i just went to marthas vineyard fiber farm

ok, i had to do it thru the web but what fun! go to the farm yourself and see all the critters!  read about the farm...oogle at the yarn...read about life there...the comments are good too.  (can you tell this excited my fancy?)

on another note, high c (bad joke), one of the tea boxes is on its way from hawaii! (o, this is a tea swap box that travel from knitter to knitter...you take tea out, you put tea in and send it to the next person on the list).  the first box i am in line for is stuck somewhere.  i am also part of the traveling button box...it has come to me once and i want it to come again!  it was great fun to look at what others put in.  

i got the phone cable so i can attach it to the computer but as it did not slip in easily to the phone, i did not force it...waiting for him, the inhouse engineer, to awake.  he will know if  it is safe to push it harder or not.  (it's saturday morning...he gets to sleep in even if i can't)

cameras:  we went to wolfs yesterday.  they should have better sale on for father's day but sale catalog not out.  i am so confused...i think i want a nikon d60 but then i look at the catalog he gave me and i start to wonder if the olympus or pentax in the same price range would be better. what to do...what to do?

ah, vehicles...THE SATURN TOOK ME TO THE NEUROLOGIST AND THE CAMERA STORE YESTERDAY!  yes, i am screaming!  it runs!  the weird thing is, after riding in the van for 10 years, i feel like my bottom is 3" off the pavement!  ah, but the ac is soooo nice.  i saw the trailer charlie is thinking about and wonder if one of the white boxes would be better.  a box would automatically be covered for weather protection (sitting on a wet seat can be sooo...ucky!).  i am also thinking about donating the van to i can so kids can learn while fixing it up.  it would same money (tax and insurance) but it would leave us with only one vehicle.  but if i the money i would have paid on insurance in a separate account marked car and every time i put paid insurance on the one, i put money i would have paid into a van savings account, maybe in a few years...

knitting:  started two at a time toe up sox on magic loop sox for him this week.  'got in a bit of trouble when i realized the cable was going to be too short.  the easy fix would have been to just knit off to a longer cable with another set of size 4 needles.  problem:  i have only one set of needles.  i do have one 60 in cable.  with much trepidation and procrastination, i did it.  only a bit of confusion in the middle but i did it!  i am very proud of me.  while knitting while waiting for dr, i did a count of stitches again.  suddenly i have one more stitch on one side of one sock than i do on the others.  what to do.  what to do.  leave alone until the morning when you are fresh or figure it out now.  procrastinate! great idea!  so here it is.  morning.  i will count again. if i am still one stitch off, i will frog (rip it out and start over) or as i am still increasing, increase on the other sides but not this one.  hmmmm. at this moment, i think i will opt for the later....but who knows what i will do when i pick up the needles.

charlie:  got saturn running.  fixed sprinkler system (we think). is now working (well, he has to wake up first) on repainting the storm door and frame...both sides.  hmmmm...what honey do next i wonder?  there is the gap under the front door.  the garage door...it would be nice if that was fixed.  do we need a new opener...a new door?  and there is still the fence.  oh and the holes in the wall...he fell into it (don't ask).  and the floors....we have talked about raising the living room floor up and then putting wood floor down in living room, dinning room and hall way. how to pay for any of this...not a clue!  not even sure what we want.  i do know what i would love...one of those walk in bath tubs!  showers are fine but what is would give to be able to soak!  i would stay in until the water got cold and scummy...and then let it out and start over!  it as been sooooo long!  oh, well, i can dream...hmmmm. 

critters:  oscar is curled up between us on the bed.  mysy has gone to the floor (it's cooler). i love watching her play with oscar...imagine, learning to play after 5 years.  they do make me laugh.  and what a joy to watch her starting to be a bit pushy and loping out to great us when we come home!  she is still the biggest chicken in the west when outside or in the car.  her new safe place in the car is behind charlie's seat.  oscar want the back seats to be down...it puts him up where he can see out windows.

he is up and so are the critters so it must be time for breakfast!

tea:  i ... no dogs bought us tea for our anniversary (august 14)...hey, they are dogs!  they just want a long celebration...so surprise!  anyway, we tried the russian caravan and liked it.  the lemon verbina did not go over a well.  today we are going to try the scottish breakfast blend.  

while he was greeting the dogs, we talked about camera and it will be the nikon d60...i can use all my lens on all my cameras as long as i remember that i have to focus when using the old lens on new camera and new lens on old cameras... so i will have an instant gradification camera and the other to require patients for outcomes.  it will be interesting to compare results.  

they do offer classes but the package comes with nikon school dvds, 2 lenses and bag. i need to add the memory card and a filter i don't have to worry about a flash as it has a popup flash.  

now off to see if they have an on line ad.

I GOTTA NEW PHONE

and charlie got a new line and my old phone.  he finally agreed to it when the saturn died on him 40 miles from home, temp with heat factor over 100.  finally got someone to lend him a phone and he got paul to pick up him and oscar and the car to toe them all back home.  it's a samsung which shows big numbers when you dial!  has a camera so can get some pictures for try to get in here and on ravelry of yarns and knitted objects and family.  

today will be long...after i get his nibs up...dress and go to neurologist to see how my body is doing...look at trail him what's to get to attach to the trailer hitch he put on the saturn so we can cart the electric chair around.  i have said no van until he has figured out how to keep the chair in the trailer and how to keep it dry in the rain...i don't want to be stuck because of weather...see what i can get as a trade in for my cameras and lens toward a new digital camera...shop for food...try to get more rows done on my sox for charlie...o, did i forget to tell you?  

sox are the only thing charlie has asked me to knit for him...other than a hat.  i have resisted so long but he is a sweetie even if his round to it has so many angles.  so, i have started...online tutorial has been my teacher.  i got started only to quickly figure out i had the wrong cord...too short!  but how to transfer them to longer cord with only one set of size 4 needles...i figured it out but was so scared i had it wrong that put it off all day...was not as bad as i thought...only got confused once but got it done.  yarn...what yarn...well, you see...uh...one of the ladies in my knitting group needed to destash.  the yarns were so lovely.  i had to have them.  (she is a yarnaholic!) the colors were so lovely on line!  in person, better and they felt so soft!  if i ever figure out how to get pictures in here, you shall see.  

knitaholics have to knit all the time.

yarnaholis have to touch, oogle, buy yarn.

i am the latter.

gotta go...time to get this show on the road.

new rule

when you go to reading someone's blog...i am not allowed to read the whole thing...just stick to the current events or the day is half gone and you have knot all!  

vehicle update: down 2 (again).  a friend has lent us a car. dh is trying to fix car but has agreed that if not fixed within a reasonable amount of time (my reason), he will take it up to the saturn people for repair.  (after he "fixes" it this time, i still want him to take it up for a check to make sure all is well.)

i am trying to get another cell phone so he will have one for emergency (like when the saturn quit in south lake!).  the phone will have camera capability so i may finally be able to get some stuff pictures and posted.  (guess who gets the new phone and who gets the old.)

the lamp cover we bought at home depot (and i painted on a bit) is up and working on the porach ... yeah!  the screen door ... well, he's still working on it (over a year now).

i have a shawl soooo

i want a shawl pin.  and there are thousands...i mean, thousands of them.  how do i know? i spent most of this morning, after i got my new yarns loaded, looking for and at them?  i still have not had a nap and i am tired.  what a good idea....

try it again

Plan C

here we go again...

I am half assed again

i did manage to get my photos of my newest yarns into flicker and then into ravelry so now they show up in my stash.  but i still can't get my photos in here.  

o, while i was trying to make sure all my info about my sock yarns was entered correctly, i found a new pattern! one that will make a perfect fit to one of my new yarns!  i am such a happy camper...lier...well i will be when i figure the flicker to hodgepodge problem!

FRESH YARN...WAHOO!!!

i know...did i really need more yarn? sure.  how can i learn to knit socks with that thick old stuff? this is "sock" yarn...liz wanted to destash and that this was cheaper than driving to the store and getting confused with all their stuff...her's/mine is so pretty.  i started my swatch and probably will have it finished later today.  and then i am off like a herd of turtles!  i was going to go from the top down, but have changed my mine...it's going to be toes up!  liz that lovely lady, even balled one of the 2 skeins up for me.  was i impressed!  her's look like what the ball winder would do...a nice cake...with a center pull!  mine do not have a centre pull but more a thumb hole in the mist of a ....a.... well before i take it off my thumb it looks like i smashed my thumb and it got a really big bandage ...  a really colorful one!  liz sent me some pictures of the yarn (i still don't have a digital camera).

(i've run into a wee bit of a technical difficulty...be back)

Now I am pissed

how i wish there was someone here i could pick on!  we know i can be educated. i have a degree to prove it. however, it appears i need real near help on this one. maybe i should scot (drink? seems a good idea until antibiotics...but no, in this case. i do mean frog it) the content in flicker and start all over again. even better idea is on hold til i can see better. 

i do so want to show mysy (mystery puppy) to you.  she is so shy (chicken).  it is really hard to get a good picture of her...if you don't get her on the first click and/or flash, she's gone.  

it's still early but i guess i will turn on the tv as this, and knitting, is not working out well!

If this works you will see family

Plan B

this was taken with our $27 digital camera by him.  this one is the only one of the 5 test pictures that looked ok...the rest were out of focus...well, it is a $27 camera...hard to see what the heck you are focusing on!  but this is a plant in my garden.

i did it!  HOORAY!!!  balloons float up to the sky! i got a picture in and where i want it!  

boy, are some kids slow!  this really shouldn't have taken so long to figure out!  but i am so proud that i did it.

o, clap hands for charlie for he took the picture.  

what kind of flower is it?  a blue volunteer ...translation:  i haven't got a clue! but isn't it pretty!

now to see what else i can do. i want to see more even if you don't.  but if you are reading this, i will assume you do.  ready?  here we go!

ahhh...i may be figuring this out after all.  

this is a wonderful picy of texas spring clouds (and the top of the door of the van).  i love texas clouds as the following will attest.   

well they won't if i can't get them from flicke! and there critter flicks out there as well!

ok, i give up for now.  i have to figure out how to do some thing else for a while.  

so, you, my friend, will just have to wait!  (the cloud picture was taken with a 3mm throw away camera.  

am i having fun yet?  NO  i want to show them all to you! foiled again but i will figure it out.

It's a swift

i have a swift and dh is winding the first ball!  round to it circled!  imagine me doing giddy dance!!!  three cheers for charlie!!  he said that he would do it and indeed he did!!!

and what have i been doing while is he swifting?  changing my blog a bit.  i hope you like the changes.  i now live in the hope of being able to make this more workable for me...cross your fingers.

i may even try and go back and edit last posting to see if i can get pictures where i want them!

Nooooooooooo

but the answer is yes, the battery in the 27 dollar digital camera (that was supposed to be compatible with mac but isn't) died!  and the memory with it!  what do expect for 27 dollars!

i expect to have fresh batteries, memory comes back.  dummy me!  so, all the pictures i took on the pretty, sunny day are gone.  do you get the idea i am not a happy camper.  you are correct.  

where is that irs check...i want a digital camera...o, one with a flash, too, please and thank you; $27 does not get you flash.

ok, i am going over to the corner and sulk.  i know it is not mature.  i don't want to be mature.  i want to sulk. i'll talk to you.....footsteps slowly fade out (footsteps...who is she kidding...o, i get it...never mind)

Pictures pictures pictures

the top picture is of my grand niece and one of her sons.  i got this moved!!!  

lindsy and eric...i don't have a picture of the other one (boy child) yet.  linds is the daughter of patsy's (big sister) third daughter, leslie.

the other is of my niece and company. well, so what do i do now and how do i get them below my text.  i did it, i got this picture where i want it!  stacy is the adult in the group (patsy's #4 child).

i got them...other pictures i have taken recently...well, some of them, out of camera and onto disk.  major accomplishment!  my next task was to get them into and out of flicker.

did that. 

i spent most of last night getting 2 (the only ones so far) of my stash from there (flicker) into ravelry (pant, pant). 

now for my next trick (listen for the drum roll)...get pictures in here!  but first (no, not a message from our sponsers) a disclaimer:  

i will not tout these as my best...they were taken with those little throw away camera as they were all i had at the time...film is 35mm. (pause while i try to get pictures in.)

rats!  i keep trying to get them in and they keep showing up on top as one of those little blue boxes!  back to the drawing board! will go back to my experts in ravelry and see if they can help...lord knows i know all the help i can get.

can you tell i edited this posting?  it was a test to see if i had learned how to manipulate the pictures after learning (hopefully) some new tricks...and i did it!

Swift

Darling charlie is making me a swift...he doesn't want to have to hold his hands out while i wind yarn balls....don't understand why not!  but this will mean i can start work on some of the yarn i got from fiberfest or my gifted yarns.  yes, i am excited.  he better hurry, i want start yesterday!

We are safe!

so says sir charles.  it would appear that oscar de wild (see avatar) can see green gekos against yellow brick walls.  his only problem is he can't reach them.  it would also appear gekos have ears and can be chased from your garden to the next (or at least out of your fenced area).  

oscar is very aware of his pet (charlie) being dressed...ah, but when the keys were found and made a noise, actions must be taken.

"well, you have to make sure your toys don't escape you!"  (such vocals made would make scrooge smile.)  "of course if one is going to work guarding the car, one must be properly clothed! that girl is so slow.  why is she taking so long getting my harness on."

"stop wiggling?  but i am excited!!! a ride in the car!!!!  hurry up!!!  i have on my leash!!!  let's go!!!!  now!!!"

and they did.

him must have left a carrot out on the counter.  this is known because the midnight marauder  (aka mystery puppy aka mysy pup) has trotted back here, jumped on the couch at the foot of the bed and is crunching away.  him and the midnight marauder play these games of "you leave it, i steal it".  which is why there are pottery bits to use in mosaics!  "don't ya know, if you steal something behind something else and you don't have hands to move things...what do you expect?"

"why is there a doorbell in this house?  woof alert is so much better and alerts to more that just people at the door.  cars arriving.  doors opening.  gates opening. husbands arriving thru the back door or sneaking down the hall.  yes, it is a loud alert.  it can cause a person to jump a bit resulting in the drop of a stitch.  but is so effective!"

him = husband, aka sir charles, aka charlie

she = me, aka sandy 

all other characters are the dog critters who inhabit the household

I wish you could go to my bookmarks!

i have started a new folder for favorite blogs. there i have captured some of my favorites...interesting folks who write well about stuff...of course yarns and patterns that they dye or invent but other stuff of interest...teas and flowers and vistas...i've had teas from all over the world...seen the beginning of spring in scotland...flowers from everywhere! shared laughter from the still thawing northern united states, great britian, both coasts of the states, germany, and korea.

what a wonder filled time i am having and way too much to take you as an escort. it's so grand to find others who know rainbows require watching...who sometimes capture them in the dyes of yarn or the patterned projects.

(hear a deep sigh.) i gotta go now. sorry!

i have things to knit which cannot be done if i am talking to you or reading what you or others are writing...i really do need more hands!

oh, oh, oh...i have found one way...podcasting...i can listen and do things with my hands at the same time! technology can be grand!

toodles

updates: van down. saturn down. charlie comes in blackened nightly...god bless his tenasity but could they both hurry with functionality! i dislike that i will have to be pushed around a lot (motorized chairs can be so speedy and i so independant) but am even more disturbed being house bound! no one will get to see the snowball trees or texas natives in bloom! and i want a digital camera! and OUT OF HERE!

ok, i'll go quietly.

i wish you could go to my bookmarks!

i have start a new folder for favorite blogs.

It's just not fair!

so much money spent on getting the air conditioner fixed! so much money spent on bits and bobs to fix this and that to figure out what is happening! end result...the van is dead! it's only 10 year and 4 months old. the toyota lasted 16. why isn't my van lasting that long!! so now he , charlie nee darling husband, is working of the saturn to get that running again..will the saturn carry my wheelchair....NO. the saturn is a sedan. can we afford a new vehicle at this time...NO. so what do i do...i don't know...i'll keep you posted.

meanwhile, back at the ranch, the bsj is finished. TA DA!

i've gone brain dead on how i closed the heels of my booties and need to get a pair done...and a hat...asap. so of course, i started the booties first. translation, the ball of yarn is stuck on the first bootie until i remember how i closed the heel and then i have to do the cuff. uck! i need to remember now! the harder i try....well, you know... it's like i know what to do but not how to do it. but i will...or i will figure out how to take it off the loom onto needles and close it that way....later on that one as well.

now that you are on tender hooks, i will stop.

As Shirley Temple said "Oh my goodness!"

DFW Fiberfest was wonderful!

and i didn't even attend any classes! the first day i went around (and i am so glad that this is only the third year) just stopping and looking and meeting people (glad because it is still small enough to get around). i had decided ahead of time that i would not take any classes as this was my first year. i just wanted to find out what it was all about and see all there is to see.

i was pretty good about not spending...but it was such a good deal (a hand knit gray shawl for $55)! and i made a new friend as a result (she had first dibbies on the shawl)! the next day i did spend money but not on everything (a springtime yarn feast and some yummy brooks farm yarn to make 2 shawls) i wanted to buy. and yesterday, i did buy the last...well, of course i did. it was a sort of light green foamy ocean color, a blended wool and silk. it was the last day!

but, lordie love a duck, did i meet so many people. People i want to keep as friends and see again in person...even if it does mean i have to wait til next year! and i will be back next year!

I almost forgot about my new braclet...it's an on the go row counter! you can use it to count up to 100 before you have to start over. is that cool or what??? i just had to get 3...and make a friend of the designer...well, you know i'll have to buy more in the future...get real!

any, any of you locals who did not go this year, have never been before, plan to next year!