: nothing, spent hours on the internet w/Kazul looking at properties in Eastern Oregon.


Strange Stuff to make: The ultimate gag gift... everyone needs a roll of toilet paper though.

I is for....

Illness: I seem to be getting better finally! This last one was a sinus infection. The reason I am getting sick so much this year is because of my job. I am in the water so much w/no week of down time to recover. And little kids spit in my face all of the time!


Irritating: This is the most recent loaf of bread out of my bread machine, note the size (coffeepot behind is a 12 cup). The bread didn't rise. Also irritating is that somehow e-mails are going to my yahoo box instead of gmail. And that there were over 2k e-mails in my yahoo all on one day. (somehow my file got corrupted.) And phone calls that come in right at the start of nap- so the naptime is delayed than not done at all.


But Athena and Bumpkins like the bread.



Imagination: This will be turned into an herbal garden within 2 yrs.





Knitting: found some really cool patterns in ravelry (frogged one already). Also have decided to just start the socks for DM and will just make some basic socks w/no real pattern. Using sockotta yarn which is a fingerling. Have also started a quilt square for DH, I will have to make another one for my secret sister at church. But need some applique backing (you know the stuff that is sticky on one side and you peel the backing off of).


Random website: I have never known someone that had a showcase home before. So here is Kazul's house- her house is selling for more than we paid for this one!

Project updates

Another boring post w/o pictures. Haven't taken any lately. No snow still. YEAH

Knitting: am almost 1/2 way done w/the second leg of Bumpkin's leggings. Took it with me to the Dr. yesterday. The Dr. said "she brought her knitting, that isn't a good sign." My reply was "no, how much I got done isn't a good sign". Poor guy was the only Dr in the clinic and it was kind of busy. He did give some wonder drugs and told me not to go to work until Tuesday. That is good and bad... the extra hours won't be there, but I get to stay home and sleep (?).

DM came by today, and said that the only way she knew that I was alive because I posted to my blog. I haven't even been doing that lately, just surfing the net.

So onto the projects:

Completed in October,
Kazul's gift
Knitting bag
and that is all folks... yikes time to get very busy.

Weather: sunny and in the 40's