ta ta

with the exception of one blog, i got everyone's blog in here (those friends of mine who have them).  it's a long list which explains why some days i spend more time reading than writing! ;-] there are some really neat words of folks in here; so go visit some of them.  you'll have fun reading and learn about some cool folks!  who knows, after reading their blogs you might end up making them your friends too!  i am so glad i figured out how to do this!  and i love gifting my friends with new friends!

this is fathers' day.  my dad, the doctor, is gone but it is good to spend time thinking about him and the wonderful stepfather i was also gifted with.  they added so to my life.

news!

camera is a nikon d60 with two lens.  

i have not gotten any photos off the cell phone.  i have not watch the nikon school dvds.  why? you are such a nosey lot.  ok, i spent 2 days having tests run for the neurologist, who, tho looking like a very large cherib, may be sadest!  the mri was fun as i am such a noneck kid! and they want you to lie flat which my body is not designed for.  but he said i was the best testee he had ever had, doing exactly what he requested and holding so still....see what 62 years of training will get you? a 30 min as opposed to a 45 min trial.  yesterday i had the rest of the testing.  if electroshock treatments are anything close to that...anyway they want you to relax while they do this shocky stuff...the start of which on the major nerves will make you and your relaxed arm become very, very unrelaxed! and then they do it again!  after the major nevers (those with a truck load of feeling), they go to the little ones which generally are not too bad...until she cranked it up a bit causing my fingers to jump around.  thank god, i was taught by my parents that as a doc daughter, i was to set an example and not scream....hold my breath, clench my teeth...but not scream!  i did that a lot.  oh, then she had to do the other arm...and you know what is going to happen...and you are still supposed to relax.  well, she said i was a good egg and she left.  so for something better to do, i started back on the sox.  the doc came in and said he had the results:  i do not have carpel tunnell  yeah!  i do have more buldges between the vertibra and some spurs that were not there last year.  he does not think anything requires surgery.  he does think that pt might help teach me to relax my shoulders and neck.  i have high hopes!  i would love my body to really understand what the hell that word means!  RELAX.  we shall see.  anyway, i have spent most of the day listening to harry potter and resting my body. hopefully it will be ready to learn tomorrow.

i did have to scrap the socks AGAIN.  i made such a mess in the doc's office that i could not figure out what i had done so could not fix it.

o, i almost forgot! the saturn is in motion once more!  houston, we have take off!  about the van?  we are still talking about that one.

i think this is enough for right now as i am feeling fatigues again...later...

we have the right cable

now i can't find the phone book to tell me how to get the pictures off the phone and onto my desktop thenst to here!!!  it is not a intuitive as i thought it would be...or i have no female intuition?

it's 7 pm and dh is still working on the saturn so can't enlist his help.  maybe i should be patient and wait until tomorrow.  after he has had a bath and a good night's sleep.

and it died again!

the "fixed" saturn. this time when he was almost home with dinner! but not with the dog.  just with dinner congealing beside him!  and me with some knitting pals blathering on about FOOD! it's a good thing we got him the phone.  mr rescue finally came after a bit more than an hour!  i should have gotten his noodles; they were great cold (he let me taste them). so, it's back to the drawing boards for him.

it was a good day tho...i got one of the tea swap boxes! (i was in line for 2)  i had a good rummage and got it back off within hours of receiving...well, you don't want others to be waiting like i have been waiting on the first of the tea boxes!  i took some stuff and then stuffed it full up again.

o, i did start looking for a clear teapot for showing off flowering teas and i think i found the one i want...the strainer is in the spout.  

i got no, yes, i said it, i got no knitting done yesterday.  for some reason my email was jamming! and truth be told, my back and arms were not helping much either.  i love the rain. my body does not seem to be as happy with it.

have you even tried typing with a dog under your arm?  it is most fun.  especially when oscar keeps trying to put his head on the cat (the little square thing us laptop users used instead of a mouse...history lesson:  the cat was the precursor to the mouse...get it, cat mouse?  see what you learn from 20 years with xerox?).  both of my critters think i am nuts as after i got them playing, i stayed in the game. growling, snarling, sneezing. periodically, mysy would look up at me with mystified eyes....oscar just kept up with the game.

o, camera phone...why no pictures? they sent me the wrong cable connection!   

new camera? sometime this week.

for dog lovers:  sometime i will get a pictures off the phone and onto the computer so you can see oscar in his upside down mode!  back legs are wide apart, front paws are folded over like a bunny. have you  got the picture?  he had been outside to do his thing and come back in (love doggie doors!).  jumped on the bed and went into his head stand mode which means, i'm back, so scratch what you can see of my head and back! and then he rolls onto his back.  i, a well trained human, did as told while continuing to talk to dh.  out of the corner of my eye, something seemed amiss.  so i turned to see...to see what appeared to be a large dried leaf over his private bits!  it really cracked me up!  like a little doggie fig leaf, it was!

enough, i have to call a hundred people or so for this that and the other.

SOCKS

my current obsession! and getting past the first 3 rows!  why? because i have never done them before.  why? fear...they sound so complicated!  people with toothpicks the length of kabob skures!  you could poke an eye out with those things!  and then i, the spass master, tried them...double points but not the toothpick size...closer to a pencil...what a disaster!  no, ney, never no more!  and i knew i would end up single sockitis too!  and then... hold it!  and then... magic loop was introduced to me... neato!  and then...wait for it! and then toes up concept came in...cool! and then... are you ready! and then... liz had to destash and she had sock yarn for sale! ah!  and so begins the current obsession.  i am so like that!  i have until august 14 to learn on my sox and then to get a pair done for him for our ...what is it now... or 22 anniversary! for the slowest knitter in the west this is a tall order...we shall see.  the good news is i have gotten past the nasty 3 row hurdle.  what, you don't know the 3 row hurdle?  it's where you have to cast on (tail too long or short) excessive times (rats, i didn't twist the yarn right...start over) (when will you learn to count...8 on these 2, 9 on these 2),  you can't knit for beans (i forgot again, the ones on the back for the first round must be knit thru the back)...got the idea now? one must learn to love the frog!  i am learning this method of casting on magically.  these are not mistakes but learning experiences! this can be accomplished!

chicken little strikes

its i...chicken little.  i am so afraid i will run out of yarn for charlie's socks that the first pair of socks to come of my needles with be for me.  and i frogged what i had and am starting over.  i am the most frustrated knitter...it's like no matter what i knit, if i can get past the first 3 rows i am fine but the first 3 generally get me hell!  

i have tried something that may not work...give me an a if it does.  when you are viewing this posting, try clicking on the question mark in the box and see if it sends you to my flicker pictures of my critters.  ok, here we go!

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!